Structure and elastic properties of a nematic liquid crystal: A theoretical treatment and molecular dynamics simulation

The Frank elasticity constants which describe splay (K ₁), twist (K ₂), and bend (K ₃) distortion modes are investigated for 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) in the nematic liquid crystal. The calculations rest on statistical-mechanical approaches where the absolute values of K _i (i=1,2,3) are dependent on the direct correlation function (DCF) of the corresponding nematic state. The DCF was determined using the pair correlation function by solving the Ornstein-Zernike equation. The pair correlation function, in turn, was obtained from molecular dynamics (MD) trajectory. Three different approaches for calculations of the elasticity constants were employed based on different level of approximation about the orientational order and molecular correlations. The best agreement with experimental values of elasticity constants was obtained in a model where the full orientational distribution function was used. In addition we have investigated the approximation about spherical distribution of the intermolecular vectors in the nematic phase, often used in derivation of various mean-field theories and employed here for the construction of the DCF. We found that this assumption is not strictly valid, in particular a strong deviation from the isotropic distribution is observed for short intermolecular distances. Received 22 March 2000 and Received in final form 9 June 2000     

Observation of signature inversion in odd-odd 178Ir

High spin states in ¹⁷⁸Ir have been studied via the ¹⁵²Sm(³¹P, 5nγ)¹⁷⁸Ir reaction through excitation functions, X-γ and γ-γ-t coincidence measurements. According to the band structure characteristics and the measured intraband B(M1)/B(E2) ratios, two rotational bands are identified and assigned to be associated with the πh _9/2⊗νi _13/2 and πh _11/2⊗νi _13/2 configurations, respectively. Both bands show the signature inversion feature. Received: 23 March 2000 / Accepted: 31 July 2000     

Shape co-existence and structural evolution of the yrast band in 157Yb

The high-spin states of ¹⁵⁷Yb have been studied via the ¹⁴⁴Sm(¹⁶O, 3n) reaction at ¹⁶O energy of 90 MeV using techniques of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Measurement of γ-γ-t coincidences was performed with 11 BGO(AC)HPGe detectors. Based on the measured results of γ-γ coincidences, γ-ray anisotropies and DCO ratios, the level scheme for ¹⁵⁷Yb was established. The shape co-existence and structural evolution of the νi _13/2 band with increasing angular momentum in ¹⁵⁷Yb have been discussed. The systematics of the νi _13/2 bands in the N = 87 odd-A isotones have been compared. Received: 7 January 2002 / Accepted: 10 April 2002     

The flexoelectric effect in nematic liquid crystals: A statistical- mechanical approach

The flexoelectric coefficients e₁ and e₃ for polar liquid crystals, such as 4-n-pentyl- 4^′-cyanobiphenyl, are investigated theoretically by means of an integral equation approach, which takes into account translational, orientational correlations as well as their coupling. e₁ and e₃ are evaluated from microscopic expressions derived on the basis of a density-functional method. Received 27 April 2001 and Received in final form 27 August 2001     

Signature inversion in πi13/2⊗νi13/2 structure in 178Ir

High-spin states in ¹⁷⁸Ir were investigated by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy techniques using the multidetector array GASP. Excited states of ¹⁷⁸Ir were populated through the ¹⁵⁹Tb(²⁴Mg, 5n) fusion-evaporation reaction at E(²⁴ Mg) = 131-141 MeV. Several rotational bands were observed. Among them, the πi _13/2⊗νi _13/2 structure has been identified up to spin 36 ?. This band exhibits an anomalous signature splitting and a signature inversion around spin 25 ?. Received: 13 December 2000 / Accepted: 11 April 2001     

High-spin states in <Superscript>36</Superscript>Ar and their underlying shell model configurations

