The Strategic Implications of Scale in Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis

Choice-based conjoint (CBC) studies have begun to rely on simulators to forecast equilibrium prices for pricing, strategic product positioning, and patent/copyright valuations. Whereas CBC research has long focused on the accuracy of estimated relative partworths of attribute levels, predicted equilibrium prices and strategic positioning are surprisingly and dramatically dependent on scale: the magnitude of the partworths (including the price coefficient) relative to the magnitude of the error term. Although the impact of scale on the ability to estimate heterogeneous partworths is well known, neither the literature nor current practice address the sensitivity of pricing and positioning to scale. This sensitivity is important because (estimated) scale depends on seemingly innocuous market-research decisions such as whether attributes are described by text or by realistic images. We demonstrate the strategic implications of scale using a stylized model in which heterogeneity is modeled explicitly. If a firm shirks on the quality of a CBC study and acts on incorrectly observed scale, a follower, but not an innovator, can make costly strategic errors. Externally valid estimates of scale are extremely important. We demonstrate empirically that image realism and incentive alignment affect scale sufficiently to change strategic decisions and affect patent/copyright valuations by hundreds of millions of dollars

Absorption in Ultra-Peripheral Nucleus-Atom Collisions in Crystal

The Glauber theory description of particle- and nucleus-crystal Coulomb interactions at high-energy is developed. The allowance for the lattice thermal vibrations is shown to produce strong absorption effect which is of prime importance for quantitative understanding of the coherent Coulomb excitation of ultra-relativistic particles and nuclei passing through the crystal.Comment: 8 pages, LaTe

Cluster states in nuclei as representations of a U(n+1) group

We propose a description of cluster states in nuclei in terms of representations of unitary algebras U(n+1), where n is the number of space degrees of freedom. Within this framework, a variety of situations including both vibrational and rotational spectra, soft and rigid configurations, identical and non-identical constituents can be described. As an example, we show how the method can be used to study alpha-clustering configurations in 12C with point group symmetry D(3h).Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. C, in pres

Isospin Effects in Nuclear Multifragmentation

We develop an improved Statistical Multifragmentation Model that provides the capability to calculate calorimetric and isotopic observables with precision. With this new model we examine the influence of nuclear isospin on the fragment elemental and isotopic distributions. We show that the proposed improvements on the model are essential for studying isospin effects in nuclear multifragmentation. In particular, these calculations show that accurate comparisons to experimental data require that the nuclear masses, free energies and secondary decay must be handled with higher precision than many current models accord.Comment: 46 pages, 16 figure

Quasiparticle Resonances in the BCS Approach

We present a simple method for calculating the energies and the widths of quasiparticle resonant states. The method is based on BCS equations solved in the Berggren representation. In this representation the quasiparticle resonances are associated to the Gamow states of the mean field. The method is illustrated for the case of neutron-rich nuclei $^{20-22}$O and $^{84}$Ni. It is shown that the contribution of the continuum coupling to the pairing correlations is small and largely dominated by a few resonant states close to the continuum threshold.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Resonances and final state interactions in the reaction pp->pK^+Lambda

A study of the strangeness production reaction pp->pK^+Lambda for excess energies of epsilon \le 150 MeV, accessible at high-luminosity accelerator facilities like COSY, is presented. Methods to analyze the Dalitz plot distribution and angular spectra in the Jackson and helicity frames are worked out and suitable observables for extracting information on low lying resonances that couple to the K-Lambda system and for determining the Lambda-p effective-range parameters from the final state interaction are identified and discussed. Furthermore, the chances for identifying the reaction mechanism of strangeness production are investigated.Comment: 16 pages, 16 figure

Photodissociation of p-process nuclei studied by bremsstrahlung induced activation

A research program has been started to study experimentally the near-threshold photodissociation of nuclides in the chain of cosmic heavy element production with bremsstrahlung from the ELBE accelerator. An important prerequisite for such studies is good knowledge of the bremsstrahlung distribution which was determined by measuring the photodissociation of the deuteron and by comparison with model calculations. First data were obtained for the astrophysically important target nucleus 92-Mo by observing the radioactive decay of the nuclides produced by bremsstrahlung irradiation at end-point energies between 11.8 MeV and 14.0 MeV. The results are compared to recent statistical model calculations.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, Proceedings Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics II, May 16-20, 2005, Debrecen, Hungary. The original publication is available at www.eurphysj.or

The high-lying 6^6Li levels at excitation energy around 21 MeV

The $^3$H+$^3$He cluster structure in $^6$Li was investigated by the $^3$H($\alpha$,$^3$H $^3$He)n kinematically complete experiment at the incident energy $E_\alpha$ = 67.2 MeV. We have observed two resonances at $E_x^*$ = 21.30 and 21.90 MeV which are consistent with the $^3$He($^3$H, $\gamma$)$^6$Li analysis in the Ajzenberg-Selove compilation. Our data are compared with the previous experimental data and the RGM and CSRGM calculations.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Direct radiative capture of p-wave neutrons

The neutron direct radiative capture (DRC) process is investigated, highlighting the role of incident p-wave neutrons. A set of calculations is shown for the 12-C(n,gamma) process at incoming neutron energies up to 500 keV, a crucial region for astrophysics. The cross section for neutron capture leading to loosely bound s, p and d orbits of 13-C is well reproduced by the DRC model demonstrating the feasibility of using this reaction channel to study the properties of nuclear wave functions on and outside the nuclear surface. A sensitivity analysis of the results on the neutron-nucleus interaction is performed for incident s- as well as p-waves. It turned out that the DRC cross section for p-wave neutrons is insensitive to this interaction, contrary to the case of incident s-wave neutrons. PACS number(s): 25.40Lw,21.10Gv,23.40.HcComment: 16 pages, REVTeX file, PostScript file, .dvi fil

Non-resonant direct p- and d-wave neutron capture by 12C

Discrete gamma-rays from the neutron capture state of 13C to its low-lying bound states have been measured using pulsed neutrons at En = 550 keV. The partial capture cross sections have been determined to be 1.7+/-0.5, 24.2+/-1.0, 2.0+/-0.4 and 1.0+/-0.4 microb for the ground (1/2-), first (1/2+), second (3/2-) and third (5/2+) excited states, respectively. From a comparison with theoretical predictions based on the non-resonant direct radiative capture mechanism, we could determine the spectroscopic factor for the 1/2+ state to be 0.80 +/- 0.04, free from neutron-nucleus interaction ambiguities in the continuum. In addition we have detected the contribution of the non-resonant d-wave capture component in the partial cross sections for transitions leading to the 1/2- and 3/2- states. While the s-wave capture dominates at En < 100 keV, the d-wave component turns out to be very important at higher energies. From the present investigation the 12C(n,gamma)13C reaction rate is obtained for temperatures in the range 10E+7 - 10E+10 K.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C. - 16 pages + 8 figure