Sarma phase in relativistic and non-relativistic systems

We investigate the stability of the Sarma phase in two-component fermion systems in three spatial dimensions. For this purpose we compare strongly-correlated systems with either relativistic or non-relativistic dispersion relation: relativistic quarks and mesons at finite isospin density and spin-imbalanced ultracold Fermi gases. Using a Functional Renormalization Group approach, we resolve fluctuation effects onto the corresponding phase diagrams beyond the mean-field approximation. We find that fluctuations induce a second order phase transition at zero temperature, and thus a Sarma phase, in the relativistic setup for large isospin chemical potential. This motivates the investigation of the cold atoms setup with comparable mean-field phase structure, where the Sarma phase could then be realized in experiment. However, for the non-relativistic system we find the stability region of the Sarma phase to be smaller than the one predicted from mean-field theory. It is limited to the BEC side of the phase diagram, and the unitary Fermi gas does not support a Sarma phase at zero temperature. Finally, we propose an ultracold quantum gas with four fermion species that has a good chance to realize a zero-temperature Sarma phase.Comment: version published in Phys.Lett.B; 10 pages, 5 figure

Automating embedded analysis capabilities and managing software complexity in multiphysics simulation part II: application to partial differential equations

A template-based generic programming approach was presented in a previous paper that separates the development effort of programming a physical model from that of computing additional quantities, such as derivatives, needed for embedded analysis algorithms. In this paper, we describe the implementation details for using the template-based generic programming approach for simulation and analysis of partial differential equations (PDEs). We detail several of the hurdles that we have encountered, and some of the software infrastructure developed to overcome them. We end with a demonstration where we present shape optimization and uncertainty quantification results for a 3D PDE application

Standard Model with Cosmologically Broken Quantum Scale Invariance

We argue that scale invariance is not anomalous in quantum field theory, provided it is broken cosmologically. We consider a locally scale invariant extension of the Standard Model of particle physics and argue that it fits both the particle and cosmological observations. The model is scale invariant both classically and quantum mechanically. The scale invariance is broken cosmologically producing all the dimensionful parameters. The cosmological constant or dark energy is a prediction of the theory and can be calculated systematically order by order in perturbation theory. It is expected to be finite at all orders. The model does not suffer from the hierarchy problem due to absence of scalar particles, including the Higgs, from the physical spectrum.Comment: 13 pages, no figures significant revisions, no change in results or conclusion

A Comment on the Path Integral Approach to Cosmological Perturbation Theory

It is pointed out that the exact renormalization group approach to cosmological perturbation theory, proposed in Matarrese and Pietroni, JCAP 0706 (2007) 026, arXiv:astro-ph/0703563 and arXiv:astro-ph/0702653, constitutes a misnomer. Rather, having instructively cast this classical problem into path integral form, the evolution equation then derived comes about as a special case of considering how the generating functional responds to variations of the primordial power spectrum.Comment: 2 pages, v2: refs added, published in JCA

Renormalization flow of Yang-Mills propagators

We study Landau-gauge Yang-Mills theory by means of a nonperturbative vertex expansion of the quantum effective action. Using an exact renormalization group equation, we compute the fully dressed gluon and ghost propagators to lowest nontrivial order in the vertex expansion. In the mid-momentum regime, $p^2\sim\mathcal{O}(1)\text{GeV}^2$, we probe the propagator flow with various {\em ans\"atze} for the three- and four-point correlations. We analyze the potential of these truncation schemes to generate a nonperturbative scale. We find universal infrared behavior of the propagators, if the gluon dressing function has developed a mass-like structure at mid-momentum. The resulting power laws in the infrared support the Kugo-Ojima confinement scenario.Comment: 28 pages, 5 figures. V2: Typos corrected and reference adde

2PI nonequilibrium versus transport equations for an ultracold Bose gas

The far-from-equilibrium dynamics of an ultracold, one-dimensional Bose gas is studied. The focus is set on the comparison between the solutions of fully dynamical evolution equations derived from the 2PI effective action and their corresponding kinetic approximation in the form of Boltzmann-type transport equations. It is shown that during the time evolution of the gas a kinetic description which includes non-Markovian memory effects in a gradient expansion becomes valid. The time scale at which this occurs is shown to exceed significantly the time scale at which the system's evolution enters a near-equilibrium drift period where a fluctuation dissipation relation is found to hold and which would seem to be predestined for the kinetic approximation.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures. References adde

Quasi--local angular momentum of non--symmetric isolated and dynamical horizons from the conformal decomposition of the metric

A new definition of quasi--local angular momentum of non--axisymmetric marginally outer trapped surfaces is proposed. It is based on conformal decomposition of the two--dimensional metric and the action of the group of conformal symmetries. The definition is completely general and agrees with the standard one in axi--symmetric surfaces.Comment: Final version to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravity. One reference adde

Prediction of preterm birth with and without preeclampsia using mid-pregnancy immune and growth-related molecular factors and maternal characteristics.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate if mid-pregnancy immune and growth-related molecular factors predict preterm birth (PTB) with and without (±) preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN:Included were 400 women with singleton deliveries in California in 2009-2010 (200 PTB and 200 term) divided into training and testing samples at a 2:1 ratio. Sixty-three markers were tested in 15-20 serum samples using multiplex technology. Linear discriminate analysis was used to create a discriminate function. Model performance was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS:Twenty-five serum biomarkers along with maternal age <34 years and poverty status identified >80% of women with PTB ± preeclampsia with best performance in women with preterm preeclampsia (AUC = 0.889, 95% confidence interval (0.822-0.959) training; 0.883 (0.804-0.963) testing). CONCLUSION:Together with maternal age and poverty status, mid-pregnancy immune and growth factors reliably identified most women who went on to have a PTB ± preeclampsia

Quantum geometry and the Schwarzschild singularity

In homogeneous cosmologies, quantum geometry effects lead to a resolution of the classical singularity without having to invoke special boundary conditions at the singularity or introduce ad-hoc elements such as unphysical matter. The same effects are shown to lead to a resolution of the Schwarzschild singularity. The resulting quantum extension of space-time is likely to have significant implications to the black hole evaporation process. Similarities and differences with the situation in quantum geometrodynamics are pointed out.Comment: 31 pages, 1 figur