Combustion chemistry of solid propellants

Several studies are described of the chemistry of solid propellant combustion which employed a fast-scanning optical spectrometer. Expanded abstracts are presented for four of the studies which were previously reported. One study of the ignition of composite propellants yielded data which suggested early ammonium perchlorate decomposition and reaction. The results of a study of the spatial distribution of molecular species in flames from uncatalyzed and copper or lead catalyzed double-based propellants support previously published conclusions concerning the site of action of these metal catalysts. A study of the ammonium-perchlorate-polymeric-fuel-binder reaction in thin films, made by use of infrared absorption spectrometry, yielded a characterization of a rapid condensed-phase reaction which is likely important during the ignition transient and the burning process

Probing Neutralino Resonance Annihilation via Indirect Detection of Dark Matter

The lightest neutralino of R-parity conserving supersymmetric models serves as a compelling candidate to account for the presence of cold dark matter in the universe. In the minimal supergravity (mSUGRA) model, a relic density can be found in accord with recent WMAP data for large values of the parameter $\tan\beta$, where neutralino annihilation in the early universe occurs via the broad s-channel resonance of the pseudoscalar Higgs boson $A$. We map out rates for indirect detection of neutralinos via 1. detection of neutrinos arising from neutralino annihilation in the core of the earth or sun and 2. detection of gamma rays, antiprotons and positrons arising from neutralino annihilation in the galactic halo. If indeed $A$-resonance annihilation is the main sink for neutralinos in the early universe, then signals may occur in the gamma ray, antiproton and positron channels, while a signal in the neutrino channel would likely be absent. This is in contrast to the hyperbolic branch/focus point (HB/FP) region where {\it all} indirect detection signals are likely to occur, and also in contrast to the stau co-annihilation region, where {\it none} of the indirect signals are likely to occur.Comment: 12 pages including 4 eps figure

Target dark matter detection rates in models with a well-tempered neutralino

In the post-LEP2 era, and in light of recent measurements of the cosmic abundance of cold dark matter (CDM) in the universe from WMAP, many supersymmetric models tend to predict 1. an overabundance of CDM and 2. pessimistically low rates for direct detection of neutralino dark matter. However, in models with a ``well-tempered neutralino'', where the neutralino composition is adjusted to give the measured abundance of CDM, the neutralino is typically of the mixed bino-wino or mixed bino-higgsino state. Along with the necessary enhancement to neutralino annihilation rates, these models tend to give elevated direct detection scattering rates compared to predictions from SUSY models with universal soft breaking terms. We present neutralino direct detection cross sections from a variety of models containing a well-tempered neutralino, and find cross section asymptotes with detectable scattering rates. These asymptotic rates provide targets that various direct CDM detection experiments should aim for. In contrast, in models where the neutralino mass rather than its composition is varied to give the WMAP relic density via either resonance annihilation or co-annihilation, the neutralino remains essentially bino-like, and direct detection rates may be below the projected reaches of all proposed experiments.Comment: 13 pages including 1 EPS figur

Assessment of flywheel energy storage for spacecraft power systems

The feasibility of inertial energy storage in a spacecraft power system is evaluated on the basis of a conceptual integrated design that encompasses a composite rotor, magnetic suspension, and a permanent magnet (PM) motor/generator for a 3-kW orbital average payload at a bus distribution voltage of 250 volts dc. The conceptual design, which evolved at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), is referred to as a Mechanical Capacitor. The baseline power system configuration selected is a series system employing peak-power-tracking for a Low Earth-Orbiting application. Power processing, required in the motor/generator, provides a potential alternative configurations that can only be achieved in systems with electrochemical energy storage by the addition of power processing components. One such alternative configuration provides for peak-power-tracking of the solar array and still maintains a regulated bus, without the expense of additional power processing components. Precise speed control of the two counterrotating wheels is required to reduce interaction with the attitude control system (ACS) or alternatively, used to perform attitude control functions. Critical technologies identified are those pertaining to the energy storage element and are prioritized as composite wheel development, magnetic suspension, motor/generator, containment, and momentum control. Comparison with a 3-kW, 250-Vdc power system using either NiCd or NiH2 for energy storage results in a system in which inertial energy storage offers potential advantages in lifetime, operating temperature, voltage regulation, energy density, charge control, and overall system weight reduction

Probing Minimal Supergravity at the CERN LHC for Large tan⁡β\tan\beta

For large values of the minimal supergravity model parameter $\tan\beta$, the tau lepton and the bottom quark Yukawa couplings become large, leading to reduced masses of $\tau$-sleptons and $b$-squarks relative to their first and second generation counterparts, and to enhanced decays of charginos and neutralinos to $\tau$-leptons and $b$-quarks. We evaluate the reach of the CERN LHC $pp$ collider for supersymmetry in the mSUGRA model parameter space. We find that values of $m_{\tg}\sim 1500-2000$ GeV can be probed with just 10 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity for $\tan\beta$ values as high as 45, so that mSUGRA cannot escape the scrutiny of LHC experiments by virtue of having a large value of $\tan\beta$. We also perform a case study of an mSUGRA model at $\tan\beta =45$ where \tz_2\to \tau\ttau_1 and \tw_1\to \ttau_1\nu_\tau with $\sim 100$ branching fraction. In this case, at least within our simplistic study, we show that a di-tau mass edge, which determines the value of m_{\tz_2}-m_{\tz_1}, can still be reconstructed. This information can be used as a starting point for reconstructing SUSY cascade decays on an event-by-event basis, and can provide a strong constraint in determining the underlying model parameters. Finally, we show that for large $\tan\beta$ there can be an observable excess of $\tau$ leptons, and argue that $\tau$ signals might serve to provide new information about the underlying model framework.Comment: 22 page REVTEX file including 8 figure

