A fluctuation problem in particle transport theory I

The fluctuation in the number of collision suffered by particles as they slow down in a moderating medium is studied via a probability balance equation. The equation describes the collision history of foreign particles slowing down in a host medium and also accounts for the recoil particles produced in the collision. The equations are solved by the introduction of a generating function from which the space and time dependent probability distributions are obtained. That is, the probability that a particle will suffer just N collisions to reach energy E at a time t after injection. In the space dependent case it is the probability that a particle suffers just N collisions to travel a given path length before coming to rest.Explicit expressions for the means and variances are obtained by solving a difference equation. From this solution it has been possible to obtain exact expressions for hard spheres and for a variety of models based on the inverse power law approximation. A number of new results are presented and some old ones rederived in a more efficient and general manner. The results are of value in the understanding of radiation damage cascades and in neutron slowing down in moderating materials.     

Probability and complex quantum trajectories

It is shown that in the complex trajectory representation of quantum mechanics, the Born’s ΨΨ probability density can be obtained from the imaginary part of the velocity field of particles on the real axis. Extending this probability axiom to the complex plane, we first attempt to find a probability density by solving an appropriate conservation equation. The characteristic curves of this conservation equation are found to be the same as the complex paths of particles in the new representation. The boundary condition in this case is that the extended probability density should agree with the quantum probability rule along the real line. For the simple, time-independent, one-dimensional problems worked out here, we find that a conserved probability density can be derived from the velocity field of particles, except in regions where the trajectories were previously suspected to be nonviable. An alternative method to find this probability density in terms of a trajectory integral, which is easier to implement on a computer and useful for single particle solutions, is also presented. Most importantly, we show, by using the complex extension of Schrodinger equation, that the desired conservation equation can be derived from this definition of probability density.     

Large transverse momentum particle production in αα and pp collisions at the CERN ISR

The production of charged hadrons with high p_T in αα collisions at √s=126 GeV and pp collisions at √s=31 and 63 GeV is compared, and the structure of the events associated with the high-pT particles is studied. The probability of finding associated particles close to the trigger particle increases strongly between √s=31 and 63 GeV for pp collisions. For p_T>2.5GeV/c the αα/pp cross section ratio at the same energy per nucleon is measured to be 18.7 ± 2.0, to be compared with A² = 16, and a higher associated multiplicity is observed for αα.     

Zur Theorie der stochastischen Beschleunigung. I

This work contains theoretical investigations on the stochastic acceleration in circular accelerators. The first part deals with the classical problem ofBurshtein, Kolomenskii andVeksler. This problem was formulated in a publication very clearly in 1955, but has not yet found an exact solution. The subject is the calculation of the probability that a charged particle is accelerated from the injection energy to the top energy of the apparatus (“probability of acceleration”), supposing that the particle has an equal chance at every circulation to increase or decrease its energy by a fixed amounteU ₀. The following investigation shows that this problem can be solved if properly formulated as a matrix equation, and that the solution is of a relatively simple closed form. This is the case, too, if the primary problem is extended by permitting particle losses during the acceleration process (“absorption”). The results are discussed, especially regarding the influence of absorption. Under certain conditions [(eU ₀ ²/SΣ (E _max?E _min)²] the probability of acceleration becomes independent of absorption and of the gap voltageU ₀.     

Schwinger Effect in a Robertson-Walker Space-Time

The problem of particle creation from vacuum in a flat Robertson-Walker space-time in the presence of a varying electric field is studied. The Klein Gordon equation is exactly solved when the scale factor is a(η)=A+Btanh(λη). The canonical method based on Bogoliubov transformation is applied. The pair creation probability and the density number of created particles are calculated. The particular case of radiation dominated universe is considered where the total probability is written as a Schwinger-like series. It is shown that the electric field amplifies gravitational particle creation.     

Phase memory effects in probe-field spectroscopy of two-level systems at low collision frequencies

The absorption (amplification) spectrum of a weak probe field by two-level atoms located in a strong resonant laser field and colliding with buffer-gas atoms is analyzed theoretically. The analysis is performed for low collision frequencies compared to the Doppler absorption linewidth (low gas pressure) and with allowance made for an arbitrary change in the phase of the radiation-induced dipole moment at elastic collisions between gas particles. The phase memory effects have been found to lead to a strong qualitative and quantitative transformation of the probe-field spectrum even at rare collisions, when the well-known Dicke manifestation mechanism of the phase memory effects (the removal of Doppler broadening due to the restriction of the spatial particle motion by collisions) is inoperative. The strong influence of the phase memory effects on the spectral resonances at low gas pressures stems from the fact that the phase-conserving collisions change the velocity dependence of the partial refractive index n(v) (the refractive index for particles moving with velocity v).     

A comment on the paper “Stochastic feedback, nonlinear families of Markov processes, and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations” by T.D. Frank

The purpose of this comment is to correct mistaken assumptions and claims made in the paper “Stochastic feedback, nonlinear families of Markov processes, and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations” by T. D. Frank [T.D. Frank, Stochastic feedback, non-linear families of Markov processes, and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations, Physica A 331 (2004) 391]. Our comment centers on the claims of a “non-linear Markov process” and a “non-linear Fokker-Planck equation.” First, memory in transition densities is misidentified as a Markov process. Second, the paper assumes that one can derive a Fokker-Planck equation from a Chapman-Kolmogorov equation, but no proof was offered that a Chapman-Kolmogorov equation exists for the memory-dependent processes considered. A “non-linear Markov process” is claimed on the basis of a non-linear diffusion pde for a 1-point probability density. We show that, regardless of which initial value problem one may solve for the 1-point density, the resulting stochastic process, defined necessarily by the conditional probabilities (the transition probabilities), is either an ordinary linearly generated Markovian one, or else is a linearly generated non-Markovian process with memory. We provide explicit examples of diffusion coefficients that reflect both the Markovian and the memory-dependent cases. So there is neither a “non-linear Markov process”, nor a “non-linear Fokker-Planck equation” for a conditional probability density. The confusion rampant in the literature arises in part from labeling a non-linear diffusion equation for a 1-point probability density as “non-linear Fokker-Planck,” whereas neither a 1-point density nor an equation of motion for a 1-point density can define a stochastic process. In a closely related context, we point out that Borland misidentified a translation invariant 1-point probability density derived from a non-linear diffusion equation as a conditional probability density. Finally, in the Appendix A we present the theory of Fokker-Planck pdes and Chapman-Kolmogorov equations for stochastic processes with finite memory.     

An absolute measurement of the probability for 1s σ and 2p σ excitation of the leadK shell

Using particle x-ray coincidence techniques, the probability forK shell ionization has been measured absolutely at two impact parameters for collisions of 5.8 MeV/amu²⁰⁸Pb on Ag and Au. In the asymmetric collision system Pb-Ag, the 1sσ excitation probability of the PbK shell is 2.2% at 25 fm impact parameter, and an exponential probability distribution falls off too quickly to account for the measured total cross section. For the symmetric system Pb-Au, the latter conclusion is also made for the 2pσ excitation probability although in this case, the probability is much larger being 29% at 42 fm.     

Self-ionization of an atom in <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis><Superscript>−</Superscript> decay

The dependence of the yield of near-zero-energy electrons (e ₀ electrons) from the surface of a ⁴⁶Sc source on the energy of β ^? particles is measured with the use of the method of eγ and eβ coincidences. The self-ionization of an atom in β ^? decay owing to shake-off and direct collisions is determined. It is found that the probability of shake-off is independent of the energy of a β ^? particle, whereas the probability of direct collisions is inversely proportional to its velocity. The results of the measurements are discussed in the approximation of the sudden perturbation of an atomic electron by the moving β ^? particle.     

Dynamics of a stochastically driven Brownian particle in one dimension

We present a study on the dynamics of a system consisting of a pair of hardcore particles diffusing with different rates. We solved the drift-diffusion equation for this model in the case when one particle, labeled F, drifts and diffuses slowly toward the second particle, labeled M. The displacements of particle M exhibits a crossover from diffusion to drift at a characteristic time which depends on the rate constants. We show that the positional fluctuation of M exhibits an intermediate crossover regime of subdiffusion separating initial and asymptotic diffusive behavior; this is in agreement with the complete set of Master Equations that describe the stochastic evolution of the model. The intermediate crossover regime can be considerably large depending on the hopping probabilities of the two particles. This is in contrast to the known crossover from diffusive to subdiffusive behavior of a tagged particle that is in the interior of a large single-file system on an unbound real line. We discuss our model with respect to the biological phenomena of membrane protrusions, where polymerizing actin filaments (F) push the cell membrane (M).     

Field-theory methods in coagulation theory

Coagulating systems are systems of chaotically moving particles that collide and coalesce, producing daughter particles of mass equal to the sum of the masses involved in the respective collision event. The present article puts forth basic ideas underlying the application of methods of quantum-field theory to the theory of coagulating systems. Instead of the generally accepted treatment based on the use of a standard kinetic equation that describes the time evolution of concentrations of particles consisting of a preset number of identical objects (monomers in the following), one introduces the probability W(Q, t) to find the system in some state Q at an instant t for a specific rate of transitions between various states. Each state Q is characterized by a set of occupation numbers Q = {n ₁, n ₂, ..., n _g , ...}, where n _g is the total number of particles containing precisely g monomers. Thereupon, one introduces the generating functional Ψ for the probability W(Q, t). The time evolution of Ψ is described by an equation that is similar to the Schrödinger equation for a one-dimensional Bose field. This equation is solved exactly for transition rates proportional to the product of the masses of colliding particles. It is shown that, within a finite time interval, which is independent of the total mass of the entire system, a giant particle of mass about the mass of the entire system may appear in this system. The particle in question is unobservable in the thermodynamic limit, and this explains the well-known paradox of mass-concentration nonconservation in classical kinetic theory. The theory described in the present article is successfully applied in studying the time evolution of random graphs.     

Vlasov moments, integrable systems and singular solutions

The Vlasov equation governs the evolution of the single-particle probability distribution function (PDF) for a system of particles interacting without dissipation. Its singular solutions correspond to the individual particle motions. The operation of taking the moments of the Vlasov equation is a Poisson map. The resulting Lie-Poisson Hamiltonian dynamics of the Vlasov moments is found to be integrable is several cases. For example, the dynamics for coasting beams in particle accelerators is associated by a hodograph transformation to the known integrable Benney shallow-water equation. After setting the context, the Letter focuses on geodesic Vlasov moment equations. Continuum closures of these equations at two different orders are found to be integrable systems whose singular solutions characterize the geodesic motion of the individual particles.     

Target mass dependence and intranuclear cascade in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions

Intranuclear cascade, one of the most important non-linear effects in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions, is investigated, its influence on the target mass dependence of the distributions of final state particles is discussed. Using hydrodynamical model to treat non-linear effects, the main features of the rapidity distributions and their dependence on the target mass are naturally explained. The results of numerical calculation for¹⁶O-A central collisions at 60 and 200A GeV agree with the existing data.     

On the Entropy of a One-Dimensional Gas with and without Mixing Using Sinai Billiard

A one-dimensional gas comprising N point particles undergoing elastic collisions within a finite space described by a Sinai billiard generating identical dynamical trajectories are calculated and analyzed with regard to strict extensivity of the entropy definitions of Boltzmann–Gibbs. Due to the collisions, trajectories of gas particles are strongly correlated and exhibit both chaotic and periodic properties. Probability distributions for the position of each particle in the one-dimensional gas can be obtained analytically, elucidating that the entropy in this special case is extensive at any given number N. Furthermore, the entropy obtained can be interpreted as a measure of the extent of interactions between molecules. The results obtained for the non-mixable one-dimensional system are generalized to mixable one- and two-dimensional systems, the latter by a simple example only providing similar findings.     

Structures and angular distributions of slow and relativistic charged particles produced in 7Li-emulsion interactions at 3 GeV/c per projectile nucleon

Experimental results on the multiplicity distributions of various particles produced in the interactions of ⁷Li with emulsion nuclei at a momentum of 3 GeV/c per projectile nucleon are reported. A comparison with data on collisions induced by other nuclei at a nearly identical momentum per nucleon is presented in order to reveal the dependence on the projectile mass. The internal structure of ⁷Li is explored by studying the projectile fragment. The mean multiplicity of shower particles, 〈n _s〉, induced by ⁷Li is found to be less than that in the case of ⁶Li projectiles. The angular distributions of target fragments and relativistic charged secondaries are investigated. No shock-wave phenomena are observed. Forward-to-backward ratios are calculated for each case. The probability distributions for relativistic secondaries produced per unit rapidity are studied in detail, along with the rapidity densities and their dependence on the projectile and the target mass. A comparison of the angular spectra of shower particles produced in central and peripheral collisions supports the limiting-fragmentation hypothesis. The collisions in question seem to become more central with increasing shower-particle multiplicity.     

Exciton model description of energy spectra following pion absorption in40Ca

The spectra of charged particles emitted following the absorption of negative pions at rest in⁴⁰Ca are calculated. The pion is assumed to be absorbed on a cluster of two or more nucleons resulting in the emission of a primary particle while the remainder of the cluster equilibrates in the nucleus due to further interactions resulting in the emission of secondary particles. The latter process is described by the exciton model valid at the excitation energies encountered for the present case. The proton spectrum is well reproduced assuming absorption on two nucleon clusters only, with a value ofR(np/pp) =8+-2 for the ratio of the absorption on a quasi-deuteron to that on a quasi-diproton. The analysis of complex particle spectra indicates pion absorption on heavier clusters also and leads to a phenomenological determination of probabilities for these absorption processes relative to those for two-nucleon clusters.     

Multiparametric magnetic immunoassays utilizing non-linear signatures of magnetic labels

A powerful route to utilizing magnetic nanoparticles as labels in magnetic immunoassays is to exploit their non-linear response when they are exposed to a multi-frequency alternating magnetic field. We have upgraded this non-linear method allowing for the detection, discrimination and quantification of particles of two kinds when mixed together, with no need for spatial resolution. Each kind of particle is characterized by a specific magnetic signature based on d²B(H)/dH². Appropriate data processing of the signature measured on a mixture of both particles allows for obtaining the amount of each particle. This will enable utilizing magnetic labels for multiparametric magnetic immunoassays.     

Quantum mechanics of relativistic spinless particles

A relativistic one-particle, quantum theory for spin-zero particles is constructed uponL ²(x, ct), resulting in a positive definite spacetime probability density. A generalized Schrödinger equation having a Hermitian HamiltonianH onL ²(x, ct) for an arbitrary four-vector potential is derived. In this formalism the rest mass is an observable and a scalar particle is described by a wave packet that is a superposition of mass states. The requirements of macroscopic causality are shown to be satisfied by the most probable trajectory of a free tardyon and a nontrivial framework for charged and neutral particles is provided. The Klein paradox is resolved and a link to the free particle field operators of quantum field theory is established. A charged particle interacting with a static magnetic field is discussed as an example of the formalism.     

On Collisions Times of ‘Self-Sorting’ Interacting Particles in One-Dimension with Random Initial Positions and Velocities

We investigate a one-dimensional system of N particles, initially distributed with random positions and velocities, interacting through binary collisions. The collision rule is such that there is a time after which the N particles do not interact and become sorted according to their velocities. When the collisions are elastic, we derive asymptotic distributions for the final collision time of a single particle and the final collision time of the system as the number of particles approaches infinity, under different assumptions for the initial distributions of the particles’ positions and velocities. For comparison, a numerical investigation is carried out to determine how a non-elastic collision rule, which conserves neither momentum nor energy, affects the median collision time of a particle and the median final collision time of the system.     

Strange particle production at the intersection of soft and hard processes at RHIC

Nuclear suppression factor and u ₂ measurements as a function of transverse momentum for neutral strange particles are shown and compared to particle identified spectra from PHENIX and WA98 and to models that attempt to describe the suppression of particles at moderate pt in central RHIC Au?Au collisions. It is shown that identified spectra carry additional information to the published charged particle spectra. In particular, dependencies of the R _AA and u ₂ values on the measured particle species will be discussed in the context of several models.