Status of MICE

Muon ionization cooling is the only practical method for preparing high-brilliance beams needed for a neutrino factory or muon collider. The muon ionization cooling experiment (MICE) under development at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory comprises a dedicated beamline to generate a range of input emittance and momentum, with time-of-flight and Cherenkov detectors to ensure a pure muon beam. A first measurement of emittance is performed in the upstream magnetic spectrometer with a scintillating-fiber tracker. A cooling cell will then follow, alternating energy loss in liquid hydrogen with RF acceleration. A second spectrometer identical to the first and a particle identification system will measure the outgoing emittance. Plans for measurements of emittance and cooling are described.Comment: Poster presented at ICHEP08 Conference, Philadelphia, USA, July 2008. 3 pages, 3 figure

Detectors for leptonic CP violation at the neutrino factory

Studies carried out in the framework of the International Design Study for the Neutrino Factory (the IDS-NF) show that the sensitivity to the CP violating phase and the last unknown mixing angle θ13 is maximised when two far detectors optimized to detect the sub-leading νe to νμ oscillation are combined. Several technologies are being discussed for these detectors: magnetised iron calorimeters; giant liquid argon TPCs; and totally active scintillating detectors. The IDS-NF baseline option, a compromise between feasibility, cost, and performance, is documented in the Interim Design Report (IDR) that has recently been completed. It consists of two magnetised iron sampling calorimeters, similar to the existing MINOS detector, but with 10-20 times more mass and improved performance. A detector of mass 100 kton is assumed at the intermediate baseline (between 2500 km and 5000 km) and a 50 kton detector at the long baseline (between 7000 km and 8000 km). The other far-detector options, which have better granularity, may be able to detect additional oscillation channels, thus improving the overall performance of the facility. However, these options are likely to be more expensive and require significant R&D

Terbium-activated heavy scintillating glasses

Tb-activated scintillating glasses with high Ln2O3 (Ln=Gd, Y, Lu) concentration up to 40mol% have been prepared. The effects of Ln3+ ions on the density, thermal properties, transmission and luminescence properties under both UV and X-ray excitation have been investigated. The glasses containing Gd2O3 or Lu2O3 exhibit a high density of more than 6.0g/cm3. Energy transfer from Gd3+ to Tb3+ takes place in Gd-containing glass and as a result the Gd-containing glass shows a light yield 2.5 times higher than the Y-or Lu-containing glass. The Effect of the substitution of fluorine for oxygen on the optical properties was also investigated

The colometry of Tocharian 4X15-syllable verse

We identify the basic colometry of Tocharian 4x15-syllable verse as 4+3+3+5 (traditionally 7+8), but we find no support for the putative alternative colometries of 4x15 often cited in the literature (viz. 6+4+5 and 8+7). In rare cases in which the medial caesura is violated, a word boundary after syllable 6 or 8 is highly probable by chance alone, as we confirm through corpus statistics. If the colometry is indeed invariable, one major argument for the influence of Indic on Tocharian meter is undermined. We further reinforce that the medial caesura after syllable 7 is no stronger than the final one after syllable IO, despite their putative statuses as major vs. minor caesurae, respectively. The more complex picture of the metrical practice of the poets demands that we call into question certain proposed restorations

Time Resolution and Linearity Measurements for a Scintillating Fiber Detector Instrumented with VLPC's

The time resolution for a charged particle detection is reported for a typical scintillating fiber detector instrumented with Rockwell HISTE-IV Visible Light Photon Counters. The resolution measurements are shown to agree with a simple Monte Carlo model, and the model is used to make recomendations for improved performance. In addition, the gain linearity of a sample of VLPC devices was measured. The gain is shown to be linear for incident light intensities which produce up to approximately 600 photoelectrons per event.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures; Submitted to Nucl. Instr & Meth. in Phys. Res. A; Please direct correspondence to [email protected]

Proposal for SPS beam time for the baby MIND and TASD neutrino detector prototypes

The design, construction and testing of neutrino detector prototypes at CERN are ongoing activities. This document reports on the design of solid state baby MIND and TASD detector prototypes and outlines requirements for a test beam at CERN to test these, tentatively planned on the H8 beamline in the North Area, which is equipped with a large aperture magnet. The current proposal is submitted to be considered in light of the recently approved projects related to neutrino activities with the SPS in the North Area in the medium term 2015-2020

Caesurae, Bridges, and the Colometry of Four Tocharian B Meters

The Tocharians composed verse in hierarchical structures, with the verse dominating major cola, and the major colon in turn dominating one or more minor cola. After providing much-needed descriptive data on Tocharian meter, we assess the evidence for the distinction between major vs. minor caesurae in some of the most popular Tocharian B meters, finding support for the commonly assumed colometries in some but not all cases. Of particular interest is the recurring 4+3-syllable colon, since the violability of its internal (putatively minor) caesura varies significantly across meters. We argue that this varying strictness is indeed a function of the meter as opposed to position in the verse, verse length, idiosyncrasies of certain texts, and so forth. We then use a systematic prose comparison method to test the meters for bridges, finding evidence for monosyllable avoidance in (certain) colon-final positions, despite an overall preference for monosyllables in verse vis-à-vis prose. Finally, we discuss the implications that our study has for the restoration of fragmentary Tocharian texts.Linguistic

Differential Transfer Ionization Cross Sections for 50175-keV Proton-Helium Collisions

We have measured coincidences between neutralized projectiles and He recoil ions for 50175-keV proton-helium collisions. From the data we obtained transfer ionization (TI) cross sections differential in the projectile scattering angle. Laboratory scattering angles range from 0 to 2.0 mrad. The experimental method allowed separation of the postcollision charge states of the target atoms. The ratio of the cross sections for TI to the sum of TI and single capture, F, is presented as a function of projectile scattering angle. Comparison is made to previous measurements of this ratio where data is available. The differential cross sections are compared to dynamical classical trajectory Monte Carlo (dCTMC) calculations. Agreement in the shape of the differential cross sections is good between the theory and measurement over the entire energy range

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE AND BODY COMPOSITION IN MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS (MHD) PATIENTS

BackgroundMHD patients (pts) often display protein-energy wasting, sarcopenia & diminished physical performance. This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between body composition & physical performance in MHD pts.MethodsBody composition, assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and body mass index (BMI), were compared to 3 measures of physical performance: 6-minute walking distance (6-MW), sit-to-stand testing and stair climb. 52 clinically stable MHD pts (≥6 mo) and 21 matched normal controls were examined in this ongoing study.ResultsPts were 53±13SD yrs, 33% female; 38% diabetic; dialysis vintage was 62±52 months. Normals were 52 years and 43% female. MHD pts had higher % body fat than Normals. 6-MW and sit to stand cycles were much lower in MHD men and women than in Normal men and women. 6MW in MHD and Normals were 445 vs 630 meters, respectively (p<.001). In men but not women, time to climb 22 stairs was greater in MHD pts then in Normals (p=.03). Unadjusted analyses in MHD indicated that 6-MW distance correlated negatively with lean body mass index (LBMI, kg of LBM/m2; r=-0.37; p<0.01) and % body fat (r=-0.33; p= 0.02); stair climb time correlated negatively with lean leg mass (r=-0.32, p=0.03) and total leg mass (r=-0.29, p=0.045).). Sit-to-stand did not correlate with any body composition measure. 6-MW adjusted for age and gender correlated negatively with LBMI (r=-0.29; p=0.04).There were no associations between BMI (range, 19.8-44.2 kg/m2) and physical performance.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that adult MHD pts had a higher % body fat. Measures of physical performance were markedly reduced in MHD pts as compared to Normals. Physical performance in MHD, measured especially by 6-MW, correlated negatively with some measures of body composition, particularly with LBMI