Vector Correlators in Lattice QCD: methods and applications

We discuss the calculation of the leading hadronic vacuum polarization in lattice QCD. Exploiting the excellent quality of the compiled experimental data for the e^+e^- --> hadrons cross-section, we predict the outcome of large-volume lattice calculations at the physical pion mass, and design computational strategies for the lattice to have an impact on important phenomenological quantities such as the leading hadronic contribution to (g-2)mu and the running of the electromagnetic coupling constant. First, the R(s) ratio can be calculated directly on the lattice in the threshold region, and we provide the formulae to do so with twisted boundary conditions. Second, the current correlator projected onto zero spatial momentum, in a Euclidean time interval where it can be calculated accurately, provides a potentially critical test of the experimental R(s) ratio in the region that is most relevant for (g-2)mu. This observation can also be turned around: the vector correlator at intermediate distances can be used to determine the lattice spacing in fm, and we make a concrete proposal in this direction. Finally, we quantify the finite-size effects on the current correlator coming from low-energy two-pion states and provide a general parametrization of the vacuum polarization on the torus.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure files; corrected a factor 2 in Eq. (7) over the published versio

High-Throughput Reactor System With Individual Temperature Control For the Investigation Of Monolith Catalysts

A high-throughput parallel reactor system has been designed and constructed to improve the reliability of results from large diameter catalysts such as monoliths. The system, which is expandable, consists of eight quartz reactors, 23.5mm role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3e23.5mm23.5mm in diameter. The eight reactors were designed with separate K role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3eKK type thermocouples and radiant heaters, allowing for the independent measurement and control of each reactor temperature. This design gives steady state temperature distributions over the eight reactors within 0.5°C role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3e0.5°C0.5°C of a common setpoint from 50to700°C role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3e50to700°C50to700°C. Analysis of the effluent from these reactors is performed using rapid-scan Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)spectroscopic imaging. The integration of this technique to the reactor system allows a chemically specific, truly parallel analysis of the reactor effluents with a time resolution of approximately 8s role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3e8s8s. The capabilities of this system were demonstrated via investigation of catalyst preparation conditions on the direct epoxidation of ethylene, i.e., on the ethylene conversion and the ethylene oxide selectivity. The ethylene, ethylene oxide, and carbon dioxide concentrations were calibrated based on spectra from FTIR imaging using univariate and multivariate chemometric techniques. The results from this analysis showed that the calcination conditions significantly affect the ethylene conversion, with a threefold increase in the conversion when the catalyst was calcined for 3h role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3e3h3h versus 12h role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3e12h12h at 400°C role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; position: relative; \u3e400°C400°C

A lattice calculation of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to (g - 2)_μ

We present results of calculations of the hadronic vacuum polarisation contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment. Specifically, we focus on controlling the infrared regime of the vacuum polarisation function. Our results are corrected for finite-size effects by combining the Gounaris-Sakurai parameterisation of the timelike pion form factor with the Lüscher formalism. The impact of quark-disconnected diagrams and the precision of the scale determination is discussed and included in our final result in two-flavour QCD, which carries an overall uncertainty of 6%. We present preliminary results computed on ensembles with Nf = 2 + 1 dynamical flavours and discuss how the long-distance contribution can be accurately constrained by a dedicated spectrum calculation in the iso-vector channel.</p

Highly Dispersed and Active ReOx on Alumina-Modified SBA-15 Silica for 2-Butanol Dehydration

SBA-15 silica supported rhenium catalysts were synthesized using solution-based atomic layer deposition method, and their activity and stability were studied in the acid-catalyzed 2-butanol dehydration. We find that ReOx/SBA-15 exhibited an extremely high initial activity but a fast deactivation for 2-butanol dehydration at 90-105 degrees C. Fast deactivation was likely due to the sintering, sublimation, and reduction of rhenia as confirmed by TEM, elemental analysis, and in situ UV-vis (DRS) measurements. To overcome these issues, ReOx/AlOx/SBA-15 catalysts with significantly improved stability were prepared by first modifying the surface identity of SBA-15 with alumina followed by dispersion of rhenia using atomic layer deposition. The AlOx phase stabilizes the dispersion of small and uniform rhenia clusters (<2 nm) as as confirmed by TEM, STEM, and UV-vis (DRS) characterizations. Additional Al-27 MAS NMR characterization revealed that modification of the SBA-15 surface with alumina introduces a strong interaction between rhenia and alumina, which consequently improves the stability of supported rhenia catalysts by suppressing the sintering, sublimation, and reduction of rhenia albeit at a moderately reduced initial catalytic dehydration activityclose6