Efficiency for the imperfect LHC collimation system

The LHC collimation system requires a high cleaning efficiency in order to prevent magnet quenches due to regular beam diffusion. The cleaning efficiency is significantly reduced due to imperfections of the collimator jaws and the machine optics. Tracking tools have been set up to predict the cleaning efficiency in presence of multiple imperfections. The deterioration of cleaning efficiency is quantified for different errors, including collimator surface non-flatness, collimator alignment errors, beta beating, orbit errors, non-linear field errors, and chromatic effects

Influence of nonuniform critical current density profile on magnetic field behavior of AC susceptibility in 2D Josephson Junction Arrays

Employing mutual-inductance measurements we study the magnetic field dependence of complex AC susceptibility of artificially prepared highly ordered (periodic) two-dimensional Josephson junction arrays of unshunted Nb-AlO_x-Nb junctions. The observed behavior can be explained assuming single-plaquette approximation of the overdamped model with an inhomogeneous critical current distribution within a single junction.Comment: 4 pages (REVTEX), 6 figure

Kinetic Inductance of Josephson Junction Arrays: Dynamic and Equilibrium Calculations

We show analytically that the inverse kinetic inductance $L^{-1}$ of an overdamped junction array at low frequencies is proportional to the admittance of an inhomogeneous equivalent impedance network. The $ij^{th}$ bond in this equivalent network has an inverse inductance $J_{ij}\cos(\theta_i^0-\theta_j^0-A_{ij})$, where $J_{ij}$ is the Josephson coupling energy of the $ij^{th}$ bond, $\theta_i^0$ is the ground-state phase of the grain $i$, and $A_{ij}$ is the usual magnetic phase factor. We use this theorem to calculate $L^{-1}$ for square arrays as large as $180\times 180$. The calculated $L^{-1}$ is in very good agreement with the low-temperature limit of the helicity modulus $\gamma$ calculated by conventional equilibrium Monte Carlo techniques. However, the finite temperature structure of $\gamma$, as a function of magnetic field, is \underline{sharper} than the zero-temperature $L^{-1}$, which shows surprisingly weak structure. In triangular arrays, the equilibrium calculation of $\gamma$ yields a series of peaks at frustrations $f = \frac{1}{2}(1-1/N)$, where $N$ is an integer $\geq 2$, consistent with experiment.Comment: 14 pages + 6 postscript figures, 3.0 REVTe

Clinical implementation of deep learning-based automated left breast simultaneous integrated boost radiotherapy treatment planning.

Automation in radiotherapy treatment planning aims to improve both the quality and the efficiency of the process. The aim of this study was to report on a clinical implementation of a Deep Learning (DL) auto-planning model for left-sided breast cancer. The DL model was developed for left-sided breast simultaneous integrated boost treatments under deep-inspiration breath-hold. Eighty manual dose distributions were revised and used for training. Ten patients were used for model validation. The model was then used to design 17 clinical auto-plans. Manual and auto-plans were scored on a list of clinical goals for both targets and organs-at-risk (OARs). For validation, predicted and mimicked dose (PD and MD, respectively) percent error (PE) was calculated with respect to manual dose. Clinical and validation cohorts were compared in terms of MD only. Median values of both PD and MD validation plans fulfilled the evaluation criteria. PE was < 1% for targets for both PD and MD. PD was well aligned to manual dose while MD left lung mean dose was significantly less (median:5.1 Gy vs 6.1 Gy). The left-anterior-descending artery maximum dose was found out of requirements (median values:+5.9 Gy and + 2.9 Gy, for PD and MD respectively) in three validation cases, while it was reduced for clinical cases (median:-1.9 Gy). No other clinically significant differences were observed between clinical and validation cohorts. Small OAR differences observed during the model validation were not found clinically relevant. The clinical implementation outcomes confirmed the robustness of the model

Overview of the CLIC Collimation design

The collimation system of the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) should simultaneously fulfill three different functions. It must (1) provide adequate halo collimation to render the detector background acceptable, (2) ensure collimator survival and machine protection against mis-steered beams, and (3) not significantly amplify incoming trajectory fluctuations via the collimator wake fields. We describe the present layout of CLIC post-linac collimation and characterize its potential performance

Magnetoinductance of Josephson junction array with frozen vortex diffusion

The dependence of sheet impedance of a Josephson junction array on the applied magnetic field is investigated in the regime when vortex diffusion between array plaquettes is effectively frozen due to low enough temperature. The field dependent contribution to sheet inductance is found to be proportional to f*ln(1/f), where f<<1 is the magnitude of the field expressed in terms of flux quanta per plaquette.Comment: 5 pages, no figure

Effect of thermal phase fluctuations on the superfluid density of two-dimensional superconducting films

High precision measurements of the complex sheet conductivity of superconducting Mo77Ge23 thin films have been made from 0.4 K through Tc. A sharp drop in the inverse sheet inductance, 1/L(T), is observed at a temperature, Tc, which lies below the mean-field transition temperature, Tco. Just below Tc, the suppression of 1/L(T) below its mean-field value indicates that longitudinal phase fluctuations have nearly their full classical amplitude, but they disappear rapidly as T decreases. We argue that there is a quantum crossover at about 0.94 Tco, below which classical phase fluctuations are suppressed.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. Subm. to PR

Pion double charge exchange on 4He

The doubly differential cross sections for the $^4$He$(\pi^+,\pi^-) 4p$ reaction were calculated using both a two-nucleon sequential single charge exchange model and an intranuclear cascade code. Final state interactions between the two final protons which were the initial neutrons were included in both methods. At incident pion energies of 240 and 270 MeV the low-energy peak observed experimentally in the energy spectrum of the final pions can be understood only if the contribution of pion production is included. The calculated cross sections are compared with data.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure

CLIC Beam Delivery System

We review the present design for the CLIC beam delivery system as configured for 3 TeV and for 500 GeV, describe some recent developments (including the combined effect of solenoid, crab cavity, and crossing angle), highlight open questions, and outline future studies

Assessment of needs, health-related quality of life, and satisfaction with care in breast cancer patients to better target supportive care

Background This study assessed whether breast cancer (BC) patients express similar levels of needs for equivalent severity of symptoms, functioning difficulties, or degrees of satisfaction with care aspects. BC patients who did (or not) report needs in spite of similar difficulties were identified among their sociodemographic or clinical characteristics. Patients and methods Three hundred and eighty-four (73% response rate) BC patients recruited in ambulatory or surgery hospital services completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)-C30 quality of life [health-related quality of life (HRQOL)], the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 (in-patient) or OUT-PATSAT35 (out-patient) satisfaction with care, and the supportive care needs survey short form 34-item (SCNS-SF34) measures. Results HRQOL or satisfaction with care scale scores explained 41%, 45%, 40% and 22% of variance in, respectively, psychological, physical/daily living needs, information/health system, and care/support needs (P < 0.001). BC patients' education level, having children, hospital service attendance, and anxiety/depression levels significantly predicted differences in psychological needs relative to corresponding difficulties (adjusted R2 = 0.11). Medical history and anxiety/depression levels significantly predicted differences in information/health system needs relative to degrees of satisfaction with doctors, nurses, or radiotherapy technicians and general satisfaction (adjusted R2 = 0.12). Unmet needs were most prevalent in the psychological domains across hospital services. Conclusions Assessment of needs, HRQOL, and satisfaction with care highlights the subgroups of BC patients requiring better supportive care targetin