title:
Virtual Sensor Based Fault Detection and Classification on a Plasma Etch
  Reactor

abstract:
  The SEMATECH sponsored J-88-E project teaming Texas Instruments with
NeuroDyne (et al.) focused on Fault Detection and Classification (FDC) on a Lam
9600 aluminum plasma etch reactor, used in the process of semiconductor
fabrication. Fault classification was accomplished by implementing a series of
virtual sensor models which used data from real sensors (Lam Station sensors,
Optical Emission Spectroscopy, and RF Monitoring) to predict recipe setpoints
and wafer state characteristics. Fault detection and classification were
performed by comparing predicted recipe and wafer state values with expected
values. Models utilized include linear PLS, Polynomial PLS, and Neural Network
PLS. Prediction of recipe setpoints based upon sensor data provides a
capability for cross-checking that the machine is maintaining the desired
setpoints. Wafer state characteristics such as Line Width Reduction and
Remaining Oxide were estimated on-line using these same process sensors (Lam,
OES, RFM). Wafer-to-wafer measurement of these characteristics in a production
setting (where typically this information may be only sparsely available, if at
all, after batch processing runs with numerous wafers have been completed)
would provide important information to the operator that the process is or is
not producing wafers within acceptable bounds of product quality. Production
yield is increased, and correspondingly per unit cost is reduced, by providing
the operator with the opportunity to adjust the process or machine before
etching more wafers.


title: Spin Network Wavefunction and the Graviton Propagator

abstract:
  We show that if the flat-spacetime wavefunction in the spin network basis of
Loop Quantum Gravity has a large-spin asymptotics given by Rovelli's ansatz
then the corresponding graviton propagator has the correct large-distance
asymptotics nonperturbatively and independently of the spin foam model used to
describe the evolution operator. We also argue that even in the Rovelli
approach the wavefunction should satisfy the Hamiltonian constraint and we give
an explanation for the spin parameter appearing in Rovelli's ansatz.


title:
Effects of geometric constraints on the nuclear multifragmentation
  process

abstract:
  We include in statistical model calculations the facts that in the nuclear
multifragmentation process the fragments are produced within a given volume and
have a finite size. The corrections associated with these constraints affect
the partition modes and, as a consequence, other observables in the process. In
particular, we find that the favored fragmenting modes strongly suppress the
collective flow energy, leading to much lower values compared to what is
obtained from unconstrained calculations. This leads, for a given total
excitation energy, to a nontrivial correlation between the breakup temperature
and the collective expansion velocity. In particular we find that, under some
conditions, the temperature of the fragmenting system may increase as a
function of this expansion velocity, contrary to what it might be expected.


title: On the semimartingale property via bounded logarithmic utility

abstract:
  This paper provides a new version of the condition of Di Nunno et al. (2003),
Ankirchner and Imkeller (2005) and Biagini and \{O}ksendal (2005) ensuring the
semimartingale property for a large class of continuous stochastic processes.
Unlike our predecessors, we base our modeling framework on the concept of
portfolio proportions which yields a short self-contained proof of the main
theorem, as well as a counterexample, showing that analogues of our results do
not hold in the discontinuous setting.


title: Properties of the Volume Operator in Loop Quantum Gravity I: Results

abstract:
  We analyze the spectral properties of the volume operator of Ashtekar and
Lewandowski in Loop Quantum Gravity, which is the quantum analogue of the
classical volume expression for regions in three dimensional Riemannian space.
Our analysis considers for the first time generic graph vertices of valence
greater than four. Here we find that the geometry of the underlying vertex
characterizes the spectral properties of the volume operator, in particular the
presence of a `volume gap' (a smallest non-zero eigenvalue in the spectrum) is
found to depend on the vertex embedding. We compute the set of all
non-spatially diffeomorphic non-coplanar vertex embeddings for vertices of
valence 5--7, and argue that these sets can be used to label spatial
diffeomorphism invariant states. We observe how gauge invariance connects
vertex geometry and representation properties of the underlying gauge group in
a natural way. Analytical results on the spectrum on 4-valent vertices are
included, for which the presence of a volume gap is proved. This paper presents
our main results; details are provided by a companion paper arXiv:0706.0382v1.


title: Twisted Fermat curves over totally real fields

abstract:
  Let p be a prime number, F a totally real field such that [F(mu_p): F]=2 and
[F:Q] is odd. For delta \in F^times, let [delta] denote its class in
F^times/F^{times p}. In this paper, we show
  Main Theorem. There are infinitely many classes [delta]\in F^times/F^{times
p} such that the twisted affine Fermat curves W_delta: X^p+Y^p=delta have no
F-rational points.


title: Remarks on DSR and Gravity

abstract:
  Modifications of Special Relativity by the introduction of an invariant
energy and/or momentum level (so-called Doubly Special Relativity theories,
DSR) or by an energy-momentum dependence of the Planck constant (Generalized
Uncertainty Principle, GUP) are compared with classical gravitational effects
in an interaction processes. For the low energy limit of the usual formulations
of DSR to be equivalent with Newtonian gravity, a restrictive condition is
found. GUP yields an effective repulsion, in analogy to the gravitational
repulsion in loop quantum cosmology.


title:
Forward Lambda Production and Nuclear Stopping Power in d + Au
  Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

abstract:
  We report the measurement of Lamda and Anti-Lamda yields and inverse slope
parameters in d + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV at forward and backward
rapidities (y = +- 2.75), using data from the STAR forward time projection
chambers. The contributions of different processes to baryon transport and
particle production are probed exploiting the inherent asymmetry of the d + Au
system. Comparisons to model calculations show that the baryon transport on the
deuteron side is consistent with multiple collisions of the deuteron nucleons
with gold participants. On the gold side HIJING based models do not describe
the measured particle yields while models with initial state nuclear effects
and/or hadronic rescattering do. The multichain model can provide a good
description of the net baryon density in d + Au collisions at energies
available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, and the derived
parameters of the model agree with those from nuclear collisions at lower
energies.


title: Gauging U(1) symmetries and the number of right-handed neutrinos

abstract:
  In this letter we consider that assuming: a) that the only left-handed
neutral fermions are the active neutrinos, b) that $B-L$ is a gauge symmetry,
and c) that the $L$ assignment is restricted to the integer numbers, the
anomaly cancellation imply that at least three right-handed neutrinos must be
added to the minimal representation content of the electroweak standard model.
However, two types of models arise: i) the usual one where each of the three
identical right-handed neutrinos has total lepton number L=1; ii) and the other
one in which two of them carry L=4 while the third one carries $L=-5$.


title: Stability of utility-maximization in incomplete markets

abstract:
  The effectiveness of utility-maximization techniques for portfolio management
relies on our ability to estimate correctly the parameters of the dynamics of
the underlying financial assets. In the setting of complete or incomplete
financial markets, we investigate whether small perturbations of the market
coefficient processes lead to small changes in the agent's optimal behavior
derived from the solution of the related utility-maximization problems.
Specifically, we identify the topologies on the parameter process space and the
solution space under which utility-maximization is a continuous operation, and
we provide a counterexample showing that our results are best possible, in a
certain sense. A novel result about the structure of the solution of the
utility-maximization problem where prices are modeled by continuous
semimartingales is established as an offshoot of the proof of our central
theorem.


title: Simple shear flow in inelastic Maxwell models

abstract:
  The Boltzmann equation for inelastic Maxwell models is considered to
determine the velocity moments through fourth degree in the simple shear flow
state. First, the rheological properties (which are related to the
second-degree velocity moments) are {\em exactly} evaluated in terms of the
coefficient of restitution $\alpha$ and the (reduced) shear rate $a^*$. For a
given value of $\alpha$, the above transport properties decrease with
increasing shear rate. Moreover, as expected, the third-degree and the
asymmetric fourth-degree moments vanish in the long time limit when they are
scaled with the thermal speed. On the other hand, as in the case of elastic
collisions, our results show that, for a given value of $\alpha$, the scaled
symmetric fourth-degree moments diverge in time for shear rates larger than a
certain critical value $a_c^*(\alpha)$ which decreases with increasing
dissipation. The explicit shear-rate dependence of the fourth-degree moments
below this critical value is also obtained.


title:
Role of semi core levels in determining the band-gaps of semiconductors:
  First-principles calculations with model Hamiltonians

abstract:
  First principle calculations based on LDA/GGA approximation for the exchange
functional underestimate the position of the semi core 3d levels in GaX (X = N,
P and As) semiconductors. A self-interaction correction scheme within the
LDA+U/GGA+U approximation is found to be sufficient to correct this
discrepancy. A consequence of thiscorrection is that the bandgap (E_g) of the
semiconductors also improves. The belief has been that the bandgap correction
comes from modified semi core-valence interaction. We examine this often used
approximation in great detail and find that although bandgap changes as large
as 0.63 eV for GaAs, 0.42 eV for GaP and 0.46 eV for GaN are obtained within
this approach for U= 20 eV on the Ga d states, only 0.1 eV, 0.1 eV and 0.15 eV
for GaAs, GaP and GaN arise from semi core-valence interaction. As U is
increased, the bandgap keeps improving. We trace this effect primarily to the
interaction of the Ga 4d states in the conduction band with the anion p states.


title:
Polarisation rotation of slow light with orbital angular momentum in
  ultracold atomic gases

abstract:
  We consider the propagation of slow light with an orbital angular momentum
(OAM) in a moving atomic medium. We have derived a general equation of motion
and applied it in analysing propagation of slow light with an OAM in a rotating
medium, such as a vortex lattice. We have shown that the OAM of slow light
manifests itself in a rotation of the polarisation plane of linearly polarised
light. To extract a pure rotational phase shift, we suggest to measure a
difference in the angle of the polarisation plane rotation by two consecutive
light beams with opposite OAM. The differential angle $\Delta\alpha_{\ell}$ is
proportional to the rotation frequency of the medium $\omega_{\mathrm{rot}}$
and the winding number $\ell$ of light, and is inversely proportional to the
group velocity of light. For slow light the angle $\Delta\alpha_{\ell}$ should
be large enough to be detectable. The effect can be used as a tool for
measuring the rotation frequency $\omega_{\mathrm{rot}}$ of the medium.


title:
Optimal Investment with an Unbounded Random Endowment and Utility-Based
  Pricing

abstract:
  This paper studies the problem of maximizing the expected utility of terminal
wealth for a financial agent with an unbounded random endowment, and with a
utility function which supports both positive and negative wealth. We prove the
existence of an optimal trading strategy within a class of permissible
strategies -- those strategies whose wealth process is a supermartingale under
all pricing measures with finite relative entropy. We give necessary and
sufficient conditions for the absence of utility-based arbitrage, and for the
existence of a solution to the primal problem.
  We consider two utility-based methods which can be used to price contingent
claims. Firstly we investigate marginal utility-based price processes
(MUBPP's). We show that such processes can be characterized as local
martingales under the normalized optimal dual measure for the utility
maximizing investor. Finally, we present some new results on utility
indifference prices, including continuity properties and volume asymptotics for
the case of a general utility function, unbounded endowment and unbounded
contingent claims.


title: How to Compile Some NAND Formula Evaluators

abstract:
  We say a unitary operator acting on a set of qubits has been compiled if it
has been expressed as a SEO (sequence of elementary operations, like CNOTs and
single-qubit operations). SEO's are often represented as quantum circuits.
arXiv:quant-ph/0702144 by Farhi-Goldstone-Gutmann has inspired a recent flurry
of papers, that propose quantum algorithms for evaluating NAND formulas via
quantum walks over tree graphs. These algorithms use two types of unitary
evolution: oracle and non-oracle. Non-oracle evolutions are independent of the
NAND formula input, whereas oracle evolutions depend on this input. In this
paper we compile (i.e., give explicit SEOs and their associated quantum
circuits for) the oracle and non-oracle evolution operators used in some of
these NAND formula evaluators. We consider here only the case of balanced
binary NAND trees. Our compilation methods are based on the CSD (Cosine Sine
Decomposition), a matrix decomposition from Linear Algebra. The CS
decomposition has been used very successfully in the past to compile
unstructured unitary matrices exactly.


title: Maximizing the Growth Rate under Risk Constraints

abstract:
  We investigate the ergodic problem of growth-rate maximization under a class
of risk constraints in the context of incomplete, It\^{o}-process models of
financial markets with random ergodic coefficients. Including {\em
value-at-risk} (VaR), {\em tail-value-at-risk} (TVaR), and {\em limited
expected loss} (LEL), these constraints can be both wealth-dependent(relative)
and wealth-independent (absolute). The optimal policy is shown to exist in an
appropriate admissibility class, and can be obtained explicitly by uniform,
state-dependent scaling down of the unconstrained (Merton) optimal portfolio.
This implies that the risk-constrained wealth-growth optimizer locally behaves
like a CRRA-investor, with the relative risk-aversion coefficient depending on
the current values of the market coefficients.


title: Quantum networks modelled by graphs

abstract:
  Quantum networks are often modelled using Schroedinger operators on metric
graphs. To give meaning to such models one has to know how to interpret the
boundary conditions which match the wave functions at the graph vertices. In
this article we give a survey, technically not too heavy, of several recent
results which serve this purpose. Specifically, we consider approximations by
means of ``fat graphs'' -- in other words, suitable families of shrinking
manifolds -- and discuss convergence of the spectra and resonances in such a
setting.


title:
Stability of the utility maximization problem with random endowment in
  incomplete markets

abstract:
  We perform a stability analysis for the utility maximization problem in a
general semimartingale model where both liquid and illiquid assets (random
endowments) are present. Small misspecifications of preferences (as modeled via
expected utility), as well as views of the world or the market model (as
modeled via subjective probabilities) are considered. Simple sufficient
conditions are given for the problem to be well-posed, in the sense the optimal
wealth and the marginal utility-based prices are continuous functionals of
preferences and probabilistic views.


title: Dynamics and Control of a Quasi-1D Spin System

abstract:
  We study experimentally a system comprised of linear chains of spin-1/2
nuclei that provides a test-bed for multi-body dynamics and quantum information
processing. This system is a paradigm for a new class of quantum information
devices that can perform particular tasks even without universal control of the
whole quantum system. We investigate the extent of control achievable on the
system with current experimental apparatus and methods to gain information on
the system state, when full tomography is not possible and in any case highly
inefficient.


title:
Motivation, Design, and Ubiquity: A Discussion of Research Ethics and
  Computer Science

abstract:
  Modern society is permeated with computers, and the software that controls
them can have latent, long-term, and immediate effects that reach far beyond
the actual users of these systems. This places researchers in Computer Science
and Software Engineering in a critical position of influence and
responsibility, more than any other field because computer systems are vital
research tools for other disciplines. This essay presents several key ethical
concerns and responsibilities relating to research in computing. The goal is to
promote awareness and discussion of ethical issues among computer science
researchers. A hypothetical case study is provided, along with questions for
reflection and discussion.


title: A Wrinkle in Coleman - De Luccia

abstract:
  Stringy effects on vacuum transitions are shown to include surprisingly large
decay rates through very high potential barriers. This simple, yet
counter-intuitive result will drastically modify the measure on the landscape
of string vacua.


title: Superrosy dependent groups having finitely satisfiable generics

abstract:
  We study a model theoretic context (finite thorn rank, NIP, with finitely
satisfiable generics) which is a common generalization of groups of finite
Morley rank and definably compact groups in o-minimal structures. We show that
assuming thorn rank 1, the group is abelian-by-finite, and assuming thorn rank
2 the group is solvable by finite. Also a field is algebraically closed.


title: Recent Issues in Leptogenesis

abstract:
  Baryogenesis via leptogenesis provides an appealing mechanism to explain the
observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe. Recent refinements in the
understanding of the dynamics of leptogenesis include detailed studies of the
effects of lepton flavors and of the role possibly played by the lepton
asymmetries generated in the decays of the heavier singlet neutrinos $N_{2,3}$.
A review of these recent developments in the theory of leptogenesis is
presented.


title: Additivity of Jordan Elementary Maps on Rings

abstract:
  We prove that Jordan elementary surjective maps on rings are automatically
additive.


title: Sampling Colourings of the Triangular Lattice

abstract:
  We show that the Glauber dynamics on proper 9-colourings of the triangular
lattice is rapidly mixing, which allows for efficient sampling. Consequently,
there is a fully polynomial randomised approximation scheme (FPRAS) for
counting proper 9-colourings of the triangular lattice. Proper colourings
correspond to configurations in the zero-temperature anti-ferromagnetic Potts
model. We show that the spin system consisting of proper 9-colourings of the
triangular lattice has strong spatial mixing. This implies that there is a
unique infinite-volume Gibbs distribution, which is an important property
studied in statistical physics. Our results build on previous work by Goldberg,
Martin and Paterson, who showed similar results for 10 colours on the
triangular lattice. Their work was preceded by Salas and Sokal's 11-colour
result. Both proofs rely on computational assistance, and so does our 9-colour
proof. We have used a randomised heuristic to guide us towards rigourous
results.


title: Non-Abelian Plasma Instabilities for Extreme Anisotropy

abstract:
  Thermalization of quark-gluon plasmas in heavy-ion collisions is a difficult
theoretical problem. One theoretical goal has been to understand the physics of
thermalization in the relatively simplifying limit of arbitrarily high energy
collisions, where the running coupling alpha_s is weak. One of the current
roadblocks to achieving this goal is lack of knowledge about the behavior of
plasma instabilities when particle distributions are highly anisotropic. In
particular, it has not been known how the magnetic fields generated by plasma
instabilities scale with anisotropy. In this paper, we use numerical
simulations in a first attempt to determine this scaling.


title:
Reflection asymmetric relativistic mean field approach and its
  application to the octupole deformed nucleus $^{226}$Ra

abstract:
  A Reflection ASymmetric Relativistic Mean Field (RAS-RMF) approach is
developed by expanding the equations of motion for both the nucleons and the
mesons on the eigenfunctions of the two-center harmonic-oscillator potential.
The efficiency and reliability of the RAS-RMF approach are demonstrated in its
application to the well-known octupole deformed nucleus $^{226}$Ra and the
available data, including the binding energy and the deformation parameters,
are well reproduced.


title: Interaction engineering for environmental probing

abstract:
  We study the conditions for the probing of an environment affecting one party
of a bipartite system of interacting objects by measurements operated only on
the other element. We show that entanglement plays no crucial role in such an
environment-characterization. On the other hand, if an interaction is
established between the two parties, information can be reliably gathered. This
result holds for both discrete and continuous variables and helps in the
interpretation of recent experiments addressing the properties of mesoscopic
objects.


title:
The derived category of quasi-coherent sheaves and axiomatic stable
  homotopy

abstract:
  We prove in this paper that for a quasi-compact and semi-separated (non
necessarily noetherian) scheme X, the derived category of quasi-coherent
sheaves over X, D(A_qc(X)), is a stable homotopy category in the sense of
Hovey, Palmieri and Strickland, answering a question posed by Strickland.
Moreover we show that it is unital and algebraic. We also prove that for a
noetherian semi-separated formal scheme X, its derived category of sheaves of
modules with quasi-coherent torsion homologies D_qct(X) is a stable homotopy
category. It is algebraic but if the formal scheme is not a usual scheme, it is
not unital, therefore its abstract nature differs essentially from that of the
derived category of a usual scheme.


title: Lectures on flips and minimal models

abstract:
  This document contains notes from the lectures of Corti, Koll\'ar,
Lazarsfeld, and Musta\c{t}\u{a} at the workshop ``Minimal and canonical models
in algebraic geometry" at MSRI, Berkeley, April 2007. The lectures give an
overview of the recent advances on canonical and minimal models of algebraic
varieties obtained by Hacon--McKernan and Birkar--Cascini--Hacon--McKernan.


title:
Hierarchical Star-Formation in M33: Fundamental properties of the
  star-forming regions

abstract:
  Star-formation within galaxies appears on multiple scales, from spiral
structure, to OB associations, to individual star clusters, and often
sub-structure within these clusters. This multitude of scales calls for
objective methods to find and classify star-forming regions, regardless of
spatial size. To this end, we present an analysis of star-forming groups in the
local group spiral galaxy M33, based on a new implementation of the Minimum
Spanning Tree (MST) method. Unlike previous studies which limited themselves to
a single spatial scale, we study star-forming structures from the effective
resolution limit (~20pc) to kpc scales. We find evidence for a continuum of
star-forming group sizes, from pc to kpc scales. We do not find a
characteristic scale for OB associations, unlike that found in previous
studies, and we suggest that the appearance of such a scale was caused by
spatial resolution and selection effects. The luminosity function of the groups
is found to be well represented by a power-law with an index, -2, similar to
that found for clusters and GMCs. Additionally, the groups follow a similar
mass-radius relation as GMCs. The size distribution of the groups is best
described by a log-normal distribution and we show that within a hierarchical
distribution, if a scale is selected to find structure, the resulting size
distribution will have a log-normal distribution. We find an abrupt drop of the
number of groups outside a galactic radius of ~4kpc, suggesting a change in the
structure of the star-forming ISM, possibly reflected in the lack of GMCs
beyond this radius. (abridged)


title: The Order of the Giant Component of Random Hypergraphs

abstract:
  We establish central and local limit theorems for the number of vertices in
the largest component of a random $d$-uniform hypergraph $\hnp$ with edge
probability $p=c/\binnd$, where $(d-1)^{-1}+\eps<c<\infty$. The proof relies on
a new, purely probabilistic approach, and is based on Stein's method as well as
exposing the edges of $H_d(n,p)$ in several rounds.


title: Local Limit Theorems and Number of Connected Hypergraphs

abstract:
  Let $H_d(n,p)$ signify a random $d$-uniform hypergraph with $n$ vertices in
which each of the ${n}\choose{d}$ possible edges is present with probability
$p=p(n)$ independently, and let $H_d(n,m)$ denote a uniformly distributed with
$n$ vertices and $m$ edges. We derive local limit theorems for the joint
distribution of the number of vertices and the number of edges in the largest
component of $H_d(n,p)$ and $H_d(n,m)$ for the regime ${{n-1}\choose{d-1}}
p,dm/n >(d-1)^{-1}+\epsilon$. As an application, we obtain an asymptotic
formula for the probability that $H_d(n,p)$ or $H_d(n,m)$ is connected. In
addition, we infer a local limit theorem for the conditional distribution of
the number of edges in $H_d(n,p)$ given connectivity. While most prior work on
this subject relies on techniques from enumerative combinatorics, we present a
new, purely probabilistic approach.


title: False discovery rate control with multivariate $p$-values

abstract:
  Multivariate statistics are often available as well as necessary in
hypothesis tests. We study how to use such statistics to control not only false
discovery rate (FDR) but also positive FDR (pFDR) with good power. We show that
FDR can be controlled through nested regions of multivariate $p$-values of test
statistics. If the distributions of the test statistics are known, then the
regions can be constructed explicitly to achieve FDR control with maximum power
among procedures satisfying certain conditions. On the other hand, our focus is
where the distributions are only partially known. Under certain conditions, a
type of nested regions are proposed and shown to attain (p)FDR control with
asymptotically maximum power as the pFDR control level approaches its
attainable limit. The procedure based on the nested regions is compared with
those based on other nested regions that are easier to construct as well as
those based on more straightforward combinations of the test statistics.


title:
Classifying Compactly generated t-structures on the derived category of
  a Noetherian ring

abstract:
  We classify complactly generated t-structures on the derived category of
modules over a commutative Noetherian ring R in terms of decreasing filtrations
by supports on Spec(R). A decreasing filtration by supports \phi : Z -> Spec(R)
satisfies the weak Cousin condition if for any integer i \in Z, the set \phi(i)
contains all the inmediate generalizations of each point in \phi(i+1). Every
t-structure on D^b_fg(R) (equivalently, on D^-_fg(R)) is induced by complactly
generated t-structures on D(R) whose associated filtrations by supports satisfy
the weak Cousin condition. If the ring R has dualizing complex we prove that
these are exactly the t-structures on D^b_fg(R). More generally, if R has a
pointwise dualizing complex we classify all compactly generated t-structures on
D_fg(R).


title: A deeper search for the progenitor of the Type Ic Supernova 2002ap

abstract:
  (Abridged) We present a search for the progenitor star of the Type Ic
Supernova 2002ap in deep, high quality pre-explosion observations taken with
the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). Aligning high-resolution Hubble
Space Telescope (HST) observations of the supernova itself with the archival
CFHT images allowed us to pinpoint the location of the progenitor site on the
ground based observations. We find that a source visible in the B and R band
pre-explosion images close to the position of the SN is (1) not coincident with
the SN position within the uncertainties of our relative astrometry, and (2) is
still visible ~ 4.7 yrs post-explosion in late-time observations taken with the
William Herschel Telescope. We therefore conclude that it is not the progenitor
of SN 2002ap. Comparing our luminosity limits with stellar models of single
stars at appropriate metallicity (Z=0.008) we conclude that any single star
progenitor must have experienced at least twice the standard mass loss rates
during pre-Wolf-Rayet evolution, been initially > 30-40M(Sun) and exploded as a
Wolf-Rayet star of final mass 10-12M(Sun). Alternatively an initially less
massive progenitor may have evolved in an interacting binary system. We
constrain any possible binary companion to a main sequence star of < 20M(Sun),
a neutron star or a black hole. By combining the pre-explosion limits with the
ejecta mass estimates and constraints from X-ray and radio observations we
conclude that any binary interaction most likely occurred as Case B mass
transfer, either with or without a subsequent common envelope evolution phase.


title: Refocusing of a qubit system coupled to an oscillator

abstract:
  Refocusing, or dynamical decoupling, is a coherent control technique where
the internal dynamics of a quantum system is effectively averaged out by an
application of specially designed driving fields. The method has originated in
nuclear magnetic resonance, but it was independently discovered in atomic
physics as a ``coherent destruction of tunneling''. Present work deals with the
analysis of the performance of ``soft'' refocusing pulses and pulse sequences
in protecting the coherence of a qubit system coupled to a quantum oscillator.


title: Relating two standard notions of secrecy

abstract:
  Two styles of definitions are usually considered to express that a security
protocol preserves the confidentiality of a data s. Reachability-based secrecy
means that s should never be disclosed while equivalence-based secrecy states
that two executions of a protocol with distinct instances for s should be
indistinguishable to an attacker. Although the second formulation ensures a
higher level of security and is closer to cryptographic notions of secrecy,
decidability results and automatic tools have mainly focused on the first
definition so far.
  This paper initiates a systematic investigation of the situations where
syntactic secrecy entails strong secrecy. We show that in the passive case,
reachability-based secrecy actually implies equivalence-based secrecy for
digital signatures, symmetric and asymmetric encryption provided that the
primitives are probabilistic. For active adversaries, we provide sufficient
(and rather tight) conditions on the protocol for this implication to hold.


title: A Fresh Look at Diffuse Gamma-ray Emission from the Inner Galaxy

abstract:
  The Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) experiment onboard the
Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) has provided the most precise measurements
of the gamma-ray sky to date. The EGRET measurements of the diffuse emission
across the sky show an excess above 1 GeV. This ``GeV excess'' has been a topic
of great debate and interest since its original discovery by Hunter et al. in
1997. We have modified the GLAST simulation and reconstruction software to
model the EGRET instrument. This detailed modeling has allowed us to explore
the parameters of the EGRET instrument, in both its beam-test configuration and
in-orbit on CGRO, in greater detail than has previously been published. We have
found that the GeV excess is significantly increased when previously
unaccounted for instrumental effects are considered. We will present a new
measurement of diffuse gamma-ray emission in the inner Galaxy.


title:
Monte Carlo Study of Cosmic-Ray Propagation in the Galaxy and Diffuse
  Gamma-Ray Production

abstract:
  This work presents preliminary results for the time-dependent cosmic-ray
propagation in the Galaxy by a fully 3-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation. The
distribution of cosmic-rays (both protons and helium nuclei) in the Galaxy is
studied on various spatial scales for both constant and variable cosmic-ray
sources. The continuous diffuse gamma-ray emission produced by cosmic-rays
during the propagation is evaluated.


title: A note on the $K$-stability on toric manifolds

abstract:
  In this note, we prove that on polarized toric manifolds the relative
$K$-stability with respect to Donaldson's toric degenerations is a necessary
condition for the existence of Calabi's extremal metrics, and also we show that
the modified $K$-energy is proper in the space of $G_0$-invariant K\"ahler
metrics for the case of toric surfaces which admit the extremal metrics.


title:
Diffuse Gamma-Rays Produced in Cosmic-Ray Interactions and the TeV-band
  Spectrum of RX J1713.7-3946

abstract:
  We employ the Monte Carlo particle collision code DPMJET3.04 to determine the
multiplicity spectra of various secondary particles (in addition to $\pi^0$'s)
with $\gamma$'s as the final decay state, that are produced in cosmic-ray
($p$'s and $\alpha$'s) interactions with the interstellar medium. We derive an
easy-to-use $\gamma$-ray production matrix for cosmic rays with energies up to
about 10 PeV. This $\gamma$-ray production matrix is applied to the GeV excess
in diffuse Galactic $\gamma$-rays observed by EGRET, and we conclude the
non-$\pi^0$ decay components are insufficient to explain the GeV excess,
although they have contributed a different spectrum from the $\pi^0$-decay
component. We also test the hypothesis that the TeV-band $\gamma$-ray emission
of the shell-type SNR RX J1713.7-3946 observed with HESS is caused by hadronic
cosmic rays which are accelerated by a cosmic-ray modified shock. By the
$\chi^2$ statistics, we find a continuously softening spectrum is strongly
preferred, in contrast to expectations. A hardening spectrum has about 1%
probability to explain the HESS data, but then only if a hard cutoff at 50-100
TeV is imposed on the particle spectrum.


title:
A collaborative framework to exchange and share product information
  within a supply chain context

abstract:
  The new requirement for "collaboration" between multidisciplinary
collaborators induces to exchange and share adequate information on the
product, processes throughout the products' lifecycle. Thus, effective capture
of information, and also its extraction, recording, exchange, sharing, and
reuse become increasingly critical. These lead companies to adopt new improved
methodologies in managing the exchange and sharing of information. The aim of
this paper is to describe a collaborative framework system to exchange and
share information, which is based on: (i) The Product Process Collaboration
Organization model (PPCO) which defines product and process information, and
the various collaboration methods for the organizations involved in the supply
chain. (ii) Viewpoint model describes relationships between each actor and the
comprehensive Product/Process model, defining each actor's "domain of interest"
within the evolving product definition. (iii) A layer which defines the
comprehensive organization and collaboration relationships between the actors
within the supply chain. (iv) Based on the above relationships, the last layer
proposes a typology of exchanged messages. A communication method, based on
XML, is developed that supports optimal exchange/sharing of information. To
illustrate the proposed framework system, an example is presented related to
collaborative design of a new piston for an automotive engine. The focus is on
user-viewpoint integration to ensure that the adequate information is retrieved
from the PPCO.


title: Anisotropic Random Networks of Semiflexible Polymers

abstract:
  Motivated by the organization of crosslinked cytoskeletal biopolymers, we
present a semimicroscopic replica field theory for the formation of anisotropic
random networks of semiflexible polymers. The networks are formed by
introducing random permanent crosslinks which fix the orientations of the
corresponding polymer segments to align with one another. Upon increasing the
crosslink density, we obtain a continuous gelation transition from a fluid
phase to a gel where a finite fraction of the system gets localized at random
positions. For sufficiently stiff polymers, this positional localization is
accompanied by a {\em continuous} isotropic-to-nematic (IN) transition occuring
at the same crosslink density. As the polymer stiffness decreases, the IN
transition becomes first order, shifts to a higher crosslink density, and is
preceeded by an orientational glass (statistically isotropic amorphous solid)
where the average polymer orientations freeze in random directions.


title:
Gamma-Rays Produced in Cosmic-Ray Interactions and the TeV-band Spectrum
  of RX J1713.7-3946


title: Characterizing dynamics with covariant Lyapunov vectors

abstract:
  A general method to determine covariant Lyapunov vectors in both discrete-
and continuous-time dynamical systems is introduced. This allows to address
fundamental questions such as the degree of hyperbolicity, which can be
quantified in terms of the transversality of these intrinsic vectors. For
spatially extended systems, the covariant Lyapunov vectors have localization
properties and spatial Fourier spectra qualitatively different from those
composing the orthonormalized basis obtained in the standard procedure used to
calculate the Lyapunov exponents.


title: Comments on the Holomorphic Anomaly in Open Topological String Theory

abstract:
  We show that a general solution to the extended holomorphic anomaly equations
for the open topological string on D-branes in a Calabi-Yau manifold, recently
written down by Walcher in arXiv:0705.4098, is obtained from the general
solution to the holomorphic anomaly equations for the closed topological string
on the same manifold, by shifting the closed string moduli by amounts
proportional to the 't Hooft coupling.


title: Searching for the Neutrino Mixing Angle Theta-13 at Reactors

abstract:
  Two neutrino mixing angles have been measured, and much of the neutrino
community is turning its attention to the unmeasured mixing angle, $\quq$,
whose best limit comes from the reactor neutrino experiment
CHOOZ.\cite{bib:chooz} New two detector reactor neutrino experiments are being
planned, along with more ambitious accelerator experiments, to measure or
further limit $\quq$. Here I will overview how to measure $\quq$ using reactor
neutrinos, mention some experiments that were considered and are not going
forward, and review the current status of four projects: Double Chooz in
France, Daya Bay in China, RENO in South Korea and Angra in Brazil. Finally I
will mention how the neutrino observer can gauge progress in these projects two
years from now as we approach the times corresponding to early estimates for
new results.


title:
High resolution mid-infrared spectroscopy of ultraluminous infrared
  galaxies

abstract:
  (Abridged) We present R~600, 10-37um spectra of 53 ULIRGs at z<0.32, taken
using the IRS on board Spitzer. All of the spectra show fine structure emission
lines of Ne, O, S, Si and Ar, as well as molecular Hydrogen lines. Some ULIRGs
also show emission lines of Cl, Fe, P, and atomic Hydrogen, and/or absorption
features from C_2H_2, HCN, and OH. We employ diagnostics based on the
fine-structure lines, as well as the EWs and luminosities of PAH features and
the strength of the 9.7um silicate absorption feature (S_sil), to explore the
power source behind the infrared emission in ULIRGs. We show that the IR
emission from the majority of ULIRGs is powered mostly by star formation, with
only ~20% of ULIRGs hosting an AGN with a comparable or greater IR luminosity
than the starburst. The detection of the 14.32um [NeV] line in just under half
the sample however implies that an AGN contributes significantly to the mid-IR
flux in ~42% of ULIRGs. The emission line ratios, luminosities and PAH EWs are
consistent with the starbursts and AGN in ULIRGs being more extincted, and for
the starbursts more compact, versions of those in lower luminosity systems. The
excitations and electron densities in the NLRs of ULIRGs appear comparable to
those of lower luminosity starbursts, though there is evidence that the NLR gas
in ULIRGs is more dense. We show that the combined luminosity of the 12.81um
[NeII] and 15.56um [NeIII] lines correlates with both IR luminosity and the
luminosity of the 6.2 micron and 11.2 micron PAH features in ULIRGs, and use
this to derive a calibration between PAH luminosity and star formation rate.
Finally, we show that ULIRGs with 0.8 < S_sil < 2.4 are likely to be powered
mainly by star formation, but that ULIRGs with S_sil < 0.8, and possibly those
with S_sil > 2.4, contain an IR-luminous AGN.


title: Runaway in the Landscape

abstract:
  We consider flux compactifications of type IIB string theory on the mirror of
a rigid Calabi-Yau. In special cases, these models are dual to the type IIA
flux vacua with runaway direction in flux space. We show that new weak coupling
AdS solutions can be found for large complex structure, while Minkowski
solutions with all moduli stabilized are confined to be at strong coupling. The
existence of these solutions, as found in a previous work, is nevertheless
guaranteed by a non-renormalization theorem of the type IIB flux
superpotential. Based on our results, we are led to the conjecture that
supersymmetric runaway directions in flux space are always accompanied by a
spectrum of moduli masses reaching down to the AdS scale. This could be
violated in a non-supersymmetric situation.


title: The Kinematic Evolution of Strong MgII Absorbers

abstract:
  We consider the evolution of strong (W_r(2796) > 0.3A) MgII absorbers, most
of which are closely related to luminous galaxies. Using 20 high resolution
quasar spectra from the VLT/UVES public archive, we examine 33 strong MgII
absorbers in the redshift range 0.3 < z < 2.5. We compare and supplement this
sample with 23 strong MgII absorbers at 0.4 < z < 1.4 observed previously with
HIRES/Keck. We find that neither equivalent width nor kinematic spread (the
optical depth weighted second moment of velocity) of MgII2796 evolve. However,
the kinematic spread is sensitive to the highest velocity component, and
therefore not as sensitive to additional weak components at intermediate
velocities relative to the profile center. The fraction of absorbing pixels
within the full velocity range of the system does show a trend of decreasing
with decreasing redshift. Most high redshift systems (14/20) exhibit absorption
over the entire system velocity range, which differs from the result for low
redshift systems (18/36) at the 95% level. This leads to a smaller number of
separate subsystems for high redshift systems because weak absorping components
tend to connect the stronger regions of absorption. We hypothesize that low
redshift MgII profiles are more likely to represent well formed galaxies, many
of which have kinematics consistent with a disk/halo structure. High redshift
MgII profiles are more likely to show evidence of complex protogalactic
structures, with multiple accretion or outflow events. Although these results
are derived from measurements of gas kinematics, they are consistent with
hierarchical galaxy formation evidenced by deep galaxy surveys.


title:
The Kinematics of the Ultra-Faint Milky Way Satellites: Solving the
  Missing Satellite Problem

abstract:
  We present Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy of stars in 8 of the newly discovered
ultra-faint dwarf galaxies around the Milky Way. We measure the velocity
dispersions of Canes Venatici I and II, Ursa Major I and II, Coma Berenices,
Hercules, Leo IV and Leo T from the velocities of 18 - 214 stars in each galaxy
and find dispersions ranging from 3.3 to 7.6 km/s. The 6 galaxies with absolute
magnitudes M_V < -4 are highly dark matter-dominated, with mass-to-light ratios
approaching 1000. The measured velocity dispersions are inversely correlated
with their luminosities, indicating that a minimum mass for luminous galactic
systems may not yet have been reached. We also measure the metallicities of the
observed stars and find that the 6 brightest of the ultra-faint dwarfs extend
the luminosity-metallicity relationship followed by brighter dwarfs by 2 orders
of magnitude in luminosity; several of these objects have mean metallicities as
low as [Fe/H] = -2.3 and therefore represent some of the most metal-poor known
stellar systems. We detect metallicity spreads of up to 0.5 dex in several
objects, suggesting multiple star formation epochs. Having established the
masses of the ultra-faint dwarfs, we re-examine the missing satellite problem.
After correcting for the sky coverage of the SDSS, we find that the ultra-faint
dwarfs substantially alleviate the discrepancy between the predicted and
observed numbers of satellites around the Milky Way, but there are still a
factor of ~4 too few dwarf galaxies over a significant range of masses. We show
that if galaxy formation in low-mass dark matter halos is strongly suppressed
after reionization, the simulated circular velocity function of CDM subhalos
can be brought into approximate agreement with the observed circular velocity
function of Milky Way satellite galaxies. [slightly abridged]


title:
TeV gamma-rays from photo-disintegration/de-excitation of nuclei in
  Westerlund 2

abstract:
  TeV gamma-rays can result from the photo-de-excitation of PeV cosmic ray
nuclei after their parents have undergone photo-disintegration in an
environment of ultraviolet photons. This process is proposed as a candidate
explanation of the recently discovered HESS source at the edge of Westerlund 2.
The UV background is provided by Lyman-alpha emission within the rich O and B
stellar environment. The HESS flux results if there is efficient acceleration
at the source of lower energy nuclei. The requirement that the Lorentz-boosted
ultraviolet photons reach the Giant Dipole resonant energy (~ 20 MeV) implies a
strong suppression of the gamma-ray spectrum compared to an E_\gamma^{-2}
behavior at energies below about 1 TeV. This suppression is not apparent in the
lowest-energy Westerlund 2 datum, but will be probed by the upcoming GLAST
mission.


title: Close Pairs as Proxies for Galaxy Cluster Mergers

abstract:
  Galaxy cluster merger statistics are an important component in understanding
the formation of large-scale structure. Unfortunately, it is difficult to study
merger properties and evolution directly because the identification of cluster
mergers in observations is problematic. We use large N-body simulations to
study the statistical properties of massive halo mergers, specifically
investigating the utility of close halo pairs as proxies for mergers. We
examine the relationship between pairs and mergers for a wide range of merger
timescales, halo masses, and redshifts (0<z<1). We also quantify the utility of
pairs in measuring merger bias. While pairs at very small separations will
reliably merge, these constitute a small fraction of the total merger
population. Thus, pairs do not provide a reliable direct proxy to the total
merger population. We do find an intriguing universality in the relation
between close pairs and mergers, which in principle could allow for an estimate
of the statistical merger rate from the pair fraction within a scaled
separation, but including the effects of redshift space distortions strongly
degrades this relation. We find similar behavior for galaxy-mass halos, making
our results applicable to field galaxy mergers at high redshift. We investigate
how the halo merger rate can be statistically described by the halo mass
function via the merger kernel (coagulation), finding an interesting
environmental dependence of merging: halos within the mass resolution of our
simulations merge less efficiently in overdense environments. Specifically,
halo pairs with separations less than a few Mpc/h are more likely to merge in
underdense environments; at larger separations, pairs are more likely to merge
in overdense environments.


title:
Cosmic Evolution of Black Holes and Spheroids. II: Scaling Relations at
  z=0.36

abstract:
  We combine Hubble Space Telescope images of a sample of 20 Seyfert galaxies
at z=0.36 with spectroscopic information from the Keck Telescope to determine
the black hole mass - spheroid luminosity relation (M-L), the Fundamental Plane
(FP) of the host galaxies and the M-sigma relation. Assuming pure luminosity
evolution, we find that the host spheroids had smaller luminosity and stellar
velocity dispersion than today for a fixed M. The offsets correspond to Delta
log L_B,0=0.40+-0.11+-0.15 (Delta log M = 0.51+-0.14+-0.19) and Delta log sigma
= 0.13+-0.03+-0.05 (Delta log M = 0.54+-0.12+-0.21), respectively for the M-L
and M-sigma relation. A detailed analysis of known systematic errors and
selection effects shows that they cannot account for the observed offset. The
data are inconsistent with pure luminosity evolution and the existence of
universal and tight scaling relations. To obey the three local scaling
relations by z=0 the distant spheroids have to grow their stellar mass by
approximately 60% (\Delta log M_sph=0.20+-0.14) in the next 4 billion years.
The measured evolution can be expressed as M/ M_sph ~ (1+z)^{1.5+-1.0}. Based
on the disturbed morphologies of a fraction of the sample (6/20) we suggest
collisional mergers with disk-dominated systems as evolutionary mechanism.


title:
Constraints on the merging timescale of luminous red galaxies, or, where
  do all the halos go?

abstract:
  In the LCDM cosmology dark matter halos grow primarily through the accretion
of smaller halos. Much of the mass in a halo of 10^14Msun comes in through
accretion of ~10^13Msun halos. If each such halo hosted one luminous red galaxy
(LRG) then the accretion of so many halos is at odds with the observed number
of LRGs in clusters unless these accreted LRGs merge or disrupt on relatively
short timescales (~2Gyr). These timescales are consistent with classical
dynamical friction arguments, and imply that 2-3 LRGs have merged or disrupted
within each halo more massive than 10^14Msun by z=0. The total amount of
stellar mass brought into these massive halos by z=0 is consistent with
observations once the intracluster light (ICL) is included. If disrupted LRGs
build up the ICL, then the hierarchical growth of massive halos implies that a
substantial amount of ICL should also surround satellite LRGs, as suggested by
recent observations of the Virgo cluster. Finally, we point out that these
results are entirely consistent with a non-evolving clustering strength and
halo occupation distribution, and note that observations of the latter in fact
support the hypothesis that merging/disruption of massive galaxies does indeed
take place at late times.


title: A trilinear method for finding null points in a 3D vector space

abstract:
  Null points are important locations in vector fields, such as a magnetic
field. A new technique (a trilinear method for finding null points) is
presented for finding null points over a large grid of points, such as those
derived from a numerical experiment. The method was designed so that the null
points found would agree with any fieldlines traced using the commonly used
trilinear interpolation. It is split into three parts: reduction, analysis and
positioning, which, when combined, provide an efficient means of locating null
points to a user-defined sub-grid accuracy. We compare the results of the
trilinear method with that of a method based on the Poincare index, and discuss
the accuracy and limitations of both methods.


title: Energy relaxation of superconducting charge qubit via Andreev processes

abstract:
  We study fundamental limitations on the energy relaxation rate of a
superconducting charge qubit with a large-gap Cooper-pair box, $\Delta_b >
\Delta_r$. At a sufficiently large mismatch between the gap energies in the box
$\Delta_b$ and in the reservoir $\Delta_r$,"quasiparticle poisoning" becomes
ineffective even in the presence of nonequilibrium quasiparticles in the
reservoir. The qubit relaxation still may occur due to higher-order (Andreev)
processes. In this paper we evaluate the qubit energy relaxation rate due to
Andreev processes.


title: Interpolant-Based Transition Relation Approximation

abstract:
  In predicate abstraction, exact image computation is problematic, requiring
in the worst case an exponential number of calls to a decision procedure. For
this reason, software model checkers typically use a weak approximation of the
image. This can result in a failure to prove a property, even given an adequate
set of predicates. We present an interpolant-based method for strengthening the
abstract transition relation in case of such failures. This approach guarantees
convergence given an adequate set of predicates, without requiring an exact
image computation. We show empirically that the method converges more rapidly
than an earlier method based on counterexample analysis.


title: Chandra X-Ray Study of Galactic Supernova Remnant G299.2-2.9

abstract:
  We report on observations of the Galactic supernova remnant (SNR)
G299.2$-$2.9 with the {\it Chandra X-Ray Observatory}. The high resolution
images with {\it Chandra} resolve the X-ray-bright knots, shell, and diffuse
emission extending beyond the bright shell. Interior to the X-ray shell is
faint diffuse emission occupying the central regions of the SNR.
Spatially-resolved spectroscopy indicates a large foreground absorption
($N_{\rm H}$ $\sim$ 3.5 $\times$ 10$^{21}$ cm$^{-2}$), which supports a
relatively distant location ($d$ $\sim$ 5 kpc) for the SNR. The blast wave is
encountering a highly inhomogeneous ambient medium with the densities ranging
over more than an order of magnitude ($n_0$ $\sim$ 0.1 $-$ 4 cm$^{-3}$).
Assuming the distance of $d$ $\sim$ 5 kpc, we derive a Sedov age of $\tau$
$\sim$ 4500 yr and an explosion energy of $E_0$ $\sim$ 1.6 $\times$ 10$^{50}$
ergs. The ambient density structure and the overall morphology suggest that
G299.2$-$2.9 may be a limb-brightened partial shell extending to $\sim$7 pc
radius surrounded by fainter emission extending beyond that to a radius of
$\sim$9 pc. This suggests the SNR exploded in a region of space where there is
a density gradient whose direction lies roughly along the line of sight. The
faint central region shows strong line emission from heavy elements of Si and
Fe, which is caused by the presence of the overabundant stellar ejecta there.
We find no evidence for stellar ejecta enriched in light elements of O and Ne.
The observed abundance structure of the metal-rich ejecta supports a Type Ia
origin for G299.2$-$2.9.


title:
Nonstationary random acoustic and electromagnetic fields as wave
  diffusion processes

abstract:
  We investigate the effects of relatively rapid variations of the boundaries
of an overmoded cavity on the stochastic properties of its interior acoustic or
electromagnetic field. For quasi-static variations, this field can be
represented as an ideal incoherent and statistically homogeneous isotropic
random scalar or vector field, respectively. A physical model is constructed
showing that the field dynamics can be characterized as a generalized diffusion
process. The Langevin--It\^{o} and Fokker--Planck equations are derived and
their associated statistics and distributions for the complex analytic field,
its magnitude and energy density are computed. The energy diffusion parameter
is found to be proportional to the square of the ratio of the standard
deviation of the source field to the characteristic time constant of the
dynamic process, but is independent of the initial energy density, to first
order. The energy drift vanishes in the asymptotic limit. The time-energy
probability distribution is in general not separable, as a result of
nonstationarity. A general solution of the Fokker--Planck equation is obtained
in integral form, together with explicit closed-form solutions for several
asymptotic cases. The findings extend known results on statistics and
distributions of quasi-stationary ideal random fields (pure diffusions), which
are retrieved as special cases.


title: Dirac Neutrino Dark Matter

abstract:
  We investigate the possibility that dark matter is made of heavy Dirac
neutrinos with mass in the range [O(1) GeV- a few TeV] and with suppressed but
non-zero coupling to the Standard Model Z as well as a coupling to an
additional Z' gauge boson. The first part of this paper provides a
model-independent analysis for the relic density and direct detection in terms
of four main parameters: the mass, the couplings to the Z, to the Z' and to the
Higgs. These WIMP candidates arise naturally as Kaluza-Klein states in
extra-dimensional models with extended electroweak gauge group SU(2)_L* SU(2)_R
* U(1). They can be stable because of Kaluza-Klein parity or of other discrete
symmetries related to baryon number for instance, or even, in the low mass and
low coupling limits, just because of a phase-space-suppressed decay width. An
interesting aspect of warped models is that the extra Z' typically couples only
to the third generation, thus avoiding the usual experimental constraints. In
the second part of the paper, we illustrate the situation in details in a
warped GUT model.


title:
The Discovery of 1000 km/s Outflows in Massive Post-starburst Galaxies
  at z=0.6

abstract:
  Numerical simulations suggest that active galactic nuclei (AGNs) play an
important role in the formation of early-type galaxies by expelling gas and
dust in powerful galactic winds and quenching star formation. However, the
existence of AGN feedback capable of halting galaxy-wide star formation has yet
to be observationally confirmed. To investigate this question, we have obtained
spectra of 14 post-starburst galaxies at z~0.6 to search for evidence of
galactic winds. In 10/14 galaxies we detect Mg II 2796,2803 absorption lines
which are blueshifted by 490 - 2020 km/s with respect to the stars. The median
blueshift is 1140 km/s. We hypothesize that the outflowing gas represents a
fossil galactic wind launched near the peak of the galaxy's activity, a few 100
Myr ago. The velocities we measure are intermediate between those of luminous
starbursts and broad absorption line quasars, which suggests that feedback from
an AGN may have played a role in expelling cool gas and shutting down star
formation.


title:
Heralded Entanglement between Atomic Ensembles: Preparation,
  Decoherence, and Scaling

abstract:
  Heralded entanglement between collective excitations in two atomic ensembles
is probabilistically generated, stored, and converted to single photon fields.
By way of the concurrence, quantitative characterizations are reported for the
scaling behavior of entanglement with excitation probability and for the
temporal dynamics of various correlations resulting in the decay of
entanglement. A lower bound of the concurrence for the collective atomic state
of 0.9\pm 0.3 is inferred. The decay of entanglement as a function of storage
time is also observed, and related to the local dynamics.


title: Generation of microwave radiation in planar spin-transfer devices

abstract:
  Current induced precession states in spin-transfer devices are studied in the
case of large easy plane anisotropy (present in most experimental setups). It
is shown that the effective one-dimensional planar description provides a
simple qualitative understanding of the emergence and evolution of such states.
Switching boundaries are found analytically for the collinear device and the
spin-flip transistor. The latter can generate microwave oscillations at zero
external magnetic field without either special functional form of spin-transfer
torque, or ``field-like'' terms, if Gilbert constant corresponds to the
overdamped planar regime.


title: LISA: Mars and the limits of life

abstract:
  We describe the results of the first tests made on LISA, a simulator of
planetary environments designed and built in Padua, dedicated to the study of
the limit of bacterial life on the planet Mars. Tests on the cryogenic circuit,
on the UV illumination and on bacterial coltures at room temperature that shall
be used as references are described.


title: Ring completion of rig categories

abstract:
  We offer a solution to the long-standing problem of group completing within
the context of rig categories (also known as bimonoidal categories). Given a
rig category R we construct a natural additive group completion R' that retains
the multiplicative structure, hence has become a ring category. If we start
with a commutative rig category R (also known as a symmetric bimonoidal
category), the additive group completion R' will be a commutative ring
category. In an accompanying paper we show how this can be used to prove the
conjecture from [BDR] that the algebraic K-theory of the connective topological
K-theory spectrum ku is equivalent to the algebraic K-theory of the rig
category V of complex vector spaces.


