Fusion of neutron rich oxygen isotopes in the crust of accreting neutron stars

Fusion reactions in the crust of an accreting neutron star are an important source of heat, and the depth at which these reactions occur is important for determining the temperature profile of the star. Fusion reactions depend strongly on the nuclear charge $Z$. Nuclei with $Z\le 6$ can fuse at low densities in a liquid ocean. However, nuclei with Z=8 or 10 may not burn until higher densities where the crust is solid and electron capture has made the nuclei neutron rich. We calculate the $S$ factor for fusion reactions of neutron rich nuclei including $^{24}$O + $^{24}$O and $^{28}$Ne + $^{28}$Ne. We use a simple barrier penetration model. The $S$ factor could be further enhanced by dynamical effects involving the neutron rich skin. This possible enhancement in $S$ should be studied in the laboratory with neutron rich radioactive beams. We model the structure of the crust with molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the crust of accreting neutron stars may contain micro-crystals or regions of phase separation. Nevertheless, the screening factors that we determine for the enhancement of the rate of thermonuclear reactions are insensitive to these features. Finally, we calculate the rate of thermonuclear $^{24}$O + $^{24}$O fusion and find that $^{24}$O should burn at densities near $10^{11}$ g/cm$^3$. The energy released from this and similar reactions may be important for the temperature profile of the star.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figs, minor changes, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Pairing in high-density neutron matter including short- and long-range correlations

Pairing gaps in neutron matter need to be computed in a wide range of densities to address open questions in neutron-star phenomenology. Traditionally, the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer approach has been used to compute gaps from bare nucleon-nucleon interactions. Here we incorporate the influence of short-and long-range correlations in the pairing gaps. Short-range correlations are treated, including the appropriate fragmentation of single-particle states, and substantially suppress the gaps. Long-range correlations dress the pairing interaction via density and spin modes and provide a relatively small correction. We use different interactions, some with three-body forces, as a starting point to control for any systematic effects. Results are relevant for neutron-star cooling scenarios, in particular in view of the recent observational data on Cassiopeia A

Microscopic self-energy of 40{}^{40}Ca from the charge-dependent Bonn potential

The effects of short-range correlations on the nucleon self-energy in $^{40}$Ca are investigated using the charge-dependent Bonn (CDBonn) interaction. Comparisons are made with recent results for the self-energy of $^{40}$Ca derived from the dispersive optical-model (DOM). Particular emphasis is placed on the non-locality of the imaginary part of the microscopic self-energy which suggests that future DOM analyses should include this feature. In particular, data below the Fermi energy appear sensitive to the implied orbital angular momentum dependence of the self-energy. Quasiparticle properties obtained for the CDBonn interaction are substantially more mean-field-like than the corresponding DOM results with spectroscopic factors larger by about 0.2 e.g. Reaction cross sections obtained from the microscopic self-energy for scattering energies up to 100 MeV indicate that an adequate description of volume absorption is obtained while a considerable fraction of surface absorption is missing. The analysis of the non-locality of the imaginary part of the microscopic self-energy suggests that a simple gaussian provides an adequate description, albeit with rather large values for $\beta$, the non-locality parameter.Comment: 18 pages, 19 figures, 4 table

GaSb/Mn multilayers structures fabricated by DC magnetron sputtering: Interface feature and nano-scale surface topography

The multilayer structure is a well-studied architecture for electronic and optoelectronic applications and more recently in spintronic devices. In this work, we present the structural, morphological, topographical, and magnetic properties of GaSb/Mn multilayers deposited via DC magnetron sputtering at room temperature and 423 K. Raman measurements evidence the formation of p-type GaSb layers with a contribution of electrons in the multilayer due to the neighboring Mn layer and the formation of effective interlayers. HR-SEM measurements show the multilayer architecture with columnar microstructure in the layer’s formation, while AFM micrographs allowed observing the changes in grain sizes (between 129 and 187 nm) and roughness (between 1.47 nm and 6.28 nm) with increasing number of layers. The formation of the interlayers between the GaSb and Mn layer was assayed in-depth spectroscopically via Rutherford backscattering studies. These interlayers were associated with diffusion processes during deposition and contributed to the magnetic behavior of multilayers. A ferromagnetic-like behavior was observed in the multilayer

