The Lorentz force between D0 and D6 branes in string and M(atrix) theory

We use different techniques to analyze the system formed by a D0 brane and a D6 brane (with background gauge fields) in relative motion. In particular, using the closed string formalism of boosted boundary states, we show the presence of a term linear in the velocity, corresponding to the Lorentz force experienced by the D0 brane moving in the magnetic background produced by the D6 brane. This term, that was missed in previous analyses of this system, comes entirely from the R-R odd spin structure and is also reproduced by a M(atrix) theory calculation.Comment: 13 pages, plain LaTeX; some clarifying comments and a reference adde

Automorphic properties of low energy string amplitudes in various dimensions

This paper explores the moduli-dependent coefficients of higher derivative interactions that appear in the low-energy expansion of the four-graviton amplitude of maximally supersymmetric string theory compactified on a d-torus. These automorphic functions are determined for terms up to order D^6R^4 and various values of d by imposing a variety of consistency conditions. They satisfy Laplace eigenvalue equations with or without source terms, whose solutions are given in terms of Eisenstein series, or more general automorphic functions, for certain parabolic subgroups of the relevant U-duality groups. The ultraviolet divergences of the corresponding supergravity field theory limits are encoded in various logarithms, although the string theory expressions are finite. This analysis includes intriguing representations of SL(d) and SO(d,d) Eisenstein series in terms of toroidally compactified one and two-loop string and supergravity amplitudes.Comment: 80 pages. 1 figure. v2:Typos corrected, footnotes amended and small clarifications. v3: minor corrections. Version to appear in Phys Rev

Study of the role of the interface between niobium films and copper RF resonators

Niobium-coated copper resonators are usually produced with an oxide interface between the film and the substrate. This oxide has two sources: the passivation layer inevitably formed on the surface of the cavity after chemical preparation before coating, and the niobium oxide which builds up on the surface of the cathode when it is exposed to air, and is transferred to the cavity surface during coa ting. The oxide layer may influence both the purity and the structural properties of the film, and in turn its RF behaviour. To study its effect, some cavities have been coated with a special two-cath ode sputtering system, allowing for a complete removal of both oxide layers by sputter-etching. For comparison, a few cavities have also been produced with the same coating system without sputter-etch ing, or with a controlled oxidation of the copper surface of the cavity after sputter-etching. Two cavities have also been produced without oxide interface using Kr and Ne as sputter gas instead of Ar

Study of the surface resistance of niobium sputter-coated copper cavities

A systematic study of the superconducting properties of niobium films deposited on the inner wall of copper radiofrequency cavities is presented. Films are grown by sputtering with different discharge gases (Xe, Kr, Ar and Ar/Ne mixtures) on substrates prepared under different conditions. The measured quantities include the surface resistance at 1.5 GHz, the critical temperature and the penetration depth. The surface resistance is analyzed in terms of its dependence on temperature, RF field and the density of trapped fluxons. Once allowance for electron scattering is made by means of a single mean free path parameter, good agreement with BCS theory is observed. The residual resistance is observed to be essentially noncorrelated with the superconducting properties, although influenced by specific coating conditions. On occasions, very low residual resistances, in the nano-ohm range, have been maintained over a broad range of RF field, indicating the absence of fundamental limitations specific to the film technology in practical applications. (7 refs)

Study of the surface resistance of superconducting niobium films at 1.5 GHz

A systematic study of superconducting properties of niobium films sputtered on the inner wall of radiofrequency cavities is presented. The measured quantities include in particular the response to 1.5 GHz microwaves, the critical temperature, the penetration depth and the magnetic penetration field. In addition to films grown in different gas discharges (Xe, Kr, Ar and Ar/Ne mixtures) and to films grown on substrates prepared under different conditions, the study also includes bulk niobium cavities. The surface resistance is analysed in terms of its dependence on temperature, on RF field and, when relevant, on the density of trapped fluxons. A simple parameterisation is found to give a good fit to the data. Once allowance for the presence of impurities and defects is made by means of a single parameter, the electron mean free path, good agreement with BCS theory is observed. The fluxon-induced losses are studied in detail and their dependence on RF field, on temperature and on the density of trapped fluxons is analysed. The residual resistance is observed to be essentially uncorrelated with the other variables, suggesting that it is dominantly extragranular. In occasions very low residual resistances, in the n Omega range, have been maintained over a broad range of RF field, indicating the absence of significant fundamental limitations specific to the film technology in practical applications such as the production of accelerating cavities for particle accelerators. (130 refs)

Niobium sputter-coated copper resonators

Niobium sputter-coated copper resonators are successfully employed in operating particle accelerators, the most outstanding example being LEP2 at CERN. In this review we present recent progress in the understanding of the basic principles governing their behaviour, based on an extensive R&D programme carried out at CERN on 1.5 GHz resonators operated in the TM010 mode. At the present stage of the s tudy, no fundamental limitation has been found which would prevent the use of this technology for future high-field, high-Q accelerating cavities

Properties of Copper Cavities Coated with Niobium Using Different Discharge Gases

Experimental evidence is presented showing that in conformity with theoretical expectations, discharge gas atoms are trapped in sputtered films whenever a gas of atomic mass smaller than that of the c athode is used. In such a case, discharge gas atoms may be reflected by the cathode as high energy neutrals and get incorporated in the growing film. Niobium films have been produced using Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and then analysed for rare gas content by thermal extraction. The gas concentrations are found to vary from the several percent range for Ne down to the ppm level for Kr and Xe. The noble gas conce ntration in the film influences the RRR and, in the case of high concentration, also the critical temperature. To study the effect of the implanted noble gas on the superconducting RF parameters, seve ral 1.5 GHz copper cavities have been niobium-coated using the different discharge gases. The noble gases trapped in the film affect the penetration depth, the temperature dependent losses (RBCS), the losses induced by the presence of trapped fluxons, but have no significant influence on the residual resistance

Magnetic flux trapping in superconducting niobium

In a systematic study of the RF response of superconducting niobium cavities operated in their fundamental TM010 mode at 1.5 GHz, magnetic flux trapping has been used as a tool to diagnose the presenc e of pinning centres. In addition to bulk niobium cavities the study covers copper cavities, the inner walls of which are coated with 1.5 µm thick niobium films grown by magnetron sputtering in a nobl e gas atmosphere. The use of different gases (Xe, Kr, Ar and Ne) or gas mixtures has made it possible to vary the concentration of noble gas atoms in the films. Film contamination is characterised by an electron mean free path l calculated from the results of systematic measurements of the penetration depth at T = 0 K, l0, and from RRR measurements made on samples prepared under similar conditions as the cavity films

A genome-wide association study identifies a susceptibility locus for biliary atresia on 2p16.1 within the gene EFEMP1

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare pediatric cholangiopathy characterized by fibrosclerosing obliteration of the extrahepatic bile ducts, leading to cholestasis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventual liver failure. The etiology of BA remains unknown, although environmental, inflammatory, infectious, and genetic risk factors have been proposed. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a European-American cohort of 343 isolated BA patients and 1716 controls to identify genetic loci associated with BA. A second GWAS was performed in an independent European-American cohort of 156 patients with BA and other extrahepatic anomalies and 212 controls to confirm the identified candidate BA-associated SNPs. Meta-analysis revealed three genome-wide significant BA-associated SNPs on 2p16.1 (rs10865291, rs6761893, and rs727878; P < 5 ×10-8), located within the fifth intron of the EFEMP1 gene, which encodes a secreted extracellular protein implicated in extracellular matrix remodeling, cell proliferation, and organogenesis. RNA expression analysis showed an increase in EFEMP1 transcripts from human liver specimens isolated from patients with either BA or other cholestatic diseases when compared to normal control liver samples. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that EFEMP1 is expressed in cholangiocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells in liver specimens from patients with BA and other cholestatic diseases, but it is absent from cholangiocytes in normal control liver samples. Efemp1 transcripts had higher expression in cholangiocytes and portal fibroblasts as compared with other cell types in normal rat liver. The identification of a novel BA-associated locus, and implication of EFEMP1 as a new BA candidate susceptibility gene, could provide new insights to understanding the mechanisms underlying this severe pediatric disorder

The low energy expansion of the one-loop type II superstring amplitude

The one-loop four-graviton amplitude in either of the type II superstring theories is expanded in powers of the external momenta up to and including terms of order s^4 log s R^4, where R^4 denotes a specific contraction of four linearized Weyl tensors and s is a Mandelstam invariant. Terms in this series are obtained by integrating powers of the two-dimensional scalar field theory propagator over the toroidal world-sheet as well as the moduli of the torus. The values of these coefficients match expectations based on duality relations between string theory and eleven-dimensional supergravity.Comment: harvmac (b), 25 pages, 3 eps figures. v2: Factors of 2 corrected. Conclusion unchange