277 research outputs found
Simulating Poynting Flux Acceleration in the Laboratory with Colliding Laser Pulses
We review recent PIC simulation results which show that double-sided
irradiation of a thin over-dense plasma slab with ultra-intense laser pulses
from both sides can lead to sustained comoving Poynting flux acceleration of
electrons to energies much higher than the conventional ponderomotive limit.
The result is a robust power-law electron momentum spectrum similar to
astrophysical sources. We discuss future ultra-intense laser experiments that
may be used to simulate astrophysical particle acceleration.Comment: Paper accepted for publication in the Astrophysics and Space Science,
Volume for HEDLA06 conference proceedings, edited by G. Kyrala, in pres
Fractional helicity, Lorentz symmetry breaking, compactification and anyons
We construct the covariant, spinor sets of relativistic wave equations for a
massless field on the basis of the two copies of the R-deformed Heisenberg
algebra. For the finite-dimensional representations of the algebra they give a
universal description of the states with integer and half-integer helicity. The
infinite-dimensional representations correspond formally to the massless states
with fractional (real) helicity. The solutions of the latter type, however,
break down the (3+1) Poincar\'e invariance to the (2+1) Poincar\'e
invariance, and via a compactification on a circle a consistent theory for
massive anyons in =2+1 is produced. A general analysis of the ``helicity
equation'' shows that the (3+1) Poincar\'e group has no massless irreducible
representations with the trivial non-compact part of the little group
constructed on the basis of the infinite-dimensional representations of
sl(2,\CC). This result is in contrast with the massive case where integer and
half-integer spin states can be described on the basis of such representations,
and means, in particular, that the (3+1) Dirac positive energy covariant
equations have no massless limit.Comment: 19 pages; minor changes, references added. To appear in Nucl. Phys.
The Fuzzy Disc
We introduce a finite dimensional matrix model approximation to the algebra
of functions on a disc based on noncommutative geometry. The algebra is a
subalgebra of the one characterizing the noncommutative plane with a * product
and depends on two parameters N and theta. It is composed of functions which
decay exponentially outside a disc. In the limit in which the size of the
matrices goes to infinity and the noncommutativity parameter goes to zero the
disc becomes sharper. We introduce a Laplacian defined on the whole algebra and
calculate its eigenvalues. We also calculate the two--points correlation
function for a free massless theory (Green's function). In both cases the
agreement with the exact result on the disc is very good already for relatively
small matrices. This opens up the possibility for the study of field theories
on the disc with nonperturbative methods. The model contains edge states, a
fact studied in a similar matrix model independently introduced by
Balachandran, Gupta and Kurkcuoglu.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, references added and correcte
Particle density fluctuations
Event-by-event fluctuations in the multiplicities of charged particles and
photons at SPS energies are discussed. Fluctuations are studied by controlling
the centrality of the reaction and rapidity acceptance of the detectors.
Results are also presented on the event-by-event study of correlations between
the multiplicity of charged particles and photons to search for DCC-like
signals.Comment: Talk presented at Quark Matter 2002, Nantes, Franc
Suppression of High-p_T Neutral Pion Production in Central Pb+Pb Collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 17.3 GeV Relative to p+C and p+Pb Collisions
Neutral pion transverse momentum spectra were measured in p+C and p+Pb
collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 17.4 GeV at mid-rapidity 2.3 < eta_lab < 3.0 over
the range 0.7< p_T < 3.5 GeV/c. The spectra are compared to pi0 spectra
measured in Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 17.3 GeV in the same experiment.
For a wide range of Pb+Pb centralities (N_part < 300) the yield of pi0's with
p_T > 2 GeV/c is larger than or consistent with the p+C or p+Pb yields scaled
with the number of nucleon-nucleon collisions (N_coll), while for central Pb+Pb
collisions with N_part > 350 the pi0 yield is suppressed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Search for DCC in 158A GeV Pb+Pb Collisions
A detailed analysis of the phase space distributions of charged particles and
photons have been carried out using two independent methods. The results
indicate the presence of nonstatistical fluctuations in localized regions of
phase space.Comment: Talk at the PANIC99 Conference, June 9-16, 199
Pion Freeze-Out Time in Pb+Pb Collisions at 158 A GeV/c Studied via pi-/pi+ and K-/K+ Ratios
The effect of the final state Coulomb interaction on particles produced in
Pb+Pb collisions at 158 A GeV/c has been investigated in the WA98 experiment
through the study of the pi-/pi+ and K-/K+ ratios measured as a function of
transverse mass. While the ratio for kaons shows no significant transverse mass
dependence, the pi-/pi+ ratio is enhanced at small transverse mass values with
an enhancement that increases with centrality. A silicon pad detector located
near the target is used to estimate the contribution of hyperon decays to the
pi-/pi+ ratio. The comparison of results with predictions of the RQMD model in
which the Coulomb interaction has been incorporated allows to place constraints
on the time of the pion freeze-out.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure
Present Status and Future of DCC Analysis
Disoriented Chiral Condensates (DCC) have been predicted to form in high
energy heavy ion collisions where the approximate chiral symmetry of QCD has
been restored. This leads to large imbalances in the production of charged to
neutral pions. Sophisticated analysis methods are being developed to
disentangle DCC events out of the large background of events with
conventionally produced particles. We present a short review of current
analysis methods and future prospects.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. Invited talk presented at the 13th International
Conference on Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (Quark Matter 97),
Tsukuba, Japan, 1-5 Dec 199
Central Pb+Pb Collisions at 158 A GeV/c Studied by Pion-Pion Interferometry
Two-particle correlations have been measured for identified negative pions
from central 158 AGeV Pb+Pb collisions and fitted radii of about 7 fm in all
dimensions have been obtained. A multi-dimensional study of the radii as a
function of kT is presented, including a full correction for the resolution
effects of the apparatus. The cross term Rout-long of the standard fit in the
Longitudinally CoMoving System (LCMS) and the vl parameter of the generalised
Yano-Koonin fit are compatible with 0, suggesting that the source undergoes a
boost invariant expansion. The shapes of the correlation functions in Qinv and
Qspace have been analyzed in detail. They are not Gaussian but better
represented by exponentials. As a consequence, fitting Gaussians to these
correlation functions may produce different radii depending on the acceptance
of the experimental setup used for the measurement.Comment: 13 pages including 10 figure
Search for Disoriented Chiral Condensates in 158 AGeV Pb+Pb Collisions
The restoration of chiral symmetry and its subsequent breaking through a
phase transition has been predicted to create regions of Disoriented Chiral
Condensates (DCC). This phenomenon has been predicted to cause anomalous
fluctuations in the relative production of charged and neutral pions in
high-energy hadronic and nuclear collisions. The WA98 experiment has been used
to measure charged and photon multiplicities in the central region of 158 AGeV
Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. In a sample of 212646 events, no clear DCC
signal can be distinguished. Using a simple DCC model, we have set a 90% C.L.
upper limit on the maximum DCC production allowed by the data.Comment: 20 Pages, LaTeX, uses elsart.cls, 8 eps figures included, submitted
to Physics Letters
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