Locating transition states using double-ended classical trajectories

In this paper we present a method for locating transition states and higher-order saddles on potential energy surfaces using double-ended classical trajectories. We then apply this method to 7- and 8-atom Lennard-Jones clusters, finding one previously unreported transition state for the 7-atom cluster and two for the 8-atom cluster.Comment: Journal of Chemical Physics, 13 page

Quantum Annealing: A New Method for Minimizing Multidimensional Functions

Quantum annealing is a new method for finding extrema of multidimensional functions. Based on an extension of classical, simulated annealing, this approach appears robust with respect to avoiding local minima. Further, unlike some of its predecessors, it does not require an approximation to a wavefunction. In this paper, we apply the technique to the problem of finding the lowest energy configurations of Lennard-Jones clusters of up to 19 particles (roughly 10$^5$ local minima). This early success suggests that this method may complement the widely implemented technique of simulated annealing

Orbit determination support of the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon operational orbit

The Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX/Poseidon) mission is designed to determine the topography of the Earth's sea surface over a 3-year period, beginning shortly after launch in July 1992. TOPEX/Poseidon is a joint venture between the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the French Centre Nationale d'Etudes Spatiales. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is NASA's TOPEX/Poseidon project center. The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) will nominally be used to support the day-to-day orbit determination aspects of the mission. Due to its extensive experience with TDRSS tracking data, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) will receive and process TDRSS observational data. To fulfill the scientific goals of the mission, it is necessary to achieve and maintain a very precise orbit. The most stringent accuracy requirements are associated with planning and evaluating orbit maneuvers, which will place the spacecraft in its mission orbit and maintain the required ground track. To determine if the FDF can meet the TOPEX/Poseidon maneuver accuracy requirements, covariance analysis was undertaken with the Orbit Determination Error Analysis System (ODEAS). The covariance analysis addressed many aspects of TOPEX/Poseidon orbit determination, including arc length, force models, and other processing options. The most recent analysis has focused on determining the size of the geopotential field necessary to meet the maneuver support requirements. Analysis was undertaken with the full 50 x 50 Goddard Earth Model (GEM) T3 field as well as smaller representations of this model

Flight dynamics facility operational orbit determination support for the ocean topography experiment

The Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX/POSEIDON) mission is designed to determine the topography of the Earth's sea surface across a 3 yr period, beginning with launch in June 1992. The Goddard Space Flight Center Dynamics Facility has the capability to operationally receive and process Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) tracking data. Because these data will be used to support orbit determination (OD) aspects of the TOPEX mission, the Dynamics Facility was designated to perform TOPEX operational OD. The scientific data require stringent OD accuracy in navigating the TOPEX spacecraft. The OD accuracy requirements fall into two categories: (1) on orbit free flight; and (2) maneuver. The maneuver OD accuracy requirements are of two types; premaneuver planning and postmaneuver evaluation. Analysis using the Orbit Determination Error Analysis System (ODEAS) covariance software has shown that, during the first postlaunch mission phase of the TOPEX mission, some postmaneuver evaluation OD accuracy requirements cannot be met. ODEAS results also show that the most difficult requirements to meet are those that determine the change in the components of velocity for postmaneuver evaluation

Observation of η_c(1S) and η_c(2S) decays to K^+K^-π^+π^-π^0 in two-photon interactions

We study the processes γγ→K_S^0K^±π^∓ and γγ→K^+K^-π^+π-π^0 using a data sample of 519.2fb^(-1) recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e^+e^- collider at center-of-mass energies near the Υ(nS) (n=2, 3, 4) resonances. We observe the η_c(1S), χ_(c0)(1P) and η_c(2S) resonances produced in two-photon interactions and decaying to K^+K^-π^+π^-π^0, with significances of 18.1, 5.4 and 5.3 standard deviations (including systematic errors), respectively, and report 4.0σ evidence of the χ_(c2)(1P) decay to this final state. We measure the η_c(2S) mass and width in K_S^0K^±π^∓ decays, and obtain the values m(η_c(2S))=3638.5±1.5±0.8  MeV/c^2 and Γ(η_c(2S))=13.4±4.6±3.2  MeV, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. We measure the two-photon width times branching fraction for the reported resonance signals, and search for the χ_(c2)(2P) resonance, but no significant signal is observed

Evidence for the decay X(3872)→J/ψω

We present a study of the decays B^(0,+)→J/ψπ^+π^-π^0K^(0,+), using 467×10^6 BB[overbar] pairs recorded with the BABAR detector. We present evidence for the decay mode X(3872)→J/ψω, with product branching fractions B(B^+→X(3872)K^+)×B(X(3872)→J/ψω)=[0.6±0.2(stat)±0.1(syst)]×10^(-5), and B(B^0→X(3872)K^0)×B(X(3872)→J/ψω)=[0.6±0.3(stat)±0.1(syst)]×10^(-5). A detailed study of the π^+π^-π^0 mass distribution from X(3872) decay favors a negative-parity assignment

Measurement of the B → D̅ ^((*))D^((*))K branching fractions

We present a measurement of the branching fractions of the 22 decay channels of the B^0 and B+ mesons to D̅ ^((*))D^((*))K, where the D^((*)) and D̅ ^((*)) mesons are fully reconstructed. Summing the 10 neutral modes and the 12 charged modes, the branching fractions are found to be B(B^0→D̅6((*))D^((*))K)=(3.68 ± 0.10 ± 0.24)% and B(B^+→D̅ ^((*))D^((*))K)=(4.05 ± 0.11 ± 0.28)%, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results are based on 429  fb^(-1) of data containing 471 × 10^6BB̅ pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Analysis of the D^+ → K^-π^+e^+ν_e decay channel

Using 347.5  fb^(-1) of data recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II electron-positron collider, 244×10^3 signal events for the D^+ → K^-π^+e^+ν_e decay channel are analyzed. This decay mode is dominated by the K̅ ^*(892)^0 contribution. We determine the K̅ ^*(892)^0 parameters: m_(K^*(892)^0)=(895.4±0.2±0.2)  MeV/c^2, Γ_(K^*(892)^0)=(46.5±0.3±0.2)  MeV/c^2, and the Blatt-Weisskopf parameter r_(BW) =2.1±0.5±0.5  (GeV/c)^-1, where the first uncertainty comes from statistics and the second from systematic uncertainties. We also measure the parameters defining the corresponding hadronic form factors at q^2 = 0 (r_V = ^(V(0))/_(A1(0)) = 1.463 ± 0.017 ± 0.031, r_2 = _(A1(0)) ^(A2(0))= 0.801±0.020±0.020) and the value of the axial-vector pole mass parametrizing the q^2 variation of A_1 and A_2: m_A=(2.63±0.10±0.13)  GeV/c^2. The S-wave fraction is equal to (5.79±0.16±0.15)%. Other signal components correspond to fractions below 1%. Using the D^+ → K^-π^+π^+ channel as a normalization, we measure the D^+ semileptonic branching fraction: B(D^+ → K^-π^+e^+ν_e)=(4.00±0.03±0.04±0.09)×10^(-2), where the third uncertainty comes from external inputs. We then obtain the value of the hadronic form factor A_1 at q^2=0: A_1(0)=0.6200±0.0056±0.0065±0.0071. Fixing the P-wave parameters, we measure the phase of the S wave for several values of the Kπ mass. These results confirm those obtained with Kπ production at small momentum transfer in fixed target experiments

Limits on τ lepton-flavor violating decays into three charged leptons

A search for the neutrinoless, lepton-flavor violating decay of the τ lepton into three charged leptons has been performed using an integrated luminosity of 468  fb^(-1) collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider. In all six decay modes considered, the numbers of events found in data are compatible with the background expectations. Upper limits on the branching fractions are set in the range (1.8–3.3)×10^(-8) at 90% confidence level