e+e−e^+e^- Pair Production from 10 GeV to 10 ZeV

At very high energies, pair production ($\gamma\to e^+e^-$) exhibits many interesting features. The momentum transfer from the target is very small, so the reaction probes the macroscopic properties of the target, rather than individual nuclei. Interference between interactions with different atoms reduces the pair production cross section considerably below the Bethe-Heitler values. At very high energies, photonuclear interactions may outnumber pair production. In contrast, in crystals, the interaction amplitudes may add coherently, greatly increasing the cross sections. Pair production in matter-free magnetic fields is also possible. The highest energy pair production occurs at high energy particle colliders. This article will compare pair production in these very different regimes.Comment: 37 pages with 9 figures. Invited Review for "Radiation Physics and Chemistry" Version for publication, incorporating comments by the referee, and by Gerhard Baur and Roman Le

Regional integration and trade: controlling for varying degrees of heterogeneity in the gravity model

Using a panel dataset of bilateral export flows from 12 EU countries to 20 OECD trading partners over the 1992–2003 period, this paper examines whether the effect on trade of European regional integration, denoted by an EU dummy, holds across a representative number of specifications for two gravity models, one based on the traditional trade determinants, the other based on newer trade theories (NTT). For both gravity model specifications the coefficient of the EU dummy declines in magnitude and becomes insignificant as an increasing degree of country heterogeneity is admitted into the model. This suggests the fundamental importance of the econometric specification when evaluating trade policy effects

Jet-Like Correlations between Forward and Mid-Rapidity

Mid-rapidity azimuthal correlations probe di-jets originating mainly from gluon-gluon hard-scattering. Measurements of such correlations have revealed significant (gluon-)jet modification in central Au+Au collisions. Azimuthal correlations at forward rapidity with a mid-rapidity high-pt hadron, on the other hand, are sensitive primarily to quark-gluon hard-scattering and may probe quark-jet modification in nuclear medium. They may be also sensitive to the Color Glass Condensate by separating d-side and Au-side in d+Au collisions. We present the first results on correlations of charged hadrons at forward rapidity in the STAR FTPCs (2.7 < |eta| < 3.9, pt < 2 GeV/c) with high-pt charged hadrons at mid-rapidity from the main TPC (|eta| 3 GeV/c). Preliminary results from pp, d+Au, and Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV are compared. Implications of the results are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Invited talk at Hard Probes 2006, Asilomar, C

Functional renormalization group for d-wave superconductivity in Hubbard type models

The temperature dependence of d-wave superconducting order for two dimensional fermions with d-wave attraction is investigated by means of the functional renormalization group with partial bosonization. Below the critical temperature T_c we find superconductivity, a gap in the electron propagator and a temperature dependent anomalous dimension. At T_c the renormalized "superfluid density" jumps and the approach to T_c from above is characterized by essential scaling. These features are characteristic for a phase transition of the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) type.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, references added, discussion improve

J/psi Inclusive Production in nu N Neutral-Current Deep-Inelastic Scattering

We calculate the cross section of J/psi inclusive production in neutrino-nucleon deep-inelastic scattering via the weak neutral current within the factorization formalism of nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics. Besides J/psi single production via the Z-gluon fusion mechanism, we also consider J/psi plus hadron-jet associated production. We take into account both direct production and feed-down from directly-produced heavier charmonia. We present theoretical predictions for the J/psi transverse-momentum and rapidity distributions, which can be measured in the CHORUS and NOMAD experiments at CERN, including conservative error estimates. In order to interpret a recent CHORUS measurement of the total cross section, we also estimate the contribution due to J/psi prompt production via diffractive processes using the vector-meson dominance model.Comment: 34 pages (Latex), 5 figures (Postscript); significantly extended to include feed-down and diffractive contributions and nuclear corrections; accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys.

The relativistic kinetic dispersion relation: Comparison of the relativistic Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model and Grad's 14-moment expansion

In this paper, we study the Cauchy problem of the linearized kinetic equations for the models of Marle and Anderson-Witting, and compare these dispersion relations with the 14-moment theory. First, we propose a modification of the Marle model to improve the resultant transport coefficients in accord with those obtained by the full Boltzmann equation. Using the modified Marle model and Anderson-Witting model, we calculate dispersion relations that are kinetically correct within the validity of the BGK approximation. The 14-moment theory that includes the time derivative of dissipation currents has causal structure, in contrast to the acausal first-order Chapman-Enskog approximation. However, the dispersion relation of the 14-moment theory does not accurately describe the result of the kinetic equation. Thus, our calculation indicates that keeping these second-order terms does not simply correspond to improving the physical description of the relativistic hydrodynamics.Comment: 20 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in Physica

Magnetic and superconducting correlations in the two-dimensional Hubbard model

The interplay and competition of magnetic and superconducting correlations in the weakly interacting two-dimensional Hubbard Model is investigated by means of the functional renormalization group. At zero temperature the flow of interactions in one-loop approximation evolves into a strong coupling regime at low energy scales, signalling the possible onset of spontaneous symmetry breaking. This is further analyzed by a mean-field treatment of the strong renormalized interactions which takes into account magnetic and superconducting order simultaneously. The effect of strong correlations on single-particle properties in the normal phase is studied by calculating the flow of the self-energy.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

A common genetic target for environmental and heritable influences on aggressiveness in Drosophila

Environmental and genetic factors can modulate aggressiveness, but the biological mechanisms underlying their influence are largely unknown. Social experience with conspecifics suppresses aggressiveness in both vertebrate and invertebrate species, including Drosophila. We searched for genes whose expression levels correlate with the influence of social experience on aggressiveness in Drosophila by performing microarray analysis of head tissue from socially isolated (aggressive) vs. socially experienced (nonaggressive) male flies. Among {approx}200 differentially expressed genes, only one was also present in a gene set previously identified by profiling Drosophila strains subjected to genetic selection for differences in aggressiveness [Dierick HA, Greenspan RJ (2006) Nat Genet 38:1023–1031]. This gene, Cyp6a20, encodes a cytochrome P450. Social experience increased Cyp6a20 expression and decreased aggressiveness in a reversible manner. In Cyp6a20 mutants, aggressiveness was increased in group-housed but not socially isolated flies. These data identify a common genetic target for environmental and heritable influences on aggressiveness. Cyp6a20 is expressed in a subset of nonneuronal support cells associated with pheromone-sensing olfactory sensilla, suggesting that social experience may influence aggressiveness by regulating pheromone sensitivity

Dark costs, missing data: shedding some light on services trade

We develop a method to project missing sectoral services output and trade. For OECD countries, projected and observed output data match well. The basis is a structural gravity model to estimate barriers to services trade across sectors, countries and time. The model fits well and reveals key differences across service sectors. Border barriers fall over time but unevenly. Inferred border barriers are fitted to national geography, technology, income and endowments, and institutional determinants. The fitted model including fitted border barriers is used to project missing internal or bilateral trade flows, aggregating to projected output