Perspectives on Nuclear Structure and Scattering with the Ab Initio No-Core Shell Model

Nuclear structure and reaction theory are undergoing a major renaissance with advances in many-body methods, strong interactions with greatly improved links to Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the advent of high performance computing, and improved computational algorithms. Predictive power, with well-quantified uncertainty, is emerging from non-perturbative approaches along with the potential for new discoveries such as predicting nuclear phenomena before they are measured. We present an overview of some recent developments and discuss challenges that lie ahead. Our focus is on explorations of alternative truncation schemes in the harmonic oscillator basis, of which our Japanese--United States collaborative work on the No-Core Monte-Carlo Shell Model is an example. Collaborations with Professor Takaharu Otsuka and his group have been instrumental in these developments.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Proceedings of Perspectives of the Physics of Nuclear Structure, JPS Conference Proceedings, Japan (to appear

Scherk-Schwarz SUSY breaking from the viewpoint of 5D conformal supergravity

We reinterpret the Scherk-Schwarz (SS) boundary condition for SU(2)_R in a compactified five-dimensional (5D) Poincare supergravity in terms of the twisted SU(2)_U gauge fixing in 5D conformal supergravity. In such translation, only the compensator hypermultiplet is relevant to the SS twist, and various properties of the SS mechanism can be easily understood. Especially, we show the correspondence between the SS twist and constant superpotentials within our framework.Comment: 16 pages, no figur

Solenoid valve performance characteristics studied

Current and voltage waveforms of a solenoid coil are recorded as the valve opens and closes. Analysis of the waveforms with respect to time and the phase of the valve cycle accurately describes valve performance

Rapidity Gaps from Colour String Topologies

Diffractive deep inelastic scattering at HERA and diffractive W and jet production at the Tevatron are well described by soft colour exchange models. Their essence is the variation of colour string-field topologies giving both gap and no-gap events, with a smooth transition and thereby a unified description of all final states.Comment: 3 pages, 6 eps figures, contribution to the DIS 99 workshop proceedings, uses npb.st

About the modern "experimental value" of W boson width.

It is shown that the methods which have been used up to now to determine the $W$ width from the $p\bar p$ data confirm the SM predictions for some combinations of various phenomenological parameters, however, they do not give an independent value for the $W$ width. Moreover, the accuracy that could be achieved in future experimental checks of SM predictions for such quantities is limited by effects which require detailed theoretical study.Comment: Latex, 8 pages

A capacitive technique for real-time monitoring polymer coating thickness on carbon filaments during prepregging process

A technique for gauging the coating thickness during prepreg processing of carbon fibers was developed. It is based on the concept of measuring the capacitance of a cylindrical condenser through which a bundle of prepregged fibers is passed axially. Empirical results indicate the capacitance of this condenser element is linearly related to the polymer coating thickness on the fibers in the bundle. The capacitive transducer was successfully used to measure the polymer thickness on several test fiber bundles under static conditions

Microcanonical Foundation for Systems with Power-Law Distributions

Starting from microcanonical basis with the principle of equal a priori probability, it is found that, besides ordinary Boltzmann-Gibbs theory with the exponential distribution, a theory describing systems with power-law distributions can also be derived.Comment: 9 page

Slow positron beam generator for lifetime studies

A slow positron beam generator uses a conductive source residing between two test films. Moderator pieces are placed next to the test film on the opposite side of the conductive source. A voltage potential is applied between the moderator pieces and the conductive source. Incident energetic positrons: (1) are emitted from the conductive source; (2) are passed through test film; and (3) isotropically strike moderator pieces before diffusing out of the moderator pieces as slow positrons, respectively. The slow positrons diffusing out of moderator pieces are attracted to the conductive source which is held at an appropriate potential below the moderator pieces. The slow positrons have to pass through the test films before reaching the conductive source. A voltage is adjusted so that the potential difference between the moderator pieces and the conductive source forces the positrons to stop in the test films. Measurable annihilation radiation is emitted from the test film when positrons annihilate (combine) with electrons in the test film

Resistojet systems studies directed to the space station/space base. Volume 2 - Biowaste resistojet system development program Final report

Space station/base biowaste resistojet system for orbit keeping and control moment gyro desaturation - systems developmen