arXiv subjects

A. Widom

Publications and source records attributed to A. Widom.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Asymptotic Infrared Fractal Structure of the Propagator for a Charged Fermion

It is well known that the long-range nature of the Coulomb interaction makes the definition of asymptotic ``in'' and ``out'' states of charged particles problematic in quantum field theory. In particular, the notion of a simple particle pole in the vacuum charged particle propagator is untenable and should be replaced by a more complicated branch cut structure describing an electron interacting with a possibly infinite number of soft photons. Previous work suggests a Dirac propagator raised to a fractional power dependent upon the fine structure constant, however the exponent has not been calculated in a unique gauge invariant manner. It has even been suggested that the fractal ``anomalous dimension'' can be removed by a gauge transformation. Here, a gauge invariant non-perturbative calculation will be discussed yielding an unambiguous fractional exponent. The closely analogous case of soft graviton exponents is also briefly explored.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Concepts of Intertial and Gravitational Mass

The general relativistic notion of gravitational and inertial mass is discussed from the general viewpoint of the tidal forces implicit in the curvature and the Einstein field equations within ponderable matter. A simple yet rigorously general derivation is given for the Tolman gravitational mass viewpoint wherein the computation of gravitational mass requires both a rest energy contribution (the inertial mass) and a pressure contribution. The pressure contribution is extremely small under normal conditions which implies the equality of gravitational and inertial mass to a high degree of accuracy. However, the pressure contribution is substantial for conformal symmetric systems such as Maxwell radiation, whose constituent photons are massless. Implications of the Tolman mass for standard cosmology and standard high energy particle physics models are briefly explored.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Nuclear Abundances in Metallic Hydride Electrodes of Electrolytic Chemical Cells

Low energy nuclear transmutations have been reported in experimental chemical electrolytic cells employing metallic hydride electrodes. Assuming that the nuclear transmutations are induced by ultra-low momentum neutron absorption, the expected chemical cell nuclear abundances are discussed on the basis of a neutron optical potential model. The theoretical results are in satisfactory agreement with available experimental chemical cell data. Some implications of these laboratory nuclear transmutations for r- s-process models of the neutron induced solar system and galactic nuclear abundance are briefly explored.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Two-Time Correlation Functions: Stochastic and Conventional Quantum Mechanics

An investigation of two-time correlation functions is reported within the framework of (i) Stochastic Quantum Mechanics and (ii) conventional Heisenberg-Schrödinger Quantum Mechanics. The spectral functions associated with the two-time electric dipole correlation functions are worked out in detail for the case of the hydrogen atom. While the single time averages are identical for stochastic and conventional quantum mechanics, differences arise in the two approaches for multiple time correlation functions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Thermally Activated Processes in Polymer Glasses

A derivation is given for the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann thermal activation law for the glassy state of a bulk polymer. Our microscopic considerations involve the entropy of closed polymer molecular chains (i.e. polymer closed strings). For thin film polymer glasses, one obtains open polymer strings in that the boundary surfaces serve as possible string endpoint locations. The Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann thermal activation law thereby holds true for a bulk polymer glass but is modified in the neighborhood of the boundaries of thin film polymers.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

High Mass Particles Near Threshold

A consequence of the Higgs mechanism is that high mass particles, such as the Z-boson, the W-boson and the t-quark, are predicted to have masses that depend on the process by which they are produced. Thus, for example, particles produced singly are predicted to have higher masses than those produced in a pair near threshold. Quantitative details of this prediction are presented and discussed within the context of the current experimental situation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Probing the Higgs Field Using Massive Particles as Sources and Detectors

In the Standard Model, all massive elementary particles acquire their masses by coupling to a background Higgs field with a non-zero vacuum expectation value. What is often overlooked is that each massive particle is also a source of the Higgs field. A given particle can in principle shift the mass of a neighboring particle. The mass shift effect goes beyond the usual perturbative Feynman diagram calculations which implicitly assume that the mass of each particle is rigidly fixed. Local mass shifts offer a unique handle on Higgs physics since they do not require the production of on-shell Higgs bosons. We provide theoretical estimates showing that the mass shift effect can be large and measurable, especially near pair threshold, at both the Tevatron and the LHC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Absorption of Nuclear Gamma Radiation by Heavy Electrons on Metallic Hydride Surfaces

Low energy nuclear reactions in the neighborhood of metallic hydride surfaces may be induced by ultra-low momentum neutrons. Heavy electrons are absorbed by protons or deuterons producing ultra low momentum neutrons and neutrinos. The required electron mass renormalization is provided by the interaction between surface electron plasma oscillations and surface proton oscillations. The resulting neutron catalyzed low energy nuclear reactions emit copious prompt gamma radiation. The heavy electrons which induce the initially produced neutrons also strongly absorb the prompt nuclear gamma radiation, re-emitting soft photons. Nuclear hard photon radiation away from the metallic hydride surfaces is thereby strongly suppressed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Final State Interactions and the Effects of Potentials on Particle Reactions

In nuclear physics, it is well known that the electromagnetic (Coulomb) interaction between final state products can drastically effect particle reaction rates. Near thresholds, for example, nuclear alpha decay is suppressed while nuclear beta decay is enhanced by final state Coulomb interactions. Here we discuss high energy physics enhancement and/or suppression of reactions wherein the potentials must include weak and strong as well as electromagnetic interactions. Potentials due to the exchange of gluons and the exchange of a hypothetical Higgs particle are explicitly considered.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Thermal Time Scales in a Color Glass Condensate

In a model of relativistic heavy ion collisions wherein the unconfined quark-gluon plasma is condensed into glass, we derive the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann cooling law. This law is well known to hold true in condensed matter glasses. The high energy plasma is initially created in a very hot negative temperature state and cools down to the Hagedorn glass temperature at an ever decreasing rate. The cooling rate is largely determined by the QCD string tension derived from hadronic Regge trajectories. The ultimately slow relaxation time is a defining characteristic of a color glass condensate.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Ultra Low Momentum Neutron Catalyzed Nuclear Reactions on Metallic Hydride Surfaces

Ultra low momentum neutron catalyzed nuclear reactions in metallic hydride system surfaces are discussed. Weak interaction catalysis initially occurs when neutrons (along with neutrinos) are produced from the protons which capture ``heavy'' electrons. Surface electron masses are shifted upwards by localized condensed matter electromagnetic fields. Condensed matter quantum electrodynamic processes may also shift the densities of final states allowing an appreciable production of extremely low momentum neutrons which are thereby efficiently absorbed by nearby nuclei. No Coulomb barriers exist for the weak interaction neutron production or other resulting catalytic processes.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Snell's Law from an Elementary Particle Viewpoint

Snell's law of light deflection between media with different indices of refraction is usually discussed in terms of the Maxwell electromagnetic wave theory. Snell's law may also be derived from a photon beam theory of light rays. This latter particle physics view is by far the most simple one for understanding the laws of refraction.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2004

The Role of Molecular Quantum Electrodynamics in Linear Aggregations of Red Blood Cells

Despite the fact that red blood cells carry negative charges, under certain conditions they form cylindrical stacks, or ``rouleaux''. It is shown here that a form of the Casimir effect, generalizing the more well-known van der Waals forces, can provide the necessary attractive force to balance the electrostatic repulsion. Erythrocytes in plasma are modelled as negatively charged dielectric disks in an ionic solution, allowing predictions to be made about the conditions under which rouleaux will form. The results show qualitative and quantitative agreement with observations, and suggest new experiments and further applications to other biological systems, colloid chemistry and nanotechnology.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2004

Quantum Drag Forces on a Sphere Moving Through a Rarefied Gas

As an application of quantum fluid mechanics, we consider the drag force exerted on a sphere by an ultra-dilute gas. Quantum mechanical diffraction scattering theory enters in that regime wherein the mean free path of a molecule in the gas is large compared with the sphere radius. The drag force is computed in a model specified by the ``sticking fraction'' of events in which a gaseous molecule is adsorbed by the spherical surface. Classical inelastic scattering theory is shown to be inadequate for physically reasonable sticking fraction values. The quantum mechanical scattering drag force is exhibited theoretically and compared with experimental data.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Fluid Mechanical and Electrical Fluctuation Forces in Colloids

Fluctuations in fluid velocity and fluctuations in electric fields may both give rise to forces acting on small particles in colloidal suspensions. Such forces in part determine the thermodynamic stability of the colloid. At the classical statistical thermodynamic level, the fluid velocity and electric field contributions to the forces are comparable in magnitude. When quantum fluctuation effects are taken into account, the electric fluctuation induced van der Waals forces dominate those induced by purely fluid mechanical motions. The physical principles are applied in detail for the case of colloidal particle attraction to the walls of the suspension container and more briefly for the case of forces between colloidal particles.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2004

Radiative Phase Transitions and Casmir Effect Instabilities

Molecular quantum electrodynamics leads to photon frequency shifts and thus to changes in condensed matter free energies often called the Casimir effect. Strong quantum electrodynamic coupling between radiation and molecular motions can lead to an instability beyond which one or more photon oscillators undergo a displacement phase transition. The phase boundary of the transition can be located by a Casimir free energy instability.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2004

Electronic Detection of Gravitational Disturbances and Collective Coulomb Interactions

The cross section for a gravitational wave antenna to absorb a graviton may be directly expressed in terms of the non-local viscous response function of the metallic crystal. Crystal viscosity is dominated by electronic processes which then also dominate the graviton absorption rate. To compute this rate from a microscopic Hamiltonian, one must include the full Coulomb interaction in the Maxwell electric field pressure and also allow for strongly non-adiabatic transitions in the electronic kinetic pressure. The view that the electrons and phonons constitute ideal gases with a weak electron phonon interaction is not sufficiently accurate for estimating the full strength of the electronic interaction with a gravitational wave.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Gravitational Waves and the Sagnac Effect

We consider light waves propagating clockwise and other light waves propagating counterclockwise around a closed path in a plane (theoretically with the help of stationary mirrors). The time difference between the two light propagating path orientations constitutes the Sagnac effect. The general relativistic expression for the Sagnac effect is discussed. It is shown that a gravitational wave incident to the light beams at an arbitrary angle will not induce a Sagnac effect so long as the wave length of the weak gravitational wave is long on the length scale of the closed light beam paths. The gravitational wave induced Sagnac effect is thereby null.

gr-qc↗