On the theory of electric dc-conductivity : linear and non-linear microscopic evolution and macroscopic behaviour

We consider the Schrodinger time evolution of charged particles subject to a static substrate potential and to a homogeneous, macroscopic electric field (a magnetic field may also be present). We investigate the microscopic velocities and the resulting macroscopic current. We show that the microscopic velocities are in general non-linear with respect to the electric field. One kind of non-linearity arises from the highly non-linear adiabatic evolution and (or) from an admixture of parts of it in so-called intermediate states, and the other kind from non-quadratic transition rates between adiabatic states. The resulting macroscopic dc-current may or may not be linear in the field. Three cases can be distinguished : (a) The microscopic non-linearities can be neglected. This is assumed to be the case in linear response theory (Kubo formalism, ...). We give arguments which make it plausible that often such an assumption is indeed justified, in particular for the current parallel to the field. (b) The microscopic non-linearitites lead to macroscopic non-linearities. An example is the onset of dissipation by increasing the electric field in the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect. (c) The macroscopic current is linear although the microscopic non-linearities constitute an essential part of it and cannot be neglected. We show that the Hall current of a quantized Hall plateau belongs to this case. This illustrates that macroscopic linearity does not necessarily result from microscopic linearity. In the second and third cases linear response theory is inadequate. We elucidate also some other problems related to linear response theory.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, some typing errors have been corrected. Remark : in eq. (1) of the printed article an obvious typing error remain

Time-dependent radiative transfer with PHOENIX

Aims. We present first results and tests of a time-dependent extension to the general purpose model atmosphere code PHOENIX. We aim to produce light curves and spectra of hydro models for all types of supernovae. Methods. We extend our model atmosphere code PHOENIX to solve time-dependent non-grey, NLTE, radiative transfer in a special relativistic framework. A simple hydrodynamics solver was implemented to keep track of the energy conservation of the atmosphere during free expansion. Results. The correct operation of the new additions to PHOENIX were verified in test calculations. Conclusions. We have shown the correct operation of our extension to time-dependent radiative transfer and will be able to calculate supernova light curves and spectra in future work.Comment: 7 pages, 12 figure

The Deepest Supernova Search is Realized in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field Survey

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field Survey has not only provided the deepest optical and near infrared views of universe, but has enabled a search for the most distant supernovae to z~2.2. We have found four supernovae by searching spans of integrations of the Ultra Deep Field and the Ultra Deep Field Parallels taken with the Hubble Space Telescope paired with the Advanced Camera for Surveys and the Near Infrared Multi Object Spectrometer. Interestingly, none of these supernovae were at z>1.4, despite the substantially increased sensitivity per unit area to such objects over the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey. We present the optical photometric data for the four supernovae. We also show that the low frequency of Type Ia supernovae observed at z>1.4 is statistically consistent with current estimates of the global star formation history combined with the non-trivial assembly time of SN Ia progenitors.Comment: 24 pages (6 figures), submitted to the Astronomical Journa

Why we need to see the dark matter to understand the dark energy

The cosmological concordance model contains two separate constituents which interact only gravitationally with themselves and everything else, the dark matter and the dark energy. In the standard dark energy models, the dark matter makes up some 20% of the total energy budget today, while the dark energy is responsible for about 75%. Here we show that these numbers are only robust for specific dark energy models and that in general we cannot measure the abundance of the dark constituents separately without making strong assumptions.Comment: 4 pages, to be published in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series as a contribution to the 2007 Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physic

Zeldovich flow on cosmic vacuum background: new exact nonlinear analytical solution

A new exact nonlinear Newtonian solution for a plane matter flow superimposed on the isotropic Hubble expansion is reported. The dynamical effect of cosmic vacuum is taken into account. The solution describes the evolution of nonlinear perturbations via gravitational instability of matter and the termination of the perturbation growth by anti-gravity of vacuum at the epoch of transition from matter domination to vacuum domination. On this basis, an `approximate' 3D solution is suggested as an analog of the Zeldovich ansatz.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure

Crossing of the Phantom Divided Barrier with Lorentz Invariance Violating Fields

We study possible crossing of the phantom divided barrier in a Lorentz invariance violating dark energy model. Lorentz invariance violation which is achieved by introducing a vector field in the action, incorporates directly in the dynamics of the scalar field and equation of state. This interesting feature allows us to study phantom divided barrier crossing in the context of Lorentz invariance violation. We show that for suitable choice of parameter space, equation of state can cross phantom divided barrier just by one scalar field and Lorentz violating vector field controls this crossing.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, Revised and References added, Accepted for Publication in Europhysics Letter

The Baade-Wesselink p-factor applicable to LMC Cepheids

Context. Recent observations of LMC Cepheids bring new constraints on the slope of the period-projection factor relation (hereafter Pp relation) that is currently used in the Baade-Wesselink (hereafter BW) method of distance determination. The discrepancy between observations and theoretical analysis is particularly significant for short period Cepheids Aims. We investigate three physical effects that might possibly explain this discrepancy: (1) the spectroscopic S/N that is systematically lower for LMC Cepheids (around 10) compared to Galactic ones (up to 300), (2) the impact of the metallicity on the dynamical structure of LMC Cepheids, and (3) the combination of infrared photometry/interferometry with optical spectroscopy. Methods. To study the S/N we use a very simple toy model of Cepheids. The impact of metallicity on the projection factor is based on the hydrodynamical model of delta Cep already described in previous studies. This model is also used to derive the position of the optical versus infrared photospheric layers. Results. We find no significant effect of S/N, metallicity, and optical-versus-infrared observations on the Pp relation. Conclusions. The Pp relation of Cepheids in the LMC does not differ from the Galactic relation. This allows its universal application to determine distances to extragalactic Cepheids via BW analysis.Comment: accepted in A&A LETTER

Can the Universe escape eternal acceleration?

Recent astronomical observations of distant supernovae light-curves suggest that the expansion of the universe has recently begun to accelerate. Acceleration is created by an anti-gravitational repulsive stress, like that produced by a positive cosmological constant, or universal vacuum energy. It creates a rather bleak eschatological picture. An ever-expanding universe's future appears to be increasingly dominated by its constant vacuum energy. A universe doomed to accelerate forever will produce a state of growing uniformity and cosmic loneliness. Structures participating in the cosmological expansion will ultimately leave each others' horizons and information-processing must eventually die out. Here, we examine whether this picture is the only interpretation of the observations. We find that in many well-motivated scenarios the observed spell of vacuum domination is only a transient phenomenon. Soon after acceleration starts, the vacuum energy's anti-gravitational properties are reversed, and a matter-dominated decelerating cosmic expansion resumes. Thus, contrary to general expectations, once an accelerating universe does not mean always an accelerating universe.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure