Quantum diffusion beyond slow-roll: implications for primordial black-hole production

Primordial black-holes (PBH) can be produced in single-field models of inflation with a quasi-inflection point in the potential. In these models, a large production of PBHs requires a deviation from the slow-roll (SR) trajectory. In turn, this SR violation can produce an exponential growth of quantum fluctuations. We study the back-reaction of these quantum modes on the inflationary dynamics using stochastic inflation in the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism. We develop a methodology to solve quantum diffusion beyond SR in terms of the statistical moments of the probability distribution. We apply these techniques to a toy model potential with a quasi-inflection point. We find that there is an enhancement of the power spectrum due to the dominance of the stochastic noise in the phase beyond SR. Moreover, non-Gaussian corrections become as well relevant with a large positive kurtosis. Altogether, this produces a significant boost of PBH production. We discuss how our results extend to other single-field models with similar dynamics. We conclude that the abundance of PBHs in this class of models should be revisited including quantum diffusion.Comment: 17+7 pages, 5 figures. Matches JCAP versio

Quest of shape coexistence in Zr isotopes

Background: The mass region with A approximate to 100 and Z approximate to 40 is known to experience a sudden onset of deformation. The presence of the subshell closure Z = 40 makes it feasible to create particle-hole excitations at a moderate excitation energy and, therefore, likely intruder states could be present in the low-lying spectrum. In other words, shape coexistence is expected to be a key ingredient to understand this mass region. Purpose: The aim of this work is to describe excitation energies, transition rates, radii, and two-neutron separation energies for the even-even Zr94-110 nuclei and, moreover, to obtain information about wave functions and deformation. Method: The interacting boson model with configuration mixing will be the framework to study the even-even Zr nuclei, considering only two types of configurations: 0particle-0hole and 2particle-2hole excitations. On one hand, the parameters appearing in the Hamiltonian and in the E2 transition operator are fixed trough a least-squares fit to the whole available experimental information. On the other hand, once the parameters have been fixed, the calculations allow to obtain a complete set of observables for the whole even-even Zr chain of isotopes. Results: Spectra, transition rates, radii, rho(2)(E0), and two-neutron separation energies have been calculated and a good agreement with the experimental information has been obtained. Moreover, a detailed study of the wave function has been conducted and mean-field energy surfaces and deformation have been computed too. Conclusions: The importance of shape coexistence has been shown to correctly describe the A approximate to 100 mass area for even-even Zr nuclei. This work confirmed the rather spherical nature of the ground state of Zr94-98 and its deformed nature for Zr100-110 isotopes. The sudden onset of deformation in Zr-100 is owing to the rapid lowering of a deformed (intruder) configuration which is high-lying in lighter isotopes

Impact of introducing ecoinnovation measures on productivity in transport sector companies

The transport and storage sector, like other sectors of the Spanish economy, is experiencing the effects of the current economic crisis. The Annual Services Survey prepared by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) shows that between 2008 and 2013 there was an 11.9% reduction in turnover and an 18.3% reduction in paid workers in companies in sector. However, in the same period, there was a 7.8% increase in labour productivity. The main aim of this study was to determine the impact of factors related to innovation and the environment, among others, on labour productivity in the Spanish transport and storage sector. Few studies are available on this topic, which is most likely due to the scant statistical information available for the sector analysed. The structural analysis model used in this study was an extended version of the wellknown Cobb‐Douglas production function applied to data obtained from the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC). PITEC is a panel type database (for 2003‐2013), which was developed jointly by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Towards the most general scalar-tensor theories of gravity: a unified approach in the language of differential forms

We use a description based on differential forms to systematically explore the space of scalar-tensor theories of gravity. Within this formalism, we propose a basis for the scalar sector at the lowest order in derivatives of the field and in any number of dimensions. This minimal basis is used to construct a finite and closed set of Lagrangians describing general scalar-tensor theories invariant under Local Lorentz Transformations in a pseudo-Riemannian manifold, which contains ten physically distinct elements in four spacetime dimensions. Subsequently, we compute their corresponding equations of motion and find which combinations are at most second order in derivatives in four as well as arbitrary number of dimensions. By studying the possible exact forms (total derivatives) and algebraic relations between the basis components, we discover that there are only four Lagrangian combinations producing second order equations, which can be associated with Horndeski's theory. In this process, we identify a new second order Lagrangian, named kinetic Gauss-Bonnet, that was not previously considered in the literature. However, we show that its dynamics is already contained in Horndeski's theory. Finally, we provide a full classification of the relations between different second order theories. This allows us to clarify, for instance, the connection between different covariantizations of Galileons theory. In conclusion, our formulation affords great computational simplicity with a systematic structure. As a first step we focus on theories with second order equations of motion. However, this new formalism aims to facilitate advances towards unveiling the most general scalar-tensor theories.Comment: 28 pages, 1 figure, version published in PRD (minor changes

Entanglement detection in coupled particle plasmons

When in close contact, plasmonic resonances interact and become strongly correlated. In this work we develop a quantum mechanical model, using the language of continuous variables and quantum information, for an array of coupled particle plasmons. This model predicts that when the coupling strength between plasmons approaches or surpasses the local dissipation, a sizable amount of entanglement is stored in the collective modes of the array. We also prove that entanglement manifests itself in far-field images of the plasmonic modes, through the statistics of the quadratures of the field, in what constitutes a novel family of entanglement witnesses. This protocol is so robust that it is indeed independent of whether our own model is correct. Finally, we estimate the amount of entanglement, the coupling strength and the correlation properties for a system that consists of two or more coupled nanospheres of silver, showing evidence that our predictions could be tested using present-day state-of-the-art technology.Comment: 8 pages (6 main text + 2 supplemental), 3 figure

Phonemic errors with words but semantic errors with numbers: is number production special?

Paradoxically, brain-damaged people with impairments in the phonological output buffer produce phonemic paraphasias with content words (e.g., bitar-butter) but semantic paraphasias with number words (e.g., twenty five-thirty eight). This is known as the Stimulus Type Effect on Phonological and Semantic errors (STEPS). Explanations for this phenomenon consider that preassembled phonological representations exist for numbers but not for content words in the phonological output buffer. Here we explore two alternative hypotheses based on the existence of two methodological confounds: numbers are always presented in homogeneous blocks and words in heterogeneous blocks; number words are usually word sequences that are compared to single content-words. Two conduction aphasics took part in the study. Experiment 1 did not confirm the role of lists in causing the STEPS. Experiment 2 found more semantic paraphasias (compared to phonemic paraphasias) both in the repetition of multidigits (e.g., 673) and, more importantly, in the repetition of color word sequences (e.g., red-blue-green). The STEPS arises as consequence of differences in resource demands. Number words have not a special status in the phonological output buffer.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Teleological structure of scientific and mathematical education

One of the main educational objectives in the current Spanish curricula is to develop mathematical and scientific competences, understood as the set of skills and abilities needed to apply Mathematics and Science in situations where are required. This is therefore closely related, on one hand, to the functionality of the knowledge, in the sense of its usefulness in problem solving and in mathematical and science modeling problems. And, on the other hand, is related to the understanding of disciplinary knowledge, a cognitive phenomenon that enables and gives competence to the individual to elaborate contextualized and accurate answers. These answers involve the use of mathematical and scientific knowledge in some of the categories of their phenomenological and epistemological dimensions. For this reason, in this work we carry out a theoretical and reflexive analysis that tries to determine which aspects of the Mathematics and Science Education should be promoted in order to optimize the formative dimension of an individual in these disciplines. This dimension, frequently forgotten in learning and teaching processes, turns out to be, in conjunction with the functional and instrumental dimensions, necessary to acquire the appropriate knowledge in Mathematics and Science that will enable future citizens to permanently adapt to the environment and eventually transform it positively. The results of the analysis show the components of this dimension that should be prioritized in the Science and Mathematics Education: the intellectual autonomy, understood as the ability to think for ourselves and to put in use our abilities and skills to generate information to solve real life problems and to make the right decisions; the moral autonomy, defined as the capacity to face with real life problems with ethical implications; and the social autonomy, understood as the aptitude to make decisions using social abilities and skills.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.“Criterios e instrumentos de evaluación de unidades de enseñanza y aprendizaje” (PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/16) financiado por la Universidad de Málaga en la convocatoria de 2017-2018

Criminal Justice Systems in Europe. A cross-national quantitative analysis

In the last years, the Crime Observatory of the University of Malaga has analysed police records on criminal activity, has also carried out several crime victims surveys in Spain and has worked on a detailed analysis of the prison system and its connection to the prison policy. This year´s report focuses on the Criminal Justice System, one of the big official data providers, to gather, organize and interpret a great deal of quantitative data from 2000 to 2011. Such longitudinal scrutiny offers data related to public opinion about criminal courts, the quality of criminal justice, its resources, the amount of criminal cases managed on each court, a user´s profile, etc. On this presentation, we´ll concentrate on a comparison of the European countries that constitutes the first chapter of the Report and aims to offer a proper context to the rest of it. Such comparison will explain the national differences in terms of the public budget allocated to courts, legal aid, court fees, incoming criminal cases, length of procedures, clearance rate, as well as homicide, rape, serious assault and robbery convictions, etc. Our aim will be to offer an interesting cross-national analysis of such topics that will provide a reference point from which to debate the national policies related to the Criminal Justice System in the European Countries.Instituto Andaluz Interuniversitario de Criminología. Sección de Málag

The use of permanent contracts across Spanish regions: Do regional wage subsidies work?

This paper evaluates the effect of regional wage subsidies to foster permanent employment for a sample of temporary and unemployed Spanish workers. We study the transition into permanent employment using a new dataset based on administrative Social Security registers named “La Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales”, which is used for the first time to carry out policy evaluation exercises in the Spanish labor market. This dataset offers important advantages with respect to the Labour Force Survey, given it offers the complete labor history of the worker. Moreover, since we have individual, regional and time variation in our policy measure, we can apply a difference-in-differences estimator to identify the average treatment effect of this policy. Though, these regional policies have been implemented for almost ten years, as far as we know, this is the first attempt to evaluate them. Our main results are that, in average terms, this policy has positive but small effects on the transition rate into permanent employment either from a temporary contract or from unemployment. The incidence of these subsidies, however, is larger when the worker is in a temporary contract. It is also larger for young females while for old male workers do not have any effect. Measured at the average wage subsidy (5100 Euros) the total change in the entrance probability from a temporary to a permanent contract is around 26% for young women, 24% for middle age ones and 22% for middle age men, the most benefited workers. Nevertheless, since the transition rates to permanent contracts at the same firm are pretty low these relative changes hardly generate a change in the transition probability from a temporary to a permanent contract at the same firm. For instance, in the case of young women the estimated transition probability growths from 0.064% to 0.075% while for middle age men it changes from 0.039% to 0.041%.Difference-in-Differences, Evaluation Analysis, Wage Subsidies, Competing Riks