Translocation of a confined polymer through a hole

Based on an analogy between polymer translocation across a free energy barrier associated with polymer worming through a hole and classical nucleation and growth process, the escape time tau is predicted asymptotically to be N(N/rho)(1/3nu). N is the polymer length, rho is the monomer density prior to escape, and nu is the radius of gyration exponent. Monte Carlo simulation data collected in the high salt limit (nu approximately 3/5) are in agreement with the asymptotic law and provide vivid details of the escape.     

Exclusive branching-fraction measurements of semileptonic tau decays into three charged hadrons, into phipi(-)nu tau, and into phi K(-)nu tau

Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 342 fb(-1) collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II electron-positron storage ring operating at a center-of-mass energy near 10.58 GeV, we measure B(tau(-)--> pi(-)pi(-)pi+nu(tau)(ex.K(S0))=(8.83+/-0.01+/-0.13)%, B(tau(-) -->K(-)pi(-)pi+nu tau(ex.K(S0))=(0.273+/-0.002+/-0.009)%, B(tau(-) -->K(-)pi(-)K+nu tau)=(0.1346+/-0.0010+/-0.0036)%, and B(tau(-) -->K(-)K(-)K+nu tau)=(1.58+/-0.13+/-0.12)x10;{-5}, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These include significant improvements over previous measurements and a first measurement of B(tau(-) -->K(-)K(-)K+nu tau) in which no resonance structure is assumed. We also report a first measurement of B(tau(-) -->var phi(-)nu tau)=(3.42+/-0.55+/-0.25)x10(-5), a new measurement of B(tau(-) -->var phi K(-)nu tau)=(3.39+/-0.20+/-0.28)x10(-5) and a first upper limit on B(tau(-) -->K(-)K(-)K+nu tau(ex.var phi)).     

Measurement of the absolute branching fraction of Ds+ --> tau+ nutau decay

Using a sample of tagged D(s)(+) decays collected near the D(s)(*+/-)D(s)(-/+) peak production energy in e(+)e(-) collisions with the CLEO-c detector, we study the leptonic decay D(s)(+)-->tau(+)nu(tau) via the decay channel tau(+)-->e(+)nu(e)nu(tau). We measure B(D(s)(+)-->tau(+)nu(tau))=(6.17+/-0.71+/-0.34)%, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. Combining this result with our measurements of D(s)(+)-->mu(+)nu(mu) and D(s)(+)-->tau(+)nu(tau) (via tau(+)-->pi(+)nu(tau)), we determine f(D(s))=(274+/-10+/-5) MeV.     

Evolution of particle-scale dynamics in an aging clay suspension

Multispeckle x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy was employed to characterize the slow dynamics of a suspension of highly charged, nanometer-sized disks. At wave vectors q corresponding to interparticle length scales, the dynamic structure factor follows a form f(q,t) approximately exp([-(t/tau)(beta)], where beta approximately 1.5. The relaxation time tau increases with the sample age t(a) approximately as tau approximately t(1.8)(a) and decreases with q as tau approximately q(-1). Such behavior is consistent with models that describe the dynamics in disordered elastic media in terms of strain from random, local structural rearrangements. The measured amplitude of f(q,t) varies with q in a manner that implies caged particle motion. The decrease in the range of this motion and an increase in suspension conductivity with increasing t(a) indicate a growth in interparticle repulsion as the mechanism for internal stress development implied by these models.     

Universal aging features in the restructuring of fractal colloidal gels

We use multispeckle dynamic light scattering to measure the dynamic structure factor, f(q,tau), of gels formed by aggregation of colloids. Although the gel is an elastic solid, f(q,tau) nearly completely decays on long time scales, with an unusual form, f(q, tau) approximately exp{-(tau/tau(f))(mu)}, with mu approximately 1.5 and with tau(f) proportional variant q(-1). A model for restructuring of the gel with aging correctly accounts for this behavior. Aging leads to a dramatic increase in tau(f); however, all data can be scaled on a single master curve, with tau(f) asymptotically growing linearly with age. This behavior is strikingly similar to that predicted for aging in disordered glassy systems, offering convincing proof of the universality of these concepts.     

On the nucleation of hadronic domains in the quark-hadron transition

We present numerical results on bubble profiles, nucleation rates and time evolution for a weakly first-order quark-hadron phase transition in different expansion scenarios. We confirm the standard picture of a cosmological first-order phase transition, in which the phase transition is entirely dominated by nucleation. We also show that, even for expansion rates much lower than those expected in heavy-ion collisions nucleation is very unlikely, indicating that the main phase conversion mechanism is spinodal decomposition.     

Controlling vibrational excitations in C60 by laser pulse durations

Two similar off-resonant ultrafast laser experiments in C60 have reported two different vibrational modes that dominate the relaxation process: one predicts the A(g) modes while the other the H(g) modes. A systematical simulation presented here reveals that this experimental discrepancy results from the laser pulse duration. The numerical results show that since each mode nu has a distinctive optimal duration tau(nu)(o), the A(g) modes are strongly suppressed for durations longer than 40 fs, while the H(g) modes start to grow. For the off-resonant and low-intensity excitations, the period Omega(o)(nu) of the dominant mode and tau(nu)(o) satisfy the relation Omega(o)(nu)/tau(nu)(o) approximately 3.4. By carefully scanning the laser frequencies and pulse durations, a comprehensive excitation diagram is constructed, which can be used to guide experiments to selectively excite the A(g) and H(g) modes in C60 by an ultrafast laser. Its potential impact is also discussed.     

Upper limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos from the Pierre Auger Observatory

The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to Earth-skimming tau neutrinos that interact in Earth's crust. Tau leptons from nu(tau) charged-current interactions can emerge and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a significant electromagnetic component. The data collected between 1 January 2004 and 31 August 2007 are used to place an upper limit on the diffuse flux of nu(tau) at EeV energies. Assuming an E(nu)(-2) differential energy spectrum the limit set at 90% C.L. is E(nu)(2)dN(nu)(tau)/dE(nu)<1.3 x 10(-7) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) in the energy range 2 x 10(17) eV< E(nu)< 2 x 10(19) eV.     

Dynamics of fluctuations below a stationary bifurcation to electroconvection in the planar nematic liquid crystal N4

We fitted C(k,tau,epsilon) proportional to exp([-sigma(k,epsilon)tau] to time-correlation functions C(k,tau,epsilon) of structure factors S(k,t,epsilon) of shadowgraph images of fluctuations below a supercritical bifurcation at V(0)=V(c) to electroconvection of a planar nematic liquid crystal in the presence of a voltage V=sqrt[2]V(0)cos((2pift) [k=(p,q) is the wave vector and epsilon identical with V(2)(0)/V(2)(c)-1]. There were stationary oblique (normal) rolls at small (large) f. Fits of a modified Swift-Hohenberg form to sigma(k,epsilon) gave f-dependent critical behavior for the minimum decay rates sigma(0)(epsilon) and the correlation lengths xi(p,q)(epsilon).     

Two-dimensional dynamics of metal nanoparticles on the surface of thin polymer films studied with coherent X rays

X-ray photon-correlation spectroscopy is used to measure the dynamic structure factor f(q,tau) of gold particles moving on the surface of thin polymer films. Above the glass transition of the polymer the peculiar form f(q,tau) approximately exp[-(Gamma tau)(alpha)] is found with 0.7 < alpha < 1.5, depending on sample age and temperature. The relaxation rates Gamma scale linearly with q, excluding a simple Brownian diffusive motion. This type of behavior, already observed in aging bulk soft matter systems, is explained by a power law distribution of particle velocities due to ballistic motion.     

The van Kampen expansion for the Fokker-Planck equation of a duffing oscillator excited by colored noise

In Rodríguez and van Kampen's 1976 paper a method of extracting information from the Fokker-Planck equation without having to solve the equation is outlined. The Fokker-Planck equation for a Duffing oscillator excited by white noise is expanded about the intensity of the forcing function. In Weinstein and Benaroya, the effect of the order of expansion is investigated by carrying the expansion to a higher order. The effect of varying the system parameters is also investigated. All results are verified by comparison to Monte Carlo experiments. In this paper, the van Kampen expansion is modified and applied to the case of a Duffing oscillator excited by colored noise. The effect of the correlation time is investigated. Again the results are compared to those of Monte Carlo experiments. It is found that the expansion compares closely with those of the Monte Carlo experiments as the correlation time _c is varied from 0.001 to 10 sec. Examination of the results reveals that the colored noise can be categorized in one of four ways: (1) for the noise can be considered as white for all intents and purposes, (2) for the noise can be considered white for some purposes, (3) for the correlated nature of the noise must be considered in an analysis, and (4) for the noise can be considered as deterministic.     

Defect production in nonlinear quench across a quantum critical point

We show that the defect density n, for a slow nonlinear power-law quench with a rate tau(-1) and an exponent alpha>0, which takes the system through a critical point characterized by correlation length and dynamical critical exponents nu and z, scales as n approximately tau(-alphanud/(alphaznu+1)) [n approximately (alphag((alpha-1)/alpha)/tau)(nud/(znu+1))] if the quench takes the system across the critical point at time t=0 [t=t(0) not = 0], where g is a nonuniversal constant and d is the system dimension. These scaling laws constitute the first theoretical results for defect production in nonlinear quenches across quantum critical points and reproduce their well-known counterpart for a linear quench (alpha=1) as a special case. We supplement our results with numerical studies of well-known models and suggest experiments to test our theory.     

Evidence of the purely leptonic decay B- --> tau- nu(tau)

We present the first evidence of the decay B- --> tau- nu(tau), using 414 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. Events are tagged by fully reconstructing one of the B mesons in hadronic modes. We detect the signal with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations including systematics and measure the branching fraction to be B(B- --> tau- nu(tau)) = (1.79(-0.49) +0.56(stat)(-0.51) +0.46(syst)) x 10(-4). This implies that fB = 0.229(-0.031) +0.036(stat)(-0.037) +0.034(syst) GeV and is the first direct measurement of this quantity.     

5D generalized inflationary cosmology

We consider a 5D Kaluza-Klein type cosmological model with the fifth coordinate being a generalization of the invariant historical time of the covariant theory of Horwitz and Piron. We distinguish between vacuum-, off-shell matter-, and on-shell matter-dominated eras as the solutions of the corresponding 5D gravitational field equations, and build an inflationary scenario according to which passage from the off-shell matter-dominated era to the on-shell one occurs, probably as a phase transition. We study the effect of this phase transition on the expansion rate in both cases of localO(4,1) andO(3,2) invariance of the extended (x ^µ,) manifold and show that it does not change in either case. The expansion of the model we consider is not adiabatic; the thermodynamic entropy is a growing function of cosmic time for the closed universe, and can be a growing function of historical time for the open and the flat universe. A complete solution of the 5D gravitational field equations is obtained for the on-shell matter-dominated universe. The open and the closed universe are shown to tend asymptotically to the standard 4D cosmological models, in contrast to the flat universe which does not have the corresponding limit. Finally, possible cosmological implications are briefly discussed.     

Measurement of atmospheric neutrino flux consistent with tau neutrino appearance

A search for the appearance of tau neutrinos from nu(mu) <--> nu(tau) oscillations in the atmospheric neutrinos has been performed using 1489.2 days of atmospheric neutrino data from the Super-Kamiokande-I experiment. A best fit tau neutrino appearance signal of 138+/-48(stat)-32(+15)(syst) events is obtained with an expectation of 78+/-26(syst). The hypothesis of no tau neutrino appearance is disfavored by 2.4 sigma.     

Measuring quark-gluon-plasma thermalization time with dileptons

We calculate the medium dilepton yield from a quark-gluon plasma which has a time-dependent local momentum-space anisotropy. A phenomenological model for the hard momentum scale, p(hard)(tau), and plasma anisotropy parameter, xi(tau), is constructed which interpolates between longitudinal free streaming at early times (tautau(iso)). We show that high-energy dilepton production is sensitive to the plasma isotropization time, tau(iso), and can therefore be used to experimentally determine the time of onset for hydrodynamic expansion of a quark-gluon plasma and the magnitude of expected early-time momentum-space anisotropies.     

Uniform Supersonic Expansion for FTIR Absorption Spectroscopy: The nu(5) Band of (NO)(2) at 26 K

A high-resolution Fourier transform interferometer (Bruker IFS 120 HR) was combined with a uniform supersonic expansion produced by means of axisymmetric Laval nozzles. The geometry profile of the nozzle enabled us to work under precise thermodynamic and kinetic conditions. The effect of the cooling rate of different nozzles on cluster nucleation is illustrated. The experimental sensitivity was tested by recording the nu(5) band of (NO)(2) at 26 K. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Tau Leptonic Decay τ→lVlVτ in Littlest Higgs Model＊

We consider the τ leptonic decay $\tau\rightarrow l\bar{\nu}_{l}\nu_{\tau}$ in the framework of the littlest Higgs (LH) model and calculate the corrections of new particles to this decay. We find that the contributions of the charged scalars can be safely ignored and the LH model is in perfect agreement with the universality of the couplings of the SU gauge bosons to the leptonic charged currents. The corrections of the LH model to the τ leptonic decay $\tau\rightarrow l\bar{\nu}_{l}\nu_{\tau}$ are not sensitive to the parameter c, but depend strongly on the parameters f and x. The precision measured data about the τ leptonic decay demand that the parameter f approximately equal 3.5 TeV and x>0.1, while agree with the general expectation based on other phenomenological explorations.     

Measurement of the decay constant f(Ds+) using D(s+)-->l+ nu

We measure the decay constant f(Ds+) using the D(s+)-->l+ nu channel, where the l+ designates either a mu+ or a tau+, when the tau+ -->pi+ nu. Using both measurements we find f(Ds+)=274+/-13+/-7 MeV. Combining with our previous determination of f(D+), we compute the ratio f(Ds+)/f(D+)=1.23+/-0.11+/-0.04. We compare with theoretical estimates.     

Constraining the spectrum of supernova neutrinos from nu-process induced light element synthesis

We constrain energy spectra of supernova neutrinos through the avoidance of an overproduction of the 11B abundance during Galactic chemical evolution. In supernova nucleosynthesis calculations with a parametrized neutrino spectrum as a function of temperature of nu(mu,tau) and nu(mu,tau) and total neutrino energy, we find a strong neutrino temperature dependence of the 11B yield. When the yield is combined with observed abundances, the acceptable range of the nu(mu,tau) and nu(mu,tau) temperature is found to be 4.8 to 6.6 MeV. Nonzero neutrino chemical potentials would reduce this temperature range by about 10% for a degeneracy parameter eta(nu) = mu(nu)/kT(nu) smaller than 3.