The nonlinear effects of quantum electrodynamics at high energies

In this paper we considere ⁺ e ^? scattering with intermediate photon-photon scattering as a possibility for getting information about the nonlinear effects of quantum electrodynamics (QED) at high energies. This process is a higher-order correction to double bremsstrahlung. However, these two processes have quite different behaviour with the photon-photon scattering angle. Here we calculate the unpolarized differential cross section of thee ⁺ e ^? scattering with intermediate γγ scattering and also the interference terms with the double bremsstrahlung. Moreover, we show that the sum of these two contributions predominates over the contribution of the double bremsstrahlung for sufficiently large scattering angles of the photons. This result enables us to extract the differential cross section of the γγ scattering. Through extrapolation to different kinematical conditions we can get the cross sections for nearly real photon-photon scattering, photon splitting and Delbrück scattering. As a quantitative example we use the result for a test of the electron propagator in a gauge-invariant way with the usual minimal interaction. We give also numerical examples of this test, which will improve the present values of the testing parameters.     

The phase composition of tin-nickel electrodeposited alloys

It was studied the tin phase composition of the electrodeposited alloys produced at different temperatures and current densities from an acid chloride/fluoride electrolyte and an acid chloride bath. Mössbauer spectra were consistent with a Ni₃Sn₄ intermetallic compound, dissolved tin, and a Cu?Sn intermetallic compound formed at the interface of the copper substrate.     

Optical properties of F.I.R. metallic grids: Reflection phase shift measurements

Utilization of metallic grids stacks for F.I.R filters needs a good knowledge of optical properties of each grid. We study here an experimental method in order to determine the wave's change of phase by reflection on a wire grid. We use a Perot-Fabry interferometer constituted by these grids.     

Observation of a new metastable liquid-crystalline phase in supercooled blue phase systems

A new metastable liquid-crystalline phase BPS was observed in pure chiral compounds. The BPS is transformed reversibly from the supercooled BPI and is thermodynamically stable with respect to the BPI and metastable to the cholesteric phase. Rhombic single crystals of the BPS probably indicate a cubic lattice structure as in other BPs, but the lattice constant exhibits an anomalous temperature dependence.     

The vertex-cover polynomial of a graph

In this paper we define the vertex-cover polynomial Ψ(G,τ) for a graph G. The coefficient of τ^r in this polynomial is the number of vertex covers V′ of G with |V′|=r. We develop a method to calculate Ψ(G,τ). Motivated by a problem in biological systematics, we also consider the mappings f from {1, 2,…,m} into the vertex set V(G) of a graph G, subject to f⁻¹(x)f⁻¹(y)≠ for every edge xy in G. Let F(G,m) be the number of such mappings f. We show that F(G,m) can be determined from Ψ(G,τ).     

μSR at new accelerators

In this paper I speculate upon the potential of muon spin rotation/relaxation/resonance (μSR) for future refinement and/or exploitation at large accelerators like KAON, which might generate muon beams a hundred times more intense than today's best. Several schemes for efficient utilisation of such beams might be well worth implementing on existing muon channels. Work supported by NRC and NSERC.     

Experiments on the interaction of current channels in a laboratoryplasma: relaxation to the force-free state

A series of experiments on the dynamic interaction of two current channels has been performed in the large plasma device, a laboratory device at UCLA. The two current channels are formed by coating the cathode source nonuniformly and then biasing it with respect to an anode 10 m away. The experiment consists of two phases, one in which a net current is drawn through the plasma, and one in which the net current is zero. The current channels twist about each other, merge, and evolve toward a force-free state when a net current is drawn through the plasma. When the net current is zero the interaction between the channels is greatly reduced. The dynamics of the system are dominated by electron pressure and associated electrostatic fields. However, as the currents twist, a small amount of magnetic helicity is generated. The helicity and its temporal rate of change are computed and found to compare within experimental uncertainty to the predicted rate