title:
Subaru and Keck Observations of the Peculiar Type Ia Supernova 2006gz at
  Late Phases

abstract:
  Recently, a few peculiar Type Ia supernovae (SNe) that show exceptionally
large peak luminosity have been discovered. Their luminosity requires more than
1 Msun of 56Ni ejected during the explosion, suggesting that they might have
originated from super-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarfs. However, the nature of
these objects is not yet well understood. In particular, no data have been
taken at late phases, about one year after the explosion. We report on Subaru
and Keck optical spectroscopic and photometric observations of the SN Ia
2006gz, which had been classified as being one of these "overluminous" SNe Ia.
The late-time behavior is distinctly different from that of normal SNe Ia,
reinforcing the argument that SN 2006gz belongs to a different subclass than
normal SNe Ia. However, the peculiar features found at late times are not
readily connected to a large amount of 56Ni; the SN is faint, and it lacks [Fe
II] and [Fe III] emission. If the bulk of the radioactive energy escapes the SN
ejecta as visual light, as is the case in normal SNe Ia, the mass of 56Ni does
not exceed ~ 0.3 Msun. We discuss several possibilities to remedy the problem.
With the limited observations, however, we are unable to conclusively identify
which process is responsible. An interesting possibility is that the bulk of
the emission might be shifted to longer wavelengths, unlike the case in other
SNe Ia, which might be related to dense C-rich regions as indicated by the
early-phase data. Alternatively, it might be the case that SN 2006gz, though
peculiar, was actually not substantially overluminous at early times.


title: Comments on the Dynamics of the Pais-Uhlenbeck Oscillator

abstract:
  We discuss the quantum dynamics of the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator. The
Lagrangian of this higher-derivative model depends on two frequencies. When the
frequencies are different, the free PU oscillator has a pure point spectrum
that is dense everywhere. When the frequencies are equal, the spectrum is
continuous. It is not bounded from below, running from minus to plus infinity,
but this is not disastrous as the Hamiltonian is still Hermitian and the
evolution operator is still unitary. Generically, the inclusion of interaction
terms breaks unitarity, but in some special cases unitarity is preserved. We
discuss also the nonstandard realization of the PU oscillator suggested by
Bender and Mannheim, where the spectrum of the free Hamiltonian is positive
definite, but wave functions grow exponentially for large real values of
canonical coordinates. The free nonstandard PU oscillator is unitary when the
frequencies are different, but unitarity is broken in the equal frequencies
limit.


title: A period map for generalized deformations

abstract:
  For every compact Kaehler manifold we give a canonical extension of
Griffith's period map to generalized deformations, intended as solutions of
Maurer-Cartan equation in the algebra of polyvector fields. Our construction
involves the notion of Cartan homotopy and a canonical L-infinity structure on
mapping cones of morphisms of differential graded Lie algebras.


title: Kinematic sub-populations in dwarf spheroidal galaxies

abstract:
  We present new spectroscopic data for twenty six stars in the
recently-discovered Canes Venatici I (CVnI) dwarf spheroidal galaxy. We use
these data to investigate the recent claim of the presence of two dynamically
inconsistent stellar populations in this system (Ibata et al., 2006). We do not
find evidence for kinematically distinct populations in our sample and we are
able to obtain a mass estimate for CVnI that is consistent with all available
data, including previously published data. We discuss possible differences
between our sample and the earlier data set and study the general detectability
of sub-populations in small kinematic samples. We conclude that in the absence
of supporting observational evidence (for example, metallicity gradients),
sub-populations in small kinematic samples (typically fewer than 100 stars)
should be treated with extreme caution, as their detection depends on multiple
parameters and rarely produces a signal at the 3sigma confidence level. It is
therefore essential to determine explicitly the statistical significance of any
suggested sub-population.


title: Ergodic averages with deterministic weights

abstract:
  The purpose of this paper is to study ergodic averages with deterministic
weights. More precisely we study the convergence of the ergodic averages of the
type $\frac{1}{N} \sum_{k=0}^{N-1} \theta (k) f \circ T^{u_k}$ where $\theta =
(\theta (k) ; k\in \NN)$ is a bounded sequence and $u = (u_k ; k\in \NN)$ a
strictly increasing sequence of integers such that for some $\delta<1$ $$ S_N
(\theta, u) := \sup_{\alpha \in \pRR} | \sum_{k=0}^{N-1} \theta (k) \exp (2i\pi
\alpha u_k) | = O (N^{\delta}) \leqno{({\cal H}_1)} $$ i.e., there exists a
constant $C$ such that $S_N (\theta, u) \leq C N^{\delta} $. We define $\delta
(\theta, u)$ to be the infimum of the $\delta $ satisfying $\H_1$ for $\theta $
and $u$.


title: A new fast reconnection model in a collisionless regime

abstract:
  Based on the first principles (i.e. (i) by balancing the magnetic field
advection with the term containing electron pressure tensor non-gyrotropic
components in the generalised Ohm's law; (ii) using the conservation of mass;
and (iii) assuming that the weak magnetic field region width, where electron
meandering motion supports electron pressure tensor off-diagonal
(non-gyrotropic) components, is of the order of electron Larmor radius) a
simple model of magnetic reconnection in a collisionless regime is formulated.
The model is general, resembling its collisional Sweet-Parker analogue in that
it is not specific to any initial configuration e.g. Harris type tearing
unstable current sheet, X-point collapse or otherwise. In addition to its
importance from the fundamental point of view, the collisionless reconnection
model offers a much faster reconnection rate (M_c'less=(c/omega_pe)^2 /(r_L,e
L)) than Sweet-Parker's classical one (M_sp=S^-1/2). The width of the diffusion
region (current sheet) in the collisionless regime is found to be
delta_c'less=(c/omega_pe)^2/r_L,e, which is independent of global reconnection
scale L and is only prescribed by micro-physics (electron inertial length,
c/omega_pe, and electron Larmor radius, r_L,e). Amongst other issues, the
fastness of the reconnection rate alleviates e.g. the problem of interpretation
of solar flares by means of reconnection, as for the typical solar coronal
parameters the obtained collisionless reconnection time can be a few minutes,
as opposed to Sweet-Parker's equivalent value of < a day. The new theoretical
reconnection rate is compared to the MRX device experimental data by [Yamada et
al., Phys. Plasmas, 13, 052119 (2006), Ji et al. GRL, 35, 13106 (2008)] and a
good agreement is obtained.


title:
Bottom-Up Reconstruction Scenarios for (un)constrained MSSM Parameters
  at the LHC

abstract:
  We consider some specific inverse problem or "bottom-up" reconstruction
strategies at the LHC for both general and constrained MSSM parameters,
starting from a plausibly limited set of sparticle identification and mass
measurements, using mainly gluino/squark cascade decays, plus eventually the
lightest Higgs boson mass. For the three naturally separated sectors of:
gaugino/Higgsino, squark/slepton, and Higgs parameters, we examine different
step-by-step algorithms based on rather simple, entirely analytical, inverted
relations between masses and basic MSSM parameters. This includes also
reasonably good approximations of some of the relevant radiative correction
calculations. We distinguish the constraints obtained for a general MSSM from
those obtained with universality assumptions in the three different sectors.
Our results are compared at different stages with the determination from more
standard "top-down" fit of models to data, and finally combined into a global
determination of all the relevant parameters. Our approach gives complementary
information to more conventional analysis, and is not restricted to the
specific LHC measurement specificities. In addition, the bottom-up
renormalization group evolution of general MSSM parameters, being an important
ingredient in this framework, is illustrated as a new publicly available option
of the MSSM spectrum calculation code "SuSpect".


title: MHD mode conversion in a stratified atmosphere

abstract:
  Mode conversion in the region where the sound and Alfven speeds are equal is
a complex process, which has been studied both analytically and numerically,
and has been seen in observations. In order to further the understanding of
this process we set up a simple, one-dimensional model, and examine wave
propagation through this system using a combination of analytical and numerical
techniques. Simulations are carried out in a gravitationally stratified
atmosphere with a uniform, vertical magnetic field for both isothermal and
non-isothermal cases. For the non-isothermal case a temperature profile is
chosen to mimic the steep temperature gradient encountered at the transition
region. In all simulations, a slow wave is driven on the upper boundary, thus
propagating down from low-beta to high-beta plasma across the mode-conversion
region. In addition, a detailed analytical study is carried out where we
predict the amplitude and phase of the transmitted and converted components of
the incident wave as it passes through the mode-conversion region. A comparison
of these analytical predictions with the numerical results shows good
agreement, giving us confidence in both techniques. This knowledge may be used
to help determine wave types observed and give insight into which modes may be
involved in coronal heating.


title: H^1 and BMO for certain nondoubling metric measure spaces

abstract:
  Suppose that (M,d,m) is an unbounded metric measure space, which possesses
two geometric properties, called "isoperimetric property" and "approximate
midpoint property", and that the measure m is locally doubling. The
isoperimetric property implies that the volume of balls grows at least
exponentially with the radius. Hence the measure m is not globally doubling. In
this paper we define an atomic Hardy space H1(m), where atoms are supported
only on "small balls", and a corresponding space BMO(m) of functions of bounded
mean oscillation, where the control is only on the oscillation over small
balls. We prove that BMO(m) is the dual of H1(m) and that an inequality of
John-Nirenberg type on small balls holds for functions in BMO(m). Furthermore,
we show that the Lp(m) spaces are intermediate spaces between H1(m) and BMO(m),
and we develop a theory of singular integral operators acting on function
spaces on M. Finally, we show that our theory is strong enough to give
H1(m)-L1(m) and L1(m)-BMO(m) estimates for various interesting operators on
Riemannian manifolds and symmetric spaces which are unbounded on L1(m) and on
L\infty(m).


title: Combination of CDF and D0 results on the W boson mass and width

abstract:
  The results on the direct measurements of the W-boson mass and width, based
on the data collected by the Tevatron experiments CDF and D0 at Fermilab are
summarised and combined. The CDF Run-0 (1988-1889) and Run-I (1992-1995)
results have been re-averaged using the BLUE method and combined with Run-I D0
results and the latest published results from CDF taken from the first period
of Run-II (2001-2004). The results are corrected to have consistency between
the parton distribution functions and electroweak parameters. The resulting
Tevatron averages for the mass and total decay width of the W boson are: Mw =
80432 +/- 39 MeV and Gamma_W = 2056 +/- 62 MeV. The inclusion of a preliminary
Run-II measurement of Gamma_W from D0 gives Gamma_W = 2050 +/- 58 MeV.


title:
Eigenvalue bounds, spectral partitioning, and metrical deformations via
  flows

abstract:
  We present a new method for upper bounding the second eigenvalue of the
Laplacian of graphs. Our approach uses multi-commodity flows to deform the
geometry of the graph; we embed the resulting metric into Euclidean space to
recover a bound on the Rayleigh quotient. Using this, we show that every
$n$-vertex graph of genus $g$ and maximum degree $d$ satisfies $\lambda_2(G) =
O((g+1)^3 d/n)$. This recovers the $O(d/n)$ bound of Spielman and Teng for
planar graphs, and compares to Kelner's bound of $O((g+1) poly(d)/n)$, but our
proof does not make use of conformal mappings or circle packings. We are thus
able to extend this to resolve positively a conjecture of Spielman and Teng, by
proving that $\lambda_2(G) = O(d h^6 \log h/n)$ whenever $G$ is $K_h$-minor
free. This shows, in particular, that spectral partitioning can be used to
recover $O(\sqrt{n})$-sized separators in bounded degree graphs that exclude a
fixed minor. We extend this further by obtaining nearly optimal bounds on
$\lambda_2$ for graphs which exclude small-depth minors in the sense of
Plotkin, Rao, and Smith. Consequently, we show that spectral algorithms find
small separators in a general class of geometric graphs.
  Moreover, while the standard "sweep" algorithm applied to the second
eigenvector may fail to find good quotient cuts in graphs of unbounded degree,
our approach produces a vector that works for arbitrary graphs. This yields an
alternate proof of the result of Alon, Seymour, and Thomas that every
excluded-minor family of graphs has $O(\sqrt{n})$-node balanced separators.


title:
Structure of derivations on various algebras of measurable operators for
  type I von Neumann algebras

abstract:
  Given a von Neumann algebra $M$ denote by $S(M)$ and $LS(M)$ respectively the
algebras of all measurable and locally measurable operators affiliated with
$M.$ For a faithful normal semi-finite trace $\tau$ on $M$ let $S(M, \tau)$
(resp. $S_0(M, \tau)$) be the algebra of all $\tau$-measurable (resp.
$\tau$-compact) operators from $S(M).$ We give a complete description of all
derivations on the above algebras of operators in the case of type I von
Neumann algebra $M.$ In particular, we prove that if $M$ is of type I$_\infty$
then every derivation on $LS(M)$ (resp. $S(M)$ and $S(M,\tau)$) is inner, and
each derivation on $S_0(M, \tau)$ is spatial and implemented by an element from
$S(M, \tau).$


title: Particle-hole fluctuations in the BCS-BEC Crossover

abstract:
  The effect of particle-hole fluctuations for the BCS-BEC crossover is
investigated by use of functional renormalization. We compute the critical
temperature for the whole range in the scattering length $a$. On the BCS side
for small negative $a$ we recover the Gorkov approximation, while on the BEC
side of small positive $a$ the particle-hole fluctuations play no important
role, and we find a system of interacting bosons. In the unitarity limit of
infinite scattering length our quantitative estimate yields $T_c/T_F=0.264$. We
also investigate the crossover from broad to narrow Feshbach resonances -- for
the later we obtain $T_c/T_F=0.204$ for $a^{-1}=0$. A key ingredient for our
treatment is the computation of the momentum dependent four-fermion vertex and
its bosonization in terms of an effective bound-state exchange.


title:
A photometric redshift of $z=1.8^{+0.4}_{-0.3}$ for the \agile GRB
  080514B

abstract:
  Aims: The AGILE gamma-ray burst GRB 080514B is the first burst with detected
emission above 30 MeV and an optical afterglow. However, no spectroscopic
redshift for this burst is known.
  Methods: We compiled ground-based photometric optical/NIR and millimeter data
from several observatories, including the multi-channel imager GROND, as well
as ultraviolet \swift UVOT and X-ray XRT observations. The spectral energy
distribution of the optical/NIR afterglow shows a sharp drop in the \swift UVOT
UV filters that can be utilized for the estimation of a redshift.
  Results: Fitting the SED from the \swift UVOT $uvw2$ band to the $H$ band, we
estimate a photometric redshift of $z=1.8^{+0.4}_{-0.3}$, consistent with the
pseudo redshift reported by Pelangeon & Atteia (2008) based on the gamma-ray
data.
  Conclusions: The afterglow properties of GRB 080514B do not differ from those
exhibited by the global sample of long bursts, supporting the view that
afterglow properties are basically independent of prompt emission properties.


title:
Measurement of diffusion coefficients of francium and rubidium in
  yttrium based on laser spectroscopy

abstract:
  We report the first measurement of the diffusion coefficients of francium and
rubidium ions implanted in a yttrium foil. We developed a methodology, based on
laser spectroscopy, which can be applied to radioactive and stable species, and
allows us to directly take record of the diffusion time. Francium isotopes are
produced via fusion-evaporation nuclear reaction of a 100 MeV 18-O beam on a Au
target at the Tandem XTU accelerator facility in Legnaro, Italy. Francium is
ionized at the gold-vacuum interface and Fr+ ions are then transported with a 3
keV electrostatic beamline to a cell for neutralization and capture in a
magneto-optical trap (MOT). A Rb+ beam is also available, which follows the
same path as Fr+ ions. The accelerated ions are focused and implanted in a 25
um thick yttrium foil for neutralization: after diffusion to the surface, they
are released as neutrals, since the Y work function is lower than the alkali
ionization energies. The time evolution of the MOT and the vapor fluorescence
signals are used to determine diffusion times of Fr and Rb in Y as a function
of temperature.


title:
A New Hubble Space Telescope Distance to NGC 1569: Starburst Properties
  and IC 342 Group Membership

abstract:
  We present deep HST ACS/WFC photometry of the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC
1569, one of the closest and strongest nearby starburst galaxies. These data
allow us, for the first time, to unequivocally detect the tip of the red giant
branch and thereby determine the distance to NGC 1569. We find that this galaxy
is 3.36 +/- 0.20 Mpc away, considerably farther away than the typically assumed
distance of 2.2 +/- 0.6 Mpc. Previously thought to be an isolated galaxy due to
its shorter distance, our new distance firmly establishes NGC 1569 as a member
of the IC 342 group of galaxies. The higher density environment may help
explain the starburst nature of NGC 1569, since starbursts are often triggered
by galaxy interactions. On the other hand, the longer distance implies that NGC
1569 is an even more extreme starburst galaxy than previously believed.
Previous estimates of the rate of star formation for stars younger than ~ 1 Gyr
become stronger by more than a factor of 2. Stars older than this were not
constrained by previous studies. The dynamical masses of NGC 1569's three super
star clusters, which are already known as some of the most massive ever
discovered, increase by ~53% to 6-7x10^5 solar masses.


title:
Dynamic polarization of single nuclear spins by optical pumping of NV
  color centers in diamond at room temperature

abstract:
  We report a versatile method to efficiently polarize single nuclear spins in
diamond, which is based on optical pumping of a single NV color center and
mediated by a level-anti crossing in its excited state. A nuclear spin
polarization higher than 98% is achieved at room temperature for the 15N
nuclear spin associated to the NV center, corresponding to $\mu$K effective
nuclear spin temperature. We then show simultaneous deterministic
initialization of two nuclear spins (13C and 15N) in close vicinity to a NV
defect. Such robust control of nuclear spin states is a key ingredient for
further scaling up of nuclear-spin based quantum registers in diamond.


title: On supersymmetry at finite temperature

abstract:
  We consider the effective theories governing the sensitivity to the plasma of
certain high-energy observables in supersymmetric plasmas, and point out that
they preserve supersymmetry. Our findings generalize previous observations on
symptotic thermal masses in weakly coupled plasmas, to both the real and
imaginary parts of self-energies, on the light cone and away from it, in weakly
and strongly interacting theories. All observed supersymmetry violations due to
thermal effects vanish faster than $E^{-2}$ in the high energy limit.


title: Authenticated Adversarial Routing

abstract:
  The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of authenticated
throughput-efficient routing in an unreliable and dynamically changing
synchronous network in which the majority of malicious insiders try to destroy
and alter messages or disrupt communication in any way. More specifically, in
this paper we seek to answer the following question: Given a network in which
the majority of nodes are controlled by a malicious adversary and whose
topology is changing every round, is it possible to develop a protocol with
polynomially-bounded memory per processor that guarantees throughput-efficient
and correct end-to-end communication? We answer the question affirmatively for
extremely general corruption patterns: we only request that the topology of the
network and the corruption pattern of the adversary leaves at least one path
each round connecting the sender and receiver through honest nodes (though this
path may change at every round). Out construction works in the public-key
setting and enjoys bounded memory per processor (that does not depend on the
amount of traffic and is polynomial in the network size.) Our protocol achieves
optimal transfer rate with negligible decoding error. We stress that our
protocol assumes no knowledge of which nodes are corrupted nor which path is
reliable at any round, and is also fully distributed with nodes making
decisions locally, so that they need not know the topology of the network at
any time.


title: Multi-Harnack smoothings of real plane branches

abstract:
  We introduce a new method for the construction of smoothings of a real plane
branch $(C, 0)$ by using Viro Patchworking method. Since real plane branches
are Newton degenerated in general, we cannot apply Viro Patchworking method
directly. Instead we apply the Patchworking method for certain Newton non
degenerate curve singularities with several branches. These singularities
appear as a result of iterating deformations of the strict transforms of the
branch at certain infinitely near points of the toric embedded resolution of
singularities of $(C,0)$. We characterize the $M$-smoothings obtained by this
method by the local data. In particular, we analyze the class of multi-Harnack
smoothings, those smoothings arising in a sequence $M$-smoothings of the strict
transforms of (C,0) which are in maximal position with respect to the
coordinate lines. We prove that there is a unique the topological type of
multi-Harnack smoothings, which is determined by the complex equisingularity
type of the branch. This result is a local version of a recent Theorem of
Mikhalkin.


title: Approximate Roots, Toric Resolutions and Deformations of a Plane Branch

abstract:
  We analyze the expansions in terms of the approximate roots of a Weierstrass
polynomial $f$ defining a plane branch $(C,0)$, in the light of the toric
embedded resolution of the branch. This leads to the definition of a class of
(non equisingular) deformations of a plane branch $(C,0)$ supported on certain
monomials in the approximate roots of $f$. As a consequence we find out a
Kouchnirenko type formula for the Milnor number $(C,0)$. Our results provide a
geometrical approach to Abhyankar's straight line conditions and its
consequences. As an application we give an equisingularity criterion for a
family of plane curves to be equisingular to a plane branch and we express it
algorithmically.


title: Front Propagation with Rejuvenation in Flipping Processes

abstract:
  We study a directed flipping process that underlies the performance of the
random edge simplex algorithm. In this stochastic process, which takes place on
a one-dimensional lattice whose sites may be either occupied or vacant,
occupied sites become vacant at a constant rate and simultaneously cause all
sites to the right to change their state. This random process exhibits rich
phenomenology. First, there is a front, defined by the position of the
left-most occupied site, that propagates at a nontrivial velocity. Second, the
front involves a depletion zone with an excess of vacant sites. The total
excess D_k increases logarithmically, D_k ~ ln k, with the distance k from the
front. Third, the front exhibits rejuvenation -- young fronts are vigorous but
old fronts are sluggish. We investigate these phenomena using a quasi-static
approximation, direct solutions of small systems, and numerical simulations.


title: Numerical simulations of general gravitational singularities

abstract:
  This paper covers some of the current techniques and issues involved in
performing numerical simulations of the formation of singularities.


title: Gamma Rays from Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays in Cygnus A

abstract:
  Ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) accelerated in the jets of active
galactic nuclei can accumulate in high magnetic field, ~100 kpc-scale regions
surrounding powerful radio galaxies. Photohadronic processes involving UHECRs
and photons of the extragalactic background light make ultra-relativistic
electrons and positrons that initiate electromagnetic cascades, leading to the
production of a gamma-ray synchrotron halo. We calculate the halo emission in
the case of Cygnus A and show that it should be detectable with the Fermi Gamma
ray Space Telescope and possibly detectable with ground-based gamma-ray
telescopes if radio galaxies are the sources of UHECRs.


title:
Search for the Standard Model Higgs boson decaying to four lepton (muon,
  electron) final states with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC collider

abstract:
  The search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in the four lepton (electron
and muon) final state with the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented. The
analysis strategy and the efficiency for selecting the signal and rejecting the
background are discussed, focusing on the performance of the lepton
identification that can be achieved with the first data of LHC expected in
2008.


title: Twice-Ramanujan Sparsifiers

abstract:
  We prove that every graph has a spectral sparsifier with a number of edges
linear in its number of vertices. As linear-sized spectral sparsifiers of
complete graphs are expanders, our sparsifiers of arbitrary graphs can be
viewed as generalizations of expander graphs.
  In particular, we prove that for every $d>1$ and every undirected, weighted
graph $G=(V,E,w)$ on $n$ vertices, there exists a weighted graph
$H=(V,F,\tilde{w})$ with at most $\ceil{d(n-1)}$ edges such that for every $x
\in \R^{V}$, \[ x^{T}L_{G}x \leq x^{T}L_{H}x \leq
(\frac{d+1+2\sqrt{d}}{d+1-2\sqrt{d}})\cdot x^{T}L_{G}x \] where $L_{G}$ and
$L_{H}$ are the Laplacian matrices of $G$ and $H$, respectively. Thus, $H$
approximates $G$ spectrally at least as well as a Ramanujan expander with
$dn/2$ edges approximates the complete graph. We give an elementary
deterministic polynomial time algorithm for constructing $H$.


title: Vacuum charge fractionlization re-examined

abstract:
  We consider a model of a quantized fermion field that is based on the Dirac
equation in one dimensional space and re-examine how the fermion number of the
vacuum, or the vacuum charge, varies when an external potential is switched on.
With this model, fractionization of the vacuum charge has been illustrated in
the literature by showing that the external potential can change the vacuum
charge from zero to a fractional number. Charge conservation then appears
violated in this process. This is because the charge that has been examined in
this context is only a part of the total charge of the vacuum. The total charge
is conserved. It is not fractionalized unless the Dirac equation has a zero
mode. Two other confusing aspects are discussed. One is concerned with the
usage of the continuum limit and the other with the regularization of the
current operator. Implications of these aspects of the vacuum problem are
explored.


title:
The Combined NVSS-FIRST Galaxies (CoNFIG) Sample - I. Sample Definition,
  Classification and Evolution

abstract:
  The CoNFIG (Combined NVSS-FIRST Galaxies) sample is a new sample of 274
bright radio sources at 1.4 GHz. It was defined by selecting all sources with
S_1.4GHz > 1.3 Jy from the NRAO-VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) in the North field of the
Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-cm (FIRST) survey. New radio
observations obtained with the VLA for 31 of the sources are presented. The
sample has complete FRI/FRII morphology identification; optical identifications
and redshifts are available for 80% and 89% of the sample respectively,
yielding a mean redshift of ~0.71. One of the goals of this survey is to get
better definitions of luminosity distributions and source counts of FRI/FRII
sources separately, in order to determine the evolution of the luminosity
function for each type of source. We present a preliminary analysis, showing
that these data are an important step towards examining various evolutionary
schemes for these objects and to confirm or correct the dual population unified
scheme for radio AGN. Improving our understanding of radio galaxy evolution
will give better insight into the role of AGN feedback in galaxy formation.


title:
Parity-dependent proximity effect in superconductor/antiferromagnet
  heterostructures

abstract:
  We report the effect on the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of a
Nb film proximity coupled to the synthetic antiferromagnet Fe/{Cr/Fe}_(N-1). We
find that there is a parity dependence of Tc on the total number of Fe layers,
N; locally Tc is always a maximum when N is even, and a minimum when N is odd.
The Fe electron mean free path and coherence length are indicative of dirty
limit behavior; as such, we numerically model our data using the linearized
Usadel equations with good correlation.


title: Moduli space of CR-projective complex foliated tori

abstract:
  We study the moduli space of CR-projective complex foliated tori. We describe
it in terms of isotropic subspaces of Grassmannian and we show that it is a
normal complex analytic space.


title: Topological D-branes from Descent

abstract:
  Witten couples the open topological B-model to a holomorphic vector bundle by
adding to the boundary of the worldsheet a Wilson loop for an integrable
connection on the bundle. Using the descent procedure for boundary vertex
operators in this context, I generalize this construction to write a worldsheet
coupling for a graded vector bundle with an integrable superconnection. I then
compute the open string vertex operators between two such boundaries. A theorem
of J. Block gives that this is equivalent to coupling the B-model to an
arbitrary object in the derived category.


title: Viscous Cosmology and Thermodynamics of Apparent Horizon

abstract:
  It is shown that the differential form of Friedmann equations of FRW universe
can be recast as a similar form of the first law, $T_{h}dS_{h} = dE + WdV$, of
thermodynamics at the apparent horizon of FRW universe filled with the viscous
fluid. It is also shown that the generalized second law of thermodynamics holds
at the apparent horizon of FRW universe and preserves dominant energy
condition.


title: Integrable Spin Chain of Superconformal U(M)xU(N) Chern-Simons Theory

abstract:
  N=6 superconformal Chern-Simons theory with gauge group U(M)xU(N)} is dual to
N M2-branes and (M-N) fractional M2-branes, equivalently, discrete 3-form
holonomy at C4/Zk orbifold singularity. We show that, much like its regular
counterpart of M=N, the theory at planar limit have integrability structure in
the conformal dimension spectrum of single trace operators. We first revisit
the Yang-Baxter equation for a spin chain system associated with the single
trace operators. We show that the integrability by itself does not preclude
parity symmetry breaking. We construct two-parameter family of parity
non-invariant, alternating spin chain Hamiltonian involving three-site
interactions between 4 and 4* of SU(4). At weak `t Hooft coupling, we study the
Chern-Simons theory perturbatively and calculate anomalous dimension of single
trace operators up to two loops. The computation is essentially parallel to the
regular case M=N. We find that resulting spin chain Hamiltonian matches with
the Hamiltonian derived from Yang-Baxter equation, but to the one preserving
parity symmetry. We give several intuitive explanations why the parity symmetry
breaking is not detected in the Chern-Simons spin chain Hamiltonian at
perturbative level. We suggest that open spin chain, associated with open
string excitations on giant gravitons or dibaryons, can detect discrete flat
holonomy and hence parity symmetry breaking through boundary field.


title:
Time-Resolved AU-Scale Jets Traced by Masers in the IRAS 4A/B Regions of
  NGC1333

abstract:
  We present results of VLBI observations of the water masers associated with
IRAS 4A and IRAS 4B in the NGC 1333 star-forming region taken in four epochs
over a two month period. Both objects have been classified as extremely young
sources and each source is known to be a multiple system. Using the Very Long
Baseline Array, we detected 35 masers in Epoch I, 40 masers in Epoch II, 35 in
Epoch III, and 24 in Epoch IV. Only one identified source in each system
associates with these masers. These data are used to calculate proper motions
for the masers and trace the jet outflows within 100 AU of IRAS 4A2 and IRAS
4BW. In IRAS 4A2 there are two groups of masers, one near the systemic cloud
velocity and one red-shifted. They expand linearly away from each other at
velocities of 53 km/s. In IRAS 4BW, masers are observed in two groups that are
blue-shifted and red-shifted relative to the cloud velocity. They form complex
linear structures with a thickness of 3 mas (1 AU at a distance of 320 pc) that
expand linearly away from each other at velocities of 78 km/s. Neither of the
jet outflows traced by the maser groups align with the larger scale outflows.
We suggest the presence of unresolved companions to both IRAS 4A2 and 4BW.


title:
Nonlinearity in Bacterial Population Dynamics: Proposal for Experiments
  for the Observation of Abrupt Transitions in Patches

abstract:
  An explicit proposal for experiments leading to abrupt transitions in
spatially extended bacterial populations in a Petri dish is presented on the
basis of an exact formula obtained through an analytic theory. The theory
provides accurately the transition expressions in spite of the fact that the
actual solutions, which involve strong nonlinearity, are inaccessible to it.
The analytic expressions are verified through numerical solutions of the
relevant nonlinear equation. The experimental set-up suggested uses opaque
masks in a Petri dish bathed in ultraviolet radiation as in Lin et al.,
Biophys. J. {\bf 87}, 75 (2004) and Perry, J. R. Soc. Interface {\bf 2}, 379
(2005) but is based on the interplay of two distances the bacteria must
traverse, one of them favorable and the other adverse. As a result of this
interplay feature, the experiments proposed introduce highly enhanced
reliability in interpretation of observations and in the potential for
extraction of system parameters.


title:
Why Kohn-Sham and Hartree-Fock orbitals are very close to each other.
  Shell structure of exchange potential

abstract:
  It is found that, in closed-$l$-subshell atoms, the exact local exchange
potential of the density functional theory is very well represented, within the
region of every atomic shell, by each of the suitably shifted potentials
obtained with the non-local Fock exchange operator acting on the Hartree-Fock
(HF) orbitals that belong to this shell. This explains the outstanding
proximity of Kohn-Sham and HF orbitals and the high quality of the
Krieger-Li-Iafrate and localized HF (or, equivalently,
common-energy-denominator) approximations to the exchange potential.


title:
Simon's Algorithm, Clebsch-Gordan Sieves, and Hidden Symmetries of
  Multiple Squares

abstract:
  The first quantum algorithm to offer an exponential speedup (in the query
complexity setting) over classical algorithms was Simon's algorithm for
identifying a hidden exclusive-or mask. Here we observe how part of Simon's
algorithm can be interpreted as a Clebsch-Gordan transform. Inspired by this we
show how Clebsch-Gordan transforms can be used to efficiently find a hidden
involution on the group G^n where G is the dihedral group of order eight (the
group of symmetries of a square.) This problem previously admitted an efficient
quantum algorithm but a connection to Clebsch-Gordan transforms had not been
made. Our results provide further evidence for the usefulness of Clebsch-Gordan
transform in quantum algorithm design.


title:
Vanishing quantum discord is necessary and sufficient for completely
  positive maps

abstract:
  Two long standing open problems in quantum theory are to characterize the
class of initial system-bath states for which quantum dynamics is equivalent to
(1) a map between the initial and final system states, and (2) a completely
positive (CP) map. The CP map problem is especially important, due to the
widespread use of such maps in quantum information processing and open quantum
systems theory. Here we settle both these questions by showing that the answer
to the first is "all", with the resulting map being Hermitian, and that the
answer to the second is that CP maps arise exclusively from the class of
separable states with vanishing quantum discord.


title:
Analytic approximations for transit light curve observables and
  uncertainties

abstract:
  The light curve of an exoplanetary transit can be used to estimate the
planetary radius and other parameters of interest. Because accurate parameter
estimation is a non-analytic and computationally intensive problem, it is often
useful to have analytic approximations for the parameters as well as their
uncertainties and covariances. Here we give such formulas, for the case of an
exoplanet transiting a star with a uniform brightness distribution. When limb
darkening is significant, our parameter sets are still useful, although our
analytic formulas underpredict the covariances and uncertainties.


title: Modular compactifications of M_{1,n}

abstract:
  We introduce a sequence of isolated curve singularities, the elliptic m-fold
points, and an associated sequence of stability conditions, generalizing the
usual definition of Deligne-Mumford stability. For every pair of integers
0<m<n, we prove that the moduli problem of n-pointed m-stable curves of
arithmetic genus one is representable by a proper irreducible Deligne-Mumford
stack. We also consider weighted variants of these stability conditions, and
construct the corresponding moduli stacks. In forthcoming work, we will prove
that these stacks have projective coarse moduli and use the resulting spaces to
give a complete description of the log minimal model program for M_{1,n}.


title:
Quantum Interferences in Cooperative Dicke Emission from Spatial
  Variation of Laser Phase

abstract:
  We report generation of a new quantum interference effect in spontaneous
emission from a resonantly driven system of two identical two-level atoms due
to the spatial variation of the laser phase at the positions of the atoms. This
interference affects significantly the spectral features of the emitted
radiation and the quantum entanglement in the system. The interference leads to
dynamic coupling of the populations and coherences in a basis, determined by
the laser phase and represents a kind of vacuum mediated super-exchange between
the symmetric and antisymmetric states.


title:
Energy-momentum Prescriptions in General Spherically Symmetric
  Space-times

abstract:
  Einstein, Landau-Lifshitz, Papapetrou, Weinberg, and M{\o}ller
energy-momentum prescriptions in general spherically symmetric space-times are
investigated. It is shown that for two special but not unusual classes of
general spherically symmetric space-times several energy-momentum prescriptions
in Schwarzschild Cartesian coordinates lead to some coincidences in energy
distribution. It is also obtained that for a special class of spherically
symmetric metrics M{\o}ller and Einstein energy-momentum prescriptions give the
same result for energy distribution if and only if it has a specific dependence
on radial coordinate.


title: Cubature formula and interpolation on the cubic domain

abstract:
  Several cubature formulas on the cubic domains are derived using the discrete
Fourier analysis associated with lattice tiling, as developed in \cite{LSX}.
The main results consist of a new derivation of the Gaussian type cubature for
the product Chebyshev weight functions and associated interpolation polynomials
on $[-1,1]^2$, as well as new results on $[-1,1]^3$. In particular, compact
formulas for the fundamental interpolation polynomials are derived, based on
$n^3/4 +\CO(n^2)$ nodes of a cubature formula on $[-1,1]^3$.


title: 1-2-3-flavor color superconductivity in compact stars

abstract:
  We suggest a scenario where the three light quark flavors are sequentially
deconfined under increasing pressure in cold asymmetric nuclear matter, e.g.,
as in neutron stars. The basis for our analysis is a chiral quark matter model
of Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (NJL) type with diquark pairing in the spin-1 single
flavor (CSL) and spin-0 two/three flavor (2SC/CFL) channels, and a
Dirac-Brueckner Hartree-Fock (DBHF) approach in the nuclear matter sector. We
find that nucleon dissociation sets in at about the saturation density, n_0,
when the down-quark Fermi sea is populated (d-quark dripline) due to the flavor
asymmetry imposed by beta-equilibrium and charge neutrality. At about 3n_0
u-quarks appear forming a two-flavor color superconducting (2SC) phase, while
the s-quark Fermi sea is populated only at still higher baryon density. The
hybrid star sequence has a maximum mass of 2.1 M_sun. Two- and three-flavor
quark matter phases are found only in gravitationally unstable hybrid star
solutions.


title: Evidence for color fluctuations in the nucleon in high-energy scattering

abstract:
  We study quantum fluctuations of the nucleon's parton densities by combining
QCD factorization for hard processes with the notion of cross section
fluctuations in soft diffraction. The fluctuations of the small-x gluon density
are related to the ratio of inelastic and elastic vector meson production in
e-p scattering. A simple dynamical model explains the HERA data and predicts
the x- and Q^2-dependence of the ratio. In p-p/pbar-p scattering, fluctuations
enhance multiple hard processes (but cannot explain the Tevatron CDF data), and
reduce gap survival in central exclusive diffraction.


title: Relative Chern character, boundaries and index formulae

abstract:
  For three classes of elliptic pseudodifferential operators on a compact
manifold with boundary which have `geometric K-theory', namely the
`transmission algebra' introduced by Boutet de Monvel, the `zero algebra'
introduced by Mazzeo and the `scattering algebra' from [MR95k:58168] we give
explicit formulae for the Chern character of the index bundle in terms of the
symbols (including normal operators at the boundary) of a Fredholm family of
fibre operators. This involves appropriate descriptions, in each case, of the
cohomology with compact supports in the interior of the total space of a vector
bundle over a manifold with boundary in which the Chern character, mapping from
the corresponding realization of K-theory, naturally takes values.


title:
A Hard X-Ray View of Two Distant VHE Blazars: 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES
  1553+113

abstract:
  TeV blazars are known as prominent nonthermal emitters across the entire
electromagnetic spectrum with their photon power peaking in the X-ray and TeV
bands. If distant, absorption of gamma-ray photons by the extragalactic
background light (EBL) alters the intrinsic TeV spectral shape, thereby
affecting the overall interpretation. Suzaku observations for two of the more
distant TeV blazars known to date, 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 1553+113, were carried
out in 2006 May and July, respectively, including a quasi-simultaneous coverage
with the state-of-the-art Cerenkov telescope facilities. We report on the
resulting data sets with emphasis on the X-ray band and set in context to their
historical behavior. During our campaign, we did not detect any significant
X-ray or gamma-ray variability. 1ES 1101-232 was found in a quiescent state
with the lowest X-ray flux ever measured. The combined XIS and HXD PIN data for
1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 1553+113 clearly indicate spectral curvature up to the
highest hard X-ray data point (~30 keV), manifesting as softening with
increasing energy. We describe this spectral shape by either a broken power law
or a log-parabolic fit with equal statistical goodness of fits. The combined
1ES 1553+113 very high energy spectrum (90-500 GeV) did not show any
significant changes with respect to earlier observations. The resulting
contemporaneous broadband spectral energy distributions of both TeV blazars are
discussed in view of implications for intrinsic blazar parameter values, taking
into account the gamma-ray absorption in the EBL.


title:
Detection of Additional Members of the 2003 EL61 Family via Infrared
  Spectroscopy

abstract:
  We have acquired near-infrared spectra of Kuiper belt objects 2003 UZ117,
2005 CB79 and 2004 SB60 with NIRC on the Keck I Telescope. These objects are
dynamically close to the core of the 2003 EL61 collisional family and were
suggested to be potential fragments of this collision by Ragozzine and Brown
(2007). We find that the spectra of 2003 UZ117 and 2005 CB79 both show the
characteristic strong water ice absorption features seen exclusively on 2003
EL61, its largest satellite, and the six other known collisional fragments. In
contrast, we find that the near infrared spectrum of 2004 SB60 is essentially
featureless with a fraction of water ice of less than 5%. We discuss the
implications of the discovery of these additional family members for
understanding the formation and evolution of this collisional family in the
outer solar system.


title:
Circumstantial evidence for a soft nuclear symmetry energy at
  supra-saturation densities

abstract:
  Within an isospin- and momentum-dependent hadronic transport model it is
shown that the recent FOPI data on the $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio in central heavy-ion
collisions at SIS/GSI energies (Willy Reisdorf {\it et al.}, NPA {\bf 781}, 459
(2007)) provide circumstantial evidence suggesting a rather soft nuclear
symmetry energy \esym at $\rho\geq 2\rho_0$ compared to the
Akmal-Pandharipande-Ravenhall prediction. Some astrophysical implications and
the need for further experimental confirmations are discussed.


title: Optical realization of a quantum beam splitter

abstract:
  We show how the quantum process of splitting light may be modelled in
classical optics. A second result is the possibility to engineer specific forms
of a classical field.


title: Compact stellar systems in the Fornax cluster: a UV perspective

abstract:
  In recent years, increasing evidence for chemical complexity and multiple
stellar populations in massive globular clusters (GCs) has emerged, including
extreme horizontal branches (EHBs) and UV excess. Our goal is to improve our
understanding of UV excess in the regime of both massive GCs and ultra-compact
dwarf galaxies (UCDs). To this end, we use deep archival GALEX data of the
central Fornax cluster to measure NUV and FUV magnitudes of UCDs and massive
GCs. We obtain NUV photometry for a sample of 35 compact objects with
-13.5<M_V<-10 mag. Of those, 21 objects also have FUV photometry. Roughly half
of the sources fall into the UCD luminosity regime (M_V <=-11 mag). We find
that seven out of 17 massive Fornax GCs exhibit a NUV excess with respect to
expectations from stellar population models, even for models with enhanced
Helium abundance. This suggests that not only He-enrichment has contributed to
forming the EHB population of these GCs. The GCs extend to stronger UV excess
than GCs in M31 and massive GCs in M87, at the 97% confidence level. Most of
the UCDs with FUV photometry also show evidence for UV excess, but their UV
colours can be matched by isochrones with enhanced Helium abundances and old
ages 12-14 Gyrs. We find that Fornax compact objects with X-ray emission
detected from Chandra images are almost disjunct in colour from compact objects
with GALEX UV detection, with only one X-ray source among the 35 compact
objects. However, since this source is one of the three most UV bright GCs, we
cannot exclude that the physical processes causing X-ray emission also
contribute to some of the observed UV excess.


title: Calibrating Dark Energy

abstract:
  Exploring the diversity of dark energy dynamics, we discover a calibration
relation, a uniform stretching of the amplitude of the equation of state time
variation with scale factor. This defines homogeneous families of dark energy
physics. The calibration factor has a close relation to the standard time
variation parameter w_a, and we show that the new, calibrated w_a describes
observables, i.e. distance and Hubble parameter as a function of redshift,
typically to an accuracy level of 10^{-3}. We discuss implications for figures
of merit for dark energy science programs.


title: Singularities in loop quantum cosmology

abstract:
  We show that simple scalar field models can give rise to curvature
singularities in the effective Friedmann dynamics of Loop Quantum Cosmology
(LQC). We find singular solutions for spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker
cosmologies with a canonical scalar field and a negative exponential potential,
or with a phantom scalar field and a positive potential. While LQC avoids big
bang or big rip type singularities, we find sudden singularities where the
Hubble rate is bounded, but the Ricci curvature scalar diverges. We conclude
that the effective equations of LQC are not in themselves sufficient to avoid
the occurrence of singularities.


title:
Quantum phase transitions beyond the Landau-Ginzburg paradigm and
  supersymmetry

abstract:
  We make connections between studies in the condensed matter literature on
quantum phase transitions in square lattice antiferromagnets, and results in
the particle theory literature on abelian supersymmetric gauge theories in 2+1
dimensions. In particular, we point out that supersymmetric U(1) gauge theories
(with particle content similar, but not identical, to those of theories of
doped antiferromagnets) provide rigorous examples of quantum phase transitions
which do not obey the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson paradigm (often referred to as
transitions realizing "deconfined criticality"). We also make connections
between supersymmetric mirror symmetries and condensed matter particle-vortex
dualities.


title: What is the largest Einstein radius in the universe?

abstract:
  The Einstein radius plays a central role in lens studies as it characterises
the strength of gravitational lensing. The distribution of Einstein radii near
the upper cutoff should probe the largest mass concentrations in the universe.
Adopting a triaxial halo model, we compute expected distributions of large
Einstein radii. To assess the cosmic variance, we generate a number of all-sky
Monte-Carlo realisations. We find that the expected largest Einstein radius in
the universe is sensitive to the cosmological model: for a source redshift z=1,
they are 42^{+9}_{-7}, 35^{+8}_{-6}, and 54^{+12}_{-7} arcseconds, assuming
best-fit parameters of the WMAP5, WMAP3 and WMAP1 data, respectively. These
values are broadly consistent with current observations given their
incompleteness. For the same source redshift, we expect in all-sky 35 (WMAP5),
15 (WMAP3), and 150 (WMAP1) clusters that have Einstein radii larger than 20".
Whilst the values of the largest Einstein radii are almost unaffected by the
primordial non-Gaussianity currently of interest, the abundance of large lens
clusters should probe non-Gaussianity competitively with CMB, but only if other
cosmological parameters are well-measured. We also find that these "superlens"
clusters constitute a highly biased population. For instance, a substantial
fraction of these superlens clusters have major axes preferentially aligned
with the line-of-sight. As a consequence, the projected mass distributions of
the clusters are rounder by an ellipticity of 0.2 and have 40%-60% larger
concentrations compared with typical clusters with similar redshifts and
masses. We argue that the large concentration measured in A1689 is consistent
with our model prediction at the 1.2\sigma level. (Abridged)


title: The LBT Panoramic View on the Recent Star-Formation Activity in IC2574

abstract:
  We present deep imaging of the star-forming dwarf galaxy IC2574 in the M81
group taken with the Large Binocular Telescope in order to study in detail the
recent star-formation history of this galaxy and to constrain the stellar
feedback on its HI gas. We identify the star-forming areas in the galaxy by
removing a smooth disk component from the optical images. We construct
pixel-by-pixel maps of stellar age and stellar mass surface density in these
regions by comparing their observed colors with simple stellar populations
synthesized with STARBURST99. We find that an older burst occurred about 100
Myr ago within the inner 4 kpc and that a younger burst happened in the last 10
Myr mostly at galactocentric radii between 4 and 8 kpc. We analyze the stellar
populations residing in the known HI holes of IC2574. Our results indicate
that, even at the remarkable photometric depth of the LBT data, there is no
clear one-to-one association between the observed HI holes and the most recent
bursts of star formation in IC2574. The stellar populations formed during the
younger burst are usually located at the periphery of the HI holes and are seen
to be younger than the holes dynamical age. The kinetic energy of the holes
expansion is found to be on average 10% of the total stellar energy released by
the stellar winds and supernova explosions of the young stellar populations
within the holes. With the help of control apertures distributed across the
galaxy we estimate that the kinetic energy stored in the HI gas in the form of
its local velocity dispersion is about 35% of the total stellar energy.


title:
Mergers and Mass Accretion Rates in Galaxy Assembly: The Millennium
  Simulation Compared to Observations of z~2 Galaxies

abstract:
  Recent observations of UV-/optically selected, massive star forming galaxies
at z~2 indicate that the baryonic mass assembly and star formation history is
dominated by continuous rapid accretion of gas and internal secular evolution,
rather than by major mergers. We use the Millennium Simulation to build new
halo merger trees, and extract halo merger fractions and mass accretion rates.
We find that even for halos not undergoing major mergers the mass accretion
rates are plausibly sufficient to account for the high star formation rates
observed in z~2 disks. On the other hand, the fraction of major mergers in the
Millennium Simulation is sufficient to account for the number counts of
submillimeter galaxies (SMGs), in support of observational evidence that these
are major mergers. When following the fate of these two populations in the
Millennium Simulation to z=0, we find that subsequent mergers are not frequent
enough to convert all z~2 turbulent disks into elliptical galaxies at z=0.
Similarly, mergers cannot transform the compact SMGs/red sequence galaxies at
z~2 into observed massive cluster ellipticals at z=0. We argue therefore, that
secular and internal evolution must play an important role in the evolution of
a significant fraction of z~2 UV-/optically and submillimeter selected galaxy
populations.


title: Erasing Dark Matter Cusps in Cosmological Galactic Halos with Baryons

abstract:
  We study the central dark matter (DM) cusp evolution in cosmological galactic
halos. Models with and without baryons (baryons+DM, hereafter BDM model, and
pure DM, PDM model, respectively) are advanced from identical initial
conditions. The DM cusp properties are contrasted by a direct comparison of
pure DM and baryonic models. We find a divergent evolution between the PDM and
BDM models within the inner ~10 kpc region. The PDM model forms a R^{-1} cusp
as expected, while the DM in the BDM model forms a larger isothermal cusp
R^{-2} instead. The isothermal cusp is stable until z~1 when it gradually
levels off. This leveling proceeds from inside out and the final density slope
is shallower than -1 within the central 3 kpc (i.e., expected size of the
R^{-1} cusp), tending to a flat core within ~2 kpc. This effect cannot be
explained by a finite resolution of our code which produces only a 5%
difference between the gravitationally softened force and the exact Newtonian
force of point masses at 1 kpc from the center. Neither is it related to the
energy feedback from stellar evolution or angular momentum transfer from the
bar. Instead it can be associated with the action of DM+baryon subhalos heating
up the cusp region via dynamical friction and forcing the DM in the cusp to
flow out and to `cool' down. The process described here is not limited to low z
and can be efficient at intermediate and even high z.


title: Using the Energy Spectrum at DAMA/LIBRA to Probe Light Dark Matter

abstract:
  A weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) weighing only a few GeV has been
invoked as an explanation for the signal from the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. We
show that the data from DAMA/LIBRA are now powerful enough to strongly
constrain the properties of any putative WIMP. Accounting for the detailed
recoil spectrum, a light WIMP with a Maxwellian velocity distribution and a
spin-independent (SI) interaction cannot account for the data. Even neglecting
the spectrum, much of the parameter space is excluded by limits from the DAMA
unmodulated signal at low energies. Significant modifications to the
astrophysics or particle physics can open light mass windows.


title: Superconductivity in Co-doped SmFeAsO

abstract:
  Here we report the synthesis and basic characterization of SmFe1-xCoxAsO
(x=0.10, 0.15). The parent compound SmFeAsO itself is not superconducting but
shows an antiferromagnetic order near 150 K, which must be suppressed by doping
before superconductivity emerges. With Co-doping in the FeAs planes,
antiferromagnetic order is destroyed and superconductivity occurs at 15 K.
Similar to LaFe1-xCoxAsO, the SmFe1-xCoxAsO system appears to tolerate
considerable disorder in the FeAs planes. This result is important, which
indicates difference between cuprare superconductors and the iron-based
arsenide ones.


title:
The Brightness of Density Structures at Large Solar Elongation Angles:
  What is Being Observed by STEREO/SECCHI?

abstract:
  We discuss features of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that are specific to
heliospheric observations at large elongation angles. Our analysis is focused
on a series of two eruptions that occurred on 2007 January 24-25, which were
tracked by the Heliospheric Imagers (HIs) onboard STEREO. Using a
three-dimensional (3-D) magneto-hydrodynamic simulation of these ejections with
the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF), we illustrate how the combination
of the 3-D nature of CMEs, solar rotation, and geometry associated with the
Thomson sphere results in complex effects in the brightness observed by the
HIs. Our results demonstrate that these effects make any in-depth analysis of
CME observations without 3-D simulations challenging. In particular, the
association of bright features seen by the HIs with fronts of CME-driven shocks
is far from trivial. In this Letter, we argue that, on 2007 January 26, the HIs
observed not only two CMEs, but also a dense corotating stream compressed by
the CME-driven shocks.


title: BeamLine Design for MINERvA TestBeam Detector

abstract:
  The MINER$\nu$A TestBeam Detector calibrations will take place in the MTEST
facility at Fermilab. It will use a beam of hadrons between 300 and 1500 MeV/c
to analyze the response of the MINERvA detector components. The aim of the
present work is to design the beam while considering radiation hazards at the
hall. To accomplish this, we are using a Monte Carlo simulation based on Geant4
and actual data taken from measurements of the elements that make up the
beamline.


title:
The Laser Ablation Production of Platinum Nitride and its Possible
  Structure

abstract:
  The synthesis of platinum nitride by the laser ablation method is reported.
The spectroscopic results show that nitrogen is in interstitial sites of
platinum as N-units, contradicting the accepted configuration for PtN2 where it
is as N2-units. To elucidate this point we did density functional calculations
to correlate composition with nitrogen sites. For dilute nitrogen
concentrations, x < 0.2, nitrogen would be in six-fold coordinated sites
(octahedral interstices) as N-units. For 0.2 < x < 1.5, nitrogen would be in
tetrahedral interstices as N-units. Only for x > 1.5 the N2-configuration in
octahedral sites is attained.


title:
Analytic treatment of leading-order parton evolution equations: theory
  and tests

abstract:
  We recently derived an explicit expression for the gluon distribution
function G(x, Q^2) = xg(x, Q^2) in terms of the proton structure function
F_2^{\gamma p} (x, Q^2) in leading-order (LO) QCD by solving the the LO DGLAP
equation for the Q^2 evolution of F_2^{\gamma p} (x, Q^2) analytically, using a
differential-equation method. We re-derive and extend the results here using a
Laplace-transform technique, and show that the singlet quark structure function
F_S(x,Q^2) can be determined directly in terms of G from the DGLAP gluon
evolution equation. To illustrate the method and check the consistency of
existing LO quark and gluon distributions, we used the published values of the
LO quark distributions from the CTEQ5L and MRST2001LO analyses to form
F_2^{\gamma p} (x, Q^2), and then solved analytically for G(x,Q^2). We find
that the analytic and fitted gluon distributions from MRST2001LO agree well
with each other for all x and Q^2, while those from CTEQ5L differ significantly
from each other for large x values, x>~0.03 - 0.05 at all Q^2. We conclude that
the published CTEQ5L distributions are incompatible in this region. Using a
non-singlet evolution equation, we obtain a sensitive test of quark
distributions which holds in both LO and NLO perturbative QCD. We find in
either case that the CTEQ5 quark distributions satisfy the tests numerically
for small x, but fail the tests for x>~0.03 - 0.05 - their use could
potentially lead to significant shifts in predictions of quantities sensitive
to large x. We encountered no problems with the MRST2001LO distributions or
later CTEQ distributions. We suggest caution in the use of the CTEQ5
distributions.


title: The Degree Distribution of Random k-Trees

abstract:
  A power law degree distribution is established for a graph evolution model
based on the graph class of k-trees. This k-tree-based graph process can be
viewed as an idealized model that captures some characteristics of the
preferential attachment and copying mechanisms that existing evolving graph
processes fail to model due to technical obstacles. The result also serves as a
further cautionary note reinforcing the point of view that a power law degree
distribution should not be regarded as the only important characteristic of a
complex network, as has been previously argued.


title:
Review: galactic angular momenta and angular momentum correlations in
  the cosmological large-scale structure

abstract:
  I review the theory of angular momentum acquisition of galaxies by tidal
torquing, the resulting angular momentum distribution, the angular momentum
correlation function and discuss the implications of angular momentum
alignments on weak lensing measurements: Starting from linear models for tidal
torquing I summarise perturbative approaches and the results from n-body
simulations of cosmic structure formation. Then I continue to discuss the
validity of decompositions of the tidal shear and inertia fields, the effects
of angular momentum biasing, the applicability of parameterised angular
momentum correlation models and the consequences of angular momentum
correlations for shape alignments. I compile the result of observations of
shape alignments in recent galaxy surveys as well as in n-body simulations.
Finally, I review the contamination of weak lensing surveys by spin-induced
shape alignments and methods for suppressing this contamination.


title: The Alignment of the ATLAS Silicon Tracker

abstract:
  The alignment of tracking detectors is crucial for the physics programme at
the LHC, especially for precision measurements like the W mass. The alignment
of the ATLAS silicon tracking detectors with a total of 5832 modules poses an
unprecedented challenge. In this poster, two track-based alignment algorithms
at ATLAS will be covered: the Global chi^2 Algorithm based on chi^2
minimisation, and the Robust Alignment Algorithm based on centering residual
distributions. On a time scale of minutes and hours, the geometry of the
silicon tracking detectors can be monitored with the Frequency Scanning
Interferometry system. An overview of this system will also be given.


title: Pumping-Restriction Theorem for Stochastic Networks

abstract:
  We formulate an exact result, which we refer to as the pumping restriction
theorem (PRT). It imposes strong restrictions on the currents generated by
periodic driving in a generic dissipative system with detailed balance. Our
theorem unifies previously known results with the new ones and provides a
universal nonperturbative approach to explore further restrictions on the
stochastic pump effect in non-adiabatically driven systems.


title:
Riding the Spiral Waves: Implications of Stellar Migration for the
  Properties of Galactic Disks

abstract:
  Stars in disks of spiral galaxies are usually assumed to remain roughly at
their birth radii. This assumption is built into decades of modelling of the
evolution of stellar populations in our own Galaxy and in external systems. We
present results from self-consistent high-resolution $N$-body + Smooth Particle
Hydrodynamics simulations of disk formation, in which stars migrate across
significant galactocentric distances due to resonant scattering with transient
spiral arms, while preserving their circular orbits. We investigate the
implications of such migrations for observed stellar populations. Radial
migration provides an explanation for the observed flatness and spread in the
age-metallicity relation and the relative lack of metal poor stars in the solar
neighborhood. The presence of radial migration also prompts rethinking of
interpretations of extra-galactic stellar population data, especially for
determinations of star formation histories.


title: Dynamical formation of correlations in a Bose-Einstein condensate

abstract:
  We consider the evolution of $N$ bosons interacting with a repulsive short
range pair potential in three dimensions. The potential is scaled according to
the Gross-Pitaevskii scaling, i.e. it is given by $N^2V(N(x_i-x_j))$. We
monitor the behavior of the solution to the $N$-particle Schr\"odinger equation
in a spatial window where two particles are close to each other. We prove that
within this window a short scale interparticle structure emerges dynamically.
The local correlation between the particles is given by the two-body zero
energy scattering mode. This is the characteristic structure that was expected
to form within a very short initial time layer and to persist for all later
times, on the basis of the validity of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for the
evolution of the Bose-Einstein condensate. The zero energy scattering mode
emerges after an initial time layer where all higher energy modes disperse out
of the spatial window. We can prove the persistence of this structure up to
sufficiently small times before three-particle correlations could develop.


title: Electric-field control of a hydrogenic donor's spin in a semiconductor

abstract:
  An AC electric field applied to a donor-bound electron in a semiconductor
modulates the orbital character of its wave function, which affects the
electron's spin dynamics via the spin-orbit interaction. Numerical calculations
of the spin dynamics of a hydrogenic donor (Si) embedded in GaAs, using a
real-space multi-band k.p formalism, show the high symmetry of the hydrogenic
donor state results in strongly nonlinear dependences of the electronic g
tensor on applied fields. A nontrivial consequence is that the most rapid Rabi
oscillations occur for electric fields modulated at a subharmonic of the Larmor
frequency.


title: Nonstandard Higgs Decays

abstract:
  The crucial search for the Higgs boson at future colliders is capable of
discovering the Standard Model Higgs, but is not guaranteed to discover a Higgs
that decays nonstandardly. Such new physics is motivated by many aspects; from
experiment, by the tension between precision electroweak fits and the LEP2
direct search bound and from theory, by issues of satisfying the LEP2 bound in
theories that naturally have a lighter Higgs. The consistent nonstandard Higgs
scenario is that the Higgs is lighter than the LEP2 bound and is consistent
with direct search limits because the dominant new decays are cascades into a
multi-body final state, mediated by new light particles. The reduction in the
Standard Model branching ratio implies that searches dependent on these decays
can be severely weakened. Thus, it is imperative to design searches capable of
discovering the new decays. Some of the possible analyses that can be performed
at the Tevatron and LHC are presented. However, much work remains to see if
discovery of the nonstandard Higgs at hadron colliders can be ensured.


title: Reverse Coherent Information

abstract:
  In this letter we define a family of entanglement distribution protocols
assisted by feedback classical communication that gives an operational
interpretation to reverse coherent information, i.e., the symmetric counterpart
of the well known coherent information. This lead to the definition of a new
entanglement distribution capacity that exceeds the unassisted capacity for
some interesting channels.


title: Twisted Covariant Noncommutative Self-dual Gravity

abstract:
  A twisted covariant formulation of noncommutative self-dual gravity is
presented. The formulation for constructing twisted noncommutative Yang-Mills
theories is used. It is shown that the noncommutative torsion is solved at any
order of the $\theta$-expansion in terms of the tetrad and some extra fields of
the theory. In the process the first order expansion in $\theta$ for the
Pleba\'nski action is explicitly obtained.


title: A converse to the Whitehead Theorem

abstract:
  We show that finite-dimensional Lie algebras over a field of characteristic
zero such that their high-degree cohomology in any finite-dimensional
non-trivial irreducible module vanishes, are, essentially, direct sums of
semisimple and nilpotent algebras.


title: Damped wave equations with dynamic boundary conditions

abstract:
  We discuss several classes of linear second order initial-boundary value
problems, where damping terms appear in the main wave equation as well as in
the dynamic boundary condition. We investigate their well-posedness and
describe some qualitative properties of their solutions, including boundedness,
stability, or almost periodicity. In particular, we are able to characterize
the analyticity of certain $C_0$-semigroups associated to such problems.
Applications to several problems on domains and networks are shown.


title:
Southern Cosmology Survey I: Optical Cluster Detections and Predictions
  for the Southern Common-Area Millimeter-Wave Experiments

abstract:
  We present first results from the Southern Cosmology Survey, a new
multiwavelength survey of the southern sky coordinated with the Atacama
Cosmology Telescope (ACT), a recently commissioned ground-based mm-band Cosmic
Microwave Background experiment. This article presents a full analysis of
archival optical multi-band imaging data covering an 8 square degree region
near right ascension 23 hours and declination -55 degrees, obtained by the
Blanco 4-m telescope and Mosaic-II camera in late 2005. We describe the
pipeline we have developed to process this large data volume, obtain accurate
photometric redshifts, and detect optical clusters. Our cluster finding process
uses the combination of a matched spatial filter, photometric redshift
probability distributions and richness estimation. We present photometric
redshifts, richness estimates, luminosities, and masses for 8 new
optically-selected clusters with mass greater than $3\times10^{14}M_{\sun}$ at
redshifts out to 0.7. We also present estimates for the expected
Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) signal from these clusters as specific
predictions for upcoming observations by ACT, the South Pole Telescope and
Atacama Pathfinder Experiment.


title: A new strategy to conceal an object from electromagnetic wave

abstract:
  A new recipe for concealing objects from detection is suggested. Different
with traditional cloak which deflects light around the core of the cloak to
make the object inside invisible, our cloak guides the light to penetrate the
core of the cloak but without striking some region of the cloak shell - the so
called folded region. Full wave analytical calculation shows that this cloak
will lead to a scattering enhancement instead of scattering reduction in
contrast to the traditional cloak; the scattered field distribution can also be
changed as if the scatterer is moved from its original position. Such
interesting phenomenon indicates the proposed cloak can be used to disguise the
true information of the object, e.g. the position, the size, etc, and further
mislead the observer and avoid being detected.


title: Thermoelectric efficiency at maximum power in a quantum dot

abstract:
  We identify the operational conditions for maximum power of a
nanothermoelectric engine consisting of a single quantum level embedded between
two leads at different temperatures and chemical potentials. The corresponding
thermodynamic efficiency agrees with the Curzon-Ahlborn expression up to
quadratic terms in the gradients, supporting the thesis of universality beyond
linear response.


title: The second homology group of current Lie algebras

abstract:
  This is an old paper put here for archeological purposes. We derive a general
formula expressing the second homology of a Lie algebra of the form L\otimes A
with coefficients in the trivial module through homology of $L$, cyclic
homology of $A$, and other invariants of $L$ and $A$. This is achieved by using
the Hopf formula expressing the second homology of a Lie algebra in terms of
its presentation. We also derive a similar formula for the associated Lie
algebra of the tensor product of two associative algebras.


title: W and Z properties at the Tevatron

abstract:
  I present measurements of W and Z boson properties by the CDF and D0
collaborations. This includes measurements that test the production mechanism
of the bosons and precision measurements of electroweak parameters. In the
former category I present CDF measurements of the Z rapidity and W charge
asymmetry that will help further constrain Parton Distribution Functions in
future global fits, and a D0 measurement of the Z transverse momentum
distribution that can be used to test the predictions of
quantum-chromodynamics. In the later category I present a D0 measurement of the
Z/gamma* forward-backward asymmetry and the subsequent extraction sin2theta_W =
0.2327 +/- 0.0018 (stat.) +/- 0.0006 (syst.) and a CDF measurement of the W
width Gamma_W using a fit to the tail of the W transverse mass distribution in
W->enu and W->munu events that yields Gamma_W = 2032 +/- 73 MeV.


title: Observation of Neutrons with a Gadolinium Doped Water Cerenkov Detector

abstract:
  Spontaneous and induced fission in Special Nuclear Material (SNM) such as
235U and 239Pu results in the emission of neutrons and high energy gamma-rays.
The multiplicities of and time correlations between these particles are both
powerful indicators of the presence of fissile material. Detectors sensitive to
these signatures are consequently useful for nuclear material monitoring,
search, and characterization. In this article, we demonstrate sensitivity to
both high energy gamma-rays and neutrons with a water Cerenkov based detector.
Electrons in the detector medium, scattered by gamma-ray interactions, are
detected by their Cerenkov light emission. Sensitivity to neutrons is enhanced
by the addition of a gadolinium compound to the water in low concentrations.
Cerenkov light is similarly produced by an 8 MeV gamma-ray cascade following
neutron capture on the gadolinium. The large solid angle coverage and high
intrinsic efficiency of this detection approach can provide robust and low cost
neutron and gamma-ray detection with a single device.


title:
Towards Kinetic Modeling of Global Metabolic Networks with Incomplete
  Experimental Input on Kinetic Parameters

abstract:
  This is the first report, to our knowledge, on a systematic method for
constructing a large scale kinetic metabolic model with incomplete information
on kinetic parametersr, and its initial application to the modeling of central
metabolism of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, a methylotrophic and
environmental important bacterium, with all necessary constraints. Through a
systematic and consistent procedure of finding a set of parameters in the
physiological range we overcome an outstanding difficulty in large scale
kinetic modeling: the requirement for a massive number of enzymatic reaction
parameters. We are able to construct the kinetic model based on general
biological considerations and incomplete experimental kinetic parameters. The
success of our approach with incompletely input information is guaranteed by
two known principles in biology, the robustness of the system and the
cooperation among its various parts. (Will be pleased to be informed on other
methodologies dealing with same type of problems: aoping@u.washington.edu)


title: Extended Chaos Theory and Multiparticle Production

abstract:
  First, using the method of the soliton-solution, the fermion probability
density equation, which corresponds to the Dirac equation, is derived. Next, we
extend the chaos theory, in which the period bifurcation is equivalent to the
particle production. Then this extended chaos theory can be used for
description of the multiparticle production and the extensive air showers at
high energy. Let the parameter takes a suitable value, the quantitative results
will be obtained, and an approximate formula will be derived. Many properties
of the multiparticle production and of the chaos theory are universal.


title: Top Mass Measurements from Jets and the Tevatron Top-Quark Mass

abstract:
  Theoretical issues are discussed for the measurement of the top-mass using
jets, including perturbative and non-perturbative effects that relate
experimental observables to the Lagrangian mass, and appropriate choices for
mass schemes. Full account for these issues is given for e+e--> t-tbar using a
factorization theorem for event shapes for massive quarks. Implications for the
Tevatron top-mass measurement are discussed. A mass-scheme, the "MSR-mass", is
introduced which allows for a precise description of observables sensitive to
scales R << m, but at the same time does not introduce perturbative matching
uncertainties in conversion to the MSbar mass.


title:
Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray Puzzle and the Plasma Wakefield
  Acceleration

abstract:
  Magnetowave induced plasma wakefield acceleration (MPWA) in a relativistic
astrophysical outflow has been proposed as a viable mechanism for the
acceleration of cosmic particles to ultra high energies. Here we present
simulation results that demonstrate the viability of this mechanism. We invoke
the high frequency and high speed whistler mode for the driving pulse. The
plasma wakefield so induced validates precisely the theoretical prediction.
This mechanism is shown capable of accelerating charged particles to ZeV
energies in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).


title:
Diffraction microtomography with sample rotation: influence of a missing
  apple core in the recorded frequency space

abstract:
  Diffraction microtomography in coherent light is foreseen as a promising
technique to image transparent living samples in three dimensions without
staining. Contrary to conventional microscopy with incoherent light, which
gives morphological information only, diffraction microtomography makes it
possible to obtain the complex optical refractive index of the observed sample
by mapping a three-dimensional support in the spatial frequency domain. The
technique can be implemented in two configurations, namely, by varying the
sample illumination with a fixed sample or by rotating the sample using a fixed
illumination. In the literature, only the former method was described in
detail. In this report, we precisely derive the three-dimensional frequency
support that can be mapped by the sample rotation configuration. We found that,
within the first-order Born approximation, the volume of the frequency domain
that can be mapped exhibits a missing part, the shape of which resembles that
of an apple core. The projection of the diffracted waves in the frequency space
onto the set of sphere caps covered by the sample rotation does not allow for a
complete mapping of the frequency along the axis of rotation due to the finite
radius of the sphere caps. We present simulations of the effects of this
missing information on the reconstruction of ideal objects.


title:
Contradiction between strong lensing statistics and a feedback solution
  to the cusp/core problem

abstract:
  Standard cosmology has many successes on large scales, but faces some
fundamental difficulties on small, galactic scales. One such difficulty is the
cusp/core problem. High resolution observations of the rotation curves for dark
matter dominated low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies imply that galactic dark
matter halos have a density profile with a flat central core, whereas N-body
structure formation simulations predict a divergent (cuspy) density profile at
the center. It has been proposed that this problem can be resolved by stellar
feedback driving turbulent gas motion that erases the initial cusp. However,
strong gravitational lensing prefers a cuspy density profile for galactic
halos. In this paper, we use the most recent high resolution observations of
the rotation curves of LSB galaxies to fit the core size as a function of halo
mass, and compare the resultant lensing probability to the observational
results for the well defined combined sample of the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey
(CLASS) and Jodrell Bank/Very Large Array Astrometric Survey (JVAS). The
lensing probabilities based on such density profiles are too low to match the
observed lensing in CLASS/JVAS. High baryon densities in the galaxies that
dominate the lensing statistics can reconcile this discrepancy, but only if
they steepen the mass profile rather than making it more shallow. This places
contradictory demands upon the effects of baryons on the central mass profiles
of galaxies.


title:
Search for Technicolor Particles Produced in Association with W Boson at
  CDF

abstract:
  We present a search for technicolor particles decaying into $b\bar b$, $b\bar
c$ or $b\bar u$ and produced in association with $W$ bosons in $p\bar p$
collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 1.96 \mathrm{TeV}$. The search uses approximately $1.9
\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of the dataset accumulated in the CDF II detector at the
Fermilab Tevatron. We select events matching the $W$ + 2-jets signature and
require at least one jets to be identified as $b$-quark jets. In the case of
exactly one vertex $b$-tagged events, we apply a neural network flavor
separator to reject contamination from charm and light quark jets. The number
of tagged events and the invariant mass distributions of $W+2$ jets and dijets
are consistent with the Standard Model expectations. We succeed to set a large
95% confidence level excluded region on the $\pi_{T}$ mass v.s. $\rho_{T}$ mass
plane.


title:
Algebraic Bethe ansatz approach to the asymptotic behavior of
  correlation functions

abstract:
  We describe a method to derive, from first principles, the long-distance
asymptotic behavior of correlation functions of integrable models in the
framework of the algebraic Bethe ansatz. We apply this approach to the
longitudinal spin- spin correlation function of the XXZ Heisenberg spin-1/2
chain (with magnetic field) in the disordered regime as well as to the
density-density correlation func- tion of the interacting one-dimensional Bose
gas. At leading order, the results confirm the Luttinger liquid and conformal
field theory predictions.

categories: math-ph cond-mat.stat-mech hep-th math.MP


title:
Non-variational computation of the eigenstates of Dirac operators with
  radially symmetric potentials

abstract:
  We discuss a novel strategy for computing the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions
of the relativistic Dirac operator with a radially symmetric potential. The
virtues of this strategy lie on the fact that it avoids completely the
phenomenon of spectral pollution and it always provides two-side estimates for
the eigenvalues with explicit error bounds on both eigenvalues and
eigenfunctions. We also discuss convergence rates of the method as well as
illustrate our results with various numerical experiments.


title: The Quantum Refrigerator: The quest for absolute zero

abstract:
  The scaling of the optimal cooling power of a reciprocating quantum
refrigerator is sought as a function of the cold bath temperature as $T_c \to
0$. The working medium consists of noninteracting particles in a harmonic
potential. Two closed-form solutions of the refrigeration cycle are analyzed,
and compared to a numerical optimization scheme, focusing on cooling toward
zero temperature. The optimal cycle is characterized by linear relations
between the heat extracted from the cold bath, the energy level spacing of the
working medium and the temperature. The scaling of the optimal cooling rate is
found to be proportional to $T_c^{3/2}$ giving a dynamical interpretation to
the third law of thermodynamics.


title: Electro-Optic Modulation of Single Photons

abstract:
  We use the Stokes photon of a biphoton pair to set the time origin for
electro-optic modulation of the wave function of the anti-Stokes photon thereby
allowing arbitrary phase and amplitude modulation. We demonstrate conditional
single-photon wave functions composed of several pulses, or instead, having
gaussian or exponential shapes.


title: Superconductivity of hexagonal heavily-boron doped silicon carbide

abstract:
  In 2004 the discovery of superconductivity in heavily boron-doped diamond
(C:B) led to an increasing interest in the superconducting phases of wide-gap
semiconductors. Subsequently superconductivity was found in heavily boron-doped
cubic silicon (Si:B) and recently in the stochiometric ''mixture'' of heavily
boron-doped silicon carbide (SiC:B). The latter system surprisingly exhibits
type-I superconductivity in contrast to the type-II superconductors C:B and
Si:B. Here we will focus on the specific heat of two different superconducting
samples of boron-doped SiC. One of them contains cubic and hexagonal SiC
whereas the other consists mainly of hexagonal SiC without any detectable cubic
phase fraction. The electronic specific heat in the superconducting state of
both samples SiC:B can be described by either assuming a BCS-type exponentional
temperature dependence or a power-law behavior.


title:
B-Meson Wave Function through A Comparative Analysis of the $B\to \pi$,
  $K$ Transition Form Factors

abstract:
  The properties of the B-meson light-cone wave function up to next-to-leading
order Fock state expansion have been studied through a comparative study of the
$B\to \pi$, $K$ transition form factors within the $k_T$ factorization approach
and the light-cone sum rule analysis. The transition form factors
$F^{B\to\pi}_{+,0,T}$ and $F^{B\to K}_{+,0,T}$ are carefully re-calculated up
to ${\cal O}(1/m_b^2)$ within the $k_T$ factorization approach in the large
recoil region, in which the main theoretical uncertainties are discussed. The
QCD light-cone sum rule is applicable in the large and intermediate energy
regions, and the QCD light-cone sum rule results in Ref.\cite{sumrule} are
adopted for such a comparative study. It is found that when the two
phenomenological parameters $\bar\Lambda\in [0.50,0.55]$ and
$\delta\in[0.25,0.30]$, the results of $F^{B\to\pi}_{+,0,T}(Q^2)$ and $F^{B\to
K}_{+,0,T}(Q^2)$ from these two approaches are consistent with each other in
the large recoil energy region.


title: Cluster formation in compact stars: relativistic versus Skyrme models

abstract:
  We present various properties of nuclear and compact-star matter, comparing
the predictions from two kinds of phenomenological approaches: relativistic
models (both with constant and density-dependent couplings) and
non-relativistic Skyrme-type interactions. We mainly focus on the liquid-gas
instabilities that occur at sub-saturation densities, leading to the
decomposition of the homogeneous matter into a clusterized phase. Such study is
related to the description of neutron-star crust (at zero temperature) and of
supernova dynamics (at finite temperature).


title: DMT of Multi-hop Cooperative Networks - Part I: Basic Results

abstract:
  In this two-part paper, the DMT of cooperative multi-hop networks is
examined. The focus is on single-source single-sink (ss-ss) multi-hop relay
networks having slow-fading links and relays that potentially possess multiple
antennas. The present paper examines the two end-points of the DMT of
full-duplex networks. In particular, the maximum achievable diversity of
arbitrary multi-terminal wireless networks is shown to be equal to the min-cut.
The maximum multiplexing gain of arbitrary full-duplex ss-ss networks is shown
to be equal to the min-cut rank, using a new connection to a deterministic
network. We also prove some basic results including a proof that the colored
noise encountered in AF protocols for cooperative networks can be treated as
white noise for DMT computations. The DMT of a parallel channel with
independent MIMO links is also computed here. As an application of these basic
results, we prove that a linear tradeoff between maximum diversity and maximum
multiplexing gain is achievable for full-duplex networks with single antenna
nodes. All protocols in this paper are explicit and rely only upon
amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying. Half duplex networks are studied, and
explicit codes for all protocols proposed in both parts, are provided in the
companion paper.


title:
DMT of Multi-hop Cooperative Networks - Part II: Half-Duplex Networks
  with Full-Duplex Performance

abstract:
  We consider single-source single-sink (ss-ss) multi-hop relay networks, with
slow-fading links and single-antenna half-duplex relay nodes. In a companion
paper, we established some basic results which laid the foundation for the
results presented here. In the present paper, we consider two families of
networks of half-duplex networks. KPP networks may be viewed as the union of K
node-disjoint parallel relaying paths. Generalizations of these networks
include KPP(I) networks, which permit interference between paths and KPP(D)
networks, which possess a direct link between source and sink. We characterize
the DMT of these families of networks completely and show that they can achieve
the cut-set bound, thus proving that full-duplex performance can be obtained
even in the presence of the half-duplex constraint. We then consider layered
networks, and prove that a linear DMT between maximum diversity and maximum
multiplexing gain is achievable. All protocols in this paper are explicit and
use only amplify-and-forward relaying. We also construct codes that achieve the
optimal DMT for all the proposed schemes. Two key implications of the results
in the paper are that the half-duplex constraint does not entail any rate loss
for a large class of cooperative networks and that AF protocols are often
optimal.


title: Comparison of Two Interpretations of Josephson Effect

abstract:
  This paper puts forward an interpretation of the Josephson effect based on
the Alternative Theory of Superconductivity (ATS). A comparison of ATS- and
BCS-based interpretations is provided. It is demonstrated that the ATS-based
interpretation, unlike that based on BCS theory, does not require a revision of
fundamentals of quantum physics.


title: A Simple Solution of the Arrival Time Problem

abstract:
  Based on the principle that arrival time and position are simultaneously
measurable quantities a simple formula is derived for the arrival time
probability density in nonrelativistic quantum theory.


title:
Experimental investigation of the origin of the cross-over temperature
  in the cuprates

abstract:
  We investigate the cross-over temperature T* as a function of doping in
(Ca_{x}La_{1-x})(Ba_{1.75-x}La_{0.25+x})Cu_3O_{y}, where the maximum Tc
(Tc^max) varies continuously by 30% between families (x) with minimal
structural changes. T* is determined by DC-susceptibility measurements. We find
that T* scales with the maximum Neel temperature TN^max of each family. This
result strongly supports a magnetic origin of T*, and indicates that three
dimensional interactions play a role in its magnitude.


title: To theory of gravitational interaction

abstract:
  Some principal problems of general relativity theory and attempts of their
solution are discussed. The Poincare gauge theory of gravity as natural
generalization of Einsteinian gravitation theory is considered. The changes of
gravitational interaction in the frame of this theory leading to the solution
of principal problems of general relativity theory are analyzed.


title:
Applying Bayesian Neural Networks to Separate Neutrino Events from
  Backgrounds in Reactor Neutrino Experiments

abstract:
  A toy detector has been designed to simulate central detectors in reactor
neutrino experiments in the paper. The samples of neutrino events and three
major backgrounds from the Monte-Carlo simulation of the toy detector are
generated in the signal region. The Bayesian Neural Networks(BNN) are applied
to separate neutrino events from backgrounds in reactor neutrino experiments.
As a result, the most neutrino events and uncorrelated background events in the
signal region can be identified with BNN, and the part events each of the fast
neutron and $^{8}$He/$^{9}$Li backgrounds in the signal region can be
identified with BNN. Then, the signal to noise ratio in the signal region is
enhanced with BNN. The neutrino discrimination increases with the increase of
the neutrino rate in the training sample. However, the background
discriminations decrease with the decrease of the background rate in the
training sample.


title: Ruppeiner Geometry of Anyon Gas

abstract:
  We derive the thermodynamic curvature of a two dimensional ideal anyon gas of
particles obeying fractional statistics. The statistical interactions of anyon
gas can be attractive or repulsive. For attractive statistical interactions,
thermodynamic curvature is positive and for repulsive statistical interactions,
it is negative, which indicates a more stable anyon gas. There is a special
case between the two where the thermodynamic curvature is zero. Small
deviations from the classical limit will also be explored.


title: Geometric Phase and Quantum Phase Transition : Two-Band Model

abstract:
  The connection between the geometric phase and quantum phase transition has
been discussed extensively in the two-band model. By introducing the twist
operator, the geometric phase can be defined by calculating its ground-state
expectation value. In contrast to the previous numerical examinations, our
discussion presents an exact calculation for the determination of the geometric
phase. Through two representative examples, our calculation shows the intimate
connection between the geometric phase and phase transition: different
behaviors of the geometric phase can be identified in this paper, which are
directly related to the energy gap above the ground state.


title: A variant of Tao's method with application to restricted sumsets

abstract:
  In this paper, we develop Terence Tao's harmonic analysis method and apply it
to restricted sumsets. The well known Cauchy-Davenport theorem asserts that if
$A$ and $B$ are nonempty subsets of $Z/pZ$ with $p$ a prime, then $|A+B|\ge
min{p,|A|+|B|-1}$, where $A+B={a+b: a\in A, b\in B}$. In 2005, Terence Tao gave
a harmonic analysis proof of the Cauchy-Davenport theorem, by applying a new
form of the uncertainty principle on Fourier transform. We modify Tao's method
so that it can be used to prove the following extension of the Erdos-Heilbronn
conjecture: If $A,B,S$ are nonempty subsets of $Z/pZ$ with $p$ a prime, then
$|{a+b: a\in A, b\in B, a-b not\in S}|\ge min {p,|A|+|B|-2|S|-1}$.


title: Radio spectrum of the AXP J1810-197 and of its profile components

abstract:
  As part of a European Pulsar Network (EPN) multi-telescope observing
campaign, we performed simultaneous multi-frequency observations at 1.4, 4.9
and 8.4 GHz during July 2006 and quasi-simultaneous multi-frequency
observations from Decem- ber 2006 until July 2007 at 2.7, 4.9, 8.4, 14.6 and 32
GHz, in order to obtain flux density measurements and spectral features of the
5.5-sec radio-emitting magnetar AXP J1810-197. We monitored the spectral
evolution of its pulse shape which consists of a main pulse (MP) and an
interpulse (IP). We present the flux density spectrum of the average profile
and of the separate pulse components of this first-known radio-emitting
transient anomalous X-ray pulsar. We observe a decrease of the flux density by
a factor of 10 within 8 months and follow the disappearance of one of the two
main components. Although the spectrum is generally flat, we observe large
fluctuations of the spectral index with time. For that reason we have made some
measurements of modulation indices for individual pulses in order to also
investigate the origin of these fluctuations.