69 research outputs found
Effect of Non Unitarity on Neutrino Mass Hierarchy determination at DUNE, NOA and T2K
The neutrino mass ordering is one of the principal unknowns in the neutrino
sector. Long baseline neutrino experiments have the potential of resolving this
issue as they are sensitive to large matter effects. The superbeam experiment
DUNE is one of the most promising candidates to study the neutrino mass
hierarchy, along with NOA and T2K. But in the presence of non unitarity of
the leptonic mixing matrix, the capability of such experiments to discriminate
between the two hierarchies gets suppressed. The mass hierarchy sensitivity of
DUNE decreases in the presence of new physics. In this paper we analyze the
origin and extent of this loss of sensitivity at the level of oscillation
probabilities, events, mass hierarchy sensitivity and the discovery reach of
DUNE, NOA and T2K.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, modified version, new text and figure added,
accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics
What measurements of neutrino neutral current events can reveal
We show that neutral current (NC) measurements at neutrino detectors can play
a valuable role in the search for new physics. Such measurements have certain
intrinsic features and advantages that can fruitfully be combined with the
usual well-studied charged lepton detection channels in order to probe the
presence of new interactions or new light states. In addition to the fact that
NC events are immune to uncertainties in standard model neutrino mixing and
mass parameters, they can have small matter effects and superior rates since
all three flavours participate. We also show, as a general feature, that NC
measurements provide access to different combinations of CP phases and mixing
parameters compared to CC measurements at both long and short baseline
experiments. Using the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) as an
illustrative setting, we demonstrate the capability of NC measurements to break
degeneracies arising in CC measurements, allowing us, in principle, to
distinguish between new physics that violates three flavour unitarity and that
which does not. Finally, we show that NC measurements can enable us to restrict
new physics parameters that are not easily constrained by CC measurements.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure
A smart contract system for decentralized borda count voting
In this article, we propose the first self-tallying decentralized e-voting protocol for a ranked-choice voting system based on Borda count. Our protocol does not need any trusted setup or tallying authority to compute the tally. The voters interact through a publicly accessible bulletin board for executing the protocol in a way that is publicly verifiable. Our main protocol consists of two rounds. In the first round, the voters publish their public keys, and in the second round they publish their randomized ballots. All voters provide Non-interactive Zero-Knowledge (NIZK) proofs to show that they have been following the protocol specification honestly without revealing their secret votes. At the end of the election, anyone including a third-party observer will be able to compute the tally without needing any tallying authority. We provide security proofs to show that our protocol guarantees the maximum privacy for each voter. We have implemented our protocol using Ethereum's blockchain as a public bulletin board to record voting operations as publicly verifiable transactions. The experimental data obtained from our tests show the protocol's potential for the real-world deployment
LSND and MiniBooNE as guideposts to understanding the muon results and the CDF II mass measurement
In recent times, several experiments have observed results that are in
significant conflict with the predictions of the Standard Model (SM). Two
neutrino experiments, LSND and MiniBooNE (MB) have reported electron-like
signal excesses above backgrounds. Both the Brookhaven and the Fermilab muon
collaborations have measured values of this parameter which, while
consistent with each other, are in conflict with the SM. Recently, the CDF II
collaboration has reported a precision measurement of the -boson mass that
is in strong conflict with the SM prediction. It is worthwhile to seek new
physics which may underly all four anomalies. In such a quest, the neutrino
experiments could play a crucial role, because once a common solution to these
anomalies is sought, LSND and MB, due to their highly restrictive requirements
and observed final states, help to greatly narrow the multiplicity of new
physics possibilities that are otherwise open to the mass and muon
discrepancies. Pursuant to this, earlier work has shown that LSND, MB and the
muon results can be understood in the context of a scalar extension of
the SM which incorporates a second Higgs doublet and a dark sector singlet. We
show that the same model leads to a contribution to the mass which is
consistent with the recent CDF II measurement. While the LSND, MB fits and the
muon results help determine the masses of the light scalars in the model,
the calculation of the oblique parameters and determines the allowed
mass ranges of the heavier pseudoscalar and the charged Higgs bosons as well as
the effective Weinberg angle and its new range.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 1 table. Figues and related text added.
