25,774 research outputs found
Eigenstate Structure in Graphs and Disordered Lattices
We study wave function structure for quantum graphs in the chaotic and
disordered regime, using measures such as the wave function intensity
distribution and the inverse participation ratio. The result is much less
ergodicity than expected from random matrix theory, even though the spectral
statistics are in agreement with random matrix predictions. Instead, analytical
calculations based on short-time semiclassical behavior correctly describe the
eigenstate structure.Comment: 4 pages, including 2 figure
Enhanced chiral logarithms in partially quenched QCD
I discuss the properties of pions in ``partially quenched'' theories, i.e.
those in which the valence and sea quark masses, and , are
different. I point out that for lattice fermions which retain some chiral
symmetry on the lattice, e.g. staggered fermions, the leading order prediction
of the chiral expansion is that the mass of the pion depends only on , and
is independent of . This surprising result is shown to receive corrections
from loop effects which are of relative size , and which thus
diverge when the valence quark mass vanishes. Using partially quenched chiral
perturbation theory, I calculate the full one-loop correction to the mass and
decay constant of pions composed of two non-degenerate quarks, and suggest
various combinations for which the prediction is independent of the unknown
coefficients of the analytic terms in the chiral Lagrangian. These results can
also be tested with Wilson fermions if one uses a non-perturbative definition
of the quark mass.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, uses psfig. Typos in eqs (18)-(20) corrected
(alpha_4 is replaced by alpha_4/2
Cosmological Symmetry Breaking, Pseudo-scale invariance, Dark Energy and the Standard Model
The energy density of the universe today may be dominated by the vacuum
energy of a slowly rolling scalar field. Making a quantum expansion around such
a time dependent solution is found to break fundamental symmetries of quantum
field theory. We call this mechanism cosmological symmetry breaking and argue
that it is different from the standard phenomenon of spontaneous symmetry
breaking. We illustrate this with a toy scalar field theory, whose action
displays a U(1) symmetry. We identify a symmetry, called pseudo-scale
invariance, which sets the cosmological constant exactly equal to zero, both in
classical and quantum theory. This symmetry is also broken cosmologically and
leads to a nonzero vacuum or dark energy. The slow roll condition along with
the observed value of dark energy leads to a value of the background scalar
field of the order of Planck mass. We also consider a U(1) gauge symmetry
model. Cosmological symmetry breaking, in this case, leads to a non zero mass
for the vector field. We also show that a cosmologically broken pseudo-scale
invariance can generate a wide range of masses.Comment: 18 pages, no figure
On Toroidal Horizons in Binary Black Hole Inspirals
We examine the structure of the event horizon for numerical simulations of
two black holes that begin in a quasicircular orbit, inspiral, and finally
merge. We find that the spatial cross section of the merged event horizon has
spherical topology (to the limit of our resolution), despite the expectation
that generic binary black hole mergers in the absence of symmetries should
result in an event horizon that briefly has a toroidal cross section. Using
insight gained from our numerical simulations, we investigate how the choice of
time slicing affects both the spatial cross section of the event horizon and
the locus of points at which generators of the event horizon cross. To ensure
the robustness of our conclusions, our results are checked at multiple
numerical resolutions. 3D visualization data for these resolutions are
available for public access online. We find that the structure of the horizon
generators in our simulations is consistent with expectations, and the lack of
toroidal horizons in our simulations is due to our choice of time slicing.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Research on oxygen toxicity at the cellular level Final report, 15 Apr. 1965 - 15 Jun. 1966
Oxygen toxicity at cellular level in manned spacecraf
A Coherent Timing Solution for the Nearby Isolated Neutron Star RX J0720.4-3125
We present the results of a dedicated effort to measure the spin-down rate of
the nearby isolated neutron star RX J0720.4-3125. Comparing arrival times of
the 8.39-sec pulsations for data from Chandra we derive an unambiguous timing
solution for RX J0720.4-3125 that is accurate to 5 years.
