Charge transfer in energetic Li<Superscript>2+</Superscript>–H and He<Superscript>+</Superscript>–He<Superscript>+</Superscript> collisions

The total cross sections for charge transfer in Li²⁺-H and He⁺-He⁺ collisions have been calculated, using the four body first Born approximation with correct boundary conditions (CB1-4B) and four body continuum distorted wave method (CDW-4B) in the energy range 10–5000 keV/amu. The role of dynamic electron correlations is examined as a function of the impact energy. The present results call for additional experimental data at higher impact energies than presently available.     

Gain characteristics of 980 nm-pumped Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Tm<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Pr<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-co-doped fiber

We present a numerical model of Er³⁺–Tm³⁺–Pr³⁺-co-doped fiber amplifier pumped with 980 nm laser for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The rate and power propagation equations are solved numerically to analyze the effects of the pump power and active ion concentrations on the gains at 1310, 1470, 1530, 1600, 1650 nm windows. The results show that with pump power of 200 mW and when Pr³⁺, Tm³⁺, Er³⁺ concentrations are around 2.0×10²⁴, 3.0×10²⁴, 1.5×10²⁴ (ions/m³), respectively, the signals at 1470, 1530, 1600 nm may be nearly equally amplified with gain of 11–12.0 dB in the active fiber with length of 11.0 m, and the signals at 1310, 1470 and 1600 nm windows may be nearly equally amplified with gain of 12.0 dB in the active gain medium with length of 15.0 m. With pump power of 300 mW, the signals at 1470, 1530, 1600 nm may be nearly equally amplified with a gain of 16.0 dB in the active medium with a length of 15.0 m.     

Bose-Einstein Correlations in W<Superscript>+</Superscript> W<Superscript>–</Superscript> events at LEP2

Bose-Einstein correlations (BEC) between final state particles in the reaction have been studied. Data corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 550 pb^-1, recorded by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 189 to 209 GeV, were analysed. An indication for inter-W BEC between like-sign particles has been found at the level of 2.4 standard deviations of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainties. Received: 11 January 2005, Revised: 13 July 2005, Published online: 13 September 2005 This paper is dedicated to the late Frans Verbeure. Frans was a very active member of the DELPHI collaboration and its QCD and WW working groups. The loss of Frans touched us all deeply.     

Gamow-Teller 1<Superscript>+</Superscript> states in <Superscript>112–124</Superscript>Sb isotopes

The violated supersymmetry property of the pairing interaction between nucleons were restored using the Pyatov method [Pyatov and Salamov, Nucleonica 22, 127 (1977)]. The eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the restored Hamiltonian with the separable residual Gamow-Teller effective interactions in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels were solved within the framework of proton-neutron quasirandom phase approximation (pnQRPA). The Gamow-Teller resonance energies for ^112–124Sb isotopes and the differential cross-sections for Sn(³He, t)Sb reactions at E(³He) = 200 MeV occurring by the excitation of the Gamow-Teller resonance state were calculated. The calculated values were compared with other calculations and the corresponding experimental data.     

The argon spectrum in the range of 1200–2000 cm<Superscript>–1</Superscript>

Atomic argon spectrum in the range of 1200–2000 cm^–1 has been recorded by time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy. The lines have been identified using the oscillator strengths calculated by the quantum-defect method. Previously unknown energies of the 6h levels of Ar I have been found from the spectrum.     

Cluster radioactivity of <Superscript>128–134</Superscript>Gd isotopes

The cluster radioactivity exhibited by ^128–134Gd isotopes with the exotic emission of certain clusters like ⁴He, ⁸Be, ¹²C, ¹⁶O, ²⁰Ne, ²⁴Mg, and ²⁸Si have been studied. The half-life values for different cluster emissions were calculated by considering the interacting potential barrier as a sum of Coulomb potential and proximity potential. The emission of ²⁸Si cluster from ¹²⁸Gd isotope leads to the formation of ¹⁰⁰Sn daughter nucleus which is a doubly-magic nucleus. Hence, the ²⁸Si cluster emission is expected to have the lowest half-life and therefore highly favorable for measurements. Our calculations also corroborate this point and thus emphasize the role of ¹⁰⁰Sn in the exotic decay process. The Geiger-Nuttall plots for different cluster emissions were found to be linear, but with different slopes and intercepts. We have studied the variation of these slopes and intercepts as a function of the proton number of clusters. Based on this, we have arrived at a handy and convenient expression for half-life values for emissions of various clusters from ^128–134Gd isotopes.     

Ionoluminescence of Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>–Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> clusters in NaF: Eu single crystals

The radiation-impurity modification of NaF: Eu crystals results in the formation of optically active planar heterostructures with a complex set of luminescence centers, including, in particular, clusters of the Eu²⁺–Eu³⁺ type. The luminescence spectra of Eu²⁺–Eu³⁺ centers exhibit bands at wavelengths of 409 and 442 nm, which are associated with Eu²⁺ ions in nonequivalent crystallographic positions, and a band at a wavelength of 610 nm, which is attributed to Eu³⁺ ions. The luminescence spectra of irradiated NaF: Eu samples contain a broad band with a maximum at 506 nm due to the presence of F₂ + F ₊ ³ color centers in the crystal.     

Time Resolved Fluorescence and Energy Transfer Analysis of Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Triply-Doped Ba–Al-Metaphosphate Glasses for an Eye Safe Emission (1.54 μm)

This paper reports on the preparation and systematic analysis of energy transfer mechanisms in Nd³⁺–Yb³⁺–Er³⁺ co-doped new series of barium-alumino-metaphosphate glasses. The time resolved fluorescence of Nd³⁺ in triply doped Ba–Al-metaphosphate glasses have revealed that, Yb³⁺ ions could function as quite efficient bridge for an energy transfer between Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions. As a result, a fourfold emission enhancement at 1.54 μm of Er³⁺ ions has been achieved through an excitation of ⁴F_5/2 level of Nd³⁺ at 806 nm for the glass having 3 mol% Yb³⁺ with an energy transfer efficiency reaching up to 94%. Decay of donor (Nd³⁺) ion fluorescence has been analyzed based on theoretical models such as direct energy transfer model (Inokuti–Hirayama) and migration assisted energy transfer models (Burshtein’s hopping and Yokota–Tanimoto’s diffusion). The corresponding energy transfer parameters have been evaluated and discussed. Primarily, electrostatic dipole–dipole (s ~ 6) interactions are found to be responsible for the occurrence of energy transfer process in theses glasses.     

Photoluminescence of Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in barium–strontium–calcium titanate xerogels

Terbium-doped films of barium–strontium–calcium titanate with the perovskite phase were fabricated using the sol-gel method. Photoluminescence of trivalent terbium ions with a strong band at 543 nm was observed at 4.2 and 300 K for films fabricated by spin-on deposition on porous anodic alumina and annealed at 500 and 750°C. The possibility of using sol-gel synthesis of perovskites to investigate spontaneous emission of terbium and other lanthanides in photonic crystals with a tunable photonic band gap is discussed.     

Production of residual radioactive nuclei in thin <Superscript>209</Superscript>Bi, <Superscript>nat</Superscript>Pb, <Superscript>206</Superscript>Pb, <Superscript>207</Superscript>Pb,and <Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb targets bombarded with 0.04–2.6 GeV protons

The results of the experimental measurement and numerical simulation of the cross sections for residual radioactive nuclei production in thin ²⁰⁹Bi, ^natPb, ²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb targets bombarded with protons in the energy range from 0.04 to 2.6 GeV are reported. The nuclide production cross sections were measured using γ spectrometry with a high-resolution Ge detector. The experimental data include a total of 5972 reaction cross sections at 11 proton energy values. The results are compared to the data from other laboratories reported in 80 papers. The model calculations were carried out using eight simulation code packages: LAHET, INCL4 + ABLA, CEM03, LAQGSM + GEM2, CASCADE, CASCADE-2004, CASCADO, and LAHETO. A detailed analysis of discrepancies between the measured and calculated data is presented.     

<Superscript>15</Superscript>N–<Superscript>13</Superscript>C Dipole Couplings in Smectic Mesophase of a Thermotropic Ionic Liquid

Unique combination of ionic conductivity and anisotropic physical properties in ionic liquid crystals leads to new dynamic properties exploited in modern technological applications. Structural and dynamics information at atomic level for molecules and ions in mesophases can be obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy through the measurements of dipole–dipole spin couplings. While ¹³C–¹H and ¹⁵N–¹H dipolar NMR spectra can be routinely acquired in samples with natural isotopic abundance, recording ¹⁵N–¹³C dipolar NMR spectra is challenging because of the unfavourable combination of two rare isotopes. In the present study, an approach to measure ¹⁵N–¹³C dipole-dipole NMR spectra in static liquid crystalline samples with natural abundance is introduced. We demonstrate that well-resolved spectra can be recorded within 10 h of experimental time using a conventional NMR probe and a moderately strong magnetic field. The technique is applied to a thermotropic smectic mesophase formed by an ionic liquid with imidazolium-based organic cation.     

<Superscript>10</Superscript>B–<Superscript>11</Superscript>B isotope substitution and superconductivity in ZrB<Subscript>12</Subscript>

The specific heat of the ZrB₁₂ compound in the normal and superconducting states (T _C ≈ 6 K) has been studied in the 1.9–7 K temperature range for high-quality single crystals with different relative contents of boron isotopes. For Zr¹⁰B₁₂, Zr^natB₁₂, and Zr¹¹B₁₂ dodecaborides, the electron density of states and the electronphonon coupling constant, λ_e-ph ∼ 0.4, are found. The dependence of the thermodynamic and upper critical fields, as well as of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter (κ = 0.8–1.14) on temperature and isotope composition is determined. The results suggest the existence of the magnetic field induced phase transition at T* = 4–5 K, which is not related to the transition from type-I to type-II superconductivity. The possibilities of the existence of two-gap superconductivity and a structural phase transition at T* in zirconium dodecaboride are discussed.     

Detailed Investigations of Neutron–Neutron Angular Correlations in Slow-Neutron-Induced Fission of <Superscript>233</Superscript>U, <Superscript>235</Superscript>U,and <Superscript>239</Superscript>Pu

An experiment devoted to studying neutron–neutron angular correlations in the slow-neutroninduced fission of ²³³U, ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu nuclei was performed. The experimentally determined angular dependence of the number of neutron–neutron coincidences was compared with the results of a Monte Carlo simulation for various values of the neutron-detection threshold in the range between 490 and 2080 keV. It was found that the experimental angular distributions in question can be described well under the assumption that 2% to 5% of all prompt fission neutrons are emitted isotropically in the laboratory frame. Probably, such neutrons can be interpreted as so-called scission neutrons directly associated with the nuclear-rupture instant. Energy distributions of this component were also obtained from the present analysis.     

Concept of an Electron–Positron Collider for Production and Study of the (μ<Superscript>+</Superscript>μ<Superscript>–</Superscript>) Bound State

The possibility of producing and studying thus far unobserved dimuonium atoms (μ⁺μ^?) using low-energy colliding е⁺е^? beams is considered. Possible collider implementations are discussed, processes affecting its efficiency are investigated, and its parameters are estimated. The collider can probably also be used for high-luminosity experiments on the study of π^± and η mesons.     

Search for a Neutrino with a Mass of 0.01–1.0 MeV in Beta Decays of <Superscript>144</Superscript>Ce–<Superscript>144</Superscript>Pr Nuclei

Spectra of electrons from beta decays of ¹⁴⁴Ce–¹⁴⁴Pr nuclei have been measured and analyzed in order to find a contribution from a heavy neutrino. For the neutrino with the mass m_νH in the interval of 150–350 keV, a new upper bound |U_eH|² ≤ (2?5) × 10^?3 at 90% C.L. has been found for the mixing parameter.     

Scaling and universality in models of step bunching: the “C<Superscript>+</Superscript>–C<Superscript>-</Superscript>” model

We recently introduced a novel model of step flow crystal growth – the so-called “C⁺–C^-” model [B. Ranguelov et al., C.R. Acad. Bulgare Sci. 60, 389 (2007)]. In this paper we aim to develop a complete picture of the model’s behaviour in the framework of the notion of universality classes. The basic assumption of the model is that the reference (“equilibrium”) densities used to compute the supersaturation might be different on either side of a step, so C_L/C_R ≠ 1 (L/R stands for left/right in a step train descending from left to right), and that this will eventually cause destabilization of the regular step train. Linear stability analysis considering perturbation of the whole step train shows that the vicinal is always unstable when the condition C_L /C_R >1 is fulfilled. Numerical integration of the equations of step motion combined with an original monitoring scheme(s) results in obtaining the exact size- and time- scaling of the step bunches in the limit of long times (including the numerical prefactors). Over a broad range of parameters the surface morphology is characterized by the appearance of the minimal interstep distance at the beginning of the bunches (at the trailing edge of the bunch) and may be described by a single universality class, different from those already generated by continuum theories [A. Pimpinelli et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 206103 (2002), J. Krug et al., Phys. Rev. B 71, 045412 (2005)]. In particular, the scaling of the minimal interstep distance l_min in the new universality class is shown to be l_min = (S_n /N)^1/(n+1), where N is the number of steps in the bunch, n is the exponent in the step-step repulsion law U ~ 1/d₀ ⁿ for two steps placed a distance d₀ apart and S_n is a combination of the model parameters. It is also shown that N scales with time with universal exponent 1/2 independent of n. For the regime of slow diffusion it is obtained for the first time that the time scaling depends only on the destabilization parameter C_L/C_R. The bunching outside the parameter region where the above scaling exists cannot be assigned to a specific universality class and thus should be considered non-universal.     

Molecular Mobility in Amorphous Polylactic Acid Studied Using <Superscript>1</Superscript>H–<Superscript>13</Superscript>C Cross Polarization NMR

The ¹H–¹³C cross polarization nuclear magnetic resonance technique was used for the study of molecular mobility in amorphous polylactic acid. The cross polarization buildup curves for methine and methyl functional groups measured at magic angle spinning rates of 4 and 10 kHz, under Hartmann–Hahn conditions determined from corresponding Hartmann–Hahn matching profiles, confirmed the presence of ¹H–¹³C spin pairs isolated from lattice since transient oscillations were observed in the initial stages of buildup curves. The values of dipolar coupling constants derived from Fourier transforms of cross polarization buildup curves indicate the presence of rigid methine groups and two kinds of methyl functional groups which differ in mobility. This could be due to the presence of amorphous phase with chain aggregations and phase with less spatial restrictions in this material. Fitting of theoretical expressions to experimental data provided additional information on the cross polarization process in this material.     

Cooperative downconversion and near-infrared luminescence of Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> codoped lanthanum borogermanate glasses

In the present paper, we investigate the near-infrared (NIR) luminescence of Tb³⁺–Yb³⁺ codoped lanthanum borogermanate (LBG) glasses under visible and ultraviolet light excitation. The results indicate that NIR quantum cutting occurs through cooperative energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Yb³⁺ ions when only 4f ⁸ levels of Tb³⁺ ions are excited in the wavelength region of 300–490 nm. The highest quantum efficiency under the excitation ⁵ D ₄ level of Tb³⁺ at 484 nm is 146%. Ultraviolet excitation that populates the charge transfer band (CTB) of Yb³⁺ near 270 nm does not result in quantum cutting as the fast nonradiative decay from CTB to ² F _5/2 level dominates. These materials are expected to be used as a converting layer for silicon solar cells to enhance their efficiency by splitting each high-energy photon into two NIR photons.     

Cross sections for the photofission of <Superscript>243</Superscript>Cm, <Superscript>245</Superscript>Cm, <Superscript>249</Superscript>Bk,and <Superscript>249</Superscript>Cf isotopes in the energy range from the threshold to 10–12 MeV

The relative method was used to measure the photofission cross sections for ²⁴³Cm and ²⁴⁹Cf isotopes in the energy range from 6 to 12 MeV, for ²⁴⁵Cm in the energy range from 5 to 10 MeV, and for ²⁴⁹Bk in the energy range from 5.5 to 10 MeV. The measurements were performed with an energy step of 50 to 200 keV by using the microtron installed at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (Obninsk). The cross section for ²³⁸U photofission was used as a reference in these measurements. Data on the cross sections for ²⁴³Cm, ²⁴⁵Cm, and ²⁴⁹Bk photofission were obtained for the first time, while data on the cross section for ²⁴⁹Cf photofission were obtained for the first time only in the energyregion E<10 MeV. The data on the ²⁴⁵Cm nucleus suggest that, in the energy region around 6 MeV, the cross section for its photofission has a maximum, which is likely to be due to the low-energy resonance structure of the dipole-photoabsorption cross section. For ²⁴⁹Cf, an anomalously large value of the photo fission cross section is observed in the region of the first maximum of the giant dipole resonance (E≈11 MeV). By comparing the energy dependences obtained for the fissilities of the ²⁴³Cm and ²⁴⁹Bk isotopes from photofission data with the fissilities from direct-reaction data, it is found that the observed fission thresholds agree and that there is a plateau-like dependence at energies above 7.5 MeV. For the ²⁴⁵Cm and ²⁴⁹Cf nuclei, there are no similar data for performing such a comparison. Data on the fissilities as obtained from the present series of relative measurements that employ the microtron bremsstrahlung spectrum are analyzed.