Space-time Torsion and Neutrino Oscillations in Vacuum

The objective of this study is to verify the consistency of the prescription of alternative minimum coupling (connection) proposed by the Teleparallel Equivalent to General Relativity (TEGR) for the Dirac equation. With this aim, we studied the problem of neutrino oscillations in Weitzenbock space-time in the Schwarzschild metric. In particular, we calculate the phase dynamics of neutrinos. The relation of spin of the neutrino with the space-time torsion is clarified through the determination of the phase differences between spin eigenstates of the neutrinos.Comment: 07 pages, no figure

Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of ornamental plants from Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil

A list of 35 scale insects collected from 72 ornamental plant species in Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil is provided. Regarding host specificity, 30 scale insects were polyphagous, 4 oligophagous, and 1 monophagous. A total of 102 coccoid/plant associations are recorded, 29 of which are new host records for the species; 60 are new host records for the species in Brazil. Pulvinaria urbicola Cockerell, 1893 (Coccidae), Phenacoccus similis Granara de Willink, 1983 (Pseudococcidae), and Orthezia molinarii (Morrison, 1952) (Ortheziidae) are recorded for the first time in Brazil. In addition, we describe the injury caused by scale insects on ornamental plants

Respective influence of in-plane and out-of-plane spin-transfer torques in magnetization switching of perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

The relative contributions of in-plane (damping-like) and out-of-plane (field-like) spin-transfer-torques in the magnetization switching of out-of-plane magnetized magnetic tunnel junctions (pMTJ) has been theoretically analyzed using the transformed Landau-Lifshitz (LL) equation with the STT terms. It is demonstrated that in a pMTJ structure obeying macrospin dynamics, the out-of-plane torque influences the precession frequency but it does not contribute significantly to the STT switching process (in particular to the switching time and switching current density), which is mostly determined by the in-plane STT contribution. This conclusion is confirmed by finite temperature and finite writing pulse macrospin simulations of the current-field switching diagrams. It contrasts with the case of STT-switching in in-plane magnetized MTJ in which the field-like term also influences the switching critical current. This theoretical analysis was successfully applied to the interpretation of voltage-field STT switching diagrams experimentally measured on perpendicular MTJ pillars 36 nm in diameter, which exhibit macrospin-like behavior. The physical nonequivalence of Landau and Gilbert dissipation terms in presence of STT-induced dynamics is also discussed

Nomophobia, phubbing and social phobia in Portuguese young adults and adults

Introduction: To our knowledge there is no study exploring the interrelationship between nomophobia, phubbing and social phobia in Portuguese young adults and adults. Objectives: To explore the nomophobia, phubbing and social phobia levels, the interrelationship between these three constructs, in a sample of Portuguese young adults and adults. Methods: 316 subjects, with a mean age of 25.71 years old (SD = 8.231; range 18 - 59) fulfilled a sociodemographic questionnaire, and the Portuguese validations of the Nomophobia Questionnaire, the Phubbing Scale and the Social Interaction and Performance Anxiety and Avoidance Scale. Results: All the subjects presented nomophobia (100%, n = 316), with 62% (n = 196) presenting a moderate risk level and 22% (n = 69) an higher risk level. The mean of the ‘total phubbing score’ was of 21.50 (DP = 5.50) and ‘smartphone obsession’ was the phubbing subscale with an higher score (X = 12.81, DP = 3.50). The mean of the total nomophobia was of 80.0 (DP = 22.83) and ‘not being able to communicate’ was the nomophobia subescale with an higher score (X = 24.75, DP = 9.95).Considering social phobia scale, the mean of the ‘anxiety/distress’ subscale was of 95.36 (DP = 25.14) and of the ‘avoidance subscale’ was of 89.56 (DP = 25.53). Almost 22% (n = 69) of the subjects presented ‘social anxiety’ and 24% (n = 76) presented ‘social avoidance’, suggesting probable social phobia cases (higher than the proposed cut-off scores). Positive and significant correlations were found between all the nomophobia and phubbing subscales (ranging from .30** to .61**). Positive and significantly correlations, mostly with low magnitude, were found between nomophobia and social phobia subscales (ranging from .03** to .22**), except for ‘social avoidance’ subescale, which correlation was negative (-.021*). Females presented higher levels of nomophobia (Md = 176.28) and phubbing (Md = 167.22) than males (Md =124.73, U = 7301.500, p <.001;Md = 141.93), U = 9475.500, p= .019, respectively). Total social phobia scores and nomophobia (not being able to access information and giving up convenience subescales) were significantly higher in young adults. Conclusions: Nomophobia, phubbing and social phobia are significantly intercorrelated. Future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify nomophobia and phubbing etiology. The level of nomophobia (100%) found in this sample is specially worrying.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Specific heat and thermal conductivity in the mixed state of MgB2

