“Almost direct” photons

Quantum chromodynamics has intensified the interest and enhanced the importance of measuring the production of direct photons in hadron collisions. We point out that lepton pairs of low invariant mass (m² < m²_ψ) provide an equally good probe for testing Q.C.D. Their experimental observation is not only easier, the relevant data may already exist.     

Completeness of “good” Bethe ansatz solutions of a quantum-group-invariant Heisenberg model

The sl_q(2) quantum-group-invariant Heisenberg model with open boundary conditions is investigated by means of the Bethe ansatz. As is well known, quantum groups for q equal to a root of unity possess a finite number of “good” representations with non-zero q-dimension and “bad” ones with vanishing q-dimension. Correspondingly, the state space of an invariant Heisenberg chain decomposes into “good” and “bad” states. A “good” state may be described by a path of only “good” representations. It is shown that the “good” states are given by all “good” Bethe ansatz solutions with roots restricted to the first periodicity strip, i.e. only positive-parity strings (in the language of Takahashi) are allowed. Applying Bethe's string-counting technique completeness of the “good” Bethe states is proven, i.e. the same number of states is found as the number of all restricted paths on the sl_q(2) Bratteli diagram. It is the first time that a “completeness” proof for an anisotropic quantum-invariant reduced Heisenberg model is performed.     

“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.     

QCD instantons and the soft pomeron

We study the rôle of semiclassical QCD vacuum solutions in high-energy scattering by considering the instanton contribution to hadronic cross sections. We propose a new type of instanton-induced interactions (“instanton ladder”) that leads to the rising with energy cross section σs^Δ of Regge type (the pomeron). We argue that this interaction may be responsible for the structure of the soft pomeron. The intercept Δ>0 is calculated. It has a nonanalytic dependence on the strong coupling constant, allowing a nonsingular continuation into the nonperturbative region. We derive the pomeron trajectory, which appears to be approximately linear in some range of (negative) momentum transfer t, but exhibits a curvature at small t. Possible rôle of instantons in multiparticle production is also discussed.     

Prompt photon production in ee annihilation

We investigate the production of prompt photons in e⁺e⁻ annihilation events. The result of the dipole cascade model, as implemented in the ARIADNE MC, is compared with the perturbative O(_SQED) matrix element, which is expected to be reliable for relatively hard photons. We show that for softer photons the dipole model agrees with Low's theorem. The model interpolates smoothly between the two limiting situations in good agreement with the experimental data for OPAL. The result can be interpreted in terms of a notion of “time ordering” in the production process, and we show how this can be further investigated experimentally.     

Nuclear track radiography of “Hot” aerosol particles

Nuclear track radiography was applied to identify aerosol “hot” particles which contain elements of nuclear fuel and fallout after Chernobyl NPP accident. For the determination of the content of transuranium elements in radioactive aerosols the measurement of the -activity of “hot” particles by SSNTD was used in this work, as well as radiography of fission fragments formed as a result of the reactions (n,f) and (γ,f) in the irradiation of aerosol filters by thermal neutrons and high energy gamma quanta. The technique allowed the sizes and alpha-activity of “hot” particles to be determined without extracting them from the filter, as well as the determination of the uranium content and its enrichment by ²³⁵U, ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu isotopes. Sensitivity of determination of alpha activity by fission method is 5×10⁻⁶ Bq per particle. The software for the system of image analysis was created. It ensured the identification of track clusters on an optical image of the SSNTD surface obtained through a video camera and the determination of size and activity of “hot” particles.     

Will relativistic heavy-ion colliders destroy our planet?

Experiments at the Brookhaven National Laboratory will study collisions between gold nuclei at unprecedented energies. The concern has been voiced that “strangelets” – hypothetical products of these collisions – may trigger the destruction of our planet. We show how naturally occurring heavy-ion collisions can be used to derive a safe and stringent upper bound on the risk incurred in running these experiments.     

Hydrodynamic model for particle size segregation in granular media

We present a hydrodynamic theoretical model for “Brazil nut” size segregation in granular materials. We give analytical solutions for the rise velocity of a large intruder particle immersed in a medium of monodisperse fluidized small particles. We propose a new mechanism for this particle size-segregation due to buoyant forces caused by density variations which come from differences in the local “granular temperature”. The mobility of the particles is modified by the energy dissipation due to inelastic collisions and this leads to a different behavior from what one would expect for an elastic system. Using our model we can explain the size ratio dependence of the upward velocity.     

Heavy quarkonium production in double pomeron exchange processes in perturbative QCD

We calculate the heavy quarkonium production in double pomeron exchange processes in perturbative QCD by using two-gluon exchange model. For the P-wave χ_J productions, we find χ₁ and χ₂ production amplitudes which vanish in the forward scattering limit. We also calculate direct J/ψ()+γ production in the same approach, and these direct contributions are much smaller than the feeddown contributions from the P-wave states.     

Functional Characteristics of a New Electrolarynx “Evada” Having a Force Sensing Resistor Sensor

Electrolarynxes have been used as one of the rehabilitation methods for laryngectomees. Earlier electrolarynxes could not alter frequency and intensity simultaneously during conversation. Recently, we developed an electrolarynx named “Evada” (prototype so far) using a force sensing resistor (FSR) sensor that can control both frequency and intensity simultaneously during conversation. Employing three types of electrolarynxes (Evada, Servox-inton, Nu-vois), this study was undertaken to examine the functional characteristics of Evada for the normal control group and for laryngectomess. Five laryngectomees and five normal adults were asked to express three sentences (declarative sentence, “You stay here.”, interrogative sentence, “You stay here?”, and imperative sentence, “You! Stay here.”) using three types of electrolarynxes. Frequency and intensity changes between the first and last vowels in the three sentences were calculated and analyzed statistically by paired t test. The frequency changes in the interrogative and imperative sentences were more prominent in Evada than in Servox-inton and Nu-vois. The intensity changes in the interrogative and imperative sentences were also more prominent in Evada than in Servox-inton and Nu-vois. Evada controls frequency and/or intensity by having the subject press the control button(s). Therefore, Evada appears to be better at producing intonation and contrastive stress than Nu-vois and Servox-inton.     

Some remarks on the “no-interaction” assumption in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen argument

The “no-interaction” assumption of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen argument is analyzed. It is shown that this assumption can be explicitly embedded in the logical scheme of the EPR argument.     

Diffractive photoproduction of jets with a direct pomeron coupling at HERA

We investigate in detail the effect of a direct pomeron coupling to quarks on the production of jets inep scattering with almost real photons. Jet production via a direct pomeron coupling is compared with the resolved-pomeron mechanism. We consider both direct and resolved photoproduction. Rapidity and transverse momentum distributions are calculated and compared with preliminary H1 and ZEUS data.     

Optical aperture synthesis using successive exposure of a single photograph and spatial-filtering “low-frequency redundancy” suppression

A high-resolution “full spatial-frequency range” optical image may be synthesized by superposing in a single plate a suitable set of low-resolution partial frequency-range photographs, obtained separately or simultaneously, with “low-frequency redundancy” suppressed by spatial filtering.     

Participant intimacy : A cluster analysis of the intranuclear cascadet

The intranuclear cascade for relativistic nuclear collisions is analyzed in terms of “clusters” consisting of groups of nucleons which are dynamically linked to each other by violent interactions. The formation cross sections for the different cluster types as well as their intrinsic dynamics are studied and compared with the predictions of the linear cascade model (“rows-on-rows”).     

On “diagonal” Bianchi cosmologies

A list of the possible “diagonal” Bianchi cosmologies is given, with a proof that it is complete.     

The contribution of aryepiglottic constriction to “ringing” voice quality—A videolaryngoscopic study with acoustic analysis

Fiberscopic video laryngoscopy was performed on five professional singers to determine the presence or absence of aryepiglottic narrowing as a function of voice quality. Each sang “Happy Birthday” and parts of the “Star Spangled Banner” in six different voice qualities: speech, falsetto, sob (a low larynx with a vocal tract expanded by relaxing the middle constrictors), twang, belting, and opera. Several features were found to be common among the subjects and related to specific qualities. Aryepiglottic constriction was present in all singers in twang, belting, and opera qualities. Spectrographic analysis related the constriction to the presence of the “singer's formant.” The presence of this type of constrictive behavior will require further research to ascertain the possible benefits to those for whom a louder voice is essential and to understand the relationship of this constrictive maneuver to the natural closure functions of the larynx.     

From color glass to color dipoles in high-energy onium–onium scattering

Within the Color Glass formalism, we construct the wavefunction of a high energy onium in the BFKL and large-N_c approximations, and demonstrate the equivalence with the corresponding result in the Color Dipole picture. We propose a simple factorization formula for the elastic scattering between two non-saturated “color glasses” in the center-of-mass frame. This is valid up to energies which are high enough to allow for a study of the onset of unitarization via multiple pomeron exchanges. When applied to the high energy onium–onium scattering, this formula reduces to the Glauber-like scattering between two systems of dipoles, in complete agreement with the dipole picture.     

Yb (Ba, Sr)2Cu4O8: a “124” phase superconductor with a reduced unit cell volume

Yb(Ba_1−xSr_x)₂Cu₄O₈ (0.1x0.3) superconductors of the YBa₂Cu₄O₈(“124”) structure were successfully synthesized using an O₂-hot-isostaticc-pressing (HIP) technique. The samples were characterized with respect to the crystal structure and superconducting properties. The lattice parameters of the samples decreased as the substitution of Sr for Ba proceeded. The superconducting transition temperatures of all the Yb-“124” samples were more or less the same, being around 80 K.