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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6

Measuring the β-decay Properties of Neutron-rich Exotic Pm, Sm, Eu, and Gd Isotopes to Constrain the Nucleosynthesis Yields in the Rare-earth Region

Abstract The β -delayed neutron-emission probabilities of 28 exotic neutron-rich isotopes of Pm, Sm, Eu, and Gd were measured for the first time at RIKEN Nishina Center using the Advanced Implantation Detector Array (AIDA) and the BRIKEN neutron detector array. The existing β -decay half-life ( T 1/2 ) database was significantly increased toward more neutron-rich isotopes, and uncertainties for previously measured values were decreased. The new data not only constrain the theoretical predictions of half-lives and β -delayed neutron-emission probabilities, but also allow for probing the mechanisms of formation of the high-mass wing of the rare-earth peak located at A ≈ 160 in the r -process abundance distribution through astrophysical reaction network calculations. An uncertainty quantification of the calculated abundance patterns with the new data shows a reduction of the uncertainty in the rare-earth peak region. The newly introduced variance-based sensitivity analysis method offers valuable insight into the influence of important nuclear physics inputs on the calculated abundance patterns. The analysis has identified the half-lives of 168 Sm and of several gadolinium isotopes as some of the key variables among the current experimental data to understand the remaining abundance uncertainty at A = 167–172.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Apollo 15 yellow impact glasses - Chemistry, petrology, and exotic origin

The Apollo 15 yellow impact glasses are characterized by moderate TiO2 (about 4.8%) and high abundances of the large ion lithophile elements (e.g., K, P, Hf, Th, REE). Since the chemistry of these glasses cannot be duplicated by any combination of local components presently known to occur at the Apollo 15 landing site, these yellow glasses seem to be exotic to that area. Chemical and petrologic constraints suggest that these samples were produced by impact melting of an immature mare regolith developed upon an unusual variety of mare basalt. It is speculated that the target basalts were the youngest lava flows known to exist on the moon (i.e., Eratosthenian-age lavas in Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Imbrium). Specific tests are proposed for evaluating this provocative hypothesis.

Delano, J. W.↗

Exotic interactions among C-jets and Pb-jets

The C-jets and Pb-jets were surveyed on the part of Chacaltaya emulsion chamber No.19 amounting to an exposure of 28.8 sq m yr. It is shown that the adopted events make up an unbiased sample of C-jets for sigma sub E gamma TeV. Mini-Centauro interaction gives the most natural explanation for the eight pinaught-less C-jets with three or more constituent shower core. Out of the eight double-cored pinaught-less events, three are found to have visible invariant masses 1.8 GeV/c. Three Pb-jets-lower are composed of double cores whose respective visible transverse momenta are greater than 0.5 GeV/c, suggesting that they are of Geminion origin or chiron origin. The energies of the parent particles are estimated to be 100 to 200 TeV for all three kinds of events. The implications of this energy estimate and the frequency of observed exotic events are discussed.

Source record↗

Multiple muons of conventional and exotic origin in DUMAND

A first summary of results from a theoretical analysis, based on hadron - muon cascade calculations, that yield relative intensities of very high energy multiple muons originating from ultra high energy interactions initiated by primary protons and iron nuclei in the atmosphere, under consideration of normal as well as direct and exotic production channels is presented. Lateral density distributions and target diagrams will be presented which show that only very large detectors, such as DUMAND, will be able to record multiple muons of conventional origin reliably. This, however, is a prerequisite for any primary mass determination based on multiple muon data.

Grieder, K. F.↗

Species biology and potential for controlling four exotic plants (Ammophila arenaria, Carpobrotus edulis, Cortaderia jubata and Gasoul crystallinum) on Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Invasive exotic plants can displace native flora and modify community and ecosystem structure and function. Ammophila arenaria, Corpobrotus edulis, Cortaderia jubata, and Gasoul crystallinum are invasive plants present on Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, designated for study by the Environmental Task Force because of the perceived threat they represent to the native flora. Each plant's native habitat, how they came to be at Vandenberg, their propagation, and how they can be controlled is discussed.

Schmalzer, Paul A.↗

Local and exotic components of primitive meteorites, and their origin

The chemical and isotopic compositions of chondrites and their implications for chondrite origins are considered, reviewing the results of recent theoretical and experimental investigations. Numerical data are compiled in tables and graphs and discussed in detail. Consideration is given to the properties and classifications of chondrites; components of local origin in the matrix, chondrules, Ca-Al-rich inclusions, and carbon and organic matter; exotic components such as O-16-enriched dust, nucleosynthetic anomalies, and extinct radionuclides; and isotopic anomalies of volatiles such as C, N, and the noble gases. The implications of the chondrite data for the stony fraction of comet nuclei are briefly indicated.

Anders, E.↗

Bounds on exotic-particle interactions from SN 1987A

The observation of a neutrino pulse from the supernova SN 1987A constrains the production of light exotic particles in the protoneutron star. A new bound on the axion decay constant is derived, f(a) of greater than about 10 to the 10th GeV. If right-handed (RH) neutrinos exist, 'RH Fermi constant' is G(RH) of less than about 10 exp-4 G(F), two orders of magnitude below laboratory bounds. The Dirac mass of hv sub m can be constrained below laboratory limits. The Dirac mass of the mu-neutrino can be constrained below laboratory limits.

Raffelt, Georg↗

Apollo 16 regolith breccias and soils - Recorders of exotic component addition to the Descartes region of the moon

Using the subdivision of Apollo 16 regolith breccias into ancient (about 4 Gyr) and younger samples (McKay et al., 1986), with the present-day soils as a third sample, a petrologic and chemical determination of regolith evolution and exotic component addition at the A-16 site was performed. The modal petrologies and mineral and chemical compositions of the regolith breccias in the region are presented. It is shown that the early regolith was composed of fragments of plutonic rocks, impact melt rocks, and minerals and impact glasses. It is found that KREEP lithologies and impact melts formed early in lunar history. The mare components, mainly orange high-TiO2 glass and green low-TiO2 glass, were added to the site after formation of the ancient breccias and prior to the formation of young breccias. The major change in the regolith since the formation of the young breccias is an increase in maturity represented by the formation of fused soil particles with prolonged exposure to micrometeorite impacts.

Simon, S. B.↗

Exotic power and propulsion concepts

The status of some exotic physical phenomena and unconventional spacecraft concepts that might produce breakthroughs in power and propulsion in the 21st Century are reviewed. The subjects covered include: electric, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, antimatter, high energy density materials, metallic hydrogen, laser thermal, solar thermal, solar sail, magnetic sail, and tether propulsion.

Forward, Robert L.↗

Drop-tower experiments for capillary surfaces in an exotic container

Low-gravity drop-tower experiments are carried out for an 'exotic' rotationally-symmetric container, which admits an entire continuum of distinct equilibrium symmetric capillary free surfaces. It is found that an initial equilibrium planer interface, a member of the continuum, will reorient toward a non-symmetric interface, as predicted by recent mathematical theory.

Concus, Paul↗

Exotic containers for capillary surfaces

This paper discusses 'exotic' rotationally symmetric containers that admit an entire continuum of distinct equilibrium capillary free surfaces. The paper extends earlier work to a larger class of parameters and clarifies and simplifies the governing differential equations, while expressing them in a parametric form appropriate for numerical integration. A unified presentation suitable for both zero and nonzero gravity is given. Solutions for the container shapes are depicted graphically along with members of the free-surface continuum, and comments are given concerning possible physical experiments.

Concus, Paul↗

Global analysis of fermion mixing with exotics

The limits are analyzed on deviation of the lepton and quark weak-couplings from their standard model values in a general class of models where the known fermions are allowed to mix with new heavy particles with exotic SU(2) x U(1) quantum number assignments (left-handed singlets or right-handed doublets). These mixings appear in many extensions of the electroweak theory such as models with mirror fermions, E(sub 6) models, etc. The results update previous analyses and improve considerably the existing bounds.

Nardi, Enrico↗

Exotic Molecules in Space: A Coordinated Astronomical, Laboratory, and Theoretical Study

The past year has been a period of spectacular progress in our investigation of exotic molecules of astrophysical interest. During this period an entirely new spectrometer for the investigation of reactive molecules was finished: a Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer with a supersonic molecular beam. The instrument is operating almost flawlessly, and during the above period of less than two years has discovered the 23 new carbon chain and ring-chain molecules. Seventeen research papers, nearly all in leading refereed journals such as the Astrophysical Journal and the Journal of Chemical Physics have been published. At least five more papers are being prepared for publication. Already four of our new molecules have been detected in space with large radio telescopes. In many ways the most interesting of these is HC(11)N, which now ranks as the largest molecule definitely identified beyond the solar system. Nearly all the other new molecules are candidates for astronomical detection, and we will be disappointed if a number of them are not found as more sensitive receivers and larger telescopes are constructed. During the next year we expect this wave of discovery to continue, and to insure rapid progress we have designed an even more sensitive spectrometer which will operate at the temperature of liquid helium. The goal of this system is to enhance the sensitivity of Fourier-transform spectroscopy by a further factor of 20 to 50, achieving this by reducing the amplifier and thermal noise to levels routinely achieved in radio astronomy. This new instrument offers a number of technical challenges in cryogenic and microwave engineering, but none of these appears to be insurmountable, and our current schedule is to have the helium cooled system operating within the next six months. A number of investigations continued with our conventional free space spectrometer, which remains a powerful complement to our new FTM instrument.

