Bakamjian-Thomas mass operator for the few-nucleon system from chiral dynamics

We present an exploratory study consisting in the formulation of a relativistic quantum mechanics to describe the few-nucleon system at low energy, starting from the quantum field theoretical chiral Lagrangian involving pions and nucleons. To this aim we construct a Bakamjian-Thomas mass operator and perform a truncation of the Fock space which respects at each stage the relativistic covariance. Such truncation is justified, at sufficiently low energy, in the framework of a systematic chiral expansion. As an illustration we discuss the bound state observables and low-energy phaseshifts of the nucleon-nucleon and pion-nucleon scattering at the leading order of our scheme.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Revised formulation, matches the journal versio

Covariant Hamiltonian Dynamics with Negative Energy States

A relativistic quantum mechanics is studied for bound hadronic systems in the framework of the Point Form Relativistic Hamiltonian Dynamics. Negative energy states are introduced taking into account the restrictions imposed by a correct definition of the Poincar\'e group generators. We obtain nonpathological, manifestly covariant wave equations that dynamically contain the contributions of the negative energy states. Auxiliary negative energy states are also introduced, specially for studying the interactions of the hadronic systems with external probes.Comment: 42 pages, submitted to EPJ

Form factors of heavy-light systems in point-form relativistic quantum mechanics: the Isgur-Wise function

We investigate electromagnetic and weak form factors of heavy-light mesons in the context of point-form relativistic quantum mechanics. To this aim we treat the physical processes from which such electroweak form factors are extracted by means of a coupled channel approach which accounts for the dynamics of the intermediate gauge bosons. It is shown that heavy-quark symmetry is respected by this formulation. A simple analytical expression is obtained for the Isgur-Wise function in the heavy-quark limit. Breaking of heavy-quark symmetry due to realistic values of the heavy-quark mass are studied numerically.Comment: Presented at the 21st European Conference on Few-Body Problems in Physics, Salamanca, Spain, 30 August - 3 September 201

Characterization of secondary ignition sources in unattended compartments and full-scale baseline test

The characteristics of five fuel loads burned within a metal lavatory were identified. In 15 of the tests the lavatory door remained closed for the 30-minute test period while in 15 additional tests the door was opened after the fire had developed. Upon completion of these tests the most severe source was selected for use in the baseline test. In the baseline test, the lavatory and adjacent panels, all of which were constructed of contemporary materials, were tested for a period of 1 hour. Thermal, environmental, and biological data were obtained for all fuel loads, door conditions, and the baseline test. All tests were conducted in a cabin fire simulator with separate ventilation of the cabin and lavatory representative of an inflight condition. The baseline test established that by using the most severe fuel source: (1) the exposed animal subject survived without complications; (2) no toxic levels of gas within the cabin were detected; (3) a propagating fire did not develop in adjacent structures; (4) the lavatory containing the fire remained structurally intact; (5) decomposition of portions of the lavatory did occur; and (6) cabin visibility would have presented a problem after 5 minutes

Electroweak properties of baryons in a covariant chiral quark model

The proton and neutron electromagnetic form factors and the nucleon axial form factor have been calculated in the Goldstone-boson exchange constituent-quark model within the point-form approach to relativistic quantum mechanics. The results, obtained without any adjustable parameter nor quark form factors, are, due to the dramatic effects of the boost required by the covariant treatment, in striking agreement with the data.Comment: Proceedings of the Conference N*2001, Mainz; 4 pages, 3 figures included in eps format; World Scientific style file include

Covariant nucleon electromagnetic form factors from the Goldstone-boson-exchange quark model

We present a study of proton and neutron electromagnetic form factors for the recently proposed Goldstone-boson-exchange constituent quark model. Results for charge radii, magnetic moments, and electric as well as magnetic form factors are reported. The calculations are performed in a covariant framework using the point-form approach to relativistic quantum mechanics. All the predictions by the Goldstone-boson-exchange constituent quark model are found in remarkably good agreement with existing experimental data.Comment: LATEX, 10 pages, including 4 ps-figures, slightly modified, one additional referenc

Nucleon electromagnetic and axial form factors in point-form relativistic quantum mechanics

Results for the proton and neutron electric and magnetic form factors as well as the nucleon axial form factor are presented for constituent quark models, based on either one-gluon-exchange and Goldstone-boson-exchange dynamics. The calculations are performed in a covariant framework using the point-form approach to relativistic quantum mechanics. The only input to the calculations is the nucleon wave function of the corresponding constituent quark model. A comparison is given to results of the instanton-induced constituent quark model treated with the Bethe-Salpeter equation.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, contribution to XVIII European Conference on Few-Body Problems in Physics, September 2002, Bled, Sloveni

Covariant axial form factor of the nucleon in a chiral constituent quark model

The axial form factor G_A of the nucleon is investigated for the Goldstone-boson-exchange constituent quark model using the point-form approach to relativistic quantum mechanics. The results, being covariant, show large contributions from relativistic boost effects. The predictions are obtained directly from the quark-model wave functions, without any further input such as vertex or constituent-quark form factors, and fall remarkably close to the available experimental data.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure in .eps format, typeset with Elsevier elsart style files included. Revised version with a newly added section about discussion of results. To appear in Phys. Lett.

Covariant electroweak nucleon form factors in a chiral constituent quark model

Results for the proton and neutron electric and magnetic form factors as well asthe nucleon axial and induced pseudoscalar form factors are presented for the chiral constituent quark model based on Goldstone-boson-exchange dynamics. The calculations are performed in a covariant framework using the point-form approach to relativistic quantum mechanics. The direct predictions of the model yield a remarkably consistent picture of the electroweak nucleon structure.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures revte