Search for ZH → l+ l- bb production in 4.2 fb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt[s] =1 .96 TeV

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a Z boson in 4.2 fb(-1) of pp collisions, collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron at sqrt[s] =1 .96 TeV. Selected events contain one reconstructed Z → e+ e- or Z → μ+ μ- candidate and at least two jets, including at least one b-tagged jet. In the absence of an excess over the background expected from other standard model processes, limits on the ZH cross section multiplied by the branching ratios are set. The limit at M(H) = 115 GeV is a factor of 5.9 larger than the standard model prediction.     

Measurement of the wrong-sign decays D0 --> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 --> K+ pi- pi+ pi-, and search for CP violation

Using 281 fb-1 of data from the Belle experiment recorded at or near the (4S) resonance, we have measured the rates of the "wrong-sign" decays D0 --> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 --> K+ pi- pi+ pi- relative to those of the Cabibbo-favored decays D0 --> K- pi+ pi0 and D0 --> K- pi+ pi+ pi-. These wrong-sign decays proceed via a doubly Cabibbo-suppressed amplitude or via D0-D0 mixing; the latter has not yet been observed. We obtain R(WS)(K pi pi0) = [0.229 +/- 0.015(stat)(+0.013)(-0.009)(syst)]% and R(WS)(K3pi) = [0.320 +/- 0.018(stat)(+0.018)(0.013)(syst)]%. The CP asymmetries are measured to be -0.006 +/- 0.053 and -0.018 +/- 0.044 for the K+ pi- pi0 and K+ pi- pi+ pi- final states, respectively.     

Using the OSL single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol with quartz extracted from building materials in retrospective dosimetry

We report on the application of the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol to the optically stimulated luminescence signal from quartz extracted from fired bricks and unfired mortar in retrospective dosimetry. The samples came from a radioactive materials storage facility, with ambient dose rates of about 0.1 mGy/h. A detailed dose-depth profile was analysed from one brick, and compared with dose records from area TL dosemeters. Small-aliquot dose-distributions were analysed from the mortar samples; one associated with the exposed brick, and one from a remote site exposed only to background radiation. We conclude that unfired materials have considerable potential in retrospective dosimetry.     

Crystallization and structural relaxation in quasicrystalline Al6CuMg4

We report here electron microscopic, differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and X-ray diffraction studies on the phase transition in Al₆CuMg₄ alloy. Structural analysis of the transformed crystalline phase suggests that some of the lattice sites, which define the vertices of triacontahedron - the basic volume element of three dimensional Penrose tiling for this system - are fractionally occupied. We also observed that the specific heat of the as grown quasicrystalline alloy reduces gradually from 1.08J/gm. K at 330K to the Dulong Petit value 0.84J/gm. K around 420K, due to structural relaxation of the quasicrystalline phase.     

Reciprocal Ontological Models Show Indeterminism Comparable to Quantum Theory

We show that within the class of ontological models due to Harrigan and Spekkens, those satisfying preparation-measurement reciprocity must allow indeterminism comparable to that in quantum theory. Our result implies that one can design quantum random number generator, for which it is impossible, even in principle, to construct a reciprocal deterministic model.     

Reduced field-of-view diffusion-weighted imaging of the brain at 7 T

Ventral and rostral regions of the brain are of emerging importance for the MRI characterization of early dementia, traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. Unfortunately, standard single-shot echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging of these regions at high fields is contaminated by severe imaging artifacts in the vicinity of air–tissue interfaces. To mitigate these artifacts and improve visualization of the temporal and frontal lobes at 7 T, we applied a reduced field-of-view strategy, enabled by outer volume suppression (OVS) with novel quadratic phase radiofrequency (RF) pulses, combined with partial Fourier and parallel imaging methods. The new acquisition greatly reduced the level of artifacts in six human subjects (including four patients with early symptoms of dementia).     

Deposition of aluminide and silicide based protective coatings on niobium

We compare aluminide and alumino-silicide composite coatings on niobium using halide activated pack cementation (HAPC) technique for improving its oxidation resistance. The coated samples are characterized by SEM, EDS, EPMA and hardness measurements. We observe formation of NbAl₃ in aluminide coating of Nb, though the alumino-silicide coating leads to formation primarily of NbSi₂ in the inner layer and a ternary compound of Nb-Si-Al in the outer layer, as reported earlier (Majumdar et al. [11]). Formation of niobium silicide is preferred over niobium aluminide during alumino-silicide coating experiments, indicating Si is more strongly bonded to Nb than Al, although equivalent quantities of aluminium and silicon powders were used in the pack chemistry. We also employ first-principles density functional pseudopotential-based calculations to calculate the relative stability of these intermediate phases and the adhesion strength of the Al/Nb and Si/Nb interfaces. NbSi₂ exhibits much stronger covalent character as compared to NbAl₃. The ideal work of adhesion for the relaxed Al/Nb and Si/Nb interfaces are calculated to be 3226 mJ/m² and 3545 mJ/m², respectively, indicating stronger Nb-Si bonding across the interface.     

Magnetism in FeNiW disordered alloys: Experiment and theory

We report here an experimental study of magnetization of FeNiW alloys at different compositions. We have studied variation of magnetization with temperature (at low external fields) and magnetic field (at low temperatures). The alloy shows para to ferromagnetic transitions across the composition range. We do not find any indication of the spin-glass phase. We have supplemented the experimental work with theoretical analysis using the first-principles tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbitals based augmented space recursion method. Our theoretical estimates of magnetic moment and Curie temperatures agree well with experiment. Our mean-field phase analysis also does not indicate the possibility of a spin-glass phase.     

Magnesium Methoxide-Assisted Synthesis of 2,4,6-Triaryl Pyridines

A new three-component reaction of chalcones, ketones, and ammonia assisted by magnesium methoxide is described. The corresponding 2,4,6-triaryl pyridines (Kröhnke pyridines) are formed in fair to good yields (34–76%) within 3 h. The method also provides a facile way to synthesize 2(6)-difluoromethyl pyridines via an interesting mechanism.