e-ISSN: Pending

Browse the failure-mode index

270 real negative results, null findings, and replication failures in Physics · Negative / Null Result Report. Search the index →

WASTE indexes published research — it does not host or republish full papers. Each entry is a metadata record compiled from open scholarly databases; the abstract is shown in full only where the paper is openly licensed, otherwise a short excerpt under fair use. Classifications are automated and approximate.

Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

A Search for 6.7 GHz Methanol Masers in OH Megamaser Galaxies at 0.11<z<0.27

Jeremy Darling, Paul Goldsmith, Di Li et al. · 2003 · arXiv

We report the results of a search for 6.7 GHz methanol (CH3OH) maser emission in OH megamaser galaxies at 0.11<z<0.27. No detections were made in the 25 objects observed down to rms noise levels of roughly 0.6 mJy in 150 kHz channels. The OH megamaser sample includes OH emission of all observed types: narrow and broad, physically compact and extended, variable and quiescent, and from simple single lines to multi-component complexes to lines with high velocity wings. Our null result indicates, for the widest possible range of OH megamaser environments, that methanol masing does not scale with O

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

On the cross correlation between the arrival direction of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, BL Lacertae, and EGRET detections: A new way to identify EGRET sources?

Diego F. Torres, Stephen Reucroft, Olaf Reimer et al. · 2003 · arXiv

With the aim of testing recent claims for a particularly strong correlation between ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), observed with the AGASA and the Yakutsk experiments, and a sample of BL Lacertae (BL Lacs), we here conduct a blind statistical assessment. We search for associations between the same set of BL Lac objects and the arrival directions of 33 relevant UHECRs observed with the Haverah Park and the Volcano Ranch experiments. Within the accuracy of angle determination, there are no positional coincidences. The probability that this null result arises as a statistical fluctuation

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Detecting pulsars in the Galactic centre

Kaustubh Rajwade, Duncan Lorimer, Loren Anderson · 2016 · arXiv

Although high-sensitivity surveys have revealed a number of highly dispersed pulsars in the inner Galaxy, none have so far been found in the Galactic centre (GC) region, which we define to be within a projected distance of 1~pc from Sgr~A*. This null result is surprising given that several independent lines of evidence predict a sizable population of neutron stars in the region. Here, we present a detailed analysis of both the canonical and millisecond pulsar populations in the GC and consider free-free absorption and multi-path scattering to be the two main sources of flux density mitigation.

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Model constraints based on the IceCube neutrino non-detection of GRB 221009A

Shunke Ai, He Gao · 2022 · arXiv

GRB 221009A is a bright Gamma-ray burst (GRB) with isotropic energy being larger than $10^{54} ~{\rm ergs}$. Its fairly low redshift makes it a promising candidate for high energy neutrino detection. However, a neutrino search for this GRB reported by the IceCube collaboration yielded a null result. In this paper, we utilize the upper limit from IceCube observation to test different GRB prompt emission models. We find that, at least for this specific burst, the dissipative photosphere model could be ruled out in a large parameter space. The internal shock model can survive only with a large bu

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Experimental Limit on Neutron Orbital Angular Momentum Detection Using Polarized 3He

D. Sarenac, O. Lailey, D. V. Garrad et al. · 2026 · arXiv

A recent proposal suggested that neutron orbital angular momentum (OAM) states could be detected via spin-polarized absorption in polarized 3He, with predicted cross-section variations linked to the neutron's OAM. We experimentally tested this hypothesis using spin-polarized neutron beams with OAM =-2 to 2, generated by fork-dislocation phase-gratings, and transmitted through a polarized 3He cell. Within statistical precision, no OAM-dependent change in the absorption cross section was observed. This null result places stringent constraints on polarized 3He-based OAM detection schemes. The abs

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Study od a Slice at +9 to +15 degrees of Declination: I. The Neutral Hydrogen Content of Galaxies in Loose Groups

M. A. G. Maia, C. N. A. Willmer, L. N. da Costa · 1997 · arXiv

We examine the H1 content of spiral galaxies in groups by using a catalog of loose groups of galaxies identified in a magnitude limited sample m < 15.7 spanning the range 8 h to 18 h in right ascension and +9 to +15 in declination. The redshift completeness of the galaxy sample is ~95%. No significant effect of H1 depletion is found, although there may be a hint that the earliest type spirals are slightly deficient.

