Supersymmetric Heavy Higgses at e^+e^- Linear Collider and Dark-Matter Physics

We consider the capability of the e^+e^- linear collider (which is recently called as the International Linear Collider, or ILC) for studying the properties of the heavy Higgs bosons in the supersymmetric standard model. We pay special attention to the large \tan\beta region which is motivated, in particular, by explaining the dark-matter density of the universe (i.e., so-called ``rapid-annihilation funnels''). We perform a systematic analysis to estimate expected uncertainties in the masses and widths of the heavy Higgs bosons assuming an energy and integrated luminosity of \sqrt{s}=1 TeV and L=1 ab^{-1}. We also discuss its implication to the reconstruction of the dark-matter density of the universe.Comment: 28 pages, 13 figures, version to appear in PR

Optimal uptake kinetics: physiological acclimation explains the pattern of nitrate uptake by phytoplankton in the ocean

Phytoplankton supply the base of the marine food web and drive the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients. Over much of the ocean, their growth is limited by their uptake of nitrogen (as nitrate), which has most commonly been described by the hyperbolic Michaelis-Menten (MM) equation. However, the lack of a theory to explain variations in MM constants has hindered our ability to predict the response of marine ecosystems to changes in environmental conditions. The MM equation fits data from short-term experiments well, but does not agree with steady-state experiments over wide ranges of nutrient concentrations. In contrast, the recently developed optimal uptake kinetics (OU) does agree with the latter and can also describe the observed pattern of MM half-saturation constants from field. experiments. OU kinetics explains the observed pattern of N uptake as the result of a general physiological trade-off between nutrient uptake capacity and affinity. The existence of a general trade-off would imply a relatively high degree of predictability in the response of nutrient uptake to changing nutrient concentrations and thus provide a basis for predicting effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles

Topological quantum phase transition in the BEC-BCS crossover phenomena

A crossover between the Bose Einstein condensation (BEC) and BCS superconducting state is described topologically in the chiral symmetric fermion system with attractive interaction. Using a local Z_2 Berry phase, we found a quantum phase transition between the BEC and BCS phases without accompanying the bulk gap closing.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Macroscopic quantum dynamics of pi-junctions with ferromagnetic insulators

We theoretically investigate the macroscopic quantum dynamics of a pi junction with a superconductor (S) and a multiferroic material or a ferromagnetic insulator (FI). By deriving the effective action from a microscopic Hamiltonian, a pi-junction qubit (a S-FI-S superconducting quantum interference device ring) is proposed. In this qubit, a quantum two-level system is spontaneously generated and the effect of the quasiparticle dissipation is found to be very weak. These features make it possible to realize a quiet qubit with high coherency. We also investigate macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in current-biased S-FI-S pi junctions and show that the influence of the quasiparticle dissipation on MQT is negligibly small.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Lymanα\alpha Emitters beyond Redshift 5:The Dawn of Galaxy Formation

The 8m class telescopes in the ground-based optical astronomy together with help from the ultra-sharp eye of the Hubble Space Telescope have enabled us to observe forming galaxies beyond redshift $z=5$. In particular, more than twenty Ly$\alpha$-emitting galaxies have already been found at $z > 5$. These findings provide us with useful hints to investigate how galaxies formed and then evolved in the early universe. Further, detailed analysis of Ly$\alpha$ emission line profiles are useful in exploring the nature of the intergalactic medium because the trailing edge of cosmic reionization could be close to $z \sim 6$ -- 7, at which forming galaxies have been found recently. We also discuss the importance of superwinds from forming galaxies at high redshift, which has an intimate relationship between galaxies and the intergalactic medium. We then give a review of early cosmic star formation history based on recent progress in searching for Ly$\alpha$-emitting young galaxies beyond redshift 5.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, jkas35.sty. To appear in the proceedings of the APCTP WoFormation and Interaction of Galaxies, edited by Hyung Mok Leerkshop o

Starburst-driven Starbursts in the Heart of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies

There is increasing evidence for the presence of blue super star clusters in the central regions of ultraluminous infrared galaxies like Arp 220. Ultraluminous galaxies are thought to be triggered by galaxy mergers, and it has often been argued that these super star clusters may form during violent collisions between gas clouds in the final phase of the mergers. We now investigate another set of models which differ from previous ones in that the formation of the super star clusters is linked directly to the very intense starburst occurring at the very center of the galaxy. Firstly we show that a scenario in which the super star clusters form in material compressed by shock waves originating from the central starburst is implausible because the objects so produced are much smaller than the observed star clusters in Arp 220. We then investigate a scenario (based on the Shlosman-Noguchi model) in which the infalling dense gas disk is unstable gravitationally and collapses to form massive gaseous clumps. Since these clumps are exposed to the external high pressure driven by the superwind (a blast wave driven by a collective effect of a large number of supernovae in the very core of the galaxy), they can collapse and then massive star formation may be induced in them. The objects produced in this kind of collapse have properties consistent with those of the observed super star clusters in the center of Arp 220.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, ApJ (Letters) in pres

Fluctuation Theorem in a Quantum-Dot Aharonov-Bohm Interferometer

In the present study, we investigate the full counting statistics in a two-terminal Aharonov-Bohm interferometer embedded with an interacting quantum dot. We introduce a novel saddle-point solution for a cumulant-generating function, which satisfies the fluctuation theorem and accounts for the interaction in the mean-field level approximation. Nonlinear transport coefficients satisfy universal relations imposed by microscopic reversibility, though the scattering matrix itself is not reversible. The skewness can be finite even in equilibrium, owing to the interaction and is proportional to the asymmetric component of nonlinear conductance.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Full Counting Statistics for a Single-Electron Transistor, Non-equilibrium Effects at Intermediate Conductance

We evaluate the current distribution for a single-electron transistor with intermediate strength tunnel conductance. Using the Schwinger-Keldysh approach and the drone (Majorana) fermion representation we account for the renormalization of system parameters. Nonequilibrium effects induce a lifetime broadening of the charge-state levels, which suppress large current fluctuations.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur