Search for CP violation in the decay B0-->D*+/-D-/+

We report a search for CP-violating asymmetry in B0-->D(*+/-)D-/+ decays. The analysis employs two methods of B0 reconstruction: full and partial. In the full reconstruction method all daughter particles of the B0 are required to be detected; the partial reconstruction technique requires a fully reconstructed D- and only a slow pion from the D(*+)-->D0pi(+)(slow) decay. From a fit to the distribution of the time interval corresponding to the distance between two B meson decay points we calculate the CP-violating parameters and find the significance of nonzero CP asymmetry to be 2.7 standard deviations.     

Observation of radiative B-->phi K gamma decays

The radiative decay B-->phi K gamma is observed for the first time. The branching fraction for the charged B--->phi K- gamma decay mode is measured to be B(B--->phi K- gamma)=(3.4+/-0.9+/-0.4)x10(-6). The photon energy distribution for the B--->phi K- gamma decay is presented. The signal for the neutral B(0)-->phi K(0)gamma decay mode is not statistically significant and an upper limit, B(B(0)-->phi K(0)gamma)<8.3x10(-6) at 90% C.L., is set. The analysis is based on a data set of 90 fb(-1) collected by the Belle experiment at the e(+)e(-) asymmetric collider KEKB.     

Mortar element methods for parabolic problems

In this article a standard mortar finite element method and a mortar element method with Lagrange multiplier are used for spatial discretization of a class of parabolic initial‐boundary value problems. Optimal error estimates in L^∞(L²) and L^∞(H¹)‐norms for semidiscrete methods for both the cases are established. The key feature that we have adopted here is to introduce a modified elliptic projection. In the standard mortar element method, a completely discrete scheme using backward Euler scheme is discussed and optimal error estimates are derived. The results of numerical experiments support the theoretical results obtained in this article. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2008     

Quantum theory of stimulated raman scattering in an inhomogeneously broadened three-level gaseous system

A quantum-statistical treatment of stimulated Raman scattering in a gaseous system is presented using a density-matrix formalism. The molecular (atomic) system is described by three energy levels. Both atomic system and the radiation fields are quantized. The effects of atomic motion and detuning are incorporated in the analysis. Higher order nonlinearities and loss terms are included to render the problem more realistic. The equations of motion describing the photonstatistics of pump and Stokes fields are obtained. The equation, without detailed balance, is solved in the steady-state by a slowly varying function technique in the case of two variables. The steady state characteristics of the Stokes field are studied. The coherence properties, occurrence of antibunching phenomena are studied for different initial distributions.     

Catalytic action of Mn‐superoxide dismutase in scavenging superoxide radical anion by double hydrogen abstraction from dihydrolipoic acid: A theoretical study

The mechanism of scavenging superoxide radical anion ( ) by dihydrolipoic acid (diLA) in absence and presence of the enzyme Manganese‐superoxide dismutase (Mn‐SOD) has been investigated using density functional theory. Mn‐SOD was modelled by a complex of a manganese cation (Mn²⁺) bonded to three similar molecules having a histidine ring each and a water molecule. It has been shown that the scavenging mechanism involves double hydrogen abstraction by from different pairs of neighboring sites of diLA. It has been found that diLA alone cannot scavenge superoxide radical anions efficiently as the barrier energies involved in the reactions are very high. However, in presence of Mn‐SOD, owing to its catalytic action, the corresponding reactions become barrierless due to which superoxide radical anions would be scavenged highly efficiently. H₂O₂ formed from superoxide radical anion due to double hydrogen abstraction from diLA is scavenged by diLA alone barrierlessly without involving Mn‐SOD or any other catalyst.     

"Click" synthesis and properties of carborane-appended large dendrimers

Large dendrimers, noted G(n)-3(n+2)cage, containing 3(n+2) o-carborane cluster cages MeC(2)B(10)H(10) at their peripheries (n = number of generation noted G(n)) have been synthesized by Huisgen-type azide alkyne Cu(I)-catalyzed dipolar "click" cycloaddition reactions (CuAAC) between an o-carborane monomeric cluster containing an ethynyl group and arene-centered azido-terminated dendrimers G(n)-3(n+2)N(3) of generations 0, 1, and 2. Attempts to synthesize higher-generation dendrimers of this family yielded insoluble materials. The carborane dendrimers G(0)-9cage, G(1)-27cage, and G(2)-81cage have been characterized by (1)H, (13)C, (11)B NMR, elemental analysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showing low polydispersities, dynamic light scattering (DLS) showing hydrodynamic diameters of 5.7 nm for the G(1)-27cage and the 12.9 nm for the G(2)-81cage. These dendrimers are extremely robust thermally, with 10% mass loss temperatures of 411 °C for the G(0)-9cage, 371 °C for the G(1)-27cage, and 392 °C for the G(2)-81cage. They all showed a strong absorption in the UV region peaking at 258 nm, whereas emission spectra of low intensities were observed between 280 and 480 nm.     

Comparative Pharmacokinetics Profile of Vasa Swaras with Vasicine and Vasicinone

An RP-LC method was developed and validated for comparing the pharmacokinetics profile of Vasa Swaras (leaf juice of Adhatoda vasica Nees., Fam. Acanthaceae) with that of the pure vasicine and vasicinone (chief marker compounds of A. vasica) upon oral administration of Vasa Swaras in rats, and also in different animal groups. Significant difference with p < 0.05 was found in the oral bioavailability of vasicine and vasicinone when administered as Vasa Swaras and as single vasicine and/or vasicinone. Vasicine and vasicinone were found to be more bioavailable from Vasa Swaras than pure vasicine and/or vasicinone.     

Hyperfine interaction-dominated dynamics of nuclear spins in self-assembled InGaAs quantum dots

We measure the dynamics of nuclear spins in a single-electron charged self-assembled InGaAs quantum dot with negligible nuclear spin diffusion due to dipole-dipole interaction and identify two distinct mechanisms responsible for the decay of the Overhauser field. We attribute a temperature-independent decay lasting ～100 sec at 5 T to intradot diffusion induced by hyperfine-mediated indirect nuclear spin interaction. By repeated polarization of the nuclear spins, this diffusion induced partial decay can be suppressed. We also observe a gate voltage and temperature-dependent decay stemming from cotunneling mediated nuclear spin flips that can be prolonged to ～30 h by adjusting the gate voltage and lowering the temperature to ～200 mK. Our measurements indicate possibilities for exploring quantum dynamics of the central spin model.     

Proton radioactivity with a Yukawa effective interaction

The half-lives of proton radioactivity of proton emitters are investigated theoretically. Proton-nucleus interaction potentials are obtained by folding the densities of the daughter nuclei with a finite-range effective nucleon-nucleon interaction having Yukawa form. The Wood-Saxon density distributions for the nuclei used in calculating the nuclear as well as the Coulomb interaction potentials are predictions of the interaction. The quantum mechanical tunneling probability is calculated within the WKB framework. These calculations provide reasonable estimates for the observed proton radioactivity lifetimes. The effects of neutron-proton effective mass splitting in neutron-rich asymmetric matter as well as the nuclear matter incompressibility on the decay probability are investigated.