QED and relativistic corrections in superheavy elements

In this paper we review the different relativistic and QED contributions to energies, ionic radii, transition probabilities and Land\'e $g$-factors in super-heavy elements, with the help of the MultiConfiguration Dirac-Fock method (MCDF). The effects of taking into account the Breit interaction to all orders by including it in the self-consistent field process are demonstrated. State of the art radiative corrections are included in the calculation and discussed. We also study the non-relativistic limit of MCDF calculation and find that the non-relativistic offset can be unexpectedly large.Comment: V3, May 31st, 200

Ability of new durum wheat pure lines to meet yield stability and quality requirements in low input and organic systems

Low-input production schemes adopted in organic or conventional farms require crop varieties that combine good product quality and high yield stability under non optimal environmental conditions (Gooding et al., 1999). These traits are not yet found among the durum wheat genotypes available in France. Consequently the cultivation of this crop is hardly successful in stockless organic farms in southern France, which are characterised by very low nitrogen resources. Some hopes emerged with the identification of new durum wheat pure lines with a high grain protein content in breeding experiments conducted near Montpellier in 2001 and 2002. The aim of the present work was to confirm and elucidate the origin of the enhanced protein performance of these new lines through a field experiment with nitrogen resources ranging from very low to sub-optimal levels

The nonrelativistic limit of Dirac-Fock codes: the role of Brillouin configurations

We solve a long standing problem with relativistic calculations done with the widely used Multi-Configuration Dirac-Fock Method (MCDF). We show, using Relativistic Many-Body Perturbation Theory (RMBPT), how even for relatively high-$Z$, relaxation or correlation causes the non-relativistic limit of states of different total angular momentum but identical orbital angular momentum to have different energies. We show that only large scale calculations that include all single excitations, even those obeying the Brillouin's theorem have the correct limit. We reproduce very accurately recent high-precision measurements in F-like Ar, and turn then into precise test of QED. We obtain the correct non-relativistic limit not only for fine structure but also for level energies and show that RMBPT calculations are not immune to this problem.Comment: AUgust 9th, 2004 Second version Nov. 18th, 200

An integrated study of the development of organic rice cultivation in the Camargue (France)-

In the Camargue, rice and durum wheat are associated in rotations that have an ambivalent ecological impact: on the one hand, these two crops contribute to the preservation of the surrounding ecosystem, while on the other hand, when cropped intensively, they can threaten the ecological equilibrium of this protected area. In this context, organic agriculture would seem to be an alternative adopted by a certain number of producers and processors. However, the pioneers of this practice encounter numerous problems, both agronomic and economic. The study presented here aims: to construct a pluridisciplinary approach to analyse the conditions of the development of organic cereal cultivation in the Camargue: to identify the principal factors that limit the development of this new practice: to produce knowledge useful in helping ricegrowers put into practice organic cropping systems

Relativistic correlation correction to the binding energies of the ground configuration of Beryllium-like, Neon-like, Magnesium-like and Argon-like ions

Total electronic correlation correction to the binding energies of the isoelectronic series of Beryllium, Neon, Magnesium and Argon, are calculated in the framework of relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method. Convergence of the correlation energies is studied as the active set of orbitals is increased. The Breit interaction is treated fully self-consistently. The final results can be used in the accurately determination of atomic masses from highly charged ions data obtained in Penning-trap experiments.Comment: version soumise 3/08/200

Dielectronic Resonance Method for Measuring Isotope Shifts

Longstanding problems in the comparison of very accurate hyperfine-shift measurements to theory were partly overcome by precise measurements on few-electron highly-charged ions. Still the agreement between theory and experiment is unsatisfactory. In this paper, we present a radically new way of precisely measuring hyperfine shifts, and demonstrate its effectiveness in the case of the hyperfine shift of $4s\_{1/2}$ and $4p\_{1/2}$ in $^{207}\mathrm{Pb}^{53+}$. It is based on the precise detection of dielectronic resonances that occur in electron-ion recombination at very low energy. This allows us to determine the hyperfine constant to around 0.6 meV accuracy which is on the order of 10%

Relativistic calculations of pionic and kaonic atoms hyperfine structure

We present the relativistic calculation of the hyperfine structure in pionic and kaonic atoms. A perturbation method has been applied to the Klein-Gordon equation to take into account the relativistic corrections. The perturbation operator has been obtained \textit{via} a multipole expansion of the nuclear electromagnetic potential. The hyperfine structure of pionic and kaonic atoms provide an additional term in the quantum electrodynamics calculation of the energy transition of these systems. Such a correction is required for a recent measurement of the pion mass

La construction d’une démarche interdisciplinaire à partir de l’émergence de la céréaliculture biologique en Camargue: le projet CEBIOCA

La céréaliculture biologique apparait comme une alternative aux modes de production conventionnels, pour un nombre croissant d'agriculteurs de Camargue. Le programme CEBIOCA cherche à appuyer le développement de ce prototype d'agriculture en favorisant l'élaboration de pratiques agricoles pertinentes, la production de matériel végétal adapté et la mesure des impacts de la conversion à l'AB. Un groupe de travail interdisciplinaire, associant génétique, agronomie, malherbologie, écologie et sociologie s'est constitué à l'occasion de la réponse à l'appel d'offre CIAB et au cours de la première phase de fonctionnemet qui est présenté ici. Malgré certaines lacunes ou faiblesses dans la construction interdiciplinaire, les résultats font entrevoir des perspectives prometteuses,dans un contexte plus favorable, à condition que les partenariats scientifiques et professionnles soient renforcés

Tensorial form and matrix elements of the relativistic nuclear recoil operator

Within the lowest-order relativistic approximation ($\sim v^2/c^2$) and to first order in $m_e/M$, the tensorial form of the relativistic corrections of the nuclear recoil Hamiltonian is derived, opening interesting perspectives for calculating isotope shifts in the multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock framework. Their calculation is illustrated for selected Li-, B- and C-like ions. The present work underlines the fact that the relativistic corrections to the nuclear recoil are definitively necessary for getting reliable isotope shift values.Comment: 22 pages, no figures, submitted to J. Phys.