Eine scheinbare Abschwächung der Lokalitätsbedingung. II

If for a relativistic field theory the expectation values of the commutator (Ω|[A (x),A(y)]|Ω) vanish in space-like direction like exp {? const|(x-y ²|^α/2#x007D; with α>1 for sufficiently many vectors Ω, it follows thatA(x) is a local field. Or more precisely: For a hermitean, scalar, tempered fieldA(x) the locality axiom can be replaced by the following conditions 1. For any natural numbern there exist a) a configurationX(n): $$X_1 ,...,X_{n - 1} X_1^i = \cdot \cdot \cdot = X_{n - 1}^i = 0i = 0,3$$ with \(\left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n - 2} {\lambda _i } (X_i^1 - X_{i + 1}^1 )} \right]^2 + \left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n - 2} {\lambda _i } (X_i^2 - X_{i + 1}^2 )} \right]^2 > 0\) for all λ _i ≧0i=1,...,n?2, \(\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n - 2} {\lambda _i > 0} \) , b) neighbourhoods of theX _i 's:U _i (X _i )?R ⁴ i=1,...,n?1 (in the euclidean topology ofR ⁴) and c) a real number α>1 such that for all points (x):x ₁, ...,x _n?1:x _i ∈U _i (X _r ) there are positive constantsC ⁽ⁿ⁾{(x)},h ⁽ⁿ⁾{(x)} with: $$\left| {\left\langle {\left[ {A(x_1 )...A(x_{n - 1} ),A(x_n )} \right]} \right\rangle } \right|< C^{(n)} \left\{ {(x)} \right\}\exp \left\{ { - h^{(n)} \left\{ {(x)} \right\}r^\alpha } \right\}forx_n = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ r \\ \end{array} } \right),r > 1.$$ 2. For any natural numbern there exist a) a configurationY(n): $$Y_2 ,Y_3 ,...,Y_n Y_3^i = \cdot \cdot \cdot = Y_n^i = 0i = 0,3$$ with \(\left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 3}^{n - 1} {\mu _i (Y_i^1 - Y_{i{\text{ + 1}}}^{\text{1}} } )} \right]^2 + \left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 3}^{n - 1} {\mu _i (Y_i^2 - Y_{i{\text{ + 1}}}^{\text{2}} } )} \right]^2 > 0\) for all μ _i ≧0,i=3, ...,n?1, \(\sum\limits_{i = 3}^{n - 1} {\mu _i > 0} \) , b) neighbourhoods of theY _i 's:V _i(Y _i )?R ⁴ i=2, ...,n (in the euclidean topology ofR ⁴) and c) a real number β>1 such that for all points (y):y ₂, ...,y _n y _i ∈V _i (Y _i there are positive constantsC _(n){(y)},h _(n){(y)} and a real number γ_(n){(y)∈a closed subset ofR?{0}?{1} with: γ_(n){(y)}\y ₂,y ₃, ...,y _n totally space-like in the order 2, 3, ...,n and $$\left| {\left\langle {\left[ {A(x_1 ),A(x_2 )} \right]A(y_3 )...A(y_n )} \right\rangle } \right|< C_{(n)} \left\{ {(y)} \right\}\exp \left\{ { - h_{(n)} \left\{ {(y)} \right\}r^\beta } \right\}$$ for \(x_1 = \gamma _{(n)} \left\{ {(y)} \right\}r\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \\ \end{array} } \right),x_2 = y_2 - [1 - \gamma _{(n)} \{ (y)\} ]r\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \\ \end{array} } \right)\) and for sufficiently large values ofr.     

Remarks on the measurement of polarization of6Li-ions

The determination of the polarization of⁶Li-ions is discussed. It is shown, that independent of the reaction mechanism the following relations between the analysing powers for polarized deuterons and polarized⁶Li-ions hold for the⁶Li(d, α)⁴He-reaction: for all scattering angles \(\vartheta : A_{y y}^{(d)} (E, \vartheta ) = A_{y y}^{(Li)} (E, \vartheta )\) for the scattering angle \(\vartheta = \pi /2\) only: $$A_{z z}^{(d)} (E, \vartheta = \pi /2) = A_{z z}^{(Li)} (E, \vartheta = \pi /2)$$ and $$A_{x x - y y}^{(d)} (E, \vartheta = \pi /2) = A_{x x - y y}^{(Li)} (E, \vartheta = \pi /2)$$ . Using these identities the determination of the polarization of⁶Li-beams is reduced to the experimentally well established determination of the polarization of deuterons.     

Limit behavior of saturated approximations of nonlinear Schrödinger equation

We consider the solutionu _?(t) of the saturated nonlinear Schrödinger equation (1) $$i\partial u/\partial t = - \Delta u - \left| u \right|^{4/N} u + \varepsilon \left| u \right|^{q - 1} uandu(0,.) = \varphi (.)$$ where \(N \geqslant 2,\varepsilon > 0,1 + 4/N< q< (N + 2)/(N - 2),u:\mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R}^N \to \mathbb{C},\varphi \) , ? is a radially symmetric function inH ¹(R ^N ). We assume that the solution of the limit equation is not globally defined in time. There is aT>0 such that \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{t \to T} \left\| {u(t)} \right\|_{H^1 } = + \infty \) , whereu(t) is solution of (1) $$i\partial u/\partial t = - \Delta u - \left| u \right|^{4/N} uandu(0,.) = \varphi (.)$$ For ?>0 fixed,u _?(t) is defined for all time. We are interested in the limit behavior as ?→0 ofu _?(t) fort≥T. In the case where there is no loss of mass inu _? at infinity in a sense to be made precise, we describe the behavior ofu _? as ? goes to zero and we derive an existence result for a solution of (1) after the blow-up timeT in a certain sense. Nonlinear Schrödinger equation with supercritical exponents are also considered.     

Hadronic contributions to electroweak parameter shifts

Usinge ⁺ e ^?-data, an updated analysis of hadronic contributions to electroweak parameter renormalizations is presented. We emphasize the estimate of uncertainties which is important for precision tests at LEP and SLC. ForM _z =93 GeV and sin² Θ ₀=0.22 hadronic contributions from 5 flavors are found to be $$\Delta r_{had}^{(5)} = 0.0326 \pm 0.0007(\Delta r_{QED,had}^{(5)} = 0.0286 \pm 0.0007)$$ and $$\Delta g_{had}^{(5)} = 0.0602 \pm 0.0016(\Delta g_{3\gamma ,had}^{(5)} = 0.0619 \pm 0.0016)$$ for the renormalization of α and α _g =α/sin² Θ ₀, respectively. Parameter shifts are calculated and uncertainties due to higher order effects are estimated.     

Three Attractive Osculating Walkers and a Polymer Collapse Transition

Consider n interacting lock-step walkers in one dimension which start at the points {0,2,4,...,2(n?1)} and at each tick of a clock move unit distance to the left or right with the constraint that if two walkers land on the same site their next steps must be in the opposite direction so that crossing is avoided. When two walkers visit and then leave the same site an osculation is said to take place. The space-time paths of these walkers may be taken to represent the configurations of n fully directed polymer chains of length t embedded on a directed square lattice. If a weight λ is associated with each of the i osculations the partition function is $Z_t^{(n)} (\lambda ) = \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^{\left\lfloor {\tfrac{{(n - 1)t}}{2}} \right\rfloor } {z_{t,i}^{(n)} } \lambda ^i $ where z ⁽ⁿ⁾ _t,i is the number of t-step configurations having i osculations. When λ=0 the partition function is asymptotically equal to the number of vicious walker star configurations for which an explicit formula is known. The asymptotics of such configurations was discussed by Fisher in his Boltzmann medal lecture. Also for n=2 the partition function for arbitrary λ is easily obtained by Fisher's necklace method. For n>2 and λ≠0 the only exact result so far is that of Guttmann and Vöge who obtained the generating function $G^{(n)} (\lambda ,u) \equiv \sum\nolimits_{t = 0}^\infty {Z_t^{(n)} (\lambda )u^t } $ for λ=1 and n=3. The main result of this paper is to extend their result to arbitrary λ. By fitting computer generated data it is conjectured that Z ⁽³⁾ _t (λ) satisfies a third order inhomogeneous difference equation with constant coefficients which is used to obtain $$G^{(n)} (\lambda ,u) = \frac{{(\lambda - 3)(\lambda + 2) - \lambda (12 - 5\lambda + \lambda ^2 )u - 2\lambda ^3 u^2 + 2(\lambda - 4)(\lambda ^2 u^2 - 1){\text{ }}c(2u)}}{{(\lambda - 2 - \lambda ^2 u)(\lambda - 1 - 4\lambda u - 4\lambda ^2 u^2 )}}$$ where $c(u) = \tfrac{{1 - \sqrt {1 - 4u} }}{{2u}}$ , the generating function for Catalan numbers. The nature of the collapse transition which occurs at λ=4 is discussed and extensions to higher values of n are considered. It is argued that the position of the collapse transition is independent of n.     

Two-spin asymmetry in\mathop p\limits^{( - )} p reactions and spin-dependent parton distributions

The two-spin asymmetries \(A_{LL}^{\pi ^0 } (\mathop p\limits^{( - )} p)\) and \(A_{LL}^\gamma (\mathop p\limits^{( - )} p)\) are calculated in a new model incorporating the nonrelativistic quark model and the parton model which interprets well EMCg ₁ ^p (x) data. The model can reproduce the experimental data for inclusive π⁰ rather well.     

Decay of the positronium molecule into a positronium atom and photons

Decays of the positronium molecule Ps₂ into para- or orthopositronium Ps in the ground state and photons are investigated. The differential probabilities of the decays are determined. The total probabilitiesw _2γ ^(Ps2) andw _3γ ^(Ps2) of Ps₂ annihilation with the production of two and three photons and positronium are calculated to be $$w_{2\gamma }^{(P_{S_2 } )} = 1.6 \cdot 10^{10} \sec ^{ - 1} ,w_{3\gamma }^{(P_{S_2 } )} = 0.43 \cdot 10^8 \sec ^{ - 1} $$ . The curve of the angular correlation of the γ rays on the decay of Ps₂ into two photons and parapositronium is studied. The width of this curve is Δ¦P¦=0.128 a.u. (¦P¦ is the total photon momentum), which corresponds to a deviation of the emission angle of the γ rays from π: θ ? 0.934 mrad. The maximum in the distribution of the photons with respect to the momenta ¦P¦ in the center of mass of the annihilating pair is attained at ¦P¦=0.175 a.u. The calculations were made on an M-222 computer, and their accuracy is determined by the choice of the wave function of the positronium molecule and the accuracy in the computer calculation of the integrals.     

Unitary dressing transformations and exponential decay below threshold for quantum spin systems. Parts I and II

We consider a class of quantum spin systems defined on connected graphs of which the following HeisenbergXY-model with a variable magnetic field gives an example: $$H_\lambda = \sum\limits_{x \in \mathbb{Z}^d } {h_x \sigma _x^{(3)} + \lambda } \sum\limits_{< x,y > \subset \mathbb{Z}^d } {(\sigma _x^{(1)} \sigma _y^{(1)} + \sigma _x^{(2)} \sigma _y^{(2)} )} .$$ We treat first the case in whichh _x =±1 for all sitesx and we introduce a unitary dressing transformation to control the spectrum for λ small. Then, we consider a situation in which |h _x | can be less than one forx in a finite setL and prove exponential decay away fromL of dressed eigenfunctions with energy below the one-quasiparticle threshold. If the ground state is separated by a finite gap from the rest of the spectrum, this result can be strengthened and one can compute a second unitary transformation that makes the ground state of compact support. Finally, a case in which the singular setL is of finite density, is considered. The main technical tools we use are decay estimates on dressed Green's functions and variational inequalities.     

g-factors of rotational states in176Hf,177Hf,and180Hf

g-factors of rotational states in¹⁷⁶Hf and¹⁸⁰Hf were measured with the twelve detector IPAC-apparatus of our laboratory [1]. The natural radioactivity 3.78·10¹⁰y¹⁷⁶Lu and the 5.5 h isomer^180mHf were used which populate the ground-state rotational bands of¹⁷⁶Hf and¹⁸⁰Hf. The integral rotations ofγ-γ directional correlations in strong external magnetic fields and in static hyperfine fields of (Lu→Hf)Fe₂ and HfFe₂ were observed. The following results were obtained: $$\begin{array}{l} ^{176} Hf: g\left( {4_1^ + } \right) = + 0.334\left( {38} \right) \\ ^{180} Hf: g\left( {2_1^ + } \right) = + 0.305\left( {14} \right) \\ g\left( {4_1^ + } \right) = + 0.358\left( {43} \right) \\ {{ g\left( {6_1^ + } \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ g\left( {6_1^ + } \right)} {g\left( {4_1^ + } \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {g\left( {4_1^ + } \right)}} = + 0.95\left( {12} \right) \\ \end{array}$$ . The hyperfine field in (Lu→Hf)Fe₂ was calibrated by observing the integral rotation of the 9/2^? first excited state of¹⁷⁷Hf populated in the decay of 6.7d¹⁷⁷Lu. Theg-factor of this state was redetermined in an external magnetic field as $$^{177} Hf: g\left( {{9 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {9 {2^ - }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {2^ - }}} \right) = + 0.228\left( 7 \right)$$ . Finally theg-factor of the 2 ₁ ⁺ state of¹⁷⁶Hf was derived from the measuredg(2 ₁ ⁺ ) of¹⁸⁰Hf by use of the precisely known ratiog(2 ₁ ⁺ ,¹⁷⁶Hf)/g(2 ₁ ⁺ ,¹⁸⁰Hf) [2] as $$^{176} Hf: g\left( {2_1^ + } \right) = + 0.315\left( {30} \right)$$ .     

Kowalewski's asymptotic method,Kac-Moody lie algebras and regularization

We use an effective criterion based on the asymptotic analysis of a class of Hamiltonian equations to determine whether they are linearizable on an abelian variety, i.e., solvable by quadrature. The criterion is applied to a system with Hamiltonian $$H = {1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}\sum\limits_{i = 1}^l {p_i^2 } + \sum\limits_{i = 1}^{l + 1} {\exp \left( {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^l {N_{ij} x_j } } \right)} ,$$ parametrized by a real matrixN=(N _ij ) of full rank. It will be solvable by quadrature if and only if for alli≠j, 2(N N^T) _ij (N N ^T ) _jj ^?1 is a nonpositive integer, i.e., the interactions correspond to the Toda systems for the Kac-Moody Lie algebras. The criterion is also applied to a system of Gross-Neveu.     

On the freund-witten adelic formula for Veneziano amplitudes

On the basis of the analysis of the adele group (Tate's formula), a regularization for the divergent infinite product ofp-adic Г-functions $$\Gamma _p (\alpha ) = \frac{{1 - p^{\alpha - 1} }}{{[ - p^{ - \alpha } }}$$ is proposed, and the adelic formula is proved $$reg\coprod\limits_{p = 2}^\infty {\Gamma _p (\alpha )} = \frac{{\zeta (\alpha )}}{{\zeta (1 - \alpha )}}$$ whereζ(α) is the Riemannζ-function.     

On Lévy (or stable) distributions and the Williams-Watts model of dielectric relaxation

This paper is concerned with the Lévy, or stable distribution function defined by the Fourier transform $$Q_\alpha \left( z \right) = \frac{1}{{2\pi }}\int {_{ - \infty }^\infty \exp \left( { - izu - \left| u \right|^\alpha } \right)du} with 0< \alpha \leqslant 2$$ Whenα=2 it becomes the Gauss distribution function and whenα=1, the Cauchy distribution. Whenα≠2 the distribution has a long inverse power tail $$Q_\alpha \left( z \right) \sim \frac{{\Gamma \left( {1 + \alpha } \right)\sin \tfrac{1}{2}\pi \alpha }}{{\pi \left| z \right|^{1 + \alpha } }}$$ In the regime of smallα, ifα¦logz¦?1, the distribution is mimicked by a log normal distribution. We have derived rapidly converging algorithms for the numerical calculation ofQ _α (z) for variousα in the range 0<α<1. The functionQ _α (z) appears naturally in the Williams-Watts model of dielectric relaxation. In that model one expresses the normalized dielectric parameter as $$ \in _n \left( \omega \right) \equiv \in '_n \left( \omega \right) - i \in ''_n \left( \omega \right) = - \int {_0^\infty e^{ - i\omega t} \left[ {{{d\phi \left( t \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{d\phi \left( t \right)} {dt}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {dt}}} \right]} dt$$ with $$\phi \left( t \right) = \exp - \left( {{t \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {t \tau }} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} \tau }} \right)^\alpha $$ It has been found empirically by various authors that observed dielectric parameters of a wide variety of materials of a broad range of frequencies are fitted remarkably accurately by using this form ofφ(t).ε″ _n (ω) is shown to be directly related toQ _α (z). It is also shown that if the Williams-Watts exponential is expressed as a weighted average of exponential relaxation functions $$\exp - \left( {{t \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {t \tau }} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} \tau }} \right)^\alpha = \int {_0^\infty } g\left( {\lambda , \alpha } \right)e^{ - \lambda t} dt$$ the weight functiong(λ, α) is expressible as a stable distribution. Some suggestions are made about physical models that might lead to the Williams-Watts form ofφ(t).     

Regularity for Eigenfunctions of Schr?dinger Operators

We prove a regularity result in weighted Sobolev (or Babu?ka?CKondratiev) spaces for the eigenfunctions of certain Schr?dinger-type operators. Our results apply, in particular, to a non-relativistic Schr?dinger operator of an N-electron atom in the fixed nucleus approximation. More precisely, let ${\mathcal{K}_{a}^{m}(\mathbb{R}^{3N},r_S)}$ be the weighted Sobolev space obtained by blowing up the set of singular points of the potential ${V(x) = \sum_{1 \le j \le N} \frac{b_j}{|x_j|} + \sum_{1 \le i < j \le N} \frac{c_{ij}}{|x_i-x_j|}}$ , ${x \in \mathbb{R}^{3N}}$ , ${b_j, c_{ij} \in \mathbb{R}}$ . If ${u \in L^2(\mathbb{R}^{3N})}$ satisfies ${(-\Delta + V) u = \lambda u}$ in distribution sense, then ${u \in \mathcal{K}_{a}^{m}}$ for all ${m \in \mathbb{Z}_+}$ and all a ?? 0. Our result extends to the case when b _j and c _ij are suitable bounded functions on the blown-up space. In the single-electron, multi-nuclei case, we obtain the same result for all a?<?3/2.     

The photomagneton\hat B^{\left( 3 \right)} and electrodynamic conservation lawsand electrodynamic conservation laws

It is shown that the basic electrodynamical conservation laws are unaffected by the presence in free space of the photomagneton of light, $\hat B^{\left( 3 \right)} = B^{\left( 0 \right)} \hat J/\rlap{--} h$ , the fundamental photon property responsible for magnetization by light. The expectation value $B^{\left( 3 \right)} = \left\langle {\hat B^{\left( 3 \right)} } \right\rangle $ does not affect the Poynting vector, so that it does not contribute to electromagnetic flux density. The electromagnetic energy density can be expressed in terms ofB ⁽³⁾ through the equation $$\rlap{--} h\omega = \frac{1}{{\mu _0 }}\smallint B^{\left( 3 \right)} \cdot B^{\left( 3 \right) * } dV.$$ When light magnetizes matter, the unitB ⁽³⁾ of magnetic flux density per photon is transferred from light to matter. This is equivalent to an elastic transfer of angular momentum. Experimental indications for the existence ofB ⁽³⁾ are discussed.     

A remark on tensor representations

The identity $$\sum\limits_{v = 0} {\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {n + 1} \\ v \\ \end{array} } \right)\left[ {\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {n - v} \\ v \\ \end{array} } \right) - \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {n - v} \\ {v - 1} \\ \end{array} } \right)} \right] = ( - 1)^n } $$ is proved and, by means of it, the coefficients of the decomposition ofD ₁ ⁿ into irreducible representations are found. It holds: ifD ₁ ⁿ \(\mathop {\sum ^n }\limits_{m = 0} A_{nm} D_m \) , then $$A_{nm} = \mathop \sum \limits_{\lambda = 0} \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} n \\ \lambda \\ \end{array} } \right)\left[ {\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} \lambda \\ {n - m - \lambda } \\ \end{array} } \right) - \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} \lambda \\ {n - m - \lambda - 1} \\ \end{array} } \right)} \right].$$      

Results from the kaonic hydrogen X-ray measurement at DAFNE and outlook to future experiments

The $\overline{K}N$ system at rest plays a key role for the understanding of strong interaction of hadrons with strangeness involved. The experiment SIDDHARTA used X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic atoms to measure the strong interaction induced shift and width of the ground state. It was the first experiment on kaonic He3 and deuterium ever, kaonic hydrogen was measured with improved precision resulting in $\epsilon_{1s} = -283 \pm 36 \mbox{(stat)} \pm 6 \mbox{(syst)}$ eV and $\Gamma_{1s} = 541 \pm 89 \mbox{(stat)} \pm 22 \mbox{(syst)}$ eV. Additionally a scheme for an improved future experiment on kaonic deuterium is introduced in this contribution.     

Characteristics of π−,\bar p,and antinuclei frompp collisions

An investigation of inclusivepp→π^?+? in terms of the covariant Boltzmann factor (BF) including the chemical potential μ indicates a) that the temperatureT increases less rapidly than expected from Stefan's law, b) that a scaling property holds for the fibreball velocity of π^? secondaries, leading to a multiplicity law like ～E _cm ^1/2 at high energy, and c) that μ_π is related to the quark mass: μ_π=2m _q ?m _π the quark massm _q determined by \(T_{\pi ^ - } \) at \(\bar pp\) threshold beingm _q =3T_π?330 MeV. Because ofthreshold effects \(T_{\bar p}< T_{\pi ^ - } \) , whereas \({{\mu _p } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\mu _p } {\mu _{\pi ^ - } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\mu _{\pi ^ - } }} \simeq {3 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {3 2}} \right. \kern-0em} 2}\) as expected from the quark contents of \(\bar p\) and π. The antinuclei \(\bar d\) and \({{\bar t} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\bar t} {\overline {He^3 } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\overline {He^3 } }}\) observed inpp events are formed by coalescence of \(\bar p\) and \(\bar n\) produced in thepp collision. Semi-empirical formulae are proposed to estimate multiplicities of π^?, \(\bar p\) and antinuclei.     

Metastable states for the Becker-Döring cluster equations

The Becker-Döring equations, in whichc _l (t) can represent the concentration ofl-particle clusters or droplets in (say) a condensing vapour at timet, are $$\begin{array}{*{20}c} {{{dc_l (t)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{dc_l (t)} {dt}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {dt}} = J_{l - 1} (t) - J_l (t)} & {(l = 2,3,...)} \\ \end{array} $$ with $$J_l (t): = a_l c_1 (t)c_l (t) - b_{l + 1} c_{l + 1} (t)$$ and eitherc ₁=const. (‘case A’) or \(\rho : = \sum\limits_1^\infty {lc_l } \) =const. (‘case B’). The equilibrium solutions arec _l =Q _l z ^l , where \(Q_l : = \prod\limits_2^l {({{a_{r - 1} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{a_{r - 1} } {b_r }}} \right. \kern-0em} {b_r }})} \) . The density of the saturated vapour, defined as \(\rho _s : = \sum\limits_1^\infty {lQ_l z_s ^l } \) , wherez _s is the radius of convergence of the series, is assumed finite. It is proved here that, subject to some further plausible conditions on the kinetic coefficientsa _l andb _l , there is a class of “metastable” solutions of the equations, withc ₁?z _s small and positive, which take an exponentially long time to decay to their asymptotic steady states. (An “exponentially long time” means one that increases more rapidly than any negative power of the given value ofc ₁?z _s (or, in caseB,ρ?ρ _s ) as the latter tends to zero). The main ingredients in the proof are (i) a time-independent upper bound on the solution of the kinetic equations (this upper bound is a steady-state solution of case A of the equations, of the type used in the Becker-Döring theory of nucleation), and (ii) an upper bound on the total concentration of particles in clusters greater than a certain critical size, which (with suitable initial conditions) remains exponentially small until the time becomes exponentially large.