Helium-cluster decay widths of molecular states in beryllium and carbon isotopes

The $\alpha$ particle and $^6$He emissions from possible molecular states in beryllium and carbon isotopes have been studied using a mean-field-type cluster potential. Calculations can reproduce well the $\alpha$-decay widths of excited states in $^{8}$Be, $^{12}$C and $^{20}$Ne. For the nucleus $^{10}$Be, we discussed the $\alpha$-decay widths with different shapes or decay modes, in order to understand the very different decay widths of two excited states. The widths of $^{6}$He decay from $^{12}$Be and $\alpha$ decays from $^{13,14}$C are predicted, which could be useful for future experiments.Comment: 12 pgaes, 1 figur

Saturation properties of nuclear matter in a relativistic mean field model constrained by the quark dynamics

We have built an effective Walecka-type hadronic Lagrangian in which the hadron masses and the density dependence of the coupling constants are deduced from the quark dynamics using a Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. In order to stabilize nuclear matter an eight-quark term has been included. The parameters of this Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model have been determined using the meson properties in the vacuum but also in the medium through the omega meson mass in nuclei measured by the TAPS collaboration. Realistic properties of nuclear matter have been obtained.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Nuclear Physics

Optimal Sizes of Dielectric Microspheres for Cavity QED with Strong Coupling

The whispering gallery modes (WGMs) of quartz microspheres are investigated for the purpose of strong coupling between single photons and atoms in cavity quantum electrodynamics (cavity QED). Within our current understanding of the loss mechanisms of the WGMs, the saturation photon number, n, and critical atom number, N, cannot be minimized simultaneously, so that an "optimal" sphere size is taken to be the radius for which the geometric mean, (n x N)^(1/2), is minimized. While a general treatment is given for the dimensionless parameters used to characterize the atom-cavity system, detailed consideration is given to the D2 transition in atomic Cesium (852nm) using fused-silica microspheres, for which the maximum coupling coefficient g/(2*pi)=750MHz occurs for a sphere radius a=3.63microns corresponding to the minimum for n=6.06x10^(-6). By contrast, the minimum for N=9.00x10^(-6) occurs for a sphere radius of a=8.12microns, while the optimal sphere size for which (n x N)^(1/2) is minimized occurs at a=7.83microns. On an experimental front, we have fabricated fused-silica microspheres with radii a=10microns and consistently observed quality factors Q=0.8x10^(7). These results for the WGMs are compared with corresponding parameters achieved in Fabry-Perot cavities to demonstrate the significant potential of microspheres as a tool for cavity QED with strong coupling.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figure

Regionale fosforkringlopen bij scenario's voor mestverwerking in Nederland

Een aanzienlijk deel van het nationale fosforoverschot in Nederland accumuleert in landbouwbodems. Dit vormt een verhoogd risico van uit- en afspoeling naar het grond- en oppervlaktewater. Om de accumulatie te verminderen worden via het mestbeleid steeds strengere normen gesteld aan de fosforbemesting op landbouwland. Hierdoor stijgt de hoeveelheid niet op landbouwgrond plaatsbare mestfosfor in Nederland. Om regionale aspecten goed in kaart te kunnen brengen is Nederland voor deze studie opgedeeld in de 14 landbouwregio’s, zoals deze worden onderscheiden door LEI/CBS. Per regio wordt de fosforproductie en de hoeveelheid plaatsbare fosfor op bouwland en grasland berekend

On the alpha activity of natural tungsten isotopes

The indication for the alpha decay of 180-W with a half-life T1/2=1.1+0.8-0.4(stat)+-0.3(syst)x10^18 yr has been observed for the first time with the help of the super-low background 116-CdWO_4 crystal scintillators. In conservative approach the lower limit on half-life of 180-W has been established as T1/2>0.7x10^18 yr at 90% C.L. Besides, new T1/2 bounds were set for alpha decay of 182-W, 183-W, 184-W and 186-W at the level of 10^20 yr.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.

Experimental Proposal for Achieving Superadditive Communication Capacities with a Binary Quantum Alphabet

We demonstrate superadditivity in the communication capacity of a binary alphabet consisting of two nonorthogonal quantum states. For this scheme, collective decoding is performed two transmissions at a time. This improves upon the previous schemes of Sasaki et al. [Phys. Rev. A 58, 146 (1998)] where superadditivity was not achieved until a decoding of three or more transmissions at a time. This places superadditivity within the regime of a near-term laboratory demonstration. We propose an experimental test based upon an alphabet of low photon-number coherent states where the signal decoding is done with atomic state measurements on a single atom in a high-finesse optical cavity.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Helium Clustering in Neutron-Rich Be Isotopes

Measurements of the helium-cluster breakup and neutron removal cross sections for neutron-rich Be isotopes A=10-12,14 are presented. These have been studied in the 30 to 42 MeV/u energy range where reaction measurements are proposed to be sensitive to the cluster content of the ground-state wave-function. These measurements provide a comprehensive survey of the decay processes of the Be isotopes by which the valence neutrons are removed revealing the underlying alpha-alpha core-cluster structure. The measurements indicate that clustering in the Be isotopes remains important up to the drip-line nucleus 14^Be and that the dominant helium-cluster structure in the neutron-rich Be isotopes corresponds to alpha-Xn-alpha.Comment: 5 pages, 2 tables and 3 figure

Thirty years of research on Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (1986–2016): Scientific advances and emerging opportunities

Research on the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) has waxed and waned over the last few decades, mostly in response to population outbreaks at specific locations. This review considers advances in our understanding of the biology and ecology of CoTS based on the resurgence of research interest, which culminated in this current special issue on the Biology, Ecology and Management of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. More specifically, this review considers progress in addressing 41 specific research questions posed in a seminal review by P. Moran 30 years ago, as well as exploring new directions for CoTS research. Despite the plethora of research on CoTS ( > 1200 research articles), there are persistent knowledge gaps that constrain effective management of outbreaks. Although directly addressing some of these questions will be extremely difficult, there have been considerable advances in understanding the biology of CoTS, if not the proximate and ultimate cause(s) of outbreaks. Moving forward, researchers need to embrace new technologies and opportunities to advance our understanding of CoTS biology and behavior, focusing on key questions that will improve effectiveness of management in reducing the frequency and likelihood of outbreaks, if not preventing them altogether

Agricultural scenarios to reduce the national phosphorus surplus in the Netherlands

The national phosphorus balance can be made more sustainable by reducing the accumulation of phosphorus in agricultural soils and by increasing recycling from waste streams. This study investigated different scenarios for reduction of the national soil surplus on agricultural land. The focus was on scenarios that will not compel agriculture in the Netherlands to change radically e.g. reduction of phosphorus fertilisation levels and reducing animal phosphorus excretion by improving feeding efficiency while maintaining national milk and meat production levels