Path integral Monte Carlo simulation of charged particles in traps

This chapter is devoted to the computation of equilibrium (thermodynamic) properties of quantum systems. In particular, we will be interested in the situation where the interaction between particles is so strong that it cannot be treated as a small perturbation. For weakly coupled systems many efficient theoretical and computational techniques do exist. However, for strongly interacting systems such as nonideal gases or plasmas, strongly correlated electrons and so on, perturbation methods fail and alternative approaches are needed. Among them, an extremely successful one is the Monte Carlo (MC) method which we are going to consider in this chapter.Comment: 18 pages, based on talks on Hareaus school on computational methods, Greifswald, September 200

Probing Nuclear forces beyond the drip-line using the mirror nuclei 16^{16}N and 16^{16}F

Radioactive beams of $^{14}$O and $^{15}$O were used to populate the resonant states 1/2$^+$, 5/2$^+$ and $0^-,1^-,2^-$ in the unbound $^{15}$F and $^{16}$F nuclei respectively by means of proton elastic scattering reactions in inverse kinematics. Based on their large proton spectroscopic factor values, the resonant states in $^{16}$F can be viewed as a core of $^{14}$O plus a proton in the 2s$_{1/2}$ or 1d$_{5/2}$ shell and a neutron in 1p$_{1/2}$. Experimental energies were used to derive the strength of the 2s$_{1/2}$-1p$_{1/2}$ and 1d$_{5/2}$-1p$_{1/2}$ proton-neutron interactions. It is found that the former changes by 40% compared with the mirror nucleus $^{16}$N, and the second by 10%. This apparent symmetry breaking of the nuclear force between mirror nuclei finds explanation in the role of the large coupling to the continuum for the states built on an $\ell=0$ proton configuration.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication as a regular article in Physical Review

Spectroscopy of 28^{28}Na: shell evolution toward the drip line

Excited states in $^{28}$Na have been studied using the $\beta$-decay of implanted $^{28}$Ne ions at GANIL/LISE as well as the in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy at the NSCL/S800 facility. New states of positive (J$^{\pi}$=3,4$^+$) and negative (J$^{\pi}$=1-5$^-$) parity are proposed. The former arise from the coupling between 0d$\_{5/2}$ protons and a 0d$\_{3/2}$ neutron, while the latter are due to couplings with 1p$\_{3/2}$ or 0f$\_{7/2}$ neutrons. While the relative energies between the J$^{\pi}$=1-4$^+$ states are well reproduced with the USDA interaction in the N=17 isotones, a progressive shift in the ground state binding energy (by about 500 keV) is observed between $^{26}$F and $^{30}$Al. This points to a possible change in the proton-neutron 0d$\_{5/2}$-0d$\_{3/2}$ effective interaction when moving from stability to the drip line. The presence of J$^{\pi}$=1-4$^-$ negative parity states around 1.5 MeV as well as of a candidate for a J$^{\pi}$=5$^-$ state around 2.5 MeV give further support to the collapse of the N=20 gap and to the inversion between the 0f$\_{7/2}$ and 1p$\_{3/2}$ levels below Z=12. These features are discussed in the framework of Shell Model and EDF calculations, leading to predicted negative parity states in the low energy spectra of the $^{26}$F and $^{25}$O nuclei.Comment: Exp\'erience GANIL/LISE et NSCL/S80

New pathway to bypass the 15O waiting point

We propose the sequential reaction process $^{15}$O($p$,$\gamma)(\beta^{+}$)$^{16}$O as a new pathway to bypass of the $^{15}$O waiting point. This exotic reaction is found to have a surprisingly high cross section, approximately 10$^{10}$ times higher than the $^{15}$O($p$,$\beta^{+}$)$^{16}$O. These cross sections were calculated after precise measurements of energies and widths of the proton-unbound $^{16}$F low lying states, obtained using the H($^{15}$O,p)$^{15}$O reaction. The large $(p,\gamma)(\beta^{+})$ cross section can be understood to arise from the more efficient feeding of the low energy wing of the ground state resonance by the gamma decay. The implications of the new reaction in novae explosions and X-ray bursts are discussed.Comment: submitte

Initial State Dependence of the Breakup of Weakly Bound Carbon Isotopes

The one-neutron nuclear breakup from the Carbon isotopes $^{19}$C and $^{17}$C, is calculated as an example of application of the theory of transfer to the continuum reactions in the formulation which includes spin coupling. The effect of the energy sharing between the parallel and transverse neutron momentum distributions is taken into account thus resulting in a theory which is more general than sudden eikonal approaches. Both effects are necessary to understand properly the breakup from not too weakly bound $l_i>1$ orbitals. Breakup which leaves the core into an excited state below particle threshold is also considered. The core-target interaction is treated in the smooth cut-off approximation. By comparing to presently available experimental data we show how to make some hypothesis on the quantum numbers and occupancy of the neutron initial state. Possible ambiguities in the interpretation of inclusive cross sections are discussed.Comment: 22 RevTeX pages,3 ps figures. Phys. Rev. C, accepte

Measurement of 19Ne spectroscopic properties via a new method of inelastic scattering to study novae

The accuracy of the predictions of the γ flux produced by a classical nova during the first hours after the outburst is limited by the uncertainties on several reaction rates, including the 18F(p,α)15O one. Better constraints on this reaction rate can be obtained by determining the spectroscopic properties of the compound nucleus 19Ne. This was achieved in a new inelastic scattering method using a 19Ne radioactive beam (produced by the GANIL-SPIRAL 1 facility) impinging onto a proton target. The experiment was performed at the VAMOS spectrometer. In this article the performances (excitation energy range covered and excitation energy resolution) and limitations of the new technique are discussed. Excitation energy resolution of σ = 33 keV and low background were obtained with this inverse kinematics method, which will allow extracting the spectroscopic properties of 19Ne

Study of β-delayed charged particle emission of 11Li: Evidence of new decay channels

5 pags., 3 figs. -- 9th International Conference on Clustering Aspects of Nuclear Structure and Dynamics (CLUSTERS'07) 3–7 September 2007, Stratford upon Avon, UKThe break-up of the 18.2 MeV state in 11Be was studied in a 11Li β-decay experiment. We report here on the study of the dominating breakup channels involving na6He or 3n2α in the final state, with special emphasis dedicated in this contribution to the three-particle channel. The two emitted charged particles were detected in coincidence using a highly segmented experimental set-up. The observed experimental energy-vs-energy scatter plot indicates a sequential breakup where nuclei of mass 4, alpha particles, and mass 7, 7He, are involved. A Monte-Carlo simulation of the sequential channel, 11Be* → α + 7He → nα6He was performed and compared to the experimental data and to a simulation of the direct break-up of the 18.2 MeV state nα6He by phase space energy distribution. The energy-versus-energy plot are explained by the sequential simulation but not by the phase space simulation. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives