Large data pointwise decay for defocusing semilinear wave equations

We generalize the pointwise decay estimates for large data solutions of the defocusing semilinear wave equations which we obtained earlier under restriction to spherical symmetry. Without the symmetry the conformal transformation we use provides only a weak decay. This can, however, in the next step be improved to the optimal decay estimate suggested by the radial case and small data results. This is the first result of that kind

Optical lattice quantum simulator for QED in strong external fields: spontaneous pair creation and the Sauter-Schwinger effect

Spontaneous creation of electron-positron pairs out of the vacuum due to a strong electric field is a spectacular manifestation of the relativistic energy-momentum relation for the Dirac fermions. This fundamental prediction of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) has not yet been confirmed experimentally as the generation of a sufficiently strong electric field extending over a large enough space-time volume still presents a challenge. Surprisingly, distant areas of physics may help us to circumvent this difficulty. In condensed matter and solid state physics (areas commonly considered as low energy physics), one usually deals with quasi-particles instead of real electrons and positrons. Since their mass gap can often be freely tuned, it is much easier to create these light quasi-particles by an analogue of the Sauter-Schwinger effect. This motivates our proposal of a quantum simulator in which excitations of ultra-cold atoms moving in a bichromatic optical lattice represent particles and antiparticles (holes) satisfying a discretized version of the Dirac equation together with fermionic anti-commutation relations. Using the language of second quantization, we are able to construct an analogue of the spontaneous pair creation which can be realized in an (almost) table-top experiment.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figure

Tails for the Einstein-Yang-Mills system

We study numerically the late-time behaviour of the coupled Einstein Yang-Mills system. We restrict ourselves to spherical symmetry and employ Bondi-like coordinates with radial compactification. Numerical results exhibit tails with exponents close to -4 at timelike infinity $i^+$ and -2 at future null infinity \Scri.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Octupole transitions in the 208Pb region

The 208Pb region is characterised by the existence of collective octupole states. Here we populated such states in 208Pb + 208Pb deep-inelastic reactions. γ-ray angular distribution measurements were used to infer the octupole character of several E3 transitions. The octupole character of the 2318 keV 17− → 14+ in 208Pb, 2485 keV 19/2 − → 13/2 + in 207Pb, 2419 keV 15/2 − → 9/2 + in 209Pb and 2465 keV 17/2 + → 11/2 − in 207Tl transitions was demonstrated for the first time. In addition, shell model calculations were performed using two different sets of two-body matrix elements. Their predictions were compared with emphasis on collective octupole states.This work is supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), UK, US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Physics, under Contract No. DEAC02-06CH11357 and DE-FG02-94ER40834, NSF grant PHY-1404442

Angular distributions of rays from 210bi produced in 208 pb+208pb deep-inelastic reactions

The high-spin yrast structure of the 210Bi nucleus was investigated using -ray coincidence spectroscopy following deep-inelastic reactions in the 208Pb+208Pb system. Cascades of rays following the decay of a new isomer were identified. Spin-parity assignments to the states known from previous studies as well as to newly located excitations were made based on the measured angular distributions of rays combined with a transition conversion coefficient analysis

Intermediate behavior of Kerr tails

The numerical investigation of wave propagation in the asymptotic domain of Kerr spacetime has only recently been possible thanks to the construction of suitable hyperboloidal coordinates. The asymptotics revealed an apparent puzzle in the decay rates of scalar fields: the late-time rates seemed to depend on whether finite distance observers are in the strong field domain or far away from the rotating black hole, an apparent phenomenon dubbed "splitting". We discuss far-field "splitting" in the full field and near-horizon "splitting" in certain projected modes using horizon-penetrating, hyperboloidal coordinates. For either case we propose an explanation to the cause of the "splitting" behavior, and we determine uniquely decay rates that previous studies found to be ambiguous or immeasurable. The far-field "splitting" is explained by competition between projected modes. The near-horizon "splitting" is due to excitation of lower multipole modes that back excite the multipole mode for which "splitting" is observed. In both cases "splitting" is an intermediate effect, such that asymptotically in time strong field rates are valid at all finite distances. At any finite time, however, there are three domains with different decay rates whose boundaries move outwards during evolution. We then propose a formula for the decay rate of tails that takes into account the inter--mode excitation effect that we study.Comment: 16 page

Relativistic quantum mechanics with trapped ions

We consider the quantum simulation of relativistic quantum mechanics, as described by the Dirac equation and classical potentials, in trapped-ion systems. We concentrate on three problems of growing complexity. First, we study the bidimensional relativistic scattering of single Dirac particles by a linear potential. Furthermore, we explore the case of a Dirac particle in a magnetic field and its topological properties. Finally, we analyze the problem of two Dirac particles that are coupled by a controllable and confining potential. The latter interaction may be useful to study important phenomena as the confinement and asymptotic freedom of quarks.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

Thermal Analysis of Potted Litz Wire for High-Power-Density Aerospace Electric Machines

Increasing the power density and efficiency of electric machines (motors and generators) is integral to bringing Electrified Aircraft (EA) to commercial realization. To that end an effort to create a High Efficiency Megawatt Motor (HEMM) with a goal of exceeding 98% efficiency and 1.46 MW of power has been undertaken at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Of the motor components the resistive losses in the stator windings are by far the largest contributor (34%) to total motor loss. The challenge is the linear relationship between resistivity and temperature, making machine operation sensitive to temperature increases. In order to accurately predict the thermal behavior of the stator the thermal conductivity of the Litz wire-potting-electrical insulation system must be known. Unfortunately, this multi material system has a wide range of thermal conductivities (0.1 W/m-K 400 W/m-K) and a high anisotropy (axial vs transverse) making the prediction of the transverse thermal conductivity an in turn the hot spot temperatures in the windings is difficult. In order to do this a device that simulates the thermal environment found in the HEMM stator was designed. This device is not unlike the motorettes (little motors) that are described in IEEE standards for testing electrical insulation lifetimes or other electric motor testing. However, because the HEMM motor design includes significant rotor electrical and thermal considerations the term motorette was not deemed appropriate. Instead statorette (or little stator) was adopted as the term for this test device. This paper discussed the design, thermal heat conjugate analysis (thermal model), manufacturing and testing of HEMM's statorette. Analysis of the results is done by thermal resistance network model and micro thermal model and is compared to analytical predictions of thermal conductivity of the insulated and potted Litz wire system

Charged particle decay of hot and rotating 88^{88}Mo nuclei in fusion-evaporation reactions

A study of fusion-evaporation and (partly) fusion-fission channels for the $^{88}$Mo compound nucleus, produced at different excitation energies in the reaction $^{48}$Ti + $^{40}$Ca at 300, 450 and 600 MeV beam energies, is presented. Fusion-evaporation and fusion-fission cross sections have been extracted and compared with the existing systematics. Experimental data concerning light charged particles have been compared with the prediction of the statistical model in its implementation in the Gemini++ code, well suited even for high spin systems, in order to tune the main model parameters in a mass region not abundantly covered by exclusive experimental data. Multiplicities for light charged particles emitted in fusion evaporation events are also presented. Some discrepancies with respect to the prediction of the statistical model have been found for forward emitted $\alpha$-particles; they may be due both to pre-equilibrium emission and to reaction channels (such as Deep Inelastic Collisions, QuasiFission/QuasiFusion) different from the compound nucleus formation.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure