Search for solar axions generated by the Primakoff effect with resonance absorption by <Superscript>169</Superscript>Tm

We searched for resonant excitation of the first excited state of the ¹⁶⁹Tm nucleus by axions formed inside the Sun by the Primakoff effect, A + ¹⁶⁹Tm → ¹⁶⁹Tm* → ¹⁶⁹Tm + γ (8.41keV). Gamma quanta with an energy of 8.41keV were registered by a sectionalized Si(Li) detector installed in a low-background setup. As a result, we set a new upper limit for the photon to axion coupling constant, g _Aγ (GeV⁻¹)m _A (eV) ≤ 1.06 × 10⁻⁵, which for a hadronic axion model corresponds to a mass limit of m _A ≤ 169 eV at a 90% confidence level.     

Search for solar axions produced in the p + d → <Superscript>3</Superscript>He + A reaction

A search for the axioelectric absorption of 5.5-MeV solar axions produced in the p + d → ³He + γ (5.5 MeV) reaction was performed with two BGO detectors placed inside a low-background setup. Constraints on the axion-electron coupling constant were obtained for axions with masses in the (0.1–1.0)-MeV range: g _Ae ≤ (1.8–9.0) × 10⁻⁷. The solar positron flux from A → e⁻ + e⁺ decay was determined for axions with masses m _A > 2m _e. Using the existing experimental data on the interplanetary positron flux, a new constraint on the axion-electron coupling constant for axions with masses in the (1.2–5.4)-MeV range was obtained: g _Ae ≤ (1–5) × 10⁻¹⁷.     

New limit on the mass of 14.4-keV solar axions emitted in an <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>1 transition in <Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe nuclei

Axions of energy 14.4 keV that originated from the M1 transition in ⁵⁷Fe nuclei in the Sun were sought by using the resonance-absorption reaction A+⁵⁷Fe → ⁵⁷Fe* → ⁵⁷Fe+γ (14.4 keV). Asectioned Si(Li) detector arranged in a low-background facility was used to record photons from this reaction. This resulted in setting a new limit on the axion couplings to nucleons, |−1.19g _AN ⁰ + g _AN ³| ≤ 3.0×10⁻⁶. Within the hadronic-axion model, the respective constraint on the axion mass is m _A ≤ 145 eV (at a 95% C.L.).     

Search for solar axions emitted in the M1-transition of 7Li* with Borexino CTF

Results of background measurements with a prototype of the Borexino detector were used to search for 478 keV solar axions emitted in the M1-transitions of ⁷Li^*. The Compton conversion of axion to a photon A+e→e+γ, axioelectric effect A+e+Z→e+Z, decay of axion in two photons A→2γ and Primakoff conversion on nuclei A+Z→γ+Z are considered. The upper limit on constants of interaction of axion with electrons, photons and nucleons – g_Aeg_AN≤(1.0–2.4)×10^-10 at m_A≤450 keV and g_Aγg_AN≤5×10^-9 GeV^-1 at m_A≤10 keV are obtained (90%c.l.). For heavy axions with mass at 100<m_A<400 keV the limits g_Ae<(0.7–2.0)×10^-8 and g_Aγ<10^-9–10^-8 are obtained in assumption that g_AN depends on m_A as for KSVZ axion model. These limits are stronger than obtained in previous laboratory-based experiments using nuclear reactor and artificial radioactive sources. PACS 14.80.Mz; 29.40.Mc; 26.65.+t     

Search for resonant absorption of solar axions emitted in M1 transition in <Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe nuclei

A search for resonant absorption of 14.4 keV solar axions by a ⁵⁷Fe target was performed. The Si(Li) detector placed inside the low-background setup was used to detect the γ-quanta appearing in the deexcitation of the 14.4 keV nuclear level: A+⁵⁷Fe→⁵⁷Fe^*→⁵⁷Fe+γ. The new upper limit for the hadronic axion mass has been obtained of m _A ≤159 eV (95% c.l.) (S=0.5, z=0.56).     

Sum-of-Squares Results for Polynomials Related to the Bessis–Moussa–Villani Conjecture

We show that the polynomial S _m,k (A,B), that is the sum of all words in noncommuting variables A and B having length m and exactly k letters equal to B, is not equal to a sum of commutators and Hermitian squares in the algebra R〈X,Y〉, where X ²=A and Y ²=B, for all even values of m and k with 6≤k≤m−10, and also for (m,k)=(12,6). This leaves only the case (m,k)=(16,8) open. This topic is of interest in connection with the Lieb–Seiringer formulation of the Bessis–Moussa–Villani conjecture, which asks whether Tr (S _m,k (A,B))≥0 holds for all positive semidefinite matrices A and B. These results eliminate the possibility of using “descent + sum-of-squares” to prove the BMV conjecture.     

Bounds on charged lepton mixing with exotic charged leptons

We examine the effects of mixing induced light heavy charged lepton neutral currents on the partial wave amplitude for the process l⁺l⁻ →ZZ (withl = e,μ or τ). By imposing the constraints that the amplitude should not exceed the perturbative unitarity limit at high energy (√s = Λ), we obtain bounds on light heavy charged lepton mixing parameter sin²(2θ _L ^a ) where θ _L ^a is the mixing angle of the ordinary charged lepton with its exotic partner. For Λ = 1 TeV, no bound is obtained on sin² (2θ _L ^a ) form _E < 0.69 TeV. However, sin² (2θ _L ^a ) ≤ 1.52×10⁻⁵ form _E = 5 TeV, sin² (2θ _L ^a ) ≤ 2.41 ×10⁻⁷ form _E = 10 TeV. Similarity for Λ = ∞ no bound is obtained on sin² (2θ _L ^a ) for m_E < 1.97 TeV and sin² (2θ _L ^a ) ≤ 0.15 form _E = 5 TeV and sin² (2θ _L ^a ) ≤ 3.88×10^-2 form _E = 10 TeV.     

Spin-Flip and Elastic Processes in Slow Collisions of Mesic Atoms

The reduced adiabatic hyperspherical (RAHS) basis suggested previously is used for the calculation of elastic and spin-flip cross sections in the processes (aμ) _F + a → (aμ) _F′ + a, a = (p, d, t), for collision energies 10⁻³ ≤ ε ≤ 10² eV. The rapid convergence of the method is demonstrated. A comparison of the obtained results with previous ones is presented. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal stability and electrical conductivity of multiferroics BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/REEs

Ceramic samples of bismuth ferrite and solid solutions of Bi_{1 − x} A _x FeO₃ type (where A = Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Dy, Tb, Gb, Eu, Sm, Nd, Pr, La; 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.20; Δx = 0.05) were prepared. Spectra of the real part of electrical conductivity were studied within the range 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁶ Hz. The dependence of the samples’ thermal stability and electrical conductivity on the size of the substituting ions was established.     

Calculation of spectroscopic constants and radiative parameters for A1Σ u+ -X1Σ g+ and B1Πu-X1Σ g+ electronic transitions of sodium dimer

Vibrational, rotational, and centrifugal spectroscopic constants and radiative parameters, i.e., the Einstein coefficients, oscillator strengths, and wave numbers for vibrational transitions in electronic systems of bands A ¹Σ _u ⁺-X ¹Σ _g ⁺ (0 ≤ v′ ≤ 25; 0 ≤ v″ ≤ 44), B ¹Π _u -X ¹Σ _g ⁺ (0 ≤ v′ ≤ 29; 0 ≤ v″ ≤ 47), and the radiative lifetimes for the vibrational levels of excited states of the sodium dimer, are calculated. The calculations are carried out based on semiempirical potential curves constructed in this study. The calculated spectroscopic constants and radiative lifetimes are compared to the experimental values.     

EPR studies of Cu2+ and V4+ ions in phosphate glasses

Two lead-phosphate glass systems doped with both copper and vanadium ions in different ratios were studied by EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) method. EPR spectra and parameters (g_‖ = 2.44, g_⊥ = 2.08 andA _‖ = 117.6 · 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹) obtained for x(CuO · V₂O₅)(l−x)[2P₂O₅ · PbO] glasses withx ≤ 10 mol% suggest a tetrahedral (Td) coordination of Cu²⁺ ions and not a tetragonally elongated octahedron as has been assumed in previous works. The ground state of the paramagnetic electron is thed _xy copper orbital with a 4p_z contribution of 6%. For 20 ≤x ≤ 40 mol% a broad line (ΔB = 307 G) characteristic for clustered ions appears atg = 2.18. The V⁴⁺ ions are evidenced only in the spectra of x(CuO · 2V₂O₅)(1 −x)[2P₂O₅ · PbO] glasses and the resonance parameters suggest a pentacoordinated C_4v local symmetry for these ions. The hyperfine structures characteristic for Cu²⁺ and V⁴⁺ ions disappear for 10 ≤x ≤ 40 mol% due to the mixed exchange Cu²⁺−V⁴⁺ pair formation in these glasses.     

Calculation of radiative parameters for the $$ {A^1}\sum\nolimits_u^{+} {{X^1}} \sum\nolimits_g^{+} {} $$-transition of cesium dimer

Radiative parameters for vibrational bands (0 ≤ v′ ≤ 30, 0 ≤ v′′ ≤ 59) of the A¹?_u⁺ X¹ ?_g⁺ {A^1}\sum\nolimits_u^{+} {{X^1}} \sum\nolimits_g^{+} {} -electronic transition of a cesium dimer are calculated. These include vibronic band wavenumbers, Franck–Condon factors, Einstein coefficients for spontaneous emission, absorption band oscillator strengths, and radiative lifetimes for vibrational levels of the excited electronic state. Vibrational energies and wave functions for the ground and excited electronic states were found by a numerical solution of the radial wave equation based on potential curves plotted during the course of the study.     

Diffraction at HERA, Color Opacity and Nuclear Shadowing in DIS off nuclei

The QCD factorization theorem for diffractive processes in DIS is used to derive formulae for the leading twist contribution to the nuclear shadowing of parton distributions in the low thickness limit (due to the coherent projectile (photon) interactions with two nucleons). Based on the current analyzes of diffraction at HERA we find that the average strength of the interactions which govern diffraction in the gluon sector at x≤ 10⁻³, Q ₀= 2 GeV is ∼50mb. This is three times larger than in the quark sector and suggests that applicability of DGLAP approximation requires significantly larger Q ₀ in the gluon sector. We use this information on diffraction to estimate the higher order shadowing terms due to the photon interactions with N≥ 3 nucleons which are important for the scattering of heavy nuclei and to calculate nuclear shadowing and Q ² dependence of gluon densities. For the heavy nuclei the amount of the gluon shadowing: G _A(x,Q ₀ ²) /AG _N(x,Q ₀ ²)_{|x ≤ 10−3}∼ 0.25–0.4 is sensitive to the probability of the small size configurations within wave function of the gluon “partonometer” at the Q ₀ scale. At this scale for A∼ 200 the nonperturbative contribution to the gluon density is reduced by a factor of 4–5 at x≤ 10⁻³ unmasking PQCD physics in the gluon distribution of heavy nuclei. We point out that the shadowing of this magnitude would strongly modify the first stage of the heavy ion collisions at the LHC energies, and also would lead to large color opacity effects in eA collisions at HERA energies. In particular, the leading twist contribution to the cross section of the coherent J/ψ production off A≥ 12 nuclei at s ⁻²≥ 70 GeV is strongly reduced as compared to the naive color transparency expectations. The Gribov black body limit for F _2A(x,Q ²) is extended to the case of the gluon distributions in nuclei and shown to be relevant for the HERA kinematics of eA collisions. Properties of the final states are also briefly discussed. Received: 12 March 1999     

Dielectric relaxation,ac and dc conductivities in the fullerenes C60 and C70

The complex conductivity in polycrystalline C₆₀ and C₇₀ has been investigated for frequencies 20 Hz≤ν≤10⁶ Hz and temperatures 10 K≤T≤750 K. The high-frequency dielectric constants ε_α= 2.6±0.1(C₆₀) and ε_∞= 4.6±0.1 (C₇₀) were deduced from these experiments. The observed low temperature relaxation process in C₆₀ fits well into the relaxation dynamics of the C₆₀ molecules as determined by many other experimental techniques operating on very different time scales. In addition to the study of the dipolar relaxation process, the dc and ac conductivities were determined. From the temperature dependence of the dc conductivities energy barriers of E_G=1.75±0.1 eV (C₆₀) and E_G=1.7±0.1 eV (C₇₀) were estimated. In C₇₀ we found indications for small polaron tunneling.     

