Effects of discharge current and voltage on the high density of metastable helium atoms

Both hollow-cathode and Penning-type discharges were adopted to excite helium atoms to a metastable state. Experimental data indicate that Penning discharge is more suitable for generating high fractions of metastables in a low-density helium beam for laser-induced fluorescence technique in measuring electric fields at the edge of a plasma. The metastable density increases with increasing helium gas pressure in the range of 1.33×10^{-2}－66.7Pa. The highest metastable density of 3.8×10^{16}m^{-3} is observed at a static gas pressure of 66.7Pa. An approximately linear relationship between the density of metastable helium atoms and the plasma discharge current is observed. Magnetic field plays a very important role in producing a high density of metastable atoms in Penning discharge.     

Beyond antihydrogen: testing CPT with the molecular antihydrogen ion

Measurements of Zeeman, Zeeman-hyperfine and ro-vibrational transitions in \(\bar {H}_{2}^{-}(\bar {p}e^{+}\bar {p})\) compared to \(H_{2}^{+}\) have the potential for more precise tests of CPT than can be obtained from antiprotons and antihydrogen. In particular, measurements of ro-vibrational transitions have a potential sensitivity to a difference between antiproton and proton mass three orders of magnitude higher than antihydrogen/hydrogen. Methods are outlined for precision measurements on a single \(\bar {H}_{2}^{-}\) or \({H}_{2}^{+}\) ion in a cryogenic Penning trap, with non-destructive state identification using the continuous Stern-Gerlach effect or changes in mass. \(\bar {H}_{2}^{-}\) can be produced using the \(\bar {H}^{+}+\bar {p} \rightarrow \bar {H}_{2}^{-} + e^{+}\) reaction.     

Ab initio calculations of the ionization spectrum of SO2

The ionization spectrum of sulfur dioxide has been successfully studied by using the symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration-interaction （SAC-CI） general-R and SD-R methods and the basis set correlation-consistent polarized valence triple-zeta （cc-pVTZ）. The SAC-CI general-R method reproduces the experimental spectrum well for both the main peaks and the satellite peaks of ionization spectrum of SO2. The sequence of ionic states corresponding to main peaks of SO2 has been re-determined according to the SAC-CI conclusions and it is reordered as X^2A1, A^2B2, B2A2, C^2B1,D^2A1, E^2B2 and F^2A1. Besides, the equilibrium structures and adiabatic ionization potentials （AIPs） of ionic states of main peaks of SO2 are calculated by using the SAC-CI SD-R method.     

New precision mass measurements of neutron-rich calcium and potassium isotopes and three-nucleon forces

We present precision Penning trap mass measurements of neutron-rich calcium and potassium isotopes in the vicinity of neutron number N=32. Using the TITAN system, the mass of ^{51}K was measured for the first time, and the precision of the ^{51,52}Ca mass values were improved significantly. The new mass values show a dramatic increase of the binding energy compared to those reported in the atomic mass evaluation. In particular, ^{52}Ca is more bound by 1.74?MeV, and the behavior with neutron number deviates substantially from the tabulated values. An increased binding was predicted recently based on calculations that include three-nucleon (3N) forces. We present a comparison to improved calculations, which agree remarkably with the evolution of masses with neutron number, making neutron-rich calcium isotopes an exciting region to probe 3N forces.     

Isotopic effect of Cl2+ rovibronic spectra in the A-X system

This paper studies the isotopic effect of Cl2+ rovibronic spectra in the A2Πu(Ω=1/2) X 2Πg(Ω= 1/2) system.Based on the experimental results of the molecular constants of 35 Cl2+,it calculates the vibrational isotope shifts of the(2,7) and(3,7) band between the isotopic species 35 Cl+2,35 Cl 37 Cl+and 37 Cl2+,and estimates the rotational constants of both A 2 Π u and X 2 Π g states for the minor isotopic species 35 Cl 37 Cl+and 37 Cl2+.The experimental results of the spectrum of 35 Cl 37 Cl+(3,7) band proves the above mentioned theoretical calculation.The molecular constants and thus resultant rovibronic spectrum for 37 Cl2+ were predicted,which will be helpful for further experimental investigation.     

Photodissociation of trapped \mathrm{H}_{2}^{+} ions for REMPD spectroscopy

We study the photodissociation of trapped $\mathrm{H}_{2}^{+}$ ions by 248?nm light from an excimer laser. Our results are in good agreement with calculated populations and photodissociation cross sections of the involved vibrational levels and yield a determination of the ion cloud radius. These data are used to obtain a reliable estimate of the efficiency of the resonance-enhanced multiphoton dissociation (REMPD) scheme in our $\mathrm{H}_{2}^{+}$ vibrational spectroscopy experiment. We go on to estimate the expected signal-to-noise ratio and discuss future improvements of the experimental setup.     

Cluster-assisted generation of multicharged ions in nanosecond laser ionization of carbon bisulfide clusters at 1064nm

The photoionization of seeded carbon bisulfide molecular beam by a 1064\,nm nanosecond Nd-YAG laser with intensities varying from $0.8\times10^{11}$ to $5.6\times10^{11}$\,W/cm$^{2}$ have been studied by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Multiply charged ions of S$^{q + }$ ($q$ = 2--6) and C$^{q +}$ ($q$ = 2--4) with kinetic energy of hundreds of electron volts have been observed, and there are strong experimental evidences indicating that those multicharged ions originate from the ionization of CS$_{2}$ neat clusters in the beam. An electron recolliding ionization model is proposed to explain the appearance of those multiply charged atomic ions under such low laser intensities.     

The band spectrum of PO: Two new doublet systems in the ultraviolet

The band spectrum of PO was excited in a high frequency discharge from a 1/2 kW oscillator working at a frequency of 30 to 40 Mc/sec. A new doublet system of bands degraded to red designated asC′?X ² Π _r occuring in the region λ 2200–λ 2900 was observed and analyzed. The following vibrational quantum formula was derived for the inner heads (R ₁ andQ ₂)

$$\begin{gathered} v = ^{43854 \cdot 5} + 825 \cdot 8(\upsilon ' + \tfrac{1}{2}) - 6 \cdot 44(\upsilon ' + \tfrac{1}{2})^2 \hfill \\ ^{43631 \cdot 4} - 1232 \cdot 6(\upsilon '' + \tfrac{1}{2}) - 6 \cdot 48(\upsilon '' + \tfrac{1}{2})^2 . \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$     

Accurate studies of dissociation energies and vibrational energies on alkali metals

This paper studies full vibrational spectra {Ev} and molecular dissociation energies De by using conventional least-squares （LS） fitting and an algebraic method （AM） proposed recently for 10 diatomic electronic states of ^7Li2, Na2, NaK and NaLi molecules based on some known experimental vibrational energies in a subset [Ev^expt] respectively. Studies show that： （1） although both the full AM spectrum {Ev^AM} and the LS spectrum {Ev^LS} can reproduce the known experimental energies in [Ev^expt], the {EAM} is superior to the {Ev^LS} in that the high-lying AM vibrational energies which may not be available experimentally have better or much better accuracy than those LS counterparts in {Ev^LS}, and so is the AM dissociation energy De^AM; （2） the main source of the errors in the data obtained by using the LS fitting is that the fitting which is just a pure mathematical process does not use any physical criteria that must be satisfied by the full vibrational spectrum, while the AM method does. This study suggests that when fitting or solving a physical equation using a set of source data, it is important not only to apply a proper mathematical tool, but also to use correct physical criteria which measure the physical properties of the data, kick out those data having bigger errors, and impose conditional convergence on the numerical process.     

Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay in ^{136}Xe with EXO-200

We report on a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of ^{136}Xe with EXO-200. No signal is observed for an exposure of 32.5?kg?yr, with a background of ～1.5×10^{-3} kg^{-1}?yr^{-1}?keV^{-1} in the ±1σ region of interest. This sets a lower limit on the half-life of the neutrinoless double-beta decay T_{1/2}^{0νββ}(^{136}Xe)>1.6×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.), corresponding to effective Majorana masses of less than 140-380?meV, depending on the matrix element calculation.     

