Electron-muon permutation symmetry and multiplicatively conserved lepton number in gauge theories

The similarity between the weak interactions of electron and muon is extended to the principle that all e and μ interactions in gauge models are invariant under e ↔ μ exchange. This necessitates the existence of two Higgs doublets φ_e and φ_μ, and an extended e ↔ μ permutation invariance. After symmetry-breaking, a multiplicatively conserved “permutation parity” π = ± 1 for all particles naturally emerges, with π_μ = −π_e = 1. The model forbids μ → eγ but predicts e⁻e⁻ → μ⁻μ⁻ mediated by π = −1 Higgs bosons at 10⁻¹¹ times the rate of typical weak cross sections.     

Natural activities of U, Th and K in some Indian building materials

The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K have been determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. The measured activity in the selected building materials ranges from (3.2 to 151.7 Bq/kg), 14 to 63.7 Bq/kg and 24.3 to 121.5 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K respectively. The activity concentration of ²³⁸U has been determined using fission track technique and the value ranges from 0.11 to 3.85 ppm. The concentrations for these natural radionuclides are compared with the reported data from other countries. Radium-equivalent activities (Ra_eq) are calculated for the measured samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these materials in the construction of dwellings. All building materials have shown Ra_eq activities lower than the limit set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report (370 Bq/kg), equivalent to external gamma dose of 1.5 mSvyr⁻¹. A good correlation has been observed between ²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra in these materials.     

Quadrupole interactions in pionic and muonic tantalum and rhenium

The hyperfine splitting of pionic and muonic X-rays in natural Re has been studied using the known ratio (accurate to 1.6 parts in 10⁵) of the quadrupole moments of the two naturally occurring ¹⁸⁵Re and ¹⁸⁷Re isotopes. From the hyperfine splitting of the ⁵g → 4f and 4f → 3d pionic X-rays the effective quadrupole hyperfine constants were determined to be ¹⁸⁷A₂^eff(4f) = 1.163 ± 0.010 keV and ¹⁸⁷A₂^eff(3d) = 5.39 ± 0.63 keV, giving strong interaction quadrupole shifts ₂(4f) = 46 ± 10 eV and ₂(3d) = 1.3 ± 0.6 keV. The strong interaction monopole shifts ₀ and widths Γ₀ of the 5g, 4f and 3d levels have also been measured. For the two higher orbits, standard optical-potential calculations fit the measured shifts and widths quite well. The observed deeper-lying 3d state, however, has shifts and widths that differ by a factor of 2 or more from the predictions. From the measured quadrupole hyperfine constants of the 4f level we calculate the spectroscopic quadrupole moments to be ¹⁸⁷Q^μ(gm) = 2.09 ± 0.04 b, ¹⁸⁷Q^π = 2.07 ± 0.02 b, ¹⁸⁵Q^μ = 2.21 ± 0.04 b, and ¹⁸⁵Q^π = 2.1 addition, muonic X-rays from ¹⁸¹Ta were observed; using the same methods for determining the quadrupole moment as above, a value of ¹⁸¹Q^μ = 3.28 ± 0.06 b was obtained, in good agreement with earlier published data.     

Neutron fluences and dose equivalents measured with passive detectors on LDEF

Neutron fluences were measured on LDEF in the low energy (< 1 MeV) and high energy (> 1 MeV) ranges. The low energy detectors used the ⁶Li(n,)T reaction with Gd foil absorbers to separate thermal (< 0.2 eV) and resonance (0.2 eV−1 MeV) neutron response. High energy detectors contained sets of fission foils (¹⁸¹Ta, ²⁰⁹Bi, ²³²Th, ²³⁸U) with different neutron energy thresholds. The measured neutron fluences together with predicted spectral shapes were used to estimate neutron dose equivalents. The detectors were located in the A0015 and P0006 experiments at the west and Earth sides of LDEF under shielding varying from 1 to 19 g/cm².

Dose equivalent rates varied from 0.8 to 3.3 μSv/d for the low energy neutrons and from 160 to 390 μSv/d for the high energy neutrons. This compares with TLD measured absorbed dose rates in the range of 1000–3000 μGy/d near these locations and demonstrates that high energy neutrons contribute a significant fraction of the total dose equivalent in LEO.

