1. |
- Abbasi, R., et al.
(author)
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SEARCH FOR HIGH-ENERGY MUON NEUTRINOS FROM THE "NAKED-EYE" GRB 080319B WITH THE IceCube NEUTRINO TELESCOPE
- 2009
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 701:2, s. 1721-1731
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on a search with the IceCube detector for high-energy muon neutrinos from GRB 080319B, one of the brightest gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) ever observed. The fireball model predicts that a mean of 0.1 events should be detected by IceCube for a bulk Lorentz boost of the jet of 300. In both the direct on-time window of 66 s and an extended window of about 300 s around the GRB, no excess was found above background. The 90% CL upper limit on the number of track-like events from the GRB is 2.7, corresponding to a muon neutrino fluence limit of 9.5 x 10(-3) erg cm(-2) in the energy range between 120 TeV and 2.2 PeV, which contains 90% of the expected events.
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2. |
- Abbasi, R., et al.
(author)
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Search for point sources of high energy neutrinos with final data from AMANDA-II
- 2009
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 79, s. 062001-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a search for point sources of high energy neutrinos using 3.8 yr of data recorded by AMANDA-II during 2000-2006. After reconstructing muon tracks and applying selection criteria designed to optimally retain neutrino-induced events originating in the northern sky, we arrive at a sample of 6595 candidate events, predominantly from atmospheric neutrinos with primary energy 100 GeV to 8 TeV. Our search of this sample reveals no indications of a neutrino point source. We place the most stringent limits to date on E(-2) neutrino fluxes from points in the northern sky, with an average upper limit of E(2)Phi(nu mu)+nu(tau)<= 5.2x10(-11) TeV cm(-2) s(-1) on the sum of nu(mu) and nu(tau) fluxes, assumed equal, over the energy range from 1.9 TeV to 2.5 PeV.
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3. |
- Abbasi, R., et al.
(author)
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The IceCube data acquisition system : Signal capture, digitization, and timestamping
- 2009
-
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 601:3, s. 294-316
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IceCube is a km-scale neutrino observatory under construction at the South Pole with sensors both in the deep ice (InIce) and on the surface (IceTop). The sensors, called Digital Optical Modules (DOMs). detect, digitize and timestamp the signals from optical Cherenkov-radiation photons. The DOM Main Board (MB) data acquisition subsystem is connected to the central DAQ in the IceCube Laboratory (ICL) by a single twisted copper wire-pair and transmits packetized data on demand. Time calibration is maintained throughout the array by regular transmission to the DOMs of precisely timed analog signals, synchronized to a central GPS-disciplined clock. The design goals and consequent features, functional capabilities, and initial performance of the DOM MB, and the operation of a combined array of DOMs as a system, are described here. Experience with the first InIce strings and the IceTop stations indicates that the system design and performance goals have been achieved. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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4. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
-
Limits on a Muon Flux from Neutralino Annihilations in the Sun with the IceCube 22-String Detector
- 2009
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 102:20, s. 201302-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A search for muon neutrinos from neutralino annihilations in the Sun has been performed with the IceCube 22-string neutrino detector using data collected in 104.3 days of live time in 2007. No excess over the expected atmospheric background has been observed. Upper limits have been obtained on the annihilation rate of captured neutralinos in the Sun and converted to limits on the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) proton cross sections for WIMP masses in the range 250-5000 GeV. These results are the most stringent limits to date on neutralino annihilation in the Sun.
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5. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
-
Determination of the atmospheric neutrino flux and searches for new physics with AMANDA-II
- 2009
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 79, s. 102005-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The AMANDA-II detector, operating since 2000 in the deep ice at the geographic South Pole, has accumulated a large sample of atmospheric muon neutrinos in the 100 GeV to 10 TeV energy range. The zenith angle and energy distribution of these events can be used to search for various phenomenological signatures of quantum gravity in the neutrino sector, such as violation of Lorentz invariance or quantum decoherence. Analyzing a set of 5511 candidate neutrino events collected during 1387 days of livetime from 2000 to 2006, we find no evidence for such effects and set upper limits on violation of Lorentz invariance and quantum decoherence parameters using a maximum likelihood method. Given the absence of evidence for new flavor-changing physics, we use the same methodology to determine the conventional atmospheric muon neutrino flux above 100 GeV.
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6. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
-
Extending the Search for Neutrino Point Sources with IceCube above the Horizon
- 2009
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 103:22, s. 221102-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Point source searches with the IceCube neutrino telescope have been restricted to one hemisphere, due to the exclusive selection of upward going events as a way of rejecting the atmospheric muon background. We show that the region above the horizon can be included by suppressing the background through energy-sensitive cuts. This improves the sensitivity above PeV energies, previously not accessible for declinations of more than a few degrees below the horizon due to the absorption of neutrinos in Earth. We present results based on data collected with 22 strings of IceCube, extending its field of view and energy reach for point source searches. No significant excess above the atmospheric background is observed in a sky scan and in tests of source candidates. Upper limits are reported, which for the first time cover point sources in the southern sky up to EeV energies.
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7. |
- Abbasi, R, et al.
(author)
-
FIRST NEUTRINO POINT-SOURCE RESULTS FROM THE 22 STRING ICECUBE DETECTOR
- 2009
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205. ; 701, s. L47-L51
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present new results of searches for neutrino point sources in the northern sky, using data recorded in 2007-2008 with 22 strings of the IceCube detector (approximately one-fourth of the planned total) and 275.7 days of live time. The final sample of 5114 neutrino candidate events agrees well with the expected background of atmospheric muon neutrinos and a small component of atmospheric muons. No evidence of a point source is found, with the most significant excess of events in the sky at 2.2 sigma after accounting for all trials. The average upper limit over the northern sky for point sources of muon-neutrinos with E-2 spectrum is E-2 Phi(v mu) < 1.4 x 10(-11) TeV cm(-2) s(-1), in the energy range from 3 TeV to 3 PeV, improving the previous best average upper limit by the AMANDA-II detector by a factor of 2.
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8. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Inclusive D*(+/-) meson and associated dijet production in deep-inelastic scattering at HERA
- 2007
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 51:2, s. 271-287
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Inclusive D*(+/-) production is measured in deep-inelastic ep scattering at HERA with the H1 detector. In addition, the production of dijets in events with a D*(+/-) meson is investigated. The analysis covers values of photon virtuality 2 <= Q(2) <= 100 GeV2 and of inelasticity 0.05 <= y <= 0.7. Differential cross sections are measured as a function of Q(2) and x and of various D*(+/-) meson and jet observables. Within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties all measured cross sections are found to be adequately described by next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD calculations, based on the photon - gluon fusion process and DGLAP evolution, without the need for an additional resolved component of the photon beyond what is included at NLO. A reasonable description of the data is also achieved by a prediction based on the CCFM evolution of partons involving the kT- unintegrated gluon distribution of the proton.
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9. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Tests of QCD factorisation in the diffractive production of dijets in deep-inelastic scattering and photoproduction at HERA
- 2007
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 51:3, s. 549-568
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Measurements are presented of differential dijet cross sections in diffractive photoproduction (Q(2) < 0.01 GeV2) and deep-inelastic scattering processes (DIS, 4 < Q2 < 80 GeV2). The event topology is given by ep -> eXY, in which the system X, containing at least two jets, is separated from a leading low-mass baryonic system Y by a large rapidity gap. The dijet cross sections are compared with NLO QCD predictions based on diffractive parton densities previously obtained from a QCD analysis of inclusive diffractive DIS cross sections by H1. In DIS, the dijet data are well described, supporting the validity of QCD factorisation. The diffractive DIS dijet data are more sensitive to the diffractive gluon density at high fractional parton momentum than the measurements of inclusive diffractive DIS. In photoproduction, the predicted dijet cross section has to be multiplied by a factor of approximately 0.5 for both direct and resolved photon interactions to describe the measurements. The ratio of measured dijet cross section to NLO prediction in photoproduction is a factor 0.5 +/- 0.1 smaller than the same ratio in DIS. This suppression is the first clear observation of QCD hard scattering factorisation breaking at HERA. The measurements are also compared to the two soft colour neutralisation models SCI and GAL. The SCI model describes diffractive dijet production in DIS but not in photoproduction. The GAL model fails in both kinematic regions.
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10. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Diffractive deep-inelastic scattering with a leading proton at HERA
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 48:3, s. 749-766
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cross section for the diffractive deep-inelastic scattering process ep -> eX(P) is measured, with the leading final state proton detected in the H1 Forward Proton Spectrometer. The data analysed cover the range x(P) < 0.1 in fractional proton longitudinal momentum loss, 0.08 < vertical bar t vertical bar < 0.5 GeV-2 in squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex, 2 < Q(2) < 50 GeV2 in photon virtuality and 0.004 < beta = x/x(P) < 1, where x is the Bjorken scaling variable. For x(P) less than or similar to 10(-2), the differential cross section has a dependence of approximately d sigma/dt proportional to e(6t), independently of x(P), beta and Q(2) within uncertainties. The cross section is also measured triple differentially in x(P), beta and Q(2). The x(P) dependence is interpreted in terms of an effective pomeron trajectory with intercept alpha(P) (0) = 1.114 +/- 0.018(stat.) +/- 0.012(syst.)(-0.020)(+0.040) (model) and a subleading exchange. The data are in good agreement with an H1 measurement for which the event selection is based on a large gap in the rapidity distribution of the final state hadrons, after accounting for proton dissociation contributions in the latter. Within uncertainties, the dependence of the cross section on x and Q(2) can thus be factorised from the dependences on all studied variables which characterise the proton vertex, for both the pomeron and the sub-leading exchange.
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11. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Elastic J/psi production at HERA
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 46:3, s. 585-603
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cross sections for elastic production of J/psi mesons in photoproduction and electroproduction are measured in electron proton collisions at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 55 pb(-1). Results are presented for photon virtualities Q(2) up to 80 GeV2. The dependence on the photon-proton centre of mass energy W-gamma p is analysed in the range 40 <= W-gamma p <= 305 GeV in photoproduction and 40 <= W-gamma p <= 160 GeV in electroproduction. The W-gamma p dependences of the cross sections do not change significantly with Q(2) and can be described by models based on perturbative QCD. Within such models, the data show a high sensitivity to the gluon density of the proton in the domain of low Bjorken x and low Q(2). Differential cross sections d sigma/dt, where t is the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex, are measured in the range vertical bar t vertical bar < 1.2 GeV2 as functions of W-gamma p and Q(2). Effective Pomeron trajectories are determined for photoproduction and electroproduction. The J/psi production and decay angular distributions are consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The ratio of the cross sections for longitudinally and transversely polarised photons is measured as a function of Q(2) and is found to be described by perturbative QCD based models.
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12. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Inclusive D-*+/- meson cross sections and D-*+/--jet correlations in photoproduction at HERA
- 2007
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 50:2, s. 251-267
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Differential photoproduction cross sections are measured for events containing D-*+/- mesons. The data were taken with the H1 detector at the ep collider HERA and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 51.1 pb(-1). The kinematic region covers small photon virtualities Q(2) < 0.01 GeV2 and photon-proton centre-of-mass energies of 171 < W gamma(Cep) < 256 GeV. The details of the heavy quark production process are further investigated in events with one or two jets in addition to the D-*+/- meson. Differential cross sections for D-* + jet production are determined and the correlations between the D-*+/- meson and the jet(s) are studied. The results are compared with perturbative QCD predictions applying collinear- or k(t)-factorisation.
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13. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement and QCD analysis of the diffractive deep-inelastic scattering cross section at HERA
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 48:3, s. 715-748
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A detailed analysis is presented of the diffractive deep-inelastic scattering process ep -> eXY, where Y is a proton or a low mass proton excitation carrying a fraction 1 - x(IP) > 0.95 of the incident proton longitudinal momentum and the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex satisfies |t| < 1 GeV2. Using data taken by the H1 experiment, the cross section is measured for photon virtualities in the range 3.5 <= Q(2) <= 1600 GeV2, triple differentially in x(IP), Q(2) and beta = x/x(P), where x is the Bjorken scaling variable. At low x(IP), the data are consistent with a factorisable x(IP) dependence, which can be described by the exchange of an effective pomeron trajectory with intercept alpha(IP)(0) = 1.118 +/- 0.008(exp.)(-0.010)(+0.029)(model). Diffractive parton distribution functions and their uncertainties are determined from a next-to-leading order DGLAP QCD analysis of the Q(2)and beta dependences of the cross section. The resulting gluon distribution carries an integrated fraction of around 70% of the exchanged momentum in the Q(2) range studied. Total and differential cross sections are also measured for the diffractive charged current process e(+) p -> (v) over bar eXY and are found to be well described by predictions based on the diffractive parton distributions. The ratio of the diffractive to the inclusive neutral current ep cross sections is studied. Over most of the kinematic range, this ratio shows no significant dependence on Q(2) at fixed x(P) and x or on x at fixed Q(2) and beta.
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14. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Diffractive photoproduction of rho mesons with large momentum transfer at HERA
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 638:5-6, s. 422-431
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The diffractive photoproduction of rho mesons, ep -> e rho Y, with large momentum transfer squared at the proton vertex, vertical bar t vertical bar, is studied with the H1 detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 20.1 pb(-1). The photon-proton centre of mass energy spans the range 75 < W < 95 GeV, the photon virtuality is restricted to Q(2) < 0.01 GeV2 and the mass My of the proton remnant is below 5 GeV. The t dependence of the cross section is measured for the range 1.5 < vertical bar t vertical bar < 10.0 GeV2 and is well described by a power law, d sigma/d vertical bar t vertical bar proportional to vertical bar t vertical bar(-n). The spin density matrix elements, which provide information on the helicity structure of the interaction, are extracted using measurements of angular distributions of the rho decay products. The data indicate a violation of s-channel helicity conservation, with contributions from both single and double helicity-flip being observed. The results are compared to the predictions of perturbative QCD models.
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15. |
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16. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of event shape variables in deep-inelastic scattering at HERA
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 46:2, s. 343-356
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Deep-inelastic ep scattering data taken with the H1 detector at HERA and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 106 pb(-1) are used to study the differential distributions of event shape variables. These include thrust, jet broadening, jet mass and the C-parameter. The four-momentum transfer Q is taken to be the relevant energy scale and ranges between 14 GeV and 200 GeV. The event shape distributions are compared with perturbative QCD predictions, which include resummed contributions and analytical power law corrections, the latter accounting for non-perturbative hadronisation effects. The data clearly exhibit the running of the strong coupling alpha(s)(Q) and are consistent with a universal power correction parameter alpha(0) for all event shape variables. A combined QCD fit using all event shape variables yields alpha(s)(m(Z)) = 0.1198 +/- 0.0013 (+0.0056)(-0.0043) and alpha(0) = 0.476 +/- 0.008 (+0.018)(-0.059).
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17. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Search for doubly-charged Higgs boson production at HERA
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 638:5-6, s. 432-440
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A search for the single production of doubly-charged Higgs bosons H-+/-+/- in ep collisions is presented. The signal is searched for via the Higgs decays into a high mass pair of same charge leptons, one of them being an electron. The analysis uses up to 118 pb(-1) of ep data collected by the H1 experiment at HERA. No evidence for doubly-charged Higgs production is observed and mass dependent upper limits are derived on the Yukawa couplings h(el) of the Higgs boson to an electron-lepton pair. Assuming that the doubly-charged Higgs only decays into an electron and a muon via a coupling of electromagnetic strength h(e mu) = root 4 pi alpha(em) similar or equal to 0.3, a lower limit of 141 GeV on the H-+/-+/- mass is obtained at the 95% confidence level. For a doubly-charged Higgs decaying only into an electron and a tau and a coupling h(e tau) similar or equal to 0.3, masses below 112 GeV are ruled out.
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18. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Forward jet production in deep inelastic scattering at HERA
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 46:1, s. 27-42
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The production of forward jets has been measured in deep inelastic ep collisions at HERA. The results are presented in terms of single differential cross sections as a function of the Bjorken scaling variable (xB(j)) and as triple differential cross sections d3 sigma/dx(Bj)dQ(2)dp(t)(,jet)(2), where Q(2) is the four momentum transfer squared and p(t)(,iet)(2) is the squared transverse momentum of the forward jet. Also cross sections for events with a di-jet system in addition to the forward jet are measured as a function of the rapidity separation between the forward jet and the two additional jets. The measurements are compared with next-to-leading order QCD calculations and with the predictions of various QCD-based models.
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19. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Photoproduction of dijets with high transverse momenta at HERA
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 639:1, s. 21-31
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Differential dijet cross sections are measured in photoproduction in the region of photon virtualities Q(2) < 1 GeV2 with the H1 detector at the HERA ep collider using an integrated luminosity of 66.6 pb(-1). Jets are defined with the inclusive k perpendicular to algorithm and a minimum transverse momentum of the leading jet of 25 GeV is required. Dijet cross sections are measured indirect and resolved photon enhanced regions separately. Longitudinal proton momentum fractions up to 0.7 are reached. The data compare well with predictions from Monte Carlo event generators based on leading order QCD and parton showers and with next-to-leading order QCD calculations corrected for hadronisation effects.
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20. |
- Aktas, A., et al.
(author)
-
Tau lepton production in ep collisions at HERA
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 48:3, s. 699-714
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The production of tau leptons in ep collisions is investigated using data recorded by the H1 detector at HERA in the period 1994-2000. Tau leptons are identified by detecting their decay products, using leptonic and hadronic decay modes. The cross section for the production of tau lepton pairs is measured for the first time at HERA. Furthermore, a search for events with an energetic isolated tau lepton and with large missing transverse momentum is performed. The results are found to be in agreement with the Standard Model predictions.
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21. |
- Aktas, A, et al.
(author)
-
First measurement of charged current cross sections at HERA with longitudinally polarised positrons
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 634:2-3, s. 173-179
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Data taken with positrons of different longitudinal polarisation states in collision with unpolarised protons at HERA are used to measure the total cross sections of the charged current process, e(+) p -> nu X, for negative four-momentum transfer squared Q(2) > 400 GeV2 and inelasticity gamma < 0.9. Together with the corresponding cross section obtained from the previously published unpolarised data, the polarisation dependence of the charged current cross section is measured for the first time at high Q(2) and found to be in agreement with the Standard Model prediction. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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22. |
- Aktas, A, et al.
(author)
-
A determination of electroweak parameters at HERA
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 632:1, s. 35-42
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using the deep inelastic e(+) p and e(-) p charged and neutral current scattering cross sections previously published, a combined electroweak and QCD analysis is performed to determine electroweak parameters accounting for their correlation with parton distributions. The data used have been collected by the HI experiment in 1994-2000 and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 117.2 pb(-1). A measurement is obtained of the W propagator mass in charged current ep scattering. The weak mixing angle sin(2)theta w is determined in the on-mass-shell renormalisation scheme. A first measurement at HERA is made of the light quark weak couplings to the Z(0) boson and a possible contribution of right-handed isospin components to the weak couplings is investigated. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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23. |
- Aktas, A, et al.
(author)
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Measurement of Fc(c)over-bar(2) and Fb(b)over-bar(2) at low Q(2) and x using the H1 vertex detector at HERA
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 45:1, s. 23-33
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Measurements are presented of inclusive charm and beauty cross sections in e(+)p collisions at HERA for values of photon virtuality 12 <= Q(2) = 60 GeV2 and of the Bjorken scaling variable 0.0002 <= x <= 0.005. The fractions of events containing charm and beauty quarks are determined using a method based on the impact parameter, in the transverse plane, of tracks to the primary vertex, as measured by the H1 vertex detector. Values for the structure functions F-2(cc) and F-2(bb) are obtained. This is the first measurement of F-2(bb) in this kinematic range. The results are found to be compatible with the predictions of perturbative quantum chromodynamics and with previous measurements of F-2(cc).
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24. |
- Sodergren, Erica, et al.
(author)
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The genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.
- 2006
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 314:5801, s. 941-52
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the sequence and analysis of the 814-megabase genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, a model for developmental and systems biology. The sequencing strategy combined whole-genome shotgun and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) sequences. This use of BAC clones, aided by a pooling strategy, overcame difficulties associated with high heterozygosity of the genome. The genome encodes about 23,300 genes, including many previously thought to be vertebrate innovations or known only outside the deuterostomes. This echinoderm genome provides an evolutionary outgroup for the chordates and yields insights into the evolution of deuterostomes.
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25. |
- Harley, M, et al.
(author)
-
Was Rodney Ledward a statistical outlier? Retrospective analysis using hospital data to identify gynaecologists performance
- 2005
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In: British Medical Journal, 2005, 330, 929.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate whether routinely collected data from hospital episode statistics could be used to identify the gynaecologist Rodney Ledward, who was suspended in 1966 and was the subject of the Ritchie inquiry into quality and practice within the NHS. Design A mixed scanning approach was used to identify seven variables from hospital episode statistics that were likely to be associated with potentially poor performance. A blinded multivariate analysis was undertaken to determine the distance (known as the Mahalanobis distance) in the seven indicator multidimensional space that each consultant was from the average consultant in each year. The change in Mahalanobis distance over time was also investigated by using a mixed effects model. Setting: NHS hospital trusts in two English regions, in the five years from 1991-2 to 1995-6. Population: Gynaecology consultants (n = 143) and their hospital episode statistics data. Main outcome measure Whether Ledward was a statistical outlier at the 95% level. Results: The proportion of consultants who were outliers in any one year (at the 95% significance level) ranged from 9% to 20%. Ledward appeared as an outlier in three of the five years. Our mixed effects (multi-year) model identified nine high outlier consultants, including Ledward. Conclusion: It was possible to identify Ledward as an outlier by using hospital episode statistics data. Although our method found other outlier consultants, we strongly caution that these outliers should not be overinterpreted as indicative of "poor" performance. Instead, a scientific search for a credible explanation should be undertaken, but this was outside the remit of our study. The set of indicators used means that cancer specialists, for example, are likely to have high values for several indicators, and the approach needs to be refined to deal with case mix variation. Even after allowing for that, the interpretation of outlier status is still as yet unclear. Further prospective evaluation of our method is warranted, but our overall approach may be potentially useful in other settings, especially where performance entails several indicator variables.
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