Sigma-nucleus potential in A=28

We have studied the (pi(-),K+) reaction on a silicon target to investigate the sigma-nucleus potential. The inclusive spectrum was measured at a beam momentum of 1.2 GeV/c with an energy resolution of 3.3 MeV (FWHM) by employing the superconducting kaon spectrometer system. The spectrum was compared with theoretical calculations within the framework of the distorted-wave impulse approximation, which demonstrates that a strongly repulsive sigma-nucleus potential with a nonzero size of the imaginary part reproduces the observed spectrum.     

Observation of the color-suppressed decay B( 0)-->D(0)pi(0)

We report the first observation of color-suppressed B( 0)-->D(0)pi(0), D(*0)pi(0), D0eta, and D0omega decays, and evidence for B( 0)-->D(*0)eta and D(*0)omega. The branching fractions are B(B( 0)-->D0pi(0)) = (3.1 +/- 0.4 +/- 0.5)x10(-4), B(B( 0) -->D(*0)pi(0)) = (2.7(+0.8+0.5)(-0.7-0.6))x10(-4), B(B( 0) --> D0eta) = (1.4(+0.5)(-0.4) +/- 0.3)x10(-4), B(B( 0) --> D0omega) = (1.8 +/- 0.5(+0.4)(-0.3))x10(-4), and we set 90% confidence level upper limits of B(B( 0) --> D(*0)eta)<4.6 x 10(-4) and B(B( 0)-->D(*0)omega)<7.9 x 10(-4). The analysis is based on a data sample of 21.3 fb(-1) collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider.     

Low energy excitation and scaling in Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(n-1)Cu(n)O(2n+4) (n=1-3): angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) has been performed on the single- to triple-layered Bi-family high-T (c) superconductors (Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(n-1)Cu(n)O(2n+4), n=1-3). We found a sharp coherent peak as well as a pseudogap at the Fermi level in the triple-layered compound. Comparison among three compounds has revealed a universal rule that the characteristic energies of superconducting and pseudogap behaviors are scaled with the maximum T (c).     

Measurement of the B(e2) of (7)(lambda)Li and shrinkage of the hypernuclear size

We report on the first measurement of a hypernuclear gamma-transition probability. gamma rays emitted in the E2(5/2(+)-->1/2(+)) transition of (7)(Lambda)Li were detected by a large-acceptance germanium detector array (Hyperball), and the lifetime of the parent state ( 5/2(+)) was determined by the Doppler shift attenuation method. The obtained result, 5.8(+0.9)(-0.7)+/-0.7 ps, was then converted into the reduced transition probability [ B(E2)] to be B(E2;5/2(+)-->1/2(+)) = 3.6+/-0.5(+0.5)(-0.4) e(2) fm(4). Compared with the B(E2) of the corresponding E2(3(+)-->1(+)) transition in the 6Li nucleus, our result gives evidence that the size of the 6Li core in (7)(Lambda)Li is smaller than the 6Li nucleus in the free space.     

Absolute wavelength calibration of pulsed lasers by use of machine vision

We developed a new absolute wavelength calibration system that uses machine vision for measurement of low-repetition-rate, short-pulse-duration (10-Hz, 5-ns) tunable lasers. Weak fluorescence from an iodine cell was measured by use of machine vision as a spatially gated integrator, and a pulsed dye-laser wavelength was calibrated with an accuracy of +/-0.005 nm , which is precise enough for differential absorption lidar application.     

Biotinylated and enzyme-immobilized carrier prepared by hetero-bifunctional latex beads

Biotinylated and pyruvate kinase immobilized nano-bio element have been prepared using hetero-bifunctional latex beads, where the enzyme activity is roughly half of the free enzyme.     

Transient absorption from the 1Bu+ state of all-trans-beta-carotene newly identified in the near-infrared region

We have attempted subpicosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy of all-trans-beta-carotene in organic solvents in the 820-1060 nm region and found novel transient absorption features which lived in subpicosecond time scales. A first component that appeared immediately after excitation showed a lifetime of 190 +/- 10 fs in n-hexane in agreement with the 1Bu+ lifetime that had been determined by fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy (195 +/- 10 fs). (Kandori et al. [1994] J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116, 2671-2672.) Therefore, this component is assigned to a transient absorption from the 1Bu+ state.     

Optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism studies of copoly(propyl-L-aspartate-benzyl-L-aspartate)

Copoly(propyl-L -aspartate-benzyl-L -aspartate)s with various compositions were synthesized by propylation of a parent poly(β-benzyl-L -Aspartate). The variation of helix sense of copolyaspartate obtained against a degree of propylation and temperature was examined by optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism method. Copolyaspartate of propylation less than about 70% is in a left-handed α helix conformation and its Moffitt parameter b₀ and molecular ellipticity [θ]₂₂₂ decreased gradually with increasing propylation. On the other hand, a different temperature dependence of b₀ and [θ]₂₂₂ was observed for copolyaspartate of propylation more than about 80%, i.e., the reversible transition of the helix sense from right- to left-handed α helix took place by temperature increasing. These features were basically similar to the variation in helix sense of copoly(ethyl-L -aspartate-benzyl-L -aspartate), although a slight difference was seen for copoly(propyl-L -aspartate-benzyl-L -aspartate). The thermodynamic treatment indicating larger entropy of right-handed α helix suggests much mobile side chain of the right-handed α helix than the left handed one.     

Heat capacities of Laves phase compounds RMn2 (R = Y, Gd and Er)

Measurements of heat capacity indicate that the Mn moment in YMn₂ has an itinerant character and an additional C_M is observable even above T_N. In GdMn₂, the Gd moments are in disorder at T_N simultaneously with the Mn moments. The CEF contributions in ErMn₂ are observed and are calculated using a single-ion Hamiltonian.