Transfer reactions in the sudden limit of the pairing-rotor model

The transfer of multiple pairs of particles in heavy-ion reactions is studied in the sudden limit of the macroscopic pairing-rotor model

Detection of Neural Action Potentials Using Optical Coherence Tomography: Intensity and Phase Measurements with and without Dyes

We review the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detection of neural activity, and present a new approach for depth-localization of neural action potentials (APs) using voltage-sensitive dyes as contrast agents in OCT. A stained squid giant axon is imaged by spectral-domain OCT. Changes in the intensity and phase of back-scattered light coming from regions around the membrane are measured during AP propagation. The depth-resolved change in back-scattered intensity coincides with the arrival of AP at the measurement area, and is synchronous with the changes in transmitted light intensity and reflection-mode cross-polarized light intensity measured independently. The system also provides depth-resolved phase changes as an additional indication of activity. With further investigation our results could open a new era in functional imaging technology to localize neural activity at different depths in situ

Developments in sub-barrier reactions

The study of sub-barrier reactions has developed in recent years to include a broad range of interconnected phenomena. The initial discoveries of enhanced sub-barrier fusion cross sections and the attempts to understand them in terms of couplings to other reactions channels have stimulated investigations into all aspects of heavy-ion collisions at low bombarding energies. As a result, new effects have been observed and new ideas are being put forward. The present talk gives an overview of some current themes in this field. Perhaps the most encompassing development is that one can no longer think of the low energy fusion reaction as an isolated phenomenon, since the fusion rates depend crucially on the presence of other reaction channels. Thus, one wants to know what are the properties of these channels and then how to use this knowledge to explain the fusion rates quantitatively. Generally speaking, quite a number of sub-barrier fusion reactions have been measured but the other reactions which occur have been isolated in a relatively few cases. It is also generally true that theoretical sub-barrier fusion calculations have been successful for a limited range of fairly light mass systems. Thus, the field continues to be a challenging area of research. Going beyond the problem of understanding the fusion mechanism, there have been interesting new developments in all of the reaction classes that have been studied at sub-barrier energies, namely, elastic scattering, inelastic excitation, transfer reactions and deep inelastic collisions. A brief discussion of each of these subjects and how they relate to fusion will be given below. In addition, the important subject of compound nuclear spin distributions produced in fusion reactions will be noted. 20 refs., 9 figs

Fusion of light proton-rich exotic nuclei at near-barrier energies

We study theoretically fusion of the light proton-rich exotic nuclei $^{17}$F and $^8$B at near-barrier energies in order to investigate the possible role of breakup processes on their fusion cross sections. To this end, coupled channel calculations are performed considering the couplings to the breakup channels of these projectiles. In case of $^{17}$F, the coupling arising out of the inelastic excitation from the ground state to the bound excited state and its couplings to the continuum have also been taken into consideration. It is found that the inelastic excitation/breakup of $^{17}$F affect the fusion cross sections very nominally even for a heavy target like Pb. On the other hand, calculations for fusion of the one-proton halo nucleus $^8$B on a Pb target show a significant suppression of the complete fusion cross section above the Coulomb barrier. This is due to the larger breakup probability of $^8$B as compared to that of $^{17}$F. However, even for $^8$B, there is little change in the complete fusion cross sections as compared to the no-coupling case at sub-barrier energies.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, Revtex.st

Fusion barrier distributions in systems with finite excitation energy

Eigen-channel approach to heavy-ion fusion reactions is exact only when the excitation energy of the intrinsic motion is zero. In order to take into account effects of finite excitation energy, we introduce an energy dependence to weight factors in the eigen-channel approximation. Using two channel problem, we show that the weight factors are slowly changing functions of incident energy. This suggests that the concept of the fusion barrier distribution still holds to a good approximation even when the excitation energy of the intrinsic motion is finite. A transition to the adiabatic tunneling, where the coupling leads to a static potential renormalization, is also discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to Physical Review

New transformations of Cauchy matrices and Trummer's problem

AbstractWe show some new expressions for a Cauchy matrix, which enable us to simplify the solution of Trummer's problem, both in the general case and in the case where the input Cauchy matrix is fixed for the problem whereas the input vector varies

Effect of continuum couplings in fusion of halo 11^{11}Be on 208^{208}Pb around the Coulomb barrier

The effect of continuum couplings in the fusion of the halo nucleus $^{11}$Be on $^{208}$Pb around the Coulomb barrier is studied using a three-body model within a coupled discretised continuum channels (CDCC) formalism. We investigate in particular the role of continuum-continuum couplings. These are found to hinder total, complete and incomplete fusion processes. Couplings to the projectile $1p_{1/2}$ bound excited state redistribute the complete and incomplete fusion cross sections, but the total fusion cross section remains nearly constant. Results show that continuum-continuum couplings enhance the irreversibility of breakup and reduce the flux that penetrates the Coulomb barrier. Converged total fusion cross sections agree with the experimental ones for energies around the Coulomb barrier, but underestimate those for energies well above the Coulomb barrier.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.

Systematic study of heavy cluster emission from {210-226}^Ra isotopes

The half lives for various clusters lying in the cold reaction valleys of {210-226}^Ra isotopes are computed using our Coulomb and proximity potential model (CPPM). The computed half lives of 4^He and 14^C clusters from {210-226}^Ra isotopes are in good agreement with experimental data. Half lives are also computed using the Universal formula for cluster decay (UNIV) of Poenaru et al., and are found to be in agreement with CPPM values. Our study reveals the role of doubly magic 208^Pb daughter in cluster decay process. Geiger - Nuttall plots for all clusters up to 62^Fe are studied and are found to be linear with different slopes and intercepts. {12,14}^C emission from 220^Ra; 14^C emission from {222,224}^Ra; 14^C and 20^O emission from 226^Ra are found to be most favourable for measurement and this observation will serve as a guide to the future experiments.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures; Nuclear Physics A (2012

Fusion of light exotic nuclei at near-barrier energies : effect of inelastic excitation

The effect of inelastic excitation of exotic light projectiles (proton- as well as neutron-rich) $^{17}$F and $^{11}$Be on fusion with heavy target has been studied at near-barrier energies. The calculations have been performed in the coupled channels approach where, in addition to the normal coupling of the ground state of the projectile to the continuum, inelastic excitation of the projectile to the bound excited state and its coupling to the continuum have also been taken into consideration. The inclusion of these additional couplings has been found to have significant effect on the fusion excitation function of neutron-rich $^{11}$Be on $^{208}$Pb whereas the effect has been observed to be nominal for the case of proton-rich $^{17}$F on the same target. The pronounced effect of the channel coupling on the fusion process in case of $^{11}$Be is attributed to its well-developed halo structure.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, Revtex.st

Advances in recording scattered light changes in crustacean nerve with electrical activation

We investigated optical changes associated with crustacean nerve stimulation using birefringent and large angle scattered light. Improved detection schemes disclosed high temporal structure of the optical signals and allowed further investigations of biophysical mechanisms responsible for such changes. Most studies of physiological activity in neuronal tissue use techniques that measure the electrical behavior or ionic permeability of the nerve, such as voltage or ion sensitive dyes injected into cells, or invasive electric recording apparatus. While these techniques provide high resolution, they are detrimental to tissue and do not easily lend themselves to clinical applications in humans. Electrical and chemical components of neural excitation evoke physical responses observed through changes in scattered and absorbed light. This method is suited for in-vivo applications. Intrinsic optical changes have shown themselves to be multifaceted in nature and point to several different physiological processes that occur with different time courses during neural excitation. Fast changes occur concomitantly with electrical events, and slow changes parallel metabolic events including changes in blood flow and oxygenation. Previous experiments with isolated crustacean nerves have been used to study the biophysical mechanisms of fast optical changes. However, they have been confounded by multiple superimposed action potentials which make it difficult to discriminate the temporal signatures of individual optical responses. Often many averages were needed to adequately resolve the signal. More recently, optical signals have been observed in single trials. Initially large angle scattering measurements were used to record these events with much of the signal coming from cellular swelling associated with water influx during activation. By exploiting the birefringent properties derived from the molecular stiucture of nerve membranes, signals appear larger with a greater contrast, but direct comparison of birefringent and 90{sup o} scattering signals has not been reported. New developments in computer and optical technology allow optical recording with higher temporal resolution than could be achieved previously. This has led us to undertake more detailed studies of the biophysical mechanisms underlying these transient changes. Optimization of this technology in conjunction with other technical developments presents a path to noninvasive dynamic clinical observation of optical responses. To conduct these optical recordings, we placed dissected leg, claw and ventral cord nerves from crayfish and lobster in a recording chamber constructed from black Delrin. The chamber consisted of several wells situated perpendicularly to the long axis of the nerve that could beelectrically isolated for stimulating and recording electrical activation, and a window in the center for optical measurements. To measure the birefringence from the nerve, light from a 120W halogen bulb was focused onto the nerve from below the window through a 10X microscope objective and polarized at a 45 degree angle with respect to the long axis of the nerve bundle. A second polarizer turned 90 degrees with respect to the first polarizer was placed on top of the chamber and excluded direct source illumination, passing only birefringent light from the nerve. A large area photodiode placed directly on top of the polarizer detected the magnitude of the birefringent light. To measure light scattered 90 degrees by the nerve, a short length of image conduit placed perpendicularly to the nerve directed large angle scattered light from the nerve to a second photodiode. The output of each photodiode was amplified by a first stage amplifier which produced a DC level output, and was coupled to an AC amplifier (0.3 Hz High Pass) with a gain of 1000 to optimally record changes across time