Processing of AC-coupled n-in-p pixel detectors on MCz silicon using atomic layer deposited aluminium oxide

We report on the fabrication of capacitively (AC) coupled n(+)-in-p pixel detectors on magnetic Czochralski silicon substrates. In our devices, we employ a layer of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) as dielectric and field insulator, instead of the commonly used silicon dioxide (SiO2). As shown in earlier research, Al2O3 thin films exhibit high negative oxide charge, and can thus serve as a substitute for p-stop/p-spray insulation implants between pixels. In addition, they provide far higher capacitance densities than SiO2 due to their high dielectric constant, permitting more efficient capacitive coupling of pixels. Furthermore, metallic titanium nitride (TiN) bias resistors are presented as an alternative to punch-through or poly-Si resistors. Devices obtained by the above mentioned process are characterized by capacitance-voltage and current-voltage measurements, and by 2 MeV proton microprobe. Results show the expected high negative charge of the Al2O3 dielectric, uniform charge collection efficiency over large areas of pixels, and acceptable leakage current densities.Peer reviewe

More careful or less marriageable? Parental divorce, spouse selection and entry into marriage

Despite the large literature on the long-term effects of parental divorce, few studies have analyzed the effects of parental divorce on spouse selection behavior. However, the characteristics of one's spouse can have important effects on economic well-being and on marital success. We use discrete-time, event-history data from Finnish population registers to study the effects of parental divorce on entry into marriage with spouses who have different educational qualifications (both absolute and relative to one's own education), using conditional multinomial logistic regression models. The results show that Finnish children of divorce have lower rates of marriage than those from intact families. In particular, children of divorce have a lower likelihood of marrying spouses with secondary education or more, and especially low rates of marrying someone with a tertiary degree. The latter gap is smaller among those with tertiary education, as a result of the higher rates of homogamous marriage among the children of divorce with high education. Our findings suggest that children of divorce carry with them traits and behaviors that make them less marriageable candidates in the marriage market. We discuss the possible implications of these findings.</p

Observation of a new boson with mass near 125 GeV in pp collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 7 and 8 TeV

A detailed description is reported of the analysis used by the CMS Collaboration in the search for the standard model Higgs boson in pp collisions at the LHC, which led to the observation of a new boson. The data sample corresponds to integrated luminosities up to 5.1 inverse femtobarns at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV, and up to 5.3 inverse femtobarns at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV. The results for five Higgs boson decay modes $\gamma\gamma, ZZ, WW, \tau \tau$, and bb, which show a combined local significance of 5 standard deviations near 125 GeV, are reviewed. A fit to the invariant mass of the two high resolution channels, gamma gamma and ZZ to 4 ell, gives a mass estimate of 125.3 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst) GeV. The measurements are interpreted in the context of the standard model Lagrangian for the scalar Higgs field interacting with fermions and vector bosons. The measured values of the corresponding couplings are compared to the standard model predictions. The hypothesis of custodial symmetry is tested through the measurement of the ratio of the couplings to the W and Z bosons. All the results are consistent, within their uncertainties, with the expectations for a standard model Higgs boson.Peer Reviewe