Eight high-spin states in ³⁶Ar below 10MeV excitation energy, among them a prospective J ^π = 8^- state at 9408keV and the J? 8 levels of the recently discovered superdeformed rotational band, have been observed by n-γ coincidence measurements with the ³³S(α, nγ) reaction at E _α = 14.4 and 13.4MeV. High-spin assignments of, respectively, J ^π = 6⁺ and 5^- were obtained for the E _p = 1209 and 1462keV (E _x = 9682 and 9927keV) resonances of the ³⁵Cl (p,γ) reaction by a measurement of γ-ray angular distributions. The spectrum of the high-spin and of the E _x? 7.4MeV levels is decomposed according to the underlying shell model configurations with n = 0, 1, 2, 4 particles excited from the N = 2 into the N = 3 major shell. The role of four-particle excitations, all connected with large prolate distortions, is elucidated for the entire A = 36-40 mass region. Received: 21 December 2001 / Accepted: 25 March 2002     

A new bound-exciton emission band in ZnSe crystals and multiplasmon optical transitions

We have investigated cathodoluminescence both in unannealed ZnSe crystals and in crystals annealed in a Bi melt at a temperature of 1200K for 120 h with subsequent quenching. In the wavelength range 450–480 nm we have detected a new line series I _i ^s -nLO-mPl consisting of the bound-exciton emission line I _i ^s with wavelength λ=455.9 nm and its plasmon and LO-phonon echoes I _i ^s -LO (λ ₁=461.3 nm), I _i ^s -2LO (λ ₂=466.8 nm), I _i ^s -3LO (λ ₃=472.4 nm), and I _i ^s -4LO (λ ₄=478.3 nm). We have determined the mean number of emitted LO phonons N _LO=2.2±0.1 per photon. It is shown that the observed finer structure of the band may be due to multiphonon optical transitions. At low plasma densities (ω _p ≪ω _LO ) the Coulomb interaction causes broadening of the I _i ^s -nLO series. In samples with denser plasma, in which the condition ω _p ⩽ω _LO is met, multiplasmon satellites of the series I _i ^s -nLO-mPl are observed. Theoretical calculations of the shape of the emission band agree with experiment. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1176–1180 (July 1999)     

Rotational alignment of the h11/2 band in 157Dy

High-spin states of ¹⁵⁷Dy were investigated using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy techniques with a ¹⁵⁰Nd(¹²C, 5n) reaction. Three rotational bands with the h _9/2, i _13/2 and h _11/2 configurations were observed up to (43/2^-), 53/2⁺ and 45/2^-, respectively. Interband M1 transitions in the h _11/2 (high-Ω) band were also measured up to the highest-spin state. The high-spin states were well reproduced by calculations using the tilted-axis-cranking model (TAC). The B(M1)/B(E2) ratio, Routhian and the tilted angle of the angular-momentum vector are found to be in good agreement with the result of the TAC calculation. Received: 22 August 2002 / Accepted: 26 September 2002 / Published online: 19 November 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: hayakawa@jball4.tokai.jaeri.go.jp Communicated by W. Henning     

Yrast bands in N = 91 isotones

The in-beam spectroscopy on N = 91 isotones has been carried out using the ¹²C + ¹⁵⁰Nd reaction. The νi _13/2 and νh _11/2 bands of ¹⁵³Sm have been extended up to 33/2⁺ and 31/2^-, respectively. Two new γ-rays have been located on the top of the unfavored band with νi _13/2 configuration in ¹⁵⁷Dy. Two identical relationships have been established in the low-spin region of the yrast νi _13/2 configuration between ¹⁵³Sm and ¹⁵⁵Gd, and between unfavored bands of ¹⁵⁵Gd and ¹⁵⁷Dy. Here all these nuclei have the same neutron number N = 91. Received: 28 June 2000 / Accepted: 20 October 2000     

High-spin states in 160Lu

High-spin states of ¹⁶⁰Lu have been studied through the ¹⁴⁴Sm( ¹⁹F, 3n) reaction. The previously known πh _11/2⊗υi _13/2 yrast band is extended from I ^π = 21^- to 25^- and a four quasiparticle band with configuration πh _11/2[523]7/2 ^-⊗υh _9/2[521]3/2 ^-⊗ (υi _13/2)² is reported. Received: 21 May 2001 / Accepted: 19 July 2001     

High-spin states of rotational bands built upon νi13/2 in 166Lu

High-Spin states of odd-odd ¹⁶⁶Lu were populated using the ¹³⁹La(³⁰Si,3nγ)¹⁶⁶Lu at a beam energy of 120 MeV. Twelve new γ-rays were placed on top of the previously known two rotational bands built upon πg _7/2⊗νi _13/2 and πh _11/2⊗νi _13/2. Extending high-spin states up to 21⁺ and 25⁻ for each band, we have observed the onset of band crossing near ħω _c ≈ 0.35 MeV. The band crossing frequency of the yrast πh _11/2⊗νi _13/2 band is consistent with the neutron BC band crossing observed in lighter odd-odd Lu isotopes.     

