Structural and optical studies of FeSb2 under high pressure

Nanostructured orthorhombic FeSb2 and an amorphous phase were formed by mechanical alloying starting from a mixture of high purity elemental Fe and Sb powders. The effects of high pressures on structural and optical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). XRD patterns showed the presence of the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase up to the maximum pressure applied (28.2 GPa). The XRD patterns showed also an increase in the amount of the amorphous phase with increasing pressure up to 23.3 GPa. At 14.3 GPa, together with the former phases, a new phase was observed and indexed to a tetragonal FeSb2 phase, but its volume fraction is small at least up to 23.3 GPa. For the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase, the pressure dependence of the volume fitted to a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gave a bulk modulus = 74.2 +- 3.0 GPa and its pressure derivative = 7.5 +- 0.6. RS measurements were performed from atmospheric pressure up to 45.2 GPa. For the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase, the Raman active mode was observed up to the maximum pressure applied, while the mode disappeared at 16.6 GPa. For pressures higher than 21 GPa, the Raman active mode of a tetragonal FeSb2 phase was observed, confirming ab initio calculations reported in the literature.Comment: 31 pages, 11 figures and 2 tables. Already submitted for publicatio

The Impact of Stellar Migration on Disk Outskirts

Stellar migration, whether due to trapping by transient spirals (churning), or to scattering by non-axisymmetric perturbations, has been proposed to explain the presence of stars in outer disks. After a review of the basic theory, we present compelling, but not yet conclusive, evidence that churning has been important in the outer disks of galaxies with type II (down-bending) profiles, while scattering has produced the outer disks of type III (up-bending) galaxies. In contrast, field galaxies with type I (pure exponential) profiles appear to not have experienced substantial migration. We conclude by suggesting work that would improve our understanding of the origin of outer disks.Comment: Invited review, Book chapter in "Outskirts of Galaxies", Eds. J. H. Knapen, J. C. Lee and A. Gil de Paz, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Springer, in press 39 pages, 15 figure

Improved Estimates of Cosmological Perturbations

We recently derived exact solutions for the scalar, vector and tensor mode functions of a single, minimally coupled scalar plus gravity in an arbitrary homogeneous and isotropic background. These solutions are applied to obtain improved estimates for the primordial scalar and tensor power spectra of anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures, LaTeX 2epsilon, this version corrects an embarrasing mistake (in the published version) for the parameter q_C. Affected eqns are 105, 109-110, 124, 148-153 and 155-15

WKB approximation for inflationary cosmological perturbations

A new method for predicting inflationary cosmological perturbations, based on the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation, is presented. A general expression for the WKB scalar and tensor power spectra is derived. The main advantage of the new scheme of approximation is that it is valid even if the slow-roll conditions are violated. The method is applied to power-law inflation, which allows a comparison with an exact result. It is demonstrated that the WKB approximation predicts the spectral indices exactly and the amplitude with an error lower than 10%, even in regimes far from scale-invariance. The new method of approximation is also applied to a situation where the slow-roll conditions hold. It is shown that the result obtained bears close resemblance with the standard slow-roll calculation. Finally, some possible improvements are briefly mentioned.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, RevTeX; minor changes, reference added (v2); typos corrected (v3

Natural disturbances and the physiognomy of pine savannas : A phenomenological model

Abstract. Question: The decline of the Pinus palustris ecosystems has resulted from anthropogenic influences, such as conversion to pine plantation forestry, agriculture and land development, all of which are closely related to increases in human populations. Other effects, however, have arisen from alterations in disturbance regimes that maintain the structure and function of these ecosystems. How have alterations of the disturbance regime altered the physiognomy of ‘old-growth’ stands, and what are the implications for ecosystem conservation and restoration? Methods: In contrast to models that emphasize close interactions among the vertically complex strata, we develop a conceptual phenomenological model for the physiognomic structure of Pinus palustris stands. We relate two natural disturbances (tropical storms and fire) that affect different stages of the life cycle to different aspects of the physiognomic structure. We then compare overstorey stand structure and ground cover composition of two old-growth longleaf stands near the extremes of different composite disturbance regimes: the Wade Tract (frequent hurricanes and fire) and the Boyd Tract (infrequent hurricanes and long-term fire exclusion). Results: We predict that tropical storms and fires have different effects on stand physiognomy. Tropical storms are periodic, and sometimes intense, whereas fires are more frequent and less intense. Hurricanes directly influence the overstorey via wind-caused damage and mortality, and indirectly influence the herb layer by altering the spatial distribution of shading and litter accumulation. Fire exerts direct effects on juvenile stages and indirect effects on the herb layer via fine fuel consumption and selective mortality of potential competitors of P. palustris juveniles. These differences in effects of disturbances can result in widely different physiognomies for P. palustris stands. Finally, some global climate change scenarios have suggested that changes may occur in tropical storm and fire regimes, altering frequency and severity. Such changes may greatly affect pine stands, and ultimately entire pine savanna ecosystems. Conclusions: Our phenomenological model of disturbance regimes in Pinus palustris old-growth produces very different physiognomies for different disturbances regimes that reflect natural process and human management actions. This model can be used to derive restoration strategies for pine savannas that are linked to reinstitution of important ecological processes rather than specific physiognomic states

