Precision spectroscopy of pionic 1s states of Sn nuclei and evidence for partial restoration of chiral symmetry in the nuclear medium

Deeply bound 1s states of pi(-) in (115,119,123)Sn were preferentially observed using the Sn(d,3He) pion-transfer reaction under the recoil-free condition. The 1s binding energies and widths were precisely determined and were used to deduce the isovector parameter of the s-wave pion-nucleus potential to be b1=-(0.115+/-0.007)m(-1)(pi). The observed enhancement of |b(1)| over the free piN value (b(free)1/b1=0.78+/-0.05) indicates a reduction of the chiral order parameter, f*pi(rho)2/f2pi approximately 0.64, at the normal nuclear density, rho=rho(0).     

Measurement of /V(ub)/ using inclusive B-->X(u)lnu decays with a novel X(u)-reconstruction method

We report the measurement of an inclusive partial branching fraction for charmless semileptonic B decay and the extraction of /V(ub)/. Candidates for B-->X(u)lnu are identified with a novel X(u) reconstruction method based on neutrino reconstruction via missing 4-momentum and a technique called "simulated annealing." Based on 86.9 fb(-1) of data taken with the Belle detector, we obtain DeltaB(B-->X(u)lnu;M(X)<1.7 GeV/c2,q2>8.0 GeV2/c2)=[7.37+/-0.89(stat)+/-1.12(syst)+/-0.55(b-->c)+/-0.24(b-->u)]x10(-4) and determine |V(ub)|=[4.66+/-0.28(stat)+/-0.35(syst)+/-0.17(b-->c)+/-0.08(b-->u)+/-0.58(theory)]x10(-3).     

Direct measurements of Ab and Ac using vertex and kaon charge tags at the SLAC detector

Exploiting the manipulation of the SLAC Linear Collider electron-beam polarization, we present precise direct measurements of the parity-violation parameters A(c) and A(b) in the Z-boson-c-quark and Z-boson-b-quark coupling. Quark-antiquark discrimination is accomplished via a unique algorithm that takes advantage of the precise SLAC Large Detector charge coupled device vertex detector, employing the net charge of displaced vertices as well as the charge of kaons that emanate from those vertices. From the 1996-1998 sample of 400 000 Z decays, produced with an average beam polarization of 73.4%, we find A(c)=0.673+/-0.029(stat)+/-0.023(syst) and A(b)=0.919+/-0.018(stat)+/-0.017(syst).     

Observation of B0-->D*sJ(2317)+K- decay

The decays B0-->D+sJK- and B0-->D-sJpi+ are studied for the first time. A significant signal is observed in the B0-->D*sJ(2317)+K- decay channel with B(B0-->D*sJ(2317)+K-) x B(D*sJ(2317)+-->D+spi0)=(5.3(+1.5)(-1.3)+/-0.7+/-1.4) x 10(-5). No signals are observed in the B0-->D*sJ(2317)-pi+, B0-->DsJ(2460)+K-, and B 0-->DsJ(2460)-pi+ decay modes, and upper limits are obtained. The analysis is based on a data set of 140 fb(-1) collected by the Belle experiment at the asymmetric e+e- collider KEKB.     

Studies of CP violation in B-->J/PsiK* decays

CP violation in B-->J/PsiK* decays is studied using an angular analysis in a data sample of 253 fb(-1) recorded with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. The flavor separated measurements of the decay amplitudes indicate no evidence for direct CP violation. T-odd CP violation is studied using the asymmetries in triple product correlations, and the results are consistent with the standard model null predictions. The time-dependent angular analysis gives the following values of CP-violating parameters: sin(2phi(1) = 0.24 +/- 0.31 +/- 0.05 and cos(2phi(1)=0.56 +/- 0.79 +/- 0.11.     

Measurements of the branching fraction and polarization in B+ --> rho+ K*0 decays

We present the results of a study of the charmless vector-vector decay B+ --> rho+ K*0, based on 253 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. We obtain the branching fraction B(B+ --> rho+ K*0) = [8.9 +/- 1.7(stat) +/- 1.2(syst)] x 10(-6). We also perform a helicity analysis of the rho and K* vector mesons, and obtain the longitudinal polarization fraction f(L)(B+ --> rho+ K*0) = 0.43 +/- 0.11(stat)(-0.02)(+0.05) (syst).     

Improved evidence for direct CP violation in B0-->pi+pi- decays and model-independent constraints on phi2

We present a new measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating parameters in B(0)--> pi(+)pi(-) decays with 275 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider operating at the Gamma(4S) resonance. We find 666 +/- 43 B(0) --> pi(+)pi(-) events and measure the CP-violating parameters: S(pipi) = -0.67 +/- 0.16(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) and A(pipi) = +0.56 +/- 0.12(stat) +/- 0.06(syst). We find evidence for large direct CP violation with a significance greater than 4 standard deviations for any S(pipi) value. Using isospin relations, we obtain 95.4% confidence intervals for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark-mixing matrix angle phi(2) of 0 degree < phiv(2) < 19 degrees and 71 degrees < phi(2) < 180 degrees.     

Precise measurement of the positive muon anomalous magnetic moment

A precise measurement of the anomalous g value, a(mu) = (g-2)/2, for the positive muon has been made at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. The result a(mu+) = 11 659 202(14) (6) x 10(-10) (1.3 ppm) is in good agreement with previous measurements and has an error one third that of the combined previous data. The current theoretical value from the standard model is a(mu)(SM) = 11 659 159.6(6.7) x 10(-10) (0.57 ppm) and a(mu)(exp) - a(mu)(SM) = 43(16) x 10(-10) in which a(mu)(exp) is the world average experimental value.     

Estimation of sialic acid in a sialoglycan and a sialoglycoprotein by capillary electrophoresis with in-capillary sialidase digestion

An example of application of in-capillary derivatization for CE, obtained by using the throughout-capillary format, is presented. Introduction of a sialoglycan (N-acetylneuraminyllactose) or a sialoglycoprotein (bovine serum fetuin) sample to a running buffer (pH 5.0) containing N-acetylneuraminidase followed by application of a voltage resulted in the release of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) which could be estimated by CE with UV detection. Two-step application of voltages (5 and 20 kV) was proved to be more effective for rapid estimation of the released NANA. This format (modified throughout-capillary format) allowed differential estimation of the NANA present in the sample as an impurity and the NANA released from the substrate at the picomol level, and thereby reliable micro assay of the sialidase activity. It also allowed estimation of the rate constant of this enzymatic reaction.     

Oxidation and reduction of thin Ru films by gas plasma

The oxidation and reduction of Ru thin films grown on a Si(1 0 0) surface were studied by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). Ru thin films were oxidized with O₂ plasma generated by an rf discharge, and their XPS spectra were measured. The spectra were decomposed into several components for Ru suboxides attributable to different stages of oxidation. After sufficient exposure to oxygen, a stoichiometric rutile RuO₂ layer was found to have formed near the surface. Thermal annealing at 500 K resulted in a thicker RuO₂ layer. Experiments demonstrated that the Ru oxide layer can be removed by H(D) atoms via the desorption of water molecules.