An insulating grid spacer for large-area MICROMEGAS chambers
We present a novel design for large-area gaseous detectors based on the MICROMEGAS technology. This technology incorporates an insulating grid, sandwiched between the micro-mesh and the anode-pad plane, which provides a uniform 200 μm amplification gap. The uniformity of the amplification gap thickness has been verified. The gain performances of the detector are presented and compared to the values obtained with detectors using cylindrical micro spacers. The new design presents several technical and financial advantages.

title: Logarithmic Yangians in WZW Models
abstract: A new action of the Yangians in the WZW models is displayed. Its structure is generic and level-independent. This Yangian is the natural extension at the conformal point of the one unraveled in massive theories with current algebras. Hopefully, this new symmetry of WZW models will lead to a deeper understanding of the integrable structure of conformal field theories and their deformations.

title: An Introduction to Yangian Symmetries
abstract: We review some aspects of the quantum Yangians as symmetry algebras of two-dimensional quantum field theories. The plan of these notes is the following: 
 
1 
 
The classical Heisenberg model: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Abelian symmetries; 
 
 
The generators of the symmetries and the semi-classical Yangians; 
 
 
An alternative presentation of the semi-classical Yangians; 
 
 
Digression on Poisson-Lie groups. 
 
 
Non-Abelian symmetries and the quantum Yangians; 
 
 
The transfer matrix and an alternative presentation of the Yangians; 
 
 
Digression on the double Yangians. 
 
 
 
 
 
2 
 
The quantum Heisenberg chain: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Abelian symmetries and the quantum Yangians; 
 
 
The transfer matrix and an alternative presentation of the Yangians; 
 
 
Digression on the double Yangians.

title: Spin-Charge Separation and the Spin Quantum Hall Effect
abstract: We use quantum field theory methods to study the network model for the spin quantum hall transition. When the couplings are fine tuned in a certain way, the spin and charge degrees of freedom, corresponding to the su-percurrent algebras su(2) 0 and osp(2|2) −2 respectively, completely decouple. This simpler theory is exactly solvable and some critical exponents are computed and shown to agree with the recent predictions based on percolation. The general network model is shown to be in a different universality class by identifying the attractive direction of the renormalization group flow.

title: On Root Multiplicities of Some Hyperbolic Kac–Moody Algebras
abstract: Using the coset construction, we compute the root multiplicities at level-3 for some hyperbolic Kac–Moody algebras including the basic hyperbolic extension of A11 and E10.

title: Anomalous scaling in the N-point functions of a passive scalar.
abstract: A recent analysis of the 4-point correlation function of the passive scalar advected by a time-decorrelated random flow is extended to the N-point case. It is shown that all stationary-state inertial-range correlations are dominated by homogeneous zero modes of singular operators describing their evolution. We compute analytically the zero modes governing the N-point structure functions and the anomalous dimensions corresponding to them to the linear order in the scaling exponent of the 2-point function of the advecting velocity field. The implications of these calculations for the dissipation correlations are discussed.

title: Determination of the leptonic branching ratios of the Z
abstract: The ratios of the numbers of Z bosons decaying to e+e−, μ+μ− and τ+τ− pairs to the number decaying to hadrons have been measured. The branching ratios and partial widths for each channel were determined and found to be equal, consistent with lepton universality. The mean leptonic branching ratio was found to be 0.0321 ± 0.0013 and the leptonic partial width to be 85.4 ± 5.3 MeV. The partial widths for hadronic decays and for invisible decays were deduced to be 1833 ± 116 MeV and 569 ± 92 MeV, respectively. The number of light neutrino types, assuming only the standard model value for the ratio , was found to be 3.35 ± 0.41.

title: A high resolution, highly multiplexed scintillating fiber tracking detector
abstract: A high resolution, highly multiplexed scintillating fiber tracking detector has been designed for the UA4-2 experiment. Ten detectors have been built and are being tested. A preliminary analysis shows that the resolution is better than 100 μm and the efficiency close to 99.6%.

title: The plasma beat-wave acceleration experiment at Ecole Polytechnique
abstract: We present an experiment for demonstrating the principle of plasma beat-wave acceleration. The beating of two Nd-laser pulses creates a relativistic plasma wave in a deuterium plasma. Electrons at an energy of 3 MeV are injected into the plasma. We observe several hundred electrons accelerated up to 3.7 MeV. This paper is mainly devoted to the description of the experimental apparatus. In the design of the apparatus, we gave particular attention to efficient electron injection and to background noise suppression. We present also some preliminary results of electron acceleration experiments.

title: Search for dark matter at high-power laser facilities : flawed luminosity calculations in QPS -- Quasi parallel scattering
abstract: I point the erroneous use, in several papers published recently, of the well known expression for the luminosity of the head-on collision of two particle bunches, in a QPS -- Quasi parallel scattering -- configuration, in which the two beams are co-propagating, and the collision of individual particles takes place at a small angle wrt co-propagation.

title: Observation of Laser Wakefield Acceleration of Electrons
abstract: The acceleration of electrons injected in a plasma wave generated by the laser wakefield mechanism has been observed. A maximum energy gain of 1.6 MeV has been measured and the maximum longitudinal electric field is estimated to 1.5 GV/m. The experimental data agree with theoretical predictions when 3D effects are taken into account. The duration of the plasma wave inferred from the number of accelerated electrons is of the order of 1 ps