title: MSSM inflaton: SUSY dark matter and LHC

abstract:
  In this talk we will discuss how inflation can be embedded within a minimal
extension of the Standard Model where the inflaton carries the Standard Model
charges. There is no need of an ad-hoc scalar field to be introduced in order
to explain the temperature anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background
radiation, all the ingredients are present within a minimal supersymmetric
Standard Model. For the first time inflaton properties can be directly linked
to the particle phenomenology, dark matter, and the baryons of the Standard
Model.


title:
Discovery of four gravitational lensing systems by clusters in the SDSS
  DR6

abstract:
  We report the discovery of 4 strong gravitational lensing systems by visual
inspections of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey images of galaxy clusters in Data
Release 6 (SDSS DR6). Two of the four systems show Einstein rings while the
others show tangential giant arcs. These arcs or rings have large angular
separations (>8") from the bright central galaxies and show bluer color
compared with the red cluster galaxies. In addition, we found 5 probable and 4
possible lenses by galaxy clusters.


title: Unaveraged three-dimensional modelling of the FEL

abstract:
  A new three dimensional model of the FEL is presented. A system of scaled,
coupled Maxwell Lorentz equations are derived in the paraxial limit. A minimal
number of limiting assumptions are made and the equations are not averaged in
the longitudinal direction of common radiation/ electron beam propagation,
allowing the effects of coherent spontaneous emission and non-localised
electron propagation to be modelled. The equations are solved numerically using
a parallel Fourier split-step method.


title:
Phase Diagram of spin 1/2 XXZ Model With Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya
  Interaction

abstract:
  We have studied the phase diagram of the one dimensional XXZ model with
Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction. We have applied the quantum
renormalization group (QRG) approach to get the stable fixed points, critical
point and the scaling of coupling constants. This model has three phases,
ferromagnetic, spin-fluid and N\'{e}el phases which are separated by a critical
line which depends on the DM coupling constant. We have shown that the
staggered magnetization is the order parameter of the system and investigated
the influence of DM interaction on the chiral ordering as a helical magnetic
order.


title:
Influence of gravitational forces and fluid flows on a shape of surfaces
  of a viscous fluid of capillary size

abstract:
  The Navier-Stokes equations and boundary conditions for viscous fluids of
capillary size are formulated in curvilinear coordinates associated with a
geometry of the fluid-gas interface. As a result, the fluid dynamics of drops
and menisci can be described taking into account an influence of gravitational
forces and flows on the surface shape. This gives a convenient basis for
respective numerical studies. Estimations of the effects are presented for the
case of an evaporating sessile drop.


title:
Paul Alsberg (1883-1965) et le transfert adaptatif du biologique au
  technique : un pr\'ecurseur de la "cultural niche construction" ?

abstract:
  We propose, in this paper, both a presentation and a discussion of Paul
Alsberg's thesis on the supposed specificity principle of human evolution. The
author maintains a difference of nature between Man and Animal relying on an
opposition between "body-adaptation" - that of the Animal - and
"extrabodily-adaptation" - that of Man in which the means of adaptation are
switched outside of the organisms by tool-using. This difference is not a mere
difference of state, but of evolutionary dynamics. Here, Man is not simply
"Homo faber", as in Bergson's view, but produced and made possible by
technique; a technique which then appears as an hominisation factor. Thus, his
"principle of body-liberation" by tool-using is to be retrospectively
understood as a part of the logics of the modification of selection pressure
logics, which reminds us the seminal contemporary niche construction theory (F.
John Odling-Smee). It seems therefore possible to make Paul Alsberg, from his
1922 work, one of the most important precursors of the cultural niche
construction theory.


title: Life after charge noise: recent results with transmon qubits

abstract:
  We review the main theoretical and experimental results for the transmon, a
superconducting charge qubit derived from the Cooper pair box. The increased
ratio of the Josephson to charging energy results in an exponential suppression
of the transmon's sensitivity to 1/f charge noise. This has been observed
experimentally and yields homogeneous broadening, negligible pure dephasing,
and long coherence times of up to 3 microseconds. Anharmonicity of the energy
spectrum is required for qubit operation, and has been proven to be sufficient
in transmon devices. Transmons have been implemented in a wide array of
experiments, demonstrating consistent and reproducible results in very good
agreement with theory.


title: Membrane scattering from Bagger-Lambert theory

abstract:
  In this note, we discuss membrane scattering from the three dimensional N=8
superconformal theory with SO(8) global symmetry constructed by Bagger-Lambert
and Gustavsson. We discuss whether the one loop effective potential
consistently reproduces the Newton potential of membranes moving in an eleven
dimensional orbifold space.


title: Magnetic monopoles in high temperature QCD

abstract:
  We study the density and spatial distribution of thermal Abelian monopoles in
the deconfined phase of SU(2) pure gauge theory: they display non-trivial
interactions with a well defined continuum limit. The Maximal Abelian Gauge
(MAG) has been chosen to perform the Abelian projection. Questions related to
the choice of the Abelian projection, as well as possible directions for future
studies, are discussed.


title: Inverse zero-sum problems in finite Abelian p-groups

abstract:
  In this paper, we study the minimal number of elements of maximal order
within a zero-sumfree sequence in a finite Abelian p-group. For this purpose,
in the general context of finite Abelian groups, we introduce a new number, for
which lower and upper bounds are proved in the case of finite Abelian p-groups.
Among other consequences, the method that we use here enables us to show that,
if we denote by exp(G) the exponent of the finite Abelian p-group G which is
considered, then a zero-sumfree sequence S with maximal possible length in G
must contain at least exp(G)-1 elements of maximal order, which improves a
previous result of W. Gao and A. Geroldinger.


title: Convex Sparse Matrix Factorizations

abstract:
  We present a convex formulation of dictionary learning for sparse signal
decomposition. Convexity is obtained by replacing the usual explicit upper
bound on the dictionary size by a convex rank-reducing term similar to the
trace norm. In particular, our formulation introduces an explicit trade-off
between size and sparsity of the decomposition of rectangular matrices. Using a
large set of synthetic examples, we compare the estimation abilities of the
convex and non-convex approaches, showing that while the convex formulation has
a single local minimum, this may lead in some cases to performance which is
inferior to the local minima of the non-convex formulation.


title: New Basic Form of the Semiclassical Quantization Condition

abstract:
  A certain modification of the semiclassical quantization condition based on
the summarization of the known power expansion in the squared Planck constant
is proposed. Corresponding deviation from exact spectra arises only together
with the deviation of the studied potential from the supersymmetric one so that
on the base of the presented method a new kind of the perturbation theory not
connected with the Planck constant may be developed


title:
Bimodal behavior of the heaviest fragment distribution in projectile
  fragmentation

abstract:
  The charge distribution of the heaviest fragment detected in the decay of
quasi-projectiles produced in intermediate energy heavy-ion collisions has been
observed to be bimodal. This feature is expected as a generic signal of phase
transition in non-extensive systems. In this paper we present new analyses of
experimental data from Au on Au collisions at 60, 80 and 100 MeV/nucleon
showing that bimodality is largely independent of the data selection procedure,
and of entrance channel effects. An estimate of the latent heat of the
transition is extracted.


title: A Fitting Robot for Variational Analysis

abstract:
  We develop a robot algorithm to maximise the number of distinct states
reliably extracted from correlator data using the variational analysis method.
The robot explores the variational parameter space and attempts to remove, as
far as possible, the human element from the fitting of the subsequent
orthogonalised data.


title: Integration over Tropical Plane Curves and Ultradiscretization

abstract:
  In this article we study holomorphic integrals on tropical plane curves in
view of ultradiscretization. We prove that the lattice integrals over tropical
curves can be obtained as a certain limit of complex integrals over Riemannian
surfaces.


title:
An experimental and kinetic modelling study of the oxidation of the four
  isomers of butanol

abstract:
  Butanol, an alcohol which can be produced from biomass sources, has received
recent interest as an alternative to gasoline for use in spark ignition engines
and as a possible blending compound with fossil diesel or biodiesel. Therefore,
the autoignition of the four isomers of butanol (1-butanol, 2-butanol,
iso-butanol, and tert-butanol) has been experimentally studied at high
temperatures in a shock tube and a kinetic mechanism for description of their
high-temperature oxidation has been developed. Ignition delay times for
butanol/oxygen/argon mixtures have been measured behind reflected shock waves
at temperatures and pressures ranging from approximately 1200 to 1800 K and 1
to 4 bar. Electronically excited OH emission and pressure measurements were
used to determine ignition delay times. A detailed kinetic mechanism has been
developed to describe the oxidation of the butanol isomers and validated by
comparison to the shock tube measurements. Reaction flux and sensitivity
analysis indicate that the consumption of 1 butanol and iso-butanol, the most
reactive isomers, takes place primarily by H-atom abstraction resulting in the
formation of radicals, the decomposition of which yields highly reactive
branching agents, H-atoms and OH radicals. Conversely, the consumption of tert
butanol and 2-butanol, the least reactive isomers, takes place primarily via
dehydration, resulting in the formation of alkenes, which lead to resonance
stabilized radicals with very low reactivity. To our knowledge, the ignition
delay measurements and oxidation mechanism presented here for 2-butanol,
iso-butanol, and tert butanol are the first of their kind..


title: Predicting the tauon mass

abstract:
  The recent experimental estimate for tau lepton mass comes significantly near
to a theoretical value proposed by us in 1992. We recall our argumentation
supporting this proposal.


title: Symmetric Pair Plasmas with Impurities and Acoustic Wave in it

abstract:
  A motivation for the study of symmetric pair plasma dynamics lies in the
insight they provide into the dynamics of more general plasmas. In the
symmetric pair plasma, when temperature both species is the same, acoustic wave
are absent. However in presence other species (impurities) in fullerene pair
plasmas. for example two-temperature electrons, acoustic waves are possible.


title: Kohn-Sham scheme for frequency dependent linear response

abstract:
  We study the Kohn-Sham scheme for the calculation of the steady state linear
response to a harmonic perturbation that is turned on adiabatically. Although
in general the exact time dependent exchange-correlation potential cannot be
expressed as the functional derivative of a universal functional due to the
so-called causality paradox, we show that for a harmonic perturbation the
exchange-correlation part of the first-order Kohn-Sham potential $v_s^{(1)}(r)
\cos(\omega t)$ is given by $v_{xc}^{(1)}(r) = \delta K_{xc}^{(2)}/\delta
n^{(1)}(r)$. $K_{xc}^{(2)}$ is the exchange-correlation part of the
second-order quasienergy $K_v^{(2)}$. The Frenkel variation principle implies a
stationary principle for the second-order quasienergy. We also find an
analogous stationary principle and KS scheme in the time dependent extension of
one-matrix functional theory, in which the basic variable is the one-matrix
(one-body reduced density matrix).


title: An elementary and real approach to values of the Riemann zeta function

abstract:
  An elementary approach for computing the values at negative integers of the
Riemann zeta function is presented. The approach is based on a new method for
ordering the integers and a new method for summation of divergent series. We
show that the values of the Riemann zeta function can be computed, without
using the theory of analytic continuation and functions of complex variable.


title: Mass Hierarchy via Mossbauer and Reactor Neutrinos

abstract:
  We show how one could determine the neutrino mass hierarchy with Mossbauer
neutrinos and also revisit the question of whether the hierarchy can be
determined with reactor neutrinos.


title:
Daylight operation of a free space, entanglement-based quantum key
  distribution system

abstract:
  Many quantum key distribution (QKD) implementations using a free space
transmission path are restricted to operation at night time in order to
distinguish the signal photons used for a secure key establishment from
background light. Here, we present a lean entanglement-based QKD system
overcoming that imitation. By implementing spectral, spatial and temporal
filtering techniques, we were able to establish a secure key continuously over
several days under varying light and weather conditions.


title:
Sources of contamination to weak lensing tomography: redshift-dependent
  shear measurement bias

abstract:
  The current methods available to estimate gravitational shear from
astronomical images of galaxies introduce systematic errors which can affect
the accuracy of weak lensing cosmological constraints. We study the impact of
KSB shape measurement bias on the cosmological interpretation of tomographic
two-point weak lensing shear statistics.
  We use a set of realistic image simulations produced by the STEP
collaboration to derive shape measurement bias as a function of redshift. We
define biased two-point weak lensing statistics and perform a likelihood
analysis for two fiducial surveys. We present a derivation of the covariance
matrix for tomography in real space and a fitting formula to calibrate it for
non-Gaussianity.
  We find the biased aperture mass dispersion is reduced by ~20% at redshift
~1, and has a shallower scaling with redshift. This effect, if ignored in data
analyses, biases sigma_8 and w_0 estimates by a few percent. The power of
tomography is significantly reduced when marginalising over a range of
realistic shape measurement biases. For a CFHTLS-Wide-like survey, [Omega_m,
sigma_8] confidence regions are degraded by a factor of 2, whereas for a
KIDS-like survey the factor is 3.5. Our results are strictly valid only for KSB
methods but they demonstrate the need to marginalise over a redshift-dependent
shape measurement bias in all future cosmological analyses.


title:
Superintegrability on N-dimensional curved spaces: Central potentials,
  centrifugal terms and monopoles

abstract:
  The N-dimensional Hamiltonian H formed by a curved kinetic term (depending on
a function f), a central potential (depending on a function U), a Dirac
monopole term, and N centrifugal terms is shown to be quasi-maximally
superintegrable for any choice of the functions f and U. This result is proven
by making use of the underlying sl(2,R)-coalgebra symmetry of H in order to
obtain a set of (2N-3) functionally independent integrals of the motion, that
are explicitly given. Such constants of the motion are "universal" since all of
them are independent of both f and U. This Hamiltonian describes the motion of
a particle on any ND spherically symmetric curved space (whose metric is
specified by a function f) under the action of an arbitrary central potental U,
and includes simultaneously a monopole-type contribution together with N
centrifugal terms that break the spherical symmetry. Moreover, we show that two
appropriate choices for U provide the "intrinsic" oscillator and the KC
potentials on these curved manifolds. As a byproduct, the MIC-Kepler, the
Taub-NUT and the so called multifold Kepler systems are shown to belong to this
class of superintegrable Hamiltonians, and new generalizations thereof are
obtained. The Kepler and oscillator potentials on N-dimensional generalizations
of the four Darboux surfaces are discussed as well.


title: An introduction to exotic 4-manifolds

abstract:
  This article intends to provide an introduction to the construction of small
exotic 4-manifolds. Some of the necessary background is covered. An exposition
is given of J. Park's construction in arXiv:math.GT/0311395 of an exotic
CP^2#7(-CP^2). This article does not intend to present any new results. It was
originally a Master's thesis, and its aim is merely to provide a leisurely
introduction to exotic 4-manifolds that might be of use to interested graduate
students.


title:
Endochronic theory, non-linear kinematic hardening rule and generalized
  plasticity: a new interpretation based on generalized normality assumption

abstract:
  A simple way to define the flow rules of plasticity models is the assumption
of generalized normality associated with a suitable pseudo-potential function.
This approach, however, is not usually employed to formulate endochronic theory
and non-linear kinematic (NLK) hardening rules as well as generalized
plasticity models. In this paper, generalized normality is used to give a new
formulation of these classes of models. As a result, a suited pseudo-potential
is introduced for endochronic models and a non-standard description of NLK
hardening and generalized plasticity models is also provided. This new
formulation allows for an effective investigation of the relationships between
these three classes of plasticity models.


title:
Application of the orthogonality principle to the endochronic and Mroz
  models of plasticity

abstract:
  A new description of the endochronic and the Mroz model is discussed. It is
based on the definition of a suitable pseudo-potential and the use of the
generalized normality assumption. The key-point of this formulation is the
dependence of the pseudo-potentials on state variables.


title: Off-resonant entanglement generation in a lossy cavity

abstract:
  We provide an exact and complete characterization of the entanglement
dynamics of two qubits coupled to a common structured reservoir at zero
temperature. We derive the conditions to maximize reservoir-induced
entanglement for an initially factorized state of the two-qubit system. In
particular, when the two qubits are placed inside a lossy cavity, we show that
high values of entanglement can be obtained, even in the bad cavity limit, in
the dispersive regime. Finally we show that, under certain conditions, the
entanglement dynamics exhibits quantum beats and we explain their physical
origin in terms of the interference between two different transitions coupling
the dressed states of the system.


title: The GSI Time Anomaly: Facts and Fiction

abstract:
  The claims that the GSI time anomaly is due to the mixing of neutrinos in the
final state of the observed electron-capture processes are refuted. With the
help of an analogy with a double-slit experiment, it is shown that the standard
method of calculation of the rate of an interaction process by adding the rates
of production of all the allowed final states, regardless of a possible
coherence among them, is correct. It is a consequence of causality. It is shown
that the GSI time anomaly may be caused by quantum beats due to the existence
of two coherent energy levels of the decaying ion with an extremely small
energy splitting (about $6\times10^{-16} \text{eV}$) and relative probabilities
having a ratio of about 1/99.


title:
Measurement of $\pi^0 \Lambda$, $\bar{K}^0 n$, and $\pi^0 \Sigma^0$
  production in $K^- p$ interactions for $p_{K^-}$ between 514 and 750 MeV/$c$

abstract:
  Differential cross sections and hyperon polarizations have been measured for
$\bar{K}^0 n$, $\pi^0 \Lambda$, and $\pi^0 \Sigma^0$ production in $K^- p$
interactions at eight $K^-$ momenta between 514 and 750 MeV/$c$. The experiment
detected the multiphoton final states with the Crystal Ball spectrometer using
a $K^-$ beam from the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron of BNL. The results
provide significantly greater precision than the existing data, allowing a
detailed reexamination of the excited hyperon states in our energy range.


title: Magnetic Bianchi I Universe in Loop Quantum Cosmology

abstract:
  We examine the dynamical consequences of homogeneous cosmological magnetic
fields in the framework of loop quantum cosmology. We show that a big-bounce
occurs in a collapsing magnetized Bianchi I universe, thus extending the known
cases of singularity-avoidance. Previous work has shown that perfect fluid
Bianchi I universes in loop quantum cosmology avoid the singularity via a
bounce. The fluid has zero anisotropic stress, and the shear anisotropy in this
case is conserved through the bounce. By contrast, the magnetic field has
nonzero anisotropic stress, and shear anisotropy is not conserved through the
bounce. After the bounce, the universe enters a classical phase. The addition
of a dust fluid does not change these results qualitatively.


title:
Asymptotic Geometry in the product of Hadamard spaces with rank one
  isometries

abstract:
  In this article we study asymptotic properties of certain discrete groups
$\Gamma$ acting by isometries on a product $\XX=\XX_1\times \XX_2$ of locally
compact Hadamard spaces. The motivation comes from the fact that Kac-Moody
groups over finite fields, which can be seen as generalizations of arithmetic
groups over function fields, belong to this class of groups. Hence one may ask
whether classical properties of discrete subgroups of higher rank Lie groups as
in [MR1437472] and [MR1933790] hold in this context.
  In the first part of the paper we describe the structure of the geometric
limit set of $\Gamma$ and prove statements analogous to the results of Benoist
in [MR1437472]. The second part is concerned with the exponential growth rate
$\delta_\theta(\Gamma)$ of orbit points in $\XX$ with a prescribed so-called
"slope" $\theta\in (0,\pi/2)$, which appropriately generalizes the critical
exponent in higher rank. In analogy to Quint's result in [MR1933790] we show
that the homogeneous extension $\Psi_\Gamma$ to $\RR_{\ge 0}^2$ of
$\delta_\theta(\Gamma)$ as a function of $\theta$ is upper semi-continuous and
concave.


title:
Non-minimal electrodynamics and resonance interactions in relativistic
  plasma

abstract:
  A three-parameter toy-model, which describes a non-minimal coupling of
gravity field with electromagnetic field of a relativistic two-component
electrically neutral plasma, is discussed. Resonance interactions between
particles and transversal waves in plasma are shown to take place due to the
curvature coupling effect.


title: How precisely will the total cross section be measured at the LHC?

abstract:
  It is very likely that hadronic scattering will enter a new regime at the
LHC, as the black-disk limit is reached. This will lead to a severe change in
the t dependence of the real part and of the slope of the elastic scattering
amplitude, and in turn this may bias the measurement of the total cross
section. We examine this issue, and suggest new strategies to test the
reliability of the total cross section measurements.


title:
Size distributions of shocks and static avalanches from the Functional
  Renormalization Group

abstract:
  Interfaces pinned by quenched disorder are often used to model jerky
self-organized critical motion. We study static avalanches, or shocks, defined
here as jumps between distinct global minima upon changing an external field.
We show how the full statistics of these jumps is encoded in the
functional-renormalization-group fixed-point functions. This allows us to
obtain the size distribution P(S) of static avalanches in an expansion in the
internal dimension d of the interface. Near and above d=4 this yields the
mean-field distribution P(S) ~ S^(-3/2) exp(-S/[4 S_m]) where S_m is a
large-scale cutoff, in some cases calculable. Resumming all 1-loop
contributions, we find P(S) ~ S^(-tau) exp(C (S/S_m)^(1/2) -B/4 (S/S_m)^delta)
where B, C, delta, tau are obtained to first order in epsilon=4-d. Our result
is consistent to O(epsilon) with the relation tau = 2-2/(d+zeta), where zeta is
the static roughness exponent, often conjectured to hold at depinning. Our
calculation applies to all static universality classes, including random-bond,
random-field and random-periodic disorder. Extended to long-range elastic
systems, it yields a different size distribution for the case of contact-line
elasticity, with an exponent compatible with tau=2-1/(d+zeta) to
O(epsilon=2-d). We discuss consequences for avalanches at depinning and for
sandpile models, relations to Burgers turbulence and the possibility that the
above relations for tau be violated to higher loop order. Finally, we show that
the avalanche-size distribution on a hyper-plane of co-dimension one is in
mean-field (valid close to and above d=4) given by P(S) ~ K_{1/3}(S)/S, where K
is the Bessel-K function, thus tau=4/3 for the hyper plane.


title:
A stochastic interspecific competition model to predict the behaviour of
  Listeria monocytogenes in the fermentation process of a traditional Sicilian
  salami

abstract:
  The present paper discusses the use of modified Lotka-Volterra equations in
order to stochastically simulate the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes and
Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) during the fermentation period (168 h) of a typical
Sicilian salami. For this purpose, the differential equation system is set
considering T, pH and aw as stochastic variables. Each of them is governed by
dynamics that involve a deterministic linear decrease as a function of the time
t and an "additive noise" term which instantaneously mimics the fluctuations of
T, pH and aw. The choice of a suitable parameter accounting for the interaction
of LAB on L. monocytogenes as well as the introduction of appropriate noise
levels allows to match the observed data, both for the mean growth curves and
for the probability distribution of L. monocytogenes concentration at 168 h.


title: Neutrino Dark Energy in Grand Unified Theories

abstract:
  We studied a left-right symmetric model that can accommodate the neutrino
dark energy (\nd) proposal. Type III seesaw mechanism is implemented to give
masses to the neutrinos. After explaining the model, we study the consistency
of the model by minimizing the scalar potential and obtaining the conditions
for the required vacuum expectation values of the different scalar fields. This
model is then embedded in an SO(10) grand unified theory and the allowed
symmetry breaking scales are determined by the condition of the gauge coupling
unification. Although $SU(2)_{R}$ breaking is required to be high, its Abelian
subgroup $U(1)_{R}$ is broken in the TeV range, which can then give the
required neutrino masses and predicts new gauge bosons that could be detected
at LHC. The neutrino masses are studied in details in this model, which shows
that at least 3 singlet fermions are required.


title:
On the morphology of the compact dust shell in the symbiotic system HM
  Sagittae

abstract:
  The symbiotic system HM Sagittae consists of a Mira star and a secondary
White Dwarf component. The dust content of the system was severely affected by
the nova outburst in 1975, which is still ongoing. The capabilities of optical
interferometry operating in the mid-IR allow us to investigate the current
geometry of the dust envelope. We test our previous spectro-interferometric
study of this system with new interferometric configurations, increasing the uv
coverage and allowing us to ascertain the appearance of the source between 8
and 13micron. We used the MIDI instrument of the VLTI with the unit telescopes
(UTs) and auxiliary telescopes (ATs) providing baselines oriented from
PA=42degrees to 127 degrees. The data are interpreted by means of an elliptical
Gaussian model and the spherical radiative transfer code DUSTY. We demonstrate
that the data can be reproduced well by an optically thick dust shell of
amorphous silicate, typical of those encountered around Mira stars, whose
measured dimension increases from 8 to 13micron. We confirm that the envelope
is more extended in a direction perpendicular to the binary axis. The level of
elongation increases with wavelength in contrast to our claim in a previous
study. The wider uv coverage allows us to deepen our previous investigations of
the close circumstellar structure of this object.


title:
Tuning the exchange interaction by electric field in laterally coupled
  quantum dots

abstract:
  The effect of external electric field on the exchange interaction has been
studied by an exact diagonalization method for two electrons in laterally
coupled quantum dots (QD's). We have performed a systematic study of several
nanodevices that contain two gate-defined QD's with different shapes and sizes
located between source and drain contacts. The confinement potential is
modelled by two potential wells with a variable range and softness. In all the
considered nanodevices, the overall dependence of exchange energy $J$ on
electric field $F$ is similar, i.e., for low fields $J$ increases with
increasing $F$, for intermediate fields $J$ reaches a maximum, and rapidly
falls down to zero if $F$ exceeds a certain critical value. However, the $J(F)$
dependence shows characteristic properties that depend on the nanodevice
geometry. We have found that the low- and intermediate-field behaviour can be
accurately parametrized by linear function $J(F) = \\alpha F + \\beta$, where $
alpha$ is independent of the nanodevice geometry and softness of the
confinement potential. We have shown that the linear $J(F)$ dependence appears
only if the tunnel coupling between the QD's is weak, i.e., the interdot
separation is sufficiently large. The $J(F)$ dependence becomes non-linear for
the strong interdot tunnel coupling. If the QD located near the contact, to
which the higher voltage is applied, possesses the elliptic shape and is larger
than the other QD, the $J(F)$ dependence shows a plateau in a broad
electric-field regime. The linearity and rapid jumps of $J(F)$ as well as the
existence of the plateau can be applied to tune the exchange interaction by
changing the external electric field.


title: Contraction of a Generalized Metric Structure

abstract:
  In some scientific fields, a scaling is able to modify the topology of an
observed object. Our goal in the present work is to introduce a new formalism
adapted to the mathematical representation of this kind of phenomenon. To this
end, we introduce a new metric structure - the galactic spaces - which depends
on an ordered field extension of R. Moreover, some natural transformations of
the category of galactic spaces, the contractions, are of particular interest:
they generalize usual homotheties, they have a ratio which may be an
infinitesimal, they are able to modify the topology and they satisfy a nice
composition rule. With the help of nonstandard extensions we can associate to
any metric space an infinite family of galactic spaces; lastly, we study some
limit properties of this family.


title:
Target mass and finite $t$ corrections to diffractive deeply inelastic
  scattering

abstract:
  The quantum field theoretic treatment of inclusive deep--inelastic
diffractive scattering given in a previous paper \cite{BGR2006} is discussed in
detail using an equivalent formulation with the aim to derive a representation
suitable for data analysis. We consider the off-cone twist--2 light-cone
operators to derive the target mass and finite $t$ corrections to diffractive
deep--inelastic scattering and deep--inelastic scattering. The corrections turn
out to be at most proportional to $x |t|/Q^2, x M^2/Q^2, x = x_{\rm BJ} {\rm
or} x_\PP$, which suggests an expansion in these parameters. Their contribution
varies in size considering diffractive scattering or meson--exchange processes.
Relations between different kinematic amplitudes which are determined by one
and the same diffractive GPD or its moments are derived. In the limit $t, M^2
\to 0$ one obtains the results of \cite{Blumlein:2001xf} and
\cite{Blumlein:2002fw}.


title:
All-optical memory based on the injection locking bistability of a
  two-color laser diode

abstract:
  We study the injection locking bistability of a specially engineered
two-color semiconductor Fabry-Perot laser. Oscillation in the uninjected
primary mode leads to a bistability of single mode and two-color equilibria.
With pulsed modulation of the injected power we demonstrate an all-optical
memory element based on this bistability, where the uninjected primary mode is
switched with 35 dB intensity contrast. Using experimental and theoretical
analysis, we describe the associated bifurcation structure, which is not found
in single mode systems with optical injection.


title:
Tests of achromatic phase shifters performed on the SYNAPSE test bench:
  a progress report

abstract:
  The achromatic phase shifter (APS) is a component of the Bracewell nulling
interferometer studied in preparation for future space missions (viz.
Darwin/TPF-I) focusing on spectroscopic study of Earth-like exo-planets.
Several possible designs of such an optical subsystem exist. Four approaches
were selected for further study. Thales Alenia Space developed a dielectric
prism APS. A focus crossing APS prototype was developed by the OCA, Nice,
France. A field reversal APS prototype was prepared by the MPIA in Heidelberg,
Germany. Centre Spatial de Li\`ege develops a concept based on Fresnel's
rhombs. This paper presents a progress report on the current work aiming at
evaluating these prototypes on the SYNAPSE test bench at the Institut
d'Astrophysique Spatiale in Orsay, France.


title: Evaluation of neutrino masses from $m_{\beta\beta}$ values

abstract:
  A neutrino mass matrix is considered under conditions of a CP invariance and
a small reactor mixing $\theta_{13}$ angle. Absolute mass values for three
neutrinos are evaluated for normal and inverted hierarchy spectra on the ground
of data for oscillation mixing neutrino parameters and an effective neutrino
mass $m_{\beta\beta}$ related to a probability of neutrinoless two beta decay.


title:
On the accuracy of the PFA: analogies between Casimir and electrostatic
  forces

abstract:
  We present an overview of the validity of the Proximity Force Approximation
(PFA) in the calculation of Casimir forces between perfect conductors for
different geometries, with particular emphasis for the configuration of a
cylinder in front of a plane. In all cases we compare the exact numerical
results with those of PFA, and with asymptotic expansions that include the next
to leading order corrections. We also discuss the similarities and differences
between the results for Casimir and electrostatic forces.


title: On the Dimension of Secant Varieties

abstract:
  We generalize Zak's theorems on tangencies and on linear normality as well as
Zak's definition and classification of Severi varieties. In particular we find
sharp lower bounds for the dimension of higher secant varieties of a given
variety X under suitable regularity assumption on X, and we classify varieties
for which the bound is attained.


title: Jet Energy Loss and Mach Cones in pQCD vs. AdS/CFT

abstract:
  We compare away-side hadron correlations with respect to tagged heavy quark
jets computed within a weakly coupled pQCD and a strongly coupled AdS/CFT
model. While both models feature similar far zone Mach and diffusion wakes, the
far zone stress features are shown to be too weak to survive thermal broadening
at hadron freeze-out. Observable away-side conical correlations are dominated
by the jet-induced transverse flow in near zone "Neck" region, which differs
significantly for both models. Unlike in AdS/CFT, the induced transverse flow
in the Neck zone is too weak in pQCD to produce conical correlations after
Cooper-Frye freeze-out. The observation of conical correlations violating
Mach's law would favor the strongly-coupled AdS/CFT string drag dynamics, while
their absence would favor weakly-coupled pQCD-based hydrodynamics.


title:
Magnetic fields and cosmic rays in GRBs. A self-similar collisionless
  foreshock

abstract:
  Cosmic rays accelerated by a shock form a streaming distribution of outgoing
particles in the foreshock region. If the ambient fields are negligible
compared to the shock and cosmic ray energetics, a stronger magnetic field can
be generated in the shock upstream via the streaming (Weibel-type) instability.
Here we develop a self-similar model of the foreshock region and calculate its
structure, e.g., the magnetic field strength, its coherence scale, etc., as a
function of the distance from the shock. Our model indicates that the entire
foreshock region of thickness $\sim R/(2\Gamma_{\rm sh}^2)$, being comparable
to the shock radius in the late afterglow phase when $\Gamma_{\rm sh}\sim1$,
can be populated with large-scale and rather strong magnetic fields (of
sub-gauss strengths with the coherence length of order $10^{17} {\rm cm}$)
compared to the typical interstellar medium magnetic fields. The presence of
such fields in the foreshock region is important for high efficiency of Fermi
acceleration at the shock. Radiation from accelerated electrons in the
foreshock fields can constitute a separate emission region radiating in the
UV/optical through radio band, depending on time and shock parameters. We also
speculate that these fields being eventually transported into the shock
downstream can greatly increase radiative efficiency of a gamma-ray burst
afterglow shock.


title:
Performance of bare high-purity germanium detectors in liquid argon for
  the GERDA experiment

abstract:
  The GERmanium Detector Array, GERDA, will search for neutrinoless double beta
decay in 76Ge at the National Gran Sasso Laboratory of the INFN. Bare
high-purity germanium detectors enriched in 76Ge will be submerged in liquid
argon serving simultaneously as a shield against external radioactivity and as
a cooling medium. In GERDA Phase-I, reprocessed enriched-Ge detectors, which
were previously operated by the Heidelberg-Moscow and IGEX collaborations, will
be redeployed. Before operating the enriched detectors, tests are performed
with non-enriched bare HPGe detectors in the GERDA underground Detector
Laboratory to test the Phase-I detector assembly, the detector handling
protocols, the refurbishment technology and to study the long-term stability in
liquid argon. The leakage currents in liquid argon and liquid nitrogen have
been extensively studied under varying gamma irradiation conditions. In total
three non-enriched high-purity p-type prototype germanium detectors have been
operated successfully. The detector performance is stable over the long-term
measurements. For the first time, performance of bare high-purity germanium
detectors in liquid argon is reported.


title: A new metric for robustness with respect to virus spread

abstract:
  The robustness of a network is depending on the type of attack we are
considering. In this paper we focus on the spread of viruses on networks. It is
common practice to use the epidemic threshold as a measure for robustness.
Because the epidemic threshold is inversely proportional to the largest
eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix, it seems easy to compare the robustness of
two networks. We will show in this paper that the comparison of the robustness
with respect to virus spread for two networks actually depends on the value of
the effective spreading rate tau. For this reason we propose a new metric, the
viral conductance, which takes into account the complete range of values tau
can obtain. In this paper we determine the viral conductance of regular graphs,
complete bi-partite graphs and a number of realistic networks.


title: Relativistic Expansion of Magnetic Loops at the Self-similar Stage

abstract:
  We obtained self-similar solutions of relativistically expanding magnetic
loops taking into account the azimuthal magnetic fields. We neglect stellar
rotation and assume axisymmetry and a purely radial flow. As the magnetic loops
expand, the initial dipole magnetic field is stretched into the radial
direction. When the expansion speed approaches the light speed, the
displacement current reduces the toroidal current and modifies the distribution
of the plasma lifted up from the central star. Since these self-similar
solutions describe the free expansion of the magnetic loops, i.e., $Dv/Dt=0$,
the equations of motion are similar to those of the static relativistic
magnetohydrodynamics. This allows us to estimate the total energy stored in the
magnetic loops by applying the virial theorem. This energy is comparable to
that of the giant flares observed in magnetars.


title:
Determining the CP parity of Higgs bosons at the LHC in the $\tau$ to
  1-prong decay channels

abstract:
  We propose a method for determining the CP nature of a neutral Higgs boson or
spin-zero resonance $\phi$ at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in its
$\phi\to\tau^{-}\tau^{+}$ decay channel. The method can be applied to any
1-prong $\tau$-decay mode, which comprise the majority of the $\tau$-lepton
decays. The proposed observables allow to discriminate between pure scalar and
pseudoscalar Higgs-boson states and/or between a CP-conserving and CP-violating
Higgs sector. We show for the decays $\tau\to\pi\nu_{\tau}$ that the method
maintains its discriminating power when measurement uncertainties are taken
into account. The method will be applicable also at a future linear
$e^{+}e^{-}$ collider.


title:
Fermi surface of MoO2 studied by angle-resolved photoemission
  spectroscopy, de Haas-van Alphen measurements, and electronic structure
  calculations

abstract:
  A comprehensive study of the electronic properties of monoclinic MoO2 from
both an experimental and a theoretical point of view is presented. We focus on
the investigation of the Fermi body and the band structure using angle resolved
photoemission spectroscopy, de Haas-van Alphen measurements, and electronic
structure calculations. For the latter, the new full-potential augmented
spherical wave (ASW) method has been applied. Very good agreement between the
experimental and theoretical results is found. In particular, all Fermi surface
sheets are correctly identified by all three approaches. Previous controversies
concerning additional hole-like surfaces centered around the Z- and B-point
could be resolved; these surfaces were an artefact of the atomic-sphere
approximation used in the old calculations. Our results underline the
importance of electronic structure calculations for the understanding of MoO2
and the neighbouring rutile-type early transition-metal dioxides. This includes
the low-temperature insulating phases of VO2 and NbO2, which have crystal
structures very similar to that of molybdenum dioxide and display the
well-known prominent metal-insulator transitions.


title: Tuning the Gap of a Superconducting Flux Qubit

abstract:
  We experimentally demonstrate the in situ tunability of the minimum energy
splitting (gap) of a superconducting flux qubit by means of an additional flux
loop. Pulses applied via a local control line allow us to tune the gap over a
range of several GHz on a nanosecond timescale. The strong flux sensitivity of
the gap (up to 0.7 GHz/mPhi_0) opens up the possibility to create different
types of tunable couplings that are effective at the degeneracy point of the
qubit. We investigate the dependence of the relaxation time and the Rabi
frequency on the qubit gap.


title: Stochastic Heat Equation with Multiplicative Fractional-Colored Noise

abstract:
  We consider the stochastic heat equation with multiplicative noise
$u_t={1/2}\Delta u+ u \diamond \dot{W}$ in $\bR_{+} \times \bR^d$, where
$\diamond$ denotes the Wick product, and the solution is interpreted in the
mild sense. The noise $\dot W$ is fractional in time (with Hurst index $H \geq
1/2$), and colored in space (with spatial covariance kernel $f$). We prove that
if $f$ is the Riesz kernel of order $\alpha$, or the Bessel kernel of order
$\alpha<d$, then the sufficient condition for the existence of the solution is
$d \leq 2+\alpha$ (if $H>1/2$), respectively $d<2+\alpha$ (if $H=1/2$), whereas
if $f$ is the heat kernel or the Poisson kernel, then the equation has a
solution for any $d$. We give a representation of the $k$-th order moment of
the solution, in terms of an exponential moment of the "convoluted weighted"
intersection local time of $k$ independent $d$-dimensional Brownian motions.


title: Dynamics of thermal Casimir-Polder forces on polar molecules

abstract:
  We study the influence of thermal Casimir-Polder forces on the near-surface
trapping of cold polar molecules, with emphasis on LiH and YbF near an Au
surface at room temperature. We show that for a molecule initially prepared in
its electronic and rovibrational ground state, the Casimir-Polder force
oscillates with the molecule-wall separation. The non-resonant force
contribution and the evanescent part of the resonant force contribution almost
exactly cancel at high temperature which results in a saturation of the
(attractive) force in this limit. A dynamical calculation reveals how the
spatial oscillations die out as thermalisation of the molecule with its
environment sets in.


title: Dynamic Complexity of Formal Languages

abstract:
  The paper investigates the power of the dynamic complexity classes DynFO,
DynQF and DynPROP over string languages. The latter two classes contain
problems that can be maintained using quantifier-free first-order updates, with
and without auxiliary functions, respectively. It is shown that the languages
maintainable in DynPROP exactly are the regular languages, even when allowing
arbitrary precomputation. This enables lower bounds for DynPROP and separates
DynPROP from DynQF and DynFO. Further, it is shown that any context-free
language can be maintained in DynFO and a number of specific context-free
languages, for example all Dyck-languages, are maintainable in DynQF.
Furthermore, the dynamic complexity of regular tree languages is investigated
and some results concerning arbitrary structures are obtained: there exist
first-order definable properties which are not maintainable in DynPROP. On the
other hand any existential first-order property can be maintained in DynQF when
allowing precomputation.


title:
Non-minimal monopoles of the Dirac type as realization of the censorship
  conjecture

abstract:
  We discuss a class of exact solutions of a three-parameter non-minimally
extended Einstein-Maxwell model, which are attributed to non-minimal magnetic
monopoles of the Dirac type. We focus on the investigation of the gravitational
field of Dirac monopoles for those models, for which the singularity at the
central point is hidden inside of an event horizon independently on the mass
and charge of the object. We obtained the relationships between the non-minimal
coupling constants, for which this requirement is satisfied. As explicit
examples, we consider in detail two one-parameter models: first, non-minimally
extended Reissner-Nordstr\"om model (for the magnetically charged monopole),
second, the Drummond-Hathrell model.


title:
The Maximum of the Maximum Rectilinear Crossing Numbers of d-regular
  Graphs of Order n

abstract:
  We extend known results regarding the maximum rectilinear crossing number of
the cycle graph (C_n) and the complete graph (K_n) to the class of general
d-regular graphs R_{n,d}. We present the generalized star drawings of the
d-regular graphs S_{n,d} of order n where n+d= 1 mod 2 and prove that they
maximize the maximum rectilinear crossing numbers. A star-like drawing of
S_{n,d} for n = d = 0 mod 2 is introduced and we conjecture that this drawing
maximizes the maximum rectilinear crossing numbers, too. We offer a simpler
proof of two results initially proved by Furry and Kleitman as partial results
in the direction of this conjecture.


title: Photodesorption of Ices II: H2O and D2O

abstract:
  Gaseous H2O has been detected in several cold astrophysical environments,
where the observed abundances cannot be explained by thermal desorption of H2O
ice or by H2O gas phase formation. These observations hence suggest an
efficient non-thermal ice desorption mechanism. Here, we present experimentally
determined UV photodesorption yields of H2O and D2O ice and deduce their
photodesorption mechanism. The ice photodesorption is studied under ultra high
vacuum conditions and at astrochemically relevant temperatures (18-100 K) using
a hydrogen discharge lamp (7-10.5 eV), which simulates the interstellar UV
field. The ice desorption during irradiation is monitored using reflection
absorption infrared spectroscopy of the ice and simultaneous mass spectrometry
of the desorbed species. The photodesorption yield per incident photon is
identical for H2O and D2O and depends on both ice thickness and temperature.
For ices thicker than 8 monolayers the photodesorption yield Y is linearly
dependent on temperature due to increased diffusion of ice species such that
Y(T) = 1E-3(1.3+0.032*T) UV photon-1, with a 60% uncertainty for the absolute
yield. The increased diffusion also results in an increasing H2O:OH desorption
product ratio with temperature. The yield does not depend on the substrate, the
UV photon flux or the UV fluence. The yield is also independent on the initial
ice structure since UV photons efficiently amorphize H2O ice. The results are
consistent with theoretical predictions of H2O photodesorption and partly in
agreement with a previous experimental study. Applying the experimentally
determined yield to a Herbig Ae/Be star+disk model shows that UV
photodesorption of ices increases the H2O content by orders of magnitude in the
disk surface region compared to models where non-thermal desorption is ignored.


title: Computation of the radiation amplitude of oscillons

abstract:
  The radiation loss of small amplitude oscillons (very long-living, spatially
localized, time dependent solutions) in one dimensional scalar field theories
is computed in the small-amplitude expansion analytically using matched
asymptotic series expansions and Borel summation. The amplitude of the
radiation is beyond all orders in perturbation theory and the method used has
been developed by Segur and Kruskal in Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 747 (1987). Our
results are in good agreement with those of long time numerical simulations of
oscillons.


title:
The Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna Ultra-high Energy Neutrino
  Detector Design, Performance, and Sensitivity for 2006-2007 Balloon Flight

abstract:
  We present a detailed report on the experimental details of the Antarctic
Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) long duration balloon payload, including
the design philosophy and realization, physics simulations, performance of the
instrument during its first Antarctic flight completed in January of 2007, and
expectations for the limiting neutrino detection sensitivity. Neutrino physics
results will be reported separately.


title: Spin-Orbit-Mediated Spin Relaxation in Graphene

abstract:
  We investigate how spins relax in intrinsic graphene. The spin-orbit coupling
arises from the band structure and is enhanced by ripples. The orbital motion
is influenced by scattering centers and ripple-induced gauge fields. Spin
relaxation due to Elliot-Yafet and Dyakonov-Perel mechanisms and gauge fields
in combination with spin-orbit coupling are discussed. In intrinsic graphene,
the Dyakonov-Perel mechanism and spin flip due to gauge fields dominate and the
spin-flip relaxation time is inversely proportional to the elastic scattering
time. The spin relaxation anisotropy depends on an intricate competition
between these mechanisms. Experimental consequences are discussed.


title:
Non-magnetic B-site Impurities Induce Ferromagnetic Tendencies in CE
  Manganites

abstract:
  Using a two-orbital model and Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the
effect of nonmagnetic B-site substitution on half-doped CE-type manganites. The
lattice defects induced by this substitution destabilize the CE phase, which
transforms into (1) the ferromagnetic (FM) metallic competing state, or (2) a
regime with short-range FM clusters, or (3) a spin-glass state, depending on
couplings and on the valence of the B-site substitution. While a C-type
antiferromagnetic state is usually associated with an average $e_{\rm g}$
charge density less than 0.5, the nonmagnetic B-site substitution that lowers
the $e_{\rm g}$ charge density is still found to enhance the FM tendency in our
simulations. The present calculations are in qualitative agreement with
experiments and provide a rationalization for the complex role of nonmagnetic
B-site substitution in modulating the phase transitions in manganites.


title: Continuous guided beams of slow and internally cold polar molecules

abstract:
  We describe the combination of buffer-gas cooling with electrostatic velocity
filtering to produce a high-flux continuous guided beam of internally cold and
slow polar molecules. In a previous paper (L.D. van Buuren et al.,
arXiv:0806.2523v1) we presented results on density and state purity for guided
beams of ammonia and formaldehyde using an optimized set-up. Here we describe
in more detail the technical aspects of the cryogenic source, its operation,
and the optimization experiments that we performed to obtain best performance.
The versatility of the source is demonstrated by the production of guided beams
of different molecular species.


title:
Stabilization of two-dimensional solitons and vortices against
  supercritical collapse by lattice potentials

abstract:
  It is known that optical-lattice (OL) potentials can stabilize solitons and
solitary vortices against the critical collapse, generated by the cubic
attractive nonlinearity in the 2D geometry. We demonstrate OLs can also
stabilize various species of fundamental and vortical solitons against the
super-critical collapse, driven by the double-attractive cubic-quintic
nonlinearity (however, solitons remain unstable in the case of the pure quintic
nonlinearity). Two types of OLs are considered, producing similar results: the
2D Kronig-Penney "checkerboard", and the sinusoidal potential. Soliton families
are obtained by means of a variational approximation, and as numerical
solutions. The stability of the families, which include fundamental and
multi-humped solitons, vortices of oblique and straight types, vortices built
of quadrupoles, and supervortices, strictly obeys the Vakhitov-Kolokolov
criterion. The model applies to optical media and BEC in "pancake" traps.


title:
Kinetics of photoinduced ordering in azo-dye films: two-state and
  diffusion models

abstract:
  We study the kinetics of photoinduced ordering in the azo-dye SD1
photoaligning layers and present the results of modeling performed using two
different phenomenological approaches. A phenomenological two state model is
deduced from the master equation for an ensemble of two-level molecular
systems. Using an alternative approach, we formulate the two-dimensional (2D)
diffusion model as the free energy Fokker-Planck equation simplified for the
limiting regime of purely in-plane reorientation. The models are employed to
interpret the irradiation time dependence of the absorption order parameters
extracted from the available experimental data by using the exact solution to
the light transmission problem for a biaxially anisotropic absorbing layer. The
transient photoinduced structures are found to be biaxially anisotropic whereas
the photosteady and the initial states are uniaxial.


title: The Stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii Equation and some Applications

abstract:
  The stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation represents a versatile approach for
studying the dynamics of trapped degenerate ultracold Bose gases in the
presence of large phase and density fluctuations. Following a brief review of
the original formulation of Stoof, which highlights the benefits of this
approach and its relation to alternative theories, we present selected
applications for the dynamics of effectively one-dimensional systems, and
briefly discuss the generalization to two-dimensional systems, highlighting
certain potential pitfalls in their numerical implementations.


title:
Evidence of quantum criticality in the phase diagram of
  K$_x$Sr$_{1-x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ from measurements of transport and
  thermoelectricity

abstract:
  The electrical transport and thermoelectric properties of K_xSr_{1-x}Fe_2As_2
are investigated for 0<x<1. The resistivity rho(T) shows a crossover from Fermi
liquid-like temperature dependence at small x to linear rho~T dependence at
x_c=0.4. With further increasing x, rho(T) becomes non-linear again. The
thermoelectric power S(T) exhibits a similar crossover with increasing x with a
logarithmic T-dependence, S/T~ln(T), near the critical doping x_c. These
results provide evidence for a quantum critical behavior due to the coupling of
low-energy conduction electrons to two-dimensional spin fluctuations.


title: Quantum quenches from integrability: the fermionic pairing model

abstract:
  Understanding the non-equilibrium dynamics of extended quantum systems after
the trigger of a sudden, global perturbation (quench) represents a daunting
challenge, especially in the presence of interactions. The main difficulties
stem from both the vanishing time scale of the quench event, which can thus
create arbitrarily high energy modes, and its non-local nature, which curtails
the utility of local excitation bases. We here show that nonperturbative
methods based on integrability can prove sufficiently powerful to completely
characterize quantum quenches: we illustrate this using a model of fermions
with pairing interactions (Richardson's model). The effects of simple (and
multiple) quenches on the dynamics of various important observables are
discussed. Many of the features we find are expected to be universal to all
kinds of quench situations in atomic physics and condensed matter.

categories: cond-mat.str-el cond-mat.mes-hall hep-th quant-ph


title: Abelian Higgs Cosmic Strings: Small Scale Structure and Loops

abstract:
  Classical lattice simulations of the Abelian Higgs model are used to
investigate small scale structure and loop distributions in cosmic string
networks. Use of the field theory ensures that the small-scale physics is
captured correctly. The results confirm analytic predictions of Polchinski &
Rocha [1] for the two-point correlation function of the string tangent vector,
with a power law from length scales of order the string core width up to
horizon scale with evidence to suggest that the small scale structure builds up
from small scales. An analysis of the size distribution of string loops gives a
very low number density, of order 1 per horizon volume, in contrast with
Nambu-Goto simulations. Further, our loop distribution function does not
support the detailed analytic predictions for loop production derived by Dubath
et al. [2]. Better agreement to our data is found with a model based on loop
fragmentation [3], coupled with a constant rate of energy loss into massive
radiation. Our results show a strong energy loss mechanism which allows the
string network to scale without gravitational radiation, but which is not due
to the production of string width loops. From evidence of small scale structure
we argue a partial explanation for the scale separation problem of how energy
in the very low frequency modes of the string network is transformed into the
very high frequency modes of gauge and Higgs radiation. We propose a picture of
string network evolution which reconciles the apparent differences between
Nambu-Goto and field theory simulations.


title:
The extrasolar planet atmosphere and exosphere: Emission and
  transmission spectroscopy

abstract:
  We have entered the phase of extrasolar planets characterization, probing
their atmospheres for molecules, constraining their horizontal and vertical
temperature profiles and estimating the contribution of clouds and hazes. We
report here a short review of the current situation using ground based and
space based observations, and present the transmission spectra of HD189733b in
the spectral range 0.5-24 microns.


title: Inelastic Dark Matter, Non-Standard Halos and the DAMA/LIBRA Results

abstract:
  The DAMA collaboration have claimed to detect particle dark matter (DM) via
an annual modulation in their observed recoil event rate. This appears to be in
strong disagreement with the null results of other experiments if interpreted
in terms of elastic DM scattering, while agreement for a small region of
parameter space is possible for inelastic DM (iDM) due to the altered
kinematics of the collision. To date most analyses assume a simple galactic
halo DM velocity distribution, the Standard Halo Model, but direct experimental
support for the SHM is severely lacking and theoretical studies indicate
possible significant differences. We investigate the dependence of DAMA and the
other direct detection experiments on the local DM velocity distribution,
utilizing the results of the Via Lactea and Dark Disc numerical simulations. We
also investigate effects of varying the solar circular velocity, the DM escape
velocity, and the DAMA quenching factor within experimental limits. Our data
set includes the latest ZEPLIN-III results, as well as full publicly available
data sets. Due to the more sensitive dependence of the inelastic cross section
on the velocity distribution, we find that with Via Lactea the DAMA results can
be consistent with all other experiments over an enlarged region of iDM
parameter space, with higher mass particles being preferred, while Dark Disc
does not lead to an improvement. A definitive test of DAMA for iDM requires
heavy element detectors.


title:
Comment on "Regional Versus Global Entanglement in
  Resonating-Valence-Bond States"

abstract:
  In a recent Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 170502 (2007); quant-ph/0703227],
Chandran and coworkers study the entanglement properties of valence bond (VB)
states. Their main result is that VB states do not contain (or only an
insignificant amount of) two-site entanglement, whereas they possess multi-body
entanglement. Two examples ("RVB gas and liquid") are given to illustrate this
claim, which essentially comes from a lower bound derived for spin correlators
in VB states. We show in this Comment that (i) for the "RVB liquid" on the
square lattice, the calculations and conclusions of Chandran et al. are
incorrect. (ii) A simple analytical calculation gives the exact value of the
correlator for the "RVB gas", showing that the bound found by Chandran et al.
is tight. (iii) The lower bound for spin correlators in VB states is equivalent
to a celebrated result of Anderson dating from more than 50 years ago.


title: Brief communication. An indefinite Sturm theory

abstract:
  Sturm theory for second order differential equations was generalized to
systems and higher order equations with positive leading coefficient by several
authors. Here we propose a Sturm oscillation theorem for indefinite systems of
even order and with Dirichlet boundary conditions having strongly indefinite
leading term.


title: Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Scalar Fields in a Thermal Bath

abstract:
  We study the approach to equilibrium for a scalar field which is coupled to a
large thermal bath. Our analysis of the initial value problem is based on
Kadanoff-Baym equations which are shown to be equivalent to a stochastic
Langevin equation. The interaction with the thermal bath generates a
temperature-dependent spectral density, either through decay and inverse decay
processes or via Landau damping. In equilibrium, energy density and pressure
are determined by the Bose-Einstein distribution function evaluated at a
complex quasi-particle pole. The time evolution of the statistical propagator
is compared with solutions of the Boltzmann equations for particles as well as
quasi-particles. The dependence on initial conditions and the range of validity
of the Boltzmann approximation are determined.


title: Is there a GeV counterpart in the Fermi GBM events?

abstract:
  In this paper we report a possible GeV counterpart observed at ground level
as muons (or "photo-muons") of two Fermi gamma burst monitor (GBM) events,
trigger bn081120618 and trigger bn081124060. In both cases, the trigger
coordinates are within the field of view of the vertical Tupi telescope located
at sea level and inside the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region. We show that
despite the first trigger being classified as GRB (due to a gamma ray burst),
with an 100% probability assigned by GBM Flight Software, the trigger time
14:49:31 UT happened during particle precipitations in the SAA, which in most
cases is $\sim 12h$ UT to $\sim 22h$ UT, and the probability of the trigger
being attributed to particle precipitation, according to our analysis is 25%.
The second Fermi trigger is also classified as GRB, with a 100% probability
assigned by GBM Flight Software. The trigger time is 01:26:07 UT, which is
outside the schedule of precipitation of particles. Another important observed
characteristic is the existence of a ground level enhancement (GLE) with a
sharp peak ($5.1\sigma$) coinciding with the Fermi trigger within the 10-second
counting interval (raw data) of the vertical Tupi telescope. In addition it is
possible to identify other GLEs before and after the trigger occurrence. In
both cases, the scenario is similar to the long-duration GeV GRBs observed by
EGRET within the BATSE field of view.


title: The Lyapunov spectrum is not always concave

abstract:
  We characterize one-dimensional compact repellers having nonconcave Lyapunov
spectra. For linear maps with two branches we give an explicit condition that
characterizes non-concave Lyapunov spectra.


title: Trans-Coordinate States

abstract:
  A meaning is given to the state of a system that is consistent with the
trans-coordinate physics previously proposed by the author. The collapse of
such a state is described using the previously proposed q-rules. A Hamiltonian
is defined for these states and it is shown that their square modulus is
conserved. Keywords: invariance, state reduction, wave collapse.


title: Trek separation for Gaussian graphical models

abstract:
  Gaussian graphical models are semi-algebraic subsets of the cone of positive
definite covariance matrices. Submatrices with low rank correspond to
generalizations of conditional independence constraints on collections of
random variables. We give a precise graph-theoretic characterization of when
submatrices of the covariance matrix have small rank for a general class of
mixed graphs that includes directed acyclic and undirected graphs as special
cases. Our new trek separation criterion generalizes the familiar
$d$-separation criterion. Proofs are based on the trek rule, the resulting
matrix factorizations and classical theorems of algebraic combinatorics on the
expansions of determinants of path polynomials.


title: Status of Phokhara

abstract:
  A review of the status of the Monte Carlo event generator PHOKHARA, developed
for experiments using the radiative return method. The four-pion production in
electron-positron annihilation and in tau-lepton decays and the narrow
resonances studies are described.


title: Quantum Information and Gravity Cutoff in Theories with Species

abstract:
  We show that lowering of the gravitational cutoff relative to the Planck
mass, imposed by black hole physics in theories with N species, has an
independent justification from quantum information theory. First, this scale
marks the limiting capacity of any information processor. Secondly, by taking
into the account the limitations of the quantum information storage in any
system with species, the bound on the gravity cutoff becomes equivalent to the
holographic bound, and this equivalence automatically implies the equality of
entanglement and Bekenstein-Hawking entropies. Next, the same bound follows
from quantum cloning theorem. Finally, we point out that by identifying the UV
and IR threshold scales of the black hole quasi-classicality in
four-dimensional field and high-dimensional gravity theories, the bound
translates as the correspondence between the two theories. In case when the
high-dimensional background is AdS, this reproduces the well-known AdS/CFT
relation, but also suggests a generalization of the correspondence beyond AdS
spaces. In particular, it reproduces a recently suggested duality between a
four-dimensional CFT and a flat five dimensional theory, in which gravity
crosses over from four to five dimensional regime in far infrared.


title: Zero-mode analysis of quantum statistical physics

abstract:
  We present a unified formulation for quantum statistical physics based on the
representation of the density matrix as a functional integral. We identify the
stochastic variable of the effective statistical theory that we derive as a
boundary configuration and a zero mode relevant to the discussion of infrared
physics. We illustrate our formulation by computing the partition function of
an interacting one-dimensional quantum mechanical system at finite temperature
from the path-integral representation for the density matrix. The method of
calculation provides an alternative to the usual sum over periodic
trajectories: it sums over paths with coincident endpoints, and includes
non-vanishing boundary terms. An appropriately modified expansion into
Matsubara modes provides a natural separation of the zero-mode physics. This
feature may be useful in the treatment of infrared divergences that plague the
perturbative approach in thermal field theory.

categories: quant-ph cond-mat.stat-mech hep-ph hep-th


title: Analysis of the Hydrogen-rich Magnetic White Dwarfs in the SDSS

abstract:
  We have calculated optical spectra of hydrogen-rich (DA) white dwarfs with
magnetic field strengths between 1 MG and 1000 MG for temperatures between 7000
K and 50000 K. Through a least-squares minimization scheme with an evolutionary
algorithm, we have analyzed the spectra of 114 magnetic DAs from the SDSS (95
previously published plus 14 newly discovered within SDSS, and five discovered
by SEGUE). Since we were limited to a single spectrum for each object we used
only centered magnetic dipoles or dipoles which were shifted along the magnetic
dipole axis. We also statistically investigated the distribution of
magnetic-field strengths and geometries of our sample.


title: From hadronic tau decays to the chiral couplings L_10 and C_87

abstract:
  A sum rule analysis of the hadronic tau-decay data can be used to determine
the low-energy constants L10(mu) and C87(mu). These constants are QCD
chiral-order parameters, which appear at order p^4 and p^6, respectively, in
the chiral perturbation theory expansion of the V-A correlator. At order p^4 we
obtain L10(M_rho) = -(5.22\pm 0.06)10^-3. Including in the analysis the order
p^6 contributions, we get L10(M_rho) = -(4.06\pm 0.39)10^-3 and C87(M_rho) =
(4.89\pm 0.19)10^-3 GeV^-2.


title: Multi-field Inflation with a Random Potential

abstract:
  Motivated by the possibility of inflation in the cosmic landscape, which may
be approximated by a complicated potential, we study the density perturbations
in multi-field inflation with a random potential. The random potential causes
the inflaton to undergo a Brownian motion with a drift in the D-dimensional
field space. To quantify such an effect, we employ a stochastic approach to
evaluate the two-point and three-point functions of primordial perturbations.
We find that in the weakly random scenario the resulting power spectrum
resembles that of the single field slow-roll case, with up to 2% more red tilt.
The strongly random scenario, leads to rich phenomenologies, such as primordial
fluctuations in the power spectrum on all angular scales. Such features may
already be hiding in the error bars of observed CMB TT (as well as TE and EE)
power spectrum and can be detected or falsified with more data coming in the
future. The tensor power spectrum itself is free of fluctuations and the tensor
to scalar ratio is enhanced. In addition a large negative running of the power
spectral index is possible. Non-Gaussianity is generically suppressed by the
growth of adiabatic perturbations on super-horizon scales, but can possibly be
enhanced by resonant effects or arise from the entropic perturbations during
the onset of (p)reheating. The formalism developed in this paper can be applied
to a wide class of multi-field inflation models including, e.g. the N-flation
scenario.


title: The ANTARES Neutrino Telescope

abstract:
  The ANTARES underwater neutrino telescope, at a depth of 2475 m in the
Mediterranean Sea, near Toulon, is taking data in its final configuration of 12
detection lines. Each line is equipped with 75 photomultipliers (PMT) housed in
glass pressure spheres arranged in 25 triplets at depths between 100 and 450 m
above the sea floor. The PMTs look down at 45^o to have better sensitivity to
the Cherenkov light from upgoing muons produced in the interactions of high
energy neutrinos traversing the Earth. Such neutrinos may arrive from a variety
of astrophysical sources, though the majority are atmospheric neutrinos. The
data from 5 lines in operation in 2007 yielded a sufficient number of downgoing
muons with which to study the detector performances, the vertical muon
intensity and reconstruct the first upgoing neutrino induced muons.


title: Categorical Foundation of Quantum Mechanics and String Theory

abstract:
  The unification of Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity remains the
primary goal of Theoretical Physics, with string theory appearing as the only
plausible unifying scheme. In the present work, in a search of the conceptual
foundations of string theory, we analyze the relational logic developed by C.
S. Peirce in the late nineteenth century. The Peircean logic has the
mathematical structure of a category with the relation $R_{ij}$ among two
individual terms $S_i$ and $S_j$, serving as an arrow (or morphism). We
introduce a realization of the corresponding categorical algebra of
compositions, which naturally gives rise to the fundamental quantum laws, thus
indicating category theory as the foundation of Quantum Mechanics. The same
relational algebra generates a number of group structures, among them
$W_{\infty}$. The group $W_{\infty}$ is embodied and realized by the matrix
models, themselves closely linked with string theory. It is suggested that
relational logic and in general category theory may provide a new paradigm,
within which to develop modern physical theories.


title: Relativistic QRPA calculation of muon capture rates

abstract:
  The relativistic proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation
(PN-RQRPA) is applied in the calculation of total muon capture rates on a large
set of nuclei from $^{12}$C to $^{244}$Pu, for which experimental values are
available. The microscopic theoretical framework is based on the Relativistic
Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) model for the nuclear ground state, and transitions to
excited states are calculated using the PN-RQRPA. The calculation is fully
consistent, i.e., the same interactions are used both in the RHB equations that
determine the quasiparticle basis, and in the matrix equations of the PN-RQRPA.
The calculated capture rates are sensitive to the in-medium quenching of the
axial-vector coupling constant. By reducing this constant from its free-nucleon
value $g_A = 1.262$ by 10% for all multipole transitions, the calculation
reproduces the experimental muon capture rates to better than 10% accuracy.


title:
A central limit theorem for random walk in random environment on marked
  Galton-Watson trees

abstract:
  In this article we focus on a general model of random walk on random marked
trees. We prove a recurrence criterion, analogue to the recurrence criterion
proved by R. Lyons and Robin Pemantle (1992) in a slightly different model. In
the critical case, we obtain a criterion for the positive/null recurrence.
Several regimes appear, as proved (in a similar model), by Y. Hu and Z. Shi
(2007). We focus on the "diffusive" regime and improve their result in this
case, by obtaining a functional Central Limit Theorem. Our result is also an
extension of a result by Y. Peres and O. Zeitouni (2008), obtained in the
setting of biased random walk in Galton-Watson trees.


title: Prediction with Restricted Resources and Finite Automata

abstract:
  We obtain an index of the complexity of a random sequence by allowing the
role of the measure in classical probability theory to be played by a function
we call the generating mechanism. Typically, this generating mechanism will be
a finite automata. We generate a set of biased sequences by applying a finite
state automata with a specified number, $m$, of states to the set of all binary
sequences. Thus we can index the complexity of our random sequence by the
number of states of the automata. We detail optimal algorithms to predict
sequences generated in this way.


title: n-Linear Algebra of type I and its applications

abstract:
  With the advent of computers, one needs algebraic structures that can
simultaneously work with bulk data. One such algebraic structure, namely,
n-linear algebras of type I are introduced in this book and its applications to
n-Markov chains and n-Leontief models are given. These structures can be
thought of as the generalization of bilinear algebras and bivector spaces.
Several interesting n-linear algebra properties are proved.
  This book has four chapters. The first chapter just introduces n-group which
is essential for the definition of n-vector spaces and n-linear algebras of
type I. Chapter two gives the notion of n-vector spaces and several related
results which are analogues of the classical linear algebra theorems. In case
of n-vector spaces, we can define several types of linear transformations.
  The notion of n-best approximations can be used for error correction in
coding theory. The notion of n-eigen values can be used in deterministic modal
superposition principle for undamped structures, which can find its
applications in finite element analysis of mechanical structures with uncertain
parameters. Further, it is suggested that the concept of n-matrices can be used
in real world problems which adopts fuzzy models like Fuzzy Cognitive Maps,
Fuzzy Relational Equations and Bidirectional Associative Memories. The
applications of these algebraic structures are given in the third chapter. The
fourth chapter suggests problems to further a reader's understanding of the
subject.


title:
The convex hull of a regular set of integer vectors is polyhedral and
  effectively computable

abstract:
  Number Decision Diagrams (NDD) provide a natural finite symbolic
representation for regular set of integer vectors encoded as strings of digit
vectors (least or most significant digit first). The convex hull of the set of
vectors represented by a NDD is proved to be an effectively computable convex
polyhedron.


title: The isovector dipole strength in nuclei with extreme neutron excess

abstract:
  The E1 strength is systematically analyzed in very neutron-rich Sn nuclei,
beyond $^{132}$Sn until $^{166}$Sn, within the Relativistic Quasiparticle
Random Phase Approximation. The great neutron excess favors the appearance of a
deformed ground state for $^{142-162}$Sn. The evolution of the low-lying
strength in deformed nuclei is determined by the interplay of two factors,
isospin asymmetry and deformation: while greater neutron excess increases the
total low-lying strength, deformation hinders and spreads it. Very neutron rich
deformed nuclei may not be as good candidates as stable spherical nuclei like
$^{132}$Sn for the experimental study of low-lying E1 strength.


title: Resonant Coherent Phonon Spectroscopy of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

abstract:
  Using femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy with pulse shaping techniques, one
can generate and detect coherent phonons in chirality-specific semiconducting
single-walled carbon nanotubes. The signals are resonantly enhanced when the
pump photon energy coincides with an interband exciton resonance, and analysis
of such data provides a wealth of information on the chirality-dependence of
light absorption, phonon generation, and phonon-induced band structure
modulations. To explain our experimental results, we have developed a
microscopic theory for the generation and detection of coherent phonons in
single-walled carbon nanotubes using a tight-binding model for the electronic
states and a valence force field model for the phonons. We find that the
coherent phonon amplitudes satisfy a driven oscillator equation with the
driving term depending on photoexcited carrier density. We compared our
theoretical results with experimental results on mod 2 nanotubes and found that
our model provides satisfactory overall trends in the relative strengths of the
coherent phonon signal both within and between different mod 2 families. We
also find that the coherent phonon intensities are considerably weaker in mod 1
nanotubes in comparison with mod~2 nanotubes, which is also in excellent
agreement with experiment.


title: B Counting at BaBar

abstract:
  In this thesis we examine the method of counting $B\overline{B}$ events
produced in the BaBar experiment. The original method was proposed in 2000, but
improvements to track reconstruction and our understanding of the detector
since that date make it appropriate to revisit the $B$ Counting method. We
propose a new set of cuts designed to minimize the sensitivity to time-varying
backgrounds. We find the new method counts $B\overline{B}$ events with an
associated systematic uncertainty of $\pm 0.6%


title:
Method of Calculating the Free Energy of Three-Dimensional Ising-Like
  System in an External Field with the Use of the $\rho^6$ Model

abstract:
  The microscopic approach to calculating the free energy of a
three-dimensional Ising-like system in a homogeneous external field is
developed in the higher non-Gaussian approximation (the $\rho^6$ model) at
temperatures above the critical value of $T_c$ ($T_c$ is the phase-transition
temperature in the absence of an external field). The free energy of the system
is found by separating the contributions from the short- and long-wave
spin-density oscillation modes taking into account both the temperature and
field fluctuations of the order parameter. Our analytical calculations do not
involve power series in the scaling variable and are valid in the whole
field-temperature plane near the critical point including the region in the
vicinity of the limiting field $\tilde h_c$, which divides external fields into
the weak and strong ones (i.e., the crossover region). In this region, the
temperature and field effects on the system are equivalent, the scaling
variable is of the order of unity, and power series are not efficient. The
obtained expression for the free energy contains the leading terms and terms
determining the temperature and field confluent corrections.


title: Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics: a solvable model

abstract:
  A two-temperature linear spin model is presented that allows an easily
understandable introduction to non-equilibrium statistical physics. The model
is one that includes the concepts that are typical of more realistic
non-equilibrium models but that allows straightforward steady state solutions
and, for small systems, development of the full time dependence for
configuration probabilities. The model is easily accessible to upper-level
undergraduate students, and also provides a good check for computer models of
larger systems.


title:
The reduced HOMFLY-PT homology for the Conway and the Kinoshita-Terasaka
  knots

abstract:
  In this paper we compute the reduced HOMFLY-PT homologies of the Conway and
the Kinoshita-Terasaka knots and show that they are isomorphic.


title:
Generalized solutions for the Euler-Bernoulli model with distributional
  forces

abstract:
  We establish existence and uniqueness of generalized solutions to the
initial-boundary value problem corresponding to an Euler-Bernoulli beam model
from mechanics. The governing partial differential equation is of order four
and involves discontinuous, and even distributional coefficients and right-hand
side. The general problem is solved by application of functional analytic
techniques to obtain estimates for the solutions to regularized problems.
Finally, we prove coherence properties and provide a regularity analysis of the
generalized solution.


title:
Differential Form Valued Forms and Distributional Electromagnetic
  Sources

abstract:
  Properties of a fundamental double-form of bi-degree $(p,p)$ for $p\ge 0$ are
reviewed in order to establish a distributional framework for analysing
equations of the form $$\Delta \Phi + \lambda^2 \Phi = {\cal S} $$ where
$\Delta$ is the Hodge-de Rham operator on $p-$forms $ \Phi $ on ${\bf R}^3$.
Particular attention is devoted to singular distributional solutions that arise
when the source $ {\cal S}$ is a singular $p-$form distribution. A constructive
approach to Dirac distributions on (moving) submanifolds embedded in ${\bf
R}^3$ is developed in terms of (Leray) forms generated by the geometry of the
embedding. This framework offers a useful tool in electromagnetic modeling
where the possibly time dependent sources of certain physical attributes, such
as electric charge, electric current and polarization or magnetization, are
concentrated on localized regions in space.


title: MOST photometry of the enigmatic PMS pulsator HD 142666

abstract:
  We present precise photometry of the pulsating Herbig Ae star HD 142666
obtained in two consecutive years with the MOST (Microvariability & Oscilations
of STars) satellite.
  Previously, only a single pulsation period was known for HD 142666. The MOST
photometry reveals that HD 142666 is multi-periodic. However, the unique
identification of pulsation frequencies is complicated by the presence of
irregular variability caused by the star's circumstellar dust disk. The two
light curves obtained with MOST in 2006 and 2007 provided data of unprecedented
quality to study the pulsations in HD 142666 and also to monitor the
circumstellar variability.
  We attribute 12 frequencies to pulsation. Model fits to the three frequencies
with the highest amplitudes lie well outside the uncertainty box for the star's
position in the HR diagram based on published values.
  The models suggest that either (1) the published estimate of the luminosity
of HD 142666, based on a relation between circumstellar disk radius and stellar
luminosity, is too high and/or (2) additional physics such as mass accretion
may be needed in our models to accurately fit both the observed frequencies and
HD 142666's position in the HR diagram.


title:
A universality result for the smallest eigenvalues of certain sample
  covariance matrices

abstract:
  After proper rescaling and under some technical assumptions, the smallest
eigenvalue of a sample covariance matrix with aspect ratio bounded away from 1
converges to the Tracy--Widom distribution. This complements the results on the
largest eigenvalue, due to Soshnikov and Peche.


title: Phylogenetic distances for neighbour dependent substitution processes

abstract:
  We consider models of nucleotidic substitution processes where the rate of
substitution at a given site depends on the state of its neighbours. For a wide
class of such nonreversible models, we show how to compute consistent,
mathematically exact, estimators of the time elapsed between aligned sequences,
for an ancestral sequence and a present one, and also for two present
sequences. In both cases, we provide asymptotic confidence intervals, valid for
nucleotidic sequences of finite length. We compute explicit formulas for the
estimators and for their confidence intervals in the simplest nontrivial case,
the Jukes-Cantor model with CpG influence.


title: Canonical models of filtered $A_\infty$-algebras and Morse complexes

abstract:
  The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First we explain the construction of
the canonical model of filtered $A_\infty$-algebras given in the authors' book
[FOOO]. The canonical model plays a crucial role in the study of Lagrangian
Floer theory on toric manifolds in our recent papers, arXiv:0802.1703 and
arXiv:0810.5654. Then using a variation of the arguments used in that
construction, we define a natural filtered $A_\infty$-structure on the Morse
complex of a Morse function and its $A_\infty$ homotopy to the
$A_\infty$-algebras on a Lagrangian submanifold constructed in [FOOO]. The
corresponding graphical moduli spaces `summing over trees' involve holomorphic
discs connected by the gradient flow lines.


title: Possible evidence for a common radial structure in nearby AGN tori

abstract:
  We present a quantitative and relatively model-independent way to assess the
radial structure of nearby AGN tori. These putative tori have been studied with
long-baseline infrared (IR) interferometry, but the spatial scales probed are
different for different objects. They are at various distances and also have
different physical sizes which apparently scale with the luminosity of the
central engine. Here we look at interferometric visibilities as a function of
spatial scales normalized by the size of the inner torus radius R_in. This
approximately eliminates luminosity and distance dependence and, thus, provides
a way to uniformly view the visibilities observed for various objects and at
different wavelengths. We can construct a composite visibility curve over a
large range of spatial scales if different tori share a common radial
structure. The currently available observations do suggest model-independently
a common radial surface brightness distribution in the mid-IR that is roughly
of a power-law form r^-2 as a function of radius r, and extends to ~100 times
R_in. Taking into account the temperature decrease toward outer radii with a
simple torus model, this corresponds to the radial surface density distribution
of dusty material directly illuminated by the central engine roughly in the
range between r^0 and r^-1. This should be tested with further data.


title:
Refactorizing NRQCD short-distance coefficients in exclusive quarkonium
  production

abstract:
  In a typical exclusive quarkonium production process, when the center-of-mass
energy, $\sqrt{s}$, is much greater than the heavy quark mass $m$, large
kinematic logarithms of $s/m^2$ will unavoidably arise at each order of
perturbative expansion in the short-distance coefficients of the
nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization formalism, which may potentially harm
the perturbative expansion. This symptom reflects that the hard regime in NRQCD
factorization is too coarse and should be further factorized. We suggest that
this regime can be further separated into "hard" and "collinear" degrees of
freedom, so that the familiar light-cone approach can be employed to reproduce
the NRQCD matching coefficients at the zeroth order of $m^2/s$ and order by
order in $\alpha_s$. Taking two simple processes, exclusive $\eta_b+\gamma$
production in $e^+ e^-$ annihilation and Higgs boson radiative decay into
$\Upsilon$, as examples, we illustrate how the leading logarithms of $s/m^2$ in
the NRQCD matching coefficients are identified and summed to all orders in
$\alpha_s$ with the aid of Brodsky-Lepage evolution equation.


title:
Cosmological Systematics Beyond Nuisance Parameters : Form Filling
  Functions

abstract:
  In the absence of any compelling physical model, cosmological systematics are
often misrepresented as statistical effects and the approach of marginalising
over extra nuisance systematic parameters is used to gauge the effect of the
systematic. In this article we argue that such an approach is risky at best
since the key choice of function can have a large effect on the resultant
cosmological errors. As an alternative we present a functional form filling
technique in which an unknown, residual, systematic is treated as such. Since
the underlying function is unknown we evaluate the effect of every functional
form allowed by the information available (either a hard boundary or some
data). Using a simple toy model we introduce the formalism of functional form
filling. We show that parameter errors can be dramatically affected by the
choice of function in the case of marginalising over a systematic, but that in
contrast the functional form filling approach is independent of the choice of
basis set. We then apply the technique to cosmic shear shape measurement
systematics and show that a shear calibration bias of |m(z)|< 0.001(1+z)^0.7 is
required for a future all-sky photometric survey to yield unbiased cosmological
parameter constraints to percent accuracy. A module associated with the work in
this paper is available through the open source iCosmo code available at
http://www.icosmo.org .


title: Decomposition of Decidable First-Order Logics over Integers and Reals

abstract:
  We tackle the issue of representing infinite sets of real- valued vectors.
This paper introduces an operator for combining integer and real sets. Using
this operator, we decompose three well-known logics extending Presburger with
reals. Our decomposition splits a logic into two parts : one integer, and one
decimal (i.e. on the interval [0,1]). We also give a basis for an
implementation of our representation.


title:
Multiparameter ergodic averages for two commuting actions of an amenable
  group

abstract:
  We find limits of some multiple ergodic averages, generalizing a result of
Bergelson to the setting of two commuting transformations and actions of
amenable groups.


title: A Theorem on Analytic Strong Multiplicity One

abstract:
  Let $K$ be an algebraic number field, and $\pi=\otimes\pi_{v}$ an
irreducible, automorphic, cuspidal representation of $\GL_{m}(\mathbb{A}_{K})$
with analytic conductor $C(\pi)$. The theorem on analytic strong multiplicity
one established in this note states, essentially, that there exists a positive
constant $c$ depending on $\varepsilon>0, m,$ and $K$ only, such that $\pi$ can
be decided completely by its local components $\pi_{v}$ with norm $N(v)<c\cdot
C(\pi)^{2m+\varepsilon}.$


title: Avoiding the dark energy coincidence problem with a cosmic vector

abstract:
  We show that vector theories on cosmological scales are excellent candidates
for dark energy. We consider two different examples, both are theories with no
dimensional parameters nor potential terms, with natural initial conditions in
the early universe and the same number of free parameters as LCDM. The first
one exhibits scaling behaviour during radiation and a strong phantom phase
today, ending in a "big-freeze" singularity. This model provides the best fit
to date for the SNIa Gold dataset. The second theory we consider is standard
electromagnetism. We show that a temporal electromagnetic field on cosmological
scales generates an effective cosmological constant and that primordial
electromagnetic quantum fluctuations produced during electroweak scale
inflation could naturally explain, not only the presence of this field, but
also the measured value of the dark energy density. The theory is compatible
with all the local gravity tests, and is free from classical or quantum
instabilities. Thus, not only the true nature of dark energy could be
established without resorting to new physics, but also the value of the
cosmological constant would find a natural explanation in the context of
standard inflationary cosmology.


title:
Large-scale horizontal flows in the solar photosphere. IV. On the
  vertical structure of large-scale horizontal flows

abstract:
  In the recent papers, we introduced a method utilised to measure the flow
field. The method is based on the tracking of supergranular structures. We did
not precisely know, whether its results represent the flow field in the
photosphere or in some sub-photospheric layers. In this paper, in combination
with helioseismic data, we are able to estimate the depths in the solar
convection envelope, where the detected large-scale flow field is well
represented by the surface measurements. We got a clear answer to question what
kind of structures we track in full-disc Dopplergrams. It seems that in the
quiet Sun regions the supergranular structures are tracked, while in the
regions with the magnetic field the structures of the magnetic field are
dominant. This observation seems obvious, because the nature of Doppler
structures is different in the magnetic regions and in the quiet Sun. We show
that the large-scale flow detected by our method represents the motion of
plasma in layers down to ~10 Mm. The supergranules may therefore be treated as
the objects carried by the underlying large-scale velocity field.


title: Extending the canonical thermodynamic model: inclusion of hypernuclei

abstract:
  The canonical thermodynamic model has been used frequently to describe the
disassembly of hot nuclear matter consisting of neutrons and protons. Such
matter is formed in intermediate energy heavy ion collisions. Here we extend
the method to include, in addition to neutrons and protons, lambda particles.
This allows us to include productions of hypernuclei in intermediate energy
heavy ion collisions. We can easily predict average mass number of hypernuclei
produced and values of relative cross-sections of different hypernuclei.
Computation of absolute cross-section was not attempted at this stage and will
require much more detailed work.