title: Quantum Communication With Zero-Capacity Channels

abstract:
  Communication over a noisy quantum channel introduces errors in the
transmission that must be corrected. A fundamental bound on quantum error
correction is the quantum capacity, which quantifies the amount of quantum data
that can be protected. We show theoretically that two quantum channels, each
with a transmission capacity of zero, can have a nonzero capacity when used
together. This unveils a rich structure in the theory of quantum
communications, implying that the quantum capacity does not uniquely specify a
channel's ability for transmitting quantum information.


title: Supersymmetry with a Chargino NLSP and Gravitino LSP

abstract:
  We demonstrate that the lightest chargino can be lighter than the lightest
neutralino in supersymmetric models with Dirac gaugino masses as well as within
a curious parameter region of the MSSM. Given also a light gravitino, such as
from low scale supersymmetry breaking, this mass hierarchy leads to an unusual
signal where every superpartner cascades down to a chargino that decays into an
on-shell W and a gravitino, possibly with a macroscopic chargino track. We
clearly identify the region of parameters where this signal can occur. We find
it is generic in the context of the R-symmetric supersymmetric standard model,
whereas it essentially only occurs in the MSSM when sign(M1) is not equal to
sign(M2) = sign(\mu) and tan(beta) is small. We briefly comment on the search
strategies for this signal at the LHC.


title:
Flavor Physics in the Randall-Sundrum Model: I. Theoretical Setup and
  Electroweak Precision Tests

abstract:
  A complete discussion of tree-level flavor-changing effects in the
Randall-Sundrum (RS) model with brane-localized Higgs sector and bulk gauge and
matter fields is presented. The bulk equations of motion for the gauge and
fermion fields, supplemented by boundary conditions taking into account the
couplings to the Higgs sector, are solved exactly. For gauge fields the
Kaluza-Klein (KK) decomposition is performed in a covariant R_xi gauge. For
fermions the mixing between different generations is included in a completely
general way. The hierarchies observed in the fermion spectrum and the quark
mixing matrix are explained naturally in terms of anarchic five-dimensional
Yukawa matrices and wave-function overlap integrals. Detailed studies of the
flavor-changing couplings of the Higgs boson and of gauge bosons and their KK
excitations are performed, including in particular the couplings of the
standard W and Z bosons. A careful analysis of electroweak precision
observables including the S and T parameters and the Zbb couplings shows that
the simplest RS model containing only Standard Model particles and their KK
excitations is consistent with all experimental bounds for a KK scale as low as
a few TeV, if one allows for a heavy Higgs boson and/or for an ultra-violet
cutoff below the Planck scale. The study of flavor-changing effects includes
analyses of the non-unitarity of the quark mixing matrix, anomalous
right-handed couplings of the W bosons, tree-level flavor-changing neutral
current couplings of the Z and Higgs bosons, the rare decays t-->c(u)+Z and
t-->c(u)+h, and the flavor mixing among KK fermions. The results obtained in
this work form the basis for general calculations of flavor-changing processes
in the RS model and its extensions.


title: ZFK := ZFC with a Complement, or: Hegel and the Synto-Set-Theory

abstract:
  What is the slightest modification of ZF to add a complement-axiom? The
answer in my Ph.D. thesis 1971 was ZF'': Zermelo-Fraenkel with replacement for
only well-founded domains and an omega-axiom. In 1974, Alonzo Church published
a similar system, as did Urs Oswald in 1976. In his 1976 Ph.D. thesis, E.
Mitchell also designed, a system very similar to ZF''. In this article we argue
that ZF'' is the slightest modification of ZF among all these systems and that
its successor ZFK is the simplest set theory with a universal set at all.


title: Coalescence Models For Hadron Formation From Quark Gluon Plasma

abstract:
  We review hadron formation from a deconfined quark gluon plasma (QGP) via
coalescence or recombination of quarks and gluons. We discuss the abundant
experimental evidence for coalescence from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
(RHIC) and compare the various coalescence models advocated in the literature.
We comment on the underlying assumptions and remaining challenges as well as
the merits of the models. We conclude with a discussion of some recent
developments in the field.


title: Anomalies of E8 gauge theory on String manifolds

abstract:
  In this note we revisit the subject of anomaly cancelation in string theory
and M-theory on manifolds with String structure and give three observations.
First, that on String manifolds there is no E8 x E8 global anomaly in heterotic
string theory. Second, that the description of the anomaly in the phase of the
M-theory partition function of Diaconescu-Moore-Witten extends from the Spin
case to the String case. Third, that the cubic refinement law of
Diaconescu-Freed-Moore for the phase of the M-theory partition function extends
to String manifolds. The analysis relies on extending from invariants which
depend on the Spin structure to invariants which instead depend on the String
structure. Along the way, the one-loop term is refined via the Witten genus.


title: Slow and stored light and optical depth

abstract:
  We present a preliminary experimental study of the dependence on optical
depth of slow and stored light pulses in Rb vapor. In particular, we
characterize the efficiency of slow and stored light as a function of Rb
density; pulse duration, delay and storage time; and control field intensity.
Experimental results are in good qualitative agreement with theoretical
calculations based on a simplified three-level model at moderate densities.


title:
Mott Relation for Anomalous Hall and Nernst effects in Ga1-xMnxAs
  Ferromagnetic Semiconductors

abstract:
  The Mott relation between the electrical and thermoelectric transport
coefficients normally holds for phenomena involving scattering. However, the
anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in ferromagnets may arise from intrinsic spin-orbit
interaction. In this work, we have simultaneously measured AHE and the
anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) in Ga1-xMnxAs ferromagnetic semiconductor films,
and observed an exceptionally large ANE at zero magnetic field. We further show
that AHE and ANE share a common origin and demonstrate the validity of the Mott
relation for the anomalous transport phenomena.


title:
Enhanced effect of quark mass variation in 229Th and limits from Oklo
  data

abstract:
  The effects of the variation of the dimensionless strong interaction
parameter Xq=mq/Lambda{QCD} (mq is the quark mass, Lambda{QCD} is the QCD
scale) are enhanced about 1.5 x 10**5 times in the 7.6 eV "nuclear clock"
transition between the ground and first excited states in the 229Th nucleus and
about 1 x 10**8 times in the relative shift of the 0.1 eV compound resonance in
150Sm.The best terrestrial limit on the temporal variation of the fundamental
constants, |delta(Xq)/Xq| < 4 x 10**-9 at 1.8 billion years ago (|d(Xq/Xq)/dt|
< 2.2 x 10**-18 y**-1), is obtained from the shift of this Sm resonance derived
from the Oklo natural nuclear reactor data. The results for 229Th and 150Sm are
obtained by extrapolation from light nuclei where the many-body calculations
can be performed more accurately. The errors produced by such extrapolation may
be smaller than the errors of direct calculations in heavy nuclei. The
extrapolation results are compared with the "direct" estimates obtained using
the Walecka model. A number of numerical relations needed for the calculations
of the variation effects in nuclear physics and atomic spectroscopy have been
obtained: for the nuclear binding energy delta(E)/E ~ -1.45 delta(mq)/mq, for
the spin-orbit intervals delta(Eso)/Eso ~ -0.22 delta(mq)/mq, for the nuclear
radius delta(r)/r ~ 0.3 delta(mq)/mq (in units of Lambda{QCD}); for the shifts
of nuclear resonances and weakly bound energy levels delta(Er) ~ 10
delta(Xq)/Xq MeV.


title:
Effect of parallel magnetic field on the Zero Differential Resistance
  State

abstract:
  The non-linear zero-differential resistance state (ZDRS) that occurs for
highly mobile two-dimensional electron systems in response to a dc bias in the
presence of a strong magnetic field applied perpendicular to the electron plane
is suppressed and disappears gradually as the magnetic field is tilted away
from the perpendicular at fixed filling factor $\nu$. Good agreement is found
with a model that considers the effect of the Zeeman splitting of Landau levels
enhanced by the in-plane component of the magnetic field.


title: Plasmonic metamaterial cloaking at optical frequencies

abstract:
  In this paper, we present the design of cylindrical and spherical
electromagnetic cloaks working at visible frequencies. The cloak design is
based on the employment of layered structures consisting of alternating
plasmonic and non-plasmonic materials and exhibiting the collective behavior of
an effective epsilon-near-zero material at optical frequencies. The design of a
cylindrical cloak to hide cylindrical objects is firstly presented. Two
alternative layouts are proposed and both magnetic and non-magnetic objects are
considered. Then, the design of spherical cloaks is also presented. The
full-wave simulations presented throughout the paper confirm the validity of
the proposed setup, and show how this technique can be used to reduce the
observability of cylindrical and spherical objects. The effect of the losses is
also considered.


title:
Long-time stability of multi-dimensional noncharacteristic viscous
  boundary layers

abstract:
  We establish long-time stability of multi-dimensional noncharacteristic
boundary layers of a class of hyperbolic--parabolic systems including the
compressible Navier--Stokes equations with inflow [outflow] boundary
conditions, under the assumption of strong spectral, or uniform Evans,
stability. Evans stabiity has been verified for small-amplitude layers by
Gu\`es, M\'etivier, Williams, and Zumbrun. For large-amplitude layers, it may
be efficiently checked numerically, as done in the one-dimensional case by
Costanzino, Humpherys, Nguyen, and Zumbrun.


title: Higher Cardinals are only a Convention

abstract:
  Zermelo's Axiom of Separation is: Exist x: Forall y: (y in x <==> y in a &
E(y)) with definite(E) and parameter a. Thoralf Skolem suggested to
characterize the terminus "definite" by "the property E should be representable
by a FOL formula". But that is trivial. "definite" must mean more. The author
claims that "definite" means "in accordance with the theory of definitions of
logic". In this case the theorem of Cantor is no longer a theorem, but a
undecidable sentence, and has to be established explicitly as axiom. This is
not done by the community, but it is made a silent assumption that we can drop
the appendix "definite(E)" from the axiom of separation at all. But this is a
convention (even when it is silent) and it is nothing else than an axiom.


title: Ultra-Thin Silver Films obtained by Sequential Quench-Anneal Processing

abstract:
  We have used the two-step growth technique, quench condensing followed by an
anneal, to grow ultra thin films of silver on glass substrates. As has been
seen with semiconductor substrates this process produces a metastable
homogeneous covering of silver. By measuring the in situ resistance of the film
during growth we are able to see that the low temperature growth onto
substrates held at 100 Kelvin produces a precursor phase that is insulating
until the film has been annealed. The transformation of the precursor phase
into the final, metallic silver film occurs at a characteristic temperature
near 150K where the sample reconstructs. This reconstruction is accompanied by
a decrease in resistance of up to 10 orders of magnitude.


title: BH Accretion in Low-Mass Galaxies Since z~1

abstract:
  We have selected a sample of X-ray emitting active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in
low-mass host galaxies (5e9-2e10 Msun) out to z~1. By comparing to AGNs in more
massive hosts, we have found that the AGN spatial number density and the
fraction of galaxies hosting AGNs depends strongly on the host mass, with the
AGN host mass function peaking at intermediate mass and with the AGN fraction
increasing with host mass. AGNs in low-mass hosts show strong cosmic evolution
in comoving number density, the fraction of such galaxies hosting active nuclei
and the comoving X-ray energy density. The integrated X-ray luminosity function
is used to estimate the amount of the accreted black hole mass in these AGNs
and places a strong lower limit of 12% to the fraction of local low-mass
galaxies hosting black holes, though a more likely value is probably much
higher (> 50%) once the heavily-obscured objects missed in current X-ray
surveys are accounted for.


title:
CATS: Optical to Near-Infrared Colors of the Bulge and Disk of Two z=0.7
  Galaxies Using HST and Keck Laser Adaptive Optics Imaging

abstract:
  We have employed laser guide star (LGS) adaptive optics (AO) on the Keck II
telescope to obtain near-infrared (NIR) images in the Extended Groth Strip
(EGS) deep galaxy survey field. This is a continuation of our Center for
Adaptive Optics Treasury Survey (CATS) program of targeting 0.5<z<1 galaxies
where existing images with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) are already in
hand. Our AO field has already been imaged by the Advanced Camera for Surveys
(ACS) and the Near Infared Camera and Multiobject Spectrograph (NICMOS). Our AO
images at 2.2 microns (K') are comparable in depth to those from HST, have
Strehl ratios up to 0.4, and FWHM resolutions superior to that from NICMOS. By
sampling the field with the LGS at different positions, we obtain better
quality AO images than with an immovable natural guide star. As examples of the
power of adding LGS AO to HST data we study the optical to NIR colors and color
gradients of the bulge and disk of two galaxies in the field with z=0.7.


title:
Effects of impurities on Hc2(T) in superconductors without inversion
  symmetry

abstract:
  We calculate the upper critical field, Hc2(T), due to the orbital pair
breaking in disordered superconductors without inversion symmetry. Differences
from the usual centrosymmetric case are highlighted. The linearized gap
equations in magnetic field, with the singlet and triplet pairing channels
mixed by impurity scattering, are solved exactly for a cubic crystal.


title: Persistence of laminations

abstract:
  We present a modern proof of some extensions of the celebrated
Hirsch-Pugh-Shub theorem on persistence of normally hyperbolic compact
laminations. Our extensions consist of allowing the dynamics to be an
endomorphism, of considering the complex analytic case and of allowing the
laminations to be non compact. To study the analytic case, we use the formalism
of deformations of complex structures. We present various persistent complex
laminations which appear in dynamics of several complex variables: Henon maps,
fibered holomorphic maps... In order to proof the persistence theorems, we
construct a laminar structure on the stable and unstable of the normally
hyperbolic laminations.


title:
Controlling the conductance and noise of driven carbon-based Fabry-Perot
  devices

abstract:
  We report on ac transport through carbon nanotube Fabry-Perot devices. We
show that tuning the intensity of the ac gating induces an alternation of
suppression and partial revival of the conductance interference pattern. For
frequencies matching integer multiples of the level spacing of the system
$\Delta$ the conductance remains irresponsive to the external field. In
contrast, the noise in the low bias voltage limit behaves as in the static case
only when the frequency matches an even multiple of the level spacing, thereby
highlighting its phase sensitivity in a manifestation of the wagon-wheel effect
in the quantum domain.


title: Serre's uniformity problem in the split Cartan case

abstract:
  We prove that there exists an integer p_0 such that X_split(p)(Q) is made of
cusps and CM-points for any prime p>p_0. Equivalently, for any non-CM elliptic
curve E over Q and any prime p>p_0 the image of the Galois representation
induced by the Galois action on the p-division points of E is not contained in
the normalizer of a split Cartan subgroup. This gives a partial answer to an
old question of Serre.


title: A family of non-isomorphism results

abstract:
  We give a short argument showing that if $m, n \in {1, 2, ...} \cup
{\omega}$, then the groups mV and nV are not isomorphic. This answers a
question of Brin.


title:
A Novel Technique for Studying the Z Boson Transverse Momentum
  Distribution at Hadron Colliders

abstract:
  We present a novel method for studying the shape of the Z boson transverse
momentum distribution, Q_T, at hadron colliders in ppbar/pp -> Z/gamma* ->
l^+l^-. The Q_T is decomposed into two orthogonal components; one transverse
and the other parallel to the di-lepton thrust axis. We show that the
transverse component is almost insensitive to the momentum resolution of the
individual leptons and is thus more precisely determined on an event-by-event
basis than the Q_T. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a measurement of the
distribution of this transverse component is substantially less sensitive to
the dominant experimental systematics (resolution unfolding and Q_T dependence
of event selection efficiencies) reported in previous measurements of the Q_T
distribution.


title: A Quillen model category structure on some categories of comonoids

abstract:
  We prove that for certain monoidal (Quillen) model categories, the category
of comonoids therein also admits a model structure.


title: Hazard processes and martingale hazard processes

abstract:
  In this paper, we provide a solution to two problems which have been open in
default time modeling in credit risk. We first show that if $\tau$ is an
arbitrary random (default) time such that its Az\'ema's supermartingale
$Z_t^\tau=\P(\tau>t|\F_t)$ is continuous, then $\tau$ avoids stopping times. We
then disprove a conjecture about the equality between the hazard process and
the martingale hazard process, which first appeared in \cite{jenbrutk1}, and we
show how it should be modified to become a theorem. The pseudo-stopping times,
introduced in \cite{AshkanYor}, appear as the most general class of random
times for which these two processes are equal. We also show that these two
processes always differ when $\tau$ is an honest time.


title:
PEGylated Nano-Graphene Oxide for Delivery of Water Insoluble Cancer
  Drugs

abstract:
  It is known that many potent, often aromatic drugs are water insoluble, which
has hampered their use for disease treatment. In this work, we functionalized
nano-graphene oxide (NGO), a novel graphitic material, with branched
polyethylene glycol (PEG) to obtain a biocompatible NGO-PEG conjugate stable in
various biological solutions, and used them for attaching hydrophobic aromatic
molecules including a camptothecin (CPT) analog, SN38 non-covalently via pi-pi
stacking. The resulting NGO-PEG-SN38 complex exhibited excellent water
solubility while maintaining its high cancer cell killing potency similar to
that of the free SN38 molecules in organic solvents. The efficacy of
NGO-PEG-SN38 was far higher than that of irinotecan (CPT-11), a FDA approved
water soluble SN38 prodrug used for the treatment of colon cancer. Our results
showed that graphene is a novel class of material promising for biological
applications including future in vivo cancer treatment with various aromatic,
low-solubility drugs.


title: Other BSM Searches at the LHC

abstract:
  A review of the discovery potential of LHC for new phenomena beyond the
Standard Model (BSM) other than Supersymmetry in the early phase of running is
presented. Topics covered include searches for extra dimensions in different
scenarios (ADD, Randall-Sundrum, black holes ...), resonance hunting in
di-lepton, di-photon and di-jet final states, searches for contact
interactions, heavy stable charged particles, technicolor, etc. The strategies
of the ATLAS and CMS experiments to understand the detectors and prepare them
for "search" mode and the prospects for discoveries using early data are
described.


title: CMS search plans and sensitivity to new physics with dijets

abstract:
  CMS will use dijets to search for physics beyond the standard model during
early LHC running. The inclusive jet cross section as a function of jet
transverse momentum, with 10 inverse picobarns of integrated luminosity, is
sensitive to contact interactions beyond the reach of the Tevatron. The dijet
mass distribution will be used to search for dijet resonances coming from new
particles, for example an excited quark. Additional sensitivity to the
existence of contact interactions or dijet resonances can be obtained by
comparing dijet rates in two distinct pseudorapidity regions.


title:
Negative density of states: screening, Einstein relation, and negative
  diffusion

abstract:
  In strongly interacting electron systems with low density and at low
temperature the thermodynamic density of states is negative. It creates
difficulties with understanding of the Einstein relation between conductivity
and diffusion coefficient. Using the expression for electrochemical potential
that takes into account the long range part of the Coulomb interaction it is
shown that at negative density of states Einstein relation gives a negative
sign of the diffusion coefficient D, but under this condition there is no
thermodynamic limitation on the sign of D. It happens because the unipolar
relaxation of inhomogeneous electron density is not described by the diffusion
equation. The relaxation goes much faster due to electric forces caused by
electron density and by neutralizing background. Diffusion coefficient is
irrelevant in this case and it is not necessarily positive because process of
diffusion does not contribute to the positive production of entropy. In the
case of bipolar diffusion negative D results in a global absolute instability
that leads to formation of neutral excitons. Graphene is considered as an
example of a system, where the density relaxation is expected to be due to
electric force rather than diffusion. It may also have a negative density of
states.


title: Nonhyperbolicity of invariant measures on maximal attractor

abstract:
  The article states that for every compact manifold M of dimension 4 or higher
there is an area U in a set of smooth diffeomorphisms over M such that every
map f from U has local maximal partially hyperbolic attractor and nonatomic
ergodic invariant measure on it where one of Lyapunov exponents vanish. The
result is first proved for skew products over horseshoe and then transferred
onto smooth diffeomorphisms.


title:
Signature of the microcavity exciton-polariton relaxation mechanism in
  the polarization of emitted light

abstract:
  We have performed real and momentum space spin-dependent spectroscopy of
spontaneously formed exciton polariton condensates for a non-resonant pumping
scheme. Under linearly polarized pump, our results can be understood in terms
of spin-dependent Boltzmann equations in a two-state model. This suggests that
relaxation into the ground state occurs after multiple phonon scattering events
and only one polariton-polariton scattering. For the circular pumping case, in
which only excitons of one spin are injected, a bottleneck effect is observed,
implying inefficient relaxation.


title: Extended Slow-Roll Conditions and Rapid-Roll Conditions

abstract:
  We derive slow-roll conditions for a scalar field which is non-minimally
coupled with gravity in a consistent manner and express spectral indices of
scalar/tensor perturbations in terms of the slow-roll parameters. The conformal
invariance of the curvature perturbation is proved without linear
approximations. Rapid-roll conditions are also derived, and the relation with
the slow-roll conditions is discussed.


