Systematic Study on Alpha Decay Half-Lives of Superheavy Nuclei

The α-decay half-lives of a set of superheavy nuclear isotope chain from Z = 105 to 120 have been analyzed systematically within the WKB method, and some nuclear structure features are found. The decay barriers have been determined in the quasi-molecular shape path within the Generalized Liquid Drop Model （GLDM） including the proximity effects between nucleons in a neck and the mass and charge asymmetry. The results are in reasonable agreement with the published experimental data for the alpha decay half-llves of isotopes of charge 112, 114, and 116, of the element 294118 and of some decay products. A comparison of present calculations with the results by the DDM3Y effective interaction and by the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski （VSS） formulae is also made. The experimental a decay half lives all stand in between the GLDM calculations and VSS formula results. This demonstrates the possibility of these models to provide reasonable estimates for the half-lives of nuclear decays by a emissions for the domain of SHN. The half-lives of these new nuclei are thus well tested from the reasonable consistence of the macroscopic, the microscopic, the empirical formulae and the experimental data. This also shows that the present data of SHN themselves are consistent. It could suggest that the present experimental claims on the existence of new elements Z =110 - 118 are reliable. It is expected that greater deviations of a few SHN between the data and the model may be eliminated by further improvements on the precision of the measurements.     

Effects of shell correction on α decay properties

The shell correction effects on the α decay properties of heavy and superheavy nuclei have been studied in a macroscopic-microscopic manner. The macroscopic part is constructed from the generalized liquid drop model(GLDM), whereas the microscopic part, namely, the shell correction energy, brings about certain effects on the potential barriers and half-lives under a WKB approximation, which is emphasized in this work. The results show that the shell effects play a significant role in the estimation of the α decay half-lives within the actinide region.Predictions of the α decay half-lives are then generated for superheavy nuclei, which will provide useful information for future experiments.     

Systematic studies on α-decay half-lives for super heavy nuclei

Radioactive decay of super heavy nuclei via the emission of α-particles has been studied theoretically in the preformed cluster model （PCM）. The nucleus-nucleus （NN） potential is obtained by double folding the density distributions of the α-particle and the daughter nucleus with a realistic effective interaction. The M3Y effective interaction, supplemented by a zero-range pseudo-potential for exchange term, is used to calculate the NN potential. The α decay half-lives for 317 nuclei at Z=102 120 are performed in the PCM framework with the theoretical Q values extracted from the MSller-Nix-Kratz and Liran-Marinov-Zeldes mass tables and are compared with the experimental data. The calculated results are also compared with those obtained by using Q values from the Muntian-Hofmann-Patyk-Sobiczewski and Myers-Swiatecki mass estimates.     

Influence of proton-skin thickness on the α decays of heavy nuclei

We investigate the effect of proton-skin thickness on the α decay process. We consider 188 neutrondeficient nuclei belonging to the isotopic chains from Te(Z = 52) to Pb(Z = 82). The calculations of the half-life are carried out in the framework of the preformed cluster model, with the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin penetration probability and assault frequency. It is shown that the proton-skin thickness(?p) of the daughter nucleus gives rise to a total α-daughter nucleus interaction potential of relatively wide deep internal pocket and a thinner Coulomb barrier of less height. This increases the penetration probability but decreases the assault frequency. The overall impact of the proton-skin thickness appears as a decrease in the decay half-life. The proton-skin thickness decreases the stability of the nucleus. The half-lives of the proton-skinned isotopes along the isotopic chain decrease exponentially with increasing the proton-skin thickness, whereas the Qα-value increases with ?p. α-decay manifests itself as the second favorite decay mode of neutron-deficient nuclei, next to the β+-decay and before proton-decay. It is indicated as main, competing, and minor decay mode, at 21%, 7%, and 57%, respectively, of the investigated nuclei.     

