Double solid twistor spaces: the case of arbitrary signature

In a recent paper (math.DG/0701278) we constructed a series of new Moishezon twistor spaces which is a kind of variant of the famous LeBrun twistor spaces. In this paper we explicitly give projective models of another series of Moishezon twistor spaces on nCP^2 for arbitrary n>2, which can be regarded as a generalization of the twistor spaces of a 'double solid type' on 3CP^2 studied by Kreussler, Kurke, Poon and the author. Similarly to the twistor spaces of 'double solid type' on 3CP^2, projective models of present twistor spaces have a natural structure of double covering of a CP^2-bundle over CP^1. We explicitly give a defining polynomial of the branch divisor of the double covering whose restriction to fibers are degree four. If n>3 these are new twistor spaces, to the best of the author's knowledge. We also compute the dimension of the moduli space of these twistor spaces. Differently from math.DG/0701278, the present investigation is based on analysis of pluri-(half-)anticanonical systems of the twistor spaces.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures; v2: title changed (the original title was "Explicit construction of new Moishezon twistor spaces, II".

Review of Solar and Reactor Neutrinos

Over the last several years, experiments have conclusively demonstrated that neutrinos are massive and that they mix. There is now direct evidence for $\nu_e$s from the Sun transforming into other active flavors while en route to the Earth. The disappearance of reactor $\bar{\nu}_e$s, predicted under the assumption of neutrino oscillation, has also been observed. In this paper, recent results from solar and reactor neutrino experiments and their implications are reviewed. In addition, some of the future experimental endeavors in solar and reactor neutrinos are presented.Comment: Proceedings of the XXII International Symposium on Lepton and Photon Interactions at High Energy (Lepton-Photon 2005, June 30 to July 5, 2005, Uppsala, Sweden). 11 figures, 5 table

Polydispersity Effects in Colloid-Polymer Mixtures

We study phase separation and transient gelation in a mixture consisting of polydisperse colloids and non-adsorbing polymers, where the ratio of the average size of the polymer to that of the colloid is approximately 0.063. Unlike what has been reported previously for mixtures with somewhat lower colloid polydispersity, the addition of polymers does not expand the fluid-solid coexistence region. Instead, we find a region of fluid-solid coexistence which has an approximately constant width but an unexpected re-entrant shape. We detect the presence of a metastable gas-liquid binodal, which gives rise to two-stepped crystallization kinetics that can be rationalized as the effect of fractionation. Finally, we find that the separation into multiple coexisting solid phases at high colloid volume fractions predicted by equilibrium statistical mechanics is kinetically suppressed before the system reaches dynamical arrest.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Glasses in hard spheres with short-range attraction

We report a detailed experimental study of the structure and dynamics of glassy states in hard spheres with short-range attraction. The system is a suspension of nearly-hard-sphere colloidal particles and non-adsorbing linear polymer which induces a depletion attraction between the particles. Observation of crystallization reveals a re-entrant glass transition. Static light scattering shows a continuous change in the static structure factors upon increasing attraction. Dynamic light scattering results, which cover 11 orders of magnitude in time, are consistent with the existence of two distinct kinds of glasses, those dominated by inter-particle repulsion and caging, and those dominated by attraction. Samples close to the `A3 point' predicted by mode coupling theory for such systems show very slow, logarithmic dynamics.Comment: 22 pages, 18 figure

Spectral study of the Laplace-Beltrami operator arising in the problem of acoustic wave scattering by a quarter-plane

The Laplace-Beltrami operator on a sphere with a cut arises when considering the problem of wave scattering by a quarter-plane. Recent methods developed for sound-soft (Dirichlet) and sound-hard (Neumann) quarter-planes rely on an a priori knowledge of the spectrum of the Laplace-Beltrami operator. In this paper we consider this spectral problem for more general boundary conditions, including Dirichlet, Neumann, real and complex impedance, where the value of the impedance varies like $\textit{α/=r, r}$ being the distance from the vertex of the quarter-plane and α being constant, and any combination of these. We analyse the corresponding eigenvalues of the Laplace-Beltrami operator, both theoretically and numerically. We show in particular that when the operator stops being self-adjoint, its eigenvalues are complex and are contained within a sector of the complex plane, for which we provide analytical bounds. Moreover, for impedance of small enough modulus |α|, the complex eigenvalues approach the real eigenvalues of the Neumann case.R.C. Assier would like to acknowledge the support by UK EPSRC (EP/N013719/1).This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by Oxford University Press

Characterization of high purity germanium point contact detectors with low net impurity concentration

High Purity germanium point-contact detectors have low energy thresholds and excellent energy resolution over a wide energy range, and are thus widely used in nuclear and particle physics. In rare event searches, such as neutrinoless double beta decay, the point-contact geometry is of particular importance since it allows for pulse-shape discrimination, and therefore for a significant background reduction. In this paper we investigate the pulse-shape discrimination performance of ultra-high purity germanium point contact detectors. It is demonstrated that a minimal net impurity concentration is required to meet the pulse-shape performance requirements

Diffusive Evolution of Stable and Metastable Phases II: Theory of Non-Equilibrium Behaviour in Colloid-Polymer Mixtures

By analytically solving some simple models of phase-ordering kinetics, we suggest a mechanism for the onset of non-equilibrium behaviour in colloid-polymer mixtures. These mixtures can function as models of atomic systems; their physics therefore impinges on many areas of thermodynamics and phase-ordering. An exact solution is found for the motion of a single, planar interface separating a growing phase of uniform high density from a supersaturated low density phase, whose diffusive depletion drives the interfacial motion. In addition, an approximate solution is found for the one-dimensional evolution of two interfaces, separated by a slab of a metastable phase at intermediate density. The theory predicts a critical supersaturation of the low-density phase, above which the two interfaces become unbound and the metastable phase grows ad infinitum. The growth of the stable phase is suppressed in this regime.Comment: 27 pages, Latex, eps

Crystallization of hard-sphere glasses

We study by molecular dynamics the interplay between arrest and crystallization in hard spheres. For state points in the plane of volume fraction ($0.54 \leq phi \leq 0.63$) and polydispersity ($0 \leq s \leq 0.085$), we delineate states that spontaneously crystallize from those that do not. For noncrystallizing (or precrystallization) samples we find isodiffusivity lines consistent with an ideal glass transition at $\phi_g \approx 0.585$, independent of $s$. Despite this, for $s<0.05$, crystallization occurs at $\phi > \phi_g$. This happens on time scales for which the system is aging, and a diffusive regime in the mean square displacement is not reached; by those criteria, the system is a glass. Hence, contrary to a widespread assumption in the colloid literature, the occurrence of spontaneous crystallization within a bulk amorphous state does not prove that this state was an ergodic fluid rather than a glass.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure