39 research outputs found
Spontaneous symmetry breaking in gauge theories via Bose-Einstein condensation
We propose a mechanism naturally leading to the spontaneous symmetry breaking
in a gauge theory. The Higgs field is assumed to have global and gauged
internal symmetries. We associate a non zero chemical potential to one of the
globally conserved charges commuting with all of the gauge transformations.
This induces a negative mass squared for the Higgs field triggering the
spontaneous symmetry breaking of the global and local symmetries. The mechanism
is general and we test the idea for the electroweak theory in which the Higgs
sector is extended to possess an extra global Abelian symmetry. To this
symmetry we associate a non zero chemical potential. The Bose-Einstein
condensation of the Higgs leads, at tree level, to modified dispersion
relations for the Higgs field while the dispersion relations of the gauge
bosons and fermions remain undisturbed. The latter are modified through higher
order corrections. We have computed some corrections to the vacuum
polarizations of the gauge bosons and fermions. To quantify the corrections to
the gauge boson vacuum polarizations with respect to the Standard Model we
considered the effects on the T parameter. We finally derive the one loop
modified fermion dispersion relations.Comment: RevTeX 4, 13 pages. Added references and corrected typo
A Way to Reopen the Window for Electroweak Baryogenesis
We reanalyse the sphaleron bound of electroweak baryogenesis when allowing
deviations to the Friedmann equation. These modifications are well motivated in
the context of brane cosmology where they appear without being in conflict with
major experimental constraints on four-dimensional gravity. While suppressed at
the time of nucleosynthesis, these corrections can dominate at the time of the
electroweak phase transition and in certain cases provide the amount of
expansion needed to freeze out the baryon asymmetry without requiring a
strongly first order phase transition. The sphaleron bound is substantially
weakened and can even disappear so that the constraints on the higgs and stop
masses do not apply anymore. Such modification of cosmology at early times
therefore reopens the parameter space allowing electroweak baryogenesis which
had been reduced substantially given the new bound on the higgs mass imposed by
LEP. In contrast with previous attempts to turn around the sphaleron bound
using alternative cosmologies, we are still considering that the electroweak
phase transition takes place in a radiation dominated universe. The universe is
expanding fast because of the modification of the Friedmann equation itself
without the need for a scalar field and therefore evading the problem of the
decay of this scalar field after the completion of the phase transition and the
risk that its release of entropy dilutes the baryon asymmetry produced at the
transition.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures; v2: minor changes, remark added at end of
section 5 and in caption of figure 1; v3: references added, version to be
publishe
Generalized Global Defect Solutions
We investigate the presence of defect structures in generalized models
described by real scalar field in space-time dimensions. We work with
two distinct generalizations, one in the form of a product of functions of the
field and its derivative, and the other as a sum. We search for static
solutions and study the corresponding linear stability on general grounds. We
illustrate the results with several examples, where we find stable defect
structures of modified profile. In particular, we show how the new defect
solutions may give rise to evolutions not present in the standard scenario in
higher spatial dimensions.Comment: RevTex, 10 pages, 2 figures; version to appear in EPJ
Thermal leptogenesis in a model with mass varying neutrinos
In this paper we consider the possibility of neutrino mass varying during the
evolution of the Universe and study its implications on leptogenesis.
Specifically, we take the minimal seesaw model of neutrino masses and introduce
a coupling between the right-handed neutrinos and the dark energy scalar field,
the Quintessence. In our model, the right-handed neutrino masses change as the
Quintessence scalar evolves. We then examine in detail the parameter space of
this model allowed by the observed baryon number asymmetry. Our results show
that it is possible to lower the reheating temperature in this scenario in
comparison with the case that the neutrino masses are unchanged, which helps
solve the gravitino problem. Furthermore, a degenerate neutrino mass patten
with larger than the upper limit given in the minimal leptogenesis
scenario is permitted.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, version to appear in PR
Temperatures and friction at lubricated rolling/sliding contacts
The parameters affecting the temperatures and friction at lubricated rolling/sliding contacts of the Hertzian type are investigated and examined in relation to the failure of contacts by scuffing and their performance under traction conditions. Based on the critical temperature criterion for scuffing, an experimental technique for the direct measurement of a. lubricant's critical temperature is proposed and evaluated. Blank temperature studies are carried out and further information concerning the heat transfer coefficients of machine components made available. On the question of heat generation at the contact, a thermal analysis of the lubricant film is developed, providing complete distributions of temperature, shear rate, viscosity, and shear stress throughout the contact region. A marked dependence of these characteristics upon the physical properties of the lubricant is observed and the results assist not only in the prediction of scuffing but also in understanding the frictional behaviour of rolling/sliding contacts. By comparison with friction measurements made on a traction machine, the theory gives a reasonable estimate of the friction-sliding characteristic provided the non-Newtonian behaviour of the lubricant is represented by a suitable model in the calculations. The Maxwell fluid model is that adapted for the present investigation. The results for shear stress are considered to be of further use in the study of failure by pitting
Glycosaminoglycan and growth factor mediated murine calvarial cell proliferation
Understanding the complex mechanisms underlying bone remodeling is crucial to the development of novel therapeutics. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) localised to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of bone are thought to play a key role in mediating aspects of bone development. The influence of isolated GAGs was studied by utilising in vitro murine calvarial monolayer and organ culture model systems. Addition of GAG preparations extracted from the cell surface of human osteoblasts at high concentrations (5 microg/ml) resulted in decreased proliferation of cells and decreased suture width and number of bone lining cells in calvarial sections. When we investigated potential interactions between the growth factors fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP2) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) and the isolated cell surface GAGs, differences between the two model systems emerged. The cell culture system demonstrated a potentiating role for the isolated GAGs in the inhibition of FGF2 and TGFbeta1 actions. In contrast, the organ culture system demonstrated an enhanced stimulation of TFGbeta1 effects. These results emphasise the role of the ECM in mediating the interactions between GAGs and growth factors during bone development and suggest the GAG preparations contain potent inhibitory or stimulatory components able to mediate growth factor activity
The Role of Heat Partition in Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication
The paper discusses the difficulties in distinguishing between non-Newtonian lubricant models of the shear thinning and the limiting shear stress types commonly used for rolling sliding contacts in elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL). It is shown that the ability of the lubricant rheological model to replicate experimental heat partition behaviour is a much more discriminating test in determining the correct rheological behaviour than the ability to reproduce traction curves observed in experiment