Decay studies of N ≈ Z nuclei from 75Sr to 102Sn

Neutron deficient nuclei near ¹⁰⁰Sn have been produced by fragmentation of a 1 ^. AGeV ¹¹²Sn beam. The fragments were separated, identified and stopped in a highly segmented silicon strip detector stack. This detector measured the total energy of emitted β⁺-particles. γ-radiation was measured with surrounding detectors. The half-lives for many nuclides have been determined for the first time and give important information for the following topics: For the heaviest particle-stable odd-odd nuclei ⁹⁰Rh, ⁹⁴Ag and ⁹⁸In we observed for the first time fast β-decays, compatible with superallowed Fermi transitions and confirmed such decays for ⁷⁸Y, ⁸²Nb and ⁸⁶Tc. We have also observed long-lived T = 0 states in some of these nuclei. We measured the half-lives of all rp-process waiting-point nuclei from ⁸⁰Zr up to ^{92, 93}Pd. In addition we find the proton drip line nucleus ⁷⁷Y to decay dominantly via β-decay. To study the Gamov-Teller strength in the β-decay near the doubly magic ¹⁰⁰Sn we measured the half-life, β- and γ-spectrum of ¹⁰²Sn. We propose a level scheme for the daughter nuclide ¹⁰²In and deduce the Gamov-Teller strength (B _GT = 4.0±0.6). This is one of the largest values known. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: thomas.faestermann@ph.tum.de     

A close look at the competition of isovector and isoscalar pairing in A=18 and 20 even-even N≈Z nuclei

competition of isovector and isoscalar pairing in A=18 and 20 even-even N≈Z nuclei is analyzed in the framework of the mean-field plus the dynamic quadurpole-quadurpole, pairing and particle-hole interactions, whose Hamiltonian is diagonalized in the basis U(24) ?(U(6) ? S U(3) ? S O(3))■(U(4) ? S US(2)■ S UT(2)) in the L = 0 configuration subspace. Besides the pairing interaction, it is observed that the quadurpole-quadurpole and particlehole interactions also play a significant role in determining the relative positions of low-lying excited 0~+ and 1~+ levels and their energy gaps, which can result in the ground state first-order quantum phase transition from J = 0 to J = 1.The strengths of the isovector and isoscalar pairing interactions in these even-even nuclei are estimated with respect to the energy gap and the total contribution to the binding energy. Most importantly, it is shown that although the mechanism of the particle-hole contribution to the binding energy is different, it is indirectly related to the Wigner term in the binding energy.     

Study of the potential energy of “octupole”-deformed nuclei in a multidimensional deformation space

The collective potential energy of even-even “octupule”-deformed nuclei is studied in a multidimensional deformation space in both radium and barium regions. This energy is calculated by the macroscopic-microscopic method, with the Yukawa-plus-exponential model taken for the macroscopic part and the Strutinski shell correction (based on the Woods-Saxon single-particle potential) used for the microscopic part of the energy. The deformations β_λ of all multipolarity degrees: λ = 2, 3, …, 7 (or even 8) are treated as independent variables. The multipolarities: λ = 5, 6 and 7, usually omitted or treated in an average way up to now, are found to be important for the properties of the nuclei.     

Bimodality as a signal of a liquid-gas phase transition in nuclei?

We use the heavy-ion phase-space exploration model to discuss the origin of the bimodality in charge asymmetry observed in nuclear reactions around the Fermi energy. We show that it may be related to the important angular momentum (spin) transferred into the quasiprojectile before secondary decay. As the spin overcomes the critical value, a sudden opening of decay channels is induced and leads to a bimodal distribution for the charge asymmetry. In the model, it is not assigned to a liquid-gas phase transition but to specific instabilities in nuclei with high spin. Therefore, we propose to use these reactions to study instabilities in rotating nuclear droplets.     

