title:
The significant contribution of minor mergers to the cosmic star
  formation budget

abstract:
  We estimate an empirical lower limit for the fraction of cosmic star
formation that is triggered by minor mergers in the local Universe. Splitting
the star-formation budget by galaxy morphology, we find that early-type
galaxies (ETGs) host ~14% of the budget, while Sb/Sc galaxies host the bulk
(~53%) of the local star formation activity. Recent work indicates that star
formation in nearby ETGs is driven by minor mergers, implying that at least
~14% of local star formation is triggered by this process. A more accurate
estimate can be derived by noting that an infalling satellite likely induces a
larger starburst in a galaxy of 'later' morphological type, both due to higher
availability of gas in the accreting galaxy and because a bigger bulge better
stabilizes the disk against star formation. This enables us to use the star
formation in ETGs to estimate a lower limit for the fraction of star formation
in late-type galaxies (LTGs) that is minor-merger-driven. Using a subsample of
ETGs that is mass and environment-matched to the LTGs (implying a similar
infalling satellite population), we estimate this limit to be ~24%. Thus, a
lower limit for the fraction of cosmic star formation that is induced by minor
mergers is ~35% (14% [ETGs] + 0.24 x 86% [LTGs]). The observed positive
correlation between black hole and galaxy mass further implies that a similar
fraction of black hole accretion may also be triggered by minor mergers.
Detailed studies of minor-merger remnants are therefore essential, to quantify
the role of this important process in driving stellar mass and black hole
growth in the local Universe.


title: MOA-2011-BLG-322Lb: a "second generation survey" microlensing planet

abstract:
  Global "second-generation" microlensing surveys aim to discover and
characterize extrasolar planets and their frequency, by means of
round-the-clock high-cadence monitoring of a large area of the Galactic bulge,
in a controlled experiment. We report the discovery of a giant planet in
microlensing event MOA-2011-BLG-322. This moderate-magnification event, which
displays a clear anomaly induced by a second lensing mass, was inside the
footprint of our second-generation microlensing survey, involving MOA, OGLE and
the Wise Observatory. The event was observed by the survey groups, without
prompting alerts that could have led to dedicated follow-up observations.
Fitting a microlensing model to the data, we find that the timescale of the
event was t_E=23.2 +/-0.8 days, and the mass ratio between the lens star and
its companion is q=0.028 +/-0.001. Finite-source effects are marginally
detected, and upper limits on them help break some of the degeneracy in the
system parameters. Using a Bayesian analysis that incorporates a Galactic
structure model, we estimate the mass of the lens at 0.39 +0.45/-0.19 M_sun, at
a distance of 7.56 +/-0.91 kpc. Thus, the companion is likely a planet of mass
11.6 +13.4/-5.6 M_J, at a projected separation of 4.3 +1.5/-1.2 AU, rather far
beyond the snow line. This is the first pure-survey planet reported from a
second-generation microlensing survey, and shows that survey data alone can be
sufficient to characterize a planetary model. With the detection of additional
survey-only planets, we will be able to constrain the frequency of extrasolar
planets near their systems' snow lines.


title:
High resolution simulations of the reionization of an isolated Milky Way
  - M31 galaxy pair

abstract:
  We present the results of a set of numerical simulations aimed at studying
reionization at galactic scale. We use a high resolution simulation of the
formation of the Milky Way-M31 system to simulate the reionization of the local
group. The reionization calculation was performed with the post-processing
radiative transfer code ATON and the underlying cosmological simulation was
performed as part of the CLUES project. We vary the source models to bracket
the range of source properties used in the literature. We investigate the
structure and propagation of the galatic ionization fronts by a visual
examination of our reionization maps. Within the progenitors we find that
reionization is patchy, and proceeds locally inside out. The process becomes
patchier with decreasing source photon output. It is generally dominated by one
major HII region and 1-4 additional isolated smaller bubbles, which eventually
overlap. Higher emissivity results in faster and earlier local reionization. In
all models, the reionization of the Milky Way and M31 are similar in duration,
i.e. between 203 Myr and 22 Myr depending on the source model, placing their
zreion between 8.4 and 13.7. In all models except the most extreme, the MW and
M31 progenitors reionize internally, ignoring each other, despite being
relatively close to each other even during the epoch of reionization. Only in
the case of strong supernova feedback suppressing star formation in haloes less
massive than 10^9 M_sun, and using our highest emissivity, we find that the MW
is reionized by M31.


title:
Macroscopic coherence between quantum condensates formed at different
  times

abstract:
  We demonstrate macroscopic coherence between quantum condensates generated at
different times, separated by more than the particle dephasing time. This is
possible due to the dressed light-matter nature of exciton-polaritons, which
can be injected resonantly by optical excitation at well-defined momenta. We
show that the build-up of coherence between condensates depends on the
interaction between the particles, particle density, as well as temperature
despite the non-equilibrium nature of the condensate, whereas the mass of the
particles plays no role in the condensation of resonantly injected polaritons.
This experiment also makes it possible for us to measure directly the large
nonlinear phase shift resulting from the polariton-polariton interaction
energy. Our results provide direct evidence for coherence between different
condensates and demonstrate a new approach for probing their ultrafast
dynamics, opening new directions in the study of matter coherence as well as in
practical applications such as quantum information and ultrafast logic.


title:
Warm Spitzer and Palomar Near-IR Secondary Eclipse Photometry of Two Hot
  Jupiters: WASP-48b and HAT-P-23b

abstract:
  We report secondary eclipse photometry of two hot Jupiters, WASP-48b and
HAT-P-23b, at 3.6 and 4.5 um taken with the InfraRed Array Camera aboard the
Spitzer Space Telescope during the warm Spitzer mission and in the H and Ks
bands with the Wide Field IR Camera at the Palomar 200-inch Hale Telescope.
WASP-48b and HAT-P-23b are Jupiter-mass and twice Jupiter-mass objects orbiting
an old, slightly evolved F star and an early G dwarf star, respectively. In the
H, Ks, 3.6 um, and 4.5 um bands, respectively, we measure secondary eclipse
depths of 0.047% +/- 0.016%, 0.109% +/- 0.027%, 0.176% +/- 0.013%, and 0.214%
+/- 0.020% for WASP-48b. In the Ks, 3.6 um, and 4.5 um bands, respectively, we
measure secondary eclipse depths of 0.234% +/- 0.046%, 0.248% +/- 0.019%, and
0.309% +/- 0.026% for HAT-P-23b. For WASP-48b and HAT-P-23b, respectively, we
measure delays of 2.6 +/- 3.9 minutes and 4.0 +/- 2.4 minutes relative to the
predicted times of secondary eclipse for circular orbits, placing 2-sigma upper
limits on |e cos(omega)| of 0.0053 and 0.0080, both of which are consistent
with circular orbits. The dayside emission spectra of these planets are
well-described by blackbodies with effective temperatures of 2158 +/- 100 K
(WASP-48b) and 2154 +/- 90 K (HAT-P-23b), corresponding to moderate
recirculation in the zero albedo case. Our measured eclipse depths are also
consistent with one-dimensional radiative transfer models featuring varying
degrees of recirculation and weak thermal inversions or no inversions at all.
We discuss how the absence of strong temperature inversions on these planets
may be related to the activity levels and metallicities of their host stars.


title:
The galactocentric radius dependent upper mass limit of young star
  clusters: stochastic star formation ruled out

abstract:
  It is widely accepted that the distribution function of the masses of young
star clusters is universal and can be purely interpreted as a probability
density distribution function with a constant upper mass limit. As a result of
this picture the masses of the most-massive objects are exclusively determined
by the size of the sample. Here we show, with very high confidence, that the
masses of the most-massive young star clusters in M33 decrease with increasing
galactocentric radius in contradiction to the expectations from a model of a
randomly sampled constant cluster mass function with a constant upper mass
limit. Pure stochastic star formation is thereby ruled out. We use this example
to elucidate how naive analysis of data can lead to unphysical conclusions.


title:
A new class of pulsating white dwarf of extremely low mass: the fourth
  and fifth members

abstract:
  We report the discovery of two new pulsating extremely low-mass (ELM) white
dwarfs (WDs), SDSS J161431.28+191219.4 (hereafter J1614) and SDSS
J222859.93+362359.6 (hereafter J2228). Both WDs have masses <0.25 Msun and thus
likely harbor helium cores. Spectral fits indicate these are the two coolest
pulsating WDs ever found. J1614 has Teff = 8880 +/- 170 K and log g = 6.66 +/-
0.14, which corresponds to a roughly 0.19 Msun WD. J2228 is considerably
cooler, with a Teff = 7870 +/- 120 K and log g = 6.03 +/- 0.08, which
corresponds to a roughly 0.16 Msun WD, making it the coolest and lowest-mass
pulsating WD known. There are multiple ELM WDs with effective temperatures
between the warmest and coolest known ELM pulsators that do not pulsate to
observable amplitudes, which questions the purity of the instability strip for
low-mass WDs. In contrast to the CO-core ZZ Ceti stars, which are believed to
represent a stage in the evolution of all such WDs, ELM WDs may not all evolve
as a simple cooling sequence through an instability strip. Both stars exhibit
long-period variability (1184-6235 s) consistent with non-radial g-mode
pulsations. Although ELM WDs are preferentially found in close binary systems,
both J1614 and J2228 do not exhibit significant radial-velocity variability,
and are perhaps in low-inclination systems or have low-mass companions. These
are the fourth and fifth pulsating ELM WDs known, all of which have
hydrogen-dominated atmospheres, establishing these objects as a new class of
pulsating WD.


title: An Eclectic View of our Milky Way Galaxy

abstract:
  The nature of our Milky Way Galaxy is reexamined from an eclectic point of
view. Evidence for a central bar, for example, is not reflected in the
distribution of RR Lyrae variables in the central bulge [4,5], and it is not
clear if either a 2-armed or 4-armed spiral pattern is appropriate for the
spiral arms. Radial velocity mapping of the Galaxy using radio H I, H II, or CO
observations is compromised by the assumptions adopted for simple Galactic
rotation. The Sun's local standard of rest (LSR) velocity is $\sim 14$ km
s$^{-1}$ rather than 20 km s$^{-1}$, the local circular velocity is $251 \pm 9$
km s$^{-1}$ rather than 220 km s$^{-1}$, and young groups of stars exhibit a
10--20 km s$^{-1}$ "kick" relative to what is expected from Galactic rotation.
By implication, the same may be true for star-forming gas clouds affected by
the Galaxy's spiral density wave, raising concerns about their use for mapping
spiral arms. Proper motion data in conjunction with the newly-estimated
velocity components for the Sun's motion imply a distance to the Galactic
centre of $R_0=8.34\pm0.27$ kpc, consistent with recent estimates which average
$8.24\pm0.09$ kpc. A cosinusoidal Galactic potential is not ruled out by
observations of open star clusters. The planetary nebula cluster Bica 6, for
example, has a near-escape orbit for a Newtonian potential, but a near-normal
orbit in a cosinusoidal potential field. The nearby cluster Collinder 464 also
displays unusually large tidal effects consistent with those expected for a
cosinusoidal potential. A standard Newtonian version of the Virial Theorem for
star clusters yields very reasonable masses ($\sim 3 \times 10^{11}M_{\odot}$
and $\sim 4 \times 10^{11}M_{\odot}$) for the Milky Way and M31 subgroups of
the Local Group, respectively. A cosinusoidal relation should yield identical
results.


