Experimental investigation of variability of ultraviolet fluxes at the earth's surface

Some results of two years of regular measurements of UV radiation at the earth's surface in Siberia (56.5^o N, 85^o E) are given. It is shown that the presence of snow cover increases the UV irradiation of the earth by scattered radiation by 9–15%. In cloudless but windy weather, quasi-periodic fluctuations of UV irradiation with periods of 5–15 min and with fluctuation swings of 1–10% are observed. Low-level, heavy cloudiness in summer considerably reduces (by an average of 30–35%) UV irradiation, especially when the sun is low (down to 30^o). Mid-and upper-level clouds increase the UV irradiation of the earth by scattered radiation. When the sun is high (30–50^o) and there is heavy cloudiness, this increase can reach 28% in the UV-A spectral range. Tomsk State University. Academician V. D. Kuznetsov Siberian Physics and Technology Institute, Tomsk State University. Institute of Optical Monitoring, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 71–74, September, 1998.     

Towards direct mass measurements of nobelium at SHIPTRAP

The Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP allows precision mass measurements of rare isotopes produced in fusion-evaporation reactions. In the first period of operation the masses of more than 50 neutron-deficient radionuclides have been measured. In this paper the perspectives for direct mass measurements of rare isotopes around nobelium are discussed and the achievable precision is addressed. The temporal stability of the magnetic field, an important issue for the long measurement times resulting from the low production rates, was investigated and the time-dependent uncertainty due to magnetic field fluctuations was determined. Based on the present performance direct mass measurements of nobelium isotopes are already feasible. With several technical improvements heavier elements between Z=102–105 will be in reach.     

Mass measurements of neutron-deficient radionuclides near the end-point of the rp-process with SHIPTRAP

Direct mass measurements of nuclides near to the supposed end-point region of the astrophysical rp-process were performed at SHIPTRAP, the Penning trap mass spectrometer at GSI Darmstadt. The masses of 24 nuclides were measured with relative uncertainties between 5 ^. 10^-8 and 2 ^. 10^-7 . Three of them, ¹⁰⁷Sb , ¹¹¹I and ¹¹²I , were determined experimentally for the first time. The data analysis and mass evaluation are presented in detail.     

Theory of nonlinear Sagnac effect

A nonlinear wave interaction is considered as a technique to increase the rotation sensitivity of the ring laser. The gyroscopic scale factor K is calculated in an active laser gyro with a dispersive medium. K is in reverse proportion to the group index n* = n + vdn/dv of the medium. In a monolithically-integrated GaAs ring laser, the value K ∼5000 is obtainable (radius ∼1 cm) in a linear case. In the presence of a strong wave, the dynamic nonlinear anomalous dispersion can provide an increase of K by 10–100 times in the vicinity of critical points where n* passes zero. An expression of K is derived for the nonlinear Sagnac effect. The nonlinear dispersion is discussed in terms of “slow/fast” light.     

Stability of a liquid-dielectric jet in a longitudinal electrostatic field

Conclusions A longitudinal electrostatic field tends to stabilize a jet of liquid dielectric.