The Close Environment of Seyfert Galaxies and Its Implication for Unification Models

This paper presents a statistical analysis of the circumgalactic environment of nearby Seyfert galaxies based on a computer-aided search of companion galaxies on the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS). An intrinsic difference between the environment of Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies, suggested by previous work, is confirmed as statistically significant. For Seyfert 2 galaxies we find a significant excess of large companions (diameter of companion >= 10 Kpc) within a search radius <= 100 Kpc of projected linear distance, as well as within a search radius equal to three times the diameter \ds of each Seyfert galaxy. For Seyfert 1 galaxies there is no clear evidence of any excess of companion galaxies neither within 100 Kpc, nor within 3\ds. For all samples the number of companions suggests a markedly non-Poissonian distribution for galaxies on scales <= 100 Kpc. This difference in environment is not compatible with the simplest formulation of the Unification Model for Seyferts: both types 1 and 2 should be intrinsicaly alike, the only difference being due to orientation of an obscuring torus. We propose an alternative formulation.Comment: 1 figure, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Contributions of Vacuum and Plasmon Modes to the Force on a Small Sphere near a Plate

The force on a small sphere with a plasma model dielectric function and in the presence of a perfectly reflecting plane is considered. The contribution of both the vacuum modes of the quantized electromagnetic field and of plasmon modes in the sphere are discussed. In the case that the plasmon modes are in their ground state, quasi-oscillatory terms from the vacuum and plasmon parts cancel one another, leading a monotonic attractive force. If the plasmon modes are not in the ground state, the net force is quasi-oscillatory. In both cases, the sphere behaves in the same way as does an atom in either its ground state or an excited state.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, talk presented at "Quantum Fields under External Conditions - 2005", Barcelona, Spain, September 200

Quantum field between moving mirrors: A three dimensional example

The scalar quantum field uniformly moving plates in three dimensional space is studied. Field equations for Dirichlet boundary conditions are solved exactly. Comparison of the resulting wavefunctions with their instantaneous static counterpart is performed via Bogolubov coefficients. Unlike the one dimensional problem, 'particle' creation as well as squeezing may occur. The time dependent Casimir energy is also evaluated

Quantum Mechanical Properties of Bessel Beams

Bessel beams are studied within the general framework of quantum optics. The two modes of the electromagnetic field are quantized and the basic dynamical operators are identified. The algebra of these operators is analyzed in detail; it is shown that the operators that are usually associated to linear momentum, orbital angular momentum and spin do not satisfy the algebra of the translation and rotation group. In particular, what seems to be the spin is more similar to the helicity. Some physical consequences of these results are examined.Comment: 17 pages, no figures. New versio

Radio Loud AGN in the Context of the Eigenvector 1 Parameter Space

We consider the properties of radio-loud (RL) AGN in the context of the Eigenvector 1 (E1) parameter space. RL sources show a restricted E1 parameter space occupation relative to the radio-quiet (RQ) majority. The Fanaroff-Riley II ``parent population'' of relatively un-boosted RL sources (median radio/optical flux ratio ~490) shows the most restricted occupation. RL sources have different broad line properties (and inferred black hole masses and Eddington ratios). FWHM H_beta for the broad line component in RL sources are at least twice as large as the RQ majority. The average broad FeII emission line strength is also about half that for RQ sources. Our sample suggests that the RL cutoff occurs near R_k=70 or logP(6cm)=32.0 ergs/s/Hz. Sources below this cutoff are RQ although we cannot rule out the existence of a distinct intermediate population. We show that the Doppler boosted core-dominated RL sources (median flux ratio ~1000) lie towards smaller FWHM(H_beta_bc) and stronger FeII in E1 as expected if the lines arise in an accretion disk. Our subsample of superluminal sources, with orientation inferred from the synchrotron self Compton model, reinforce this general E1 trend and allow us to estimate the role of source orientation in driving E1 domain occupation.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Testing Leggett's Inequality Using Aharonov-Casher Effect

Bell's inequality is established based on local realism. The violation of Bell's inequality by quantum mechanics implies either locality or realism or both are untenable. Leggett's inequality is derived based on nonlocal realism. The violation of Leggett's inequality implies that quantum mechanics is neither local realistic nor nonlocal realistic. The incompatibility of nonlocal realism and quantum mechanics has been urrently confirmed by photon experiments. In our work, we propose to test Leggett's inequality using the Aharonov-Casher effect. In our scheme, four entangled particles emitted from two sources manifest a two-qubit-typed correlation that may result in the violation of the Leggett inequality, while satisfying the no-signaling condition for spacelike separation. Our scheme is tolerant to some local inaccuracies due to the topological nature of the Aharonov-Casher phase. The experimental implementation of our scheme can be possibly realized by a calcium atomic polarization interferometer experiment.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by Scientific Report