Lepton spectrum in semileptonic b-decay

We present some results from the computation of the charged lepton energy distribution in the decay b → c + $\text{l}$^? + $\text{ν}$ taking into account first order QCD corrections.     

Supersolids versus phase separation in two-dimensional lattice bosons

We study the nature of the ground state of the two-dimensional extended boson Hubbard model on a square lattice by quantum Monte Carlo methods. We demonstrate that strong but finite on-site interaction U along with a comparable nearest-neighbor repulsion V result in a thermodynamically stable supersolid ground state for densities larger than 1/2, in contrast to fillings less than 1/2 or for very large U, where the checkerboard supersolid is unstable towards phase separation. We discuss the relevance of our results to realizations of supersolids using cold bosonic atoms in optical lattices.     

Sensitivity of a tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis guianensis) to airborne sound

Auditory systems of cetaceans are considered highly specialized for underwater sound processing, whereas the extent of their hearing capacity in air is still a point of issue. In this study, the sensitivity to airborne sound in a male tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis guianensis) was tested by means of a go/no go response paradigm. Auditory thresholds were obtained from 2 to 31.5 kHz. Compared to the hearing thresholds of other dolphins as well as of amphibian mammals, the sensitivity to airborne sound of the test subject is low from 2 to 8 kHz, with the highest threshold at 4 kHz. Thresholds at 16 and 31.5 kHz reveal a sharp increase in hearing sensitivity. Thus, although not obtained in this study, the upper aerial hearing limit is in the ultrasonic range. A comparison of the present data with the underwater audiogram of the same test subject referred to sound intensity indicates that the sensitivity of Sotalia to underwater sound is generally better than to airborne sound.     

Melting of bosonic stripes

We use quantum Monte Carlo simulations to determine the finite temperature phase diagram and to investigate the thermal and quantum melting of stripe phases in a two-dimensional hard-core boson model. At half filling and low temperatures the stripes melt at a first order transition. In the doped system, the melting transitions of the smectic phase at high temperatures and the superfluid smectic (supersolid) phase at low temperatures are either very weakly first order, or of second order with no clear indications for an intermediate nematic phase.     

Quasi-Periodic Solutions for Two-Level Systems

We consider the Schrödinger equation for a class of two-level atoms in a quasi-periodic external field in the case in which the spacing 2 between the two unperturbed energy levels is small, and we study the problem of finding quasi-periodic solutions of a related generalized Riccati equation. We prove the existence of quasi-periodic solutions of the latter equation for a Cantor set of values of around the origin which is of positive Lebesgue measure: such solutions can be obtained from the formal power series by a suitable resummation procedure. The set can be characterized by requesting infinitely many Diophantine conditions of Melnikov type.     

Quantum signatures in laser-driven relativistic multiple scattering

The dynamics of an electronic Dirac wave packet evolving under the influence of an ultraintense laser pulse and an ensemble of highly charged ions is investigated numerically. Special emphasis is placed on the evolution of quantum signatures from single to multiple scattering events. We quantify the occurrence of quantum relativistic interference fringes in various situations and stress their significance in multiple-particle systems, even in the relativistic range of laser-matter interaction.     

Existence and stability of modulating pulse solutions in Maxwell’s equations describing nonlinear optics

Modulating pulse solutions play a big rôle in modern long distance high speed communication. Such solutions consist of a traveling pulse-like envelope modulating an underlying electromagnetic wave. In this paper we show that under certain assumptions such solutions exist and are dynamically stable for the associated nonlinear partial differential equations, namely Maxwells integro-differential equations describing nonlinear optics. The analysis is worked out in detail for bulk media, and we discuss how the results extend to optical fibers and to parametrically forced systems.     

The clamped-plate equation for the limaçon

Hadamard claimed in 1907 that the clamped-plate equation is positivity preserving for domains which are bounded by a Limaçon de Pascal. We will show that this claim is false in its full generality. However, we will also prove that there are nonconvex limaçons for which the clamped-plate equation has the sign-preserving property. In fact we will give an explicit bound for the parameter of the limaçon where sign change may occur. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 35J40, 35Q72, 35B50     

Sensitivity Studies of Large Eddy Simulations of Combustion Systems with an Unstructured Implicit Solver

Isothermal as well as reacting turbulent flows are investigated by means of LES with the implicit, unstructured code PRECISE-UNS. Primarily, the swirl burner configuration TECFLAM is simulated isothermal. Calculations with different time step sizes are taken out to examine the influence of the Courant number on the LES solution. In addition, the impact of the spatial resolution is investigated. Next, the jet diffusion flame configuration Sandia Flame D is calculated with the Flamelet Generated Manifold (FGM) approach. Mean profiles of the velocity components, mixture fraction and temperature as well as their variances are compared to experimental data. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)