Comparisons between measurements and calculations were made for high energy neutrons based on fission fragment tracks generated by fission foils at different shielding depths. A simple 1-D slab geometry was used in the calculations. Agreement between measurements and calculations depended on both shielding depth and threshold energy of the fission foils. Differences increased as both shielding and thereshold energy increased. The modeled proton/neutron spectra appeared deficient at high energies. A 3-D model of the experiments is needed to help resolve the differences.     

Properties of the proposed τ charged lepton

The anomalous eμ and 2-prong μx events produced in e⁺e⁻ annihilation are used to determine the properties of the proposed τ charged lepton. We find the τ mass is 1.90 ± 0.10 GeV/c²; the mass of the associated neutrino, ν_τ, is less than 0.6 GeV/c² with 95% confidence; V - A coupling is favored over V + A coupling for the τ − ν_τ current; and the leptonic branching ratios are 0.186 ± 0.010 ± 0.028 from the eμ events and 0.175 ± 0.027 ± 0.030 from the μx events where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.     

Escape of charged particles at stopping annihilation of antiprotons in the heavy nuclei of nuclear photoemulsion

“Rare” annihilation channels for antiprotons stopping on heavy (Ag, Br) nuclei of photoemulsion, have been sought; 4872 stops of antiprotons on photoemulsion nuclei are analysed. Events of formation and decay of the hyperfragment _Λ⁴H, escape of ⁸He and ⁸Li nuclei, one-prong stars with the mean range 79.5±5.1 μm of secondary slow “b” particles are found among the annihilation stars at capture on nuclei (Ag, Br). The lower limits for the production probability of _Λ⁴H and ⁸He, ⁸Li nuclei per antiproton stopping in the nuclei (Ag, Br) are

W_Λ⁴H2×10⁻⁴ and W_⁸He,⁸Li=(1.3±0.6)×10⁻³.

The branching ratio for the production of one-prong stars with the secondary “b” particles is at least (1.3±0.6)×10⁻³. Possible mechanisms for a production of these events in annihilation processes are considered.     

Magnetic moment of the Δ (1232) resonance

The reaction γp → π^°γ′p has been measured with the TAPS BaF₂ calorimeter at the Mainz Microtron accelerator facility MAMI for energies between √2 = 1221–1331 MeV. Cross sections differential in angle and energy have been determined for the photon γ′ in three bins of the excitation energy. This reaction channel provides access to the magnetic dipole moment of the Δ⁺(1232) resonance and, for the first time, a value of μ_Δ+ = (2.7^+1.0_−1.3(stat) ± 1.5(syst) ± (theor)) π_N has been extracted.     

Reaction filters. Charged-particle multiplicity and linear momentum transfer

The relation between charged-particle multiplicity and linear momentum transfer to heavy reaction residues has been investigated with a 4π charged-particle detector for the reactions ³⁶Ar+²³⁸U at E/A=35 MeV and ¹⁴N+²³⁸U at E/A=50 MeV. The multiplicity of charged particles at backward angles (θ > 35°) incrreases linear momentum transfer while the multiplicity of charged particles in the forward direction is almost independent of the linear momentum transfer.     

Measurement of the average polarization of B produced by polarized muons in the μ + C → νμ + B reaction

The average polarization of ¹²B produced by the capture of polarized muons in ¹²C has been measured using recoil implantation techniques. From the result we deduce the average polarization of the ¹²B ground state ¹²B(0) corresponding to the ¹²C → ¹²B(0) Gamow-Teller reaction: J_μ(0) = 0.43 ± 0.10. The sizeable deviation of this polarization from the value of 2/3, characteristic of a “bare” 0⁺ → 1⁺ process, is a fair evidence for induced axial-vector interaction(s) in muon capture. The ratio of the induced pseudoscalar and the axial-vector coupling constants is deduced to be: g^μ_P/g^μ_A = 12 ± 5.     

Reconciling cold dark matter with COBE/IRAS plus solar and atmospheric neutrino data

We present a model where an unstable MeV Majorana tau neutrino can naturally reconcile the cold dark matter model (CDM) with cosmological observations of large and small scale density fluctuations and, simultaneously, with data on solar and atmospheric neutrinos. The solar neutrino deficit is explained through long wavelength, so-called just-so oscillations involving conversions of ν_e into both ν_μ and a sterile species ν_s , while atmospheric neutrino data are explained through ν_μ to ν_e conversions. Future long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, as well as some reactor experiments will test this hypothesis. The model is based on the spontaneous violation of a global lepton number symmetry at the weak scale. This symmetry plays a key role in generating the cosmologically required decay of the ν_τ with lifetime τ_ντ ≈ 10²-10⁴ seconds, as well as the masses and oscillations of the three light neutrinos ν_e, ν_μ and ν_s required in order to account for solar and atmospheric neutrino data. It also leads to the invisibly decaying Higgs signature that can be searched at LEP and future particle colliders.     

Experimental study of the time-dependent rate of K → πππ

The time-dependence of the decay rate of initially pure K⁰ into the final state (π⁺π⁻π⁰) has been studied in search for the decay k_S⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰. No evidence is found in a sample of 384 observed events. The ratio of the CP -violating K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is η₊₋₀ = (0.13_−0.20^+0.17) + i(0.17_−0.26^+0.27); the ratio of the CP-conserving K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is < 0.4. The energy dependence of the K⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰ matrix element is found to be a₊₋₀ = −0.31 ± 0.03.     

New isomeric states in Fr and At

Alpha spectroscopic data from the decay chain ²¹⁸Fr → ²¹⁴At → ²¹⁰Bi have been obtained. Previously unobserved isomeric states were found in both ²¹⁸Fr and ²¹⁴At. The half-life of the ground state of ²¹⁸Fr was measured to be 1.3^+0.5 _−0.4 ms. The half-life of the new isomeric state in ²¹⁸Fr was determined to be 22.0±0.5 ms and its decay was found to be very complex with no fewer than 20 -groups varying in energy between 6837 keV and 7952 keV. Two long-lived states in ²¹⁴At with half-lives of 558±10 ns and 760±15 ns, respectively, were found to be strongly populated in the decay of ^218mFr. These two states are proposed to be a 1⁻ ground state and a 9⁻ isomeric state arising from the coupling between the unpaired h_9/2 proton and g_9/2 neutron.     

Mass and CKM matrices of quarks and leptons, the leptonic CP-phase in neutrino oscillations

A general approach for construction of quark and lepton mass matrices is formulated. The hierarchy of quarks and charged leptons (“electrons”) is large, it leads using the experimental values of mixing angles to the hierarchical mass matrix slightly deviating from the ones suggested earlier by Stech and including naturally the CP-phase.

The same method based on the rotation of generation numbers in the diagonal mass matrix is used in the electron–neutrino sector of theory, where neutrino mass matrix is determined by the Majorano see-saw approach. The hierarchy of neutrino masses, much smaller than for quarks, was used including all existing (even preliminary) experimental data on neutrino mixing.

The leptonic mass matrix found in this way includes the unknown value of the leptonic CP-phase. It leads to large ν_μν_τ oscillations and suppresses the ν_eν_τ and also ν_eν_μ oscillations. The explicit expressions for the probabilities of neutrino oscillation were obtained in order to specify the role of leptonic CP-phase. The value of time reversal effect (proportional to sin δ′) was found to be small 1%. However, a dependence of the values of ν_eν_μ,ν_eν_τ transition probabilities, averaged over oscillations, on the leptonic CP-phase has found to be not small – of order of ten percent.     

The Bi(d,γ)Po reaction

The yield of the ²⁰⁹Bi(d, γ)^211g.s.Po and ^211mPo (T_1/2 = 25.2s) reaction was measured for deuteron energies E_d = 8–11.5 MeV. The reaction was identified by the -activities of the Po isotope. At E_d = 10.43 MeV, the (d, γ) cross section for the population of the ground state of ²¹¹Po is σ_g.s. = 16 ± 3 μb, the ratio relative to the cross section for the metastable state is σ_g.s./σ_m = 25.4 ± 0.9. These values and the yield curves were compared with calculations using a simple model for the population of the two states. In the excitation region E* = 15–19 MeV, the branching ratio of γ- to particle emission is nearly constant and has a value of about 0.4 × 10⁻⁴.     

Cosmic history of the Bragin pallasite: evidence from the fission-track analysis

Chronology is rather a weak point in the investigation of pallasites, the stony-iron meteorites. No chronological data are known for the Bragin pallasite. Our attempt to reconstruct its cosmic history was based on the interpretation of fission-track analysis data. To apply this method only uranium-rich phosphates can be used. Extremely rare grains of stanfieldite were extracted from the silicate sawing residue and from the pallasite sample directly.

