A test of local Lorentz invariance with Compton scattering asymmetry

We report on a measurement of the constancy and anisotropy of the speed of light relative to the electrons in photon-electron scattering. We used the Compton scattering asymmetry measured by the new Compton polarimeter in Hall~C at Jefferson Lab to test for deviations from unity of the vacuum refractive index ($n$). For photon energies in the range of 9 - 46 MeV, we obtain a new limit of $1-n < 1.4 \times 10^{-8}$. In addition, the absence of sidereal variation over the six month period of the measurement constrains any anisotropies in the speed of light. These constitute the first study of Lorentz invariance using Compton asymmetry. Within the minimal standard model extension framework, our result yield limits on the photon and electron coefficients $\tilde{\kappa}_{0^+}^{YZ}, c_{TX}, \tilde{\kappa}_{0^+}^{ZX}$, and $c_{TY}$. Although, these limits are several orders of magnitude larger than the current best limits, they demonstrate the feasibility of using Compton asymmetry for tests of Lorentz invariance. Future parity violating electron scattering experiments at Jefferson Lab will use higher energy electrons enabling better constraints.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Formation of ultracold LiRb molecules by photoassociation near the Li (2s 2S1/2) + Rb (5p 2P1/2) asymptote

We report the production of ultracold 7Li85Rb molecules by photoassociation (PA) below the Li (2s 2S1/2) + Rb (5p 2P1/2) asymptote. We perform PA spectroscopy in a dual-species 7Li-85Rb magneto-optical trap (MOT) and detect the PA resonances using trap loss spectroscopy. We observe several strong PA resonances corresponding to the last few bound states, assign the lines and derive the long range C6 dispersion coefficients for the Li (2s 2S1/2) + Rb (5p 2P1/2) asymptote. We also report an excited-state molecule formation rate (P_LiRb) of ~10^7 s^-1 and a PA rate coefficient (K_PA) of ~4x10^-11 cm^3/s, which are both among the highest observed for heteronuclear bi-alkali molecules. These suggest that PA is a promising route for the creation of ultracold ground state LiRb molecules.Comment: 6 page

Anomalous thermal expansion of Sb2_2Te3_3 topological insulator

We have investigated the temperature dependence of the linear thermal expansion along the hexagonal c axis ($\Delta L$), in-plane resistivity ($\rho$), and specific heat ($C_p$) of the topological insulator Sb$_2$Te$_3$ single crystal. $\Delta L$ exhibits a clear anomaly in the temperature region 204-236 K. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion $\alpha$ decreases rapidly above 204 K, passes through a deep minimum at around 225 K and then increases abruptly in the region 225-236 K. $\alpha$ is negative in the interval 221-228 K. The temperature dependence of both $\alpha$ and $C_p$ can be described well by the Debye model from 2 to 290 K, excluding the region around the anomaly in $\alpha$

Anopheline fauna of parts of Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh with reference to malaria transmission

In a survey on the anopheline fauna in highly malaria endemic areas of the Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, 7476 anophelines belonging to 17 species were collected, including seven species of anophelines which are recognized malaria vectors in India. Anopheles tessellatus and A. jamesii were recorded for the first time in this area. The parasitological survey revealed that the area was endemic for malaria particularly P. falciparum. the slide positivity rate and slide falciparum rate being 25.63 and 19.21 per cent respectively. On dissection of 10 anopheies species, malarial infection was detected in two viz., A. minimus and A. dirus

Signature of strong atom-cavity interaction on critical coupling

We study a critically coupled cavity doped with resonant atoms with metamaterial slabs as mirrors. We show how resonant atom-cavity interaction can lead to a splitting of the critical coupling dip. The results are explained in terms of the frequency and lifetime splitting of the coupled system.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Detection of SUSY Signals in Stau Neutralino Co-annihilation Region at the LHC

We study the prospects of detecting the signal in the stau neutralino co-annihilation region at the LHC using tau leptons. The co-annihilation signal is characterized by the stau and neutralino mass difference (dM) to be 5-15 GeV to be consistent with the WMAP measurement of the cold dark matter relic density as well as all other experimental bounds within the minimal supergravity model. Focusing on tau's from neutralino_2 --> tau stau --> tau tau neutralino_1 decays in gluino and squark production, we consider inclusive MET+jet+3tau production, with two tau's above a high E_T threshold and a third tau above a lower threshold. Two observables, the number of opposite-signed tau pairs minus the number of like-signed tau pairs and the peak position of the di-tau invariant mass distribution, allow for the simultaneous determination of dM and M_gluino. For dM = 9 GeV and M_gluino = 850 GeV with 30 fb^-1 of data, we can measure dM to 15% and M_gluino to 6%.Comment: 4 pages LaTex, 3 figures. To appear in Proceedings of SUSY06, the 14th International Conference on Supersymmetry and the Unification of Fundamental Interactions, UC Irvine, California, 12-17 June 2006. A typo in a reference is correcte