Measurements of the double polarisation parameters G and H in neutral pion photoproduction

Measurements have been made of the double polarisation parameters G and H in the photoproduction of neutral pions from protons, for incident photon energies between 1300 MeV and 2300 MeV and for pion c.m. angles between 50δ and 80δ. The results are compared with predictions from a recent comprehensive analysis of earlier photoproduction data.     

Simultaneous and sequential adsorption of deuterium and nitrous oxide by rhenium

The addition of nitrous oxide to a stream of deuterium passing over a rhenium filament reduced the initial sticking probability of the latter gas from 0.24 to 0.09 when the proportion of N₂O exceeded 40%. For the addition of deuterium to nitrous oxide the equivalent figures were 0.45 and 0.30 when deuterium exceeded 30% of the gas phase. These results are attributed to a competition between the two gases for places in the precursor state on the surface. The replacement of adsorbed deuterium from a saturated layer by the oxygen atom of nitrous oxide proceeded initially with a high probability, 0.27, at room temperature and with each oxygen atom replacing one deuterium atom. However, the reaction was incomplete, about 2 × 10¹⁴ atoms cm^?2 of deuterium remaining on the surface. It is suggested that kinetic rather than thermodynamic factors are responsible for the incomplete reaction, possibly as the result of a high activation energy for the migration of deuterium atoms over an oxygenated rhenium surface.     

Polarization measurements in high-energy deuteron photodisintegration

We present measurements of the recoil proton polarization for the d(gamma-->,p-->)n reaction at straight theta(c.m.) = 90 degrees for photon energies up to 2.4 GeV. These are the first data in this reaction for polarization transfer with circularly polarized photons. The induced polarization p(y) vanishes above 1 GeV, contrary to meson-baryon model expectations, in which resonances lead to large polarizations. However, the polarization transfer Cx does not vanish above 1 GeV, inconsistent with hadron helicity conservation. Thus, we show that the scaling behavior observed in the d(gamma,p)n cross sections is not a result of perturbative QCD. These data should provide important tests of new nonperturbative calculations in the intermediate energy regime.     

Bubble dynamics and size distributions during focused ultrasound insonation

The deposition of ultrasonic energy in tissue can cause tissue damage due to local heating. For pressures above a critical threshold, cavitation will occur, inducing a much larger thermal energy deposition in a local region. The present work develops a nonlinear bubble dynamics model to numerically investigate bubble oscillations and bubble-enhanced heating during focused ultrasound (HIFU) insonation. The model is applied to calculate two threshold-dependent phenomena occurring for nonlinearly oscillating bubbles: Shape instability and growth by rectified diffusion. These instabilities in turn are shown to place physical boundaries on the time-dependent bubble size distribution, and thus the thermal energy deposition.     

Semen cryopreservation: a genetic explanation for species and individual variation?

Although semen cryopreservation has been applied successfully in a few species, considerable variation in post-thaw semen viability exists. Independent of sperm quality before freezing, the semen of certain individuals will consistently freeze badly, resulting in poor motility, disrupted acrosome and plasma membrane, and thus reduced fertilising ability, indicating the existence of variation in membrane properties within species. A more comprehensive understanding of sperm cryobiology would be obtained by the investigation of within-species variation in the susceptibility of spermatozoa to cryoinjury. This review aims to explore the phenomenon of consistent variation in frozen semen quality between species and between individuals in an effort to find new insights into the reasons for cryoinjury. Recent studies suggest that there is a genetic basis for variation in post-thaw semen quality, and argue that modern molecular technologies are able to identify markers linked to genes influencing this variation. The identification of genetic differences between individuals, which may be linked to cryosurvival, provides an opportunity to develop a functional and molecular understanding of the factors that influence semen cryopreservation, allowing selective breeding of desired traits and the development of genetic tests that predict the outcome of semen freezing.     

Measurement of the high energy two-body deuteron photodisintegration differential cross section

The first measurements of the d(gamma,p)n differential cross section at forward angles and photon energies above 4 GeV were performed at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). The results indicate evidence of an angular dependent scaling threshold. Results at straight theta(cm) = 37 degrees are consistent with the constituent counting rules for E(gamma) greater, similar 4 GeV, while those at 70 degrees are consistent with the constituent counting rules for E(gamma) greater, similar 1.5 GeV.     

Chiral three-nucleon forces and bound excited states in neutron-rich oxygen isotopes

Astatine isotopes can be produced in liquid lead-bismuth eutectic targets through proton-induced double charge exchange reactions on bismuth or in secondary helium-induced interactions. Models implemented into the most common high-energy transport codes generally have difficulties to correctly estimate their production yields as was shown recently by the ISOLDE Collaboration, which measured release rates from a lead-bismuth target irradiated by 1.4 and 1 GeV protons. In this paper, we first study the capability of the new version of the Liège intranuclear cascade model, INCL4.6, coupled to the deexcitation code ABLA07 to predict the different elementary reactions involved in the production of such isotopes through a detailed comparison of the model with the available experimental data from the literature. Although a few remaining deficiencies are identified, very satisfactory results are found, thanks in particular to improvements brought recently on the treatment of low-energy helium-induced reactions. The implementation of the models into MCNPX allows identifying the respective contributions of the different possible reaction channels in the ISOLDE case. Finally, the full simulation of the ISOLDE experiment is performed, taking into account the likely rather long diffusion time from the target, and compared with the measured diffusion rates for the different astatine isotopes, at the two studied energies, 1.4 and 1 GeV. The shape of the isotopic distribution is perfectly reproduced as well as the absolute release rates, assuming in the calculation a diffusion time between 5 and 10hours. This work finally shows that our model, thanks to the attention paid to the emission of high-energy clusters and to low-energy cluster induced reactions, can be safely used within MCNPX to predict isotopes with a charge larger than that of the target by two units in spallation targets, and, probably, more generally to isotopes created in secondary reactions induced by composite particles.     

The plasticity of pure single crystals

The theory of the work-hardening curve of a pure single crystal is discussed. An outline is given of the experimental methods available for the study of the mechanism of plastic deformation and work hardening. An attempt is made to correlate existing theories of work hardening. The theory is illustrated by discussions of copper, of other face-centred cubic metals, of the diamond and sphalerite structures, of hexagonal close-packed metals, of ionic face-centred cubic crystals and of body-centred cubic metals.     

Investigation of supersonic separated flow in a compression corner by laser doppler anemometry

A single-component, computer-operated, three dimensional traversing Laser Doppler Velocimetry system was designed and constructed for a supersonic wind tunnel. The model was a 10° compression corner, providing an example of laminar boundary layer separation. Static pressure data and color schlieren photographs were taken. The Mach number was 2.42 and the Reynolds number was 2.13 x 105. The flow was seeded with submicron sized oil droplets.The trend of decreasing upstream influence with increasing Reynolds number was confirmed. Mean velocity profiles provided experimental evidence of reversed flow. Points of separation and reattachment were consistent with those determined by schlieren and pressure scans. The flow was of the laminar type until downstream of reattachment. Individual mean velocity and turbulence profiles, as well as velocity histograms are presented.