A new start for local composite operators

We present a formalism for local composite operators. The corresponding effective potential is unique, multiplicatively renormalizable, it is the sum of 1PI diagrams and can be interpreted as an energy-density. First we apply this method to $\lambda \Phi^4$ theory where we check renormalizability up to three loops and secondly to the Coleman-Weinberg model where the gauge independence of the effective potential for the local composite operator $\phi\phi^*$ is explicitely checked up to two loops.Comment: 20 page

Contraction and decomposition matrices for vacuum diagrams

Tensor reduction of vacuum diagrams uses contraction and decomposition matrices. We present general recurrence relations for the calculation of those matrices and an explicit formula for the 3-loop decomposition matrix and its determinant.Comment: 10 page

Thin-disk laser pump schemes for large number of passes and moderate pump source quality

Novel thin-disk laser pump layouts are proposed yielding an increased number of passes for a given pump module size and pump source quality. These novel layouts result from a general scheme which bases on merging two simpler pump optics arrangements. Some peculiar examples can be realized by adapting standard commercially available pump optics simply by intro ducing an additional mirror-pair. More pump passes yield better efficiency, opening the way for usage of active materials with low absorption. In a standard multi-pass pump design, scaling of the number of beam passes brings ab out an increase of the overall size of the optical arrangement or an increase of the pump source quality requirements. Such increases are minimized in our scheme, making them eligible for industrial applicationsComment: 16 pages, 9 figure

Citizen Engagement through Design Space Exploration Integrating citizen knowledge and expert design in computational urban planning

A common understanding exists that citizens should become more involved in thedesign, planning, and governance of the city. Due to a lack of common platformsand difficulties in the meaningful integration of the participatory input, however,the tools and methods currently employed in citizen engagement are often illconnected to the design and governance tools and processes used by experts. Inthis paper we describe a Grasshopper and Rhino based approach, which allowsdesigners to share a subset of the design space formed by parametric designvariants with citizens via the online interface Beta.Speckle. In a user study weevaluated the usability of the tool as well as studied the design choices ofparticipants, which were found to be influenced by preferences for visual orderand underlying economic, social, and environmental values. For the futuredesign of participatory exercises, it was concluded that indicators relating tocitizens' values and preferences will allow for a more effective exploration of thedesign space and increase the meaningfulness of results

Compact 20-pass thin-disk amplifier insensitive to thermal lensing

We present a multi-pass amplifier which passively compensates for distortions of the spherical phase front occurring in the active medium. The design is based on the Fourier transform propagation which makes the output beam parameters insensitive to variation of thermal lens effects in the active medium. The realized system allows for 20 reflections on the active medium and delivers a small signal gain of 30 with M$^2$ = 1.16. Its novel geometry combining Fourier transform propagations with 4f-imaging stages as well as a compact array of adjustable mirrors allows for a layout with a footprint of 400 mm x 1000 mm.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Contributions of order O(mquark2){\cal O}(m_{\rm quark}^2) to Kℓ3K_{\ell 3} form factors and unitarity of the CKM matrix

The form factors for the $K_{\ell 3}$ semileptonic decay are computed to order $O(p^4)$ in generalized chiral perturbation theory. The main difference with the standard $O(p^4)$ expressions consists in contributions quadratic in quark masses, which are described by a single divergence-free low-energy constant, $A_3$. A new simultaneous analysis is presented for the CKM matrix element $V_{us}$, the ratio $F_K/F_{\pi}$, $K_{\ell 3}$ decay rates and the scalar form factor slope $\lambda_0$. This framework easily accommodates the precise value for $V_{ud}$ deduced from superallowed nuclear $\beta$-decays

New nonrenormalization theorems for anomalous three point functions

Nonrenormalization theorems involving the transverse, i.e. non anomalous, part of the correlator in perturbative QCD are proven. Some of their consequences and questions they raise are discussed.Comment: 14 pages. People added in the acknowledgements. Minor changes to match version to appear in journa

Hadronic Contributions to the Muon Anomaly in the Constituent Chiral Quark Model

The hadronic contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon which are relevant for the confrontation between theory and experiment at the present level of accuracy, are evaluated within the same framework: the constituent chiral quark model. This includes the contributions from the dominant hadronic vacuum polarization as well as from the next--to--leading order hadronic vacuum polarization, the contributions from the hadronic light-by-light scattering, and the contributions from the electroweak hadronic $Z\gamma\gamma$ vertex. They are all evaluated as a function of only one free parameter: the constituent quark mass. We also comment on the comparison between our results and other phenomenological evaluations.Comment: Several misprints corrected and a clarifying sentence added. Three figures superposed and two references added. Version to appear in JHE