Improved magnesia for thermal control coatings

Formation of radiation-generated color centers using single crystals of magnesium oxide is discussed. Crystal structure of magnesium oxide is described. Chemical processes used to produce magnesium oxide with desired color center kinetics are presented. Proton irradiation of magnesium oxide crystals was conducted to determine lattice defects

Experimental Implications for a Linear Collider of the SUSY Dark Matter Scenario

This paper presents the detection issues for the lightest slepton \tilde{\tau}_1 at a future e^+e^- TeV collider given the dark matter constraints set on the SUSY mass spectrum by the WMAP results. It intends to illustrate the importance of an optimal detection of energetic electrons in the very forward region for an efficient rejection of the \gamma\gamma background. The TESLA parameters have been used in the case of head-on collisions and in the case of a 10, mrad half crossing angle.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures, Work presented at the International Conference on Linear Colliders (LCWS04), 19-23 April 2004, Le Carre des Sciences, Paris, Franc

Learning Design: reflections on a snapshot of the current landscape

The mounting wealth of open and readily available information and the swift evolution of social, mobile and creative technologies warrant a re-conceptualisation of the role of educators: from providers of knowledge to designers of learning. This need is being addressed by a growing trend of research in Learning Design. Responding to this trend, the Art and Science of Learning Design workshop brought together leading voices in the field and provided a forum for discussing its key issues. It focused on three thematic axes: practices and methods, tools and resources, and theoretical frameworks. This paper reviews some definitions of Learning Design and then summarises the main contributions to the workshop. Drawing upon these, we identify three key challenges for Learning Design that suggest directions for future research

Electric circuit networks equivalent to chaotic quantum billiards

We formulate two types of electric RLC resonance network equivalent to quantum billiards. In the network of inductors grounded by capacitors squared resonant frequencies are eigenvalues of the quantum billiard. In the network of capacitors grounded by inductors squared resonant frequencies are given by inverse eigen values of the billiard. In both cases local voltages play role of the wave function of the quantum billiard. However as different from quantum billiards there is a heat power because of resistance of the inductors. In the equivalent chaotic billiards we derive the distribution of the heat power which well describes numerical statistics.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Recurrent proofs of the irrationality of certain trigonometric values

We use recurrences of integrals to give new and elementary proofs of the irrationality of pi, tan(r) for all nonzero rational r, and cos(r) for all nonzero rational r^2. Immediate consequences to other values of the elementary transcendental functions are also discussed

Timing performance of 30-nm-wide superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors

We investigated the timing jitter of superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors (SNAPs, also referred to as cascade switching superconducting single photon detectors) based on 30-nm-wide nanowires. At bias currents (IB) near the switching current, SNAPs showed sub 35 ps FWHM Gaussian jitter similar to standard 100 nm wide superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. At lower values of IB, the instrument response function (IRF) of the detectors became wider, more asymmetric, and shifted to longer time delays. We could reproduce the experimentally observed IRF time-shift in simulations based on an electrothermal model, and explain the effect with a simple physical picture

Physics Case for the ILC Project: Perspective from Beyond the Standard Model

The International Linear Collider (ILC) has recently proven its technical maturity with the publication of a Technical Design Report, and there is a strong interest in Japan to host such a machine. We summarize key aspects of the Beyond the Standard Model physics case for the ILC in this contribution to the US High Energy Physics strategy process. On top of the strong guaranteed physics case in the detailed exploration of the recently discovered Higgs boson, the top quark and electroweak precision measurements, the ILC will offer unique opportunities which are complementary to the LHC program of the next decade. Many of these opportunities have connections to the Cosmic and Intensity Frontiers, which we comment on in detail. We illustrate the general picture with examples of how our world could turn out to be and what the ILC would contribute in these cases, with an emphasis on value-added beyond the LHC. These comprise examples from Supersymmetry including light Higgsinos, a comprehensive bottom-up coverage of NLSP-LSP combinations for slepton, squark, chargino and neutralino NLSP, a stau-coannihilation dark matter scenario and bilinear R-parity violation as explanation for neutrino masses and mixing, as well as generic WIMP searches and Little Higgs models as non-SUSY examples.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures. Contributed to Snowmass Community Summer Study 201

Gamow Shell-Model Description of Weakly Bound and Unbound Nuclear States

Recently, the shell model in the complex k-plane (the so-called Gamow Shell Model) has been formulated using a complex Berggren ensemble representing bound single-particle states, single-particle resonances, and non-resonant continuum states. In this framework, we shall discuss binding energies and energy spectra of neutron-rich helium and lithium isotopes. The single-particle basis used is that of the Hartree-Fock potential generated self-consistently by the finite-range residual interaction.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, presented by N. Michel at the XXVII Symposium On Nuclear Physics, Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico, January 5-8 200

Critical-Current Reduction in Thin Superconducting Wires Due to Current Crowding

We demonstrate experimentally that the critical current in superconducting NbTiN wires is dependent on their geometrical shape, due to current-crowding effects. Geometric patterns such as 90 degree corners and sudden expansions of wire width are shown to result in the reduction of critical currents. The results are relevant for single-photon detectors as well as parametric amplifiers