Hadron Fluence Measurements with LiF-TLD Sensors at the Proton Synchrotron Accelerator at CERN

In view of the implementation of beam-monitoring sensors for CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and also in order to validate Thermoluminescence Detectors as a versatile tool to measure ionizing radiation doses in mixed fields at hadron colliders such as the LHC, chemical vapor deposition diamond sensors have been evaluated and calibrated at CERN's Proton Synchrotron accelerator. Special attention was paid to understanding whether lithiumfluoride thermoluminescence detectors are suitable as measuring devices in these radiation fields

On the ionisation fraction in protoplanetary disks III. The effect of X-ray flares on gas-phase chemistry

Context. Recent observations of the X-ray emission from T Tauri stars in the Orion nebula have shown that they undergo frequent outbursts in their X-ray luminosity. These X-ray flares are characterised by increases in luminosity by two orders of magnitude, a typical duration of less than one day, and a significant hardening of the X-ray spectrum. Aims. It is unknown what effect these X-ray flares will have on the ionisation fraction and dead-zone structure in protoplanetary disks. We present the results of calculations designed to address this question. Methods. We have performed calculations of the ionisation fraction in a standard $\alpha$-disk model using two different chemical reaction networks. We include in our models ionisation due to X-rays from the central star, and calculate the time-dependent ionisation fraction and dead--zone structure for the inner 10 AU of a protoplanetary disk model. Results. We find that the disk response to X-ray flares depends on whether the plasma temperature increases during flares and/or whether heavy metals (such as magnesium) are present in the gas phase. Under favourable conditions the outer disk dead--zone can disappear altogether,and the dead-zone located between 0.5 < R < 2 AU can disappear and reappear in phase with the X-ray luminosity. Conclusions. X-ray flares can have a significant effect on the dead-zone structure in protoplanetary disks. Caution is required in interpreting this result as the duration of X-ray bursts is considerably shorter than the growth time of MHD turbulence due to the magnetorotational instability.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A &

Grain charging in protoplanetary discs

Recent work identified a growth barrier for dust coagulation that originates in the electric repulsion between colliding particles. Depending on its charge state, dust material may have the potential to control key processes towards planet formation such as MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) turbulence and grain growth which are coupled in a two-way process. We quantify the grain charging at different stages of disc evolution and differentiate between two very extreme cases: compact spherical grains and aggregates with fractal dimension D_f = 2. Applying a simple chemical network that accounts for collisional charging of grains, we provide a semi-analytical solution. This allowed us to calculate the equilibrium population of grain charges and the ionisation fraction efficiently. The grain charging was evaluated for different dynamical environments ranging from static to non-stationary disc configurations. The results show that the adsorption/desorption of neutral gas-phase heavy metals, such as magnesium, effects the charging state of grains. The greater the difference between the thermal velocities of the metal and the dominant molecular ion, the greater the change in the mean grain charge. Agglomerates have more negative excess charge on average than compact spherical particles of the same mass. The rise in the mean grain charge is proportional to N**(1/6) in the ion-dust limit. We find that grain charging in a non-stationary disc environment is expected to lead to similar results. The results indicate that the dust growth and settling in regions where the dust growth is limited by the so-called "electro-static barrier" do not prevent the dust material from remaining the dominant charge carrier.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

On the Ionisation Fraction in Protoplanetary Disks II: The Effect of Turbulent Mixing on Gas--phase Chemistry

We calculate the ionisation fraction in protostellar disk models using two different gas-phase chemical networks, and examine the effect of turbulent mixing by modelling the diffusion of chemical species vertically through the disk. The aim is to determine in which regions of the disk gas can couple to a magnetic field and sustain MHD turbulence. We find that the effect of diffusion depends crucially on the elemental abundance of heavy metals (magnesium) included in the chemical model. In the absence of heavy metals, diffusion has essentially no effect on the ionisation structure of the disks, as the recombination time scale is much shorter than the turbulent diffusion time scale. When metals are included with an elemental abundance above a threshold value, the diffusion can dramatically reduce the size of the magnetically decoupled region, or even remove it altogther. For a complex chemistry the elemental abundance of magnesium required to remove the dead zone is 10(-10) - 10(-8). We also find that diffusion can modify the reaction pathways, giving rise to dominant species when diffusion is switched on that are minor species when diffusion is absent. This suggests that there may be chemical signatures of diffusive mixing that could be used to indirectly detect turbulent activity in protoplanetary disks. We find examples of models in which the dead zone in the outer disk region is rendered deeper when diffusion is switched on. Overall these results suggest that global MHD turbulence in protoplanetary disks may be self-sustaining under favourable circumstances, as turbulent mixing can help maintain the ionisation fraction above that necessary to ensure good coupling between the gas and magnetic field.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in A &

Мотив духоты и помрачение духа в романе Ф.М. Достоевского "Преступление и наказание"

В статье проанализировано употребление слов "душно" и "душить" в языке 60-х годов XIX века. Эти слова в переносном смысле могли означать недовольство существующей в мире социально-политической ситуацией. В романе Ф.М. Достоевского "Преступление и наказание" также обыгрывается ряд этимологически родственных слов: "дух", "душно", "душить". Цель статьи ? выяснить, какую функцию выполняет мотив духоты в романе Ф.М. Достоевского. В результате исследования установлено, что метафоры, взятые из журнальных статей, приобретают новый смысл в контексте произведения, они передают основную проблематику романа

Обучение с веб-поддержкой по программе повышения квалификации "Преподаваниемодулей профессиональной подготовки на английском языке"

Представлена концепция обучения с веб-поддержкой по программе повышения квалификации для преподавателей в области профессиональной подготовки студентов технического вуза на английском языке. Раскрыто содержание четырех модульных блоков программы. Приведены результаты анкетирования слушателей о степени удовлетворенности результатами обучении. Намечены задачи по дальнейшему совершенствованию программы

The Beam Conditions Monitor of the LHCb Experiment

The LHCb experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is dedicated to precision measurements of CP violation and rare decays of B hadrons. Its most sensitive components are protected by means of a Beam Conditions Monitor (BCM), based on polycrystalline CVD diamond sensors. Its configuration, operation and decision logics to issue or remove the beam permit signal for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are described in this paper.Comment: Index Terms: Accelerator measurement systems, CVD, Diamond, Radiation detector