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At least 91 records · Page 5

Spinning no-scale $${\mathcal {F}}$$-SU(5) in the right direction

Abstract The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) recently announced confirmation of the Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) measurements of the $$g-2$$ g - 2 of the muon that uncovered a discrepancy with the theoretically calculated Standard Model value. We suggest an explanation for the combined BNL+FNAL 4.2 $$\sigma $$ σ deviation within the supersymmetric grand unification theory (GUT) model No-Scale $${\mathcal {F}}$$ F - $$SU(5)$$ S U ( 5 ) supplemented with a string derived TeV-scale extra $$10+\overline{10}$$ 10 + 10 ¯ vector-like multiplet and charged vector-like singlet $$(XE,XE^c)$$ ( X E , X E c ) , dubbed flippons. We introduced these vector-like particles into No-Scale Flipped SU (5) many years ago, and as a result, the renormalization group equation (RGE) running was immediately shaped to produce a distinctive and rather beneficial two-stage gauge coupling unification process to avoid the Landau pole and lift unification to the string scale, in addition to contributing through 1-loop to the light Higgs boson mass. The flippons have long stood ready to tackle another challenge, and now do so yet again, where the charged vector-like “lepton”/singlet couples with the muon, the supersymmetric down-type Higgs $$H_d$$ H d , and a singlet S , using a chirality flip to easily accommodate the muonic $$g-2$$ g - 2 discrepancy in No-Scale $${\mathcal {F}}$$ F - $$SU(5)$$ S U ( 5 ) . Considering the phenomenological success of this string derived model over the prior 11 years that remains accommodative of all presently available LHC limits plus all other experimental constraints, including no fine-tuning, and the fact that for the first time a Starobinsky-like inflationary model consistent with all cosmological data was derived from superstring theory in No-Scale Flipped SU (5), we believe it is imperative to reconcile the BNL+FNAL developments within the model space.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Structure and Entanglement Factors on Dynamics of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles functionalized with long polymer chains at low graft density are interesting systems to study structure–dynamic relationships in polymer nanocomposites since they are shown to aggregate into strings in both solution and melts and also into spheres and branched aggregates in the presence of free polymer chains. Our work investigates structure and entanglement effects in composites of polystyrene-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles by measuring particle relaxations using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. And for particles within highly ordered strings and aggregated systems, they experience a dynamically heterogeneous environment displaying hyperdiffusive relaxation commonly observed in jammed soft glassy systems. Furthermore, particle dynamics is diffusive for branched aggregated structures which could be caused by less penetration of long matrix chains into brushes. These results suggest that particle motion is dictated by the strong interactions of chains grafted at low density with the host matrix polymer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dilaton dominance in the early universe dilutes dark matter relic abundances

The role of the dilaton field and its coupling to matter may result in a dilution of dark matter (DM) relic densities. This is to be contrasted with quintessence scenarios in which relic densities are augmented, due to modification of the expansion rate, since the Universe is not radiation dominated at DM decoupling. The dilaton field, besides this, affects relic densities through its coupling to dust which tends to decrease relic abundances. Thus two separate mechanisms compete with each other resulting, in general, in a decrease of the relic density. This feature may be welcomed and can help the situation if direct dark matter experiments point towards small neutralino-nucleon cross sections, implying small neutralino annihilation rates and hence large relic densities, at least in the popular supersymmetric scenarios. In the presence of a diluting mechanism, both experimental constraints can be met. The role of the dilaton for this mechanism has been studied in the context of the noncritical string theory but in this work we follow a rather general approach assuming that the dilaton dominates only at early eras long before big bang nucleosynthesis.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Mapping out the internal space in AdS/BCFT with Wilson loops

We study Wilson loops in string theory realizations of AdS/BCFT and wedge holography. The field theories are based on 3d N = 4 long quiver gauge theories engineered by D3, D5 and NS5 branes, and on BCFTs involving 4d N = 4 SYM coupled to such 3d theories. The holographic duals have geometry AdS 4 × S 2 × S 2 warped over a strip. We identify the holographic representation of antisymmetric Wilson loops associated with individual 3d gauge nodes in terms of probe D5-branes. The expectation values obtained holographically are matched to supersymmetric localization computations. Our results yield an identification of regions in the internal space with individual 3d gauge nodes. Connecting to bottom-up braneworld models, this gives a concrete notion of which parts of the 10d solutions correspond to the end-of-the-world brane and which to the remaining bulk. We also construct supersymmetric Janus on the brane embeddings in AdS 5 ×S 5 , which describe surface defects with boundaries and interfaces in N = 4 SYM.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Unwinding inflation

Higher-form flux that extends in all 3+1 dimensions of spacetime is a source of positive vacuum energy that can drive meta-stable eternal inflation. If the flux also threads compact extra dimensions, the spontaneous nucleation of a bubble of brane charged under the flux can trigger a classical cascade that steadily unwinds many units of flux, gradually decreasing the vacuum energy while inflating the bubble, until the cascade ends in the self-annihilation of the brane into radiation. With an initial number of flux quanta Q{sub 0}∼>N, this can result in N efolds of inflationary expansion while producing a scale-invariant spectrum of adiabatic density perturbations with amplitude and tilt consistent with observation. The power spectrum has an oscillatory component that does not decay away during inflation, relatively large tensor power, and interesting non-Gaussianities. Unwinding inflation fits naturally into the string landscape, and our preliminary conclusion is that consistency with observation can be attained without fine-tuning the string parameters. The initial conditions necessary for the unwinding phase are produced automatically by bubble formation, so long as the critical radius of the bubble is smaller than at least one of the compact dimensions threaded by flux.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Limits on entanglement effects in the string landscape from Planck and BICEP/Keck data

We consider observational limits on a proposed model of the string landscape in inflation. In this scenario, effects from the decoherence of entangled quantum states in long-wavelength modes in the universe result in modifications to the Friedmann Equation and a corresponding modification to inflationary dynamics. Previous work [1, 2] suggested that such effects could provide an explanation for well-known anomalies in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), such as the lack of power on large scales and the ''cold spot'' seen by both the WMAP and Planck satellites. In this paper, we compute limits on these entanglement effects from the Planck CMB data combined with the BICEP/Keck polarization measurement, and find no evidence for observable modulations to the power spectrum from landscape entanglement, and no sourcing of observable CMB anomalies. The originally proposed model with an exponential potential is ruled out to high significance. Assuming a Starobinsky-type R {sup 2} inflation model, which is consistent with CMB constraints, data place a 2σ lower bound of b > 6.46 × 10{sup 7} GeV on the Supersymmetry breaking scale associated with entanglement corrections.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Search for blazar flux-correlated tev neutrinos in icecube 40-string data

We present a targeted search for blazar flux-correlated high-energy (ε{sub ν} ≳ 1 TeV) neutrinos from six bright northern blazars, using the public database of northern hemisphere neutrinos detected during “IC40” 40-string operations of the IceCube neutrino observatory (2008 April to 2009 May). Our six targeted blazars are subjects of long-term monitoring campaigns by the VERITAS TeV γ-ray observatory. We use the publicly available VERITAS light curves to identify periods of excess and flaring emission. These predefined intervals serve as our “active temporal windows” in a search for an excess of neutrinos, relative to Poisson fluctuations of the near-isotropic atmospheric neutrino background, which dominates at these energies. After defining the parameters of an optimized search, we confirm the expected Poisson behavior with Monte Carlo simulations prior to testing for excess neutrinos in the actual data. We make two searches: one for excess neutrinos associated with the bright flares of Mrk 421 that occurred during the IC40 run, and one for excess neutrinos associated with the brightest emission periods of five other blazars (Mrk 501, 1ES 0806+524, 1ES 1218+304, 3C 66A, and W Comae), all significantly fainter than the Mrk 421 flares. We find no significant excess of neutrinos from the preselected blazar directions during the selected temporal windows. We derive 90% confidence upper limits on the number of expected flux-associated neutrinos from each search. These limits are consistent with previous point-source searches and Fermi GeV flux-correlated searches. Our upper limits are sufficiently close to the physically interesting regime that we anticipate that future analyses using already-collected data will either constrain models or yield discovery of the first blazar-associated high-energy neutrinos.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Longitudinal fluctuations and decorrelations of anisotropic flows in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study the longitudinal decorrelations of elliptic, triangular and quadrangular flows in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC and RHIC energies. The event-by-event CLVisc (3+1)-dimensional hydrodynamics model, combined with the fully fluctuating AMPT initial conditions, is utilized to simulate the space-time evolution of the strongly-coupled quark-gluon plasma. Detailed analysis is performed for the longitudinal decorrelations of flow vectors, flow magnitudes and flow orientations. We find strong correlations between final-state longitudinal decorrelations of anisotropic flows and initial-state longitudinal structures and collision geometry: while the decorrelation of elliptic flow shows a non- monotonic centrality dependence due to initial elliptic geometry, typically the longitudinal flow decorrelations are larger in lower energy and less central collisions where the mean lengths of the string structure are shorter in the initial states.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A survey of solutions in a gravitational Born-Infeld theory

An elliptic equation that arises from a cosmic string model with the action of the Born-Infeld nonlinear electromagnetism, is considered. We classify and establish the uniqueness of radially symmetric solutions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Dark photon dark matter from a network of cosmic strings

We study the production of ultralight dark photons from a network of near-global, Abelian-Higgs cosmic strings. We find that dark photons produced in this way are nonrelativistic today and can make up all of the dark matter for dark photon masses as small as m A ~10 -22 eV

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Bootstrapping boundaries and branes

The study of conformal boundary conditions for two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) has a long history, ranging from the description of impurities in one-dimensional quantum chains to the formulation of D-branes in string theory. Nevertheless, the landscape of conformal boundaries is largely unknown, including in rational CFTs, where the local operator data is completely determined. We initiate a systematic bootstrap study of conformal boundaries in 2d CFTs by investigating the bootstrap equation that arises from the open-closed consistency condition of the annulus partition function with identical boundaries. We find that this deceivingly simple bootstrap equation, when combined with unitarity, leads to surprisingly strong constraints on admissible boundary states. In particular, we derive universal bounds on the tension (boundary entropy) of stable boundary conditions, which provide a rigorous diagnostic for potential D-brane decays. We also find unique solutions to the bootstrap problem of stable branes in a number of rational CFTs. Along the way, we observe a curious connection between the annulus bootstrap and the sphere packing problem, which is a natural extension of previous work on the modular bootstrap. We also derive bounds on the boundary entropy at large central charge. These potentially have implications for end-of-the-world branes in pure gravity on AdS 3 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Cosmic strings in hidden sectors: 2. Cosmological and astrophysical signatures

Cosmic strings can arise in hidden sector models with a spontaneously broken Abelian symmetry group. We have studied the couplings of the Standard Model fields to these so-called dark strings in the companion paper. Here we survey the cosmological and astrophysical observables that could be associated with the presence of dark strings in our universe with an emphasis on low-scale models, perhaps TeV. Specifically, we consider constraints from nucleosynthesis and CMB spectral distortions, and we calculate the predicted fluxes of diffuse gamma ray cascade photons and cosmic rays. For strings as light as TeV, we find that the predicted level of these signatures is well below the sensitivity of the current experiments, and therefore low scale cosmic strings in hidden sectors remain unconstrained. Heavier strings with a mass scale in the range 10{sup 13} GeV to 10{sup 15} GeV are at tension with nucleosynthesis constraints.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Tunneling topological vacua via extended operators: (Spin-)TQFT spectra and boundary deconfinement in various dimensions

Distinct quantum vacua of topologically ordered states can be tunneled into each other via extended operators. The possible applications include condensed matter and quantum cosmology. We present a straightforward approach to calculate the partition function on various manifolds and ground state degeneracy (GSD), mainly based on continuum/cochain topological quantum field theories (TQFTs), in any dimension. This information can be related to the counting of extended operators of bosonic/fermionic TQFTs. On the lattice scale, anyonic particles/strings live at the ends of line/surface operators. Certain systems in different dimensions are related to each other through dimensional reduction schemes, analogous to (de)categorification. Examples include spin TQFTs derived from gauging the interacting fermionic symmetry-protected topological states (with fermion $\mathbb Z$$f\atop{2}$) of parity symmetry groups $\mathbb Z{_4}$×$\mathbb Z{_2}$ and ($\mathbb Z{_4}$) 2 in 3+1D, also $\mathbb Z{_2}$ and ($\mathbb Z{_2}$) 2 in 2+1D. Gauging the last three cases begets non-Abelian spin TQFTs (fermionic topological order). We consider situations where a TQFT lives on (1) a closed spacetime or (2) a spacetime with a boundary, such that the bulk and boundary are fully gapped and short- or long-range entangled (SRE/LRE). Anyonic excitations can be deconfined on the boundary. We introduce new exotic topological interfaces on which neither particle nor string excitations alone condense, but only fuzzy-composite objects of extended operators can end (e.g., a string-like composite object formed by a set of particles can end on a special 2+1D boundary of 3+1D bulk). We explore the relations between group extension constructions and partially breaking constructions (e.g., 0-form/higher-form/“composite” breaking) of topological boundaries, after gauging. We comment on the implications of entanglement entropy for some such LRE systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Potential induced degradation in c-Si glass-glass modules after extended damp heat stress

