Darkon dark matter, unparticle effects and collider physics

In this talk I report recent results on the simplest dark matter model, the Darkon model, and supersymmetric unparticle effects on dark matter, and some implications for coUider physics. I first discuss dark matter properties and collider signatures in the Darkon model, and then I discuss some implications for dark matter if a scalar unparticle is introduced to the MSSM.     

Darkon dark matter,unparticle effects and collider physics

In this talk I report recent results on the simplest dark matter model, the Darkon model, and supersymmetric unparticle effects on dark matter, and some implications for collider physics. I first discuss dark matter properties and collider signatures in the Darkon model, and then I discuss some implications for dark matter if a scalar unparticle is introduced to the MSSM.     

Molecular bases of thermophily in hyperthermophiles

I reflect on some of our studies on the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Thermococcus kodakarensis KOD1 and its enzymes. The strain can grow at temperatures up to 100 °C, and also represents one of the simplest forms of life. As expected, all enzymes, DNA, RNA, cytoplasmic membrane, and cytoplasmic solute displayed remarkable thermostability, and we have determined some of the basic principles that govern this feature. To our delight, many of the enzymes exhibited unique biochemical properties and novel structures not found in mesophilic proteins. Here, I will focus on some enzymes whose three-dimensional structures are characteristic of thermostable enzymes. I will also add some examples on the stabilization of DNA, RNA, cytoplasmic membrane, and cytoplasmic solute.     

Physical Science in Oslo

I provide a tour of Oslo, Norway, concentrating on the city center and the suburbs of Blindern and T?yen. I focus on the buildings used by the University of Oslo from its foundation in 1811 and on the physical scientists who worked in them. I also point out the cemeteries where some of them are buried.     

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Data on classification of spectra and energy levels of atoms of rare earth elements with unfilled 4f-shells have been collected, systematized and analyzed. A brief account is given of methods for determining transition probabilities and lifetimes of the excited states of atoms and ions. Oscillator strengths for spectral lines of Nd(I), Sm(I), Eu(I), Gd(I), Dy(I), Tm(I) and Yb(I) have been measured using Rojdestvensky's hook method. Lifetimes of some of the excited states of Eu(I), Yb(I) and Yb(II) have been determined by using simultaneously the methods of delayed coincidence, hooks, and total absorption. Our results have been compared with those of other investigators. Atoms with unfilled 4f-shells show some regularities.     

Astrophysical constraints on particle properties

I summarize some astrophysical phenomenon like gamma ray bursters, astrophysical proof of the existence of blackholes, Active galactic nuclei — as high energy neutrino sources, and some unsolved issues in supernova. I touch on the aspects where novel particle properties (like neutrino mass and magnetic moment) are invoked to understand the astronomical observations.     

Mirror Symmetry and Other Miracles in Superstring Theory

The dominance of string theory in the research landscape of quantum gravity physics (despite any direct experimental evidence) can, I think, be justified in a variety of ways. Here I focus on an argument from mathematical fertility, broadly similar to Hilary Putnam’s ‘no miracles argument’ that, I argue, many string theorists in fact espouse in some form or other. String theory has generated many surprising, useful, and well-confirmed mathematical ‘predictions’—here I focus on mirror symmetry and the mirror theorem. These predictions were made on the basis of general physical principles entering into string theory. The success of the mathematical predictions are then seen as evidence for the framework that generated them. I shall attempt to defend this argument, but there are nonetheless some serious objections to be faced. These objections can only be evaded at a considerably high (philosophical) price.     

Relativistic Few-Body Physics

I discuss different formulations of the relativistic few-body problem with an emphasis on how they are related. I first discuss the implications of some of the differences with non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Then I point out that the principle of special relativity in quantum mechanics implies that the quantum theory has a Poincaré symmetry, which is realized by a unitary representation of the Poincaré group. This representation can always be decomposed into direct integrals of irreducible representations and the different formulations differ only in how these irreducible representations are realized. I discuss how these representations appear in different formulations of relativistic quantum mechanics and discuss some applications in each of these frameworks.     

Non-perturbative Methods in Relativistic Field Theory

This talk reviews relativistic methods used to compute bound and low energy scattering states in field theory, with emphasis on approaches that John Tjon and I discussed (and argued about) together. I compare the Bethe–Salpeter and Covariant Spectator equations, show some applications, and then report on some of the things we have learned from the beautiful Feynman–Schwinger technique for calculating the exact sum of all ladder and crossed ladder diagrams in field theory.     

Survival probabilities for random walks on lattices with randomly distributed traps

I present here a numerical procedure to compute survival probabilities for random walks on lattices with randomly distributed traps. The procedure has some advantages over existing methods, and its performance is evaluated for the 1D simple random walk, for which some exact results are known. Thereafter, I apply the procedure to 1D random walks with variable step length and to 3D simple random walks.     

Baryon chiral perturbation theory A.D. 1994

In these lectures, the status of baryon chiral perturbation theory is reviewed. Particular emphasis is put on the two-flavor sector and the physics related to electromagnetic probes. I discuss in some detail the structure of the effective Lagrangian at next-to-leading order, the meaning of low-energy theorems in Compton scattering and pion photoproduction, and confront the chiral predictions with the existing data. Some remaining problems and challenges are outlined.Lectures given at the Indian-Summer School on Electron Scattering from Nucleons and Nuclei, Prague, Czech Republic, September 1994.First, I would like to thank the organizers for their kind invitation and hospitality. I am also grateful to Véronique Bernard and Norbert Kaiser for fruitful collaborations and allowing me to present some material before publication. I would like to thank Gerhard Ecker and Jürg Gasser for sharing with me their insight into the chiral dynamics.     

What′s new with the XYZ mesons?

I review some of the recent experimental results on the so-called XYZ mesons.     

The Uniqueness of the World

We follow some wild speculations in trying to understand the uniqueness of our physical world, from the field concept to F-TheoryDedicated to Emilio Santos on his 70th birthday. I have enjoyed discussions with Emilio on physics for the last 40 years; in spite of disagreements on many issues, I have an everlasting admiration for him and for his approach to science     

What''s new with the XYZ mesons?

I review some of the recent experimental results on the so-called XYZ mesons.     

Selected topics in Higgs physics at the LHC

In this talk I discuss a few selected topics in Higgs phenomenology at the LHC. After some brief remarks on the standard model Higgs I turn to more novel possibilities, discussing a heavy Higgs scenario, a light Higgs scenario and a no Higgs scenario. In the case of the light Higgs, I discuss briefly the physics opportunities afforded if it becomes possible to detect low angle scattered protons at the LHC.     

Sustainable energy storage – with hot air,or cold air or liquid air

In memory of Sir David John Cameron MacKay FRS FInstP FICE (22 April 1967 – 14 April 2016). David was passionate about sustainable energy. One key element for sustainable energy is energy storage. As a small tribute, this article presents a review from a physics perspective of the thermodynamics of compressed air energy storage. Firstly, I treat adiabatic compressed air energy storage, where the heat of compression of the air is kept in the compressed air. Then I discuss improvements that can be made by combining compressed air energy storage with external heat stores. Next, I address isothermal compressed air energy storage, where the temperature is allowed to equilibrate with the environment. In each case, I consider two scenarios: underground caverns and underwater airbags. Finally, I address the case where the air is compressed and cooled so much that it liquifies. Throughout, I explain that the real point is to store available work, called exergy in the engineering community, rather than energy. Although my treatment is mostly from the ideal point of view of quasistatic processes, I give some pointers to technological implementations of the various methods and to some references on their thermodynamic efficiencies.     

Geometric Simultaneity and the Continuity of Special Relativity

In this note I briefly discuss some aspects of relative geometric simultaneity in special relativity. After saying a few words about the status and nature of Minkowski spacetime in special relativity, I recall a uniqueness result due to David Malament concerning simultaneity relative to an inertial worldline and an extension of it due to Mark Hogarth and I prove an extension of it for simultaneity relative to an inertial frame in time-oriented spacetimes. Then I point out that the uniqueness results do not generalise to definitions of simultaneity relative to the rotating disk. Finally, I evaluate some recent claims of Selleri in the light of the results. Whilst some of his claims are supported by the approach taken here, the conclusion he draws from these claims, that special relativity harbours a discontinuity and so stands in need of replacement, does not follow and is rejected.     

Recent Results in Cosmic Ray Physics and Their Interpretation

The last decade has been dense with new developments in the search for the sources of Galactic cosmic rays. Some of these developments have confirmed the tight connection between cosmic rays and supernovae in our Galaxy, through the detection of gamma rays and the observation of thin non-thermal X-ray rims in supernova remnants. Some others, such as the detection of features in the spectra of some chemicals, opened new questions on the propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy and on details of the acceleration process. Here, I will summarize some of these developments and their implications for our understanding of the origin of cosmic rays. I will also discuss some new avenues that are being pursued in testing the supernova origin of Galactic cosmic rays.     

Fundamental Physics in Space: A Quantum-Gravity Perspective

I consider the possibility that space experiments be used to search for quantum properties of spacetime. On the basis of recent quantum-gravity results, I argue that insight on some quantum properties of spacetime can be obtained with experiments planned for the International Space Station, such as AMS and EUSO, and with satellite gamma-ray telescopes, such as GLAST.