title: 2T Physics, Scale Invariance and Topological Vector Fields

abstract:
  We construct, in classical two-time physics, the necessary structure for the
most general configuration space formulation of quantum mechanics containing
gravity in d+2 dimensions. This structure is composed of a symmetric Riemannian
metric tensor and of a vector field that defines a section of a flat U(1)
bundle over space-time. This construction is possible because of the existence
of a finite local scale invariance of the Hamiltonian and because two-time
physics contains, at the classical level, a local generalization of the
discrete duality symmetry between position and momentum that underlies the
structure of quantum mechanics.


title: Nuclear level densities and gamma-ray strength functions in 44,45Sc

abstract:
  The scandium isotopes 44,45Sc have been studied with the 45Sc(3He,alpha
gamma)44Sc and 45Sc(3He,3He' gamma)45Sc reactions, respectively. The nuclear
level densities and gamma-ray strength functions have been extracted using the
Oslo method. The experimental level densities are compared to calculated level
densities obtained from a microscopic model based on BCS quasiparticles within
the Nilsson level scheme. This model also gives information about the parity
distribution and the number of broken Cooper pairs as a function of excitation
energy. The experimental gamma-ray strength functions are compared to
theoretical models of the E1, M1, and E2 strength, and to data from (gamma,n)
and (gamma,p) experiments. The strength functions show an enhancement at low
gamma energies that cannot be explained by the present, standard models.


title: Compressed Regression

abstract:
  Recent research has studied the role of sparsity in high dimensional
regression and signal reconstruction, establishing theoretical limits for
recovering sparse models from sparse data. This line of work shows that
$\ell_1$-regularized least squares regression can accurately estimate a sparse
linear model from $n$ noisy examples in $p$ dimensions, even if $p$ is much
larger than $n$. In this paper we study a variant of this problem where the
original $n$ input variables are compressed by a random linear transformation
to $m \ll n$ examples in $p$ dimensions, and establish conditions under which a
sparse linear model can be successfully recovered from the compressed data. A
primary motivation for this compression procedure is to anonymize the data and
preserve privacy by revealing little information about the original data. We
characterize the number of random projections that are required for
$\ell_1$-regularized compressed regression to identify the nonzero coefficients
in the true model with probability approaching one, a property called
``sparsistence.'' In addition, we show that $\ell_1$-regularized compressed
regression asymptotically predicts as well as an oracle linear model, a
property called ``persistence.'' Finally, we characterize the privacy
properties of the compression procedure in information-theoretic terms,
establishing upper bounds on the mutual information between the compressed and
uncompressed data that decay to zero.


title: Terrestrial Zone Debris Disk Candidates in h and chi Persei

abstract:
  We analyze 8 sources with strong mid-infrared excesses in the 13 Myr-old
double cluster h and chi Persei. New optical spectra and broadband SEDs (0.36-8
mu_m) are consistent with cluster membership. We show that material with T ~
300-400 K and Ld/Lstar ~ 10^-4-10^-3 produces the excesses in these sources.
Optically-thick blackbody disk models - including those with large inner holes
- do not match the observed SEDs. The SEDs of optically-thin debris disks
produced from terrestrial planet formation calculations match the observations
well. Thus, some h and chi Persei stars may have debris from terrestrial zone
planet formation.


title: Same-Sign Charginos and Majorana Neutralinos at the LHC

abstract:
  We demonstrate the possibility of studying weakly interacting new particles
in weak boson fusion, using the example of supersymmetric same-sign charginos.
This signal could establish the existence of Majorana neutralinos and give
access to their electroweak couplings. It can be observed over (supersymmetric)
QCD backgrounds provided the charginos are light and not too close to the
squark mass. We finally show how same-sign fermion production can be
distinguished from same-sign scalars or vectors arising in other models of new
physics.


title: Status and Promise of Particle Interferometry in Heavy-Ion Collisions

abstract:
  After five years of running at RHIC, and on the eve of the LHC heavy-ion
program, we highlight the status of femtoscopic measurements. We emphasize the
role interferometry plays in addressing fundamental questions about the state
of matter created in such collisions, and present an enumerated list of
measurements, analyses and calculations that are needed to advance the field in
the coming years.


title: Interpretation of the atmospheric muon charge ratio in MINOS

abstract:
  MINOS is the first large magnetic detector deep underground and is the first
to measure the muon charge ratio with high statistics in the region near 1
TeV.\cite{bib:adamson} An approximate formula for the muon charge ratio can be
expressed in terms of $\epsilon_\pi$ = 115 GeV, $\epsilon_K$ = 850 GeV and
$\ec$. The implications for K production in the atmosphere will be discussed.


title:
The Maximum Detectable Momentum for cosmic ray muons in the MINOS far
  detector

abstract:
  A magnetic detector such as MINOS which is measuring the sign of muons has to
deal with issues of bending, which depend on the magnetic field configuration,
and multiple scattering, which depends on the amount of material which is
traversed. Above some momentum which depends on these factors, the momentum
cannot be resolved. Issues related to measurement of the muon charge ratio in
MINOS are discussed.


title: A microfabricated sensor for thin dielectric layers

abstract:
  We describe a sensor for the measurement of thin dielectric layers capable of
operation in a variety of environments. The sensor is obtained by
microfabricating a capacitor with interleaved aluminum fingers, exposed to the
dielectric to be measured. In particular, the device can measure thin layers of
solid frozen from a liquid or gaseous medium. Sensitivity to single atomic
layers is achievable in many configurations and, by utilizing fast, high
sensitivity capacitance read out in a feedback system onto environmental
parameters, coatings of few layers can be dynamically maintained. We discuss
the design, read out and calibration of several versions of the device
optimized in different ways. We specifically dwell on the case in which
atomically thin solid xenon layers are grown and stabilized, in cryogenic
conditions, from a liquid xenon bath.


title: Nontrivial elements of Sha explained through K3 surfaces

abstract:
  In this paper we present a new method to show that a principal homogeneous
space of the Jacobian of a curve of genus two is nontrivial. The idea is to
exhibit a Brauer-Manin obstruction to the existence of rational points on a
quotient of this principal homogeneous space. In an explicit example we apply
the method to show that a specific curve has infinitely many quadratic twists
whose Jacobians have nontrivial Tate-Shafarevich group.


title: High-Dispersion Optical Spectra of Nearby Stars Younger Than The Sun

abstract:
  We present high-dispersion (R~16,000) optical (3900-8700 A) spectra of 390
stars obtained with the Palomar 60 inch telescope. The majority of stars
observed are part of the Spitzer Legacy Science Program "The Formation and
Evolution of Planetary Systems." Through detailed analysis we determine stellar
properties for this sample, including radial and rotational velocities, Li I
6708 and Ha equivalent widths, the chromospheric activity index R'_HK, and
temperature- and gravity-sensitive line ratios. Several spectroscopic binaries
are also identified. From our tabulations, we illustrate basic age- and
rotation-related correlations among measured indices. One novel result is that
Ca II chromospheric emission appears to saturate at vsini values above ~30
km/s, similar to the well established saturation of X-rays that originate in
the spatially separate coronal regions.


title: A detailed study of the enigmatic cluster M82F

abstract:
  We present a detailed study of the stellar cluster M82F, using multi-band
high resolution HST imaging and deep ground based optical slit and integral
field spectroscopy. Using the imaging we create colour maps of the cluster and
surrounding region in order to search for substructure. We find a large amount
of substructure, which we interpret as the result of differential extinction
across the projected face of the cluster. With this interpretation, we are able
to construct a spatially resolved extinction map across the cluster which is
used to derive the intrinsic flux distribution. Fitting cluster profiles (King
and EFF) to the intrinsic images we find that the cluster is 15-30% larger than
previous estimates, and that no strong evidence of mass segregation in this
cluster exists. Using the optical spectra, we find that the age of M82F is
60-80 Myr and from its velocity conclude that the cluster is not physically
associated with a large HII region that it is projected upon, both in agreement
with previous studies. The reconstructed integral field maps show that that
majority of the line emission comes from a nearby HII region. The spatial
dependence of the line widths (implying the presence of multiple
components)measured corresponds to the extinction map derived from photometry,
indicating that the gas/dust clouds responsible for the extinction are also
partially ionised. Even with the wealth of observations presented here, we do
not find a conclusive solution to the problem of the high light-to-mass ratio
previously found for this cluster and its possible top-heavy stellar IMF.


title:
Strichartz estimates and local smoothing estimates for asymptotically
  flat Schr\"odinger equations

abstract:
  In this article we study global-in-time Strichartz estimates for the
Schr\"odinger evolution corresponding to long-range perturbations of the
Euclidean Laplacian. This is a natural continuation of a recent article of the
third author, where it is proved that local smoothing estimates imply
Strichartz estimates. In the aforementioned paper, the third author proved the
local smoothing estimates for small perturbations of the Laplacian. Here we
consider the case of large perturbations in three increasingly favorable
scenarios: (i) without non-trapping assumptions we prove estimates outside a
compact set modulo a lower order spatially localized error term, (ii) with
non-trapping assumptions we prove global estimates modulo a lower order
spatially localized error term, and (iii) for time independent operators with
no resonance or eigenvalue at the bottom of the spectrum we prove global
estimates for the projection onto the continuous spectrum.


title: Trees and Markov convexity

abstract:
  We show that an infinite weighted tree admits a bi-Lipschitz embedding into
Hilbert space if and only if it does not contain arbitrarily large complete
binary trees with uniformly bounded distortion. We also introduce a new metric
invariant called Markov convexity, and show how it can be used to compute the
Euclidean distortion of any metric tree up to universal factors.


title: When did cosmic acceleration start? How fast was the transition?

abstract:
  Cosmic acceleration is investigated through a kink-like expression for the
deceleration parameter (q). The new parametrization depends on the initial
(q_i) and final (q_f) values of q, on the redshift of the transition from
deceleration to acceleration (z_{t}) and the width of such transition (\tau).
We show that although supernovae (SN) observations (Gold182 and SNLS data
samples) indicate, at high confidence, that a transition occurred in the past
(z_{t}>0) they do not, by themselves, impose strong constraints on the maximum
value of z_{t}. However, when we combine SN with the measurements of the ratio
between the comoving distance to the last scattering surface and the
SDSS+2dfGRS BAO distance scale (S_{k}/D_{v}) we obtain, at 95.4% confidence
level, z_{t}=0.84+{0.17}-{0.13} and \tau =0.51-{0.17}+{0.23} for
(S_{k}/D_{v}+Gold182), and z_{t}=0.88-{0.10}+{0.12} and \tau
=0.35-{0.10}+{0.12} for (S_{k}/D_{v} + SNLS), assuming q_i=0.5 and q_f=-1. We
also analyze the general case, q_f\in(-\infty,0) finding the constraints that
the combined tests (S_{k}/D_{v} + SNLS) impose on the present value of the
deceleration parameter (q_0).


