The τ\tau neutrino as a Majorana particle

A Majorana mass term for the $\tau$ neutrino would induce neutrino - antineutrino mixing and thereby a process which violates fermion number by two units. We study the possibility of distinguishing between a massive Majorana and a Dirac $\tau$ neutrino, by measuring fermion number violating processes in a deep inelastic scattering experiment $\nu p \rightarrow \tau X$. We show that, if the neutrino beam is obtained from the decay of high energetic pions, the probability of obtaining "wrong sign" $\tau$ leptons is suppressed by a factor ${\cal{O}}(m_{\nu_{\tau}}^2 \theta^2/m_{\mu}^2)$ instead of the naively expected suppression factor $\theta^2 m_{\nu_{\tau}}^2/E_{\nu}^2$, where $E_{\nu}$ is the $\tau$ neutrino energy, $m_{\nu_{\tau}}$ and $m_{\mu}$ are the $\tau$-neutrino and muon masses, respectively, and $\theta$ is the $\nu_{\mu}$ - $\nu_{\tau}$ mixing angle. If $m_{\nu_{\tau}}$ is of the order of 10 MeV and $\theta$ is of the order of $0.01 - 0.04$ (the present bounds are ($m_{\nu_{\tau}} < 35 MeV, \theta < 0.04$) the next round of experiments may be able to distinguish between Majorana and Dirac $\tau$-neutrinos.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures (not included), MPI-Ph/93-4

The effect of different baryons impurities

We demonstrate the different effect of different baryons impurities on the static properties of nuclei within the framework of the relativistic mean-field model. Systematic calculations show that $\Lambda_c^+$ and $\Lambda_b$ has the same attracting role as $\Lambda$ hyperon does in lighter hypernuclei. $\Xi^-$ and $\Xi_c^0$ hyperon has the attracting role only for the protons distribution, and has a repulsive role for the neutrons distribution. On the contrary, $\Xi^0$ and $\Xi^+_c$ hyperon attracts surrounding neutrons and reveals a repulsive force to the protons. We find that the different effect of different baryons impurities on the nuclear core is due to the different third component of their isospin.Comment: 9 page

The pi N -> pi pi N reaction around the N(1440) energy

We study the pi N -> pi pi N reaction around the N(1440) mass-shell energy. Considering the total cross sections and invariant mass distributions, we discuss the role of N(1440) and its decay processes. The calculation is performed by extending our previous approach [Phys. Rev. C 69, 025206 (2004)] to this reaction, in which only the nucleon and Delta(1232) were considered as intermediate baryon states. The characteristics observed in the recent data for the pi- p -> pi0 pi0 n reaction obtained by Crystal Ball Collaboration (CBC), can be understood as a strong interference between the two decay processes: N(1440) -> pi Delta(1232) and N(1440) -> N(pi pi)_S. It is also found that the scalar-isoscalar pi pi rescattering effect in the NN*(pi pi)_S vertex, which corresponds to the propagation of sigma meson, seems to be necessary for explain ing the several observables of the pi N -> pi pi N reaction: the large asymmetric shape in the pi0-pi0 invariant mass distributions of the pi- p -> pi0 pi0 n reaction and the pi+ p -> pi+ pi+ n total cross section.Comment: 28 pages, 13 figures. Version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Determination of the high-twist contribution to the structure function xF3νNxF^{\nu N}_3

We extract the high-twist contribution to the neutrino-nucleon structure function $xF_3^{(\nu+\bar{\nu})N}$ from the analysis of the data collected by the IHEP-JINR Neutrino Detector in the runs with the focused neutrino beams at the IHEP 70 GeV proton synchrotron. The analysis is performed within the infrared renormalon (IRR) model of high twists in order to extract the normalization parameter of the model. From the NLO QCD fit to our data we obtained the value of the IRR model normalization parameter $\Lambda^2_{3}=0.69\pm0.37~({\rm exp})\pm0.16~({\rm theor})~{\rm GeV}^2$. We also obtained $\Lambda^2_{3}=0.36\pm0.22~({\rm exp})\pm0.12~({\rm theor})~{\rm GeV}^2$ from a similar fit to the CCFR data. The average of both results is $\Lambda^2_{3}=0.44\pm0.19~({\rm exp})~{\rm GeV}^2$.Comment: preprint IHEP-01-18, 7 pages, LATEX, 1 figure (EPS

Measurement of xF3xF_3 and F2F_2 Structure Functions in Low Q2Q^2 Region with the IHEP-JINR Neutrino Detector

The isoscalar structure functions $xF_3$ and $F_2$ are measured as functions of $x$ averaged over all $Q^2$ permissible for the range of 6 to 28 GeV of incident neutrino (anti-neutrino) energy at the IHEP-JINR Neutrino Detector. The QCD analysis of $xF_3$ structure function provides $\Lambda_{\bar{MS}}^{(4)} = (411 \pm 200)$ MeV under the assumption of QCD validity in the region of low $Q^2$. The corresponding value of the strong interaction constant $\alpha_S (M_Z) = 0.123^{+0.010}_{-0.013}$ agrees with the recent result of the CCFR collaboration and with the combined LEP/SLC result.Comment: 11 pages, 1 Postscript figure, LaTeX. Talk given at the 7th International Workshop on Deep Inelastic Scattering and QCD (DIS 99), Zeuthen, Germany, 19-23 Apr 199

Functionality of the putative surface glycoproteins of the Wuhan spiny eel influenza virus

A panel of influenza virus-like sequences were recently documented in fish and amphibians. Of these, the Wuhan spiny eel influenza virus (WSEIV) was found to phylogenetically cluster with influenza B viruses as a sister clade. Influenza B viruses have been documented to circulate only in humans, with certain virus isolates found in harbor seals. It is therefore interesting that a similar virus was potentially found in fish. Here we characterize the putative hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface glycoproteins of the WSEIV. Functionally, we show that the WSEIV NA-like protein has sialidase activity comparable to B/Malaysia/2506/2004 influenza B virus NA, making it a bona fide neuraminidase that is sensitive to NA inhibitors. We tested the functionality of the HA by addressing the receptor specificity, stability, preferential airway protease cleavage, and fusogenicity. We show highly specific binding to monosialic ganglioside 2 (GM2) and fusogenicity at a range of different pH conditions. In addition, we found limited antigenic conservation of the WSEIV HA and NA relative to the B/Malaysia/2506/2004 virus HA and NA. In summary, we perform a functional and antigenic characterization of the glycoproteins of WSEIV to assess if it is indeed a bona fide influenza virus potentially circulating in ray-finned fish

Synthetic HNK-1 containing glycans provide insight into binding properties of serum antibodies from MAG-neuropathy patients

Anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) neuropathy is an autoimmune disease in which IgM autoantibodies target glycoconjugates of peripheral nerves resulting in progressive demyelination. To examine fine specificities of serum IgM autoantibodies and develop a more robust platform for diagnosis and disease monitoring, we describe here a chemoenzymatic approach that readily provided a panel of HNK-1 containing oligosaccharides presented on type 2 oligo-N-acetyl lactosamine (LacNAc) chains typical of glycosphingolipids. The compounds were prepared by a chemoenzymatic strategy in which an oligo-LacNAc structure was assembled enzymatically and then subjected to protecting group manipulation to chemically install a 3-O-sulfate glucuronic acid moiety. The synthetic strategy is highly divergent and made it possible to prepare from key precursors, additional compounds lacking sulfate of HNK-1 and derivatives in which the HNK-1 epitope is replaced by sulfate or sialic acid. The oligosaccharides were printed as a microarray to examine binding specificities of several monoclonal antibodies and serum antibodies of anti-MAG neuropathy patients. Surprisingly, three distinct patient subgroups were identified with variable dependance on the length of the LacNAc chain and sulfation of the glucuronyl moiety. In most cases, a lacto-neohexaose backbone was required for binding indicating the antibodies target corresponding glycosphingolipids

Forward production of charged pions with incident π±\pi^{\pm} on nuclear targets measured at the CERN PS

Measurements of the double-differential $\pi^{\pm}$ production cross-section in the range of momentum 0.5 \GeVc \leq p \le 8.0 \GeVc and angle 0.025 \rad \leq \theta \le 0.25 \rad in interactions of charged pions on beryllium, carbon, aluminium, copper, tin, tantalum and lead are presented. These data represent the first experimental campaign to systematically measure forward pion hadroproduction. The data were taken with the large acceptance HARP detector in the T9 beam line of the CERN PS. Incident particles, impinging on a 5% nuclear interaction length target, were identified by an elaborate system of beam detectors. The tracking and identification of the produced particles was performed using the forward spectrometer of the HARP detector. Results are obtained for the double-differential cross-sections ${{\mathrm{d}^2 \sigma}}/{{\mathrm{d}p\mathrm{d}\Omega}}$ mainly at four incident pion beam momenta (3 \GeVc, 5 \GeVc, 8 \GeVc and 12 \GeVc). The measurements are compared with the GEANT4 and MARS Monte Carlo simulationComment: to be published on Nuclear Physics

Comparison of large-angle production of charged pions with incident protons on cylindrical long and short targets

The HARP collaboration has presented measurements of the double-differential pi+/pi- production cross-section in the range of momentum 100 MeV/c <= p 800 MeV/c and angle 0.35 rad <= theta <= 2.15 rad with proton beams hitting thin nuclear targets. In many applications the extrapolation to long targets is necessary. In this paper the analysis of data taken with long (one interaction length) solid cylindrical targets made of carbon, tantalum and lead is presented. The data were taken with the large acceptance HARP detector in the T9 beam line of the CERN PS. The secondary pions were produced by beams of protons with momenta 5 GeV/c, 8 GeV/c and 12 GeV/c. The tracking and identification of the produced particles were performed using a small-radius cylindrical time projection chamber (TPC) placed inside a solenoidal magnet. Incident protons were identified by an elaborate system of beam detectors. Results are obtained for the double-differential yields per target nucleon d2 sigma / dp dtheta. The measurements are compared with predictions of the MARS and GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 43 pages, 20 figure

Absolute Momentum Calibration of the HARP TPC

In the HARP experiment the large-angle spectrometer is using a cylindrical TPC as main tracking and particle identification detector. The momentum scale of reconstructed tracks in the TPC is the most important systematic error for the majority of kinematic bins used for the HARP measurements of the double-differential production cross-section of charged pions in proton interactions on nuclear targets at large angle. The HARP TPC operated with a number of hardware shortfalls and operational mistakes. Thus it was important to control and characterize its momentum calibration. While it was not possible to enter a direct particle beam into the sensitive volume of the TPC to calibrate the detector, a set of physical processes and detector properties were exploited to achieve a precise calibration of the apparatus. In the following we recall the main issues concerning the momentum measurement in the HARP TPC, and describe the cross-checks made to validate the momentum scale. As a conclusion, this analysis demonstrates that the measurement of momentum is correct within the published precision of 3%.Comment: To be published by JINS