QMTool: an XML-based management platform for QoS-aware IP networks

Technological and human factors have contributed to the increasing complexity of the network management problem. Heterogeneity and globalization of network resources have, on one hand, increased user expectations for flexible and easy-to-use environments and, on the other, propounded entirely novel ways to face the management problem. Several research efforts recognize the need for integrated solutions to manage both network resources and services in open and global environments. Undoubtedly, these solutions should permit the coexistence of different management models and should interoperate with legacy systems. The presented management system, QoS management tool (QMTool), aspires to address the heterogeneity, complexity, and dynamic behavior of QoS-enabled IP networks by taking advantage of the optimum fit of a number of novel technologies. A layered framework architecture, including element, network management, and visualization service, is provided, and a high level of information abstraction in network configuration and monitoring is introduced mainly based on the capabilities of the Extensible Markup Language (XML). Moreover, the functional components for providing (re-)configuration, fault management monitoring, and network visualization facilities are also presented, followed by notes of implementation issues.     

Discovery of a new long-lived isomeric state in 125Ce

A new long-lived isomeric state in the near proton dripline nucleus ¹²⁵Ce has been identified with Schottky mass spectrometry at GSI. The excitation energy E ^* = 103(12)keV and the decay time of 193(1)s have been obtained from a single stored fully ionized ^125m Ce⁵⁸⁺ ion. The data implies an E3 transition and a 1/2⁺ assignment for the spin of the isomer.     

Fast handover support in a WLAN environment: challenges and perspectives

While handover management has traditionally used radio-technology-specific mechanisms, the need for integration of this diverse network environment has obviated the "push" of the handover functionality to the generic IP layer that serves the rendezvous point of underlying technologies. In this context, we study and analyze the implications of the link-layer agnostic operation of IP handover control on handover performance, having as a reference the fast mobile IPv6 protocol. We show that the behavior of the protocol (i.e., whether a reactive or proactive operation will be executed) is highly dependent on the timely availability of link layer information. A non-exhaustive list of generic link-layer triggers used for this purpose, as identified by the IEEE 802.21 WG, is also presented. Last, we apply this generic framework to a WLAN environment running fast mobile IPv6 and study the improvements in fast handoff support.     

High-resolution wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy of K-shell transitions in hydrogen-like gold

We present a measurement of K-shell transitions in H-like gold (Au⁷⁸⁺) using specially developed transmission type crystal spectrometers combined with Ge(i) microstrip detectors. The experiment has been carried out at the Experimental Storage Ring at GSI in Darmstadt. This is a first high-resolution wavelength-dispersive measurement of a K-shell transition in a high-Z H-like ion, thus representing an important milestone in this field. Ideas on possible future improvements are discussed as well.     

Observation of non-exponential orbital electron capture decays of hydrogen-like Pr and Pm ions

We report on time-modulated two-body weak decays observed in the orbital electron capture of hydrogen-like ¹⁴⁰Pr⁵⁹⁺ and ¹⁴²Pm⁶⁰⁺ ions coasting in an ion storage ring. Using non-destructive single ion, time-resolved Schottky mass spectrometry we found that the expected exponential decay is modulated in time with a modulation period of about 7 seconds for both systems. Tentatively this observation is attributed to the coherent superposition of finite mass eigenstates of the electron neutrinos from the weak decay into a two-body final state.     

Half-life measurements of stored fully ionized and hydrogen-like 122 I ions

The half-lives of fully ionized and hydrogen-like (H-like) ¹²²I ions have been measured in a heavy-ion storage ring. The $ \beta^{+}_{}$ -decay constants for both charge states and the electron capture (EC) decay constant of H-like ions have been determined. The EC-decay constant in H-like ¹²²I ions $\ensuremath \lambda^{\text{H-like}}_{\rm EC}=7.35(33)\cdot10^{-4}{\,\mbox{s}}^{-1}$ is, within the uncertainty, the same as the one in neutral atoms. This result is in agreement with the estimates of recent theoretical considerations on the EC-decay of few-electron ions that explicitly take into account the conservation of the total angular momentum of the nucleus plus lepton(s) system and its projections. No firm confirmation could be concluded from our results on the predicted effect that allowed Gamow-Teller transitions become forbidden if the initial and final total angular momenta are not equal.-1     

Orbital electron capture decay of hydrogen- and helium-like Pm ions

The β⁺${\beta }^{+}$ and orbital electron-capture decays of stored hydrogen- and helium-like ¹⁴²Pm ions have been measured. So far, such measurements have been performed with only one nucleus, namely ¹⁴⁰Pr. The electron-capture decay constant of hydrogen-like ¹⁴²Pm⁶⁰⁺ ions is about 50% larger than that of helium-like ¹⁴²Pm⁵⁹⁺ ions, which is in excellent agreement with the previous measurements in ¹⁴⁰Pr ions and with new theoretical predictions.     

Discovery of highly excited long-lived isomers in neutron-rich hafnium and tantalum isotopes through direct mass measurements

A study of cooled 1??Au projectile-fragmentation products has been performed with a storage ring. This has enabled metastable nuclear excitations with energies up to 3 MeV, and half-lives extending to minutes or longer, to be identified in the neutron-rich nuclides 1?3(,)1??(,)1??Hf and 1??(,)1??Ta. The results support the prediction of a strongly favored isomer region near neutron number 116.