KARMEN: Neutrino oscillation limits and new results with the upgrade

The neutrino experiment KARMEN is situated at the beam stop neutrino source ISIS which provides ν_μ's, ν_e's and from the π⁺−μ⁺-decay at rest. The oscillation channels ν_{μ → νe} and are investigated with a 56 t liquid scintillation calorimeter. No evidence for oscillations could be found with KARMEN, resulting in 90% CL exclusion limits of sin²(2Θ) < 8.5 · 10⁻³ ( ) and sin²(2Θ) < 4.0 · 10⁻² (ν_μ → ν_e) for Δm² > 100 eV². In 1996, the experiment has been upgraded by an additional veto counting system with a total coverage of 300 m². The new system allows the identification of cosmic muons in the vicinity of the detector. Vetoing these muons suppresses energetic neutrons from deep inelastic scattering of muons as well as from μ-capture by a factor of 40. Up to 1996, these neutrons represented the main background for oscillation search. The experimental sensitivity for will be significantly enhanced towards sin²(2Θ) 1.0 · 10⁻³ after a further measuring period of 2–3 years.     

Measurement of and the dipion contribution to the muon anomaly with the KLOE detector

We have measured the cross section σ(e⁺e⁻→π⁺π⁻γ(γ)) at DAΦNE, the Frascati -factory, using events with initial state radiation photons emitted at small angle and inclusive of final state radiation. We present the analysis of a new data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 240 pb⁻¹. We have achieved a reduced systematic uncertainty with respect to previously published KLOE results. From the cross section we obtain the pion form factor and the contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly from two-pion states in the mass range 0.592<M_ππ<0.975 GeV. For the latter we find Δ^ππa_μ=(387.2±0.5_stat±2.4_exp±2.3_th)×10⁻¹⁰.     

Linewidth measurements of the ν2 + ν4 R(29) absorption in CF4

Linewidth measurements of the ν₂ + ν₄ R⁺(29) A₁⁴ + E⁹ + F₁¹⁴ absorption at 1073.279 cm⁻¹ were made in the pressure range of 0.5 to 50 Torr CF₄. The data, after correction for Doppler broadening, reduce to a self-broadening coefficient of 10.8 ± 0.4 MHz/Torr. Comparisons of the linewidth for pure CF₄ with the linewidth of an Ar-CF₄ mixture and with the prediction of the hard-sphere, gas-kinetic model imply a relaxation mechanism that is not dominated by a resonant (V-V) process, and has an effective cross section that is intermediate in size between the cross sections associated with dipole-dipole and hard-sphere collisions.     

The microwave spectrum of phosphabutadiyne, H---CC---CP

A detailed rotational analysis of the microwave spectrum between 26.5 and 40 GHz of phosphaethene, CH₂=PH, has been carried out. This molecule is the simplest member of a new class of unstable molecules—the phosphaalkenes. The species can be produced by pyrolysis of (CH₃)₂PH, CH₃PH₂ and also somewhat more efficiently from Si(CH₃)₃CH₂PH₂. Full first-order centrifugal distortion analyses have been carried out for both ¹²CH₂³¹PH and ¹²CH₂³¹PD yielding: A₀ = 138 503.20(21), B₀ = 16 418.105(26), and C₀ = 14 649.084(28) MHz for ¹²CH₂³¹PH. The 1₀₁-0₀₀ μ_A lines have also been detected for ¹³CH₂PH, cis-CDHPH and trans-CHDPH. These data have enabled an accurate structure determination to be carried out which indicates: r(H_cC) = 1.09 ± 0.015 Å, (H_cCP) = 124.4 ± 0.8°; r(H_tC) = 1.09 ± 0.015 Å, (H_tCP) = 118.4 ± 1.2°; r(CP) = 1.673 ± 0.002 Å, (HCH) = 117.2 ± 1.2°; r(PH) = 1.420 ± 0.006 Å, (CPH) = 97.4 ± 0.4°. The dipole moment components have been determined as μ_A = 0.731 (2), μ_B = 0.470 (3), μ = 0.869 (3) D for CH₂PH; μ_A = 0.710 (2), μ_B = 0.509 (10), μ = 0.874 (7) D for CH₂PD.     

Analysis of the Δv = 0 sequence of the β(cΦ - aΔ) system of the TiO molecule

Rotational analyses have been performed on the emission spectra of the 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 bands of the β system (c¹Φ - a¹Δ) of the TiO molecule, excited in a microwave discharge through a mixture of helium, oxygen and TiCl₄ vapor. Rotational constants were obtained for all the bands from which the following equilibrium constants were derived. Be^‘=0.52301±0.00008 cm⁻, αe^‘=0.00313±0.0006 cm⁻, re⁻=1.6391±0.0001 AHigher order constants, D_v and H_v, were calculated for the various vibrational levels.     

Dependence on temperature of homogeneous broadening of InGaAs/InAs/GaAs quantum dot fundamental transitions

We report systematic temperature-dependent measurements of photoluminescence spectra in self-assembled InGaAs/InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs). We have studied the rise in temperature of the ground-state homogeneous linewidth.A theoretical model is presented and accounts for the phonon-assisted broadening of this transition in individual QD. We have estimated the homogeneous linewidth of an individual QD from PL spectra of self-organized InAs/GaAs QDs by isolating the PL of each individual QD and fitting the narrow line associated with self-organized QDs through a Lorentzian convoluted by a Gaussian. We have observed a strong exciton–LO–phonon coupling (γ_LO) which becomes the dominating contribution to the linewidth above the temperature of 45 K. We have also derived the activation energy (ΔE) of the exciton–LO–phonon coupling, zero temperature linewidth (Γ₀) and the exciton-LA-phonon coupling parameter (γ_Ac). We report that our values are close to the values found in the literature for single InGaAs QD and InAs QD.     

Looking for double beta decay of Nd to excited states of Sm by gamma ray spectroscopy

We have measured the gamma ray activity of a sample of 6189 grams of metallic Neodimium with a germanium detector. From the gamma energy spectrum recorded during almost 6500 hours we extract lower limits for the halflife of the inclusive (0ν + 2ν) ββ decay of ¹⁵⁰Nd to the first excited states of ¹⁵⁰Sm : t_1/2(0⁺ → 0₁⁺ > 1.0·10²⁰, t_1/2(O⁺ → 0₂⁺) > 2.0 · 10²⁾, t_1/2(0⁺ → 2₁⁺) > 9.1 · 10¹⁹.     

Measurements of electron density, temperature and photoionization cross sections of the excited states of neon in a discharge plasma

In the present work emission and absorption spectroscopy have been used to determine the plasma parameters of neon in a hollow cathode discharge lamp. The excitation temperature is determined using the intensity ratio method and Boltzmann's plot method whereas the electron density is determined from the Stark broadening of the spectral lines. The behavior of the optogalvanic signal as a function of laser energy has been studied for three transitions from the 2p⁵3s [1/2]₂ metastable state following ΔJ=ΔK=0, ±1 dipole selection rules. The saturation technique has been used to measure the photoionization cross section from three intermediate states 2p⁵3p′ [1/2]_1, 2p⁵3p′ [3/2]₂ and 2p⁵3p [5/2]₃ up to the 2p^{5 2}P_1/2 ionization threshold.     

Pyroelectric properties in three phases coexistence Pb[(Mn0.33Nb0.67)0.5(Mn0.33Sb0.67)0.5]0.08(ZrxTi1−x)0.92O3 lead ceramics

The bulk dense Pb[(Mn_0.33Nb_0.67)_0.5(Mn_0.33Sb_0.67)_0.5]_0.08(Zr_xTi_1−x)_0.92O₃ pyroelectric ceramics have been successfully prepared by the conventional solid method. The effect of three phases coexistence in the ceramics is studied. When x = 0.95 and 0.85 in the ceramics, the maximum pyroelectric coefficient peaks appear at 23 °C and 45 °C, and the maximum values are 26.5 × 10⁻⁴ C/m² °C and 25.5 × 10⁻⁴ C/m² °C, respectively. The maximum pyroelectric coefficient appears large while the peaks widths are small. When the two kinds of ceramic powders mixed with the mol ratio of 2:1, the pyroelectric coefficient of the ceramics is above 10.0 × 10⁻⁴ C/m² °C in a broad temperature range from 20 °C to 55 °C. The possible physical mechanism of the temperature broadened phenomenon is briefly discussed.     

Interaction of oxovanadium(IV) with carboxylic ligands in aqueous solution: A thermodynamic and visible spectrophotometric study

The hydrolysis of VO²⁺ and the complex with sulfate were studied potentiometrically, spectrophotometrically and calorimetrically, in NaCl aqueous solution (0 < I ≤ 1 mol L^− 1) and at t = 25 °C. The formation of two hydrolytic species VO(OH)⁺ and VO₂(OH)₂²⁺ and one complex with sulfate was found, with log β = − 5.65 for the reaction VO²⁺ + H₂O = VO(OH)⁺ + H⁺, log β = − 7.02 for the reaction 2VO²⁺ + 2H₂O = (VO)₂(OH)₂²⁺ + 2H⁺ and log K = 1.73 for VOSO₄⁰ species (at I = 0.1 mol L^− 1 and t = 25 °C). For these species, using calorimetric data, ΔH and TΔS values were also obtained. By using the above values, interactions of VO²⁺ with acetate (ac), malonate (mal), succinate (suc), 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate (tca) and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate (btc) ligands were studied potentiometrically and spectrophotometrically. The formation of ML⁺, ML₂⁰ and MLOH⁰ for ac; ML⁰, MLH⁺, ML₂²⁻ and ML₂H⁻ for mal; ML⁰, MLH⁺ and MLOH⁻ for suc; ML⁻ and MLH⁰ for tca and ML²⁻, MLH⁻ and MLH₂⁰ for btc were found. Formation constants are reported at I = 0.1 mol L^− 1, together with SIT parameters for the dependence on ionic strength. By visible spectrophotometric measurements, λ_max and ε_max values for the relevant species in solution were determined.     

Inclusive production of the meson in hadronic decays of the Z boson

The inclusive production rate of the ρ^±(770) vector meson in hadronic Z decays is measured with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider. A total of 3.2 million hadronic events are selected from data recorded between 1991 and 1995. Decays of ρ^±→π⁰+π^± are reconstructed for x_E>0.05 and x_p>0.05 where x_p=p_ρ/p_beam and x_E=E_ρ/E_beam. The average ρ^± multiplicity per hadronic event is evaluated to be N(ρ^±)=2.59±0.03±0.15±0.04 where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The third error is from the uncertainty in the extrapolation to x_p=x_E=0. The rates and differential cross-section are compared with Monte Carlo model predictions and OPAL measurements. Residual Bose–Einstein correlations are found to be an important component in the analysis.     

Study of in flight

An analysis of data on is presented at beam momenta 600 to 1940 MeV/c. There is evidence for an I=1, J^PC=2⁻⁺ resonance in ηηπ⁰ with mass M=1880±20 MeV and width 255±45 MeV, decaying strongly to a₂(1320)η; it is too strong to be explained as the high mass tail of π₂(1670)→a₂(1320)η. There is tentative evidence also for weak decays to f₀(1500)π. It makes a natural partner to the η₂(1860).     

Dipolar Coupling Information in Multispin Systems: Application of a Compensated REDOR NMR Approach to Inorganic Phosphates

Anexperimental strategy has been developed for measuring multiple dipole–dipole interactions in inorganic compounds using the technique of rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) NMR. Geometry-independent information about the dipole couplings between the observe nuclear species S (arbitrary quantum number) and the heteronuclear species I (spin- ) can be conveniently obtained from the experimental curve of ΔS/S₀ versus dipolar evolution time by limiting the analysis to the initial data range 0 < ΔS/S₀ < 0.30. Numerical simulations have been carried out on a three-spin system of type SI₂ in order to assess the effect of the I–I homonuclear dipole–dipole coupling and the influence of experimental imperfections such as finite pulse length and misadjustments of the 180° pulses applied to the I-spin species. The simulations show further that within the initial data range the effects of such misadjustments can be internally compensated by a modified sequence having an additional 180° pulse on the I channel in the middle of the dipolar evolution periods. Experimental ²⁷Al{³¹P} REDOR results on the multispin systems Al(PO₃)₃, AlPO₄, [AlPO₄]₁₂(C₃H₇)₄NF, and Na₃PO₄ confirm the general utility of this approach. Thus, for applications to unknown systems the compensation strategy obviates calibration procedures with model compounds.     

Observation of the π(1800) and (1880) mesons in decay

A partial-wave analysis of the reaction π⁻p→ηηπ⁻p at 18 GeV/c has been performed on a data sample of approximately 4000 events obtained by Brookhaven experiment E852. The J^PC=0⁻⁺π(1800) state is observed in the a₀(980)η and f₀(1500)π decay modes. It has a mass of 1876±18±16 MeV/c² and a width of 221±26±38 MeV/c². The J^PC=2⁻⁺π₂(1880) meson is observed decaying through a₂(1320)η. It has a mass of 1929±24±18 MeV/c² and a width of 323±87±43 MeV/c². Both states are potential candidates for non-exotic hybrid mesons.     

Numerical renormalization group studies of SU(4) Kondo effect in quantum dots

We theoretically study an enhancement of the Kondo effect in quantum dots with two orbitals and spin . The Kondo temperature and conductance are evaluated as functions of energy difference Δ between the orbitals, using the numerical renormalization group method. The Kondo temperature is maximal around the degeneracy point (Δ=0) and decreases with increasing |Δ| following a power law, T_K(Δ)=T_K(0)(T_K(0)/|Δ|)^γ, which is consistent with the scaling analysis. The conductance at T=0 is almost constant 2e²/h. Both the orbitals contribute to the conductance around Δ=0, whereas the current through the upper orbital is negligibly small when |Δ|T_K(0). These are characteristics of SU(4) Kondo effect.     

The far-infrared spectrum and spectroscopic parameters of PH3 in the ground state

The far-infrared spectrum of phosphine, PH₃, was recorded in the region between 30 and 200 cm⁻¹ at a resolution of 0.002 cm⁻¹. ΔJ = +1, ΔK = 0 rotational transitions in the ground state were measured and assigned up to J″ = 22 and K = 19. These transitions were analyzed together with the presently available microwave and submillimeter-wave data on the basis of different formulations of the rotational Hamiltonian, which included Δk = ±3 and/or Δk = ±6 interaction terms. An upper limit for the constant of the inversion splitting was obtained by fitting the same transitions to an appropriate inversion-rotational Hamiltonian. Rotational transitions in the v₂ = 1 and v₄ = 1 vibrational states were also observed.     

Annealing effect on the superconductivity of In2O3–ZnO thin films

We have investigated the relation among ρ–T characteristics, superconductivity, annealing conditions and the crystallinity of polycrystalline (In₂O₃)_1−x–(ZnO)_x films. We annealed as-grown amorphous films in air by changing annealing temperature and time. It is found that the films annealed at 200 °C or 300 °C for a time over 0.5 h shows the superconductivity. Transition temperature T_c and the carrier density n are T_c < 3.3 K and n ≈ 10²⁵–10²⁶ m⁻³, respectively. Investigations for films with x = 0.01 annealed at 200 °C have revealed that the T_c, n and crystallinity depend systematically on annealing time. Further, we consider that there is a suitable annealing time for sharp resistive transition because the transition width becomes wider with longer annealing times. We studied the upper critical magnetic field H_c2(T) for the film with different annealing time. From the slope of dH_c2/dT for all films, we have obtained the resistivity ρ dependence of the coherence length ξ(0) at T = 0 K.     

Update on the search for μ→ e oscillations by the 2 experiment

The neutrino experiment sets the most stringent exclusion limits for _μ→ _e oscillations. Analyzing the data set recorded from Feb.1997 up to March 2000 with the upgraded experimental configuration, the search of _e appearance via the p( _e, e⁺)n reaction yields no hints for neutrino oscillations. Applying a likelihood method to the measured event sample of 11 events (background expectation 12.3 events), we deduce an upper limit of sin² (2Θ) < 1.3 · 10⁻³ for large Δm² > 100 eV² and Δm² < 0.049 eV² for sin² (2Θ)=1.     

Determination of the Splitting of the 6a0 and 6b0 Bands of C-Hexadeuterobenzene in a Supersonic Jet

By using resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization, rotationally resolved spectra of the 6¹₀ band of ¹²C₆D₆ and (¹³C¹²C₅D₆ molecules have been obtained for the first time at a rotational temperature of 0.7 K in a pulsed supersonic beam. From the former, the values of B″ = 0.1573 ± 0.0008 cm⁻¹, B′ = 0.1508 ± 0.0008 cm⁻¹, and ξ′ = −0.412 ± 0.050 have been derived for rotational and Coriolis constants in the lower and upper levels of ¹²C₆D₆. Also, the spectra corresponding to ¹²C₆H₆ and ¹³C¹²C₅H₆ have been measured and the values B″ = 0.1892 ± 0.0008 cm⁻¹, B′ = 0.1815 ± 0.0008 cm⁻¹, and ξ′ = −0.586 ± 0.050 have been obtained for ¹²C₆H₆, in agreement with previous results. Rotational constants of ¹³C labeled benzene molecules have been geometrically deduced from the constants obtained. Experimental isotopic shifts of the vibronic origins of the 6a¹₀ and 6b¹₀ bands have been determined. There is agreement with previous ¹³C-benzene-h₆ data. The present results are −0.91 ± 0.05 and 3.09 ± 0.05 cm⁻¹ for ¹³C¹²C₅D₆ and −1.64 ± 0.05 and 2.64 ± 0.05 cm⁻¹ for ¹³C¹²C₅H₆. The splittings of vibrational modes 6b and 6a in the ¹B_2u state are 4.00 ± 0.10 cm⁻¹ for ¹³C¹²C₅D₆ and 4.28 ± 0.10 cm⁻¹ for ¹³C¹²C₅H₆.     

Study on the interaction between theasinesin and human serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy

The binding properties on theasinesin to human serum albumin (HSA) have been studied for the first time using fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy. The results showed that theasinesin strongly quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching procedure, and non-radiation energy transfer happened within molecules. The number of binding site was 1, and the efficiency of Förster energy transfer provided a distance of 4.64 nm between tryptophan and theasinesin binding site. At 298, 310 and 323 K, the quenching constants of HSA–theasinesin system were 2.55×10³, 2.16×10³ and 1.75×10³ mol L⁻¹. ΔH^θ, ΔS^θ and ΔG^θ were obtained based on the quenching constants and thermodynamic theory (ΔH^θ<0, ΔS^θ>0 and ΔG^θ<0). These results indicated that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are the mainly binding forces in the theasinesin–HSA system. In addition, the results obtained from synchronous fluorescence spectra showed that the binding of theasinesin with HSA could induce conformational changes in HSA.