Intrinsic curvature of curves and surfaces and a Gauss-Bonnet theorem in the Heisenberg group

We use a Riemannnian approximation scheme to define a notion of intrinsic Gaussian curvature for a Euclidean C2 -smooth surface in the Heisenberg group H away from characteristic points, and a notion of intrinsic signed geodesic curvature for Euclidean C2 -smooth curves on surfaces. These results are then used to prove a Heisenberg version of the Gauss–Bonnet theorem. An application to Steiner’s formula for the Carnot–Carathéodory distance in H is provided

Two-photon decay of heavy quarkonium from heavy-quark spin symmetry

With the recent measurements on $\eta_{c}$ and $\eta_{c}^{\prime}$ at CLEO, Babar and Belle, and with the prospect of finding the $\eta_{b}$ at the Tevatron, it seems appropriate to have another look at the two-photon decay of heavy quarkonium from the standpoint of an effective Lagrangian based on local operator expansion and heavy-quark spin symmetry. In this talk, I would like to discuss a recent work on the two-photon decay rates of ground states and excited states of $\eta_c$ and $\eta_b$ using the local operator expansion approach and heavy-quark spin symmetry and taking into account the binding-energy. We find that the predicted two-photon width for $\eta_c$ agrees well with experiment, but the predicted value for $\eta_c(2S)$ is twice larger than the CLEO estimation. We point out that the essentially model-independent ratio of $\eta_b$ two-photon width to the $\Upsilon$ leptonic width and the $\eta_b$ two-photon width could be used to extract the strong coupling constant $\alpha_s$ .Comment: 9 pages, Talk given at the QCD@Work 2007 International Workshop on QCD: Theory and Experiment}, Martina Franca, Italy, 16--20 June 200

A finite element method for the solution of potencial flow in two dimensions

This report presents a method for the solution of two dimensional, potential flow around an aerofoil base on a Finite Element Method for the solution of Laplace’s equation. Solutions to approximate the “real” flow are constructed from the observation that potential flow solutions are linear and thus, many potential flows may be superimposed to yield the desired flow. Indeed, in this way, one of the effects of viscosity, that of fixing the rear stagnation point to the trailing edge for up to moderate angle of attack cases, is modelled by the imposition of a potential flow due to a point vortex (located at the ¼ chord point) sufficient to fix the rear stagnation point at the trailing edge (Kutta condition). It must be remembered however, that potential flow solutions are inviscid and as such do not model correctly the flow separation point and further, the absence of viscosity falsely causes the model to predict zero drag caused by the aerofoil. However, the predictions made for the lift (derived from the calculated circulation to fix the Kutta condition via the Kutta-Joukowski theorem) are shown to be good for low Mach number cases at moderate angles of attack.   &nbsp

Electron microscopy study of CeOx–Pd/α-Al2O3 catalysts for methane dry reforming

We have investigated the interaction between Pd and Ce in a 0.47 wt % CeOx–Pd 1 wt %/ -Al2O3 catalyst that is used in the reforming reaction of CH4 with CO2. The freshly reduced catalyst was characterized by various electron microscopy techniques, such as elemental mapping, Z-contrast imaging, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy to understand the role of Ce on a microscopic scale. The high spatial resolution elemental mapping indicates that CeOx is located in close proximity of the palladium nanoparticles. High-resolution lattice images and energy-loss spectra obtained in the vicinity of the Pd particles show an anisotropic distribution of CeOx crystallites limited to the interface region between Pd and the substrate but not covering the surface of the Pd nanoparticles. Energy-loss near edge fine structure of Pd M edges reveals that the Pd nanoparticles are not oxidized.Fil: Moreno, M. S.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Wang, Feiya. National Institute for Nanotechnology; CanadáFil: Malac, M.. National Institute for Nanotechnology; CanadáFil: Kasama, T.. University of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: Gigola, Carlos Eugenio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Costilla, Ignacio Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, M. D.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Física; Argentin

Depreciación del Capital Natural, Ingreso y Crecimiento Sostenible: Lecciones de la Experiencia Chilena

The optimal exploitation of the natural resource base is crucial to attain maximum social welfare, especially in developing countries whose economies are highly dependent on such resources. This paper presents a simple model to correct the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to obtain a measure of economic income, by subtracting from the Net National Product (NNP) the depreciation of natural capital. Corrected measures of the economic income for the period 1985-1997 are presented, taking into consideration mining and fishing resources and air contamination. The results show that approximately 3% of Chile’s economic income correspond to depreciation of its natural resources plus the cost of atmospheric pollution. In addition, genuine measures of saving are calculated. The results lead to the conclusion that economic growth was sustainable during the period 1985-1997. Important policy implications are obtained for a better management of natural resources in the future.

Solvable (and unsolvable) cases of the decision problem for fragments of analysis

We survey two series of results concerning the decidability of fragments of Tarksi’s elementary algebra extended with one-argument functions which meet significant properties such as continuity, differentiability, or analyticity. One series of results regards the initial levels of a hierarchy of prenex sentences involving a single function symbol: in a number of cases, the decision problem for these sentences was solved in the positive by H. Friedman and A. Seress, who also proved that beyond two quantifier alternations decidability gets lost. The second series of results refers to merely existential sentences, but it brings into play an arbitrary number of functions, which are requested to be, over specified closed intervals, monotone increasing or decreasing, concave, or convex; any two such functions can be compared, and in one case, where each function is supposed to own continuous first derivative, their derivatives can be compared with real constants

Star-to-star Na and O abundance variations along the red giant branch in NGC 2808

We report for the first time Na and O abundances from high-resolution, high S/N echelle spectra of 20 red giants in NGC 2808, taken as part of the Science Verification program of the FLAMES multi-object spectrograph at the ESO VLT. In these stars, spanning about 3 mag from the red giant branch (RGB) tip, large variations are detected in the abundances of oxygen and sodium, anticorrelated with each other; this is a well known evidence of proton-capture reactions at high temperatures in the ON and NeNa cycles. One star appears super O-poor; if the extension of the Na-O anticorrelation is confirmed, NGC 2808 might reach O depletion levels as large as those of M 13. This result confirms our previous findings based on lower resolution spectra (Carretta et al. 2003) of a large star-to-star scatter in proton capture elements at all positions along the RGB in NGC 2808, with no significant evolutionary contribution. Finally, the average metallicity for NGC 2808 is [Fe/H]= -1.14 +/- 0.01 dex (rms=0.06) from 19 stars.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Spinfoams in the holomorphic representation

We study a holomorphic representation for spinfoams. The representation is obtained via the Ashtekar-Lewandowski-Marolf-Mour\~ao-Thiemann coherent state transform. We derive the expression of the 4d spinfoam vertex for Euclidean and for Lorentzian gravity in the holomorphic representation. The advantage of this representation rests on the fact that the variables used have a clear interpretation in terms of a classical intrinsic and extrinsic geometry of space. We show how the peakedness on the extrinsic geometry selects a single exponential of the Regge action in the semiclassical large-scale asymptotics of the spinfoam vertex.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, published versio

Systematic Study of Two-Pion Production in NN Collisions -- from Single-Baryon to Di-Baryon Excitations

The two-pion production in nucleon-nucleon collisions has been studied by exclusive and kinematically complete experiments from threshold up to $T_p$ = 1.36 GeV at CELSIUS-WASA. At near-threshold energies the total and differential distributions for the $\pi^+\pi^-$ and $\pi^0\pi^0$ channels are dominated by Roper excitation and its decay into $N\sigma$ and $\Delta\pi$ channels. At beam energies $T_p >$ 1.1 GeV the $\Delta\Delta$ excitation governs the two-pion production process. In the $\pi^+\pi^+$ channel evidence is found for the excitation of a higher-lying I=3/2 resonance, favorably the $\Delta(1600)$. The isovector fusion processes leading to the deuteron and to quasi-stable $^2$He, respectively, %with the production of an isovector pion-pair exhibit no or only a modest ABC-effect, {\it i.e.} low-mass enhancement in the $\pi\pi$-invariant mass spectrum, and can be described by conventional $t$-channel $\Delta\Delta$ excitation. On the other hand, the isoscalar fusion process to the deuteron %with the production of an isoscalar pion-pair exhibits a dramatic ABC-effect correlated with a narrow resonance-like energy dependence in the total cross section with a width of only 50 MeV and situated at a mass 90 MeV below the $\Delta\Delta$ mass.Comment: Proceedings HADRON0