The three-loop Adler DD-function for N=1{\cal N}=1 SQCD regularized by dimensional reduction

The three-loop Adler $D$-function for ${\cal N}=1$ SQCD in the \overline{\mbox{DR}} scheme is calculated starting from the three-loop result recently obtained with the higher covariant derivative regularization. For this purpose, for the theory regularized by higher derivatives we find a subtraction scheme in which the Green functions coincide with the ones obtained with the dimensional reduction and the modified minimal subtraction prescription for the renormalization of the SQCD coupling constant and of the matter superfields. Also we calculate the $D$-function in the \overline{\mbox{DR}} scheme for all renormalization constants (including the one for the electromagnetic coupling constant which appears due to the SQCD corrections). It is shown that the results do not satisfy the NSVZ-like equation relating the $D$-function to the anomalous dimension of the matter superfields. However, the NSVZ-like scheme can be constructed with the help of a properly tuned finite renormalization. It is also demonstrated that the three-loop $D$-function defined in terms of the bare couplings with the dimensional reduction does not satisfy the NSVZ-like equation for an arbitrary renormalization prescription. We also investigate a possibility to present the results in the form of the $\beta$-expansion and the scheme dependence of this expansion.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, improved conclusion, version accepted for publication in JHE

Alpha-nucleus potential for alpha-decay and sub-barrier fusion

The set of parameters for alpha-nucleus potential is derived by using the data for both the alpha-decay half-lives and the fusion cross-sections around the barrier for reactions alpha+40Ca, alpha+59Co, alpha+208Pb. The alpha-decay half-lives are obtained in the framework of a cluster model using the WKB approximation. The evaluated alpha-decay half-lives and the fusion cross-sections agreed well with the data. Fusion reactions between alpha-particle and heavy nuclei can be used for both the formation of very heavy nuclei and spectroscopic studies of the formed compound nuclei.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Acoustic Probing of the Jamming Transition in an Unconsolidated Granular Medium

Experiments with acoustic waves guided along the mechanically free surface of an unconsolidated granular packed structure provide information on the elasticity of granular media at very low pressures that are naturally controlled by the gravitational acceleration and the depth beneath the surface. Comparison of the determined dispersion relations for guided surface acoustic modes with a theoretical model reveals the dependencies of the elastic moduli of the granular medium on pressure. The experiments confirm recent theoretical predictions that relaxation of the disordered granular packing through non-affine motion leads to a peculiar scaling of shear rigidity with pressure near the jamming transition corresponding to zero pressure. Unexpectedly, and in disagreement with the most of the available theories, the bulk modulus depends on pressure in a very similar way to the shear modulus

Thermodynamic aspects of materials' hardness: prediction of novel superhard high-pressure phases

In the present work we have proposed the method that allows one to easily estimate hardness and bulk modulus of known or hypothetical solid phases from the data on Gibbs energy of atomization of the elements and corresponding covalent radii. It has been shown that hardness and bulk moduli of compounds strongly correlate with their thermodynamic and structural properties. The proposed method may be used for a large number of compounds with various types of chemical bonding and structures; moreover, the temperature dependence of hardness may be calculated, that has been performed for diamond and cubic boron nitride. The correctness of this approach has been shown for the recently synthesized superhard diamond-like BC5. It has been predicted that the hypothetical forms of B2O3, diamond-like boron, BCx and COx, which could be synthesized at high pressures and temperatures, should have extreme hardness

Does the Borexino experiment have enough resolution to detect the neutrino flavor day-night asymmetry?

The Earth's density distribution can be approximately considered piecewise continuous at the scale of two-flavor oscillations of neutrinos with energies about 1 MeV. This quite general assumption appears to be enough to analytically calculate the day-night asymmetry factor. Using the explicit time averaging procedure, we show that, within the leading-order approximation, this factor is determined by the electron density immediately before the detector, i.e. in the Earth's crust. Within the approximation chosen, the resulting asymmetry factor does not depend either on the properties of the inner Earth's layers or on the substance and the dimensions of the detector. For beryllium neutrinos, we arrive at the asymmetry factor estimation of about $-4 \times 10^{-4}$, which is at least one order of magnitude beyond the present experimental resolution, including that of the Borexino experiment.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures; Talk given at the 17th International Seminar on High Energy Physics "QUARKS'2012" (Yaroslavl, Russia, June 4-10, 2012); to appear in the Proceedings volum