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Constraints on fall-back disks in radio pulsars and anomalous X-ray pulsars

P. B. Jones · 2008 · arXiv

Calculations have been made of fall-back disk heating by the pulsar wind as distinct from the soft X-rays emitted by the neutron-star surface. The relation between these heating rates and measured near-infrared fluxes in the K and Ks bands places severe constraints on the inner radii of any fall-back disks that may be present in radio pulsars and in some anomalous X-ray pulsars. The lower limits found are so large that the disks concerned can have no significant effect on pulsar spin-down.

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Spin Transport in a Quantum Wire

Cristina Bena, Leon Balents · 2001 · arXiv

We study the effect of electron-electron backscattering interactions on spin transport in a quantum wire. Even if these interactions have no significant effect on charge transport, they strongly influence the transport of spin. We use the quantum Boltzmann equation in the collision approximation to derive equations of motion for spin current and magnetization. In the limit of small perturbations from equilibrium, we explain the existence of `precessional' and `diffusive' behaviors. We also discuss the low-temperature non-linear decay of an uniform spin current outside the hydrodynamic regime.

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Weyl focusing effects on the image magnification due to randomly distributed isothermal objects

Takashi Hamana · 1998 · arXiv

Weyl focusing effects on the image magnifications are investigated by using the multiple gravitational lens theory. We focus on the gravitational lensing effects due to the small scale virialized objects, such as galaxies and clusters of galaxies. We consider a simple model of an inhomogeneous universe. The matter distribution in the universe is modeled by randomly distributed isothermal objects. We found that, for the majority of the random lines of sight, the Weyl focusing has no significant effect and the image magnification of a point like source within redshift of 5 is dominated by the Ri

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Constraining solar abundances using helioseismology

Sarbani Basu, H. M. Antia · 2004 · arXiv

Recent analyses of solar photospheric abundances suggest that the oxygen abundance in the solar atmosphere needs to be revised downwards. In this study we investigate the consequence of this revision on helioseismic analyses of the depth of the solar convection zone and the helium abundance in the solar envelope and find no significant effect. We also find that the revised abundances along with the current OPAL opacity tables are not consistent with seismic data. A significant upward revision of the opacity tables is required to make solar models with lower oxygen abundance consistent with sei

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

On the propagation of non stationary pressure waves in stellar interiors

Patryk Mach · 2004 · arXiv

An analysis of the propagation of non stationary waves in the adiabatic region of stellar interior is presented. An equation of motion with an effective potential is derived, similar to the Zerilli equation known in the propagation of gravitational waves. The Huyghens principle is violated in this case and the energy diffusion outward null cones is expected. Numerical calculations demonstrate that the diffusion is weak for the case of standard Solar model; thus no significant effect corresponding to quasinormal modes can be expected. The likely reason for the absence of stronger features is th

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Wormhole Effect in a Strong Topological Insulator

G. Rosenberg, H. -M. Guo, M. Franz · 2010 · arXiv

An infinitely thin solenoid carrying magnetic flux Phi (a `Dirac string') inserted into an ordinary band insulator has no significant effect on the spectrum of electrons. In a strong topological insulator, remarkably, such a solenoid carries protected gapless one-dimensional fermionic modes when Phi=hc/2e. These modes are spin-filtered and represent a distinct bulk manifestation of the topologically non-trivial insulator. We establish this `wormhole' effect by both general qualitative considerations and by numerical calculations within a minimal lattice model. We also discuss the possibility o

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Friction of a slider on a granular layer: Non-monotonic thickness dependence and effect of boundary conditions

Saloome Siavoshi, Ashish V. Orpe, Arshad Kudrolli · 2005 · arXiv

We investigate the effective friction encountered by a mass sliding on a granular layer as a function of bed thickness and boundary roughness conditions. The observed friction has minima for a small number of layers before it increases and saturates to a value which depends on the roughness of the sliding surface. We use an index-matched interstitial liquid to probe the internal motion of the grains with fluorescence imaging in a regime where the liquid has no significant effect on the measured friction. The shear profiles obtained as a function of depth show decrease in slip near the sliding

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Effects of Inelastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering on Supernova Dynamics and Radiated Neutrino Spectra

K. Langanke, G. Martinez-Pinedo, B. Mueller et al. · 2007 · arXiv

Based on the shell model for Gamow-Teller and the Random Phase Approximation for forbidden transitions, we have calculated reaction rates for inelastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (INNS) under supernova (SN) conditions, assuming a matter composition given by Nuclear Statistical Equilibrium. The rates have been incorporated into state-of-the-art stellar core-collapse simulations with detailed energy-dependent neutrino transport. While no significant effect on the SN dynamics is observed, INNS increases the neutrino opacities noticeably and strongly reduces the high-energy tail of the neutrino s

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Stark shift of excitons and trions in two-dimensional materials

L. S. R. Cavalcante, D. R. da Costa, G. A. Farias et al. · 2021 · arXiv

The effect of an external in-plane electric field on neutral and charged exciton states in two-dimensional (2D) materials is theoretically investigated. These states are argued to be strongly bound, so that electron-hole dissociation is not observed up to high electric field intensities. Trions in the anisotropic case of monolayer phosphorene are demonstrated to especially robust under electric fields, so that fields as high as 100 kV/cm yield no significant effect on the trion binding energy or probability density distribution. Polarizabilities of excitons are obtained from the parabolicity o

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

One Loop Back Reaction On Power Law Inflation

L. R. Abramo, R. P. Woodard · 1998 · arXiv

We consider quantum mechanical corrections to a homogeneous, isotropic and spatially flat geometry whose scale factor expands classically as a general power of the co-moving time. The effects of both gravitons and the scalar inflaton are computed at one loop using the manifestly causal formalism of Schwinger with the Feynman rules recently developed by Iliopoulos {\it et al.} We find no significant effect, in marked contrast with the result obtained by Mukhanov {\it et al.} for chaotic inflation based on a quadratic potential. By applying the canonical technique of Mukhanov {\it et al.} to the

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Brown Dwarfs and the Cataclysmic Variable Period Minimum

Ulrich Kolb, Isabelle Baraffe · 1999 · arXiv

Using improved, up-to-date stellar input physics tested against observations of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs we calculate the secular evolution of low-mass donor cataclysmic variables (CVs), including those which form with a brown dwarf donor. Our models confirm the mismatch between the calculated minimum period (Pmin ~ 70 min) and the observed short-period cut-off (~ 80 min) in the CV period histogram. We find that tidal and rotational corrections applied to the one-dimensional stellar structure equations have no significant effect on the period minimum. Theoretical period distributions sy

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Interface Spin-Orbit Coupling in a Non-centrosymmetric Thin-Film Superconductor

X. S. Wu, P. W. Adams, Y. Yang et al. · 2005 · arXiv

We present a detailed study of the effects of interface spin-orbit coupling (ISOC) on the critical field behavior of non-centrosymmetric (NCS), ultra-thin superconducting Be/Au bilayers. Parallel field measurements were made in bilayers with Be thicknesses in the range of 2 - 10 nm and Au coverages of 0.5 nm. Though the Au had no significant effect on the superconducting gap, it produced profound changes in the spin states of the system. In particular, the parallel critical field exceeded the Clogston limit by an order of magnitude in the thinnest films studied. In addition, the parallel criti

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Performance of transducers with segmented piezoelectric stacks using materials with high electromechanical coupling coefficient

Stephen C. Thompson, Richard J. Meyer, Douglas C. Markley · 2013 · arXiv

Underwater acoustic transducers often include a stack of thickness polarized piezoelectric material pieces of alternating polarity interspersed with electrodes, bonded together and electrically connected in parallel. The stack is normally much shorter than a quarter wavelength at the fundamental resonance frequency, so that the mechanical behavior of the transducer is not affected by the segmentation. When the transducer bandwidth is less than a half octave, as has conventionally been the case, stack segmentation has no significant effect on the mechanical behavior of the device. However, when

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Axion-Like Particle Mediated Dark Matter and Neutron Star Properties in the QHD Model

Tanech Klangburam, Chakrit Pongkitivanichkul · 2025 · arXiv

We investigate the effects of the ALP-mediated dark matter (DM) model on neutron star properties using the Quantum Hadrodynamics model (QHD). Using the relativistic mean-field approximation with the QHD-ALP-DM framework, we compute the equation of state (EoS) of neutron stars. Based on our previous study, we find that typical ALP parameter values have no significant effect on the EoS. We then explore various parametrizations of this model by varying the DM Fermi momentum, $q_f$, and DM mass, $m_χ$. Our results show that increasing $q_f$ or $m_χ$ shifts the energy density to higher values while

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Optimizing and controlling functions of complex networks by manipulating rich-club connections

Xiao-ke xu, Jie Zhang, Ping Li et al. · 2011 · arXiv

Traditionally, there is no evidence suggesting that there are strong ties between the rich-club property and the function of complex networks. In this study, we find that whether a very small portion of rich nodes connected to each other or not can strongly affect the frequency of occurrence of basic building blocks (motif) within networks, and therefore the function, of a heterogeneous network. Conversely whether a homogeneous network has a rich-club property or not generally has no significant effect on its structure and function. These findings open the possibility to optimize and control t

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Testing spatial curvature in an anisotropic extension of $w$CDM model with low redshift data

Vikrant Yadav, Rajpal, Pardeep et al. · 2024 · arXiv

In this letter, we report the observational constraints on a Bianchi type I anisotropic extension of $w$CDM model with spatial curvature from observational data including Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO), Cosmic chronometers (CC), Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), Pantheon+ (PP) compilation of SNe Ia and SH0ES Cepheid host distance anchors. The anisotropy is found to be of the order $10^{-13}$, which interplay with spatial curvature to reduce $H_0$ tension by $\sim 1σ$ as found in the analyses with BAO+CC+BBN+PP combination of data, while no significant effect of anisotropy is observed with BA

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Large Electronic Anisotropy and Enhanced Chemical Activity of Highly Rippled Phosphorene

Andrey A. Kistanov, Yongqing Cai, Kun Zhou et al. · 2016 · arXiv

We investigate the electronic structure and chemical activity of rippled phosphorene induced by large compressive strains via first-principles calculation. It is found that phosphorene is extraordinarily bendable, enabling the accommodation of ripples with large curvatures. Such highly rippled phosphorene shows a strong anisotropy in electronic properties. For ripples along the armchair direction, the band gap changes from 0.84 to 0.51 eV for the compressive strain up to -20% and further compression shows no significant effect, for ripples along the zigzag direction, semiconductor to metal tra

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

The roles of adhesion, internal heat generation and elevated temperatures in normally loaded, sliding rough surfaces

Benjamin Poole, Bartosz Barzdajn, Daniele Dini et al. · 2019 · arXiv

The thermal effects of plastic and frictional heat generation and elevated temperature were examined along with the role of adhesion in the context of galling wear, using a representative crystal plasticity, normally loaded, sliding surface model. Galling frequency behaviour was predicted for 316L steel. Deformation of the surfaces was dominated by the surface geometry, with no significant effect due to variations in frictional models. Plastic and frictional heating were found to have a minimal effect on the deformation of the surface, with the rapid conduction of heat preventing any highly lo

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Double Bars, Inner Disks, and Nuclear Rings in Early-Type Disk Galaxies

Peter Erwin, Linda S. Sparke · 2002 · arXiv

We present results from an imaging survey of an unbiased sample of thirty-eight early-type (S0--Sa), low-inclination, optically barred galaxies in the field. Our goal was to find and characterize central stellar and gaseous structures: secondary bars, inner disks, and nuclear rings. Bars inside bars are surprisingly common: at least one quarter of the sample galaxies (possibly as many as 40%) are double-barred, with no preference for Hubble type or the strength of the primary bar. A typical secondary bar is ~12% of the size of its primary bar and 240--750 pc in radius. We see no significant ef

