Measurement of the Dalitz-decay branching ratio of the π<Superscript>0</Superscript>

The ratio is measured by comparing the production rates of the π⁰ in the two decay channels. The analysis is based on approximately four million hadronic decays of the Z boson recorded by the ALEPH detector in the years 1991 to 1995. The value of is determined to be . A recalculation of the Particle Data Group world average gives rise to a slightly improved error, and moves the world average closer to the theoretical value.     

Using of the χ<Superscript>2</Superscript> criterion to evaluate the quality of the placement of transitions in the level scheme

The results from a statistical analysis of the evaluated nuclear structure data file (ENSDF) are presented. The article deals with the procedures for evaluating of the quality of the placement of transitions in the level scheme.     

Formulation of the Hellmann–Feynman theorem for the “second choice” version of Tsallis’ thermostatistics

An approach to formulating the Hellmann–Feynman theorem within the “second choice” formalism of non-extensive statistical mechanics is considered. For the state of thermal equilibrium, we derive a relation of Hellmann–Feynman type between the derivative of the non-extensive free energy with respect to the external parameter and the quantum statistical q$q$-average of the derivative of the Hamilton operator. We also give a proper extension for an arbitrary observable commuting with the Hamiltonian. Some reasons for the usefulness of new formulas are discussed.     

On the nature of the 17 μs isomer of the <Superscript>133</Superscript>Sb valence nucleus

The decay of the 17 μs isomer of ¹³³Sb was re-investigated experimentally. It was produced by thermal neutron induced fission of ²⁴¹Pu. Its detection is based on time correlation between fission fragments selected by the LOHENGRIN spectrometer at ILL (Grenoble), and the γ-rays, and conversion electrons from the isomer. The interpretation of the level scheme is based on shell model calculations, where empirical two-body matrix elements were employed. The good agreement between theory and experiment suggests that the isomer is the 21/2⁺ member of the 2p-1h πg _7/2ν(f _7/2 h _11/2 ⁻¹) configuration. Received: 20 January 2000 / Revised version: 28 February 2000     

Scheme of the β-decay of <Superscript>234</Superscript>Th

The scheme of the β-decay of ²³⁴Th is still not completely clear. Only the upper bound (10 keV) of the energy of the isomeric transition from level T_1/2 = 1.17 min of the ²³⁴Pa nucleus is known, and the correspondence between gamma quanta of several energies emitted in the β-decay of ²³⁴Th and specific nuclear levels of ²³⁴Pa has not been established. In this work, the isomeric transition energy of 2.6 ± 0.5 keV is determined via the γ-spectrometry of a ²³⁴Th source in γγ-coincidences, and a new ²³⁴Pa level populated in the β-decay of ²³⁴Th is introduced.     

x-dependence of the quark distribution functions in the χCQM<Subscript>config</Subscript>

Chiral constituent quark model with configuration mixing (χCQM_config) is known to provide a satisfactory explanation of the “proton spin problem” and related issues. In order to enlarge the scope of χCQM_config, we have attempted to phenomenologically incorporate x-dependence in the quark distribution functions. In particular, apart from calculating valence and sea quark distributions q_val(x) and q̄(x), we have carried out a detailed analysis to estimate the sea quark asymmetries d̄(x)-ū(x), d̄(x)/ū(x) and as well as spin independent structure functions F₂ ^p(x)-F₂ ⁿ(x) and F₂ ⁿ(x)/F₂ ^p(x) as functions of x. We are able to achieve a satisfactory fit for all the above mentioned quantities simultaneously. The inclusion of effects due to configuration mixing have also been examined in the case F₂ ^p(x)-F₂ ⁿ(x) and F₂ ⁿ(x)/F₂ ^p(x) where the valence quark distributions dominate and it is found that it leads to considerable improvement in the results. Further, the valence quark structure has also be tested by extrapolating the predictions of our model in the limit x→1 where data is not available.     

Measurements of the isotopic composition of UF<Subscript>6</Subscript> according to the fine structure of the IR absorption spectrum in the ν<Subscript>1</Subscript> + ν<Subscript>3</Subscript> band

Absorption spectra of the Q-branch of the ν₁ + ν₃ vibrational–rotational band of uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) recorded in a range of 1290.0–1292.5 cm^–1 using a laser spectrometer based on a quantum cascade laser have been studied. The spectra of samples with a natural isotopic composition (0.7% U²³⁵), an enriched sample (90% U²³⁵), and their gas mixtures (2, 5, and 20% U²³⁵) in a pressure range of 10–70 Torr at a temperature of T = 296 K have been analyzed. The experiments have revealed a highly reproducible fine structure of the recorded spectra. Periodic singularities in the fine-structure spectra have been interpreted as a manifestation of hot band transitions near the Q-branch. Anharmonicity constants X ₂₁, X ₃₁, and X ₃₂ and their combinations X _i1 + X _i3 (i = 4, 5, 6) have been determined. The characteristic features in the fine-structure spectra and the initial spectrum have been used to determine the isotopic composition of enriched UF₆ samples.     

Shift of the centers of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O absorption lines in the region of 1.06 μm

The shift coefficients for the lines of the ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₃ and ν₂ + 2ν₃ bands of H₂O in the region from 9403 to 9413 cm^?1 are measured and calculated. The measurements are performed using an intracavity laser spectrometer based on a neodymium laser with a determination error of the line center of 0.003–0.004 cm^?1. The Ar, Kr, and Xe noble gases, as well as nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen were used as buffer gases. The coefficients of shifts in eight H₂O absorption lines induced by oxygen, nitrogen, and atmospheric air pressures fall into the region from ?0.004 to ?0.069 cm^?1/bar. The calculations are performed by a semiempirical method using variational wave functions, which, in contrast to other studies, correctly takes into account intramolecular interactions. The calculated values agree satisfactorily with experimental data.     

Influence of the Δ<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis> Effect on the Field Dependence of the Magnetoelectric Effect in the Region of Electromechanical Resonance

The influence of the ΔE effect on the field dependence of the resonant magnetoelectric effect in bulk composite materials with a composition of ferrite nickel spinel–lead zirconate titanate has been investigated in the electromechanical resonance region. It has been shown that the field dependence of the effect is determined not only by the magnetic-field dependence of the piezomagnetic coefficient, but also by the field dependence of the Young modulus. The dependence of the resonance frequency of the effect on the bias field has been analyzed.     

Characteristics of the discrete and continuous spectra of the <Superscript>4</Superscript>He + Λ system

In view of projected experiments on the production of relativistic hypernuclei and the investigation of reactions induced by them, the characteristics of the hypernucleus and low-energy parameters of the _Λ ⁵ He hyperon scattering from ⁴He were calculated. The interaction of the Λ hyperon and the α particle is described by the effective Λα potential in two different forms. The root-mean-square radius of the Λ hyperon in the _Λ ⁵ He hypernucleus, the vertex constant for the _Λ ⁵ He ? ⁴He + Λ process, and the corresponding asymptotic normalization coefficient of the _Λ ⁵ He wave function were calculated by solving the radial Schrödinger equation. The scattering length and the effective radius for the scattering of Λ from ⁴He were calculated by two methods. The calculated characteristics turn out to be sensitive to the form of the Λα potential.     

Alternative method of calculating the eigenvalues of the transfer matrix of the τ<Subscript>2</Subscript> model for <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> = 2

It has been shown that the τ₂ (Baxter-Bazhanov-Stroganov) model for N = 2 with arbitrary parameters is a particular case of the generalized Ising model. The model satisfies the free-fermion condition, which enables one to solve it by the method of the auxiliary Grassmann field. Explicit expressions have been derived for the partition function on a finite-size lattice and eigenvalues of the transfer matrix. In this approach, in contrast to the functional relation method, there is no problem with the multiplicities of the eigenvalues of transfer matrix.     

NMR study of the displacement of vortices in the superconductor Tl<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>6+δ</Subscript> under the action of a magnetic field pulse

A transition from irreversible to reversible displacement of vortices in the high-temperature super-conductor Tl₂Ba₂CuO_6+δ (T _c =78 K) is investigated by the NMR method combined with pulse modulation of the magnetic field in the temperature range from 20 to 35 K. The results also make it possible to estimate the distance between pinning centers in the sample, which lies in the interval from 4 to 10 nm at a temperature of 20 K.     

Determination of the region of existence of ferromagnetic nanostructures in the paraphase of La<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ba<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> by the EPR method

In the paraphase of a number of La_1?x Ba_xMnO₃ single crystals with 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 below 340 K, signals of the ferromagnetic resonance are observed, which indicates the presence of magnetically ordered nanoscopic objects (ferrons). The region of the existence of ferrons on the Ba density-temperature phase diagram has an approximate triangular shape, which is characteristic of the Griffiths phase. Investigations of the angular and frequency dependences of the position of the ferromagnetic resonance line indicate that the nanostructures have a spherical shape. The parameters of their magnetic anisotropy are found to be H _a1 = 2500 Oe and H _a2 = ?700 Oe.     

Analysis of the Magnetic Structure of the BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Multiferroic by Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Specific features of the magnetic structure of the BiFeO₃ multiferroic have been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy in the temperature range of 150–450 K. The temperature dependence of the anharmonicity parameter of the cycloidal spatial spin-modulated structure has been measured, and the magnetic anisotropy constant has been estimated.     

Security analysis of the “Ping–Pong” quantum communication protocol in the presence of collective-rotation noise

Environmental noise is inevitable in non-isolated systems. It is, therefore, necessary to analyze the security of the “Ping–Pong” protocol in a noisy environment. An excellent model for collective-rotation noise is introduced, and information theoretical methods are applied to analyze the security of this protocol. If noise level ε   is lower than 11%, an eavesdropper can gain some, but not all, information freely without being detected. Otherwise, the protocol becomes insecure. We conclude that the use of ‘Ping–Pong’ protocol as a quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) protocol is quasi-secure, as declared by the original author when ε?11%$\epsilon ?11\text{\%}$.