Parity-violating electron deuteron scattering and the proton's neutral weak axial vector form factor

We report on a new measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering from the deuteron at backward angles at Q2=0.038 (GeV/c)2. This quantity provides a determination of the neutral weak axial vector form factor of the nucleon, which can potentially receive large electroweak corrections. The measured asymmetry A=-3.51+/-0.57 (stat)+/-0.58 (syst) ppm is consistent with theoretical predictions. We also report on updated results of the previous experiment at Q2=0.091 (GeV/c)2, which are also consistent with theoretical predictions.     

Chemisorption of carbon monoxide on platinum {111}: Reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy

Reflection-adsorption infrared spectroscopy has been combined with thermal desorption and surface stoichiometry measurements to study the structure of CO chemisorbed on a {111}- oriented platinum ribbon under uhv conditions. Desorption spectra show a single peak at coverages > 10¹⁴ molecules cm^?2, with the desorption energy decreasing with increasing coverage up to 0.4 of a monolayer, and then remaining constant at ≈135 kJ mol^?1 until saturation. The “saturation” coverage at 300 K is 7 × 10¹⁴ molecules cm^?2, and no new low temperatures state is formed after adsorption at 120 K. Infrared spectra show a single very intense, sharp band over the spectral range investigated (1500 to 2100 cm^?1), which first appears at low coverages at 2065 cm^?1 and shifts continuously with increasing coverage to 2101 cm^?1 at 7 × 10¹⁴ molecules cm^?2. The halfwidth of the band at 2101 cm^?1 is 9.0 cm^?1, independent of temperature and only slightly dependent on coverage. The band intensity does not increase uniformly with increasing coverage, and hysteresis is observed between adsorption and desorption sequences in the variation of both the band intensity and frequency as a function of coverage. The frequency shift and the virtual invariance of the absorption band halfwidt with increasing coverage (Jespite recent LEED evidence for overlayer compression in this system) are attributed to strong dipole-dipole coupling in the overlayer.     

The clean thermally induced W {001} (1 × 1) → (√2 × √2) R 45° surface structure transition and its crystallography

A (√2 × √2)R45° surface structure on W {001} produced only by cooling below ~370 K, first reported by Yonehara and Schmidt, has been investigated by LEED, AES, work function change, characteristic loss and low energy Auger fine structure measurements. No significant changes at any energy up to 520 eV occur in the standard Auger spectrum upon cooling to 220 K for as long as 30 min after a flash to >2 500 K. The work function of the (√2 × √2) R45° at 210 K is 20 ± 10 mV below that of the (1 × 1) surface, and a sensitive feature in the fine structure of the N₇VV AES transition shows approximately 60% attenuation. Unlike for H₂ adsorption, the “surface plasmon” loss peak exhibits little if any measurable attenuation and no measurable shift in energy as the crystal cools to form the (√2 × √2)R45°. The rate of intensity buildup in the $\text{1}\text{2}$-order LEED beams is strictly temperature dependent, and significant differences exist between the $\text{1}\text{2}$-order LEED spectra produced by cooling and those produced by H₂ adsorption. Only 2-fold symmetry was observed in the LEED beam intensities at exactly normal incidence, rather than 4-fold as expected for statistically equal numbers of rotationally equivalent domains. The LEED I-V spectra for 24 fractional order beams and 12 integral order beams, taken over large energy ranges at normal incidence, clearly establish that the beam intensities display 2 mm point group symmetry, and hence a preference of one domain orientation over the other. No beam broadening or splitting effects were apparent, implying only incoherent scattering from the various domains. The half-order beam spectra (±h/2, ±h/2) are identical in relative intensity to the (±h/2, ±h/2) spectra but different in absolute intensity by a constant factor, which can be explained only by domains with p2mg space group symmetry rather than just p2mm. Adsorption of H₂ onto the cooled (√2 × √2)R45° structure restores the 4-fold symmetry in the LEED beam intensities at normal incidence, giving a c(2 × 2) hydrogen structure, the same as when adsorbing H₂ onto the above room temperature (1 × 1) crystal. This strongly supports the observed p2mg symmetry as being a true property of the cooled (√2 × √2)R45° surface structure. These results show that the (1 × 1) → (√2 × √2) R45° transition produced by cooling is a transition involving displacement of surface W atoms, and that it apparently can be characterized as an order-order, second degree, homogeneous nucleation process, which is strongly prohibited by the presence of impurities or defects.     

Construction of Graded Covariant GL(m/n) Modules Using Tableaux

Irreducible covariant tensor modules for the Lie supergroups GL(m/n) and the Lie superalgebras gl(m/n) and sl(m/n) are obtained through the use of Young tableaux techniques. The starting point is the graded permutation action, first introduced by Dondi and Jarvis, on V ^l . The isomorphism between this group of actions and the symmetric group S _l enables the graded generalization of the Young symmetrizers, and hence of the column relations and Garnir relations, to be made. Consequently, corresponding to each partition of l an irreducible GL(m/n) module may be obtained as a submodule of V ^l . A basis for the module labeled by the partition is provided by GL(m/n)–standard tableaux of shape defined by Berele and Regev. The reduction of an arbitrary tableau to standard form is accomplished through the use of graded column relations and graded Garnir relations. The standardization procedure is algorithmic and allows matrix representations of the Lie superalgebras gl(m/n) and sl(m/n) to be constructed explicitly over the field of rational numbers. All the various steps of the standardization algorithm are exemplified, as well as the explicit construction of matrices representing particular elements of gl(m/n) and sl(m/n).     

A fourth-order parabolic equation modeling epitaxial thin film growth

We study the continuum model for epitaxial thin film growth from Phys. D 132 (1999) 520-542, which is known to simulate experimentally observed dynamics very well. We show existence, uniqueness and regularity of solutions in an appropriate function space, and we characterize the existence of nontrivial equilibria in terms of the size of the underlying domain. In an investigation of asymptotical behavior, we give a weak assumption under which the ω-limit set of the dynamical system consists only of steady states. In the one-dimensional setting we can characterize the set of steady states and determine its unique asymptotically stable element. The article closes with some illustrative numerical examples.     

A Faster Deterministic Maximum Flow Algorithm

Cheriyan and Hagerup developed a randomized algorithm to compute the maximum flow in a graph with n nodes and m edges in O(mn + n² log²n) expected time. The randomization is used to efficiently play a certain combinatorial game that arises during the computation. We give a version of their algorithm where a general version of their game arises. Then we give a strategy for the game that yields a deterministic algorithm for computing the maximum flow in a directed graph with n nodes and m edges that runs in time O(mn(log_{m/n log n}n)). Our algorithm gives an O(mn) deterministic algorithm for all m/n = Ω(n^ε) for any positive constant ε, and is currently the fastest deterministic algorithm for computing maximum flow as long as m/n = ω(log n).     

Density of states and charge distribution in hydrogenated amorphous silicon

The local density of states and the charge distribution in a cluster model of hydrogenated amorphous silicon is calculated using the recursion method. The results indicate an average charge transfer of 0.3 electrons from silicon to hydrogen. In addition Si-H dipoles carry small negative charges, which are neutralized by a positively charged bulk of silicon atoms. There are also static spatial charge fluctuations, which are due to the topological disorder.     

New precision limit on the strange vector form factors of the proton

The parity-violating cross-section asymmetry in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from unpolarized protons has been measured at a four-momentum transfer squared Q2 = 0.624 GeV2 and beam energy E(b) = 3.48 GeV to be A(PV) = -23.80 ± 0.78(stat) ± 0.36(syst) parts per million. This result is consistent with zero contribution of strange quarks to the combination of electric and magnetic form factors G(E)(s) + 0.517G(M)(s) = 0.003 ± 0.010(stat) ± 0.004(syst) ± 0.009(ff), where the third error is due to the limits of precision on the electromagnetic form factors and radiative corrections. With this measurement, the world data on strange contributions to nucleon form factors are seen to be consistent with zero and not more than a few percent of the proton form factors.     

Threshold photoemission spectroscopy in solids

Threshold photoemission spectroscopy (TPES) is used to measure the Fe 2p spectrum of a stainless steel sample. The obtained spectrum is compared with analogous spectra measured by X-ray photoemission and absorption spectroscopies. The results of this comparison suggest that resonant two-electron autoionization processes, rather than direct photoemission from the core level, are the main mechanisms contributing to the signal. Limits and applicability of this experimental approach to investigate bulk electronic properties in solids are discussed.     

Environmental noise – ‘Forgotten’ or ‘Ignored’ pollutant?

It has been 20 years since the European Commission adopted the Green Paper on Future Noise Policy in 1996, taking the first comprehensive step towards the development of an EU-wide noise policy. This document envisioned a directive that would harmonise methods for the assessment of environmental noise and the dissemination of information to the public. This led to the establishment of Directive 2002/49/EC in 2002 also known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END). The END called for the development of strategic noise maps and action plans across every EU Member State in five year intervals. Two phases of noise mapping and action planning have now been completed and Member States are about to embark on the third phase of noise mapping, due in 2017. Focussing on results reported to the European Commission, this study summarises the current state of noise mapping, 20 years after the publication of the Green Paper, and identifies critical needs for future noise mapping phases.