N-soliton quantum scattering in the sine-Gordon theory

The quantum treatment of soliton scattering in the sine-Gordon model, using the path integral collective coordinate method is generalized to N solitons. The solitions. The first quantum correction to the phase shift of N-soliton scattering is equal to the zero-point energy of an effective multi-soliton Hamiltonian. The energies of the oscillators of this Hamiltonian are shown to be equal to the stability angles of a complete set of solutions of the Schrödinger equation for small fluctuations around a classical N-soliton. Consequently, calculating the fluctuations and their stability angles by the inverse scattering method, we obtain the energies of the oscillators. The first quantum correction to the phase shift (the O(1) part in a development in powers of γ) is evaluated by summing the stability angles. This result is in agreement with the “exact” scattering amplitude conjectured by Faddeev, Kulish and Korepin.     

Statistical spectroscopy for nuclei in the fp shell

Nuclei in the fp shell have been studied using the spectral averaging method. This was attempted with a view to provide a rather simple alternative to detailed microscopic calculations. We have considered a decomposition of the overall spectroscopic space (m particles in the fp shell) in terms of a spherical j-orbit, isospin, configuration-isospin and SU(4) isospin subspaces. Centroid energies and widths of these subspaces are evaluated and used to determine binding energies, low-energy spectra and fractional occupancy of j-orbits. We have also examined the extent of Wigner SU(4) symmetry mixing for nuclei in this shell. The ratio of binding energies of isobars suggested by Franzini and Radicati to test the validity of SU(4) symmetry is also evaluated from the calculated binding energies. Comparisons are made with microscopic calculations like the shell model and Hartree-Fock where available. We find that the distribution method is able to determine ground-state energies and spectra of nuclei very well despite the fact that the vector spaces are quite large. The SU(4) symmetry in the ground-state region of these nuclei is strongly mixed largely due to the single particle spin-orbit coupling.     

Anomalies in the optical properties of nanocrystalline copper oxides CuO and Cu2O near the fundamental absorption edge

A 0.1–0.15-eV displacement of the fundamental absorption edge in the optical absorption spectra of nanocrystalline oxide n-CuO (relative to the position of the fundamental absorption edge in the spectra of CuO single crystals) towards lower energies (red shift) is observed against the background of strong blurring. Nanocrystalline n-Cu₂O exhibits a displacement of the fundamental absorption edge towards higher energies (blue shift) by approximately 0.35 eV. The size of crystallites in n-CuO and n-Cu₂O ranges from 10 to 90 nm. The blue shift of the fundamental absorption edge of n-Cu₂O is typical of classical wide-gap semiconductors and can be explained by size quantization upon a change in the particle size. The anomalous red shift of the fundamental absorption edge of the strongly correlated nanocrystalline oxide n-CuO can be attributed to the highly defective structure of n-CuO, anomalies in the electronic structure of strongly correlated compounds based on 3d metals, and their tendency to electronic phase separation with the formation of metal-like inclusions.     

Beta-decay properties of exotic nuclei and the astrophysical r-process

The r-process abundances are evaluated with the use of three different β-decay models, i.e., the second version of the Gross Theory, the semi-Gross Theory and a QRPA approach. The necessary Q_β-values, as well as the neutron separation energies, are obtained from the TUYY, ETFSI and FRDM mass predictions. A comparison is made among the β-decay half-lives predicted by these β-decay models for the nuclei on a typical r-process path, as well as among the resulting r-process abundances.     

A statistical approach to describe highly excited heavy and superheavy nuclei

A statistical approach based on the Weisskopf evaporation theory has been developed to describe the deexcitation process of highly excited heavy and superheavy nuclei, in particular for the proton-rich nuclei. The excited nucleus is cooled by evaporating γ-rays, light particles(neutrons, protons, α etc) in competition with binary fission,in which the structure effects(shell correction, fission barrier, particle separation energy) contribute to the processes.The formation of residual nuclei is evaluated via sequential emission of possible particles above the separation energies.The available data of fusion-evaporation excitation functions in the ~(28)Si+~(198)Pt reaction can be reproduced nicely within the approach.     

Pressure dependence of the E1 gap in GaSb: Resonant Raman technique

A new method to determine the pressure dependence of energy gaps with the help of the diamond anvil cell is reported. The method is based on resonance Raman scattering observed as the gap energies cross the photon energies of several laser line. The technique is illustrated by means of measurements of the pressure dependence of the E₁ gap of GaSb up to the phase transition (7.7 Gpa). A sublinear dependence of the E₁ gap on pressure and a linear dependence on lattice constant (dE₁/dlnV = 4.67 ± 0.1 eV) is obtained. These results are well explained by pseudopotential calculations.     

Do extreme conditions of nuclear matter influence particle properties? summary of the HADES project

Heavy ion collisions at beam energies of 1–2 GeV/u (SIS at GSI, Darmstadt) offer a unique possibility to investigate the properties of hot, compressed nuclear matter. Baryon densities of 2–3ρ ₀ and temperature up to 100 MeV can be reached during a collision phase. Due to a high density of the phase new particles are produced in multiple baryon-baryon collisions. Objects decaying into electron-positron pairs play an important role in this context. In contrast to hadrons, dileptons carry away undistorted by final-state interactions information about the hot and dense phase. The two-body decays of the vector mesons ρ, ω and ? are of special interest since width and masses of the resonances are accessible in the dielectron mass spectra. A High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES) has been proposed for the SIS accelerator at GSI in Darmstadt and currently is constructed by the HADES Collaboration in many places of Europe. A Ring Imaging Cerenkov Counter (RICH), blind for hadrons, together with Multiplicity Electron Trigger Array (META) containing Shower detector and Time-of-Flight wall will serve for the electron identification. The momentum of dileptons will be determined in 2 sets of Mini-Drift Chambers (MDC) placed in front of and behind a six-fold super-conducting coil. An expected invariant mass resolution in the ρ/ω region less than 1% (σ) assures a clear separation of the ω and ? from ρ. For the difficult case of the 1 GeV/u Au+Au collision we expect a 10:1 signal-to-background ratio at the ρ/? region. The performance of the spectrometer was studied by detailed simulations using GEANT. Results of simulations and tests of prototypes assure that with its high counting rate capability and large geometrical acceptance HADES will be able to measuree ⁺ e ^? pairs for the heaviest systems at the highest SIS energies. First results are expected in 1999.     

The Na-TiS2 system: A critical discussion of the phase boundaries,structural and NMR studies

We present new evaluations of phase boundaries in the Na_xTiS₂ system from electrochemical intercalation and from X-ray and NMR measurements in samples intercalated using the liquid ammonia technique. After a critical discussion of the influence of the method of intercalation on the phase limits we present an extensive NMR study of the system. ²³Na quadrupolar coupling determinations support the fact that the low concentration (x < 0.25) phase II is a stage 2 phase. ²³Na Knight shift results show that the transition from the Ib trigonal prismatic phase to the Ia trigonal antiprismatic phase with increasing Na concentration takes place with a change in the electronic band structure. The stability of this phase is discussed in terms of the balance between elastic and electronic energies.     

Phase separation and anisotropy in the electrical properties of weakly doped lanthanum manganites

Variations in the thermopower, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, thermal expansion coefficients, and their anisotropy with temperature were detected near room temperature in single crystals of weakly doped lanthanum manganites La_1?xA_xMnO₃ (A = Ca, Sr; x = 0.07–0.125) with orthorhombic structure. The results obtained are discussed in terms of a model of phase separation related to polaron anisotropy. Due to a gain in exchange and elastic energies in the lattice, small-radius magnetic polarons can merge to form polarons of a larger size, which would contain now not one but rather a few electrons (equal in number to the polarons in the cluster). As a result, short-range order in a cluster and phase separation set in at a temperature T_ps ≈ 250–300 K, which is approximately equal to the Curie temperature T_C of conducting manganites with x ≈ 0.2–0.3.     

