Computation of Λˉ\bar{\Lambda} and λ1\lambda_1 with Lattice QCD

We pursue a new method, based on lattice QCD, for determining the quantities $\bar{\Lambda}$, $\lambda_1$, and $\lambda_2$ of heavy-quark effective theory. We combine Monte Carlo data for the meson mass spectrum with perturbative calculations of the short-distance behavior, to extract $\bar{\Lambda}$ and $\lambda_1$ from a formula from HQET. Taking into account uncertainties from fitting the mass dependence and from taking the continuum limit, we find $\bar{\Lambda} = 0.68{+0.02}_{-0.12} \text{GeV}$ and $\lambda_1 = -(0.45 \pm 0.12) \text{GeV}^2$ in the quenched approximation.Comment: 7 pp, 4 figs (in v2 Fig. 4 now shows Ref. 13, as advertised); in v3 error in BLM scale is correcte

Excitons in van der Waals heterostructures: The important role of dielectric screening

The existence of strongly bound excitons is one of the hallmarks of the newly discovered atomically thin semi-conductors. While it is understood that the large binding energy is mainly due to the weak dielectric screening in two dimensions (2D), a systematic investigation of the role of screening on 2D excitons is still lacking. Here we provide a critical assessment of a widely used 2D hydrogenic exciton model which assumes a dielectric function of the form {\epsilon}(q) = 1 + 2{\pi}{\alpha}q, and we develop a quasi-2D model with a much broader applicability. Within the quasi-2D picture, electrons and holes are described as in-plane point charges with a finite extension in the perpendicular direction and their interaction is screened by a dielectric function with a non-linear q-dependence which is computed ab-initio. The screened interaction is used in a generalized Mott-Wannier model to calculate exciton binding energies in both isolated and supported 2D materials. For isolated 2D materials, the quasi-2D treatment yields results almost identical to those of the strict 2D model and both are in good agreement with ab-initio many-body calculations. On the other hand, for more complex structures such as supported layers or layers embedded in a van der Waals heterostructure, the size of the exciton in reciprocal space extends well beyond the linear regime of the dielectric function and a quasi-2D description has to replace the 2D one. Our methodology has the merit of providing a seamless connection between the strict 2D limit of isolated monolayer materials and the more bulk-like screening characteristics of supported 2D materials or van der Waals heterostructures.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure

Quantum theory of electron tunneling into intersubband cavity polariton states

Through a non-perturbative quantum theory, we investigate how the quasi-electron excitations of a two-dimensional electron gas are modified by strong coupling to the vacuum field of a microcavity. We show that the electronic dressed states originate from a Fano-like coupling between the bare electron states and the continuum of intersubband cavity polariton excitations. In particular, we calculate the electron spectral function modified by light-matter interactions and its impact on the electronic injection of intersubband cavity polaritons. The domain of validity of the present theoretical results is critically discussed. We show that resonant electron tunneling from a narrow-band injector can selectively excite superradiant states and produce efficient intersubband polariton electroluminescence

B -> pi l nu at three lattice spacings

The increasing accuracy of experimental results for the exclusive, semileptonic decay B -> pi l nu requires a similarly accurate calculation of the hadronic matrix elements, to determine |Vub|. We present preliminary results for the form factors of the B to light meson decay mode. Using results from three lattices in the range 5.7 <= beta <= 6.1 we study the dependence on the lattice spacing.Comment: LATTICE98(heavyqk), LaTeX, 3 pages, 4 postscript figures, uses espcrc2.st

Modifications in the Spectrum of Primordial Gravitational Waves Induced by Instantonic Fluctuations

Vacuum to vacuum instantonic transitions modify the power spectrum of primordial gravitational waves. We evaluate the new form of the power spectrum for ordinary gravity as well as the parity violation induced in the spectrum by a modification of General Relativity known as Holst term and we outline the possible experimental consequences.Comment: V1: 8 pages. V2: 8 pages, some points clarified, typos corrected, some references added, final result unchanged. V3: 8 pages, title changed, presentation improved, discussion of phenomenological consequences added, comments very welcome. V4: Discussion further improved, comments very very welcom

A notion of graph likelihood and an infinite monkey theorem

We play with a graph-theoretic analogue of the folklore infinite monkey theorem. We define a notion of graph likelihood as the probability that a given graph is constructed by a monkey in a number of time steps equal to the number of vertices. We present an algorithm to compute this graph invariant and closed formulas for some infinite classes. We have to leave the computational complexity of the likelihood as an open problem.Comment: 6 pages, 1 EPS figur

Cluster Abundance in f(R) Gravity Models

As one of the most powerful probes of cosmological structure formation, the abundance of massive galaxy clusters is a sensitive probe of modifications to gravity on cosmological scales. In this paper, we present results from N-body simulations of a general class of f(R) models, which self-consistently solve the non-linear field equation for the enhanced forces. Within this class we vary the amplitude of the field, which controls the range of the enhanced gravitational forces, both at the present epoch and as a function of redshift. Most models in the literature can be mapped onto the parameter space of this class. Focusing on the abundance of massive dark matter halos, we compare the simulation results to a simple spherical collapse model. Current constraints lie in the large-field regime, where the chameleon mechanism is not important. In this regime, the spherical collapse model works equally well for a wide range of models and can serve as a model-independent tool for placing constraints on f(R) gravity from cluster abundance. Using these results, we show how constraints from the observed local abundance of X-ray clusters on a specific f(R) model can be mapped onto other members of this general class of models.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

3D Laparoscopy. A potential cutting edge in minimal invasive digestive surgery

Laparoscopic surgery has changed surgical landscape, providing reduced surgical trauma, shorter hospital stays, less postoperative pain and better outcomes than open surgery. Since its first development in the 90’s, 3D technology applied to laparoscopic surgery has had several technical improvements and now it represents, together with high definition technology, the best option in minimal invasive digestive surgery, providing shorter operative times and lower blood loss, making easier to perform surgical tasks both for trainees than for skilled surgeons. It remains a little bit more expensive than standard 2D laparoscopic devices but even cheaper than robotic equipment