119047717
The Status of Perturbative QCD
Progress in quantum chromodynamics in the past year is reviewed in these specific areas: proof of factorization for hadron-hadron collisions, fast calculation of higher order graphs, perturbative Monte Carlo calculations for hadron-hadron scattering, applicability of perturbative methods to heavy quark production, and understanding of the small-x problem. 22 refs. (LEW)
2620123
Double pomeron jet cross sections
Abstract We treat hadron-hadron collisions where the final state is kinematically of the kind associated with double-pomeron-exchange (DPE) and has large transverse momentum jets. We show that in addition to the conventional factorized (FDPE) contribution, there is a nonfactorized (NDPE) contribution which has no pomeron beam jet. Within a simple model we compute DPE-two-jet total and differential cross sections at Tevatron energy scales, and show that the NDPE contribution is dominant.
123313601
INTRINSIC TRANSVERSE MOMENTUM. 1. NONGAUGE THEORIES
118152619
Spin physics at polarized hadron colliders
Some of the prospects for physics at a polarized hadron collider are summarized, with reference to a proposal for polarized proton‐proton collisions at RHIC. The connections between the spin‐dependent parton densities and the chiral structure of the proton are emphasized.
17338636
Light-cone Variables, Rapidity and All That
I give a pedagogical summary of the methods of light-cone variables, rapidity and pseudo-rapidity. Then I show how these methods are useful in analyzing diffractive high-energy collisions.
7579254
Parton distribution functions suitable for Monte-Carlo event generators
In the usual factorization theorems, which give predictions only for inclusive cross sections, there is considerable freedom in the choice of the scheme to define the parton distribution functions. These theorems do not directly apply to Monte-Carlo event generators, and more general factorization theorems which give predictions for fully exclusive cross sections are needed. It has been shown that appropriate parton distribution functions are uniquely defined by the showering algorithm. In this paper, we present results of calculations of the Monte-Carlo parton distribution functions in terms of the commonly used parton distribution functions. At small x the differences are large, which demonstrates the importance of using the correct parton distribution functions in an event generator rather than parton distribution functions. We present some simple approximations that enable an understanding of the sizes of the results to be obtained.
16974063
Metallicity and Ionization in High-Velocity Cloud Complex C
We analyze HST and FUSE ultraviolet spectroscopic data for 11 sight lines passing through the infalling high-velocity cloud (HVC) Complex C. These sight lines pass through regions with H I column densities in the range N = 1018.1-1020.1 cm-2. From [O I/H I] abundances, we find that Complex C metallicities range from 0.09 to 0.29 Z☉, with a column density weighted mean of 0.13 Z☉. Nitrogen (N I) is underabundant by factors of (0.01-0.07)(N/H)☉, significantly less than oxygen relative to solar abundances. This pattern suggests nucleosynthetic enrichment by Type II SNe, consistent with an origin in the Galactic fountain or infalling gas produced in winds from Local Group galaxies. The range of metallicity and its possible (2 σ) dependence on N could indicate some mixing of primordial material with enriched gas from the Milky Way, but the mixing mechanism is unclear. We also investigate the significant highly ionized component of Complex C, detected in C IV, Si IV, and O VI, but not in N V. High-ion column density ratios show little variance and are consistent with shock ionization or ionization at interfaces between Complex C and a hotter surrounding medium. Evidence for the former mechanism is seen in the Mrk 876 line profiles, where the offset in line centroids between low and high ions suggests a decelerating bow shock.
118344053
Identifying the colour of TeV-scale resonances
A bstractWe explore how the colour of any new TeV-scale resonances that decay into top quark pairs can be identified by studying the dependence of the observed cross-section on a central jet veto. To facilitate this study, colour octet resonance production was implemented in Pythia8 and colour singlet resonance production is simulated after minor modifications. We find that the colour of a 2 TeV resonance can be identified with 10 fb−1 of data at a centre-of-mass energy of 14 TeV for a wide range of couplings, but only if the uncertainty in the theoretical prediction is dramatically reduced from its current level.
14712521
A LARGE RESERVOIR OF IONIZED GAS IN THE GALACTIC HALO: IONIZED SILICON IN HIGH-VELOCITY AND INTERMEDIATE-VELOCITY CLOUDS
The low Galactic halo is enveloped by a sheath of ionized, low-metallicity gas, which can provide a substantial (1 M ☉ yr–1) cooling inflow to replenish star formation in the disk. Using absorption spectra from the Hubble Space Telescope and Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer toward 37 active galactic nuclei at high latitude, we detect widespread interstellar Si III λ1206.50 absorption: 61 high-velocity clouds (HVCs) along 30 sight lines and 22 intermediate-velocity clouds (IVCs) along 20 sight lines. We find a segregation of redshifted and blueshifted absorbers across the Galactic rotation axis at l = 180°, consistent with a lag in the rotation velocity above the Galactic plane. The HVC sky coverage is large (81% ± 5% for 30 out of 37 directions) with Si III optical depth typically 4-5 times that of O VI λ1031.926. The mean HVC column density per sight line, log NSi III = 13.42 ± 0.21, corresponds to total column density N HII (6 × 1018 cm–2)(Z Si/0.2Z ☉)–1 of ionized low-metallicity gas, similar to that inferred in O VI. This reservoir could total 108 M ☉ and produce a mass infall rate ~1 M ☉ yr–1. By modeling Si II, Si III, Si IV, and H I in a subset of absorbers, we constrain the mean photoionization parameter in the low halo, log U = –3.0+0.3 –0.4, approximately 10 times lower than observed in the low-redshift intergalactic medium. The metallicities in some HVCs, derived from [Si II/H I], are 10%-30% solar, whereas values found from all three silicon ions are lower in the pure-photoionization models. These formally lower matallicities are highly uncertain, since some of the higher ions may be collisionally ionized. The HVC and IVC metallicities may be compared with the median photometric metallicity, [Fe/H] = –1.46 ± 0.30, for ~200,000 halo F/G stars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
1954406
Hubble Space Telescope Survey of Interstellar High-Velocity Si III
We describe an ultraviolet spectroscopic survey of interstellar high-velocity cloud (HVC) absorption in the strong ?1206.500 line of Si III using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Because the Si III line is 4-5 times stronger than O VI ?1031.926, it provides a sensitive probe of ionized gas down to column densities N Si III 5 ? 1011 cm?2 at Si III equivalent width 10 m?. We detect high-velocity Si III over 91% ? 4% of the sky (53 of 58 sight lines); 59% of the HVCs show negative local standard of rest velocities. The mean HVC column density per sight line is log N Si III = 13.19 ? 0.45, while the mean for all 90 velocity components is 12.92 ? 0.46. Lower limits due to Si III line saturation are included in this average, so the actual mean/median values are even higher. The Si III appears to trace an extensive ionized component of Galactic halo gas at temperatures 104.0-4.5 K indicative of a cooling flow. Photoionization models suggest that typical Si III absorbers with 12.5 < log N Si III < 13.5 have total hydrogen column densities N H 1018-1019 cm?2 for gas of hydrogen density n H 0.1 cm?3 and 10% solar metallicity. With typical neutral fractions N H I /N H 0.01, these HVCs may elude even long-duration 21 cm observations at Arecibo, the EVLA, and other radio facilities. However, if Si III is associated with higher density gas, n H ? 1 cm?3, the corresponding neutral hydrogen could be visible in deep observations. This reservoir of ionized gas may contain 108 M ? and produce a mass infall rate of 1 M ? yr?1 to the Galactic disk.
56099774
Construction of a Prototype Spark Chamber
A small demonstration spark chamber is to be built at the Cavendish laboratory. A prototype chamber consisting of five 20x22.5cm plates has been built and descriptions of its properties and construction are given, while a second chamber with a somewhat novel design is nearly complete. A discussion of the issues surrounding the final design is presented, and recommendations are made in light of the results of this work.