Overcoming Si3N4 film stress limitations for High Quality factor ring resonators

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ring resonators are critical for a variety of photonic devices. However the intrinsically high film stress of silicon nitride has limited both the optical confinement and quality factor (Q) of ring resonators. We show that stress in Si3N4 films can be overcome by introducing mechanical trenches for isolating photonic devices from propagating cracks. We demonstrate a Si3N4 ring resonator with an intrinsic quality factor of 7 million, corresponding to a propagation loss of 4.2 dB/m. This is the highest quality factor reported to date for high confinement Si3N4 ring resonators in the 1550 nm wavelength range

Isospin mode splitting and mixing in asymmetric nuclear matter

We estimate exclusive density and asymmetry parameter dependent dispersion relations of various charged states of pions in asymmetric nuclear matter. The possibility of matter induced mixing of $\pi^0$ with $\eta$ is clearly exposed with the further mass modification of $\pi^0$ meson due to mixing. Asymmetry driven mass splitting and mixing amplitude are of the same order as the corresponding values in vacuum. Closed form analytic results for the mass shifts and dispersion relations with and without mixing are presented. Furthermore, we discuss the sensitivity of our results on the scalar mean field within the framework of Quantum Hadrodynamics.Comment: 8 pages, 4 Figure

Matter induced charge symmetry breaking and pion form factor in nuclear medium

Medium modification of pion form factor has been evaluated in asymmetric nuclear matter. It is shown that both the shape and the pole position of the pion form factor in dense asymmetric nuclear matter is different from its vacuum counterpart with $\rho$-$\omega$ mixing. This is due to the density and asymmetry dependent $\rho$-$\omega$ mixing which could even dominate over its vacuum counterpart in matter. Effect of the in-medium pion factor on experimental observables {\it e.g.}, invariant mass distribution of lepton pairs has been demonstrated.Comment: Final Version to appear in Jour. Phys.

Four problems with global carbon markets: a critical review

This article offers a critique of global carbon markets and trading, with a special focus on the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. It explores problems with the use of tradable permits to address climate change revolving around four areas: homogeneity, justice, gaming, and information. Homogeneity problems arise from the non-linear nature of climate change and sensitivity of emissions, which complicate attempts to calculate carbon offsets. Justice problems involve issues of dependency and the concentration of wealth among the rich, meaning carbon trading often counteracts attempts to reduce poverty. Gaming problems include pressures to promote high-volume, least-cost projects and the consequences of emissions leakage. Information problems encompass transaction costs related to carbon trading and market participation and the comparatively weak institutional capacity of project evaluators

Quenching of light hadrons at RHIC in a collisional energy loss scenario

We evaluate the nuclear suppression factor, $R_{AA}(p_T)$ for light hadrons by taking into account the collisional energy loss. We show that in the measured $p_T$ domain of RHIC the elastic process is the dominant mechanism for the partonic energy loss.Comment: 4 pages with 3 figures, Quark Matter 2008 Proceeding

Scattering of relativistic particles with Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb interaction in two dimensions

The Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb potentials in two dimensions may describe the interaction between two particles carrying electric charge and magnetic flux, say, Chern--Simons solitons, or so called anyons. The scattering problem for such two-body systems is extended to the relativistic case, and the scattering amplitude is obtained as a partial wave series. The electric charge and magnetic flux is ($-q$, $-\phi/Z$) for one particle and ($Zq$, $\phi$) for the other. When $(Zq^2/\hbar c)^2\ll 1$, and $q\phi/2\pi\hbar c$ takes on integer or half integer values, the partial wave series is summed up approximately to give a closed form. The results exhibit some nonperturbative features and cannot be obtained from perturbative quantum electrodynamics at the tree level.Comment: revtex, 11 pages, no figur