44,683 research outputs found
The mass of the dark matter particle from theory and observations
We combine observed properties of galaxies as the core density and radius
with the theoretical linear evolution of density fluctuations computed from
first principles since the end of inflation till today. The halo radius r_0 is
computed in terms of cosmological parameters. The theoretical density profiles
rho(r)/rho(0) have an universal shape as a function of r/r_0 which reproduces
the observations. We show that the linear approximation to the Boltzmann-Vlasov
equation is valid for very large galaxies and correctly provides universal
quantities which are common to all galaxies, as the surface density and density
profile. By matching the theoretically computed surface density to its observed
value we obtain (i) the decreasing of the phase-space density during the MD era
(ii) the mass of the dark matter particle which turns to be between 1 and 2 keV
and the decoupling temperature T_d which turns to be above 100 GeV (iii) the
core vs. cusp discrimination: keV dark matter particles produce cored density
profiles while wimps (m \sim 100 GeV, T_d \sim 5 GeV) produce cusped profiles
at scales about 0.003 pc. These results are independent of the particle model
and vary very little with the statistics of the dark matter particle.
Non-universal galaxy quantities (which need to include non-linear effects as
mergers and baryons) are reproduced in the linear approximation up to a factor
of order one for the halo radius r_0, galaxy mass M_{gal}, halo central density
rho_{0} and velocity dispersion sqrt{{\bar {v^2}}_{halo}} in the limiting case
of large galaxies (both r_0 and M_{gal} large). This shows the power of the
linear approximation scheme: although it cannot capture the whole content of
the structure formation, it correctly provides universal quantities which as
well as the main non-universal galaxy properties.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, improved and expanded version to appear in New
Astronom
Experimental verification of reciprocity relations in quantum thermoelectric transport
Symmetry relations are manifestations of fundamental principles and
constitute cornerstones of modern physics. An example are the Onsager relations
between coefficients connecting thermodynamic fluxes and forces, central to
transport theory and experiments. Initially formulated for classical systems,
these reciprocity relations are also fulfilled in quantum conductors.
Surprisingly, novel relations have been predicted specifically for
thermoelectric transport. However, whereas these thermoelectric reciprocity
relations have to date not been verified, they have been predicted to be
sensitive to inelastic scattering, always present at finite temperature. The
question whether the relations exist in practice is important for
thermoelectricity: whereas their existence may simplify the theory of complex
thermoelectric materials, their absence has been shown to enable, in principle,
higher thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency for a given material
quality. Here we experimentally verify the thermoelectric reciprocity relations
in a four-terminal mesoscopic device where each terminal can be electrically
and thermally biased, individually. The linear response thermoelectric
coefficients are found to be symmetric under simultaneous reversal of magnetic
field and exchange of injection and emission contacts. Intriguingly, we also
observe the breakdown of the reciprocity relations as a function of increasing
thermal bias. Our measurements thus clearly establish the existence of the
thermoelectric reciprocity relations, as well as the possibility to control
their breakdown with the potential to enhance thermoelectric performanceComment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Directed transport of Brownian particles in a double symmetric potential
We investigate the dynamics of Brownian particles in internal state-
dependent symmetric and periodic potentials. Although no space or time symmetry
of the Hamiltonian is broken, we show that directed transport can appear. We
demonstrate that the directed motion is induced by breaking the symmetry of the
transition rates between the potentials when these are spatially shifted.
Finally, we discuss the possibility of realizing our model in a system of cold
particles trapped in optical lattices.Comment: to appear in Physical Review
Vibrating soap films: An analog for quantum chaos on billiards
We present an experimental setup based on the normal modes of vibrating soap
films which shows quantum features of integrable and chaotic billiards. In
particular, we obtain the so-called scars -narrow linear regions with high
probability along classical periodic orbits- for the classically chaotic
billiards. We show that these scars are also visible at low frequencies.
Finally, we suggest some applications of our experimental setup in other
related two-dimensional wave phenomena.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures. Better Postscript figures available on reques
Effective one-body dynamics in multiple-quantum NMR experiments
A suitable NMR experiment in a one-dimensional dipolar coupled spin system
allows one to reduce the natural many-body dynamics into effective one-body
dynamics. We verify this in a polycrystalline sample of hydroxyapatite (HAp) by
monitoring the excitation of NMR many-body superposition states: the
multiple-quantum coherences. The observed effective one-dimensionality of HAp
relies on the quasi 1d structure of the dipolar coupled network that, as we
show here, is dynamically enhanced by the quantum Zeno effect. Decoherence is
also probed through a Loschmidt echo experiment, where the time reversal is
implemented on the double-quantum Hamiltonian, I_{i,+}I_{j,+} + I_{i,-}I_{j,-}.
We contrast the decoherence of adamantane, a standard 3d system, with that of
HAp. While the first shows an abrupt Fermi-type decay, HAp presents a smooth
exponential law.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
Demonstration of a controllable three-dimensional Brownian motor in symmetric potentials
We demonstrate a Brownian motor, based on cold atoms in optical lattices,
where isotropic random fluctuations are rectified in order to induce controlled
atomic motion in arbitrary directions. In contrast to earlier demonstrations of
ratchet effects, our Brownian motor operates in potentials that are spatially
and temporally symmetric, but where spatiotemporal symmetry is broken by a
phase shift between the potentials and asymmetric transfer rates between them.
The Brownian motor is demonstrated in three dimensions and the noise-induced
drift is controllable in our system.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Consequences of asteroid fragmentation during impact hazard mitigation
The consequences of the fragmentation of an Earth-threatening asteroid due to an attempted deflection are examined in this paper. The minimum required energy for a successful impulsive deflection of a threatening object is computed and compared to the energy required to break up a small size asteroid. The results show that the fragmentation of an asteroid that underwent an impulsive deflection, such as a kinetic impact or a nuclear explosion, is a very plausible event.Astatistical model is used to approximate the number and size of the fragments as well as the distribution of velocities at the instant after the deflection attempt takes place. This distribution of velocities is a function of the energy provided by the deflection attempt, whereas the number and size of the asteroidal fragments is a function of the size of the largest fragment. The model also takes into account the gravity forces that could lead to a reaggregation of the asteroid after fragmentation. The probability distribution of the pieces after the deflection is then propagated forward in time until the encounter with Earth. A probability damage factor (i.e., expected damage caused by a given size fragment multiplied by its impact probability) is then computed and analyzed for different plausible scenarios, characterized by different levels of deflection energies and lead times
Analysis of the D^+ → K^-π^+e^+ν_e decay channel
Using 347.5 fb^(-1) of data recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II electron-positron collider, 244×10^3 signal events for the D^+ → K^-π^+e^+ν_e decay channel are analyzed. This decay mode is dominated by the K̅ ^*(892)^0 contribution. We determine the K̅ ^*(892)^0 parameters: m_(K^*(892)^0)=(895.4±0.2±0.2) MeV/c^2, Γ_(K^*(892)^0)=(46.5±0.3±0.2) MeV/c^2, and the Blatt-Weisskopf parameter r_(BW) =2.1±0.5±0.5 (GeV/c)^-1, where the first uncertainty comes from statistics and the second from systematic uncertainties. We also measure the parameters defining the corresponding hadronic form factors at q^2 = 0 (r_V = ^(V(0))/_(A1(0)) = 1.463 ± 0.017 ± 0.031, r_2 = _(A1(0)) ^(A2(0))= 0.801±0.020±0.020) and the value of the axial-vector pole mass parametrizing the q^2 variation of A_1 and A_2: m_A=(2.63±0.10±0.13) GeV/c^2. The S-wave fraction is equal to (5.79±0.16±0.15)%. Other signal components correspond to fractions below 1%. Using the D^+ → K^-π^+π^+ channel as a normalization, we measure the D^+ semileptonic branching fraction: B(D^+ → K^-π^+e^+ν_e)=(4.00±0.03±0.04±0.09)×10^(-2), where the third uncertainty comes from external inputs. We then obtain the value of the hadronic form factor A_1 at q^2=0: A_1(0)=0.6200±0.0056±0.0065±0.0071. Fixing the P-wave parameters, we measure the phase of the S wave for several values of the Kπ mass. These results confirm those obtained with Kπ production at small momentum transfer in fixed target experiments
Observation of η_c(1S) and η_c(2S) decays to K^+K^-π^+π^-π^0 in two-photon interactions
We study the processes γγ→K_S^0K^±π^∓ and γγ→K^+K^-π^+π-π^0 using a data sample of 519.2fb^(-1) recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e^+e^- collider at center-of-mass energies near the Υ(nS) (n=2, 3, 4) resonances. We observe the η_c(1S), χ_(c0)(1P) and η_c(2S) resonances produced in two-photon interactions and decaying to K^+K^-π^+π^-π^0, with significances of 18.1, 5.4 and 5.3 standard deviations (including systematic errors), respectively, and report 4.0σ evidence of the χ_(c2)(1P) decay to this final state. We measure the η_c(2S) mass and width in K_S^0K^±π^∓ decays, and obtain the values m(η_c(2S))=3638.5±1.5±0.8 MeV/c^2 and Γ(η_c(2S))=13.4±4.6±3.2 MeV, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. We measure the two-photon width times branching fraction for the reported resonance signals, and search for the χ_(c2)(2P) resonance, but no significant signal is observed
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