Soft and non-soft structural transitions in disordered nematic networks

Properties of disordered nematic elastomers and gels are theoretically investigated with emphasis on the roles of non-local elastic interactions and crosslinking conditions. Networks originally crosslinked in the isotropic phase lose their long-range orientational order by the action of quenched random stresses, which we incorporate into the affine-deformation model of nematic rubber elasticity. We present a detailed picture of mechanical quasi-Goldstone modes, which accounts for an almost completely soft polydomain-monodomain (P-M) transition under strain as well as a ``four-leaf clover'' pattern in depolarized light scattering intensity. Dynamical relaxation of the domain structure is studied using a simple model. The peak wavenumber of the structure factor obeys a power-law-type slow kinetics and goes to zero in true mechanical equilibrium. The effect of quenched disorder on director fluctuation in the monodomain state is analyzed. The random frozen contribution to the fluctuation amplitude dominates the thermal one, at long wavelengths and near the P-M transition threshold. We also study networks obtained by crosslinking polydomain nematic polymer melts. The memory of initial director configuration acts as correlated and strong quenched disorder, which renders the P-M transition non-soft. The spatial distribution of the elastic free energy is strongly dehomogenized by external strain, in contrast to the case of isotropically crosslinked networks.Comment: 19 pages, 15 EPS figure

Measurement of Interfering K^*+K^- and K^*-K^+ Amplitudes in the Decay D^0 --> K^+K^-pi^0

We have studied the Cabibbo-suppressed decay mode D^0 into K^+ K^- pi^0 using a Dalitz plot technique and find the strong phase difference delta_D [defined as delta_(K*^- K^+) - delta_(K*^+ K^-)] = 332 degrees +- 8 degrees +- 11 degrees and relative amplitude r_D [defined as a_(K*^- K^+) / a_(K*^+ K^-)] = 0.52 +- 0.05 +- 0.04. This measurement indicates significant destructive interference between D^0 into K^+ (K^- pi^0)_K*^- and D^0 into K^- (K^+ pi^0)_K*^+ in the Dalitz plot region where these two modes overlap. This analysis uses 9.0 fb^(-1) of data collected at s^(1/2) of approximately 10.58 GeV with the CLEO III detector.Comment: 10 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2006/, Submitted to Phys. Rev. D (Rapid Communications

Measurement of the eta-Meson Mass using psi(2S) --> eta J/psi

We measure the mass of the eta meson using psi(2S) --> eta J/psi events acquired with the CLEO-c detector operating at the CESR e+e- collider. Using the four decay modes eta --> gamma gamma, 3pi0, pi+pi-pi0, and pi+pi-gamma, we find M(eta)=547.785 +- 0.017 +- 0.057 MeV, in which the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This result has an uncertainty comparable to the two most precise previous measurements and is consistent with that of NA48, but is inconsistent at the level of 6.5sigma with the much smaller mass obtained by GEM.Comment: 10 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/, Submitted to PR

Measurement of the Decay Constant fDS+f_D{_S^+} using $D_S^+ --> ell^+ nu

We measure the decay constant fDs using the Ds -> l+ nu channel, where the l+ designates either a mu+ or a tau+, when the tau+ -> pi+ nu. Using both measurements we find fDs = 274 +-13 +- 7 MeV. Combining with our previous determination of fD+, we compute the ratio fDs/fD+ = 1.23 +- 0.11 +- 0.04. We compare with theoretical estimates.Comment: 6 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007

Update of the measurement of the cross section for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons

We have updated our measurement of the cross section for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons, our publication "Measurement of sigma(e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons) at E_{c.m.} = 3773 MeV", arXiv:hep-ex/0512038, Phys.Rev.Lett.96, 092002 (2006). Simultaneous with this arXiv update, we have published an erratum in Phys.Rev.Lett.104, 159901 (2010). There, and in this update, we have corrected a mistake in the computation of the error on the difference of the cross sections for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons and e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> DDbar. We have also used a more recent CLEO measurement of cross section for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> DDbar. From this, we obtain an upper limit on the branching fraction for psi(3770) -> non-DDbar of 9% at 90% confidence level.Comment: 3 pages, 0 figures. This is an erratum to Phys.Rev.Lett.96:092002,2006. Added a reference

Search for Radiative Decays of Upsilon(1S) into eta and eta'

We report on a search for the radiative decay of Upsilon(1S) to the pseudoscalar mesons eta and etaprime in 21.2 +/- 0.2 times 10^6 Upsilon(1S) decays collected with the CLEO III detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR). The eta meson was reconstructed in the three modes eta to gamma-gamma, eta to pi+pi-pi0 and eta to 3pi0. The etaprime meson was reconstructed in the mode etaprime to pi+ pi- eta with eta decaying through any of the above three modes, and also etaprime to gamma rho, where rho decays to pi^+ pi^-. Five out of the seven sub-modes are found to be virtually background-free. In four of them we find no signal candidates and in one Upsilon(1S) to gamma-etaprime, etaprime to pi+ pi- eta, eta to pi+pi-pi0 there are two good signal candidates, which is insufficient evidence to claim a signal. The other two sub-modes eta to gamma-gamma and etaprime to gamma rho are background limited, and show no excess of events in their signal regions. We combine the results from different channels and obtain upper limits at the 90% C.L. which are B(Upsilon(1S) to gamma eta) < 1.0 times 10^-6 and B(Upsilon(1S) to gamma etaprime) < 1.9 times 10^-6. Our limits are an order of magnitude tighter than the previous ones and below the predictions made by some theoretical models.Comment: 14 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/, Submitted to PR

