Solar fusion and the coulomb dissociation of 8B — What have we learned and where do we go from here?

The much needed nuclear input to the Standard Solar Model, S ₁₇(0), has now been measured with high precision (±5% or better) by different groups and good agreement is found, even when very different methods are employed. We review the decade long research program to measure the cross section of the ⁷Be(p,γ)⁸B reaction using the Coulomb dissociation method, including the pioneering RIKEN1 experiment carried out during March 1992, followed by RIKEN2, GSI1, GSI2 and an MSU experiment. Our RIKEN and GSI data allow us to rule out the much tooted large E2 contribution to the Coulomb dissociation of ⁸B. Specifically recent results of the MSU experiment are not confirmed. The GSI1 and GSI2 high precision measurements are in good (to perfect) agreement with the newly published high precision measurements of direct capture with ⁷Be targets. From these GSI-Seattle-Weizmann high precision data we conclude that the astrophysical cross section factor, S ₁₇(0), is most likely in the range of 20–22 eV-b. We point out to an additional large uncertainty (?10% +3%) that still exists due to uncertainty in the measured slope of the S-factor and the theoretical extrapolation procedure which may still lower S ₁₇(0) down to approximately 18.5 eV-b. For quoting S ₁₇(0) with an uncertainty of ±5% or better, yet another measurement needs to be performed at very low energies, as recently discussed by the UConn-Weizmann-LLN collaboration for the CERN/ISOLDE facility.     

Uncertainties on <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis></Subscript> in global PDF analyses and implications for predicted hadronic cross sections

We determine the uncertainty on the strong coupling α _S due to the experimental errors on the data fitted in global analysis of hard-scattering data, within the standard framework of leading-twist fixed-order collinear factorisation in the [`(MS)]\overline{\mathrm{MS}} scheme, finding that α _S (M _Z ²)=0.1202_−0.0015^+0.0012 at next-to-leading order (NLO) and α _S (M _Z ²)=0.1171_−0.0014^+0.0014 at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO). We do not address in detail the issue of the additional theory uncertainty on α _S (M _Z ²), but an estimate is ±0.003 at NLO and at most ±0.002 at NNLO. We investigate the interplay between uncertainties on α _S and uncertainties on parton distribution functions (PDFs). We show, for the first time, how both these sources of uncertainty can be accounted for simultaneously in calculations of cross sections, and we provide eigenvector PDF sets with different fixed α _S values to allow further studies by the general user. We illustrate the application of these PDF sets by calculating cross sections for W, Z, Higgs boson and inclusive jet production at the Tevatron and LHC.     

S-factor of 14N(p,γ)15O at astrophysical energies⋆

The astrophysical S(E) factor of ¹⁴N(p,γ)¹⁵O has been measured for effective center-of-mass energies between E _eff = 119 and 367 keV at the LUNA facility using TiN solid targets and Ge detectors. The data are in good agreement with previous and recent work at overlapping energies. R-matrix analysis reveals that due to the complex level structure of ¹⁵O the extrapolated S(0) value is model dependent and calls for additional experimental efforts to reduce the present uncertainty in S(0) to a level of a few percent as required by astrophysical calculations.     

Absorption spectra and magneto-optic figures of merit in the Bi x Sm3-x Fe5-y Ga y O12 system

The absorption (α) and Faraday rotation (θ) spectra of 14 garnets belonging to the series Bi _x Sm_3-x Fe_5-y Ga _y O₁₂ (0<x<1.05, 0.8<y<1.15) have been measured between 15 000 cm⁻¹ and 19 000 cm⁻¹. The figure of merit (θ/α) at 17 850 cm⁻¹ (560 nm) increases linearly with increasing bismuth concentration up tox∼0.6 where it begins to increase less rapidly. For operation of magneto-optic display devices at 17 850 cm⁻¹ there is no advantage in using garnets in this series withx>0.8. The Faraday rotation at 17 850 cm⁻¹ increases linearly with bismuth concentration whereas the absorption coefficient increases more rapidly. The presence of Bi³⁺ increases the intensity of all Fe³⁺ pair transitions in the garnet system as a result of the increased superexchange induced by Bi³⁺. This is in keeping with the observation that the intensity of the⁶A_1g (S)→⁴T_1g (G) transition in (RE)₃Fe₅O₁₂ (RE=Er, Y, Dy, Gd, Eu) increases on traversing the above RE series as do the Curie temperatures of these iron garnets.     

The hyperfine splittings in heavy-light mesons and quarkonia

Hyperfine splittings (HFS) are calculated within the Field Correlator Method, taking into account relativistic corrections. The HFS in bottomonium and the B _q (q = n, s) mesons are shown to be in full agreement with experiment if a universal coupling α _HF = 0.310 is taken in perturbative spinspin potential. It gives M(B*) −M(B) = 45.7(3) MeV, M(B _s ^* ) − M(B _s ) = 46.7(3) MeV (n _f = 4), while in bottomonium Δ_HF(b $ \bar b $ \bar b ) = M(Υ(9460)) − M(η _b (1S)) = 63.4 MeV for n _f = 4 and 71.1 MeV for n _f = 5 are obtained; just the latter agrees with recent BaBar data. For unobserved excited states we predict M(Υ(2S))−M(η _b (2S)) = 36(2)MeV,M(Υ(3S))−M(η _b (3S)) = 28(2)MeV, and also M(B _c ^*) = 6334(4) MeV, M(B _c (2S)) = 6868(4) MeV, M(B _c ^* (2S)) = 6905(4) MeV. The mass splittings between D(2³ S ₁) − D(2¹ S ₀), D _s (2³ S ₁) − D _s (2¹ S ₀) are predicted to be ∼75 MeV, which are significantly smaller than in several other studies but agree with the mass splitting between recently observed D(2533) and D*(2610).     

Calculation of the quenching rate constants for electronically excited singlet molecular nitrogen

The quenching rate constants for the singlet states (a′)⁽¹⁾Σ _u ⁻ (v = 1−17), a ⁽¹⁾Π _g (v = 0−14), and w ⁽¹⁾Δ _u (v = 0−13) of molecular nitrogen colliding with an N₂ molecule are calculated using quantum-chemical approximations. It is shown for the first time that both the intramolecular and intermolecular processes of electronic excitation transfer are significant for these states. Calculated rate constants are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data.     

Quark-antiquark states and their radiative transitions in terms of the spectral integral equation: Charmonia

Earlier by the authors (Yad. Fiz. 70, 68 (2007)), the bƃ states were treated in the framework of the spectral integral equation, together with simultaneous calculations of radiative decays of the considered bottomonia. In the present paper, such a study is carried out for the charmonium states. We reconstruct the interaction in the c-c sector on the basis of the data for the charmonium levels with J _PC = 0⁻⁺, 1⁻⁻, 0⁺⁺, 1⁺⁺, 2⁺⁺, 1⁺⁻ and radiative transitions ψ(2S) → γχ _c0(1P), γχ _c1(1P), γχ _c2(1P), γχ _c(1S) and χ _c0(1P), χ _c1(1P), χ _c2(1P) → γJ/ψ. The c-c levels and their wave functions are calculated for the radial excitations with n ≤ 6. Also, we determine the c-c component of the photon wave function using the e ⁺ e ⁻-annihilation data: e ⁺ e ⁻ → J/ψ(3097), ψ(3686), ψ(3770), ψ(4040), ψ(4160), ψ(4415) and perform the calculations of the partial widths of the two-photon decays for the n = 1 states η _c0(1S), χ _c0(1P), χ _c2(1P) → γγ and n = 2 states η _c0(2S) → γγ, χ _c0(2P) → γγ. We discuss the status of the recently observed c-c states X(3872) and Y(3941): according to our results, the X(3872) can be either χ _c1(2P) or η _c2(1D), while Y(3941) is χ _c2(2P). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Quark-Antiquark states and their radiative transitions in terms of the spectral integral equation: Bottomonia

In the framework of the spectral integral equation, we consider the states and their radiative transitions. We reconstruct the interaction on the basis of data for the levels of the bottomonium states with J ^PC = 0⁻⁺, 1⁻⁻, 0⁺⁺, 1⁺⁺, 2⁺⁺ as well as the data for the radiative transitions γ (3S) → _γχbJ(2P) and γ(2S) → _γχbJ(1P) with J = 0, 1, 2. We calculate bottomonium levels with the radial quantum numbers n ≤ 6, their wave functions, and corresponding radiative transitions. The ratios Br[_χbJ(2P) → _γγ(2S)]/Br[_χbJ(2P) → _γγ(1S)] for J = 0, 1, 2 are found to be in agreement with data. We determine the component of the photon wave function using the data for the e ⁺ e ⁻ annihilation, e ⁺ e ⁻ → γ(9460), γ(10 023), γ(10 036), γ(10 580), γ(10 865), γ(11 019), and predict partial widths of the two-photon decays ηb0 → γγ, χb0 → γγ, χb2 → γγ for the radial excitation states below the threshold (n ≤ 3). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Probing the field-induced variation of the chemical potential in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy via magneto-thermopower measurements

Approximating the shape of the magneto-thermoelectric power (TEP) ΔS(T,H) measured in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_y by an asymmetric linear triangle of the form ΔS(T,H)≃S _p (H)±B ^±(H)(T _c −T) with positive B ⁻(H) and B ⁺(H) defined below and above T _c , we observe that B ⁺(H) ≃2B ⁻(H). To account for this asymmetry, we explicitly introduce the field-dependent chemical potential μ(H) of holes into the Ginzburg-Landau theory and calculate both an average ΔS _av(T,H) and fluctuation contribution ΔS _fl(T,H) to the total magneto-TEP ΔS(T,H). As a result, we find a rather simple relationship between the field-induced variation of the chemical potential in this material and the above-mentioned magneto-TEP data around T _c , viz. Δ μ(H)∝S _p (H). Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 257–262 (July 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Di-pion emission in heavy quarkonia decays

The dipion spectrum for the ϒ(nS) → ϒ(n′S) transition with n < 4 has the form dw/dq ∼ (phase space) |η − x|², with x = q ² − 4m _π² / (ΔM)² − 4m _π² < q ² ≡ M _ππ², and ΔM = M(nS) − M(n′S). The parameter η is calculated and the spectrum is shown to reproduce the experimental data for all three types of decays: 3 → 1, 2 → 1, and 3 → 2 with η ≈ 0.5, 0, and −3, respectively. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Hyperfine structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis>-wave states in muonic-helium ion

Corrections of order α ⁵ and α ⁶ to the hyperfine structure of S- and P-wave energy levels of the muonic-helium ion are calculated. Electron-vacuum-polarization effects, corrections for the nuclear structure, and recoil effects are taken into account. The numerical values obtained for respective hyperfine splitting, −1334.73 meV (1S), −166.64 meV (2S), −58 712.90 μeV (2P _1/2), and −24 290.69 μeV (2P _3/2), can be viewed as a reliable estimate for a comparison with experimental data, and the hyperfine-structure interval of Δ₁₂ = 8ΔE ^hfs(2S) − ΔE ^hfs(1S) = 1.59 meV can be used to test QED predictions.     

Excitation of doublet <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>-levels of a lutetium atom by electron impact

The electron-impact excitation of doublet D-levels of the lutetium atom is studied by the method of extended crossing beams. At the exciting electron energy of 50 eV, 64 excitation cross sections are measured. In the electron energy range of 0–250 eV, nine excitation optical functions are recorded. The occurrence of perturbations in the spectral series 6s ²(¹ S)6p ² P ₁^2/○ − 6s ²(¹ S)nd ² D _3/2 is discussed.     

Saturation of Coulomb sum rules in the <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li case

The Coulomb sums S _L(q) of the ⁶Li nucleus have been obtained from electron scattering measurements at 3-momentum transfers q = 1.125–1.625 fm⁻¹. It is found that at q > 1.35 fm⁻¹ the Coulomb sum of the nucleus becomes saturated: S _L(q) = 1 .     

High-sensitivity read-write volume holographic storage in reduced KNbO3 crystals

Reduced KNbO₃ is a photoconductive ferroelectric in which holograms can be recorded by the photorefractive effect. Read-write volume hologram storage and erase sensitivities ofS ⁻¹=100 J/cm² andS ⁻¹=84 J/cm² (S=d(Δn)/d(I₀t)‖_t=0) have been measured at zero applied electric field, where the charge transport is shown to be due to diffusion of photoexcited electrons. By applying an electric field along thec-axis, the migration length of the photoexcited electrons becomes comparable to the holographic grating spacing. This leads to storage sensitivities comparable to high-resolution photographic plates. Experimental data on storage and erase sensitivity as a function of the grating spacing, applied electric field, writing light intensity and temperature are reported and interpreted on the basis of the theoretical results of Young et al. and Amodei. Changes of the intensity ratio of the writing beams by self diffraction (beam coupling), reflections from surfaces and the residual dark conductivity are assumed to cause experimental results which deviate from the theoretical models. It is shown, that in reduced KNbO₃ and other ferroelectric photoconductors having photocarrier transport lengths much larger than the unit cell dimension, photovoltaic currents do not contribute significantly to the build-up of space-charges leading to the photorefractive effect.     

