Intrinsic and extrinsic origins of the polar Kerr effect in a chiral p-wave superconductor

Recently, the measurement of the polar Kerr effect (PKE) in the quasi two-dimensional superconductor Sr2RuO4, which is motivated to observe the chirality of px + i py-wave pairing, has been reported. We clarify that the PKE has intrinsic and extrinsic (disorder-induced) origins. The extrinsic contribution would be dominant in the PKE experiment.Comment: 7 pages, to be published in Mod. Phys. Lett.

Holographic Thermalization in Charged Dilaton Anti-de Sitter Spacetime

We study holographic thermalization in spacetimes with a chemical potential and a non-trivial dilaton field. Three non-local observables are used to probe the whole process and investigate the effect of the ratio of the chemical potential over temperature $\chi$ and the dilaton-Maxwell coupling constant $\alpha$. It is found that the saturation time is not always a monotonically increasing function of $\chi$, the situation depends on $\alpha$. When $0 \leq\alpha \leq 1$, larger $\chi$ yields longer saturation time, while for $\alpha>1$, the situation becomes more complex. More interesting, we found that although $\alpha$ indeed has influence on the whole thermalization process, it nearly does not affect the saturation time, which indicates the universality of the saturation time for the dual one-parameter field theories.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure

The KKˉπK \bar K \pi decay of the f1(1285)f_1(1285) and its nature as a K∗Kˉ−ccK^* \bar K -cc molecule

We investigate the decay of $f_1(1285) \to \pi K \bar K$ with the assumption that the $f_1(1285)$ is dynamically generated from the $K^* \bar{K} - cc$ interaction. In addition to the tree level diagrams that proceed via $f_1(1285) \to K^* \bar{K} - cc \to \pi K \bar K$, we take into account also the final state interactions of $K \bar K \to K \bar K$ and $\pi K \to \pi K$. The partial decay width and mass distributions of $f_1(1285) \to \pi K \bar K$ are evaluated. We get a value for the partial decay width which, within errors, is in fair agreement with the experimental result. The contribution from the tree level diagrams is dominant, but the final state interactions have effects in the mass distributions. The predicted mass distributions are significantly different from phase space and tied to the $K^* \bar{K} - cc$ nature of the $f_1(1285)$ state.Comment: Published versio

A Comparative Analysis of US and Canadian Consumers' Perceptions Towards BSE Testing and the use of GM Organisms in Beef Production: Evidence from a Choice Experiment

Replaced with revised version of paper 07/24/07.choice experiments, multinomial logit, beef labeling, Livestock Production/Industries, D12, L66, C35,

How Law and Institutions Shape Financial Contracts: The Case of Bank Loans

We examine empirically how legal origin, creditor rights, property rights, legal formalism, and financial development affect the design of price and non-price terms of bank loans in almost 60 countries. Our results support the law and finance view that private contracts reflect differences in legal protection of creditors and the enforcement of contracts. Loans made to borrowers in countries where creditors can seize collateral in case of default are more likely to be secured, have longer maturity, and have lower interest rates. We also find evidence, however, that ?Coasian? bargaining can partially offset weak legal or institutional arrangements. For example, lenders mitigate risks associated with weak property rights and government corruption by securing loans with collateral and shortening maturity. Our results also suggest that the choice of loan ownership structure affects loan contract terms.

Beef Labeling After BSE: Do Consumers Care about BSE Testing and GMO Labeling? Evidence from Canada and the US

Following the May 2003 Canadian BSE case, food safety issues have become even more prominent to policymakers and consumers. In both Canada and the US, governments and industry have responded with a variety of quality assurance, traceability and labeling schemes. However, there is little information available on the extent to which consumer perceptions differ regionally across North America towards labeling schemes. This paper attempts to fill this gap, by providing results on a variety of beef labeling strategies from choice experiments that were conducted in Alberta (Canada) and Montana (US). The analysis focuses on consumers' perceptions towards negative voluntary labeling with regard to BSE testing, genetically modified organisms (GMO) and the use of growth hormones in beef production. We find that four years after the first BSE case emerged in North America, consumers are willing to pay most to avoid risks associated with BSE. Montana and Alberta consumers are found not to be significantly heterogeneous in their preferences.Choice experiments, Multinomial logit, Beef labeling, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, D12, L66, C35,