1,160 research outputs found
Inflection Point Inflation and Time Dependent Potentials in String Theory
We consider models of inflection point inflation. The main drawback of such
models is that they suffer from the overshoot problem. Namely the initial
condition should be fine tuned to be near the inflection point for the universe
to inflate. We show that stringy realizations of inflection point inflation are
common and offer a natural resolution to the overshoot problem.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, refs. adde
Twistfield Perturbations of Vertex Operators in the Z_2-Orbifold Model
We apply Kadanoff's theory of marginal deformations of conformal field
theories to twistfield deformations of Z_2 orbifold models in K3 moduli space.
These deformations lead away from the Z_2 orbifold sub-moduli-space and hence
help to explore conformal field theories which have not yet been understood. In
particular, we calculate the deformation of the conformal dimensions of vertex
operators for p^2<1 in second order perturbation theory.Comment: Latex2e, 19 pages, 1 figur
Primordial black hole production due to preheating
During the preheating process at the end of inflation the amplification of
field fluctuations can lead to the amplification of curvature perturbations. If
the curvature perturbations on small scales are sufficiently large, primordial
black holes (PBHs) will be overproduced. In this paper we study PBH production
in the two-field preheating model with quadratic inflaton potential. We show
that for many values of the inflaton mass m, and coupling g, small scale
perturbations will be amplified sufficiently, before backreaction can shut off
preheating, so that PBHs will be overproduced during the subsequent radiation
dominated era.Comment: 5 pages, 3 eps figures. Minor changes to match version to appear in
PRD as a rapid communicatio
Imprints of Short Distance Physics On Inflationary Cosmology
We analyze the impact of certain modifications to short distance physics on
the inflationary perturbation spectrum. For the specific case of power-law
inflation, we find distinctive -- and possibly observable -- effects on the
spectrum of density perturbations.Comment: Revtex 4, 3 eps figs, 4 page
An Index for 4 dimensional Super Conformal Theories
We present a trace formula for an index over the spectrum of four dimensional
superconformal field theories on time. Our index receives
contributions from states invariant under at least one supercharge and captures
all information -- that may be obtained purely from group theory -- about
protected short representations in 4 dimensional superconformal field theories.
In the case of the theory our index is a function of four
continuous variables. We compute it at weak coupling using gauge theory and at
strong coupling by summing over the spectrum of free massless particles in
and find perfect agreement at large and small charges.
Our index does not reproduce the entropy of supersymmetric black holes in
, but this is not a contradiction, as it differs qualitatively from the
partition function over supersymmetric states of the theory. We
note that entropy for some small supersymmetric black holes may be
reproduced via a D-brane counting involving giant gravitons. For big black
holes we find a qualitative (but not exact) agreement with the naive counting
of BPS states in the free Yang Mills theory. In this paper we also evaluate and
study the partition function over the chiral ring in the Yang
Mills theory.Comment: harvmac 40+16 pages, v3: references and table of contents added,
typos fixe
Type IIB Solutions with Interpolating Supersymmetries
We study type IIB supergravity solutions with four supersymmetries that
interpolate between two types widely considered in the literature: the dual of
Becker and Becker's compactifications of M-theory to 3 dimensions and the dual
of Strominger's torsion compactifications of heterotic theory to 4 dimensions.
We find that for all intermediate solutions the internal manifold is not
Calabi-Yau, but has SU(3) holonomy in a connection with a torsion given by the
3-form flux. All 3-form and 5-form fluxes, as well as the dilaton, depend on
one function appearing in the supersymmetry spinor, which satisfies a nonlinear
differential equation. We check that the fields corresponding to a flat bound
state of D3/D5-branes lie in our class of solutions. The relations among
supergravity fields that we derive should be useful in studying new gravity
duals of gauge theories, as well as possibly compactifications.Comment: 27pp, v2 REVTeX4, typographical fixes and minor clarifications, v3
added ref, modified discussion of RR axion slightl
Cytogenetic Studies of Normal and Cleft-Palate Epitheliums in Mice
This study investigated teratogenic activity on a cellular level through analysis of the cytogenetic complex in cleft-palate epithelial cells from the progenies of mice treated with cortisone. Analysis showed no detectable aberration from a normal chromosomal complement.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68120/2/10.1177_00220345690480041601.pd
A generic estimate of trans-Planckian modifications to the primordial power spectrum in inflation
We derive a general expression for the power spectra of scalar and tensor
fluctuations generated during inflation given an arbitrary choice of boundary
condition for the mode function at a short distance. We assume that the
boundary condition is specified at a short-distance cutoff at a scale which
is independent of time. Using a particular prescription for the boundary
condition at momentum , we find that the modulation to the power spectra
of density and gravitational wave fluctuations is of order , where
is the Hubble parameter during inflation, and we argue that this behavior is
generic, although by no means inevitable. With fixed boundary condition, we
find that the shape of the modulation to the power spectra is determined
entirely by the deviation of the background spacetime from the de Sitter limit.Comment: 15 pages (RevTeX), 2 figure
Quasiclassical description of transport through superconducting contacts
We present a theoretical study of transport properties through
superconducting contacts based on a new formulation of boundary conditions that
mimics interfaces for the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity. These
boundary conditions are based on a description of an interface in terms of a
simple Hamiltonian. We show how this Hamiltonian description is incorporated
into quasiclassical theory via a T-matrix equation by integrating out
irrelevant energy scales right at the onset. The resulting boundary conditions
reproduce results obtained by conventional quasiclassical boundary conditions,
or by boundary conditions based on the scattering approach. This formalism is
well suited for the analysis of magnetically active interfaces as well as for
calculating time-dependent properties such as the current-voltage
characteristics or as current fluctuations in junctions with arbitrary
transmission and bias voltage. This approach is illustrated with the
calculation of Josephson currents through a variety of superconducting
junctions ranging from conventional to d-wave superconductors, and to the
analysis of supercurrent through a ferromagnetic nanoparticle. The calculation
of the current-voltage characteristics and of noise is applied to the case of a
contact between two d-wave superconductors. In particular, we discuss the use
of shot noise for the measurement of charge transferred in a multiple Andreev
reflection in d-wave superconductors
Metacognition and lifelong e-learning: a contextual and cyclical process
Metacognition is arguably an important conceptualisation within the area of lifelong e- learning, with many theorists and practitioners claiming that it enhances the learning process. However, the lifelong, cyclical and flexible aspects of 'before', 'during' and 'after' metacognitions within lifelong e-learning (inclusive of whether an 'input' necessarily leads to a completed 'output') seem marginal within current areas of practical and theoretical debate. This article analyses Reeves's (1997) model of web-based learning in the context of the ADAPT project; a study of lifelong learners based in small and medium sized enterprises. The article focuses upon an analysis of this model's view of metacognition, and in the light of the project findings and literature review, aims to put forward an extended and expanded version of the model with reference to lifelong e-learnin
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