Neutralinos in E_6 inspired supersymmetric U(1)' models

The neutralino sector in E_6 inspired supersymmetric models with extra neutral gauge bosons and singlet Higgs fields contains additional gaugino and singlino states compared to the MSSM. We discuss the neutralino mixing in rank 5 and rank 6 models and analyze the supersymmetric parameter space where the light neutralinos have mainly singlino or MSSM character. The neutralino character, resonance effects of the new gauge bosons and, assuming mSUGRA-type RGEs, different selectron masses lead to significant differences between the MSSM and the extended models in neutralino production at an e^+e^- linear collider. Beam polarization may improve the signatures to distinguish between the models. In an appendix, we present the mass terms of the gauge bosons, charginos and sfermions which show a significant different mass spectrum than in the MSSM and give all relevant neutralino couplings.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX, 5 eps figures; version to be published in EPJ

Neutralino Production with Polarized Beams in Extended Supersymmetric Models

We discuss associated neutralino production e^+ e^- --> \tilde{\chi}^0_1 \tilde{\chi}^0_2 with both beams polarized in the MSSM, NMSSM and an E_6 model. It is shown that neutralinos with a large singlino component can be produced at a high luminosity linear collider in a broad parameter range. Polarization effects in the extended models are compared over the whole parameter space where the lightest neutralino is mainly a singlino. We explain the complete different behavior of these models in some parameter regions, which may help to identify the respective supersymmetric model.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, 10 eps figures, contribution to the Proceedings of the "2nd Joint ECFA/DESY Study on Physics and Detectors for a Linear Electron-Positron Collider

Identifying the NMSSM by the interplay of LHC and ILC

The interplay between the LHC and the $e^+ e^-$ International Linear Collider (ILC) with $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV might be crucial for the discrimination between the minimal and next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model. We present an NMSSM scenario, where the light neutralinos have a significant singlino component, that cannot be distinguished from the MSSM by cross sections and mass measurements. Mass and mixing state predictions for the heavier neutralinos from the ILC analysis at different energy stages and comparison with observation at the LHC, lead to clear identification of the particle character and identify the underlying supersymmetric model.Comment: 8 pages, 2 eps figures, revtex4 style Contribution to the `2005 International Linear Collider Workshop - Stanford, U.S.A.

Development of a task-level robot programming and simulation system

An ongoing project in developing a Task-Level Robot Programming and Simulation System (TARPS) is discussed. The objective of this approach is to design a generic TARPS that can be used in a variety of applications. Many robotic applications require off-line programming, and a TARPS is very useful in such applications. Task level programming is object centered in that the user specifies tasks to be performed instead of robot paths. Graphics simulation provides greater flexibility and also avoids costly machine setup and possible damage. A TARPS has three major modules: world model, task planner and task simulator. The system architecture, design issues and some preliminary results are given

Chiral selectivity of amino acid adsorption on chiral surfaces - the case of alanine on Pt

We study the binding pattern of the amino acid alanine on the naturally chiral Pt surfaces Pt(531), Pt(321) and Pt(643). These surfaces are all vicinal to the {111} direction but have different local environments of their kink sites and are thus a model for realistic roughened Pt surfaces. Alanine has only a single methyl group attached to its chiral center, which makes the number of possible binding conformations computationally tractable. Additionally, only the amine and carboxyl group are expected to interact strongly with the Pt substrate. On Pt(531) we study the molecule in its pristine as well as its deprotonated form and find that the deprotonated one is more stable by 0.39 eV. Therefore, we study the molecule in its deprotonated form on Pt(321) and Pt(643). As expected, the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of the deprotonated molecule provide a local binding "tripod" and the most stable adsorption configurations optimize the interaction of this "tripod" with undercoordinated surface atoms. However, the interaction of the methyl group plays an important role: it induces significant chiral selectivity of about 60 meV on all surfaces. Hereby, the L-enantiomer adsorbs preferentially to the Pt(321)$^S$ and Pt(643)$^S$ surfaces while the D-enantiomer is more stable on Pt(531)$^S$. The binding energies increase with increasing surface density of kink sites, i.e. they are largest for Pt(531)$^S$ and smallest for Pt(643)$^S$

Empirical wind model for the middle and lower atmosphere. Part 1: Local time average

The HWM90 thermospheric wind model was revised in the lower thermosphere and extended into the mesosphere and lower atmosphere to provide a single analytic model for calculating zonal and meridional wind profiles representative of the climatological average for various geophysical conditions. Gradient winds from CIRA-86 plus rocket soundings, incoherent scatter radar, MF radar, and meteor radar provide the data base and are supplemented by previous data driven model summaries. Low-order spherical harmonics and Fourier series are used to describe the major variations throughout the atmosphere including latitude, annual, semiannual, and longitude (stationary wave 1). The model represents a smoothed compromise between the data sources. Although agreement between various data sources is generally good, some systematic differences are noted, particularly near the mesopause. Root mean square differences between data and model are on the order of 15 m/s in the mesosphere and 10 m/s in the stratosphere for zonal wind, and 10 m/s and 4 m/s, respectively, for meridional wind