Electromagnetic properties of strange baryons in a relativistic quark model

We present some of our results for the electromagnetic properties of excited Σ hyperons, computed within the framework of the Bonn constituent-quark model, which is based on the Bethe-Salpeter approach. The seven parameters entering the model are fitted against the best-known baryon masses. Accordingly, the results for the form factors and helicity amplitudes are genuine predictions. We compare with the scarce experimental data available and discuss the processes in which Σ *'s may play an important role

Electromagnetic KY production from the proton in a Regge-plus-resonance approach

A Regge-plus-resonance (RPR) description of the p(\gamma,K)Y and p(e,e'K)Y processes (Y = \Lambda, \Sigma^{0,+}) is presented. The proposed reaction amplitude consists of Regge-trajectory exchanges in the t channel, supplemented with a limited selection of s-channel resonance diagrams. The RPR framework contains a considerably smaller number of free parameters than a typical effective-Lagrangian model. Nevertheless, it provides an acceptable overall description of the photo- and electroproduction observables over an extensive photon energy range. It is shown that the electroproduction response functions and polarization observables are particularly useful for fine-tuning both the background and resonance parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings for IX International Conference on Hypernuclear and Strange Particle Physics (HYP2006), October 10-14 2006, Main

Helicity Amplitudes of the Lambda(1670) and two Lambda(1405) as dynamically generated resonances

We determine the helicity amplitudes A_1/2 and radiative decay widths in the transition Lambda(1670) to gamma Y (Y=Lambda or Sigma^0). The Lambda(1670) is treated as a dynamically generated resonance in meson-baryon chiral dynamics. We obtain the radiative decay widths of the Lambda(1670) to gamma Lambda as 3 \pm 2 keV and to gamma Sigma^0 as 120 \pm 50 keV. Also, the Q^2 dependence of the helicity amplitudes A_1/2 is calculated. We find that the K Xi component in the Lambda(1670) structure, mainly responsible for the dynamical generation of this resonance, is also responsible for the significant suppression of the decay ratio Gamma_{gamma Lambda}/Gamma_{gamma Sigma^0}. A measurement of the ratio would, thus, provide direct access to the nature of the Lambda(1670). To compare the result for the Lambda(1670), we calculate the helicity amplitudes A_1/2 for the two states of the Lambda(1405). Also, the analytic continuation of Feynman parameterized integrals of more complicated loop amplitudes to the complex plane is developed which allows for an internally consistent evaluation of A_1/2.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Fermion family recurrences in the Dyson-Schwinger formalism

We study the multiple solutions of the truncated propagator Dyson-Schwinger equation for a simple fermion theory with Yukawa coupling to a scalar field. Upon increasing the coupling constant $g$, other parameters being fixed, more than one non-perturbative solution breaking chiral symmetry becomes possible and we find these numerically. These ``recurrences'' appear as a mechanism to generate different fermion generations as quanta of the same fundamental field in an interacting field theory, without assuming any composite structure. The number of recurrences or flavors is reduced to a question about the value of the Yukawa coupling, and has no special profound significance in the Standard Model. The resulting mass function can have one or more nodes and the measurement that potentially detects them can be thought of as a collider-based test of the virtual dispersion relation $E=\sqrt{p^2+M(p^2)^2}$ for the charged lepton member of each family. This requires three independent measurements of the charged lepton's energy, three-momentum and off-shellness. We illustrate how this can be achieved for the (more difficult) case of the tau lepton

Electric and magnetic form factors of strange baryons

Predictions for the electromagnetic form factors of the Lambda$, Sigma and Xi hyperons are presented. The numerical calculations are performed within the framework of the fully relativistic constituent-quark model developed by the Bonn group. The computed magnetic moments compare favorably with the experimentally known values. Most magnetic form factors G_M(Q^2) can be parametrized in terms of a dipole with cutoff masses ranging from 0.79 to 1.14 GeV.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.

