Mechanism of the appearance of angular distribution anisotropy for evaporation neutrons in center-of-mass systems emitting their thermalized fission fragments

Anisotropy in the angular distributions of cascade-evaporation neutrons in center-of-mass systems emitting their fission fragments is analyzed in the context of the quantum theory of fission. It is emphasized that such anisotropy is caused not by bending but by wriggling oscillations of the fissioning nucleus in the vicinity of its point of scission; these lead to the appearance of high-value spins of primary fission fragments [(J)\vec]₁\vec J_1 and [(J)\vec]₂\vec J_2 oriented in a plane perpendicular to direction [(n)\vec]₀\vec n_0 of the axis of symmetry of the fissioning nucleus at the instant of scission. This direction coincides with the asymptotic direction of the emission of fission fragments with a high degree of accuracy. The analytical dependences of the anisotropy coefficient on the orbital momentum l and total spin j in angular distributions of cascade-evaporation neutrons are calculated using the methods developed in analyzing angular distributions of cascade-evaporation gamma quanta. The proper spin of a neutron is shown to have almost no effect on the aforesaid anisotropy coefficient due to the weak dependence of the neutron transmission coefficient T _lj ([`(e)]\bar \varepsilon ) on the values of j.     

Spin interference in the spin density matrix of a compound nucleus in reactions of nuclear fission by cold polarized neutrons

Spin density matrices of neutron resonance states of a compound nucleus formed in the reaction of capture of a polarized neutron by a non-oriented target nucleus for different directions of neutron polarization vector are constructed within the quantum fission theory. The obtained spin matrices are used to calculate T-odd asymmetries in differential cross sections of ternary nuclear fission with the emission of different third particles. It is demonstrated that the expressions for T-odd asymmetries in the cases of neutron polarization direction [(p)\vec]_n\vec p_n along the x and y axes in the laboratory reference frame differ by the values of the unified correlator of the form ( [(p)\vec]_n ,[ [(k)\vec]_LF ,[(k)\vec]₃ ] )\left( {\vec p_n ,\left[ {\vec k_{LF} ,\vec k_3 } \right]} \right) (where [(k)\vec]_LF\vec k_{LF} and [(k)\vec]₃\vec k_3 are the wave vectors of a light fission fragment and the third particle, respectively), and are transformed into one another if the laboratory reference frame in which [(p)\vec]_n\vec p_n is directed along the x axis is rotated to a laboratory reference frame in which [(p)\vec]_n\vec p_n is directed along the y axis. It is shown that T-odd TRI and ROT asymmetries are associated, respectively, with the odd and even components of the amplitudes of the angular distribution of third particles perturbed by the collective rotation of a polarized fissile nucleus, and each of these amplitudes can be considerably amplified (or suppressed) relative to one another due to the interference from fission amplitudes of pairs of neutron resonances sJ _s and s′J _s′ .     

Nuclear energy density functional from chiral pion-nucleon dynamics: Isovector terms

We extend a recent calculation of the nuclear energy density functional in the framework of chiral perturbation theory by computing the isovector surface and spin-orbit terms: ([(?)\vec] r_p - [(?)\vec] r_n\vec \nabla \rho _p - \vec \nabla \rho _n )² G _d(r \rho) + ([(?)\vec] r_p - [(?)\vec] r_n\vec \nabla \rho _p - \vec \nabla \rho _n ·([(J)\vec]_p - [(J)\vec]_n\vec J_p - \vec J_n )G _so(r \rho) + ([(J)\vec]_p - [(J)\vec]_n\vec J_p - \vec J_n )² G _J(r \rho) pertaining to different proton and neutron densities. Our calculation treats systematically the effects from 1p \pi -exchange, iterated 1p \pi -exchange, and irreducible 2p \pi -exchange with intermediate D \Delta -isobar excitations, including Pauli-blocking corrections up to three-loop order. Using an improved density-matrix expansion, we obtain results for the strength functions G _d(r \rho) , G _so(r \rho) and G _J(r \rho) which are considerably larger than those of phenomenological Skyrme forces. These (parameter-free) predictions for the strength of the isovector surface and spin-orbit terms as provided by the long-range pion-exchange dynamics in the nuclear medium should be examined in nuclear structure calculations at large neutron excess.     

Toward a theory of the third-order elastic modulus of crystals with A2 structure: The case of α-Fe

The third-order elastic modulus of α-Fe were calculated based on the computation of lattice sums. The lattice sums were determined using an integer rational basis of invariants composed by vectors connecting equilibrium atomic positions in the crystal lattice. Irreducible interactions within clusters consisting of atomic pairs and triplets were taken into account in performing the calculations. Comparison with experimental data showed that the potential can be written in the form of e₉ = - ?_i,k A₁₉ r_ik ^{- 6} + ?_i,k A₂₉ r_ik ^{- 12} + ?_i,k,l Q₉ I₉ ^{- 1}\varepsilon _9 = - \sum\nolimits_{i,k} {A_{19} r_{ik}^{ - 6} } + \sum\nolimits_{i,k} {A_{29} r_{ik}^{ - 12} + \sum\nolimits_{i,k,l} {Q_9 I_9^{ - 1} } }, where I₉ = [(r)\vec]_ik² [ ( [(r)\vec]_ik [(r)\vec]_kl )² + ( [(r)\vec]_li [(r)\vec]_ik )² ] + [(r)\vec]_kl² [ ( [(r)\vec]_ik [(r)\vec]_kl )² + ( [(r)\vec]_kl [(r)\vec]_li )² ] + [(r)\vec]_li² [ ( [(r)\vec]_li [(r)\vec]_ik )² + ( [(r)\vec]_kl [(r)\vec]_li )² ]I_9 = \vec r_{ik}^2 \left[ {\left( {\vec r_{ik} \vec r_{kl} } \right)^2 + \left( {\vec r_{li} \vec r_{ik} } \right)^2 } \right] + \vec r_{kl}^2 \left[ {\left( {\vec r_{ik} \vec r_{kl} } \right)^2 + \left( {\vec r_{kl} \vec r_{li} } \right)^2 } \right] + \vec r_{li}^2 \left[ {\left( {\vec r_{li} \vec r_{ik} } \right)^2 + \left( {\vec r_{kl} \vec r_{li} } \right)^2 } \right]. If the values of [(r)\vec]_ik\vec r_{ik} are scaled in half-lattice constant units, then A₁₉ = 1.22 ë t⁹ û GPa, A₂₉ = 5.07 ×10² ë t¹⁵ û GPa, Q₉ = 5.31 ë t⁹ û GPaA_{19} = 1.22\left\lfloor {\tau ^9 } \right\rfloor GPa, A_{29} = 5.07 \times 10^2 \left\lfloor {\tau ^{15} } \right\rfloor GPa, Q_9 = 5.31\left\lfloor {\tau ^9 } \right\rfloor GPa, and τ = 1.26 ?. It is shown that the condition of thermodynamic stability of a crystal requires that we allow for irreducible interactions in atom triplets in at least four coordination spheres. The analytical expressions for the lattice sums determining the contributions from irreducible interactions in the atom triplets to the second- and third-order elastic moduli of cubic crystals in the case of interactions determined by I ₉ are presented in the appendix.     

Allowing for Coulomb effects in the effective range expansion for two coupled channels

A Coulomb-modified matrix of scattering amplitudes (an [(F)\tilde]\tilde F matrix) is considered for the case of two coupled channels of elastic scattering of charged particles with different orbital angular momenta (l ₁ and l ₂ = l ₁ + 2). Matrix elements of the [(F)\tilde]\tilde F matrix are expressed in terms of the matrix elements of a [(K)\tilde] ^{- 1}\tilde K^{ - 1} matrix inverse to a modified reaction K matrix. The elements of the [(K)\tilde] ^{- 1}\tilde K^{ - 1} matrix are written as expansions that are generalizations of single-channel effective range expansion with allowance for the Coulomb interaction. If a system of colliding particles involves a bound state, the analytic continuation of these expansions into the region of negative energies makes it possible to obtain both the position of the pole corresponding to the bound state and the scattering amplitude residues in this pole, in terms of which the corresponding vertex constants and asymptotic normalization coefficients are expressed.     

Theoretical study of the dynamics for the H + Li H ( v = 0, j = 0) $\to$ H2 + Li reaction and its isotopic variants

Quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) method is carried out to calculate the dynamics of the H + LiH (v = 0, j = 0) ?\to H₂ + Li reaction and its isotopic variants based on the potential energy surface of the lowest ²A￠^2A' electronic state reported by Prudente et al. [Chem. Phys. Lett. 474, 18 (2009)]. The reaction cross-section, product rotational alignment parameter áP₂\langle P_2 ([(j￠)\vec]\vec{j'} ·\cdot [(k)\vec])?\vec{k})\rangle and one generalized polarization-dependent differential cross-section (2π/σ)(ds₀₀d\sigma_{00}/d w_t\omega_t) are calculated. We found that different collision energies and mass factors show driving influence on the process of the reactions and product molecules H₂ (HD, D₂) polarization distribution, and the trend of the isotopic effects in the high collision energy range is different to that in the low collision energy range. The calculations are also interpreted in relation to the features of the underlying potential energy surface. A comparison between the title reactions and a barrier-less reaction F + HBr ?\to FH + Br has been discussed in detail.     

Renormalized Electron Mass in Nonrelativistic QED

Within the framework of nonrelativistic QED, we prove that, for small values of the coupling constant, the energy function, ${E_{\vec{P}}}Within the framework of nonrelativistic QED, we prove that, for small values of the coupling constant, the energy function, E_[(P)\vec]{E_{\vec{P}}}, of a dressed electron is twice differentiable in the momentum [(P)\vec]{\vec{P}} in a neighborhood of [(P)\vec]=0{\vec{P}=0}. Furthermore, \frac?²E_[(P)\vec](?|[(P)\vec]|)²{\frac{\partial^2E_{\vec{P}}}{(\partial |\vec{P}|)^2}} is bounded from below by a constant larger than zero. Our results are proven with the help of iterative analytic perturbation theory.     

Coevolution of competing systems: local cooperation and global inhibition

Using a set of heterogeneous competing systems with intra-system cooperation and inter-system aggression, we show how the coevolution of the system parameters (degree of organization and conditions for aggression) depends on the rate of supply of resources [(S)\dot]\dot{S}. The model consists of a number of units grouped into systems that compete for the resource S; within each system several units can be aggregated into cooperative arrangements whose size is a measure of the degree of organization in the system. Aggression takes place when the systems release inhibitors that impair the performance of other systems. Using a mean field approximation we show that i) even in the case of identical systems there are stable inhomogeneous solutions; ii) a system steadily producing inhibitors needs large perturbations to leave this regime; and iii) aggression may give comparative advantages. A discrete model is used in order to examine how the particular configuration of the units within a system determines its performance in the presence of aggression. We find that full-scale, one sided aggression is only profitable for less-organized systems, and that systems with a mixture of degrees of organization exhibit robustness against aggression. By using a genetic algorithm we find that, in terms of the full-occupation resource supply rate [(S)\dot]_F\dot{S}_{F}, the coevolution of the set of systems displays the following behavior: i) for [(S)\dot] < [(S)\dot]_F/10\dot{S}< \dot{S}_{F}/10 aggressions are irrelevant and most systems exhibit a high degree of organization; ii) For [(S)\dot]_F/10 < [(S)\dot] < [(S)\dot]_F/3\dot{S}_{F}/10 < \dot{S} < \dot{S}_{F}/3 aggressions are frequent, making systems with a low degree of organization competitive; iii) for [(S)\dot]_F/3 < [(S)\dot] < [(S)\dot]_F/2\dot{S}_{F}/3 < \dot{S} < \dot{S}_{F}/2 the systems display global evolutive transitions between periods of calm (few aggressions and high degree of organization) and periods of belligerence (frequent aggressions and low degree of organization); iv) for $ \dot{S} > \dot{S}_{F}/2$ \dot{S} > \dot{S}_{F}/2 the periods of aggression becomes progressively rarer and shorter. Finally, when [(S)\dot]\dot{S} approaches [(S)\dot]_F\dot{S}_{F} the selection pressure on the cooperativity and the aggression between systems disappears. This kind of model can be useful to analyse the interplay of the cooperation/competition processes that can be found in some social, economic, ecological and biochemical systems; as an illustration we refer to the competition between drug-selling gangs.     

Thermo-electric-induced dichroism in ion-exchanged glasses: a candidate mechanism for the alignment of silver nanoparticles

In the present work, the alignment mechanism of silver nanoparticles on the surface of a heated ion-exchanged glass, in presence of an external uniform DC electric field ([(E)\vec]₀)(\vec{E}_{0}) parallel to the surface of the sample, is studied. At high temperature, the ionic silver clusters reduce to neutral ones and move toward the surface. Simultaneously, due to the external electric field the clusters interact with other ones as induced electrical dipoles. This leads to alignment of nanoparticles along [(E)\vec]₀\vec{E}_{0} and formation of a chain-like conductive structure, which makes the sample dichroic. Taking into account the matrix surface viscosity and using the method of image dipoles to model the influence of the substrate on the dipole interactions, we give an interpretation about the relative equilibrium positions of generated nanoclusters and consequently the formation mechanism of the chain-like structure on the surface of the ion-exchanged glass.     

A charged ellipsoidal bunch in a magnetic field

The states of a long rotating charged ellipsoidal bunch in a longitudinal uniform magnetic field are studied. The states are described using two integrals of motion that couple the transverse velocities [(x)\dot]\dot x and [(y)\dot]\dot y with the x and y coordinates; the frequency ω_H=eH/mc (where H is the total magnetic field); and the quantities ω₁ and ω₂, which characterize the Coulomb repulsion in the x and y directions. It is shown that equilibrium states with a high charge density per unit length (ν≳1) can exist.     

Interference of fission amplitudes of neutron resonances and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>-odd asymmetry for various prescission third particles in the ternary fission of nuclei

Differential cross sections for reactions of the true ternary fission of nuclei that was induced by cold polarized neutrons were constructed with allowance of the effect that Coriolis interaction and the interference between fission amplitudes of neutron resonances excited in fissile nuclei upon incidentneutron capture by target nuclei exerted on angular distributions of prescission third particles (alpha particles, neutrons, or photons). It is shown that T -odd TRI- and ROT-type asymmetries for prescission alpha particles are associated with, respectively, the odd and even components of the Coriolis interaction-perturbed amplitude of angular distributions of particles belonging to the types indicated above. These asymmetries have angular distributions differing from each other and stemming from a nontrivial dependence of these components on the neutron-resonance spins J _s and their projections K _s onto the symmetry axis of the nucleus involved. It is shown that angular distributions of prescission photons and neutrons from reactions of the ternary fission of nuclei that is induced by cold polarized neutrons are determined by the effect of Coriolis forces exclusively. Therefore, the emerging T-odd asymmetries have a character of a ROT-type asymmetry and are universal for all target nuclei.     

Quasi-one dimensional graphite ribbon structures in the presence of a magnetic field and the on-site Coulomb correlation at half-filling

We have presented the role of the Coulomb interaction (U) and the magnetic field [(B)\vec]\vec{B} on the ground state properties of the quasi-one dimensional graphite ribbon structures at half-filling. Mean field Hartree-Fock Approximation is used to study the systems. To understand the boundary effects in graphite structures, we have compared the results of these systems with those of the square lattice ribbon structures. Studying the density of states, the Drude weight and the charge gap, we have drawn the U – B phase diagrams for the zigzag and the armchair graphite ribbons.     

The quantum and thermodynamical characteristics of fission taking into account adiabatic and nonadiabatic modes of motion

In the framework of the quantum theory of spontaneous and low-energy induced fission, the nature of quantum and thermodynamical properties of a fissioning system is analyzed taking into account adiabatic and nonadiabatic modes of motion for different fission stages. It is shown that, owing to the influence of the Coriolis interaction, the states of the fissile nucleus and of primary fission products are cold and strongly nonequilibrium. The important role of superfluid and pairing nucleon-nucleon correlations for binary and ternary fission is demonstrated. The mechanism of pumping of high values of relative orbital momenta and spins of fission fragments for binary and ternary fission and the nonevaporation mechanism of formation of third particles for ternary fission are investigated. The anisotropies and P-odd, P-even, and T-odd asymmetries for angular distributions of fission products are analyzed. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Investigation of the reaction 208Pb(18O, f): Fragment spins and phenomenological analysis of the angular anisotropy of fission fragments

The average multiplicity of gamma rays emitted by fragments originating from the fission of ²²⁶Th nuclei formed via a complete fusion of ¹⁸O and ²⁰⁸Pb nuclei at laboratory energies of ¹⁸O projectile ions in the range E _lab = 78–198.5 MeV is measured and analyzed. The total spins of fission fragments are found and used in an empirical analysis of the energy dependence of the anisotropy of these fragments under the assumption that their angular distributions are formed in the vicinity of the scission point. The average temperature of compound nuclei at the scission point and their average angular momenta in the entrance channel are found for this analysis. Also, the moments of inertia are calculated for this purpose for the chain of fissile thorium nuclei at the scission point. All of these parameters are determined at the scission point by means of three-dimensional dynamical calculations based on Langevin equations. A strong alignment of fragment spins is assumed in analyzing the anisotropy in question. In that case, the energy dependence of the anisotropy of fission fragments is faithfully reproduced at energies in excess of the Coulomb barrier (E _c.m. ? E _B ≥ 30 MeV). It is assumed that, as the excitation energy and the angular momentum of a fissile nucleus are increased, the region where the angular distributions of fragments are formed is gradually shifted from the region of nuclear deformations in the vicinity of the saddle point to the region of nuclear deformations in the vicinity of the scission point, the total angular momentum of the nucleus undergoing fission being split into the orbital component, which is responsible for the anisotropy of fragments, and the spin component. This conclusion can be qualitatively explained on the basis of linear-response theory.     

Unified Mechanism behind the Appearance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>-Odd TRI and ROT Asymmetries in Actinide Fission Induced by Cold Polarized Neutrons

Some shortcomings of the approaches that are used to describe T-odd ROT and TRI asymmetries in true ternary fission via reactions involving the emission of prescission alpha particles and which are based on employing the classical method of trajectory calculations are analyzed. These shortcomings are caused by the disregard of the interference between the fission widths of different sJ_s neutron resonance states formed in the first well of the deformation potential of fissile compound nuclei. It is shown that the method used in some studies to determine T-odd TRI-asymmetries for prescission alpha particles is at odds with basic concepts of the generalizedmodel of the nucleus and approaches to constructing collective (for example, bending) vibrations of a fissile compound nucleus. Quantum-mechanical fission theory is generalized via employing a unified mechanism of formation of T-odd TRI and ROT asymmetries for prescission alpha particles and evaporated photons (neutrons). The proposed mechanism takes correctly into account the effect of quantum rotation of a fissile compound nucleus on the angular distributions of fission fragments and alpha particles for true ternary fission, as well as on the angular distribution of prompt photons (neutrons) emitted by fragments originating from the delayed fission of the aforementioned nuclei.     

Single flexible and semiflexible polymers at high shear: Non-monotonic and non-universal stretching response

Using Brownian hydrodynamic simulation techniques, we study single polymers in shear. We investigate the effects of hydrodynamic interactions, excluded volume, chain extensibility, chain length and semiflexibility. The well-known stretching behavior with increasing shear rate [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} is only observed for low shear [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} < [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} , where [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} is the shear rate at maximum polymer extension. For intermediate shear rates [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} < [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} < [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} the radius of gyration decreases with increasing shear with minimum chain extension at [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} . For even higher shear [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} < [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} the chain exhibits again shear stretching. This non-monotonic stretching behavior is obtained in the presence of excluded-volume and hydrodynamic interactions for sufficiently long and inextensible flexible polymers, while it is completely absent for Gaussian extensible chains. We establish the heuristic scaling laws [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} ∼ N ^-1.4 and [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} ∼ N ^0.7 as a function of chain length N , which implies that the regime of shear-induced chain compression widens with increasing chain length. These scaling laws also imply that the chain response at high shear rates is not a universal function of the Weissenberg number Wi = [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} t \tau anymore, where t \tau is the equilibrium relaxation time. For semiflexible polymers a similar non-monotonic stretching response is obtained. By extrapolating the simulation results to lengths corresponding to experimentally studied DNA molecules, we find that the shear rate [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} to reach the compression regime is experimentally realizable.     

On Ternary Fission Induced by Neutrons

Experiments on measuring the rotational effect of the ²³⁴U fissile nucleus at the scission point showed that the fissile nucleus rotates as a right screw with respect to the longitudinally polarized neutron beam direction in the ternary fission of the ²³³U target nucleus induced by polarized s-neutrons; in the binary fission of the same nuclei it rotates in the opposite direction. Moreover, it was found that ternary fission “prefers” the spin state of J = I +1/2. This phenomenon cannot be explained within the existing concepts of ternary fission as one of the two “final” states after neck rupture. The same “parent” ²³⁴U nucleus cannot rotate in opposite directions in the two different final states. It should be assumed that ternary fission is a special branch of descent from the saddle point to the point of neck rupture. It can also be assumed that this branch is formed at the saddle point in a configuration favorable for cluster formation. Why does it prefer the spin state of J = I + 1/2? This is an interesting question for further studies.

     

Phenomenology of Λ-CDM Model: A?Possibility of?Accelerating Universe with Positive Pressure

Among various phenomenological Λ models, a time-dependent model [(L)\dot] ~ H³\dot{\Lambda}\sim H^{3} is selected here to investigate the Λ-CDM cosmology. The model can follow from dynamics, underlying the origin of Λ. Using this model the expressions for the time-dependent equation of state parameter ω and other physical parameters are derived. It is shown that in H ³ model accelerated expansion of the Universe takes place at negative energy density, but with a positive pressure. It has also been possible to obtain the change of sign of the deceleration parameter q during cosmic evolution.     

Decisive role of wriggling vibrations in the formation of angular and spin distributions of products originating from binary and ternary fission of oriented nuclei

It is shown that the multiplicities and angular and energy distributions of neutrons and photons evaporated from thermalized fragments originating from the spontaneous and low-energy induced fission of nuclei, the relative yields of ground and isomeric states of final fragments, and the features of delayed neutrons emitted upon the beta decay of the above fragments can successfully be described by employing nonequilibrium distributions of spins and relative orbital angular momenta of fission fragments formed in the vicinity of the scission point for the fissile nucleus being studied. It is also shown that these distributions, which are characterized by large mean values of the spins and orbital angular momenta directed orthogonally to the symmetry axis of the fissioning nucleus are successfully constructed upon simultaneously taking into account zero-mode transverse wriggling and bending vibrations of a fissile compound nucleus in the vicinity of its scission point, the wriggling vibrations being dominant. It is confirmed that the zero-mode wriggling vibrations considered immediately above are directly involved in the formation of the angular distributions of fragments originating from the spontaneous and low-energy fission of nuclei. This makes it possible to describe successfully such distributions for photofission fragments.