Systematics of the pygmy resonance in keV neutron capture γ-ray spectra of nuclei with N ≈ 82–126

We have measured capture gamma-ray spectra of Pr, Tb, Ho, Lu, Ta and Au at neutron energies of 10 to 800 keV with an anti-Compton NaI(Tl) detector, employing a time-of-flight technique. An anomalous bump, so-called the pygmy resonance, was observed in all these spectra. Remarkable features of the pygmy resonance were found to be that the resonance energy and the electric-dipole strength exhausted in the resonance increase with neutron number but these quantities decrease precipitously around the neutron magic number of N = 82. Comparison with theoretical calculations suggests that the pygmy resonance is mainly made up of neutron particle-hole states decoupled from the giant electric-dipole resonance and is excited in a collective mode.     

Radiative capture of π−-mesons by light nuclei in a current algebra model

The probabilities of capture of ^–-mesons by nuclei³He,⁶Li,⁶C, and¹⁴N from 1s- and 2p-shells of mesic atoms are calculated by a hard-pion current algebra.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 45–50, November, 1986.     

Predicting the onset of rafting of γ′ precipitates by channel deformation in a Ni superalloy

The growth or shrinkage, normal to {001}, of the interfaces between the γ matrix and cuboidal γ′ precipitates is examined for a Ni-base superalloy, by considering the force acting on the interfaces. The force is produced by the precipitate coherency misfit and the stress produced by plastic deformation in channels of the γ matrix. A simple expression, which directly addresses the origin of the surface force, is given. The plastic deformation within the initially active γ matrix channels exerts the force to cause rafting. The subsequent activation of other types of channels also promotes the rafting in the same direction as the first active channels, when the plastic strain of the former channels increases. These issues are also discussed in terms of analysis based on those dislocations caused by the precipitate misfit and those produced by the plastic deformation.     

Can a difference in molecular weights cause an eruption in a driven flow of self-organizing immiscible system?

Driven flow of a non-equilibrium non-conservative (NENC) system with a mixture of immiscible particles (A,B of molecular weight M_A, M_B) exhibits self-organizing patterns (segregation, phase-separation, etc.) in steady-state. The flow response (v) of mass flux density (j) to bias (H), in steady-state is found to be sensitive to molecular weight ratio (α = M_B/M_A). While the flux density (j) responds linearly to bias for both components (A, B) at α = 1, onset of eruptive response occurs at extreme bias (H ↦ 1) at α > 1 where v ↦∞ for heavier (B) and v ↦- ∞ for lighter (A) constituents. Difference in molecular weights (M_A, M_B) is not only critical to eruptive flow but also in controlling the flow response prior to this crossover.     

Electrodynamical forbiddance of a strong quadrupole interaction in surface enhanced optical processes. Experimental confirmation of the existence in fullerene С<Subscript>60</Subscript>

It is demonstrated that in the SERS and SEIRA spectra of the fullerene С₆₀, the lines, which are forbidden in usual Raman and IR spectra and allowed in SERS and SEIRA, are absent. In addition the enhancement SERS coefficient in a single molecule detection regime is ~10⁸ instead of the value 10¹⁴–10¹⁵, characteristic for this phenomenon. These results are explained by the existence of so-called electrodynamical forbiddance of a strong quadrupole light-molecule interaction, which arises because of belonging of C⁶⁰ to the icosahedral symmetry group and due to the electrodynamical law divE = 0.     

Preparation of the W State of Atoms in a Single Cavity or N Distant Cavities by Photon Interference

We suggest two schemes to generate the W state of N A-type three-level atoms. In the schemes, identical N three-level atoms are trapped in a cavity or N distant cavities. The success or failure of the generation of the W state can be determined by detecting the polarization of photon leaking out of the cavity. The result demonstrates that the W state is free from both the cavity loss and the spontaneous emission due to the fact that the two ground states (left and right) of the three-level atoms are stable states (or metastable states).     

Fluctuations of tensile strength and hardness of c-BC?N crystals induced by difference in atomic configuration

At the atomistic level, the physical properties of a material are determined by its structure such as atomic arrangements. Here first-principles calculations were performed to investigate the effect of atomic configuration on the tensile strength and Vickers hardness of cubic-BC?N (c-BC?N) crystals. Depending on the degree of mixture between diamond and c-BN, the tensile strength of c-BC2N crystals can vary drastically from 27 to 77 GPa. The magnitude of the Vickers hardness fluctuations (~10 GPa) is also comparable to the experimental difference (~14 GPa). Thus, atomic-scale characterization of c-BC?N crystal structures may unveil the discrepancy of the measured Vickers hardness in experiments, and uncover the obvious differences of tensile strength described in theoretical calculations.     

Can strong electric dipole transitions in deformed rare earth nuclei be explained by the macroscopic behavior of the octupole phonon?

StrongE1 transitions of greater than 10^–3 Weisskopf units occur in many octupole states in the deformed rare earth region. It is shown using the droplet model that the electric dipole moment resulting from the macroscopic behaviour of the octupole phonon cannot by itself account for the observedE1 strengths, and it is observed that this result is consistent with the proposal of Donner and Greiner and of Zilges von Brentano and Richter that admixtures of the giant dipole resonance into the low energy octupole states are responsible for the fastE1 transitions. It is also suggested that calculations similar to those performed by Egido and Robledo forN 92 nuclei may be able to reproduceE1 transitions inN=94–104 nuclei.Supported by the National Science Foundation and the State of Florida     

The big bang as a result of the first-order phase transition driven by a change of the scalar curvature in an expanding early Universe: The “hyperinflation” scenario

We suggest that the Big Bang could be a result of the first-order phase transition driven by a change in the scalar curvature of the 4D spacetime in an expanding cold Universe filled with a nonlinear scalar field φ and neutral matter with an equation of state p = νε (where p and ε are the pressure and energy density of the matter, respectively). We consider the Lagrangian of a scalar field with nonlinearity φ⁴ in a curved spacetime that, along with the term–ξR|φ|² quadratic in φ (where ξ is the interaction constant between the scalar and gravitational fields and R is the scalar curvature), contains the term ξRφ₀(φ + φ⁺) linear in φ, where φ₀ is the vacuum mean of the scalar field amplitude. As a consequence, the condition for the existence of extrema of the scalar-field potential energy is reduced to an equation cubic in φ. Provided that ν > 1/3, the scalar curvature R = [κ(3ν–1)ε–4Λ] (where κ and Λ are Einstein’s gravitational and cosmological constants, respectively) decreases with decreasing ε as the Universe expands, and a first-order phase transition in variable “external field” parameter proportional to R occurs at some critical value R _c < 0. Under certain conditions, the critical radius of the early Universe at the point of the first-order phase transition can reach an arbitrary large value, so that this scenario of unrestricted “inflation” of the Universe may be called “hyperinflation.” After the passage through the phase-transition point, the scalar-field potential energy should be rapidly released, which must lead to strong heating of the Universe, playing the role of the Big Bang.     

First observation of excited states in the <Superscript>111</Superscript>Tc nucleus --A new region of deformation at 40 ⩽ Z ⩽ 46, N ≥ 68?

The ¹¹¹Tc nucleus, populated in the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm, was studied by means of prompt -ray spectroscopy using the EUROGAM2 array. Excited states in ¹¹¹Tc were observed for the first time. Systematics of energy levels in odd-A Tc isotopes, obtained in our study of ¹⁰⁷Tc and ¹⁰⁹Tc provide a reliable spin and parity assignment I = 5/2⁺ to the head of the new band in ¹¹¹Tc, interpreted as the 5/2⁺[422] orbital originating from the proton g_9/2 shell. This level is most likely the ground state. Therefore, the (9/2⁺,7/2⁺) spin-parity assignment to the ground state of ¹¹¹Tc, reported previously, is unlikely. Properties of the yrast band in ¹¹¹Tc suggest prolate deformation of this band. There are hints that the deformation of ¹¹¹Tc is larger than that of ¹⁰⁹Tc, possibly due to admixtures of oblate-deformed configurations, which lower their excitation energy with increasing neutron number.     

