Paraxial propagation of a quantum charge in a random magnetic field

The paraxial (parabolic) theory of a near forward scattering of a quantum charged particle by a static magnetic field is presented. From the paraxial solution to the Aharonov-Bohm scattering problem the transverse transfered momentum (the Lorentz force) is found. Multiple magnetic scattering is considered for two models: (i) Gaussian $\delta$ -correlated random magnetic field; (ii) a random array of the Aharonov-Bohm magnetic flux line. The paraxial gauge-invariant two-particle Green function averaged with respect to the random field is found by an exact evaluation of the Feynman integral. It is shown that in spite of the anomalous character of the forward scattering, the transport properties can be described by the Boltzmann equation. The Landau quantization in the field of the Aharonov-Bohm lines is discussed.Comment: Figures and references added. Many typos corrected. RevTex, 25 pages, 9 figure

Cosmology, Particle Physics and Superfluid 3He

Many direct parallels connect superfluid 3He with the field theories describing the physical vacuum, gauge fields and elementary fermions. Superfluid $^3$He exhibits a variety of topological defects which can be detected with single-defect sensitivity. Modern scenarios of defect-mediated baryogenesis can be simulated by the interaction of the 3He vortices and domain walls with fermionic quasiparticles. Formation of defects in a symmetry-breaking phase transition in the early Universe, which could be responsible for large-scale structure formation and for microwave-background anisotropy, also may be modelled in the laboratory. This is supported by the recent observation of vortex formation in neutron-irradiated 3He-B where the "primordial fireball" is formed in an exothermic nuclear reaction.Comment: Invited talk at LT-21 Conference, 20 pages, 3 figures available at request, compressed ps file of the camera-ready format with 3 figures is at ftp://boojum.hut.fi/pub/publications/lowtemp/LTL-96006.ps.g

Nonperturbative renormalization group approach to frustrated magnets

This article is devoted to the study of the critical properties of classical XY and Heisenberg frustrated magnets in three dimensions. We first analyze the experimental and numerical situations. We show that the unusual behaviors encountered in these systems, typically nonuniversal scaling, are hardly compatible with the hypothesis of a second order phase transition. We then review the various perturbative and early nonperturbative approaches used to investigate these systems. We argue that none of them provides a completely satisfactory description of the three-dimensional critical behavior. We then recall the principles of the nonperturbative approach - the effective average action method - that we have used to investigate the physics of frustrated magnets. First, we recall the treatment of the unfrustrated - O(N) - case with this method. This allows to introduce its technical aspects. Then, we show how this method unables to clarify most of the problems encountered in the previous theoretical descriptions of frustrated magnets. Firstly, we get an explanation of the long-standing mismatch between different perturbative approaches which consists in a nonperturbative mechanism of annihilation of fixed points between two and three dimensions. Secondly, we get a coherent picture of the physics of frustrated magnets in qualitative and (semi-) quantitative agreement with the numerical and experimental results. The central feature that emerges from our approach is the existence of scaling behaviors without fixed or pseudo-fixed point and that relies on a slowing-down of the renormalization group flow in a whole region in the coupling constants space. This phenomenon allows to explain the occurence of generic weak first order behaviors and to understand the absence of universality in the critical behavior of frustrated magnets.Comment: 58 pages, 15 PS figure

Hydrochlorothiazide exerts no direct vasoactivity in the human forearm

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Early Anglo-Saxon ceramics from East Anglia A microprovenience study

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Direct vascular effects of furosemide in humans

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Only weak vasorelaxant properties of loop diuretics in isolated resistance arteries from man, rat and guinea pig.

Besides their diuretic action, loop diuretics may induce a rapid vasodilator effect that contribute to their short-term therapeutic properties. We examined the effects of furosemide (10(-6)-10(-3) mol l(-1)) in comparison with bumetanide (10(-6)-10(-4) mol l(-1)) on isolated resistance arteries from rat and guinea pig mesentery and human subcutaneous fat, and investigated the mechanism of the acute direct vasorelaxant action on an isometric microvascular myograph. Both loop diuretics induced concentration-dependent relaxation of resistance vessels irrespective of membrane potential. The maximal effect of furosemide was greatest in rat and least in human arteries. Both diuretics caused a rightward shift in the concentration-response curve to extracellular Ca(2+). Incubation with indomethacin (2 x 10(-5) mol l(-1)) or mechanical removal of the endothelium did not inhibit the loop diuretic-induced relaxation. At high concentrations (10(-4)-10(-3) mol l(-1)) loop diuretics exert only weak direct relaxant effects on isolated human subcutaneous resistance arteries compared to the vasorelaxant effects in rat and guinea pig mesenteric vessels

Thiazide-induced vasodilation is mediated by potassium channel activation

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