Upper limit on the decay Σ(1385)→Σγ and cross section for γΣ→Λπ

Coherent Λπ⁻ production on Pb of 600 GeV Σ⁻ hyperons has been studied with the SELEX facility at Fermilab. Using the Primakoff formalism, we set a 90% CL upper limit on the radiative decay width Γ[Σ(1385)⁻→Σ⁻γ]<9.5 keV, and estimate the cross section for γΣ⁻→Λπ⁻ at  GeV to be 56±16 μb.     

Study of effects of Mn in CdS nanocrystals

Mn²⁺-doped CdS nanocrystals have been synthesized by adopting an aqueous solution precipitation method. These nanocrystals have been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), optical absorbance, photoluminescence (PL), DC electrical conductivity measurements and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The system has been found to be in the hexagonal phase. PL spectra have been studied on most prominent exciton peaks within the wavelength range (586–731 nm). The emission intensity is found to increase on increasing Mn²⁺ ion concentration (0–5%). Electrical conductivity lies within 0.819×10⁻⁶ to 1.69×10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ m⁻¹ and the system shows power law dependence for n=3–3.77. The Cd vacancies concentration has been found to decrease on increasing Mn%.     

Impedance studies on polyacrylonitrile–CuX2–DMSO (X=Cl, Br, CF3SO3) solid polymer electrolyte

A series of polyacrylonitrile–dimethylsulfoxide–CuX₂ (X=CF₃SO₃⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻), films (foils) were prepared by means of the solution cast technique. The thickness of the foils was between 0.04 and 0.09 cm and they contained 70–80 wt.% of the solvent. Conductivities of the solid electrolytes were obtained from impedance measurements. The conductivity increases with the increase of the salt content up to 8 wt.%; at higher concentrations (>8 wt.%) the conductivity is more or less stable, and reaches, in the case of Cu(CF₃SO₃)₂ and CuCl₂, the level of ca. 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at room temperature. The foils based on the CuBr₂ show even higher conductivity, close to 10⁻² Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at room temperature, a value comparable to that characteristic for liquid solutions. The temperature variation of the conductivity for all the systems studied is of the Arrhenius type. The activation energy, determined from linear plots lnσ=f(T⁻¹), is of the order ca. 14 kJ mol⁻¹ for the PAN/CuBr₂/DMSO and of ca. 21 kJ mol⁻¹ for the PAN/CuCl₂/DMSO and the PAN/Cu(CF₃SO₃)₂/DMSO systems.     

Man-made plutonium in environment — possible serious hazard for living species

It is pointed out that, contrary to the situation with natural Rn, the growing concentration of man-made Pu in environment — natural water soil plants and food — can provide the serious danger for all kind of animals and especially for mankind. Really, as it was established recently, element Pu is accumulated in human body during all the life and the dangerous concentration estimated to be 10⁻¹² – 10⁻¹³ grapm Pu per gram of human tissues. Unfortunately up to now there are no simple nonexpensive methods of Pu determination at the level of sensitivity 10⁻¹⁴ – 10¹⁵ g/g which can provide the determination of Pu even in 0.2 g of human tissue. We warn that now the average concentration of Pu in human body is not less than 10⁻¹⁴ g/g and much higher for some “hot” regions in Europe and Asia. We propose to discuss the problem of organizing world net exploration of Pu in environment — similarly to Rn exploration program — and personnel Pu monitoring for inhibitions of Pu damaged regions. Our approach to the problem is based on chemical separation of Pu, on determination of Plutonium by high fission cross section with thermal neutrons ²³⁹Pu(n,f) reaction and by control of possible admixture of ²³⁵U isotope by ²³⁸U(γ, f) reaction in Pu preparations. The problem of increasing of sensitivity of Pu analysis up to 10⁻¹⁴ – 10⁻¹⁵ g/g is discussed in detail.     

Polyacrylonitrile–sulfolane–CuX2 (X=Cl, Br, CF3SO3) solid polymer electrolyte

A series of polyacrylonitrile–sulfolane–CuX₂ (PAN–TMS–CuX₂, where X=Cl, Br, CF₃SO₃) polymer electrolytes, of thickness between 0.03 and 0.07 cm, were prepared by means of the solution cast technique. The solvent content was as high as 60–70 wt.%. Conductivities of the foils obtained from impedance measurements were of the order of 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Temperature variation of the conductivity for all the systems studied was of the Arrhenius type. Exchange current density at the Cuelectrolyte interface, determined from the Tafel plot, was of the order of milliampere (mA). Cyclic voltammetry showed the irreversible character of the copper plating–stripping process.     

Single and double dissociation in πp collisions at 11 and 16 GeV/c

The reactions π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺p, π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺π^op and π⁻p → 2π⁻2π⁺n are analysed at 11 and 16 GeV/c using longitudinal phase space (LPS) plots. The weighted LPS distributions for π⁻p → 2π⁻π⁺p is dominated by two well separated structures corresponding to single diffraction dissociation of the pion, π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)p, and of the proton, π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻π⁺p). The former is more abundant than the latter, and both are approximately constant with energy. In contrast, processes of type π⁻p → (2π)(πp) decrease with increasing energy.

In the five-body reactions the weighted LPS distribution reveals especially at 16 GeV/c a maximum for single dissociation of the proton into 3πp, namely π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻π⁺π^op); this process is likely to be diffractive. The neutron channel has a corresponding maximum displaced toward a multiperipheral configuration π⁻p → π⁻(π⁻2π⁺)n. Another strong maximum corresponds to the pion dissociation π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺π^o)p. This is interpreted to be an ω-exchange process because no analogous structure occurs in π⁻p → (2π⁻2π⁺)n. Finally, a broad structure reveals double dissociation of both incident particles; it occurs in the two channels π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)(π^op) and π⁻p → (2π⁻π⁺)(π⁺n), being stronger in the latter. Further analysis of this process in terms of isospin exchange suggests that it is partially diffractive. Factorization is also discussed.

An appendix gives general aspects of the LPS analysis for the asymptotic study of n-body collisions at very high energy.     

Preferential sputtering and radiation enhanced segregation in palladium-platinum alloys

Five palladium-platinum alloys of different compositions ranging from 10 to 90 at% Pd were sputtered with 1 keV Ar⁺ ions. The surface concentrations were then determined with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). The observed concentrations differed largely from bulk values. This difference is explained in terms of the difference in sputtering yields for platinum and palladium and the radiation enhanced segregation of palladium. The surface was then mechanically cleaned in situ. The surface concentrations measured subsequently corresponded excellently with the bulk values confirming the calibration procedure for the calculation of the surface concentrations. A recently developed model for surface segregation was used to fit the experimental data. Values for the surface segregation energy ΔG and the radiation enhanced diffusion coefficient D were obtained in the range 2000–8000 J/mol and (1.2–8.0)×10⁻²⁰ m²/s, respectively.     

Electrical conducting properties of proton-conducting terbium-doped strontium cerate membrane

The electrical conduction behavior of SrCe_0.95Tb_0.05O_3−δ (SCTb) was investigated in different gases at high temperatures. In air, oxygen or nitrogen SCTb shows small electronic-hole conduction below 800°C and oxygen ionic conduction over 800°C with activation energy about 30 kJ/mol and 164–181 kJ/mol respectively. SCTb becomes a protonic conductor in hydrogen or methane in 500–900°C, with the proton conductivity in the range of 10⁻³–10⁻² S/cm, two to three orders of magnitude higher than electronic or oxygen ionic conductivity of SCTb in air or oxygen. The activation energy for protonic conduction in SCTb is 49 kJ/mol in methane and 54 kJ/mol in hydrogen. The electrical conductivity of SCTb in water vapor-saturated nitrogen, air or oxygen is higher than in corresponding gas without water vapor. Presence of water vapor does not affect the electrical conduction of SCTb in hydrogen or methane. Gas permeation measurements show that SCTb membrane is impermeable to hydrogen when the membrane is exposed to hydrogen or methane upstream and nitrogen or oxygen downstream. These results confirm that SCTb is a pure protonic conductor with very low electronic and oxygen ionic conductivity. SCTb will find applications as a high temperature electrolyte in fuel cells or hydrogen sensors.     

Determination of different oxygen transport mechanisms and measurement of the oxygen ion conductivity of Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x

By undertaking AC electrochemical impedance experiments on yttria stabilised zirconia electrolytes with polished Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x electrodes, the activation energy for oxygen ion transport within the bulk of Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x, in air, over the temperature range 823 K–1043 K, was determined to be 1.50 ± 0.05 eV. At 1000 K the oxygen ionic conductivity was calculated to be around one order of magnitude lower than that in yttria stabilised zirconia. Typical calculated values were σ=5×10⁻⁵ (ω cm)⁻¹ and 6×10⁻³ (ω cm)⁻¹ at the respective temperatures 823 K and 1043 K. By employing a similar cell but with Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x paste electrodes, oxygen transfer between the Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x and the electrolyte was found to occur via a surface diffusional processes. Over the temperature range 873 K–1098 K, in air, the activation energy for in-diffusion at the surface was found to be 1.4±0.1 eV and that for out-diffusion at the surface to be 1.76±0.05 eV.     

Perovskite-like system (Sr,La)(Fe,Ga)O3−δ: structure and ionic transport under oxidizing conditions

The maximum solid solubility of gallium in the perovskite-type La_1−xSr_xFe_1−yGa_yO_3−δ (x=0.40–0.80; y=0–0.60) was found to vary in the approximate range y=0.25–0.45, decreasing when x increases. Crystal lattice of the perovskite phases, formed in atmospheric air, was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron diffraction and identified as cubic. Doping with Ga results in increasing unit cell volume, while the thermal expansion and total conductivity of (La,Sr)(Fe,Ga)O_3−δ in air decrease with gallium additions. The average thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) are in the range (11.7–16.0)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 300–800 K and (19.3–26.7)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 800–1100 K. At oxygen partial pressures close to atmospheric air, the oxygen permeation fluxes through La_1−xSr_xFe_1−yGa_yO_3−δ (x=0.7–0.8; y=0.2–0.4) membranes are determined by the bulk ambipolar conductivity; the limiting effect of the oxygen surface exchange was found negligible. Decreasing strontium and gallium concentrations leads to a greater role of the exchange processes. As for many other perovskite systems, the oxygen ionic conductivity of La_1−xSr_xFe_1−yGa_yO_3−δ increases with strontium content up to x=0.70 and decreases on further doping, probably due to association of oxygen vacancies. Incorporation of moderate amounts of gallium into the B sublattice results in increasing structural disorder, higher ionic conductivity at temperatures below 1170 K, and lower activation energy for the ionic transport.     

Davydov splitting and two-photon excitation of cadmium tungstate (CdWO4) single crystal phosphorescence

Phosphorescence characteristics of CdWO₄ excited by one-photon (λ = 308 nm) and two-photon (λ = 570–590 nm) processes were measured. A Davydov splitting of 120 ± 20 cm⁻¹ was obtained in the phosphorescence spectra, suggesting a diffusion coefficient of about 1.2 × 10⁻² cm² s⁻¹, and a diffusion length of about 3.1 × 10⁻⁴ cm for the room temperature measured lifetime of 8μs. The phosphorescence quantum efficiency was less than 2% at low temperatures (only 0.25% at room temperature), indicating that the dominant decay mechanism was radiationless. The radiative lifetime was thus estimated as 1–2 ms. The two-photon phosphorescence excitation is characterized by an absorption cross-section of the order of 10⁻⁴⁹cm⁴s.     

Conductivity anisotropy in directionally solidified CaZrO3---CaSZ and MgO-MgSZ eutectics

The results of the impedance spectroscopy measurements on eutectic samples based on zirconium oxide are presented here. Samples of CaZrO₃---ZrO₂(cubic) and MgO---ZrO₂(cubic) have been grown by a directional solidification procedure such that the different phases appear nearly oriented along the growth direction (lamellae in the system of CaZrO₃-ZrO₂(cubic) and fibers of MgO in a ZrO₂ matrix in the other system). The DC electrical conductivity has been measured by impedance spectroscopy along and across the growth axis. For CaZrO₃---ZrO₂ the coductivity is clearly anisotropic. The following values for σT have been obtained: the conductivity at 600 °C equals 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ perpendicular to the fiber axis and 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ parallel to it and with an activation energy of 1.3 eV for σT. For MgO---ZrO₂(cubic) the isotropic value of the conductivity at 600 °C is 10⁻⁴ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ with activation energy for σT of 1.5 eV. The anisotropic conductivity in the CaZrO₃---ZrO₂ (cubic) system has been explained by a model of an ordered stacking of oxygen conducting (cubic ZrO₂) and non-conducting (CaZrO₃ or MgO) phases.     

Sintering of glasses in the system RO–Al2O3–BaO–SiO2 (R=Ca, Mg, Zn) studied by hot-stage microscopy

Glass–ceramics for sealing solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) were developed by sintering and crystallization of the powdered glass seal. The non-isothermal sintering kinetics and crystallization kinetics were studied for four glasses in the system 50SiO₂·(45−x)BaO·xRO·5Al₂O₃ (R=Ca, Mg, Zn and x=0, 15) (mol%). Hot-stage microscopy (HSM) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements demonstrated that it is possible to first sinter and then crystallize these glasses obtaining glass–ceramic seals with thermal expansion coefficients in the range 9–12×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹.

The non-isothermal sintering kinetics was analyzed by computer simulations using a previously reported model of sintering for polydispersed glass powders which takes into account the particle size distribution, surface energy and viscosity. Good agreement was found between the measured kinetics with HSM and the calculated kinetics for all glasses.     

Z-scan determination of the third-order optical nonlinearity of a triphenylmethane dye using 633 nm He–Ne laser

The third-order nonlinear optical response of a triphenylmethane dye (Acid blue 7) was studied using the Z-scan technique with a continuous-wave He–Ne laser radiation at 633 nm. The magnitude and sign of the third-order nonlinear refractive index n₂ of aqueous solution of Acid blue 7 dye were determined; the negative sign indicates a self-defocusing optical nonlinearity in the sample studied. The negative nonlinear refractive index n₂ and nonlinear absorption coefficient β were estimated to be −1.88 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/W and −3.08 × 10⁻³ cm/W, respectively, corresponding to Re(χ⁽³⁾) = −8.35 × 10⁻⁶ esu, and Im(χ⁽³⁾) = −6.88 × 10⁻⁷ esu. The experimental results show that Acid blue 7 dye have potential applications in nonlinear optics.     

Coulometric titrations of electrolytes in water by a solid state ionic device using Nafion and Tosflex membranes

A solid state ionic device to titrate electrolytes in water was produced, and the performance of the device was examined. The device named the coulometric titration apparatus is a three-component electrochemical cell like an electrodialyzer. The central component, the analyzing room, is a container of the sample solution. The sample solution, 10⁻¹ M H₂SO₄, NaOH, Na₂SO₄, or 10⁻⁷–10⁻² M Na₂SO₄, is separated from the cathode and the anode room solutions, 10⁻² M H₂SO₄, NaOH, or Na₂SO₄, by Nafion-117 and Tosflex IE-SF34 membranes working as the anion and the cation blocking electrodes, respectively. The quantity of electricity to extract whole electrolytes in the sample solution is evaluated from the peak area of the titration curve. The sample concentration is successfully determined by the calibration curve method, with the quantity of electricity and the sample volume (6 ml) in the range from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁵ M.     

Observation of two-photon emission in nuclear pion capture

The emission of two photons above 25 MeV energy was observed in the capture of stopped pions by beryllium and carbon with a rate of (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁵, respectively (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁻⁵ per capture. These rates are about two to four times greater than various free-nucleon estimates based on the π⁻+π⁺→γγ annihilation mechanism alone.     

