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At least 829 records · Page 46

Ion acceleration at CME-driven shocks near the Earth and the Sun

We compare the behavior of heavy ion spectra during an Energetic Storm Particle (ESP) event that exhibited clear evidence of wave excitation with that observed during an intense, large gradual Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) event in which the associated <0.2 MeV/nucleon ions are delayed >12 hr. We interpret that the ESP event is an example of the first-order Fermi acceleration process where enhancements in the magnetic field power spectral densities around local ion cyclotron frequency {nu}{sub pc} indicate the presence of Alfven waves excited by accelerated protons streaming away from the in-situ interplanetary shock. The softening or unfolding of the CNO energy spectrum below {approx}200 keV/nucleon and the systematic organization of the Fe and O spectral roll-overs with the E/q ratio during the ESP event are likely due to M/Q-dependent trapping and scattering of the heavy ions by the proton-excited waves. Based on striking similarities in the spectral behavior observed upstream of both, the ESP and the SEP event, we suggest that coupling between proton-generated Alfven waves and energetic ions is also operating at the distant CME shock during the large, gradual SEP event, thereby providing us with a new, powerful tool to remotely probe the roles of shock geometries and wave-particle interactions at near-Sun CME-driven shocks.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Spin–isospin effects on Isgur–Wise function for heavy-baryon transitions

In this paper, the baryonic wave function has been obtained with the Cornell potential, a combination of linear and Coulomb terms, using the hyper-radial Schrödinger equation and an improved variational method while on the other hand, hyperfine interactions are considered, including smeared standard hyperfine term, isospin dependent and spin–isospin dependent terms in order to improve the results. Then, the baryonic Isgur–Wise function in hyperspherical coordinates has been investigated employing both mentioned wave functions. Finally, in particular, the charged radius and the decay width of transition have been reported for both methods and compared with those obtained in experiments or theories.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Nuclear effects in neutrino oscillation experiments

We have studied the nuclear medium effects in the neutrino(antineutrino) induced interactions in nuclei which are relevant for present neutrino oscillation experiments in the few GeV energy region. The study is specially focused on calculating the cross sections and the event rates for atmospheric and accelerator neutrino experiments. The nuclear effects are found to be important for the quasielastic lepton production and the charged current incoherent and coherent pion production processes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Phase structure of quark systems in models with four-fermion interaction

The features of a hot and dense gas of quarks that are considered as quasiparticles of a model Hamiltonian with four-fermion interaction are studied. Adapted to the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, this approach allows us to accommodate a phase transition similar to the nuclear liquid-gas one. Arguments are given in favor of the statement that a plausible scenario of (partial) chiral-symmetry restoration (even at zero temperature) in such a system could be a mixed phase of the vacuum and normal baryonic matter. The properties of the transition layer separating the two media in question are also discussed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Nonstandard neutrino interactions in supernovae

Nonstandard interactions (NSI) of neutrinos with matter can significantly alter neutrino flavor evolution in supernovae with the potential to impact explosion dynamics, nucleosynthesis, and the neutrinos signal. In this paper, we explore, both numerically and analytically, the landscape of neutrino flavor transformation effects in supernovae due to NSI and find a new, heretofore unseen transformation processes can occur. These new transformations can take place with NSI strengths well below current experimental limits. Within a broad swath of NSI parameter space, we observe symmetric and standard matter-neutrino resonances for supernovae neutrinos, a transformation effect previously only seen in compact object merger scenarios; in another region of the parameter space we find the NSI can induce neutrino collective effects in scenarios where none would appear with only the standard case of neutrino oscillation physics; and in a third region the NSI can lead to the disappearance of the high density Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein resonance. Using a variety of analytical tools, we are able to describe quantitatively the numerical results allowing us to partition the NSI parameter according to the transformation processes observed. Here our results indicate nonstandard interactions of supernova neutrinos provide a sensitive probe of beyond the Standard Model physics complementary to present and future terrestrial experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Interaction of elliptically polarised cross-degenerate cnoidal waves in an isotropic gyrotropic medium with spatial dispersion of cubic nonlinearity

Three unusual classes of particular analytical solutions to a system of four nonlinear equations are found for slowly varying complex amplitudes of circularly polarised components of the electric field. The system describes the self-action and interaction of two elliptically polarised plane waves collinearly propagating in an isotropic medium with second-order frequency dispersion and spatial dispersion of cubic nonlinearity. The solutions correspond to self-consistent combinations of two elliptically polarised cnoidal waves whose mutually orthogonal polarisation components vary in accordance with pairwise identical laws during propagation. At the same time, the amplitudes of the component with the same circular polarisation are proportional to two different elliptic Jacobi functions with the same periods. (nonlinear optical phenomena)

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Investigation of Single and Pair Production of J/ψ Particles in the D0 Experiment at the Tevatron Accelerator

In this paper, the results of investigation of single and pair production of J/ψ mesons in the D0 experiment at the Tevatron accelerator are considered. The contributions of single and double parton interactions to the total cross section of the pair production of J/ψ mesons are estimated for the first time. With the help of these measurements, the effective cross section of double parton interactions σ{sub eff} was calculated.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Extended Brueckner-Hartree-Fock theory with pionic correlation in finite nuclei

Highlights: > We formulate a many-body theory with explicit treatment of tensor correlations. > The Hartree-Fock (HF) model space is extended to include 2-particle 2-hole states. > This extended HF equation has a structure of the Brueckner theory. > Single-particle states are obtained under the influence of the tensor correlation. > This framework is interpreted by the Feshbach projection method. - Abstract: We formulate a nuclear many-body theory with explicit treatment of the strong tensor correlation caused by the pion-exchange interaction. To do this, we have to extend the Hartree-Fock variational model space to include 2-particle 2-hole (2p-2h) states, which are able to handle the tensor correlation and to contain high momentum components originating from its pseudo-scalar nature of the pion. We take the variational principle of the total energy, and obtain equations of motion for the variational parameters as the Hartree-Fock single particle states and 2p-2h states. As for the short range repulsion, we use the unitary correlation operator method (UCOM) to express the short range correlation in the ground state wave function. We then arrive at an extended Hartree-Fock equation with the inclusion of the effect of the pion exchange and short range repulsive interactions. We find this extended Hartree-Fock equation has a structure of the Brueckner theory. Thus, we name the present theoretical framework as an extended Brueckner-Hartree-Fock (EBHF) theory. We compare the EBHF theory with the Feshbach projection method and the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock theory.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Testing strong-field QED with the avalanche precursor

A two-beam high-power laser facility is essential for the study of one of the most captivating phenomena predicted by strong-field quantum electrodynamics (QED) and yet unobserved experimentally: the avalanche-type cascade. In such a cascade, the energy of intense laser light can be efficiently transformed into high-energy radiation and electron–positron pairs. The future 50-petawatt-scale laser facility NSF OPAL will provide unique opportunities for studying such strong-field QED effects, as it is designed to deliver two ultra-intense, tightly focused laser pulses onto the interaction point. In this work, we investigate the potential of such a facility for studying elementary particle and plasma dynamics deeply in the quantum radiation-dominated (RD) regime, and the generation of QED avalanches. With three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate that QED avalanche precursors can be reliably triggered under realistic laser parameters and layout (namely, focusing f/2, tilted optical axes, and non-ideal co-pointing) with the anticipated capabilities of NSF OPAL. We demonstrate that seed electrons can be efficiently injected into the laser focus by using targets of three types: a gas of heavy atoms, an overcritical plasma, and a thin foil. A strong positron and high-energy photon signal is generated in all cases. The cascade properties can be identified from the final particle distributions, which have a clear directional pattern. At increasing laser field intensity, such distributions provide signatures of the transition, first, to the RD interaction regime, and then to a QED avalanche. Our findings can also be used for designing related future experiments.

Lasers↗

Dipion invariant mass distribution of the anomalous {Upsilon}(1S){pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} and {Upsilon}(2S){pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} production near the peak of {Upsilon}(10860)

Considering the defects of the previous work for estimating the anomalous production rates of e{sup +}e{sup -}{yields}{Upsilon}(1S){pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}, {Upsilon}(2S){pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} near the peak of the {Upsilon}(5S) resonance at {radical}(s)=10.87 GeV [K. F. Chen et al. (Belle Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 112001 (2008)], we suggest a new scenario where the contributions from the direct dipion transition and the final-state interactions interfere to result in not only the anomalously large production rates, but also line shapes of the differential widths consistent with experimental measurement when assuming the reactions are due to the dipion emission of {Upsilon}(5S). At the end, we raise a new puzzle that the predicted differential width d{Gamma}({Upsilon}(5S){yields}{Upsilon}(2S){pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -})/dcos{theta} has a discrepant trend from the data while other predictions are well in accord with the data. It should be further clarified by more accurate measurements carried by future experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Neutrino Nuclear Responses For Neutrino Studies In Nuclear Femto Laboratories

