A Non-Perturbative Chiral Approach for Meson-Meson Interactions

A non-perturbative method which combines constraints from chiral symmetry breaking and coupled channel unitarity is used to describe meson-meson interactions up to \sqrt{s}\lesssim 1.2 GeV, extending in this way the range of applicability of the information contained in Chiral Perturbation Theory (\chi PT), since this perturbative series is typically restricted to \sqrt{s}\lesssim 500 MeV. The approach uses the O(p^2) and O(p^4) \chiPT Lagrangians. The seven free parameters resulting from the O(p^4) Lagrangian are fitted to the experimental data. The approach makes use of the expansion of T^{-1} instead of the amplitude itself as done in \chiPT. The former expansion is suggested by analogy with the effective range approximation in Quantum Mechanics and it appears to be very useful. The results, in fact, are in good agreement with a vast amount of experimental analyses.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX, Talk given at PANIC99, Uppsala (Sweden), June 10-16, 199

Observation of the Higgs Boson of strong interaction via Compton scattering by the nucleon

It is shown that the Quark-Level Linear $\sigma$ Model (QLL$\sigma$M) leads to a prediction for the diamagnetic term of the polarizabilities of the nucleon which is in excellent agreement with the experimental data. The bare mass of the $\sigma$ meson is predicted to be $m_\sigma=666$ MeV and the two-photon width $\Gamma(\sigma\to\gamma\gamma)=(2.6\pm 0.3)$ keV. It is argued that the mass predicted by the QLL$\sigma$M corresponds to the $\gamma\gamma\to\sigma\to NN$ reaction, i.e. to a $t$-channel pole of the $\gamma N\to N\gamma$ reaction. Large -angle Compton scattering experiments revealing effects of the $\sigma$ meson in the differential cross section are discussed. Arguments are presented that these findings may be understood as an observation of the Higgs boson of strong interaction while being part of the constituent quark.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Radiative decays with light scalar mesons and singlet-octet mixing in ChPT

We study different types of radiative decays involving f0(980) and a0(980) mesons within a unified ChPT-based approach at one-loop level. Light scalar resonances which are seen in pi pi, pi eta, K K-bar channels of phi(1020) radiative decays and in J/psi decays are responsible for key questions of low-energy dynamics in the strong interaction sector, and decays phi(1020) -> gamma a0(980), phi(1020) -> gamma f0(980), a0(980) -> gamma gamma, f0(980) -> gamma gamma are of interest for current experimental programs in Juelich, Frascati and Novosibirsk. From theoretical point of view it is important to verify whether light scalar mesons are members of some flavor octet or nonet. We find a value of mixing angle dictated by consistency with experiment and coupling structures of ChPT Lagrangian. Decay widths f0(980)/a0(980) -> gamma rho(770)/omega(782), which are not studied experimentally yet, are predicted. We also obtain several relations between widths, which hold independently of coupling constants and represent a fingerprint of the model.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures; misprints in text and tables corrected, discussion extended, references added; version accepted for publication in Eur.Phys.J.

Couplings of light I=0 scalar mesons to simple operators in the complex plane

The flavour and glue structure of the light scalar mesons in QCD are probed by studying the couplings of the I=0 mesons $\sigma(600)$ and $f_0(980)$ to the operators $\bar{q}q$, $\alpha_s G^2$ and to two photons. The Roy dispersive representation for the $\pi\pi$ amplitude $t_0^0(s)$ is used to determine the pole positions as well as the residues in the complex plane. On the real axis, $t_0^0$ is constrained to solve the Roy equation together with elastic unitarity up to the K\Kbar threshold leading to an improved description of the $f_0(980)$. The problem of using a two-particle threshold as a matching point is discussed. A simple relation is established between the coupling of a scalar meson to an operator $j_S$ and the value of the related pion form-factor computed at the resonance pole. Pion scalar form-factors as well as two-photon partial-wave amplitudes are expressed as coupled-channel Omn\`es dispersive representations. Subtraction constants are constrained by chiral symmetry and experimental data. Comparison of our results for the $\bar{q}q$ couplings with earlier determinations of the analogous couplings of the lightest I=1 and $I=1/2$ scalar mesons are compatible with an assignment of the $\sigma$, $\kappa$, $a_0(980)$, $f_0(980)$ into a nonet. Concerning the gluonic operator $\alpha_s G^2$ we find a significant coupling to both the $\sigma$ and the $f_0(980)$.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figure

Two photons into \pi^0\pi^0

We perform a theoretical study based on dispersion relations of the reaction \gamma\gamma\to \pi^0\pi^0 emphasizing the low energy region. We discuss how the f_0(980) signal emerges in \gamma\gamma\to \pi\pi within the dispersive approach and how this fixes to a large extent the phase of the isoscalar S-wave \gamma\gamma\to \pi\pi amplitude above the K\bar{K} threshold. This allows us to make sharper predictions for the cross section at lower energies and our results could then be used to distinguish between different \pi\pi isoscalar S-wave parameterizations with the advent of new precise data on \gamma\gamma\to\pi^0\pi^0. We compare our dispersive approach with an updated calculation employing Unitary Chiral Perturbation Theory (U\chiPT). We also pay special attention to the role played by the \sigma resonance in \gamma\gamma\to\pi\pi and calculate its coupling and width to gamma\gamma, for which we obtain \Gamma(\sigma\to\gamma\gamma)=(1.68\pm 0.15) KeV.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figure

The Stroop revisited: a meta-analysis of interference control in AD/HD

Background: An inhibition deficit, including poor interference control, has been implicated as one of the core deficits in AD/HD. Interference control is clinically measured by the Stroop Colour-Word Task. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the strength of an interference deficit in AD/HD as measured by the Stroop Colour-Word Task and to assess the role of moderating variables that could explain the results. These moderating variables included: methods of calculating the interference score, comorbid reading and psychiatric disorders, AD/HD-subtypes, gender, age, intellectual functioning, medication, and sample size. Methods: Seventeen independent studies were located including 1395 children, adolescents, and young adults, in the age range of 6-27 years. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effect sizes for the scores on the word and the colour card as well as the interference score. Results: Children with AD/HD performed more poorly on all three dependent variables. The effect sizes for word reading (d = .49) and colour naming (d = .58) were larger and more homogeneous than the effect size for the interference score (d = .35). The method used to calculate the interference score strongly influenced the findings for this measure. When interference control was calculated as the difference between the score on the colour card minus the score on the colour-word card, no differences were found between AD/HD groups and normal control groups. Discussion: The Stroop Colour-Word Task, in standard form, does not provide strong evidence for a deficit in interference control in AD/HD. However, the Stroop Colour-Word Task may not be a valid measure of interference control in AD/HD and alternative methodologies may be needed to test this aspect of the inhibitory deficit model in AD/HD. © Association for Child Psychology Psychiatry, 2004

The nature of an object-oriented program:how do practitioners understand the nature of what they are creating?

Object-oriented programming is seen as a difficult skill to master. There is considerable debate about the most appropriate way to introduce novice programmers to object-oriented concepts. Is it possible to uncover what the critical aspects or features are that enhance the learning of object-oriented programming? Practitioners have differing understandings of the nature of an object-oriented program. Uncovering these different ways of understanding leads to agreater understanding of the critical aspects and their relationship tothe structure of the program produced. A phenomenographic studywas conducted to uncover practitioner understandings of the nature of an object-oriented program. The study identified five levels of understanding and three dimensions of variation within these levels. These levels and dimensions of variation provide a framework for fostering conceptual change with respect to the nature of an object-oriented program

A switchable controlled-NOT gate in a spin-chain NMR quantum computer

A method of switching a controlled-NOT gate in a solid-stae NMR quantum computer is presented. Qubits of I=1/2 nuclear spins are placed periodically along a quantum spin chain (1-D antiferromagnet) having a singlet ground state with a finite spin gap to the lowest excited state caused by some quantum effect. Irradiation of a microwave tuned to the spin gap energy excites a packet of triplet magnons at a specific part of the chain where control and target qubits are involved. The packet switches on the Suhl-Nakamura interaction between the qubits, which serves as a controlled NOT gate. The qubit initialization is achieved by a qubit initializer consisting of semiconducting sheets attached to the spin chain, where spin polarizations created by the optical pumping method in the semiconductors are transferred to the spin chain. The scheme allows us to separate the initialization process from the computation, so that one can optimize the computation part without being restricted by the initialization scheme, which provides us with a wide selection of materials for a quantum computer.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure