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n_TOF Collaboration(Tagliente, G. et al.), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2013). The Zr-93(n, gamma) reaction up to 8 keV neutron energy. Phys. Rev. C, 87(1), 014622–7pp.
Abstract: The (n, gamma) reaction of the radioactive isotope Zr-93 has been measured at the n_TOF high-resolution time-of-flight facility at CERN. Resonance parameters have been extracted in the neutron energy range up to 8 keV, yielding capture widths smaller (14%) than reported in an earlier experiment. These results are important for detailed nucleosynthesis calculations and for refined studies of waste transmutation concepts. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.014622
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Oliver, J. F., Fuster-Garcia, E., Cabello, J., Tortajada, S., & Rafecas, M. (2013). Application of Artificial Neural Network for Reducing Random Coincidences in PET. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 60(5), 3399–3409.
Abstract: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is based on the detection in coincidence of the two photons created in a positron annihilation. In conventional PET, this coincidence identification is usually carried out through a coincidence electronic unit. An accidental coincidence occurs when two photons arising from different annihilations are classified as a coincidence. Accidental coincidences are one of the main sources of image degradation in PET. Some novel systems allow coincidences to be selected post-acquisition in software, or in real time through a digital coincidence engine in an FPGA. These approaches provide the user with extra flexibility in the sorting process and allow the application of alternative coincidence sorting procedures. In this work a novel sorting procedure based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) techniques has been developed. It has been compared to a conventional coincidence sorting algorithm based on a time coincidence window. The data have been obtained from Monte-Carlo simulations. A small animal PET scanner has been implemented to this end. The efficiency (the ratio of correct identifications) can be selected for both methods. In one case by changing the actual value of the coincidence window used, and in the other by changing a threshold at the output of the neural network. At matched efficiencies, the ANN-based method always produces a sorted output with a smaller random fraction. In addition, two differential trends are found: the conventional method presents a maximum achievable efficiency, while the ANN-based method is able to increase the efficiency up to unity, the ideal value, at the cost of increasing the random fraction. Images reconstructed using ANN sorted data (no compensation for randoms) present better contrast, and those image features which are more affected by randoms are enhanced. For the image quality phantom used in the paper, the ANN method decreases the spill-over ratio by a factor of 18%.
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Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2013). Importance of torsion and invariant volumes in Palatini theories of gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 88(8), 084030–11pp.
Abstract: We study the field equations of extensions of general relativity formulated within a metric-affine formalism setting torsion to zero (Palatini approach). We find that different (second-order) dynamical equations arise depending on whether torsion is set to zero (i) a priori or (ii) a posteriori, i.e., before or after considering variations of the action. Considering a generic family of Ricci-squared theories, we show that in both cases the connection can be decomposed as the sum of a Levi-Civita connection and terms depending on a vector field. However, while in case (i) this vector field is related to the symmetric part of the connection, in (ii) it comes from the torsion part and, therefore, it vanishes once torsion is completely removed. Moreover, the vanishing of this torsion-related vector field immediately implies the vanishing of the antisymmetric part of the Ricci tensor, which therefore plays no role in the dynamics. Related to this, we find that the Levi-Civita part of the connection is due to the existence of an invariant volume associated with an auxiliary metric h(mu v), which is algebraically related with the physical metric g(mu v).
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Oset, E. (2013). On the ambiguities of sign determination of the S-matrix from energy levels in a finite box. Eur. Phys. J. A, 49(3), 32–4pp.
Abstract: In a recent paper the authors make a study on the determination of the S-matrix elements for scattering of particles in the infinite volume from the energy levels in a finite box for the case of multiple channels. The study is done with a toy model in 1+1 dimension and the authors find that there is some ambiguity in the sign of nondiagonal matrix elements, casting doubts on whether the needed observables in the infinite volume can be obtained from the energy levels of the box. In this paper I present an easy derivation, confirming the ambiguity of the sign and argue that this, however, does not put restrictions in the determination of observables.
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Ozpineci, A., Xiao, C. W., & Oset, E. (2013). Hidden beauty molecules within the local hidden gauge approach and heavy quark spin symmetry. Phys. Rev. D, 88(3), 034018–14pp.
Abstract: Using a coupled channel unitary approach, combining the heavy quark spin symmetry and the dynamics of the local hidden gauge, we investigate the meson-meson interaction with hidden beauty and obtain several new states. Both I = 0 and I = 1 states are analyzed, and it is shown that in the I = 1 sector, the interactions are too weak to create any bound states within our framework. In total, we predict with confidence the existence of six bound states and six more possible weakly bound states. The existence of these weakly bound states depends on the influence of the coupled channel effects.
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Perez, A., & Romanelli, A. (2013). Spatially Dependent Decoherence and Anomalous Diffussion of Quantum Walks. J. Comput. Theor. Nanosci., 10(7), 1591–1595.
Abstract: We analyze the long time behavior of a discrete time quantum walk subject to decoherence with a strong spatial dependence, acting on one half of the lattice. We show that, except for limiting cases on the decoherence parameter, the quantum walk at late times behaves sub-ballistically, meaning that the characteristic features of the quantum walk are not completely spoiled. Contrarily to expectations, the asymptotic behavior is non Markovian, and depends on the amount of decoherence. This feature can be clearly shown on the long time value of the Generalized Chiral Distribution (GCD).
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Perez-Cerdan, A. B., Rubio, B., Gelletly, W., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Nacher, E., et al. (2013). Deformation of Sr and Rb isotopes close to the N = Z line via beta-decay studies using the total absorption technique. Phys. Rev. C, 88(1), 014324–15pp.
Abstract: A study of the Gamow-Teller strength distributions B(GT) in the beta decay of Sr-78 and Rb-76,Rb-78 has been made using a total absorption spectrometer (TAS). Following the success in deducing the sign of the deformation for Sr-76, a similar approach is adopted for Sr-78 based on a comparison of the measured B(GT) with quasiparticle random-phase approximation calculations. This work confirms its previously expected prolate deformation in the ground state. Conclusions about the structure of the odd-odd Rb-76,Rb-78 isotopes have been drawn based on their measured B(GT) distributions.
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Perez-Ramos, R., & Mathieu, V. (2013). Collimation of energy in medium-modified QCD jets. Phys. Lett. B, 718(4-5), 1421–1424.
Abstract: The collimation of energy inside medium-modified jets is investigated in the leading logarithmic approximation of QCD. The Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi (DGLAP) evolution equations are slightly modified by introducing splitting functions enhanced in the infrared sector. As compared to elementary collisions in the vacuum, the angular distribution of the jet energy is found to broaden in QCD media.
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Pich, A., Rosell, I., & Sanz-Cillero, J. J. (2013). Viability of Strongly Coupled Scenarios with a Light Higgs-like Boson. Phys. Rev. Lett., 110(18), 181801–4pp.
Abstract: We present a one-loop calculation of the oblique S and T parameters within strongly coupled models of electroweak symmetry breaking with a light Higgs-like boson. We use a general effective Lagrangian, implementing the chiral symmetry breaking SU(2)(L) circle times SU(2)(R) -> SU(2)(L+R) with Goldstone bosons, gauge bosons, the Higgs-like scalar, and one multiplet of vector and axial-vector massive resonance states. Using a dispersive representation and imposing a proper ultraviolet behavior, we obtain S and T at the next-to-leading order in terms of a few resonance parameters. The experimentally allowed range forces the vector and axial-vector states to be heavy, with masses above the TeV scale, and suggests that the Higgs-like scalar should have a WW coupling close to the standard model one. Our conclusions are generic and apply to more specific scenarios such as the minimal SO(5)/SO(4) composite Higgs model.
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Pierre Auger Collaboration(Abreu, P. et al), & Pastor, S. (2013). Constraints on the origin of cosmic rays above 10^18 eV from large-scale anisotropy searches in data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Astrophys. J. Lett., 762(1), L13–8pp.
Abstract: A thorough search for large-scale anisotropies in the distribution of arrival directions of cosmic rays detected above 10(18) eV at the Pierre Auger Observatory is reported. For the first time, these large-scale anisotropy searches are performed as a function of both the right ascension and the declination and expressed in terms of dipole and quadrupole moments. Within the systematic uncertainties, no significant deviation from isotropy is revealed. Upper limits on dipole and quadrupole amplitudes are derived under the hypothesis that any cosmic ray anisotropy is dominated by such moments in this energy range. These upper limits provide constraints on the production of cosmic rays above 10(18) eV, since they allow us to challenge an origin from stationary galactic sources densely distributed in the galactic disk and emitting predominantly light particles in all directions.
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