Measurements of Energy Loss of Charded Particles Travelling in Crystalline Materials along the Channeling Directon

A method for determining the energy loss and mean dechanneling distance of light charged particles traveling along a low index axis of a crystal in the backscattering geometry, is presented. The method is based on nuclear resonance reactions which act as a marker for the range in the backscattering spectra. Computer simulations based on the assumption of an exponential rate of dechanneling of the incoming particles in the crystalline material, are in good agreement with measured spectra. The results of applying this method to protons and alphas in crystals of Si, SiO2, SiC and MgO are discussed and possible improvements are indicated.

Brute force effects of mass media presence and social media activity on electoral outcome

In this study, we analyze whether the mere volume of presence in mass media and the mere volume of activity on social media convey advantages to candidates in parliamentary elections. Based on the theoretical model of bounded rationality, we call these potential effects brute force effects. During the last month of the election campaign of the Swiss federal election of 2015, we have tracked the presence of all 873 candidates in the canton of Zurich, the most populous canton, in a broad sample of mass media. Additionally, we have tracked those candidates' activity on Facebook and Twitter. The results of our multilevel Bayesian estimates show that mass media presence has a consistent non-trivial impact on different aspects of electoral outcome. Furthermore, social media activity also has a non-trivial impact, but only in terms of resonance (reactions to candidates' social media activity). Overall, our results suggest that brute force effects of of mass media presence and social media activity can have substantial impact on voting behavior.