Relativistic description of the charmonium mass spectrum

The charmonium mass spectrum is considered in the framework of the constituent quark model with the relativistic treatment of the c quark. The obtained masses are in good agreement with the existing experimental data including the mass of eta_c(2S).Comment: 5 page

Charm mass corrections to the bottomonium mass spectrum

The one-loop corrections to the bottomonium mass spectrum due to the finite charm mass are evaluated in the framework of the relativistic quark model. The obtained corrections are compared with the results of perturbative QCD.Comment: 6 pages, references added, version to be published in Phys. Rev.

Masses of light tetraquarks and scalar mesons in the relativistic quark model

Masses of the ground state light tetraquarks are dynamically calculated in the framework of the relativistic diquark-antidiquark picture. The internal structure of the diquark is taken into account by calculating the form factor of the diquark-gluon interaction in terms of the overlap integral of the diquark wave functions. It is found that scalar mesons with masses below 1 GeV: f_0(600) (\sigma), K^*_0(800) (\kappa), f_0(980) and a_0(980) agree well with the light tetraquark interpretation.Comment: 9 pages, Report-no adde

New analysis of semileptonic B decays in the relativistic quark model

We present the new analysis of the semileptonic B decays in the framework of the relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach. Decays both to heavy D^{(*)} and light \pi(\rho) mesons are considered. All relativistic effects are systematically taken into account including contributions of the negative-energy states and the wave function transformation from the rest to moving reference frame. For heavy-to-heavy transitions the heavy quark expansion is applied. Leading and subleading Isgur-Wise functions are determined as the overlap integrals of initial and final meson wave functions. For heavy-to-light transitions the explicit relativistic expressions are used to determine the dependence of the form factors on the momentum transfer squared. Such treatment significantly reduces theoretical uncertainties and increases reliability of obtained predictions. All results for form factors, partial and total decay rates agree well with recent experimental data and unquenched lattice calculations. From this comparison we find the following values of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements: |V_{cb}|=(3.85\pm0.15\pm 0.20)*10^{-2} and |V_{ub}|=(3.82\pm0.20\pm0.20)*10^{-3}, where the first error is experimental and the second one is theoretical.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figure

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

Spontaneous Branching of Anode-Directed Streamers between Planar Electrodes

Non-ionized media subject to strong fields can become locally ionized by penetration of finger-shaped streamers. We study negative streamers between planar electrodes in a simple deterministic continuum approximation. We observe that for sufficiently large fields, the streamer tip can split. This happens close to Firsov's limit of `ideal conductivity'. Qualitatively the tip splitting is due to a Laplacian instability quite like in viscous fingering. For future quantitative analytical progress, our stability analysis of planar fronts identifies the screening length as a regularization mechanism.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, submitted to PRL on Nov. 16, 2001, revised version of March 10, 200

Weak decays of the B_c meson to charmonium and D mesons in the relativistic quark model

Semileptonic and nonleptonic decays of the B_c meson to charmonium and D mesons are studied in the framework of the relativistic quark model. The decay form factors are explicitly expressed through the overlap integrals of the meson wave functions in the whole accessible kinematical range. The relativistic meson wave functions are used for the calculation of the decay rates. The obtained results are compared with the predictions of other approaches.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figures, 1 figure and 1 reference added, version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of the Silver Wound Dressing Biatain Ag in a Disc Carrier Test Simulating Wound Secretion

Aim: The efficacy of antimicrobial compounds included in wound dressings has been determined using the quantitative suspension test according to EN 13727 before. However, as suspension tests are not an accurate reflection of the conditions under which wound antiseptics are used, it was investigated if a disc carrier test would yield results simulating practical conditions on wound surfaces. A silver-leaching foam wound dressing was used for evaluation of the disc carrier test method. Method: The disc carriers consisted of circular stainless-steel discs measuring 2 cm in diameter and 1.5 mm in thickness, complying with the requirements of EN 10088-2. Carriers were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, together with an artificial wound secretion and left to dry at room temperature for 30 min. The wound dressings being tested were placed on the discs for the length of the exposure time, and after neutralization by thioglycolate in phosphate-buffered saline the number of surviving test organisms was then counted. The logarithmic reduction factor was calculated from the difference between the initial inoculum and the number of recovered test organisms. Results: The disc carrier test allowed determination of an antimicrobial efficacy in a realistic setting. It also imposed more stringent requirements on efficacy over time than the quantitative suspension test. The silver foam wound dressing showed a time-dependent antimicrobial efficacy. After 24-hour application time, the reduction factors against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and the methicillin-resistant S. aureus were 1.9 ± 0.15, 2.1 ± 0.14 and 3.1 ± 0.18, respectively. Conclusion: The disc carrier test was a useful method for testing the antimicrobial efficacy of a foam silver dressing. The antimicrobial dressing exhibited an antimicrobial effect after 3 h and achieved a reduction >2 log against the tested bacterial strains in the presence of a simulated wound secretion after 24 h

Exclusive semileptonic B decays to radially excited D mesons

Exclusive semileptonic B decays to radially excited charmed mesons are investigated at the first order of the heavy quark expansion. The arising leading and subleading Isgur-Wise functions are calculated in the framework of the relativistic quark model. It is found that the 1/m_Q corrections play an important role and substantially modify results. An interesting interplay between different corrections is found. As a result the branching ratio for the B-> D'e\nu decay is essentially increased by 1/m_Q corrections, while the one for B-> D*'e\nu is only slightly influenced by them.Comment: 19 pages, revtex, 6 figures, uses rotating.st

Finite-temperature magnetism of Fex_xPd1−x_{1-x} and Cox_xPt1−x_{1-x} alloys

The finite-temperature magnetic properties of Fe$_x$Pd$_{1-x}$ and Co$_x$Pt$_{1-x}$ alloys have been investigated. It is shown that the temperature-dependent magnetic behaviour of alloys, composed of originally magnetic and non-magnetic elements, cannot be described properly unless the coupling between magnetic moments at magnetic atoms (Fe,Co) mediated through the interactions with induced magnetic moments of non-magnetic atoms (Pd,Pt) is included. A scheme for the calculation of the Curie temperature ($T_C$) for this type of systems is presented which is based on the extended Heisenberg Hamiltonian with the appropriate exchange parameters $J_{ij}$ obtained from {\em ab-initio} electronic structure calculations. Within the present study the KKR Green's function method has been used to calculate the $J_{ij}$ parameters. A comparison of the obtained Curie temperatures for Fe$_x$Pd$_{1-x}$ and Co$_x$Pt$_{1-x}$ alloys with experimental data shows rather good agreement.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure