Polarization observables in the longitudinal basis for pseudo-scalar meson photoproduction using a density matrix approach

The complete expression for the intensity in pseudo-scalar meson photoproduction with a polarized beam, target, and recoil baryon is derived using a density matrix approach that offers great economy of notation. A Cartesian basis with spins for all particles quantized along a single direction, the longitudinal beam direction, is used for consistency and clarity in interpretation. A single spin-quantization axis for all particles enables the amplitudes to be written in a manifestly covariant fashion with simple relations to those of the well-known CGLN formalism. Possible sign discrepancies between theoretical amplitude-level expressions and experimentally measurable intensity profiles are dealt with carefully. Our motivation is to provide a coherent framework for coupled-channel partial-wave analysis of several meson photoproduction reactions, incorporating recently published and forthcoming polarization data from Jefferson Lab.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

Photoproduction reactions and non-strange baryon spectroscopy

We review the last two decades of using photon beams to measure the production of mesons, and in particular the information that can be obtained on the spectrum of light, non-strange baryons. This is a compendium of experimental results, which should be used as a complement to theoretical reviews of the subject. Lists of data sets are given, together with a comprehensive set of references. An indication of the impact of the data is presented with a summary of the results

Quantum correlations in position, momentum, and intermediate bases for a full optical field of view

We report an eight-element, linear-array, single-photon detector that uses multiple fibers of differing lengths coupled to a single detector, the timing information from which reveals the position in which the photon was measured. Using two such arrays and two detectors we measure the correlations of photons produced by parametric downconversion, without recourse to mechanical scanning. Spatial light modulators acting as variable focal length lenses positioned between the downconversion crystal and the arrays allow us to switch between measurement of position, transverse momentum, or intermediate bases. We observe the product of the variances of the conditional probabilities for position and momentum to be more than an order of magnitude below the classical limit, realizing a full-field demonstration of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox. Such, multistate measurement technologies allow access to the higher information content of the photon based upon spatial modes

Muography applied to nuclear waste storage sites

Legacy storage sites for nuclear waste can pose a serious environmental problem. In fact, since certain sites date from the middle of the last century when safety protocols had not been properly established and strict bookkeeping was not enforced, a situation has evolved where the content of storage silos is basically known only with a large uncertainty both on quantity and quality. At the same time maintenance work on old storage structures is becoming ever more urgent and yet this work requires exactly that information which is now lacking on the type of waste that was stored inside. Because of the difficulty in accessing the storage silos and the near impossibility of making visual inspections inside, techniques have to be developed which can determine the presence or absence of heavy elements (i.e. uranium) within the structures. Muography is a very promising technique which could allow the survey of previously inaccessible structures. We have begun an evaluation performing feasibility studies using simulations based on real case scenarios. This paper will outline the storage site scenarios and then present some of the results obtained from the Monte Carlo simulations

Characterising encapsulated nuclear waste using cosmic-ray muon tomography

Tomographic imaging techniques using the Coulomb scattering of cosmic-ray muons have been shown previously to successfully identify and characterise low- and high-Z materials within an air matrix using a prototype scintillating-fibre tracker system. Those studies were performed as the first in a series to assess the feasibility of this technology and image reconstruction techniques in characterising the potential high-Z contents of legacy nuclear waste containers for the UK Nuclear Industry. The present work continues the feasibility study and presents the first images reconstructed from experimental data collected using this small-scale prototype system of low- and high-Z materials encapsulated within a concrete-filled stainless-steel container. Clear discrimination is observed between the thick steel casing, the concrete matrix and the sample materials assayed. These reconstructed objects are presented and discussed in detail alongside the implications for future industrial scenarios.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Middle-out reasoning for synthesis and induction

We develop two applications of middle-out reasoning in inductive proofs: Logic program synthesis and the selection of induction schemes. Middle-out reasoning as part of proof planning was first suggested by Bundy et al [Bundy et al 90a]. Middle-out reasoning uses variables to represent unknown terms and formulae. Unification instantiates the variables in the subsequent planning, while proof planning provides the necessary search control. Middle-out reasoning is used for synthesis by planning the verification of an unknown logic program: The program body is represented with a meta-variable. The planning results both in an instantiation of the program body and a plan for the verification of that program. If the plan executes successfully, the synthesized program is partially correct and complete. Middle-out reasoning is also used to select induction schemes. Finding an appropriate induction scheme during synthesis is difficult, because the recursion of the program, which is un..

A Survey of Computational Tools in Solar Physics

The SunPy Project developed a 13-question survey to understand the software and hardware usage of the solar physics community. 364 members of the solar physics community, across 35 countries, responded to our survey. We found that 99$\pm$0.5% of respondents use software in their research and 66% use the Python scientific software stack. Students are twice as likely as faculty, staff scientists, and researchers to use Python rather than Interactive Data Language (IDL). In this respect, the astrophysics and solar physics communities differ widely: 78% of solar physics faculty, staff scientists, and researchers in our sample uses IDL, compared with 44% of astrophysics faculty and scientists sampled by Momcheva and Tollerud (2015). 63$\pm$4% of respondents have not taken any computer-science courses at an undergraduate or graduate level. We also found that most respondents utilize consumer hardware to run software for solar-physics research. Although 82% of respondents work with data from space-based or ground-based missions, some of which (e.g. the Solar Dynamics Observatory and Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope) produce terabytes of data a day, 14% use a regional or national cluster, 5% use a commercial cloud provider, and 29% use exclusively a laptop or desktop. Finally, we found that 73$\pm$4% of respondents cite scientific software in their research, although only 42$\pm$3% do so routinely

Meningitis and a Febrile Vomiting illness Caused by Echovirus Type 4, Northern Territory, Australia

A strain that emerged in July 2007 caused laboratory-confirmed meningitis