Thick-target X-ray bremsstrahlung spectra produced in 6.5 keV and 7.5 keVe--Hf collisions

The absolute doubly differential cross-sections (DDCS) for production of the thick-target X-ray bremsstrahlung spectra in collisions of 6.5 keV and 7.5 keV electrons with thick Hf target are measured. The X-ray photons are counted by a Si(Li) detector placed at 90° to the electron beam direction. The bremsstrahlung spectra are corrected for various ‘solid-state effects’ namely, electron energy-loss, electron back-scattering, and photon-attenuation in the target, in addition to the correction for detector’s efficiency. The DDCS values after correction, are compared with the predictions of a most accurate thin-target bremsstrahlung theory [H K Tseng and R H Pratt,Phys. Rev. A3, 100 (1971); Kisselet al, Atomic Data Nucl. Data Tables 28, 381 (1983)]. Also, a dependence of the absolute DDCS on atomic numberZ of the targets (₄₇Ag,₇₉Au and₇₂Hf) at 7.0 keV and 7.5 keV electron energies has been studied. The agreement between experiment and theory is found to be satisfactory within 27% systematic error of measurements. However, an apparent systematic difference between experiment and theory in the region of low-energy photons has been explained qualitatively by considering the fact that the hexagonal atomic structure of Hf offers possibly a greater magnitude of ‘solid-state effects’ in respect of blocking the low-energy bremsstrahlung photons from coming out of the target surface than does the cubic-face centered structure of Ag and Au target in similar conditions of the experiment.     

Spin-dependent structure functions of real and virtual photons

The implications of the positivity constraint, , on the presently unknown spin–dependent structure function of real and virtual photons are studied at scales where longitudinally polarized photons dominate physically relevant cross sections. In particular it is shown how to implement the physical constraints of positivity and continuity at in NLO calculations which afford a nontrivial choice of suitable (DIS) factorization schemes related to and and appropriate boundary conditions for the polarized parton distributions of real and virtual photons. The predictions of two extreme ‘maximal’ and ‘minimal’ saturation scenarios are presented and compared with results obtained within the framework of a simple quark ‘box’ calculation expected to yield reasonable estimates in the not too small regions of x and . Received: 16 March 2001 / Published online: 18 May 2001     

Conformational analysis of allyl halides from the calculation of indirect spin-spin coupling

A theoretical study on the conformation of allyl halides from the calculation of nuclear spin-spin coupling constants by adopting the finite perturbation theory (FPT), is carried out in terms of the self-consistent, semi-empirical INDO (intermediate neglect of differential overlap) approximation of molecular orbital theory. Results of the calculations performed using ‘s’ and ‘p’ valence orbitals alone (‘sp’ basis) at INDO level approximation seem to replicate the experimental trend quite satisfactorily. Despite the overall agreement of the theoretical values with the experimental ones, the uncertainties in the INDO parametrization scheme lead to overestimation of certain coupling constants. The calculations also show that the orientation of the coupled protons with respect to the substituent halogen atom is an important factor to be considered.     

Electron impact excitation of hydrogen and helium in Coulomb-projected Born methods

Coulomb-projected Born methods for the theoretical study of electron impact excitation of hydrogen and helium are reviewed. The results obtained by using different forms of Coulomb-projected Born methods are compared with other theoretical and experimental results and analyzed. The inadequacy of the variable charge Coulomb-projected Born approximation (VCCPB)—the most recent form of the Coulomb-projected Born methods—in giving good results in processes where exchange is dominant is discussed in detail. The ‘modified’ VCCPB approximation obtained by modifying the VCCPB method to remove its shortcomings is also discussed and its application to electron impact excitation of 2³ s state of helium is studied.     

Measurement of the bremsstrahlung spectra generated from thick targets with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>=2–78 under the impact of 10 keV electrons

We present new experimental data on thick target bremsstrahlung spectra generated from the interaction of energetic electrons with bulk matter. The ‘photon yields’ in terms of double differential cross-sections (DDCS) are measured for pure elements of thick targets: Ti (Z = 22), Ag (Z = 47), W (Z = 74) and Pt (Z = 78) under the impact of 10 keV electrons. Comparison of DDCS obtained from the experimental data is made with those predicted by Monte-Carlo (MC) calculations using PENELOPE code. A close agreement between the experimental data and the MC calculations is found for all the four targets within the experimental error of 16%. Furthermore, the ratios of DDCS of bremsstrahlung photons emitted from Ag, W and Pt with those from Ti as a function of photon energy are examined with a relatively lower uncertainty of about 10% and they are compared with MC calculations. A satisfactory agreement is found between the experiment and the calculations within some normalizing factors. The variations of DDCS as a function of Z and of photon energy are also studied which show that the DDCS vary closely with Z; however, some deviations are observed for ‘tip’ photons emitted from high Z targets.     

Long-range Coulomb forces in DIS: missed radiative corrections?

The Born approximation, one photon exchange, used for DIS (deep inelastic scattering) is subject to virtual radiative corrections which are related to the long-range Coulomb forces. They may be sizeable for heavy nuclei since Zα is not a small parameter. So far, these corrections are known only for two processes, elastic scattering and bremsstrahlung on the Coulomb field of a point-like target. While the former amplitude acquires only a phase, in the latter case also the cross-section is modified. Although the problem of Coulomb corrections for DIS on nuclei is extremely difficult, it should be challenged rather than “swept under the carpet”. The importance of these radiative corrections is questioned in the present paper. We show that, in the simplest case of a constant hadronic current, the Coulomb corrections provide a phase to the Born amplitude, therefore the cross-section remains the same. Inclusion of more realistic hadronic dynamics changes this conclusion. The example of coherent production of vector mesons off nuclei reveals large effects. So far a little progress has been made deriving lepton wave functions in the Coulomb field of an extended target. Employing available results based on the first-order approximation in Zα, we conclude that the Coulomb corrections are still important for heavy nuclei. We also consider an alternative approach for extended nuclear targets, the eikonal approximation, which we demonstrate to reproduce the known exact results for Coulomb corrections. Calculating electroproduction of vector mesons, we again arrive at a large deviation from the Born approximation. We conclude that one should accept with caution the experimental results for nuclear effects in DIS based on analyses done in the Born approximation. Received: 16 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 July 2001     

Conformal invariance and scalar-tensor theories

A new generalisation of Einstein’s theory is proposed which is invariant under conformal mappings. Two scalar fields are introduced in addition to the metric tensor field, so that two special choices of gauge are available for physical interpretation, the ‘Einstein gauge’ and the ‘atomic gauge’. The theory is not unique but contains two adjustable parameters ζ anda. Witha=1 the theory viewed from the atomic gauge is Brans-Dicke theory (ω=−3/2+ζ/4). Any other choice ofa leads to a creation-field theory. In particular the theory given by the choicea=−3 possesses a cosmological solution satisfying Dirac’s ‘large numbers’ hypothesis.     

Electron impact double ionization of Mg+ ions

Theoretical studies of electron impact double ionisation cross sections of Mg⁺ ions have been performed in the binary encounter approximation (BEA). Direct double ionisation has been investigated in the modified double binary encounter model. Ionization cross sections of different shells have been also calculated in order to analyse the contributions to double ionisation from ionisation-autoionization. The effect of the Coulombic field of the target ion on the incident electron has been considered in the present work. Accurate expression of σ _ΔE (cross-section for energy transfer ΔE) and Hartree-Fock velocity distributions for the target electrons have been used throughout the calculations. The theoretical results show satisfactory agreement with the experimental observations.     

Some comments on the Coriolis attenuation problem

To explore the Coriolis attenuation problem we have carried out a schematici _13/2 rotor plus single quasi-particle band-mixing calculation. The results reveal that the calculations are largely insensitive towards the location of the Fermi energy near the low-K single particle states only, and therefore are incapable of taking into account the transition from ‘full’ decoupling to ‘partial’ decoupling as the Fermi level is increased. We trace the possible reasons for this insensitivity and find that this may be primarily due to thebcs approximation for calculating the quasiparticle energies.     

Nonresonant muon pair production in electron-positron annihilation in the field of light wave

In the frame of the Born approximation it was theoretically investigated nonresonant muon pair production in e ⁺ e ⁻ collision in the field of elliptically polarized electromagnetic wave in the general relativistic case. It was analyzed in detail the reaction kinematics. It was derived the expressions for the amplitude and the cross section of the nonresonant muon pair production in e ⁺ e ⁻ annihilation in the moderately strong field. It was demonstrated that the partial cross-section is factorized as a product of the cross section of the muon pair production from e ⁺ e ⁻ pair in the absence of the external field and the probability of emission and absorption of photons from the wave. Original Text ? Astro, Ltd., 2009. The article is published in the original.     

Laser-induced periodic surface structures on different poly-carbonate films

Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were generated on oriented and amorphous thick, as well as on spin-coated thin, poly-carbonate films by polarized ArF excimer laser light. The influence of the film structure and thickness on the LIPSS formation was demonstrated. Below a critical thickness of the spin-coated films the line-shaped structures transformed into droplets. This droplet formation was explained by the laser-induced melting across the whole film thickness and subsequent de-wetting on the substrate. The thickness of the layer melted by laser illumination was computed by a heat-conduction model. Very good agreement with the critical thickness for spin-coated films was found. The original polymer film structure influences the index of refraction of the thin upper layer modified by the laser treatment, as was proven by the dependence of the structure’s period on the angle of incidence both for ‘s’- and ‘p’-polarized beams. The effect of the original surface roughness – grains in thick films or holes in thin films – was studied using atomic force microscopy. It was shown that the oblique incidence of ‘s’-polarized beams results in an intensity confinement in the direction of the forward scattering and in asymmetrical interference pattern formation around these irregularities. A new, two-dimensional grating-like structure was generated on spin-coated films. These gratings might be used as a special kind of mask. Received: 10 July 2001 / Accepted: 23 July 2001 / Published online: 30 August 2001     

The many faces of <Emphasis Type="Italic">nano</Emphasis> in newspaper reporting

The morpheme nano in languages such as Swedish and English is a constituent of many words. This article linguistically analyses the meaning potential of nano by focusing on word use in a Swedish newspaper corpus comprising 2,564 articles (1.6 million words) covering a 22-year period (1988–2010). Close to 400 word forms having nano as a constituent have been identified and analyzed. The results suggest that nano covers a broad and heterogeneous conceptual field: (i) as a prefix of the SI system; (ii) in relation to the scientific activities of nanoscience and nanotechnology, including their sub-processes and actors; and (iii) in relation to objects. The identified meanings of nano, besides the standard definition (i.e. ‘billionth part’ in relation to SI units), are ‘operating at the nanometre level’ in relation to activities and their actors and ‘nanometre sized’ and ‘nanotechnological’ in relation to objects; in addition, the less precise and non-technical meaning ‘very small’ is identified. We discuss the implications of the findings for a hypothesis about media influence on public understanding of technology, suggesting that repeated findings in Europe and the USA of little self-reported understanding and knowledge of nanotechnology or nanoscience among the public make sense in light of the polysemy of nano reflected in its broad variety of verbal forms and usages.     

Bulk viscous cosmology in early Universe

The effect of bulk viscosity on the early evolution of Universe for a spatially homogeneous and isotropic Robertson-Walker model is considered. Einstein’s field equations are solved by using ‘gamma-law’ equation of state p = (γ − 1)ρ, where the adiabatic parameter gamma (γ) depends on the scale factor of the model. The ‘gamma’ function is defined in such a way that it describes a unified solution of early evolution of the Universe for inflationary and radiation-dominated phases. The fluid has only bulk viscous term and the coefficient of bulk viscosity is taken to be proportional to some power function of the energy density. The complete general solutions have been given through three cases. For flat space, power-law as well as exponential solutions are found. The problem of how the introduction of viscosity affects the appearance of singularity, is briefly discussed in particular solutions. The deceleration parameter has a freedom to vary with the scale factor of the model, which describes the accelerating expansion of the Universe.      

Spin observables of the NN interaction in a relativistic harmonic model with confined gluons and mesons

Polarization observables for the nucleon-nucleon (NN) scattering are investigated in the frame work of relativistic harmonic model belowE _lab=250 MeV, with the inclusion of theσ andπ meson exchange. The results can be interpreted as the ‘Cheshire cat principle’ of NN interaction.     

Estimates of electron-positron pair production in the interaction of high-power laser radiation with high-Z targets

Electron-positron production processes occurring in the interaction of 10¹⁸–10²⁰ W/cm² laser radiation with high-Z targets are examined. Computational results are presented for the pair production and the positron yield from the target with allowance for the contribution of pair production processes due to electrons and bremsstrahlung photons. Monte Carlo simulations using the PRIZMA code confirm the estimates obtained. The possible positron yield from high-Z targets irradiated with 10²–10³ TW laser radiation is estimated to be 10⁹–10¹¹. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 4, 239–244 (25 February 1998)     

Local field distribution revisited in the light of percolation model of spin glass transition

The existence of a ‘hole’ in the local field distributionP(H) in canonical spin glasses is proved in the framework of Mookerjee and Chowdhury’s percolation model of spin glass transition.     

Total and ionization cross-sections of N<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CO by positron impact: Theoretical investigations

In this paper we report our calculations on several important total cross-sections (TCSs) of positron impact on isoelectronic N₂ and CO molecules, treated in the complex spherical potential formalism. Basically the total (complete) cross-section Q _T consists of elastic and inelastic contributions. Our total inelastic cross-section (Q _inel) contains ionization and electronic excitations together with positronium formation. Our goal here is to bifurcate Q _inel further to deduce total ionization cross-section, using the ‘complex scattering potential–ionization contribution’ (CSP-ic) method of electron–atom/molecule scattering. The present range of positron energy is 15–2000 eV. All the resulting cross-sections are in a good general accord with the existing data. This work highlights the importance of various scattering channels in e⁺-N₂ and e⁺-CO interactions at intermediate and high energies.     

Interplay of superconductivity and magnetism in presence of inter sub-lattice effect in cuprates

In the present communication, we report a model Hamiltonian to study the interplay between the two long range orders of anti-ferromagnetism (AFM) and superconductivity (SC) in cuprate superconductors in presence of the intersite pairing effect. The BCS type but non-phonon pairing mechanism is considered among the electrons of two equivalent ‘Cu’ sites. The pairing among the electrons of two nearest neighbour non-equivalent ‘Cu’ sites is included in the Hamiltonian and its effect on the interplay of SC and AFM is investigated. The Hamiltonian is solved by the Green’s function method and the corresponding gap equations are calculated and solved selfconsistently. The influence of model parameters like AFM coupling (λ), SC couling (λ ₁) and the coupling (λ ₂) for intersite superconducting interactions on the gaps (SC and AFM) are studied numerically and the results are reported.