Tungsten thermal neutron dosimeter

Tungsten-185 activity, which is produced by neutron activation of tungsten-184, determines thermal neutron flux. Radiochemical separation methods and counting techniques for irradiated tungsten provide accurate determination of the radiation exposure

Heavy to Light Meson Exclusive Semileptonic Decays in Effective Field Theory of Heavy Quark

We present a general study on exclusive semileptonic decays of heavy (B, D, B_s) to light (pi, rho, K, K^*) mesons in the framework of effective field theory of heavy quark. Transition matrix elements of these decays can be systematically characterized by a set of wave functions which are independent of the heavy quark mass except for the implicit scale dependence. Form factors for all these decays are calculated consistently within the effective theory framework using the light cone sum rule method at the leading order of 1/m_Q expansion. The branching ratios of these decays are evaluated, and the heavy and light flavor symmetry breaking effects are investigated. We also give comparison of our results and the predictions from other approaches, among which are the relations proposed recently in the framework of large energy effective theory.Comment: 18 pages, ReVtex, 5 figures, added references and comparison of results, and corrected signs in some formula

Exclusive B-meson Rare Decays and General Relations of Form Factors in Effective Field Theory of Heavy Quarks

B meson rare decays ($B\to K(K^{*})l\bar l$ and $B\to K^*\gamma$) are analyzed in the framework of effective field theory of heavy quarks. The semileptonic and penguin type form factors for these decays are calculated by using the light cone sum rules method at the leading order of $1/m_Q$ expansion. Four exact relations between the two types of form factors are obtained at the leading order of $1/m_Q$ expansion. Of particular, the relations are found to hold for whole momentum transfer region. We also investigate the validity of the relations resulted from the large energy effective theory based on the general relations obtained in the present approach. The branching ratios of the rare decays are presented and their potential importance for extracting the CKM matrix elements and probing new physics is emphasized.Comment: 23 pages, Revtex, 32 figures, published version with the errors of numerical results caused by the computer program are correcte

Bs0→η(′)η(′)B_s^0 \to \eta^{(\prime)} \eta^{(\prime)} decays in the pQCD approach

We calculate the CP averaged branching ratios and CP-violating asymmetries for $B_s^0 \to \eta \eta, \eta \eta^\prime$ and $\eta^\prime \eta^\prime$ decays in the perturbative QCD (pQCD) approach here. The pQCD predictions for the CP-averaged branching ratios are Br(B_s^0 \to \eta \eta) = \left (14.2^{+18.0}_{-7.5}) \times 10^{-6}, Br(B_s^0 \to \eta \eta^\prime)= \left (12.4 ^{+18.2}_{-7.0}) \times 10^{-6}, and Br(B_s^0 \to \eta^{\prime} \eta^{\prime}) = \left (9.2^{+15.3}_{-4.9}) \times 10^{-6}, which agree well with those obtained by employing the QCD factorization approach and also be consistent with available experimental upper limits. The gluonic contributions are small in size: less than 7% for $B_s \to \eta \eta$ and $\eta \eta^\prime$ decays, and around 18% for $B_s \to \eta' \eta'$ decay. The CP-violating asymmetries for three decays are very small: less than 3% in magnitude.Comment: 11 pages, 1 ps figure, Revte

Twist-3 Distribution Amplitudes of K* and phi Mesons

We present a systematic study of twist-3 light-cone distribution amplitudes of $K^*$ and $\phi$ mesons in QCD. The structure of SU(3)-breaking corrections is studied in detail. Non-perturbative input parameters are estimated from QCD sum rules. As a by-product, we update the parameters describing the twist-3 distribution amplitudes of the $\rho$ meson. We also review and update predictions for the twist-2 distribution amplitudes of $\rho$, $K^*$ and $\phi$.Comment: 27 page

Analysis of B-> \phi K Decays in QCD Factorization

We analyze the decay $B\to \phi K$ within the framework of QCD-improved factorization. We found that although the twist-3 kaon distribution amplitude dominates the spectator interactions, it will suppress the decay rates slightly. The weak annihilation diagrams induced by $(S-P)(S+P)$ penguin operators, which are formally power-suppressed by order $(\Lambda/m_b)^2$, are chirally and logarithmically enhanced. Therefore, these annihilation contributions are not subject to helicity suppression and can be sizable. The predicted branching ratio of $B^-\to\phi K^-$ is $(3.8\pm0.6)\times 10^{-6}$ in the absence of annihilation contributions and it becomes $(4.3^{+3.0}_{-1.4})\times 10^{-6}$ when annihilation effects are taken into account. The prediction is consistent with CLEO and BaBar data but smaller than the BELLE result.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. A major change for the presentation of branching-ratio predictions. Experimental data are update

‘‘There’s so much more to it than what I initially thought’’: Stepping into researchers’ shoes with a class activity in a first year psychology survey course

In psychology, it is widely agreed that research methods, although central to the discipline, are particularly challenging to learn and teach, particularly at introductory level. This pilot study explored the potential of embedding a student-conducted research activity in a one-semester undergraduate Introduction to Psychology survey course, with the aims of (a) engaging students with the topic of research methods; (b) developing students’ comprehension and application of research methods concepts; and (c) building students’ ability to link research with theory. The research activity explored shoe ownership, examining gender differences and relationships with age, and linking to theories of gender difference and of consumer identity. The process of carrying out the research and reflecting on it created a contextualized, active learning environment in which students themselves raised many issues that research methods lectures seek to cover. Students also wrote richer assignments than standard first year mid-term essay

B(s),D(s)→π,K,η,ρ,K∗,ω,ϕB_{(s)},D_{(s)} \to \pi, K, \eta, \rho, K^*, \omega, \phi Transition Form Factors and Decay Rates with Extraction of the CKM parameters ∣Vub∣|V_{ub}|, ∣Vcs∣|V_{cs}|, ∣Vcd∣|V_{cd}|

A systematic calculation for the transition form factors of heavy to light mesons ($B,B_s,D,D_s \to \pi, K, \eta, \rho, K^*, \omega, \phi$) is carried out by using light-cone sum rules in the framework of heavy quark effective field theory. The heavy quark symmetry at the leading order of $1/m_Q$ expansion enables us to reduce the independent wave functions and establish interesting relations among form factors. Some relations hold for the whole region of momentum transfer. The meson distribution amplitudes up to twist-4 including the contributions from higher conformal spin partial waves and light meson mass corrections are considered. The CKM matrix elements $|V_{ub}|$, $|V_{cs}|$ and $|V_{cd}|$ are extracted from some relatively well-measured decay channels. A detailed prediction for the branching ratios of heavy to light meson decays is then presented. The resulting predictions for the semileptonic and radiative decay rates of heavy to light mesons ($B,B_s,D,D_s \to \pi, K, \eta, \rho, K^*, \omega, \phi$) are found to be compatible with the current experimental data and can be tested by more precise experiments at B-factory, LHCb, BEPCII and CLEOc.Comment: 23 pages, 32 figures, 25 tables,published version, minor corrections and references adde

The predictability of wind and virtual temperature profiles for flight and static test operations Final report, Jul. 1, 1965 - Mar. 31, 1966

Predictability of wind and virtual temperature profiles for flight and static test operation