Some issues in a gauge model of unparticles

We address in a recent gauge model of unparticles the issues that are important for consistency of a gauge theory, i.e., unitarity and the Ward identity of the physical amplitudes. We find that non-integrable singularities arise in physical quantities like the cross section and the decay rate from the gauge interactions of unparticles. We also show that the Ward identity is violated due to the lack of a dispersion relation for charged unparticles although the Ward–Takahashi identity for general Green functions is incorporated in the model. A previous observation that the contribution of the unparticle (with scaling dimension d) to the gauge boson self-energy is a factor (2−d) of the particle’s self-energy has been extended to the Green function of triple gauge bosons. This (2−d) rule may be generally true for Green functions for any number of points of the gauge bosons. This implies that the model would be trivial even as one that mimics certain dynamical effects on gauge bosons in which unparticles serve as an interpolating field.     

Fibrillation of solar magnetic fields

Solar magnetic structures are often observed in the form of flux tubes composed of a number of smaller elements called fibres or threads, although theoretically such concentrations should not appear but should be flattened by magnetic diffusivity into a uniform, low intensity field. In this paper we describe a mechanism which may be responsible for the fibrillation and also for the very large diffusivity which dissipates magnetic flux tubes in hours instead of years. Firstly, the electric current associated with magnetic field gradients usually increases the local electron temperature and reduces the resistivity, so that the current becomes concentrated into sheets or streamers. Secondly, the magnetic field gradients continue to increase until the current magnitude reaches its limit, which is determined by the electron-ion streaming instability. Then with appropriate temperature and number densities, the Larmor radius of the ions overlaps the near discontinuity in B_z and generates a sharply peaked fluid motion at the edge that is close to the thermal speed. Finally, the resulting vorticity generates an axial magnetic field opposing B_z in the term , and if this is sufficient to change the sign of this term, the very unstable backward heat equation results. This instability repeatedly switches on and off and maintains the magnetic structure in the fibrillated form. Such structures are eventually eliminated by magnetic diffusivity in the usual way, but because of the fluctuations in B_z, this occurs at a vastly increased rate. We show that this phenomenon increases the magnetic diffusivity, D, by a factor ~ 10⁸ in agreement with some observations of plasma loops and supergranules.     

Non-Maxwellian electron energy distribution function in He,He/Ar,He/Xe/H<Subscript>2</Subscript> and He/Xe/D<Subscript>2</Subscript> low temperature afterglow plasma

Experimental studies of the electron energy distribution function “EEDF” under well defined conditions in flowing afterglow plasma, using a Langmuir probe are reported. The EEDF is measured in He₂ ⁺ and Ar⁺ dominated plasmas and in XeH⁺ and XeD⁺ dominated recombining plasmas. He is used as a buffer gas at medium pressures in all experiments (1600 Pa, 250 K). The deviation of the measured EEDF from Maxwellian distribution is shown to depend on plasma composition and on the processes governing the plasma decay. The influence of energetic electrons produced during the plasma decay on the body and tail of the EEDF is observed. The mechanism of energy balance in afterglow plasma is discussed.     

1540 nm fiber laser excited upconversion luminescence in erbium-doped lead-fluoride nanocrystals

Upconversion luminescence in erbium-doped PbGeO₃-PbF₂-CdF₂-based vitroceramic under 1540 nm infrared excitation is investigated. Luminescence signals around 410, 525, 550, 660 and 850 nm were generated and attributed to the ²H_9/2, ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2 and ⁴F_9/2 transitions to the ⁴I_15/2 ground-state, and ⁴S_3/2-⁴I_13/2, respectively. The erbium ions excited-state emitting levels were populated through a combination of stepwise ground-state absorption, phonon-assisted excited-state absorption and cross-relaxation processes. The results also disclosed that all emission signals obtained with vitroceramic samples presented intensities three times higher when compared to the precursor glass samples. In addition, the red emission signal at 660 nm for 1540 nm pumping exhibited an expressively high intensity when compared to the green signal.     

Evidence for a compressed fluid phase of Xe clusters

We report on the formation and detection of a compressed fluid phase of Xe clusters in as- implanted Si, at room temperature. The simultaneous structural characterization of the Xe clusters and of the Si matrix was performed by X-ray diffraction at grazing incidence coupled with two-dimensional detection; in both cases, the nearest-neighbor distance and the coordination were obtained. In order to investigate the early stage of the atomic inclusion and the cluster segregation, the average compression and size of Xe fluid clusters within the amorphous Si matrix were explained within the simple Hard Sphere model. Received 4 September 2000 and Received in final form 13 December 2000     

DUV scattering measurements as a tool for characterization of UV-optical surfaces

A sensitive total-scattering measurement setup for the DUV spectral range is presented, which allows precise determination of both forward and backward scatter losses from optical components for excimer lasers with a sensitivity below 10 ppm for 248 nm and 50 ppm for 193 nm. Scattering from several different coated and uncoated DUV optical surfaces was monitored. For uncoated samples, the backward scatter losses are in good agreement with the predictions of scalar scattering theory, indicating that in this case scattering is mainly determined by surface effects. Although forward and backward scatter losses are of the same order of magnitude for uncoated samples, they differ by up to two orders of magnitude for high-reflection- and by one order of magnitude for anti-reflection-coated samples. The experimental data demonstrate that the anti-reflection coatings suffer from substantial losses due to forward scattering, whereas backward scattering is the predominant loss channel for high-reflection coatings. In addition, the strong influence of defects and impurities on the total scattering is demonstrated. Received: 5 June 2000 / Accepted: 6 June 2000 / Published online: 13 September 2000     

The superconducting gap and an unidentified 110–190 K phase of YBa2Cu3O7 observed by far-infrared ellipsometry

We have measured the complex dielectric function of pure and Fe-doped YBa₂Cu₃O₇ ceramics, between 10 and 150 cm^–1 and 20 and 300 K, with a far-infrared, rotating-analyzer laser ellipsometer. The superconducting phase transition and the gap energy are clearly observable. The undoped ceramic exhibits remarkable dielectric hysteresis between 110 K and 190 K. This points to a still unidentified phase which we observe to be sensitive to a weak magnetic field.     

wave superconductivity: Analysis of the electronic Raman data of and other cuprates

After briefly recalling the d + s model valid for some anisotropic high T c superconductors, we present a theory of electronic Raman spectra in that model and then compare it with new experimental data obtained for an overdoped Y123 single crystal. The d + s model appears to describe satisfactorily the experimental results, indicating a possible doping dependence of the mixing ratio. We note that the Raman spectrum of the overdoped Bi2212 could also be accounted for by the d + s superconductivity model. The case of Hg1212 (or Hg1223) is reexamined. It appears that the spontaneous breakdown of d-wave symmetry may be rather universal in high T c cuprates. Received: 3 March 1998 / Accepted: 30 April 1998     

Coverage dependence of field emission flicker noise due to lithium adsorbed on the W(112) surface

Spectral density functions of field emission current fluctuations were investigated by a probe hole technique for lithium adsorbates on the tungsten (112) surface plane in the sub- to double monolayer range. The dependence of the spectral density on the lithium surface concentration obtained slightly above room temperature, shows maxima and minima. A correspondence is found between the extrema of the coverage dependent spectral density, features of the work function, and the film structures occurring with different adparticle densities. Commensurate lithium structures are clearly manifest in the noise power.     

Optical properties of ZnCr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>4</Subscript>

We studied the optical properties of antiferromagnetic ZnCr₂Se₄ by infrared spectroscopy up to 28,000 cm^-1 and for temperatures from 5 to 295 K. At the magnetic phase transition at 21 K, one of the four phonon modes reveals a clear splitting of 3 cm^-1 as a result of spin-phonon coupling, the other three optical eigenmodes only show shifts of the eigenfrequencies. The antiferromagnetic ordering and the concomitant splitting of the phonon mode can be suppressed in a magnetic field of 7 T. At higher energies we observed a broad excitation band which is dominated by a two-peak-structure at about 18,000 cm^-1 and 22,000 cm^-1, respectively. These energies are in good agreement with the expected spin-allowed crystal-field transitions of the Cr³⁺ ions. The unexpected strength of these transitions with d-d character is attributed to a considerable hybridization of the selenium p with the chromium d orbitals.