Ritorno radiativo per la misura di R: come e perche

The measurement of the pion form factor and, more generally, of the cross section for electron--positron annihilation into hadrons through the radiative return has become an important task for high luminosity colliders such as the $\Phi$- or $B$-meson factories. This quantity is crucial for predictions of the hadronic contributions to $(g-2)_\mu$, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, and to the running of the electromagnetic coupling. But the radiative return opens also the possibility of many other physical applications. The physics potential of this method at high luminosity meson factories is discussed and recent results are reviewed.Comment: Talk given in italian at Incontri sulla Fisica delle Alte Energie, Lecce, Italy, Apr 2003; 4 page

Exploring the Influence of Personal Identity and Nostalgia on Memory Reconstruction in Thomas Brussig’s Sonnenallee (Sun Avenue)

Thomas Brussig ends his novel Sonnenallee with the following sentiment: Glueckliche Menschen haben ein schlechtes Gedaechtnis und reiche Erinnerungen [loose translation: Happy people have a bad memory and rich (or abundant) memories ]. Through the protagonist, Micha Kuppisch, Brussig explores the effects of both identity and nostalgia on the perceived worth of any one person\u27s or group\u27s history. This discussion revolves around the following questions: What effect do positive and negative experiences have on memory reconstruction? How much does retrospect influence a story? What are an author\u27s motivations for writing a story? And how could this all relate to Germany\u27s recent reunification (1990) and dire search for collective identity based on a largely tragic past century of events? Through an examination of these dilemmas, I argue that Brussig shows us the necessity for a bad memory and rich memories ; that is, the importance of an honest reconciling of negative events of the past with those which are positive. Through it comes a healing process at both the levels of individual and community that allows all parties to embrace that which is meaningful from the past in order to move with freedom towards a better ( happier ) future