3,429 research outputs found
Mixed Heavy-Light Matching in the Universal One-Loop Effective Action
Recently, a general result for evaluating the path integral at one loop was
obtained in the form of the Universal One-Loop Effective Action. It may be used
to derive effective field theory operators of dimensions up to six, by
evaluating the traces of matrices in this expression, with the mass-dependence
encapsulated in the universal coefficients. Here we show that it can account
for loops of mixed heavy-light particles in the matching procedure. Our
prescription for computing these mixed contributions to the Wilson coefficients
is conceptually simple. Moreover it has the advantage of maintaining the
universal structure of the effective action, which we illustrate using the
example of integrating out a heavy electroweak triplet scalar coupling to a
light Higgs doublet. Finally we also identify new structures that were
previously neglected in the universal results.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures; v2: expanded discussion in Section 3, typos
correcte
Gauge Coupling Unification and Non-Equilibrium Thermal Dark Matter
We study a new mechanism for the production of dark matter in the universe
which does not rely on thermal equilibrium. Dark matter is populated from the
thermal bath subsequent to inflationary reheating via a massive mediator whose
mass is above the reheating scale, T_R. To this end, we consider models with an
extra U(1) gauge symmetry broken at some intermediate scale M, of the order of
10^10 -- 10^12 GeV. We show that not only does the model allow for gauge
coupling unification (at a higher scale associated with grand unification) but
can naturally provide a dark matter candidate which is a Standard Model singlet
but charged under the extra U(1). The intermediate scale gauge boson(s) which
are predicted in several E6/SO(10) constructions can be a natural mediator
between dark matter and the thermal bath. We show that the dark matter
abundance, while never having achieved thermal equilibrium, is fixed shortly
after the reheating epoch by the relation T_R^3/M^4. As a consequence, we show
that the unification of gauge couplings which determines M also fixes the
reheating temperature T_R, which can be as high as 10^11 GeV.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl
Resolving Phonon Fock States in a Multimode Cavity with a Double-Slit Qubit
We resolve phonon number states in the spectrum of a superconducting qubit
coupled to a multimode acoustic cavity. Crucial to this resolution is the sharp
frequency dependence in the qubit-phonon interaction engineered by coupling the
qubit to surface acoustic waves in two locations separated by acoustic
wavelengths. In analogy to double-slit diffraction, the resulting
self-interference generates high-contrast frequency structure in the
qubit-phonon interaction. We observe this frequency structure both in the
coupling rate to multiple cavity modes and in the qubit spontaneous emission
rate into unconfined modes. We use this sharp frequency structure to resolve
single phonons by tuning the qubit to a frequency of destructive interference
where all acoustic interactions are dispersive. By exciting several detuned yet
strongly-coupled phononic modes and measuring the resulting qubit spectrum, we
observe that, for two modes, the device enters the strong dispersive regime
where single phonons are spectrally resolved.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures; revised arguments in paragraphs 3 and 8, added
Hamiltonian description, and corrected typo
Encounters of the dust trails of comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova with Venus in 2006
The original publication is available in Astronomy & Astrophysics at www.aanda.org.International audienceAims. We aim to investigate the dynamical fate of meteoroids ejected during past perihelion passages of comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova that intersect the orbit of Venus. Of particular interest is the possibility, borne of previous work, that a significant flux of these particles will reach the planet during early June and late August 2006, when the Venus Express spacecraft will be operating in orbit around Venus. Methods. We have simulated the generation of meteoroid trails ejected by the comet at some past perihelion passages, and numericaly integrated them forward in time until they approach Venus in 2006. Results. On the inbound leg of the comet's path towards perihelion, we find a trail composed of dust particles ejected between 1943 and 1980 that encounters Venus on 9 June 2006 at a distance of 0.009 AU. On the outbound leg, we observe a dense trail of particles ejected between 1985 and 2001 that measures 3.4 × 10−4 AU (5 × 104 km) in half-width, and passes under the planet at a distance of 1.72 × 10−3 AU (2.6 × 105 km) on 30 August. Based on these results, we conclude that, on both occasions, the incident flux at Venus will likely be too low to allow for the detection of a shower by optical means. We discuss the circumstances under which Venus Express may encounter a significant flux of small particles detectable through impact ionization or disturbances in the interplanetary magnetic field
The dust trail complex of comet 79P/du Toit-Hartley and meteor outbursts at Mars
The original publication is available in Astronomy & Astrophysics at www.aanda.org.International audienceAims. Meteoroid trails ejected during past perihelion passages of the Mars-orbit-intersecting comet 79P/du Toit-Hartley have the potential of generating meteor outbursts in the Martian atmosphere. Depending on timing and intensity, the effects of these outbursts may be detectable by instrumentation operating in the vicinity of Mars. We aim to generate predictions for meteor activity in the martian atmosphere related to that comet; to search for evidence, in planetary mission data, that such activity took place; and to make predictions for potentially detectable future activity. Methods. We have modelled the stream by integrating numerically the states of particle ensembles, each ensemble representing a trail of meteoroids ejected from the comet during 39 perihelion passages from 1803, and propagated them forward in time, concentrating on those particles that physically approach Mars in the recent past and near future. Results. We find several instances where meteor outbursts of low to moderate intensity may have taken place at Mars since 1997. A search through Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) radio science data during two periods in 2003 and 2005 when data coverage was available showed that a plasma layer did indeed form in the martian ionosphere for a period of a few hours in April 2003 as a direct consequence of the predicted outburst. The apparent failure to identify such an event in 2005 could be due to those meteoroids ablating lower in the atmosphere or that the cometary dust follows a different particle size distribution than what was assumed. Our study highlights the need for further theoretical modelling of the response of the martian ionosphere to a time-variable meteoroid flux, observations of the comet itself and, most importantly, regular monitoring of the martian ionosphere during future outbursts predicted by our model
Phase coexistence and critical temperatures of the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox phase under partial pressures of oxygen between 10−3 and 0.21 bar with and without additions of silver
We have investigated the stability of the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox phase for the stoichiometry (Bi: Pb: Sr:Ca: Cu = 1.72: 0.34: 1.83: 1.97: 3.13), subjecting it to temperatures between 700 and 850 °C under various oxygen partial pressures. A narrow region was found in which Bi, Pb(2223) was the only superconducting phase. This region follows closely the thermal decomposition line. X-ray pure Bi, Pb(2223) will partially decompose if treated outside of the stability region. For a given oxygen partial pressure, the Bi, Pb(2223) phase tends to coexist with the 2201 phase for temperatures above, and the 2212 phase for temperatures below this region. At even lower temperatures an additional lead-rich phase appears. Critical temperatures Tc vary little with treatment and range between 108.5 K and 110.8 K. If 10% silver is added to the starting powder, the phase coexistence regions shift. Silver does not seem to have a significant effect on the absolute values of the critical temperature. The Bi, Pb(2223) thermal decomposition temperature for a given oxygen pressure is lowered by at least 10 K by the presence of A
- …