Determination of Aluminum Ion with Morin in a Medium Comprised by Ionic Liquid?CWater Mixtures

In this study we have employed two ionic liquids (ILs) as a new media for the analysis of aluminum in aqueous solutions by spectrofluorimetric method. ILs are liquid salts and they have no measurable vapor pressure up to their thermal decomposition point, >300 ??C. This lack of vapor pressure makes these materials highly attractive for many studies as they can be used as clean solvents. Besides they are promising environments for analysis purposes and optical sensor designs. The results revealed that absorption, excitation and emission spectra of the morin?CAl complex exhibited considerable changes in moieties. The morin?CAl complex was stable at aluminum concentrations below 9.1?mg?L^?1 in 25% 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (IL-I)-water binary mixtures. The higher concentrations of IL (>25% by volume) was not suitable for the complex formation thus in pure IL media the complex formation even at high aluminum concentrations was not observed. The complex stoichiometry ratio of aluminum:morin was 2:1 in IL-I-water binary mixtures. The linear concentration range was 0.045?C7.2?mg?L^?1 with a correlation coefficient of r?=?0.9909. The detection limit was found to be 0.036?mg?L^?1. Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and PO ₄ ^3? ions exhibited less interfering effect in presence of IL-I and the tolerance limit of Cu enhanced 10 times when compared with ethanol.     

Removal of NOx from NO2∶NO∶N2 mixture by a pulsed and dc streamer corona in a needle-to-plate reactor

The results of laboratory experiments on reduction of NO _x in the oxygen free gas mixture NO₂NON₂ simulating exhaust gas, by means of pulsed and dc streamer corona discharges generated in a needle-to-plate reactor have been presented. The results show that the dc corona discharge is more efficient in De-NO _x process than the pulsed corona discharge. This is in contrast to the results obtained in the wire-to-cylinder reactors where the pulsed corona discharge removes NO _x more efficiently. The results also lead to the conclusion that in the dc streamer corona discharge the short pulses and long interelectrode distances are recommended in order to increase the NO _x conversion rate.Presented at 17^th Symposium Plasma Physics and Technology, Prague, June 13–16, 1995.This work was financially supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences (projects IMP 3.1 and 3.3) and by the Polish Committee for Scientific Research (KBN Grant No. P40103304).     

Noise caused by a finite extinction ratio of the light modulator in?CW cavity ring-down spectroscopy

A model is presented for the effect of a finite extinction ratio of the light modulator used in continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) experiments. We present a simple analytical expression for the minimum isolation required to prevent a significant increase in the fluctuations of the cavity decay rate, which determine the sensitivity of the method. We also present systematic measurements of the signal to noise in CW-CRDS as a function of the effective isolation of the light modulator, and excellent agreement with the model is found.     

Can particle creation by a black hole be described in terms of more familiar laboratory processes?

Particle creation by a black hole is described in terms of temperature corrections to the Casimir effect. The results of Levin, Polevoy, and Ritov for spectral and total Poynting vector for a fluctuating electromagnetic field in a plane vacuum gap between two arbitrary media with different temperatures in flat spacetime are applied to clarify the situation that exists between the horizon of a nonrotating black hole and spatial infinity. This helps to reveal the mechanism of particle creation. The Hawking radiation is born inside the bell formed by a potential barrier of a black hole in all the region [2M, ]. Its blackbody spectrum is due to the interaction of field fluctuations with the surface of the bell. The particles between the walls are virtual ones. They can become real after passing through the [3M, ] tail, appearing to an observer at future infinityJ ⁺ as real ones. The arguments for and against the present standpoint are discussed.     

Evolution of dislocation density in a hot rolled Zr–2.5Nb alloy with plastic deformation studied by neutron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

The evolution of dislocation density and microstructure of a hot rolled Zr–2.5Nb alloy under compressive plastic strain, at room temperature, was analysed using neutron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The dislocation densities of type 〈a〉, 〈c + a〉 and 〈c〉 dislocations at different plastic strains in the elastic–plastic transition regime and plastic regime have been measured by diffraction line profile analysis (DLPA). TEM microstructure characterization revealed the operation of different slip systems. It has been found that slip of type 〈a〉 dislocations contributed to most of the plastic strain at the early stage of deformation, and strong pyramidal 〈c + a〉 slip did not occur until the deformation was fully plastic. Unambiguous evidence of basal slip occurring at room temperature in Zr is provided. Loading along a plate direction with more basal poles favoured the operation of basal and pyramidal slip. Dislocation features including relative edge:screw character of 〈c + a〉 dislocations are shown to be different under tension and compression loading, providing a mechanistic driver for the previously observed asymmetry in critical resolved shear stress for 〈c + a〉 slip.