990 research outputs found

    Measurement of the two-photon absorption cross-section of liquid argon with a time projection chamber

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    This paper reports on laser-induced multiphoton ionization at 266 nm of liquid argon in a time projection chamber (LAr TPC) detector. The electron signal produced by the laser beam is a formidable tool for the calibration and monitoring of next-generation large-mass LAr TPCs. The detector that we designed and tested allowed us to measure the two-photon absorption cross-section of LAr with unprecedented accuracy and precision: sigma_ex=(1.24\pm 0.10stat \pm 0.30syst) 10^{-56} cm^4s{-1}.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

    Deformation quantization of linear dissipative systems

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    A simple pseudo-Hamiltonian formulation is proposed for the linear inhomogeneous systems of ODEs. In contrast to the usual Hamiltonian mechanics, our approach is based on the use of non-stationary Poisson brackets, i.e. corresponding Poisson tensor is allowed to explicitly depend on time. Starting from this pseudo-Hamiltonian formulation we develop a consistent deformation quantization procedure involving a non-stationary star-product ∗t*_t and an ``extended'' operator of time derivative Dt=∂t+...D_t=\partial_t+..., differentiating the ∗t\ast_t-product. As in the usual case, the ∗t\ast_t-algebra of physical observables is shown to admit an essentially unique (time dependent) trace functional Trt\mathrm{Tr}_t. Using these ingredients we construct a complete and fully consistent quantum-mechanical description for any linear dynamical system with or without dissipation. The general quantization method is exemplified by the models of damped oscillator and radiating point charge.Comment: 14 pages, typos correcte

    Classification of phase transitions and ensemble inequivalence, in systems with long range interactions

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    Systems with long range interactions in general are not additive, which can lead to an inequivalence of the microcanonical and canonical ensembles. The microcanonical ensemble may show richer behavior than the canonical one, including negative specific heats and other non-common behaviors. We propose a classification of microcanonical phase transitions, of their link to canonical ones, and of the possible situations of ensemble inequivalence. We discuss previously observed phase transitions and inequivalence in self-gravitating, two-dimensional fluid dynamics and non-neutral plasmas. We note a number of generic situations that have not yet been observed in such systems.Comment: 42 pages, 11 figures. Accepted in Journal of Statistical Physics. Final versio

    Flow and non-flow event anisotropies at the SPS

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    A study of differential elliptic event anisotropies (v_2) of charged particles and high-pt pions in 158 AGeV/c Pb+Au collisions is presented. Results from correlations with respect to the event plane and from two-particle azimuthal correlations are compared. The latter give systematically higher v_2 values at pt>1.2GeV/c providing possibly an evidence of a non-flow semihard component.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, Quark Matter 2002, Nantes, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

    What young people report about the personal characteristics needed for social science research after carrying out their own investigations in an after-school club

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    Several arguments have been put forward about the benefits of young people carrying out their own social science research in terms of empowering their voices and their participation. Much less attention has been paid to investigating the understandings young people develop about the research process itself. Seven twelve-year-olds carried out self-directed social science research into a topic of their choice. Towards the end of their six months experience we used a questionnaire and follow-up semi-structured interviews to investigate, from a socio-cultural perspective, what the young people thought about being a researcher. Thematic analysis of the interviews identified three themes and eight subthemes suggesting that they were aware of: the need to demonstrate researcher/research integrity (be thorough, truthful, orderly, and have a good understanding of research process); the need for good interpersonal skills and standards; and good self-management skills (be resilient, agentic, committed, and good at time management). We discuss how first-hand social science research experience might: be relevant to several areas of schooling; give young people experience of the personal characteristics important for success; help young people to realise that they can be social science researchers, and offer advanced and novel learning experiences outside the constraints of the school curriculum

    Large deviation techniques applied to systems with long-range interactions

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    We discuss a method to solve models with long-range interactions in the microcanonical and canonical ensemble. The method closely follows the one introduced by Ellis, Physica D 133, 106 (1999), which uses large deviation techniques. We show how it can be adapted to obtain the solution of a large class of simple models, which can show ensemble inequivalence. The model Hamiltonian can have both discrete (Ising, Potts) and continuous (HMF, Free Electron Laser) state variables. This latter extension gives access to the comparison with dynamics and to the study of non-equilibri um effects. We treat both infinite range and slowly decreasing interactions and, in particular, we present the solution of the alpha-Ising model in one-dimension with 0≀α<10\leq\alpha<1

    Centrality dependence of pi^[+/-], K^[+/-], p and p-bar production from sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV Au + Au collisions at RHIC

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    Identified pi^[+/-] K^[+/-], p and p-bar transverse momentum spectra at mid-rapidity in sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV Au-Au collisions were measured by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC as a function of collision centrality. Average transverse momenta increase with the number of participating nucleons in a similar way for all particle species. The multiplicity densities scale faster than the number of participating nucleons. Kaon and nucleon yields per participant increase faster than the pion yields. In central collisions at high transverse momenta (p_T greater than 2 GeV/c), anti-proton and proton yields are comparable to the pion yields.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, 307 authors, accepted by Phys. Rev. Lett. on 9 April 2002. This version has minor changes made in response to referee Comments. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/phenix/WWW/run/phenix/papers.htm

    Flow Measurements via Two-particle Azimuthal Correlations in Au + Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV

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    Two particle azimuthal correlation functions are presented for charged hadrons produced in Au + Au collisions at RHIC sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV. The measurements permit determination of elliptic flow without event-by-event estimation of the reaction plane. The extracted elliptic flow values v_2 show significant sensitivity to both the collision centrality and the transverse momenta of emitted hadrons, suggesting rapid thermalization and relatively strong velocity fields. When scaled by the eccentricity of the collision zone, epsilon, the scaled elliptic flow shows little or no dependence on centrality for charged hadrons with relatively low p_T. A breakdown of this epsilon scaling is observed for charged hadrons with p_T > 1.0 GeV/c for the most central collisions.Comment: 6 pages, RevTeX 3, 4 figures, 307 authors, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. on 11 April 2002. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (will be made) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/phenix/WWW/run/phenix/papers.htm
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