Concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the soils of Bangalore region, India.

Several soil samples of Bangalore region were analyzed for the concentrations of Ra, Th, and K by gamma ray spectrometry. The concentration of Ra varied in the range 7.7-111.6 Bq kg with a mean value of 26.2 Bq kg, Th in the range 16.7-98.7 Bq kg with a mean of 53.1 Bq kg, and that of K in the range 151.8-1424.2 Bq kg with a mean of 635.1 Bq kg. The external gamma absorbed dose rates in air were also measured using a portable environmental radiation dosimeter, and the gamma dose rates were found to vary in the range 61.4-201.7 nGy h with a mean of 117.2 nGy h. These results along with the results of estimation of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose rate, external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), and representative level index (Igamma) are presented in this paper. The results are also compared with the literature values reported for other regions of India as well as worldwide average values and discussed

CONCENTRATIONS of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the SOILS of BANGALORE REGION, INDIA

Several soil samples of Bangalore region were analyzed for the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K by gamma ray spectrometry. The concentration of 226Ra varied in the range 7.7–111.6 Bq kg−1 with a mean value of 26.2 Bq kg−1, 232Th in the range 16.7–98.7 Bq kg−1 with a mean of 53.1 Bq kg−1, and that of 40K in the range 151.8–1424.2 Bq kg−1 with a mean of 635.1 Bq kg−1. The external gamma absorbed dose rates in air were also measured using a portable environmental radiation dosimeter, and the gamma dose rates were found to vary in the range 61.4–201.7 nGy h−1 with a mean of 117.2 nGy h−1. These results along with the results of estimation of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose rate, external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), and representative level index (Iγ) are presented in this paper. The results are also compared with the literature values reported for other regions of India as well as worldwide average values and discussed

More on scattering of Chern-Simons vortices

I derive a general formalism for finding kinetic terms of the effective Lagrangian for slowly moving Chern-Simons vortices. Deformations of fields linear in velocities are taken into account. From the equations they must satisfy I extract the kinetic term in the limit of coincident vortices. For vortices passing one over the other there is locally the right-angle scattering. The method is based on analysis of field equations instead of action functional so it may be useful also for nonvariational equations in nonrelativistic models of Condensed Matter Physics.Comment: discussion around Eq.(45) is generalised, one more condition for the local right-angle scattering is adde

Seasonal Variability of the Observed Barrier Layer in the Arabian Sea

The formation mechanisms of the barrier layer ( BL) and its seasonal variability in the Arabian Sea ( AS) are studied using a comprehensive dataset of temperature and salinity profiles from Argo and other archives for the AS. Relatively thick BL of 20-60 m with large spatial extent is found in the central-southwestern AS ( CSWAS), the convergence zone of the monsoon wind, during the peak summer monsoon ( July-August) and in the southeastern AS ( SEAS) and northeastern AS ( NEAS) during the winter ( January-February). Although the BL in the SEAS has been reported before, the observed thick BL in the central-southwestern AS during the peak summer monsoon and in the northeastern AS during late winter are the new findings of this study. The seasonal variability of BL thickness ( BLT) is closely related to the processes that occur during summer and winter monsoons. During both seasons, the Ekman processes and the distribution of low-salinity waters in the surface layer show a dominant influence on the observed BLT distributions. In addition, Kelvin and Rossby waves also modulate the observed BL thickness in the AS. The relatively low salinity surface water overlying the Arabian Sea high-salinity water ( ASHSW) provides an ideal ground for strong haline stratification in the CSWAS ( during summer monsoon) and in NEAS ( during winter monsoon). During summer, northward advection of equatorial low-salinity water by the Somali Current and the offshore advection of low-salinity water from the upwelling region facilitate the salinity stratification that is necessary to develop the observed BL in the CSWAS. In the SEAS, during winter, the winter monsoon current ( WMC) carries less saline water over relatively high salinity ambient water to form the observed BL there. The winter West India Coastal Current ( WICC) transports the low-salinity water from the SEAS to the NEAS, where it lies over the subducted ASHSW leading to strong haline stratification. Ekman pumping together with the downwelling Kelvin wave in the NEAS deepen the thermocline to cause the observed thick BL in the NEAS

Thermodynamic gauge-theory cascade

It is proposed that the cooling of a thermalized SU($N$) gauge theory can be formulated in terms of a cascade involving three effective theories with successively reduced (and spontaneously broken) gauge symmetries, SU($N$) $\to$ U(1)$^{N-1}$ $\to$ Z$_N$. The approach is based on the assumption that away from a phase transition the bulk of the quantum interaction inherent to the system is implicitly encoded in the (incomplete) classical dynamics of a collective part made of low-energy condensed degrees of freedom. The properties of (some of the) statistically fluctuating fields are determined by these condensate(s). This leads to a quasi-particle description at tree-level. It appears that radiative corrections, which are sizable at large gauge coupling, do not change the tree-level picture qualitatively. The thermodynamic self-consistency of the quasi-particle approach implies nonperturbative evolution equations for the associated masses. The temperature dependence of these masses, in turn, determine the evolution of the gauge coupling(s). The hot gauge system approaches the behavior of an ideal gas of massless gluons at asymptotically large temperature. A negative equation of state is possible at a stage where the system is about to settle into the phase of the (spontaneously broken) Z$_N$ symmetry.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures, 1 reference added, minor corrections in text, errors in Sec. 3.2 corrected, PRD versio

Recent Results From Nb₃Sn Single Cell Cavities Coated at Jefferson Lab

Because of superior superconducting properties (Tc ~ 18.3K, Hs h~ 425 mT and Δ ~ 3.1 meV) compared to niobium, Nb₃Sn promise better RF performance (Q₀ and Eacc) and/or higher operating temperature (2 K Vs 4.2 K) for SRF cavities. Nb₃Sn-coated SRF cavities are produced routinely by depositing a few micron-thick Nb₃Sn films on the interior surface of Nb cavities via tin vapor diffusion technique. Early results from Nb₃Sn cavities coated with this technique exhibited precipitous low field Q-slope, also known as Wuppertal slope. Several Nb₃Sn single cell cavities coated at JLab appeared to exhibit similar Q-slope. RF testing of cavities and materials study of witness samples were continuously used to modify the coating protocol. At best condition, we were able to produce Nb₃Sn cavity with Q₀ in excess of ≥ 5×10¹⁰ at 2 K and ≥ 2×1010 at 4 K up the accelerating gradient of ~15 MV/m, without any significant Q-slope. In this presentation, we will discuss recent results from several Nb₃Sn coated single-cell cavities linked with material studies of witness samples, coating process modifications and the possible causative factors to Wuppertal slope

Electronic properties of ordered and disordered linear clusters of atoms and molecules

The electronic properties of one-dimensional clusters of N atoms or molecules have been studied. The model used is similar to the Kronig-Penney model with the potential offered by each ion being approximated by an attractive delta function. The energy eigenvalues, the eigenstates and the density of states are calculated exactly for a linear cluster of N atoms or molecules. The dependence of these quantities on the various parameters of the problem show interesting behavior. Effects of random distribution of the positions of the atoms and random distribution of the strengths of the potential have also been studied. The results obtained in this paper can have direct applications for linear chain of atoms produced on metal surfaces or artificially created chain of atoms by using scanning tunneling microscope or in studying molecular conduction of electrons across one-dimensional barriers.Comment: A shorter version of this paper to be published in Physica

Anisotropic flow of charged hadrons, pions and (anti-)protons measured at high transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76 TeV

The elliptic, $v_2$, triangular, $v_3$, and quadrangular, $v_4$, azimuthal anisotropic flow coefficients are measured for unidentified charged particles, pions and (anti-)protons in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Results obtained with the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods are reported for the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ at different collision centralities and as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, out to $p_{\rm T}=20$ GeV/$c$. The observed non-zero elliptic and triangular flow depends only weakly on transverse momentum for $p_{\rm T}>8$ GeV/$c$. The small $p_{\rm T}$ dependence of the difference between elliptic flow results obtained from the event plane and four-particle cumulant methods suggests a common origin of flow fluctuations up to $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$. The magnitude of the (anti-)proton elliptic and triangular flow is larger than that of pions out to at least $p_{\rm T}=8$ GeV/$c$ indicating that the particle type dependence persists out to high $p_{\rm T}$.Comment: 16 pages, 5 captioned figures, authors from page 11, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/186

Centrality dependence of charged particle production at large transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}} = 2.76 TeV

The inclusive transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) distributions of primary charged particles are measured in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta|<0.8$ as a function of event centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The data are presented in the $p_{\rm T}$ range $0.15<p_{\rm T}<50$ GeV/$c$ for nine centrality intervals from 70-80% to 0-5%. The Pb-Pb spectra are presented in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm{AA}}$ using a pp reference spectrum measured at the same collision energy. We observe that the suppression of high-$p_{\rm T}$ particles strongly depends on event centrality. In central collisions (0-5%) the yield is most suppressed with $R_{\rm{AA}}\approx0.13$ at $p_{\rm T}=6$-7 GeV/$c$. Above $p_{\rm T}=7$ GeV/$c$, there is a significant rise in the nuclear modification factor, which reaches $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx0.4$ for $p_{\rm T}>30$ GeV/$c$. In peripheral collisions (70-80%), the suppression is weaker with $R_{\rm{AA}} \approx 0.7$ almost independently of $p_{\rm T}$. The measured nuclear modification factors are compared to other measurements and model calculations.Comment: 17 pages, 4 captioned figures, 2 tables, authors from page 12, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/284

Measurement of charm production at central rapidity in proton-proton collisions at s=2.76\sqrt{s} = 2.76 TeV

The $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections of the prompt (B feed-down subtracted) charmed mesons D$^0$, D$^+$, and D$^{*+}$ in the rapidity range $|y|<0.5$, and for transverse momentum $1< p_{\rm T} <12$ GeV/$c$, were measured in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis exploited the hadronic decays D$^0 \rightarrow$K$\pi$, D$^+ \rightarrow$K$\pi\pi$, D$^{*+} \rightarrow$D$^0\pi$, and their charge conjugates, and was performed on a $L_{\rm int} = 1.1$ nb$^{-1}$ event sample collected in 2011 with a minimum-bias trigger. The total charm production cross section at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV and at 7 TeV was evaluated by extrapolating to the full phase space the $p_{\rm T}$-differential production cross sections at $\sqrt{s} = 2.76$ TeV and our previous measurements at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV. The results were compared to existing measurements and to perturbative-QCD calculations. The fraction of cdbar D mesons produced in a vector state was also determined.Comment: 20 pages, 5 captioned figures, 4 tables, authors from page 15, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/307