Systematic Study on Alpha Decay Half-Lives of Superheavy Nuclei

The α-decay half-lives of a set of superheavy nuclear isotope chain from Z = 105 to 120 have been analyzed systematically within the WKB method, and some nuclear structure features are found. The decay barriers have been determined in the quasi-molecular shape path within the Generalized Liquid Drop Model (GLDM) including the proximity effects between nucleons in a neck and the mass and charge asymmetry. The results are in reasonable agreement with the published experimental data for the alpha decay half-lives of isotopes of charge 112, 114, and 116, of the element 294118 and of some decay products. A comparison of present calculations with the results by the DDM3Y effective interaction and by the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) formulae is also made. The experimental α decay half lives all stand in between the GLDM calculations and VSS formula results. This demonstrates the possibility of these models to provide reasonable estimates for the half-lives of nuclear decays by α emissions for the domain of SHN. The half-lives of these new nuclei are thus well tested from the reasonable consistence of the macroscopic, the microscopic, the empirical formulae and the experimental data. This also shows that the present data of SHN themselves are consistent.It could suggest that the present experimental claims on the existence of new elements Z = 110 ～ 118 are reliable.It is expected that greater deviations of a few SHN between the data and the model may be eliminated by further improvements on the precision of the measurements.     

Alpha decay half-lives of heavy nuclei within a generalized liquid drop model

Theoretical α-decay half-lives of the heaviest nuclei are calculated using the experimental Qα value. The barriers in the quasi-molecular shape path is determined within a Generalized Liquid Drop Model (GLDM) and the WKB approximation is used. The results are compared with calculations using the DensityDependent M3Y (DDM3Y) effective interaction and the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) formulae. The calculations provide consistent estimates for the half-lives of the α decay chains of these superheavy elements. The experimental data stand between the GLDM calculations and VSS ones in the most time.     

Alpha decay half-lives of heavy nuclei within a generalized liquid drop model

Theoretical α-decay half-lives of the heaviest nuclei are calculated using the experimental Q_α value. The barriers in the quasi-molecular shape path is determined within a Generalized Liquid Drop Model (GLDM) and the WKB approximation is used. The results are compared with calculations using the Density-Dependent M3Y (DDM3Y) effective interaction and the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) formulae. The calculations provide consistent estimates for the half-lives of the α decay chains of these superheavy elements. The experimental data stand between the GLDM calculations and VSS ones in the most time.     

Calculation of α decay half-lives for superheavy elements using the double folding model＊

α decay half-lives of some new synthesized superheavy elements, possibly synthesized superheavy elements and decay products are calculated theoretically within the WKB approximation by using microscopic α-nucleus interaction potentials. These nuclear potentials between the α particle and daughter nuclei are obtained by using the double folding integral of the matter density distribution of the α particle and daughter nuclei with a density-dependent effective nucleon-nucleon interaction, in which the zero-range exchange term is supplemented. The calculated α decay half-lives are compared with those of the different models and experimental data. It is shown that the present calculation successfully provides the half-lives of the observed decays for some new superheavy elements and therefore gives reliable predictions for α decay of possibly synthesized superheavy elements in future experiments.     

α preformation and penetration probability for heavy nuclei

The α preformation factor and penetration probability have been analyzed for even-even nuclei of Po,Rn,Ra using experimental released energies and α decay half-lives in the frame of the double folding model.It is shown that N = 126 is a neutron magic number from α preformation and shell effects play an important role in α preformation.The closer the nucleon number is to the magic number,the more difficult α formation in the parent nucleus is.The preformation factor can supply information on the nuclear structure and the penetration probability mainly determines α decay half-life.     

超重核294118和291116及其α衰变链上各核素半衰期的研究

运用推广的液滴模型（GLDM）确定了超重核294118和291116及其α衰变链上各核素的衰变势垒, 采用量子力学中的WKB方法计算α衰变中的势垒穿透几率, 对该链上各原子核的α衰变半衰期进行了研究。 此外, 还利用Royer公式对该链上各原子核的α衰变半衰期进行了计算。 结果表明, GLDM 考虑亲和能与Royer公式给出的α衰变半衰期与超重核区的实验值符合很好, 验证了GLDM和Royer公式在超重核区的适用性,可以用来预测超重核的半衰期。 最后, 预言了Z=118 和116 同位素链上各核素的半衰期, 结果表明, 在Z=118和116中存在α衰变长寿命同位素, 这需要实验上的检验。The α decay potential barrier of the newly synthesized superheavy nuclei starting from 294118 and 291116 have been determined and their half lives have been studied with the Generalized Liquid Drop Model(GLDM) connected with WKB approximation and Royer’s formulae．The α decay half lives of the nuclei belonging to the superheavy nuclei starting from 294118 and 291116 have been calculated．The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental data, which show that the α decay half lives of superheavy nuclei with the GLDM and Royer’s formulae can be applied in the studying on superheavy nuclei successfully．Finally, the half lives of Z=118 and 116 isotopes have been predicted, and the results suggest there may be some long lived superheavy nuclei for α decay in those isotopes.     

On Debye temperature anomaly observed in Ge-Se-Ag glasses

Anomalous values of Debye temperature have been obtained from recoil free factor measurements Ge-Se-Ag glasses recently [B. Arcondo, M.A. Urena, A. Piarristeguy, A. Pradel, M. Fontana, Physica B 389 (2007) 77]. In the present paper we show that this anomaly may arise due to the presence of anharmonic potential at the high spin ferrous site. We use q Lamb Mossbauer factor and anharmonic Lamb Mossbauer factor to study this anharmonicity.     

A Simple Systematical Law of E2＋ Values for Heavy Nuclei in the NpNn Scheme and the Evolution of the Z=64 Shell Gap

A systematics of excitation energy of the first 2^＋ state E2＋ in even-even heavy nuclei （A ≥ 120） is studied in the NpNn scheme. It is found that a simple exponential function describes the dependence of E2＋ values on NpNn values very well. In addition, the Z = 64 shell gap is reexamined by investigating the systematics of the 52 ≤ Z ≤66 region. It is found that the Z = 64 shell gap is largest at N = 82 and becomes smMler with either increasing or decreasing of neutron numbers. The effects of this shell gap become negligible for counting the valence proton numbers when N ≥ 92 or N ≤ 72.     

A fractal model for heat transfer of nanofluids by convection in a pool

Based on the fractal distribution of nanoparticles, a fractal model for heat transfer of nanofluids is presented in the Letter. Considering heat convection between nanoparticles and liquids due to the Brownian motion of nanoparticles in fluids, the formula of calculating heat flux of nanofluids by convection is given. The proposed model is expressed as a function of the average size of nanoparticle, concentration of nanoparticle, fractal dimension of nanoparticle, temperature and properties of fluids. It is shown that the fractal model is effectual according to a good agreement between the model predictions and experimental data.     

Vibro-acoustography imaging of permanent prostate brachytherapy seeds in an excised human prostate - Preliminary results and technical feasibility

Objective:

The objective in this work is to investigate the feasibility of using a new imaging tool called vibro-acoustography (VA) as a means of permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB) seed localization to facilitate post-implant dosimetry (PID).

Methods and materials:

Twelve OncoSeed (standard) and eleven EchoSeed (echogenic) dummy seeds were implanted in a human cadaver prostate. Seventeen seeds remained after radical retropubic prostatectomy. VA imaging was conducted on the prostate that was cast in a gel phantom and placed in a tank of degassed water. 2-D magnitude and phase VA image slices were obtained at different depths within the prostate showing location and orientation of the seeds.

Results:

VA demonstrates that twelve of seventeen (71%) seeds implanted were visible in the VA image, and the remainder were obscured by intra-prostatic calcifications. Moreover, it is shown here that VA is capable of imaging and locating PPB seeds within the prostate independent of seed orientation, and the resulting images are speckle free.

Conclusion:

The results presented in this research show that VA allows seed detection within a human prostate regardless of their orientation, as well as imaging intra-prostatic calcifications.     

In vitro comparative study of vibro-acoustography versus pulse-echo ultrasound in imaging permanent prostate brachytherapy seeds

Background

Permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB) is a common treatment for early stage prostate cancer. While the modern approach using trans-rectal ultrasound guidance has demonstrated excellent outcome, the efficacy of PPB depends on achieving complete radiation dose coverage of the prostate by obtaining a proper radiation source (seed) distribution. Currently, brachytherapy seed placement is guided by trans-rectal ultrasound imaging and fluoroscopy. A significant percentage of seeds are not detected by trans-rectal ultrasound because certain seed orientations are invisible making accurate intra-operative feedback of radiation dosimetry very difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, intra-operative correction of suboptimal seed distributions cannot easily be done with current methods. Vibro-acoustography (VA) is an imaging modality that is capable of imaging solids at any orientation, and the resulting images are speckle free.

Objective and methods

The purpose of this study is to compare the capabilities of VA and pulse-echo ultrasound in imaging PPB seeds at various angles and show the sensitivity of detection to seed orientation. In the VA experiment, two intersecting ultrasound beams driven at f₁ = 3.00 MHz and f₂ = 3.020 MHz respectively were focused on the seeds attached to a latex membrane while the amplitude of the acoustic emission produced at the difference frequency 20 kHz was detected by a low frequency hydrophone.

Results

Finite element simulations and results of experiments conducted under well-controlled conditions in a water tank on a series of seeds indicate that the seeds can be detected at any orientation with VA, whereas pulse-echo ultrasound is very sensitive to the seed orientation.

Conclusion

It is concluded that vibro-acoustography is superior to pulse-echo ultrasound for detection of PPB seeds.     

The influence of the micro-topology on the phononic band gaps in 2D porous phononic crystals

The phononic band structures of two-dimensional metal porous phononic crystals consisting of different lattices (the lattice structures transformed from square to triangle), and pores of various shapes (circle, square, and triangle) and sizes are studied numerically by using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) scheme. It is found that for x-y mode waves, the absolute phononic band gaps (PBGs) rely more on the pore shapes. For triangular pores, the PBG is opening in the whole process of the lattice transformation, and for circular ones, the PBG is closed after a certain lattice structure. No PBG forms in the crystals with square pores. The PBG can be varied by adjusting the size of the pores. But a critical porosity exists for the opening of the PBG.     

The effective thermal conductivity of porous media based on statistical self-similarity

A fractal model is presented based on the thermal-electrical analogy technique and statistical self-similarity of fractal saturated porous media. A dimensionless effective thermal conductivity of saturated fractal porous media is studied by the relationship between the dimensionless effective thermal conductivity and the geometrical parameters of porous media with no empirical constant. Through this study, it is shown that the dimensionless effective thermal conductivity decreases with the increase of porosity (?) and pore area fractal dimension (Df) when ks/kg>1. The opposite trends is observed when ks/kg<1. In addition, the dimensionless effective thermal conductivity decreases with increasing tortuous fractal dimension (Dt). The model predictions are compared with existing experimental data and the results show that they are in good agreement with existing experimental data.     

Sensitivity of Josephson junctions to high-pass filtered noise of black-body radiation

The influence of the nonwhite noise on the Josephson junction is considered by using the averaging principle. It is shown that in contrast to the case of white noise there is a non-zero critical current, but it has high sensitivity to the noise power. The dependence of noise power on the critical current can be used for the detection of cold black-body radiation.     

Diffusion and correlation in a coherent representation

Using a Fock-space formalism for the Master equation and introducing the density operator we present an unified method to derive kinetic equations for hopping processes with and without exclusion on a lattice. The corresponding Liouvillians are written in terms of Fermi or Bose operators, respectively. Although the Liouvillians are different the averaged particle numbers obey the same diffusion equation. Differences appear in the correlation functions only. The Master equation can be transformed into a differential equation in a coherent state representation. Using the algebraic properties of Grassmann numbers we are able to find the exact statonary solution for diffusion with exclusion. The conductivity can be derived in the bosonic and the fermionic case. The results are in accordance with those obtained with different other methods.     

Ultrasonic resonator with electrical discharge cell for ozone generation

The effect of ultrasound waves in an ultrasonic resonator cell on ozone generation by a hollow needle to plate electrical discharge enhanced by the airflow through the needle is experimentally investigated. It was found that the application of ultrasound waves increases ozone generation for discharge when the needle is negatively biased, and has no effect on ozone generation for the discharge when the needle is biased positively. We try to explain the influence of ultrasound on the discharge mechanisms.