title: Disorder-driven metal-insulator transitions in deformable lattices

abstract:
  We show that in presence of a deformable lattice potential, the nature of the
disorder-driven metal-insulator transition (MIT) is fundamentally changed with
respect to the non-interacting (Anderson) scenario. For strong disorder, even a
modest electron-phonon interaction is found to dramatically renormalize the
random potential, opening a mobility gap at the Fermi energy. This process,
which reflects disorder-enhanced polaron formation, is here given a microscopic
basis by treating the lattice deformations and Anderson localization effects on
the same footing. We identify an intermediate "bad insulator" transport regime
which displays resistivity values exceeding the Mott-Ioffe-Regel limit and with
a negative temperature coefficient, as often observed in strongly disordered
metals. Our calculations reveal that this behavior originates from significant
temperature-induced rearrangements of electronic states due to enhanced
interaction effects close to the disorder-driven MIT.


title: An introduction to cosmology

abstract:
  Cosmology is becoming an important tool to test particle physics models. We
provide an overview of the standard model of cosmology with an emphasis on the
observations relevant for testing fundamental physics.


title: Comments on the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model

abstract:
  We study a quantum mechanical model proposed by Sachdev, Ye and Kitaev. The
model consists of $N$ Majorana fermions with random interactions of a few
fermions at a time. It it tractable in the large $N$ limit, where the classical
variable is a bilocal fermion bilinear. The model becomes strongly interacting
at low energies where it develops an emergent conformal symmetry. We study two
and four point functions of the fundamental fermions. This provides the
spectrum of physical excitations for the bilocal field.
  The emergent conformal symmetry is a reparametrization symmetry, which is
spontaneously broken to $SL(2,R)$, leading to zero modes. These zero modes are
lifted by a small residual explicit breaking, which produces an enhanced
contribution to the four point function. This contribution displays a maximal
Lyapunov exponent in the chaos region (out of time ordered correlator). We
expect these features to be universal properties of large $N$ quantum mechanics
systems with emergent reparametrization symmetry.
  This article is largely based on talks given by Kitaev \cite{KitaevTalks},
which motivated us to work out the details of the ideas described there.


title: Multiband effects and the possible Dirac states in LaAgSb$_2$

abstract:
  Here we report the possible signature of Dirac fermions in the
magnetoresistance, Hall resistivity and magnetothermopower of LaAgSb$_2$. The
opposite sign between Hall resistivity and Seebeck coefficient indicates the
multiband effect. Electronic structure calculation reveals the existence of the
linear bands and the parabolic bands crossing the Fermi level. The large linear
magnetoresistance was attributed to the quantum limit of the possible Dirac
fermions or the breakdown of weak-field magnetotransport at the charge density
wave phase transition. Analysis of Hall resistivity using two-band model
reveals that Dirac holes which dominate the electronic transport have much
higher mobility and larger density than conventional electrons. Magnetic field
suppresses the apparent Hall carrier density, and also induces the sign change
of the Seebeck coefficient from negative to positive. These effects are
possibly attributed to the magnetic field suppression of the density of states
at the Fermi level originating from the quantum limit of the possible Dirac
holes.


title: Role of the range of the interactions in thermal conduction

abstract:
  We investigate thermal transport along a one-dimensional lattice of classical
inertial rotators, with attractive couplings which decrease with distance as
$r^{-\alpha}$ ($\alpha \ge 0$), subject at its ends to Brownian heat reservoirs
at different temperatures with average value $T$. By means of numerical
integration of the equations of motion, we show the effects of the range of the
interactions in the temperature profile and energy transport, and determine the
domain of validity of Fourier's law in this context. We find that Fourier's
law, as signaled by a finite $\kappa$ in the thermodynamic limit, holds only
for sufficiently short range interactions, with $\alpha >\alpha_c(T)$. For
$\alpha<\alpha_c(T)$, a kind of insulator behavior emerges at any $T$.


title: Cosmic Visions Dark Energy: Technology

abstract:
  A strong instrumentation and detector R&D program has enabled the current
generation of cosmic frontier surveys. A small investment in R&D will continue
to pay dividends and enable new probes to investigate the accelerated expansion
of the universe. Instrumentation and detector R&D provide critical training
opportunities for future generations of experimentalists, skills that are
important across the entire Department of Energy High Energy Physics program.


title:
Resolving Giant Molecular Clouds in NGC 300: A First Look with the
  Submillimeter Array

abstract:
  We present the first high angular resolution study of giant molecular clouds
(GMCs) in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 300, based on observations from the
Submillimeter Array (SMA). We target eleven 500 pc-sized regions of active star
formation within the galaxy in the CO(J=2-1) line at 40 pc spatial and 1 km/s
spectral resolution and identify 45 individual GMCs. We characterize the
physical properties of these GMCs, and find that they are similar to GMCs in
the disks of the Milky Way and other nearby spiral galaxies. For example, the
GMC mass spectrum in our sample has a slope of 1.80+/-0.07. Twelve clouds are
spatially resolved by our observations, of which ten have virial mass estimates
that agree to within a factor of two with mass estimates derived directly from
CO integrated intensity, suggesting that the majority of these GMCs are bound.
The resolved clouds show consistency with Larson's fundamental relations
between size, linewidth, and mass observed in the Milky Way. We find that the
linewidth scales with the size as DeltaV ~ R^(0.52+/-0.20), and the median
surface density in the subsample is 54 Msun/pc^(-2). We detect 13CO in four
GMCs and find a mean 12CO/13CO flux ratio of 6.2. Our interferometric
observations recover between 30% and 100% of the integrated intensity from the
APEX single dish CO observations of Faesi et al. 2014, suggesting the presence
of low-mass GMCs and/or diffuse gas below our sensitivity limit. The fraction
of APEX emission recovered increases with the SMA total intensity as well as
with the star formation rate.


title: A shock at the radio relic position in Abell 115

abstract:
  We analyzed a deep Chandra observation (334 ks) of the galaxy cluster Abell
115 and detected a shock co-spatial with the radio relic. The X-ray surface
brightness profile across the shock region presents a discontinuity,
corresponding to a density compression factor $\mathcal{C}=2.0\pm0.1$ leading
to a Mach number $\mathcal{M}=1.7\pm0.1$ ($\mathcal{M}=1.4-2$ including
systematics). Temperatures measured in the upstream and downstream regions are
consistent with what expected for such a shock:
$T_u=4.3^{+1.0}_{-0.6}\:\rm{keV}$ and $T_d=7.9^{+1.4}_{-1.1}\:\rm{keV}$
respectively, implying a Mach number $\mathcal{M}=1.8^{+0.5}_{-0.4}$. So far,
only few other shocks discovered in galaxy clusters are consistently detected
from both density and temperature jumps. The spatial coincidence between this
discontinuity and the radio relic edge strongly supports the view that shocks
play a crucial role in powering these synchrotron sources. We suggest that the
relic is originated by shock re-acceleration of relativistic electrons rather
than acceleration from the thermal pool. The position and curvature of the
shock and the associated relic are consistent with an off-axis merger with
unequal mass ratio where the shock is expected to bend around the core of the
less massive cluster.


title: The Impact of Modeling Assumptions in Galactic Chemical Evolution Models

abstract:
  We use the OMEGA galactic chemical evolution code to investigate how the
assumptions used for the treatment of galactic inflows and outflows impact
numerical predictions. The goal is to determine how our capacity to reproduce
the chemical evolution trends of a galaxy is affected by the choice of
implementation used to include those physical processes. In pursuit of this
goal, we experiment with three different prescriptions for galactic inflows and
outflows and use OMEGA within a Markov Chain Monte Carlo code to recover the
set of input parameters that best reproduces the chemical evolution of nine
elements in the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Sculptor. This provides a consistent
framework for comparing the best-fit solutions generated by our different
models. Despite their different degrees of intended physical realism, we found
that all three prescriptions can reproduce in an almost identical way the
stellar abundance trends observed in Sculptor. While the three models have the
same capacity to fit the data, the best values recovered for the parameters
controlling the number of Type Ia supernovae and the strength of galactic
outflows, are substantially different and in fact mutually exclusive from one
model to another. For the purpose of understanding how a galaxy evolves, we
conclude that only reproducing the evolution of a limited number of elements is
insufficient and can lead to misleading conclusions. More elements or
additional constraints such as the galaxy's star formation efficiency and the
gas fraction are needed in order to break the degeneracy between the different
modeling assumptions. Our results show that the successes and failures of
chemical evolution models are predominantly driven by the input stellar yields,
rather than by the complexity of the galaxy model itself. Simple models such as
OMEGA are therefore sufficient to test and validate stellar yields.


title:
A New Population of Compton-Thick AGN Identified Using the Spectral
  Curvature Above 10 keV

abstract:
  We present a new metric that uses the spectral curvature (SC) above 10 keV to
identify Compton-thick AGN in low-quality Swift BAT X-ray data. Using NuSTAR,
we observe nine high SC-selected AGN. We find that high-sensitivity spectra
show the majority are Compton-thick (78% or 7/9) and the remaining two are
nearly Compton-thick (NH~5-8x10^23 cm^-2). We find the SC_bat and SC_nustar
measurements are consistent, suggesting this technique can be applied to future
telescopes. We tested the SC method on well-known Compton-thick AGN and find it
is much more effective than broad band ratios (e.g. 100% using SC vs. 20% using
8-24/3-8 keV). Our results suggest that using the >10 keV emission may be the
only way to identify this population since only two sources show Compton-thick
levels of excess in the OIII to X-ray emission ratio (F_OIII/F_2-10 keV>1) and
WISE colors do not identify most of them as AGN. Based on this small sample, we
find that a higher fraction of these AGN are in the final merger stage than
typical BAT AGN. Additionally, these nine obscured AGN have, on average, four
times higher accretion rates than other BAT-detected AGN (Edd ratio=0.068
compared to 0.016). The robustness of SC at identifying Compton-thick AGN
implies a higher fraction of nearby AGN may be Compton-thick (~22%) and the sum
of black hole growth in Compton-thick AGN (Eddington ratio times population
percentage), is nearly as large as mildly obscured and unobscured AGN.


