title:
Evaporative Cooling of Helium Nanodroplets with Angular Momentum
  Conservation

abstract:
  Evaporative cooling of helium nanodroplets is studied with a statistical rate
model that includes, for the first time, angular momentum conservation as a
constraint on the accessible droplet states. It is found that while the final
temperature of the droplets is almost identical to that previously predicted
and later observed, the distribution of total droplet energy and angular
momentum states is vastly more excited than a canonical distribution at the
same temperature. It is found that the final angular momentum of the droplets
is highly correlated with the initial direction, and that a significant
fraction of the alignment of the total angular momentum should be transferred
to the rotational angular momentum of an embedded molecule.


title:
The Acceleration and Storage of Radioactive Ions for a Beta-Beam
  Facility

abstract:
  The term beta-beam has been coined for the production of a pure beam of
electron neutrinos or their antiparticles through the decay of radioactive ions
circulating in a storage ring. This concept requires radioactive ions to be
accelerated to as high Lorentz gamma as 150. The neutrino source itself
consists of a storage ring for this energy range, with long straight sections
in line with the experiment(s). Such a decay ring does not exist at CERN today,
nor does a high-intensity proton source for the production of the radioactive
ions. Nevertheless, the existing CERN accelerator infrastructure could be used
as this would still represent an important saving for a beta-beam facility.


abstract:
  Paradoxes in the Boltzmann kinetic theory are presented. Firstly, it is
pointed out that the usual notion concerning the perfect continuity of
distribution function is not generally valid; in many important situations
using certain types of discontinuous distribution functions is an absolute
must. Secondly, it is revealed that there is no time reversibility in terms of
beam-to-beam collisions and, in connection with this, there are intrinsic
difficulties in formulating the net change of molecular density due to
collisions, either in the three-dimensional velocity space or in the
six-dimensional phase space. With help of simple examples, the paradoxes
manifest themselves clearly.


title:
Transmission of Hologram Image using a Zone Plate for Hard X-ray
  Radiation

abstract:
  The images of the silicon test object has been carried out. An image for
in-line hard X-ray hologram is presented. The transmission of a hologram image
for hard X-ray radiation using Fresnel phase zone plate has been investigated.


title: Rydberg Atoms in Magnetic Quadrupole Traps

abstract:
  We investigate the electronic structure and properties of Rydberg atoms
exposed to a magnetic quadrupole field. It is shown that the spatial as well as
generalized time reversal symmetries lead to a two-fold degeneracy of the
electronic states in the presence of the external field. A delicate interplay
between the Coulomb and magnetic interactions in the inhomogeneous field leads
to an unusual weak field splitting of the energy levels as well as complex
spatial patterns of the corresponding spin polarization density of individual
Rydberg states. Remarkably the magnetic quadrupole field induces a permanent
electric dipole moment of the atom.


title: Mesoscopic Model for Diffusion-Influenced Reaction Dynamics

abstract:
  A hybrid mesoscopic multi-particle collision model is used to study
diffusion-influenced reaction kinetics. The mesoscopic particle dynamics
conserves mass, momentum and energy so that hydrodynamic effects are fully
taken into account. Reactive and non-reactive interactions with catalytic
solute particles are described by full molecular dynamics. Results are
presented for large-scale, three-dimensional simulations to study the influence
of diffusion on the rate constants of the A+C<==>B+C reaction. In the limit of
a dilute solution of catalytic C particles, the simulation results are compared
with diffusion equation approaches for both the irreversible and reversible
reaction cases. Simulation results for systems where the volume fraction of
catalytic spheres is high are also presented, and collective interactions among
reactions on catalytic spheres that introduce volume fraction dependence in the
rate constants are studied.


title: Simple external cavity diode laser

abstract:
  A semiconductor diode laser having a modified Littrow external resonator is
described. An additional output coupling mirror in a V-shape configuration of
the resonator makes the system more efficient and convenient to operate.


title: Stability analysis of perturbed plane Couette flow

abstract:
  Plane Couette flow perturbed by a spanwise oriented ribbon, similar to a
configuration investigated experimentally at the Centre d'Etudes de Saclay, is
investigated numerically using a spectral-element code. 2D steady states are
computed for the perturbed configuration; these differ from the unperturbed
flows mainly by a region of counter-circulation surrounding the ribbon. The 2D
steady flow loses stability to 3D eigenmodes at Re = 230, beta = 1.3 for rho =
0.086 and Re = 550, beta = 1.5 for rho = 0.043, where Re is the Reynolds
number, beta is the spanwise wavenumber and rho is the half-height of the
ribbon. For rho = 0.086, the bifurcation is determined to be subcritical by
calculating the cubic term in the normal form equation from the timeseries of a
single nonlinear simulation; steady 3D flows are found for Re as low as 200.
The critical eigenmode and nonlinear 3D states contain streamwise vortices
localized near the ribbon, whose streamwise extent increases with Re. All of
these results agree well with experimental observations.


title: On the premelting features in sodium clusters

abstract:
  Melting in Na_n clusters described with an empirical embedded-atom potential
has been reexamined in the size range 55<=n<=147 with a special attention at
sizes close to 130. Contrary to previous findings, premelting effects are also
present at such medium sizes, and they turn out to be even stronger than the
melting process itself for Na_133 or Na_135. These results indicate that the
empirical potential is_qualitatively_ unadequate to model sodium clusters.


title: Challenges in Moving the LEP Higgs Statistics to the LHC

abstract:
  We examine computational, conceptual, and philosophical issues in moving the
statistical techniques used in the LEP Higgs working group to the LHC.


title: Symmetry breaking and turbulence in perturbed plane Couette flow

abstract:
  Perturbed plane Couette flow containing a thin spanwise-oriented ribbon
undergoes a subcritical bifurcation at Re = 230 to a steady 3D state containing
streamwise vortices. This bifurcation is followed by several others giving rise
to a fascinating series of stable and unstable steady states of different
symmetries and wavelengths. First, the backwards-bifurcating branch reverses
direction and becomes stable near Re = 200. Then, the spanwise reflection
symmetry is broken, leading to two asymmetric branches which are themselves
destabilized at Re = 420. Above this Reynolds number, time evolution leads
first to a metastable state whose spanwise wavelength is halved and then to
complicated time-dependent behavior. These features are in agreement with
experiments.


title:
Electron-electron dynamics in laser-induced nonsequential double
  ionization

abstract:
  For the description of nonsequential double ionization (NSDI) of rare-gas
atoms by a strong linearly polarized laser field, the quantum-mechanical
$S$-matrix diagram that incorporates rescattering impact ionization is
evaluated in the strong-field approximation. We employ a uniform approximation,
which is a generalization of the standard saddle-point approximation. We
systematically analyze the manifestations of the electron-electron interaction
in the momentum distributions of the ejected electrons: for the interaction, by
which the returning electron frees the bound electron, we adopt either a
(three-body) contact interaction or a Coulomb interaction, and we do or do not
incorporate the mutual Coulomb repulsion of the two electrons in their final
state. In particular, we investigate the correlation of the momentum components
parallel to the laser-field polarization, with the transverse momentum
components either restricted to certain finite ranges or entirely summed over.
In the latter case, agreement with experimental data is best for the contact
interaction and without final-state repulsion. In the former, if the transverse
momenta are restricted to small values, comparison of theory with the data
shows evidence of Coulomb effects. We propose that experimental data selecting
events with small transverse momenta of \textit{both} electrons are
particularly promising in the elucidation of the dynamics of NSDI. Also, a
classical approximation of the quantum-mechanical $S$ matrix is formulated and
shown to work very well inside the classically allowed region.


title:
Theory of Optical Transmission Through a Near-Field Probe With a
  Dissipative Matter in its Core

abstract:
  We develop a theory of light transmission through an aperture-type near-field
optical probe with a dissipative matter in its semiconducting core described by
a complex frequency-dependent dielectric function. We evaluate the near-field
transmission coefficient of a metallized silicon probe with a large taper angle
of in the visible and near-infrared wavelength range. It is shown that in this
spectral range the use of a short silicon probe instead of a glass one allows
to achieve a strong (up to 10$^2-10^{3}$) enhancement in the transmission
efficiency.


title:
Dynamics of drag and force distributions for projectile impact in a
  granular medium

abstract:
  Our experiments and molecular dynamics simulations on a projectile
penetrating a two-dimensional granular medium reveal that the mean deceleration
of the projectile is constant and proportional to the impact velocity. Thus,
the time taken for a projectile to decelerate to a stop is independent of its
impact velocity. The simulations show that the probability distribution
function of forces on grains is time-independent during a projectile's
penetration of the medium. At all times the force distribution function
decreases exponentially for large forces.


title: Instability Versus Equilibrium Propagation of Laser Beam in Plasma

abstract:
  We obtain, for the first time, an analytic theory of the forward stimulated
Brillouin scattering instability of a spatially and temporally incoherent laser
beam, that controls the transition between statistical equilibrium and
non-equilibrium (unstable) self-focusing regimes of beam propagation. The
stability boundary may be used as a comprehensive guide for inertial
confinement fusion designs. Well into the stable regime, an analytic expression
for the angular diffusion coefficient is obtained, which provides an essential
correction to a geometric optic approximation for beam propagation.

categories: physics.plasm-ph nlin.CD nlin.PS physics.optics


title:
First results on radiation damage in PbWO4 crystals exposed to a 20
  GeV/c proton beam

abstract:
  We have exposed seven full length production quality crystals of the
electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) of the CMS detector to a 20 GeV/c proton
beam at the CERN PS accelerator. The exposure was done at fluxes of 10**12
p/cm**2/h and 10**13 p/cm**2/h and integral fluences of 10**12 p/cm**2 and
10**13 p/cm**2 were reached at both rates. The light transmission of the
crystals was measured after irradiation and suitable cooling time for induced
radioactivity to decrease to a safe level. First results of these measurements
are shown. The possible damage mechanisms are discussed and simulations based
on one possible model are presented. The implications for long-term operation
of CMS are discussed and it is shown that in the whole barrel and at least most
of the ECAL endcap hadron damage alone - even if cumulative - should not cause
the crystals to fail the CMS specification of an induced absorption coefficient
muIND < 1.5 /m during the first 10 years of LHC operation.


title:
A theory of growth by differential sedimentation with application to
  snowflake formation

abstract:
  A simple model of irreversible aggregation under differential sedimentation
of particles in a fluid is presented. The structure of the aggregates produced
by this process is found to feed back on the dynamics in such a way as to
stabilise both the exponents controlling the growth rate, and the fractal
dimension of the clusters produced at readily predictable values. The
aggregation of ice crystals to form snowflakes is considered as a potential
application of the model.


title:
A low-loss fiber accessible plasmon photonic crystal waveguide for
  planar energy guiding and sensing

abstract:
  A metal nanoparticle plasmon waveguide for electromagnetic energy transport
utilizing dispersion engineering to dramatically increase lateral energy
confinement via a two-dimensional pattern of Au dots on an optically thin Si
membrane is described. Using finite-difference time-domain simulations and
coupled-mode theory, we show that phase-matched evanescent excitation from
conventional fiber tapers is possible with efficiencies > 90 % for realistic
geometries. Energy loss in this waveguide is mainly due to material absorption,
allowing for 1/e energy decay distances of about 2 mm for excitation at
telecommunication frequencies. This concept can be extended to the visible
regime and promises applications in optical energy guiding, optical sensing,
and switching.


title: Measures of Significance in HEP and Astrophysics

abstract:
  I compare and discuss critically several measures of statistical significance
in common use in astrophysics and in high energy physics. I also exhibit some
relationships among them.


title: Fabrication-tolerant high quality factor photonic crystal microcavities

abstract:
  A two-dimensional photonic crystal microcavity design supporting a
wavelength-scale volume resonant mode with a calculated quality factor (Q)
insensitive to deviations in the cavity geometry at the level of Q~2x10^4 is
presented. The robustness of the cavity design is confirmed by optical
fiber-based measurements of passive cavities fabricated in silicon. For
microcavities operating in the lambda = 1500 nm wavelength band, quality
factors between 1.3-4.0x10^4 are measured for significant variations in cavity
geometry and for resonant mode normalized frequencies shifted by as much as 10%
of the nominal value.


title: Instrumentation

abstract:
  In this course, given at the school in 3 parts of 75 minutes each, we will
discuss the physics of particle detection, the basic designs and working
principles of detectors, and, as an example with more details, some detectors
for particle identification.


title: The Inverse Variational Problem and Logistic Self-Regulated Systems

abstract:
  There exists in nature many examples of systems presenting self-limiting
behaviour: population dynamics, structure engineering, Townsend's electron
breakdown, nuclear decay in radioactive equilibrium, histeresis process,
meteorological models, etcetera. In this work we call attention to the
advantages the use of a variational formulation should provide to the study of
self-regulated systems, such as a unified description of the related phenomena,
further comprehension of the internal structure and symmetries of the related
equations, and the determination of the equilibria points via the energy
function. We study the case of logistic systems, obtaining explicitly several
s-equivalent Lagrangeans corresponding to the Verhulst's equation. Some
dynamical properties are discussed in the light of this approach. Expressions
for the mean energy function are also obtained. Keywords: logistic equation,
Verhulst's Lagrangean, self-regulated systems. PACS: 02.30.Zz, 45.20.Jj,
87.23.Cc

categories: physics.bio-ph math-ph math.MP physics.gen-ph


title:
Comparison of Radiation Damage in Lead Tungstate Crystals under Pion and
  Gamma Irradiation

abstract:
  Studies of the radiation hardness of lead tungstate crystals produced by the
Bogoroditsk Techno-Chemical Plant in Russia and the Shanghai Institute of
Ceramics in China have been carried out at IHEP, Protvino. The crystals were
irradiated by a 40-GeV pion beam. After full recovery, the same crystals were
irradiated using a $^{137}Cs$ $\gamma$-ray source. The dose rate profiles along
the crystal length were observed to be quite similar. We compare the effects of
the two types of radiation on the crystals light output.


title: Negative optical refractive index resulting from a moving regular medium

abstract:
  The optical refractive index of a moving regular medium is calculated by
using the Lorentz transformation in this note. It is shown that in some
velocity region of medium moving relative to the initial frame K, the moving
medium may possess a negative index of refraction measured by the observer
fixed at the frame of reference K.


title:
Influence of the surface termination to the point imaging by a photonic
  crystal slab with negative refraction

abstract:
  Point imaging by a photonic crystal slab due to the negative refraction is
studied theoretically. By investigating the transfer function of the imaging
system, the influence of the surface termination to the imaging quality is
analyzed. It is shown that an appropriate surface termination is important for
obtaining an image of good quality.


title:
Viscous heating effects in fluids with temperature-dependent viscosity:
  triggering of secondary flows

abstract:
  Viscous heating can play an important role in the dynamics of fluids with
strongly temperature-dependent viscosities because of the coupling between the
energy and momentum equations. The heat generated by viscous friction produces
a local temperature increase near the tube walls with a consequent decrease of
the viscosity and a strong stratification in the viscosity profile. The problem
of viscous heating in fluids was investigated and reviewed by Costa & Macedonio
(2003) because of its important implications in the study of magma flows.
Because of the strong coupling between viscosity and temperature, the
temperature rise due to the viscous heating may trigger instabilities in the
velocity field, which cannot be predicted by a simple isothermal Newtonian
model. When viscous heating produces a pronounced peak in the temperature
profile near the walls, a triggering of instabilities and a transition to
secondary flows can occur because of the stratification in the viscosity
profile. In this paper we focus on the thermal and mechanical effects caused by
viscous heating. We will present the linear stability equations and we will
show, as in certain regimes, these effects can trigger and sustain a particular
class of secondary rotational flows which appear organised in coherent
structures similar to roller vortices. This phenomenon can play a very
important role in the dynamics of magma flows in conduits and lava flows in
channels and, to our knowledge, it is the first time that it has been
investigated by a direct numerical simulation.


title:
Charge Fluctuation of Dust Grains and its Impact on Dusty Wave
  Propagation

abstract:
  In this paper we consider the influence of dust charge fluctuations on
damping of the dust-ion-acoustic waves. Fluid approximation of longitudinal
electrostatic waves in unmagnetized plasmas is considered. We show that for a
weak acoustic wave the attenuation depends on a phenomenological charging
coefficient.


title: One more experiment on "fast-light"

abstract:
  Contemporary observational and theoretical studies on the temporal nature of
microscopic measurements renewed the discussion about the fundamental
constants, leading to the possibility of light speed variation and superluminal
pulse propagation. Gain assisted experiments using anomalous dispersion near an
absorption line in atomic gas, a "fast - light" medium, seem to lead to a wave
group velocity vG exceeding c, the vacuum speed of light; moreover, definition
of the information velocity vi sets the question of interpretation of the three
speeds: one view is that vi = vG, but this violates Causality; another view is
that vi = c in all situations, but this limits, a priori, the transport of
information. Another view is that vi, vG and c are distinct. This contribution
follows the last possibility. A draft discussion on space-time is given.


title:
Influence of squirt flow on fundamental guided waves propagation in
  borehole embedded in saturated porous media

abstract:
  In this paper, the reservoir is modeled by homogeneous two-phase media based
on BISQ model. We focus on the effects of the squirt flow on the fundamental
guided waves propagation in borehole embedded in saturated porous media excited
by monopole, dipole and quadrupole point sources. The full waveforms acoustic
logging in a fluid-filled borehole are simulated. The curves of velocity
dispersion, attenuation coefficients and excitation of the fundamental guided
waves have shown that velocity dispersions are almost independent of the
characteristic squirt flow length, attenuations of guided waves are enhanced
due to the squirt flow, and excitations of guided waves are decreased due to
the squirt flow. It is possible to estimate the characteristic squirt flow
length by attenuation coefficients of the guided waves from acoustical logging
data.


title:
Single Photon Counting X-ray Imaging with Si and CdTe Single Chip Pixel
  Detectors and Multichip Pixel Modules

abstract:
  Multichip modules (MCM) with 4 single photon counting MPEC 2.3 chips bump
bonded to 1.3 cm x 1.3 cm large CdTe and Si semiconductor sensors as well as to
single chip pixel detectors have been successfully built and operated. The MPEC
2.3 chip provides a pixel count rate up to 1 MHz with a large dynamic range of
18 bit, 2 counters and energy windowing with continuously adjustable
thresholds. Each MPEC has 32 x 32 pixels of 200 um x 200 um pixel size. For a
MCM the 4 chips are arranged in a 2 x 2 array which leads to a 64 x 64 sensor
pixel geometry. The MCM construction is described, and the imaging performance
of the different detectors is shown. As readout system a newly developed USB
system has been used.


title: Progress in Classical and Quantum Variational Principles

abstract:
  We review the development and practical uses of a generalized Maupertuis
least action principle in classical mechanics, in which the action is varied
under the constraint of fixed mean energy for the trial trajectory. The
original Maupertuis (Euler-Lagrange) principle constrains the energy at every
point along the trajectory. The generalized Maupertuis principle is equivalent
to Hamilton's principle. Reciprocal principles are also derived for both the
generalized Maupertuis and the Hamilton principles. The Reciprocal Maupertuis
Principle is the classical limit of Schr\"{o}dinger's variational principle of
wave mechanics, and is also very useful to solve practical problems in both
classical and semiclassical mechanics, in complete analogy with the quantum
Rayleigh-Ritz method. Classical, semiclassical and quantum variational
calculations are carried out for a number of systems, and the results are
compared. Pedagogical as well as research problems are used as examples, which
include nonconservative as well as relativistic systems.


title: Bunch lengthening and microwave instability in the DAPhNE positron ring

abstract:
  We have performed bunch lengthening and microwave instability threshold
measurements on the positron ring of the Frascati electron-positron Phi-factory
DAPhNE. The results are in a good agreement with earlier analytical predictions
and numerical simulations.


title: Non-Linear Phenomena in Dusty Plasmas

abstract:
  The main objective of the paper is to determine asymptotic solutions to the
initial-value conditions for Vlasov-Ampere/Gauss system of equations that is to
find the "far field" solutions. Next, we determine dispersion relations for
longitudinal waves (DAW and DIAW) by use of the linearized Vlasov equations. In
case of simplified equilibrium velocity distributions but for fully nonlinear
plasmas, we determine velocity distributions and by use of Sagdeev potential
equations, we compute the solitary and double layer structures for a set of
dusty plasma parameters. By use of Sagdeev potential, we determine the
electrical capacity of plasma double layers.


