Calculation of nuclear matrix elements in neutrinoless double electron capture

We compute nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double electron capture on $^{152}$Gd, $^{164}$Er and $^{180}$W nuclei. Recent precise mass measurements for these nuclei have shown a large resonance enhancement factor that makes them the most promising candidates for observing this decay mode. We use an advanced energy density functional method which includes beyond mean-field effects such as symmetry restoration and shape mixing. Our calculations reproduce experimental charge radii and $B(E2)$ values predicting a large deformation for all these nuclei. This fact reduces significantly the values of the NMEs leading to half-lives larger than $10^{29}$ years for the three candidates

Relativistic Quantum Optics: On the relativistic invariance of the light-matter interaction models

In this note we discuss the invariance under general changes of reference frame of all the physical predictions of particle detector models in quantum field theory in general and, in particular, of those used in quantum optics to model atoms interacting with light. We find explicitly how the light-matter interaction Hamiltonians change under general coordinate transformations, and analyze the subtleties of the Hamiltonians commonly used to describe the light-matter interaction when relativistic motion is taken into account.Comment: 11 pages. ReVteX 4.1. V2: Updated to match published versio

Did the Cooperative Start Life as a Joint-Stock Company? Business Law and Cooperatives in Spain, 1869-1931

Studies of Spanish cooperatives date their spread from the Law on Agrarian Syndicates of 1906. But the first legislative appearance of cooperatives is an 1869 measure that permitted general incorporation for lending companies. The 1931 general law on cooperatives, which was the first act permitting the formation of cooperatives in any activity, reflects the gradual disappearance of the cooperative’s “business” characteristics. In this paper we trace the Spanish cooperative’s legal roots in business law and its connections to broader questions of the freedom of association, the formation of joint-stock enterprises, and the liability of investors in business and cooperative entities. Our account underscores the similarities of the organizational problems approach by cooperatives and business firms, while at the same time respecting the distinctive purposes cooperatives served.cooperative, general incorporation, business enterprise, freedom of association, freedom of contract

The magnetic SW Sextantis star RX J1643.7+3402

We present time-resolved spectroscopy and circular spectropolarimetry of the SW Sex star RX J1643.7+3402. We find significant polarisation levels exhibiting a variability at a period of 19.38 +- 0.39 min. In addition, emission-line flaring is found predominantly at twice the polarimetric period. These two findings are strong evidences in favour of the presence of a magnetic white dwarf in the system. We interpret the measured periodicities in the context of our magnetic accretion model for SW Sex stars. In contrast with LS Pegasi -the first SW Sex star discovered to have modulated circular polarisation- the polarisation in RX J1643.7+3402 is suggested to vary at 2(omega - Omega), while the emission lines flare at (omega - Omega). However, a 2omega/omega interpretation cannot be ruled out. Together with LS Peg and V795 Her, RX J1643.7+3402 is the third SW Sex star known to exhibit modulated circular polarisation.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA