27557728
Non-Abelian vortices with an Aharonov-Bohm effect
A bstractThe interplay of gauge dynamics and flavor symmetries often leads to remarkably subtle phenomena in the presence of soliton configurations. Non-Abelian vortices — vortex solutions with continuous internal orientational moduli — provide an example. Here we study the effect of weakly gauging a U(1)R subgroup of the flavor symmetry on such BPS vortex solutions. Our prototypical setting consists of an SU(2) × U(1) gauge theory with Nf = 2 sets of fundamental scalars that break the gauge symmetry to an “electromagnetic” U(1). The weak U(1)R gauging converts the well-known CP1 orientation modulus |B| of the non-Abelian vortex into a parameter characterizing the strength of the magnetic field that is responsible for the Aharonov-Bohm effect. As the phase of B remains a genuine zero mode while the electromagnetic gauge symmetry is Higgsed in the interior of the vortex, these solutions are superconducting strings.
126281417
QCD Jet calculus
121970658
A Simple Algorithm for QCD Jets-An Introduction to Jet Calculus
A new, simple algorithm, recently proposed for QCD jets, is discussed. It allows to compute multiparton distributions inside QCD (q- or g-) jets, within the leading logarithmic approximation. Some of its applications are given.
123003167
Generation of mass hierarchies and gravitational instanton-induced supersymmetry breaking
Consequences of supersymmetry breaking by gravitational instantons are studied in the context of N = 1 supergravity models. In particular, models containing an additional term, proportional to the Euler characteristics density of the spacetime manifold, are shown to lead to a large hierarchy of masses, with the supersymmetry breaking mass scale much smaller than the Planck mass. Possible mechanisms of mass generation for gauge fermions, matter scalars and matter fermions are discussed. Models of this type can arise as a low-energy approximation to superstring models. Our analysis suggests the existence and importance of those nonperturbative effects in the underlying string theories that correspond to the Yang-Mills and gravitational instantons of low-energy effective field theories.
1333458
Non-Abelian confinement near nontrivial conformal vacua
Abstract We discuss some aspects of confinement and dynamical symmetry breaking in the so-called non-Abelian Argyres–Douglas vacua, which occur very generally in supersymmetric theories. These systems are characterized by strongly-coupled non-Abelian monopoles and dyons; confinement and dynamical symmetry breaking are caused by the condensation of monopole composites, rather than by condensation of single weakly-coupled monopoles. In general, there are strong constraints on which kind of monopoles can appear as the infrared degrees of freedom, related to the proper realization of the global symmetry of the theory. Drawing analogies to some of the phenomena found here, we make a speculation on the ground state of the standard QCD.
122228895
On the short distance behavior of string theories
Short distance behavior of string theories is investigated by the use of the discretized path-integral formulation. In particular, the minimum physical length and the generalized uncertainty relation are re-derived from a set of Ward–Takahashi identities. Several issues related to the form of the generalized uncertainty relation and to its implications are discussed. A consistent qualitative picture of short distance behavior of string theory seems to emerge from such a study.
7368712
SDSS J1029+2623: A Gravitationally Lensed Quasar with an Image Separation of 22.5 Arcseconds
The authors report the discovery of a cluster-scale lensed quasar, SDSS J1029+2623, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The lens system exhibits two lensed images of a quasar at z{sub s} = 2.197. The image separation of 22.5 makes it the largest separation lensed quasar discovered to date. The similarity of the optical spectra and the radio loudnesses of the two components support the lensing hypothesis. Images of the field show a cluster of galaxies at z{sub l} {approx} 0.55 that is responsible for the large image separation. The lensed images and the cluster light center are not collinear, which implies that the lensing cluster has a complex structure.
10089918
THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY-II SUPERNOVA SURVEY: SEARCH ALGORITHM AND FOLLOW-UP OBSERVATIONS
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II Supernova Survey has identified a large number of new transient sources in a 300 deg2 region along the celestial equator during its first two seasons of a three-season campaign. Multi-band (ugriz) light curves were measured for most of the sources, which include solar system objects, galactic variable stars, active galactic nuclei, supernovae (SNe), and other astronomical transients. The imaging survey is augmented by an extensive spectroscopic follow-up program to identify SNe, measure their redshifts, and study the physical conditions of the explosions and their environment through spectroscopic diagnostics. During the survey, light curves are rapidly evaluated to provide an initial photometric type of the SNe, and a selected sample of sources are targeted for spectroscopic observations. In the first two seasons, 476 sources were selected for spectroscopic observations, of which 403 were identified as SNe. For the type Ia SNe, the main driver for the survey, our photometric typing and targeting efficiency is 90%. Only 6% of the photometric SN Ia candidates were spectroscopically classified as non-SN Ia instead, and the remaining 4% resulted in low signal-to-noise, unclassified spectra. This paper describes the search algorithm and the software, and the real-time processing of the SDSS imaging data. We also present the details of the supernova candidate selection procedures and strategies for follow-up spectroscopic and imaging observations of the discovered sources.
119204401
First-year Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II supernova results: consistency and constraints with other intermediate-redshift data sets
ABSTRACT We present an analysis of the luminosity distances of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II (SDSS-II) SN Survey in conjunction with other intermediate-redshift (z 97 per cent level from this single data set. We find good agreement between the SN and BAO distance measurements, both consistent with a Λ-dominated cold dark matter cosmology, as demonstrated through an analysis of the distance duality relationship between the luminosity (dL) and angular diameter (dA) distance measures. We then use these data to estimate w within this restricted redshift range (z < 0.4). Our most stringent result comes from the combination of all our intermediate-redshift data (SDSS-II SNe, BAO, ISW and redshift-space distortions), giving w = -0.81+0.16-0.18 (stat) +/- 0.15 (sys) and ΩM = 0.22+0.09-0.08 assuming a flat universe. This value of w and associated errors only change slightly if curvature is allowed to vary, consistent with constraints from the cosmic microwave background. We also consider more limited combinations of the geometrical (SN, BAO) and dynamical (ISW, redshift-space distortions) probes.
117036676
Dependences of Type Ia Supernovae Lightcurve Parameters on the Host Galaxy Star Formation Rate and Metallicity
We present the dependences of the properties of type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) on their host galaxies by analyzing the multi-band lightcurves of 118 spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Supernova Survey and the spectra of their host galaxies. We derive the equivalent width of the \rm{H}$\alpha$ emission line, star formation rate, and gas-phase metallicity from the spectra and compare these with the lightcurve widths and colors of SNe Ia. In addition, we compare host properties with the deviation of the observed distance modulus corrected for lightcurve parameters from the distance modulus determined by the best fit cosmological parameters. This allows us to investigate uncorrected systematic effects in the magnitude standardization. We find that SNe Ia in host galaxies with a higher star formation rate have synthesized on average a larger $^{56}$Ni mass and show wider lightcurves. The $^{56}$Ni mass dependence on metallicity is consistent with a prediction of Timmes et al. 2003 based on nucleosynthesis. SNe Ia in metal-rich galaxies ({$\log_{10}(O/H)+12>8.9$) have become 0.13 $\pm$ 0.06 magnitude brighter after corrections for their lightcurve widths and colors, which corresponds to up to 6% uncertainty in the luminosity distance. We investigate whether parameters for standardizing SN Ia maximum magnitude differ among samples with different host characteristics. The coefficient of the color term is larger by 0.67 $\pm$ 0.19 for SNe Ia in metal-poor hosts than those in metal-rich hosts when no color cuts are imposed.
118546402
Line Profiles of Intermediate Redshift Type Ia Supernovae
We present the temporal evolution of line profiles ranging from near ultraviolet to optical wavelengths by analyzing 59 Subaru telescope spectra of normal Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) in the intermediate redshift range (0.05 < z < 0.4) discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II (SDSS-II) Supernova Survey. We derive line velocities, peak wavelengths and pseudo-equivalent widths (pEWs) of these lines. Additionally, we compare the line profiles around the date of maximum brightness with those from their nearby counterparts. We find that line profiles represented by their velocities and pEWs for intermediate redshift SNe Ia are consistent with their nearby counterparts within 2 $\sigma$. These findings support the picture that SNe Ia are a "standard" candle for the intermediate redshift range as has been shown between SNe Ia at nearby and high redshifts. There is a hint that the "MgII \lambda 4300" pEW distribution for intermediate redshift SNe Ia is larger than for the nearby sample, which could be interpreted as a difference in the progenitor abundance.