The Higgs decay rate to two photons in a model with two fermiophobic-Higgs doublets

We consider a three Higgs doublet model with an $S_3$ symmetry in which beside the SM-like doublet there are two fermiophobic doublets. Due to the new charged scalars there is an enhancement in the two-photon decay while the other channels have the same decay widths that the SM neutral Higgs. The fermiophobic scalars are mass degenerated unless soft terms breaking the $S_3$ symmetry are added.Comment: typos were corrected, the figures have been modified and the conclusions were increased. Still contains 15 pages, 2 figure

On the Orbital Period of the Intermediate Polar 1WGA J1958.2+3232

Recently, Norton et al. 2002, on the basis of multiwavelength photometry of 1WGA J1958.2+3232, argued that the -1 day alias of the strongest peak in the power spectrum is the true orbital period of the system, casting doubts on the period estimated by Zharikov et al. 2001. We re-analyzed this system using our photometric and spectroscopic data along with the data kindly provided by Andy Norton and confirm our previous finding. After refining our analysis we find that the true orbital period of this binary system is 4.35h.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Resonance enhancement of particle production during reheating

We found a consistent equation of reheating after inflation, which shows that for small quantum fluctuations the frequencies of resonance are slighted different from the standard ones. Quantum interference is taken into account and we found that at large fluctuations the process mimics very well the usual parametric resonance but proceed in a different dynamical way. The analysis is made in a toy quantum mechanical model and we discuss further its extension to quantum field theory.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures(eps), using RevTe

Some Remarks on Oscillating Inflation

In a recent paper Damour and Mukhanov describe a scenario where inflation may continue during the oscillatory phase. This effect is possible because the scalar field spends a significant fraction of each period of oscillation on the upper part of the potential. Such additional period of inflation could push perturbations after the slow roll regime to observable scales. Although in this work we show that the small region of the Damour-Mukhanov parameter q gives the main contribution to oscillating inflation, it was not satisfactory understood until now. Furthermore, it gives an expression for the energy density spectrum of perturbations, which is well behaved in the whole physical range of q .Comment: 4 pages including figures caption, 3 ps-figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Chaos and Preheating

We show evidence for a relationship between chaos and parametric resonance both in a classical system and in the semiclassical process of particle creation. We apply our considerations in a toy model for preheating after inflation.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures; uses epsfig and revtex v3.1. Matches version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Assessment of Darkling Beetle Fauna after Implementation of an Environmental Restoration Program in the Southern Iberian Peninsula Affected by the Aznalcóllar Toxic Spill

This study is part of the Follow up Restoration Program of animal communities that colonize the Guadiamar River Basin. In 1998, the area was affected by a release of toxic sludge after the retention walls of the Aznalcóllar Mines (southern Iberian Peninsula) broke. The main objective of this study was to assess the current state of the population of Tenebrionidae, one of the most representative groups of edaphic Coleoptera inhabiting the Guadiamar River Basin. This paper analyses the progress made by the darkling beetle community six years after the disaster occurred and the Restoration Program was implemented. The study is based on faunistic data from systematic sampling carried out for six years to monitor plots distributed across the damaged area. To make an overall assessment of the tenebrionid fauna in relation to adjacent areas qualitative and quantitative ecological indices were applied, and temporal follow up and biogeographical comparisons were also made. The results indicate that, on the whole, tenebrionid fauna was somewhat affected by the Aznalcóllar Mine spill, and that a greater loss of fauna was detected closer to the accident site. The analysis of the temporal population dynamic suggests that the most affected zones are undergoing a process of re-colonization. However, this process varies widely by species and has not yet reached the expected levels of a non-affected river basin in the southern Iberian Peninsula

Early in-flight detection of SO₂ via Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy: a feasible aviation safety measure to prevent potential encounters with volcanic plumes

Volcanic ash constitutes a risk to aviation, mainly due to its ability to cause jet engines to fail. Other risks include the possibility of abrasion of windshields and potentially serious damage to avionic systems. These hazards have been widely recognized since the early 1980s, when volcanic ash provoked several incidents of engine failure in commercial aircraft. In addition to volcanic ash, volcanic gases also pose a threat. Prolonged and/or cumulative exposure to sulphur dioxide (SO₂) or sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) aerosols potentially affects e.g. windows, air frame and may cause permanent damage to engines. SO₂ receives most attention among the gas species commonly found in volcanic plumes because its presence above the lower troposphere is a clear proxy for a volcanic cloud and indicates that fine ash could also be present. <br><br> Up to now, remote sensing of SO₂ via Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) in the ultraviolet spectral region has been used to measure volcanic clouds from ground based, airborne and satellite platforms. Attention has been given to volcanic emission strength, chemistry inside volcanic clouds and measurement procedures were adapted accordingly. Here we present a set of experimental and model results, highlighting the feasibility of DOAS to be used as an airborne early detection system of SO₂ in two spatial dimensions. In order to prove our new concept, simultaneous airborne and ground-based measurements of the plume of Popocatépetl volcano, Mexico, were conducted in April 2010. The plume extended at an altitude around 5250 m above sea level and was approached and traversed at the same altitude with several forward looking DOAS systems aboard an airplane. These DOAS systems measured SO₂ in the flight direction and at &pm;40 mrad (2.3&deg;) angles relative to it in both, horizontal and vertical directions. The approaches started at up to 25 km distance to the plume and SO₂ was measured at all times well above the detection limit. In combination with radiative transfer studies, this study indicates that an extended volcanic cloud with a concentration of 10¹² molecules cm^&minus;3 at typical flight levels of 10 km can be detected unambiguously at distances of up to 80 km away. This range provides enough time (approx. 5 min) for pilots to take action to avoid entering a volcanic cloud in the flight path, suggesting that this technique can be used as an effective aid to prevent dangerous aircraft encounters with potentially ash rich volcanic clouds

ORBIVIRUS INFECTION IN WHITE-LIPPED PECCARIES (TAYASSU PECARI) FROM MADRE DE DIOS REGION, PERU

El Perú posee el 13% de los bosques tropicales amazónicos con más de 460 especies de mamíferos, incluyendo el pecarí labiado o huangana (Tayassu pecari). Esta especie es de gran importancia ecológica y comercial, así como una importante fuente de proteína para la población amazónica; sin embargo, las informaciones sobre su estado sanitario son escasas. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar anticuerpos contra el virus de lengua azul (VLA) y otros Orbivirus en huanganas de vida libre de apariencia normal de tres localidades del departamento de Madre de Dios. Se evaluaron 106 muestras de suero para determinar los anticuerpos contra el VLA mediante un kit de ELISA de competición y contra otros Orbivirus mediante la prueba de inmunodifusión en gel de agar. El 7.5% (8/106) presentaron anticuerpos específicos contra el VLA y el 29.2% (31/106) contra VLA/otro Orbivirus. Anticuerpos contra el VLA y VLA/otro Orbivirus se hallaron en las tres localidades.Peru has 13% of the Amazonian tropical forest which contains over 460 species of mammals, including the white lipped peccary or huangana (Tayassu peccari). This species is of great ecological and commercial importance and a major source of protein for the local inhabitants; however, information about the sanitary situation of this species is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV) and other Orbivirus in free-living and healthy white lipped peccaries from the Madre de Dios region, Peru. One hundred and six serum samples were evaluated to determine antibodies against BTV by competitive ELISA and other Orbivirus by immunodiffusion agar gel test. Results showed that 7.5% (8/106) of the samples had antibodies against BTV and 29.2% (31/106) against BTV/other Orbivirus. Antibodies against BTV and other Orbivirus were detected in all three localities