The electron in three-dimensional momentum space

We study the electron as a system composed by an electron and a photon, using lowest order perturbation theory. We derive the leading-twist transverse-momentum-dependent distribution functions for both the electron and photon in the dressed electron, thereby offering a three-dimensional description of the dressed electron in momentum space. To obtain the distribution functions, we apply both the formalism of light-front wave function overlap representation and the diagrammatic approach. We perform the calculations both in light-cone gauge and Feynman gauge, and we present a detailed discussion of the role of the Wilson lines to obtain gauge-independent results. We provide numerical results and plots for many of the computed distributions.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figure

Spatial distribution of angular momentum inside the nucleon

We discuss in detail the spatial distribution of angular momentum inside the nucleon. We show that the discrepancies between different definitions originate from terms that integrate to zero. Even though these terms can safely be dropped at the integrated level, they have to be taken into account at the density level. Using the scalar diquark model, we illustrate our results and, for the first time, check explicitly that the equivalence between kinetic and canonical orbital angular momentum persists at the density level, as expected in a system without gauge degrees of freedom

Neuroimaging of language reorganization in the preoperative setting of brain tumors

Neuroplasticity is extremely relevant in the preoperative setting of brain tumors, due to the potential dramatic consequences of iatrogenic damage to eloquent cortices. The surgical resection of left-hemispheric brain tumors is often complicated by ipsilateral lateralization of language, which is usually localized in the left perisylvian region. Functional MRI (fMRI) is the most widely employed non-invasive method to evaluate language function in the preoperative planning of brain tumors, thanks to its versatility and proven clinical benefits. The implementation of functional connectivity analyses in clinical fMRI can provide new insights about the mechanisms of compensation that the brain develops in response to focal lesions. Language plasticity or reorganization may be associated with tumor growth in the dominant hemisphere for speech preservation against the detrimental effects of neoplastic invasion. Such phenomenon has important effects on patients’ outcome and life quality, including the reduction of post-surgical language deficits. In this work we explored language reorganization in the setting of brain tumors, focusing on three specific aims: 1) To demonstrate the existence of language reorganization on fMRI and to identify tumor- and patient-related determinants of language plasticity; 2) To investigate anatomical changes of the cortex in patients with language reorganization by means of structural MRI techniques; 3) To characterize different patterns of language reorganization in brain tumors by means of fMRI, graph theory and intra-operative stimulation. Our results confirmed that tumor growth in the left hemisphere is associated with inter-hemispheric language reorganization, as well as structural modifications of cortical volume in the newly activated areas. Language reorganization appears to be influenced by age, sex, frontal location, Broca’s and Wernicke’s area invasion, tumor pathology, EGFR amplification, IDH mutation, MGMT methylation, FGFR mutation. Low-grade gliomas show more favorable connectivity changes than high-grade gliomas, in terms of network efficiency and information transfer. Language reorganization develops over time in response to tumor growth or treatments, including surgery, showing progressive recruitment of the right hemisphere. Patients with surgically-proven reorganization display a shift of core language areas to the right side, and demonstrate better language performance compared to the patients who remain left-dominant

Advances in Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, Theoretical Modelling, and Applications

This book focuses on recent advances in the synthesis of nanoparticles, their characterization, and their applications in different fields such as catalysis, photonics, magnetism, and nanomedicine. Nanoparticles receive a large share of the worldwide research activity in contemporary materials science. This is witnessed by the number of scientific papers with ""nanoparticle"" as a keyword, increasing linearly in the last 10 years from about 16,000 in 2009 to about 50,000 in 2019. This impressive widespread interest stems from the basic science of nanoparticles, which constitute a bridge between the molecular and the bulk worlds, as well as from their technological applications. The preparation of nanoparticles is a crossroad of materials science where chemists, physicists, engineers, and even biologists frequently meet, leading to a continuous improvement of existing techniques and to the invention of new methods. The reader interested in nanoparticles synthesis and properties will here find a valuable selection of scientific cases that cannot cover all methods and applications relevant to the field, but still provide an updated overview on the fervent research activity focused on nanoparticles

Time and foreign exchange markets

The definition of time is still an open question when one deals with high frequency time series. If time is simply the calendar time, prices can be modeled as continuous random processes and values resulting from transactions or given quotes are discrete samples of this underlying dynamics. On the contrary, if one takes the business time point of view, price dynamics is a discrete random process, and time is simply the ordering according which prices are quoted in the market. In this paper we suggest that the business time approach is perhaps a better way of modeling price dynamics than calendar time. This conclusion comes out from testing probability densities and conditional variances predicted by the two models against the experimental ones. The data set we use contains the DEM/USD exchange quotes provided to us by Olsen & Associates during a period of one year from January to December 1998. In this period 1,620,843 quotes entries in the EFX system were recorded

A complete census of HαH\alpha emitters in NGC 6397

We used a dataset of archival Hubble Space Telescope images obtained through the F555W, F814W and F656N filters, to perform a complete search for objects showing $H\alpha$ emission in the globular cluster NGC 6397. As photometric diagnostic, we used the $(V-H\alpha)_0$ color excess in the $(V-H\alpha)_0$-$(V-I)_0$ color-color diagram. In the analysed field of view, we identified 53 $H\alpha$ emitters. In particular, we confirmed the optical counterpart to 20 X-ray sources (7 cataclysmic variables, 2 millisecond pulsars and 11 active binaries) and identified 33 previously unknown sources, thus significantly enlarging the population of known active binaries in this cluster. We report the main characteristics for each class of objects. Photometric estimates of the equivalent width of the $H\alpha$ emission line, were derived from the $(V-H\alpha)_0$-excess and, for the first time, compared to the spectroscopic measurements obtained from the analysis of MUSE spectra. The very good agreement between the spectroscopic and photometric measures fully confirmed the reliability of the proposed approach to measure the $H\alpha$ emission. The search demonstrated the efficiency of this novel approach to pinpoint and measure $H\alpha$-emitters, thus offering a powerful tool to conduct complete census of objects whose formation and evolution can be strongly affected by dynamical interactions in star clusters.Comment: Accepted for publication by ApJ; 14 pages, 8 Figures, 1 Tabl

The ESO Spectroscopic facility

We present the concept of a novel facility dedicated to massively-multiplexed spectroscopy. The telescope has a very wide field Cassegrain focus optimised for fibre feeding. With a Field of View (FoV) of 2.5 degrees diameter and a 11.4m pupil, it will be the largest etendue telescope. The large focal plane can easily host up to 16.000 fibres. In addition, a gravity invariant focus for the central 10 arc-minutes is available to host a giant integral field unit (IFU). The 3 lenses corrector includes an ADC, and has good performance in the 360-1300 nm wavelength range. The top level science requirements were developed by a dedicated ESO working group, and one of the primary cases is high resolution spectroscopy of GAIA stars and, in general, how our Galaxy formed and evolves. The facility will therefore be equipped with both, high and low resolution spectrographs. We stress the importance of developing the telescope and instrument designs simultaneously. The most relevant R\&D aspect is also briefly discussed.Comment: 6 pages 4 figures , presented at IAU Symposium 334 "rediscovering our galaxy

Consistent metallicity scale for cool dwarfs and giants. A benchmark test using the Hyades

In several instances chemical abundances of dwarf and giant stars are used simultaneously under the assumption that they share the same abundance scale. This assumption might have implications in different astrophysical contexts. We aim to ascertain a methodology capable of producing a consistent metallicity scale for giants and dwarfs. To achieve that, we analyzed giants and dwarfs in the Hyades open cluster. All these stars have archival high-resolution spectroscopic data obtained with HARPS and UVES. In addition, the giants have interferometric measurements of the angular diameters. We analyzed the sample with two methods. The first method constrains the atmospheric parameters independently from spectroscopy. For that we present a novel calibration of microturbulence based on 3D model atmospheres. The second method is the classical spectroscopic based on Fe lines. We also tested two line lists in an attempt to minimize possible non-LTE effects and to optimize the treatment of the giants. We show that it is possible to obtain a consistent metallicity scale between dwarfs and giants. The preferred method should constrain the three parameters $T_{\rm eff}$, $\log~g$, and $\xi$ independent of spectroscopy. In particular, the lines should be chosen to be free of blends in the spectra of giants. When attention is paid to the line list, the classical spectroscopic method can also produce consistent results. The metallicities derived with the well-constrained set of stellar parameters are consistent independent of the line list used. Therefore, for this cluster we favor the metallicity of +0.18$\pm$0.03 dex obtained with this method. The classical spectroscopic analysis, using the line list optimized for the giants, provides a metallicity of +0.14$\pm$0.03 dex, in agreement with previous works.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 10 tables. Accepted for publication in A&

Operando Raman spectroscopy tracks oxidation-state changes in an amorphous Co oxide material for electrocatalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction

Transition metal oxides are of high interest in both energy storage (batteries) and production of non-fossil fuels by (photo)electrocatalysis. Their functionally crucial charge (oxidation state) changes and electrocatalytic properties are best investigated under electrochemical operation conditions. We established operando Raman spectroscopy for investigation of the atomic structure and oxidation state of a non-crystalline, hydrated, and phosphate-containing Co oxide material (CoCat), which is an electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at neutral pH and is structurally similar to LiCoO2 of batteries. Raman spectra were collected at various sub-catalytic and catalytic electric potentials. 2H labeling suggests Co oxidation coupled to Co—OH deprotonation at catalytic potentials. 18O labeling supports O—O bond formation starting from terminally coordinated oxygen species. Two broad bands around 877 cm−1 and 1077 cm−1 are assigned to CoCat-internal H2PO4-. Raman peaks corresponding to terminal oxide (Co=O) or reactive oxygen species were not detectable; 1000–1200 cm−1 bands were instead assigned to two-phonon Raman scattering. At an increasingly positive potential, the intensity of the Raman bands decreased, which is unexpected and explained by self-absorption relating to CoCat electrochromism. A red-shift of the Co—O Raman bands with increasing potentials was described by four Gaussian bands of potential-dependent amplitudes. By linear combination of Raman band amplitudes, we can follow individually the Co(2+/3+) and Co(3+/4+) redox transitions, whereas previously published x-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis could determine only the averaged Co oxidation state. Our results show how electrochemical operando Raman spectroscopy can be employed as a potent analytical tool in mechanistic investigations on OER catalysis