Boundary conditions associated with the Painlev\'e III' and V evaluations of some random matrix averages

In a previous work a random matrix average for the Laguerre unitary ensemble, generalising the generating function for the probability that an interval $(0,s)$ at the hard edge contains $k$ eigenvalues, was evaluated in terms of a Painlev\'e V transcendent in $\sigma$-form. However the boundary conditions for the corresponding differential equation were not specified for the full parameter space. Here this task is accomplished in general, and the obtained functional form is compared against the most general small $s$ behaviour of the Painlev\'e V equation in $\sigma$-form known from the work of Jimbo. An analogous study is carried out for the the hard edge scaling limit of the random matrix average, which we have previously evaluated in terms of a Painlev\'e \IIId transcendent in $\sigma$-form. An application of the latter result is given to the rapid evaluation of a Hankel determinant appearing in a recent work of Conrey, Rubinstein and Snaith relating to the derivative of the Riemann zeta function

Ion distribution and ablation depth measurements of a fs-ps laser-irradiated solid tin target

The ablation of solid tin surfaces by an 800-nanometer-wavelength laser is studied for a pulse length range from 500 fs to 4.5 ps and a fluence range spanning 0.9 to 22 J/cm^2. The ablation depth and volume are obtained employing a high-numerical-aperture optical microscope, while the ion yield and energy distributions are obtained from a set of Faraday cups set up under various angles. We found a slight increase of the ion yield for an increasing pulse length, while the ablation depth is slightly decreasing. The ablation volume remained constant as a function of pulse length. The ablation depth follows a two-region logarithmic dependence on the fluence, in agreement with the available literature and theory. In the examined fluence range, the ion yield angular distribution is sharply peaked along the target normal at low fluences but rapidly broadens with increasing fluence. The total ionization fraction increases monotonically with fluence to a 5-6% maximum, which is substantially lower than the typical ionization fractions obtained with nanosecond-pulse ablation. The angular distribution of the ions does not depend on the laser pulse length within the measurement uncertainty. These results are of particular interest for the possible utilization of fs-ps laser systems in plasma sources of extreme ultraviolet light for nanolithography.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

beta-decay study of Cu-77

A beta-decay study of Cu-77 has been performed at the ISOLDE mass separator with the aim to deduce its beta-decay properties and to obtain spectroscopic information on Zn-77. Neutron-rich copper isotopes were produced by means of proton- or neutron-induced fission reactions on U-238. After the production, Cu-77 was selectively laser ionized, mass separated and sent to different detection systems where beta-gamma and beta-n coincidence data were collected. We report on the deduced half-live, decay scheme, and possible spin assignment of 77Cu

Sustained correction of B-cell development and function in a murine model of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) using retroviral-mediated gene transfer

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a human immunodeficiency caused by mutations in Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) and characterized by an arrest in early B-cell development, near absence of serum immunoglobulin, and recurrent bacteria infections. Using Btk- and Tec-deficient mice (BtkTec-/-) as a model for XLA, we determined if Btk gene therapy could correct this disorder. Bone marrow (BM) from 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-treated BtkTec-/- mice was transduced with a retroviral vector expressing human Btk and transplanted into BtkTec-/- recipients. Mice engrafted with transduced hematopoietic cells exhibited rescue of both primary and peripheral B-lineage development, revocery of peritoneal B1 B cells, and correction of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG3 levels. Gene transfer also restored T-independent type II immune responses, and B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) proliferative responses. B-cell progenitors derived from Btk-transduced stem cells exhibited higher levels of Btk expression than non-B cells; and marking studies demonstrated a selective advantage for Btk-transduced B-lineage cells. BM derived from primary recipients also rescued Btk-dependent function in secondary hosts that had received a transplant. Together, these data demonstrate that gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells can reconstitute Btk-dependent B-cell development and function in vivo, and strongly support the feasibility of pursuing Btk gene transfer for XLA

Hierarchical model for the scale-dependent velocity of seismic waves

Elastic waves of short wavelength propagating through the upper layer of the Earth appear to move faster at large separations of source and receiver than at short separations. This scale dependent velocity is a manifestation of Fermat's principle of least time in a medium with random velocity fluctuations. Existing perturbation theories predict a linear increase of the velocity shift with increasing separation, and cannot describe the saturation of the velocity shift at large separations that is seen in computer simulations. Here we show that this long-standing problem in seismology can be solved using a model developed originally in the context of polymer physics. We find that the saturation velocity scales with the four-third power of the root-mean-square amplitude of the velocity fluctuations, in good agreement with the computer simulations.Comment: 7 pages including 3 figure

Study of bound states in 12Be through low-energy 11Be(d,p)-transfer reactions

The bound states of 12Be have been studied through a 11Be(d,p)12Be transfer reaction experiment in inverse kinematics. A 2.8 MeV/u beam of 11Be was produced using the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The outgoing protons were detected with the T-REX silicon detector array. The MINIBALL germanium array was used to detect gamma rays from the excited states in 12Be. The gamma-ray detection enabled a clear identification of the four known bound states in 12Be, and each of the states has been studied individually. Differential cross sections over a large angular range have been extracted. Spectroscopic factors for each of the states have been determined from DWBA calculations and have been compared to previous experimental and theoretical results