Topological aspects in non-Abelian gauge theory

We discuss the BRST cohomology and exhibit a connection between the Hodge decomposition theorem and the topological properties of a two dimensional free non-Abelian gauge theory having no interaction with matter fields. The topological nature of this theory is encoded in the vanishing of the Laplacian operator when equations of motion are exploited. We obtain two sets of topological invariants with respect to BRST and co-BRST charges on the two dimensional manifold and show that the Lagrangian density of the theory can be expressed as the sum of terms that are BRST- and co-BRST invariants.Comment: (1+11) pages, LaTeX, no figure

Estimating European volatile organic compound emissions using satellite observations of formaldehyde from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument

Emission of non-methane Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere stems from biogenic and human activities, and their estimation is difficult because of the many and not fully understood processes involved. In order to narrow down the uncertainty related to VOC emissions, which negatively reflects on our ability to simulate the atmospheric composition, we exploit satellite observations of formaldehyde (HCHO), an ubiquitous oxidation product of most VOCs, focusing on Europe. HCHO column observations from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) reveal a marked seasonal cycle with a summer maximum and winter minimum. In summer, the oxidation of methane and other long-lived VOCs supply a slowly varying background HCHO column, while HCHO variability is dominated by most reactive VOC, primarily biogenic isoprene followed in importance by biogenic terpenes and anthropogenic VOCs. The chemistry-transport model CHIMERE qualitatively reproduces the temporal and spatial features of the observed HCHO column, but display regional biases which are attributed mainly to incorrect biogenic VOC emissions, calculated with the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosol from Nature (MEGAN) algorithm. These "bottom-up" or a-priori emissions are corrected through a Bayesian inversion of the OMI HCHO observations. Resulting "top-down" or a-posteriori isoprene emissions are lower than "bottom-up" by 40% over the Balkans and by 20% over Southern Germany, and higher by 20% over Iberian Peninsula, Greece and Italy. We conclude that OMI satellite observations of HCHO can provide a quantitative "top-down" constraint on the European "bottom-up" VOC inventories

Superfield approach to a novel symmetry for non-Abelian gauge theory

In the framework of superfield formalism, we demonstrate the existence of a new local, covariant, continuous and nilpotent (dual-BRST) symmetry for the BRST invariant Lagrangian density of a self-interacting two ($1 + 1$)-dimensional (2D) non-Abelian gauge theory (having no interaction with matter fields). The local and nilpotent Noether conserved charges corresponding to the above continuous symmetries find their geometrical interpretation as the translation generators along the odd (Grassmannian) directions of the four ($2 + 2)$-dimensional supermanifold.Comment: LaTeX, 12 pages, equations (4.2)--(4.6) correcte

Superfield Approach To Nilpotent Symmetries For QED From A Single Restriction: An Alternative To The Horizontality Condition

We derive together the exact local, covariant, continuous and off-shell nilpotent Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the U(1) gauge field (A_\mu), the (anti-)ghost fields ((\bar C)C) and the Dirac fields (\psi, \bar\psi) of the Lagrangian density of a four (3 + 1)-dimensional QED by exploiting a single restriction on the six (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. A set of four even spacetime coordinates x^\mu (\mu = 0, 1, 2, 3) and two odd Grassmannian variables \theta and \bar\theta parametrize this six dimensional supermanifold. The new gauge invariant restriction on the above supermanifold owes its origin to the (super) covariant derivatives and their intimate relations with the (super) 2-form curvatures (\tilde F^{(2)})F^{(2)} constructed with the help of (super) 1-form gauge connections (\tilde A^{(1)})A^{(1)} and (super) exterior derivatives (\tilde d)d. The results obtained separately by exploiting (i) the horizontality condition, and (ii) one of its consistent extensions, are shown to be a simple consequence of this new single restriction on the above supermanifold. Thus, our present endeavour provides an alternative to (and, in some sense, generalization of) the horizontality condition of the usual superfield formalism applied to the derivation of BRST symmetries.Comment: LaTeX file, 15 pages, journal-versio

