Medium-heavy nuclei from nucleon-nucleon interactions in lattice QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inoue, Takashi; Aoki, Sinya; Charron, Bruno; Doi, Takumi; Hatsuda, Tetsuo; Ikeda, Yoichi; Ishii, Noriyoshi; Murano, Keiko; Nemura, Hidekatsu; Sasaki, Kenji; HAL QCD Collaboration

2015-01-01

On the basis of the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock method with the nucleon-nucleon forces obtained from lattice QCD simulations, the properties of the medium-heavy doubly magic nuclei such as 16O and 40Ca are investigated. We found that those nuclei are bound for the pseudoscalar meson mass MPS≃470 MeV. The mass number dependence of the binding energies, single-particle spectra, and density distributions are qualitatively consistent with those expected from empirical data at the physical point, although these hypothetical nuclei at heavy quark mass have smaller binding energies than the real nuclei.

High-energy multiple muons and heavy primary cosmic-rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mizutani, K.; Sato, T.; Takahashi, T.; Higashi, S.

1985-01-01

Three-dimensional simulations were carried out on high-energy multiple muons. On the lateral spread, the comparison with the deep underground observations indicates that the primary cosmic rays include heavy nuclei of high content. A method to determine the average mass number of primary particles in the energy around 10 to the 15th power eV is suggested.

Production and investigation of heavy neutron rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zemlyanoy, Sergey; Avvakumov, Konstantin; Kozulin, Eduard; Fedosseev, Valentin; Bark, Robert; Janas, Zenon

2017-11-01

A project devoted to the production and study of neutron rich heavy nuclei (GALS - project) is being realized at Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Reactions (FLNR) - JINR. GALS is planned to exploit available beams from the U-400M cyclotron in low energy multi-nucleon transfer reactions to study exotic neutron rich nuclei located in the "north-east" region of nuclear map. Products from 4.5 to 9 MeV/nucleon heavy-ion collisions, such as 136Xe on 208Pb, are to be captured in a gas cell and selectively laser-ionized in a sextupole (quadrupole) ion guide extraction system.

The LDEF ultra heavy cosmic ray experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Osullivan, D.; Thompson, A.; Bosch, J.; Keegan, R.; Wenzel, K.-P.; Smit, A.; Domingo, C.

1992-01-01

The LDEF Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE) used 16 side viewing LDEF trays giving a total geometry factor for high energy cosmic rays of 30 sq m sr. The total exposure factor was 170 sq m sr y. The experiment is based on a modular array of 192 solid state nuclear track detector stacks, mounted in sets of four in 48 pressure vessels. The extended duration of the LDEF mission has resulted in a greatly enhanced potential scientific yield from the UHCRE. Initial scanning results indicate that at least 1800 cosmic ray nuclei with Z greater than 65 were collected, including the world's first statistically significant sample of actinides. Post flight work to date and the current status of the experiment are reviewed.

Parameterization of fission barrier heights of medium, heavy and super heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manjunatha, H. C.

2017-12-01

A new semi empirical formula is proposed for fission barrier heights of medium, heavy and super heavy nuclei in the atomic number region 50 ≤ Z ≤ 130. The fitting parameters for the proposed formula are obtained by making a polynomial fit to the available theoretical and experimental data. The calculated fission barrier heights are compared with that of experiments and other theoretical models such as SHF(SLy6) (Burvenich et al. in Phys Rev C 69:014307, 2004), SHFB(SkM) (Baran et al. in Nucl Phys A 944:442, 2015), FRLDM (Möller et al. in Phys Rev C 79:064304, 2009), ETFSI (SkSC4) with Skyrme SkSC4 force (Mamdouh et al. in Nucl Phys A 679:337, 2001), WS (Kowal et al. in Phys Rev C 82:014303, 2010) and CDFT(DD-ME2) (Abusara et al. in Phys Rev C 85:024314, 2012). The standard deviation for fission barrier heights produced by present formula is evaluated. The good agreement of present formula with the experiments and other models suggests that the present formula could be used to evaluate the fission barrier heights of medium, heavy and super heavy nuclei in the region 50 ≤ Z ≤ 130. This formula is a first of its kind that produces fission barrier heights of 2858 nuclei with the only simple inputs of only neutron number (N), proton number (Z) and mass number (A).

Parameterization of fission barrier heights of medium, heavy and super heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manjunatha, H. C.

2018-04-01

A new semi empirical formula is proposed for fission barrier heights of medium, heavy and super heavy nuclei in the atomic number region 50 ≤ Z ≤ 130. The fitting parameters for the proposed formula are obtained by making a polynomial fit to the available theoretical and experimental data. The calculated fission barrier heights are compared with that of experiments and other theoretical models such as SHF(SLy6) (Burvenich et al. in Phys Rev C 69:014307, 2004), SHFB(SkM) (Baran et al. in Nucl Phys A 944:442, 2015), FRLDM (Möller et al. in Phys Rev C 79:064304, 2009), ETFSI (SkSC4) with Skyrme SkSC4 force (Mamdouh et al. in Nucl Phys A 679:337, 2001), WS (Kowal et al. in Phys Rev C 82:014303, 2010) and CDFT(DD-ME2) (Abusara et al. in Phys Rev C 85:024314, 2012). The standard deviation for fission barrier heights produced by present formula is evaluated. The good agreement of present formula with the experiments and other models suggests that the present formula could be used to evaluate the fission barrier heights of medium, heavy and super heavy nuclei in the region 50 ≤ Z ≤ 130. This formula is a first of its kind that produces fission barrier heights of 2858 nuclei with the only simple inputs of only neutron number (N), proton number (Z) and mass number (A).

Progress report on the ultra heavy cosmic ray experiment (AO178)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, A.; Osullivan, D.; Bosch, J.; Keegan, R.; Wenzel, K.-P.; Jansen, F.; Domingo, C.

1993-01-01

The Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE) is based on a modular array of 192 side-viewing solid state nuclear track detector stacks. These stacks were mounted in sets of four in 48 pressure vessels employing sixteen peripheral Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) trays. The extended duration of the LDEF mission has resulted in a greatly enhanced scientific yield from the UHCRE. The geometry factor for high energy cosmic ray nuclei, allowing for Earth shadowing, was 30 sq m-sr, giving a total exposure factor of 170 sq m-sr-y at an orbital inclination of 28.4 degrees. Scanning results indicate that about 3000 cosmic ray nuclei in the charge region with Z greater than 65 were collected. This sample is more than ten times the current world data in the field (taken to be the data set from the HEAO-3 mission plus that from the Ariel-6 mission) and is sufficient to provide the world's first statistically significant sample of actinide (Z greater than 88) cosmic rays. Results to date are presented including details of ultra-heavy cosmic ray nuclei, analysis of pre-flight and post-flight calibration events and details of track response in the context of detector temperature history. The integrated effect of all temperature and age related latent track variations cause a maximum charge shift of +/- 0.8 e for uranium and +/- 0.6 e for the platinum-lead group. The precision of charge assignment as a function of energy is derived and evidence for remarkably good charge resolution achieved in the UHCRE is considered. Astrophysical implications of the UHCRE charge spectrum are discussed.

Bose condensation of nuclei in heavy ion collisions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tripathi, Ram K.; Townsend, Lawrence W.

1994-01-01

Using a fully self-consistent quantum statistical model, we demonstrate the possibility of Bose condensation of nuclei in heavy ion collisions. The most favorable conditions of high densities and low temperatures are usually associated with astrophysical processes and may be difficult to achieve in heavy ion collisions. Nonetheless, some suggestions for the possible experimental verification of the existence of this phenomenon are made.

The LDEF ultra heavy cosmic ray experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Osullivan, D.; Thompson, A.; Bosch, J.; Keegan, R.; Wenzel, K.-P.; Smit, A.; Domingo, C.

1991-01-01

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE) used 16 side viewing LDEF trays giving a total geometry factor for high energy cosmic rays of 30 sq m sr. The total exposure factor was 170 sq m sr y. The experiment is based on a modular array of 192 solid state nuclear track detector stacks, mounted in sets of 4 pressure vessels (3 experiment tray). The extended duration of the LDEF mission has resulted in a greatly enhanced potential scientific yield from the UHCRE. Initial scanning results indicate that at least 2000 cosmic ray nuclei with Z greater than 65 were collected, including the world's first statistically significant sample of actinides. Postflight work to date and the current status of the experiment are reviewed. Provisional results from analysis of preflight and postflight calibrations are presented.

Manifestation of the structure of heavy nuclei in their alpha decays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adamian, G. G., E-mail: adamian@theor.jinr.ru; Antonenko, N. V.; Bezbakh, A. N.

2016-11-15

Low-lying one- and two-quasiparticle states of heavy nuclei are predicted. Alpha-decay chains, including those that proceed through isomeric states, are examined on the basis of the predicted properties of superheavy nuclei.

Generation of high-energy neutron beam by fragmentation of relativistic heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yurevich, Vladimir

2016-09-01

The phenomenon of multiple production of neutrons in reactions with heavy nuclei induced by high-energy protons and light nuclei is analyzed using a Moving Source Model. The Lorentz transformation of the obtained neutron distributions is used to study the neutron characteristics in the inverse kinematics where relativistic heavy nuclei bombard a light-mass target. The neutron beam generated at 0∘has a Gaussian shape with a maximum at the energy of the projectile nucleons and an energy resolution σE/E < 4% above 6 GeV.

Systematic shell-model study on spectroscopic properties from light to heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Cenxi

2018-05-01

A systematic shell-model study is performed to study the spectroscopic properties from light to heavy nuclei, such as binding energies, energy levels, electromagnetic properties, and β decays. The importance of cross-shell excitation is shown in the spectroscopic properties of neutron-rich boron, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes. A special case is presented for low-lying structure of 14C. The weakly bound effect of proton 1s1/2 orbit is necessary for the description of the mirror energy difference in the nuclei around A=20. Some possible isomers are predicted in the nuclei in the southeast region of 132Sn based on a newly suggested Hamiltonian. A preliminary study on the nuclei around 208Pb are given to show the ability of the shell model in the heavy nuclei.

The energy distribution of very heavy cosmic ray nuclei within the penumbra at Palestine, Texas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mathiesen, O.; Larsson, L.; Andersson, R.

1975-09-01

The low-energy end of the rigidity spectrum of cosmic ray nuclei with atomic numbers 7greater than or equal to18, recorded in a balloon flight conducted from Palestine, Texas, has been compared with a corresponding theoretical spectrum based on the computations by Shea and Smart. The two distributions are found to be in qualitative agreement with each other. The spread in apparent particle charge, caused by the theoretical distribution of particle velocity at Palestine, has been calculated for detectors with different response functions. The resulting structure of the predicted charge spectrum of iron group nuclei is found to be in goodmore » agreement with corresponding experimental data.« less

Relativistic heavy cosmic rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mewaldt, R. A.; Fernandez, J. I.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.; Binns, W. R.

1972-01-01

During three balloon flights of a 1 sq m sr ionization chamber/Cerenkov counter detector system, measurements were made of the atmospheric attenuation, flux, and charge composition of cosmic ray nuclei with 16 is less than or = Z is less than or = 30 and rigidity greater than 4.5 GV. The attenuation mean free path in air of VH (20 less than or = Z less than or = 30) nuclei is found to be 19.7 + or - 1.6 g/sq cm, a value somewhat greater than the best previous measurement. The attenuation mean free path of iron is found to be 15.6 + or - 2.2 g/sq cm, consistent with predictions of geometric cross-section formulae. An absolute flux of VH nuclei 10 to 20% higher than earlier experiments at similar geomagnetic cutoff and level of solar activity was measured. The relative abundances of even-charged nuclei are found to be in good agreement with results of other recent high resolution counter experiments. The observed cosmic ray chemical composition implies relative abundances at the cosmic ray source of Ca/Fe = 0.12 + or - 0.04 and S/Fe = 0.14 + or - 0.05.

Cosmic-ray abundances of Sn, Te, Xe, and Ba nuclei measured on HEAO 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. R.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.; Fickle, R. K.; Waddington, C. J.; Garrard, T. L.; Krombel, K. E.; Stone, E. C.

1983-01-01

The results of an analysis of HEAO 3 Heavy Nuclei Experimental data covering 440 days of observations of Sn-Ba nuclei in cosmic rays are reported. The particles were detected by a Cernkov counter, and a Z-squared ceiling was calculated to normalize the histograms produced. The observed large abundance of Sn and Ba relative to other elements in the region of interest indicated a predominance of the s-process in the source of the particles. When account was taken of first ionization potential effects, the data indicated that the material could be solar system in origin. A source dominated by the r-process nucleosynthesis was ruled out at the 0.93 confidence level.

