Monte-Carlo approach to calculate the proton stopping in warm dense matter within particle-in-cell simulations

A Monte-Carlo approach to proton stopping in warm dense matter is implemented into an existing particle-in-cell code. The model is based on multiple binary-collisions among electron-electron, electron-ion and ion-ion, taking into account contributions from both free and bound electrons, and allows to calculate particle stopping in much more natural manner. At low temperature limit, when ``all'' electron are bounded at the nucleus, the stopping power converges to the predictions of Bethe-Bloch theory, which shows good consistency with data provided by the NIST. With the rising of temperatures, more and more bound electron are ionized, thus giving rise to an increased stopping power to cold matter, which is consistent with the report of a recently experimental measurement [Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 215002 (2015)]. When temperature is further increased, with ionizations reaching the maximum, lowered stopping power is observed, which is due to the suppression of collision frequency between projected proton beam and hot plasmas in the target.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Monte-Carlo approach to calculate the ionization of warm dense matter within particle-in-cell simulations

A physical model based on a Monte-Carlo approach is proposed to calculate the ionization dynam- ics of warm dense matters (WDM) within particle-in-cell simulations, and where the impact (col- lision) ionization (CI), electron-ion recombination (RE) and ionization potential depression (IPD) by surrounding plasmas are taken into consideration self-consistently. When compared with other models, which are applied in the literature for plasmas near thermal equilibrium, the temporal re- laxation of ionization dynamics can also be simulated by the proposed model. Besides, this model is general and can be applied for both single elements and alloys with quite different composi- tions. The proposed model is implemented into a particle-in-cell (PIC) code, with (final) ionization equilibriums sustained by competitions between CI and its inverse process (i.e., RE). Comparisons between the full model and model without IPD or RE are performed. Our results indicate that for bulk aluminium in the WDM regime, i) the averaged ionization degree increases by including IPD; while ii) the averaged ionization degree is significantly over estimated when the RE is neglected. A direct comparison from the PIC code is made with the existing models for the dependence of averaged ionization degree on thermal equilibrium temperatures, and shows good agreements with that generated from Saha-Boltzmann model or/and FLYCHK code.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

A covariant entropy conjecture on cosmological dynamical horizon

We here propose a covariant entropy conjecture on cosmological dynamical horizon. After the formulation of our conjecture, we test its validity in adiabatically expanding universes with open, flat and closed spatial geometry, where our conjecture can also be viewed as a cosmological version of the generalized second law of thermodynamics in some sense.Comment: JHEP style, 9 pages, 1 figure, typos corrected, accepted for publication in JHE

Exactly solvable models and ultracold Fermi gases

Exactly solvable models of ultracold Fermi gases are reviewed via their thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz solution. Analytical and numerical results are obtained for the thermodynamics and ground state properties of two- and three-component one-dimensional attractive fermions with population imbalance. New results for the universal finite temperature corrections are given for the two-component model. For the three-component model, numerical solution of the dressed energy equations confirm that the analytical expressions for the critical fields and the resulting phase diagrams at zero temperature are highly accurate in the strong coupling regime. The results provide a precise description of the quantum phases and universal thermodynamics which are applicable to experiments with cold fermionic atoms confined to one-dimensional tubes.Comment: based on an invited talk at Statphys24, Cairns (Australia) 2010. 16 pages, 6 figure

K+ -> pi+ nu nu(bar) and FCNC from non-universal Z' bosons

Motivated by the E787 and E949 result for K+ -> pi+ nu nu(bar) we examine the effects of a new non-universal right-handed Z' boson on flavor changing processes. We place bounds on the tree-level FCNC from K-K(bar) and B-B(bar) mixing as well as from the observed CP violation in kaon decay. We discuss the implications for K -> pi nu nu(bar), B -> X nu nu(bar) and B -> tau+ tau-. We find that existing bounds allow substantial enhancements in the K+ -> pi+ nu nu(bar) rate, particularly through a new one-loop Z' penguin operator.Comment: Typos corrected, references added, version to appear in PR

Structure and Response in the World Trade Network

We examine how the structure of the world trade network has been shaped by globalization and recessions over the last 40 years. We show that by treating the world trade network as an evolving system, theory predicts the trade network is more sensitive to evolutionary shocks and recovers more slowly from them now than it did 40 years ago, due to structural changes in the world trade network induced by globalization. We also show that recession-induced change to the world trade network leads to an \emph{increased} hierarchical structure of the global trade network for a few years after the recession.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let