Production and loss of N 2 + , Ne+ and Ne 2 + during the decay period of plasmas produced in neon-nitrogen mixtures

Studies of the time dependencies of the number density of N ₂ ⁺ , Ne⁺ and Ne ₂ ⁺ ions have been made during the decay period of plasmas produced in neon containing various concentrations of nitrogen molecules. Reaction rate constants were obtained for N ₂ ⁺ +N₂+Ne→N ₄ ⁺ +Ne((1.2±0.2)×10^?29 cm⁶ sec^?1) and Ne⁺+N₂→N ₂ ⁺ + Ne ((2.9±0.3) × 10^?12 cm³ sec^?1). The ambipolar diffusion coefficient of N ₂ ⁺ in neon was found to beD _a p _o =350±20 cm² sec^?1 Torr.     

Near and far infrared vibrational absorption ofH i − andD i − centres in KBr

Near infrared absorption measurements by Gross and Bron led to the suggestion that the threefold degeneracy of the localized vibration ofH _i ^? andD _i ^? centres in KI is completely lifted in KBr. Using thermal annealing procedures,H _i ^? -D _i ^? substitution and far infrared techniques we found that the lines at 794, 840, and 896 cm^?1 cannot be interpreted as a splitting of the main line. Only the 794 cm^?1 line can be correlated with the direct excitation of theH _i ^? oscillator. The absence of any splitting in this line (its halfwidth at 9 °K is only 1.5 cm^?1) indicates that also in KBrH _i ^? centres have at most only slightly perturbedT _d symmetry.     

E2 andE3 transition strengths in some rare-earth nuclei

Coulomb excitation byα-particles of vibrational-like states in even-mass rare-earth nuclei is used to determine the reduced transition probabilitiesB(E2; 0 _gs ⁺ →2 _γ ⁺ ),B(E2; 0 _gs ⁺ →2 _β ⁺ ),B(E2; 2 _gs ⁺ →0 _β ⁺ ) andB(E2; 0 _gs ⁺ →3 _oct ^? ) in¹⁵⁰Nd,^{152, 154}Sm,^{154, 158}Gd,¹⁶⁴Dy and¹⁶⁶Er. TheB(Eλ; 0 _gs ⁺ →I=λ)-values range from 2.4 to 6.5 single-particle units for transitions to the 2 _γ ⁺ -states, 0.8 single-particle units for the 2 _β ⁺ -states and from 14.1 to 21.7 single-particle units for the 3^?-states.     

Experimental study of the energy dependence of the reaction rate coefficients of the reaction CH 3 + with N2O and NH3

The kinetics of the reaction of CH ₃ ⁺ ions with N₂O and NH₃ has been investigated in He and Ar buffers using Selected Ion Flow Drift Tube technique (SIFDT). Both studied reactions proceed with nearly collisional rate at near thermal energies. The rate coefficient of the reaction of CH ₃ ⁺ with N₂O is decreasing more than one order of magnitude (from 1.2×10^?9cm³s^?1 up to 8×10^?11cm³s^?1) with reactant ion/reactant neutral average centre-of-mass kinetic energy (E _r) increasing from near thermal up to 2 eV. The dominant product of this reaction is the isomer HCO⁺ (≥94%) and the minor product is CH₃O⁺. The reaction of CH ₃ ⁺ with NH₃ has two binary channels with the dominant product ion CH₂NH ₂ ⁺ (>70%) and the minor product ion NH ₄ ⁺ (≈10%) and three body association channel with product CH₃NH ₃ ⁺ (≈20% at 0.32 Torr). The rate coefficient of this reaction is decreasing nearly by one order of magnitude with increasingE _r from near thermal up to 0.8eV, forE _r>0.8 eV the rate coefficient increases with increasingE _r. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of a simple model assuming the reactions to proceed via the formation of long-lived collision complexes.     

Resonance strengths,branching ratios and mean lifetimes of nuclear energy levels in23Na

The gamma decay of the²²Ne(p, y)²³Na resonances in the proton energy rangeE _p=1.0→2.0 MeV has been investigated with a 20cm³ Ge(Li) detector. Implanted targets were used. The absolute strengths of the strongest resonances were determined and the branching ratios of twenty resonance levels and several bound states are reported. Mean lifetimes of the levels atE _x=2.078 MeV (18.7±3.5 fs), 2.393 MeV (580 _?190 ⁺³⁷⁰ fs), 2.641 MeV (88 _?14 ⁺²⁰ fs), 2.985 MeV (4.0 _?1.0 ^+1.3 fs), 3.679 MeV (24 _?4 ⁺⁵ fs), 3.915 MeV (7.4 _?2.0 ^+2.5 fs) and 4.775 MeV (<2.0 fs) were obtained from measurements of the gamma ray Doppler shifts.     

Mechanism by which a single water molecule affects primary charge separation kinetics in a bacterial photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Using quantum-chemical methods, we have studied the role played by water molecules W-A and W-B that are bound by hydrogen bonds to accessory bacteriochlorophyll molecules B _A and B _B in the process of primary charge separation in the reaction center of Rhodobacter Sphaeroides. We have found that the occurrence of a rotational mode of the W-A molecule at 32 cm^?1 and/or its harmonics in stimulated emission of an electron donor P* and the dynamics of population of the states P⁺B _A ^? and P⁺H _A ^? may be related to the structural heterogeneity of the reaction center and the existence of a conformation in which the W-A molecule is predominantly involved in one hydrogen bond (with BA). Based on the calculated redox potentials B _A and P, it has been shown that the appearance of the W-A molecule in the reaction center reduces the energy of the P⁺B _A ^? state by ??600 cm^?1. This is somewhat smaller than the influence of the amino-acid residue Tyr^M210 (??870 cm^?1) and correlates well with a substantial decrease in the electron transfer rate in mutant forms of reaction centers GM203L (which do not contain W-A molecules) and YM210F (in which Tyr^M210 is replaced with Phe). The data obtained allow us to suggest that rotation of the water molecule with a fixed position of its H atom that is involved in a hydrogen bond with the keto carbonyl group of B _A is initiated due to the charge separation between the halves of special pair P and the formation of the state P _A ⁺ P _B ^? . The large effect of this rotation on the kinetics of population of the states P⁺B _A ^? and P⁺H _A ^? after the excitation of P is quite consistent with its influence on the energy of the state P⁺B _A ^? .     

Electronic color centers in SrF2-Na crystals

It was shown that optical bleaching of M _A ⁺ color centers at 80 K in SrF₂-Na crystals causes the core of an M _A ⁺ -center to transform into the V _a ⁺ Me ⁺ V _a ⁺ configuration, in which all three point defects are arranged diagnonally in the cube cell. Reirradiation of an optically bleached crystal by x-rays generates F _D centers in it: V _a ⁺ Me ⁺ V _a ⁺ + e ^? → V _a ⁰ Me ⁺ V _a ⁺ ≡ F _D. The F _D → M _A ⁺ transformation in SrF₂-Na crystals proceeds at T = 135 K, in contrast to the F _A → M _A ⁺ transformations, which take place at T > 200 K.     

g-factors of the lowest 2+ and 4+ states in198, 200, 202Hg

Theg-factors of the 2 ₁ ⁺ and 4 ₁ ⁺ states in^198,200,202Hg were simultaneously measured by means of the transient-field perturbed angular correlation method in Coulomb excitation using multi-isotopic targets and thin polarized Gd foils as ferromagnetic host. Theg(2 ₁ ⁺ ) andg(4 ₁ ⁺ ) were found identical within errors in^{198, 200}Hg, while in²⁰⁰Hg lowerg-factor values have been determined. The experimentalg-factors were compared with the predictions of the pairing-plus-quadrupole, dynamical deformation and interacting boson models.     

Pion photoproduction on197Au to ground and isomeric states in197Hg

The lifetime of the 331.3 keV 0 ₂ ⁺ state in¹⁰⁰Zr has been measured at the gas-filled recoil separator for fission products JOSEF. By observing the delayed coincidences between theβ-particles populating the level and theE0 conversion electrons from its decay into the ground state, a half-life of 3.37±0.30 ns has been obtained. From the measured lifetime and the relative intensities of the 0 ₂ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ →2 ₁ ⁺ transitions, values of 0.493±0.015 for theE0 strength parameterρ, and of 16 single particle units forB(E2,2 ₁ ⁺ → 0 ₂ ⁺ ) have been deduced. The enhanced nature of theE0 transitions suggests mixing of the 0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ states which may be estimated by comparing the experimentalB(E2) values for the 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₂ ⁺ transitions with the predictions of the asymmetric VMI model.     

Gyromagnetic ratios of 4+ and 6+ states in156Gd and158Gd

The followingg-factors have been derived from time integral measurements of γ-γ angular correlations in the static magnetic hyperfine field of magnetized gadolinium metal probes:¹⁵⁶Gd:g(4 ₁ ⁺ )=+0.310(19)g(6 ₁ ⁺ )=+0.25(21)g(4 ₃ ⁺ , 1511 keV)=+0.809(27)¹⁵⁸Gd:g(4 ₁ ⁺ )=+0.409(15). The 5.35d ¹⁵⁶Tb sources were produced by the reaction¹⁵⁶Gd(d, 2n)¹⁵⁶Tb in our cyclotron. A carrier-free 150y ¹⁵⁸Tb source was obtained from ISOLDE/CERN. In comparison with the precisely knowng-factors of the 2 ₁ ⁺ states,g(2 ₁ ^su+ ,¹⁵⁶Gd) =+0.386(4) andg(2 ₁ ⁺ ,¹⁵⁸Gd)=0.381(4), we observe a large reduction for the¹⁵⁶Gd 4 ₁ ⁺ state whereasg increases slightly for¹⁵⁸Gd. The half-life of the 4 ₁ ⁺ state of¹⁵⁸Gd was remeasured as¹⁵⁸Gd:T _1/2(4 ₁ ⁺ )=148(2) ps. A measurement of the rotation in the 4 ₃ ⁺ state of¹⁵⁶Gd in external magnetic fields of various strengths up toB _ext=9.5 T did not confirm the anomalous dependence of the magnetic hyperfine field in gadolinium metal on the external field, which has been reported by Persson et al. [29].     

Electric properties of levels of 156Dy rotational bands

The nonadiabaticity of E0 transitions from 0 ₂ ⁺ states and 2 ₁ ⁺ bands in ¹⁵⁶Dy is examined within a phenomenological model that takes into account the mixing of K ^π = 0 ₁ ⁺ , 0 ₂ ⁺ , 0 ₃ ⁺ , 2 ₁ ⁺ states and 1⁺-bands. It is shown that the nonadiabaticity of E0 transitions is due primarily to the mixing of 0 ₂ ⁺ and 0 ₃ ⁺ bands.     

g-factor of the second 4+ state in24Mg

The transient field technique has been used to determine theg-factor of the 4 ₂ ⁺ state at 6.010MeV excitation in²⁴Mg. The deduced value ofg=+0.5(4) is consistent with collective model expectations. Further, the equality within experimental accuracies, of the g-factors of the 2 ₁ ⁺ , 2 ₂ ⁺ , 4 ₁ ⁺ and 4 ₂ ⁺ states agrees with theoretical predictions for thisT=0 self-conjugate nucleus, in contrast to the results for²⁰Ne.     

