Entropy of planar random surfaces on the lattice

We study planar random surfaces on a hypercubic lattice in two and three dimensions by Monte Carlo techniques. Our data are consistent with the formula n₀(A;C) A^b₀A, where n₀(A;C) is the number of planar random surfaces with area A and boundary C. We find b₀ = −1.4 ± 0.2, = 5.31 ± 0.03 (for d = 2) and b₀ = −1.5 ± 0.2, = 7.13 ± 0.05 (for d = 3). The values of b₀ disagree with those obtained from the Polyakov string model.     

Monte Carlo optimisation of correlated wave functions for normal two-electron systems

A simple, new type of correlated wave function is proposed for the studies of normal two-electron atomic systems: ψ(r₁, r₂) = Σc_mΦ_m(r₁, r₂) with Φ_m(r₁, r₂) = exp[−(r₁ + r₂)]/(br₁₂ + a)^m, where , a, b are non-linear variational parameters. A notable feature of this basis function is that only three terms are required within the framework of the Raleigh-Ritz variational principle to obtain fairly accurate energy eigenvalues and satisfactory cusp conditions. The non-linear variational parameters are optimised by using the Monte Carlo technique.     

A generalized Vlasov equation

A two-special dimension electronic system characterized by a plasma parameter Γ 1 is analyzed; then, by using a rigorous non-equilibrium statistical mechanical theory, the evolution of distribution function is considered. A generalized Vlasov equation (GVE) is derived. Compared to the usual Vlasov equation, GVE presents an additional velocity-dependent correlation term. Taking as a starting point the GVE, the phenomenological approximation to two-particles function, ƒ₂(r₁r₂p₁p₂; t) = ƒ₁(r₁p₁;t)f₁(r₂p₂;t)g(r₁−r₂), proposed by Singwi, Tosi, Landi and Sjolander is analyzed.     

Projective and affine connections on S and integrable systems

It is known that the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation is a geodesic flow of an L² metric on the Bott–Virasoro group. This can also be interpreted as a flow on the space of projective connections on S¹. The space of differential operators Δ⁽ⁿ⁾=∂ⁿ+u₂∂ⁿ⁻²++u_n form the space of extended or generalized projective connections. If a projective connection is factorizable Δ⁽ⁿ⁾=(∂−((n+1)/2−1)p₁)(∂+(n−1)/2p_n) with respect to quasi primary fields p_i’s, then these fields satisfy ∑_i=1ⁿ((n+1)/2−i)p_i=0. In this paper we discuss the factorization of projective connection in terms of affine connections. It is shown that the Burgers equation and derivative non-linear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation or the Kaup–Newell equation is the Euler–Arnold flow on the space of affine connections.     

Current-induced step bunching at vicinal surfaces during crystal sublimation

The limits of the applicability of the generalized BCF model of electromigration-affected sublimation are discussed in detail. Only in surface-diffusion limited sublimation are the steps boundaries, effectively separating the transport processes at neighbouring terraces. In the opposite case of high surface mobility and slow exchange between the 2D gas of mobile adatoms and the crystal, many atoms simply cross the steps, spending some time in an intermediate state of adsorption at the step edge, but never becoming “crystal atoms”. In this regime of sublimation the steps are no longer boundaries. Therefore, one cannot analyze diffusion and desorption on one separate terrace (as in the generalized BCF model) since the coupling between the adatom concentration fields on neighbouring terraces cannot be neglected. A relevant model for this regime of electromigration-affected sublimation is proposed in this paper. This model manifests step buching at the step-up direction of the adatom electromigration. The central result of the mathematical treatment is the formula (x₂−x₁)^{n + 2}=(4kT/F) l^{n + 1}₀, relating the interstep distance x₂−x₁ in a stable pair of steps with the electromigration inducing force F. Here n and l₀ determine the form and the magnitude of the step-step interaction. The formula obtained for x₂−x₁ provides a gound to evaluate n and l₀ from a set of experimental data on sublimation by combined DC and radiative heating.     

Superparamagnetic iron oxide particles and positive enhancement for myocardial perfusion studies assessed by subsecond T1-weighted MRI

Superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIOs) are usually referred to as T₂ MR contrast agents, reducing signal intensity (SI) on T₂-weighted MR images (negative enhancement). This study reports the original use of SPIOs as T₁-enhancing contrast agents, primarily assessed in vitro, and then applied to an in vivo investigation of a myocardial perfusion defect. Using a strongly T₁-weighted subsecond MR sequence with SPIOs intravenous (IV) bolus injection, MR imaging of myocardial vascularization after reperfusion was performed, on a dog model of coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion. Immediately after the intravenous bolus injection of 20 μmol/kg of SPIOs, a positive signal intensity enhancement was observed respectively, in the right and left ventricular cavity and in the nonischemic left myocardium. Moreover, compared to normal myocardium, the remaining ischemic myocardial region (anterior wall of the left ventricle) appeared as a lower and delayed SI enhancing area (cold spot). Mean peak SIE in the nonischemic myocardium (posterior wall) was significantly higher than in the ischemic myocardium (anterior wall) (110 ± 23% vs. 74 ± 22%, Mann-Whitney test < 1%, n₁ = 6, n₂ − n₁ = 0, U > 2). In conclusion, the T₁ effect of SPIOs at low dose, during their first intravascular distribution, suggests their potential use as positive markers to investigate the regional myocardial blood flow and some perfusion defects such as the “no-reflow phenomenon”.     

Generalized Einstein manifolds

A Finslerian manifold is called a generalized Einstein manifold (GEM) if the Ricci directional curvature R(u,u) is independent of the direction. Let F⁰(M, g_t) be a deformation of a compact n-dimensional Finslerian manifold preserving the volume of the unitary fibre bundle W(M). We prove that the critical points g₀ F⁰(g_t) of the integral I(g_t) on W(M) of the Finslerian scalar curvature (and certain functions of the scalar curvature) define a GEM. We give an estimate of the eigenvalues of Laplacian Δ defined on W(M) operating on the functions coming from the base when (M, g) is of minima fibration with a constant scalar curvature H admitting a conformal infinitesimal deformation (CID). We obtain λ ≥ H/(n − 1) (Δf = λf). If M is simply connected and λ = H/(n − 1), then (M, g) is Riemannian and is isometric to an n-sphere. We first calculate, in the general case, the formula of the second variationals of the integral I (g_t) for G = g₀, then for a CID we show that for certain Finslerian manifolds, I″(g₀) > 0. Applications to the gravitation and electromagnetism in general relativity are given. We prove that the spaces characterizing Einstein-Maxwell equations are GEMs.     

A new upper bound formula for the ground state energies of N-boson systems

The energy E_N of an N-body system of pairwise interacting bosons is shown to satisfy the inequality, E_N < [N(N − 1)/n(n − 1)] E_n, where N > n 2. This inequality generalizes the Bruch-Sawada result, E₃ < 3E₂, and is superior in its predictive ability to Lim et al.'s .     

In-band M1 and E2 transition rates and collective structures in Ba

Subpicosecond mean lifetimes of eight excited states in ¹²⁸Ba populated via the ⁹⁶Zr(³⁶S,4n) reaction were measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation (DSA) technique using a line-shape analysis. The differential decay-curve method (DDCM) was applied for the lifetime determination. The B(E2) values in the yrast band indicate that the first band-crossing is with a proton S-band. The configuration πh_11/2d_5/2 of the negative-parity semi-decoupled bands is confirmed by the measured B(E2, I → I − 2) and B(M1, I → I − 1) transition strengths. The higher-lying “dipole” band in ¹²⁸Ba can be described as a high-K four-quasiparticle band built on the prolate configuration (πh_11/2d_5/2) (νh_11/2g_7/2).     

On matching conditions in the WKB method

The modified matching conditions for quasiclassical wave functions on both sides of a turning point for the radial Schrödinger equation have been obtained. They differ significantly from the usual Kramers condition which holds for the one-dimensional case. Namely, the ratio C₂/C₁ in the subbarrier and the classical allowed regions is not a universal constant ( , as usual), but depends on the values of the orbital angular momentum l, energy E and on the behaviour of the potential V(r) at r → 0. The comparison with exact and numerical solutions of the Schrödinger equation shows that the modified matching conditions not only make the quasiclassical approximation in the subbarrier region asymptotically exact within the n → ∞ limit, but also considerably enhances its accuracy even in the case of small quantum numbers, n 1. The power-law, funnel and short-range potentials are considered in detail.     

Spectator fermion binding of bosons

We consider a two-component mixture of charged fermions on neutralizing background with all sign combinations and arbitrarily small mass ratios. In the two-impurity limit for the heavier component we show that the pair forms a bound state for all charge combinations. In the lowest order approximation we derive a closed-form expression for V_eff(r), the binding potential which has short-range repulsion followed by attraction. In the classical limit, when the mass of embedded particles is large, m₂ å m, we can calculate from V_eff(r) also the cohesive energy E and the bond length R of a metallic crystal such as lithium. For lithium metal the lowest-order result is R = 3.1 Å, E = −1.8 eV, while the corresponding experimental values are 3.4 Å and −1.6 eV. The same interaction for two holes on a parabolic band with m₂ > m gives the quantum mechanical bound state which one may interpret as a boson or local pair in the case of high-T_c and heavy-fermion superconductors.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry of the normal heart: Relationship between collagen content and relaxation times of the four chambers

The use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation time measurements for characterization of abnormal cardiac tissue depends upon knowledge of variations of relaxation times of normal myocardium and determinants of these variations. We calculated in vitro NMR T₁ and T₂ relaxation times of canine myocardium from the four cardiac chambers, and determined hydroxyproline concentration (as a measure of collagen) and percent water content of the samples. We found both water content and T₁ relaxation time of the right ventricle to be significantly greater than the left atrium (p < 0.05). T₂ relaxation time of the left ventricle was found to be shorter than each of the other three chambers (p < 0.05). There were significant correlations between the spin-lattice relaxation time and both percent water content (r = 0.58) and hydroxyproline concentration (r = 0.45). A significant correlation was also found between T₂ relaxation time and hydroxyproline concentration (r = 0.49). When T₁ and T₂ were adjusted for water and hydroxyproline content, there was no longer any evidence for significant interchamber differences for either T₁ or T₂. These data suggest that differences in NMR relaxation times exist among the four chambers of the normal canine heart. Furthermore, a major determinant of myocardial spin-lattice relaxation time is tissue water content while both collagen content and percent water content significantly contribute to variability in cardiac chamber T₂ relaxation times.     

Hamiltonian circle actions on symplectic manifolds and the signature

Let M be a symplectic manifold with a Hamiltonian circle action with isolated fixed points. We prove that σ (M) = b₀(M) − b₂(M) + b₄(M) − b₆(M) + … where σ (M) is the signature of M and b_i(M) is the ith Betti number of M.     

Defect structure of quenched γ-BICOVOX by combined X-ray and neutron powder diffraction

A detailed investigation of the defect structure of the Co doped BIMEVOX solid electrolyte, Bi₂V_{1 − x}Co_xO_{5.5 − 3x/2} (x = 0.1 and x = 0.2), quenched from high temperature, has been carried out using X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data measured at room temperature. The structure is built up from alternating layers of [Bi₂O₂]_n²ⁿ⁺ and [V_{1 − x}Co_xO_{3.5 − 3x/2}]_n²ⁿ⁻ with disorder limited to the vanadate layer. The ideal V/Co co-ordination is octahedral with corner sharing of equatorial oxygens. The refinements show that the true structure is distorted, with disorder in both apical and equatorial oxygens and oxygen vacancies concentrated in the equatorial positions. Detailed analysis of the oxygen site occupancies reveals two main types of V/Co co-ordination viz. distorted octahedral and distorted tetrahedral. The majority of the sites in both compositions are tetrahedral.     

Minimal renormalization without ε-expansion: Three-loop amplitude functions of the 0(n) symmetric Φ theory in three dimensions below Tc

We present an analytic three-loop calculation for thermodynamic quantities of the O(n) symmetric Φ⁴ theory below T_c within the minimal subtraction scheme at fixed dimension d = 3. Goldstone singularities arising at an intermediate stage in the calculation of O(n) symmetric quantities cancel among themselves leaving a finite result in the limit of zero external field. From the free energy we calculate the three-loop terms of the amplitude functions ƒ_Φ, F₊ and F₋ of the order parameter and the specific heat above and below Tc, respectively, without using the e = 4-d expansion. A Borel resummation for the case n = 2 yields resummed amplitude functions f_Φ and F₋ that are slightly larger than the one-loop results. Accurate knowledge of these functions is needed for testing the renormalization-group prediction of critical-point universality along the λ₋line of superfluid ⁴He. Combining the three-loop result for F₋ with a recent five-loop calculation of the additive renormalization constant of the specific heat yields excellent agreement between the calculated and measured universal amplitude ratio A⁺/A^- of the specific heat of ⁴He. In addition we use our result for f_Φ to calculate the universal combination Rc of the amplitudes of the order parameter, the susceptibility and the specific heat for n = 2 and n = 3. Our Borel-resummed three-loop result for R_c is significantly more accurate than the previous result obtained from the ε-expansion up to O(ε².     

Non-threshold (F, Dp) bound states

In the previous paper [hep-th/9904112], we argued that there exist BPS bound states of Dp branes carrying certain units of quantized constant electric field for every p (with 1 p 8). Each of these bound states preserves one half of the spacetime supersymmetries. In this paper, we construct these bound state configurations explicitly for 2 p 7 from Schwarz's (m, n)-string or (F, D1) bound state in type IIB string theory by T-dualities along the transverse directions. We calculate the charge per of (p − 1)-dimensional area for F-strings in (F,Dp) and the tension for each of these bound states. The results agree precisely with those obtained previously from the worldvolume study. We study the decoupling limit for the (F, D3) bound state and find that Maldacena's AdS₅/CFT₄ correspondence may hold true even with respect to this bound state but now with an effective string coupling rather than the usual string coupling. This coupling is quantized and can be independent of the usual string coupling in a certain limit.     

Z-scan determination of the third-order optical nonlinearity of a triphenylmethane dye using 633 nm He–Ne laser

The third-order nonlinear optical response of a triphenylmethane dye (Acid blue 7) was studied using the Z-scan technique with a continuous-wave He–Ne laser radiation at 633 nm. The magnitude and sign of the third-order nonlinear refractive index n₂ of aqueous solution of Acid blue 7 dye were determined; the negative sign indicates a self-defocusing optical nonlinearity in the sample studied. The negative nonlinear refractive index n₂ and nonlinear absorption coefficient β were estimated to be −1.88 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/W and −3.08 × 10⁻³ cm/W, respectively, corresponding to Re(χ⁽³⁾) = −8.35 × 10⁻⁶ esu, and Im(χ⁽³⁾) = −6.88 × 10⁻⁷ esu. The experimental results show that Acid blue 7 dye have potential applications in nonlinear optics.     

The antiferromagnetic Potts model in two dimensions: Berker-Kadanoff phase, antiferromagnetic transition, and the role of Beraha numbers

Using methods of integrable systems and conformal field theory, we study the Q-state Potts model on the square lattice with e^K real. We discover a surprisingly rich phase diagram that involves, besides the usual ferromagnetic critical line, an antiferromagnetic critical line and a Berker-Kadanoff phase (i.e., a massless low-temperature phase with coupling-independent exponents) that has singularities at the Baraha numbers (including Q integer) Q = 4cos²π/n. Critical properties are derived; we show in particular that the Q = 4cos²π/δ antiferromagnetic critical Potts model is in the “Z_δ−2” universality class with c = 2−6/δ. Extensions to other lattices are considered. We discuss the consequences of our results on the coloring problem and the Beraha conjecture. Three appendices deal with the geometrical interpretation of the Temperley-Lieb algebra and U_qsl(2) symmetry in the Potts and associated loops model, and with the vertex-Potts model correspondence in systems with free boundary conditions.     

Search strategies for non-standard Higgs bosons at future ee colliders

Already in the simplest two-Higgs-doublet model with CP violation in the Higgs sector, the 3×3 mixing matrix for the neutral Higgs bosons can substantially modify their couplings, thereby endangering the “classical” Higgs search strategies. However, there are sum rules relating Yukawa and Higgs–Z couplings which ensure that the ZZ, and couplings of a given neutral 2HDM Higgs boson cannot all be simultaneously suppressed. This result implies that any single Higgs boson will be detectable at an e⁺e⁻ collider if the Z+Higgs, Higgs and Higgs production channels are all kinematically accessible and if the integrated luminosity is sufficient. We explore, as a function of Higgs mass, the luminosity required to guarantee Higgs boson detection, and find that for moderate tanβ values the needed luminosity is unlikely to be available for all possible mixing scenarios. Implications of the sum rules for Higgs discovery at the Tevatron and LHC are briefly discussed.     

(Q) corrections to particle multiplicity ratios in gluon and quark jets

The order (Q²) correction to the particle multiplicity ratio in gluon and quark jets is calculated in QCD. Through (Q²) we find

, with r = <n>_{gluon jet}/<n>_{quark jet}. This ratio is independent of the opening angle chosen to define the jets.