The economics of debt clearing mechanisms

We examine the evolution of decentralized clearinghouse mechanisms from the 13th to the 18th century; in particular, we explore the clearing of non- or limitedtradable debts like bills of exchange. We construct a theoretical model of these clearinghouse mechanisms, similar to the models in the theoretical matching literature, and show that specific decentralized multilateral clearing algorithms known as rescontre, skontrieren or virement des parties used by merchants were efficient in specific historical contexts. We can explain both the evolutionary self-organizing emergence of late medieval and early modern fairs, and its robustness during the 17th and 18th century

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies.publishedVersio

Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry:Workshop Summary

This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay the groundwork for an international TVLBAI proto-collaboration. This collaboration aims to unite researchers from different institutions to strategize and secure funding for terrestrial large-scale AI projects. The ultimate goal is to create a roadmap detailing the design and technology choices for one or more km-scale detectors, which will be operational in the mid-2030s. The key sections of this report present the physics case and technical challenges, together with a comprehensive overview of the discussions at the workshop together with the main conclusions

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Terrestrial very-long-baseline atom interferometry: Workshop summary

This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay the groundwork for an international TVLBAI proto-collaboration. This collaboration aims to unite researchers from different institutions to strategize and secure funding for terrestrial large-scale AI projects. The ultimate goal is to create a roadmap detailing the design and technology choices for one or more kilometer--scale detectors, which will be operational in the mid-2030s. The key sections of this report present the physics case and technical challenges, together with a comprehensive overview of the discussions at the workshop together with the main conclusions

Juvante Christo Nostro! Programma De Studio Historico : Quo, Illustrissimo & Celsissimo Comite ac Domino, Dn. Alberto Antonio, S. R. I. Quatuor-Viro Comite Schwartzburgi & Hohnsteini ... Ad Actus Oratorios, Æstivum & Autumnalem Scenicis apparatibus celebrandos ... unà cum ... Dn. Rectore, invitat

JUVANTE CHRISTO NOSTRO! PROGRAMMA DE STUDIO HISTORICO : QUO, ILLUSTRISSIMO & CELSISSIMO COMITE AC DOMINO, DN. ALBERTO ANTONIO, S. R. I. QUATUOR-VIRO COMITE SCHWARTZBURGI & HOHNSTEINI ... AD ACTUS ORATORIOS, ÆSTIVUM & AUTUMNALEM SCENICIS APPARATIBUS CELEBRANDOS ... UNÀ CUM ... DN. RECTORE, INVITAT Juvante Christo Nostro! Programma De Studio Historico : Quo, Illustrissimo & Celsissimo Comite ac Domino, Dn. Alberto Antonio, S. R. I. Quatuor-Viro Comite Schwartzburgi & Hohnsteini ... Ad Actus Oratorios, Æstivum & Autumnalem Scenicis apparatibus celebrandos ... unà cum ... Dn. Rectore, invitat (1) Titelseite (1) Text (2

International Investment Law and the Republic of Ecuador: From Arbitral Bilateralism to Judicial Regionalism

Following more than two decades of unprecedented expansion, the legal regime on the protection of foreign investments has more recently become – again – increasingly controversially debated. There are clear indications in state practice, that an increasing number of countries assume a more cautious or even openly critical position on the current predominant approach in international investment law. This applies also to the recently renewed suspicion displayed by many Latin American countries in this regard. Among the Latin American countries, it is in particular also Ecuador, which has in recent years emerged as one of the main opponents of the current state of international investment law in general and international investment arbitration in particular. Ecuador not only adopted an increasingly critical stance on this issue but has also – in contrast to many other Latin American countries – in fact already employed a variety of measures in the domestic and international realm that clearly signal this state’s intention to exit the present system and to establish a new alternative scheme of international investment protection. Against this background, the contribution is intended to analyse some international legal implications of Ecuador’s actions aimed at largely disconnecting itself from the present framework of international investment protection. Furthermore, some broader conceptual thoughts on the perspectives for the future design of international investment agreements in the Latin American context will be provided. For this purpose, the contribution has been divided into three main parts. The first part is devoted to an identification and overview of the characteristics and importance of the currently predominant scheme of international investment protection, including certain public interest challenges arising from the present design. In the second part some legal implications and thus possible short-term effects of Ecuador’s recent policy responses to these public interest challenges are evaluated. Finally, the third part includes some thoughts on potential medium-term alternatives enjoyed by Latin American countries to initiate and implement a reformation of the international legal framework on investment protection. In this connection, it will be argued that the adoption of a regional investment agreement including the creation of a Latin American court of investment law – although appearing at first sight a rather ambitious (and not only to many foreign investors probably suspicious) alternative – can in the medium-term perspective be considered as an acceptable, politically feasible and thus vi able option to facilitate a reconciliation, on modified terms, between countries like Ecuador and the international legal regime on the protection of foreign investments