Mixed Higgsino Dark Matter from a Large SU(2) Gaugino Mass

We observe that in SUSY models with non-universal GUT scale gaugino mass parameters, raising the GUT scale SU(2) gaugino mass |M_2| from its unified value results in a smaller value of -m_{H_u}^2 at the weak scale. By the electroweak symmetry breaking conditions, this implies a reduced value of \mu^2 {\it vis \`a vis} models with gaugino mass unification. The lightest neutralino can then be mixed Higgsino dark matter with a relic density in agreement with the measured abundance of cold dark matter (DM). We explore the phenomenology of this high |M_2| DM model. The spectrum is characterized by a very large wino mass and a concomitantly large splitting between left- and right- sfermion masses. In addition, the lighter chargino and three light neutralinos are relatively light with substantial higgsino components. The higgsino content of the LSP implies large rates for direct detection of neutralino dark matter, and enhanced rates for its indirect detection relative to mSUGRA. We find that experiments at the LHC should be able to discover SUSY over the portion of parameter space where m_{\tg} \alt 2350-2750 ~GeV, depending on the squark mass, while a 1 TeV electron-positron collider has a reach comparable to that of the LHC. The dilepton mass spectrum in multi-jet + \ell^+\ell^- + \eslt events at the LHC will likely show more than one mass edge, while its shape should provide indirect evidence for the large higgsino content of the decaying neutralinos.Comment: 36 pages with 26 eps figure

Ammonium-perchlorate diffusion flames - A spectrographic investigation

Spectroscopic analyses on ammonium perchlorate diffusion flames with various fuel

The importance of tau leptons for supersymmetry searches at the Tevatron

Supersymmetry is perhaps most effectively probed at the Tevatron through production and decay of weak gauginos. Most of the analyses of weak gaugino observables require electrons or muons in the final state. However, it is possible that the gauginos will decay primarily to tau leptons, thus complicating the search for supersymmetry. The motivating reasons for high tau multiplicity final states are discussed in three approaches to supersymmetry model building: minimal supergravity, gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, and more minimal supersymmetry. The concept of ``e/mu/tau candidate'' is introduced, and an observable with three e/mu/tau candidates is defined in analog to the trilepton observable. The maximum mass reach for supersymmetry is then estimated when gaugino decays to tau leptons have full branching fraction.Comment: 9 pages, latex, 2 figures. Presented at the D0 New Phenomena Workshop, UC Davis, 26-28 March 199

Is "just-so" Higgs splitting needed for t-b-\tau Yukawa unified SUSY GUTs?

Recent renormalization group calculations of the sparticle mass spectrum in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) show that t-b-\tau Yukawa coupling unification at M_{\rm GUT} is possible when the mass spectra follow the pattern of a radiatively induced inverted scalar mass hierarchy. The calculation is entirely consistent with expectations from SO(10) SUSY GUT theories, with one exception: it seems to require MSSM Higgs soft term mass splitting at M_{\rm GUT}, dubbed "just-so Higgs splitting" (HS) in the literature, which apparently violates the SO(10) gauge symmetry. Here, we investigate three alternative effects: {\it i}). SO(10) D-term splitting, {\it ii}). inclusion of right hand neutrino in the RG calculation, and {\it iii}). first/third generation scalar mass splitting. By combining all three effects (the DR3 model), we find t-b-\tau Yukawa unification at M_{\rm GUT} can be achieved at the 2.5% level. In the DR3 case, we expect lighter (and possibly detectable) third generation and heavy Higgs scalars than in the model with HS. In addition, the light bottom squark in DR3 should be dominantly a right state, while in the HS model, it is dominantly a left state.Comment: 21 pages with 11 .eps figures; revised version added two reference

The Reach of the Fermilab Tevatron and CERN LHC for Gaugino Mediated SUSY Breaking Models

In supersymmetric models with gaugino mediated SUSY breaking (inoMSB), it is assumed that SUSY breaking on a hidden brane is communicated to the visible brane via gauge superfields which propagate in the bulk. This leads to GUT models where the common gaugino mass $m_{1/2}$ is the only soft SUSY breaking term to receive contributions at tree level. To obtain a viable phenomenology, it is assumed that the gaugino mass is induced at some scale $M_c$ beyond the GUT scale, and that additional renormalization group running takes place between $M_c$ and $M_{GUT}$ as in a SUSY GUT. We assume an SU(5) SUSY GUT above the GUT scale, and compute the SUSY particle spectrum expected in models with inoMSB. We use the Monte Carlo program ISAJET to simulate signals within the inoMSB model, and compute the SUSY reach including cuts and triggers approriate to Fermilab Tevatron and CERN LHC experiments. We find no reach for SUSY by the Tevatron collider in the trilepton channel. %either with or without %identified tau leptons. At the CERN LHC, values of $m_{1/2}=1000$ (1160) GeV can be probed with 10 (100) fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, corresponding to a reach in terms of $m_{\tg}$ of 2150 (2500) GeV. The inoMSB model and mSUGRA can likely only be differentiated at a linear $e^+e^-$ collider with sufficient energy to produce sleptons and charginos.Comment: 17 page revtex file with 9 PS figure