Coupled channel description of O+Nd scattering around the Coulomb barrier using a complex microscopic potential

Angular distributions of elastic scattering and inelastic scattering from 2⁺₁ state are measured for ¹⁶O+^142,144,146Nd systems at several energies in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier. The angular distributions are systematically analyzed in coupled channel framework. Renormalized double folded real optical and coupling potentials with DDM3Y interaction have been used in the calculation. Relevant nuclear densities needed to generate the potentials are derived from shell model wavefunctions. A truncated shell model calculation has been performed and the calculated energy levels are compared with the experimental ones. To simulate the absorption, a ‘hybrid’ approach is adopted. The contribution to the imaginary potential of couplings to the inelastic channels, other than the 2⁺₁ target excitation channel, is calculated in the Feshbach formalism. This calculated imaginary potential along with a short ranged volume Woods–Saxon potential to simulate the absorption in fusion channel reproduces the angular distributions for ¹⁶O+¹⁴⁶Nd quite well. But for ¹⁶O+^142,144Nd systems additional surface absorption is found to be necessary to fit the angular distribution data. The variations of this additional absorption term with incident energy and the mass of the target are explored.     

Melting of heterogeneous vortex matter: The vortex ‘nanoliquid’

Disorder and porosity are parameters that strongly influence the physical behavior of materials, including their mechanical, electrical, magnetic and optical properties. Vortices in superconductors can provide important insight into the effects of disorder because their size is comparable to characteristic sizes of nanofabricated structures. Here we present experimental evidence for a novel form of vortex matter that consists of inter-connected nanodroplets of vortex liquid caged in the pores of a solid vortex structure, like a liquid permeated into a nanoporous solid skeleton. Our nanoporous skeleton is formed by vortices pinned by correlated disorder created by high-energy heavy ion irradiation. By sweeping the applied magnetic field, the number of vortices in the nanodroplets is varied continuously from a few to several hundred. Upon cooling, the caged nanodroplets freeze into ordered nanocrystals through either a first-order or a continuous transition, whereas at high temperatures a uniform liquid phase is formed upon delocalization-induced melting of the solid skeleton. This new vortex nanoliquid displays unique properties and symmetries that are distinct from both solid and liquid phases.     

Nonstatic perfect fluid sphere in higher-dimensional space-time

It is shown that in the case of a spherical nonstatic fluid distribution undergoing shear-free motion the field equations in higher dimensional space-time can be reduced to a single second-order differential equation involving an arbitrary function of the radial co-ordinate. This result extends to higher dimensions a similar one obtained by Wyman and Faulkes earlier for 4D space-time. Solving this differential equation a number of new solutions is found, and the dynamical behaviour of one of the models is briefly discussed. The ansatz is later generalised to include the electromagnetic field as well.     

On the absolute matrix summability of Fourier series and some associated series

The object of the paper is to study the absolute matrix summability problem of Fourier series, conjugate series and some associated series under a new set of conditions on matrix methods, generalising many known results in the literature.     

Analysis of numerical integration in p-version finite element eigenvalue approximation

We study the effect of numerical integration when the p-version of the finite element method is used to approximate the eigenpairs of elliptic partial differential operators. We obtain optimal orders of convergence for approximate eigenvalues and eigenvectors under a certain set of requirements on the quadrature rules employed. This is the same set of conditions that has been shown (in an earlier work) to be sufficient for the optimal approximation of the solutions of the corresponding source problems.     

Working group report: Neutrino and astroparticle physics

This is the report of neutrino and astroparticle physics working group at WHEPP-7. Discussions and work on CP violation in long baseline neutrino experiments, ultra high energy neutrinos, supernova neutrinos and water Cerenkov detectors are discussed.     

Synergistic effect of neutral donors on the extraction of zirconium(IV) by salicylaldoxime in dichloromethane

Liquid-liquid extraction of zirconium(IV) was investigated from dilute hydrochloric acid medium by salicyaldoxime (HA) in dichloromethane. The metal was spiked with ⁹⁵Zr and analyzed by its radioactivity. The effects of different donors, like trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), tributyl phosphine oxide (TBPO), tributyl phosphate (TBP), trioctyl amine (TOA) and Amberlite LA-2 were studied. The adduct formation constants for both binary species (metal-ligand) and ternary species (metal-ligand-donor) were also calculated form the distribution data.One of the authors (S.B.) thanks The University of Burdwan for providing senior research fellowship to her. She also wishes to thank Dr. D. Mukherjee and Dr. S. Bhattacharya, B.U. for their valuable suggestions.     

Increased Photosensitivity in HL60 Cells Expressing Wild-Type p53

Loss of p53 function has been correlated with decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiation therapy in a variety of human tumors. Comparable analysis of p53 status with sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by pho-todynamic therapy has not been reported. In the current study we examined photosensitivity in human promye-locytic leukemia HL60 cells exhibiting either wild-type p53, mutated p53 or deleted p53 expression. Experiments were performed using a purpurin, tin ethyl etiopurpurin (SnET2)-, or a porphyrin, Photofrin (PH)-based photo-sensitizer. Total SnET2 accumulation was comparable in all three cell lines. Uptake of PH was highest in cells expressing wild-type p53 but incubation conditions could be adjusted to achieve equivalent cellular PH levels during experiments that analyzed photosensitivity. Survival measurements demonstrated that HL60 cells expressing wild-type p53 were more sensitive to PH- and SnET2-mediated photosensitization, as well as to UVC irradiation, when compared to HL60 cells exhibiting deleted or mutated p53 phenotypes. A rapid apoptotic response was observed following purpurin- and porphyrin-induced photosensitization in all cell lines. Results of this study indicate that photosensitivity is increased in HL60 cells expressing wild-type p53 and that photosensitizer-medi-ated oxidative stress can induce apoptosis through a p53-independent mechanism in HL60 cells .