Particle Theory Research Articles

Hybrid approach to perfect and dissipative spin hydrodynamics

A hybrid framework of spin hydrodynamics is proposed that combines the results of kinetic theory for particles with spin 1/2 with the Israel-Stewart method of introducing nonequilibrium dynamics. The framework of kinetic theory is used to define the perfect-fluid description that conserves baryon number, energy, linear momentum and spin part of angular momentum. This leads to the entropy conservation although, in the presence of spin degrees of freedom, the perfect-fluid formalism includes extra terms whose structure is usually attributed to dissipation. The genuine dissipative terms appear from the condition of positive entropy production in nonequilibrium processes. They are responsible for the transfer between the spin and orbital parts of angular momentum, with the total angular momentum being conserved. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Non-existence of causal, standard classical electrodynamics with point charged particle

Abstract The existence of consistent, standard and causal theory of point charged particle (for example electron) interacting with electromagnetic field was the subject of many investigations. This problem is often stated as the description of the system of electromagnetic pulse of radiation interacting with single point charged particle (for example electron). The correct theory should give the causal particle trajectory for any electromagnetic pulse of radiation. Up to now no such theory was formulated. We show that for certain electromagnetic pulse of radiation and point particle being initially at rest, there does not exist a causal and physical particle trajectory that satisfies energy and momentum conservation. This shows that the causal, standard electrodynamics of scalar point particles, valid for all possible external pulses, does not exist.

Hybrids, tetraquarks, pentaquarks, doubly heavy baryons, and quarkonia in Born-Oppenheimer effective theory

The discovery of XYZ exotic states in the hadronic sector with two heavy quarks represents a significant challenge in particle theory. Understanding and predicting their nature remains an open problem. In this work, we demonstrate how the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) effective field theory (BOEFT), derived from quantum chromodynamics (QCD) on the basis of scale separation and symmetries, can address XYZ exotics of any composition. We derive the Schrödinger coupled equations that describe hybrids, tetraquarks, pentaquarks, doubly heavy baryons, and quarkonia at leading order, incorporating nonadiabatic terms, and present the predicted multiplets. We define the static potentials in terms of the QCD static energies for all relevant cases. We provide the precise form of the nonperturbative low-energy gauge-invariant correlators required for the BOEFT: static energies, generalized Wilson loops, gluelumps, and adjoint mesons. These are to be calculated on the lattice, and we calculate here their short-distance behavior. Furthermore, we outline how spin-dependent corrections and mixing terms can be incorporated using matching computations. Lastly, we discuss how static energies with the same BO quantum numbers mix at large distances leading to the phenomenon of avoided level crossing. This effect is crucial to understand the emergence of exotics with molecular characteristics, such as the χc1(3872). With BOEFT both the tetraquark and the molecular picture appear as part of the same description. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Exploring Kink Solitons in the Context of Klein–Gordon Equations via the Extended Direct Algebraic Method

This work employs the Extended Direct Algebraic Method (EDAM) to solve quadratic and cubic nonlinear Klein–Gordon Equations (KGEs), which are standard models in particle and quantum physics that describe the dynamics of scaler particles with spin zero in the framework of Einstein’s theory of relativity. By applying variables-based wave transformations, the targeted KGEs are converted into Nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations (NODEs). The resultant NODEs are subsequently reduced to a set of nonlinear algebraic equations through the assumption of series-based solutions for them. New families of soliton solutions are obtained in the form of hyperbolic, trigonometric, exponential and rational functions when these systems are solved using Maple. A few soliton solutions are considered for certain values of the given parameters with the help of contour and 3D plots, which indicate that the solitons exist in the form of dark kink, hump kink, lump-like kink, bright kink and cuspon kink solitons. These soliton solutions are relevant to actual physics, for instance, in the context of particle physics and theories of quantum fields. These solutions are useful also for the enhancement of our understanding of the basic particle interactions and wave dynamics at all levels of physics, including but not limited to cosmology, compact matter physics and nonlinear optics.

Study on radiation characteristics of multi-phase plumes containing ice crystals in orbit-control engines

In order to obtain the radiation characteristics of the multiphase plume containing ice crystals in the high-altitude orbit control engine and analyze its influence on the telemetry effect, this paper deduces the radiation characteristics parameters of gases based on Einstein radiation theory and radiation transfer equation. Based on the latest HITRAN2020 spectral line library solving gas radiation and the Mie theory of particle scattering solving particle radiation, the radiation characteristic parameters of the multi-phase plume containing ice crystals in the high-altitude orbital control engine and the radiation intensity distribution in the near-infrared and mid-long wave infrared bands are simulated, and the main influencing factors of the radiation are analyzed. The results show that, in general, the main radiation of the engine plume includes the scattered light in the near infrared band and the thermal radiation in the middle long wave infrared band. In the near-infrared band, considering solar background radiation, the total radiation amount in the calculation domain is about 10 −6 W/sr, and the thermal radiation is dominant within the axial distance of 0.5 m, while the ice crystal scattering is dominant beyond the axial distance of 0.5 m . In the mid-long wave infrared band, the total radiation amount in the calculation domain is about 10 W/sr, and the thermal radiation of gas dominates within 1 m axial distance, while the thermal radiation of ice crystal dominates beyond 1 m axial distance.

Water-Based Polyurethane Dispersions: A Detailed Analysis of the Particle Charge Using Soft and Hard Particle Model.

Water-based polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) show a characteristic dependency of the electrophoretic mobility on the electrolyte concentration, which can be investigated by hard and soft particle models. For this purpose, additional information can be obtained by determining particle charges and electrostatic potentials. PUDs with different contents of an intrinsic ionic stabilizer and various polyol components were synthesized according to the acetone process. The particle charge was characterized by potentiometric acid-base titration, and the data of the titration curve were fitted assuming multiple functional groups with adaptable acid strengths. To investigate the electrostatic potentials, electrophoretic mobilities were measured as a function of electrolyte concentration and analyzed by soft and hard particle theory. Acid-base titration experiments indicated that not all detected ionic groups are located on the surface but are partly arranged inside the polymer particle, as evidenced by a significant decrease of the corresponding effective dissociation constant. The evaluation of the titration data and the electrokinetic experiments showed that the soft particle model of Ohshima is not suitable to reflect the actual particle charge. In contrast, the hard particle model can describe the measured electrophoretic mobility of the dispersions very well if the relaxation effect is taken into account. The dependency of the corresponding zeta potentials on the electrolyte concentration can be excellently modeled assuming a constant surface potential ψ0 and distance of the shear plane xs. Reasonable results are obtained for both parameters with only minor differences between the PUD series. Nonetheless, the electrokinetic surface charge densities calculated with respect to the surface potential are lower than expected from the titration results. Although our results indicate a more complex charge distribution in a peripheral layer, the hard particle model currently shows the best description of the electrokinetic behavior of the PUDs.

A tribute to Abdus Salam

Claudia de Rham and Ian Walmsley pay tribute to the contributions of the Nobel-prize winning particle theorist Abdus Salam, who founded the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy, 60 years ago. They speak to Matin Durrani.

Insight into molecular interactions prevailing in N,N-dimethylformamide + alkyl acrylates mixtures at different temperatures: An experimental and theoretical investigation

The excess isentropic compressibility, excess speed of sound, excess molar isentropic compressibility and deviation in viscosity were evaluated from the experimental values of speeds of sound and viscosities of N,N-dimethylformamide + methyl acrylate/ethyl acrylate/n-butyl acrylate binary mixtures over the entire composition range at temperatures (288.15–318.15) K and pressure (101 kPa). Further, the partial molar isentropic compressibility; excess partial molar isentropic compressibility of the components over the entire composition range and also at infinite dilution have been calculated. These evaluated parameters have been interpreted in relations to prevailing interactions in these mixtures. These interactions were found dependent on the size of alkyl group in acrylate molecules and the amide-acrylate interactions decline with increase in size of the alkyl group. Moreover, the speeds of sound for the mixtures were calculated by scaled particle theory and the results compared well with the experimental results. Also, the viscosities of these mixtures were correlated by means of various empirical relations and the results were found in good agreement with the experimental results.

Quantum mechanics emerging from complex Brownian motions

The connection between the Schrödinger equation and Einstein's diffusion theory based on the Brownian motion of independent particles is well known. However, in contrast to diffusion theory, quantum mechanics theory has suffered controversial interpretations due to the counterintuitive concept of wavefunction. Here, while we confirm there is no difference in the mathematical form of these two equations, we derive the imaginary version of displacement. Using the diffusion theory of particles in a medium, as simple as it is, we describe that quantum mechanics is just an elegant and subtle equation to describe the probability of all the trajectories that a particle can take to propagate in time by a predictive wavefunction. Therefore, information on the position of particles through time in quantum theory is embedded in the wavefunction, which predicts the evolution of an ensemble of individual Brownian particles.

Field theory of active Brownian particles with dry friction

Abstract We present a field theoretic approach to capture the motion of a particle with dry friction for one- and two-dimensional (2D) diffusive particles, and further expand the framework for 2D active Brownian particles. Starting with the Fokker–Planck equation and introducing the Hermite polynomials as the corresponding eigen-functions, we obtain the actions and propagators. Using a perturbation expansion, we calculate the effective diffusion coefficient in the presence of both wet and dry frictions in a perturbative way via the Green–Kubo relation. We further compare the analytical result with the numerical simulation. Our result can be used to estimate the values of dry friction coefficient in experiments.

Excess acoustic and volumetric properties of polyethylene glycol 200 + methyl/ethyl methacrylate binary mixtures at different temperatures: An experimental and theoretical study

The excess and partial molar properties of binary liquid mixtures can be used to unveil the prevailing intermolecular interactions. The densities, ρ and speeds of sound, u for pure polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200), methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and their binaries (PEG 200 + methyl/ethyl methacrylate) have been measured over the entire composition range in the temperature range (293.15 to 323.15) K at 5 K intervals and at pressure, p = 100 kPa. The excess molar volume, excess isentropic compressibility, excess speed of sound, excess intermolecular free length, excess molar isentropic compressibility and excess acoustic impedance were evaluated using the experimental data. The partial and excess partial molar volumes/compressibilities of the components at each mole fraction and at infinite dilution have also been calculated. The results have been interpreted on the basis of prevailing intermolecular interactions as well as structural effects between like and unlike molecules. The results indicate the effect of the size of alkyl group on excess functions and interactions in these systems and the PEG-methacrylate interactions follow the order: methyl methacrylate > ethyl methacrylate. Scaled particle theory has also been used for the theoretical estimation of the speeds of sound and compared with experimental values. FT-IR spectra of pure PEG 200, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and equimolar PEG 200 + methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate mixtures were also recorded and analysed for better understanding of prevailing intermolecular interaction.

Volumetric and ultrasonic studies of molecular interactions in binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylacetamide with some polyethylene glycols at temperatures from 293.15 to 323.15 K

The intermolecular interactions in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) + polyethylene glycol (PEG) mixtures have been examined from the measurements of the densities, ρ and speeds of sound, u of DMA + PEG 200 or PEG 300 or PEG 400 or PEG 600 mixtures over the entire mole fraction range at temperatures, T = (293.15–323.15) K and atmospheric pressure. Various excess parameters, viz., excess molar volume, excess isentropic compressibility, excess intermolecular free length, excess speed of sound, excess molar isentropic compressibility and excess acoustic impedance were evaluated using measured data. These excess properties were correlated with the Redlich–Kister equation. In addition, the partial molar volume and compressibility; excess partial molar volume and compressibility of the components over the entire composition range; and partial molar volume and compressibility and excess partial molar volume and compressibility of the components at infinite dilution have also been calculated. These evaluated parameters have been interpreted by means of prevailing intermolecular interactions in these mixtures. The presence of strong intermolecular interactions among DMA and PEG molecules have been revealed from the evaluated parameters of these mixtures. The speeds of sound were predicted theoretically using scaled particle theory and compared with experimental values. FT-IR spectra of pure DMA, PEG 200 and their equimolar mixtures were also recorded and analysed for better understanding of prevailing intermolecular interaction.

