On the stability of circular orbits in galactic dynamics: Newtonian thin disks

The study of off-equatorial orbits in razor-thin disks is still in its beginnings. Contrary to what was presented in the literature in recent publications, the vertical stability criterion for equatorial circular orbits cannot be based on the vertical epicyclic frequency, because of the discontinuity in the gravitational field on the equatorial plane. We present a rigorous criterion for the vertical stability of circular orbits in systems composed by a razor-thin disk surrounded by a smooth axially symmetric distribution of matter, the latter representing additional structures such as thick disk, bulge and (dark matter) halo. This criterion is satisfied once the mass surface density of the thin disk is positive. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of nearly equatorial orbits are presented. In particular, the analysis of nearly equatorial orbits allows us to construct an approximate analytical third integral of motion in this region of phase-space, which describes the shape of these orbits in the meridional plane.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. In Proceedings of the MG13 Meeting on General Relativity, Stockholm University, Sweden, 1-7 July 2012. World Scientific, Singapore. Based on arXiv:1206.6501. in The Thirteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting: On Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Astrophysics, and Relativistic Field Theories (In 3 Volumes), chap. 438, pages 2346-2348 (2015

Production of thermal photons in viscous fluid dynamics with temperature-dependent shear viscosity

We compute the spectrum of thermal photons created in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV, taking into account dissipative corrections in production processes corresponding to the quark--gluon plasma and hadronic phases. To describe the evolution of the fireball we use a viscous fluid dynamic model with different parametrizations for the temperature--dependence of $\eta/s$. We find that the spectrum significantly depends on the values of $\eta/s$ in the QGP phase, and is almost insensitive to the values in the hadronic phase. We also compare the influence of the temperature--dependence of $\eta/s$ on the spectrum of thermal photons to that of using different equations of state in the fluid dynamic simulations, finding that both effects are of the same order of magnitude.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Mod. Phys. Lett.

Triangle singularities in B−→K−π−Ds0+B^-\rightarrow K^-\pi^-D_{s0}^+ and B−→K−π−Ds1+B^-\rightarrow K^-\pi^-D_{s1}^+

We study the appearance of structures in the decay of the $B^-$ into $K^- \pi^- D_{s0}^+(2317)$ and $K^- \pi^- D_{s1}^+(2460)$ final states by forming invariant mass distributions of $\pi^- D_{s0}^+$ and $\pi^- D_{s1}^+$ pairs, respectively. The structure in the distribution is associated to the kinematical triangle singularity that appears when the $B^- \to K^- K^{*\,0} D^0$ ($B^- \to K^- K^{*\,0} D^{*\,0}$) decay process is followed by the decay of the $K^{*\,0}$ into $\pi^- K^+$ and the subsequent rescattering of the $K^+ D^0$ ($K^+ D^{*\,0}$) pair forming the $D_{s0}^+(2317)$ ($D_{s1}^+(2460)$) resonance. We find this type of non-resonant peaks at 2850 MeV in the invariant mass of $\pi^- D_{s0}$ pairs from $B^- \to K^- \pi^- D_{s0}^+(2317)$ decays and around 3000 MeV in the invariant mass of $\pi^- D_{s1}^+$ pairs from $B^- \to K^- \pi^- D_{s1}^+(2460)$ decays. By employing the measured branching ratios of the $B^- \to K^- K^{*\,0} D^0$ and $B^- \to K^- K^{*\,0} D^{*\,0}$ decays, we predict the branching ratios for the processes $B^-$ into $K^- \pi^-D_{s0}^+(2317)$ and $K^- \pi^- D_{s1}^+(2460)$, in the vicinity of the triangle singularity peak, to be about $8\times10^{-6}$ and $1\times 10^{-6}$, respectively. The observation of this reaction would also give extra support to the molecular picture of the $D_{s0}^+(2317)$ and $D_{s1}^+(2460)$.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, accepted version for publication in Eur. Phys. J.

Chaotic behavior of the Compound Nucleus, open Quantum Dots and other nanostructures

It is well established that physical systems exhibit both ordered and chaotic behavior. The chaotic behavior of nanostructure such as open quantum dots has been confirmed experimentally and discussed exhaustively theoretically. This is manifested through random fluctuations in the electronic conductance. What useful information can be extracted from this noise in the conductance? In this contribution we shall address this question. In particular, we will show that the average maxima density in the conductance is directly related to the correlation function whose characteristic width is a measure of energy- or applied magnetic field- correlation length. The idea behind the above has been originally discovered in the context of the atomic nucleus, a mesoscopic system. Our findings are directly applicable to graphene.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. Contribution to: "4th International Workshop on Compound-Nuclear Reactions and Related Topics (CNR*13)", October 7-11, 2013, Maresias, Brazil. To appear in the proceeding

Water Funds: Conserving Green Infrastructure

This manual is an effort by TNC to compile, analyze and synthesize its own experience, together with that of the water funds already in existence and under creation, in order to provide operational guidelines to people and organizations interested in establishing a water fund or similar mechanism. Each location has different ecological, social, economic, legal and institutional features and, therefore, each water fund will have its own characteristics, phases and projections. This manual presents general guidelines and logical steps that must be followed to boost the opportunities and benefits of a water fund and to minimize possible obstacles for its creation. It is not intended to be an in-depth look at every aspect of water funds. Although TNC participates in several other initiatives and similar approaches to watershed management, such as the water producers program in Brazil, this document will not address those initiatives and will only focus on the water funds scheme, placing greater emphasis on experiences in the Andean region