title:
Cosmic Infrared Background from Early Epochs - Searching for Signatures
  of the First Stars

abstract:
  Cosmic infrared background (CIB) contains emission from epochs inaccessible
to current telescopic studies, such as the era of the first stars. We discuss
theoretical expectations for the CIB contributions from the early population of
massive stars. We then present the latest results from the ongoing project by
our team (Kashlinsky, Arendt, Mather & Moseley 2005,2007a,b,c,) to measure CIB
fluctuations from early epochs using deep Spitzer data. The results show the
existence of significant CIB fluctuations at the IRAC wavelengths (3.6 to 8
mic) which remain after removing galaxies down to very faint levels. These
fluctuations must arise from populations that have a significant clustering
component, but only low levels of the shot noise. Furthermore, there are no
correlations between the source-subtracted IRAC maps and the corresponding
fields observed with the HST ACS at optical wavelengths. Taken together, these
data imply that 1) the sources producing the CIB fluctuations are individually
faint with flux < a few nJy at 3.6 and 4.5 mic; 2) are located within the first
0.7 Gyr (unless these fluctuations can somehow be produced by - so far
unobserved - local galaxies of extremely low luminosity and with the unusual
for local populations clustering pattern), 3) they produce contribution to the
net CIB flux of at least 1-2 nW/m^2/sr at 3.6 and 4.5 mic and must have
mass-to-light ratio significantly below the present-day populations, and 4)
they have angular density of ~ a few per arcsec^2 and are in the confusion of
the present day instruments, but can be individually observable with JWST.


title:
Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph Observations of Magellanic Cloud Planetary
  Nebulae: the nature of dust in low metallicity circumstellar ejecta

abstract:
  We present 5 - 40 micron spectroscopy of 41 planetary nebulae (PNe) in the
Magellanic Clouds, observed with the Infrared Spectrograph on board the Spitzer
Space Telescope. The spectra show the presence of a combination of nebular
emission lines and solid-state features from dust, superimposed on the thermal
IR continuum.
  By analyzing the 25 LMC and 16 SMC PNe in our sample we found that the IR
spectra of 14 LMC and 4 SMC PNe are dominated by nebular emission lines, while
the other spectra show solid-state features. We observed that the solid-state
features are compatible with carbon-rich dust grains (SiC, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), etc.) in most cases, except in three PNe showing
oxygen-rich dust features. The frequency of carbonaceous dust features is
generally higher in LMC than in SMC PNe.
  The spectral analysis allowed the correlations of the dust characteristics
with the gas composition and morphology, and the properties of the central
stars. We found that: 1) all PNe with carbonaceous dust features have C/O>1,
none of these being bipolar or otherwise highly asymmetric; 2) all PNe with
oxygen-rich dust features have C/O<1, with probable high mass progenitors if
derived from single-star evolution (these PNe are either bipolar or highly
asymmetric); 3) the dust temperature tracks the nebular and stellar evolution;
and 4) the dust production efficiency depends on metallicity, with low
metallicity environments not favoring dust production.


title: Corotating Interaction Regions and clumping

abstract:
  We present hydrodynamical models for Corotating Interaction Regions, which
were used by Lobel (2007) to model the Discrete Absorption Components in HD
64760. We also discuss our failure to model the rotational modulations seen in
the same star.


title: GW's towards fundamental principles of GR

abstract:
  The physical non-existence of gravitational waves (GW's) as a consequence of
the non-existence in general relativity (GR) of physically privileged reference
frames, and of the ``plasticity'' of relativistic notion of a coordinate
system.


title:
Surface location of alkaline-earth atom impurities on helium
  nanodroplets

abstract:
  There has been notable uncertainty regarding the degree of solvation of
alkaline-earth atoms, especially Mg, in free He-4 nanodroplets. We have
measured the electron energy dependence of the ionization yield of picked-up
atoms. There is a qualitative shape difference between the yield curves of
species solvated in the middle of the droplet and species located in the
surface region; this difference arises from the enhanced role played by the
Penning ionization process in the latter case. The measurements demonstrate
that Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba all reside at or near the droplet surface.


title: Composable Security in the Bounded-Quantum-Storage Model

abstract:
  We present a simplified framework for proving sequential composability in the
quantum setting. In particular, we give a new, simulation-based, definition for
security in the bounded-quantum-storage model, and show that this definition
allows for sequential composition of protocols. Damgard et al. (FOCS '05,
CRYPTO '07) showed how to securely implement bit commitment and oblivious
transfer in the bounded-quantum-storage model, where the adversary is only
allowed to store a limited number of qubits. However, their security
definitions did only apply to the standalone setting, and it was not clear if
their protocols could be composed. Indeed, we first give a simple attack that
shows that these protocols are not composable without a small refinement of the
model. Finally, we prove the security of their randomized oblivious transfer
protocol in our refined model. Secure implementations of oblivious transfer and
bit commitment then follow easily by a (classical) reduction to randomized
oblivious transfer.


title:
Suppression of conductance fluctuation in weakly disordered mesoscopic
  graphene samples near the charge neutral point

abstract:
  We measured the conductance fluctuation of bi- and trilayer graphene devices
prepared on mechanical exfoliated graphene by an all-dry, lithography-free
process using an ultrathin quartz filament as a shadow mask. Reproducible
fluctuations in conductance as a function of applied gate voltage or magnetic
field were found. As the gate voltage was tuned so that the graphene device was
pushed to the charge neutral point, the amplitude of the conductance
fluctuation was found to be suppressed quickly from a value consistent with
universal conductance fluctuation when the devices were still well within
weakly disordered regime. The possible physical origins of the suppression are
discussed.


title: Toward a Quantum theory of Gravity and a Resolution of the Time paradox

abstract:
  One of the major issues confronting theoretical physics is finding a quantum
theory of gravity and a resolution to the cosmological constant problem. It is
believed that a true quantum theory of gravity will lead to a solution to the
this problem. Finding a quantum theory of gravity has been a difficult issue
mainly because of the high energy scale required for testing quantum gravity
which is far the reach of current accelerators. Also general relativity does
not possess a natural time variable thus the nature of time is not clear in
quantum gravity, a problem called the time paradox. The two main approaches are
string theory and loop quantum gravity. String theory unifies all interaction
but provides a perturbative background dependent formulation which violates
general covariance. Loop quantum gravity provides a non-perturbative approach
but does not provide a unified theory of interactions, which most physicist
believe should be the case at Planck scale energies. It doesn't also seem to
connect with low energy phenomena.
  In this note I look at how quantum cosmology provides useful inference toward
a quantum gravity theory by merging inputs from the perturbative and the
non-perturbative approaches, and resolving the time paradox issue.


title: Chaos in generalized Jaynes-Cummings model. Kinetic approach

abstract:
  In this work we study possibility of chaos formation in the dynamics governed
by paradigmatic model of Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics, the so called
James-Cammings model. In particular we consider generalized JC model. It is
shown that even in the case of zero detuning dynamics is chaotic. Kinetic
approach for the problem under study has been applied.


title: Chaotic dynamics of two 1/2 spin-qubit system in the optical cavity

abstract:
  Spin systems are one of the most promising candidates for quantum
computation. At the same time control of a system's quantum state during time
evolution is one of the actual problems. It is usually considered that to hold
well-known resonance condition in magnetic resonance is sufficient to control
spin system. But because of nonlinearity of the system, obstructions of control
of system's quantum state may emerge.
  In particular quantum dynamics of two 1/2 spin-qubit system in the optical
cavity is studied in this work. The problem under study is a generalization of
paradigmatic model for Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics of James-Cummings model
in case of interacting spins. In this work it is shown that dynamics is chaotic
when taking into account center-of-mass motion of the qubit and recoil effect.
And besides even in case of zero detuning chaotic dynamics emerges in the
system. It is also shown in this work that because of the chaotic dynamics the
system execute irreversible transition from pure quantum-mechanical state to
mixed one. Irreversibility in its turn is an obstacle for controlling state of
quantum-mechanical system.


title: Hard spectator interactions in B to pi pi at order alpha_s^2

abstract:
  In the present thesis I discuss the hard spectator interaction amplitude in
$B\to\pi\pi$ at NLO i.e. at $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^2)$. This special part of the
amplitude, whose LO starts at $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s)$, is defined in the
framework of QCD factorization. QCD factorization allows to separate the short-
and the long-distance physics in leading power in an expansion in $\lqcd/m_b$,
where the short-distance physics can be calculated in a perturbative expansion
in $\alpha_s$. Compared to other parts of the amplitude hard spectator
interactions are formally enhanced by the hard collinear scale $\sqrt{\lqcd
m_b}$, which occurs next to the $m_b$-scale and leads to an enhancement of
$\alpha_s$.
  From a technical point of view the main challenges of this calculation are
due to the fact that we have to deal with Feynman integrals that come with up
to five external legs and with three independent ratios of scales. These
Feynman integrals have to be expanded in powers of $\lqcd/m_b$. I will discuss
integration by parts identities to reduce the number of master integrals and
differential equations techniques to get their power expansions. A concrete
implementation of integration by parts identities in a computer algebra system
is given in the appendix.
  Finally I discuss numerical issues like scale dependence of the amplitudes
and branching ratios. It will turn out that the NLO contributions of the hard
spectator interactions are important but small enough for perturbation theory
to be valid


title: Enumeration formulas for Young tableaux in a diagonal strip

abstract:
  We derive combinatorial identities, involving the Bernoulli and Euler
numbers, for the numbers of standard Young tableaux of certain skew shapes.
This generalizes the classical formulas of D. Andre on the number of up-down
permutations. The analysis uses a transfer operator approach extending the
method of Elkies, combined with an identity expressing the volume of a certain
polytope in terms of a Schur function.


title: Scattering Models for Ultracold Atoms

abstract:
  We present a review of scattering models that can be used to describe the
low-energy behavior of identical bosonic atoms. In the simplest models, the
only degrees of freedom are atoms in the same spin state. More elaborate models
have other degrees of freedom, such as atoms in other spin states or diatomic
molecules. The parameters of the scattering models are specified by giving the
S-wave phase shifts for scattering of atoms in the spin state of primary
interest. The models are formulated as local quantum field theories and the
renormalization of their coupling constants is determined. Some of the
parameters can be constrained by renormalizability or by the absence of
negative-norm states. The Green's functions that describe the evolution of
two-atom states are determined analytically. They are used to determine the
T-matrix elements for atom-atom scattering and the binding energies of diatomic
molecules. The scattering models all exhibit universal behavior as the
scattering length in a specific spin state becomes large.


title: Pion Form Factor in Chiral Limit of Hard-Wall AdS/QCD Model

abstract:
  We develop a formalism to calculate form factor and charge density
distribution of pion in the chiral limit using the holographic dual model of
QCD with hard-wall cutoff. We introduce two conjugate pion wave functions and
present analytic expressions for these functions and for the pion form factor.
They allow to relate such observables as the pion decay constant and the pion
charge electric radius to the values of chiral condensate and hard-wall cutoff
scale. The evolution of the pion form factor to large values of the momentum
transfer is discussed, and results are compared to existing experimental data.


title: Neutrino-Induced Gamma-Ray Emission from Supernovae

abstract:
  During a core-collapse supernova, absorption of anti-nu_e emitted from the
proto-neutron star by protons in the hydrogen envelope produces neutrons and
positrons. Neutron capture on protons and positron annihilation then produce
gamma rays of 2.22 and 0.511 MeV, respectively. We calculate the fluxes of
these gamma rays expected from a supernova with an 11 M_sun progenitor. The
flux from neutron capture on protons exponentially decays on a timescale of 564
s, which is determined by neutron decay and capture on protons and 3He nuclei.
The peak flux is 2.38x10^{-7}/cm^2/s for a supernova at a distance of 1 kpc. In
contrast, the gamma-ray flux from positron annihilation follows the time
evolution of the anti-nu_e luminosity and lasts for ~10 s. The peak flux in
this case is 6.8x10^{-5}/cm^2/s for a supernova at a distance of 1 kpc.
Detection of the above gamma-ray fluxes is beyond the capability of current
instruments, and perhaps even those planned for the near future. However, if
such fluxes can be detected, they not only constitute a new kind of signals
that occur during the gap of several hours between the neutrino signals and the
optical display of a supernova, but may also provide a useful probe of the
conditions in the surface layers of the supernova progenitor.


title:
Anthropics and Myopics: Conditional Probabilities and the Cosmological
  Constant

abstract:
  We re-examine claims that anthropic arguments provide an explanation for the
observed smallness of the cosmological constant, and argue that correlations
between the cosmological constant value and the existence of life can be
demonstrated only under restrictive assumptions. Causal effects are more subtle
to uncover.


title: Electrodynamics with an Infrared Scale and PVLAS experiment

abstract:
  We consider an infrared Lorentz violation in connection with recent results
of PVLAS experiment. Our analysis is based in a relation that can be
established, under certain conditions, between an axial-like-particle theory
and electrodynamics with an infrared scale. In the PVLAS case, the conditions
imply two dispersion relations such that the infrared scale $|\vec \theta|$,
the inverse axion-photon coupling constant $M^{-1}$ and the external magnetic
field ${\vec B}$ can be connected through the formula $|{\vec \theta}|= {|\vec
B|}/M$. Our analysis, which only requires a non-dynamical (auxiliar) axial-like
field leads to $|{\vec\theta}| \leq 5.4 \times 10^{-7}$ meV and $M^{-1} \sim
1.2 \times 10^{-3}$ GeV $^{-1}$.


title: S-duality in hyperkaehler Hodge theory

abstract:
  Here we survey questions and results on the Hodge theory of hyperkaehler
quotients, motivated by certain S-duality considerations in string theory. The
problems include L^2 harmonic forms, Betti numbers and mixed Hodge structures
on the moduli spaces of Yang-Mills instantons on ALE gravitational instantons,
magnetic monopoles on R^3 and Higgs bundles on a Riemann surface. Several of
these spaces and their hyperkaehler metrics were constructed by Nigel Hitchin
and his collaborators.


title: On the Distance to the Ophiuchus Star-Forming Region

abstract:
  The Ophiuchus molecular cloud complex has produced in Lynds 1688 the richest
known embedded cluster within ~300 pc of the Sun. Unfortunately, distance
estimates to the Oph complex vary by nearly ~40% (~120-165 pc). Here I
calculate a new independent distance estimate of 135 +- 8 pc to this benchmark
star-forming region based on Hipparcos trigonometric parallaxes to stars
illuminating reflection nebulosity in close proximity to Lynds 1688. Combining
this value with recent distance estimates from reddening studies suggests a
consensus distance of 139 +- 6 pc (4% error), situating it within ~11 pc of the
centroid of the ~5 Myr old Upper Sco OB subgroup of Sco OB2 (145 pc). The
velocity vectors for Oph and Upper Sco are statistically indistinguishable
within ~1 km/s in each vector component. Both Oph and Upper Sco have negligible
motion (<1 km/s) in the Galactic vertical direction with respect to the Local
Standard of Rest, which is inconsistent with the young stellar groups having
formed via the high velocity cloud impact scenario.


title:
The Mass Of The Coma Cluster From Weak Lensing In The Sloan Digital Sky
  Survey

abstract:
  We present a weak lensing analysis of the Coma Cluster using the Sloan
Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release Five. Complete imaging of a ~ 200 square
degree region is used to measure the tangential shear of this cluster. The
shear is fit to an NFW model and we find a virial radius of
r_{200}=1.99_{-0.22}^{+0.21}h^{-1}Mpc which corresponds to a virial mass of
M_{200}=1.88_{-0.56}^{+0.65}\times10^{15}h^{-1}M_{\odot}. We additionally
compare our weak lensing measurement to the virial mass derived using dynamical
techniques, and find they are in agreement. This is the lowest redshift,
largest angle weak lensing measurement of an individual cluster to date.


title: Near Tribimaximal Neutrino Mixing with Delta(27) Symmetry

abstract:
  The discrete subgroup Delta(27) of SU(3) has the interesting multiplication
rule 3 X 3 = bar{3} + bar{3} + bar{3}, which is used to obtain near
tribimaximal neutrino mixing. Using present neutrino oscillation data as input,
this model predicts that the effective mass m_{ee} measured in neutrinoless
double beta decay will be 0.14 eV.


title:
Effective shell model Hamiltonians from density functional theory:
  quadrupolar and pairing correlations

abstract:
  We describe a procedure for mapping a self-consistent mean-field theory (also
known as density functional theory) into a shell model Hamiltonian that
includes quadrupole-quadrupole and monopole pairing interactions in a truncated
space. We test our method in the deformed N=Z sd-shell nuclei Ne-20, Mg-24 and
Ar-36, starting from the Hartree-Fock plus BCS approximation of the USD shell
model interaction. A similar procedure is then followed using the SLy4 Skyrme
energy density functional in the particle-hole channel plus a zero-range
density-dependent force in the pairing channel. Using the ground-state solution
of this density functional theory at the Hartree-Fock plus BCS level, an
effective shell model Hamiltonian is constructed. We use this mapped
Hamiltonian to extract quadrupolar and pairing correlation energies beyond the
mean field approximation. The rescaling of the mass quadrupole operator in the
truncated shell model space is found to be almost independent of the coupling
strength used in the pairing channel of the underlying mean-field theory.


title: Filtering Additive Measurement Noise with Maximum Entropy in the Mean

abstract:
  The purpose of this note is to show how the method of maximum entropy in the
mean (MEM) may be used to improve parametric estimation when the measurements
are corrupted by large level of noise. The method is developed in the context
on a concrete example: that of estimation of the parameter in an exponential
distribution. We compare the performance of our method with the bayesian and
maximum likelihood approaches.


title: Holomorphic harmonic analysis on complex reductive groups

abstract:
  We define the holomorphic Fourier transform of holomorphic functions on
complex reductive groups, prove some properties like the Fourier inversion
formula, and give some applications. The definition of the holomorphic Fourier
transform makes use of the notion of $K$-admissible measures. We prove that
$K$-admissible measures are abundant, and the definition of holomorphic Fourier
transform is independent of the choice of $K$-admissible measures.


title: Double Clustering and Graph Navigability

abstract:
  Graphs are called navigable if one can find short paths through them using
only local knowledge. It has been shown that for a graph to be navigable, its
construction needs to meet strict criteria. Since such graphs nevertheless seem
to appear in nature, it is of interest to understand why these criteria should
be fulfilled.
  In this paper we present a simple method for constructing graphs based on a
model where nodes vertices are ``similar'' in two different ways, and tend to
connect to those most similar to them - or cluster - with respect to both. We
prove that this leads to navigable networks for several cases, and hypothesize
that it also holds in great generality. Enough generality, perhaps, to explain
the occurrence of navigable networks in nature.


title: Sobolev Inequalities, Riesz Transforms and the Ricci Flow

abstract:
  In this paper we study the problem of deriving further Sobolev inequalities
from a given Sobolev inequality. We use several different methods, including
Bessel potentials and Riesz transforms. We apply the results to the Ricci flow
to extend the author's results on the $W^{1,2}$ Sobolev inequality along the
Ricci flow to $W^{1,p}$ and $W^{2,p}$ Sobolev inequalities for general p.


title:
Quaternionic matrices: Unitary similarity, simultaneous
  triangularization and some trace identities

abstract:
  We construct six unitary trace invariants for 2 by 2 quaternionic matrices
which separate the unitary similarity classes of such matrices, and show that
this set is minimal. We prove two quaternionic versions of a well known
characterization of triangularizable subalgebras of matrix algebras over an
algebraically closed field. Finally we consider the problem of describing the
semi-algebraic set of pairs (X,Y) of quaternionic n by n matrices which are
simultaneously triangularizable. Even the case n=2, which we analyze in more
detail, remains unsolved.


title:
The Modelling of Degenerate Neck Pinch Singularities in Ricci Flow by
  Bryant Solitons

abstract:
  In earlier work, carrying out numerical simulations of the Ricci flow of
families of rotationally symmetric geometries on $S3$, we have found strong
support for the contention that (at least in the rotationally symmetric case)
the Ricci flow for a ``critical'' initial geometry - one which is at the
transition point between initial geometries (on $S^3$) whose volume-normalized
Ricci flows develop a singular neck pinch, and other initial geometries whose
volume normalized Ricci flows converge to a round sphere - evolves into a
``degenerate neck pinch.'' That is, we have seen in this earlier work that the
Ricci flows for the critical geometries become locally cylindrical in a
neighborhood of the initial pinching, and have the maximum amount of curvature
at one or both of the poles. Here, we explore the behavior of these flows at
the poles, and find strong support for the conjecture that the Bryant steady
solitons accurately model this polar flow.


title: Ore Extensions of Extended Symmetric and Reversible Rings

abstract:
  Let $\sigma$ be an endomorphism and $\delta$ an $\sigma$-derivation of a ring
$R$. In this paper, we show that if $R$ is $(\sigma,\delta)$-skew Armendariz
and $a\sigma(b)=0$ implies $ab=0$ for $a,b\in R$. Then $R$ is symmetric
(respectively, reversible) if and only if $R$ is $\sigma$-symmetric
(respectively, $\sigma$-reversible) if and only if $R[x;\sigma,\delta]$ is
symmetric (respectively, reversible). Moreover, we study on the relationship
between the Baerness, quasi-Baerness and p.q.-Baerness of a ring $R$ and these
of the Ore extension $R[x;\sigma,\delta]$. As a consequence we obtain a partial
generalization of \cite{hong/2000}.


title: Competition in Wireless Systems via Bayesian Interference Games

abstract:
  We study competition between wireless devices with incomplete information
about their opponents. We model such interactions as Bayesian interference
games. Each wireless device selects a power profile over the entire available
bandwidth to maximize its data rate. Such competitive models represent
situations in which several wireless devices share spectrum without any central
authority or coordinated protocol.
  In contrast to games where devices have complete information about their
opponents, we consider scenarios where the devices are unaware of the
interference they cause to other devices. Such games, which are modeled as
Bayesian games, can exhibit significantly different equilibria. We first
consider a simple scenario of simultaneous move games, where we show that the
unique Bayes-Nash equilibrium is where both devices spread their power equally
across the entire bandwidth. We then extend this model to a two-tiered spectrum
sharing case where users act sequentially. Here one of the devices, called the
primary user, is the owner of the spectrum and it selects its power profile
first. The second device (called the secondary user) then responds by choosing
a power profile to maximize its Shannon capacity. In such sequential move
games, we show that there exist equilibria in which the primary user obtains a
higher data rate by using only a part of the bandwidth.
  In a repeated Bayesian interference game, we show the existence of reputation
effects: an informed primary user can bluff to prevent spectrum usage by a
secondary user who suffers from lack of information about the channel gains.
The resulting equilibrium can be highly inefficient, suggesting that
competitive spectrum sharing is highly suboptimal.


title: On the linear independence of spikes and sines

abstract:
  The purpose of this work is to survey what is known about the linear
independence of spikes and sines. The paper provides new results for the case
where the locations of the spikes and the frequencies of the sines are chosen
at random. This problem is equivalent to studying the spectral norm of a random
submatrix drawn from the discrete Fourier transform matrix. The proof involves
depends on an extrapolation argument of Bourgain and Tzafriri.


title:
Rate Regions for the Partially-Cooperative Relay Broadcast Channel with
  Non-causal Side Information

abstract:
  In this work, we consider a partially cooperative relay broadcast channel
(PC-RBC) controlled by random parameters. We provide rate regions for two
different situations: 1) when side information (SI) S^n on the random
parameters is non-causally known at both the source and the relay and, 2) when
side information S^n is non-causally known at the source only. These achievable
regions are derived for the general discrete memoryless case first and then
extended to the case when the channel is degraded Gaussian and the SI is
additive i.i.d. Gaussian. In this case, the source uses generalized dirty paper
coding (GDPC), i.e., DPC combined with partial state cancellation, when only
the source is informed, and DPC alone when both the source and the relay are
informed. It appears that, even though it can not completely eliminate the
effect of the SI (in contrast to the case of source and relay being informed),
GDPC is particularly useful when only the source is informed.


title: Elliptical Flow in Relativistic Ion Collisions at s^(1/2)= 200 A GeV

abstract:
  A consistent picture of the Au+Au and D+Au, s^1/2 = 200 A GeV measurements at
RHIC obtained with the PHENIX, STAR, PHOBOS and BRAHMS detectors including both
the rapidity and transverse momentum spectra was previously developed with the
simulation LUCIFER. The approach was modeled on the early production of a fluid
of pre-hadrons after the completion of an initial, phase of high energy
interactions. The formation of pre-hadrons is discussed here, in a perturbative
QCD approach as advocated by Kopeliovich, Nemchik and Schmidt. In the second
phase of LUCIFER, a considerably lower energy hadron-like cascade ensues. Since
the dominant collisions occurring in this latter phase are meson-meson in
character while the initial collisions are between baryons, i.e. both involve
hadron sized interaction cross-sections, there is good reason to suspect that
the observed elliptical flow will be produced naturally, and this is indeed
found to be the case.


title: Starburst Intensity Limit of Galaxies at z~5-6

abstract:
  The peak star formation intensity in starburst galaxies does not vary
significantly from the local universe to redshift z~6. We arrive at this
conclusion through new surface brightness measurements of 47 starburst galaxies
at z~5-6, doubling the redshift range for such observations. These galaxies are
spectroscopically confirmed in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) through the
GRism ACS program for Extragalactic Science (GRAPES) project. The starburst
intensity limit for galaxies at z~5-6 agree with those at z~3-4 and z~0 to
within a factor of a few, after correcting for cosmological surface brightness
dimming and for dust. The most natural interpretation of this constancy over
cosmic time is that the same physical mechanisms limit starburst intensity at
all redshifts up to z~6 (be they galactic winds, gravitational instability, or
something else). We do see two trends with redshift: First, the UV spectral
slope of galaxies at z~5-6 is bluer than that of z~3 galaxies, suggesting an
increase in dust content over time. Second, the galaxy sizes from z~3 to z~6
scale approximately as the Hubble parameter 1/H(z). Thus, galaxies at z~6 are
high redshift starbursts, much like their local analogs except for slightly
bluer colors, smaller physical sizes, and correspondingly lower overall
luminosities. If we now assume a constant maximum star formation intensity, the
differences in observed surface brightness between z~0 and z~6 are consistent
with standard expanding cosmology and strongly inconsistent with tired light
model.


title:
Spin Wave Magnetic NanoFabric: A New Approach to Spin-based Logic
  Circuitry

abstract:
  We propose and describe a magnetic NanoFabric which provides a route to
building reconfigurable spin-based logic circuits compatible with conventional
electron-based devices. A distinctive feature of the proposed NanoFabric is
that a bit of information is encoded into the phase of the spin wave signal. It
makes possible to transmit information without the use of electric current and
utilize wave interference for useful logic functionality. The basic elements
include voltage-to-spin wave and wave-to-voltage converters, spin waveguides, a
modulator, and a magnetoelectric cell. As an example of a magnetoelectric cell,
we consider a two-phase piezoelectric-piezomagnetic system, where the spin wave
signal modulation is due to the stress-induced anisotropy caused by the applied
electric field. The performance of the basic elements is illustrated by
experimental data and results of numerical modeling. The combination of the
basic elements let us construct magnetic circuits for NOT and Majority logic
gates. Logic gates AND, OR, NAND and NOR are shown to be constructed as the
combination of NOT and a reconfigurable Majority gates. The examples of
computational architectures such as Cellular Automata, Cellular Nonlinear
Network and Field Programmable Gate Array are described. The main advantage of
the proposed NanoFabric is in the ability to realize logic gates with less
number of devices than it required for CMOS-based circuits. Potentially, the
area of the elementary reconfigurable Majority gate can be scaled down to
0.1um2. The disadvantages and limitations of the proposed NanoFabric are
discussed.


abstract:
  In this paper we extend the new family of (quantitative) Belief Conditioning
Rules (BCR) recently developed in the Dezert-Smarandache Theory (DSmT) to their
qualitative counterpart for belief revision. Since the revision of quantitative
as well as qualitative belief assignment given the occurrence of a new event
(the conditioning constraint) can be done in many possible ways, we present
here only what we consider as the most appealing Qualitative Belief
Conditioning Rules (QBCR) which allow to revise the belief directly with words
and linguistic labels and thus avoids the introduction of ad-hoc translations
of quantitative beliefs into quantitative ones for solving the problem.


title:
The nature of the dense core population in the pipe nebula: core and
  cloud kinematics from C18O observations

abstract:
  We present molecular-line observations of 94 dark cloud cores identified in
the Pipe nebula through near-IR extinction mapping. Using the Arizona Radio
Observatory 12m telescope, we obtained spectra of these cores in the J=1-0
transition of C18O. We use the measured core parameters, i.e., antenna
temperature, linewidth, radial velocity, radius and mass, to explore the
internal kinematics of these cores as well as their radial motions through the
larger molecular cloud. We find that the vast majority of the dark extinction
cores are true cloud cores rather than the superposition of unrelated
filaments. While we identify no significant correlations between the core's
internal gas motions and the cores' other physical parameters, we identify
spatially correlated radial velocity variations that outline two main kinematic
components of the cloud. The largest is a 15pc long filament that is
surprisingly narrow both in spatial dimensions and in radial velocity.
Beginning in the Stem of the Pipe, this filament displays uniformly small C18O
linewidths (dv~0.4kms-1) as well as core to core motions only slightly in
excess of the gas sound speed. The second component outlines what appears to be
part of a large (2pc; 1000 solar mass) ring-like structure. Cores associated
with this component display both larger linewidths and core to core motions
than in the main cloud. The Pipe Molecular Ring may represent a primordial
structure related to the formation of this cloud.


title:
Effect of Primordial Black Holes on the Cosmic Microwave Background and
  Cosmological Parameter Estimates

abstract:
  We investigate the effect of non-evaporating primordial black holes (PBHs) on
the ionization and thermal history of the universe. X-rays emitted by gas
accretion onto PBHs modify the cosmic recombination history, producing
measurable effects on the spectrum and anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave
Background (CMB). Using the third-year WMAP data and FIRAS data we improve
existing upper limits on the abundance of PBHs with masses >0.1 Msun by several
orders of magnitude. Fitting WMAP3 data with cosmological models that do not
allow for non-standard recombination histories, as produced by PBHs or other
early energy sources, may lead to an underestimate of the best-fit values of
the amplitude of linear density fluctuations (sigma_8) and the scalar spectral
index (n_s). Cosmological parameter estimates are affected because models with
PBHs allow for larger values of the Thomson scattering optical depth, whose
correlation with other parameters may not be correctly taken into account when
PBHs are ignored. Values of tau_e=0.2, n_s=1 and sigma_8=0.9 are allowed at 95%
CF. This result that may relieve recent tension between WMAP3 data and clusters
data on the value of sigma_8. PBHs may increase the primordial molecular
hydrogen abundance by up to two orders of magnitude, this promoting cooling and
star formation. The suppression of galaxy formation due to X-ray heating is
negligible for models consistent with the CMB data. Thus, the formation rate of
the first galaxies and stars would be enhanced by a population of PBHs.


title:
SDSS J131339.98+515128.3: A new gravitationally lensed quasar selected
  based on near-infrared excess

abstract:
  We report the discovery of a new gravitationally lensed quasar, SDSS
J131339.98+515128.3, at a redshift of 1.875 with an image separation of 1.24".
The lensing galaxy is clearly detected in visible-light follow-up observations.
We also identify three absorption-line doublets in the spectra of the lensed
quasar images, from which we measure the lens redshift to be 0.194. Like
several other known lenses, the lensed quasar images have different continuum
slopes. This difference is probably the result of reddening and microlensing in
the lensing galaxy. The lensed quasar was selected by correlating Sloan Digital
Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopic quasars with Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)
sources and choosing quasars that show near-infrared (IR) excess. The near-IR
excess can originate, for example, from the contribution of the lensing galaxy
at near-IR wavelengths. We show that the near-IR excess technique is indeed an
efficient method to identify lensed systems from a large sample of quasars.


title: Is the Dynamics of Tracking Dark Energy Detectable?

abstract:
  We highlight the unexpected impact of nucleosynthesis and other early
universe constraints on the detectability of tracking quintessence dynamics at
late times, showing that such dynamics may well be invisible until the
unveiling of the Stage-IV dark energy experiments (DUNE, JDEM, LSST, SKA).
Nucleosynthesis forces |w'(0)| < 0.2 for the models we consider and strongly
limits potential deviations from LCDM. Surprisingly, the standard CPL
parametrisation, w(z) = w_0 + w_a z/(1+z), cannot match the nucleosynthesis
bound for minimally coupled tracking scalar fields. Given that such models are
arguably the best-motivated alternatives to a cosmological constant these
results may significantly impact future cosmological survey design and imply
that dark energy may well be dynamical even if we do not detect any dynamics in
the next decade.


title: Quantum Non-Demolition Detection of Strongly Correlated Systems

abstract:
  Preparation, manipulation, and detection of strongly correlated states of
quantum many body systems are among the most important goals and challenges of
modern physics. Ultracold atoms offer an unprecedented playground for
realization of these goals. Here we show how strongly correlated states of
ultracold atoms can be detected in a quantum non-demolition scheme, that is, in
the fundamentally least destructive way permitted by quantum mechanics. In our
method, spatially resolved components of atomic spins couple to quantum
polarization degrees of freedom of light. In this way quantum correlations of
matter are faithfully mapped on those of light; the latter can then be
efficiently measured using homodyne detection. We illustrate the power of such
spatially resolved quantum noise limited polarization measurement by applying
it to detect various standard and "exotic" types of antiferromagnetic order in
lattice systems and by indicating the feasibility of detection of superfluid
order in Fermi liquids.


title: Effect of Local Minima on Adiabatic Quantum Optimization

abstract:
  We present a perturbative method to estimate the spectral gap for adiabatic
quantum optimization, based on the structure of the energy levels in the
problem Hamiltonian. We show that for problems that have exponentially large
number of local minima close to the global minimum, the gap becomes
exponentially small making the computation time exponentially long. The quantum
advantage of adiabatic quantum computation may then be accessed only via the
local adiabatic evolution, which requires phase coherence throughout the
evolution and knowledge of the spectrum. Such problems, therefore, are not
suitable for adiabatic quantum computation.


title: The evolution of massive black hole seeds

abstract:
  We investigate the evolution of high redshift seed black hole masses at late
times and their observational signatures. The massive black hole seeds studied
here form at extremely high redshifts from the direct collapse of pre-galactic
gas discs. Populating dark matter halos with seeds formed in this way, we
follow the mass assembly of these black holes to the present time using a
Monte-Carlo merger tree. Using this machinery we predict the black hole mass
function at high redshifts and at the present time; the integrated mass density
of black holes and the luminosity function of accreting black holes as a
function of redshift. These predictions are made for a set of three seed models
with varying black hole formation efficiency. Given the accuracy of current
observational constraints, all 3 models can be adequately fit. Discrimination
between the models appears predominantly at the low mass end of the present day
black hole mass function which is not observationally well constrained.
However, all our models predict that low surface brightness, bulgeless galaxies
with large discs are least likely to be sites for the formation of massive seed
black holes at high redshifts. The efficiency of seed formation at high
redshifts has a direct influence on the black hole occupation fraction in
galaxies at z=0. This effect is more pronounced for low mass galaxies. This is
the key discriminant between the models studied here and the Population III
remnant seed model. We find that there exists a population of low mass galaxies
that do not host nuclear black holes. Our prediction of the shape of the black
hole mass - velocity dispersion relation at the low mass end is in agreement
with the recent observational determination from the census of low mass
galaxies in the Virgo cluster.


title: Population III Wolf-Rayet Stars in the CAK Regime

abstract:
  Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars near solar metallicity are believed to be driven by
radiation pressure on the UV spectral lines of metal ions. As the metallicity
decreases so does the line opacity, therefore the mass-loss rate. However,
since the composition of a WR atmosphere is determined by the burn products of
the core, there is a lower limit on the line opacity -- and therefore the
mass-loss rate -- of a WR star, even in a star with zero initial metallicity.
This presentation is the result of attempt to calculate the mass-loss rate of a
Population III-type WO star using a modified version of the CAK approximation.
I find that n_e greater than or equal to 10^{13} cm^{-3} and Gamma between 0.5
and 0.7 give the most plausible results, with the resulting mass-loss rate
between 2x10^{-9} M_sun yr^{-1} and 3x10^{-8} M_sun yr^{-1}.


title:
Identifiability of a Markovian model of molecular evolution with
  Gamma-distributed rates

abstract:
  Inference of evolutionary trees and rates from biological sequences is
commonly performed using continuous-time Markov models of character change. The
Markov process evolves along an unknown tree while observations arise only from
the tips of the tree. Rate heterogeneity is present in most real data sets and
is accounted for by the use of flexible mixture models where each site is
allowed its own rate. Very little has been rigorously established concerning
the identifiability of the models currently in common use in data analysis,
although non-identifiability was proven for a semi-parametric model and an
incorrect proof of identifiability was published for a general parametric model
(GTR+Gamma+I). Here we prove that one of the most widely used models
(GTR+Gamma) is identifiable for generic parameters, and for all parameter
choices in the case of 4-state (DNA) models. This is the first proof of
identifiability of a phylogenetic model with a continuous distribution of
rates.


title: Ergoregion instability of ultra-compact astrophysical objects

abstract:
  Most of the properties of black holes can be mimicked by horizonless compact
objects such as gravastars and boson stars. We show that these ultra-compact
objects develop a strong ergoregion instability when rapidly spinning.
Instability timescales can be of the order of 0.1 seconds to 1 week for objects
with mass M=1-10^6 solar masses and angular momentum J> 0.4 M^2. This provides
a strong indication that ultra-compact objects with large rotation are black
holes. Explosive events due to ergoregion instability have a well-defined
gravitational-wave signature. These events could be detected by next-generation
gravitational-wave detectors such as Advanced LIGO or LISA.


title:
Harnessing bifurcations in tapping-mode atomic force microscopy to
  calibrate time-varying tip-sample force measurements

abstract:
  Torsional harmonic cantilevers allow measurement of time varying tip-sample
forces in tapping-mode atomic force microscopy. Accuracy of these force
measurements is important for quantitative nanomechanical measurements. Here we
demonstrate a method to convert the torsional deflection signals into a
calibrated force waveform with the use of non-linear dynamical response of the
tapping cantilever. Specifically the transitions between steady oscillation
regimes are used to calibrate the torsional deflection signals.


title: Weinberg Eigenvalues and Pairing with Low-Momentum Potentials

abstract:
  The nonperturbative nature of nucleon-nucleon interactions evolved to low
momentum has recently been investigated in free space and at finite density
using Weinberg eigenvalues as a diagnostic. This analysis is extended here to
the in-medium eigenvalues near the Fermi surface to study pairing. For a fixed
value of density and cutoff Lambda, the eigenvalues increase arbitrarily in
magnitude close to the Fermi surface, signaling the pairing instability. When
using normal-phase propagators, the Weinberg analysis with complex energies
becomes a form of stability analysis and the pairing gap can be estimated from
the largest attractive eigenvalue. With Nambu-Gorkov Green's functions, the
largest attractive eigenvalue goes to unity close to the Fermi surface,
indicating the presence of bound states (Cooper pairs), and the corresponding
eigenvector leads to the self-consistent gap function.


title:
Constructing packings in Grassmannian manifolds via alternating
  projection

abstract:
  This paper describes a numerical method for finding good packings in
Grassmannian manifolds equipped with various metrics. This investigation also
encompasses packing in projective spaces. In each case, producing a good
packing is equivalent to constructing a matrix that has certain structural and
spectral properties. By alternately enforcing the structural condition and then
the spectral condition, it is often possible to reach a matrix that satisfies
both. One may then extract a packing from this matrix.
  This approach is both powerful and versatile. In cases where experiments have
been performed, the alternating projection method yields packings that compete
with the best packings recorded. It also extends to problems that have not been
studied numerically. For example, it can be used to produce packings of
subspaces in real and complex Grassmannian spaces equipped with the
Fubini--Study distance; these packings are valuable in wireless communications.
One can prove that some of the novel configurations constructed by the
algorithm have packing diameters that are nearly optimal.


title:
Quantum Gravity Corrections to the One Loop Scalar Self-Mass during
  Inflation

abstract:
  We compute the one loop corrections from quantum gravity to the
self-mass-squared of a massless, minimally coupled scalar on a locally de
Sitter background. The calculation was done using dimensional regularization
and renormalized by subtracting fourth order BPHZ counterterms. Our result
should determine whether quantum gravitational loop corrections can
significantly alter the dynamics of a scalar inflaton.


title:
Modeling core collapse supernovae in 2 and 3 dimensions with spectral
  neutrino transport

abstract:
  The overwhelming evidence that the core collapse supernova mechanism is
inherently multidimensional, the complexity of the physical processes involved,
and the increasing evidence from simulations that the explosion is marginal
presents great computational challenges for the realistic modeling of this
event, particularly in 3 spatial dimensions. We have developed a code which is
scalable to computations in 3 dimensions which couples PPM Lagrangian with
remap hydrodynamics [1], multigroup, flux-limited diffusion neutrino transport
[2], with many improvements), and a nuclear network [3]. The neutrino transport
is performed in a ray-by-ray plus approximation wherein all the lateral effects
of neutrinos are included (e.g., pressure, velocity corrections, advection)
except the transport. A moving radial grid option permits the evolution to be
carried out from initial core collapse with only modest demands on the number
of radial zones. The inner part of the core is evolved after collapse along
with the rest of the core and mantle by subcycling the lateral evolution near
the center as demanded by the small Courant times. We present results of 2-D
simulations of a symmetric and an asymmetric collapse of both a 15 and an 11 M
progenitor. In each of these simulations we have discovered that once the
oxygen rich material reaches the shock there is a synergistic interplay between
the reduced ram pressure, the energy released by the burning of the shock
heated oxygen rich material, and the neutrino energy deposition which leads to
a revival of the shock and an explosion.


