The energy spectrum of all-particle cosmic rays around the knee region observed with the Tibet-III air-shower array

We have already reported the first result on the all-particle spectrum around the knee region based on data from 2000 November to 2001 October observed by the Tibet-III air-shower array. In this paper, we present an updated result using data set collected in the period from 2000 November through 2004 October in a wide range over 3 decades between $10^{14}$ eV and $10^{17}$ eV, in which the position of the knee is clearly seen at around 4 PeV. The spectral index is -2.68 $\pm$ 0.02(stat.) below 1PeV, while it is -3.12 $\pm$ 0.01(stat.) above 4 PeV in the case of QGSJET+HD model, and various systematic errors are under study now.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Advances in space researc

High Altitude test of RPCs for the ARGO-YBJ experiment

A 50 m**2 RPC carpet was operated at the YangBaJing Cosmic Ray Laboratory (Tibet) located 4300 m a.s.l. The performance of RPCs in detecting Extensive Air Showers was studied. Efficiency and time resolution measurements at the pressure and temperature conditions typical of high mountain laboratories, are reported.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instr. Met

The ARGO-YBJ Experiment Progresses and Future Extension

Gamma ray source detection above 30TeV is an encouraging approach for finding galactic cosmic ray origins. All sky survey for gamma ray sources using wide field of view detector is essential for population accumulation for various types of sources above 100GeV. To target the goals, the ARGO-YBJ experiment has been established. Significant progresses have been made in the experiment. A large air shower detector array in an area of 1km2 is proposed to boost the sensitivity. Hybrid detection with multi-techniques will allow a good discrimination between different types of primary particles, including photons and protons, thus enable an energy spectrum measurement for individual specie. Fluorescence light detector array will extend the spectrum measurement above 100PeV where the second knee is located. An energy scale determined by balloon experiments at 10TeV will be propagated to ultra high energy cosmic ray experiments

Dispersion of Ordered Stripe Phases in the Cuprates

A phase separation model is presented for the stripe phase of the cuprates, which allows the doping dependence of the photoemission spectra to be calculated. The idealized limit of a well-ordered array of magnetic and charged stripes is analyzed, including effects of long-range Coulomb repulsion. Remarkably, down to the limit of two-cell wide stripes, the dispersion can be interpreted as essentially a superposition of the two end-phase dispersions, with superposed minigaps associated with the lattice periodicity. The largest minigap falls near the Fermi level; it can be enhanced by proximity to a (bulk) Van Hove singularity. The calculated spectra are dominated by two features -- this charge stripe minigap plus the magnetic stripe Hubbard gap. There is a strong correlation between these two features and the experimental photoemission results of a two-peak dispersion in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$, and the peak-dip-hump spectra in Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+\delta}$. The differences are suggestive of the role of increasing stripe fluctuations. The 1/8 anomaly is associated with a quantum critical point, here expressed as a percolation-like crossover. A model is proposed for the limiting minority magnetic phase as an isolated two-leg ladder.Comment: 24 pages, 26 PS figure

Interface structure, precursor rheology and dielectric properties of BaTiO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e/PVDF-hfp nanocomposite films prepared from colloidal perovskite nanoparticles

Nanocomposite materials with uniform microstructure and high permittivity have attracted extensive interest in modern electronics. The compatibility between the filler phase and the polymer matrix is crucial in preparing high-performance composites. As an alternative to conventional surface modification treatment methodologies, hydroxylated colloidal BaTiO3 (BT) nanoparticles synthesized via a green and scalable process were directly used to fabricate high-permittivity nanocomposites. Interfacial interaction analyses between the BT nanoparticles and polymer matrix reveals that due to strong hydrogen bonding at the interface, transparent composite sols with excellent flow behavior can be observed. The sols are ideal formulations for the preparation of BT/PVDF–hfp 0–3 nanocomposite films. Owing to the unique interface structure, the composite films show a dense and uniform microstructure and superior dielectric properties. Parallel plate capacitor devices and the co-development of a sandwich architecture leads to the ability to prepare dielectric films with favorable performance characteristics. This method provides a novel and greatly simplified strategy for the fabrication of high-permittivity dielectric nanocomposites

ARGO-YBJ constraints on very high energy emission from GRBs

The ARGO-YBJ (Astrophysical Radiation Ground-based Observatory at YangBaJing) experiment is designed for very high energy $\gamma$-astronomy and cosmic ray researches. Due to the full coverage of a large area ($5600 m^2$) with resistive plate chambers at a very high altitude (4300 m a.s.l.), the ARGO-YBJ detector is used to search for transient phenomena, such as Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Because the ARGO-YBJ detector has a large field of view ($\sim$2 sr) and is operated with a high duty cycle ($>$90%), it is well suited for GRB surveying and can be operated in searches for high energy GRBs following alarms set by satellite-borne observations at lower energies. In this paper, the sensitivity of the ARGO-YBJ detector for GRB detection is estimated. Upper limits to fluence with 99% confidence level for 26 GRBs inside the field of view from June 2006 to January 2009 are set in the two energy ranges 10$-$100 GeV and 10 GeV$-$1 TeV.Comment: accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

Synthesis of single phase. alpha. -Fe, Fe sub 3 C and Fe sub 7 C sub 3 nano-particles by CO sub 2 laser pyrolysis technique

Iron-containing catalysts have been known to be useful in assisting the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction for synthesizing hydrocarbons. However, it has been well recognized that iron catalyst are not stable during the reaction but converted into iron carbides. It is thus important to understand the role of the iron carbides in the catalytic reaction of the FT-synthesis. It has been found difficult to produce iron carbide nano-particles as a single phase, because iron carbide phases are only metastable under 1 atm pressure. Iron carbide bulk particles prepared so far are often contaminated with metallic iron, iron oxides and free carbon. In this study, we investigate the synthesis of iron carbide nano-particles using CO{sub 2} laser pyrolysis technique. We show that this technique is successful in synthesizing {alpha}-Fe, Fe{sub 3}C and Fe{sub 7}C{sub 3} nano-particles in their single phase with sizes in the range of 5--20nm. In particular, we have produced for the first time the Fe{sub 7}C{sub 3} which has been known to exist but unable to be produced as a single phase. Furthermore, it is interesting that Fe{sub 5}C{sub 2} which has carbon and iron ratio between Fe{sub 3}C and Fe{sub 7}C{sub 3}, is not seen in any run of our synthesis