Rare radiative B decays to orbitally excited K mesons

The exclusive rare radiative B meson decays to orbitally excited axial-vector mesons K_1^*(1270), K_1(1400) and to the tensor meson K_2^*(1430) are investigated in the framework of the relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach in quantum field theory. These decays are considered without employing the heavy quark expansion for the s quark. Instead the s quark is treated to be light and the expansion in inverse powers of the large recoil momentum of the final K^{**} meson is used to simplify calculations. It is found that the ratio of the branching fractions of rare radiative B decays to axial vector K^*_1(1270) and K_1(1400) mesons is significantly influenced by relativistic effects. The obtained results for B decays to the tensor meson K_2^*(1430) agree with recent experimental data from CLEO.Comment: 17 pages, revte

Improving the sensitivity of future GW observatories in the 1-10 Hz band: Newtonian and seismic noise

The next generation gravitational wave interferometric detectors will likely be underground detectors to extend the GW detection frequency band to frequencies below the Newtonian noise limit. Newtonian noise originates from the continuous motion of the Earth’s crust driven by human activity, tidal stresses and seismic motion, and from mass density fluctuations in the atmosphere. It is calculated that on Earth’s surface, on a typical day, it will exceed the expected GW signals at frequencies below 10 Hz. The noise will decrease underground by an unknown amount. It is important to investigate and to quantify this expected reduction and its effect on the sensitivity of future detectors, to plan for further improvement strategies. We report about some of these aspects. Analytical models can be used in the simplest scenarios to get a better qualitative and semi-quantitative understanding. As more complete modeling can be done numerically, we will discuss also some results obtained with a finite-element-based modeling tool. The method is verified by comparing its results with the results of analytic calculations for surface detectors. A key point about noise models is their initial parameters and conditions, which require detailed information about seismic motion in a real scenario. We will describe an effort to characterize the seismic activity at the Homestake mine which is currently in progress. This activity is specifically aimed to provide informations and to explore the site as a possible candidate for an underground observatory. Although the only compelling reason to put the interferometer underground is to reduce the Newtonian noise, we expect that the more stable underground environment will have a more general positive impact on the sensitivity.We will end this report with some considerations about seismic and suspension noise

Rare radiative B decay to the orbitally excited K_2^*(1430) meson

The exclusive rare radiative B meson decay to the orbitally excited tensor K_2^*(1430) meson is investigated in the framework of the relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach in quantum field theory. The calculated branching ratio BR(B --> K_2^*(1430)\gamma)=(1.7\pm 0.6)\times 10^{-5} as well as the ratio BR(B --> K_2^*(1430)\gamma)/BR(B --> K^*(892)\gamma)=0.38\pm 0.08 is found in a good agreement with recent experimental data from CLEO.Comment: 10 pages, RevTe

LIGO End-to-End simulation Program

A time-domain simulation program has been developed to provide an accurate description of interferometric gravitational wave detectors. This is being utilized to build a model of LIGO with the aim of aiding in the shakedown and integration of the interferometer subsystems, and ultimately the optimization of detector sensitivity

The CP asymmetry for B--> K^* l^+ l^- decay in the general two Higgs doublet model

We study CP asymmetry for the exclusive decay B --> K^* l^+ l^- in the two Higgs doublet model with three level flavor changing neutral currents (model III). We analyse the dependency of this quantity to the new phase coming from the complex Yukawa couplings in the theory and we find that there exist a considerable CP violation for the relevant process. Further, we see that the sign of the Wilson coefficient C_7^{eff} can be determined by fixing dilepton mass. Therefore, the future measurements of CP asymmetry for B --> K^* l^+ l^- decay will give a powerful information about the sign of Wilson coefficient C_{7}^{eff} and the new physics beyond the SM.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figure

Temperature dependent characterization of optical fibres for distributed temperature sensing in hot geothermal wells

This study was performed in order to select a proper fibre for the application of a distributed temperature sensing system within a hot geothermal well in Iceland. Commercially available high temperature graded index fibres have been tested under in-situ temperature conditions. Experiments have been performed with four different polyimide coated fibres, a fibre with an aluminum coating and a fibre with a gold coating. To select a fibre, the relationship between attenuation, temperature, and time has been analyzed together with SEM micrographs. On the basis of these experiments, polyimide fibres have been chosen for utilisation. Further tests in ambient and inert atmosphere have been conducted with two polyimide coated fibres to set an operating temperature limit for these fibres. SEM micrographs, together with coating colour changes have been used to characterize the high temperature performance of the fibres. A novel cable design has been developed, a deployment strategy has been worked out and a suitable well for deployment has been selected.Comment: PACS: 42.81.Pa, 93.85.Fg, 47.80.Fg, 91.35.Dc, 07.20.Dt, 07.60.V

Papillary meningioma with pleural metastasis: Case report and literature review

Papillary meningiomas are rare meningeal tumors which are associated with a grim prognosis. These tumors usually recur locally and in some cases they metastasize. The clinical, radiological and histopathological features of a case of a papillary meningioma with a pleural metastasis in a 13-year-old boy are presented. The literature on metastasizing papillary meningiomas is reviewed. Up to now, 131 cases of papillary meningioma have been reported in the literature. Only 8 cases gave rise to metastases outside the central nervous system. The preferential site of metastasis appeared to be the lung. This is the first report of a papillary meningioma giving rise to a metastasis in the pleura

On line power spectra identification and whitening for the noise in interferometric gravitational wave detectors

In this paper we address both to the problem of identifying the noise Power Spectral Density of interferometric detectors by parametric techniques and to the problem of the whitening procedure of the sequence of data. We will concentrate the study on a Power Spectral Density like the one of the Italian-French detector VIRGO and we show that with a reasonable finite number of parameters we succeed in modeling a spectrum like the theoretical one of VIRGO, reproducing all its features. We propose also the use of adaptive techniques to identify and to whiten on line the data of interferometric detectors. We analyze the behavior of the adaptive techniques in the field of stochastic gradient and in the Least Squares ones.Comment: 28 pages, 21 figures, uses iopart.cls accepted for pubblication on Classical and Quantum Gravit