Measurement of the KS0 → π+π−γ decay rate

From a study of 70 000 K° decays in the CERN 2m hydrogen bubble chamber, we have estimated the rate for K_S⁰ → π⁺π^?γ for different cuts in the γ momentum. The results are in good agreement with inner bremsstrahlung on K_S⁰ → π⁺π^?. For γ momentum in the K° c.m. greater than 50 MeV/c, we obtain the branching ratio: Γ(K_S → π⁺π^?γ, k>50 MeV/c)/Γ(K_S→π⁺π^?)=(2.8. ± 0.6)×10^?3. This leads to an estimate for the direct γ emission process: Γ(K_S→π⁺π^?γ direct)/Γ(K_S → π⁺π^?)=(0.3 ± 0.6) × 10^?3.     

Spin-wave interaction in two-dimensional ferromagnets with dipolar forces

We discuss the spin-wave interaction in two-dimensional (2D) Heisenberg ferromagnet (FM) with dipolar forces at T_C?T?0 using 1/S expansion. A comprehensive analysis is carried out of the first 1/S corrections to the spin-wave spectrum. In particular, we obtain that the spin-wave interaction leads to the gap in the spectrum ε_k renormalizing greatly the bare gapless spectrum at small momenta k. Expressions for the spin-wave damping Γ_k are derived self-consistently and it is concluded that magnons are well-defined quasi-particles in both quantum and classical 2D FMs at small T. We observe thermal enhancement of both Γ_k and Γ_k/ε_k at small momenta. In particular, a peak appears in Γ_k and Γ_k/ε_k at small k and at any given direction of k. If S∼1 the height of the peak in Γ_k/ε_k is not larger than a value proportional to T/D?1, where D is the spin-wave stiffness. In the case of large spins S?1 the peak in Γ_k/ε_k cannot be greater than that of the classical 2D FM found at k=0 whose height is small only numerically: Γ₀/ε₀≈0.16 for the simple square lattice.     

Measurement of the quadratic Zeeman shift of Rb hyperfine sublevels using stimulated Raman transitions

We demonstrate a technique for directly measuring the quadratic Zeeman shift using stimulated Raman transitions. The quadratic Zeeman shift has been measured yielding Δν=1296.8±3.3 Hz/G² for magnetically insensitive sublevels (5S_1/2,F=2,m_F=0→5S_1/2,F=3,m_F=0) of ⁸⁵Rb by compensating the magnetic field and cancelling the ac Stark shift. We also measured the cancellation ratio of the differential ac Stark shift due to the imbalanced Raman beams by using two pairs of Raman beams (σ⁺, σ⁺) and it is 1:3.67 when the one-photon detuning is 1.5 GHz in the experiment.     

Non-classical properties of superposition of two coherent states having phase difference ?

Recently Ahmad et al. [Optik 2009;120;68; Optics Commun. 2007;271:162; Chin. Phys. Lett. 2006;23:2438] have studied non-classical properties of superposition of two-coherent states of the form, |ψ〉=K[|α〉+eiξ|αei?〉] for the special cases with values ? = π/2,  3π/2,  and π, and for arbitrarily fixed values of ξ. We point out that some of their results are special cases of our recently published work [Physica A 319, 305 (2003); Physica A 341, 201(2004)] on the most general superposition of two arbitrary coherent states of the form ∼(Z₁|α〉+Z₂|β〉), where X_1,2, α and β are arbitrary and only restriction on these is the normalization condition for the superposed state. To make our point we first obtain results for (i) squeezing of the most general Hermitian operator X_θ = X₁ cos θ + X₂ sin θ, with X₁ + iX₂ = a, is the annihilation operator, and (ii) sub-Poissonian photon statistics, for the superposed state |ψ〉 with a general ? and, then obtain results of Ahmad et al. for ? = π/2,  3π/2,  and π and for θ = 0 and π/2. It is interesting to note that the arbitrarily fixed values ξ = |α|² and −|α|² for ? = π/2 and 3π/2, respectively by Ahmad et al. are the values at which we get maximum squeezing working in a rigorous way.     

Observation of nonstationary effects in saturation spectroscopy

We have studied the nonstationary effects in saturated absorption spectroscopy of the ⁸⁷Rb D₂ line. Varying the size of the σ⁺ polarized pump laser beam, we observed saturated absorption spectra for the σ^± polarized probe beam. For equal polarizations of the pump and probe beams, we found that the resonance signal for the F_g = 1 → F_e = 2 line, and the crossover lines between F_g = 1 → F_e = 2 and F_g = 1 → F_e = 1 (and 0) lines increased to a greater extent than the others. This observation can be understood from the calculated time evolution of the populations of the ground-state sublevels by means of a rate equation model. We also compared experimental data for other conditions with the calculated results. We found good agreement between the calculated results and the data.     

Orbital currents and charge density waves in a generalized Hubbard ladder

We study a generalized Hubbard model on the two-leg ladder at zero temperature, focusing on a parameter region with staggered flux (SF)/d-density wave (DDW) order. To guide our numerical calculations, we first investigate the location of a SF/DDW phase in the phase diagram of the half-filled weakly interacting ladder using a perturbative renormalization group (RG) and bosonization approach. For hole doping δ away from half-filling, finite-system density-matrix renormalization-group (DMRG) calculations are used to study ladders with up to 200 rungs for intermediate-strength interactions. In the doped SF/DDW phase, the staggered rung current and the rung electron density both show periodic spatial oscillations, with characteristic wavelengths 2/δ and 1/δ, respectively, corresponding to ordering wavevectors 2k_F and 4k_F for the currents and densities, where 2k_F = π (1 − δ). The density minima are located at the anti-phase domain walls of the staggered current. For sufficiently large dopings, SF/DDW order is suppressed. The rung density modulation also exists in neighboring phases where currents decay exponentially. We show that most of the DMRG results can be qualitatively understood from weak-coupling RG/bosonization arguments. However, while these arguments seem to suggest a crossover from non-decaying correlations to power-law decay at a length scale of order 1/δ, the DMRG results are consistent with a true long-range order scenario for the currents and densities.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of femtosecond ablation and spallation with different interatomic potentials

Fast heating of target material by femtosecond laser pulse (fsLP) with duration τ_L∼40-100 fs results in the formation of thermomechanically stressed state. Its unloading may cause frontal cavitation of subsurface layer at a depth of 50 nm for Al and 100 nm for Au. The compression wave propagating deep into material hits the rear-side of the target with the formation of rarefaction wave. The last may produce cracks and rear-side spallation. Results of MD simulations of ablation and spallation of Al and Au metals under action fsLP are presented. It is shown that the used EAM potentials (Mishin et al. and our new one) predict the different ablation and spallation thresholds on absorbed fluence in Al: ablation F_a=60{65} mJ/cm²and spallation F_s=120{190} mJ/cm², where numbers in brackets { } show the corresponding values for Mishin potential. The strain rate in spallation zone was 4.3×10⁹ 1/s at spallation threshold. Simulated spall strength of Al is 7.4{8.7} GPa, that is noticeably less than 10.3{14} GPa obtained from acoustic approximation with the use of velocity pullback on velocity profile of free rear surface. The ablation threshold F_a≈120 mJ/cm² and crater depth of 110 nm are obtained in MD simulations of gold with the new EAM potential. They agree well with experiment.     

Electrical properties of KTiOPO4 single crystal in the temperature range from −100 °C to 100 °C

The electrical property of a KTiOPO₄ single crystal was studied by means of a dielectric spectroscopy method in the temperature range from −100 to 100 °C. Dielectric dispersion began at a temperature, T_S=−80 °C. It is believed that this dielectric dispersion is related to the ionic hopping conduction, which arises mainly from the jumping of K⁺ ions. The activation energy concerned with hopping conduction is E_a∼0.20 eV above T_S. T_S=−80 °C can be the minimum temperature for the hopping K⁺ ion.     

The research on beat length of polarization maintaining optical fiber with external pressure

Based on the coupled mode equations and elastic optic effect theory, the relationship between polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) beat length and external pressure was analyzed. Moreover, the beat length variation with different external pressure values F as well as angles θ between the pressure direction and PMF's x-axis was calculated numerically. The results demonstrated that the beat length variation was determined both by F and θ simultaneously. When F was a constant, the beat length was changed periodically in π cycle sinusoidal form with θ variation. Then, the minimum and maximum values of beat length would be obtained when θ were even and odd multiples of π/2, respectively. Meanwhile, the beat length variation was linear with F as θ was fixed. In this situation and with F increasing, if θ ∈ (kπ + π/4, kπ + 3π/4) (k ∈ Z), the beat length would increase linearly; otherwise, the beat length variation would be in the opposite direction while θ ∈ (kπ − π/4, kπ + π/4) (k ∈ Z); however, it remained almost unchanged in the case of θ = kπ ± π/4 (k ∈ Z). Finally, the beat length was measured with different pressure values F and angles θ based on a Sagnac interferometer system, and the results shown a great agreement with the theoretical analysis and simulation.     

Electrical and electromechanical properties of lead-potassium-yttrium-niobate ceramics—piezoelectric applications

Tungsten bronze (TB)-type oxide ceramic Pb_0.74K_0.13Y_0.13Nb₂O₆ (PKYN) has been synthesized by the standard solid state reaction method. Single phase formation, orthorhombic crystal structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The substitution of Y³⁺ in Pb_0.74K_0.52Nb₂O₆ (PKN) decreased the unit cell volume and T_C=260 °C. PKYN exhibited the remnant polarization, P_r=8.5 μC/cm², and coercive field, E_c=28.71 kV/cm. Electrical spectroscopy studies were carried out over the temperature (35-595 °C) and frequency (45 Hz-5 MHz) ranges, and the charge carrier phenomenon, grain-grain boundary contribution and non-Debye-type relaxation were analyzed. The relaxation species are immobile charges in low temperature and oxygen vacancies at higher temperature. The theoretical values computed using the relations, ε′=ε_∞+sin(n(T)π/2)(a(T)/ε₀)(ω^n(T)−1); σ(ω)=σ_dc+Aωⁿ are fitted with the experimental one. The n and A parameters suggested that the charge carrier's couple with the soft mode and become mobile at T_C. The activation enthalpy, H_m=0.38 eV, has been estimated from the hopping frequency relation ω_p=ω_e exp(−H_m/k_BT). The piezoelectric constants K_t=35.4%, d₃₃=69×10⁻¹² C/N, d₃₁=−32×10⁻³ mV/N, S₁₁^E=17.8 pm²/N, etc., achieved in PKYN indicate the material is interesting for transducer applications. The activation energies from different formalisms confirmed the ionic-type conduction.     

Superparamagnetic behavior of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 nanoparticles prepared via sol-gel method

Magnetic nanoparticles of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) manganite were prepared by sol-gel method. Phase formation and crystal structure of the synthesized powder were examined by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) using the Rietveld analysis. The mean particle size was determined by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Infrared transmission spectroscopy revealed that stretching and bending modes are influenced by calcinations temperature. The temperature dependence of the ac magnetic susceptibility was measured at different frequencies and ac magnetic fields in the selected ranges of 40-1000 Hz and 80-800 A/m, respectively. The temperature dependence of ac susceptibility shows a characteristic maxima corresponding to the blocking temperature near room temperature. The frequency dependence of the blocking temperature is well described by the Vogel-Fulcher law. By fitting the experimental data with this law, the relaxation time τ₀=1.7×10⁻¹² s, characteristic temperature T₀=262±3 K, anisotropy energy E_a/k=684±15 K and effective magnetic anisotropy constant k_eff=2.25×10⁴ erg/cm³ have been obtained. dc Magnetization measurement versus magnetic field shows that some of LSMO nanoparticles are blocked at 293 K. The role of magnetic interparticle interactions on the magnetic behavior is also investigated.     

