Event shapes in deep inelastic lepton-hadron scattering

The structure of hadronic final states in deep inelastic scattering expected from QCD is analyzed in terms of the shape parameters H_l and C_l. We find that the effects of the fragmentation of quarks and gluons into hadrons are typically governed by $\text{√s = [Q}{}^2\text{(1/x?1)]}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. For √s?30 GeV, the distributions of events in H₂ and C₂ should allow a test of the perturbative QCD prediction of three-jet events.     

In-out semi-classical gravity and 1N quantum gravity

Classical gravity with higher derivatives, when coupled to the in-out matrix element of T_μν: (a) appears to be free from instabilities of the in-in theory; (b) may be considered as the “underlying classical theory” to Tomboulis' $\text{1}\text{N}\text{-}\text{resummed}$ quantum gravity. I explain how these two facts may be adduced as evidence for the viability both of the former semi-classical approximation and of the latter approach to full quantum gravity.     

Non-diffractive production of meson resonances

We study the peripheral cross sections of resonances that cannot be produced by π-exchange. In particular, we concentrate on the four meson nonets expected as L = 1 quark states (i.e., the J^P = 0⁺π_N(980); J^P = 1⁺ A₁, B; J^P = 2⁺ A₂). We use SU(3), Regge poles, factorization, exchange degeneracy, pole extrapolation, and the vector-meson-photon analogy. We predict the cross sections in both photoproduction and non-diffractive hadronic reactions. In passing, we discuss the large unnatural-parity (B, K?Q_B) exchange contributions and even the possibility of studying ππ → πω while avoiding the B production background.     

(+)-Sorangicin A synthetic studies. Construction of the C(1-15) and C(16-29) subtargets

[structure: see text] Effective stereocontrolled syntheses of subtargets (-)-2 and (-)-4, comprising respectively the C(16-29) and C(1-15) tetrahydropyran and dihydropyran moieties of the potent antibiotic (+)-sorangicin A (1), have been achieved. The cornerstone for the synthesis of (-)-2 involved an aldol tactic exploiting 1,4-induction, followed in turn by an acid-mediated cyclization/ketalization and hydrosilane reduction promoted by TMSOTf, while construction of (-)-4 entailed a stereoselective conjugate addition/alpha-oxygenation sequence.     

Quantum information and triangular optical lattices

The regular structures obtained by optical lattice technology and their behavior are analyzed from the quantum information perspective. Initially, we demonstrate that a triangular optical lattice of two atomic species, bosonic or fermionic, can be employed to generate a variety of novel spin-1/2 models that include effective three-spin interactions. Such interactions can be employed to simulate specific one-or two-dimensional physical systems that are of particular interest for their condensed matter and entanglement properties. In particular, connections between the scaling behavior of entanglement and the entanglement properties of closely spaced spins are drawn. Moreover, three-spin interactions are well suited to support quantum computing without the need to manipulate individual qubits. By employing Raman transitions or the interaction of the atomic electric dipole moment with magnetic field gradients, one can generate Hamiltonians that can be used for the physical implementation of geometric or topological objects. This work serves as a review article that also includes many new results.     

Laser-induced fluorescence measurement of the ion-energy-distribution function in a collisionless reconnection experiment

Observations in space and laboratory plasmas suggest magnetic reconnection as a mechanism for ion heating and formation of non-Maxwellian ion velocity distribution functions (IVDF). Laser-induced fluorescence measurements of the IVDF parallel to the X line of a periodically driven reconnection experiment are presented. A time-resolved analysis yields the evolution of the IVDF within a reconnection cycle. It is shown that reconnection causes a strong increase of the ion temperature, where the strongest increase is found at the maximum reconnection rate. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that ion heating is a consequence of the in-plane electric field that forms around the X line in response to reconnection.     

Dynamics of coherent and incoherent spin polarizations in ensembles of quantum dots

The temperature dependence of spin coherence in InGaAs quantum dots is obtained from quantum beats observed in polarization-resolved pump-probe experiments. Within the same sample we clearly distinguish between coherent spin dynamics leading to quantum beats and incoherent long-lived spin-memory effects. Analysis of the coherent data using a theoretical model reveals approximately 10 times greater stability of the spin coherence at high temperature compared to that found previously for exciton states in four-wave-mixing experiments by Borri et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 157401 (2001)]]. The data on incoherent polarization reveal a new form of spin memory based on charged quantum dots.     

Shock-wave velocity of a femtosecond-laser-produced plasma

Fluorescence measurements have been used to characterize the velocity of atoms in a femtosecond-laser-produced plasma. Nanogram amounts of a copper sample were ablated by the focused radiation (λ=775 nm) of an all-solid-state laser. The laser was operated at a pulse rate of 10 Hz with an energy of 200μJ per pulse. The microplasma expanded into a defined argon atmosphere of pressures between 0.02 and 850 mbar. Atomic fluorescence was excited in the laser plume by a dye-laser pulse with the wavelength set to the line Cu I 282.4 nm. The narrowed beam of the dye-laser was directed into the plasma at different heights above the sample surface. The fluorescence radiation was measured with an échelle-spectrometer, equipped with an intensified-charge-coupled device as the detector. The velocity depends strongly on the pressure of the ambient atmosphere and the distance from the sample surface. The highest velocity found at an argon pressure of 0.02 mbar was 1.0×10⁶ cm s⁻¹.     

Microcionamides A and B, bioactive peptides from the philippine sponge Clathria (Thalysias) abietina

Microcionamides A (1) and B (2) have been isolated from the Philippine marine sponge Clathria (Thalysias) abietina. These new linear peptides are cyclized via a cystine moiety and have their C-terminus blocked by a 2-phenylethylenamine group. Their total structures, including absolute stereochemistry, were determined by a combination of spectral and chemical methods. Compound 1 was shown to slowly isomerize about the C-36/C-37 double bond when stored in DMSO. Microcionamides A (1) and B (2) exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the human breast tumor cells lines MCF-7 and SKBR-3 and displayed inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Ra.     

A novel and highly efficient synthetic route to unsymmetrical organoselenides using cesium bases

A new and convenient one-pot method for the preparation of unsymmetrical selenides has been developed. In the presence of cesium hydroxide, molecular sieves, and DMF, benzeneselenol undergoes direct alkylation with various alkyl halides for the synthesis of alkyl phenyl selenides in moderate to excellent yields. Another method to prepare unsymmetrical organoselenides was also completed by coupling terminal alkynes with benzeneselenyl bromide. As an application, the synthesis of a selenopeptide was also accomplished. Furthermore, this methodology was extended to the synthesis of an organoselenide on solid support.