Absolute Branching Fraction Measurements for D^+ and D^0 Inclusive Semileptonic Decays

We present measurements of the inclusive branching fractions for the decays D^+ -> X e^+ nu_e and D^0 -> X e^+ nu_e, using 281 pb^-1 of data collected on the psi(3770) resonance with the CLEO-c detector. We find Br(D^0 ->Xe^+\nu_e) = (6.46 \pm 0.17 \pm 0.13)% and Br((D^+ -> Xe^+nu_e) = (16.13 \pm 0.20 \pm 0.33)%. Using the known D meson lifetimes, we obtain the ratio Gamma{D^+}^sl/Gamma_{D^0}^sl= 0.985\pm 0.028\pm 0.015, confirming isospin invariance at the level of 3%. The positron momentum spectra from D^+ and D^0 have consistent shapes.Comment: 6 pages postscript,also available through this http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2006

Suppressed Decays of D_s^+ Mesons to Two Pseudoscalar Mesons

Using data collected near the Ds*+ Ds- peak production energy Ecm = 4170 MeV by the CLEO-c detector, we study the decays of Ds+ mesons to two pseudoscalar mesons. We report on searches for the singly-Cabibbo-suppressed Ds+ decay modes K+ eta, K+ eta', pi+ K0S, K+ pi0, and the isospin-forbidden decay mode Ds+ to pi+ pi0. We normalize with respect to the Cabibbo-favored Ds+ modes pi+ eta, pi+ eta', and K+ K0S, and obtain ratios of branching fractions: Ds+ to K+ eta / Ds+ to pi+ eta = (8.9 +- 1.5 +- 0.4)%, Ds+ to K+ eta' / Ds+ to pi+ eta' = (4.2 +- 1.3 +- 0.3)%, Ds+ to pi+ K0S / Ds+ to K+ K0S = (8.2 +- 0.9 +- 0.2)%, Ds+ to K+ pi0 / Ds+ to K+ K0S = (5.0 +- 1.2 +- 0.6)%, and Ds+ to pi+ pi0 / Ds+ to K+ K0S < 4.1% at 90% CL, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.Comment: 9 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/, Submitted to PR

Confirmation of the Y(4260) Resonance Production in ISR

Using 13.3 fb^-1 of e+e- collision data taken in the Upsilon(1S-4S) region with the CLEO III detector at the CESR collider, a search has been made for the new resonance Y(4260) recently reported by the BaBar Collaboration. The production of Y(4260) in initial state radiation (ISR), and its decay into pi+pi-J/psi are confirmed. A good quality fit to our data is obtained with a single resonance. We determine M(Y(4260))=(4284+17-16(stat)+-4(syst)) MeV/c^2, Gamma(Y(4260))=(73+39-25(stat)+-5(syst)) MeV/c^2, and Gamma_ee(Y(4260))xBr(Y(4260)->pi+pi-J/psi)=(8.9+3.9-3.1(stat)+-1.9(syst)) eV/c^2.Comment: 8 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2006/, Submitted to PRD (Rapid Comm.

A Study of the Semileptonic Charm Decays D^0 --> pi^- e^+ nu_e, D^+ --> pi^0 e^+ nu_e, D^0 --> K^- e^+ nu_e, and D^+ --> barK^0 e^+ nu_e

Using a sample of 1.8 million DDbar meson pairs collected at the psi(3770) with the CLEO-c detector, we study the semileptonic decays D^0 -> pi^- e^+ nu_e, D^+ -> pi^0 e^+ \nu_e, D^0 -> K^- e^+ \nu_e, and D^+ -> Kbar^0 e^+ nu_e. For the total branching fractions we find B(D^0 -> pi^- e^+ \nu_e) = 0.299(11)(9)%, B(D^+ -> pi^0 e^+ \nu_e) = 0.373(22)(13)%, B(D^0 -> K^- e^+ nu_e) = 3.56(3)(9)%, and B(D^+ -> Kbar^0 e^+ nu_e) = 8.53(13)(23)%, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. In addition, form factors are studied through fits to the partial branching fractions obtained in five q^2 ranges. By combining our results with recent unquenched lattice calculations, we obtain |Vcd| = 0.217(9)(4)(23) and |Vcs| = 1.015(10)(11)(106), where the final error is theoretical.Comment: 18 pages, postscript also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2006/, submitted to PR