249 research outputs found
Antimatter research in Space
Two of the most compelling issues facing astrophysics and cosmology today are
to understand the nature of the dark matter that pervades the universe and to
understand the apparent absence of cosmological antimatter. For both issues,
sensitive measurements of cosmic-ray antiprotons and positrons, in a wide
energy range, are crucial. Many different mechanisms can contribute to
antiprotons and positrons production, ranging from conventional reactions up to
exotic processes like neutralino annihilation. The open problems are so
fundamental (i.e.: is the universe symmetric in matter and antimatter ?) that
experiments in this field will probably be of the greatest interest in the next
years. Here we will summarize the present situation, showing the different
hypothesis and models and the experimental measurements needed to lead to a
more established scenario.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, Invited talk at the 18th European Cosmic Ray
Symposium, Moscow, July 2002, submitted to Journal of Physics
On The 5D Extra-Force according to Basini-Capozziello-Leon Formalism and five important features: Kar-Sinha Gravitational Bending of Light, Chung-Freese Superluminal Behaviour, Maartens-Clarkson Black Strings, Experimental measures of Extra Dimensions on board International Space Station(ISS) and the existence of the Particle due to a Higher Dimensional spacetime
We use the Conformal Metric as described in Kar-Sinha work on Gravitational
Bending of Light in a 5D Spacetime to recompute the equations of the 5D Force
in Basini-Capozziello-Leon Formalism and we arrive at a result that possesses
some advantages. The equations of the Extra Force as proposed by Leon are now
more elegant in Conformal Formalism and many algebraic terms can be simplified
or even suppressed. Also we recompute the Kar-Sinha Gravitational Bending of
Light affected by the presence of the Extra Dimension and analyze the
Superluminal Chung-Freese Features of this Formalism describing the advantages
of the Chung-Freese BraneWorld when compared to other Superluminal spacetime
metrics(eg:Warp Drive) and we describe why the Extra Dimension is invisible and
how the Extra Dimension could be made visible at least in theory.We also
examine the Maartens-Clarkson Black Holes in 5D(Black Strings) coupled to
massive Kaluza-Klein graviton modes predicted by Extra Dimensions theories and
we study experimental detection of Extra Dimensions on-board LIGO and LISA
Space Telescopes.We also propose the use of International Space Station(ISS) to
measure the additional terms(resulting from the presence of Extra Dimensions)
in the Kar-Sinha Gravitational Bending of Light in Outer Space to verify if we
really lives in a Higher Dimensional Spacetime.Also we demonstrate that
Particle can only exists if the 5D spacetime exists.Comment: Withdrawn: author no longer wishes to post work on arXi
Deriving the mass of particles from Extended Theories of Gravity in LHC era
We derive a geometrical approach to produce the mass of particles that could
be suitably tested at LHC. Starting from a 5D unification scheme, we show that
all the known interactions could be suitably deduced as an induced symmetry
breaking of the non-unitary GL(4)-group of diffeomorphisms. The deformations
inducing such a breaking act as vector bosons that, depending on the
gravitational mass states, can assume the role of interaction bosons like
gluons, electroweak bosons or photon. The further gravitational degrees of
freedom, emerging from the reduction mechanism in 4D, eliminate the hierarchy
problem since generate a cut-off comparable with electroweak one at TeV scales.
In this "economic" scheme, gravity should induce the other interactions in a
non-perturbative way.Comment: 30 pages, 1 figur
Diffractive Interaction and Scaling Violation in pp->pi^0 Interaction and GeV Excess in Galactic Diffuse Gamma-Ray Spectrum of EGRET
We present here a new calculation of the gamma-ray spectrum from pp->pi^0 in
the Galactic ridge environment. The calculation includes the diffractive pp
interaction and incorporates the Feynman scaling violation for the first time.
Galactic diffuse gamma-rays come, predominantly, from pi^0->gamma gamma in the
sub-GeV to multi-GeV range. Hunter et al. found, however, an excess in the GeV
range ("GeV Excess") in the EGRET Galactic diffuse spectrum above the
prediction based on experimental pp->pi^0 cross-sections and the Feynman
scaling hypothesis. We show, in this work, that the diffractive process makes
the gamma-ray spectrum harder than the incident proton spectrum by ~0.05 in
power-law index, and, that the scaling violation produces 30-80% more pi^0 than
the scaling model for incident proton energies above 100GeV. Combination of the
two can explain about a half of the "GeV Excess" with the local cosmic proton
(power-law index ~2.7). The excess can be fully explained if the proton
spectral index in the Galactic ridge is a little harder (~0.2 in power-law
index) than the local spectrum. Given also in the paper is that the diffractive
process enhances e^+ over e^- and the scaling violation gives 50-100% higher
p-bar yield than without the violation, both in the multi-GeV range.Comment: 35 pages, 11 figures, to appear in Astrophysical Journa
Terahertz electric-field driven dynamical multiferroicity in SrTiO
The emergence of collective order in matter is among the most fundamental and
intriguing phenomena in physics. In recent years, the ultrafast dynamical
control and creation of novel ordered states of matter not accessible in
thermodynamic equilibrium is receiving much attention. Among those, the
theoretical concept of dynamical multiferroicity has been introduced to
describe the emergence of magnetization by means of a time-dependent electric
polarization in non-ferromagnetic materials. In simple terms, a large amplitude
coherent rotating motion of the ions in a crystal induces a magnetic moment
along the axis of rotation. However, the experimental verification of this
effect is still lacking. Here, we provide evidence of room temperature
magnetization in the archetypal paraelectric perovskite SrTiO due to this
mechanism. To achieve it, we resonantly drive the infrared-active soft phonon
mode with intense circularly polarized terahertz electric field, and detect a
large magneto-optical Kerr effect. A simple model, which includes two coupled
nonlinear oscillators whose forces and couplings are derived with ab-initio
