CP, T and CPT violation in future long baseline experiments

I give a short overview about the possibilities and problems related to the measurement of CP violation in long baseline experiments. Special attention is paid to the issue of degeneracies and a method for their resolution is quantitatively discussed. The CP violation reach for different experiments is compared in dependence of $\sin^22\theta_{13}$ and \dm{21}. Furthermore a short comment about the possible effects of matter induced T violation is made. Finally the limits on CPT violation obtainable at a neutrino factory are shown.Comment: Talk presented at NUFACT02, London, 1-6 July, 2002. 3 pages, 2 figure

Physics Potential of the SPL Super Beam

Performances of a neutrino beam generated by the CERN SPL proton driver are computed considering a 440 kton water Cerenkov detector at 130 km from the target. $\theta_{13}$ sensitivity down to $1.2^\circ$ and a $\delta$ sensitivity comparable to a Neutrino Factory, for $\theta_{13} \geq 3^\circ$, are within the reach of such a project.Comment: Invited talk at the Nufact02 Workshop, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, July 200

Physics Potential of Very Intense Conventional Neutrino Beams

The physics potential of high intensity conventional beams is explored. We consider a low energy super beam which could be produced by a proposed new accelerator at CERN, the Super Proton Linac. Water Cherenkov and liquid oil scintillator detectors are studied as possible candidates for a neutrino oscillation experiment which could improve our current knowledge of the atmospheric parameters and measure or severely constrain the parameter connecting the atmospheric and solar realms. It is also shown that a very large water detector could eventually observe leptonic CP violation. The reach of such an experiment to the neutrino mixing parameters would lie in-between the next generation of neutrino experiments (MINOS, OPERA, etc) and a future neutrino factory.Comment: Talk given at the Venice Conference on Neutrino Telescopes, Venice, March, 200

Swallowing Activity Assessed by Ambulatory Impedance-pH Monitoring Predicts Awake and Asleep Periods at Night

Introduction: Voluntary muscle activity, including swallowing, decreases during the night. The association between nocturnal awakenings and swallowing activity is under-researched with limited information on the frequency of swallows during awake and asleep periods. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess nocturnal swallowing activity and identify a cut-off predicting awake and asleep periods. Methods: Patients undergoing impedance-pH monitoring as part of GERD work-up were asked to wear a wrist activity detecting device (Actigraph®) at night. Swallowing activity was quantified by analysing impedance changes in the proximal esophagus. Awake and asleep periods were determined using a validated scoring system (Sadeh algorithm). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses were performed to determine sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of swallowing frequency to identify awake and asleep periods. Results: Data from 76 patients (28male, 48 female; mean age 56±15years) were included in the analysis. The ROC analysis found that 0.33sw/min (i.e. one swallow every 3min) had the optimal sensitivity (78%) and specificity (76%) to differentiate awake from asleep periods. A swallowing frequency of 0.25sw/min (i.e. one swallow every 4min) was 93% sensitive and 57% specific to identify awake periods. A swallowing frequency of 1sw/min was 20% sensitive but 96% specific in identifying awake periods. Summary and Conclusion: Impedance-pH monitoring detects differences in swallowing activity during awake and asleep periods. Swallowing frequency noticed during ambulatory impedance-pH monitoring can predict the state of consciousness during nocturnal period

Unveiling Neutrino Mixing and Leptonic CP Violation

We review the present understanding of neutrino masses and mixings, discussing what are the unknowns in the three family oscillation scenario. Despite the anticipated success coming from the planned long baseline neutrino experiments in unraveling the leptonic mixing sector, there are two important unknowns which may remain obscure: the mixing angle $\theta_{13}$ and the CP-phase $\delta$. The measurement of these two parameters has led us to consider the combination of superbeams and neutrino factories as the key to unveil the neutrino oscillation picture.Comment: Invited brief review, 18 pages, 6 figure

Neutrino oscillation physics with a higher γ\gamma β\beta-beam

The precision measurement and discovery potential of a neutrino factory based on a storage ring of boosted radioactive ions ($\beta$-beam) is re-examined. In contrast with past designs, which assume ion $\gamma$ factors of $\sim 100$ and baselines of L=130 km, we emphasize the advantages of boosting the ions to higher $\gamma$ and increasing the baseline proportionally. In particular, we consider a medium-$\gamma$ scenario ($\gamma \sim 500$, L=730 km) and a high-$\gamma$ scenario ($\gamma \sim 2000$, L = 3000 km).The increase in statistics, which grow linearly with the average beam energy, the ability to exploit the energy dependence of the signal and the sizable matter effects at this longer baseline all increase the discovery potential of such a machine very significantly.Comment: An error corrected, conclusions unchanged. Revised version to appear in Nuclear Physics

Optimal β\beta-beam at the CERN-SPS

A $\beta$-beam with maximum $\gamma=150$ (for \helio ions) or $\gamma=250$ (for \neon) could be achieved at the CERN-SPS. We study the sensitivity to $\theta_{13}$ and $\delta$ of such a beam as function of $\gamma$, optimizing with the baseline constrained to CERN-Frejus (130 km), and also with simultaneous variation of the baseline. These results are compared to the {\it standard} scenario previously considered, with lower $\gamma=60/100$, and also with a higher $\gamma\sim 350$ option that requires a more powerful accelerator. Although higher $\gamma$ is better, loss of sensitivity to $\theta _{13}$ and $\delta$ is most pronounced for $\gamma$ below 100.Comment: 22 page

Reconstructing the calibrated strain signal in the Advanced LIGO detectors

Advanced LIGO's raw detector output needs to be calibrated to compute dimensionless strain h(t). Calibrated strain data is produced in the time domain using both a low-latency, online procedure and a high-latency, offline procedure. The low-latency h(t) data stream is produced in two stages, the first of which is performed on the same computers that operate the detector's feedback control system. This stage, referred to as the front-end calibration, uses infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering and performs all operations at a 16384 Hz digital sampling rate. Due to several limitations, this procedure currently introduces certain systematic errors in the calibrated strain data, motivating the second stage of the low-latency procedure, known as the low-latency gstlal calibration pipeline. The gstlal calibration pipeline uses finite impulse response (FIR) filtering to apply corrections to the output of the front-end calibration. It applies time-dependent correction factors to the sensing and actuation components of the calibrated strain to reduce systematic errors. The gstlal calibration pipeline is also used in high latency to recalibrate the data, which is necessary due mainly to online dropouts in the calibrated data and identified improvements to the calibration models or filters.Comment: 20 pages including appendices and bibliography. 11 Figures. 3 Table

Neutrino-nucleus interaction rates at a low-energy beta-beam facility

We compute the neutrino detection rates to be expected at a low-energy beta-beam facility. We consider various nuclei as neutrino detectors and compare the case of a small versus large storage ring.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Functionalised Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Graphene Oxide as Polymer Composite Electrolyte Membranes

[EN] Crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) based composite films were prepared as polyelectrolyte membranes for low temperature direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC). The membranes were functionalised by means of the addition of graphene oxide (GO) and sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) and crosslinked with sulfosuccinic acid (SSA). The chemical structure was corroborated and suitable thermal properties were found. Although the addition of GO and SGO slightly decreased the proton conductivity of the membranes, a significant reduction of the ethanol solution swelling and crossover was encountered, more relevant for those functionalised with SGO. In general, the composite membranes were stable under simulated service conditions. The addition of GO and SGO particles permitted to buffer the loss and almost retain similar proton conductivity than prior to immersion. These membranes are alternative polyelectrolytes, which overcome current concerns of actual commercial membranes such as the high cost or the crossover phenomenon.The authors would like to thank the support of the European Union through the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF). The Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, is thanked for the research project POLYDECARBOCELL (ENE2017-86711-C3-1-R). The Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports is thanked for the FPU grant for O. Gil-Castell (FPU13/01916).Gil Castell, Ó.; Cerveró, R.; Teruel Juanes, R.; Badia, JD.; Ribes Greus, MD. (2019). Functionalised Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Graphene Oxide as Polymer Composite Electrolyte Membranes. Journal of Renewable Materials. 7(7):655-665. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2019.04401S6556657