Towards a spin foam model description of black hole entropy

We propose a way to describe the origin of black hole entropy in the spin foam models of quantum gravity. This stimulates a new way to study the relation of spin foam models and loop quantum gravity.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Transformations of coordinates and Hamiltonian formalism in deformed Special Relativity

We investigate the transformation laws of coordinates in generalizations of special relativity with two observer-independent scales. The request of covariance leads to simple formulas if one assumes noncanonical Poisson brackets, corresponding to noncommuting spacetime coordinates.Comment: 11 pages, plain LaTe

Internal structure of Skyrme black hole

We consider the internal structure of the Skyrme black hole under a static and spherically symmetric ansatz. $@u8(Be concentrate on solutions with the node number one and with the "winding" number zero, where there exist two solutions for each horizon radius; one solution is stable and the other is unstable against linear perturbation. We find that a generic solution exhibits an oscillating behavior near the sigularity, as similar to a solution in the Einstein-Yang-Mills (EYM) system, independently to stability of the solution. Comparing it with that in the EYM system, this oscillation becomes mild because of the mass term of the Skyrme field. We also find Schwarzschild-like exceptional solutions where no oscillating behavior is seen. Contrary to the EYM system where there is one such solution branch if the node number is fixed, there are two branches corresponding to the stable and the unstable ones.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, some contents adde

Black String Perturbations in RS1 Model

We present a general formalism for black string perturbations in Randall-Sundrum 1 model (RS1). First, we derive the master equation for the electric part of the Weyl tensor $E_{\mu\nu}$. Solving the master equation using the gradient expansion method, we give the effective Teukolsky equation on the brane at low energy. It is useful to estimate gravitational waves emitted by perturbed rotating black strings. We also argue the effect of the Gregory-Laflamme instability on the brane using our formalism.Comment: 14 pages, Based on a talk presented at ACRGR4, the 4th Australasian Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation, Monash University, Melbourne, January 2004. To appear in the proceedings, in General Relativity and Gravitatio

Born-Infeld black holes coupled to a massive scalar field

Born-Infeld black holes in the Scalar-Tensor Theories of Gravity, in the case of massless scalar field, have been recently obtained. The aim of the current paper is to study the effect from the inclusion of a potential for the scalar field in the theory, through a combination of analytical techniques and numerical methods. The black holes coupled to a massive scalar field have richer causal structure in comparison to the massless scalar field case. In the latter case, the black holes may have a second, inner horizon. The presence of potential for the scalar field allows the existence of extremal black holes for certain values of the mass of the scalar field and the magnetic (electric) charge of the black hole. The linear stability against spherically symmetric perturbations is studied. Arguments in favor of the general stability of the solutions coming from the application of the "turning point" method are also presented.Comment: 26 pages, 16 figure

Radionic Non-uniform Black Strings

Non-uniform black strings in the two-brane system are investigated using the effective action approach. It is shown that the radion acts as a non-trivial hair of the black strings. From the brane point of view, the black string appears as the deformed dilatonic black hole which becomes dilatonic black hole in the single brane limit and reduces to the Reissner-Nordstr\"om black hole in the close limit of two-branes. The stability of solutions is demonstrated using the catastrophe theory. From the bulk point of view, the black strings are proved to be non-uniform. Nevertheless, the zeroth law of black hole thermodynamics still holds.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

One-neutron knockout reaction of 17C on a hydrogen target at 70 MeV/nucleon

First experimental evidence of the population of the first 2- state in 16C above the neutron threshold is obtained by neutron knockout from 17C on a hydrogen target. The invariant mass method combined with in-beam gamma-ray detection is used to locate the state at 5.45(1) MeV. Comparison of its populating cross section and parallel momentum distribution with a Glauber model calculation utilizing the shell-model spectroscopic factor confirms the core-neutron removal nature of this state. Additionally, a previously known unbound state at 6.11 MeV and a new state at 6.28(2) MeV are observed. The position of the first 2- state, which belongs to a member of the lowest-lying p-sd cross shell transition, is reasonably well described by the shell-model calculation using the WBT interaction.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure

Particle velocity in noncommutative space-time

We investigate a particle velocity in the $\kappa$-Minkowski space-time, which is one of the realization of a noncommutative space-time. We emphasize that arrival time analyses by high-energy $\gamma$-rays or neutrinos, which have been considered as powerful tools to restrict the violation of Lorentz invariance, are not effective to detect space-time noncommutativity. In contrast with these examples, we point out a possibility that {\it low-energy massive particles} play an important role to detect it.Comment: 16 pages, corrected some mistake

Cardiomyocyte Formation by Skeletal Muscle-Derived Multi-Myogenic Stem Cells after Transplantation into Infarcted Myocardium

BACKGROUND: Cellular cardiomyoplasty for myocardial infarction has been developed using various cell types. However, complete differentiation and/or trans-differentiation into cardiomyocytes have never occurred in these transplant studies, whereas functional contributions were reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Skeletal muscle interstitium-derived CD34(+)/CD45(-) (Sk-34) cells were purified from green fluorescent protein transgenic mice by flowcytometory. Cardiac differentiation of Sk-34 cells was examined by in vitro clonal culture and co-culture with embryonic cardiomyocytes, and in vivo transplantation into a nude rat myocardial infarction (MI) model (left ventricle). Lower relative expression of cardiomyogenic transcription factors, such as GATA-4, Nkx2-5, Isl-1, Mef2 and Hand2, was seen in clonal cell culture. However, vigorous expression of these factors was seen on co-culture with embryonic cardiomyocytes, together with formation of gap-junctions and synchronous contraction following sphere-like colony formation. At 4 weeks after transplantation of freshly isolated Sk-34 cells, donor cells exhibited typical cardiomyocyte structure with formation of gap-junctions, as well as intercalated discs and desmosomes, between donor and recipient and/or donor and donor cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis detecting the rat and mouse genomic DNA and immunoelectron microscopy using anti-GFP revealed donor-derived cells. Transplanted Sk-34 cells were incorporated into infarcted portions of recipient muscles and contributed to cardiac reconstitution. Significant improvement in left ventricular function, as evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography and micro-tip conductance catheter, was also observed. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Skeletal muscle-derived multipotent Sk-34 cells that can give rise to skeletal and smooth muscle cells as reported previously, also give rise to cardiac muscle cells as multi-myogenic stem cells, and thus are a potential source for practical cellular cardiomyoplasty