Off-Yrast low-spin structure of deformed nuclei at mass number A≈150

The present work consists of two independent parts. The first part deals with the investigation of the 0+1 -> 0+2 transition in 150Nd with inelastic electron scattering and in the second part a proton scattering experiment for the investigation of dipole excitations is presented. In the first part of this thesis a pioneer experiment in inelastic electron scattering is introduced. At an electron energy of 75 MeV, excitation energy spectra have been measured at the high resolution 169° spectrometer at the S-DALINAC. The aim of this investigation was the determination of the ρ²(E0;0+1 -> 0+2) transition strength in the heavy deformed nucleus 150Nd. The experimental form factor of this particular transition has been compared to a theoretical form factor that has been constructed by an effective density operator on a microscopic level with the help of the generator coordinate method. The required collective wave functions have been calculated in the Confined β-soft rotor model. In this model-dependent analysis the E0 transition strength has been determined for the first time. Furthermore the evolution of the E0 transition strength as a function of the potential stiffness has been investigated from the X(5) phase shape transitional point to the Rigid Rotor limit. It has been shown, that the E0 strength is relatively high at the shape-phase transitional point and starts to decrease with increasing stiffness and vanishes completely at the Rigid Rotor limit. Additionally the wave functions of the macroscopic collective Confined β-soft rotor model have been compared to those from a microscopic mean field Hamiltonian. Good agreement has been found. The second part of this thesis covers a polarized-proton scattering experiment on the heavy deformed nucleus 154Sm, that has been performed at the RCNP in Osaka, Japan. Utilizing the method of polarization transfer observables, a separation of spinflip and non-spinflip parts of the cross section has been done. Here, for the first time, the Pygmy Dipole Resonance (PDR) has been identified in the heavy deformed nucleus 154Sm that appears as a double-hump structure in the E1 response. A possible interpretation of this double-hump structure in terms of a deformation splitting analogously to the Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) has been given. In case of the spinflip cross section, a broad distribution in the excitation energy range between 6 and 12 MeV has been observed. The distribution and the extracted sum strength are in good accordance with previous experiments

E2 strengths and transition radii difference of one-phonon 2+ states of 92Zr from electron scattering at low momentum transfer

Background: Mixed-symmetry 2+ states in vibrational nuclei are characterized by a sign change between dominant proton and neutron valence-shell components with respect to the fully symmetric 2+ state. The sign can be measured by a decomposition of proton and neutron transition radii with a combination of inelastic electron and hadron scattering [C. Walz et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 062501 (2011)]. For the case of 92Zr, a difference could be experimentally established for the neutron components, while about equal proton transition radii were indicated by the data. Method: Differential cross sections for the excitation of one-phonon 2+ and 3- states in 92Zr have been measured with the (e,e') reaction at the S-DALINAC in a momentum transfer range q = 0.3-0.6 fm^(-1). Results: Transition strengths B(E2;2+_1 -> 0+_1) = 6.18(23), B(E2; 2+_2 -> 0+_1) = 3.31(10) and B(E3; 3-_1 -> 0+_1) = 18.4(11) Weisskopf units are determined from a comparison of the experimental cross sections to quasiparticle-phonon model (QPM) calculations. It is shown that a model-independent plane wave Born approximation (PWBA) analysis can fix the ratio of B(E2) transition strengths to the 2+_(1,2) states with a precision of about 1%. The method furthermore allows to extract their proton transition radii difference. With the present data -0.12(51) fm is obtained. Conclusions: Electron scattering at low momentum transfers can provide information on transition radii differences of one-phonon 2+ states even in heavy nuclei. Proton transition radii for the 2+_(1,2) states in 92Zr are found to be identical within uncertainties. The g.s. transition probability for the mixed-symmetry state can be determined with high precision limited only by the available experimental information on the B(E2; 2+_1 -> 0+_1) value.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C, revised manuscrip

Social Dimensions and Participation in Vocational Education and Training - An Introduction in the Special Issue

This is the introduction of the IJRVET's special edition in 2018 "Social Dimension and Participation in VET-System"

Cdc42 induces filopodia by promoting the formation of an IRSp53:Mena complex

AbstractBackground: The Rho GTPases Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 regulate the organization of the actin cytoskeleton by interacting with multiple, distinct downstream effector proteins. Cdc42 controls the formation of actin bundle-containing filopodia at the cellular periphery. The molecular mechanism for this remains as yet unclear.Results: We report here that Cdc42 interacts with IRSp53/BAP2α, an SH3 domain-containing scaffold protein, at a partial CRIB motif and that an N-terminal fragment of IRSp53 binds, via an intramolecular interaction, to the CRIB motif-containing central region. Overexpression of IRSp53 in fibroblasts leads to the formation of filopodia, and both this and Cdc42-induced filopodia are inhibited by expression of the N-terminal IRSp53 fragment. Using affinity chromatography, we have identified Mena, an Ena/VASP family member, as interacting with the SH3 domain of IRSp53. Mena and IRSp53 act synergistically to promote filopodia formation.Conclusion: We conclude that the interaction of Cdc42 with the partial CRIB motif of IRSp53 relieves an intramolecular, autoinhibitory interaction with the N terminus, allowing the recruitment of Mena to the IRSp53 SH3 domain. This IRSp53:Mena complex initiates actin filament assembly into filopodia

First Measurement of Collectivity of Coexisting Shapes based on Type II Shell Evolution: The Case of 96^{96}Zr

Background: Type II shell evolution has recently been identified as a microscopic cause for nuclear shape coexistence. Purpose: Establish a low-lying rotational band in 96-Zr. Methods: High-resolution inelastic electron scattering and a relative analysis of transition strengths are used. Results: The B(E2; 0_1^+ -> 2_2^+) value is measured and electromagnetic decay strengths of the secdond 2^+ state are deduced. Conclusions: Shape coexistence is established for 96-Zr. Type II shell evolution provides a systematic and quantitative mechanism to understand deformation at low excitation energies.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure