Unambiguous detection of monopoles

Summary The fission of a vortex line along the trajectory of a monopole in a superconducting medium is an unambiguous signature of a monopole. The numbern of the (stable) daughter vortices determines the monopole strengthg withg=2nφ/4π where ϕ₀=2.07·10⁻⁷ G cm².

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Riassunto La fissione di una linea di vortice lungo la traiettoria di un monopolo in un mezzo superconduttore è indice sicuro della segnatura di un monopolo. Il numeron di vortici figli (stabili) determina la forza del monopolog cong=nϕ₀/4π, dove ϕ₀=2.07·10⁻⁷ G cm².

     

Experimental test of the Pauli Exclusion Principle

A short review is given of three experimental works on tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) in which the author has been involved during the last 10 years. In the first work a search for anomalous carbon atoms was done and a limit on the existence of such atoms was determined, \(^{12}\tilde{\mathrm{C}}\)/¹²C <2.5×10^?12. In the second work PEP was tested with the NEMO-2 detector and the limits on the violation of PEP for p-shell nucleons in ¹²C were obtained. Specifically, transitions to the fully occupied 1s _1/2-shell yielded a limit of 4.2×10²⁴ y for the process with the emission of a γ-quantum. Similarly limits of 3.1×10²⁴ y for β ^? and 2.6×10²⁴ y for β ⁺ Pauli-forbidded transition of ¹²C → ¹²Ñ(\(^{12}\tilde{\mathrm{B}}\)) are reported. In the third work it was assumed that PEP is violated for neutrinos, and thus, neutrinos obey at least partly the Bose-Einstein statistics. Consequences of the violation of the exclusion principle for double beta decays were considered. This violation strongly changes the rates of the decays and modifies the energy and angular distributions of the emitted electrons. It was shown that pure bosonic neutrinos are excluded by the present experimental data. In the case of partly bosonic neutrinos the analysis of the existing data allows one to put an upper bound for sin?² χ<0.6. The sensitivity of future measurements is also evaluated.     

Phase shift analysis and extraction of structure functions for Coulomb distortion on (e, e'p) reactions at high electron energies

New results for the double beta decay of ⁷⁶ Ge are presented. They are extracted from data obtained with the HEIDELBERG-MOSCOW experiment, which operates five enriched ⁷⁶ Ge detectors in an extreme low-level environment in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory. The two-neutrino-accompanied double beta decay is evaluated for the first time for all five detectors with a statistical significance of 47.7 kg y resulting in a half-life of T _1/2 ^2ν = [1.55±0.01(stat)^+0.19 _-0.15(syst)]×10²¹ y. The lower limit on the half-life of the 0νββ decay obtained with pulse shape analysis is T _1/2 ^0ν > 1.9×10²⁵(3.1×10²⁵) y with 90% C.L. (68% C.L.) (with 35.5 kg y). This results in an upper limit of the effective Majorana-neutrino mass of 0.35 eV (0.27 eV) using the matrix elements of A. Staudt et al.'s work (Europhys. Lett. 13, 31 (1990)). This is the most stringent limit at present from double beta decay. No evidence for a majoron-emitting decay mode is observed. Received: 22 August 2001 / Accepted: 18 October 2001     

High order electron paramagnetic resonance transitions of Gd3+ in Pr2Zn3(NO3)12·24H2O single crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Gd³⁺ in Pr₂Zn₃(NO₃)₁₂ · 24H₂O single crystals has been studied at ∼ 9.45 GHz and at 285 K. In addition to the allowed fine structure lines (ΔM=± 1) some weak low field lines identified as ΔM = ± 2 transitions have been observed.     

New search for processes violating the Pauli exclusion principle in sodium and in iodine

In this paper a new search for non-Paulian nuclear processes, i.e. processes normally forbidden by the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP), is presented. It has been carried out at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN by means of the highly radiopure DAMA/LIBRA set-up (sensitive mass of about 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl)). In particular, a new improved upper limit for the spontaneous non-Paulian emission rate of protons with energy E _p ≥ 10 MeV in ²³Na and ¹²⁷I has been obtained: 1.63 × 10⁻³³ s⁻¹ (90% C.L.). The corresponding limit on the relative strength (δ ²) for the searched non-Paulian transition is δ ²≲(3–4)×10⁻⁵⁵ (90% C.L.). Moreover, PEP-violating electron transitions in iodine atoms have also been investigated. Lifetimes shorter than 4.7×10³⁰ s are excluded at 90% C.L.; this allows us to derive the limit δ _e ²<1.28×10⁻⁴⁷ (90% C.L.). This latter limit can also be related to a possible finite size of the electron in composite models of quarks and leptons providing superficial violation of the PEP; the obtained upper limit on the electron size is r ₀<5.7×10⁻¹⁸ cm (energy scale of E≳3.5 TeV).     

X-ray determination of thermal expansion of cadmium fluoride and lead fluoride

The lattice parameters of CdF₂ andβ-PbF₂ have been determined over the temperature range 300–670 K. The coefficient of expansion at room temperature is 21·3 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and 25·4 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ for CdF₂ and PbF₂ respectively and it increases linearly with temperature over the range of temperature covered. The Grüneisen parameter decreases with temperature in both the crystals.     

New limits on the ββ decay of 130Te to excited states of 130Xe

Experimental limits on half-lives of the (0ν + 2ν)ββ decay of ¹³⁰Te to excited states of ¹³⁰Xe are obtained using low-background HPGe detectors. At the 90% CL, these limits are equal to 1.6 ^. 10²¹ y, 2.7 ^. 10²¹ y and 2.3 ^. 10²¹ y for transitions to the 2⁺ ₁, 2⁺ ₂ and 0⁺ ₁ levels, respectively. Received: 16 March 2001 / Accepted: 18 June 2001     

Study of resonant two-photon absorption in the tetragonal modification of CdP2

Kinetic, spectral, intensity, angular, and polarization studies of resonant two-photon absorption (RTPA) in β-CdP₂ have been carried out. RTPA was observed with 2.60 eV total energy of the two quanta. It was found that RTPA occurs through a real intermediated level which lies in the forbidden band at a depthE=0.86 eV. The transverse electron relaxation time during RTPA, the cross section for absorption of laser radiation quanta ind ₃→C transitions, the equilibrium population of thed centers forn type doped samples, and the RTPA constant were determined to be 4.3 · 10¹⁴ sec, 1.25 · 10⁻¹⁷ cm, 0.95, and 0.028 cm/MW respectively. Ukrainian State Pedagogical University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 21–26, January, 1999.     

Spectral behaviour of the two-photon absorption coefficient in ZnO,CuCl and Bi4Ge3O12

Summary The spectral behaviour of the direct interband two-photon absorption coefficient α⁽²⁾ in ZnO, CuCl and Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ has been investigated in a large excitation energy range. The experimental results have shown that the α⁽²⁾ spectral behaviour is well described by a parametric formula containing terms with different energy dependence. In particular, for 2ħω-E _g>≈400 meV, the first experimental evidence of 2ħω-E _g)^5/2 dependence has been obtained. As a consequence, each of the various models proposed to predict the α⁽²⁾ dispersion curve gives the correct energy dependence in a limited energy range, due to the poor approximation made in the evaluation of dipole matrix elements. To explain the spectral dependence of the two-photon absorption coefficient, consideration of all the intermediate states is required, with the energy dependence of the dipole matrix elements properly considered. It is shown that the greatest contributions to the oscillator strength come from transitions totally allowed at the critical points. Work partially supported by M.P.I.     

Reaction of β-carotene with nitrite anion in a homogeneous acid system. An electron paramagnetic resonance and ultraviolet-visible study

Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy was applied to characterize and to measure the concentration of β-carotene dissolved in a dioxane and water mixture. The reaction of β-carotene in the presence of nitrite anion and acid medium was studied at different temperatures. The reaction systems were homogeneous and were kept anaerobic. Pseudo-first-order rate constants in respect of β-carotene were measured in the range from 293 to 313 K and pH 5.8 ± 0.2. The energy of activation was calculated to be E _a = 67.2 ± 3.4 kJ/mol. We interpolate a value that may have biological interest, k _β-carotene(310 K) = (9.70±0.78) · 10⁻³ s⁻¹, in the presence of 9.3 · 10⁻³ M nitrite anion. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was applied to characterize and quantify a persistent intermediate radical generated in the reaction system described. The recorded spectra showed triplet-type signals with a peak-to-peak value of 12.7 G. Nearly the same triplet radical-type intermediates were detected when studying the following reaction systems in pure dioxane: nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)/β-carotene, nitric oxide (NO)/β-carotene and NO/NO₂/β-carotene. Therefore, we proposed that the nitrogen oxides have also been intermediates in the reaction system of β-carotene, nitrite anion and acid medium, in the dioxane and water mixture. A mechanism was proposed and checked by employing the chemical kinetics simulation. The explanations developed would lead to a better understanding of the behavior of carotenoids in the presence of nitrite anion and nitrogen oxides.     

EPR spin labeling study of conformational transitions of β-glycosidase from the hyperthermophilic archaeonSulfolobus solfataricus expressed inEscherichia coli

The conformational transitions of thermophilic β-glycosidase fromSulfolobus solfataricus and the mechanism of its thermal and chemical activation were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of nitroxide spin labels immobilized on the protein matrix. For this purpose, β-glycosidase was covalently modified by maleimide nitroxide spin label (MAR^⋅) and iodoacetamide nitroxide spin label (IAR^⋅), both specific for -SH groups. The degree of modification was found to be independent of the temperature as well as of the presence of two enzyme activators, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and butanol. In addition, a dansyl-piperidine nitroxide radical probe (DR^⋅), which has an affinity to the hydrophobic surfaces of proteins, was used in this study. The noncovalent binding of DR^⋅ results in immediate formation of a probe-enzyme complex. At room temperature, the rotation frequency of the immobilized labels decreases in order of IAR^⋅ > MAR^⋅ ≥ DR^⋅. The temperature measurements of rotation correlation frequencies (v _c ) display values ranging from 6·10⁷ to 2·10⁸ s⁻¹ and indicate a discontinuity with the inflection point at temperatureT _in in a range from 312 to 313 K. The observed enthalpies (ΔH ^≠) and entropies (ΔS ^≠) of the activation of spin label rotation were derived from the Arrhenius plots. The activation parameters were found to be typical for rigid model systems. The addition of SDS and butanol produced a slight shift of the inflection point and changes of spin-label mobility. A correlation between conformational transitions and enzyme thermal activation was discussed.     

Development and test atT=4.2K of a capacitive resonant transducer for cryogenic gravitational-wave antennas

Summary The characteristics of a new capacitive resonant transducer developed and tested on a small (M=11.2 kg) cryogenic gravitational-wave antenna at the liquid helium temperature are presented. The resonator frequency can be tuned within 0.1 Hz of the antenna frequency. The system has a mechanical merit factorQ≃5·10⁵ and a ratio between the electrical energy in the transducer and the energy in the antenna β=3·10⁻³ atT=4.2 K. With these parameters, the transducer allows one to reach an effective noise temperatureT _eff≃60 mK using a cooled FET preamplifier, and, if coupled to a r.f.-SQUID, allows one to reachT _eff≃10 mK for the 5000 kg cryogenic gravitational-wave antenna of the Roma group at CERN (Geneva).

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Riassunto Si presentano le caratteristiche di un nuovo trasduttore risonante di tipo capacitivo. Il trasduttore è stato provato su una piccola antenna di 11.2 kg di massa, raffreddata alla temperature dell'elio liquido. La frequenza del risuonatore è stata accordata entro 0.1 Hz della frequenza dell'antenna. A 4.2 K, il sistema ha un fattore di merito meccanicoQ≃5·10⁵ ed il rapporto tra l'energia elettrica nel trasduttore e l'energia nell'antenna è β=3·10⁻³. Con i valori dei parametri ottenuti, il trasduttore permette di raggiungere una temperatura efficace di rumoreT _eff≃60 mK usando un amplificatore a FET raffreddato e, se accoppiato ad un r.f.-SQUID, consente di avereT _eff≃10 mK per l'antenna gravitazionale criogenica di 5000 kg del gruppo di Roma, in funzione presso il CERN (Ginevra).

     

Critical point phenomena in the electrical resistivity of binary liquid systems: CS2 + CH3CN and CS2 + CH3NO2

Electrical resistance measurements are reported on the binary liquid mixtures CS₂ + CH₃CN and CS₂ + CH₃NO₂ with special reference to the critical region. Impurity conduction seems to be the dominant mechanism for charge transport. For the liquid mixture filled at the critical composition, the resistance of the system aboveT _c follows the relationR=R _c−A(T−T _c) ^b withb=0·6±0·1. BelowT _c the conductivities of the two phases obey a relation σ₂−σ₁=B(T _c−T)^β with β=0·34±0·02, the exponent of the transport coefficient being the same as the exponent of the order parameter, an equilibrium property.     

The β-decay of 22Al

In an experiment performed at the LISE3 facility of GANIL, we studied the decay of ²²Al produced by the fragmentation of a ³⁶Ar primary beam. A β-decay half-life of T_1/2 = 91.1±0.5ms was measured. The β-delayed one- and two-proton emission as well as β-α and β-delayed γ-decays were measured and allowed us to establish a partial decay scheme for this nucleus. New levels were determined in the daughter nucleus ²²Mg. The comparison with model calculations strongly favours a spin-parity of I^π = 4⁺ for the ground state of ²²Al.     

Results of a search for 2β decay of 136Xe with high-pressure copper proportional counters in Baksan Neutrino Observatory

A search for 2β decay of ¹³⁶Xe with two high-pressure copper proportional counters was carried out in the Baksan Neutrino Observatory. The experiment is based on comparison of spectra measured with natural and enriched xenon. No evidence was found for 2β(2ν) and 2β(0ν) decay. The decay half-life limit based on data measured for 8000 h is T _1/2 ≥ 8.5 × 10²¹ yr for 2ν mode and T _1/2 ≥ 3.1 × 10²³ yr for 0ν mode (90% C.L.). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

The effect of the chemical environment on theKβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratio

Summary Chemical effects on theKβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratios were investigated for different constitutions of Ti, V, Fe, Se, Br, Zr and Ce by a Ge(Li) X-ray detector. The vacancies were produced by heavily filtered²⁴¹Am gamma-rays. It is found that theKβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratios measured with compounds deviated up to 12% from the corresponding values of the pure elements (Ti, V, Fe) are larger than for the others (Se, Br, Zr and Ce).     

Investigation of double-beta decay with the NEMO-3 detector

The double-beta-decay experiment NEMO-3 has been taking data since February 2003. The aim of this experiment is to search for neutrinoless (0 νββ) decay and investigate two neutrino doublebeta decay in seven different isotopically enriched samples (¹⁰⁰Mo, ⁸²Se, ⁴⁸Ca, ⁹⁶Zr, ¹¹⁶Cd, ¹³⁰Te, and ¹⁵⁰Nd). After analysis of the data corresponding to 3.75 yr, no evidence for 0 νββ decay in the 100Mo and 82Se samples was found. The half-life limits at the 90% C.L. are 1.1 × 10²⁴ and 3.6 × 10²³ yr, respectively. Additionally for 0 νββ decay the following limits at the 90% C.L. were obtained, >1.3 × 10²² yr for ⁴⁸Ca, >9.2 × 10²¹ yr for ⁹⁶Zr, and >1.8 × 10²² yr for 150Nd. The 2 νββ decay half-life values were precisely measured for all investigated isotopes.     

Preliminary results on the operation of a 2270 kg cryogenic gravitational-wave antenna with a resonant capacitive transducer and a d.c. SQUID amplifier

Summary In November 1985 the gravitational-wave antenna of the Rome group, installed at CERN, has started operating. It consists of a 5056 aluminium cilinder 3 m long, 2270 kg heavy, cooled at 4.2 K. The antenna vibrations are detected by means of a resonant capacitive transducer that together with the bar makes a two-coupled-oscillator system. The low-noise amplification is obtained with a d.c. SQUID amplifier. The frequencies of the two resonant modes are:v _-=907.116 Hz andv ₊=923.083 Hz, with merit factorsQ ₋=3.2·10⁶ andQ ₊=5.6·10⁶. The sensitivity to short gravitational bursts, expressed in terms of effective noise temperature, is 18 mK. This corresponds to a change in the metric tensor whose Fourier transform isH=1.1·10⁻²¹ Hz⁻¹. For monochromatic waves the antenna is sensitive (SNR=1) toh∼2·10⁻²⁵ in a band width of about 1/3 Hz, with a three months integration time.

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Riassunto Nel novembre 1985 è stata messa in funzione l'antenna gravitazionale del gruppo di Roma, installata al CERN. Questa consiste di un cilindro d'alluminio 5056 lungo 3 m e pesante 2270 kg, raffeeddato a 4.2 K. Le vibrazioni dell'antenna vengono rivelate mediante un transduttore capacitivo risonante, che assieme alla sbarra forma un sistema di due oscillatori accoppiati. L'amplificazione a basso rumore è ottenuta con un amplificatore a d.c.-SQUID. Le frequenze dei due modi risonanti sono:v _-=907.116 Hz ev ₊=923.083 Hz, con fattori di meritoQ ₋=3.2·10⁶ eQ ₊ =5.6·10⁶. La sensibilità per brevi fiotti di onde gravitazionali, espressa in termini di temperatura efficace di numore, è 18 mK. Questa corrisponde a una variazione di tensore metrico con trasformata di Fourier:H=1.1·10⁻²¹ Hz. Per le onde monocromatiche l'antenna è sensibile (SNR=1) ah∼2·10⁻²⁵ in una banda di circa 1/3 Hz, con tempo d'integrazione di tre mesi.

     

Crystal structure of N-m-tolyl phthalimide

N-m-tolyl phthalimide, C₁₅NO₂H₁₁ crystallizes in the space group Cc with unit cell dimensions,a=8·54(1),b=19·89(2),c = 7·59(1)A, β=114·53(1)° andZ=4.V=1173(2)A³,D _m =1·35(1),D _c = 1·344 mg.m⁻³,M _r =237 λCoK_a=1·7903A. The structure was solved byMULTAN and refined to an R-factor of 0·116 for 632 counter reflections. The molecules are held together by van der Waal’s forces. The angle between the tolyl plane and the plane through the phthalimide group is 53·4(4)°. Contribution No. 607.     

Precise measurement of magnetic moment of short-lived β-emitting nuclei12B ( I π=1+, T 1/2=20.18 ms)

The spin polarized β-emitting nuclei¹²B (I ^π=1⁺,T _1/2=20.18 ms) were produced by the nuclear reaction¹¹B(d, p)¹²B and by the selection technique of the incident deuteron energy and the¹²B recoil angle following the nuclear reaction. The nuclear magnetic moment of the short-lived nuclei¹²B was measured by β-NMR with the β-NMR and β-NQR setup established for the first time in China. The nuclear magnetic moment of¹²B was determined to be μ=0.99993±0.00048 nm org=0.99993±0.00048 after the precise correction of the Knight shift.