258 research outputs found
Testing Gravitation in the Solar System with Radio Science experiments
The laws of gravitation have been tested for a long time with steadily
improving precision, leading at some moment of time to paradigmatic evolutions.
Pursuing this continual effort is of great importance for science. In this
communication, we focus on Solar System tests of gravity and more precisely on
possible tests that can be performed with radio science observations (Range and
Doppler). After briefly reviewing the current tests of gravitation at Solar
System scales, we give motivations to continue such experiments. In order to
obtain signature and estimate the amplitude of anomalous signals that could
show up in radio science observables because of modified gravitational laws, we
developed a new software that simulates Range/Doppler signals. We present this
new tool that simulates radio science observables directly from the space-time
metric. We apply this tool to the Cassini mission during its cruise from
Jupiter to Saturn and derive constraints on the parameters entering alternative
theories of gravity beyond the standard Parametrized Post Newtonian theory.Comment: proceedings of SF2A 2011 - minor changes (typos corrected -
references updated
Heavy-Quark Diffusion, Flow and Recombination at RHIC
We discuss recent developments in assessing heavy-quark interaction in the
Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). While induced gluon radiation is expected to be the
main energy-loss mechanism for fast-moving quarks, we focus on elastic
scattering which prevails toward lower energies, evaluating both perturbative
(gluon-exchange) and nonperturbative (resonance formation) interactions in the
QGP. The latter are treated within an effective model for D- and B-meson
resonances above T_c as motivated by current QCD lattice calculations.
Pertinent diffusion and drag constants, following from a Fokker-Planck
equation, are implemented into an expanding fireball model for Au-Au collisions
at RHIC using relativistic Langevin simulations. Heavy quarks are hadronized in
a combined fragmentation and coalescence framework, and resulting
electron-decay spectra are compared to recent RHIC data. A reasonable
description of both nuclear suppression factors and elliptic flow up to momenta
of ~5 GeV supports the notion of a strongly interacting QGP created at RHIC.
Consequences and further tests of the proposed resonance interactions are
discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 14 figures, contribution to the proceedings for the
"International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter 2006
Radioscience simulations in General Relativity and in alternative theories of gravity
In this communication, we focus on the possibility to test GR with
radioscience experiments. We present a new software that in a first step
simulates the Range/Doppler signals directly from the space time metric (thus
in GR and in alternative theories of gravity). In a second step, a
least-squares fit of the involved parameters is performed in GR. This software
allows one to get the order of magnitude and the signature of the modifications
induced by an alternative theory of gravity on radioscience signals. As
examples, we present some simulations for the Cassini mission in
Post-Einsteinian gravity and with the MOND External Field Effect.Comment: 4 pages; Proceedings of "Les Rencontres de Moriond 2011 - Gravitation
session
Theory and Phenomenology of Vector Mesons in Medium
Electromagnetic probes promise to be direct messengers of (spectral
properties of) hot and dense matter formed in heavy-ion collisions, even at
soft momentum transfers essential for characterizing possible phase
transitions. We examine how far we have progressed toward this goal by
highlighting recent developments, and trying to establish connections between
lattice QCD, effective hadronic models and phenomenology of dilepton
production.Comment: 8 pages latex incl. 12 ps/eps files; invited plenary talk at Quark
Matter 2006 conference, Shanghai (China), Nov. 14-20, 200
Pion damping width from SU(2) x SU(2) NJL model
Within the framework of the NJL model, we investigate the modification of the
pion damping width in a hot pion gas for temperatures ranging from 0 to 180
MeV. The pion is found to broaden noticeably at T > 60 MeV. Near the chiral
phase transition T ~ 180 MeV, the pion width is saturated and amounts to 70
MeV. The main contribution to the width comes from pion-pion collisions. Other
contributions are found negligibly small.Comment: LaTeX2e, 13 pages, 2 figure
Шестые Чупинские чтения. Предисловие
