Zeeman transitions in deuterium atoms induced by ultra-relativistic electrons

We present data showing hyperfine transitions in an atomic deuterium beam induced by the (476 MHz) radio-frequency field of a 704 MeV electron beam in a storage ring. A polarized deuterium beam, produced in an atomic beam source, was crossed with a stored electron beam and analyzed with a Breit--Rabi polarimeter. Electron-beam induced transitions were singled out by injecting different combinations of hyperfine states. Transition probabilities as high as 70% were measured at large currents (~ 100 mA). All possible deuterium transitions for a radio-frequency of 476 MHz were observed. In addition, a 1--6 transition resulting from the first harmonic (952 MHz) was observed. The effects of these transitions are of general importance for the polarized internal target technique applied in nuclear and particle physics experiments. The data are reasonably described by numerical estimates. The observed mechanism can be exploited to create nuclear polarized atoms when injecting electron polarized atoms with no net nuclear polarization into a storage cell. However, when nuclear polarized atoms are injected, care should be taken to avoid this mechanism, since it would result in depolarization of the atoms. The studies enabled us to choose the magnetic guide field during our spin-dependent electron--deuteron scattering experiments, such that electron-beam induced depolarizing effects were avoided. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Magnetism in electron-doped copper oxides

We report muon spin relaxation/rotation measurements on sintered powder samples of Nd_2−x Ce _x CuO_4−y and a large single crystal of Nd₂CuO_4−y . We find an electronic phase diagram which is quite similar to that of hole-doped superconductors such as La_2−x Sr _x CuO_4−y , although the doping of electrons into the system is less efficient in destroying the static moments on the copper spins. Static magnetic order in Nd₂CuO_4−y appears below about 250 K, and two spin reorientations are seen atT=75 K andT=35 K. Measurements of the magnetic field penetration depth have been unsuccessful due to the rare-earth paramagnetism of these materials.     

The liquid-crystalline behaviour of amphiphilic ethane-1,2-diol derivatives incorporating a six membered ring in their principal structure

Novel 3-phenyloxy substituted propane-1,2-diol derivatives, 4-(4-n-hexyloxyphenyl)-butane-1,2-diol and 4-(trans-4-n-pyropylcyclohexyl)-butane-1,2-diol have been synthesized and their thermal behaviour has been studied. These compounds exhibit thermotropic and, after addition of water, also lyotropic liquid-crystalline behaviour. The clearing temperatures of the smectic mesophases were found to be strongly dependent on the alkyl chain length and on the structural units that link the aromatic ring to the alkyl chain and to the diol unit. The behaviour of the aromatic compounds is compared with that of the cyclohexane derivative. Thereby it has been realized that the mesophase stability of the amphiphilic diols incorporating a rigid unit is largely determined by both, the molecular geometry (molecular shape and intramolecular flexibility) and the amphiphilic structural pattern.     

The Cern (g-2) measurements

Measurements of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are reviewed. The emphasis is put on the first one of a series of three CERN experiments which led to an experimental value ofa=1165922.9 (8.5)·10⁻⁹ (±7.2ppm), and which compares well with the present theoretical resulta=1165919.2 (1.8)·10⁻⁹ (±1.5ppm).     

Testing deviations from the inverse square law with a freely falling gravity gradiometer at balloon altitudes

Summary We discuss a null experiment to search for the fifth force at ranges around 10 km. It is proposed to use a three-axis gravity gradiometer to measure the trace of the Earth gravity tensor from a freely falling elevator dropped by a balloon. The main error sources are considered to some extent. Paper presented at the V Cosmic Physics National Conference, S. Miniato, November 27–30, 1990.     

A Tabu Search Approach for Delivering Pet Food and Flour in Switzerland

In this paper, we consider a real-life vehicle routeing problem that occurs in a major Swiss company producing pet food and flour. In contrast with usual hypothetical problems, a large variety of restrictions has to be considered. The main constraints are relative to the accessibility and the time windows at customers, the carrying capacities of vehicles, the total duration of routes and the drivers' breaks. To find good solutions to this problem, we propose two heuristic methods: a fast straightforward insertion procedure and a method based on tabu search techniques. Next, the produced solutions are compared with the routes actually covered by the company. Our outcomes indicate that the total distance travelled can be reduced significantly when such methods are used.     

Laser pulse heating of steel surface and flexural wave analysis

Laser gas-assisted material processing finds wide application in industry. The modelling of heating, elastic response of the substrate material, and the wave analysis gives insight into the laser workpiece interaction. In the present study, laser gas-assisted heating of steel is considered. The normal component of the thermal stress is taken as the source of load for the flexural wave generation in the material. The flexural wave generated is simulated and the wave characteristics are analyzed at four locations at the workpiece surface. The numerical scheme employing a control volume approach is introduced when solving the governing equations of flow and heat transfer while finite element and spectran element methods are used when solving the stress and wave equations. It is found that the normal component of the stress is tensile. The dispersion effect of the workpiece material, interference of the reflected beam, and partial overlapping of second mode of the travelling wave enable to identify a unique pattern in the travelling wave in the substrate.