title:
Evidence for a Z < 8 Origin of the Source Subtracted Near Infrared
  Background

abstract:
  This letter extends our previous fluctuation analysis of the near infrared
background at 1.6 microns to the 1.1 micron (F110W) image of the Hubble Ultra
Deep field. When all detectable sources are removed the ratio of fluctuation
power in the two images is consistent with the ratio expected for faint, z<8,
sources, and is inconsistent with the expected ratio for galaxies with z>8. We
also use numerically redshifted model galaxy spectral energy distributions for
50 and 10 million year old galaxies to predict the expected fluctuation power
at 3.6 microns and 4.5 microns to compare with recent Spitzer observations. The
predicted fluctuation power for galaxies at z = 0-12 matches the observed
Spitzer fluctuation power while the predicted power for z>13 galaxies is much
higher than the observed values. As was found in the 1.6 micron (F160W)
analysis the fluctuation power in the source subtracted F110W image is two
orders of magnitude below the power in the image with all sources present. This
leads to the conclusion that the 0.8--1.8 micron near infrared background is
due to resolved galaxies in the redshift range z<8, with the majority of power
in the redshift range of 0.5--1.5.


title: More spectral bounds on the clique and independence numbers

abstract:
  We give some new bounds for the clique and independence numbers of a graph in
terms of its eigenvalues.


title: A primer on computational group homology and cohomology

abstract:
  These are expanded lecture notes of a series of expository talks surveying
basic aspects of group cohomology and homology. They were written for someone
who has had a first course in graduate algebra but no background in cohomology.
You should know the definition of a (left) module over a (non-commutative)
ring, what $\zzz[G]$ is (where $G$ is a group written multiplicatively and
$\zzz$ denotes the integers), and some ring theory and group theory. However,
an attempt has been made to (a) keep the presentation as simple as possible,
(b) either provide an explicit reference of proof of everything.
  Several computer algebra packages are used to illustrate the computations,
though for various reasons we have focused on the free, open source packages
such as GAP and SAGE.


title: Operator space Lp embedding theory I

abstract:
  Given any $1 < q \le 2$, we use new free probability techniques to construct
a completely isomorphic embedding of $\ell_q$ (equipped with its natural
operator space structure) into the predual of a sufficiently large QWEP von
Neumann algebra.


title:
A generating function for non-standard orthogonal polynomials involving
  differences: the Meixner case

abstract:
  In this paper we deal with a family of non--standard polynomials orthogonal
with respect to an inner product involving differences. This type of inner
product is the so--called $\Delta$--Sobolev inner product. Concretely, we
consider the case in which both measures appearing in the inner product
correspond to the Pascal distribution (the orthogonal polynomials associated to
this distribution are known as Meixner polynomials). The aim of this work is to
obtain a generating function for the $\Delta$--Meixner--Sobolev orthogonal
polynomials and, by using a limit process, recover a generating function for
Laguerre--Sobolev orthogonal polynomials.


title: Molecular Energy Relations From Chemical Kinetics

abstract:
  Since molecular energy transformations are responsible for chemical reaction
rates at the most fundamental level, chemical kinetics should provide some
information about molecular energies. This is the premise and objective of this
note. We describe a Hamiltonian formulation for kinetic rate equations where
the concentrations are the generalized coordinates and the conjugate momenta
are simply related to individual average molecular energies. Simple examples
are presented and the resulting energy relations naturally include
non-equilibrium reactions. An analysis predicts the reasonable outcome that
thermal agitation of a composite molecule increases its rate of dissociation.


title:
Can Light Signals Travel Faster than c in Nontrivial Vacuua in Flat
  space-time? Relativistic Causality II

abstract:
  In this paper we show that the Scharnhorst effect (Vacuum with boundaries or
a Casimir type vacuum) cannot be used to generate signals showing measurable
faster-than-c speeds. Furthermore, we aim to show that the Scharnhorst effect
would violate special relativity, by allowing for a variable speed of light in
vacuum, unless one can specify a small invariant length scale. This invariant
length scale would be agreed upon by all inertial observers. We hypothesize the
approximate scale of the invariant length.


title:
Differences in $dE/dX$ for $\mu+$ and $\mu-$ and its Effect on the
  Underground Charge Ratio

abstract:
  Theoretical calculations predict a small fractional difference in energy loss
for $\mu^+$ and $\mu^-$ of the order of $0.15 %$ at high energies. This is
predominantly due to a $z^3$ term in an extended ionization $dE/dX$ relation,
in analogy to the Barkas effect at low energies around the Bethe-Bloch maximum.
The atmospheric muon energy spectrum is steeply falling off with approximately
$E^{-3.7}$ and thus the small difference in $dE/dX$ between $\mu^+$ and $\mu^-$
at high energies results in an amplified charge asymmetry of about $0.6 %$ many
thousand meters water equivalent deep underground.


title:
Polarizabilities of Intermediate Sized Lithium Clusters From
  Density-Functional Theory

abstract:
  We present a detailed investigation of static dipole polarizability of
lithium clusters containing up to 22 atoms. We first build a database of
lithium clusters by optimizing several candidate structures for the ground
state geometry for each size. The full polarizability tensor is determined for
about 5-6 isomers of each cluster size using the finite-field method. All
calculations are performed using large Gaussian basis sets, and within the
generalized gradient approximation to the density functional theory, as
implemented in the NRLMOL suite of codes. The average polarizability per atom
varies from 11 to 9 Angstrom^3, within the 8-22 size range and show smoother
decrease with increase in cluster size than the experimental values. While the
average polarizability exhibits a relatively weak dependence on cluster
conformation, significant changes in the degree of anisotropy of the
polarizability tensor are observed. Interestingly, in addition to the expected
even odd (0 and 1 $\mu_B$) magnetic states, our results show several cases
where clusters with an odd number of Li atoms exhibit elevated spin states
(e.g. 3 $\mu_B$).


title: Random Unitaries Give Quantum Expanders

abstract:
  We show that randomly choosing the matrices in a completely positive map from
the unitary group gives a quantum expander. We consider Hermitian and
non-Hermitian cases, and we provide asymptotically tight bounds in the
Hermitian case on the typical value of the second largest eigenvalue. The key
idea is the use of Schwinger-Dyson equations from lattice gauge theory to
efficiently compute averages over the unitary group.


title: Embeddability of multiple cones

abstract:
  The main result of this paper is that if $X$ is a Peano continuum such that
its $n$-th cone $C^n(X)$ embeds into $\RR^{n+2}$ then $X$ embeds into $S^2$.
This solves a problem proposed by W. Rosicki.


title:
The Effects of Changes in Reaction Rates on Simulations of Nova
  Explosions

abstract:
  Classical novae participate in the cycle of Galactic chemical evolution in
which grains and metal enriched gas in their ejecta, supplementing those of
supernovae, AGB stars, and Wolf-Rayet stars, are a source of heavy elements for
the ISM. Once in the diffuse gas, this material is mixed with the existing
gases and then incorporated into young stars and planetary systems during star
formation. Infrared observations have confirmed the presence of carbon, SiC,
hydrocarbons, and oxygen-rich silicate grains in nova ejecta, suggesting that
some fraction of the pre-solar grains identified in meteoritic material come
from novae. The mean mass returned by a nova outburst to the ISM probably
exceeds ~2 x 10^{-4} Solar Masses. Using the observed nova rate of 35 per year
in our Galaxy, it follows that novae introduce more than ~7 x 10^{-3} Solar
Masses per year of processed matter into the ISM. Novae are expected to be the
major source of 15N and 17O in the Galaxy and to contribute to the abundances
of other isotopes in this atomic mass range. Here, we report on how changes in
the nuclear reaction rates affect the properties of the outburst and alter the
predictions of the contributions of novae to Galactic chemical evolution. We
also discuss the necessity of including the pep reaction in studies of
thermonuclear runaways in material accreted onto white dwarfs.


title: Measuring thermodynamic length

abstract:
  Thermodynamic length is a metric distance between equilibrium thermodynamic
states. Among other interesting properties, this metric asymptotically bounds
the dissipation induced by a finite time transformation of a thermodynamic
system. It is also connected to the Jensen-Shannon divergence, Fisher
information and Rao's entropy differential metric. Therefore, thermodynamic
length is of central interest in understanding matter out-of-equilibrium. In
this paper, we will consider how to define thermodynamic length for a small
system described by equilibrium statistical mechanics and how to measure
thermodynamic length within a computer simulation. Surprisingly, Bennett's
classic acceptance ratio method for measuring free energy differences also
measures thermodynamic length.


title:
Queues with heterogeneous servers and uninformed customers: who works
  the most?

abstract:
  In this paper, we consider systems that can be modelled by $M \mid M \mid n$
queues with heterogeneous servers and non informed customers. Considering any
two servers: we show that the probability that the fastest server is busy is
smaller than the probability that the slowest server is busy. Moreover, we show
that the effective rate of service done by the fastest server is larger than
effective rate of service done by the slowest server.


title: A multi band study of the optically dark GRB 051028

abstract:
  Observations were made of the optical afterglow of GRB 051028 with the Lulin
observatory's 1.0 m telescope and the WIDGET robotic telescope system. R band
photometric data points were obtained on 2005 October 28 (UT), or 0.095-0.180
days after the burst. There is a possible plateau in the optical light curve
around 0.1 days after the burst; the light curve resembles optically bright
afterglows (e.g. GRB 041006, GRB 050319, GRB060605) in shape of the light curve
but not in brightness. The brightness of the GRB 051028 afterglow is 3
magnitudes fainter than that of one of the dark events, GRB 020124. Optically
dark GRBs have been attributed to dust extinction within the host galaxy or
high redshift. However, the spectrum analysis of the X-rays implies that there
is no significant absorption by the host galaxy. Furthermore, according to the
model theoretical calculation of the Ly$\alpha$ absorption to find the limit of
GRB 051028's redshift, the expected $R$ band absorption is not high enough to
explain the darkness of the afterglow. While the present results disfavor
either the high-redshift hypothesis or the high extinction scenario for
optically dark bursts, they are consistent with the possibility that the
brightness of the optical afterglow, intrinsically dark.


title:
Interplay between thermal percolation and jamming upon dimer adsorption
  on binary alloys

abstract:
  Using Monte Carlo simulations we study jamming and percolation processes upon
the random sequential adsorption of dimers on binary alloys with different
degrees of structural order. We obtain the equimolar mixtures used as
substrates by applying the isomorphism between an alloy and the Ising model
(conserved order parameter). The annealing temperature $T$ of the mixture then
is a continuous parameter that characterizes the different sets of substrates,
shaping the deposition process. As the alloy undergoes an order-disorder phase
transition at the Onsager critical temperature ($T_{c}$), the jamming and
percolating properties of the dimers deposited over the substrate are subjected
to non-trivial changes. These are reflected in a density-temperature phase
diagram with three well-defined regions. We find that for $T < T^* = 1.22
T_{c}$ the occurrence of jamming prevents the onset of percolating clusters,
while percolation is possible for $T > T^{*}$. Particular attention is focused
close to $T^{*}$, where the interplay between jamming and percolation restricts
fluctuations, forcing exponents seemingly different from the standard
percolation universality class. By analogy with a thermal transition, we study
the onset of percolation by using the {\it temperature} (in this case, the
substrate annealing temperature) as a control parameter. By proposing thermal
scaling Ansatzes we analyze the behavior of the percolation threshold and its
thermally induced fluctuations. Also, the fractal dimension of the percolating
cluster is determined. Based on these measurements and the excellent data
collapsing, we conclude that the universality class of standard percolation is
preserved for all temperatures.


title:
The Spitzer c2d Survey of Weak-line T Tauri Stars II: New Constraints on
  the Timescale for Planet Building

abstract:
  One of the central goals of the Spitzer Legacy Project ``From Molecular Cores
to Planet-forming Disks'' (c2d) is to determine the frequency of remnant
circumstellar disks around weak-line T Tauri stars (wTTs) and to study the
properties and evolutionary status of these disks. Here we present a census of
disks for a sample of over 230 spectroscopically identified wTTs located in the
c2d IRAC (3.6, 4.5, 4.8, and 8.0 um) and MIPS (24 um) maps of the Ophiuchus,
Lupus, and Perseus Molecular Clouds. We find that ~20% of the wTTs in a
magnitude limited subsample have noticeable IR-excesses at IRAC wavelengths
indicating the presence of a circumstellar disk. The disk frequencies we find
in these 3 regions are ~3-6 times larger than that recently found for a sample
of 83 relatively isolated wTTs located, for the most part, outside the highest
extinction regions covered by the c2d IRAC and MIPS maps. The disk fractions we
find are more consistent with those obtained in recent Spitzer studies of wTTs
in young clusters such as IC 348 and Tr 37. From their location in the H-R
diagram, we find that, in our sample, the wTTs with excesses are among the
younger part of the age distribution. Still, up to ~50% of the apparently
youngest stars in the sample show no evidence of IR excess, suggesting that the
circumstellar disks of a sizable fraction of pre-main-sequence stars dissipate
in a timescale of ~1 Myr. We also find that none of the stars in our sample
apparently older than ~10 Myrs have detectable circumstellar disks at
wavelengths < 24 um. Also, we find that the wTTs disks in our sample exhibit a
wide range of properties (SED morphology, inner radius, L_DISK/L*, etc) which
bridge the gaps observed between the cTTs and the debris disk regimes.


title: Tropical Implicitization and Mixed Fiber Polytopes

abstract:
  The software TrIm offers implementations of tropical implicitization and
tropical elimination, as developed by Tevelev and the authors. Given a
polynomial map with generic coefficients, TrIm computes the tropical variety of
the image. When the image is a hypersurface, the output is the Newton polytope
of the defining polynomial. TrIm can thus be used to compute mixed fiber
polytopes, including secondary polytopes.


title: An extension of Perelman's soul theorem for singular spaces

abstract:
  In this paper, we study open complete metric spaces with non-negative
curvature. Among other things, we establish an extension of Perelman's soul
theorem for possibly singular spaces: "Let X be a complete, non-compact, finite
dimensional Alexandrov space with non-negative curvature. Suppose that X has no
boundary and has positive curvature on a non-empty open subset. Then X must be
a contractible space". The proof of this result uses the detailed analysis of
concavity of distance functions and Busemann functions on singular spaces with
non-negative curvature. We will introduce a family of angular excess functions
to measure convexity and extrinsic curvature of convex hypersurfaces in
singular spaces. We also derive a new comparison for trapezoids in
non-negatively curved spaces, which led to desired convexity estimates for the
proof of our new soul theorem.


title: Relations among modular points on elliptic curves

abstract:
  Given a correspondence between a modular curve and an elliptic curve A we
study the group of relations among the CM points of A. In particular we prove
that the intersection of any finite rank subgroup of A with the set of CM
points of A is finite. We also prove a local version of this global result with
an effective bound valid also for certain infinite rank subgroups. We deduce
the local result from a ``reciprocity'' theorem for CL (canonical lift) points
on A. Furthermore we prove similar global and local results for intersections
between subgroups of A and isogeny classes in A. Finally we prove Shimura curve
analogues and, in some cases, higher-dimensional versions of these results.


title: Subrepresentation Theorem for p-adic Symmetric Spaces

abstract:
  The notion of relative cuspidality for distinguished representations attached
to $p$-adic symmetric spaces is introduced. A characterization of relative
cuspidality in terms of Jacquet modules is given and a generalization of
Jacquet's subrepresentation theorem to the relative case (symmetric space case)
is established.


title:
A feedback compression star formation model and the black hole - bulge
  relations

abstract:
  We present a "feedback compression" model to describe the galactic spheroid
formation and its relation with the central nuclear activity. We suggest that
the star formation itself can serve as the "positive feedback" in some
extremely dense region to trigger the starburst. The star formation rate as
well as the related stellar feedback-induced turbulence will be maximized under
the regulation of the background dark halo's gravity. There is also stellar
feedback acting inward to confine and obscure the central black hole (BH) till
the BH grows sufficiently large to satisfy a balance condition between the
accretion disk wind and the inward stellar feedback. The extremely vigorous
star formation activity, the BH - bulge relations, the maximum velocity
dispersion as well as the maximum BH mass are investigated based on such
scenario, and are found to be consistent with observations.


title: The Extraordinary Infrared Spectrum of NGC 1222 (Mkn 603)

abstract:
  The infrared spectra of starburst galaxies are dominated by the
low-excitation lines of [NeII] and [SIII], and the stellar populations deduced
from these spectra appear to lack stars larger than about 35 Msun. The only
exceptions to this result until now were low metallicity dwarf galaxies. We
report our analysis of the mid-infrared spectra obtained with IRS on Spitzer of
the starburst galaxy NGC 1222 (Mkn 603). NGC 1222 is a large spheroidal galaxy
with a starburst nucleus that is a compact radio and infrared source, and its
infrared emission is dominated by the [NeIII] line. This is the first starburst
of solar or near-solar metallicity, known to us, which is dominated by the
high-excitation lines and which is a likely host of high mass stars. We model
the emission with several different assumptions as to the spatial distibution
of the high- and low-excitation lines and find that the upper mass cutoff in
this galaxy is 40-100 Msun.


title: Weighted lattice polynomials

abstract:
  We define the concept of weighted lattice polynomial functions as lattice
polynomial functions constructed from both variables and parameters. We provide
equivalent forms of these functions in an arbitrary bounded distributive
lattice. We also show that these functions include the class of discrete Sugeno
integrals and that they are characterized by a median based decomposition
formula.


title:
Power Spectra of the Total Occupancy in the Totally Asymmetric Simple
  Exclusion Process

abstract:
  As a solvable and broadly applicable model system, the totally asymmetric
exclusion process enjoys iconic status in the theory of non-equilibrium phase
transitions. Here, we focus on the time dependence of the total number of
particles on a 1-dimensional open lattice, and its power spectrum. Using both
Monte Carlo simulations and analytic methods, we explore its behavior in
different characteristic regimes. In the maximal current phase and on the
coexistence line (between high/low density phases), the power spectrum displays
algebraic decay, with exponents -1.62 and -2.00, respectively. Deep within the
high/low density phases, we find pronounced \emph{oscillations}, which damp
into power laws. This behavior can be understood in terms of driven biased
diffusion with conserved noise in the bulk.


title: Is Noncommutative Eternal Inflation Possible?

abstract:
  We investigate the condition for eternal inflation to take place in the
noncommutative spacetime. We find that the possibility for eternal inflation's
happening is greatly suppressed in this case. If eternal inflation cannot
happen in the low energy region where the noncommutativity is very weak (the UV
region), it will never happen during the whole inflationary history. Based on
these conclusions, we argue that an initial condition for eternal inflation is
available from the property of spacetime noncommutativity.


title: Compounding Fields and Their Quantum Equations in the Curved Spaces

abstract:
  Based on the concept of curved spacetime in Einsteinian General Relativity,
the field theories and their quantum theories in the curved octonion spaces etc
are discussed. The research results discover the close relationships of the
curved spacetimes with the field theories and quantum theories. In the field
theories of curved spacetimes, the curvatures have direct effect on field
strength and field source etc. While the curvatures have direct impact on wave
functions and quantum equations etc in the quantum theories of curved
spacetimes. The research results discover that some abnormal phenomena of field
source particles could be explained by the field theories or quantum theories
in the curved spacetimes.


title: Norm and Numerical Peak Holomorphic Functions on Banach Spaces

abstract:
  We introduce the notion of numerical (strong) peak function and investigate
the denseness of the norm and numerical peak functions on complex Banach
spaces. Let $A_b(B_X:X)$ be the Banach space of all bounded continuous
functions $f$ on the unit ball $B_X$ of a Banach space $X$ and their
restrictions $f|_{B_X^\circ}$ to the open unit ball are holomorphic. In finite
dimensional spaces, we show that the intersection of the set of all norm peak
functions and the set of all numerical peak functions is a dense $G_\delta$
subset of $A_b(B_X:X)$. We also prove that if $X$ is a smooth Banach space with
the Radon-Nikod\'ym property, then the set of all numerical strong peak
functions is dense in $A_b(B_X:X)$. In particular, when $X=L_p(\mu)$
$(1<p<\infty)$ or $X=\ell_1$, it is shown that the intersection of the set of
all norm strong peak functions and the set of all numerical strong peak
functions is a dense $G_\delta$ subset of $A_b(B_X:X)$.
  In the meanwhile, we study the properties of the numerical radius of an
holomorphic function and the numerical index of subspaces of $A_b(B_X:X)$. As
an application, the existence and properties of numerical boundary of
$A_b(B_X:X)$ are studied. Finally, the numerical peak function in $A_b(B_X:X)$
is characterized when $X=\ell_\infty^n$ and some negative results on the
denseness of numerical (strong) peak holomorphic functions are given.