Four-Nucleon States in the Continuum: A Means to Probe the Nucleon-Nucleon Interaction

 Four-nucleon states in the continuum are studied through exact microscopic calculations based on the solution of the AGS equations for four nonrelativistic quantum particles. Our studies include calculations of cross sections and analyzing powers for all two-body reactions of interest, but here we only show results for n ³He → n ³He. The NN interactions we use are Bonn-CD, Nijmegen II, and Bonn-B. Compared to existing quality data, one finds large discrepancies and some sensitivity to the choice of NN force model. The calculated n + ³He elastic phase shifts show a very strong inelastic resonance at about 0.3 MeV which is not supported by the total cross-section data. This result is due to the existence of a ³ P ₀ (0⁻) resonance in isospin I = 0 at this energy and the undesirable coincidence of n + ³He and p + ³H thresholds in our calculation due to lack of Coulomb repulsion between protons. This interpretation is supported by R-matrix analyses of the data on the basis of coincident thresholds. Calculated 0⁺ and 0⁻ states are compared with modified R-matrix analyses. Received October 30, 2001; accepted for publication November 7, 2001     

Vibrational and rotational energy transfer of CH+ in collisions with 4He and 3He

A quantum mechanical investigation of vibrational and rotational energy transfer in cold and ultra cold collisions of CH⁺ with ³He and ⁴He atoms is presented. Ab initio potential energy calculations are carried out at the BCCD(T) level and a global 3D potential energy surface is obtained using the Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) method. Close coupling scattering calculations using this surface are performed at collision energy ranging from 10^-6 to 2000 cm^-1. In the very low collision energy limit, the vibrational and rotational quenching cross sections of CH⁺ in collisions with He are found to be of the same order of magnitude. This unusual result is attributed to the large angular anisotropy of the intermolecular potential and to the unusually small equilibrium value of the Jacobi R coordinate of the He–CH⁺ complex. As for the He–N₂ ⁺ collision, we also find a strong isotope effect in the very low collision energy range which is analyzed in terms of scattering length and the differences between these two collisions are also discussed.     

α + 8He Elastic Scattering with the Generator-Coordinate Method

 The elastic α + ⁸He phase shifts are calculated with a two-centre generator-coordinate method. The microscopic α and ⁸He internal wave functions are defined in the harmonic-oscillator model. Bound states and resonances of ¹²Be are obtained. Among them, a 4⁺ resonance with a molecular structure should be observable in elastic scattering. The parity dependence of the microscopic phase shifts is analyzed by fitting them with simple potentials. The odd-even effect is similar in the α + ⁸He and α + ⁶He phase shifts for low partial waves but decreases more rapidly with increasing orbital momentum for α + ⁸He. Received May 14, 1999; accepted for publication July 29, 1999     

Total and ionization cross-sections of N<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CO by positron impact: Theoretical investigations

In this paper we report our calculations on several important total cross-sections (TCSs) of positron impact on isoelectronic N₂ and CO molecules, treated in the complex spherical potential formalism. Basically the total (complete) cross-section Q _T consists of elastic and inelastic contributions. Our total inelastic cross-section (Q _inel) contains ionization and electronic excitations together with positronium formation. Our goal here is to bifurcate Q _inel further to deduce total ionization cross-section, using the ‘complex scattering potential–ionization contribution’ (CSP-ic) method of electron–atom/molecule scattering. The present range of positron energy is 15–2000 eV. All the resulting cross-sections are in a good general accord with the existing data. This work highlights the importance of various scattering channels in e⁺-N₂ and e⁺-CO interactions at intermediate and high energies.     

Study of the 3He(4He,γ)7Be and 3H(4He,γ)7Li Reactions in an Extended Two-Cluster Model

 The ³He(⁴He, γ)⁷Be and ³H(⁴He, γ)⁷Li reactions are studied in an extended two-cluster model which contains α + h/t and ⁶Li + p/n clusterizations. We show that the inclusion of the ⁶Li + p/n channels can significantly change the zero-energy reaction cross sections, S(0), and other properties of the ⁷Be and ⁷Li nuclei, like the quadrupole moments Q. However, the results agree with the known correlation trend between S(0) and Q. Moreover, we demonstrate that the value of the zero-energy derivatives of the astrophysical S-factors are more uncertain than currently believed. Received June 17, 1999; revised February 22, 2000; accepted for publication April 17, 2000     

What do we really know about cold nuclear matter effects?

The measurement of charmonium suppression in relativistic heavy ion collisions is posited to be an unambiguous probe of the properties of the strongly interacting quark gluon plasma (sQGP). In hot and dense QCD matter Debye color screening prevents charm and anti-charm quark pairs from forming J/ψ mesons if the screening radius is smaller than the binding radius. However, one must have a clear understanding of the expected suppression in normal density QCD matter before interpreting any additional anomalous suppression. The PHENIX experiment has measured J/ψ production from colliding proton + proton and deuteron + gold beams at 200 GeV from the relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC). The deuteron + gold data can be compared to the proton + proton baseline in order to establish the typical suppression in cold nuclear matter (CNM). For PHENIX, a suppression of J/ψ in cold nuclear matter is observed as one goes forward in rapidity (in the deuteron-going direction), corresponding to a region more sensitive to initial state low-x gluons in the gold nucleus. These results can be convoluted with the nuclear-environment-modified parton distribution functions, extracted from deep inelastic scattering (DIS) and Drell-Yan (DY) data, in order to estimate the J/ψ break up cross section in cold nuclear matter. One can also use a data driven method that does not rely on the assumption of the production mechanism, or PDF parameterization, to extrapolate to the heavy ion collision case. At this time both the predictions for CNM effect suppression in heavy ion collisions are somewhat ambiguous. Future results using the data acquired by the PHENIX experiment in run-6 (p + p) and run-8 (d + Au) will be vital for our understanding. These data, which are in the process of being analyzed, will provide a needed improvement in the statistical and systematic precision of constraints for CNM effects. These constraints must be improved in order to make firm conclusions concerning additional hot nuclear matter charmonium suppression in the sQGP.     

Five-Body Calculation of Resonance and Scattering States of the uudd\bar{s} System

The scattering problem of the system, in the standard non-relativistic quark model of Isgur-Karl, is solved for the first time, by treating the large five-body model space, including the NK scattering channel, accurately with the Gaussian expansion method and the Kohn-type coupled-channel variational method. The calculated NK scattering phase shift shows no resonance in the energy region of the reported pentaquark Θ⁺(1540) that is, at 0–500 MeV above the NK threshold (1.4–1.9 GeV in mass). The phase shift does show two resonances just above 500 MeV: a broad ⁺ resonance with a width of Γ ∼ 110 MeV located at ∼ 520 MeV (∼ 2.0 GeV in mass) and a sharp ⁻ resonance with Γ = 0.12 MeV at 540 MeV.     

Optical spectra and spin-Hamiltonian parameters of trivalent ytterbium in lead tungstate

By using crystal-field theory, the optical spectra and spin-Hamiltonian parameters (abbr. SH parameters, i.e. the anisotropic g factors g _∥, g _⊥, and hyperfine structure constants A _∥, A _⊥) of ¹⁷¹Yb^3 + and ¹⁷³Yb^3 + isotopes in the tetragonal PbWO₄ are calculated. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental values. The crystal-field parameters and the signs of the hyperfine structure constants for both ¹⁷¹Yb^3 + and ¹⁷³Yb^3 + isotopes are determined. The validities of the theoretical results are discussed.     

Model for Topological Fermions

 We introduce a model designed to describe charged particles as stable topological solitons of a field with values on the internal space S ³. These solitons behave like particles with relativistic properties like Lorentz contraction and velocity dependence of mass. This mass is defined by the energy of the soliton. In this sense this model is a generalization of the Sine-Gordon model¹(We do not chase the aim to give a four-dimensional generalization of Coleman’s isomorphism between the Sine-Gordon model and the Thirring model which was shown in 2-dimensional space-time) from 1 + 1-dimensions to 3 + 1-dimensions, from S ¹ to S ³. For large distances from the centre of solitons this model tends to a dual U(1)-theory with freely propagating electromagnetic waves. Already at the classical level it describes important effects, which usually have to be explained by quantum field theory, like particle-antiparticle annihilation and the running of the coupling. Received November 30, 1999; revised June 20, 2000; accepted for publication October 2, 2000     

Strange particle production at RHIC

We report STAR measurements of mid-rapidity yields for the Λ , , K _S ⁰ , Ξ ⁻, , Ω ⁻, particles in Cu + Cu and Au + Au  GeV collisions. We show that at a given number of participating nucleons, bulk strangeness production is higher in Cu + Cu collisions compared to Au + Au collisions at the same center of mass energy, counter to predictions from the Canonical formalism. We compare both the Cu + Cu and Au + Au yields to AMPT and EPOS predictions, and find they reproduce key qualitative aspects of the data. Finally, we investigate other scaling parameters and find bulk strangeness production for both the measured data and theoretical predictions, scales better with the number participants that undergo more than one collision.     

