arXiv subjects

Z. Xiong

Publications and source records attributed to Z. Xiong.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Late-time emission-line profiles from kilonova models

Numerical simulations suggest that neutron star mergers eject material with complex, non-spherical density and composition distributions. Here we use two-dimensional configurations of merger ejecta obtained from long-term hydrodynamic simulations to quantify the influence of such ejecta structure on the shapes of spectral lines in the optically thin limit. We consider three example elements of interest for kilonova modelling (selenium, tellurium and tungsten) and illustrate profile shapes for a sample of models and observer orientations. Many of our calculations yield complex profile shapes, including cases with multiple peaks and/or extended wings on scales large enough to be relevant to interpreting observations. For selenium and tellurium, our late-phase profile shapes are most sensitive to the structure of the low-velocity ejecta (~0.1c) launched after the merger from the relic black-hole torus system, while for heavier elements the contribution from the more rapidly expanding and more neutron-rich dynamical ejecta launched right after the merger is more significant and leads to broader line shapes. We also find that the dynamical influence of heating due to the decay of r-process elements can lead to considerably broader peaks than suggested by models that neglect this effect. Although idealised, our calculations demonstrate that line shapes are sensitive to the ejecta structure and could therefore constrain the polar observation angle or underlying properties of the merger that determine the spatial distributions of elements in the ejecta components, such as the binary mass ratio or even the equation of state of high-density matter.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

On the fracture mechanics validity of small scale tests

There is growing interest in conducting small-scale tests to gain additional insight into the fracture behaviour of components across a wide range of materials. For example, micro-scale mechanical tests inside of a microscope (\emph{in situ}) enable direct, high-resolution observation of the interplay between crack growth and microstructural phenomena (e.g., dislocation behaviour or the fracture resistance of a particular interface), and sub-size samples are increasingly used when only a limited amount of material is available. However, to obtain quantitative insight and extract relevant fracture parameters, the sample must be sufficiently large for a $J$- (HRR) or a $K$-field to exist. We conduct numerical and semi-analytical studies to map the conditions (sample geometry, material) that result in a valid, quantitative fracture experiment. Specifically, for a wide range of material properties, crack lengths and sample dimensions, we establish the maximum value of the $J$-integral where an HRR field ceases to exist (i.e., the maximum $J$ value at which fracture must occur for the test to be valid, $J_\mathrm{max}$). Maps are generated to establish the maximum valid $J$ value ($J_\mathrm{max}$) as a function of yield strength, strain hardening and minimum sample size. These maps are then used to discuss the existing experimental literature and provide guidance on how to conduct quantitative experiments. Finally, our study is particularised to the analysis of metals that have been embrittled due to hydrogen exposure. The response of relevant materials under hydrogen-containing environments are superimposed on the aforementioned maps, determining the conditions that will enable quantitative insight.

cs.CE↗

arXiv2024

Luminosity predictions for the first three ionisation stages of W, Pt and Au to probe potential sources of emission in kilonova

A large number of R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation for heavy elements (Z > 70) have been performed in recent years for applications in fusion and astrophysics research. With the expanding interest in heavy ions due to kilonova (KN) events such as AT2017gfo and AT2023vfi, this new data can be utilised for the diagnosis and study of observed KN spectra. In this work recently computed electron-impact excitation effective collision strengths are used, for the first three ionisation stages of tungsten (W, Z = 74), platinum (Pt, Z = 78) and gold (Au, Z = 79), to construct basic collisional radiative models tailored for the late stage nebular phases of KN. Line luminosities are calculated at a range of electron temperatures and densities and the strengths of these lines for a representative ion mass are compared. For the case of W III, these optically thin intensities are additionally used to constrain the mass of this ion in both AT2017gfo and AT2023vfi. Comparing with theoretical predictions of nucleosynthesis yields from neutron-star merger simulations, broad agreement with the inferred ion masses of W is found. Furthermore, we highlight the value of W measurements by showing that the abundance of other groups of elements and outflow properties are constrained by exploiting theoretically motivated correlations between the abundance of W and that of lanthanides or third r-process peak elements. Based on simple estimates, we also show that constraints on the distribution of tungsten in the ejecta may be accessible through the line shape, which may also yield information on the neutron-star merger remnant evolution.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Correct Small-Truncated Excited State Wave functions Obtained via Minimization Principle for Excited States compared / opposed to Hylleraas-Undheim and McDonald higher roots

We demonstrate that, if a truncated expansion of a wave function is Large, then the standard excited states computational method, of optimizing one root of a secular equation, according to the theorem of Hylleraas, Undheim and McDonald (HUM), tends to the correct excited wave function, comparable to that obtained via our proposed minimization principle for excited states [J. Comput. Meth. Sci. Eng. 8, 277 (2008)] (independent of orthogonality to lower lying approximants). However, if a truncated expansion of a wave function is Small - that would be desirable for large systems - then the HUM-based methods may lead to an incorrect wave function - despite the correct energy (: according to the HUM theorem) whereas our method leads to correct, reliable, albeit Small truncated wave functions. The demonstration is done in He excited states, using truncated series Small expansions both in Hylleraas coordinates, and via standard configuration-interaction truncated Small expansions, in comparison with corresponding Large expansions. Beyond that, we give some examples of linear combinations of Hamiltonian eigenfunctions that have the energy of the 1st excited state, albeit they are orthogonal to it, demonstrating that the correct energy is not a criterion of correctness of the wave function.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2016

Computing Correct Truncated Excited State Wavefunctions

We demonstrate that, if a truncated expansion of a wave function is small, then the standard excited states computational method, of optimizing one root of a secular equation, may lead to an incorrect wave function - despite the correct energy according to the theorem of Hylleraas, Undheim and McDonald - whereas our proposed method [J. Comput. Meth. Sci. Eng. 8, 277 (2008)] (independent of orthogonality to lower lying approximants) leads to correct reliable small truncated wave functions. The demonstration is done in He excited states, using truncated series expansions in Hylleraas coordinates, as well as standard configuration-interaction truncated expansions.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2004

B-> X_sl^+l^- and B->Kπdecays in vectorlike quark model

In the framework of SU(2) singlet down type vectorlike quark model, we present a comprehensive analysis for decays B-> X_s γ, B->X_sl^+l^- and B-> Kπ. As for B-> X_sγ, we include the QCD running from the mass of the down-type vector quark D to weak scale in the scenario with the D quark much heavier than weak scale, and find that the running effect is small. Using the recent measurements of B-> X_sl^+l^-, we extract rather stringent constraints on the size and CP violating phase of z_{sb}, i.e., the tree level FCNC coupling for b-> sZ. Within the bounds, we investigate various observables such as forward-backward asymmetry of b->s l^+ l^-, the decay rates of B ->X_sγ, and B\to Kπ. We find that (1) The forward-backward asymmetry may have large derivation from that of the SM and is very sensitive to z_{sb}, and thus can be useful in probing the new physics.(2) By taking experimental errors at 2σlevel, both experimental measurements for B->X_sl^+l^- and B->Kπdecays can be explained in this model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Primordial Lepton Family Asymmtries in Seesaw Model

In leptogenesis scenario, the decays of heavy Majorana neutrinos generate lepton family asymmetries, $Y_e, Y_μ$ and $Y_τ$. They are sensitive to CP violating phases in seesaw models. The time evolution of the lepton family asymmetries are derived by solving Boltzmann equations. By taking a minimal seesaw model, we show how each family asymmetry varies with a CP violating phase. For instance, we find the case that the lepton asymmetry is dominated by $Y_μ$ or $Y_τ$ depending on the choice of the CP violating phase. We also find the case that the signs of lepton family asymmetries $Y_μ$ and $Y_τ$ are opposite each other. Their absolute values can be larger than the total lepton asymmetry and the baryon asymmetry may result from the cancellation of the lepton family asymmetries.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Accurate and concise atomic CI via generalization of analytic Laguerre type orbitals and examples of ab-initio error estimation for excited states

We propose simple analytic, non-orthogonal but selectively orthogonalizable, generalized Laguerre type atomic orbitals, providing clear physical interpretation and near equivalent accuracy with numerical multi-configuration self-consistent field, to atomic configuration interaction calculations. By analyzing the general Eckart theorem we use their simple interpretation, via a thorough investigation in orbital space, to estimate, for the first time (the exact value being, or considered, unknown), an ab-initio energy uncertainty, i.e. proximity to the exact energy, for several excited atomic states known to have the danger to suffer from variational collapse.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2002

Loop effects and non-decoupling property of SUSY QCD in $g b\to tH^{-}$

One-loop SUSY QCD radiative correction to $gb \to tH^{-}$ cross section is calculated in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We found that SUSY QCD is non-decoupling if the gluino mass and the parameter $μ$, $A_t$ or $A_b$ are at the same order and get large. The non-decoupling contribution can be enhanced by large $\tanβ$ and therefore large corrections to the hadronic production rates at the Tevatron and LHC are expected in the large $\tanβ$ limit. The fundamental reason for such non-decoupling behavior is found to be some couplings in the loops being proportional to SUSY mass parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Probing neutrino oscillations jointly in long and very long baseline experiments

We examine the prospects of making a joint analysis of neutrino oscillation at two baselines with neutrino superbeams. Assuming narrow band superbeams and a 100 kt water Cerenkov calorimeter, we calculate the event rates and sensitivities to the matter effect, the signs of the neutrino mass differences, the CP phase and the mixing angle θ_{13}. Taking into account all possible experimental errors under general consideration, we explored the optimum cases of narrow band beam to measure the matter effect and the CP violation effect at all baselines up to 3000 km. We then focus on two specific baselines, a long baseline of 300 km and a very long baseline of 2100 km, and analyze their joint capabilities. We found that the joint analysis can offer extra leverage to resolve some of the ambiguities that are associated with the measurement at a single baseline.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Top Quark Pair Production at $e^+e^-$ Colliders in the Topcolor-assisted Technicolor Model

In the framework of topcolor-assisted technicolor model we calculate the contributions from the pseudo Goldstone bosons and new gauge bosons to $e^+e^- \to t\bar{t}$. We find that, for reasonable ranges of the parameters, the pseudo Goldstone bosons afford dominate contribution, the correction arising from new gauge bosons is negligibly small, the maximum of the relative corrections is -10% with the center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV; whereas in case of $\sqrt{s}=1500$ GeV, the relative corrections could be up to 16%. Thus large new physics might be observable at the experiments of next-generation linear colliders.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Rare decays $B\to X_sτ^+τ^-$ and $B_s\to τ^+τ^-γ$ in technicolor with scalars

We examine the rare decays $B\to X_sτ^+τ^-$ and $B_s\toτ^+τ^- γ$ in the framework of technicolor with scalars. The contributions from both the neutral and charged scalars predicted in this model are evaluated. We find that the branching ratios could be enhanced over the standard model predictions by a couple of orders of magnitude in some part of parameter space. The forward-backward asymmetry and the distributions of differential branching ratios are also found to differ significantly from the standard model results. Such large new physics effects might be observable in the new generation of B experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Muon anomalous magnetic moment in technicolor models

Contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment are evaluated in the technicolor model with scalars and topcolor assisted technicolor model. In the technicolor model with scalars, the additional contributions come from the loops of scalars, which were found sizable only for a very large $f/f^{'}$ disfavored by the experiment of $b\to sγ$. The topcolor effect is also found to be large only for an unnaturally large $\tanθ'$, and thus the previously evaluated loop effects of extended technicolor bosons, suppressed by $m_μ^2/M_{ETC}^2$, must be resorted to account for the E821 experiment. So, if the E821 experiment result persists, it would be a challenge to technicolor models.

hep-ph↗