Di-electrons from η -meson Dalitz decay in proton-proton collisions

The reaction is discussed within a covariant effective meson-nucleon theory. The model is adjusted to data of the subreaction . Our focus is on di-electrons from Dalitz decays of η -mesons, , and the role of the corresponding transition form factor . Numerical results are presented for the intermediate-energy kinematics of HADES experiments.     

Loss of collectivity in 79Rb

High-spin states in ⁷⁹Rb were populated in the reaction at E(beam) = 60 MeV. The lifetimes of the excited states of the positive-parity yrast band and of the negative-parity band in ⁷⁹Rb were measured by the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method. The deduced transition quadrupole moments Q_t are found to have a decreasing trend with rotational frequency for both the bands, consistent with those found experimentally in neighbouring nuclei. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Study of spectator tagging in the reaction np → ppπwith a deuteron beam

The reaction has been studied in a kinematically complete experiment at a single beam momentum GeV/c (T = 759MeV). All four ejectiles have been detected in the large-acceptance time-of-flight spectrometer COSY-TOF. We analyzed the data along the lines of the spectator model as a means to isolate the quasi-free reaction. The spectator proton was identified by its momentum and flight direction thus yielding access to the associated Fermi motion of the bound neutron. A comparison is carried out with Monte Carlo simulations based on two different parameterizations of the deuteron wave function. Up to a Fermi momentum of roughly 150MeV/c no significant deviations between experimental and simulated data of various observables were found from which we conclude that the deuteron can indeed be taken as a valid substitute for the neutron.     

Spin- {\frac{{3}}{{2}}} beyond the Rarita-Schwinger framework

We employ the two independent Casimir operators of the Poincaré group, the squared four-momentum, p², and the squared Pauli-Lubanski vector, W², in the construction of a covariant mass m, and spin- projector in the four-vector spinor, ψ_μ. This projector provides the basis for the construction of an interacting Lagrangian that describes a causally propagating spin- particle coupled to the electromagnetic field by a gyromagnetic ratio of .     

Hyperon-nucleon single-particle potentials with low-momentum interactions

Single-particle potentials in Hartree-Fock approximation for different hyperon-nucleon (YN channels are calculated in the framework of the effective low-momentum YN interaction . In contrast to the nucleon-nucleon interaction, the available experimental data for the YN interaction are scarce. As a consequence, no unique YN low-momentum potential can be predicted from the various bare potentials. The resulting momentum- and density-dependent single-particle potentials for several different bare OBE models and for chiral effective field theory are compared to each other.     

ω- πγtransition form factor in proton-proton collisions

Dalitz decays of ω and ρ mesons, and , produced in pp collisions are calculated within a covariant effective meson-nucleon theory. We argue that the ω transition form factor is experimentally accessible in a fairly model-independent way in the reaction pp → ppπ⁰ e ⁺ e ^- for invariant masses of the π⁰ e ⁺ e ^- subsystem near the ω pole. Numerical results are presented for the intermediate-energy kinematics of envisaged HADES experiments.     

\pi\pi correlations in \gamma + A reactions

Preliminary differential cross-sections of the reactions and with A = ¹ H, ¹² C, and ^nat Pb are presented. A significant nuclear-mass dependence of the invariant-mass distribution is found in the channel. The dependence is not observed in the channel. The in-medium observation in the channel is consistent with an in-medium modification of the interaction in the I = J = 0 channel, changing width and pole position of a resonant state.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 13.60.Le Meson production - 21.65. + f Nuclear matterJ.G. Messchendorp: For the TAPS and A2 Collaborations     

First production of ultracold neutrons with a solid deuterium source at the pulsed reactor TRIGA Mainz⋆

The production rates of ultracold neutrons (UCN) with a solid deuterium converter have been measured at the pulsed reactor TRIGA Mainz. Exposed to a thermal neutron fluence of n·cm^-2·pulse^-1, the number of detected very cold and ultracold neutrons ranges up to 200 000 at 7mol of solid deuterium (sD₂) in combination with a pre-moderator (mesitylene). About 50% of the measured neutrons can be assigned to UCN with energies E of where V _F(sD ₂) = 105 neV and V _F(guide) = 190 neV are the Fermi potentials of the sD₂ converter and our stainless steel neutron guides, respectively. Thermal cycling of solid deuterium, which was frozen out from the gas phase, considerably improved the UCN yield, in particular at higher amounts of sD₂.     

Chiral perturbation theory for nucleon generalized parton distributions

We analyze the moments of the isosinglet generalized parton distributions H, E, , of the nucleon in one-loop order of heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory. We discuss in detail the construction of the operators in the effective theory that are required to obtain all corrections to a given order in the chiral power counting. The results will serve to improve the extrapolation of lattice results to the chiral limit.     

Hadron production and phase changes in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study soft hadron production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions in a wide range of reaction energy, 4.8 GeV < < 200 GeV, and make predictions about yields of particles using the statistical hadronization model. In fits to experimental data, we obtain both the statistical parameters as well as physical properties of the hadron source. We identify the properties of the fireball at the critical energy threshold, 6.26 GeV < < 7.61 GeV, marking for higher energies the hadronization of an entropy-rich phase. In terms of the chemical composition, one sees a phase which at low energy is chemically under-saturated, and which turns into a chemically over-saturated state persisting up to the maximum accessible energy. Assuming that there is no change in physical mechanisms in the energy range 15 > ≥200 GeV, we use continuity of particle yields and statistical parameters to predict the hadron production at = 62.4 GeV, and obtain total yields of hadrons at = 130 GeV. We consider, in depth, the pattern we uncover within the hadronization condition, and discuss possible mechanisms associated with the identified rapid change in system properties at . We propose that the chemically over-saturated 2 + 1 flavor hadron matter system undergoes a 1st-order phase transition.     

Decay properties of isomeric states in radium isotopes close to N = 126

Isomeric states in ^210-215Ra have been populated by the decay of the compound nuclei ^216,220Ra produced in irradiations of ^204,208Pb with ¹²C at MeV. Published values for -ray energies and half-lives were confirmed for Ra. Our data for Ra agree with the -energies and the half-life measured at the RITU separator, University of Jyväskylä (Finland). Its decay pattern is complex. Two series of -rays of keV and keV were observed. A half-life of s was measured. The isomeric state is attributed to an 8 ⁺ state at E ^* = 2053.8keV. A previously unknown isomeric state was assigned to Ra. It has a half-life of ( ) and it decays by emission of -rays with energies of 396.1keV and 802.0keV. It is attributed to a 13/2 ⁺ state at E ^* = 1198.1 keV.PACS: 23.60. + e decay - 27.90. + b      

Isotopic dependence of fusion probabilities for neutron-deficient and -rich colliding nuclei

Isotopic dependence of the fusion dynamics is studied by analyzing the collision of a large number of isotopes of Ca and Ni with 0.6 N/Z 2. This study, which results from the Skyrme energy density formalism, reveals that the addition of neutrons favors fusion of reacting partners, whereas the reverse happens with the removal of neutrons. The fusion barrier heights and positions follow a non-linear second-order dependence on ( -1 ), whereas fusion cross-sections can be parameterized by a straight line.-1     

A new determination of the γπ → ππ anomalous amplitude via πe<Superscript>-</Superscript> → π<Superscript>-</Superscript>e<Superscript>-</Superscript>π<Superscript>0</Superscript> data

We discuss the reaction π^-e^- → π^-e^-π⁰ with the purpose of obtaining information on the γπ → ππ anomalous amplitude _3π. We compare a full calculation at (p⁶) in chiral perturbation theory and various phenomenological predictions with the existing data of Amendolia et al. By integrating our theory results using Monte Carlo techniques, we obtain σ = 2.05 nb at (p⁶) and σ = 2.17 nb after including the dominant electromagnetic correction. Both results are in good agreement with the experimental cross-section of σ = (2.11±0.47) nb. On the basis of the ChPT results one would extract from the experimental cross-section as amplitudes _3π^(0)extr = (9.9±1.1) GeV^-3 and _3π^(0)extr = (9.6±1.1) GeV^-3, respectively, which have to be compared with the low-energy theorem _3π = e/(4π²F_π³) = 9.72GeV^-3. We emphasize the need for new data to allow for a comparison of experimental and theoretical distributions and to obtain _3π with smaller uncertainty.     

Absolute resonance strengths in the $^{6,7}Li(\alpha, \gamma)^{10,11}B$ reactions

The absolute strengths of the keV resonance in the reaction and of the keV resonance in the reaction have been measured to meV and meV, respectively, in good agreement with previous values. These resonances can be used to measure the absolute acceptance of the recoil separator ERNA to a precision of about 10%.Received: 12 December 2003, Revised: 10 February 2004, Published online: 3 August 2004PACS: 24.30.-v Resonance reactions - 25.40.Lw Radiative capture - 26.20. + f Hydrostatic stellar nucleosynthesis     

Hadrons with charmed quarks in matter

We investigate the decay width of excited charmonium states at finite nuclear density with simultaneous modification of both D- and -mesons in nuclear matter. The strongest effect is found for the -meson. The medium modification can be detected by dilepton spectroscopy as substantial broadening and anomalous absorption.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 13.25.Gv Decays of , , and other quarkonia - 14.40.Lb Charmed mesons - 14.65.Dw Charmed quarks - 24.85. + p Quarks, gluons, and QCD in nuclei and nuclear processes     

The one-body and two-body density matrices of finite nuclei with an appropriate treatment of the center-of-mass motion⋆

The one-body and two-body density matrices in coordinate space and their Fourier transforms in momentum space are studied for a nucleus (a nonrelativistic, self-bound finite system). Unlike the usual procedure, suitable for infinite or externally bound systems, they are determined as expectation values of appropriate intrinsic operators, dependent on the relative coordinates and momenta (Jacobi variables) and acting on intrinsic wave functions of nuclear states. Thus, translational invariance (TI) is respected. When handling such intrinsic quantities, we use an algebraic technique based upon the Cartesian representation, in which the coordinate and momentum operators are linear combinations of the creation and annihilation operators and for oscillator quanta. Each of the relevant multiplicative operators can then be reduced to the form: one exponential of the set { } times another exponential of the set { }. In the course of such a normal-ordering procedure we offer a fresh look at the appearance of “Tassie-Barker” factors, and point out other model-independent results. The intrinsic wave function of the nucleus in its ground state is constructed from a nontranslationally-invariant (nTI) one via existing projection techniques. As an illustration, the one-body and two-body momentum distributions (MDs) for the ⁴He nucleus are calculated with the Slater determinant of the harmonic-oscillator model as the trial, nTI wave function. We find that the TI introduces quite important effects in the MDs.     

Transport analysis of in-medium hadron effects in pA and AA collisions

The production and decay of vector mesons ( ) in pA and AA reactions is studied with particular emphasis on their in-medium spectral functions. It is explored within transport calculations if hadronic in-medium decays like or might provide complementary information to their dilepton (e ⁺ e ^-) decays. Whereas the signal from the -meson is found to be strongly distorted by pion rescattering, the -meson Dalitz decay to appears promising even for more heavy nuclei in and pA reactions. Furthermore, the influence of nucleon and kaon/antikaon potentials on the yields and spectra in pA collisions is calculated and compared to the recent data from the ANKE Collaboration.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 13.60.Le Meson production - 13.75.Jz Kaon-baryon interactions - 14.40.Aq , K, and mesons - 25.40.-h Nucleon-induced reactionsW. Cassing: In collaboration with E.L. Bratkovskaya, M. Büscher, Ye.S. Golubeva, V. Grishina, V. Hejny, V. Metag, J. Messchendorp, B. Kamys, L.A. Kondratyuk, P. Kulessa, Z. Rudy, S. Schadmand, A.A. Sibirtsev, H. Ströher     

\alpha-decay spectroscopy of light odd-odd Bi isotopes - II: 186Bi and the new nuclide 184Bi

Alpha-decay of the new nuclide ¹⁸⁴Bi has been studied in the complete-fusion reaction ⁹³Nb(⁹⁴Mo, 3n)¹⁸⁴Bi at the velocity filter SHIP. The evaporation residues were separated in-flight and subsequently identified on the basis of recoil- , recoil- - analysis and excitation functions measurements. Two -decaying isomeric states in ¹⁸⁴Bi with half-life values of 13(2) ms and 6.6(1.5) ms were identified. The -branching ratio of ¹⁸⁰Tl was deduced for the first time as . Improved data on the fine-structure -decay of ¹⁸⁶Bi were obtained in the ⁹³Nb(⁹⁵Mo, 2n)¹⁸⁶Bi reaction. A similarity of the decay energies and half-life values of ^184,186Bi is pointed out and a possible explanation for this effect is suggested.Received: 14 March 2003, Revised: 29 April 2003, Published online: 2 September 2003PACS: 23.60.+e decay - 27.70.+q - 27.80.+w K. Heyde: Present address: EP-ISOLDE, CERN, CH-1211, Geneva 23, Switzerland.     

Alpha-gamma decay studies of 255Rf, 251No and 247Fm

The decay of the isotopes ²⁵⁵Rf, ²⁵¹No and ²⁴⁷Fm produced in the reactions , and was investigated by means of α-γ spectroscopy. Previously observed γ transitions in coincidence with α decays of ²⁵⁵Rf were confirmed, their energies and line intensities were measured more precisely, and their multipolarities were determined as E1. In ²⁵¹No a new isomeric state at E ^* > 1700keV with a half-life of ≈ 2μs was identified. The decay of ²⁴⁷Fm was measured more precisely. A partial level scheme of the daughter nucleus ²⁴³Cf could be established.     

Eta physics at threshold

The production of - and -mesons in elementary nucleon-nucleon collisions has been investigated at the synchrotrons CELSIUS, COSY and SATURNE. The high-quality proton beam with low emittance and small momentum spread permits to study the creation of these mesons very close to the kinematical threshold, where --due to the rapid growth of the phase space volume-- the total cross-section increases by orders of magnitude over a few MeV range of the excess energy. The magnitude and energy dependence of the total cross-section as well as the occupation distribution of the phase space serve as observables for investigating the mechanisms underlying the production processes and the interaction of mesons with nucleons. The precise data on the and creation via the reactions allowed to settle the general features of the - and -meson production and revealed the sensitivity of the mentioned observables to the nucleon-nucleon-meson final-state interaction. The particular production properties, like for example, the determination of the dominating exchange processes which lead to the excitation of the S ₁₁ nucleon isobar in the case of creation, must be established by confrontation with other observables. The present status of this investigation with an emphasis on the results of the COSY-11 Collaboration is briefly presented. The available data are interpreted in view of the production mechanism and the meson-nucleon interaction.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 13.60.Le Meson production - 13.75.-n Hadron-induced low- and intermediate-energy reactions and scattering (energy GeV) - 13.85.Lg Total cross sections - 25.40.-h Nucleon-induced reactions