Cosmic constraint to DGP brane model: Geometrical and dynamical perspectives
In this paper, the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (DGP) brane model is confronted by current cosmic observational data sets from geometrical and dynamical perspectives. On the geometrical side, the recently released Union2 557 of type Ia supernovae (SN Ia), the baryon acoustic oscillation from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Two Degree Galaxy Redshift Survey (transverse and radial to line-of-sight data points), the cosmic microwave background measurement given by the seven-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe observations [shift parameters R, l{sub a}(z{sub *}) and redshift at the last scatter surface z{sub *}], ages of high redshifts galaxies, i.e., the lookback time and the high redshift gamma ray bursts are used. On the dynamical side, data points about the growth function of matter linear perturbations are used. Using the same data set combination, we also constrain the flat {Lambda}CDM model as a comparison. The results show that current geometrical and dynamical observational data sets much favor the flat {Lambda}CDM model and the departure from it is above 4{sigma}(6{sigma}) for the spatially flat DGP model with (without) SN systematic errors. The consistence of growth function data points is checked in terms of a relative departure of redshift-distance relation.

title: GEM technical design report

title: DIMENSION EMERGENCE, HOLOGRAPHY AND QUANTUM GRAVITY
abstract: In this paper, we try to give an alternative interpretation of the holography principle. We argue that the space or time may be regarded as emerging from quantum mechanics as an evolutive parameter. The lower D-dimensional theory is related to a corresponding (D+1)-theory by a mysterious quantum system. Then from the higher-dimensional theory, under a new dimension reduction mechanism we obtain the corresponding results. We also try to incorporate the gauge field into the reduction, roughly identifying Aμ with Nμ which is the shift vector in the ADM-like decomposition of space–time metric. In the end, we extend to the gravitational field, and obtain a relation $\tilde{M}^3 = \kappa M_{\rm Pl}^2$ with a cutoff factor κ, from a different view.

title: Current observational constraints to the holographic dark energy model with a new infrared cutoff via the Markov chain Monte Carlo method
abstract: In this paper, the holographic dark energy models with the new infrared cutoff for both the flat case and the nonflat case are confronted with the combined constraints of current cosmological observations: type Ia supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, current cosmic microwave background, and the observational Hubble data. By utilizing the Markov chain Monte Carlo method, we obtain the best fit values of the parameters with $1\ensuremath{\sigma}$, $2\ensuremath{\sigma}$ errors in the flat model: ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{b}{h}^{2}={0.0233}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0009\ensuremath{-}0.0014}^{+0.0009+0.0013}$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}={0.8502}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0875\ensuremath{-}0.1064}^{+0.0984+0.1299}$, $\ensuremath{\beta}={0.4817}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0773\ensuremath{-}0.0955}^{+0.0842+0.1176}$, ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{\mathrm{de}0}={0.7287}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0294\ensuremath{-}0.0429}^{+0.0296+0.0432}$, ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{m0}={0.2713}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0296\ensuremath{-}0.0432}^{+0.0294+0.0429}$, ${H}_{0}={66.35}_{\ensuremath{-}2.14\ensuremath{-}3.07}^{+2.38+3.35}$. In the nonflat model, the constraint results are found in $1\ensuremath{\sigma}$, $2\ensuremath{\sigma}$ regions: ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{b}{h}^{2}={0.0228}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0010\ensuremath{-}0.0014}^{+0.0010+0.0014}$, ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{k}={0.0305}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0134\ensuremath{-}0.0176}^{+0.0092+0.0140}$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}={0.8824}_{\ensuremath{-}0.1163\ensuremath{-}0.1378}^{+0.2180+0.2213}$, $\ensuremath{\beta}={0.5016}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0871\ensuremath{-}0.1102}^{+0.0973+0.1247}$, ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{\mathrm{de}0}={0.6934}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0304\ensuremath{-}0.0413}^{+0.0364+0.0495}$, ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{m0}={0.2762}_{\ensuremath{-}0.0302\ensuremath{-}0.0412}^{+0.0278+0.0402}$, ${H}_{0}={70.20}_{\ensuremath{-}3.17\ensuremath{-}4.00}^{+3.03+3.58}$. In the best fit holographic dark energy models, the equation of state of dark energy and the deceleration parameter at present are characterized by ${w}_{\mathrm{de}0}=\ensuremath{-}1.1414\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0608$, ${q}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}0.7476\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0466$ (flat case) and ${w}_{\mathrm{de}0}=\ensuremath{-}1.0653\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0661$, ${q}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}0.6231\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0569$ (nonflat case). Compared to the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\mathrm{CDM}$ model, it is found the current combined data sets do not favor the holographic dark energy model over the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\mathrm{CDM}$ model.

title: Reconstructing dark energy potentials from parameterized deceleration parameters
abstract: In this paper, the properties of dark energy are investigated according to the parameterized deceleration parameter q(z), which is used to describe the extent of the accelerating expansion of the universe. The potential of dark energy V() and the cosmological parameters, such as the dimensionless energy density ωo, Ωm, and the state parameter w, are connected to it. Concretely, by giving two kinds of parameterized deceleration parameters q(z) = a + bz/(1 + z) and q(z) = 1/2 + (az + b)/(1 + z)2, the evolution of these parameters and the reconstructed potentials V() are plotted and analysed. It is found that the potentials run away with the evolution of universe.

title: Revisiting generalized Chaplygin gas as a unified dark matter and dark energy model
abstract: In this paper, we revisit the generalized Chaplygin gas (GCG) model as a unified dark matter and dark energy model. The energy density of GCG model is given as ρGCG/ρGCG0=[Bs+(1−Bs)a−3(1+α)]1/(1+α), where α and Bs are two model parameters which will be constrained by type Ia supernova as standard candles, baryon acoustic oscillation as standard rulers and the seventh year full WMAP data points. In this paper, we will not separate GCG into dark matter and dark energy parts any more as adopted in the literature. By using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, we find the results $\alpha=0.00126_{-0.00126- 0.00126}^{+ 0.000970+ 0.00268}$ and $B_{s}= 0.775_{-0.0161- 0.0338}^{+ 0.0161+ 0.0307}$.

title: Probing interaction and spatial curvature in the holographic dark energy model
abstract: In this paper we place observational constraints on the interaction and spatial curvature in the holographic dark energy model. We consider three kinds of phenomenological interactions between holographic dark energy and matter, i.e., the interaction term Q is proportional to the energy densities of dark energy (rho(A)), matter (p(m)), and matter plus dark energy (p(m) + p(A)). For probing the interaction and spatial curvature in the holographic dark energy model, we use the latest observational data including the type la supernovae (SNIa) Constitution data, the shift parameter of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) given by the five-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP5) observations, and the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurement, from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Our results show that, the interaction and spatial curvature in the holographic dark energy model are both rather small. Besides, it is interesting to find that there exists significant degeneracy between the phenomenological interaction and the spatial curvature in the holographic dark energy model.

title: Studies of neutron emission from relativistic nuclear interactions
abstract: Studies were carried out on the yields and spatial distributions of secondary neutrons produced in the relativistic nuclear interactions of 1.5 GeV to 14.4 GeV projectiles p, d and α-particles with targets Pb and U/Pb. CR-39 track detectors were used to measure the neutrons. It shows that: (1) Secondary neutrons are produced in the whole length of Pb or U targets having a thickness of 20 cm. The neutron intensities produced by proton bombardments are reduced along the proton beam direction in the targets. The higher the energy of protons, the lower the reduction rate of the neutrons. The reduction rate of neutrons in U target is higher than in Pb target for the same energy of protons. (2) The radial intensities of neutrons decrease as the distance increases from the target central line. (3) The neutron yield in U target by proton bombardments is ∼55% higher than in Pb target. (4) The ratio of neutron yield by 14.4 GeV α to 7.3 GeV d bombardment in Pb target is 1.74 ± 0.20.

title: Distance Measurements from Supernovae and Dark Energy Constraints
abstract: Constraints on dark energy from current observational data are sensitive to how distances are measured from Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) data. We find that flux averaging of SNe Ia can be used to test the presence of unknown systematic uncertainties, and yield more robust distance measurements from SNe Ia. We have applied this approach to the $\mathrm{\text{nearby}}+\mathrm{SDSS}+\mathrm{ESSENCE}+\mathrm{SNLS}+\mathrm{HST}$ set of 288 SNe Ia, and the ``Constitution'' set of 397 SNe Ia. Combining the SN Ia data with cosmic microwave background anisotropy data from Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe 5 yr observations, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey baryon acoustic oscillation measurements, the data of 69 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) , and the Hubble constant measurement from the Hubble Space Telescope project SHOES, we measure the dark energy density function $X(z)\ensuremath{\equiv}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{X}(z)/{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{X}(0)$ as a free function of redshift (assumed to be a constant at $zg1$ or $zg1.5$). Without the flux averaging of SNe Ia, the combined data using the Constitution set of SNe Ia seem to indicate a deviation from a cosmological constant at $\ensuremath{\sim}95%$ confidence level at $0\ensuremath{\lesssim}z\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.8$; they are consistent with a cosmological constant at $\ensuremath{\sim}68%$ confidence level when SNe Ia are flux averaged. The combined data using the $\mathrm{\text{nearby}}+\mathrm{SDSS}+\mathrm{ESSENCE}+\mathrm{SNLS}+\mathrm{HST}$ data set of SNe Ia are consistent with a cosmological constant at 68% confidence level with or without flux averaging of SNe Ia, and give dark energy constraints that are significantly more stringent than that using the Constitution set of SNe Ia. Assuming a flat Universe, dark energy is detected at $g98%$ confidence level for $z\ensuremath{\le}0.75$ using the combined data with 288 SNe Ia from $\mathrm{\text{nearby}}+\mathrm{SDSS}+\mathrm{ESSENCE}+\mathrm{SNLS}+\mathrm{HST}$, independent of the assumptions about $X(z\ensuremath{\ge}1)$. We quantify dark energy constraints without assuming a flat Universe using the dark energy figure of merit for both $X(z)$ and a dark energy equation-of-state linear in the cosmic scale factor.

title: STRONG FIELD EFFECTS ON PULSAR ARRIVAL TIMES: CIRCULAR ORBITS AND EQUATORIAL BEAMS
abstract: If a pulsar orbits a supermassive black hole, the timing of pulses that pass close to the hole will show a variety of strong field effects. To compute the intensity and timing of pulses that have passed close to a nonrotating black hole, we introduce here a simple formalism based on two "universal functions," one for the bending of photon trajectories and the other for the photon travel time on these trajectories. We apply this simple formalism to the case of a pulsar in circular orbit that beams its pulses into the orbital plane. In addition to the "primary" pulses that reach the receiver by a more-or-less direct path, we find that there are secondary and higher-order pulses. These are usually much dimmer than the primary pulses, but they can be of comparable or even greater intensity if they are emitted when pulsar is on the side of the hole furthest from the receiver. We show that there is a phase relationship of the primary and secondary pulses that is a probe of the strongly curved spacetime geometry. Analogs of these phenomena are expected in more general configurations, in which a pulsar in orbit around a hole emits pulses that are not confined to the orbital plane.

title: Near-infrared interferometric observation of the Herbig Ae star HD 144432 with VLTI/AMBER
abstract: We study the sub-AU-scale circumstellar environment of the Herbig Ae star HD 144432 with near-infrared VLTI/AMBER observations to investigate the structure of its inner dust disk.  The interferometric observations were carried out with the AMBER instrument in the H and K band. We interpret the measured H - and K -band visibilities, the near- and mid-infrared visibilities from the literature, and the spectral energy distribution (SED) of HD 144432 by using geometric ring models and ring-shaped temperature-gradient disk models with power-law temperature distributions.  We derive a K -band ring-fit radius of 0.17 ± 0.01   AU and an H -band radius of 0.18 ± 0.01   AU (for a distance of 145   pc). This measured K -band radius of  ~0.17   AU lies in the range between the dust sublimation radius of  ~0.13   AU (predicted for a dust sublimation temperature of 1500   K and gray dust) and the prediction of models including backwarming (~0.27 AU). We find that an additional extended halo component is required in both the geometric and temperature-gradient modeling. In the best-fit temperature-gradient model, the disk consists of two components. The inner part of the disk is a thin ring with an inner radius of  ~0.21   AU, a temperature of  ~1600   K, and a ring thickness  ~0.02   AU. The outer part extends from  ~1   AU to  ~10   AU with an inner temperature of  ~400   K. We find that the disk is nearly face-on with an inclination angle of Conclusions. Our temperature-gradient modeling suggests that the near-infrared excess is dominated by emission from a narrow, bright rim located at the dust sublimation radius, while an extended halo component contributes  ~6% to the total flux at 2    μ m. The mid-infrared model emission has a two-component structure with  ~20% of the flux originating from the inner ring and the rest from the outer parts. This two-component structure is indicative of a disk gap, which is possibly caused by the shadow of a puffed-up inner rim.