Studies of Higher Twist and Higher Order Effects in NLO and NNLO QCD Analysis of Lepton-Nucleon Scattering Data on F_2 and R =sigma_L/sigma_T

We report on the extraction of the higher twist contributions to F_2 and R = sigma_L/sigma_T from the global NLO and NNLO QCD fits to lepton nucleon scattering data over a wide range of Q^2. The NLO fits require both target mass and higher twist contributions at low Q^2. However, in the NNLO analysis, the data are described by the NNLO QCD predictions (with target mass corrections) without the need for any significant contributions from higher twist effects. An estimate of the difference between NLO and NNLO parton distribution functions is obtained.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys.

Extracting an arbitrary relative phase from a multiqubit two-component entangled state

We show that an arbitrary relative phase can be extracted from a multiqubit two-component (MTC) entangled state by local Hadamard transformations and measurements along a single basis only. In addition, how to distinguish a MTC entangled state with an arbitrary entanglement degree and relative phase from a class of multiqubit mixed states is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, REVTEX, accepted by Physical Review

Nanodroplets on rough hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces

We present results of Molecular Dynamics (MD) calculations on the behavior of liquid nanodroplets on rough hydrophobic and hydrophilic solid surfaces. On hydrophobic surfaces, the contact angle for nanodroplets depends strongly on the root mean square roughness amplitude, but it is nearly independent of the fractal dimension of the surface. Since increasing the fractal dimension increases the short-wavelength roughness, while the long-wavelength roughness is almost unchanged, we conclude that for hydrophobic interactions the short-wavelength (atomistic) roughness is not very important. We show that the nanodroplet is in a Cassie-like state. For rough hydrophobic surfaces, there is no contact angle hysteresis due to strong thermal fluctuations, which occur at the liquid-solid interface on the nanoscale. On hydrophilic surfaces, however, there is strong contact angle hysteresis due to higher energy barrier. These findings may be very important for the development of artificially biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces.Comment: 15 pages, 25 figures. Minimal changes with respect to the previous one. A few small improvements, references updated, added the reference to the published paper. Previous work on the same subject: arXiv:cond-mat/060405

Investigation of Shallow Sedimentary Structure of the Anchorage Basin, Alaska, Using Simulated Annealing Inversion of Site Response

This study deals with shallow sedimentary structure of the Anchorage basin in Alaska. For this purpose, inversion of site response [SR(f)] data in the frequency range 0.5-11.0 Hz from various sites of the basin has been performed using the simulated annealing method to compute subsurface layer thickness, shear-wave velocity (beta), density, and shear-wave quality factor. The one-dimensional (1D) models for the aforementioned parameters were obtained with preset bounds on the basis of available geological information such that the L-2 norm error between the observed and computed site response attained a global minimum. Next, the spatial distribution of the important parameter beta was obtained by interpolating values yielded by the 1D models. The results indicate the presence of three distinct velocity zones as the source of spatial variation of SR(f) in the Anchorage basin. In the uppermost part of the basin, the beta values of fine-grain Quaternary sediments mainly lie in the range of 180-500 m/sec with thickness varying from 15 to 50 m. This formation overlies relatively thick (80-200 m) coarse-grain Quaternary sediments with beta values in the range of 600-900 m/sec. These two Quaternary units are, in turn, overlain on Tertiary sediments with beta > 1000 m/sec located at depths of 100 and 250 m, respectively, in the central and western side along the Knik Arm parts of the basin. The important implication of the result is that the sources of spatial variation of SR(f) in the Anchorage basin for the frequency band 0.5-11 Hz, besides in the uppermost 30 m, are found to be deeper than this depth. Thus, use of commonly considered geological formations in the depth intervals from 0 to 30 m for the ground-motion interpretation will likely yield erroneous results in the Anchorage basin.GIEnvironment and Natural Resources InstituteSchool of Engineering of the University of Alaska, AnchorageGeological Science

Landau Fermi Liquid Picture of Spin Density Functional Theory: Strutinsky Approach to Quantum Dots

We analyze the ground state energy and spin of quantum dots obtained from spin density functional theory (SDFT) calculations. First, we introduce a Strutinsky-type approximation, in which quantum interference is treated as a correction to a smooth Thomas-Fermi description. For large irregular dots, we find that the second-order Strutinsky expressions have an accuracy of about 5 percent compared to the full SDFT and capture all the qualitative features. Second, we perform a random matrix theory/random plane wave analysis of the Strutinsky SDFT expressions. The results are statistically similar to the SDFT quantum dot statistics. Finally, we note that the second-order Strutinsky approximation provides, in essence, a Landau Fermi liquid picture of spin density functional theory. For instance, the leading term in the spin channel is simply the familiar exchange constant. A direct comparison between SDFT and the perturbation theory derived ``universal Hamiltonian'' is thus made possible.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review

Electron-Electron Interactions in Isolated and Realistic Quantum Dots: A Density Functional Theory Study

We use Kohn-Sham spin-density-functional theory to study the statistics of ground-state spin and the spacing between conductance peaks in the Coulomb blockade regime for both 2D isolated and realistic quantum dots. We make a systematic investigation of the effects of electron-electron interaction strength and electron number on both the peak spacing and spin distributions. A direct comparison between the distributions from isolated and realistic dots shows that, despite the difference in the boundary conditions and confining potential, the statistical properties are qualitatively the same. Strong even/odd pairing in the peak spacing distribution is observed only in the weak e-e interaction regime and vanishes for moderate interactions. The probability of high spin ground states increases for stronger e-e interaction and seems to saturate around $r_s \sim 4$. The saturated value is larger than previous theoretical predictions. Both spin and conductance peak spacing distributions show substantial variation as the electron number increases, not saturating until $N \sim 150$. To interpret our numerical results, we analyze the spin distribution in the even $N$ case using a simple two-level model.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Current experimental constraints on NMSSM with large lambda

The next-to-minimal supersymmetric model (NMSSM) with a large lambda (the mixing parameter between the singlet and doublet Higgs fields) is well motivated since it can significantly push up the upper bound on the SM-like Higgs boson mass to solve the little hierarchy problem. In this work we examine the current experimental constraints on the NMSSM with a large lambda, which include the direct search for Higgs boson and sparticles at colliders, the indirect constraints from precision electroweak measurements, the cosmic dark matter relic density, the muon anomalous magnetic moment, as well as the stability of the Higgs potential. We find that, with the increase of lambda, parameters like tan-beta, M_A, mu and M_2 are becoming more stringently constrained. It turns out that the maximal reach of lambda is limited by the muon anomalous magnetic moment, and for smuon masses of 200 GeV (500 GeV) the parameter space with lambda > 1.5 (0.6) is excluded.Comment: Version in PRD (figs and discussions added