Traditional Glass-Backsheet (GB) photovoltaic (PV) modules have been the industry standard for a long time, but the Glass-Glass (GG) modules are quickly rising in popularity. PV modules installed in hot-humid climates with high string voltages can undergo potential induced degradation (PID). So far, to the best of our knowledge, only fresh modules with strong interfacial adhesion have been investigated for PID. However, in reality, the PV modules have weak interfacial adhesion after a few years of field exposure. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate PV modules with weakened interfaces. In this study, we investigated the PID susceptibility of PV modules with weakened interfaces after subjecting them to 2000 hours of damp heat (DH2000) at 85°C/85% relative humidity (RH) in an accelerated environmental chamber. Fresh GG modules were also stressed for PID to compare with PID degradation of DH-stressed modules. Pre- and post-characterization tests were done before, between, and after each stress method to determine the changes in electrical performance, cell metallization properties, and hotspot properties. It is observed that fresh GG modules showed little/no degradation (less than 1%) in maximum power (Pmax), whereas the GG modules that underwent sequential DH and PID degraded by 11% to 12%. Potential mechanisms for these degradations are also presented. Furthermore, the results presented in this study are critical for the industry, considering that the bifacial modules with GG construction will be dominant in the next 10 years.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Long-range potential and the fine structure of the diffraction peak

The possibility of oscillations in the differential elastic cross section of hadron scattering at small momentum transfer is studied. It is shown that string-like quark potentials at large distances can lead to such small oscillations, and an analysis of the experimental data at small |t| allows the determination of the parameters of the potential.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Failure analysis of field-failed bypass diodes

Defective bypass diodes are often found as the largest factor leading to power loss in solar modules. Here, we report on failure mechanisms by investigating shunted bypass diodes from a rooftop installation, using a combination of multiple characterizations including current–voltage analysis, thermal-runaway testing, X-ray computed tomography, lock-in thermography, focused ion-beam cross-section imaging, chemical decapsulation, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Differing from static discharge typically associated with lightning strikes on modules, we found diode failure by the mechanism of thermal damage under continuous, long-term overstress in forward bias. Our conclusion is based on evidence of energy dissipated—the small to medium extent of melt-through on the Schottky diode face. The diode failure shows distortions or roughening of the Schottky diode metal-semiconductor interface with the die attach, and some failures are accompanied by die-attach solder melting. We propose that nonuniform irradiance on the modules caused diode shunting due to extended periods of heat dissipation in the modules, because modules in this string were placed in two different orientations. In contrast, a second parallel module string of the same module type on the same rooftop with a unique plane of array did not show any diode failures. The thermal damage failure of melt-through was caused by the long-term current generated by overstressing of diodes that may have had crystalline and impurity defects.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Results from the Solar Hidden Photon Search (SHIPS)

We present the results of a search for transversely polarised hidden photons (HPs) with ∼3 eV energies emitted from the Sun. These hypothetical particles, known also as paraphotons or dark sector photons, are theoretically well motivated for example by string theory inspired extensions of the Standard Model. Solar HPs of sub-eV mass can convert into photons of the same energy (photon ↔ HP oscillations are similar to neutrino flavour oscillations). At SHIPS this would take place inside a long light-tight high-vacuum tube, which tracks the Sun. The generated photons would then be focused into a low-noise photomultiplier at the far end of the tube. Our analysis of 330 h of data (and 330 h of background characterisation) reveals no signal of photons from solar hidden photon conversion. We estimate the rate of newly generated photons due to this conversion to be smaller than 25 mHz/m{sup 2} at the 95% C.L. Using this and a recent model of solar HP emission, we set stringent constraints on χ, the coupling constant between HPs and photons, as a function of the HP mass.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Long- and short-range correlations and their event-scale dependence in high-multiplicity pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations are measured in high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV by the ALICE Collaboration. The yields of particle pairs at short-(Δη ~ 0) and long-range (1.6 < |Δη| < 1.8) in pseudorapidity are extracted on the near-side (Δ~ 0). They are reported as a function of transverse momentum (p T ) in the range 1 < p T < 4 GeV/c. Furthermore, the event-scale dependence is studied for the first time by requiring the presence of high-p T leading particles or jets for varying p T thresholds. The results demonstrate that the long-range “ridge” yield, possibly related to the collective behavior of the system, is present in events with high-p T processes as well. The magnitudes of the short- and long-range yields are found to grow with the event scale. The results are compared to EPOS LHC and PYTHIA 8 calculations, with and without string-shoving interactions. It is found that while both models describe the qualitative trends in the data, calculations from EPOS LHC show a better quantitative agreement for the p T dependency, while overestimating the event-scale dependency.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