Dark Matter and Global Symmetries

General considerations in general relativity and quantum mechanics are known to potentially rule out continuous global symmetries in the context of any consistent theory of quantum gravity. Assuming the validity of such considerations, we derive stringent bounds from gamma-ray, X-ray, cosmic-ray, neutrino, and CMB data on models that invoke global symmetries to stabilize the dark matter particle. We compute up-to-date, robust model-independent limits on the dark matter lifetime for a variety of Planck-scale suppressed dimension-five effective operators. We then specialize our analysis and apply our bounds to specific models including the Two-Higgs-Doublet, Left-Right, Singlet Fermionic, Zee-Babu, 3-3-1 and Radiative See-Saw models. {Assuming that (i) global symmetries are broken at the Planck scale, that (ii) the non-renormalizable operators mediating dark matter decay have $O(1)$ couplings, that (iii) the dark matter is a singlet field, and that (iv) the dark matter density distribution is well described by a NFW profile}, we are able to rule out fermionic, vector, and scalar dark matter candidates across a broad mass range (keV-TeV), including the WIMP regime.Comment: Matches Published version in Phys.Lett. B760 (2016) 807-81

Virtual testing environment tools for railway vehicle certification

This paper describes the work performed in Work Package 6 of the European project DynoTRAIN. Its task was to investigate the effects that uncertainties present within the track and running conditions have on the simulated behaviour of a railway vehicle. Methodologies and frameworks for using virtual simulation and statistical tools, in order to reduce both the cost and time required for the certification of new or modified railway vehicles, were proposed. In particular, the project developed a virtual test track (VTT) toolkit that is capable of both generating a series of test tracks based on measurements, which can be used in vehicle virtual testing using computer simulation models, and also automatically handling the output results. The toolkit is compliant with prEN14363: 2013. The VTT was used as an experimental tool to analyse cross-correlations between track data (input) and matching vehicle response (output) based on data recorded using a test train. This paper discusses the issues encountered in the process and suggests avenues for future developments and potential use in the context of European cross-acceptance. The VTT offers benefits to the areas of design development and regulatory certification

Limits of feedback control in bacterial chemotaxis

Inputs to signaling pathways can have complex statistics that depend on the environment and on the behavioral response to previous stimuli. Such behavioral feedback is particularly important in navigation. Successful navigation relies on proper coupling between sensors, which gather information during motion, and actuators, which control behavior. Because reorientation conditions future inputs, behavioral feedback can place sensors and actuators in an operational regime different from the resting state. How then can organisms maintain proper information transfer through the pathway while navigating diverse environments? In bacterial chemotaxis, robust performance is often attributed to the zero integral feedback control of the sensor, which guarantees that activity returns to resting state when the input remains constant. While this property provides sensitivity over a wide range of signal intensities, it remains unclear how other parameters affect chemotactic performance, especially when considering that the swimming behavior of the cell determines the input signal. Using analytical models and simulations that incorporate recent experimental evidences about behavioral feedback and flagellar motor adaptation we identify an operational regime of the pathway that maximizes drift velocity for various environments and sensor adaptation rates. This optimal regime is outside the dynamic range of the motor response, but maximizes the contrast between run duration up and down gradients. In steep gradients, the feedback from chemotactic drift can push the system through a bifurcation. This creates a non-chemotactic state that traps cells unless the motor is allowed to adapt. Although motor adaptation helps, we find that as the strength of the feedback increases individual phenotypes cannot maintain the optimal operational regime in all environments, suggesting that diversity could be beneficial.Comment: Corrected one typo. First two authors contributed equally. Notably, there were various typos in the values of the parameters in the model of motor adaptation. The results remain unchange

Transport Length Scales in Disordered Graphene-based Materials: Strong Localization Regimes and Dimensionality Effects

We report on a numerical study of quantum transport in disordered two dimensional graphene and graphene nanoribbons. By using the Kubo and the Landauer approaches, transport length scales in the diffusive (mean free path, charge mobilities) and localized regimes (localization lengths) are computed, assuming a short range disorder (Anderson-type). In agreement with localization scaling theory, the electronic systems are found to undergo a conventional Anderson localization in the zero temperature limit. Localization lengths in weakly disordered ribbons are found to differ by two orders of magnitude depending on their edge symmetry, but always remain several orders of magnitude smaller than those computed for 2D graphene for the same disorder strength. This pinpoints the role of transport dimensionality and edge effects.Comment: 4 pages, Phys. rev. Lett. (in press

Augury of Darkness: The Low-Mass Dark Z' Portal

Dirac fermion dark matter models with heavy $Z^{\prime}$ mediators are subject to stringent constraints from spin-independent direct searches and from LHC bounds, cornering them to live near the $Z^{\prime}$ resonance. Such constraints can be relaxed, however, by turning off the vector coupling to Standard Model fermions, thus weakening direct detection bounds, or by resorting to light $Z^{\prime}$ masses, below the Z pole, to escape heavy resonance searches at the LHC. In this work we investigate both cases, as well as the applicability of our findings to Majorana dark matter. We derive collider bounds for light $Z^{\prime}$ gauge bosons using the $CL_S$ method, spin-dependent scattering limits, as well as the spin-independent scattering rate arising from the evolution of couplings between the energy scale of the mediator mass and the nuclear energy scale, and indirect detection limits. We show that such scenarios are still rather constrained by data, and that near resonance they could accommodate the gamma-ray GeV excess in the Galactic center.Comment: 25 pages, 6 Figures. Typos correcte