Energy Spectra and Energy Correlations in the Decay H→ZZ→μ+μ−μ+μ−H\to ZZ\to \mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-

It is shown that in the sequential decay $H\to ZZ\to (f_1\bar{f_1})+ (f_2\bar{f_2})$, the energy distribution of the final state particles provides a simple and powerful test of the $HZZ$ vertex. For a standard Higgs boson, the energy spectrum of any final fermion, in the rest frame of $H$, is predicted to be $d\Gamma /dx\sim 1+\beta^4-2(x-1)^2$, with $\beta = \sqrt{1-4m^2_Z/m^2_H}$ and $1-\beta \le x=4E/m_H\le 1+\beta$. By contrast, the spectrum for a pseudoscalar Higgs is $d\Gamma /dx \sim \beta^2+(x-1)^2$. There are characteristic energy correlations between $f_1$ and $f_2$ and between $f_1$ and $\bar{f_2}$. These considerations are applied to the ``gold--plated'' reaction $H\to ZZ\to \mu^+\mu^-\mu^+\mu^-$, including possible effects of CP--violation in the $HZZ$ coupling. Our formalism also yields the energy spectra and correlations of leptons in the decay $H\to W^+W^-\to l^+\nu_ll^- \bar{\nu_l}$.Comment: 14 pages + 4 figure

Qualitative design and implementation of human-robot spatial interactions

Despite the large number of navigation algorithms available for mobile robots, in many social contexts they often exhibit inopportune motion behaviours in proximity of people, often with very "unnatural" movements due to the execution of segmented trajectories or the sudden activation of safety mechanisms (e.g., for obstacle avoidance). We argue that the reason of the problem is not only the difficulty of modelling human behaviours and generating opportune robot control policies, but also the way human-robot spatial interactions are represented and implemented. In this paper we propose a new methodology based on a qualitative representation of spatial interactions, which is both flexible and compact, adopting the well-defined and coherent formalization of Qualitative Trajectory Calculus (QTC). We show the potential of a QTC-based approach to abstract and design complex robot behaviours, where the desired robot's behaviour is represented together with its actual performance in one coherent approach, focusing on spatial interactions rather than pure navigation problems

Energy correlation and asymmetry of secondary leptons in H→ttˉH\to t\bar t and H→W+W−H\to W^+W^-

We study the energy correlation of charged leptons produced in the decay of a heavy Higgs particle $H\to t\bar t\to bl^+\nu_l\bar bl^-\bar{\nu}_l$ and $H\to W^+W^-\to l^+\nu_ll^-\bar{\nu}_l.$ The possible influence of $CP$--violation in the $Ht\bar t$ and $HW^+W^-$ vertices on the energy spectrum of the secondary leptons is analyzed. The energy distribution of the charged leptons in the decay $H\to W^+W^-\to l^+\nu_ll^-\bar{\nu}_l$ is sensitive to the $CP$--parity of the Higgs particle and yields a simple criterion for distinguishing scalar Higgs from pseudoscalar Higgs.Comment: 12 pages, + 4 uuencoded figures. report PITHA 94/2

Procurement practices and the municipality auditing market

In this study, we perform a comprehensive analysis of municipal auditing, exploring its several steps: procurement, decision on selection criteria, selection, render and payment of services, and opinion provided. Our setting is Portugal, where external auditing of municipalities’ accounts has recently been introduced. Our dataset is unique, resulting from merging new survey data with data that are not publicly available. We find that the majority of municipalities acquire auditing services through direct selection and choose their auditors based upon the lowest price selection criterion. However, municipalities which employ a more sophisticated procurement process, where political competition is lower and where citizens’ interest is higher, employ the lowest price selection criterion less frequently. The auditor selected is usually a firm (instead of an individual Certified Public Accounting [CPA]) but never one of the Big 4 companies. The audit fee paid for the auditing services is higher when the level of citizens’ interest increases, and lower when the municipality has an internal auditing office. Finally, when the auditor issues a qualified opinion, the auditor fee is also higher

Single decay-lepton angular distributions in polarized e+e- --> t tbar and simple angular asymmetries as a measure of CP-violating top dipole couplings

