C.V. of George Kahrimanis

1. PERSONAL INFORMATION

2. HIGHER EDUCATION

2.2 First postgraduate degree: Master of Arts, 1990
Department of physics and astronomy
The University of Texas at Austin, U.S.A.
Thesis: Pion-nucleus elastic scattering on ¹²C, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁹⁰Zr, and ²⁰⁸Pb at 400 and 500 MeV (preliminary results)
Supervisor: C. Fred Moore

2.3 Ph.D., 1995
Subject: experimental nuclear physics
Department of physics and astronomy
The University of Texas at Austin, U.S.A.
Dissertation: Pion-nucleus elastic scattering on ¹²C, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁹⁰Zr, and ²⁰⁸Pb at 400 and 500 MeV: data and interpretations
Supervisor: C. Fred Moore
Dissertation Committee (including external examiner):
C. Fred Moore, Christofer L. Morris (e. e.), Gerald W. Hoffmann, Peter J. Riley, and Lothar W. Frommhold.

3. TEACHING EXPERIENCE

3.2 Before Ph.D.
Department of physics and astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin, U.S.A
Aug. 1985 -- Jan. 1987, physics lab instructor for engineering undergads, 6 h/w
Feb. -- May 1987, physics lab instructor for paramedical students, 4 h/w
Feb. -- May 1987, tutor for undergraduate students, 2 h/w

4. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

NESTOR Institute, Greece
Visiting researcher
Aug. 1999 -- Dec. 2000

4.2 Before Ph.D.
Los Alamos Meson Physics Facilities, New Mexico, U.S.A.
Visiting researcher
1987-90, 1990-92, 1994
 (Partially overlapping with the doctoral dissertation)

State University of New Mexico at Las Cruces (while at LAMPF)
Assistant researcher
Nov. 1994
 (Partially overlapping with the doctoral dissertation)

5. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

6. RESEARCH WORKS

6.2 Refereed publications in journals
-- L.B. Auerbach et al. Search for π⁰ -> μ_λ ^-μ_λ decays in the LSND detector.
Physical Review Letters 92, 091801 (March 2004).
-- G. Kahrimanis et al. Pion-nucleus elastic scattering on ¹²C, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁹⁰Zr, and ²⁰⁸Pb at 400 and 500 MeV.
Physical Review C 55, 5, p. 2533-40 (1997).
-- Y. Grof et al. Double giant resonances in pion double charge exchange on ⁵¹V, ¹¹⁵In, and ¹⁹⁷Au.
Phys Rev C 47, 4, p. 1466-73 (1993).
-- H. Ward et al. Double giant dipole resonance in the (π^-, π⁺) reaction.
Phys Rev C 45, 6, p.2723-32 (1992).
-- E. Gülmez et al. Elastic scattering of N-, L-, and S-type polarized 794-MeV protons from an ND₃ target polarized in the S-L plane.
Phys Rev C 45, 1, p. 22-34 (1992).
-- A. L. Williams et al. Mass dependence of high-energy pion double charge exchange.
Phys Rev C 44, 5, p. 2025-30 (1991).
-- C. F. Moore et al. Angular distributions for the double isobaric analog and a T_< state at high excitation in pion double charge exchange on ⁹³Nb.
Phys Rev C 44, 5, p. 2209-12 (1991).
-- S. Mordechai et al. Comparison of the double giant-dipole states observed in (π^-, π⁺) and (π⁺, π^-) reactions on ⁴⁰Ca and ²⁷Al.
Phys Rev C 43, 4, p. R1509-12 (1991).
-- A. L. Williams et al. Pion double charge exchange on ^42,44,48Ca for 300< T_π<550 MeV.
Phys Rev C 43, 2, p. 766-70 (1991).

6.3 Refereed publications in conference transactions
-- G. Kahrimanis. Using some "prior" when there is no prior,
Advanced statistical techniques in particle physics. Proceedings, conference, Durham, UK, March 18-22, 2002.
Ed.: Whalley, Mike R. and Lyons, Louis.
Durham: Durham Univ., 2002. (IPPP-02-39) (DCPT-02-78), pp. 157-164
(I no longer support all assumptions of the above work.)
-- C. L. Morris et al. Anti-analog States Observed in Pion Double Charge Exchange,
Proc. of the Second LAMPF Int. Workshop on Pion Double Charge Exchange, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, Aug 9-11 1989.

6.4 Other publications in collective volumes
Not any.

6.5 Conference presentations
-- The Prague International Colloquium 2005: Dutch books of all kinds.
Centre for Higher Education Studies, Prague, The Czech Republic. 23-26 August.
Organized by The Institute of Philosophy, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and the Philosophy, Probability, and Modeling research group at the University of Konstanz. Co-sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the Program for the Investment in the Future (ZIP) of the German Government. Organizers: Timothy Childers (Prague), Alan Hájek (ANU-Canberra), and Franz Huber (Konstanz).
Title:   Trading conditional risks: the Reference Class Problem reformed as a workable decision problem, assuming a free and fair insurance market
-- Advanced Statistical Techniques in Particle Physics
Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, Durham, U.K. 18-22 Mar. 2002
Organizing Committee: Roger Barlow (Manchester), Bob Cousins (UCLA) , Glen Cowan (RHBNC) , Fred James (CERN) , Dean Karlen (Carleton), Jim Linnemann (Michigan State), Louis Lyons (Oxford) , Bill Murray (Rutherford Lab) , Harrison Prosper (Florida State) , Pekka Sinervo (Toronto) , and James Stirling (IPPP Durham).
Title (finally):   Using some "prior" when there is no prior   (publication is cited in Sec. 6.5)
-- Society for Music Perception and Cognition, Conference '95 (SMPC95)
University of California, Berkeley 22-25 June 1995
Chairman: David Wessel (Center for New Music and Audio Technologies)
Organized by CNMAT, Department of music, Department of psychology, and SMPC
Title:   German Sixth requires a different intonation than Dominant Seventh: speculation and experiment

6.6 Other peer-reviewed works.
-- George Kahrimanis and Ali Fazely. Search for ν_μ-to-ν_e transition, using the exclusive reaction ¹²C(ν_e,e)¹²N_gs: Bayesian calculations and interpretations (1999; updated with minor corrections and a revised foundation 2001).
LSND (Los Alamos National Lab): "LSND Technical Note 131".

The following papers present technical developments and preliminary findings.
-- S. Mordechai et al. Double Giant Resonance in Pion Double Charge Excahnge on ⁵¹V, ¹¹⁵In, and ¹⁹⁷Au,
Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 37, 1291 (1992)
-- H. Ward et al. Observation of the Double Giant Dipole Resonance in (π-,π+) Double Charge Exchange,
Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 36, 99 (1991).
-- C. F. Moore et al. Configuration States at High Excitation in Heavy Nuclei Observed in Pion Double Charge Exchange,
Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 35, 947 (1990).
-- C. F. Moore et al. Anti-Analog States at High Excitations in Heavy Nuclei Observed in Pion Double Charge Exchange,
Proceeding of the PANIC XII International Conference on Particles and Nuclei, M.I.T., p.III-78, (1990).
-- M. Begala et al. Measurement of two and three-spin parameters in p-d elastic sacttering at 800 MeV,
Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 33, 1472 (1988).

6.7 Preprints
in arXiv.org, documenting my changing outlook in the foundation of statistics.

7. CITATIONS

There are at least other 47 references (up to 2001) to papers of which I am not the first author. Here I sample three of them.
  - M Oinonen et al. Ground-state spin of ⁵⁹Mn.
Eur. Phys. J. A 10 p. 123-127 (2001).
  - T. Aumann, T.F. Bortignon, and H. Emling. Multiphonon giant resonances in nuclei.
Annu. Rev. Nucl. Part. S 48 p. 351-399 (1988).
  - Ph. Chomaz, N. Frascaria. Multiple phonon excitation in nuclei; experimental results and theoretical descriptions.
Physics Reports 252 p. 275-405 (1995).

9. DESCRIPTION OF WORKS

Pion double charge exchange on ^42,44,48Ca for 300<T_π<550 MeV. 'Double Charge Exchange' means that the electrical charge of the scattered pion is inverted, as if the pion had exchanged charge e twice. At 500 MeV, the de Broglie wavelength (which decreases with energy) is nearly 2 fm; since the range of elementary nuclear reactions is about 1 fm, we anticipate that the composite reaction can be analyzed as successive elementary ones, with better approximation than at lower-energy experiments. Moreover, the smaller cross section of π-N (in comparison to that at the energy of Resonance Δ_3/2,3/2, 190 MeV) implies deeper probing of the nucleus. These measurements are restricted to pions deflected by 5°, and they are of two kinds: (a) leading to the double isobaric-analog state, and (b) leading to the ground state. We compare the data with calculations based on certain approximating assumptions which seem in agreement with data at lower energies (with the exception of data from ⁴⁸Ca). Conclusion: in the energy range 300<T_π<550 MeV, there is significant deviation of the data from these calculations.

Mass dependence of high-energy pion double charge exchange. Previous experiments with several nuclides indicate that the cross section of double charge exchange between 300 and 500 MeV is nearly constant. On the other hand, so it is predicted by three models. Based on those, we study the dependence of the cross section on the mass and the isospin of the target. In these experiments we have used ²⁶Mg, ^46,50Ti, ^54,56Fe, ⁵²Cr, ⁸⁰Se, ⁹⁰Zr, ¹⁹⁷Au, and ²⁰⁸Pb. Along with these, we have included the data from earlier measurements using ^42,44,48Ca. The data show significant deviation from the predictions, especially for ⁴²Ca. However, another expectation was confirmed, that, due to deeper probing of the nucleus, the mass dependence of the cross section be less pronounced than at the energy of the Resonance Δ_3/2,3/2 (190 MeV).

Angular distributions for the double isobaric analog and a T_< state at high excitation in pion double charge exchange on ⁹³Nb. The first differential cross section that has been measured for a double isobaric analog state of a heavy nuclide. Incoming pion energy was 285 MeV. In the spectrum of the missing mass after scattering, at least one more resonance peak is observed, for which some possible causes are offered, though no conclusive explanation yet.

Comparison of the double giant-dipole states observed in (π⁺, π^-) reactions on ⁴⁰Ca and ²⁷Al. In the missing mass spectrum of pion double charge exchange, we observe a resonance nearly 30 MeV over the ground state. (It can also be expressed as a net loss of about 50 MeV.) After comparison of spectra from (π^-, π⁺) with those from (π⁺, π^-), with targets made of ⁴⁰Ca and ²⁷Al, and measurements at several angles (which indicate quadrupole radiation), we conclude that the peak corresponds to a double giant dipole resonance.

Double giant dipole resonance in the (π^-, π⁺) reaction. Follow-up of the the previous observation, using ¹³C, ²⁷Al, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁵⁶Fe, ⁵⁹Co, and ⁹³Nb, to test that conclusion. We take into account certain factors which explain, to a large extent though not completely, the observed energy relations, the angular dependence, the amplitude, ratios of cross sections, and the dependence on atomic mass. We also examine the "continuous" part of the energy spectrum of each nuclide, which is associated with electrical polarization of the nucleus.

Double giant resonances in pion double charge exchange on ⁵¹V, ¹¹⁵In, and ¹⁹⁷Au. Continuation of the two works mentioned above, using heavy nuclides. We look for possible correspondence with known nuclear structures. Besides studying the double giant dipole resonance, we also study the giant dipole resonance of the isobaric analog state.

Pion-nucleus elastic scattering on ¹²C, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁹⁰Zr, and ²⁰⁸Pb at 400 and 500 MeV. The most important conclusion was the disagreement of the results with every calculation based on the available models (though the general features of the data were as expected). The parameters of each model had already been estimated from previous experiments involving simpler interactions; we only had to check whether those models are adequate in this kind of scattering. All models were based on the "impulse approximation" of the scattering process. We did not calculate the significance of each deviation between data and predictions, because it was obvious; the undisputed conclusion is that we need better models. Remarkably, the deviation is apparent even at rather small scattering angles, in the area where the impulse due to electromagnetic interaction is roughly equal with that from nuclear interaction.

Search for ν_μ-to-ν_e transition, using the exclusive reaction ¹²C(ν_e,e)12N_gs: Bayesian calculations and interpretations. A small data sample was used to probe a difficult issue, therefore the statistical component of the problem is dominant. The aim was to estimate two parameters of the oscillation model. First the likelihood was calculated (taking into account the correlations of the systematic errors) and then it was multiplied by a supposed prior probability density function, chosen homogeneous in the usual parametrizations of the two unknown constants. This was an arbitrary choice but the results would be practically the same for a wide class of prior pdfs. That is, following the Bayesian approach, we overlooked that there is no objectively definable prior probability. (My current opinion is that such nonexistence should not be overlooked.) Although flawed, the Bayesian approach is still a practical necessity because the alternative, the "classical" (Neyman) method, may lead to unacceptable confidence intervals, especially when the samples are small. (Moreover, predictive inference based on confidence intervals is problematic.) However, a classical test for goodness of fit may follow a Bayesian analysis, to quantify the emergence of an oscillation pattern in the data. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test regarding the statistic L/E would fit this question, but unfortunately (mea culpa) the paper includes a P-value test for data bins of E and L, which is non-specific to this issue. Results: the maxumum likelihood was at Δ(m²) = 10 eV² and sin²(2θ) = 0.015; the 90% Bayesian confidence region included a long tail, as expected; the P-value goodness of fit was 47% (that is, about average).

9.2 Foundations of probability and statistics

Using some "prior" when there is no prior. I no longer support all assumptions in that work. The so-called Objective Bayesian approach appears plausible to an experimental physicist. The starting point in this work is the "location" measurement (when the pdf of the error is given and invariant) to which we assign a uniform false prior. Then we imagine a gradual distortion of this statistical model; accordingly, we explore how statistical inference is modified by model distortion. There is also the issue of when is it appropriate to apply this objective approach and when it makes sense to apply some expert's intuitive pdf.

Trading conditional risks: the Reference Class Problem reformed as a workable decision problem, assuming a free and fair insurance market.
 This work shows examples of a practical decision process eliminating the Reference Class Problem. The decision process takes into consideration all pertinent reference classes together (each associated with a given and irreducible relative probability) rather than requiring that one of them be singled out independently of practical issues (in view of the impossibility to resolve this problem within a pure probabilistic-statistical analysis). This work is closely related to Venn's example of a consumptive Englisham in Madeira (in Venn, John: The logic of chance (Ch. viii in the 4th ed., 1962/ ... / 1866). (Considering contrary examples, in which the RCP cannot be so resolved, we see that the difficulty arises from additional information; in particular, when relative frequencies or relative odds are given for certain subclasses.)

9.3 Psychomusicology

German Sixth requires a different intonation than Dominant Seventh: speculation and experiment. Considering the currently prevalent theories, although their foundations are diverse, they agree on this point: the proportions of the major triad maximize consonance, as defined in each theory. The minor triad is rated as of inferior consonance, a distortion of the major triad; its cohesion is credited to a certain resemblance to the major triad, inasmuch as the same intervals are involved in both chords, in a different order. Yet, since the 16th Century (at least) a certain hypothesis is discussed occasionally, called "Harmonic Dualism", that the unity of a chord is not due to a single all-encompassing law but rather to a synthesis of two opposite principles: the frequencies of the tones should be (at least approximately) either simple multiples or simple submultiples of the fundamental tone associated with the chord. In this way, the minor triad is assigned to a distinct sort of chord (e.g. C-minor is formed by submultiples of G). Dualism has had eminent supporters (e.g. Rameau, Goethe, von Oettingen, Riemann; even Helmholtz regarded it as interesting) but also detractors (e.g. Hindemith). It seems that the issue is confused by certain misinterpretations that can be corrected. Moreover, we can deduce falsifiable consequences of Dualism, if it is combined with criteria regarding the temporal succession of chords. I present the results of such experiments.