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

The Outer Cut-Off of the Giant Planet Population and the 6pc-Survey

D. Apai, M. R. Meyer, P. Hinz et al. · 2007 · arXiv

We present results from two high-contrast imaging surveys that exploit a novel technique, L-band angular differential imaging. Our first survey targeted 21 young stars in the Beta Pic and Tuc-Hor moving groups with VLT/NACO reaching typical sensitivities of 20 AU. The statistical analysis of the null result demonstrates that the giant planet population is truncated at 30 AU or less (90% confidence level). Our second, on-going MMT/Clio survey utilizes the unique sensitivity achieved in the L-band for old planets to probe all M-dwarf stars within 6 pc. The proximity of these targe

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

An elusive vector dark matter

Chuan-Ren Chen, Yu-Kuang Chu, Ho-Chin Tsai · 2015 · Physics Letters B

Even though the sensitivity of direct dark matter search experiments reaches the level of about 10−45 cm2, no confident signal of dark matter has been observed. We point out that, if dark matter is a vector boson, the null result in direct dark matter search experiments may be due to the destructive effects in dark-matter–nucleon elastic scattering. We illustrate the scenario using a modified Higgs portal model that includes exotic quarks. The significant cancellation can occur for a certain mass gap between new heavy quark and dark matter. As a result, the spin-independent dark-matter–nucleon

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Constraining meV axion dark matter with ALMA observations of the galactic center magnetar SGR 1745–2900

Javier De Miguel, Evanthia Hatziminaoglou, Frédéric Poidevin et al. · 2026 · Physics Letters B

We report a mm-wave search for axion dark matter from SGR 1745–2900, based on 4.8 h of ALMA observations. No candidate features are found between 133.99–135.78, 135.91–137.70, 145.99–147.78, and 147.99–149.78 GHz, corresponding to 0.55–0.62 meV. Interpreting this null result within a state-of-the-art stellar framework, we derive sensitivity to the axion–photon coupling at the level of gγ≳2×10−11 GeV−1 under a standard Navarro–Frenk–White profile; down to gγ≳2×10−13 GeV−1 upon accounting for a dense dark-matter spike around Sagittarius A*, probing the quantum chromodynamics axion parameter spac

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Internal Cumulants for Femtoscopy with Fixed Charged Multiplicity

H. C. Eggers, B. Buschbeck · 2013 · Advances in High Energy Physics

A detailed understanding of all effects and influences on higher-order correlations is essential. At low charged multiplicity, the effect of a non-Poissonian multiplicity distribution can significantly distort correlations. Evidently, the reference samples with respect to which correlations are measured should yield a null result in the absence of correlations. We show how the careful specification of desired properties necessarily leads to an average-of-multinomials reference sample. The resulting internal cumulants and their averaging over several multiplicities fulfill all requirements of c

View details →
Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessPhysics

Search for ultralight axion dark matter in a side-band analysis of a ${}^{199}$Hg free-spin precession signal

C. Abel, N. J. Ayres, G. Ban, G. Bison, K. Bodek, V. Bondar, E. Chanel, C. B. Crawford, M. Daum, B. Dechenaux, S. Emmenegger, P. Flaux, W. C. Griffith, P. G. Harris, Y. Kermaidic, K. Kirch, S. Komposch, P. A. Koss, J. Krempel, B. Lauss, T. Lefort, Prajwal MohanMurthy, Oscar Naviliat Cuncic, D. Pais, F. M. Piegsa, Guillaume Pignol, M. Rawlik, D. Ries, Stephanie Roccia, D. Rozpedzik, Philipp Schmidt-Wellenburg, N. Severijns, Y. V. Stadnik, J. A. Thorne, A. Weis, E. Wursten, Jacek Zejma, Geza Zsigmond · 2023 · SciPost Physics

Ultra-low-mass axions are a viable dark matter candidate and may form a coherently oscillating classical field. Nuclear spins in experiments on Earth might couple to this oscillating axion dark-matter field, when propagating on Earth's trajectory through our Galaxy. This spin coupling resembles an oscillating pseudo-magnetic field which modulates the spin precession of nuclear spins. Here we report on the null result of a demonstration experiment searching for a frequency modulation of the free spin-precession signal of \magHg in a 1 $\mu$T magnetic field. Our search covers the axion mass rang

View details →