Direct observation of 4+ to 2+ gamma transition in 8Be

The low lying states in $^8$Be are believed to have a two-alpha cluster structure and hence a large intrinsic quadrupole deformation. An earlier calculation showed a large collective enhancement in gamma transition probability between the low lying states leading to a 4$^+$ to 2$^+$ gamma branch of $\sim10^{-7}$ and a resonant radiative cross section of 134 nb for the $\alpha+\alpha$ entrance channel. We report here the first experimental evidence for this transition through a $\gamma-\alpha-\alpha$ coincidence measurement in the reaction $^4$He($\alpha,\alpha \gamma$)$^4$He using a gas target. The measured cross sections on and off the 4$^+$ resonance are 165 $\pm$ 41 (stat) $\pm$35 (sys) nb and 39 $\pm$ 25 (stat) $\pm$7 (sys) nb, respectively.Comment: Total 4 pages, 4 figures, in RevTeX format, submitted to PR

Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Physics Teaching in India

When academic institutions in India closed abruptly in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, formal education moved online. This transition had a very uneven impact given the significant digital divide between rural and urban India and the unequal distribution of digital resources in different institutions. Access to resources varied substantially by individual, based on socioeconomic factors as well as gender. Institutional support to the academic community during this critical period was largely inadequate, which has had serious consequences on the teaching of physics and other subjects that require laboratory instruction. Educational institutions also provide safe and enabling learning spaces for women students; reduced access to such facilities undermined the work- and study-related dynamics for women because of the scarcity of resources such as devices, data, and time. This paper reports on efforts made towards understanding such challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and describes steps that were taken to address them.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure