The role of strange sea quarks on neutrino-nucleus reactions in Superkamiokande and in the supernova r-process

We study the influence of a strange axial vector form factor G_s of the nucleon on the neutrino-induced proton and neutron knockout of ¹⁶O. In particular, we calculate how much G_s≠0 might affect the recently proposed signal for supernova ν_μ and ν_τ neutrinos in the Superkamiokande detector. We discuss whether Superkamiokande might be able to determine the value of G_s in a hypothetical neutrino-beam experiment. Finally we comment on the possible effect G_s≠0 might have on neutrino-nucleus cross sections in the neutrino-driven wind model for the nuclear r-process. Received: 30 April 1998 / Revised version: 10 August 1998     

Towards an universal classification of scale invariant processes

We consider fields which take random values over several decades. Starting from physical examples, we postulate that scale is not an absolute quantity. We then establish the equivalence between two existing approaches based on scale symmetry arguments as general as possible. This yields a classification of log-infinitely divisible laws, possibly universal. The physical significance of the parameters entering in the classification is discussed. Received: 7 November 1997 / Received in final form: 26 March 1998 / Accepted: 30 March 1998     

Response of a YBaCuO/MgO bolometer structure at high levels of laser excitation. Nonlinear model and experiment

A nonlinear model is developed for the photoresponse of a bolometric structure taking into account the temperature dependences of the thermal constants of the YBaCuO/MgO structure and its boundary thermal resistance. The model also allows for the specific form of the currentvoltage characteristic of YBaCuO and the heat release from the transport current flow. A comparison between the experimental data and the model showed that the nonlinear thermal model accurately describes the temporal characteristics of the photoresponse. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 191–194 (February 1998)     

Rotational Motion of a Solute Molecule in a Highly Viscous Liquid Studied byC NMR: 1,3-Dibromoadamantane in Polymeric Chlorotrifluoroethene

The viscosity-dependent retarding effect of a polymeric solvent on the rotation of small solute molecules is investigated by¹³C NMR relaxation measurements. It is found that the relaxation data of 1,3-dibromoadamantane in highly viscous polymeric chlorotrifluoroethene can be explained neither by isotropic nor by realistic anisotropic tumbling in a single environment. The experimental data are rationalized in terms of fast exchange between at least two environments with correlation times differing by up to two orders of magnitude. The study shows that a uniform retardation of molecular tumbling by a polymeric solvent, desirable for shifting the NMR observation window in studies of intramolecular mobility, is not always feasible.     

The surface electronic structure of Ag8Au4 superlattice

We present the calculations of electronic structure and photoemission spectra for a lattice-matched Ag-Au(111) superlattice. The selfconsistent band structure exhibits a superlattice gap at about 1 eV below the Fermi level. A surface state is found in this gap and its dispersion properties are investigated. Its energy location is varied with location of surface terminating plane within the superlattice period. The calculated normal photoemission spectra explain well available experimental data.     

Coherent backscattering of electromagnetic waves in a magnetised plasma

Summary A microwave coherent backscattering experiment has been carried out on Mirabelle, a weakly ionised plasma device, with the objective of measuring the electron density fluctuation level. The experiment is a preliminary step in order to prepare the detection system for a microwave stimulated backscattering experiment. The incident electromagnetic wave is focused in front of a plane grid which excites ion acoustic or electron Bernstein waves inducing fluctuations in the plasma. The backscattering signal is collected by the launching circuit and detected by homodyne mixing. The typical ratio of the scattered power to the incident power is about 10⁻¹² and the relative density fluctuations are of the order of δn _e/n _e=10⁻³ against a background electron density ofn _e=1–5·10⁹ cm⁻³. The backscattering measurement is compared with Langmuir probe measurements. The spectral width of the backscattered signal has also been studied, by taking into account effects due to the incident wave focusing and plasma wave damping. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction     

Fluctuation kinetics of diffusion-controlled processes: Strong effects due to correlations and fluctuations

We summarize some recent results related to fluctuation-induced kinetics of diffusion-controlled processes. We show that kinetic behavior can be drastically changed due to fluctuation effects, spatial correlations between particles, and anomalous transport properties. In addition, we show that correlation-induced kinetics in some systems can govern the temporal evolution over the entire time domain.     

Newtonian limits of warp drive spacetimes

We find a class of warp drive spacetimes possessing Newtonian limits, which we then determine. The same method is used to compute Newtonian limits of the Schwarzschild solution and spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological models. This work was partially supported by FCT/POCTI/FEDER.     

Superluminal Signals and the Resolution of the Causal Paradox

The experimental evidence for electromagnetic signals propagating with superluminal group velocity is recalled. Transformations of space and time depending on a synchronization parameter, e₁, indicate the existence of a privileged inertial system. The Lorentz transformations are obtained for a particular e₁≠0. No standard experiment on relativity depends on e₁, but if accelerations are considered only e₁=0 remains possible. The causal paradox generated by superluminal signals (SLS) in the theory of relativity does not exist in the theory with e₁=0. The irrelevance of SLS for the Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen paradox is pointed out.     

Experimental high-gain quantum-injected optical parametric amplification and multiphoton phase-covariant cloning

We investigate multiphoton states generated by high-gain optical parametric amplification of a single injected photon—polarization encoded as a qubit. The experimental configuration exploits the optimal phase-covariant cloning. The output state of the apparatus is found to exhibit the quantum superposition property of mesoscopic multiphoton assemblies involving about 300 photons. This work represents an experimental advance toward the test of several fundamental quantum processes in mesoscopic or macroscopic frameworks.