The stratigraphic sequence of volcanic and sedimentary units in the north polar region of Mars

Based on photogeologic mapping of Viking orbiter images of Mars, four distinct informal stratigraphic units are defined for the region north of 70 degrees N latitude. They are: (a) bulbous plains, (b) mantled plains, (c) dune deposits, and (d) layered deposits/perennial ice. Background information on the Martian polar caps is provided from telescopic observation, Mariner mission results, and Viking mission results (August 1976-November 1978). A description, and an interpretation and distribution of the stratigraphic units are presented. Surface winds, which were determined from dune orientations, and discussed and implications for the source of circumpolar dune materials are delineated. A list of the Viking Orbiter imagery used in the research, the computer programs for crater size frequency distributions, and the crater size frequency data are presented

Large Transverse Momentum Jet Production and DIS Distributions of the Proton

We have calculated the single jet inclusive cross section as measured at Fermilab in next-to-leading order QCD using recent parton distributions of the CTEQ collaboration. We studied the scheme dependence of the jet cross section by employing the \overline{\mbox{MS}} and DIS factorization schemes consistently. For $E_T > 200$ GeV, we find that the cross section in the DIS scheme is larger than in the \overline{\mbox{MS}} scheme yielding a satisfactory description of the CDF data over the whole $E_T$ range in the DIS scheme.Comment: 7 pages, latex, 2 figures include

Extracting the Strange Density from xF3xF_3

We present a QCD analysis of the strange and charm contributions to the neutrino deep inelastic structure function $xF_3$. We show that next-to-leading order effects, which are relatively important for $F_2$, play a lesser role in the case of $xF_3$. The neutrino--antineutrino difference $xF_3^{\nu} - xF_3^{\bar \nu}$ provides a new determination of the strange density, which exhibits some advantages with respect to other traditional methods.Comment: 12 page

Vector-pseudoscalar two-meson distribution amplitudes in three-body BB meson decays

We study three-body nonleptonic decays $B\to VVP$ by introducing two-meson distribution amplitudes for the vector-pseudoscalar pair, such that the analysis is simplified into the one for two-body decays. The twist-2 and twist-3 $\phi K$ two-meson distribution amplitudes, associated with longitudinally and transversely polarized $\phi$ mesons, are constrained by the experimental data of the $\tau\to\phi K\nu$ and $B\to\phi K\gamma$ branching ratios. We then predict the $B\to\phi K\gamma$ and $B\to\phi\phi K$ decay spectra in the $\phi K$ invariant mass. Since the resonant contribution in the $\phi K$ channel is negligible, the above decay spectra provide a clean test for the application of two-meson distribution amplitudes to three-body $B$ meson decays.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, Revtex4, version to appear in PR

Multivariate Fitting and the Error Matrix in Global Analysis of Data

When a large body of data from diverse experiments is analyzed using a theoretical model with many parameters, the standard error matrix method and the general tools for evaluating errors may become inadequate. We present an iterative method that significantly improves the reliability of the error matrix calculation. To obtain even better estimates of the uncertainties on predictions of physical observables, we also present a Lagrange multiplier method that explores the entire parameter space and avoids the linear approximations assumed in conventional error propagation calculations. These methods are illustrated by an example from the global analysis of parton distribution functions.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, Latex; minor clarifications, fortran program made available; Normalization of Hessian matrix changed to HEP standar

Scheme and Scale Dependence of Charm Production in Neutrino Scattering

We discuss some theoretical uncertainties in the calculation of the cross section for charm production in charged current deep inelastic neutrino scattering related to ambiguities in the treatment of terms which are singular in the limit of a vanishing charm mass. In particular we compare the so-called variable flavour scheme where these terms are absorbed in the parton distribution functions containing the charm as an active flavour, with the so-called fixed flavour scheme with no charm mass subtraction where the charm appears only in the final state of fixed-order scattering matrix elements. Using available parametrizations of parton distribution functions we find that the two schemes lead to largely differing results for separate structure functions whereas the differences cancel to a large extent in the total cross section in that kinematical region which has been measured so far.Comment: 20pages, uuencoded postscript, figures include

Consistent Analysis of the B→πB\to\pi Transition Form Factor in the Whole Physical Region

In the paper, we show that the $B\to\pi$ transition form factor can be calculated by using the different approach in the different $q^2$ regions and they are consistent with each other in the whole physical region. For the $B\to\pi$ transition form factor in the large recoil regions, one can apply the PQCD approach, where the transverse momentum dependence for both the hard scattering part and the non-perturbative wavefunction, the Sudakov effects and the threshold effects are included to regulate the endpoint singularity and to derive a more reliable PQCD result. Pionic twist-3 contributions are carefully studied with a better endpoint behavior wavefunction for $\Psi_p$ and we find that its contribution is less than the leading twist contribution. Both the two wavefunctions $\Psi_B$ and $\bar\Psi_B$ of the B meson can give sizable contributions to the $B\to\pi$ transition form factor and should be kept for a better understanding of the B decays. The present obtained PQCD results can match with both the QCD light-cone sum rule results and the extrapolated lattice QCD results in the large recoil regions.Comment: 18pages, 6 figure