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At least 937 records · Page 52

Self tuning scalar fields in spherically symmetric spacetimes

We search for self tuning solutions to the Einstein-scalar field equations for the simplest class of 'Fab-Four' models with constant potentials. We first review the conditions under which self tuning occurs in a cosmological spacetime, and by introducing a small modification to the original theory—introducing the second and third Galileon terms—show how one can obtain de Sitter states where the expansion rate is independent of the vacuum energy. We then consider whether the same self tuning mechanism can persist in a spherically symmetric inhomogeneous spacetime. We show that there are no asymptotically flat solutions to the field equations in which the vacuum energy is screened, other than the trivial one (Minkowski space). We then consider the possibility of constructing Schwarzschild de Sitter spacetimes for the modified Fab Four plus Galileon theory. We argue that the only model that can successfully screen the vacuum energy in both an FLRW and Schwarzschild de Sitter spacetime is one containing 'John' ∼ G{sup μ}{sub ν} ∂{sub μ}φ∂{sup ν}φ and a canonical kinetic term ∼ ∂{sub α}φ ∂{sup α}φ. This behaviour was first observed in [1]. The screening mechanism, which requires redundancy of the scalar field equation in the 'vacuum', fails for the 'Paul' term in an inhomogeneous spacetime.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Using iron line reverberation and spectroscopy to distinguish Kerr and non-Kerr black holes

The iron Kα line commonly observed in the X-ray spectrum of both stellar-mass and supermassive black hole candidates is produced by the illumination of a cold accretion disk by a hot corona. In this framework, the activation of a new flaring region in the hot corona imprints a time variation on the iron line spectrum. Future X-ray facilities with high time resolution and large effective areas may be able to measure the so-called 2-dimensional transfer function; that is, the iron line profile detected by a distant observer as a function of time in response to an instantaneous flare from the X-ray primary source. This work is a preliminary study to determine if and how such a technique can provide more information about the spacetime geometry around the compact object than the already possible measurements of the time-integrated iron line profile. Within our simplified model, we find that a measurement of iron line reverberation can improve constraints appreciably given a sufficiently strong signal, though that most of the information is present in the time-integrated spectrum. Our aim is to test the Kerr metric. We find that current X-ray facilities and data are unable to provide strong tests of the Kerr nature of supermassive black hole candidates. We consider an optimistic case of 10{sup 5} iron line photons from a next-generation data set. With such data, the reverberation model improves upon the spectral constraint by an order of magnitude.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Charged Galileon black holes

We consider an Abelian gauge field coupled to a particular truncation of Horndeski theory. The Galileon field has translation symmetry and couples non minimally both to the metric and the gauge field. When the gauge-scalar coupling is zero the gauge field reduces to a standard Maxwell field. By taking into account the symmetries of the action, we construct charged black hole solutions. Allowing the scalar field to softly break symmetries of spacetime we construct black holes where the scalar field is regular on the black hole event horizon. Some of these solutions can be interpreted as the equivalent of Reissner-Nordstrom black holes of scalar tensor theories with a non trivial scalar field. A self tuning black hole solution found previously is extended to the presence of dyonic charge without affecting whatsoever the self tuning of a large positive cosmological constant. Finally, for a general shift invariant scalar tensor theory we demonstrate that the scalar field Ansatz and method we employ are mathematically compatible with the field equations. This opens up the possibility for novel searches of hairy black holes in a far more general setting of Horndeski theory.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Mechanisms Underlying a Quantum Superposition Microscope Based on THz-Driven Coherent Oscillations in a Two-Level Molecular Sensor

Here we report pump-probe measurements of a hydrogen molecule (H 2 ) in the tunnel junction of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) coupled to ultrashort terahertz (THz) pulses. The coherent oscillation of the THz induced DC tunneling current at a frequency of ~0.5 THz fingerprints the absorption by H 2 as a two-level system (TLS). Two components of the oscillatory signal are observed and point to both photon and field aspects of the THz pulses. A few loosely bound states with similar energies for the upper state of the TLS are evidenced by the coherent revival of oscillatory signal. Furthermore, the comparison of spectroscopic features of H 2 with different tips provides an understanding of the TLS for H 2 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Finite Mathematics, Finite Quantum Theory and a Conjecture on the Nature of Time

We first give a rigorous mathematical proof that classical mathematics (involving such notions as infinitely small/large, continuity etc.) is a special degenerate case of finite one in the formal limit when the characteristic p of the field or ring in finite mathematics goes to infinity. We consider a finite quantum theory (FQT) based on finite mathematics and prove that standard continuous quantum theory is a special case of FQT in the formal limit p→∞. The description of states in standard quantum theory contains a big redundancy of elements: the theory is based on real numbers while with any desired accuracy the states can be described by using only integers, i.e. rational and real numbers play only auxiliary role. Therefore, in FQT infinities cannot exist in principle, FQT is based on a more fundamental mathematics than standard quantum theory and the description of states in FQT is much more thrifty than in standard quantum theory. Space and time are purely classical notions and are not present in FQT at all. In the present paper we discuss how classical equations of motions arise as a consequence of the fact that p changes, i.e. p is the evolution parameter. It is shown that there exist scenarios when classical equations of motion for cosmological acceleration and gravity can be formulated exclusively in terms of quantum quantities without using space, time and standard semiclassical approximation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Decomposing the Train-Scheduling Problem into Integer-Optimal Polytopes

This paper presents conditions for which the linear relaxation for the train-scheduling problem is integer optimal. These conditions are then used to identify how to partition a general problem’s feasible region into integer-optimal polytopes. Such an approach yields an extended formulation that contains far fewer binary variables. Our computational experiments show that this approach results in significant computational savings. Moreover, this approach scales well when the train-scheduling problem is modeled using smaller time increments, allowing for higher fidelity models to be solved without significantly increasing the required computational time.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Experiment m-3, inflight exerciser on gemini iv

Evaluation of general physical condition of Gemini IV flight crew with increasing time under space flight conditions - response of cardiovascular system to calibrated workload

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM↗

2nd-Order CESE Results For C1.1: Transonic Ringleb Flow

The Conservation Element and Solution Element (CESE) method was used as implemented in the NASA research code ez4d (an unstructured Navier-Stokes solver coded in C++ with serial and parallel versions available.) The CESE method is a time-accurate formulation with flux-conservation in both space and time. The method treats the discretized derivatives of space and time identically and while the 2nd-order accurate version was used, high-order versions exist.

Numerical Analysis↗