How degenerate can cosmological neutrinos be?

There are well-known bounds on light neutrino masses from cosmological energy density arguments. These arguments assume the neutrinos to be non-degenerate. We show how these bounds are affected if the neutrinos are degenerate. In this case, we obtain correlated bounds between neutrino mass and degeneracy.Comment: 5 pages, Latex, uses epsf.sty. (Some details added at the referee's request. One reference added.

Stability of Compacton Solutions of Fifth-Order Nonlinear Dispersive Equations

We consider fifth-order nonlinear dispersive $K(m,n,p)$ type equations to study the effect of nonlinear dispersion. Using simple scaling arguments we show, how, instead of the conventional solitary waves like solitons, the interaction of the nonlinear dispersion with nonlinear convection generates compactons - the compact solitary waves free of exponential tails. This interaction also generates many other solitary wave structures like cuspons, peakons, tipons etc. which are otherwise unattainable with linear dispersion. Various self similar solutions of these higher order nonlinear dispersive equations are also obtained using similarity transformations. Further, it is shown that, like the third-order nonlinear $K(m,n)$ equations, the fifth-order nonlinear dispersive equations also have the same four conserved quantities and further even any arbitrary odd order nonlinear dispersive $K(m,n,p...)$ type equations also have the same three (and most likely the four) conserved quantities. Finally, the stability of the compacton solutions for the fifth-order nonlinear dispersive equations are studied using linear stability analysis. From the results of the linear stability analysis it follows that, unlike solitons, all the allowed compacton solutions are stable, since the stability conditions are satisfied for arbitrary values of the nonlinear parameters.Comment: 20 pages, To Appear in J.Phys.A (2000), several modification

Truncated Harmonic Osillator and Parasupersymmetric Quantum Mechanics

We discuss in detail the parasupersymmetric quantum mechanics of arbitrary order where the parasupersymmetry is between the normal bosons and those corresponding to the truncated harmonic oscillator. We show that even though the parasusy algebra is different from that of the usual parasusy quantum mechanics, still the consequences of the two are identical. We further show that the parasupersymmetric quantum mechanics of arbitrary order p can also be rewritten in terms of p supercharges (i.e. all of which obey $Q_i^{2} = 0$). However, the Hamiltonian cannot be expressed in a simple form in terms of the p supercharges except in a special case. A model of conformal parasupersymmetry is also discussed and it is shown that in this case, the p supercharges, the p conformal supercharges along with Hamiltonian H, conformal generator K and dilatation generator D form a closed algebra.Comment: 9 page

Goethite on Mars - A laboratory study of physically and chemically bound water in ferric oxides

Thermogravimetric study of physically and chemically bound water in ferric oxides of limonite with application to goethite on Mar

On the temperature dependence of possible S8 infrared bands in planetary atmospheres

Measurements of the temperature dependence between 77 and 333 K of the infrared spectrum of cyclic octatomic sulfur are reported. It is suggested that the 23 micrometer Jovian feature is not due to 3 sub 8 and that the temperature dependence of the frequency of the 835/cm band of S sub 8 may be a useful temperature marker in planetary studies

Long wavelength ultraviolet photoproduction of amino acids on the primitive earth

Amino acids produced by long UV irradiation of gas mixtures using hydrogen sulfide as initial photon acceptor, simulating prebiological earth condition

Exobiology and the origin of life

Abstracts on planetary studies and the search for extraterrestrial life are presented. Studies of the Jovian atmosphere were conducted. An assessment of the prospects for life on Mars is presented. And, the the means of contacting extraterrestrial civilizations is discussed

Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking and the Renormalization of the Chern-Simons Term

We calculate the one-loop perturbative correction to the coefficient of the \cs term in non-abelian gauge theory in the presence of Higgs fields, with a variety of symmetry-breaking structures. In the case of a residual $U(1)$ symmetry, radiative corrections do not change the coefficient of the \cs term. In the case of an unbroken non-abelian subgroup, the coefficient of the relevant \cs term (suitably normalized) attains an integral correction, as required for consistency of the quantum theory. Interestingly, this coefficient arises purely from the unbroken non-abelian sector in question; the orthogonal sector makes no contribution. This implies that the coefficient of the \cs term is a discontinuous function over the phase diagram of the theory.Comment: Version to be published in Phys Lett B., minor additional change

Organic synthesis in the outer Solar System: Recent laboratory simulations for Titan, the Jovian planets, Triton and comets

We tabulate the most abundant gases and their radiation yields, for two experimental pressures: 0.24 mb, more relevant to upper atmosphere excitation, and 17 mb, more relevant to tropospheric, cosmic ray excitation. The yields computed in the 0.24 mb experiment combined with measured electronic fluxes and a simple, eddy diffusion model of Titan's atmosphere predict abundances of detected molecules in agreement with those found by Voyager and for heavier products, in somewhat better agreement with observation than photochemical absolute reaction rate kinetics models. All Voyager organics are accounted for and no detectable products are found that Voyager did not detect. A striking increase of products with multiple bonds is found with decreasing pressure. Hydrocarbon abundances decline slowly with increasing carbon number. Additionally, we list preliminary estimates for the yield of the heteropolymer, which seems to be produced in a quantity comparable (in moles of C+N consumed) to the total amount of gaseous product. The production rate required to sustain Titan's haze against sedimentation also indicates yields of this order. As can be seen from the table, over 10(exp 9) years substantial amounts of these products can accumulate on the surface -- ranging from cm thickness for the (C+N equals 4) species to a meter or more for HCN and C2H2; we also expect a meter or more of tholins. Similar analyses have been or are being done for the Jovian planets and Triton. Charged particle irradiation of hydrocarbon clathrates or mixed hydrocarbon/water ices produces a range of organic products, reddening and darkening of the ices and characteristic infrared spectra. From such spectra, the predicted emission by fine particles in cometary comae well-matches the observed 3.4 micron emission spectra of Comet Halley and other recent comets. Heliocentric evolution of organic emission features in comets is predicted. Organic products of such ice irradiation may account for colors and albedos on some of the satellites in the outer solar system, especially Triton and Pluto, where solid methane is known to exist