[en] A recent measurement of the TRACER instrument on long-duration balloon has determined the individual energy spectra of the major primary cosmic ray nuclei from oxygen (Z = 8) to iron (Z = 26). The measurements cover a large range of energies and extend to energies beyond 10¹⁴ eV. We investigate if the data set can be described by a simple but plausible model for acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays. The model assumes a power-law energy spectrum at the source with a common spectral index α for all nuclear species, and an energy-dependent propagation path length (Λ ∝ E ^-0.6) combined with an energy-independent residual path length Λ₀. We find that the data can be fitted with a fairly soft source spectrum (α = 2.3-2.4), and with a residual path length Λ₀ as high as 0.3 g cm^-2. We discuss this model in the context of other pertinent information, and we determine the relative abundances of the elements at the cosmic ray source.

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No abstract available

[en] This paper presents a novel framework for track fitting which is usable in a wide range of experiments, independent of the specific event topology, detector setup, or magnetic field arrangement. This goal is achieved through a completely modular design. Fitting algorithms are implemented as interchangeable modules. At present, the framework contains a validated Kalman filter. Track parameterizations and the routines required to extrapolate the track parameters and their covariance matrices through the experiment are also implemented as interchangeable modules. Different track parameterizations and extrapolation routines can be used simultaneously for fitting of the same physical track. Representations of detector hits are the third modular ingredient to the framework. The hit dimensionality and orientation of planar tracking detectors are not restricted. Tracking information from detectors which do not measure the passage of particles in a fixed physical detector plane, e.g. drift chambers or TPCs, is used without any simplification. The concept is implemented in a light-weight C++ library called GENFIT, which is available as free software.

[en] There is much talk about engaging the public in climate change mitigation and adaptation in the UK and elsewhere. Governments rush to demand greater engagement of the public in tackling climate change and delivering sustainable futures. The importance that public engagement has gained as part of the UK climate agenda begs the questions of what is actually behind this call and what are the implications. This paper analyses the rationale for public engagement as enshrined in major policy documents. This rationale is clearly instrumental in that citizens are expected to engage by adopting the 'right attitude', by performing prescribed behaviours, and by consenting to proposed measures. Using recent cases of climate change mitigation and adaptation practice the paper discusses the implications of such an approach to public engagement. The paper concludes that until the manifold disjunctions between climate related policy agendas and their rationales for engagement are explicitly addressed citizen engagement will be serving incumbent interests rather than contributing to socially sustainable and democratic decision-making

[en] We describe a large-area detector for measurements of the intensity of cosmic-ray nuclei in balloon-borne exposures. In order to observe individual nuclei at very high energies, the instrument employs transition radiation detectors (TRD) whose energy response extends well beyond 10⁴ GeV amu^-1. The TR measurement is performed with arrays of single-wire proportional tubes interleaved with plastic-fiber radiators. An additional energy determination comes from the specific ionization in gas and its relativistic rise which is also measured with proportional tubes. The tubes also determine the trajectory of each cosmic-ray nucleus with mm-resolution. In total, nearly 1600 tubes are used. The instrument is triggered by large-area plastic scintillators. The scintillators, together with acrylic Cherenkov counters, also determine the nuclear charge Z of each cosmic-ray particle, measure the energy in the GeV amu^-1 region, and discriminate against low-energy background. We describe the details of this detector system, and discuss its performance in three high-altitude balloon flights, including two long-duration flights in 2003 and 2006 at Antarctic and Arctic latitudes, respectively. Scientific results from these flights are summarized, and possible future developments are reviewed.

[en] The P-bar ANDA fixed target experiment planned at FAIR will investigate fundamental questions of non-perturbative QCD. It makes use of a cooled antiproton beam (momentum: 1.5 to 15GeV/c) and will reach luminosities of up to 2.10³²cm^-2s^-1, yielding a p-bar p-annihilation rate of 2.10⁷s^-1. One option for the central tracker of P-bar ANDA is a cylindrical, ungated, continuously running TPC with GEM-based gas amplification stage.

[en] We report on the development of a GEM-based TPC detector prototype for the PANDA experiment. The design and requirements of this device will be illustrated, with particular emphasis on the properties of the recently tested GEM-detector, the characterization of the read-out electronics and the development of the tracking software that allows to evaluate the GEM-TPC data.

[en] The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has investigated the reaction π^-γ → π^-π^-π⁺ embedded in the Primakoff reaction of 190 GeV pions scattering in the Coulomb field of a lead target, π^-Pb → π^-π^-π⁺ Pb. Exchange of quasi-real photons is selected by isolating the sharp Coulomb peak observed at momentum transfer below 0.001 (GeV/c)². Using a partial-wave analysis the amplitudes and relative phases of the a₂(1320) and π₂(1670) mesons have been extracted, and the Coulomb and the diffractive contributions have been disentangled. Measuring absolute production cross sections we have determined the radiative width of the a₂(1320) to be Γ₀(a₂(1320) → πγ) = (358 ± 6_stat ± 42_syst) keV. As the first measurement, Γ₀(π₂(1670) → πγ) = (181 ± 11_stat ± 27_syst) keV . (BR^PDG_f2π/BR_f2π) is obtained for the radiative width of the π₂(1670), where in this analysis the branching ratio BR^PDG_f2π = 0.56 has been used. We compare these values to previous measurements and theoretical predictions. (orig.)

[en] Large samples of Λ, Σ(1385) and Ξ(1321) hyperons produced in the deep-inelastic muon scattering off a ⁶LiD target were collected with the COMPASS experimental setup at CERN. The relative yields of Σ(1385)⁺, Σ(1385)^-, anti Σ(1385)^-, anti Σ(1385)⁺, Ξ(1321)^-, and anti Ξ(1321)⁺ hyperons decaying into Λ(anti Λ)π were measured. The ratios of heavy-hyperon to Λ and heavy-antihyperon to anti Λ were found to be in the range 3.8 % to 5.6 % with a relative uncertainty of about 10 %. They were used to tune the parameters relevant for strange particle production of the LEPTO Monte Carlo generator. (orig.)