Counting real rational functions with all real critical values

We study the number of real rational degree n functions (considered up to linear fractional transformations of the independent variable) with a given set of 2n-2 distinct real critical values. We present a combinatorial reformulation of this number and pose several related questions.Comment: 12 pages (AMSTEX), 3 picture

Differential Distributions in Semileptonic Decays of the Heavy Flavors in QCD

Several references added, typos corrected.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures (postscript file is available from the authors), plain LaTeX, NSF-ITP-93-68, TPI-MINN-93/33-T, UMN-TH-1208/9

Loop-Less Electric Dipole Moment of the Nucleon in the Standard Model

We point out that the electric dipole moment of the neutron in the Standard Model is generated already at tree level to the second order in the weak interactions due to bound-state effects, without short-distance Penguin loops. The related contribution has a regular nonvanishing chiral limit and does not depend on the mass splitting between s and d quarks. We estimate it to be roughly 10^(-31)e*cm and expect a more accurate evaluation in the future. We comment on the connection between d_n and the direct CP-violation in D decays.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Compressible hydromagnetic nonlinearities in the predecoupling plasma

The adiabatic inhomogeneities of the scalar curvature lead to a compressible flow affecting the dynamics of the hydromagnetic nonlinearities. The influence of the plasma on the evolution of a putative magnetic field is explored with the aim of obtaining an effective description valid for sufficiently large scales. The bulk velocity of the plasma, computed in the framework of the LambdaCDM scenario, feeds back into the evolution of the magnetic power spectra leading to a (nonlocal) master equation valid in Fourier space and similar to the ones discussed in the context of wave turbulence. Conversely, in physical space, the magnetic power spectra obey a Schroedinger-like equation whose effective potential depends on the large-scale curvature perturbations. Explicit solutions are presented both in physical space and in Fourier space. It is argued that curvature inhomogeneities, compatible with the WMAP 7yr data, shift to lower wavenumbers the magnetic diffusivity scale.Comment: 29 page

Scalar Quarkonia at Finite Temperature

Masses and decay constants of the scalar quarkonia, $\chi_{Q0} (Q=b,c)$ with quantum numbers $I^G(J^{PC})=0^{+}(0^{++})$ are calculated in the framework of the QCD sum rules approach both in vacuum and finite temperature. The masses and decay constants remain unchanged up to $T\simeq100~MeV$ but they start to diminish with increasing the temperature after this point. At near the critic or deconfinement temperature, the decay constants reach approximately to 25% of their values in vacuum, while the masses are decreased about 6% and 23% for bottom and charm cases, respectively. The results at zero temperature are in a good consistency with the existing experimental values and predictions of the other nonperturbative approaches. Our predictions on the decay constants in vacuum as well as the behavior of the masses and decay constants with respect to the temperature can be checked in the future experiments.Comment: 12 Pages, 9 Figures and 2 Table

Rapid dissipation of magnetic fields due to Hall current

We propose a mechanism for the fast dissipation of magnetic fields which is effective in a stratified medium where ion motions can be neglected. In such a medium, the field is frozen into the electrons and Hall currents prevail. Although Hall currents conserve magnetic energy, in the presence of density gradients, they are able to create current sheets which can be the sites for efficient dissipation of magnetic fields. We recover the frequency, $\omega_{MH}$, for Hall oscillations modified by the presence of density gradients. We show that these oscillations can lead to the exchange of energy between different components of the field. We calculate the time evolution and show that magnetic fields can dissipate on a timescale of order $1/\omega_{MH}$. This mechanism can play an important role for magnetic dissipation in systems with very steep density gradients where the ions are static such as those found in the solid crust of neutron stars.Comment: 9 pages, changed fig.

1/N_c corrections to the magnetic susceptibility of the QCD vacuum

We investigate the magnetic susceptibility of the QCD vacuum with the $1/N_c$ corrections taken into account, based on the instanton vacuum. Starting from the instanton liquid model we derive the gauged light-quark partition function in the presence of the current quark mass as well as of external Abelian vector and tensor fields. We consider the $1/N_c$ meson-loop corrections which are shown to contribute to the magnetic susceptibility by around 15% for the up (and down) quarks. We also take into account the tensor terms of the quark-quark interaction from the instanton vacuum as well as the finite-width effects, both of which are of order $\mathcal{O}(1/N_c)$. The effects of the tensor terms and finite width turn out to be negligibly small. The final results for the up-quarks are given as: $\chi_0 \simeq 35-40 \mathrm{MeV}$ with the quark condensate $_0$. We also discuss the pion mass dependence of the magnetic susceptibility in order to give a qualitative guideline for the chiral extrapolation of lattice data.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures. Final version to appear in Phys. Rev.