On energy densities reached in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN SPS

We present a few estimates of energy densities reached in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN SPS. The estimates are based on data and models of proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus interactions. In all of these estimates the maximum energy density in central Pb+Pb interactions is larger than the critical energy density GeV/fm³ following from lattice gauge theory computations. In estimates which we consider as realistic the maximum energy density is about . In this way our analysis gives some support to claims that deconfined matter has been produced at the CERN SPS. Any definite statement requires a deeper understanding of formation times of partons and hadrons in nuclear collisions. We also compare our results with implicit energy estimates contained in earlier models of anomalous suppression in nuclear collisions. Received: 3 February 2003 / Revised version: 5 March 2003 / Published online: 5 May 2003     

Search for supersymmetric particles in light gravitino scenarios and sleptons NLSP

A search for sleptons, neutralinos, charginos, sgoldstinos and heavy stable charged sleptons in the context of scenarios where the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino, is presented. Data collected during 2000 with the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies from 204 to 208 GeV were analysed and combined with all the data collected from 1995 to 1999 at lower energies. No evidence for the production of sleptons, neutralinos and charginos has been found, therefore new limits on the mass of these supersymmetric particles and on the model parameter space are set. The search for heavy stable charged sleptons also updates the stable sleptons mass limit. The absence of evidence for sgoldstino production allows limits to be set on its mass and on the scale of supersymmetry breaking. Received: 6 November 2002 / Published online: 14 February 2003     

Deformed coherent and squeezed states of multiparticle processes

Deformed squeezed states are introduced as the q-analogues of the conventional undeformed harmonic oscillator algebra squeezed states. It is shown that the boundary vectors in the matrix-product states approach to multiparticle diffusion processes are deformed coherent or squeezed states of a deformed harmonic oscillator algebra. A deformed squeezed and coherent-states solution to the n-species stochastic diffusion boundary problem is proposed and studied.Received: 31 January 2003, Published online: 10 October 2003     

Statistical hadronization and hadronic microcanonical ensemble I

We present a full treatment of the microcanonical ensemble of the ideal hadron-resonance gas starting from a quantum-mechanical formulation which is appropriate for the statistical model of hadronization. By using a suitable transition operator for hadronization we are able to recover the results of the statistical theory, particularly the expressions of the rates of different channels. Explicit formulae are obtained for the phase space volume or density of states of the ideal relativistic gas in quantum statistics as a cluster decomposition, generalizing previous ones in the literature. The problem of the computation of averages in the hadron gas microcanonical ensemble and the comparison with canonical ones will be the main subject of a forthcoming second paper.Received: 8 July 2003, Revised: 17 October 2003, Published online: 5 May 2004     

Pyroelectric effect in lead-magnoniobate-based solid solutions

A coordinated study of the dielectric, electrostriction, and pyroelectric properties of the lead-magnoniobate-based ceramic solid solutions 0.9PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃-0.1PbTiO₃ and 0.55PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃-0.45PbSc_1/2Nb_1/2O₃ conducted at the relaxor transition temperatures is reported. Electromechanical coupling stimulated by the giant electrostriction effect is shown to play an essential part in the pyroelectric effect.     

Chaos-controlling technique for suppressing self-modulation in backward-wave tubes

A method for suppressing self-modulation in backward-wave tubes is proposed. Additional delay is introduced into the feedback circuit, owing to which the output signal amplitude affects the electron beam current that enters into the interaction space. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the operating current in the single-frequency oscillation mode may be increased roughly twofold.     

Influence of the Interaction between Two Neighboring Periodically Curved Fibers on the Stress Distribution in a Composite Material

A method is developed for a stress analysis in an infinite elastic body containing two neighboring periodically cophasaly curved fibers located along two parallel lines. The stress distribution is studied when the body is loaded at infinity by uniformly distributed normal forces in the fiber direction. The investigation is carried out within the framework of a piecewise homogeneous body model with the use of exact three-dimensional equations of elasticity theory. Numerical results related to the stress distribution considered and the influence of interaction between the fibers on this distribution are given.     

Variety of LaSrMnO structures induced by growth conditions and laser irradiation

Crystallographic phase transitions in perovskite-like LaSrMnO metallic oxides are studied. The transitions are induced when internal stresses generated during film synthesis (at temperatures between 450 and 730°C) vary (decrease or increase) upon subsequent irradiation by a KrF laser emitting in the UV range. As the synthesis temperature T _s grows, the rhombohedral-to-orthorhombic phase transition occurs at 650–670°C. The resistivity is shown to be either temperature-independent, ρ(T)=const, at T<T _crit, or varies and reaches a maximum, ρ(T)=ρ_max, at the Curie temperature T _c. Optical transmission spectra taken at photon energies ℏω=0.5–2.5 eV exhibit both a high (0.8–0.9) and low (0.1–0.3) transmission coefficient t, depending on the synthesis temperature. As follows from X-ray diffraction data, the laser irradiation causes a phase transition only in LaSrMnO films grown at T _s<650°C. Phases of different size scales appear: the long-range-order orthorhombic matrix and mesoscopic-range-order rhombohedral clusters are observed in the films grown at T _s=450–550°C and the rhombohedral matrix with orthorhombic clusters, in the films grown at T _s=550–650°C.