The Gravity Probe B mission provided two new quantitative tests of Einstein's theory of gravity, general relativity (GR), by cryogenic gyroscopes in Earth's orbit. Data from four gyroscopes gave a ...geodetic drift-rate of −6601.8 18.3 marc-s yr−1 and a frame-dragging of −37.2 7.2 marc-s yr−1, to be compared with GR predictions of −6606.1 and −39.2 marc-s yr−1 (1 marc-s = 4.848 × 10−9 radians). The present paper introduces the science, engineering, data analysis, and heritage of Gravity Probe B, detailed in the accompanying 20 CQG papers.
Abstract
The search for exclusive hadronic vector boson decays is an ongoing part of the LHC programme where, to date, no such decays have been observed. In addition to the intrinsic interest in the ...branching ratios, there is potential for a measurement of the
W
boson mass quite distinct from the usual methods. The radiative decay modes offer good potential channels for this search; however, we highlight three issues with it not previously discussed: particle misidentification, partial reconstruction and the impact of interference with QCD. These issues cause shifts in the peak position of tens or hundreds of MeV/c
2
.
The standard model of particle physics
describes the known fundamental particles and forces that make up our Universe, with the exception of gravity. One of the central features of the standard model ...is a field that permeates all of space and interacts with fundamental particles
. The quantum excitation of this field, known as the Higgs field, manifests itself as the Higgs boson, the only fundamental particle with no spin. In 2012, a particle with properties consistent with the Higgs boson of the standard model was observed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
. Since then, more than 30 times as many Higgs bosons have been recorded by the ATLAS experiment, enabling much more precise measurements and new tests of the theory. Here, on the basis of this larger dataset, we combine an unprecedented number of production and decay processes of the Higgs boson to scrutinize its interactions with elementary particles. Interactions with gluons, photons, and W and Z bosons-the carriers of the strong, electromagnetic and weak forces-are studied in detail. Interactions with three third-generation matter particles (bottom (b) and top (t) quarks, and tau leptons (τ)) are well measured and indications of interactions with a second-generation particle (muons, μ) are emerging. These tests reveal that the Higgs boson discovered ten years ago is remarkably consistent with the predictions of the theory and provide stringent constraints on many models of new phenomena beyond the standard model.
We assess the impact of transport of pollution from midlatitudes on the abundance of ozone in the Arctic in summer 2006 using the GEOS‐Chem global chemical transport model and its adjoint. We find ...that although the impact of midlatitude emissions on ozone abundances in the Arctic is at a maximum in fall and winter, in July transport from North America, Asia, and Europe together contributed about 25% of surface ozone abundances in the Arctic. Throughout the summer, the dominant source of ozone in the Arctic troposphere was photochemical production within the Arctic, which accounted for more than 50% of the ozone in the Arctic boundary layer and as much as 30%–40% of the ozone in the middle troposphere. An adjoint sensitivity analysis of the impact of NOx emissions on ozone at Alert shows that on synoptic time scales in both the lower and middle troposphere, ozone abundances are more sensitive to emissions between 50°N and 70°N, with important influences from anthropogenic, biomass burning, soil, and lightning sources. Although local surface NOx emissions contribute to ozone formation, transport of NOx in the form of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) from outside the Arctic and from the upper troposphere also contributed to ozone production in the lower troposphere. We find that in late May and June the release of NOx from PAN decomposition accounted for 93% and 55% of ozone production at the Arctic surface, respectively.
Key Points
Midlatitude source regions contribute 10‐25% of Arctic ozone in summer
On short time scales, Arctic O3 is most sensitive to NOx emissions at 50‐70N
NOx transported as PAN constitutes most of O3 produced in the Arctic spring
The large-area coverage at a resolution of 10-20 metres per pixel in colour and three dimensions with the High Resolution Stereo Camera Experiment on the European Space Agency Mars Express Mission ...has made it possible to study the time-stratigraphic relationships of volcanic and glacial structures in unprecedented detail and give insight into the geological evolution of Mars. Here we show that calderas on five major volcanoes on Mars have undergone repeated activation and resurfacing during the last 20 per cent of martian history, with phases of activity as young as two million years, suggesting that the volcanoes are potentially still active today. Glacial deposits at the base of the Olympus Mons escarpment show evidence for repeated phases of activity as recently as about four million years ago. Morphological evidence is found that snow and ice deposition on the Olympus construct at elevations of more than 7,000 metres led to episodes of glacial activity at this height. Even now, water ice protected by an insulating layer of dust may be present at high altitudes on Olympus Mons.
This work presents iron isotope data in the western equatorial Pacific. Marine aerosols and top core margin sediments display a slightly heavy Fe isotopic composition (δ56Fe) of 0.33 ± 0.11‰ (2SD) ...and 0.14 ± 0.07‰, respectively. Samples reflecting the influence of Papua New Guinea runoff (Sepik River and Rabaul volcano water) are characterized by crustal values. In seawater, Fe is mainly supplied in the particulate form and is found with a δ56Fe between −0.49 and 0.34 ± 0.07‰. The particulate Fe seems to be brought mainly by runoff and transported across continental shelves and slopes. Aerosols are suspected to enrich the surface Vitiaz Strait waters, while hydrothermal activity likely enriched New Ireland waters. Dissolved Fe isotopic ratios are found between −0.03 and 0.53 ± 0.07‰. They are almost systematically heavier than the corresponding particulate Fe, and the difference between the signature of both phases is similar for most samples with Δ56FeDFe – PFe = +0.27 ± 0.25‰ (2SD). This is interpreted as an equilibrium isotopic fractionation revealing exchange fluxes between both phases. The dissolved phase being heavier than the particles suggests that the exchanges result in a net nonreductive release of dissolved Fe. This process seems to be locally significantly more intense than Fe reductive dissolution documented along reducing margins. It may therefore constitute a very significant iron source to the ocean, thereby influencing the actual estimation of the iron residence time and sinks. The underlying processes could also apply to other elements.
Key Points
Isotopic composition of dissolved and particulate Fe in seawaterIsotopic composition of Fe in marine aerosol, Sepik, and margin sedimentsNonreductive release would be an important source of dissolved Fe
It has been shown that some common food flavonoids can act as excellent stabilizers of oil-in-water emulsions through their adsorption as water-insoluble particles to the surface of the oil droplets, ...i.e., Pickering emulsions are formed. Flavonoids covering a wide range of octanol−water partition coefficients (P) were screened for emulsification behavior by low shear mixing of flavonoid + n-tetradecane in a vortex mixer. Most flavonoids with very high or very low P values were not good emulsifiers, although there were exceptions, such as tiliroside, which is very insoluble in water. When a high shear jet homogenizer was used with 20 vol % oil in the presence of 1 mM tiliroside, rutin, or naringin, much finer emulsions were produced: the average droplet sizes (d 32) were 16, 6, and 5 μm, respectively. These results may be highly significant with respect to the delivery of such insoluble compounds to the gut, as well as their digestion and absorption.
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) provide enhanced oxygen delivery and respiratory support for patients with severe COVID-19. CPAP and HFNO are currently ...designated as aerosol-generating procedures despite limited high-quality experimental data. We aimed to characterise aerosol emission from HFNO and CPAP and compare with breathing, speaking and coughing.
Healthy volunteers were recruited to breathe, speak and cough in ultra-clean, laminar flow theatres followed by using CPAP and HFNO. Aerosol emission was measured using two discrete methodologies, simultaneously. Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 had cough recorded using the same methodology on the infectious diseases ward.
In healthy volunteers (n=25 subjects; 531 measures), CPAP (with exhalation port filter) produced less aerosol than breathing, speaking and coughing (even with large >50 L/min face mask leaks). Coughing was associated with the highest aerosol emissions of any recorded activity. HFNO was associated with aerosol emission, however, this was from the machine. Generated particles were small (<1 µm), passing from the machine through the patient and to the detector without coalescence with respiratory aerosol, thereby unlikely to carry viral particles. More aerosol was generated in cough from patients with COVID-19 (n=8) than volunteers.
In healthy volunteers, standard non-humidified CPAP is associated with less aerosol emission than breathing, speaking or coughing. Aerosol emission from the respiratory tract does not appear to be increased by HFNO. Although direct comparisons are complex, cough appears to be the main aerosol-generating risk out of all measured activities.
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