Transport properties and structures of vortex matter in layered superconductors

In this paper we analyze the structure, phase transitions and some transport properties of the vortex system when the external magnetic field lies parallel to the planes in layered superconductors. We show that experimental results for resistivity are qualitatively consistent with numerical simulations that describe the melting of a commensurate rotated lattice. However for some magnetic fields, the structure factor indicates the occurrence of smectic peaks at an intermediate temperature regime.Comment: 8 pages, 8 eps figure

Mergers of Black Hole -- Neutron Star binaries. I. Methods and First Results

We use a 3-D relativistic SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) code to study mergers of black hole -- neutron star (BH--NS) binary systems with low mass ratios, adopting $M_{NS}/M_{BH} \simeq 0.1$ as a representative case. The outcome of such mergers depends sensitively on both the magnitude of the BH spin and its obliquity (i.e., the inclination of the binary orbit with respect to the equatorial plane of the BH). In particular, only systems with sufficiently high BH spin parameter $a$ and sufficiently low orbital inclinations allow any NS matter to escape or to form a long-lived disk outside the BH horizon after disruption. Mergers of binaries with orbital inclinations above $\sim60^o$ lead to complete prompt accretion of the entire NS by the BH, even for the case of an extreme Kerr BH. We find that the formation of a significant disk or torus of NS material around the BH always requires a near-maximal BH spin and a low initial inclination of the NS orbit just prior to merger.Comment: to appear in ApJ, 54 pages, 19 figure

Numerical Analysis of the Big Bounce in Loop Quantum Cosmology

Loop quantum cosmology homogeneous models with a massless scalar field show that the big-bang singularity can be replaced by a big quantum bounce. To gain further insight on the nature of this bounce, we study the semi-discrete loop quantum gravity Hamiltonian constraint equation from the point of view of numerical analysis. For illustration purposes, we establish a numerical analogy between the quantum bounces and reflections in finite difference discretizations of wave equations triggered by the use of nonuniform grids or, equivalently, reflections found when solving numerically wave equations with varying coefficients. We show that the bounce is closely related to the method for the temporal update of the system and demonstrate that explicit time-updates in general yield bounces. Finally, we present an example of an implicit time-update devoid of bounces and show back-in-time, deterministic evolutions that reach and partially jump over the big-bang singularity.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, new title, replaced with version accepted for publicatio

Modelling the light-curves of objects tidally disrupted by a black hole

Tidal disruption by massive black holes is a phenomenon, during which a large part of gravitational energy can be released on a very short time-scale. The time-scales and energies involved during X-ray and IR flares observed in Galactic centre suggest that they may be related to tidal disruption events. Furthermore, aftermath of a tidal disruption of a star by super-massive black hole has been observed in some galaxies, e.g. RX J1242.6-1119A. All these discoveries increased the demand for tools for tidal disruption study in curved space-time. Here we summarise our study of general relativistic effects on tidal deformation of stars and compact objects.Comment: 2 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the JENAM 2008, Symposium 7: "Grand Challenges in Computational Astrophysics