Thaddeus, Patrick↗

Exotic Molecules in Space: A Coordinated Astronomical Laboratory and Theoretical Study

The present report covers the third year of a grant which represents a direct continuation of NASA NAG5-4050, with the same title as before. It is dedicated as before to the discovery and characterization of new astrophysical molecules. This year, like the two before, has been extremely productive, yielding many new discoveries of astronomical interest at both radio and optical wavelengths, and the publication or submission of the 15 papers listed below. Nearly all of these articles have or will soon appear in the leading refereed journals of astrophysics, chemical physics, physics, or molecular spectroscopy. One is a major invited review for Molecular Physics. One of our other invited reviews published in Spectrochimica Acta in 2001 was recently awarded the Sir Harold Thompson Memorial Award, annually given to the best paper in that journal. During the past year significant advances have been made by our group in the laboratory study of exotic silicon and carbon molecules of astronomical interest. The most exciting discoveries include the pure silicon cluster Si3, several novel silicon hydrides, and the detection of phenyl radical, CsH5, a fundamental reactive organic ring. In addition, the rotational spectra of many carbon chains terminated with Si, N, O, and other heteroatoms have also been detected for the first time. The laboratory astrophysics of the whole set is complete in the sense that the entire radio spectrum of each species has now been measured or can be calculated to very high accuracy. Nearly all of these newly found molecules are plausible candidates for the detection by radio astronomers in the interstellar gas or in circumstellar sources because they are similar in structure and composition to known astronomical species, and because most are calculated to possess large permanent dipole moments.

Stringfellow, Guy↗

Exotic Molecules in Space: A Coordinated Astronomical Laboratory and Theoretical Study

The present report covers the first year of a grant which represents a direct continuation of NASA NAG5-4050, with the same title as before. It is dedicated as before to the discovery and characterization of new astrophysical molecules. This year, has been extremely productive, yielding many new discoveries of astronomical interest at both radio and optical wavelengths, and the publication or submission of the 15 papers listed below. Nearly all of these articles have or will soon appear in the leading refereed journals of astrophysics, chemical physics, physics, or molecular spectroscopy. One is a major invited review for Molecular Physics. One of our other invited reviews published in Spectrochimica Acta in 2001 was recently awarded the Sir Harold Thompson Memorial Award, annually given to the best paper in that journal. During the past year significant advances have been made by our group in the laboratory study of exotic silicon and carbon molecules of astronomical interest. The most exciting discoveries include the pure silicon cluster Si3, several novel silicon hydrides, and the detection of phenyl radical, C6H5, a fundamental reactive organic ring. In addition, the rotational spectra of many carbon chains terminated with Si, N, O, and other heteroatoms have also been detected for the first time. The laboratory astrophysics of the whole set is complete in the sense that the entire radio spectrum of each species has now been measured or can be calculated to very high accuracy. Nearly all of these newly found molecules are plausible candidates for the detection by radio astronomers in the interstellar gas or in circumstellar sources because they are similar in structure and composition to known astronomical species, and because most are calculated to possess large permanent dipole moments.

Springfellow, Guy↗

Theory Overview of Heavy Exotic Spectroscopy

This proceeding broadly overviews the current landscape of heavy exotic spectroscopy. Such work includes the composition of certain X, Y , and Z states, and proceeds to discuss tetraquarks made exclusively of four quarks.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Track-Based Triggers for Exotic Signatures

Standard triggers at the Large Hadron Collider are designed to select events with high momentum Standard Model particles which originate from the proton-proton collision of interest. However, several Beyond the Standard Model scenarios predict signatures with displaced or extremely low momentum charged particles, and pose significant challenges for LHC triggers. This article presents a study of track-based triggers for long-lived particles and other unconventional exotic signatures at the upcoming High Luminosity LHC. Representative scenarios studied include soft-unclustered-energy-patterns resulting in large multiplicities of low momentum tracks, a GMSB Supersymmetry scenario with long-lived staus resulting in displaced leptons or anomalous prompt tracks, and a higgs portal scenario with long-lived scalars resulting in displaced hadronic tracks. Trigger efficiency is measured as a function of the baseline parameters of a track trigger, including transverse momentum and impact parameters. Recommendations for future hardware-based track triggers are presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