Azimuthal anisotropy (v2v_{2}) of high-pT_{T} π0\pi^{0} and direct γ\gamma in Au+Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV

Preliminary results from the STAR collaboration of the azimuthal anisotropy $(v_{2})$ of $\pi^{0}$ and direct photon ($\gamma_{dir}$) at high transverse momentum (p$_{T}$) from Au+Au collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV are presented. A shower-shape analysis is used to select a sample free of direct photons ($\pi^0$) and a sample rich in direct photons $\gamma_{rich}$. The relative contribution of background in the $\gamma_{rich}$ sample is determined assuming no associated charged particles nearby $\gamma_{dir}$. The $v_{2}$ of direct photons ($v_{2}^{\gamma_{dir}}$) at mid-rapidity ($|\eta^{\gamma_{dir}}|<1$) and high p$_{T}$ ($8< p_{T}^{\gamma_{dir}}<16$~GeV/$c$) is extracted from those of $\pi^{0}$ and neutral particles measured in the same kinematic range. In mid-central Au+Au collisions (10-40$\%$), the $v_{2}$ of $\pi^0$ ($v_{2}^{\pi^{0}}(p_{T})$) and charged particles ($v_{2}^{ch}(p_{T})$) are found to be $\sim$ 0.12 and nearly independent of p$_{T}$. The measured $v_{2}^{\gamma_{dir}}(p_{T})$ is positive finite and systematically smaller than that of $\pi^{0}$ and charged particles by a factor of $\sim$ 3. Although the large $v_{2}^{\pi^{0}}$ at such high p$_{T}$ might be partially due to the path-length dependence of energy loss, the non-zero value of $v_{2}^{\gamma_{dir}}$ indicates a bias of the reaction plane determination due to the presence of jets in the events. Systematic studies are currently in progress.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Hot Quarks 2010, LaLonde Franc

Mooses, Topology and Higgs

New theories of electroweak symmetry breaking have recently been constructed that stabilize the weak scale and do not rely upon supersymmetry. In these theories the Higgs boson is a weakly coupled pseudo-Goldstone boson. In this note we study the class of theories that can be described by theory spaces and show that the fundamental group of theory space describes all the relevant classical physics in the low energy theory. The relationship between the low energy physics and the topological properties of theory space allow a systematic method for constructing theory spaces that give any desired low energy particle content and potential. This provides us with tools for analyzing and constructing new theories of electroweak symmetry breaking.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figure