The electron capture decay of 85gsr

In order to resolve the controversy concerning the existence of an 868 keV γ-transition in the decay of 65d ^85sSr and to determine the electron capture decay energy, radiochemically separated sources, Ge(Li), Ge(Li)-NaI(Tl), and NaI(Tl)-NaI(Tl) spectrometers have been used for singles and (X-ray-γ and γ-γ coincidence measurements. A γ-ray at 868.5±0.5 keV decaying with a 65±5 d half-life was conclusively identified in ^85gSr decay. From measurements of the ratio $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{\kappa (868.5)}}\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{\kappa (514)}}$ of K-capture probabilities by (KX-ray-γ coincidences, a value of Q_EC was determined for the EC decay feeding the 868.5 keV transition. Thus, a level in ⁸⁵Rb is established at 868.5 keV, and an upper limit of 0.45 μsec is set on its lifetime.     

A Neutral-Beam Injector for the Tandem-Mirror Fusion Reactor Delivering 147 MW of 1.2-MeV D°

A conceptual design of a high-current, 1.2-MeV Do injector is presented. This injector has an anticipated operating efficiency of 73%. Major advances in beam technology are needed to meet these specifications, including a continuous source of negative ions, an efficient electron-stripping cell, and the development of associated power conditioning and control equipment. All components in the proposed beam line are elaborations of physics experiments already reported in the literature; therefore, it should be possible to satisfy the neutral-beam requirements of the tandem-mirror reactor (TMR) in the not too distant future.     

The effect of spurious motion on the collective potential energy surface

Energy corrections to the potential energy surface which are caused by spurious collective motions are investigated. We concentrate on spurious center-of-mass motion, rotational oscillations and spurious vibrations. It is shown that the effects are deformation dependent and thus, that the heights and curvatures of the potential energy surface are changed. The changes are of the order of 1–2 MeV in the range of deformation δ=0 to δ=±0.4.     

Electron energy-loss spectroscopy applied to solids

Several illustrating examples of recent electron energy-loss investigations of the electronic structure of solids are reviewed. In particular, studies on rare-gas bubbles in metals, on conducting polymers, and onL _2,3 edges of 3d transition metals are reported. Moreover, the electron energy-loss spectrometer, which was used for these investigations, is described briefly.     

Quantum-to-classical transition in cavity quantum electrodynamics

The quantum properties of electromagnetic, mechanical or other harmonic oscillators can be revealed by investigating their strong coherent coupling to a single quantum two level system in an approach known as cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). At temperatures much lower than the characteristic energy level spacing the observation of vacuum Rabi oscillations or mode splittings with one or a few quanta asserts the quantum nature of the oscillator. Here, we study how the classical response of a cavity QED system emerges from the quantum one when its thermal occupation-or effective temperature-is raised gradually over 5 orders of magnitude. In this way we explore in detail the continuous quantum-to-classical crossover and demonstrate how to extract effective cavity field temperatures from both spectroscopic and time-resolved vacuum Rabi measurements.     

Control and tomography of a three level superconducting artificial atom

A number of superconducting qubits, such as the transmon or the phase qubit, have an energy level structure with small anharmonicity. This allows for convenient access of higher excited states with similar frequencies. However, special care has to be taken to avoid unwanted higher-level populations when using short control pulses. Here we demonstrate the preparation of arbitrary three level superposition states using optimal control techniques in a transmon. Performing dispersive readout, we extract the populations of all three levels of the qutrit and study the coherence of its excited states. Finally we demonstrate full quantum state tomography of the prepared qutrit states and evaluate the fidelities of a set of states, finding on average 95%.     

Supermolecular structure and orientation of blown cellulosic films

N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) technology provides new possibilities for shaping fibers and films from cellulose. We discuss a blow-extrusion technique can be applied to a cellulose-amine oxide dope, yielding blown cellulosie films. Process parameters, such as the draw down ratio and the blow ratio, can be used to control the mechanical film properties in both the machine and transverse directions. In this way, a wide range of properties is covered, and a completely balanced film can be manufactured. The film thickness can be made as small as 5 μm, and the membrane properties can be varied by the conditions of precipitation. The blown cellulosic films exhibit a partially crystalline supermolecular structure and, depending on the coagulation conditions, a symmetrical or asymmetrical homogeneous morphology and pore structure. Generally, a uniplanar orientation type was found, the chains being parallel to the film surface. Around the surface normal, the chain orientation can be varied from nearly random to strongly uniaxial, in this way determining the mechanical properties in the machine and transverse directions. As compared with the conventional viscose processing route of cellophane, the blown film's NMMO processing route is less complicated and friendlier to the environment. Blown films can be made much thinner, and the mechanical properties are superior to viscose films. Possible application fields of blown cellulose films are food casings, particularly small sausage casings, packaging, and membranes.     

Funnel-type etched ion tracks in polymers

It is shown that conical track etching is a much more complicated process than generally assumed. The choice of the corresponding parameters (i.e. the ratios of concentrations and diffusion coefficients of both etchant (e.g. NaOH) and stopping solutions (e.g. HCl) and the etching temperature) determines the ratio of polymer dissolution to etchant penetration. The latter value controls the counterplay of diffusion, etching, ionic conductivity, field emission and capacitive effects, which is decisive for both the final track shapes and their electronic properties. The stages of track evolution during etching under different conditions are outlined in detail. Both transparent conical nanopores and “funnel-type” tracks can be obtained, the latter consisting of a shorter cone and a residual latent track. Depending on the internal structure of that latent track segment, such funnel-type tracks either allow smooth transmission of the rectified currents or they emit unipolar current spikes. Not only the study of electronic properties of single ion tracks, but also of a multitude of tracks makes sense. Depending on the applied parameters, the individual track properties may either just add up, or new effects may be found that emerge from the interaction of the tracks among each other. This is preferentially the case for spike-emitting tracks, where effects such as phase-locked spike synchronization can be found as described by neural network theory.