2,290 research outputs found
Generalized gaugings and the field-antifield formalism
We discuss the algebra of general gauge theories that are described by the
embedding tensor formalism. We compare the gauge transformations dependent and
independent of an invariant action, and argue that the generic transformations
lead to an infinitely reducible algebra. We connect the embedding tensor
formalism to the field-antifield (or Batalin-Vilkovisky) formalism, which is
the most general formulation known for general gauge theories and their
quantization. The structure equations of the embedding tensor formalism are
included in the master equation of the field-antifield formalism.Comment: 42 pages; v2: some clarifications and 1 reference added; version to
be published in JHE
Achtergrondstudie bij de subsidies voor de biologische land- en tuinbouw in Vlaanderen
In opdracht van de Vlaamse overheid heeft het Louis Bolk Instituut, samen met het Instituut voor landbouw- en visserijonderzoek (ILVO), een studie uitgevoerd naar de bedrijfseconomische gevolgen van de omschakeling van gangbare naar biologische landbouw. Aanleiding voor de studie waren een mogelijke herziening van de hoogte van de overheidssubsidie die biologische landbouwers in Vlaanderen hiervoor ontvangen en het geringe aantal omschakelende agrariërs.
Conclusie van de studie is dat voor veel bedrijven omschakeling naar biologische landbouw een rendabel alternatief kan vormen. De studie bevestigt tevens een aantal fundamentele kwetsbaarheden en obstakels. Transitiekosten (het vergaren van nieuwe kennis en marktcontacten, de afzet van de producten en voor sommige bedrijven desinvesteringen tijdens de overgangsperiode) kunnen een groot obstakel vormen voor omschakeling omdat deze transitiekosten pas na vele jaren worden terugverdiend. Daarnaast kan het risico op marktfalen goed bedrijfsresultaat in de weg staan. Deze kwetsbaarheden en obstakels manifesteren zich vooral op bedrijfsniveau waardoor ze moeilijker toewijsbaar worden naar teeltniveau. Een van de aanbevelingen is daarom om (ook) instrumenten te ontwikkelen die de overgangskosten en het risico op marktfalen verminderen.
Doordat omschakeling voor veel bedrijven een aantrekkelijke optie lijkt en belangrijke kostencomponenten zich vooral op bedrijfsniveau manifesteren is een blijvende en op hectarebasis teruggebrachte ondersteuningspremie voor biologische landbouw nog slechts beperkt te verantwoorden. Aangezien prijzen continue wisselen en de beschikbaarheid van betrouwbare gegevens beperkt is, is ook een ‘beslissingsondersteunend rekenmodel’ opgeleverd waarmee berekeningen gemakkelijk later opnieuw gedaan kunnen worden
Upscaling a district heating system based on biogas cogeneration and heat pumps
The energy supply of the Meppel district Nieuwveense landen is based on biogas cogeneration, district heating, and ground source heat pumps. A centrally located combined heat and power engine (CHP) converts biogas from the municipal wastewater treatment facility into electricity for heat pumps and heat for district heating purposes. Development of the urban district is influenced by the current economic and building decline. For the district heating energy concept, a migration strategy for the required infrastructure is required. The migration spans the district’s small-scale starting phase involving 40 houses up to a scale of 176 houses. An optimization model which maximizes profitability is developed which includes data from district heating and cooling demand patterns. With the optimization model, optimal CHP size, boiler size, and operational hours are determined for various scenarios. From the scenario analysis, a migration strategy is developed which starts with a simple system concept supported by boilers to a larger system which includes a CHP. Sustainability in terms of CO2 emission savings of the energy concept is compared with other possible energy concepts
Electric/magnetic duality for chiral gauge theories with anomaly cancellation
We show that 4D gauge theories with Green-Schwarz anomaly cancellation and
possible generalized Chern-Simons terms admit a formulation that is manifestly
covariant with respect to electric/magnetic duality transformations. This
generalizes previous work on the symplectically covariant formulation of
anomaly-free gauge theories as they typically occur in extended supergravity,
and now also includes general theories with (pseudo-)anomalous gauge
interactions as they may occur in global or local N=1 supersymmetry. This
generalization is achieved by relaxing the linear constraint on the embedding
tensor so as to allow for a symmetric 3-tensor related to electric and/or
magnetic quantum anomalies in these theories. Apart from electric and magnetic
gauge fields, the resulting Lagrangians also feature two-form fields and can
accommodate various unusual duality frames as they often appear, e.g., in
string compactifications with background fluxes.Comment: 37 pages; v2: typos corrected and 1 reference adde
Effective Actions near Singularities
We study the heterotic string compactified on K3 x T^2 near the line T=U,
where the effective action becomes singular due to an SU(2) gauge symmetry
enhancement. By `integrating in' the light W^\pm vector multiplets we derive a
quantum corrected effective action which is manifestly SU(2) invariant and
non-singular. This effective action is found to be consistent with a residual
SL(2,Z) quantum symmetry on the line T=U. In an appropriate decompactification
limit, we recover the known SU(2) invariant action in five dimensions.Comment: 33 pages, LaTeX. v2: cosmetic correction on titlepage. v3: references
and note adde
Training telescope operators and support astronomers at Paranal
The operations model of the Paranal Observatory relies on the work of
efficient staff to carry out all the daytime and nighttime tasks. This is
highly dependent on adequate training. The Paranal Science Operations
department (PSO) has a training group that devises a well-defined and
continuously evolving training plan for new staff, in addition to broadening
and reinforcing courses for the whole department. This paper presents the
training activities for and by PSO, including recent astronomical and quality
control training for operators, as well as adaptive optics and interferometry
training of all staff. We also present some future plans.Comment: Paper 9910-123 presented at SPIE 201
Entropy Maximization in the Presence of Higher-Curvature Interactions
Within the context of the entropic principle, we consider the entropy of
supersymmetric black holes in N=2 supergravity theories in four dimensions with
higher-curvature interactions, and we discuss its maximization at points in
moduli space at which an excess of hypermultiplets becomes massless. We find
that the gravitational coupling function F^(1) enhances the maximization at
these points in moduli space. In principle, this enhancement may be modified by
the contribution from higher F^(g)-couplings. We show that this is indeed the
case for the resolved conifold by resorting to the non-perturbative expression
for the topological free energy.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, AMS-LaTe
Symplectic structure of N=1 supergravity with anomalies and Chern-Simons terms
The general actions of matter-coupled N=1 supergravity have Peccei-Quinn
terms that may violate gauge and supersymmetry invariance. In addition, N=1
supergravity with vector multiplets may also contain generalized Chern-Simons
terms. These have often been neglected in the literature despite their
importance for gauge and supersymmetry invariance. We clarify the interplay of
Peccei-Quinn terms, generalized Chern-Simons terms and quantum anomalies in the
context of N=1 supergravity and exhibit conditions that have to be satisfied
for their mutual consistency. This extension of the previously known N=1
matter-coupled supergravity actions follows naturally from the embedding of the
gauge group into the group of symplectic duality transformations. Our results
regarding this extension provide the supersymmetric framework for studies of
string compactifications with axionic shift symmetries, generalized
Chern-Simons terms and quantum anomalies.Comment: 27 pages; v2: typos corrected; version to be published in
Class.Quantum Gra
Energy scheduling model to optimize transition routes towards 100% renewable urban districts
The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to analyze options for 100% renewable urban districts which self-consume locally generated renewable energy as much as possible and import (or export) energy from (or to) external grids as little as possible. Energy scheduling algorithms are developed to prioritize energy generation and storage of local renewable energy. The model is applied in a Dutch case study in which three renewable energy system concepts are evaluated against the case reference. Optimal capacities are determined for minimal operational costs including a penalty on carbon dioxide production. Attractiveness of these concepts is discussed in relation to costs, environmental concerns and applicability within the Dutch context of the energy transition
Extremal non-BPS black holes and entropy extremization
At the horizon, a static extremal black hole solution in N=2 supergravity in
four dimensions is determined by a set of so-called attractor equations which,
in the absence of higher-curvature interactions, can be derived as
extremization conditions for the black hole potential or, equivalently, for the
entropy function. We contrast both methods by explicitly solving the attractor
equations for a one-modulus prepotential associated with the conifold. We find
that near the conifold point, the non-supersymmetric solution has a
substantially different behavior than the supersymmetric solution. We analyze
the stability of the solutions and the extrema of the resulting entropy as a
function of the modulus. For the non-BPS solution the region of attractivity
and the maximum of the entropy do not coincide with the conifold point.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, AMS-LaTeX, reference adde
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