Stability of the scalar potential and symmetry breaking in the economical 3-3-1 model

A detailed study of the criteria for stability of the scalar potential and the proper electroweak symmetry breaking pattern in the economical 3-3-1 model, is presented. For the analysis we use and improve a method previously developed to study the scalar potential in the two-Higgs-doublet extension of the standard model. A new theorem related to the stability of the potential is stated. As a consequence of this study, the consistency of the economical 3-3-1 model emerges.     

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton– and pion–nucleus interactions II: beryllium nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons and charged pions, in the interactions with a 5% λ _abs thick stationary beryllium target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20° <θ<125°.     

Improved gate-control in InAs nanowire structures by the use of GdScO3 as a gate dielectric

We investigated the properties of gadolinium scandate (GdScO₃) as a gate dielectric for top-gate electrodes on undoped InAs nanowires. It is demonstrated that due to the high dielectric constant of GdScO₃ (k=22), a better control of the conductance of the nanowire is achieved compared to a reference SiO₂-isolated back-gate electrode. We analyzed the output and transfer characteristics of top-gate-controlled InAs wires at room temperature and at temperatures down to 4 K. Owing to the good coverage of the InAs nanowire by the 50-nm-thick GdScO₃ layer, which was deposited by pulsed-laser deposition, the gate leakage current is sufficiently suppressed.     

The Global Renormalization Group Trajectory in a Critical Supersymmetric Field Theory on the Lattice ℤ3

We consider an Euclidean supersymmetric field theory in ℤ³ given by a supersymmetric Φ⁴ perturbation of an underlying massless Gaussian measure on scalar bosonic and Grassmann fields with covariance the Green’s function of a (stable) Lévy random walk in ℤ³. The Green’s function depends on the Lévy-Khintchine parameter with 0<α<2. For the Φ⁴ interaction is marginal. We prove for sufficiently small and initial parameters held in an appropriate domain the existence of a global renormalization group trajectory uniformly bounded on all renormalization group scales and therefore on lattices which become arbitrarily fine. At the same time we establish the existence of the critical (stable) manifold. The interactions are uniformly bounded away from zero on all scales and therefore we are constructing a non-Gaussian supersymmetric field theory on all scales. The interest of this theory comes from the easily established fact that the Green’s function of a (weakly) self-avoiding Lévy walk in ℤ³ is a second moment (two point correlation function) of the supersymmetric measure governing this model. The rigorous control of the critical renormalization group trajectory is a preparation for the study of the critical exponents of the (weakly) self-avoiding Lévy walk in ℤ³.     

Heavy-quark mass dependence in global PDF analyses and 3- and 4-flavour parton distributions

We study the sensitivity of our recent MSTW 2008 NLO and NNLO PDF analyses to the values of the charm- and bottom-quark masses, and we provide additional public PDF sets for a wide range of these heavy-quark masses. We quantify the impact of varying m _c and m _b on the cross sections for W, Z and Higgs production at the Tevatron and the LHC. We generate 3- and 4-flavour versions of the (5-flavour) MSTW 2008 PDFs by evolving the input PDFs and α _S determined from fits in the 5-flavour scheme, including the eigenvector PDF sets necessary for calculation of PDF uncertainties. As an example of their use, we study the difference in the Z total cross sections at the Tevatron and LHC in the 4- and 5-flavour schemes. Significant differences are found, illustrating the need to resum large logarithms in $Q^{2}/m_{b}^{2}$ by using the 5-flavour scheme. The 4-flavour scheme is still necessary, however, if cuts are imposed on associated (massive) b-quarks, as is the case for the experimental measurement of $Zb\bar{b}$ production and similar processes.     

High-gain Al2O3:Nd3+ channel waveguide amplifiers at 880 nm, 1060 nm, and 1330 nm

Neodymium-doped aluminum oxide films with a range of Nd³⁺ concentrations are deposited on silicon wafers by reactive co-sputtering, and single-mode channel waveguides with various lengths are fabricated by reactive ion etching. Photoluminescence at 880, 1060, and 1330 nm from the Nd³⁺ ions with a lifetime of 325 μs is observed. Internal net gain at 845–945 nm, 1064, and 1330 nm is experimentally and theoretically investigated under continuous-wave excitation at 802 nm. Net optical gain of 6.3 dB/cm at 1064 nm and 1.93 dB/cm at 1330 nm is obtained in a 1.4-cm-long waveguide with a Nd³⁺ concentration of 1.68×10²⁰ cm^?3 when launching 45 mW of pump power. In longer waveguides a maximum gain of 14.4 dB and 5.1 dB is obtained at these wavelengths, respectively. Net optical gain is also observed in the range 865–930 nm and a peak gain of 1.57 dB/cm in a short and 3.0 dB in a 4.1-cm-long waveguide is obtained at 880 nm with a Nd³⁺ concentration of 0.65×10²⁰ cm^?3. By use of a rate-equation model, the gain on these three transitions is calculated, and the macroscopic parameter of energy-transfer upconversion as a function of Nd³⁺ concentration is derived. The high internal net gain indicates that Al₂O₃:Nd³⁺ channel waveguide amplifiers are suitable for providing gain in many integrated optical devices.     

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton–and pion–nucleus interactions V: lead nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% λ _int thick stationary lead target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20°<θ<125°. Cross-sections on lead nuclei are compared with cross-sections on beryllium, copper, and tantalum nuclei.     

Polarization switching properties of spray deposited CsNO3: PVA composite films

The ferroelectric and switching properties of spray deposited cesium nitrate: poly (vinyl alcohol) composite films at different substrate temperatures (T _s ) have been studied. The optimum value of remanent polarization was obtained in the film deposited at T _s =200°C, which may be due to larger structural distortion (c/a ratio) and less porosity as revealed by x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis. The switching current transients have been analyzed by nucleation limited switching model (NLS) with the Lorentzian distribution function. This model gives excellent agreement with the experimental polarization current throughout the whole time range. The switching parameters were determined in the composite films deposited at different T _s and found to be optimum at T _s =200°C. The effect of pulse amplitude on the domain switching properties has also been studied and analyzed. The peak value of polarization current exhibits an exponential dependence on the external applied field.     

Pyroelectric properties of BiFeO3 ceramics prepared by a modified solid-state-reaction method

BiFeO₃ (BFO) ceramics were prepared by a modified solid-state-reaction method which adopts a higher heating/cooling rate during the sintering process than usually used. It was found that the calcination temperature T _cal (from 400 to 750°C) does not influence the BFO phase formation, while the sintering temperature T _sin (from 815 to 845°C) dominates the phase purity. The optimum sintering temperature was in the range from 825 to 835°C. The optimized samples exhibit saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops with a remnant polarization of 13.2 μC/cm². The measured piezoelectric coefficient d ₃₃ was 45 pC/N. No remnant magnetization was observed in all of the samples. The pyroelectric properties were studied as a function of temperature and frequency. A pyroelectric coefficient as high as 90 μC/m² K was obtained at room temperature in the optimized sample. An abrupt decrease of the pyroelectric coefficient was observed at temperatures between 70 and 80°C. On the basis of our results, BFO may have the potential for pyroelectric applications.     

Interpreting near-side correlations and the RHIC beam energy scan

Recent data from heavy ion collisions at RHIC show strong near-side correlations extending over several units of rapidity. This ridge-like correlation exhibits an abrupt onset with collision centrality. In this talk, I argue that the centrality and beam-energy dependence of these near-angle correlations could provide access to information about the Quark Gluon Plasma phase boundary and the Equation of State of nuclear matter. A beam-energy-scan at RHIC will better reveal the true source of these correlations and should be a high priority at RHIC.     

New physics contribution to neutral trilinear gauge boson couplings

We study the one-loop new physics effects to the CP even triple neutral gauge boson vertices γ ^⋆ γ Z, γ ^⋆ Z Z, Z ^⋆ Z γ and Z ^⋆ ZZ in the context of Little Higgs models. We compute the contribution of the additional fermions in Little Higgs models in the framework of direct product groups where [SU(2)×U(1)]² gauge symmetry is embedded in SU(5) global symmetry and also in the framework of the simple group where SU(N)×U(1) gauge symmetry breaks down to SU(2) _L ×U(1). We calculate the contribution of the fermions to these couplings when T parity is invoked. In addition, we re-examine the MSSM contribution at the chosen point of SPS1a′ and compare with the SM and Little Higgs models.     

Spectroscopy of laser-produced cerium plasma for remote isotope analysis of nuclear fuel

A cerium oxide sample was ablated by 2nd harmonic radiation of Nd:YAG laser at a power density of 0.1 GW/cm². Time evolution of the ablation plume was investigated by laser absorption time-of-flight (TOF) measurement. It was found that the ablated ionic plume in vacuum consisted of two components having different velocities whereas the ablated neutral atoms had mainly a single component. The flow velocity perpendicular to the sample surface in vacuum was determined to be 3.5 km/s for neutral atoms, and 4.7 km/s and 9.3 km/s for singly charged ions. From the detailed plume evolution in ambient atmosphere with several pressures we obtained some experimental conditions suitable for isotope analysis of atomic cerium.     

Ab initio investigation of tensile strengths of metal(1 1 1)/α-Al2O3(0 0 0 1) interfaces

Ab initio calculations using plane wave pseudopotential method within density funtional theory are applied to investigate mechanical and electronic properties of Al-terminated Me(1 1 1)/Al₂O₃(0 0 0 1) (Me = Al, Ag, Cu, Nb) interfaces. Stress–displacement relationships of separation perpendicular to the interface are calculated. It is shown that obtained results such as work of separation and tensile strength can be understood from electronic structure.     

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton– and pion–nucleus interactions VI: carbon nuclei and beam momenta from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% λ _int thick stationary carbon target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from ±3 GeV/c to ±15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles 20°<θ<125°. Cross-sections on carbon nuclei are compared with cross-sections on beryllium, copper, tantalum and lead nuclei.     

Stability of QED Vacuum and 3+1 Dimensional Scattering Problem in the Presence of a Coulomb Scalar Potential and Vector Field

We show that, in the presence of a scalar field the range of the value of external field parameters a and b, at which corresponding Hamiltonian operator is hermitian, essentially wider than in its absence. It allows us to study precisely the question on stability of QED vacuum in the presence of a strong electric field of a point charge Z|e| and external scalar Coulomb field with respect to electron-positron pair production. Also, we consider the scattering of Dirac particle by the specified fields in 3+1 dimensions. The phase shift and wave functions are obtained exactly. We calculate the scattering amplitude in a quasi-classical approximation as a partial wave series. By means of figures obtained for the cross section σ(θ) in general and special cases, such as a≠b and a=b, we find that σ(θ) is not exactly symmetric about θ=π.     

Multiplicity distributions in canonical and microcanonical statistical ensembles

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new technique for the calculation of observables, in particular multiplicity distributions, in various statistical ensembles at finite volume. The method is based on Fourier analysis of the grand canonical partition function. A Taylor expansion of the generating function is used to separate contributions to the partition function in their power in volume. We employ Laplace’s asymptotic expansion to show that any equilibrium distribution of multiplicity, charge, energy, etc. tends to a multivariate normal distribution in the thermodynamic limit. A Gram–Charlier expansion additionally allows for the calculation of finite volume corrections. Analytical formulas are presented for the inclusion of resonance decay and finite acceptance effects directly into the partition function of the system. This paper consolidates and extends previously published results of the current investigation into the properties of statistical ensembles.     

Information-Geometric Indicators of Chaos in Gaussian Models on Statistical Manifolds of Negative Ricci Curvature

A new information-geometric approach to chaotic dynamics on curved statistical manifolds based on Entropic Dynamics (ED) is proposed. It is shown that the hyperbolicity of a non-maximally symmetric 6N-dimensional statistical manifold ℳ _s underlying an ED Gaussian model describing an arbitrary system of 3N degrees of freedom leads to linear information-geometric entropy growth and to exponential divergence of the Jacobi vector field intensity, quantum and classical features of chaos respectively.     

Wavelength-independent all-optical synchronization of a Q-switched 100-ps microchip laser to a femtosecond laser reference source

We present a Q-switched microchip laser emitting 1064-nm pulses as short as 100 ps synchronized to a cavity dumped femtosecond laser emitting 800-nm pulses as short as 80 fs. The synchronization is achieved by presaturating the saturable absorber of the microchip laser with femtosecond pulses even though both lasers emit at widely separated wavelengths. The mean timing jitter is 40 ps and thus considerably shorter than the pulse duration of the microchip laser.     

Studying the relative bottom contribution via heavy-quark decay electron measurements in STAR

We report measurements of the azimuthal angular correlation distribution of heavy-quark decay electrons and open charmed mesons in pp collisions at  GeV in the STAR experiment at RHIC. This measurement in combination with current theoretical model calculations allows to extract the relative bottom contribution to the heavy-quark decay electrons, which is important for the interpretation of the observed strong suppression of the high-p _T electron yield in central Au+Au collisions.     

Distributional and Classical Solutions to the Cauchy Boltzmann Problem for Soft Potentials with Integrable Angular Cross Section

This paper focuses on the study of existence and uniqueness of distributional and classical solutions to the Cauchy Boltzmann problem for the soft potential case assuming S ^n?1 integrability of the angular part of the collision kernel (Grad cut-off assumption). For this purpose we revisit the Kaniel–Shinbrot iteration technique to present an elementary proof of existence and uniqueness results that includes the large data near local Maxwellian regime with possibly infinite initial mass. We study the propagation of regularity using a recent estimate for the positive collision operator given in (Alonso et al. in Convolution inequalities for the Boltzmann collision operator. arXiv:0902.0507 [math.AP]) , by E. Carneiro and the authors, that allows us to show such propagation without additional conditions on the collision kernel. Finally, an L ^p -stability result (with 1≤p≤∞) is presented assuming the aforementioned condition.