Thermal Effects on the Low Energy N=2 SUSY Yang-Mills Theory

Using the low energy effective action of the N=2 supersymmetric SU(2) Yang-Mills theory we calculate the free energy at finite temperature, both in the semiclassical region and in the dual monopole/dyon theory. In all regions the free energy depends on both the temperature T and the appropriate moduli parameter, and is thus minimized only for specific values of the moduli parameter, in contrast to the T=0 case where the energy vanishes all over the moduli space. Within the validity of perturbation theory, we find that the finite temperature Yang-Mills theory is stable only at definite points in the moduli space, i.e. for a specific value of the monopole/dyon mass or when the scalar field expectation value goes to infinity.Comment: 24 pages, Latex, uses axodra

Observations of the SW Sextantis star DW Ursae Majoris with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer

We present an analysis of the first far-ultraviolet observations of the SW Sextantis-type cataclysmic variable DW Ursae Majoris, obtained in November 2001 with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. The time-averaged spectrum of DW UMa shows a rich assortment of emission lines (plus some contamination from interstellar absorption lines including molecular hydrogen). Accretion disk model spectra do not provide an adequate fit to the far-ultraviolet spectrum of DW UMa. We constructed a light curve by summing far-ultraviolet spectra extracted in 60-sec bins; this shows a modulation on the orbital period, with a maximum near photometric phase 0.93 and a minimum half an orbit later. No other periodic variability was found in the light curve data. We also extracted spectra in bins spanning 0.1 in orbital phase; these show substantial variation in the profile shapes and velocity shifts of the emission lines during an orbital cycle of DW UMa. Finally, we discuss possible physical models that can qualitatively account for the observed far-ultraviolet behavior of DW UMa, in the context of recent observational evidence for the presence of a self-occulting disk in DW UMa and the possibility that the SW Sex stars may be the intermediate polars with the highest mass transfer rates and/or weakest magnetic fields.Comment: accepted by the Astronomical Journal; 36 pages, including 12 figures and 4 table

Monitoring SO2 emission at the Soufriere Hills Volcano: implications for changes in erruptive conditions

FLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Proposing new variables for the identification of strategic groups in franchising

The identification of strategic groups in the Spanish franchising area is the main aim of this study. The authors have added some new strategic variables (not used before) to the study and have classified franchisors between sectors and distribution strategy. The results reveal the existence of four perfectly differentiated strategic groups (types of franchisors). One of the major implications of this study is that the variables that build a strategic group vary depending on the respective sector the network operates in and its distribution strategy. This fact indicates that including sector and distribution strategy is absolutely necessary to achieve good classifications of franchisor type

Nonlocal Effects and Shrinkage of the Vortex Core Radius in YNi2B2C Probed by muSR

The magnetic field distribution in the vortex state of YNi2B2C has been probed by muon spin rotation (muSR). The analysis based on the London model with nonlocal corrections shows that the vortex lattice has changed from hexagonal to square with increasing magnetic field H. At low fields the vortex core radius, rho_v(H), decreases with increasing H much steeper than what is expected from the sqrt(H) behavior of the Sommerfeld constant gamma(H), strongly suggesting that the anomaly in gamma(H) primarily arises from the quasiparticle excitations outside the vortex cores.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Migration and luminescence enhancement effects of deuterium in ZnO/ZnCdO quantum wells

ZnO/ZnCdO/ZnO multiple quantum well samples grown on sapphire substrates by molecular beam epitaxy and annealed in situ were exposed to D(2) plasmas at 150 degrees C. The deuterium showed migration depths of similar to 0.8 mu m for 30 min plasma exposures, with accumulation of (2)H in the ZnCdO wells. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity from the samples was increased by factors of 5 at 5 K and similar to 20 at 300 K as a result of the deuteration, most likely due to passivation of competing nonradiative centers. Annealing up to 300 degrees C led to increased migration of (2)H toward the substrate but no loss of deuterium from the sample and little change in the PL intensity. The initial PL intensities were restored by annealing at \u3e = 400 degrees C as (2)H was evolved from the sample (similar to 90% loss by 500 degrees C). By contrast, samples without in situ annealing showed a decrease in PL intensity with deuteration. This suggests that even moderate annealing temperatures lead to degradation of ZnCdO quantum wells. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics

Universally Coupled Massive Gravity

We derive Einstein's equations from a linear theory in flat space-time using free-field gauge invariance and universal coupling. The gravitational potential can be either covariant or contravariant and of almost any density weight. We adapt these results to yield universally coupled massive variants of Einstein's equations, yielding two one-parameter families of distinct theories with spin 2 and spin 0. The Freund-Maheshwari-Schonberg theory is therefore not the unique universally coupled massive generalization of Einstein's theory, although it is privileged in some respects. The theories we derive are a subset of those found by Ogievetsky and Polubarinov by other means. The question of positive energy, which continues to be discussed, might be addressed numerically in spherical symmetry. We briefly comment on the issue of causality with two observable metrics and the need for gauge freedom and address some criticisms by Padmanabhan of field derivations of Einstein-like equations along the way.Comment: Introduction notes resemblance between Einstein's discovery process and later field/spin 2 project; matches journal versio

Political branding: sense of identity or identity crisis? An investigation of the transfer potential of the brand identity prism to the UK Conservative Party

Brands are strategic assets and key to achieving a competitive advantage. Brands can be seen as a heuristic device, encapsulating a series of values that enable the consumer to make quick and efficient choices. More recently, the notion of a political brand and the rhetoric of branding have been widely adopted by many political parties as they seek to differentiate themselves, and this has led to an emerging interest in the idea of the political brand. Therefore, this paper examines the UK Conservative Party brand under David Cameron’s leadership and examines the applicability of Kapferer’s brand identity prism to political branding. This paper extends and operationalises the brand identity prism into a ‘political brand identity network’ which identifies the inter-relatedness of the components of the corporate political brand and the candidate political brand. Crucial for practitioners, this model can demonstrate how the brand is presented and communicated to the electorate and serves as a useful mechanism to identify consistency within the corporate and candidate political brands

General Relativity and Weyl Geometry

We show that the general theory of relativity can be formulated in the language of Weyl geometry. We develop the concept of Weyl frames and point out that the new mathematical formalism may lead to different pictures of the same gravitational phenomena. We show that in an arbitrary Weyl frame general relativity, which takes the form of a scalar-tensor gravitational theory, is invariant with respect to Weyl tranformations. A kew point in the development of the formalism is to build an action that is manifestly invariant with respect to Weyl transformations. When this action is expressed in terms of Riemannian geometry we find that the theory has some similarities with Brans-Dicke gravitational theory. In this scenario, the gravitational field is not described by the metric tensor only, but by a combination of both the metric and a geometrical scalar field. We illustrate this point by, firstly, discussing the Newtonian limit in an arbitrary frame, and, secondly, by examining how distinct geometrical and physical pictures of the same phenomena may arise in different frames. To give an example, we discuss the gravitational spectral shift as viewed in a general Weyl frame. We further explore the analogy of general relativity with scalar-tensor theories and show how a known Brans-Dicke vacuum solution may appear as a solution of general relativity theory when reinterpreted in a particular Weyl frame. Finally, we show that the so-called WIST gravity theories are mathematically equivalent to Brans-Dicke theory when viewed in a particular frame.Comment: LATEX, 22 page