Study of pesudoscalar transition form factors within light front quark model

We study the transition form factors of the pesudoscalar mesons ($\pi,\eta$ and $\eta^{\prime}$) as functions of the momentum transfer $Q^2$ within the light-front quark model. We compare our results with the recent experimental data by CELLO, CLEO, BaBar and Belle. By considering the possible uncertainties from the quark masses, we illustrate that our predicted form factors can fit with all the data, including those at the large $Q^2$ regions.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

π0→γ∗γ\pi^0\to\gamma^*\gamma transition form factor within Light Front Quark Model

We study the transition form factor of $\pi^0\to\gamma^* \gamma$ as a function of the momentum transfer $Q^2$ within the light-front quark model (LFQM). We compare our result with the experimental data by BaBar as well as other calculations based on the LFQM in the literature. We show that our predicted form factor fits well with the experimental data, particularly those at the large $Q^2$ region.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in PR

Concepts for radically increasing the numerical convergence rate of the Euler equations

Integral equation and finite difference methods have been developed for solving transonic flow problems using linearized forms of the transonic small disturbance and Euler equations. A key element is the use of a strained coordinate system in which the shock remains fixed. Additional criteria are developed to determine the free parameters in the coordinate straining; these free parameters are functions of the shock location. An integral equation analysis showed that the shock is located by ensuring that no expansion shocks exist in the solution. The expansion shock appears as oscillations in the solution near the sonic line, and the correct shock location is determined by removing these oscillations. A second objective was to study the ability of the Euler equation to model separated flow

Role of Low Exposure to Metals as Male Reproductive Toxicants

The objective of the study was to examine the associations between environmentally relevant low metal concentrations and semen quality parameters in men. The concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and lead (Pb) in the seminal plasma and urine were measured from 196 male human subjects in Taiwan. Urinary Cd concentrations were negatively associated with sperm viability (p=0.006). Seminal plasma Cu concentrations of the normal group (\u3e= 15 x 10(6)/ml) were significantly lower than those of the abnormal group (p=0.023). However, the linear regression analysis showed a weak association between Cu concentration and sperm concentration, along with other semen parameters. No significant relationship between other metals (As, Pb, Zn, and Se) and semen quality was observed

Hard X-ray Emission from Cassiopeia A SNR

We report the results of extracting the hard X-ray continuum spectrum of Cas A SNR from RXTE/PCA Target of Opportunity observations (TOO) and CGRO/OSSE observations. The data can rule out the single thermal bremsstrahlung model for Cas A continuum between 2 and 150 keV. The single power law model gives a mediocre fit (∼5%) to the data with a power-law index, Γ = 2.94±0.02. A model with two component (bremsstrahlung + bremsstrahlung or bremsstrahlung + power law) gives a good fit. The power law index is quite constrained suggesting that this continuum might not be the X-ray thermal bremmstrahlung from accelerated MeV electrons at shock fronts [1] which would have Γ ≃2.26. With several SNRs detected by ASCA showing a hard power-law nonthermal X-ray continuum, we expect a similar situation for Cas A SNR which has Γ=2.98±0.09. We discuss the implication of the hardest nonthermal X-rays detected from Cas A to the synchrotron radiation model

Study of Radiative Leptonic D Meson Decays

We study the radiative leptonic $D$ meson decays of D^+_{(s)}\to \l^+\nu_{\l}\gamma (\l=e,\mu,\tau), $D^0\to \nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ and D^0\to \l^+\l^-\gamma ($l=e,\mu$) within the light front quark model. In the standard model, we find that the decay branching ratios of $D^+_{(s)}\to e^+\nu_e\gamma$, $D^+_{(s)}\to\mu^+\nu_{\mu}\gamma$ and $D^+_{(s)}\to\tau^+\nu_{\tau}\gamma$ are $6.9\times 10^{-6}$ ($7.7\times 10^{-5}$), $2.5\times 10^{-5}$ ($2.6\times 10^{-4}$), and $6.0\times 10^{-6}$ ($3.2\times 10^{-4}$), and that of D^0\to\l^+\l^-\gamma (\l=e,\mu) and $D^0\to\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ are $6.3\times 10^{-11}$ and $2.7\times 10^{-16}$, respectively.Comment: 23 pages, 6 Figures, LaTex file, a reference added, to be published in Mod. Phys. Lett.

One-step production of pyrene-1-boronic acid functionalized graphene for dopamine detection

A facile molecular wedging method is used to exfoliate graphite flakes into graphene sheets, with concurrent functionalization to form pyrene-1-boronic acid functionalized graphene (PBA/G). Different techniques are used to characterize the prepared materials such as field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray analyzer, Raman, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate their structural and morphological characteristics. The intercalation of PBA into graphite sheets, followed by exfoliation can be observed under the electron microscope. Elemental analyses show that the PBA acts more than intercalant, it is functionalized onto the graphene sheets upon exfoliation to form PBA/G. Raman analysis indicates PBA/G has a lower number of graphene layers as a result of successful exfoliation by PBA. Electrochemical impedance studies show that the PBA/G possesses high affinity for dopamine through the diol groups interaction, which renders it to have enhanced detection for dopamine