Neutrino Factory Superbeam

We discuss the optimization of a neutrino factory for large \sin^2 2 \theta_{13}, where we assume minimum effort on the accelerator side. This implies that we use low muon energies for the price of an optimized detection system. We demonstrate that such a neutrino factory performs excellent if combined with the electron neutrino appearance channel. Instead of the platinum channel operated with the muon neutrinos from the muon decays, we propose to use the initial superbeam from the decaying pions and kaons, which might be utilized at little extra effort. Since we assume out-of-phase bunches arriving at the same detector, we do not require electron charge identification. In addition, we can choose the proton energy such that we obtain a synergistic spectrum peaking at lower energies. We find that both the superbeam and the neutrino factory beam should used at the identical baseline to reduce matter density uncertainties, possibly with the same detector. This effectively makes the configuration a single experiment, which we call ``neutrino factory superbeam''. We demonstrate that this experiment outperforms a low-energy neutrino factory or a wide band beam alone beyond a simple addition of statistics.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Neutrino oscillation physics with a FNAL proton driver

We discuss the need of a proton driver for the Fermilab neutrino oscillation program, as well as its role in the global context.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure; Talk given at the NuFact 05 workshop, June 21-26, Frascati, Ital

Approximation algorithms for the normalizing constant of Gibbs distributions

Consider a family of distributions $\{\pi_{\beta}\}$ where $X\sim\pi_{\beta}$ means that $\mathbb{P}(X=x)=\exp(-\beta H(x))/Z(\beta)$. Here $Z(\beta)$ is the proper normalizing constant, equal to $\sum_x\exp(-\beta H(x))$. Then $\{\pi_{\beta}\}$ is known as a Gibbs distribution, and $Z(\beta)$ is the partition function. This work presents a new method for approximating the partition function to a specified level of relative accuracy using only a number of samples, that is, $O(\ln(Z(\beta))\ln(\ln(Z(\beta))))$ when $Z(0)\geq1$. This is a sharp improvement over previous, similar approaches that used a much more complicated algorithm, requiring $O(\ln(Z(\beta))\ln(\ln(Z(\beta)))^5)$ samples.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/14-AAP1015 the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Parameters for apple quality and an outline for a new concept of quality

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. The commonly used concept of quality in relation to food, with its emphasis on external appearance and nutritional content is not sufficient for organic products and their market. In response a quality concept known as ‘vital quality’ has been developed based on the life processes (growth and differentiation) and corresponding product attributes (vitality, structure and coherence). The research project presented is based on the evaluation of the quality of apples, specifically cultivated for the research project with variation in picking date, bearing, sun exposure, bio-dynamic preparations and ageing after storage. Quality measurements included traditional methods used routinely to assess apple quality and also experimental parameters which are expected to be relevant for vital quality. The experimental parameters appeared to supplement the traditional parameters in a consideration of quality. The concept of ‘vital quality’ is a valuable one for the consideration of wider aspects of quality within organic farming systems and should be further develope

Establishing Local Certification Bodies In Developing and Transition Economies

There are certification bodies from Western countries offering their services all over the world providing efficient, reliable and qualified services. Nevertheless there are good arguments for establishing local certification bodies in developing and transition economies. FiBL has been cooperating with local certification bodies in South-Eastern Europe (Albinspekt in Albania, Balkan Biocert in Bulgaria and Macedonia, Ecoinspect in Romania) and Asia (Biocert in Indonesia, Indocert in India, LibanCert in Lebanon and OFDC in China). These certification bodies are part of the local organic movement either by a multiple ownership reflecting the sector or by involving the sector in committees. The following report describes the opportunities but also the challenges of setting up local organic certification bodies