The response of a spherical tissue-equivalent proportional counter to different heavy ions having similar velocities

A tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) has been used as a dosimeter in mixed radiation fields. Since it does not measure LET directly, the response function must be characterized in order to estimate quality factor and thus equivalent dose for the incident radiation. The objectives of this study were to measure the response of a spherical TEPC for different high-energy heavy ions (HZE) having similar velocity and to determine how quality factors can be determined. Data were obtained at the HIMAC heavy ion accelerator for ⁴He and ¹²C at (β=0.59) and ¹²C, ¹⁶O, ²⁸Si and ⁵⁶Fe at (β=0.70). A particle spectrometer recorded the charge and position of each incident beam particle. Events with low energy deposition were observed for particles that passed through the wall of the TEPC but not through the sensitive volume. The frequency averaged lineal energy, , was always less than the LET of the incident particles. The dose averaged lineal energy, , was approximately equal to LET for particles with LET greater than 10 keV/μm, whereas was larger than LET for the lighter particles with lower LET. Part of this effect is due to detector resolution and energy straggling that increases the variance of the response function. Although the TEPC is not a LET spectrometer, it can provide real time measurements of dose and provide estimates of quality factors for HZE particles using averaged values of lineal energy.     

Electron spin resonance of the two-dimensional metallic state and the quantum Hall state in a Si/SiGe quantum well

We report electrically detected electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements of a high mobility two-dimensional (2D) electron system formed in a Si/SiGe quantum well, with millimeter wave in a high magnetic field . The negative ESR signal observed under an in-plane magnetic field gives direct evidence that the spin polarization leads to a resistance increase in the 2D metallic state. Suppression of spin decoherence was observed in the quantum Hall state at the Landau level filling factor ν=2. Strength of the nuclear magnetic field in the resonance is evaluated to be less than , much smaller than that reported for GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures.     

Measurements of the isotopic composition of water vapor using a DFG-based spectrometer at

We report on absorption measurements of the isotopic composition of water in a demineralized sample by means of wavelength modulation spectroscopy of H₂O lines in the spectral region around . The mid-IR radiation was obtained by difference-frequency mixing of the radiation of an extended cavity diode laser () and that of a diode-pumped monolithic Nd–YAG laser. Preliminary tests indicate the possibility of obtaining a precision for the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, ¹⁷O/¹⁶O and ²H/¹⁶O isotope ratio measurements of the order of 1 per mil.     

Improved method for loss measurements in planar waveguides

A method employing an isosceles prism and a right-angle one is developed for loss measurement in planar waveguides. During the measuring process, the isosceles prism is fixed and the right-angle prism fixed on the waveguide slides by following the waveguide. Only by adjusting the gap thickness we can realize the loss measurement in planar waveguides. The method is demonstrated with an Ag/Na ion-exchanged waveguide fabricated on BK7 glass from AgNO₃ melt diluted with NaNO₃ (mass ratio 1:9), with the condition of 4 h and . The experimental results show that the method has the advantages on convenient operation, accurate results and no required end polishing.     

Optical–optical double resonance spectroscopy of the transition of CaOH

The state of CaOH was investigated using optical–optical double resonance spectroscopy. A combined least-squares fit of the double resonance transition data along with optical transition data and the millimeter-wave pure rotational data of the state was performed using an effective Hamiltonian. The spin–rotation constant was determined for the state for the first time. An analysis of these constants showed that the Ca–O bond length and spin–rotation parameter of the state have the smallest values of all the observed ²Σ⁺ states of CaOH. This evidence suggests the assignment of the state as arising from a Ca⁺ atomic orbital of mainly 5sσ character. This atomic orbital assignment was shown to be consistent with both previous work on CaF and recent theoretical calculations on CaOH.     

Step formation on hydrogen-etched 6H-SiC{0 0 0 1} surfaces

The formation of step bunches and/or facets on hydrogen-etched 6H-SiC(0 0 0 1) and () surfaces has been studied, using both nominally on-axis and intentionally miscut (i.e. vicinal) substrates. It is found that small miscuts on the (0 0 0 1) surface produce full unit-cell high steps, while half unit-cell high steps are observed on the () surface. The observed step normal direction is found to be for both surfaces. Hence, for intentionally miscut material, a miscut oriented towards this direction produces much better order in the step array compared to a miscut oriented towards a direction. For (0 0 0 1) vicinal surfaces that are miscut towards the direction, the formation of surface ripples is observed for 3° miscut and the development of small facets (nanofacets) is found for higher miscut angles. Much less faceting is observed on miscut () surfaces. Additionally, the (0 0 01) surface is found to have a much larger spatial anisotropy in step energies than the () surface.     

Structure of light hypernuclei

The structure of light hypernuclei with strangeness S=−1 and −2 is investigated with the microscopic cluster model and the Gaussian expansion method (GEM). We emphasize that the cluster picture as well as the mean-field picture is invaluable to understand the structure of Λ hypernuclei, Σ hypernuclei and double Λ hypernuclei. A variety of aspects of Λ hypernuclei is demonstrated through a systematic study of p-shell hypernuclei (,, , , , , ) and sd-shell ones (, ): for example, the appearance of genuine hypernuclear states with new spatial symmetry which cannot be seen in ordinary nuclei, the glue-like role of the Λ particle which shrinks the size of nuclear core and thus reduces the B(E2) value, and the halo and skin structures in and etc. The typical light hypernucleus is thoroughly investigated, including its production, structure and decay. Precise three-body and four-body calculations of , and using GEM provide important information on the spin structure of the underlying ΛN interaction, by comparing with recent experimental data from γ-ray hypernuclear spectroscopy. The Λ–Σ coupling effect is studied in and . The binding mechanism of is discussed together with the possible existence of , emphasizing the fact that the study of is useful for extracting information on the ΣN interaction differing from that from . A systematic study of double-Λ hypernuclei, constrained by the NAGARA data () within a four-body cluster model indicates that the recently observed Demachi–Yanagi event can be interpreted as the 2⁺ state of . The effect of hyperon mixing in and is investigated using one-boson-exchange potentials and quark-cluster-model interactions for the S=−2 sector. A close relation between nuclear deep hole states and hypernuclei is discussed, emphasizing the selection rule for fragmentation of the s-hole in light nuclei, which is promising for understanding the production mechanism of double-Λ and twin-Λ hypernuclei via Ξ-atomic capture.     

Quantum-dot size dependence of exciton fine-structure splitting

A systematic variation of the exciton fine-structure splitting with quantum dot size in single MOCVD-grown self-organized InAs/GaAs quantum dots is observed, ranging from several tens to as much as , thus covering more than one order of magnitude. Piezoelectricity is identified to be the dominant factor governing the observed trend. A change in sign of the fine-structure splitting is reported for the first time, originating from quantum dots with confinement potentials elongated in the and crystal direction, respectively.     

Theoretical study of optical recording with a solid immersion lens illuminated by focused double-ring-shaped radially-polarized beam

Based on the Richards–Wolf vector diffraction theory, the intensity distributions in the recording sample near a solid immersion lens are calculated for two different radially-polarized beams ( and modes). Numerical results show that a double-ring-shaped mode focusing has some excellent features in near-field optical storage, compared with a single-ring-shaped mode focusing. The recording density is markedly improved, the focal depth of the near-field recording system is substantially increased, and a subsurface recording is effectively obtained using the mode focusing.     

Intensity transformation of vector Bessel beams using a multilayer system

We theoretically investigate the generation of vector Bessel beams of the order m using a phase shifted superposition of TE and TM electromagnetic Bessel beams. Such Bessel beams are characterized by the intensity profile described by the superposition of squared Bessel functions of the orders (m-1) and (m+1). We derive the conditions for creating the special distributions of the intensity, which are determined by only one Bessel function, or . We offer the approach of intensity transformation based on the Bessel beam transmission through a multilayer system. Finally, we reveal the perfect intensity transformation transferring the whole energy from - to -profile of intensity distribution.     

Theoretical structure and surface energy of the reconstructed {01.2} form of calcite (CaCO3) crystal

Two different reconstructions of the (01.2) face (Ca or CO₃ terminated) of calcite (CaCO₃) were studied: (i) R1 reconstruction: the outermost layer is based on the [0 1 0] × 1/3[2 1 1] rectangular mesh, which is symmetrical with respect to the c glide plane of the crystal, thus fulfilling the 2D symmetry of the face and (ii) R2 reconstruction: the outermost layer is based on a lozenge shaped mesh that does not respect the 2D symmetry of the face.The , , and slabs geometry optimizations of calcite (CaCO₃) were performed either at DFT level or by using empirical potentials; the results obtained with these two different calculation methodologies are in good agreement. With respect to their arrangement in the bulk, the CO₃ groups of the outermost layer are significantly rotated about the crystallographic a-axis and about the normal to the 01.2 plane; further, the thickness of the outermost layer is significantly lower than that of the underneath ones.The surfaces energies (γ) at 0 K, for relaxed and unrelaxed , , and faces, were determined either at DFT level or by using empirical potentials. Independently of the method of calculation employed, the stability order of the relaxed faces is < < < . Concerning the unrelaxed faces, whose energies were evaluated by using empirical potentials only, the stability order is instead < < < ; such different ordering shows the importance of geometry relaxation in the calculation of the surface energy. The values of the relaxed surface energies are , , and erg/cm².     

Dynamics of long-living excitons in tunable potential landscapes

A novel method to experimentally study the dynamics of long-living excitons in coupled quantum well semiconductor heterostructures is presented. Lithographically defined top gate electrodes imprint in-plane artificial potential landscapes for excitons via the quantum confined Stark effect. Excitons are shuttled laterally in a time-dependent potential landscape defined by an interdigitated gate structure. Long-range drift exceeding a distance of at an exciton drift velocity is observed in a gradient potential formed by a resistive gate stripe.     

Tree-level contributions to the rare decays , , and in the Standard Model

The tree-level contributions to the rare decays , , and are analyzed and compared to those occurring in , , and . It is shown that these purely long-distance contributions, arising from the exchange of a charged lepton, can be significant in B⁺ decays for an intermediate τ, potentially blurring the distinction between the modes used to extract B⁺→τ⁺ν_τ and those used to probe the genuine short-distance and FCNC transitions. Numerically, the tree-level contributions are found to account for 98%, 12% and 14% of the total , , and rates, respectively.     

The observation of hot bands in the 288 nm system of the FeCl2 radical

The 288 nm band system of FeCl₂ has been recorded with a sample produced in a warmed, free-jet expansion at moderately high resolution (with a linewidth of 0.28 cm⁻¹). Under these conditions, several hot bands are observed involving excitation of the symmetric and anti-symmetric stretching vibrations. The wavenumbers determined as a result for FeCl₂ in its ground ⁵Δ_g,4 state are and . No hot, sequence bands in the bending vibration were observed. The most likely explanation is that the wavenumber for ν₂ is essentially the same in both the electronic states involved (88 cm⁻¹). Additional strong hot bands are observed that are unrelated to the previously assigned electronic transitions; they appear to emanate from a low-lying electronic state of FeCl₂.     

Giant magnetoimpedance and colossal ac magnetoresistance of a Cu coil wound on La0.67Sr0.33MnO3

We observed the giant magnetoimpedance and colossal ac magnetoresistance for a Cu coil wound on La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ under low dc magnetic fields. Even though the dc magnetoresistance for La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ plate is only −2.4% under H=12 kOe, a Cu coil wound on La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ plate exhibits a colossal ac magnetoresistance of −93% at 10 MHz and a giant magnetoimpedance of −59% in a wide frequency range of 500 kHz-10 MHz under a longitudinal field . The transverse magnetoimpedance is weaker than the longitudinal one. The giant magnetoimpedance and colossal ac magnetoresistance for a Cu coil wound on La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ are connected with the variation of permeability induced by dc magnetic field.     

Unitary representations of superconformal algebra

superconformal algebra is algebra with two Virasoro operators. The Kac determinant is calculated and the complete list of unitary representations is determined. Two types of extensions of algebra are discussed. A new approach to construction of algebras from rational conformal field theories is proposed.     

The microwave spectrum of the FeS radical

The rotational spectrum of the iron monosulfide radical, FeS, was measured in the frequency region of 220-390 GHz with a source-modulated millimeter/submillimeter-wave spectrometer. The radical was efficiently produced in a free space absorption cell by a dc discharge in a mixture of Ar and H₂S with a stainless-steel hollow cathode. Several series of paramagnetic lines were detected with intervals of about 12 GHz. The four series having relatively strong intensity were assigned to FeS in the vibrationally ground state of the X⁵Δ_i electronic state, two series to that in the vibrationally excited state, and five series presumably to FeS in the electronically excited state, . The effective molecular constants were determined for FeS in the X⁵Δ_i electronic state. The components of the vibrationally ground state showed an apparent shift from the typical pattern of the state. In addition, the fine structure of the state was found to be far from a regular pattern expected for a state. A trial analysis including electronic interaction between the and states was carried out, but it was not possible to explain the spectral lines of both electronic states simultaneously. Reasons for the heavily perturbed spectral patterns are discussed.     

Elliptic quantum group , Hopf algebroid structure and elliptic hypergeometric series

We propose a new realization of the elliptic quantum group equipped with the H-Hopf algebroid structure on the basis of the elliptic algebra . The algebra has a constructive definition in terms of the Drinfeld generators of the quantum affine algebra and a Heisenberg algebra. This yields a systematic construction of both finite- and infinite-dimensional dynamical representations and their parallel structures to . In particular we give a classification theorem of the finite-dimensional irreducible pseudo-highest weight representations stated in terms of an elliptic analogue of the Drinfeld polynomials. We also investigate a structure of the tensor product of two evaluation representations and derive an elliptic analogue of the Clebsch–Gordan coefficients. We show that it is expressed by using the very-well-poised balanced elliptic hypergeometric series .     

Preparing, manipulating, and measuring quantum states on a chip

We use gate voltage control of the exchange interaction to prepare, manipulate, and measure two-electron spin states in a GaAs double quantum dot. By placing two electrons in a single dot at low temperatures we prepare the system in a spin singlet state. The spin singlet is spatially separated by transferring an electron to an adjacent dot. The spatially separated spin singlet state dephases in due to the contact hyperfine interaction with the GaAs host nuclei. To combat the hyperfine dephasing, we develop quantum control techniques based on fast electrical control of the exchange interaction. We demonstrate coherent spin-state rotations in a singlet–triplet qubit and harness the coherent rotations to implement a singlet–triplet spin echo refocusing pulse sequence. The singlet–triplet spin echo extends the spin coherence time to .