Stellar weak-interaction rates for rprp-process waiting-point nuclei from projected shell model

We propose a projected shell model (PSM) for description of stellar weak-interaction rates between even-even and odd-odd nuclei with extended configuration space where up to six-quasiparticle (qp) configurations are included, and the stellar weak-interaction rates for eight $rp$-process waiting-point (WP) nuclei, $^{64}$Ge, $^{68}$Se, $^{72}$Kr, $^{76}$Sr, $^{80}$Zr, $^{84}$Mo, $^{88}$Ru and $^{92}$Pd, are calculated and analyzed for the first time within the model. Higher-order qp configurations are found to affect the underlying Gamow-Teller strength distributions and the corresponding stellar weak-interaction rates. Under $rp$-process environments with high temperatures and densities, on one hand, thermal population of excited states of parent nuclei tends to decrease the stellar $\beta^+$ decay rates. On the other hand, the possibility of electron capture (EC) tends to provide increasing contribution to the rates with temperature and density. The effective half-lives of WP nuclei under the $rp$-process peak condition are predicted to be reduced as compared with the terrestrial case, especially for $^{64}$Ge and $^{68}$Se

Possible singlet and triplet superconductivity on honeycomb lattice

We study the possible superconducting pairing symmetry mediated by spin and charge fluctuations on the honeycomb lattice using the extended Hubbard model and the random-phase-approximation method. From $2\%$ to $20\%$ doping levels, a spin-singlet $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}+id_{xy}$-wave is shown to be the leading superconducting pairing symmetry when only the on-site Coulomb interaction $U$ is considered, with the gap function being a mixture of the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor pairings. When the offset of the energy level between the two sublattices exceeds a critical value, the most favorable pairing is a spin-triplet $f$-wave which is mainly composed of the next-nearest-neighbor pairing. We show that the next-nearest-neighbor Coulomb interaction $V$ is also in favor of the spin-triplet $f$-wave pairing.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Nuclear β\beta spectrum from projected shell model (I): allowed one-to-one transition

Nuclear $\beta$ spectrum and the corresponding (anti-)neutrino spectrum play important roles in many aspects of nuclear astrophysics, particle physics, nuclear industry and nuclear data. In this work we propose a projected shell model (PSM) to calculate the level energies as well as the reduced one-body transition density (ROBTD) by the Pfaffian algorithm for nuclear $\beta$ decays. The calculated level energies and ROBTD are inputed to the Beta Spectrum Generator (BSG) code to study the high precision $\beta$ spectrum of allowed one-to-one transitions. When experimental level energies are adopted, the calculated $\beta$ spectrum by ROBTD of the PSM deviates from the one by the extreme simple particle evaluation of the BSG by up to $10\%$, reflecting the importance of nuclear many-body correlations. When calculated level energies are adopted, the calculated $\beta$ spectrum shows sensitive dependence on the reliability of calculated level energies. The developed method for ROBTD by the PSM will also be useful for study of the first-forbidden transitions, the isovector spin monopole resonance etc. in a straightforward way

Caste-biased Expression of fem and Amdsx Genes in Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Sex determination and caste differentiation are two crucial processes for morphology building in honeybees. It is unclear whether there is an interaction between these two processes. Here, we investigated the expression of fem and Amdsx genes between female castes of honeybees. We found that the expression of fem and Amdsx is significantly higher in queens than in workers, and this expression was positively regulated by juvenile hormone (JH). Our results suggest that sex-determining genes fem and Amdsx are also involved in honeybee caste differentiation

Ceria–terbia solid solution nanobelts with high catalytic activities for CO oxidation

Ceria–terbia solid solution nanobelts were prepared by an electrochemical route and tested as catalysts of high activity for CO oxidation