Vertex Reconstruction Using a Single Layer Silicon Detector

Typical vertex finding algorithms use reconstructed tracks, registered in a multi-layer detector, which directly point to the common point of origin. A detector with a single layer of silicon sensors registers the passage of primary particles only in one place. Nevertheless, the information available from these hits can also be used to estimate the vertex position, when the geometrical properties of silicon sensors and the measured ionization energy losses of the particles are fully exploited. In this paper the algorithm used for this purpose in the PHOBOS experiment is described. The vertex reconstruction performance is studied using simulations and compared with results obtained from real data. The very large acceptance of a single-layered multiplicity detector permits vertex reconstruction for low multiplicity events where other methods, using small acceptance subdetectors, fail because of insufficient number of registered primary tracks.Comment: accepted for publication in Nucl. Instr. Meth.

Geoneutrinos in Borexino

This paper describes the Borexino detector and the high-radiopurity studies and tests that are integral part of the Borexino technology and development. The application of Borexino to the detection and studies of geoneutrinos is discussed.Comment: Conference: Neutrino Geophysics Honolulu, Hawaii December 14-16, 200

Rapidity equilibration in d + Au and Au + Au systems

In a Relativistic Diffusion Model (RDM), the evolution of net-proton rapidity spectra with sqrt(s_NN) in heavy systems is proposed as an indicator for local equilibration and longitudinal expansion. The broad midrapidity valley recently discovered at RHIC in central Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)= 200 GeV suggests rapid local equilibration which is most likely due to deconfinement, and fast longitudinal expansion. Rapidity spectra of produced charged hadrons in d + Au and Au + Au systems at RHIC energies and their centrality dependence are well described in a three-sources RDM. In central collisions, about 19 % of the produced particles are in the equilibrated midrapidity region for d + Au.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures; QGPTH05 Vienna; references update

Energy and precious fuels requirements of fuel alcohol production. Volume 4: Appendices G and H, methanol from coal

Coal mine location, mining technology, energy consumption in mining, coal transport, and potential availability of coal are discussed. Methanol from coal is also discussed

Explosive propulsion applications

The feasibility and application of an explosive propulsion concept capable of supporting future unmanned missions in the post-1980 era were examined and recommendations made for advanced technology development tasks. The Venus large lander mission was selected as the first in which the explosive propulsion concept can find application. A conceptual design was generated and its performance, weight, costs, and interaction effects determined. Comparisons were made with conventional propulsion alternatives. The feasibility of the explosive propulsion system was verified for planetology experiments within the dense atmosphere of Venus as well as the outer planets. Additionally, it was determined that the Venus large lander mission could be augmented ballistically with a significant delivery margin

Damping by slow relaxing rare earth impurities in Ni80Fe20

Doping NiFe by heavy rare earth atoms alters the magnetic relaxation properties of this material drastically. We show that this effect can be well explained by the slow relaxing impurity mechanism. This process is a consequence of the anisotropy of the on site exchange interaction between the 4f magnetic moments and the conduction band. As expected from this model the magnitude of the damping effect scales with the anisotropy of the exchange interaction and increases by an order of magnitude at low temperatures. In addition our measurements allow us to determine the relaxation time of the 4f electrons as a function of temperature

Anisotropy effects on the magnetic excitations of a ferromagnetic monolayer below and above the Curie temperature

The field-driven reorientation transition of an anisotropic ferromagnetic monolayer is studied within the context of a finite-temperature Green's function theory. The equilibrium state and the field dependence of the magnon energy gap $E_0$ are calculated for static magnetic field $H$ applied in plane along an easy or a hard axis. In the latter case, the in-plane reorientation of the magnetization is shown to be continuous at T=0, in agreement with free spin wave theory, and discontinuous at finite temperature $T>0$, in contrast with the prediction of mean field theory. The discontinuity in the orientation angle creates a jump in the magnon energy gap, and it is the reason why, for $T>0$, the energy does not go to zero at the reorientation field. Above the Curie temperature $T_C$, the magnon energy gap $E_0(H)$ vanishes for H=0 both in the easy and in the hard case. As $H$ is increased, the gap is found to increase almost linearly with $H$, but with different slopes depending on the field orientation. In particular, the slope is smaller when $H$ is along the hard axis. Such a magnetic anisotropy of the spin-wave energies is shown to persist well above $T_C$ ($T \approx 1.2 T_C$).Comment: Final version accepted for publication in Physical Review B (with three figures

Studies of multiplicity in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

In this talk I'll review the present status of charged particle multiplicity measurements from heavy-ion collisions. The characteristic features of multiplicity distributions obtained in Au+Au collisions will be discussed in terms of collision centrality and energy and compared to those of p+p collisions. Multiplicity measurements of d+Au collisions at 200 GeV nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy will also be discussed. The results will be compared to various theoretical models and simple scaling properties of the data will be identified.Comment: "Focus on Multiplicity" Internationsl Workshop on Particle Multiplicity in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions, Bari, Italy, June 17-19, 2003, 16 pages, 15 figure

The Effects of Dissolved Methane upon Liquid Argon Scintillation Light

In this paper we report on measurements of the effects of dissolved methane upon argon scintillation light. We monitor the light yield from an alpha source held 20 cm from a cryogenic photomultiplier tube (PMT) assembly as methane is injected into a high-purity liquid argon volume. We observe significant suppression of the scintillation light yield by dissolved methane at the 10 part per billion (ppb) level. By examining the late scintillation light time constant, we determine that this loss is caused by an absorption process and also see some evidence of methane-induced scintillation quenching at higher concentrations (50-100 ppb). Using a second PMT assembly we look for visible re-emission features from the dissolved methane which have been reported in gas-phase argon methane mixtures, and we find no evidence of visible re-emission from liquid-phase argon methane mixtures at concentrations between 10 ppb and 0.1%.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures Updated to match published versio