1,992 research outputs found
Radiation 'damping' in atomic photonic crystals
The force exerted on a material by an incident beam of light is dependent
upon the material's velocity in the laboratory frame of reference. This
velocity dependence is known to be diffcult to measure, as it is proportional
to the incident optical power multiplied by the ratio of the material velocity
to the speed of light. Here we show that this typically tiny effect is greatly
amplified in multilayer systems composed of resonantly absorbing atoms (e.g.
optically trapped 87Rb), which may exhibit ultra-narrow photonic band gaps. The
amplification of the effect is shown to be three orders of magnitude greater
than previous estimates for conventional photonic-band-gap materials, and
significant for material velocities of a few ms/s.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Monitoring early stage lung disease in cystic fibrosis
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Early stage lung disease has long been synonymous with infancy and childhood. As diagnosis happens earlier and conventional management improves, we are seeing larger proportions of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) in adolescence and even adulthood with well preserved lung health. The availability of highly effective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator drugs for a large proportion of the CF population will impact even further. Transitioning into adult care with 'normal' lung function will become more common. However, it is crucial that we are not blasé about this phase, which sets the scene for future lung health. It is well recognized that lung function assessed by spirometry is insensitive to 'early' changes occurring in the distal, small airways. Much of our learning has come from studies in infants and young children, which have allowed assessment and optimization of alternative forms of monitoring. RECENT FINDINGS: Here, as a group of paediatric and adult CF specialists, we review the evidence base for sensitive physiological testing based on multibreath washout, lung imaging, exercise and activity monitoring, assessment of infection and quality of life measures. SUMMARY: We seek to emphasise the importance of further work in these areas, as outcome measures become widely applicable to a growing CF population
A determination of the strange quark mass for unquenched clover fermions using the AWI
Using the O(a) Symanzik improved action an estimate is given for the strange
quark mass for unquenched (nf=2) QCD. The determination is via the axial Ward
identity (AWI) and includes a non-perturbative evaluation of the
renormalisation constant. Numerical results have been obtained at several
lattice spacings, enabling the continuum limit to be taken. Results indicate a
value for the strange quark mass (in the MSbar-scheme at a scale of 2GeV) in
the range 100 - 130MeV.Comment: 6 pages, contribution to Lattice2005(Hadron spectrum and quark
masses), uses PoS.cl
A Determination of the Lambda Parameter from Full Lattice QCD
We present a determination of the QCD parameter Lambda in the quenched
approximation (n_f=0) and for two flavours (n_f=2) of light dynamical quarks.
The calculations are performed on the lattice using O(a) improved Wilson
fermions and include taking the continuum limit. We find Lambda_{n_f=0} =
259(1)(20) MeV and Lambda_{n_f=2} = 261(17)(26) MeV}, using r_0 = 0.467 fm to
set the scale. Extrapolating our results to five flavours, we obtain for the
running coupling constant at the mass of the Z boson alpha_s(m_Z) =
0.112(1)(2). All numbers refer to the MSbar scheme.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure
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