Search for chiral bands in A ～ 110 neutron-rich nuclei

High spin states in A ～ 110 neutron-rich 106Mo, 110Ru and 112Ru nuclei have been reinvestigated by measuring the prompt γ-rays from the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. Two similar sets of bands are observed to high spins in each of three nuclei. Through analyzing of characters of the band structures, the chiral doublet bands are suggested in 106Mo, 110Ru and 112Ru.     

Density-dependent spin polarization in ultra-low-disorder quantum wires

There is controversy as to whether a one-dimensional (1D) electron gas can spin polarize in the absence of a magnetic field. Together with a simple model, we present conductance measurements on ultra-low-disorder quantum wires supportive of a spin polarization at B=0. A spin energy gap is indicated by the presence of a feature in the range (0.5-0.7)x2e(2)/h in conductance data. Importantly, it appears that the spin gap is not constant but a function of the electron density. Data obtained using a bias spectroscopy technique are consistent with the spin gap widening further as the Fermi level is increased.     

Relaxation effects in the quantification of fat using gradient echo imaging

Quantification of fat has been investigated using images acquired from multiple gradient echoes. The evolution of the signal with echo time and flip angle was measured in phantoms of known fat and water composition and in 21 research subjects with fatty liver. Data were compared to different models of the signal equation, in which each model makes different assumptions about the T1 and/or T2* relaxation effects. A range of T1, T2*, fat fraction and number of echoes was investigated to cover situations of relevance to clinical imaging. Results indicate that quantification is most accurate at low flip angles (to minimize T1 effects) with a small number of echoes (to minimize spectral broadening effects). At short echo times, the spectral broadening effects manifest as a short apparent T2 for the fat component.     

Model for the dynamics of two interacting axisymmetric spherical bubbles undergoing small shape oscillations

Interaction between acoustically driven or laser-generated bubbles causes the bubble surfaces to deform. Dynamical equations describing the motion of two translating, nominally spherical bubbles undergoing small shape oscillations in a viscous liquid are derived using Lagrangian mechanics. Deformation of the bubble surfaces is taken into account by including quadrupole and octupole perturbations in the spherical-harmonic expansion of the boundary conditions on the bubbles. Quadratic terms in the quadrupole and octupole amplitudes are retained, and surface tension and shear viscosity are included in a consistent manner. A set of eight coupled second-order ordinary differential equations is obtained. Simulation results, obtained by numerical integration of the model equations, exhibit qualitative agreement with experimental observations by predicting the formation of liquid jets. Simulations also suggest that bubble-bubble interactions act to enhance surface mode instability.     

Error correcting bell inequalities

Quantum error-correcting codes can protect multipartite quantum states from errors on some limited number of their subsystems (usually qubits). We construct a family of Bell inequalities which inherit this property from the underlying code and exhibit the violation of local realism, without any quantum information processing (except for the creation of an entangled state). This family shows no reduction in the size of the violation of local realism for arbitrary errors on a limited number of qubits. Our minimal construction requires preparing an 11-qubit entangled state.     

Alpha decay of 109I and its implications for the proton decay of 105Sb and the astrophysical rapid proton-capture process

An alpha-decay branch of (1.4+/-0.4) x 10(-4) has been discovered in the decay of 109I, which predominantly decays via proton emission. The measured Q(alpha) value of 3918+/-21 keV allows the indirect determination of the Q value for proton emission from 105Sb of 356+/-22 keV, which is approximately of 130 keV more bound than previously reported. This result is relevant for the astrophysical rapid proton-capture process, which would terminate in the 105Sn(p,gamma)106Sb(p,gamma)107Te(alpha decay)103Sn cycle at the densities expected in explosive hydrogen burning scenarios, unless unusually strong pairing effects result in a 103Sn(p,gamma)104Sb(p,gamma)105Te(alpha decay)101Sn) cycle.     

Recoil-proton polarization in high-energy deuteron photodisintegration with circularly polarized photons

We measured the angular dependence of the three recoil-proton polarization components in two-body photodisintegration of the deuteron at a photon energy of 2 GeV. These new data provide a benchmark for calculations based on quantum chromodynamics. Two of the five existing models have made predictions of polarization observables. Both explain the longitudinal polarization transfer satisfactorily. Transverse polarizations are not well described, but suggest isovector dominance.     

Multi-mode absorption spectroscopy, MUMAS, using wavelength modulation and cavity enhancement techniques

Multi-mode absorption spectroscopy, MUMAS, has been combined with the techniques of wavelength modulation spectroscopy, WMS, and cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy, CEAS, to record multiple molecular transitions using a single laser and a single detector. MUMAS signals were recorded using a multi-mode diode laser of the A-band $b^{1}\varSigma _{g}^{+}\leftarrow X^{3}\varSigma _{g}^{-}Multi-mode absorption spectroscopy, MUMAS, has been combined with the techniques of wavelength modulation spectroscopy, WMS, and cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy, CEAS, to record multiple molecular transitions using a single laser and a single detector. MUMAS signals were recorded using a multi-mode diode laser of the A-band b¹\varSigma _g⁺? X³\varSigma _g^-b^{1}\varSigma _{g}^{+}\leftarrow X^{3}\varSigma _{g}^{-} of molecular oxygen at 760 nm. Direct MUMAS and WMS-MUMAS signals were recorded using a White cell for air and pure oxygen for pressures in the range 0 to 1 bar. CEAS-MUMAS signals were recorded with and without WMS in an open enhancement cavity containing laboratory air. Enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio has been obtained demonstrating the potential for increased detection sensitivity for gas-sensing applications of MUMAS.