Radii and binding energies in oxygen isotopes: a puzzle for nuclear forces

We present a systematic study of both nuclear radii and binding energies in (even) oxygen isotopes from the valley of stability to the neutron drip line. Both charge and matter radii are compared to state-of-the-art {\it ab initio} calculations along with binding energy systematics. Experimental matter radii are obtained through a complete evaluation of the available elastic proton scattering data of oxygen isotopes. We show that, in spite of a good reproduction of binding energies, {\it ab initio} calculations with conventional nuclear interactions derived within chiral effective field theory fail to provide a realistic description of charge and matter radii. A novel version of two- and three-nucleon forces leads to considerable improvement of the simultaneous description of the three observables for stable isotopes, but shows deficiencies for the most neutron-rich systems. Thus, crucial challenges related to the development of nuclear interactions remain.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Nature Physics, April 12th 2016; first version (v1 Arxiv) Internal Report Preprint Irfu-18 December 2015. 6 p., 5 fig., Submitted to Physical Review Letters, April 29, May 3rd 2016; 2nd version. Int. Rep. Irfu-24 May 2016. Published in PRL, 27 July 2016 with the modified title (Radii and binding energies in oxygen isotopes: a challenge for nuclear forces

The Lax pairs for the Holt system

By using non-canonical transformation between the Holt system and the Henon-Heiles system the Lax pairs for all the integrable cases of the Holt system are constructed from the known Lax representations for the Henon-Heiles system.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX2e, a4.st

Cryptic choice of conspecific sperm controlled by the impact of ovarian fluid on sperm swimming behavior

Despite evidence that variation in male–female reproductive compatibility exists in many fertilization systems, identifying mechanisms of cryptic female choice at the gamete level has been a challenge. Here, under risks of genetic incompatibility through hybridization, we show how salmon and trout eggs promote fertilization by conspecific sperm. Using in vitro fertilization experiments that replicate the gametic microenvironment, we find complete interfertility between both species. However, if either species’ ova were presented with equivalent numbers of both sperm types, conspecific sperm gained fertilization precedence. Surprisingly, the species’ identity of the eggs did not explain this cryptic female choice, which instead was primarily controlled by conspecific ovarian fluid, a semiviscous, protein-rich solution that bathes the eggs and is released at spawning. Video analyses revealed that ovarian fluid doubled sperm motile life span and straightened swimming trajectory, behaviors allowing chemoattraction up a concentration gradient. To confirm chemoattraction, cell migration tests through membranes containing pores that approximated to the egg micropyle showed that conspecific ovarian fluid attracted many more spermatozoa through the membrane, compared with heterospecific fluid or water. These combined findings together identify how cryptic female choice can evolve at the gamete level and promote reproductive isolation, mediated by a specific chemoattractive influence of ovarian fluid on sperm swimming behavior

On the Drach superintegrable systems

Cubic invariants for two-dimensional degenerate Hamiltonian systems are considered by using variables of separation of the associated St\"ackel problems with quadratic integrals of motion. For the superintegrable St\"ackel systems the cubic invariant is shown to admit new algebro-geometric representation that is far more elementary than the all the known representations in physical variables. A complete list of all known systems on the plane which admit a cubic invariant is discussed.Comment: 16 pages, Latex2e+Amssym

A Geometrical Method of Decoupling

The computation of tunes and matched beam distributions are essential steps in the analysis of circular accelerators. If certain symmetries - like midplane symmetrie - are present, then it is possible to treat the betatron motion in the horizontal, the vertical plane and (under certain circumstances) the longitudinal motion separately using the well-known Courant-Snyder theory, or to apply transformations that have been described previously as for instance the method of Teng and Edwards. In a preceeding paper it has been shown that this method requires a modification for the treatment of isochronous cyclotrons with non-negligible space charge forces. Unfortunately the modification was numerically not as stable as desired and it was still unclear, if the extension would work for all thinkable cases. Hence a systematic derivation of a more general treatment seemed advisable. In a second paper the author suggested the use of real Dirac matrices as basic tools to coupled linear optics and gave a straightforward recipe to decouple positive definite Hamiltonians with imaginary eigenvalues. In this article this method is generalized and simplified in order to formulate a straightforward method to decouple Hamiltonian matrices with eigenvalues on the real and the imaginary axis. It is shown that this algebraic decoupling is closely related to a geometric "decoupling" by the orthogonalization of the vectors $\vec E$, $\vec B$ and $\vec P$, that were introduced with the so-called "electromechanical equivalence". We present a structure-preserving block-diagonalization of symplectic or Hamiltonian matrices, respectively. When used iteratively, the decoupling algorithm can also be applied to n-dimensional systems and requires ${\cal O}(n^2)$ iterations to converge to a given precision.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Identification of mixed-symmetry states in an odd-mass nearly-spherical nucleus

The low-spin structure of 93Nb has been studied using the (n,n' gamma) reaction at neutron energies ranging from 1.5 to 3.0 MeV and the 94Zr(p,2n gamma)93Nb reaction at bombarding energies from 11.5 to 19 MeV. States at 1779.7 and 1840.6 keV, respectively, are proposed as mixed-symmetry states associated with the coupling of a proton hole in the p_1/2 orbit to the 2+_1,ms state in 94Mo. These assignments are derived from the observed M1 and E2 transition strengths to the symmetric one-phonon states, energy systematics, spins and parities, and comparison with shell model calculations.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Formalism for obtaining nuclear momentum distributions by the Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering technique

We present a new formalism to obtain momentum distributions in condensed matter from Neutron Compton Profiles measured by the Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering technique. The formalism describes exactly the Neutron Compton Profiles as an integral in the momentum variable $y$. As a result we obtain a Volterra equation of the first kind that relates the experimentally measured magnitude with the momentum distributions of the nuclei in the sample. The integration kernel is related with the incident neutron spectrum, the total cross section of the filter analyzer and the detectors efficiency function. A comparison of the present formalism with the customarily employed approximation based on a convolution of the momentum distribution with a resolution function is presented. We describe the inaccuracies that the use of this approximation produces, and propose a new data treatment procedure based on the present formalism.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Chandra Detection of the Forward and Reverse Shocks in Cassiopeia-A

We report the localization of the forward and reversed shock fronts in the young supernova remnant Cas-A using X-ray data obtained with the Chandra Observatory. High resolution X-ray maps resolve a previously unseen X-ray feature encompassing the extremity of the remnant. This feature consists of thin, tangential wisps of emission bordering the outer edge of the thermal X-ray and radio remnant, forming a circular rim, approx. 2.7 in radius. Radio images show a sharp rise in brightness at this X-ray rim, along with a large jump in the synchrotron polarization angle. These characteristics suggest that these wisps are the previously unresolved signature of the forward, or outer, shock. Similarly, we identify the sharp rise in emissivity of the bright shell for both the radio and X-ray line emission associated with the reverse shock. The derived ratio of the averaged forward and reverse shock radii of approx. 3:2 constrains the remnant to have swept up roughly the same amount of mass as was ejected; this suggests that Cas-A is just entering the Sedov phase. Comparison of the X-ray spectra from the two shock regions shows that the equivalent widths of prominent emission lines are significantly lower exterior to the bright shell, as expected if they are respectively identified with the shocked circumstellar material and shocked ejecta. Furthermore, the spectrum of the outer rim itself is dominated by power-law emission, likely the counterpart of the non-thermal component previously seen at energies above 10 keV.Comment: 7 pages with 5 figures, LaTex, emulateapj.sty. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

No evidence for killer sperm or other selective interactions between human spermatozoa in ejaculates of different males in vitro

This study examines one of the possible mechanisms of sperm competition, i.e. the kamikaze sperm hypothesis. This hypothesis states that sperm from different males interact to incapacitate each other in a variety of ways. We used ejaculates from human donors to compare mixes of semen in vitro from the same or different males. We measured the following parameters: (i) the degree of sperm aggregation, velocity and proportion of morphologically normal sperm after 1 and 3 h incubation in undiluted semen samples, (ii) the proportion of viable sperm plus the same parameters as in (i) in 'swim-up' sperm suspensions after 1 and 3 h incubation, (iii) the degree of self and non-self sperm aggregation using fluorescent dyes to distinguish the sperm of different males, and (iv) the extent of sperm capacitation and acrosome-reacted sperm in mixtures of sperm from the same and different males. We observed very few significant changes in sperm aggregation or performance in mixtures of sperm from different males compared with mixtures from the same male and none that were consistent with previously reported findings. The incapacitation of rival sperm therefore seems an unlikely mechanism of sperm competition in humans