Strange particle production in a single-freeze-out model

The transverse-momentum spectra and elliptic flow of strange particles are calculated in the framework of the single-freeze-out model and compared with the recent RHIC data. An overall very good agreement between the model predictions and the data is obtained.Comment: talk presented by WF during the VIIIth Int. Conf. on Strangeness in Quark Matter, Cape Town, Sept. 15-20, 200

Collective inertia and fission barriers within the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock theory

Spontaneous fission barriers, quadrupole inertia, and zero-point quadrupole-energy corrections are calculated for 252,256,258Fm in the framework of the self-consistent Skyrme-Hartree-Fock+BCS theory. Two ways of computing dynamical inertia are employed: the Gaussian Overlap Approximation to the Generator Coordinate Method and cranking ansatz. The Skyrme results are compared with those of the Gogny-Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov model.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, missing factor of 2 found, figures corrected, to be published in International Journal of Modern Physics

Title: Quadrupole collective inertia in nuclear fission: cranking approximation

Collective mass tensor derived from the cranking approximation to the adiabatic time-dependent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (ATDHFB) approach is compared with that obtained in the Gaussian Overlap Approximation (GOA) to the generator coordinate method. Illustrative calculations are carried out for one-dimensional quadrupole fission pathways in 256Fm. It is shown that the collective mass exhibits strong variations with the quadrupole collective coordinate. These variations are related to the changes in the intrinsic shell structure. The differences between collective inertia obtained in cranking and perturbative cranking approximations to ATDHFB, and within GOA, are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX, 4 figure

Multicolour photometry of Balloon 090100001: linking the two classes of pulsating hot subdwarfs

We present results of the multicolour UBVR photometry of the high-amplitude EC14026-type star, Balloon 090100001. The data span over a month and consist of more than a hundred hours of observations. Fourier analysis of these data led us to the detection of at least 30 modes of pulsation of which 22 are independent. The frequencies of 13 detected modes group in three narrow ranges, around 2.8, 3.8 and 4.7 mHz, where the radial fundamental mode, the first and second overtones are likely to occur. Surprisingly, we also detect 9 independent modes in the low-frequency domain, between 0.15 and 0.4 mHz. These modes are typical for pulsations found in PG1716+426-type stars, discovered recently among cool B-type subdwarfs. The modes found in these stars are attributed to the high-order g modes. As both kinds of pulsations are observed in Balloon 090100001, it represents a link between the two classes of pulsating hot subdwarfs. At present, it is probably the most suitable target for testing evolutionary scenarios and internal constitution models of these stars by means of asteroseismology. Three of the modes we discovered form an equidistant frequency triplet which can be explained by invoking rotational splitting of an $\ell$ = 1 mode. The splitting amounts to about 1.58 $\mu$Hz, leading to a rotation period of 7.1 $\pm$ 0.1 days.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. For full-resolution postscript file, visit http://www.as.wsp.krakow.pl/~andy/balloon.ps.g

Centrality dependence of global variables in relativistic heavy ion collisions: Final pTp_{T} data analysis in the framework of a statistical model

The global variables like the transverse energy at midrapidity, the charged particle multiplicity at midrapidity and the total multiplicity of charged particles are evaluated in the single-freeze-out statistical model for different centrality bins at RHIC at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=130$ and 200 GeV. Full description of decays of hadron resonances is applied in these estimations. The geometric parameters of the model are obtained from the fit to the final data on the $p_{T}$ spectra. The predicted values of the global variables agree qualitatively well with the experimental data. The centrality independence of the total number of charged particles per participant pair has been also reproduced.Comment: Revtex, 12 figures (included), 16 pages. This is the revised final version accepted for publication in Physical Review C. The main difference with the first version is that the geometric parameters of the model have been fitted again with the use of the newer estimates of the statistical parameters reported in Refs. [20,21] for the case of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. Also because of the editorial reasons the title has been slightly change

Development of a miniature solid propellant rocket motor for use in plume simulation studies

A miniature solid propellant rocket motor has been developed to be used in a program to determine those parameters which must be duplicated in a cold gas flow to produce aerodynamic effects on an experimental model similar to those produced by hot, particle-laden exhaust plumes. Phenomena encountered during the testing of the miniature solid propellant motors included erosive propellant burning caused by high flow velocities parallel to the propellant surface, regressive propellant burning as a result of exposed propellant edges, the deposition of aluminum oxide on the nozzle surfaces sufficient to cause aerodynamic nozzle throat geometry changes, and thermal erosion of the nozzle throat at high chamber pressures. A series of tests was conducted to establish the stability of the rocket chamber pressure and the repeatibility of test conditions. Data are presented which define the tests selected to represent the final test matrix. Qualitative observations are also presented concerning the phenomena experienced based on the results of a large number or rocket tests not directly applicable to the final test matrix