Meson Exchange Currents in Kaon Scattering on the Lightest Nuclei

The K^+ scattering on the lightest nuclei, d, 3He and 4He is studied in the framework of multiple scattering theory. Effects from MEC tied to the K^+N-->KNpi reaction are evaluated. We found that at momentum transfers Q^2<0.5 (GeV/c)^2 contributions from MEC are much smaller than kaon rescattering corrections. This makes the conventional multiple scattering picture a reliable tool to study these reactions in this kinematical domain and to extract the K^+n scattering amplitude from the K^+d data. At larger transferred momentum MEC can become more relevant.Comment: revtex, 16 pages, 6 figure

Neutral current coherent pion production

We investigate the neutrino induced coherent pion production reaction at low and intermediate energies. The model includes pion, nucleon and Delta(1232) resonance as the relevant hadronic degrees of freedom. Nuclear medium effects on the production mechanisms and pion distortion are taken into account. We obtain that the dominance of the Delta excitation holds due to large cancellations among the background contributions. We consider two sets of vector and axial-vector N-Delta transition form-factors, evidencing the strong sensitivity of the results to the axial coupling C5A(0). The differences between neutrino and antineutrino cross sections, emerging from interference terms, are also discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, minor corrections, a few references adde

Generating functional analysis of complex formation and dissociation in large protein interaction networks

We analyze large systems of interacting proteins, using techniques from the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of disordered many-particle systems. Apart from protein production and removal, the most relevant microscopic processes in the proteome are complex formation and dissociation, and the microscopic degrees of freedom are the evolving concentrations of unbound proteins (in multiple post-translational states) and of protein complexes. Here we only include dimer-complexes, for mathematical simplicity, and we draw the network that describes which proteins are reaction partners from an ensemble of random graphs with an arbitrary degree distribution. We show how generating functional analysis methods can be used successfully to derive closed equations for dynamical order parameters, representing an exact macroscopic description of the complex formation and dissociation dynamics in the infinite system limit. We end this paper with a discussion of the possible routes towards solving the nontrivial order parameter equations, either exactly (in specific limits) or approximately.Comment: 14 pages, to be published in Proc of IW-SMI-2009 in Kyoto (Journal of Phys Conference Series

High-resolution radio imaging of two luminous quasars beyond redshift 4.5

Context. Radio-loud active galactic nuclei in the early Universe are rare. The quasars J0906+6930 at redshift z=5.47 and J2102+6015 at z=4.57 stand out from the known sample with their compact emission on milliarcsecond (mas) angular scale with high (0.1-Jy level) flux densities measured at GHz radio frequencies. This makes them ideal targets for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations. Aims. By means of VLBI imaging we can reveal the inner radio structure of quasars and model their brightness distribution to better understand the geometry of the jet and the physics of the sources. Methods. We present sensitive high-resolution VLBI images of J0906+6930 and J2102+6015 at two observing frequencies, 2.3 and 8.6 GHz. The data were taken in an astrometric observing programme involving a global five-element radio telescope array. We combined the data from five different epochs from 2017 February to August. Results. For one of the highest redshift blazars known, J0906+6930, we present the first-ever VLBI image obtained at a frequency below 8 GHz. Based on our images at 2.3 and 8.6 GHz, we confirm that this source has a sharply bent helical inner jet structure within ~3 mas from the core. The quasar J2102+6015 shows an elongated radio structure in the east-west direction within the innermost ~2 mas that can be described with a symmetric three-component brightness distribution model at 8.6 GHz. Because of their non-pointlike mas-scale structure, these sources are not ideal as astrometric reference objects. Our results demonstrate that VLBI observing programmes conducted primarily with astrometric or geodetic goals can be utilized for astrophysical purposes as well.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Neutrino Induced Coherent Pion Production off Nuclei and PCAC

We review the Rein--Sehgal model and criticize its use for low energy neutrino induced coherent pion production. We have studied the validity of the main approximations implicit in that model, trying to compare with physical observables when that is possible and with microscopical calculations. Next, we have tried to elaborate a new improved model by removing the more problematic approximations, while keeping the model still reasonably simple. Last, we have discussed the limitations intrinsic to any approach based on the partial conservation of the axial current hypothesis. In particular, we have shown the inability of such models to determine the angular distribution of the outgoing pion with respect to the direction of the incoming neutrino, except for the $q^2= 0$ kinematical point.Comment: 19 latex pages, 7 figures, 1 table. Version accepted for publication in Physical Review