The bulk modulus of SmFeAs(O0.93F0.07)

The crystal structure of SmFeAs(O_0.93F_0.07) has been investigated under high pressure (up to ∼9 GPa) by means of synchrotron powder diffraction analysis followed by Rietveld refinement. The bulk modulus was calculated (K₀ = 103 GPa) using a 3rd order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state and resulted in quite good agreement with theoretical calculations reported for LaFeAsO. The linear compressibilities β_a and β_c are 2.11(4) and 4.56(7) × 10⁻³ GPa⁻¹, respectively.     

Longitudinal and transverse contributions to the threshold cross-section slope of single-pion electroproduction by a proton

The cross sections of inelastic electron scattering are measured near the threshold of single-pion production by a proton at k²=2.5, 3.5, 5.0 and 8.0 fm^? in the polarization range of the virtual photon ?=0.3–0.9. The separation of the |E₀₊|² and k²|S₀₊|² contributions to the cross-section slope at threshold is carried out and thus a new method of determining the F_A and F_π form factors is realized. The values for the axial mass and mean-square radius of the pion are obtained.     

The controlled excitation of forbidden transitions in the two-photon spectrum of strontium by using collisions and electric fields

We present experimental results involving controlled configuration mixing in two-photon spectroscopy of highly-excited states by exploiting a weak external electric field and collisions. The method has allowed new extensions to high members of the two-photon forbidden J = 3 odd-parity 5snf ¹F₃ and the J = 0, even-parity 5sns ¹S₀ Rydberg series of neutral strontium to be observed. We achieve resonant two-photon transverse excitation of a high density atomic jet by using a narrow bandwidth tunable dye laser in a heat pipe setup with sensitive ionization detection. Experimental term values are extended for the 5sns ¹S₀ series up to n = 46. By suitable exploitation of the composition and pressure of the buffer gases in conjunction with the electric field strength in the excitation region and the exciting laser beam intensity we have also extended observations up to n = 44 for the 5snf ¹F₃ series and up to n = 46 for the 5snp ¹P₁ series. Our results demonstrate a novel and remarkably simple experimental method to access high Rydberg states to which transitions are forbidden from the ground state by parity and other selection rules.     

The multiphoton ionization spectrum of jet-cooled pyrimidine in the 3p Rydberg and B1 (π,n) states

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) has been applied to study the n → 3p Rydberg transition of pyrimidine (jet-cooled sample and mass resolved spectrum). Only the one component, the 3p_z(B₂), appears in the (2 + 1) REMPI and the active vibrations are ν_6a = 622, ν₁ = 946, and ν_9a = 1116 cm⁻¹. The symmetry of the state was determined by polarization measurements (linear, circular polarization). The first (π^∗,n) ³B₁ triplet state appears as a one-photon resonance in the three-photon ionization process.     

