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At least 91 records · Page 5

Ground-state shape evolution in Er and Yb isotopes

The ground-state shape (phase) evolution in Er and Yb isotopes is manifested in the axially deformed Nilsson mean-field plus extended pairing model. The energy ratio R 0 2 + / 2 1 + , the odd-even mass differences, the ground-state occupation probabilities of valence nucleon pairs with different angular momenta and the information entropy are calculated. It is shown from these quantities as functions of the quadrupole deformation parameter and the overall pairing interaction strength that the ground-state shape (phase) evolution is mainly driven by the pairing interaction and less affected by the quadrupole deformation, which thus provides a possible origin of the ground-state shape (phase) evolution of these isotopes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Generation, dynamics, and correlations of the fission fragments' angular momenta

The generation of angular momentum in fissioning nuclei is not well understood. The predictions of different models disagree, particularly concerning the correlation between the fragments' angular momenta. In this article, a time-dependent collective Hamiltonian model is proposed to treat the generation of the angular momentum in the fission fragments due to the quantum uncertainty principle as well as the dynamics of the collective wave function during and after scission. The model is constructed in the framework of the frozen Hartree-Fock approximation using a Skyrme energy functional to extract deformations of the fission fragments as well as the interactions in a derived collective Hamiltonian. The fission reactions studied are $^{240}$Pu $\rightarrow$ $^{132}$Sn+$^{108}$Ru and $^{240}$Pu $\rightarrow$ $^{144}$Ba+$^{96}$Sr. The model can account for a large part of the angular momentum found in experimental data. The orientation of the angular momentum of each fragment is found to be mainly in the plane perpendicular to the fission axis, in agreement with the experiment. The magnitudes of the angular momenta in the two fragments are nearly uncorrelated, in agreement with the recent experimental data of Wilson et al., Nature (London) 590, 566 (2021). Some of the conclusions of the traditional collective vibration model are supported by the present model but some are not. Surprisingly, it is found that the angular momenta of the fragments are slightly correlated positively as in a wriggling mode. As a result, it is also found that the presence of an octupole deformation in a fragment can significantly increase the generated angular momentum.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Investigations of Properties of {sup 89}Y Levels with Reactor Fast Neutrons

By employing a beam of reactor fast neutrons, the spectrum of gamma rays up to an energy of 4.6MeV and their angular distributions with respect to the neutron-beamaxis aremeasured in the reaction {sup 89}Y(n, n'γ). The multipolarities and multipole-mixture parameters for 34 gamma transitions and the spin–parities J{sup π} of states excited in this reaction are determined. The lifetimes of the lowest 32 levels of 89Y were measured by the Doppler shift attenuation method, and the reduced probabilities for the respective gamma transitions were calculated. Levels of the K{sup π} = +5/2{sup +} and K{sup π} = −7/2{sup +} bands associated with, respectively, prolate and oblate deformation shapes are found in {sup 89}Y at low excitation energies.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Imaging and Segmenting Grains and Subgrains Using Backscattered Electron Techniques

We present two new methods of processing data from backscattered electron signals in a scanning electron microscope to image grains and subgrains. The first combines data from multiple backscattered electron images acquired at different specimen geometries to (1) better reveal grain boundaries in recrystallized microstructures and (2) distinguish between recrystallized and unrecrystallized regions in partially recrystallized microstructures. The second utilizes spherical harmonic transform indexing of electron backscatter diffraction patterns to produce high angular resolution orientation data that enable the characterization of subgrains. Subgrains are produced during high-temperature plastic deformation and have boundary misorientation angles ranging from a few degrees down to a few hundredths of a degree. Here, we also present an algorithm to automatically segment grains from combined backscattered electron image data or grains and subgrains from high angular resolution electron backscatter diffraction data. Together, these new techniques enable rapid measurements of individual grains and subgrains from large populations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural measurement of electron-phonon coupling and electronic thermal transport across a metal-semiconductor interface

Scattering of energetic charge carriers and their coupling to lattice vibrations (phonons) in dielectric materials and semiconductors are crucial processes that determine the functional limits of optoelectronics, photovoltaics, and photocatalysts. The strength of these energy exchanges is often described by the electron-phonon coupling coefficient, which is difficult to measure due to the microscopic time- and length-scales involved. In the present study, we propose an alternate means to quantify the coupling parameter along with thermal boundary resistance and electron conductivity by performing a high angular-resolution time-resolved X-ray diffraction measurement of propagating lattice deformation following laser excitation of a nanoscale, polycrystalline metal film on a semiconductor substrate. Our data present direct experimental evidence for identifying the ballistic and diffusive transport components occurring at the interface, where only the latter participates in thermal diffusion. This approach provides a robust measurement that can be applied to investigate microscopic energy transport in various solid-state materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Liapunov stability analysis of hybrid dynamical systems in the neighborhood of nontrivial equilibrium

This paper is concerned with the stability of a hybrid dynamical system in the neighborhood of a nontrivial equilibrium, where the system consists of one rigid part and n elastic members. The body moves in a central-force field with its mass center describing a circular orbit. The nontrivial equilibrium is defined by steady rotation of the system at an angular velocity equal to the orbital velocity, with the elastic members being in deformed state. A Liapunov stability analysis is performed by assuming small perturbations about the nontrivial equilibrium, where the latter is generally defined by nonlinear differential equations. The theory is applied to a gravity-gradient stabilized satellite with flexible appendages.

Meirovitch, L.↗

A finite micro-rotation material point method for micropolar solid and fluid dynamics with three-dimensional evolving contacts and free surfaces

This paper introduces an explicit material point method designed specifically for simulating the micropolar continuum dynamics in the finite deformation and finite microrotation regime. The material point method enables us to simulate large deformation problems while circumventing the potential mesh distortion without remeshing. To eliminate rotational motion damping and loss of angular momentum during the projection, we introduce the mapping for microinertia and angular momentum between particles and grids through the affine particle-in-cell approach. The microrotation and the curvature at each particle are updated through zero-order forward integration of the microgyration and its spatial gradient. We show that the microinertia and the angular momentum are conserved during the projections between particles and grids in our formulation. We verify the formulation and implementation by comparing with the analytical dispersion relation of micropolar waves under the small strain and small microrotation, as well as the analytical soliton solution for solids undergoing large deformation and large microrotation. Additionally we also demonstrate the capacity of the proposed computational framework to handle a wide spectrum of simulations that exhibit size effects in the geometrical nonlinear regime through three representative numerical examples, i.e., a cantilever beam torsion problem, a fragment-impact penetration problem, and a micropolar fluid discharging problem.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Diffractive Imaging of C 60 Structural Deformations Induced by Intense Femtosecond Midinfrared Laser Fields

Theoretical studies indicated that C 60 exposed to linearly polarized intense infrared pulses undergoes periodic cage structural distortions with typical periods around 100 fs (1 fs = 10 –15 s). Here, we use the laser-driven self-imaging electron diffraction technique, previously developed for atoms and small molecules, to measure laser-induced deformation of C 60 in an intense 3.6 μm laser field. A prolate molecular elongation along the laser polarization axis is determined to be (6.1 ± 1.4)% via both angular- and energy-resolved measurements of electrons that are released, driven back, and diffracted from the molecule within the same laser field. The observed deformation is confirmed by density functional theory simulations of nuclear dynamics on time-dependent adiabatic states and indicates a nonadiabatic excitation of the h g (1) prolate-oblate mode. Here, the results demonstrate the applicability of laser-driven electron diffraction methods for studying macromolecular structural dynamics in four dimensions with atomic time and spatial resolutions.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Variable structure control of globally feedback-decoupled deformable vehicle maneuvers

The use of Cayley-Rodrigues attitude parameters as kinematic variables is shown to yield a globally linearized and decoupled model of the equations of motion of a deformable body, where the structural deformation state appears only in the coefficients of the inverse transformation. It is shown how commanded multiaxial attitude maneuvers can be encoded as switching surfaces for a variable-structure control implementation of the corresponding computed slew torques, automatically modulated in respnse only to detected angular rate error signs, for accurate tracking in the presence of separately damped or even uncontrolled (but stable) structural deformations.

Dwyer, T. A. W., III↗

Pygmy resonances: what’s in a name?

The centroid, width and percentage of energy weighted sum rule of dipole resonances can be strongly affected by dynamical fluctuations and static deformations of the nuclear surface, deformations and fluctuations which, in turn, depend on pairing, and thus on Cooper pairs. Because of angular momentum conservation, such insight is restricted, to lowest order, to fluctuations/deformations of quadrupole and monopole type. The latter being closely connected with the neutron (excess) skin and thus with soft dipole modes. From the values ( N - Z)/ A ≈ 0.18, 0.21, and 0.45 for the nuclei 122 Sn, 208 Pb, and 11 Li, it is expected that the latter system, which is weakly bound by pairing effects (spatially extended single Cooper pair and odd proton acting as spectator), constitutes an attractive laboratory to study the properties of soft E 1-modes and thus of isospin nuclear deformation. From the calculation of the full dipole response function in QRPA, discretizing the continuum in a spherical box of radius of 40 fm, one finds a GDR with centroid E x ≈ 24 MeV, width Γ ≈11 MeV and carrying 90% of the EWSR, and a low-lying collective resonance characterized by E X = 0.75 MeV, Γ = 0.5 MeV and 6.2% EWSR. The wave function of the latter resonance is built out of about fifteen components (both protons and neutrons), typical of a collective mode. The transition densities indicate this soft E 1 - mode to be generated by surface density oscillation of the neutron (halo) skin (Δ r np ≈ 1.71 fm) relative to an approximately isospin-saturated core. Through a detailed study of the full dipole response of 11 Li we will draw a comparison between the soft E 1 - mode of this halo nucleus and the PDR of heavy stable nuclei, pointing to the physical similarities and also to the basic differences.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Observation of Gravitational Waves from Two Neutron Star-Black Hole Coalescences

We report the observation of gravitational waves from two compact binary coalescences in LIGO's and Virgo's third observing run with properties consistent with neutron star-black hole (NSBH) binaries. The two events are named GW200105_162426 and GW200115_042309, abbreviated as GW200105 and GW200115; the first was observed by LIGO Livingston and Virgo, and the second by all three LIGO-Virgo detectors. The source of GW200105 has component masses 8.9(exp +1.2/-1.5) M⨀ and 1.9(exp +0.3/-0.2) M⨀, whereas the source of GW200115 has component masses 5.7(exp +1.8/-2.1) M⨀ and 1.5(exp +0.7/-0.3) M⨀ (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level). The probability that the secondary's mass is below the maximal mass of a neutron star is 89%-96% and 87%-98%, respectively, for GW200105 and GW200115, with the ranges arising from different astrophysical assumptions. The source luminosity distances are 280(exp +110/-110) Mpc and 300(+150/-100) Mpc, respectively. The magnitude of the primary spin of GW200105 is less than 0.23 at the 90% credible level, and its orientation is unconstrained. For GW200115, the primary spin has a negative spin projection onto the orbital angular momentum at 88% probability. We are unable to constrain the spin or tidal deformation of the secondary component for either event. We infer an NSBH merger rate density of 45(exp +75/-33) Gpc(exp -3) yr(exp -1) when assuming that GW200105 and GW200115 are representative of the NSBH population, or 130(+112/-69) Gpc(exp -3) yr(exp -1) under the assumption of a broader distribution of component masses.

R Abbott↗

Investigation of deformation effects on the decay properties of {sup 12}C+α Cluster states in {sup 16}O

We have analyzed the elastic scattering angular distributions data of the α+{sup 12}C reaction over a wide energy range (E{sub lab}=28.2 to 35.5 MeV) within the framework of the Optical Model formalism. A double folding (DF) type real potential was used with a phenomenological Woods–Saxon-squared (WS2) type imaginary potential. Good agreement between the calculations and experimental data was obtained. By using the real DF potential we have calculated the properties of the α-cluster states in {sup 16}O by using the Gamow code as well as the α-decay widths by using the WKB method. We implemented a {sup 12}C+α cluster framework for the calculation of the excitation energies and decay widths of {sup 16}O as a function of the orientation of the planar {sup 12}C nucleus with respect to the α-particle. These calculations showed strong sensitivity of the widths and excitation energies to the orientation. Branching ratios were also calculated and though less sensitive to the {sup 12}C orientation, it was found that {sup 12}C{sub gs}+α structure, with the α-particle orbiting the {sup 12}C in its ground state, is dominant. This work demonstrates that deformation, and the orientation, of {sup 12}C plays a crucial role in the understanding of the nature of the α-cluster states in {sup 16}O.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Toroidal high-spin isomers in the nucleus 120 304

Strongly deformed oblate superheavy nuclei form an intriguing region where the toroidal nuclear structures may bifurcate from the oblate spheroidal shape. The bifurcation may be facilitated when the nucleus is endowed with a large angular moment about the symmetry axis with $I=I_{z}$. The toroidal high-$K$ isomeric states at their local energy minima can be theoretically predicted using the cranked self-consistent Skyrme-Hartree-Fock method. We use the cranked Skyrme-Hartree-Fock method to predict the properties of the toroidal high-spin isomers in the superheavy nucleus $^{304}{120}_{184}$. This method consists of three steps: first, we use the deformation-constrained Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach to search for the nuclear density distributions with toroidal shapes. Next, using these toroidal distributions as starting configurations we apply an additional cranking constraint of a large angular momentum $I=I_{z}$ about the symmetry $z$-axis and search for the energy minima of the system as a function of the deformation. In the last step, if a local energy minimum with $I=I_{z}$ is found, we perform at this point the cranked symmetry- and deformation-unconstrained Skyrme-Hartree-Fock calculations to locate a stable toroidal high-spin isomeric state in free convergence. Furthemore, we have theoretically located two toroidal high-spin isomeric states of $^{304}{120}_{184}$ with an angular momentum $I$=$I_z$=81$\hbar$ (proton 2p-2h, neutron 4p-4h excitation) and $I$=$I_z$=208$\hbar$ (proton 5p-5h, neutron 8p-8h) at the quadrupole moment deformations $Q_{20}=-297.7$~b and $Q_{20}=-300.8$~b with energies 79.2 MeV and 101.6 MeV above the spherical ground state, respectively. The nuclear density distributions of the toroidal high-spin isomers $^{304}{120}_{184}(I_z$=81$\hbar$ and 208$\hbar$) have the maximum density close to the nuclear matter density, 0.16 fm$^{-3}$, and a torus major to minor radius aspect ratio $R/d=3.25$. Here, we demonstrate that aligned angular momenta of $I_z$=81$\hbar$ and 208$\hbar$ arising from multi-particle-multi-hole excitations in the toroidal system of $^{304}{120}_{184}$ can lead to high-spin isomeric states, even though the toroidal shape of $^{304}120_{184}$ without spin is unstable. Toroidal energy minima without spin may be possible for superheavy nuclei with higher atomic numbers, $Z\gtrsim$122, as reported previously [A. Staszczak and C. Y. Wong,Acta Phys. Pol. B 40 , 753 (2008)].

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Deformed shell effects in Ca 48 + Bk 249 quasifission fragments

Background: Quasifission is the main reaction channel hindering the formation of superheavy nuclei (SHN). Its understanding will help to optimize entrance channels for SHN studies. Quasifission also provides a probe to understand the influence of shell effects in the formation of the fragments. Purpose: Investigate the role of shell effects in quasifission and their interplay with the orientation of the deformed target in the entrance channel. Methods: 48 Ca + 249 Bk collisions are studied with the time-dependent Hartree-Fock approach for a range of angular momenta and orientations. Results: Unlike similar reactions with a 238 U target, no significant shell effects which could be attributed to the 208 Pb “doubly magic” nucleus are found. However, the octupole deformed shell gap at N = 56 seems to strongly influence quasifission in the most-central collisions. Conclusions: Shell effects similar to those observed in fission affect the formation of quasifission fragments. Mass-angle correlations could be used to experimentally isolate the fragments influenced by N = 56 octupole shell gaps.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Momentum in single-trace $T$$\overline{T}$ holography

We continue our exploration of the holographic duality between string theory in backgrounds that interpolate between asymptotically linear dilaton spacetime in the UV and AdS 3 in the IR, and the corresponding boundary theories. In previous papers, [1], [2], we showed that states in the bulk theory that are described by non-trivial asymptotically linear dilaton geometries, such as black holes and deformed global AdS 3 , can be described in the boundary theory by a single-trace $T$$\overline{T}$ deformation of a symmetric product theory. In those papers, we restricted to states with vanishing (angular) momentum; in this paper, we extend the analysis to states with arbitrary momentum, and show that the picture presented in the earlier papers generalizes to this case.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Mechanical and Thermal Analysis of the Spectroscopy X-ray Telescopes for the Constellation-X Mission

Area and mass requirements for the Constellation-X Spectroscopy X-Ray Telescopes restrict the thickness of the mirror segment to below a mm. Requirement of angular resolution of 15" over the soft x-ray band implies that allowable optic deformation is sub-micrometer for these thin segments. These requirements place stringent constraint on the mounting, alignment and affixing of these mirror segments in both the metrology and integration processes. We present analyses and optimization of the Constellation-X mirrors under relevant mechanical and thermal environments.

Chan, Kai-Wing↗

A comprehensive investigation of the strengthening effects of dislocations, texture and low and high angle grain boundaries in ultrafine grained AA6063 aluminum alloy

Highlights: • Evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of AA6063 after severe plastic deformation was investigated. • Average cell size shows a more solid relationship with mechanical properties rather than the average grain size. • This indicates that in addition to high angle boundaries, cell boundaries play a strengthening role. - Abstract: The effect of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA6063 aluminum alloy was investigated. For this purpose, samples of AA6063 aluminum alloy were deformed up to 10 passes using ECAP and the evolution of microstructure, texture and dislocation density was investigated. It was found that the dislocation density increased and cells mostly surrounded by low angle boundaries (LABs) formed after 2 passes ECAP. Increasing the dislocation density continued with further processing and reached a maximum at the 4th ECAP pass. With further deformation to 6 passes, the dislocation density reduced, the fraction of high angle boundaries (HABs) increased and the averages of cell size and grain size reduced, significantly, which indicated the occurrence of grain refinement. However, a slight increase in dislocation density, average cell size (ACS) and average grain size (AGS), indicating coarsening, occurred when 10 passes of ECAP are imposed. Hardness, yield (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased continuously although the most significant enhancement occurred after 2 passes of ECAP. Investigating the correlation between the microstructure and mechanical properties indicated that Hall-Petch relationship was valid for ultrafine grained AA6063 before the coarsening started provided that the property of interest was correlated to average cell size but not the average grain size.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tidal effects for spinning particles

Expanding on the recent derivation of tidal actions for scalar particles, we present here the action for a tidally deformed spin-1 / 2 particle. Focusing on operators containing two powers of the Weyl tensor, we combine the Hilbert series with an on-shell amplitude basis to construct the tidal action. With the tidal action in hand, we compute the leading-post-Minkowskian tidal contributions to the spin-1/2–spin-1/2 amplitude, arising at $\mathcal{O}$( G 2 ). Our amplitudes provide evidence that the observed long range spin-universality for the scattering of two point particles extends to the scattering of tidally deformed objects. From the scattering amplitude we find the conservative two-body Hamiltonian, linear and angular impulses, eikonal phase, spin kick, and aligned-spin scattering angle. We present analogous results in the electromagnetic case along the way.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