title:
The solar chromosphere at high resolution with IBIS. II. Acoustic shocks
  in the quiet internetwork and the role of magnetic fields

abstract:
  (Abridged)
  Aims: We characterize the dynamics of the quiet inter-network chromosphere by
studying the occurrence of acoustic shocks and their relation with the
concomitant photospheric structure and dynamics.
  Methods: We analyze a comprehensive data set that includes high resolution
chromospheric and photospheric spectra obtained with the IBIS imaging
spectrometer in two quiet-Sun regions. This is complemented by high-resolution
sequences of MDI magnetograms of the same targets. From the chromospheric
spectra we identify the spatio-temporal occurrence of the acoustic shocks. We
compare it with the photospheric dynamics by means of both Fourier and wavelet
analysis, and study the influence of magnetic structures.
  Results: Mid-chromospheric shocks occur as a response to underlying powerful
photospheric motions at periodicities nearing the acoustic cut-off, consistent
with 1-D hydrodynamical modeling. However, their spatial distribution within
the supergranular cells is highly dependent on the local magnetic topology,
both at the network and internetwork scale. Large portions of the internetwork
regions undergo very few shocks, as "shadowed" by the horizontal component of
the magnetic field. The latter is betrayed by the presence of chromospheric
fibrils, observed in the core of the CaII line as slanted structures with
distinct dynamical properties. The shadow mechanism appears to operate also on
the very small scales of inter-network magnetic elements, and provides for a
very pervasive influence of the magnetic field even in the quietest region
analyzed.


title:
Amplified Dispersive Fourier-Transform Imaging for Ultrafast
  Displacement Sensing and Barcode Reading

abstract:
  Dispersive Fourier transformation is a powerful technique in which the
spectrum of an optical pulse is mapped into a time-domain waveform using
chromatic dispersion. It replaces a diffraction grating and detector array with
a dispersive fiber and single photodetector. This simplifies the system and,
more importantly, enables fast real-time measurements. Here we describe a novel
ultrafast barcode reader and displacement sensor that employs
internally-amplified dispersive Fourier transformation. This technique
amplifies and simultaneously maps the spectrally encoded barcode into a
temporal waveform. It achieves a record acquisition speed of 25 MHz -- four
orders of magnitude faster than the current state-of-the-art.


title: Superstrings in General Backgrounds

abstract:
  The thesis divides into three parts. The first is devoted to a careful study
of very convenient superspace conventions which are a basic tool for the second
part. A theorem is formulated that gives a clear statement about when the signs
of a superspace calculation can be omitted.
  The second part describes the type II superstring using Berkovits' pure
spinor formalism. The derivation of the supergravity constraints from classical
BRST invariance of Berkovits and Howe is carefully reviewed and new aspects are
added. The present derivation uses a covariant variation principle and stays
throughout in the Lagrangian formalism. A new result is the explicit form of
the BRST transformation of the worldsheet fields for type II. By further
deriving the form of the local supersymmetry transformations of the fermionic
fields, a connection is established to the starting point of those supergravity
calculations, which derive generalized Calabi Yau conditions from effective
four-dimensional supersymmetry.
  Generalized complex geometry is in turn the motivation for the last part,
which is based on the author's paper on derived brackets from sigma models and
the relation to integrability of generalized complex structures. Finally there
are detailed appendices on geometric brackets, generalized complex geometry,
Noether's theorem, Bianchi identities, supergauge transformations and the WZ
gauge, gamma-matrices and on some aspects of structure group connections.


title: The Implications of the Early Formation of Life on Earth

abstract:
  One of the most interesting unsolved questions in science today is the
question of life on other planets. At the present time it is safe to say that
we do not have much of an idea as to whether life is common or exceedingly rare
in the universe, and this will probably not be solved for certain unless
definitive evidence of extraterrestrial life is found in the future. Our
presence on Earth is just as consistent with the hypothesis that life is
extremely rare as it is with the hypothesis that it is common, since if there
was only one planet with intelligent life, we would find ourselves on it.
However, we have more information than this, such as the the surprisingly short
length of time it took for life to arise on Earth. Previous authors have
analysed this information, concluding that it is evidence that the probability
of abiogenesis is moderate ($>$ 13% with 95% probability) and cannot be
extremely small. In this paper I use simple probabilistic model to show that
this conclusion was based more on an unintentional assumption than on the data.
While the early formation of life on Earth provides some evidence in the
direction of life being common, it is far from conclusive, and in particular
does not rule out the possibility that abiogenesis has only occurred once in
the history of the universe.

categories: physics.pop-ph astro-ph physics.data-an stat.AP


title: Integrable structure of melting crystal model with external potentials

abstract:
  This is a review of the authors' recent results on an integrable structure of
the melting crystal model with external potentials. The partition function of
this model is a sum over all plane partitions (3D Young diagrams). By the
method of transfer matrices, this sum turns into a sum over ordinary partitions
(Young diagrams), which may be thought of as a model of q -deformed random
partitions. This model can be further translated to the language of a complex
fermion system. A fermionic realization of the quantum torus Lie algebra is
shown to underlie therein. With the aid of hidden symmetry of this Lie algebra,
the partition function of the melting crystal model turns out to coincide, up
to a simple factor, with a tau function of the 1D Toda hierarchy. Some related
issues on 4D and 5D supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories, topological strings and
the 2D Toda hierarchy are briefly discussed.


title: The Mixing Matrix for a 3+2 Model

abstract:
  In this work we present the characterization of the mixing matrix when the
mass matrix is considered, without seesaw, for 3+2 models like.


title: Bayesian Updating Rules in Continuous Opinion Dynamics Models

abstract:
  In this article, I investigate the use of Bayesian updating rules applied to
modeling social agents in the case of continuos opinions models. Given another
agent statement about the continuous value of a variable $x$, we will see that
interesting dynamics emerge when an agent assigns a likelihood to that value
that is a mixture of a Gaussian and a Uniform distribution. This represents the
idea the other agent might have no idea about what he is talking about. The
effect of updating only the first moments of the distribution will be studied.
and we will see that this generates results similar to those of the Bounded
Confidence models. By also updating the second moment, several different
opinions always survive in the long run. However, depending on the probability
of error and initial uncertainty, those opinions might be clustered around a
central value.


title: The Anti-Cloak

abstract:
  A kind of transformation media, which we shall call the "anti-cloak", is
proposed to partially defeat the cloaking effect of the invisibility cloak. An
object with an outer shell of "anti-cloak" is visible to the outside if it is
coated with the invisible cloak. Fourier-Bessel analysis confirms this finding
by showing that external electromagnetic wave can penetrate into the interior
of the invisibility cloak with the help of the anti-cloak.


title:
Measurements of ${\cal B}(\bar{B}^0 \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{p})$ and
  ${\cal B}(B^- \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{p} \pi^-)$ and Studies of
  $\Lambda_{c}^{+}\pi^-$ Resonances

abstract:
  We present an investigation of the decays $\bar{B}^0 \to \Lambda_{c}^{+}
\bar{p}$ and $B^- \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{p} \pi^-$ based on $383\times10^6$
$\Upsilon(4S) \to B\bar{B}$ decays recorded with the BABAR detector. We measure
the branching fractions of these decays; their ratio is ${\cal B}(B^- \to
\Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{p} \pi^-) / {\cal B}(\bar{B}^0 \to \Lambda_{c}^{+}
\bar{p}) = 15.4 \pm 1.8 \pm 0.3$. The $B^- \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{p} \pi^-$
process exhibits an enhancement at the $\Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{p}$ threshold and
is a laboratory for searches for excited charm baryon states. We observe the
resonant decays $\bar{B}^- \to \Sigma_{c}(2455)^{0} \bar{p}$ and $B^- \to
\Sigma_{c}(2800)^{0} \bar{p}$ but see no evidence for $B^- \to
\Sigma_{c}(2520)^{0} \baver{p}$. This is the first observation of the decay
$B^- \to \Sigma_{c}(2800)^{0} \bar{p}$; however, the mass of the observed
excited $\Sigma_{c}^{0}$ state is $(2846\pm8\pm10)MeV/c^2$, which is somewhat
inconsistent with previous measurements. Finally, we examine the angular
distribution of the $B^- \to \Sigma_{c}(2455)^{0} \bar{p}$ decays and measure
the spin of the $\Sigma_{c}(2455)^{0}$ baryon to be 1/2, as predicted by the
quark model.


title:
Measurement of $B \to X \gamma$ Decays and Determination of
  $|V_{td}/V_{ts}|$

abstract:
  Using a sample of 383 million $B\bar{B}$ events collected by the $BaBar$
experiment, we measure sums of seven exclusive final states $B\to
X_{d(s)}\gamma$, where $X_d$($X_s$) is a non-strange (strange) charmless
hadronic system in the mass range $0.6-1.8$ GeV$/c^2$. After correcting for
unmeasured decay modes in this mass range, we obtain a branching fraction for
$b \to d \gamma$ of $(7.2\pm 2.7(stat.)\pm 2.3(syst.))\times 10^{-6}$. Taking
the ratio of $X_d$ to $X_s$ we find $\Gamma(b \to d \gamma)/\Gamma(b \to s
\gamma) = 0.033 \pm 0.013 (stat.) \pm 0.009 (syst.),$ from which we determine
$|V_{td}/V_{ts}|=0.177\pm 0.043$.


title: Analysis on some infinite modules, inner projection, and applications

abstract:
  A projective scheme $X$ is called `quadratic' if $X$ is scheme-theoretically
cut out by homogeneous equations of degree 2. Furthermore, we say $X$ satisfies
`property $\textbf{N}_{2,p}$' if it is quadratic and the quadratic ideal has
only linear syzygies up to first $p$-th steps. In the present paper, we compare
the linear syzygies of the inner projections with those of $X$ and obtain a
theorem on `embedded linear syzygies' as one of our main results. This is the
natural projection-analogue of `restricting linear syzygies' in the linear
section case, \cite{EGHP1}. As an immediate corollary, we show that the inner
projections of $X$ satisfy property $\textbf{N}_{2,p-1}$ for any reduced scheme
$X$ with property $\textbf{N}_{2,p}$.
  Moreover, we also obtain the neccessary lower bound $(\codim X)\cdot p
-\frac{p(p-1)}{2}$, which is sharp, on the number of quadrics vanishing on $X$
in order to satisfy $\textbf{N}_{2,p}$ and show that the arithmetic depths of
inner projections are equal to that of the quadratic scheme $X$. These results
admit an interesting `syzygetic' rigidity theorem on property
$\textbf{N}_{2,p}$ which leads the classifications of extremal and next to
extremal cases.
  For these results we develope the elimination mapping cone theorem for
infinitely generated graded modules and improve the partial elimination ideal
theory initiated by M. Green. This new method allows us to treat a wider class
of projective schemes which can not be covered by the Koszul cohomology
techniques, because these are not projectively normal in general.


title:
Measurement of the Branching Fraction, Polarization, and CP Asymmetries
  in B0->rho0rho0 Decay, and Implications for the CKM Angle alpha

abstract:
  We study B0->rho0rho0 decays in a sample of 465*10^6 Upsilon (4S)->BBbar
events collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e-
collider located at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). We measure
the branching fraction B = (0.92 +/- 0.32 +/- 0.14)*10^{-6} and longitudinal
polarization fraction f_L = 0.75^{+0.11}_{-0.14} +/- 0.04, where the first
uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The evidence for the
B0->rho0rho0 signal has a significance of 3.1 standard deviations, including
systematic uncertainties. We investigate the proper-time dependence of the
longitudinal component in the decay and measure the CP-violating coefficients
S^{00}_L = (0.3 +/- 0.7 +/- 0.2) and C^{00}_L = (0.2 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.3). We study
the implication of these results for the unitarity triangle angle alpha.


title:
Measurement of |V_cb| and the form-factor slope for Bbar -> D l^-
  nubar_l decays on the recoil of fully reconstructed B mesons

abstract:
  We present a measurement of the CKM matrix element |V_cb| and the form-factor
slope rho^2 for Bbar -> D l^- nubar_l decays based on 417 fb-1 of data
collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BaBar detector. The
semileptonic decays are selected in BBar events in which the hadronic decay of
the second B meson is fully reconstructed. From the measured differential decay
rate of the signal decay we determine G(1) |V_cb|= (43.0 +/- 1.9 +/- 1.4) x
10^-3, rho^2 = 1.20 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.04, where G(1) is the hadronic form factor
at the point of zero recoil. Using a lattice calculation for G(1) we extract
|V_cb|= (39.8 +/- 1.8 +/- 1.3 +/- 0.9) x 10^-3, where the stated errors refer
to the statistical, systematic, and form factor uncertainties. We also present
a measurement of the exclusive branching fractions, BF(B^- -> D^0 l^- nubar_l)
= (2.31 +/- 0.08 +/- 0.07)% and BF (B0bar -> D^+ l^- nubar_l)=(2.23 +/- 0.11
+/- 0.08)%.


title: Long-time tail in an electric conduction system

abstract:
  The long-time behavior of the velocity autocorrelation function in a
classical two-dimensional electric conduction system is studied by the
molecular dynamics simulation. In equilibrium, the effect of coexistence of
many-body interactions and a random potential is investigated. A crossover from
a positive tail proportional to $t^{-1}$, to a negative tail proportional to
$-t^{-2}$ is observed as the strength of the random potential increases. In
nonequilibrium, the positive tail is enhanced whereas the negative tail appears
at earlier times as an electric field increases.


title:
Dynamical pattern formation during growth of a dual-species
  Bose-Einstein condensate

abstract:
  We simulate the growth of a dual species Bose-Einstein condensate using a
Gross-Pitaevskii equation with an additional gain term giving rise to the
growth. Such growth occurs during simultaneous evaporative cooling of a mixture
of two gases. The ground state of a dual condensate is normally either a
miscible mixture, or an immiscible phase with two spatially separated
components. In a cigar trap the ground state typically consists of one
component in the center, and the other component flanking it. Our simulations
show that when the condensates are formed in a cigar trap and the mixture is
phase separated, then the final state upon the end of the growth is generally
far from the true ground state of the system. Instead it consists of multiple,
interleaved bubbles of the two species. Such a pattern was observed recently in
an experiment by Wieman's group at JILA, and our simulations are in good
qualitative agreement with the experiment. We explain the pattern formation as
due to the onset of modulation instability during growth, and study the
dependence of the final state pattern on various parameters of the system.


title: Time-Periodic Solutions of the Einstein's Field Equations II

abstract:
  In this paper, we construct several kinds of new time-periodic solutions of
the vacuum Einstein's field equations whose Riemann curvature tensors vanish,
keep finite or take the infinity at some points in these space-times,
respectively. The singularities of these new time-periodic solutions are
investigated and some new physical phenomena are found. The applications of
these solutions in modern cosmology and general relativity can be expected.


title:
Analytic Wave Front Set for Solutions to Schr\"odinger Equations II --
  Long Range Perturbations

abstract:
  This paper is a continuation of a paper by the authors: arXiv:0706.0415,
where short range perturbations of the flat Euclidian metric where considered.
Here, we generalize the results of the paper to long-range perturbations (in
particular, we can allow potentials growing like $<x>^{2-\varepsilon}$ at
infinity). More precisely, we construct a modified quantum free evolution
$G_0(-s, hD_z)$ acting on Sj\"ostrand's spaces, and we characterize the
analytic wave front set of the solution $e^{-itH}u_0$ of the Schr\"odinger
equation, in terms of the semiclassical exponential decay of $G_0(-th^{-1},
hD_z)T u_0$, where $T$ stands for the Bargmann-transform. The result is valid
for $t<0$ near the forward non trapping points, and for $t>0$ near the backward
non trapping points. It is an extension of a paper by Nakamura
(arXiv:math/0605742) to the analytic framework.


title: Where is the Cold Neutral Gas in the Hosts of High Redshift AGN?

abstract:
  Previous surveys for HI 21-cm absorption in z > 0.1 radio galaxies and
quasars yield a 40% detection rate, which is attributed to unified schemes of
active galactic nuclei (AGN). In this paradigm absorption is only witnessed in
(close to) type-2 objects, where the central obscuration is viewed (nearly)
edge-on and thus absorbs the rest frame 1420 MHz emission along our sight-line.
However, we find this mix of detections and non-detections to only apply at low
redshift (z < 1): From a sensitive survey of eight z > 3 radio sources we find
no 21-cm absorption, indicating a low abundance of cold neutral gas in (the
sight-lines searched in) these objects. Analysing the spectral energy
distributions of these sources, we find that our high redshift selection
introduces a bias where our sample consists exclusively of quasars with
ultra-violet luminosities in excess of 10e23 W/Hz. This may suggest that we
have selected a class of particularly UV bright type-1 objects. Whatever the
cause, it must also be invoked to explain the non-detections in an equal number
of z < 0.7 sources, where we find, for the first time, the same exclusive
non-detections at > 10e23 W/Hz. These objects also turn out to be quasars and,
from these exclusive high UV luminosity--21-cm non-detections, it is apparent
that orientation effects alone cannot account for the mix of 21-cm detections
and non-detections at any redshift.


title:
A Mathematical Theory of Stochastic Microlensing II. Random Images,
  Shear, and the Kac-Rice Formula

abstract:
  Continuing our development of a mathematical theory of stochastic
microlensing, we study the random shear and expected number of random lensed
images of different types. In particular, we characterize the first three
leading terms in the asymptotic expression of the joint probability density
function (p.d.f.) of the random shear tensor at a general point in the lens
plane due to point masses in the limit of an infinite number of stars. Up to
this order, the p.d.f. depends on the magnitude of the shear tensor, the
optical depth, and the mean number of stars through a combination of radial
position and the stars' masses. As a consequence, the p.d.f.s of the shear
components are seen to converge, in the limit of an infinite number of stars,
to shifted Cauchy distributions, which shows that the shear components have
heavy tails in that limit. The asymptotic p.d.f. of the shear magnitude in the
limit of an infinite number of stars is also presented. Extending to general
random distributions of the lenses, we employ the Kac-Rice formula and Morse
theory to deduce general formulas for the expected total number of images and
the expected number of saddle images. We further generalize these results by
considering random sources defined on a countable compact covering of the light
source plane. This is done to introduce the notion of {\it global} expected
number of positive parity images due to a general lensing map. Applying the
result to microlensing, we calculate the asymptotic global expected number of
minimum images in the limit of an infinite number of stars, where the stars are
uniformly distributed. This global expectation is bounded, while the global
expected number of images and the global expected number of saddle images
diverge as the order of the number of stars.


title:
The characteristic polynomial of the next-nearest-neighbour qubit chain
  for single excitations

abstract:
  The characteristic polynomial for a chain of dipole-dipole coupled two-level
atoms with nearest-neighbour and next-nearest-neighbour interactions is
developed for the study of eigenvalues and eigenvectors for single-photon
excitations. We find the exact form of the polynomial in terms of the Chebyshev
polynomials of the second kind that is valid for an arbitrary number of atoms
and coupling strengths. We then propose a technique for expressing the roots of
the polynomial as a power series in the coupling constants. The general
properties of the solutions are also explored, to shed some light on the
general properties that the exact, analytic form of the energy eigenvalues
should have. A method for deriving the eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian is also
outlined.


title:
The crystalline electric field as a probe for long range
  antiferromagnetic order and superconductivity in CeFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_x$

abstract:
  We use inelastic neutron scattering to study the crystalline electric field
(CEF) excitations of Ce$^{3+}$ in CeFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$($x=0,0.16$). For
nonsuperconducting CeFeAsO, the Ce CEF levels have three magnetic doublets in
the paramagnetic state, but these doublets split into six singlets when Fe ions
order antiferromagnetically. For superconducting CeFeAsO$_{0.84}$F$_{0.16}$
($T_c=41$ K), where the static AF order is suppressed, the Ce CEF levels have
three magnetic doublets at $\hbar\omega=0,18.7,58.4$ meV at all temperatures.
Careful measurements of the intrinsic linewidth $\Gamma$ and the peak position
of the 18.7 meV mode reveal clear anomaly at $T_c$, consistent with a strong
enhancement of local magnetic susceptibility $\chi^{\prime\prime}(\hbar\omega)$
below $T_c$. These results suggest that CEF excitations in the rare-earth
oxypnictides can be used as a probe of spin dynamics in the nearby FeAs planes.


title: Mass Measurement of the Decaying Bino at the LHC

abstract:
  In some class of supersymmetric (SUSY) models, the neutral Wino becomes the
lightest superparticle and the Bino decays into the Wino and standard-model
particles. In such models, we show that the measurement of the Bino mass is
possible if the short charged tracks (with the length of O(10 cm)) can be
identified as a signal of the charged-Wino production. We pay particular
attention to the anomaly-mediated SUSY-breaking (AMSB) model with a generic
form of K\"ahler potential, in which only the gauginos are kinematically
accessible superparticles to the LHC, and discuss the implication of the Bino
mass measurement for the test of the AMSB model.


title: C*-Algebra Relations

abstract:
  We investigate relations on elements in C*-algebras, including *-polynomial
relations, order relations and all relations that correspond to universal
C*-algebras. We call these C*-relations and define them axiomatically. Within
these are the compact C*-relations, which are those that determine universal
C*-algebras, and we introduce the more flexible concept of a closed
C*-relation.
  In the case of a finite set of generators, we show that closed C*-relations
correspond to the zero-sets of elements in a free sigma -C*-algebra. This
provides a solid link between two of the previous theories on relations in
C*-algebras.
  Applications to lifting problems are briefly considered in the last section.


title: New absolute magnitude calibrations for W Ursa Majoris type binaries

abstract:
  Parallaxes of W UMa stars in the Hipparcos catalogue have been analyzed. 31 W
UMa stars, which have the most accurate parallaxes ($\sigma_{\pi}/\pi<0.15$)
which are neither associated with a photometric tertiary nor with evidence of a
visual companion, were selected for re-calibrating the
Period--Luminosity--Color (PLC) relation of W UMa stars. Using the Lutz--Kelker
(LK) bias corrected (most probable) parallaxes, periods ($0.26< P(day)< 0.87$),
and colors (0.04<$(B-V)_{0}$<1.28) of the 31 selected W UMa, the PLC relation
have been revised and re-calibrated. The difference between the old (revised
but not bias corrected) and the new (LK bias corrected) relations are almost
negligible in predicting the distances of W UMa stars up to about 100 parsecs.
But, it increases and may become intolerable as distances of stars increase.
Additionally, using $(J-H)_{0}$ and $(H-K_{s})_{0}$ colors from 2MASS (Two
Micron All Sky Survey) data, a PLC relation working with infrared data was
derived. It can be used with infrared colors in the range
$-0.01<(J-H)_{0}<0.58$, and $-0.10<(H-K_{s})_{0}<0.18$. Despite {\em 2MASS}
data are single epoch observations, which are not guaranteed at maximum
brightness of the W UMa stars, the established relation has been found
surprisingly consistent and reliable in predicting LK corrected distances of W
UMa stars.


title: Imbalanced superfluid state in an annular disk

abstract:
  The imbalanced superfluid state of spin-1/2 fermions with s-wave pairing is
numerically studied by solving the Bogoliubov-de-Gennes equation at zero
temperature in an annular disk geometry with narrow radial width. Two distinct
types of systems are considered. The first case may be relevant to heavy
fermion superconductors, where magnetic field causes spin imbalance via Zeeman
interaction and the system is studied in a grand canonical ensemble. As the
magnetic field increases, the system is transformed from the uniform superfluid
state to the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state, and finally to the spin
polarized normal state. The second case may be relevant to cold fermionic
systems, where the numbers of fermions of each species are fixed as in a
canonical ensemble. In this case, the groundstate depends on the pairing
strength. For weak pairing, the order parameter exhibits a periodic domain wall
lattice pattern with a localized spin distribution at low spin imbalance, and a
sinusoidally modulated pattern with extended spin distribution at high spin
imbalance. For strong pairing, the phase separation between superfluid state
and polarized normal state is found to be more preferable, while the increase
of spin imbalance simply changes the ratio between them.


title: Undergraduate Lecture Notes in De Rham-Hodge Theory

abstract:
  These lecture notes in the De Rham-Hodge theory are designed for a 1-semester
undergraduate course (in mathematics, physics, engineering, chemistry or
biology). This landmark theory of the 20th Century mathematics gives a rigorous
foundation to modern field and gauge theories in physics, engineering and
physiology. The only necessary background for comprehensive reading of these
notes is Green's theorem from multivariable calculus.


title: W-Symmetry of the Adelic Grassmannian

abstract:
  We give a geometric construction of the W_{1+infty} vertex algebra as the
infinitesimal form of a factorization structure on an adelic Grassmannian. This
gives a concise interpretation of the higher symmetries and Backlund-Darboux
transformations for the KP hierarchy and its multicomponent extensions in terms
of a version of "W_{1+infty}-geometry": the geometry of D-bundles on smooth
curves, or equivalently torsion-free sheaves on cuspidal curves.


title: Realization of a feedback controlled flashing ratchet

abstract:
  A flashing ratchet transports diffusive particles using a time-dependent,
asymmetric potential. Particle speed is predicted to increase when a feedback
algorithm based on particle positions is used. We have experimentally realized
such a feedback ratchet using an optical line trap, and observed that use of
feedback increases velocity by up to an order of magnitude. We compare two
different feedback algorithms for small particle numbers, and find good
agreement with simulations. We also find that existing algorithms can be
improved to be more tolerant to feedback delay times.


title: Architectures for a quantum random access memory

abstract:
  A random access memory, or RAM, is a device that, when interrogated, returns
the content of a memory location in a memory array. A quantum RAM, or qRAM,
allows one to access superpositions of memory sites, which may contain either
quantum or classical information. RAMs and qRAMs with n-bit addresses can
access 2^n memory sites. Any design for a RAM or qRAM then requires O(2^n)
two-bit logic gates. At first sight this requirement might seem to make large
scale quantum versions of such devices impractical, due to the difficulty of
constructing and operating coherent devices with large numbers of quantum logic
gates. Here we analyze two different RAM architectures (the conventional fanout
and the "bucket brigade") and propose some proof-of-principle implementations
which show that in principle only O(n) two-qubit physical interactions need
take place during each qRAM call. That is, although a qRAM needs O(2^n) quantum
logic gates, only O(n) need to be activated during a memory call. The resulting
decrease in resources could give rise to the construction of large qRAMs that
could operate without the need for extensive quantum error correction.


title: Algebraic Soft-Decision Decoding of Hermitian Codes

abstract:
  An algebraic soft-decision decoder for Hermitian codes is presented. We apply
Koetter and Vardy's soft-decision decoding framework, now well established for
Reed-Solomon codes, to Hermitian codes. First we provide an algebraic
foundation for soft-decision decoding. Then we present an interpolation
algorithm finding the Q-polynomial that plays a key role in the decoding. With
some simulation results, we compare performances of the algebraic soft-decision
decoders for Hermitian codes and Reed-Solomon codes, favorable to the former.


title: Positivity in power series rings

abstract:
  We extend and generalize the results of Scheiderer (2006) on the
representation of polynomials nonnegative on two-dimensional basic closed
semialgebraic sets. Our extension covers some situations where the defining
polynomials do not satisfy the transversality condition. Such situations arise
naturally when one considers semialgebraic sets invariant under finite group
actions.


title: Depletion theory and the precipitation of protein by polymer

abstract:
  The depletion theory of nanoparticles immersed in a semidilute polymer
solution is reinterpreted in terms of depleted chains of polymer segments.
Limitations and extensions of mean-field theory are discussed. An explicit
expression for the interaction between two small spheres is derived. The
depletion free energy for a particle of general shape is given in terms of the
capacitance or effective Stokes radius. This affords a close to quantitative
explanation for the effect of polymer on protein precipitation.


title: An inhomogeneous jet model for the rapid variability of TeV blazars

abstract:
  We present a new time-dependent inhomogeneous jet model of non-thermal blazar
emission, which reproduces the entire spectral energy distribution together
with the rapid gamma-ray variability. Ultra-relativistic leptons are injected
at the base of a jet and propagate along the jet structure. We assume
continuous reacceleration and cooling, producing a relativistic
quasi-maxwellian (or "pile-up") particle energy distribution. The synchrotron
and Synchrotron-Self Compton jet emissivity are computed at each altitude.
Klein-Nishina effects as well as intrinsic gamma-gamma absorption are included
in the computation. Due to the pair production optical depth, considerable
particle density enhancement can occur, particularly during flaring states.
Time-dependent jet emission can be computed by varying the particle injection,
but due to the sensitivity of pair production process, only small variations of
the injected density are required during the flares. The stratification of the
jet emission, together with a pile-up distribution, allows significantly lower
bulk Lorentz factors, compared to one-zone models. Applying this model to the
case of PKS2155-304 and its big TeV flare observed in 2006, we can reproduce
simultaneously the average broad band spectrum of this source as well as the
TeV spectra and TeV light curve of the flare with bulk Lorentz factor lower
than 15.


title: Spontaneous Lorentz symmetry breaking and cosmological constant

abstract:
  This paper has been withdrawn by the authors due to need of essential
revision.


title:
Signals for strange quark contributions to the neutrino (antineutrino)
  scattering in quasi-elastic region

abstract:
  Strange quark contributions to the neutrino (antineutrino) scattering are
investigated on the elastic neutrino-nucleon scattering and the
neutrino-nucleus scattering for 12C target in the quasi-elastic region on the
incident energy of 500 MeV, within the framework of a relativistic single
particle model. For the neutrino-nucleus scattering, the effects of final state
interaction for the knocked-out nucleon are included by a relativistic optical
potential. In the cross sections we found some cancellations of the strange
quark contributions between the knocked-out protons and neutrons. Consequently,
the asymmetries between the incident neutrino and antineutrino which is the
ratio of neutral current to charged current, and the difference between the
asymmetries are shown to be able to yield more feasible quantities for the
strangeness effects. In order to explicitly display importance of the
cancellations, results of the exclusive reaction 16O(\nu, \nu' p) are
additionally presented for detecting the strangeness effects.


title: Decomposition of order statistics of semimartingales using local times

abstract:
  In a recent work \cite{BG}, given a collection of continuous semimartingales,
authors derive a semimartingale decomposition from the corresponding ranked
processes in the case that the ranked processes can meet more than two original
processes at the same time. This has led to a more general decomposition of
ranked processes. In this paper, we derive a more general result for
semimartingales (not necessarily continuous) using a simpler approach.
Furthermore, we also give a generalization of Ouknine \cite{O1, O2} and Yan's
\cite{Y1} formula for local times of ranked processes


title: Optical probing of spin fluctuations of a single magnetic atom

abstract:
  We analyzed the photoluminescence intermittency generated by a single
paramagnetic spin localized in an individual semiconductor quantum dot. The
statistics of the photons emitted by the quantum dot reflect the quantum
fluctuations of the localized spin interacting with the injected carriers.
Photon correlation measurements which are reported here reveal unique
signatures of these fluctuations. A phenomenological model is proposed to
quantitatively describe these observations, allowing a measurement of the spin
dynamics of an individual magnetic atom at zero magnetic field. These results
demonstrate the existence of an efficient spin relaxation channel arising from
a spin-exchange with individual carriers surrounding the quantum dot. A
theoretical description of a spin-flip mechanism involving spin exchange with
surrounding carriers gives relaxation times in good agreement with the measured
dynamics.


title: Separability of Multi-Partite Quantum States

abstract:
  We give a direct tensor decomposition for any density matrix into Hermitian
operators. Based upon the decomposition we study when the mixed states are
separable and generalize the separability indicators to multi-partite states
and show that a density operator is separable if and only if the separable
indicator is non-negative. We then derive two bounds for the separable
indicator in terms of the spectrum of the factor operators in the tensor
summands.


title:
Newly confirmed and high quality candidate Galactic SNRs uncovered from
  the AAO/UKST HAlpha survey

abstract:
  We present a catalogue of 18 new Galactic supernova remnants (SNRs) uncovered
in the optical regime as filamentary emissions and extended nebulosities on
images of the Anglo Australian Observatory/United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope
(AAO/UKST) HAlpha survey of the southern Galactic plane. Our follow-up spectral
observations confirmed classical optical SNR emission lines for these 18
structures via detection of very strong [SII] at 6717 and 6731A relative to
HAlpha ([SII]/HAlpha> 0.5). Morphologically, 10 of these remnants have
coherent, extended arc or shell structures, while the remaining objects are
more irregular in form but clearly filamentary in nature, typical of optically
detected SNRs.
  In 11 cases there was a clear if not complete match between the optical and
radio structures with H filamentary structures registered inside and along the
presumed radio borders. Additionally, ROSAT X-ray sources were detected inside
the optical/radio borders of 11 of these new remnants and 3 may have an
associated pulsar.
  The multi-wavelength imaging data and spectroscopy together present strong
evidence to confirm identification of 18 new, mostly senile Galactic SNRs. This
includes G288.7-6.3, G315.1+2.7 and G332.5-5.6, identified only as possible
remnants from preliminary radio observations. We also confirm existence of
radio quiet but optically active supernova remnants.


title:
Asymptotic localization of stationary states in the nonlinear
  Schroedinger equation

abstract:
  The mapping of the Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation with a random potential on
the Fokker-Planck equation is used to calculate the localization length of its
stationary states. The asymptotic growth rates of the moments of the wave
function and its derivative for the linear Schroedinger Equation in a random
potential are computed analytically and resummation is used to obtain the
corresponding growth rate for the nonlinear Schroedinger equation and the
localization length of the stationary states.


title: A Simplified Quantum Gravitational Model of Inflation

abstract:
  Inflationary quantum gravity simplifies drastically in the leading logarithm
approximation. We show that the only counterterm which contributes in this
limit is the 1-loop renormalization of the cosmological constant. We go further
to make a simplifying assumption about the operator dynamics at leading
logarithm order. This assumption is explicitly implemented at 1- and 2-loop
orders, and we describe how it can be implemented nonperturbatively. We also
compute the expectation value of an invariant observable designed to quantify
the quantum gravitational back-reaction on inflation. Although our dynamical
assumption may not prove to be completely correct, it does have the right time
dependence, it can naturally produce primordial perturbations of the right
strength, and it illustrates how a rigorous application of the leading
logarithm approximation might work in quantum gravity. It also serves as a
partial test of the "null hypothesis" that there are no significant effects
from infrared gravitons.


title: Generalized Theory of Landau Damping

abstract:
  Collisionless damping of electrical waves in plasma is investigated in the
frame of the classical formulation of the problem. The new principle of
regularization of the singular integral is used. The exact solution of the
corresponding dispersion equation is obtained. The results of calculations lead
to existence of discrete spectrum of frequencies and discrete spectrum of
dispersion curves. Analytical results are in good coincidence with results of
direct mathematical experiments. Key words: Foundations of the theory of
transport processes and statistical physics; Boltzmann physical kinetics;
damping of plasma waves, linear theory of wave`s propagation PACS: 67.55.Fa,
67.55.Hc


title: A new method for fast computing unbiased estimators of cumulants

abstract:
  We propose new algorithms for generating $k$-statistics, multivariate
$k$-statistics, polykays and multivariate polykays. The resulting computational
times are very fast compared with procedures existing in the literature. Such
speeding up is obtained by means of a symbolic method arising from the
classical umbral calculus. The classical umbral calculus is a light syntax that
involves only elementary rules to managing sequences of numbers or polynomials.
The cornerstone of the procedures here introduced is the connection between
cumulants of a random variable and a suitable compound Poisson random variable.
Such a connection holds also for multivariate random variables.


title: Scattering Theory of Gilbert Damping

abstract:
  The magnetization dynamics of a single domain ferromagnet in contact with a
thermal bath is studied by scattering theory. We recover the
Landau-Liftshitz-Gilbert equation and express the effective fields and Gilbert
damping tensor in terms of the scattering matrix. Dissipation of magnetic
energy equals energy current pumped out of the system by the time-dependent
magnetization, with separable spin-relaxation induced bulk and spin-pumping
generated interface contributions. In linear response, our scattering theory
for the Gilbert damping tensor is equivalent with the Kubo formalism.


title: General Linear Gauges and Amplitudes in Open String Field Theory

abstract:
  A general class of gauges for open string field theory, for which the gauge
fixing condition is given by linear equations with respect to string field, is
investigated in detail. This class of gauges includes almost all known ones
like Siegel gauge and its various extensions such as a-gauges proposed by the
present authors as well as Schnabl gauge and linear b-gauges. A general form of
propagators is determined and their common features are analyzed. A consistent
procedure for calculating the amplitudes is given. Gauge independence of the
on-shell physical amplitudes is explicitly shown.


title: Maximal quadratic modules on *-rings

abstract:
  We generalize the notion of and results on maximal proper quadratic modules
from commutative unital rings to $\ast$-rings and discuss the relation of this
generalization to recent developments in noncommutative real algebraic
geometry. The simplest example of a maximal proper quadratic module is the cone
of all positive semidefinite complex matrices of a fixed dimension. We show
that the support of a maximal proper quadratic module is the symmetric part of
a prime $\ast$-ideal, that every maximal proper quadratic module in a
Noetherian $\ast$-ring comes from a maximal proper quadratic module in a simple
artinian ring with involution and that maximal proper quadratic modules satisfy
an intersection theorem. As an application we obtain the following extension of
Schm\" udgen's Strict Positivstellensatz for the Weyl algebra: Let $c$ be an
element of the Weyl algebra $\mathcal{W}(d)$ which is not negative semidefinite
in the Schr\" odinger representation. It is shown that under some conditions
there exists an integer $k$ and elements $r_1,...,r_k \in \mathcal{W}(d)$ such
that $\sum_{j=1}^k r_j c r_j^\ast$ is a finite sum of hermitian squares. This
result is not a proper generalization however because we don't have the bound
$k \le d$.


title:
Manifestations of magnetic vortices in equation of state of Yang-Mills
  plasma

abstract:
  The vacuum of Yang-Mills theory contains singular stringlike objects
identified with center (magnetic) vortices. Percolation of magnetic vortices is
known to be responsible for the color confinement in the low-temperature phase
of the theory. In our work we study properties of the vortices at finite
temperature using lattice simulations of SU(2) gauge theory. We show that
magnetic vortices provide a numerically large contribution to thermodynamic
quantities of the gluon plasma in Yang-Mills theory. In particular, we observe
that in the deconfinement phase at temperatures T_c < T < 3 T_c the magnetic
component of the gluon plasma produces a negative (ghostlike) contribution to
the anomaly of the energy-momentum tensor. In the confinement phase the vortex
contribution is positive. The thermodynamical significance of the magnetic
objects allows us to suggest that the quark-gluon plasma may contain a
developed network of magnetic flux tubes. The existence of the vortex network
may lead to observable effects in the quark-gluon plasma because the
chromomagnetic field of the vortices should scatter and drag quarks.


title: High-precision geometry of a double-pole pulsar

abstract:
  High time resolution observations of PSR B0906-49 (or PSR J0908-4913) over a
wide range of frequencies have enabled us to determine the geometry and beam
shape of the pulsar. We have used the position angle traverse to determine
highly-constrained solutions to the rotating vector model which show
conclusively that PSR B0906-49 is an orthogonal rotator. The accuracy obtained
in measuring the geometry is unprecedented. This may allow tests of high-energy
emission models, should the pulsar be detected with GLAST. Although the impact
parameter, beta, appears to be frequency dependent, we have shown that this is
due to the effect of interstellar scattering. As a result, this pulsar provides
some of the strongest evidence yet that the position angle swing is indeed
related to a geometrical origin, at least for non-recycled pulsars. We show
that the beam structures of the main pulse and interpulse in PSR B0906-49 are
remarkably similar. The emission comes from a height of ~230 km and is
consistent with originating in a patchy cone located about half way to the last
open field lines. The rotation axis and direction of motion of the pulsar
appear to be aligned.


title:
First-principles study on the origin of large thermopower in hole-doped
  LaRhO3 and CuRhO2

abstract:
  Based on first-principles calculations, we study the origin of the large
thermopower in Ni-doped LaRhO3 and Mg-doped CuRhO2. We calculate the band
structure and construct the maximally localized Wannier functions from which a
tight binding Hamiltonian is obtained. The Seebeck coefficient is calculated
within the Boltzmann's equation approach using this effective Hamiltonian. For
LaRhO3, we find that the Seebeck coefficient remains nearly constant within a
large hole concentration range, which is consistent with the experimental
observation. For CuRhO2, the overall temperature dependence of the calculated
Seebeck coefficient is in excellent agreement with the experiment. The origin
of the large thermopower is discussed.


title: A gap property for the growth of closed 3-manifold groups

abstract:
  We provide a lower bound for the uniform exponential growth rate of closed
nonflat nonpositively curved 3-manifold groups. A detailed study of the uniform
exponential growth rate of closed 3-manifold groups is also presented.


title: M2-branes on a resolved $C_4/Z_4$

abstract:
  We write down M2-branes on the resolved $C_4/Z_4$ orbifold space. The
resolved spatial geometry is such that it interpolates between $R^2\times CP_3$
near the branes and $C_4/Z_4$ asymptotically. The near horizon geometry of
these branes is a deformation of $AdS_4\times S^7/Z_4$. An interesting aspect
is that for $k=4$ Chern-Simons theory coupling becomes vanishing near the IR
cutoff leading to spontaneous compactification to type IIA.


title: Formally real involutions on central simple algebras

abstract:
  An involution $#$ on an associative ring $R$ is \textit{formally real} if a
sum of nonzero elements of the form $r^# r$ where $r \in R$ is nonzero. Suppose
that $R$ is a central simple algebra (i.e. $R=M_n(D)$ for some integer $n$ and
central division algebra $D$) and $#$ is an involution on $R$ of the form $r^#
= a^{-1} r^\ast a$, where $\ast$ is some transpose involution on $R$ and $a$ is
an invertible matrix such that $a^\ast=\pm a$. In section 1 we characterize
formal reality of $#$ in terms of $a$ and $\ast|_D$. In later sections we apply
this result to the study of formal reality of involutions on crossed product
division algebras. We can characterize involutions on $D=(K/F,\Phi)$ that
extend to a formally real involution on the split algebra $D \otimes_F K \cong
M_n(K)$. Every such involution is formally real but we show that there exist
formally real involutions on $D$ which are not of this form. In particular,
there exists a formally real involution $#$ for which the hermitian trace form
$x \mapsto \tr(x^#x)$ is not positive semidefinite.


title: Perfect state transfer in long-range interacting spin chains

abstract:
  We investigate the most general conditions under which a finite ferromagnetic
long-range inter- acting spin chain achieves unitary fidelity and the shortest
transfer time in transmitting an unknown input qubit. A deeper insight into
system dynamics, allows us to identify an ideal system involving sender and
receiver only. However, this two-spin ideal chain is unpractical due to the
rapid decrease of the coupling strength with the distance. Therefore, we
propose an optimization scheme for ap- proaching the ideal behaviour, while
keeping the interaction strength still reasonably high. The procedure is
scalable with the size of the system and straightforward to implement.


title: Coherent control of ac Stark allowed transition in $\Lambda$ system

abstract:
  We show that quantum-interference-related phenomena, such as
electromagnetically induced transparency, gain without inversion and enhanced
refractive index may occur on electric-dipole forbidden transitions.
Gain/dispersion characteristics of such transitions strongly depend upon the
relative phase between the driving and probe fields. Unlike allowed
transitions, gain/absorption behavior of forbidden transitions exhibit
antisymmetric feature on the Rabi sidebands. Absorption/gain spectra possess
extremely narrow sub-natural resonances.


title: A representation theorem for archimedean quadratic modules on *-rings

abstract:
  We present a new approach to noncommutative real algebraic geometry based on
the representation theory of $C^\ast$-algebras. An important result in
commutative real algebraic geometry is Jacobi's representation theorem for
archimedean quadratic modules on commutative rings, \cite[Theorem 5]{jacobi}.
We show that this theorem is a consequence of the Gelfand-Naimark
representation theorem for commutative $C^\ast$-algebras. A noncommutative
version of Gelfand-Naimark theory was studied by I. Fujimoto. We use his
results to generalize Jacobi's theorem to associative rings with involution.


title:
Exclusively produced rho^0 asymmetries on the deuteron and future GPD
  measurements at COMPASS

abstract:
  Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) provide a new and powerful framework
for a complete description of the nucleon structure. They can provide a
three-dimensional picture of how the quarks and gluons form a nucleon. GPDs can
be probed experimentally in hard exclusive meson production or deeply virtual
Compton scattering (DVCS). The COMPASS experiment at CERN is a unique place to
study these reactions. At COMPASS, a high energy polarized positive or negative
muon beam is scattered off a polarized or unpolarized fixed target. First
results for exclusive rho^0 meson production are shown. The transverse target
spin asymmetry for exclusively produced rho^0 on a transversely polarized
deuteron target has been measured. Prospects for future measurements of DVCS
and exclusive meson production at COMPASS will be shown. The experiment will
use the existing COMPASS spectrometer with a new target, a new recoil detector
and extended calorimetry. Simulations for different models and a test of the
recoil detector have been performed.


title:
Approximately bisimilar symbolic models for incrementally stable
  switched systems

abstract:
  Switched systems constitute an important modeling paradigm faithfully
describing many engineering systems in which software interacts with the
physical world. Despite considerable progress on stability and stabilization of
switched systems, the constant evolution of technology demands that we make
similar progress with respect to different, and perhaps more complex,
objectives. This paper describes one particular approach to address these
different objectives based on the construction of approximately equivalent
(bisimilar) symbolic models for switched systems. The main contribution of this
paper consists in showing that under standard assumptions ensuring incremental
stability of a switched system (i.e. existence of a common Lyapunov function,
or multiple Lyapunov functions with dwell time), it is possible to construct a
finite symbolic model that is approximately bisimilar to the original switched
system with a precision that can be chosen a priori. To support the
computational merits of the proposed approach, we use symbolic models to
synthesize controllers for two examples of switched systems, including the
boost DC-DC converter.


title: Bubble number in a caviting flow

abstract:
  Cavitation is a general phenomenon of the fluid flows with obstacles. It
appears in the cooling conduits of the fast nuclear engines. A model of this
phenomenon using the theory of Laplace and a common non-convex energy for the
liquid and vapour bulks is proposed. This model makes it possible to determine
a higher limit of the density of bubbles (a number of bubbles per unit of
volume in the flow). The maximum intensity of cavitation is associated with the
mechanical and thermal characteristics of the fluid flow.


title: GaN/AlN Quantum Dots for Single Qubit Emitters

abstract:
  We study theoretically the electronic properties of $c$-plane GaN/AlN quantum
dots (QDs) with focus on their potential as sources of single polarized photons
for future quantum communication systems. Within the framework of eight-band
k.p theory we calculate the optical interband transitions of the QDs and their
polarization properties. We show that an anisotropy of the QD confinement
potential in the basal plane (e.g. QD elongation or strain anisotropy) leads to
a pronounced linear polarization of the ground state and excited state
transitions. An externally applied uniaxial stress can be used to either induce
a linear polarization of the ground-state transition for emission of single
polarized photons or even to compensate the polarization induced by the
structural elongation.


title: Non-substitutional single-atom defects in the Ge_(1-x)Sn_x alloy

abstract:
  Ge_(1-x)Sn_x alloys have proved difficult to form at large x, contrary to
what happens with other group IV semiconductor combinations. However, at low x
they are typical examples of well-behaved substitutional compounds, which is
desirable for harnessing the electronic properties of narrow band
semiconductors. In this paper, we propose the appearance of another kind of
single-site defect ($\beta-Sn$), consisting of a single Sn atom in the center
of a Ge divacancy, that may account for these facts. Accordingly, we examine
the electronic and structural properties of these alloys by performing
extensive numerical ab-initio calculations around local defects. The results
show that the environment of the $\beta$ defect relaxes towards a cubic
octahedral configuration, facilitating the nucleation of metallic white tin and
its segregation, as found in amorphous samples. Using the information stemming
from these local defect calculations, we built a simple statistical model to
investigate at which concentration these $\beta$ defects can be formed in
thermal equilibrium. These results agree remarkably well with experimental
findings, concerning the critical concentration above which the homogeneous
alloys cannot be formed at room temperature. Our model also predicts the
observed fact that at lower temperature the critical concentration increases.
We also performed single site effective-field calculations of the electronic
structure, which further support our hypothesis.


title: Microwave Assisted Transport in a Single Donor Silicon Quantum Dot

abstract:
  Single donors in semiconductor nanostructures represent a key element to
develop spin related quantum functionalities in atomic scale devices. Quantum
transport through a single Arsenic donor in the channel of a Silicon nano-field
effect transistor under microwave irradiation is investigated. The device is
characterized at mK temperatures in the regime of Coulomb-blockade. Photon
assisted tunneling and microwave induced electron pumping regimes are revealed
respectively at low and high microwave power. At sufficiently high power, the
microwave irradiation induces tunneling through the first excited energy level
of the $D_0$ energy of the donor. Such microwave assisted transport at zero
bias enhances the resolution in the spectroscopy of the energy levels of the
donor.


title: Worldsheet Properties of Extremal Correlators in AdS/CFT

abstract:
  We continue to investigate planar four point worldsheet correlators of string
theories which are conjectured to be duals of free gauge theories. We focus on
the extremal correlators <Tr(Z^{J_1}(x)) Tr(Z^{J_2}(y)) Tr(Z^{J_3}(z))
Tr(\bar{Z}^{J}(0))> of $N = 4$ SYM theory, and construct the corresponding
worldsheet correlators in the limit when the $J_i >> 1$. The worldsheet
correlator gets contributions, in this limit, from a whole family of Feynman
graphs. We find that it is supported on a {\it curve} in the moduli space
parametrised by the worldsheet crossratio. In a further limit of the spacetime
correlators we find this curve to be the unit circle. In this case, we also
check that the entire worldsheet correlator displays the appropriate crossing
symmetry. The non-renormalization of the extremal correlators in the 't Hooft
coupling offers a potential window for a comparison of these results with those
from strong coupling.


title: Counting Abelian Squares

abstract:
  An abelian square is a string of length 2n where the last n symbols form a
permutation of the first n symbols. In this note we count the number of abelian
squares and give an asymptotic estimate of this quantity.


title:
Realistic Shell-Model Calculations for Exotic Nuclei around Closed
  Shells

abstract:
  We report on a study of neutron-rich nuclei around doubly magic 132Sn in
terms of the shell model employing a realistic effective interaction derived
from the CD-Bonn nucleon-nucleon potential. The short-range repulsion of the
bare potential is renormalized by constructing a low-momentum potential,
V-low-k, that is used directly as input for the calculation of the effective
interaction. We present results for the four nuclei beyond the N=82 shell
closure 134Sn, 134Sb, 136Sb, and 136Te. Comparison shows that our results are
in very good agreement with the experimental data presently available for these
exotic nuclei. We also present our predictions of the hitherto unknown spectrum
of 136Sn.


title:
Optimal Fourier filtering of a function that is strictly confined within
  a sphere

abstract:
  We present an alternative method to filter a distribution, that is strictly
confined within a sphere of given radius $r_c$, so that its Fourier transform
is optimally confined within another sphere of radius $k_c$.
  In electronic structure methods, it can be used to generate optimized
pseudopotentials, pseudocore charge distributions, and pseudo atomic orbital
basis sets.


title:
Dynamical Analysis on Gene Activity in the Presence of Repressors and an
  Interfering Promoter

abstract:
  Transcription is regulated through interplay between transcription factors,
an RNA polymerase(RNAP), and a promoter. Even for a simple repressive
transcription factor that disturbs promoter activity at the initial binding of
RNAP, its repression level is not determined solely by the dissociation
constant of transcription factor but is sensitive to the time scales of
processes in RNAP. We first analyse the promoter activity under strong
repression by a slow binding repressor, in which case transcriptions occur in a
burst, followed by a long quiescent period while a repressor binds to the
operator; the number of transcriptions, the bursting and the quiescent times
are estimated by reaction rates. We then examine interference effect from an
opposing promoter, using the correlation function of transcription initiations
for a single promoter. The interference is shown to de-repress the promoter
because RNAP's from the opposing promoter most likely encounter the repressor
and remove it in case of strong repression. This de-repression mechanism should
be especially prominent for the promoters that facilitate fast formation of
open complex with the repressor whose binding rate is slower than about 1/sec.
Finally, we discuss possibility of this mechanism for high activity of promoter
PR in the hyp-mutant of lambda phage.


title:
Anharmonic oscillator, negative dimensions and inverse factorial
  convergence of large orders to the asymptotic form

abstract:
  The spectral problem for O(D) symmetric polynomial potentials allows for a
partial algebraic solution after analytical continuation to negative even
dimensions D. This fact is closely related to the disappearance of the
factorial growth of large orders of the perturbation theory at negative even D.
As a consequence, certain quantities constructed from the perturbative
coefficients exhibit fast inverse factorial convergence to the asymptotic
values in the limit of large orders. This quantum mechanical construction can
be generalized to the case of quantum field theory.


title: On one-sided primitivity of Banach algebras

abstract:
  Let $S$ be the semigroup with identity, generated by $x$ and $y$, subject to
$y$ being invertible and $yx=xy^2$. We study two Banach algebra completions of
the semigroup algebra $\mathbb{C}S$. Both completions are shown to be
left-primitive and have separating families of irreducible infinite-dimensional
right modules. As an appendix, we offer an alternative proof that $\mathbb{C}S$
is left-primitive but not right-primitive. We show further that, in contrast to
the completions, every irreducible right module for $\mathbb{C}S$ is finite
dimensional and hence that $\mathbb{C}S$ has a separating family of such
modules.


title: Competing jump cycles for vacancy diffusion in binary alloys

abstract:
  The mean-first-passage-times (MFPTs) for a vacancy that diffuses (via one-
and six-jump cycles) in a two dimensional ordered binary alloy are evaluated
using the properties of random walks on networks. We investigate the effect of
temperature and relative barrier height on the ratio between the MFPTs of the
two cycles. We find that the six-jump cycle takes shorter time than the
one-jump cycle for the range of parameters considered.


title: Stein's method and normal approximation of Poisson functionals

abstract:
  We combine Stein's method with a version of Malliavin calculus on the Poisson
space. As a result, we obtain explicit Berry-Ess\'een bounds in Central Limit
Theorems (CLTs) involving multiple Wiener-It\^o integrals with respect to a
general Poisson measure. We provide several applications to CLTs related to
Ornstein-Uhlenbeck L\'evy processes.


title:
Searches for Higgs Bosons beyond the Standard Model at the Tevatron
  Collider

abstract:
  The rapidly increasing integrated luminosity collected by the CDF and D0
detectors at the Tevatron Collider has resulted in a wealth of new results from
searches for Higgs bosons in the extensions of the Standard Model. Tighter
limits are set on the parameters governing the Higgs sector in these models.


title: On a variant of the large sieve

abstract:
  We introduce a variant of the large sieve and give an example of its use in a
sieving problem. Take the interval [N] = {1,...,N} and, for each odd prime p <=
N^{1/2}, remove or ``sieve out'' by all n whose reduction mod p lies in some
interval I_p of Z/pZ of length (p-1)/2. Let A be the set that remains: then |A|
<< N^{1/3 + o(1)}, a bound which improves slightly on the bound of |A| <<
N^{1/2} which results from applying the large sieve in its usual form. This is
a very, very weak result in the direction of a question of Helfgott and
Venkatesh, who suggested that nothing like equality can occur in applications
of the large sieve unless the unsieved set is essentially the set of values of
a polynomial (e.g. A is the set of squares).
  Assuming the ``exponent pairs conjecture'' (which is deep, as it implies a
host of classical questions including the Lindel\"of hypothesis, Gauss circle
problem and Dirichlet divisor problem) the bound can be improved to |A| <<
N^{o(1)}. This raises the worry that even reasonably simple sieve problems are
connected to issues of which we have little understanding at the present time.


title: Superscatterer: Enhancement of scattering with complementary media

abstract:
  Based on the concept of complementary media, we propose a novel design which
can enhance the electromagnetic wave scattering cross section of an object so
that it looks like a scatterer bigger than the scale of the device. Such a
``superscatterer'' is realized by coating a negative refractive material shell
on a perfect electrical conductor cylinder. The scattering field is
analytically obtained by Mie scattering theory, and confirmed by full-wave
simulations numerically. Such a device can be regarded as a cylindrical concave
mirror for all angles.


title:
Constraints on New Physics in MFV models: a model-independent analysis
  of Delta F=1 processes

abstract:
  We analyse the constraints on dimension-six Delta F=1 effective operators in
models respecting the MFV hypothesis, both in the one-Higgs doublet case and in
the two-Higgs doublet scenario with large tan beta. The constraints are derived
mainly from the b -> s inclusive observables measured at the B factories. The
implications of these bounds in view of improved measurements in exclusive and
inclusive observables in b -> s l^+ l^- and s -> d nu nubar transitions are
discussed.


title: Cohomological dimension, self-linking, and systolic geometry

abstract:
  Given a closed manifold M, we prove the upper bound of (n+d)/2 for the length
of a product of systoles that can form a curvature-free lower bound for the
total volume of M, in the spirit of M. Gromov's systolic inequalities. Here n
is the dimension of M, while d is the is the cohomological dimension of its
fundamental group. We apply this upper bound to show that, in the case of a
4-manifold, the Lusternik--Schnirelmann category is an upper bound for such
length. Furthermore we prove a systolic inequality on a manifold M with
b_1(M)=2 in the presence of a nontrivial self-linking class of the typical
fiber of its Abel--Jacobi map to the 2-torus.


title:
Long-Time Asymptotics for the Korteweg-de Vries Equation via Nonlinear
  Steepest Descent

abstract:
  We apply the method of nonlinear steepest descent to compute the long-time
asymptotics of the Korteweg-de Vries equation for decaying initial data in the
soliton and similarity region. This paper can be viewed as an expository
introduction to this method.


title:
Finiteness properties of formal local cohomology modules and
  Cohen-Macaulayness

abstract:
  Let $\fa$ be an ideal of a local ring $(R,\fm)$ and $M$ a finitely generated
$R$-module. We investigate the structure of the formal local cohomology modules
${\vpl}_nH^i_{\fm}(M/\fa^n M)$, $i\geq 0$. We prove several results concerning
finiteness properties of formal local cohomology modules which indicate that
these modules behave very similar to local cohomology modules. Among other
things, we prove that if $\dim R\leq 2$ or either $\fa$ is principal or $\dim
R/\fa\leq 1$, then $\Tor_j^R(R/\fa,{\vpl}_nH^i_{\fm}(M/\fa^n M))$ is Artinian
for all $i$ and $j$. Also, we examine the notion $\fgrade(\fa,M)$, the formal
grade of $M$ with respect to $\fa$ (i.e. the least integer $i$ such that
${\vpl}_nH^i_{\fm}(M/\fa^n M) \neq 0$). As applications, we establish a
criterion for Cohen-Macaulayness of $M$, and also we provide an upper bound for
cohomological dimension of $M$ with respect to $\fa$.


title: Monte Carlo approach to nuclei and nuclear matter

abstract:
  We report on the most recent applications of the Auxiliary Field Diffusion
Monte Carlo (AFDMC) method. The equation of state (EOS) for pure neutron matter
in both normal and BCS phase and the superfluid gap in the low--density regime
are computed, using a realistic Hamiltonian containing the Argonne AV8' plus
Urbana IX three--nucleon interaction. Preliminary results for the EOS of
isospin--asymmetric nuclear matter are also presented.


title:
Nonphotonic electrons at RHIC within $k_t$-factorization approach and
  with experimental semileptonic decay functions

abstract:
  We discuss production of nonphotonic electrons in proton-proton scattering at
RHIC. The distributions in rapidity and transverse momentum of charm and bottom
quarks/antiquarks are calculated in the $k_t$-factorization approach. We use
different unintegrated gluon distributions from the literature. The
hadronization of heavy quarks is done by means of Peterson and Braaten et al.
fragmentation functions. The semileptonic decay functions are found by fitting
recent semileptonic data obtained by the CLEO and BABAR collaborations. We get
good description of the data at large transverse momenta of electrons and find
a missing strength concentrated at small transverse momenta of electrons.
Plausible missing mechanisms are discussed.


title:
Superconductivity in nickel-based compound GdONiBi and hole doped
  Gd0.9Sr0.1ONiBi

abstract:
  We successfully synthesized the nickel-based compound GdONiBi with
superconducting transition temperature about 4.5 K. By partially substituting
the element Gd with Sr to introduce holes into the material, we got new
superconductor Gd0.9Sr0.1ONiBi with critical temperature about 4.7 K. The
normal state resistivity in nickel-based samples shows a metallic behavior. The
magnetoresistance measurements show a different behavior compared to those in
iron-based compounds which indicates that the mechanism in the two kinds of
superconductors maybe different.


title: Indirect dissociative recombination of LiH$_2^+$ + e$^-$

abstract:
  We present the results of calculations determining the cross sections for
indirect dissociative recombination of LiH$_2^+$ + $e^-$. These calculations
employ multichannel quantum defect theory and Fano's rovibrational frame
transformation technique to obtain the indirect DR cross section in the manner
described by Ref.\cite{hamilton}. We use \textit{ab initio} electron-molecule
scattering codes to calculate quantum defects. In contrast to H$_3^+$, the
LiH$_2^+$ molecule exhibits considerable mixing between rotation and vibration;
however, by incorporating an exact treatment of the rovibrational dynamics of
the LiH$_2^+$, we show that this mixing has only a small effect on the observed
DR rate. We calculate a large DR rate for this cation, 4.0 $\times$ 10$^{-7}$
cm$^{3}$ s$^{-1}$ at 1 meV incident electron energy.


title:
Solving the SUSY Flavour and CP Problems with Non-Abelian Family
  Symmetry and Supergravity

abstract:
  Can a theory of flavour capable of describing the spectrum of fermion
(including neutrino) masses and mixings also contain within it the seeds for a
solution of the SUSY flavour and CP problems? We argue that supergravity
together with a non-Abelian family symmetry can completely resolve the SUSY
flavour and CP problems in a broad class of theories in which family symmetry
and CP is spontaneously broken in the flavon sector. We show that a simple
superpotential structure can suppresses the F-terms of the flavons and GUT
scale Higgs fields and that, if this mechanism is implemented, the resulting
flavour and CP violation is suppressed and comfortably within the experimental
limits. For illustration, we study a specific model based on SU(3) family
symmetry, but similar models based on non-Abelian (continuous or discrete)
family symmetry will lead to similar results.


title: Observation of the spin-based plasmonic effect in nanoscale structures

abstract:
  Observation of surface-plasmon phenomena that are dependent upon the
handedness of the circularly polarized incident light (spin) is presented. The
polarization-dependent near-field intensity distribution obtained in our
experiment is attributed to the presence of a geometric phase arising from the
interaction of light with an anisotropic and inhomogeneous nanoscale structure.
A near-field vortex surface mode with a spin-dependent topological charge was
obtained in a plasmonic microcavity. The remarkable phenomenon of
polarization-sensitive focusing in a plasmonic structure was also demonstrated.


title: Semiclassical Theory of Time-Reversal Focusing

abstract:
  Time reversal mirrors have been successfully implemented for various kinds of
waves propagating in complex media. In particular, acoustic waves in chaotic
cavities exhibit a refocalization that is extremely robust against external
perturbations or the partial use of the available information. We develop a
semiclassical approach in order to quantitatively describe the refocusing
signal resulting from an initially localized wave-packet. The time-dependent
reconstructed signal grows linearly with the temporal window of injection, in
agreement with the acoustic experiments, and reaches the same spatial extension
of the original wave-packet. We explain the crucial role played by the chaotic
dynamics for the reconstruction of the signal and its stability against
external perturbations.