Physics Commons^™

University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Advanced Accelerator Applications University Participation Program: Quarterly Report, Third Quarter (September To November 2001), Anthony Hechanova

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

This Quarterly Report is a primary deliverable from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) University Participation Program (UPP) Director to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as described in the UNLV AAA proposal and Statement of Work for the Third Quarter.

The UNLV AAA UPP Director implements the program’s administration using staff from the Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies (HRC) to ensure that work conducted under the UNLV AAA UPP meets program objectives. The UNLV AAA UPP consists of three components: Program Support, Research Infrastructure Augmentation, and Student Research.

Scroll Waves In The Presence Of Slowly Varying Anisotropy With Application To The Heart, S. Setayeshgar, Andrew J. Bernoff

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We consider the dynamics of scroll waves in the presence of rotating anisotropy, a model of the left ventricle of the heart in which the orientation of fibers in successive layers of tissue rotates. By choosing a coordinate system aligned with the fiber rotation and studying the phase dynamics of a straight but twisted scroll wave, we derive a Burgers’ equation with forcing associated with the fiber rotation rate. We present asymptotic solutions for scroll twist, verified by numerics, using a realistic fiber distribution profile. We make connection with earlier numerical and analytical work on scroll dynamics.

Nuclear Criticality Analyses Of Separations Processes For The Transmutation Fuel Cycle: Quaterly Report, William Culbreth, Pang Tao

Separations Campaign (TRP)

During the first quarter of the work, the tasks included training students in the use of Monte Carlo codes used in radiation transport studies and the assessment of neutron multiplication factors for specific problems outlined by ANL-East through Drs. Laidler and Vandegrift.

The proposal also included objectives for the first year of work on this project, as listed below. The work conducted in the first quarter of the project was in partial completion of these objectives.

• Train UNLV students in the use of SCALE and/or MCNP for the assessment of nuclear criticality.

• Assess neutron multiplication factor, k_{eff …}

Radiation Transport Modeling Of Beam-Target Experiments For The Aaa Project: Quaterly Report, William Culbreth

Reactor Campaign (TRP)

The national development of technology to transmute nuclear waste depends upon the generation of high energy neutrons produced by proton spallation. Proton accelerators, such as LANSCE at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, are capable of producing 800 MeV protons. By bombarding a lead/bismuth target, each proton may generate 500 or more neutrons that can activate fission products or induce the fission of transuranic isotopes.

The Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNPX developed at LANL is an important tool in the design of transmuter technology. It must be validated, however, for the neutron energy that will be employed. Experiments are being …

Measuring The Speed Of Sound Of Quintessence, Christian Armendariz-Picon, Joel K. Erickson, R. R. Caldwell, Paul J. Steinhardt, V. Mukhanov

Physics - All Scholarship

Quintessence, a time-varying energy component that may account for the accelerated expansion of the universe, can be characterized by its equation of state and sound speed. In this paper, we show that if the quintessence density is at least one percent of the critical density at the surface of last scattering the cosmic microwave background anisotropy can distinguish between models whose sound speed is near the speed of light versus near zero, which could be useful in distinguishing competing candidates for dark energy.

Testing A Fourier Accelerated Hybrid Monte Carlo Algorithm, Simon Catterall, Sergey Karamov

Physics - All Scholarship

We describe a Fourier Accelerated Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm suitable for dynamical fermion simulations of non-gauge models. We test the algorithm in supersymmetric quantum mechanics viewed as a one-dimensional Euclidean lattice field theory. We find dramatic reductions in the autocorrelation time of the algorithm in comparison to standard HMC.

Search For Gluinos And Squarks Using Like-Sign Dileptons In Pp̅ Collisions At √S= 1.8 Tev, T. Affolder, Kenneth A. Bloom, Collider Detector At Fermilab Collaboration

Kenneth Bloom Publications

We present results of the first search for like-sign dilepton (e^±e^{±, e± μ±, μ± μ±) events associated with multijets and large missing energy using 106 pb-1 of data in pp̅ collisions at √s= 1.8 TeV collected during 1992–1995 by the CDF experiment. Finding no events that pass our selection, we examine pair production of gluinos (g̃) and squarks (q̃) in a constrained framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. At tanβ =2 and μ = -800 GeV/c2, we set 95% confidence …}

Ratio Of Isolated Photon Cross Sections In Pp̅ Collisions At √S = 630 And 1800 Gev, V. M. Abazov, Gregory R. Snow, D0 Collaboration

Gregory Snow Publications

The inclusive cross section for production of isolated photons has been measured in pp̅ collisions at √s = 630 GeV with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The photons span a transverse energy (E_T) range from 7–49 GeV and have pseudorapidity∣η∣ < 2.5. This measurement is combined with the previous D0 result at √s = 1800 GeV to form a ratio of the cross sections. Comparison of next-to-leading-order QCD with the measured cross section at 630 GeV and the ratio of cross sections show satisfactory agreement in most of the E_T range.

Introduction To Effective Lagrangians For Qcd, Joseph Schechter

Physics - All Scholarship

A brief introduction to the effective Lagrangian treatment of QCD (in the sense of using fields representing physical particles rather than quarks and gluons) will be given. The historical evolution of the subject will be discussed. Some background material related to a recent model for Gamma Ray Bursters will be given. Finally, some recent work on low energy strong interactions will be mentioned.

Dilution-Induced Enhancement Of The Blocking Temperature In Exchange-Bias Heterosystems, Xi Chen, Christian Binek, A. Hochstrat, Wolfgang Kleemann

Christian Binek Publications

The temperature dependence of the exchange bias field is investigated by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry in Fe_1-xZn_xF2(110)/Fe14 nm/Ag35 nm, x=0.4. Its blocking temperature exhibits a significant enhancement with respect to the global ordering temperature T_N=46.9 K, of the bulk antiferromagnet Fe_0.6Zn_0.4F₂. The enhancement is attributed to fluctuations of the diamagnetic dilution which creates clusters on all length scales having a Zn dilution of 0<~x<~1. While the infinite clusters give rise to the well-known Griffiths phase, finite clusters also provoke a local enhancement of the exchange bias. The temperature dependence of the integral exchange bias effect is modeled by averaging all local contributions of the antiferromagnetic surface magnetization which exhibit a surface critical behavior.

Origins Of Nonstoichiometry And Vacancy Ordering In Sc1-X□Xs, Gus L. W. Hart, Alex Zunger

Faculty Publications

Whereas nearly all compounds AnBm obey Dalton's rule of integer stoichiometry (n:m, both integer), there is a class of systems, exemplified by the rocksalt structure Sc1-x□xS, that exhibits large deviations from stoichiometry via vacancies, even at low temperatures. By combining first-principles total energy calculations with lattice statistical mechanics, we scan an astronomical number of possible structures, identifying the stable ground states. Surprisingly, all have the same motifs: (111) planes with (112) vacancy rows arranged in (110) columns. Electronic structure calculations of the ground states (identified out of ~3 × 10^6 structures) reveal the remarkable origins of nonstoichiometry.

Observation Of Diffractive J/Ψ Production At The Fermilab Tevatron, T. Affolder, Kenneth A. Bloom, Collider Detector At Fermilab Collaboration

Kenneth Bloom Publications

We report the first observation of diffractive J/ψ(→μ⁺μ^-) production in p̅p collisions at √s= 1.8 TeV. Diffractive events are identified by their rapidity gap signature. In a sample of events with two muons of transverse momentum p_{T,/sub> ^μ> 2 GeV/c within the pseudorapidity region |η| J/ψ production rates is found to be RJ/ψ=[1.45 ± 0.25]%. The ratio RJ/ψ(x) is presented as a function of x-Bjorken. By combining it with our previously measured corresponding ratio Rjj(x) for diffractive dijet production, we extract a value of 0.59 …}

Gravitational Ultrarelativistic Interaction Of Classical Particles In The Context Of Unification Of Interactions, R. Plyatsko, Oleksa-Myron Bilaniuk

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

The response of the ultrarelativistic particle with spin in a Schwarzschild field to the gravitomagnetic components as measured by the comoving observer is investigated. The dependence of the particle's spin–orbit acceleration on the Lorentz γ-factor and the spin orientation is studied. The concrete circular ultrarelativistic orbit of radius r = 3 m is considered as a partial solution of the Mathisson–Papapetrou equations and as the corresponding high-energy quantum state of the Dirac particle. Numerical estimates for protons and electrons near black holes are given. A tendency of gravitational and electromagnetic interactions to approach in quantitative terms at ultrarelativistic velocities is …