title: Start-to-End Simulations of SASE FEL at the TESLA Test Facility, Phase 1

abstract:
  Phase 1 of the vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) free-electron laser (FEL) at the
TESLA Test Facility (TTF) recently concluded operation. It successfully
demonstrated the saturation of a SASE FEL in the in the wavelength range of
80-120 nm. We present a posteriori start-to-end numerical simulations of this
FEL. These simulations are based on the programs Astra and elegant for the
generation and transport of the electron distribution. An independent
simulation of the intricate beam dynamics in the magnetic bunch compressor is
performed with the program CSRtrack. The SASE FEL process is simulated with the
code FAST. From our detailed simulations and the resulting phase space
distribution at the undulator entrance, we found that the FEL was driven only
by a small fraction (slice) of the electron bunch. This "lasing slice" is
located in the head of the bunch, and has a peak current of approximately 3 kA.
A strong energy chirp (due to the space charge field after compression) within
this slice had a significant influence on the FEL operation. Our study shows
that the radiation pulse duration is about 40 fs (FWHM) with a corresponding
peak power of 1.5 GW. The simulated FEL properties are compared with various
experimental data and found to be in excellent agreement.


title:
Nonradiating normal modes in a classical many-body model of matter
  radiation interaction

abstract:
  We consider a classical model of matter--radiation interaction, in which the
matter is represented by a system of infinitely many dipoles on a
one--dimensional lattice, and the system is dealt with in the so--called dipole
(i.e. linearized) approximation. We prove that there exist normal--mode
solutions of the complete system, so that in particular the dipoles, though
performing accelerated motions, do not radiate energy away. This comes about in
virtue of an exact compensation which we prove to occur, for each dipole,
between the ``radiation reaction force'' and a part of the retarded forces due
to all the other dipoles. This fact corresponds to a certain identity which we
name after Oseen, since it occurs that this researcher did actually propose it,
already in the year 1916. We finally make a connection with a paper of Wheeler
and Feynman on the foundations of electrodynamics. It turns out indeed that the
Oseen identity, which we prove here in a particular model, is in fact a weak
form of a general identity that such authors were assuming as an independent
postulate.


title: Magnetically induced anions

abstract:
  The main focus of this review is on magnetically induced anions. Before
discussing these new anionic states which exclusively exist in the presence of
magnetic fields, we review in some detail the anionic physics without external
field. For completeness, we also outline the properties of field-free existing
anions when exposed to magnetic fields. The magnetically induced states
constitute an infinite manifold assuming that the nucleus of the anion is
infinitely heavy. At laboratory field strengths the corresponding binding
energies show two different scaling properties belonging to the ground
($\propto B^2$) and the excited ($\propto B^3$) magnetically induced states. We
provide a detailed discussion of the physics of the moving anion taking into
account the coupling between the anionic centre of mass and its electronic
degrees of freedom. A number of field-adapted techniques exploiting exact
constants of motion and the adiabatic separation of motions are applied to
simplify the Hamiltonian that describes the effective interaction between the
centre of mass and the electronic degrees of freedom. Employing classical
simulations the autodetachment process of the anions in the field is observed
and a rich variety of spectral properties of moving anions is predicted:
depending on the parameters, such as the mass and polarizability of the neutral
system as well as the field strength, induced bound states, resonances and
detaching states of the corresponding anions are to be expected. An outline of
an {\it{ab initio}} quantum approach is provided that allows quantum dynamical
investigations of the moving anion.


title:
Evidence for a k^{-5/3} spectrum from the EOLE Lagrangian balloons in
  the low stratosphere

abstract:
  The EOLE Experiment is revisited to study turbulent processes in the lower
stratosphere circulation from a Lagrangian viewpoint and resolve a discrepancy
on the slope of the atmospheric energy spectrum between the work of Morel and
Larcheveque (1974) and recent studies using aircraft data. Relative dispersion
of balloon pairs is studied by calculating the Finite Scale Lyapunov Exponent,
an exit time-based technique which is particularly efficient in cases where
processes with different spatial scales are interfering. Our main result is to
reconciliate the EOLE dataset with recent studies supporting a k^{-5/3} energy
spectrum in the range 100-1000 km. Our results also show exponential separation
at smaller scale, with characteristic time of order 1 day, and agree with the
standard diffusion of about 10^7 m^2/s at large scales. A still open question
is the origin of a k^{-5/3} spectrum in the mesoscale range, between 100 and
1000 km.


title:
Sensitive dependence on initial conditions in transition to turbulence
  in pipe flow

abstract:
  The experiments by Darbyshire and Mullin (J. Fluid Mech. 289, 83 (1995)) on
the transition to turbulence in pipe flow show that there is no sharp border
between initial conditions that trigger turbulence and those that do not. We
here relate this behaviour to the possibility that the transition to turbulence
is connected with the formation of a chaotic saddle in the phase space of the
system. We quantify a sensitive dependence on initial conditions and find in a
statistical analysis that in the transition region the distribution of
turbulent lifetimes follows an exponential law. The characteristic mean
lifetime of the distribution increases rapidly with Reynolds number and becomes
inaccessibly large for Reynolds numbers exceeding about 2200. Suitable
experiments to further probe this concept are proposed.


title: Likelihood inference in the presence of nuisance parameters

abstract:
  We describe some recent approaches to likelihood based inference in the
presence of nuisance parameters. Our approach is based on plotting the
likelihood function and the $p$-value function, using recently developed third
order approximations. Orthogonal parameters and adjustments to profile
likelihood are also discussed. Connections to classical approaches of
conditional and marginal inference are outlined.


title: Information-theoretic determination of ponderomotive forces

abstract:
  From the equilibrium condition $\delta S=0$ applied to an isolated
thermodynamic system of electrically charged particles and the fundamental
equation of thermodynamics ($dU = T dS-(\mathbf{f}\cdot d\mathbf{r})$) subject
to a new procedure, it is obtained the Lorentz's force together with
non-inertial terms of mechanical nature. Other well known ponderomotive forces,
like the Stern-Gerlach's force and a force term related to the Einstein-de
Haas's effect are also obtained. In addition, a new force term appears,
possibly related to a change in weight when a system of charged particles is
accelerated.


title:
The Cosmic Ray Hodoscopes for Testing Thin Gap Chambers at the Technion
  and Tel Aviv University

abstract:
  Thin gap chambers (TGCs) are built for the muon trigger chambers in the
endcap region of the LHC experiment ATLAS. More than 2500 ATLAS TGCs are being
produced at the Weizmann institute in Israel, and in Shandong University in
China. Detailed testing of these chambers is performed at the Technion and at
the Tel-Aviv University. Two cosmic ray hodoscopes for testing the operation of
these detectors were built in Israel. In these hodoscopes the response of the
chambers to energetic cosmic ray muons is recorded and analyzed. The hodoscopes
measure the exact time and space location of the cosmic ray hit and read out
the chambers which are being tested to verify that they produce a corresponding
signal within the required time interval. The cosmic ray hodoscopes built at
the Technion and at the Tel Aviv University for the test of ATLAS TGCs are
described. The mechanical structure, readout electronics, data acquisition and
operating scheme are presented. Typical TGC test results are presented and
discussed.


title: Quantum Foam, Gravity and Gravitational Waves

abstract:
  The new information-theoretic Process Physics has shown that space is a
quantum foam system with gravity being, in effect, an inhomogeneous in-flow of
the quantum foam into matter. The theory predicts that absolute motion with
respect to this system should be observable, and it is shown here that absolute
motion has been detected in at least seven experiments. As well this
experimental data also reveals the existence of a gravitational wave phenomena
associated with the in-flow. It is shown that Galilean Relativity and Special
Relativity are in fact compatible, contrary to current beliefs: absolute motion
actually causes the special relativity effects. The new theory of gravity
passes all the tests of the previous Newtonian and General Relativity theories,
but in addition resolves the numerous gravitational anomalies such as the
spiral galaxy `dark matter' effect, the absence of `dark matter' in elliptical
galaxies, the inconsistencies in measuring G, the borehole g anomaly, and
others. It is shown that Newtonian gravity is deeply flawed, because the solar
system from which it was developed has too high a spherical symmetry to have
revealed key aspects of the phenomena of gravity, and that General Relativity
inherited these flaws. The data are revealing that space has structure, and so
indicates for the first time evidence of quantum space and quantum gravity
effects.


title: Multilayer shallow-water model with stratification and shear

abstract:
  The purpose of this paper is to present a shallow-water-type model with
multiple inhomogeneous layers featuring variable linear velocity vertical shear
and startificaion in horizontal space and time. This is achieved by writing the
layer velocity and buoyancy fields as linear functions of depth, with
coefficients that depend arbitrarily on horizontal position and time. The model
is a generalization of Ripa's (1995) single-layer model to an arbitrary number
of layers. Unlike models with homogeneous layers the present model is able to
represent thermodynamics processes driven by heat and freshwater fluxes through
the surface or mixing processes resulting from fluid exchanges across
contiguous layers. A model configuration with only one layer has been
previously shown to provide: a very good representation of the exact vertical
normal modes up to the first internal mode; an exact representation of
long-perturbation (free boundary) baroclinic instability; and a very reasonable
representation of short-perturbation (classical Eady) baroclinic instability.
Here it is shown that substantially more accurate overall results with respect
to single-layer calculations can be achieved by considering a stack of only a
few layers. A similar behavior is found in ageostrophic (classical Stone)
baroclinic instability by describing accurately the dependence of the solutions
on the Richardson number with only two layers.


title: Phasor analysis of atom diffraction from a rotated material grating

abstract:
  The strength of an atom-surface interaction is determined by studying atom
diffraction from a rotated material grating. A phasor diagram is developed to
interpret why diffraction orders are never completely suppressed when a complex
transmission function due to the van der Waals interaction is present. We also
show that atom-surface interactions can produce asymmetric diffraction
patterns. Our conceptual discussion is supported by experimental observations
with a sodium atom beam.


title: Extending Bauer's corollary to fractional derivatives

abstract:
  We comment on the method of Dreisigmeyer and Young [D. W. Dreisigmeyer and P.
M. Young, J. Phys. A \textbf{36}, 8297, (2003)] to model nonconservative
systems with fractional derivatives. It was previously hoped that using
fractional derivatives in an action would allow us to derive a single retarded
equation of motion using a variational principle. It is proven that, under
certain reasonable assumptions, the method of Dreisigmeyer and Young fails.


title:
New Limits to the Drift of Fundamental Constants from Laboratory
  Measurements

abstract:
  We have remeasured the absolute $1S$-$2S$ transition frequency $\nu_{\rm
{H}}$ in atomic hydrogen. A comparison with the result of the previous
measurement performed in 1999 sets a limit of $(-29\pm 57)$ Hz for the drift of
$\nu_{\rm {H}}$ with respect to the ground state hyperfine splitting $\nu_{{\rm
{Cs}}}$ in $^{133}$Cs. Combining this result with the recently published
optical transition frequency in $^{199}$Hg$^+$ against $\nu_{\rm {Cs}}$ and a
microwave $^{87}$Rb and $^{133}$Cs clock comparison, we deduce separate limits
on $\dot{\alpha}/\alpha = (-0.9\pm 2.9)\times 10^{-15}$ yr$^{-1}$ and the
fractional time variation of the ratio of Rb and Cs nuclear magnetic moments
$\mu_{\rm {Rb}}/\mu_{\rm {Cs}}$ equal to $(-0.5 \pm 1.7)\times 10^{-15}$
yr$^{-1}$. The latter provides information on the temporal behavior of the
constant of strong interaction.


title: An Elementary Treatment of the Reverse Sprinkler

abstract:
  We discuss the reverse sprinkler problem: How does a sprinkler turn when
submerged and made to suck in water? We propose a solution that requires only a
knowledge of mechanics and fluid dynamics at the introductory university level.
We argue that as the flow of water starts, the sprinkler briefly experiences a
torque that would make it turn toward the incoming water, while as the flow of
water ceases it briefly experiences a torque in the opposite direction. No
torque is expected when water is flowing steadily into it unless dissipative
effects, such as viscosity, are considered. Dissipative effects result in a
small torque that would cause the sprinkler arm to accelerate toward the
steadily incoming water. Our conclusions are discussed in light of an analysis
of forces, conservation of angular momentum, and the experimental results
reported by others. We review the conflicting published treatments of this
problem, some of which have been incorrect and many of which have introduced
complications that obscure the basic physics involved.


title: Reverse Detection of Short-Term Earthquake Precursors

abstract:
  We introduce a new approach to short-term earthquake prediction based on the
concept of selforganization of seismically active fault networks. That approach
is named "Reverse Detection of Precursors" (RDP), since it considers precursors
in reverse order of their appearance. This makes it possible to detect
precursors undetectable by direct analysis. Possible mechanisms underlying RDP
are outlined. RDP is described with a concrete example: we consider as
short-term precursors the newly introduced chains of earthquakes reflecting the
rise of an earthquake correlation range; and detect (retrospectively) such
chains a few months before two prominent Californian earthquakes - Landers,
1992, M = 7.6, and Hector Mine, 1999, M = 7.3, with one false alarm. Similar
results (described elsewhere) are obtained by RDP for 21 more strong
earthquakes in California (M >= 6.4), Japan (M >= 7.0) and the Eastern
Mediterranean (M >= 6.5). Validation of the RDP approach requires, as always,
prediction in advance for which this study sets up a base. We have the first
case of advance prediction; it was reported before Tokachi-oki earthquake (near
Hokkaido island, Japan), Sept. 25, 2003, M = 8.1. RDP has potentially important
applications to other precursors and to prediction of other critical phenomena
besides earthquakes. In particular, it might vindicate some short-term
precursors, previously rejected as giving too many false alarms.


title:
Characteristics of undulator-type radiation emitted by bunch of charged
  particles in wakefield

abstract:
  We consider spectrum-angular characteristics of the undulator-type radiation
emitted by a bunch of relativistic charged particles because of interacting
with the nonsynchronous spatial harmonics of the transverse wakefields excited
by this bunch as it moves in a periodic structure. The conditions acceptable
for possible experimental verification when incoherent undulator-type radiation
power exceeds power loss associated with exciting the wakefields are discussed.


title: Low-Energy X-Ray Standards from Hydrogenlike Pionic Atoms

abstract:
  We demonstrate the first step of a complete program, which consists in
establishing an x-ray energy standard scale with the use of few-body atoms, in
the few keV range. Light pionic and muonic atoms as well as one and
two-electron ions from electron-cyclotron ion sources are used. The transition
energies are calculable from quantum-electrodynamics, meaning that only a very
limited subset need be measured and compared with theory, while providing a
large number of standard lines. Here we show that circular transitions in
pionic neon atoms, completely stripped from their electrons, reveal spectral
lines which are narrow, symmetric, and well reproducible. We use these lines
for the energy determination of transition energies in complex electronic
systems, like the K1,2 transitions in metallic Ti, which may serve as secondary
standard.


title:
Convergent calculations of double ionization of helium: from
  ($\gamma$,2e) to (e,3e) processes

abstract:
  The first absolute (e,3e) measurements, by Lahmam-Bennani et al [Phys. Rev. A
{\bf 59}, 3548 (1999)], have been recently approximately reproduced by Berakdar
[Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 85}, 4036 (2000)] and supported by Jones and Madison
[Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 91}, 07321 (2003)], but with widely differing
conclusions. The former indirectly implied that the Born-CCC-based calculations
of Kheifets et al [J. Phys. B {\bf 32}, 5047 (1999) were invalid due to the
reliance on the 1st Born approximation. The latter argued that the 1st Born
approximation was valid, but the wrong initial state was used. We investigate
these claims and find that the original calculations of Kheifets et al are
reproduced whether the 2nd Born approximation is incorporated or if we use a
ground state similar to that of Jones and Madison, but appropriately corrected
as done by Le Sech and co-workers [J. Phys. B {\bf 23}, L739 (1990)].


title: Theory of Synergy between Electron Cyclotron and Lower Hybrid Waves

abstract:
  A theoretical study of the improvement of the Electron Cyclotron Current
Drive (ECCD) efficiency in regimes where most of the current is driven by Lower
Hybrid (LH) waves is presented. A perturbation technique is employed to solve
the adjoint equation and derive the response function including both
collisional and LH effects in the limit where the former dominate. An
alternative treatment of the problem, involving a numerical solution of the
Langevin equations is proposed to gain insight into the current drive mechanism
and confirm the obtained results. The existence of a cross-effect between the
two waves is demonstrated and the conditions for the synergy, i.e. significant
enhancement of the ECCD efficiency in the presence of LH power, are identified.


title:
Inverse Problems in Magnetohydrodynamics: Theoretical and Experimental
  Aspects

abstract:
  We consider inverse problems related to the velocity reconstruction in
electrically conducting fluids from externally measured magnetic fields. The
underlying theory is presented in the framework of the integral equation
approach to homogeneous dynamos in finite domains, which can be cast into a
linear inverse problem in case that the magnetic Reynolds number is not too
large. Some mathematical problems of the inversion, including the uniqueness
problem in the sphere and a paradigmatic isospectrality problem for mean-field
dynamos, are touched upon. For practical purposes, the inversion is carried out
with the help of Tikhonov regularization using a quadratic functional of the
velocity field as penalty function. For the first time, we present results of
an experiment in which the three-dimensional velocity field of a propellor
driven flow in a liquid metal is reconstructed by a contactless inductive
measuring technique.


title:
Constraint-defined Manifolds: a Legacy Code Approach to Low-dimensional
  Computation

abstract:
  If the dynamics of an evolutionary differential equation system possess a
low-dimensional, attracting, slow manifold, there are many advantages to using
this manifold to perform computations for long term dynamics, locating features
such as stationary points, limit cycles, or bifurcations. Approximating the
slow manifold, however, may be computationally as challenging as the original
problem. If the system is defined by a legacy simulation code or a microscopic
simulator, it may be impossible to perform the manipulations needed to directly
approximate the slow manifold. In this paper we demonstrate that with the
knowledge only of a set of ``slow'' variables that can be used to {\it
parameterize} the slow manifold, we can conveniently compute, using a legacy
simulator, on a nearby manifold. Forward and reverse integration, as well as
the location of fixed points are illustrated for a discretization of the
Chafee-Infante PDE for parameter values for which an Inertial Manifold is known
to exist, and can be used to validate the computational results.


title:
Estimation of the linear transient growth of perturbations of cellular
  flames

abstract:
  In this work we estimate rates of the linear transient growth of the
perturbations of cellular flames governed by the Sivashinsky equation. The
possibility and significance of such a growth was indicated ear- lier in both
computational and analytical investigations. Numerical investigation of the
norm of the resolvent of the linear operator asso- ciated with the Sivashinsky
equation linearized in a neighbourhood of the steady coalescent pole solution
was undertaken. The results are presented in the form of the pseudospectra and
the lower bound of possible transient amplification. This amplification is
strong enough to make the round-off errors visible in the numerical simulations
in the form of small cusps appearing on the flame surface randomly in time.
Performance of available numerical approaches was compared to each other and
the results are checked versus directly calculated norms of the evolution
operator.


title: Zero-point radiation, inertia and gravitation

abstract:
  In this paper it is shown that the forces which resist the acceleration of
the mass of the electron, $m_e$, arising from the Compton effect, the
Klein-Nishima-Kann formula for its differential cross section and the
transversal Doppler effect when the electron moves in a straight line coincide,
with $\vare<1,16\times10^{-4}$, with the force required to propel me with the
same acceleration, if the radius of the electron is equal to its classical
radius and if the forces which rise from the interaction of the electron and
zero-point radiation are equal to those deriving from the electrostatic
repulsion of the charge of the electron against itself (Poincare's tensions).
The equations worked in this paper show that there is no difference between
inertial mass and gravitational mass and may be used to determine the value of
the gravitational constant.


title:
Algorithm and performance of a clinical IMRT beam-angle optimization
  system

abstract:
  This paper describes the algorithm and examines the performance of an IMRT
beam-angle optimization (BAO) system. In this algorithm successive sets of beam
angles are selected from a set of predefined directions using a fast simulated
annealing (FSA) algorithm. An IMRT beam-profile optimization is performed on
each generated set of beams. The IMRT optimization is accelerated by using a
fast dose calculation method that utilizes a precomputed dose kernel. A compact
kernel is constructed for each of the predefined beams prior to starting the
FSA algorithm. The IMRT optimizations during the BAO are then performed using
these kernels in a fast dose calculation engine. This technique allows the IMRT
optimization to be performed more than two orders of magnitude faster than a
similar optimization that uses a convolution dose calculation engine.


title: Can Small Free Methane Clusters Exhibit Phase-like Transitions?

abstract:
  Low-temperature (below 60K) phase changes of free clusters containing 50,
137, and 229 methane molecules have been observed in isoenergetic Molecular
Dynamics computations. Bulk solid methane exhibits structural phase
transformation at 20.4 K. However, clusters of 50 molecules already melt at
about 25 K, which makes the observation of solid-solid transformations rather
challenging. Molecular Dynamics calculations of isoenergetic free methane
clusters show that they exhibit transformations from an orientationally-ordered
(~ 10K) and a disordered phase (above 20K). There is no hysteresis in the
cooling-heating regime - a signal for continuous transition.


title: Self-similar behavior of pre-turbulent fluctuations

abstract:
  The random forced Navier-Stokes equation can be obtained as a variational
problem of a proper action. In virtue of incompressibility, the integration
over transverse components of the fields allows to cast the action in the form
of a large deviation functional. Since the hydrodynamic operator is nonlinear,
the functional integral yielding the statistics of fluctuations can be
practically computed by linearizing around a physical solution of the
hydrodynamic equation. We show that this procedure yields the dimensional
scaling predicted by K41 theory at the lowest perturbative order, where the
perturbation parameter is the inverse Reynolds number. This result is valid
over a finite spatio-temporal domain, where the physical solution can be
considered as stationary.


title: Constructing Ensembles of Pseudo-Experiments

abstract:
  The frequentist interpretation of measurement results requires the
specification of an ensemble of independent replications of the same
experiment. For complex calculations of bias, coverage, significance, etc.,
this ensemble is often simulated by running Monte Carlo pseudo-experiments. In
order to be valid, the latter must obey the Frequentist Principle and the
Anticipation Criterion. We formulate these two principles and describe some of
their consequences in relation to stopping rules, conditioning, and nuisance
parameters. The discussion is illustrated with examples taken from high-energy
physics.


title: The beginning of the Universe

abstract:
  In this brief essay we consider the concept of beginning in cosmology. It can
be applied to the Universe as a whole, as well as to various epochs in the
cosmic history and major structures as we can see them today.


title: Blind Analysis in Particle Physics

abstract:
  A review of the blind analysis technique, as used in particle physics
measurements, is presented. The history of blind analyses in physics is briefly
discussed. Next the dangers of "experimenter's bias" and the advantages of a
blind analysis are described. Three distinct kinds of blind analysis in
particle physics are presented in detail. Finally, the BABAR collaboration's
experience with the blind analysis technique is discussed.


title:
Applications of the wave packet method to resonant transmission and
  reflection gratings

abstract:
  Scattering of femtosecond laser pulses on resonant transmission and
reflection gratings made of dispersive (Drude metals) and dielectric materials
is studied by a time-domain numerical algorithm for Maxwell's theory of linear
passive (dispersive and absorbing) media. The algorithm is based on the
Hamiltonian formalism in the framework of which Maxwell's equations for passive
media are shown to be equivalent to the first-order equation, $\partial
\Psi/\partial t = {\cal H}\Psi$, where ${\cal H}$ is a linear differential
operator (Hamiltonian) acting on a multi-dimensional vector $\Psi$ built of the
electromagnetic inductions and auxiliary matter fields describing the medium
response. The initial value problem is then solved by means of a modified time
leapfrog method in combination with the Fourier pseudospectral method applied
on a non-uniform grid that is constructed by a change of variables and designed
to enhance the sampling efficiency near medium interfaces. The algorithm is
shown to be highly accurate at relatively low computational costs. An excellent
agreement with previous theoretical and experimental studies of the gratings is
demonstrated by numerical simulations using our algorithm. In addition, our
algorithm allows one to see real time dynamics of long leaving resonant
excitations of electromagnetic fields in the gratings in the entire frequency
range of the initial wide band wave packet as well as formation of the
reflected and transmitted wave fronts.


title:
Parameterized optimized effective potential for the ground state of the
  atoms He through Xe

abstract:
  Parameterized orbitals expressed in Slater-type basis obtained within the
optimized effective potential framework as well as the parameterization of the
potential are reported for the ground state of the atoms He through Xe. The
total, kinetic, exchange and single particle energies are given for each atom.


title:
Isotopic difference in the heteronuclear loss rate in a two-species
  surface trap

abstract:
  We have realized a two-species mirror-magneto-optical trap containing a
mixture of $^{87}$Rb ($^{85}$Rb) and $^{133}$Cs atoms. Using this trap, we have
measured the heteronuclear collisional loss rate $\beta_{Rb-Cs}'$ due to
intra-species cold collisions. We find a distinct difference in the magnitude
and intensity dependence of $\beta_{Rb-Cs}'$ for the two isotopes $^{87}$Rb and
$^{85}$Rb which we attribute to the different ground-state hyperfine splitting
energies of the two isotopes.


title: Calculation of quasi-degenerate energy levels of two-electron ions

abstract:
  Accurate QED calculations of the interelectron interaction corrections for
the $(1s2p)2 {}^1 P_1$, $(1s2p)2 {}^3 P_1$ two-electron configurations for ions
with nuclear charge numbers $10\le Z \le 92$ are performed within the line
profile approach. Total energies of these configurations are evaluated.
Employing the fully relativistic treatment based on the {$j$--$j$} coupling
scheme these energy levels become quasi-degenerate in the region $Z\le 40$. To
treat such states within the framework of QED we utilize the line profile
approach. The calculations are performed within the Coulomb gauge.


title: Classical elementary particles, spin, zitterbewegung and all that

abstract:
  After a revision of the main features of the structure of the Dirac electron
a plausible definition of elementary particle is stated. It is shown that this
definition leads in the classical case to a picture which produces a very clear
correspondence between the classical and quantum mechanical features of the
electron. It is analyzed how the classical spin structure and zitterbewegung
are related to the classical variables that define the kinematical state of the
particle.


title:
Numerically Analytical Methods of Solution of the Diffraction Problem on
  the Nonlinear Dielectric Layer

abstract:
  On an example of the open nonlinear electrodynamic system - transverse
non-homogeneous, isotropic, nonlinear (a Kerr-like dielectric nonlinearity)
dielectric layer, the algorithms of solution of the diffraction problem of a
plane wave on the nonlinear object are shown. The first of them based on the
iterative scheme is applicable to the solution of non-homogeneous system of the
second kind nonlinear equations. The second algorithm bases on construction of
system of the holomorphic nonlinear equations and application of the Newtonian
method for the solution of the nonlinear equations system.


title: Noncommutative Geometry and Some Issues

abstract:
  Recent observations of Ultra High Energy Cosmic rays suggest a small
violation of Lorentz symmetry. Such a violation is expected in schemes with
discrete/quantized spacetime. We examine this situation and suggest tests which
could be carried out, for example by NASA's GLAST Satellite. The considerations
are extrapolated to the large scale cosmos.


title: Why do gallium clusters have a higher melting point than the bulk?

abstract:
  Density functional molecular dynamical simulations have been performed on
Ga$_{17}$ and Ga$_{13}$ clusters to understand the recently observed
higher-than-bulk melting temperatures in small gallium clusters [Breaux {\em et
al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 91}, 215508 (2003)]. The specific-heat curve,
calculated with the multiple-histogram technique, shows the melting temperature
to be well above the bulk melting point of 303 K, viz. around 650 K and 1400 K
for Ga$_{17}$ and Ga$_{13}$, respectively. The higher-than-bulk melting
temperatures are attributed mainly to the covalent bonding in these clusters,
in contrast with the covalent-metallic bonding in the bulk.


title:
Electron angular distributions in the two--photon ionization of
  hydrogen--like ions: relativistic description

abstract:
  The angular distribution of the emitted electrons, following the two--photon
ionization of the hydrogen--like ions, is studied within the framework of
second order perturbation theory \textit{and} the Dirac equation. Using a
density matrix approach, we have investigated the effects which arise from the
polarization of the incoming light as well as from the higher multipoles in the
expansion of the electron--photon interaction. For medium-- and high--Z ions,
in particular, the non--dipole contributions give rise to a significant change
in the angular distribution of the emitted electrons, if compared with the
electric--dipole approximation. This includes a strong forward emission while,
in dipole approximation, the electron emission always occurs symmetric with
respect to the plane which is perpendicular to the photon beam. Detailed
computations for the dependence of the photoelectron angular distributions on
the polarization of the incident light are carried out for the ionization of
the H, Xe$^{53+}$ and U$^{91+}$ (hydrogen--like) ions.


title: Mode mixing in asymmetric double trench photonic crystal waveguides

abstract:
  e investigate both experimentally and theoretically the waveguiding
properties of a novel double trench waveguide where a conventional single-mode
strip waveguide is embedded in a two dimensional photonic crystal (PhC) slab
formed in silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers. We demonstrate that the bandwidth
for relatively low-loss (50dB/cm) waveguiding is significantly expanded to
250nm covering almost all the photonic band gap owing to nearly linear
dispersion of the TE-like waveguiding mode. The flat transmission spectrum
however is interrupted by numerous narrow stop bands. We found that these stop
bands can be attributed to anti-crossing between TE-like (positive parity) and
TM-like (negative parity) modes. This effect is a direct result of the strong
asymmetry of the waveguides that have an upper cladding of air and lower
cladding of oxide. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the
effects of cladding asymmetry on the transmission characteristics of the PhC
slab waveguides.


title: Data-driven derivation of the turbulent energy cascade generator

abstract:
  Within the framework of random multiplicative energy cascade models of fully
developed turbulence, expressions for two-point correlators and cumulants are
derived, taking into account a proper conversion from an ultrametric to an
Euclidean two-point distance. The comparison with two-point statistics of the
surrogate energy dissipation, extracted from various wind tunnel and
atmospheric boundary layer records, allows an accurate deduction of
multiscaling exponents and cumulants. These exponents serve as the input for
parametric estimates of the probabilistic cascade generator.


