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It is believed that the core of a neutron star can be host to various novel phases of matter, from nucleon superfluid phase to exotic high baryon density quantum chromodynamics (QCD) phases. Different observational signals for such phase transitions have been discussed in the literature. Here, we point out a unique phenomenon associated with phase transition to a superfluid phase, which may be the nucleon superfluid phase or a phase like the colour-flavour locked phase, allowing for superfluid vortices. In any superfluid phase transition, a random network of vortices forms via the so-called Kibble–Zurek mechanism, which eventually mostly decays away, finally leaving primarily vortices arising from the initial angular momentum of the core. This transient, random vortex network can have a non-zero net angular momentum for the superfluid component, which will generally be oriented in an arbitrary direction. This is in contrast to the final vortices, which arise from initial rotation and hence have the initial angular momentum of the neutron star. The angular momentum of the random vortex network is balanced by an equal and opposite angular momentum in the normal fluid due to the conservation of angular momentum, thereby imparting an arbitrarily oriented angular momentum component to the outer shell of the neutron star. This will affect the pulse timing and pulse profile of a pulsar. These changes in the pulses will decay away in a characteristic manner that this as the random vortex network decays, obeying specific scaling laws leading to universal features for the detection of superfluid transitions occurring in a pulsar core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is believed that cores of neutron stars provide a natural laboratory where exotic high baryon density phases of quantum chromo dynamics (QCD) may exist. In fact, the theoretically well-established neutron superfluid phase is also believed to be found only inside neutron stars. Focus on neutrons stars has tremendously intensified in recent years with the direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs) by LIGO/Virgo from binary neutron star (BNS) merger events which has allowed the possibility of directly probing the properties of the interior of a neutron star. A truly remarkable phenomenon manifested by rapidly rotating neutron stars is in their avatar as Pulsars. The accuracy of pulsar timing can reach the level of one part in 10 1 5 , comparable to that of atomic clocks. Indeed, it was such a great accuracy which had allowed the first indirect detection of GWs from a BNS system. Such an incredible accuracy of pulse timings points to a very interesting possibility. Any deformation of the pulsar, even if it is extremely tiny, has the potential of leaving its imprints on the pulses through introduction of tiny perturbations in the entire moment of inertia (MI) tensor. While, the diagonal components of perturbed MI tensor affect the pulse timings, the off-diagonal components lead to wobbling of pulsar, directly affecting the pulse profile. This opens up a new window of opportunity for exploring various phase transitions occurring inside a pulsar core, through induced density fluctuations, which may be observable as perturbations in the pulse timing as well as its profile. Such perturbations also naturally induce a rapidly changing quadrupole moment of the star, thereby providing a new source of GW emission. Another remarkable possibility arises when we consider the effect of an external GW on neutron star. With the possibility of detecting any minute changes in its configuration through pulse observations, the neutron star has the potential of performing as a Weber detector of GW. This brief review will focus on these specific aspects of a pulsar. Specifically, the focus will be on the type of physics which can be probed by utilizing the effect of changes in the MI tensor of the pulsar on pulse properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We calculate detailed modification of pulses from a pulsar arising from the effects of phase transition induced density fluctuations on the pulsar moment of inertia. We represent general statistical density fluctuations using a simple model where the initial moment of inertia tensor of the pulsar (taken to be diagonal here) is assumed to get random additional contributions for each of its component which are taken to be Gaussian distributed with certain width characterized by the strength of density fluctuations ϵ. Using sample values of ϵ, (and the pulsar deformation parameter η) we numerically calculate detailed pulse modifications by solving Euler's equations for the rotational dynamics of the pulsar. We also give analytical estimates which can be used for arbitrary values of ϵ and η. We show that there are very specific patterns in the perturbed pulses which are observable in terms of modulations of pulses over large time periods. In view of the fact that density fluctuations fade away eventually leading to a uniform phase in the interior of pulsar, the off-diagonal components of MI tensor also vanish eventually. Thus, the modification of pulses due to induced wobbling (from the off-diagonal MI components) will also die away eventually. This allows one to distinguish these transient pulse modulations from the effects of any wobbling originally present. Further, the decay of these modulations in time directly relates to relaxation of density fluctuations in the pulsar giving valuable information about the nature of phase transition occurring inside the pulsar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We propose a novel implementation of spontaneous parity breaking in supersymmetric left–right symmetric model, avoiding some of the problems encountered in previous studies. This implementation includes a bi-triplet and a singlet, in addition to the bi-doublets which extend the Higgs sector of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The supersymmetric vacua of this theory are shown to lead generically to spontaneous violation of parity, while preserving R-parity. The model is shown to reproduce the see-saw relation for vacuum expectation values, relating the new mass scales , to the electroweak scale , just as in the non-supersymmetric version. The scale determines the mass scale of heavy Majorana neutrinos, which gets related to the observed neutrino masses through type II see-saw relation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We study the cosmology of two versions of supersymmetric Left–Right symmetric model. The scale of the symmetry breaking in these models is naturally low, . Spontaneous breakdown of parity is accompanied by a first order phase transition. We simulate the domain walls of the phase transition and show that they provide requisite conditions, specifically, CP violating phase needed for leptogenesis. Additionally soft resonant leptogenesis is conditionally viable in the two models considered. Some of the parameters in the soft supersymmetry breaking terms are shown to be constrained from these considerations. It is argued that the models may be testable in upcoming collider and cosmology experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article provide first-in-class evidence that shape-changing and self-latching microdevices enhance the efficacy of extended drug delivery. It mentions about the extended-release gastrointestinal (GI) luminal delivery substantially increases the ease of administration of drugs and consequently the adherence to therapeutic regimens.

Graphene and other two-dimensional materials have unique physical and chemical properties of broad relevance. It has been suggested that the transformation of these atomically planar materials to three-dimensional (3D) geo metries by bending, wrinkling, or folding could significantly alter their properties and lead to novel structures and devices with compact form factors, but strategies to enable this shape change remain limited. We report a benign thermally responsive method to fold and unfold monolayer graphene into predesigned, ordered 3D structures. The methodology involves the surface functionalization of monolayer graphene using ultrathin noncovalently bonded mussel-inspired polydopamine and thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes. The functio-nalized graphene is micropatterned and self-folds into ordered 3D structures with reversible deformation under a full control by temperature. The structures are characterized using spectroscopy and microscopy, and self-folding is rationalized using a multiscale molecular dynamics model. Our work demonstrates the potential to design and fabricate ordered 3D graphene structures with predictable shape and dynamics. We highlight applicability by encapsulating live cells and creating nonlinear resistor and creased transistor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]