Beta-delayed proton precursors with 59≦Z≦62

The new, beta-delayed proton emitters¹²⁸Pr(3.2 _?0.4 ^+0.5 s),¹³⁰Pm(2.2 _?0.4 ^+0.6 s), and¹³²Pm(5.0 _?0.6 ^+0.8 s) have been observed at the on-line isotope separator OASIS. Also studied were¹²⁹Nd and¹³³Sm. Our on-going study of the decay properties of very neutron-deficient lanthanides has led to detailed information about beta-delayed proton emitters with 59≤Z≤62. The isotopes were produced at the SuperHILAC's on-line isotope separator OASIS [1] in reactions of⁴⁰Ca projectiles on⁹²Mo and⁹⁶Ru targets enriched to >95%. Decay studies were carried out in a low background spectroscopy laboratory. The isotope of interest was passed through a slit in the focal plane of the mass separator, transported ionoptically to a fast cycling tape, and periodically positioned between a silicon charged particle telescope, a HPGe x-ray detector, and a GAMMA-X Ge detector. Decays involving beta-delayed gamma rays and protons along with any coincident positrons, x-rays and gamma rays were measured event-by-event and written to computer tape for subsequent replay and analysis.     

IsoscalarE2 transition strengths in 10≦A≦48 nuclei

Electric quadrupole transition strengths for the 2 ₁ ⁺ ,T=1→0 ₁ ⁺ ,T=1γ-decay branches are summarized for 10≦A≦42 nuclei. In¹⁰B the corresponding branch has been remeasured by use of the⁹Be(p, γ)¹⁰B resonance reaction atE _p =320 keV; an upper limit of 0.6% is found. The variation of theE2 strengths within each individualT=1 isobaric multiplet reveals the particleor hole-character of the levels involved. The isoscalar 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ transition strengths in 10≦A≦48 nuclei vary between 2 and 20 Weißkopf units showing drastic shell effects. Results for the ratio of neutron and proton matrix elements deduced from analogγ-decay studies and from inelastic pion scattering are compared.     

Proton and Two-proton Emissions from Proton-rich Nuclei with 10≦Z≦20

Proton (p) and two-proton (2p) emissions from the proton-rich nuclei with 10≦Z≦20 have been explored by the in-fight decay and implantation decay methods, respectively, in a series of experiments at the HIRFL-RIBLL facility. The in-flight 2p emissions from the excited states of 28,29S /26,27P and 17;18Ne were studied by complete-kinematics measurements. Mechanisms of 2p decay and related p-p correlations have been explored. Obvious 2p correlated emissions have been observed in the cases of 28,29S but not in 27,28P, indicating the 2p halo plays an important role in the diproton emission. In the 17;18Ne cases, a small 2p opening angles were deduced by the HBT analyses, implying the BCS-BEC crossover may occur in the dilute nuclear matter. Moreover, 27S/26P/25Si, 22Si/20Mg, 23Si/22Al/21Mg, 24Si/23Al, and 36;37Ca were implanted in a thin double-sided-silicon-strip detector and their -delayed p and 2p decays have been measured by a surrounding silicon detector array under the continuous-beam mode. Important information on the nuclear spectroscopy, such as energy, lifetime, branching-ratio, and so on, has been extracted, which helps us to understand the nuclear structures of proton-rich exotic nuclei close to the drip-line.     

The crystallization of Fe1−x P x , 0.09≦x≦0.26

The crystallization behaviour of about 60 samples of electrodeposited Fe_1–x P _x , 0.09<x<0.26, was investigated with DSC and X-ray diffraction. Several subsequenting transformations during heating at 10 K/min were identified. The corresponding transformation temperatures, reaction heats and reaction rates were measured. If the as-deposited samples contain metal-rich crystallites (microcrystalline and partly amorphous material) crystallization starts with primary precipitation of -iron followed by polymorphous crystallization of Fe₃P. In amorphous samples these two processes become less important compared with the eutectoid reaction the higher the phosphorus content. In a small concentration range around 19 at% P this transformation is the only one. Above this range the primary crystallization of Fe₃P becomes more and more dominant.     

On the magnetic susceptibility of Pd1−x Ag x in the range 0.5≦x≦1

The weak variation of the magnetic bulk susceptibility of Pd_1–x Ag _x with temperature T and silver mole fractionx within 0.5x1 has been investigated in the range 5KT400K. Experimental evidence can be given for an intersection point of the susceptibility isotherms (T=const,x) atx=0.55. The observed dependence of on T andx is interpreted by means of a semiphenomenological alloy susceptibility function (T,x).     

57Fe Mössbauer investigations in the series Fe4−2xRuxSix(1.0≦x≦1.7)

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and magnetization studies on a new series Fe_4–2xRu_xSi_x (1.0x1.7) are reported. The system is seen to transform from a collinear ferromagnet for x1.2 to a cluster spin glass for x>=1.54 In the intermediate region the magnetic behaviour of the system, as probed by the Mössbauer effect, is dominated by the presence of clusters and their dynamics. The alloys have large ordering temperatures ( 750 K) throughout the series except for x>1.54 where they drop sharply. The moment values, in contrast, fall sharply from 4.8_B at x=1 to 0.5_B at x=1.6C. The average value of the HF at⁵⁷Fe measured at 15 K does not change significantly throughout the series.     

57Fe Mössbauer studies in a new cluster spin glass system RuxFeGa (0.5≦x≦1.5)

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and bulk magnetization studies have been carried out in a new magnetic system Ru_xFeGa for 0.5x1.5. The system is seen to freeze into a cluster spin glass phase at 70 K. The freezing temperature and the hyperfine field at Fe at the lowest measured temperature, 190 kOe, is essentially same for all values of x investigated.     

Low temperature properties in Ce(Cu x Al1−x )5, [0.60≦x≦1.00]

We report on the formation of a heavy fermion state in Ce(Cu _x Al_1–x )₅, with 0.60x1.00. This state evolves upon the exchange of Cu by Al in the hexagonal CeCu₅. Furthermore, this exchange causes a suppression of a common type of long range magnetic order. Both phenomena are driven by Kondo interaction.     

Laser induced fluorescence of CdHg excimer

The fluorescence of CdHg excimer has been observed over the spectral range 220-320 nm for temperature between 660-820K. The spectra were excited in a Cd-Hg mixture contained in a quartz vapor cell by laser pulses at 326.1nm. The peaks of these bands are at about 232, 256 and 286 nm respectively. An interpretation has been given out according to the potential-energy curves.     

Spatial Fourier-decomposition optical fluorescence tomography-theoretical investigation

A new three-dimensional （3D） optical fluorescent tomographic imaging scheme is proposed with structured illumination and spatial Fourier-domain decomposition methods for the first time. In this spatial Fourierdecomposition optical fluorescence tomography （SF-OFT）, the intensity of focused excitation light from an objective lens is modulated to be a cosine function along the optical axis of the system. For a given position in a two-dimensional （2D） raster scanning process, the spatial frequency of the cosine function along the optical axis sweeps in a proper range while a series of fluorescence intensity are detected accordingly. By making an inverse discrete cosine transformation of these recorded intensity profiles, the distribution of fluorescent markers along the optical axis of a focused laser beam is obtained. A 3D optical fluorescent tomography can be achieved with this proposed SF-OFT technique with a simple 2D raster scanning process.     

Imaging an atomic beam using fluorescence

A fluorescence detection scheme is applied to image an atomic beam. Using two laser diodes as the sources of detection light and pumping light respectively, the fluorescence image of the atomic beam is then observed by a commercial CCD-camera, which is corresponding to the atomic state and velocity distribution. The detection scheme has a great utilization in the experiments of cold atoms and atomic optics.     

Plasmon dispersion in Al atk≦k F using electron energy loss spectroscopy

We find a quasi quadratic dispersion of the plasmon up to _p = 28 eV atk=1.77 Å^–1 with no levelling off contrary to other measurements. We usedk-scans at constant energy loss andE-scans at constant wave vector, which yield different dispersions of the plasmon peak maximum because of the finite halfwidth. The levelling off in plasmon dispersion observed previously is due to multiple scattering events, which obscure the plasmon dispersion inE-scans.We confirmed the anisotropy of the dispersion coefficient by investigating polycrystalline samples of different orientation.     

Linear scheme for time-domain fluorescence molecular tomography

Based on the generalized pulse spectrum technique that was previously developed for time-domain diffuse optical tomography, we propose a linear framework of time-domain fluorescence molecular tomography for simultaneous reconstruction of both the yield and lifetime of multi-fluorophores. The methodology is exemplified for mono-component case and validated with simulated data.     

BRST analysis of physical states for 2D gravity coupled toc≦1 matter

We consider 2D gravity coupled toc1 conformal matter in the conformal gauge. The Liouville system is represented by a free scalar field, ^L , with background charge such that the BRST operator imposing reparametrization invariance is nilpotent. We compute the cohomology of this BRST charge on the product of the Fock space of ^L with those of the ghosts and one other free scalar field, ^M representing the matter system. From this calculation the physical states of the full theory are determined. For thec<1 case the further projection from the Fock space of ^M to the irreducible representation, using Felder's resolution, reproduces the results of Lian and Zuckerman.Supported by the NSF Grant # PHY-88-04561Supported in part by the Department of Energy Contract # DE-FG03-84ER-40168 and by the USC Faculty Research and Innovation Fund     

Polarized fluorescence of β-carotene and related polyenes

The spectral and polarization characteristics of trans-isomers ofβ-carotene, lycopene, retinal, and 1,6-diphenylhexatriene (DPH) in solutions have been investigated by the methods of polarized fluorescence and semiempirical calculations of AM1 and RM3. The high and constant values of the degree of polarization P ∼0.46, closely coinciding with the limiting value P₀=0.5, according to the S₂→S₀-fluorescence and S₂←S₀-fluorescence excitation spectra ofβ-carotene and lycopene in n-hexane at room temperature and also high and coinciding according to the S₁→S₀-fluorescence and S₂←S₀-fluorescence excitation spectra for retinal in EPA at 77 K and DPH in a polyvinylbutyral film, point to the coincidence of the directions of absorption and emission oscillators. These oscillators are aligned along the major axis of the polyene molecule, and the longwave S₂←S₀-absorption band is formed only by one electronic¹B _u ⁺ ←¹A _g ⁻ -transition. The oscillators of shortwave S_a←S₀-absorption bands are aligned at an angle to the oscillators of the S₂←S₀-transitions, which is related to the distortions in the structure of molecules (β-carotene, lycopene) or, as in the case of DPH, to the influence of transitions localized on the orbitals of phenyl rings and polarized perpendicularly to the major axis of the molecule. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 69–74, January–February, 2000.     

Effects of Nb and Y substitution on negative thermal expansion of ZrV 2−XPXO7 (0≦X≦0.8)

Zirconium vanadates with a novel chemical composition including niobium and yttrium were synthesized by the sol-gel method. An aqueous solution of NH₄H₂PO₄ and NH₄V O₃ and an ethanol solution of ZrOCl₂,NbCl₅, and Y Cl₃ were prepared. These two solutions were stirred and mixed to prepare precursors of zirconium vanadates at 333 K, following the evaporation of the solvent at 363 K. The precursor gels obtained were heated at 373-973 K in air. A zirconium vanadate phase began to crystallize above 673 K and a single phase of zirconium vanadate was synthesized at 973 K. Although ZrV ₂O₇ generally had a positive thermal expansion in the temperature range above RT, the degree of positive thermal expansion decreased with the two types of substitution of P for V and a set of Nb and Y for Zr of ZrV ₂O₇. X-ray diffraction peaks due to a superlattice structure, causing a positive thermal expansion from RT, were not observed in the synthesized (Nb, Y)-substituted zirconium vanadates.     

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence – A tool for interdisciplinary research

Trace elements have been at the focus of attention for decades with considerable emphasis on their role in biology and biomedical sciences, environmental sciences, geology, archaeology and material sciences. They comprise a large number of elements, some having essential physiological functions, whereas others are toxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic. A few even have antiproliferative and anticarciniogenic properties. The advent of various instrumental techniques and sophisticated instrumentations has made their detection to very low limits possible, making this a very important multidisciplinary study. Among these techniques the energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique is being widely used for trace element detection in various fields of science. Keeping the importance of trace elements in mind, the Kolkata centre of UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research initiated several research schemes in different fields of trace element research using various techniques, EDXRF being one of the main techniques. A Xenemetrix (erstwhile Jordan Valley) EX 3600 EDXRF spectrometer is being used to carry out the research. This presentation aims to highlight some of the very recent applications of EDXRF in the study of the role of trace elements in pre-cancerous tissues, medicinal plants and also in some environmental studies.     

Protein–membrane interactions investigated with surface-induced fluorescence attenuation

Research on protein–membrane interactions has been undeveloped due to the lack of proper techniques to detect the position of proteins at membranes because membranes are usually only about 4-nm thick. We have recently developed a new method named surface-induced fluorescence attenuation(SIFA) to track both vertical and lateral kinetics of a single labelling dye in supported lipid bilayers. It takes advantage of strong interaction between a light-emitting dye and a partially reflecting surface. By applying the technique to membrane proteins being fluorescently labelled at different residues, here we show that SIFA can measure not only the insertion depth of a dye inside a lipid bilayer, but also the position of a dye in solution near the surface. SIFA can therefore be used to study membrane proteins of various types.