326 research outputs found
Interpretation of neutrino flux limits from neutrino telescopes on the Hillas plot
We discuss the interplay between spectral shape and detector response beyond
a simple E^-2 neutrino flux at neutrino telescopes, at the example of
time-integrated point source searches using IceCube-40 data. We use a
self-consistent model for the neutrino production, in which protons interact
with synchrotron photons from co-accelerated electrons, and we fully take into
account the relevant pion and kaon production modes, the flavor composition at
the source, flavor mixing, and magnetic field effects on the secondaries
(pions, muon, and kaons). Since some of the model parameters can be related to
the Hillas parameters R (size of the acceleration region) and B (magnetic
field), we relate the detector response to the Hillas plane. In order to
compare the response to different spectral shapes, we use the energy flux
density as a measure for the pion production efficiency times luminosity of the
source. We demonstrate that IceCube has a very good reach in this quantity for
AGN nuclei and jets for all source declinations, while the spectra of sources
with strong magnetic fields are found outside the optimal reach. We also
demonstrate where neutrinos from kaon decays and muon tracks from tau decays
can be relevant for the detector response. Finally, we point out the
complementarity between IceCube and other experiments sensitive to high-energy
neutrinos, at the example of 2004-2008 Earth-skimming neutrino data from Auger.
We illustrate that Auger, in principle, is better sensitive to the parameter
region in the Hillas plane from which the highest-energetic cosmic rays may be
expected in this model.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures. Substantial clarifications, such as on
definition of "sensitivity" and model descriptio
Minimax strategies in survey sampling
The risk of a sampling strategy is a function on the parameter space, which is the set of all vectors composed of possible values of the variable of interest. It seems natural to ask for a minimax strategy, minimizing the maximal risk. So far answers have been provided for completely symmetric parameter spaces. Results available for more general spaces refer to sample size 1 or to large sample sizes allowing for asymptotic approximation. In the present paper we consider arbitrary sample sizes, derive a lower bound for the maximal risk under very weak conditions and obtain minimax strategies for a large class of parameter spaces. Our results do not apply to parameter spaces with strong deviations from symmetry. For such spaces a minimax strategy will prescribe to consider only a small number of samples and takes a non-random and purposive character
Covariant quantization of infinite spin particle models, and higher order gauge theories
Further properties of a recently proposed higher order infinite spin particle
model are derived. Infinitely many classically equivalent but different
Hamiltonian formulations are shown to exist. This leads to a condition of
uniqueness in the quantization process. A consistent covariant quantization is
shown to exist. Also a recently proposed supersymmetric version for half-odd
integer spins is quantized. A general algorithm to derive gauge invariances of
higher order Lagrangians is given and applied to the infinite spin particle
model, and to a new higher order model for a spinning particle which is
proposed here, as well as to a previously given higher order rigid particle
model. The latter two models are also covariantly quantized.Comment: 38 pages, Late
Gravitational anomalies signaling the breakdown of classical gravity
Recent observations for three types of astrophysical systems severely
challenge the GR plus dark matter scenario, showing a phenomenology which is
what modified gravity theories predict. Stellar kinematics in the outskirts of
globular clusters show the appearance of MOND type dynamics on crossing the
threshold. Analysis shows a ``Tully-Fisher'' relation in these systems,
a scaling of dispersion velocities with the fourth root of their masses.
Secondly, an anomaly has been found at the unexpected scales of wide binaries
in the solar neighbourhood. Binary orbital velocities cease to fall along
Keplerian expectations, and settle at a constant value, exactly on crossing the
threshold. Finally, the inferred infall velocity of the bullet cluster
is inconsistent with the standard cosmological scenario, where much smaller
limit encounter velocities appear. This stems from the escape velocity limit
present in standard gravity; the ``bullet'' should not hit the ``target'' at
more than the escape velocity of the joint system, as it very clearly did.
These results are consistent with extended gravity, but would require rather
contrived explanations under GR, each. Thus, observations now put us in a
situation where modifications to gravity at low acceleration scales cease to be
a matter of choice, to now become inevitable.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings 38,
4
q-Form fields on p-branes
In this paper, we give one general method for localizing any form (q-form)
field on p-branes with one extra dimension, and apply it to some typical
p-brane models. It is found that, for the thin and thick Minkowski branes with
an infinite extra dimension, the zero mode of the q-form fields with q<(p-1)/2
can be localized on the branes. For the thick Minkowski p-branes with one
finite extra dimension, the localizable q-form fields are those with q<p/2, and
there are also some massive bound Kaluza-Klein modes for these q-form fields on
the branes. For the same q-form field, the number of the bound Kaluza-Klein
modes (but except the scalar field (q=0)) increases with the dimension of the
p-branes. Moreover, on the same p-brane, the q-form fields with higher q have
less number of massive bound KK modes. While for a family of pure geometrical
thick p-branes with a compact extra dimension, the q-form fields with q<p/2
always have a localized zero mode. For a special pure geometrical thick
p-brane, there also exist some massive bound KK modes of the q-form fields with
q<p/2, whose number increases with the dimension of the p-brane.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, published versio
Wide binaries as a critical test of Classical Gravity
Modified gravity scenarios where a change of regime appears at acceleration
scales have been proposed. Since for systems the
acceleration drops below at scales of around 7000 AU, a statistical
survey of wide binaries with relative velocities and separations reaching
AU and beyond should prove useful to the above debate. We apply the
proposed test to the best currently available data. Results show a constant
upper limit to the relative velocities in wide binaries which is independent of
separation for over three orders of magnitude, in analogy with galactic flat
rotation curves in the same acceleration regime. Our results are
suggestive of a breakdown of Kepler's third law beyond
scales, in accordance with generic predictions of modified gravity theories
designed not to require any dark matter at galactic scales and beyond.Comment: accepted for publication in EPJ
Fermion localization on branes with generalized dynamics
In this letter we consider a specific model of braneworld with nonstandard
dynamics diffused in the literature, specifically we focus our attention on the
matter energy density, the energy of system, the Ricci scalar and the thin
brane limit. As the model is classically stable and capable of localize
gravity, as a natural extension we address the issue of fermion localization of
fermions on a thick brane constructed out from one scalar field with
nonstandard kinetic terms coupled with gravity. The contribution of the
nonstandard kinetic terms in the problem of fermion localization is analyzed.
It is found that the simplest Yukawa coupling support
the localization of fermions on the thick brane. It is shown that the zero mode
for left-handed can be localized on the thick brane depending on the values for
the coupling constant .Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
What is modified gravity and how to differentiate it from particle dark matter?
An obvious criterion to classify theories of modified gravity is to identify their gravitational degrees of freedom and their coupling to the metric and the matter sector. Using this simple idea, we show that any theory which depends on the curvature invariants is equivalent to general relativity in the presence of new fields that are gravitationally coupled to the energy-momentum tensor. We show that they can be shifted into a new energy-momentum tensor. There is no a priori reason to identify these new fields as gravitational degrees of freedom or matter fields. This leads to an equivalence between dark matter particles gravitationally coupled to the standard model fields and modified gravity theories designed to account for the dark matter phenomenon. Due to this ambiguity, it is impossible to differentiate experimentally between these theories and any attempt of doing so should be classified as a mere interpretation of the same phenomenon
Tracing very high energy neutrinos from cosmological distances in ice
Astrophysical sources of ultrahigh energy neutrinos yield tau neutrino fluxes
due to neutrino oscillations. We study in detail the contribution of tau
neutrinos with energies above PeV relative to the contribution of the other
flavors. We consider several different initial neutrino fluxes and include tau
neutrino regeneration in transit through the Earth and energy loss of charged
leptons. We discuss signals of tau neutrinos in detectors such as IceCube, RICE
and ANITA.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figure
Diffuse continuum gamma rays from the Galaxy
A new study of the diffuse Galactic gamma-ray continuum radiation is
presented, using a cosmic-ray propagation model which includes nucleons,
antiprotons, electrons, positrons, and synchrotron radiation. Our treatment of
the inverse Compton (IC) scattering includes the effect of anisotropic
scattering in the Galactic interstellar radiation field (ISRF) and a new
evaluation of the ISRF itself. Models based on locally measured electron and
nucleon spectra and synchrotron constraints are consistent with gamma-ray
measurements in the 30-500 MeV range, but outside this range excesses are
apparent. A harder nucleon spectrum is considered but fitting to gamma rays
causes it to violate limits from positrons and antiprotons. A harder
interstellar electron spectrum allows the gamma-ray spectrum to be fitted above
1 GeV as well, and this can be further improved when combined with a modified
nucleon spectrum which still respects the limits imposed by antiprotons and
positrons. A large electron/IC halo is proposed which reproduces well the
high-latitude variation of gamma-ray emission. The halo contribution of
Galactic emission to the high-latitude gamma-ray intensity is large, with
implications for the study of the diffuse extragalactic component and
signatures of dark matter. The constraints provided by the radio synchrotron
spectral index do not allow all of the <30 MeV gamma-ray emission to be
explained in terms of a steep electron spectrum unless this takes the form of a
sharp upturn below 200 MeV. This leads us to prefer a source population as the
origin of the excess low-energy gamma rays.Comment: Final version accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal
(vol. 537, July 10, 2000 issue); Many Updates; 20 pages including 49
ps-figures, uses emulateapj.sty. More details can be found at
http://www.gamma.mpe-garching.mpg.de/~aws/aws.htm
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