Energy levels in even actinide isotopes from (t,p) reactions

Energy levels in^{232, 234}Th,^{236, 238, 240}U and in²⁵⁰Cm have been measured using the (t, p) reaction. Angular distributions were obtained for the^{234, 238}U targets and evidence for second order effects in the direct reaction mechanism was found.     

Degrees and independent sets of hypergraphs

Lower bounds for the cardinality of maximal and maximum independent sets in hypergraphs are obtained from two different definitions of the degrees of the vertices.     

Internal conversion coefficients and penetration effect for the 279 keV transition in203Tl

The internal conversion process of theM1+E 2 mixed 279 keVγ-ray transition in the decay of²⁰³Hg has been reinvestigated. The emission rate of theK-shell internal conversion electrons was determined with an electron X-ray coincidence measurement using a magneticΒ-spectrometer and a Si(Li) detector of high energy resolution. Conversion electron ratios were obtained from electron spectra recorded as a function of momentum. The disintegration rate has been taken from measurements with a calibrated NaI(Tl)γ-ray spectrometer. Following results have been deduced: α=0.2279±0.0024, α _K =0.1653±0.0017, α _L =0.0475±0.0013,K/(L+M+?)=2.64±0.03,K/L=3.48±0.12,L/(M+N+ ?)=3.14±0.12. On the basis of the experimental results on theK-shell internal conversion coefficient,α _k , and the conversion ratioK/(L+M+?) the penetration effect on the internal conversion of theM1 part and the mixing ratio,δ ², of the 279 keVγ-ray transition in²⁰³Tl have been studied. Calculations were made using Hager and Seltzer's formalism and their theoretical internal conversion coefficients. The results are consistent with a mixing ratio ofδ ²=1.32±0.11 and a penetration parameter ofλ=6.8 ±0.8.     

Picosecond resonant two-photon ionization of cold sodium clusters

Large sodium clusters, up ton=21, generated by a low-temperature modification of the laser ablation gas jet source were ionized with two photons of visible radiation from an amplified picosecond dye-laser system.     

Energy dependence of the rotational enhancement factor in the level density

The one-shell SU(3) energies are given and the corresponding level density is calculated approximately by use of a distribution function for the SU(3) quantum numbers. The calculation is extended to include many shells by a renormalization procedure and an effective one-shell interaction. The traditional level density is then obtained from the related mean-field hamiltonian which corresponds to a deformed harmonic oscillator potential. Various rotational enhancement factors are considered. Numerical results, are obtained and comparisons between the SU(3) and the traditional level densities allow the first computation of the energy dependence of the rotational enhancement factor. A transition from axial to spherical level density is found. A simple parametrization is suggested in terms of a deformation-dependent half-value energy and a transition width.     

Singlet-Oxygen Quenching by Carotenoids: Steady-state luminescence experiments

The near-infrared luminescence of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) has been measured in order to determine the efficiency of ¹O₂ quenching by two carotenoid compounds, β-carotene and canthaxanthin. 1H-Phenalen-1-one and rose bengal have been used as photosensitizers in those steady-state luminescence experiments. Stern-Volmer analysis of the ¹O₂ luminescence in solutions of CCl₄ and CD₃OD, containing different concentrations of the carotenoids, has shown a very efficient quenching by canthaxanthin. The rate constants are about a factor of 2 below the diffusion limited values for the given solvents, confirming earlier results in benzene. In comparison, the efficiency of ¹O₂ quenching by β-carotene is slightly lower than that by canthaxanthin in non-polar solvents and is reduced by an order of magnitude in CD₃OD, due to the aggregation of this quencher.