Gaussian Effective Potential and the Coleman's normal-ordering Prescription : the Functional Integral Formalism

For a class of system, the potential of whose Bosonic Hamiltonian has a Fourier representation in the sense of tempered distributions, we calculate the Gaussian effective potential within the framework of functional integral formalism. We show that the Coleman's normal-ordering prescription can be formally generalized to the functional integral formalism.Comment: 6 pages, revtex; With derivation details and an example added. To appear in J. Phys.

Antilinear spectral symmetry and the vortex zero-modes in topological insulators and graphene

We construct the general extension of the four-dimensional Jackiw-Rossi-Dirac Hamiltonian that preserves the antilinear reflection symmetry between the positive and negative energy eigenstates. Among other systems, the resulting Hamiltonian describes the s-wave superconducting vortex at the surface of the topological insulator, at a finite chemical potential, and in the presence of both Zeeman and orbital couplings to the external magnetic field. Here we find that the bound zero-mode exists only when the Zeeman term is below a critical value. Other physical realizations pertaining to graphene are considered, and some novel zero-energy wave functions are analytically computed.Comment: 6 revtex pages; typos corrected, published versio

GRB afterglows: deep Newtonian phase and its application

Gamma-ray burst afterglows have been observed for months or even years in a few cases. It deserves noting that at such late stages, the remnants should have entered the deep Newtonian phase, during which the majority of shock-accelerated electrons will no longer be highly relativistic. To calculate the afterglows, we must assume that the electrons obey a power-law distribution according to their kinetic energy, not simply the Lorentz factor.Comment: Poster at the 4th workshop "Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era" (Rome, 2004), accepted for publication in the proceedings. 4 pages, with 3 figures inserte

Beaming effects in GRBs and orphan afterglows

The overall dynamical evolution and radiation mechanism of $\gamma$-ray burst jets are briefly introduced. Various interesting topics concerning beaming in $\gamma$-ray bursts are discussed, including jet structures, orphan afterglows and cylindrical jets. The possible connection between $\gamma$-ray bursts and neutron star kicks is also addressed.Comment: 10 Pages, 4 figures, to appear in a special issue of ApSS. Oral report presented at "The Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Gamma-Ray Sources" (Hong Kong, June 1 - 4, 2004; Conference organizers: K.S. Cheng and G.E. Romero

Cluster dynamical mean field theory of quantum phases on a honeycomb lattice

We have studied the ground state of the half-filled Hubbard model on a honeycomb lattice by performing the cluster dynamical mean field theory calculations with exact diagonalization on the cluster-impurity solver. Through using elaborate numerical analytic continuation, we identify the existence of a `spin liquid' from the on-site interaction U=0 to $U_c$ (between $4.6t$ and $4.85t$) with a smooth crossover correspondingly from the charge fluctuation dominating phase into the charge correlation dominating phase. The semi-metallic state exits only at U=0. We further find that the magnetic phase transition at $U_c$ from the `spin liquid' to the N\'{e}el antiferromagnetic Mott insulating phase is a first-order quantum phase transition. We also show that the charge fluctuation plays a substantial role on keeping the `spin liquid' phase against the emergence of a magnetic order.Comment: 5 pages and 8 figure

Beaming Effects in Gamma-Ray Bursts

Based on a refined generic dynamical model, we investigate afterglows from jetted gamma-ray burst (GRB) remnants numerically. In the relativistic phase, the light curve break could marginally be seen. However, an obvious break does exist at the transition from the relativistic phase to the non-relativistic phase, which typically occurs at time 10 to 30 days. It is very interesting that the break is affected by many parameters, especially by the electron energy fraction (xi_e), and the magnetic energy fraction (xi_B^2). Implication of orphan afterglow surveys on GRB beaming is investigated. The possible existence of a kind of cylindrical jets is also discussed.Comment: Minor changes; 10 pages, with 9 eps figures embedded. Talk given at the Sixth Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics (Xi'an, China, July 11-17, 2002). A slightly revised version will appear in the proceeding