Formation and stability of Al-Mn quasicrystalline thin films prepared by high temperature successive deposition

This article reviews the results on the formation of i-QC thin films prepared by high-temperature successive deposition in the Al-Mn system and the metastable quasicrystalline Al₄Mn and crystalline Al₆Mn phase transformation in detail. Experimental evidence is given for the location of the solid-phase reaction. New data concerning the effects of preparation parameters (temperature, Mn deposition rate, composition) on the formation processes are reported. The phase formation and transformation processes are described by the combination of thermodynamic and kinetic factors.     

II: PROPERTIES OF DIATOMIC AND TRIATOMIC MOLECULES

Results are presented from a theoretical study of the × ⁶Σ⁺, A ⁶Σ⁺ and ⁶Δ electronic states of CrH using multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory in the multi-state formalism (MS-CASPT2). It is shown that the results for the spectroscopic constants and radiative lifetimes for the A state are in agreement with experiment and an earlier multireference configuration interaction study only if the two close lying × and A states are allowed to interact at a level of approximation that includes dynamic correlation.     

Optimal allocation of MRI scan capacity among competing hospital departments

We consider an MRI scanning facility run by a Radiology department. Several hospital departments compete for capacity and have private information regarding their demand for scans. The fairness of the capacity allocation by the Radiology department depends on the quality of the information provided by the hospital departments. We employ a generic Bayesian game approach that stimulates the disclosure of true demand (truth-telling), so that capacity can be allocated fairly. We derive conditions under which truth-telling is a Bayesian Nash equilibrium. The usefulness of the approach is illustrated with a numerical example.     

Robust dynamic cooperative games

Classical cooperative game theory is no longer a suitable tool for those situations where the values of coalitions are not known with certainty. We consider a dynamic context where at each point in time the coalitional values are unknown but bounded by a polyhedron. However, the average value of each coalition in the long run is known with certainty. We design “robust” allocation rules for this context, which are allocation rules that keep the coalition excess bounded while guaranteeing each player a certain average allocation (over time). We also present a joint replenishment application to motivate our model. We thank two anonymous referees for their valuable comments.     

Testing statistical significance of multivariate time series analysis techniques for epileptic seizure prediction

Nonlinear time series analysis techniques have been proposed to detect changes in the electroencephalography dynamics prior to epileptic seizures. Their applicability in practice to predict seizure onsets is hampered by the present lack of generally accepted standards to assess their performance. We propose an analytic approach to judge the prediction performance of multivariate seizure prediction methods. Statistical tests are introduced to assess patient individual results, taking into account that prediction methods are applied to multiple time series and several seizures. Their performance is illustrated utilizing a bivariate seizure prediction method based on synchronization theory.     

A study of the reaction p + p → p + p + X at ISR energies

We have performed an experiment to investigate the reaction p + p → p₁ + p₂ + X at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR). The dependence of the cross-section on the mass and rapidity of the system X, and on the momentum transfer squared t₁, t₂ to the outgoing protons is studied. We observe signals for the production of ?, ω, f, and A₂ mesons in the missing-mass spectra, and conclusions are made about the contribution of double-Pomeron exchange.     

Shell-model calculations with an adjusted surface-delta interaction (I) application to spectroscopic factors inA=24–28 nuclei

Shell-model calculations have been performed for positive-parity levels of theA=24–28,T≦3/2 nuclei in a 1d _5/22s _1/21d _3/2 configuration space. The space, for each (A, J, T) set, was restricted such that only mixing of less than about 300 low-lying pure configurations was allowed. An effective interaction (MSDI) was used of which the parameters have been determined by a fit of the calculated energies to the experimental values. This resulted in an averaged deviation of 0.52 MeV for 67 fitted levels. Spectroscopic factors have been calculated with the derived wave functions. In order to obtain better agreement for the energies, all of the 63 two-body matrix elements and three single-particle energies were adjusted systematically. The wave functions derived from this adjusted set of matrix elements denoted by ASDI yield considerably better spectroscopic factors. For comparison, the spectroscopic factors have also been calculated in a 1d _5/22s _1/2 model space. The omission of the 1d _3/2 subshell was found to result in a substantially poorer agreement for the spectroscopic factors for 1d _5/2 and 2s _1/2 transfer.     

Shell-model calculations inA=28–32 nuclei

Shell-model calculations for positive-parity levels of A=28–32 nuclei have been performed in a 1d_5/2 2s_1/2 1d_3/2 configuration space. Configuration mixing of at most 250 lowest-lying pure configurations for each (A, J, T) set was taken into account. By a variation of the four effective interaction (MSDI) parameters and three single-particle energies a search was made for the best fit of the calculated energies to the experimental values. The average deviation between theory and experiment for the energies of the 110 fitted levels is 0.44 MeV. By adjusting all the 63 two-body matrix elements (ASDI) and the three single-particle energies, the average deviation of the binding energies was reduced to 0.16 MeV. For the lowest 10–15 levels in all A=28–32 nuclei a one to one correspondence exists between theory and experiment. Electromagnetic transition strengths were calculated both with MSDI and with ASDI wave functions. The ASDI wave functions reproduce the experimental E2 data much better than the MSDI wave functions. For the M1 transition strengths only a minor improvement has been achieved.     

Correlations between two identified charged hadrons at the CERN ISR

We have measured the value of the correlation R(h₁, h₂) between two identified charged hadrons $\text{(}\text{h}\text{= π}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{,}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{,}\text{p or}\text{p}\text{?}\text{)}$ produced in pp collisions at the CERN ISR. One hardon was produced in the forward direction and the other at a large angle. Quantum number dependent effects have been observed.