13,502 research outputs found
Deducing Cosmological Observables from the S-matrix
We study one loop quantum gravitational corrections to the long range force
induced by the exchange of a massless scalar between two massive scalars. The
various diagrams contributing to the flat space S-matrix are evaluated in a
general covariant gauge and we show that dependence on the gauge parameters
cancels at a point considerably {\it before} forming the full S-matrix, which
is unobservable in cosmology. It is possible to interpret our computation as a
solution to the effective field equations --- which could be done even in
cosmology --- but taking account of quantum gravitational corrections from the
source and from the observer.Comment: 28 pages, 5 figures, uses LaTeX2
The Graviton Tail almost Completely Wags the Dog
One graviton loop corrections to the vacuum polarization on de Sitter show
two interesting infrared effects: a secular enhancement of the photon electric
field strength and a long range running of the Coulomb potential. We show that
the first effect derives solely from the "tail" term of the graviton
propagator, but that the second effect does not. Our result agrees with the
earlier observation that the secular enhancement of massless fermion mode
functions derives from solely from the tail term. We discuss the implications
this has for the important project of generalizing to quantum gravity the
Starobinsky technique for summing the series of leading infrared effects from
inflationary quantum field theory.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure, uses LaTeX2
The Graviton Propagator in de Donder Gauge on de Sitter Background
We construct the graviton propagator on de Sitter background in exact de
Donder gauge. We prove that it must break de Sitter invariance, just like the
propagator of the massless, minimally coupled scalar. Our explicit solutions
for its two scalar structure functions preserve spatial homogeneity and
isotropy so that the propagator can be used within the larger context of
inflationary cosmology, however, it is simple to alter the residual symmetry.
Because our gauge condition is de Sitter invariant (although no solution for
the propagator can be) renormalization should be simpler using this propagator
than one based on a noncovariant gauge. It remains to be seen how other
computational steps compare.Comment: 39 pages, no figures, uses LaTeX2
Hadronization Approach for a Quark-Gluon Plasma Formed in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions
A transport model is developed to describe hadron emission from a strongly
coupled quark-gluon plasma formed in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The
quark-gluon plasma is controlled by ideal hydrodynamics, and the hadron motion
is characterized by a transport equation with loss and gain terms. The two sets
of equations are coupled to each other, and the hadronization hypersurface is
determined by both the hydrodynamic evolution and the hadron emission. The
model is applied to calculate the transverse momentum distributions of mesons
and baryons, and most of the results agree well with the experimental data at
RHIC.Comment: 16 pages, 24 figures. Version accepted by PR
Self-Assembly of Nanocomponents into Composite Structures: Derivation and Simulation of Langevin Equations
The kinetics of the self-assembly of nanocomponents into a virus,
nanocapsule, or other composite structure is analyzed via a multiscale
approach. The objective is to achieve predictability and to preserve key
atomic-scale features that underlie the formation and stability of the
composite structures. We start with an all-atom description, the Liouville
equation, and the order parameters characterizing nanoscale features of the
system. An equation of Smoluchowski type for the stochastic dynamics of the
order parameters is derived from the Liouville equation via a multiscale
perturbation technique. The self-assembly of composite structures from
nanocomponents with internal atomic structure is analyzed and growth rates are
derived. Applications include the assembly of a viral capsid from capsomers, a
ribosome from its major subunits, and composite materials from fibers and
nanoparticles. Our approach overcomes errors in other coarse-graining methods
which neglect the influence of the nanoscale configuration on the atomistic
fluctuations. We account for the effect of order parameters on the statistics
of the atomistic fluctuations which contribute to the entropic and average
forces driving order parameter evolution. This approach enables an efficient
algorithm for computer simulation of self-assembly, whereas other methods
severely limit the timestep due to the separation of diffusional and complexing
characteristic times. Given that our approach does not require recalibration
with each new application, it provides a way to estimate assembly rates and
thereby facilitate the discovery of self-assembly pathways and kinetic dead-end
structures.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figure
Graviton Loop Corrections to Vacuum Polarization in de Sitter in a General Covariant Gauge
We evaluate the one-graviton loop contribution to the vacuum polarization on
de Sitter background in a 1-parameter family of exact, de Sitter invariant
gauges. Our result is computed using dimensional regularization and fully
renormalized with BPHZ counterterms, which must include a noninvariant owing to
the time-ordered interactions. Because the graviton propagator engenders a
physical breaking of de Sitter invariance two structure functions are needed to
express the result. In addition to its relevance for the gauge issue this is
the first time a covariant gauge graviton propagator has been used to compute a
noncoincident loop. A number of identities are derived which should facilitate
further graviton loop computations.Comment: 61 pages, 1 figure, 11 tables, version 2 (63 pages) revised for
publication in CQ
Single Graviton Loop Contribution to the Self-Mass of a Massless, Conformally Coupled Scalar on de Sitter Background
We use a simplified formalism to re-compute the single graviton loop
contribution to the self-mass of a massless, conformally coupled scalar on de
Sitter background which was originally made by Boran, Kahya and Park [1-3]. Our
result resolves the problem with the flat space correspondence limit that was
pointed out by Fr\"ob [4]. We discuss how this computation will be used in a
long-term project to purge the linearized effective field equation of gauge
dependence.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figure, uses LaTeX 2e. Version 2 revised slightly for
publicatio
One loop graviton corrections to dynamical photons in de Sitter
We employ a recent, general gauge computation of the one loop graviton
contribution to the vacuum polarization on de Sitter to solve for one loop
corrections to the photon mode function. The vacuum polarization takes the form
of a gauge independent, spin 2 contribution and a gauge dependent, spin 0
contribution. We show that the leading secular corrections derive entirely from
the spin 2 contribution.Comment: 41 pages, no figures, uses LaTeX2
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