The researches pursued by us made it possible to find two populations of fossil tracks in stanfieldite grains. The tracks of these populations strongly differed both in size, shape and character of distribution. The first population, consisting of short (L2–6 μm instead of L8–12 μm for induced fission tracks), round-shaped tracks irregularly distributed, as we suppose, suffered an intense heating process, which caused a significant amount of partial annealing. The second population, consisting of longer (L8–12 μm), rhombic-shaped tracks homogeneously distributed, occurred after this thermal event. Only the second population track density was used for the fission-track age calculation.

After correction of the fossil track density, consisting of the second population tracks, for other possible track sources, the revealed tracks were unequivocally identified as those due to the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁴Pu and ²³⁸U. The largest part of them was attributed to the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁴Pu; ρ_Pu/ρ_U≈3. The model fission-track age of the studied pallasite turned out to be 4.20 Gyr. This value fix the time of the last shock/thermal event in the cosmic history of the Bragin pallasite, which had caused the partial annealing of tracks presented to that time and “fission-track clock” reset.     

The influence of fission on the fragmentation of relativistic Pb and U projectiles in peripheral collisions

The projectile fragmentation in peripheral nuclear collisions was studied using ≈ 1 GeV·A of ²⁰⁸Pb and ²³⁸U from the SIS at GSI, impinging on a copper target. Lead and thallium isotopes from the fragmentation of ²⁰⁸Pb as well as uranium and protactinium isotopes from ²³⁸U, were selected by the fragment separator FRS. In contrast to the fragmentation of ²⁰⁸Pb, the cross sections for the production of heavy fragments from ²³⁸U are strongly reduced by fission. The measured isotopic yields may be explained quantitatively by calculations in the framework of the abrasion-ablation model, if fission is allowed to compete with particle evaporation in the deexcitation of the prefragments.     

Magnetism and hyperfine interactions of Fe, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er and Yb in RM4Al8 compounds (R = rare earth or Y, M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu)

Mössbauer and magnetic susceptibility studies of sixty tetragonal RM₄Al₈ compounds (R = 4f, M = 3d element), show a wide variety of magnetic phenomena in the behaviour of 3d transition elements. The rare earths order antiferromagnetically at temperatures below 10–30 K in all compounds. The 3d elements, however, all behave differently. Fe in RFe₄Al₈ has a localized moment (effective moment of 4.4 _μB) and orders independently of the rare earth sublattice. Mn in RMn₄Al₈ has also a localized moment (1 _μB) but orders only when the rare earths order. Cr in RCr₄Al₈ has no moment of its own, but it has an induced moment (.1 _μB) by its magnetic rare earth neighbours. Cu in RCu₄Al₈ is nonmagnetic. The Mössbauer studies of ¹⁵¹Eu, ¹⁵⁵Gd, ¹⁶¹Dy, ¹⁶⁶Er, ¹⁷⁰Yb and a ⁵⁷Fe probe yield all hyperfine interaction parameters including the orientation of the hyperfine field relative to the crystallographic c-axis. In addition, the studies yield the Ce, Eu and Yb valencies in the various compounds. Eu in EuFe₄Al₈ and in EuMn₄Al₈ and Yb in YbCr₄Al₈ are in a mixed valent state.     

Light Dirac neutrinos in left-right symmetric and horizontal gauge models

We describe a scheme to generate light Dirac neutrinos. It uses a heavy symmetry-breaking scale to avoid introducing very small couplings or vacuum expectation values. We show how the scheme can be applied to left-right symmetric and to horizontal gauge models with four generations of fermions. In these models neutrino oscillations occur only between pairs of generations (e.g. ν_e−ν_τ oscillations can occur with no ν_μ−ν_e or ν_μ−ν_τ oscillations).     

Pionic K X-rays in liquid He

Energies and lorentzian widths of pionic K X-ray transitions have been measured in liquid ³He with improved accuracy. The strong interaction on the π³He 1s level is found to be attractive and to produce an increase in the K transition energies of 34 ± 4 eV; the measured lorentzian width is 36 ±7 eV. Measured values are also presented for K X-ray energies in liquid π⁴He and μ⁴He, the lorentzian width of the 1s level in π⁴He, and relative intensities of K X-ray transitions in π³He, π⁴He and μ⁴He. The measurements are compared with those of others and with recent theoretical calculations.