Possible observation of light neutron nuclei in the alpha-particle-induced fission of 238U

Searches for nuclear-stable multineutrons among products originating from the fission of ²³⁸U nuclei that is induced by 62-MeV alpha particles were performed by the activation method. The reaction involving the transfer of four neutrons and occurring on the isotope ⁸⁸Sr, ⁸⁸Sr( ^x n, (x ? 4) n)⁹²Sr??⁹²Y, was used to identify nuclear-stable multineutrons. A line at the energy of E = 1384 keV was found in the measured gamma-ray spectra of irradiated samples. This line, together with the measured time dependence of the decrease in its activity, is indicative of the formation of the beta-active nucleus ⁹²Sr. This result was reproduced in repeated measurements. It suggests the possible existence of nuclear-stable multineutrons ( ^x n) for x ?? 6. The differential cross section for the ^x n yield at an angle of 30° in the alpha-particle-induced fission of ²³⁸U was about 6 × 10^?2 mb/sr.     

Penetration depth and pinning effects in high-Tc superconductors La-Sr-Cu-O and (Er,Ho)-Ba-Cu-O studies by μSR

We report the results of μSR investigations of the ceramic samples La_2-xSr_xCuO_4-σ (x=0.1, 0.15, 0.25) and ReBa₂Cu₃O_7-σ (Re=Er, Ho, Y_0.5Ho_0.5) in the external magnetic field 0–800 Oe. The measurements were performed by the ZFC and FC methods. The irreversibility effects were studied at several temperatures by measuring the mean value and the width of the magnetic field distribution on the muon in the step by step procedure of increasing and subsequent decreasing of the external field. The temperature dependences of the magnetic penetration depth perpendicular to the basal plane λ_⊥ were obtained. For the lanthanum sample with 0.15 of Sr its value at the zero temperature is λ_⊥ (0)=2400 Å, for Er-Ba-Cu-O λ_⊥ (0)=1600 Å.     

Focusators into a ring

Using numerical and analytical approaches, we have computed the optical elements (focusators) required for focusing laser light into a narrow ring, a wide ring and a set of rings. A numerical comparison of the various computational techniques is reported. Finally the operation of a fabricated rotor axicon to focus light into a ring is reported.     

Quantum diffusion of muons in bismuth

A muon spin relaxation rate in a super-pure sample of bismuth has been measured. The experimental data and the theory of coherent diffusion in crystalline lattices with shifted levels are compared.     

The μSR study of the relaxation of Ho and Er magnetic moments in high-Tc 1-2-3 compounds

High temperature superconductors HoBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (T _c ≅93 K), Ho_0.5Y_0.5Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ (T _c ≅93 K) and ErBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (T _c ≅95 K) were investigated by the zero-field μSR-technique. The muon spin depolarisation rate connected with the fluctuation frequency of rare-earth ion magnetic moments was measured. It was found that the samples with holmium show a fast increase of the muon spin depolarisation rate at temperatures below 20 K, while in ErBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ the depolarisation rate remains low in the whole temperature region studied (4.2 K-270 K). The sharp difference between the behaviours of the muon spin depolarisation rate may be explained by the difference between the ground state of Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions in the crystalline field of the lattice.     

μSR study of antiferromagnetic phase-transitions in dysprosium and holmium

It is shown that the temperature dependence Λ (T) of the muon spin relaxation rate in the paramagnetic state of dysprosium and holmium does not reveal any singularity at T−>T_N′ where T_N is the Neel temperature. This result contradicts the assumption of the second-order antiferromagnetic phase-transition in these metals and is in good agreement with computations within the renormalization group method.