How to Accurately Extract the Running Coupling of QCD from Lattice Potential Data

By (a) using an expression for the LATTICE potential of QCD in terms of a CONTINUUM running coupling and (b) globally parameterizing this coupling to interpolate between 2- (or higher-) loop QCD in the UV and the flux tube prediction in the IR, we can perfectly fit lattice data for the potential down to ONE lattice spacing and at the same time extract the running coupling to high precision. This allows us to quantitatively check the accuracy of 2-loop evolution, compare with the Lepage-Mackenzie estimate of the coupling extracted from the plaquette, and determine the scale $r_0$ ten times more accurately than previously possible. For pure SU(3) we find that the coupling scales on the percent level for $\beta \geq 6$.Comment: 3 pages Latex incl. 2 figures, uses espcrc2.sty, contribution to LATTICE '9

The Future of Contractual Mandatory Retirement in South Korea

Although contractual mandatory retirement at a specified age has been eliminated, or limited, in many Western nations, the practice remains widespread in other parts of the world. In South Korea (henceforth, Korea) most workers are subject to contractual mandatory retirement, often while still relatively young; that is, in the 50s. Korean retirement policies are deeply rooted in the belief by policy makers, employers and unions that mandatory retirement creates jobs for young workers. In addition, because worker compensation is linked to age, employers argue that the seniority-based wages paid to older workers are excessive. Notwithstanding the opposition to reforming retirement policies, Korea faces a rapidly aging population that will require modifications to existing retirement arrangements. Moreover, greater emphasis on human rights, and efforts to reduce age-based discrimination in employment, will add to the pressures to increase the age of contractual mandatory retirement.Mandatory Retirement, South Korea, Age Discrimination, Population Aging

Sine-Gordon =/= Massive Thirring, and Related Heresies

By viewing the Sine-Gordon and massive Thirring models as perturbed conformal field theories one sees that they are different (the difference being observable, for instance, in finite-volume energy levels). The UV limit of the former (SGM) is a gaussian model, that of the latter (MTM) a so-called {\it fermionic} gaussian model, the compactification radius of the boson underlying both theories depending on the SG/MT coupling. (These two families of conformal field theories are related by a ``twist''.) Corresponding SG and MT models contain a subset of fields with identical correlation functions, but each model also has fields the other one does not, e.g. the fermion fields of MTM are not contained in SGM, and the {\it bosonic} soliton fields of SGM are not in MTM. Our results imply, in particular, that the SGM at the so-called ``free-Dirac point'' $\beta^2 = 4\pi$ is actually a theory of two interacting bosons with diagonal S-matrix $S=-1$, and that for arbitrary couplings the overall sign of the accepted SG S-matrix in the soliton sector should be reversed. More generally, we draw attention to the existence of new classes of quantum field theories, analogs of the (perturbed) fermionic gaussian models, whose partition functions are invariant only under a subgroup of the modular group. One such class comprises ``fermionic versions'' of the Virasoro minimal models.Comment: 50 pages (harvmac unreduced), CLNS-92/1149, ITP-SB-92-3

Non-Perturbative Improvement of the Anisotropic Wilson QCD Action

We describe the first steps in the extension of the Symanzik O($a$) improvement program for Wilson-type quark actions to anisotropic lattices, with a temporal lattice spacing smaller than the spatial one. This provides a fully relativistic and computationally efficient framework for the study of heavy quarks. We illustrate our method with accurate results for the quenched charmonium spectrum.Comment: LATTICE98(improvement), 3 pages, 4 figure

Strengthening Fairness and Funding in the Canada Pension Plan: Is Raising the Retirement Age an Option?

This paper seeks to contribute to a forward-looking debate on possible reform options for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP). Even though it focuses on the CPP, most of its analysis applies to the QPP as well since the two programs are largely identical. This paper does not provide a broad survey of all possible reform options, but rather analyzes one vital option that has received insufficient attention in previous debates: raising the normal retirement age from 65 to 67 years. A discussion of this option is warranted not only because it could prevent future financing problems in Canada’s public pension insurance programs, but also because it could improve fairness across generations. The significant increase in life expectancy raises the question of whether the current retirement ages of 60 years, for earliest CPP and QPP benefits, and 65 years, for full benefits, are too low. Should future generations pay for the longevity increases of the current generation of workers, or should current workers share the costs by retiring at a later age? We conclude that raising the normal age from 65 to 67 years—and the earliest age from 60 to 62 years—is a financially effective, intergenerationally fair, and politically acceptable option for improving the CPP and for addressing the QPP’s problems. We suggest that the option of raising the retirement age needs to be discussed well before longevity increases or funding problems occur and that a broad consultation with stakeholders and citizens would be an essential part of a debate on raising the retirement age in Canada.pension systems, pensions, retirement, retirement age, life expectancy, Canada

Electronic visualization of gas bearing behavior

Visualization technique produces a visual simulation of gas bearing operation by electronically combining the outputs from the clearance probes used to monitor bearing component motion. Computerized recordings of the probes output are processed, displayed on an oscilloscope screen and recorded with a high-speed motion picture camera

Radar, Insect Population Ecology, and Pest Management

Discussions included: (1) the potential role of radar in insect ecology studies and pest management; (2) the potential role of radar in correlating atmospheric phenomena with insect movement; (3) the present and future radar systems; (4) program objectives required to adapt radar to insect ecology studies and pest management; and (5) the specific action items to achieve the objectives