20,717 research outputs found
Constraining Galactic dark matter with gamma-ray pixel counts statistics
Gamma-ray searches for new physics such as dark matter are often driven by
investigating the composition of the extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGB).
Classic approaches to EGB decomposition manifest in resolving individual point
sources and dissecting the intensity spectrum of the remaining unresolved
component. Furthermore, statistical methods have recently been proven to
outperform the sensitivity of classic source detection algorithms in finding
point-source populations in the unresolved flux regime. In this article, we
employ the 1-point photon count statistics of eight years of Fermi-LAT data to
resolve the population of extragalactic point sources and to decompose the
diffuse isotropic background contribution for Galactic latitudes |b|>30 deg. We
use three adjacent energy bins between 1 and 10 GeV. For the first time, we
extend the analysis to incorporate a potential contribution from annihilating
dark matter smoothly distributed in the Galaxy. We investigate the sensitivity
reach of 1-point statistics for constraining the thermally-averaged
self-annihilation cross section of dark matter, using different
template models for the Galactic foreground emission. Given the official
Fermi-LAT interstellar emission model, we set upper bounds on the DM
self-annihilation cross section that are comparable with the
constraints obtained by other indirect detection methods, in particular by the
stacking analysis of several dwarf spheroidal galaxies.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 1 table; v2: major changes improving the
selection of the RO
Binary black hole mergers from field triples: properties, rates and the impact of stellar evolution
We consider the formation of binary black hole mergers through the evolution
of field massive triple stars. In this scenario, favorable conditions for the
inspiral of a black hole binary are initiated by its gravitational interaction
with a distant companion, rather than by a common-envelope phase invoked in
standard binary evolution models. We use a code that follows self-consistently
the evolution of massive triple stars, combining the secular triple dynamics
(Lidov-Kozai cycles) with stellar evolution. After a black hole triple is
formed, its dynamical evolution is computed using either the orbit-averaged
equations of motion, or a high-precision direct integrator for triples with
weaker hierarchies for which the secular perturbation theory breaks down. Most
black hole mergers in our models are produced in the latter non-secular
dynamical regime. We derive the properties of the merging binaries and compute
a black hole merger rate in the range (0.3- 1.3) Gpc^{-3}yr^{-1}, or up to
~2.5Gpc^{-3}yr^{-1} if the black hole orbital planes have initially random
orientation. Finally, we show that black hole mergers from the triple channel
have significantly higher eccentricities than those formed through the
evolution of massive binaries or in dense star clusters. Measured
eccentricities could therefore be used to uniquely identify binary mergers
formed through the evolution of triple stars. While our results suggest up to
~10 detections per year with Advanced-LIGO, the high eccentricities could
render the merging binaries harder to detect with planned space based
interferometers such as LISA.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 10 pages, 6 figure
Strain-gradient-induced switching of nanoscale domains in free-standing ultrathin films
We report first-principle atomistic simulations on the effect of local strain
gradients on the nanoscale domain morphology of free-standing PbTiO
ultrathin films. First, the ferroelectric properties of free films at the
atomic level are reviewed. For the explored thicknesses (10 to 23 unit cells),
we find flux-closure domain structures whose morphology is thickness dependent.
A critical value of 20 unit cells is observed: thinner films show structures
with 90 domain loops, whereas thicker ones develop, in addition,
180 domain walls, giving rise to structures of the Landau-Lifshitz
type. When a local and compressive strain gradient at the top surface is
imposed, the gradient is able to switch the polarization of the downward
domains, but not to the opposite ones. The evolution of the domain pattern as a
function of the strain gradient strength consequently depends on the film
thickness. Our simulations indicate that in thinner films, first the 90
domain loops migrate towards the strain-gradient region, and then the
polarization in that zone is gradually switched. In thicker films, instead, the
switching in the strain-gradient region is progressive, not involving
domain-wall motion, which is attributed to less mobile 180 domain
walls. The ferroelectric switching is understood based on the knowledge of the
local atomic properties, and the results confirm that mechanical
flexoelectricity provides a means to control the nanodomain pattern in
ferroelectric systems.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
A general multivariate latent growth model with applications in student careers Data warehouses
The evaluation of the formative process in the University system has been
assuming an ever increasing importance in the European countries. Within this
context the analysis of student performance and capabilities plays a
fundamental role. In this work we propose a multivariate latent growth model
for studying the performances of a cohort of students of the University of
Bologna. The model proposed is innovative since it is composed by: (1)
multivariate growth models that allow to capture the different dynamics of
student performance indicators over time and (2) a factor model that allows to
measure the general latent student capability. The flexibility of the model
proposed allows its applications in several fields such as socio-economic
settings in which personal behaviours are studied by using panel data.Comment: 20 page
Light-like Wilson loops in ABJM and maximal transcendentality
We revisit the computation of the two-loop light-like tetragonal Wilson loop
for three dimensional pure Chern-Simons and N=6 Chern-Simons-matter theory,
within dimensional regularization with dimensional reduction scheme. Our
examination shows that, contrary to prior belief, the result respects maximal
transcendentality as is the case of the four-point scattering amplitude of the
theory. Remarkably, the corrected result matches exactly the scattering
amplitude both in the divergent and in the finite parts, constants included.Comment: 11 page
The 1/2 BPS Wilson loop in ABJ(M) at two loops: The details
We compute the expectation value of the 1/2 BPS circular Wilson loop operator
in ABJ(M) theory at two loops in perturbation theory. Our result turns out to
be in exact agreement with the weak coupling limit of the prediction coming
from localization, including finite N contributions associated to non-planar
diagrams. It also confirms the identification of the correct framing factor
that connects framing-zero and framing-one expressions, previously proposed.
The evaluation of the 1/2 BPS operator is made technically difficult in
comparison with other observables of ABJ(M) theory by the appearance of
integrals involving the coupling between fermions and gauge fields, which are
absent for instance in the 1/6 BPS case. We describe in detail how to
analytically solve these integrals in dimensional regularization with
dimensional reduction (DRED). By suitably performing the physical limit to
three dimensions we clarify the role played by short distance divergences on
the final result and the mechanism of their cancellation.Comment: 54 pages, 2 figure
Magnon heralding in cavity optomagnonics
In the emerging field of cavity optomagnonics, photons are coupled coherently
to magnons in solid-state systems. These new systems are promising for
implementing hybrid quantum technologies. Being able to prepare Fock states in
such platforms is an essential step towards the implementation of quantum
information schemes. We propose a magnon-heralding protocol to generate a
magnon Fock state by detecting an optical cavity photon. Due to the
peculiarities of the optomagnonic coupling, the protocol involves two distinct
cavity photon modes. Solving the quantum Langevin equations of the coupled
system, we show that the temporal scale of the heralding is governed by the
magnon-photon cooperativity and derive the requirements for generating high
fidelity magnon Fock states. We show that the nonclassical character of the
heralded state, which is imprinted in the autocorrelation of an optical "read"
mode, is only limited by the magnon lifetime for small enough temperatures. We
address the detrimental effects of nonvacuum initial states, showing that high
fidelity Fock states can be achieved by actively cooling the system prior to
the protocol.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures. Correction of typos, version as publishe
BPS Wilson loops and Bremsstrahlung function in ABJ(M): a two loop analysis
We study a family of circular BPS Wilson loops in N=6 super
Chern-Simons-matter theories, generalizing the usual 1/2-BPS circle. The scalar
and fermionic couplings depend on two deformation parameters and these
operators can be considered as the ABJ(M) counterpart of the DGRT latitudes
defined in N=4 SYM. We perform a complete two-loop analysis of their vacuum
expectation value, discuss the framing dependence and propose a general
relation with cohomologically equivalent bosonic operators. We make an all-loop
proposal for computing the Bremsstrahlung function associated to the 1/2-BPS
cusp in terms of these generalized Wilson loops. When applied to our two-loop
result it reproduces the known expression. Finally, we comment on the
generalization of this proposal to the bosonic 1/6-BPS case.Comment: 46 pages, 6 figures; references adde
A matrix model for the latitude Wilson loop in ABJM theory
In ABJ(M) theory, we propose a matrix model for the exact evaluation of BPS
Wilson loops on a latitude circular contour, so providing a new weak-strong
interpolation tool. Intriguingly, the matrix model turns out to be a particular
case of that computing torus knot invariants in Chern-Simons
theory. At weak coupling we check our proposal against a three-loop
computation, performed for generic framing, winding number and representation.
The matrix model is amenable of a Fermi gas formulation, which we use to
systematically compute the strong coupling and genus expansions. For the
fermionic Wilson loop the leading planar behavior agrees with a previous string
theory prediction. For the bosonic operator our result provides a clue for
finding the corresponding string dual configuration. Our matrix model is
consistent with recent proposals for computing Bremsstrahlung functions exactly
in terms of latitude Wilson loops. As a by-product, we extend the conjecture
for the exact Bremsstrahlung function to generic
representations and test it with a four-loop perturbative computation. Finally,
we propose an exact prediction for at unequal gauge group ranks.Comment: 73 pages; v2: several improvements, JHEP published versio
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