The BMV project: Search for photon oscillations into massive particles

In this contribution to PSAS08 we report on the research activities developed in our Toulouse group, in the framework of the BMV project, concerning the search for photon oscillations into massive particles, such as axion-like particles in the presence of a strong transverse magnetic field. We recall our main result obtained in collaboration with LULI at \'Ecole Polytechnique (Palaiseau, France). We also present the very preliminary results obtained with the BMV experiment which is set up at LNCMP (Toulouse, France).Comment: Proceedings of PSAS'08, to be published in Can. J. Phy

Observation of the Inverse Cotton-Mouton Effect

We report the observation of the Inverse Cotton-Mouton Effect (ICME) i.e. a magnetization induced in a medium by non resonant linearly polarized light propagating in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. We present a detailed study of the ICME in a TGG crystal showing the dependence of the measured effect on the light intensity, the optical polarization, and on the external magnetic field. We derive a relation between the Cotton-Mouton and Inverse Cotton-Mouton effects that is roughly in agreement with existing experimental data. Our results open the way to applications of the ICME in optical devices

Preface

From text: It cannot be denied that academic psychology, and more specifically the teaching of Psychology, is one of the most neglected areas in South African Psychology. This is regardless of the fact that Psychology is one of the most popular subjects on both undergraduate and postgraduate level at South African universities. Teaching is also the vehicle that takes Psychology students on the road to one of the most respected professions in our country

Characterisation of Pinotage Wine During Maturation on Different Oak Products

The effect of oak contact on the phenolic composition, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and colour of Pinotage wineswas investigated during maturation. Oak maturation included traditional treatments, such as new, second-fill andthird-fill barrels, as well as alternative treatments (oak chips, staves, extract and dust) applied in old barrels over aperiod of 28 weeks. Oak maturation using traditional and alternative treatments improved the objective colour ofPinotage wine by decreasing the L* value. Losses in TAC caused by decreased concentrations of monomeric phenoliccompounds (most anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids) during oak maturation werenegated by increased concentrations of gallic acid and the formation of new oligomeric and polymeric pigments.Wine maturation in stainless steel containers also resulted in a decrease in anthocyanin content. The decreasein phenolic acid content for wines matured in stainless steel was less pronounced, while their flavan-3-ol contentremained stable. The new-barrel treatment had the most pronounced effect on all parameters. Oak maturation canbe used for the production of Pinotage wine when the retention of TAC is a high priority

An Optical Lattice Clock with Spin-polarized 87Sr Atoms

We present a new evaluation of an 87Sr optical lattice clock using spin polarized atoms. The frequency of the 1S0-3P0 clock transition is found to be 429 228 004 229 873.6 Hz with a fractional accuracy of 2.6 10^{-15}, a value that is comparable to the frequency difference between the various primary standards throughout the world. This measurement is in excellent agreement with a previous one of similar accuracy