344 research outputs found
Alpha-cluster Condensations in Nuclei and Experimental Approaches for their Studies
The formation of alpha-clusters in nuclei close to the decay thresholds is
discussed. These states can be considered to be boson-condensates, which are
formed in a second order phase transition in a mixture of nucleons and
alpha-particles. The de Broglie wavelength of the alpha-particles is larger
than the nuclear diameter, therefore the coherent properties of the
alpha-particles give particular effects for the study of such states. The
states are above the thresholds thus the enhanced emission of multiple-alphas
into the same direction is observed. The probability for the emission of
multiple-alphas is not described by Hauser-Feshbach theory for compound nucleus
decay.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures
From the stable to the exotic: clustering in light nuclei
A great deal of research work has been undertaken in alpha-clustering study
since the pioneering discovery of 12C+12C molecular resonances half a century
ago. Our knowledge on physics of nuclear molecules has increased considerably
and nuclear clustering remains one of the most fruitful domains of nuclear
physics, facing some of the greatest challenges and opportunities in the years
ahead. The occurrence of "exotic" shapes in light N=Z alpha-like nuclei is
investigated. Various approaches of the superdeformed and hyperdeformed bands
associated with quasimolecular resonant structures are presented. Evolution of
clustering from stability to the drip-lines is examined: clustering aspects
are, in particular, discussed for light exotic nuclei with large neutron excess
such as neutron-rich Oxygen isotopes with their complete spectroscopy.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, Presented at the International Symposium on "New
Horizons in Fundamental Physics - From Neutrons Nuclei via Superheavy
Elements and Supercritical Fields to Neutron Stars and Cosmic Rays" held at
Makutsi Safari Farm, South Africa, December 23-29, 2015. arXiv admin note:
substantial text overlap with arXiv:1402.6590, arXiv:1303.0960,
arXiv:1408.0684, arXiv:1011.342
4He decay of excited states in 14C
A study of the 7Li(9Be,4He 10Be)2H reaction at E{beam}=70 MeV has been
performed using resonant particle spectroscopy techniques and provides the
first measurements of alpha-decaying states in 14C. Excited states are observed
at 14.7, 15.5, 16.4, 18.5, 19.8, 20.6, 21.4, 22.4 and 24.0 MeV. The
experimental technique was able to resolve decays to the various particle bound
states in 10Be, and provides evidence for the preferential decay of the high
energy excited states into states in 10Be at ~6 MeV. The decay processes are
used to indicate the possible cluster structure of the 14C excited states.Comment: accepted for publication in PR
Concepts of alpha-particle condensation
Certain aspects of the recently proposed antisymmetrised alpha particle
product state wave function, or THSR alpha cluster wave function, for the
description of the ground state in 8Be, the Hoyle state in 12C, and analogous
states in heavier nuclei, are elaborated in detail. For instance, the influence
of antisymmetrisation in the Hoyle state on the bosonic character of the alpha
particles is studied carefully. It is shown to be weak, so that bosonic aspects
are predominant. The de Broglie wave length of alpha particles in the Hoyle
state is shown to be much larger than the inter-alpha distance. It is pointed
out that the bosonic features of low density alpha gas states have measurable
consequences, one of which, that is enhanced multi-alpha decay properties,
likely already have been detected. Consistent with experiment, the width of the
proposed analogue to the Hoyle state in 16O at the excitation energy of
E_x=15.1 MeV is estimated to be very small (34 keV), lending credit to the
existence of heavier Hoyle-like states. The intrinsic single boson density
matrix of a self-bound Bose system can, under physically desirable boundary
conditions, be defined unambiguously. One eigenvalue then separates out, being
close to the number of alpha's in the system. Differences between Brink and
THSR alpha cluster wave functions are worked out. No cluster model of the Brink
type can describe the Hoyle state with a single configuration. On the contrary,
many superpositions of the Brink type are necessary, implying delocalisation
towards an alpha product state. It is shown that single alpha particle orbits
in condensates of different nuclei are almost the same. It is thus argued that
alpha particle antisymmetrised product states of the THSR type are a very
promising novel and useful concept in nuclear physics.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, to appear in PR
Deformed two center shell model
A highly specialized two-center shell model has been developed accounting for
the splitting of a deformed parent nucleus into two ellipsoidaly deformed
fragments. The potential is based on deformed oscillator wells in direct
correspondance with the shape change of the nuclear system. For the first time
a potential responsible for the necking part between the fragments is
introduced on potential theory basis. As a direct consequence, spin-orbit {\bf
ls} and {\bf l} operators are calculated as shape dependent. Level scheme
evolution along the fission path for pairs of ellipsoidaly deformed fragments
is calculated. The Strutinsky method yields the shell corrections for different
mass asymmetries from the superheavy nucleus 122 and Cf all
along the splitting process.Comment: 32 pages, 8 figure
Study of refractive structure in the inelastic 16O+16O scattering at the incident energies of 250 to 1120 MeV
The data of inelastic 16O+16O scattering to the lowest 2+ and 3- excited
states of 16O have been measured at Elab = 250, 350, 480, 704 and 1120 MeV and
analyzed consistently in the distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA), using
the semi- microscopic optical potentials and inelastic form factors given by
the folding model, to reveal possible refractive structure of the nuclear
rainbow that was identified earlier in the elastic 16O+16O scattering channel
at the same energies. Given the known transition strengths of the 2+ and 3-
states of 16O well determined from the (e,e') data, the DWBA description of the
inelastic data over the whole angular range was possible only if the absorption
in the exit channels is significantly increased (especially, for the
16O+16O(2+) exit channel). Although the refractive pattern of the inelastic
16O+16O scattering was found to be less pronounced compared to that observed in
the elastic scattering channel, a clear remnant of the main rainbow maximum
could still be seen in the inelastic cross section at Elab = 350 - 704 MeV.Comment: 26 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys.
Decline of placental malaria in southern Ghana after the implementation of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) has been adopted as policy by many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. However, data on the post-implementation effectiveness of this measure are scarce.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Clinical and parasitological parameters were assessed among women delivering at a district hospital in rural southern Ghana in the year 2000 when pyrimethamine chemoprophylaxis was recommended (<it>n </it>= 839) and in 2006 (<it>n </it>= 226), approximately one year after the implementation of IPTp-SP. Examinations were performed in an identical manner in 2000 and 2006 including the detection of placental <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>infection by microscopy, histidine-rich protein 2, and PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 2006, 77% of the women reported to have taken IPTp-SP at least once (26%, twice; 24%, thrice). In 2006 as compared to 2000, placental <it>P. falciparum </it>infection was reduced by 43–57% (<it>P </it>< 0.0001) and maternal anaemia by 33% (<it>P </it>= 0.0009), and median birth weight was 130 g higher (<it>P </it>= 0.02). In 2006, likewise, women who had taken ≥ 1 dose of IPTp-SP revealed less infection and anaemia and their children tended to have higher birth weights as compared to women who had not used IPTp-SP. However, placental <it>P. falciparum </it>infection was still observed in 11% (microscopy) to 26% (PCR) of those women who had taken three doses of IPTp-SP.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In southern Ghana, placental malaria and maternal anaemia have declined substantially and birth weight has increased after the implementation of IPTp-SP. Likely, these effects can further be increased by improving IPTp-SP coverage and adherence. However, the remnant prevalence of infection in women having taken three doses of IPTp-SP suggests that additional antimalarial measures are needed to prevent malaria in pregnancy in this region.</p
Two-neutron halo nuclei in one dimension: dineutron correlation and breakup reaction
We propose a simple schematic model for two-neutron halo nuclei. In this
model, the two valence neutrons move in a one-dimensional mean field,
interacting with each other via a density-dependent contact interaction. We
first investigate the ground state properties, and demonstrate that the
dineutron correlation can be realized with this simple model due to the
admixture of even- and odd-parity single-particle states. We then solve the
time-dependent two-particle Schr\"odinger equation under the influence of a
time-dependent one-body external field, in order to discuss the effect of
dineutron correlation on nuclear breakup processes. The time evolution of
two-particle density shows that the dineutron correlation enhances the total
breakup probability, especially for the two-neutron breakup process, in which
both the valence neutrons are promoted to continuum scattering states. We find
that the interaction between the two particles definitely favours a spatial
correlation of the two outgoing particles, which are mainly emitted in the same
direction.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figure
Particle-gamma coincidences and coplanarity in the binary reaction
The reaction 32S (165.4 MeV) + 24Mg is studied using the binary reaction spec- trometer (BRS) coupled to the Euroball germanium array. Particle-particle-gamma and particle-gamma-gamma coincidences have been examined. The Z-identification, position and energy information for binary reaction products are shown together with the Doppler-shift corrected gamma-rays emitted from the fragments. Recent reports of evi- dence for hyper-deformation from angular correlations in similar data are also in- vestigated. Analogous out-of-plane angular correlations are observed but attributed to reactions with the target contaminants 16O and 12C
Cooper pair sizes in 11Li and in superfluid nuclei: a puzzle?
We point out a strong influence of the pairing force on the size of the two
neutron Cooper pair in Li, and to a lesser extent also in He. It
seems that these are quite unique situations, since Cooper pair sizes of stable
superfluid nuclei are very little influenced by the intensity of pairing, as
recently reported. We explore the difference between Li and heavier
superfulid nuclei, and discuss reasons for the exceptional situation in
Li.Comment: 9 pages. To be published in J. of Phys. G special issue on Open
Problems in Nuclear Structure (OPeNST
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