Chiral phenomenological relations between rates of rare radiative decays of kaon to pion and leptons and the meson form factors

In the framework of the chiral perturbation theory we obtain the phenomenological relations between decay branches of rare radiative kaon to pion and leptons K ⁺ → π⁺ l ⁺ l ⁻ and K _S ⁰ → π⁰ l ⁺ l ⁻ and meson form factors. The comparison of these results with the present-day experimental data shows us that the ChPT relations for a charge kaon can determine meson form factors from already measured decay rates at high precision level. However, in the case of the neutral kaon decays K ⁰ → π⁰ e ⁺ e ⁻(μ⁺μ⁻) the form factor data are known to a higher precision than data on the differential rates of radiative kaon decay K ⁰ π⁰ e ⁺ e ⁻(μ⁺μ⁻).     

Laser photoacoustic spectroscopy of iodine molecule: Single and two-photon absorption

Photoacoustic spectroscopy of iodine molecule has been studied in gas phase using nitrogen laser-pumped tunable dye laser. The experiment yielded the vibrational spectrum corresponding toX ¹Σ⁺(0 _g ⁺ )→B ³Π(0 _g ⁺ ) transition up to the convergence limit. The photo-acoustic spectrum in the region 17580–18850 cm⁻¹ is presented along with the vibrational analysis. Five of the vibrational bands reported earlier by Venkateswarlu, Kumar and McGlynn have been partially resolved and the structure of one of them has been analyzed and shown to be due to an overlap of (14, 2) and (12, 1) bands. The analysis was based on a comparison with the highly resolved spectrum of Gerstenkorn and Luc. The structure observed in the region 20200–20750 cm⁻¹ which is beyond the convergence limit of the transitionX ¹Σ⁺(0 _g ⁺ )→B ³Π(0 _u ⁺ ) has been analyzed as due to two-photon absorption. Most of the bands could be assigned to two transitions both originating in the ground state and terminating in two different electronic states 1 _g andE(0 _g ⁺ ), atT _e=40821 cm⁻¹ (orT ₀=41355 cm⁻¹) andT _e=41411 cm⁻¹ (orT ₀=41355 cm⁻¹) respectively.     

Bound states of the muon-antimuon system: Lifetimes and hyperfine splitting

We examine the properties of an atomic system consisting of a muon and antimuon. Expressions are derived for the probability of decay and the hyperfine splitting of the lower levels with allowance for the leading radiative corrections, which are of relative order α. The results for the lifetimes and the ground-state energy are τ(1³ S ₁)=1.7907(8)×10⁻¹² s, τ(1¹ S ₀)=0.59547(33)×10⁻¹² s, and E _hfs (1s)=4.23284(35)×10⁷ MHz. The relative probabilities for the various decay channels are calculated; in particular, for the 1 ³ S ₁ level it is found that Γ (μμ→eeγ)/Γ(μμ→ee)≈15%. Finally, possible applications are discussed. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 409–431 (February 1998)     

Improved absolute frequency measurement of the 115In+ 5s2 1S0-5s5p3P0 narrowline transition: Progress towards an optical frequency standard

We report on an improved absolute frequency measurement of the 5s ^{2 1} S ₀0-5s5p ³ P ₀ narrowline clock transition at 236.5 nm, for a single, trapped, and laser-cooled ¹¹⁵In ion. Using a narrowline laser as the local oscillator, a linewidth of 43 Hz for the transition is resolved. The uncertainty of the transition frequency’s centroid is 18 Hz, leading to a fractional uncertainty of 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁴. For absolute frequency measurement, we use an optical frequency comb locked to a cesium clock as the reference. The transition frequency is found to be 1267402452900967(63) Hz, averaged over 13 days of separate measurements. The accuracy is about 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁴. We discuss possibilities for further improvement. Original Text ? Astro, Ltd., 2007.     

The rate constants of singlet oxygen collision-induced emission at 634 and 703 nm wavelengths

Absolute spectral luminosity from an O₂–O₂(a)-H₂O gas flow formed by a chemical singlet oxygen generator was measured at 600–800 and 1230–1310 nm wavelengths. The results were used to determine the rate constants for O₂(a, 0) + O₂(a, 0) → O₂(X, 0) + O₂(X, 0) + hν (λ = 634 nm) and O₂(a, 0) + O₂(a, 0) → O₂(X, 1) + O₂(X, 0) + hν (λ = 703 nm) collision-induced emission ((6.72 ± 0.8) × 10⁻²³ and (7.17 ± 0.8) × 10⁻²³ cm³/s, respectively).