Towards experiments with highly charged ions at HESR

The atomic physics collaboration SPARC is a part of the APPA pillar at the future Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research. It aims at atomic-physics research across virtually the full range of atomic matter. An emphasis of this contribution are the atomic physics experiments addressing the collision dynamics in strong electro-magnetic fields as well as the fundamental interactions between electrons and heavy nuclei at the HESR. Here we give a short overview about the central instruments for SPARC experiments at this storage ring.     

Enhanced photon detection in EPR type experiments

Local realistic models of enhanced photon detection reproducing quantum mechanical predictions for single photons and approximating closely the quantum mechanical predictions for pairs of correlated photons are discussed. It is shown that Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-type experiments with three polarizers can easily discriminate such models from ordinary quantum theory.     

Proposed new antiproton experiments at Fermilab

Fermilab operates the world’s most intense source of antiprotons. Recently various experiments have been proposed that can use those antiprotons either parasitically during Tevatron Collider running or after the Tevatron Collider finishes in about 2010. We discuss the physics goals and prospects of the proposed experiments.     

DNA ejection from bacteriophage: Towards a general behavior for osmotic-suppression experiments

We present in this work in vitro measurements of the force ejecting DNA from two distinct bacteriophages (T5 and λ using the osmotic-suppression technique. Our data are analyzed by revisiting the current theories of DNA packaging in spherical capsids. In particular we show that a simplified analytical model based on bending considerations only is able to account quantitatively for the experimental findings. Physical and biological consequences are discussed.     

Towards a new proof of Anderson localization

The wave function of a non-relativistic particle in a periodic potential admits oscillatory solutions, the Bloch waves. In the presence of a random noise contribution to the potential the wave function is localized. We outline a new proof of this Anderson localization phenomenon in one spatial dimension, extending the classical result to the case of a periodic background potential. The proof makes use of techniques previously developed to study the effects of noise on reheating in inflationary cosmology, employing methods of random matrix theory.     

Towards predictive combustion kinetic models: Progress in model analysis and informative experiments

One of the key tasks of combustion chemistry research is to develop accurate and robust combustion kinetic models for practical fuels. An accurate and robust kinetic model yields predictions that are highly consistent with experimental measurements over a wide range of operating conditions, with prediction uncertainties that are acceptable. Reliable experimental data generated by various powerful diagnostic techniques continue to play an essential role in the development of such models. This review focuses on the contributions of synchrotron-based species measurements in combustion systems, on model validation, model structure development, and model parameter optimization. Special emphasis is placed on recently reported strategies for informative and reliable experimental data generation, including combustion kinetic model input parameter evaluation, computational cost reduction for model analysis, model-analysis-based experimental design, experimental data treatment and error reduction. Particularly, the active-subspace-based method (ASSM) can reduce the dimensionality of combustion kinetic models and the aritificial-neural-network-based surrogates (ANN-HDMR and ANN-MCMC) can reduce the computational cost significantly. Global-sensitivity-based experimental design methods including sensitivity entropy and surrogate model similarity (SMS) can guide kinetics-information-enriched experimental data generation. Model-analysis-based calibration for experimental errors and feature extraction of experimental targets can improve the experimental data quality. A computational framework (OptEx) enabling the integration of experimental data with mechanism development, experimental design and model optimization, provides a new means to develop reliable kinetic models more efficiently and effectively.     

Quantum optical predictions inQ representation for Bell's type experiments

Using the Q representation, we study the disagreement between quantum optical formalism and local realism and we show that the phenomenon of enhancement, first revealed by the local realist analysis, could receive a simple explanation if we use this particular version of the quantum formalism. Nevertheless, some fundamental difficulties remain.     

Neutron experiments to search for new spin-dependent interactions

The consideration is presented of possible neutron experiments to search for new short-range spin-dependent forces. The spin-dependent nucleon-nucleon interaction between neutron and nuclei may cause different effects: phase shift of a neutron wave in neutron interferometers of different kind, in particular of the Lloyd mirror configuration, neutron spin rotation in the pseudo-magnetic field, and transverse deflection of polarized neutron beam by a slab of substance. Estimates of sensitivity of these experiments are performed.     

Some proposals of new experiments on cluster radioactivity

Measurement of elastic scattering and fusion-fission cross sections of the cluster decay products is proposed for the study of the mechanism of cluster radioactivity. The obtained data on ¹²C+²⁰⁸Pb allow to select between different theoretical models. The experiment on search of the exotic nucleus ¹¹²Ba and its cluster decay is discussed.     

Constraints on new interactions from neutron scattering experiments

Constraints for the constants of hypothetical Yukawa-type corrections to the Newtonian gravitational potential are obtained from analysis of neutron scattering experiments. Restrictions are obtained for the interaction range between 10⁻¹² and 10⁻⁷ cm, where Casimir force experiments and atomic-force microscopy are not sensitive. Experimental limits are obtained also for nonelectromagnetic inverse-power-law neutron-nucleus potentials. Some possibilities are discussed to strengthen these constraints. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

A new positron source for positron annihilation lifetime experiments

A method using ion-implantation of Na²² to produce source-sample systems applicable to positron annihilation lifetime experiments at elevated temperatures in metals is presented.     

Torsional wave experiments with a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration

For the efficient long-range nondestructive structural health inspection of pipes, guided waves have become widely used. Among the various guided wave modes, the torsional wave is most preferred since its first branch is nondispersive. Our objective in this work is to develop a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration to transmit and receive torsional waves in cylindrical waveguides. The conventional magnetostrictive transducer for the generation and measurement of torsional waves consists of solenoid coils and a nickel strip bonded circumferentially to test pipes. The strip must be premagnetized by a permanent magnet before actual measurements. Because of the premagnetization, the transducer is not suitable for the long-term on-line monitoring of pipes buried underground. To avoid the cumbersome premagnetization and to improve the transduction efficiency, we propose a new transducer configuration using several pieces of nickel strips installed at 45 degrees with respect to the pipe axis. If a static bias magnetic field is also applied, the transducer output can be substantially increased. Several experiments were conducted to study the performance of the proposed transducer configuration. The proposed transducer configuration was also applied for damage detection in an aluminum pipe.     

Searching for new physics in future neutrino factory experiments

An extension of the new standard model, by introducing a mixing of the low mass “active” neutrinos with heavy ones, or by any model with lepton flavor violation, is considered. This leads to non-orthogonal neutrino production and detection states and to modifications of neutrino oscillations in both vacuum and matter. The possibility of the discovery of such effects in current and future neutrino oscillation experiments is discussed. First order approximation formulas for the flavor transition probabilities in constant density matter, for all experimentally available channels, are given. Numerical calculations of flavor transition probabilities for two sets of new physics parameters describing a single “effective” heavy neutrino state, both satisfying present experimental constraints, have been performed. Two energy ranges and several baselines, assuming both the current (±2σ) and the expected future errors (±3%) of the neutrino oscillation parameters are considered, keeping their present central values. It appears that the biggest potential of the discovery of the possible presence of any new physics is pronounced in oscillation channels in which ν_e and ν_ē are not involved at all, especially for two baselines, L=3000 km and L=7500 km, which for other reasons are also called “magic” for future Neutrino Factory experiments. PACS 13.15.+g; 14.60.Pq; 14.60.St     

均匀化位相的常规非稳腔的分析与实验

对常规非稳腔的输出镜面进行改造,在原来不透光的中央区域引入增透膜,使之能部分透过,使输出耦合能的比例得到提高;同时加敷适当的位相膜,使中央区与环带区波面位相拉平些。着重报导了均匀化相位常规非稳腔的系列实验和分析,从而使常规非稳腔的环带输出引起的中央不透明区与外环带输出波面的位相突变得到改善,克服了远场能量分布出现较严重离散的问题,使远场中央亮斑能量更集中。     

均匀化位相的常规非稳腔的分析与实验

 对常规非稳腔的输出镜面进行改造,在原来不透光的中央区域引入增透膜,使之能部分透过,使输出耦合能的比例得到提高;同时加敷适当的位相膜,使中央区与环带区波面位相拉平些。着重报导了均匀化相位常规非稳腔的系列实验和分析,从而使常规非稳腔的环带输出引起的中央不透明区与外环带输出波面的位相突变得到改善,克服了远场能量分布出现较严重离散的问题,使远场中央亮斑能量更集中。     

均匀化位相的常规非稳腔的分析与实验

对常规非稳腔的输出镜面进行改造,在原来不透光的中央区域引入增透膜,使之能部分透过,使输出耦合能的比例得到提高;同时加敷适当的位相膜,使中央区与环带区波面位相拉平些.着重报导了均匀化相位常规非稳腔的系列实验和分析,从而使常规非稳腔的环带输出引起的中央不透明区与外环带输出波面的位相突变得到改善,克服了远场能量分布出现较严重离散的问题,使远场中央亮斑能量更集中.     

Towards a new measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment

Precision measurements of particle electric dipole moments (EDMs) provide extremely sensitive means to search for non-standard mechanisms of T (or CP) violation. For the neutron EDM, the upper limit has been reduced by eight orders of magnitude in 50 years thereby excluding several CP violation scenarios. We report here on a new effort aiming at improving the neutron EDM limit by two orders of magnitude, down to a level of 3 × 10⁻²⁸ e·cm. The two central elements of the approach are the use of the higher densities which will be available at the new dedicated spallation UCN source at the Paul Scherrer Institute, and the optimization of the in-vacuum Ramsey resonance technique, with storage chambers at room temperature, to reach new limits of sensitivity.     

Towards a new kilogram definition based on a fundamental constant

The further development of the International System of Units and the redefinition of the mass unit based on a fundamental constant is a priority task of the metrology community. Two main strategies are pursued today, counting atoms and relating mechanical to electrical power. In this article the actual status of the kilogram and the different proposed methods are reviewed. To cite this article: W. Schwitz et al., C. R. Physique 5 (2004).