Influence of reheating on the trispectrum and its scale dependence

We study the evolution of the non-linear curvature perturbation during perturbative reheating, and hence how observables evolve to their final values which we may compare against observations. Our study includes the evolution of the two trispectrum parameters, \gnl and \taunl, as well as the scale dependence of both \fnl and \taunl. In general the evolution is significant and must be taken into account, which means that models of multifield inflation cannot be compared to observations without specifying how the subsequent reheating takes place. If the trispectrum is large at the end of inflation, it normally remains large at the end of reheating. In the classes of models we study, it is very hard to generate \taunl\gg\fnl^2, regardless of the decay rates of the fields. Similarly, for the classes of models in which \gnl\simeq\taunl during slow--roll inflation, we find the relation typically remains valid during reheating. Therefore it is possible to observationally test such classes of models without specifying the parameters of reheating, even though the individual observables are sensitive to the details of reheating. It is hard to generate an observably large \gnl however. The runnings, \nfnl and \ntaunl, tend to satisfy a consistency relation \ntaunl=(3/2)\nfnl, but are in general too small to be observed for the class of models considered regardless of reheating timescale

Forecasts of two-field inflation

Inflation is currently the most promising paradigm of the Early Universe. The simple paradigm involves a single canonical scalar field minimally coupled to gravity slowly rolling down a potential. In this thesis, we discuss an extension to the simple paradigm, multifield inflation, in which inflation is driven by more than one scalar field. Unlike in the single field paradigm, isocurvature perturbations could be non-vanishing and source curvature perturbation on superhorizon scales. Analytic model predictions during the slow-roll regime in some classes of multifield inflation models have been worked out in the literature. However, curvature perturbation may continue to evolve after slow-roll as isocurvature perturbations are not necessarily exhausted when inflation ends. In this thesis, by using the δ N formalism, we investigate the effects of perturbative reheating on the curvature perturbation and related observables in multifield models. By considering various two-field models, we demonstrate that the subsequent (p)reheating evolution is significant and must be taken into account even for perturbative reheating. How the model predictions evolve during reheating is a model dependent question, implying that models of multifield inflation cannot be compared to observations directly without specifying how reheating takes place. We also discuss a different class of two-field models, conformal inflation, which is locally scale invariant. Universal behaviour emerges as a critical phenomenon near the enhanced SO(1,1) or shift symmetry point, leading to model independent predictions. Going beyond the original model proposed by Kallosh and Linde, we show that this universal behaviour extends to more generalised models involving higher order derivatives for slow-roll potential driven inflation

Forecasts of two-field inflation

Inflation is currently the most promising paradigm of the Early Universe. The simple paradigm involves a single canonical scalar field minimally coupled to gravity slowly rolling down a potential. In this thesis, we discuss an extension to the simple paradigm, multifield inflation, in which inflation is driven by more than one scalar field. Unlike in the single field paradigm, isocurvature perturbations could be non-vanishing and source curvature perturbation on superhorizon scales. Analytic model predictions during the slow-roll regime in some classes of multifield inflation models have been worked out in the literature. However, curvature perturbation may continue to evolve after slow-roll as isocurvature perturbations are not necessarily exhausted when inflation ends. In this thesis, by using the δ N formalism, we investigate the effects of perturbative reheating on the curvature perturbation and related observables in multifield models. By considering various two-field models, we demonstrate that the subsequent (p)reheating evolution is significant and must be taken into account even for perturbative reheating. How the model predictions evolve during reheating is a model dependent question, implying that models of multifield inflation cannot be compared to observations directly without specifying how reheating takes place. We also discuss a different class of two-field models, conformal inflation, which is locally scale invariant. Universal behaviour emerges as a critical phenomenon near the enhanced SO(1,1) or shift symmetry point, leading to model independent predictions. Going beyond the original model proposed by Kallosh and Linde, we show that this universal behaviour extends to more generalised models involving higher order derivatives for slow-roll potential driven inflation

