Supporting hydrogen based transportation: case studies with Global MARKAL Model

Steadily growing prices of oil and emissions coming from conventional vehicles, might force a switch to an alternative and less polluting fuel in the coming future. In this article we analyze the potential influence of selected factors for successful market penetration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in hydrogen based private transportation economy. Using a world scale, full energy system, bottom-up, optimization model (Global MARKAL Model—GMM) we address the possibility of supporting the fuel cell vehicle technology to become competitive in the markets. In a series of optimizations we evaluate the potential influence of governmental supports and the internalization of externalities related to CO₂ and local pollution emissions originating from the transportation sector, as well as preferential crediting options and demonstration projects promoting fuel cell vehicles. The results suggest that the crucial element is the price of fuel cells and their further potential to reduce costs. This reduction of costs may be triggered by governmental support such as direct subsidies to fuel cells, preferential crediting options for the buildup of hydrogen infrastructure as well as penalization of emitters of CO₂ and/or local pollutants.     

Experimental results from a tandem BWO-TWT system used to generatehigh-power microwaves

A relativistic backward wave oscillator (BWO) in tandem with a traveling wave tube (TWT) amplifier has been used to generate relatively long pulses of high-power X-band microwaves. In these experiments, a BWO is used to modulate the annular relativistic electron beam, which subsequently drives a TWT producing high-power microwave radiation. A special RF sever located between the two structures cuts off microwaves generated in the BWO from the TWT. Peak powers in excess of 100 MW are observed with overall beam-to-microwave efficiencies as high as 35%. By operating the BWO below saturation levels, pulse-shortening effects are minimized so that microwave pulses of duration comparable to that of the beam (100 ns) are possible. The operating frequency of the tandem system is tuned from 11 to 12 GHz by varying the effective energy of the beam     

Thermal effects in collision-free infrared multiphoton absorption by SF6 and CF3Br

An opto-thermal molecular beam study has been carried out to investigate the multiple-photon laser excitation of SF₆ and CF₃Br. The molecular beam was produced by means of a supersonic expansion through a nozzle at variable temperature. The opto-thermal signal was measured by means of a high-sensitivity superconducting bolometer. The multiple-photon excitation of SF₆ has been measured as a function of the initial ro-vibrational population of the molecule. The experimental results have been compared with both previously published data of molecular beam and gas cell experiments and theoretical calculations. A satisfactory agreement has been found between some of our experimental results and the theoretical spectra obtained by means of the heat-bath feed-back model.     

Order parameter fluctuation spectrum and central peak in partially deuterated H-bonded ferroelectrics

The order parameter fluctuation spectrum in an isotopically disordered KH₂PO₄ type crystal has been evaluated as a function of the deuterium content using Mori's continued fraction representation. In contrast to a pure system we have now two narrow central peaks and two overdamped soft modes. The results show that the static central peak observed by light scattering in paraelectric KH₂PO₄ cannot be produced by naturally abundant deuterium.     

Efficient Computation of Roots in Finite Fields

We present an algorithm to compute rth roots in $\mathbb{F}_{q^m}We present an algorithm to compute rth roots in with complexity ?[(log m + r log q) m log q] if (m,q) = 1 and either (q(q−1),r) = 1 or r|(q−1) and ((q−1)/r,r) = 1. This compares well to previously known algorithms, which need O(r m³ log³ q) steps. Paulo S. L. M. Barreto: Supported by Scopus Tecnologia S. A. José Felipe Voloch: Supported by NSA grant MDA904-03-1-0117.     

Search for neutral, long-lived particles decaying into two muons in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a search for a neutral particle, pair produced in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV, which decays into two muons and lives long enough to travel at least 5 cm before decaying. The analysis uses approximately 380 pb(-1) of data recorded with the D0 detector. The background is estimated to be about one event. No candidates are observed, and limits are set on the pair-production cross section times branching fraction into dimuons + X for such particles. For a mass of 10 GeV and lifetime of 4x10(-11) s, we exclude values greater than 0.14 pb (95% C.L.). These results are used to limit the interpretation of NuTeV's excess of dimuon events.     

Search for ZH → l+ l- bb production in 4.2 fb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt[s] =1 .96 TeV

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a Z boson in 4.2 fb(-1) of pp collisions, collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron at sqrt[s] =1 .96 TeV. Selected events contain one reconstructed Z → e+ e- or Z → μ+ μ- candidate and at least two jets, including at least one b-tagged jet. In the absence of an excess over the background expected from other standard model processes, limits on the ZH cross section multiplied by the branching ratios are set. The limit at M(H) = 115 GeV is a factor of 5.9 larger than the standard model prediction.