Integral representations of thermodynamic 1PI Green functions in the world-line formalism

The issue discussed is a thermodynamic version of the Bern-Kosower master amplitude formula, which contains all necessary one-loop Feynman diagrams. It is demonstrated how the master amplitude at finite values of temperature and chemical potential can be formulated within the framework of the world-line formalism. In particular we present an elegant method how to introduce a chemical potential for a loop in the master formula. Various useful integral formulae for the master amplitude are then obtained. The non-analytic property of the master formula is also derived in the zero temperature limit with the value of chemical potential kept finite.Comment: 1+30 pages, improved presentatio

World-line Green functions with momentum and source conservations

Based on the generating functional method with an external source function, a useful constraint on the source function is proposed for analyzing the one- and two-loop world-line Green functions. The constraint plays the same role as the momentum conservation law of a certain nontrivial form, and transforms ambiguous Green functions into the uniquely defined Green functions. We also argue reparametrizations of the Green functions defined on differently parameterized world-line diagrams.Comment: 20(+1) pages, one pictex figur

Three-loop Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian and asymptotic analysis in 1+1 QED

In recent years, the Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian has been shown to be a useful tool for the analysis of the asymptotic growth of the N-photon amplitudes at large N. Moreover, certain results and conjectures on its imaginary part allow one, using Borel analysis, to make predictions for those amplitudes at large loop orders. Extending work by G.V. Dunne and one of the authors to the three-loop level, but in the simpler context of 1+1 dimensional QED, we calculate the corresponding Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian, analyse its weak field expansion, and study the congruence with predictions obtained from worldline instantons. We discuss the relevance of these issues for Cvitanovic's conjecture.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, Talk given by C. Schubert at QFEXT09, Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, September 21 - 25, 2009, to appear in the conference proceeding

Technology advancement of the static feed water electrolysis process

Some results are presented of a research and development program to continue the development of a method to generate oxygen for crew metabolic consumption during extended manned space flights. The concept being pursued is that of static feed water electrolysis. Specific major results of the work included: (1) completion of a 30-day electrode test using a Life Systems, Inc.-developed high performance catalyst. During startup the cell voltages were as low as 1.38 V at current densities of 108 mA/sq cm (100 ASF) and temperatures of 355 K (180 F). At the end of 30 days of testing the cell voltages were still only 1.42 V at 108 mA/sq cm, (2) determination that the Static Feed Water Electrolysis Module does not release an aerosol of the cell electrolyte into the product gas streams after a break-in period of 24 hours following a new electrolyte charge, and (3) completion of a detailed design analysis of an electrochemical Oxygen Generation Subsystem at a three-man level (4.19 kg/day (9.24 lb/day) of oxygen)

On the low energy limit of one loop photon-graviton amplitudes

We present first results of a systematic study of the structure of the low energy limit of the one-loop photon-graviton amplitudes induced by massive scalars and spinors. Our main objective is the search of KLT-type relations where effectively two photons merge into a graviton. We find such a relation at the graviton-photon-photon level. We also derive the diffeomorphism Ward identity for the 1PI one graviton - N photon amplitudes.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure. Final version to be published in Physics Letters