Coined quantum walks on percolation graphs

Quantum walks, both discrete (coined) and continuous time, form the basis of several quantum algorithms and have been used to model processes such as transport in spin chains and quantum chemistry. The enhanced spreading and mixing properties of quantum walks compared with their classical counterparts have been well-studied on regular structures and also shown to be sensitive to defects and imperfections in the lattice. As a simple example of a disordered system, we consider percolation lattices, in which edges or sites are randomly missing, interrupting the progress of the quantum walk. We use numerical simulation to study the properties of coined quantum walks on these percolation lattices in one and two dimensions. In one dimension (the line) we introduce a simple notion of quantum tunneling and determine how this affects the properties of the quantum walk as it spreads. On two-dimensional percolation lattices, we show how the spreading rate varies from linear in the number of steps down to zero, as the percolation probability decreases to the critical point. This provides an example of fractional scaling in quantum walk dynamics.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures; v2 expanded and improved presentation after referee comments, added extra figur

Genetic variation at MECOM, TERT, JAK2 and HBS1L-MYB predisposes to myeloproliferative neoplasms

Clonal proliferation in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) is driven by somatic mutations in JAK2, CALR or MPL, but the contribution of inherited factors is poorly characterized. Using a three-stage genome-wide association study of 3,437 MPN cases and 10,083 controls, we identify two SNPs with genome-wide significance in JAK2V617F-negative MPN: rs12339666 (JAK2; meta-analysis P=1.27 × 10−10) and rs2201862 (MECOM; meta-analysis P=1.96 × 10−9). Two additional SNPs, rs2736100 (TERT) and rs9376092 (HBS1L/MYB), achieve genome-wide significance when including JAK2V617F-positive cases. rs9376092 has a stronger effect in JAK2V617F-negative cases with CALR and/or MPL mutations (Breslow–Day P=4.5 × 10−7), whereas in JAK2V617F-positive cases rs9376092 associates with essential thrombocythemia (ET) rather than polycythemia vera (allelic χ2 P=7.3 × 10−7). Reduced MYB expression, previously linked to development of an ET-like disease in model systems, associates with rs9376092 in normal myeloid cells. These findings demonstrate that multiple germline variants predispose to MPN and link constitutional differences in MYB expression to disease phenotype

The photometric observation of the quasi-simultaneous mutual eclipse and occultation between Europa and Ganymede on 22 August 2021

Mutual events (MEs) are eclipses and occultations among planetary natural satellites. Most of the time, eclipses and occultations occur separately. However, the same satellite pair will exhibit an eclipse and an occultation quasi-simultaneously under particular orbital configurations. This kind of rare event is termed as a quasi-simultaneous mutual event (QSME). During the 2021 campaign of mutual events of jovian satellites, we observed a QSME between Europa and Ganymede. The present study aims to describe and study the event in detail. We observed the QSME with a CCD camera attached to a 300-mm telescope at the Hong Kong Space Museum Sai Kung iObservatory. We obtained the combined flux of Europa and Ganymede from aperture photometry. A geometric model was developed to explain the light curve observed. Our results are compared with theoretical predictions (O-C). We found that our simple geometric model can explain the QSME fairly accurately, and the QSME light curve is a superposition of the light curves of an eclipse and an occultation. Notably, the observed flux drops are within 2.6% of the theoretical predictions. The size of the event central time O-Cs ranges from -14.4 to 43.2 s. Both O-Cs of flux drop and timing are comparable to other studies adopting more complicated models. Given the event rarity, model simplicity and accuracy, we encourage more observations and analysis on QSMEs to improve Solar System ephemerides.Comment: 23 pages, 5 appendixes, 16 figures, 7 table

Exploring the impact of social axioms on firm reputation: a stakeholder perspective

This study proposes a model of how deeply held beliefs, known as ‘social axioms, moderate the interaction between reputation, its causes and consequences with stakeholders. It contributes to the stakeholder relational field of reputation theory by explaining why the same organizational stimuli lead to different individual stakeholder responses. The study provides a shift in reputation research from organizational-level stimuli as the root causes of stakeholder responses to exploring the interaction between individual beliefs and organizational stimuli in determining reputational consequences. Building on a conceptual model that incorporates product/service quality and social responsibility as key reputational dimensions, the authors test empirically for moderating influences, in the form of social axioms, between reputation-related antecedents and consequences, using component-based structural equation modelling (n = 204). In several model paths, significant differences are found between responses of individuals identified as either high or low on social cynicism, fate control and religiosity. The results suggest that stakeholder responses to reputation-related stimuli can be systematically predicted as a function of the interactions between the deeply held beliefs of individuals and these stimuli. The authors offer recommendations on how strategic reputation management can be approached within and across stakeholder groups at a time when firms grapple with effective management of diverse stakeholder expectations