Scattering of light by light is a fundamental process arising at the quantum level through vacuum fluctuations. This short book will explain how, remarkably enough, this quantum process can entirely be described in terms classical quantities. This description is derived from general principles, such as causality, unitarity, Lorentz, and gauge symmetries. The reader will be introduced into a rigorous formulation of these fundamental concepts, as well as their physical interpretation and applications.

Highly charged ions are the most chemically reactive species known to mankind. This reactivity is due to the extremely large potential energy they posses. This textbook deals with the wide range of interactions which occur when such ions interact with other forms of matter, especially solid surfaces and gasses. Particular emphasis is placed on situations where the kinetic energy associated with the interactions is small so that the effects of the high potential energy are most apparent. Experimental and theoretical techniques of investigation are covered in addition to the findings they produce.
The treatment aims to be instructive to the beginner while leading on to a level where the newest findings are reviewed. As such the text is suitable for final year undergraduates, postgraduates or experienced researchers.

This book provides a coherent and comprehensive overview of the generation and application of mono-energetic positron beams. It has been written by acknowledged experts, at a level accessible to graduate students working, or planning to work, with positron beams, and to scientists in other areas who want to know something about the field.

The book begins with a brief historical introduction and an overview of how positron beams are generated and transported. A description of the fate of slow positrons in gaseous and condensed matter, with reference to many of the fundamental measurements made possible by the advent of positron beams, is followed by a discussion on applications in the study of solid surfaces, defect profiling in subsurface regions, interfaces and thin films, and the probing of bulk properties in novel ways. The book ends with a look at the future, considering the prospects for intense positron beams and their potential for further research.

Ion implantation is one of the key processing steps in silicon integrated circuit technology. Some integrated circuits require up to 17 implantation steps and circuits are seldom processed with less than 10 implantation steps. Controlled doping at controlled depths is an essential feature of implantation. Ion beam processing can also be used to improve corrosion resistance, to harden surfaces, to reduce wear and, in general, to improve materials properties. This book presents the physics and materials science of ion implantation and ion beam modification of materials. It covers ion-solid interactions used to predict ion ranges, ion straggling and lattice disorder. Also treated are shallow-junction formation and slicing silicon with hydrogen ion beams. Topics important for materials modification topics, such as ion-beam mixing, stresses, and sputtering, are also described.

An outgrow of an earlier workshop held by the community of European Solar Radio Astronomers (CESRA), this topical volume collects reviews on the current multiwavelength findings and perspectives from the space missions RHESSI, TRACE and SOTTO. The aspects of solar physics dealt with are particle acceleration during flares, large-scale disturbances, and coronal plasma physics.

Dark Energy and Dark Matter are among the greatest mysteries in modern cosmology. The present work explores in depth how large cosmic structures can help us unveil the nature of these components of the Universe. One the one hand, it focuses on a signature that Dark Energy imprints on the Cosmic Microwave Background through its impact on the time-evolution of gravitational potentials: the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (iSW) effect. Another cosmological background, the Cosmic Infrared Background, is considered for the first time in the study of the iSW effect and demonstrated to be a highly efficient and promising tracer. Changing the perspective on the problem, the use of superstructures for iSW detection is then extensively reviewed: using precise solutions to Einstein's general relativity equations, the full iSW effect is computed, especially due to the cosmic voids predicted by the theory. Using measurements from the most recent data, it is subsequently shown how the iSW probes the solidity of the cosmological standard model. On the topic of Dark Matter, an original study is presented, showing that temperature measurements of the intergalactic medium shed light on the nature of Dark Matter particles, providing the tightest constraints on their decay properties.

Neutron stars are the most compact astronomical objects in the universe which are accessible by direct observation. Studying neutron stars means studying physics in regimes unattainable in any terrestrial laboratory.

Understanding their observed complex phenomena requires a wide range of scientific disciplines, including the nuclear and condensed matter physics of very dense matter in neutron star interiors, plasma physics and quantum electrodynamics of magnetospheres, and the relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics of electron-positron pulsar winds interacting with some ambient medium. Not to mention the test bed neutron stars provide for general relativity theories, and their importance as potential sources of gravitational waves. It is this variety of disciplines which, among others, makes neutron star research so fascinating, not only for those who have been working in the field for many years but also for students and young scientists.

The aim of this book is to serve as a reference work which not only reviews the progress made since the early days of pulsar astronomy, but especially focuses on questions such as: "What have we learned about the subject and how did we learn it?," "What are the most important open questions in this area?" and "What new tools, telescopes, observations, and calculations are needed to answer these questions?."

All authors who have contributed to this book have devoted a significant part of their scientific careers to exploring the nature of neutron stars and understanding pulsars. Everyone has paid special attention to writing educational comprehensive review articles with the needs of beginners, students and young scientists as potential readers in mind. This book will be a valuable source of information for these groups.

This thesis represents a unique mix of theoretical work discussing the Lorentz theory of gravity and experimental work searching for supersymmetry with the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. It begins by reviewing a set of widely-discussed theoretical solutions to the cosmological constant problem, including a natural solution provided by the recently developed Lorentz gauge theory of gravity. The Schwartzschild metric, de Sitter space, and quantum versions of the theory are also discussed. The thesis then looks to supersymmetry for an alternative solution. The idea behind supersymmetry is reviewed and an experimental search for supersymmetry is presented. A major contribution was to estimate one of the most significant backgrounds in this search, which arises from top-antitop quark pair production or W boson production in association with multiple jets where the W boson decays into the hadronically-decaying tau leptons and neutrinos. This background was estimated through a novel method involving kinematically analogous events but including a well-measured muon. This search significantly extends limits on supersymmetric partners of gluons from previous searches.

The introduction of spin is believed to be a necessary tool if one wishes to quantize general relativity. Then the main problem is to see if the introduction of spin generalizing the general relativity from a geometric point of view, i.e. through the concept of torsion, can be experimentally verified.

The reader can find in this book both theoretical and experimental arguments which show the necessity for the introduction of spin, and then of torsion, in gravity. In fact, torsion constitutes the more natural and simple way to introduce spin in general relativity. For that reason it is of fundamental importance to see if there are some experiences that indicate -- if not directly, then at least indirectly -- the presence of torsion. This book presents a discussion on experiments with a polarized-mass torsion pendulum, the search for galactic dark matter interacting with a spin pendulum, a description of a space-based method for determination of the gravitational constant and space-based measurements of spin in gravity, as well as a discussion on theoretical arguments, for instance the nature of torsion and nonmetricity, the viability of gravitational theories with spin -- torsion and spin-spin interaction, many-dimensional gravitational theories with torsion, spinors on curved spaces, the spinors in real space -- time, etc.

We know that until now there has been no evidence for torsion, but this fact cannot prevent us from considering in some detail this implement of research that seems to be important from both a geometrical and a physical point of view.

This thesis discusses two key topics: strangeness and charge symmetry violation (CSV) in the nucleon. It also provides a pedagogical introduction to chiral effective field theory tailored to the high-precision era of lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Because the nucleon has zero net strangeness, strange observables give tremendous insight into the nature of the vacuum; they can only arise through quantum fluctuations in which strange-antistrange quark pairs are generated. As a result, the precise values of these quantities within QCD are important in physics arenas as diverse as precision tests of QCD, searches for physics beyond the Standard Model, and the interpretation of dark matter direct-detection experiments. Similarly, the precise knowledge of CSV observables has, with increasing experimental precision, become essential to the interpretation of many searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. In this thesis, the numerical lattice gauge theory approach to QCD is combined with the chiral perturbation theory formalism to determine strange and CSV quantities in a diverse range of observables including the octet baryon masses, sigma terms, electromagnetic form factors, and parton distribution functions. This thesis builds a comprehensive and coherent picture of the current status of understanding of strangeness and charge symmetry violation in the nucleon.

This book offers a first-hand introduction to the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Research Facility. Taking readers on a fascinating journey through the magical nuclear world, it shapes the abstract nucleus into an intuitive and pleasing image of a "dwarf". It also presents the facility's achievements and its impact on economic and social development, especially in the context of research on cancer treatment. Providing advanced scientific and technological insights, the book includes a large number of images and videos to help readers better understand abstract concepts such as heavy ions and ion accelerators. The book is intended for the general readers who are interested in the field of modern physics.

The 1996 Carg se Summer Institute on Frontiers in Particle Physics was organized by the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris (M. Levy), the Ecole Nonnale SupCrieure, Paris (J. lliopoulos), the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (R. Gastmans), and the Universite Catholique de Louvain (J.-M. Gerard), which, since 1975, have joined their efforts and worked in common. It was the twelfth Sunnner Institute on High Energy Physics organized jointly at Carg se by three of these universities. The Standard Model for fundamental interactions is constructed on two essential ingredients: the gauge symmetry and the mass generation mechanism. Now that the gauge theory aspect has been finnly established, the new challenge for the young researchers in elementary particle physics is the understanding of the origin of the masses. The standard Higgs mechanism is believed to be responsible for generating the masses of ALL fundamental particles. Professor D. Treille discussed the prospects for Higgs boson search and described the experimental determinations of the gauge boson masses. The influence of the top quark mass on electroweak processes has been emphasized by Professor J.L. Rosner, while Professor M. Neubert introduced the heavy-quark effective theory which allows you to get rid of heavy-quark masses. The theoretical determinations of the light quark masses have been critically analyzed by Professor H. Leutwyler. Professor A. Pich presented the various experimental tests on lepton universality and Professor R.L. MBssbauer reviewed our present knowledge on the neutrino masses."

The research presented here includes important contributions on the commissioning of the ATLAS experiment and the discovery of the Higgs boson. The thesis describes essential work on the alignment of the inner tracker during the commissioning of the experiment and development of the electron identification algorithm. The subsequent analysis focuses on the search for the Higgs boson in the WW channel, including the development of a method to model the critical W+jet background. In addition, the thesis provides excellent introductions, suitable for non-specialists, to Higgs physics, to the LHC, and to the ATLAS experiment.

Terahertz (THz) radiation with frequencies between 100 GHz and 30 THz has developed into an important tool of science and technology, with numerous applications in materials characterization, imaging, sensor technologies, and telecommunications. Recent progress in THz generation has provided ultrashort THz pulses with electric field amplitudes of up to several megavolts/cm. This development opens the new research field of nonlinear THz spectroscopy in which strong light-matter interactions are exploited to induce quantum excitations and/or charge transport and follow their nonequilibrium dynamics in time-resolved experiments. This book introduces methods of THz generation and nonlinear THz spectroscopy in a tutorial way, discusses the relevant theoretical concepts, and presents prototypical, experimental, and theoretical results in condensed matter physics. The potential of nonlinear THz spectroscopy is illustrated by recent research, including an overview of the relevant literature.

The first part of this third volume of Wigner's Collected Works is devoted to his analysis of symmetries in quantum mechanics, of the relativistic wave equations, of relativistic particle theory, and of field theory. It is introduced by the masterly annotation of Arthur S. Wightman. Abner Shimony annotates the second part where the reader will find Wigner's contributions to the foundations of quantum physics and to the problems of measurement.

The NATO Advanced Study Institute 2000 was held in Cascais, a small town located in a renowned beach resort area, near Lisbon. The aim of the Meeting was to provide an overview and to cover the recent devel opments in some of the most important topics in Particle Physics and Cosmology, including Neutrino Physics, CP violation, B-Physics, Baryo genesis, Dark Matter, Inflation, Supersymmetry, Unified Theories, Large Extra-Di ensions and M-theory. In the NATO ASI 2000, we had the priv ilege to have among the lecturers, some of the most prominent physicists working in the fields of Particle Physics and Cosmology. Furthermore, there was a strong participation by a large number of young scientists, including graduate students and post-docs who had an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the field and discuss the various topics with lec turers and other participants. The enthusiasm of the young participants, the generosity of the lecturers in giving their time to participate in open discussions and debates, together with the social events and the pleasant environment of Cascais, all contributed to the great success of the Meeting. We are very grateful to Camara Municipal de Cascais for their support and organization of the reception in the beautiful Palace Condes Castro de Guimaraes and we are also specially grateful to colonel Eugenio de Oliveira for his support, to commander A. Monteiro de Macedo and to Mr."

In the past decade there has been an extemely rapid growth in the interest and development of quantum group theory.This book provides students and researchers with a practical introduction to the principal ideas of quantum groups theory and its applications to quantum mechanical and modern field theory problems. It begins with a review of, and introduction to, the mathematical aspects of quantum deformation of classical groups, Lie algebras and related objects (algebras of functions on spaces, differential and integral calculi). In the subsequent chapters the richness of mathematical structure and power of the quantum deformation methods and non-commutative geometry is illustrated on the different examples starting from the simplest quantum mechanical system - harmonic oscillator and ending with actual problems of modern field theory, such as the attempts to construct lattice-like regularization consistent with space-time Poincare symmetry and to incorporate Higgs fields in the general geometrical frame of gauge theories. Graduate students and researchers studying the problems of quantum field theory, particle physics and mathematical aspects of quantum symmetries will find the book of interest.

This monograph surveys the role of some associative and non-associative algebras, remarkable by their ubiquitous appearance in contemporary theoretical physics, particularly in particle physics. It concerns the interplay between division algebras, specifically quaternions and octonions, between Jordan and related algebras on the one hand, and unified theories of the basic interactions on the other. Selected applications of these algebraic structures are discussed: quaternion analyticity of Yang-Mills instantons, octonionic aspects of exceptional broken gauge, supergravity theories, division algebras in anyonic phenomena and in theories of extended objects in critical dimensions. The topics presented deal primarily with original contributions by the authors.

This thesis presents two production cross-section measurements of pairs of massive bosons using final states with leptons, made with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The first measurement, performed using data collected in 2012 at center-of-mass energy s = 8 TeV, is the first fiducial and differential cross-section measurement of the production of the Higgs Boson when it decays to four charged leptons (electrons or muons). The second measurement is the first fiducial and inclusive production cross-section measurement of WZ pairs at center-of-mass energy s = 13 TeV using final states with three charged leptons. A significant portion of the thesis focuses on the methods used to identify electrons from massive boson decay-important for many flagship measurements-and on assessing the efficiency of these particle identification techniques. The chapter discussing the WZ pair cross-section measurement provides a detailed example of an estimate of lepton background in the context of an analysis with three leptons in the final state.

This book offers a concise presentation of theoretical concepts characterizing and quantifying the slowing down of swift heavy ions in matter. Although the penetration of charged particles through matter has been studied for almost a hundred years, the quantitative theory for swift penetrating ions heavier than helium has been developed mainly during the past decade and is still progressing rapidly. The book addresses scientists and engineers working at accelerators with an interest in materials analysis and modification, medical diagnostics and therapy, mass spectrometry and radiation damage, as well as atomic and nuclear physicists. Although not a textbook, this monograph represents a unique source of state-of-the-art information that is useful to a university teacher in any course involving the interaction of charged particles with matter.

This self-contained text introduces readers to the field of high-energy atomic physics - a new regime of photon-atom interactions in which the photon energies significantly exceed the atomic or molecular binding energies, and which opened up with the recent advent of new synchrotron sources. From a theoretical point of view, a small-parameter characteristic of the bound system emerged, making it possible to perform analytic perturbative calculations that can in turn serve as benchmarks for more powerful numerical computations. The first part of the book introduces readers to the foundations of this new regime and its theoretical treatment. In particular, the validity of the small-parameter perturbation expansion and of the lowest-order approximation is critically reviewed. The following chapters then apply these insights to various atomic processes, such as photoionization as a many-body problem, dominant mechanisms for the production of ions at higher energies, Compton scattering and ionization accompanied by creation of e-e+ pairs, and the photoionization of endohedral atoms (e.g. fullerene). Last but not least, the computationally challenging transitions in the electron shell during certain types of nuclear decays are investigated in detail.

The great advantage of coincidence measurements is that by suitable choice of the kinematical and geometrical arrangement one may probe delicate physical effects which would be swamped in less differential experiments. The measurement of the triple dif ferential and higher-order cross sections presents enormous technical difficulties, but refined experiments of this type provide an insight into the subtleties of the scattering process and offer a welcome, if severe, test of the available theoretical models. The last few years have been an exciting time to work in the field and much has been learned. Profound insights have been gleaned into the basic Coulomb few body problem in atomic physics: the experimental study of the fundamental (e,2e) processes on hydrogen and helium targets continues to add to our knowledge and indeed to challenge the best of our theoretical models; significant advances have been made in the understanding of the "double excitation problem," that is the study of ionization processes with two active target electrons: important measurements of (e,3e), (, ), 2e), excitation-ionization and excitation autoionization have been reported and strides have been made in their theoretical description; the longstanding discrepancies between theory and experiment for relativistic (e,2e) processes were resolved, spin dependent effects predicted and ob served and the first successful coincidence experiments on surfaces and thin films were announced. Theory and experiment have advanced in close consort. The papers pre sented here cover the whole gambit of research in the field. Much has been achieved but much remains to be done."

This is a collection of important lecture and original articles and commentaries by Martin Perl, discoverer of the tau lepton and the third generation of elementary particles, and this year's Nobel Prize winner. This book contains a fascinating and realistic picture of experimental science based on the high energy physics research work carried out by him. Using reprints of his articles with his commentaries, the author presents the various aspects of experimental research in science: the pleasures and risks of experimental work; the pain and frustration with experiments that are useless or fail; the dreaming about experiments that were not carried out; the constant search for innovation and creativity in the work; and the special joy of discovery. The articles and commentaries range from the early days of bubble chambers and spark chambers in the 1950's to the author's present research, experiments at an electron-positron collider and a search for free quarks. The book is for the general reader as well as the scientist.

This book contains selected papers of Prof Nambu who is one of the most original and outstanding particle theorists of our time. This volume consists of about 40 papers which made fundamental contributions to our understanding of particle physics during the last few decades. The unpublished lecture note on string theory (1969) and the first paper on spontaneous symmetry breaking (1961) are retyped and included. The book also contains a memoir of Prof Nambu on his research career.

This book contains selected papers of Prof Nambu who is one of the most original and outstanding particle theorists of our time. This volume consists of about 40 papers which made fundamental contributions to our understanding of particle physics during the last few decades. The unpublished lecture note on string theory (1969) and the first paper on spontaneous symmetry breaking (1961) are retyped and included. The book also contains a memoir of Prof Nambu on his research career.