αs from τ: a discussion of theoretical errors

Nominal errors on the determination of α_s(m_Z) from τ decay are so small that it may appear that this is the best method of measuring the strong coupling. While I agree that this way of determining α_s(m_Z) is a very good one, I think that the theoretical errors involved are larger than often asssumed, even if the QCD sum rule framework is accepted.     

The heavy quarkonium spectrum at order mαslnαs

We compute the complete leading-log terms of the next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-order corrections to potential NRQCD. As a by-product we obtain the leading logs at O(mα_s⁵) in the heavy quarkonium spectrum. These leading logs, when Λ_QCDmα_s², give the complete O(mα_s⁵lnα_s) corrections to the heavy quarkonium spectrum.     

“Gluelump” spectrum and adjoint source potential in lattice QCD3

We calculate the potential between “quarks” which are in the adjoint representation of SU(2) color in the three-dimensional lattice theory. We work in the scaling region of the theory and at large quark separations R. We also calculate the masses M_Qg of color-singlet bound states formed by coupling an adjoint quark to adjoint glue (“gluelumps”). Good scaling behavior is found for the masses of both magnetic (angular momentum J = 0) and electric (J = 1) gluelumps, and the magnetic gluelump is found to be the lowest-lying state. It is naively expected that the potential for adjoint quarks should saturate above a separation R_scr where it becomes energetically favorable to produce a pair of gluelumps. We obtain a good estimate of the naive screening distance R_scr. However we find little evidence of saturation in the potential out to separations R of about 1.5R_scr.     

The Fe3O4 origin of the “Biphase” reconstruction on α-Fe2O3(0 0 0 1)

The so-called Biphase termination on α-Fe₂O₃ has been widely accepted to be a structure with a 40 Å unit supercell composed of coexisting islands of Fe_1−xO and α-Fe₂O₃. Based on thermodynamic arguments and experimental evidence, including transmission electron diffraction, imaging, magnetic and spectroscopic information, it is found that the previously proposed structure model is inaccurate. The actual Biphase structure is instead a layered structure related to the reduction of α-Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄. A model for the Biphase termination is proposed which does not contain islands of Fe_1−xO but instead consists of bulk α-Fe₂O₃ and a Fe₃O₄-derived overlayer. The proposed model is consistent with all current and previously reported experimental findings.     

Relic neutrino asymmetry generation from να ↔ νs oscillations

Active-sterile neutrino oscillations provide a mechanism by which large differences in the neutrino and antineutrino number densities can be created in the early universe. The quantum kinetic equations are employed in the study of these neutrino asymmetries, which, when solved analytically in the adiabatic limit, generate physically transparent evolution equations that are very useful for the understanding of the nature of the asymmetry growth.     

The vector and axial-vector coupling constants of the nucleon in cavity QCD to order αs

The cavity regularization technique, originally developed for self-energies, is adapted to the calculation of vertex diagrams in the framework of cavity field theory. As a test of this method, the vector and axial-vector coupling constants of the nucleon are computed to order α_s Logarithmic divergences of the various Feynman diagrams cancel for massless quarks, yielding g_v = 1.0000 and g_A = 1.0883 + 0.2425α_s, independent of the gauge and renormalisation scheme.     

A reassessment of the O(αs) three-jet cross section for ee annihilation

Results of a new evaluation of the O(α_s²) dressed three-jet cross section for e⁺e⁻ annihilation are summarized. For vanishing cutoffs, the different results in published three-jet cross section formulae are due to differing definitions of resolvable four-jet events. Subleading terms which were ignored in previous calculations are evaluated and found to be sizeable in the phase space region where three-jet events become more two-jet-like. A simple calculation demonstrates that α_s values determined according to the three-jet cross section formulae of Gutbrod, Kramer and Schierholz are systematically too large.     

Feasibility of “intermittent” active control of combustion instabilities in liquid fueled combustors using a “smart” fuel injector

This paper describes an experimental investigation of the feasibility of an “intermittent” active control approach for suppressing combustion instabilities in liquid fueled combustors. The developed controller employs a “smart” fuel injector that can modify the spray properties in response to changes in combustor operating conditions. This action weakens or breaks up the coupling between the combustion process and combustor acoustic modes oscillations, thus preventing the excitation of large amplitude instabilities. This approach differs significantly from previously proposed active control methods, both in concept and implementation, as it requires only “intermittent” modification of the combustion process by a single control action as opposed to the continuous action required by most other active control methods. The “smart” fuel injector used in this study consisted of a double-staged, air-assisted atomizer in which counter swirling, primary (inner stage) and secondary (outer stage) air streams were supplied to the injector through separate sets of tangentially oriented orifices. Control of the ratio of air mass flow rates supplied to these two stages, by use of a diverter valve, resulted in significant changes in the spray shape and its axial, tangential, and radial velocity components. This variation in spray properties of the “smart” injector was characterized for different values of the inner to outer air flow rate ratio in cold flow tests with a PDPA system. These results were then correlated with the characteristics of the “intermittently” controlled combustor. Measured quantities included the instability amplitudes, axial dependence of the mean and oscillatory heat release amplitudes, and the characteristics of the recirculation zones, which were all shown to depend on the fuel spray properties. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using “smart” fuel injectors with capabilities for varying the combustion process characteristics to reduce the amplitudes of detrimental combustion instabilities in real engines to acceptable levels.     

Correlator of the quark scalar currents and Γtot(H → hadrons) at O(αs) in pQCD

We present the results of the analytical evaluation of the massless four-loop

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(α³_s) correction to the correlator of the quark scalar currents and the Higgs decay rate into hadrons. In numerical form we found (in

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scheme) that Γ (H →

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b ) = (3G_F/4

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π) M_Hm²_b (M_H) [1 + 5.667α_s/π + (35.94 − 1.359n_f) (α_s/π)² + (164.139 − 25.771n_f + 0.259n²_f) (α_s/π)³] where n_f is the number of quark flavour and α_s = α_s(M_H).     

Observation of χb production in the exclusive reaction ′→γγχb→γγ→γγ(eeorμμ−)

We report on the observation of 1 ³P_J (χ_b) production in the reaction ′→γχ_b→γγ→γγ(e⁺e⁻ or μ⁺μ⁻). The data were recorded with the nonmagnetic CUSB detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, CESR. We observe 124 γγ events with either an electron or muon pair in the final state. In the γγ correlation plot about 40% of the events cluster around (120, 430) MeV.     

nn Scattering parameters ann and rnn from the photon spectrum of the reaction πd → γnn

A high-statistics measurement of the photon spectrum of the reaction π⁻d → γnn has been performed. The comparison of this spectrum with theoretical spectra folded with the response curve of the spectrometer (measured by the reaction π⁻p → γn) has provided precise values of the neutron-neutron scattering length, a_nn = −18.5 ± 0.4 fm, and of the effective range, r_nn = 2.80 ± 0.11 fm. Theoretical uncertainties of 0.20 fm and 0.11 fm, respectively, have been evaluated.     

Aspects of “low field” magnetotransport in epitaxial thin films of the ferromagnetic metallic oxide SrRuO3

Epitaxial thin films of the conductive ferromagnetic oxide SrRuO₃ were grown on an (0 0 1) SrTiO₃ (STO) substrate by using DC sputtering technique. The magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of the films were measured by applying the magnetic field both perpendicular (out-of-plane) and parallel (in-plane) to the film plane and ever maintaining the direction of the applied field perpendicular to that of the transport current. The films grown on an (0 0 1) STO substrate showed identical magnetization properties in two orthogonal crystallographic directions of the substrate, [1 0 0]_S and [0 0 1]_S (in-plane and out-of-plane geometry), which suggests the presence of a multi domain structure within the plane of the film. For such samples, no anisotropic field (hard axis) along de [0 0 1]s direction, i.e., perpendicular to the film-plane could be detected. Nevertheless, a distinguishable temperature dependent out-of-plane anisotropic magnetoresistance (MR) along with strong temperature dependent low field hysteretic MR(H) behavior was detected for the studied films. A negative MR ratio MR(T)=[ρ(μ₀H=9 T; T)−ρ( μ₀H=0 T; T)]/ρ( μ₀H=0 T; T) on the order of a few percent, with maximums of 6% and 4% (right at the Curie temperature, T_C 160 K) was calculated for an in-plane and out-of plane measuring geometry, respectively. In addition there is an equally strong MR effect at low temperatures, which might be related to the temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy together with a magnetization rotation. Both the MR(T) behavior and the achieved values (except for T<30 K) are similar to those obtained on SrRuO₃ films grown on 2° miscut (0 0 1) STO substrates with the current parallel to the field and parallel to the direction, which was identified as the easier axis for magnetization.     

“It's been plenty of time ...”

Die Geburtsstunde der theoretischen Nanotechnologie wird heute gerne auf den 29. Dezember 1959 zurückdatiert. An diesem Tag äußerte der spätere Nobelpreisträger Richard Feynman in seiner Bankettansprache “There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom” erste Gedanken zu einer extremen Erhöhung von Datenspeicherdichten. Nanotechnologen sehen sich mit ihrer Arbeit in der Tradition seiner Ideen.     

Symmetry breaking and the decays ψ′ → J/ψπ(η) and J/ψ → η(η′) γ

The theoretical mechanisms for the decays ψ′ → ψπ⁰ and ψ′ → ψη, which violate SU₂ and SU₃, respectively discussed. It is argued that symmetry breaking in the decay amplitudes may be as important as π⁰ −η −η′ mixing. The π⁰ −η mechanism ψ′ → ψν → ψπ⁰ leads to Γ(ψ′ → ψπ⁰) = (3.3±1.0) × 10⁻³ Γ(ψ′ → ψν), but this number may be enhanced by a factor as large as 12 by π⁰−η′ mixing and isospin violation in the decay amplitude. The related decays ψ → ηγ and ψ → η′γ are also discussed.     

CP test in J/ψ→γφφ decay

We propose to test CP symmetry in the decay J/ψ→γφφ, for which large data sample exists at BESII, and a data sample of 10¹⁰ J/ψ's will be collected with BESIII and CLEO-C program. We suggest some CP asymmetries in this decay mode for CP test. Assuming that CP violation is introduced by the electric- and chromo-dipole moment of charm quark, these CP asymmetries can be predicted by using valence quark models. Our work shows a possible way to get information about the electric- and chromo-dipole moment of charm quark, which is little known. Our results show that with the current data sample of J/ψ, electric- and chromo-dipole moment can be probed at order of 10⁻¹³ e cm. In the near future with a 10¹⁰ data sample, these moments can be probed at order of 10⁻¹⁴ e cm.     

“Proper Time” Method Calculation of the “One Loop” Thermodynamical Potential for QED in External Electromagnetic Field

The extension of the “proper time” method to the statistical field theory is obtained. The procedure is used to calculate the “one loop” contribution to the thermodynamical potential in electrodynamics, when the electron positron gas is located in a combination of an inhomogeneous electrostatic field and an uniform magnetic one. Also, a “proper time” representation of the temperature Green function for this problem is given.     

“T-odd effects” in unpolarized Drell–Yan scattering

We consider the leading twist “T-odd” contributions as the dominant source of the cos2 azimuthal asymmetry in unpolarized di-lepton production in Drell–Yan scattering. This asymmetry contains information on the distribution of quark transverse spin in an unpolarized proton. In a parton-spectator framework we estimate these asymmetries at 50 GeV center of mass energy. This azimuthal asymmetry is interesting in light of proposed experiments at GSI, where an anti-proton beam is ideal for studying the transversity properties of quarks due to the dominance of valence quark effects.     

Novel comprehension of “common path” principle

The idea of “common path” has been widely applied in optical instrument design for 30 years and even today. But the meaning of “common path” has not yet been explained clearly and sometimes confusion has been created. In this paper an “adaptive principle” is proposed and recommended on optical instrument system. It suggests that the designer not only arranges the measurement system to obtain measurement signal but also sets a channel to give prediction of noise or disturbance in real time or short term. Such a recommendation is based on the recent studies on nonlinear dynamics and atmospheric disturbance by means of experiments as well as theoretical analysis.     

Nb/Au/(1 1 0)YBa2Cu3O7−δ Josephson junctions: evidence against atomic scaled “corner junctions”

We report on I–V characteristics for in situ formed Nb/Au/(1 1 0)YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) Josephson junction, where the homoepitaxial (1 1 0)YBCO film shows ultra-smooth surface morphology. The field dependence of critical supercurrent I_c shows anisotropic large junction behavior with normal Fraunhofer patterns expected from BCS model of d_x²−y² wave superconductors. This strongly suggests that the Nb/Au/(1 1 0)YBCO junctions cannot be regarded as atomic scaled corner junctions, in contrast with (0 0 1)/(1 1 0)YBCO grain boundary junctions to show “π-junction” with a pronounced dip near zero fields in field modulation of I_c.