The CRESST dark matter search

We discuss the short-and long-term perspectives of the CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search using Superconducting Thermometers) project and present the current status of the experiment and new results concerning detector development. In the search for elementary particle dark matter, CRESST is presently the most advanced deep underground, low-background, cryogenic facility. The basic technique involved is to search for WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) by the measurement of nonthermal phonons, as created by WIMP-induced nuclear recoils. Combined with our newly developed method for the simultaneous measurement of scintillation light, strong background discrimination is possible, resulting in a substantial increase in WIMP detection sensitivity. This will allow a test of the reported positive evidence for a WIMP signal by the DAMA Collaboration in the near future. In the long term, the present CRESST setup permits the installation of a detector mass up to 100 kg. In contrast to other projects, CRESST technology allows the employment of a large variety of detection materials. This offers a powerful tool in establishing a WIMP signal and in investigating WIMP properties in the event of a positive signal.     

Non-equilibrium approach to transport phenomena in quantum crystals

A pure dielectric quantum crystal subjected to an external mechanical force is described by non-equilibrium Green’s functions. In equilibrium the leading approximation leads to the definition of elementary excitations, the phonons in the renormalized harmonic approximation. Their temperature dependent energies are to be determined as solutions of an integral equation. For hydrodynamic disturbances a generalized transport equation for a phonon number density is derived. A similar approximation for the spectral function yields an integral equation for space and time dependent quasiparticle energies which are expressed as functionals of the displacement field and the phonon distribution. The Boltzmann equation for the latter includes the quasi-particle interaction.     

Optical sectioning in wide-field microscopy obtained by dynamic structured light illumination and detection based on a smart pixel detector array

Optical sectioning in wide-field microscopy is achieved by illumination of the object with a continuously moving single-spatial-frequency pattern and detecting the image with a smart pixel detector array. This detector performs an on-chip electronic signal processing that extracts the optically sectioned image. The optically sectioned image is directly observed in real time without any additional postprocessing.     

Anticrossing of Whispering Gallery Modes in microdisk resonators embedded in an anisotropic environment

We numerically investigate the behavior of Whispering Gallery Modes (WGMs) in circularly shaped resonators like microdisks, with diameters in the range of optical vacuum wavelengths. The microdisk is embedded in an uniaxial anisotropic dielectric environment. By changing the optical anisotropy, one obtains spectral tunability of the optical modes. The degree of tunability strongly depends on the radial (azimuthal) mode order M (N). As the modes approach each other spectrally, anticrossing is observed, leading to a rearrangement of the optical states.     

Quantum critical dynamics simulation of dirty boson systems

Recently, the scaling result z=d for the dynamic critical exponent at the Bose glass to superfluid quantum phase transition has been questioned both on theoretical and numerical grounds. This motivates a careful evaluation of the critical exponents in order to determine the actual value of z. We study a model of quantum bosons at T=0 with disorder in 2D using highly effective worm Monte?Carlo simulations. Our data analysis is based on a finite-size scaling approach to determine the scaling of the quantum correlation time from simulation data for boson world lines. The resulting critical exponents are z=1.8±0.05, ν=1.15±0.03, and η=-0.3±0.1, hence suggesting that z=2 is not satisfied.     

Fragmentation methods on the balance: unambiguous top–down mass spectrometric characterization of oxaliplatin–ubiquitin binding sites

The interaction between oxaliplatin and the model protein ubiquitin (Ub) was investigated in a top–down approach by means of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) using diverse tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) techniques, including collision-induced dissociation (CID), higher-energy C-trap dissociation (HCD), and electron transfer dissociation (ETD). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that metallodrug–protein adducts were analyzed for the metal-binding site by ETD-MS/MS, which outperformed both CID and HCD in terms of number of identified metallated peptide fragments in the mass spectra and the localization of the binding sites. Only ETD allowed the simultaneous and exact determination of Met1 and His68 residues as binding partners for oxaliplatin. CID-MS/MS experiments were carried out on orbitrap and ion cyclotron resonance (ICR)-FT mass spectrometers and both instruments yielded similar results with respect to number of metallated fragments and the localization of the binding sites. A comparison of the protein secondary structure with the intensities of peptide fragments generated by collisional activation of the [Ub + Pt-(chxn)] adduct [chxn = (1R,2R)-cyclohexanediamine] revealed a correlation with cleavages in solution phase random coil areas, indicating that the N-terminal β-hairpin and α-helix structures are retained in the gas phase.     

Localized and Collective Motions in HET‐s(218‐289) Fibrils from Combined NMR Relaxation and MD Simulation

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation data and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are combined to characterize the dynamics of the fungal prion HET‐s(218‐289) in its amyloid form. NMR data is analyzed with the dynamics detector method, which yields timescale‐specific information. An analogous analysis is performed on MD trajectories. Because specific MD predictions can be verified as agreeing with the NMR data, MD was used for further interpretation of NMR results: for the different timescales, cross‐correlation coefficients were derived to quantify the correlation of the motion between different residues. Short timescales are the result of very local motions, while longer timescales are found for longer‐range correlated motion. Similar trends on ns‐ and μs‐timescales suggest that μs motion in fibrils is the result of motion correlated over many fibril layers.     

Zur hochspannungselektrophoretischen Trennung anorganischer Ionen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Platinmetalle

Zusammenfassung Die hochspannungselektrophoretische Wanderung der Halogenokomplexe der Platinmetalle und weiterer anorganischer Ionen wird bei Anwendung von Polycarbonsäuren (Oxalsäure, Bernsteinsäure, Apfelsäure, Weinsäure und Zitronensäure) als Elektrolyt untersucht und der Einfluß des p_H-Werts und der Konzentration der Substanzen auf die Wanderung geprüft. Es wird festgestellt, daß die auf die abgestufte Komplexbildungstendenz der Polycarbonsäuren (Zitronensäure > Weinsäure Apfelsäure > Bernsteinsäure) rückführbaren Unterschiede der Wanderungsgeschwindigkeiten für die Trennung anorganischer Gemische gut einzusetzen sind. Für die Chlorokomplexe der Platinmetalle wird eine Abstufung der Beweglichkeiten in der Reihe Ir Pt Os > Rh > > Pd > Ru (> Rh) gefunden.

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The high voltage electrophoretic separation of inorganic ions with special consideration of the platinum metals

Summary The high voltage eleetrophoretic migration of the halogen complexes of the platinum metals and other inorganic ions was studied with the employment of the polycarboxylic acids (oxalic, succinic, malic, tartaric, citric) as electrolyte, and the influence of the p_H-value and the concentration of the substances on the migration investigated. It was found that the differences in the migration velocities, which may be traced back to the graded complex-forming tendency of the polycarboxylic acids (citric > tartaric malic > > succininic) can be used to good advantage in the separation of inorganic mixtures. With respect to the chlorocomplexes of the platinum metals, a decrease in the mobilities was discovered in the series Ir > Pt > Os > > Rh > Pd > Ru (>Rd).

     

REGULATION OF CHLOROPLAST DEVELOPMENT BY RED AND BLUE LIGHT

There are specific differences between red and blue light greening of etiolated seedlings of Hordevm vulgare L. Blue light results in a different prenyl lipid composition of chloroplast as compared to red light of equal quanta density. This is documented by a much higher prenylquinone content, higher chlorophyll a/b ratios, and lower values for the ratio xanthophylls to carotenes (x/c). The photosynthetic activity of “blue light” chloroplasts (Hill reaction) is higher than that of “red light” chloroplasts. These differences in prenylquinone composition and Hill-activity are associated with a different ultrastructure of chloroplasts. “Red light” chloroplasts exhibit a much higher grana content than “blue light” chloroplasts. The difference in thylakoid composition, photosynthetic activity and chloroplast structure found between blue and red light greening are similar to those found between sun and shade leaves and those between plants grown under high and low light intensities.