863 research outputs found
A reinterpretation of Volcano Ranch lateral distribution measurements to infer the mass composition of cosmic rays
In the course of its operation, the Volcano Ranch array collected data on the
lateral distribution of showers produced by cosmic rays at energies above
{\rm eV}. From these data very precise measurements of the steepness
of the lateral distribution function, characterized by the parameter,
were made. The current availability of sophisticated hadronic interaction
models has prompted a reinterpretation of the measurements. We use the
interaction models {\sc qgsjet} and {\sc sibyll} in the {\sc aires} Monte Carlo
code to generate showers together with {\sc geant4} to simulate the response of
the detectors to ground particles. As part of an effort to estimate the primary
mass composition of cosmic rays at this energy range, we present the results of
our preliminary analysis of the distribution of .Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures Talk presented at the XII International Symposium
on Very High Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions, CERN 2002. To be published in
Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.
Spin transmission through quantum dots with strong spin-orbit interaction
Quantum oscillations of the spin conductance through regular and chaotic 2D
quantum dots under the varying Rashba spin orbit interaction and at zero
magnetic field have been numerically calculated by summing up the spin
evolution matrices for classical transmitting trajectories. Fourier analysis of
these oscillations showed power spectra strongly dependent on the dot geometry.
For narrow rings the spectra are dominated by a single peak in accordance with
previous analytic results. In other geometries the spectra are represented by
multiple peaks for regular QD and quasicontinuum for chaotic QD.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Statistical significance of fine structure in the frequency spectrum of Aharonov-Bohm conductance oscillations
We discuss a statistical analysis of Aharonov-Bohm conductance oscillations
measured in a two-dimensional ring, in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit
interaction. Measurements performed at different values of gate voltage are
used to calculate the ensemble-averaged modulus of the Fourier spectrum and, at
each frequency, the standard deviation associated to the average. This allows
us to prove the statistical significance of a splitting that we observe in the
h/e peak of the averaged spectrum. Our work illustrates in detail the role of
sample specific effects on the frequency spectrum of Aharonov-Bohm conductance
oscillations and it demonstrates how fine structures of a different physical
origin can be discriminated from sample specific features.Comment: accepted for publication in PR
Conductance fluctuations in diffusive rings: Berry phase effects and criteria for adiabaticity
We study Berry phase effects on conductance properties of diffusive
mesoscopic conductors, which are caused by an electron spin moving through an
orientationally inhomogeneous magnetic field. Extending previous work, we start
with an exact, i.e. not assuming adiabaticity, calculation of the universal
conductance fluctuations in a diffusive ring within the weak localization
regime, based on a differential equation which we derive for the diffuson in
the presence of Zeeman coupling to a magnetic field texture. We calculate the
field strength required for adiabaticity and show that this strength is reduced
by the diffusive motion. We demonstrate that not only the phases but also the
amplitudes of the h/2e Aharonov-Bohm oscillations are strongly affected by the
Berry phase. In particular, we show that these amplitudes are completely
suppressed at certain magic tilt angles of the external fields, and thereby
provide a useful criterion for experimental searches. We also discuss Berry
phase-like effects resulting from spin-orbit interaction in diffusive
conductors and derive exact formulas for both magnetoconductance and
conductance fluctuations. We discuss the power spectra of the
magnetoconductance and the conductance fluctuations for inhomogeneous magnetic
fields and for spin-orbit interaction.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figures; minor revisions. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Improved constraints on WIMPs from the International Germanium Experiment IGEX
One IGEX 76Ge double-beta decay detector is currently operating in the
Canfranc Underground Laboratory in a search for dark matter WIMPs, through the
Ge nuclear recoil produced by the WIMP elastic scattering. A new exclusion
plot, has been derived for WIMP-nucleon spin-independent interactions. To
obtain this result, 40 days of data from the IGEX detector (energy threshold E
\~ 4 keV), recently collected, have been analyzed. These data improve the
exclusion limits derived from all the other ionization germanium detectors in
the mass region from 20 GeV to 200 GeV, where a WIMP supposedly responsible for
the annual modulation effect reported by the DAMA experiment would be located.
The new IGEX exclusion contour enters, by the first time, the DAMA region by
using only raw data, with no background discrimination, and excludes its upper
left part. It is also shown that with a moderate improvement of the detector
performances, the DAMA region could be fully explored.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Physics Letters B (revised version
after referee's comments, some figures added
New constraints on WIMPs from the Canfranc IGEX dark matter search
The IGEX Collaboration enriched 76Ge double-beta decay detectors are
currently operating in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory with an overburden
of 2450 m.w.e. A recent upgrade has made it possible to use them in a search
for WIMPs. A new exclusion plot has been derived for WIMP-nucleon
spin-independent interaction. To obtain this result, 30 days of data from one
IGEX detector, which has an energy threshold of ~4 keV, have been considered.
These data improve the exclusion limits derived from other germanium diode
experiments in the ~50 GeV DAMA region, and show that with a moderate
improvement of the background below 10 keV, the DAMA region may be tested with
an additional 1 kg-year of exposure.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Physics Letter
Optimal Radio Window for the Detection of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos off the Moon
When high-energy cosmic rays impinge on a dense dielectric medium, radio
waves are produced through the Askaryan effect. We show that at wavelengths
comparable to the length of the shower produced by an Ultra-High Energy cosmic
ray or neutrino, radio signals are an extremely efficient way to detect these
particles. Through an example it is shown that this new approach offers, for
the first time, the realistic possibility of measuring UHE neutrino fluxes
below the Waxman-Bahcall limit. It is shown that in only one month of observing
with the upcoming LOFAR radio telescope, cosmic-ray events can be measured
beyond the GZK-limit, at a sensitivity level of two orders of magnitude below
the extrapolated values.Comment: Submitted to Astroparticle Physic
Preconceptional cardiovascular health and pregnancy outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus
Objective. To estimate the effects of preconceptional cardiovascular (CV) health, measured by American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, on pregnancy outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. The study included patients in the Hopkins Lupus Pregnancy Cohort. Body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, and blood pressure (BP) in the most recent clinic visit prior to conception or first trimester were used to determine CV health (ideal, intermediate, or poor health) based on AHA definitions. Outcomes included preterm birth, gestational age at birth, and small for gestational age (SGA). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations estimated the association of each CV health factor and outcome. Results. The analysis included 309 live births. There were 95 preterm births (31%), and of the 293 pregnancies with birth weights, 18% were SGA. Ideal BMI, total cholesterol, and BP were reported in 56%, 85%, and 51% of pregnancies, respectively. Intermediate BMI was associated with decreased odds of SGA (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11-0.63), adjusted for race and prednisone use. Intermediate/poor total cholesterol was associated with increased odds of preterm birth (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.06-4.62). Intermediate/poor BP was associated with decreased gestational age at birth (ÎČ -0.96, 95% CI -1.62 to -0.29). Conclusion. Poor/intermediate preconception CV health affects pregnancy outcomes of preterm birth and SGA infants among women with SLE. Efforts to maintain BMI, total cholesterol, and BP within the recommended ideal range prior to pregnancy is important to improve pregnancy outcomes in women with SLE
Effect of pregnancy on disease flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Objective: Prior studies found conflicting results about whether lupus is likely to flare during or after pregnancy. Using a large cohort of pregnant and non-pregnant women with lupus, we estimated the effect of pregnancy on disease flares in systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods: Data were collected in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort 1987-2015. Women aged 14-45 years with >1 measurement of disease activity were included. The time-varying exposures were classified as pregnancy, postpartum or non-pregnant/non-postpartum periods. Flares were defined as: (1) change in Physician Global Assessment (PGA)â„1 from previous visit and (2) change in Safety of Estrogens in Lupus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI)â„4 from previous visit. A stratified Cox model estimated HRs with bootstrap 95% CIs. Results: There were 1349 patients, including 398 pregnancies in 304 patients. There was an increased rate of flare defined by PGA during pregnancy (HR: 1.59; 95% CI 1.27 to 1.96); however, this effect was modified by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use, with the HR of flares in pregnancy compared with non-pregnant/non-postpartum periods estimated to be 1.83 (95% CI 1.34 to 2.45) for patients with no HCQ use and 1.26 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.69) for patients with HCQ use. The risk of flare was similarly elevated among non-HCQ users in the 3 months postpartum, but not for women taking HCQ after delivery. Conclusions: Our study supports and extends previous findings that the incidence of flare is increased during pregnancy and within the 3 months postpartum. Continuing HCQ, however, appeared to mitigate the risk of flare during and after pregnancy
- âŠ