Field Theory Approaches to Nonequilibrium Dynamics

It is explained how field-theoretic methods and the dynamic renormalisation group (RG) can be applied to study the universal scaling properties of systems that either undergo a continuous phase transition or display generic scale invariance, both near and far from thermal equilibrium. Part 1 introduces the response functional field theory representation of (nonlinear) Langevin equations. The RG is employed to compute the scaling exponents for several universality classes governing the critical dynamics near second-order phase transitions in equilibrium. The effects of reversible mode-coupling terms, quenching from random initial conditions to the critical point, and violating the detailed balance constraints are briefly discussed. It is shown how the same formalism can be applied to nonequilibrium systems such as driven diffusive lattice gases. Part 2 describes how the master equation for stochastic particle reaction processes can be mapped onto a field theory action. The RG is then used to analyse simple diffusion-limited annihilation reactions as well as generic continuous transitions from active to inactive, absorbing states, which are characterised by the power laws of (critical) directed percolation. Certain other important universality classes are mentioned, and some open issues are listed.Comment: 54 pages, 9 figures, Lecture Notes for Luxembourg Summer School "Ageing and the Glass Transition", submitted to Springer Lecture Notes in Physics (www.springeronline/com/series/5304/

Spectroscopic observations of sn 2012fr: A luminous, normal type Ia supernova with early high-velocity features and a late velocity plateau

We present 65 optical spectra of the Type Ia SN 2012fr, 33 of which were obtained before maximum light. At early times, SN 2012fr shows clear evidence of a high-velocity feature (HVF) in the Si lambda 6355 line that can be cleanly decoupled from the lower velocity 'photospheric' component. This Si lambda 6355 HVF fades by phase - 5; subsequently, the photospheric component exhibits a very narrow velocity width and remains at a nearly constant velocity of similar to 12,000 km s(-1) until at least five weeks after maximum brightness. The Ca II infrared triplet exhibits similar evidence for both a photospheric component at v approximate to 12,000 km s(-1) with narrow line width and long velocity plateau, as well as an HVF beginning at v approximate to 31,000 km s(-1) two weeks before maximum. SN 2012fr resides on the border between the 'shallow silicon' and 'core-normal' subclasses in the Branch et al. classification scheme, and on the border between normal and high-velocity Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) in the Wang et al. system. Though it is a clear member of the 'low velocity gradient' group of SNe Ia and exhibits a very slow light-curve decline, it shows key dissimilarities with the overluminous SN 1991T or SN 1999aa subclasses of SNe Ia. SN 2012fr represents a well-observed SN Ia at the luminous end of the normal SN Ia distribution and a key transitional event between nominal spectroscopic subclasses of SNe Ia

Prompt and non-prompt J/psi elliptic flow in Pb plus Pb collisions at root S-NN=5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The elliptic flow of prompt and non-prompt J/ \u3c8 was measured in the dimuon decay channel in Pb+Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 0.42nb-1 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The prompt and non-prompt signals are separated using a two-dimensional simultaneous fit of the invariant mass and pseudo-proper decay time of the dimuon system from the J/ \u3c8 decay. The measurement is performed in the kinematic range of dimuon transverse momentum and rapidity 9 < pT< 30 GeV , | y| < 2 , and 0\u201360% collision centrality. The elliptic flow coefficient, v2, is evaluated relative to the event plane and the results are presented as a function of transverse momentum, rapidity and centrality. It is found that prompt and non-prompt J/ \u3c8 mesons have non-zero elliptic flow. Prompt J/ \u3c8v2 decreases as a function of pT, while for non-prompt J/ \u3c8 it is, with limited statistical significance, consistent with a flat behaviour over the studied kinematic region. There is no observed dependence on rapidity or centrality

Mutation categories

This chapter presents a new and simple system of mutation classification focusing on mutations of most interest to plant breeding, which are predominantly those in the DNA of the nucleus. The division of nuclear mutations into genome, chromosome and gene mutations are discussed and their further subdivision based on changes in number and composition are highlighted

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of a coastal flood risk modelling chain

This paper describes the application of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques to a coastal flood risk modelling chain to a site on the south coast of England. The modelling chain comprises multivariate extreme value modelling of sea conditions. Whilst this technique is now well-established, it is well-known that significant uncertainties arise when extrapolating historical datasets to extremes. Whilst these uncertainties can, to a certain extent, be evaluated through the statistical model fitting process, the resulting confidence limits are rarely utilised in practice. The analysis described here evaluates the uncertainty associated with the statistical extrapolation to extremes. This uncertainty is then propagated through a modelling chain that comprises: Wave transformation; Wave overtopping; Flood inundation; Economic damage. Each model component within a model chain has uncertainty associated with it. This includes uncertainty relating to the input data and the formulation of the model component itself, sometimes referred to as model structural uncertainty. To date, however, the overall uncertainty associated with the output of a chain of coastal flood models is not well understood. In this study the uncertainty associated with the multivariate extreme value model has been combined with uncertainty from these other model components, to provide estimates of uncertainty on flood risk. Sensitivity analysis is related to uncertainty analysis. The objective of the sensitivity analysis undertaken in this context is to gain an insight into which sources of uncertainty (both model components and data) within the modelling chain are most important in terms of contributing to the overall output uncertainty. So, for example, at the site analysed, it is possible to answer questions like “is the uncertainty associated with the multivariate extrapolation to extremes more influential than the uncertainty associated with the wave transformation model?” This information can then be used to support decisions relating to prioritisation of data collection and model component improvement activities. A generic technique, Variance Based Sensitivity Analysis (VBSA), has been applied to the modelling chain. The analysis shows that at this site the uncertainty associated with the wave overtopping model dominates all other sources