The Role of the Table of Games in the Discrete Thermostatted Kinetic Theory

This paper is concerned with the mathematical modeling of complex living systems whose element microscopic state contains variables which can attain discrete values. Specifically, the main mathematical frameworks of the discrete thermostatted kinetic theory for active particles are reviewed and generalized. In the generalized thermostatted frameworks, which are based on nonlinear ordinary or partial differential equations, the elements of the system are viewed as active particles that are able to perform certain strategies modeled by introducing a functional-state variable called activity. Interactions, which are responsible of the evolution of the system, are modeled using the fundamentals of stochastic game theory and may be influenced by the action of an external force field coupled to a Gaussian-type thermostat. In particular, the interaction domain is modeled by introducing a weighted function and different non-homogeneous discrete frameworks are proposed and coupled with a specific thermostat. Two recent models derived within this approach are reviewed and refer to vehicular and pedestrian dynamics. Future research perspectives are discussed in the whole paper from theoretical and modeling viewpoints.

A geometrical theory of gliding motility based on cell shape and surface flow

Gliding motility proceeds with little changes in cell shape and often results from actively driven surface flows of adhesins binding to the extracellular environment. It allows for fast movement over surfaces or through tissue, especially for the eukaryotic parasites from the phylum apicomplexa, which includes the causative agents of the widespread diseases malaria and toxoplasmosis. We have developed a fully three-dimensional active particle theory which connects the self-organized, actively driven surface flow over a fixed cell shape to the resulting global motility patterns. Our analytical solutions and numerical simulations show that straight motion without rotation is unstable for simple shapes and that straight cell shapes tend to lead to pure rotations. This suggests that the curved shapes of Plasmodium sporozoites and Toxoplasma tachyzoites are evolutionary adaptations to avoid rotations without translation. Gliding motility is also used by certain myxo- or flavobacteria, which predominantly move on flat external surfaces and with higher control of cell surface flow through internal tracks. We extend our theory for these cases. We again find a competition between rotation and translation and predict the effect of internal track geometry on overall forward speed. While specific mechanisms might vary across species, in general, our geometrical theory predicts and explains the rotational, circular, and helical trajectories which are commonly observed for microgliders. Our theory could also be used to design synthetic microgliders.

An effective cosmological collider

Effective field theories (EFTs) of heavy particles coupled to the inflaton are rife with operator redundancies, frequently obscured by sensitivity to both boundary terms and field redefinitions. We initiate a systematic study of these redundancies by establishing a minimal operator basis for an archetypal example, the abelian gauge-Higgs-inflaton EFT. Working up to dimension 9, we show that certain low-dimensional operators are entirely redundant and identify new non-redundant operators with potentially interesting cosmological collider signals. Our methods generalize straightforwardly to other EFTs of heavy particles coupled to the inflaton.

Ion induced nucleation of charged droplets enhanced by external electric field

The nucleation theory of charged particles in an external electric field environment is considered. The Gibbs free energy and nucleation rate changes of ion-induced nucleation under an external electric field are studied. The Classical Kelvin–Thomson equation and the ion-induced nucleation theory in the external electric field environment are corrected. The results show that the presence of an electric field can reduce the Gibbs free energy of nucleation and increase the nucleation rate. For particles larger than a few nanometers in size, the impact of the external electric field on reducing the condensation saturation ratio is more pronounced than the combined influence of the Thomson effect and dipole–charge interaction.

Volumetric, acoustic and spectroscopic studies of molecular interactions in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate + ethyl/propyl/n-butyl acetate binary mixtures at different temperatures

The purpose of this work is to investigate the influence of concentration, temperature and molecular size on intermolecular interactions in the mixtures of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF6] with some alkyl acetates. The densities, ρ and speeds of sound, u for the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate + ethyl acetate/propyl acetate/n-butyl acetate binary mixtures were measured over the entire range of composition at the temperatures, T = (293.15 – 323.15) K at 5 K intervals and at pressure, p = 101 kPa. The experimental data was used to calculate various excess properties, viz., excess molar volume, excess isentropic compressibility, excess intermolecular free length, excess speed of sound, excess molar isentropic compressibility and excess acoustic impedance. The partial molar volumes and compressibilities; and excess partial molar volumes and compressibilities of the components over the entire composition range and at infinite dilution have also been calculated. The results clearly indicated the presence of intermolecular interactions in these mixtures and the magnitude of [BMIM][PF6]-alkyl acetate interactions followed the order: ethyl acetate > propyl acetate > n-butyl acetate, i.e., the interactions were found dependent on the size of alkyl group of acetates. The speeds of sound were estimated theoretically using scaled particle theory and compared with experimental findings. FT-IR spectra of pure [BMIM][PF6], ethyl acetate, propyl acetate. n-butyl acetate and their equimolar mixtures were also recorded and analysed for better understanding of prevailing intermolecular interaction.

Manifest color-kinematics duality for point particles interacting with self-dual fields

We find that point particles interacting with a self-dual Yang-Mills field and self-dual gravity manifestly satisfy color-kinematics duality at the level of action. In a similar way color-kinematics duality also holds for a scalar field minimally coupled to a self-dual Yang-Mills field and self-dual gravity. By applying the appropriate limiting procedure to these scalar field theories we reproduce point particle theories we started from. This allows us to connect worldline color-kinematics duality to amplitude color-kinematics duality in field theory. Considering that point particles act as sources of classical solutions, our results may be regarded as a step towards establishing a precise relation between the amplitude and the classical double copies in the self-dual sector. Finally, we briefly mention that the extension of this discussion to the higher-spin case suggests that scalar point particles cannot interact with chiral higher-spin fields.

Markov Chains and Kinetic Theory: A Possible Application to Socio-Economic Problems

A very important class of models widely used nowadays to describe and predict, at least in stochastic terms, the behavior of many-particle systems (where the word “particle” is not meant in the purely mechanical sense: particles can be cells of a living tissue, or cars in a traffic flow, or even members of an animal or human population) is the Kinetic Theory for Active Particles, i.e., a scheme of possible generalizations and re-interpretations of the Boltzmann equation. Now, though in the literature on the subject this point is systematically disregarded, this scheme is based on Markov Chains, which are special stochastic processes with important properties they share with many natural processes. This circumstance is here carefully discussed not only to suggest the different ways in which Markov Chains can intervene in equations describing the stochastic behavior of any many-particle system, but also, as a preliminary methodological step, to point out the way in which the notion of a Markov Chain can be suitably generalized to this aim. As a final result of the discussion, we find how to develop new very plausible and likely ways to take into account possible effects of the external world on a non-isolated many-particle system, with particular attention paid to socio-economic problems.

Search for Lorentz violations through the sidereal effect at the NOνA experiment

Long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments offer a unique laboratory to test the fundamental Lorentz symmetry, which is at the heart of both the standard model of particle and general relativity theory. The sidereal modulation in neutrino events will act as the smoking-gun experimental signature of Lorentz and CPT violation. In this study, we investigate the impact of the sidereal effect on standard neutrino oscillation measurements within the context of the NuMI Off-Axis νe Appearance Experiment (NOνA) experiment. Additionally, we assess the sensitivity of the NOνA experiment to detect Lorentz-violating interactions, taking into account the sidereal effect. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of the NOνA experiment to set new constraints on anisotropic Lorentz-violating parameters. Published by the American Physical Society 2024