Determination of the S and P° Rydberg energy levels of rubidium-like ions by the method of interpolation of relativistic quantum defects

The method of interpolation of relativistic quantum defects is used for determining the energies of Rydberg levels of rubidium-like ions. For this purpose, the values of relativistic quantum defects calculated by the Dirac-Fock method at three points, two of which correspond to discrete levels and the third, to the ionization threshold, are approximated by a second-degree polynomial. By using the continuous function μ(E) thus obtained, one can readily determine the energy value for any discrete level. A formula for calculating the threshold value of the quantum defect μ(0) (the phase shift δ(0)) is given. The approximation coefficients corresponding to the nS _1/2, nP°_1/2, and nP°_3/2 levels are presented. For better agreement with the experimental results, an empirical correction to the quantum defect is introduced, which weakly depends on energy. The calculations were performed for 17 members of the rubidium isoelectronic sequence (from Rb to Fr⁵⁰⁺).     

Electronic phase separation and the inhomogeneities in Bi2212

Recent works on scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have shown how the measured local gaps vary in a Bi2212 family of samples with different hole doping levels and also, how they vary with the temperature. Here we use the Cahn-Hilliard (CH) equation of phase segregation in alloys to describe the phase separations of holes in HTS. This method allows us to determine how the local Landau free energy changes in a given sample as a function of temperature, assuming that the line of anomalies or signals related with the upper pseudogap is the phase separation temperature T_ps. The free energy and the hole density form regions of low and high values separated by a potential barrier, which we propose to be the origin of the superconducting attraction.     

Electron coherent and incoherent pairing instabilities in inhomogeneous bipartite and nonbipartite nanoclusters

Exact calculations of collective excitations and charge/spin (pseudo) gaps in an ensemble of bipartite and nonbipartite clusters yield level crossing degeneracies, spin-charge separation, condensation and recombination of electron charge and spin driven by interaction strength, inter-site couplings and temperature. Near crossing degeneracies, the electron configurations of the lowest energies control the physics of electronic pairing, phase separation and magnetic transitions. Rigorous conditions are found for the smooth and dramatic phase transitions with competing stable and unstable inhomogeneities. Condensation of electron charge and spin degrees at various temperatures offers a new mechanism of pairing and a possible route to superconductivity in inhomogeneous systems, different from the BCS scenario. Small bipartite and frustrated clusters exhibit charge and spin inhomogeneities in many respects typical for nano and heterostructured materials. The calculated phase diagrams in various geometries may be linked to atomic scale experiments in high Tc cuprates, manganites and other concentrated transition metal oxides.     

Phase-shift analysis of πp scattering in the energy region from 160 to 600 MeV

A phase shift analysis ofπN scattering has been carried out at 18 discrete energies in the region 160–600 MeV. Charge splitting of theP ₃₃ phase shift (～-2 degree) is observed with a change of sign at ～-350 MeV and vanishing at ～-600 MeV. Marked deviations from an earlier analysis are found forS andP-amplitudes as a result of using new precision data and an untraditional method of the analysis.     

Relativistic optical model on the basis of the Moscow potential and lower phase shifts for nucleon-nucleon scattering at laboratory energies of up to 3 GeV

Data of a partial-wave analysis of nucleon-nucleon scattering at energies of up to E _lab = 3 GeV (lower partial waves) and the properties of the deuteron are described within the relativistic optical model based on deep attractive quasipotentials involving forbidden states (as exemplified by the Moscow potential). Partial-wave potentials are derived by the inverse-scattering-problem method based on the Marchenko equation by using present-day data from the partial-wave analysis of nucleon-nucleon scattering at energies of up to 3 GeV. Channel coupling is taken into account. The imaginary parts of the potentials are deduced from the phase equation of the variable-phase approach. The general situation around the manifestation of quark effects in nucleon-nucleon interaction is discussed.     

