Search for exotic physics with four-fermion coupling at LEP

Preliminary results of measurements of fermion-pair production at LEP2 are used to derive limits on new physics phenomena. Combinations of the cross sections and asymmetrie of the 4 LEP collaborations are interpreted in terms four-fermion contact interactions, exchange of Z' and leptoquarks. Results on the search for extra dimensions are also presented.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables; Proceedings of the Conference "QCD and High Energy Hadronic Interactions", Rencontres de Moriond, 18 - 24 March 200

Manipulation of functional polymers on the molecular and mesoscopic scale

Conferencia Invitada Departamento Química-FísicaThis talk will give an overview over current activities of my research team on the manipulation of semiconducting polymers based on thiophene units on the molecular and mesoscopic scale. On the molecular scale, we have recently managed to synthesize branched thiophene polymers by different chemical routes and by electropolymerization.[1,2] Relationships between the molecular architecture and functional properties such as absorption behavior and energy levels will be discussed and highlighted. On the mesoscopic scale our latest results on controlled crystallization of semiconducting polymer thin films will be presented. While our first studies had focused on the work-horse of the solar cell community poly(3-hexylthiophene)[3], we have recently started to work on two donor-acceptor copolymers: the p-type low bandgap (poly{[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-cyclopenta-(2,1-b:3,4-b’)dithiophene]-2,6-diyl-alt-(2,1,3-benzo-thiadiazol)-4,7-diyl}) (PCPDTBT)[4] and the n-type poly{[N,N’-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalene-dicarboximide-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5’-(2,2’-bithiophene)} (PNDI2OD-T2)[5]. While PNDI2OD-T2 is known to be highly crystalline, PCPDTBT has long been regarded as marginally crystalline or even ‘amorphous’. We show that methods such as solvent-vapor crystallization or shear alignment allow us to induce and control crystalline order over large areas in thin films of both polymers. We find that changes in morphology are closely related to changes in absorption spectra. Furthermore the impact of differently crystallized films on charge transport and solar cell performance is discussed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Intermediation in shifting policy contexts: interviews with community energy actors

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Examining web-based materials. A snapshot of UK fablabs and hacker-spaces

Sabine Hielscher (SPRU) outlines initial impressions gained from an analysis of selected web-based materials on FabLabs and Hackerspaces in the UK to find out what type of information is being shared on these websites, in particular, in relation to the member’s activities, projects and aims

Anti-Americanism and the Cold War : on the DEFA Berlin films

Sustained by well-established anti-American stereotypes and clichés, the romance between German and American culture has been a key ingredient of German cinema since its inception. The encounter with American mass culture produced compelling stories of infatuation and seduction, but also of conquest and surrender