Quasielastic neutrino scattering from oxygen and the atmospheric neutrino problem

We examine several phenomena beyond the scope of Fermi-gas models that affect the quasielastic scattering (from oxygen) of neutrinos in the 0.1 -- 3.0 GeV range. These include Coulomb interactions of outgoing protons and leptons, a realistic finite-volume mean field, and the residual nucleon-nucleon interaction. None of these effects are accurately represented in the Monte Carlo simulations used to predict event rates due to $\mu$ and $e$ neutrinos from cosmic-ray collisions in the atmosphere. We nevertheless conclude that the neglected physics cannot account for the anomalous $\mu$ to $e$ ratio observed at Kamiokande and IMB, and is unlikely to change absolute event rates by more than 10--15\%. We briefly mention other phenomena, still to be investigated in detail, that may produce larger changes.Comment: In Revtex version 2. 14 pages, 3 figures (available on request from J. Engel, tel. 302-831-4354, [email protected]

Shape transformations in rotating ferrofluid drops

Floating drops of magnetic fluid can be brought into rotation by applying a rotating magnetic field. We report theoretical and experimental results on the transition from a spheroid equilibrium shape to non-axissymmetrical three-axes ellipsoids at certain values of the external field strength. The transitions are continuous for small values of the magnetic susceptibility and show hysteresis for larger ones. In the non-axissymmetric shape the rotational motion of the drop consists of a vortical flow inside the drop combined with a slow rotation of the shape. Nonlinear magnetization laws are crucial to obtain quantitative agreement between theory and experiment.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Semi-analytic approximations for production of atmospheric muons and neutrinos

Simple approximations for fluxes of atmospheric muons and muon neutrinos are developed which display explicitly how the fluxes depend on primary cosmic ray energy and on features of pion production. For energies of approximately 10 GeV and above the results are sufficiently accurate to calculate response functions and to use for estimates of systematic uncertainties.Comment: 15 pages with 8 figure

SRB ascent aerodynamic heating design criteria reduction study, volume 1

An independent set of solid rocket booster (SRB) convective ascent design environments were produced which would serve as a check on the Rockwell IVBC-3 environments used to design the ascent phase of flight. In addition, support was provided for lowering the design environments such that Thermal Protection System (TPS), based on conservative estimates, could be removed leading to a reduction in SRB refurbishment time and cost. Ascent convective heating rates and loads were generated at locations in the SRB where lowering the thermal environment would impact the TPS design. The ascent thermal environments are documented along with the wind tunnel/flight test data base used as well as the trajectory and environment generation methodology. Methodology, as well as, environment summaries compared to the 1980 Design and Rockwell IVBC-3 Design Environment are presented in this volume, 1

Calculation of conventional and prompt lepton fluxes at very high energy

An efficient method for calculating inclusive conventional and prompt atmospheric leptons fluxes is presented. The coupled cascade equations are solved numerically by formulating them as matrix equation. The presented approach is very flexible and allows the use of different hadronic interaction models, realistic parametrizations of the primary cosmic-ray flux and the Earth's atmosphere, and a detailed treatment of particle interactions and decays. The power of the developed method is illustrated by calculating lepton flux predictions for a number of different scenarios.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, for Proceedings of the International Symposium for Very-High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions (ISVHECRI 2014