110 research outputs found
A systematic study of J/psi suppression in cold nuclear matter
Based on a Glauber model, a statistical analysis of all mid-rapidity J/psi
hadroproduction and leptoproduction data on nuclear targets is carried out.
This allows us to determine the J/psi-nucleon inelastic cross section, whose
knowledge is crucial to interpret the J/psi suppression observed in heavy-ion
collisions, at SPS and at RHIC. The values of sigma are extracted from each
experiment. A clear tension between the different data sets is reported. The
global fit of all data gives sigma=3.4+/-0.2 mb, which is significantly smaller
than previous estimates. A similar value, sigma=3.5+/-0.2 mb, is obtained when
the nDS nuclear parton densities are included in the analysis, although we
emphasize that the present uncertainties on gluon (anti)shadowing do not allow
for a precise determination of sigma. Finally, no significant energy dependence
of the J/psi-N interaction is observed, unless strong nuclear modifications of
the parton densities are assumed.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure
In situ experimental evidences for responses of abyssal benthic biota to shifts in phytodetritus compositions linked to global climate change
Abyssal plains cover more than half of Earth's surface, and the main food source in these ecosystems is phytodetritus, mainly originating from primary producers in the euphotic zone of the ocean. Global climate change is influencing phytoplankton abundance, productivity, and distribution. Increasing importance of picoplankton over diatom as primary producers in surface oceans (especially projected for higher latitudes) is projected and hence altering the quantity of organic carbon supplied to the abyssal seafloor as phytodetritus, consequences of which remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the in situ responses of abyssal biota from viruses to megafauna to different types of phytoplankton input (diatoms or cyanobacteria which were labeled with stable isotopes) at equatorial (oligotrophic) and temperate (eutrophic) benthic sites in the Pacific Ocean (1°N at 4277 m water depth and 39°N at 5260 m water depth, respectively). Our results show that meiofauna and macrofauna generally preferred diatoms as a food source and played a relatively larger role in the consumption of phytodetritus at higher latitudes (39°N). Contrarily, prokaryotes and viruses showed similar or even stronger responses to cyanobacterial than to diatom supply. Moreover, the response of prokaryotes and viruses was very rapid (within 1–2 days) at both 1°N and 39°N, with quickest responses reported in the case of cyanobacterial supply at higher latitudes. Overall, our results suggest that benthic deep-sea eukaryotes will be negatively affected by the predicted decrease in diatoms in surface oceans, especially at higher latitudes, where benthic prokaryotes and viruses will otherwise likely increase their quantitative role and organic carbon cycling rates. In turn, such changes can contribute to decrease carbon transfer from phytodetritus to higher trophic levels, with strong potential to affect oceanic food webs, their biodiversity and consequently carbon sequestration capacity at the global scale
Observation of Large CP Violation in the Neutral B Meson System
We present a measurement of the Standard Model CP violation parameter sin
2phi_1 based on a 29.1 fb^{-1} data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S)
resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.
One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed as a J/psi Ks, psi(2S) Ks, chi_c1
Ks, eta_c Ks, J/psi K_L or J/psi K^{*0} decay and the flavor of the
accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. From the asymmetry
in the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points,
we determine sin 2phi_1 = 0.99 +- 0.14(stat) +- 0.06(syst). We conclude that we
have observed CP violation in the neutral B meson system.Comment: 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Letter
Measurement of B0d - B0d-bar mixing rate from the time evolution of dilepton events at the Upsilon(4S)
We report a determination of the B0d - B0d-bar mixing parameter Delta-m_d
based on the time evolution of dilepton yields in Upsilon(4S) decays. The
measurement is based on a 5.9 /fb data sample collected by the Belle detector
at KEKB. The proper-time difference distributions for same-sign and
opposite-sign dilepton events are simultaneously fitted to an expression
containing Delta-m_d as a free parameter. Using both muons and electrons, we
obtain Delta-m_d = 0.463 +- 0.008(stat.) +- 0.016(sys.) ps^{-1} This is the
first determination of Delta-m_d from time evolution measurements at the
Upsilon(4S). We also place limits on possible CPT violations.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure
Protein Conformational Changes in the Bacteriorhodopsin Photocycle: Comparison of Findings from Electron and X-Ray Crystallographic Analyses
Light-driven conformational changes in the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin have been studied extensively using X-ray and electron crystallography, resulting in the deposition of >30 sets of coordinates describing structural changes at various stages of proton transport. Using projection difference Fourier maps, we show that coordinates reported by different groups for the same photocycle intermediates vary considerably in the extent and nature of conformational changes. The different structures reported for the same intermediate cannot be reconciled in terms of differing extents of change on a single conformational trajectory. New measurements of image phases obtained by cryo-electron microscopy of the D96G/F171C/F219L triple mutant provide independent validation for the description of the large protein conformational change derived at 3.2 Å resolution by electron crystallography of 2D crystals, but do not support atomic models for light-driven conformational changes derived using X-ray crystallography of 3D crystals. Our findings suggest that independent determination of phase information from 2D crystals can be an important tool for testing the accuracy of atomic models for membrane protein conformational changes
Measurement of the CP Violation Parameter sin(2phi_1) in B^0_d Meson Decays
We present a measurement of the Standard Model CP violation parameter
sin(2phi_1) based on a 10.5 fb^{-1} data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S)
resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e+e- collider. One
neutral B meson is reconstructed in the J/psi K_S, psi(2S) K_S, chi_{c1} K_S,
eta_c K_S, J/psi K_L or J/psi pi^0 CP-eigenstate decay channel and the flavor
of the accompanying B meson is identified from its charged particle decay
products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time interval between
the two B-meson decay points, we determine sin(2phi_1) = 0.58 +0.32-0.34 (stat)
+0.09-0.10 (syst).Comment: LaTex, 13 pages, 3 figures, submitted to P.R.
Quarkonium production in high energy proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions
We present a brief overview of the most relevant current issues related to
quarkonium production in high energy proton-proton and proton-nucleus
collisions along with some perspectives. After reviewing recent experimental
and theoretical results on quarkonium production in pp and pA collisions, we
discuss the emerging field of polarisation studies. Thereafter, we report on
issues related to heavy-quark production, both in pp and pA collisions,
complemented by AA collisions. To put the work in a broader perspective, we
emphasize the need for new observables to investigate quarkonium production
mechanisms and reiterate the qualities that make quarkonia a unique tool for
many investigations in particle and nuclear physics.Comment: Overview for the proceedings of QUARKONIUM 2010: Three Days Of
Quarkonium Production in pp and pA Collisions, 29-31 July 2010, Palaiseau,
France; 34 pages, 30 figures, Late
Cutaneous exposure to agglomerates of silica nanoparticles and allergen results in IgE-biased immune response and increased sensitivity to anaphylaxis in mice
QCD and strongly coupled gauge theories : challenges and perspectives
We highlight the progress, current status, and open challenges of QCD-driven physics, in theory and in experiment. We discuss how the strong interaction is intimately connected to a broad sweep of physical problems, in settings ranging from astrophysics and cosmology to strongly coupled, complex systems in particle and condensed-matter physics, as well as to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We also discuss how success in describing the strong interaction impacts other fields, and, in turn, how such subjects can impact studies of the strong interaction. In the course of the work we offer a perspective on the many research streams which flow into and out of QCD, as well as a vision for future developments.Peer reviewe
Space charge and charge trapping characteristics of cross-linked polyethylene subjected to ac electric stresses
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