Coupled-channel analysis for 20.4 MeV energy of p-<Superscript>64</Superscript>Zn inelastic scattering

In this study, a coupled-channel (CC) analysis of the elastic and the inelastic scattering of 20.4 MeV polarized protons from a ⁶⁴Zn target leading to the deformed 2⁺, 3−, 2₂⁺2_2^+ states was performed. The CC potential parameters and the deformation parameters of the excited states corresponding to the best fit to the experimental differential cross-sections and the analysing powers data were determined. For 2₂⁺2_2^+ excited state, a mixed type was used and a good fit to the data was provided. The CC calculation results were compared to the pure distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA) calculation results which were calculated using the new parameters. All calculations were conducted using the computer code ECIS06.     

Halo Structure of 19C via the (p,d) Reaction

 We have investigated the heaviest one-neutron halo candidate, the ¹⁹C nucleus. Few-body model calculations of cross-section angular distributions for the ¹⁹C(p,d)¹⁸C reaction together with test calculations carried out for the ¹⁷C(p,d)¹⁶C reaction at a low incident energy are presented for different possible halo-neutron configurations. We show that there is a clear distinction in particular between l _n  = 0 and l _n  = 2 halo transfers. The sensitivity of the cross sections to the assumed ¹⁹C single-neutron separation energy is discussed. Received October 13, 1999; revised November 25, 1999; accepted for publication April 29, 2000     

Unitarity in Dirichlet Higgs model

We show that a five-dimensional Universal Extra Dimension model, compactified on a line segment, is consistently formulated even when the gauge symmetry is broken solely by non-zero Dirichlet boundary conditions on a bulk Higgs field, without any quartic interaction. We find that the longitudinal W ⁺ W ⁻ elastic scattering amplitude, under the absence of the Higgs zero mode, is unitarized by exchange of infinite towers of KK Higgs bosons. Resultant amplitude scales linearly with the scattering energy μ ?s\propto\sqrt{s}, exhibiting five-dimensional nature. A tree-level partial-wave unitarity condition is satisfied up to 6.7 (5.7) TeV for the KK scale m _KK=430 (500) GeV, favored by the electroweak data within 90% CL.     

The NASICON solid solution Li1−x La x /3Zr2(PO4)3: optimization of the sintering process and ionic conductivity measurements

The Li_1−x La _{x /3}Zr₂(PO₄)₃ NASICON-type compounds (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been synthesized in powder form by a sol-gel method and sintered for ionic conductivity measurements. In order to improve the compactness of the ceramic without decomposition of the compound, several sintering processes have been tested for one member of the solid solution (x = 0.6): the use of sintering aids (ZnO, B₂O₃, TiO₂ and LiNO₃), a ball-milling of the synthesized powder, a flash heating, high isostatic pressure, and spark plasma sintering. Finally, a satisfactory compactness of 85% is obtained compared to the referenced value (63%) obtained by uniaxial and isostatic pressing. The ionic conductivity study was performed by impedance spectroscopy. It shows that, despite the formation of vacancies, the substitution Li⁺→ 1/3 La³⁺ + 2/3 □ has unfortunately no influence on the conduction for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.7 since the ionic conductivity remains identical to the LiZr₂(PO₄)₃ one. For higher x values, the ionic conductivity strongly decreases.     

Revisiting unitarity corrections for electromagnetic processes in collisions of relativistic nuclei

Unitarity corrections to several electromagnetic processes in collisions of relativistic heavy nuclei are considered. They are due to the unitarity requirement for the S-matrix and correspond to the exchange of a light-by-light scattering block between colliding nuclei. We obtain improved results for the corrections to e ⁺  e ⁻ and μ ⁺ μ ⁻ pair production as well as new results for unitarity corrections to the production of photons via virtual Compton and virtual Delbrück scattering. These corrections can be numerically large; e.g., the μ ⁺ μ ⁻ pair production cross section is reduced by about 50% and nuclear bremsstrahlung by about 15÷20%.     

Measurement of light mesons at RHIC by the PHENIX experiment

The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured a variety of light neutral mesons (π ⁰, K _S ⁰, η, ω, η ^′, φ) via multi-particle decay channels over a wide range of transverse momentum. A review of the recent results on the production rates of light mesons in p + p and their nuclear modification factors in d + Au, Cu + Cu and Au + Au collisions at different energies is presented.     

A comparative nearside-farside analysis of the He–N2 + and He–N2 inelastic collisions

A comparative study of the inelastic scattering of ¹⁴N₂ ⁺ and ¹⁴N₂ in collision with ³He atoms is presented. The unrestricted nearside-farside (NF) method proposed by Connor [J. Chem. Phys. 104, 2297 (1995)] is applied to analyse the Close Coupling rotationally state selected angular distributions for four kinetic energies. These four energies illustrate different regimes of the dynamics. The relationships between the structures of the calculated differential cross-sections (DCS) and the different regions of the potential energy surfaces involved which can be extracted from semi classical models are here easily obtained from a simple reading of the (NF) figures. At the higher energy far-off the wells (1000 cm^-1) the shape of the DCS are quite similar for the two systems and their nearside-farside components also, showing that the inelastic process is controlled by the short range repulsive part of the potential which is essentially the same for these two collisions. When the energy is decreased the differences between the two wells associated with the He–N₂ ⁺ and He–N₂ complexes are responsible for the differences between the DCS for the two systems. The farside component associated with the well become more and more prominent for the elastic scattering while inelastic scattering remains controlled by the repulsive core in a large angular interval. The nearside farside analysis gives also a new picture of a resonance which is regarded as an equilibrium between the repulsive and the attractive parts of the potential.     

Subthreshold and near threshold K+ meson photoproduction\newline on nuclei

The inclusive K⁺ meson production in photon–induced reactions in the near threshold and subthreshold energy regimes is analyzed with respect to the one–step (γN→K ⁺ Y, Y=Λ,Σ) incoherent production processes on the basis of an appropriate new folding model, which takes properly into account the struck target nucleon removal energy and internal momentum distribution (nucleon spectral function), extracted from recent quasielastic electron scattering experiments and from many–body calculations with realistic models of the NN interaction. Simple parametrizations for the total and differential cross sections of the K⁺ production in photon–nucleon collisions are presented. Comparison of the model calculations of the K⁺ differential cross sections for the reaction γ+C¹² in the threshold region with the existing experimental data is given, that displays the contributions to the K⁺ production at considered incident energies coming from the use of the single–particle part as well as high momentum and high removal energy part of the nucleon spectral function. Detailed predictions for the K⁺ total and differential cross sections from γH², γC¹² and γPb²⁰⁸ reactions at subthreshold and near threshold energies are provided. The influence of the uncertainties in the elementary K⁺ production cross sections on the K⁺ yield is explored. Received: 12 April 1999 / Revised version: 11 September 1999     

Theoretical study of the electronic structure of LiNa and LiNa<Superscript>+</Superscript> molecules

Adiabatic potential energy, spectroscopic constants, dipole moments, and vibrational levels of the lowest electronic states of the alkali dimer LiNa molecule dissociating into Na (3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, and 4p) + Li (2s, 2p, 3s, and 3p) in ^1,3Σ, ^1,3Π, and ^1,3Δ symmetries are presented. Adiabatic results are also reported for ²Σ, ²Π, and ²Δ electronic states of the molecular ion LiNa⁺ dissociating into Li (2s, 2p, 3s, and 3p) + Na⁺ and Li⁺  + Na(3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, and 4p). We use an ab initio approach involving a non-empirical pseudopotential for the Li (1s²) and Na (1s²2s²2p⁶) cores and core valence correlation correction. A very good agreement is obtained for some lowest states of the LiNa and LiNa⁺ molecules for spectroscopic constants with the available theoretical works. The existence of numerous avoided crossings between electronic states of ²Σ and ²Π symmetries is related to the charge transfer process between the two ionic systems Li⁺Na and LiNa⁺.     

Seasonal variation of radon level and radon effective doses in the Catacomb of Kom EI-Shuqafa,Alexandria, Egypt

Inhalation of radon has been recognized as a health hazard. In the present work radon concentration was measured, in the atmosphere of the archaeological place, namely Catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa, in Alexandria, Egypt, which is open to the public, using time-integrated passive radon dosimeters containing LR-115 solid-state nuclear track detector. The measurements were performed throughout winter and summer. Seasonal variation of radon concentration, with the maximum in summer ranging from 243 to 574 Bq m^− 3 and minimum in winter ranging from 64 to 255 Bq m^− 3 was observed. Because of the variations of the catacomb ventilation system, the equilibrium factor between radon and its progeny ranges from 0.14 to 0.48. The tour guides are exposed to an average estimated annual effective dose ranging from 0.21 to 0.52 mSv y^− 1 and the visitors from 0.88 to 2.28 μSv y^− 1. The effective doses the catacomb workers are exposed to ranged from 0.20 mSv y^− 1 in winter to 4.65 mSv y^− 1 in summer which exceeds the lower bound of the recommended level (3–10 mSv y^− 1) (ICRP, 1993).