W Mass at LEP and Standard Model Fits

The W-mass measurements from LEP and the results of a global fit of the Standard Model parameters to the electroweak data are presented. Comprehensive studies of experimental systematic effects allowed a measurement of the W mass with an accuracy of better than half a permill. Especially the recent improvements in the LEP energy calibration, the modelling of the hadronisation process and the understanding of Bose-Einstein correlations and colour reconnection effects are discussed. The fit of the Standard Model parameters to all electroweak measurements verifies the self-consistency of the theory. The combination of all electroweak data yield information on the mass of the still undiscovered Higgs boson, $m_H$.Comment: Proceedings of the XLIst Recontres de Moriond, La Thuile, March 200

The scatter of mechanical values of carbon fiber composites and its causes

The scatter of experimental data obtained in an investigation of the parameters of structural components was investigated. Strength parameters which are determined by the resin or the adhesion between fiber and resin were included. The statistical characteristics of the mechanical parameters of carbon fiber composites, and the possibilities which exist to reduce this scatter were emphasized. It is found that quality control tests of fiber and resin are important for such a reduction

Thermal detector model for cryogenic composite detectors for the dark matter experiments CRESST and EURECA

The CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search with Superconducting Thermometers) and the EURECA (European Underground Rare Event Calorimeter Array) experiments are direct dark matter search experiments where cryogenic detectors are used to detect spin-independent, coherent WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle)-nucleon scattering events by means of the recoil energy. The cryogenic detectors use a massive single crystal as absorber which is equipped with a TES (transition edge sensor) for signal read-out. They are operated at mK-temperatures. In order to enable a mass production of these detectors, as needed for the EURECA experiment, a so-called composite detector design (CDD) that allows decoupling of the TES fabrication from the optimization procedure of the absorber single-crystal was developed and studied. To further investigate, understand and optimize the performance of composite detectors a detailed thermal detector model which takes into account the CDD has been developed.Comment: To appear in Journal of Physics: Conference Series; Proceedings of Neutrino 2008, Christchurch, New Zealan

Depletion potentials near geometrically structured substrates

Using the recently developed so-called White Bear version of Rosenfeld's Fundamental Measure Theory we calculate the depletion potentials between a hard-sphere colloidal particle in a solvent of small hard spheres and simple models of geometrically structured substrates: a right-angled wedge or edge. In the wedge geometry, there is a strong attraction beyond the corresponding one near a planar wall that significantly influences the structure of colloidal suspensions in wedges. In accordance with an experimental study, for the edge geometry we find a free energy barrier of the order of several $k_B T$ which repels a big colloidal particle from the edge.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Binary hard-sphere fluids near a hard wall

By using the Rosenfeld density functional we determine the number density profiles of both components of binary hard-sphere fluids close to a planar hard wall as well as the corresponding excess coverage and surface tension. The comparison with published simulation data demonstrates that the Rosenfeld functional, both its original version and sophistications thereof, is superior to previous approaches and exhibits the same excellent accuracy as known from studies of the corresponding one-component system

Light environment - A. Visible light. B. Ultraviolet light

Visible and ultraviolet light environment as related to human performance and safety during space mission