Low-energy structure of the even-A 96−104 Ru isotopes via g-factor measurements

The transient-field-perturbed angular correlation technique was used with Coulomb excitation in inverse kinematics to perform a systematic measurement of the g factors of the first excited 21+ states in the stable even-A isotopes Ru96-104. The measurements have been made relative to one another under matched kinematic conditions and include a measurement of g(21+)=+0.47(3) in Ru96

Enhanced Mixing of Intrinsic States in Deformed Hf Nuclei

Excited low-spin, nonyrast states in 170,172,174Hf were populated in β + /∈decay and studied through off-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. New coincidence data allowed for a substantial revision of the level schemes of Hf170,172 and a confirmation of the level scheme of 174Hf. The Hf isotopes represent a unique situation in which a crossing of collective intrinsic excitations occurs, enhancing significantly the effects of mixing. Using branching ratios from excited 2+ states, this mixing is followed and studied. The resulting mixing matrix elements are found to be ∼30 keV—an order of magnitude larger than estimated previously for nearby nuclei. In the case of 170Hf, the 2+β and 2+γlevel are shown to be completely mixed

Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition in South–East Scotland: Quantification of the Organic Nitrogen Fraction in Wet, Dry and Bulk Deposition

Water soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) compounds are ubiquitous in precipitation and in the planetary boundary layer, and therefore are a potential source of bioavailable reactive nitrogen. This paper examines weekly rain data over a period of 22 months from June 2005 to March 2007 collected in 2 types of rain collector (bulk deposition and “dry+wet” deposition) located in a semi-rural area 15 km southwest of Edinburgh, UK (N 555144″, W 31219″). Bulk deposition collectors are denoted in this paper as “standard rain gauges”, and they are the design used in the UK national network for monitoring precipitation composition. “Dry+wet” deposition collectors are flushing rain gauges and they are equipped with a rain detector (conductivity array), a spray nozzle, a 2-way valve and two independent bottles to collect funnel washings (dry deposition) and true wet deposition. On average, for the 27 weekly samples with 3 valid replicates for the 2 types of collectors, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) represented 23% of the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) in bulk deposition. Dry deposition of particles and gas on the funnel surface, rather than rain, contributed over half of all N-containing species (inorganic and organic). Some discrepancies were found between bulk rain gauges and flushing rain gauges, for deposition of both TDN and DON, suggesting biological conversion and loss of inorganic N in the flushing samplers

First experimental test of X(5) critical-point symmetry in the A ∼ 130 mass region: Low-spin states and the collective structure of 130 Ce

Excited, low-spin states in Ce130 are populated in the ?+/? decay of Pr130 and studied through off-beam ?-ray spectroscopy at the Yale moving tape collector. New coincidence data lead to the construction of a substantially revised level scheme. The low-lying states of Ce130 are compared with the predictions of the X(5) critical-point model and the X(5)-?4 model, and the latter is found to give better agreement with the data in terms of energies. Discrepancies in the relative B(E2) values in Ce130 and the geometrical models suggest that the ? degree of freedom may play an important role in this mass region. � 2008 The American Physical Society