On the sign of the pi-rho-omega coupling constant

It is shown that the relative sign between the $NN\omega$ and $\pi\rho\omega$ coupling constants can be determined most sensitively from $\omega$ production processes in $NN$ collisions. Recent data on these reactions clearly favor the sign of the $\pi\rho\omega$ coupling constant which is opposite to that inferred from studies of the photoproduction reaction in combination with the vector meson dominance assumption and used by many authors. Implication of this finding in the description of other reactions is discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, REVTeX, to be published in Phys. Lett.

Charmonium-hadron interactions from QCD

The heavy quark system is an excellent probe to learn about the QCD dynamics at finite density. First, we discuss the properties of the $J/\psi$ and $D$ meson at finite nucleon density. We discuss why their properties should change at finite density and then introduce an exact QCD relation among these hadron properties and the energy momentum tensor of the medium. Second, we discuss attempts to calculate charmonium-hadron total cross section using effective hadronic models and perturbative QCD. We emphasize a recent calculation, where the cross section is derived using QCD factorization theorem. We conclude by discussing some challenges for SIS 200.Comment: 8 pages, Presented at 6th International Conference on Strange Quarks in Matter: 2001: A Flavorspace Odyssey (SQM2001), Frankfurt, Germany, 25-29 Sep 2001, submitted to J. Phys.

Charmonium-Nucleon Dissociation Cross Sections in the Quark Model

Charmonium dissociation cross sections due to flavor-exchange charmonium-baryon scattering are computed in the constituent quark model. We present results for inelastic $J/\psi N$ and $\eta_c N$ scattering amplitudes and cross sections into 46 final channels, including final states composed of various combinations of $D$, $D^*$, $\Sigma_c$, and $\Lambda_c$. These results are relevant to experimental searches for the deconfined phase of quark matter, and may be useful in identifying the contribution of initial $c\bar c$ production to the open-charm final states observed at RHIC through the characteristic flavor ratios of certain channels. These results are also of interest to possible charmonium-nucleon bound states.Comment: 10 pages, 5 eps figures, revte

Direct-write, focused ion beam-deposited,7 K superconducting C-Ga-O nanowire

We have fabricated C-Ga-O nanowires by gallium focused ion beam-induced deposition from the carbon-based precursor phenanthrene. The electrical conductivity of the nanowires is weakly temperature dependent below 300 K, and indicates a transition to a superconducting state below Tc = 7 K. We have measured the temperature dependence of the upper critical field Hc2(T), and estimate a zero temperature critical field of 8.8 T. The Tc of this material is approximately 40% higher than that of any other direct write nanowire, such as those based on C-W-Ga, expanding the possibility of fabricating direct-write nanostructures that superconduct above liquid helium temperaturesComment: Accepted for AP

Determination of the gaseous hydrogen ductile-brittle transition in copper-nickel alloys

A series of copper-nickel alloys were fabricated, notched tensile specimens machined for each alloy, and the specimens tested in 34.5 MPa hydrogen and in air. A notched tensile ratio was determined for each alloy and the hydrogen environment embrittlement (HEE) determined for the alloys of 47.7 weight percent nickel to 73.5 weight percent nickel. Stacking fault probability and stacking fault energies were determined for each alloy using the x ray diffraction line shift and line profiles technique. Hydrogen environment embrittlement was determined to be influenced by stacking fault energies; however, the correlation is believed to be indirect and only partially responsible for the HEE behavior of these alloys

Epitaxial aluminium-nitride tunnel barriers grown by nitridation with a plasma source

High critical current-density (10 to 420 kA/cm^2) superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junctions with aluminium nitride barriers have been realized using a remote nitrogen plasma from an inductively coupled plasma source operated in a pressure range of 10^{-3} to 10^{-1} mbar. We find a much better reproducibility and control compared to previous work. From the current-voltage characteristics and cross-sectional TEM images it is inferred that, compared to the commonly used AlO_x barriers, the poly-crystalline AlN barriers are much more uniform in transmissivity, leading to a better quality at high critical current-densities.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in AP

Real Forms of the Oscillator Quantum Algebra and its Representations

We consider the conditions under which the $q$-oscillator algebra becomes a Hopf $*$-algebra. In particular, we show that there are at least two real forms associated with the algebra. Furthermore, through the representations, it is shown that they are related to ${\text {su}}_{q^{1/2}}(2)$ with different conjugations.Comment: 10 pages, Ams-Tex, To be published in Letters in Mathematical physic