Ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, superheavy long-lived particles, and matter creation after inflation

Cosmic rays of the highest energy, above the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff of the spectrum, may originate in decays of superheavy long-lived particles. We conjecture that these particles may be produced naturally in the early Universe from vacuum fluctuations during inflation and may constitute a considerable fraction of cold dark matter. We predict a new cutoff in the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray spectrum E _cutoff<m _inflaton≈10¹³ GeV, the exact position of the cutoff and the shape of the cosmic ray spectrum beyond the GZK cutoff being determined by the QCD quark/gluon fragmentation. The Pierre Auger Project installation may in principle observe this phenomenon. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 4, 255–259 (25 August 1998)     

On a covariant version of Caianiello’s model

Caianiello’s derivation of Quantum Geometry through an isometric embedding of the spacetime (M, g̃) in the pseudo-Riemannian structure (T*M, g* _AB ) is reconsidered. In the new derivation, using a non-linear connection and the bundle formalism, we obtain a Lorentzian-type structure in the 4-dimensional manifold M that is covariant under arbitrary local coordinate transformations in M. We obtain that if models with maximal acceleration are non-trivial, gravity should be supplied with other interactions in a unification framework.     

Characteristic features of vortex depinning in a layered superconductor

The field H*(T) for the onset of dissipation is estimated self-consistently from the results of an investigation of the transverse resistance and current-voltage characteristics of a Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (BSCCO-2212) single crystal in a mixed state. It is established that H* is close to H _c1 in the interval T _c/2⩽T⩽T _c. Rapid growth of H*(T), accompanied by a transformation of the current-voltage characteristics, as the temperature decreases below ≈ 40 K attests to the formation of a nonvanishing region of stability of an ordered state of the vortex system, possibly as a result of a change in the effective dimensionality of the fluxoid. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 8, 629–634 (25 April 1997)     

On the origin of quantum oscillations in the mixed state of an anisotropic superconductor

For the vortex lattice in an anisotropic superconductor with well-separated cores (H _c1≪ B≪H _c2) it is shown that sizable de Haas-van Alphen oscillations are caused by the levels’ crossing of the energy threshold separating localized and extended states of excitations moving in the average magnetic field B. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 9, 705–710 (10 November 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Influence of antiferromagnetic ordering on the de Haas-van Alphen effect in a semimetal

The distinctive characteristics of the de Haas-van Alphen effect in semimetals with antiferromagnetic long-range order are investigated theoretically. It is shown that the transition of the subsystem of localized spins from the canted antiferromagnetic phase to the ferromagnetic phase is accompanied by an abrupt change in the “frequency” of the magnetization oscillations of band carriers M _∼. In the below-critical range of magnetic fields, M _∼ is not a function periodic in 1/H. Significantly, the additional contribution to the phase of the oscillatory factors is proportional to H ² and is determined entirely by quantum fluctuations in the antiferromagnetic subsystem. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 204–210 (February 1997)     

Manifestation of ferromagnetism in lightly oxygen-doped La2CuO4 single crystals in magnetic fields H<50 Oe

The temperature and field dependences χ(T,H) in La₂CuO_4+δ single crystals with δ<0.015 have been investigated in magnetic fields 0.1<H<450 Oe by the differential magnetic susceptibility method. It was found that under oxygen doping conditions ferromagnetic regions are formed. These regions produce a characteristic curve of the magnetic susceptibility χ(T,H), which is observed only in magnetic fields of less than 50 Oe. This can be explained by the formation of ferrons [A. Aharony et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 1330 (1988); L. I. Glazman and A. S. Ioselevich, Z. Phys. B 80, 268 (1990)] in an antiferromagnetic matrix. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 3, 152–155 (10 August 1996)     

Strange multibaryon states with Λ hyperon systems in pA collision at 10 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>

Experimental data from the 2m propane bubble chamber have been analyzed for exotic baryon states search. A number of peculiarities were found in the effective mass spectra of Λπ⁺ (Σ*⁺ (1382), PDG), Λp, and Λpp subsystems. A few events detected on the photographs of the propane bubble chamber exposed to a 10 GeV/c proton beam were interpreted as S = −2H ⁰ light(<M _(ΛΛ)) and heavy H ^{0, +}. A new event detected on the photographs of the propane bubble chamber was interpreted as heavy H ⁺ (2488) dibaryon by weak decay channels of K ⁻ pp or Σ⁺ pπ⁻. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

A Characteristic Decay Semigroup for the Resonances of Trace Class Perturbations with Analyticity Conditions of Semibounded Hamiltonians

To asymptotic complete scattering systems {M ₊+V,M ₊} on H₊:=L²(R₊,K{\mathcal{H}}_{+}:=L^{2}(\mathbf{R}_{+},{\mathcal{K}}, d λ), where M ₊ is the multiplication operator on H₊{\mathcal{H}}_{+} and V is a trace class operator with analyticity conditions, a decay semigroup is associated such that the spectrum of the generator of this semigroup coincides with the set of all resonances (poles of the analytic continuation of the scattering matrix into the lower half plane across the positive half line), i.e. the decay semigroup yields a “time-dependent” characterization of the resonances. As a counterpart a “spectral characterization” is mentioned which is due to the “eigenvalue-like” properties of resonances.     

Landau level quantization and possible superconducting instabilities in highly oriented pyrolitic graphite

Measurements of the basal-plane resistivity ρ _a(T,H) performed on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite, with magnetic field H∥c-axis in the temperature interval 2–300K and fields up to 8 T, provide evidence for the occurrence of both field-induced and zero-field superconducting instabilities. Additionally, magnetization M(T,H) measurements suggest the occurrence of Fermi surface instabilities which compete with the superconducting correlations. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 2135–2138 (December 1999)     

Gravity waves accompanying supernova explosions

Gravitational radiation arising during the formation of a protoneutron star is studied. Here it is mainly large-scale nonuniformities that develop inside the star. The entropy and density profiles of such nonuniformities resemble the “mushroom cloud” of a nuclear explosion. A bubble of hot neutron matter floats to the surface of the star, like the “mushroom cloud” of an explosion in the earth’s atmosphere. Depending on the symmetry of the problem, from two to six bubbles can float upward at the same time. The characteristic masses of such bubbles are 0.01M _⊗ and the radial velocities reach ∼0.1c. The energy radiated in the form of gravitational waves in one cycle of bubbles floating to the surface is ∼10⁻² M _⊗ c ²−10⁻¹⁰ M _⊗ c ². Such cycles occur repeatedly as the neutron star cools. This phase can last up to seconds. The total energy radiated in the form of gravitational radiation can reach 10⁻¹ M _⊗ c ². Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 12, 817–822 (25 December 1996)     

Quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnet LiCuVO4

An antiferromagnetic transition is observed in the quasi-one-dimensional metal-oxide compound LiCuVO₄. A wide peak is observed in the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility at T _M =28 K, and the magnetic susceptibility exhibits a sharp drop at T _N ≈4 K. As the magnetic field increases, the antiferromagnetic-ordering temperature T _N =2.3 K at first increases somewhat and then decreases rapidly. The exchange interaction in the chains of copper-oxygen octahedra is estimated to be J ₁=22.5 K. The interchain interaction is estimated to be J ₂∼1 K. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 11, 828–831 (10 June 1999)     

High-energy strong interactions: from ‘hard’ to ‘soft’

We discuss the qualitative features of the recent data on multiparticle production observed at the LHC. The tolerable agreement with Monte Carlos based on LO DGLAP evolution indicates that there is no qualitative difference between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ interactions; and that a perturbative QCD approach may be extended into the soft domain. However, in order to describe the data, these Monte Carlos need an additional infrared cutoff k _min with a value k _min∼2–3 GeV which is not small, and which increases with collider energy. Here we explain the physical origin of the large k _min. Using an alternative model which matches the ‘soft’ high-energy hadron interactions smoothly on to perturbative QCD at small x, we demonstrate that this effective cutoff k _min is actually due to the strong absorption of low k _t partons. The model embodies the main features of the BFKL approach, including the diffusion in transverse momenta, ln k _t , and an intercept consistent with resummed next-to-leading log corrections. Moreover, the model uses a two-channel eikonal framework, and includes the contributions from the multi-Pomeron exchange diagrams, both non-enhanced and enhanced. The values of a small number of physically-motivated parameters are chosen to reproduce the available total, elastic and proton dissociation cross section (pre-LHC) data. Predictions are made for the LHC, and the relevance to ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is briefly discussed. The low x inclusive integrated gluon PDF, and the diffractive gluon PDF, are calculated in this framework, using the parameters which describe the high-energy pp and p[`(p)]p\bar{p} ‘soft’ data. Comparison with the PDFs obtained from the global parton analyses of deep inelastic and related hard scattering data and from diffractive deep inelastic data looks encouraging.     

