[en] We investigate the parameter space of a specific class of model within the deflected mirage mediation (DMM) scenario. We look at neutralino properties and compute the thermal relic density as well as interaction rates with xenon direct detection experiments. We find that there are portions of the parameter space which are in line with the current WMAP constraints. Further we find that none of the investigated parameter space is in conflict with current bounds from the Xenon10 experiment and that future large-scale liquid xenon experiments will probe a large portion of the model space.

[en] We consider the possibility that the recently reported events at the CDMS-II direct dark matter detection experiment are the result of a coherent scattering of supersymmetric neutralinos. In such a scenario we argue that nonuniversal soft supersymmetry breaking gaugino masses are favored with a resulting lightest neutralino with significant Higgsino and wino components. We discuss the accompanying signals which must be seen at liquid-xenon direct detection experiments and indirect detection experiments if such a supersymmetric interpretation is to be maintained. We illustrate the possible consequences for early discovery channels at the LHC via a set of benchmark points designed to give rise to an observed event rate comparable to the reported CDMS-II data.

[en] We carry out an analysis of the potential of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to discover supersymmetry in runs at √(s)=7 TeV with an accumulated luminosity of (0.1-2) fb^-1 of data. The analysis is done with both minimal supergravity and supergravity models with nonuniversal soft breaking. Benchmarks for early discovery with (0.1-2) fb^-1 of data are given. We provide an update of b-tagging efficiencies in PGS 4 appropriate for LHC analyses. A large number of signature channels are analyzed, and it is shown that each of the models exhibited are discoverable at the 5σ level or more above the standard model background in several signature channels which would provide cross checks for a discovery of supersymmetry. It is shown that some of the benchmarks are discoverable with 0.1 fb^-1 of data again with detectable signals in several channels.

[en] We investigate the utility of cosmological and astrophysical observations for distinguishing between supersymmetric theories. In particular we consider 276 pairs of models that give rise to nearly identical patterns of observables at hadron colliders. We focus attention on neutralino scattering experiments (direct detection of relic neutralinos) and observations of gamma-rays from relic neutralino annihilation (indirect detection experiments). Both classes of experiments planned for the near future will make measurements with exceptional precision. In principle, therefore, they will have the ability to be surprisingly effective at discriminating between candidate theories. However, the ability to distinguish between models will be highly dependent on future theoretical progress on such things as determination of the local halo density model and uncertainty in nuclear matrix elements associated with neutralino recoil events. If one imagines perfect knowledge of these theoretical inputs, then with extremely conservative physics assumptions and background estimates we find 101 of the 276 degenerate pairs can be distinguished. Using slightly more optimistic assumptions about background rates increases this number to 186 of the 276 pairs. We discuss the sensitivity of these results to additional assumptions made about nuclear matrix elements, the cosmological density of neutralinos and the galactic halo profile. We also comment on the complementarity of this study to recent work investigating these same pairs at a (s)^1/2 = 500 GeV linear collider.

[en] The recently introduced deflected mirage mediation (DMM) model is a string-motivated paradigm in which all three of the major supersymmetry-breaking transmission mechanisms are operative. We begin a systematic exploration of the parameter space of this rich model context, paying special attention to the pattern of gaugino masses which arise. In this work we focus on the dark matter phenomenology of the DMM model as such signals are the least influenced by the model-dependent scalar masses. We find that a large portion of the parameter space in which the three mediation mechanisms have a similar effective mass scale of 1 TeV or less will be probed by future direct and indirect detection experiments. Distinguishing deflected mirage mediation from the mirage model without gauge mediation will prove difficult without collider input, though we indicate how gamma ray signals may provide an opportunity for distinguishing between the two paradigms

[en] Highlights: • A deep closed-loop geothermal well concept is proposed for scalable power generation. • The proposed concept does not rely on flow through fractures and rock permeability. • The concept can be applied globally using available directional drilling technology. • An automated managed pressure operation system ensures real-time wellbore stability. • Transient hydraulic modeling shows initial thermal power generation of above 25 MW. Closed-loop geothermal systems (CLGS) have been recently proposed as an alternative to the conventional enhanced geothermal system (EGS) concept to address many of the issues of concern with EGS, such as potential contamination of the circulating fluid and short-circuiting. Deep CLGS wells drilled in rock formations with in-situ temperatures above 200 °C could in theory be drilled anywhere around the world, thereby allowing for globally scalable geothermal energy production. A novel concept of integrating a managed pressure operation (MPO) system with deep CLGS (DCLGS) is presented here. The concept includes an open-hole completion of the lateral section, while the automatically controlled MPO system maintains wellbore integrity and avoids fluid contamination. A combined thermal and hydraulic model is also developed to demonstrate the feasibility of this concept. Using a robust semi-implicit numerical algorithm, the model can simulate the fast transients in a well, which enables the application of automated MPO control for real-time control of a DCLGS. Simulation results show that a 7 km deep U-shaped well with a 7 km open-hole lateral with a reservoir temperature of 250 °C can generate a thermal power of around 28 MW initially when the pump rate is set to 350 m³/h. The results also show that casing of the lateral section has little impact on the outlet temperatures and thermal powers. An optimally insulated return section can increase the output power by 2%. The effect of pump rate is also studied. Even though the outlet temperature decreases, increasing the pump rate can improve the thermal power by 15%, when the pump rate is increased from 250 to 450 m³/h.

[en] We begin a systematic study of how gaugino mass unification can be probed at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in a quasi-model independent manner. As a first step in that direction we focus our attention on the theoretically well-motivated mirage pattern of gaugino masses, a one-parameter family of models of which universal (high scale) gaugino masses are a limiting case. We improve on previous methods to define an analytic expression for the metric on signature space and use it to study one-parameter deviations from universality in the gaugino sector, randomizing over other soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters. We put forward three ensembles of observables targeted at the physics of the gaugino sector, allowing for a determination of this non-universality parameter without reconstructing individual mass eigenvalues or the soft supersymmetry-breaking gaugino masses themselves. In this controlled environment we find that approximately 80% of the supersymmetric parameter space would give rise to a model for which our method will detect non-universality in the gaugino mass sector at the 10% level with O(10 fb^-1) of integrated luminosity. We discuss strategies for improving the method and for adding more realism in dealing with the actual experimental circumstances of the LHC.

[en] A critical breakthrough in the understanding of Hall effect thrusters (HETs) has been the emergence of mapping techniques to fuse multiple time-varying plasma measurements from spatially distributed probes into a unified reconstruction describing the full spatiotemporal dynamics of the HET plasma. The most basic requirement for generating such a spatiotemporal reconstruction is a robust and accurate method to build a map between a single input and a single output signal. This work describes a new nonlinear phase space based mapping technique, the shadow manifold interpolation (SMI) technique, and assesses its performance versus traditional linear FFT-based mapping. Results demonstrate the superiority of the SMI reconstruction for short, noisy and aperiodic signals. Analysis in conjunction with the convergent cross mapping methodology (Sugihara et al 2012 Science 338 496–500) provides theoretical justification for the physical relevance of SMI application to a given signal reconstruction. (paper)

[en] A gas monitor detector was implemented and characterized at the Soft X-ray Research instrument (SXR) to measure the average, absolute and pulse-resolved photon flux of the LCLS beam in the energy range between 280 and 2000 eV. A gas monitor detector was implemented and characterized at the Soft X-ray Research (SXR) instrument to measure the average, absolute and pulse-resolved photon flux of the LCLS beam in the energy range between 280 and 2000 eV. The detector is placed after the monochromator and addresses the need to provide reliable absolute pulse energy as well as pulse-resolved measurements for the various experiments at this instrument. This detector provides a reliable non-invasive measurement for determining flux levels on the samples in the downstream experimental chamber and for optimizing signal levels of secondary detectors and for the essential need of data normalization. The design, integration into the instrument and operation are described, and examples of its performance are given

[en] A description of the Soft X-ray Research instrument (SXR) at the Linac Coherent Light Source is given. Recent scientific highlights illustrate the wide variety of experiments and detectors that can be accommodated at SXR. The Soft X-ray Research instrument provides intense ultrashort X-ray pulses in the energy range 280–2000 eV. A diverse set of experimental stations may be installed to investigate a broad range of scientific topics such as ultrafast chemistry, highly correlated materials, magnetism, surface science, and matter under extreme conditions. A brief description of the main instrument components will be given, followed by some selected scientific highlights