A reanalysis of branching fractions of charmed mesonsD 0,D + andD s +

We combine highly complementary information on branching fractions of charmed mesonsD ⁰,D ⁺ andD _s ⁺ coming from two experiments both yielding doublecharm samples. The NA 32 experiment provided exclusive branching fractions for channels with at least two charged decay products while a recent Mark III paper provides results on inclusive charm decay properties. The knowledge of channels withK ⁰'s in the former is used to recalculate the charged multiplicity distribution in the latter. We obtain 〈n _ch〉=2.25±0.08 forD ⁰, 〈n _ch〉=1.96±0.08 forD ⁺ and 〈n _ch〉=2.41±0.38 forD _s ⁺ . In turn the knowledge of the charged multiplicity improves the overall normalization of exclusive branching fractions. This reanalysis yields model-independent results for charmed mesons. In particular we obtain branching fractions for 16D _s ⁺ decay channels including $$BF(D_s^ + \to \phi \pi ^ + ) = \left( {4.4\begin{array}{*{20}c} { + 2.3} \\ { - 1.8} \\ \end{array} } \right)\% .$$ .     

Production properties ofD 0,D +,D *+ andD s + in 230 GeV/cπ − andK −-Cu interactions

We have studied the hadronic production of charmed mesons in the NA 32 experiment at CERN. A special trigger together with a high resolution vertex detector consisting of charge coupled devices and silicon microstrip detectors allowed the selection of very clean samples of charmed mesons. We have collected 852 fully reconstructed decays: 60D _s ⁺ →K ⁺ K ^?π⁺, 543D°→K ^?π⁺ andK ^?π⁺π^?π⁺ as well as 249D ⁺→K ^?π⁺π⁺ (or charge conjugate). 147 mesons out of our \({{D^0 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{D^0 } {\bar D^0 }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\bar D^0 }}\) sample were produced via chargedD ^* state. For all charmed mesons we determine the total production cross-section and study thex _F andp _t ² distributions.     

Superdeformed bands in195Tl

Two superdeformed (SD) bands have been found and assigned to¹⁹⁵Tl on the basis of excitation function and cross bombardment results. The two bands are almost identical in transition energies to those observed in¹⁹³Tl. They are signature partners with a splitting, presumably due to the proton i_13/2 (=5/2) orbital, characteristic of all known SD bands in the thallium isotopes. Their alignments relative to the¹⁹³Tl bands were found to be zero.On leave from Comision National de Energia Atomica 1429 Buenos Aires, Argentina.     

The electron-impact ionization of Ar and Kr revisited: a critical analysis of double-to-single ionization cross section ratio measurements using the fast-atom-beam technique

We report new measurements of the absolute electron-impact double ionization cross sections for Ar and Kr and of the ratios of double-to-single ionization for impact energies from threshold to 200 eV using the crossed electron-beam — fast-atom-beam technique. The work was motivated by the recently highlighted spread of about 30% in the Ar²⁺/Ar⁺ ionization cross section ratios obtained by several groups using different experimental techniques. Such a spread is inconsistent with statistical uncertainties of typically 3% or less that were quoted for the various reported ratios. A similar situation exists for Kr where the spread among the recently published Kr²⁺/Kr⁺ ionization cross section ratios is about 15%. We made an attempt to identify all potential systematic errors inherent to the fast-beam technique that could affect the measurement of cross section ratios with special emphasis on those systematic errors that could influence the detection of singly and doubly charged product ions differently. We found Ar²⁺/Ar⁺ and Kr²⁺/Kr⁺ cross section ratios of, respectively 0.066 ±0.007 and 0.087 ±0.008 at 100 eV which confirm earlier measurements using the same experimental technique. The error limits on cross sections ratios measured in our fast-beam apparatus were determined to be at least ±9% for cross section ratios of multiple-to-single ionization for the same target atom and at least ±10% for ratios of single ionization cross sections for different target species. Our error limits are dominated by systematic uncertainties of the apparatus which do not cancel when cross section ratios are measured, since the ratios are obtained under similar, but not identical experimental conditions.     

The first compound with an unusual type of anion, [Li(SR)2]–: bis­(μ2‐aqua‐d2)tetra­kis(aqua‐d2)dilithium(I) bis­[bis­(tri‐tert‐butoxy­silanethiol­ato‐κ2O,S)lithate(I)] dihydrate‐d2

The title complex, [Li₂(D₂O)₆][Li(C₉H₂₇SSiO₃)₂]₂·2D₂O, is the first compound with an S—M bond (M = alkali metal) within an unusual type of lithate anion, [Li(SR)₂]⁻ {where R is Si[OC(CH₃)₃]₃}. There is a centre of symmetry located in the middle of the Li₂O₂ ring of the cation. All Li atoms are four‐coordinate, with LiO₄ (cations) and LiO₂S₂ (anions) cores. The singly charged [Li(SR)₂]⁻ anions are well separated from the doubly charged [Li₂(D₂O)₆]²⁺ cations; the distance between Li atoms from differently charged ions is greater than 5 Å. Both ion types are held within an extended network of O—D⋯O and O—D⋯S hydrogen bonds.     

A new strategy of solution calibration in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for multielement trace analysis of geological samples

Because multielement trace analysis by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is often limited by the lack of suitable reference materials with a similar matrix composition, a novel quantification strategy using solution calibration was developed. For mass spectrometric multielement determination in geological samples a quadrupole-based LA-ICP-MS is coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer (USN). In order to arrange matrix matching the standard solutions are nebulized with a USN during solution calibration and simultaneously a blank target (e.g. lithium borate) is ablated with a focused laser beam. The homogeneous geological samples were measured using the same experimental arrangement where a 2% nitric acid is simultaneously nebulized with the USN. Homogeneous targets were prepared from inhomogeneous geological samples by powdering, homogenizing and fusing with a lithium borate mixture in a muffle furnace at 1050 degrees C. Furthermore, a homogeneous geological glass was also investigated. The quantification of analytical results was performed by external calibration using calibration curves measured on standard solutions. In order to compare two different approaches for the quantification of analytical results in LA-ICP-MS, measured concentrations in homogeneous geological targets were also corrected with relative sensitivity coefficients (RSCs) determined using one standard solution only. The analytical results of LA-ICP-MS on various geological samples are in good agreement with the reference values and the results of other trace analytical methods. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for trace element determination (N = 6) is between 2 and 10%.