Small particles in Pluto's environment: Effects of the solar radiation pressure

Impacts of micrometeoroids on the surfaces of the plutonian small satellites Nix and Hydra can generate dust particles. Even in this region so far from the Sun these tiny ejected particles are under the effects of the solar radiation pressure. In this work, we investigate the orbital evolution of the escaping ejecta from both the small satellites under the effects of the radiation pressure combined with the gravitational effects of Pluto, Charon, Nix and Hydra. The mass production rate of micron-sized dust particles generated by micrometeoroids hitting the satellites is obtained, and numerical simulations are performed to derive the lifetime of the ejecta. These pieces of information allow us to estimate the optical depth of a putative ring, which extends from the orbits of Nix to Hydra. The ejected particles, between the orbits of Nix and Hydra, form a wide ring of about 16 000 km. Collisions with the massive bodies and escape from the system are mainly determined by the effects of the solar radiation pressure. This is an important loss mechanism, removing 30 per cent of the initial set of 1 μm-sized particles in 1 yr. The surviving particles form a ring too faint to be detectable with the derived maximum optical depth of 4 × 10-11. © 2013 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Search for fractionally charged particles in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A search is presented for free heavy long-lived fractionally charged particles produced in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV. The data sample was recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb-1. Candidate fractionally charged particles are identified by selecting tracks with associated low charge measurements in the silicon tracking detector. Observations are found to be consistent with expectations for background processes. The results of the search are used to set upper limits on the cross section for pair production of fractionally charged, massive spin-1/2 particles that are neutral under SU(3)C and SU(2)L. We exclude at 95% confidence level such particles with electric charge ±2e/3 with masses below 310 GeV, and those with charge ±e/3 with masses below 140 GeV. © 2013 CERN. Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/3.0/Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

Searches for long-lived charged particles in pp collisions at □ =7 and 8 TeV

Abstract: Results of searches for heavy stable charged particles produced in pp collisions at □ = 7 and 8 TeV are presented corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb-1 and 18.8 fb-1, respectively. Data collected with the CMS detector are used to study the momentum, energy deposition, and time-of-flight of signal candidates. Leptons with an electric charge between e/3 and 8e, as well as bound states that can undergo charge exchange with the detector material, are studied. Analysis results are presented for various combinations of signatures in the inner tracker only, inner tracker and muon detector, and muon detector only. Detector signatures utilized are long time-of-flight to the outer muon system and anomalously high (or low) energy deposition in the inner tracker. The data are consistent with the expected background, and upper limits are set on the production cross section of long-lived gluinos, scalar top quarks, and scalar τ leptons, as well as pair produced long-lived leptons. Corresponding lower mass limits, ranging up to 1322 GeV/c 2 for gluinos, are the most stringent to date. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2013 Cern for the benefit of the CMS collaboration.

Corrosion and tribocorrosion behaviour of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy and its composites reinforced with B4C particles in 0.05M NaCl solution

The corrosion behaviour of metal matrix composites (MMCs) is strictly linked with the presence of heterogeneities such as reinforcement phase, microcrevices, porosity, secondary phase precipitates, and interaction products. Most of the literature related to corrosion behaviour of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) is focused on SiC reinforced AMCs. On the other hand, there is very limited information available in the literature related to the tribocorrosion behaviour of AMCs. Therefore, the present work aims to investigate corrosion and tribocorrosion behaviour of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy matrix composites reinforced with B4C particulates. Corrosion behaviour of 15 and 19% (vol) B4C reinforced Al-Si-Cu-Mg matrix composites and the base alloy was investigated in 0.05M NaCl solution by performing immersion tests and potentiodynamic polarisation tests. Tribocorrosion behaviour of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy and its composites were also investigated in 0.05M NaCl solution. The tests were carried out against alumina ball using a reciprocating ball-on-plate tribometer. Electrochemical measurements were performed before, during, and after the sliding tests together with the recording of the tangential force. Results suggest that particle addition did not affect significantly the tendency of corrosion of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy without mechanical interactions. During the tribocorrosion tests, the counter material was found to slide mainly on the B4C particles, which protected the matrix alloy from severe wear damage. Furthermore, the wear debris were accumulated on the worn surfaces and entrapped between the reinforcing particles. Therefore, the tendency of corrosion and the corrosion rate decreased in Al-Si-Cu-Mg matrix B4C reinforced composites during the sliding in 0.05M NaCl solution. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Search in leptonic channels for heavy resonances decaying to long-lived neutral particles

A search is performed for heavy resonances decaying to two long-lived massive neutral particles, each decaying to leptons. The experimental signature is a distinctive topology consisting of a pair of oppositely charged leptons originating at a separated secondary vertex. Events were collected by the CMS detector at the LHC during pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV, and selected from data samples corresponding to 4.1 (5.1) fb-1 of integrated luminosity in the electron (muon) channel. No significant excess is observed above standard model expectations, and an upper limit is set with 95% confidence level on the production cross section times the branching fraction to leptons, as a function of the long-lived massive neutral particle lifetime. Copyright CERN.

Yield and mineral nutrition of soybean, maize, and congo signal grass as affected by limestone and slag

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of superficial applicationof limestone and slag, and their effects on soil chemical attributes and on yield and mineral nutrition of soybean, maize, and Congo signal grass (Urochloa ruziziensis). The experiment was carried out in a Rhodic Hapludox under no tillage system. The treatments consisted of the use of limestone or slag (silicates of calcium and magnesium) to correct soilacidity, and of a control treatment without the use of soil correctives. Rates were calculated in order to raise soil base saturation up to 70%. Soybean was sown in November 2006and maize in December 2007. Congo signal grass was sown right after the harvests of soybean and maize, and it was cropped during the offseasons. Soil chemical attributes were evaluated at 6, 12, and 18 months after the application of the corrective materials. Slag isan efficient source for soil acidity correction, being able to raise the exchangeable base levels in the soil profile faster than lime. Both limestone and slag increase dry matter yield of Congo signal grass, and grain yield of soybean and maize. Slag is more effective in improving maize grain yield.

Dynamical properties for an ensemble of classical particles moving in a driven potential well with different time perturbation

We consider dynamical properties for an ensemble of classical particles confined to an infinite box of potential and containing a time-dependent potential well described by different nonlinear functions. For smooth functions, the phase space contains chaotic trajectories, periodic islands and invariant spanning curves preventing the unlimited particle diffusion along the energy axis. Average properties of the chaotic sea are characterised as a function of the control parameters and exponents describing their behaviour show no dependence on the perturbation functions. Given invariant spanning curves are present in the phase space, a sticky region was observed and show to modify locally the diffusion of the particles. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Aplicação superficial de calcário e gesso em manejo conservacionista de solo para cultivo de amendoim e aveia branca

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Search for long-lived particles in events with photons and missing energy in proton-proton collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of calcium on the structural properties of Ba(1-x)Ca (x) TiO3 particles synthesized by complex polymerization method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sugar markers in aerosol particles from an agro-industrial region in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Studying Close Approaches for a Cloud of Particles Considering Atmospheric Drag

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Dynamics of Space Particles and Spacecrafts Passing by the Atmosphere of the Earth

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes Loaded in Particles as Drug Carrier Systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)