Dynamic light scattering and <Superscript>31</Superscript>P NMR spectroscopy study of the self-assembly of deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate

Self-assembling properties of deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate in isotropic solutions of concentrations from 0.5 wt% to 15 wt% were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. A slow diffusive mode with a diffusion coefficient D _slow∼ 10^-12 m²/s was detected by DLS for the whole concentration range. This mode is assigned to the translational motion of large globular aggregates, similar to those observed in DNA and other polyelectrolyte solutions. The existence of such aggregates was confirmed by freeze fracture electron microscopy. Close to the isotropic-cholesteric phase transition, at 4 wt% c 10 wt%, also a faster diffusive mode is observed in the polarized DLS response and a very fast mode is detected by depolarized DLS. These modes are related to translational and rotational diffusion of the columnar stacks of guanosine molecules, which are favorably formed in the relatively narrow pretransitional region. The stacking was also revealed from the appearance of a secondary resonance line in the ³¹P NMR spectra. Using the hydrodynamic theory of Tirado and Garcia de la Torre, the length of the cylindrical stacks was found to be L = 364±78 ?, which is significantly larger than the values reported for other guanosine derivatives. Received 13 July 2001 and Received in final form 17 October 2001     

Shape co-existence and structural evolution of thevi13/2 band in157Yb

The high-spin states of¹⁵⁷Yb have been studied via the reaction of¹⁴⁴Sm(¹⁶O, 3n) at¹⁶O energy of 90 MeV using techniques of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Measurement of γ-γ-t coincidences was performed with 11 BGO(AC)HPGe detectors. Based on the γ-γ coincidence relationships and the measured results of γ-ray anisotropies and DCO ratios, the level scheme for¹⁵⁷Yb was established. The shape co-existence and structural evolution of thevi_13/2 band with increasing angular momentum in¹⁵⁷Yb have been discussed. The systematics of thevi_13/2 bands in theN=87 odd-A isotones have been compared.     

Cross-sections for low-energy πgamma; reactions

We review the cross-sections for low-energy π^-γ reactions in the framework of chiral perturbation theory. Charged-pion Compton scattering, π^-γ → π^-γ , is considered up to one-loop order where the pion's internal structure enters through the difference of the electric and magnetic pion polarizability, α_π - β_π . The ongoing COMPASS experiment aims at measuring this important structure constant with high statistics using the Primakoff effect. In the same way, the reaction π^-γ → π^-π⁰ serves as a test of the QCD chiral anomaly (via the γ3π -coupling constant F _γ3π . Furthermore, we calculate the total cross-sections for neutral and charged pion-pair production, π^-γ → π^-π⁰π⁰ and π^-γ → π^-π⁺π^- , which are governed by the chiral ππ -interaction. Finally, we investigate the radiative (correction) process π^-γ → π^-γγ and calculate the corresponding two-photon mass spectrum. This information will be useful for analyzing the π^- Primakoff scattering events with photons in the final state.     

Signature inversion in the yrare band of <Superscript>119</Superscript>Xe

Excited states of the ¹¹⁹Xe nucleus have been studied by using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with the ¹⁰⁷Ag ( ¹⁶O, p3n) ¹¹⁹Xe fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 85 MeV. The level scheme of ¹¹⁹Xe has been derived from γ-γ coincidence and γ-γ angular correlation analyses. We have, for the first time, established the second negative-parity favored and unfavored states built on the 11/2^- state, namely the yrare rotational bands in ¹¹⁹Xe. In contrast to the behavior of the yrast bands where the favored states are lying lower in energy, the yrare favored states were observed to lie above the unfavored band. Such a signature inversion in ¹¹⁹Xe is changed to be normal at I = 12?. Received: 8 January 2002 / Accepted: 18 April 2002     

High-spin states in odd-odd 168Lu

High-spin states of odd-odd ¹⁶⁸Lu were observed up to 18ħ for the first time using the ¹⁵⁹Tb(¹³C, 4nγ)¹⁶⁸Lu reaction at E _13C= 58.5 MeV. γ-γ coincidence, E _γ singles, excitation function, and the DCO ratios were measured. Two rotational bands with signature splitting were populated, among which the lower-energy band is identified as π 7/2⁺[404] ⊗ν 5/2⁺[642] in view of alignment and energy systematics. Received: 27 October 1997     

Pressure variation of reentrant transition temperature in liquid crystals

High pressure experimental studies show that in certain mesogenic materials, the nematic-smectic A (N-Sm A) transition temperature T_AN exhibits nonlinear pressure dependence. As a consequence, the material shows reentrant phenomena that is a phase sequence nematic — smectic A — reentrant nematic appears. The characteristic features of this phenomenon have been addressed here within the framework of Landau-de-Gennes theory, where the coupling between nematic and smectic A order parameters (γ, λ_eff) plays an important role. The cubic coupling γ is chosen to be negative in order to form Sm A phase whereas the biquadratic coupling λ_eff is made large and positive to obtain reentrant behaviour. In the present work, we incorporate the pressure dependence in the theory through γ and λ_eff which justifies the experimental pressure dependence in the reentrant transition temperature . The pressure dependence of γ and λ_eff are employed in the calculation of excess specific heat capacity near the reentrant transition. The computed heat capacity shows strong pressure dependence near the reentrant transition which can be confirmed from high pressure measurement.     

Multi-Hamiltonian structure of kdv hierarchy by Drienfeld-Sokolov formalism

Conserved quantities and the multi-Hamiltonian structure for the integrable coupled kdv system which is associated with the isospectral flow [(∑ _i=0 ^N−1 ε _i λ ⁱ )∂² + ∑ _i=0 ^N−l V ₁λ ⁱ ]φ=λ ^N φ are deduced by the Drienfeld-Sokolov formalism.     

A relativistic quark model for mesons with an instanton-induced interaction

We present new results of a relativistic quark model based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation in its instantaneous approximation. Assuming a linearly rising confinement potential with an appropriate spinorial structure in Dirac space and adopting a residual interaction based on instanton effects, we can compute masses of the light mesons up to highest observed angular momenta with a natural solution of the U _A(1) problem. The calculated ground states masses and the radial excitations describe the experimental results well. In this paper, we will also discuss our results concerning numerous meson decay properties. For processes like π⁺/K ⁺↦e ⁺υ_eγ and 0^-↦γγ at various photon virtualities, we find a good agreement with experimental data. We will also comment on the form factors of the K _?3 decay and on the decay constants of the π, K and η mesons. For the sake of completeness, we will furthermore present the electromagnetic form factors of the charged π and K mesons as well as a comparison of the radiative meson decay widths with the most recent experimental data. Received: 28 August 2000 / Accepted: 12 September 2000     

Observation of a πh9/2 ⊗ νi13/2 oblate band in 188Tl

Excited states in ¹⁸⁸Tl have been studied experimentally using the ¹⁵⁷Gd (³⁵Cl, 4n) reaction at a beam energy of 170MeV. A rotational band built on the πh _9/2 ⊗ νi _13/2 configuration with oblate deformation has been established for ¹⁸⁸Tl. Based on the structure systematics of the oblate πh _9/2 ⊗ νi _13/2 bands in the heavier odd-odd Tl nuclei, we have tentatively proposed spin values for the new band in ¹⁸⁸Tl. The πh _9/2 ⊗ νi _13/2 oblate band in ¹⁸⁸Tl shows low-spin signature inversion, and it can be interpreted qualitatively by the two-quasiparticle plus rotor model including a J-dependent p-n residual interaction.