Effective nonlinear optical properties of shape distributed composite media

The effective linear and nonlinear optical properties of metal/dielectric composite media, in which ellipsoidal metal inclusions are distributed in shape, are investigated. The shape distribution function P(L _x, L _y) is assumed to be 2Δ^-2θ(L _x - 1/3 + Δ/3)θ(L _y - 1/3 + Δ/3)θ(2/3 + Δ/3 - L _x - L _y), where θ( ^{. . .} ) is the Heaviside function, Δ is the shape variance and L_i are the depolarization factors of the ellipsoidal inclusions along i-symmetric axes (i = x, y). Within the spectral representation, we adopt Maxwell-Garnett type approximation to study the effect of shape variance Δ on the effective nonlinear optical properties. Numerical results show that both the effective linear optical absorption α ∼ ωIm() and the modulus of the effective third-order optical nonlinearity enhancement |χ⁽³⁾ _e|/χ⁽³⁾ ₁ exhibit the nonmonotonic behavior with Δ. Moreover, with increasing Δ, the optical absorption and the nonlinearity enhancement bands become broad, accompanied with the decrease of their peaks. The adjustment of Δ from 0 to 1 allows us to examine the crossover behavior from no separation to large separation between optical absorption and nonlinearity enhancement peaks. As Δ → 0, i.e., the ellipsoidal shape deviates slightly from the spherical one, the dependence of |χ⁽³⁾ _e|/χ⁽³⁾ ₁ on Δ becomes strong first and then weak with increasing the imaginary part of inclusions' dielectric constant. In the dilute limit, the exact formula for the effective optical nonlinearity is derived, and the present approximation characterizes the exact results better than old mean field one does. Received 10 December 2002 Published online 4 June 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: lgaophys@pub.sz.jsinfo.net     

Phase transition and random-field induced domain wall response of SrTi O 3

The dielectric permittivity ε^′ - i of SrTi ¹⁸O ₃ (STO18) is studied under a dc electric field E as a function of the temperature, T. In ε^′ vs. T, a double-peak is found when 0 < E < 30 KV/m. While the peak at high-T is attributed to the smeared ferroelectric phase transition, the low-T one is induced by domain wall motion. The transverse Ising model including an external homogeneous and quenched random-fields is successfully used to describe both the smeared phase transition and the domain wall response in the low-T domain state. The calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results. Received 4 January 2002 / Received in final form 25 March 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

High-spin states in <Superscript>36</Superscript>Ar and their underlying shell model configurations

Eight high-spin states in ³⁶Ar below 10MeV excitation energy, among them a prospective J ^π = 8^- state at 9408keV and the J? 8 levels of the recently discovered superdeformed rotational band, have been observed by n-γ coincidence measurements with the ³³S(α, nγ) reaction at E _α = 14.4 and 13.4MeV. High-spin assignments of, respectively, J ^π = 6⁺ and 5^- were obtained for the E _p = 1209 and 1462keV (E _x = 9682 and 9927keV) resonances of the ³⁵Cl (p,γ) reaction by a measurement of γ-ray angular distributions. The spectrum of the high-spin and of the E _x? 7.4MeV levels is decomposed according to the underlying shell model configurations with n = 0, 1, 2, 4 particles excited from the N = 2 into the N = 3 major shell. The role of four-particle excitations, all connected with large prolate distortions, is elucidated for the entire A = 36-40 mass region. Received: 21 December 2001 / Accepted: 25 March 2002     

Failure time and critical behaviour of fracture precursors in heterogeneous materials

The acoustic emission of fracture precursors, and the failure time of samples of heterogeneous materials (wood, fiberglass) are studied as a function of the load features and geometry. It is shown that in these materials the failure time is predicted with a good accuracy by a model of microcrack nucleation proposed by Pomeau. We find that the time interval δt between events (precursors) and the energy ɛ are power law distributed and that the exponents of these power laws depend on the load history and on the material. In contrast, the cumulated acoustic energy E presents a critical divergency near the breaking time τ which is E∼ . The positive exponent γ is independent, within error bars, on all the experimental parameters. Received 31 July 2001 and Received in final form 17 December 2001     

Detecting a true quantum pump effect

Reflectance measurements from p-type GaSb:Zn epitaxial films with different hole concentrations (10¹⁷–10¹⁸ cm^-3) have been investigated over the frequency region of 100–1000 cm^-1. A minimum broadening feature corresponding to the hole plasmon was observed in the reflectance spectra. The experimental infrared spectra were well fitted using a Lorentz-Drude dispersion model. The real part ε₁ of the dielectric function decreases with increasing hole concentration. However, the imaginary part ε₂ increases with hole concentration in the far-infrared region. This indicates that the acoustic- and optic-phonons mainly participate in the free carrier absorption processes. The hole mobility obtained from Hall-effect measurements is slightly larger than that derived from optical measurements and the average ratio of mobilities is estimated to be 1.33. Owing to overdamping effects, the upper branch of longitudinal-optical phonon plasmon (LPP) coupled modes was observed. The upper LPP⁺ frequency increases with hole concentration and it shows a transition from phonon-like to plasmon-like behavior. A theoretical analysis with solutions in the complex frequency plane describes these experimental results.     

Elastic, inelastic scattering and fusion of the 14N +59Co system at energies close to the coulomb barrier

Elastic and inelastic scattering differential cross sections were measured in the energy range 30 MeV ≤ E _lab ≤ 55 MeV, for the ¹⁴N +⁵⁹Co system. Ambiguities of the optical potential derived from the analysis of the elastic scattering data were removed by performing calculations at the radius of sensitivity and by comparison with the available fusion cross section data. A simultaneous analysis of the three mechanisms was performed by coupled channel calculations, and a unique energy independent nuclear potential was found to be able to fit the data. Discussions and comparisons concerning the optical model, the threshold anomaly, full and approximated coupled channel calculations are presented. Received: 6 February 1997 / Revised version: 1 August 1997     

Hopping conductivity and activated transport in InxGa1-xAs quantum wells

We present measurements of the diagonal R_xx and off-diagonal R_xy magnetoresistance under quantum Hall conditions on several high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) based on In_xGa_1-xAs quantum wells. From the magnetoresistance tensor we obtain the longitudinal conductivity σ _xx . We study the transport mechanisms near the σ _xx minima at temperatures ranging between 2 K and 35 K; activated transport is the dominant mechanism for temperatures above 7 K while variable range hopping conductivity is significant for lower temperatures. We show that electron-electron correlations should be taken into account to explain the conductivity vs temperature behaviour below 5 K. Finally, we study the behaviour of the localization length as a function of Landau level filling and obtain a critical exponent γ = 3.45±0.15. Received 6 June 2001 and Received in final form 16 October 2001     

Stretched exponential relaxation in the Coulomb glass

The relaxation of the specific heat and the entropy to their equilibrium values is investigated numerically for the three-dimensional Coulomb glass at very low temperatures. The long time relaxation follows a stretched exponential function, f (t) = f ₀exp - (t/τ)^β , with the exponent β increasing with the temperature. The relaxation time diverges as an Arrhenius law when T→ 0. Received 24 May 2001 and Received in final form 12 September 2001     

Nuclear spins, magnetic moments and α-decay spectroscopy of long-lived isomeric states in 185Pb

Alpha-decay properties of the neutron-deficient isotope ¹⁸⁵Pb were studied at the PSB-ISOLDE (CERN) on-line mass separator using the resonance ionisation laser ion source (RILIS). The nuclei of interest were produced in a 1.4 GeV proton-induced spallation reaction of a uranium graphite target. In contrast to previous studies, two α-decaying isomeric states were identified in ¹⁸⁵Pb. The relative production of the isomers, monitored by their α-counting rates, could be significantly changed when a narrow-bandwidth laser at the RILIS setup was used to scan through the atomic hyperfine structure. Based on the atomic hyperfine structure measurements, along with the systematics for heavier odd-mass lead isotopes, the spin and the parity of these states were interpreted as 3/2^- and 13/2⁺ and their nuclear magnetic moments were deduced. The α-decay energy and half-life value for the I ^π = 13/2⁺ isomer are E _α = 6408(5) keV, T _1/2 = 4.3(2) s, respectively; while for the I ^π = 3/2^- isomer ( T _1/2 = 6.3(4) s) two α-decays with E _α1 = 6288(5) keV, I _α1 = 56(2)% and E _α2 = 6486(5) keV, I _α2 = 44(2)% were observed. By observing prompt α-γ coincidences new information on the low-lying states in the daughter isotope ¹⁸¹Hg was obtained. Received: 7 February 2002 / Accepted: 19 February 2002     

Lifetimes and configuration mixing in 110Cd

Lifetimes of excited states in ¹¹⁰Cd have been measured by the Doppler shift attenuation method in the reaction (α,2nγ) at E _α= 25 MeV. Lifetime values for 8 states and lifetime limits for 3 states were obtained. The band structures of ¹¹⁰Cd have been interpreted in terms of a modified version of the interacting boson model (IBM + 2 q.p.). The calculations explain well the excitation energies and electromagnetic transition probabilities up to J ^π= 16⁺, except for the 10⁺ ₁ state. The structural features are discussed in terms of collective and two quasiparticle excitations. Received: 20 March 1999 / Revised version: 28 May 1999     

Selective laser ionization of N≥82 indium isotopes: The new r-process nuclide 135In

Production yields and β-decay half-lives (T _1/2) of very neutron-rich indium isotopes were determined at CERN/ISOLDE using isobaric selectivity of a resonance-ionization laser ion-source. Beta-delayed neutron (βdn) multiscaling measurements have yielded improved T _1/2 for 206(6) ms ¹³²In, 165(3) ms ¹³³In and 141(5) ms ¹³⁴In. With 92(10) ms ¹³⁵In, a new r-process nuclide has been identified which acts as an important “waiting point” in the In isotopic chain for neutron densities in the range n _n≃ 10²⁴-10²⁶ n/cm³, where the r-matter flow has already passed the A≃ 130 abundance peak region. Received: 17 January 2002 / Accepted: 30 January 2002     

Localization-delocalization transition in one-dimensional system with long-range correlated diagonal disorder

We show that the electronic states in a one-dimensional (1D) Anderson model of diagonal disorder with long-range correlation proposed by de Moura and Lyra exhibit localization-delocalization phase transition in varying the energy of electrons. Using transfer matrix method, we calculate the average resistivity and investigate how it changes with the size of the system N. For given value of α (> 2) we find critical energies E_c1 and E_c2 such that the resistivity decreases with N as a power law ∝ N ^{- γ} for electron energies within the range of [E _c1, E _c2], and exponentially grows with N outside this range. Such behaviors persist in approaching the transition points and the exponent γ is in the range from 0.92 to 0.96. The origin of the delocalization in this 1D model is discussed. Received 18 December 2001 / Received in final form 2 May 2002 Published online 14 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: sjxiong@nju.edu.cn     

The E1 capture amplitude in 12C(α,γ0) 16O

An excitation function of the ground-state γ₀-ray capture transition in ¹²C (α,γ)¹⁶O at θ_γ = 90^° was obtained in far geometry using six Ge detectors, where the study of the reaction was initiated in inverse kinematics involving a windowless gas target. The detectors observed predominantly the E1 capture amplitude. The data at E = 1.32 to 2.99 MeV lead to an extrapolated astrophysical S factor S _E1(E ₀) = 90±15 keV b at E ₀ = 0.3 MeV (for the case of constructive interference between the two lowest E1 sources), in good agreement with previous works. However, a novel Monte Carlo approach in the data extrapolation reveals systematic differences between the various data sets such that a combined analysis of all available data sets could produce a biased estimate of the S _E1(E ₀) value. As a consequence, the case of destructive interference between the two lowest E1 sources with S _E1(E ₀) = 8±3 keV b cannot be ruled out rigorously. Received: 6 June 2001 / Accepted: 26 July 2001     

A role of the axial-vector mesons on the photon production in heavy-ion collisions and their relevant decays

A role of the axial-vector mesons, such as K₁ and a₁, on the emitted-photon spectrum in hot hadronic matter is studied through the channels πρ→a ₁→πγ and Kρ→K ₁→Kγ. Both channels could be dominant over the region lower than E _γ∼ 0.5 GeV, while the role of the K₁ meson is diminished in the higher E _γ region. This study is carried out with an SU _L(3) ⊗SU _R(3) effective chiral Lagrangian which includes vector and axial-vector mesons systematically and explains well their hadronic and radiative decays simultaneously. Received: 8 August 2001 / Accepted: 4 February 2002     

Yrast level structure of the neutron-deficient N = 80 isotones 146Dy, 147Ho and 148Er up to high-spin values

High-spin level schemes of the N = 80 isotones ¹⁴⁶Dy, ¹⁴⁷Ho and ¹⁴⁸Er have been investigated by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopic methods using the NORDBALL Compton-suppressed multidetector array including proton and neutron selection. The projectile-target system ⁵⁸Ni + ⁹²Mo at 260 MeV beam energy has been used to produce the neutron-deficient N = 80 isotones. The previously known schemes have been extended to considerably higher spin and exitation energy, up to I = 23?, E _x≈ 8.9 MeV in ¹⁴⁶Dy, I = 53/2?, E _x≈ 8.7 MeV in ¹⁴⁷Ho and I = 23?, E _x≈ 9.6 MeV in ¹⁴⁸Er. The results are discussed in terms of the spherical shell model. Many of the levels can be described within this framework. Received: 12 January 2001 / Accepted: 11 April 2001     

Maximally aligned states in 99Ag

Excited states of ⁹⁹Ag were populated via the ⁵⁰Cr + ⁵⁸Ni (261 MeV) reaction using the NORDBALL detector array equipped with charged-particle and neutron detector systems for reaction channel separation. On the basis of the measured γγ-coincidence relations and angular distribution ratios a significantly extended level scheme has been constructed up to E _x ∼ 7.8 MeV and I = 35/2. The experimental results were described within the framework of the shell model. Candidates for states fully aligned in the πg _9/2 ^-3ν(d _5/2, g _7/2)² valence configuration space were found at 4109 and 6265 keV. Received: 18 June 2002 / Accepted: 11 October 2002 / Published online: 4 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: sohler@atomki.hu Communicated by J. ?yst?     

(EC+β +) decay of 130Nd and 140Tb

The available astrophysical S(E) factor data for the reaction ⁷Li (p,α)α at 10 < E < 1000keV exhibit an exponential increase at low energies due to the effects of electron screening. A parametrisation of the data using a non-resonant, direct process and two subthreshold resonances reproduces the data at energies E≥ 100keV, while at lower energies this calculated S _b(E) factor curve for bare nuclides drops below the data, which in turn represent the case of electron-shielded nuclides, i.e. the electron-shielded S _s(E) factor. The comparison between S _b(E) and S _s(E) leads to an electron-screening potential energy U _e = 350eV, which is much higher than the adiabatic limit of 175eV and not understood at present. The deduced value of S _b(0) is considerably smaller than the previously adopted value of 59keV b, significantly increasing the calculated abundance of ⁷Li in big-bang nucleosynthesis. The Trojan-horse method was applied to the reaction ⁷Li (p,α)α to determine the energy dependence of the S _b(E) factor for 10 < E < 370keV, free from the effects of the Coulomb barrier and electron screening. The THM results are close to the calculated S _b(E) curve and suggest that the THM may become a powerful way to obtain improved information on low-energy cross-sections and associated electron-screening effects in a model-independent way. Received: 9 September 2000 / Accepted: 5 December 2000     

Observation of intermediate bands feeding the positive-parity yrast band in 155Gd

High-spin states of ¹⁵⁵Gd were populated by using the ¹⁵⁴Sm(α,3nγ)¹⁵⁵Gd reaction at E _α= 33 MeV. γ-γ coincidence, E _γ singles, excitation function, and the DCO ratios were measured. we have identified three intermediate bands with ΔI= 2 feeding the positive yrast band. The bands are interpreted as such candidate bands that are mixed with the negative-parity ground state band. This observation can provide a plausible explanation for unusually large population of the positive-parity yrast band observed in a recent Coulomb excitation. Received: 2 November 1999     

Dielectric resonances in disordered media

Binary disordered systems are usually obtained by mixing two ingredients in variable proportions: conductor and insulator, or conductor and super-conductor. They present very specific properties, in particular the second-order percolation phase transition, with its fractal geometry and the multi-fractal properties of the current moments. These systems are naturally modeled by regular bi-dimensional or tri-dimensional lattices, on which sites or bonds are chosen randomly with given probabilities. The two significant parameters are the ratio h = σ ₁/σ of the complex conductances, σ and σ ₁, of the two components, and their relative abundances p (or, respectively, 1 - p). In this article, we calculate the impedance of the composite by two independent methods: the so-called spectral method, which diagonalises Kirchhoff's Laws via a Green function formalism, and the Exact Numerical Renormalization method (ENR). These methods are applied to mixtures of resistors and capacitors (R-C systems), simulating e.g. ionic conductor-insulator systems, and to composites constituted of resistive inductances and capacitors (LR-C systems), representing metal inclusions in a dielectric bulk. The frequency dependent impedances of the latter composites present very intricate structures in the vicinity of the percolation threshold. In this paper, we analyse the LR-C behavior of compounds formed by the inclusion of small conducting clusters (“n-legged animals”) in a dielectric medium. We investigate in particular their absorption spectra who present a pattern of sharp lines at very specific frequencies of the incident electromagnetic field, the goal being to identify the signature of each animal. This enables us to make suggestions of how to build compounds with specific absorption or transmission properties in a given frequency domain. Received 16 August 2002 Published online 14 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: laurent.raymond@l2mp.fr RID="b" ID="b"e-mail: steffen.schaefer@l2mp.fr RID="c" ID="c"UMR CNRS 6137