Relativistic Description of Exclusive Semileptonic Decays of Heavy Mesons

Using quasipotential approach, we have studied exclusive semileptonic decays of heavy mesons with the account of relativistic effects. Due to more complete relativistic description of the $s$ quark more precise expressions for semileptonic form factors are obtained. Various differential distributions in exclusive semileptonic decays of heavy mesons are calculated. It is argued that consistent account of relativistic effects and HQET motivated choice of the parameters of quark-antiquark potential allow to get reliable value for the ratio $A_2(0)/A_1(0)$ in the $D\to K^*l\nu_l$ decay as well as the ratio~$\Gamma(D\to K^*l\nu_l)/\Gamma(D\to Kl\nu_l)$. All calculated branching ratios are in accord with available experimental data.Comment: 18 pages, LATEX, 2 figures inclosed + 4 Postscript figure

Physics of B_c mesons

In the framework of potential models for heavy quarkonium the mass spectrum for the system ($\bar b c$) is considered. Spin-dependent splittings, taking into account a change of a constant for effective coulomb interaction between the quarks, and widths of radiative transitions between the ($\bar b c$) levels are calculated. In the framework of QCD sum rules, masses of the lightest vector $B_c^*$ and pseudoscalar $B_c$ states are estimated, scaling relation for leptonic constants of heavy quarkonia is derived, and the leptonic constant $f_{B_c}$ is evaluated. The $B_c$ decays are considered in the framework of both the potential models and the QCD sum rules, where the significance of Coulomb-like corrections is shown. The relations, following from the approximate spin symmetry for the heavy quarks in the heavy quarkonium, are analysed for the form factors of the semileptonic weak exclusive decays of $B_c$. The $B_c$ lifetime is evaluated with the account of the corrections to the spectator mechanism of the decay, because of the quark binding into the meson. The total and differential cross sections of the $B_c$ production in different interactions are calculated. The analytic expressions for the fragmentational production cross sections of $B_c$ are derived. The possibility of the practical $B_c$ search in the current and future experiments at electron-positron and hadron colliders is analysed.Comment: 81 page, latex, ihep.sty is required and attached in the end of the file after \end{document}, figures are not availabl

Mixing angles and electromagnetic properties of ground state pseudoscalar and vector meson nonets in the light-cone quark model

Both the mass spectra and the wave functions of the light pseudoscalar ($\pi,K,\eta,\eta'$) and vector($\rho,K^{*},\omega,\phi$) mesons are analyzed within the framework of the light-cone constituent quark model. A gaussian radial wave function is used as a trial function of the variational principle for a QCD motivated Hamiltonian which includes not only the Coulomb plus confining potential but also the hyperfine interaction to obtain the correct $\rho-\pi$ splitting. For the confining potential, we use (1) harmonic oscillator potential and (2) linear potential and compare the numerical results for these two cases. The mixing angles of $\omega-\phi$ and $\eta-\eta'$ are predicted and various physical observables such as decay constants, charge radii, and radiative decay rates $etc.$ are calculated. Our numerical results in two cases (1) and (2) are overall not much different from each other and have a good agreement with the available experimental data. use (1) harmonic oscillator potential and (2) linear potential and compare the numerical results for these two cases. The mixing angles of $\omega-\phi$ and $\eta-\eta'$ are predicted and various physical observables such as decay constants, charge radii, and radiative decay rates $etc.$ are calculated. Our numerical results in two cases (1) and (2) are overall not much different from each other and have a good agreement with the available experimental data.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Light Meson Spectroscopy

We survey the current status of light meson spectroscopy. We begin with a general introduction to meson spectroscopy and and its importance in understanding the physical states of Quantum Chromo Dynamics (QCD). Phemenological models of hadron spectroscopy are described with particular emphasis on the constituent quark model and the qualitative features it predicts for the meson spectrum. We next discuss expectations for hadrons lying outside the quark model, such as hadron states with excited gluonic degrees of freedom. These states include so-called hybrids glueballs}, as well as multiquark states. The established meson states are compared to the quark model predictions and we find that most meson states are well described by the quark model. However, a number of states in the light-quark sector do not fit in well, suggesting the existence of hadronic states with additional degrees of freedom. We end with a brief description of future directions in meson spectroscopy.Comment: 111 pages with 28 imbedded figures, in LaTeX2e with no special macros. Submitted to Reviews of Modern Physics, Nov.12, 199

Glutathione

Glutathione is a simple sulfur compound composed of three amino acids and the major non-protein thiol in many organisms, including plants. The functions of glutathione are manifold but notably include redox-homeostatic buffering. Glutathione status is modulated by oxidants as well as by nutritional and other factors, and can influence protein structure and activity through changes in thiol-disulfide balance. For these reasons, glutathione is a transducer that integrates environmental information into the cellular network. While the mechanistic details of this function remain to be fully elucidated, accumulating evidence points to important roles for glutathione and glutathione-dependent proteins in phytohormone signaling and in defense against biotic stress. Work in Arabidopsis is beginning to identify the processes that govern glutathione status and that link it to signaling pathways. As well as providing an overview of the components that regulate glutathione homeostasis (synthesis, degradation, transport, and redox turnover), the present discussion considers the roles of this metabolite in physiological processes such as light signaling, cell death, and defense against microbial pathogen and herbivores