Heavy Superheated Droplet Detectors as a Probe of Spin-independent WIMP Dark Matter Existence

At present, application of Superheated Droplet Detectors (SDDs) in WIMP dark matter searches has been limited to the spin-dependent sector, owing to the general use of fluorinated refrigerants which have high spin sensitivity. Given their recent demonstration of a significant constraint capability with relatively small exposures and the relative economy of the technique, we consider the potential impact of heavy versions of such devices on the spin-independent sector. Limits obtainable from a $\mathrm{CF_{3}I}$-loaded SDD are estimated on the basis of the radiopurity levels and backgrounds already achieved by the SIMPLE and PICASSO experiments. With 34 kgd exposure, equivalent to the current CDMS, such a device may already probe to below 10$^{-6}$ pb in the spin-independent cross section.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted Phys. Rev.

The Zel'dovich effect and evolution of atomic Rydberg spectra along the Periodic Table

In 1959 Ya. B. Zel'dovich predicted that the bound-state spectrum of the non-relativistic Coulomb problem distorted at small distances by a short-range potential undergoes a peculiar reconstruction whenever this potential alone supports a low-energy scattering resonance. However documented experimental evidence of this effect has been lacking. Previous theoretical studies of this phenomenon were confined to the regime where the range of the short-ranged potential is much smaller than Bohr's radius of the Coulomb field. We go beyond this limitation by restricting ourselves to highly-excited s states. This allows us to demonstrate that along the Periodic Table of elements the Zel'dovich effect manifests itself as systematic periodic variation of the Rydberg spectra with a period proportional to the cubic root of the atomic number. This dependence, which is supported by analysis of experimental and numerical data, has its origin in the binding properties of the ionic core of the atom.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure

Aspects of a0-f0 mixing in the reaction pn->da0

Some aspects of a0-f0 mixing effects in the reaction ${\vec p} n\to da^0_0$ with perpendicular polarized proton beam are discussed. An angular--asymmetry parameter $A$ is defined to study those effects. It is shown that, for energies close to the production threshold, the angular--asymmetry parameter $A(\theta, \phi)$ is proportional to the a0-f0 mixing amplitude for arbitrary polar and azimuthal angles $\theta$ and $\phi$ of the outgoing $a_0$ meson. This statement is also valid for arbitrary energies, but then only at polar angles $\theta=0^0$ and $\theta=90^0$. The mass dependence of the differential cross section $d\sigma/dm_{\pi^0\eta}$ in the reaction $pn\to d\pi^0\eta$ in the presence of \mix mixing is also discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 3 Figure

Testing Bell's inequality with two-level atoms via population spectroscopy

We propose a feasible experimental scheme, employing methods of population spectroscopy with two-level atoms, for a test of Bell's inequality for massive particles. The correlation function measured in this scheme is the joint atomic $Q$ function. An inequality imposed by local realism is violated by any entangled state of a pair of atoms.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, no figures. More info on http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~cbrif/science.htm

Measurement of the quenching factor of Na recoils in NaI(Tl)

Measurements of the quenching factor for sodium recoils in a 5 cm diameter NaI(Tl) crystal at room temperature have been made at a dedicated neutron facility at the University of Sheffield. The crystal has been exposed to 2.45 MeV mono-energetic neutrons generated by a Sodern GENIE 16 neutron generator, yielding nuclear recoils of energies between 10 and 100 keVnr. A cylindrical BC501A detector has been used to tag neutrons that scatter off sodium nuclei in the crystal. Cuts on pulse shape and time of flight have been performed on pulses recorded by an Acqiris DC265 digitiser with a 2 ns sampling time. Measured quenching factors of Na nuclei range from 19% to 26% in good agreement with other experiments, and a value of 25.2 \pm 6.4% has been determined for 10 keV sodium recoils. From pulse shape analysis, the mean times of pulses from electron and nuclear recoils have been compared down to 2 keVee. The experimental results are compared to those predicted by Lindhard theory, simulated by the SRIM Monte Carlo code, and a preliminary curve calculated by Prof. Akira Hitachi.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figure

Non-local model of hollow cathode and glow discharge - theory calculations and experiment comparison

General form of the non-local equation for an ionization source in glow discharge and hollow cathode 3D-simulation is formulated. It is a fundamental equation in a hollow cathode theory, which allows to make up a complete set of field equations for a self-consistent problem in a stationary glow discharge and a hollow cathode. It enables to describe adequately the region of negative glow and the hollow cathode effect. Here you can see first attempts to compare calculation results of electrical dependences (pressure - voltage) and experimental data, - under conditions of gradual appearance of the hollow cathode effect.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Electronic structure, optical and magnetic properties of Co2_{2}FeGe Heusler alloy films

Optical properties of ferromagnetic half-metallic full-Heusler Co$_{2}$FeGe alloy are investigated experimentally and theoretically. Co$_{2}$FeGe thin films were obtained by DC magnetron sputtering and show the saturation magnetization at $T$=10 K of $m\approx$5.6 $\mu_{B}$/f.u., close to the value predicted by the Slater-Pauling rule. First-principles calculations of the electronic structure and the dielectric tensor are performed using the full-potential linearized-augmented-plane-wave method in the generalized gradient (GGA) and GGA+U approximations. The measured interband optical conductivity spectrum for the alloy exhibits a strong absorption band in the 1 - 4 eV energy range with pronounced fine structure, which agrees well with the calculated half-metallic spectrum of the system, suggesting a near perfect spin-polarization in the material.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figure

The Effect of low Momentum Quantum Fluctuations on a Coherent Field Structure

In the present work the evolution of a coherent field structure of the Sine-Gordon equation under quantum fluctuations is studied. The basic equations are derived from the coherent state approximation to the functional Schr\"odinger equation for the field. These equations are solved asymptotically and numerically for three physical situations. The first is the study of the nonlinear mechanism responsible for the quantum stability of the soliton in the presence of low momentum fluctuations. The second considers the scattering of a wave by the Soliton. Finally the third problem considered is the collision of Solitons and the stability of a breather. It is shown that the complete integrability of the Sine-Gordon equation precludes fusion and splitting processes in this simplified model. The approximate results obtained are non-perturbative in nature, and are valid for the full nonlinear interaction in the limit of low momentum fluctuations. It is also found that these approximate results are in good agreement with full numerical solutions of the governing equations. This suggests that a similar approach could be used for the baby Skyrme model, which is not completely integrable. In this case the higher space dimensionality and the internal degrees of freedom which prevent the integrability will be responsable for fusion and splitting processes. This work provides a starting point in the numerical solution of the full quantum problem of the interaction of the field with a fluctuation.Comment: 15 pages, 9 (ps) figures, Revtex file. Some discussion expanded but conclusions unchanged. Final version to appear in PR

Electron affinity of Li: A state-selective measurement

We have investigated the threshold of photodetachment of Li^- leading to the formation of the residual Li atom in the $2p ^2P$ state. The excited residual atom was selectively photoionized via an intermediate Rydberg state and the resulting Li^+ ion was detected. A collinear laser-ion beam geometry enabled both high resolution and sensitivity to be attained. We have demonstrated the potential of this state selective photodetachment spectroscopic method by improving the accuracy of Li electron affinity measurements an order of magnitude. From a fit to the Wigner law in the threshold region, we obtained a Li electron affinity of 0.618 049(20) eV.Comment: 5 pages,6 figures,22 reference