Spacetime torsion and parity violation: a gauge invariant formulation

The possibility of parity violation through spacetime torsion has been explored in a scenario containing fields with different spins. Taking the Kalb-Ramond field as the source of torsion, an explicitly parity violating $U(1)_{EM}$ gauge invariant theory has been constructed by extending the KR field with a Chern-Simons term.Comment: 4 pages, RevTe

Gravitational Redshift in Einstein-Kalb-Ramond Spacetime and Randall-Sundrum Scenario

It is shown that the gravitational redshift as predicted by Einstein's theory, is modified in presence of second rank antisymmetric tensor (Kalb-Ramond) field in a string inspired background spacetime.In presence of extra dimensions, the Randall-Sundrum brane world scenario is found to play a crucial role in suppressing this additional shift. The bound on the value of the warp factor is determined from the redshift data and is found to be in good agreement with that determined from the requirements of Standard model.Comment: 4 Pages, Revtex, No figures, version thoroughly revise

Finite Thermal Wave Propagation in a Half-Space Due to Variable Thermal Loading

The thermoelastic interaction for the dual-phase-lag (DP) heat conduction in a thermoelastic half space is studied in the light of two-temperature generalized thermoelasticity theory (2TT). The medium is assumed to be initially quiescent. Using Laplace transform, the fundamental equations are expressed in the form of a vector-matrix differential equation which is then solved by statespace approach. The obtained general solution is then applied to the mechanical loading and various types of thermal loading (the thermal shock and the ramp-type heating). The numerical inversion of the Laplace transforms are carried out by the method of Fourier series expansion technique. The numerical results are computed for copper like material. Significant dissimilarities between two models (the two-temperature Lord-Shulman (2TLS) and the two temperature Dual-phase-lag model (2TDP)) are shown graphically. Because of the short duration of the second sound effect, the small-time solutions are analyzed and the discontinuities that occur at the wave fronts are also discussed. The effects of two-temperature and ramping parameters are studied

An Experimental Comparison of Tradeoffs in Using Compliant Manipulators for Robotic Grasping Tasks

Controllers developed for control of flexible-link robots in hybrid force-position control tasks by a new singular perturbation analysis of flexible manipulators are implemented on an experimental two-robot grasping setup. Performance criteria are defined for the grasping task. We present preliminary experimental data to show the tradeoffs between controller complexity and performance enhancement as we deal with greater flexibility. Various performance criteria are set up and experimental results are discussed within that setting. We conclude that large flexibility can be controlled and can lead to reasonable performances

Observable signals in a string inspired axion-dilaton background and Randall-Sundrum scenario

Rotation angle of the plane of polarization of the distant galactic radio waves has been estimated in a string inspired axion-dilaton background. It is found that the axion,dual to the field strength of the second rank antisymmetric massless Kalb-Ramond field in the string spectrum, produces a wavelength independent optical rotation which is much larger than that produced by the dilaton. Detection of such rotation has been reported in some recent cosmological experiments. The observed value has been compared with our estimated theoretical value following various cosmological constraints. The effects of warped extra dimensions in a braneworld scenario on such an optical rotation have been investigated.Comment: 17 Pages, Latex, article revised, To appear in Physical Review

Where are the degrees of freedom responsible for black hole entropy?

Considering the entanglement between quantum field degrees of freedom inside and outside the horizon as a plausible source of black hole entropy, we address the question: {\it where are the degrees of freedom that give rise to this entropy located?} When the field is in ground state, the black hole area law is obeyed and the degrees of freedom near the horizon contribute most to the entropy. However, for excited state, or a superposition of ground state and excited state, power-law corrections to the area law are obtained, and more significant contributions from the degrees of freedom far from the horizon are shown.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, Invited talk at Theory Canada III, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 16, 200

Cosmic optical activity from an inhomogeneous Kalb-Ramond field

The effects of introducing a harmonic spatial inhomogeneity into the Kalb-Ramond field, interacting with the Maxwell field according to a `string-inspired' proposal made in earlier work are investigated. We examine in particular the effects on the polarization of synchrotron radiation from cosmologically distant (i.e. of redshift greater than 2) galaxies, as well as the relation between the electric and magnetic components of the radiation field. The rotation of the polarization plane of linearly polarized radiation is seen to acquire an additional contribution proportional to the square of the frequency of the dual Kalb-Ramond axion wave, assuming that it is far smaller compared to the frequency of the radiation field.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, no figure

Reverse undercompressive shock structures in driven thin film flow

We show experimental evidence of a new structure involving an undercompressive and reverse undercompressive shock for draining films driven by a surface tension gradient against gravity. The reverse undercompressive shock is unstable to transverse perturbations while the leading undercompressive shock is stable. Depending on the pinch-off film thickness, as controlled by the meniscus, either a trailing rarefaction wave or a compressive shock separates from the reverse undercompressive shock