Spreading Width for Decay out of a Superdeformed Band

The attenuation factor F responsible for the decay out of a superdeformed (SD) band is calculated with the help of a statistical model. This factor is given by 1/F = (1 + Gamma(down) / Gamma(S)). Here, Gamma(S) is the width for the collective E2 transition within the superdeformed band, and Gamma(down) is the spreading width which describes the mixing between a state in the SD band and the normally deformed (ND) states of equal spin. The attenuation factor F is independent of the statistical E1 decay widths Gamma(N) of the ND states provided that the Gamma(N) are much larger than both Gamma(down) and Gamma(S). This condition is generically met. Previously measured values of F are used to determine Gamma(down).Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Characterization of the Ca2+-gated and voltage-dependent k+-channel slo-1 of nematodes and its interaction with emodepside

The cyclooctadepsipeptide emodepside and its parent compound PF1022A are broad-spectrum nematicidal drugs which are able to eliminate nematodes resistant to other anthelmintics. The mode of action of cyclooctadepsipeptides is only partially understood, but involves the latrophilin Lat-1 receptor and the voltage- and calcium-activated potassium channel Slo-1. Genetic evidence suggests that emodepside exerts its anthelmintic activity predominantly through Slo-1. Indeed, slo-1 deficient Caenorhabditis elegans strains are completely emodepside resistant. However, direct effects of emodepside on Slo-1 have not been reported and these channels have only been characterized for C. elegans and related Strongylida. Molecular and bioinformatic analyses identified full-length Slo-1 cDNAs of Ascaris suum, Parascaris equorum, Toxocara canis, Dirofilaria immitis, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca gutturosa and Strongyloides ratti. Two paralogs were identified in the trichocephalids Trichuris muris, Trichuris suis and Trichinella spiralis. Several splice variants encoding truncated channels were identified in Trichuris spp. Slo-1 channels of trichocephalids form a monophyletic group, showing that duplication occurred after the divergence of Enoplea and Chromadorea. To explore the function of a representative protein, C. elegans Slo-1a was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and studied in electrophysiological (voltage-clamp) experiments. Incubation of oocytes with 1-10 µM emodepside caused significantly increased currents over a wide range of step potentials in the absence of experimentally increased intracellular Ca2+, suggesting that emodepside directly opens C. elegans Slo-1a. Emodepside wash-out did not reverse the effect and the Slo-1 inhibitor verruculogen was only effective when applied before, but not after, emodepside. The identification of several splice variants and paralogs in some parasitic nematodes suggests that there are substantial differences in channel properties among species. Most importantly, this study showed for the first time that emodepside directly opens a Slo-1 channel, significantly improving the understanding of the mode of action of this drug class

Q-Value for the Fermi Beta-Decay of 46V

By comparing the Q-values for the 46Ti(3He,t)46V and 47Ti(3He,t)47}V reactions to the isobaric analog states the Q-value for the superallowed Fermi-decay of 46V has been determined as Q_{EC}(46V)=(7052.11+/-0.27) keV. The result is compatible with the values from two recent direct mass measurements but is at variance with the previously most precise reaction Q-value. As additional input quantity we have determined the neutron separation energy S_n(47Ti)=(8880.51+/-0.25) keV

Analysis of the superdefomed rotational bands

All available experimental data for the $\Delta I=2$ transition energies in superdeformed bands are analyzed by using a new one-point formula. The existence of deviations from the smooth behavior is confirmed in many bands. However, we stress that one cannot necessarily speak about staggering patterns as they are mostly irregular. Simulations of the experimental data suggest that the irregularities may stem from the presence of irregular kinks in the rotational spectra. This could be a clue but, at the moment, where such kinks come from is an open question.Comment: 6 pages, RevTex, 7 p.s. figures, submitted to P.R.

Isospin Character of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance in 124Sn

The pygmy dipole resonance has been studied in the proton-magic nucleus 124Sn with the (a,a'g) coincidence method at E=136 MeV. The comparison with results of photon-scattering experiments reveals a splitting into two components with different structure: one group of states which is excited in (a,a'g) as well as in (g,g') reactions and a group of states at higher energies which is only excited in (g,g') reactions. Calculations with the self-consistent relativistic quasiparticle time-blocking approximation and the quasiparticle phonon model are in qualitative agreement with the experimental results and predict a low-lying isoscalar component dominated by neutron-skin oscillations and a higher-lying more isovector component on the tail of the giant dipole resonance

Production of 26Al in stellar hydrogen-burning environments: spectroscopic properties of states in 27Si

Model predictions of the amount of the radioisotope 26Al produced in hydrogen-burning environments require reliable estimates of the thermonuclear rates for the 26gAl(p,{\gamma})27Si and 26mAl(p,{\gamma})27Si reactions. These rates depend upon the spectroscopic properties of states in 27Si within about 1 MeV of the 26gAl+p threshold (Sp = 7463 keV). We have studied the 28Si(3He,{\alpha})27Si reaction at 25 MeV using a high-resolution quadrupole-dipole-dipole-dipole magnetic spectrograph. For the first time with a transfer reaction, we have constrained J{\pi} values for states in 27Si over Ex = 7.0 - 8.1 MeV through angular distribution measurements. Aside from a few important cases, we generally confirm the energies and spin-parity assignments reported in a recent {\gamma}-ray spectroscopy study. The magnitudes of neutron spectroscopic factors determined from shell-model calculations are in reasonable agreement with our experimental values extracted using this reaction.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

First order shape transition and critical point nuclei in Sm isotopes from relativistic mean field approach

The critical point nuclei in Sm isotopes, which marks the first order phase transition between spherical U(5) and axially deformed shapes SU(3), have been investigated in the microscopic quadrupole constrained relativistic mean field (RMF) model plus BCS method with all the most used interactions, i.e., NL1, NL3, NLSH and TM1. The calculated potential energy surfaces show a clear shape transition for the even-even Sm isotopes with $N = 82\sim 96$ and the critical point nuclei are found to be $^{148}$Sm, $^{150}$Sm and $^{152}$Sm. Similar conclusions can also be drawn from the microscopic neutron and proton single particle spectra.Comment: 6 figure