This dissertation presents measurements of the inclusive production cross sections for W and Z gauge bosons decaying through the electron channel with p{bar p} collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The ratio of these cross sections is then used to extract the W total width. The Standard Model (SM) of electroweak and strong interactions is a collection of theories which together encompass what is currently known about the elementary particles that make up matter and the forces through which they interact. Experimentalists are constantly searching for violations of the Standard Model by making precision measurements of predicted interactions. The decay of the W boson is one such interaction. The rate of its decay is reflected in its width which is predicted to high precision using Standard Model-based calculations. Therefore, a high precision experimental width measurement would be very sensitive to any such violation. In principle the W and Z boson production cross sections could also be good Standard Model tests. However, a precise knowledge of integrated luminosity is required which is unfortunately difficult to obtain at the Tevatron. In fact, the W and Z cross section results can be used to obtain a more precise luminosity measurement. The …

The Livermore 90 deg inch variable-energy cyclotron was used to measure the 90 deg excitation function for the Al/sup 27/(p, gamma )Si/sup 28/ reaction. Proton energies between 5 and 13 Mev were used which gave excitation energies in Si/sup 28/ corresponding to the region of the photonuclear giant resonance. Two gamma rays were observed: gamma /sub O/, the groundstate gamma ray and gamma / sub 1/ resulting from deexcitation through the first excited state of Si/sup 28/ at 1.78 Mev. They were detected by a 5-in.-diam by 6-in.-long NaI(Tl) crystal. A Pb collimator was used to improve the resolution of the detector. The results indicated that both gamma /sub O/ and gamma /sub 1/ display the giant resonance behavior; the gamma /sub O/ carve reached a peak value of approximately -8 mu barns/sr at E/sub p/ = 8.75 Mev, while the gamma /sub 1/ peak was approximately -14 mu barns/sr at E/sub p/ = 10 Mev. Both curves displayed the fine structure previously reported by Gove et al. A detailed balance calculation was made, using the gamma /sub O/ data. A comparison with the measurements of Johansson on the total yield of protons from the Si/sup 28/( gamma ,p)Al reaction …

This thesis presents an indirect measurement of the width of the W boson using data collected at the D0 experiment, a multipurpose particle detector utilizing the Fermilab Tevatron. The W width was determined from the ratio of W {yields} {mu}{nu} to Z {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -} cross sections to be {Gamma}{sub W} = 2168 {+-} 22(stat) {+-} 62(syst){sub -16}{sup +24}(pdf) {+-} 4(other) MeV, in good agreement with the Standard Model prediction and other experimental measurements. In addition there is a description of how work made towards this measurement has been used to improve the parameterized detector simulation, a vital tool in the obtention of physics results from signals observed in the detector, and in estimating the uncertainty due to choice of PDF, which is of interest for all measurements made at hadron colliders.

All known experimental results on fundamental particles and their interactions can be described to great accuracy by a theory called the Standard Model. In the Standard Model of particle physics, the masses of particles are explained through the Higgs mechanism. The Higgs boson is the only Standard Model particle not discovered yet, and its observation or exclusion is an important test of the Standard Model. While the Standard Model predicts that a Higgs boson should exist, it does not exactly predict its mass. Direct searches have excluded a Higgs with m{sub H} < 114.4 GeV at 95% confidence level, while indirect measurements indicate that the mass should be less than 144 GeV. This analysis looks for W{sup {+-}}H {yields} {mu}{nu}{sub {mu}}b{bar b} in 1 fb{sup -1} of data collected with the D0 detector in p{bar p} collisions with {radical}s = 1.96 TeV. The analysis strategy relies on the tracking, calorimetry and muon reconstruction of the D0 experiment. The signature is a muon, missing transverse energy (E{sub T}) to account for the neutrino and two b-jets. The Higgs mass is reconstructed using the invariant mass of the two jets. Backgrounds are W{sup {+-}}b{bar b}, W{sup {+-}} c{bar c}, W{sup {+-}} + …

This dissertation describes a direct measurement of the W boson total decay width, {Lambda}{sub W}, using the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The measurement uses an integrated luminosity of 177.3 pb{sup -1} data, collected during the 2002-2003 run. The width is determined from the shape of the transverse mass distribution, M{sub T}, by fitting the data in the tail region 100 < M{sub T} < 200 GeV. The result if {Lambda}{sub W} = 2.011 {+-} 0.093(stat) {+-} 0.107(syst) GeV.

The primary mode of production of W{sup +} bosons in a p{bar p} collider is u + {bar d} {yields} W{sup +}. The u quark generally carries more momentum than the {bar d} and the resultant W{sup +} tends to be boosted in the proton direction. Similarly, W bosons are boosted in the anti-proton direction. This is observed as an asymmetry in the rapidity distributions of positive and negative W bosons. Measurement of this asymmetry serves as a probe of the momentum distribution of partons within the proton. These distributions are required as input to the calculation of every p{bar p} production cross section. This thesis presents the first measurement at D0 of the charge asymmetry of the W boson production cross section as measured in W {yields} ev decays in 0.3 fb{sup -1} of p{bar p} collisions collected with the D0 Detector. Theoretical predictions made using the CTEQ6.1M and MRST(2004) parton distribution functions are compared with the measurement.

This dissertation describes two different projects from two different experiments. We have performed a search for CPT violation in neutral charm meson oscillations using data from the FOCUS Experiment. While flavor mixing in the charm sector is predicted to be small in the Standard Model, it is still possible to investigate CPT violation through a study of the proper time dependence of a CPT asymmetry in right-sign decay rates for D{sup 0} {yields} K{sup -} {pi}{sup +} and {bar D}{sup 0} {yields} K{sup +}{pi}{sup -}. This asymmetry is related to the CPT violating complex parameter {xi} and the mixing parameters x and y: A{sub CPT} {infinity} Re{xi}y - Im{xi}x. We determine a 95% confidence level limit of -0.0068 < Re{xi}y - Im{xi}x < 0.0234. Within the framework of the Standard Model Extension incorporating general CPT violation, we also find 95% confidence level limits for the expressions involving coefficients of Lorentz violation of (-2.8 < N(x,y,{delta}))({Delta}a{sub 0} + 0.6 {Delta}a{sub Z} < 4.8) x 10{sup -16} GeV, (-7.0 < N(x,y,{delta}){Delta}a{sub x} < 3.8) x 10{sup -16} GeV, and (-7.0 < N(x,y,{delta}){Delta}a{sub y} < 3.8) x 10{sup -16} GeV, where N(x,y,{delta}) is a normalization factor that incorporates mixing parameters x, y and …

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We describe a spectral approach to the investigation of fluid instability, generalized turbulence, and the interpenetration of fluids across an interface. The Technique also applies to a single fluid with large variations in density. Departures of fluctuating velocity components from the local mean are far subsonic, but the mean Mach number can be large. Validity of the description is demonstrated by comparisons with experiments on turbulent mixing due to the late stages of Rayleigh-Taylor instability, when the dynamics become approximately self-similar in response to a constant body force. Generic forms for anisotropic spectral structure are described and used as a basis for deriving spectrally integrated moment equations that can be incorporated into computer codes for scientific and engineering analyses.

If fusion energy is to achieve its full potential for safety and environmental (S&E) advantages, the S&E characteristics of fusion power plant designs must be quantified and understood, and the resulting insights must be embodied in the ongoing process of development of fusion energy. As part of this task, the present work compares S&E characteristics of five inertial and two magnetic fusion power plant designs. For each design, a set of radiological hazard indices has been calculated with a system of computer codes and data libraries assembled for this purpose. These indices quantify the radiological hazards associated with the operation of fusion power plants with respect to three classes of hazard: accidents, occupational exposure, and waste disposal. The three classes of hazard have been qualitatively integrated to rank the best and worst fusion power plant designs with respect to S&E characteristics. From these rankings, the specific designs, and other S&E trends, design features that result in S&E advantages have been identified. Additionally, key areas for future fusion research have been identified. Specific experiments needed include the investigation of elemental release rates (expanded to include many more materials) and the verification of sequential charged-particle reactions. Improvements to the calculational methodology are …

The problem of the bimolecular rate constant, alpha , for the mutual charge neutralization reaction (ion-ion recombination) for ions formed by the vacuum ultraviolet photolysis of nitric oxide is considered. The pressure dependence of alpha over a pressure range of 10 to 600 torr for mixtures of a few hundred microns of NO with He, Ar, Kr, Xe, H/sub 2/, D/sub 2/, and N/sub 2/ was measured. From the low-pressure limit of alpha , the rate constant for charge neutralization in the absence of a third body was found to be k/sub o/ = 2.1 plus or minus 0.4 x 10/sup -7/ cm/sup 3// sec. The high-pressure limit of alpha was estimated to be 2.0 plus or minus 0.5 x 10/sup -6/ cm/sup 3//sec. The third-body efficiencies for promoting the charge-neutralization reaction were measured. The results, relative to He as the third-body gas, are H/sub 2/= 1.4 plus or minus 0.4, D/sub 2/= 1.5 plus or minus 0.4, Ar =3.6 plus or minus 0.8, Kr =4.3 plus or min11.0, N/sub 2/ = 5.2 plus or minus 1.1, and Xe = 6.8 plus or minus 1.5. The average ionic mobility in the gas mixtures is estimated, and the mobilities indicate that …

The inelastic interactions of negative pi mesons with protons at 374, 417, and 454 Mev incident pi kinetic energy are studied by measuring the differential distributions of finalstate neutrons. The pi source is an internal target of the Berkeley 184-inch synchrocyclotron. A magnetic beamtransport system momentum-anaiyzes and focuses the pi beam at a liquid hydrogen target located in an adjacent shielded experimental area. The time-of- flight distribution of neutral particles is measured at various laboratorysystem angles between 10 and 65 deg. Neutral particles are detected by observing the charged products of their interactions in plastic scintillator. The time-of- flight information is determined electronically by time-to-height conversion and pulse-height analysis. The time resolution of the total system is 1.0 nsec. Detected neutral particles accompanied by charged particles are separated by the electronic system from those not accompanied by charged particles. Analysis presuming the principal inelastic reactions to be pi /sup -/p yields pi /sup +/ pi /sup -/n and pi /sup -/p yields pi /sup 0/ pi /sup 0/n separates the time-of-flight spectra into gamma rays, neutrons from the reaction pi /sup -/p yields pi /sup 0/n, and inelastic neutrons. Calculated values of the neutron- detection efficiency are used in the …

A review of spectroscopic imaging issues, applications, and technology is presented. Compton cameras based on solid state semiconductor detectors stands out as the best system for the nondestructive assay of special nuclear materials. A camera for this application has been designed based on an efficient specific purpose Monte Carlo code developed for this project. Preliminary experiments have been performed which demonstrate the validity of the Compton camera concept and the accuracy of the code. Based on these results, a portable prototype system is in development. Proposed future work is addressed.

Supernova (SN) 1987A focused attention on the critical role of hydrodynamic instabilities in the evolution of supernovae. To test the modeling of these instabilities, we are developing laboratory experiments of hydrodynamic mixing under conditions relevant to supernovae. Initial results were reported in J. Kane et al., Astrophys. J.478, L75 (1997) The Nova laser is used to shock two-layer targets, producing Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) and Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instabilities at the interfaces between the layers, analogous to instabilities seen at the interfaces of SN 1987A. Because the hydrodynamics in the laser experiments at intermediate times (3-40 ns) and in SN 1987A at intermediate times (5 s-10{sup 4} s) are well described by the Euler equations, the hydrodynamics scale between the two regimes. The experiments are modeled using the hydrodynamics codes HYADES and CALE, and the supernova code PROMETHEUS, thus serving as a benchmark for PROMETHEUS. Results of the experiments and simulations are presented. Analysis of the spike and bubble velocities in the experiment using potential flow theory and a modified Ott thin shell theory is presented. A numerical study of 2D vs. 3D differences in instability growth at the O-He and He-H interface of SN 1987A, and the design for analogous laser experiments …

New experimental data is presented on some exotic metals that exhibit phase changes at cryogenic temperatures. The types of phase changes that were detected in the specific heat data range from martensitic (diffusion less) transitions to superconducting transitions. In addition, the charge density wave (CDW) state in uranium metal was detected in the specific heat. Specific-heat measurements were made in zero-magnetic field using an apparatus capable of obtaining temperatures as low as 0.4 K. Calibration performed on this apparatus, using a single-crystal copper sample, show its accuracy to be 0.50%, while the resolution was better than 0.1%. Our measurements demonstrate that similar high precision and accurate specific-heat measurements can be obtained on milligram-scale samples. In Chapters 2 and 3, specific-heat measurements are presented for the B2 (CsCl structure) alloy AuZn and for {alpha}-uranium (orthorhombic symmetry). The AuZn alloy exhibits a continuous transition at 64.75 K and an entropy of transition of ({Delta}S{sub tr}) 2.02 J K{sup {minus}1} mol{sup {minus}1}. Calculation of the Debye temperature, by extrapolating of the high temperature phase elastic constants to T = 0 K yields a value of 207 K ({+-}2 K), in favorable agreement with the calorimetric value of 219 K ({+-}0.50 K), despite the …

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two unsaturated flow models in arid regions. The area selected for the study was the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS) at the Nevada Test Site in Nye County, Nevada. The two models selected for this evaluation were HYDRUS-1D [Simunek et al., 1998] and the SHAW model [Flerchinger and Saxton, 1989]. Approximately 5 years of soil-water and atmospheric data collected from an instrumented weighing lysimeter site near the RWMS were used for building the models with actual initial and boundary conditions representative of the site. Physical processes affecting the site and model performance were explored. Model performance was based on a detailed sensitivity analysis and ultimately on storage comparisons. During the process of developing descriptive model input, procedures for converting hydraulic parameters for each model were explored. In addition, the compilation of atmospheric data collected at the site became a useful tool for developing predictive functions for future studies. The final model results were used to evaluate the capacities of the HYDRUS and SHAW models for predicting soil-moisture movement and variable surface phenomena for bare soil conditions in the arid vadose zone. The development of calibrated models along …

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A two-dimensional, two fluid model of the MHD equations has been coupled to a Monte Carlo transport model of high energy, non-Maxwellian ions. The MHD part of the model assumes complete ionization and includes a perfect gas law for a scalar pressure, a tensor artificial viscosity, electron and ion thermal conduction, electron-ion coupling, and a radiation loss term. A simple Ohm's Law is used with a B/sub theta/ magnetic field. The MHD equations were solved in Lagrangian coordinates. The conservation equations were differenced explicitly and the diffusion-type equations implicitly using the splitting technique. The Monte Carlo model solves the equation of motion for high energy ions, moving through and suffering small and large angle collisions with the fluid Maxwellian plasma. The source of high energy ions is the thermonuclear reactions of the hydrogen isotopes, or it may be an externally injected beam of neutralized ions. In addition to using the usual Maxwell averaged thermonuclear cross sections for calculating the number of reactions taking place within the Maxwellian plasma, the high energy ions may suffer collisions resulting in a reaction. In the Monte Carlo model all neutrons are assumed to escape, and all energetic ions of Z less than or equal …

Conventional solid state reactions are diffusion limited processes that require high temperatures and long reaction times to reach completion. In this work, several solution based methods were utilized to circumvent this diffusion limited reaction and achieve product formation at lower temperatures. The solution methods studied all have the common goal of trapping the homogeneity inherent in a solution and transferring this homogeneity to the solid state, thereby creating a solid atomic mixture of reactants. These atomic mixtures can yield solid state products through {open_quotes}diffusionless{close_quotes} mechanisms. The effectiveness of atomic mixtures in solid state synthesis was tested on three classes of materials, varying in complexity. A procedure was invented for obtaining the highly water soluble salt, titanyl nitrate, TiO(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}, in crystalline form, which allowed the production of titanate materials by freeze drying. The freeze drying procedures yielded phase pure, nanocrystalline BaTiO{sub 3} and the complete SYNROC-B phase assemblage after ten minute heat treatments at 600{degrees}C and 1100{degrees}C, respectively. Two novel methods were developed for the solution based synthesis of Ba{sub 2}YCu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} and Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10}. Thin and thick films of Ba{sub 2}YCu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} and Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10} were synthesized by …

Conventional solid state reactions are diffusion limited processes that require high temperatures and long reaction times to reach completion. In this work, several solution based methods were utilized to circumvent this diffusion limited reaction and achieve product formation at lower temperatures. The solution methods studied all have the common goal of trapping the homogeneity inherent in a solution and transferring this homogeneity to the solid state, thereby creating a solid atomic mixture of reactants. These atomic mixtures can yield solid state products through diffusionless mechanisms. The effectiveness of atomic mixtures in solid state synthesis was tested on three classes of materials, varying in complexity. A procedure was invented for obtaining the highly water soluble salt, titanyl nitrate, TiO(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}, in crystalline form, which allowed the production of titanate materials by freeze drying. The freeze drying procedures yielded phase pure, nanocrystalline BaTiO{sub 3} and the complete SYNROC-B phase assemblage after ten minute heat treatments at 600 C and 1,100 C, respectively. Two novel methods were developed for the solution based synthesis of Ba{sub 2}YCu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}x} and Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10}. Thin and thick films of Ba{sub 2}YCu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}x} and Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10} were …

The elements Sn, Mg, Ti, Zr, Hf, Si, Cd, and U were alloyed with plutonium to determine their effect on stabilization of the beta phase. Zirconium was found to be the ' most effective. Kinetic studies were conducted on Pu-Zr alloys having 0.24, 0.65, and 1.7 at.% Zr contents. The beta to alpha transformation in the Pu-Zr alloys was somewhat similar to that in unalloyed plutonium. The main difference being that time, temperature, transformation curves of the alloys were shifted to the right as the zirconium concentration increased. It was determined that the amount of beta phase retained at room temperature increased as the zirconium concentration increased. The minimum amount of Zr needed to stabilize the beta phase of plutonium at room temperature was determined to be 2.0 at.%. A 2.4 at.% Zr addition stabilized the beta phase of plutonium at atmospheric pressure from room temperature to 265 deg C. During mechanical property testing it was determined that the stabilized beta Pu-2.4 at.% Zr alloy was brittle from room temperature to 230 deg C. Both tensile and compression strengths of the beta stabilized alloy were greater than the unalloyed beta phase of plutonium. A brittle-ductile transition was noted between 130 …

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