title: Markov-Chain Monte Carlo Methods for Simulations of Biomolecules

abstract:
  The computer revolution has been driven by a sustained increase of
computational speed of approximately one order of magnitude (a factor of ten)
every five years since about 1950. In natural sciences this has led to a
continuous increase of the importance of computer simulations. Major enabling
techniques are Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and Molecular Dynamics (MD)
simulations.
  This article deals with the MCMC approach. First basic simulation techniques,
as well as methods for their statistical analysis are reviewed. Afterwards the
focus is on generalized ensembles and biased updating, two advanced techniques,
which are of relevance for simulations of biomolecules, or are expected to
become relevant with that respect. In particular we consider the multicanonical
ensemble and the replica exchange method (also known as parallel tempering or
method of multiple Markov chains).


title: Causal sets and conservation laws in tests of Lorentz symmetry

abstract:
  Many of the most important astrophysical tests of Lorentz symmetry also
assume that energy-momentum of the observed particles is exactly conserved. In
the causal set approach to quantum gravity a particular kind of Lorentz
symmetry holds but energy-momentum conservation may be violated. We show that
incorrectly assuming exact conservation can give rise to a spurious signal of
Lorentz symmetry violation for a causal set. However, the size of this spurious
signal is much smaller than can be currently detected and hence astrophysical
Lorentz symmetry tests as currently performed are safe from causal set induced
violations of energy-momentum conservation.


title: Implications of very rapid TeV variability in blazars

abstract:
  We discuss the implications of rapid (few-minute) variability in the TeV flux
of blazars, which has been observed recently with the HESS and MAGIC
telescopes. The variability timescales seen in PKS 2155-304 and Mrk 501 are
much shorter than inferred light-crossing times at the black hole horizon,
suggesting that the variability involves enhanced emission in a small region
within an outflowing jet. The enhancement could be triggered by dissipation in
part of the black hole's magnetosphere at the base of the outflow, or else by
instabilities in the jet itself. By considering the energetics of the observed
flares, along with the requirement that TeV photons escape without producing
pairs, we deduce that the bulk Lorentz factors in the jets must be >50. The
distance of the emission region from the central black hole is less
well-constrained. We discuss possible consequences for multi-wavelength
observations.


title:
Soft Spin Wave Near nu=1: Evidence for a Magnetic Instability in
  Skyrmion Systems

abstract:
  The ground state of the two dimensional electron gas near $\nu$=1 is
investigated by inelastic light scattering measurements carried down to very
low temperatures. Away from $\nu$=1, the ferromagnetic spin wave collapses and
a new low-energy spin wave emerges below the Zeeman gap. The emergent spin wave
shows soft behavior as its energy increases with temperature and reaches the
Zeeman energy for temperatures above 2 K. The observed softening indicates an
instability of the two dimensional electron gas towards a magnetic order that
breaks spin rotational symmetry. We discuss our findings in light of the
possible existence of a Skyrme crystal.


title: The largest oxigen bearing organic molecule repository

abstract:
  We present the first detection of complex aldehydes and isomers in three
typical molecular clouds located within 200pc of the center of our Galaxy.
  We find very large abundances of these complex organic molecules (COMs) in
the central molecular zone (CMZ), which we attribute to the ejection of COMs
from grain mantles by shocks. The relative abundances of the different COMs
with respect to that of CH3OH are strikingly similar for the three sources,
located in very different environments in the CMZ. The similar relative
abundances point toward a unique grain mantle composition in the CMZ. Studying
the Galactic center clouds and objects in the Galactic disk having large
abundances of COMs, we find that more saturated molecules are more abundant
than the non-saturated ones. We also find differences between the relative
abundance between COMs in the CMZ and the Galactic disk, suggesting different
chemical histories of the grain mantles between the two regions in the Galaxy
for the complex aldehydes. Different possibilities for the grain chemistry on
the icy mantles in the GC clouds are briefly discussed. Cosmic rays can play an
important role in the grain chemistry. With these new detections, the molecular
clouds in the Galactic center appear to be one of the best laboratories for
studying the formation of COMs in the Galaxy.


title: Stellar Wind Accretion in GX301-2: Evidence for a High-density Stream

abstract:
  The X-ray binary system GX301-2 consists of a neutron star in an eccentric
orbit accreting from the massive early-type star WRAY 977. It has previously
been shown that the X-ray orbital light curve is consistent with existence of a
gas stream flowing out from Wray 977 in addition to its strong stellar wind.
Here, X-ray monitoring observations by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE)/
All-Sky-Monitor (ASM) and pointed observations by the RXTE/ Proportional
Counter Array (PCA) over the past decade are analyzed. We analyze both the flux
and column density dependence on orbital phase. The wind and stream dynamics
are calculated for various system inclinations, companion rotation rates and
wind velocities, as well as parametrized by the stream width and density. These
calculations are used as inputs to determine both the expected accretion
luminosity and the column density along the line-of-sight to the neutron star.
The model luminosity and column density are compared to observed flux and
column density vs. orbital phase, to constrain the properties of the stellar
wind and the gas stream. We find that the change between bright and medium
intensity levels is primarily due to decreased mass loss in the stellar wind,
but the change between medium and dim intensity levels is primarily due to
decreased stream density. The mass-loss rate in the stream exceeds that in the
stellar wind by a factor of 2.5. The quality of the model fits is significantly
better for lower inclinations, favoring a mass for WRAY 977 of 53 to 62 Msun.


title: The Many Computations Interpretation (MCI) of Quantum Mechanics

abstract:
  Computationalism provides a framework for understanding how a mathematically
describable physical world could give rise to conscious observations without
the need for dualism. A criterion is proposed for the implementation of
computations by physical systems, which has been a problem for
computationalism. Together with an independence criterion for implementations
this would allow, in principle, prediction of probabilities for various
observations based on counting implementations. Applied to quantum mechanics,
this results in a Many Computations Interpretation (MCI), which is an explicit
form of the Everett style Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI). Derivation of the
Born Rule emerges as the central problem for most realist interpretations of
quantum mechanics. If the Born Rule is derived based on computationalism and
the wavefunction it would provide strong support for the MWI; but if the Born
Rule is shown not to follow from these to an experimentally falsified extent,
it would indicate the necessity for either new physics or (more radically) new
philosophy of mind.


title: Did supermassive black holes form by direct collapse?

abstract:
  Rapid infall of gas in the nuclei of galaxies could lead to the formation of
black holes by direct collapse, without first forming stars. Black holes formed
in this way would have initial masses of a few solar masses, but would be
embedded in massive envelopes that would allow them to grow at a highly
super-Eddington rate. Thus, seed black holes as large as 10^3-10^4 solar masses
could form very rapidly. I will sketch the basic physics of the direct collapse
process and the properties of the accreting envelopes.


title:
Vector fields and foliations associated to groups of projective
  automorphisms

abstract:
  We introduce and give normal forms for (one-dimensional) Riccati foliations
(vector fields) on $\ov \bc \times \bc P(2)$ and $\ov \bc \times \ov \bc^n$.
These are foliations are characterized by transversality with the generic fiber
of the first projection and we prove they are conjugate {\em in some invariant
Zariski open subset} to the suspension of a group of automorphisms of the
fiber, $\bc P(2)$ or $\ov \bc^n$, this group called {\it global holonomy}. Our
main result states that given a finitely generated subgroup $G$ of $\Aut(\bc P
(2))$, there is a Riccati foliation on $\ov \bc \times \bc P(2)$ for which the
global holonomy is conjugate to $G$.


title: C^*- Actions on Stein analytic spaces with isolated singularities

abstract:
  Let $V$ be an irreducible complex analytic space of dimension two with normal
singularities and $\vr:\mathbb{C^*}\times V\to V$ a holomorphic action of the
group $\mathbb{C^*}$ on $V$. Denote by $\fa_\vr$ the foliation on $V$ induced
by $\vr$. The leaves of this foliation are the one-dimensional orbits of $\vr$.
%and its singularities are the fixed points of $\vr$. We will assume that there
exists a \emph{dicritical} singularity $p\in V$ for the $\bc^*$-action, i.e.
for some neighborhood $p\in W\subset V$ there are infinitely many leaves of
$\mathcal {F}_\vr|_{W}$ accumulating only at $p$. The closure of such a local
leaf is an invariant local analytic curve called a \emph{separatrix} of
$\mathcal{F}_\vr$ through $p$. In \cite{Orlik} Orlik and Wagreich studied the
2-dimensional affine algebraic varieties embedded in $\mathbb{C}^{n+1}$, with
an isolated singularity at the origin, that are invariant by an effective
action of the form $\sigma_Q(t,(z_{0},...,z_{n}))=(t^{q_{0}}z_{0},...,
t^{q_{n}}z_{n})$ where $Q=(q_0,...,q_n) \in\mathbb N^{n+1}$, i.e. all $q_{i}$
are positive integers. Such actions are called \emph{good} actions. In
particular they classified the algebraic surfaces embedded in $\mathbb{C}^{3}$
endowed with such an action. It is easy to see that any good action on a
surface embedded in $\mathbb{C}^{n+1}$ has a dicritical singularity at
$0\in\mathbb{C}^{n+1}$. Conversely, it is the purpose of this paper to show
that good actions are the models for analytic $\mathbb{C^*}$-actions on Stein
analytic spaces of dimension two with a dicritical singularity.


title: Quantum discord and the power of one qubit

abstract:
  We use quantum discord to characterize the correlations present in the
quantum computational model DQC1, introduced by Knill and Laflamme [Phys. Rev.
Lett. 81, 5672 (1998)]. The model involves a collection of qubits in the
completely mixed state coupled to a single control qubit that has nonzero
purity. The initial state, operations, and measurements in the model all point
to a natural bipartite split between the control qubit and the mixed ones.
Although there is no entanglement between these two parts, we show that the
quantum discord across this split is nonzero for typical instances of the DQC1
ciruit. Nonzero values of discord indicate the presence of nonclassical
correlations. We propose quantum discord as figure of merit for characterizing
the resources present in this computational model.


title: Explicit Connections with SU(2)-Monodromy

abstract:
  The pure braid group \Gamma of a quadruply-punctured Riemann sphere acts on
the SL(2,C)-moduli M of the representation variety of such sphere. The points
in M are classified into \Gamma-orbits. We show that, in this case, the
monodromy groups of many explicit solutions to the Riemann-Hilbert problem are
subgroups of SU(2). Most of these solutions are examples of representations
that have dense images in SU(2), but with finite \Gamma-orbits in M. These
examples relate to explicit immersions of constant mean curvature surfaces.


title: Possible Outlet of Test on Violation of Pauli Exclusion Principle

abstract:
  The present experimental tests have proved high precisely the validity of the
Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) in usual cases. The future experiments should
be combined widely with various theories of hidden and obvious violation of
PEP. Author think that known experiments and theories seem to imply the
violation at high energy. Some possible tests have been proposed in particle
physics, nuclei at high energy and astrophysics, etc., in particular, the
excited high-n atoms and multi-quark states. Moreover, the violation is
possibly relevant to the nonlinear quantum theory, in which the present linear
superposition principle may not hold. Finally, the possible violation at very
low temperature is discussed. These experiments may be connected with tests of
other basic principles, for example, the present wave property, possible
decrease of entropy due to internal interactions in isolated systems, and PCT
invariance, etc.


title:
Quantum Gravity Phenomenology without Lorentz Invariance Violation: a
  detailed proposal

abstract:
  We describe a scheme for the exploration of quantum gravity phenomenology
focussing on effects that could be thought as arising from a fundamental
granularity of space-time. In contrast with the simplest assumptions, such
granularity is assumed to respect Lorentz Invariance but is otherwise left
unspecified. The proposal is fully observer covariant, it involves non-trivial
couplings of curvature to matter fields and leads to a well defined
phenomenology. We present the effective Hamiltonian which could be used to
analyze concrete experimental situations, some of which are briefly described,
and we shortly discuss the degree to which the present proposal is in line with
the fundamental ideas behind the equivalence principle.


title:
Cancer Genesis and Progression as Dynamics in Functional Landscape of
  Endogenous Molecular-Cellular Network

abstract:
  An endogenous molecular-cellular network for both normal and abnormal
functions is assumed to exist. This endogenous network forms a nonlinear
stochastic dynamical system, with many stable attractors in its functional
landscape. Normal or abnormal robust states can be decided by this network in a
manner similar to the neural network. In this context cancer is hypothesized as
one of its robust intrinsic states. This hypothesis implies that a nonlinear
stochastic mathematical cancer model is constructible based on available
experimental data and its quantitative prediction is directly testable. Within
such model the genesis and progression of cancer may be viewed as stochastic
transitions between different attractors. Thus it further suggests that
progressions are not arbitrary. Other important issues on cancer, such as
genetic vs epigenetics, double-edge effect, dormancy, are discussed in the
light of present hypothesis. A different set of strategies for cancer
prevention, cure, and care, is therefore suggested.


title: The On The Fly Imaging Technique

abstract:
  The On-The-Fly (OTF) imaging technique enables single-dish radio telescopes
to construct images of small areas of the sky with greater efficiency and
accuracy. This paper describes the practical application of the OTF imaging
technique. By way of example the implementation of the OTF imaging technique at
the NRAO 12 Meter Telescope is described. Specific requirements for data
sampling, image formation, and Doppler correction are discussed.


title: Strong Imbalanced Turbulence

abstract:
  We consider stationary, forced, imbalanced, or cross-helical MHD Alfvenic
turbulence where the waves traveling in one direction have higher amplitudes
than the opposite waves. This paper is dedicated to so-called strong
turbulence, which cannot be treated perturbatively. Our main result is that the
anisotropy of the weak waves is stronger than the anisotropy of a strong waves.
We propose that critical balance, which was originally conceived as a causality
argument, has to be amended by what we call a propagation argument. This
revised formulation of critical balance is able to handle the imbalanced case
and reduces to old formulation in the balanced case. We also provide
phenomenological model of energy cascading and discuss possibility of
self-similar solutions in a realistic setup of driven turbulence.


title: Applications of Cutoff Resolvent Estimates to the Wave Equation

abstract:
  We consider solutions to the linear wave equation on non-compact Riemannian
manifolds without boundary when the geodesic flow admits a filamentary
hyperbolic trapped set. We obtain a polynomial rate of local energy decay with
exponent depending only on the dimension.


title: Phonon bottleneck in the low-excitation limit

abstract:
  The phonon-bottleneck problem in the relaxation of two-level systems (spins)
via direct phonon processes is considered numerically in the weak-excitation
limit where the Schroedinger equation for the spin-phonon system simplifies.
The solution for the relaxing spin excitation p(t), emitted phonons n_k(t),
etc. is obtained in terms of the exact many-body eigenstates. In the absence of
phonon damping Gamma_{ph} and inhomogeneous broadening, p(t) approaches the
bottleneck plateau p_\infty > 0 with strongly damped oscillations, the
frequency being related to the spin-phonon splitting Delta at the avoided
crossing. For any Gamma_{ph} > 0 one has p(t) -> 0 but in the case of strong
bottleneck the spin relaxation rate is much smaller than Gamma_{ph} and p(t) is
nonexponential. Inhomogeneous broadening exceeding Delta partially alleviates
the bottleneck and removes oscillations of p(t). The line width of emitted
phonons, as well as Delta, increase with the strength of the bottleneck, i.e.,
with the concentration of spins.


title:
General observations on series whose terms proceed as the sines and
  cosines of multiples of angles

abstract:
  Translated from the Latin original, "Observationes generales circa series,
quarum termini secundum sinus vel cosinus angulorum multiplorum progrediuntur"
(1777). E655 in the Enestrom index. Euler looks at the binomial expansion
$(1+x)^n$ for $x=\cos \phi+i\sin\phi$. He does $n=$ positive and negative
integers, and $n={1/2}, -{1/2}$, and particular values of $\phi$.


title: Strain dependent twist-stretch elasticity in chiral filaments

abstract:
  Coupling between axial and torsional degrees of freedom often modifies the
conformation and expression of natural and synthetic filamentous aggregates.
Recent studies on chiral single-walled carbon nanotubes and B-DNA reveal a
reversal in the sign of the twist-stretch coupling at large strains. The
similarity in the response in these two distinct supramolecular assemblies and
at high strains suggests a fundamental, chirality dependent non-linear elastic
behaviour. Here, we seek the link between the microscopic origin of the
non-linearities and the effective twist-stretch coupling using energy based
theoretical frameworks and model simulations. Our analysis reveals a sensitive
interplay between the deformation energetics and the sign of the coupling,
highlighting robust design principles that determine both the sign and extent
of these couplings. These design principles have been already exploited by
Nature to dynamically engineer such couplings, and have broad implications in
mechanically coupled actuation, propulsion and transport in biology and
technology.


title: New Rotating Non-Extremal Black Holes in D=5 Maximal Gauged Supergravity

abstract:
  We obtain new non-extremal rotating black hole solutions in maximal
five-dimensional gauged supergravity. They are characterised by five
parameters, associated with the mass, the two angular momenta, and two
independently-specifiable charge parameters. Two of the three charges
associated with the U(1)^3 Cartan subgroup of the SO(6) gauge group are equal,
whilst the third can be independently specified. These new solutions generalise
all the previously-known rotating solutions in five-dimensional gauged
supergravity with independent angular momenta. They describe regular black
holes, provided the parameters lie in appropriate ranges so that naked
singularities and closed-timelike curves (CTCs) are avoided. We also construct
the BPS limit, and show that regular supersymmetric black holes or topological
solitons arise if the parameters are further restricted in an appropriate
manner.


title:
Time-Domain Studies of Very-Large-Angle Magnetization Dynamics Excited
  by Spin Transfer Torques

abstract:
  We describe time-domain measurements which provide new information about the
large-angle nonlinear dynamics of nanomagnets excited by spin-transfer torque
from a spin-polarized current. Sampling-oscilloscope measurements, which
average over thousands of experimental time traces, show that the mean reversal
time for spin-transfer-driven magnetic switching has a step-like dependence on
magnetic field, because an integer number of precession cycles is required for
reversal. Storage-oscilloscope measurements of individual experimental traces
reveal non-periodic large-amplitude resistance variations at values of magnetic
field and current in a crossover region between the regimes of
spin-transfer-driven switching and steady-state precession. We also observe
directly the existence of time-dependent switching, on the nanosecond scale,
between different precessional modes and between a precessional mode and a
static state, at particular values of magnetic field and current bias.


title:
Quantifying Stochastic Effects in Biochemical Reaction Networks using
  Partitioned Leaping

abstract:
  "Leaping" methods show great promise for significantly accelerating
stochastic simulations of complex biochemical reaction networks. However, few
practical applications of leaping have appeared in the literature to date.
Here, we address this issue using the "partitioned leaping algorithm" (PLA)
[L.A. Harris and P. Clancy, J. Chem. Phys. 125, 144107 (2006)], a
recently-introduced multiscale leaping approach. We use the PLA to investigate
stochastic effects in two model biochemical reaction networks. The networks
that we consider are simple enough so as to be accessible to our intuition but
sufficiently complex so as to be generally representative of real biological
systems. We demonstrate how the PLA allows us to quantify subtle effects of
stochasticity in these systems that would be difficult to ascertain otherwise
as well as not-so-subtle behaviors that would strain commonly-used "exact"
stochastic methods. We also illustrate bottlenecks that can hinder the approach
and exemplify and discuss possible strategies for overcoming them. Overall, our
aim is to aid and motivate future applications of leaping by providing stark
illustrations of the benefits of the method while at the same time elucidating
obstacles that are often encountered in practice.


title:
Quantum Coherence Conservation by Growth in Environmental Dissipation
  Rate

abstract:
  Quantum coherence conservation is shown to be achieved by a very high rate of
dissipation of an environmental system coupled with a principal system. This
effect is not in the list of previously-known strategies of noise suppression,
such as Zeno effect, dynamical decoupling, quantum error correction code, and
decoherence free subspace. An analytical solution is found for a simplified
model of a single qubit coupled with an environmental single qubit dissipating
rapidly. We also show examples of coherence conservation in a spin-boson linear
coupling model with a numerical evaluation.


title: Deterministic dense coding and entanglement entropy

abstract:
  We present an analytical study of the standard two-party deterministic
dense-coding protocol, under which communication of perfectly distinguishable
messages takes place via a qudit from a pair of non-maximally entangled qudits
in pure state |S>. Our results include the following: (i) We prove that it is
possible for a state |S> with lower entanglement entropy to support the sending
of a greater number of perfectly distinguishable messages than one with higher
entanglement entropy, confirming a result suggested via numerical analysis in
Mozes et al. [Phys. Rev. A 71 012311 (2005)]. (ii) By explicit construction of
families of local unitary operators, we verify, for dimensions d = 3 and d=4, a
conjecture of Mozes et al. about the minimum entanglement entropy that supports
the sending of d + j messages, j = 2, ..., d-1; moreover, we show that the j=2
and j= d-1 cases of the conjecture are valid in all dimensions. (iii) Given
that |S> allows the sending of K messages and has the square roof of c as its
largest Schmidt coefficient, we show that the inequality c <= d/K, established
by Wu et al. [ Phys. Rev. A 73, 042311 (2006)], must actually take the form c <
d/K if K = d+1, while our constructions of local unitaries show that equality
can be realized if K = d+2 or K = 2d-1.


title: 3-bounded property in a triangle-free distance-regular graph

abstract:
  Let $\Gamma$ denote a distance-regular graph with classical parameters $(D,
b, \alpha, \beta)$ and $D\geq 3$. Assume the intersection numbers $a_1=0$ and
$a_2\not=0$. We show $\Gamma$ is 3-bounded in the sense of the article
[D-bounded distance-regular graphs, European Journal of Combinatorics(1997)18,
211-229].


title:
Orthosymplectic Lie superalgebras in superspace analogues of quantum
  Kepler problems

abstract:
  A Schroedinger type equation on the superspace R^{D|2n} is studied, which
involves a potential inversely proportional to the negative of the osp(D|2n)
invariant "distance" away from the origin. An osp(2,D+1|2n) dynamical
supersymmetry for the system is explicitly constructed, and the bound states of
the system are shown to form an irreducible highest weight module for this
superalgebra. A thorough understanding of the structure of the irreducible
module is obtained. This in particular enables the determination of the energy
eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenspaces as well as their respective
dimensions.


title:
Discovering Patterns in Multi-neuronal Spike Trains using the Frequent
  Episode Method

abstract:
  Discovering the 'Neural Code' from multi-neuronal spike trains is an
important task in neuroscience. For such an analysis, it is important to
unearth interesting regularities in the spiking patterns. In this report, we
present an efficient method for automatically discovering synchrony, synfire
chains, and more general sequences of neuronal firings. We use the Frequent
Episode Discovery framework of Laxman, Sastry, and Unnikrishnan (2005), in
which the episodes are represented and recognized using finite-state automata.
Many aspects of functional connectivity between neuronal populations can be
inferred from the episodes. We demonstrate these using simulated multi-neuronal
data from a Poisson model. We also present a method to assess the statistical
significance of the discovered episodes. Since the Temporal Data Mining (TDM)
methods used in this report can analyze data from hundreds and potentially
thousands of neurons, we argue that this framework is appropriate for
discovering the `Neural Code'.


title:
Isotopic dependence of the giant monopole resonance in the even-A
  ^{112-124}Sn isotopes and the asymmetry term in nuclear incompressibility

abstract:
  The strength distributions of the giant monopole resonance (GMR) have been
measured in the even-A Sn isotopes (A=112--124) with inelastic scattering of
400-MeV $\alpha$ particles in the angular range
  $0^\circ$--$8.5^\circ$. We find that the experimentally-observed GMR energies
of the Sn isotopes are lower than the values predicted by theoretical
calculations that reproduce the GMR energies in $^{208}$Pb and $^{90}$Zr very
well. From the GMR data, a value of $K_{\tau} = -550 \pm 100$ MeV is obtained
for the asymmetry-term in the nuclear incompressibility.


title: Plastic flow in polycrystal states in a binary mixture

abstract:
  Using molecular dynamics simulation we examine dynamics in sheared
polycrystal states in a binary mixture containing 10% larger particles in two
dimensions. We find large stress fluctuations arising from sliding motions of
the particles at the grain boundaries, which occur cooperatively to release the
elastic energy stored. These dynamic processes are visualized with the aid of a
sixfold angle $\alpha_j(t)$ representing the local crystal orientation and a
disorder variable $D_j(t)$ representing a deviation from the hexagonal order
for particle $j$.


title:
Observations of Sunspot Oscillations in G band and Ca II H line with
  Solar Optical Telescope on Hinode

abstract:
  Exploiting high-resolution observations made by the Solar Optical Telescope
onboard Hinode, we investigate the spatial distribution of power spectral
density of oscillatory signal in and around NOAA active region 10935. The
G-band data show that in the umbra the oscillatory power is suppressed in all
frequency ranges. On the other hand, in Ca II H intensity maps oscillations in
the umbra, so-called umbral flashes, are clearly seen with the power peaking
around 5.5 mHz. The Ca II H power distribution shows the enhanced elements with
the spatial scale of the umbral flashes over most of the umbra but there is a
region with suppressed power at the center of the umbra. The origin and
property of this node-like feature remain unexplained.


title: Holographic Thermodynamics at Finite Baryon Density: Some Exact Results

abstract:
  We use the AdS/CFT correspondence to study the thermodynamics of massive N=2
supersymmetric hypermultiplets coupled to N=4 supersymmetric SU(Nc) Yang-Mills
theory in the limits of large Nc and large 't Hooft coupling. In particular, we
study the theory at finite baryon number density. At zero temperature, we
present an exact expression for the hypermultiplets' leading-order contribution
to the free energy, and in the supergravity description we clarify which
D-brane configuration is appropriate for any given value of the chemical
potential. We find a second-order phase transition when the chemical potential
equals the mass. At finite temperature, we present an exact expression for the
hypermultiplets' leading-order contribution to the free energy at zero mass.


title:
Thermoacoustic effects in supercritical fluids near the critical point:
  Resonance, piston effect, and acoustic emission and reflection

abstract:
  We present a general theory of thermoacoustic phenomena in supercritical
fluids near the critical point in a one-dimensional cell. We take into account
the effects of the heat conduction in the boundary walls and the bulk viscosity
near the critical point. We introduce a coefficient $Z(\omega)$ characterizing
reflection of sound with frequency $\omega$ at the boundary. As applications,
we examine the acoustic eigenmodes in the cell, the response to time-dependent
perturbations, sound emission and reflection at the boundary. Resonance and
rapid adiabatic changes are noteworthy. In these processes, the role of the
thermal diffusion layers is enhanced near the critical point because of the
strong critical divergence of the thermal expansion.


title:
Separation of accelerated electrons and positrons in the relativistic
  reconnection

abstract:
  We study an acceleration of electrons and positrons in the relativistic
magnetic field reconnection using a 2.5-D particle-in-cell electromagnetic
relativistic code. We consider the model with two current sheets and periodic
boundary conditions. The electrons and positrons are very effectively
accelerated during the tearing and coalescence processes of the reconnection.
We found that near the X-points of the reconnection the positions of electrons
and positrons differ. This separation process is in agreement with those
studied in the previous papers analytically or by test particle simulations. We
expect that in dependence on the magnetic field connectivity this local
separation can lead to global spatial separation of the accelerated electrons
and positrons. A similar simulation in the electron-proton plasma with the
proton-electron mass ratio m_i/m_e = 16 is made.


title:
Inhomogeneous preheating in multi-field models of cosmological
  perturbation

abstract:
  We consider inhomogeneous preheating in multi-field models of cosmological
perturbation. After preheating, two fields are trapped at an enhanced symmetric
point. One field is an oscillating field and the other is a light field that
plays an important role in generating perturbation. In this presentation, we
consider two types of potential for the light field.


title:
Solutions of nonlinear PDEs in the completion of uniform convergence
  spaces

abstract:
  This paper deals with the solution of large classes of systems of nonlinear
partial differential equations (PDEs) in spaces of generalized functions that
are constructed as the completion of uniform convergence spaces. The existence
result for the mentioned systems of equations are obtained as an application of
a basic approximation result, which is formulated entirely in terms of usual
real valued functions on open subsets of Euclidean n-space. The structure and
regularity properties of the solutions are explained at the hand of suitable
results relating to the structure of the completion of uniform convergence
spaces that are defined as initial structures. In this regard, we include also
a detailed discussion of the completion of initial uniform convergence spaces
in general.


title: Electronic Orbital Currents and Polarization in Mott Insulators

abstract:
  The standard view is that at low energies Mott insulators exhibit only
magnetic properties while charge degrees of freedom are frozen out as the
electrons become localized by a strong Coulomb repulsion. We demonstrate that
this is in general not true: for certain spin textures {\it spontaneous
circular electric currents} or {\it nonuniform charge distribution} exist in
the ground state of Mott insulators. In addition, low-energy ``magnetic''
states contribute comparably to the dielectric and magnetic functions
$\epsilon_{ik}(\omega)$ and $\mu_{ik}(\omega)$ leading to interesting phenomena
such as rotation the electric field polarization and resonances which may be
common for both functions producing a negative refraction index in a window of
frequencies.


title: A Spitzer Search for Water in the Transiting Exoplanet HD189733b

abstract:
  We present Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the extrasolar planet
HD189733b primary transit, obtained simultaneously at 3.6 and 5.8 microns with
the Infrared Array Camera. The system parameters, including planetary radius,
stellar radius, and impact parameter are derived from fits to the transit light
curves at both wavelengths. We measure two consistent planet-to-star radius
ratios, (Rp/Rs)[3.6$\mu$m] = 0.1560 +/- 0.0008(stat) +/- 0.0002(syst) and
(Rp/Rs)[5.8$\mu$m] = 0.1541 +/- 0.0009(stat) +/- 0.0009(syst), which include
both the random and systematic errors in the transit baseline. Although planet
radii are determined at 1%-accuracy, if all uncertainties are taken into
account the resulting error bars are still too large to allow for the detection
of atmospheric constituants like water vapour. This illustrates the need to
observe multiple transits with the longest possible out-of-transit baseline, in
order to achieve the precision required by transmission spectroscopy of giant
extrasolar planets.


title:
Magnetic field dependence of the electrical conductivity in V3Ge in the
  vicinity of Hc2

abstract:
  The phase transition from the Abrikosov state to the normal state with
superconducting fluctuations observed below the second critical field and
well-known as vortex lattice melting was one of the most popular problems in
the nineties. This problem had became popular after the discovery of high-Tc
superconductors because the fluctuation phenomena are much stronger in the HTSC
than in the conventional superconductors. Most people are sure that this sharp
transition was observed for the present only in HTSC and are ignorant that it
was observed as far back as 1981, before the HTSC discovery. In the last years
some papers devoted to the problem of vortex lattice melting in conventional
superconductors were published. The authors of these papers and others should
be aware of the result obtained before the HTSC discovery. It was found first
in the presented paper that the transition into the Abrikosov vortex state is
very narrow in high quality samples with weak pinning and it is observed below
the second critical field. These results signify that this phase transition can
be first-order and it is not connected directly with appearance of a finite
density of superconducting pairs.


title: On the Mass-Period Distributions and Correlations of Extrasolar Planets

abstract:
  In addition to fitting the data of 233 extra-solar planets with power laws,
we construct a correlated mass-period distribution function of extrasolar
planets, as the first time in this field. The algorithm to generate a pair of
positively correlated beta-distributed random variables is introduced and used
for the construction of correlated distribution functions. We investigate the
mass-period correlations of extrasolar planets both in the linear and logarithm
spaces, determine the confidence intervals of the correlation coefficients, and
confirm that there is a positive mass-period correlation for the extrasolar
planets. In addition to the paucity of massive close-in planets, which makes
the main contribution on this correlation, there are other fine structures for
the data in the mass-period plane.


title:
Berry Phase Effects in the dynamics of Dirac Electrons in Doubly Special
  Relativity Framework

abstract:
  We consider the Doubly Special Relativity (DSR) generalization of Dirac
equation in an external potential in the Magueijo-Smolin base. The particles
obey a modified energy-momentum dispersion relation. The semiclassical
diagonalization of the Dirac Hamiltonian reveals the intrinsic Berry phase
effects in the particle dynamics.


title:
Computer Simulation on Terahertz Emission from Intrinsic Josephson
  Junctions of High-T_c Superconductors

abstract:
  Solving coupled nonlinear sine-Gordon equations and Maxwell equations
numerically, we study the electromagnetic and superconducting properties of the
single crystal of high-$T_c$ superconductor $\rm{Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+\delta}}$
with a static magnetic field applied parallel to the $ab$-plane and a dc
current fed in along the c-axis. Cavity resonances of transverse plasma occur
in the intrinsic Josephson junctions with frequencies in terahertz regime. It
is revealed that the electromagnetic wave can transmit from the junctions into
space. The emitted energy counted by the Poynting vector is about
$400\rm{W/cm^2}$. The frequency as well as the energy of emission can be tuned
almost continuously by the current and magnetic field.


title:
Determining the Minimal Length Scale of the Generalized Uncertainty
  Principle from the Entropy-Area Relationship

abstract:
  We derive the formula of the black hole entropy with a minimal length of the
Planck size by counting quantum modes of scalar fields in the vicinity of the
black hole horizon, taking into account the generalized uncertainty principle
(GUP). This formula is applied to some intriguing examples of black holes - the
Schwarzschild black hole, the Reissner-Nordstrom black hole, and the
magnetically charged dilatonic black hole. As a result, it is shown that the
GUP parameter can be determined by imposing the black hole entropy-area
relationship, which has a Planck length scale and a universal form within the
near-horizon expansion.


title: Kinematics of deformable media

abstract:
  We investigate the kinematics of deformations in two and three dimensional
media by explicitly solving (analytically) the evolution equations
(Raychaudhuri equations) for the expansion, shear and rotation associated with
the deformations. The analytical solutions allow us to study the dependence of
the kinematical quantities on initial conditions. In particular, we are able to
identify regions of the space of initial conditions that lead to a singularity
in finite time. Some generic features of the deformations are also discussed in
detail. We conclude by indicating the feasibility and utility of a similar
exercise for fluid and geodesic flows in flat and curved spacetimes.


title: Spiral model, jamming percolation and glass-jamming transitions

abstract:
  The Spiral Model (SM) corresponds to a new class of kinetically constrained
models introduced in joint works with D.S. Fisher [8,9]. They provide the first
example of finite dimensional models with an ideal glass-jamming transition.
This is due to an underlying jamming percolation transition which has
unconventional features: it is discontinuous (i.e. the percolating cluster is
compact at the transition) and the typical size of the clusters diverges faster
than any power law, leading to a Vogel-Fulcher-like divergence of the
relaxation time. Here we present a detailed physical analysis of SM, see [5]
for rigorous proofs. We also show that our arguments for SM does not need any
modification contrary to recent claims of Jeng and Schwarz [10].


title:
An approximate model for the adhesive contact of rough viscoelastic
  surfaces

abstract:
  Surface roughness is known to easily suppress the adhesion of elastic
surfaces. Here a simple model for the contact of \emph{viscoelastic} rough
surfaces with significant levels of adhesion is presented. This approach is
derived from our previous model [E. Barthel and G. Haiat {\em Langmuir}, 18
9362 2002] for the adhesive contact of viscoelastic spheres. For simplicity a
simple loading/unloading history (infinitely fast loading and constant pull-out
velocity) is assumed. The model provides approximate analytical expressions for
the asperity response and exhibits the full viscoelastic adhesive contact
phenomenology such as stress relaxation inside the contact zone and creep at
the contact edges. Combining this model with a Greenwood-Williamson statistical
modeling of rough surfaces, we propose a quantitative assessment of the
adhesion to rough viscoelastic surfaces. We show that moderate viscoelasticity
efficiently restores adhesion on rough surfaces over a wide dynamic range.


title: The Black Hole Mass and Extreme Orbital Structure in NGC1399

abstract:
  The largest galaxies, and in particular central galaxies in clusters, offer
unique insight into understanding the mechanism for the growth of nuclear black
holes. We present Hubble Space Telescope kinematics for NGC1399, the central
galaxy in Fornax. We find the best-fit model contains a black hole of 5.1 +-0.7
x 10^8 Msun (at a distance of 21.1 Mpc), a factor of over 2 below the
correlation of black hole mass and velocity dispersion. We also find a dramatic
signature for central tangential anisotropy. The velocity profiles on adjacent
sides 0.5" away from the nucleus show strong bimodality, and the central
spectrum shows a large drop in the dispersion. Both of these observations point
to an orbital distribution that is tangentially biased. The best-fit orbital
model suggests a ratio of the tangential to radial internal velocity
dispersions of three. This ratio is the largest seen in any galaxy to date and
will provide an important measure for the mode by which the central black hole
has grown.


title: Embedding Brans-Dicke gravity into electroweak theory

abstract:
  We argue that a version of the four dimensional Brans-Dicke theory can be
embedded in the standard flat spacetime electroweak theory. The embedding
involves a change of variables that separates the isospin from the hypercharge
in the electroweak theory.


title: What can we learn from fluctuations of particle ratios?

abstract:
  We explain how fluctuations of ratios can constrain and falsify the
statistical model of particle production in heavy ion collisions, using $K/\pi$
fluctuations as an example. We define an observable capable of determining
which statistical model, if any, governs freeze-out in ultrarelativistic heavy
ion collisions. We calculate this observable for $K/\pi$ fluctuations, and show
that it should be the same for RHIC and LHC energies, as well as independent of
centrality, if the Grand-Canonical statistical model is an appropriate
description and chemical equilibrium applies. We describe variations of this
scaling for deviations from this scenario, such as light quark chemical
non-equilibrium, strange quark over-saturation and local conservation
(canonical ensemble) for strange quarks. We also introduce a similar observable
capable, together with the published $K^*/K$ measurement, of ascertaining if an
interacting hadron gas phase governs the system between thermal and chemical
freeze-out, and of ascertaining its duration and impact on hadronic chemistry.


title: Optimization of Short Coherent Control Pulses

abstract:
  The coherent control of small quantum system is considered. For a two-level
system coupled to an arbitrary bath we consider a pulse of finite duration. We
derive the leading and the next-leading order corrections to the evolution
operator due to the non-commutation of the pulse and the bath Hamiltonian. The
conditions are computed that make the leading corrections vanish. The pulse
shapes optimized in this way are given for $\pi$ and $\frac{\pi}{2}$ pulses.


title: Temporary behavior of 'persistent' current in normal rings

abstract:
  In equilibrium, the number of conduction electrons in a solid substance
depends on the conformation of the atoms in the substance. When a magnetic
field is applied, it takes time for the system to come to a new equilibrium
with a new conformation. During such times, current may flow. But, unless
superconduction is involved, the new equilibrium contains no current. It is
shown that the transitory currents are consistent with experiments involving
magnetization of small rings at low temperatures.


title:
SUBARU Near-Infrared Multi-Color Images of Class II Young Stellar
  Object, RNO91

abstract:
  We conducted sub-arcsecond near-infrared imaging observations of RNO91 with
CIAO mounted on the SUBARU 8.2 m telescope. We present our JHK band data along
with optical images, which when considered together reveal a complex
circumstellar structure. We examined the colors of associated nebula and
compared the geometry of the outflow/disk system suggested by our data with
that already proposed on the basis of previous studies. Our K-band image shows
bright circumstellar nebulosity detected within 2"(300AU) around the central
source while it is less conspicuous at shorter wavelengths such as J and
optical. P.A. and size of this red color nebulosity in our H-K color image
agree with those of the previously detected polarization disk. These data
agreement indicate that this bright circumstellar nebulosity region which
follows the reddening law might be attributed to a disk-like structure. At J
and optical wavelengths, several blue knot-like structures are detected around
and beyond the bright circumstellar nebulosity. We suggest that these knotty
reflection nebulae may represent disintegrating fragments of an infalling
envelope. The three-color composite image has an appearance of arc-shaped
nebulosity extending to the north and to the east through the central source.
On the other end of this arc-shaped structure, the nebula appears to become
more extended (2."3 long) to the southwest. We interpret these structures as
roots of bipolar cavities opening to the northeast and southwest. The complex
distribution of reflection nebulosity seen around RNO91 appears to confirm the
interpretation of this source as an object dispersing its molecular envelope
while transitioning from protostar to T Tauri star.


title: Utility function estimation: the entropy approach

abstract:
  The maximum entropy principle can be used to assign utility values when only
partial information is available about the decision maker's preferences. In
order to obtain such utility values it is necessary to establish an analogy
between probability and utility through the notion of a utility density
function. According to some authors [Soofi (1990), Abbas (2006a) (2006b),
Sandow et al. (2006), Friedman and Sandow (2006), Darooneh (2006)] the maximum
entropy utility solution embeds a large family of utility functions. In this
paper we explore the maximum entropy principle to estimate the utility function
of a risk averse decision maker.