Temperature dependence of the quenching of N<Subscript>2</Subscript> (C <Superscript>3</Superscript>Π<Subscript>u</Subscript>) by N<Subscript>2</Subscript> (X) and O<Subscript>2</Subscript> (X)

The temperature dependences of the quenching rate constants of the states N₂ (${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}}${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}} v^′=0,1) by N₂ (X) and of the state N₂ (${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}} \ v^{\prime}=0${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}} \ v^{\prime}=0) by O₂ (X) are studied. Time-resolved light emission from the gas was analyzed in the temperature range from 300 K to 210 K keeping the gas at constant density. In case of quenching by N₂ (X), the quenching rate constant for the vibrational level v^′= 0 increases by (13 ±3)% with gas cooling whereas the quenching rate constant for v^′= 1 decreases by (5.0 ±2.5)% in this temperature range. For quenching by O₂ (X), the quenching rate constant decreases by (3 ±2)% with gas cooling. The temperature variation of the N₂ (C ³Π_u v^′=0) emission intensity for pure nitrogen and dry air are calculated using the obtained quenching rate constants and is compared with the experimental data available in the literature.     

Parity-violating neutron spin rotation in hydrogen and deuterium

We calculate the (parity-violating) spin-rotation angle of a polarized neutron beam through hydrogen and deuterium targets, using pionless effective field theory up to next-to-leading order. Our result is part of a program to obtain the five leading independent low-energy parameters that characterize hadronic parity violation from few-body observables in one systematic and consistent framework. The two spin-rotation angles provide independent constraints on these parameters. Our result for np spin rotation is $\frac{1} {\rho }\frac{{d\varphi _{PV}^{np} }} {{dl}} = \left[ {4.5 \pm 0.5} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} \left( {2g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^3 P_1 } \right)} + g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^3 P_1 } \right)} } \right) - \left[ {18.5 \pm 1.9} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} \left( {g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 0} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} - 2g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 2} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} } \right)$\frac{1} {\rho }\frac{{d\varphi _{PV}^{np} }} {{dl}} = \left[ {4.5 \pm 0.5} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} \left( {2g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^3 P_1 } \right)} + g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^3 P_1 } \right)} } \right) - \left[ {18.5 \pm 1.9} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} \left( {g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 0} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} - 2g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 2} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} } \right), while for nd spin rotation we obtain $\frac{1} {\rho }\frac{{d\varphi _{PV}^{nd} }} {{dl}} = \left[ {8.0 \pm 0.8} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^1 P_1 } \right)} + \left[ {17.0 \pm 1.7} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^3 P_1 } \right)} + \left[ {2.3 \pm 0.5} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} \left( {3g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 0} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} - 2g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 1} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} } \right)$\frac{1} {\rho }\frac{{d\varphi _{PV}^{nd} }} {{dl}} = \left[ {8.0 \pm 0.8} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^1 P_1 } \right)} + \left[ {17.0 \pm 1.7} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} g^{\left( {^3 S_1 - ^3 P_1 } \right)} + \left[ {2.3 \pm 0.5} \right] rad MeV^{ - \frac{1} {2}} \left( {3g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 0} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} - 2g_{\left( {\Delta {\rm I} = 1} \right)}^{\left( {^1 S_0 - ^3 P_0 } \right)} } \right), where the g ^(X-Y), in units of $MeV^{ - \frac{3} {2}}$MeV^{ - \frac{3} {2}}, are the presently unknown parameters in the leading-order parity-violating Lagrangian. Using naıve dimensional analysis to estimate the typical size of the couplings, we expect the signal for standard target densities to be $\left| {\frac{{d\varphi _{PV} }} {{dl}}} \right| \approx \left[ {10^{ - 7} \ldots 10^{ - 6} } \right]\frac{{rad}} {m}$\left| {\frac{{d\varphi _{PV} }} {{dl}}} \right| \approx \left[ {10^{ - 7} \ldots 10^{ - 6} } \right]\frac{{rad}} {m} for both hydrogen and deuterium targets. We find no indication that the nd observable is enhanced compared to the np one. All results are properly renormalized. An estimate of the numerical and systematic uncertainties of our calculations indicates excellent convergence. An appendix contains the relevant partial-wave projectors of the three-nucleon system.     

Green and red up-conversion emissions and thermometric application of Er^3＋-doped silicate glass

The green and red up-conversion emissions centred at about 534, 549 and 663 nm of wavelength, corresponding respectively to the ^2H11/2 → ^4I15/2, ^4S3/2 → ^4I15/2 and ^4F9/2 → ^4I15/2 transitions of Er^3＋ ions, have been observed for the Er^3＋-doped silicate glass excited by a 978 nm semiconductor laser beam. Excitation power dependent behaviour of the up-conversion emission intensity indicates that a two-photon absorption up-conversion process is responsible for the green and red up-conversion emissions. The temperature dependence of the green up-conversion emissions is also studied in a temperature range of 296-673 K, which shows that Er^3＋-doped silicate glass can be used as a sensor in high-temperature measurement.     

Multireference calculation of lifetime of A~2Π_u state in nitrogen-molecule cation

This paper utilizes multireference configuration interaction theory to calculate the lifetime of A2Πu state for nitrogen molecular ion N+2.It obtains the transition moment function for A2Πu→X2Σ+ g,Franck-Condon factors between vibrational levels of the two states.The calculated lifetimes are 16.81,14.62,13.10,12.18,11.40,and 11.64 μs forv'= 0,1,2,3,4,5 vibrational levels of A2Πu state,respectively,which are in excellent agreement with available experimental values.     

Green and red up-conversion emissions and thermometric application of Er3+-doped silicate glass

The green and red up-conversion emissions centred at about 534, 549 and 663\,nm of wavelength, corresponding respectively to the ${^{2}}H_{11 / 2} \to {^{4}}I_{15 / 2}$, ${^{4}}S_{3 / 2} \to {^{4}}I_{15 / 2}$ and ${^{4}}F_{9 / 2} \to {^{4}}I_{15 / 2}$ transitions of Er$^{3 + }$ ions, have been observed for the Er$^{3 + }$-doped silicate glass excited by a 978\,nm semiconductor laser beam. Excitation power dependent behaviour of the up-conversion emission intensity indicates that a two-photon absorption up-conversion process is responsible for the green and red up-conversion emissions. The temperature dependence of the green up-conversion emissions is also studied in a temperature range of 296--673\,K, which shows that Er$^{3 + }$-doped silicate glass can be used as a sensor in high-temperature measurement.     

Transition parameters of Li-like ions(Z = 7–11) in dense plasmas

The energy levels, transition energies, transition probabilities, weighted oscillator strengths, and line strengths of Lilike ions(Z = 7–11) in dense plasmas are investigated in this work. The relativistic effects and electron correlation effects are described by the MCDHF method. The ion sphere model is applied to include the dense plasma screening effect. The ground configuration 1 s~22 s and the excited 1 s~22 p, 1 s~23 l(l = 0–2) are considered. The configuration sets are enlarged until n = 7 where the calculated energy levels have converged. The critical free electron densities of 1 s~23 d states are estimated.Except for 1 s~23 s–1 s~23 p transitions, the transition energies for Δn = 0 increase, and for Δn ≠ 0 decrease with increasing free electron densities. For 1 s~23 s–1 s~23 p transitions, the spectra show blue-shift at lower free electron densities and red-shift at higher free electron densities, and the energy level crossing phenomens are observed at higher free electron densities.     

