Observation of Collider Muon Neutrinos with the SND@LHC Experiment.

We report the direct observation of muon neutrino interactions with the SND@LHC detector at the Large Hadron Collider. A dataset of proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13.6 TeV collected by SND@LHC in 2022 is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.8 fb^{-1}. The search is based on information from the active electronic components of the SND@LHC detector, which covers the pseudorapidity region of 7.2<η<8.4, inaccessible to the other experiments at the collider. Muon neutrino candidates are identified through their charged-current interaction topology, with a track propagating through the entire length of the muon detector. After selection cuts, 8 ν_{µ} interaction candidate events remain with an estimated background of 0.086 events, yielding a significance of about 7 standard deviations for the observed ν_{µ} signal.

Diethyl 2-[cyano(toluene-4-sulfinyl)methylene]propanedioate and its Diels-Alder adduct with cyclopentadiene.

The thermal Diels-Alder cycloadditon reaction of diethyl 2-[cyano(toluene-4-sulfinyl)methylene]propanedioate, C(16)H(17)NO(5)S, with cyclopentadiene gave the pure racemates of two of the four possible diastereomers, with a complete pi-facial selectivity and a high (80:20) endo/exo-sulfinyl selectivity. X-ray diffraction studies of diethyl 2-[cyano(toluene-4-sulfinyl)methylene]propanedioate and the major isomer of the cycloaddition product, namely diethyl 3-cyano-3-(toluene-4-sulfinyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-5-ene-2,2-dicarboxylate, C(21)H(23)NO(5)S, reveal that the conformation of the substituents on the acrylonitrile moiety produces both steric and electronic effects, which affect the stereoselectivity of the reaction.

1/f frequency noise of 2-GHZ high-Q thin-film sapphire resonators.

We present experimental results on intrinsic 1/f frequency modulation (FM) noise in high-overtone thin-film sapphire resonators that operate at 2 GHz. The resonators exhibit several high-Q resonant modes approximately 100 kHz apart, which repeat every 13 MHz. A loaded Q of approximately 20,000 was estimated from the phase response. The results show that the FM noise of the resonators varied between Sy (10 Hz) = -202 dB relative (rel) to 1/Hz and -210 dB rel to 1/Hz. The equivalent phase modulation (PM) noise of an oscillator using these resonators (assuming a noiseless amplifier) would range from [symbol: see text](10 Hz) = -39 to -47 dBc/Hz.

Primary Atomic Frequency Standards at NIST.

The development of atomic frequency standards at NIST is discussed and three of the key frequency-standard technologies of the current era are described. For each of these technologies, the most recent NIST implementation of the particular type of standard is described in greater detail. The best relative standard uncertainty achieved to date for a NIST frequency standard is 1.5×10(-15). The uncertainties of the most recent NIST standards are displayed relative to the uncertainties of atomic frequency standards of several other countries.

Cs frequency synthesis: a new approach.

The paper describes a new approach to synthesizing the Cs hyperfine frequency of 9.192 GHz that is designed to be sufficiently rugged for use in space, specifically for the Primary Atomic Reference Clock in Space (PARCS) planned for the International Space Station, as well as ground applications. This new approach requires no narrow band filters or frequency multiplication, and the primary source of cooling is conduction. Instead of frequency multiplication, it uses a custom regenerative divider stage followed by two commercial binary dividers and several mixing stages. A fractional frequency step of 2x10(-17) is achieved by mixing the output of a 48-bit numerically controlled oscillator with the microwave signal. Preliminary tests on the new synthesizer design indicate an internal fractional frequency stability of 1x10(-15) at 10 s and 1x10 (-18) at 1 d, dominated by the daily room temperature variations. The phase and amplitude noise are similar to our previous designs that used frequency multiplication and narrow band filters. The temperature coefficient is less than 0.2 ps/K.

Compact diode-laser based rubidium frequency reference.

The performance of a simple microwave frequency reference based on Raman scattering in an atomic vapor is examined. This reference has the potential to be compact, low-power, and insensitive to acceleration. Several design architectures have been evaluated with a table-top experiment in order to guide the future development of a compact system. Fractional frequency deviations of

Performance evaluation of an optoelectronic oscillator.

Phase noise measurements of an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) at frequencies less than 10 Ha from the carrier (10.6 GHz) as well as the measured Allan variance are presented for the first time. The system has a measured single-side-band (SSB) phase-noise of -123 dB/Hz at 10 kHz from the carrier and a sigma(y)(tau)=10(-10) for an integration time between 1 and 10 seconds. The importance of amplifier phase-noise and environmental fluctuations in determining the noise of the oscillator at these low Fourier frequencies is verified experimentally and analyzed using a generalized model of noise sources in the OEOs. This analysis then allows prediction of the oscillator performance from measured parameters of individual components in the system.

Insight into absorption of radiation/energy transfer in infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization: the roles of matrices, water and metal substrates.

Although the ionization/desorption mechanisms in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) remain poorly understood, there is a clear difference between the energy absorption processes in the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) modes of operation. UV-MALDI demands an on-resonance electronic transition in the matrix compound, whereas results presented here support earlier work showing that a corresponding resonant vibrational transition is not a requirement for IR-MALDI. In fact, data from the present study suggest that significant absorption of radiant energy by a potential matrix impairs its performance, although this observation is at variance with some other reports. For example, sinapinic acid, with an IR absorption maximum close to the 2.94 micrometer wavelength of the Er-YAG laser, has been little used as an IR-MALDI matrix. By contrast, succinic acid, with much lower IR absorption and no history of use in UV-MALDI as it has no UV absorption at the wavelength of common UV lasers, has become widely recognized as a good general purpose matrix for IR-MALDI. Despite reports by others that glycerol is an effective matrix for IR-MALDI, we find that glycerol, which also absorbs strongly at 2.94 micrometer, is useful only if applied as a very thin film. Thus the cumulative evidence for the role of the matrix in IR-MALDI appears confusing and often contradictory. Water has been postulated to be a major contributor to the absorption of energy in IR-MALDI. Consistent with this, we find that samples dried from D(2)O, which does not absorb at 2.94 micrometer, give spectra of inferior quality compared with the same samples from H(2)O. Similarly, samples dried under vacuum, that probably contain less water than those dried in the open laboratory, give weaker and more erratic spectra. Another potential participant in energy absorption and energy transfer is the surface of the metal support, an alternative mechanism for IR-MALDI, for which some evidence is presented here.

Microwave regenerative frequency dividers with low phase noise.

We demonstrate regenerative divide-by-two (halver) circuits with very low phase modulation (PM) noise at input frequencies of 18.4 GHz and 39.8 GHz. The PM noise of the 18.4 to 9.2 GHz divider pair was L(10 Hz)=-134 dB below the carrier in a 1 Hz bandwidth (dBc/Hz) and L(10 MHz)=-166 dBc/Hz, and the PM noise of the 39.8 GHz to 19.9 GHz divider pair was L(10 Hz)=-122 dBc/Hz and L(10 MHz)=-167 dBc/Hz.

Origin of 1/f PM and AM noise in bipolar junction transistor amplifiers.

In this paper we report the results of extensive research on phase modulation (PM) and amplitude modulation (AM) noise in linear bipolar junction transistor (BJT) amplifiers. BJT amplifiers exhibit 1/f PM and AM noise about a carrier signal that is much larger than the amplifiers thermal noise at those frequencies in the absence of the carrier signal. Our work shows that the 1/f PM noise of a BJT based amplifier is accompanied by 1/f AM noise which can be higher, lower, or nearly equal, depending on the circuit implementation. The 1/f AM and PM noise in BJTs is primarily the result of 1/f fluctuations in transistor current, transistor capacitance, circuit supply voltages, circuit impedances, and circuit configuration. We discuss the theory and present experimental data in reference to common emitter amplifiers, but the analysis can be applied to other configurations as well. This study provides the functional dependence of 1/f AM and PM noise on transistor parameters, circuit parameters, and signal frequency, thereby laying the groundwork for a comprehensive theory of 1/f AM and PM noise in BJT amplifiers. We show that in many cases the 1/f PM and AM noise can be reduced below the thermal noise of the amplifier.

Guidelines for designing BJT amplifiers with low 1/f AM and PM noise.

In this paper we discuss guidelines for designing linear bipolar junction transistor amplifiers with low 1/f amplitude modulation (AM) and phase modulation (PM) noise. These guidelines are derived from a new theory that relates AM and PM noise to transconductance fluctuations, junction capacitance fluctuations, and circuit architecture. We analyze the noise equations of each process for a common emitter (CE) amplifier and use the results to suggest amplifier designs that minimize the 1/f noise while providing other required attributes such as high gain. Although we use a CE amplifier as an example, the procedure applies to other configurations as well. Experimental noise results for several amplifier configurations are presented.

Relationship of AM to PM noise in selected RF oscillators.

We have studied the amplitude modulation (AM) and phase modulation (PM) noise in a number of 5 MHz and 100 MHz oscillators to provide a basis for developing models of the origin of AM noise. To adequately characterize the AM noise in high performance quartz oscillators, we found it necessary to use two-channel cross-correlation AM detection. In the quartz oscillators studied, the power spectral density (PSD) of the f(-1) and f(0) regions of AM noise is closely related to that of the PM noise. The major difference between different oscillators of the same design depends on the flicker noise performance of the resonator. We therefore propose that the f(-1) and f(0) regions of AM and PM noise arise from the same physical processes, probably originating in the sustaining amplifier.

Environmental sensitivities of quartz oscillators.

The frequency, amplitude, and noise of the output signal of a quartz oscillator are affected by a large number of environmental effects. The physical basis for the sensitivity of precision oscillators to temperature, humidity, pressure, acceleration and vibration, magnetic field, electric field, load, and radiation is examined. The sensitivity of quartz oscillators to radiation is a very complex topic and poorly understood. Therefore, only a few general results are mentioned. The sensitivity to most external influences often varies significantly both from one oscillator type to another and from one unit of a given type to another. For a given unit, the sensitivity to one parameter often depends on the value of other parameters and on history. Representative sensitivity to the above parameters is given.

Artifacts in four-sector tandem mass spectrometry.

Several types of artifacts were shown to be present in 4-sector tandem collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra. In CID spectra of protonated peptides produced by liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS), peaks corresponding to successive losses of matrix molecules from the precursor ion were observed. In addition, peaks corresponding to MH+ ions of smaller peptides that were also present in the sample/matrix mixture in greater abundance than the selected precursor ion were observed. Both of these types of artifact peaks were shown to originate from the 'peak-at-every-mass' chemical noise at the same nominal mass as that selected by the first 2 sectors (MS1). These noise ions are transmitted through to the collision cell and produce fragments that are analysed and detected in the next 2 sectors (MS2). A second, unrelated, kind of artifact was found to be due to decompositions in the second field-free region of MS2 in an EBEB geometry machine. These artifacts, which are detectable over only a very limited mass range when using a conventional single-point detector, can be present over a much greater mass range when an array detector is used and when the collision cell is floated above ground potential. A clear understanding of the origins of all peaks in a CID spectrum is important in order to have a firm foundation for interpretation, manual or computer-aided, of the spectra of unknown compounds.

Cooled sample introduction probe for liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry.

The design and performance of a cooled sample introduction probe for fast atom bombardment or other liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometric studies are described. Cooling relatively volatile matrix materials (sulfolane, thioglycerol, and tetraglyme, for example) in situ in the ion source can increase the duration of the sample spectrum by a factor of 10. Cooling also permits a much wider range of matrix materials to be used. As an example, the spectrum of the carbohydrate, peracetyl [Glu(beta 1----3)]7 Glucitol in tetraglyme matrix, is shown to give an excellent spectrum including cleavage peaks corresponding to losses of the first five sugar residues. The spectrum lasted approximately 10 times longer when the probe tip was cooled to 9 +/- 1 degrees C than when no cooling was used, corresponding to a 10-fold increase in integrated sensitivity.

The Australian journal of physiotherapy oration: wholesome discontent - a spur to action.

That all discontent leads to progress is patently absurd, for there is the discontent born of self pity which can lead nowhere save to perdition. But discontent arising from a desire to better the status quo is worthy and has a fair claim to being the source and mainspring of all action that adds to the sum of human dignity. Lacking it, mankind would still be in the stone age, and his existence short, nasty and brutish as ever; possessed of it - and in every generation there are those in whom it is part of their very nature - he moves forward, and the firmament itself comes within his reach.