A Study of Heavy Trans-Iron Primary Cosmic Rays (Z More than or Equal to 55) with a Fast Film Cerenkov Detector. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pinsky, L. S.

1972-01-01

The detection and measurement of the cosmic ray charge spectrum for nuclei heavier than iron (Fe, Z = 26) are discussed. These trans-iron nuclei are of great interest for several reasons. They promise to be one of the more sensitive clocks for use in determining the age of cosmic rays. The discovery of radioactive nuclides and their decay products in the primary flux, will allow an estimation of the elapsed time since these cosmic rays were synthesized. In addition, the relatively short interaction length of the very heavy trans-iron particles makes their relative abundance a source of information regarding the amount of interstellar matter that they had to traverse to reach the earth. A study of the trans-iron cosmic rays may provide clues as to the very processes of nucleosyntheses by which the bulk of the trans-iron nuclei in the universe are produced. This in turn may shed light on the mechanics of the supernova, which is postulated to be the major source of all cosmic rays. Finally, trans-iron cosmic ray experiments may demonstrate the existence of the recently postulated super-heavy nuclei.

Annihilation of Antiprotons in Heavy Nuclei.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-04-01

Scattering Models, Acta Physica Polonica 1311, 425 (1980). T.E. Kalogeropoalos, L. Gray, A . Nandy, and J. Roy, Antiproton-nucleon Annihilation into...I th a Rpor Annihilation of AntiprotonsI the period ,- tpril 1985 to in Heavy Nuclei December 1985 April 1986 Author: Lawrence Livermore National...will be available to the general public, including foreign nationals. A ~AY 2 - >i K2U~ prepared for the: Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory Air

The response of ionization chambers to relativistic heavy nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newport, B. J.; Stone, E. C.; Waddington, C. J.; Binns, W. R.; Fixsen, D. J.; Garrard, T. L.; Grimm, G.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.

1985-01-01

The LBL Bevalac for the Heavy Nuclei Experiment on HEAO-3, compared the response of a set of laboratory ionization chambers to beams of 26Fe, 36Kr, 54Xe, 67 Ho, and 79Au nuclei at maximum energies ranging from 1666 MeV/amu for Fe to 1049 MeV/amu for Au. The response of these chambers shows a significant deviation from the expected energy dependence, but only a slight deviation from Z sq scaling.

Heavy nuclei as thermal insulation for protoneutron stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakazato, Ken'ichiro; Suzuki, Hideyuki; Togashi, Hajime

2018-03-01

A protoneutron star (PNS) is a newly formed compact object in a core collapse supernova. In this paper, the neutrino emission from the cooling process of a PNS is investigated using two types of nuclear equation of state (EOS). It is found that the neutrino signal is mainly determined by the high-density EOS. The neutrino luminosity and mean energy are higher and the cooling time scale is longer for the softer EOS. Meanwhile, the neutrino mean energy and the cooling time scale are also affected by the low-density EOS because of the difference in the population of heavy nuclei. Heavy nuclei have a large scattering cross section with neutrinos owing to the coherent effects and act as thermal insulation near the surface of a PNS. The neutrino mean energy is higher and the cooling time scale is longer for an EOS with a large symmetry energy at low densities, namely a small density derivative coefficient of the symmetry energy, L .

The response of ionization chambers to relativistic heavy nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newport, B. J.; Stone, E. C.; Waddington, C. J.; Binns, W. R.; Fixsen, D. J.; Garrard, T. L.; Grimm, G.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.

1985-01-01

As part of a recent calibration at the LBL Bevalac for the Heavy Nuclei Experiment on HEAO-3, the response of a set of laboratory ionization chambers were compared to beams of 26Fe, 36 Kr, 54Xe, 67 Ho, and 79 Au nuclei at maximum energies ranging from 1666 MeV/amu for Fe to 1049 MeV/amu for Au. The response of these chambers shows a significant deviation from the expected energy dependence, but only a slight deviation from Z squared scaling.

Perspectives of Super-Heavy Nuclei research with the upcoming separator-spectrometer setup S3 at GANIL/SPIRAL2 - The VAMOS Gas-Filled separator and AGATA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Theisen, Christophe

2017-11-01

Several facilities or apparatus for the synthesis and spectroscopy of the Super-Heavy Nuclei (SHN) are presently under construction in the world, which reflect the large interest for this region of extreme mass and charge, but also for the need of even more advanced research infrastructures. Among this new generation, the GANIL/SPIRAL2 facility in Caen, France, will soon deliver very high intense ion beams of several tens of particle μA. The Super Separator Spectrometer S3 has been designed to exploit these new beams for the study of SHN after separation. It will provide the needed beam rejection, mass selection and full arsenal of state-of-the art detection setups. Still at GANIL, the AGATA new generation gamma-ray tracking array is being operated. The VAMOS high acceptance spectrometer is being upgraded as a gas-filled separator. Its coupling with AGATA will lower the spectroscopic limits for the prompt gamma-ray studies of heavy and super-heavy nuclei. In this proceeding, these new devices will be presented along with a selected physics case.

CHARGE SPECTRUM OF HEAVY AND SUPERHEAVY COMPONENTS OF GALACTIC COSMIC RAYS: RESULTS OF THE OLIMPIYA EXPERIMENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alexeev, Victor; Kalinina, Galina; Pavlova, Tatyana, E-mail: aval37@mail.ru, E-mail: gakalin@mail.ru, E-mail: pavlova4tat@mail.ru

2016-10-01

The aim of the OLIMPIYA experiment is to search for and identify traces of heavy and superheavy nuclei of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) in olivine crystals from stony–iron meteorites serving as nuclear track detectors. The method is based on layer-by-layer grinding and etching of particle tracks in these crystals. Unlike the techniques of other authors, this annealing-free method uses two parameters: the etching rate along the track ( V {sub etch}) and the total track length ( L ), to identify charge Z of a projectile. A series of irradiations with different swift heavy ions at the accelerator facilities ofmore » GSI (Darmstadt) and IMP (Lanzhou) were performed in order to determine and calibrate the dependence of projectile charge on V {sub etch} and L . To date, one of the most essential results of the experiment is the obtained charge spectrum of GCR nuclei within the range of Z > 40, based on about 11.6 thousand processed tracks. As the result of data processing, 384 nuclei with charges Z ≥ 75 have been identified, including 10 nuclei identified as actinides (90 < Z < 103). Three tracks were identified to be produced by nuclei with charges 113 < Z < 129. Such nuclei may be part of the Island of Stability of transfermium elements.« less

The Heavy Nuclei eXplorer (HNX) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. R.; Adams, J. H.; Barbier, L. M.; Craig, N.; Cummings, A. C.; Cummings, J. R.; Doke, T.; Hasebe, N.; Hayashi, T.; Whitaker, Ann F. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The primary scientific objectives of HNX, which was recently selected by NASA for a Small Explorer (SMEX) Mission Concept Study, are to measure the age of the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) since nucleosynthesis, determine the injection mechanism for the GCR accelerator (Volatility or FIP), and study the mix of nucleosynthetic processes that contribute to the source of GCRs. The experimental goal of HNX is to measure the elemental abundances of all individual stable nuclei from neon through the actinides and possibly beyond. HNX is composed of two instruments: ECCO, which measures elemental abundances of nuclei with Z greater than or equal to 72, and ENTICE. which measures elemental abundances of nuclei with Z between 10 and 82. We describe the mission and the science that can be addressed by HNX.

Enrichment of heavy nuclei in the April 17, 1972 solar flare

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleischer, R. L.; Hart, H. R., Jr.; Renshaw, A.; Woods, R. T.

1974-01-01

Cosmic ray nuclei from the April 17, 1972 solar flare were recorded in polycarbonate plastic and phosphate glass track detectors exposed on the Apollo 16 flight. The energy spectra of iron group nuclei and of carbon and heavier nuclei were measured down to about 0.02 MeV/nucleon, revealing that the enrichment of iron relative to carbon and heavier nuclei increases markedly in this very low energy region.

Studies of Heavy-Ion Reactions and Transuranic Nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schroeder, W. Udo

2016-07-28

Studies of heavy-ion reactions and transuranic nuclei performed by the University of Rochester Nuclear Science Research Group have been successful in furthering experimental systematics and theoretical understanding of the behavior of nuclear systems excited to their limits of stability. The theoretical results explain specifically the “boiling” and “vaporization” of atomic nuclei, but are more generally applicable to isolated, quantal many-particle systems which, under thermal or mechanical stresses, all disintegrate by evaporation, via surface cluster emission, or via fission-like processes. Accompanying experimental investigations by the group have demonstrated several new types of dynamical instability of nuclei: In central, “head-on” collisions, targetmore » nuclei exhibit limited ability to stop energetic projectile nuclei and to dissipate the imparted linear momentum. Substantial matter overlap (“neck”) between projectile and target nuclei, which is observed at elevated collision energies, can be stretched considerably and break at several places simultaneously. These results provide new testing grounds for microscopic theory of the cohesion of nuclear matter. This property has remained elusive, even though the elementary nucleon-nucleon forces are well known since some time. Technical R&D has resulted in a detailed characterization of a novel plastic material, which can now be used in the design of sensitive diagnostic systems for various types of radio-activity. Innovative application of powerful laser systems has produced intense, controllable sources of exotic particle radioactivity for nuclear investigations. Several students have received their Ph.D. degree in experimental nuclear science for their work on basic nuclear research or R&D projects.« less

Shell-model method for Gamow-Teller transitions in heavy deformed odd-mass nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Long-Jun; Sun, Yang; Ghorui, Surja K.

2018-04-01

A shell-model method for calculating Gamow-Teller (GT) transition rates in heavy deformed odd-mass nuclei is presented. The method is developed within the framework of the projected shell model. To implement the computation requirement when many multi-quasiparticle configurations are included in the basis, a numerical advancement based on the Pfaffian formula is introduced. With this new many-body technique, it becomes feasible to perform state-by-state calculations for the GT nuclear matrix elements of β -decay and electron-capture processes, including those at high excitation energies in heavy nuclei which are usually deformed. The first results, β- decays of the well-deformed A =153 neutron-rich nuclei, are shown as the example. The known log(f t ) data corresponding to the B (GT- ) decay rates of the ground state of 153Nd to the low-lying states of 153Pm are well described. It is further shown that the B (GT) distributions can have a strong dependence on the detailed microscopic structure of relevant states of both the parent and daughter nuclei.

Enrichment of heavy nuclei in the 17 April 1972 solar flare.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleischer, R. L.; Hart, H. R., Jr.

1973-01-01

Polycarbonate and glass detectors exposed on Apollo 16 to the Apr. 17, 1972, solar flare were used to measure the spectrum of iron-group cosmic-ray nuclei down to about 0.02 MeV/nucleon. The enrichment of iron relative to lighter nuclei previously seen at higher energies increases markedly in this new, very-low-energy region. The energy spectrum of carbon and heavier nuclei inferred from sensitized Lexan polycarbonate reveals the enrichment of iron relative to carbon and heavier nuclei down to about 0.03 MeV/nucleon.

Formation of Neutron-Enriched Heavy and Superheavy Nuclei in Fusion Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karpov, A. V.; Rachkov, V. A.; Saiko, V. V.

2018-05-01

The formation of new isotopes of heavy and superheavy elements in the fusion of neutron-enriched projectiles with actinide targets is discussed. Cross sections for the formation of evaporation residues in fusion reactions is predicted for several combinations of colliding nuclei.

Capabilities of the LDEF-2 heavy nuclei collection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drach, J.; Price, P. B.; Salamon, M. H.; Tarle, G.; Ahlen, S. P.

1985-01-01

To take the next big step beyond High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-3) the Heavy Nuclei Collector (HNC), to be carried on an LDEF reflight, has the goals of greatly increased collecting power ( 30 actinides) and charge resolution sigma sub Z or = 0.25 E for Z up to approximately 100, which will provide abundances of all the charges 40 or Z or = 96 and permit sensitive searches for hypothetical particles such as monopoles, superheavy elements, and quark nuggets.

Calculation of Formation and Decay of Heavy Compound Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherepanov, E. A.

2001-04-01

The report describes a method for calculating fusion and decay probabilities in reactions leading to the production of transfermium elements. The competition between quasi-fission and fussion is described on the basis of the Dinuclear System Concept (DNSC). The both competition between fusion and quasi-fission and statistical decay of heavy highly fissionable excited compound nuclei is described in an approach based on the Monte-Carlo method.

Cosmic gamma-rays and cosmic nuclei above 1 TeV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watson, A. A.

1986-01-01

Work on cosmic gamma rays and cosmic nuclei above I TeV is described and evaluated. The prospect that gamma ray astronomy above I TeV will give new insights into high energy cosmic ray origin within our galaxy is particularly bright.

Proxy-SU(3) symmetry in heavy deformed nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonatsos, Dennis; Assimakis, I. E.; Minkov, N.; Martinou, Andriana; Cakirli, R. B.; Casten, R. F.; Blaum, K.

2017-06-01

Background: Microscopic calculations of heavy nuclei face considerable difficulties due to the sizes of the matrices that need to be solved. Various approximation schemes have been invoked, for example by truncating the spaces, imposing seniority limits, or appealing to various symmetry schemes such as pseudo-SU(3). This paper proposes a new symmetry scheme also based on SU(3). This proxy-SU(3) can be applied to well-deformed nuclei, is simple to use, and can yield analytic predictions. Purpose: To present the new scheme and its microscopic motivation, and to test it using a Nilsson model calculation with the original shell model orbits and with the new proxy set. Method: We invoke an approximate, analytic, treatment of the Nilsson model, that allows the above vetting and yet is also transparent in understanding the approximations involved in the new proxy-SU(3). Results: It is found that the new scheme yields a Nilsson diagram for well-deformed nuclei that is very close to the original Nilsson diagram. The specific levels of approximation in the new scheme are also shown, for each major shell. Conclusions: The new proxy-SU(3) scheme is a good approximation to the full set of orbits in a major shell. Being able to replace a complex shell model calculation with a symmetry-based description now opens up the possibility to predict many properties of nuclei analytically and often in a parameter-free way. The new scheme works best for heavier nuclei, precisely where full microscopic calculations are most challenged. Some cases in which the new scheme can be used, often analytically, to make specific predictions, are shown in a subsequent paper.

Cluster-model calculations of exotic decays from heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buck, B.; Merchant, A. C.

1989-05-01

A cluster model employing a local, effective cluster-core potential is used to investigate exotic decay from heavy nuclei as a quantum tunneling phenomenon within a semiclassical approximation. Excellent agreement with all reported experimental measurements of the decay widths for 14C and 24Ne emission is obtained. As an added bonus, the width for alpha particle emission from 212Po is also calculated in good agreement with experiment.

The Energetic Trans-Iron Nuclei Experiment (ENTICE)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. R.; Israel, M. H.; Cummings, A. C.; Labrador, A. W.; Mewaldt, R. A.; Leske, R. A.; Stone, E. C.; Wiedenbeck, M. E.; Christian, E. R.; Denolfo, G. A.;

New Equations of State Based on the Liquid Drop Model of Heavy Nuclei and Quantum Approach to Light Nuclei for Core-collapse Supernova Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furusawa, Shun; Sumiyoshi, Kohsuke; Yamada, Shoichi; Suzuki, Hideyuki

2013-08-01

We construct new equations of state for baryons at subnuclear densities for the use in core-collapse simulations of massive stars. The abundance of various nuclei is obtained together with thermodynamic quantities. A model free energy is constructed, based on the relativistic mean field theory for nucleons and the mass formula for nuclei with the proton number up to ~1000. The formulation is an extension of the previous model, in which we adopted the liquid drop model to all nuclei under the nuclear statistical equilibrium. We reformulate the new liquid drop model so that the temperature dependences of bulk energies could be taken into account. Furthermore, we extend the region in the nuclear chart, in which shell effects are included, by using theoretical mass data in addition to experimental ones. We also adopt a quantum-theoretical mass evaluation of light nuclei, which incorporates the Pauli- and self-energy shifts that are not included in the ordinary liquid drop model. The pasta phases for heavy nuclei are taken into account in the same way as in the previous model. We find that the abundances of heavy nuclei are modified by the shell effects of nuclei and temperature dependence of bulk energies. These changes may have an important effect on the rates of electron captures and coherent neutrino scatterings on nuclei in supernova cores. The abundances of light nuclei are also modified by the new mass evaluation, which may affect the heating and cooling rates of supernova cores and shocked envelopes.

Nonrotational states in isotonic chains of heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamian, G. G.; Malov, L. A.; Antonenko, N. V.; Jolos, R. V.

2018-03-01

The ground-state deformations of heavy nuclei are explored with the microscopic-macroscopic approach using the single-particle Woods-Saxon potential of the quasiparticle-phonon model. The calculations of the energies of low-lying nonrotational states take into account the residual pairing and phonon-quasiparticle interactions. The spectra of these states are presented for the N =147 -161 isotones. The sensitivity of the calculated results to the parameters of the model is studied. A rather good description of the available experimental data is demonstrated.

Heavy nucleus collisions between 20 and 60 GeV/nucleon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burnett, T. H.; Dake, S.; Fuki, M.; Gregory, J. C.; Hayashi, T.; Holynski, R.; Iwai, J.; Jones, W. V.; Jurak, A.; Lord, J. J.

1985-01-01

Interest in studying relativistic nucleus-nucleus interations arises from the fact that they offer an opportunity to probe nuclear matter at high density and temperature. It is expected that under such extreme conditions a transition from hadronic matter into quark-gluon plasma occurs and that in the interactions of highly relativistic nuclei such conditions are created. Cosmic rays remain a unique source of high energy heavy nuclei. The Japanese-American Cooperative Emulsion Experiment (JACEE-3) was designed to study the collisions of heavy cosmic ray nuclei with different nuclear targets at energies beyond 20 GeV/nucleon. JACEE-3 experiment was carried out using a combined electronic counters and an emulsion chamber detector, which was exposed to the cosmic rays on a balloon at an altitude of 5 g/sq cm.

Nuclear structure study for the neutron-rich nuclei beyond 132Sn: In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy of 136Sn and 132Cd

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, He; Aoi, Nori; Takeuchi, Satoshi; Matsushita, Masafumi; Doornenbal, Pieter; Motobayashi, Tohru; Steppenbeck, David; Yoneda, Kenichiro; Baba, Hidetada; Dombrádi, Zsolt; Kobayashi, Kota; Kondo, Yosuke; Lee, Jenny; Liu, Hong-Na; Minakata, Ryogo; Nishimura, Daiki; Otsu, Hideaki; Sakurai, Hiroyoshi; Sohler, Dora; Sun, Ye-Lei; Tian, Zheng-Yang; Tanaka, Ryuki; Vajta, Zsolt; Yang, Zai-Hong; Yamamoto, Tetsuya; Ye, Yan-Lin; Yokoyama, Rin

2018-05-01

The neutron-rich nuclei 136Sn and 132Cd have been studied in the purpose of nuclear structure for the nuclei beyond the doubly-magic nucleus 132Sn. The 2+1 → 0+ gs transitions were identified for these two nuclei using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy in coincidence with one- and two-proton removal reactions, respectively, at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The 2+ 1 state in 136Sn is found to be similar to that for 134Sn indicating the seniority scheme may also hold for the heavy tin isotopes beyond N = 82. For 132Cd, the 2+ 1 state provides the first spectroscopic information in the even-even nuclei locating in the region "southeast" of 132Sn and the result is discussed in terms of proton-neutron configuration mixing. In both these two nuclei, it was found that the valence neutrons play an essential role in their low-lying excitations.

Sub-barrier quasifission in heavy element formation reactions with deformed actinide target nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinde, D. J.; Jeung, D. Y.; Prasad, E.; Wakhle, A.; Dasgupta, M.; Evers, M.; Luong, D. H.; du Rietz, R.; Simenel, C.; Simpson, E. C.; Williams, E.

2018-02-01

Background: The formation of superheavy elements (SHEs) by fusion of two massive nuclei is severely inhibited by the competing quasifission process. Low excitation energies favor SHE survival against fusion-fission competition. In "cold" fusion with spherical target nuclei near 208Pb, SHE yields are largest at beam energies significantly below the average capture barrier. In "hot" fusion with statically deformed actinide nuclei, this is not the case. Here the elongated deformation-aligned configurations in sub-barrier capture reactions inhibits fusion (formation of a compact compound nucleus), instead favoring rapid reseparation through quasifission. Purpose: To determine the probabilities of fast and slow quasifission in reactions with prolate statically deformed actinide nuclei, through measurement and quantitative analysis of the dependence of quasifission characteristics at beam energies spanning the average capture barrier energy. Methods: The Australian National University Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility and CUBE fission spectrometer have been used to measure fission and quasifission mass and angle distributions for reactions with projectiles from C to S, bombarding Th and U target nuclei. Results: Mass-asymmetric quasifission occurring on a fast time scale, associated with collisions with the tips of the prolate actinide nuclei, shows a rapid increase in probability with increasing projectile charge, the transition being centered around projectile atomic number ZP=14 . For mass-symmetric fission events, deviations of angular anisotropies from expectations for fusion fission, indicating a component of slower quasifission, suggest a similar transition, but centered around ZP˜8 . Conclusions: Collisions with the tips of statically deformed prolate actinide nuclei show evidence for two distinct quasifission processes of different time scales. Their probabilities both increase rapidly with the projectile charge. The probability of fusion can be severely

Research in particles and fields. [cosmic rays, gamma rays, and cosmic plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, E. C.; Buffington, A.; Davis, L., Jr.; Prince, T. A.; Vogt, R. E.

1984-01-01

Research activities in cosmic rays, gamma rays, and astrophysical plasmas are reviewed. Energetic particle and photon detector systems flown on spacecraft and balloons were used to carry out the investigations. Specific instruments mentioned are: the high energy isotope spectrometer telescope, the electron/isotope spectrometer, the heavy isotope spectrometer telescope, and magnetometers. Solar flares, planetary magnetospheres, element abundance, the isotopic composition of low energy cosmic rays, and heavy nuclei are among the topics receiving research attention.

Science requirements for Heavy Nuclei Collection (HNC) experiment on NASA Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Mission 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Price, P. Buford

1991-01-01

The Heavy Nuclei Collection (HNC) is a passive array of stacks of a special glass, 14 sheets thick, that record tracks of ultraheavy cosmic rays for later readout by automated systems on Earth. The primary goal is to determine the relative abundances of both the odd- and even-Z cosmic rays with Z equal to or greater than 50 with statistics a factor at least 60 greater than obtained in HEAO-3 and to obtain charge resolution at least as good as 0.25 charge unit. The secondary goal is to search for hypothetical particles such as superheavy elements. The HNC detector array will have a cumulative collection power equivalent to flying 32 sq m of detectors in space for 4 years. The array will be flown as a free-flight spacecraft and/or attached to Space Station Freedom.

Study of ^{14}C Cluster Decay Half-Lives of Heavy Deformed Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamami, S. Rahimi; Pahlavani, M. R.

2018-01-01

A theoretical model based on deformed Woods-Saxon, Coulomb and centrifugal terms are constructed to evaluate the half-lives for the cluster radioactivity of various super heavy nuclei. Deformation have been applied on all parts of their potential containing nuclear barrier for cluster decay. Also, both parent and daughter nuclei are considered to be deformed. The calculated results of ^{14}C cluster radioactivity half-lives are compared with available experimental data. A satisfactory agreement between theoretical and measured data is achieved. Also, obtained half-lives for each decay family is agreed with Geiger-Nuttall law.

X-Ray Reprocessing in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Begelman, Mitchell C.

2004-01-01

This is the final report for research entitled "X-ray reprocessing in active galactic nuclei," into X-ray absorption and emission in various classes of active galaxy via X-ray spectral signatures. The fundamental goal of the research was to use these signatures as probes of the central engine structure and circumnuclear environment of active galactic nuclei. The most important accomplishment supported by this grant involved the detailed analysis and interpretation of the XMM data for the bright Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15. This work was performed by Drs. Christopher Reynolds and Mitchell Begelman in collaboration with Dr. Jorn Wilms (University of Tubingen, Germany; PI of the XMM observation) and other European scientists. With XMM we obtained medium resolution X-ray spectra of unprecedented quality for this Seyfert galaxy. Modeling the X-ray spectrum within the framework of accretion disk reflection models produced the first evidence for energy extraction from the spin of a black hole. Specifically, we found that the extreme gravitational redshifts required to explain the X-ray spectrum suggests that the bulk of the energy dissipation is concentrated very close to the black hole, in contrast with the expectations of any pure accretion disk model. In a second paper we addressed the low- energy spectral complexity and used RXTE specta to pin down the high-energy spectral index, thus firming up our initial interpretation. Additionally, we carried out detailed spectral and variability analyses of a number of Seyfert and radio galaxies (e.g., NGC 5548 and 3C 111) and developed general techniques that will be useful in performing X-ray reverberation mapping of accretion disks in AGN, once adequate data becomes available. A list of papers supported by this research is included.

On the spectrum of stable secondary nuclei in cosmic rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blasi, P.

2017-10-01

The ratio of the fluxes of secondary and primary nuclei in cosmic rays has long been used as an indicator of the grammage traversed in the journey of cosmic ray particles throughout the Galaxy. The basic idea is that primary particles are accelerated in astrophysical sources, such as supernova remnant shocks and eventually propagate in the Galactic volume, occasionally interacting with gas, mainly in the disc of the Galaxy, and there they produce secondary nuclei through spallation. At sufficiently high energy, typically ≳100 GeV/n, the ratio of fluxes of the secondary nucleus to that of the main primary nucleus is found to scale as Ek^{-δ }, where Ek is the energy per nucleon (a conserved quantity in spallation reactions) and δ identifies the energy dependence of the diffusion coefficient. The same shock waves that may be responsible for cosmic ray acceleration in the first place also pick up any other charged particle in the upstream, provided being above threshold for injection. The secondary nuclei produced by spallation in the interstellar medium are no exception, hence they also get accelerated. This effect is unavoidable, only its strength may be subject of debate. We compute the spectrum of secondary elements such as boron and lithium taking into account shock reacceleration and compare our predictions with the recent observations of the B/C ratio and preliminary measurements of the boron and lithium flux. Both these sets of data seem to confirm that reacceleration of secondary nuclei indeed plays an important role, thereby affecting the validity of those scaling rules that are often used in cosmic ray physics.

Gamma rays from active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kazanas, Demosthenes

1990-01-01

The general properties of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and quasars are reviewed with emphasis on their continuum spectral emission. Two general classes of models for the continuum are outlined and critically reviewed in view of the impending GRO (Gamma Ray Observatory) launch and observations. The importance of GRO in distinguishing between these models and in general in furthering the understanding of AGN is discussed. The very broad terms the status of the current understanding of AGN are discussed.

Shell model description of heavy nuclei and abnormal collective motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Chong

2018-05-01

In this contribution I present systematic calculations on the spectroscopy and electromagnetic transition properties of intermediate-mass and heavy nuclei around 100Sn and 208Pb. We employed the large-scale configuration interaction shell model approach with realistic interactions. Those nuclei are the longest isotopic chains that can be studied by the nuclear shell model. I will show that the yrast spectra of Te isotopes show a vibrational-like equally spaced pattern but the few known E2 transitions show rotational-like behaviour. These kinds of abnormal collective behaviors cannot be reproduced by standard collective models and provide excellent background to study the competition of single-particle and various collective degrees of freedom. Moreover, the calculated B(E2) values for neutron-deficient and heavier Te isotopes show contrasting different behaviours along the yrast line, which may be related to the enhanced neutron-proton correlation when approaching N=50. The deviations between theory and experiment concerning the energies and E2 transition properties of low-lying 0+ and 2+ excited states and isomeric states in those nuclei may provide a constraint on our understanding of nuclear deformation and intruder configuration in that region.

Application of JAERI quantum molecular dynamics model for collisions of heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogawa, Tatsuhiko; Hashimoto, Shintaro; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Niita, Koji

2016-06-01

The quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) model incorporated into the general-purpose radiation transport code PHITS was revised for accurate prediction of fragment yields in peripheral collisions. For more accurate simulation of peripheral collisions, stability of the nuclei at their ground state was improved and the algorithm to reject invalid events was modified. In-medium correction on nucleon-nucleon cross sections was also considered. To clarify the effect of this improvement on fragmentation of heavy nuclei, the new QMD model coupled with a statistical decay model was used to calculate fragment production cross sections of Ag and Au targets and compared with the data of earlier measurement. It is shown that the revised version can predict cross section more accurately.

Use of relativistic rise in ionization chambers for measurement of high energy heavy nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barthelmy, S. D.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.; Vogel, J. S.

1983-01-01

A balloon-borne instrument has been constructed to measure the energy spectra of cosmic-ray heavy nuclei in the range of about 0.3 to about 100 GeV/amu. It makes use of the relativistic rise portion of the Bethe-Bloch curve in ionization chambers for energy determination in the 10- to 100-GeV/amu interval. The instrument consists of six layers of dual-gap ionization chambers for energy determination above 10 GeV/amu. Charge is determined with a NE114 scintillator and a Pilot 425 plastic Cerenkov counter. A CO2 gas Cerenkov detector (1 atm; threshold of 30 GeV/amu) calibrates the ion chambers in the relativistic rise region. The main emphasis of the instrument is the determination of the change of the ratio of Iron (26) to the Iron secondaries (21-25) in the energy range of 10 to 100 GeV/amu. Preliminary data from a balloon flight in the fall of 1982 from Palestine, TX is presented.

The heavy ions in space experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, J. H., Jr.; Beahm, L. P.; Stiller, B.

1985-01-01

The Heavy Ions in Space (HIIS) experiment was developed and is currently in orbit onboard the long duration facility (LDEF). The HIIS will record relativistic cosmic ray nuclei heavier than magnesium and stopping nuclei down to helium. The experiment uses plastic track detectors that have a charge resolution of 0.15 charge units at krypton and 0.10 charge units, or better, for nuclei lighter than cobalt. The HIIS has a collecting power of 2 square meter steradians and it has already collected more than a year's data.

Low-luminosity gamma-ray bursts as the sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, B. Theodore; Murase, Kohta; Kimura, Shigeo S.; Horiuchi, Shunsaku; Mészáros, Peter

2018-04-01

Recent results from the Pierre Auger Collaboration have shown that the composition of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) becomes gradually heavier with increasing energy. Although gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been promising sources of UHECRs, it is still unclear whether they can account for the Auger results because of their unknown nuclear composition of ejected UHECRs. In this work, we revisit the possibility that low-luminosity GRBs (LL GRBs) act as the sources of UHECR nuclei and give new predictions based on the intrajet nuclear composition models considering progenitor dependencies. We find that the nuclear component in the jet can be divided into two groups according to the mass fraction of silicon nuclei, Si-free and Si-rich. Motivated by the connection between LL GRBs and transrelativistic supernovae, we also consider the hypernova ejecta composition. Then, we discuss the survivability of UHECR nuclei in the jet base and internal shocks of the jets, and show that it is easier for nuclei to survive for typical LL GRBs. Finally, we numerically propagate UHECR nuclei ejected from LL GRBs with different composition models and compare the resulting spectra and composition to Auger data. Our results show that both the Si-rich progenitor and hypernova ejecta models match the Auger data well, while the Si-free progenitor models have more difficulty in fitting the spectrum. We argue that our model is consistent with the newly reported cross-correlation between the UHECRs and starburst galaxies, since both LL GRBs and hypernovae are expected to be tracers of the star-formation activity. LL GRBs have also been suggested as the dominant origin of IceCube neutrinos in the PeV range, and the LL GRB origin of UHECRs can be critically tested by near-future multimessenger observations.

Active Galactic Nuclei and X-ray Ovservations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasylenko, A. A.; Zhdanov, V. I.; Fedorova, E. V.

2016-11-01

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are the brightest objects in the Universe and their brightness is mainly caused by accretion of m atter onto supermassive black holes (SMBH). This is the common reason of the AGN activity. However, every AGN has differences and fine features, which are the subject of an intensive investigation. The occurrence of such highly-relativistic objects as SMBH residing at the AGN core makes them an excellent laboratory for testing the fundamental physical theories. The X-rays and gamma-rays generated in a corona of an accretion disc around SMBH yield valuable information for these tests, the radiation in the range of 1-100 keV being at present the most informative source. However, there are a number of obstacles for such a study due to different physical processes that complicate the interpretation of observations in different bands of the electromagnetic radiation. In this paper, we review the current concepts concerning the structure of AGNs with a focus on the central part of these objects th at require relativistic theories for their understanding. The basic notions of the unified AGN schemes are considered; some modifications are reviewed. The paper contains the following sections. I. Introduction; II. Observational manifestations and classification of galaxies with active nuclei (II.A. Optical observations; II.B. Radio observations; II.C. X-ray data; II.D Infrared data; II.E. AGN anatomy with multywave data); III. AGN "central machine"; III.A. Black holes; III.B. Accretion disc types; III.C. Corona; III.D. AGN unified scheme); IV. Simulation X-ray AGN spectra (IV.A. The power-law contimuum and the exponential cut-off; IV.B. The absorption of X-rays; IV.C. Reflection; IV.D. Fe K a line; IV.E. Spin paradigm); V. AGN as a laboratory to test the fundamental interactions (V.A. Strong gravitational fields; V.B. Dynamic dark energy near compact astrophysical objects

Heavy ion fragmentation experiments at the bevatron

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heckman, H. H.

1976-01-01

Collaborative research efforts to study the fragmentation processes of heavy nuclei in matter using heavy ion beams of the Bevatron/Bevalac are described. The goal of the program is to obtain the single particle inclusive spectra of secondary nuclei produced at 0 deg by the fragmentation of heavy ion beam projectiles. The process being examined is B+T yields F + anything, where B is the beam nucleus, T is the target nucleus, and F is the detected fragment. The fragments F are isotopically identified by experimental procedures involving magnetic analysis, energy loss and time-of-flight measurements. Effects were also made to: (a) study processes of heavy nuclei in matter, (b) measure the total and partial production cross section for all isotopes, (c) test the applicability of high energy multiparticle interaction theory to nuclear fragmentation, (d) apply the cross section data and fragmentation probabilities to cosmic ray transport theory, and (e) search for systematic behavior of fragment production as a means to improve existing semi-empirical theories of cross-sections.

Energy spectra of cosmic-ray nuclei to above 100 GeV per nucleon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon, M.; Spiegelhauer, H.; Schmidt, W. K. H.; Siohan, F.; Ormes, J. F.; Balasubrahmanyan, V. K.; Arens, J. F.

1980-01-01

Energy spectra of cosmic-ray nuclei boron to iron have been measured from 2 GeV per nucleon to beyond 100 GeV per nucleon. The data were obtained using an ionization calorimeter flown on a balloon from Palestine, Texas. The 3450 kg payload floated at 7 g/sq cm for almost 24 hours. The results are in excellent agreement with those of other workers where overlaps exist. The spectra are not consistent with single power laws, and demonstrate the power of using a single technique sensitive over a large dynamic range. The data are consistent with the leaky box model of cosmic-ray propagation. The boron data indicate that the cosmic-ray escape length decreases with increasing energy as E to the -(0.4 + or - 0.1) up to 100 GeV per nucleon. Secondary nuclei from iron are also consistent with this dependence. Predicted changes in the energy dependence of the ratios of primary nuclei O/C and (Fe + Ni)/(C + O) are also observed.

The project of the mass separator of atomic nuclei produced in heavy ion induced reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oganessian, Yu. Ts.; Shchepunov, V. A.; Dmitriev, S. N.; Itkis, M. G.; Gulbekyan, G. G.; Khabarov, M. V.; Bekhterev, V. V.; Bogomolov, S. L.; Efremov, A. A.; Pashenko, S. V.; Stepantsov, S. V.; Yeremin, A. V.; Yavor, M. I.; Kalimov, A. G.

2003-05-01

A new separator and mass analyzer, named MASHA (mass analyzer of super heavy atoms), has been designed at the Flerov Laboratory JINR Dubna to separate and measure masses of nuclei and molecules with precision better than 10 -3. The set up can work in the wide mass range from A≈20 to A≈500, its mass acceptance is as large as ±2.8%. In particular, it allows unambiguous mass identification of super heavy nuclei with a resolution better than 1 amu at the level of 300 amu. Synthesized in nuclear reactions nuclides are emitted from an ECR ion source at energy E=40 kV and charge state Q=+1. Then they pass the following steps of separation and analysis: the first section of rough separation, the second section of separation and mass analysis and the final section of separation with a 90° electrostatic deflector. In the focal plane of the device, a focal plane detector determines positions (masses) of studied nuclei. Ion optics of the analyzer, optimized up to the second order, is considered. Description of its elements and subsystems is given.

Study of near-stability nuclei populated as fission fragments in heavy-ion fusion reactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fotiadis, Nikolaos; Nelson, Ronald O; Devlin, Matthew

2010-01-01

Examples are presented to illustrate the power of prompt {gamma}-ray spectroscopy of fission fragments from compound nuclei with A {approx} 200 formed in fusion-evaporation reactions in experiments using the Gammasphere Ge-detector array. Complementary methods, such as Coulomb excitation and deep-inelastic processes, are also discussed. In other cases (n, xn{gamma}) reactions on stable isotopes have been used to establish neutron excitation functions for {gamma}-rays using a pulsed 'white'-neutron source, coupled to a high-energy-resolution germanium-detector array. The excitation functions can unambiguously assign {gamma}-rays to a specific reaction product. Results from all these methods bridge the gaps in the systematics of high-spin statesmore » between the neutron-deficient and neutron-rich nuclei. Results near shell closures should motivate new shell model calculations.« less

Cross section parameterizations for cosmic ray nuclei. 1: Single nucleon removal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norbury, John W.; Townsend, Lawrence W.

1992-01-01

Parameterizations of single nucleon removal from electromagnetic and strong interactions of cosmic rays with nuclei are presented. These parameterizations are based upon the most accurate theoretical calculations available to date. They should be very suitable for use in cosmic ray propagation through interstellar space, the Earth's atmosphere, lunar samples, meteorites, spacecraft walls and lunar and martian habitats.

Galactic cosmic ray composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, J. P.

1986-01-01

An assessment is given of the galactic cosmic ray source (GCRS) elemental composition and its correlation with first ionization potential. The isotopic composition of heavy nuclei; spallation cross sections; energy spectra of primary nuclei; electrons; positrons; local galactic reference abundances; comparison of solar energetic particles and solar coronal compositions; the hydrogen; lead; nitrogen; helium; and germanium deficiency problems; and the excess of elements are among the topics covered.

Alpha-cluster preformation factor within cluster-formation model for odd-A and odd-odd heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saleh Ahmed, Saad M.

2017-06-01

The alpha-cluster probability that represents the preformation of alpha particle in alpha-decay nuclei was determined for high-intensity alpha-decay mode odd-A and odd-odd heavy nuclei, 82 < Z < 114, 111 < N < 174. This probability was calculated using the energy-dependent formula derived from the formulation of clusterisation states representation (CSR) and the hypothesised cluster-formation model (CFM) as in our previous work. Our previous successful determination of phenomenological values of alpha-cluster preformation factors for even-even nuclei motivated us to expand the work to cover other types of nuclei. The formation energy of interior alpha cluster needed to be derived for the different nuclear systems with considering the unpaired-nucleon effect. The results showed the phenomenological value of alpha preformation probability and reflected the unpaired nucleon effect and the magic and sub-magic effects in nuclei. These results and their analyses presented are very useful for future work concerning the calculation of the alpha decay constants and the progress of its theory.

Cosmic-ray effects in the Gum nebula

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramaty, R.; Boldt, E. A.

1971-01-01

The effects of low energy heavy nuclei from the supernova explosion on nearby interstellar space were investigated. In addition to the ionization and heating of the Gum nebula, these particles may produce detectable fluxes of X-rays and gamma rays, both as continuum radiation and line emission.

Lunar surface cosmic ray experiment S-152, Apollo 16

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleischer, R. L.; Hart, H. R., Jr.; Carter, M.; Comostock, G. M.; Renshaw, A.; Woods, R. T.

1973-01-01

This investigation was directed at determining the energy spectra and abundances of low energy heavy cosmic rays (0.03 E or = 150 MeV/nucleon). The cosmic rays were detected using plastic and glass particle track detectors. Particles emitted during the 17 April 1972 solar flare dominated the spectra for energies below about 70 MeV/nucleon. Two conclusions emerge from the low energy data: (1) The differential energy spectra for solar particles vary rapidly for energies as low as 0.05 MeV/nucleon for iron-group nuclei. (2) The abundance ratio of heavy elements changes with energy at low energies; heavy elements are enhanced relative to higher elements increasingly as the energy decreases. Galactic particle fluxes recorded within the spacecraft are in agreement with those predicted taking into account solar modulation and spacecraft shielding. The composition of the nuclei at energies above 70 MeV/nucleon imply that these particles originate outside the solar system and hence are galactic cosmic rays.

Production of heavy neutron-rich nuclei in transfer reactions within the dinuclear system model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Long; Feng, Zhao-Qing; Zhang, Feng-Shou

2015-08-01

The dynamics of nucleon transfer processes in heavy-ion collisions is investigated within the dinuclear system model. The production cross sections of nuclei in the reactions 136Xe+208Pb and 238U+248Cm are calculated, and the calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data. The transfer cross sections for the 58Ni+208Pb reaction are calculated and compared with the experimental data. We predict the production cross sections of neutron-rich nuclei 165-168 Eu, 169-173 Tb, 173-178 Ho, and 181-185Yb based on the reaction 176Yb+238U. It can be seen that the production cross sections of the neutron-rich nuclei 165Eu, 169Tb, 173Ho, and 181Yb are 2.84 μb, 6.90 μb, 46.24 μb, and 53.61 μb, respectively, which could be synthesized in experiment.

Challenging Cosmic Ray Propagation with Antiprotons: Evidence for a "Fresh" Nuclei Component?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moskalenko, Igor V.; Strong, Andrew W.; Mashnik, Stepan G.; Ormes, Jonathan F.

2002-01-01

Recent measurements of the cosmic ray (CR) antiproton flux have been shown to challenge existing CR propagation models. It was shown that the reacceleration models designed to match secondary to primary nuclei ratio (e.g., Boron/Carbon) produce too few antiprotons, while the traditional non-reacceleration models can reproduce the antiproton flux but fall short of explaining the low-energy decrease in the secondary to primary nuclei ratio. Matching both the secondary to primary nuclei ratio and antiproton flux requires artificial breaks in the diffusion coefficient and the primary injection spectrum suggesting the need for other approaches. In the present paper we discuss one possibility to overcome these difficulties. Using the measured antiproton flux to fix the diffusion coefficient, we show that the spectra of primary nuclei as measured in the heliosphere may contain a fresh local unprocessed component at low energies, thus decreasing the measured secondary to primary nuclei ratio. A model reproducing antiprotons, B/C ratio, and abundances up to Ni is presented.

Light Nuclei and Isotope Abundances in Cosmic Rays. Results from AMS-01

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomassetti, N.

2011-06-01

Observations of the chemical and isotopic composition of light cosmic-ray nuclei can be used to constrain the propagation models. Nearly 200,000 light nuclei (Z > 2) have been observed by AMS-01 during the 10-day flight STS-91 in June 1998. Using these data, we have measured Li, Be, B and C in the kinetic energy range 0.35 - 45 GeV/nucleon. In this proceeding, our charge and isotopic composition results are presented and discussed.

Galactic cosmic ray composition and energy spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mewaldt, R. A.

1994-01-01

Galactic cosmic ray nuclei represent a significant risk to long-duration spaceflight outside the magnetosphere. We review briefly existing measurements of the composition and energy spectra of heavy cosmic ray nuclei, pointing out which species and energy ranges are most critical to assessing cosmic ray risks for spaceflight. Key data sets are identified and a table of cosmic ray abundances is presented for elements from H to Ni (Z = 1 to 28). Because of the 22-year nature of the solar modulation cycle, data from the approaching 1998 solar minimum is especially important to reducing uncertainties in the cosmic ray radiation hazard. It is recommended that efforts to model this hazard take advantage of approaches that have been developed to model the astrophysical aspects of cosmic rays.

Ultra-heavy cosmic rays: Theoretical implications of recent observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blake, J. B.; Hainebach, K. L.; Schramm, D. N.; Anglin, J. D.

1977-01-01

Extreme ultraheavy cosmic ray observations (Z greater or equal 70) are compared with r-process models. A detailed cosmic ray propagation calculation is used to transform the calculated source distributions to those observed at the earth. The r-process production abundances are calculated using different mass formulae and beta-rate formulae; an empirical estimate based on the observed solar system abundances is used also. There is the continued strong indication of an r-process dominance in the extreme ultra-heavy cosmic rays. However it is shown that the observed high actinide/Pt ratio in the cosmic rays cannot be fit with the same r-process calculation which also fits the solar system material. This result suggests that the cosmic rays probably undergo some preferential acceleration in addition to the apparent general enrichment in heavy (r-process) material. As estimate also is made of the expected relative abundance of superheavy elements in the cosmic rays if the anomalous heavy xenon in carbonaceous chondrites is due to a fissioning superheavy element.

Nuclear structure and weak rates of heavy waiting point nuclei under rp-process conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nabi, Jameel-Un; Böyükata, Mahmut

2017-01-01

The structure and the weak interaction mediated rates of the heavy waiting point (WP) nuclei 80Zr, 84Mo, 88Ru, 92Pd and 96Cd along N = Z line were studied within the interacting boson model-1 (IBM-1) and the proton-neutron quasi-particle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA). The energy levels of the N = Z WP nuclei were calculated by fitting the essential parameters of IBM-1 Hamiltonian and their geometric shapes were predicted by plotting potential energy surfaces (PESs). Half-lives, continuum electron capture rates, positron decay rates, electron capture cross sections of WP nuclei, energy rates of β-delayed protons and their emission probabilities were later calculated using the pn-QRPA. The calculated Gamow-Teller strength distributions were compared with previous calculation. We present positron decay and continuum electron capture rates on these WP nuclei under rp-process conditions using the same model. For the rp-process conditions, the calculated total weak rates are twice the Skyrme HF+BCS+QRPA rates for 80Zr. For remaining nuclei the two calculations compare well. The electron capture rates are significant and compete well with the corresponding positron decay rates under rp-process conditions. The finding of the present study supports that electron capture rates form an integral part of the weak rates under rp-process conditions and has an important role for the nuclear model calculations.

Diffuse γ-ray emission from misaligned active galactic nuclei

DOE PAGES

Di Mauro, M.; Calore, F.; Donato, F.; ...

2013-12-20

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with jets seen at small viewing angles are the most luminous and abundant objects in the γ-ray sky. AGNs with jets misaligned along the line of sight appear fainter in the sky but are more numerous than the brighter blazars. Here, we calculate the diffuse γ-ray emission due to the population of misaligned AGNs (MAGNs) unresolved by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi). Furthermore, a correlation between the γ-ray luminosity and the radio-core luminosity is established and demonstrated to be physical by statistical tests, as well as compatible with uppermore » limits based on Fermi-LAT data for a large sample of radio-loud MAGNs. We constrain the derived γ-ray luminosity function by means of the source-count distribution of the radio galaxies detected by the Fermi-LAT. We finally calculate the diffuse γ-ray flux due to the whole MAGN population. These results demonstrate that MAGNs can contribute from 10% up to nearly the entire measured isotropic gamma-ray background. We evaluate a theoretical uncertainty on the flux of almost an order of magnitude.« less

High-energy cosmic ray nuclei from tidal disruption events: Origin, survival, and implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, B. Theodore; Murase, Kohta; Oikonomou, Foteini; Li, Zhuo

2017-09-01

Tidal disruption events (TDEs) by supermassive or intermediate mass black holes have been suggested as candidate sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) and high-energy neutrinos. Motivated by the recent measurements from the Pierre Auger Observatory, which indicates a metal-rich cosmic-ray composition at ultrahigh energies, we investigate the fate of UHECR nuclei loaded in TDE jets. First, we consider the production and survival of UHECR nuclei at internal shocks, external forward and reverse shocks, and nonrelativistic winds. Based on the observations of Swift J 1644 +57 , we show that the UHECRs can survive for external reverse and forward shocks, and disk winds. On the other hand, UHECR nuclei are significantly disintegrated in internal shocks, although they could survive for low-luminosity TDE jets. Assuming that UHECR nuclei can survive, we consider implications of different composition models of TDEs. We find that the tidal disruption of main sequence stars or carbon-oxygen white dwarfs does not successfully reproduce UHECR observations, namely the observed composition or spectrum. The observed mean depth of the shower maximum and its deviation could be explained by oxygen-neon-magnesium white dwarfs, although they may be too rare to be the sources of UHECRs.

Octupole deformations in high-K isomeric states of heavy and superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minkov, N.; Walker, P. M.

2016-01-01

We study the effects of quadrupole-octupole deformations on the energy and magnetic properties of high-K isomeric states in even-even heavy and superheavy nuclei. The neutron two-quasiparticle (2qp) isomeric energies and magnetic dipole moments are calculated within a deformed shell model with the Bardeen-Cooper- Schrieffer (BCS) pairing interaction over a wide range of quadrupole and octupole deformations. We found that in most cases the magnetic moments exhibit a pronounced sensitivity to the octupole deformation, while the 2qp energies indicate regions of nuclei in which the presence of high-K isomeric states may be associated with the presence of octupole softness or even with octupole deformation. In the present work we also examine the influence of the BCS pairing strength on the energy of the blocked isomer configuration. We show that the formation of 2qp energy minima in the space of quadrupole-octupole and eventually higher multipolarity deformations is a subtle effect depending on nuclear pairing correlations.

Sources of the ultraheavy cosmic rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Margolis, S. H.; Blake, J. B.

1985-01-01

The suggestions that the source abundances of cosmic ray nuclei heavier then Fe differ significantly from Solar System abundances are not well supported by the data without assuming preferential acceleration. The Solar System abundances of Pb and Bi are split into r-, standard s-, and cyclic 8-process components; the apprarent deficiency of Pb seen in the HEAO-3 Heavy Nuclei Experiment data might indicate an absence of Pb from the recycling 8-process.

Heavy Ion Fragmentation Experiments at the Bevatron

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heckman, H. H.

1975-01-01

Fragmentation processes of heavy nuclei in matter using the heavy-ion capability of the Bevatron were studied. The purpose was to obtain the single particle inclusive spectra of secondary nuclei produced at 0 deg by the fragmentation of heavy ion beam projectiles. The process being examined is B+T yields F + anything, where B is the beam nucleus, T is the target nucleus, and F is the detected fragment. The fragments F are isotopically identified by experimental procedures involving magnetic analysis, energy loss and time-of-flight measurements. Attempts were also made to: (1) measure the total and partial production cross section for all isotopes, (2) test the applicability of high-energy multi-particle interaction theory to nuclear fragmentation, (3) apply the cross-section data and fragmentation probabilities to cosmic ray transport theory, and (4) search for systematic behavior of fragment production as a means to improve existing semi-empirical theories of cross sections.

Review of even element super-heavy nuclei and search for element 120

DOE PAGES

Hofmann, S.; Heinz, S.; Mann, R.; ...

2016-06-28

The reaction 54Cr$ + $248Cm was investigated at the velocity filter SHIP at GSI, Darmstadt, with the intention to study production and decay properties of isotopes of element 120. Three correlated signals were measured, which occurred within a period of 279ms. The heights of the signals correspond with the expectations for a decay sequence starting with an isotope of element 120. However, a complete decay chain cannot be established, since a signal from the implantation of the evaporation residue cannot be identified unambiguously. Measured properties of the event chain are discussed in detail. The result is compared with theoretical predictions.more » Previously measured decay properties of even element super-heavy nuclei were compiled in order to find arguments for an assignment from the systematics of experimental data. In the course of this review, a few tentatively assigned data could be corrected. New interpretations are given for results which could not be assigned definitely in previous studies. The discussion revealed that the cross-section for production of element 120 could be high enough so that a successful experiment seems possible with presently available techniques. However, a continuation of the experiment at SHIP for a necessary confirmation of the results obtained in a relatively short irradiation of five weeks is not possible at GSI presently. Furthermore, we decided to publish the results of the measurement and of the review as they exist now. In the summary and outlook section we also present concepts for the continuation of research in the field of super-heavy nuclei.« less

Internal absorption of gamma-rays in relativistic blobs of active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sitarek, Julian; Bednarek, Wlodek

2007-06-01

We investigate the production of gamma-rays in the inverse Compton (IC) scattering process by leptons accelerated inside relativistic blobs in jets of active galactic nuclei. Leptons are injected homogeneously inside the spherical blob and initiate IC e ± pair cascade in the synchrotron radiation (produced by the same population of leptons, SSC model), provided that the optical depth for gamma-rays is larger than unity. It is shown that for likely parameters internal absorption of gamma-rays has to be important. We suggest that new type of blazars might be discovered by the future simultaneous X-ray and γ-ray observations, showing peak emissions in the hard X-rays, and in the GeV γ-rays. Moreover, the considered scenario might be also responsible for the orphan X-ray flares recently reported from BL Lac type active galaxies.

Structure Of Neutron-Rich Nuclei In A˜100 Region Observed In Fusion-Fission Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, C. Y.; Hua, H.; Cline, D.; Hayes, A. B.; Teng, R.; Clark, R. M.; Fallon, P.; Görgen, A.; Macchiavelli, A. O.; Vetter, K.

2003-03-01

Neutron-rich nuclei around A˜100 were populated as fission fragments produced by the 238U(α,f) fusion-fission reaction. The deexcitation γ rays were detected by Gammasphere in coincidence with the detection of both fission fragments by the Rochester 4π heavy-ion detector array, CHICO. This technique allows Doppler-shift corrections to be applied for the observed γ rays on an event-by-event basis thus establishing the origin of γ rays from either fission fragment. In addition, it allows observation of γ-ray transitions from states with short lifetimes and offers the opportunity to study nuclear species beyond the reach of the spontaneous fission process. With these advantages, one can extend the spectroscopic study to higher spins than those derived using the thick-target technique, and to more neutron-rich nuclei than those derived from spontaneous fissions. Among the new and interesting phenomena identified in this rapid shape-changing region, the most distinct result is the evidence for a prolate-to-oblate shape transition occurring at 116Pd, which may have important implications to our understanding of the shell structure for neutron-rich nuclei.

Energetic Nuclei, Superdensity and Biomedicine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baldin, A. M.

1977-01-01

High-energy, relativistic nuclei were first observed in cosmic rays. Studing these nuclei has provided an opportunity for analyzing the composition of cosmic rays and for experimentally verifying principles governing the behavior of nuclear matter at high and super-high temperatures. Medical research using accelerated nuclei is suggested.…

A new measurement of the flux of the light cosmic-ray nuclei at high energies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckley, J.; Dwyer, J.; Mueller, D.; Swordy, S.; Tang, K. K.

1994-01-01

A new cosmic-ray detector utilizing a ring-imaging Cerenkov counter to determine the energy of light cosmic-ray nuclei was flown on high-altitude balloon from Fort Sumner, NM, in 1991 September. We describe the design and performance of this instrument and discuss the data analysis procedures. The measurement provides a new determination of the absolute flux and differential energy spectrum of the primary cosmic-ray species helium between 40 and 320 GeV/nucleon. The experiment also yields the spectra of carbon and oxygen and some information on the intensities of the secondary nuclei Li, Be, and B. A comparison between our results and previous measurements of heavier nuclei (Z greater than or equal to 4) from HEAO 3 and Spacelab 2 indicates good consistency between these measurements. The data set is compared with the results of a leaky box propagation model. We find good agreement with this model if the abundance of helium relative to oxygen at the source is taken to be 25 +/- 6 and if the source spectrum is given by a power law in energy proportional to E(exp -2.15).

Isotopic composition of cosmic ray nuclei with Z greater than or equal to 10

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webber, W. R.; Lezniak, J. A.; Kish, J.

1974-01-01

Results of measurements of the isotopic composition of Z greater than or equal to 10 cosmic ray nuclei using a new technique employing a combination of Cerenkov and total energy counters. An effective mass resolution of about 0.4 AMU is obtained for particles with energies between 400 and 500 MeV/nuc and charges between 12 and 16. The preliminary mass distribution of nuclei with charges from 12 to 28 is presented and discussed.

Probing QCD critical fluctuations from light nuclei production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

DOE PAGES

Sun, Kai-Jia; Chen, Lie-Wen; Ko, Che Ming; ...

2017-09-22

Based on the coalescence model for light nuclei production, we show that the yield ratio O p-d-t = N3HNp/Nmore » $$2\\atop{d}$$ of p, d, and 3H in heavy-ion collisions is sensitive to the neutron relative density fluctuation Δn = $$\\langle$$(δn) 2 $$\\rangle$$/ $$\\langle$$n$$\\rangle$$ at kinetic freeze-out. From recent experimental data in central Pb + Pb collisions at $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_ {NN}$$ =6.3 GeV, 7.6 GeV, 8.8 GeV, 12.3 GeV and 17.3 GeV measured by the NA49 Collaboration at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS), we find a possible non-monotonic behavior of Δn as a function of the collision energy with a peak at $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_ {NN}$$ 8.8 GeV, indicating that the density fluctuations become the largest in collisions at this energy. With the known chemical freeze-out conditions determined from the statistical model fit to experimental data, we obtain a chemical freeze-out temperature of ~ 144 MeV and baryon chemical potential of ~385 MeV at this collision energy, which are close to the critical endpoint in the QCD phase diagram predicted by various theoretical studies. Our results thus suggest the potential usefulness of the yield ratio of light nuclei in relativistic heavy-ion collisions as a direct probe of the large density fluctuations associated with the QCD critical phenomena.« less

Probing QCD critical fluctuations from light nuclei production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, Kai-Jia; Chen, Lie-Wen; Ko, Che Ming

Based on the coalescence model for light nuclei production, we show that the yield ratio O p-d-t = N3HNp/Nmore » $$2\\atop{d}$$ of p, d, and 3H in heavy-ion collisions is sensitive to the neutron relative density fluctuation Δn = $$\\langle$$(δn) 2 $$\\rangle$$/ $$\\langle$$n$$\\rangle$$ at kinetic freeze-out. From recent experimental data in central Pb + Pb collisions at $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_ {NN}$$ =6.3 GeV, 7.6 GeV, 8.8 GeV, 12.3 GeV and 17.3 GeV measured by the NA49 Collaboration at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS), we find a possible non-monotonic behavior of Δn as a function of the collision energy with a peak at $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_ {NN}$$ 8.8 GeV, indicating that the density fluctuations become the largest in collisions at this energy. With the known chemical freeze-out conditions determined from the statistical model fit to experimental data, we obtain a chemical freeze-out temperature of ~ 144 MeV and baryon chemical potential of ~385 MeV at this collision energy, which are close to the critical endpoint in the QCD phase diagram predicted by various theoretical studies. Our results thus suggest the potential usefulness of the yield ratio of light nuclei in relativistic heavy-ion collisions as a direct probe of the large density fluctuations associated with the QCD critical phenomena.« less

INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF INVESTIGATION Charge spectrum of galactic cosmic ray nuclei as measured in meteorite olivines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aleksandrov, Andrei B.; Bagulya, Aleksandr V.; Vladimirov, Mikhail S.; Goncharova, Lyudmila A.; Ivliev, Aleksandr I.; Kalinina, Galina V.; Kashkarov, Leonid L.; Konovalova, Nina S.; Okat'eva, Natal'ya M.; Polukhina, Natal'ya G.; Rusetskii, Aleksei S.; Starkov, Nikolai I.

2010-11-01

This paper presents experimental results on galactic cosmic ray nuclei in olivine crystals from the Marjalahti and Eagle Station pallasites. The charge spectrum of the nuclei is measured to be in good agreement with the experimental data from the HEAO-3 and ARIEL-6 satellite missions.

Repulsive four-body interactions of α particles and quasistable nuclear α -particle condensates in heavy self-conjugate nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Dong; Ren, Zhongzhou

2018-05-01

We study the effects of repulsive four-body interactions of α particles on nuclear α -particle condensates in heavy self-conjugate nuclei using a semianalytic approach, and find that the repulsive four-body interactions could decrease the critical number of α particles, beyond which quasistable α -particle condensate states can no longer exist, even if these four-body interactions make only tiny contributions to the total energy of the Hoyle-like state of 16O. Explicitly, we study eight benchmark parameter sets, and find that the critical number Ncr decreases by |Δ Ncr|˜1 -4 from Ncr˜11 with vanishing four-body interactions. We also discuss the effects of four-body interactions on energies and radii of α -particle condensates. Our study can be useful for future experiments to study α -particle condensates in heavy self-conjugate nuclei. Also, the experimental determination of Ncr will eventually help establish a better understanding on the α -particle interactions, especially the four-body interactions.

Uncertainties and understanding of experimental and theoretical results regarding reactions forming heavy and superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giardina, G.; Mandaglio, G.; Nasirov, A. K.; Anastasi, A.; Curciarello, F.; Fazio, G.

2018-02-01

Experimental and theoretical results of the PCN fusion probability of reactants in the entrance channel and the Wsur survival probability against fission at deexcitation of the compound nucleus formed in heavy-ion collisions are discussed. The theoretical results for a set of nuclear reactions leading to formation of compound nuclei (CNs) with the charge number Z = 102- 122 reveal a strong sensitivity of PCN to the characteristics of colliding nuclei in the entrance channel, dynamics of the reaction mechanism, and excitation energy of the system. We discuss the validity of assumptions and procedures for analysis of experimental data, and also the limits of validity of theoretical results obtained by the use of phenomenological models. The comparison of results obtained in many investigated reactions reveals serious limits of validity of the data analysis and calculation procedures.

Yrast excitations of neutron-rich nuclei around doubly magic Tin-132

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharyya, Pallab Kumar

Investigation of the yrast structures of neutron-rich nuclei around the double closed shell nucleus 132Sn is important in the understanding of simple two-body nucleon-nucleon interactions in that region. However conventional fusion-evaporation methods do not populate these nuclei and β-decay studies are useful only in studying low spin states. The spectroscopy of these nuclei from thick target γ-γ coincidence measurements of deep inelastic heavy ion collisions as well as from fission fragment γ-ray studies using large multidetector arrays are presented in this thesis. Analyses of data from the 124Sn + 665 MeV 136Xe and 130Te + 272 MeV 64Ni deep inelastic experiments identified new yrast isomers in the N = 80 nuclei 134Xe and 136Ba which de- excite by γ-ray cascades concluding with their known 4+/to2+ and 2+/to0+ transitions. The isomeric decay characteristics are presented and discussed in light of the systematic features in N = 80 isotones. By analyzing fission product γ-ray data measured at Eurogam II using a 248Cm source, yrast level structures of the two-, three- and four-proton N = 82 isotones 134Te, 135I and 136Xe were developed, and the proton-proton interactions from the two-body nucleus 134Te were used in interpreting 135I and 136Xe levels using shell model calculations. From the same data the yrast states in the N = 83 isotones 134Sb, 135Te, 136I and 137Xe were explored, and key proton-neutron interactions were extracted from the 134Sb level spectrum which were used in interpreting the levels of the other N = 83 isotones. Similarly yrast states in previously unexplored N = 81 isotones 132Sb and 133Te were also identified and interpreted with shell model calculations; the 132Sb level spectrum yielded important proton-neutron hole interactions. Neutron core-excited states at higher energies were also identified in most of these nuclei. For establishing isotopic assignments of unknown cascades, the γgamma cross coincidences between heavy and light

Precision Gamma-Ray Branching Ratios for Long-Lived Radioactive Nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tonchev, Anton

Many properties of the high-energy-density environments in nuclear weapons tests, advanced laser-fusion experiments, the interior of stars, and other astrophysical bodies must be inferred from the resulting long-lived radioactive nuclei that are produced. These radioactive nuclei are most easily and sensitively identified by studying the characteristic gamma rays emitted during decay. Measuring a number of decays via detection of the characteristic gamma-rays emitted during the gamma-decay (the gamma-ray branching ratio) of the long-lived fission products is one of the most straightforward and reliable ways to determine the number of fissions that occurred in a nuclear weapon test. The fission productsmore » 147Nd, 144Ce, 156Eu, and certain other long-lived isotopes play a crucial role in science-based stockpile stewardship, however, the large uncertainties (about 8%) on the branching ratios measured for these isotopes are currently limiting the usefulness of the existing data [1,2]. We performed highly accurate gamma-ray branching-ratio measurements for a group of high-atomic-number rare earth isotopes to greatly improve the precision and reliability with which the fission yield and reaction products in high-energy-density environments can be determined. We have developed techniques that take advantage of new radioactive-beam facilities, such as DOE's CARIBU located at Argonne National Laboratory, to produce radioactive samples and perform decay spectroscopy measurements. The absolute gamma-ray branching ratios for 147Nd and 144Ce are reduced <2% precision. In addition, high-energy monoenergetic neutron beams from the FN Tandem accelerator in TUNL at Duke University was used to produce 167Tm using the 169Tm(n,3n) reaction. Fourtime improved branching ratio of 167Tm is used now to measure reaction-in-flight (RIF) neutrons from a burning DT capsule at NIF [10]. This represents the first measurement of RIF neutrons in any laboratory fusion system, and the magnitude

Lead, platinum, and other heavy elements in the primary cosmic radiation - HEAO 3 results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. R.; Israel, M. H.; Brewster, N. R.; Fixsen, D. J.; Garrard, T. L.

1985-01-01

An observation of the abundances of cosmic-ray lead-group and platinum-group nuclei is reported, using data from the HEAO 3 Heavy Nuclei Experiment. From an analysis of 580 days of exposure, 322 nuclei were selected with reasonable charge resolution, E at least 1.3 GeV/nucleon and Z at least 50. The data show a defined abundance peak in the 'platinum' region (Z from 74 to 80), a small abundance of 'lead' (Z from 81 to 83), and a significant number of 'secondary' nuclei in the range of Z between 62 and 73. Possible explanations are offered for the deduced ratio in space of 0.25 plus or minus 0.09 for 'Pb/Pt' being distinctly lower than that predicted by any of the standard models for cosmic-ray sources and propagation effects.

Modeling Photodisintegration-induced TeV Photon Emission from Low-luminosity Gamma-Ray Bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xue-Wen; Wu, Xue-Feng; Lu, Tan

2012-05-01

Ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray heavy nuclei have recently been considered as originating from nearby low-luminosity gamma-ray bursts that are associated with Type Ibc supernovae. Unlike the power-law decay in long duration gamma-ray bursts, the light curve of these bursts exhibits complex UV/optical behavior: shock breakout dominated thermal radiation peaks at about 1 day, and, after that, nearly constant emission sustained by radioactive materials for tens of days. We show that the highly boosted heavy nuclei at PeV energy interacting with the UV/optical photon field will produce considerable TeV photons via the photodisintegration/photo-de-excitation process. It was later predicted that a thermal-like γ-ray spectrum peaks at about a few TeV, which may serve as evidence of nucleus acceleration. The future observations by the space telescope Fermi and by the ground atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes such as H.E.S.S., VERITAS, and MAGIC will shed light on this prediction.

Calculation of primordial abundances of light nuclei including a heavy sterile neutrino

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mosquera, M.E.; Civitarese, O., E-mail: mmosquera@fcaglp.unlp.edu.ar, E-mail: osvaldo.civitarese@fisica.unlp.edu.ar

2015-08-01

We include the coupling of a heavy sterile neutrino with active neutrinos in the calculation of primordial abundances of light-nuclei. We calculate neutrino distribution functions and primordial abundances, as functions depending on a renormalization of the sterile neutrino distribution function (a), the sterile neutrino mass (m{sub s}) and the mixing angle (φ). Using the observable data, we set constrains on these parameters, which have the values 0a < 0.4, sin{sup 2} φ ≈ 0.12−0.39 and 0m{sub s} < 7 keV at 1σ level, for a fixed value of the baryon to photon ratio. When the baryon to photon ratio is allowed to vary, its extracted value ismore » in agreement with the values constrained by Planck observations and by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). It is found that the anomaly in the abundance of {sup 7}Li persists, in spite of the inclusion of a heavy sterile neutrino.« less

Electromagnetic dissociation effects in galactic heavy-ion fragmentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norbury, J. W.; Townsend, L. W.

1986-01-01

Methods for calculating cross sections for the breakup of galactic heavy ions by the Coulomb fields of the interacting nuclei are presented. By using the Weizsacker-Williams method of virtual quanta, estimates of electromagnetic dissociation cross sections for a variety of reactions applicable to galactic cosmic ray shielding studies are presented and compared with other predictions and with available experimental data.

Weibull thermodynamics: Subexponential decay in the energy spectrum of cosmic-ray nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomaschitz, Roman

2017-10-01

The spectral number density of cosmic-ray nuclei is shown to be a multiply broken power law with subexponential spectral cutoff. To this end, a spectral fit is performed to data sets covering the 1GeV - 1011GeV interval of the all-particle cosmic-ray spectrum. The flux points of the ultra-high energy spectral tail measured with the Telescope Array indicate a Weibull cutoff exp(-(E /(kB T)) σ) and permit a precise determination of the cutoff temperature kB T =(2 . 5 ± 0 . 1) × 1010 GeV and the spectral index σ = 0 . 66 ± 0 . 02. Based on the spectral number density inferred from the least-squares fit, the thermodynamics of this stationary non-equilibrium system, a multi-component mixture of relativistic nuclei, is developed. The derivative of entropy with respect to internal energy defines the effective temperature of the nuclei, S,U = 1 /Teff ,kBTeff ≈ 16 . 1 GeV, and the functional dependence between the cutoff temperature in the Weibull exponential and the effective gas temperature is determined. The equipartition ratio is found to be U /(NkBTeff) ≈ 0 . 30. The isochoric and isobaric heat capacities of the nuclear gas are calculated, as well as the isothermal and adiabatic compressibilities and the isobaric expansion coefficient, and it is shown that this non-equilibrated relativistic gas mixture satisfies the thermodynamic inequalities 0

Study of Analytic Statistical Model for Decay of Light and Medium Mass Nuclei in Nuclear Fragmentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucinotta, Francis A.; Wilson, John W.

1996-01-01

The angular momentum independent statistical decay model is often applied using a Monte-Carlo simulation to describe the decay of prefragment nuclei in heavy ion reactions. This paper presents an analytical approach to the decay problem of nuclei with mass number less than 60, which is important for galactic cosmic ray (GCR) studies. This decay problem of nuclei with mass number less than 60 incorporates well-known levels of the lightest nuclei (A less than 11) to improve convergence and accuracy. A sensitivity study of the model level density function is used to determine the impact on mass and charge distributions in nuclear fragmentation. This angular momentum independent statistical decay model also describes the momentum and energy distribution of emitted particles (n, p, d, t, h, and a) from a prefragment nucleus.

Microscopic study of heavy-ion reactions with n-rich nuclei: dynamic excitation energy and capture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oberacker, Volker; Umar, A. S.

2010-11-01

Heavy-ion reactions at RIB facilities allow us to form new exotic neutron-rich nuclei. These experiments present numerous challenges for a microscopic theoretical description. We study reactions between neutron-rich ^132Sn nuclei and ^96Zr within a dynamic microscopic theory, and we compare the properties to those of the stable system ^124Sn+^96Zr. The calculations are carried out on a 3-D lattice using the density-constrained Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock (DC-TDHF) method [1- 3]. In particular, we calculate the dynamic excitation energy E^*(t) and the quadrupole moment of the dinuclear system Q20(t) during the initial stages of the collision. Regarding the heavy-ion interaction potential V(R), we find that the fusion barrier height and width increase dramatically with increasing beam energy. The fusion barriers of the neutron-rich system ^132Sn+^96Zr are systematically 1-2 MeV higher than those of the stable system. Large differences (9 MeV) are found in the interaction barriers of the two systems. Capture cross sections are analyzed in terms of dynamic effects and a comparison with recently measured capture-fission data is given. [1] Umar and Oberacker, PRC 76, 014614 (2007). [2] Umar, Oberacker, Maruhn, and Reinhard, PRC 80, 041601(R) (2009). [3] Umar, Maruhn, Itagaki, and Oberacker, PRL 104, 212503 (2010).

GSFC Contributions to the NATO X-ray Astronomy Institute, Erice, July 1979. [X-ray spectra of supernova remants, galactic X-ray sources, active galactic nuclei, and clusters of galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holt, S. S.; Mushotzky, R. F.

1979-01-01

An overview of X-ray astronomical spectroscopy in general is presented and results obtained by HEAO 1 and 2 as well as earlier spacecraft are examined. Particular emphasis is given to the spectra of supernova remnants; galactic binary X-ray sources, cataclysmic variables, bulges, pulsars, and stars; the active nuclei of Seyfert 1 galaxy, BL Lac, and quasars; the diffuse X-ray background; and galactic clusters.

NUCLEON-mission: A New Approach to Cosmic Rays Investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, J.; Bashindzhagyan, G.; Chilingarian, A.; Drury, L.; Egorov, N.; Golubkov, S.; Grebenyuk, V.; Korotkova, N.; Mashkantcev, A.; Nanjo, H.;

Relativistic particles and gamma-ray in quasars and active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Protheroe, R. J.; Kazanas, D.

1982-01-01

A model for a class of quasars and active galactic nuclei is described in which a shock around a massive black hole randomizes the infall kinetic energy of spherically accreting matter producing a nonthermal spectrum of high energy protons. These protons may be responsible for the secondary production (via tau + or - decay) of the radio emitting high energy electrons and also of high energy gamma rays (via pi decay and inverse Compton interactions of the electrons). The correlation between radio and gamma ray emission implied by the model is in good agreement with observations of 3C273. Observation of the flux of high energy neutrinos from quasars may provide a test for the model.

Relativistic particles and gamma-rays in quasars and active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Protheroe, R. J.; Kazanas, D.

1983-01-01

A model for a class of quasars and active galactic nuclei is described in which a shock around a massive black hole randomizes the infall kinetic energy of spherically accreting matter producing a nonthermal spectrum of high energy protons. These protons may be responsible for the secondary production (via tau + or - decay) of the radio emitting high energy electrons and also of high energy gamma rays (via Pi decay and inverse Compton interactions of the electrons). The correlation between radio and gamma ray emission implied by the model is in good agreement with observations of 3C273. Observation of the flux of high energy neutrinos from quasars may provide a test for the model.

On previous and present investigations of resonance gamma-ray interaction with nuclei at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP, Moscow)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davydov, A. V.

A brief survey of theoretical and experimental work that is devoted to studying the resonance absorption and scattering of gamma rays by nuclei and which was initiated at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP, Moscow) in the 1950s and has been continued to date is given. Investigations of various versions of interaction in beta decay, magnetic-field-perturbed angular distributions of resonantly scattered gamma rays, the problem of the Moessbauer gamma resonance of long-lived isomeric states of nuclei, and the resonance scattering of annihilation photons by nuclei are described.

Heavy ions in space (M0001)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, J. H., Jr.; Slberberg, R.; Tsao, C. H.