Evidence for a 3.6 minute isomeric 12− state of the πh 11 2/−1 vi 13 2/−1 configuration in206Tl and effective two-particle interactions

Using the²⁰⁴Hg(α, pn)-reaction andα-particles of energies 39–55 MeV, we have found an isomeric 3.6 min 12^? state in²⁰⁶Tl at 2,642.9 keV which has the two-hole configurationπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 vi ₁₃ ^2/?1 The 12^? state decays mainly by anE5 transition of energy 1,021.4 keV to a 7⁺ state at 1,621.5 keV whose main configuration isπs ₁ ^2/?1 vi ₁₃ ^2/?1 There is, in addition, evidence for a weak 565 keVM 4 branch to an 8⁺ state at 2,078 keV whose main configuration should beπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 vf ₅ ^2/?1 . The 7⁺ state decays by a stretched cascade ofγ-rays to states of the following values ofJ ^π and excitation energy: 5 _? ⁺ , 1,405.4 keV; 4^?, 952.1 keV; 2^?, 265.8 keV and 0^?, 0 keV. The main configurations of these states areπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 vp ₁ ^2/?1 ,πd ₃ ^2/?1 vf ₅ ^2/?1 ,πd ₃ ^2/?1 vp ₁ ^2/?1 andπs ₁ ^2/?1 vp ₁ ^2/?1 respectively. From the nuclear masses of²⁰⁸Pb,²⁰⁷Pb,²⁰⁷Tl, and²⁰⁶Tl and the experimental excitation energies it is possible to obtain the proton hole-neutron hole interaction in²⁰⁶Tl. This interaction is compared with the calculations of Kuo and Herling and the discrepancies are discussed. The 12^?→8⁺ M4 transition rate is reduced because of destructive interference between the protonh _11/2→d _3/2 and the neutroni _13/2→f _5/2 contributions. The magnitude of the reduction is accurately reproduced by the wave functions of Kuo and Herling. The 12^?→7⁺ E5 transition rate is about twice as large as the single-holeπh ₁₁ ^2/?1 πs ₁ ^2/?1 transition rate. This deviation is fully explained by the configuration admixtures in the 7⁺ state, given by Kuo and Herling.     

Statistical mechanism of the formation of the energy spectra of sputtered molecular clusters

The energy spectra of Si _n O _m ^? clusters sputtered from Si targets by Xe⁺ ions with O₂ pumping onto a bombarded surface, as well as by O ₂ ⁺ ions, are studied. It is shown that the form of the Si _n O _2n+1 ^? energy distributions does not depend on the experimental conditions. Significant differences in the energy spectra of O and Si monomers as compared to Si _n O _2n+1 ^? clusters are revealed. The mentioned features of the energy distribution of Si _n O _m ^? clusters are explained within the framework of the statistical recombination mechanism of their formation in combinatorial synthesis processes.     

Gyromagnetic ratios of excited states in186W

The gyromagnetic ratios of the 4 ₁ ⁺ , 6 ₁ ⁺ , and 2 ₂ ⁺ states in¹⁸⁶W were measured relative to that of the 2 ₁ ⁺ level by means of the transient field implantation perturbedγ-ray angular distribution technique. The nuclei in the states of interest were Coulomb excited using a beam of 220-MeV⁶³Cu projectiles and recoiled swiftly through a thin, polarized Fe foil. The present measurements yielded ratiosg(4 ₁ ⁺ )/g(2 ₁ ⁺ )=1.04±0.07,g(6 ₁ ⁺ )/g(2 ₁ ⁺ )=1.03 ±0.20 andg(2 ₂ ⁺ )/g(2 ₁ ⁺ )=0.63±0.13. The sizable disparity between the measuredg-factors of the ground- and excited-band is examined within the context of the interacting boson approximation model.     

Measurements of lifetime andg-factor of the 32S(4 1 + ) state at 4.459 MeV

Precessions of the very short-lived 2 ₁ ⁺ - and 4 ₁ ⁺ -states in³²S have been measured using the transient field technique. The deducedg-factor of the 4 ₁ ⁺ -state g=+0.40(15) agrees with the known value of the 2 ₁ ⁺ -state and with theoretical predictions. In addition, the lifetimes of both states were redetermined and are consistent with previous results.     

Form factor π0 → γ* + γ* at different photon virtualities

The π⁰ γγ vertex for virtual photons of squared masses q ₁ ² and q ₂ ² plays a vital rôle in several physical processes; for example for q ₁ ² < 0, q ₂ ² < 0, in the two-photon physics reaction e ⁺ e ^? → e ⁺ e ^?π⁰, and for q ₁ ² > 0, q ₂ ² > 0, in the annihilation process e ⁺ e ^? → π⁰ l ⁺l^?. It is also of interest because of its link to the axial anomaly. We suggest a new approach to this problem. We have obtained a closed analytic expression for the vertex in the limit in which at least one of ¦q ₁ ² ¦ and ¦q ₂ ² ¦ is large for arbitrary fixed values of the ratio q ₁ ² /q ₂ ² . We compare our results with those obtained previously by Brodsky and Lepage. It should be straightforward to test our predictions experimentally.     

The decay of the Bethe-Salpeter kernel inP(ϕ)2 quantum field models

We extend methods of high temperature expansions to show that for even weakly coupledP(?)₂ quantum field models the Bethe-Salpeter kernel has 4 particle decay. More precisely ifK denotes the Euclidean Bethe-Salpeter kernel $$|K(x_1 ,x_2 ,x_3 ,x_4 )| \leqq Oe^{ - m_0 (1 - \varepsilon )d_2 } ,$$ wherex=(x ⁰,x ¹),d ₂=2|x ₁ ⁰ +x ₂ ⁰ ?x ₃ ⁰ ?x ₄ ⁰ |+|x ₁ ⁰ ?x ₂ ⁰ |+|x ₃ ⁰ ?x ₄ ⁰ | and ε(λ)→0 as λ→0. Our methods apply to otherr particle irreducible kernels.     

Pulse ENDOR studies on the radical pair P 700 +· A 1 ·− and the photoaccumulated quinone acceptor A 1 ·− of photosystem I

The secondary acceptor A₁ of the electron transport chain(s) of photosystem (PS) I is a phylloquinone (vitamin K₁, VK₁). Pulse electron paramagnetic resonance and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) experiments at X-band frequencies were performed on the photoaccumulated acceptor radical A ₁ ^·? and the radical pair state P ₇₀₀ ^·+ A ₁ ^·? in PS I ofThermosynechococcus elongatus. The data obtained were compared with data from the respective radical anion of VK₁ in organic solvents. The unusualg tensor magnitude of A ₁ ^·? is explained by the hydrophobic binding pocket of this radical. The hyperfine couplings and the spin (and charge) density distribution is very different for A ₁ ^.? in PS I and VK ₁ ^·? in frozen alcoholic solution. This is attributed to a rather strong one-sided hydrogen bond to A ₁ ^·? . The presence of a hydrogen bond to A ₁ ^·? has only a minor effect ong. The hyperfine coupling constants of A ₁ ^·? determined from the radical pair spectra deviate only slightly from those derived from photoaccumulated A ₁ ^·? in PS I treated with dithionite at high pH. ENDOR resonances of the proton in a H bond were detected and an estimate of the strength and geometry of this bond to A ₁ ^·? was obtained. The significance of the hydrogen bond and other (hydrophobic) interactions of A₁ with the surrounding are briefly discussed.     

Untersuchung des Zerfalls von134Cs durch γ-γ-Winkelkorrelationsmessungen

γ-γ-angular correlation measurements with Ge(Li) detectors and NaJ(Tl) detectors provided theE2/M1 mixing ratios of the following gamma transitions: 3 ₁ ⁺ →2 ₂ ⁺ (475.3 keV), 2 ₂ ⁺ →2 ₁ ⁺ (563.3 keV), 4 ₂ ⁺ →4 ₁ ⁺ (569.4 keV), 3 ₁ ⁺ →2 ₁ ⁺ (1,039 keV). The angular correlation measurements were only consistent with spin 3 of the 1,643 keV level. The half life of the 1,401 keV level was determined by delayed coincidence techniques to beT _1/2 (1,401 keV)≦30 ps.