Lifetimes of a dipole cascade in192Hg

Lifetimes of ten states with spins between 23 and 32 have been measured in a cascade of dipole transitions in¹⁹²Hg using the Doppler-shift recoil-distance method. Average reduced transition probabilities, deduced from the lifetimes, are B(M1)≈0.01 and 1.1µ _n ² in the lower and higher spin region of the cascade, respectively, and B(E2)≈0.13 (eb)². The jump in the B(M1) values can be explained by different multi-quasiparticle configurations in the lower and higher spin regions of the band.     

Tethered particle motion as a diagnostic of DNA tether length

The tethered particle motion (TPM) technique involves an analysis of the Brownian motion of a bead tethered to a slide by a single DNA molecule. We describe an improved experimental protocol with which to form the tethers, an algorithm for analyzing bead motion visualized using differential interference contrast microscopy, and a physical model with which we have successfully simulated such DNA tethers. Both experiment and theory show that the statistics of the bead motion are quite different from those of a free semiflexible polymer. Our experimental data for chain extension versus tether length fit our model over a range of tether lengths from 109 to 3477 base pairs, using a value for the DNA persistence length that is consistent with those obtained under similar solution conditions by other methods. Moreover, we present the first experimental determination of the full probability distribution function of bead displacements and find excellent agreement with our theoretical prediction. Our results show that TPM is a useful tool for monitoring large conformational changes such as DNA looping.     

New results on the superdeformed 196Pb nucleus: decay of the excited bands to the yrast band

The study of the superdeformed ¹⁹⁶Pb nucleus has been revisited using the EUROGAMphase 2 array. In addition to the known yrast and two excited SD bands, a third excited SD band has been found. All of the three excited bands were found to decay to the yrast SD band through presumably E1 transitions. Comparisons with calculations using RPAapproximation indicate that the excited bands can be interpreted as octupole-vibrational structures.     

B(E2) values in 150Nd and the critical point symmetry X(5)

Lifetimes of states in 150Nd were measured using the recoil distance method following Coulomb excitation of 150Nd by a 132 MeV 32S beam. The experiment was performed at the Yale Tandem accelerator, employing the SPEEDY gamma-ray detector array and the New Yale Plunger Device. Reduced transition probabilities in 150Nd are compared to the predictions of the critical point symmetry X(5) of the phase/shape transition that occurs for the N = 90 rare earth isotones. Very good agreement was observed between the parameter-free (apart from scale) X(5) predictions and the low-spin level scheme of 150Nd, revealing this as the best case thus far for the realization of the X(5) symmetry.     

Chiral doublet structures in odd-odd n = 75 isotones: chiral vibrations

New sideband partners of the yrast bands built on the pi(h11/2)nu(h11/2) configuration were identified in 55Cs, 57La, and 61Pm N = 75 isotones of 134Pr. These bands form with 134Pr unique doublet-band systematics suggesting a common basis. Aplanar solutions of 3D tilted axis cranking calculations for triaxial shapes define left- and right-handed chiral systems out of the three angular momenta provided by the valence particles and the core rotation, which leads to spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking and the doublet bands. Small energy differences between the doublet bands suggest collective chiral vibrations.     

Lifetimes of a dipole cascade in 192Hg

The β-spectrum of the 3^?-2⁺ transition in the decay of¹⁴⁶Pm has been investigated with a 4π-Si(Li)-semiconductor spectrometer in a β-γ-coincidence experiment for the first time. The shape factor has been determined: C(W)=1?0.394W}-0.275/W+0.044 W². The spin and parity of the ground state of¹⁴⁶Pm can be determined to be 3^?. The shape of this non-allowed spectrum indicates the existence of the “cancellation” or “selection rule” effect.