120 research outputs found
An Improved Neutron Electric Dipole Moment Experiment
A new measurement of the neutron EDM, using Ramsey's method of separated
oscillatory fields, is in preparation at the new high intensity source of
ultra-cold neutrons (UCN) at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
(PSI). The existence of a non-zero nEDM would violate both parity and time
reversal symmetry and, given the CPT theorem, might lead to a discovery of new
CP violating mechanisms. Already the current upper limit for the nEDM
(|d_n|<2.9E-26 e.cm) constrains some extensions of the Standard Model.
The new experiment aims at a two orders of magnitude reduction of the
experimental uncertainty, to be achieved mainly by (1) the higher UCN flux
provided by the new PSI source, (2) better magnetic field control with improved
magnetometry and (3) a double chamber configuration with opposite electric
field directions.
The first stage of the experiment will use an upgrade of the RAL/Sussex/ILL
group's apparatus (which has produced the current best result) moved from
Institut Laue-Langevin to PSI. The final accuracy will be achieved in a further
step with a new spectrometer, presently in the design phase.Comment: Flavor Physics & CP Violation Conference, Taipei, 200
Testing isotropy of the universe using the Ramsey resonance technique on ultracold neutron spins
Physics at the Planck scale could be revealed by looking for tiny violations
of fundamental symmetries in low energy experiments. In 2008, a sensitive test
of the isotropy of the Universe using has been performed with stored ultracold
neutrons (UCN), this is the first clock-comparison experiment performed with
free neutrons. During several days we monitored the Larmor frequency of neutron
spins in a weak magnetic field using the Ramsey resonance technique. An
non-zero cosmic axial field, violating rotational symmetry, would induce a
daily variation of the precession frequency. Our null result constitutes one of
the most stringent tests of Lorentz invariance to date.Comment: proceedings of the PNCMI2010 conferenc
Precise Measurement of the Pi+ -> Pi0 e+ nu Branching Ratio
Using a large acceptance calorimeter and a stopped pion beam we have made a
precise measurement of the rare Pi+ -> Pi0 e+ Nu,(pi_beta) decay branching
ratio. We have evaluated the branching ratio by normalizing the number of
observed pi_beta decays to the number of observed Pi+ -> e+ Nu, (pi_{e2})
decays. We find the value of Gamma(Pi+ -> Pi0 e+ Nu)/Gamma(total) = [1.036 +/-
0.004(stat.) +/- 0.004(syst.) +/- 0.003(pi_{e2})] x 10^{-8}$, where the first
uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is the pi_{e2}
branching ratio uncertainty. Our result agrees well with the Standard Model
prediction.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, revtex4; changed content; updated
analysi
Northern Hemisphere permafrost map based on TTOP modelling for 2000-2016 at 1 km<sup>2 </sup>scale
Permafrost is a key element of the cryosphere and an essential climate variable in the Global Climate Observing System. There is no remote-sensing method available to reliably monitor the permafrost thermal state. To estimate permafrost distribution at a hemispheric scale, we employ an equilibrium state model for the temperature at the top of the permafrost (TTOP model) for the 2000–2016 period, driven by remotely-sensed land surface temperatures, down-scaled ERA-Interim climate reanalysis data, tundra wetness classes and landcover map from the ESA Landcover Climate Change Initiative (CCI) project. Subgrid variability of ground temperatures due to snow and landcover variability is represented in the model using subpixel statistics. The results are validated against borehole measurements and reviewed regionally. The accuracy of the modelled mean annual ground temperature (MAGT) at the top of the permafrost is ±2 °C when compared to permafrost borehole data. The modelled permafrost area (MAGT 0) is around 21 × 106 km2 (22% of exposed land area), which is approximately 2 × 106 km2 less than estimated previously. Detailed comparisons at a regional scale show that the model performs well in sparsely vegetated tundra regions and mountains, but is less accurate in densely vegetated boreal spruce and larch forests
Spin physics with antiprotons
New possibilities arising from the availability at GSI of antiproton beams,
possibly polarised, are discussed. The investigation of the nucleon structure
