Determination of optical isomers for left-handed or right-handed chiral double-wall carbon nanotubes

The handedness relationship between adjacent layers in nested double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) has been investigated for the first time. Our high-resolution electron microscopy analysis on a series of specimen tilts can successfully tell the handedness of each constituent nanotube in a DWNT, and therefore the chiral indices (n, m) including their optical isomers [(n, m) or (m, n)] of inner and outer nanotubes can be uniquely determined. It is shown that right-handed and left-handed nanotubes are equally distributed for both the inner and outer nanotubes in the examined specimens and a preferable handedness relationship between the adjacent layers in DWNT may exist.     

The optical properties and laser characteristics of Cr and Nd co-doped Y3Al5O12 ceramics

We have fabricated Cr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ co-doped YAG (Cr;Nd:YAG) ceramics, and investigated their optical properties and laser characteristics. The Cr;Nd:YAG has two broad absorption bands at around 440 nm (⁴A₂→⁴T₁) and 600 nm (⁴A₂→⁴T₂) respectively, caused by Cr³⁺ ions. In the case of pumping at 440 nm, the maximum effective lifetime of the Cr;Nd:YAG was 737 μs with a 0.1 at% Cr³⁺ and 1.0 at% Nd³⁺ co-doped YAG sample. Cr³⁺ ions take a role of an effective sensitizer to convert the UV light of flashlamp. For single-shot laser operation, a 10.4 J output energy at 1064 nm was obtained with 0.1 at% Cr³⁺ and 1.0 at% Nd³⁺ co-doped YAG ceramic rod with a laser efficiency of 4.9%. The laser efficiency was found to be more than twice that of a 1.0 at % Nd³⁺:YAG ceramic rod.     

Structure comparison between Th2Zn17-type and TbCu7-type Sm–Fe intermetallic compounds and their nitrides by means of 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy

Samarium–iron intermetallic compounds were prepared by a melt spinning method with low and high wheel speeds, which resulted in a Th₂Zn₁₇-type and a TbCu₇-type structure, respectively. Structure comparison between these types was investigated for Sm–Fe intermetallic compounds and their nitrides by ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Neutron spin echo measurements of monolayer and capillary condensed water in MCM-41 at low temperatures

Neutron spin echo measurements of monolayer and capillary condensed heavy water (D(2)O) confined in MCM-41 C10 (pore diameter 2.10 nm) were performed in a temperature range of 190-298 K. The intermediate scattering functions were analyzed by the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts stretched exponential function. The relaxation times of confined D(2)O in the capillary condensed state follow remarkably well the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann equation between 298 and 220 K, whereas below 220 K they show an Arrhenius type behavior. That is, the fragile-to-strong (FTS) dynamic crossover occurs, which has never been seen in experiments on bulk water. On the other hand, for monolayer D(2)O, the FTS dynamic crossover was not observed in the temperature range measured. The FTS dynamic crossover observed in capillary condensed water would take place in the central region of the pore, not near the pore surface. Because the tetrahedral-like water structure in the central region of the pore is more preserved than that near the pore surface, the FTS dynamic crossover would be concerned with the tetrahedral-like water structure.     

Precise measurement of positronium hyperfine splitting using the Zeeman effect

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the quantum electrodynamics (QED) in bound state. The hyperfine splitting (HFS) of positronium, Δ_HFS, gives a good test of the bound state calculations and probes new physics beyond the Standard Model. A new method of QED calculations has revealed the discrepancy by 15 ppm (3.9σ) of Δ_HFS between the QED prediction and the experimental average. There would be possibility of new physics or common systematic uncertainties in the previous all experiments. We describe a new experiment to reduce possible systematic uncertainties and will provide an independent check of the discrepancy. We are now taking data and the current result of Δ_HFS?=?203.395 1 ±0.002 4 (stat., 12 ppm) ±0.001 9 (sys., 9.5 ppm) GHz has been obtained so far. A measurement with a precision of O(ppm) is expected within a year.     

Bulk-sensitive spectroscopic studies on noncentrosymmetric superconducting system of Mg–Ir–B

We present the data from ultrahigh-resolution laser-excited photoemission spectroscopy on a newly discovered noncentrosymmetric superconductor Mg₁₀Ir₁₉B₁₆. We observed the evidences for the opening of superconducting gap where numerical fittings show that isotropic s-wave model can satisfactorily explain the behavior of spectra near the Fermi level. We also present the valence band photoemission spectrum and B K fluorescence spectrum to discuss the basic electronic structure of Mg₁₀Ir₁₉B₁₆.     

Measurement of fusion excitation functions of 27, 29, 31Al + 197Au

A systematic study of the sub-barrier fusion reactions with neutron-rich projectiles has been carried out for three isotopes ^27,29,31Al bombarding a ¹⁹⁷Au target. A target chamber equipped with a target stack and sets of MWPC was employed in order to enhance the efficiency of the radioactive beam experiment. Coupled-channel calculations including the quadrupole excitations do not well fit the measured fusion excitation functions, whereas flat barrier distributions to represent the coupling to the neutron transfer largely account for the observed enhancement of the sub-barrier fusion cross-sections. Received: 13 March 2001 / Accepted: 27 April 2001     

Development of copolymer of CR-39 with high sensitivity to low let particles

Several types of copolymers of CR-39 were prepared to find its usefulness as a nuclear track detector of high sensitivity. Track responses of these copolymers were investigated by irradiating energetic ions from proton through Ar. The copolymer of CR-39 monomer with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) shows higher sensitivity than that of pure CR-39 for low LET particles such as protons. Preliminary results are reported for the track responses of copolymers (CR-39/NIPAAm) with various contents of NIPAAm as well as the etching properties.