Asymptotics of Weil�CPetersson Geodesics II: Bounded Geometry and Unbounded Entropy

We use ending laminations for Weil–Petersson geodesics to establish that bounded geometry is equivalent to bounded combinatorics for Weil–Petersson geodesic segments, rays, and lines. Further, a more general notion of non-annular bounded combinatorics, which allows arbitrarily large Dehn-twisting, corresponds to an equivalent condition for Weil–Petersson geodesics. As an application, we show theWeil–Petersson geodesic flow has compact invariant subsets with arbitrarily large topological entropy.     

Biosensors and flow-through system for the determination of creatinine in hemodialysate

Biosensors for the determination of creatinine have been developed and integrated into a flow-through system. The sensors are based on a screen-printed three electrode transducer with a platinum working electrode. Applying the multi-enzyme sequence of creatininase (CA), creatinase (CI) and sarcosine oxidase (SO) hydrogen peroxide has been detected amperometrically. An optimal enzyme load was found to be 4.4 U/0.28 U/0.20 U (CA/CI/SO) and 0.28 U/0.20 U (CI/SO) per electrode for the creatinine sensor and for the creatine sensor, respectively. Among a variety of polymers Nafion has shown the highest efficiency to exclude interfering substances like ascorbic acid, acetaminophen and uric acid. First determinations of creatinine in dialysate samples obtained during hemodialysis treatments have shown a good correlation to the conventional methods, the Jaffé reaction (y=0.945x+ 2.8, R=0.9882, n=9) and the enzymatic photometric method (y=0.891x+3.5, R=0.9917, n=9).     

Search for the scalar top quark in pp collisions at square root[s] = 1.8 TeV

We have performed a search for scalar top quark (stop) pair production in the inclusive electron-muon-missing transverse energy final state, using a sample of pp events corresponding to 108.3 pb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at Fermilab. The search is done in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model assuming that the sneutrino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. For the dominant decays of the lightest stop, t-->b chi+1 and t-->blnu, no evidence for signal is found. We derive cross-section limits as a function of stop ( t ), chargino ( chi+1), and sneutrino ( nu) masses.     

Observed effects of a changing step-edge density on thin-film growth dynamics

We grew SrTiO(3) on SrTiO(3)(001) by pulsed laser deposition, while observing x-ray diffraction at the (00(1/2)) position. The drop DeltaI in the x-ray intensity following a laser pulse contains information about plume-surface interactions. Kinematic theory predicts DeltaI/I = -4sigma(1 - sigma), so that DeltaI /I depends only on the amount of deposited material sigma. In contrast, we observed experimentally that |DeltaI /I| < 4sigma(1 - sigma) and that DeltaI /I depends on the phase of x-ray growth oscillations. The combined results suggest a fast smoothing mechanism that depends on surface step-edge density.     

Resonant holographic interferometry for species concentration measurements with saturated anomalous dispersion

A double-exposure resonant holographic interferometry measurement technique for full-field, instantaneous species is presented. This technique utilizes tuned pulsed dye lasers, separate reference beams, and a corrective holographic optical element. The resulting interferogram fringes represent the species number density of interest with variations in the bulk refractive index due to the temperature field automatically subtracted. Expressions for relating resonant absorption with fringe shift are disclosed. The relations suggest that RHI is well suited for optically dense media and long path lengths, where absorption measurements can be difficult. A saturation related modification of the dispersion near a broadened resonant transition is described. The depopulation of the ground state due to saturation by the probe beam causes an asymmetric modification of the resonant refractive index, which when convolved over the probing beam does not affect the measured fringe shift as measured by RHI. Resonant interferometry is demonstrated as an accurate and quantitative measure of the concentration of sodium vapor in a low pressure cell. Furthermore, as a combustion diagnostic, RHI is demonstrated on a minor combustion species, OH, in a nonpremixed slot burner. PACS 33.70-w; 42.40.Kw; 82.33.Vx     

Experimental observations of a left-handed material that obeys Snell's law

We measure two-dimensional profiles of collimated microwave beams transmitted through composite wire and split-ring resonator prisms. Prior experiments suggest these structures have a negative index of refraction, though these claims have been questioned. Our 2D measurements demonstrate that transmission obeys Snell's law with a negative index, confirming the refractive nature of this signal and refuting alternatives posed in the criticisms. In addition, we present preliminary evidence that a flat rectangular slab of this material can focus power from a point source.     

Search for heavy particles decaying into electron-positron pairs in pp collisions

We present results of searches for technirho (rho(T)), techniomega (omega(T)), and Z' particles, using the decay channels rho(T),omega(T),Z'-->e(+)e(-). The search is based on 124.8 pb(-1) of data collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron during 1992-1996. In the absence of a signal, we set 95% C.L. upper limits on the cross sections for the processes pp-->rho(T),omega(T),Z'-->e(+)e(-) as a function of the mass of the decaying particle. For certain model parameters, we exclude the existence of degenerate rho(T) and omega(T) states with masses below about 200 GeV. We exclude a Z' with mass below 670 GeV, assuming that it has the same couplings to fermions as the Z boson.