Search for pulsation among suspected A-type binaries and the new multiperiodic Delta Scuti star HD217860

16 pages, 12 Postscript figures, 1 long table. Table 2 is only available in electronic form. Journal-ref: Astronomy and Astrophysics, in press (2007)We have explored a sample of suspected A-type binaries in a systematic way, both spectroscopically and photometrically. Due to their location in the H-R diagram, indications of pulsation and/or chemical peculiarities among these suspected binary (or multiple) systems may be found. High-resolution spectroscopy obtained with the ELODIE and MUSICOS spectrographs was used in combination with a few nights of differential CCD photometry in order to search for pulsation(s). Of the 32 investigated targets, eight are spectroscopic binaries, one of which is a close binary also showing eclipses, and three have been identified as Delta Scuti pulsators with rapid line-profile variations. Among the latter stars, HD 217860 reveals interesting multiperiodic photometric and spectroscopic variations, with up to eight frequencies common to two large photometric data sets. We suggest that at least one radial overtone mode is excited among the two most dominant frequencies. We furthermore found evidence for a strong modulation of the amplitude(s) and/or the (radial) frequency content of this intriguing Delta Scuti star

Kaon photoproduction: background contributions, form factors and missing resonances

The photoproduction p(gamma, K+)Lambda process is studied within a field-theoretic approach. It is shown that the background contributions constitute an important part of the reaction dynamics. We compare predictions obtained with three plausible techniques for dealing with these background contributions. It appears that the extracted resonance parameters drastically depend on the applied technique. We investigate the implications of the corrections to the functional form of the hadronic form factor in the contact term, recently suggested by Davidson and Workman (Phys. Rev. C 63, 025210). The role of background contributions and hadronic form factors for the identification of the quantum numbers of ``missing'' resonances is discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 7 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The nature of the Lambda(1405)

We present here some results supporting the nature of the $\Lambda(1405)$ resonance as dynamically generated from the meson baryon interaction in coupled channels and resulting from the superposition of two close-by poles. We find support for this picture in the $K^- p \to \pi^0 \pi^0 \Sigma^0$ reaction, which shows a different shape than the one obtained from the $\pi ^- p \to K^0 \pi \Sigma$ reaction. We also call the attention to the $K^- p \to \gamma \pi \Sigma$ with $\pi \Sigma$ in the $\Lambda(1405)$ region, which shows a narrow peak in the calculations around 1420 MeV. We also report on recent calculations of the radiative decay of the two $\Lambda(1405)$ states and on reactions to obtain information on these decay modes. Finally, we present results for the $pp\to p K^+\Lambda(1405)$ reaction recently measured at ANKE/COSY and compare them with theoretical results.Comment: Talk given at the NSTAR2007 Workshop, Bonn September 200

The role of hyperon resonances in p(gamma,K+)Lambda processes

We discuss the role of hyperon resonances in the u-channel when modeling p (gamma,K+)Lambda processes in an effective Lagrangian approach. Without the introduction of hyperon resonances, one is forced to use soft hadronic form factors with a cutoff mass which is at best two times the kaon mass. After inclusion of the hyperon resonances in the u-channel, we obtain a fair description of the data with a cutoff mass of the order of 1.8 GeV.Comment: 7 pages, 7 eps figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.

Estimating the incidence of acute infectious intestinal disease in the community in the UK:A retrospective telephone survey

Objectives: To estimate the burden of intestinal infectious disease (IID) in the UK and determine whether disease burden estimations using a retrospective study design differ from those using a prospective study design. Design/Setting: A retrospective telephone survey undertaken in each of the four countries comprising the United Kingdom. Participants were randomly asked about illness either in the past 7 or 28 days. Participants: 14,813 individuals for all of whom we had a legible recording of their agreement to participate Outcomes: Self-reported IID, defined as loose stools or clinically significant vomiting lasting less than two weeks, in the absence of a known non-infectious cause. Results: The rate of self-reported IID varied substantially depending on whether asked for illness in the previous 7 or 28 days. After standardising for age and sex, and adjusting for the number of interviews completed each month and the relative size of each UK country, the estimated rate of IID in the 7-day recall group was 1,530 cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 1135 – 2113), while in the 28-day recall group it was 533 cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 377 – 778). There was no significant variation in rates between the four countries. Rates in this study were also higher than in a related prospective study undertaken at the same time. Conclusions: The estimated burden of disease from IID varied dramatically depending on study design. Retrospective studies of IID give higher estimates of disease burden than prospective studies. Of retrospective studies longer recall periods give lower estimated rates than studies with short recall periods. Caution needs to be exercised when comparing studies of self-reported IID as small changes in study design or case definition can markedly affect estimated rates