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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Anomaly In Conformal Quantum Mechanics: From Molecular Physics To Black Holes, Horacio E. Camblong Dec 2003

Anomaly In Conformal Quantum Mechanics: From Molecular Physics To Black Holes, Horacio E. Camblong

Physics and Astronomy

A number of physical systems exhibit a particular form of asymptotic conformal invariance: within a particular domain of distances, they are characterized by a long-range conformal interaction (inverse square potential), the apparent absence of dimensional scales, and an SO(2,1) symmetry algebra. Examples from molecular physics to black holes are provided and discussed within a unified treatment. When such systems are physically realized in the appropriate strong-coupling regime, the occurrence of quantum symmetry breaking is possible. This anomaly is revealed by the failure of the symmetry generators to close the algebra in a manner shown to be independent of the renormalization …


So(2,1) Conformal Anomaly: Beyond Contact Interactions, Horacio E. Camblong Jul 2003

So(2,1) Conformal Anomaly: Beyond Contact Interactions, Horacio E. Camblong

Physics and Astronomy

The existence of anomalous symmetry-breaking solutions of the SO(2,1) commutator algebra is explicitly extended beyond the case of scale-invariant contact interactions. In particular, the failure of the conservation laws of the dilation and special conformal charges is displayed for the two-dimensional inverse square potential. As a consequence, this anomaly appears to be a generic feature of conformal quantum mechanics and not merely an artifact of contact interactions. Moreover, a renormalization procedure traces the emergence of this conformal anomaly to the ultraviolet sector of the theory, within which lies the apparent singularity.


Anomalous Commutator Algebra For Conformal Quantum Mechanics, Horacio E. Camblong Feb 2003

Anomalous Commutator Algebra For Conformal Quantum Mechanics, Horacio E. Camblong

Physics and Astronomy

The structure of the commutator algebra for conformal quantum mechanics is considered. Specifically, it is shown that the emergence of a dimensional scale by renormalization implies the existence of an anomaly or quantum-mechanical symmetry breaking, which is explicitly displayed at the level of the generators of the SO(2,1) conformal group. Correspondingly, the associated breakdown of the conservation of the dilation and special conformal charges is derived.


The Ionizing Efficiency Of The First Stars, Aparna Venkatesan, James W. Truran Jan 2003

The Ionizing Efficiency Of The First Stars, Aparna Venkatesan, James W. Truran

Physics and Astronomy

We investigate whether a single population of first stars could have influenced both the metal enrichment and reionization of the high-redshift intergalactic medium (IGM), by calculating the generated ionizing radiation per unit metal yield as a function of the metallicity of stellar populations. We examine the relation between the ionizing radiation and carbon created by the first stars, since the evidence for the widespread enrichment of the IGM at redshifts z about 3-4 comes from the detection of C IV absorption. We find that the number of ionizing photons per baryon generated in association with the detected IGM metallicity may …


Feedback From The First Supernovae In Protogalaxies: The Fate Of The Generated Metals, Keiichi Wada, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2003

Feedback From The First Supernovae In Protogalaxies: The Fate Of The Generated Metals, Keiichi Wada, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

We investigate the chemo-dynamical effects of multiple supernova explosions in the central region of primordial galaxies using three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the inhomogenous interstellar medium down to parsec-scales. We find that the final protogalactic structure and metal distribution depend strongly on the number of SNe. Specifically, 1) 1000 SNe after an instantaneous burst of star formation are sufficient to almost completely blow away the gas in these systems, whereas 2) 100 SN explosions trigger the collapse of the protogalactic cloud, leading to the formation of a cold, dense clumpy disk (n > 300 cm^-3) with metallicity, Z = 4 10^-4 Z_sun. …


Cosmological Effects Of The First Stars: Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2003

Cosmological Effects Of The First Stars: Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

The first stars hold intrinsic interest for their uniqueness and for their potentially important contributions to galaxy formation, chemical enrichment, and feedback on the intergalactic medium (IGM). Although the sources of cosmological reionization are unknown at present, the declining population of large bright quasars at redshifts z > 3 implies that stars are the leading candidates for the sources that reionized the hydrogen in the IGM by z ~ 6. The metal-free composition of the first stars restricts the stellar energy source to proton-proton burning rather than the more efficient CNO cycle. Consequently, they are hotter, smaller, and have harder spectra …


Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii Stars: Consequences For Cosmological Reionization, Aparna Venkatesan, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull Jan 2003

Evolving Spectra Of Population Iii Stars: Consequences For Cosmological Reionization, Aparna Venkatesan, Jason Tumlinson, J Shull

Physics and Astronomy

We examine the significance of the first metal-free stars (Population III) for the cosmological reionization of H I and He II. These stars have unusually hard spectra, with the integrated ionizing photon rates from a Population III stellar cluster for H I and He II being 1.6 and 105 times stronger, respectively, than those from a Population II cluster. For the currently favored cosmology, we find that Population III stars alone can reionize H I at redshifts of z 9 and 4.7 and He II at z 5.1 and 0.7 for continuous and instantaneous modes of star formation, respectively. …


Material Optimization Of Er3+Y2sio5 At 1.5 Μm For Optical Processing, Memory, And Laser Frequency Stabilization Applications, Thomas Böttger, Y Sun, C W. Thiel, R L. Cone Jan 2003

Material Optimization Of Er3+Y2sio5 At 1.5 Μm For Optical Processing, Memory, And Laser Frequency Stabilization Applications, Thomas Böttger, Y Sun, C W. Thiel, R L. Cone

Physics and Astronomy

Spatial-spectral holography using spectral hole burning materials is a powerful technique for performing real-time, wide-bandwidth information storage and signal processing. For operation in the important 1.5 μm communication band, the material Er3+:Y2SiO5 enables applications such as laser frequency stabilization, all-optical correlators, analog signal processing, and data storage. Site-selective absorption and emission spectroscopy identified spectral hole burning transitions and excited state T1 lifetimes in the 1.5 μm spectral region. The effects of crystal temperature, Er3+-dopant concentration, magnetic field strength, and crystal orientation on spectral diffusion were explored using stimulated photon echo spectroscopy, which is the “prototype” interaction mechanism for device applications. …