Moduli Space of Topological 2-form Gravity

We propose a topological version of four-dimensional (Euclidean) Einstein gravity, in which anti-self-dual 2-forms and an SU(2) connection are used as fundamental fields. The theory describes the moduli space of conformally self-dual Einstein manifolds. In the presence of a cosmological constant, we evaluate the index of the elliptic complex associated with the moduli space.Comment: 10pages, Latex (minor changes

Thermo-Hysteresis Phenomenon of the Electrical Resistivity in Fe_2Ti Suggesting Its Martensitic Transformation

Some indirect evidence is found of the occurrence of a martensitic transformation below room temperature in the Laves phase compounds in the Fe-Ti alloy system. The detailed measurements of the electrical resistivity from 4.2 to 1200°K show a large thermo-hysteresis, suggesting that the low temperature transformation develops just below room temperature and the high temperature one begins at about 560°K in the stoichiometric compound. Although the X-ray powder photographs show no clear evidence of a new phase, it may be interpreted that the new phase consists of a very small volume with a fine structure

A likely detection of a local interplanetary dust cloud passing near the Earth in the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky map

Context. We are creating the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky diffuse maps. Through a foreground removal of the zodiacal emission, we serendipitously detected a bright residual component whose angular size is about 50 x 20 deg. at a wavelength of 9 micron. Aims. We investigate the origin and the physical properties of the residual component. Methods. We measured the surface brightness of the residual component in the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky maps. Results. The residual component was significantly detected only in 2007 January, even though the same region was observed in 2006 July and 2007 July, which shows that it is not due to the Galactic emission. We suggest that this may be a small cloud passing near the Earth. By comparing the observed intensity ratio of I_9um/I_18um with the expected intensity ratio assuming thermal equilibrium of dust grains at 1 AU for various dust compositions and sizes, we find that dust grains in the moving cloud are likely to be much smaller than typical grains that produce the bulk of the zodiacal light. Conclusions. Considering the observed date and position, it is likely that it originates in the solar coronal mass ejection (CME) which took place on 2007 January 25.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

Effects of liquid diet intake on nerve growth in salivary glands of growing rats

Background: The growth of parotid glands is inhibited by liquid diet intake during growing period, while that of submandibular glands is not affected. This study examined how liquid diet intake affects nerve growth in the parotid and submandibular glands of growing rats, because nerves are closely involved in the maintenance of salivary gland structure. Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were weaned at 21 days of age. Then, rats were fed a pellet diet and a liquid diet in the control group and experimental group, respectively. At 0, 2, 4, or 8 weeks, they were euthanized by isoflurane overdose, and parotid and submandibular glands were removed. The frozen sections were made and immuno-stained with anti-protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) antibody (general nerve marker), anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody (sympathetic nerve marker), or anti-neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) antibody (parasympathetic nerve marker). Results: In control parotid glands, scattered punctate or short linear patterns of PGP 9.5-positive sites were observed at week 0. After 2 weeks, PGP 9.5-positive sites, some of which were arranged in long linear patterns, increased in number. There were some TH-positive sites at week 0. After 2 weeks, there were increasing numbers of TH-positive sites, often in long linear patterns. At week 0, there were very few nNOS-positive sites, and nNOS immunoreactivity increased over time. After week 4, they demonstrated linear patterns. In the experimental parotid glands, there were fewer PGP 9.5- and nNOS-positive sites than in control parotid glands at each time point, although TH immunoreactivity was similar between two groups at each time point. In control submandibular glands, few punctate exhibited PGP 9.5-positive site were observed at week 0. At week 4, PGP 9.5 immunoreaction increased and showed linear patterns. TH-positive sites demonstrated punctate or short linear patterns at week 0, and thereafter TH immunoreactivity increased and were arranged in long linear patterns. There were few nNOS-positive sites at week 0, and they gradually increased after week 4. The immunoreactivities of all antibodies in the experimental submandibular glands were similar to those in the control at each time point. Conclusions: Parasympathetic nerve growth in rat parotid glands was inhibited by liquid diet intake during the growth period, while liquid diet intake did not affect parasympathetic nerve growth nor sympathetic nerve growth in rat submandibular glands

