376 research outputs found
Investigation of alpha-induced reactions on 130Ba and 132Ba and their importance for the synthesis of heavy p nuclei
Captures of alpha particles on the proton-richest Barium isotope, 130Ba, have
been studied in order to provide cross section data for the modeling of the
astrophysical gamma process. The cross sections of the 130Ba(alpha,gamma)134Ce
and 130Ba(alpha,n)133Ce reactions have been measured with the activation
technique in the center-of mass energy range between 11.6 and 16 MeV, close
above the astrophysically relevant energies. As a side result, the cross
section of the 132Ba(alpha,n)135Ce reaction has also been measured. The results
are compared with the prediction of statistical model calculations, using
different input parameters such as alpha+nucleus optical potentials. It is
found that the (alpha,n) data can be reproduced employing the standard
alpha+nucleus optical potential widely used in astrophysical applications.
Assuming its validity also in the astrophysically relevant energy window, we
present new stellar reaction rates for 130Ba(alpha,gamma)134Ce and
132Ba(alpha,gamma)136Ce and their inverse reactions calculated with the SMARAGD
statistical model code. The highly increased 136Ce(gamma,alpha)132Ba rate
implies that the p nucleus 130Ba cannot directly receive contributions from the
Ce isotopic chain. Further measurements are required to better constrain this
result.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Cosmic-ray induced background intercomparison with actively shielded HPGe detectors at underground locations
The main background above 3\,MeV for in-beam nuclear astrophysics studies
with -ray detectors is caused by cosmic-ray induced secondaries. The
two commonly used suppression methods, active and passive shielding, against
this kind of background were formerly considered only as alternatives in
nuclear astrophysics experiments. In this work the study of the effects of
active shielding against cosmic-ray induced events at a medium deep location is
performed. Background spectra were recorded with two actively shielded HPGe
detectors. The experiment was located at 148\,m below the surface of the Earth
in the Reiche Zeche mine in Freiberg, Germany. The results are compared to data
with the same detectors at the Earth's surface, and at depths of 45\,m and
1400\,m, respectively.Comment: Minor errors corrected; final versio
Determination of gamma-ray widths in N using nuclear resonance fluorescence
The stable nucleus N is the mirror of O, the bottleneck in the
hydrogen burning CNO cycle. Most of the N level widths below the proton
emission threshold are known from just one nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF)
measurement, with limited precision in some cases. A recent experiment with the
AGATA demonstrator array determined level lifetimes using the Doppler Shift
Attenuation Method (DSAM) in O. As a reference and for testing the
method, level lifetimes in N have also been determined in the same
experiment. The latest compilation of N level properties dates back to
1991. The limited precision in some cases in the compilation calls for a new
measurement in order to enable a comparison to the AGATA demonstrator data. The
widths of several N levels have been studied with the NRF method. The
solid nitrogen compounds enriched in N have been irradiated with
bremsstrahlung. The -rays following the deexcitation of the excited
nuclear levels were detected with four HPGe detectors. Integrated
photon-scattering cross sections of ten levels below the proton emission
threshold have been measured. Partial gamma-ray widths of ground-state
transitions were deduced and compared to the literature. The photon scattering
cross sections of two levels above the proton emission threshold, but still
below other particle emission energies have also been measured, and proton
resonance strengths and proton widths were deduced. Gamma and proton widths
consistent with the literature values were obtained, but with greatly improved
precision.Comment: Final published version, minor grammar changes, 10 pages, 4 figures,
8 tables; An addendum is published where the last section is revised: T.
Sz\"ucs and P. Mohr, Phys. Rev. C 92, 044328 (2015) [arXiv:1510.04956
Dynamic clamp with StdpC software
Dynamic clamp is a powerful method that allows the introduction of artificial electrical components into target cells to simulate ionic conductances and synaptic inputs. This method is based on a fast cycle of measuring the membrane potential of a cell, calculating the current of a desired simulated component using an appropriate model and injecting this current into the cell. Here we present a dynamic clamp protocol using free, fully integrated, open-source software (StdpC, for spike timing-dependent plasticity clamp). Use of this protocol does not require specialist hardware, costly commercial software, experience in real-time operating systems or a strong programming background. The software enables the configuration and operation of a wide range of complex and fully automated dynamic clamp experiments through an intuitive and powerful interface with a minimal initial lead time of a few hours. After initial configuration, experimental results can be generated within minutes of establishing cell recording
Chaotic Phase Synchronization in Bursting-neuron Models Driven by a Weak Periodic Force
We investigate the entrainment of a neuron model exhibiting a chaotic
spiking-bursting behavior in response to a weak periodic force. This model
exhibits two types of oscillations with different characteristic time scales,
namely, long and short time scales. Several types of phase synchronization are
observed, such as 1 : 1 phase locking between a single spike and one period of
the force and 1 : l phase locking between the period of slow oscillation
underlying bursts and l periods of the force. Moreover, spiking-bursting
oscillations with chaotic firing patterns can be synchronized with the periodic
force. Such a type of phase synchronization is detected from the position of a
set of points on a unit circle, which is determined by the phase of the
periodic force at each spiking time. We show that this detection method is
effective for a system with multiple time scales. Owing to the existence of
both the short and the long time scales, two characteristic phenomena are found
around the transition point to chaotic phase synchronization. One phenomenon
shows that the average time interval between successive phase slips exhibits a
power-law scaling against the driving force strength and that the scaling
exponent has an unsmooth dependence on the changes in the driving force
strength. The other phenomenon shows that Kuramoto's order parameter before the
transition exhibits stepwise behavior as a function of the driving force
strength, contrary to the smooth transition in a model with a single time
scale
Cross section and reaction rate of 92Mo(p,gamma)93Tc determined from thick target yield measurements
For the better understanding of the astrophysical gamma-process the
experimental determination of low energy proton- and alpha-capture cross
sections on heavy isotopes is required. The existing data for the
92Mo(p,gamma)93Tc reaction are contradictory and strong fluctuation of the
cross section is observed which cannot be explained by the statistical model.
In this paper a new determination of the 92Mo(p,gamma)93Tc and
98Mo(p,gamma)99mTc cross sections based on thick target yield measurements are
presented and the results are compared with existing data and model
calculations. Reaction rates of 92Mo(p,gamma)93Tc at temperatures relevant for
the gamma-process are derived directly from the measured thick target yields.
The obtained rates are a factor of 2 lower than the ones used in astrophysical
network calculations. It is argued that in the case of fluctuating cross
sections the thick target yield measurement can be more suited for a reliable
reaction rate determination.Comment: Accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics
Consistency and diversity of spike dynamics in the neurons of bed nucleus of Stria Terminalis of the rat: a dynamic clamp study
Neurons display a high degree of variability and diversity in the expression and regulation of their voltage-dependent ionic channels. Under low level of synaptic background a number of physiologically distinct cell types can be identified in most brain areas that display different responses to standard forms of intracellular current stimulation. Nevertheless, it is not well understood how biophysically different neurons process synaptic inputs in natural conditions, i.e., when experiencing intense synaptic bombardment in vivo. While distinct cell types might process synaptic inputs into different patterns of action potentials representing specific "motifs'' of network activity, standard methods of electrophysiology are not well suited to resolve such questions. In the current paper we performed dynamic clamp experiments with simulated synaptic inputs that were presented to three types of neurons in the juxtacapsular bed nucleus of stria terminalis (jcBNST) of the rat. Our analysis on the temporal structure of firing showed that the three types of jcBNST neurons did not produce qualitatively different spike responses under identical patterns of input. However, we observed consistent, cell type dependent variations in the fine structure of firing, at the level of single spikes. At the millisecond resolution structure of firing we found high degree of diversity across the entire spectrum of neurons irrespective of their type. Additionally, we identified a new cell type with intrinsic oscillatory properties that produced a rhythmic and regular firing under synaptic stimulation that distinguishes it from the previously described jcBNST cell types. Our findings suggest a sophisticated, cell type dependent regulation of spike dynamics of neurons when experiencing a complex synaptic background. The high degree of their dynamical diversity has implications to their cooperative dynamics and synchronization
Progress of the Felsenkeller shallow-underground accelerator for nuclear astrophysics
Low-background experiments with stable ion beams are an important tool for
putting the model of stellar hydrogen, helium, and carbon burning on a solid
experimental foundation. The pioneering work in this regard has been done by
the LUNA collaboration at Gran Sasso, using a 0.4 MV accelerator. In the
present contribution, the status of the project for a higher-energy underground
accelerator is reviewed. Two tunnels of the Felsenkeller underground site in
Dresden, Germany, are currently being refurbished for the installation of a 5
MV high-current Pelletron accelerator. Construction work is on schedule and
expected to complete in August 2017. The accelerator will provide intense, 50
uA, beams of 1H+, 4He+, and 12C+ ions, enabling research on astrophysically
relevant nuclear reactions with unprecedented sensitivity.Comment: Submitted to the Proceedings of Nuclei in the Cosmos XIV, 19-24 June
2016, Niigata/Japa
Direct presynaptic and indirect astrocyte-mediated mechanisms both contribute to endocannabinoid signaling in the pedunculopontine nucleus of mice
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), a cholinergic nucleus of the reticular activating system, is known to be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. Endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids, by systemic or local administration to the pedunculopontine nucleus, can both influence sleep. We previously demonstrated that activation of astrocytes by cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor agonists was able to modulate the membrane potential of PPN neurons, even in the presence of blockers of fast synaptic neurotransmission. In the present work, we provide evidence that synaptic inputs of PPN neurons are also affected by activation of presynaptic and astrocytic CB1 receptors. Using slice electrophysiology combined with calcium imaging, optogenetics and immunohistochemistry, we revealed a direct presynaptic inhibitory action on inhibitory postsynaptic currents, along with a mild increase of excitatory postsynaptic currents during CB1 receptor stimulation. Besides inhibition of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission through stimulation of presynaptic CB1 receptors, astrocyte- and mGluR-dependent tonic inhibition and excitation also developed. The mild stimulatory action of CB1 receptor activation on excitatory neurotransmission is the combination of astrocyte-dependent tonic excitation on excitatory neurons and the canonical presynaptic CB1 receptor activation and consequential inhibition of excitatory synaptic neurotransmission, whereas the astrocyte-dependent stimulatory action was not observed in inhibitory neurotransmission within the PPN. Our findings demonstrate that endocannabinoids act in the PPN via a dual pathway, consisting of a direct presynaptic and an indirect, astrocyte-mediated component, regulating synaptic strength and neuronal activity via independent mechanisms
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