Phenomenological applications of<Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis><Subscript>T</Subscript>factorization

We discuss applications of the perturbative QCD approach in the exclusive non-leptonic two-bodyB-meson decays. We briefly review its ingredients and some important theoretical issues on the factorization approach. PQCD results are compatible with present experimental data for charmless B-meson decays. We predict the possibility of large direct CP asymmetry in B⁰ → π⁺π⁻ (23 +7%) and B⁰ →K ⁺π⁻ (− 17 ± 5%). We also investigate the branching ratios, CP asymmetry and isospin symmetry breaking in radiativeB →(K*/ρ)γ decays.     

Low-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Subscript>T</Subscript> proton-proton physics at low luminosity at LHC

This review of low-p _T proton-proton physics at low luminosity at the large hadron collider (LHC) should cover all LHC experiments, but in practice, is mainly related to ALICE, for reasons which will be explained. However, the relevance to other LHC experiments is clear, as low-p_T. phenomena represent an important component of the background to their high-p_T. phenomena which needs to be calibrated. The ALICE collaboration will study proton-proton collisions as part of their heavy-ion programme, where most signals are relative to the proton-proton system. In addition, the ALICE detector’s unique acceptance at low p_T as well as its unique particle identification capability will make it possible to carry out a program of genuine proton-proton physics complementary to those of other LHC experiments.     

Dual properties of orthogonal polynomials of discrete variables associated with the quantum algebra <Emphasis Type="Italic">U</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis></Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">su</Emphasis>(2))

We show that for every set of discrete polynomials y _n (x(s)) on the lattice x(s), defined on a finite interval (a, b), it is possible to construct two sets of dual polynomials z _k (ξ(t)) of degrees k = s-a and k = b-s-1. Here we do this for the classical and alternative Hahn and Racah polynomials as well as for their q-analogs. Also we establish the connection between classical and alternative families. This allows us to obtain new expressions for the Clerbsch-Gordan and Racah coefficients of the quantum algebra U _q (su(2)) in terms of various Hahn and Racah q-polynomials. Dedicated to the memory of our teacher and friend Arnold F. Nikiforov (18.11.1930–27.12.2005).     

Leptonic constant of the pseudoscalar <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis></Subscript> meson

We calculate the leptonic constant for the pseudoscalar ground state of the B _c meson in the framework of a QCD-motivated potential model taking into account the two-loop anomalous dimension for the heavy quark current in nonrelativistic QCD as matched with full QCD.     

Magnetic and transport properties of monocrystalline<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fe</Emphasis><Subscript>3</Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis><Subscript>4</Subscript>

A monocrystal ofFe ₃ O ₄ is characterized by resistance, magnetoresistance and magnetic measurements in a temperature range from 4.2 K to 350 K and magnetic field-cycling from −9 T to 9 T. The resistance measurements revealed a metal-insulator Verwey transition (VT) atT _v =123.76 K with activation energy E=92.5 meV at T >T _v and temperature-substitute for the activation energy below the VT,T ₀=E/k _B ≈3800 K within 70 K–110K. The magnetotransport results independently verified the VT at 123.70 K, with discontinuous change in the magnetic moment ΔM≈0.21 ΔM≈0.21μ _B and resistance hysteresis, dependent on the magnetic field in a narrow temperature range of 0.4° around theT _v . The magnetic characterization established self consistentlyT _v as ≈123.67 K, the jump in the magnetization at the VT≈0.25μ _B and confirmed, that the magnetocrystalline anisotropy is the main microscopic mechanism responsible for the magnetization of the monocrystal (88%) with additional natural and imposed defects contributing as 12%.     

Recent high-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis></Subscript> results from STAR

We present selected recent results of multi-hadron correlation measurements in azimuth and pseudorapidity at intermediate and high p _T in Au+Au collisions at , from the STAR experiment at RHIC. At intermediate p _T , measurements are presented that attempt to determine the origin of the associated near-side (small Δφ) yield at large pseudo-rapidity difference Δη that is found to be present in heavy ion collisions. In addition, results are reported on new multi-hadron correlation measures at high-p _T that use di-hadron triggers and multi-hadron cluster triggers with the goal to constrain the underlying jet kinematics better than in the existing measurements of inclusive spectra and di-hadron correlations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> correlation analysis of complex foods

The potential of nuclear magnetic resonance two-dimensionalT ₁-T ₂ correlation spectroscopy for quality control in food science is explored for three types of food, namely, egg (white and yolk), cellular tissue (fruit and vegetable) and hydrocolloids (creams and baked products). The complications of cross-relaxation and diffusive exchange are highlighted and various tools for peak assignment are discussed.     

Density functional study of structural and electronic properties of Al<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>P (2 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> ≤ 12) clusters

Low-lying equilibrium geometric structures of Phosphorus-doped aluminum cluster Al _n P (n = 2–12) clusters obtained by an all-electron linear combination of atomic orbital approach, within spin-polarized density functional theory, are reported. The binding energy, dissociation energy, and stability of these clusters are studied within the local spin density approximation (LSDA) and the three-parameter hybrid generalized gradient approximation (GGA) due to Becke-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP). Ionization potentials, electron affinities, hardness, and static polarizabilities are calculated for the ground-state structures within the GGA. It is observed that symmetric structures with the P atom occupying a peripheral position are lowest-energy geometries of Al _n P (n = 2, 4–11), while the P impurities of Al₃P and Al₁₂P prefer to occupy internal sites in the aluminum clusters. Generalized gradient approximation extends bond lengths as compared to the LSDA lengths. The odd-even oscillations in the dissociation energy, the second differences in energy, the HOMO–LUMO gaps, the ionization potential, the electron affinity, and the hardness are more pronounced within both GGA and LSDA. The stability analysis based on the energies clearly shows the clusters with an even number of valence electrons are more stable than clusters with odd number of valence electrons.     

δ/γ transformation in non-equilibrium solidified peritectic Fe-Ni alloy

Through phase transformation kinetic analysis and experimental observation, the δ/γ transformation occurring in the non-equilibrium peritectic Fe-4.33at.%Ni alloys was systematically investigated. According to JMA solid-state transformation kinetic theory, the Time-Temperature-Transformation (TTT) curves of the δ/γ transformation in peritectic Fe-Ni alloy were calculated. On this basis, the physical correlation between the δ/γ transformation and the initial undercooling of melt (△T) was elucidated. The results indicate that the change of △T can alter not only the overall δ/γ transformation pathways but also the transformation fraction with respect to each transformation mechanism.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>-Branes in the Euclidean <Emphasis Type="Italic">AdS</Emphasis><Subscript>3</Subscript> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>-Duality

We show that D-branes in the Euclidean AdS ₃ can be naturally associated to the maximally isotropic subgroups of the Lu–Weinstein double of SU(2). This picture makes very transparent the residual loop group symmetry of the D-brane configurations and gives also immediately the D-branes shapes and the σ-model boundary conditions in the de Sitter T-dual of the SL(2,C)/SU(2) WZW model.     

Polarons in axial transport in single-layer high-T<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis></Subscript> superconductors

The temperatureT dependencies ρ(T) of normal state electric resistivitiesρ _c (axial) andρ _ab (in plane) of single-layer high-T _c superconductors show common trends: AsT is raised, the resistivity first drops steeply before it starts rising αT above an apparent semiconductor-to-metal crossoverT _cross . To analyze ρ(T) we plottT/ρ againstT at various dopingsx for bothρ _c andρ _ab .T/ρ is inversely proportional to the traversal time across a potential barrier as an ionic particle drifts in an electric field. We findT/ρ in good agreement with theT dependence of the quantum rate of migrating particles: AsT is raised, a zero-point rate at the lowestT is extended to a nearly flat plateau before a thermally activated branch sets in. We also find evidence for the admixture of 1- & 2-phonon absorptions below the Arrhenius range. These features shape the semiconductor-like branch below T _cross . AboveT _cross a metallic-like branch sets in, its αT character deriving from the field coupling of the migrating particle. Our analysis suggests that metal physics may not suffice if ionic features play a role in transport. We attribute our conclusions to the drift of strong-coupling polarons along Cu−O bonds. These “bond polarons” originate from carrier scattering by double-well potentials associated with the bonds. A bond polaron dissociates to a free hole as it passes onto a neighboring O-O link.     

Super <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>-Differentiation for <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Superscript> ∞ </Superscript>-Supermanifolds

The concept of ‘D-Differentiation’, which, in the context of smooth manifolds, generalises Lie and covariant differentiation, is extended to R ^∞-supermanifolds under the name of ‘Super D-Differentiation’. This is done by defining new (non-linear) mappings, called ‘μ-mappings’ and by relating their non-linearity to the Leibniz rule that a derivation must satisfy when it acts on a tensor product. The resulting axiomatics, which is basis-independent and coordinate-free, is then expressed in a general basis (not necessarily holonomic). Super Lie and Super covariant differentiation are, amongst others, special cases of Super D-Differentiation. In particular, the transformation rules for the connection coefficients and the commutation coefficients of non-holonomic bases are obtained. These special cases are found to be in agreement with the DeWitt Super covariant and Super Lie derivatives.      

2<Emphasis Type="Italic">µ</Emphasis>m Laser based on an electro-optical <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-switched intracavity KTP optical parametric oscillator

An 2 μm pulse laser based on an intracavity optical parameter oscillator (OPO) pumped by an electrooptical Q-switched 1.064 μm laser is realized. A type-II phase-matched (θ = 51.5° and φ = 0) KTP crystal and a limiting diaphragm with a diameter of 4 mm were used. The parameters of the KTP-OPO tuning curves as a function of the phase matching angles were analyzed for the case of 1.064 μm laser pumping. Experiments based on single and double KTPs for walk-off compensation were performed. An output energy of 26 mJ in the 2 μm wavelength region was obtained with a pump-to-signal conversion efficiency of 26%. The center wavelengths of the signal and idle lights were 2165.4 and 2088.6 nm with a FWHM of 3.8 and 4 nm, respectively.     

GaSe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> solid solutions

The most probable parameters of the pure, doped, and mixed GaSe_1−xS_x (x ≤ 0.4) crystals (solid solutions) are presented together with the results of investigations of their crystal structure and defects, optical and mechanical properties, and damage thresholds. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 35–40, June, 2007.     

Static and dynamic properties of KCN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cl<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

An extended three-body force shell model (ETSM) has been applied to investigate the static and dynamic properties of KCN _x Cl_1−x for the compositionx = 0.56 and 1.0 at 300 K. The phonon dispersion curves computed by us are compared with the single crystal neutron diffraction data. The unusual features of these curves are the upward curvature seen in some of the acoustic branches. This is a result ofK-dependent softening of the phonon due to translation-rotation coupling. The transverse acoustic branch is more soft near the zone centre.     

The determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis></Subscript> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">τ</Emphasis> decays revisited

We revisit the determination of α _S (m _τ ²) using a fit to inclusive τ hadronic spectral moments in light of (1) the recent calculation of the fourth-order perturbative coefficient K ₄ in the expansion of the Adler function, (2) new precision measurements from BABAR of e⁺e⁻ annihilation cross sections, which decrease the uncertainty in the separation of vector and axial-vector spectral functions, and (3) improved results from BABAR and Belle on τ branching fractions involving kaons. We estimate that the fourth-order perturbative prediction reduces the theoretical uncertainty, introduced by the truncation of the series, by 20% with respect to earlier determinations. We discuss to some detail the perturbative prediction of two different methods: fixed-order perturbation theory (FOPT) and contour-improved perturbative theory (CIPT). The corresponding theoretical uncertainties are studied at the τ and Z mass scales. The CIPT method is found to be more stable with respect to the missing higher order contributions and to renormalization scale variations. It is also shown that FOPT suffers from convergence problems along the complex integration contour. Nonperturbative contributions extracted from the most inclusive fit are small, in agreement with earlier determinations. Systematic effects from quark-hadron duality violation are estimated with simple models and found to be within the quoted systematic errors. The fit based on CIPT gives α _S (m _τ ²)=0.344±0.005±0.007, where the first error is experimental and the second theoretical. After evolution to M _Z we obtain α _S (M _Z ²)=0.1212±0.0005±0.0008±0.0005, where the errors are respectively experimental, theoretical and due to the evolution. The result is in agreement with the corresponding N³LO value derived from essentially the Z width in the global electroweak fit. The α _S (M _Z ²) determination from τ decays is the most precise one to date.