Charged particle spectra in16O induced nuclear collisions at the CERN SPS

Charged particle multiplicity distributions and pseudo-rapidity density distributions from¹⁶O induced nuclear collisions at 200 and 60A GeV are presented. The data were taken, using a minimumbias trigger, with the WA80 set-up at the CERN SPS. In this presentation we focus on how the yield of charged particles depends on the projectile energy, the mass number of the target nucleus and the energy measured in a uranium-plastic sampling calorimeter covering angles close to zero degrees. The data are compared to simulations from the event generator FRITIOF.     

Micromegas prototypes with thermo-bond film separators

In this paper we report the results of Micromegas prototypes constructed by attaching micromesh to an anode using thermo-bond films. The excellent metal attaching ability and good dielectical property of this kind of film make it a promising material to be used as avalanche gap spacers. Several prototypes are successfully made. The electron transmission properties are first studied and then the gas gain is measured in argon-isobutane mixtures. The maximum gain of more than 10⁴ is easily obtained. The energy resolutions for ⁵⁵Fe 5.9 keV K_α ray can be better than 20% over one magnitude in gain for different operational gas mixtures and the best energy resolution of 13.7% (FWHM) can be achieved with the gas mixture of 94% argon concentration. The preliminary test results of the prototypes with sensitive area of 45 mm×45 mm without internal support show good uniformity across the sensitive area.     

ConFlo III - an interface for high precision delta(13)C and delta(15)N analysis with an extended dynamic range

A newly developed interface coupling a CHN combustion device (elemental analyser 'EA') to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer is described and evaluated. The purpose of the device is to extend the dynamic range of delta(13)C and delta(15)N analysis from less than 2 orders of magnitude to more than 3 orders of magnitude. Carbon isotope ratio measurements of atropine as a model compound have been performed analysing between 1 μg to 5 mg C with acceptable to excellent precision (0.6 to 0.06 per thousand, delta-notation). The correction due to the blank signal is critical for sample amounts smaller than 4 μg C. The maximum sample weight is determined by the combustion capacity of the EA. Larger sample amounts are measured using dilution of a small part of the EA effluent with helium. The dilution mechanism works virtually free of isotope fractionation. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A collaboration into research on nanoparticles (ACORN)

This paper describes the operation and outcome of one of the United Kingdom's largest multi-partner research activities in nanoparticles.The research covers the discovery and development of organic and inorganic crystals/nanoparticles,nanoparticle properties towards specific product applications,The research also encompassed bespoke measurement technology for nanoparticles and structure interactions.Significant research outcomes are summarised.The paper illustrates the advantages from industrially motivated research and value of collective action between a broad group of researchers in a nation.     

Phase-field modeling of void evolution and swelling in materials under irradiation

Void swelling is an important phenomenon observed in both nuclear fuels and cladding materials in operating nuclear reactors. In this work we develop a phase-field model to simulate void evolution and void volume change in irradiated materials. Important material processes, including the generation of defects such as vacancies and self-interstitials, their diffusion and annihilation, and void nucleation and evolution, have been taken into account in this model. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties, such...     

Bose-Einstein correlations in neutrino and antineutrino interactions in deuterium

Bose-Einstein correlations between pions of equal charge have been observed in Charged Current and Neutral Current (anti)neutrino-deuterium interactions in the BEBC bubble chamber exposed to the SPS wide band beam. The pion emission region is found to be essentially spherical with a mean radius of (0.48±0.07) fm; the chaoticity parameter is 0.36±0.04.     

High transverse momentumη production in π− p, π+ p,andpp interactions at 280 GeV/c

The inclusive cross sections for η production by the interactions of 280 GeV/c momentum π^?, π⁺, and proton beams in hydrogen have been measured. The kinematical range covered is ?0.45<x _F <0.45, and 4.0<P _T <7.0 GeV/c for Feynmanx _F and transverse momentum respectively. The η to π⁰ cross section ratios are given for the three reactions. The ratio of π^? p to π⁺ p cross sections for η production in the above kinematic ranges is 1.22±0.08±0.11.     

A study of the centrally producedK *0 K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} final state in the reactionpp→p f (K + K -π+π-)p s at 300 GeV/c

The reactionpp→p _f (K ⁺ K ^-π⁺π^-)p _s , where theK ⁺ K ^? π⁺π^- system is centrally produced, has been studied at 300 GeV/c. TheK ^*0 \(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state has been observed and the cross sections for its central production are found to be the same at 300 and 85 GeV/c. TheK ^*0 \(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state appears to be produced as a non-resonant threshold enhancement.     

Measurement of the structure functionsF 2 andxF 3 and comparison with QCD predictions including kinematical and dynamical higher twist effects

The isoscalar nucleon structure functionsF ₂(x, Q ²) andxF ₃(x, Q ²) are measured in the range 0<Q ²<64 GeV², 1.7<W ²<250 GeV²,x<0.7 using ν and \(\bar v\) interactions on neon in BEBC. The data are used to evaluate possible higher twist contributions and to determine their impact on the evaluation of the QCD parameter Λ. In contrast to previous analyses reaching to such lowW ² values, it is found that a low \(\Lambda _{\overline {MS} } \) value in the neighbourhood of 100 MeV describes the data adequately and that the contribution of dynamical higher twist effects is small and negative.     

A measurement of $K^{*\pm}$ production in the hyperon beam experiment at CERN

We report on a measurement of the differential cross sections of inclusive production in and neutron beams. A strong leading particle effect was observed for production by . The measured –distributions are compared with calculations based on the Lund model (PYTHIA) and the quark-gluon string model. Received: 6 August 2001 / Revised version: 3 September 2001 / Published online: 5 October 2001