Search For Quark-Lepton Compositeness And A Heavy W′ Boson Using The Eν Channel In Pp̅ Collisions At √S = 1.8 Tev, T. Affolder, Kenneth A. Bloom, Collider Detector At Fermilab Collaboration

Kenneth Bloom Publications

We present searches for quark-lepton compositeness and a heavy W′ boson at high electron-neutrino transverse mass. We use ~110 pb^-1 of data collected in pp̅ collisions at √s= 1.8 TeV by the CDF Collaboration during 1992–1995. The data are consistent with standard model expectations. Limits are set on the quark-lepton compositeness scale Λ, the ratio of partial cross sections σ (W′ → eν)/ σ (W → eν), and the mass of a W′ boson with standard model couplings. We exclude Λ< 2.81 TeV and a W′ boson with mass below 754 GeV/c² at the 95% …

Search For New Physics Using Quaero: A General Interface To D0 Event Data, V. M. Abazov, Gregory R. Snow, D0 Collaboration

Gregory Snow Publications

We describe QUAERO, a method that (i) enables the automatic optimization of searches for physics beyond the standard model, and (ii) provides a mechanism for making high energy collider data generally available. We apply QUAERO to searches for standard model WW, ZZ , and tt̅ production, to searches for these objects produced through a new heavy resonance, and to the first direct search for W′→ WZ. Through this interface, we make three data sets collected by the D0 experiment at √s =1.8 TeV publicly available.

The Cataclysmic Variable Cw 1045+525: A Secondary-Dominated Dwarf Nova?, C. Tappert, J. R. Thorstensen, W. H. Fenton, N. Bennert, L. Schmidtobreick, A. Bianchini

Physics

We present spectroscopic and photometric observations of the cataclysmic variable CW 1045+525. Both the optical spectrum and the photometric lightcurve show a strong contribution of a K5V-M0V secondary. We derive an orbital period d by measuring the radial velocities of the absorption lines of the secondary. The period and spectral type of the secondary suggest a distance of 350-700 pc. There is evidence for additional sources of line- and continuum emission, but no direct evidence of an accretion disc. We discuss several scenarios for the nature of CW 1045+525 on the basis of our results, finding a dwarf nova classification …

Computer Sound Card Assisted Measurements Of The Acoustic Doppler Effect For Accelerated And Unaccelerated Sound Sources, Thomas J. Bensky, S. E. Frey

Physics

An approach to experimentally measuring the speed of a moving object by direct application of the Doppler effect for sound is discussed. The method presented here uses a Windows computer and sound card to record Doppler shifted sound from a moving source. This sound card approach allows for direct acquisition of Doppler shifted sound intensity as a function of time, affording much analytical and pedagogical freedom in undergraduate lab instruction. In addition, the acquisition of such data allows for the experimental study of not only constant velocity sound sources, but of accelerated sound sources as well.

Atomic And Electronic Structure Of Co/Srtio3/Co Tunnel Junctions, Ivan I. Oleinik, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, David G. Pettifor

Evgeny Tsymbal Publications

First-principles density-functional calculations of the atomic and electronic structure of Co/SrTiO₃ /Co (001) magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ’s) are performed. Different interface terminations are considered and the most stable structure with the TiO₂ termination is identified based on energetics of adhesion. The calculated electronic structure of the TiO₂-terminated MTJ shows an exchange coupling between the interface Co and Ti atoms mediated by oxygen. This coupling induces a magnetic moment of 0.25 µ_B on the interface Ti atom, which is aligned antiparallel to the magnetic moment of the Co layer. We argue that this might cause an …

Large Nondipole Effects In The Angular Distributions Of K-Shell Photoelectrons From Molecular Nitrogen, Oliver Hemmers, H. Wang, P. Focke, I. A. Sellin, Dennis W. Lindle, J. C. Arce, J. A. Sheehy, P. W. Langhoff

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Measurements of angular distributions of K-shell electrons photoejected from molecular nitrogen are reported which reveal large deviations at relatively low photon energies ( ħω≤500eV) from emission patterns anticipated from the dipole approximation to interactions between radiation and matter. A concomitant theoretical analysis incorporating the effects of electromagnetic retardation attributes the observed large nondipole behaviors in N₂ to bond-length-dependent terms in the E1⊗(E2,M1) photoelectron emission amplitudes which are indicative of a potentially universal nondipole behavior in molecular photoionization.

Absorption Of Microwaves In La1Àxsrxmno3 Manganese Powders Over A Wide Bandwidth, G. Li, G. G. Hu, H. D. Zhou, Xiaojuan Fan, X. G. Li

Physics Faculty Research

We present the frequency dependence of microwave-absorbing properties of La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ (x=0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.7) powders at room temperature. The absorbing properties change gradually with x in the frequency range of 8–12 GHz. The optimal absorption can be achieved for a x=0.4 sample and its microwave loss peak value is about 25 dB. Further experimental results show that the absorption can be attributed to magnetic and dielectric losses and the microwave loss peak corresponds to the maximum dielectric loss tangent tan δ_e near 10.5 GHz. Furthermore, the absorbing properties of the oxides mixed with …

Techniques For The Regeneration Of Wideband Speech From Narrowband Speech, Jason A. Fuemmeler, Russell C. Hardie, William R. Gardner

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper addresses the problem of reconstructing wideband speech signals from observed narrowband speech signals. The goal of this work is to improve the perceived quality of speech signals which have been transmitted through narrowband channels or degraded during acquisition. We describe a system, based on linear predictive coding, for estimating wideband speech from narrowband. This system employs both previously identified and novel techniques. Experimental results are provided in order to illustrate the system’s ability to improve speech quality. Both objective and subjective criteria are used to evaluate the quality of the processed speech signals.

Polariton And Free-Exciton-Like Photoluminescence In Zno, D. C. Reynolds, David C. Look, B. Jogai, T. C. Collins

Physics Faculty Publications

An unusual photoluminescence line X has been observed in ZnO at an energy between that of the common donor-bound excitons (DBEs) and the free excitons (FEs). In the presence of a high carrier concentration, induced by a second below-band gap laser, the DBEs decrease in intensity, due to screening, and both the FEs and X increase. Thus, X has free-exciton, rather than bound-exciton, character. However, its electric-field vector lies in the plane perpendicular to the c axis, as is also found for the DBEs. The appearance of X is discussed in terms of the polariton picture.

Electronic-Structure Modifications Induced By Surface Segregation In La0.65Pb0.35Mno3 Thin Films, C.N. Borca, B. Xu, T. Komesu, H.-K. Jeong, M.T. Liu, Sy_Hwang Liou, Shane Stadler, Y. Idzerda, Peter A. Dowben

Sy-Hwang Liou Publications

Using spin-polarized inverse photoemission and X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques, we show that the electronic structure of La_0.65Pb_0.35MnO₃ thin films depends on the composition at the surface. With a gentle annealing procedure, the surface provides a maximum of 80% spin asymmetry at 0.5 eV above the Fermi level in spite of extensive Pb segregation. A heavily annealed (restructured) surface exhibits a reduced surface "ordering" temperature of 240 K (compared to the approximately 335 K bulk value) as well as a reduced spin asymmetry value of 40% at 0.5 eV above Fermi energy.

Semiclassical Scattering Of An Electric Dipole Source Inside A Spherical Particle, James A. Lock

Physics Faculty Publications

Semiclassical scattering phenomena appearing in the far-zone scattered intensity of a point source of electromagnetic radiation inside a spherical particle are examined in the context of both ray theory and wave theory, and the evolution of the phenomena is studied as a function of source position. A number of semiclassical effects that do not occur for plane-wave scattering by the sphere appear prominently for scattering by an interior source. These include a series of scattering resonances and a new family of rainbows in regions of otherwise total internal reflection. Diffractive effects accompanying the semiclassical phenomena are also examined. (C) 2001 …

Effects Of A Large Mesospheric Temperature Enhancement On The Hydroxyl Rotational Temperature As Observedfrom The Ground, S. M.L. Melo, R. P. Lowe, W. R. Pendleton Jr., Michael J. Taylor, B. Williams, C. Y. She

