Physics Opportunities of e+e- Linear Colliders

We describe the anticipated experimental program of an e+e- linear collider in the energy range 500 GeV -- 1.5 TeV. We begin with a description of current collider designs and the expected experimental environment. We then discuss precision studies of the W boson and top quark. Finally, we review the range of models proposed to explain the physics of electroweak symmetry breaking and show, for each case, the central role that the linear collider experiments will play in elucidating this physics. (to appear in Annual Reviews of Nuclear and Particle Science)Comment: 93 pages, latex + 23 figures; typos corrections + 1 reference adde

Probing the WWγWW\gamma Vertex in e^\pm p\to\nu\gammaX

We study the prospects of testing the $WW\gamma$ vertex in $e^- p\to\nu\gamma X$ and $e^+ p\to\nu\gamma X$ at HERA and LEP/LHC. Destructive interference effects between the Standard Model and the anomalous contributions to the amplitude severely limit the sensitivity of both processes to non-standard $WW\gamma$ couplings. Sensitivity limits for the anomalous $WW\gamma$ couplings $\kappa$ and $\lambda$ at HERA and LEP/LHC are derived, taking into account experimental cuts and uncertainties, and the form factor behaviour of nonstandard couplings. These limits are found to be significantly weaker than those which can be expected from other collider processes within the next few years. At HERA, they are comparable to bounds obtained from $S$-matrix unitarity.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures (not included

High-Energy Vector-Boson Scattering with Non-Standard Interactions and the Role of a Scalar Sector

The high-energy behavior of vector-boson scattering amplitudes is examined within an effective theory for non-standard self-interactions of electroweak vector-bosons. Irrespectively of whether this theory is brought into a gauge invariant form by including non-standard interactions of a Higgs particle I find that terms that grow particularly strongly with increasing scattering energy are absent. Different theories are compared concerning their high-energy behavior and the appearance of divergences at the one-loop level.Comment: 21 pages LaTeX, condensed version of BI-TP 93/5

Single-photon events in e^+ e^- collisions

We provide a detailed investigation of single-photon production processes in $e^+e^-$ collisions with missing momenta carried by neutrinos or neutralinos. The transition amplitudes for both processes can be organized into a generic simplified, factorized form; each neutral V$\pm$A vector current of missing energy carriers is factorized out and all the characteristics of the reaction is solely included in the electron vector current. Firstly, we apply the generic form to give a unified description of a single-photon production with a Dirac-type or Majorana-type neutrino-pair and to confirm their identical characteristics as suggested by the so-called Practical Dirac-Majorana Confusion Theorem. Secondly, we show that the generic amplitude form is maintained with the anomalous P- and C-invariant WW$\gamma$ couplings in the neutrino-associated process and it enables us to easily understand large contributions of the anomalous WW$\gamma$ couplings at higher energies and, in particular, at the points away from the Z-resonance peak. Finally, the neutralino-associated process, which receives modifications in both the left-handed and right-handed electron currents due to the exchanges of the left-handed and right-handed selectrons, can be differentiated from the neutrino-associated ones through the left-right asymmetries and/or the circular polarization of the outgoing photon.Comment: 20 pages, REVTeX, epsfig.sty, 7 figures (7 eps files

W ANOMALOUS MOMENTS AND THE POLARIZATION ASYMMETRY ZERO IN gamma e --> W nu

We show from general principles that there must be a center of mass energy, $\sqrt s_0$, where the polarization asymmetry $A=\Delta \sigma({\gamma e \to W \nu })/ \sigma({\gamma e \to W \nu })$ for circularly-polarized photon and electron beams vanishes. In the case of the Standard Model, the crossing point where the asymmetry changes sign occurs in Born approximation at $\sqrt s_{\gamma e} = 3.1583\ldots M_W \simeq 254$ GeV. We demonstrate the sensitivity of the position of the polarization asymmetry zero to modifications of the SM trilinear $\gamma W W$ coupling. Given reasonable assumptions for the luminosity and energy range for the Next Linear Collider(NLC) with a backscattered laser beam, we show that the zero point, $\sqrt s_0$, of the polarization asymmetry may be determined with sufficient precision to constrain the anomalous couplings of the $W$ to better than the 1\% level at $95\%$ CL. In addition to the fact that only a limited range of energy is required, the polarization asymmetry measurements have the important advantage that many of the systematic errors cancel in taking cross section ratios. The position of the zero thus provides an additional weapon in the arsenal used to probe anomalous trilinear gauge couplings.Comment: 21 pages, uuencoded postscript file. For hard copy, send e-mail to [email protected]

Ion homeostasis in the Chloroplast

peer reviewedThe chloroplast is an organelle of high demand for macro- and micro-nutrient ions, which are required for the maintenance of the photosynthetic process. To avoid deficiency while preventing excess, homeostasis mechanisms must be tightly regulated. Here, we describe the needs for nutrient ions in the chloroplast and briefly highlight their functions in the chloroplastidial metabolism. We further discuss the impact of nutrient deficiency on chloroplasts and the acclimation mechanisms that evolved to preserve the photosynthetic apparatus. We finally present what is known about import and export mechanisms for these ions. Whenever possible, a comparison between cyanobacteria, algae and plants is provided to add an evolutionary perspective to the description of ion homeostasis mechanisms in photosynthesis

Integration of Chloroplast Nucleic Acid Metabolism into the Phosphate Deprivation Response in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Cell survival depends on the cell's ability to acclimate to phosphorus (P) limitation. We studied the chloroplast ribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), which consumes and generates phosphate, by comparing wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells with strains with reduced PNPase expression. In the wild type, chloroplast RNA (cpRNA) accumulates under P limitation, correlating with reduced PNPase expression. PNPase-deficient strains do not exhibit cpRNA variation under these conditions, suggesting that in the wild type PNPase limits cpRNA accumulation under P stress. PNPase levels appear to be mediated by the P response regulator PHOSPHORUS STARVATION RESPONSE1 (PSR1), because in psr1 mutant cells, cpRNA declines under P limitation and PNPase expression is not reduced. PNPase-deficient cells begin to lose viability after 24 h of P depletion, suggesting that PNPase is important for cellular acclimation. PNPase-deficient strains do not have enhanced sensitivity to other physiological or nutrient stresses, and their RNA and cell growth phenotypes are not observed under P stress with phosphite, a phosphate analog that blocks the stress signal. In contrast with RNA metabolism, chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) levels declined under P deprivation, suggesting that P mobilization occurs from DNA rather than RNA. This unusual phenomenon, which is phosphite- and PSR1-insensitive, may have evolved as a result of the polyploid nature of cpDNA and the requirement of P for cpRNA degradation by PNPase