Multiplicity studies and effective energy in ALICE at the LHC

In this work we explore the possibility to perform “effective energy” studies in very high energy collisions at the CERN large hadron collider (LHC). In particular, we focus on the possibility to measure in pp collisions the average charged multiplicity as a function of the effective energy with the ALICE experiment, using its capability to measure the energy of the leading baryons with the zero degree calorimeters. Analyses of this kind have been done at lower centre-of-mass energies and have shown that, once the appropriate kinematic variables are chosen, particle production is characterized by universal properties: no matter the nature of the interacting particles, the final states have identical features. Assuming that this universality picture can be extended to ion–ion collisions, as suggested by recent results from RHIC experiments, a novel approach based on the scaling hypothesis for limiting fragmentation has been used to derive the expected charged event multiplicity in AA interactions at LHC. This leads to scenarios where the multiplicity is significantly lower compared to most of the predictions from the models currently used to describe high energy AA collisions. A mean charged multiplicity of about 1000–2000 per rapidity unit (at η∼0) is expected for the most central Pb–Pb collisions at . In memory of A. Smirnitskiy     

Electrochemical,Structural, and Thermogravimetric Studies of Activated Supercapacitor Electrodes Based on Carbonized Cellulose Cloth

Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A - The high–temperature reagentless activation of carbonized cellulose cloth is used to manufacture supercapacitor (SC) electrodes with different fast...     

Nitro-, Cyano-, and Methylfuroxans,and Their Bis-Derivatives: From Green Primary to Melt-Cast Explosives

In the present work, we studied in detail the thermochemistry, thermal stability, mechanical sensitivity, and detonation performance for 20 nitro-, cyano-, and methyl derivatives of 1,2,5-oxadiazole-2-oxide (furoxan), along with their bis-derivatives. For all species studied, we also determined the reliable values of the gas-phase formation enthalpies using highly accurate multilevel procedures W2-F12 and/or W1-F12 in conjunction with the atomization energy approach and isodesmic reactions with the domain-based local pair natural orbital (DLPNO) modifications of the coupled-cluster techniques. Apart from this, we proposed reliable benchmark values of the formation enthalpies of furoxan and a number of its (azo)bis-derivatives. Additionally, we reported the previously unknown crystal structure of 3-cyano-4-nitrofuroxan. Among the monocyclic compounds, 3-nitro-4-cyclopropyl and dicyano derivatives of furoxan outperformed trinitrotoluene, a benchmark melt-cast explosive, exhibited decent thermal stability (decomposition temperature >200 °C) and insensitivity to mechanical stimuli while having notable volatility and low melting points. In turn, 4,4′-azobis-dicarbamoyl furoxan is proposed as a substitute of pentaerythritol tetranitrate, a benchmark brisant high explosive. Finally, the application prospects of 3,3′-azobis-dinitro furoxan, one of the most powerful energetic materials synthesized up to date, are limited due to the tremendously high mechanical sensitivity of this compound. Overall, the investigated derivatives of furoxan comprise multipurpose green energetic materials, including primary, secondary, melt-cast, low-sensitive explosives, and an energetic liquid.     

Performance studies of a full-length prototype for the CASTOR forward calorimeter at the CMS experiment

The Time-Of-Flight detector (TOF) of the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC is based on Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs). The TOF detector consists of 152928 readout channels covering a total area of 141 m². In this paper the results of the calibration with cosmic-ray data collected during 2009 are presented.     

Point-like source solutions in modified gravity with a critical acceleration

We consider equations of modified gravity with critical accelerations and find its solutions for the point-like source by suggesting the appropriate symmetry of metrics in empty space-time.     

Blood analysis for early cancer detection

The interaction between the nuclear quadrupole moments of ions and the electric field gradient in a biological membrane can explain the mechanism of active transport in cells. On the basis of a model, we discuss the NMR isotopic analyzer of blood for the detection of cancer without exposing the patient to any radiation. The method involves a low temperature technique.     

Ionization spectrum transformation and compression of powerful femtosecond laser pulses in experiments on the propagation in gas-filled dielectric capillaries

The propagation of an intense (I≤10⁶ W/cm²) femtosecond laser radiation with a duration of ～100 fs through gas-filled dielectric capillaries was studied. The radiation with a power up to 0.2 TW propagates along the paths up to 20 cm with a transmission efficiency of ～45%. The beam transverse structure at the output is close to the capillary fundamental mode under gas-ionization conditions. The transformation of pulse spectrum was studied as a function of input intensity. It is demonstrated experimentally that the pulse is compressed to a duration of ～30 fs due to the compensation of ionization-induced self-phase modulation in a linear dispersive element at the capillary output.     

Solvent Effect on the Activation Volume of the Diels-Alder Reaction Between Tetracyanoethylene and trans,trans-1,4-Diphenyl-1,3-butadiene

The effect of increased hydrostatic pressure on the rate of the Diels-Alder reaction of tetracyanoethylene with trans,trans-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene at 25°C was studied to estimate the reaction volume and to show that it considerably varies with -donor properties of the medium.