Analytical study of level crossings in the Stark-Zeeman spectrum of ground state OH

The ground electronic, vibrational and rotational state of the OH molecule is currently of interest as it can be manipulated by electric and magnetic fields for experimental studies in ultracold chemistry and quantum degeneracy. Based on our recent exact solution of the corresponding effective Stark-Zeeman Hamiltonian, we present an analytical study of the crossings and avoided crossings in the spectrum. These features are relevant to non-adiabatic transitions, conical intersections and Berry phases. Specifically, for an avoided crossing employed in the evaporative cooling of OH, we compare our exact results to those derived earlier from perturbation theory.Comment: 5 figures, to be published in Eur. Phys. J.

IEHCA Summer University on Food and Drink 2018 Report

The Institut Européen d’Histoire et des Cultures de l’Alimentation (IEHCA, European Institute for the History and Cultures of Food) was established in 2001 by the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research in partnership with the Centre-Val de Loire region and the University of Tours. As a scientific and cultural development agency, it seeks to encourage university research and teaching in connection with “food cultures and heritages” in the humanities and social sciences. The university serves as a key platform for the discussion of new research in Food & Drink Studies. In 2018, 20 researchers from a wide field of disciplines, and exploring varied topics within food and drink studies, gathered to share, discuss and gain a further understanding of current research questions and issues concerned with food, drink and society

An Example of the Use of Interdigital PVDF Transducers to Generate and Receive a High Order Lamb Wave Mode in a Pipe

From a non-destructive evaluation point of view, Lamb waves are a highly attractive means of inspecting a large area of a structure from a single point. Interdigital PVDF transducers have been used previously in signal processing applications [1] to generate acoustic waves in piezoelectric substrates. This paper in conjunction with that of Monkhouse et al [2] aims to provide an overview of the work accomplished so far at Imperial College in the use of interdigital PVDF transducers to transmit and receive Lamb waves in certain structures for non-destructive evaluation purposes. Interdigital PVDF transducers may be permanently bonded to either flat of curved surfaces and this attribute together with their low cost means that they are potentially suitable for“smart structure” applications

Locating very high energy gamma ray sources with arc minute accuracy

The angular accuracy of gamma-ray detectors is intrinsically limited by the physical processes involved in photon detection. Although a number of point-like sources were detected by the COS-B satellite, only two were unambiguously identified by time signature with counterparts at longer wavelengths. By taking advantage of the extended longitudinal structure of Very High Energy gamma-ray showers, measurements in the TeV energy range can pinpoint source coordinates to arc minute accuracy. This was demonstrated using Cerenkov air shower imaging techniques. With two telescopes in coincidence, the individual event circular probable error will be 0.13 deg. The half-cone angle of the field of view is effectively 1 deg

A Comparison of the Relationship between Obesity and Earnings in the U.S. and Germany

This paper investigates and compares the relationship between obesity and earnings in the U.S. and Germany. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (U.S.) and the German Socio-Economic Panel, instrumental variables models are estimated that account for the endogeneity of body weight. We find that, in both countries, heavier women tend to earn less. For example, obesity is associated with almost 20 percent lower earnings for U.S. and German women. We test for causality using IV models; these models suggest that weight may lower labor earnings for U.S. women. However, our IV results yield no evidence of a causal impact of weight on earnings for women in Germany or for men in either country