In-beam study of105In and103In

The effects on pair density fluctuations in superfluid nuclei, associated with the projection on good particle number, are studied. The model, which is based on standard particle number projection techniques, is developed for the case of one and two-body density fluctuations in spherical superfluid nuclei. The results, for the case of some even mass isotopes of Sn, show that pair density fluctuations and the derivative of the one body density almost coincide in a number projected BCS treatment of pairing correlations.     

In Memoriam

In 1905 Lord Kelvin (1824–1907) was awarded the second John Fritz Medal for a lifetime of outstanding achievements in science and technology. I sketch Kelvin’s life, education, and work in thermodynamics, electrical technology, and instrumentation, and his role in the laying of the Atlantic cable. I then turn to Kelvin’s four visits to America, in 1876 on the centenary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America; in 1884 when he gave his famous Baltimore Lectures at The Johns Hopkins University; in 1897 when he visited Niagara Falls for the third time and advised George Westinghouse (1846–1914) on how to develop its enormous water power for the generation of electricity; and in 1902 when he advised George Eastman (1854–1932) on the development of the photographic industry. Written in connection with the Kelvin Centenary Year 2007; see “Celebrating the Life of Lord Kelvin,” University of Glasgow News Review No. 11 (2007), 4. Matthew Trainer: Matthew Trainer received his M.Phil. degree in physical sciences at the University of Edinburgh in 1980 and currently is a laboratory instructor at the University of Glasgow where his research focuses in part on the life and work of Lord Kelvin.     

In Appreciation

Leslie Foldy’s diminutive stature and modest demeanor gave little clue to the powerful intellect responsible for several significant advances in theoretical physics.Two were particularly important. His 1945 theory of the multiple scattering of waves laid out the fundamentals that most modern theories have followed (and sometimes rediscovered), while his work with Siegfried Wouthuysen on the nonrelativistic limit of the Dirac equation opened the way to a wealth of valuable insights. In this article we recall some of the milestones along Foldy’s path through a life in physics. Some of the anecdotes we report here were related to one of the authors (PLT) just before an event in 2000 celebrating Foldy’s 80th birthday, while others were told to us over the course of the nearly forty years during which we were colleagues. Still others were uncovered during the course of WJF’s research for his book, Physics at a Research University: Case Western Reserve 1830–1990 (Cleveland: Case Western Reserve University, 2006). Other details were provided by Foldy’s widow, Roma. Philip L. Taylor is the Perkins Professor of Physics and Professor of Macromolecular Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. William J. Fickinger is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Case Western Reserve University.     

In Europe

Physics in Perspective - As the History of Science Society, which is based in America, holds its annual meeting in Utrecht, one of the key academic centers on the European continent, one may...     

In Memoriam

I sketch the rich life and multifaceted work of Philip Morrison (1915–2005), from his early life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and higher education at the Carnegie Institute of Technology and the University of California at Berkeley, to his contributions to the Manhattan Project, his research at Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after the war, his subsequent political activity on behalf of nuclear disarmament, his role in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and his enormous influence as an educator, public speaker, and writer. A.P. French is Professor of Physics, Emeritus, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.     

Excited levels of111In and113In

Levels and transitions in¹¹¹In and¹¹³In have been studied in the¹¹¹Cd(p, n)¹¹¹In and¹¹³Cd(p, n)¹¹³In reactions. By means of- coincidences,-angular distributions, relative excitation functions and conversion electron measurements more than 20 levels below 2 MeV have been established in each nucleus. Several negative-parity states were found above 1 MeV. Two low-spin positive-parity states with features similar to the possible rotational band in the heavier In nuclei are observed below 1,400 keV in both nuclei.     

The beta-decay energies of103In and104In

The β⁺ spectra of neutron-deficient nuclei with mass numbers 103 and 104 have been measured, using a semiconductor beta spectrometer. The nuclei were produced by on-line mass separation of reaction products formed by bombarding an enriched Mo target with Ne ions. Values for Q_EC have been deduced. The decay energies are in agreement with systematics. The decay of¹⁰⁴In shows remarkably strong feeding to levels above 5 MeV. In addition, Q_EC values for₁₀₃Cd,₁₀₃Ag,₁₀₄Ag and_104mAg have been determined.     

Leakage currents through In/MgO/n-type Si/In structures

Leakage currents through In/MgO/n-type Si/In structures were studied. The electrical conduction investigations suggest that the leakage behavior is governed by the Schottky (Poole-Frenkel) emission for the gate (substrate) injection. This is because of strong leakage current dependent on the interfacial property of devices. It is shown that the discrepancy in the MgO permittivity extracted from the Schottky and Poole-Frenkel emissions is due to the formation of intermediate MgSi_xO_y layer.     

In searches for daemons

A possibility is considered of detecting Planckian particles carrying an electric charge Z≈10 and supposedly forming the dark matter of the Galactic disk, whence they are captured by combined action of the Sun and the Earth into strongly elongated Earth-crossing orbits. The flux of such dark electric matter objects, daemons, at the Earth’s orbit may reach f _⊕≈3×10⁻⁷cm⁻²s⁻¹ at a velocity about 52 km/s. Negatively charged daemons are capable of catalyzing the fusion of light (Z _n<10) nuclei. The rate of capture (and fusion) of nuclei should be particularly high in a metallic phase. A detection system is described that consists of beryllium plates 45 mm thick and 1200 cm² in area coated with a ZnS(Ag) scintillator. It is assumed that the products of the fusion reaction 2⁹Be → ¹⁸O that are ejected in amounts of up to about 10⁴ from the points of daemon entrance and exit would give rise to scintillations with a delay of about 1μs. An exposure of the system for 300 h revealed no event. The reason for the negative result can be (1) too optimistic an estimate of the flux (the inclusion of some factors could lower it by 1.5–3 orders of magnitude) and (2) the poisoning of the catalyst by capture of nuclei with Z _n≥10. The time required for the recovery of the daemon catalytic properties is estimated from the analysis of the energy release in the Sun at no less than 3×10⁻⁷ s. The analysis of the total available data suggests that the daemon flux at the Earth is about 3×10⁻⁸ cm⁻² s⁻¹. The experiments will be continued. From Yadernaya Fizika, Vol. 63, No. 6, 2000, pp. 1112–1117. Original English Text Copyright ? 2000 by Drobyshevski. This article was submitted by the author in English.