Quality-of-life studies are ideally suited to fulfilling the new international youth research agenda, which focuses on ‘positive youth development’ to make recommendations for policy and practice. The paper reports a South African case study conducted among disadvantaged youth for this purpose. A sample survey of close on 900 African youth, aged 15-24 years, sought to identify indicators of positive development to serve as goals of youth and community work in Grahamstown East/Rini, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The setting is unique. This mainly rural province is among the poorest, least developed, and has one of highest unemployment rates. Nevertheless, Grahamstown may offer special development opportunities for local youth due to the proximity of the city centre and diverse extension projects for youth. The survey found that development opportunities were unequally distributed with the materially advantaged youth being more exposed to development opportunities through their schools, spare time activities, and community contacts. They were more ambitious than others and more aware of risks facing contemporary youth. Advantaged youth also reported higher levels of subjective well-being and optimism, findings consistent with earlier studies conducted among adult populations, which report remarkable congruence between material and subjective well-being among South Africans. The analysis used overall life satisfaction as key indicator of successful youth development to learn more about major youth aspirations and goals. In conclusion, the study was able to identify a youth development initiative based on the aspirations of the youth, which might be pursued as a researcher-practitioner partnership project in line with the new international youth research agenda
Comparison of techniques for computing shell-model effective operators
Different techniques for calculating effective operators within the framework
of the shell model using the same effective interaction and the same excitation
spaces are presented. Starting with the large-basis no-core approach, we
compare the time-honored perturbation-expansion approach and a model-space
truncation approach. Results for the electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole
operators are presented for Li. The convergence trends and dependence of
the effective operators on differing excitation spaces and Pauli Q-operators is
studied. In addition, the dependence of the electric-quadrupole effective
charge on the harmonic-oscillator frequency and the mass number, for A=5,6, is
investigated in the model-space truncation approach.Comment: 18 pages. REVTEX. 4 PostScript figure
The Vector Probe in Heavy-Ion Reactions
We review essential elements in using the channel as a probe for
hot and dense matter as produced in (ultra-) relativistic collisions of heavy
nuclei. The uniqueness of the vector channel resides in the fact that it
directly couples to photons, both real and virtual (dileptons), enabling the
study of thermal radiation and in-medium effects on both light () and heavy () vector mesons. We emphasize the importance
of interrelations between photons and dileptons, and characterize relevant
energy/mass regimes through connections to Quark-Gluon-Plasma emission and
chiral symmetry restoration. Based on critical analysis of our current
understanding of data from fixed-target energies, we identify open key
questions to be addressed.Comment: Invited Talk at the Hot Quarks 2004 Workshop, July 18-24, 2004 (Taos
Valley, NM, USA), 15 pages latex incl 14 figs and iop style files, to appear
in the proceeding
Resonance production in heavy ion collisions
Recent results of resonance production from RHIC at
200 GeV and SPS at 17 GeV are presented and discussed in
terms of the evolution and freeze-out conditions of a hot and dense fireball
medium. Yields and spectra are compared with thermal model predictions at
chemical freeze-out. Deviations in the low transverse momentum region of the
resonance spectrum of the hadronic decay channel, suggest a strongly
interaction hadronic phase between chemical and kinetic freeze-out. Microscopic
models including resonance rescattering and regeneration are able to describe
the trend of the data. The magnitude of the regeneration cross sections for
different inverse decay channels are discussed. Model calculations which
include elastic hadronic interactions between chemical freeze-out and thermal
freeze-out based on the K(892)/K and (1520)/ ratios suggest a
time between two freeze-outs surfaces of 4 fm/c. The difference
in momentum distributions and yields for the (1020) resonance
reconstructed from the leptonic and hadronic decay channels at SPS energy are
discussed taking into account the impact of a hadronic phase and possible
medium modifications.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, conference proceedings (SQM2004
What do we learn from Resonance Production in Heavy Ion Collisions?
Resonances with their short life time and strong coupling to the dense and
hot medium are suggested as a signature of the early stage of the fireball
created in a heavy ion collision \cite{rap00,lut01,lut02}. The comparison of
resonances with different lifetimes and quark contents may give information
about time evolution and density and temperature of during the expanding of
fireball medium. Resonances in elementary reactions have been measured since
1960. Resonance production in elementary collisions compared with heavy ion
collisions where we expect to create a hot and dense medium may show the direct
of influence of the medium on the resonances. This paper shows a selection of
the recent resonance measurements from SPS and RHIC heavy ion colliders.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, HotQuarks 2004 conference proceeding
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