Profiles of the Unitarity Triangle and CP-Violating Phases in the Standard Model and Supersymmetric Theories

We report on a comparative study of the profile of the CKM unitarity triangle, and the resulting CP asymmetries in B decays, in the standard model and in several variants of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), characterized by a single phase in the quark flavour mixing matrix. The supersymmetric contributions to the mass differences \Delta M_d, \Delta M_s and to the CP-violating quantity |\epsilon| are, to an excellent approximation, equal to each other in these theories, allowing for a particularly simple way of implementing the resulting constraints on the elements of V_{CKM} from the present knowledge of these quantities. Incorporating the next-to-leading-order corrections and applying the current direct and indirect constraints on the supersymmetric parameters, we find that the predicted ranges of \sin 2 \beta in the standard model and in MSSM models are very similar. However, precise measurements at B-factories and hadron machines may be able to distinguish these theories in terms of the other two CP-violating phases \alpha and \gamma. This is illustrated for some representative values of the supersymmetric contributions in \Delta M_d, \Delta M_s and |\epsilon|.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures; typos corrected, minor notation change; matches version to appear in the European Physical Journal

Effects of heavy Majorana neutrinos at lepton-proton colliders

We discuss the prospects of detecting the processes $e^+p\to\bar\nu_e\ell^+\ell'^+X$ and $\nu_ep\to e\ell^+\ell'^+X$ ($\ell,\ell'=e,\mu,\tau$) under the conditions of the present $ep$ collider HERA and of future colliders. These high-energy processes are assumed to be mediated by the exchange of heavy Majorana neutrinos (HMN). We consider two simple scenarios for the HMN mass spectrum: the effective singlet ($m_1\ll m_2<m_3...$) and the effective doublet ($m_1<m_2\ll m_3...$). For the latter case, the cross section includes information about CP-violating phases.Comment: 5pages, 2 figures; published in conference proceedings: Particle Physics in Laboratory, Space and Universe, 11th. Lomonosov Conf. on Elementary Particle Physics (Moscow, 21-27 August 2003) (Singapore, World Scientific, 2005

Electron angular correlation in neutrinoless double beta decay and new physics

The angular correlation of the electrons in the neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu2\beta$) is calculated taking into account the nucleon recoil, the $S$ and $P$-waves for the electrons and the electron mass using a general Lorentz invariant effective Lagrangian. We show that the angular coefficient is essentially independent of the nuclear matrix element models. We work out the angular coefficient in several scenarios for new physics, in particular, in the left-right symmetric models.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure; to appear in the Proceedings of the 13th Lomonosov Conference on Elementary Particle Physics, 23 --29 August 2007, Moscow, Russi

Hidden-Beauty Charged Tetraquarks and Heavy Quark Spin Conservation

Assuming the dominance of the spin-spin interaction in a diquark, we point out that the mass difference in the beauty sector M(Z_b^prime) - M(Z_b) scales with quark masses as expected in QCD, with respect to the corresponding mass difference M(Z_c^prime) - M(Z_c). Notably, we show that the decays Upsilon(10890) --> Upsilon(nS) pi pi and Upsilon(10890) --> (h_b(1P), h_b(2P)) pi pi are compatible with heavy-quark spin conservation if the contributions of Z_b,Z_b^prime intermediate states are taken into account, Upsilon(10890) being either a Upsilon(5S) or the beauty analog of Y_c(4260). Belle results on these decays support the quark spin wave-function of the Z states as tetraquarks. We also consider the role of light quark spin non-conservaton in Z_b,Z_b^prime decays into B B^* and B^* B^*. Indications of possible signatures of the still missing X_b resonance are proposed.Comment: 5 pages, comments added, to appear in Phys Rev

Space processing of chalcogenide glasses

Chalcogenide glasses are discussed as good infrared transmitters, possessing the strength, corrosion resistance, and scale-up potential necessary for large 10.6-micron windows. The disadvantage of earth-produced chalcogenide glasses is shown to be an infrared absorption coefficient which is unacceptably high relative to alkali halides. This coefficient is traced to optical nonhomogeneities resulting from environmental and container contamination. Space processing is considered as a means of improving the infrared transmission quality of chalcogenides and of eliminating the following problems: optical inhomogeneities caused by thermal currents and density fluctuation in the l-g earth environment; contamination from the earth-melting crucible by oxygen and other elements deleterious to infrared transmission; and, heterogeneous nucleation at the earth-melting crucible-glass interface

Production, Competition Indices, and Nutritive Values of Setaria Splendida, Centrosema Pubescens, and Clitoria Ternatea in Mixed Cropping Systems in Peatland

This research was conducted to evaluate production, different competition indices and nutritive value of Setaria splendida, Centrosema pubescens, and Clitoria ternatea in monoculture and mix cropping system on peat soil land. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replications. The five treatments were: S. splendida sole cropping (SS), C. pubescens sole cropping (CP), C. ternatea sole cropping (CT), S. splendida and C. pubescens mix cropping (SS/CP) and S. splendida/C. ternatea mix cropping (SS/CT). The DM yield of S. splendida in mixed cropping with C. pubescens increased 43.4% and in mix cropping with C. ternatea increased 15.7% compared to sole S. splendida. The value of land equivalent ratio of SS/CP (LERSS/CP) was &gt;1. The LERSS/CT value was &lt;1. The crowding coefficient value of S. splendida (KSS) was higher than KCP and KCT. The total value of KSS/CP and KSS/CT were &gt;1. The competition ratio (CR) values of S. splendida in both mix cropping were &gt;1. The agressivity (A) values of S. splendida in both mix cropping were positive. The crude protein, NDF and ADF content of forage were not affected by mix cropping system. In conclusion, mix cropping in peatland do not affect productivity and nutritive value of S. splendida, C. pubescens, and C. ternatea. S. splendida is more effective in exploiting environmental resources when intercropped with C. pubescens compared to C. ternatea on peatland

Video vehicle detection at signalised junctions: a simulation-based study

Many existing advanced methods of traffic signal control depend on information about approaching traffic provided by inductive loop detectors at particular points in the road. But analysis of images from CCTV cameras can in principle provide more comprehensive information about traffic approaching and passing through junctions, and cameras may be easier to install and maintain than loop detectors, and some systems based on video detection have already been in use for some time. Against this background, computer simulation has been used to explore the potential of existing and immediately foreseeable capability in automatic on-line image analysis to extract information relevant to signal control from images provided by cameras mounted in acceptable positions at signal-controlled junctions. Some consequences of extracting relevant information in different ways were investigated in the context of an existing detailed simulation model of vehicular traffic moving through junctions under traffic-responsive signal control, and the development of one basic and one advanced algorithm for traffic-responsive control. The work was confined as a first step to operation of one very simple signalcontrolled junction. Two techniques for extraction of information from images were modelled - a more ambitious technique based on distinguishing most of the individual vehicles visible to the camera, and a more modest technique requiring only that the presence of vehicles in any part of the image be distinguished from the background scene. In the latter case, statistical modelling was used to estimate the number of vehicles corresponding to any single area of the image that represents vehicles rather than background. At the simple modelled junction, each technique of extraction enabled each of the algorithms for traffic-responsive control of the signals to achieve average delays per vehicle appreciably lower than those given by System D control, and possibly competitive with those that MOVA would give, but comparison with MOVA was beyond the scope of the initial study. These results of simulation indicate that image analysis of CCTV pictures should be able to provide sufficient information in practice for traffic-responsive control that is competitive with existing techniques. Ways in which the work could be taken further were discussed with practitioners, but have not yet been progressed