title:
1/f noise for intermittent quantum dots exhibits non-stationarity and
  critical exponents

abstract:
  The power spectrum of quantum dot fluorescence exhibits $1/f^\beta$ noise,
related to the intermittency of these nanosystems. As in other systems
exhibiting $1/f$ noise, this power spectrum is not integrable at low
frequencies, which appears to imply infinite total power. We report
measurements of individual quantum dots that address this long-standing
paradox. We find that the level of $1/f^\beta$ noise decays with the
observation time. The change of the spectrum with time places a bound on the
total power. These observations are in stark contrast with most measurements of
noise in macroscopic systems which do not exhibit any evidence for
non-stationarity. We show that the traditional description of the power
spectrum with a single exponent $\beta$ is incomplete and three additional
critical exponents characterize the dependence on experimental time.


title: Commissioning of the Francium Trapping Facility at TRIUMF

abstract:
  We report on the successful commissioning of the Francium Trapping Facility
at TRIUMF. Large laser-cooled samples of francium are produced from a francium
ion beam delivered by the ISAC radioactive ion beam facility. The ion beam is
neutralized on an yttrium foil, which is subsequently heated to transfer the
atoms into the magneto-optical trapping region. We have successfully trapped
$^{207}$Fr, $^{209}$Fr and $^{221}$Fr, with a maximum of $2.5 \times 10^5$
$^{209}$Fr atoms. The neutral cold atoms will be used in studies of the weak
interaction through measurements of atomic parity non-conservation.


title: Measuring the Coronal Properties of IC4329A with NuSTAR

abstract:
  We present an analysis of a ~160 ks NuSTAR observation of the nearby bright
Seyfert galaxy IC4329A. The high-quality broadband spectrum enables us to
separate the effects of distant reflection from the direct coronal continuum,
and to therefore accurately measure the high-energy cutoff to be
$E_{cut}=178^{+74}_{-40}$ keV. The coronal emission arises from accretion disk
photons Compton up-scattered by a thermal plasma, with the spectral index and
cutoff being due to a combination of the finite plasma temperature and optical
depth. Applying standard Comptonization models, we measure both physical
properties independently using the best signal-to-noise obtained to date in an
AGN over the 3-79 keV band. We derive $kT_e=37^{+7}_{-6}$ keV with
$\tau=1.25^{+0.20}_{-0.10}$ assuming a slab geometry for the plasma, and
$kT_e=33^{+6}_{-6}$ keV with $\tau=3.41^{+0.58}_{-0.38}$ for a spherical
geometry, with both having an equivalent goodness-of-fit.


title:
Liquid-Solid Phase Transition Alloy as Reversible and Rapid Molding Bone
  Cement

abstract:
  Bone cement has been demonstrated as an essential restorative material in the
orthopedic surgery. However current materials often imply unavoidable
drawbacks, such as tissue-cement reaction induced thermal injuries and
troublesome revision procedure. Here we proposed an injectable alloy cement to
address such problems through its liquid-solid phase transition mechanism. The
cement is made of a unique alloy BiInSnZn with a specifically designed low
melting point 57.5{\deg}C. This property enables its rapid molding into various
shapes with high plasticity. Some fundamental characteristics including
mechanical strength behaviors and phase transition-induced thermal features
have been measured to demonstrate the competence of alloy as unconventional
cement with favorable merits. Further biocompatible tests showed that this
material could be safely employed in vivo. In addition, experiments also found
the alloy cement capability as an excellent contrast agent for radiation
imaging. Particularly, the proposed alloy cement with reversible phase
transition feature significantly simplifies the revision of cement and
prosthesis. This study opens the way to implement alloy material as bone cement
to fulfill diverse clinical needs.


title:
Validation of reduced kinetic models for simulations of non-steady
  combustion processes

abstract:
  In the present work we compare reliability of several most widely used
reduced detailed chemical kinetic schemes for hydrogen-air and hydrogen-oxygen
combustible mixtures. The validation of the schemes includes detailed analysis
of 0D and 1D calculations and comparison with experimental databases containing
data on induction time, equilibrium temperature, composition of the combustion
products, laminar flame speed and the flame front thickness at different
pressures. 1D calculations are carried out using the full gasdynamical system
for compressible viscous thermal conductive multicomponent mixture. The proper
choice of chemical kinetics models is essential for obtaining reliable
quantitative and qualitative insight into combustion phenomena such as flame
acceleration and stability, ignition, transition from
deflagration-to-detonation (DDT) using a multiscale numerical modeling.


title:
Universality of Planck's constant and a constraint from the absence of
  h_bar-induced neutrino mixing

abstract:
  You have probably often set hbar=1; but for what particle? I revisit here the
possibility of a non-universal Planck-constant. Anomaly cancellation suggests
that all particles in the same family perceive the same hbar at fixed charges
e, g_w, g_s; the difference between the muon's and the electron's (and thus the
first and second families) can be tightly constrained by the muon's anomalous
magnetic moment,but constraints are weaker for the third family. Neutrino
mixing could have proceeded a priori not only by the Lagrangian neutrino
mass-term, but also by the kinetic term if Planck's constant was not equal for
all three species. An experimental constraint follows as such contributions,
characterized by oscillations proportional to the energy, as opposed to the
inverse energy, have been generically analyzed in the past. This provides at
the same time support for gauge invariance. On the other hand if hbar differs
among particles while fixing the fine structure constants alpha_em, alpha_s,
etc. instead of the charges, it affects the muonic atom puzzle without much
constrain from g-2.


title: A high-sensitivity push-pull magnetometer

abstract:
  We describe our approach to atomic magnetometry based on the push-pull
optical pumping technique. Cesium vapor is pumped and probed by a resonant
laser beam whose circular polarization is modulated synchronously with the spin
evolution dynamics induced by a static magnetic field. The magnetometer is
operated in a phase-locked loop, and it has an intrinsic sensitivity below
20fT/\sqrt(Hz) using a room temperature paraffin-coated cell. We use the
magnetometer to monitor magnetic field fluctuations with a sensitivity of
300fT/\sqrt(Hz).


title:
Edge Physics of the Quantum Spin Hall Insulator from a Quantum Dot
  Excited by Optical Absorption

abstract:
  The gapless edge modes of the Quantum Spin Hall insulator form a helical
liquid in which the direction of motion along the edge is determined by the
spin orientation of the electrons. In order to probe the Luttinger liquid
physics of these edge states and their interaction with a magnetic (Kondo)
impurity, we consider a setup where the helical liquid is tunnel-coupled to a
semiconductor quantum dot which is excited by optical absorption, thereby
inducing an effective quantum quench of the tunneling. At low energy, the
absorption spectrum is dominated by a power-law singularity. The corresponding
exponent is directly related to the interaction strength (Luttinger parameter)
and can be computed exactly using boundary conformal field theory thanks to the
unique nature of the Quantum Spin Hall edge.


title:
The ground state energy of the two dimensional Ginzburg-Landau
  functional with variable magnetic field

abstract:
  We consider the Ginzburg-Landau functional with a variable applied magnetic
field in a bounded and smooth two dimensional domain. We determine an accurate
asymptotic formula for the minimizing energy when the Ginzburg-Landau parameter
and the magnetic field are large and of the same order. As a consequence, it is
shown how bulk superconductivity decreases in average as the applied magnetic
field increases.


title: Growth Route Toward III-V Multispectral Solar Cells on Silicon

abstract:
  To date, high efficiency multijunction solar cells have been developed on Ge
or GaAs substrates for space applications, and terrestrial applications are
hampered by high fabrication costs. In order to reduce this cost, we propose a
breakthrough technique of III-V compound heteroepitaxy on Si substrates without
generation of defects critical to PV applications. With this technique we
expect to achieve perfect integration of heterogeneous Ga1-xInxAs
micro-crystals on Si substrates. In this paper, we show that this is the case
for x=0. GaAs crystals were grown by Epitaxial Lateral Overgrowth on Si (100)
wafers covered with a thin SiO2 nanostructured layer. The cristallographic
structure of these crystals is analysed by MEB and TEM imaging. Micro-Raman and
Micro-Photomuminescence spectra of GaAs crystals grown with different
conditions are compared with those of a reference GaAs wafer in order to have
more insight on eventual local strains and their cristallinity. This work aims
at developping building blocks to further develop a GaAs/Si tandem demonstrator
with a potential conversion efficiency of 29.6% under AM1.5G spectrum without
concentration, as inferred from our realistic modeling. This paper shows that
Epitaxial Lateral Overgrowth has a very interesting potential to develop
multijunction solar cells on silicon approaching the today 30.3% world record
of a GaInP/GaAs tandem cell under the same illumination conditions, but on a
costlier substrate than silicon.


title: Shape Selection and Multi-stability in Helical Ribbons

abstract:
  Helical structures, almost ubiquitous in biological systems, have inspired
the design and manufacturing of helical devices with applications in
nanoelecromechanical systems (NEMS), morphing structures, optoelectronics,
micro-robotics and drug delivery devices. Meanwhile, multi-stable structures,
represented by the Venus flytrap and slap bracelet, have attracted increasing
attention due to their applications in making artificial muscles, bio-inspired
robots, deployable aerospace components and energy harvesting devices. Here we
show that the mechanical anisotropy pertinent to helical deformation, together
with geometric nonlinearity associated with multi-stability, can lead to novel
selection principle of the geometric shape and multi-stability in spontaneous
helical ribbons. Simple table-top experiments were also performed to illustrate
the working principle. Our work will promote understanding of spontaneous
curling, twisting, wrinkling of thin objects and their instabilities, and serve
as a tool in developing functional structures and devices with tunable,
morphing geometries and smart actuation mechanism that can be applied in a
spectrum of areas.


title:
Generic framework for anisotropic flow analyses with multi-particle
  azimuthal correlations

abstract:
  We present a new generic framework which enables exact and fast evaluation of
all multi-particle azimuthal correlations. The framework can be readily used
along with a correction framework for systematic biases in anisotropic flow
analyses due to various detector inefficiencies. A new recursive algorithm has
been developed for higher order correlators for the cases where their direct
implementation is not feasible. We propose and discuss new azimuthal
observables for anisotropic flow analyses which can be measured for the first
time with our new framework. Effects of finite detector granularity on
multi-particle correlations are quantified and discussed in detail. We point
out the existence of a systematic bias in traditional differential flow
analyses which stems solely from the applied selection criteria on particles
used in the analyses, and is also present in the ideal case when only flow
correlations are present. Finally, we extend the applicability of our generic
framework to the case of differential multi-particle correlations.


title: The origin of interparticle potential of electrorheological fluids

abstract:
  The particles of electrorheological fluids can be modelled as dielectric
spheres (DS) immersed in a continuum dielectric. When an external field is
applied, polarization charges are induced on the surfaces of the spheres and
can be represented as point dipoles placed in the centres of the spheres. When
the DSs are close to each other, the induced charge distributions are distorted
by the electric field of the neighbouring DSs. This is the origin of the
interaction potential between the DSs. The calculation of this energy is very
time consuming, therefore, the DS model cannot be used in molecular
simulations. In this paper, we show that the interaction between the point
dipoles appropriately approximates the interaction of DSs. The polarizable
point dipole model provides better results, but this model is not pair-wise
additive, so it is not that practical in particle simulations.


title:
Error Estimates of Integral Deferred Correction Methods for Stiff
  Problems

abstract:
  In this paper, we present error estimates of the integral deferred correction
method constructed with stiffly accurate implicit Runge-Kutta methods with a
nonsingular matrix $A$ in its Butcher table representation, when applied to
stiff problems characterized by a small positive parameter $\varepsilon$. In
our error estimates, we expand the global error in powers of $\varepsilon$ and
show that the coefficients are global errors of the integral deferred
correction method applied to a sequence of differential algebraic systems. A
study of these errors and of the remainder of the expansion yields sharp error
bounds for the stiff problem. Numerical results for the van der Pol equation
are presented {to} illustrate our theoretical findings. Finally, we study the
linear stability properties of these methods.


title:
A new rearrangement inequality and its application for L^2-constraint
  minimizing problems

abstract:
  We study $L^2$-constraint minimizing problems related to elliptic systems. We
introduce a new rearrangement to show $H^1$-precompactness of any minimizing
sequences. Some strict inequality for the new rearrangement is obtained. It is
a key to exclude the dichotomy of minimizing sequences.


title: Thick-Brane Cosmology

abstract:
  We search for time-dependent solutions for the 5-dimensional system of a
scalar field canonically coupled to gravity. Time-independent and
time-dependent scalar field configurations with the most general homogeneous
and isotropic 4D metric are considered. For the case of time-independent scalar
field, the time evolution of the scale factor is obtained for different values
of the spatial curvature $k=0,\pm 1$. In the case of time-dependent scalar
field, two classes of solutions are discussed and an extension of the
superpotential formalism is proposed.


title: Generalized Randall-Sundrum model with a single thick brane

abstract:
  A generalized version of the Randall-Sundrum model-2 with different
cosmological constants on each side of a brane has been discussed. A
possibility of replacing the singular brane by a configuration of a scalar
field has been also considered, the Einstein equations for this setup were
solved and stability of the solution discussed. It has been shown that under
mild assumptions the relation between cosmological constants and the brane
tension obtained in the brane limit does not depend on the particular choice of
the regularizing profile of the scalar field.


title:
Cosmological and astrophysical signatures of dark matter annihilations
  into pseudo-Goldstone bosons

abstract:
  We investigate a model where the dark matter particle is a chiral fermion
field charged under a global $U(1)$ symmetry which is assumed to be
spontaneously broken, leading to a pseudo-Goldstone boson (PGB). We argue that
the dark matter annihilation into PGBs determine the dark matter relic
abundance. Besides, we also note that experimental searches for PGBs allow
either for a very long lived PGB, with a lifetime much longer than the age of
the Universe, or a relatively short lived PGB, with a lifetime shorter than one
minute. Hence, two different scenarios arise, producing very different
signatures. In the long lived PGB scenario, the PGB might contribute
significantly to the radiation energy density of the Universe. On the other
hand, in the short lived PGB scenario, and since the decay length is shorter
than one parsec, the s-wave annihilation into a PGB and a $CP$ even dark scalar
in the Galactic center might lead to an intense box feature in the gamma-ray
energy spectrum, provided the PGB decay branching ratio into two photons is
sizable. We also analyze the constraints on these two scenarios from thermal
production, the Higgs invisible decay width and direct dark matter searches.


title: Constraints on particle dark matter from cosmic-ray antiprotons

abstract:
  Cosmic-ray antiprotons represent an important channel for dark matter
indirect-detection studies. Current measurements of the antiproton flux at the
top of the atmosphere and theoretical determinations of the secondary
antiproton production in the Galaxy are in good agreement, with no manifest
deviation which could point to an exotic contribution in this channel.
Therefore, antiprotons can be used as a powerful tool for constraining particle
dark matter properties. By using the spectrum of PAMELA data from 50 MV to 180
GV in rigidity, we derive bounds on the dark matter annihilation cross section
(or decay rate, for decaying dark matter) for the whole spectrum of dark matter
annihilation (decay) channels and under different hypotheses of cosmic-rays
transport in the Galaxy and in the heliosphere. For typical models of galactic
propagation, the constraints are significantly strong, setting a lower bound on
the dark matter mass of a "thermal" relic at about 50-90 GeV for hadronic
annihilation channels. These bounds are enhanced to about 150 GeV on the dark
matter mass, when large cosmic-rays confinement volumes in the Galaxy are
considered, and are reduced to 4-5 GeV for annihilation to light quarks (no
bound for heavy-quark production) when the confinement volume is small. Bounds
for dark matter lighter than few tens of GeV are due to the low energy part of
the PAMELA spectrum, an energy region where solar modulation is relevant: to
this aim, we have implemented a detailed solution of the transport equation in
the heliosphere, which allowed us not only to extend bounds to light dark
matter, but also to determine the uncertainty on the constraints arising from
solar modulation modeling. Finally, we estimate the impact of soon-to-come
AMS-02 data on the antiproton constraints.


title:
Bounding the smallest singular value of a random matrix without
  concentration

abstract:
  Given $X$ a random vector in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$, set $X_1,...,X_N$ to be
independent copies of $X$ and let $\Gamma=\frac{1}{\sqrt{N}}\sum_{i=1}^N
<X_i,\cdot>e_i$ be the matrix whose rows are $\frac{X_1}{\sqrt{N}},\dots,
\frac{X_N}{\sqrt{N}}$.
  We obtain sharp probabilistic lower bounds on the smallest singular value
$\lambda_{\min}(\Gamma)$ in a rather general situation, and in particular,
under the assumption that $X$ is an isotropic random vector for which
$\sup_{t\in S^{n-1}}{\mathbb{E}}|<t,X>|^{2+\eta} \leq L$ for some $L,\eta>0$.
Our results imply that a Bai-Yin type lower bound holds for $\eta>2$, and, up
to a log-factor, for $\eta=2$ as well. The bounds hold without any additional
assumptions on the Euclidean norm $\|X\|_{\ell_2^n}$.
  Moreover, we establish a nontrivial lower bound even without any higher
moment assumptions (corresponding to the case $\eta=0$), if the linear forms
satisfy a weak `small ball' property.


title:
Equivalences of 5-dimensional CR-manifolds V: Six initial frames and
  coframes; Explicitness obstacles

abstract:
  Local CR-generic submanifolds of C^N are in one-to-one correspondence with
their respective graphing functions, but it is well known that (despite their
importance) the Cartan-Hachtroudi-Chern-Moser invariants and coframes for Levi
nondegenerate hypersurfaces M in C^(n+1) have been fully computed in CR
dimension n >= 2 only in special cases which show off a tremendous collapse of
computational complexity in comparison to the general case. One of the goals of
this Part V is to set up systematic initial data that are essentially explicit
in terms of the concerned graphing functions, for the six already studied
general classes I, II, III-1, III-2, IV-1, IV-2. Incredibly, for Class III-1
CR-generic submanifolds M^5 in C^4 that are the geometry-preserving
deformations of one of the natural models of Beloshapka, even the initial frame
and coframe are not absorbable by an individual personal computer, for some of
the concerned coefficient-functions incorporate nearly 100 000 000 of monomials
in 165 jet variables, not to mention that the exploration of biholomorphic
equivalences yet requires to differentiate such functions at least four times.
As will appear later on, deep (archaic) mathematical links are extant between
the effective Cartan theory and the famous hyperbolicity conjecture of
Kobayashi.


title: Iterative Hard Thresholding for Weighted Sparse Approximation

abstract:
  Recent work by Rauhut and Ward developed a notion of weighted sparsity and a
corresponding notion of Restricted Isometry Property for the space of weighted
sparse signals. Using these notions, we pose a best weighted sparse
approximation problem, i.e. we seek structured sparse solutions to
underdetermined systems of linear equations. Many computationally efficient
greedy algorithms have been developed to solve the problem of best $s$-sparse
approximation. The design of all of these algorithms employ a similar template
of exploiting the RIP and computing projections onto the space of sparse
vectors. We present an extension of the Iterative Hard Thresholding (IHT)
algorithm to solve the weighted sparse approximation problem. This IHT
extension employs a weighted analogue of the template employed by all greedy
sparse approximation algorithms. Theoretical guarantees are presented and much
of the original analysis remains unchanged and extends quite naturally.
However, not all the theoretical analysis extends. To this end, we identify and
discuss the barrier to extension. Much like IHT, our IHT extension requires
computing a projection onto a non-convex space. However unlike IHT and other
greedy methods which deal with the classical notion of sparsity, no simple
method is known for computing projections onto these weighted sparse spaces.
Therefore we employ a surrogate for the projection and analyze its empirical
performance.


title: Idiosyncrasy as an explanation for power laws in nature

abstract:
  Complex systems theory pays much attention to simple mechanisms producing
nontrivial patterns, especially power laws. However, power laws with exponent
close to one also result from complex mixtures of mechanisms that, in
isolation, would not necessarily give this type of distribution. Probably, both
paths to the power law are relevant in nature. The second gives a plausible
explanation for some instances of power laws emerging in extremely complex
systems, such as ecosystems.


title:
Hypersurfaces with constant curvature quotients in warped product
  manifolds

abstract:
  In this paper, we study rigidity problems for hypersurfaces with constant
curvature quotients $\frac{\mathcal{H}_{2k+1}}{\mathcal{H}_{2k}}$ in the warped
product manifolds. Here $\mathcal{H}_{2k}$ is the $k$-th Gauss-Bonnet curvature
and $\mathcal{H}_{2k+1}$ arises from the first variation of the total
integration of $\mathcal{H}_{2k}$. Hence the quotients considered here are in
general different from $\frac{\sigma_{2k+1}}{\sigma_{2k}}$, where $\sigma_k$
are the usual mean curvatures. We prove several rigidity and Bernstein type
results for compact or non-compact hypersurfaces corresponding to such
quotients.


title:
Scattering and reflection positivity in relativistic Euclidean quantum
  mechanics

abstract:
  In this paper I discuss a formulation of relativistic few-particle scattering
theory where the dynamical input is a collection of reflection-positive
Euclidean covariant Green functions. This formulation of relativistic quantum
mechanics has the advantage that all calculations can be performed using
Euclidean variables. The construction of the Hilbert space inner product
requires that the Green functions are reflection positive, which is a
non-trivial constraint on the dynamics. In this paper I discuss the structure
of reflection positive Green functions. I show that scattering wave operators
exist when the dynamics is given by a Green function with the structure
discussed in this work. Techniques for computing scattering observables in this
Euclidean framework are discussed.


title:
On superactivation of one-shot zero-error quantum capacity and the
  related property of quantum measurements

abstract:
  We begin with a detailed description of a low dimensional quantum channel
($d_A=4, d_E=3$) demonstrating the symmetric form of superactivation of
one-shot zero-error quantum capacity. This means appearance of a noiseless
(perfectly reversible) subchannel in the tensor square of a channel having no
noiseless subchannels.
  Then we describe a quantum channel $\Phi$ such that $\,\bar{Q}_0(\Phi)=0$ and
$\,\bar{Q}_0(\Phi\otimes\Phi)\geq\log n\,$ for any $\,n\leq+\infty$.
  We also show that the superactivation of one-shot zero-error quantum capacity
of a channel can be reformulated in terms of quantum measurements theory as
appearance of an indistinguishable subspace for tensor product of two
observables having no indistinguishable subspaces.


title:
The measurement and interpretation of superallowed 0+ to 0+ nuclear beta
  decay

abstract:
  Measurements of the decay strength of superallowed 0+ to 0+ nuclear beta
transitions shed light on the fundamental properties of weak interactions.
Because of their impact, such measurements were first reported 60 years ago in
the early 1950s and have continued unabated ever since, always taking advantage
of improvements in experimental techniques to achieve ever higher precision.
The results helped first to shape the Electroweak Standard Model but more
recently have evolved into sensitively testing that model's predictions. Today
they provide the most demanding test of vector-current conservation and of the
unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix. Here, we review the
experimental and theoretical methods that have been, and are being, used to
characterize superallowed 0+ to 0+ beta transitions and to extract
fundamentally important parameters from their analysis.


title: Niobium Silicon alloys for Kinetic Inductance Detectors

abstract:
  We are studying the properties of Niobium Silicon amorphous alloys as a
candidate material for the fabrication of highly sensitive Kinetic Inductance
Detectors (KID), optimized for very low optical loads. As in the case of other
composite materials, the NbSi properties can be changed by varying the relative
amounts of its components. Using a NbSi film with T_c around 1 K we have been
able to obtain the first NbSi resonators, observe an optical response and
acquire a spectrum in the band 50 to 300 GHz. The data taken show that this
material has very high kinetic inductance and normal state surface resistivity.
These properties are ideal for the development of KID. More measurements are
planned to further characterize the NbSi alloy and fully investigate its
potential.


title: Statistical Analysis of High-Flow Traffic States

abstract:
  The relation between the fundamental observables of traffic flow (i.e.,
vehicle density, flow rate, and average velocity) is of great importance for
the study of traffic phenomena. Probably the most common source of such data
are inductive loop detectors, which count the number of passing vehicles and
measure their speed. We will present an analysis of detector data collected by
more than 3000 loop detectors during the past three years on the motorway
network of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Besides presenting some general
aspects of traffic flow, our analysis focuses on the characteristics of
so-called high-flow states, i.e. traffic states where the flow rate exceeds 50
vehicles per minute and lane (3000 veh/h/lane). We investigate the duration,
frequency and other statistics of such states, the viability of the data and we
study the conditions under which they occur. The factors that influence the
existence of high-flow states in traffic are, for instance, the fraction of
slow vehicles (namely trucks), the motorway's general topology (e.g. number of
lanes), the hour of the day and day of the week. This information is directly
accessible from the detector data.


title: Quantum computation and real multiplication

abstract:
  We propose a construction of anyon systems associated to quantum tori with
real multiplication and the embedding of quantum tori in AF algebras. These
systems generalize the Fibonacci anyons, with weaker categorical properties,
and are obtained from the basic modules and the real multiplication structure.


title:
Determination of $c_\mathrm A$ in three-flavour lattice QCD with Wilson
  fermions and tree-level improved gauge action

abstract:
  We report on an ongoing non-perturbative determination of the improvement
coefficient of the axial current, $c_\mathrm A$, with three flavours of
dynamical $\mathrm O(a)$ improved Wilson quarks and tree-level Symanzik
improved gauge action. Our computations are based on simulations with the
openQCD code. The improvement condition for a range of couplings is formulated
with Schr\"odinger functional boundary conditions and imposed along a line of
constant physics in parameter space. Our analysis involves correlation
functions with boundary wave functions such that a large sensitivity to
$c_\mathrm A$ can be reached by exploiting the PCAC relation with two different
pseudoscalar states.


title: Relativistic few-body physics

abstract:
  I discuss different formulations of the relativistic few-body problem with an
emphasis on how they are related. I first discuss the implications of some of
the differences with non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Then I point out that
the principle of special relativity in quantum mechanics implies that the
quantum theory has a Poincar\'e symmetry, which is realized by a unitary
representation of the Poincar\'e group. This representation can always be
decomposed into direct integrals of irreducible representations and the
different formulations differ only in how these irreducible representations are
realized. I discuss how these representations appear in different formulations
of relativistic quantum mechanics and discuss some applications in each of
these frameworks.


title: Hadron Molecules Revisted

abstract:
  Hadron Molecules are particles made out of hadrons that are held together by
self interactions. In this report we discuss seven such molecules and their
self interactions. The $f_0(980)$, $a_0(980)$, $f_1(1400)$, $\Delta N(2150)$
and $\pi_1(1400)$ molecular structure is given. We predict that two more states
the $K\overline{K}K(1500)$ and $a_1(1400)$ should be found.


title: Wavelets in field theory

abstract:
  We discuss the use of Daubechies wavelets in discretizing quantum field
theories.


title: Hawking radiation from a spherical loop quantum gravity black hole

abstract:
  We introduce quantum field theory on quantum space-times techniques to
characterize the quantum vacua as a first step towards studying black hole
evaporation in spherical symmetry in loop quantum gravity and compute the
Hawking radiation. We use as quantum space time the recently introduced exact
solution of the quantum Einstein equations in vacuum with spherical symmetry
and consider a spherically symmetric test scalar field propagating on it. The
use of loop quantum gravity techniques in the background space-time naturally
regularizes the matter content, solving one of the main obstacles to back
reaction calculations in more traditional treatments. The discreteness of area
leads to modifications of the quantum vacua, eliminating the trans-Planckian
modes close to the horizon, which in turn eliminates all singularities from
physical quantities, like the expectation value of the stress energy tensor.
Apart from this, the Boulware, Hartle--Hawking and Unruh vacua differ little
from the treatment on a classical space-time. The asymptotic modes near scri
are reproduced very well. We show that the Hawking radiation can be computed,
leading to an expression similar to the conventional one but with a high
frequency cutoff. Since many of the conclusions concern asymptotic behavior,
where the spherical mode of the field behaves in a similar way as higher
multipole modes do, the results can be readily generalized to non spherically
symmetric fields.


title: A characterization of diagonal Poisson structures

abstract:
  The degeneracy locus of a generically symplectic Poisson structure on a Fano
manifold is always a singular hypersurface. We prove that there exists just one
family of generically symplectic Poisson structures in Fano manifold with
cyclic Picard group having a reduced simple normal crossing degeneracy locus.


title: Asymptotically locally AdS and flat black holes in Horndeski theory

abstract:
  In this paper we construct asymptotically locally AdS and flat black holes in
the presence of a scalar field whose kinetic term is constructed out from a
linear combination of the metric and the Einstein tensor. The field equations
as well as the energy-momentum tensor are second order in the metric and the
field, therefore the theory belongs to the ones defined by Horndeski. We show
that in the presence of a cosmological term in the action, it is possible to
have a real scalar field in the region outside the event horizon. The solutions
are characterized by a single integration constant, the scalar field vanishes
at the horizon and it contributes to the effective cosmological constant at
infinity. We extend these results to the topological case. The solution is
disconnected from the maximally symmetric AdS background, however, within this
family there exits a gravitational soliton which is everywhere regular. This
soliton is therefore used as a background to define a finite Euclidean action
and to obtain the thermodynamics of the black holes. For a certain region in
the space of parameters, the thermodynamic analysis reveals a critical
temperature at which a Hawking-Page phase transition between the black hole and
the soliton occurs. We extend the solution to arbitrary dimensions grater than
four and show that the presence of a cosmological term in the action allows to
consider the case in which the standard kinetic term for the scalar it's not
present. In such scenario, the solution reduces to an asymptotically flat black
hole.


title: Computational challenges in the relativistic few-nucleon problem

abstract:
  I discuss computational challenges in the relativistic few-nucleon problem
and the resolution of some of these challenges. I also discuss the outlook for
the future.


title: The equations of elastostatics in a Riemannian manifold

abstract:
  To begin with, we identify the equations of elastostatics in a Riemannian
manifold, which generalize those of classical elasticity in the
three-dimensional Euclidean space. Our approach relies on the principle of
least energy, which asserts that the deformation of the elastic body arising in
response to given loads minimizes over a specific set of admissible
deformations the total energy of the elastic body, defined as the difference
between the strain energy and the potential of the loads. Assuming that the
strain energy is a function of the metric tensor field induced by the
deformation, we first derive the principle of virtual work and the associated
nonlinear boundary value problem of nonlinear elasticity from the expression of
the total energy of the elastic body. We then show that this boundary value
problem possesses a solution if the loads are sufficiently small (in a sense we
specify).


title: Sutured ECH is a natural invariant

abstract:
  We show that sutured embedded contact homology is a natural invariant of
sutured contact 3-manifolds which can potentially detect some of the topology
of the space of contact structures on a 3-manifold with boundary. The appendix,
by C. H. Taubes, proves a compactness result for the completion of a sutured
contact 3-manifold in the context of Seiberg-Witten Floer homology, which
enables us to complete the proof of naturality.


title:
The eccentric massive binary V380 Cyg: revised orbital elements and
  interpretation of the intrinsic variability of the primary component

abstract:
  We present a detailed analysis and interpretation of the high-mass binary
V380 Cyg, based on high-precision space photometry gathered with the Kepler
space mission as well as high-resolution ground-based spectroscopy obtained
with the HERMES spectrograph attached to the 1.2m Mercator telescope. We derive
a precise orbital solution and the full physical properties of the system,
including dynamical component mass estimates of 11.43+/-0.19 and 7.00+/-0.14
solar masses for the primary and secondary, respectively. Our frequency
analysis reveals the rotation frequency of the primary in both the photometric
and spectroscopic data and additional low-amplitude stochastic variability at
low frequency in the space photometry with characteristics that are compatible
with recent theoretical predictions for gravity-mode oscillations excited
either by the convective core or by sub-surface convective layers. Doppler
Imaging analysis of the silicon lines of the primary suggests the presence of
two high-contrast stellar surface abundance spots which are located either at
the same latitude or longitude. Comparison of the observed properties of the
binary with present-day single-star evolutionary models shows that the latter
are inadequate and lack a serious amount of near-core mixing.


title: Conception of main local-strong-nonequilibriun state

abstract:
  A new conception of main local-strong-nonequilibrium state is proposed on the
basis of development of the conception local equilibrium state. At list the
conception is intended for description of evolution of internal defect
structure in solids subjected severe external influences, for example, severe
plastic deformation, radiation and so on, but can be developed on other closely
related phenomena.


title: On the Ashtekar-Lewandowski Measure as a Restriction of the Product One

abstract:
  It is known that the $k$-dimensional Hausdorff measure on a $k$-dimensional
submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^n$ is closely related to the Lebesgue measure on
$\mathbb{R}^n$. We show that the Ashtekar-Lewandowski measure on the space of
generalized $G$-connections for a compact, semi-simple, Lie group $G$, is
analogously related to the product measure on the set of all $G$-valued
functions on the group of loops. We also show that, the Ashtekar-Lewandowski
measure is, under very mild conditions, supported on nowhere-continuous
generalized connections.


title:
A closed-form solution for the flat-state geometry of cylindrical
  surface intersections bounded on all sides by orthogonal planes

abstract:
  A closed-form solution for the boundary of the flat state of an orthogonal
cross section of contiguous surface geometry formed by the intersection of two
cylinders of equal radii oriented in dual directions of rotation about their
intersecting axes.


title: Real-time Flux Density Measurements of the 2011 Draconid Meteor Outburst

abstract:
  During the 2011 outburst of the Draconid meteor shower, members of the Video
Meteor Network of the International Meteor Organization (IMO) provided, for the
first time, fully automated flux density measurements in the optical domain.
The data set revealed a primary maximum at 20:09 UT $\pm$5 min on 8 October
2011 (195.036 deg solar longitude) with an equivalent meteoroid flux density of
(118 $\pm$10) x 10^-3 km^-2 h^-1 at a meteor limiting magnitude of +6.5, which
is thought to be caused by the 1900 dust trail of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.
We also find that the outburst had a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 80
minutes, a mean radiant position of alpha=262.2 deg, delta=+56.2 deg ($\pm$1.3
deg) and geocentric velocity of v_geo=17.4 km/s ($\pm$0.5 km/s). Finally, our
data set appears to be consistent with a small sub-maximum at 19:34 UT $\pm$7
min (195.036 deg solar longitude) which has earlier been reported by radio
observations and may be attributed to the 1907 dust trail.


title: Strong squeezing and robust entanglement in cavity electromechanics

abstract:
  We investigate nonlinear effects in an electromechanical system consisting of
a superconducting charge qubit coupled to transmission line resonator and a
nanomechanical oscillator, which in turn is coupled to another transmission
line resonator. The nonlinearities induced by the superconducting qubit and the
optomechanical coupling play an important role in creating optomechanical
entanglement as well as the squeezing of the transmitted microwave field. We
show that strong squeezing of the microwave field and robust optomechanical
entanglement can be achieved in the presence of moderate thermal decoherence of
the mechanical mode. We also discuss the effect of the coupling of the
superconducting qubit to the nanomechanical oscillator on the bistability
behaviour of the mean photon number.


title: Stability of the MIDI photometry: the case of Circinus

abstract:
  In principle, the MID-infrared Interferometric instrument (MIDI) at the Very
Large Telescope Array (VLTI) should always measure the same calibrated total
flux spectrum for a specific source, independent of the instrument settings and
the baseline geometry. In the data on the Circinus galaxy, however, there is
(a) a general offset of the flux values for 2009 and (b) a slow drift of the
total fluxes at short wavelengths during two nights (2008-04-17 and
2009-04-14). The latter seems to depend on the hour angle of the observation.
In this document, a more detailed analysis of these two effects is carried out
and summarised. The goal is to find an explanation for these variations in the
photometry.


title: A remark on the diameter of random sections of convex bodies

abstract:
  We obtain a new upper estimate on the Euclidean diameter of the intersection
of the kernel of a random matrix with iid rows with a given convex body. The
proof is based on a small-ball argument rather than on concentration and thus
the estimate holds for relatively general matrix ensembles.


title: The impact of AGN on their host galaxies

abstract:
  In these proceedings I briefly: (1) review the impact (or "feedback") that
active galactic nuclei (AGN) are predicted to have on their host galaxies and
larger scale environment, (2) review the observational evidence for or against
these predictions and (3) present new results on ionised outflows in AGN. The
observational support for the "maintenance mode" of feedback is strong (caveat
the details); AGN at the centre of massive halos appear to be regulating the
cooling of hot gas, which could in turn control the levels of future star
formation (SF) and black hole growth. In contrast, direct observational support
for more rapid forms of feedback, which dramatically impact on SF (i.e., the
"quasar mode"), remains elusive. From a systematic study of the spectra of
approx. 24000 z<0.4 AGN we find that extreme ionised gas kinematics are common,
and are most prevalent in radio bright AGN (L[1.4GHz] >10^23 W/Hz). Follow-up
IFU observations have shown that these extreme gas kinematics are extended over
kilo-parsec scales. However, the co-existence of high-levels of SF, luminous
AGN activity and radio jets raises interesting questions on the primary drivers
and impact of these outflows. Galaxy-wide, high-mass outflows are being
observed in an increasing number of AGN and are a plausible mechanism for the
depletion of gas; however, there is still much work to be done to determine the
physical processes that drive these outflows and to measure the level of impact
that they have on their host galaxies.


title:
Complete QED NLO contributions to the reaction $e^+e^- \to
  \mu^+\mu^-\gamma$ and their implementation in the event generator PHOKHARA

abstract:
  KLOE and Babar have an observed discrepancy of 2% to 5% in the invariant pion
pair production cross section. These measurements are based on approximate NLO
$ \mu^+ \mu^- \gamma $ cross section predictions of the Monte Carlo event
generator PHOKHARA7.0. In this article, the complete NLO radiative corrections
to $ \mu^+ \mu^- \gamma $ production are calculated and implemented in the
Monte Carlo event generator PHOKHARA9.0. Numerical reliability is guaranteed by
two independent approaches to the real and the virtual corrections. The novel
features include the contribution of pentagon diagrams in the virtual
corrections, which form a gauge-invariant set when combined with their box
diagram partners. They may contribute to certain distributions at the percent
level. Also the real emission was complemented with two-photon final state
emission contributions not included in the generator PHOKHARA7.0. We
demonstrate that the numerical influence reaches, for realistic charge-averaged
experimental setups, not more than 0.1% at KLOE and 0.3% at BaBar energies. As
a result, we exclude the approximations in earlier versions of PHOKHARA as
origin of the observed experimental discrepancy.


title: A nonabelian trace formula

abstract:
  Let $E/F$ be an extension of number fields with $\mathrm{Gal}(E/F)$ simple
and nonabelian. In [G] the first named author suggested an approach to
nonsolvable base change and descent of automorphic representations of
$\mathrm{GL}_2$ along such an extension. Motivated by this we prove a trace
formula whose spectral side is a weighted sum over cuspidal automorphic
representations of $\mathrm{GL}_2(\mathbb{A}_E)$ that are isomorphic to their
$\mathrm{Gal}(E/F)$-conjugates.


title: Phase transitions in probabilistic cellular automata

abstract:
  We investigate the low-noise regime of a large class of probabilistic
cellular automata, including the North-East-Center model of A. Toom. They are
defined as stochastic perturbations of cellular automata with a binary state
space and a monotonic transition function and possessing a property of erosion.
These models were studied by A. Toom, who gave both a criterion for erosion and
a proof of the stability of homogeneous space-time configurations. Basing
ourselves on these major findings, we prove, for a set of initial conditions,
exponential convergence of the induced processes toward the extremal invariant
measure with a highly predominant state. We also show that this invariant
measure presents exponential decay of correlations in space and in time and is
therefore strongly mixing. This result is due to joint work with A. de Maere.
For the two-dimensional probabilistic cellular automata in the same class and
for the same extremal invariant measure, we give an upper bound to the
probability of a block of cells with the opposite state. The upper bound
decreases exponentially fast as the diameter of the block increases. This upper
bound complements, for dimension 2, a lower bound of the same form obtained for
any dimension greater than 1 by R. Fern\'andez and A. Toom. In order to prove
these results, we use graphical objects that were introduced by A. Toom and we
give a review of their construction.


title: Augur: a Modeling Language for Data-Parallel Probabilistic Inference

abstract:
  It is time-consuming and error-prone to implement inference procedures for
each new probabilistic model. Probabilistic programming addresses this problem
by allowing a user to specify the model and having a compiler automatically
generate an inference procedure for it. For this approach to be practical, it
is important to generate inference code that has reasonable performance. In
this paper, we present a probabilistic programming language and compiler for
Bayesian networks designed to make effective use of data-parallel architectures
such as GPUs. Our language is fully integrated within the Scala programming
language and benefits from tools such as IDE support, type-checking, and code
completion. We show that the compiler can generate data-parallel inference code
scalable to thousands of GPU cores by making use of the conditional
independence relationships in the Bayesian network.


title:
Multiple Access Multicarrier Continuous-Variable Quantum Key
  Distribution

abstract:
  One of the most important practical realizations of the fundamentals of
quantum mechanics is continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD). Here
we propose the adaptive multicarrier quadrature division-multiuser quadrature
allocation (AMQD-MQA) multiple access technique for continuous-variable quantum
key distribution. The MQA scheme is based on the AMQD modulation, which
granulates the inputs of the users into Gaussian subcarrier
continuous-variables (CVs). In an AMQD-MQA multiple access scenario, the
simultaneous reliable transmission of the users is handled by the dynamic
allocation of the Gaussian subcarrier CVs. We propose two different settings of
AMQD-MQA for multiple input-multiple output communication. We introduce a
rate-selection strategy that tunes the modulation variances and allocates
adaptively the quadratures of the users over the sub-channels. We also prove
the rate formulas if only partial channel side information is available for the
users of the sub-channel conditions. We show a technique for the compensation
of a nonideal Gaussian input modulation, which allows the users to overwhelm
the modulation imperfections to reach optimal capacity-achieving communication
over the Gaussian sub-channels. We investigate the diversity amplification of
the sub-channel transmittance coefficients and reveal that a strong diversity
can be exploited by opportunistic Gaussian modulation.


title:
MXenes as High Capacity Electrode Materials for Metal (Li, Na, K,
  Ca)-ion batteries

abstract:
  Two-dimensional (2D) materials can have an excellent capability to handle
high rates of charge in ion batteries since metal ions need not diffuse in a 3D
lattice structure. However graphene, which is the most important 2D material,
is known to have no Li capacity. Herein, adsorption of Li, as well as Na, K,
and Ca on Ti$_3$C$_2$, one representative MXene, is predicted by
first-principles density functional calculations. In our study, we observed
that these alkali ions exhibit different adsorption energy depending on the
coverage. The adsorption energies of Na, K and Ca decrease as coverage
increases, while Li shows little sensitivity to variance in coverage. This
observed relationship between adsorption energies and coverage of alkali ions
on Ti$_3$C$_2$ can be explained by their effective ionic radii. A larger
effective ionic radius increases interaction between alkali atoms, thus lower
capacity and coverage are obtained. Our calculated capacity values for Li, Na,
K and Ca on Ti$_3$C$_2$ are 639.5, 319.8, 191.8 and 159.9 mAh g$^{-1}$,
respectively. Compared to materials currently used in Li ion battery anodes,
MXene shows great promise in increasing overall battery performance.


title: PBW deformations of skew group algebras in positive characteristic

abstract:
  We investigate deformations of a skew group algebra that arise from a finite
group acting on a polynomial ring. When the characteristic of the underlying
field divides the order of the group, a new type of deformation emerges that
does not occur in characteristic zero. This analogue of Lusztig's graded affine
Hecke algebra for positive characteristic can not be forged from the template
of symplectic reflection and related algebras as originally crafted by
Drinfeld. By contrast, we show that in characteristic zero, for arbitrary
finite groups, a Lusztig-type deformation is always isomorphic to a
Drinfeld-type deformation. We fit all these deformations into a general theory,
connecting Poincar\'e-Birkhoff-Witt deformations and Hochschild cohomology when
working over fields of arbitrary characteristic. We make this connection by way
of a double complex adapted from Guccione, Guccione, and Valqui, formed from
the Koszul resolution of a polynomial ring and the bar resolution of a group
algebra.


title: Post-Newtonian Conservation Laws in Rigid Quasilocal Frames

abstract:
  In recent work we constructed completely general conservation laws for energy
and linear and angular momentum of extended systems in general relativity based
on the notion of a rigid quasilocal frame (RQF). We argued at a fundamental
level that these RQF conservation laws are superior to conservation laws based
on the local stress-energy-momentum tensor of matter because (1) they do not
rely on spacetime symmetries and (2) they properly account for both matter and
gravitational effects. Moreover, they provide simple, exact, operational
expressions for fluxes of gravitational energy and linear and angular momentum.
In this paper we derive the form of these laws in a general first
post-Newtonian (1PN) approximation, and then apply these approximate laws to
the problem of gravitational tidal interactions. We obtain formulas for tidal
heating and tidal torque that agree with the literature, but without resorting
to the use of pseudotensors. We describe the physical mechanism of these tidal
interactions not in the traditional terms of a Newtonian gravitational force,
but in terms of a much simpler and universal mechanism that is an exact,
quasilocal manifestation of the equivalence principle in general relativity. As
concrete examples, we look at the tidal heating of Jupiter's moon Io and
angular momentum transfer in the Earth-Moon system that causes a gradual
spin-down of the Earth and recession of the Moon. In both examples we find
agreement with observation.


title: Randomness of D Sequences via Diehard Testing

abstract:
  This paper presents a comparison of the quality of randomness of D sequences
based on diehard tests. Since D sequences can model any random sequence, this
comparison is of value beyond this specific class.


title: Fourier transforms of Gibbs measures for the Gauss map

abstract:
  We investigate under which conditions a given invariant measure $\mu$ for the
dynamical system defined by the Gauss map $x \mapsto 1/x \mod 1$ is a Rajchman
measure with polynomially decaying Fourier transform $$|\widehat{\mu}(\xi)| =
O(|\xi|^{-\eta}), \quad \text{as } |\xi| \to \infty.$$ We show that this
property holds for any Gibbs measure $\mu$ of Hausdorff dimension greater than
$1/2$ with a natural large deviation assumption on the Gibbs potential. In
particular, we obtain the result for the Hausdorff measure and all Gibbs
measures of dimension greater than $1/2$ on badly approximable numbers, which
extends the constructions of Kaufman and Queff\'elec-Ramar\'e. Our main result
implies that the Fourier-Stieltjes coefficients of the Minkowski's question
mark function decay to $0$ polynomially answering a question of Salem from
1943. As an application of the Davenport-Erd\H{o}s-LeVeque criterion we obtain
an equidistribution theorem for Gibbs measures, which extends in part a recent
result by Hochman-Shmerkin. Our proofs are based on exploiting the nonlinear
and number theoretic nature of the Gauss map and large deviation theory for
Hausdorff dimension and Lyapunov exponents.


title: On homogeneous planar functions

abstract:
  Let $p$ be an odd prime and $\F_q$ be the finite field with $q=p^n$ elements.
A planar function $f:\F_q\rightarrow\F_q$ is called homogenous if $f(\lambda
x)=\lambda^df(x)$ for all $\lambda\in\F_p$ and $x\in\F_q$, where $d$ is some
fixed positive integer. We characterize $x^2$ as the unique homogenous planar
function over $\F_{p^2}$ up to equivalence.


title: Inverse vector-valued Sturm-Liouville problem. I. Uniqueness theorem

abstract:
  This paper starts a series devoted to the vector-valued Sturm-Liouville
problem $-\psi''+V(x)\psi=\lambda\psi$, $\psi\in L^2([0,1];\mathbb{C}^N)$, with
separated boundary conditions. The overall goal of the series is to give a
complete characterization of classes of spectral data corresponding to
potentials $V=V^*\in L^p([0,1];\mathbb{C}^{N\times N})$ for a fixed $1\le p
<+\infty$ and separated boundary conditions having the most general form. In
the first paper we briefly describe our approach to this inverse problem and
prove some preliminary results including the relevant uniqueness theorem.


title: Black hole hair in generalized scalar-tensor gravity

abstract:
  The most general action for a scalar field coupled to gravity that leads to
second order field equations for both the metric and the scalar --- Horndeski's
theory --- is considered, with the extra assumption that the scalar satisfies
shift symmetry. We show that in such theories the scalar field is forced to
have a nontrivial configuration in black hole spacetimes, unless one carefully
tunes away a linear coupling with the Gauss--Bonnet invariant. Hence, black
holes for generic theories in this class will have hair. This contradicts a
recent no-hair theorem, which seems to have overlooked the presence of this
coupling.


title: Linking Starobinsky-Type Inflation in no-Scale Supergravity to MSSM

abstract:
  A novel realization of the Starobinsky inflationary model within a moderate
extension of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is presented. The
proposed superpotential is uniquely determined by applying a continuous R and a
Z_2 discrete symmetry, whereas the Kahler potential respects a no-scale-type
SU(54,1)/SU(54)x U(1)_R x Z_2 symmetry too. The inflaton is identified with a
Higgs-like modulus whose the vacuum expectation value controls the
gravitational strength. Thanks to a strong enough coupling (with a parameter cT
involved) between the inflaton and the Ricci scalar curvature, inflation can be
attained even for subplanckian values of the inflaton with cT>76 and the
corresponding effective theory being valid up to the Planck scale. The
inflationary observables turn out to be in agreement with the current data and
the inflaton mass is predicted to be 3x10^13 GeV. At the cost of a relatively
small superpotential coupling constant, the model offers also a resolution to
the mu problem of the MSSM. Supplementing MSSM by three right-handed neutrinos
we show that spontaneously arising couplings between the inflaton and the
particle content of MSSM not only ensure a sufficiently low reheating
temperature but also support a scenario of non-thermal leptogenesis
consistently with the neutrino oscillation parameters for gravitino heavier
than about 10^4 GeV.


title: Semicontinuity and closed faces of C*-algebras

abstract:
  C. Akemann and G. Pedersen defined three concepts of semicontinuity for
self-adjoint elements of A**, the enveloping von Neumann algebra of a
C*-algebra A. We give the basic properties of the analogous concepts for
elements of pA**p, where p is a closed projection in A**. In other words, in
place of affine functionals on Q, the quasi-state space of A, we consider
functionals on F(p), the closed face of Q supported by p. We prove an
interpolation theorem: If h \geq k, where h is lower semicontinuous on F(p) and
k upper semicontinuous, then there is a continuous affine functional x on F(p)
such that x is between h and k. We also prove an interpolation-extension
theorem: Now h and k are given on Q, x is given on F(p) between h|F(p) and
k|F(p), and we seek to extend x to x on Q so that x is between h and k. We give
a characterization of p(M(A)_sa)p in terms of semicontinuity. And we give new
characterizations of operator convexity and strong operator convexity in terms
of semicontinuity.


title: Efficient prediction in $L^2$-differentiable families of distributions

abstract:
  A proof of the Cram\'er-Rao inequality for prediction is presented under
conditions of $L^2$-differentiability of the family of distributions of the
model. The assumptions and the proof differ from those of Miyata (2001) who
also proved this inequality under $L^2$-differentiability conditions. It is
also proved that if an efficient predictor (i.e. which risk attains the bound)
exists then the family of distributions is of a special form which can be seen
as an extension of the notion of exponential family. This result is also proved
under $L^2$-differentiability conditions.


title:
Paradoxes of rational agency and formal systems that verify their own
  soundness

abstract:
  We consider extensions of Peano arithmetic which include an assertibility
predicate. Any such system which is arithmetically sound effectively verifies
its own soundness. This leads to the resolution of a range of paradoxes
involving rational agents who are licensed to act under precisely defined
conditions.


title: Higgs branch localization of 3d N=2 theories

abstract:
  We study N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories on squashed 3-sphere and S^1xS^2.
Recent studies have shown that the partition functions in a class of N=2
theories have factorized forms in terms of vortex and anti-vortex partition
functions by explicitly evaluating matrix integrals obtained from Coulomb
branch localization. We directly derive this structure by performing Higgs
branch localization. It turns out that more general N=2 theories have this
factorization property. We also discuss the factorization of supersymmetric
Wilson loop.


title:
Generalized Zernike polynomials: Operational formulae and generating
  functions

abstract:
  We establish new operational formulae of Burchnall type for the complex disk
polynomials (generalized Zernike polynomials). We then use them to derive some
interesting identities involving these polynomials. In particular, we establish
recurrence relations with respect to the argument and the integer indices, as
well as Nielsen identities and Runge addition formula. In addition, various new
generating functions for these disk polynomials are proved.


title:
A comparison of the distribution of satellite galaxies around Andromeda
  and the results of $\Lambda$CDM simulations

abstract:
  Ibata et al. (2013) recently reported the existence of a vast thin plane of
dwarf galaxies (VTPD) orbiting around Andromeda. We investigate whether such a
configuration can be reproduced within the standard cosmological framework and
search for similar planes of co-rotating satellite galaxies around
Andromeda-like host haloes in data from the Millennium II simulation combined
with a semi-analytic galaxy formation model. We apply a baryonic mass cut of
$2.8\times 10^4 \text{M}_{\text{sun}}$ for the satellite haloes and restrict
the data to a PAndAS like field. If we include the so-called orphan galaxies in
our analysis, we find that planes with a rms lower than the VTPD are common in
Millennium II. This is partially due to the strongly radially concentrated
distribution of orphan galaxies. Excluding part of the orphan galaxies brings
the radial distributions of Millennium II satellites into better agreement with
the satellite distribution of Andromeda while still producing a significant
fraction of planes with a lower rms than the VTPD. We also find haloes in
Millennium II with an equal or higher number of co-rotating satellites than the
VTPD. This demonstrates that the VTPD is not in conflict with the standard
cosmological framework, although a definite answer of this question might
require higher resolution cosmological simulations that do not have to consider
orphan galaxies. Our results finally show that satellite planes in Millennium
II are not stable structures, hence the VTPD might only be a statistical
fluctuation of an underlying more spherical galaxy distribution.


title:
Entanglement tongue and quantum synchronization of disordered
  oscillators

abstract:
  We study the synchronization of dissipatively-coupled van der Pol oscillators
in the quantum limit, when each oscillator is near its quantum ground state.
Two quantum oscillators with different frequencies exhibit an entanglement
tongue, which is the quantum analogue of an Arnold tongue. It means that the
oscillators are entangled in steady state when the coupling strength is greater
than a critical value, and the critical coupling increases with detuning. An
ensemble of many oscillators with random frequencies still exhibits a
synchronization phase transition in the quantum limit, and we analytically
calculate how the critical coupling depends on the frequency disorder. Our
results can be experimentally observed with trapped ions or neutral atoms.

categories: quant-ph cond-mat.dis-nn cond-mat.quant-gas nlin.CD


title: Distributed Function Computation Over a Rooted Directed Tree

abstract:
  This paper establishes the rate region for a class of source coding function
computation setups where sources of information are available at the nodes of a
tree and where a function of these sources must be computed at the root. The
rate region holds for any function as long as the sources' joint distribution
satisfies a certain Markov criterion. This criterion is met, in particular,
when the sources are independent.
  This result recovers the rate regions of several function computation setups.
These include the point-to-point communication setting with arbitrary sources,
the noiseless multiple access network with "conditionally independent sources,"
and the cascade network with Markovian sources.


title:
Topological properties of possible Weyl superconducting states of
  URu$_\mathbf{2}$Si$_\mathbf{2}$

abstract:
  We show that the current thermodynamic measurements in the superconducting
phase of $\mathrm{U}\mathrm{Ru}_2\mathrm{Si}_2$ are compatible with two
distinct singlet chiral paired states $k_z(k_x \pm i k_y)$ and $(k_x \pm i
k_y)^2$. Despite possessing similar low temperature thermodynamic properties,
these two pairings are topologically distinguished by their respective orbital
angular momentum projections along the c-axis, $m=\pm 1$ and $m=\pm 2$. The
point nodes of these states act as the monopoles and the anti-monopoles of the
Berry's gauge flux of charge $\pm m$, which are separated in the momentum space
along the $c$ axis. As a result, the Berry's flux through the $ab$ plane equals
$m$. Consequently, the point nodes of $k_z(k_x+i k_y)$ and $(k_x \pm ik_y)^2$
states respectively realize the Weyl and the double-Weyl fermions, with
chemical potential exactly tuned at the Fermi point, due to the charge
conjugation symmetry. These topologically nontrivial point nodes, give rise to
$m$ copies of protected spin degenerate, chirally dispersing surface states on
the $ca$ and the $cb$ planes, which carry surface current, and their energies
vanish at the Fermi arcs. In contrast, a line node acts as the momentum space
vortex loop, and gives rise to the zero energy, dispersionless Andreev bound
states on the surfaces parallel to the plane enclosed by the line node. The
Berry's flux through the $ab$ plane gives rise to anomalous spin Hall and
thermal Hall conductivities, and various magnetoelectric effects. A clear
determination of the bulk invariant can only be achieved by probing the pairing
symmetry via a corner Josephson junction measurement, and Fourier transformed
STM measurements of the Fermi arcs. Therefore, we identify
$\mathrm{U}\mathrm{Ru}_2\mathrm{Si}_2$ as a promising material for realizing
gapless topological superconductivity in three spatial dimensions.

categories: cond-mat.supr-con cond-mat.dis-nn cond-mat.mes-hall cond-mat.str-el hep-th


title:
Stochastic resonance in collective exciton-polariton excitations inside
  a GaAs microcavity

abstract:
  We report the first observation of stochastic resonance in confined
exciton-polaritons. We evidence this phenomena by tracking the polaritons
behavior through two stochastic resonance quantifiers namely the spectral
magnification factor and the signal-to-noise ratio. The evolution of the
stochastic resonance in function of the modulation amplitude of the periodic
excitation signal is studied. Our experimental observations are well reproduced
by numerical simulations performed in the framework of the Gross-Pitaevskii
equation under stochastic perturbation.


title: Connecting radio variability to the characteristics of gamma-ray blazars

abstract:
  We present results from four years of twice-weekly 15 GHz radio monitoring of
about 1500 blazars with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory 40 m telescope.
Using the intrinsic modulation index to measure variability amplitude, we find
that, with $>\!6\sigma$ significance, the radio variability of radio-selected
gamma-ray-loud blazars is stronger than that of gamma-ray-quiet blazars. Our
extended data set also includes at least 21 months of data for all AGN with
`clean' associations in the Fermi Large Area Telescope First AGN catalogue,
1LAC. With these additional data we examine the radio variability properties of
a gamma-ray-selected blazar sample. Within this sample, we find no evidence for
a connection between radio variability amplitude and optical classification. In
contrast, for our radio-selected sample we find that the BL Lac object
subpopulation is more variable than the flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ)
subpopulation. Radio variability is found to correlate with the synchrotron
peak frequency, with low- and intermediate-synchrotron-peaked blazars varying
less than high-synchrotron-peaked ones. We find evidence for a significant
negative correlation between redshift and radio variability among bright FSRQs.


title: On the Oscillation of Species

abstract:
  We describe a new class of BPS objects called magnetubes: their supersymmetry
is determined by their magnetic charges, while their electric charges can
oscillate freely between different species. We show how to incorporate these
objects into microstate geometries and create BPS solutions in which the charge
densities rotate through different U(1) species as one moves around a circle
within the microstate geometry. Our solutions have the same "time-like"
supersymmetry as five-dimensional, three-charge black holes but, in various
parts of the solution, the supersymmetry takes the "null" form that is normally
associated with magnetic charges. It is this property that enables the species
oscillation of magnetubes to be compatible with supersymmetry. We give an
example in which the species oscillate non-trivially around a circle within a
microstate geometry, and yet the energy-momentum tensor and metric are
completely independent of this circle: only the amplitude of the oscillation
influences the metric.


title: Constraining SUSY with Heavy Scalars -- using the CMB

abstract:
  If low-energy SUSY exists, LHC data favors a high mass scale for scalar
superpartners (above a TeV), while sfermions and the dark matter can be
parametrically lighter -- leading to a so-called split-spectrum. When combining
this fact with the motivation from fundamental theory for shift-symmetric
scalars (moduli) prior to SUSY breaking, this leads to a non-thermal history
for the early universe. Such a history implies different expectations for the
microscopic properties of dark matter, as well as the possibility of dark
radiation and a cosmic axion background. In this paper we examine how
correlated and mixed isocurvature perturbations are generated in such models,
as well as the connection to dark radiation. WMAP constraints on multiple
correlated isocurvature modes allow up to half of the primordial perturbations
to be isocurvature, contrary to the case of a single isocurvature mode where
perturbations must be dominantly adiabatic. However, such bounds are strongly
prior dependent, and have not been investigated with the latest Planck data. In
this paper we use the example of a SUSY non-thermal history to establish
theoretical priors on cosmological parameters. Of particular interest, we find
that priors on dark radiation are degenerate with those on the total amount of
isocurvature -- they are inversely correlated. Dark radiation is tightly
constrained in the early universe and has been used recently to place stringent
constraints on string-based approaches to beyond the standard model. Our
results suggest such constraints can require more input from theory. Data from
cosmological probes -- such as Planck -- can help guide model building in
models of the MSSM, split-SUSY, and beyond. Our model also demonstrates the
utility of UV models in constructing cosmological priors. (abridged)


title: Line-of-Sight Structure Toward Strong Lensing Galaxy Clusters

abstract:
  We present an analysis of the line-of-sight structure toward a sample of ten
strong lensing cluster cores. Structure is traced by groups that are identified
spectroscopically in the redshift range, 0.1 $\leq$ z $\leq$ 0.9, and we
measure the projected angular and comoving separations between each group and
the primary strong lensing clusters in each corresponding line of sight. From
these data we measure the distribution of projected angular separations between
the primary strong lensing clusters and uncorrelated large scale structure as
traced by groups. We then compare the observed distribution of angular
separations for our strong lensing selected lines of sight against the
distribution of groups that is predicted for clusters lying along random lines
of sight. There is clear evidence for an excess of structure along the line of
sight at small angular separations ($\theta \leq 6'$) along the strong lensing
selected lines of sight, indicating that uncorrelated structure is a
significant systematic that contributes to producing galaxy clusters with large
cross sections for strong lensing. The prevalence of line-of-sight structure is
one of several biases in strong lensing clusters that can potentially be folded
into cosmological measurements using galaxy cluster samples. These results also
have implications for current and future studies -- such as the Hubble Space
Telescope Frontier Fields -- that make use of massive galaxy cluster lenses as
precision cosmological telescopes; it is essential that the contribution of
line-of-sight structure be carefully accounted for in the strong lens modeling
of the cluster lenses.


title: Newton to Einstein - dust to dust

abstract:
  We investigate the relation between the standard Newtonian equations for a
pressureless fluid (dust) and the Einstein equations in a double expansion in
small scales and small metric perturbations. We find that parts of the Einstein
equations can be rewritten as a closed system of two coupled differential
equations for the scalar and transverse vector metric perturbations in Poisson
gauge. It is then shown that this system is equivalent to the Newtonian system
of continuity and Euler equations. Brustein and Riotto (2011) conjectured the
equivalence of these systems in the special case where vector perturbations
were neglected. We show that this approach does not lead to the Euler equation
but to a physically different one with large deviations already in the 1-loop
power spectrum. We show that it is also possible to consistently set to zero
the vector perturbations which strongly constrains the allowed initial
conditions, in particular excluding Gaussian ones such that inclusion of vector
perturbations is inevitable in the cosmological context. In addition we derive
nonlinear equations for the gravitational slip and tensor perturbations,
thereby extending Newtonian gravity of a dust fluid to account for nonlinear
light propagation effects and dust-induced gravitational waves.


title:
Topological invariants, surface states, and interaction-driven phase
  transitions in correlated Kondo insulators with cubic symmetry

abstract:
  We construct a lattice model for a cubic Kondo insulator consisting of one
spin-degenerate $d$ and $f$ orbital at each lattice site. The odd-parity
hybridization between the two orbitals permits us to obtain various trivial and
topological insulating phases, which we classify in the presence of cubic
symmetry. In particular, depending on the choice of our model parameters, we
find a strong topological insulator phase with a band inversion at the
$\mathrm{X}$ point, modeling the situation potentially realized in SmB$_6$, and
a topological crystalline insulator phase with trivial $\mathbb{Z}_2$ indices
but nonvanishing mirror Chern numbers. Using the Kotliar-Ruckenstein
slave-boson scheme, we further demonstrate how increasing interactions among
$f$ electrons can lead to topological phase transitions. Remarkably, for fixed
band parameters, the $f$-orbital occupation number at the topological
transitions is essentially independent of the interaction strength, thus
yielding a robust criterion to discriminate between different phases.


title: The spin temperature of high-redshift damped Lyman-$\alpha$ systems

abstract:
  We report results from a programme aimed at investigating the temperature of
neutral gas in high-redshift damped Lyman-$\alpha$ absorbers (DLAs). This
involved (1) HI 21cm absorption studies of a large DLA sample, (2) VLBI studies
to measure the low-frequency quasar core fractions, and (3) optical/ultraviolet
spectroscopy to determine DLA metallicities and velocity widths.
  Including literature data, our sample consists of 37 DLAs with estimates of
the spin temperature $T_s$ and the covering factor. We find a strong $4\sigma$)
difference between the $T_s$ distributions in high-z (z>2.4) and low-z (z<2.4)
DLA samples. The high-z sample contains more systems with high $T_s$ values,
$\gtrsim 1000$ K. The $T_s$ distributions in DLAs and the Galaxy are also
clearly (~$6\sigma$) different, with more high-$T_s$ sightlines in DLAs than in
the Milky Way. The high $T_s$ values in the high-z DLAs of our sample arise due
to low fractions of the cold neutral medium.
  For 29 DLAs with metallicity [Z/H] estimates, we confirm the presence of an
anti-correlation between $T_s$ and [Z/H], at $3.5\sigma$ significance via a
non-parametric Kendall-tau test. This result was obtained with the assumption
that the DLA covering factor is equal to the core fraction. Monte Carlo
simulations show that the significance of the result is only marginally
decreased if the covering factor and the core fraction are uncorrelated, or if
there is a random error in the inferred covering factor.
  We also find evidence for redshift evolution in DLA $T_s$ values even for the
z>1 sub-sample. Since z>1 DLAs have angular diameter distances comparable to or
larger than those of the background quasars, they have similar efficiency in
covering the quasars. Low covering factors in high-z DLAs thus cannot account
for the observed redshift evolution in spin temperatures. (Abstract abridged.)


title:
Modelling gravitational waves from precessing black-hole binaries:
  Progress, challenges and prospects

abstract:
  The inspiral and merger of two orbiting black holes is among the most
promising sources for the first (hopefully imminent) direct detection of
gravitational waves (GWs), and measurements of these signals could provide a
wealth of information about astrophysics, fundamental physics and cosmology.
Detection and measurement require a theoretical description of the GW signals
from all possible black-hole-binary configurations, which can include
complicated precession effects due to the black-hole spins. Modelling the GW
signal from generic precessing binaries is therefore one of the most urgent
theoretical challenges facing GW astronomy. This article briefly reviews the
phenomenology of generic-binary dynamics and waveforms, and recent advances in
modelling them.


title:
A blind Green Bank Telescope millimetre-wave survey for redshifted
  molecular absorption

abstract:
  We present the methodology for ``blind'' millimetre-wave surveys for
redshifted molecular absorption in the CO/HCO$^+$ rotational lines. The
frequency range $30-50$ GHz appears optimal for such surveys, providing
sensitivity to absorbers at $z \gtrsim 0.85$. It is critical that the survey is
``blind'', i.e. based on a radio-selected sample, including sources without
known redshifts. We also report results from the first large survey of this
kind, using the Q-band receiver on the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) to search for
molecular absorption towards 36 sources, 3 without known redshifts, over the
frequency range $39.6 - 49.5$ GHz. The GBT survey has a total redshift path of
$\Delta z \approx 24$, mostly at $0.81 < z < 1.91$, and a sensitivity
sufficient to detect equivalent ${\rm H_2}$ column densities $\gtrsim 3 \times
10^{21}$ cm$^{-2}$ in absorption at $5\sigma$ significance (using the
CO-to-${\rm H_2}$ and HCO$^+$-to-${\rm H_2}$ conversion factors of the Milky
Way). The survey yielded no confirmed detections of molecular absorption,
yielding the $2\sigma$ upper limit $n(z=1.2) < 0.15$ on the redshift number
density of molecular gas at column densities $N({\rm H_2}) \gtrsim 3 \times
10^{21}$ cm$^{-2}$.


title:
Fourier expansions of Kac-Moody Eisenstein series and degenerate
  Whittaker vectors

abstract:
  Motivated by string theory scattering amplitudes that are invariant under a
discrete U-duality, we study Fourier coefficients of Eisenstein series on
Kac-Moody groups. In particular, we analyse the Eisenstein series on $E_9(R)$,
$E_{10}(R)$ and $E_{11}(R)$ corresponding to certain degenerate principal
series at the values s=3/2 and s=5/2 that were studied in 1204.3043. We show
that these Eisenstein series have very simple Fourier coefficients as expected
for their role as supersymmetric contributions to the higher derivative
couplings $R^4$ and $\partial^{4} R^4$ coming from 1/2-BPS and 1/4-BPS
instantons, respectively. This suggests that there exist minimal and
next-to-minimal unipotent automorphic representations of the associated
Kac-Moody groups to which these special Eisenstein series are attached. We also
provide complete explicit expressions for degenerate Whittaker vectors of
minimal Eisenstein series on $E_6(R)$, $E_7(R)$ and $E_8(R)$ that have not
appeared in the literature before.


title: The inelastic vs. total nucleon-nucleon cross section at large $N_c$

abstract:
  In this paper, the implication of the extreme large $N_c$ limit for
nucleon-nucleon cross section is examined. Starting from the $N_c$ scaling of
the S-matrix elements, a relation between the total inelastic and total cross
sections is derived for the regime in which the momenta are much larger than
the QCD scale. A conceptual complication arise from the fact that there is a
tower of baryons, such as the $\Delta$, with mass splittings from the nucleon
which go to zero at large $N_c$. Since these baryons are stable at large $N_c$,
the meaning of elasticity must be modified. Processes which only transform
nucleons to these baryons are considered elastic; processes in which at least
one additional meson is produced are considered inelastic. It is shown that in
the extreme large $N_c$ limit, the total inelastic cross section is exactly one
eighth of the total cross section. In contrast, in the physical world of
$N_c=3$ the total cross section for high-energy nucleon-nucleon scattering is
dominated by inelastic processes.


title:
Measurement of the half-life of the T=$\frac{1}{2}$ mirror decay of
  $^{19}$Ne and its implication on physics beyond the standard model

abstract:
  The $\frac{1}{2}^+ \rightarrow \frac{1}{2}^+$ superallowed mixed mirror decay
of $^{19}$Ne to $^{19}$F is excellently suited for high precision studies of
the weak interaction. However, there is some disagreement on the value of the
half-life. In a new measurement we have determined this quantity to be
$T_{1/2}$ = $17.2832 \pm 0.0051_{(stat)}$ $\pm 0.0066_{(sys)}$ s, which differs
from the previous world average by 3 standard deviations. The impact of this
measurement on limits for physics beyond the standard model such as the
presence of tensor currents is discussed.


title:
Generalization of the Time-Dependent Numerical Renormalization Group
  Method to Finite Temperatures and General Pulses

abstract:
  The time-dependent numerical renormalization group (td-NRG) [Anders et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 95}, 196801 (2006)] offers the prospect of investigating
in a non-perturbative manner the time-dependence of local observables of
interacting quantum impurity models at all time scales following a quantum
quench. We present a generalization of this method to arbitrary finite
temperature by making use of the full density matrix [Weichselbaum et al. Phys.
Rev. Lett. {\bf 99}, 076402 (2007)]. We show that all terms in the projected
density matrix $\rho^{i\to f} = \rho^{++} + \rho^{--} + \rho^{+-}+\rho^{-+}$ in
the time-evolution of a local observable may be evaluated in closed form, with
$\rho^{+-}=\rho^{-+}=0$. The expression for $\rho^{--}$ is shown to be finite
at finite temperature, becoming negligible only in the limit of vanishing
temperatures. We prove that this approach recovers the short-time limit for the
expectation value of a local observable exactly at arbitrary temperatures. In
contrast, the corresponding long-time limit is only recovered exactly in the
limit $\Lambda\rightarrow 1^{+}$. This limit is impractical within NRG. We
suggest how to overcome this problem by noting that the long-time limit becomes
increasingly more accurate on reducing the size of the quantum quench. This
suggests an improved generalized td-NRG approach in which the system is
time-evolved between the initial and final states via a sequence of small
quantum quenches within a finite time interval instead of a single large
quantum quench. The formalism for this is provided, generalizing the td-NRG to
multiple quantum quenches, periodic switching, and general pulses. This
formalism, like our finite temperature generalization of the single-quench
case, rests only on the NRG approximation. The results are illustrated by
application to the Anderson impurity model.


title:
Coarse-grained analysis of stochastically simulated cell populations
  with a positive feedback genetic network architecture

abstract:
  Among the different computational approaches modelling the dynamics of
isogenic cell populations, discrete stochastic models can describe with
sufficient accuracy the evolution of small size populations. However, for a
systematic and efficient study of their long-time behaviour over a wide range
of parameter values, the performance of solely direct temporal simulations
requires significantly high computational time. In addition, when the dynamics
of the cell populations exhibit non-trivial bistable behaviour, such an
analysis becomes a prohibitive task, since a large ensemble of initial states
need to be tested for the quest of possibly co-existing steady state solutions.
In this work, we study cell populations which carry the {\it lac} operon
network exhibiting solution multiplicity over a wide range of extracellular
conditions (inducer concentration). By adopting ideas from the so-called
``equation-free'' methodology, we perform systems-level analysis, which
includes numerical tasks such as the computation of {\it coarse} steady state
solutions, {\it coarse} bifurcation analysis, as well as {\it coarse} stability
analysis. Dynamically stable and unstable macroscopic (population level) steady
state solutions are computed by means of bifurcation analysis utilising short
bursts of fine-scale simulations, and the range of bistability is determined
for different sizes of cell populations. The results are compared with the
deterministic cell population balance (CPB) model, which is valid for large
populations, and we demonstrate the increased effect of stochasticity in small
size populations with asymmetric partitioning mechanisms.


title: Magnetic field structure and halo in NGC 4631

abstract:
  In order to clarify whether NGC 4631 has a unique magnetic field
configuration in the central region along its disk, we present high-resolution
Faraday-corrected polarization data. Radio continuum observations of NGC 4631
at 4.85 GHz were performed with the VLA. In addition, observations were made
with the Effelsberg telescope at 4.85 GHz and at 8.35 GHz. These were analyzed
together with archival VLA-data at 8.35 GHz. The vertical scale heights in NGC
4631 vary significantly in different regions within the galaxy and their mean
values at 4.85 GHz are with 2.3 kpc (370 pc) for the thick (thin) disk higher
than the mean values found so far in six other edge-on spiral galaxies. This
may originate in the tidal interaction of NGC 4631 with its neighbouring
galaxies. The total field strengths in the halo are of the order of the total
magnetic field strength in the disk, whereas the ordered field strengths in the
halo seem to be higher than the value in the disk. The derived distribution of
rotation measures implies that NGC 4631 has a large-scale regular magnetic
field configuration. Despite the strong Faraday depolarization along the
galactic plane and the strong beam depolarization in the transition zone
between the disk and halo, our research strongly indicates that the magnetic
field orientation along the central 5-7 kpc of the disk is also plane-parallel.
Therefore, we claim that NGC 4631 also has a magnetic field structure
plane-parallel along its entire disk.


title: Type Ia Supernovae from Merging White Dwarfs II) Post-Merger Detonations

abstract:
  Merging carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarfs are a promising progenitor system for
Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia), but the underlying physics and timing of the
detonation are still debated. If an explosion occurs after the secondary star
is fully disrupted, the exploding primary will expand into a dense CO medium
that may still have a disk-like structure. This interaction will decelerate and
distort the ejecta. Here we carry out multi-dimensional simulations of
``tamped" SN Ia models, using both particle and grid-based codes to study the
merger and explosion dynamics, and a radiative transfer code to calculate
synthetic spectra and light curves. We find that post-merger explosions exhibit
an hourglass-shaped asymmetry, leading to strong variations in the light curves
with viewing angle. The two most important factors affecting the outcome are
the scale-height of the disk, which depends sensitively on the binary mass
ratio, and the total ${}^{56}$Ni yield, which is governed by the central
density of the remnant core. The synthetic broadband light curves rise and
decline very slowly, and the spectra generally look peculiar, with weak
features from intermediate mass elements but relatively strong carbon
absorption. We also consider the effects of the viscous evolution of the
remnant, and show that a longer time delay between merger and explosion
probably leads to larger ${}^{56}$Ni yields and more symmetrical remnants. We
discuss the relevance of this class of aspherical ``tamped" SN Ia for
explaining the class of ``super-Chandrasekhar'' SN Ia.


title: The incidence of stellar mergers and mass gainers among massive stars

abstract:
  Because the majority of massive stars are born as members of close binary
systems, populations of massive main-sequence stars contain stellar mergers and
products of binary mass transfer. We simulate populations of massive stars
accounting for all major binary evolution effects based on the most recent
binary parameter statistics and extensively evaluate the effect of model
uncertainties.
  Assuming constant star formation, we find that $8^{+9}_{-4}\,\%$ of a sample
of early type stars to be the product of a merger resulting from a close binary
system. In total we find that $30^{+10}_{-15}\,\%$ of massive main-sequence
stars are the product of binary interaction.
  We show that the commonly adapted approach to minimize the effects of
binaries on an observed sample by excluding systems detected as binaries
through radial velocity campaigns can be counterproductive. Systems with
significant radial velocity variations are mostly pre-interaction systems.
Excluding them substantially enhances the relative incidence of mergers and
binary products in the non radial velocity variable sample.
  This poses a challenge for testing single stellar evolutionary models. It
also raises the question of whether certain peculiar classes of stars, such as
magnetic O-stars, are the result of binary interaction and it emphasizes the
need to further study the effect of binarity on the diagnostics that are used
to derive the fundamental properties (star-formation history, initial mass
function, mass to light ratio) of stellar populations nearby and at high
redshift.


title: Introduction to the method of multiple scales

abstract:
  Earlier versions of these lecture notes have been used at the Cork
Summerschool on Theory and Mathematics Modelling of Ultrashort Pulse
Propagation (2013), and as a part of a graduate course in the theory of
nonlinear waves in the period 2014-2016. This version has an improved
typography and numerous typoes has been corrected. It also has been extended
with a section where the method of multiple scales is applied to boundary layer
problems for ODEs. The document consists of 78 pages and contains 9 figures.


title: Chen ranks and resonance

abstract:
  The Chen groups of a group $G$ are the lower central series quotients of the
maximal metabelian quotient of $G$. Under certain conditions, we relate the
ranks of the Chen groups to the first resonance variety of $G$, a jump locus
for the cohomology of $G$. In the case where $G$ is the fundamental group of
the complement of a complex hyperplane arrangement, our results positively
resolve Suciu's Chen ranks conjecture. We obtain explicit formulas for the Chen
ranks of a number of groups of broad interest, including pure Artin groups
associated to Coxeter groups, and the group of basis-conjugating automorphisms
of a finitely generated free group.


title:
Modulated Spin Liquid and Magnetic Order from a Kondo-Heisenberg model
  applied to $URu_{2}Si_{2}$

abstract:
  Within the framework of the Kondo-Heisenberg model, we analyse the effect of
charge fluctuation on the modulated spin liquid (MSL) and antiferromagnetic
(AF) orders which were established in a previous publication. We discuss the
emergence of two quantum critical lines separating the coexisting Kondo-MSL and
Kondo-MSL-AF phases. The various order parameters of the system possess a
characteristic signature observable on the electronic band structure of each of
the phases. We calculate that the MSL order is indeed a possible explanation of
the hidden order phase of $URu_{2}Si_{2}$ heavy fermion compound. Our model
produces results in qualitative agreement with the experimental (T,P) phase
diagram and the two gap openings in the system and quantitative agreement with
the entropy and Sommerfeld coefficient evolution.


title:
Impact of electronic correlations on the equation of state and transport
  in $\epsilon$-Fe

abstract:
  We have obtained the equilibrium volumes, bulk moduli, equations of state of
the ferromagnetic cubic $\alpha$ and paramagnetic hexagonal $\epsilon$ phases
of iron in close agreement with experiment using an ab initio dynamical
mean-field theory approach. The local dynamical correlations are shown to be
crucial for a successful description of the ground-state properties of
paramagnetic $\epsilon$-Fe. Moreover, they enhance the effective mass of the
quasiparticles and reduce their lifetimes across the $\alpha \to \epsilon$
transition leading to a step-wise increase of the resistivity, as observed in
experiment. The calculated magnitude of the jump is significantly
underestimated, which points to non-local correlations. The implications of our
results for the superconductivity and non-Fermi-liquid behavior of
$\epsilon$-Fe are discussed.


title:
Fidelity of Fock-state-encoded qubits subjected to continuous variable
  Gaussian processes

abstract:
  When a harmonic oscillator is under the influence of a Gaussian process such
as linear damping, parametric gain, and linear coupling to a thermal
environment, its coherent states are transformed into states with Gaussian
Wigner function. Qubit states can be encoded in the |0> and |1> Fock states of
a quantum harmonic oscillator, and it is relevant to know the fidelity of the
output qubit state after a Gaussian process on the oscillator. In this paper we
present a general expression for the average qubit fidelity in terms of the
first and second moments of the output from input coherent states subjected to
Gaussian processes.


title:
Energy and centrality dependence of particle multiplicity in heavy ion
  collisions from $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$ = 20 to 2760 GeV

abstract:
  The centrality dependence of midrapidity charged-particle multiplicities at a
nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 2.76 TeV from CMS are compared to
PHOBOS data at 200 and 19.6 GeV. The results are first fitted with a
two-component model which parameterizes the separate contributions of nucleon
participants and nucleon-nucleon collisions. A more direct comparison involves
ratios of multiplicity densities per participant pair between the different
collision energies. The results support and extend earlier indications that the
influences of centrality and collision energy on midrapidity charged-particle
multiplicities are to a large degree independent.


title:
Structural aspects of loop quantum gravity and loop quantum cosmology
  from an algebraic perspective

abstract:
  We comment on structural properties of the algebras $\mathfrak{A}_{LQG/LQC}$
underlying loop quantum gravity and loop quantum cosmology, especially the
representation theory, relating the appearance of the (dynamically induced)
superselection structure ($\theta$-sectors) in loop quantum cosmology to
recently proposed representations with non-degenerate background geometries in
loop quantum gravity with Abelian structure group. To this end, we review and
employ the concept of extending a given (observable) algebra with possibly
non-trivial centre to a (charged) field algebra with (global) gauge group.We
also interpret the results in terms of the geometry of the structure group G.
Furthermore, we analyze the Koslowski-Sahlmann representations with
non-degenerate background in the case of a non-Abelian structure group. We find
that these representations can be interpreted from two different, though
related, points view: Either, the standard algebras of loop quantum gravity
need to be extended by a (possibly) central term, or the elementary flux vector
fields need to acquire a shift related to the (classical) background to make
these representations well-defined. Both perspectives are linked by the fact
that the background shift is not an automorphism of the algebras, but rather an
affine transformation. Finally, we show how similar algebraic mechanisms, which
are used to explain the breaking of chiral symmetry and the occurrence of
$\theta$-vacua in quantum field theory, extend to loop quantum gravity. Thus,
opening a path for the discussion of these questions in loop quantum gravity.