Search for Contact Interactions in the Dimuon Final State at ATLAS

The Standard Model has been successful in describing many fundamental aspects of particle physics. However, there are some remaining puzzles that are not explained within the context of its present framework. We discuss the possibility to discover new physics in the ATLAS Detector via a four-fermion contact interaction, much in the same way Fermi first described Weak interactions. Using a simple ratio method on dimuon events, we can set a 95% C.L. lower limit on the effective scale Lambda = 7.5 TeV (8.7 TeV) for the constructive Left-left Isoscalar Model of quark compositeness with 100 pb^-1 (200 pb^-1) of data at sqrt{s} = 10 TeV.Comment: To be published in the proceedings of DPF-2009, Detroit, MI, July 2009, eConf C09072

Charmonium-Nucleon Dissociation Cross Sections in the Quark Model

Charmonium dissociation cross sections due to flavor-exchange charmonium-baryon scattering are computed in the constituent quark model. We present results for inelastic $J/\psi N$ and $\eta_c N$ scattering amplitudes and cross sections into 46 final channels, including final states composed of various combinations of $D$, $D^*$, $\Sigma_c$, and $\Lambda_c$. These results are relevant to experimental searches for the deconfined phase of quark matter, and may be useful in identifying the contribution of initial $c\bar c$ production to the open-charm final states observed at RHIC through the characteristic flavor ratios of certain channels. These results are also of interest to possible charmonium-nucleon bound states.Comment: 10 pages, 5 eps figures, revte

An analytical method to predict efficiency of aircraft gearboxes

A spur gear efficiency prediction method previously developed by the authors was extended to include power loss of planetary gearsets. A friction coefficient model was developed for MIL-L-7808 oil based on disc machine data. This combined with the recent capability of predicting losses in spur gears of nonstandard proportions allows the calculation of power loss for complete aircraft gearboxes that utilize spur gears. The method was applied to the T56/501 turboprop gearbox and compared with measured test data. Bearing losses were calculated with large scale computer programs. Breakdowns of the gearbox losses point out areas for possible improvement

Structure, bonding and morphology of hydrothermally synthesised xonotlite

The authors have systematically investigated the role of synthesis conditions upon the structure and morphology of xonotlite. Starting with a mechanochemically prepared, semicrystalline phase with Ca/Si=1, the authors have prepared a series of xonotlite samples hydrothermally, at temperatures between 200 and 250 degrees C. Analysis in each case was by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The authors’ use of a much lower water/solid ratio has indirectly confirmed the ‘through solution’ mechanism of xonotlite formation, where silicate dissolution is a key precursor of xonotlite formation. Concerning the role of temperature, too low a temperature (~200 degrees C) fails to yield xonotlite or leads to increased number of structural defects in the silicate chains of xonotlite and too high a temperature (>250 degrees C) leads to degradation of the xonotlite structure, through leaching of interchain calcium. Synthesis duration meanwhile leads to increased silicate polymerisation due to diminishing of the defects in the silicate chains and more perfect crystal morphologies

Black-holes, topological strings and large N phase transitions

The counting of microstates of BPS black-holes on local Calabi-Yau of the form ${\mathcal O}(p-2)\oplus{\mathcal O}(-p) \longrightarrow S^2$ is explored by computing the partition function of q-deformed Yang-Mills theory on $S^2$. We obtain, at finite $N$, the instanton expansion of the gauge theory. It can be written exactly as the partition function for U(N) Chern-Simons gauge theory on a Lens space, summed over all non-trivial vacua, plus a tower of non-perturbative instanton contributions. In the large $N$ limit we find a peculiar phase structure in the model. At weak string coupling the theory reduces to the trivial sector and the topological string partition function on the resolved conifold is reproduced in this regime. At a certain critical point, instantons are enhanced and the theory undergoes a phase transition into a strong coupling regime. The transition from the strong coupling phase to the weak coupling phase is of third order.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures; Invited talk given at QG05, Cala Gonone (Italy), September 200

Impurity-induced dephasing of Andreev states

A study is presented concerning the influence of flicker noise in the junction transparency on coherent transport in Andreev states. The amount of dephasing is estimated for a microwave-activated quantum interferometer. Possibilities of experimentally investigating the coupling between a superconducting quantum point contact and its electromagnetic environment are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Can Memory Assessment Services (MAS) in England be categorized? A national survey.

: The effectiveness and efficiency of memory assessment services (MASs) is unknown. Our aim was to determine if a typology can be constructed, based on shared structural and process characteristics, as a basis for a non-randomized evaluation of their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. : Survey of random sample of 73 MASs in 2015; comparison of characteristics and investigation of inter-correlation. : It was not possible to group characteristics to form the basis of a typology of MASs. However, there was considerable variation in staff numbers (20-fold), new patients per whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff (20-fold), skill mix and the nurse:doctor ratio (1-10). The operational performance also varied: first appointments (50-120 minutes); time for first follow-up (2-12 weeks); frequency of follow-up in first year (1-5). These differences were not associated with the number of new patients per WTE staff or the accreditation status of the MAS. Post diagnosis, all MASs provided pharmacological treatment but the availability of non-pharmacological support varied, with half providing none or only one intervention while others providing four or more. : In the absence of any clear typology, evaluation of MASs will need to focus on the impact of individual structural and process characteristics on outcomes.<br/

Effects to Scalar Meson Decays of Strong Mixing between Low and High Mass Scalar Mesons

We analyze the mass spectroscopy of low and high mass scalar mesons and get the result that the coupling strengths of the mixing between low and high mass scalar mesons are very strong and the strengths of mixing for $I=1, 1/2$ scalar mesons and those of I=0 scalar mesons are almost same. Next, we analyze the decay widths and decay ratios of these mesons and get the results that the coupling constants $A'$ for $I=1, 1/2$ which represents the coupling of high mass scalar meson $N'$ -> two pseudoscalar mesons $PP$ are almost same as the coupling $A'$ for the I=0. On the other hand, the coupling constant $A$ for $I=1, I=1/2$ which represents the low mass scalar meson $N$ -> $PP$ are far from the coupling constant $A$ for I=0. We consider a resolution for this discrepancy. Coupling constant $A''$ for glueball $G$ -> $PP$ is smaller than the coupling $A'$. $\theta_P$ is $40^\circ \sim 50^\circ$.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Mechanism for a next-to-lowest lying scalar meson nonet

Recent work suggests the existence of a non-conventional lowest-lying scalar nonet containing the a0(980). Then the a0(1450) and also the K0*(1430) are likely candidates to belong to a conventional p-wave $q \bar q$ nonet. However a comparison of their properties with those expected on this basis reveals a number of puzzling features. It is pointed out that these puzzles can be resolved in a natural and robust way by assuming a ``bare'' conventional p-wave scalar $q \bar q$ nonet to mix with a lighter four quark $qq \bar q \bar q$ scalar nonet to form new ``physical'' states. The essential mechanism is driven by the fact that the isospinor is lighter than the isovector in the unmixed $qq \bar q \bar q$ multiplet.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure