7,845 research outputs found
Nuclear recoil energy scale in liquid xenon with application to the direct detection of dark matter
We show for the first time that the quenching of electronic excitation from
nuclear recoils in liquid xenon is well-described by Lindhard theory, if the
nuclear recoil energy is reconstructed using the combined (scintillation and
ionization) energy scale proposed by Shutt {\it et al.}. We argue for the
adoption of this perspective in favor of the existing preference for
reconstructing nuclear recoil energy solely from primary scintillation. We show
that signal partitioning into scintillation and ionization is well-described by
the Thomas-Imel box model. We discuss the implications for liquid xenon
detectors aimed at the direct detection of dark matter
Statistical mechanics of a Feshbach coupled Bose-Fermi gas in an optical lattice
We consider an atomic Fermi gas confined in a uniform optical lattice
potential, where the atoms can pair into molecules via a magnetic field
controlled narrow Feshbach resonance. The phase diagram of the resulting
atom-molecule mixture in chemical and thermal equilibrium is determined
numerically in the absence of interactions under the constraint of particle
conservation. In the limiting cases of vanishing or large lattice depth we
derive simple analytical results for important thermodynamic quantities. One
such quantity is the dissociation energy, defined as the detuning of the
molecular energy spectrum with respect to the atomic one for which half of the
atoms have been converted into dimers. Importantly we find that the
dissociation energy has a non-monotonic dependence on lattice depth.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure
The Asymmetric Effect of the Business Cycle on the Realtion between Stock Market Returns and their Volatility
We examine the relation between US stock market returns and the US business cycle for the period 1960 - 2003 using a new methodology that allows us to estimate a time-varying equity premium. We identify two channels in the transmission mechanism. One is through the mean of stock returns via the equity risk premium, and the other is through the volatility of returns. We provide support for previous findings based on simple correlation analysis that the relation is asymmetric with downturns in the business cycle having a greater negative impact on stock returns than the positive effect of upturns. We also obtain a new result, that demand and supply shocks affect stock returns differently. Our model of the relation between returns and their volatility encompasses CAPM, consumption CAPM and Merton's (1973) inter-temporal CAPM. It is implemented using a multi-variate GARCH-in-mean model with an asymmetric time-varying conditional heteroskedasticity and correlation structure.Equity returns, risk premium, asymmetry
An Asset Market Integration Test Based on Observable Macroeconomic Stochastic Discount Factors
There are a number of tests and measures of the degree of integration in the literature. An example is the idea that integrated markets should provide rates of return that are highly correlated with one another and that a measure of correlation provides an appropriate test. This particular idea is clearly false; for substantial periods of time we don't ever see stocks traded on the same market moving together. Specific models of what prices risk in individual markets could provide the basis of a test of integration. However, as has been widely shown, any differences between these pricing models will be subject to arbitrage by informed traders and so cannot form the basis for a test. In this paper we exploit the absence of arbitrage possibilities and the operation of the 'Law of One Price' in stochastic discount factor (SDF) theory to construct a test of integration based on a common approach to pricing assets in all markets, not only for stocks. The SDF approach that we adopt says that one SDF should price all assets as the model is not market or asset-specific.Unlike much of the literature, we adopt a direct parametric approach which takes estimates of an identical SDF from two asset markets and asks whether the price of risk associated with this SDF is the same for the two assets as SDF theory says it should. Another distinctive feature of our approach is that we employ observable macroeconomic factors. This allows us to estimate and compare the estimated risk premia in the markets concerned, with and without the integration restriction being applied. The paper uses this methodology to test market integration between the UK equity and FOREX markets. Our test rejects market integration for the consumption-based capital asset pricing model (CCAPM) and two variable SDF models based on consumption growth and inflation and on output and money growth. As equity and FOREX returns have a similar degree of variability, the finding that the risk premium in the FOREX market is generally much more variable than that in the equity market may contribute to the the test outcome.
Macroeconomic Sources of Equity Risk
There are very few estimates of a time-varying equity risk premium based on models that satisfy a no-arbitrage condition. The main aim of this paper is to estimate the US and UK equity risk premia implied by a number of well-known asset pricing models using monthly data for 1975-2001. The models include consumption-based CAPM with power utility, the Epstein-Zin general equilibrium model with time non-separable preferences, CAPM, and the SDF model. We show that most of the theoretical models of the equity risk premium that have been proposed in the literature are special cases the SDF model. We explain why some of them are unable to do this as formulated. In addition to examining existing theories of the equity risk premium, we use the SDF model to generate new theories. We find that macroeconomic variables not previously considered, and not consistent with standard general equilibrium theory, such as production, appear to be priced for the equity risk premium. This suggests that traditional general equilibrium considerations may not be the sole explanation for the equity risk premium; other short-term factors associated with pure price risk may also be involved. A related, and rapidly growing, literature adopts a more statistical approach. It focusses on the empirical relation between the return on equity (or the Sharpe ratio) and return volatility. We use SDF theory to show that this relation is misconceived. The reason for the absence of estimates of the equity risk premium is the difficulty of estimating it. Most of the empirical evidence on these asset pricing models is based on calibration, or the estimation of the Euler equation by GMM, neither of which delivers an estimate of the risk premium. We use a new empirical approach that does produce estimates of the risk premium and allows tests of the theories. As a result we provide the first estimates of the equity risk premium for some of these models. We then use our estimates to investigate the importance of different components of the equity risk premium including, amongst others, return volatility.
The negative acute phase response of serum transthyretin following Streptococcus suis infection in the pig
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Observation of modified hadronization in relativistic Au+Au collisions: a promising signature for deconfined quark-gluon matter
Measurements of identified particles from Au+Au collisions at
GeV are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on nuclear
modification, baryon-to-meson ratios, and elliptic flow at intermediate
transverse momentum ( GeV/c). Possible connections between (1)
these measurements, (2) the running coupling for static quark anti-quark pairs
at finite temperature, and (3) the creation of a deconfined quark-gluon phase
are presented. Modifications to hadronization in Au+Au collisions are proposed
as a likely signature for the creation of deconfined colored matter.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, invited talk at the Strange Quark Matter 2004
conference, Cape Town, South Afric
Jet multiplicities as the QGP thermometer
It is proposed to use the energy behavior of mean multiplicities of jets
propagating in a nuclear medium as the thermometer of this medium during the
collision phases. The qualitative effects are demonstrated in the framework of
the fixed coupling QCD with account of jet quenching.Comment: Modify version of hep-ph/0509344, 3 figure
Evidence from Identified Particles for Active Quark and Gluon Degrees of Freedom
Measurements of intermediate pT (1.5 < pT < 5.0 GeV/c) identified particle
distributions in heavy ion collisions at SPS and RHIC energies display striking
dependencies on the number of constituent quarks in the corresponding hadron.
One finds that elliptic flow at intermediate pT follows a constituent quark
scaling law as predicted by models of hadron formation through coalescence. In
addition, baryon production is also found to increase with event multiplicity
much faster than meson production. The rate of increase is similar for all
baryons, and seemingly independent of mass. This indicates that the number of
constituent quarks determines the multiplicity dependence of identified hadron
production at intermediate pT. We review these measurements and interpret the
experimental findings.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, proceedings for SQM2006 conference in Los Angele
Fluctuation and flow probes of early-time correlations in relativistic heavy ion collisions
Fluctuation and correlation observables are often measured using
multi-particle correlation methods and therefore mutually probe the origins of
genuine correlations present in multi-particle distribution functions. We
investigate the common influence of correlations arising from the spatially
inhomogeneous initial state on multiplicity and momentum fluctuations as well
as flow fluctuations. Although these observables reflect different aspects of
the initial state, taken together, they can constrain a correlation scale set
at the earliest moments of the collision. We calculate both the correlation
scale in an initial stage Glasma flux tube picture and the modification to
these correlations from later stage hydrodynamic flow and find quantitative
agreement with experimental measurements over a range of collision systems and
energies.Comment: Proceedings of the 28th Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics, Dorado
del Mar, Puerto Rico, April 7-14, 201
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