Positron Polarization at the International Linear Collider

We review some recent arguments supporting the upgrade of the International Linear Collider by a polarized positron beam, in addition to the polarized electron beam. The examples presented here mainly focus on the impact of positron polarization on items relevant to new physics searches, such as the identification of novel interactions in fermion-pair production and the formulation of new CP-sensitive observables. In particular, in addition to the benefits from positron and electron longitudinal polarizations, the advantages in this field of having transverse polarization of both beams are emphasized.Comment: Invited talk at 2005 International Linear Collider Workshop, Stanford Ca (LCWS05) 6 pages, LaTeX, 2 eps figure

Alex La Guma: the literary and political functions of marginality in the colonial situation

African Studies Center Working Paper No. 5

A quantitative description for optical mass measurements of single biomolecules

Label-free detection of single biomolecules in solution has been achieved using a variety of experimental approaches over the past decade. Yet, our understanding of the magnitude of the optical contrast and its relationship with the underlying atomic structure as well as the achievable measurement sensitivity and precision remain poorly defined. Here, we use a Fourier optics approach combined with an atomic structure-based molecular polarizability model to simulate mass photometry experiments from first principles. We find excellent agreement between several key experimentally determined parameters such as optical contrast-to-mass conversion, achievable mass accuracy, and molecular shape and orientation dependence. This allows us to determine detection sensitivity and measurement precision mostly independent of the optical detection approach chosen, resulting in a general framework for light-based single-molecule detection and quantification

A Quantitative Description for Optical Mass Measurement of Single Biomolecules

Label-free detection of single biomolecules in solution has been achieved using a variety of experimental approaches over the past decade. Yet, our understanding of the magnitude of the optical contrast and its relationship with the underlying atomic structure as well as the achievable measurement sensitivity and precision remain poorly defined. Here, we use a Fourier optics approach combined with an atomic structure-based molecular polarizability model to simulate mass photometry experiments from first principles. We find excellent agreement between several key experimentally determined parameters such as optical contrast-to-mass conversion, achievable mass accuracy, and molecular shape and orientation dependence. This allows us to determine detection sensitivity and measurement precision mostly independent of the optical detection approach chosen, resulting in a general framework for light-based single-molecule detection and quantification

Interface Reactions Dominate Low-Temperature CO Oxidation Activity over Pt/CeO2

First-principles-based kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and kinetic experiments are used to explore CO oxidation over Pt/CeO2. The simulations compare CO oxidation over a ceria-supported 1 nm particle with simulations of a free-standing particle and Pt(111). The onset of the CO oxidation over ceria supported Pt is shifted to lower temperatures compared to the unsupported systems thanks to a Mars-van Krevelen mechanism at the Pt/CeO2 interface perimeter, which is not sensitive to CO poisoning. Both the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism and the conventional Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism over the Pt nanoparticle are contributing to the conversion after the reaction onset. The reaction orders in CO and O2 are compared experimentally for Pt/CeO2 and Pt/Al2O3. The reaction orders over Pt/CeO2 are close to zero for both CO and O2, whereas the corresponding reaction orders are-0.75 and 0.68 over Pt/Al2O3. The measured zero orders for Pt/CeO2 show the absence of CO/O2 site competition and underline the relevance of interface reactions. The measurements for Pt/Al2O3 indicate that the main reaction path for CO oxidation over Pt is a conventional Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction. The results elucidate the interplay between condition-dependent reaction mechanisms for CO oxidation over Pt supported on reducible oxides

Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA)

The Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) is a staged experiment to measure 21 cm emission from the primordial intergalactic medium (IGM) throughout cosmic reionization ($z=6-12$), and to explore earlier epochs of our Cosmic Dawn ($z\sim30$). During these epochs, early stars and black holes heated and ionized the IGM, introducing fluctuations in 21 cm emission. HERA is designed to characterize the evolution of the 21 cm power spectrum to constrain the timing and morphology of reionization, the properties of the first galaxies, the evolution of large-scale structure, and the early sources of heating. The full HERA instrument will be a 350-element interferometer in South Africa consisting of 14-m parabolic dishes observing from 50 to 250 MHz. Currently, 19 dishes have been deployed on site and the next 18 are under construction. HERA has been designated as an SKA Precursor instrument. In this paper, we summarize HERA's scientific context and provide forecasts for its key science results. After reviewing the current state of the art in foreground mitigation, we use the delay-spectrum technique to motivate high-level performance requirements for the HERA instrument. Next, we present the HERA instrument design, along with the subsystem specifications that ensure that HERA meets its performance requirements. Finally, we summarize the schedule and status of the project. We conclude by suggesting that, given the realities of foreground contamination, current-generation 21 cm instruments are approaching their sensitivity limits. HERA is designed to bring both the sensitivity and the precision to deliver its primary science on the basis of proven foreground filtering techniques, while developing new subtraction techniques to unlock new capabilities. The result will be a major step toward realizing the widely recognized scientific potential of 21 cm cosmology.Comment: 26 pages, 24 figures, 2 table

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationI will describe a low-pressure flow-through 129Xe polarizer and report its performance by examining both the output 129Xe and in situ Rb polarization. The 129Xe polarization was made using standard NMR techniques, and the Rb polarization measurement was made using optically detected electron paramagnetic resonance. I compared the results of these measurements to a one-dimensional numerical model of the system. While we qualitatively understand the behavior of the system, the comparison between measurement and model reveals several inadequacies in our understanding of many important physical mechanisms. I will discuss the relevant physics necessary to qualitatively understand the system's behavior and suggest what mechanisms may cause the discrepancies in the modeled and measured behavior. I will demonstrate the utility of this Xe polarizer by measuring xenon's chemical shift dependence on the concentration of Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor (BPTI) and some of its mutants. Mutants Y23A and F45G have measured dependence of 0.56±0.05 ppm/mM and 0.47±0.07 ppm/mM, respectively, which is consistent with relatively strong, manufactured binding sites in the structure. Wild type BPTI has a measured dependence of only 0.15±0.02 ppm/mM, suggesting that there exists no specific binding site to which Xe can bind. Finally, the mutant Y35G has a dependence of 0.10±0.07 ppm/mM. This, with previous data, suggests that a large fraction of solution-phase Y35G does not exist in a conformation that allows Xe access to its binding cavity