Interfacial free energies and solute diffusivities from data on Ostwald ripening

Using recent theoretical modifications of the kinetic constants characterizing Ostwald ripening, it is demonstrated that accurate values of the interfacial free energy, , and solute diffusivities, D, can be obtained from experimental data when the kinetics of particle growth are measured in conjunction with independent measurements of either the decrease of the matrix supersaturation or the increase in volume fraction with aging time. The accuracy of is limited only by the assumption that the matrix phase is an ideal solid solution, and is effectively independent of the influence of equilibrium volume fraction, _e, on the kinetics of coarsening. Analyses of the available data on the coarsening of -type (Ni₃X) precipitates in binary Ni–Al, Ni–Si and Ni–Ti alloys yield values of =6.9±0.3, 10.2±3.0 and 13.0 mJ/m², respectively, assuming ideal solution thermodynamics; a more realistic thermodynamic model for the Ni–Al solid solution raises the value of in Ni–Al alloys to 8.1±0.2 mJ/m². Proportional increases probably obtain in the other two alloys. The accuracy with which D can be evaluated from comparable data depends theoretically on _e. However, analyses of the same data yield values of D in very good agreement with the results of conventional diffusion experiments. This is consistent with the absence of an effect of _e on the kinetics of Ostwald ripening in these alloys over the ranges of _e investigated.     

Time-Dependent Vacuum Energy Induced by {\mathcal{D}}–Particle Recoil

We consider cosmology in the framework of a material reference system of particles, including the effects of quantum recoil induced by closed-string probe particles. We find a time-dependent contribution to the cosmological vacuum energy, which relaxes to zero as 1/t ² for large times t. If this energy density is dominant, the Universe expands with a scale factor R(t)t ². We show that this possibility is compatible with recent observational constraints from high–redshift supernovae, and may also respect other phenomenological bounds on time variation in the vacuum energy imposed by early cosmology.     

ℤn Baxter model: Critical behavior

The _n Baxter Model is an exactly solvable lattice model in the special case of the Belavin parametrization. We calculate the critical behavior of Prob_n( = ^k) using techniques developed in number theory in the study of the congruence properties ofp(m), the number of unrestricted partitions of an integerm. Supported in part by the National Science Foundation, Grant Number DMS 84-21141.     

An investigation of finite-size scaling for systems with long-range interaction: The spherical model

A method is suggested for the derivation of finite-size corrections in the thermodynamic functions of systems with pair interaction potential decaying at large distancesr asr ^{–d –} , whered is the space dimensionality and>0. It allows for a unified treatment of short-range (=2) and long-range (<2) interaction. The asymptotic analysis is illustrated by the mean spherical model of general geometryL ^d–d× ^d subject to periodic boundary conditions. The Fisher-Privman equation of state is generalized to arbitrary real values ofd, 0d. It is shown that the-expansion may be used to study the breakdown of standard finite-size scaling at the borderline dimensionalities.     

Beta-decay studies of neutron-rich Sc- Cr nuclei

The neutron-rich nuclei ₂₁^{57, 58}Sc, ₂₂^58-60Ti, ₂₃^60-63V, ₂₄^62-66Cr have been produced at Ganil via interactions of a 61.8A MeV ⁷⁶Ge beam with a ⁵⁸Ni target. Beta-decay studies have been performed using combined - and -ray spectroscopy. Half-lives have been determined and -decay schemes are proposed for ⁵⁸Ti, ⁶¹V and ⁶²Cr. From these studies, new hints for the existence of -decaying isomers in ⁶⁰V and in ⁶²Mn are provided. These results are compared to shell model calculations. The role of the f_7/2- f_5/2 proton-neutron interaction is examined through its influence on the lifetime values.     

P-wave charmonium decays into baryon and antibaryon pairs in quark pair creation model

A simple quark pair creation model is introduced to study exclusive decays of _{{c_J}} into baryon-antibaryon pairs. With this simple model, some exclusive decay processes, for example, _{c0} B¯ (B = ,⁰,^-) are investigated and their decay widths are evaluated by inclusion of the properties of outgoing baryons, and the results show that the strengthened decay channels _{{c_J}} ¯(J = 0, 2) are easily understood by considering only the color singlet contribution of P-wave charmonium.     

Converging upper and lower bounds for ground-state energies of atomic nuclei

The production of K⁺-mesons in proton-nucleus collisions from 1.0 to 2.3 GeV is analyzed with respect to one-step nucleon-nucleon (NN NYK⁺) and two-step -nucleon (N K⁺YN) or pion-nucleon (N K⁺Y) production channels on the basis of a coupled-channel (CBUU) transport approach including the kaon final-state-interactions (FSI). Momentum-dependent potentials for the nucleon, hyperon and kaon in the final state are included as well as K⁺ elastic rescattering in the target nucleus. The transport calculations are compared to the experimental K⁺ spectra taken at COSY-Jülich. Our systematic analysis of K⁺ spectra from ¹²C, ⁶³Cu, ¹⁰⁷Ag and ¹⁹⁷Au targets as well as their momentum differential ratios gives a repulsive K⁺ potential of 20±5 MeV at normal nuclear matter density.     

Sigma-Boundary Statistics by Length and Number

This paper presents a rationale for comparative use of length fraction and number fraction statistics in grain boundary analysis from orientation maps generated by electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD). The length and number fraction statistics for 3 ⁿ coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries were measured and compared. The length fraction of 3 boundaries was 0.48 whereas the number fraction was significantly less, 0.36. A simple model was generated to estimate both the length fraction and number fraction of annealing twins (a subset of 3). The model showed that the number fraction of twins is 0.68, 0.75, 0.79 and 0.82 of the length fraction for 1, 2, 3 and 4 twins-per-grain respectively. For the experimental data the number fraction was 0.76 of the length fraction, implying that there were on average two twins-per-grain. In contrast to the 3 case, the length fraction for 9 and 27 boundaries was less than the number fraction. There are more inaccuracies involved in obtaining the number fraction than in obtaining the length fraction from EBSD maps, therefore the length fraction should be recommended as the standard reporting method. However a knowledge of the distribution in the microstructure of 3 ⁿ segments is often crucial to the inquiry in addition to the length fraction.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy in 110Sn and 111Sn

Excited states in ¹¹⁰Sn and ¹¹¹Sn nuclei have been investigated using in-beam -ray spectroscopic methods. An ¹⁶O beam with an energy of 60-80MeV was used to bombard a ⁹⁸Mo target. On the basis of the relative excitation functions, -ray angular distributions, - and -time distributions, -ray multiplicity and total energy data, the level schemes of ¹¹⁰Sn and ¹¹¹Sn have been studied and extended up to E_exc 11.5MeV, I = 24, and E_exc 11.1MeV and I = (51/2), respectively. An extension of the intruder, g.s. and negative-parity bands, as well as 5 new band-like structures are proposed in ¹¹⁰Sn. The nature of newly introduced collective band 8 as well as 10⁺ states fed in the decay of the collective band is discussed. In the ¹¹¹Sn nucleus an intruder band based on the 23/2^- state has been reinvestigated and the extension of the g.s. band and second negative-parity band is given. Evidence for neutron-core coupling in ¹¹¹Sn is found. The structure and systematics of excited states in light Sn isotopes is discussed.     

Shearing apparatus for neutron scattering studies on fluids: Preliminary results for colloidal suspensions

In this paper we study the transient diffusion-limited A+B0, A₀ = B₀ annihilation via deterministic reaction-diffusion equations and via simulation of the stochastic many-particle problem. We show that the two approaches are not equivalent and that the deterministic expressions capture only part of the picture. A lower bound is derived for the density decay which indicates that the overall density follows the power law t^–x with = mm(d/4, 1). Hierarchical oscillations superimposed on the power-law decay are observed for reactions on Sierpinski gaskets.This work is dedicated to Prof. George H. Weiss.     

Strong Interactions in Strange Exotic Atoms

Strong interaction level shifts and widths in ^- and K^- atoms have been analyzed. The phenomenological density dependent approach as well as the relativistic mean field (RMF) model yield nucleus optical potentials with a repulsive real part in the nuclear interior. This has important consequences for the spectroscopy of hypernuclei. The study of K^- atoms cannot resolve the depth of the K^- nucleus potential. The fits to the kaonic atom data are satisfactory for both the relatively shallow potentials derived from chiral models and for the deep potentials based on the phenomenological and RMF analyses.     

Intrinsical Randomness of Kolmogorov ℤd-Actions on a Lebesgue Space

We introduce a concept of an intrinsically weak and strong randomness of a ^d -action on a Lebesgue space and we show that Kolmogorov ^d -actions are intrinsically weak random, and Bernoulli ^d -actions are intrinsically strong random.     

Renormalization Group Analysis of the Self-Avoiding Paths on the d-Dimensional Sierpiński Gaskets

Notion of the renormalization group dynamical system, the self-avoiding fixed point and the critical trajectory are mathematically defined for the set of self-avoiding walks on the d-dimensional pre-Sierpiski gaskets (n-simplex lattices), such that their existence imply the asymptotic behaviors of the self-avoiding walks, such as the existence of the limit distributions of the scaled path lengths of canonical ensemble, the connectivity constant (exponential growth of path numbers with respect to the length), and the exponent for mean square displacement. We apply the so defined framework to prove these asymptotic behaviors of the restricted self-avoiding walks on the 4-dimensional pre-Sierpiski gasket.     

EC and α decays of 235Am

EC and decays of ²³⁵Am have been studied using a gas-jet coupled on-line isotope separator. Excited states in ²³⁵Pu have been established for the first time by means of -ray spectroscopy following the EC decay of ²³⁵Am. The deduced log ft value suggests that the ground state of ²³⁵Am should have the 5/2^-[523] configuration. The - coincidence result has revealed that the 5/2^-[523] state in ²³¹Np populated by the favored transition of ²³⁵Am is located at < 15 keV, which allows us to precisely determine the Q value of ²³⁵Am.     

The correlation function in Wilson's theory of phase transitions: Above and below the transition

The correlation function and the correlation length are discussed in the theoretical framework of the Wilson-Feynman diagram expansion for small =4–d. It is shown explicitly that to order ² the scaling relation = (2–) is satisfied and that the correlation function is a homogeneous function ofk and . The explicit form of the scaled correlation function is exhibited.     

Noncommutative Geometry and the Regularization Problem of 4D Quantum Field Theory

We give a noncommutative version of the complex projective space ² and show that scalar QFT on this space is free of UV divergencies. The tools necessary to investigate quantum fields on this fuzzy ² are developed and several possibilities to introduce spinors and Dirac operators are discussed.     

Optical Pumping of Samarium Atoms in a Bichromatic Laser Field in the Presence of Velocity-Changing Collisions

Dark resonances in the ¹⁵⁴Sm -system 4f ⁶6s ²(⁷ F ₀) 4f ⁶6s6p(⁹ F ₁ ⁰) 4f ⁶ s ²(⁷ F ₁) are observed alongside the velocity selective optical pumping. The shape of the resulting spectra strongly depended on the buffer gas (He, Ar) pressure due to velocity-changing collisions (VCC): the sign of the effect could be reversed from the dark to the bright resonance. The observed spectra are interpreted within the framework of the hard-sphere collision model. The role of VCC in the formation of the dark state in the -system is discussed.     

Faceting of Σ3 and Σ9 Grain Boundaries in Copper

Faceting is a well documented phenomenon known both for surfaces and interfaces, particularly, grain boundaries (GBs). Faceting can be considered as a phase transition when the original surface or GB dissociates onto flat segments whose energy is less than that of the original surface or GB. For the investigation of GB faceting a cylindrical Cu bicrystal with an island grain was grown by the Bridgman technique. Grain 1 in this bicrystal is completely surrounded by grain 2. The dissociation 9 3 + 3 proceeds during the growth of the bicrystal. The twins appear instead of {111}₁/{115}₂ or (110)_9CSL facet. GB faceting was studied at 1293 K, 1073 K, and 873 K. The profiles of the GB thermal groove were analysed by atomic force microscopy. Wulff-Herring plots and GB phase diagrams have been constructed for the 3, 9 and 9 + 3 GBs. With increasing temperature the facets with low-density CSL-planes disappear in the GB shape. GB roughening phase transition can be responsible for this phenomenon.     

Alpha-decay of neutron-deficient 200Fr and heavier neighbours

A new measurement of the ²⁰⁰Fr -decay half-life, with improved accuracy compared to previous measurements, has been carried out at the Isolde-CERN on-line mass separator. A half-life of 49(4) ms has been obtained, which is substantially different from earlier literature values. For the ¹⁹⁶At daughter decay, a half-life of 389(54) ms and an branching ratio b = 94(5)% were measured. In addition, the half-lives of ^{201, 203, 205}Fr and ^197,199At are reported.     

Equations for the Magnetization Modes in a System Having a Quadruple Nucleus with the Spin S = 1

Within the framework of the method of a density matrix, differential equations are obtained that describe the evolution of the modes of magnetization <Î₊>, <Î_{+ z} >, and <Î_{+ z} ²> for a spin system containing a nucleus with a 1/2 spin connected scalarly with the quadruple nucleus of the spin S = 1 in the presence of crosscorrelation between the dipole ISinteractions, anisotropy of the chemical shift of the I and S nuclei, and quadruple interaction of the S nucleus. The equations are used for analysis of the evolution of the intensities of each line in the triplet of the Raman spectrum of the 1/2 spin. Expressions for the times of crossrelaxation and the times of transverse relaxation of each of the lines of the triplet are obtained.