The use of densimetry and fixed-cell scanning calorimetry to probe solute and solution structure and reactions from 270 K to 400 K

We have used a vibrating-tube densimeter to investigate the densities and volumetric properties of aqueous solutions, and a fixed-cell scanning calorimeter to measure aqueous solution heat capacities. Solutions investigated include sugars, neutral weak acids and bases, neutralized acids and bases, neutral and protonated amino acids, surfactants, and both strong and ion-paired electrolytes. We have made measurements at molalities m from 0.005 mol·kg⁻¹ to 0.5 mol·kg⁻¹, at temperatures T from 278.15 K to 393.15 K, and at the pressure P = 0.35 MPa. We have calculated the apparent molar volumes V_φ and apparent molar heat capacities C_p,φ of the solutions and fit them by regression to equations that describe the surfaces (V_φ, T, m) and (C_p,φ, T, m). These results reflect changes and differences in both solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions. Standard state partial molar volumes V₂° and heat capacities C_p,2° were estimated by extrapolation to the M = 0 mol·kg⁻¹ plane of the fitted surfaces. We have calculated (Δ_r,C_p,m, T, m) surfaces for various proton dissociation reactions, and we have created surfaces representing (Δ_rH_m, T, m) and (pQ_a, T, m) by integration of our (Δ_rC_p,m, T, m) surfaces using values for (Δ_rH_m, m) and (pK_a, m) at a reference T as integration constants. We have also created surfaces representing (Δ_rS_m, T, m) and (Δ_rV_m, T, m) for these dissociation reactions.     

Oxygen diffusion and surface exchange in La1−xSrxFe0.8Cr0.2O3−δ (x=0.2, 0.4 and 0.6)

Oxygen tracer diffusion (D*) and surface exchange rate constant (k*) have been measured, using isotopic exchange and depth profiling by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), in La_1−xSr_xFe_0.8Cr_0.2O_3−δ (x=0.2, 0.4 and 0.6). Measurements were made as a function of temperature (700–1000 °C) and oxygen partial pressure (0.21–10⁻²¹ atm) in dry oxygen, water vapour and water vapour/hydrogen/nitrogen mixtures. At high oxygen activity, D* was found to increase with increasing temperature and Sr content. The activation energies for D* in air are 2.13 eV (x=0.2), 1.53 eV (x=0.4) and 1.21 eV (x=0.6). As the oxygen activity decreases, D* increases as expected qualitatively from the increase in oxygen vacancy concentration. Under strongly reducing conditions, the measured values of D* at 1000 °C range from 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹ for x=0.2 to 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹ for x=0.4 and 0.6. The activation energies determined at constant H₂O/H₂ ratio are 1.21 eV (x=0.2), 1.59 eV (x=0.4) and 0.82 eV (x=0.6).

The surface exchange rate constant of oxygen for the H₂O molecule is similar in magnitude to that for the O₂ molecule and both increase with increasing Sr concentration.     

Band structures and proton-neutron interactions in Ta

Six rotational bands in the odd-odd nucleus ¹⁷⁴Ta have been populated with the ¹⁶⁰Gd(¹⁹F,5n) reaction. High-spin states were identified using the NORDBALL array. Both signatures of the doubly decoupled π1/2⁻ [541] ν1/2⁻ [521] band and semi-decoupled π1/2⁻ [541] ν7/2⁻ [633] band are observed, in addition to the high-K couplings of the π9/2⁻ [514] ν7/2⁺ [633], π9/2⁻ [514] ν5/2⁻ [512], π7/2⁺ [404] ν7/2⁺ [633], and π5/2⁺ [402] ν5/2⁻ [512] configurations. The signature splitting of the π1/2⁻ [541] ν7/2⁺ [633] band is inverted from the expected splitting, and this is interpreted as being due to a residual proton-neutron interaction. It is shown empirically that this interaction, together with deformation changes, can account for the increased crossing frequency associated with the alignment of i_13/2 neutrons in the π1/2⁻ [541] bands of odd-Z nuclei.     

Hadronic production by ee collisions at the energy 990 MeV with the Orsay storage ring

Data were taken at the energy 2E = 990 MeV to search for multibody events, with the same large solid angle detector which has been used for the measurement of the , ω andφ production by e⁺e⁻ annilations. Assuming a π⁺π⁻π⁰π⁰ production by the quasi two-body process e⁺e⁻ → → ωπ⁰ we give the correspondi ng cross section σ(e⁺e⁻ → π⁺π⁻π⁰π⁰) = (1.1 ± 0.5) 10⁻³² cm². Since no events with 3 and 4 charged pions have been observed σ(e⁺e⁻ → π⁺π⁻π⁰π⁻) 1.5 × 10⁻³³ cm².