Polymorphism of biperiodic stripe domain structures

Magnetic-field-induced polymorphism of biperiodic stripe domain structures of films with a positive anisotropy constant and easy axis parallel to the normal to the surface is studied. A symmetry classification of the observed types of domain structures is performed, and the phase diagram of the films in the (H _⊥, H _∥) plane, where H _⊥ and H _∥ are, respectively, the components of the magnetic field vector perpendicular and parallel to the normal to the surface, is determined. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 9, 701–706 (10 May 1998)     

Strong coupling in the Kondo problem in the low-temperature region

The magnetic field dependence of the average spin of a localized electron coupled to conduction electrons with an antiferromangetic exchange interaction is found for the ground state. In the magnetic field range μH∼0.5T _c (T _c is the Kondo temperature) there is an inflection point, and in the strong magnetic field range μH≫T _c , the correction to the average spin is proportional to (T _c /μ H)². In zero magnetic field, the interaction with conduction electrons also leads to the splitting of doubly degenerate spin impurity states. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 1263–1284 (April 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor     

New computational method for atoms in an intense electromagnetic field

A new representation is found for the interaction of intense circularly polarized light with an atom. A stationary centrosymmetric part, which depends on the field parameter a ₀=F/ω², is separated out from the atom-field interaction. The time-dependent part of the interaction is represented in the form of a multipole expansion with a ₀ taken into account. The application of this representation for calculating the nonlinear dynamic polarizability of a complicated atom in the random-phase approximation with exchange is studied. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 3, 189–193 (10 August 1998)     

Magnetic susceptibility of multilayered carbon nanotubes

A theoretical study of the magnetic susceptibility of multilayered carbon nanotubes in fields both parallel, H _∥, and perpendicular, H _⊥, to the tube axis has been carried out disregarding electron-electron interaction. The temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility obtained exhibit a nontrivial form for H _∥, which is related to the quasi-one-dimensionality of such a system as the nanotube. The dependences of the magnetic susceptibility on chemical potential χ(μ) have also been derived. At low temperatures, χ(μ) has sharp peaks in fields H _∥, which is connected with the presence of singularities in the density of states of nanotubes. The effect of interlayer coupling on magnetic susceptibility of small-radius tubes has been investigated numerically. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1950–1954 (October 1998)     

Quantum corrections to the conductance of n-GaAs films in a strong magnetic field

The conductance of doped n-GaAs films is studied experimentally as a function of magnetic field and temperature in strong magnetic fields right up to the quantum limit (ħω_c = E _F). The Hall conductance G _xy is virtually independent of temperature T until the transverse conductance G _xx is quite large compared with e ²/h. In strong fields, when G _xx becomes comparable to e ²/h, G _xy starts to depend on T. The difference between the conductances G _xx at the two temperatures 4.2 and 0.35 K depends only weakly on the magnetic field H over a wide range of magnetic fields, while the conductances G _xx themselves vary strongly. The results can be explained by quantum corrections to the conductance as a result of the electron-electron interaction in the diffusion channel. The possibility of quantization of the Hall conductance as a result of the electron-electron interaction is discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 3, 201–206 (10 February 1998)     

Decay of transient nutation in two-level spin systems

This paper reports the results of an experimental study of the decay of transient NMR nutations in a two-level spin system with homogeneous line broadening. The NMR nutation signals in glycerin were studied for 10⩽ω ₁ T ₂⩽150, where ω ₁=γH ₁, with γ the gyromagnetic ratio and H ₁ the amplitude of the magnetic component of the radio-frequency field, and T ₂ is the transverse relaxation time. It is found that in a high-power field (ω ₁ T ₂≫1) the nutation decay rate is independent of ω ₁ and is quantitatively described by Bloch’s model. The data is compared with the data on non-Bloch (ω ₁-dependent) EPR-nutation decay in quartz (R. Boscaino, F. M. Gelardi, and J. P. Corb, Phys. Rev. B 48, 7077 (1993)). Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 1207–1213 (April 1997)     

A spin-3/2 Ising model on a square lattice

The spin-3/2 Ising model described by the most general Hamiltonian with up-down symmetry, −βH=Σ_〈ij〉{JS _i S _j +KS ₂ ⁱ S ₂ ^j +LS ₃ ⁱ S ₃ ^j +M/2(S _i S ₃ ^j +S _j S ₃ ⁱ )}−ΔΣ_i S ₂ ⁱ , is investigated on a square lattice. It is shown that this model is reducible to an eight-vertex model on a surface in the parameter space spanned by the coupling constants J, K, L, and M. It is shown that this model is equivalent to an exactly solvable free fermion model along two lines in the parameter space. Consequently, the critical behavior and, in particular, the critical temperature for the second-order phase transitions of the model is found exactly. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 4, 270–275 (25 February 1996) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Magnetic moment of type-II superconductors near the critical field H c2 and the formation of metastable states for Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ<1

The magnetic induction in cylindrical superconductor samples in magnetic fields close to H _c2 is found. It is shown that vortex-type metastable states exist in a quite wide range of values of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ<1 corresponding to type-I superconductors. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 8, 600–605 (25 April 1997)