Kondo Effect in the Transport Properties of the CsCl-Type Compounds Fe_<1-x>Ti_<1+x> : II. Magnetic Scattering Center due to Atomic Disordering(Physics)

Neutron diffraction measurements were made at room temperature for the CsCl-type compounds, Fe_Ti_, in order to confirm the origins of the anomalous transport phenomena in the titanium-rich compositions and the superparamagnetism near the stoichiometric one. On the basis of those results, it could be concluded that the former behaviour is due to the Kondo effect, originating in a magnetic cluster of nine iron atoms with a concentration of about 10^, produced by the atomic disorder. The composition dependence of the residual resistivity also seems to be explainable from this point of view

A trick for passing degenerate points in Ashtekar formulation

We examine one of the advantages of Ashtekar's formulation of general relativity: a tractability of degenerate points from the point of view of following the dynamics of classical spacetime. Assuming that all dynamical variables are finite, we conclude that an essential trick for such a continuous evolution is in complexifying variables. In order to restrict the complex region locally, we propose some `reality recovering' conditions on spacetime. Using a degenerate solution derived by pull-back technique, and integrating the dynamical equations numerically, we show that this idea works in an actual dynamical problem. We also discuss some features of these applications.Comment: 9 pages by RevTeX or 16 pages by LaTeX, 3 eps figures and epsf-style file are include

Scaling Relations for Collision-less Dark Matter Turbulence

Many scaling relations are observed for self-gravitating systems in the universe. We explore the consistent understanding of them from a simple principle based on the proposal that the collision-less dark matter fluid terns into a turbulent state, i.e. dark turbulence, after crossing the caustic surface in the non-linear stage. The dark turbulence will not eddy dominant reflecting the collision-less property. After deriving Kolmogorov scaling laws from Navier-Stokes equation by the method similar to the one for Smoluchowski coagulation equation, we apply this to several observations such as the scale-dependent velocity dispersion, mass-luminosity ratio, magnetic fields, and mass-angular momentum relation, power spectrum of density fluctuations. They all point the concordant value for the constant energy flow per mass: $0.3 cm^2/sec^3$, which may be understood as the speed of the hierarchical coalescence process in the cosmic structure formation.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figure

Gravitational Instantons and Moduli Spaces of Topological 2-form Gravity

A topological version of four-dimensional (Euclidean) Einstein gravity which we propose regards anti-self-dual 2-forms and an anti-self-dual part of the frame connections as fundamental fields. The theory describes the moduli spaces of conformally self-dual Einstein manifolds for the non-zero cosmological constant case and Einstein-Kahlerian manifold with the vanishing real first Chern class for the zero cosmological constant. In the non-zero cosmological constant case, we evaluate the index of the elliptic complex associated with the moduli space and calculate the partition function. We also clarify the moduli space and its dimension for the zero cosmological constant case which are related to the Plebansky's heavenly equations.Comment: 36pages, LaTex, TIT/HEP-247/COSMO-4

Growth and Perfection of Nickel and Cobalt Single Crystals Using the Floating-Zone Method(Physics)

Using the floating-zone method, Ni and Co single crystals were grown under various experimental conditions. Detailed observations of low angle boundaries or striations and of the dislocation arrangements in the grown crystals were carried out using an optical microscope. Ni single crystals grew preferentially along the direction and were striation-free. As the growth direction deviated from the , sharp striations were formed. The dislocation density in the crystals was about 10^6 cm^, which were distributed at random. Co single crystals grew along the direction and were also striation-free. As the growth direction deviated from the , many striations were formed with more complex shapes. These experimental results are discussed on the basis of the growth mechanism of crystals and of dislocation behaviour during the solidification process