Search for pair-produced neutralinos in events with photons and missing energy from e+e- collisions at ?s = 130 - 183\sqrt s = 130 - 183 GeV

The events with two photons and missing (transverse) energy collected by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies between 130 GeV and 183 GeV have been studied to search for processes of the type e⁺e^- → YY with the subsequent decay Y → X7, where X is an undetectable neutral particle. Reactions of this kind are expected in supersymmetric models, where the Y particle can be either the lightest neutralino, decaying to a photon and a gravitino, or the next-to-lightest neutralino, decaying to a photon and the lightest neutralino. To study the case of long-lived Y particles, a search for single-photon events with the reconstructed photon axis pointing far from the beam interaction region has also been performed. No evidence for a deviation from Standard Model expectations has been observed in the data and upper limits have been derived on the signal cross-section as a function of the the X and Y masses and of the Y mean decay path.     

Investigation of the nuclear quadrupole interaction in ZnO by the method of perturbed angular correlations of nuclear radiations

It has been demonstrated that the sign and magnitude of the nuclear quadrupole interaction in ZnO can be determined using perturbed angular correlations of nuclear radiations. Information on the magnitude of the nuclear quadrupole interaction for the 184-keV ⁶⁷Zn level can be obtained from the observation of the gamma-gamma perturbed correlation of the directions for the ⁶⁷Ga → ⁶⁷Zn decay, and information on the magnitude and sign of the nuclear quadrupole interaction can be derived from the experiment on the induced beta-gamma correlation of the directions for the ⁶⁷Cu $ \xrightarrow{{\beta ^ - }} $ \xrightarrow{{\beta ^ - }} ⁶⁷Zn decay. The results of measurements have been interpreted using the calculation of the electric field gradient in the ZnO crystal by the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method with the generalized gradient approximation of the exchange-correlation potential.     

On the decay of hot metallic clusters by evaporation

Starting from the Weisskopf theory decay rates for the evaporation of cluster atoms from hot liquid alkali metal clusters are derived. The crucial input quantity is the level density which is determined from empirical properties of the bulk, namely from the specific heat and the thermal expansion coefficient. The resulting rate expression is compared with decay rate formulas given by Engelking, Klots and Gspann. Furthermore, critical (appearance) sizes of multiply charged clusters are calculated by equating the rates for neutral monomer and light charged particle emission. Also shrinking and cooling rates of large hot clusters are determined by treating multiple emission of cluster atoms, thus establishing a time scale for the decay of clusters theoretically.     

Dominance of α decay from the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance in 16O

The charged particle (c) decay of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance in a ¹⁶O has been studied in a ¹⁶O(α,α'c) coincidence experiment at E_α=155 MeV. The J=2 character of this resonance was established by angular correaltion measurements. Its dominant decay proceeds through the α₁ channel which contains about 40% of the E2 energy weighted sum rule. This explains difficulties of capture reactions to locate the GQR.     

Nonsecular contribution to the decay of spin-echo signals of quadrupolar nuclei in magnetically ordered materials

We analyze the influence of fluctuations of the nonsecular part of the spin Hamiltonian on the decay of ordinary and multiquantum signals of the two-pulse spin echo in a quadrupole spin system with an inhomogeneously broadened spectral line. Expressions are obtained for the rate of decay of an echo in the case of selective excitation of a signal from quadrupole nuclei with arbitrary spin. These expressions are then used to analyze the experimentally observed ordinary and multiquantum echo signals from quadrupole nuclei with spin I=3/2 (⁵³Cr, ⁶³Cu, and ⁶⁵Cu) in ferromagnetic chromium chalcogenide spinels. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 204–216 (July 1999)     

Bremsstrahlung in alpha decay reexamined

A high-statistics measurement of bremsstrahlung emitted in the alpha decay of (210)Po has been performed, which allows us to follow the photon spectra up to energies of approximately 500 keV. The measured differential emission probability is in good agreement with our theoretical results obtained within the quasiclassical approximation as well as with the exact quantum mechanical calculation. It is shown that, due to the small effective electric dipole charge of the radiating system, a significant interference between the electric dipole and quadrupole contributions occurs, which is altering substantially the angular correlation between the alpha particle and the emitted photon.     

Dynamic fluctuation electromagnetic interaction of a nonrelativistic quadrupole particle with a flat surface

Within the framework of the nonrelativistic fluctuation electromagnetic theory, relationships for the quadrupole-quadrupole contribution to the tangential and normal components of the force acting on a particle moving parallel to the polarizing surface are derived for the first time. Consideration is given to the cases when the particle possesses a permanent quadrupole moment or a fluctuation quadrupole moment and the surface is characterized by a local dielectric function.     

Dynamic electronic after-effects of nuclear decay in Mössbauer resonances

A theory has been constructed for the effect of a decaying atomic state on the Mössbauer line shapes. A most general case has been considered in which the nucleus interacts with its surroundings via electric monopole as well as electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole coupling, and the decay of the excited atomic state results in a change in the direction of the quantization axis.     

Electronic structure and indirect spin-spin interactions in bournonite (CuPbSbS3) according to antimony nuclear quadrupole resonance

A complex sulfide CuPbSbS₃ (bournonite) has been studied by the nuclear quadrupole resonance on ^121,123Sb. The temperature dependences of the spectroscopic and relaxation parameters in the temperature range of 10–295 K have been obtained. The crystallochemical features of the environment of the two non-equivalent Sb positions in the unit cell have been revealed from the nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra. The existence of the lattice vibrations with the frequency ω = 110 cm^?1 has been demonstrated on the basis of the temperature dependence of the nuclear quadrupole resonance frequencies. Slow beats have been observed on the decay curve of the spin echo signal. Experimental data have been analyzed in order to reveal the existence of the indirect spin-spin interactions involving Sb atoms. The indirect spin-spin coupling constant has been estimated as J = 2.5 ± 0.5 kHz.     

1 and 2-Photon Fluorescence Anisotropy Decay to Probe the Kinetic and Structural Evolution of Sol-Gel Glasses: A Summary

We review recent 1- and 2-photon fluorescence studies of the formation dynamics and structure of sol-gel glasses, from nanometre-sized particles to clusters, prepared from both aqueous silicates and tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), over a broad pH range. Through the careful choice of a fluorescent probe, anisotropy decay has been shown to provide both silica particle size and viscosity information and offers advantages over traditional techniques for silica particle sizing based on small-angle neutron, Xray, or light scattering. Subsequently, we are now able to observe the self-assembly mechanisms (or recently termed kinetic life history) of silica, produced under both acidic and alkaline conditions from sodium silicate solution (water glass) in the case of hydrogels and from alkoxides in the case of alcogels. The controlled preparation of hydrogels, often deemed a blackart, is also discussed in some detail, as are the potential applications and benefits of fluorescence anisotropy decay to industrial sol-gel systems. The insight into the sol-gel process provided by these new interpretations of fluorescence decay data, promises to have implications for both our fundamental understanding and the production of sol-gel systems in general.     

Dynamic Dust Particle Confinement in Corona Discharge Plasma

Usually electrostatic fields created by electrodes of the trap are used for dust particle confinement in plasma devices. In this work the possibility of the dust particle confinement by electrodynamic fields is investigated for improved quadrupole traps. The behavior of dust particles is simulated by Brownian dynamics. Dust particle parameters and parameters of the traps needed for dust particle confinement have been obtained (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Interaction of electrons and molecules with a single trapped nanoparticle

Highresolution nanoparticle mass spectrometry (NPMS) is used to study the interaction of electrons and molecules with the surface of a single, isolated particle stored in a three-dimensional quadrupole trap over weeks. IR-laser heating is employed as a fast temperature control. The kinetics of adsorption and desorption of molecules is studied for a 500-nm-diameter SiO₂ particle. A C₆₀ multilayer film has been prepared during online NPMS monitoring. Emission probabilities for secondary electrons are determined for a bare particle and a particle with a 40-nm-thick layer of C₆₀. From the molecular desorption rates (fg/h) at constant temperature binding energies of multilayer 1.47-eV and submonolayer 1.53-eV C₆₀ have been determined. Future perspectives of this new surface-science technique are discussed. PACS 68.43.Mn; 81.15.Ef; 81.70.Pg; 81.70.Fy     

On the decay of compound nuclei following alpha-particle and12C induced reactions

Multiple coincidence rates have been measured using a detector system consisting of a Ge(Li) spectrometer and eight NaI(Tl) or eight liquid scintillators. Reactions induced byα-particles with energies of 51–55 MeV and 118 MeV¹²C ions are studied. The data are analysed to give the first and second central moments of the distribution of the number ofγ-rays feeding individual levels in the final nuclei. When these numbers are compared to spin distributions calculated with the statistical model code GROGI the relative importance of dipole and quadrupole deexcitation modes can be ascertained. In particular, in the¹²²Te(α, 4n)¹²²Xe reaction theγ-decay prior to the entry into the ground band is well described as a statistical process proceeding to 50% by dipole and 50% by quadrupole radiation. In the¹⁶⁶Er(α,4n)¹⁶⁶Yb and¹⁹²Os(α,4n)¹⁹²Pt reactions the relative amount of quadrupole radiation is larger and it seems that the dipole and quadrupole decay takes place via separate cascades. In the¹⁶⁴Dy(¹²C, 7-8n) reactions the average multiplicity is independent of spin, suggesting that the nucleus forgets the spin of the entry state before the process enters into the ground band. In the¹⁷⁶Yb(¹²C, 8n)¹⁸⁰Os reaction, finally, the nucleus definitely retains memory of the entry state during the decay. In this last case the multiplicity measurement is combined with aγ-ray singles measurement to give an average excitation energy prior to theα-decay and the average moment of inertia characterising the decay of the high-spin states.     

Angular momentum misalignment in deep inelastic processes and angular distribution of sequentially emitted particles and gamma rays

The angular momentum misalignment for fragments produced in deep inelastic scattering is discussed in terms of the thermal excitation of angular-momentum-bearing modes in the intermediate complex. Analytical expressions for the in- and out-of-plane angular distributions are obtained for sequentially emitted particles and fission fragments. The angular momentum dependence of the ratio between particle and neutron decay widths is explicitly treated and found to be quite important. Similarly angular distributions are obtained both for dipole and quadrupole gamma decay. The theoretical results are compared with experimental angular distributions of sequential fission fragments, sequential alphas and gamma rays, and a good agreement is found.     

Novel isotope effects observed in polarization echo experiments in glasses

In recent years unexpected magnetic field effects have been observed in dielectric measurements on insulating glasses at very low temperatures. Polarization echo experiments have indicated that atomic tunneling systems are responsible for these effects and that the nuclear properties of the tunneling particles are of importance. Subsequently, it was suggested that the magnetic field effects are caused by tunneling systems carrying a nuclear quadrupole moment. Now we have studied the isotope effect in echo experiments on fully deuterated and ordinary glycerol clearly showing the crucial role of the nuclear quadrupole moments for the magnetic field effects. In addition, we have observed a new effect in the decay of spontaneous echoes in zero magnetic field for the deuterated samples which can be explained in terms of a quantum beating involving the quadrupole levels.     

Quadrupole and contact interaction of relativistic particles with the electric field of crystals

The Hamiltonian for the quadrupole and the contact interaction of relativistic particles with an electrostatic field is found. The equation of motion for the particle spin is derived.     

Core polarization effects and giant quadropole resonances in the A ≈ 90 region

The existence, in A ≈ 90 nuclei, of large E2 core polarization effects evident from experimental and shell model fits to decay rates is examined in two independent model calculations: a linearized Hartree-Fock calculation studying the nuclear response function and a macroscopic model involving excitations of giant quadrupole resonances. Both investigations confirm the need for large renormalization of proton and neutron E2 effective charges consistent with the recently discovered isoscalar and isovector giant quadrupole resonances.