Multiplicity fluctuations in relativistic nuclear collisions

Multiplicity distributions of hadrons produced in central nucleus-nucleus collisions are studied within the hadron-resonance gas model in the large volume limit. In the canonical ensemble conservation of three charges (baryon number, electric charge, and strangeness) is enforced. In addition, in the micro-canonical ensemble energy conservation is included. An analytical method is used to account for resonance decays. Multiplicity distributions and scaled variances for negatively charged hadrons are presented along the chemical freeze-out line of central Pb+Pb (Au+Au) collisions from SIS to LHC energies. Predictions obtained within different statistical ensembles are compared with preliminary NA49 experimental results on central Pb+Pb collisions in the SPS energy range. The measured fluctuations are significantly narrower than a Poisson reference distribution, and clearly favor expectations for the micro-canonical ensemble.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Forward-backward correlations in nucleus-nucleus collisions: baseline contributions from geometrical fluctuations

We discuss the effects of initial collision geometry and centrality bin definition on correlation and fluctuation observables in nucleus-nucleus collisions. We focus on the forward-backward correlation coefficient recently measured by the STAR Collaboration in Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Our study is carried out within two models: the Glauber Monte Carlo code with a `toy' wounded nucleon model and the hadron-string dynamics (HSD) transport approach. We show that strong correlations can arise due to averaging over events in one centrality bin. We, furthermore, argue that a study of the dependence of correlations on the centrality bin definition as well as the bin size may distinguish between these `trivial' correlations and correlations arising from `new physics'.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Enhanced Anandamide Plasma Levels in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome following Traumatic Injury: A Preliminary Report

The complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling neuropathic pain condition that may develop following injuries of the extremities. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is not clear; however, it includes complex interactions between the nervous and the immune system resulting in chronic inflammation, pain and trophic changes. This interaction may be mediated by chronic stress which is thought to activate the endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) system (ECS). We conducted an open, prospective, comparative clinical study to determine plasma level of the endocannabinoid anandamide by high-performance liquid chromatography and a tandem mass spectrometry system in 10 patients with CRPS type I versus 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. As compared to healthy controls, CRPS patients showed significantly higher plasma concentrations of anandamide. These results indicate that the peripheral ECS is activated in CRPS. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the role of the ECS in the limitation of inflammation and pain. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base

Multiplicity fluctuations in relativistic nuclear collisions: statistical model versus experimental data

The multiplicity distributions of hadrons produced in central nucleus-nucleus collisions are studied within the hadron-resonance gas model in the large volume limit. The microscopic correlator method is used to enforce conservation of three charges - baryon number, electric charge, and strangeness - in the canonical ensemble. In addition, in the micro-canonical ensemble energy conservation is included. An analytical method is used to account for resonance decays. The multiplicity distributions and the scaled variances for negatively, positively, and all charged hadrons are calculated along the chemical freeze-out line of central Pb+Pb (Au+Au) collisions from SIS to LHC energies. Predictions obtained within different statistical ensembles are compared with the preliminary NA49 experimental results on central Pb+Pb collisions in the SPS energy range. The measured fluctuations are significantly narrower than the Poisson ones and clearly favor expectations for the micro-canonical ensemble. Thus this is a first observation of the recently predicted suppression of the multiplicity fluctuations in relativistic gases in the thermodynamical limit due to conservation laws.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figures, corrected reference

Multiplicity Fluctuations in Hadron-Resonance Gas

The charged hadron multiplicity fluctuations are considered in the canonical ensemble. The microscopic correlator method is extended to include three conserved charges: baryon number, electric charge and strangeness. The analytical formulae are presented that allow to include resonance decay contributions to correlations and fluctuations. We make the predictions for the scaled variances of negative, positive and all charged hadrons in the most central Pb+Pb (Au+Au) collisions for different collision energies from SIS and AGS to SPS and RHIC.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

3D numerical study of neutral gas dynamics in the DTT particle exhaust using the DSMC method

Recently the design of the divertor tokamak test (DTT) Facility divertor has been modified and consolidated. The new divertor design presents significant geometrical differences compared to the previous ITER-like one, including the presence of a more flattened dome shape. This paper presents a complete 3D numerical analysis of the neutral gas dynamics inside the DTT subdivertor area for the latest divertor design. The analysis has been performed based on the direct simulation Monte Carlo method by applying the DIVGAS simulator code. SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE plasma simulations have been performed for a deuterium plasma scenario at the maximum additional power in partially detached condition achieved by neon impurity seeding and the extracted information about the neutral particles has been imposed as incoming boundary conditions. The pumping efficiency of the DTT divertor is examined by considering various cases with respect to the pumping probability and the effect of the toroidal and poloidal leakages is quantified. The results show that a significant percentage of the incoming flux of neutrals returns back to the plasma site through the entry gaps (60% for deuterium and 40% for neon), and, consequentially, only a small percentage (∼2%–15%) of the incoming flux can be pumped out from the system. The toroidal leakages affect significantly the pumping performance of the divertor causing a significant decrease in the pumped flux (and also in the pressure at the pumping opening) about 37%–47% and 43%–56% for deuterium and neon respectively. It is discussed how many pumping ports are needed depending on the achievable pumping performance per port. The number can be reduced by closing the toroidal gaps. The analysis shows that enlarging the poloidal gaps by a factor of two causes a significant increase in the poloidal flux losses by a factor 1.7. It is also illustrated how the presence of the cooling pipes leads to conductance losses

Capillary Balancing: Designing Frost-Resistant Lubricant-Infused Surfaces

Slippery lubricant-infused surfaces (SLIPS) have shown great promise for anti-frosting and anti-icing. However, small length scales associated with frost dendrites exert immense capillary suction pressure on the lubricant. This pressure depletes the lubricant film and is detrimental to the functionality of SLIPS. To prevent lubricant depletion, we demonstrate that interstitial spacing in SLIPS needs to be kept below those found in frost dendrites. Densely packed nanoparticles create the optimally sized nanointerstitial features in SLIPS (Nano-SLIPS). The capillary pressure stabilizing the lubricant in Nano-SLIPS balances or exceeds the capillary suction pressure by frost dendrites. We term this concept capillary balancing. Three-dimensional spatial analysis via confocal microscopy reveals that lubricants in optimally structured Nano-SLIPS are not affected throughout condensation (0 °C), extreme frosting (−20 °C to −100 °C), and traverse ice-shearing (−10 °C) tests. These surfaces preserve low ice adhesion (10–30 kPa) over 50 icing cycles, demonstrating a design principle for next-generation anti-icing surfaces.publishedVersionPeer reviewe