The ν4 and ν2 + ν5 high resolution infrared bands of FClO3 and FClO3

The high resolution infrared spectra of monoisotopic F³⁵Cl¹⁸O₃ and F³⁷Cl¹⁸O₃ have been studied in the region of the ν₄ fundamentals, centered at 1278.3 and 1263.3 cm⁻¹, respectively. Large perturbations are observed in both bands due to a Fermi type anharmonic resonance with the ν₂ + ν₅ combination bands, centered at 1270.7 cm⁻¹ in F³⁵Cl¹⁸O₃ and 1257.3 cm⁻¹ in F³⁷Cl¹⁸O₃. In particular, they affect the kl > 0 levels of the v₄ = 1 and v₂ = v₅ = 1 states which cross at kl ? 18 in F³⁵Cl¹⁸O₃ and kl ? 3 in F³⁷Cl¹⁸O₃, due to the opposite values of and . The Δl = Δk = ±2 and Δl = 0, Δk = ±3 essential resonances are also effective in the excited states of the dyad in F³⁵Cl¹⁸O₃, while in F³⁷Cl¹⁸O₃ only the Δl = Δk = ±2 one is active. In the spectrum of F³⁵Cl¹⁸O₃ 3423 transitions have been assigned, 10% of them belonging to ν₂ + ν₅. The rovibrational parameters and the interaction constants between the v₄ = 1 and v₂ = v₅ = 1 levels have been obtained. The depertubed band origins of ν₄ and ν₂ + ν₅ are 1277.310567(165) and 1271.753733(195) cm⁻¹, respectively, and the anharmonic resonance constant is 2.804416(153) cm⁻¹. For F³⁷Cl¹⁸O₃, 3022 transitions have been assigned, 38% belonging to the ν₂ + ν₅ combination band. The depertubed band origins are 1260.856338(123) and 1259.872338(134) cm⁻¹, for ν₄and ν₂ + ν₅ and the constant is 2.9350669(405) cm⁻¹. The equilibrium geometry of perchloryl fluoride, r_e (ClO) = 139.7(3) pm, r_e (ClF) = 161.0(5) pm, and α_e (OClO) = 115.7(4) degree, has been determined using the A_e and B_e equilibrium constants of the four symmetric isotopologues of perchloryl fluoride, F^35/37Cl¹⁶O₃ and F^35/37Cl¹⁸O₃.     

Magnetic relaxation in pulse-magnetized high-temperature superconductors

A magnetic filed relaxation at the center of a pulse-magnetized single-domain Y–Ba–Cu–O superconductor at 78 K has been studied. In case of a weak magnetization, the magnetic flux density increases logarithmically and normalized relaxation rate defined as S = −d(lnB)/d(lnt) is negative (S = −0.037). When an external magnetic field magnitude increases, the relaxation rate first decreases in absolute value, then changes sign (becomes positive, S > 0) and after reaching some maximum finally reduces to a very small value. Non-monotonous dependence of S vs. H_a is explained by a non-homogeneous local temperature distribution during a pulse magnetization.     

Velocity modulation spectroscopy of molecular ions II: The millimeter/submillimeter-wave spectrum of TiF (XΦr)

The pure rotational spectrum of the molecular ion TiF⁺ in its ³Φ_r ground state has been measured in the range 327-542 GHz using millimeter-wave direct absorption techniques combined with velocity modulation spectroscopy. TiF⁺ was made in an AC discharge from a mixture of TiCl₄, F₂ in He, and argon. Ten transitions of this ion were recorded. In every transition, fluorine hyperfine interactions, as well as the fine structure splittings, were resolved. The fine structure pattern was found to be regular with almost equal spacing in frequency between the three spin components, in contrast to TiCl⁺, which is perturbed in the ground state. The data were fit with a case (a) Hamiltonian and rotational, fine structure, and hyperfine constants were determined. The bond length established for TiF⁺, r₀ = 1.7775 Å, was found to be shorter than that of TiF, r₀ = 1.8342 Å—also established from mm-wave data. The hyperfine parameters determined are consistent with a δ¹π¹ electron configuration with the electrons primarily located on the titanium nucleus. The nuclear spin-orbit constant a indicates that the unpaired electrons are closer to the fluorine nucleus in TiF⁺ relative to TiF, as expected with the decrease in bond length for the ion. The shorter bond distance is thought to arise from increased charge on the titanium nucleus as a result of a Ti²⁺F⁻ configuration. A similar decrease in bond length was found for TiCl⁺ relative to TiCl.     

Crystal and magnetic structures of Y2CrS4

Chromium(II) sulfide, Y₂CrS₄, prepared by a solid-state reaction of Y₂S₃ and CrS, showed an antiferromagnetic transition at 65 K. The neutron diffraction patterns at 10 and 90 K were both well refined with the space group Pca2₁. At 90 K, cell parameters were a=12.5518(13) Å, b=7.5245(8) Å, and c=12.4918(13) Å. At 10 K, magnetic peaks were observed, which could be indexed on the same unit cell. Magnetic moments of chromium ions were parallel to the b-axis and antiferromagnetically ordered in each set of the 4a sites.