The specific heat C and the electronic and phononic thermal conductivities kappa_e and kappa_{ph} are calculated in the mixed state for magnetic fields H near H_{c2}. The effects of supercurrent flow and Andreev scattering of the Abrikosov vortex lattice on the quasiparticles are taken into account. The resulting function C(H) is nearly linear while kappa_e(H) exhibits an upward curvature near H_{c2}. The slopes decrease with impurity scattering which improves the agreement with the data on MgB_2. The ratio of phonon relaxation times tau_n/tau_s = g(omega_0,H) for phonon energy omega_0, which is nearly a step function at omega_0 = 2Delta for the BCS state, is smeared out and tends to one for increasing H. This leads to a rapid reduction of kappa_{ph}(H) in MgB_2 for relatively small fields due to the rapid suppression of the smaller energy gap.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Letter

Non-relativistic quantum systems on topological defects space-times

We study the behavior of non-relativistic quantum particles interacting with different potentials in the space-times generated by a cosmic string and a global monopole. We find the energy spectra in the presence of these topological defects and show how they differ from their free space-time values.Comment: 17 pages, LATEX fil

Exponential Distributions in a Mechanical Model for Earthquakes

We study statistical distributions in a mechanical model for an earthquake fault introduced by Burridge and Knopoff [R. Burridge and L. Knopoff, {\sl Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am.} {\bf 57}, 341 (1967)]. Our investigations on the size (moment), time duration and number of blocks involved in an event show that exponential distributions are found in a given range of the paramenter space. This occurs when the two kinds of springs present in the model have the same, or approximately the same, value for the elastic constants. Exponential distributions have also been seen recently in an experimental system to model earthquake-like dynamics [M. A. Rubio and J. Galeano, {\sl Phys. Rev. E} {\bf 50}, 1000 (1994)].Comment: 11 pages, uuencoded (submitted to Phys. Rev. E

NIR spectroscopy of the Sun and HD20010 - Compiling a new linelist in the NIR

Context: Effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity are basic spectroscopic stellar parameters necessary to characterize a star or a planetary system. Reliable atmospheric parameters for FGK stars have been obtained mostly from methods that relay on high resolution and high signal-to-noise optical spectroscopy. The advent of a new generation of high resolution near-IR spectrographs opens the possibility of using classic spectroscopic methods with high resolution and high signal-to-noise in the NIR spectral window. Aims: We aim to compile a new iron line list in the NIR from a solar spectrum to derive precise stellar atmospheric parameters, comparable to the ones already obtained from high resolution optical spectra. The spectral range covers 10 000 {\AA} to 25 000 {\AA}, which is equivalent to the Y, J, H, and K bands. Methods: Our spectroscopic analysis is based on the iron excitation and ionization balance done in LTE. We use a high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio spectrum of the Sun from the Kitt Peak telescope as a starting point to compile the iron line list. The oscillator strengths (log gf) of the iron lines were calibrated for the Sun. The abundance analysis was done using the MOOG code after measuring equivalent widths of 357 solar iron lines. Results: We successfully derived stellar atmospheric parameters for the Sun. Furthermore, we analysed HD20010, a F8IV star, from which we derived stellar atmospheric parameters using the same line list as for the Sun. The spectrum was obtained from the CRIRES- POP database. The results are compatible with the ones found in the literature, confirming the reliability of our line list. However, due to the quality of the data we obtain large errors.Comment: 9 pages and 9 figure