Riemannian manifolds in noncommutative geometry

We present a definition of Riemannian manifold in noncommutative geometry. Using products of unbounded Kasparov modules, we show one can obtain such Riemannian manifolds from noncommutative spin^c${}^c$ manifolds; and conversely, in the presence of a spin^c${}^c$ structure. We also show how to obtain an analogue of Kasparov’s fundamental class for a Riemannian manifold, and the associated notion of Poincaré duality. Along the way we clarify the bimodule and first-order conditions for spectral triples.     

Exploring the origin of tip‐enhanced Raman scattering; preparation of efficient TERS probes with high yield

Tip‐enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) spectroscopy is a promising technique for nanoscale chemical analysis. However, there are several challenges preventing widespread application of this technology, including reproducible fabrication of efficient TERS probes. These problems reflect a lack of clear understanding of the origins of, and the parameters influencing TERS. It is believed that the coating characteristics at the apex of the tip have a major effect on the near‐field optical enhancement and thus the TERS activity of a metalized probe. Here we show that the aspect ratio of the tip can play a significant role in the efficiency of TERS probes. We argue that the electrostatic field arising from the lightning‐rod effect has a substantial role in the observed TERS effect. This argument is supported by ‘edge‐enhanced Raman scattering’ which is shown for a noble metal film. Furthermore, it is reported that an associated tip‐surface‐enhanced Raman scattering effect can be achieved by using a TERS‐inactive metalized probe on a surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy‐inactive roughened surface. This observation can be explained by an interparticle enhancement of the electromagnetic field. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improved measurement of Vub with inclusive semileptonic B decays

We report a new measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa parameter Vub made with a sample of 9.7 x 10(6) BB- events collected with the CLEO II detector. Using heavy quark theory, we combine the observed yield of leptons from semileptonic B decay in the end-point momentum interval 2.2-2.6 GeV/c with recent CLEO II data on B-->X(s)gamma to find Vub = (4.08+/-0.34+/-0.44+/-0.16+/-0.24)x10(-3), where the first two uncertainties are experimental and the last two are from theory.     

The neural correlates of calculation ability in children: an fMRI study

Most studies investigating mental numerical processing involve adult participants and little is known about the functioning of these systems in children. The current study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural correlates of numeracy and the influence of age on these correlates with a group of adults and a group of third graders who had average to above average mathematical ability. Participants performed simple and complex versions of exact and approximate calculation tasks while in the magnet. Like adults, children activated a network of brain regions in the frontal and parietal lobes during the calculation tasks, and they recruited additional brain regions for the more complex versions of the tasks. However, direct comparisons between adults and children revealed significant differences in level of activation across all tasks. In particular, patterns of activation in the parietal lobe were significantly different as a function of age. Findings support previous claims that the parietal lobe becomes more specialized for arithmetic tasks with age.     

Manufacturing of Volumetric Glass–Based Composites with Single‐ and Double‐QD Doping

Quantum dot (QD)‐based light‐emitting materials are gaining increased attention because of their easily tunable optical properties desired for various applications in biology, optoelectronics, and photonics. However, few methods can be used to manufacture volumetric materials doped with more than one type of QD other than QD‐polymer hybrids, and they often require complicated preparation processes and are prone to luminescence quenching by QD aggregation and separation from the matrix. Here, simultaneous doping of a volumetric glass‐based nanocomposite with two types of QDs is demonstrated for the first time in a single‐step process using the nanoparticle direct doping method. Glass rods doped with CdTe, CdSe/ZnS, or co‐doped with both QDs, are obtained. Photoluminescence and lifetime experiments confirm temperature‐dependent double emission with maxima at 596 and 720 nm with mean lifetimes up to 16 ns, as well as radiative energy transfer from the short wavelength–emitting QDs to the long wavelength–emitting QDs. This approach may enable the simple and cost‐efficient manufacturing of bulk materials that produce multicolor luminescence with cascade excitation pumping. Applications that could benefit from this include broadband optical fiber amplifiers, backlight systems in LCD screens, high‐power LEDs, or down‐converting solar concentrators used to increase the efficiency of solar panels.     

B* production in Z decays

The decayB ^*B has been observed with the DELPHI detector at LEP, where theB ^* meson is produced inZ boson decays. The combination of inclusively reconstructedB mesons with well-measured converted photons yields a measurement of the flavour-averagedB ^*-B mass difference of 45.5±0.3 (stat.) ±0.8 (syst.) MeV/c². 95% confidence level upper limits at 6 MeV/c² are placed on both the isospin (i.e.B ⁺-B ⁰) and theB _s -B _ud splitting of the mass difference. The production ratio ofB ^* toB mesons inZ decays is measured to be 0.72±0.03 (stat.) ±0.06 (syst.). Limits on the production cross-section of other hypothetical excitedB hadron states decaying radiatively are established. The differentialB ^* cross section has been measured to be in good agreement with the averageb fragmentation, yielding an average fractionalB ^* energy of x _E =0.695±0.009 (stat.) ±0.013 (syst.). From the decay angular distribution the relative contribution of longitudinalB ^* polarisation states is measured to be _L/(_L + _T) = 0.32 ± 0.04 (stat.) ±0.03 (syst.).CICYT_AEN93-0832     

Measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry of charm and bottom quarks at theZ pole usingD*± mesons

The forward-backward asymmetries for the processes and at theZ resonance are measured using identifiedD ^*± mesons. In 905,000 selected hadronic events, taken in 1991 and 1992 with the DEL-PHI detector at LEP, 4757D ^*+D ⁰⁺ decays are reconstructed. Thec andb quark forward-backward asymmetries are determined to be: