The LPCTrap experiment: measurement of the β–ν angular correlation in 6He using a transparent Paul trap

We report on the status of the LPCTrap experiment, devoted to measure the β–ν angular correlation in the pure Gamow–Teller decay of ⁶He. This measurement is motivated by the search for the presence of tensor type contributions to the weak interaction. The ⁶He ions are confined in a novel transparent Paul trap. The β particles and the recoil ions are detected in coincidence to deduce the angular correlation parameter. The commissioning run performed in 2005 has given the proof of principle of this experiment. Up to 10⁵ coincidences were recorded during a second run in 2006.     

A new simple instrument for thermomagnetometry. Applications to simultaneous thermomechanical measurements

A new instrument has been set up to study magnetic materials. Curie points measured by means of this simple apparatus are in perfect agreement with those given by a conventional magnetic balance. The apparatus may be used alone, but also combined with an electronic thermodilatometer. Curie points are emphasized simultaneously by the thermodilatometric and impedance curves. It appears that the sensitivity and reliability of the apparatus demonstrate magnetic phenomena of very low intensity such as the order point of α-Fe₂O₃.     

Observation of several phase transitions in tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone using 35Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance

The temperature dependence of the ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra of tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone (TOB) is reported. An analysis of the change in line multiplicities suggests that TOB undergoes three phase changes in going from 77 to 330 K. The transition temperatures have been determined.     

Structural control in self-standing mesostructured silica oriented membranes and xerogels

Large pore (a = 150-200 A) wormlike and highly oriented cubic (IM3m space group) and 2D-hexagonal (P6m) mesostructured xerogels have been reproducibly synthesised by Evaporation-Induced Self Assembly (EISA). Mesostructure control was attained by changing the template (nonionic block copolymer) and water (h = [H2O]/[Si]) ratio.