title: Nonlinear optical contrast enhancement for optical coherence tomography

abstract:
  We present a new interferometric technique for measuring Coherent Anti-Stokes
Raman Scattering (CARS) and Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) signals.
Heterodyne detection is employed to increase the sensitivity in both CARS and
SHG signal detection, which can also be extended to different coherent
processes. The exploitation of the mentioned optical nonlinearities for
molecular contrast enhancement in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is
presented. Numerical simulations for both coherent nonlinear processes are
performed in order to determine the properties of the signal expected at the
exit of the described nonlinear interferometer.


title: Does Consciousness Collapse the Wave Function

abstract:
  A conceptual replication of the Hall-experiment to test the 'subjective
reduction' interpretation of the measurement problem in Quantum Physics is
reported. Two improvements are introduced. First the delay between
pre-observation and final observation of the same quantum event is increased
from a few microseconds in the original experiment to 1 second in this
replication. Second, rather than using the observers conscious response as the
dependent variable, we use the early brain responses as measured by EEG. These
early responses cover a period where the observer is not yet conscious of the
quantum event. Results support the 'subjective reduction' hypothesis because
significant differences between the brain responses of the final observer are
found dependent upon the pre-observer looking or not looking at the quantum
event (exact binomial p < 0.02). Alternative 'normal' explanations are
discussed and rejected. It is concluded that the present results do justify
further research along these lines.


title:
Equivalence between focussed paraxial beams and the quantum harmonic
  oscillator

abstract:
  The paraxial approximation to the scalar Helmholtz equation is shown to be
equivalent to the Schr\"odinger equation for a quantum harmonic oscillator.
This equivalence maps the Gouy-phase of classical wave optics onto the time
coordinate of the quantum harmonic oscillator and also helps us understand the
qualitative behavior of the field and intensity distributions of focused
optical beams in terms of the amplitude and probability distributions of
quantum harmonic oscillators and vice versa.


title: Effective dielectric constant for a random medium

abstract:
  In this paper, we present an approximate expression for determining the
effective permittivity describing the coherent propagation of an
electromagnetic wave in random media. Under the Quasicrystalline Coherent
Potential Approximation (QC-CPA), it is known that multiple scattering theory
provided an expression for this effective permittivity. The numerical
evaluation of this one is, however, a challenging problem. To find a tractable
expression, we add some new approximations to the (QC-CPA) approach. As a
result, we obtained an expression for the effective permittivity which
contained at the same time the Maxwell-Garnett formula in the low frequency
limit, and the Keller formula, which has been recently proved to be in good
agreement for particles exceeding the wavelength.


title: Degenerate eigenvalues for Hamiltonians with no obvious symmetries

abstract:
  Certain Hamiltonians based on two coupled quantum mechanical spins exhibit
degenerate eigenvalues despite having no obvious non-abelian symmetries.
Operators acting to permute the degenerate states do not have a simple form
when expressed as polynomials of the generators of rotations for the respective
spins. As observed in [1], one such Hamiltonian helps explain resonances in the
spin relaxation rate of optically pumped Rb_2, as a function of applied
magnetic field. We give an explanation of why the degeneracies exist, based on
properties of the commutator and anti-commutator of the Hamiltonian and its
image under magnetic field reversal.


title:
Slowing heavy, ground-state molecules using an alternating gradient
  decelerator

abstract:
  Cold supersonic beams of molecules can be slowed down using a switched
sequence of electrostatic field gradients. The energy to be removed is
proportional to the mass of the molecules. Here we report deceleration of YbF,
which is 7 times heavier than any molecule previously decelerated. We use an
alternating gradient structure to decelerate and focus the molecules in their
ground state. We show that the decelerator exhibits the axial and transverse
stability required to bring these molecules to rest. Our work significantly
extends the range of molecules amenable to this powerful method of cooling and
trapping.


title:
Evaluation of the ultimate performances of a Ca+ single-ion frequency
  standard

abstract:
  We numerically evaluate the expected performances of an optical frequency
standard at 729 nm based on a single calcium ion. The frequency stability is
studied through the Allan deviation and its dependence on the excitation method
(single Rabi pulse or two Ramsey pulses schemes) and the laser linewidth are
discussed. The minimum Allan deviation that can be expected is estimated to
$\sigma_y(\tau) \approx 2.5\times 10^{-15}/\sqrt{\tau}$ with $\tau$ the
integration time. The frequency shifts induced by the environmental conditions
are evaluated to minimize the uncertainty of the proposed standard by chosing
the most suited environment for the ion. If using the odd isotope
$^{43}$Ca$^{+}$ and a vessel cooled to 77 K, the expected relative shift is $-2
\times 10^{-16}$ with an uncertainty of $\pm 4\times10^{-16}$, mainly due to
the quadrupole shift induced by the unknown static electric field gradient .


title: Electrostatic colloid-membrane complexation

abstract:
  We investigate numerically and on the scaling level the adsorption of a
charged colloid on an oppositely charged flexible membrane. We show that the
long ranged character of the electrostatic interaction leads to a wrapping
reentrance of the complex as the salt concentration is varied. The membrane
wrapping depends on the size of the colloid and on the salt concentration and
only for intermediate salt concentration and colloid sizes we find full
wrapping. From the scaling model we derive simple relations for the phase
boundaries between the different states of the complex, which agree well with
the numerical minimization of the free energy.


title: On electromagnetic models of ball lightning with topological structure

abstract:
  It has been long admitted that a consequence of the virial theorem is that
there can be no equilibrium configurations of a system of charges in
electromagnetic interaction in the absence of external forces. However, recent
results have shown that the virial theorem can not preclude the existence of
certain nontrivial equilibrium configurations. Although some of these new
results are based on an effective microscopic field theory, they are important
for a theory of ball lightning that has been developed by the authors of the
present work. Other theoretical results relative to magnetic force-free fields
with field aligned currents and self-organized filamentary structures are also
found to be relevant for this model.


title:
Using Atomic Diffraction of Na from Material Gratings to Measure
  Atom-Surface Interactions

abstract:
  In atom optics a material structure is commonly regarded as an amplitude mask
for atom waves. However, atomic diffraction patterns formed using material
gratings indicate that material structures also operate as phase masks. In this
study a well collimated beam of sodium atoms is used to illuminate a silicon
nitride grating with a period of 100 nm. During passage through the grating
slots atoms acquire a phase shift due to the van der Waals interaction with the
grating walls. As a result the relative intensities of the matter-wave
diffraction peaks deviate from those expected for a purely absorbing grating.
Thus a complex transmission function is required to explain the observed
diffraction envelopes. An optics perspective to the theory of atomic
diffraction from material gratings is put forth in the hopes of providing a
more intuitive picture concerning the influence of the vdW potential. The van
der Waals coefficient $C_{3} = 2.7\pm 0.8{meV nm}^{3}$ is determined by fitting
a modified Fresnel optical theory to the experimental data. This value of
$C_{3}$ is consistent with a van der Waals interaction between atomic sodium
and a silicon nitride surface.


title:
Validity of Rate Equations for Zeeman Coherences for Analysis of
  Nonlinear Interaction of Atoms with Laser Radiation

abstract:
  In this paper we, to our knowledge, for the first time obtain the rate
equations for Zeeman coherences in the broad line approximation and
steady-state balance equations directly from optical Bloch equations without
the use of the perturbation theory. The broad line approximation allows us to
use the adiabatic elimination procedure in order to eliminate the optical
coherences from the optical Bloch equations, but the steady-state condition
allows us to derive the balance equations straightforward. We compare our
approach with the perturbation theory approach as given previously and show
that our approach is more flexible in analyzing various experiments. Meanwhile
we also show the validity and limitations of the application of the rate
equations in experiments with coherent atomic excitation, when either broad
line approximation or steady-state conditions hold. Thus we have shown the
basis for modeling the coherent atomic excitation experiments by using the
relatively simple rate equations, provided that certain experimental conditions
hold.


title:
Weather forecasts, Weather derivatives, Black-Scholes, Feynmann-Kac and
  Fokker-Planck

abstract:
  We investigate the relationships between weather forecasting, weather
derivatives, the Black-Scholes equation, Feynmann-Kac theory and the
Fokker-Planck equation. There is one useful result, but on the whole the
relations we present seem to be more interesting than practically useful.


title:
Guiding optical flows by photonic crystal slabs made of dielectric
  cylinders

abstract:
  We investigate the electromagnetic propagation in two-dimensional photonic
crystals, formed by parallel dielectric cylinders embedded a uniform medium.
The frequency band structure is computed using the standard plane-wave
expansion method, while the propagation and scattering of the electromagnetic
waves are calculated by the multiple scattering theory. It is shown that within
partial bandgaps, the waves tend to bend away from the forbidden directions.
Such a property may render novel applications in manipulating optical flows. In
addition, the relevance with the imaging by flat photonic crystal slabs will
also be discussed.


title:
Review of analytical treatments of barrier-type problems in plasma
  theory

abstract:
  We review the analytical methods of solving the stochastic equations for
barrier-type dynamical behavior in plasma systems. The path-integral approach
is examined as a particularly efficient method of determination of the
statistical properties.


title:
Absolute Energy Calibration with the Neutron-Activated Liquid-Source
  System at BaBar's CsI(Tl) Calorimeter

abstract:
  The electro-magnetic calorimeter at the BaBar detector, part of the
asymmetric B Factory at SLAC, measures photons in the energy range from 20 MeV
to 8 GeV with good resolution. The calorimeter is calibrated at the low energy
end with 6.13 MeV photons obtained from a liquid source system. During the
calibration, a fluorine-rich liquid is activated via a neutron generator and
pumped past the front of the calorimeter's crystals. Decays that occur in front
of the crystals emit photons of well-defined energy, which are detected in the
crystals with the regular data acquisition system. The liquid source system
adds only very little material in front of the calorimeter, needs nearly no
maintenance, and allows operation at the switch of a key with minimal safety
hazards. The report describes the system, presents calibration results obtained
from its operation since 1999, shows the crystals' loss of light yield due to
radiation damage, and shares experiences gained over the years.