Ab initio calculation of the ground and first excited states of the lithium dimer

Based on a high level ab initio calculation which is carried out with the multireference configuration interaction method under the aug-cc-pVXZ (AVXZ) basis sets, X=T, Q, 5, the accurate potential energy curves (PECs) of the ground state ${\rm{X}}{}^{{\rm{1}}}{\rm{\Sigma }}_{g}^{+}$ and the first excited state ${\rm{A}}{}^{{\rm{1}}}{\rm{\Sigma }}_{u}^{+}$ of Li₂ are constructed. By fitting the ab initio potential energy points with the Murrell–Sorbie potential function, the analytic potential energy functions (APEFs) are obtained. The molecular bond length at the equilibrium (R_e), the potential well depth (D_e), and the spectroscopic constants (B_e, ω_e, α_e, and ω_eχ_e) for the ${\rm{X}}{}^{{\rm{1}}}{\rm{\Sigma }}_{g}^{+}$ state and the ${\rm{A}}{}^{{\rm{1}}}{\rm{\Sigma }}_{u}^{+}$ state are deduced from the APEFs. The vibrational energy levels of the two electronic states are obtained by solving the time-independent Schrödinger equation with the Fourier grid Hamiltonian method. All the spectroscopic constants and the vibrational levels agree well with the experimental results. The Franck–Condon factors (FCFs) corresponding to the transitions from the vibrational level (v′=0) of the ground state to the vibrational levels (v″=0–74) of the first excited state have been calculated. The FCF for the vibronic transition of ${\rm{A}}{}^{{\rm{1}}}{\rm{\Sigma }}_{u}^{+}$(v″=0) ←${\rm{X}}{}^{{\rm{1}}}{\rm{\Sigma }}_{g}^{+}$(v′=0) is the strongest. These PECs and corresponding spectroscopic constants provide reliable theoretical references to both the spectroscopic and the molecular dynamic studies of the Li₂ dimer.     

Searching for isotropic stochastic gravitational-wave background in the international pulsar timing array second data release

We search for isotropic stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB) in the International Pulsar Timing Array second data release. By modeling the SGWB as a power-law, we find very strong Bayesian evidence for a common-spectrum process, and further this process has scalar transverse (ST) correlations allowed in general metric theory of gravity as the Bayes factor in favor of the ST-correlated process versus the spatially uncorrelated common-spectrum process is 30 ± 2. The median and the 90% equal-tail amplitudes of ST mode are ${{ \mathcal A }}_{\mathrm{ST}}={1.29}_{-0.44}^{+0.51}\times {10}^{-15}$, or equivalently the energy density parameter per logarithm frequency is ${{\rm{\Omega }}}_{\mathrm{GW}}^{\mathrm{ST}}={2.31}_{-1.30}^{+2.19}\times {10}^{-9}$, at frequency of 1 year⁻¹. However, we do not find any statistically significant evidence for the tensor transverse (TT) mode and then place the 95% upper limits as ${{ \mathcal A }}_{\mathrm{TT}}\lt 3.95\times {10}^{-15}$, or equivalently ${{\rm{\Omega }}}_{\mathrm{GW}}^{\mathrm{TT}}\lt 2.16\times {10}^{-9}$, at frequency of 1 year⁻¹.     

Computational simulation of ionization processes in single-bubble and multi-bubble sonoluminescence

The most recent spectroscopic studies of moving-single bubble sonoluminescence (MSBSL) and multi-bubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) have revealed that hydrated electrons (e$_{{\rm aq}}^{-}$) are generated in MSBSL but absent in MBSL. To explore the mechanism of this phenomenon, we numerically simulate the ionization processes in single- and multi-bubble sonoluminescence in aqueous solution of terbium chloride (TbCl$_{3}$). The results show that the maximum degree of ionization of single-bubble sonoluminescence (SBSL) is approximately 10000 times greater than that of MBSL under certain special physical parameters. The hydrated electrons (e$_{{{\rm aq}}}^{-}$) formed in SBSL are far more than those in MBSL provided these electrons are ejected from a bubble into a liquid. Therefore, the quenching of e$_{{{\rm aq}}}^{-}$ to SBSL spectrum is stronger than that of the MBSL spectrum. This may be the reason that the trivalent terbium [Tb(III)] ion line intensities from SBSL in the TbCl$_{3}$ aqueous solutions with the acceptor of e$_{{{\rm aq}}}^{-}$ are stronger than those of TbCl$_{3}$ aqueous solutions without the acceptor of e$_{{{\rm aq}}}^{-}$. Whereas the Tb(III) ion line intensities from MBSL are not variational, which is significant for exploring the mechanism behind the cavitation and sonoluminescence.