Testing conformal mapping with kitchen aluminum foil

We report an experimental verification of conformal mapping with kitchen aluminum foil. This experiment can be reproduced in any laboratory by undergraduate students and it is therefore an ideal experiment to introduce the concept of conformal mapping. The original problem was the distribution of the electric potential in a very long plate. The correct theoretical prediction was recently derived by A. Czarnecki (Can. J. Phys. 92, 1297 (2014))

Can we observe the gravitational quantum states of Positronium?

In this paper we consider the feasibility of observing the gravitational quantum states of positronium. The proposed scheme employs the flow-throw technique used for the first observation of this effect with neutrons. Collimation and Stark deceleration of Rydberg positronium atoms allow to select the required velocity class. If this experiment could be realized with positronium it would lead to a determination of g for this matter-antimatter system at the few % level. As discussed in this contribution, most of the required techniques are currently available but important milestones have to be demonstrated experimentally before such an experiment could become reality. Those are: the efficient focusing of a bunched positron beam, Stark deceleration of Rydberg positronium and its subsequent excitation into states with large angular momentum. We provide an estimate of the efficiencies we expect for these steps and assuming those could be confirmed we calculate the signal rate.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure, contribution to the GRANIT 2014 workshop: Quantum gravitationnal spectroscopy with ultra-cold system

A new approach for the ortho-positronium lifetime determination in a vacuum cavity

Currently, the experimental uncertainty for the determination of the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) decay rate is at 150 ppm precision; this is two orders of magnitude lower than the theoretical one, at 1 ppm level. Here we propose a new proof of concept experiment aiming for an accuracy of 100 ppm to be able to test the second-order correction in the calculations, which is $\simeq 45\left(\frac{\alpha}{\pi}\right)^2\approx 200$ ppm. The improvement relies on a new technique to confine the o-Ps in a vacuum cavity. Moreover, a new method was developed to subtract the time dependent pick-off annihilation rate of the fast backscattered positronium from the o-Ps decay rate prior to fitting the distribution. Therefore, this measurement will be free from the systematic errors present in the previous experiments. The same experimental setup developed for our recent search for invisible decay of ortho-positronium is being used. The precision will be limited by the statistical uncertainty, thus, if the expectations are fulfilled, this experiment could pave the way to reach the ultimate accuracy of a few ppm level to confirm or confront directly the higher order QED corrections. This will provide a sensitive test for new physics, e.g. a discrepancy between theoretical prediction and measurements could hint the existence of an hidden sector which is a possible dark matter candidate.Comment: 12 pages, 8 Figures, prepared for the proceedings of the PSAS2018 conference, Vienna (Austria

Specific heat study of Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov superconducting states in multibands materials - Iron-based Systems

The Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase is the superconducting state for which the Cooper pairs have non-zero total momentum. From the time of conception of this phase, many groups have been searching for a realization of the state. Here we describe a proposal of experimental verification of this state in the case of multibands systems, by carrying out the specific-heat measurement

A new experiment to search for the invisible decay of the orthopositronium

We propose an experiment to search for invisible decays of orthopositronium (o-Ps) with a 90% confidence sensitivity in the branching ratio as low as $10^{-8}$. Evidence for this decay mode would unambigously signal new physics: either the existence of extra--dimensions or fractionally charged particles or new light gauge bosons. The experimental approach and the detector components of the proposed experiment are described.Comment: Based on a talk given at Workshop on Positronium Physics, Zurich, Switzerland, 30-31 May 200

Spatial confinement of muonium atoms

We report the achievement of spatial confinement of muonium atoms (the bound state of a positive muon and an electron). Muonium emitted into vacuum from mesoporous silica reflects between two SiO$_2$ confining surfaces separated by 1 mm. From the data, one can extract that the reflection probability on the confining surfaces kept at 100 K is about 90% and the reflection process is well described by a cosine law. This technique enables new experiments with this exotic atomic system and is a very important step towards a measurement of the 1S-2S transition frequency using continuous wave laser spectroscopy.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Solución numérica del problema de transmisión de calor con cambio de fase

Este trabajo resume el estado del arte de la solución numérica de los problemas de transmisión de calor con cambio de fase. Su objetivo consiste en presentar algoritmos en función de su capacidad de encarar problemas ingenieriles, dejando de lado los aspectos teóricos referidos a la convergencia de la solución numérica a-la solución matemática clásica del problema. Se detallan las ventajas y desventajas de los diferentes esquemas para que se pueda efectuar la selección del método más conveniente para un problema determinado. Asimismo se indican cuáles son las tendencias de investigación actuales y las posibilidades futuras en el área. Se incluye una serie de ejemplos numéricos para remarcar los aspectos destacables de los métodos tratados en el trabajo.Peer Reviewe

El Taller lítico LY 041-La Divisoria (Departamento Pilcaniyeu, Provincia de Río Negro)

En el taller lítico LY 041-La Divisoria, situado en el sudoeste de la estepa rionegrina, se prepararon artefactos bifaciales en rocas dacíticas procedentes de la cercana cantera Paso Limay. Habría sido un satélite del alero Carriqueo, un pequeño sitio de vivienda muy próximo, del cual se habrían segregado algunas tareas de talla, que generan muchos desechos potencialmente molestos o peligrosos. Además, desde el sitio se tiene buena visibilidad del paisaje. Subsidiariamente, en LY 041-La Divisoria se habrían realizado algunas tareas de procesamiento de materiales orgánicos. Este sitio corrobora que para los cazadores-recolectores de la comarca, la cantera Paso Limay tuvo un papel central en el aprovisionamiento de roca para puntas de proyectil.LY 041-La Divisoria is a lithic workshop in the southwestern steppe of the Río Negro Province, Argentina, where dacite brought from the Paso Limay quarry was reduced bifacially. This workshop would have been a satellite of close-by Carriqueo rockshelter, a small living cite from which certain tasks were sometimes shifted because they generated encumbering refuse. LY 041-La Divisoria provided also a good view of the environment. Subsidiarily, some processing of organic materials was carried out. LY 041-La Divisoria corroborates that for the local hunter-gatherers, the Paso Limay quarry was of major importance for the provisioning of raw material for projectile-points.Fil: Crivelli Montero, Eduardo A. . Universidad de Buenos AiresFil: Ramos, Mariano S. . Universidad Nacional de Lujá