Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of A=9,10A=9,10 nuclei

We report on quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the ground and low-lying excited states of $A=9,10$ nuclei using realistic Hamiltonians containing the Argonne $v_{18}$ two-nucleon potential alone or with one of several three-nucleon potentials, including Urbana IX and three of the new Illinois models. The calculations begin with correlated many-body wave functions that have an $\alpha$-like core and multiple p-shell nucleons, $LS$-coupled to the appropriate $(J^{\pi};T)$ quantum numbers for the state of interest. After optimization, these variational trial functions are used as input to a Green's function Monte Carlo calculation of the energy, using a constrained path algorithm. We find that the Hamiltonians that include Illinois three-nucleon potentials reproduce ten states in $^9$Li, $^9$Be, $^{10}$Be, and $^{10}$B with an rms deviation as little as 900 keV. In particular, we obtain the correct 3$^+$ ground state for $^{10}$B, whereas the Argonne $v_{18}$ alone or with Urbana IX predicts a 1$^+$ ground state. In addition, we calculate isovector and isotensor energy differences, electromagnetic moments, and one- and two-body density distributions.Comment: 28 pages, 12 tables, 7 figure

Transverse Dynamics and Energy Tuning of Fast Electrons Generated in Sub-Relativistic Intensity Laser Pulse Interaction with Plasmas

The regimes of quasi-mono-energetic electron beam generation were experimentally studied in the sub-relativistic intensity laser plasma interaction. The observed electron acceleration regime is unfolded with two-dimensional-particle-in-cell simulations of laser-wakefield generation in the self-modulation regime.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Measurement of the Gamow-Teller Strength Distribution in 58Co via the 58Ni(t,3He) reaction at 115 MeV/nucleon

Electron capture and beta decay play important roles in the evolution of pre-supernovae stars and their eventual core collapse. These rates are normally predicted through shell-model calculations. Experimentally determined strength distributions from charge-exchange reactions are needed to test modern shell-model calculations. We report on the measurement of the Gamow-Teller strength distribution in 58Co from the 58Ni(t,3He) reaction with a secondary triton beam of an intensity of ~10^6 pps at 115 MeV/nucleon and a resolution of \~250 keV. Previous measurements with the 58Ni(n,p) and the 58Ni(d,2He) reactions were inconsistent with each other. Our results support the latter. We also compare the results to predictions of large-scale shell model calculations using the KB3G and GXPF1 interactions and investigate the impact of differences between the various experiments and theories in terms of the weak rates in the stellar environment. Finally, the systematic uncertainties in the normalization of the strength distribution extracted from 58Ni(3He,t) are described and turn out to be non-negligible due to large interferences between the dL=0, dS=1 Gamow-Teller amplitude and the dL=2, dS=1 amplitude.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure

Do Hadronic Charge Exchange Reactions Measure Electroweak L = 1 Strength?

An eikonal model has been used to assess the relationship between calculated strengths for first forbidden beta decay and calculated cross sections for (p,n) charge exchange reactions. It is found that these are proportional for strong transitions, suggesting that hadronic charge exchange reactions may be useful in determining the spin-dipole matrix elements for astrophysically interesting leptonic transitions.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Physical Review

Chamber winds : Party music

Adam GorbErik SatieHK Grube

Gamow-Teller Strengths of the Inverse-Beta Transition 176Yb --> 176Lu for Spectroscopy of Proton-Proton and other sub-MeV Solar Neutrinos

Discrete Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions, 176Yb-->176Lu at low excitation energies have been measured via the (3He,t) reaction at 450 MeV and at 0 degrees. For 176Yb, two low-lying states are observed, setting low thresholds Q(neutrino)=301 and 445 keV for neutrino capture. Capture rates estimated from the measured GT strengths, the simple two-state excitation structure, and the low Q(neutrino) in Yb--Lu indicate that Yb-based neutrino-detectors are well suited for a direct measurement of the complete sub-MeV solar electron-neutrino spectrum (including pp neutrinos) where definitive effects of flavor conversion are expected

Structure of isobaric analog states in 91Nb populated by the 90Zr(a,t) reaction

Decay via proton emission of isobaric analog states (IAS's) in $^{91}{Nb}$ was studied using the $^{90}{Zr}(\alpha,t)$ reaction at $E_\alpha$=180 MeV. This study provides information about the damping mechanism of these states. Decay to the ground state and low-lying phonon states in $^{90}{Zr}$ was observed. The experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions wherein the IAS `single-particle' proton escape widths are calculated in a continuum RPA approach. The branching ratios for decay to the phonon states are explained using a simple model.Comment: 3 figures. submitted to Phys. Lett.

Soft X-ray harmonic comb from relativistic electron spikes

We demonstrate a new high-order harmonic generation mechanism reaching the `water window' spectral region in experiments with multi-terawatt femtosecond lasers irradiating gas jets. A few hundred harmonic orders are resolved, giving uJ/sr pulses. Harmonics are collectively emitted by an oscillating electron spike formed at the joint of the boundaries of a cavity and bow wave created by a relativistically self-focusing laser in underdense plasma. The spike sharpness and stability are explained by catastrophe theory. The mechanism is corroborated by particle-in-cell simulations

Low-lying states of 56 Fe

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