Anomalous population of 10^{10}He states in reactions with 11^{11}Li

Structure with the lowest energy observed in the $^{10}$He spectrum populated in the proton knockout reaction with $^{11}$Li beam has a peak at $1.2-1.5$ MeV. This peak is usually interpreted as a resonant $0^+$ ground state of $^{10}$He. Our theoretical calculations indicate that this peak is likely to be a pileup of $1^-$, $0^+$, and $2^+$ excitations with very similar shapes. %We predict a very specific nature of the $1^-$ excitation in $^{10}$He. Moreover, the ``soft'' $1^-$ excitation appears to be the lowest one in energy. Such an anomalous continuum response is traced to the halo structure of $^{11}$Li providing extreme low energy shift to all the expected continuum excitations. Competitions of the initial state structure (ISS) and the final state interaction (FSI) effects on the spectrum and three-body correlations in $^{10}$He are discussed. Analogous effect of the extreme low-energy shift could also be expected in other cases of $2n$ emitters populated in reactions with halo nuclei. Simplified example of the $^{10}$He spectrum in $\alpha$ knockout from $^{14}$Be, is given. We also discuss limits on the properties of $^{9}$He stemming from the observed $^{10}$He spectrum.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figure

Thomas-Ehrman effect in a three-body model: 16^{16}Ne case

The dynamic mechanism of the Thomas-Ehrman shift is studied in three-cluster systems by example of $^{16}$Ne and $^{16}$C isobaric mirror partners. We predict configuration mixings for $0^+$ and $2^+$ states in $^{16}$Ne and $^{16}$C. Large isospin symmetry breaking on the level of wave function component weights is demonstrated for these states and discussed as three-body mechanism of Thomas-Ehrman shift. It is shown that the description of the Coulomb displacement energies requires a consistency among three parameters: the $^{16}$Ne decay energy $E_T$, the $^{15}$F ground state energy $E_r$, and the configuration mixing parameters for the $^{16}$Ne/$^{16}$C $0^+$ and $2^+$ states. Basing on this analysis we infer the $^{15}$F $1/2^+$ ground state energy to be $E_r=1.39-1.42$ MeV.Comment: 10 pages 8 figure

Optimal control of electromagnetic field using metallic nanoclusters

The dielectric properties of metallic nanoclusters in the presence of an applied electromagnetic field are investigated using non-local linear response theory. In the quantum limit we find a non-trivial dependence of the induced field and charge distribution on the spatial separation between the clusters and on the frequency of the driving field. Using a genetic algorithm, these quantum functionalities are exploited to custom-design sub-wavelength lenses with a frequency controlled switching capability.Comment: accepted for publication in New Journal of Physic

Negative phase velocity in nonlinear oscillatory systems --mechanism and parameter distributions

Waves propagating inwardly to the wave source are called antiwaves which have negative phase velocity. In this paper the phenomenon of negative phase velocity in oscillatory systems is studied on the basis of periodically paced complex Ginzbug-Laundau equation (CGLE). We figure out a clear physical picture on the negative phase velocity of these pacing induced waves. This picture tells us that the competition between the frequency $\omega_{out}$ of the pacing induced waves with the natural frequency $\omega_{0}$ of the oscillatory medium is the key point responsible for the emergence of negative phase velocity and the corresponding antiwaves. $\omega_{out}\omega_{0}>0$ and $|\omega_{out}|<|\omega_{0}|$ are the criterions for the waves with negative phase velocity. This criterion is general for one and high dimensional CGLE and for general oscillatory models. Our understanding of antiwaves predicts that no antispirals and waves with negative phase velocity can be observed in excitable media

Pauli-principle driven correlations in four-neutron nuclear decays

Mechanism of simultaneous non-sequential four-neutron ($4n$) emission (or `true' $4n$-decay) has been considered in phenomenological five-body approach. This approach is analogous to the model of the direct decay to the continuum often applied to $2n$- and $2p$-decays. It is demonstrated that $4n$-decay fragments should have specific energy and angular correlations reflecting strong spatial correlations of `valence' nucleons orbiting in their $4n$-precursors. Due to the Pauli exclusion principle, the valence neutrons are pushed to the symmetry-allowed configurations in the $4n$-precursor structure, which causes a `Pauli focusing' effect. Prospects of the observation of the Pauli focusing have been considered for the $4n$-precursors $^7$H and $^{28}$O. Fingerprints of their nuclear structure or/and decay dynamics are predicted

Negative Refractive Index in Artificial Metamaterials

We discuss optical constants in artificial metamaterials showing negative magnetic permeability and electric permittivity. Using effective field theory, we calculate effective permeability of nanofabricated media composed of pairs of identical gold nano-pillars with magnetic response in the visible spectrum.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Optics Letter