Design of fibre reinforced PV concepts for building integrated applications

Fibre reinforced polymers present an interesting encapsulation medium for PV-modules. Glass fibres can provide increased strength and stiffness to thin polymer layers overcoming the brittleness and limited deformability of glass-panes. Glass fibre reinforced polymers allows for transparency over a broad range of the solar spectrum while the material properties and integral production processes create possibilities for novel product concepts with embedded PV technology. To explore such possibilities, innovative design methods were used to design novel PV product concepts for applications in the build environment.\ud In our paper three conceptual designs are presented; (1) a thin film module with an adjoining interconnection system functioning as structural element for geodetic roofing structures, (2) a PV lamella with single-axis tracking utilizing a linear concentration effect caused by the geometry of the product and the materials applied, and (3) a prepreg PV-material which allows for easy shaping during the production of PV modules with complex geometries. Each concept employs a specific PV technology and demonstrates a possible application aimed at a specific market. In this way we show the potential of integration of PV technology in fibre reinforced composites. The paper will be illustrated by concept renderings

Model-independent study of the QCD sum rule for the pi NN coupling constant

We reinvestigate the QCD sum rule for the pi NN coupling constant, g, starting from the vacuum-to-pion matrix element of the correlation function of the interpolating fields of two nucleons. We study in detail the physical content of the correlation function without referring to the effective theory. We consider the invariant correlation functions by splitting the correlation function into different Dirac structures. We show that the coefficients of the double-pole terms are proportional to g but that the coefficients of the single-pole terms are not determined by g. In the chiral limit the single-pole terms as well as the continuum terms are ill defined in the dispersion integral. Therefore, the use of naive QCD sum rules obtained from the invariant correlation functions is not justified. A possible procedure to avoid this difficulty is discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure

The Pion-Nucleon Coupling Constant in QCD Sum Rules

The pion-nucleon coupling constant $g_{\pi N}$ is studied on the basis of the QCD sum rules. Both the Borel sum rules and the finite energy sum rules for $g_{\pi N}$ are used to examine the effects of higher dimensional operators (up to dim. 7) and $\alpha_s$ corrections in the operator product expansion. Agreement with the experimental number is reached only when $S_{\pi}/S_N$ is greater than one, where $S_{\pi}$ ($S_N$) is the continuum threshold for the $g_{\pi N}$ (nucleon) sum rule.Comment: 15 pages, latex, 9 figures appended as uu-encoded fil

Calculation of coupling constant g_phi-pi-gamma in QCD sum rules

The coupling constant of g_phi-pi-gamma decay is calculated in the method of QCD sum rules. A comparison of our prediction on the coupling constant with the result obtained from analysis of the experimental data is performed.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Functional traits of trees on and off termite mounds:Understanding the origin of biotically-driven heterogeneity in savannas

Questions In African savannas, Macrotermes termites contribute to small-scale heterogeneity by constructing large mounds. Operating as islands of high nutrient and water availability and low fire frequency, these mounds support distinct, diverse communities of trees that have been shown to be highly attractive to browsers. However, the distinct traits of tree species on termite mounds have hardly been studied, even though this may help to understand processes determining (1) their characteristic community structure and (2) attractiveness for browsers. Here, we compare functional trait and browser preference values between tree species on and off termite mounds. Location Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods We recorded tree community compositions for 16 large Macrotermes natalensis mounds and 16 control plots of 100 m2 each in a paired design. For each observed tree species we measured 22 traits, related to water and nutrient use, fire tolerance, light competition and anti-herbivore defence, and compared average trait values between mound and control communities. Furthermore, we investigated the feeding preferences of ungulate browsers for the most common tree species and how this was linked to their associated traits. Results Termite mounds supported tree communities that were distinct from the surrounding savanna vegetation. Mounds hosted more evergreen and less leguminous tree species than control communities, and the dominant species were less mechanically defended, less nutritious, had larger leaves and lower wood density than the species dominating control plots. Browsers preferred leguminous tree species with high leaf N and P content, which were relatively rare on termite mounds. Conclusions Overall, we conclude that termite mounds in this savanna form small refuges for tree species that seem less adapted to fire (more evergreens), have low nutrient availability (less nitrogen fixers) and suffer from water stress (larger leaf sizes) than typical savanna trees. Surprisingly, despite their reputation as browsing hotspots, the tree species dominating mounds are less nutritious and less preferred by browsers than tree species of the surrounding savanna, which may be explained by the relatively nutrient-rich nature of this savanna or intraspecific trait differences

QCD sum rules for the pseudoscalar decay constants - To constrain the strange quark mass

We study the higher order corrections of quark masses to the Gell-Mann$-$Oakes$-$Renner (GOR) relation by constructing QCD sum rules exclusively for pseudoscalar mesons from the axial-vector correlation function, $i \int d^4x~ e^{ip\cdot x}$. To project out the pseudoscalar meson contributions, we apply $-p^\mu p^\nu/p^2$ to this correlation function and construct sum rules for the decay constants of pseudoscalar mesons, $f_\pi, f_k$ and $f_{\eta_8}$. The OPE is proportional to quark masses due to PCAC. To leading order in quark mass, each sum rule reproduces the corresponding GOR relation. For kaon and $\eta_8$, the deviation from the GOR relation due to higher orders in quark mass is found to be substantial. But the deviation gives better agreements with the phenomenology. Our sum rule provides a sensitive relation between $f_K$ and $m_s$, which stringently constrain the value for $m_s$. To reproduce the experimental value for $f_K$, $m_s$ is found to be 186 MeV at 1 GeV scale. The $f_{\eta_8}$ sum rule also supports this finding.Comment: 14 pages including 3 figures. slightly revised. Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Pertinent Dirac structure for QCD sum rules of meson-baryon coupling constants

Using general baryon interpolating fields $J_B$ for $B= N, \Xi, \Sigma,$ without derivative, we study QCD sum rules for meson-baryon couplings and their dependence on Dirac structures for the two-point correlation function with a meson i\int d^4x e^{iqx} \bra 0|{\rm T}[J_B(x)\bar{J}_B(0)] |{\cal M}(p)\ket. Three distinct Dirac structures are compared: $i\gamma_5$, i\gamma_5\fslash{p}, and $\gamma_5\sigma_{\mu\nu}q^\mu p^\nu$ structures. From the dependence of the OPE on general baryon interpolating fields, we propose criteria for choosing an appropriate Dirac structure for the coupling sum rules. The $\gamma_5\sigma_{\mu\nu}q^\mu p^\nu$ sum rules satisfy the criteria while the $i\gamma_5$ sum rules beyond the chiral limit do not. For the i\gamma_5\fslash{p} sum rules, the large continuum contributions prohibit reliable prediction for the couplings. Thus, the $\gamma_5\sigma_{\mu\nu}q^\mu p^\nu$ structure seems pertinent for realistic predictions. In the SU(3) limit, we identify the OPE terms responsible for the $F/D$ ratio. We then study the dependence of the ratio on the baryon interpolating fields. We conclude the ratio $F/D \sim 0.6-0.8$ for appropriate choice of the interpolating fields.Comment: To be published in Phys.Rev.C ; 21 pages,8 figures, revtex ; references are adde

Phenomenology of V_ub from Ratios of Inclusive B Decay Rates

We explore the theoretical feasibility of extracting V_ub from two ratios built from B meson inclusive partial decays, R_1 = Gamma(b-> u cbar s)/3Gamma(b -> c l nu), and R_2 = [Gamma(b -> c X) - Gamma(b -> cbar X)]/Gamma(b -> c ubar d). We discuss contributions to these quantities from perturbative and nonperturbative physics, and show that they can be computed with overall uncertainties at the level of 10%.Comment: 19 pages, 8 embedded EPS figures, uses REVTe

The Goldberger-Treiman Discrepancy

The Golberger- Treiman discrepancy is related to the asymptotic behaviour of the pionic form factor of the nucleon obtained from baryonic QCD sum rules. The result is .015<=Delta_{GT}<=.022Comment: References updated and minor correction

Charge and Isospin Fluctuations in High Energy pp-Collisions

Charge and isospin event-by-event fluctuations in high-energy pp-collisions are predicted within the Unitary Eikonal Model, in particular the fluctuation patterns of the ratios of charged-to-charged and neutral-to-charged pions. These fluctuations are found to be sensitive to the presence of unstable resonances, such as $\rho$ and $\omega$ mesons. We predict that the charge-fluctuation observable $D_{UEM}$ should be restricted to the interval $8/3\le D_{UEM}\le 4$ depending on the $\rho /\pi$ production ratio. Also, the isospin fluctuations of the DCC-type of the ratio of neutral-to-charged pions are suppressed if pions are produced together with $\rho$ mesons.Comment: Latex, 5 pages, no figures. To appear in the proceedings of 9th Adriatic Meeting, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 4 - 14 September 2003. Added reference into reference no.