Physics Commons^™

Is The Pamela Positron Excess Winos?, Scott Watson, Phill Grajek, Gordon L. Kane, Daniel J. Phalen, Aaron Pierce

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Recently the PAMELA satellite-based experiment reported an excess of galactic positrons that could be a signal of annihilating dark matter. The PAMELA data may admit an interpretation as a signal from a wino-like LSP of mass about 200 GeV, normalized to the local relic density, and annihilating mainly into W-bosons. This possibility requires the current conventional estimate for the energy loss rate of positrons be too large by roughly a factor of five. Data from anti-protons and gamma rays also provide tension with this interpretation, but there are significant astrophysical uncertainties associated with their propagation. It is not unreasonable to …

Lattice Super-Yang-Mills Using Domain Wall Fermions In The Chiral Limit, Simon Catterall, Joel Giedt, Richard Brower, George T. Fleming, Pavlos Vranas

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Lattice N=1 super-Yang-Mills theory formulated using Ginsparg-Wilson fermions provides a rigorous non-perturbative definition of the continuum theory that requires no fine-tuning as the lattice spacing is reduced to zero. Domain wall fermions are one explicit scheme for achieving this and using them we have performed large-scale Monte Carlo simulations of the theory for gauge group SU(2). We have measured the gaugino condensate, static potential, Creutz ratios and residual mass for several values of the domain wall separation L_s, four-dimensional lattice volume, and two values of the gauge coupling. With this data we are able to extrapolate the gaugino condensate to …

Molecular Hydrogen Formation On Low Temperature Surfaces In Temperature Programmed Desorption Experiments, Gianfranco Vidali, Ling Li, J. Roser, E. Congiu

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The study of the formation of molecular hydrogen on low temperature surfaces is of interest both because it allows to explore elementary steps in the heterogeneous catalysis of a simple molecule and because of the applications in astrochemistry. Here we report results of experiments of molecular hydrogen formation on amorphous silicate surfaces using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). In these experiments beams of H and D atoms are irradiated on the surface of an amorphous silicate sample. The desorption rate of HD molecules is monitored using a mass spectrometer during a subsequent TPD run. The results are analyzed using rate equations and …

Phase Diagram Of Su(2) With 2 Flavors Of Dynamical Adjoint Quarks, Simon Catterall, Joel Giedt, Francesco Sannino, Joe Schneible

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We report on numerical simulations of SU(2) lattice gauge theory with two flavors of light dynamical quarks in the adjoint of the gauge group. The dynamics of this theory is thought to be very different from QCD -- the theory exhibiting conformal or near conformal behavior in the infrared. We make a high resolution survey of the phase diagram of this model in the plane of the bare coupling and quark mass on lattices of size 8^3 \times 16. Our simulations reveal a line of first order phase transitions extending from beta=0 to beta=beta_c \sim 2.0. For beta > beta_c the …

Exploration Of A Physical Picture For The Qcd Scalar Channel, Joseph Schechter, Amir H. Fariborz, Renata Jora

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A generalized linear sigma model is employed to study the quark structure of low lying scalar as well as pseudoscalar states. The model allows the possible mixing of quark anti-quark states with others made of two quarks and two antiquarks but no a priori assumption is made about the quark contents of the predicted physical states. Effects of SU(3) symmetry breaking are included. The lighter conventional pseudoscalars turn out to be primarily of two quark type whereas the lighter scalars have very large four quark admixtures.

Neutralino Dark Matter From Indirect Detection Revisited, Scott Watson, Phill Grajek, Gordon Kane, Daniel J. Phalen, Aaron Pierce

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We revisit indirect detection possibilities for neutralino dark matter, emphasizing the complementary roles of different approaches. While thermally produced dark matter often requires large astrophysical "boost factors" to observe antimatter signals, the physically motivated alternative of non-thermal dark matter can naturally provide interesting signals, for example from light wino or Higgsino dark matter. After a brief review of cosmic ray propagation, we discuss signals for positrons, antiprotons, synchrotron radiation and gamma rays from wino annihilation in the galactic halo, and examine their phenomenology. For pure wino dark matter relevant to the LHC, PAMELA and GLAST should report signals.

Picovoltmeter For Probing Vortex Dynamics In A Single Weak-Pinning Corbino Channel, Britton Plourde, T. W. Heitmann, Kang Yu, C. Song, M. P. Defeo

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We have developed a picovoltmeter using a Nb dc Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) for measuring the flux-flow voltage from a small number of vortices moving through a submicron weak-pinning superconducting channel. We have applied this picovoltmeter to measure the vortex response in a single channel arranged in a circle on a Corbino disk geometry. The circular channel allows the vortices to follow closed orbits without encountering any sample edges, thus eliminating the influence of entry barriers.

Quantum Nondemolition-Like, Fast Measurement Scheme For A Superconducting Qubit, Britton Plourde, I. Serban, F. K. Wilhelm

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We present a measurement protocol for a flux qubit coupled to a dc-Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID), representative of any two-state system with a controllable coupling to an harmonic oscillator quadrature, which consists of two steps. First, the qubit state is imprinted onto the SQUID via a very short and strong interaction. We show that at the end of this step the qubit dephases completely, although the perturbation of the measured qubit observable during this step is weak. In the second step, information about the qubit is extracted by measuring the SQUID. This step can have arbitrarily long duration, since …

Gluinos Condensing At The Ccni: 4096 Cpus Weigh In, Simon Catterall, Joel Giedt, Richard Brower, George T. Fleming, Pavlos Vranas

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We report preliminary results of lattice super-Yang-Mills computations using domain wall fermions, performed at an actual rate of 1000 Gflop/s, over the course of six months, using two BlueGene/L racks at Rensselaer's CCNI supercomputing center. This has allowed us to compute the gluino condensate and string tension over a wide range of lattice parameters, setting the stage for continuum, chiral extrapolations.

Elastic Theory Of Defects In Toroidal Crystals, Mark Bowick, Luca Giomi

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We report a comprehensive analysis of the ground state properties of axisymmetric toroidal crystals based on the elastic theory of defects on curved substrates. The ground state is analyzed as a function of the aspect ratio of the torus, which provides a non-local measure of the underlying Gaussian curvature, and the ratio of the defect core-energy to the Young modulus. Several structural features are discussed,including a spectacular example of curvature-driven amorphization in the limit of the aspect ratio approaching one. The outcome of the elastic theory is then compared with the results of a numerical study of a system of …

Mechanical Response Of Active Gels, Tanniemola B. Liverpool, M. Cristina Marchetti, J-F. Joanny, J. Prost

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We study a model of an active gel of cross-linked semiflexible filaments with additional active linkers such as myosin II clusters. We show that the coupling of the elasticity of the semiflexible filaments to the mechanical properties of the motors leads to contractile behavior of the gel, in qualitative agreement with experimental observations. The motors, however, soften the zero frequency elastic constant of the gel. When the collective motor dynamics is incorporated in the model, a stiffening of the network at high frequencies is obtained. The frequency controlling the crossover between low and high frequency network elasticity is estimated in …

Bayesian Limits On Primordial Isotropy Breaking, Christian Armendariz-Picon, Larne Pekowsky

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It is often assumed that primordial perturbations are statistically isotropic, which implies, among other properties, that their power spectrum is invariant under rotations. In this article, we test this assumption by placing model-independent bounds on deviations from rotational invariance of the primordial spectrum. Using five-year WMAP cosmic microwave anisotropy maps, we set limits on the overall norm and the amplitude of individual components of the primordial spectrum quadrupole. We find that there is no significant evidence for primordial isotropy breaking, and that an eventually non-vanishing quadrupole has to be subdominant.

Dark Matter And Lhc: What Is The Connection?, Scott Watson, Gordon Kane

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We review what can (and cannot) be learned if dark matter is detected in one or more experiments, emphasizing the importance of combining LHC data with direct, astrophysical and cosmological probes of dark matter. We briefly review the conventional picture of a thermally produced WIMP relic density and its connection with theories of electroweak symmetry breaking. We then discuss both experimental and theoretical reasons why one might generically expect this picture to fail. If this is the case, we argue that a combined effort bringing together all types of data -- combined with explicitly constructed theoretical models -- will be …

Enhanced Diffusion And Ordering Of Self-Propelled Rods, Aparna Baskaran, M. Cristina Marchetti

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Starting from a minimal physical model of self propelled hard rods on a substrate in two dimensions, we derive a modified Smoluchowski equation for the system. Self -propulsion enhances longitudinal diffusion and modifies the mean field excluded volume interaction. From the Smoluchowski equation we obtain hydrodynamic equations for rod concentration, polarization and nematic order parameter. New results at large scales are a lowering of the density of the isotropic-nematic transition and a strong enhancement of boundary effects in confined self-propelled systems.

Topological Defects In Spherical Nematics, Mark Bowick, Homin Shin, Xiangjun Xing

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We study the organization of topological defects in a system of nematogens confined to the two-dimensional sphere (S^2). We first perform Monte Carlo simulations of a fluid system of hard rods (spherocylinders) living in the tangent plane of S^2. The sphere is adiabatically compressed until we reach a jammed nematic state with maximum packing density. The nematic state exhibits four +1/2 disclinations arrayed on a great circle rather than at the vertices of a regular tetrahedron. This arises from the high elastic anisotropy of the system in which splay (K_1) is far softer than bending (K_3). We also introduce and …

Vacancy Diffusion In The Triangular Lattice Dimer Model, Mark Bowick, Monwhea Jeng, Werner Krauth, Jennifer Schwarz, Xiangjun Xing

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We study vacancy diffusion on the classical triangular lattice dimer model, sub ject to the kinetic constraint that dimers can only translate, but not rotate. A single vacancy, i.e. a monomer, in an otherwise fully packed lattice, is always localized in a tree-like structure. The distribution of tree sizes is asymptotically exponential and has an average of 8.16 \pm 0.01 sites. A connected pair of monomers has a finite probability of being delocalized. When delocalized, the diffusion of monomers is anomalous:

Lattice Actions For Yang-Mills Quantum Mechanics With Exact Supersymmetry, Simon Catterall, Anosh Joseph

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We derive lattice actions for Yang-Mills quantum mechanics for models with \cQ=4, 8 and 16 supercharges which possess an exact supersymmetry at non-zero lattice spacing. These are obtained by dimensional reduction of twisted versions of the corresponding super Yang-Mills theories in D=2, 3 and 4 dimensions.

Complex Spontaneous Flows And Concentration Banding In Active Polar Films, Luca Giomi, M. Cristina Marchetti, Tanniemola B. Liverpool

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We study the dynamical properties of active polar liquid crystalline films. Like active nematic films, active polar films undergo a dynamical transitions to spontaneously flowing steady-states. Spontaneous flow in polar fluids is, however, always accompanied by strong concentration inhomogeneities or "banding" not seen in nematics. In addition, a spectacular property unique to polar active films is their ability to generate spontaneously oscillating and banded flows even at low activity. The oscillatory flows become increasingly complicated for strong polarity.

Inflation Without Inflaton(S), Scott Watson, Malcolm J. Perry, Gordon L. Kane, Fred C. Adams

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We propose a model for early universe cosmology without the need for fundamental scalar fields. Cosmic acceleration and phenomenologically viable reheating of the universe results from a series of energy transitions, where during each transition vacuum energy is converted to thermal radiation. We show that this `cascading universe' can lead to successful generation of adiabatic density fluctuations and an observable gravity wave spectrum in some cases, where in the simplest case it reproduces a spectrum similar to slow-roll models of inflation. We also find the model provides a reasonable reheating temperature after inflation ends. This type of model may also …

Simple Two Higgs Doublet Model, Joseph Schechter, Renata Jora, Sherif Moussa, Salah Nasri, M. Naeem Shahid

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We study a simple two Higgs doublet model which reflects, in a phenomenological way, the idea of compositeness for the Higgs sector. It is relatively predictive. In one scenario, it allows for a "hidden" usual Higgs particle in the 100 GeV region and a possible dark matter candidate.

Where Does Cosmological Perturbation Theory Break Down?, Christian Armendariz-Picon, Michele Fontanini, Riccardo Penco, Mark Trodden

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We apply the effective field theory approach to the coupled metric-inflaton system, in order to investigate the impact of higher dimension operators on the spectrum of scalar and tensor perturbations in the short-wavelength regime. In both cases, effective corrections at tree-level become important when the Hubble parameter is of the order of the Planck mass, or when the physical wave number of a cosmological perturbation mode approaches the square of the Planck mass divided by the Hubble constant. Thus, the cut-off length below which conventional cosmological perturbation theory does not apply is likely to be much smaller than the Planck …

Non-Thermal Dark Matter And The Moduli Problem In String Frameworks, Scott Watson, Bobby Samir Acharya, Piyush Kumar, Konstantin Bobkov

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We address the cosmological moduli/gravitino problems and the issue of too little thermal but excessive non-thermal dark matter from the decays of moduli. The main examples we study are the G2-MSSM models arising from M theory compactifications, which allow for a precise calculation of moduli decay rates and widths. We find that the late decaying moduli satisfy both BBN constraints and avoid the gravitino problem. The non-thermal production of wino LSPs, which is a prediction of G2-MSSM models, gives a relic density of about the right order of magnitude.

The Yale Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber, Mitchell Soderberg, Alessandro Curioni, Bonnie T. Fleming

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In this paper we give a thorough description of a liquid argon time projection chamber designed, built and operated at Yale. We present results from a calibration run where cosmic rays have been observed in the detector, a first in the US.

Black Hole Thermodynamics From Simulations Of Lattice Yang-Mills Theory, Simon Catterall, Toby Wiseman

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We report on lattice simulations of 16 supercharge SU(N) Yang-Mills quantum mechanics in the 't Hooft limit. Maldacena duality conjectures that in this limit the theory is dual to IIA string theory, and in particular that the behavior of the thermal theory at low temperature is equivalent to that of certain black holes in IIA supergravity. Our simulations probe the low temperature regime for N.

Su(5) Grand Unification On A Domain-Wall Brane From An E_6-Invariant Action, Aharon Davidson, Damien P. George, Archil Kobakhidze, Raymond R. Volkas, Kameshwar C. Wali

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An SU(5) grand unification scheme for effective 3+1-dimensional fields dynamically localised on a domain-wall brane is constructed. This is achieved through the confluence of the clash-of-symmetries mechanism for symmetry breaking through domain-wall formation, and the Dvali-Shifman gauge-boson localisation idea. It requires an E_6 gauge-invariant action, yielding a domain-wall solution that has E_6 broken to differently embedded SO(10) x U(1) subgroups in the two bulk regions on opposite sides of the wall. On the wall itself, the unbroken symmetry is the intersection of the two bulk subgroups, and contains SU(5). A 4+1-dimensional fermion family in the 27 of E_6 gives rise …

Statistics Of Static Avalanches In A Random Pinning Landscape, Alan Middleton, Pierre Le Doussal, Kay Jorg Wiese

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We study the minimum-energy configuration of a d-dimensional elastic interface in a random potential tied to a harmonic spring. As a function of the spring position, the center of mass of the interface changes in discrete jumps, also called shocks or "static avalanches''. We obtain analytically the distribution of avalanche sizes and its cumulants within an epsilon=4-d expansion from a tree and 1-loop resummation, using functional renormalization. This is compared with exact numerical minimizations of interface energies for random field disorder in d=2,3. Connections to the Burgers equation and to dynamic avalanches are discussed.

Plasticity In Current-Driven Vortex Lattices, Panayotis Benetatos, M. Cristina Marchetti

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We present a theoretical analysis of recent experiments on current-driven vortex dynamics in the Corbino disk geometry. This geometry introduces controlled spatial gradients in the driving force and allows the study of the onset of plasticity and tearing in clean vortex lattices. We describe plastic slip in terms of the stress-driven unbinding of dislocation pairs, which in turn contribute to the relaxation of the shear, yielding a nonlinear response. The steady state density of free dislocations induced by the applied stress is calculated as a function of the applied current and temperature. A criterion for the onset of plasticity at …

Hydrodynamics Of Isotropic And Liquid Crystalline Active Polymer Solutions, Aphrodite Ahmadi, M. Cristina Marchetti, Tanniemola B. Liverpool

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We describe the large-scale collective behavior of solutions of polar biofilaments and both stationary and mobile crosslinkers. Both mobile and stationary crosslinkers induce filament alignment promoting either polar or nematic order. In addition, mobile crosslinkers, such as clusters of motor proteins, exchange forces and torques among the filaments and render the homogeneous states unstable via filament bundling. We start from a Smoluchowski equation for rigid filaments in solutions, where pairwise crosslink-mediated interactions among the filaments yield translational and rotational currents. The large-scale properties of the system are described in terms of continuum equations for filament and motor densities, polarization and …

Poisson-Bracket Approach To The Dynamics Of Bent-Core Molecules, William Kung, M. Cristina Marchetti

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We generalize our previous work on the phase stability and hydrodynamic of polar liquid crystals possessing local uniaxial

C1v-symmetry to biaxial systems exhibiting local C2v -symmetry. Our work is motivated by the recently discovered examples of thermotropic biaxial nematic liquid crystals comprising bent-core mesogens, whose molecular structure is characterized by a non-polar body axis (n) as well as a polar axis (p) along the bisector of the bent mesogenic core which is coincident with a large, transverse dipole moment. The free energy for this system differs from that of biaxial nematic liquid crystals in that it contains terms violating the …

Mode-Locking In Driven Disordered Systems As A Boundary-Value Problem, William Kung, M. Cristina Marchetti

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We study mode-locking in disordered media as a boundary-value problem. Focusing on the simplest class of mode-locking models which consists of a single driven overdamped degree-of-freedom, we develop an analytical method to obtain the shape of the Arnol'd tongues in the regime of low ac-driving amplitude or high ac-driving frequency. The method is exact for a scalloped pinning potential and easily adapted to other pinning potentials. It is complementary to the analysis based on the well-known Shapiro's argument that holds in the perturbative regime of large driving amplitudes or low driving frequency, where the effect of pinning is weak.