Electric Dipole Moments in the Generic Supersymmetric Standard Model

The generic supersymmetric standard model is a model built from a supersymmetrized standard model field spectrum the gauge symmetries only. The popular minimal supersymmetric standard model differs from the generic version in having R-parity imposed by hand. We review an efficient formulation of the model and some of the recently obtained interesting phenomenological features, focusing on one-loop contributions to fermion electric dipole moments.Comment: 1+7 pages Revtex 3 figures incoporated; talk at NANP'0

In an Attempt to Introduce Long-range Interactions into Small-world Networks

Distinguishing the long-range bonds with the regular ones, the critical temperature of the spin-lattice Guassian model built on two typical Small-world Networks (SWNs) is studied. The results show much difference from the classical case, and thus may induce some more accurate discussion on the critical properties of the spin-lattice systems combined with the SWNs.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 18 referenc

Semiconducting-to-metallic photoconductivity crossover and temperature-dependent Drude weight in graphene

We investigated the transient photoconductivity of graphene at various gate-tuned carrier densities by optical-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy. We demonstrated that graphene exhibits semiconducting positive photoconductivity near zero carrier density, which crosses over to metallic negative photoconductivity at high carrier density. Our observations are accounted for by considering the interplay between photo-induced changes of both the Drude weight and the carrier scattering rate. Notably, we observed multiple sign changes in the temporal photoconductivity dynamics at low carrier density. This behavior reflects the non-monotonic temperature dependence of the Drude weight, a unique property of massless Dirac fermions

Gamma-ray emission from globular clusters

Over the last few years, the data obtained using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has provided new insights on high-energy processes in globular clusters, particularly those involving compact objects such as Millisecond Pulsars (MSPs). Gamma-ray emission in the 100 MeV to 10 GeV range has been detected from more than a dozen globular clusters in our galaxy, including 47 Tucanae and Terzan 5. Based on a sample of known gamma-ray globular clusters, the empirical relations between gamma-ray luminosity and properties of globular clusters such as their stellar encounter rate, metallicity, and possible optical and infrared photon energy densities, have been derived. The measured gamma-ray spectra are generally described by a power law with a cut-off at a few gigaelectronvolts. Together with the detection of pulsed gamma-rays from two MSPs in two different globular clusters, such spectral signature lends support to the hypothesis that gamma-rays from globular clusters represent collective curvature emission from magnetospheres of MSPs in the clusters. Alternative models, involving Inverse-Compton (IC) emission of relativistic electrons that are accelerated close to MSPs or pulsar wind nebula shocks, have also been suggested. Observations at >100 GeV by using Fermi/LAT and atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes such as H.E.S.S.-II, MAGIC-II, VERITAS, and CTA will help to settle some questions unanswered by current data.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, J. Astron. Space Sci., in pres

Unusual magnetoresistance in a topological insulator with a single ferromagnetic barrier

Tunneling surface current through a thin ferromagnetic barrier in a three-dimensional topological insulator is shown to possess an extraordinary response to the orientation of barrier magnetization. In contrast to conventional magnetoresistance devices that are sensitive to the relative alignment of two magnetic layers, a drastic change in the transmission current is achieved by a single layer when its magnetization rotates by 90 degrees. Numerical estimations predict a giant magnetoresistance as large as 800 % at room temperature and the proximate exchange interaction of 40 meV in the barrier. When coupled with electrical control of magnetization direction, this phenomenon may be used to enhance the gating function with potentially sharp turn-on/off for low power applications

Discovery of X-ray pulsations from "next Geminga" - PSR J1836+5925

We report the X-ray pulsation of ~173.3 ms for the "next Geminga", PSR J1836+5925, with recent XMM-Newton investigations. The X-ray periodicity is consistent wtih the gamma-ray ephemeris at the same epoch. The X-ray folded light curve has a sinusoidal structure which is different from the double-peaked gamma-ray pulse profile. We have also analysed the X-ray phase-averaged spectra which shows the X-ray emission from PSR J1836+5925 is thermal dominant. This suggests the X-ray pulsation mainly originates from the modulated hot spot on the stellar surface.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ Lette

Long-term X-ray Variability of Ultraluminous X-ray Sources

Long-term X-ray modulations on timescales from tens to hundreds of days have been widely studied for X-ray binaries located in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. For other nearby galaxies, only the most luminous X-ray sources can be monitored with dedicated observations. We here present the first systematic study of long-term X-ray variability of four ultraluminous X-ray sources (ESO 243-49 HLX-1, Holmberg IX X-1, M81 X-6, and NGC 5408 X-1) monitored with Swift. By using various dynamic techniques to analyse their light curves, we find several interesting low-frequency quasi-periodicities. Although the periodic signals may not represent any stable orbital modulations, these detections reveal that such long-term regular patterns may be related to superorbital periods and structure of the accretion discs. In particular, we show that the outburst recurrence time of ESO 243-49 HLX-1 varies over time and suggest that it may not be the orbital period. Instead, it may be due to some kinds of precession, and the true binary period is expected to be much shorter.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication in MNRA