Energy expression of the chemical bond between atoms in metal oxides

The chemical bond between atoms in metal oxides is expressed in an energy scale. Total energy is partitioned into the atomic energy densities of constituent elements in the metal oxide, using energy density analysis. The atomization energies, ΔE_M for metal atom and ΔE_O for O atom, are then evaluated by subtracting the atomic energy densities from the energy of the isolated neutral atom, M and O, respectively. In this study, a ΔE_O vs. ΔE_M diagram called atomization energy diagram is first proposed and used for the understanding of the nature of chemical bond in various metal oxides. Both ΔE_M and ΔE_O values reflect the average structure as well as the local structure. For example their values vary depending on the vertex, edge or face sharing of MO₆ octahedron, and also change with the overall density of binary metal oxides. For perovskite-type oxides it is shown that the ΔE_O value tends to increase by the phase transition from cubic to tetragonal phase, regardless of the tilting-type or the 〈1 0 0〉 displacement-type transition. The bond formation in spinel-type oxides is also understood with the aid of the atomization energies. The present approach based on the atomization energy concept will provide us a new clue to the design of metal oxides.     

Characterization of laser sealed coatings of yttria partially stabilized zirconia

The present paper reports an experimental investigation based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS) analyses of phases formed after laser sealing of plasma sprayed coatings of 8.5 wt% yttria partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ). X-ray diffraction and X-ray step-scanning analyses showed that the plasma sprayed and sealed coatings consisted mainly of t′ phase with a very small amount of monoclinic phase (m phase) in the plasma sprayed coatings. It was also found that the small amounts of m and cubic phases (c phase) present in the sealed coatings were dependent on laser processing specific energies (specific energy is equal to laser power/traverse speed x beam diameter). It was also found that rhombohedral (r) phase formed after laser sealing of coatings at higher specific energies. A direct relationship between c/a ratio of transformable tetragonal phase (t phase) produced by thermal treatment of sealed coatings and nontransformable tetragonal phase (t′ phase) and the amount of Yttria was obtained. A new equation was derived, which describes the relationship between Yttria concentration and the c/a ratio of tetragonal phases (t or t′).     

Effect of large neutron excess on the dipole response in the region of the giant dipole resonance

The evolution of the dipole response in nuclei with strong neutron excess is studied in the Hartree-Fock plus random phase approximation with Skyrme forces. We find that the neutron excess increases the fragmentation of the isovector giant dipole resonance, while pushing the centroid of the distribution to lower energies beyond the mass dependence predicted by the collective models. The radial separation of proton and neutron densities associated with a large neutron excess leads to non-vanishing isoscalar transition densities to the GDR states, which are therefore predicted to be excited also by isoscalar nuclear probes. The evolution of the isoscalar compression dipole mode as a function of the neutron excess is finally studied. We find that the large neutron excess leads to a strong concentration of the strength associated with the isoscalar dipole operator ∑_ir_i³Y₁₀, that mainly originates from uncorrelated excitations of the neutrons of the skin.     

Transport cross sections for charged particle scattering in (dense-) cesium plasma; electrical conductivity

Transport cross sections for the electron-ion and electron-electron scattering in (dense) cesium plasmas is determined with the partial wave method. The scattering phase shifts δ_l(k) are calculated numerically by means of the usual Numerov method and the advantageous amplitude — phase method for energies E = 10^-4··· 5 ryd and for Debye screening lengths R_D = (10···10³)a₀. Besides the usual Debye potential, also a Thomas-Fermi potential is applied for the cesium electron-ion interaction. The resulting transport cross sections are compared with the Born and quasi-classical approximations. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of fully ionized cesium plasmas is determined and compared with respective Spitzer results.     

Evaluation of the pion-nucleon sigma term

We have evaluated the σ-commutator term for πN scattering by using a new method to extrapolate the C⁽⁺⁾ amplitude below threshold. Reproducing kernel techniques are used to extrapolate along hyperbolic curves whose lower branches lie within the physical region for energies above the elastic threshold. The value obtained is σ_NN^ππ = 57 ± 12 MeV.