All Physics Faculty Publications

The rotational temperature obtained from the rotational population distribution in the bands of the hydroxyl airglow has been shown to be a suitable proxy for the temperature at a height of 87 km [She and Lowe, 1998]. In this paper we examine in detail simultaneous observations on November 2–3, 1997, at Fort Collins, Colorado (41°N, 105°W), with both a sodium temperature lidar and the Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) OH mesospheric temperature mapper during which significant differences between the hydroxyl and lidar temperatures occur. The large differences are associated with a major temperature enhancement in the region …

Effect Of Rare Locally Ordered Regions On A Disordered Itinerant Quantum Antiferromagnet With Cubic Anisotropy, Rajesh S. Narayanan, Thomas Vojta

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We study the quantum phase transition of an itinerant antiferromagnet with cubic anisotropy in the presence of quenched disorder, paying particular attention to the locally ordered spatial regions that form in the Griffiths region. We derive an effective action where these rare regions are described in terms of static annealed disorder. A one-loop renormalization-group analysis of the effective action shows that for order-parameter dimensions p<4, the rare regions destroy the conventional critical behavior, and the renormalized disorder flows to infinity. For order-parameter dimensions p>4, the critical behavior is not influenced by the rare regions; it is described by the conventional dirty cubic fixed point. We also discuss the influence of the rare regions on the fluctuation-driven first-order transition …

Field-Dependent Tilt And Birefringence Of Electroclinic Liquid Crystals: Theory And Experiment, J. V. Selinger, Peter J. Collings, R. Shashidhar

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

An unresolved issue in the theory of liquid crystals is the molecular basis of the electroclinic effect in the smectic-A phase. Recent x-ray scattering experiments suggest that, in a class of siloxane-containing liquid crystals, an electric field changes a state of disordered molecular tilt in random directions into a state of ordered tilt in one direction. To investigate this issue, we measure the optical tilt and birefringence of these liquid crystals as functions of field and temperature, and we develop a theory for the distribution of molecular orientations under a field. A comparison of theory and experiment confirms that these …

Design And Evaluation Of Processes For Fuel Fabrication: Quarterly Progress Report #1, Georg F. Mauer

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

The first three months of the project covered the following:

• Literature review: A comprehensive study of the pertinent publications pertaining to transmuter fuels composition and manufacturing processes was conducted.

• Visit at ANL West in Idaho Falls, ID: Dr. Mauer visited the ANL West facility and met with his National Laboratory Collaborator, Dr. Mitchell K. Meyer, Group Leader, Fabrication Development on October 14 and 15, 2001.

• Student Paper Presentation at the ANS Annual Meeting by Ph.D. student Mr. Jae-Kyu Lee. Title: Transmuter Fuel Fabrication Processes.

Tachyonic Instability And Dynamics Of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, Gary Felder, Lev Kofman, Andrei Linde

Physics: Faculty Publications

Spontaneous symmetry breaking usually occurs due to the tachyonic (spinodal) instability of a scalar field near the top of its effective potential at φ=0. Naively, one might expect the field φ to fall from the top of the effective potential and then experience a long stage of oscillations with amplitude O(v) near the minimum of the effective potential at φ=v until it gives its energy to particles produced during these oscillations. However, it was recently found that the tachyonic instability rapidly converts most of the potential energy V(0) into the energy of colliding classical waves of the scalar field. This …

Terahertz Gain In A Sige/Si Quantum Staircase Utilizing The Heavy-Hole Inverted Effective Mass, Richard A. Soref, Greg Sun

Physics Faculty Publications

Modeling and design studies show that a strain-balanced Si_1−xGe_x/Si superlattice onSi_1−yGe_y-buffered Si can be engineered to give an inverted effective mass HH2 subband adjacent to HH1, thereby enabling a 77 K edge-emitting electrically pumped p–i–pquantum staircase laser for THz emission at energies below the 37 meV Ge–Ge optical phonon energy. Analysis of hole-phonon scattering, lifetimes, matrix elements, and hole populations indicates that a gain of 450 cm⁻¹ will be feasible at f = 7.3 THz during 1.7 kA/cm² current injection.