title: Quasi-geostrophic model of the instabilities of the Stewartson layer

abstract:
  We study the destabilization of a shear layer, produced by differential
rotation of a rotating axisymmetric container. For small forcing, this produces
a shear layer, which has been studied by Stewartson and is almost invariant
along the rotation axis. When the forcing increases, instabilities develop. To
study the asymptotic regime (very low Ekman number $E$), we develop a
quasi-geostrophic two-dimensional model, whose main original feature is to
handle the mass conservation correctly, resulting in a divergent
two-dimensional flow, and valid for any container provided that the top and
bottom have finite slopes. We use it to derive scalings and asymptotic laws by
a simple linear theory, extending the previous analyses to large slopes (as in
a sphere), for which we find different scaling laws. For a flat container, the
critical Rossby number for the onset of instability evolves as $E^{3/4}$ and
may be understood as a Kelvin-Helmoltz shear instability. For a sloping
container, the instability is a Rossby wave with a critical Rossby number
proportional to $\beta E^{1/2}$, where $\beta$ is related to the slope. We also
investigate the asymmetry between positive and negative differential rotation
and propose corrections for finite Ekman and Rossby numbers. Implemented in a
numerical code, our model allows us to study the onset over a broad range of
parameters, determining the threshold but also other features such as the
spatial structure. We also present a few experimental results, validating our
model and showing its limits.


title:
DFT Study of Nitroxide Radicals. 1. Effects of solvent on structural and
  electronic characteristics of
  4-amino-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-imidazoline-N-oxyl

abstract:
  Imidazoline-based nitroxide radicals are often used as spin probes for medium
acidity and polarity in different systems. In this work, using the density
functional theory (DFT) approach, we have studied how physico-chemical
characteristics (geometry, atomic charges and electron spin density
distribution) of pH-sensitive spin label
4-amino-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-imidazoline-N-oxyl (ATI) depend on protonation
and aqueous surroundings. Our calculations demonstrate that ATI protonation
should occur at the nitrogen atom of the imidazoline ring rather than at the
amino group. Protonation of ATI leads to a decrease in a spin density on the
nitrogen atom of the nitroxide fragment >N-O. For simulation of ATI hydration
effects, we have constructed a water shell around a spin label molecule by
means of gradual (step-by-step) surrounding of ATI with water molecules (n =
2-41). Calculated spin density on the nitrogen atom of the nitroxide fragment
increased with an extension of a water shell around ATI. Both protonation and
hydration of ATI caused certain changes in calculated geometric parameters
(bond lengths and valence angles). Investigating how structural and energy
parameters of a system ATI-(H2O)n depend on a number of surrounding water
molecules, we came to the conclusion that a hydrogen-bonded cluster of n
≥ 41 water molecules could be considered as an appropriate model for
simulation of ATI hydration effects.


title: Entropic Priors

abstract:
  The method of Maximum (relative) Entropy (ME) is used to translate the
information contained in the known form of the likelihood into a prior
distribution for Bayesian inference. The argument is guided by intuition gained
from the successful use of ME methods in statistical mechanics. For experiments
that cannot be repeated the resulting "entropic prior" is formally identical
with the Einstein fluctuation formula. For repeatable experiments, however, the
expected value of the entropy of the likelihood turns out to be relevant
information that must be included in the analysis. As an example the entropic
prior for a Gaussian likelihood is calculated.


title: The CMS Silicon Strip Tracker: System Tests and Test Beam Results

abstract:
  With a total area of 210 squaremeters and about 15000 single silicon modules
the silicon strip tracker of the CMS experiment at the LHC will be the largest
silicon strip detector ever built. While the performance of the individual
mechanical and electronic components has already been tested extensively, their
interplay in larger integrated substructures also has to be studied before mass
production can be launched, in order to ensure the envisaged performance of the
overall system. This is the main purpose of the system tests, during which
hardware components as final as possible are being integrated into
substructures of the tracker subsystems. System tests are currently being
carried out for all subsystems of the tracker. In addition, silicon modules and
electronic components have been operated and studied in a particle beam
environment. In this report results from the CMS silicon tracker system tests
and a test beam experiment at CERN are presented.


title:
Electromagnetic wave scattering from a random layer with rough
  interfaces I: Coherent field

abstract:
  The problem of an electromagnetic wave scattered from a random medium layer
with rough boundaries is formulated using integral equations which involve two
kinds of Green functions. The first one describes the wave scattered by the
random medium and the rough boundaries, and the second one which corresponds to
the unperturbed Green functions describes the scattering by an homogeneous
layer with the rough boundaries. As these equations are formally similar to
classical equations used in scattering theory by an infinite random medium, we
will be able to apply standard procedures to calculate the coherent field. We
will use the coherent potential approximation where the correlations between
the particles will be taken into account under the quasi-crystalline
approximation.


title: GRENOUILLE - Practical issues: a quick manual

abstract:
  This paper is the result of setting up GRENOUILLE in the Nonlinear Dynamics
Laboratory at the University of Maryland at College Park. With the experience
acquired in the process of setting up GRENOUILLE, this manual was compiled from
literature and from hand-on experience to serve as a quick guide, a
step-by-step help to construct GRENOUILLE and to understand some of its basic
principles.


title:
New Results on DEPFET Pixel Detectors for Radiation Imaging and High
  Energy Particle Detection

abstract:
  DEPFET pixel detectors are unique devices in terms of energy and spatial
resolution because very low noise (ENC = 2.2e at room temperature) operation
can be obtained by implementing the amplifying transistor in the pixel cell
itself. Full DEPFET pixel matrices have been built and operated for
autoradiographical imaging with imaging resolutions of 4.3 +- 0.8 um at 22 keV.
For applications in low energy X-ray astronomy the high energy resolution of
DEPFET detectors is attractive. For particle physics, DEPFET pixels are
interesting as low material detectors with high spatial resolution. For a
Linear Collider detector the readout must be very fast. New readout chips have
been designed and produced for the development of a DEPFET module for a pixel
detector at the proposed TESLA collider (520x4000 pixels) with 50 MHz line rate
and 25 kHz frame rate. The circuitry contains current memory cells and current
hit scanners for fast pedestal subtraction and sparsified readout. The imaging
performance of DEPFET devices as well as present achievements towards a DEPFET
vertex detector for a Linear Collider are presented.


title:
Electromagnetic wave scattering from a random layer with rough
  interfaces II: Diffusive intensity

abstract:
  A general approach for the calculation of the incoherent intensity scattered
by a random medium with rough boundaries has been developed using a Green
function formalism. The random medium consists of spherical particles whose
physical repartition is described by a pair-distribution function. The boundary
contribution is included in the Green functions with the help of scattering
operators which can represent any existing theory of scattering by rough
surfaces. By using a standard procedure, we derive the integral Bethe-Salpeter
equation under the ladder approximation and, by differentiation, the vectorial
radiative transfer equation. Furthermore, with the help of our formalism, the
boundary conditions necessary to solve the radiative transfer equation are
expressed in terms of the scattering operators of the rough surfaces. Finally,
using the reciprocity properties of the Green functions, we are able to include
the enhanced backscattering contributions to take into account every state of
polarization of the incident and the scattered waves.


title: Configuration interaction calculation for the isotope shift in Mg I

abstract:
  We present an ab initio method of calculation of isotope shift in atoms with
a few valence electrons, based on the configuration-interaction calculation of
energy. The main motivation for developing the method comes from the need to
analyze whether differences in isotope abundance in early universe can
contribute to the observed anomalies in quasar absorption spectra. The current
best explanation for these anomalies is the assumption that the fine structure
constant, alpha, was smaller at early epoch. We show that we can calculate the
isotope shift in magnesium with good accuracy.


title: Observation of light dragging in rubidium vapor cell

abstract:
  We report on the experimental demonstration of light dragging effect due to
atomic motion in a rubidium vapor cell. We found that the minimum group
velocity is achieved for light red-shifted from the center of the atomic
resonance, and that the value of this shift increases with decreasing group
velocity, in agreement with the theoretical predictions by Kocharovskaya,
Rostovtsev, and Scully [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 86}, 628 (2001)].


title: A Parallel/Recursive Algorithm

abstract:
  An algorithm is discussed for converting a class of recursive processes to a
parallel system. It is argued that this algorithm can be superior to certain
methods currently found in the literature for an important subset of problems.
The cases of homogeneous and non-homogenous two term recursion are treated.
Applications to three problems (finding the eigenvalues of a tri-diagonal
matrix, the solution of a radial wave equation and the solution of a
tri-diagonal matrix) are discussed.


title: Hydrodynamic theory of de-wetting

abstract:
  A prototypical problem in the study of wetting phenomena is that of a solid
plunging into or being withdrawn from a liquid bath. In the latter, de-wetting
case, a critical speed exists above which a stationary contact line is no
longer sustainable and a liquid film is being deposited on the solid.
Demonstrating this behavior to be a hydrodynamic instability close to the
contact line, we provide the first theoretical explanation of a classical
prediction due to Derjaguin and Levi: instability occurs when the outer, static
meniscus approaches the shape corresponding to a perfectly wetting fluid.


title: How to Claim a Discovery

abstract:
  We describe a statistical hypothesis test for the presence of a signal. The
test allows the researcher to fix the signal location and/or width a priori, or
perform a search to find the signal region that maximizes the signal. The
background rate and/or distribution can be known or might be estimated from the
data. Cuts can be used to bring out the signal.


title:
From molecular dynamics to coarse self-similar solutions: A simple
  example using equation-free computation

abstract:
  In the context of the recently developed "equation-free" approach to the
computer-assisted analysis of complex systems, we illustrate the computation of
coarsely self-similar solutions. Dynamic renormalization and fixed point
algorithms for the macroscopic density dynamics are applied to the results of
short bursts of appropriately initialized molecular dynamics in a simple
diffusion simulation. The approach holds promise for locating coarse
self-similar solutions and the corresponding exponents in a variety of
multiscale computational contexts.


title:
Relativistic heat conduction and thermoelectric properties of nonuniform
  plasmas

abstract:
  Relativistic heat transport in electron-two-temperature plasmas with density
gradients has been investigated. The Legendre expansion analysis of
relativistically modified kinetic equations shows that strong inhibition of
heat flux appears in relativistic temperature regimes, suppressing the
classical Spitzer-H{\"a}rm conduction. The Seebeck coefficient, the
Wiedemann-Franz law, and the thermoelectric figure of merit are derived in the
relativistic regimes.


title:
Eigenmodes and growth rates of relativistic current filamentation
  instability in a collisional plasma

abstract:
  I theoretically found eigenmodes and growth rates of relativistic current
filamentation instability in collisional regimes, deriving a generalized
dispersion relation from self-consistent beam-Maxwell equations. For
symmetrically counterstreaming, fully relativistic electron currents, the
collisional coupling between electrons and ions creates the unstable modes of
growing oscillation and wave, which stand out for long-wavelength
perturbations. In the stronger collisional regime, the growing oscillatory mode
tends to be dominant for all wavelengths. In the collisionless limit, those
modes vanish, while maintaining another purely growing mode that exactly
coincides with a standard relativistic Weibel mode. It is also shown that the
effects of electron-electron collisions and thermal spread lower the growth
rate of the relativistic Weibel instability. The present mechanisms of
filamentation dynamics are essential for transport of homogeneous electron beam
produced by the interaction of high power laser pulses with plasma.


title:
Hydrodynamic Implosion Simulation Including Relativistic Effects on
  Petawatt-Class Pulse Heating

abstract:
  A spherically symmetric fluid code that includes the relativistic effects of
hot electrons has been newly developed. In the present simulations, I attempt
to implode a target shell of laser fusion using a nanosecond pulse; then, an
additional heating short pulse is injected into the coronal plasma surrounding
a highly compressed core. I found that the relativistic effects of hot
electrons on electron transport are likely to inhibit the heat flows, and to
reduce thermonuclear fusion neutrons significantly. This feature may be
important for off-center fast ignition and burn of fusion targets.


title:
Dependence of the MHD shock thickness on the finite electrical
  conductivity

abstract:
  The results of MHD plane shock waves with infinite electrical conductivity
are generalized for a plasma with a finite conductivity. We derive the
adiabatic curves that describe the evolution of the shocked gas as well as the
change in the entropy density. For a parallel shock (i.e., in which the
magnetic field is parallel to the normal to the shock front) we find an
expression for the shock thickness which is a function of the ambient magnetic
field and of the finite electrical conductivity of the plasma. We give
numerical estimates of the physical parameters for which the shock thickness is
of the order of, or greater than, the mean free path of the plasma particles in
a strongly magnetized plasma.


title:
Advances in the theory and methods of computational vibronic
  spectroscopy

abstract:
  We discuss semiempirical approaches and parametric methods developed for
modeling molecular vibronic spectra. These methods, together with databases of
molecular fragments, have proved efficient and flexible for solving various
problems ranging from detailed interpretation of conventional vibronic spectra
and calculation of radiative transition probabilities to direct simulations of
dynamical (time-resolved) spectra and spectrochemical analysis of individual
substances and mixtures. A number of specific examples and applications
presented here show the potential of the semiempirical approach for predictive
calculations of spectra and solution of inverse spectral problems. It is
noteworthy that these advances provide computational insights into developing
theories of photoinduced isomer transformations and nonradiative transitions in
polyatomic molecules and molecular ensembles, theory of new methods for
standardless quantitative spectral analysis.


title:
A statistical analysis of acoustic emission signals for tool condition
  monitoring (TCM)

abstract:
  The statistical properties of acoustic emission signals for tool condition
monitoring (TCM) applications in mechanical lathe machining are analyzed in
this paper. Time series data and root mean square (RMS) values at various tool
wear levels are shown to exhibit features that can be put into relation with
ageing in both cases. In particular, the histograms of raw data show power-law
distributions above a cross-over value, in which newer cutting tools exhibit
more numerous larger events compared with more worn-out ones. For practical
purposes, statistics based on RMS values are more feasible, and the analysis of
these also reveals discriminating age-related features. The assumption that
experimental RMS histograms follow a Beta (b) distribution has also been
tested. The residuals of the modeling b functions indicate that the search for
a more appropriate fitting function for the experimental distribution is
desirable.


title:
Non-existence of gravitational waves. The stages of the theoretical
  discovery (1917-2003)

abstract:
  A short history of the theoretical discovery that the gravitational waves of
general relativity do not have a physical reality.


title:
Ocean acoustic wave propagation and ray method correspondence: internal
  wave fine structure

abstract:
  Acoustic wave fields propagating long ranges through the ocean are refracted
by the inhomogeneities in the ocean's sound speed profile. Intuitively, for a
given acoustic source frequency, the inhomogeneities become ineffective at
refracting the field beyond a certain fine scale determined by the acoustic
wavelength. On the other hand, ray methods are sensitive to infinitely fine
features. Thus, it is possible to complicate arbitrarily the ray dynamics, and
yet have the wave field propagate unchanged. This feature raises doubts about
the ray/wave correspondence. Given the importance of various analyses relying
on ray methods, a proper model should, at a minimum, exclude all of the fine
structure that does not significantly alter the propagated wave field when the
correspondence to the ray dynamics is integral. We develop a simple, efficient,
smoothing technique to be applied to the inhomogeneities - a low pass filtering
performed in the spatial domain - and give a characterization of its necessary
extent as a function of acoustic source frequency. We indicate how the
smoothing improves the ray/wave correspondence, and show that the so-called
``ray chaos'' problem remains above a very low frequency (about 15-25 Hz).


title:
Evaluation of the self-energy correction to the g-factor of S states in
  H-like ions

abstract:
  A detailed description of the numerical procedure is presented for the
evaluation of the one-loop self-energy correction to the $g$-factor of an
electron in the $1s$ and $2s$ states in H-like ions to all orders in $Z\alpha$.


title: Toward a description of contact line motion at higher capillary numbers

abstract:
  The surface of a liquid near a moving contact line is highly curved owing to
diverging viscous forces. Thus, microscopic physics must be invoked at the
contact line and matched to the hydrodynamic solution farther away. This
matching has already been done for a variety of models, but always assuming the
limit of vanishing speed. This excludes phenomena of the greatest current
interest, in particular the stability of contact lines. Here we extend
perturbation theory to arbitrary order and compute finite speed corrections to
existing results. We also investigate the impact of the microscopic physics on
the large-scale shape of the interface.


title: Local structures of gravity-free space and time and their phenomena

abstract:
  In my previous work, physics/0205011, I reported several observations on
special relativity, its experimental facts and its relations to quantum
mechanics and statistical mechanics. These observations made us conscious:
Special relativity is not a ultimate theory; Some modification is needed; Any
modification must not violate the principles of the constancy of the light
speed and of the local Lorentz invariance; We probably have to change the
assumption on local structures of gravity-free space and time in special
relativity. Actually, such a kind of modification of special relativity has
been already done. The generalized Finslerian structures of gravity-free space
and time in the usual inertial coordinate system have been proposed. Here, in
this lecture, I talk about these structures of gravity-free space and time and
their recognized phenomena.


title: Information Flow and Computation in the Maxwell Demon Problem

abstract:
  In this paper we examine the Maxwell Demon problem from an information
theoretic and computational point-of-view. In particular we calculate the
required capacity of a communication channel that transports information to and
from the Demon. Equivalently, this is the number of bits required to store the
information on a computer tape. We show that, in a simple model for the Maxwell
Demon, the entropy of the universe increases by at least an amount
eta=0.83999552 bits per particle in going from unsorted to sorted particles and
by an amount eta*=2.37314 in going from one sorted state to another sorted
state.


title:
Single Experimental Setup for High Sensitive Absorption Coefficient and
  Optical Nonlinearities Measurements

abstract:
  Accurate knowledge of absorption coefficient of a sample is a prerequisite
for measuring the third order optical nonlinearity of materials, which can be a
serious limitation for unknown samples. We introduce a method, which measures
both the absorption coefficient and the third order optical nonlinearity of
materials with high sensitivity in a single experimental arrangement. We use a
dual-beam pump-probe experiment and conventional single-beam z-scan under
different conditions to achieve this goal. We also demonstrate a
counterintuitive coupling of the non-interacting probe-beam with the pump-beam
in pump-probe z-scan experiment.


title: Mechanics of Schrodinger mechanics

abstract:
  Small perturbations of ideal turbulence obey the Schrodinger equation.
Microscopically, the perturbation of turbulence corresponds to formation of
small amplitude helices on straight vortex filaments. A helix behaves in the
vorticity field of the fluid as a spin particle in the Stern-Gerlach
experiment. Taking into account elastic properties of the filament leads to the
Klein-Gordon equation.


title:
Quantising general relativity using QED theory, an overview and
  extension

abstract:
  We summarise and discuss some of our previous results, which show that Bohr's
theory of the one-electron atom may be derived from the theory underpinning
Quantum ElectroDynamics (QED) or vice versa, and that General Relativity may
also be derived from QED theory in the classical limit, if we use Newtonian
mechanics in the right frame and self-similar tesseral hierarchies. We
circumvent Newton's arguments against Descartes' vortex theory to show that the
inverse square law for a force combined with the equation of circular motion
and Bohr's quantisation of angular momentum may be derived from the vortex
theory and Special Relativity. We remark on the electro-weak interaction, the
number of dimensions needed, and their connection with tesseral hierarchies.


title:
Dynamic Models and Nonlinear Filtering of Wave Propagation in Random
  Fields

abstract:
  In this paper, a general model of wireless channels is established based on
the physics of wave propagation. Then the problems of inverse scattering and
channel prediction are formulated as nonlinear filtering problems. The
solutions to the nonlinear filtering problems are given in the form of dynamic
evolution equations of the estimated quantities. Finally, examples are provided
to illustrate the practical applications of the proposed theory.


title: The CAVES Project - Exploring Virtual Data Concepts for Data Analysis

abstract:
  The Collaborative Analysis Versioning Environment System (CAVES) project
concentrates on the interactions between users performing data and/or computing
intensive analyses on large data sets, as encountered in many contemporary
scientific disciplines. In modern science increasingly larger groups of
researchers collaborate on a given topic over extended periods of time. The
logging and sharing of knowledge about how analyses are performed or how
results are obtained is important throughout the lifetime of a project. Here is
where virtual data concepts play a major role. The ability to seamlessly log,
exchange and reproduce results and the methods, algorithms and computer
programs used in obtaining them enhances in a qualitative way the level of
collaboration in a group or between groups in larger organizations.
  The CAVES project takes a pragmatic approach in assessing the needs of a
community of scientists by building series of prototypes with increasing
sophistication. In extending the functionality of existing data analysis
packages with virtual data capabilities these prototypes provide an easy and
habitual entry point for researchers to explore virtual data concepts in real
life applications and to provide valuable feedback for refining the system
design. The architecture is modular based on Web, Grid and other services which
can be plugged in as desired. As a proof of principle we build a first system
by extending the very popular data analysis framework ROOT, widely used in high
energy physics and other fields, making it virtual data enabled.