The rare decay B --> X_s l^+ l^- to NNLL precision for arbitrary dilepton invariant mass

We present a new phenomenological analysis of the inclusive rare decay $B \to X_s \ell^+\ell^-$. In particular, we present the first calculation of the NNLL contributions due to the leading two-loop matrix elements, evaluated for arbitrary dilepton invariant mass. This allows to obtain the first NNLL estimates of the dilepton mass spectrum and the lepton forward-backward asymmetry in the high $M^2_{\ell^+ \ell^-}$ region, and to provide an independent check of previously published results in the low $M^2_{\ell^+ \ell^-}$ region. The numerical impact of these NNLL corrections in the high-mass region ($M^2_{\ell^+ \ell^-} > 14.4 GeV^2$) amounts to -13% in the integrated rate, and leads to a reduction of the scale uncertainty to $\pm 3$. The impact of non-perturbative contributions in this region is also discussed in detail.Comment: 40 pages, 12 figures. v2: extended phenomenological discussion; results unchanged; published versio

Two novel nonlinear companding schemes with iterative receiver to reduce PAPR in multi-carrier modulation systems

Companding transform is an efficient and simple method to reduce the Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) for Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) systems. But if the MCM signal is only simply operated by inverse companding transform at the receiver, the resultant spectrum may exhibit severe in-band and out-of-band radiation of the distortion components, and considerable peak regrowth by excessive channel noises etc. In order to prevent these problems from occurring, in this paper, two novel nonlinear companding schemes with a iterative receiver are proposed to reduce the PAPR. By transforming the amplitude or power of the original MCM signals into uniform distributed signals, the novel schemes can effectively reduce PAPR for different modulation formats and sub-carrier sizes. Despite moderate complexity increasing at the receiver, but it is especially suitable to be combined with iterative channel estimation. Computer simulation results show that the proposed schemes can offer good system performances without any bandwidth expansion

A bi-level model of dynamic traffic signal control with continuum approximation

This paper proposes a bi-level model for traffic network signal control, which is formulated as a dynamic Stackelberg game and solved as a mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (MPEC). The lower-level problem is a dynamic user equilibrium (DUE) with embedded dynamic network loading (DNL) sub-problem based on the LWR model (Lighthill and Whitham, 1955; Richards, 1956). The upper-level decision variables are (time-varying) signal green splits with the objective of minimizing network-wide travel cost. Unlike most existing literature which mainly use an on-and-off (binary) representation of the signal controls, we employ a continuum signal model recently proposed and analyzed in Han et al. (2014), which aims at describing and predicting the aggregate behavior that exists at signalized intersections without relying on distinct signal phases. Advantages of this continuum signal model include fewer integer variables, less restrictive constraints on the time steps, and higher decision resolution. It simplifies the modeling representation of large-scale urban traffic networks with the benefit of improved computational efficiency in simulation or optimization. We present, for the LWR-based DNL model that explicitly captures vehicle spillback, an in-depth study on the implementation of the continuum signal model, as its approximation accuracy depends on a number of factors and may deteriorate greatly under certain conditions. The proposed MPEC is solved on two test networks with three metaheuristic methods. Parallel computing is employed to significantly accelerate the solution procedure

The effect of Mach number on unstable disturbances in shock/boundary-layer interactions

The effect of Mach number on the growth of unstable disturbances in a boundary layer undergoing a strong interaction with an impinging oblique shock wave is studied by direct numerical simulation and linear stability theory (LST). To reduce the number of independent parameters, test cases are arranged so that both the interaction location Reynolds number (based on the distance from the plate leading edge to the shock impingement location for a corresponding inviscid flow) and the separation bubble length Reynolds number are held fixed. Small-amplitude disturbances are introduced via both white-noise and harmonic forcing and, after verification that the disturbances are convective in nature, linear growth rates are extracted from the simulations for comparison with parallel flow LST and solutions of the parabolized stability equations (PSE). At Mach 2.0, the oblique modes are dominant and consistent results are obtained from simulation and theory. At Mach 4.5 and Mach 6.85, the linear Navier-Stokes results show large reductions in disturbance energy at the point where the shock impinges on the top of the separated shear layer. The most unstable second mode has only weak growth over the bubble region, which instead shows significant growth of streamwise structures. The two higher Mach number cases are not well predicted by parallel flow LST, which gives frequencies and spanwise wave numbers that are significantly different from the simulations. The PSE approach leads to good qualitative predictions of the dominant frequency and wavenumber at Mach 2.0 and 4.5, but suffers from reduced accuracy in the region immediately after the shock impingement. Three-dimensional Navier-Stokes simulations are used to demonstrate that at finite amplitudes the flow structures undergo a nonlinear breakdown to turbulence. This breakdown is enhanced when the oblique-mode disturbances are supplemented with unstable Mack modes

Influence of low-level Pr substitution on the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-delta single crystals

We report on measurements on Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-delta single crystals, with x varying from 0 to 2.4%. The upper and the lower critical fields, Hc2 and Hc1, the Ginzburg-Landau parameter and the critical current density, Jc(B), were determined from magnetization measurements and the effective media approach scaling method. We present the influence of Pr substitution on the pinning force density as well as on the trapped field profiles analyzed by Hall probe scanning.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys. Conf. Se

The asset growth effect: Insights from international equity markets

Firms with higher asset growth rates subsequently experience lower stock returns in international equity markets, consistent with the U.S. evidence. This negative effect of asset growth on returns is stronger in more developed capital markets and markets where stocks are more efficiently priced, but is unrelated to country characteristics representing limits to arbitrage, investor protection, and accounting quality. The evidence suggests that the cross-sectional relation between asset growth and stock return is more likely due to an optimal investment effect than due to overinvestment, market timing, or other forms of mispricing. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.preprin

A New Experiment to Study Hyperon CP Violation and the Charmonium System

Fermilab operates the world's most intense antiproton source, now exclusively dedicated to serving the needs of the Tevatron Collider. The anticipated 2009 shutdown of the Tevatron presents the opportunity for a world-leading low- and medium-energy antiproton program. We summarize the status of the Fermilab antiproton facility and review physics topics for which a future experiment could make the world's best measurements.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Proceedings of CTP symposium on Supersymmetry at LHC: Theoretical and Experimental Perspectives, The British University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt, 11-14 March 200