Negative energy states in the Reissner–Nordström metric

We consider electrogeodesics on which the energy [Formula: see text] in the Reissner–Nordström metric. It is shown that outside the horizon there is exactly one turning point inside the ergoregion for such particles. This entails that such a particle passes through an infinite chain of black–white hole regions or terminates in the singularity. These properties are relevant for two scenarios of high energy collisions in which the presence of white holes is essential.

CHARGE-SYMMETRIC DESCRIPTION OF ELECTRONS AND POSITRONS IN THE DIRAC THEORY WITHOUT NEGATIVE ENERGIES

A formulation of the Dirac theory, symmetric with respect to particles and antiparticles, in which negative energy states are excluded, is proposed. Fields of particles and antiparticles are associated with wave functions for which the Born interpretation as probability amplitudes is valid. Thus, in theory, various ”paradoxes” are eliminated, the existence of which is due to incorrect accounting of states with negative energy.

17β-Estradiol Increases Arcuate KNDy Neuronal Sensitivity to Ghrelin Inhibition of the M-Current in Female Mice

Obesity and anorexia result in dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, negatively impacting reproduction. Ghrelin, secreted from the stomach, potentially mediates negative energy states and neuroendocrine control of reproduction by acting through the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). GHSR is expressed in hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B (Tac2)/Dynorphin (KNDy) neurons. Ghrelin is known to inhibit the M-current produced by KCNQ channels in other ARC neurons. In addition, we have shown 17β-estradiol (E2) increases Ghsr expression in KNDy neurons 6-fold and increases the M-current in NPY neurons. We hypothesize that E2 increases GHSR expression in KNDy neurons to increase ghrelin sensitivity during negative energy states. Furthermore, we suspect ghrelin targets the M-current in KNDy neurons to control reproduction and energy homeostasis. We utilized ovariectomized Tac2-EGFP adult female mice, pretreated with estradiol benzoate (EB) or oil vehicle and performed whole-cell-patch-clamp recordings to elicit the M-current in KNDy neurons using standard activation protocols in voltage-clamp. Using the selective KCNQ channel blocker XE-991 (40 µM) to target the M-current, oil- and EB-treated mice showed a decrease in the maximum peak current by 75.7 ± 13.8 pA (n = 10) and 68.0 ± 14.7 pA (n = 11), respectively. To determine the actions of ghrelin on the M-current, ghrelin was perfused (100 nM) in oil- and EB-treated mice resulting in the suppression of the maximum peak current by 58.5 ± 15.8 pA (n = 9) and 59.2 ± 11.9 pA (n = 9), respectively. KNDy neurons appeared more sensitive to ghrelin when pretreated with EB, revealing that ARC KNDy neurons are more sensitive to ghrelin during states of high E2.

Tachyon dynamics — for neutrinos?

Following earlier studies that provided a consistent theory of kinematics for tachyons (faster-than-light particles), we here embark on a study of tachyon dynamics, both in classical physics and in the quantum theory. Examining a general scattering process, we come to recognize that the labels given to “in” and “out” states are not Lorentz invariant for tachyons; and this lets us find a sensible interpretation of negative energy states. For statistical mechanics, as well as for scattering problems, we study what should be the proper expression for density of states for tachyons. We review the previous work on quantization of a Dirac field for tachyons and go on to expand earlier considerations of neutrinos as tachyons in the context of cosmology. We stumble into the realization that tachyon neutrinos would contribute to gravitation with the opposite sign compared to tachyon antineutrinos. This leads to the gobsmacking prediction that the Cosmic Neutrino Background, if they are indeed tachyons, might explain both phenomena of Dark Matter and Dark Energy. This theoretical study also makes contact with the anticipated results from the experiments KATRIN and PTOLEMY, which focus on beta decay and neutrino absorption by Tritium.

Dirac equations with confining potentials

This paper is devoted to a study of relativistic eigenstates of Dirac particles which are simultaneously bound by a static Coulomb potential and added linear confining potentials. Under certain conditions, despite the addition of radially symmetric, linear confining potentials, specific bound-state energies surprisingly preserve their exact Dirac–Coulomb values. The generality of the "preservation mechanism" is investigated. To this end, a Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation is used to calculate the corrections to the spin-orbit coupling induced by the linear confining potentials. We find that the matrix elements of the effective operators obtained from the scalar, and time-like confining potentials mutually cancel for specific ratios of the prefactors of the effective operators, which must be tailored to the preservation mechanism. The result of the Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation is used to verify that the preservation is restricted (for a given Hamiltonian) to only one reference state, rather than traceable to a more general relationship among the obtained effective low-energy operators. The results derived from the nonrelativistic effective operators are compared to the fully relativistic radial Dirac equations. Furthermore, we show that the preservation mechanism does not affect antiparticle (negative-energy) states.