Projectile coulomb excitation of Ne and Ne

The static quadrupole moments of the first excited J^π = 2⁺ states in ²⁰Ne and ²²Ne and the reduced electric quadrupole transition probabilities of these states to the ground states were measured via projectile Coulomb excitation. The quadrupole moments were deduced from the shapes of γ-ray angular distributions. The results are: Q(²⁰Ne, 2⁺) = −0.20±0.05 b and Q(²²Ne, 2⁺) = −0.11±0.05 b. The transition strengths were deduced from yield measurements and by comparison with the yields of target γ-rays. The results are: B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺, ²⁰Ne) = 0.037±0.003 e² · b² and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺, ²²Ne) = 0.025±0.002 e²· b². The results for the transition strengths are consistent with the results of accurate timing methods and resolve discrepancies between previous experiments. The results for the quadrupole moments are consistent with earlier measurements, although the mean values we obtain are slightly lower. The experimental measurements are compared with theoretical predictions and a detailed discussion is given of corrections to this type of reorientation experiment.     

The Fermi matrix elements inferred from β-γ(CP) correlation measurements in Fe decay

Measurements have been made of the β-γ circular-polarization correlation paramter A for the 273 keV β-branch in the decay of ⁵⁹Fe. It has recently been established that each of the principal β-branches of ⁵⁹Fe involves ΔJ=0 and thus has a possible non-zero Fermi matrix element M_F which can be determined from the ƒt value and A. Previous β-γ (_CP) measurements on this nucleide have all employed the usual γ-ray scattering technique. This method is suitable for the 475 keV β-branch but does not produce an accurate measurement of the lower energy branch because of energy discrimination difficulties. A transmission polarimeter with γ-discrimination has been used in the present work to obtain clean data on the 273 keV β-1.29 MeV γ-cascade. Calibration with ⁶⁰Co (1.33 MeV) and ²⁸Al (1.79 MeV) yielded A = −0.154±0.023. This gives for the isospin impurity coefficient and the effective Coulomb matrix element of the 1.29 MeV state (1.1±1.4) × 10⁻³ and 9±11 keV, respectively.     

Fabrication, microstructure and critical current density of screen-printed Ag-(Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox superconducting tapes

The influence of the sintering conditions on the microstructure and critical current density J_c has been studied on screen-printed Ag-(Bi, Pb)₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x tapes with a ceramics mono-layer core. Three kinds of fabrication processes, which consist of a combination of cold working (rolling and/or pressing) and sintering, are applied. Four times repetition of pressing and sintering after the pre-sintering produces the highest c-axis alignment and achieves J_c= 1.5 × 10⁴ A/cm² (77 K, 0 T). The J_c versus θ data with an angle θ between B and the c-axis elucidate the relation between the anisotropy ratio γ=J_c(Bc)/J_c(B|c and the half-height angular width Δθ of a peak for Bc. This is related to both grain alignment and the J_c value. An increase in J_c, which comes from an improvement for grain alignment, enhances γ and narrows Δθ. The J_c versus θ data are fitted to the expression J_c(B, θ)=J _c(B, 90°)/[(γ−1)|cos θ|ⁿ+1] by regarding both γ and n as adjustable parameters. Fabrication of screen-printed tapes with multilayers (1≤N≤5) is presented, where the critical current increases from 8.0 A to 30.2 A at 77 K and 0 T as N increases.     

The nature of 0 excitations in Er

Lifetimes of excited 0⁺ states in ¹⁶⁶Er have been measured with the (n,n′γ) reaction. The first and second excited 0⁺ states have no significant collective enhancements of their decays, and their properties are suggestive of pair-type excitations rather than those of a β vibration or phonon excitation built on the γ vibration. The third excited 0⁺ state at 1934 keV has an enhanced decay to the ground state band with B(E2; 0₄⁺ → 2_gsb⁺) = 8.8 ± 0.9 W.u., consistent with that expected for a β vibration.     

Magnetic moment of the Δ (1232) resonance

The reaction γp → π^°γ′p has been measured with the TAPS BaF₂ calorimeter at the Mainz Microtron accelerator facility MAMI for energies between √2 = 1221–1331 MeV. Cross sections differential in angle and energy have been determined for the photon γ′ in three bins of the excitation energy. This reaction channel provides access to the magnetic dipole moment of the Δ⁺(1232) resonance and, for the first time, a value of μ_Δ+ = (2.7^+1.0_−1.3(stat) ± 1.5(syst) ± (theor)) π_N has been extracted.     

The decay of 91 min As

The energies and relative intensities of γ-rays following the β-decay of ⁷⁸As (and ⁷⁶As) to levels in ⁷⁸Se (and ⁷⁶Se) have been measured using an 8 cm³ Ge(Li) spectrometer. The β-decay of ⁷⁸As has been measured using a superconducting magnet beta-ray spectrometer with two 3 mm thick Si(Li) detectors. These data plus β-γ and γ-γ coincidence results have been used to construct a level scheme with 18 excited levels in ⁷⁸Se. The half-life of ⁷⁸As was measured to be 90.7±0.2 min.     

Isomerism in Ag and non-yrast levels in Pd and Rh, studied in β decay

The β decay of ⁹⁶Ag (Z=47,N=49) was investigated by measuring positrons, X rays as well as β-delayed protons and γ rays. The γ radiation was studied by means of germanium detectors and a NaI total-absorption spectrometer. Two β-decaying isomers in ⁹⁶Ag were established with half-lives of 4.40(6) and 6.9(6) s and tentative spin–parity assignments of (8⁺) and (2⁺), respectively. For both isomers, the intensities of β transitions to low-lying levels of ⁹⁶Pd (Z=46,N=50) and β-delayed proton decays to levels in ⁹⁵Rh (Z=45,N=50) were measured. Several new ⁹⁶Pd levels were firmly established. The level energies, their γ decays and the Gamow–Teller decay of ⁹⁶Ag are compared to shell-model predictions. A new low-lying level in ⁹⁵Rh was found at 680 keV excitation energy. Through a comparison with low-lying states of N=50 isotones, this level is interpreted as the first excited 7/2⁺ state built on the proton 9/2⁺ ground state. The assignments of further excited states in ⁹⁵Rh are discussed.     

High-spin study of Xe

High-spin states have been populated in ₅₄¹¹⁹Xe via the ⁹⁶Mo(²⁷Al,p3n) reaction at 133 MeV, using the γ-ray spectrometer to record triple γ-ray coincidences. The known level scheme has been significantly extended and several band crossings identified. In particular, the νh_11/2 yrast band has been extended to I^π = (83/2⁻) and shows features which are consistent with those of smooth band termination at high spin. Theoretical results for ¹¹⁹Xe at high spin are discussed within the framework of cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations, together with results for ¹¹⁷Xe.     

Polarisation circulaire du rayonnement gamma de Sb, Cs et Ag

The βγ circular polarization correlation of the 3⁻(β⁻ 621 keV)3⁻(γ 1692)2⁺ cascade in ¹²⁴Sb, the 4⁺(β⁻ 662)4⁺ (γ 796)2⁺ (γ 605)0⁺ in ^13Z4Cs and the 6⁺(β⁻529)6⁺ (γ 937)4⁺ (γ 885)2⁺ (γ 658)0⁺ in ^110mAg have been studied by using a Compton effect polarimeter. The measured asymmetry parameters are 0.172±0.004, −0.0702 ±0.0024 and 0.0549±0.0013 respectively.     

Ising spin glass on a D = 3 hierarchical lattice: Effects of tailed coupling distributions

Within a real-space renormalization-group framework, we approach the cubic lattice through a D = 3 diamond-like hierarchical lattice. The model is a standard, nearest-neighbor, Ising spin glass with coupling constants {J_ij} distributed according to the family of continuous probability distributions P_q(J_ij) ∝ 1/[1 + (q − 1)J_ij²/2J²]^{1/(q − 1)} (if 1 + (q − 1) J_ij²/2J² > 0, and zero otherwise; q ). Such distributions, which arise naturally in the treatment, within the recently proposed nonextensive thermostatistics, of anomalous diffusion, reproduce the usual, Gaussian case, for q → 1. Moreover, they present a second moment J_ij² proportional to (5 − 3q)⁻¹ for q < 5/3, diverging for q ≥ 5/3, but keeping a finite width at midheight. In the limit q → 3, P_q(J_ij) collapses with the abscissa, and so the width at midheight diverges. We compute the q-dependence of the spin-glass critical temperature T_c. We show numerically that T_c does not scale with J_ij^21/2 (contrary to the usual belief), but rather with the width at midheight of P_q(J_ij). Our results suggest that T_c vanishes as −1/q when q → −∞; furthermore, we verified that T_c diverges exponentially when q approaches 3 from below.     

Search for up-down quark mass differences via isospin symmetry breaking

We performed a series of experiments employing the two pion production reactions p + d → ³He + π⁰ and p + d → ³H + π⁺. The two isopin related reactions differ by a Clebsch Gordan coefficient of 2. We searched for deviations in this ratio in complete angular distributions in the range of the Δ excitation as well as in the vicinity of the η production threshold.     

Measurement of the average polarization of B produced by polarized muons in the μ + C → νμ + B reaction

The average polarization of ¹²B produced by the capture of polarized muons in ¹²C has been measured using recoil implantation techniques. From the result we deduce the average polarization of the ¹²B ground state ¹²B(0) corresponding to the ¹²C → ¹²B(0) Gamow-Teller reaction: J_μ(0) = 0.43 ± 0.10. The sizeable deviation of this polarization from the value of 2/3, characteristic of a “bare” 0⁺ → 1⁺ process, is a fair evidence for induced axial-vector interaction(s) in muon capture. The ratio of the induced pseudoscalar and the axial-vector coupling constants is deduced to be: g^μ_P/g^μ_A = 12 ± 5.     

Granularity, microstructure, and flux creep in TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9+δ superconducting powder and silver-sheated tapes

Silver-sheathed TlBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_9+δ (Tl-1223) tapes, with a transport critical current density, J_ct, of 6200 A/cm² at 75 K under zero magnetic field, were fabricated by the oxide-powder-in-tube (OPIT) method and characterized using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The results of the magnetization and SEM study indicate that, in these tapes, individual grains are distributed randomly in orientation and weak links exist. However, strongly linked percolative current paths within the tape persisting in increasing fields, accompanied by strong intrinsic interplanar coupling, sustain a significant J_ct at high fields and lead to the plateau in the J_ct-H curve. Dislocation networks, which may act as effective pinning centers, are the common features observed in the tapes. To investigate the effects on flux pinning due to thermomechanical processing, magnetic relaxation at 1 and 2 T over 5–50 K was measured. The tape shows slightly lower normalized relaxation rates (S=-(1/M_o)dM/ dln t) than the cauliflower-like precursor powder. Analyses of the relaxation data obtained from the tape, after incorporating temperature dependence and field scaling, yield an expression for the effective pinning energy U_eff(J,T,H) = (U₁/H^0.54)[1-(T/ 72.5)²]⁴(J/J_i)^μ. This result was compared with the prediction of the collective flux-creep model, which suggests that Tl-1223 has a three-dimension-like (3D-like) vortex lattice. Presumably, a more plate-like powder morphology may result in improved texturing by the OPIT process. Tl_0.5Bi_0.5Sr₂CaCu₂O_7+δ ((Tl,Bi)-1212) powder with this morphology was therefore synthesized for comparison.     

On the luminescence of LiBaF3:Eu

From the temperature dependence of the line—band luminescence intensity ratio of LiBaF₃:Eu²⁺ a 4f−5d activation energy (Δ) of 800 cm⁻¹ is derived, being much higher than the value reported in the literature (100 cm⁻¹). The temperature dependence of the luminescence decay can be well described with Δ = 800 cm⁻¹ and with 4f−4f and 5d−4f radiative probabilities of 4×10²s⁻¹ and 6×10⁵s⁻¹, respectively.     

Evidence for multiple band terminations in Pd

The level structure of ¹⁰²Pd has been investigated using data collected with the Eurogam 2 array. Several cascades of γ-rays have been established up to high spins. Termination of rotational bands has been observed at I^π = 28⁻ and 32⁺, and tentatively at I^π = 38⁺ and 42⁺. The nucleus ¹⁰²Pd is the first case where rotational bands built on valence space configurations are followed from spin close to zero up to termination and, at higher spins, a smooth rotational band which appears to terminate is built on core excited configurations.     

New evidence for a subshell gap at N=32

An 879.9(2) keV γ-ray transition has been identified following the β decay of ⁵⁸V and assigned as the 2⁺₁→0⁺₁ transition in ⁵⁸Cr₃₄. A peak in the energies of the first excited 2⁺ states for the even–even chromium isotopes is now evident at ⁵⁶Cr₃₂, providing empirical evidence for a significant subshell gap at N=32. The appearance of this neutron subshell closure for neutron-rich nuclides may be attributed to the diminished π1f_7/2–ν1f_5/2 monopole proton–neutron interaction as protons are removed from the 1f_7/2 single-particle orbital.     

Application of low energy theorems to the new particles

Discussion Compton scattering on the new states we establish the following: The spin J^P = 2⁺ state, an orbital excitation of ψ, must exist, and its coupling to the ψ(3084) is related to the coupling ψX(2800). A spin higher than 2 (probably 3) with negative charge conjugation must exist, and its couplings can be related to the ψ2⁺γ and ψ′2⁺γ couplings. This state might have a substantial radiative width to the 2⁺. These results depend on a saturation assumption of the sum rules, which has always worked well. Its failure will also be of interest.     

Conductivity peaks broadening in the quantum Hall regime

We argue that it is the hopping transport that is responsible for broadening of the σ_xx peaks. Explicit expressions for the width Δν of a peak as a function of the temperature T, current J and frequency ω are found. It is shown that Δν grows with T as (T/T₁)^κ, where κ is the inverse localization-length exponent. The current J is shown to act like the effective temperature T_eff(J) ∝ J^1/2 if . Broadening of the ohmic ac-conductivity peaks with frequency ω is found to be determined by the effective temperature      

Identification of Hg and shape coexistence in odd-A Hg isotopes

In-beam γ-ray transitions in ¹⁸¹Hg, the lightest odd-A Hg isotope known thus far, have been identified from fragment mass-γ and γ-γ coincidence measurements. Five prolate deformed rotational bands were placed in the level scheme. A decoupled band built on the strongly prolate deformed 1/2⁻[521] ground state was observed up to 29/2⁻. A 5/2⁻[512] configuration is suggested for a pair of strongly coupled bands displaying no signature splitting. The other two bands are also signature partner bands. They are populated with the largest intensity and exhibit splitting. They have been associated with the mixed neutron i_13/2 orbitals and are proposed to decay to an i_13/2 isomeric state associated with an oblate state.     

Intergranular properties of YBCO and BSCCO ceramic superconductors at low fields

Isothermal low-field AC susceptibility measurements have been used to analyze the intergranular critical current density J_c(T) on sintered, non-oriented YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ and Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ ceramic samples at zero field. Below the critical temperature, potential variations, J_c(T) ≈ (1−t_j)^m with t_j = T/T_j, have been found, T_j being the onset of grain's coherence, but with different exponents, supporting that different mechanisms limit the intergranular J_c values. Moreover, the effect of texture has been also considered on Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ ceramics grown by the laser floating zone method, which have stronger intergranular junctions. Their high-temperature behaviour is limited by intrinsic effects, while at low temperatures the quality of the junctions is the limiting factor. The temperature dependence of the χ′(h₀) extrapolation at zero filed has also been correlated with the evolution of the intergranular penetration depth, λ_J(T).