Production and loss of N 2 + , Ne+ and Ne 2 + during the decay period of plasmas produced in neon-nitrogen mixtures

Studies of the time dependencies of the number density of N ₂ ⁺ , Ne⁺ and Ne ₂ ⁺ ions have been made during the decay period of plasmas produced in neon containing various concentrations of nitrogen molecules. Reaction rate constants were obtained for N ₂ ⁺ +N₂+Ne→N ₄ ⁺ +Ne((1.2±0.2)×10^?29 cm⁶ sec^?1) and Ne⁺+N₂→N ₂ ⁺ + Ne ((2.9±0.3) × 10^?12 cm³ sec^?1). The ambipolar diffusion coefficient of N ₂ ⁺ in neon was found to beD _a p _o =350±20 cm² sec^?1 Torr.     

On the non-BoltzmannA-X emission in Na2 following laser excitation of theB state

A ¹Σ _u ⁺ -X ¹Σ _g ⁺ emission in Na₂ is observed following excitation ofB ¹π _u by various lines of an argon ion laser. The excitation energy ofB ¹π _u is collisionally transferred to the (2)¹Σ _g ⁺ which then radiatively populates theA ¹Σ _u ⁺ state. The Na vapour is contained in a stainless steel crossed heat pipe with Ar buffer gas and temperature around 600°C. For all laser lines except 4579 Å, the coarse features ofA-X emission are independent of the laser wavelength. However, at high resolution the finer differences between different laser line excitation are explained. Variousv′-v″ transitions in this emission are identified. Computer simulation is presented to help explain some features of this emission.     

Pulsed ESR on the organic ion radical salt: 3,3′-diethyl-4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-thiazolocyanine-[TCNQ]2

We present firstT _1e ^?1 andT _2e ^?1 measurements on the organic ion radical salt 3,3′-diethyl-4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-thiazolocyanine-(TCNQ)₂ as function of temperature and of orientation. The electronic spin diffusion constant could be determined directly by the electron spin echo field gradient technique:D (300 K)=0.03±0.02 cm²/sec. Pulsed ESR experiments have — in comparison to conventional cw-ESR — the advantage to monitor viaT _1e ^?1 andT _2e ^?1 the spectral density of dynamical processes at different frequencies. This is shown in a general manner on 3,3′-diethyl-4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-thiazolocyanine-(TCNQ)₂. Between 300 and 60 K,T _1e ^?1 andT _2e ^?1 are close in amplitude and have a similar temperature dependence. At 60 K their degeneracy is lifted, yielding a quantitative value for the effective spin exchange between localized spinsτ _ex ^?1 sec^?1 and via the absolute value of the relaxation an average distance of the localized centers of about 12 Å. The dynamical data as evaluated above cannot be correlated with the conductivity, clearly indicating that the conduction electrons are a minority, not being monitored by the ESR-experiments.     

Neutrino production of charmed particles in a hybrid experiment E-564

Cryogenically sensitive nuclear emulsion was placed inside the 15-foot bubble chamber of FNAL and exposed to a wide-band energy (up to 200 GeV) neutrino beam. 194 charged-current neutrino interactions and 13 decays of charmed particles were registered. Using the nuclear emulsion as a vertex detector with the good spectrometric properties of the 15-foot bubble chamber has allowed the decays of charmed particles to be effectively analysed. Attentions is focussed on the new physical results. Λ _c ⁺ baryon andD _s ⁺ meson decay channels, production of charmed ∑ _c baryons and Λ _c ⁺ via ∑ _c . For the first time an event interpreted as production of the excited (c \(\overline s\) )-state with mass ～2790 MeV/c² has been registered.     

Pion photoproduction on197Au to ground and isomeric states in197Hg

The lifetime of the 331.3 keV 0 ₂ ⁺ state in¹⁰⁰Zr has been measured at the gas-filled recoil separator for fission products JOSEF. By observing the delayed coincidences between theβ-particles populating the level and theE0 conversion electrons from its decay into the ground state, a half-life of 3.37±0.30 ns has been obtained. From the measured lifetime and the relative intensities of the 0 ₂ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ →2 ₁ ⁺ transitions, values of 0.493±0.015 for theE0 strength parameterρ, and of 16 single particle units forB(E2,2 ₁ ⁺ → 0 ₂ ⁺ ) have been deduced. The enhanced nature of theE0 transitions suggests mixing of the 0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ states which may be estimated by comparing the experimentalB(E2) values for the 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₂ ⁺ transitions with the predictions of the asymmetric VMI model.     

