On linear coupling of acoustic and cyclotron waves in plasma flows

It is found that in magnetized electrostatic plasma flows the velocity shear couples ion-acoustic waves with ion-cyclotron waves and leads, under favorable conditions, to their efficient reciprocal transformations. It is shown that in a two-dimensional setup this coupling has a remarkable feature: it is governed by equations that are exactly similar to the ones describing coupling of sound waves with internal gravity waves [Rogava & Mahajan: Phys. Rev. E vol.55, 1185 (1997)] in neutral fluid flows. Using another noteworthy quantum mechanical analogy we calculate transformation coefficients and give fully analytic, quantitative description of the coupling efficiency for flows with low shearing rates.Comment: 5 pages, no figures. Submitted to "Physics of Plasmas

Relativistic Restrictions on the Distinguishability of Orthogonal Quantum States

We analyze the restrictions on the distinguishability of quantum states imposed by special relativity. An explicit expression relating the error probability for distinguishing between two orthogonal single-photon states with the time $T$ elapsed from the start of the measurement procedure until the measurement result is obtained by the observer.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure (misprints in formulas corrected

Linear coupling and over-reflection phenomena of magnetohydrodynamic waves in smooth shear flows

Special features of magnetohydrodynamic waves linear dynamics in smooth shear flows are studied. Quantitative asymptotic and numerical analysis are performed for wide range of system parameters when basic flow has constant shear of velocity and uniform magnetic field is parallel to the basic flow. The special features consist of magnetohydrodynamic wave mutual transformation and over-reflection phenomena. The transformation takes place for arbitrary shear rates and involves all magnetohydrodynamic wave modes. While the over-reflection occurs only for slow magnetosonic and Alfv\'en waves at high shear rates. Studied phenomena should be decisive in the elaboration of the self-sustaining model of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the shear flows

Quantifying shear-induced wave transformations in the solar wind

The possibility of velocity shear-induced linear transformations of different magnetohydrodynamic waves in the solar wind is studied both analytically and numerically. A quantitative analysis of the wave transformation processes for all possible plasma-$\beta$ regimes is performed. By applying the obtained criteria for effective wave coupling to the solar wind parameters, we show that velocity shear-induced linear transformations of Alfv\'en waves into magneto-acoustic waves could effectively take place for the relatively low-frequency Alfv\'en waves in the energy containing interval. The obtained results are in a good qualitative agreement with the observed features of density perturbations in the solar wind.Comment: Astrophysical Journal (accepted

Proton stability in grand unified theories, in strings, and in branes

A broad overview of the current status of proton stability in unified models of particle interactions is given which includes non - supersymmetric unification, SUSY and SUGRA unified models, unification based on extra dimensions, and string-M-theory models. The extra dimensional unification includes 5D and 6D and universal extra dimensional (UED) models, and models based on warped geometry. Proton stability in a wide array of string theory and M theory models is reviewed. These include Calabi-Yau models, grand unified models with Kac-Moody levels $k>1$, a new class of heterotic string models, models based on intersecting D branes, and string landscape models. The destabilizing effect of quantum gravity on the proton is discussed. The possibility of testing grand unified models, models based on extra dimensions and string-M-theory models via their distinctive modes is investigated. The proposed next generation proton decay experiments, HyperK, UNO, MEMPHYS, ICARUS, LANNDD (DUSEL), and LENA would shed significant light on the nature of unification complementary to the physics at the LHC. Mathematical tools for the computation of proton lifetime are given in the appendices. Prospects for the future are discussed.Comment: Published in Physics Reports. 258 pages, 11 figure

Das kalorische Verhalten von Metallen bei den tiefsten Temperaturen

Bei Silber und Zink wurde bei den Temperaturen des flüssigen Heliums eine supplementäre spezifische Wärme gemessen, die den freien Elektronen zugeschrieben wird. Das kalorische Verhalten eines Metalles beim Übergang vom supraleitenden in den nicht-supraleitenden Zustand wurde untersucht und mit der thermodynamischen Theorie verglichen. Über einige Betrachtungen von J.A. Kok bezüglich der Wärmekapazität der freien Elektronen im supraleitenden und im nicht-supraleitenden Zustande wurde referiert.</p