Search for evidence of two photon contribution in elastic electron proton data

We reanalyze the most recent data on elastic electron proton scattering. We look for a deviation from linearity of the Rosenbluth fit to the differential cross section, which would be the signature of the presence of two photon exchange. The two photon contribution is parametrized by a one parameter formula, based on symmetry arguments. The present data do not show evidence for such deviation.Comment: 15 pages 3 figures More details on the fitting procedure, more explicit explanation

Mira's wind explored in scattering infrared CO lines

We have observed the intermediate regions of the circumstellar envelope of Mira (o Ceti) in photospheric light scattered by three vibration-rotation transitions of the fundamental band of CO, from low-excited rotational levels of the ground vibrational state, at an angular distance of beta = 2"-7" away from the star. The data were obtained with the Phoenix spectrometer mounted on the 4 m Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak. The spatial resolution is approximately 0.5" and seeing limited. Our observations provide absolute fluxes, leading to an independent new estimate of the mass-loss rate of approximately 3e-7 Msun/yr, as derived from a simple analytic wind model. We find that the scattered intensity from the wind of Mira for 2" < beta < 7" decreases as beta^-3, which suggests a time constant mass-loss rate, when averaged over 100 years, over the past 1200 years.Comment: accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

New Abundances for Old Stars - Atomic Diffusion at Work in NGC 6397

A homogeneous spectroscopic analysis of unevolved and evolved stars in the metal-poor globular cluster NGC 6397 with FLAMES-UVES reveals systematic trends of stellar surface abundances that are likely caused by atomic diffusion. This finding helps to understand, among other issues, why the lithium abundances of old halo stars are significantly lower than the abundance found to be produced shortly after the Big Bang.Comment: 8 pages, 7 colour figures, 1 table; can also be downloaded via http://www.eso.org/messenger

Asymptotics of the deuteron form factors in the nucleon model and JLab experiments

Using the instant form dynamics of Poincar\'e invariant quantum mechanics and the modified relativistic impulse approximation proposed previously we calculate asymptotics of electromagnetic form factors for the deuteron considered as two--nucleon system. We show that today experiment on the elastic $ed$-scattering has reached asymptotic regime. The possible range of momentum transfer when the quark degrees of freedom could be seen in future JLab experiments is estimated. The explicit relation between the behavior of deuteron wave function at $r=0$ and the form factors asymptotics is obtained. The conditions on wave functions to give the asymptotics predicted by QCD and quark counting rules are formulated.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Significant Gamma Lines from Inert Higgs Dark Matter

One way to unambiguously confirm the existence of particle dark matter and determine its mass would be to detect its annihilation into monochromatic gamma-rays in upcoming telescopes. One of the most minimal models for dark matter is the inert doublet model, obtained by adding another Higgs doublet with no direct coupling to fermions. For a mass between 40 and 80 GeV, the lightest of the new inert Higgs particles can give the correct cosmic abundance of cold dark matter in agreement with current observations. We show that for this scalar dark matter candidate, the annihilation signal of monochromatic \gamma\gamma and Z\gamma final states would be exceptionally strong. The energy range and rates for these gamma-ray line signals make them ideal to search for with the soon upcoming GLAST satellite.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; minor changes and text improvements; references updated; published versio

Oscillations of rapidly rotating relativistic stars

Non-axisymmetric oscillations of rapidly rotating relativistic stars are studied using the Cowling approximation. The oscillation spectra have been estimated by Fourier transforming the evolution equations describing the perturbations. This is the first study of its kind and provides information on the effect of fast rotation on the oscillation spectra while it offers the possibility in studying the complete problem by including spacetime perturbations. Our study includes both axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric perturbations and provides limits for the onset of the secular bar mode rotational instability. We also present approximate formulae for the dependence of the oscillation spectrum from rotation. The results suggest that it is possible to extract the relativistic star's parameters from the observed gravitational wave spectrum.Comment: this article will be published in Physical Review

Polarisation observables in lepton antilepton to proton antiproton reactions including lepton mass

General expressions, including the lepton mass, for the spin averaged differential cross section for the annihilation reaction lepton antilepton to proton antiproton are given, as well as general formulae for the single and double spin asymmetries in the centre of mass frame. In particular we discuss the single spin asymmetry, normal to the scattering plane, which measures the relative phase difference between nucleon electromagnetic form factors $G_E$ and $G_M$. Recent experimental investigations of these form factors in the space and time like region are reviewed. It is thought that measurements of the phase of these form factors will provide fundamental information on the internal nucleon structure. The phases between $G_E$ and $G_M$ are accessible through polarisation observables measured in the antiproton proton to lepton antilepton reaction, or in its time reversed process.Comment: 14 pages, to be submitted to EPJ