Propagation of millimeter and submillimeter waves

Coherent radiation methods of measuring absorption spectra in planetary atmosphere, and millimeter and submillimeter wave propagatio

On the Inversion of Light Scattering Data into Information on Aerosol Properties

The Backus-Gilbert inversion technique was applied to scattering data and calculated examples were given to ascertain its ability to recover the aerosol properties with no a-priori assumptions. In order to cheque this inversion procedure as well as other techniques (such as Daves' and Herman's et al.), a controlled experiment was performed. The experiment dealt with spherical particles the Mie scattering curves of which was measured by use of a dye-laser. These curves were used to accurately determine the refractive index of the particles. Mixtures of three different known sizes were then prepared and the scattering intensity vs. wavelength was measured at 90 deg scattering angle. The mixtures contained also various known relative concentrations of the three sizes. The analysis of the measured results will be shown and discussed

Laser Doppler Measurement of Atmopsheric Wind Velocity

Our presentation consists of two parts: (1) a summary review of laser Doppler principles and applications, and (2) operational design and preliminary laboratory tests of a CO2 laser system for NOAA applications

Precise study of the resonance at Q0=(1,0,0) in URu2Si2

New inelastic neutron scattering experiments have been performed on URu2Si2 with special focus on the response at Q0=(1,0,0), which is a clear signature of the hidden order (HO) phase of the compound. With polarized inelastic neutron experiments, it is clearly shown that below the HO temperature (T0 = 17.8 K) a collective excitation (the magnetic resonance at E0 \approx 1.7 meV) as well as a magnetic continuum co-exist. Careful measurements of the temperature dependence of the resonance lead to the observation that its position shifts abruptly in temperature with an activation law governed by the partial gap opening and that its integrated intensity has a BCS-type temperature dependence. Discussion with respect to recent theoretical development is made

Repeatability of short-duration transient visual evoked potentials in normal subjects

To evaluate the within-session and inter-session repeatability of a new, short-duration transient visual evoked potential (SD-tVEP) device on normal individuals, we tested 30 normal subjects (20/20 visual acuity, normal 24-2 SITA Standard VF) with SD-tVEP. Ten of these subjects had their tests repeated within 1–2 months from the initial visit. Synchronized single-channel EEG was recorded using a modified Diopsys Enfant™ System (Diopsys, Inc., Pine Brook, New Jersey, USA). A checkerboard stimulus was modulated at two reversals per second. Two different contrasts of checkerboard reversal patterns were used: 85% Michelson contrast with a mean luminance of 66.25 cd/m2 and 10% Michelson contrast with a mean luminance of 112 cd/m2. Each test lasted 20 s. Both eyes, independently and together, were tested 10 times (5 times at each contrast level). The following information was identified from the filtered N75-P100-N135 complex: N75 amplitude, N75 latency, P100 amplitude, P100 latency, and Delta Amplitude (N75-P100). The median values for each eye’s five SD-tVEP parameters were calculated and grouped into two data sets based on contrast level. Mean age was 27.3 ± 5.2 years. For OD only, the median (95% confidence intervals) of Delta Amplitude (N75-P100) amplitudes at 10% and 85% contrast were 4.6 uV (4.1–5.9) and 7.1 uV (5.15–9.31). The median P100 latencies were 115.2 ms (112.0–117.7) and 104.0 ms (99.9–106.0). There was little within-session variability for any of these parameters. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged between 0.64 and 0.98, and within subject coefficients of variation were 3–5% (P100 latency) and 15–30% (Delta Amplitude (N75-P100) amplitude). Bland–Altman plots showed good agreement between the first and fifth test sessions (85% contrast Delta Amplitude (N75-P100) delta amplitude, mean difference, 0.48 mV, 95% CI, −0.18–1.12; 85% contrast P100 latency delay, −0.82 ms, 95% CI, −3.12–1.46; 10% contrast Delta Amplitude (N75-P100) amplitude, 0.58 mV, 95% CI, −0.27–1.45; 10% contrast P100 latency delay, −2.05 mV, 95% CI, −5.12–1.01). The inter-eye correlation and agreement were significant for both SD-tVEP amplitude and P100 latency measurements. For the subset of eyes in which the inter-session repeatability was tested, the intraclass correlation coefficients ranged between 0.71 and 0.86 with good agreement shown on Bland–Altman plots. Short-duration transient VEP technology showed good within-session, inter-session repeatability, and good inter-eye correlation and agreement

Pressure Collapse of the Magnetic Ordering in MnSi via Thermal Expansion

The itinerant quasi-ferromagnetic metal MnSi has been studied by detailed thermal expansion measurements under pressures and magnetic fields. A sudden decrease of the volume at the critical pressure Pc ~1.6 GPa has been observed and is in good agreement with the pressure variation of the volume fraction of the spiral magnetic ordering. This confirms that the magnetic order disappears by a first order phase transition. The energy change estimated by the volume discontinuity on crossing Pc is of similar order as the Zeeman energy of the transition from the spiral ground state to a polarized paramagnetic one under magnetic field. In contrast to the strong pressure dependence of the transition temperature, the characteristic fields are weakly pressure dependent, indicating that the strength of the ferromagnetic and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions do not change drastically around Pc. The evaluated results of the thermal expansion coefficient and the magnetostriction are analyzed thermodynamically. The Sommerfeld coefficient of the linear temperature term of the specific heat is enhanced just below Pc. The magnetic field-temperature phase diagrams in the ordered and paramagnetic phases are also compared. Comparison is made with other heavy fermion compounds with first order phase transition at 0 K.Comment: 9 pages, 13 figures, accepted to be published in JPS

Streblo: the app prototype for managing stress in the construction industry

High levels of stress at work, great responsibilities, hazards and lack of balance between tasks and deadlines are common in the daily lives of many construction workers. Changing the patterns of thinking and behaviours is not an easy mission, and it requires constant support, learning and determination. E-health applications can contribute to this change through their ability to foster continuous interaction with the user. Mobile phone apps have shown promising results in the field of ‘e-health and wellbeing’. Accordingly, an App is being designed as a self-help system for stress management which will enable construction workers to 1) detect the onset of stress quite early, 2) track their stress status, 3) empower persons to cope with stressful and/or demanding situations in an adaptive way, 4) improve and streamline the operability of job tasks, and 5) optimise efficient solutions for the construction industry. The development of this innovative app, known as Streblo, is part of a wider research that is studying stress management in the construction industry. Streblo’s blueprint will match personality traits with coping strategies in real- life situations. Its inputs are being generated from a field study that has commenced, where 23 structured interviews have been used to collect data from construction workers on their 1) personality and 2) behaviours while experiencing stress. Results of the data collection and analysis are being used to develop Streblo (an App) with IT experts. The paper reports the detail development and performance of Streblo’s prototype. Ultimately, users will be able to engage Streblo on electronic devices (mobile phones, tablets, and computers) through both text and image-based communication obtain real-time solutions and feedbacks on their stress status. Streblo will enhance and support attitude and behavioural changes in people who suffer from stress symptoms in the construction industry.Streblo is being developed within a European Commission (EC) project H2020-MSCA- IF-2015/H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, Grant Agreement: 703236 - ‘Inhibiting Stress in the Construction Industry’ (INSTINCT). The authors are very grateful for this funding

A new measurement of the K ± → π ±γγ decay at the NA48/2 experiment

The NA48/2 experiment at CERN collected two data samples with minimum bias trigger conditions in 2003 and 2004. A measurement of the rate and dynamic properties of the rare decay $K^\pm\to\pi^\pm\gamma\gamma$ from these data sets based on 149 decay candidates with an estimated background of $15.5\pm0.7$ events is reported. The model-independent branching ratio in the kinematic range $z=(m_{\gamma\gamma}/m_K)^2>0.2$ is measured to be ${\cal B}_{\rm MI}(z>0.2) = (0.877 \pm 0.089) \times 10^{-6}$, and the branching ratio in the full kinematic range assuming a particular Chiral Perturbation Theory description to be ${\cal B}(K_{\pi\gamma\gamma}) = (0.910 \pm 0.075) \times 10^{-6}$

Precise tests of low energy QCD from Ke4 decay properties

We report results from the analysis of the K\ub1 \u2192 pi+ pi 12 e\ub1 \u3bd (Ke4 ) decay by the NA48/2 collaboration at the CERN SPS, based on the total statistics of 1.13 million decays collected in 2003\u20132004. The hadronic form factors in the S- and P-wave and their variation with energy are obtained. The phase difference between the S- and P-wave states of the pion pion system is accurately measured and allows a precise determination of a00 and a02 , the I = 0 and I = 2 S-wave pion pion scattering lengths: a00 = 0.2220 \ub1 0.0128stat \ub1 0.0050syst \ub1 0.0037th , a02 = 120.0432 \ub1 0.0086stat \ub1 0.0034syst \ub1 0.0028th . Combination of this result with the other NA48/2 measurement obtained in the study of K\ub1 \u2192 pi0 pi0 pi\ub1 decays brings an improved determination of a00 and the first precise experimental measurement of a02, providing a stringent test ofChiral Perturbation Theory predictions and lattice QCD calculations. Using constraints based on analyticity and chiral symmetry, even more precise values are obtained: a00 = 0.2196 \ub1 0.0028stat \ub1 0.0020syst and a02 = 120.0444 \ub10.0007stat \ub1 0.0005syst \ub1 0.0008ChPT

Search for the dark photon in pi0 decays

Abstract A sample of 1.69 7 10 7 fully reconstructed \u3c0 0 \u2192 \u3b3 e + e 12 decay candidates collected by the NA48/2 experiment at \{CERN\} in 2003\u20132004 is analyzed to search for the dark photon ( A \u2032 ) production in the \u3c0 0 \u2192 \u3b3 A \u2032 decay followed by the prompt A \u2032 \u2192 e + e 12 decay. No signal is observed, and an exclusion region in the plane of the dark photon mass m A \u2032 and mixing parameter \u3b5 2 is established. The obtained upper limits on \u3b5 2 are more stringent than the previous limits in the mass range 9 \ua0 MeV / c 2 < m A \u2032 < 70 \ua0 MeV / c 2 . The NA48/2 sensitivity to the dark photon production in the K \ub1 \u2192 \u3c0 \ub1 A \u2032 decay is also evaluated