Search for doubly charged Higgs bosons decaying to dileptons in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for doubly charged Higgs bosons (H+/-+/-) decaying to dileptons (ll(')) using approximately 240 pb(-1) of pp collision data collected by the CDF II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. In our search region, given by same-sign ll(') mass m(ll('))>80 GeV/c(2) (100 GeV/c(2) for ee channel), we observe no evidence for H+/-+/- production. We set limits on sigma(pp -->H++H---->l(+)l('+)l(-)l('-)) as a function of the mass of the H+/-+/- and the chirality of its couplings. Assuming exclusive same-sign dilepton decays, we derive lower mass limits on H(+/-+/-)(L) of 133, 136, and 115 GeV/c(2) in the ee, mumu, and emu channels, respectively, and a lower mass limit of 113 GeV/c(2) on H(+/-+/-)(R) in the mumu channel, all at the 95% confidence level.     

The holomorphic flow of the Riemann zeta function

The flow of the Riemann zeta function, , is considered, and phase portraits are presented. Attention is given to the characterization of the flow lines in the neighborhood of the first 500 zeros on the critical line. All of these zeros are foci. The majority are sources, but in a small proportion of exceptional cases the zero is a sink. To produce these portraits, the zeta function was evaluated numerically to 12 decimal places, in the region of interest, using the Chebyshev method and using Mathematica.

The phase diagrams suggest new analytic properties of zeta, of which some are proved and others are given in the form of conjectures.

     

Motion and rotation of small glissile dislocation loops in stress fields

We derive here for the first time the equations that describe the combined motion and rotation of small prismatic dislocation loops in stress fields. When the applied torque is balanced by the self-torque of the loop, we show how the solution can be obtained for the loop orientation, and how this orientation affects the glide force on the loop.     

Search for pair production of scalar top quarks in R-parity violating decay modes in pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV

We present the results of a search for pair production of scalar top quarks (t(1)) in an R-parity violating supersymmetry scenario in 106 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. In this mode each t(1) decays into a tau lepton and a b quark. We search for events with two tau's, one decaying leptonically (e or mu) and one decaying hadronically, and two jets. No candidate events pass our final selection criteria. We set a 95% confidence level lower limit on the t(1) mass at 122 GeV/c(2) for Br(t(1)-->tau b)=1.     

Measurement of prompt charm meson production cross sections in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV

We report on measurements of differential cross sections dsigma/dp(T) for prompt charm meson production in ppmacr; collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV using 5.8+/-0.3 pb(-1) of data from the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The data are collected with a new trigger that is sensitive to the long lifetime of hadrons containing heavy flavor. The charm meson cross sections are measured in the central rapidity region |y|K-pi(+), D(*+)-->D0pi(+), D+-->K-pi(+)pi(+), D(+)(s)-->phipi(+), and their charge conjugates. The measured cross sections are compared to theoretical calculations.     

First measurement of the ratio B(t --> Wb)/B(t --> Wq) and associated limit on the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa element /V(tb)/

We present the first measurement of the ratio of branching fractions R identical withB(t-->Wb)/B(t-->Wq) from p_p collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV. The data set corresponds to 109 pb(-1) of data recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab during the 1992-95 Tevatron run. We measure R = 0.94(+0.31)(-0.24)(stat+syst) or R>0.61 (0.56) at 90% (95)% C.L., in agreement with the standard model predictions. This measurement yields a limit on the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix element /V(tb)/ under the assumption of three generations and unitarity.     

Measurement of d sigma/dM and forward-backward charge asymmetry for high-mass Drell-Yan e(+)e(-) pairs from pp macro collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV

We report on a measurement of the mass dependence of the forward-backward charge asymmetry, A(FB), and production cross section d sigma/dM for e(+)e(-) pairs with mass M(ee)>40 GeV/c(2). The data sample consists of 108 pb(-1) of pp macro collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV taken by the Collider Detector at Fermilab during 1992-1995. The measured asymmetry and d sigma/dM are compared with the predictions of the standard model and a model with an extra Z' gauge boson.     

Novel microscopic mechanism of intermixing during growth on soft metallic substrates

Generic computer simulations using empiric interatomic potentials suggest a new, collective mechanism that could be responsible for mixing at heteroepitaxial interfaces. Even if single adsorbate atoms diffuse by hopping on the substrate surface and do not mix at the terraces, two-dimensional islands formed by nucleation may become unstable above a certain critical size and explode upwards forming clusters of several atomic layers. This process is accompanied by strong distortions of the underlying atomic layers, and on soft materials it can result in surface etching and incorporation of substrate atoms into the islands.     

Deformations and dilations of chaotic billiards: dissipation rate, and quasiorthogonality of the boundary wave functions

We consider chaotic billiards in d dimensions, and study the matrix elements M(nm) corresponding to general deformations of the boundary. We analyze the dependence of |M(nm)|(2) on omega = (E(n)-E(m))/Planck's over 2pi using semiclassical considerations. This relates to an estimate of the energy dissipation rate when the deformation is periodic at frequency omega. We show that, for dilations and translations of the boundary, |M(nm)|(2) vanishes like omega(4) as omega-->0, for rotations such as omega(2), whereas for generic deformations it goes to a constant. Such special cases lead to quasiorthogonality of the eigenstates on the boundary.     

Blackett Memorial Lecture Air safety: end of the golden age?

First-World aviation has become so safe that a passenger who takes a domestic jet flight every day would, on average, go 36?000 years before succumbing to a fatal crash. But certain aerial dangers that were practically absent from the First World in the 1990s might be poised for a resurgence. (Among these hazards are terrorism, mid-air collisions, and ground collisions.) We explore recent data about the mortality risk of air travel, and discuss the prospects for the years ahead.