Adding data from XMM and ROSAT, the final solution yields
Pdot=(6.98+/-0.02)x10^(-14) s/s; for dipole spin-down, this implies a
characteristic age of 2 Myr and a magnetic field strength of 2.4e13 G. The
phase residuals are somewhat larger than those for purely regular spin-down,
but do not show conclusive evidence for higher-order terms or a glitch. From
our timing solution as well as recent X-ray spectroscopy, we concur with recent
suggestions that RX J0720.4-3125 is most likely an off-beam radio pulsar with a
moderately high magnetic field.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in ApJ
Constraints on the Equation-of-State of neutron stars from nearby neutron star observations
We try to constrain the Equation-of-State (EoS) of supra-nuclear-density
matter in neutron stars (NSs) by observations of nearby NSs. There are seven
thermally emitting NSs known from X-ray and optical observations, the so-called
Magnificent Seven (M7), which are young (up to few Myrs), nearby (within a few
hundred pc), and radio-quiet with blackbody-like X-ray spectra, so that we can
observe their surfaces. As bright X-ray sources, we can determine their
rotational (pulse) period and their period derivative from X-ray timing. From
XMM and/or Chandra X-ray spectra, we can determine their temperature. With
precise astrometric observations using the Hubble Space Telescope, we can
determine their parallax (i.e. distance) and optical flux. From flux, distance,
and temperature, one can derive the emitting area - with assumptions about the
atmosphere and/or temperature distribution on the surface. This was recently
done by us for the two brightest M7 NSs RXJ1856 and RXJ0720. Then, from
identifying absorption lines in X-ray spectra, one can also try to determine
gravitational redshift. Also, from rotational phase-resolved spectroscopy, we
have for the first time determined the compactness (mass/radius) of the M7 NS
RBS1223. If also applied to RXJ1856, radius (from luminosity and temperature)
and compactness (from X-ray data) will yield the mass and radius - for the
first time for an isolated single neutron star. We will present our
observations and recent results.Comment: refereed NPA5 conference proceedings, in pres
Localization of Eigenfunctions in the Stadium Billiard
We present a systematic survey of scarring and symmetry effects in the
stadium billiard. The localization of individual eigenfunctions in Husimi phase
space is studied first, and it is demonstrated that on average there is more
localization than can be accounted for on the basis of random-matrix theory,
even after removal of bouncing-ball states and visible scars. A major point of
the paper is that symmetry considerations, including parity and time-reversal
symmetries, enter to influence the total amount of localization. The properties
of the local density of states spectrum are also investigated, as a function of
phase space location. Aside from the bouncing-ball region of phase space,
excess localization of the spectrum is found on short periodic orbits and along
certain symmetry-related lines; the origin of all these sources of localization
is discussed quantitatively and comparison is made with analytical predictions.
Scarring is observed to be present in all the energy ranges considered. In
light of these results the excess localization in individual eigenstates is
interpreted as being primarily due to symmetry effects; another source of
excess localization, scarring by multiple unstable periodic orbits, is smaller
by a factor of .Comment: 31 pages, including 10 figure
AKT-1 Regulates DNA-Damage-Induced Germline Apoptosis in C. elegans
SummaryThe cellular response to genotoxic stress involves the integration of multiple prosurvival and proapoptotic signals that dictate whether a cell lives or dies. In mammals, AKT/PKB regulates cell survival by modulating the activity of several apoptotic proteins, including p53 [1]. In Caenorhabditis elegans, akt-1 and akt-2 regulate development in response to environmental cues by controlling the FOXO transcription factor daf-16[2], but the role of these genes in regulating p53-dependent apoptosis is not known. In this study, we show that akt-1 and akt-2 negatively regulate DNA-damage-induced apoptosis in the C. elegans germline. The antiapoptotic activity of akt-1 is independent of its target gene daf-16 but dependent on cep-1/p53. Although only akt-1 regulates the apoptotic activity of cep-1, both akt-1 and akt-2 modulate the intensity of the apoptotic response independently of the transcriptional activity of CEP-1. Finally, we show that AKT-1 regulates apoptosis but not cell-cycle progression downstream of the HUS-1/MRT-2 branch of the DNA damage checkpoint
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