55147901
Light stringy states
A bstractWe carefully study the spectrum of open strings localized at the intersections of D6-branes and identify the lowest massive ‘twisted’ states and their vertex operators, paying particular attention to the signs of the intersection angles. We argue that the masses of the lightest states scale as $ M_{\theta }^2 \approx \theta M_s^2 $ and can thus be parametrically smaller than the string scale. Relying on previous analyses, we compute scattering amplitudes of massless ‘twisted’ open strings and study their factorization, confirming the presence of the light massive states as sub-dominant poles in one of the channels.
118063728
Mass Hierarchies versus proton Decay in MSSM Orientifold Compactifications
We review two systematic bottom-up analyses of MSSM quivers recently performed by the authors. We extend the analysis of arXiv:0905.3379 by including constraints arising from proton decay via dimension 5 operators and present all four-stack quivers in the Madrid embedding which satisfy this additional constraint. Furthermore, we investigate and make precise the interplay between mass hierarchies obtained via factorizable Yukawa textures and the presence of dimension 5 proton decay operators in MSSM orientifold compactifications. We discuss this issue in a five-stack quiver, first presented in arXiv:0909.4292, which exhibits proper mass hierarchies and no rapid proton decay.
5682028
Computation of D-brane instanton induced superpotential couplings: Majorana masses from string theory
We perform a detailed conformal field theory analysis of D2-brane instanton effects in four-dimensional type IIA string vacua with intersecting D6-branes. In particular, we explicitly compute instanton induced fermion two-point couplings which play the role of perturbatively forbidden Majorana mass terms for right-handed neutrinos or MSSM {mu} terms. These results can readily be extended to higher-dimensional operators. In concrete realizations of such nonperturbative effects, the Euclidean D2-brane has to wrap a rigid, supersymmetric cycle with strong constraints on the zero-mode structure. Their implications for type IIA compactifications on the T{sup 6}/(Z{sub 2}xZ{sub 2}) orientifold with discrete torsion are analyzed. We also construct a local supersymmetric GUT-like model allowing for a class of Euclidean D2-branes whose fermionic zero modes meet all the constraints for generating Majorana masses in the phenomenologically allowed regime. Together with perturbatively realized Dirac masses, these nonperturbative couplings give rise to the seesaw mechanism.
118374533
Dynamical supersymmetry breaking in intersecting brane models
In this paper we study dynamical supersymmetry breaking in absence of gravity with the matter content of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. The hidden sector of the theory is a strongly coupled gauge theory, realized in terms of microscopic variables which condensate to form mesons. The supersymmetry breaking scalar potential combines F, D terms with instanton generated interactions in the Higgs-mesons sector. We show that for a large region in parameter space the vacuum breaks in addition to supersymmetry also electroweak gauge symmetry. We furthermore present local D-brane configurations that realize these supersymmetry breaking patterns.
117476620
On closed-string twist-field correlators and their open-string descendants
In a recent paper we have proposed the possibility that the lightest massive string states could be identified with open strings living at intersections of D-branes forming small angles. In this note, we reconsider the relevant twist-field correlation functions and perform the analysis of the sub-dominant physical poles in the various channels. Our derivation is new in that it is based on the algebraic procedure for the construction of open string models starting from their closed-string `parents' rather than on the stress-tensor method. We also indicate possible generalizations and diverse applications of our approach.
53533600
String constraints on discrete symmetries in MSSM type II quivers
A bstractWe study the presence of discrete gauge symmetries in D-brane semi-realistic compactifications. After establishing the constraints on the transformation behaviour of the chiral matter for the presence of a discrete gauge symmetry we perform a systematic search for discrete gauge symmetries within local semi-realistic D-brane realizations, based on four D-brane stacks, of the MSSM and the MSSM with three right-handed neutrinos. The systematic search reveals that Proton hexality, a discrete symmetry which ensures the absence of R-parity violating terms as well as the absence of dangerous dimension 5 proton decay operators, is only rarely realized. Moreover, none of the semi-realistic local D-brane configurations exhibit any family dependent discrete gauge symmetry.
118509992
Simulation and experimental study of plasma effects in planar silicon sensors
In silicon sensors high densities of electron-hole pairs result in a change of the current pulse shape and spatial distribution of the collected charge compared to the situation in presence of low charge carrier densities. This paper presents a detailed comparison of numerical simulations with time resolved current measurements on planar silicon sensors using 660 nm laser light to create different densities of electron hole pairs.
119295158
Performance of Drift-Tube Detectors at High Counting Rates for High-Luminosity LHC Upgrades
Abstract The performance of pressurized drift-tube detectors at very high background rates has been studied at the Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF) at CERN and in an intense 20 MeV proton beam at the Munich Van-der-Graaf tandem accelerator for applications in large-area precision muon tracking at high-luminosity upgrades of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The ATLAS muon drift-tube (MDT) chambers with 30 mm tube diameter have been designed to cope with γ and neutron background hit rates of up to 500 Hz/cm 2 . Background rates of up to 14 kHz/cm 2 are expected at LHC upgrades. The test results with standard MDT readout electronics show that the reduction of the drift-tube diameter to 15 mm, while leaving the operating parameters unchanged, vastly increases the rate capability well beyond the requirements. The development of new small-diameter muon drift-tube (sMDT) chambers for LHC upgrades is completed. Further improvements of tracking efficiency and spatial resolution at high counting rates will be achieved with upgraded readout electronics employing improved signal shaping for high counting rates.
121460348
Irradiation tests of double-sided silicon strip detectors optimized for the ATLAS-inner-detector-region
Abstract Silicon detectors, which will be used as tracking detectors in LHC-experiments, face special requirements; one major challenge is the long term operation of the detectors in very intense radiation fields. This paper describes a design for double-sided strip detectors, which takes these requirements into account. Irradiation tests have been carried out using 24 GeV protons. The change of detector characteristics in particular guardring-behaviour, punchthrough biasing and interstrip isolation has been studied.
23063408
Use of Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) technology in FPGAs for the reduction of faults due to radiation in the readout of the ATLAS monitored drift tube (MDT) chambers
The Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) technology allows protection of the functionality of FPGAs against single event upsets (SEUs). Each logic block is implemented three times with a 2-out-of-3 voter at the output. Thus, the correct logical value is available even if there is an upset bit in one location. We applied TMR to the configuration code of a Virtex-II-2000 FPGA, which serves as the on-chamber readout processor of the ATLAS monitored drift tubes (MDTs). We describe the code implementation, results of performance measurements and discuss several limitations of the method. Finally, we present a supplementary technology called “scrubbing”. It permanently checks the configuration memory while the FPGA is operating, and corrects upset configuration bits when necessary.
110604426
Strip detector design for ATLAS and HERA-B using two-dimensional device simulation
Abstract Irradiation scenarios were simulated in order to evaluate different technology and design options for silicon strip detectors exposed to a high luminosity environment. Two-dimensional process and device simulations were performed to get an insight into the device behaviour. The boundary condition of the free oxide regions between the strips was evaluated thoroughly to obtain correct field distributions. Using these results the formation of electron accumulation layers on the surface of the p-side and the depletion voltage dependence on the strip geometry can be explained. We investigated the “blocking implant” and the “spray implant” techniques as promising candidates for the n-side isolation of irradiated detectors. The main drawback of the “blocking implanted” devices is the increase of the electric field with increasing oxide charges. This implies the danger of impact ionization in irradiated devices. A “spray implanted” isolation layer leads to the highest electric field in the non-irradiated state which has the advantage of a better testability. Small gaps between strips as used in charge division readout reduce electric fields and leakage currents.