8,882 research outputs found
Integral Invariants of 3-Manifolds
This note describes an invariant of rational homology 3-spheres in terms of
configuration space integrals which in some sense lies between the invariants
of Axelrod and Singer and those of Kontsevich.Comment: 39 pages, AMS-LaTeX, to appear in J. Diff. Geo
The alpha-effect in rotating convection: a comparison of numerical simulations
Numerical simulations are an important tool in furthering our understanding
of turbulent dynamo action, a process that occurs in a vast range of
astrophysical bodies. It is important in all computational work that
comparisons are made between different codes and, if non-trivial differences
arise, that these are explained. Kapyla et al (2010: MNRAS 402, 1458) describe
an attempt to reproduce the results of Hughes & Proctor (2009: PRL 102, 044501)
and, by employing a different methodology, they arrive at very different
conclusions concerning the mean electromotive force and the generation of
large-scale fields. Here we describe why the simulations of Kapyla et al (2010)
are simply not suitable for a meaningful comparison, since they solve different
equations, at different parameter values and with different boundary
conditions. Furthermore we describe why the interpretation of Kapyla et al
(2010) of the calculation of the alpha-effect is inappropriate and argue that
the generation of large-scale magnetic fields by turbulent convection remains a
problematic issue.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS. 5 pages, 3 figure
Observables in the equivariant A-model
We discuss observables of an equivariant extension of the A-model in the
framework of the AKSZ construction. We introduce the A-model observables, a
class of observables that are homotopically equivalent to the canonical AKSZ
observables but are better behaved in the gauge fixing. We discuss them for two
different choices of gauge fixing: the first one is conjectured to compute the
correlators of the A-model with target the Marsden-Weinstein reduced space; in
the second one we recover the topological Yang-Mills action coupled with
A-model so that the A-model observables are closed under supersymmetry.Comment: 16 pages; minor correction
Classical BV theories on manifolds with boundary
In this paper we extend the classical BV framework to gauge theories on
spacetime manifolds with boundary. In particular, we connect the BV
construction in the bulk with the BFV construction on the boundary and we
develop its extension to strata of higher codimension in the case of manifolds
with corners. We present several examples including electrodynamics, Yang-Mills
theory and topological field theories coming from the AKSZ construction, in
particular, the Chern-Simons theory, the theory, and the Poisson sigma
model. This paper is the first step towards developing the perturbative
quantization of such theories on manifolds with boundary in a way consistent
with gluing.Comment: The second version has many typos corrected, references added. Some
typos are probably still there, in particular, signs in examples. In the
third version more typoes are corrected and the exposition is slightly
change
The Relative Space: Space Measurements on a Rotating Platform
We introduce here the concept of relative space, an extended 3-space which is
recognized as the only space having an operational meaning in the study of the
space geometry of a rotating disk. Accordingly, we illustrate how space
measurements are performed in the relative space, and we show that an old-aged
puzzling problem, that is the Ehrenfest's paradox, is explained in this purely
relativistic context. Furthermore, we illustrate the kinematical origin of the
tangential dilation which is responsible for the solution of the Ehrenfest's
paradox.Comment: 14 pages, 2 EPS figures, LaTeX, to appear in the European Journal of
Physic
Galaxy bulges and their black holes: a requirement for the quenching of star formation
One of the central features of the last 8 to 10 billion years of cosmic
history has been the emergence of a well-populated red sequence of
non-star-forming galaxies. A number of models of galaxy formation and evolution
have been devised to attempt to explain this behavior. Most current models
require feedback from supermassive black holes (AGN feedback) to quench star
formation in galaxies in the centers of their dark matter halos (central
galaxies). Such models make the strong prediction that all quenched central
galaxies must have a large supermassive black hole (and, by association, a
prominent bulge component). I show using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
that the observations are consistent with this prediction. Over 99.5% of red
sequence galaxies with stellar masses in excess of 10^{10} M_{\sun} have a
prominent bulge component (as defined by having a Sersic index n above 1.5).
Those very rare red sequence central galaxies with little or no bulge (n<1.5)
usually have detectable star formation or AGN activity; the fraction of truly
quenched bulgeless central galaxies is <0.1% of the total red sequence
population. I conclude that a bulge, and by implication a supermassive black
hole, is an absolute requirement for full quenching of star formation in
central galaxies. This is in agreement with the most basic prediction of the
AGN feedback paradigm.Comment: 6 pages, 4 color figures (figure 1 is of slightly degraded quality).
To appear in August 1 edition of the Astrophysical Journa
Social Interactions and Schooling Decisions
The aim of this paper is to study whether a child's schooling choices are affected by the schooling choices of other children. Identification is based on a randomized targeted intervention that grants a cash subsidy conditional on school attendance to a subgroup of eligible children within small rural villages in Mexico (PROGRESA). This policy change spills over to ineligible children if social interactions are relevant. Results indicate that the eligible children tend to attend school more frequently, and the ineligible children acquire more schooling when the subsidy is introduced in their local village. Moreover, the overall effect of PROGRESA on eligible children is the sum of a direct effect due to cash transfers and an indirect effect due to changes in peer group schooling. Interestingly, the social interactions effect is almost as important as the direct effect
Microscopic Derivation of Causal Diffusion Equation using Projection Operator Method
We derive a coarse-grained equation of motion of a number density by applying
the projection operator method to a non-relativistic model. The derived
equation is an integrodifferential equation and contains the memory effect. The
equation is consistent with causality and the sum rule associated with the
number conservation in the low momentum limit, in contrast to usual acausal
diffusion equations given by using the Fick's law. After employing the Markov
approximation, we find that the equation has the similar form to the causal
diffusion equation. Our result suggests that current-current correlations are
not necessarily adequate as the definition of diffusion constants.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, Final version published in Phys. Rev.
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