310 research outputs found
Temperature dependent BCS equations with continuum coupling
The temperature dependent BCS equations are modified in order to include the
contribution of the continuum single particle states. The influence of the
continuum upon the critical temperature corresponding to the phase transition
from a superfluid to a normal state and upon the behaviour of the excitation
energy and of the entropy is discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Neutrino-electron scattering in dense magnetized plasma
We derive exact expressions for the cross section of neutrino scattering on
electrons in dense, hot stellar matter, in the presence of strong magnetic
fields. Numerical calculations of the scattering cross sections at various
densities, temperatures and magnetic fields, are performed. Strong, quantizing
magnetic fields modify significantly the angular and energy dependence of the
scattering cross section.Comment: Physical Review D, to be published, 18 pages, using REVTEX, without
figures. Figures (hardcopy) available upon request from one of the authors
([email protected]
Neutrino Interactions in Hot and Dense Matter
We study the charged and neutral current weak interaction rates relevant for
the determination of neutrino opacities in dense matter found in supernovae and
neutron stars. We establish an efficient formalism for calculating differential
cross sections and mean free paths for interacting, asymmetric nuclear matter
at arbitrary degeneracy. The formalism is valid for both charged and neutral
current reactions. Strong interaction corrections are incorporated through the
in-medium single particle energies at the relevant density and temperature. The
effects of strong interactions on the weak interaction rates are investigated
using both potential and effective field-theoretical models of matter. We
investigate the relative importance of charged and neutral currents for
different astrophysical situations, and also examine the influence of
strangeness-bearing hyperons. Our findings show that the mean free paths are
significantly altered by the effects of strong interactions and the
multi-component nature of dense matter. The opacities are then discussed in the
context of the evolution of the core of a protoneutron star.Comment: 41 pages, 25 figure
Neutrino-Nucleon Interactions in Magnetized Neutron-Star Matter: The Effects of Parity Violation
We study neutrino-nucleon scattering and absorption in a dense, magnetized
nuclear medium. These are the most important sources of neutrino opacity
governing the cooling of a proto-neutron star in the first tens of seconds
after its formation. Because the weak interaction is parity violating, the
absorption and scattering cross-sections depend asymmetrically on the
directions of the neutrino momenta with respect to the magnetic field. We
develop the moment formalism of neutrino transport in the presence of such
asymmetric opacities and derive explicit expressions for the neutrino flux and
other angular moments of the Boltzmann transport equation. For a given neutrino
species, there is a drift flux of neutrinos along the magnetic field in
addition to the usual diffusive flux. This drift flux depends on the deviation
of the neutrino distribution function from thermal equilibrium. Hence, despite
the fact that the neutrino cross-sections are asymmetric throughout the star,
asymmetric neutrino flux can be generated only in the outer region of the
proto-neutron star where the neutrino distribution deviates significantly from
thermal equilibrium. In addition to the asymmetric absorption opacity arising
from nucleon polarization, we find the contribution of the electron (or
positron) ground state Landau level. For neutrinos of energy less than a few
times the temperature, this is the dominant source of asymmetric opacity.
Lastly, we discuss the implication of our result to the origin of pulsar kicks:
in order to generate kick velocity of a few hundred km/s from asymmetric
neutrino emission using the parity violation effect, the proto-neutron star
must have a dipole magnetic field of at least G.Comment: 35 pages, no figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.
Neutrino propagation and spin zero sound in hot neutron matter with Skyrme interactions
We present microscopic calculations of neutrino propagation in hot neutron
matter above nuclear density within the framework of the Random Phase
Approximation . Calculations are performed for non- degenerate neutrinos using
various Skyrme effective interactions. We find that for densities just above
nuclear density, spin zero sound is present at zero temperature for all Skyrme
forces considered. However it disappears rapidly with increasing temperature
due to a strong Landau damping. As a result the mean-free path is given, to a
good approximation, by the mean field value. Because of the renormalization of
the bare mass in the mean field, the medium is more transparent as compared to
the free case. We find, in contrast, that at several times nuclear density, a
new type of behavior sets in due to the vicinity of a magnetic instability. It
produces a strong reduction of the mean free path. The corresponding transition
density however occurs in a region where inputs from more realistic
calculations are necessary for the construction of a reliable Skyrme type
parametrization.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure
Particle-hole state densities with non-equidistant single-particle levels
The correct use of energy-dependent single-particle level (s.p.l.) densities
within particle-hole state densities based on the equidistant spacing model
(ESM) is analysed. First, an analytical expression is obtained following the
convolution of energy-dependent excited-particle and hole densities. Next, a
comparison is made with results of the ESM formula using average s.p.l.
densities for the excited particles and holes, respectively. The Fermi-gas
model (FGM) s.p.l. densities calculated at the corresponding average excitation
energies are used in both cases. The analysis concerns also the density of
particle-hole bound states. The pairing correlations are taken into account
while the comparison of various effects includes the exact correction for the
Pauli exclusion principle. Quantum-mechanical s.p.l. densities and the
continuum effect can also match a corresponding FGM formula, suitable for use
within the average energy-dependent partial state density in multistep reaction
models.Comment: 29 pages, ReVTeX, 11 postscript figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.