Experimental study of the energy dependence of the reaction rate coefficients of the reaction CH 3 + with N2O and NH3

The kinetics of the reaction of CH ₃ ⁺ ions with N₂O and NH₃ has been investigated in He and Ar buffers using Selected Ion Flow Drift Tube technique (SIFDT). Both studied reactions proceed with nearly collisional rate at near thermal energies. The rate coefficient of the reaction of CH ₃ ⁺ with N₂O is decreasing more than one order of magnitude (from 1.2×10^?9cm³s^?1 up to 8×10^?11cm³s^?1) with reactant ion/reactant neutral average centre-of-mass kinetic energy (E _r) increasing from near thermal up to 2 eV. The dominant product of this reaction is the isomer HCO⁺ (≥94%) and the minor product is CH₃O⁺. The reaction of CH ₃ ⁺ with NH₃ has two binary channels with the dominant product ion CH₂NH ₂ ⁺ (>70%) and the minor product ion NH ₄ ⁺ (≈10%) and three body association channel with product CH₃NH ₃ ⁺ (≈20% at 0.32 Torr). The rate coefficient of this reaction is decreasing nearly by one order of magnitude with increasingE _r from near thermal up to 0.8eV, forE _r>0.8 eV the rate coefficient increases with increasingE _r. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of a simple model assuming the reactions to proceed via the formation of long-lived collision complexes.     

Disparity in transient field characteristics for Au ions traversing Fe and Gd hosts through measurements ofg-factors in197Au

Transient field precessions were measured for levels in the nuclides of^182,184,186W and¹⁹⁷Au as their ions simultaneously traversed polarized Fe and Gd hosts. Consistent sets of gyromagnetic ratios were inferred for the lowest 5/2⁺ and 7/2⁺ states in¹⁹⁷Au using these two ferromagnetic host media, provided that (i) the transient field for Au ions in Gd is calibrated using the W in Gd precessions (simultaneously measured) and, (ii) the transient field for Au in Fe is calibrated using the field strength and velocity dependence for Pt in Fe (previously measured). The presentg-factor results are: g(5/2 ₁ ⁺ ;¹⁹⁷Au)=0.296±0.023, g(7/2 ₁ ⁺ ;¹⁹⁷Au)=0.241±0.021, and g(5/2 ₁ ⁺ ;¹⁹⁷Au)=1.2±0.2.     

Mechanism by which a single water molecule affects primary charge separation kinetics in a bacterial photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Using quantum-chemical methods, we have studied the role played by water molecules W-A and W-B that are bound by hydrogen bonds to accessory bacteriochlorophyll molecules B _A and B _B in the process of primary charge separation in the reaction center of Rhodobacter Sphaeroides. We have found that the occurrence of a rotational mode of the W-A molecule at 32 cm^?1 and/or its harmonics in stimulated emission of an electron donor P* and the dynamics of population of the states P⁺B _A ^? and P⁺H _A ^? may be related to the structural heterogeneity of the reaction center and the existence of a conformation in which the W-A molecule is predominantly involved in one hydrogen bond (with BA). Based on the calculated redox potentials B _A and P, it has been shown that the appearance of the W-A molecule in the reaction center reduces the energy of the P⁺B _A ^? state by ??600 cm^?1. This is somewhat smaller than the influence of the amino-acid residue Tyr^M210 (??870 cm^?1) and correlates well with a substantial decrease in the electron transfer rate in mutant forms of reaction centers GM203L (which do not contain W-A molecules) and YM210F (in which Tyr^M210 is replaced with Phe). The data obtained allow us to suggest that rotation of the water molecule with a fixed position of its H atom that is involved in a hydrogen bond with the keto carbonyl group of B _A is initiated due to the charge separation between the halves of special pair P and the formation of the state P _A ⁺ P _B ^? . The large effect of this rotation on the kinetics of population of the states P⁺B _A ^? and P⁺H _A ^? after the excitation of P is quite consistent with its influence on the energy of the state P⁺B _A ^? .     

Excitation of projectile Rydberg states in the collisions Be+-He and Mg+-He, 10–75 keV

The photoabsorption coefficient of molecular oxygen has been measured at 1215.70 Å and in the ranges 1205 Å–1214 Å and 1218 Å–1225 Å with an average resolution of ±0.015 Å. The light source in this experiment was the Doppler shifted radiation obtained from Stark quenching of a metastable hydrogen beam with energies between 2 keV and 60 keV. Using observation angles of 45°, 90°, and 135° with respect to the beam the above mentioned tuning ranges are obtained. Our data join smoothly to those of Ogawa [1] in the range 1214 Å–1218 Å and are in fair agreement with earlier measurements in other laboratories. Analytical expressions for the absorption coefficient for use in geophysical applications are presented for the whole wavelength range 1205 Å–1225 Å. Rotational structure of the absorption coefficient in the range 1220 Å–1223 Å arising from the 3-0 band of theα ¹ ∑ _u ⁺ -X ³ ∑ _g ^? forbidden transition in molecular oxygen is clearly resolved in the present measurements. A transition probability ofA=4×10⁴ s^?1 is obtained for this system. A careful study of a possible pressure dependence of the absorption coefficient was made. Except from the region were rotational line absorption occurs and the single point at 1215.70 Å no measurable effect was found for pressures below 100 Torr.     

Measurement of the relative probability of the decay φ → η′γ in the channel η′ → ηπ0π0, η → γγ

The process e ⁺ e ^? → η′γ, η′ → η π⁰π⁰, η → γγ is investigated by an SND detector in experiment on a VEPP-2M equipment with colliding electron-positron beams. The analysis of experimental data yields a value of B(? → η′γ)=(6.7 _?4.2 ^+5.0 ±1.5)×10^?5 for the decay probability. Taking into account a previous measurement of this quantity by an SND detector in the decay channel η′ → π⁺π^?η, one finally obtains B(?→η ′γ)=(6.7 _?2.4 ^+2.8 ±0.8)×10^?5.     

The production and loss ofN 2 + ions in the nitrogen afterglow

The time dependence of the number density of nitrogen ions was studied in the pressure range of about 0.1 to 1.7 Torr by means of mass spectrometric probing of decaying nitrogen plasmas. The analysis of theN ₂ ⁺ decay curves showed thatN ₂ ⁺ ions are produced in the afterglow by collisions between metastable nitrogen molecules. Energy level and radiative lifetime considerations indicate that one of the metastable molecules is in thea′ ¹∑ _u ^} state, while the other metastable molecule may be in the same state or in theA ³∑ _u ⁺ or³ Δ _u state. The surface catalytic efficiency for de-excitation of the metastable molecules involved upon striking the molybdenum covered plasma container walls was estimated to be smaller than 2×10^?3 at a pressure of 0.09 Torr. If both interacting metastable molecules are in the a′¹ bE _u ^} state the measurements result in a value of 1.3×10^?18 cm² for the cross section for destruction of this state by collisions with ground state nitrogen molecules.     

Gyromagnetic ratios of excited states in186W

The gyromagnetic ratios of the 4 ₁ ⁺ , 6 ₁ ⁺ , and 2 ₂ ⁺ states in¹⁸⁶W were measured relative to that of the 2 ₁ ⁺ level by means of the transient field implantation perturbedγ-ray angular distribution technique. The nuclei in the states of interest were Coulomb excited using a beam of 220-MeV⁶³Cu projectiles and recoiled swiftly through a thin, polarized Fe foil. The present measurements yielded ratiosg(4 ₁ ⁺ )/g(2 ₁ ⁺ )=1.04±0.07,g(6 ₁ ⁺ )/g(2 ₁ ⁺ )=1.03 ±0.20 andg(2 ₂ ⁺ )/g(2 ₁ ⁺ )=0.63±0.13. The sizable disparity between the measuredg-factors of the ground- and excited-band is examined within the context of the interacting boson approximation model.     

Alteration of the Axial Met Ligand to Electron Acceptor A0 in Photosystem I: Effect on the Generation of P 700 ·+ A 1 ·− Radical Pairs as Studied by W-band Transient EPR

Photosystem I (PS I) mutants from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 bearing point mutations to the axial ligands of A_0A (M688N_PsaA) and A_0B (M668N_PsaB) were studied by high-field W-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It was found that the EPR observables of PS I from the M668N_PsaB mutant were virtual identical to that of the wild type (WT), and are clearly distinct from the M688N_PsaA mutant. In particular, the P ₇₀₀ ^·+ decay kinetics in the M688N_PsaA mutant is significantly slower than in the WT or the M668N_PsaB mutant. The analysis of the out-of-phase electron–electron dipolar electron spin echo envelope modulation shows that in the M668N_PsaB mutant, the estimated distance of 26.0 ± 0.3 Å agrees well with the 25.8 Å distance for the P ₇₀₀ ^·+ A _1A ^·? radical pair measured in the X-ray crystal structure. In the M688N_PsaA mutant, two populations are found with estimated distances of 26.0 ± 0.3 and 25.0 ± 0.3 Å in a ratio of 0.7–0.3, which agree well with the 25.8 Å distance for the P ₇₀₀ ^·+ A _1A ^·? radical pair and the 24.6 Å distance for the P ₇₀₀ ^·+ A _1B ^·? radical pair measured in the X-ray crystal structure. The data confirm that under the experimental conditions employed in this work, which involve dark-adapted samples without the pre-reduction of the iron–sulfur clusters, electron transport in cyanobacterial PS I is asymmetrical at 100 K, with the majority of electron transfer taking place through the A-branch of cofactors.     

Resonance strengths,branching ratios and mean lifetimes of nuclear energy levels in23Na

The gamma decay of the²²Ne(p, y)²³Na resonances in the proton energy rangeE _p=1.0→2.0 MeV has been investigated with a 20cm³ Ge(Li) detector. Implanted targets were used. The absolute strengths of the strongest resonances were determined and the branching ratios of twenty resonance levels and several bound states are reported. Mean lifetimes of the levels atE _x=2.078 MeV (18.7±3.5 fs), 2.393 MeV (580 _?190 ⁺³⁷⁰ fs), 2.641 MeV (88 _?14 ⁺²⁰ fs), 2.985 MeV (4.0 _?1.0 ^+1.3 fs), 3.679 MeV (24 _?4 ⁺⁵ fs), 3.915 MeV (7.4 _?2.0 ^+2.5 fs) and 4.775 MeV (<2.0 fs) were obtained from measurements of the gamma ray Doppler shifts.     

Study of B s 0 → µ+µ− and B d 0 → µ+µ− decays in flavor-changing Z′ models

Recently, the first evidence for the decay B _s ⁰ → μ ⁺ μ ^? has been announced by the LHCb Collaboration and the measured branching ratio B( _s ⁰ → μ ⁺) = (3.2 _?1.2 ^+1.5 ) × 10^?9 is in good agreement with the standard model (SM) expectation. It has also reported an upper limit for B(B _d ⁰ → μ ⁺ μ ^?) < 9.4 × 10^?10 at 95% confidence level. In this paper, we study the B _s ⁰ → μ ⁺ μ ^? and B _d ⁰ → μ ⁺ μ ^? rare decays in flavor-changing Z′ model. Our estimated branching ratios are enhanced from their SM values and provide signals for new physics.     

Pulse ENDOR studies on the radical pair P 700 +· A 1 ·− and the photoaccumulated quinone acceptor A 1 ·− of photosystem I

The secondary acceptor A₁ of the electron transport chain(s) of photosystem (PS) I is a phylloquinone (vitamin K₁, VK₁). Pulse electron paramagnetic resonance and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) experiments at X-band frequencies were performed on the photoaccumulated acceptor radical A ₁ ^·? and the radical pair state P ₇₀₀ ^·+ A ₁ ^·? in PS I ofThermosynechococcus elongatus. The data obtained were compared with data from the respective radical anion of VK₁ in organic solvents. The unusualg tensor magnitude of A ₁ ^·? is explained by the hydrophobic binding pocket of this radical. The hyperfine couplings and the spin (and charge) density distribution is very different for A ₁ ^.? in PS I and VK ₁ ^·? in frozen alcoholic solution. This is attributed to a rather strong one-sided hydrogen bond to A ₁ ^·? . The presence of a hydrogen bond to A ₁ ^·? has only a minor effect ong. The hyperfine coupling constants of A ₁ ^·? determined from the radical pair spectra deviate only slightly from those derived from photoaccumulated A ₁ ^·? in PS I treated with dithionite at high pH. ENDOR resonances of the proton in a H bond were detected and an estimate of the strength and geometry of this bond to A ₁ ^·? was obtained. The significance of the hydrogen bond and other (hydrophobic) interactions of A₁ with the surrounding are briefly discussed.     

An analysis of Cabibbo-favored two-body decays of charmed mesons withη orη′ in the final state

We have carried out a study of Cabbibbo-favored two-body decays ofD ⁰ andD _s ⁺ involving η and η′ in the final state, $D^0 \to (\eta ,\eta ')\bar K^0 , D^0 \to (\eta ,\eta ')\bar K*^0 $ andD _s ⁺ →(η,η′)π ⁺,D _s ⁺ →(η,η′)ρ ⁺. We have introduced an annihilation term wherever admissible, and investigated its size if it were to bridge the gap between theory and experiment in each case. We have also related the semileptonic rates forD _s ⁺ →(η,η′)e ⁺ v to those of the hadronic rates forD _s ⁺ →(η,η′)π ⁺ and unveiled a puzzle. We offer a possible solution.     

Laser Raman spectra of mixed crystals of [(NH4)1−x Kx]2 SO4

The Raman spectra of mixed crystals of [(NH₄)_1?x K _x ]₂ SO₄ in the region 50–3400 cm^?1 at 293 K and below 223 K have been reported. At room temperature 293 K, as the concentration of K⁺ ion increases in the crystal up to 50%, the frequencies of the totally symmetric vibrations of SO ₄ ^2? and NH ₄ ⁺ ions increase and thereafter the frequency of SO ₄ ^2? vibration decreases and attains the value in K₂SO₄. This change in frequency up to 50% of potassium concentration is due to the breaking of hydrogen bonds of the type N-H...O. The behaviour of Raman intensities of A _g (v ₁) mode of SO ₄ ^2? for various concentrations (x=0, 0·03, 0·11, 0·5, 0·85) suggest that the phase transition changes from first order type to one of second order. The phase transition in mixed crystals of [(NH₄)_1?x K _x ]₂ SO₄ can be a cooperative phenomenon arising from a coupling between (NH₄)⁺ ions through hydrogen bonds with the distorted SO ₄ ^2? ions in the low temperature phase.     

Phonons and magnetic order in ferromagnetic CdCr2Se4 and CdCr2S4

Measurements are reported of the Raman effect on single crystal ferromagnetic CdCr₂Se₄ and CdCr₂S₄ as a function of temperature. The lines observed at 158 cm^?1, 172 cm^?1 and 241 cm^?1 for CdCr₂Se₄ and 257 cm^?1, 281 cm^?1 and 396 cm^?1 for CdCr₂S₄ have been identified as due toГ ₁₂ ⁺ ,Г ₂₅ ⁺ andГ ₁ ⁺ phonons, respectively. Certain lines ofГ ₁ ⁺ orГ ₂₅ ⁺ symmetry, observed in both materials, show a temperature dependence of the intensity which resembles the behaviour of the spin correlation function. Some of these lines also exhibit a symmetry change at the Curie point. A group theoretical analysis of the eigenvectors of the Raman active modes is given. The results are interpreted in terms of a model proposed by Baltensperger which involves the ion position dependence of the magnetic exchange interaction in order to couple spin system and phonons. The weak frequency shift of the lines, which occurs predominantly in the ordered state, is interpreted in terms of the same model.