In the presence of an electric dipole coupling of t-tbar to a photon, and an analogous "weak" dipole coupling to the Z, CP violation in the process e+e- --> t tbar results in modified polarization of the top and anti-top. This polarization can be analyzed by studying the angular distributions of decay charged leptons when the top or anti-top decays leptonically. Analytic expressions are presented for these distributions when either t or tbar decays leptonically, including O(alpha_s) QCD corrections in the soft-gluon approximation. The angular distributions are insensitive to anomalous interactions in top decay. Two types of simple CP-violating polar-angle asymmetries and two azimuthal asymmetries, which do not need the full reconstruction of the t or tbar, are studied. Independent 90% CL limits that may be obtained on the real and imaginary parts of the electric and weak dipole couplings at a linear collider operating at sqrt{s}=500 GeV with integrated luminosity 500 fb^{-1} and also at sqrt{s}=1000 GeV with integrated luminosity 1000 fb^{-1} have been evaluated. The effect of longitudinal electron and/or positron beam polarizations has been included.Comment: 26 pages, latex, figures included as latex files, version appearing in Pramana - Journal of Physics, minor corrections and note added in proo

Top Production in Hadron-Hadron Collisions and Anomalous Top-Gluon Couplings

We discuss the influence of anomalous tbar-t-G couplings on total and differential tbar-t production cross sections in hadron-hadron collisions. We study in detail the effects of a chromoelectric and a chromomagnetic dipole moment, d' and \mu', of the top quark. In the d'-\mu' plane, we find a whole region where the anomalous couplings give a zero net contribution to the total top production rate. In differential cross sections, the anomalous moments have to be quite sizable to give measurable effects. We estimate the values of d' and \mu' which are allowed by the present Tevatron experimental results on top production. A chromoelectric dipole moment of the top violates CP invariance. We discuss a simple CP-odd observable which allows for a direct search for CP violation in top production.Comment: footnote pg. 4 changed, acknowledgments extende

Reconstructing Bohr's Reply to EPR in Algebraic Quantum Theory

Halvorson and Clifton have given a mathematical reconstruction of Bohr's reply to Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR), and argued that this reply is dictated by the two requirements of classicality and objectivity for the description of experimental data, by proving consistency between their objectivity requirement and a contextualized version of the EPR reality criterion which had been introduced by Howard in his earlier analysis of Bohr's reply. In the present paper, we generalize the above consistency theorem, with a rather elementary proof, to a general formulation of EPR states applicable to both non-relativistic quantum mechanics and algebraic quantum field theory; and we clarify the elements of reality in EPR states in terms of Bohr's requirements of classicality and objectivity, in a general formulation of algebraic quantum theory.Comment: 13 pages, Late

Four-Fermi Effective Operators in Top-Quark Production and Decay

Effects of four-Fermi-type new interactions are studied in top-quark pair production and their subsequent decays at future e^+e^- colliders. Secondary-lepton-energy distributions are calculated for arbitrary longitudinal beam polarizations. An optimal-observables procedure is applied for the determination of new parameters.Comment: Polarized e^- plus unpolarized e^+ collisions were include

CP-Violatiing Asymmetries in e^+e^-\ra t\bar{t} with Longitudinally Polarized Elecrtons

New CP-violating asymmetries of decay leptons in e^+\,e^-\;\ra\;t\,\bar{t}, arising from electric and weak dipole couplings of $t\,\bar{t}$ to $\gamma$ and $Z$, are examined in the case of unpolarized and longitudinally polarized electrons. The new asymmetries measured together with the old ones can help to determine independently the real and imaginary parts of the electric as well as weak dipole couplings. Longitudinal beam polarization, if present, obviates the need for the simultaneous measurement of more than one asymmetry, and enhances considerably the sensitivity to the CP-violating parameters. Numerical results are presented for the Next Linear Collider with $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV and $\int{\cal L}\,dt\;=\;10\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$.Comment: 12 pages LaTex,PRL-TH-94/3

Opportunities to Save Energy and Improve Comfort by Using Wireless Sensor Networks in Buildings

This paper discusses how intensive information technology can affect future building operation. Recent breakthroughs in wireless sensor network technology will permit 1) highly flexible location of sensors, 2) increased sensing density and variety of sensor types informing more comprehensive control systems, 3) occupants' involvement in control loops, 4) demand responsive electricity management, 5) integration among now-separate building systems, and 6) the adoption of mixed-mode and other new types of air conditioning systems. The paper describes the capabilities of the new sensor networks, assesses how some applications can increase the quality of control and improve energy efficiency, and suggests opportunities for future development