References adde
Modelling of hydrogen blending into the UK natural gas network driven by a solid oxide fuel cell for electricity and district heating system
A thorough investigation of the thermodynamics and economic performance of a cogeneration system based on solid oxide fuel cells that provides heat and power to homes has been carried out in this study. Additionally, different percentages of green hydrogen have been blended with natural gas to examine the techno-economic performance of the suggested cogeneration system. The energy and exergy efficiency of the system rises steadily as the hydrogen blending percentage rises from 0% to 20%, then slightly drops at 50% H2 blending, and then rises steadily again until 100% H2 supply. The system's minimal levelised cost of energy was calculated to be 4.64 ÂŁ/kWh for 100% H2. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was also used to further train a sizable quantity of data that was received from the simulation model. Heat, power, and levelised cost of energy estimates using the ANN model were found to be extremely accurate, with coefficients of determination of 0.99918, 0.99999, and 0.99888, respectively
Techno-economic analysis of solid oxide fuel cell-based energy systems for decarbonising residential power and heat in the United Kingdom
This study examines the feasibility of using hydrogen as a clean energy source for residential consumers in the UK through a low-carbon energy hub. Two cases were compared: a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) integrated combined heat and power (CHP) system fuelled by natural gas and hydrogen; and a SOFCâheat pump (HP) integrated CHP system fuelled by natural gas and hydrogen. The study used the actual electricity and heating demands of a UK cluster to model the CHP systems. The results indicate that the SOFC-based CHP system with hydrogen as fuel is more energy-efficient than the natural gas-fuelled system, with energetic efficiencies of 92.12% and 66.98%, respectively. The study also found that the system incorporating a heat pump is more economically viable, regardless of the fuel source, with the hydrogen-powered system equipped with a heat pump having a levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.2984 ÂŁ per kW h. The study also evaluated the environmental impact of the natural gas-powered SOFC and SOFCâHP systems, with estimated levelised CO2 emissions of 0.308 kg per kW h and 0.213 kg per kW h, respectively. The study's findings provide insights into the potential of hydrogen as a cleaner energy source for residential consumers in the UK and highlight the importance of exploring low-carbon energy alternatives
Impact of targeted interventions on heterosexual transmission of HIV in India
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Targeted interventions (TIs) have been a major strategy for HIV prevention in India. We evaluated the impact of TIs on HIV prevalence in high HIV prevalence southern states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A quasi-experimental approach was used to retrospectively compare changes in HIV prevalence according to the intensity of targeted intervention implementation. Condom gap (number of condoms required minus condoms supplied by TIs) was used as an indicator of TI intensity. Annual average number of commercial sex acts per female sex worker (FSW) reported in Behavioral Surveillance Survey was multiplied by the estimated number of FSWs in each district to calculate annual requirement of condoms in the district. Data of condoms supplied by TIs from 1995 to 2008 was obtained from program records. Districts in each state were ranked into quartiles based on the TI intensity. Primary data of HIV Sentinel Surveillance was analyzed to calculate HIV prevalence reductions in each successive year taking 2001 as reference year according to the quartiles of TI intensity districts using generalized linear model with logit link and binomial distribution after adjusting for age, education, and place of residence (urban or rural).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the high HIV prevalence southern states, the number of TI projects for FSWs increased from 5 to 310 between 1995 and 2008. In high TI intensity quartile districts (n = 30), 186 condoms per FSW/year were distributed through TIs as compared to 45 condoms/FSW/year in the low TI intensity districts (n = 29). Behavioral surveillance indicated significant rise in condom use from 2001 to 2009. Among FSWs consistent condom use with last paying clients increased from 58.6% to 83.7% (p < 0.001), and among men of reproductive age, the condom use during sex with non-regular partner increased from 51.7% to 68.6% (p < 0.001). A significant decline in HIV and syphilis prevalence has occurred in high prevalence southern states among FSWs and young antenatal women. Among young (15-24 years) antenatal clinic attendees significant decline was observed in HIV prevalence from 2001 to 2008 (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.28-0.62) in high TI intensity districts whereas in low TI intensity districts the change was not significant (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.67-1.5).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Targeted interventions are associated with HIV prevalence decline.</p
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