Solitons in Triangular and Honeycomb Dynamical Lattices with the Cubic Nonlinearity

We study the existence and stability of localized states in the discrete nonlinear Schr{\"o}dinger equation (DNLS) on two-dimensional non-square lattices. The model includes both the nearest-neighbor and long-range interactions. For the fundamental strongly localized soliton, the results depend on the coordination number, i.e., on the particular type of the lattice. The long-range interactions additionally destabilize the discrete soliton, or make it more stable, if the sign of the interaction is, respectively, the same as or opposite to the sign of the short-range interaction. We also explore more complicated solutions, such as twisted localized modes (TLM's) and solutions carrying multiple topological charge (vortices) that are specific to the triangular and honeycomb lattices. In the cases when such vortices are unstable, direct simulations demonstrate that they turn into zero-vorticity fundamental solitons.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, Phys. Rev.

Investigating Safety And Preliminary Efficacy Of Afm13 Plus Pembrolizumab In Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma After Brentuximab Vedotin Failure

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149522/1/hon134_2629.pd

ABJM models in N=3 harmonic superspace

We construct the classical action of the Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena (ABJM) model in the N=3, d=3 harmonic superspace. In such a formulation three out of six supersymmetries are realized off shell while the other three mix the superfields and close on shell. The superfield action involves two hypermultiplet superfields in the bifundamental representation of the gauge group and two Chern-Simons gauge superfields corresponding to the left and right gauge groups. The N=3 superconformal invariance allows only for a minimal gauge interaction of the hypermultiplets. Amazingly, the correct sextic scalar potential of ABJM emerges after the elimination of auxiliary fields. Besides the original U(N)xU(N) ABJM model, we also construct N=3 superfield formulations of some generalizations. For the SU(2)xSU(2) case we give a simple superfield proof of its enhanced N=8 supersymmetry and SO(8) R-symmetry.Comment: 1+35 pages, minor changes, a reference added, published versio

Nonlinear multidimensional cosmological models with form fields: stabilization of extra dimensions and the cosmological constant problem

We consider multidimensional gravitational models with a nonlinear scalar curvature term and form fields in the action functional. In our scenario it is assumed that the higher dimensional spacetime undergoes a spontaneous compactification to a warped product manifold. Particular attention is paid to models with quadratic scalar curvature terms and a Freund-Rubin-like ansatz for solitonic form fields. It is shown that for certain parameter ranges the extra dimensions are stabilized. In particular, stabilization is possible for any sign of the internal space curvature, the bulk cosmological constant and of the effective four-dimensional cosmological constant. Moreover, the effective cosmological constant can satisfy the observable limit on the dark energy density. Finally, we discuss the restrictions on the parameters of the considered nonlinear models and how they follow from the connection between the D-dimensional and the four-dimensional fundamental mass scales.Comment: 21 pages, LaTeX2e, minor changes, improved references, fonts include

Global Search for New Physics with 2.0/fb at CDF

Data collected in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron are searched for indications of new electroweak-scale physics. Rather than focusing on particular new physics scenarios, CDF data are analyzed for discrepancies with the standard model prediction. A model-independent approach (Vista) considers gross features of the data, and is sensitive to new large cross-section physics. Further sensitivity to new physics is provided by two additional algorithms: a Bump Hunter searches invariant mass distributions for "bumps" that could indicate resonant production of new particles; and the Sleuth procedure scans for data excesses at large summed transverse momentum. This combined global search for new physics in 2.0/fb of ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV reveals no indication of physics beyond the standard model.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Final version which appeared in Physical Review D Rapid Communication