Excitation of nuclei by photon beams carrying orbital angular momentum

A drop in the efficiency of nuclear excitation through transitions of high multipolarity is related to the increase in the angular momentum difference between the nuclear states involved in the excitation transition. Such transitions need photons with a high angular momentum. It is well known that photon beams carrying a well-defined and arbitrarily high value of angular momentum about the beam axis can be produced. We discuss some features in the excitation of nuclei with the beams.     

Acousto-optic generation of orbital angular momentum states of light in a tapered optical fiber

We demonstrate an acousto-optic mode converter based on a tapered optical fiber to efficiently generate orbital angular momentum states of light. In our scheme an acoustic wave is deployed to the waist of tapered optical fiber where two degenerate HE₂₁ modes leading to +1 and −1 orbital angular momentum eigen-modes are resonantly excited. The excitation of TM₀₁ and TE₀₁ modes is suppressed by enlarging the intermodal index difference between near-degenerate spatial modes. Numerical calculation for optimization of the taper diameter is provided. The experimental characterization of generated states is performed by analyzing the output far-field pattern and the spatial interference fringes with a uniform reference beam.     

The nonparaxial propagation of the TEM0l doughnut beam with the orbital angular momentum in the far field

The analytical expression for nonparaxial electric field amplitude of the TEM_0l^? doughnut beam with the orbital angular momentum quantum number l is derived in the far field by means of the angular spectrum representation and the stationary phase method. It is shown that the divergent angle of the far field of TEM_0l^? doughnut beam will be smaller with the decreasing of the orbital angular momentum quantum number l or the increasing of the beam waist width w of the initial beam. And the maximal radial intensity of the beam is decreased with its propagation at different rates for different l and w.     

Proton-hole states in 115In observed in the 116Sn(d, 3He) reaction

The ¹¹⁶Sn(d, ³He)¹¹⁵In reaction has been investigated at E_d = 50 MeV. Thirteen transitions to states up to 3 MeV excitation energy were studied. The measured angular distributions were compared with DWBA calculations and transferred angular momenta and spectroscopic factors were deduced. Levels at 1.04, 2.23 and 2.52 MeV were found to be excited most likely by l = 3 angular momentum transfer in contrast to previous investigations at lower incident energies in which no l = 3 transitions have been observed.     

Electric field induced anomalies in frequency shift and collisional perturbations in the 5snd D2 Rydberg series of strontium in a heatpipe setup with ionization detection

We have examined the effect of weak DC electric field (2-20 V/cm) complimented by foreign gas collisions on the bound J = 2 even-parity 5snd ¹D₂ Rydberg states of neutral strontium. We use resonant two-photon transverse excitation, employing a narrow bandwidth tunable dye laser and an atomic jet in a heatpipe setup with ionization detection. In this paper we report certain anomalies in the observed spectra covering principal quantum number range n = 27-42 indicating a frequency shift reversal with nearly quadratic dependence on the field strength above an anti-resonance region. Furthermore, we have observed the emergence of highly localized doubly-excited 4d² states, including a remarkably broad perturber with large angular momentum, uncovering orbital contraction effect. This non-Rydberg excitation, which intrudes upon the two-photon spectrum with large energy overlap is due to single-photon excitations from the 5s5p ¹P₁ resonance level following molecular dissociation of the Sr₂ dimers suitably governed by binary atomic collisions. Our study which involves laser excitation complimented by electric field and collisions using inexpensive home-made setup opens up the possibilities for a new class of experiments, with considerable simplicity in the choice of excitation schemes for both Rydberg and non-Rydberg transitions, to reach states lying at high energies which cannot otherwise be accessed from the ground state due to parity and selection rules, while allowing one to probe localization properties of atomic wave functions.     

