A mesoscopic description of radiative heat transfer at the nanoscale

We present a formulation of the nanoscale radiative heat transfer (RHT) using concepts of mesoscopic physics. We introduce the analog of the Sharvin conductance using the quantum of thermal conductance. The formalism provides a convenient framework to analyse the physics of RHT at the nanoscale. Finally, we propose a RHT experiment in the regime of quantized conductance

Fragmentos políticos

Translation and footnotes by Rafael de Araújo e Viana Leite

Discurso sobre a questão: qual é a virtude mais necessária ao herói e quais foram os heróis que não possuíram essa virtude?

Tradução: DISCURSO SOBRE A QUESTÃO: QUAL É A VIRTUDE MAIS NECESSÁRIA AO HERÓI E QUAIS FORAM OS HERÓIS QUE NÃO POSSUÍRAM ESSA VIRTUDE

Generalized Compactification in Heterotic String Theory

In this thesis, we consider heterotic string vacua based on a warped product of a four-dimensional domain wall and a six-dimensional internal manifold preserving only two supercharges. Thus, they correspond to half-BPS states of heterotic supergravity. The constraints on the internal manifolds with SU(3) structure are derived. They are found to be a generalization of half-flat manifolds with a particular pattern of torsion classes and they include half-flat manifolds and Strominger's complex non-Kahler manifolds as special cases. We also verify that heterotic compactifications on half-flat mirror manifolds are based on this class of solutions. Furthermore, within this context, we construct specific examples based on six-dimensional nearly-Kahler homogeneous manifolds and non-trivial vector bundles thereon. Our solutions are based on three specific group coset spaces satisfying the half-flat torsion class conditions. It is shown how to construct line bundles over these manifolds, compute their properties and build up vector bundles consistent with supersymmetry and the heterotic anomaly cancellation. It turns out that the most interesting solutions are obtained from $SU(3)/U(1)^2$. This space supports a large number of vector bundles leading to consistent heterotic vacua with GUT group and, for some of them, with three chiral families.Comment: D.Phil. thesis, 143pages, twosid

The primacy of pity:reconceiving ethical experience and education in Rousseau

For Rousseau, there are only three things he does not reason away\ud apart from reason itself: self-interest, the good and, at least until Emile,\ud pity. This paper argues that it is Rousseau’s original formulation of\ud pity in the Second Discourse that is able to provide the extra-rational\ud conception of ethics that his political and educational philosophy\ud lacks when limited to a reading of the Social Contract and Emile. This\ud paper will also show how the reconceptualisation of these existential\ud predicates is usefully aligned with a reading of Derrida’s conceptions of\ud immunity and autoimmunity. By reconceiving Rousseau’s educational\ud and political thinking in terms of the primacy of pity rather than\ud reason, this paper will present a kind of philosophical prototype for\ud beginning to rethink contemporary educational and political logic in\ud terms of the primacy of pity more generally