Decoherence via the dynamical casimir effect

We derive a master equation for a mirror interacting with the vacuum field via radiation pressure. The dynamical Casimir effect leads to decoherence of a superposition state in a time scale that depends on the degree of "macroscopicity" of the state components, and which may be much shorter than the relaxation time scale. Coherent states are selected by the interaction as pointer states.     

Backward emitted protons in interactions of neutrinos with nuclei in photoemulsion

Backward emitted protons with momentump>0.3 GeV/c in interactions of neutrino in the energy range 10–200 GeV with photoemulsion nuclei were investigated. Energy spectrum slope parameter of backward protons was measured to beT ₀=48.9±7.9 MeV. TheA-dependence power index of relative mean yield of backward protons was found to bea=0.68±0.12. A drop in the mean yield of backward protons at the four momentum squared over ～15 (GeV/c)² (the neutrino energy over ～50 GeV) was observed.     

Dithienylethene-Based Single Molecular Photothermal Linear Actuator

By employing a mechanically controllable break junction technique, we have realized an ideal single molecular linear actuator based on dithienylethene (DTE) based molecular architecture, which undergoes reversible photothermal isomerization when subjected to UV irradiation under ambient conditions. As a result, open form (compressed, UV OFF) and closed form (elongated, UV ON) of dithienylethene-based molecular junctions are achieved. Interestingly, the mechanical actuation is achieved without changing the conductance of the molecular junction around the Fermi level over several cycles, which is an essential property required for an ideal single molecular actuator. Our study demonstrates a unique example of achieving a perfect balance between tunneling width and barrier height change upon photothermal isomerization, resulting in no change in conductance but a change in the molecular length, which results in mechanical actuation at the single molecular level.     

Neutrino production of charmed particles in a hybrid experiment E-564

Cryogenically sensitive nuclear emulsion was placed inside the 15-foot bubble chamber of FNAL and exposed to a wide-band energy (up to 200 GeV) neutrino beam. 194 charged-current neutrino interactions and 13 decays of charmed particles were registered. Using the nuclear emulsion as a vertex detector with the good spectrometric properties of the 15-foot bubble chamber has allowed the decays of charmed particles to be effectively analysed. Attentions is focussed on the new physical results. Λ _c ⁺ baryon andD _s ⁺ meson decay channels, production of charmed ∑ _c baryons and Λ _c ⁺ via ∑ _c . For the first time an event interpreted as production of the excited (c \(\overline s\) )-state with mass ～2790 MeV/c² has been registered.