On the impact of large amplitude pairing fluctuations on nuclear spectra

The influence of large amplitude pairing fluctuations is investigated in the framework of beyond mean field symmetry conserving configuration mixing calculations. In the numerical application the finite range density dependent Gogny force is used. We investigate the nucleus ⁵⁴Cr with particle number and angular momentum projected wave functions considering the axial quadrupole deformation and the pairing gap degree of freedom as generator coordinates. We find that the effects of the pairing fluctuations increase with the excitation energy and the angular momentum. The self-consistency in the determination of the basis states plays an important role.     

The thermionic double-diode,an efficient detector in excited state laser spectroscopy

We are describing the thermionic double-diode which is a suitable instrument for excited state laser spectroscopy. In comparison to the optogalvanic technique the signal-to-noise ratio was found to be 10²?10³ times better, investigating transitions between excited Sr or Ba states. Combined with its high detection sensitivity the thermionic double-diode presents the possibility of investigating transitions between high angular momentum states. It is demonstrated by studying transitions between Rydberg levels and doubly-excited autoionizing states in Ba. Further advantages are (i) the small strength of the dc electric field and the low electron density in the laser excitation region of the double-diode commending itself for studies of Doppler-free transitions to highly excited states and (ii) the very stable working conditions allowing to vary the pressure and current conditions in the diode in a much wider range than in a discharge.     

The heavy-ion reaction channels of the system 16O + 16O

The reaction channels of the system ¹⁶O + ¹⁶O with outgoing heavy particles from lithium to magnesium have been measured using a ΔE-E telescope. Excitation functions from 49 to 65 MeV at θ_Lab = 30° and angular distributions from θ_Lab = 10° (20°) to 50° at E_Lab = 51.5 MeV are presented for the strong transitions. The excitation function of the ¹²C-²⁰Ne (4.25 MeV) channel shows a pronounced regular cross structure with peaks at 52 and 60 MeV. A selective excitation of certain states in the inelastic scattering and the ¹²C-²⁰Ne channel is observed; the yields of the other heavy-ion channels being weaker by at least one order of magnitude. An explanation of this phenomenon is given by considering the angular momentum matching between entrance and exit channels. Furthermore it is shown that no strong dependence of the cross sections on the transferred angular momentum or on the nuclear structure of the final states is observed. Possible implications of these results on the reaction mechanism are discussed.     

Effect of entrance channel parameters on fission fragment angular momentum in medium energy fission

Independent isomeric yield ratios of¹³²I were radiochemically determined in alpha particle induced fission of²³⁸U in the energy range 25–44 MeV. Fission fragment angular momenta were deduced from the measured isomeric yield ratios using spin dependent statistical model analysis. It was seen that angular momentum of¹³²I increases with increase of excitation energy and angular momentum of the fissioning nucleus. Comparison of the present data on¹³²I in²³⁸U(α,f) with the literature data for the same product in²³⁸U(p, f) and²³⁸U(γ, f) at various excitation energies show that fragment angular momentum strongly depends on the input angular momentum in the range of excitation energy considered. Experimental fragment angular momentum at all excitation energies were seen to be in agreement with the theoretical values calculated based on thermal equilibration of the various collective rotational degrees after considering the occurence of multichance fission. Thus, strong effect of input angular momentum as well as the statistical equilibration among the various collective rotational degrees of freedom in medium energy fission is corroborated.     

Stoßdissoziation von H 2 + - und D 2 + -Ionen

The angular and energy distribution of protons produced by collision-induced dissociations of H ₂ ⁺ ions with energies of 10 and 20 keV were measured in a parabola spectrograph. From these measurements the velocity distribution of the protons in the center of mass system of the H ₂ ⁺ ion can be calculated. This gives information about the type, the abundance, and the anisotropy of the processes involved. The most frequent transitions leading to dissociations are the excitation of the 2pσ_u state, the ionisation of the H ₂ ⁺ ion, the transition into the vibrational continuum, and the electron capture into the 1³ σ _u ⁺ state of the hydrogen. It is shown that the cross section for an electronic transition depends on the velocity of the ion, the distance of the nuclei in the ion, the angle between the internuclear axis and the direction of the primary ion beam, and the excitation energy of the target. The fraction of protons produced by vibrational excitation increases with increasing atomic number of the target. Concerning electronic transitions D ₂ ⁺ ions equal H ₂ ⁺ ions of the same velocity.     

Exclusive (e,e′pp) knockout reactions

Exclusive cross sections of the ¹⁶O(e,e′pp) ¹⁴C knockout reaction are calculated for transitions to the low-lying discrete final states of the residual nucleus. Short-range correlations and two-body currents, due to the excitation of a Δ resonance in the intermediate state, are included in the calculations. Final-state interactions are taken into account by means of phenomenological spin-dependent optical potentials. Recoil-momentum distributions for transitions to states with different angular momentum exhibit different shapes, which are basically determined by the cm orbital angular momentum of the initial proton pair.     

Formation and decay of the compound nucleus studied in the reaction20Ne+27Al

Energy and velocity spectra, angular and mass distributions have been measured for evaporation residue products of the^{20, 22}Ne+²⁷Al system in the energy range ofE _L (²⁰Ne)=51 to 395 MeV and in the angular rangeθ=2° and 30°. Calculations with simple assumptions of the velocity and angular distributions of the evaporation residues are presented and compared to the data. The structure seen in the mass distributions, a competition between α-particle and nucleon evaporation in the deexcitation of the compound nucleus, is described well by calculations with the computer code CASCADE. The evaporation residues exhibit mass distributions varying systematically as a function of the excitation energy. The excitation function of the evaporation residue cross section is compared with theoretical models. At higher incident energies contributions of incomplete momentum transfer (incomplete fusion) are observed. A limitation for complete compound nucleus formation with following light particle evaporation is found.     

Proton radioactivity at non-collective prolate shape in high spin state of Ag

We predict proton radioactivity and structural transitions in high spin state of an excited exotic nucleus near proton drip line in a theoretical framework and investigate the nature and the consequences of the structural transitions on separation energy as a function of temperature and spin. It reveals that the rotation of the excited exotic nucleus ⁹⁴Ag at excitation energies around 6.7 MeV and angular momentum near 21? generates a rarely seen prolate non-collective shape and proton separation energy becomes negative which indicates proton radioactivity in agreement with the experimental results of Mukha et al. for ⁹⁴Ag.     

Multistability of the optical response in a system of quasi-two-dimensional exciton polaritons

The nonlinear dynamic properties of a system of polaritons in a planar semiconductor microcavity under conditions of external coherent photoexcitation have been investigated. It has been shown that the interaction between polaritons with identical projections of the total angular momentum (J _z ) can give rise to multistability of the response of the excited polariton state. As a result, nonequilibrium transitions between different stability branches become possible due to fluctuations or arbitrarily smooth variations of the excitation parameters and occur with abrupt changes in the intensity and optical polarization of the field in the microcavity. It has been demonstrated that a relatively weak attraction between polaritons with opposite total angular momenta J _z leads to a possibility of spontaneously breaking the symmetry of circularly polarized field components in the microcavity under strictly linear (symmetric) polarization conditions of external excitation.     

Nature of the magnetic excitation spectrum in (Sm,Y)S: CEF effects or an exciton?

The dynamic magnetic susceptibility spectrum in a single-crystal sample of the intermediate-valence compound Sm_0.67Y_0.33S is studied by inelastic neutron scattering with neutron momentum transfer and sample temperatures varying over wide ranges. Two coupled collective modes have been found in the spectrum. Unlike the higher energy mode, whose intensity approximately follows the form factor of Sm²⁺, the lower energy mode exhibits a stronger angular dependence than could be expected from the form factor for the localized f electrons. The total intensity of the inelastic component of the magnetic response decreases with increasing temperature; this is accompanied by the appearance of a broad quasi-elastic signal of a magnetic nature at significantly lower temperatures than follows from the calculated intensities of the transitions within the excited multiplet of the Sm²⁺ ion. An analysis of the observed features allows the suggestion to be made that the fine structure of the magnetic excitation spectrum in (Sm,Y)S is associated with the formation of an exciton-like intermediate-valence state on Sm ions rather than with the crystal-electric-field effects.     

The rotational quasi-continuum in specific configurations: high-K states and superdeformation

The analysis of the fluctuations of the counts of unresolved γ-γ energy spectra can extend our knowledge of the rotational motion at high angular momentum and excitation energy above the yrast band. Detailed studies of the rotational quasi-continuum built on specific intrinsic nuclear configurations are here discussed. First, the validity of the K-selection rules in the quasi-continuum region is investigated in the case of the normal deformed nucleus ¹⁶³Er. The γ cascades feeding into low-K and high-K bands are analyzed studying variance and covariance of the spectrum fluctuations. Low-K bands are found to be fed by a much larger effective number of cascades than high-K bands, while the covariance between pairs of gated spectra shows that the cascades feeding into low-K bands are different from those feeding into high-K bands. These findings suggest a persistence of K-selection rules in the region of excitation energy and angular momentum probed by the rotational decay of ¹⁶³Er. As a second case, the existence of a rotational quasi-continuum in the super deformed well of ¹⁴³Eu is discussed. An intense bump of rotationally correlated transitions is observed to develop as function of fold in the high spin region of gated spectra. Fold distribution, angular anisotropies, moment of inertia and life time show that the bump consists of fully damped super deformed transitions. This gives experimental evidence of damped rotational motion up to several MeV excitation energy above the super deformed yrast line.     

Reflection of the light beam carrying orbital angular momentum from a lossy medium

It is shown that after reflection from a lossy medium the s- or p-polarized paraxial light beam carrying the orbital angular momentum suffers the 2D shift of the beam's centre of gravity relative the geometric optic axis. The direction as well as the length of the 2D vector, which describes the shift, change smoothly with the change of the angle of incidence.     

Resonance scattering of electrons from orientated O2 physisorbed on graphite

We have studied inelastic electron scattering from a saturated monolayer of O₂ physisorbed on graphite at 25K. The cross-section for excitation of the v = 0–1 vibrational transition in O₂ peaks at 8.5–9eV, and is attributed to the ⁴Σ_u negative ion resonance. The angular distribution of electrons inelastically ejected out of the resonance orbital has been measured, and is found to peak at 15° from the normal to the crystal for several different incident electron beam angles, in accord with the theory of resonant electron scattering by an orientated molecule. We discuss the implications of this measurement for a determination of the orientation of the O₂ molecule on the surface, taking account of possible multiple scattering effects.     

Ionoluminescence of trivalent rare-earth-doped strontium barium niobate

Ionoluminescence spectra for different rare-earth ion (Pr³⁺ and Eu³⁺)-activated Sr_xBa_1?xNb₂O₆ strontium barium niobate crystals (x=0.33 and 0.60) have been induced with a 3 MeV proton beam for a variety of beam current intensities (45, 40 and 20 nA). The proton-beam induced luminescent spectra have shown features associated with the presence of the rare-earth ion and some spectral features mostly related to the host crystal, which appear only for high beam current intensities. We have compared the ionoluminescence results to those obtained under UV light excitation (photoluminescence technique) where a direct excitation of the band gap would occur.     

Dynamics of laser-cooled Ca+ ions in a Penning trap with a rotating wall

We have performed systematic measurements of the dynamics of laser-cooled ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ions confined in a Penning trap and driven by a rotating dipole field (‘rotating wall’). The trap used is a copy of the one used in the SPECTRAP experiment located at the HITRAP facility at GSI, Germany. The size and shape of the ion cloud has been monitored using a CCD camera to image the fluorescence light resulting from excitation by the cooling laser. We have varied the experimental conditions such as amplitude and frequency of the rotating wall drive as well as the trapping parameters. The rotating wall can be used for a radial compression of the ion cloud thus increasing the ion density in the trap. We have also observed plasma mode excitations in agreement with theoretical expectations. This work will allow us to define the optimum parameters for high compression of the ions as needed for precision spectroscopy of forbidden transitions.