Hadron masses and matrix elements from the QCD Schrödinger functional

We explain how masses and matrix elements can be computed in lattice QCD using Schrödinger functional boundary conditions. Numerical results in the quenched approximation demonstrate that good precision can be achieved. For a statistical sample of the same size, our hadron masses have a precision similar to what is achieved with standard methods, but for the computation of matrix elements such as the pseudoscalar decay constant the Schrödinger functional technique turns out to be much more efficient than the known alternatives.     

Measurement of prompt photon cross sections in photoproduction at HERA

Results are presented on the photoproduction of isolated prompt photons, inclusively and associated with jets, in the center of mass energy range 142 < W < 266 GeV. The cross sections are measured for the transverse momentum range of the photons GeV and for associated jets with E _T ^jet > 4.5 GeV. They are measured differentially as a function of , the pseudorapidities and and estimators of the momentum fractions and x _p of the incident photon and proton carried by the constituents participating in the hard process. In order to further investigate the underlying dynamics, the angular correlation between the prompt photon and the jet in the transverse plane is studied. Predictions by perturbative QCD calculations in next to leading order are about below the inclusive prompt photon data after corrections for hadronisation and multiple interactions, but are in reasonable agreement with the results for prompt photons associated with jets. Comparisons with the predictions of the event generators PYTHIA and HERWIG are also presented.Received: 13 July 2004, Revised: 15 November 2004, Published online: 17 December 2004     

Upper limits on gravitational-wave emission in association with the 27 Dec 2004 giant flare of SGR1806-20

At the time when the giant flare of SGR1806-20 occurred, the AURIGA "bar" gravitational-wave (GW) detector was on the air with a noise performance close to stationary Gaussian. This allows us to set relevant upper limits, at a number of frequencies in the vicinities of 900 Hz, on the amplitude of the damped GW wave trains, which, according to current models, could have been emitted, due to the excitation of normal modes of the star associated with the peak in x-ray luminosity.     

Generalized parton distributions from lattice QCD

We perform a quenched lattice calculation of the first moment of twist-two generalized parton distribution functions of the proton, and assess the total quark (spin and orbital angular momentum) contribution to the spin of the proton.     

Universal pion freeze-out in heavy-ion collisions

Based on an evaluation of data on pion interferometry and on particle yields at midrapidity, we propose a universal condition for thermal freeze-out of pions in heavy-ion collisions. We show that freeze-out occurs when the mean free path of pions lambda(f) reaches a value of about 1 fm, which is much smaller than the spatial extent of the system at freeze-out. This critical mean free path is independent of the centrality of the collision and beam energy from the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron to the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.     

Angular distributions in the dimuon hadronic production at 150 GeV/c

From π^- interactions at 150 GeV/c on a heavy target, we present the final analysis of the dimuon decay angular distribution in the mass interval 4.5–8.5 GeV/c². Results are presented and discussed in various reference frames and are also given in terms of the density matrix elements. Finally the possible contribution of higher-twist effects at largex ₁ is discussed; we find that our data are not compatible with higher twist contributions as proposed by the Berger and Brodsky Model.     

Search for anomalous and exotic cosmic rays phenomena in the CMS experiment on the CASTOR calorimeter at the large hadron collider

The creation of the CASTOR forward calorimeter in the compact muon spectrometer (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), CERN enabled us to perform experiments at energies corresponding to those of cosmic rays but at much greater intensities, the most important factor in studying rare and anomalous phenomena.