Total reaction cross sections for neutron-nucleus scattering

Neutron total reaction cross sections at 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 75 MeV from nuclei 12C, 28Si, 56Fe, 90Zr, and 208Pb have been measured and are compared with (microscopic) optical model predictions. The optical potentials were obtained in coordinate space by full folding effective nucleon-nucleon interactions with realistic nuclear ground state density matrices. Good to excellent agreement is found.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, RevTeX

Antiflow of kaons in relativistic heavy ion collisions

We compare relativistic transport model calculations to recent data on the sideward flow of neutral strange K^0_s mesons for Au+Au collisions at 6 AGeV. A soft nuclear equation of state is found to describe very well the positive proton flow data measured in the same experiment. In the absence of kaon potential, the K^0 flow pattern is similar to that of protons. The kaon flow becomes negative if a repulsive kaon potential determined from the impulse approximation is introduced. However, this potential underestimates the data which exhibits larger antiflow. An excellent agreement with the data is obtained when a relativistic scalar-vector kaon potential, that has stronger density dependence, is used. We further find that the transverse momentum dependence of directed and elliptic flow is quite sensitive to the kaon potential in dense matter.Comment: 5 pages, Revtex, 4 figure

Skyrme Hartree-Fock Calculations for the Alpha Decay Q Values of Super-Heavy Nuclei

Hartree-Fock calculations with the SKX Skyrme interaction are carried out to obtain alpha-decay Q values for deformed nuclei above $^{208}$Pb assuming axial symmetry. The results for even-even nuclei are compared with experiment and with previous calculations. Predictions are made for alpha-decay Q values and half-lives of even-even super-heavy nuclei. The results are also compared for the recently discovered odd-even chain starting at Z=112 and N=165.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Kinematic and Kinetic Components of Rope Skipping: A Pilot Study

Rationale: Skipping has been a back-yard activity for many generations, and is universally accepted as an activity with high aerobic demand. Recently, skipping has been recognized as a competitive sport and is supported by the Canadian Skipping Association. The action of skipping can be described as a reoccurring stationary vertical jump whereby both feet lose contact with the ground to allow a rotating rope to pass beneath them. The height of each jump varies according to the individual's objective, for example, to jump at maximum speed. Scientific data available on this event are limited since the sport is in its infancy as a competitive event. With the increased interest at the recrea- tional level as well as the rapid development at the competitive level, the need for scientifically based instruction and coaching methods is apparent. Objective: The primary objective of the present study was to provide a biomechanical analysis of speed-skipping as performed by novice and skilled individuals. A kinetic analysis determined the relative directions and magnitudes of forces (ground reaction forces) on the body at the point of impact. A kinematic analysis compared the performance styles and motor ' patterns of skilled and novice subjects. Methods: Six novice and six skilled skipping performances were tested. Their results provided all data for both kinematic and kinetic analyses. Measurement of ground reaction forces were accomplished by collecting quantitative data using an AMTI force platform. In addition, each subject's performance was cinematographically recorded at a film speed of 200 frames per second by using two LOCAM cameras positioned so that filming angles were at right angles to each other. A planar analysis was performed of a "side view" of the performer while the "front view" was used qualitatively to register information regarding frontal plane movement and asymmetrical differences. Results: Preliminary results indicate that expert jumpers employ a minimum of displacement of both the upper and lower exterrnities, locate the centre of pressure at one spot with minimal deviation on successive jumps, and jump at hig- her frequencies than novice -i um-p ers. The ty- -p ical unwei-g htin-g - weighting pattern seen in most jumps in order to gain force is not seen with the expert because the jumper is "punching" the platform. Novices typically rotate the hands in a larger arc, lift the feet higher by employing larger ranges of knee and hip flexion, and display high variability in the location of the centre of pressure with each successive jump

KINETIC COMPONENTS OF ROPE SKIPPING: A PILOT STUDY

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Mirror displacement energies and neutron skins

A gross estimate of the neutron skin [0.80(5)$(N-Z)/A$ fm] is extracted from experimental proton radii, represented by a four parameter fit, and observed mirror displacement energies (CDE). The calculation of the latter relies on an accurately derived Coulomb energy and smooth averages of the charge symmetry breaking potentials constrained to state of the art values. The only free parameter is the neutron skin itself. The Nolen Schiffer anomaly is reduced to small deviations (rms=127 keV) that exhibit a secular trend. It is argued that with state of the art shell model calculations the anomaly should disappear. Highly accurate fits to proton radii emerge as a fringe benefit.Comment: 4 pages 3 figures, superseeds first part of nucl-th/0104048 Present is new extended version: 5 pages 4 figures. Explains more clearly the achievements of the previous on

Formation of superdense hadronic matter in high energy heavy-ion collisions

We present the detail of a newly developed relativistic transport model (ART 1.0) for high energy heavy-ion collisions. Using this model, we first study the general collision dynamics between heavy ions at the AGS energies. We then show that in central collisions there exists a large volume of sufficiently long-lived superdense hadronic matter whose local baryon and energy densities exceed the critical densities for the hadronic matter to quark-gluon plasma transition. The size and lifetime of this matter are found to depend strongly on the equation of state. We also investigate the degree and time scale of thermalization as well as the radial flow during the expansion of the superdense hadronic matter. The flow velocity profile and the temperature of the hadronic matter at freeze-out are extracted. The transverse momentum and rapidity distributions of protons, pions and kaons calculated with and without the mean field are compared with each other and also with the preliminary data from the E866/E802 collaboration to search for experimental observables that are sensitive to the equation of state. It is found that these inclusive, single particle observables depend weakly on the equation of state. The difference between results obtained with and without the nuclear mean field is only about 20\%. The baryon transverse collective flow in the reaction plane is also analyzed. It is shown that both the flow parameter and the strength of the ``bounce-off'' effect are very sensitive to the equation of state. In particular, a soft equation of state with a compressibility of 200 MeV results in an increase of the flow parameter by a factor of 2.5 compared to the cascade case without the mean field. This large effect makes it possible to distinguish the predictions from different theoretical models and to detect the signaturesComment: 55 pages, latex, + 39 figures available upon reques

Parity Mixed Doublets in A = 36 Nuclei

The $\gamma$-circular polarizations ($P_{\gamma}$) and asymmetries ($A_{\gamma}$) of the parity forbidden M1 + E2 $\gamma$-decays: $^{36}Cl^{\ast} (J^{\pi} = 2^{-}; T = 1; E_{x} = 1.95$ MeV) $\rightarrow$ $^{36}Cl (J^{\pi} = 2^{+}; T = 1; g.s.)$ and $^{36}Ar^{\ast} (J^{\pi} = 2^{-}; T = 0; E_{x} = 4.97$ MeV) $\rightarrow$ $^{36}Ar^{\ast} (J^{\pi} = 2^{+}; T = 0; E_{x} = 1.97$ MeV) are investigated theoretically. We use the recently proposed Warburton-Becker-Brown shell-model interaction. For the weak forces we discuss comparatively different weak interaction models based on different assumptions for evaluating the weak meson-hadron coupling constants. The results determine a range of $P_{\gamma}$ values from which we find the most probable values: $P_{\gamma}$ = $1.1 \cdot 10^{-4}$ for $^{36}Cl$ and $P_{\gamma}$ = $3.5 \cdot 10^{-4}$ for $^{36}Ar$.Comment: RevTeX, 17 pages; to appear in Phys. Rev.

A simple functional form for proton-nucleus total reaction cross sections

A simple functional form has been found that gives a good representation of the total reaction cross sections for the scattering of protons from (15) nuclei spanning the mass range ${}^{9}$Be to ${}^{238}$U and for proton energies ranging from 20 to 300 MeV.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, bib fil

Correlation between the quenching of total GT+ strength and the increase of E2 strength

Relations between the total beta+ Gamow-Teller (GT+) strength and the E2 strength are further examined. It is found that in shell-model calculations for N=Z nuclei, in which changes in deformation are induced by varying the single-particle energies, the total GT+ or GT- strength decreases monotonically with increasing values of the B(E2) from the ground state to the first excited J=2+ state. Similar trends are also seen for the double GT transition amplitude (with some exceptions) and for the spin part of the total M1 strength as a function of B(E2).Comment: 11 pages and 3 figures (Figures will be sent on request