Spiral Structure Based Limits on the Disk Mass of the Low Surface Brightness Galaxies UGC 6614 and F568-6

Upper limits for the disk mass-to-light ratios for the low surface brightness galaxies UGC 6614 and F568-6 (Malin 2) are estimated by considering the minimum velocity perturbations in the HI velocity field that should result from the spiral structure observed in the R band images. The weak observed response in the $\phi$ velocity component limits the mass-to-light ratios of the disk within a scale length to M/L <~ 3 and 6 for UGC 6614 for F568-6 respectively (in solar units) based upon azimuthal variations observed in the R band images. These limits are sufficiently strong to require a significant dark matter component even in the central regions of these galaxies. Our limits furthermore imply that this dark matter component cannot be in the form of a cold disk since a cold disk would necessarily be involved in the spiral structure. However, a more massive disk could be consistent with the observations because of a non-linear gas response or if the gas is driven by bar-like distortions instead of spiral structure. To produce the large observed arm/interarm HI density variations it is likely that the spiral arm potential perturbation is sufficiently strong to produce shocks in the gas. For a forcing that is greater than 2% of the axisymmetric force, M/L >~ 1 is required in both galaxies in the outer regions. These lower limits imply that the stellar surface density is at least of the same order as the gas surface density. This is consistent with the large scale morphology of the spiral structure, and the stability of the gas disk, both which suggest that a moderate stellar component is required to produce the observed spiral structure. (Shortened abstract)Comment: AAS Latex, Postscript and jpeg Figures, Accepted for publication in A

Energy Flow in Acoustic Black Holes

We present the results of an analysis of superradiant energy flow due to scalar fields incident on an acoustic black hole. In addition to providing independent confirmation of the recent results in [5], we determine in detail the profile of energy flow everywhere outside the horizon. We confirm explicitly that in a suitable frame the energy flow is inward at the horizon and outward at infinity, as expected on physical grounds.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, Comments added to discussion of energy flow and introductory section abbreviate

Glasma properties in small proper time expansion

In a series of works by two of us, various characteristics of the glasma from the earliest phase of relativistic heavy-ion collisions have been studied using a proper time expansion. These characteristics include: energy density, longitudinal and transverse pressures, collective flow, angular momentum and parameters of jet quenching. In this paper we extend the proper time interval where our results are reliable by working at higher order in the expansion. We also generalize our previous study of jet quenching by extending our calculations to consider inhomogeneous glasma. Inhomogeneities are an important aspect of physically realistic systems that are difficult to include in calculations and are frequently ignored.Comment: 22 pages, 13 figure

Association of carotid atherosclerosis and left ventricular hypertrophy.

AbstractObjectives. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in a large group of asymptomatic hypertensive and normotensive adults and to examine its relation to the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy.Background. Both electrocardiographic and echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy predict an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, including cerebrovascular disease, but the mechanism of association is unknown.Methods. Four hundred eighty-six (277 normotensive and 209 untreated hypertensive) adults, free of clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease, were studied prospectively with echocardiography to determine left ventricular mass and carotid ultrasound to detect atherosclerosis and to measure common carotid artery dimensions.Results. Carotid atherosclerosis was present in 16% of normotensive and 23% of hypertensive participants (p < 0.05) and was associated with older age, higher systolic and pulse pressures and larger left ventricular mass index ([mean ± SD] 91 ± 19 vs. 82 ± 18 g/m2, p < 0.0001). The difference in mass persisted after adjustment for baseline differences in age and blood pressure. Subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy were twice as likely to have carotid atheromas (35% vs. 18%, p < 0.01). Logistic regression analyses, including standard risk factors, indicated that only age and left ventricular mass index independently predicted the presence of carotid plaque, both in the entire study group and when normotensive and hypertensive subjects were considered separately.Conclusions. We believe that the present study provides the first evidence that higher left ventricular mass as detected by echocardiography is associated with the presence of carotid plaque. The association between cardiac hypertrophy and systemic atherosclerosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of the high incidence of vascular events that is well documented in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy

Real time statistical field theory

We have written a {\it Mathematica} program that calculates the integrand corresponding to any amplitude in the closed-time-path formulation of real time statistical field theory. The program is designed so that it can be used by someone with no previous experience with {\it Mathematica}. It performs the contractions over the tensor indices that appear in real time statistical field theory and gives the result in the 1-2, Keldysh or RA basis. We have used the program to calculate the ward identity for the QED 3-point function, the QED 4-point function for two photons and two fermions, and the QED 5-point function for three photons and two fermions. In real time statistical field theory, there are seven 3-point functions, 15 4-point functions and 31 5-point functions. We produce a table that gives the results for all of these functions. In addition, we give a simple general expression for the KMS conditions between $n$-point green functions and vertex functions, in both the Keldysh and RA basesComment: 25 pages, 12 figure