calculations using self-consistent phonon theory at a finite temperature,
reproduces qualitatively our experimental observations on the temporal and
frequency domains. A quantitatively correct magnitude of the effect is obtained
when one also considers the phonon analogue of the reciprocal of the Einsten -
de Haas effect, also called the Barnett effect, where the total angular
momentum from the phonon order is transferred to the electronic one. Our
findings show a new path for designing ultrafast magnetic switches by means of
coherent control of lattice vibrations with light.Comment: Main text: 10 pages, 4 figures, methods and 8 supplemental figure
Nanoplastics impair in vitro swine granulosa cell functions
Soil, water and air pollution by plastic represents an issue of great concern since the particles produced by degradation of plastic materials can be ingested by animals and humans, with still uncertain health consequences. As a contribution on this crucial subject, the present work reports an investigation on the in vitro effects of different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics (5, 25 and 75 ÎŒg/mL) on swine granulosa cells, a model of endocrine reproductive cells. In particular, cell growth (BrDU incorporation and ATP production), steroidogenesis (17-ÎČ estradiol and progesterone secretion) and redox status (superoxide and nitric oxide production, enzymatic and non-enzymatic scavenging activity) were studied. Nanoplastics, at the highest concentration, stimulated cell proliferation (P < 0.05), while cell viability resulted unaffected. Steroidogenesis were disrupted (P < 0.05). Both enzymatic and non-enzymatic scavenging activity were increased after exposure at the highest nanoplastic dose (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). Nitric oxide secretion was increased by 25 and 75 ÎŒg/mL (P < 0.05) while superoxide generation was stimulated (P < 0.001) only by the highest concentration tested. Taken together, main features of cultured swine granulosa cells resulted affected by exposure to nanoplastics. These results raise concerns since environment nanoplastic contamination can represents a serious threat to animal and human health
A calorimeter coupled with a magnetic spectrometer for the detection of primary cosmic antiprotons
A tracking calorimeter made of 3200 brass streamer tubes together with 3200 pick-up strips has been built to complement a magnetic spectrometer in order to detect cosmic antiprotons in space. The characteristics of such a calorimeter, the results of a preliminary test of a prototype as well as the properties of the whole apparatus are presented. The apparatus, designed to operate on a balloon at an altitude of about 40 km, can be considered as a second generation detector, capable in principle to solve the problem of the presence of low energy (â€1 Ge V/c) antiprotons in the cosmic rays which is still open because of the disagreement between the existent experimental data
Magnetic Hyperthermia and Radiation Therapy : Radiobiological Principles and Current Practice
Hyperthermia, though by itself generally non-curative for cancer, can significantly increase the efficacy of radiation therapy, as demonstrated by in vitro, in vivo, and clinical results. Its limited use in the clinic is mainly due to various practical implementation difficulties, the most important being how to adequately heat the tumor, especially deep-seated ones. In this work, we first review the effects of hyperthermia on tissue, the limitations of radiation therapy and the radiobiological rationale for combining the two treatment modalities. Subsequently, we review the theory and evidence for magnetic hyperthermia that is based on magnetic nanoparticles, its advantages compared with other methods of hyperthermia, and how it can be used to overcome the problems associated with traditional techniques of hyperthermia
On the use of superparamagnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as an agent for magnetic and nuclear in vivo imaging
The identification of alternative biocompatible magnetic NPs for advanced clinical application is becoming an important need due to raising concerns about iron accumulation in soft issues associated to the administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we report on the performance of previously synthetized iron-doped hydroxyapatite (FeHA) NPs as contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI contrast abilities of FeHA and EndoremÂź (dextran coated iron oxide NPs) were assessed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry and their performance in healthy mice was monitored by a 7 Tesla scanner. FeHA applied a higher contrast enhancement, and had a longer endurance in the liver with respect to EndoremÂź at iron equality. Additionally, a proof of concept of FeHA use as scintigraphy imaging agent for positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was given labeling FeHA with 99mTc-MDP by a straightforward surface functionalization process. Scintigraphy/x-ray fused imaging and ex vivo studies confirmed its dominant accumulation in the liver, and secondarily in other organs of the mononuclear phagocyte system. FeHA efficiency as MRI-T2 and PET-SPECT imaging agent combined to its already reported intrinsic biocompatibility qualifies it as a promising material for innovative nanomedical applications.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
The ability of iron-doped hydroxyapatite nanoaprticles (FeHA) to work in vivo as imaging agents for magnetic resonance (MR) and nuclear imaging is demonstrated. FeHA applied an higher MR contrast in the liver, spleen and kidneys of mice with respect to EndoremÂź. The successful radiolabeling of FeHA allowed for scintigraphy/X-ray and ex vivo biodistribution studies, confirming MR results and envisioning FeHA application for dual-imaging
Study of the granularity for a tracking calorimeter with optimal rejection of proton background in positron detection
In this paper we present a Monte Carlo study of a calorimeter response for an experiment to equip the magnetic facility of the USA space station. Main purpose in the design of such a calorimeter is the efficient discrimination between eloctromagnetic and hadronic showers. The estimated rejection power results to be better than 1·10â3 p/e+ for incident particles with energy between 10 GeV and 100GeV
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