Exact one- and two-particle excitation spectra of acute-angle helimagnets above their saturation magnetic field

The two-magnon problem for the frustrated XXZ spin-1/2 Heisenberg Hamiltonian and external magnetic fields exceeding the saturation field Bs is considered. We show that the problem can be exactly mapped onto an effective tight-binding impurity problem. It allows to obtain explicit exact expressions for the two-magnon Green's functions for arbitrary dimension and number of interactions. We apply this theory to a quasi-one dimensional helimagnet with ferromagnetic nearest neighbor J1 < 0 and antiferromagnetic next-nearest neighbor J2 > 0 interactions. An outstanding feature of the excitation spectrum is the existence of two-magnon bound states. This leads to deviations of the saturation field Bs from its classical value Bs(classical) which coincides with the one-magnon instability. For the refined frustration ratio |J2/J1|> 0.374661 the minimum of the two-magnon spectrum occurs at the boundary of the Brillouin zone. Based on the two-magnon approach, we propose general analytic expressions for the saturation field Bs, confirming known previous results for one-dimensional isotropic systems, but explore also the role of interchain and long-ranged intrachain interactions as well as of the exchange anisotropy.Comment: 21 pages, 6 Figures. submitted to Phys. Rev.

Measurement of the elastic scattering cross section of neutrons from argon and neon

Background: The most significant source of background in direct dark matter searches are neutrons that scatter elastically from nuclei in the detector's sensitive volume. Experimental data for the elastic scattering cross section of neutrons from argon and neon, which are target materials of interest to the dark matter community, were previously unavailable. Purpose: Measure the differential cross section for elastic scattering of neutrons from argon and neon in the energy range relevant to backgrounds from (alpha,n) reactions in direct dark matter searches. Method: Cross-section data were taken at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) using the neutron time-of-flight technique. These data were fit using the spherical optical model. Results: The differential cross section for elastic scatting of neutrons from neon at 5.0 and 8.0 MeV and argon at 6.0 MeV was measured. Optical-model parameters for the elastic scattering reactions were determined from the best fit to these data. The total elastic scattering cross section for neon was found to differ by 6% at 5.0 MeV and 13% at 8.0 MeV from global optical-model predictions. Compared to a local optical-model for 40Ar, the elastic scattering cross section was found to differ from the data by 8% at 6.0 MeV. Conclusions: These new data are important for improving Monte-Carlo simulations and background estimates for direct dark matter searches and for benchmarking optical models of neutron elastic scattering from these nuclei

Measurements at low energies of the polarization-transfer coefficient Kyy' for the reaction 3H(p,n)3He at 0 degrees

Measurements of the transverse polarization coefficient Kyy' for the reaction 3H(p,n)3He are reported for outgoing neutron energies of 1.94, 5.21, and 5.81 MeV. This reaction is important both as a source of polarized neutrons for nuclear physics experiments, and as a test of theoretical descriptions of the nuclear four-body system. Comparison is made to previous measurements, confirming the 3H(p,n)3He reaction can be used as a polarized neutron source with the polarization known to an accuracy of approximately 5%. Comparison to R-matrix theory suggests that the sign of the 3F3 phase-shift parameter is incorrect. Changing the sign of this parameter dramatically improves the agreement between theory and experiment.Comment: 12 pages, RevTeX, 5 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Effects of the magnetic moment interaction between nucleons on observables in the 3N continuum

The influence of the magnetic moment interaction of nucleons on nucleon-deuteron elastic scattering and breakup cross sections and on elastic scattering polarization observables has been studied. Among the numerous elastic scattering observables only the vector analyzing powers were found to show a significant effect, and of opposite sign for the proton-deuteron and neutron-deuteron systems. This finding results in an even larger discrepancy than the one previously established between neutron-deuteron data and theoretical calculations. For the breakup reaction the largest effect was found for the final-state-interaction cross sections. The consequences of this observation on previous determinations of the ^1S_0 scattering lengths from breakup data are discussed.Comment: 24 pages, 6 ps figures, 1 png figur

Neutron-proton analyzing power at 12 MeV and inconsistencies in parametrizations of nucleon-nucleon data

We present the most accurate and complete data set for the analyzing power Ay(theta) in neutron-proton scattering. The experimental data were corrected for the effects of multiple scattering, both in the center detector and in the neutron detectors. The final data at En = 12.0 MeV deviate considerably from the predictions of nucleon-nucleon phase-shift analyses and potential models. The impact of the new data on the value of the charged pion-nucleon coupling constant is discussed in a model study.Comment: Six pages, four figures, one table, to be published in Physics Letters

Composition of LHB Comets and Their Influence on the Early Earth Atmosphere Composition

Two main processes were responsible for the composition of this atmosphere: chemical evolution of the volatile fraction of the accretion material forming the planet and the delivery of gasses to the planetary surface by impactors during the late heavy bombardment (LHB). The amount and composition of the volatile fraction influences the outgassing of the Earth mantle during the last planetary formation period. A very weakened form of outgassing activity can still be observed today by examining the composition of volcanic gasses. An enlightenment of the second process is based on the sparse records of the LHB impactors resulting from the composition of meteorites, observed cometary comas, and the impact material found on the Moon. However, for an assessment of the influence of the outgassing on the one hand and the LHB event on the other, one has to supplement the observations with numerical simulations of the formation of volatiles and their incorporation into the accretion material which is the precursors of planetary matter, comets and asteroids. These simulations are performed with a combined hydrodynamic-chemical model of the solar nebula (SN). We calculate the chemical composition of the gas and dust phase of the SN. From these data, we draw conclusions on the upper limits of the water content and the amount of carbon and nitrogen rich volatiles incorporated later into the accretion material. Knowing these limits we determine the portion of major gas compounds delivered during the LHB and compare it with the related quantities of the outgassed species

Earth-like Habitats in Planetary Systems

Understanding the concept of habitability is related to an evolutionary knowledge of the particular planet-in-question. Additional indications so-called "systemic aspects" of the planetary system as a whole governs a particular planet's claim on habitability. Here we focus on such systemic aspects and discuss their relevance to the formation of an 'Earth-like' habitable planet. We summarize our results obtained by lunar sample work and numerical models within the framework of the Research Alliance "Planetary Evolution and Life". We consider various scenarios which simulate the dynamical evolution of the Solar System and discuss the likelihood of forming an Earth-like world orbiting another star. Our model approach is constrained by observations of the modern Solar System and the knowledge of its history. Results suggest that the long-term presence of terrestrial planets is jeopardized due to gravitational interactions if giant planets are present. But habitability of inner rocky planets may be supported in those planetary systems hosting giant planets. Gravitational interactions within a complex multiple-body structure including giant planets may supply terrestrial planets with materials which formed in the colder region of the proto-planetary disk. During these processes, water, the prime requisite for habitability, is delivered to the inner system. This may occur either during the main accretion phase of terrestrial planets or via impacts during a post-accretion bombardment. Results for both processes are summarized and discussed with reference to the lunar crater record. Starting from a scenario involving migration of the giant planets this contribution discusses the delivery of water to Earth, the modification of atmospheres by impacts in a planetary system context and the likelihood of the existence of extrasolar Earth-like habitable worlds.Comment: 36 Pages, 6 figures, 2014, Special Issue in Planetary and Space Science on the Helmholtz Research Alliance on Planetary Evolution and Lif

Effects of hole-doping on the magnetic ground state and excitations in the edge-sharing CuO2_2 chains of Ca2+x_{2+x}Y2−x_{2-x}Cu5_5O10_{10}

Neutron scattering experiments were performed on the undoped and hole-doped Ca$_{2+x}$Y$_{2-x}$Cu$_5$O$_{10}$, which consists of ferromagnetic edge-sharing CuO$_2$ chains. It was previously reported that in the undoped Ca$_2$Y$_2$Cu$_5$O$_{10}$ there is an anomalous broadening of spin-wave excitations along the chain, which is caused mainly by the antiferromagnetic interchain interactions [Matsuda $et$ $al.$, Phys. Rev. B 63, 180403(R) (2001)]. A systematic study of temperature and hole concentration dependencies of the magnetic excitations shows that the magnetic excitations are softened and broadened with increasing temperature or doping holes irrespective of $Q$ direction. The broadening is larger at higher $Q$. A characteristic feature is that hole-doping is much more effective to broaden the excitations along the chain. It is also suggested that the intrachain interaction does not change so much with increasing temperature or doping although the anisotropic interaction and the interchain interaction are reduced. In the spin-glass phase ($x$=1.5) and nearly disordered phase ($x$=1.67) the magnetic excitations are much broadened in energy and $Q$. It is suggested that the spin-glass phase originates from the antiferromagnetic clusters, which are caused by the hole disproportionation.Comment: 8 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The electric dipole response of 76^{76}Se above 4 MeV

The dipole response of $^{76}_{34}$Se in the energy range 4 to 9 MeV has been analyzed using a $(\vec\gamma,{\gamma}')$ polarized photon scattering technique, performed at the High Intensity $\gamma$-Ray Source facility, to complement previous work performed using unpolarized photons. The results of this work offer both an enhanced sensitivity scan of the dipole response and an unambiguous determination of the parities of the observed J=1 states. The dipole response is found to be dominated by $E1$ excitations, and can reasonably be attributed to a pygmy dipole resonance. Evidence is presented to suggest that a significant amount of directly unobserved excitation strength is present in the region, due to unobserved branching transitions in the decays of resonantly excited states. The dipole response of the region is underestimated when considering only ground state decay branches. We investigate the electric dipole response theoretically, performing calculations in a 3D cartesian-basis time-dependent Skyrme-Hartree-Fock framework.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures, to be submitted to PR