Ultraintense laser-produced fast-electron propagation in gas jets

We study the propagation of fast electrons in a gas at different densities. A large relativistic electron current is produced by focusing a short-pulse ultrahigh-intensity laser on a metallic target. It then propagates in a gas jet placed behind the foil. Shadowgraphy in the gas shows an electron cloud moving at sub-relativistic average velocities. The experiment shows (i) the essential role of the density of background material for allowing propagation of fast electrons, (ii) the importance of the ionization phase which produces free electrons available for the return current, and (iii) the effect of electrostatic fields on fast-electron propagation.     

Intense high-energy proton beams from Petawatt-laser irradiation of solids

An intense collimated beam of high-energy protons is emitted normal to the rear surface of thin solid targets irradiated at 1 PW power and peak intensity 3x10(20) W cm(-2). Up to 48 J ( 12%) of the laser energy is transferred to 2x10(13) protons of energy >10 MeV. The energy spectrum exhibits a sharp high-energy cutoff as high as 58 MeV on the axis of the beam which decreases in energy with increasing off axis angle. Proton induced nuclear processes have been observed and used to characterize the beam.     

Interband coupling and enhanced Tc in the tungsten bronzes

Examining the possibility that the enhancement of T_c in the tungsten bronzes arises from interband coupling, we find that a single density of states provides reasonable quantitative agreement with the T_c enhancement, the heat capacity and the magnetic susceptibility.     

ESR of Fe3+ -Rhombic,Fe2+ -Vo and Fe1+ -Vo complexes in SrTiO3

Three new Fe-defect complexes have been identified by ESR in Fe doped crystals of SrTiO₃. These are an Fe³⁺ center with rhombic fine structure in the “as-grown” crystals, and the vacancy associated complexes Fe²⁺ -V_o and Fe¹⁺ -V_o in “reduced” crystals. Photo-excited charge transfer effects are observed for these centers.     

Soft modes and high Tc in Nb3Sn

We investigate the direct effects of phonon softening on T_c in Nb₃Sn. It is inadequate to explain the high T_c, which arises instead from an unusually large electron- phonon coupling to the two Γ'₁₂ optical phonon modes.     

Observation of a narrow hyperon state of mass 3.17 GeV

We present evidence for a narrow Y¹ with a mass of 3.17 GeV and a width ? 20 MeV decaying to ΣKK? + pions, ΛKK? + pions and ΞK + pions. The data come from two high statistics K^?p bubble chamber experiments with a sensitivity of ≈100 eV/μbat 8.25 GeV/c and ≈ 45 eV/μbat 6.5 GeV/c.     

Anharmonic effects in a Jahn-Teller phase transition

A mechanism is proposed to explain the double phase transitions found in K₂PbCu(NO₂)₆ and Tl₂PbCu(NO₂)₆. The higher temperature transition is caused by the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect. The lower temperature transition occurs as the fourth order anharmonic interaction restabilizes the lattice against instabilities caused by static distortions in the third order anharmonic interaction. Calculated curves of the order parameter and heat capacity reproduce all the features in the experimental curves.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a dinuclear metal complex with linear M-H-M bonding

Reaction of two equiv of 1-adamantylzinc bromide with (dippm)NiBr2 (dippm = bis(di-isopropylphosphino)methane) led to a dinuclear metal complex containing a unique linear bridging hydride ligand. The hydride was characterized by neutron diffraction methods, which confirmed a linear bonding mode. Preliminary reactivity studies of this unusual dimer are reported.