The Volume Source Technique for flavor singlets: a second look

We reconsider the Volume Source Technique (VST) for the determination of flavor singlet quantities on the lattice. We point out a difficulty arising in the case of fermions in real representations of the gauge group and propose an improved version of the method (IVST) based on random gauge transformations of the background configuration. We compare the performance of IVST with the method based on stochastic estimators (SET). We consider the case of the N=1 Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory (SYM), where just one fermionic flavor is present, the gluino in the adjoint representation, and only flavor singlet states are possible. The work is part of an inclusive analysis of the spectrum of the lightest particles of the theory, based on the simulation of the model on a $16^3\cdot32$ lattice with dynamical gluinos in the Wilson scheme.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, some formulations change

Limits on Lorentz Violation from the Highest Energy Cosmic Rays

We place several new limits on Lorentz violating effects, which can modify particles' dispersion relations, by considering the highest energy cosmic rays observed. Since these are hadrons, this involves considering the partonic content of such cosmic rays. We get a number of bounds on differences in maximum propagation speeds, which are typically bounded at the 10^{-21} level, and on momentum dependent dispersion corrections of the form v = 1 +- p^2/Lambda^2, which typically bound Lambda > 10^{21} GeV, well above the Planck scale. For (CPT violating) dispersion correction of the form v = 1 + p/Lambda, the bounds are up to 15 orders of magnitude beyond the Planck scale.Comment: 24 pages, no figures. Added references, very slight changes. Version published in Physical Review

Field dependent nilpotent symmetry for gauge theories

We construct the field dependent mixed BRST (combination of BRST and anti-BRST) transformations for pure gauge theories. These are shown to be an exact nilpotent symmetry of both the effective action as well as the generating functional for certain choices of the field dependent parameters. We show that the Jacobian contributions for path integral measure in the definition of generating functional arising from BRST and anti-BRST part compensate each other. The field dependent mixed BRST transformations are also considered in field/antifield formulation to show that the solutions of quantum master equation remain invariant under these. Our results are supported by several explicit examples.Comment: 25 pages, No figures, Revte

An important fingerprint of wildfires on the European aerosol load

Abstract. Wildland fires represent the major source of fine aerosols, i.e., atmospheric particles with diameters <1 μm. The largest numbers of these fires occur in Africa, Asia and South America, but a not negligible fraction also occurs in Eastern Europe and former USSR countries, particularly in the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Besides the impact of large forest fires, recent studies also highlighted the crucial role played by routine agricultural fires in Eastern Europe and Russia on the Arctic atmosphere. An evaluation of the impact of these fires over Europe is currently not available. The assessment of the relative contribution of fires to the European aerosol burden is hampered by the complex mixing of natural and anthropogenic particle types across the continent. In this study we use long term (2002–2007) satellite-based fires and aerosol data coupled to atmospheric trajectory modelling in the attempt to estimate the wildfires contribution to the European aerosol optical thickness (AOT). Based on this dataset, we provide evidence that fires-related aerosols play a major role in shaping the AOT yearly cycle at the continental scale. In general, the regions most impacted by wildfires emissions and/or transport are Eastern and Central Europe as well as Scandinavia. Conversely, a minor impact is found in Western Europe and in the Western Mediterranean. We estimate that in spring 5 to 35% of the European fine fraction AOT (FFAOT) is attributable to wildland fires. The estimated impact maximizes in April (20–35%) in Eastern and Central Europe as well as in Scandinavia and in the Central Mediterranean. An important contribution of wildfires to the FFAOT is also found in summer over most of the continent, particularly in August over Eastern Europe (28%) and the Mediterranean regions, from Turkey (34%) to the Western Mediterranean (25%). Although preliminary, our results suggest that this fires-related, continent-wide haze plays a not negligible role on the European radiation budget, and possibly, on the European air quality, therefore representing a clear target for mitigation

Two loop effective potential for < A^2_\mu > in the Landau gauge in quantum chromodynamics

We construct the effective potential for the dimension two composite operator 1/2 A^{a 2}_\mu in QCD with massless quarks in the Landau gauge for an arbitrary colour group at two loops. For SU(3) we show that an estimate for the effective gluon mass decreases as N_f increases.Comment: 17 latex page