The back-to-back region in e^+e^- energy--energy correlation

We consider the back-to-back region in the energy--energy correlation in e^+e^- collisions. We present the explicit expression of the O(as^2) logarithmically enhanced contributions up to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. We study the impact of the results in a detailed comparison with precise LEP and SLC data. We find that, when hadronization effects are taken into account as is customarily done in QCD analysis in e^+e^- annihilations, the extracted value of as(M_Z) is in good agreement with the current world average.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Higgs production cross-section in a Standard Model with four generations at the LHC

We present theoretical predictions for the Higgs boson production cross-section via gluon fusion at the LHC in a Standard Model with four generations. We include QCD corrections through NLO retaining the full dependence on the quark masses, and the NNLO corrections in the heavy quark effective theory approximation. We also include electroweak corrections through three loops. Electroweak and bottom-quark contributions are suppressed in comparison to the Standard Model with three generations.Comment: 6 pages, 2 Tables, to appear in the proceedings of the XLVIth Rencontres de Moriond session devoted to Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theorie

Cross Section Ratios between different CM energies at the LHC: opportunities for precision measurements and BSM sensitivity

The staged increase of the LHC beam energy provides a new class of interesting observables, namely ratios and double ratios of cross sections of various hard processes. The large degree of correlation of theoretical systematics in the cross section calculations at different energies leads to highly precise predictions for such ratios. We present in this letter few examples of such ratios, and discuss their possible implications, both in terms of opportunities for precision measurements and in terms of sensitivity to Beyond the Standard Model dynamics.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figure

IKO – Auf die Plätze, fertig, medienfit!

IKO ist ein Brettspiel für Kinder ab 10 Jahren zur Steigerung der Medienkompetenz. Das Datenpaket enthält Dateien zur Eigenproduktion sowie Anleitungen zur Herstellung des Brettspiels inklusive aller benötigten Spielmaterialien. In den Paketen sind jeweils enthalten: Spielanleitung Cover Spielschachtel Spielplan (incl. Puzzlelinien) Spielkarten 3-D-Elemente Wir freuen uns über Feedback an [email protected]

Spin structure of the nucleon: QCD evolution, lattice results and models

The question how the spin of the nucleon is distributed among its quark and gluon constituents is still a subject of intense investigations. Lattice QCD has progressed to provide information about spin fractions and orbital angular momentum contributions for up- and down-quarks in the proton, at a typical scale \mu^2~4 GeV^2. On the other hand, chiral quark models have traditionally been used for orientation at low momentum scales. In the comparison of such model calculations with experiment or lattice QCD, fixing the model scale and the treatment of scale evolution are essential. In this paper, we present a refined model calculation and a QCD evolution of lattice results up to next-to-next-to-leading order. We compare this approach with the Myhrer-Thomas scenario for resolving the proton spin puzzle.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, equation (9) has been corrected leading to a revised figure 1b. Revision matches published versio

Flame retardant polyester by combination of organophosphorus compounds and an NOR radical forming agent

Polymer materials with different surface-to-volume ratios require different mechanisms of flame retardants regarding condensed phase and gas phase activity. The flame retardant formulations in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) are investigated regarding a condensed phase and gas phase activity by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), TG-mass spectrometry (MS), TG-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UL94, cone calorimeter and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer measurements. The flame retardant formulations containing phosphates, phosphonates, and phosphinates as flame retardants are analyzed by using a simultaneous analysis consisting of a differential thermal analysis-TGA device which is in situ coupled to FTIR and MS. All analysis methods show a gas phase activity for the phosphonate (PCO 910), a condensed phase activity for the phosphate (3,9-bis(phenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-5,5-undecane-3,9-dioxide, (SPDPP) and a mixed condensed and gas phase activity for the new synthesized phosphate and 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene 10-oxide containing flame retardant 3,9-bis(phenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-5,5-undecane-3,9-dioxide (SPDPDOM). The fire behavior of PCO 910 can be improved by adding O,O'-Terephthaloyl-bis-N,N'-naphthalimide ester as NOR radical-forming agent (NOR-RF) reaching a total amount of 3 wt % of both active agents for a UL94 V-0 classification in PET

Phenomenology of event shapes at hadron colliders

We present results for matched distributions of a range of dijet event shapes at hadron colliders, combining next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) accuracy in the resummation exponent, next-to-next-to leading logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy in its expansion and next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy in a pure alpha_s expansion. This is the first time that such a matching has been carried out for hadronic final-state observables at hadron colliders. We compare our results to Monte Carlo predictions, with and without matching to multi-parton tree-level fixed-order calculations. These studies suggest that hadron-collider event shapes have significant scope for constraining both perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of hadron-collider QCD. The differences between various calculational methods also highlight the limits of relying on simultaneous variations of renormalisation and factorisation scale in making reliable estimates of uncertainties in QCD predictions. We also discuss the sensitivity of event shapes to the topology of multi-jet events, which are expected to appear in many New Physics scenarios.Comment: 70 pages, 25 figures, additional material available from http://www.lpthe.jussieu.fr/~salam/pp-event-shapes

Two-Loop Soft Corrections and Resummation of the Thrust Distribution in the Dijet Region

The thrust distribution in electron-positron annihilation is a classical precision QCD observable. Using renormalization group (RG) evolution in Laplace space, we perform the resummation of logarithmically enhanced corrections in the dijet limit, $T\to 1$ to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy. We independently derive the two-loop soft function for the thrust distribution and extract an analytical expression for the NNLL resummation coefficient $g_3$. To combine the resummed expressions with the fixed-order results, we derive the $\log(R)$-matching and $R$-matching of the NNLL approximation to the fixed-order NNLO distribution.Comment: 50 pages, 12 figures, 1 table. Few minor changes. Version accepted for publication in JHE

Intensive heart rhythm monitoring to decrease ischemic stroke and systemic embolism - the Find-AF 2 study - rationale and design

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequent causes of stroke. Several randomized trials have shown that prolonged monitoring increases the detection of AF, but the effect on reducing recurrent cardioembolism, i.e. ischemic stroke and systemic embolism, remains unknown. We aim to evaluate whether a risk-adapted, intensified heart rhythm monitoring with consequent guideline conform treatment, which implies initiation of oral anticoagulation (OAC), leads to a reduction of recurrent cardioembolism. Methods Find-AF 2 is a randomized, controlled, open-label parallel multicenter trial with blinded endpoint assessment. 5,200 patients ≥ 60 years of age with symptomatic ischemic stroke within the last 30 days and without known AF will be included at 52 study centers with a specialized stroke unit in Germany. Patients without AF in an additional 24-hour Holter ECG after the qualifying event will be randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either enhanced, prolonged and intensified ECG-monitoring (intervention arm) or standard of care monitoring (control arm). In the intervention arm, patients with a high risk of underlying AF will receive continuous rhythm monitoring using an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) whereas those without high risk of underlying AF will receive repeated 7-day Holter ECGs. The duration of rhythm monitoring within the control arm is up to the discretion of the participating centers and is allowed for up to 7 days. Patients will be followed for at least 24 months. The primary efficacy endpoint is the time until recurrent ischemic stroke or systemic embolism occur. Conclusions The Find-AF 2 trial aims to demonstrate that enhanced, prolonged and intensified rhythm monitoring results in a more effective prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke and systemic embolism compared to usual care