Question Isotropy

The "cosmological principle" was set up early without realizing its implications for the horizon problem, and almost entirely without support from observational data. Consistent signals of anisotropy have been found in data on electromagnetic propagation, polarizations of QSOs and $CMB$ temperature maps. The axis of Virgo is found again and again in signals breaking isotropy, from independent observables in independent energy regimes. There are no satisfactory explanations of these effects in conventional astrophysics. Axion-photon mixing and propagation in axion condensates are capable of encompassing the data.Comment: Published in Axions 2010: AIP Conf.Proc.1274:72-77,2010, edited by David Tanne

Exploring the Micro-Structure of the Proton: from Form Factors to DVCS

For a long time people made the mistake of thinking the proton was understood. New experiments, ranging from form factors to deeply virtual Compton scattering, promise a new era of highly informative studies. Among the controversial topics of the future may be such basic features as the physical size of the proton, the role of quark orbital angular momentum, and the possibility of making "femto-photographic" images of hadronic micro-structure.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures, presented by John Ralston at the Workshop on "Testing QCD through Spin Observables in Nuclear Targets", University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, April 18-2