title:
Inferring the star formation histories of the most massive and passive
  early-type galaxies at z<0.3

abstract:
  Massive galaxies are key probes to understand how the baryonic matter evolves
within the dark matter halos. We use the "archaeological" approach to infer the
stellar population properties and star formation histories of the most massive
(M > 10^10.75 Msun) and passive early-type galaxies (ETGs) at 0 < z < 0.3,
based on stacked, high signal to noise ratio (SNR), Sloan Digital Sky Survey
spectra. We exploit the information present in the full-spectrum by means of
the STARLIGHT public code to retrieve the ETGs evolutionary properties, such as
age, metallicity and star formation history. We find that the stellar
metallicities are slightly supersolar (Z ~ 0.027 +/- 0.002) and do not depend
on redshift. Dust extinction is very low, with a mean of Av ~ 0.08 +/- 0.03
mag. The ETGs show an anti-hierarchical evolution (downsizing) where more
massive galaxies are older. The SFHs can be approximated by a parametric
function of the form SFR(t) \propto \tau^-(c+1) t^(c) exp(-t/\tau), with
typical short e-folding times of \tau ~ 0.6 - 0.8 Gyr (and a dispersion of +/-
0.1 Gyr) and c ~ 0.1 (and a dispersion of +/- 0.05). The inferred SFHs are also
used to place constraints on the properties and evolution of the ETG
progenitors. In particular, the ETGs of our samples should have formed most
stars through a phase of vigorous star formation (SFRs > 350-400 Msun yr^-1) at
z ~ 4 - 5, and are quiescent by z ~ 1.5 -2. Our results represent an attempt to
demonstrate quantitatively the evolutionary link between the most massive ETGs
at z < 0.3 and the properties of suitable progenitors at high redshifts, also
showing that the full-spectrum fitting is a powerful approach to reconstruct
the star formation histories of massive quiescent galaxies.


title: The algebraic locus of Feynman integrals

abstract:
  In the Symmetries of Feynman Integrals (SFI) approach, a diagram's parameter
space is foliated by orbits of a Lie group associated with the diagram. SFI is
related to the important methods of Integrations By Parts and of Differential
Equations. It is shown that sometimes there exist a locus in parameter space
where the set of SFI differential equations degenerates into an algebraic
equation, thereby enabling a solution in terms of integrals associated with
degenerations of the diagram. This is demonstrated by the two-loop vacuum
diagram, where the algebraic locus can be interpreted as a threshold phenomenon
and is given by the zeros of the Baikov polynomial. In addition, the symmetry
group is interpreted geometrically as linear transformations of loop currents
which preserve the subspace of squared currents within the space of quadratics
in loop currents.


title: Models of 750 GeV quarkonium and the LHC excesses

abstract:
  We investigate models involving a vector-like quark X, which forms a 750 GeV
bound state and reproduces the observed diphoton signals at the LHC, in
connection with other excesses in the LHC data. An exotic hypercharge of -4/3
is required to fit the signal cross section, which indicates that there is
additional particle(s) that mediates the decay of X in the full theory. We find
that, introducing an SU(2) doublet vector-like quark of mass around 600 GeV in
our UV-complete framework can accommodate not only the diphoton but also the
on-Z excess (and potentially a slight excess in the monojet events). Our models
also include a dark matter candidate. The most useful way to probe the models
at the LHC is via monojet searches. The relic dark matter density is largely
determined by coannihilation effects, and indirect detection of dark matter
annihilation signals is the alternative and complementary probe of our models.


title:
Chiral Spin Liquid and Quantum Criticality in Extended $S=1/2$
  Heisenberg Models on the Triangular Lattice

abstract:
  We investigate the $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg model on the triangular lattice
with an additional scalar chirality term and show that a chiral spin liquid is
stabilized in a sizeable region of the phase diagram. This topological phase is
situated in between a coplanar $120^\circ$ N\'{e}el ordered and a non-coplanar
tetrahedrally ordered phase. Furthermore we discuss the nature of the
spin-disordered intermediate phase in the $J_1$-$J_2$ model. We compare the
groundstates from Exact Diagonalization with a Dirac spin liquid wavefunction
and propose a scenario where this wavefunction describes the quantum critical
point between the $120^\circ$ magnetically ordered phase and a putative
$\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid.


title: Finite size effect on dynamical entanglement entropy: CFT and holography

abstract:
  Time-dependent entanglement entropy (EE) is computed for a single interval in
two-dimensional conformal theories from a quenched initial state in the
presence of spatial boundaries. The EE is found to be periodic in time with
periodicity equal to the system size $L$. For large enough $L$, the EE shows a
rise to a thermal value (characterized by a temperature $1/\beta$ determined by
the initial state), followed by periodic returns to the original value. This
works irrespective of whether the conformal field theory (CFT) is rational or
irrational. For conformal field theories with a holographic dual, the large $c$
limit plays an essential role in ensuring that the EE computed from the CFT is
universal (independent of the details of the CFT and of boundary conditions)
and is exactly matched by the holographic EE. The dual geometry is computed and
it interpolates between a BTZ black hole at large $L$ and global AdS at large
$\beta$.


title:
An unexpected drop in the magnetic field of the X-ray pulsar V0332+53
  after the bright outburst occurred in 2015

abstract:
  How the accreted mass settling on the surface of a neutron star affects the
topology of the magnetic field and how the secular evolution of the binary
system depends on the magnetic field change is still an open issue. We report
evidence for a clear drop in the observed magnetic field in the accreting
pulsar V0332+53 after undergoing a bright 3-month long X-ray outburst. We
determine the field from the position of the fundamental cyclotron line in its
X-ray spectrum and relate it to the luminosity. For equal levels of luminosity,
in the declining phase we measure a systematically lower value of the cyclotron
line energy with respect to the rising phase. This results in a drop of ~1.7 x
10^11 G of the observed field between the onset and the end of the outburst.
The settling of the accreted plasma onto the polar cap seems to induce a
distortion of the magnetic field lines weakening their intensity along the
accretion columns. Therefore the dissipation rate of the magnetic field could
be much faster than previously estimated, unless the field is able to restore
its original configuration on a time-scale comparable with the outbursts
recurrence time.


title:
BUDHIES III: The fate of HI and the quenching of galaxies in evolving
  environments

abstract:
  In a hierarchical Universe clusters grow via the accretion of galaxies from
the field, groups and even other clusters. As this happens, galaxies can lose
their gas reservoirs via different mechanisms, eventually quenching their
star-formation. We explore the diverse environmental histories of galaxies
through a multi-wavelength study of the combined effect of ram-pressure
stripping and group "processing" in Abell 963, a massive growing cluster at
$z=0.2$ from the Blind Ultra Deep HI Environmental Survey (BUDHIES). We
incorporate hundreds of new optical redshifts (giving a total of 566 cluster
members), as well as Subaru and XMM-Newton data from LoCuSS, to identify
substructures and evaluate galaxy morphology, star-formation activity, and HI
content (via HI deficiencies and stacking) out to $3\times R_{200}$. We find
that Abell 963 is being fed by at least 7 groups, that contribute to the large
number of passive galaxies outside the cluster core. More massive groups have a
higher fraction of passive and HI-poor galaxies, while low-mass groups host
younger (often interacting) galaxies. For cluster galaxies not associated with
groups we corroborate our previous finding that HI gas (if any) is
significantly stripped via ram-pressure during their first passage through the
intra-cluster medium, and find mild evidence for a starburst associated with
this event. In addition, we find an overabundance of morphologically peculiar
and/or star-forming galaxies near the cluster core. We speculate that these
arise as groups pass through the cluster (post-processing). Our study
highlights the importance of environmental quenching and the complexity added
by evolving environments.


title: Spectral Line De-confusion in an Intensity Mapping Survey

abstract:
  Spectral line intensity mapping has been proposed as a promising tool to
efficiently probe the cosmic reionization and the large-scale structure.
Without detecting individual sources, line intensity mapping makes use of all
available photons and measures the integrated light in the source confusion
limit, to efficiently map the three-dimensional matter distribution on large
scales as traced by a given emission line. One particular challenge is the
separation of desired signals from astrophysical continuum foregrounds and line
interlopers. Here we present a technique to extract large-scale structure
information traced by emission lines from different redshifts, embedded in a
three-dimensional intensity mapping data cube. The line redshifts are
distinguished by the anisotropic shape of the power spectra when projected onto
a common coordinate frame. We consider the case where high-redshift [CII] lines
are confused with multiple low-redshift CO rotational lines. We present a
semi-analytic model for [CII] and CO line estimates based on the cosmic
infrared background measurements, and show that with a modest instrumental
noise level and survey geometry, the large-scale [CII] and CO power spectrum
amplitudes can be successfully extracted from a confusion-limited data set,
without external information. We discuss the implications and limits of this
technique for possible line intensity mapping experiments.


title: The EMBLA Survey -- Metal-poor stars in the Galactic bulge

abstract:
  Cosmological models predict the oldest stars in the Galaxy should be found
closest to the centre of the potential well, in the bulge. The EMBLA Survey
successfully searched for these old, metal-poor stars by making use of the
distinctive SkyMapper photometric filters to discover candidate metal-poor
stars in the bulge. Their metal-poor nature was then confirmed using the
AAOmega spectrograph on the AAT. Here we present an abundance analysis of 10
bulge stars with -2.8<[Fe/H]<-1.7 from MIKE/Magellan observations, in total
determining the abundances of 22 elements. Combining these results with our
previous high-resolution data taken as part of the Gaia-ESO Survey, we have
started to put together a picture of the chemical and kinematic nature of the
most metal-poor stars in the bulge. The currently available kinematic data is
consistent with the stars belonging to the bulge, although more accurate
measurements are needed to constrain the stars' orbits. The chemistry of these
bulge stars deviates from that found in halo stars of the same metallicity. Two
notable differences are the absence of carbon-enhanced metal-poor bulge stars,
and the alpha-element abundances exhibit a large intrinsic scatter and include
stars which are underabundant in these typically enhanced elements.


title: Color-octet Companions of a 750 GeV Heavy Pion

abstract:
  Color octet bosons are a universal prediction of models in which the 750 GeV
diphoton resonance corresponds to a pion of a QCD-like composite sector. We
show that the existing searches for dijet and photon plus jet resonances at the
LHC constrain single productions of color octet states and can be translated
into stringent limits on the 750 GeV diphoton rate. For a minimal 5 + 5bar
model, the 750 GeV diphoton signal cross section at the 13 TeV LHC is
constrained to be below around 5 fb. Future LHC searches for the photon plus
jet resonances can establish evidence of a new color-octet state with 20/fb and
validate a pion-like explanation for the 750 GeV resonance.


title: A new method to break the mass sheet degeneracy using aperture moments

abstract:
  Mass determinations from gravitational lensing shear and the higher order
estimator flexion are both subject to the mass sheet degeneracy. Mass sheet
degeneracy refers to a transformation that leaves the reduced shear and flexion
invariant. In general, this transformation can be approximated by the addition
of a constant surface mass density sheet. We propose a new technique to break
the mass sheet degeneracy. The method uses mass moments of the shear or flexion
fields in combination with convergence information derived from number counts
which exploit the magnification bias. The difference between the measured mass
moments provides an estimator for the magnitude of the additive constant that
is the mass-sheet. For demonstrating this, we derive relations that hold true
in general for n-th order moments and show how they can be employed effectively
to break the degeneracy. We investigate the detectability of this degeneracy
parameter from our method and find that the degeneracy parameter can be
feasibly determined from stacked galaxy-galaxy lensing data and cluster lensing
data. Furthermore, we compare the signal-to-noise ratios of convergence
information from number counts with shear and flexion for SIS and NFW models.
We find that the combination of shear and flexion performs best on galaxy and
cluster scales and the convergence information can therefore be used to break
the mass sheet degeneracy without quality loss in the mass reconstruction. In
summary, there is power in the combination of shear, flexion, convergence and
their higher order moments. With the anticipated wealth of lensing data from
upcoming and future satellite missions - EUCLID and WFIRST - this technique
will be feasible.


title: Conserved Charges of Minimal Massive Gravity Coupled to Scalar Field

abstract:
  Recently, the theory of Topologically massive gravity non-minimally coupled
to a scalar field has been proposed which comes from Lorentz-Chern-Simons
theory \cite{1}. That theory is a torsion free one. We extend that theory by
adding an extra term which makes torsion to be non-zero. The extended theory
can be regarded as an extension of Minimal massive gravity such that it is
non-minimally coupled to a scalar field. We obtain equations of motion of
extended theory such that they are expressed in terms of usual torsion free
spin-connection. We show that BTZ spacetime is a solution of this theory when
scalar field is constant. We define quasi-local conserved charge by the concept
of generalized off-shell ADT current which both are conserved for any
asymptotically Killing vector field as well as a Killing vector field which is
admitted by spacetime everywhere. Also we find general formula for entropy of
stationary black hole solution in the context of considered theory. We apply
the obtained formulas on BTZ black hole solution, to calculate energy, angular
momentum and entropy of this soultion. We obtain the central extension term,
the central charges and the eigenvalues of the Virasoro algebra generators for
the BTZ black hole solution. We calculate energy and angular momentum of BTZ
black hole using the eigenvalues of the Virasoro algebra generators. Also we
calculate the entropy of BTZ black hole by using the Cardy formula. We find
that obtained results using two different ways are exactly matched as we
expected.


title:
An SU(6) GUT Origin of the TeV-Scale Vector-like Particles Associated
  with the 750 GeV Diphoton Resonance

abstract:
  We consider the $SU(6)$ GUT model as an explanation for the diphoton final
state excess, where the masses of all associated particles are linked with a
new symmetry breaking scale. In this model, the diphoton final states arise due
to loops involving three pairs of new vector-like particles having the same
quantum numbers as down-type quarks and lepton doublets. These new vector-like
fermions are embedded alongside the SM fermions into minimal anomaly-free
representations of the $SU(6)$ gauge symmetry. The $SU(6)$ symmetry is broken
to the Standard Model times $U(1)_X$ at the GUT scale, and masses for the
vector-like fermions arise at the TeV scale only after the residual $U(1)_X$
symmetry is broken. The vector-like fermions do not acquire masses via breaking
of the SM symmetry at the EW scale. The field which is responsible for the
newly observed resonance belongs to the $\bar{6}_H$ representation. The dark
matter arises from the SM singlet fermion residing in $\bar{6}$ and is of
Majorana type. We explicitly demonstrate gauge coupling unification in this
model, and also discuss the origin of neutrino masses. In addition to the
diphoton final states, we make distinctive predictions for other final states
which are likewise accessible to the ongoing LHC experimental effort.


title:
Continuous dependence estimate for a degenerate parabolic-hyperbolic
  equation with Levy noise

abstract:
  In this article, we are concerned with a multidimensional degenerate
parabolic-hyperbolic equation driven by Levy processes. Using bounded variation
(BV) estimates for vanishing viscosity approximations, we derive an explicit
continuous dependence estimate on the nonlinearities of the entropy solutions
under the assumption that Levy noise depends only on the solution. This result
is used to show the error estimate for the stochastic vanishing viscosity
method. In addition, we establish fractional BV estimate for vanishing
viscosity approximations in case the noise coefficients depend on both the
solution and spatial variable.


title: A finite difference scheme for conservation laws driven by Levy noise

abstract:
  In this paper, we analyze a semi-discrete finite difference scheme for a
conservation laws driven by a homogeneous multiplicative Levy noise. Thanks to
BV estimates, we show a compact sequence of approximate solutions, generated by
the finite difference scheme, converges to the unique entropy solution of the
underlying problem, as the spatial mesh size \Dx-->0. Moreover, we show that
the expected value of the L^1-difference between the approximate solution and
the unique entropy solution converges at a rate O(\sqrt{\Dx}).


title: Loop Corrections to Standard Model Fields in Inflation

abstract:
  We calculate 1-loop corrections to the Schwinger-Keldysh propagators of
Standard-Model-like fields of spin-0, 1/2, and 1, with all renormalizable
interactions during inflation. We pay special attention to the late-time
divergences of loop corrections, and show that the divergences can be resummed
into finite results in the late-time limit using dynamical renormalization
group method. This is our first step toward studying both the standard model
and new physics in the primordial universe.


title:
Galaxy Properties and UV Escape Fractions During Epoch of Reionization:
  Results from the Renaissance Simulations

abstract:
  Cosmic reionization is thought to be primarily fueled by the first
generations of galaxies. We examine their stellar and gaseous properties,
focusing on the star formation rates and the escape of ionizing photons, as a
function of halo mass, redshift, and environment using the full suite of the
{\it Renaissance Simulations} with an eye to provide better inputs to global
reionization simulations. This suite, carried out with the adaptive mesh
refinement code Enzo, is unprecedented in terms of their size and physical
ingredients. The simulations probe overdense, average, and underdense regions
of the universe of several hundred comoving Mpc$^3$, each yielding a sample of
over 3,000 halos in the mass range $10^7 - 10^{9.5}~\Ms$ at their final
redshifts of 15, 12.5, and 8, respectively. In the process, we simulate the
effects of radiative and supernova feedback from 5,000 to 10,000 metal-free
(Population III) stars in each simulation. We find that halos as small as
$10^7~\Ms$ are able to form stars due to metal-line cooling from earlier
enrichment by massive Population III stars. However, we find such halos do not
form stars continuously. Using our large sample, we find that the galaxy-halo
occupation fraction drops from unity at virial masses above $10^{8.5}~\Ms$ to
$\sim$50\% at $10^8 ~\Ms$ and $\sim$10\% at $10^7~\Ms$, quite independent of
redshift and region. Their average ionizing escape fraction is $\sim$5\% in the
mass range $10^8 - 10^9~\Ms$ and increases with decreasing halo mass below this
range, reaching 40--60\% at $10^7~\Ms$. Interestingly, we find that the escape
fraction varies between 10--20\% in halos with virial masses $\sim 3 \times
10^9~\Ms$. Taken together, our results confirm the importance of the smallest
galaxies as sources of ionizing radiation contributing to the reionization of
the universe.


title: 4d N=2 SCFT and singularity theory Part II: Complete intersection

abstract:
  We classify three dimensional isolated weighted homogeneous rational complete
intersection singularities, which define many new four dimensional N=2
superconformal field theories. We also determine the mini-versal deformation of
these singularities, and therefore solve the Coulomb branch spectrum and
Seiberg-Witten solution.


title: Type III Societies (Apparently) Do Not Exist

abstract:
  [Abridged] Whether technological societies remain small and planet-bound like
our own, or ultimately span across galaxies is an open question in the Search
for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Societies that engineer on a galactic scale
are classified as Type III on Kardashev's scale. I argue that Type III
societies can take the form of blackboxes, entire galaxies veiled in an opaque
screen. A blackbox has a temperature that is just above that of the cosmic
microwave background. The screen can be made from artificial dust pervading the
galaxy. I show that there is enough material in galaxies to build blackboxes if
the dust is fashioned into dipole antennas. The thermal emission of a blackbox
makes it a bright microwave source. I examine the Planck Catalog of Compact
Sources to constrain the abundance of blackboxes. None of the 100 GHz sources
has the spectrum expected of a blackbox. The null result rules out shrouded
galaxy clusters out to z ~ 1 and shrouded Milky Ways out to (comoving) 700 Mpc.
The reach of the results includes 3 million galaxies containing an estimated
300 quadrillion terrestrial planets, as well as tens of thousands of galaxy
clusters. Combined with the null results from other searches for Type III
societies, I conclude that they are so rare that they basically do not exist
within the observable Universe. A hypothesis of "Cosmic Pessimism" is
discussed, in which we are alone, our long-term chances for survival are slim,
and if we do survive, our future history will be checkered. Our loneliness is
suggested by the lack of Type III societies. I discuss the remaining forms of
Type III societies not yet well constrained by observation. I argue that the
ease of building blackboxes on planetary and Solar System scales may lead,
within a few centuries, to environmental catastrophes vastly more devastating
than anything we are doing now, boding ill for us.


title: Black holes and gravitational waves in models of minicharged dark matter

abstract:
  In viable models of minicharged dark matter, astrophysical black holes might
be charged under a hidden $U(1)$ symmetry and are formally described by the
same Kerr-Newman solution of Einstein-Maxwell theory. These objects are unique
probes of minicharged dark matter and dark photons. We show that the recent
gravitational-wave detection of a binary black-hole coalescence by aLIGO
provides various observational bounds on the black hole's charge, regardless of
its nature. The pre-merger inspiral phase can be used to constrain the dipolar
emission of (ordinary and dark) photons, whereas the detection of the
quasinormal modes set an upper limit on the final black hole's charge. By using
a toy model of a point charge plunging into a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole, we
also show that in dynamical processes the (hidden) electromagnetic quasinormal
modes of the final object are excited to considerable amplitude in the
gravitational-wave spectrum only when the black hole is nearly extremal. The
coalescence produces a burst of low-frequency dark photons which might provide
a possible electromagnetic counterpart to black-hole mergers in these
scenarios.


title: Approximation and orthogonality in Sobolev spaces on a triangle

abstract:
  Approximation by polynomials on a triangle is studied in the Sobolev space
$W_2^r$ that consists of functions whose derivatives of up to $r$-th order have
bounded $L^2$ norm. The first part aims at understanding the orthogonal
structure in the Sobolev space on the triangle, which requires explicit
construction of an inner product that involves derivatives and its associated
orthogonal polynomials, so that the projection operators of the corresponding
Fourier orthogonal expansion commute with partial derivatives. The second part
establishes the sharp estimate for the error of polynomial approximation in
$W_2^r$, when $r = 1$ and $r=2$, where the polynomials of approximation are the
partial sums of the Fourier expansions in orthogonal polynomials of the Sobolev
space.


title:
Multi-Poisson Approach to the Painlev\'e Equations: from the Isospectral
  Deformation to the Isomonodromic Deformation

abstract:
  A multi-Poisson structure on a Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ provides a
systematic way to construct completely integrable Hamiltonian systems on
$\mathfrak{g}$ expressed in Lax form $\partial X_\lambda /\partial t =
[X_\lambda , A_\lambda ]$ in the sense of the isospectral deformation, where
$X_\lambda , A_\lambda \in \mathfrak{g}$ depend rationally on the indeterminate
$\lambda $ called the spectral parameter. In this paper, a method for modifying
the isospectral deformation equation to the Lax equation $\partial X_\lambda
/\partial t = [X_\lambda , A_\lambda ] + \partial A_\lambda /\partial \lambda $
in the sense of the isomonodromic deformation, which exhibits the Painlev\'e
property, is proposed. This method gives a few new Painlev\'e systems of
dimension four.


title:
General Relativistic Three-Dimensional Multi-Group Neutrino
  Radiation-Hydrodynamics Simulations of Core-Collapse Supernovae

abstract:
  We report on a set of long-term general-relativistic three-dimensional (3D)
multi-group (energy-dependent) neutrino-radiation hydrodynamics simulations of
core-collapse supernovae. We employ a full 3D two-moment scheme with the local
M1 closure, three neutrino species, and 12 energy groups per species. With
this, we follow the post-core-bounce evolution of the core of a nonrotating
$27$-$M_\odot$ progenitor in full unconstrained 3D and in octant symmetry for
$\gtrsim$$ 380\,\mathrm{ms}$. We find the development of an asymmetric runaway
explosion in our unconstrained simulation. We test the resolution dependence of
our results and, in agreement with previous work, find that low resolution
artificially aids explosion and leads to an earlier runaway expansion of the
shock. At low resolution, the octant and full 3D dynamics are qualitatively
very similar, but at high resolution, only the full 3D simulation exhibits the
onset of explosion.


title:
Distributed rotational and translational maneuvering of rigid formations
  and their applications

abstract:
  Recently it has been reported that range-measurement inconsistency, or
equivalently mismatches in prescribed inter-agent distances, may prevent the
popular gradient controllers from guiding rigid formations of mobile agents to
converge to their desired shape, and even worse from standing still at any
location. In this paper, instead of treating mismatches as the source of ill
performance, we take them as design parameters and show that by introducing
such a pair of parameters per distance constraint, distributed controller
achieving simultaneously both formation and motion control can be designed that
not only encompasses the popular gradient control, but more importantly allows
us to achieve constant collective translation, rotation or their combination
while guaranteeing asymptotically no distortion in the formation shape occurs.
Such motion control results are then applied to (a) the alignment of formations
orientations and (b) enclosing and tracking a moving target. Besides rigorous
mathematical proof, experiments using mobile robots are demonstrated to show
the satisfying performances of the proposed formation-motion distributed
controller.


title:
Your Neighbors Are My Spies: Location and other Privacy Concerns in
  Dating Apps

abstract:
  Trilateration has recently become one of the well-known threat models to the
user's location privacy in location-based applications (aka: location-based
services or LBS), especially those containing highly sensitive information such
as dating applications. The threat model mainly depends on the distance shown
from the targeted victim to the adversary to pinpoint the victim's position. As
a countermeasure, most of location-based applications have already implemented
the "hide distance" function to protect their user's location privacy. The
effectiveness of such approaches however is still questionable. Therefore, in
this paper, we first investigate how popular location-based dating applications
are currently protecting their user's privacy by testing the two most popular
GLBT-focused applications: Jack'd and Grindr.


title: Resurgence in $\eta$-deformed Principal Chiral Models

abstract:
  We study the $SU(2)$ Principal Chiral Model (PCM) in the presence of an
integrable $\eta$-deformation. We put the theory on $\mathbb{R}\times S^1$ with
twisted boundary conditions and then reduce the circle to obtain an effective
quantum mechanics associated with the Whittaker-Hill equation. Using resurgent
analysis we study the large order behaviour of perturbation theory and recover
the fracton events responsible for IR renormalons. The fractons are modified
from the standard PCM due to the presence of this $\eta$-deformation but they
are still the constituents of uniton-like solutions in the deformed quantum
field theory. We also find novel $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ saddles, thus strengthening
the conjecture that the semi-classical expansion of the path integral gives
rise to a resurgent transseries once written as a sum over Lefschetz thimbles
living in a complexification of the field space. We conclude by connecting our
quantum mechanics to a massive deformation of the $\mathcal{N}=2~$ $4$-d gauge
theory with gauge group $SU(2)$ and $N_f=2$.


title: Dynamical charge density waves rule the phase diagram of cuprates

abstract:
  In the last few years charge density waves (CDWs) have been ubiquitously
observed in high-temperature superconducting cuprates and are now the most
investigated among the competing orders in the still hot debate on these
systems. A wealth of new experimental data raise several fundamental issues
that challenge the various theoretical proposals. Here, we account for the
complex experimental temperature vs. doping phase diagram and we provide a
coherent scenario explaining why different CDW onset curves are observed by
different experimental probes and seem to extrapolate at zero temperature into
seemingly different quantum critical points (QCPs) in the intermediate and
overdoped region. We also account for the pseudogap and its onset temperature
T*(p) on the basis of dynamically fluctuating CDWs. The nearly singular
anisotropic scattering mediated by these fluctuations also account for the
rapid changes of the Hall number seen in experiments and provides the first
necessary step for a possible Fermi surface reconstruction fully establishing
at lower doping. Finally we show that phase fluctuations of the CDWs, which are
enhanced in the presence of strong correlations near the Mott insulating phase,
naturally account for the disappearance of the CDWs at low doping with yet
another QCP.


title:
Voltammetric Determination of Paraquat Using Graphite Pencil Electrode
  Modified with Doped Polypyrrole

abstract:
  Recognition and determination of paraquat (PQ) using graphite pencil
electrode (GPE) modified with polypyrrole (Ppy) doped with Eriochrome
blue-black B (EBB) is reported. To that end, a thin film of Ppy was deposited
onto the electrode surface by electropolymerization in the presence of a
functional doping ion, EBB. The Ppy/EBB-coated electrode was templated by PQ
ion and then the performance of the molecularly imprinted EBB/Ppy/GPE was
evaluated by voltammetric technique. The prepared electrode exhibited
considerable increase in electroactivity of the sensor toward this herbicide
compared to the non-imprinted electrode. To enhance the detection capability of
the prepared system, the factors controlling its response were investigated and
optimized using differential pulse voltammetry. The proposed analytical
procedure was proved to be applicable in the concentration range of 5 to 50
{\mu}M (R^2 = 0.9939) and detection limit of (3{\sigma}) 0.22 {\mu}M.
Ultimately, the proposed analytical methodology was applied to ascertain
possible interferences and investigate real samples of dam water. Recovery
factors were achieved between the range of 93-104%.


title: Generalized Dirac duality and CP violation in a two photon theory

abstract:
  A kinetic mixing term, which generalizes the duality symmetry of Dirac, is
studied in a theory with two photons (visible and hidden). This theory can be
either CP conserving or CP violating depending on the transformation of fields
in the hidden sector. However if CP is violated, it necessarily occurs in the
hidden sector. This opens up an interesting possibility of new sources of CP
violation.


title:
Numerical algorithms based on Galerkin methods for the modeling of
  reactive interfaces in photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cells

abstract:
  This work concerns the numerical solution of a coupled system of
self-consistent reaction-drift-diffusion-Poisson equations that describes the
macroscopic dynamics of charge transport in photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar
cells with reactive semiconductor and electrolyte interfaces. We present three
numerical algorithms, mainly based on a mixed finite element and a local
discontinuous Galerkin method for spatial discretization, with carefully chosen
numerical fluxes, and implicit-explicit time stepping techniques, for solving
the time-dependent nonlinear systems of partial differential equations. We
perform computational simulations under various model parameters to demonstrate
the performance of the proposed numerical algorithms as well as the impact of
these parameters on the solution to the model.


title: Solvable Lie algebras and graphs

abstract:
  We define a solvable extension of the graph 2-step nilpotent Lie algebras of
[5] by adding elements corresponding to the 3-cliques of the graph. We study
some of their basic properties and we prove that two such Lie algebras are
isomorphic if and only if their graphs are isomorphic. We also briefly discuss
some metric properties, providing examples of homogeneous spaces with
nonpositive curvature operator and solvsolitons.


title: Berry Fermi Liquid Theory

abstract:
  We develop an extension of the Landau Fermi liquid theory to systems of
interacting fermions with non-trivial Berry curvature. We propose a kinetic
equation and a constitutive relation for the electromagnetic current that
together encode the linear response of such systems to external electromagnetic
perturbations, to leading and next-to-leading orders in the expansion over the
frequency and wave number of the perturbations. We analyze the Feynman diagrams
in a large class of interacting quantum field theories and show that, after
summing up all orders in perturbation theory, the current-current correlator
exactly matches with the result obtained from the kinetic theory.


title: The Muon Counter System for the MicroBooNE experiment

abstract:
  The MicroBooNE experiment is a liquid argon TPC experiment designed for
short-baseline neutrino physics, currently running at Fermilab. Due to its
location near the surface, cosmic muons can be a source of backgrounds to many
analyses and having a good understanding of the cosmic rays will be very
valuable for the experiment. These proceedings describe the physics motivation,
setup, and performance of a small external muon counter system, which will
provide improved calibration for the liquid argon TPC and better understanding
of the cosmogenic background.


title:
Non-Gaussian operations on bosonic modes of light: Photon-added Gaussian
  channels

abstract:
  We present a framework for studying bosonic non-Gaussian channels of
continuous-variable systems. Our emphasis is on a class of channels that we
call photon-added Gaussian channels, which are experimentally viable with
current quantum-optical technologies. A strong motivation for considering these
channels is the fact that it is compulsory to go beyond the Gaussian domain for
numerous tasks in continuous-variable quantum information processing such as
entanglement distillation from Gaussian states and universal quantum
computation. The single-mode photon-added channels we consider are obtained by
using two-mode beam splitters and squeezing operators with photon addition
applied to the ancilla ports giving rise to families of non-Gaussian channels.
For each such channel, we derive its operator-sum representation, indispensable
in the present context. We observe that these channels are Fock preserving
(coherence nongenerating). We then report two examples of activation using our
scheme of photon addition, that of quantum-optical nonclassicality at outputs
of channels that would otherwise output only classical states and of both the
quantum and private communication capacities, hinting at far-reaching
applications for quantum-optical communication. Further, we see that noisy
Gaussian channels can be expressed as a convex mixture of these non-Gaussian
channels. We also present other physical and information-theoretic properties
of these channels.


title: The Tensor Track, IV

abstract:
  This note is a sequel to the previous series "Tensor Track I-III". Assuming
some familiarity with the tensor track approach to quantum gravity, we provide
a brief introduction to the developments of the last two years and to their
corresponding bibliography. They center around understanding the interface
between random matrices and random tensors through the intermediate field
representation, finding new types of $1/N$ expansions by enhancing sub-leading
tensor interactions, exploring the renormalization group flows in the tensor
theory space, and developing the constructive aspects of the theory.


title: Search for passing-through-walls neutrons constrains hidden braneworlds

abstract:
  In many theoretical frameworks our visible world is a $3$-brane, embedded in
a multidimensional bulk, possibly coexisting with hidden braneworlds. Some
works have also shown that matter swapping between braneworlds can occur. Here
we report the results of an experiment - at the Institut Laue-Langevin
(Grenoble, France) - designed to detect thermal neutron swapping to and from
another braneworld, thus constraining the probability $p^2$ of such an event.
The limit, $p<4.6\times 10^{-10}$ at $95 \%$ C.L., is $4$ orders of magnitude
better than the previous bound based on the disappearance of stored ultracold
neutrons. In the simplest braneworld scenario, for two parallel Planck-scale
branes separated by a distance $d$, we conclude that $d>87$ in Planck length
units.


title: Lecture Notes on Differential Forms

abstract:
  This is a series of lecture notes, with embedded problems, aimed at students
studying differential topology.
  Many revered texts, such as Spivak's "Calculus on Manifolds" and Guillemin
and Pollack's "Differential Topology" introduce forms by first working through
properties of alternating tensors. Unfortunately, many students get bogged down
with the whole notion of tensors and never get to the punch lines: Stokes'
Theorem, de Rham cohomology, Poincare duality, and the realization of various
topological invariants (e.g. the degree of a map) via forms, none of which
actually require tensors to make sense!
  In these notes, we'll follow a different approach, following the philosophy
of Amy's Ice Cream: Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.
  We're first going to define forms on $\mathbb{R}^n$ via unmotivated formulas,
develop some proficiency with calculation, show that forms behave nicely under
changes of coordinates, and prove Stokes' Theorem. This approach has the
disadvantage that it doesn't develop deep intuition, but the strong advantage
that the key properties of forms emerge quickly and cleanly. Only then, in
Chapter 3, will we go back and show that tensors with certain (anti)symmetry
properties have the exact same properties as the formal objects that we studied
in Chapters 1 and 2. This allows us to re-interpret all of our old results from
a more modern perspective, and move onwards to using forms to do topology.


title: Constructions of Self-Dual and Formally Self-Dual Codes from Group Rings

abstract:
  We give constructions of self-dual and formally self-dual codes from group
rings where the ring is a finite commutative Frobenius ring. We improve the
existing construction given in \cite{Hurley1} by showing that one of the
conditions given in the theorem is unnecessary and moreover it restricts the
number of self-dual codes obtained by the construction. We show that several of
the standard constructions of self-dual codes are found within our general
framework. We prove that our constructed codes correspond to ideals in the
group ring $RG$ and as such must have an automorphism group that contains $G$
as a subgroup. We also prove that a common construction technique for producing
self-dual codes cannot produce the putative $[72,36,16]$ Type~II code.
Additionally, we show precisely which groups can be used to construct the
extremal Type II codes over length 24 and 48.


title:
Supplement: Localization and broadband follow-up of the
  gravitational-wave transient GW150914

abstract:
  This Supplement provides supporting material for arXiv:1602.08492 . We
briefly summarize past electromagnetic (EM) follow-up efforts as well as the
organization and policy of the current EM follow-up program. We compare the
four probability sky maps produced for the gravitational-wave transient
GW150914, and provide additional details of the EM follow-up observations that
were performed in the different bands.


title: The Multiplicative ideal theory of Leavitt Path Algebras

abstract:
  It is shown that every Leavitt path algebra L of an arbitrary directed graph
E over a field K is an arithmetical ring, that is, the two-sided ideals of L
form a distributive lattice. It is also shown that L is a multiplication ring,
that is, given any two ideals A,B in L with A inside B, there is always an
ideal C such that A = BC, an indication of a possible rich multiplicative ideal
theory for L. Existence and uniqueness of factorization of the ideals of L as
products of special types of ideals such as prime, irreducible or primary
ideals is investigated. It turns out that the irreducible ideals of L are
precisely the primary ideals of L. It is shown that an ideal I of L is a
product of finitely many prime ideals if and only the graded part gr(I) of I is
a product of prime ideals and I/gr(I) is finitely generated with a generating
set of cardinality no more than the number of distinct prime ideals in the
prime factorization of gr(I). As an application, it is shown that if E is a
finite graph, then every ideal of L is a product of prime ideals. The same
conclusion holds if L is two-sided artinian or two-sided noetherian.


title: Learning by tracking: Siamese CNN for robust target association

abstract:
  This paper introduces a novel approach to the task of data association within
the context of pedestrian tracking, by introducing a two-stage learning scheme
to match pairs of detections. First, a Siamese convolutional neural network
(CNN) is trained to learn descriptors encoding local spatio-temporal structures
between the two input image patches, aggregating pixel values and optical flow
information. Second, a set of contextual features derived from the position and
size of the compared input patches are combined with the CNN output by means of
a gradient boosting classifier to generate the final matching probability. This
learning approach is validated by using a linear programming based multi-person
tracker showing that even a simple and efficient tracker may outperform much
more complex models when fed with our learned matching probabilities. Results
on publicly available sequences show that our method meets state-of-the-art
standards in multiple people tracking.


title:
Spectral threshold dominance, Brouwer's conjecture and maximality of
  Laplacian energy

abstract:
  The Laplacian energy of a graph is the sum of the distances of the
eigenvalues of the Laplacian matrix of the graph to the graph's average degree.
The maximum Laplacian energy over all graphs on $n$ nodes and $m$ edges is
conjectured to be attained for threshold graphs. We prove the conjecture to
hold for graphs with the property that for each $k$ there is a threshold graph
on the same number of nodes and edges whose sum of the $k$ largest Laplacian
eigenvalues exceeds that of the $k$ largest Laplacian eigenvalues of the graph.
We call such graphs spectrally threshold dominated. These graphs include split
graphs and cographs and spectral threshold dominance is preserved by disjoint
unions and taking complements. We conjecture that all graphs are spectrally
threshold dominated. This conjecture turns out to be equivalent to Brouwer's
conjecture concerning a bound on the sum of the $k$ largest Laplacian
eigenvalues.


title: Shielding and localization in presence of long range hopping

abstract:
  We investigate a paradigmatic model for quantum transport with both
nearest-neighbor and infinite range hopping coupling (independent of the
position). Due to long range homogeneous hopping, a gap between the ground
state and the excited states can be induced, which is mathematically equivalent
to the superconducting gap. In the gapped regime, the dynamics within the
excited states subspace is shielded from long range hopping, namely it occurs
as if long range hopping would be absent. This is a cooperative phenomenon
since shielding is effective over a time scale which diverges with the system
size. We named this effect {\it Cooperative Shielding}. We also discuss the
consequences of our findings on Anderson localization. Long range hopping is
usually thought to destroy localization due to the fact that it induces an
infinite number of resonances. Contrary to this common lore we show that the
excited states display strong localized features when shielding is effective
even in the regime of strong long range coupling. A brief discussion on the
extension of our results to generic power-law decaying long range hopping is
also given. Our preliminary results confirms that the effects found for the
infinite range case are generic.


title:
Unpolarized Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Distribution and
  Fragmentation Functions at next-to-next-to-leading order

abstract:
  The transverse momentum dependent parton distribution/fragmentation functions
(TMDs) are essential in the factorization of a number of processes like
Drell-Yan scattering, vector boson production, semi-inclusive deep inelastic
scattering, etc. We provide a comprehensive study of unpolarized TMDs at
next-to-next-to-leading order, which includes an explicit calculation of these
TMDs and an extraction of their matching coefficients onto their integrated
analogues, for all flavor combinations. The obtained matching coefficients are
important for any kind of phenomenology involving TMDs. In the present study
each individual TMD is calculated without any reference to a specific process.
We recover the known results for parton distribution functions and provide new
results for the fragmentation functions. The results for the gluon transverse
momentum dependent fragmentation functions are presented for the first time at
one and two loops. We also discuss the structure of singularities of TMD
operators and TMD matrix elements, crossing relations between TMD parton
distribution functions and TMD fragmentation functions, and renormalization
group equations. In addition, we consider the behavior of the matching
coefficients at threshold and make a conjecture on their structure to all
orders in perturbation theory.


title: Brownian Motion on Spaces with Varying Dimension

abstract:
  In this paper we introduce and study Brownian motion on state spaces with
varying dimension. Starting with a concrete case of such state spaces that
models a big square with a flag pole, we construct a Brownian motion on it and
study how heat propagates on such a space. We derive sharp two-sided global
estimates on its transition density functions (also called heat kernel). These
two-sided estimates are of Gaussian type, but the measure on the underlying
state space does not satisfy volume doubling property. Parabolic Harnack
inequality fails for such a process. Nevertheless, we show Holder regularity
holds for its parabolic functions. We also derive the Green function estimates
for this process on bounded smooth domains. Brownian motion on some other state
spaces with varying dimension are also constructed and studied in this paper.


title:
Cosmology from large scale galaxy clustering and galaxy-galaxy lensing
  with Dark Energy Survey Science Verification data

abstract:
  We present cosmological constraints from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) using a
combined analysis of angular clustering of red galaxies and their
cross-correlation with weak gravitational lensing of background galaxies. We
use a 139 square degree contiguous patch of DES data from the Science
Verification (SV) period of observations. Using large scale measurements, we
constrain the matter density of the Universe as Omega_m = 0.31 +/- 0.09 and the
clustering amplitude of the matter power spectrum as sigma_8 = 0.74 +/- 0.13
after marginalizing over seven nuisance parameters and three additional
cosmological parameters. This translates into S_8 = sigma_8(Omega_m/0.3)^{0.16}
= 0.74 +/- 0.12 for our fiducial lens redshift bin at 0.35 <z< 0.5, while S_8 =
0.78 +/- 0.09 using two bins over the range 0.2 <z< 0.5. We study the
robustness of the results under changes in the data vectors, modelling and
systematics treatment, including photometric redshift and shear calibration
uncertainties, and find consistency in the derived cosmological parameters. We
show that our results are consistent with previous cosmological analyses from
DES and other data sets and conclude with a joint analysis of DES angular
clustering and galaxy-galaxy lensing with Planck CMB data, Baryon Accoustic
Oscillations and Supernova type Ia measurements.


title:
Are Face and Object Recognition Independent? A Neurocomputational
  Modeling Exploration

abstract:
  Are face and object recognition abilities independent? Although it is
commonly believed that they are, Gauthier et al.(2014) recently showed that
these abilities become more correlated as experience with nonface categories
increases. They argued that there is a single underlying visual ability, v,
that is expressed in performance with both face and nonface categories as
experience grows. Using the Cambridge Face Memory Test and the Vanderbilt
Expertise Test, they showed that the shared variance between Cambridge Face
Memory Test and Vanderbilt Expertise Test performance increases monotonically
as experience increases. Here, we address why a shared resource across
different visual domains does not lead to competition and to an inverse
correlation in abilities? We explain this conundrum using our
neurocomputational model of face and object processing (The Model, TM). Our
results show that, as in the behavioral data, the correlation between
subordinate level face and object recognition accuracy increases as experience
grows. We suggest that different domains do not compete for resources because
the relevant features are shared between faces and objects. The essential power
of experience is to generate a "spreading transform" for faces that generalizes
to objects that must be individuated. Interestingly, when the task of the
network is basic level categorization, no increase in the correlation between
domains is observed. Hence, our model predicts that it is the type of
experience that matters and that the source of the correlation is in the
fusiform face area, rather than in cortical areas that subserve basic level
categorization. This result is consistent with our previous modeling
elucidating why the FFA is recruited for novel domains of expertise (Tong et
al., 2008).


title: 25 MeV Solar Proton Events in Cycle 24 and Previous Cycles

abstract:
  We summarize observations of around a thousand solar energetic particle (SEP)
events since 1967 that include ~25 MeV protons, made by various near-Earth
spacecraft (IMPs 4, 5, 7, 8, ISEE 3, SOHO), that encompass Solar Cycle 20 to
the current cycle (24). We also discuss recent observations of similar SEP
events in Cycle 24 made by the STEREO spacecraft. The observations show, for
example, that the time distribution of ~25 MeV proton events varies from cycle
to cycle. In particular, the time evolution of the SEP occurrence rate in Cycle
24 is strongly asymmetric between the northern and southern solar hemispheres,
and tracks the sunspot number in each hemisphere, whereas Cycle 23 was more
symmetric. There was also an absence of 25 MeV proton events during the solar
minimum preceding Cycle 24 (other minima show occasional, often reasonably
intense events). So far, events comparable to the exceptionally intense events
detected in Cycles 22 and 23 have not been observed at Earth in Cycle 24,
though Cycle 21 (the largest of the cycles considered here) also apparently
lacked such events. We note a correlation between the rates of intense 25 MeV
proton events and "ground level enhancements" (GLEs) observed by neutron
monitors, since 1967, and conclude that the number of "official" GLEs observed
to date in Cycle 24 appears to be significantly lower than expected (5 to
7+/-1) based on the rate of intense 25 MeV proton events in this cycle.


title:
Locally Causal and Deterministic Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics:
  Parallel Lives and Cosmic Inflation

abstract:
  Several locally deterministic interpretations of quantum mechanics are
presented and reviewed. The fundamental differences between these
interpretations are made transparent by explicitly showing what information is
carried locally by each physical system in an idealized experimental test of
Bell's theorem. This also shows how each of these models can be locally causal
and deterministic. First, a model is presented which avoids Bell's arguments
through the assumption that space-time inflated from an initial singularity,
which encapsulates the entire past light cone of every event in the universe.
From this assumption, it is shown how quantum mechanics can produce locally
consistent reality by choosing one of many possible futures at the time of the
singularity. Secondly, we review and expand the Parallel Lives interpretation
of Brassard and Raymond-Robichaud, which maintains local causality and
determinism by abandoning the strictest notion of realism. Finally, the two
ideas are combined, resulting in a parallel lives model in which lives branch
apart earlier, under the assumption of a single unified interaction history.
The physical content of weak values within each model is discussed, along with
related philosophical issues concerning free will.


title: The Szlenk index of injective tensor products and convex hulls

abstract:
  Given any Banach space $X$ and any weak*-compact subset $K$ of $X^*$, we
compute the Szlenk index of the weak*-closed, convex hull of $K$ as a function
of the Szlenk index of $K$. Also as an application, we compute the Szlenk index
of any injective tensor product of two operators. In particular, we compute the
Szlenk index of an injective tensor product $\tens$ in terms of $Sz(X)$ and
$Sz(Y)$. As another application, we give a complete characterization of those
ordinals which occur as the Szlenk index of a Banach space, as well as those
ordinals which occur as the Bourgain $\ell_1$ or $c_0$ index of a Banach space.


title: Explaining the Prevalence, Scaling and Variance of Urban Phenomena

abstract:
  The prevalence of many urban phenomena changes systematically with population
size. We propose a theory that unifies models of economic complexity and
cultural evolution to derive urban scaling. The theory accounts for the
difference in scaling exponents and average prevalence across phenomena, as
well as the difference in the variance within phenomena across cities of
similar size. The central ideas are that a number of necessary complementary
factors must be simultaneously present for a phenomenon to occur, and that the
diversity of factors is logarithmically related to population size. The model
reveals that phenomena that require more factors will be less prevalent, scale
more superlinearly and show larger variance across cities of similar size. The
theory applies to data on education, employment, innovation, disease and crime,
and it entails the ability to predict the prevalence of a phenomenon across
cities, given information about the prevalence in a single city.

categories: physics.soc-ph cond-mat.stat-mech math.PR nlin.AO physics.data-an


title: Cutting Algebraic Curves into Pseudo-segments and Applications

abstract:
  We show that a set of $n$ algebraic plane curves of constant maximum degree
can be cut into $O(n^{3/2}\operatorname{polylog} n)$ Jordan arcs, so that each
pair of arcs intersect at most once, i.e., they form a collection of
pseudo-segments. This extends a similar (and slightly better) bound for
pseudo-circles due to Marcus and Tardos. Our result is based on a technique of
Ellenberg, Solymosi and Zahl that transforms arrangements of plane curves into
arrangements of space curves, so that lenses (pairs of subarcs of the curves
that intersect at least twice) become vertical depth cycles. We then apply a
variant of a technique of Aronov and Sharir to eliminate these depth cycles by
making a small number of cuts, which corresponds to a small number of cuts to
the original planar arrangement of curves. After these cuts have been
performed, the resulting curves form a collection of pseudo-segments.
  Our cutting bound leads to new incidence bounds between points and
constant-degree algebraic curves. The conditions for these incidence bounds are
slightly stricter than those for the current best-known bound of Pach and
Sharir; for our result to hold, the curves must be algebraic and of bounded
maximum degree, while Pach and Sharir's bound only imposes weaker, purely
topological constraints on the curves. However, when our conditions hold, the
new bounds are superior for almost all ranges of parameters. We also obtain new
bounds on the complexity of a single level in an arrangement of constant-degree
algebraic curves, and a new bound on the complexity of many marked faces in an
arrangement of such curves.


title:
Evaluating the effect of topic consideration in identifying communities
  of rating-based social networks

abstract:
  Finding meaningful communities in social network has attracted the attentions
of many researchers. The community structure of complex networks reveals both
their organization and hidden relations among their constituents. Most of the
researches in the field of community detection mainly focus on the topological
structure of the network without performing any content analysis. Nowadays,
real world social networks are containing a vast range of information including
shared objects, comments, following information, etc. In recent years, a number
of researches have proposed approaches which consider both the contents that
are interchanged in the networks and the topological structures of the networks
in order to find more meaningful communities. In this research, the effect of
topic analysis in finding more meaningful communities in social networking
sites in which the users express their feelings toward different objects (like
movies) by the means of rating is demonstrated by performing extensive
experiments.


title:
Euler elastica as a $\Gamma$-Limit of discrete bending energies of
  one-dimensional chains of atoms

abstract:
  This work is motivated by discrete-to-continuum modeling of the mechanics of
a graphene sheet, which is a single-atom thick macromolecule of carbon atoms
covalently bonded to form a hexagonal lattice. The strong covalent bonding
makes the sheet essentially inextensible and gives the sheet a resistance to
bending. We study a one-dimensional atomistic model that describes the
cross-section of a graphene sheet as a collection of rigid links connected by
torsional springs. $\Gamma$-convergence is used to rigorously justify an
upscaling procedure for the discrete bending energy of the atomistic model. Our
result establishes that as the bond length in the atomistic model goes to 0,
the bending energies $\Gamma$-converge to Euler's elastica.


title:
Generalized Navier Boundary Condition for a Volume Of Fluid approach
  using a Finite-Volume method

abstract:
  In this work, an analytical Volume Of Fluid (VOF) implementation of the
Generalized Navier Boundary Condition is presented based on the Brackbill
surface tension model. The model is validated by simulations of droplets on a
smooth surface in a planar geometry. Looking at the static behavior of the
droplets, it is found that there is a good match between the droplet shape
resolved in the simulations and the theoretically predicted shape for various
values of the Young's angle. Evaluating the spreading of a droplet on a
completely wetting surface, the Voinov-Tanner-Cox law ($\theta \propto
\text{Ca}^{1/3}$) can be observed. At later times scaling follows $r \propto
t^{1/2}$, suggesting spreading is limited by inertia. These observations are
made without any fitting parameters except the slip length.


title:
High-Level System Design of IEEE 802.11b Standard-Compliant Link Layer
  for MATLAB-Based SDR

abstract:
  Software defined radio (SDR) allows unprecedented levels of flexibility by
transitioning the radio communication system from a rigid hardware platform to
a more user-controlled software paradigm. However, it can still be time
consuming to design and implement such SDRs as they typically require thorough
knowledge of the operating environment and a careful tuning of the program. In
this work, our contribution is the design of a bidirectional transceiver that
runs on the commonly used USRP platform and implemented in MATLAB using
standard tools like MATLAB Coder and MEX to speed up the processing steps. We
outline strategies on how to create a state-action based design, wherein the
same node switches between transmitter and receiver functions. Our design
allows optimal selection of the parameters towards meeting the timing
requirements set forth by various processing blocks associated with a DBPSK
physical layer and CSMA/CA/ACK MAC layer so that all operations remain
functionally compliant with the IEEE 802.11b standard for the 1 Mbps
specification. The code base of the system is enabled through the
Communications System Toolbox and incorporates channel sensing and exponential
random back-off for contention resolution. The current work provides an
experimental testbed that enables creation of new MAC protocols starting from
the fundamental IEEE 802.11b standard. Our design approach guarantees
consistent performance of the bi-directional link, and the three node
experimental results demonstrate the robustness of the system in mitigating
packet collisions and enforcing fairness among nodes, making it a feasible
framework in higher layer protocol design.


title: Do massive neutron stars end as invisible dark energy objects?

abstract:
  Astronomical observations reveal a gap in the mass spectrum of relativistic
objects: neither black holes nor neutron stars having masses in the range of 2
- 5$\,\MSun$ have ever been observed. Based on the solution of the TOV equation
modified to include a universal scalar field $\cal{H},$ we argue that all
moderate and massive neutron stars should end invisible dark energy objects
(DEOs). Triggered by the $\cal{H}-$baryonic matter interaction, a phase
transition from normal compressible nuclear matter into an incompressible
quark-superfluid is shown to occur at roughly $3$ times the nuclear density. At
the transition front, the scalar field is set to inject energy at the maximum
possible rate via a non-local interaction potential $V_\phi = a_0 r^2 + b_0.$
This energy creates a global confining bag, inside which a sea of freely moving
quarks is formed in line with the asymptotic freedom of quantum chromodynamics.
The transition front, $r_f,$ creeps from inside-to-outside to reach the surface
of the object on the scale of Gyrs or even shorter, depending on its initial
compactness. Having $r_f$ reached $R_\star,$ then the total injected dark
energy via $V_\phi $ turns NSs into invisible DEOs. While this may provide an
explanation for the absence of stellar BHs with $M_{BH}\leq 5 \MSun$ and NSs
with $M_{NS}\geq 2 \MSun$, it also suggests that DEOs might have hidden
connection to dark matter and dark energy in cosmology.


title:
Observation of Attractive and Repulsive Polarons in a Bose-Einstein
  Condensate

abstract:
  The problem of an impurity particle moving through a bosonic medium plays a
fundamental role in physics. However, the canonical scenario of a mobile
impurity immersed in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) has not yet been
realized. Here, we use radio frequency spectroscopy of ultracold bosonic
$^{39}$K atoms to experimentally demonstrate the existence of a well-defined
quasiparticle state of an impurity interacting with a BEC. We measure the
energy of the impurity both for attractive and repulsive interactions, and find
excellent agreement with theories that incorporate three-body correlations,
both in the weak-coupling limits and across unitarity. The spectral response
consists of a well-defined quasiparticle peak at weak coupling, while for
increasing interaction strength, the spectrum is strongly broadened and becomes
dominated by the many-body continuum of excited states. Crucially, no
significant effects of three-body decay are observed. Our results open up
exciting prospects for studying mobile impurities in a bosonic environment and
strongly interacting Bose systems in general.


title: Spatial Birth-Death Wireless Networks

abstract:
  We propose and study a novel continuous space-time model for wireless
networks which takes into account the stochastic interactions in both space
through interference and in time due to randomness in traffic. Our model
consists of an interacting particle birth-death dynamics incorporating
information-theoretic spectrum sharing. Roughly speaking, particles (or more
generally wireless links) arrive according to a Poisson Point Process on
space-time, and stay for a duration governed by the local configuration of
points present and then exit the network after completion of a file transfer.
We analyze this particle dynamics to derive an explicit condition for time
ergodicity (i.e. stability) which is tight. We also prove that when the
dynamics is ergodic, the steady-state point process of links (or particles)
exhibits a form statistical clustering. Based on the clustering, we propose a
conjecture which we leverage to derive approximations, bounds and asymptotics
on performance characteristics such as delay and mean number of links per
unit-space in the stationary regime. The mathematical analysis is combined with
discrete event simulation to study the performance of this type of networks.


title: Intrinsic spin orbit torque in a single domain nanomagnet

abstract:
  We present theoretical studies of the intrinsic spin orbit torque (SOT) in a
single domain ferromagnetic layer with Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC) using
the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism for a model Hamiltonian. We find
that, to the first order in SOC, the intrinsic SOT has only the field-like
torque symmetry and can be interpreted as the longitudinal spin current induced
by the charge current and Rashba field. We analyze the results in terms of the
material related parameters of the electronic structure, such as band filling,
band width, exchange splitting, as well as the Rashba SOC strength. On the
basis of these numerical and analytical results, we discuss the magnitude and
sign of SOT. Our results show that the different sign of SOT in identical
ferromagnetic layers with different supporting layers, e.g. Co/Pt and Co/Ta,
could be attributed to electrostatic doping of the ferromagnetic layer by the
support.


title:
High efficiency near diffraction-limited mid-infrared flat lenses based
  on metasurface reflectarrays

abstract:
  A limiting factor in the development of mid-infrared optics is the lack of
abundant materials that are transparent, low cost, lightweight, and easy to
machine. In this paper, we demonstrate a metasurface device that circumvents
these limitations. A flat lens based on antenna reflectarrays was designed to
achieve near diffraction-limited focusing with a high efficiency (experiment:
80%, simulation: 83%) at 45(o) incidence angle at {\lambda} = 4.6 {\mu}m. This
geometry considerably simplifies the experimental arrangement compared to the
common geometry of normal incidence which requires beam splitters. Simulations
show that the effect of comatic aberrations is small compared to parabolic
mirrors. The use of single-step photolithography allows large scale
fabrication.


title:
Active microrheology of Chaetopterus mucus determines three intrinsic
  lengthscales that govern material properties

abstract:
  We characterize the scale-dependent rheological properties of mucus from the
Chaetopterus marine worm and determine the intrinsic lengthscales controlling
distinct rheological and structural regimes. Mucus produced by this ubiquitous
filter feeder serves a host of roles including filtration, protection and
trapping nutrients. The ease of clean mucus extraction coupled with
similarities to human mucus rheology also make Chaetopterus mucus a potential
model system for elucidating human mucus mechanics. We use optically trapped
microsphere probes of 2-10 microns, to induce oscillatory strains and measure
mucus stress response. We show that viscoelastic properties are highly
dependent on the strain scale (l) with three distinct regimes emerging:
microscale: l_1<4 microns, mesoscale: l_2~4-10 microns, and macroscale: l_3>10
microns. While mucus response is similar to water for l_1 indicating that
probes rarely contact the mucus mesh, for l_2 the response is distinctly more
viscous and independent of probe size, demonstrating that the mucus behaves as
a continuum. However, this principally viscous mesoscale response is distinct
from the largely elastic macroscopic mucus response. Only for l_3 does the
response mimic macroscopic elasticity, with rigid constraints strongly
resisting microsphere displacement. Our results demonstrate that a uniform mesh
model for mucus with a single lengthscale modulating the crossover from
water-like to elastic is too simplistic. Rather, the mucus responds as a
hierarchical network with a loose microscopic mesh controlling mechanics for
l_2, coupled with a mesoscale rigid scaffold responsible for the macroscopic
gel-like mechanics beyond l_3. Our results shed important new light onto the
design of drug delivery platforms, preventing pathogen penetration, and
improving filtration, coating and clearance capabilities of mucus.


title:
A-infinity algebras associated with elliptic curves and
  Eisenstein-Kronecker series

abstract:
  We compute the A-infinity structure on the self-Ext algebra of the vector
bundle $G$ over an elliptic curve of the form $G=\bigoplus_{i=1}^r P_i\oplus
\bigoplus_{j=1}^s L_j$, where $(P_i)$ and $(L_j)$ are line bundles of degrees 0
and 1, respectively. The answer is given in terms of Eisenstein-Kronecker
numbers $(e^*_{a,b}(z,w))$. The A-infinity constraints lead to quadratic
polynomial identities between these numbers, allowing to express them in terms
of few ones. Another byproduct of the calculation is the new representation for
$e^*_{a,b}(z,w)$ by rapidly converging series.


title: A first order Tsallis theory

abstract:
  We investigate first-order approximations to both i) Tsallis' entropy $S_q$
and ii) the $S_q$-MaxEnt solution (called q-exponential functions $e_q$). It is
shown that the functions arising from the procedure ii) are the MaxEnt
solutions to the entropy emerging from i). The present treatment is free of the
poles that, for classic quadratic Hamiltonians, appear in Tsallis' approach, as
demonstrated in [Europhysics Letters {\bf 104}, (2013), 60003]. Additionally,
we show that our treatment is compatible with extant date on the ozone layer.


title:
Understanding Video-Ad Consumption on YouTube: A Measurement Study on
  User Behavior, Popularity, and Content Properties

abstract:
  Faced with the challenge of attracting user attention and revenue, social
media websites have turned to video advertisements (video-ads). While in
traditional media the video-ad market is mostly based on an interaction between
content providers and marketers, the use of video-ads in social media has
enabled a more complex interaction, that also includes content creator and
viewer preferences. To better understand this novel setting, we present the
first data-driven analysis of video-ad exhibitions on YouTube.


title: Optimal state transfer of a single dissipative two-level system

abstract:
  Optimal state transfer of a single two-level system (TLS) coupled to an Ohmic
boson bath via off-diagonal TLS-bath coupling is studied by using optimal
control theory. In the weak system-bath coupling regime where the
time-dependent Bloch-Redfield formalism is applicable, we obtain the Bloch
equation to probe the evolution of the dissipative TLS in the presence of a
time-dependent external control field. By using the automatic differentiation
technique to compute the gradient for the cost functional, we calculate the
optimal transfer integral profile that can achieve an ideal transfer within a
dimer system in the FennaMatthews-Olson (FMO) model. The robustness of the
control profile against temperature variation is also analyzed.


title: A note on balance equations for doubly periodic minimal surfaces

abstract:
  Most known examples of doubly periodic minimal surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^3$
with parallel ends limit as a foliation of $\mathbb{R}^3$ by horizontal noded
planes, with the location of the nodes satisfying a set of balance equations.
Conversely, for each set of points providing a balanced configuration, there is
a corresponding three-parameter family of doubly periodic minimal surfaces. In
this note we derive a differential equation that is equivalent to the balance
equations for doubly periodic minimal surfaces. This allows for the generation
of many more solutions to the balance equations, enabling the construction of
increasingly complicated surfaces.


title: Highly Efficient Computation of Generalized Inverse of a Matrix

abstract:
  We propose a hyperpower iteration for numerical computation of the outer
generalized inverse of a matrix which achieves the 18th order of convergence by
using only seven matrix multiplication per iteration loop. This is the record
high efficiency for that computational task. The algorithm has a relatively
mild numerical instability, and we stabilize it at the price of adding one
extra matrix multiplication per iteration loop. This imlplies an efficiency
index that significantly exceeds the known record for numerically stable
iterations for this task. Our numerical tests cover a variety of examples such
as Drazin case, rectangular case, and preconditioning of linear systems. The
test results are in good accordance with our formal study and indicate that our
algorithms can be of interest for the user.


title:
Systematic U(1)_{B-L} Extensions of Loop-Induced Neutrino Mass Models
  with Dark Matter

abstract:
  We study the gauged U(1)_{B-L} extensions of the models for neutrino masses
and dark matter. In this class of models, tiny neutrino masses are radiatively
induced through the loop diagrams, while the origin of the dark matter
stability is guaranteed by the remnant of the gauge symmetry. Depending on how
the lepton number is violated in the neutrino mass diagrams, these models are
systematically classified. We present a complete list for the one-loop Z_2 and
the two-loop Z_3 neutrino mass models as examples of the classification. These
underlying gauge symmetries and its breaking patterns can be probed at future
high energy colliders by looking at the width of the new gauge boson.


title:
Fault-tolerance of balanced hypercubes with faulty vertices and faulty
  edges

abstract:
  Let $F_{v}$ (resp. $F_e$) be the set of faulty vertices (resp. faulty edges)
in the $n$-dimensional balanced hypercube $BH_n$. Fault-tolerant Hamiltonian
laceability in $BH_n$ with at most $2n-2$ faulty edges is obtained in [Inform.
Sci. 300 (2015) 20--27]. The existence of edge-Hamiltonian cycles in $BH_n-F_e$
for $|F_e|\leq 2n-2$ are gotten in [Appl. Math. Comput. 244 (2014) 447--456].
Up to now, almost all results about fault-tolerance in $BH_n$ with only faulty
vertices or only faulty edges. In this paper, we consider fault-tolerant cycle
embedding of $BH_n$ with both faulty vertices and faulty edges, and prove that
there exists a fault-free cycle of length $2^{2n}-2|F_v|$ in $BH_n$ with
$|F_v|+|F_e|\leq 2n-2$ and $|F_v|\leq n-1$ for $n\geq 2$. Since $BH_n$ is a
bipartite graph with two partite sets of equal size, the cycle of a length
$2^{2n}-2|F_v|$ is the longest in the worst-case.


title: Hierarchical majorana neutrinos from democratic mass matrices

abstract:
  In this paper, we obtain the light neutrino masses and mixings consistent
with the experiments, in the democratic texture approach. The essential ansatz
is that $\nu_{Ri}$ are assumed to transform as "right-handed fields" $\bf 2_{R}
+ 1_{R}$ under the $S_{3L} \times S_{3R}$ symmetry. The symmetry breaking terms
are assumed to be diagonal and hierarchical. This setup only allows the normal
hierarchy of the neutrino mass, and excludes both of inverted hierarchical and
degenerated neutrinos.
  Although the neutrino sector has nine free parameters, several predictions
are obtained at the leading order. When we neglect the smallest parameters
$\zeta_{\nu}$ and $\zeta_{R}$, all components of the mixing matrix $U_{\rm
PMNS}$ are expressed by the masses of light neutrinos and charged leptons. From
the consistency between predicted and observed $U_{\rm PMNS}$, we obtain the
lightest neutrino masses $m_{1}$ = (1.1 $\to$ 1.4) meV, and the effective mass
for the double beta decay $\vev{m_{ee}} \simeq$ 4.5 meV.


title: Some aspects of (r,k)-parking functions

abstract:
  An \emph{$(r,k)$-parking function} of length $n$ may be defined as a sequence
$(a_1,\dots,a_n)$ of positive integers whose increasing rearrangement
$b_1\leq\cdots\leq b_n$ satisfies $b_i\leq k+(i-1)r$. The case $r=k=1$
corresponds to ordinary parking functions. We develop numerous properties of
$(r,k)$-parking functions. In particular, if $F_n^{(r,k)}$ denotes the
Frobenius characteristic of the action of the symmetric group $\mathfrak{S}_n$
on the set of all $(r,k)$-parking functions of length $n$, then we find a
combinatorial interpretation of the coefficients of the power series $\left(
\sum_{n\geq 0}F_n^{(r,1)}t^n\right)^k$ for any $k\in \mathbb{Z}$. When $k>0$,
this power series is just $\sum_{n\geq 0} F_n^{(r,k)} t^n$; when $k<0$, we
obtain a dual to $(r,k)$-parking functions. We also give a $q$-analogue of this
result. For fixed $r$, we can use the symmetric functions $F_n^{(r,1)}$ to
define a multiplicative basis for the ring $\Lambda$ of symmetric functions. We
investigate some of the properties of this basis.


title:
A Hierarchal Planning Framework for AUV Mission Management in a
  Spatio-Temporal Varying Ocean

abstract:
  The purpose of this paper is to provide a hierarchical dynamic mission
planning framework for a single autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to
accomplish task-assign process in a limited time interval while operating in an
uncertain undersea environment, where spatio-temporal variability of the
operating field is taken into account. To this end, a high level reactive
mission planner and a low level motion planning system are constructed. The
high level system is responsible for task priority assignment and guiding the
vehicle toward a target of interest considering on-time termination of the
mission. The lower layer is in charge of generating optimal trajectories based
on sequence of tasks and dynamicity of operating terrain. The mission planner
is able to reactively re-arrange the tasks based on mission/terrain updates
while the low level planner is capable of coping unexpected changes of the
terrain by correcting the old path and re-generating a new trajectory. As a
result, the vehicle is able to undertake the maximum number of tasks with
certain degree of maneuverability having situational awareness of the operating
field. The computational engine of the mentioned framework is based on the
biogeography based optimization (BBO) algorithm that is capable of providing
efficient solutions. To evaluate the performance of the proposed framework,
firstly, a realistic model of undersea environment is provided based on
realistic map data, and then several scenarios, treated as real experiments,
are designed through the simulation study. Additionally, to show the robustness
and reliability of the framework, Monte-Carlo simulation is carried out and
statistical analysis is performed. The results of simulations indicate the
significant potential of the two-level hierarchical mission planning system in
mission success and its applicability for real-time implementation.


title: Gravitational Waves in Bouncing Cosmologies from Gauge Field Production

abstract:
  We calculate the gravitational waves (GW) spectrum produced in various Early
Universe scenarios from gauge field sources, thus generalizing earlier
inflationary calculations to bouncing cosmologies. We consider generic
couplings between the gauge fields and the scalar field dominating the energy
density of the Universe. We analyze the requirements needed to avoid a
backreaction that will spoil the background evolution. When the scalar is
coupled only to $F \tilde F$ term, the sourced GW spectrum is exponentially
enhanced and parametrically the square of the vacuum fluctuations spectrum,
${\cal P}^s_T\sim ({\cal P}^v_T)^2$, giving an even bluer spectrum than the
standard vacuum one. When the scalar field is also coupled to $F^2$ term, the
amplitude is still exponentially enhanced, but the spectrum can be arbitrarily
close to scale invariant (still slightly blue), $n_T\gtrsim 0$, that is
distinguishable form the slightly red inflationary one. Hence, we have a proof
of concept of observable GW on CMB scales in a bouncing cosmology.


title:
Global well-posedness of high dimensional Maxwell-Dirac for small
  critical data

abstract:
  In this paper, we prove global well-posedness of the massless Maxwell-Dirac
equation in Coulomb gauge on $\mathbb{R}^{1+d}$ $(d \geq 4)$ for data with
small scale-critical Sobolev norm, as well as modified scattering of the
solutions. Main components of our proof are A) uncovering null structure of
Maxwell-Dirac in the Coulomb gauge, and B) proving solvability of the
underlying covariant Dirac equation. A key step for achieving both is to
exploit (and justify) a deep analogy between Maxwell-Dirac and
Maxwell-Klein-Gordon (for which an analogous result was proved earlier by
Krieger-Sterbenz-Tataru), which says that the most difficult part of
Maxwell-Dirac takes essentially the same form as Maxwell-Klein-Gordon.


title: Chaotic Diffusion in the Gliese-876 Planetary System

abstract:
  Chaotic diffusion is supposed to be responsible for orbital instabilities in
planetary systems after the dissipation of the protoplanetary disk, and a
natural consequence of irregular motion. In this paper we show that resonant
multi-planetary systems, despite being highly chaotic, not necessarily exhibit
significant diffusion in phase space, and may still survive virtually unchanged
over timescales comparable to their age.Using the GJ-876 system as an example,
we analyze the chaotic diffusion of the outermost (and less massive) planet. We
construct a set of stability maps in the surrounding regions of the Laplace
resonance. We numerically integrate ensembles of close initial conditions,
compute Poincar\'e maps and estimate the chaotic diffusion present in this
system. Our results show that, the Laplace resonance contains two different
regions: an inner domain characterized by low chaoticity and slow diffusion,
and an outer one displaying larger values of dynamical indicators. In the outer
resonant domain, the stochastic borders of the Laplace resonance seem to
prevent the complete destruction of the system. We characterize the diffusion
for small ensembles along the parameters of the outermost planet. Finally, we
perform a stability analysis of the inherent chaotic, albeit stable Laplace
resonance, by linking the behavior of the resonant variables of the
configurations to the different sub-structures inside the three-body resonance.