The thermodynamic limit of the Whitham equations

The infinite-genus limit of the KdV-Whitham equations is derived. The limit involves special scaling for the associated spectral surface such that the integrated density of states remains finite as $N \to \infty$ (the thermodynamic type limit). The limiting integro-differential system describes slow evolution of the density of states and can be regarded as the kinetic equation for a soliton gas

Radiative decays of light vector mesons

The new data on $\rho,\omega,\phi$ radiative decays into $\pi^0\gamma,\eta\gamma,\eta'\gamma$ from SND experiment at VEPP-2M $e^+e^-$ collider are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, talk given at 8th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy (HADRON 99), Beijing, China, 24-28 Aug 199

New experimental data for the decays ϕ→μ+μ−\phi\to\mu^+\mu^- and ϕ→π+π−\phi\to\pi^+\pi^- from SND detector

The processes $e^+e^-\to\mu^+\mu^-$ and $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-$ have been studied with SND detector at VEPP-2M $e^+e^-$ collider in the vicinity of $\phi(1020)$ resonance. The branching ratios $B(\phi\to\mu^+\mu^-)=(3.30\pm 0.45\pm 0.32)\times 10^{-4}$ and $B(\phi\to\pi^+\pi^-)=(0.71\pm 0.11\pm 0.09)\times 10^{-4}$ were obtained.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, talk given at 8th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy (HADRON 99), Beijing, China, 24-28 Aug 199

New Data from SND Detector in Novosibirsk

The current status of experiments with SND detector at VEPP-2M e^+e^- collider in the energy range 2E_0=400-1400 MeV and recent results of data analysis for $\phi$, $\omega$ and $\rho$ decays and e^+e^- annihilation into hadrons are presented.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, Latex2e, uses espcrc1.sty. Talk given at 8th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy (HADRON 99), Beijing, China, 24-28 Aug 199

Inclusive Heavy-Flavor Production from Nuclei

We describe a light-cone wave function formulation for hadroproduction of heavy-flavors at high energies. At moderate values of $x_F$ heavy-flavor production can be viewed as a diffractive excitation of heavy quark-antiquark Fock states, present in the interacting gluon from the projectile. The approach developed here is well suited to address coherence effects in heavy-quark production from nuclei at small values of x_{t} \lsim 0.1\cdot A^{-1/3}.Comment: 14 pages with 3 figures. To appear in Z. Phys.

Dressing with Control: using integrability to generate desired solutions to Einstein's equations

21 pages, no figures21 pages, no figures21 pages, no figures21 pages, no figuresMotivated by integrability of the sine-Gordon equation, we investigate a technique for constructing desired solutions to Einstein's equations by combining a dressing technique with a control-theory approach. After reviewing classical integrability, we recall two well-known Killing field reductions of Einstein's equations, unify them using a harmonic map formulation, and state two results on the integrability of the equations and solvability of the dressing system. The resulting algorithm is then combined with an asymptotic analysis to produce constraints on the degrees of freedom arising in the solution-generation mechanism. The approach is carried out explicitly for the Einstein vacuum equations. Applications of the technique to other geometric field theories are also discussed

Quantum Vacuum Experiments Using High Intensity Lasers

The quantum vacuum constitutes a fascinating medium of study, in particular since near-future laser facilities will be able to probe the nonlinear nature of this vacuum. There has been a large number of proposed tests of the low-energy, high intensity regime of quantum electrodynamics (QED) where the nonlinear aspects of the electromagnetic vacuum comes into play, and we will here give a short description of some of these. Such studies can shed light, not only on the validity of QED, but also on certain aspects of nonperturbative effects, and thus also give insights for quantum field theories in general.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figur

Active Galactic Nuclei at the Crossroads of Astrophysics

Over the last five decades, AGN studies have produced a number of spectacular examples of synergies and multifaceted approaches in astrophysics. The field of AGN research now spans the entire spectral range and covers more than twelve orders of magnitude in the spatial and temporal domains. The next generation of astrophysical facilities will open up new possibilities for AGN studies, especially in the areas of high-resolution and high-fidelity imaging and spectroscopy of nuclear regions in the X-ray, optical, and radio bands. These studies will address in detail a number of critical issues in AGN research such as processes in the immediate vicinity of supermassive black holes, physical conditions of broad-line and narrow-line regions, formation and evolution of accretion disks and relativistic outflows, and the connection between nuclear activity and galaxy evolution.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures; review contribution; "Exploring the Cosmic Frontier: Astrophysical Instruments for the 21st Century", ESO Astrophysical Symposia Serie