Axions and axion-like particles are among the most promising candidates for dark matter and for manifestations of new physics beyond the Standard Model. In the present work, the contribution of axion exchange to the energy of lithium-like ions is investigated within the framework of relativistic bound-state quantum electrodynamics. A formalism for the interelectronic interaction mediated by axion exchange is developed in the Furry picture with finite nuclear size taken into account. Energy shifts are calculated for a wide range of nuclear charge numbers Z and axion masses. The magnitude of the axion-induced contribution is shown to increase with increasing Z for all states considered. Based on the analysis of lithium-like bismuth, constraints on the axion-electron interaction parameters are obtained in the high-mass region. The results indicate that precision spectroscopy of highly charged ions is a promising tool for searches for new physics associated with the exchange of pseudoscalar bosons.
The Regge–Gribov model describing interacting pomerons and odderons is proposed with triple reggeon vertices taking into account the negative signature of the odderon. Its simplified version with zero transverse dimensions is first considered. No phase transition occurs in this case at the intercept crossing unity. This simplified model is studied without further approximations by numerical techniques. The physically relevant model in the two-dimensional transverse space is then studied by the renormalization group method in the single-loop approximation. The pomeron and odderon are taken to have different bare intercepts and slopes. The behavior when the intercepts move from below to their critical values compatible with the Froissart bound is studied. Five real fixed points are found with singularities in the form of nontrivial branch points indicating a phase transition as the intercepts cross unity. The new phases, however, are not physical, since they violate projectile–target symmetry. In the vicinity of fixed points, the asymptotic behavior of Green’s functions and the elastic scattering amplitude is found under the Glauber approximation for couplings to participants.
Earth's atmosphere operates a steam cycle in which water vapor evaporates from the surface, expands, condenses, and returns as precipitation. The Clausius-Clapeyron law relates the incremental expansion work of saturated water vapor to latent heat converted at a Carnot efficiency corresponding to the temperature difference between evaporation and condensation. We generalize this relation to an atmospheric column with condensation occurring over a range of heights and derive the expansion work per mole of precipitated water. This includes the gravitational work associated with lifting moist air to the mean condensation height, the expansion work generated by condensation, and a correction for incomplete condensation. Using GPCP v3.3 precipitation and observational constraints on condensation height, we estimate the global steam-engine power as W_v=4.4±0.9 W/m2, close to an independent estimate of total atmospheric power, W=W_P+W_K≃4.3±0.6 W/m2, obtained from the gravitational power of precipitation and kinetic energy generation by horizontal pressure gradients diagnosed from MERRA-2. Kinetic energy generation is W_K≃3.2±0.3 W/m2, of which at least two thirds is generated in the lower atmosphere. The smaller upper-atmospheric contribution, dominated by temperature-related pressure gradients, is comparable to Lorenz available potential energy generation. The agreement between steam-engine and atmospheric power is linked to condensation and precipitation fallout. By removing water from the atmospheric gas phase and enabling column-mass redistribution, precipitation maintains surface pressure gradients that drive cross-isobaric flow in the frictional lower atmosphere. The steam-engine framework thus provides a thermodynamic basis for condensation-induced atmospheric dynamics and identifies a major lower-atmospheric power pathway associated with water phase transitions.
Wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers are widely used in particle physics for light collection from scintillators. Light production by charged particles directly in WLS fibers is traditionally ignored. In this study, light produced by charged particles in WLS fibers is clearly observed. The light yield of different batches of Y11(200) 1 mm diameter WLS fibers expressed in the number of detected photo electrons is as large as 23±2% with respect to the light yield of the Bicron BCF-12 1 mm diameter scintillating fiber. This corresponds to about 1200 photons per MeV light production after taking into account different fiber light trapping efficiencies and emission spectra. In clear fibers of the same diameter, no scintillation light is produced, while Cherenkov light is clearly seen at the 45-degree crossing angle. The observed amount of light produced by charged particles in the WLS fibers is not small and should be taken into account in advanced detector simulations.
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe mental disorder which exact pathogenesis remains unknown. The disorder has been linked to disturbances in lipid metabolism and lysosomal function. A link between this disorder and Parkinson's disease (PD) is suggested. Pathogenic mutations in the GBA1 gene, which lead to dysfunction of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase, are a highrisk factor of PD. Meanwhile, mutations in the LRRK2 gene are the most common cause of hereditary forms of PD and may indirectly affect the activity of this enzyme. GBA1and LRRK2related PD are the most prevalent forms of the disease known today. Materials and Methods: In this study, we used PCR-RFLP and real-time PCR allelic discrimination to assess the frequency of mutations in the LRRK2 (G2019S) and GBA1 (N370S, L444P, E326K) genes among 161 SCZ patients and 434 control individuals residing in the Northwestern region of Russia. Results: The study found no association between the investigated mutations and the risk of SCZ. Among SCZ patients, no carriers of the N370S mutation in the GBA1 gene or the G2019S mutation in the LRRK2 gene were identified. The frequency of GBA1 mutations (L444P+N370S+E326K) among SCZ patients was found to be 3.2%. Conclusions: Thus, this study demonstrated that mutations in the GBA1 gene are not associated with the risk of SCZ.
