Time-scale and excitation energy partition in sequential binary decays induced by heavy-ion collisions at ≃6 MeV·A

We studied the sequential binary decay of the systems ³²S+⁴⁵Sc, ⁷⁶Ge, ⁸⁹Y, ⁵⁹Co, ⁶³Cu and ¹⁹F+⁶³Cu induced by collisions at ≃6 MeV·A. The two stages of the process have reaction-times compatible with the dynamics of different mechanisms. The study of the excitation energy partition shows that the reaction mechanism of the first step has influence on the de-excitation of the primary fragments producing two decay components which have different time scale. Received: 25 March 1997 / Revised version: 2 December 1997     

Preequilibrium versus thermalized light-charged particle emissions in the40Ar (1100MeV)+24Mg reaction. Dynamical calculations

In an attempt to separate preequilibrium and thermalised emissions of light particles in low impact parameter heavy-ion collisions, the⁴⁰Ar+²⁴Mg reaction has been studied at 27.5 MeV/nucleon. Exclusive measurements have permitted us to examine, in some detail, heavy fragments and charged particles (p, d, t,-particle). The fragments recognized as evaporation residues have been selected and, due to inverse kinematic conditions, the related preequilibrium and statistical emissions of light particles resulting from incomplete fusion reaction appear to be distinguishable to a fair extent. This separation is fully supported by Monte Carlo calculations. Some experimental characteristics of the light particles have been examined and compared to the predictions of dynamical calculations. These calculations, associating a preequilibrium (interpreted as prompt emitted particles) model with a statistical-decay model, follow the evolution of the collision from the point of contact between the projectile and the target to the final evaporation-residue formation on an event by event basis. The predictions of these calculations have been compared to experimental data and satisfactory agreement is achieved for fragment-mass distribution, proton-energy spectra, and proton-angular distribution.     

Pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles from Au + Au collisions at the maximum RHIC energy,square root[s(NN)] = 200 GeV

We present charged-particle multiplicities as a function of pseudorapidity and collision centrality for the 197Au+197Au reaction at square root[s(NN)] = 200 GeV. For the 5% most central events we obtain dN(ch)/deta/(eta = 0) = 625+/-55 and N(ch)/(-4.7< or =eta < or =4.7) = 4630 +/- 370, i.e., 14% and 21% increases, respectively, relative to square root[s(NN)] = 130 GeV collisions. Charged-particle production per pair of participant nucleons is found to increase from peripheral to central collisions around midrapidity. These results constrain current models of particle production at the highest RHIC energy.     

Refractive index measurements by probe-beam deflection

Two deflection techniques for the measurement of the dispersive properties of an optical medium have been implemented. Prismatic deflection is used to measure the dispersion of a medium exhibiting Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) with the cascade system in ⁸⁵Rb and ⁸⁷Rb. In addition, the dispersion associated with a saturated absorption and hyperfine pumping spectrum is measured by deflection due to a spatial inhomogeneity of the refractive index induced by an expanded Gaussian-profile pump beam.Received: 19 December 2003, Published online: 20 April 2004PACS: 39.30. + w Spectroscopic techniques - 33.55.Ad Optical activity, optical rotation; circular dichroismG. Jundt: Present address: Institute of Quantum Electronics, Department of Physics, ETH Zürich, Hönggerberg 8093, Switzerland     

Rapidity dependence of charged antihadron to hadron ratios in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV

We present ratios of the numbers of charged antihadrons to hadrons (pions, kaons, and protons) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV as a function of rapidity in the range y=0-3. While the ratios at midrapidity are approaching unity, the K(-)/K(+) and p;/p ratios decrease significantly at forward rapidities. An interpretation of the results within the statistical model indicates a reduction of the baryon chemical potential from mu(B) approximately 130 MeV at y=3 to mu(B) approximately 25 MeV at y=0.     

Light charged particles and clusters in coincidence with heavy fragments in the40Ar(1100 MeV)+13C incomplete fusion reaction. Simulated statistical decay analysis

Protons, deuterons, tritons,α-particles and Li have been studied in coincidence with evaporation residues produced at low impact parameter for the⁴⁰Ar(1100 MeV)+¹³C reaction. Experimental characteristics of the light particle — heavy residue correlations, and among them an effect of left-right asymmetry, are analyzed and discussed in some detail on the basis of Monte Carlo simulations. This reaction appears to be governed by an incomplete fusion process. Due to transverse emission of preequilibrium particles, the compound nuclei associated with light-particle-evaporation-residue coincidence events recoil at a non-zero degree lab. angle with some dispersion around this direction. When these effects are introduced into statistical decay calculations, it is then possible to reproduce various experimental results and to understand features like the asymmetry effect. Discrimination of light particles of preequilibrium and of evaporative origin appears possible.     

Alpha-particle strengths from the 16O(6Li,d)20Ne reaction

The ¹⁶O(⁶Li, d)²⁰Ne reaction has been studied at bombarding energies of 20, 32 and 38 MeV. The α-particle spectroscopic strengths have been extracted for levels up to 12.15 MeV in excitation. Nondirect processes appear to contribute significantly to all levels at 20 MeV and to high spin levels (6⁺ and 8⁺) at 32 MeV. Strengths extracted for members of the ground state band assuming (sd)⁴ transfer are unequal at both 32 and 38 MeV, in marked contrast to theoretical predictions. To explain this, particle-hole correlations in ¹⁶O(g.s.), inelastic channel coupling in the reaction and perhaps other effects as well, have to be considered. Strengths extracted for members of excited bands and α-decay reduced widths compare poorly with each other and with simple SU(3) predictions.     

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionisation photoelectron spectroscopy of the ClO radical: the C 2 sigma- state

A (2 + 1) one-colour resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionisation study is carried out on the C 2 sigma- state of the ClO radical in the one-photon energy range 29,500-31,250 cm-1. The ClO radical is produced by one-photon photolysis of ClO2 employing 359.2 nm photons derived from a separate laser. In this way a significant concentration of vibrationally excited ClO in its spin-orbit split X 2 pi omega (omega = 3/2 or 1/2) electronic ground state is produced. In addition to mass-resolved excitation spectra, kinetic-energy resolved photoelectron spectra for the X 3 sigma-(v+)<--C 2 sigma-(v' = 3-5) transitions are measured. These transitions are not completely Frank-Condon diagonal, and indicate a decrease in bond length on removal of the Rydberg electron from the C 2 sigma- state. In addition to an unambiguous assignment of the C 2 sigma- state, valuable information is obtained on the degree of vibrational excitation with which the nascent ClO radical is formed in the photolysis of ClO2. Analysis of the photoelectron spectra is supported by Franck-Condon calculations based on potential energy curves either from experimental spectroscopic parameters, or obtained by theoretical ab initio methods.