The effect of substrate roughness on air entrainment in dip coating

YesDynamic wetting failure was observed in the simple dip coating flow with a series of substrates, which had a rough side and a comparatively smoother side. When we compared the air entrainment speeds on both sides, we found a switch in behaviour at a critical viscosity. At viscosity lower than a critical value, the rough side entrained air at lower speeds than the smooth side. Above the critical viscosity the reverse was observed, the smooth side entraining air at lower speed than the rough side. Only substrates with significant roughness showed this behaviour. Below a critical roughness, the rough side always entrained air at lower speeds than the smooth side. These results have both fundamental and practical merits. They support the hydrodynamic theory of dynamic wetting failure and imply that one can coat viscous fluids at higher speeds than normal by roughening substrates. A mechanism and a model are presented to explain dynamic wetting failure on rough surfaces

Seroprevalencia de Brucella abortus en bovinos del departamento de Huila - Colombia

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la seroprevalencia de brucelosis bovina en el departamento de Huila, mediante la detección de anticuerpos contra Brucella abortus. El estudio se desarrolló en el periodo comprendido entre mayo de 2011 a diciembre de 2012 en el que se realizaron análisis serológicos de 14.741 bovinos de los cuales 14.010 fueron hembras y 731 machoslocalizados en 333 predios de 28 municipios de esta zona del país; dicha información se recopiló de los resultados obtenidos por el ICA conjuntamente con el organismo de inspección. Se utilizó comoprueba tamiz, la técnica deaglutinación con rosa de bengala y se realizo pruebas confirmatoriasde fluorescencia polarizaday ELISA competitiva.Los resultado obtenidos por zona muestran que la mayor prevalencia se localiza en el norte con 2,69%, seguido por la zona occidental 1,90%, el centro 1,23% y la zona sur 0,18%. En general en el departamento de Huila las cifras de prevalencia de brucelosis bovina son bajas 1,90% en animales y moderadas 28,80%para predios. Lo que muestra avances importantes en elPrograma Nacional de Prevención, Control y Erradicación de la Brucelosis Bovina y el Programa Certificación de Hatos Libres de Brucella

Hall effect and transient surface photovoltage (SPV) study of Cu3BiS3 thin films

Se presentan las propiedades eléctricas del compuesto Cu3BiS3 depositado por co-evaporación. Este es un nuevo compuesto que puede tener propiedades adecuadas para ser utilizado como capa absorbente en celdas solares. Las muestras fueron caracterizadas a través de medidas de efecto Hall y fotovoltaje superficial transiente (SPV). A través de medidas de efecto Hall se encontró que la concentración de portadores de carga n es del orden de 1016 cm-3 independiente de la relación de masas de Cu/Bi. También se encontró que la movilidad de este compuesto (μ del orden de 4 cm2V -1s-1) varía de acuerdo con los mecanismos de transporte que la gobiernan en dependencia con la temperatura. A partir de las medidas de SPV se encontró alta densidad de defectos superficiales, defectos que son pasivados al superponer una capa buffer sobre el compuesto Cu3BiS3.Here, we present the electrical properties of the compound Cu3BiS3 deposited by co-evaporation. This new compound may have the properties necessary to be used as an absorbent layer in solar cells. The samples were characterized by Hall effect and transient surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements. Using Hall effect measurements, we found that the concentration of n charge carriers is in the order of 1016 cm-3 irrespective of the Cu/Bi mass ratio. We also found that the mobility of this compound (μ in the order of 4 cm2V-1s-1) varies according to the transport mechanisms that govern it and are dependent on temperature. Based on the SPV, we found a high density of surface defects, which can be passivated by superimposing a buffer layer over the Cu3BiS3 compound