Equivalence of the long-wavelength approximation and the truncated Taylor expansion in relativistic Coulomb excitation

The long-wavelength approximation and the truncated Taylor expansion are frequently used in the theory of relativistic Coulomb excitation to obtain multipole expansions of the interaction. It is shown in this note that these two approximations are exactly equivalent.Comment: 5 page

Gauge dependence of calculations in relativistic Coulomb excitation

Before a quantum-mechanical calculation involving electromagnetic interactions is performed, a choice must be made of the gauge to be used in expressing the potentials. If the calculation is done exactly, the observable results it predicts will be independent of the choice of gauge. However, in most practical calculations approximations are made, which can destroy the gauge invariance of the predictions. We compare here the results of coupled-channel time-dependent relativistic Coulomb excitation calculations, as performed in either Lorentz or Coulomb gauges. We find significant differences when the bombarding energy per nucleon is $\geq$ 2 GeV, which indicates that the common practice of relying completely on the Lorentz gauge can be dangerous.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure

IDEOLOGY, POLITICAL ECONOMY, AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AFTER AD 1778

Interpretations of European and American contact with Oceania often highlight the rapid changes that took place in the technologies and practices of its traditional societies. In the Hawaiian Islands, for example, many scholars have assumed that stone adzes were quickly replaced with metal adzes, and that such change was an inevitable consequence of a more efficient western technology. The timing and pace of this particular change is put into a comparative perspective by reviewing published information on the rate at which indigenous Hawaiians selectively modified their clothing and pole-and-thatch hale (buildings) in the context of Euro-American colonialism. The study reveals that although Hawaiian women quickly adopted selected styles of western clothing, indigenous stone adze technology and vernacular architecture persisted about a century after contact in AD 1778. These findings confirm that archaeological studies of colonialism must consider a variety of social and economic factors to document and explain technological change

Strict Liability for Defective Ideas in Publications

In 1963 the Supreme Court of California revolutionized the law of torts by adopting the theory of strict liability in products liability cases.\u27 The American Law Institute subsequently promulgated section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts in 1965. Section 402A provides that the seller of a product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous may be held liable even though he has exercised all possible care. \u27 Today, nearly every state has adopted some form of section 402A.\u27 Moreover, the list of modern products to which section 402A applies is virtually limitless. Yet, despite the unprecedented expansion of strict liability into new product areas and industries, courts still must grapple with defining the limits of section 402A in certain unique factual situations. The increasing variety and complexity of manufactured items have created problems for courts;6 some items do not fall neatly within the label of product. Recently, courts have had to decide whether the content of an article of property used to transmit information constitutes a product for section 402A purposes. Some courts have applied strict liability to publications that contain erroneous information which has caused injury to plaintiffs.\u27 These courts argue that the underlying policy justifications for strict liability compel this application.\u27 Other courts have refused to extend the doctrine of strict liability to cover defective ideas and words in a publication. These courts contend that strict liability only applies to the tangible properties of publications, not the words and thoughts contained within the publication. Because the physical properties of a book contain no inherent danger, strict liability arguably is not applicable. This Note explores the issue of whether strict liability is appropriate for defective ideas in publications. Part II examines the development of strict liability and the underlying policy justifications for the doctrine. Part III analyzes cases that have considered the applicability of strict liability to various publications. Part IV examines the implications of imposing strict liability on publications. Finally, Part V concludes that strict liability should not be applied to publications that contain defective ideas