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Hueso-Gonzalez, F., Vijande, J., Ballester, F., Perez-Calatayud, J., & Siebert, F. A. (2015). A simple analytical method for heterogeneity corrections in low dose rate prostate brachytherapy. Phys. Med. Biol., 60(14), 5455–5469.
Abstract: In low energy brachytherapy, the presence of tissue heterogeneities contributes significantly to the discrepancies observed between treatment plan and delivered dose. In this work, we present a simplified analytical dose calculation algorithm for heterogeneous tissue. We compare it with Monte Carlo computations and assess its suitability for integration in clinical treatment planning systems. The algorithm, named as RayStretch, is based on the classic equivalent path length method and TG-43 reference data. Analytical and Monte Carlo dose calculations using Penelope2008 are compared for a benchmark case: a prostate patient with calcifications. The results show a remarkable agreement between simulation and algorithm, the latter having, in addition, a high calculation speed. The proposed analytical model is compatible with clinical real-time treatment planning systems based on TG-43 consensus datasets for improving dose calculation and treatment quality in heterogeneous tissue. Moreover, the algorithm is applicable for any type of heterogeneities.
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Kakizaki, M., Park, E. K., Park, J. H., & Santaa, A. (2015). Phenomenological constraints on light mixed sneutrino dark matter scenarios. Phys. Lett. B, 749, 44–49.
Abstract: In supersymmetric models with Dirac neutrinos, the lightest sneutrino can be a good thermal dark matter candidate when the soft sneutrino trilinear parameter is large. In this paper, we focus on scenarios where the mass of the mixed sneutrino LSP is of the order of GeV so the sneutrino dark matter is still viable complying with the limits by current and near future direct detection experiments. We investigate phenomenological constraints in the parameter space of the models, as well as the vacuum stability bound. Finally, we show that the allowed regions can be explored by measuring Higgs boson properties at future collider experiments.
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Botella, F. J., Branco, G. C., Coutinho, A. M., Rebelo, M. N., & Silva-Marcos, J. I. (2015). Natural quasi-alignment with two Higgs doublets and RGE stability. Eur. Phys. J. C, 75(6), 286–9pp.
Abstract: In the context of two Higgs doublet models, we study the conditions required in order to have stable quasi-alignment in flavour space. We show that stability under the renormalisation group equations imposes strong constraints on the flavour structure of the Yukawa couplings associated to each one of the Higgs doublets. In particular, we find a novel solution, where all Yukawa couplings are proportional to the so-called democratic matrix. This solution is rather unique, since it is the only stable solution which is a good starting point for reproducing the observed pattern of quark masses and mixing. We also showthat this stable solution can be obtained by imposing on the Lagrangian a Z(3)xZ(3)' flavour symmetry. Quark masses of the lighter quark generations are generated through the breaking of this discrete symmetry, and, at this stage, scalar-mediated flavour-changing neutralcurrents arise, but they are naturally suppressed by the smallness of the light quark masses. In this way, we relate Higgs alignment to the hierarchy of the quark masses through a discrete family symmetry.
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Beltran Jimenez, J., Heisenberg, L., Olmo, G. J., & Ringeval, C. (2015). Cascading dust inflation in Born-lnfeld gravity. J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys., 11(11), 046–30pp.
Abstract: In the framework of Born-Infeld inspired gravity theories, which deviates from General Relativity (GR) in the high curvature regime, we discuss the viability of Cosmic Inflation without scalar fields. For energy densities higher than the new mass scale of the theory, a gravitating (lust component is shown to generically induce an accelerated expansion of the Universe. Within such a simple scenario, inflation gracefiffly exits when the CR regime is recovered, but the Universe would remain matter dominated. In order to implement a reheating era after inflation, we then consider inflation to be driven by a mixture of unstable dust species decaying into radiation. Because the speed of sound gravitates within the BornInfeld model under consideration, our scenario ends up being predictive on various open questions of the inflationary paradigm. The total number of e-folds of acceleration is given by the lifetime of the unstable dust components and is related to the duration of reheating. As a result, inflation does not last much longer than the number of e-folds of deceleration allowing a small spatial curvature and large scale deviations to isotropy to be observable today. Energy densities are self-regulated as inflation can only start for a total energy density less than a threshold value, again related to the species' lifetime. Above this threshold, the Universe may bc nee thereby avoiding a singularity. Another distinctive feature is that the accelerated expansion is of the superinflationary ldnd, namely the first Hubble flow function is negative. We show however that the tensor modes are never excited and the tensor-to-scalar ratio is always vanishing, independently of the energy scale of inflation.
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Pavez, C., Pedreros, J., Tarifeño-Saldivia, A., & Soto, L. (2015). Observation of plasma jets in a table top plasma focus discharge. Phys. Plasmas, 22(4), 040705–5pp.
Abstract: In the last years, medium size Z-pinch experiments operating at tens of kJ are being used to create supersonic plasma jets. Those experiments are produced with wire arrays and radial foils, and they are conducted in generators based on water-filled transmission lines. Also plasma jets have been observed in small X-pinch experiments operating at 1 kJ. In this work, observations of plasma jets produced in a table top plasma focus device by means of optical and digital interferometry are shown. The device was operated at only similar to 70J, achieving 50 kA in 150 ns. The plasma jets were observed after the pinch, in the region close and on the anode, along the axis. The electron density measured from the jets is in the range 10(24)-10(25) m(-3). From two consecutive plasma images separated 18 ns, the axial jet velocity was measured in the order of 4 x 10(4) m/s.
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