Probable Decay Modes at Limits of Nuclear Stability of the Superheavy Nuclei

The modes of decay for the even–even isotopes of superheavy nuclei of Z = 118 and 120 with neutron number 160 ≤ N ≤ 204 are investigated in the framework of the axially deformed relativistic mean field model. The asymmetry parameter η and the relative neutron–proton asymmetry of the surface to the center (R _η ) are estimated from the ground state density distributions of the nucleus. We analyze the resulting asymmetry parameter η and the relative neutron–proton asymmetry R _η of the density play a crucial role in the mode(s) of decay and its half-life. Moreover, the excess neutron richness on the surface, facets a superheavy nucleus for β^? decays.     

Dynamical screening of AMM and QED effects for large-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis> hydrogen-like atoms

The effective interaction ΔU_AMM of the anomalous magnetic moment (AMM) of an electron with the Coulomb field of an extended nucleus is analyzed. As soon as the q² dependence of the electron formfactor F₂(q²)is taken into account from the beginning, the AMM is found to be dynamically screened at small distances of r ? 1/m. The ΔU_AMM effects on the low-lying electronic levels of a superheavy extended nucleus with Zα > 1are analyzed using the nonperturbative approach. The growth rate of the ΔU_AMM contribution with increasing Z is shown to be essentially nonmonotonic. At the same time, the energy shifts of electronic levels in the vicinity of the threshold of the lower continuum monotonically decrease in the region Z ?Z_cr,1s. The latter result is generalized to the whole self-energy contribution to energy shifts of electronic levels, thus also referring to the possible behavior of QED radiative effects with virtual-photon exchange, considered beyond the framework of the perturbative expansion in Zα.     

Search for superheavy hydrogen isotopes <Superscript>4,5</Superscript>H in reactions of pion absorption by <Superscript>10,11</Superscript>B nuclei

The results of searching for production of superheavy hydrogen isotopes ^4,5H in reactions of absorption of stopped π^? mesons by ^10,11B nuclei are reported. A peak near 3 MeV was observed in the missing mass spectra measured in the reactions ^10,11B(π^?, t⁴He)X, ¹⁰B(π^?, d⁴He)X, and ¹⁰B(π^?, t³He)X. A structure caused by two ⁵H states with the resonance energies E _R = 5.2 and 10.4 MeV was observed in the missing mass spectra measured in the reactions ¹¹B(π^?, d⁴He)X, ¹¹B(π^?, t³He)X, and ¹⁰B(π^?, d³He)X.     

Effect of properties of superheavy nuclei on their production and decay

Properties and stability of superheavy nuclei resulting from hot fusion are discussed. It is shown that the microscopic–macroscopic approach allows obtaining the closed proton shell at Z ≥ 120. Isotopic trends of K-isomeric states in superheavy nuclei are predicted. Evaporation residue cross sections in hot fusion reactions are calculated using the predicted properties of superheavy nuclei. Interruption of α decay chains by spontaneous fission is analyzed. Alpha decay chains through isomeric states are considered. Internal level densities in superheavy nuclei are microscopically calculated.     

Dark-energy cosmological models in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>) gravity

We discuss dark-energy cosmological models in f(G) gravity. For this purpose, a locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi type I cosmological model is considered. First, exact solutions with a well-known form of the f(G) model are explored. One general solution is discussed using a power-law f(G) gravity model and physical quantities are calculated. In particular, Kasner’s universe is recovered and the corresponding f(G) gravity models are reported. Second, the energy conditions for the model under consideration are discussed using graphical analysis. It is concluded that solutions with f(G) = G^5/6 support expansion of universe while those with f(G) = G^1/2 do not favor the current expansion.     

Data on photoneutron reactions from various experiments for <Superscript>133</Superscript>Cs, <Superscript>138</Superscript>Ba and <Superscript>209</Superscript>Bi nuclei

Basic methods for determining cross sections for photoneutron partial reactions are examined. They are obtained directly in experiments with quasimonoeneregetic annihilation photons or from the cross section for the (γ, xn) = (γ, 1n) + 2(γ, 2n) + 3(γ, 3n) +... neutron-yield reaction in experiments with bremsstrahlung photons by introducing corrections based on statistical nuclear-reaction theory. The difference in the conditions of these experiments, which leads to discrepancies between their results because of sizable systematic errors, is analyzed. Physical criteria are used to study the reliability of data on the photodisintegration of ¹³³Cs, ¹³⁸Ba, and ²⁰⁹Bi nuclei. The cross sections for partial and total reactions satisfying the reliability criteria are evaluated within the experimental–theoretical method (σ^eval(γ, in) = F_i^theor × σ^expt(γ, xn)) on the basis of the experimental cross sections σ^expt(γ, xn) and the results of the calculations within the combined model of photonuclear reactions.     

Winkelverteilungen elastisch an Edelgas-Atomstrahlen gestreuter Elektronen; Spinpolarisation eines an Argon gestreuten 40 eV-Elektronenstrahls

Various non-leptonic decay modes of baryons are calculated in a simple quark model. Form factors for various matrix elements are taken both from experiment and the quark model. Additionally theK→2π andK→3π decay modes are computed in the same model. The theory has theΔ I=1/2 rule and static SU⁶ built-in. A relation between the∑ ⁺→N ⁺ π ⁺ decay, not calculable in the model, and theK→3π decay is given via an effective six quark interaction. Agreement with experiment is order of magnitude for the baryonic decays and worse for theK decays.     

Mixing of <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Superscript>0</Superscript> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Superscript>0</Superscript> neutral mesons within the minimum supersymmetry model

Mixing of K ⁰ and B ⁰ mesons is studied in the scope of the minimum supersymmetry model (MSSM) with a type II Yukawa sector and explicit violation of CP invariance in the Higgs potential. The mixing parameters Δm _LS and ? are calculated in the limit of the low-energy four-fermion approximation with a charged Higgs boson exchange. It is shown that supersymmetric effects are very small for K ⁰ mesons and may be quite significant for B _s ⁰ and B _d ⁰ mesons, which imposes constraints on the MSSM parameter space.     

Effect of the Lattice and Spin-Phonon Contributions on the Temperature Behavior of the Ground State Splitting of Gd<Superscript>3+</Superscript> in SrMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The temperature behavior of the EPR spectra of the Gd³⁺ impurity center in single crystals of SrMoO₄ in the temperature range T = 99–375 K is studied. The analysis of the temperature dependences of the spin Hamiltonian b ₂ ⁰ (T) = b₂(F) + b₂(L) and P ₂ ⁰ (T) = P₂(F) + P₂(L) (for Gd¹⁵⁷) describing the EPR spectrum and contributing to the Gd³⁺ ground state splitting ΔE is carried out. In terms of the Newman model, the values of b₂(L) and P₂(L) depending on the thermal expansion of the static lattice are estimated; the b₂(F) and P₂(F) spin-phonon contributions determined by the lattice ion oscillations are separated. The analysis of b ₂ ⁰ (T) and P ₂ ⁰ (T) is evidence of the positive contribution of the spin-phonon interaction; the model of the local oscillations of the impurity cluster with close frequencies ω describes well the temperature behavior of b₂(F) and P₂(F).     

Rare meson decay in supersymmetric theory with nonconservation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>-parity

The decay of mesons K ⁺ → π ^? l ⁺ l′⁺ and D ⁺ → K ^? l ⁺ l′⁺ (l, l′ = e, μ) involving a change of lepton number ΔL = 2 is considered in a supersymmetric extension of the standard model in which R-parity is not conserved due to trilinear Yukawa interactions. The obtained estimates for the probabilities of these decays are significantly lower than the direct experimental upper limits.     

Reliability of the data on the cross sections of the partial photoneutron reaction for <Superscript>63,65</Superscript>Cu and <Superscript>80</Superscript>Se nuclei

The cross sections of partial photoneutron reactions are evaluated for the ^63,65Cu and ⁸⁰Se isotopes. The cross sections are free of systematic uncertainties from shortcomings of the experimental methods for neutron multiplicity sorting based on measurements of neutron energy used in experiments with quasimonoenergetic annihilation photon beams. An experimental-theoretical method is used to evaluate cross sections σ^eval(γ, in)= F_i^theor σ^exp(γ, xn), where ratios F_i^theor = σ^theor(γ, in)/σ^theor(γ, xn) = σ^theor(γ, in)/σ^theor[(γ, 1n) + 2(γ, 2n) + …] are calculated using a combined model of photonuclear reactions, and σ^exp(γ, xn) is the experimental cross section of the neutron yield reaction free from neutron multiplicity sorting problems. The cross sections are evaluated for reactions (γ, 1n) and (γ, 2n) for the ^63,65Cu and ⁸⁰Se isotopes, and for the total photoneutron reaction σ(γ, Sn) = σ[(γ, 1n) + (γ, 2n) + …]. It is shown that noticeable deviations of the experimental cross sections from the evaluated values result from the unreliable sorting of neutrons between the channels with multiplicities 1 and 2.     

The way to superheavy elements

This review is devoted to the studies of heavy and superheavy elements and the methods of their synthesis and identification. Special attention is paid to the latest discoveries in the area of superheavy elements with Z = 107–112 in cold fusion reactions and Z = 113–118 in reactions between ⁴⁸Ca and actinides.     

Elastic and inelastic scattering of 800-MeV protons on <Superscript>16</Superscript>O and <Superscript>20</Superscript>Ne nuclei

Differential cross sections and polarization observables for the elastic and inelastic scattering of 800-MeV protons on ¹⁶O and ²⁰Ne nuclei are calculated on the basis of the theory of multiple diffractive scattering and the α-cluster model involving dispersion. The single-particle nucleon-density distributions obtained within the α-cluster model involving dispersion are used in the calculations. The differential cross sections and polarization calculated for elastic and inelastic p¹⁶O and p²⁰Ne scattering are compatible with available experimental data. The spin-rotation functions calculated for elastic p¹⁶O and p²⁰Ne scattering within the independent-nucleon model differ qualitatively from their counterparts calculated within the α-cluster model involving dispersion.     

Investigation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">pn</Emphasis> correlations in <Superscript>4</Superscript>He<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> interactions at a momentum of 5 GeV/<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>

Proton-neutron correlations in ⁴Hep interactions are studied in an exclusive experiment by using a 2-m bubble chamber exposed to a 5-GeV/c beam of α particles (the kinetic energy of the protons in the nucleus rest frame is T _p = 620 MeV). Data on the production of pn pairs in 4π geometry for three channels, where it is possible to reconstruct the neutron momentum unambiguously, are used to determine the pn correlation function in ⁴Hep interactions. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of a modified Lednicky-Lyuboshitz model. The value obtained for the root-mean-square radius of the pn-emission region is R _pn = 2.1 ± 0.3 fm. The dependence of the correlation function on the modulus of the total momentum of the emitted nucleon pair and on the direction of the momentum transfer is studied. An indication that the emission of a pn pair proceeds predominantly through the production of a virtual deuteron is obtained.     

The Study of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>, 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>) Reaction Cross Sections for Ce and Nd Isotopes up to 20 MeV

Neutron cross section calculations for ¹³⁶Ce(n, 2n)¹³⁵Ce, ¹³⁸Ce(n, 2n)¹³⁷Ce, ¹⁴⁰Ce(n, 2n)¹³⁹Ce, ¹⁴²Ce(n, 2n)¹⁴¹Ce, ¹⁴²Nd(n, 2n)¹⁴¹Nd, ¹⁴⁴Nd(n, 2n)¹⁴³Nd, ¹⁴⁶Nd(n, 2n)¹⁴⁵Nd, ¹⁴⁸Nd(n, 2n)¹⁴⁷Nd, and ¹⁵⁰Nd(n, 2n)¹⁴⁹Nd were done in the incident energy range from 10 to 20 MeV. The calculations were performed using three codes TALYS-1.6 for two-component Exciton model, EMPIRE-3.2 Malta for Exciton model, and ALICE/ASH for the Geometry-Dependent Hybrid (GDH) model. The results of model calculations were compared with the available experimental data and also with the evaluated data in the TENDL-2015 (based on the modified TALYS code), ENDF/B-VII.1 libraries. The calculated cross section data were compared with the available experimental data obtained from EXFOR and also compared with semiempirical formulas around 14–15 MeV. The results of model calculation were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data given in literature and semiempirical data around 14–15MeV.     

Magnetic resonances in the electroexcitation of the <Superscript>26</Superscript>Mg nucleus

On the basis of spectroscopic information about direct pickup reactions, the multipole magnetic resonances M2, M4, and M6 of the ²⁶Mg nucleus are calculated within the particle-core coupling version of the multiparticle shell model. The excitation-energy distribution of the form factors for the multipole magnetic 1? ω resonances is obtained for momentum transfers to a nucleus up to 2 fm^?1. A comparison of the results of the calculations for the M6 form factors with corresponding experimental data confirms that the adopted model approximations are realistic.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> theory of the electronic structure and spectra of impurity <Emphasis Type="Italic">nl</Emphasis> ions

The fundamentals of the theory of the electronic structure of impurity clusters and the results of numerical calculations for the iron-, lanthanum-, and actinium-group ions in Me⁺ⁿ: [L]_k clusters are presented. The effects of the interionic distance and ligands in the Me⁺ⁿ: [L]_k clusters on the electronic structure of the nl ^N and nl^N?1n′l′ configurations of the 3d, 4f, and 5f ions are considered. The correspondence between the optical and x-ray spectra of different impurity crystals is also analyzed.     

Energy levels of ions of silver and rhodium isoelectronic sequences with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis> < 86

The method of extrapolation of the parameter of a model potential for states of one electron (4f, 5s, 5p, 5d, 5f) above the core 1s ²2s ²2p ⁶3s ²3p ⁶3d ¹⁰4s ²4p ⁶4d ¹⁰ and one vacancy (4d ⁹) in the same core is applied to calculate the energy levels in the silver and rhodium isoelectronic sequences with the maximum nuclear charge Z = 86. The energy levels of Ag-and Rh-like ions were used for the calculation of the energies of resonance transitions to the ground state ¹ S ₀ in Pd-like ions. Good agreement between the theoretical and calculated energies of the resonance transitions in Pd-like ions indicates the reliability of the results obtained.