A uniqueness criterion for the Fock quantization of scalar fields with time dependent mass

A major problem in the quantization of fields in curved spacetimes is the ambiguity in the choice of a Fock representation for the canonical commutation relations. There exists an infinite number of choices leading to different physical predictions. In stationary scenarios, a common strategy is to select a vacuum (or a family of unitarily equivalent vacua) by requiring invariance under the spacetime symmetries. When stationarity is lost, a natural generalization consists in replacing time invariance by unitarity in the evolution. We prove that, when the spatial sections are compact, the criterion of a unitary dynamics, together with the invariance under the spatial isometries, suffices to select a unique family of Fock quantizations for a scalar field with time dependent mass.Comment: 11 pages, version accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Effective dynamics of scalar perturbations in a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetime in Loop Quantum Cosmology

We study the evolution of a homogeneous and isotropic spacetime whose spatial sections have three-torus topology, coupled to a massless scalar field with small scalar perturbations within loop quantum cosmology. We consider a proposal for the effective dynamics based on a previous hybrid quantization completed by us. Consequently, we introduce a convenient gauge fixing and adopt reduced canonical variables adapted to that hybrid quantum description. Besides, we keep backreaction contributions on the background coming from terms quadratic in the perturbations in the action of the system. We carry out a numerical analysis assuming that the inhomogeneities were in a massless vacuum state at distant past (where the initial data are set). At distant future, we observe a statistical amplification of the modes amplitude in the infrared region, as well as a phase synchronization arising from quantum gravity phenomena. A description of the perturbations in terms of the Mukhanov-Sasaki gauge invariants provides the same qualitative results. Finally, we analyze some consequences of the backreaction in our effective description.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Hybrid quantization of an inflationary model: The flat case

We present a complete quantization of an approximately homogeneous and isotropic universe with small scalar perturbations. We consider the case in which the matter content is a minimally coupled scalar field and the spatial sections are flat and compact, with the topology of a three-torus. The quantization is carried out along the lines that were put forward by the authors in a previous work for spherical topology. The action of the system is truncated at second order in perturbations. The local gauge freedom is fixed at the classical level, although different gauges are discussed and shown to lead to equivalent conclusions. Moreover, descriptions in terms of gauge-invariant quantities are considered. The reduced system is proven to admit a symplectic structure, and its dynamical evolution is dictated by a Hamiltonian constraint. Then, the background geometry is polymerically quantized, while a Fock representation is adopted for the inhomogeneities. The latter is selected by uniqueness criteria adapted from quantum field theory in curved spacetimes, which determine a specific scaling of the perturbations. In our hybrid quantization, we promote the Hamiltonian constraint to an operator on the kinematical Hilbert space. If the zero mode of the scalar field is interpreted as a relational time, a suitable ansatz for the dependence of the physical states on the polymeric degrees of freedom leads to a quantum wave equation for the evolution of the perturbations. Alternatively, the solutions to the quantum constraint can be characterized by their initial data on the minimum-volume section of each superselection sector. The physical implications of this model will be addressed in a future work, in order to check whether they are compatible with observations.Comment: 20 pages, no figures. v2: minor changes, in particular, abstract shortened, final discussion improve

A complete hybrid quantization in inhomogeneous cosmology

A complete quantization of a homogeneous and isotropic spacetime with closed spatial sections coupled to a massive scalar field is provided, within the framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology. We identify solutions with their initial data on the minimum volume section, and from this we construct the physical Hilbert space. Moreover, a perturbative study allows us to introduce small inhomogeneities. After gauge fixing, the inhomogeneous part of the system is reduced to a linear field theory. We then adopt a standard Fock representation to quantize these degrees of freedom. For the considered case of compact spatial topology, the requirements of: i) invariance under the spatial isometries, and ii) unitary implementation of the quantum dynamics, pick up a unique Fock representation and a particular set of canonical fields (up to unitary equivalence).Comment: 6 page

Criteria for the determination of time dependent scalings in the Fock quantization of scalar fields with a time dependent mass in ultrastatic spacetimes

For Klein-Gordon fields, it is well known that there exist an infinite number of nonequivalent Fock representations of the canonical commutation relations and, therefore, of inequivalent quantum theories. A context in which this kind of ambiguities arises and prevents the derivation of robust results is, e.g., in the quantum analysis of cosmological perturbations. In these situations, typically, a suitable scaling of the field by a time dependent function leads to a description in an auxiliary static background, though the nonstationarity still shows up in a time dependent mass. For such a field description, and assuming the compactness of the spatial sections, we recently proved in three or less spatial dimensions that the criteria of a natural implementation of the spatial symmetries and of a unitary time evolution are able to select a unique class of unitarily equivalent vacua, and hence of Fock representations. In this work, we succeed to extend our uniqueness result to the consideration of all possible field descriptions that can be reached by a time dependent canonical transformation which, in particular, involves a scaling of the field by a function of time. This kind of canonical transformations modify the dynamics of the system and introduce a further ambiguity in its quantum description, exceeding the choice of a Fock representation. Remarkably, for any compact spatial manifold in less than four dimensions, we show that our criteria eliminate any possible nontrivial scaling of the field other than that leading to the description in an auxiliary static background. Besides, we show that either no time dependent redefinition of the field momentum is allowed or, if this may happen, the redefinition does not introduce any Fock representation that cannot be obtained by a unitary transformation.Comment: 37 pages. Modified title. Improved discussion concerning the spatial symmetry group. New section (section VI

Loss of redundant gene expression after polyploidization in plants

Based on chromosomal location data of genes encoding 28 biochemical systems in allohexaploid wheat,Triticum aestivum L. (genomes AABBDD), it is concluded that the proportions of systems controlled by triplicate, duplicate, and single loci are 57%, 25%, and 18% respectively

A unique Fock quantization for fields in non-stationary spacetimes

In curved spacetimes, the lack of criteria for the construction of a unique quantization is a fundamental problem undermining the significance of the predictions of quantum field theory. Inequivalent quantizations lead to different physics. Recently, however, some uniqueness results have been obtained for fields in non-stationary settings. In particular, for vacua that are invariant under the background symmetries, a unitary implementation of the classical evolution suffices to pick up a unique Fock quantization in the case of Klein-Gordon fields with time-dependent mass, propagating in a static spacetime whose spatial sections are three-spheres. In fact, the field equation can be reinterpreted as describing the propagation in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetime after a suitable scaling of the field by a function of time. For this class of fields, we prove here an even stronger result about the Fock quantization: the uniqueness persists when one allows for linear time-dependent transformations of the field in order to account for a scaling by background functions. In total, paying attention to the dynamics, there exists a preferred choice of quantum field, and only one $SO(4)$-invariant Fock representation for it that respects the standard probabilistic interpretation along the evolution. The result has relevant implications e.g. in cosmology.Comment: Typos correcte

Ca II triplet spectroscopy of small magellanic cloud red giants. II. abundances for a sample of field stars

We have obtained metallicities of ∼360 red giant stars distributed in 15 Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) fields from near-infrared spectra covering the Ca II triplet lines using the VLT + FORS2. The errors of the derived [Fe/H] values range from 0.09 to 0.35 dex per star, with a mean of 0.17 dex. The metallicity distribution (MD) of the whole sample shows a mean value of [Fe/H] = -1.00 ± 0.02, with a dispersion of 0.32 0.01, in agreement with global mean [Fe/H] values found in previous studies. We find no evidence of a metallicity gradient in the SMC. In fact, on analyzing the MD of each field, we derived mean values of [Fe/H] = -0.99 ± 0.08 and [Fe/H] = -1.02 ± 0.07 for fields located closer and farther than 4° from the center of the galaxy, respectively. In addition, there is a clear tendency for the field stars to be more metal-poor than the corresponding cluster they surround, independent of their positions in the galaxy and of the clusters' age. We argue that this most likely stems from the field stars being somewhat older and therefore somewhat more metal-poor than most of our clusters. © 2010. The American Astronomical Society.Fil: Parisi, Maria Celeste. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Geisler, Doug. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Grocholski, A. J.. University of Florida; Estados Unidos. Space Telescope Science Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Claria Olmedo, Juan Jose. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Observatorio Astronomico de Cordoba; ArgentinaFil: Sarajedini, A.. University of Florida; Estados Unido

La incorporación de las mujeres a las Fuerzas Armadas: el caso español y su percepción pública en perspectiva comparada

Este trabajo examina la incorporación de las mujeres en las Fuerzas Armadas (FFAA) españolas. Desde un punto de vista teórico, el estudio se enmarca dentro de las discusiones acerca de la participación de las mujeres en las instituciones militares y de las diversas teorías sobre los factores que influyen y explican este proceso. Además, el examen empírico del caso español se contextualiza en términos comparados con información general relativa a la feminización de las fuerzas militares de los países de la OTAN y más particularmente del caso de EEUU. A la luz de la política de incorporación femenina a las FFAA españolas se concluye que desde un punto de vista institucional el proceso se encuentra básicamente completado y además con un porcentaje de feminización de los más altos entre los países miembros de la OTAN. En cuanto a la dimensión social del cambio y de su percepción pública, sin embargo, existen importantes contradicciones y los estereotipos culturalmente arraigados continúan aislando a las mujeres de tareas tradicionalmente percibidas como masculinas