Soft spectator scattering in the nucleon form factors at large Q2Q^2 within the SCET approach

The proton form factors at large momentum transfer are dominated by two contributions which are associated with the hard and soft rescattering respectively. Motivated by a very active experimental form factor program at intermediate values of momentum transfers, $Q^{2}\sim 5-15 \text{GeV}^{2}$, where an understanding in terms of only a hard rescattering mechanism cannot yet be expected, we investigate in this work the soft rescattering contribution using soft collinear effective theory (SCET). Within such description, the form factor is characterized, besides the hard scale $Q^2$, by a semi-hard scale $Q \Lambda$, which arises due to presence of soft spectators, with virtuality $\Lambda^2$ ($\Lambda \sim 0.5$ GeV), such that $Q^{2}\gg Q\Lambda\gg \Lambda^{2}$. We show that in this case a two-step factorization can be successfully carried out using the SCET approach. In a first step (SCET$_I$), we perform the leading order matching of the QCD electromagnetic current onto the relevant SCET$_I$ operators and perform a resummation of large logarithms using renormalization group equations. We then discuss the further matching onto a SCET$_{II}$ framework, and propose the complete factorization formula for the Dirac form factor, accounting for both hard and soft contributions. We also present a qualitative discussion of the phenomenological consequences of this new framework.Comment: 33 pages, 19 figures; typos corrected, text improved. Version to appear in Phys.Rev.

Yttria-stabilized zirconia membrane stability in fluoride melts for the magnesium SOM process

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston UniversityOne proposed industry method for the direct electrolysis of magnesium oxide for magnesium production is the Solid Oxide Membrane (SOM) process. The SOM process offers an energy efficient, low-cost magnesium production alternative with much lower environmental impact compared to other methods of primary magnesium production. During the SOM process, MgO is dissolved in a molten CaF2-MgF2 flux. A yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) membrane is submerged in the flux, and this membrane acts as an oxygen anion conducting SOM tube. The YSZ membrane separates the cathode and flux from the anode. When an electric potential is applied across the electrolysis cell, magnesium cations travel through the flux and are reduced at a stainless steel cathode. Oxygen anions simultaneously move through the YSZ membrane to a liquid silver anode, where the anions are oxidized. The SOM process has been demonstrated successfully on the laboratory scale, but in order for the SOM process to be commercially viable, electrolysis cells must operate for thousands of hours. The stability of the YSZ membrane limits the operating life of the SOM electrolysis cell. This thesis determines YSZ membrane stability in oxyfluoride fluxes for the SOM process so that membrane degradation can be better understood and controlled. One primary degradation pathway of YSZ in the SOM process has been determined to be yttria depletion out of the YSZ membrane. Yttria concentration profiles in YSZ membranes were determined using x-ray spectroscopy, and the concentration profiles were used to analyzed the depletion process. The yttria depletion mechanism was determined to be chemical diffusion, and the diffusion process was modeled. A method of controlling the yttria depletion process by adding small concentrations of YF3 to the flux is described, modeled, and experimentally proven. An optimal range of YF3 concentrations to add to the flux is determined for increasing YSZ membrane stability. This study investigated the role of flux impurities on YSZ membrane stability. The effect of impurities on YSZ membrane stability had not been studied or described before this work. Impurities tested are common to magnesium ores: calcia, silica, sodium oxide, and sodium peroxide. Any degradation effects due to these impurities were analyzed, and methods to remove the negative effects of impurities were described when possible

Mitigating Electronic Current in Molten Flux for the Magnesium SOM Process

The solid oxide membrane (SOM) process has been used at 1423 K to 1473 K (1150 °C to 1200 °C) to produce magnesium metal by the direct electrolysis of magnesium oxide. MgO is dissolved in a molten MgF[subscript 2]-CaF[subscript 2] ionic flux. An oxygen-ion-conducting membrane, made from yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), separates the cathode and the flux from the anode. During electrolysis, magnesium ions are reduced at the cathode, and Mg[subscript (g)] is bubbled out of the flux into a separate condenser. The flux has a small solubility for magnesium metal which imparts electronic conductivity to the flux. The electronic conductivity decreases the process current efficiency and also degrades the YSZ membrane. Operating the electrolysis cell at low total pressures is shown to be an effective method of reducing the electronic conductivity of the flux. A two steel electrode method for measuring the electronic transference number in the flux was used to quantify the fraction of electronic current in the flux before and after SOM process operation. Potentiodynamic scans, potentiostatic electrolyses, and AC impedance spectroscopy were also used to characterize the SOM process under different operating conditions.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant No. 102663)United States. Dept. of Energy (Grant No. DE-EE0005547

Subjective versus Objective Measures of Tic Severity in Tourette Syndrome – The Influence of Environment

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of environmental challenges on tic expression by subjective and objective measures. The study group consisted of 41 children aged 6–18 years (M=10.15, SD=2.73) with a primary diagnosis of Tourette syndrome. Subjective measures included the Functional Assessment Interview developed for this study and three standard validated instruments. The objective measure was a video-recording of the patients in five daily-life situations: watching television, doing homework, being alone, receiving attention when ticcing, and talking to a stranger. In addition, the effect of premonitory urges on assessment of tic expression was evaluated. The associations between the subjective and objective measures of tic expression were moderate to low. A significantly higher number of tics were observed in the television situation, and a significantly lower number in the alone situation, compared to the other situations. Higher levels of premonitory urge were associated with greater awareness of objectively measured tic expression. In conclusion, tic expression is significantly influenced by the environment. Subjective measures of tic expression may be misleading. These results have implications for refining the clinical assessment of tics, improving research methodology, and developing new therapeutic strategies

NON-LINEAR OPTIMAL ADAPTIVE SMOOTHING METHOD

The authors consider the nonlinear optimal adaptive smoothing method allowing joint implementation of the spatial and temporal redundancy of data of trajectory measurements

Scalar form-factor of the proton with light-cone QCD sum rules

In this article, we calculate the scalar form-factor of the proton in the framework of the light-cone QCD sum rules approach with the three valence quark light-cone distribution amplitudes up to twist-6, and observe the scalar form-factor $\sigma(t=-Q^2)$ at intermediate and large momentum transfers $Q^2> 2GeV^2$ has significant contributions from the end-point (or soft) terms. The numerical values for the $\sigma(t=-Q^2)$ are compatible with the calculations from the chiral quark model and lattice QCD at the region $Q^2>2GeV^2$.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, revised versio