The fundamental constants and their variation: observational status and theoretical motivations
This article describes the various experimental bounds on the variation of
the fundamental constants of nature. After a discussion on the role of
fundamental constants, of their definition and link with metrology, the various
constraints on the variation of the fine structure constant, the gravitational,
weak and strong interactions couplings and the electron to proton mass ratio
are reviewed. This review aims (1) to provide the basics of each measurement,
(2) to show as clearly as possible why it constrains a given constant and (3)
to point out the underlying hypotheses. Such an investigation is of importance
to compare the different results, particularly in view of understanding the
recent claims of the detections of a variation of the fine structure constant
and of the electron to proton mass ratio in quasar absorption spectra. The
theoretical models leading to the prediction of such variation are also
reviewed, including Kaluza-Klein theories, string theories and other
alternative theories and cosmological implications of these results are
discussed. The links with the tests of general relativity are emphasized.Comment: 56 pages, l7 figures, submitted to Rev. Mod. Phy
Control of star formation by supersonic turbulence
Understanding the formation of stars in galaxies is central to much of modern
astrophysics. For several decades it has been thought that stellar birth is
primarily controlled by the interplay between gravity and magnetostatic
support, modulated by ambipolar diffusion. Recently, however, both
observational and numerical work has begun to suggest that support by
supersonic turbulence rather than magnetic fields controls star formation. In
this review we outline a new theory of star formation relying on the control by
turbulence. We demonstrate that although supersonic turbulence can provide
global support, it nevertheless produces density enhancements that allow local
collapse. Inefficient, isolated star formation is a hallmark of turbulent
support, while efficient, clustered star formation occurs in its absence. The
consequences of this theory are then explored for both local star formation and
galactic scale star formation. (ABSTRACT ABBREVIATED)Comment: Invited review for "Reviews of Modern Physics", 87 pages including 28
figures, in pres
OGLE-2008-BLG-510: first automated real-time detection of a weak microlensing anomaly - brown dwarf or stellar binary?
The microlensing event OGLE-2008-BLG-510 is characterised by an evident
asymmetric shape of the peak, promptly detected by the ARTEMiS system in real
time. The skewness of the light curve appears to be compatible both with
binary-lens and binary-source models, including the possibility that the lens
system consists of an M dwarf orbited by a brown dwarf. The detection of this
microlensing anomaly and our analysis demonstrates that: 1) automated real-time
detection of weak microlensing anomalies with immediate feedback is feasible,
efficient, and sensitive, 2) rather common weak features intrinsically come
with ambiguities that are not easily resolved from photometric light curves, 3)
a modelling approach that finds all features of parameter space rather than
just the `favourite model' is required, and 4) the data quality is most
crucial, where systematics can be confused with real features, in particular
small higher-order effects such as orbital motion signatures. It moreover
becomes apparent that events with weak signatures are a silver mine for
statistical studies, although not easy to exploit. Clues about the apparent
paucity of both brown-dwarf companions and binary-source microlensing events
might hide here.Comment: 17 pages with 8 figures, MNRAS submitte
Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Evaluation of Human Retinol Binding Protein 4 and Related Variants
Background: Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4) is an exciting new biomarker for the determination of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It is known that circulating RBP4 resides in multiple variants which may provide enhanced clinical utility, but conventional immunoassay methods are blind to such differences. A Mass Spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA) technology that can quantitate total RBP4 as well as individual isoforms may provide an enhanced analysis for this biomarker. Methods: RBP4 was isolated and detected from 0.5 uL of human plasma using MSIA technology, for the simultaneous quantification and differentiation of endogenous human RBP4 and its variants. Results: The linear range of the assay was 7.81â500 ug/mL, and the limit of detection and limit of quantification were 3.36 ug/mL and 6.52 ug/mL, respectively. The intra-assay CVs were determined to be 5.1 % and the inter-assay CVs were 9.6%. The percent recovery of the RBP4-MSIA ranged from 95 â 105%. Method comparison of the RBP4 MSIA vs the Immun Diagnostik ELISA yielded a Passing & Bablok fit of MSIA = 1.056 ELISA â 3.09, while the Cusum linearity p-value was.0.1 and the mean bias determined by the Altman Bland test was 1.2%. Conclusion: The novel RBP4 MSIA provided a fast, accurate and precise quantitative protein measurement as compared to the standard commercially available ELISA. Moreover, this method also allowed for the detection of RBP4 variants that are present in each sample, which may in the future provide a new dimension in the clinical utility of this biomarker
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