Neutrinos are key particles for particle and astro-nuclear physics. Majorana neutrino masses and phases, solar and supernova neutrino productions and oscillations, and neutrino nuclear synthesis and fundamental weak interactions are well studied in nuclei as femto laboratories. Here neutrino nuclear responses are crucial for the neutrino studies. This reports briefly experimental studies of neutrino nuclear responses, charge exchange reactions on Ga to study nuclear responses for solar and {sup 51}Cr neutrinos, and {beta}{sup +} neutrino responses for {beta}{beta}-{nu} matrix elements and astro {nu} interactions by photon and muon probes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Single-pion production cross sections at MiniBooNE

The MiniBooNE experiment has prepared an almost pure beam of muon-neutrinos over an energy range of a few-hundred MeV to a few GeV with a sample of roughly one-million neutrino interactions. Detailed cross-section measurements have been performed spanning 89% of the total neutrino-interaction rate. Specifically, three single-pion production mechanisms have been measured in detail. These measurements are important for a myriad of reasons: Neutral-current neutral-pion production is an important background for electron-neutrino appearance searches, Charged-current charged-pion production is the single largest background for quasi-elastic scattering and also provides the purest sample of events at these energies, and charge-current neutral-pion production provides a pure measure of incoherent pion production. Each of these processes required custom event reconstructions due to the particulars of the final-state particles. In addition, the sample selections and analyses will be discussed in detail. Many single-pion cross-section measurements, and their possible implications will be presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

X-ray generation by fast electrons propagating in nanofibres irradiated by a laser pulse of relativistic intensity

Numerical simulations were made of the interaction of a relativistically intense laser pulse with a target consisting of nanometre fibres. Fast electrons were shown to execute forced betatron oscillations in the electrostatic fibre field and the laser field. The fibre diameter was determined whereby the amplitude of betatron electron oscillations is resonantly increased. The power of coherent X-ray betatron radiation of the electron bunch was calculated outside of the resonance domain and in the resonance case. We showed that the laser-to-X-ray betatron radiation conversion coefficient in the resonance case amounts to a few percent and the target made up of nanometre fibres may be regarded as an efficient laser-driven source of coherent X- and gamma-ray radiation. (interaction of laser radiation with matter. laser plasma)

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Tevatron greatest hits

The Tevatron collider led the World energy frontier program in particle physics during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. During this exciting period the standard model of particle physics was in its final stages of development and the search for physics beyond the standard model became one of the main research topics. In this review article we summarize the design and performance of the Tevatron collider and its two detectors, CDF and D0, as well as their evolution. Here, highlights of the Tevatron scientific results are provided, including the discovery of the top quark and measurements of its properties, studies and discoveries of the particles containing heavy quarks, precision studies of the strong and electroweak forces, searches for beyond the standard model particles and interactions, as well as the hunt for the Higgs boson.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Microscopic theory of onset of decaging and bond-breaking activated dynamics in ultradense fluids with strong short-range attractions

We theoretically study thermally activated “in cage” elementary dynamical processes that precede full structural relaxation in ultra-dense particle liquids interacting via strong short range attractive forces. The analysis is based on a microscopic theory formulated at the particle trajectory level built on the dynamic free energy concept and an explicit treatment of how attractive forces control the formation and lifetime of physical bonds. Mean time scales for bond breaking, the early stage of cage escape, and non-Fickian displacement by a fixed amount are analyzed in the repulsive glass, bonded repulsive (attractive) glass, fluid, and dense gel regimes. The theory predicts a strong length-scale-dependent growth of these time scales with attractive force strength at fixed packing fraction, a much weaker slowing down with density at fixed attraction strength, and a strong decoupling of the shorter bond breaking time with the other two time scales that are controlled mainly by perturbed steric caging. All results are in good accord with simulations, and additional testable predictions are made. In conclusion, the classic statistical mechanical projection approximation of replacing all bare attractive and repulsive forces with a single effective force determined by pair structure incurs major errors for describing processes associated with thermally activated escape from transiently localized states.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nuclear and particle physics in the early universe

Basic principles and implications of Big Bang cosmology are reviewed, noting the physical evidence of a previous universe temperature of 10,000 K and theoretical arguments such as grand unification decoupling indicating a primal temperature of 10 to the 15th eV. The Planck time of 10 to the -43rd sec after the Big Bang is set as the limit before which gravity was quantized and nothing is known. Gauge theories of elementary particle physics are reviewed for successful predictions of similarity in weak and electromagnetic interactions and quantum chromodynamic predictions for strong interactions. The large number of photons in the universe relative to the baryons is considered and the grand unified theories are cited as showing the existence of baryon nonconservation as an explanation. Further attention is given to quark-hadron phase transition, the decoupling for the weak interaction and relic neutrinos, and Big Bang nucleosynthesis.

Schramm, D. N.↗