Non-identical particle correlation analysis as a probe of transverse flow

Non-identical two particle correlation functions probe asymmetries between the average space-time emission points of different particle species. The system collective expansion would produce such asymmetry because massive particles, such as protons, are on average more pushed towards the edge of the system, than lighter ones, i.e. pions. Measuring pion-kaon, pion-proton and kaon-proton correlation functions, using the STAR detector, we show that the data are consistent with the effect of transverse flow in Au-Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 130$ GeV.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, Contribution to Quark Matter 2002, Nantes, France, July 200

Advanced nickel-hydrogen cell configuration study

Three nickel hydrogen battery designs, individual pressure vessel (IPV), common pressure vessel (CPV), and a bipolar battery module were studied. Weight, system complexity and cost were compared for a satellite operating in a 6 hour, 5600 nautical mile orbit. The required energy storage is 52 kWh. A 25% improvement in specific energy is observed by employing a bipolar battery versus a battery comprised of hundreds of IPV's. Further weight benefits are realized by the development of light weight technologies in the bipolar design

Economics of Disability Research Report #4: Estimates of the Prevalence of Disability, Employment Rates, and Median Household Size-Adjusted Income for People with Disabilities Aged 18 though 64 in the United States by State, 1980 through 2000

This report replicates Economics of Disability Reports 1, 2, and 3, with some minor changes. These reports contain the prevalence of a disability, employment rates, and median household size-adjusted income between states over the 1980s and 1990s. In response to the requests of state officials to generate statistics that reflect the population they serve, this report includes people aged 18 through 64 rather than people aged 25 through 61. The new age group is more likely to include those who enter the labor force after high school, during college, and post-college as well as those people who have decided not to take early retirement. In addition, at the request of state officials, the statistics in this report are not separated by gender because most government agencies do not make a strong distinction between men and women, even though men and women face different labor market conditions. This report uses data from the March Current Population Survey to estimate the prevalence of a disability, employment rate, and median household size-adjusted income among the non-institutionalized working-age (aged 18 through 64) civilian population in the United States, and for each state and the District of Columbia for the survey years 1981 through 2000 and income/employment years 1980 through 1999. Two definitions of disability that are commonly used in the literature—work limitation and work disability—are utilized. The prevalence of a work limitation and work disability varies greatly across states and over time. The employment rate of persons with work limitations relative to that of persons without a disability varies greatly across states. However, over the last 20 years the relative employment rate of those with work limitations dramatically declined overall and in most states. Consequently, the decrease in the relative employment rate for persons with work limitations induced the growth in the median household size-adjusted income of those with work limitations

No Eigenvalue in Finite Quantum Electrodynamics

We re-examine Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) with massless electron as a finite quantum field theory as advocated by Gell-Mann-Low, Baker-Johnson, Adler, Jackiw and others. We analyze the Dyson-Schwinger equation satisfied by the massless electron in finite QED and conclude that the theory admits no nontrivial eigenvalue for the fine structure constant.Comment: 13 pages, Late

Topical cyclone rainfall characteristics as determined from a satellite passive microwave radiometer

Data from the Nimbus-5 Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer (ESMR-5) were used to calculate latent heat release and other rainfall parameters for over 70 satellite observations of 21 tropical cyclones in the tropical North Pacific Ocean. The results indicate that the ESMR-5 measurements can be useful in determining the rainfall characteristics of these storms and appear to be potentially useful in monitoring as well as predicting their intensity. The ESMR-5 derived total tropical cyclone rainfall estimates agree favorably with previous estimates for both the disturbance and typhoon stages. The mean typhoon rainfall rate (1.9 mm h(-1)) is approximately twice that of disturbances (1.1 mm h(-1))

Thunderstorm vertical velocities and mass flux estimated from satellite data

Infrared geosynchronous satellite data with an interval of five minutes between images are used to estimate thunderstorm top ascent rates on two case study days. A mean vertical velocity of 3.5/ms for 19 clouds is calculated at a height of 8.7 km. This upward motion is representative of an area of approximately 10km on a side. Thunderstorm mass flux of approximately 2x10 to the 11th power/gs is calculated, which compares favorably with previous estimates. There is a significant difference in the mean calculated vertical velocity between elements associated with severe weather reports (w bar=4.6/ms) and those with no such reports (2.5/ms). Calculations were made using a velocity profile for an axially symmetric jet to estimate the peak updraft velocity. For the largest observed w value of 7.8/ms the calculation indicates a peak updraft of approximately 50/ms

Satellite-observed latent heat release in a tropical cyclone

Data from the Nimbus 5 electrically scanning microwave radiometer (ESMR) are used to make calculations of the latent heat release (L.H.R.) and the distribution of rainfall rate in a tropical cyclone as it grows from a tropical disturbance to a typhoon. The L.H.R. (calculated over a circular area of 4 deg latitude radius) increases during the development and intensification of the storm from a magnitude of 2.7 X 10 to the 21st power ergs/s (in the disturbance stage) to 8.8 X 10 to the 21st power ergs (typhoon stage). The latter value corresponds to a mean rainfall rate of 2.0 mm hr/s. The more intense the cyclone and the greater the L.H.R., the greater the percentage contribution of the larger rainfall rates to the L.H.R. In the disturbance stage the percentage contribution of rainfall rates less than or minus 6 mm hr/s is typically 8%; for the typhoon stage, the value is 38%. The distribution of rainfall rate as a function of radial distance from the center indicates that as the cyclone intensifies, the higher rainfall rates tend to concentrate toward the center of the circulation

High transverse momentum suppression and surface effects in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions within the PQM model

We study parton suppression effects in heavy-ion collisions within the Parton Quenching Model (PQM). After a brief summary of the main features of the model, we present comparisons of calculations for the nuclear modification and the away-side suppression factor to data in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at 200 GeV. We discuss properties of light hadron probes and their sensitivity to the medium density within the PQM Monte Carlo framework.Comment: Comments: 6 pages, 8 figures. To appear in the proceedings of Hot Quarks 2006: Workshop for Young Scientists on the Physics of Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, Villasimius, Italy, 15-20 May 200

Rossby waves and α\alpha-effect

Rossby waves drifting in the azimuthal direction are a common feature at the onset of thermal convective instability in a rapidly rotating spherical shell. They can also result from the destabilization of a Stewartson shear layer produced by differential rotation as expected in the liquid sodium experiment (DTS) working in Grenoble, France. A usual way to explain why Rossby waves can participate to the dynamo process goes back to Busse (1975). In his picture, the flow geometry is a cylindrical array of parallel rolls aligned with the rotation axis. The axial flow component (the component parallel to the rotation axis) is (i) maximum in the middle of each roll and changes its sign from one roll to the next. It is produced by the Ekman pumping at the fluid containing shell boundary. The corresponding dynamo mechanism can be explained in terms of an $\alpha$-tensor with non-zero coefficients on the diagonal. In rapidly rotating objects like the Earth's core (or in a fast rotating experiment), Rossby waves occur in the limit of small Ekman number ($\approx 10^{-15}$). In that case, the main source of the axial flow component is not the Ekman pumping but rather the ``geometrical slope effect'' due to the spherical shape of the fluid containing shell. This implies that the axial flow component is (ii) maximum at the borders of the rolls and not at the centers. If assumed to be stationary, such rolls would lead to zero coefficients on the diagonal of the $\alpha$-tensor, making the dynamo probably less efficient if possible at all. Actually, the rolls are drifting as a wave, and we show that this drift implies non--zero coefficients on the diagonal of the $\alpha$-tensor. These new coefficients are in essence very different from the ones obtained in case (i) and cannot be interpreted in terms of the heuristic picture of Busse (1975)