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Peter Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Taylor.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2017

A Mode-Sum Prescription for Vacuum Polarization in Even Dimensions

We present a mode-sum regularization prescription for computing the vacuum polarization of a scalar field in static spherically-symmetric black hole spacetimes in even dimensions. This is the first general and systematic approach to regularized vacuum polarization in higher even dimensions, building upon a previous scheme we developed for odd dimensions. Things are more complicated here since the even-dimensional propagator possesses logarithmic singularities which must be regularized. However, in spite of this complication, the regularization parameters can be computed in closed form in arbitrary even dimensions and for arbitrary metric function $f(r)$. As an explicit example of our method, we show plots for vacuum polarization of a massless scalar field in the Schwarzschild-Tangherlini spacetime for even $d=4,...,10$. However, the method presented applies straightforwardly to massive fields or to nonvacuum spacetimes.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2017

Self-forces in arbitrary dimensions

Bodies coupled to electromagnetic or other long-range fields are subject to radiation reaction and other effects in which their own fields can influence their motion. Self-force phenomena such as these have been poorly understood for spacetime dimensions not equal to four, despite the relevance of differing dimensionalities for holographic duals, effectively two-dimensional condensed matter and fluid systems, and so on. We remedy this by showing that forces and torques acting on extended electromagnetic charges in all dimensions $d \geq 3$ have the same functional form as the usual test body expressions, except that the electromagnetic field appearing in those expressions is not the physical one; it is an effective surrogate. For arbitrary even $d \geq 4$, our surrogate field locally satisfies the source-free field equations, and is conceptually very similar to what arises in the Detweiler-Whiting prescription previously established when $d=4$. The odd-dimensional case is different, involving effective fields which are not necessarily source-free. Moreover, we find a 1-parameter family of natural effective fields for each odd $d$, where the free parameter--a lengthscale--is degenerate with (finite) renormalizations of a body's stress-energy tensor. While different parameter choices can result in different forces, they do so without affecting physical observables. Having established these general results, explicit point-particle self-forces are derived in odd-dimensional Minkowski spacetimes. Simple examples are discussed for $d=3$ and $d=5$, one of which illustrates that the particularly slow decay of fields in three spacetime dimensions results in particles creating their own "preferred rest frames:" Initially-static charges which are later perturbed have a strong tendency to return to rest. Our results easily extend also to the scalar and gravitational self-force problems.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2017

Dark matter dynamics in Abell 3827: new data consistent with standard Cold Dark Matter

We present integral field spectroscopy of galaxy cluster Abell 3827, using ALMA and VLT/MUSE. It reveals an unusual configuration of strong gravitational lensing in the cluster core, with at least seven lensed images of a single background spiral galaxy. Lens modelling based on HST imaging had suggested that the dark matter associated with one of the cluster's central galaxies may be offset. The new spectroscopic data enable better subtraction of foreground light, and better identification of multiple background images. The inferred distribution of dark matter is consistent with being centered on the galaxies, as expected by LCDM. Each galaxy's dark matter also appears to be symmetric. Whilst we do not find an offset between mass and light (suggestive of self-interacting dark matter) as previously reported, the numerical simulations that have been performed to calibrate Abell 3827 indicate that offsets and asymmetry are still worth looking for in collisions with particular geometries. Meanwhile, ALMA proves exceptionally useful for strong lens image identifications.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2017

A test for skewed distributions of dark matter and a possible detection in galaxy cluster Abell 3827

Simulations of self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) predict that dark matter should lag behind galaxies during a collision. If the interaction is mediated by a high-mass force carrier, the distribution of dark matter can also develop asymmetric dark matter tails. To search for this asymmetry, we compute the gravitational lensing properties of a mass distribution with a free {\em skewness} parameter. We apply this to the dark matter around the four central galaxies in cluster Abell~3827. In the galaxy whose dark matter peak has previously been found to be offset, we tentatively measure a skewness $s=0.23^{+0.05}_{-0.22}$ in the same direction as the peak offset. Our method may be useful in future gravitational lensing analyses of colliding galaxy clusters and merging galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2017

The time-dependent expected reward and deviation matrix of a finite QBD process

Deriving the time-dependent expected reward function associated with a continuous-time Markov chain involves the computation of its transient deviation matrix. In this paper we focus on the special case of a finite quasi-birth-and-death (QBD) process, motivated by the desire to compute the expected revenue lost in a MAP/PH/1/C queue. We use two different approaches in this context. The first is based on the solution of a finite system of matrix difference equations; it provides an expression for the blocks of the expected reward vector, the deviation matrix, and the mean first passage time matrix. The second approach, based on some results in the perturbation theory of Markov chains, leads to a recursive method to compute the full deviation matrix of a finite QBD process. We compare the two approaches using some numerical examples.

math.PR↗
arXiv2016

A Mode-Sum Prescription for Vacuum Polarization in Odd Dimensions

We present a new mode-sum regularization prescription for computing the vacuum polarization of a scalar field in static spherically-symmetric black hole spacetimes in odd dimensions. This is the first general and systematic approach to regularized vacuum polarization in higher dimensions. Remarkably, the regularization parameters can be computed in closed form in arbitrary dimensions and for arbitrary metric function $f(r)$. In fact, we show that in spite of the increasing severity and number of the divergences to be regularized, the method presented is mostly agnostic to the number of dimensions. Finally, as an explicit example of our method, we show plots for vacuum polarization in the Schwarzschild-Tangherlini spacetime for odd $d=5,...,11$.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

Propagation of Test Particles and Scalar Fields on a Class of Wormhole Space-Times

In this paper, we consider the problem of test particles and test scalar fields propagating on the background of a class of wormhole space-times. For test particles, we solve for arbitrary causal geodesics in terms of integrals which are solved numerically. These integrals are parametrized by the radius and shape of the wormhole throat as well as the initial conditions of the geodesic trajectory. In terms of these parameters, we compute the conditions for the geodesic to traverse the wormhole, to be reflected by the wormhole's potential or to be captured on an unstable bound orbit at the wormhole's throat. These causal geodesics are visualized by embedding plots in Euclidean space in cylindrical coordinates. For massless test scalar fields, we compute transmission coefficients and quasi-normal modes for arbitrary coupling of the field to the background geometry in the WKB approximation. We show that solutions of the scalar wave equation on this class of wormholes are stable only for certain values of the coupling constant. This analysis is interesting since recent computations of self-interactions of a static scalar field in wormhole space-times reveal some anomalous dependence on the coupling constant such as the existence of an infinite discrete set of poles. We show that this pathological behavior of the self-field is an artifact of computing the interaction for values of the coupling constant that do not lie in the domain of stability.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

Self-forces on static bodies in arbitrary dimensions

We derive exact expressions for the scalar and electromagnetic self-forces and self-torques acting on arbitrary static extended bodies in arbitrary static spacetimes with any number of dimensions. Non-perturbatively, our results are identical in all dimensions. Meaningful point particle limits are quite different in different dimensions, however. These limits are defined and evaluated, resulting in simple "regularization algorithms" which can be used in concrete calculations. In these limits, self-interaction is shown to be progressively less important in higher numbers of dimensions; it generically competes in magnitude with increasingly high-order extended-body effects. Conversely, we show that self-interaction effects can be relatively large in $1+1$ and $2+1$ dimensions. Our motivations for this work are twofold: First, no previous derivation of the self-force has been provided in arbitrary dimensions, and heuristic arguments presented by different authors have resulted in conflicting conclusions. Second, the static self-force problem in arbitrary dimensions provides a valuable testbed with which to continue the development of general, non-perturbative methods in the theory of motion. Several new insights are obtained in this direction, including a significantly improved understanding of the renormalization process. We also show that there is considerable freedom to use different "effective fields" in the laws of motion---a freedom which can be exploited to optimally simplify specific problems. Different choices give rise to different inertias, gravitational forces, and electromagnetic or scalar self-forces, but there is a sense in which none of these quantities are individually accessible to experiment. Certain combinations are observable, however, and these remain invariant under all possible field redefinitions.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

Counting distinct dimer hex tilings

The combinatorics of tilings of a hexagon of integer side-length $n$ by 120 degree - 60 degree diamonds of side-length 1 has a long history, both directly (as a problem of interest in thermodynamic models) and indirectly (through the equivalence to plane partitions). Formulae as products of factorials have been conjectured and, one by one, proven for the number of such tilings under each of the symmetries of the hexagon. However, when this note was written the entry for the number of distinct such tilings in the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS) consisted of little more than a table for $0 \le n \le 4$ and a brief discussion of those values. The aim of this note is to pull together the relevant facts.

math.CO↗
arXiv2016

Modelling modal gating of ion channels with hierarchical Markov models

Many ion channels spontaneously switch between different levels of activity. Although this behaviour known as modal gating has been observed for a long time it is currently not well understood. Despite the fact that appropriately representing activity changes is essential for accurately capturing time course data from ion channels, systematic approaches for modelling modal gating are currently not available. In this paper, we develop a modular approach for building such a model in an iterative process. First, stochastic switching between modes and stochastic opening and closing within modes are represented in separate aggregated Markov models. Second, the continuous-time hierarchical Markov model, a new modelling framework proposed here, then enables us to combine these components so that in the integrated model both mode switching as well as the kinetics within modes are appropriately represented. A mathematical analysis reveals that the behaviour of the hierarchical Markov model naturally depends on the properties of its components. We also demonstrate how a hierarchical Markov model can be parameterised using experimental data and show that it provides a better representation than a previous model of the same data set. Because evidence is increasing that modal gating reflects underlying molecular properties of the channel protein, it is likely that biophysical processes are better captured by our new approach than in earlier models.

q-bio.QM↗
arXiv2015

Static Self-Forces in a Five-Dimensional Black Hole Spacetime

We obtain the electric field and scalar field for a static point charge in closed form in the 5D Schwarzschild-Tangherlini black hole spacetime. We then compute the static self-force in each of these cases by assuming that the appropriate singular field is a 4D Hadamard Green's function on the constant time Riemannian slice. It is well known that the Hadamard Green's function involves an arbitrary regular biscalar $W_{0}(x,x')$, whose coincidence limit $w(x)$ appears in the expression for the self-force. We develop an axiomatic approach to reduce this arbitrary function to a single arbitrary dimensionless coefficient. We show that in the context of this approach to regularization, the self-force does not depend on any undetermined length-scale and need not depend on the internal structure of the charge.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

How old is this bird? The age distribution under some phase sampling schemes

In this paper, we use a finite-state continuous-time Markov chain with one absorbing state to model an individual's lifetime. Under this model, the time of death follows a phase-type distribution, and the transient states of the Markov chain are known as phases. We then attempt to provide an answer to the simple question "What is the conditional age distribution of the individual, given its current phase"? We show that the answer depends on how we interpret the question, and in particular, on the phase observation scheme under consideration. We then apply our results to the computation of the age pyramid for the endangered Chatham Island black robin Petroica traversi during years of intensive conservation efforts in 1980-1989.

math.PR↗
arXiv2013

The Second Order Terms of the Variance Curves for Some Queueing Output Processes

We consider queueing output processes of some elementary queueing models such as the M/M/1/K queue and the M/G/1 queue. An important performance measure for these counting processes is their variance curve, indicating the variance of the number of served customers over a time interval. Recent work has revealed some non-trivial properties dealing with the asymptotic rate at which the variance curve grows. In this paper we add to the results by finding explicit expressions for the second order approximation of the variance curve, namely the y-intercept of the linear asymptote. For M/M/1/K queues our results are based on the Drazin inverse of the generator. It turns out that by viewing output processes as MAPs (Markovian Arrival Processes) and considering the Drazin inverse, one can obtain explicit expressions for the y-intercept, together with some further insight regarding the BRAVO effect (Balancing Reduces Asymptotic Variance of Outputs). For M/G/1 queues our results are based on a classic transform of D.J. Daley. In this case we represent the y-intercept of the variance curve in terms of the first three moments of the service time distribution. A further performance measure that we are able to calculate for both models, is the asymptotic covariance between the queue length and the number of arrivals or departures. In addition we shed light on a classic conjecture of Daley, dealing with characterization of stationary M/M/1 queues within the class of stationary M/G/1 queues, based on the variance curve.

math.PR↗
arXiv2012

Self-force on an arbitrarily coupled static scalar particle in a wormhole space-time

In this paper, we consider the problem of computing the self-force and self-energy for a static scalar charge in a wormhole space-time with throat profile $r(ρ)=\sqrt{ρ^{2}+a^{2}}$ for arbitrary coupling of the field to the curvature. This calculation has previously been considered numerically by Bezerra and Khusnutdinov, while analytic results have been obtained in the special cases of minimal ($ξ=0$) coupling and conformal coupling ($ξ=1/8$ in three dimensions). We present here a closed form expression for the static Green's function for arbitrary coupling and hence we obtain an analytic expression for the self-force. The self-force depends crucially on the coupling of the field to the curvature of the space-time and hence it is useful to determine the dependence explicitly. The numerical computation can identify some qualitative aspects of this dependence such as the change in the sign of the force as it passes through the conformally coupled value, as well as the fact that the self-force diverges for $ξ=1/2$. From the closed form expression, it is straight-forward to see that there is an infinite set of values of the coupling constant for which the self-force diverges, but we also see that there is an infinite set of values for which the self-force vanishes.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Quantum field theory on the Bertotti-Robinson space-time

We consider the problem of quantum field theory on the Bertotti-Robinson space-time, which arises naturally as the near horizon geometry of an extremal Reissner-Nordstrom black hole but can also arise in certain near-horizon limits of non-extremal Reissner Nordstrom space-time. The various vacuum states have been considered in the context of $AdS_{2}$ black holes by Spradlin and Strominger who showed that the Poincare vacuum, the Global vacuum and the Hartle-Hawking vacuum are all equivalent, while the Boulware vacuum and the Schwarzschild vacuum are equivalent. We verify this by explicitly computing the Green's functions in closed form for a massless scalar field corresponding to each of these vacua. Obtaining a closed form for the Green's function corresponding to the Boulware vacuum is non-trivial, we present it here for the first time by deriving a new summation formula for associated Legendre functions that allows us to perform the mode-sum. Having obtained the propagator for the Boulware vacuum, which is a zero-temperature Green's function, we can then consider the case of a scalar field at an arbitrary temperature by an infinite image imaginary-time sum, which yields the Hartle-Hawking propagator upon setting the temperature to the Hawking temperature. Finally, we compute the renormalized stress-energy tensor for a massless scalar field in the various quantum vacua.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Static Kerr Green's Function in Closed Form and an Analytic Derivation of the Self-Force for a Static Scalar Charge in Kerr Space-Time

We derive a closed-form solution for the Green's function for the wave equation of a static (with respect to an undragged, static observer at infinity) scalar charge in the Kerr space-time. We employ our solution to obtain an analytic expression for the self-force on such a charge, comparing our results to those previously obtained using the mode-sum regularization prescription.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2010

Renormalized Vacuum Polarization and Stress Tensor on the Horizon of a Schwarzschild Black Hole Threaded by a Cosmic String

We calculate the renormalized vacuum polarization and stress tensor for a massless, arbitrarily coupled scalar field in the Hartle-Hawking vacuum state on the horizon of a Schwarzschild black hole threaded by an infinte straight cosmic string. This calculation relies on a generalized Heine identity for non-integer Legendre functions which we derive without using specific properties of the Legendre functions themselves.

gr-qc↗