Non-Markovian Dynamics of a Localized Electron Spin Due to the Hyperfine Interaction

We review our theoretical work on the dynamics of a localized electron spin interacting with an environment of nuclear spins. Our perturbative calculation is valid for arbitrary polarization p of the nuclear spin system and arbitrary nuclear spin I in a sufficiently large magnetic field. In general, the electron spin shows rich dynamics, described by a sum of contributions with exponential decay, nonexponential decay, and undamped oscillations. We have found an abrupt crossover in the long-time spin dynamics at a critical shape and dimensionality of the electron envelope wave function. We conclude with a discussion of our proposed scheme to measure the relevant dynamics using a standard spin–echo technique.     

Production of π0 mesons and charged hadrons in\bar v neon and ν neon charged current interactions

The average multiplicities of charged hadrons and of π⁺, π^? and π⁰ mesons, produced in \(\bar v\) Ne and νNe charged current interactions in the forward and backward hemispheres of theW ^±-nucleon center of mass system, are studied with data from BEBC. The dependence of the multiplicities on the hadronic mass (W) and on the laboratory rapidity (y _Lab) and the energy fraction (z) of the pion is also investigated. Special care is taken to determine the π⁰ multiplicity accurately. The ratio of average π multiplicities \(\frac{{2\left\langle {n_{\pi ^O } } \right\rangle }}{{[\left\langle {n_{\pi ^ + } } \right\rangle + \left\langle {n_{\pi ^ - } } \right\rangle ]}}\) is consistent with 1. In the backward hemisphere \(\left\langle {n_{\pi ^O } } \right\rangle \) is positively correlated with the charged multiplicity. This correlation, as well as differences in multiplicities between \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) and \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) , \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) scattering, is attributed to reinteractions inside the neon nucleus of the hadrons produced in the initial \(\mathop v\limits^{( - )} \) interaction.     

A study of the centrally producedK *0 K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} final state in the reactionpp→p f (K + K -π+π-)p s at 300 GeV/c

The reactionpp→p _f (K ⁺ K ^-π⁺π^-)p _s , where theK ⁺ K ^? π⁺π^- system is centrally produced, has been studied at 300 GeV/c. TheK ^*0 \(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state has been observed and the cross sections for its central production are found to be the same at 300 and 85 GeV/c. TheK ^*0 \(K^{*0} \bar K^{*0} \) final state appears to be produced as a non-resonant threshold enhancement.     

Measurement of the structure functionsF 2 andxF 3 and comparison with QCD predictions including kinematical and dynamical higher twist effects

The isoscalar nucleon structure functionsF ₂(x, Q ²) andxF ₃(x, Q ²) are measured in the range 0<Q ²<64 GeV², 1.7<W ²<250 GeV²,x<0.7 using ν and \(\bar v\) interactions on neon in BEBC. The data are used to evaluate possible higher twist contributions and to determine their impact on the evaluation of the QCD parameter Λ. In contrast to previous analyses reaching to such lowW ² values, it is found that a low \(\Lambda _{\overline {MS} } \) value in the neighbourhood of 100 MeV describes the data adequately and that the contribution of dynamical higher twist effects is small and negative.     

Study of theK + K − π+ π− system centrally produced in the reactions π+ p→π+(K + K − π+ π−)p andpp→p(K + K − π+ π−)p at 85 GeV/c

The reactions π⁺ p→π⁺(K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^? p andpp→p(K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^?)p where the (K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^?) system is centrally produced have been studied at 85 GeV/c. 48% of the final state proceeds through single or double vector meson resonant production i.e.,K ^*0(890) (37%), ? (4%),ρ ⁰ (7%). Evidence is found for associatedK ^*0 (890) \(\bar K\) ^*o (890) production (6.4±1.1%) with a cross section ten times higher than that found for associated ? ? production in the same experiment.     

A measurement of $K^{*\pm}$ production in the hyperon beam experiment at CERN

We report on a measurement of the differential cross sections of inclusive production in and neutron beams. A strong leading particle effect was observed for production by . The measured –distributions are compared with calculations based on the Lund model (PYTHIA) and the quark-gluon string model. Received: 6 August 2001 / Revised version: 3 September 2001 / Published online: 5 October 2001     

Isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry of D/H by high temperature conversion isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Of all the elements, hydrogen has the largest naturally occurring variations in the ratio of its stable isotopes (D/H). It is for this reason that there has been a strong desire to add hydrogen to the list of elements amenable to isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irm-GC/MS). In irm-GC/MS the sample is entrained in helium as the carrier gas, which is also ionized and separated in the isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). Because of the low abundance of deuterium in nature, precise and accurate on-line monitoring of D/H ratios with an IRMS requires that low energy helium ions be kept out of the m/z 3 collector, which requires the use of an energy filter. A clean mass 3 (HD(+.)) signal which is independent of a large helium load in the electron impact ion source is essential in order to reach the sensitivity required for D/H analysis of capillary GC peaks. A new IRMS system, the DELTA(plus)XL(trade mark), has been designed for high precision, high accuracy measurements of transient signals of hydrogen gas. It incorporates a retardation lens integrated into the m/z 3 Faraday cup collector. Following GC separation, the hydrogen bound in organic compounds must be quantitatively converted into H(2) gas prior to analysis in the IRMS. Quantitative conversion is achieved by high temperature conversion (TC) at temperatures >1400 degrees C. Measurements of D/H ratios of individual organic compounds in complicated natural mixtures can now be made to a precision of 2 per thousand (delta notation) or, better, with typical sample amounts of approximately 200 ng per compound. Initial applications have focused on compounds of interest to petroleum research (biomarkers and natural gas components), food and flavor control (vanillin and ethanol), and metabolic studies (fatty acids and steroids). Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Production of high transverse momentum prompt photons and neutral pions in proton-proton interactions at 280 GeV/c

The inclusive cross sections for production of prompt photons and π⁰ s by 280 GeV/c protons incident on a liquid hydrogen target, have been measured forp _T in the range 4.0 to 6.5 GeV/c and for |x _F |<0.45. A quantitative comparison of the prompt photon cross section with next-to-leading order QCD predictions using Duke and Owens structure functions is performed. Phenomenological fits to the π⁰ and prompt photon cross sections are given.     

Study of the π+π+π-π- system centrally 0 produced by incident π+ andp beams at 85 GeV/c

The reactions π⁺ p→π⁺(π⁺π⁺π^-π^-)p andpp→p(π⁺π⁺π^-π^-)p, where the (π⁺ π⁺ π^- π^-) system is centrally produced have been studied at 85 GeV/c. The π⁺π⁺π^-π^- mass spectrum shows evidence for thef ₁ (1285) meson with a mass of 1278±2 MeV and width 41±12 MeV which decays mainly through ρ⁰(770)π⁺π^-. Thef ₁(1285) is also observed in the ηπ⁺π^- channel. There is no significant evidence for ηππ or 4π decay modes of thef ₁(1420). The ρ⁰ρ⁰ production is found to be small. A Dalitz plot analysis of the 3π system shows evidence fora ₂ (1320) production and for a large contribution of theJ ^PC=1⁺⁺ ρπ wave.     

Universal phase shift and nonexponential decay of driven single-spin oscillations

We study, both theoretically and experimentally, driven Rabi oscillations of a single electron spin coupled to a nuclear-spin bath. Because of the long correlation time of the bath, two unusual features are observed in the oscillations. The decay follows a power law, and the oscillations are shifted in phase by a universal value of approximately pi/4. These properties are well understood from a theoretical expression that we derive here in the static limit for the nuclear bath. This improved understanding of the coupled electron-nuclear system is important for future experiments using the electron spin as a qubit.