Beta decay of <Superscript>115</Superscript>In to the first excited level of <Superscript>115</Superscript>Sn: Potential outcome for neutrino mass

Recent observation of β decay of ¹¹⁵In to the first excited level of ¹¹⁵Sn with an extremely low Q _β value (Q _β ≤ O(1) [keV]) could be used to set a limit on neutrino mass. To give a restriction potentially competitive with those extracted from experiments with ³H (≃2 eV) and ¹⁸⁷Re (≃15 eV), the atomic mass difference between ¹¹⁵In and ¹¹⁵Sn and energy of the first ¹¹⁵Sn level should be remeasured with higher accuracy (possibly of the order of ∼1 eV). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Local anisotropy of cosmic rays with <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript> ≥ 10<Superscript>17</Superscript> eV from Yakutsk EAS array data

The arrival directions of primary cosmic ray particles with energies E ₀ ≥ 10¹⁷ eV and zenith angles θ ≤ 60° recorded on the Yakutsk array over the period 1974–2009 are analyzed. These events are shown to have different anisotropies in different energy ranges.     

Time features of the anisotropy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript> ⩾ 10<Superscript>19</Superscript> eV cosmic rays according to data from the Yakutsk array

The results obtained by analyzing arrival directions of primary cosmic-ray particles recorded by the Yakutsk array between 1974 and 2009 in the energy region E ₀ ≥ 10¹⁹ eV and the zenith-angle range θ ≤ 60° are presented. It is shown that such events separated by different time intervals are characterized by a different global anisotropy.     

Peculiarities of the anisotropy of cosmic rays with E0 ≥ 1019 eV from Yakutsk EAS array data

The arrival directions of primary cosmic ray particles with energies E ₀ ≥ 10¹⁹ eV and zenith angles θ ≤ 60° recorded on the Yakutsk array over the period 1974–2009 are analyzed. These events separated by different time intervals are shown to have different global anisotropies.     

Double-beta decay: Present status

The present status of double-beta-decay experiments (including the search for 2β ⁺, ECβ ⁺, and ECEC processes) are reviewed. The results of the most sensitive experiments are discussed. Average and recommended half-life values for two-neutrino double-beta decay are presented. Conservative upper limits on effective Majorana neutrino mass and the coupling constant of the Majoron to the neutrino are established as 〈m _ν 〉 < 0.75 eV and 〈g _ee 〉 < 1.9 × 10⁻⁴, respectively. Proposals for future double-betadecay experiments with a sensitivity for the 〈m _ν 〉 at the level of 0.01–0.1 eV are considered.     

Spectroscopic observation of helium-ion- and hydrogen-catalyzed hydrino transitions

Four predictions of Mills’ Grand Unified Theory of Classical Physics (GUTCP) regarding atomic hydrogen undergoing a catalytic reaction with certain atomized elements and ions which resonantly, nonradiatively accept integer multiples of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, m · 27.2 eV wherein m is an integer, have been confirmed experimentally. Specifically, a catalyst comprises a chemical or physical process with an enthalpy change equal to an integer multiple m of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, 27.2 eV. For He⁺ m = 2, due to its ionization reaction to He²⁺, and two H atoms formed from H₂ by collision with a third, hot H can also act as a catalyst with m = 2 for this third H. The product is H(1/p), fractional Rydberg states of atomic hydrogen called “hydrino atoms” wherein n = 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, …, 1/p(p≤137 is an integer) replaces the well-known parameter n = integer in the Rydberg equation for hydrogen excited states. The predictions for the hydrino reaction of (1) pumping of the catalyst excited states, (2) characteristic EUV continuum radiation, (3) fast H, and (4) hydrino products were observed in multiple catalyst-hydrogen plasma systems.