Scheme Dependence at Small x

We discuss the evolution of F_2^p at small x, emphasizing the uncertainties related to expansion, fitting, renormalization and factorization scheme dependence. We find that perturbative extrapolation from the measured region down to smaller x and lower Q^2 may become strongly scheme dependent.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX with epsfig, 2 uuencoded figure

Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its Globular Cluster System

As shown in previous works, globular clusters can be used to trace the overall structure of the diffuse stellar populations in early type galaxies if the number of clusters per unit stellar mass depends on metallicity. In this paper we further test this assumption in the galaxy NGC 4486 (M 87), by combining several data sources. The results show that globular clusters allow the mapping of the galaxy in terms of the surface brightness profile, integrated colour gradient, chemical abundance, and mass to luminosity ratios up to 1000 arcsec (or 80.4 kpc) from its centre (i.e. some 10 effective radii). The analysis indicates the presence of a dominant high metallicity bulge associated with the red globulars, whose ellipticity increases outwards, and of a more flattened low metallicity halo connected with the blue globulars. The chemical abundance gradient of the composite stellar population is remarkably similar to that inferred from X ray observations of hot gas. The mass-metallicity spectrum of the stellar population can, in principle, be understood in terms of inhomogeneous enrichment models. In turn, the distribution of the bluest GCs, and lowest metallicity halo stars, has an intriguing similarity with that of dark matter, a feature shared with NGC 1399. Also, in these two galaxies, the number of blue GCs per dark mass unit is identical within the errors, \approx 1.0(\pm0.3) \times 10^{-9} . The total stellar mass derived for NGC 4486 is 6.8(\pm1.1) \times 10^{11} M\odot with a baryonic mass fraction fb = 0.08(\pm 0.01).Comment: 18 pages, 23 figure

BFKL at NNLO

We present a recent determination of an approximate expression for the O(alpha_s^3) contribution chi_2 to the kernel of the BFKL equation. This includes all collinear and anticollinear singular contributions and is derived using duality relations between the GLAP and BFKL kernels.Comment: 8 pages. Talk presented at 12th International Conference on Elastic and Diffractive Scattering: Forward Physics and QCD, Hamburg, DESY, Germany, 21-25 May 200

Re-evaluation of the Gottfried sum using neural networks

We provide a determination of the Gottfried sum from all available data, based on a neural network parametrization of the nonsinglet structure function F_2. We find S_G=0.244 +- 0.045, closer to the quark model expectation S_G=1/3 than previous results. We show that the uncertainty from the small x region is somewhat underestimated in previous determinations.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, latex with revte

Anomaly-Induced Magnetic Screening in 2+1 dimensional QED at Finite Density

We show that in 2+1 dimensional Quantum Electrodynamics an external magnetic field applied to a finite density of massless fermions is screened, due to a $2+1$-dimensional realization of the underlying $2$-dimensional axial anomaly of the space components of the electric current. This is shown to imply screening of the magnetic field, i.e., the Meissner effect. We discuss the physical implications of this result.Comment: 8 pages, DFTT-93-10 [ Eq.(15) and (16) were scrambled in previous version

About the linearity of the color-magnitude relation of early-type galaxies in the Virgo cluster

We revisit the color-magnitude relation (CMR) of the Virgo cluster early-type galaxies in order to explore its alleged non-linearity. To this aim, we reanalyze the relation already published from data obtained within the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey of the Hubble Space Telescope, and perform our own photometry and analysis of the images of the 100 early-type galaxies observed as part of this survey. In addition, we compare our results with those reported in the literature from data of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We have found that when the brightest galaxies and untypical systems are excluded from the sample, a linear relation arises in agreement with what is observed in other groups and clusters. The central regions of the brightest galaxies also follow this relation. In addition, we notice that Virgo contains at least four compact elliptical galaxies besides the well known object VCC 1297 (NGC 4486B). Their locations in the -luminosity diagram define a different trend to that followed by normal early-type dwarf galaxies, setting an upper limit in effective surface brightness and a lower limit in effective radius for their luminosities. Based on the distribution of different galaxy sub-samples in the color-magnitude and -luminosity diagrams we draw some conclusions on their formation and the history of their evolution.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap

Parametric thermal analysis for the optimization of Double Walled Tubes layout in the Water Cooled Lithium Lead inboard blanket of DEMO fusion reactor

Within the roadmap that will lead to the nuclear fusion exploitation for electric energy generation, the construction of a DEMOnstration (DEMO) reactor is, probably, the most important milestone to be reached since it will demonstrate the technological feasibility and economic competitiveness of an industrial-scale nuclear fusion reactor. In order to reach this goal, several European universities and research centres have joined their efforts in the EUROfusion action, funded by HORIZON 2020 UE programme. Within the framework of EUROfusion research activities, ENEA and University of Palermo are involved in the design of the Water-Cooled Lithium Lead Breeding Blanket (WCLL BB), that is one of the two BB concepts under consideration to be adopted in the DEMO reactor. It is mainly characterized by a liquid lithium-lead eutectic alloy acting as breeder (lithium) and neutron multiplier (lead), as well as by subcooled pressurized water as coolant. Two separate circuits, both characterized by a pressure of 15.5 MPa and inlet/outlet temperatures of 295 °C/328 °C, are deputed to cool down the First Wall (FW) and the Breeder Zone (BZ). The former consists in a system of radial-toroidal-radial C-shaped squared channels where countercurrent water flow occurs while the latter relies in the use of bundles of poloidal-radial Double Walled Tubes (DWTs) housed within the breeder. A parametric thermal study has been carried out in order to assess the best DWTs' layout assuring that the structural material maximum temperature does not overcome the allowable limit of 550 °C and that the overall coolant thermal rise fulfils the design target value of 33 °C. The study has been performed following a theoretical-numerical approach based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) and adopting the quoted Abaqus FEM code. Main assumptions and models together with results obtained are herewith reported and critically discussed

The sigma term and the quark number operator in QCD

We discuss the relationship of the forward matrix element of the operator $\bar\psi\psi$, related to the so-called sigma term, to the quark number. We show that in the naive quark model in the canonical formalism these quantities coincide in the limit of small average quark momenta. In the QCD parton model defined through light-front quantization this result is preserved at leading perturbative order but it receives radiative corrections. We analyze the theoretical and phenomenological consequences of this result, which provides a bridge between a current algebra quantity, the sigma term, and a deep-inelastic quantity, the parton number.Comment: 30 pages, 1 figure, DFTT-92-6 (April 1993