Sequential processes in the14N(τ,pα)12C* reaction

α-particle and proton spectra in coincidence with the 4.44 MeVγ-ray from the¹²C first excited state have been taken atE _τ MeV. Several states in¹³N and¹⁶O are seen to contribute to the decay sequenceα?p andp?α respectively. Estimates are given for the branching of these two decay modes and for a possible simultaneous break-up.     

Magnetic-field dependence of the maximum supercurrent of La2-xCexCuO4-y interferometers: evidence for a predominant dx2-y2 superconducting order parameter

We performed a phase-sensitive test of the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter of the electron doped cuprate La(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y) using a superconducting quantum interferometer with spatially distributed Josephson junctions. The studies were made on a thin film grown on a SrTiO3 tetracrystal substrate. The superconducting transition temperature was about 29 K which indicates that the sample is close to optimal doping. The magnetic field dependence of the critical current gives strong evidence for a predominant dx(2)(-y(2)) order parameter symmetry of the sample measured. It also gives upper limits for the s-wave component in a mixed order parameter of the type s+idx(2)(-y(2)).     

Evidence of a precursor superconducting phase at temperatures as high as 180 K in RBa2Cu3O(7-δ) (R=Y, Gd, Eu) superconducting crystals from infrared spectroscopy

We show that a multilayer analysis of the infrared c-axis response of RBa2Cu3O(7-δ) (R=Y, Gd, Eu) provides important new information about the anomalous normal-state properties of underdoped cuprate high temperature superconductors. In addition to competing correlations which give rise to a pseudogap that depletes the low-energy electronic states below T*?T(c), it enables us to identify the onset of a precursor superconducting state below T(ons)>T(c). We map out the doping phase diagram of T(ons) which reaches a maximum of 180 K at strong underdoping and present magnetic field dependent data which confirm our conclusions.     

Direct observation of local Mn-Mn distances in the paramagnetic compound CsMn(x)Mg(1-x)Br3

We introduce a novel method for local structure determination with a spatial resolution of the order of 0.01 ?. It can be applied to materials containing clusters of exchange-coupled magnetic atoms. We use neutron spectroscopy to probe the energies of the cluster excitations which are determined by the interatomic coupling strength J. Since for most materials J is related to the interatomic distance R through a linear relation dJ/dR=α (for dR/R?1), we can directly derive the local distance R from the observed excitation energies. This is exemplified for the mixed one-dimensional paramagnetic compound CsMn(x)Mg(1-x)Br3 (x=0.05,0.10) containing manganese dimers oriented along the hexagonal c axis. Surprisingly, the resulting Mn-Mn distances R do not vary continuously with increasing internal pressure but lock in at some discrete values.     

Study of smectic elastomer films under uniaxial stress

We study the mechanical properties of free-standing films of smectic liquid crystalline elastomers. Macroscopically ordered elastomer films of submicrometer thickness are prepared from freely suspended smectic A polymer films by photo crosslinking. The deformation characteristics depend criticically on the sample composition, in particular on the density of mesogenic side chains at the siloxane backbone. In materials where the siloxane backbone is only partially substituted (dilute systems), a uniaxial stretching of the films in the layer plane is accompanied by a shrinkage of the smectic layers. This layer shrinkage is to only a minor extent achieved by the induction of a molecular tilt. We conclude that the layer compression modulus (enthalpic contribution to elasticity) in such materials is very weak. In materials with a fully substituted backbone (homopolymers), the smectic layer thickness is preserved under uniaxial stress in the layer planes.     

Kinetic energy spectrum and polarization of neutrons from the reaction 12C(p,n)X at 590 MeV

Abstact: The kinetic energy spectrum and the polarization of the PSI neutron beam produced in the reaction ¹²C(p,n)X at 0° with 590 MeV polarized protons were investigated. A strong energy dependence of the neutron beam polarization is observed which was not expected at the time the neutron beam was built. Received: 3 April 1998     

Measurement of the spin correlationA ookk innp elastic scattering between 0.63 and 1.08 GeV

We present the measurements of the spin correlation parameterA _ookk (np). A longitudinally polarized beam of free neutrons obtained from the break-up of polarized deuterons was scattered on the longitudinally polarized Saclay frozen-spin proton target. Measurements were carried out at SATURNE II, at neutron beam kinetic energies of 0.63, 0.88, 0.98 and 1.08 GeV. The data points cover the angular region from about 40° to 110° CM. The observed angular dependence ofA _ookk (np) at 0.63 GeV agree with the phase shift analysis predictions except at small angles.     

Isobaric analogue states in strontium isotopes

Zeitschrift für Physik A Hadrons and nuclei - Excitation functions for the reactions87Rb(p, n)87Sr and85Rb(p, n)85Sr have been measured in the energy range 2.3–5.6 MeV. Some isobaric...