Upper bounds on Higgs-Boson masses in the Weinberg-Salam model with three Higgs doublets

In the Weinberg-Salam model with three Higgs doublets, the positivity of masses and tree graph unitarity applied on Higgs scattering lead to the following upper bounds on Higgs masses: m_H1^±, m_H2^± < 883 GeV, m_H1⁰ < 500 GeV, m_H2⁰, m_H3⁰ < (958–1633) GeV, m_H4⁰, m_H5⁰ < (360–883) GeV.     

Structures of proton solvates in the HCl-H2O-(CH3)2NCHO system as determined by IR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations

The structures of proton solvates in the HCl-H₂O-(CH₃)₂NCHO (DMFA) system at H₂O: DMFA ratios ranging from 1: 1 to 21: 1 are studied by the IR spectroscopy method. It is demonstrated that H₂O?H⁺?OH₂ ions and (CH₃)₂NCHO?H⁺?OH₂ mixed solvates with a strong quasi-symmetrical hydrogen bond are formed in solutions. With an increase in the DMFA concentration, the fraction of H₅O ₂ ⁺ ions decreases. At HCl: H₂O ≥ 1: 3 and arbitrary DMFA concentrations, only mixed proton solvates are formed. The continuous absorption coefficients for the (CH₃)₂NCHO?H⁺?OH₂ ions are determined. The results obtained are compared with the results of quantum-chemical calculations of the structure and relative stability of the (DMFA) _m H⁺(H₂O) _n (m = 0–2, n = 0–3) positively charged complexes which were performed by the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) DFT method. We identified 19 stable configurations with chain, cyclic, and branched structures. Most of these configurations contain the (CH₃)₂NCHO?H⁺?OH₂ fragment. The parameters of the O?H⁺?O bridge show that some configurations have a strong quasi-symmetrical hydrogen bond. In some cases, the proton is located between two DMFA molecules. The H₂O?H⁺?OH₂ bridge is observed in none of the stable configurations of the (DMFA) _m H⁺(H₂O) _n (m ≠ 0) complexes.     

Inverse scattering with non-overdetermined data

Let A(β,α,k) be the scattering amplitude corresponding to a real-valued potential which vanishes outside of a bounded domain D⊂R³. The unit vector α is the direction of the incident plane wave, the unit vector β is the direction of the scattered wave, k>0 is the wave number. The governing equation for the waves is [∇²+k²−q(x)]u=0 in R³. For a suitable class M of potentials it is proved that if Aq₁(−β,β,k)=Aq₂(−β,β,k),∀β∈S², ∀k∈(k₀,k₁), and q₁, q₂∈M, then q₁=q₂. This is a uniqueness theorem for the solution to the inverse scattering problem with backscattering data. It is also proved for this class of potentials that if , ∀k∈(k₀,k₁), and q₁, q₂∈M, then q₁=q₂. Here is an arbitrarily small open subset of S², and |k₀−k₁|>0 is arbitrarily small.     

Higgs boson searches at the Tevatron

This article reviews the Higgs searches at the Tevatron, as presented over the summer of 2012; both standard model (SM) and beyond the standard model (BSM) results are discussed as detailed (arXiv: 1207.0449; Phys. Rev. Lett., 2012, 109: 071804; Phys. Rev. D, 2012, 85: 032005). We discuss the combination of searches by the CDF and D0 Collaborations for the standard model Higgs boson in the mass range 100–200 GeV/c ² produced in the the gg → H, WH, ZH, t{ie27-1}H, and vector boson fusion production modes, and decaying in the H → b{ie27-2}, H → W ⁺ W ^?, H → ZZ, H → τ ⁺ τ ^?, and H → γγ modes. The data, collected at the Fermilab Tevatron collider in p{ie27-3} collisions at {ie27-4} TeV, correspond to integrated luminosities of up to 10 fb^?1. In the absence of signal, we expect to exclude the regions 100<m _H < 120 GeV/c ² and 139<m _H < 184 GeV/c ². We exclude, at the 95% C.L., two regions: 100<m _H < 103 GeV/c ², and 147<m _H < 180 GeV/c ². We observe a significant excess of events in the mass range between 115 and 140 GeV/c ². The local significance corresponds to 3.0 standard deviations at m _H = 120 GeV/c ²; the global significance (incorporating the look-elsewhere effect) for such an excess anywhere in the full mass range investigated is approximately 2.5 standard deviations. Furthermore, we separately combine searches for H → b{ie27-5}, H → W+W ^? and H → γγ. We find that the excess is concentrated in the H → b{ie27-6} channel, appearing in the searches over a broad range of m _H ; the maximum local significance of 3.3 standard deviations corresponds to a global significance of approximately 3.1 standard deviations. The observed signal strengths in all channels are consistent with the expectation for a standard model Higgs boson at m _H = 125 GeV/c ². The production of neutral Higgs bosons in association with b-quarks can be significantly enhanced in various beyond the standard model scenarios, including Supersymmetry. The recent combination of such searches from the two collaborations is discussed.     

Syntheses, crystal structures, visible and near-IR luminescent properties of ternary lanthanide (Dy, Tm) complexes containing 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione and 1,10-phenanthroline

The ligands 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione (Hbfa) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) were used to prepare ternary lanthanide (Ln) complexes [Dy(bfa)₃phen and Tm(bfa)₃phen]. Crystal data: Dy(bfa)₃phen C₄₂H₂₆F₉N₂O₆Dy, triclinic, P1¯, a=9.9450(6) Å, b=14.0944(9) Å, c=14.6043(9) Å, α=82.104(1)°, β=87.006(1)°, γ=76.490(1)°, V=1971.1(2) Å³, Z=2; Tm(bfa)₃phen C₄₂H₂₆F₉N₂O₆Tm, triclinic, P1¯, a=9.898(5) Å, b=13.918(5) Å, c=14.753(5) Å, α=83.517(5)°, β=86.899(5)°, γ=76.818(5)°, V=1965.3(14) Å³, Z=2. The coordination number of the central Ln³⁺ (Ln=Dy, Tm) ion is eight, with six oxygen atoms from three Hbfa ligands and two nitrogen atoms from the phen ligand. The photophysical properties of the two complexes were studied by absorption spectra, diffuse reflectance spectra, and emission spectra. They show the characteristic luminescence of the corresponding Ln³⁺ ion in both visible and near-IR (NIR) region. Additionally, the energy transfer mechanisms between the ligands and central Ln³⁺ ions were discussed.     

Investigations on field desorption products from silver surfaces by mass spectrometry

Field evaporation of silver and field desorption of silver surface compounds were investigated by analysing positive ions with a mass spectrometer. In particular, the well known adsorption states of oxygen, and further the interactions of H₂O, NH₃, H₂, CO and CH₄ were measured in the field ion mass spectrometer under steady state fields of > 0.1 V/Å with a sensitivity of < 0.1 ions s^?1 and at temperatures between 80 °K and 425 °K. Although oxygen is usually chemisorbed at Ag surfaces, no AgO⁺, AgO⁺₂ or other Ag-O compounds could be detected as positive ions, Ag⁺ and O₂⁺ are the only observed ions at best image fields in oxygen up to fields of field evaporation of Ag⁺(≈ 2.2 V/Å). Even after the actual adsorption of oxygen with zero-field (6 × 10⁵ Langmuir at 10^?3 Torr) at 323 °K and 473 °K and subsequent application of the desorption field at 210°K no silver-oxygen compounds were found in positive ionic form. Small quantities of AgO⁺ and AgO⁺₂ were only formed — besides Ag(H₂O)_x⁺ complexes — if atomic oxygen was supplied by the field induced dissociation of water.Gases which do not adsorb on silver under zero-field conditions (H₂, CO, CH₄, N₂) yield the ions Ag(H₂)_n, Ag(CO)_n⁺, n=1, 2; AgCH₄⁺, AgN₂⁺. The situation with H₂O and NH₃ is more complicated: Molecular ions [Ag(H₂O)_n]⁺·mH₂O, n=1,…, 4, m=1,…, 8 and [Ag(NH₃)_n]⁺·mNH₃, n=1, 2, m=1,…, 6 are found besides Ag⁺.From the temperature and field dependence conclusions are drawn about the mechanisms of evaporation and formation of ionic surface complexes. The activation energies of evaporation of Ag⁺ are found to depend on the square root of the field strength. In general, the generation of surface compounds can be described by field induced reactions rather than usual gas adsorption.     

A Monte Carlo simulation study of H2 layers on NaCl(0 0 1)

Monte Carlo simulations show that, at one monolayer coverage, H₂ molecules adsorbed on a NaCl(0 0 1) surface occupy all Na⁺ sites and form a commensurate c(2 × 2) structure. If the Cl⁻ sites are occupied as well, a bi-layer p(2 × 1) structure forms. An examination of the H₂ molecules’ rotational motion shows the molecular axes are azimuthally delocalized and so both of the structures acquire (1 × 1) symmetry in accord with experimental observations. These calculations also show that helicoptering o-H₂ (J = 1, m = ±1) prefer to sit on top of Na⁺ sites, while cartwheeling o-H₂ (J = 1, m = 0) prefers to locate over Cl⁻ sites, in agreement with other work.     

A new isomorph of ferrous chloride tetrahydrate: A Fe Mössbauer and X-ray crystallography study

This paper outlines the discovery of a newly characterised isomorph of ferrous chloride tetrahydrate, Fe(H₂O)₆·FeCl₄(H₂O)₂, which was initially identified by X-ray crystallography and confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The X-ray analysis identified the space group as P2₁/c with essentially the same unit cell dimensions as the well-known isomorph, FeCl₂·4H₂O, except that one edge is doubled due to two discrete [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and [FeCl₄(H₂O)₂]²⁻ species per unit cell. Time-series Mössbauer studies revealed this new isomorph to be unstable upon atmospheric exposure, decaying to the well-known structure over a period of days. Density functional theory calculations support an energetically favourable catalytic interconversion involving adsorbed water. A high-precision redetermination on the FeCl₂·4H₂O crystal structure, which is also in space group P2₁/c, is also reported, providing the unit cell parameters: a=5.8765(3) Å, b=7.1100(3) Å, c=8.4892(5) Å and β=111.096(1)°.     

Resonant two-photon ionization and mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy of the selected rotamers of m-methoxyaniline and o-methoxyaniline

We report the resonant two-photon ionization and mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectra of m-methoxyaniline and o-methoxyaniline. The vibronic features of m-methoxyaniline are built on 34308 ± 2 and 34495 ± 2 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the origins of the S₁ ← S₀ electronic transition (E₁’s) of the cis and trans rotamers. Analysis of the MATI spectra gives the adiabatic ionization energies (IEs) of 59983 ± 5 and 60879 ± 5 cm⁻¹ for these two species. o-Methoxyaniline is found to have only one stable structure whose E₁ and IE are 33875 ± 2 and 58678 ± 5 cm⁻¹, respectively. Most of the active vibrations of m- and o-methoxyaniline in the electronically excited S₁ and cationic ground D₀ states result from the in-plane ring vibrations. Comparing these data with those of p-methoxyaniline allows us to learn about the vicinal substitution effects resulting from the relative locations of the NH₂ and OCH₃ substituents.     

Structural and luminescence properties of [Ln(ODA)(phen)·4H2O] complexes (Ln=Sm and Dy, ODA=oxydiacetate, phen=1,10-phenanthroline)

Two novel complexes of Sm(III) and Dy(III) with mixed oxydiacetate (ODA) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands were synthesized and their structure and luminescence properties were characterized. The complexes of [Ln(ODA)(phen)·4H₂O]Cl·5H₂O [Ln=Sm and Dy] crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with Sm: a=12.3401(14) Å, b=16.821(2), c=12.6847(11) Å, β=107.939(10)°, V=2505.0(5) Å³, Z=4 and ρ=1.841 mg/m³, and with Dy: a=12.289(7) Å, b=16.805(6) Å, c=12.705(4) Å, β=108.144(18)°, V=2493.4(19) Å³, Z=4 and ρ=1.786 mg/m³. The complexes of [Sm(ODA)(phen)·4H₂O]⁺ and [Dy(ODA)(phen)·4H₂O]⁺ excited by UV light produce orange red and lightly white emissions, respectively, via the nonradiative energy transfer from phen to the metals. The quantum yield of the sensitized luminescence of [Dy(ODA)(phen)·4H₂O]⁺ (Q=19%) is much greater than that of [Sm(ODA)(phen)·4H₂O]⁺ (Q=1.4%). The luminescence decay times of the complexes were in a few microsecond range and independent of temperature.     

Structural, optical properties and VCNR mechanisms in vacuum evaporated iodine doped ZnSe thin films

Iodine doped ZnSe thin films were prepared onto uncoated and aluminium (Al) coated glass substrates using vacuum evaporation technique under a vacuum of 3 × 10⁻⁵ Torr. The composition, structural, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films were analyzed using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and study of I-V characteristics, respectively. In the RBS analysis, the composition of the deposited film is calculated as ZnSeI_0.003. The X-ray diffractograms reveals the cubic structure of the film oriented along (1 1 1) direction. The structural parameters such as crystallite size, strain and dislocation density values are calculated as 32.98 nm, 1.193 × 10⁻³ lin⁻² m⁻⁴ and 9.55 × 10¹⁴ lin/m², respectively. Spectroscopic ellipsometric (SE) measurements were also presented for the prepared iodine doped ZnSe thin films. The optical band gap value of the deposited films was calculated as 2.681 eV by using the optical transmittance measurements and the results are discussed. In the electrical studies, the deposited films exhibit the VCNR conduction mechanism. The iodine doped ZnSe films show the non-linear I-V characteristics and switching phenomena.     

MSSM Higgs searches in multi-b-jet final states at the LHC

This paper discusses the possibility to observe a signal from MSSM Higgs boson decays into final states containing four b-jets. Two specific channels are considered: bb?H and bb?A production with H,A → bb?, for large values of m_H, m_A and tan β, and H → hh → bb?bb? decays for 150 GeV < m_H < 2m_t and for low values of tan β. Both channels are difficult to extract because of the very large reducible and irreducible QCD backgrounds. Even with an ultimate integrated luminosity, expected per LHC experiment, of 3 · 10⁵ pb^-1, the region of the MSSM parameter space covered by these channels does not extend the reach beyond that accessible to other channels that were studied in the past. Nevertheless, their observation would help in constraining the couplings and branching ratios of the MSSM Higgs bosons.     

Regression analysis for deflection magnetic field parameters measured by the dual-coil method

In this study, the magnetic field-parameters of a typical saddle-shaped deflection yoke were measured using the dual-coil method developed by the group. The measurement data was processed and analyzed using two methods: 2-variable regression analysis method and 3-variable regression analysis method. The two results were compared with the analytically calculated results, which was used as the reference. It was shown that the data collection range has large impact to the results of H₂, H₄, and the further away from the central axis the probe is placed, the larger the error is. The errors of H₂ and H₄ are smaller using the 3-variable regression analysis method as compared with the ones using 2-variable regression method. The 3-variable regression analysis method uses H₆ in the process of calculating H₂ and H₄, which is coincident with the definition of them in the formula of H_y = H₀ + H₂X² + H₄X⁴ + H₆X⁶ +?.     

Contributions to the Gaussian Line Broadening of the Proxyl Spin Probe EPR Spectrum Due to Magnetic-Field Modulation and Unresolved Proton Hyperfine Structure

A simple expression is derived to compute the total Gaussian linewidth of a Voigt line that is broadened by sinusoidal magnetic-field modulation as follows: ΔH^G_pp(H_m)²= ΔH^G_pp(0)²+ κ²H²_m, where ΔH^G_pp(H_m) is the Gaussian linewidth observed with an modulation amplitudeH_m/2 and ΔH^G_pp(0) is the Gaussian linewidth in the limit of zero modulation. The field modulation contributes an additional Gaussian broadening of κH_m, where κ is a constant, which adds in quadrature to ΔH^G_pp(0) to give the total Gaussian linewidth. Denoting the overall linewidth of the Voigt line in the absence of modulation broadening by ΔH⁰_pp(0), it is shown, both by analytical means and by spectral simulation, that the constant κ is equal to 1/2 in the limit ofH_m ΔH⁰_pp(0); however, using values ofH_mas large as ΔH⁰_pp(0) leads to only minor departures from κ = 1/2. The formulation is valid both for Lorentzian and Voigt lines and is tested for 2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-1-oxyl-3-carboxylic acid (3-carboxy proxyl) in CCl₄and in aqueous buffer. This spin probe was studied because the proxyl group is the only major spin-probe moiety whose Gaussian linewidth had not been characterized in the literature. For 3-carboxy proxyl, it is found that ΔH^G_pp(0) = 1.04 ± 0.01 G independent of solvent polarity. Precision values of the¹⁴N hyperfine coupling constant for 3-carboxy proxyl at 9.5°C are as follows: 14.128 ± 0.001 G in CCl₄and 16.230 ± 0.002 G in aqueous buffer. The temperature dependence of ΔH^G_pp(0) and the¹⁴N hyperfine coupling constant are reported as empirical equations. Results of the present work taken together with previously published data permits accurate correction for the effects of inhomogeneous broadening due to unresolved hyperfine structure and modulation broadening for the majority of spin probes in common use.     

Field detachment of the negatively charged water dimer

Beams of Ar _m (H₂O) ₂ ^? ,m=0 to 4, are passed through an electric field and separated with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Form<=2 the signal disappears at 31±1 kV/cm. Form=3 and 4 and larger (H₂O) _n ^? (n≧6) no field detachment is observed up to 40 kV/cm. The application of these results to the binding of excess electron in water clusters is discussed.     

Photocatalytic abilities of gel-derived P-doped TiO2

P-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized through hydrolysis and condensation of Ti(OC₂H₅)₄ with H₃PO₄ additions. Effects of [H₃PO₄]/[Ti(OC₂H₅)₄] molar ratios on the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation, crystallite sizes, surface areas, and photocatalytic abilities of the gel-derived P-doped TiO₂ were investigated. The P-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles prepared by [H₃PO₄]/[Ti(OC₂H₅)₄]=0.03 were composed of anatase monophase even at 900 ^oC and possessed very strong photocatalytic ability. Kinetic studies on the P-doped TiO₂ to photocatalytically decompose methylene blue under irradiation of 365 nm UV light found that the P-doped TiO₂ prepared by [H₃PO₄]/[Ti(OC₂H₅)₄]=0.03 and calcined at 800 ^oC had the specific reaction rates, at 25 °C, k_A,m=0.76 m³/(kg min) (based on the mass of P-doped TiO₂) and k_A,BET=46.2×10⁻⁶ m/min (based on the BET surface area of P-doped TiO₂), which is superior to the performance of a commercial product, P25 (k_A,m=0.22 m³/(kg min) and k_A,BET=4.8×10⁻⁶ m/min).     

Stochastic dynamics and Parrondo’s paradox

The Spanish physicist Juan Parrondo has provided two stochastic losing games such that for certain stochastic combinations one may obtain a winning game. If a large number of players are involved and if they try to play such that their gain in the next round is maximized one arrives at the problem of investigating a random walk on a certain space of measures.The appropriate abstract setting is as follows. There is given a compact metric space (M,d), and M is written as the union of certain closed subsets A₁,…,A_r. For every ρ=1,…,r there is prescribed a strict contraction Γ_ρ:A_ρ→M. A random walk (X_m)_m∈N0 on M is then defined as follows. The starting position is X₀=x₀, where x₀∈M is fixed, and if the walk at the m’th step is at position X_m∈M, then one chooses a ρ among the ρ with X_m∈A_ρ (with equal probability, say) and defines X_m+1 as Γ_ρ(X_m). Associated with the walk is a gainφ(X_m) in every round, where φ:M→R is a continuous function.The aim of the present investigations is the study of the expectation G_m of φ(X_m) as a function of m. Our main result states that the sequence (G_m) is “eventually approximately periodic” provided that all A_ρ are not only closed but also open in M: for every ε there is an l₀∈N such that (G_m) is l₀-periodic up to an error of at most ε for sufficiently large m. In fact it turns out that the behaviour of our process can be described well with a finite Markov chain.In the general case, however, the process might behave rather chaotically. We give an example where M is the unit interval. M is written as the union of two closed subsets A₁,A₂, the contractions Γ₁,Γ₂ are rather simple, but the expectations of the gains are not even Cesáro convergent.     

Solvent and Temperature Dependence of Spin Echo Dephasing for Chromium(V) and Vanadyl Complexes in Glassy Solution

The solvent and temperature dependence of the rate constant for spin echo dephasing, 1/T_m, for 0.2 to 1.2 mM glassy solutions of chromyl bis(1-hydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid), CrO(HCA)⁻₂; aquo vanadyl ion, VO²⁺(aq), and vanadyl bis(trifluoroacetylacetonate), VO(tfac)₂were examined. At low temperatures where 1/T₁⪡ 1/T_m, 1/T_min 1:1 H₂O:glycerol is dominated by solvent protons. At low temperature 1/T_mincreases in the order 1:1 H₂O:glycerol or 9:1 CF₃CH₂OH:ethyleneglycol (no methyl groups) < 9:1i-PrOH:MeOH (hindered methyl groups) < 9:1n-PrOH:MeOH (less hindered methyl groups). This solvent dependence of 1/T_mis similar to that observed for nitroxyl radicals, which indicates that the effect of solvent methyl groups on spin-echo dephasing at low temperature is quite general. At higher temperatures the echo dephasing is dominated by spin–lattice relaxation and is concentration dependent. As the glass softens, echo dephasing is dominated by the onset of molecular tumbling.     

High-resolution FTIR measurement of the ν4 band of methylene fluoride-d2

A high-resolution (0.002 cm⁻¹) infrared absorption spectrum of methylene fluoride-d₂ (CD₂F₂) of the lowest fundamental mode ν₄ in the region from 460 to 610 cm⁻¹ has been measured on a Bruker IFS 120-HR Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. More than 3500 transitions have been assigned in this B-type band centered at 521.9 cm⁻¹. The data have been combined with upper state pure rotational measurements in a weighted least-squares fit to obtain molecular constants for the upper state resulting in an overall standard deviation of 0.00018 cm⁻¹. Accurate value for the band origin (521.9578036 cm⁻¹) has been obtained and inclusion of transitions with very high J (?60) and K_a (?34) values has resulted in improved precision for sextic centrifugal distortion constants, in particular D_K, H_KJ, and H_K.     

Scattering the Geometry of Weighted Graphs

Given two weighted graphs (X, b_k, m_k), k =?1,2 with b₁ ～ b₂ and m₁ ～ m₂, we prove a weighted L¹-criterion for the existence and completeness of the wave operators W_±(H₂, H₁, I_1,2), where H_k denotes the natural Laplacian in ?²(X, m_k) w.r.t. (X, b_k, m_k) and I_1,2 the trivial identification of ?²(X, m₁) with ?²(X, m₂). In particular, this entails a general criterion for the absolutely continuous spectra of H₁ and H₂ to be equal.