Manfred Bonitz

Characteristics and impact of the matthew effect for countries

In this paper newly established characteristics of the so-called Matthew Effect for Countries (MEC) are presented: field-dependency, time-stability, order of magnitude. We find that the MEC is observable in all main scientific fields that were investigated. Over fifteen years the MEC has been relatively stable. The MEC is a redistribution phenomenon at the macro-level of the sciences. Its magnitude is small; the MEC affects only about five percent of the world production of citations. The MEC, however, crucially impacts many nations when their “national loss of citations” amounts to a high percentage of their expected citations. The relationship between the MEC and Mertons Matthew Principle is discussed. It is our hypothesis that the MEC provides an additional approach for the assessment of the scientific performance of nations.

Modern multi-channel time analyzers in the nanosecond range

Abstract Modern electronic time analyzers for the nanosecond range are the subject of the presented report. Comparison is made between single-channel time analyzers (method of delayed coincidences) and the multi-channel time analyzers (method of time conversion) and the differences noted. Further a classification of electronic time converters is offered in accordance with the three principles of operation primarily used, viz. start-stop principle, vernier principle and the pulse-overlap principle.

The matthew index—Concentration patterns and Matthew core journals

In this paper we extend our studies to the micro-structure of the Matthew effect for countries (MEC). The MEC allows the ranking of countries by their Matthew Index. The rank distribution of countries, observable only at a macro-level, has its roots in re-distribution processes of citations in every journal of the database. These re-distributed citations we call Matthew citations. Data for 44 countries and 2712 journals (based on theScience Citation Index) are analyzed. The strength of the contribution of the individual journals to the MEC (their number of Matthew citations) is skewly distributed. Due to this high concentration of the MEC we are able to define a new type of journal the Matthew core journal: 145 Matthew core journals account for 50% of the MEC. These journals carry a high potential of gaining a surplus of citations over what is expected and the risk of losing a high number of citations as well.

The scientific talents of nations

The recently discovered Matthew effect for countries (MEC) is a measurable phenomenon in the world-wide system of scientific communication. This system is of interest for scientometrics, sociology of science, as well as for research policy. Its functioning is nased largely on citing mechanisms, involving the citation activity and choices of individual scientists, scientific institutions and whole scientific nations. The Science Citation Index is an appropriate means for studying and assessing the scientific power of nations. The MEC states that a minority of countries, expecting a high number of citations per scientific paper, is gaining even more citations than expected, while the majority of countries, expecting only a low number of citations per scientific paper, is gaining fewer citations than expected. Relative national los/gain is a measure that describes the extent a country is affected by the MEC. Countries belonging to the losers -the majority that experiences a loss of citations- can be assigned to a Left World, the winners -those few countries wich gain extra citations- to a Right World in which the top scientific nations are found. The results that establish the existence of a MEC are based on the investigation of 44 countries which produce altogether about 2,5 million scientific papers and 9,5 million citations over five years. In this study the MEC is confronted with the entire gospel parable of the entrusted talents (ST. MATTHEW 25, 14-30). A detailed correspondence of essential aspects of the bibliometric MEC on the one hand and the Biblical gospel parable, on the other is observed

Ten years Matthew effect for countries

SummaryActually the Matthew effect for countries (MEC) was discovered at Holy Eve 1994. Since then more than 30 papers of mine - many of them together with Andrea Scharnhorst and Eberhard Bruckner - appeared in journals or were read at conferences of international and national scientific societies. It is not the task of this paper to present a bibliometric analysis of those paper’s impact, nor to give any detailed historical description of the surprising findings following the discovery, I’d rather try to unfold - from the heightened standpoint of our days - a new summary of the Matthew phenomenon, because I am convinced it will not lose its fascination and importance in the years to come.

The Ω-forbidden decay of the 4.1 μs isomeric state in 170Tm

Abstract An isomeric state with a half-life of 4.12±0.13 μs has been found in the doubly odd nucleus 170 Tm. It decays by strongly retarded E1 transitions. The high hindrance factors of ≈ 10 8 seem to be caused by the fact that the projections Ω of the angular momenta of the two odd nucleons are directed antiparallel in the initial state and parallel in the final states. The projection Ω n for the neutron which undergoes the transition changes sign with respect to the projection Ω p of the non-participating proton. This leads to the selection rule |Ω ni |+|Ω nf | = 4 ≦ L and thus threefold Ω-forbiddenness for the E1 transitions.

Examination of the time behaviour of photomultipliers with the aid of a multi-channel time analyser and a light pulse generator (involves photomultipliers K 14 FS 50, 56 AVP, FEU-36)

Abstract In place of a scintillator, a light pulse generator is utilized which simultaneously produces light pulses and electric pulses. The electric pulse of the generator and the output pulse of the individual multiplier unit are fed into a time-to-pulse-height converter. Half-width 2τ0 data of the obtained resolution curves serve as a measure for the time jitter of the multiplier. Individual adjustment of the voltage divider was employed for every multiplier unit. This involved the types K 14 FS 50 (made by VEB Carl Zeiss Jena), FEU-36 (from the Soviet Union) and 56 AVP, with six units examined of each type. Time resolution of type K 14 FS 50 was better by about 30 percent compared with type FEU-36 and by about 40 percent compared with type 56 AVP. Prepulsing was observed with type 56 AVP and type FEU-36, i.e. pulses occuring at the multiplier output before the arrival of the main pulse. In consequence the resolution curve becomes asymmetric and the time resolution suffers seriously. With type K14 FS 50 no prepulsing could be detected.

The Science Strategy Index

A new indicator, Science Strategy Index, is proposed, which is based on the scattering of a countrys science activity over all science fields and related to the world distribution of the science fields. The indicator allows to compare the structure of the publication output of countries as reflected by the used database, irrespective of the size of the countries.If the science structure of each country is related for comparison to that one of each other country, the indicator converts into a structure measure which enables to cluster countries according to their structural similarity. The cluster map of countries achieved in this way deserves intense discussion upon the different science strategies of countries and their geographic, political, communicative, and socio-cultural background.

Evidence for a 130 ns isomeric state in 198Au

Abstract By using delayed coincidence techniques applied to protons and γ-rays emitted in the 197 Au(d, p) 198 Au reaction, evidence has been found for the existence of a 130 ns isomeric state in 198 Au.

Prepulses in photomultipliers

Abstract Prepulses occur in multipliers type 56 AVP and type FEU-36 which, with the 56 AVP units, arrive at the anode about 4 to 10 ns before the main pulse reaches there. These prepulses originate in the focusing system. Subjecting the photocathode of the multipliers to constant height light-pulses, prepulses could be observed oscillographically at the multiplier anode and their influence studied on the shape and half-width of coincidence curves. Attainable time resolution is seriously impaired by the wide time and height fluctuations of the prepulses, because this affects the initial part of the multiplier output pulse usually utilized for time measuring. If the high-voltage level exceeds 2.2 kV prepulsing in 56 AVP units results in asymmetric coincidence curve formation, when lighted with light-pulses which are equivalent to Co60γ-radiation in stilbene. Resolving time impaired by the effect of prepulses finds no mention in the theories put forward e.g. by Gatti and Svelto. Comparison of theoretical data with experimental results is thus made difficult.