Strong gauge boson scattering at the LHC

In the standard model with electroweak symmetry breaking through the Higgs mechanism, electroweak gauge-boson scattering amplitudes are large if the Higgs boson is heavy, and electroweak gauge interactions become strong. In theories with electroweak symmetry breaking through alternative mechanisms, there could be a strongly interacting gauge sector, possibly with resonances in an accessible energy region. In general, the scattering of longitudinally polarized massive gauge bosons can give information on the mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking. At energies below the symmetry breaking scale, the equivalence theorem relates the scattering amplitudes to those of the "would-be" Goldstone modes. In the absence of Higgs bosons, unitarity would be restored by some new physics which can be studied through WW scattering. Some representatives models are discussed. Isolating WW scattering at a hadron collider from other contributions involving W emission from parton lines needs a good understanding of the backgrounds. Resonances, if they exist below about a TeV, would be feasible of observation at the LHC.Comment: Latex, uses insa.sty (included in submission). Invited contribution to the INSA Platinum Jubilee Special Issue "Physics at the Large Hadron Collider". Submitted for publication in August 200

Energy deposition model based on electron scattering cross section data from water molecules

A complete set of electrons scattering cross sections by water molecules over a broad energy range, from the me V to the Me V ranges, is presented in this study. These data have been obtained by combining experiments and calculations and cover most relevant processes, both elastic and inelastic, which can take place in the considered energy range. A new Monte Carlo simulation programme has been developed using as input parameter these cross sectional data as well as experimental energy loss spectra. The simulation procedure has been applied to obtain electron tracks and energy deposition plots in water when irradiated by a Ru-106 plaque as those used for brachyteraphy of ocular tumours. Finally, the low energy electron tracks provided by the present model have been compared with those obtained with other codes available in the literature

Fatigue in cancer: a phenomenological perspective.

Fatigue is a frequently encountered symptom in cancer populations. This study aimed to describe the experience of fatigue from the perspective of cancer patients who had recently completed a course of chemotherapy. A phenomenological method was used. The themes which emerged from the data indicated both a shared and individual experience of fatigue. These incorporated: the nature of fatigue; the causes, consequences, strategies for coping with fatigue; and the trajectory of the fatigue experience. Issues arising from the nature of phenomenological inquiry and the research were also elicited from this study. An understanding of the fatigue experience for this population and the use of phenomenology have implications for the nursing profession's knowledge base and for clinical practic