Particles — Open Access Journal

We study the particle production in the early stage of the ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. To this end the Boltzmann kinetic equations for gluons and pions with elastic rescattering are considered together with a simple model for the parton-hadron conversion process (hadronisation). It is shown that the overpopulation of the gluon phase space in the initial state leads to an intermediate stage of Bose enhancement in the low-momentum gluon sector which due to the gluon-pion conversion process is then reflected in the final distribution function of pions. This pattern is very similar to the experimental finding of a low-momentum pion enhancement in the ALICE experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Relations to the thermal statistical model of hadron production and the phenomenon of thermal and chemical freeze-out are discussed in this context. Full article

Nonlocal quantum theory of a one-component scalar field in D-dimensional Euclidean spacetime is studied in representations of $\mathcal{S}$-matrix theory for both polynomial and nonpolynomial interaction Lagrangians. The theory is formulated on coupling constant g in the form of an infrared smooth function of argument x for space without boundary. Nonlocality is given by the evolution of a Gaussian propagator for the local free theory with ultraviolet form factors depending on ultraviolet length parameter l. By representation of the $\mathcal{S}$-matrix in terms of abstract functional integral over a primary scalar field, the $\mathcal{S}$ form of a grand canonical partition function is found. By expression of $\mathcal{S}$-matrix in terms of the partition function, representation for $\mathcal{S}$ in terms of basis functions is obtained. Derivations are given for a discrete case where basis functions are Hermite functions, and for a continuous case where basis functions are trigonometric functions. The obtained expressions for the $\mathcal{S}$-matrix are investigated within the framework of variational principle based on Jensen inequality. Through the latter, the majorant of $\mathcal{S}$ (more precisely, of $-ln\mathcal{S}$) is constructed. Equations with separable kernels satisfied by variational function q are found and solved, yielding results for both polynomial theory ${\phi }^4$ (with suggestions for ${\phi }^6$) and nonpolynomial sine-Gordon theory. A new definition of the $\mathcal{S}$-matrix is proposed to solve additional divergences which arise in application of Jensen inequality for the continuous case. Analytical results are obtained and numerically illustrated, with plots of variational functions q and corresponding majorants for the $\mathcal{S}$-matrices of the theory. For simplicity of numerical calculation, the $D=1$ case is considered, and propagator for free theory G is in the form of Gaussian function typically in the Virton–Quark model, although the obtained analytical inferences are not, in principle, limited to these particular choices. Formulation for nonlocal QFT in momentum k space of extra dimensions with subsequent compactification into physical spacetime is discussed, alongside the compactification process. Full article

Our aim is to contribute to quantum field theory (QFT) formalisms useful for descriptions of short time phenomena, dominant especially in heavy ion collisions. We formulate out-of-equilibrium QFT within the finite-time-path formalism (FTP) and renormalization theory (RT). The potential conflict of FTP and RT is investigated in $g{\varphi }^3$ QFT, by using the retarded/advanced ($R/A$) basis of Green functions and dimensional renormalization (DR). For example, vertices immediately after (in time) divergent self-energy loops do not conserve energy, as integrals diverge. We “repair” them, while keeping $d<4$, to obtain energy conservation at those vertices. Already in the S-matrix theory, the renormalized, finite part of Feynman self-energy ${\Sigma }_F(p_0)$ does not vanish when $|p_0|\to \infty$ and cannot be split to retarded and advanced parts. In the Glaser–Epstein approach, the causality is repaired in the composite object $G_F(p_0){\Sigma }_F(p_0)$. In the FTP approach, after repairing the vertices, the corresponding composite objects are $G_R(p_0){\Sigma }_R(p_0)$ and ${\Sigma }_A(p_0)G_A(p_0)$. In the limit $d\to 4$, one obtains causal QFT. The tadpole contribution splits into diverging and finite parts. The diverging, constant component is eliminated by the renormalization condition $⟨0\left|\varphi \right|0⟩=0$ of the S-matrix theory. The finite, oscillating energy-nonconserving tadpole contributions vanish in the limit $t\to \infty$. Full article

We review our recent works on polarization-sensitive electro-optic (PS-EO) sampling, which is a method that allows us to measure elliptically-polarized terahertz time-domain waveforms without using wire-grid polarizers. Because of the phase mismatch between the employed probe pulse and the elliptically-polarized terahertz pulse that is to be analyzed, the probe pulse senses different terahertz electric-field (E-field) vectors during the propagation inside the EO crystal. To interpret the complex condition inside the EO crystal, we expressed the expected EO signal by “frequency-domain description” instead of relying on the conventional Pockels effect description. Using this approach, we derived two important conclusions: (i) the polarization state of each frequency component can be accurately measured, irrespective of the choice of the EO crystal because the relative amplitude and phase of the E-field of two mutually orthogonal directions are not affected by the phase mismatch; and, (ii) the time-domain waveform of the elliptically-polarized E-field vector can be retrieved by considering the phase mismatch, absorption, and the effect of the probe pulse width. We experimentally confirm the above two conclusions by using different EO crystals that are used for detection. This clarifies the validity of our theoretical analysis based on the frequency-domain description and the usefulness of PS-EO sampling. Full article

Recent experimental results about the energy behavior of the total cross sections, the share of elastic and inelastic contributions to them, the peculiar shape of the differential cross section and our guesses about the behavior of real and imaginary parts of the elastic scattering amplitude are discussed. The unitarity condition relates elastic and inelastic processes. Therefore it is used in the impact-parameter space to get some information about the shape of the interaction region of colliding protons by exploiting new experimental data. The obtained results are described. Full article

Gravitational waves, electromagnetic radiation, and the emission of high energy particles probe the phase structure of the equation of state of dense matter produced at the crossroad of the closely related relativistic collisions of heavy ions and of binary neutron stars mergers. 3 + 1 dimensional special- and general relativistic hydrodynamic simulation studies reveal a unique window of opportunity to observe phase transitions in compressed baryon matter by laboratory based experiments and by astrophysical multimessenger observations. The astrophysical consequences of a hadron-quark phase transition in the interior of a compact star will be focused within this article. Especially with a future detection of the post-merger gravitational wave emission emanated from a binary neutron star merger event, it would be possible to explore the phase structure of quantum chromodynamics. The astrophysical observables of a hadron-quark phase transition in a single compact star system and binary hybrid star merger scenario will be summarized within this article. The FAIR facility at GSI Helmholtzzentrum allows one to study the universe in the laboratory, and several astrophysical signatures of the quark-gluon plasma have been found in relativistic collisions of heavy ions and will be explored in future experiments. Full article

A magnetic chicane bunch compressor for a new compact accelerator-based terahertz (THz) radiation source at the Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, was completely installed in March 2016. The chicane is employed to compress an electron bunch with an energy of 4.6 MeV generated by a 1.6-cell photocathode radio frequency (RF)-gun. The compressed bunch is injected into a short planar undulator for THz generation by coherent undulator radiation (CUR). The characteristics of the bunch compressor and the compressed bunch were investigated by observing the coherent transition radiation (CTR). The CTR spectra, which were analyzed by using a Michelson interferometer, and the compressed bunch length were also estimated. The results were that the chicane could compress the electron bunch at a laser injection phase less than 45 degrees, and the maximum CTR intensity was observed at a laser injection phase around 24 degrees. The optimum value of the first momentum compaction factor was around −45 mm, which provided an estimated rms bunch length less than 1 ps. Full article

One of the very first applications of the quantum field theoretic vacuum state was in the development of the notion of Casimir energy. Now, field theoretic Casimir energies, considered individually, are always infinite. However, differences in Casimir energies (at worst regularized, not renormalized) are quite often finite—a fortunate circumstance which luckily made some of the early calculations, (for instance, for parallel plates and hollow spheres), tolerably tractable. We will explore the extent to which this observation can be made systematic. For instance: What are necessary and sufficient conditions for Casimir energy differences to be finite (with regularization but without renormalization)? Additionally, when the Casimir energy differences are not formally finite, can anything useful nevertheless be said by invoking renormalization? We will see that it is the difference in the first few Seeley–DeWitt coefficients that is central to answering these questions. In particular, for any collection of conductors (be they perfect or imperfect) and/or dielectrics, as long as one merely moves them around without changing their shape or volume, then physically the Casimir energy difference (and so also the physically interesting Casimir forces) is guaranteed to be finite without invoking any renormalization. Full article

The temporal profile measurement for ultra-short electron bunches is one of the key issues for accelerator-based coherent light sources. A bunch length measurement system using Cherenkov radiation (CR) is under development at the Research Center for Electron Photon Science, Tohoku University. This system allows for the real-time diagnostics of electron bunches. The system comprises a thin silica aerogel as the Cherenkov radiator, a specially designed optical transport line, and a high-speed streak camera. The electron bunch length can be obtained by measuring the time spread of the CR from the electrons passing through the radiator medium using the streak camera. In this paper, we describe the novel bunch length measurement system using CR, discuss the expected time resolution of the system, and finally present the measurement results. Full article

The fixed-target NA61/SHINE experiment (SPS CERN) looks for the critical point (CP) of strongly interacting matter and the properties of the onset of deconfinement. It is a scan of measurements of particle spectra and fluctuations in proton–proton, proton–nucleus, and nucleus–nucleus interactions as a function of collision energy and system size. This gives unique possibilities to researching critical properties of the dense hot hadronic matter created in the collision process. New measurements and their objectives, related to the third stage of the experiment after 2020, are presented and discussed here. Full article

The master equation for an open quantum system is derived in the weak-coupling approximation when the additional dynamical variable—the mean interaction energy—is included into the generic relevant statistical operator. This master equation is nonlocal in time and involves the “quasi-temperature”, which is a non- equilibrium state parameter conjugated thermodynamically to the mean interaction energy of the composite system. The evolution equation for the quasi-temperature is derived using the energy conservation law. Thus long-living dynamical correlations, which are associated with this conservation law and play an important role in transition to the Markovian regime and subsequent equilibration of the system, are properly taken into account. Full article

A new type of dielectric-loaded waveguide, the high-gradient dielectric-loaded waveguide (HG-DLW), where the Cherenkov radiation with a high gradient can be excited by relativistic electron, is proposed in this paper. Based on the simulation results, the process of the high-gradient Cherenkov radiation excited in the proposed structure is studied in details, and the amplitude of wakefields excited in proposed structure can be enhanced by over six times compared with that from ordinary dielectric-loaded waveguides. Full article

Terahertz (THz) radiation has attracted much attention in new scientific and industrial applications. There has been significant recent progress in generating THz with accelerators. To investigate the collective behavior of electron dynamics, we have proposed a new high throughput material characterization system, which supplies a multiple light source. The system includes a pre-bunched THz free electron laser (FEL), which is a high-power narrow-band THz source with a wide tuning range of frequency. The physical design with the main components of the facility is introduced, and the simulation results are illustrated. Radiation of 0.5–3.0 THz is obtained by the fundamental wave of the pre-bunched beam, and radiation covering 3.0–5.0 THz is realized by second harmonic generation. As the simulation shows, intense THz radiation could be achieved in a frequency from 0.5–5.0 THz, with a peak power of several megawatts (MWs) and a bandwidth of a few percent. Full article

The analytical expressions of the beam–wave coupling coefficients and the beam loading conductance for a 2π mode in a multi-gap cavity is proposed as a circuit of the extended interaction klystron (EIK), are derived by space-charge wave theory. The mechanism of the beam–wave synchronization and the coupling in the multi-gap cavity at 225 GHz are studied in detail by calculating the coupling coefficient and the normalized beam loading conductance as a function of gap number, gap dimension, and beam voltage as well as the perveance. The stability of the circuit is analyzed by considering the quality factor of the electron beam. It is found that the stability of the operating 2π mode is more sensitive to the beam voltage and gap number. Based on the theory and analysis, a 5-gap coupled cavity is proposed as a section of EIK’s circuit. A low voltage EIK with a 4-cavity circuit at 225 GHz is designed and is simulated by a particle-in-cell (PIC) code. The EIK can achieve a maximum output power of ~36 W with more than 30 dB gain at 225 GHz. Full article

We propose and design a dual dielectric grating structure for generating electron bunches with THz repetition frequency. Here we apply transversally polarized sub-terahertz waves to transversally illuminate a dielectric dual-grating, within which the sinusoidally varied deflection fields are induced and exerted on the electron bunches passing through the structure. The velocities of electrons within the bunches are modulated in the transversal direction, which then leads to the generation of a train of micro-bunches. The spectra of these micro-bunches have a series of profound high harmonics in the terahertz region. The simulation result of the electron beam’s bunching behavior is discussed in this paper. Full article

A THz coherent undulator radiation (THz-CUR) source has been developed at the Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University. A photocathode Radio-Frequency (RF) gun and a bunch compressor chicane are used for generating short-bunch electron beams. When the electron beam energy is low, the space-charge effect strongly degrades the beam quality, such as the bunch length and the energy spread at the high bunch charge condition at around 160 pC, and results in the reduction of the highest frequency and the maximum radiated power of the THz-CUR. To mitigate the space charge effect, we have investigated the dependence of the electron beam quality on the laser distribution in transverse and longitudinal directions by using a numerical simulation code, General Particle Tracer GPT. The manipulation of the laser distribution has potential for improving the performance of the THz-CUR source. The electron bunch was effectively compressed with the chicane magnet when the laser transverse distribution was the truncated Gaussian profile, illuminating a cathode. Moreover, the compressed electron bunch was shortened by enlarging the laser pulse width. Consequently, an enhancement of the radiated power of the THz-CUR has been indicated. Full article

The effects on Raychaudhuri’s equation of an intrinsically-discrete or particle nature of spacetime are investigated. This is done through the consideration of null congruences emerging from, or converging to, a generic point of spacetime, i.e., in geometric circumstances somehow prototypical of singularity issues. We do this from an effective point of view, that is through a (continuous) description of spacetime modified to embody the existence of an intrinsic discreteness on the small scale, this adding to previous results for non-null congruences. Various expressions for the effective rate of change of expansion are derived. They in particular provide finite values for the limiting effective expansion and its rate of variation when approaching the focal point. Further, this results in a non-vanishing of the limiting cross-sectional area itself of the congruence. Full article