Experiments with a Slow Neutron Velocity Spectrometer II

The apparatus previously used for the determination of neutron energy by time of flight method has been completely rebuilt with a view to increasing the accuracy of measurement as well as the high energy limit. The repetition frequency is obtained from a series of relaxation oscillators and a 50-kc oscillator and frequencies of 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2500 c.p.s. are available. Four detector channels have been built so that neutrons in four different time of flight groups can be counted simultaneously. When used with the highest repetition frequency, this decreases the time to obtain data by a factor of 24 and has thus made the present experiments feasible with the small Cornell cyclotron. The study of the transmission of Ag with a 1.35-g/cm^2 absorber shows a single strong resonance at 5.8 ev. A re-examination of In with considerably higher resolution than was previously used shows a single resonance at about 1.35 ev. The effective mean life of neutrons in several different sources was examined and a thin paraffin source with Cd backing devised for measurements in the thermal region. The absorption of B has been examined and found to be proportional to 1/v within the limits of error of the experiment, from 0.028 to 50 ev. An experiment to determine the B cross section of the Cd stopped neutrons gave 540×10^(−24) cm^2. The B absorption curve shows that the cross section of thermal neutrons (0.025 ev) is 708×10^(−24) cm^2. It is concluded that the effective energy of the Cd stopped neutrons is not that of kT at thermal energy, for the geometry used, but is 0.041 ev. This conclusion is confirmed by the measured resonances in Ag and In which are higher than the values obtained by the boron absorption method. Correction of these values, as measured by Horvath and Salant (reference 4) for the effective energy of the Cd stopped neutrons, leads to 1.32 ev for In and 5.2 ev for Ag, in agreement with the present results. It is concluded that resonances measured by the boron absorption method are in error by an amount which depends upon the geometry of the experiment, and are probably too low by a factor of 0.041/0.025 = 1.64

Ordering of Energy Levels in Heisenberg Models and Applications

In a recent paper we conjectured that for ferromagnetic Heisenberg models the smallest eigenvalues in the invariant subspaces of fixed total spin are monotone decreasing as a function of the total spin and called this property ferromagnetic ordering of energy levels (FOEL). We have proved this conjecture for the Heisenberg model with arbitrary spins and coupling constants on a chain. In this paper we give a pedagogical introduction to this result and also discuss some extensions and implications. The latter include the property that the relaxation time of symmetric simple exclusion processes on a graph for which FOEL can be proved, equals the relaxation time of a random walk on the same graph. This equality of relaxation times is known as Aldous' Conjecture.Comment: 20 pages, contribution for the proceedings of QMATH9, Giens, September 200

Atomic Alchemy

We consider the transitions between electromagnetic bound states, such as the exclusive weak decay of a muonic atom into an electronic atom: $(\mu^- Z) \to (e^- Z) {\bar \nu_e }\nu_\mu .$ We show that relativistic effects in the atomic wavefunctions are crucial for determining the rate. In the case of heavy atoms, the exclusive channel branching ratios exceed $10^{-6},$ possibly bringing the study of these rare decays within experimental reach. Such processes thus provide a detailed laboratory for studying the high momentum tail of wavefunctions in atomic physics; in addition, they provide a simple toy model for investigating analogous exclusive heavy hadronic decays in quantum chromodynamics such as $B \to \pi e \nu.$Comment: 16 pages and 5 Figures, SLAC-PUB-648

Modeling active electrolocation in weakly electric fish

In this paper, we provide a mathematical model for the electrolocation in weakly electric fishes. We first investigate the forward complex conductivity problem and derive the approximate boundary conditions on the skin of the fish. Then we provide a dipole approximation for small targets away from the fish. Based on this approximation, we obtain a non-iterative location search algorithm using multi-frequency measurements. We present numerical experiments to illustrate the performance and the stability of the proposed multi-frequency location search algorithm. Finally, in the case of disk- and ellipse-shaped targets, we provide a method to reconstruct separately the conductivity, the permittivity, and the size of the targets from multi-frequency measurements.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figure

A conceptual framework for prioritization of invasive alien species for management according to their impact

The number of invasive alien species is increasing and so are the impacts these species cause to the environment and economies. Nevertheless, resources for management are limited, which makes prioritization unavoidable. We present a prioritization framework which can be useful for decision makers as it includes both a scientific impact assessment and the evaluation of impact importance by affected stakeholders. The framework is divided into five steps, namely 1) stakeholder selection and weighting of stakeholder importance by the decision maker, 2) factual description and scoring of changes by scientists, 3) evaluation of the importance of impact categories by stakeholders, 4) calculation of weighted impact categories and 5) calculation of final impact score and decision making. The framework could be used at different scales and by different authorities. Furthermore, it would make the decision making process transparent and retraceable for all stakeholders and the general public.v2012o

The Isovector Quadrupole Resonance in 16-O

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 87-1440

A local risk map using field observations of the Asian longhorned beetle to optimize monitoring activities

The Asian longhorned beetle Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the most dangerous xylophagous pests affecting broadleaf trees in the world. Eradication programmes are undertaken in non-native regions, requiring extensive resources and involving high costs. An adapted strategy must be set up to optimize the ratio cost/probability of success. We developed a method to generate a risk index of A. glabripennis presence at a local scale, in the surrounding area of an infestation, using field observations (counts of adult insects, exit holes and infested trees). The method, mathematically based on the bivariate symmetric Laplace distribution, has thus reasonable input requirements. The output risk map is easy to interpret and can be directly used by decision-makers. We used our approach in three infestations in Switzerland. The risk map represented well the insect pressure (beetle population density). We highlighted the fact that survey boundaries, commonly chosen using constant distances from the infestation, should be selected regarding the spatial distribution of the insect pressure, to prioritize monitoring activities. The risk map provides a helpful instrument for advanced survey planning after a first overview, for example to decide which area and which host trees should be inspected for infestations