The 14C(n,g) cross section between 10 keV and 1 MeV

The neutron capture cross section of 14C is of relevance for several nucleosynthesis scenarios such as inhomogeneous Big Bang models, neutron induced CNO cycles, and neutrino driven wind models for the r process. The 14C(n,g) reaction is also important for the validation of the Coulomb dissociation method, where the (n,g) cross section can be indirectly obtained via the time-reversed process. So far, the example of 14C is the only case with neutrons where both, direct measurement and indirect Coulomb dissociation, have been applied. Unfortunately, the interpretation is obscured by discrepancies between several experiments and theory. Therefore, we report on new direct measurements of the 14C(n,g) reaction with neutron energies ranging from 20 to 800 keV

Ionization dynamics in intense pulsed laser radiation. Effects of frequency chirping

Via a non-perturbative method we study the population dynamics and photoelectron spectra of Cs atoms subject to intense chirped laser pulses, with gaussian beams. We include above threshold ionization spectral peaks. The frequency of the laser is near resonance with the 6s-7p transition. Dominant couplings are included exactly, weaker ones accounted for perturbatively. We calculate the relevant transition matrix elements, including spin-orbit coupling. The pulse is taken to be a hyperbolic secant in time and the chirping a hyperbolic tangent. This choice allows the equations of motions for the probability amplitudes to be solved analytically as a series expansion in the variable u=(tanh(pi t/tau)+1)/2, where tau is a measure of the pulse length. We find that the chirping changes the ionization dynamics and the photoelectron spectra noticeably, especially for longer pulses of the order of 10^4 a.u. The peaks shift and change in height, and interference effects between the 7p levels are enhanced or diminished according to the amount of chirping and its sign. The integrated ionization probability is not strongly affected.Comment: Accepted by J. Phys. B; 18 pages, 17 figures. Latex, uses ioplppt.sty, iopl10.sty and psfig.st

R-matrix Floquet theory for laser-assisted electron-atom scattering

A new version of the R-matrix Floquet theory for laser-assisted electron-atom scattering is presented. The theory is non-perturbative and applicable to a non-relativistic many-electron atom or ion in a homogeneous linearly polarized field. It is based on the use of channel functions built from field-dressed target states, which greatly simplifies the general formalism.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX2e, submitted to J.Phys.

In-situ ultrasonic viscometry of lubricants under temperature and shear

Understanding the behaviour of engine and gear oils, especially the viscosity, under temperature and shear is important to improve machine operation. A novel viscometer using ultrasound is presented and used under a range of temperatures. A single cross-temperature (between 20 ◦C and 60 ◦C) ultrasonic calibration is shown to be sufficient. Next, the ultrasonic viscometer is compared to a conventional viscosity measurement technique for Newtonian and non-Newtonian lubricants. Newtonian viscosity standard fluids and shear-thinning engine oils are studied. Both viscosity measurement techniques match for Newtonian fluids but ultrasonic measurements are consistently lower for shear-thinning fluids. It suggests that the ultrasonic viscometer is similar to a high-shear viscometer with a shear rate of about 106 s−1

Temporal visual resolution and disease severity in MS

OBJECTIVE: To examine temporal visual resolution assessed as critical flicker frequency (CFF) in patients with MS and to investigate associations with visual system damage and general disability and cognitive function. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with MS and 31 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and underwent CFF testing, high- and low-contrast visual acuity, alertness and information processing speed using the paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT), and retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT). In patients with MS, visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were assessed. RESULTS: CFF in patients with MS (mean ± SD: 40.9 ± 4.4 Hz) was lower than in HCs (44.8 ± 4.4 Hz, p < 0.001). There was no significant CFF difference between eyes with and without previous optic neuritis (ON). CFF was not associated with visual acuity, VEP latency, the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and the combined ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer volume. Instead, reduced CFF was associated with worse EDSS scores (r(2) = 0.26, p < 0.001) and alertness (r(2) = 0.42, p = 0.00042) but not with PASAT (p = 0.33). CONCLUSION: CFF reduction in MS occurs independently of ON and structural visual system damage. Its association with the EDSS score and alertness suggests that CFF reflects global disease processes and higher cortical processing rather than focal optic nerve or retinal damage

Interface driven magnetoelectric effects in granular CrO2

Antiferromagnetic and magnetoelectric Cr2O3-surfaces strongly affect the electronic properties in half metallic CrO2. We show the presence of a Cr2O3 surface layer on CrO3 grains by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The effect of these surface layers is demonstrated by measurements of the temperature variation of the magnetoelectric susceptibility. A major observation is a sign change at about 100 K followed by a monotonic rise as a function of temperature. These electric field induced moments in CrO3 are correlated with the magnetoelectric susceptibility of pure Cr2O3. This study indicates that it is important to take into account the magnetoelectric character of thin surface layers of Cr2O3 in granular CrO2 for better understanding the transport mechanism in this system. The observation of a finite magnetoelectric susceptibility near room temperature may find utility in device applications.Comment: Figure 1 with strongly reduced resolutio

Electron correlation vs. stabilization: A two-electron model atom in an intense laser pulse

We study numerically stabilization against ionization of a fully correlated two-electron model atom in an intense laser pulse. We concentrate on two frequency regimes: very high frequency, where the photon energy exceeds both, the ionization potential of the outer {\em and} the inner electron, and an intermediate frequency where, from a ``single active electron''-point of view the outer electron is expected to stabilize but the inner one is not. Our results reveal that correlation reduces stabilization when compared to results from single active electron-calculations. However, despite this destabilizing effect of electron correlation we still observe a decreasing ionization probability within a certain intensity domain in the high-frequency case. We compare our results from the fully correlated simulations with those from simpler, approximate models. This is useful for future work on ``real'' more-than-one electron atoms, not yet accessible to numerical {\em ab initio} methods.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures in an extra ps-file, submitted to Phys. Rev. A, updated references and shortened introductio

Laboratory robustness validation of a humidity sensor system for the condition monitoring of grease-lubricated components for railway applications

The condition monitoring of the health status of lubricating greases used in axle box bearings can be realized by applying well-established electrical or optical measurement principles. Furthermore, some novel methods have been reported that make use of humidity sensors or of dielectric thermoscopy. One of the most important grease condition parameters is the water content of the lubricating grease, as water can degrade grease to the point that it is no longer able to provide suitable lubrication and can also damage the bearing due to corrosion and cavitation. In this study, a new approach for water detection in lubricated wagon components is presented that is based on commercially available humidity sensors. The core element of this sensor system is a robust humidity sensor mounted in the immediate atmosphere of the grease-lubricated wagon axle bearing. In the case of water intake, the humidity of the gaseous atmosphere above the grease increases and can be detected by the customized sensor concept Humidity Sensor in Axle Bearings (HSAB). As this sensor system has to be sufficiently robust, it must be able to withstand environmental impact factors. The most important of these factors are temperature, relative humidity, and mechanical load, like vibrations and shocks, depending on the relevant railway application. To mimic these field effects under controlled laboratory conditions, the “lab-to-field” approach was set up and employed. Of the utmost importance was the installation of a development environment for the sensors that enabled the transfer of laboratory results to the respective rail field application. As a result, the HSAB system shows promise with respect to enhancing the reliability of railway wagons and decreasing maintenance costs, thereby reducing the downtime of railway wagons significantly.</p

Localization of shadow poles by complex scaling

Through numerical examples we show that the complex scaling method is suited to explore the pole structure in multichannel scattering problems. All poles lying on the multisheeted Riemann energy surface, including shadow poles, can be revealed and the Riemann sheets on which they reside can be identified.Comment: 6 pages, Latex with Revtex, 3 figures (not included) available on reques

Global versus local billiard level dynamics: The limits of universality

Level dynamics measurements have been performed in a Sinai microwave billiard as a function of a single length, as well as in rectangular billiards with randomly distributed disks as a function of the position of one disk. In the first case the field distribution is changed globally, and velocity distributions and autocorrelation functions are well described by universal functions derived by Simons and Altshuler. In the second case the field distribution is changed locally. Here another type of universal correlations is observed. It can be derived under the assumption that chaotic wave functions may be described by a random superposition of plane waves