Tracer sensitive tapes

A leak detection system has been developed, consisting of a tape that can be wrapped around possible leak sites on a system pressurized with air or gaseous nitrogen. Carbon monoxide, at a level of 100 to 1000 parts per million is used as a trace gas in the pressurized system. The sensitive element of the tape is palladium chloride supported on specially prepared silica gel and specially dried. At a CO level of 100 ppm and a leak rate of 10-20 ml/hr, discoloration of the sensitive element is observed in 1.5 to 3 min. The tape and trace gas are compatible with aerospace hardware, safe to handle, and economically reasonable to produce and handle

Comment on "Pulsar Velocities and Neutrino Oscillations"

In a recent Letter, Kusenko and Segre proposed a new mechanism to explain the observed proper motions of pulsars. Their mechanism was based on the asymmetric neutrino emission induced by neutrino oscillations in the protoneutron star magnetic field. In this note I point out that their estimate of the asymmetry in the neutrino emission is incorrect. A proper calculation shows that their mechanism at least requires a magnetic field of 10**16 G in order to produce the observed average pulsar velocity.Comment: 4 pages, RevTe

Application of Pade Approximants to Determination of alpha_s(M_Z^2) from Hadronic Event Shape Observables in e+e- Annihilation

We have applied Pade approximants to perturbative QCD calculations of event shape observables in e+e- --> hadrons. We used the exact O(alpha_s^2) prediction and the [0/1] Pade approximant to estimate the O(alpha_s^3) term for 15 observables, and in each case determined alpha_s(M_Z^2) from comparison with hadronic Z^0 decay data from the SLD experiment. We found the scatter among the alpha_s(M_Z^2) values to be significantly reduced compared with the standard O(alpha_s^2) determination, implying that the Pade method provides at least a partial approximation of higher-order perturbative contributions to event shape observables.Comment: 15 pages, 1 EPS figure, Submitted to Physics Letters

QCD: Challenges for the Future

Despite many experimental verifications of the correctness of our basic understanding of QCD, there remain numerous open questions in strong interaction physics and we focus on the role of future colliders in addressing these questions. We discuss possible advances in the measurement of $\alpha_s$, in the study of parton distribution functions, and in the understanding of low $x$ physics at present colliders and potential new facilities. We also touch briefly on the role of spin physics in advancing our understanding of QCD.Comment: 12 pages, LATEX2e with snow2e, epsfig and 2 figures. Also available at http://penguin.phy.bnl.gov/~dawson/qcdsnow.ps . QCD working group summary at DPF/DPB Summer Study on New Directions for High Energy Physics, Snowmass, CO, June 25- July 12, 199

Gravitational Wave Background from Neutrino-Driven Gamma-Ray Bursts

We discuss the gravitational wave background (GWB) from a cosmological population of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Among various emission mechanisms for the gravitational waves (GWs), we pay a particular attention to the vast anisotropic neutrino emissions from the accretion disk around the black hole formed after the so-called failed supernova explosions. The produced GWs by such mechanism are known as burst with memory, which could dominate over the low-frequency regime below \sim 10Hz. To estimate their amplitudes, we derive general analytic formulae for gravitational waveform from the axisymmetric jets. Based on the formulae, we first quantify the spectrum of GWs from a single GRB. Then, summing up its cosmological population, we find that the resultant value of the density parameter becomes roughly \Omega_{GW} \approx 10^{-20} over the wide-band of the low-frequency region, f\sim 10^{-4}-10^1Hz. The amplitude of GWB is sufficiently smaller than the primordial GWBs originated from an inflationary epoch and far below the detection limit.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Optical Albedo Theory of Strongly-Irradiated Giant Planets: The Case of HD 209458b

We calculate a new suite of albedo models for close-in extrasolar giant planets and compare with the recent stringent upper limit for HD 209458b of Rowe et al. using MOST. We find that all models without scattering clouds are consistent with this optical limit. We explore the dependence on wavelength and waveband, metallicity, the degree of heat redistribution, and the possible presence of thermal inversions and find a rich diversity of behaviors. Measurements of transiting extrasolar giant planets (EGPs) at short wavelengths by MOST, Kepler, and CoRoT, as well as by proposed dedicated multi-band missions, can complement measurements in the near- and mid-IR using {\it Spitzer} and JWST. Collectively, such measurements can help determine metallicity, compositions, atmospheric temperatures, and the cause of thermal inversions (when they arise) for EGPs with a broad range of radii, masses, degrees of stellar insolation, and ages. With this paper, we reappraise and highlight the diagnostic potential of albedo measurements of hot EGPs shortward of $\sim$1.3 $\mu$m.Comment: 6 pages, 1 table, 1 color figure; accepted to the Astrophysical Journa

Deforestation for Pasture Development – Has It Been Worth It?

Differing scenarios leading to deforestation for pasture development in savanna (woodland) and closed forest communities in the tropics – sub-tropics are compared and contrasted. Australian and Brazilian examples are highlighted. No simple answer is given to the question of whether deforestation for pasture development has been worth it, since both commercial and non-commercial values have equal validity and need to be taken into account. These issues are addressed in the context of land assigned by governments for agricultural purposes. It is concluded that technology and ecological understanding are now available to maintain sustainable production from converted forest systems. However emphasis should be on delivering this within the framework of existing deforested areas – rather than in expanding the area of forest conversion

Sympathetic cooling of 4^4He+^+ ions in a radiofrequency trap

We have generated Coulomb crystals of ultracold $^4$He$^+$ ions in a linear radiofrequency trap, by sympathetic cooling via laser--cooled $^9$Be$^+$. Stable crystals containing up to 150 localized He$^+$ ions at $\sim$20 mK were obtained. Ensembles or single ultracold He$^+$ ions open up interesting perspectives for performing precision tests of QED and measurements of nuclear radii. The present work also indicates the feasibility of cooling and crystallizing highly charged atomic ions using $^9$Be$^+$ as coolant.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure