Radiator design for detecting high-energy neutrons with a nuclear track detector

Subsequent to the proposal of a two-layer structured radiator for more efficient detection of high-energy neutrons with a plastic nuclear track detector (PNTD), its availability has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. An inner deuterized hydrocarbon (CD₂) layer adjacent to PNTD should play the role of both a radiator of deuterons recoiled there and a degrader for energetic protons recoiled in the outer layer of a CH₂ material. It was found that the energy dependence of the efficiency was changed sensitively by the thickness of the CD₂ layer. A best combination of CH₂ and CD₂ thickness was estimated under a condition of a constant total thickness. For example, the sensitivity could be flattened within 20% between about 5 and 70 MeV by using -CD₂ and -CH₂.     

Tilting the brane, or some cosmological consequences of the brane Universe

We discuss theories in which the standard-model particles are localized on a brane embedded in space–time with large compact extra dimensions, whereas gravity propagates in the bulk. In addition to the ground state corresponding to a straight infinite brane, such theories admit a (one parameter) family of stable configurations corresponding to branes wrapping with certain periodicity around the extra dimension(s) when one moves along a noncompact coordinate (tilted walls). In the effective four-dimensional field-theory picture, such walls are interpreted as one of the (stable) solutions with the constant gradient energy, discussed earlier [1 and 2]. In the cosmological context their energy “redshifts” by the Hubble expansion and dissipates slower than the one in matter or radiation. The tilted wall eventually starts to dominate the Universe. The upper bound on the energy density coincides with the present critical energy density. Thus, this mechanism can become significant any time in the future. The solutions we discuss are characterized by a tiny spontaneous breaking of both the Lorentz and rotational invariances. Small calculable Lorentz noninvariant terms in the standard model Lagrangian are induced. Thus, the tilted walls provide a framework for the spontaneous breaking of the Lorentz invariance.     

On the normalization of Gamow functions

It is proved that the definitions of the norm given by Berggren and Romo are identical. Regularization in ref. ¹) with any convergence factor of the form

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leads to the same result. The existence of the norm is also established for the proton. The norm for neutrons is analytically given.     

Mössbauer effect studies of the 74.5 keV level of Dy

Recoilless absorption measurements of the 74.5 keV γ-rays of ¹⁶¹Dy were carried out using

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absorbers. The analysis of the absorption spectrum obtained with the nitrate absorber yielded a value of 1.38 ± 0.02 for the ratio of the g-factor of the 74.5 keV and the ground levels of ¹⁶¹Dy and a value of 0.58 ± 0.04 for the corresponding ratio of the quadrupole moments. Relying on previous measurements of the ground level moments, the values derived for the magnetic and quadrupole moments of the 74.5 level are −0.377 ± 0.012 n.m. and 1.5 ± 0.2 b, respectively. These values are compared with the values predicted by nuclear theory. The isomeric shift between DyNi₂ and absorbers was found to be 0.9 ± 0.2 mm/sec.     

Characteristics of heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors

Characteristics of tracks created by heavy ions in bubble detectors have been studied in detail by using four types of super long (23 cm), self-made bubble detectors and six species of high energy heavy ions: ¹²C, ²⁸Si, ⁴⁰Ar, ⁵⁶Fe, ⁸⁴Kr and ¹³²Xe. The following characteristics of heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors have been recognized:

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Dense-Kondo antiferromagnetism in (CePd3)8Ge

We report the existence of (CePd₃)₈Ge and (LaPd₃)₈Ge, and find them to have the same cubic superstructure as reported for (CePd₃)₈T (T=Ga, In, Sn, Sb, Pb and Bi) by Gordon and co-workers [1 and 2]. The cerium ions in (CePd₃)₈Ge are trivalent and undergo an antiferromagnetic transition below 5 K with a dense-Kondo-lattice behaviour.     

The dilambda and the pentaquark in the constituent quark model

We use the non-relativistic constituent quark model and the bag model to study the stability of the dilambda H = (uuddss) and pentaquark states

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. While they are stable in the limit of exact SU(3)_F flavour symmetry between u, d, and s quarks, the H and the P become unbound when a realistic breaking of SU(3)_F is introduced.     

Meanders: exact asymptotics

We conjecture that meanders are governed by the gravitational version of a c=−4 two-dimensional conformal field theory, allowing for exact predictions for the meander configuration exponent , and the semi-meander exponent

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. This result follows from an interpretation of meanders as pairs of fully packed loops on a random surface, described by two c=−2 free fields. The above values agree with recent numerical estimates. We generalize these results to a score of meandric numbers with various geometries and arbitrary loop fugacities.     

Photinos from gravitational collapse

Very light photinos, if they exist, should be produced in a SN explosion. Using the data from SN 1987A we set limits on the masses of selectrons (and squarks), the SUSY particles involved in the production (and diffusion) of photinos in the stellar medium. The bounds obtained are

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, where .     

Measurement of the proton spectra from non-mesonic weak decay of ΛHe, ΛLi and ΛC

The results of a measurement of the proton spectra following the non-mesonic weak decay of ⁵_ΛHe, ⁷_ΛLi and ¹²_ΛC are presented and discussed. The experiment was performed at the (e⁺ e⁻) collider DAΦNE at Laboratori Nazionale di Frascati of INFN. It is the first measurement for ⁷_ΛLi, and for all the spectra the lower limit on the energy of the protons is 15 MeV, never reached before. All the spectra show a similar shape, namely a peak at around 80 MeV as expected for the free Λp→np weak reaction, with a low energy rise that should be due to final state interactions and/or two-nucleon induced weak processes. The decay spectrum of ⁵_ΛHe is somehow similar to the ones reported by previous measurements and theoretical calculations, but the same does not happen for the ¹²_ΛC one.     

Surface phonons of GaP(1 1 0) and InAs(1 1 0)

The dispersions of low energy surface phonon modes of GaP(1 1 0) and InAs(1 1 0) measured with inelastic He-atom scattering along the and 0 0 1 directions are presented. Aside from the Rayleigh mode, additional distinct acoustic modes are observed as well as indications of optical modes. Contrary to results for GaAs(1 1 0), a rocking mode was not observed. The experimentally determined phonon dispersions are in excellent agreement with recent ab initio calculations by C. Eckl, et al. [1].     

Direct decays of heavy quarkonia

The branching ratios are evaluated of the ψ (3770) and (4S) decays into ππ, , ωπ⁰, ωη, ωη ′, π, η, η′, , . They arise due to the transition through the real intermediate states and , respectively. It is shown that some branching ratios exceed the three-gluon one by an order of magnitude. The rates of the decays ,

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and are evaluated also. τ-C and B factories coul be good tools for studying all decays mentioned.     

The first eigenvalue of the Dirac operator on Kähler manifolds

If M^2m is a closed Kähler spin manifold of positive scalar curvature R, then each eigenvalue λ of type r (r {1, …, [(m + 1)/2]}) of the Dirac operator D satisfies the inequality λ² ≥ rR₀/4r − 2, where R₀ is the minimum of R on M^2m. Hence, if the complex dimension m is odd (even) we have the estimation

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for the first eigenvalue of D. In the paper is also considered the limiting case of the given inequalities. In the limiting case with m = 2r − 1 the manifold M^2m must be Einstein. The manifolds S², S² × S², S² × T², P³( ), F( ), P³( ) × T² and F( ³) × T², where F( ³) denotes the flag manifold and T² the 2-dimensional flat torus, are examples for which the first eigenvalue of the Dirac operator realizes the limiting case of the corresponding inequality. In general, if M^2m is an example of odd complex dimension m, then M^2m × T² is an example of even complex dimension m + 1. The limiting case is characterized by the fact that here appear eigenspinors of D² which are Kählerian twistor-spinors.     

Influence of interface structures on Sn thin film growth on Si(1 1 1) surface

Using coaxial impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy, we have investigated Sn thin film growth on Si(1 1 1)√3×√3-Sn and hydrogen-terminated Si(1 1 1) surfaces at room temperature. Sn formed crystalline film with β-Sn structure on Si(1 1 1)√3×√3-Sn surface, but on the hydrogen-terminated Si(1 1 1) surface, the epitaxial growth of Sn thin film was disrupted, and Sn grew as a polycrystalline film. The growth orientational relationship of the Sn film grown on Si(1 1 1)√3×√3-Sn surface was found to be

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. In the works, we found that interface structure plays a decisive role for the growth mode, crystallinity, and growth orientation of the growth of thin film.     

Helium cosmic ray flux measurements at Mars

The helium energy spectrum in Martian orbit has been observed by the MARIE charged particle spectrometer aboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft. The orbital data were taken from March 13, 2002 to October 28, 2003, at which time a very intense Solar Particle Event caused a loss of communication between the instrument and the spacecraft. The silicon detector stack in MARIE is optimized for the detection of protons and helium in the energy range below , which typically includes almost all of the flux during SPEs. This also makes MARIE an efficient detector for GCR helium in the energy range of 50–. We will present the first fully normalized flux results from MARIE, using helium ions in this energy range.     

Studies of the structures formed by the alternated electrodeposition of atomic layers of Cd and Te on the low-index planes of Au: I. LEED and Auger studies

We present here a low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) study of the surface chemistry resulting from electrodeposition of two monolayers of CdTe on the low-index planes of Au by electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (ECALE). ECALE is the electrochemical analog of atomic layer epitaxy (ALE). In the present study, well-ordered monolayers of CdTe were formed by the alternated electrodeposition of atomic layers of Cd and Te, at underpotential, on all three Au planes. Deposition of the first monolayer of CdTe was performed by depositing Te either oxidatively at underpotential or reductively at underpotential, followed by reductive Cd underpotential deposition (UPD). The structures formed were the same in both cases: Au(100)( , Au(110)(2 × 3)-CdTe, and

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. Varying the initial coverage of Te did not change the resulting CdTe structure, although the higher coverages of Te showed sharper LEED patterns and no emersed oxygen. Deposition of Cd as the first atomic layer followed by oxidative Te UPD resulted in the same structures as those found when Te was used for the first atomic layer. Optimal CdTe monolayers were formed on surfaces where the first atomic layer deposited was homogeneously distributed and of the correct coverage. The correct initial coverage is determined by the coverage needed to complete the subsequently formed CdTe monolayer. On Au(100), an initial coverage of 0.5 appears to be optimal in order to form the Au(100)( . Deposition of a second CdTe monolayer onto the first resulted in structures similar to the first monolayer, but with increased diffuse intensity in the resulting LEED patterns under the conditions used.     

Disorder effects on transport near AFM quantum phase transitions

We discuss three different scenarios recently proposed to account for the non-Fermi liquid behavior near antiferromagnetic (AFM) quantum critical points in heavy-Fermion systems: (i) scattering of Fermi liquid quasiparticles by strong spin fluctuations near the spin-density-wave instability, (ii) the breakdown of the Kondo effect due to the competition with the RKKY interaction, and (iii) the formation of magnetic regions due to rare configurations of the disorder. Here we focus on the first scenario and show that it explains in some detail the anomalous temperature dependence of the resistivity observed, e.g. in CePd₂Si₂, CeNi₂Ge₂ or CeIn₃. The interplay of strongly anisotropic scattering due to critical spin-fluctuations and weak isotropic impurity scattering leads to a regime with a resistivity

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for sufficiently large T and small ρ₀.     

Flux and energy distribution of axial protons emitted from the hydrogen plasma focus

Experimental results and theoretical studies show that protons from the hydrogen plasma focus are emitted predominantly in the axial direction. In this work the results of the flux and energy distribution measurements of the axial protons using CR-39 detector are presented. The main purpose of the experiment is to test the suitability of a plasma focus device as a source for (p,) nuclear reactions, especially and .     

A thermodynamic and electrical conductivity study of nonstoichiometric cerium dioxide

Thermodynamic and dc electrical conductivity measurements were performed on nonstoichiometric CeO_2−x to characterize the electrical behavior and defect structure in the vicinity of the n to p transition. Using the mass action approach, activation energies of 2.57, 1.15 and 0.63 eV were obtained for the electron, hole and ionic partial conductivities respectively (600–1000°C, 1<P_o2<10⁻⁴ atm). Thermodynamic measurements of 99.99%CeO_2-x by electrochemical coulometric titration yielded expressions for point defect concentrations per cm³ and nonstoichiometry in the impurity dominated region at 800°C as follows:

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. Thermodynamic constant composition measurements revealed a decrease in the partial molar enthalpy (from - 10 eV) with decreasing stoichiometry for x<10^−2.8. This decrease is attributed to defect reaction involving both holes and electrons.