title: Uplifting the baryonic branch: a test for backreacting anti-D3-branes

abstract:
  Placing D3 or anti-D3-branes at the tip of the Klebanov-Strassler background
results in uplifting the baryonic branch of the moduli space of the dual field
theory. In this paper we derive a mass formula for the scalar particle
associated with the motion along the baryonic branch, from both open and closed
string points of view. We show that both methods give the same mass at linear
order in number of (anti)D3-branes, thus providing a comprehensive check for
the recently found linearized supergravity solution describing backreacting
anti-D3-branes at the tip.


title:
Membranes from monopole operators in ABJM theory: large angular momentum
  and M-theoretic AdS_4/CFT_3

abstract:
  We consider states with large angular momentum to facilitate the study of the
M-theory regime of the AdS_4/CFT_3 correspondence. We study the duality between
M-theory in AdS_4xS^7/Z_k and the ABJM N=6 Chern-Simons-matter theory with
gauge group U(N)xU(N) and level k, taking N large and k of order 1. In this
regime the lack of an explicit formulation of M-theory in AdS_4xS^7/Z_k makes
the gravity side difficult, while the CFT is strongly coupled and the planar
approximation is not applicable. To overcome these difficulties, we focus on
states on the gravity side with large angular momentum J>>1 and identify the
dual operators in the CFT, thereby establishing the AdS/CFT dictionary in this
sector. Natural approximation schemes arise on both sides thanks to the
presence of the small parameter 1/J. On the AdS side, we use the matrix model
of M-theory on the maximally supersymmetric pp-wave background with matrices of
size J/k. A perturbative treatment of this matrix model provides a good
approximation to M-theory in AdS_4xS^7/Z_k when N^{1/3}<<J<<N^{1/2}. On the CFT
side, we study the theory on S^2xR with magnetic flux J/k. A Born-Oppenheimer
type expansion arises naturally for large J in spite of the theory being
strongly coupled. The energy spectra on the two sides agree at leading order.
This provides a non-trivial test of the AdS_4/CFT_3 correspondence including
near-BPS observables associated with membrane degrees of freedom, thus
verifying the duality beyond the previously studied sectors corresponding to
either BPS observables or the type IIA string regime.


title: Product-state Approximations to Quantum Ground States

abstract:
  The local Hamiltonian problem consists of estimating the ground-state energy
(given by the minimum eigenvalue) of a local quantum Hamiltonian.
  First, we show the existence of a good product-state approximation for the
ground-state energy of 2-local Hamiltonians with one or more of the following
properties: (1) high degree, (2) small expansion, or (3) a ground state with
sublinear entanglement with respect to some partition into small pieces. The
approximation based on degree is a surprising difference between quantum
Hamiltonians and classical CSPs (constraint satisfaction problems), since in
the classical setting, higher degree is usually associated with harder CSPs.
The approximation based on low entanglement, in turn, was previously known only
in the regime where the entanglement was close to zero. Since the existence of
a low-energy product state can be checked in NP, the result implies that any
Hamiltonian used for a quantum PCP theorem should have: (1) constant degree,
(2) constant expansion, (3) a "volume law" for entanglement with respect to any
partition into small parts.
  Second, we show that in several cases, good product-state approximations not
only exist, but can be found in polynomial time: (1) 2-local Hamiltonians on
any planar graph, solving an open problem of Bansal, Bravyi, and Terhal, (2)
dense k-local Hamiltonians for any constant k, solving an open problem of
Gharibian and Kempe, and (3) 2-local Hamiltonians on graphs with low threshold
rank, via a quantum generalization of a recent result of Barak, Raghavendra and
Steurer.
  Our work introduces two new tools which may be of independent interest.
First, we prove a new quantum version of the de Finetti theorem which does not
require the usual assumption of symmetry. Second, we describe a way to analyze
the application of the Lasserre/Parrilo SDP hierarchy to local quantum
Hamiltonians.


title: Multilepton signals of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking at the LHC

abstract:
  We investigate multilepton LHC signals arising from electroweak processes
involving sleptons. We consider the framework of general gauge mediated
supersymmetry breaking, focusing on models where the low mass region of the
superpartner spectrum consists of the three generations of charged sleptons and
the nearly massless gravitino. We demonstrate how such models can provide an
explanation for the anomalous four lepton events recently observed by the CMS
collaboration, while satisfying other existing experimental constraints. The
best fit to the CMS data is obtained for a selectron/smuon mass of around 145
GeV and a stau mass of around 90 GeV. These models also give rise to final
states with more than four leptons, offering alternative channels in which they
can be probed and we estimate the corresponding production rates at the LHC.


title:
Accretion disk and ionized absorber of the 9.7-hour dipping black hole
  binary MAXI J1305-704

abstract:
  We report the results from X-ray studies of the newly discovered black hole
candidate MAXI J1305-704 based on Suzaku and Swift observations in the low/hard
and high/soft states, respectively. The long Suzaku observation shows two types
of clear absorption dips, both of which recur on a dip interval of 9.74 +- 0.04
hours, which we identify with the orbital period. There is also partially
ionized absorption in the non-dip (persistent) emission in both the high/soft
state and, very unusually, the low/hard state. However, this absorption (in
both states) has substantially lower ionization than that seen in other high
inclination systems, where the material forms a homogeneous disk wind. Here
instead the absorption is most probably associated with clumpy, compact
structures associated with the dipping material, which we see uniquely in this
source likely because we view it at a very large inclination angle. A large
inclination angle is also favored, together with a low black hole mass, to
explain the high disk temperature seen in the fairly low luminosity high/soft
state, as Doppler boosting enhances the disk temperature at high inclination.
The disk radius inferred from these data is significantly smaller than that of
the soft component seen in the low/hard state, supporting models where the disk
is truncated at low luminosities. We find, however, that the lack of
variability power on time scales of ~50 sec in the Suzaku low/hard state data
is difficult to explain, even with a low mass black hole.


title:
A Census of Stellar Mass in 10 Massive Haloes at z~1 from the GCLASS
  Survey

abstract:
  We study the stellar mass content of massive haloes in the redshift range
0.86<z<1.34, by measuring: (1) The stellar mass in the central galaxy versus
total dynamical halo mass. (2) The total stellar mass (including satellites)
versus total halo mass. (3) The radial stellar mass and number density profiles
for the ensemble halo. We use a Ks-band selected catalogue for the 10 clusters
in the Gemini Cluster Astrophysics Spectroscopic Survey (GCLASS), with
photometric redshifts and stellar masses measured from 11-band SED fitting.
Combining the photometric catalogues with the deep spectroscopic component of
GCLASS, we correct the cluster galaxy sample for interlopers. We also perform a
dynamical analysis of the cluster galaxies to estimate the halo mass M200 for
each cluster based on a measurement of its velocity dispersion. (1) We find
that the central galaxy stellar mass fraction decreases with total halo mass,
and that this is in reasonable quantitative agreement with measurements from
abundance matching studies at z~1. (2) The total stellar mass fractions of
these systems decrease with halo mass, indicating that lower mass systems are
more efficient at transforming baryons into stars. We find the total stellar
mass to be a good proxy for total halo mass, with a small intrinsic scatter.
When we compare these results with literature measurements, we find that the
stellar mass fraction at fixed halo mass shows no significant evolution in the
range 0<z<1. (3) We measure a relatively high NFW concentration parameter c ~ 7
for the stellar mass distribution in these clusters. A simple model shows that
the stellar mass content of GCLASS can evolve in typical distributions observed
at lower redshifts if the clusters primarily accrete stellar mass onto the
outskirts. [Abridged]


title: Strong lensing in RX J1347.5-1145 revisited

abstract:
  We present a revised strong lensing mass reconstruction of the galaxy cluster
RX J1347.5-1145. The X-ray luminous cluster at redshift z=0.451 has already
been studied intensively in the past. Based on information of two such previous
(strong-)lensing studies by Halkola et al. (2008) and Bradac et al. (2008), as
well as by incorporating newly available data from the Cluster Lensing And
Supernovae survey with Hubble (CLASH, Postman et al. 2012), we identified four
systems of multiply lensed images (anew) in the redshift range 1.75 <= z <=
4.19. One multiple image system consists of in total eight multiply lensed
images of the same source. The analysis based on a parametric mass model
derived with the software glafic (Oguri 2010) suggests that the high image
multiplicity is due to the source (z_phot = 4.19) being located on a so-called
"swallowtail" caustic. In addition to the parametric mass model, we also
employed a non-parametric approach using the software PixeLens (Saha and
Williams 1997, 2004) in order to reconstruct the projected mass of the cluster
using the same strong lensing data input.
  Both reconstructed mass models agree in revealing several mass components and
a highly elliptic shape of the mass distribution. Furthermore, the projected
mass inside, for example, a radius R ~35 arcsec ~200 kpc of the cluster for a
source at redshift z=1.75 obtained with PixeLens exceeds the glafic estimate
within the same radius by about 13 per cent. The difference could be related to
the fundamental degeneracy involved when constraining dark matter substructures
with gravitationally lensed arcs.


title: Tracing mass and light in the Universe: where is the dark matter?

abstract:
  How is mass distributed in the Universe? How does it compare with the
distribution of light and stars? We address these questions by examining the
distribution of mass, determined from weak lensing observations, and starlight,
around $>10^5$ SDSS MaxBCG groups and clusters as a function of environment and
scale, from deep inside clusters to large cosmic scales of $22 h^{-1}$ Mpc. The
observed cumulative mass-to-light profile, $M/L (< r)$, rises on small scales,
reflecting the increasing $M/L$ of the central bright galaxy of the cluster,
then flattens to a nearly constant ratio on scales above $\sim 300 h^{-1}$ kpc,
where light follows mass on all scales and in all environments. A trend of
slightly decreasing $M/L (r)$ with scale is shown to be consistent with the
varying stellar population following the morphology-density relation. This
suggests that stars trace mass remarkably well even though they represent only
a few percent of the total mass. We determine the stellar mass fraction and
find it to be nearly constant on all scales above $\sim 300 h^{-1}$ kpc, with
$M_{*}/M_{tot} \simeq 1.0\pm0.4\%$. We further suggest that most of the dark
matter in the Universe is located in the large halos of individual galaxies
($\sim 300$ kpc for $L^{*}$ galaxies); we show that the entire $M/L (r)$
profile -- from groups and clusters to large-scale structure -- can be
accounted for by the aggregate masses of the individual galaxies (whose halos
may be stripped off but still remain in the clusters), plus gas. We use the
observed mass-to-light ratio on large scales to determine the mass density of
the Universe: $\Omega_{m} = 0.24 \pm 0.02 \times b_{M/L}^{2} = 0.26 \pm 0.02.$


title:
The energy spectrum of gravitational waves in a loop quantum
  cosmological model

abstract:
  We explore the consequences of loop quantum cosmology (inverse-volume
corrections) in the spectrum of the gravitational waves using the method of the
Bogoliubov coefficients. These corrections are taken into account at the
background level of the theory as well as at the first order in the
perturbations theory framework. We show that these corrections lead to an
intense graviton production during the loop super-inflationary phase prior to
the standard slow-roll era, which leave their imprints through new features on
the energy spectrum of the gravitational waves as would be measured today,
including a new maximum on the low frequency end of the spectrum.


title:
Perturbations induced by a molecular cloud on the young stellar disc in
  the Galactic Centre

abstract:
  The Galactic centre (GC) is a crowded environment: observations have revealed
the presence of (molecular, atomic and ionized) gas, of a cusp of late-type
stars, and of ~100 early-type stars, about half of which lying in one or
possibly two discs. In this paper, we study the perturbations exerted on a thin
stellar disc (with outer radius ~0.4 pc) by a molecular cloud that falls
towards the GC and is disrupted by the supermassive black hole (SMBH). The
initial conditions for the stellar disc were drawn from the results of previous
simulations of molecular cloud infall and disruption in the SMBH potential. We
find that most of the gas from the disrupted molecular cloud settles into a
dense and irregular disc surrounding the SMBH. If the gas disc and the stellar
disc are slightly misaligned (~5-20 deg), the precession of the stellar orbits
induced by the gas disc significantly increases the inclinations of the stellar
orbits (by a factor of ~3-5 in 1.5 Myr) with respect to the normal vector to
the disc. Furthermore, the distribution of orbit inclinations becomes
significantly broader. These results might be the clue to explain the broad
distribution of observed inclinations of the early-type stars with respect to
the normal vector of the main disc. We discuss the implications for the
possibility that fresh gas was accreted by the GC after the formation of the
disc(s) of early-type stars.


title: LHC: Past, Present, and Future

abstract:
  In this overview talk, I give highlights of the first three years of the LHC
operations at high energy, spanning heavy-ion physics, standard model
measurements, and searches for new particles, which culminated in the discovery
of the Higgs boson by the ATLAS and CMS experiments in 2012. I'll discuss what
we found about the properties of the new particle in 10 months since the
discovery and then talk about the future LHC program and preparations to the
2015 run at the center-of-mass energy of ~13 TeV. These proceedings are meant
to be a snapshot of the LHC results as of May 2013 - the time of the
conference. Many of the results shown in these proceedings have been since
updated (sometimes significantly) just 4 months thereafter, when these
proceedings were due. Nevertheless, keeping this writeup in sync with the
results shown in the actual talk has some historical value, as, for one, it
tells the reader how short is the turnaround time to update the results at the
LHC. To help an appreciation of this fact, I briefly summarize the main changes
between May and September 2013 in the Appendix.


title: Submm Recombination Lines in Dust-Obscured Starbursts and AGN

abstract:
  We examine the use of submm recombination lines of H, He and He$^+$ to probe
the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) luminosity of starbursts (SB) and AGN. We find
that the submm recombination lines of H, He and He$^+$ are in fact extremely
reliable and quantitative probes of the EUV continuum at 13.6 eV to above 54.6
eV. At submm wavelengths, the recombination lines originate from low energy
levels (n = 20 -- 50). The maser amplification, which poses significant
problems for quantitative interpretation of the higher n, radio frequency
recombination lines, is insignificant. Lastly, at submm wavelengths the dust
extinction is minimal. The submm line luminosities are therefore directly
proportional to the emission measures ($EM_{ION} = n_e \times n_{ion} \times
\rm{volume}$) of their ionized regions. We also find that the expected line
fluxes are detectable with ALMA and can be imaged at $\sim0.1$\arcsec
~resolution in low redshift ULIRGs. Imaging of the HI lines will provide
accurate spatial and kinematic mapping of the star formation distribution in
low-z IR-luminous galaxies. And the relative fluxes of the HI and HeII
recombination lines will strongly constrain the relative contributions of
starbursts and AGN to the luminosity. The HI lines should also provide an
avenue to constraining the submm dust extinction curve.


title:
A disrupted bulgeless satellite galaxy as counterpart of the
  ultraluminous X-ray source ESO 243-49 HLX-1

abstract:
  The point-like X-ray source HLX-1, close to the S0 galaxy ESO 243-49, is one
the strongest intermediate-mass black hole candidates, but the nature of its
counterpart is still puzzling. By means of N-body/smoothed particle
hydrodynamics simulations, we investigate the hypothesis that the HLX-1
counterpart is the nucleus of a bulgeless satellite galaxy, which undergoes a
minor merger with the S0 galaxy. We derive synthetic surface brightness
profiles for the simulated counterpart of HLX-1 in six Hubble Space Telescope
(HST) filters, ranging from far ultraviolet (FUV) to infrared wavelengths, and
we compare them with the observed profiles. Our model matches the emission
associated with the HLX-1 counterpart in all considered filters, including the
bluer ones, even without requiring the contribution of an irradiated disc. The
simulation can also account for an extended FUV emission, of which there are
some hints from the analysis of the F140LP HST filter. This matching is
impossible to achieve by assuming either a bulgy satellite, or a young star
cluster, or an irradiated disc component.


title: Ion-Photon Entanglement and Bell Inequality Violation with 138Ba+

abstract:
  We report on the demonstration of ion-photon entanglement and Bell inequality
violation in a system of trapped 138Ba+ ions. Entanglement between the Zeeman
sublevels of the ground state of a single 138Ba+ ion and the polarization state
of a single 493 nm photon emitted by the ion with a fidelity of $0.84\pm0.01$
was achieved, along with a Bell signal of 2.3, exceeding the classical limit of
2 by over eight standard deviations. This system is a promising candidate for a
loophole-free Bell inequality violation test as the wavelengths of the
transitions of 138Ba+ are in the visible region and thus suitable for long
range transmission over fiber optic cable.


title: The Imprint of Warm Dark Matter on the Cosmological 21-cm Signal

abstract:
  We investigate the effects of warm dark matter (WDM) on the cosmic 21-cm
signal. If dark matter exists as WDM instead of cold dark matter (CDM), its
non-negligible velocities can inhibit the formation of low-mass halos that
normally form first in CDM models, therefore delaying star-formation. The
absence of early sources delays the build-up of UV and X-ray backgrounds that
affect the 21-cm radiation signal produced by neutral hydrogen. With use of the
21CMFAST, code, we demonstrate that the pre-reionization 21-cm signal can be
changed significantly in WDM models with a free-streaming length equivalent to
that of a thermal relic with mass mx of up to ~10-20 keV. In such a WDM
cosmology, the 21-cm signal traces the growth of more massive halos, resulting
in a delay of the 21-cm absorption signature and followed by accelerated X-ray
heating. CDM models where astrophysical sources have a suppressed
photon-production efficiency can delay the 21-cm signal as well, although its
subsequent evolution is not as rapid as compared to WDM. This motivates using
the gradient of the global 21-cm signal to differentiate between some CDM and
WDM models. Finally, we show that the degeneracy between the astrophysics and
mx can be broken with the 21-cm power spectrum, as WDM models should have a
bias-induced excess of power on large scales. This boost in power should be
detectable with current interferometers for models with mx < 3 keV, while next
generation instruments will easily be able to measure this difference for all
relevant WDM models.


title: On the Instability of Global de Sitter Space to Particle Creation

abstract:
  We show that global de Sitter space is unstable to particle creation, even
for a massive free field theory with no self-interactions. The O(4,1) de Sitter
invariant state is a definite phase coherent superposition of particle and
anti-particle solutions in both the asymptotic past and future, and therefore
is not a true vacuum state. In the closely related case of particle creation by
a constant, uniform electric field, a time symmetric state analogous to the de
Sitter invariant one is constructed, which is also not a stable vacuum state.
We provide the general framework necessary to describe the particle creation
process, the mean particle number, and dynamical quantities such as the
energy-momentum tensor and current of the created particles in both the de
Sitter and electric field backgrounds in real time, establishing the connection
to kinetic theory. We compute the energy-momentum tensor for adiabatic vacuum
states in de Sitter space initialized at early times in global S^3 sections,
and show that particle creation in the contracting phase results in
exponentially large energy densities at later times, necessitating an inclusion
of their backreaction effects, and leading to large deviation of the spacetime
from global de Sitter space before the expanding phase can begin.


title:
A stringy perspective on the quantum integrable model/gauge
  correspondence

abstract:
  We present a string theory realization for the correspondence between quantum
integrable models and supersymmetric gauge theories. The quantization results
from summing the effects of fundamental strings winding around a compact
direction. We discuss the examples of the XXZ gauge/Bethe correspondence and
five-dimensional \Omega--deformed SYM on M x S^1.


title:
When roll-overs do not qualify as num\'eraire: bond markets beyond short
  rate paradigms

abstract:
  We investigate default-free bond markets where the standard relationship
between a possibly existing bank account process and the term structure of bond
prices is broken, i.e. the bank account process is not a valid num\'eraire. We
argue that this feature is not the exception but rather the rule in bond
markets when starting with, e.g., terminal bonds as num\'eraires.
  Our setting are general c\`adl\`ag processes as bond prices, where we employ
directly methods from large financial markets. Moreover, we do not restrict
price process to be semimartingales, which allows for example to consider
markets driven by fractional Brownian motion. In the core of the article we
relate the appropriate no arbitrage assumptions (NAFL), i.e. no asymptotic free
lunch, to the existence of an equivalent local martingale measure with respect
to the terminal bond as num\'eraire, and no arbitrage opportunities of the
first kind (NAA1) to the existence of a supermartingale deflator, respectively.
In all settings we obtain existence of a generalized bank account as a limit of
convex combinations of roll-over bonds.
  Additionally we provide an alternative definition of the concept of a
num\'eraire, leading to a possibly interesting connection to bubbles. If we can
construct a bank account process through roll-overs, we can relate the
impossibility of taking the bank account as num\'eraire to liquidity effects.
Here we enter endogenously the arena of multiple yield curves.
  The theory is illustrated by several examples.


title: Ab-initio computation of Karlsson's constant

abstract:
  Statistical calculations by K. G. Karlsson (Astron Astrophys. 239, 50, 1990),
G. R. Burbidge and other authors, show that the redshifts Z of the spectral
lines emitted by quasars and galaxies accumulate close to Z(m) = mK, where K =
0061 is the "Karlsson's constant" and m some integers. We demonstrate this
formula and find exactly K and the allowed values of m, using only rules
commonly used in laser spectroscopy, the hypothesis of low pressure atomic
hydrogen in 1S state around these stars and the observation of an initially
continuous spectrum of a very hot star.


title: Conformal couplings of Galileons to other degrees of freedom

abstract:
  We discuss a formulation of Galileon actions in terms of matrix determinants
in four dimensions. This approach allows one to straightforwardly determine
derivative couplings between Galileons and scalar or vector degrees of freedom
that lead to equations of motion with at most two space-time derivatives. We
use this method to easily build generalizations of Galileon set-ups preserving
conformal symmetry, finding explicit examples of couplings between Galileons
and additional degrees of freedom that preserve the Galileon conformal
invariance. We discuss various physical applications of our method and of our
results.


title:
Identical inferences about correlated evolution arise from ancestral
  state reconstruction and independent contrasts

abstract:
  Inferences about the evolution of continuous traits based on reconstruction
of ancestral states has often been considered more error-prone than analysis of
independent contrasts. Here we show that both methods in fact yield identical
estimators for the correlation coefficient and regression gradient of
correlated traits, indicating that reconstructed ancestral states are a valid
source of information about correlated evolution. We show that the independent
contrast associated with a pair of sibling nodes on a phylogenetic tree can be
expressed in terms of the maximum likelihood ancestral state function at those
nodes and their common parent. This expression gives rise to novel formulae for
independent contrasts for any model of evolution admitting of a local
likelihood function. We thus derive new formulae for independent contrasts
applicable to traits evolving under directional drift, and use simulated data
to show that these directional contrasts provide better estimates of
evolutionary model parameters than standard independent contrasts, when traits
in fact evolve with a directional tendency.


title:
Personal Identification from Lip-Print Features using a Statistical
  Model

abstract:
  This paper presents a novel approach towards identification of human beings
from the statistical analysis of their lip prints. Lip features are extracted
by studying the spatial orientations of the grooves present in lip prints of
individuals using standard edge detection techniques. Horizontal, vertical and
diagonal groove features are analysed using connected-component analysis to
generate the region-specific edge datasets. Comparison between test and
reference sample datasets against a threshold value to define a match yield
satisfactory results. FAR, FRR and ROC metrics have been used to gauge the
performance of the algorithm for real-world deployment in unimodal and
multimodal biometric verification systems.


title: Probing Neutrinos from Planck and Forthcoming Galaxy Redshift Surveys

abstract:
  We investigate how much the constraints on the neutrino properties can be
improved by combining the CMB, the photometric and spectroscopic galaxy
redshift surveys which include the CMB lensing, galaxy lensing tomography,
galaxy clustering and redshift space distortion observables. We pay a
particular attention to the constraint on the neutrino mass in view of the
forthcoming redshift surveys such as the Euclid satellite and the LSST survey
along with the Planck CMB lensing measurements. Combining the transverse mode
information from the angular power spectrum and the longitudinal mode
information from the spectroscopic survey with the redshift space distortion
measurements can determine the total neutrino mass with the projected error of
O(0.02)eV. Our analysis fixes the mass splittings among the neutrino species to
be consistent with the neutrino oscillation data, and we accordingly study the
sensitivity of our parameter estimations on the minimal neutrino mass. The
cosmological measurement of the total neutrino mass can distinguish between the
normal and inverted mass hierarchy scenarios if the minimal neutrino mass <
0.005 eV with the predicted 1-{\sigma} uncertainties taken into account.


title: The Unit-Demand Envy-Free Pricing Problem

abstract:
  We consider the unit-demand envy-free pricing problem, which is a unit-demand
auction where each bidder receives an item that maximizes his utility, and the
goal is to maximize the auctioneer's profit. This problem is NP-hard and
unlikely to be in APX. We present four new MIP formulations for it and
experimentally compare them to a previous one due to Shioda, Tun\c{c}el, and
Myklebust. We describe three models to generate different random instances for
general unit-demand auctions, that we designed for the computational
experiments. Each model has a nice economic interpretation. Aiming
approximation results, we consider the variant of the problem where the item
prices are restricted to be chosen from a geometric series, and prove that an
optimal solution for this variant has value that is a fraction (depending on
the series used) of the optimal value of the original problem. So this variant
is also unlikely to be in APX.


title:
Changing the paradigm of fixed significance levels: Testing Hypothesis
  by Minimizing Sum of Errors Type I and Type II

abstract:
  Our purpose, is to put forward a change in the paradigm of testing by
generalizing a very natural idea exposed by Morris DeGroot (1975) aiming to an
approach that is attractive to all schools of statistics, in a procedure better
suited for the needs of science. DeGroot's seminal idea is to base testing
statistical hypothesis on minimizing the weighted sum of type I plus type II
error instead of of the prevailing paradigm which is fixing type I error and
minimizing type II error. DeGroot's result is that in simple vs simple
hypothesis the optimal criterion is to reject, according to the likelihood
ratio as the evidence (ordering) statistics using a fixed threshold value,
instead of a fixed tail probability. By defining expected type I and type II
errors, we generalize DeGroot's approach and find that the optimal region is
defined by the ratio of evidences, that is, averaged likelihoods (with respect
to a prior measure) and a threshold fixed. This approach yields an optimal
theory in complete generality, which the Classical Theory of Testing does not.
This can be seen as a Bayes-Non-Bayes compromise: the criteria (weighted sum of
type I and type II errors) is Frequentist, but the test criterion is the ratio
of marginalized likelihood, which is Bayesian. We give arguments, to push the
theory still further, so that the weighting measures (priors)of the likelihoods
does not have to be proper and highly informative, but just predictively
matched, that is that predictively matched priors, give rise to the same
evidence (marginal likelihoods) using minimal (smallest) training samples. The
theory that emerges, similar to the theories based on Objective Bayes
approaches, is a powerful response to criticisms of the prevailing approach of
hypothesis testing, see for example Ioannidis (2005) and Siegfried (2010) among
many others.


title: Exact solution of rectangular Ising lattice in a uniform external field

abstract:
  A method is proposed for exactly calculating the partition function of a
rectangular Ising lattice with the presence of a uniform external field. This
approach is based on the method of the transfer matrix developed about seventy
years ago for the rectangular Ising model in the absence of external field. The
basis for the vector space is chosen as the eigenvectors of the diagonal part
of the transfer matrix. The matrix elements for the non-diagonal part can be
calculated very easily. Then the partition function and thermodynamical
quantities can be evaluated. The limit of infinite lattice is discussed.


title: Gradient-Domain Processing for Large EM Image Stacks

abstract:
  We propose a new gradient-domain technique for processing registered EM image
stacks to remove the inter-image discontinuities while preserving intra-image
detail. To this end, we process the image stack by first performing anisotropic
diffusion to smooth the data along the slice axis and then solving a
screened-Poisson equation within each slice to re-introduce the detail. The
final image stack is both continuous across the slice axis (facilitating the
tracking of information between slices) and maintains sharp details within each
slice (supporting automatic feature detection). To support this editing, we
describe the implementation of the first multigrid solver designed for
efficient gradient domain processing of large, out-of-core, voxel grids.


title:
Time lags in the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 5408 X-1: implications
  for the black hole mass

abstract:
  We present the analysis of the X-ray variability and spectral timing
properties of the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 5408 X-1, one of the
most variable ULXs known so far. The variability properties are used as a
diagnostic of the accretion state of the source and to derive estimates of the
black hole (BH) mass. The observed high level of fast X-ray variability
(fractional root-mean-square variability - rms - amplitude of $\sim$ 30 percent
in the hard energy band), the hardening of the fractional rms spectrum, and the
properties of the QPO, all resemble those of a source in a hard-intermediate
accretion state. We confirm the previous detection of a soft lag in the X-ray
light curves of the source during 2006 and 2008 observations and find that the
soft lag is still present in the more recent 2010/2011 observations. Using the
entire available XMM-Newton data set (public as of February 2012) we observe
that the soft lag (of few seconds amplitude) is detected over a relatively
large range of frequencies ($\nu \sim 5-90$ mHz), which always includes the QPO
frequencies. The soft lag displays energy-dependence, with the (absolute)
amplitude increasing as a function of energy separation. We find close
analogies with soft lags associated to type-C QPOs in BH binary systems
(although an association to other types of QPOs cannot be completely excluded),
as well as with reverberation lags observed in AGN. In both cases an
intermediate mass BH (IMBH) solution appears the most plausible.


title: Gels under stress: the origins of delayed collapse

abstract:
  Attractive colloidal particles can form a disordered elastic solid or gel
when quenched into a two-phase region, if the volume fraction is sufficiently
large. When the interactions are comparable to thermal energies the
stress-bearing network within the gel restructures over time as individual
particle bonds break and reform. Typically, under gravity such weak gels show a
prolonged period of either no or very slow settling, followed by a sudden and
rapid collapse - a phenomenon known as delayed collapse. The link between local
bond breaking events and the macroscopic process of delayed collapse is not
well understood. Here we summarize the main features of delayed collapse and
discuss the microscopic processes which cause it. We present a plausible model
which connects the kinetics of bond breaking to gel collapse and test the model
by exploring the effect of an applied external force on the stability of a gel.


title:
ALFALFA Discovery of the Nearby Gas-Rich Dwarf Galaxy Leo P. IV.
  Distance Measurement from LBT Optical Imaging

abstract:
  Leo P is a low-luminosity dwarf galaxy discovered through the blind HI
Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) survey. The HI and follow-up optical
observations have shown that Leo P is a gas-rich dwarf galaxy with both active
star formation and an underlying older population, as well as an extremely low
oxygen abundance. Here, we measure the distance to Leo P by applying the tip of
the red giant branch (TRGB) distance method to photometry of the resolved
stellar population from new Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) V and I band
imaging. We measure a distance modulus of 26.19 (+0.17/-0.50) mag corresponding
to a distance of 1.72 (+0.14/-0.40) Mpc. Although our photometry reaches 3
magnitudes below the TRGB, the sparseness of the red giant branch (RGB) yields
higher uncertainties on the lower limit of the distance. Leo P is outside the
Local Group with a distance and velocity consistent with the local Hubble flow.
While located in a very low-density environment, Leo P lies within ~0.5 Mpc of
a loose association of dwarf galaxies which include NGC 3109, Antlia, Sextans
A, and Sextans B, and 1.1 Mpc away from its next nearest neighbor, Leo A. Leo P
is one of the lowest metallicity star-forming galaxies known in the nearby
universe, comparable in metallicity to I Zw 18 and DDO 68, but with stellar
characteristics similar to dwarf spheriodals (dSphs) in the Local Volume such
as Carina, Sextans, and Leo II. Given its physical properties and isolation,
Leo P may provide an evolutionary link between gas-rich dwarf irregular
galaxies and dSphs that have fallen into a Local Group environment and been
stripped of their gas.


title: Concerns with functional depth

abstract:
  We study some problems inherent with certain forms of functional depth, in
particular, zero depth and lack of consistency.


title: Spectra of random graphs with community structure and arbitrary degrees

abstract:
  Using methods from random matrix theory researchers have recently calculated
the full spectra of random networks with arbitrary degrees and with community
structure. Both reveal interesting spectral features, including deviations from
the Wigner semicircle distribution and phase transitions in the spectra of
community structured networks. In this paper we generalize both calculations,
giving a prescription for calculating the spectrum of a network with both
community structure and an arbitrary degree distribution. In general the
spectrum has two parts, a continuous spectral band, which can depart strongly
from the classic semicircle form, and a set of outlying eigenvalues that
indicate the presence of communities.


title:
A Method for Real Time Monitoring of Charged Particle Beam Profile and
  Fluence

abstract:
  Detectors planned for use at the Large Hadron Collider will operate in a
radiation field produced by beam collisions. To predict the radiation damage to
the components of the detectors, prototype devices are irradiated at test beam
facilities that reproduce the radiation conditions expected. The profile of the
test beam and the fluence applied per unit time must be known. Techniques such
as thin metal foil activation and radiographic image analysis have been used to
measure these; however, some of these techniques do not operate in real time,
have low sensitivity, or have large uncertainties. We have developed a
technique to monitor in real time the beam profile and fluence using an array
of $p-i-n$ semiconductor diodes whose forward voltage is linear with fluence
over the fluence regime relevant to, for example, tracking in the LHC Upgrade
era. We have demonstrated this technique in the 800 MeV proton beam at the
LANSCE facility of Los Alamos National Laboratory.


title:
The Classification of Real Singularities Using SINGULAR. Part II: The
  Structure of the Equivalence Classes of the Unimodal Singularities

abstract:
  In the classification of real singularities by Arnold et al. (1985), normal
forms, as representatives of equivalence classes under right equivalence, are
not always uniquely determined. We describe the complete structure of the
equivalence classes of the unimodal real singularities of corank 2. In other
words, we explicitly answer the question which normal forms of different type
are equivalent, and how a normal form can be transformed within the same
equivalence class by changing the value of the parameter. This provides new
theoretical insights into these singularities and has important consequences
for their algorithmic classification.


title:
Analytical representations of unified equations of state for
  neutron-star matter

abstract:
  Context. A unified equation of state (EoS) should describe the crust and the
core of a neutron star using the same physical model. The Brussels-Montreal
group has recently derived a family of such EoSs based on the nuclear
energy-density functional theory with generalized Skyrme effective forces,
fitted to the available mass data. At the same time, these forces were
constrained to reproduce microscopic calculations of homogeneous neutron matter
based on realistic two- and three-nucleon forces.
  Aims. We represent basic physical characteristics of the latest
Brussels-Montreal EoS models by analytical expressions to facilitate their
inclusion in astrophysical simulations.
  Methods. We consider three EoS models, which significantly differ by
stiffness: BSk19, BSk20, and BSk21. For each of them we constructed two
versions of the EoS parametrization. In the first version, pressure P and
gravitational mass density \rho are given as functions of the baryon number
density n_b. In the second version, P, \rho, and n_b are given as functions of
pseudo-enthalpy, which is useful for two-dimensional calculations of stationary
rotating configurations of neutron stars. In addition to the EoS, we derived
analytical expressions for several related quantities that are required in
neutron-star simulations: number fractions of electrons and muons in the
stellar core, nucleon numbers per nucleus in the inner crust, and equivalent
radii and shape parameters of the nuclei in the inner crust.
  Results. We obtain analytical representations for the basic characteristics
of the models of cold dense matter, which are most important for studies of
neutron stars. We demonstrate the usability of our results by applying them to
calculations of neutron-star mass-radius relations, maximum and minimum masses,
thresholds of direct Urca processes, and the electron conductivity in the
neutron-star crust.


title: Bounding hadronic uncertainties in $c\to u$ decays

abstract:
  Time-dependent CP asymmetry measurements in $D\to h^+h^-$ decays, where
$h=\pi$ or $\rho$ can be used to constrain the angle $\beta_c$ of the $cu$
unitarity triangle up to theoretical uncertainties. Here we discuss the
theoretical uncertainty from penguin contributions that can be mitigated
through the use of isospin analyses. We show that uncertainty from penguin
pollution on a measurement of $\beta_c$ (or alternatively the mixing phase) in
$D^0\to \pi^+\pi^-$ ($\rho^+\rho^-$) decays is $2.7^\circ$ ($4.6^\circ$). We
also comment on the applicability of this method to $D^0\to\rho\pi$ decays for
which measurements of weak phases with a precision below the one degree level
may be possible.


title: Density Matrix Embedding from Broken Symmetry Lattice Mean-Fields

abstract:
  Several variants of the recently proposed Density Matrix Embedding Theory
(DMET) [G. Knizia and G. K-L. Chan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 186404 (2012)] are
formulated and tested. We show that spin symmetry breaking of the lattice
mean-field allows precise control of the lattice and fragment filling while
providing very good agreement between predicted properties and exact results.
We present a rigorous proof that at convergence this method is guaranteed to
preserve lattice and fragment filling. Differences arising from fitting the
fragment one-particle density matrix alone versus fitting fragment plus bath
are scrutinized. We argue that it is important to restrict the density matrix
fitting to solely the fragment. Furthermore, in the proposed broken symmetry
formalism, it is possible to substantially simplify the embedding procedure
without sacrificing its accuracy by resorting to density instead of density
matrix fitting. This simplified Density Embedding Theory (DET) greatly improves
the convergence properties of the algorithm.


title:
Towards a Unified Description of the Intergalactic Medium at Redshift
  z~2.5

abstract:
  We examine recent measurements of the z~2.5 intergalactic medium (IGM) which
constrain the HI frequency distribution f(N) and the mean free path MFP to
ionizing radiation. We argue that line-blending and the clustering of strong
absorption-line systems have led previous authors to systematically
overestimate the effective Lyman limit opacity, yielding too small of a MFP for
the IGM. We further show that recently published measurements of f(N) at log
NHI ~ 16 lie in strong disagreement, implying underestimated uncertainty from
sample variance and/or systematics like line-saturation. Allowing for a larger
uncertainty in the f(N) measurements, we provide a new cubic Hermite spline
model for f(N) which reasonably satisfies all of the observational constraints
under the assumption of randomly distributed absorption systems. We caution,
however, that this formalism is invalid in light of absorber clustering and use
a toy model to estimate the effects. Future work must properly account for the
non-Poissonian nature of the IGM.


title: On long-term boundedness of Galerkin models

abstract:
  We investigate linear-quadratic dynamical systems with energy preserving
quadratic terms. These systems arise for instance as Galerkin systems of
incompressible flows. A criterion is presented to ensure long-term boundedness
of the system dynamics. If the criterion is violated, a globally stable
attractor cannot exist for an effective nonlinearity. Thus, the criterion
represents a minimum requirement for a physically justified Galerkin model of
viscous fluid flows. The criterion is exemplified e.g. for Galerkin systems of
two-dimensional cylinder wake flow models in the transient and the
post-transient regime, the Lorenz system, and for physical design of a
Trefethen-Reddy Galerkin system. There are numerous potential applications of
the criterion, for instance system reduction and control of strongly nonlinear
dynamical systems.


title: Towards Optimal Secure Distributed Storage Systems with Exact Repair

abstract:
  Distributed storage systems in the presence of a wiretapper are considered. A
distributed storage system (DSS) is parameterized by three parameters (n, k,d),
in which a file stored across n distributed nodes, can be recovered from any k
out of n nodes. If a node fails, any d out of (n-1) nodes help in the repair of
the failed node. For such a (n,k,d)-DSS, two types of wiretapping scenarios are
investigated: (a) Type-I (node) adversary which can wiretap the data stored on
any l<k nodes; and a more severe (b) Type-II (repair data) adversary which can
wiretap the contents of the repair data that is used to repair a set of l
failed nodes over time. The focus of this work is on the practically relevant
setting of exact repair regeneration in which the repair process must replace a
failed node by its exact replica. We make new progress on several non-trivial
instances of this problem which prior to this work have been open. The main
contribution of this paper is the optimal characterization of the secure
storage-vs-exact-repair-bandwidth tradeoff region of a (n,k,d)-DSS, with n<=4
and any l<k in the presence of both Type-I and Type-II adversaries. While the
problem remains open for a general (n,k,d)-DSS with n>4, we present extensions
of these results to a (n, n-1,n-1)-DSS, in presence of a Type-II adversary that
can observe the repair data of any l=(n-2) nodes. The key technical
contribution of this work is in developing novel information theoretic converse
proofs for the Type-II adversarial scenario. From our results, we show that in
the presence of Type-II attacks, the only efficient point in the
storage-vs-exact-repair-bandwidth tradeoff is the MBR (minimum bandwidth
regenerating) point. This is in sharp contrast to the case of a Type-I attack
in which the storage-vs-exact-repair-bandwidth tradeoff allows a spectrum of
operating points beyond the MBR point.


title:
Discrete analogues of Dirac's magnetic monopole and binary polyhedral
  groups

abstract:
  We introduce some discrete analogues of the Dirac magnetic monopole on a unit
sphere S^2 and explain how to compute the corresponding spectrum using the
representation theory of finite groups. The main examples are certain magnetic
Laplacians on the regular polyhedral graphs, coming from induced
representations of the binary polyhedral groups.


title: Modernizing PHCpack through phcpy

abstract:
  PHCpack is a large software package for solving systems of polynomial
equations. The executable phc is menu driven and file oriented. This paper
describes the development of phcpy, a Python interface to PHCpack. Instead of
navigating through menus, users of phcpy solve systems in the Python shell or
via scripts. Persistent objects replace intermediate files.


title: Corporations and Regulators: The Game of Influence in Regulatory Capture

abstract:
  In a market system, regulations are designed to prevent or rectify market
failures that inhibit fair exchange, such as monopoly or transactions with
hidden costs. Because regulations reduce profits to those possessing unfair
advantage, these advantaged corporations (whether individuals, companies, or
other collective organizations) are motivated to influence regulators.
Regulatory bodies created to protect the market are instead co-opted to advance
the interests of the corporations they are charged to regulate. This
wide-spread influence, known as "regulatory capture," has been recognized for
over 100 years, and according to expectations of rational behavior, will exist
wherever it is in the mutual self-interest of corporations and regulators. Here
we model the interaction between corporations and regulators using a new game
theory framework explicitly accounting for players' mutual influence, and
demonstrate the incentive for collusion. Communication between corporations and
regulators enables them to collude and split the resulting profits. We identify
when collusion is profitable for both parties. The intuitive results show that
capture occurs when the benefits to the corporation outweigh the costs to the
regulator. Under these conditions, the corporation can compensate the regulator
for costs incurred and, further, provide a profit to both parties. In the real
world, benefits often far outweigh costs, providing large incentives to collude
and making capture likely. Regulatory capture is inhibited by decreasing the
influence between parties through strict separation, independent market
knowledge and research by regulators, regulatory and market transparency,
regulatory accountability for market failures, widely distributed regulatory
control, and anti-corruption enforcement.


title: Some issues with Quasi-Steady State Model in Long-term Stability

abstract:
  The Quasi Steady-State (QSS) model of long-term dynamics relies on the idea
of time-scale decomposition. Assuming that the fast variables are infinitely
fast and are stable in the long-term, the QSS model replaces the differential
equations of transient dynamics by their equilibrium equations to reduce
complexity and increase computation efficiency. Although the idea of QSS model
is intuitive, its theoretical foundation has not yet been developed. In this
paper, several counter examples in which the QSS model fails to provide a
correct approximation of the complete dynamic model in power system are
presented and the reasons of the failure are explained from the viewpoint of
nonlinear analysis.


title:
Nodeless Versus Nodal Scenarios of Possible Triplet Superconductivity in
  the Quasi-One-Dimensional Layered Conductor Li$_{0.9}$Mo$_6$O$_{17}$

abstract:
  We consider the problem of the orbital upper critical magnetic field,
parallel to the most conducting axis of a quasi-one-dimensional layered
superconductor. It is shown that superconductivity can be destroyed through
orbital effects at fields much higher than the so-called Clogston-Chandrasekhar
paramagnetic limiting field, $H_p$, provided that superconducting pairing of
electrons are of a triplet nature. We demonstrate that the superconducting
state of the quasi-one-dimensional layered conductor,
$\mathrm{Li_{0.9}Mo_6O_{17}}$, is well described by the suggested theory. To
this end, we consider two competing scenarios: 1: a superconducting order
parameter without zeros on the Fermi surface, and 2: one with zeros on the
Fermi surface - both are shown to lead to destruction of superconductivity at a
magnetic field, $H^x_{c_2}$, five times higher than $H_p$. With recent
experimental measurements on the $\mathrm{Li_{0.9}Mo_6O_{17}}$ favoring the
nodeless order parameter, we present a strong argument supporting triplet
pairing in this compound.


title:
Effective and accurate representation of extended Bloch states on finite
  Hilbert spaces

abstract:
  We present a straightforward, noniterative projection scheme that can
represent the electronic ground state of a periodic system on a finite
atomic-orbital-like basis, up to a predictable number of electronic states and
with controllable accuracy. By co-filtering the projections of plane-wave Bloch
states with high-kinetic-energy components, the richness of the finite space
and thus the number of exactly-reproduced bands can be selectively increased at
a negligible computational cost, an essential requirement for the design of
efficient algorithms for electronic structure simulations of realistic material
systems and massive high-throughput investigations.


title: Closed symmetric 2-differentials of the 1st kind

abstract:
  A closed symmetric differential of the 1st kind is a differential that
locally is the product of closed holomorphic 1-forms. We show that closed
symmetric 2-differentials of the 1st kind on a projective manifold $X$ come
from maps of $X$ to cyclic or dihedral quotients of Abelian varieties and that
their presence implies that the fundamental group of $X$ (case of rank 2) or of
the complement $X\setminus E$ of a divisor $E$ with negative properties (case
of rank 1) contains subgroup of finite index with infinite abelianization.
Other results include: i) the identification of the differential operator
characterizing closed symmetric 2-differentials on surfaces (which provides in
this case a connection to flat Riemannian metrics) and ii) projective manifolds
$X$ having symmetric 2-differentials $w$ that are the product of two closed
meromorphic 1-forms are irregular, in fact if $w$ is not of the 1st kind (which
can happen), then $X$ has a fibration $f:X \to C$ over a curve of genus $\ge
1$.


title: A quick guide to defect orbifolds

abstract:
  We provide a lightning review of the construction of (generalised) orbifolds
[arXiv:0909.5013, arXiv:1210.6363] of two-dimensional quantum field theories in
terms of topological defects, along the lines of [arXiv:1307.3141]. This
universal perspective has many applications, some of which we sketch in the
examples of 2d Yang-Mills theory, Landau-Ginzburg models, and rational CFT.


title:
Online Approximate Optimal Station Keeping of an Autonomous Underwater
  Vehicle

abstract:
  Online approximation of an optimal station keeping strategy for a fully
actuated six degrees-of-freedom autonomous underwater vehicle is considered.
The developed controller is an approximation of the solution to a two player
zero-sum game where the controller is the minimizing player and an external
disturbance is the maximizing player. The solution is approximated using a
reinforcement learning-based actor-critic framework. The result guarantees
uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) convergence of the states and UUB
convergence of the approximated policies to the optimal polices without the
requirement of persistence of excitation.


title: Online Approximate Optimal Path-Following for a Kinematic Unicycle

abstract:
  Online approximation of an infinite horizon optimal path-following strategy
for a kinematic unicycle is considered. The solution to the optimal control
problem is approximated using an approximate dynamic programming technique that
uses concurrent-learning-based adaptive update laws to estimate the unknown
value function. The developed controller overcomes challenges with the
approximation of the infinite horizon value function using an auxiliary
function that describes the motion of a virtual target on the desired path. The
developed controller guarantees uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) convergence
of the vehicle to a desired path while maintaining a desired speed profile and
UUB convergence of the approximate policy to the optimal policy. Simulation
results are included to demonstrate the controller's performance.


title:
Application of a Revised Moliere Theory to the Description of the
  Landau-Pomeranchuk Effect

abstract:
  Using the Coulomb corrections to some important parameters of a revised
Moliere multiple scattering theory, we have obtained analytically and
numerically the Coulomb corrections to the quantities of the Migdal theory of
the Landau-Pomeranchuk (LPM) effect for sufficiently thick targets. We showed
that the Coulomb correction to the spectral bremsstrahlung rate of this theory
allows completely eliminating the discrepancy between the theory and experiment
at leastfor high Z experimental targets.


title:
Error Analysis of Finite Element Methods for Space-Fractional Parabolic
  Equations

abstract:
  We consider an initial/boundary value problem for one-dimensional
fractional-order parabolic equations with a space fractional derivative of
Riemann-Liouville type and order $\alpha\in (1,2)$. We study a spatial
semidiscrete scheme with the standard Galerkin finite element method with
piecewise linear finite elements, as well as fully discrete schemes based on
the backward Euler method and Crank-Nicolson method. Error estimates in the
$L^2\II$- and $H^{\alpha/2}\II$-norm are derived for the semidiscrete scheme,
and in the $L^2\II$-norm for the fully discrete schemes. These estimates are
for both smooth and nonsmooth initial data, and are expressed directly in terms
of the smoothness of the initial data. Extensive numerical results are
presented to illustrate the theoretical results.


title:
$N^*$'s and $\Delta$'s generated in vector, pseudoscalar meson-baryon
  systems

abstract:
  We have recently studied coupled channel interactions of vector and
pseudoscalar mesons with octet baryons having total strangeness null and
spin-parity $1/2^-$. We, thus, considered $\pi N$, $\eta N$, $K \Lambda$, $K
\Sigma$, $\rho N$, $\omega N$, $\phi N$, $K^* \Lambda$, and $K^*\Sigma$ with
total isospin 1/2 and 3/2. The interactions between pseudoscalar mesons and
baryons are obtained by using the Weinberg-Tomozawa theorem. For the case of
vector mesons, we calculate $s$-, $t$-, $u$-exchange diagrams and a contact
term. The subtraction constants, required to calculate the loop-function in the
scattering equations, are constrained by fitting the available experimental
data on some of the reactions with pseudoscalar meson-baryon final states. We
end up finding resonances which can be related to $N^*(1535)$, $N^*(1650)$
(with a double pole structure), $N^*(1895)$ and $\Delta(1620)$. We conclude
that these resonances can be, at least partly, interpreted as dynamically
generated resonances and that the vector mesons play an important role in
determining the dynamical origin of the low-lying $N^*$ and $\Delta$ states.


title:
Automatic estimation of the regularization parameter in 2-D focusing
  gravity inversion: an application to the Safo manganese mine in northwest of
  Iran

abstract:
  We investigate the use of Tikhonov regularization with the minimum support
stabilizer for underdetermined 2-D inversion of gravity data. This stabilizer
produces models with non-smooth properties which is useful for identifying
geologic structures with sharp boundaries. A very important aspect of using
Tikhonov regularization is the choice of the regularization parameter that
controls the trade off between the data fidelity and the stabilizing
functional. The L-curve and generalized cross validation techniques, which only
require the relative sizes of the uncertainties in the observations are
considered. Both criteria are applied in an iterative process for which at each
iteration a value for regularization parameter is estimated. Suitable values
for the regularization parameter are successfully determined in both cases for
synthetic but practically relevant examples. Whenever the geologic situation
permits, it is easier and more efficient to model the subsurface with a 2-D
algorithm, rather than to apply a full 3-D approach. Then, because the problem
is not large it is appropriate to use the generalized singular value
decomposition for solving the problem efficiently. The method is applied on a
profile of gravity data acquired over the Safo mining camp in Maku-Iran, which
is well known for manganese ores. The presented results demonstrate success in
reconstructing the geometry and density distribution of the subsurface source.


title: Cerenkov Events Seen by The TALE Air Fluorescence Detector

abstract:
  The Telescope Array Low-Energy Extension (TALE) is a hybrid, Air Fluorescence
Detector (FD) / Scintillator Array, designed to study cosmic ray initiated
showers at energies above $\sim3\times10^{16}$ eV. Located in the western Utah
desert, the TALE FD is comprised of 10 telescopes which cover the elevation
range 31-58$^{\circ}$ in addition to 14 telescopes with elevation coverage of
3-31$^{\circ}$.
  As with all other FD's, a subset of the shower events recorded by TALE are
ones for which the Cerenkov light produced by the shower particles dominates
the total observed light signal. In fact, for the telescopes with higher
elevation coverage, low energy Cerenkov events form the vast majority of
triggered cosmic ray events. In the typical FD data analysis procedure, this
subset of events is discarded and only events for which the majority of signal
photons come from air fluorescence are kept.
  In this talk, I will report on a study to reconstruct the "Cerenkov Events"
seen by the high elevation viewing telescopes of TALE. Monte Carlo studies and
a first look at real events observed by TALE look very promising. Even as a
monocular detector, the geometrical reconstruction method employed in this
analysis allows for a pointing accuracy on the order of a degree. Preliminary
Monte Carlo studies indicate that, the expected energy resolution is better
than 25$%$. It may be possible to extend the low energy reach of TALE to below
$10^{16}$ eV. This would be the first time a detector designed specifically as
an air fluorescence detector is used as an imaging Cerenkov detector.


title:
Table-Top Molecular Communication: Text Messages Through Chemical
  Signals

abstract:
  In this work, we describe the first modular, and programmable platform
capable of transmitting a text message using chemical signalling -- a method
also known as molecular communication. This form of communication is attractive
for applications where conventional wireless systems perform poorly, from
nanotechnology to urban health monitoring. Using examples, we demonstrate the
use of our platform as a testbed for molecular communication, and illustrate
the features of these communication systems using experiments. By providing a
simple and inexpensive means of performing experiments, our system fills an
important gap in the molecular communication literature, where much current
work is done in simulation with simplified system models. A key finding in this
paper is that these systems are often nonlinear in practice, whereas current
simulations and analysis often assume that the system is linear. However, as we
show in this work, despite the nonlinearity, reliable communication is still
possible. Furthermore, this work motivates future studies on more realistic
modelling, analysis, and design of theoretical models and algorithms for these
systems.


title:
The HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory: Sensitivity to Steady and Transient
  Sources of Gamma Rays

abstract:
  The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory is designed to
record air showers produced by cosmic rays and gamma rays between 100 GeV and
100 TeV. Because of its large field of view and high livetime, HAWC is
well-suited to measure gamma rays from extended sources, diffuse emission, and
transient sources. We describe the sensitivity of HAWC to emission from the
extended Cygnus region as well as other types of galactic diffuse emission;
searches for flares from gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei; and the
first measurement of the Crab Nebula with HAWC-30.


title: The HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory: Observations of Cosmic Rays

abstract:
  We describe measurements of GeV and TeV cosmic rays with the High-Altitude
Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory, or HAWC. The measurements include the
observation of the shadow of the moon; the observation of small-scale and
large-scale angular clustering of the TeV cosmic rays; the prospects for
measurement of transient solar events with HAWC; and the observation of Forbush
decreases with the HAWC engineering array and HAWC-30.


title:
The HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory: Dark Matter, Cosmology, and Fundamental
  Physics

abstract:
  The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma Ray Observatory (HAWC) is designed to
perform a synoptic survey of the TeV sky. The high energy coverage of the
experiment will enable studies of fundamental physics beyond the Standard
Model, and the large field of view of the detector will enable detailed studies
of cosmologically significant backgrounds and magnetic fields. We describe the
sensitivity of the full HAWC array to these phenomena in five contributions
shown at the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(July 2013).


title: The HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory: Design, Calibration, and Operation

abstract:
  The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma Ray Observatory (HAWC) is under
construction 4100 meters above sea level at Sierra Negra, Mexico. We describe
the design and cabling of the detector, the characterization of the
photomultipliers, and the timing calibration system. We also outline a
next-generation detector based on the water Cherenkov technique.


title:
Screening, Friedel oscillations and low-temperature conductivity in
  topological insulator thin films

abstract:
  In thin topological insulator films, the top and bottom surfaces are coupled
by tunneling, which restores backscattering and strongly affects screening. We
calculate the dielectric function in the random phase approximation obtaining a
closed-form result. Unlike independent TI surfaces, the dielectric function of
thin films exhibits a valley as a function of wavenumber $q$ and tunneling, as
well as a cusp at $q=2k_F$, with $k_F$ the Fermi wave vector. As a result of
the cusp, Friedel oscillations decay with distance $r$ as
$\sin(2k_Fr)/(2k_Fr)^2$. We determine the longitudinal conductivity $\sigma$ in
the first Born approximation at low temperatures where screened impurities
provide the dominant scattering mechanism. At high electron densities $n_e$,
$\sigma \propto n_e$, while at low densities $\sigma \propto n_e^{3/2}$.


title:
A new investigation of electron neutrino appearance oscillations with
  improved sensitivity in the MiniBooNE+ experiment

abstract:
  We propose the addition of scintillator to the existing MiniBooNE detector to
allow a test of the neutral-current/charged-current (NC/CC) nature of the
MiniBooNE low-energy excess. Scintillator will enable the reconstruction of 2.2
MeV $\gamma$s from neutron-capture on protons following neutrino interactions.
Low-energy CC interactions where the oscillation excess is observed should have
associated neutrons with less than a 10% probability. This is in contrast to
the NC backgrounds that should have associated neutrons in approximately 50% of
events. We will measure these neutron fractions with $\nu_\mu$ CC and NC events
to eliminate that systematic uncertainty. This neutron-fraction measurement
requires $6.5\times10^{20}$ protons on target delivered to MiniBooNE with
scintillator added in order to increase the significance of an oscillation
excess to over $5\sigma$.
  This new phase of MiniBooNE will also enable additional important studies
such as the spin structure of nucleon ($\Delta s$) via NC elastic scattering, a
low-energy measurement of the neutrino flux via $\numu ^{12}C \rightarrow
\mu^{-} ^{12}N_\textrm{g.s.}$ scattering, and a test of the quasielastic
assumption in neutrino energy reconstruction. These topics will yield
important, highly-cited results over the next 5 years for a modest cost, and
will help to train Ph.D. students and postdocs. This enterprise offers
complementary information to that from the upcoming liquid Argon based
MicroBooNE experiment. In addition, MicroBooNE is scheduled to receive
neutrinos in early 2014, and there is minimal additional cost to also deliver
beam to MiniBooNE.


title:
A Comparison of Future Proton Colliders Using SUSY Simplified Models: A
  Snowmass Whitepaper

abstract:
  We present a summary of results for SUSY Simplified Model searches at future
proton colliders: the 14 TeV LHC as well as a 33 TeV proton collider and a 100
TeV proton collider. Upper limits and discovery significances are provided for
the gluino-neutralino (for both light and heavy flavor decays),
squark-neutralino, and gluino-squark Simplified Model planes. Events are
processed with the Snowmass combined detector and Standard Model backgrounds
are computed using the Snowmass samples. We place emphasis on comparisons
between different collider scenarios, along with the lessons learned regarding
the impact of systematic errors and pileup. More details are provided in a
companion paper.


title: A near-field scanning SQUID microwave microscope

abstract:
  We developed a scanning DC SQUID microscope with novel readout electronics
capable of wideband sensing RF magnetic fields from 50 to 200 MHz and
simultaneously providing closed-loop response at kHz frequencies. To overcome
the 20 MHz bandwidth limitation of traditional closed-loop SQUIDs, a
flux-modulated closed loop simultaneously locks the SQUID quasi-static flux and
flux-biases the SQUID for amplification of the RF flux up to $\Phi_0/4$ in
amplitude. Demodulating the SQUID voltage with a double lock-in technique
yields a signal representative of both the amplitude and phase of the RF flux.
This provides 80 dB of a linear dynamic range with the flux noise density of 4
$\mu \Phi_0/\sqrt{Hz}$ at 200 MHz for $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$ bi-crystal SQUID at 77 K.
We describe the electronics performance and present images for RF magnetic
field of the travelling wave in a coplanar waveguide, the standing wave in an
open-circuited microstrip, and a surface mounted device antenna.


title:
Electron-Phonon Coupling in Wurtzite Semiconductors: Intervalley
  Scattering Selection Rules for Hexagonal GaN

abstract:
  Selection rules are presented for electron-phonon scattering in GaN with the
wurtzite crystal structure. The results are obtained for the interband
scattering between the lowest conduction band ($\Gamma$-valley) and the second
conduction band ($U$-valley). These selection rules are derived based on the
original group-theoretical analysis of the crystal vibrations in GaN, which
included detailed compatibility relations for all phonon modes.


title:
Raman signal-enhancement and broadening with graphene-coated
  diamond-shape nano-antennas

abstract:
  We used broad-band diamond-shape antennas, whose bandwidth could cover the
frequency range between the pump laser and the scattered modes, in conjunction
with uniformly deposited graphene test films.


title:
Zero sets of Lie algebras of analytic vector fields on real and complex
  2-manifolds

abstract:
  Let X be an analytic vector field on a real or complex 2-manifold, and K a
compact set of zeros of X whose fixed point index is not zero. Let A denote the
Lie algebra of analytic vector fields Y on M such that at every point of M the
values of X and [X,Y] are linearly dependent. Then the vector fields in A have
a common zero in K.
  Application: Let G be a connected Lie group having a 1-dimensional normal
subgroup. Then every action of G on M has a fixed point.


title: Beads on a String and Spurs in Galactic Disks

abstract:
  The organization of the interstellar medium in disk galaxies obeys the large
scale dynamics set by kpc-size structures. Improving our knowledge of how the
dense, molecular gas is distributed in a disk is an important step in our
understanding of star formation at galactic scale. Using a recently published
simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy, we explore the formation and dynamical
organization of the star forming gas in a proto-typical disk. Along spiral
arms, we report the formation of regularly spaced clouds, called beads on a
string and spurs. The former form through gravitational instabilities while the
later originate from Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. We propose that the
co-existence of both structures in the same galaxy can be explained by a
different role of the disk dynamics, depending on the location within the disk.
In particular, we highlight the impact of the pitch angle of the spiral arm in
the development of either type of structure.


title:
HST hot Jupiter Transmission Spectral Survey: A detection of Na and
  strong optical absorption in HAT-P-1b

abstract:
  We present an optical to near-infrared transmission spectrum of the hot
Jupiter HAT-P-1b, based on HST observations, covering the spectral regime from
0.29 to 1.027{\mu}m with STIS, which is coupled with a recent WFC3 transit
(1.087 to 1.687{\mu}m). We derive refined physical parameters of the HAT-P-1
system, including an improved orbital ephemeris. The transmission spectrum
shows a strong absorption signature shortward of 0.55{\mu}m, with a strong
blueward slope into the near-ultraviolet. We detect atmospheric sodium
absorption at a 3.3{\sigma} significance level, but find no evidence for the
potassium feature. The red data implies a marginally flat spectrum with a
tentative absorption enhancement at wavelength longer than ~0.85{\mu}m. The
STIS and WFC3 spectra differ significantly in absolute radius level (4.3 +/-
1.6 pressure scale heights), implying strong optical absorption in the
atmosphere of HAT-P-1b. The optical to near-infrared difference cannot be
explained by stellar activity, as simulta- neous stellar activity monitoring of
the G0V HAT-P-1b host star and its identical companion show no significant
activity that could explain the result. We compare the complete STIS and WFC3
transmission spectrum with theoretical atmospheric mod- els which include haze,
sodium and an extra optical absorber. We find that both an optical absorber and
a super-solar sodium to water abundance ratio might be a sce- nario explaining
the HAT-P-1b observations. Our results suggest that strong optical absorbers
may be a dominant atmospheric feature in some hot Jupiter exoplanets.


title:
STE-QUEST Mission and System Design - Overview after completion of
  Phase-A

abstract:
  STE-QUEST is a fundamental science mission which is considered for launch
within the Cosmic Vision programme of the European Space Agency (ESA). Its main
scientific objectives relate to probing various aspects of Einstein's theory of
general relativity by measuring the gravitational red-shift of the earth, the
moon and the sun as well as testing the weak equivalence principle to
unprecedented accuracy. In order to perform the measurements, the system
features a spacecraft equipped with two complex instruments, an atomic clock
and an atom interferometer, a ground-segment encompassing several
ground-terminals collocated with the best available ground atomic clocks, and
clock comparison between space and ground via microwave and optical links. The
baseline orbit is highly eccentric and exhibits strong variations of incident
solar flux, which poses challenges for thermal and power subsystems in addition
to the difficulties encountered by precise-orbit-determination at high
altitudes. The mission assessment and definition phase (Phase-A) has recently
been completed and this paper gives a concise overview over some system level
results.

categories: physics.ins-det astro-ph.IM gr-qc physics.space-ph


title:
Cosmological Evolution With Interaction Between Dark Energy And Dark
  Matter

abstract:
  In this review we consider in detail different theoretical topics associated
with interaction in the dark sector. We study linear and nonlinear interactions
which depend on the dark matter and dark energy densities. We consider a number
of different models (including the holographic dark energy and dark energy in a
fractal universe) with interacting dark energy (DE) and dark matter (DM), have
done a thorough analysis of these models. The main task of this review was not
only to give an idea about the modern set of different models of dark energy,
but to show how much can be diverse dynamics of the universe in these models.
We find that the dynamics of a Universe that contains interaction in the dark
sector can differ significantly from the Standard Cosmological Model (SCM).


title:
Search for the production of ZW and ZZ boson pairs decaying into charged
  leptons and jets in proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

abstract:
  We present a measurement of the production cross section for ZW and ZZ boson
pairs in final states with a pair of charged leptons, from the decay of a Z
boson, and at least two jets, from the decay of a W or Z boson, using the full
sample of proton-antiproton collisions recorded with the CDF II detector at the
Tevatron, corresponding to 8.9 fb^(-1) of integrated luminosity. We increase
the sensitivity to vector boson decays into pairs of quarks using a neural
network discriminant that exploits the differences between the spatial spread
of energy depositions and charged-particle momenta contained within the jet of
particles originating from quarks and gluons. Additionally, we employ new jet
energy corrections to Monte Carlo simulations that account for differences in
the observed energy scales for quark and gluon jets. The number of signal
events is extracted through a simultaneous fit to the dijet mass spectrum in
three classes of events: events likely to contain jets with a heavy-quark
decay, events likely to contain jets originating from light quarks, and events
that fail these identification criteria. We determine the production cross
section to be 2.5 +2.0 -1.0 pb (< 6.1 pb at the 95% confidence level),
consistent with the standard model prediction of 5.1 pb.


title:
Superradiant control of gamma-ray propagation by vibrating nuclear
  arrays

abstract:
  The collective nature of light interactions with atomic and nuclear ensembles
yields the fascinating phenomena of superradiance and radiation trapping. We
study the interaction of gamma rays with a coherently vibrating periodic array
of two-level nuclei. Such nuclear motion can be generated, e.g., in ionic
crystals illuminated by a strong driving optical laser field. We find that
deflection of the incident gamma beam into the Bragg angle can be switched on
and off by nuclear vibrations on a superradiant time scale determined by the
collective nuclear frequency, which is of the order of terahertz. Namely, if
the incident gamma wave is detuned from the nuclear transition by much larger
frequency it passes through the static nuclear array. However, if the nuclei
vibrate with the frequency of the gamma ray detuning then parametric resonance
can yield energy transfer into the Bragg deflected beam on the superradiant
time scale, which can be used for fast control of gamma rays.


title: The symmetrization problem for multiple orthogonal polynomials

abstract:
  We analyze the effect of symmetrization in the theory of multiple orthogonal
polynomials. For a symmetric sequence of type II multiple orthogonal
polynomials satisfying a high-term recurrence relation, we fully characterize
the Weyl function associated to the corresponding block Jacobi matrix as well
as the Stieltjes matrix function. Next, from an arbitrary sequence of type II
multiple orthogonal polynomials with respect to a set of d linear functionals,
we obtain a total of d+1 sequences of type II multiple orthogonal polynomials,
which can be used to construct a new sequence of symmetric type II multiple
orthogonal polynomials. Finally, we prove a Favard-type result for certain
sequences of matrix multiple orthogonal polynomials satisfying a matrix
four-term recurrence relation with matrix coefficients.


title:
Densities, temperatures, pressures, and abundances derived from OII
  recombination lines in HII regions and their implications

abstract:
  Based on high quality observations of multiplet V1 of OII and the NLTE atomic
computations of OII we study the density and temperature of a sample of HII
regions. We find that the signature for oxygen rich clumps of high density and
low temperature is absent in all objects of our sample: one extragalactic and
eight Galactic HII regions. The temperatures derived from: a) recombination
lines of OII, and b) recombination lines of HI together with Balmer continua
are lower than those derived from forbidden lines, while the densities derived
from recombination lines of OII are similar or smaller than densities derived
from forbidden lines. Electron pressures derived from collisionally excited
lines are about two times larger than those derived from recombination lines.
These results imply that the proper abundances are those derived from
recombination lines and suggest that other processes in addition to direct
photoionization, such as dissipation of turbulent energy in shocks, magnetic
reconnection, and shadowed regions, might be responsible for the large ADF and
t2 values observed in HII regions.


title:
Pre-treatment radiotherapy dose verification using Monte Carlo doselet
  modulation in a spherical phantom

abstract:
  Due to the increasing complexity of radiotherapy delivery, accurate dose
verification has become an essential part of the clinical treatment process.
The purpose of this work was to develop an electronic portal image (EPI) based
pre-treatment verification technique capable of quickly reconstructing 3D dose
distributions from both coplanar and non-coplanar treatments. The dose
reconstruction is performed in a spherical water phantom by modulating, based
on EPID measurements, pre-calculated Monte Carlo (MC) doselets defined on a
spherical coordinate system. This is called the spherical doselet modulation
(SDM) method. This technique essentially eliminates the statistical uncertainty
of the MC dose calculations by exploiting both azimuthal symmetry in a
patient-independent phase-space and symmetry of a virtual spherical water
phantom. The symmetry also allows the number of doselets necessary for dose
reconstruction to be reduced by a factor of about 250. In this work, 51
doselets were used. The SDM method mitigates the most computationally intensive
part of this type of dose reconstruction - reading, weighting and summing dose
matrices. The accuracy of the system was tested against MC calculations as well
as our previously reported phase-space modulation (PSM) method using a series
of open field and IMRT cases. The mean chi- and gamma-test 3% / 3 mm success
rates of the SDM method were 98.6% and 99.5%, respectively, when compared to
full MC simulation. The total calculation time was 96 seconds per treatment
field on a single processor core.


title:
Recent Results on Radiative and Electroweak Penguin Decays of B Mesons
  at BaBar

abstract:
  Radiative and electroweak decays of B mesong (B to X_{s(d)}{\gamma} and B to
X_{s(d)}\ell\ell, respectively, where X is a hadronic system and s or d labels
the underlying quark process b to s(d)\gamma) provide good places to search for
new physics (NP) beyond the standard model. Recent BaBar measurements are
reported: inclusive BF(B to X_s \gamma), direct CP asymmetry for inclusive X_s
{\gamma} and X_{s+d} {\gamma}, and searches for the rare decays B to
\pi(\eta)\ell\ell. No evidence for NP was found, but several constraints are
discussed.


title:
On the martingale property in stochastic volatility models based on
  time-homogeneous diffusions

abstract:
  Lions and Musiela (2007) give sufficient conditions to verify when a
stochastic exponential of a continuous local martingale is a martingale or a
uniformly integrable martingale. Blei and Engelbert (2009) and Mijatovi\'c and
Urusov (2012c) give necessary and sufficient conditions in the case of perfect
correlation (\rho=1). For financial applications, such as checking the
martingale property of the stock price process in correlated stochastic
volatility models, we extend their work to the arbitrary correlation case
(-1<=\rho<=1). We give a complete classification of the convergence properties
of integral functionals of time-homogeneous diffusions and generalize results
in Mijatovi\'c and Urusov (2012b) (2012c) with alternate proofs avoiding the
use of separating times (concept introduced by Cherny and Urusov (2004) and
extensively used in the proofs of Mijatovi\'c and Urusov (2012c)).


title:
Asymptotic survival probability of a particle in reaction-diffusion
  process with exclusion in the presence of traps

abstract:
  Reaction-diffusion process with exclusion in the presence of traps has been
studied. The asymptotic survival probability for the case of uniformly
distributed random traps shows a stretched e\ xponential behavior. We show that
additional correction terms appear in the stretched exponent when exclusion is
taken into account. Analytically it is shown to be $\sim t^{1/6}$ which is ver\
ified by numerical simulations.