can be boosted by accessing in Drell-Yan processes experimental asymmetries
related to cross-sections in which the parton distribution functions (PDF) only
appear, without any contribution from fragmentation functions; such processes
are not affected by the chiral suppression of the transversity function
. Spin asymmetries in hyperon production and Single Spin Asymmetries
are discussed as well, together with further items like electric and magnetic
nucleonic form factors and open charm production. Counting rates estimations
are provided for each physical case. The sketch of a possible experimental
apparatus is proposed.Comment: Presented for the proceedings of ASI "Spin and Symmetry", Prague,
July 5-10, 2004, to be published in Czech. J. Phys. 55 (2005
Spin asymmetry A_1^d and the spin-dependent structure function g_1^d of the deuteron at low values of x and Q^2
We present a precise measurement of the deuteron longitudinal spin asymmetry
A_1^d and of the deuteron spin-dependent structure function g_1^d at Q^2 < 1
GeV^2 and 4*10^-5 < x < 2.5*10^-2 based on the data collected by the COMPASS
experiment at CERN during the years 2002 and 2003. The statistical precision is
tenfold better than that of the previous measurement in this region. The
measured A_1^d and g_1^d are found to be consistent with zero in the whole
range of x.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure
Gluon polarization in the nucleon from quasi-real photoproduction of high-pT hadron pairs
We present a determination of the gluon polarization Delta G/G in the
nucleon, based on the helicity asymmetry of quasi-real photoproduction events,
Q^2<1(GeV/c)^2, with a pair of large transverse-momentum hadrons in the final
state. The data were obtained by the COMPASS experiment at CERN using a 160 GeV
polarized muon beam scattered on a polarized 6-LiD target. The helicity
asymmetry for the selected events is = 0.002 +- 0.019(stat.) +-
0.003(syst.). From this value, we obtain in a leading-order QCD analysis Delta
G/G=0.024 +- 0.089(stat.) +- 0.057(syst.) at x_g = 0.095 and mu^2 =~ 3
(GeV}/c)^2.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Precise Measurement of the Pion Axial Form Factor in the Pi+ -> e+ nu gamma Decay
We have studied radiative pion decays Pi+ -> e+ nu gamma in three broad
kinematic regions using the PIBETA detector and a stopped pion beam. Based on
Dalitz distributions of 42,209 events we have evaluated absolute Pi -> e nu
gamma branching ratios in the three regions. Minimum chi^2 fits to the integral
and differential (E(e+),E(gamma)) distributions result in the axial-to-vector
weak form factor ratio of gamma = F_A/F_V = 0.443(15),or F_A = 0.0115(4) with
F_V = 0.0259. However, deviations from Standard Model predictions in the
high-E(gamma)/low-E(e+) kinematic region indicate the need for further
theoretical and experimental work.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, revtex
Northern Hemisphere permafrost map based on TTOP modelling for 2000–2016 at 1 km2 scale
Permafrost is a key element of the cryosphere and an essential climate variable in the Global Climate Observing System. There is no remote-sensing method available to reliably monitor the permafrost thermal state. To estimate permafrost distribution at a hemispheric scale, we employ an equilibrium state model for the temperature at the top of the permafrost (TTOP model) for the 2000–2016 period, driven by remotely- sensed land surface temperatures, down-scaled ERA-Interim climate reanalysis data, tundra wetness classes and landcover map from the ESA Landcover Climate Change Initiative (CCI) project. Subgrid variability of ground temperatures due to snow and landcover variability is represented in the model using subpixel statistics. The results are validated against borehole measurements and reviewed regionally. The accuracy of the modelled mean annual ground temperature (MAGT) at the top of the permafrost is ±2 °C when compared to permafrost borehole data. The modelled permafrost area (MAGT 0) is around 21 × 106 km2 (22% of exposed land area), which is approximately 2 × 106 km2 less than estimated previously. Detailed comparisons at a regional scale show that the model performs well in sparsely vegetated tundra regions and mountains, but is less accurate in densely vegetated boreal spruce and larch forests
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