Describing Sr2RuO4 superconductivity in a generalized Ginzburg--Landau theory

We propose a simple explanation of unconventional thermodynamical and magnetic properties observed for Sr2RuO4. Actually, our two-phase model of superconductivity, based on a straight generalization of the Ginzburg-Landau theory, does predict two jumps in the heat capacity as well as a double curve for the dependence of the critical temperature on an external magnetic field. Such theoretical previsions well agree with the currently available experimental data for Sr2RuO4Comment: revtex, 9 pages, 1 eps figur

Majorana and the investigation of infrared spectra of ammonia

An account is given on the first studies on the physics of ammonia, focusing on the infrared spectra of that molecule. Relevant contributions from several authors, in the years until 1932, are pointed out, discussing also an unknown study by E.Majorana on this topic.Comment: 13 page

Fermi, Majorana and the statistical model of atoms

We give an account of the appearance and first developments of the statistical model of atoms proposed by Thomas and Fermi, focusing on the main results achieved by Fermi and his group in Rome. Particular attention is addressed to the unknown contribution to this subject by Majorana, anticipating some important results reached later by leading physicists.Comment: Latex, 16 pages, 2 figure

Baryon asymmetry in the Universe resulting from Lorentz violation

We analyze the phenomenological consequences of a Lorentz violating energy-momentum dispersion relation in order to give a simple explanation for the baryon asymmetry in the Universe. By assuming very few hypotheses, we propose a straightforward mechanism for generating the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry which entails a Lorentz-breakdown energy scale of the order of the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cut-off.Comment: 7 page

Space-time symmetry restoration in cosmological models with Kalb--Ramond and scalar fields

We study symmetry of space-time in presence of a minimally coupled scalar field interacting with a Kalb--Ramond tensor fields in a homogeneous but initially anisotropic universe. The analysis is performed for the two relevant cases of a pure cosmological constant and a minimal quadratic, renormalizable, interaction term. In both cases, due to expansion, a complete spatial symmetry restoration is dynamically obtained.Comment: Latex, 7 pages, 3 eps figure

Magnetic properties of two-phase superconductors

We have recently proposed a theoretical model for superconductors endowed with two distinct superconducting phases, described by two scalar order parameters which condensate at different critical temperatures. On analyzing the magnetic behavior of such systems, we have found some observable differences with respect to the case of ordinary Ginzburg-Landau superconductors. In particular, at low temperature the London penetration length is strongly reduced and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter k becomes a function of temperature. By contrast, in the temperature region between the two phase transitions k is constant and the system is a type-I or a type-II superconductor depending on the ratio between the critical temperatures.Comment: revtex, 5 pages, 1 eps figur

Nonlocal field theory driven by a deformed product: Generalization of Kalb-Ramond duality

A modification of the standard product used in local field theory by means of an associative deformed product is proposed. We present a class of deformed products, one for every spin S = 0, 1/2, 1, that induces a nonlocal theory, displaying different form for different fields. This type of deformed product is naturally supersymmetric and it has an intriguing duality

The Scalar wave equation in a non-commutative spherically symmetric space-time

Recent work in the literature has studied a version of non-commutative Schwarzschild black holes where the effects of non-commutativity are described by a mass function depending on both the radial variable r and a non-commutativity parameter θ. The present paper studies the asymptotic behavior of solutions of the zero-rest-mass scalar wave equation in such a modified Schwarzschild space-time in a neighborhood of spatial infinity. The analysis is eventually reduced to finding solutions of an inhomogeneous Euler–Poisson–Darboux equation, where the parameter θ affects explicitly the functional form of the source term. Interestingly, for finite values of θ, there is full qualitative agreement with general relativity: the conformal singularity at spacelike infinity reduces in a considerable way the differentiability class of scalar fields at future null infinity. In the physical space-time, this means that the scalar field has an asymptotic behavior with a fall-off going on rather more slowly than in flat space-time

A generalization of the Ginzburg-Landau theory to p-wave superconductors

We succeed to build up a straightforward theoretical model for spin-triplet p-wave superconductors by introducing in Ginzburg-Landau theory a second order parameter and a suitable interaction between the two mean fields.Comment: RevTeX, 4 pages, no figure