High precision determination of the Q2Q^2-evolution of the Bjorken Sum

We present a significantly improved determination of the Bjorken Sum for 0.6$\leq Q^{2}\leq$4.8 GeV$^{2}$ using precise new $g_{1}^{p}$ and $g_{1}^{d}$ data taken with the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab. A higher-twist analysis of the $Q^{2}$-dependence of the Bjorken Sum yields the twist-4 coefficient $f_{2}^{p-n}=-0.064 \pm0.009\pm_{0.036}^{0.032}$. This leads to the color polarizabilities $\chi_{E}^{p-n}=-0.032\pm0.024$ and $\chi_{B}^{p-n}=0.032\pm0.013$. The strong force coupling is determined to be \alpha_{s}^{\overline{\mbox{ MS}}}(M_{Z}^{2})=0.1124\pm0.0061, which has an uncertainty a factor of 1.5 smaller than earlier estimates using polarized DIS data. This improvement makes the comparison between $\alpha_{s}$ extracted from polarized DIS and other techniques a valuable test of QCD.Comment: Published in Phys. Rev. D. V1: 8 pages, 3 figures. V2: Updated references; Included threshold matching in \alpha_s evolution. Corrected a typo on the uncertainty for \Lambda_QCD. V3: Published versio

Nanomechanical characterization by double-pass force-distance mapping

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We demonstrate high speed force–distance mapping using a double-pass scheme. The topography is measured in tapping mode in the first pass and this information is used in the second pass to move the tip over the sample. In the second pass, the cantilever dither signal is turned off and the sample is vibrated. Rapid (few kHz frequency) force–distance curves can be recorded with small peak interaction force, and can be processed into an image. Such a double-pass measurement eliminates the need for feedback during force–distance measurements. The method is demonstrated on self-assembled peptidic nanofibers

Interfiber interactions alter the stiffness of gels formed by supramolecular self-assembled nanofibers

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Molecular self-assembly is a powerful technique for developing novel nanostructures by using noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, electrostatic, metal-ligand, p-p and van der Waals interactions. These interactions are highly dynamic and are often delicate due to their relatively weak nature. However, a sufficient number of these weak interactions can yield a stable assembly. In this work, we studied the mechanical properties of self-assembled peptide amphiphile nanostructures in the nanometre and micrometre scale. Hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions promote self-assembly of peptide amphiphile molecules into nanofibers. Bundles of nanofibers form a three-dimensional network resulting in gel formation. The effect of the nanofiber network on the mechanical properties of the gels was analyzed by AFM, rheology and CD. Concentration and temperature dependent measurements of gel stiffness suggest that the mechanical properties of the gels are determined by a number of factors including the interfiber interactions and mechanical properties of individual nanofibers. We point out that the divergence in gel stiffness may arise from the difference in strength of interfiber bonds based on an energetic model of elastic rod networks, along with continuum mechanical models of bundles of rods. This finding differs from the results observed with traditional polymeric materials. Understanding the mechanisms behind the viscoelastic properties of the gels formed by self-assembling molecules can lead to development of new materials with controlled stiffness. Tissue engineering applications can especially benefit from these materials, where the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix are crucial for cell fate determination. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

G0^0 Electronics and Data Acquisition (Forward-Angle Measurements)

The G$^0$ parity-violation experiment at Jefferson Lab (Newport News, VA) is designed to determine the contribution of strange/anti-strange quark pairs to the intrinsic properties of the proton. In the forward-angle part of the experiment, the asymmetry in the cross section was measured for $\vec{e}p$ elastic scattering by counting the recoil protons corresponding to the two beam-helicity states. Due to the high accuracy required on the asymmetry, the G$^0$ experiment was based on a custom experimental setup with its own associated electronics and data acquisition (DAQ) system. Highly specialized time-encoding electronics provided time-of-flight spectra for each detector for each helicity state. More conventional electronics was used for monitoring (mainly FastBus). The time-encoding electronics and the DAQ system have been designed to handle events at a mean rate of 2 MHz per detector with low deadtime and to minimize helicity-correlated systematic errors. In this paper, we outline the general architecture and the main features of the electronics and the DAQ system dedicated to G$^0$ forward-angle measurements.Comment: 35 pages. 17 figures. This article is to be submitted to NIM section A. It has been written with Latex using \documentclass{elsart}. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment In Press (2007

A Measurement of the Branching Fraction for the Inclusive B --> X(s) gamma Decays with the Belle Detector

We have measured the branching fraction of the inclusive radiative B meson decay B --> X(s) gamma to be Br(B->X(s)gamma)=(3.36 +/- 0.53(stat) +/- 0.42(sys) +0.50-0.54(th)) x 10^{-4}. The result is based on a sample of 6.07 x 10^6 BBbar events collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e^+e^- storage ring.Comment: 14 pages, 6 Postsript figures, uses elsart.cl

Measurement of B0d - B0d-bar mixing rate from the time evolution of dilepton events at the Upsilon(4S)

We report a determination of the B0d - B0d-bar mixing parameter Delta-m_d based on the time evolution of dilepton yields in Upsilon(4S) decays. The measurement is based on a 5.9 /fb data sample collected by the Belle detector at KEKB. The proper-time difference distributions for same-sign and opposite-sign dilepton events are simultaneously fitted to an expression containing Delta-m_d as a free parameter. Using both muons and electrons, we obtain Delta-m_d = 0.463 +- 0.008(stat.) +- 0.016(sys.) ps^{-1} This is the first determination of Delta-m_d from time evolution measurements at the Upsilon(4S). We also place limits on possible CPT violations.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Observation of Mixing-induced CP Violation in the Neutral B Meson System

This report describes an observation of mixing-induced CP violation and a measurement of the CP violation parameter, sin(2phi_1), with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e+e- collider. Using a data sample of 29.1 fb-1 recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance that contains 31.3 million BBbar pairs, we reconstruct decays of neutral B mesons to the following CP eigenstates: J/psi K_S^0, psi(2S) K_S^0, chi_c1 K_S^0, eta_c K_S^0, J/psi K_L^0 and J/psi K^*0. The flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified by combining information from primary and secondary leptons, K+/- mesons, lambda baryons, slow and fast pions. The proper-time interval between the two B meson decays is determined from the distance between the two decay vertices measured with a silicon vertex detector. The result sin(2phi_1) = 0.99 +/- 0.14(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) is obtained by applying a maximum likelihood fit to the 1137 candidate events. We conclude that there is large CP violation in the neutral B meson system. A zero value for sin(2phi_1) is ruled out by more than six standard deviations.Comment: 25 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Measurement of the CP Violation Parameter sin(2phi_1) in B^0_d Meson Decays

We present a measurement of the Standard Model CP violation parameter sin(2phi_1) based on a 10.5 fb^{-1} data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e+e- collider. One neutral B meson is reconstructed in the J/psi K_S, psi(2S) K_S, chi_{c1} K_S, eta_c K_S, J/psi K_L or J/psi pi^0 CP-eigenstate decay channel and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its charged particle decay products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time interval between the two B-meson decay points, we determine sin(2phi_1) = 0.58 +0.32-0.34 (stat) +0.09-0.10 (syst).Comment: LaTex, 13 pages, 3 figures, submitted to P.R.