Convergent sequences of perturbative approximations for the anharmonic oscillator II. Compact time approach

We present an alternative pathway in the application of the variation improvement of ordinary perturbation theory exposed in [1] which can preserve the internal symmetries of a model by means of a time compactification.Comment: 21 pages, 4 Postscript figures available through anonymous ftp at ftp://algol.lpm.univ-montp2.fr ; replaces version which could not be postscripted presumably for lack of figures.uu fil

Convergent sequences of perturbative approximations for the anharmonic oscillator I. Harmonic approach

We present numerical evidence that a simple variational improvement of the ordinary perturbation theory of the quantum anharmonic oscillator can give a convergent sequence of approximations even in the extreme strong coupling limit, the purely anharmonic case. Some of the new techniques of this paper can be extended to renormalizable field theories.Comment: 29 pages, 12 Postscript figures available through anonymous ftp at ftp://algol.lpm.univ-montp2.fr ; replaces earlier version which could not be postscripted presumably due to lack of figures.uu fil

A new determination of αS\alpha_S from Renormalization Group Optimized Perturbation

A new version of the so-called optimized perturbation (OPT), implementing consistently renormalization group properties, is used to calculate the nonperturbative ratio $F_\pi/\overline\Lambda$ of the pion decay constant and the basic QCD scale in the $\overline{MS}$ scheme. Using the experimental $F_\pi$ input value it provides a new determination of $\overline\Lambda$ for $n_f=2$ and $n_f=3$, and of the QCD coupling constant $\overline\alpha_S$ at various scales once combined with a standard perturbative evolution. The stability and empirical convergence properties of the RGOPT modified series is demonstrated up to the third order. We examine the difference sources of theoretical uncertainties and obtain $\overline\alpha_S (m_Z) =0.1174 ^{+.0010}_{-.0005} \pm .001 \pm .0005_{evol}$, where the first errors are estimates of the intrinsic theoretical uncertainties of our method, and the second errors come from present uncertainties in $F_\pi/F_0$, where $F_0$ is $F_\pi$ in the exact chiral $SU(3)$ limit.Comment: 5 pages, talk given at EPS-HEP, Stockholm, Sweden 18-24 July, 201

Fracture of granular materials composed of arbitrary grain shapes: A new cohesive interaction model

Discrete Element Methods (DEM) are a useful tool to model the fracture of cohesive granular materials. For this kind of application, simple particle shapes (discs in 2D, spheres in 3D) are usually employed. However, dealing with more general particle shapes allows to account for the natural heterogeneity of grains inside real materials. We present a discrete model allowing to mimic cohesion between contacting or non-contacting particles whatever their shape in 2D and 3D. The cohesive interactions are made of cohesion points placed on interacting particles, with the aim of representing a cohesive phase lying between the grains. Contact situations are solved according to unilateral contact and Coulomb friction laws. In order to test the developed model, 2D unixial compression simulations are performed. Numerical results show the ability of the model to mimic the macroscopic behavior of an aggregate grain subject to axial compression, as well as fracture initiation and propagation. A study of the influence of model and sample parameters provides important information on the ability of the model to reproduce various behaviors

Constraining the Λ\LambdaCDM and Galileon models with recent cosmological data

The Galileon theory belongs to the class of modified gravity models that can explain the late-time accelerated expansion of the Universe. In previous works, cosmological constraints on the Galileon model were derived, both in the uncoupled case and with a disformal coupling of the Galileon field to matter. There, we showed that these models agree with the most recent cosmological data. In this work, we used updated cosmological data sets to derive new constraints on Galileon models, including the case of a constant conformal Galileon coupling to matter. We also explored the tracker solution of the uncoupled Galileon model. After updating our data sets, especially with the latest \textit{Planck} data and BAO measurements, we fitted the cosmological parameters of the $\Lambda$CDM and Galileon models. The same analysis framework as in our previous papers was used to derive cosmological constraints, using precise measurements of cosmological distances and of the cosmic structure growth rate. We showed that all tested Galileon models are as compatible with cosmological data as the $\Lambda$CDM model. This means that present cosmological data are not accurate enough to distinguish clearly between both theories. Among the different Galileon models, we found that a conformal coupling is not favoured, contrary to the disformal coupling which is preferred at the $2.3\sigma$ level over the uncoupled case. The tracker solution of the uncoupled Galileon model is also highly disfavoured due to large tensions with supernovae and \textit{Planck}+BAO data. However, outside of the tracker solution, the general uncoupled Galileon model, as well as the general disformally coupled Galileon model, remain the most promising Galileon scenarios to confront with future cosmological data. Finally, we also discuss constraints coming from Lunar Laser Ranging experiment and gravitational wave speed of propagation.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figures, published version in A&

Bootstrap in Supersymmetric Liouville Field Theory. I. NS Sector

A four point function of basic Neveu-Schwarz exponential fields is constructed in the N = 1 supersymmetric Liouville field theory. Although the basic NS structure constants were known previously, we present a new derivation, based on a singular vector decoupling in the NS sector. This allows to stay completely inside the NS sector of the space of states, without referencing to the Ramond fields. The four-point construction involves also the NS blocks, for which we suggest a new recursion representation, the so-called elliptic one. The bootstrap conditions for this four point correlation function are verified numerically for different values of the parameters