1984-01-01

The ojectives are to investigate three components of heavy nuclei in space: (1) a recently observed anomalous component of low-energy nuclei of N, O, and Ne; (2) the heavy nuclei in the Van Allen radiation belts; and (3) the UH nuclei (Z 30) of the galactic radiation. The study of the anomalous flux of N, O, and Ne nuclei in the unexplored energy region above 100 MeV/u is expected to provide new insights into the source of this component. Its observation in this experiment will confirm that these ions are singly charged. Knowledge of the energy spectra of the heavy nuclei observed in the Van Allen belts is expected to enhance the understanding of the origin of the belts (e.g., injection and local acceleration pocesses). The observation of these heavy ions could show, for the first time, that low-energy particles of extraterrestrial origin can diffuse to the innermost parts of the magnetosphere. Measurements of the UH component are expected to contribute information concerning its source, interstellar propagation, and the galactic storage time.

Cosmic-ray record in solar system matter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reedy, R. C.; Arnold, J. R.; Lal, D.

1983-01-01

The interaction of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar cosmic rays (SCR) with bodies in the solar system is discussed, and what the record of that interaction reveals about the history of the solar system is considered. The influence of the energy, charge, and mass of the particles on the interaction is addressed, showing long-term average fluxes of solar protons, predicted production rates for heavy-nuclei tracks and various radionuclides as a function of depth in lunar rock, and integral fluxes of protons emitted by solar flares. The variation of the earth's magnetic field, the gardening of the lunar surface, and the source of meteorites and cosmic dust are studied using the cosmic ray record. The time variation of GCR, SCR, and VH and VVH nuclei is discussed for both the short and the long term.

Extracting nuclear sizes of medium to heavy nuclei from total reaction cross sections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horiuchi, W.; Hatakeyama, S.; Ebata, S.; Suzuki, Y.

2016-04-01

Background: Proton and neutron radii are fundamental quantities of atomic nuclei. To study the sizes of short-lived unstable nuclei, there is a need for an alternative to electron scattering. Purpose: The recent paper by Horiuchi et al. [Phys. Rev. C 89, 011601(R) (2014)], 10.1103/PhysRevC.89.011601 proposed a possible way of extracting the matter and neutron-skin thickness of light- to medium-mass nuclei using total reaction cross section, σR. The analysis is extended to medium to heavy nuclei up to lead isotopes with due attention to Coulomb breakup contributions as well as density distributions improved by paring correlation. Methods: We formulate a quantitative calculation of σR based on the Glauber model including the Coulomb breakup. To substantiate the treatment of the Coulomb breakup, we also evaluate the Coulomb breakup cross section due to the electric dipole field in a canonical-basis-time-dependent-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory in the three-dimensional coordinate space. Results: We analyze σR's of 103 nuclei with Z =20 , 28, 40, 50, 70, and 82 incident on light targets, H,21, 4He, and 12C. Three kinds of Skyrme interactions are tested to generate those wave functions. To discuss possible uncertainty due to the Coulomb breakup, we examine its dependence on the target, the incident energy, and the Skyrme interaction. The proton is a most promising target for extracting the nuclear sizes as the Coulomb excitation can safely be neglected. We find that the so-called reaction radius, aR=√{σR/π } , for the proton target is very well approximated by a linear function of two variables, the matter radius and the skin thickness, in which three constants depend only on the incident energy. We quantify the accuracy of σR measurements needed to extract the nuclear sizes. Conclusions: The proton is the best target because, once the incident energy is set, its aR is very accurately determined by only the matter radius and neutron-skin thickness. If σR's at

Improved version of a binding energy formula for heavy and superheavy nuclei with Z{>=}90 and N{>=}140

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dong Tiekuang; Joint Center for Particle, Nuclear Physics and Cosmology, Nanjing 210008; Ren Zhongzhou

2008-06-15

A local formula of binding energy for heavy and superheavy nuclei has very recently been proposed [Dong and Ren, Phys. Rev. C 72, 064331 (2005)]. In this paper, the limit of the predictive ability of this local formula is investigated. It is found that the neutron-proton correlations should be considered when higher precision is required. On the one hand, we introduce a new term |N-Z-50|/A, and on the other hand we consider the different strengths of proton-proton, neutron-neutron, and neutron-proton pairing correlations. For the first time, the standard deviation {radical}({sigma}{sup 2}) of the binding energies for 117 nuclei with Z{>=}90more » and N{>=}140 is reduced to 0.105 MeV. The {alpha} decay energies Q{sub {alpha}} and half-lives T{sub {alpha}} of nuclei with Z=102-118 are reproduced quite well. The proton drip line of superheavy elements from Md (Z=101) to Ds (Z=110) are predicted.« less

Production mechanism of new neutron-rich heavy nuclei in the 136Xe +198Pt reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Cheng; Wen, Peiwei; Li, Jingjing; Zhang, Gen; Li, Bing; Xu, Xinxin; Liu, Zhong; Zhu, Shaofei; Zhang, Feng-Shou

2018-01-01

The multinucleon transfer reaction of 136Xe +198Pt at Elab = 7.98 MeV/nucleon is investigated by using the improved quantum molecular dynamics model. The quasielastic, deep-inelastic, and quasifission collision mechanisms are studied via analyzing the angular distributions of fragments and the energy dissipation processes during the collisions. The measured isotope production cross sections of projectile-like fragments are reasonably well reproduced by the calculation of the ImQMD model together with the GEMINI code. The isotope production cross sections for the target-like fragments and double differential cross sections of 199Pt, 203Pt, and 208Pt are calculated. It is shown that about 50 new neutron-rich heavy nuclei can be produced via deep-inelastic collision mechanism, where the production cross sections are from 10-3 to 10-6 mb. The corresponding emission angle and the kinetic energy for these new neutron-rich nuclei locate at 40∘-60∘ and 100-200 MeV, respectively.

The detection of high charge cosmic ray nuclei. [by balloon-borne electronic particle telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scarlett, W. R.; Freier, P. S.; Waddington, C. J.

1975-01-01

A large-area, light-weight electronic particle telescope was flown on a high altitude balloon in the summer of 1974 to study the heavy nuclei in the cosmic radiation. This telescope consisted of a double Cerenkov-double scintillator array composed of four 1.22 m diameter disk radiators mounted in light diffusion boxes, each looked at by multiple photomultipliers. The impact point of each particle on the scintillation radiators was determined by studying the relative signals observed by three equally spaced peripheral photomultipliers and one mounted at the center of the diffusion boxes. This telescope was flown in a configuration having a geometric factor of 0.45 sq m sr and observed some 5 x 10 to the 4 nuclei with Z exceeding 14 in a 11 hr exposure. The response and sensitivity of this telescope are discussed in detail.

Probing r-Process Production of Nuclei Beyond 209Bi with Gamma Rays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qian, Y.-Z.; Vogel, P.; Wasserburg, G. J.

We estimate gamma-ray fluxes due to the decay of nuclei beyond 209Bi from a supernova or a supernova remnant assuming that the r-process occurs in supernovae. We find that a detector with a sensitivity of {approx}10-7 {gamma} cm-2 s-1 at energies from {approx}40 keV to {approx}3 MeV may detect fluxes due to the decay of 226Ra, 229Th, 241Am, 243Am, 249Cf, and 251Cf in the newly discovered supernova remnant near Vela. In addition, such a detector may detect fluxes due to the decay of 227Ac and 228Ra produced in a future supernova at a distance of {approx}1 kpc. Because nuclei withmore » mass numbers A>209 are produced solely by the r-process, such detections are the best proof for a supernova r-process site. Further, they provide the most direct information on yields of progenitor nuclei with A>209 at r-process freeze-out. Finally, detection of fluxes due to the decay of r-process nuclei over a range of masses from a supernova or a supernova remnant provides the opportunity to compare yields in a single supernova event with the solar r-process abundance pattern. (c) (c) 1999. The American Astronomical Society.« less

X-ray spectra and time variability of active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mushotzky, R. F.

1984-01-01

The X-ray spectra of broad line active galactic nuclei (AGN) of all types (Seyfert I's, NELG's, broadline radio galaxies) are well fit by a power law in the .5 to 100 keV band of man energy slope alpha = .68 + or - .15. There is, as yet, no strong evidence for time variability of this slope in a given object. The constraints that this places on simple models of the central energy source are discussed. BL Lac objects have quite different X-ray spectral properties and show pronounced X-ray spectral variability. On time scales longer than 12 hours most radio quiet AGN do not show strong, delta I/I .5, variability. The probability of variability of these AGN seems to be inversely related to their luminosity. However characteristics timescales for variability have not been measured for many objects. This general lack of variability may imply that most AGN are well below the Eddington limit. Radio bright AGN tend to be more variable than radio quiet AGN on long, tau approx 6 month, timescales.

Elusive active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maiolino, R.; Comastri, A.; Gilli, R.; Nagar, N. M.; Bianchi, S.; Böker, T.; Colbert, E.; Krabbe, A.; Marconi, A.; Matt, G.; Salvati, M.

2003-10-01

A fraction of active galactic nuclei do not show the classical Seyfert-type signatures in their optical spectra, i.e. they are optically `elusive'. X-ray observations are an optimal tool to identify this class of objects. We combine new Chandra observations with archival X-ray data in order to obtain a first estimate of the fraction of elusive active galactic nuclei (AGN) in local galaxies and to constrain their nature. Our results suggest that elusive AGN have a local density comparable to or even higher than optically classified Seyfert nuclei. Most elusive AGN are heavily absorbed in the X-rays, with gas column densities exceeding 1024 cm-2, suggesting that their peculiar nature is associated with obscuration. It is likely that in elusive AGN the nuclear UV source is completely embedded and the ionizing photons cannot escape, which prevents the formation of a classical narrow-line region. Elusive AGN may contribute significantly to the 30-keV bump of the X-ray background.

Measurement of Relative Abundances of Ultra-Heavy Cosmic Rays with CALET on the ISS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauch, Brian; Calet Collaboration

2016-03-01

The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) is a Japanese-Italian-US astroparticle observatory that was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.5 (H-IIB F5) aboard the KOUNOTORI5 (HTV5 cargo transfer vehicle) to the International Space Station (ISS) on August 19, 2015. The HTV5 arrived at the ISS on August 24, and CALET was installed on port 9 of the Japanese Experiment Module ``Kibo'' Exposed Facility (JEM-EF), where CALET underwent the planned turn on and checkout procedures. CALET has completed its commissioning phase and its main calorimeter (CAL) is observing the highest energy cosmic electrons from 1 GeV to 20 TeV, along with cosmic ray nuclei through iron up to 1,000 TeV and gamma-rays above 10 GeV. In a five-year mission CALET will also have the exposure to measure the relative abundances of the ultra-heavy (UH) cosmic rays with ~4 × the statistics of the TIGER instrument for the full CAL acceptance. Rigidity cutoffs based on the earth's geomagnetic field in the 51.6° inclination ISS orbit can provide an energy independent UH measurement with expanded acceptance with ~10 × the TIGER statistics. An overview of the anticipated performance and preliminary CALET UH analysis data will be presented. This research was supported by NASA at Washington University under Grant Number NNX11AE02G.

Finite amplitude method applied to the giant dipole resonance in heavy rare-earth nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oishi, Tomohiro; Kortelainen, Markus; Hinohara, Nobuo

2016-03-01

Background: The quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA), within the framework of nuclear density functional theory (DFT), has been a standard tool to access the collective excitations of atomic nuclei. Recently, the finite amplitude method (FAM) was developed in order to perform the QRPA calculations efficiently without any truncation on the two-quasiparticle model space. Purpose: We discuss the nuclear giant dipole resonance (GDR) in heavy rare-earth isotopes, for which the conventional matrix diagonalization of the QRPA is numerically demanding. A role of the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn (TRK) sum rule enhancement factor, connected to the isovector effective mass, is also investigated. Methods: The electric dipole photoabsorption cross section was calculated within a parallelized FAM-QRPA scheme. We employed the Skyrme energy density functional self-consistently in the DFT calculation for the ground states and FAM-QRPA calculation for the excitations. Results: The mean GDR frequency and width are mostly reproduced with the FAM-QRPA, when compared to experimental data, although some deficiency is observed with isotopes heavier than erbium. A role of the TRK enhancement factor in actual GDR strength is clearly shown: its increment leads to a shift of the GDR strength to higher-energy region, without a significant change in the transition amplitudes. Conclusions: The newly developed FAM-QRPA scheme shows remarkable efficiency, which enables one to perform systematic analysis of GDR for heavy rare-earth nuclei. The theoretical deficiency of the photoabsorption cross section could not be improved by only adjusting the TRK enhancement factor, suggesting the necessity of an approach beyond self-consistent QRPA and/or a more systematic optimization of the energy density functional (EDF) parameters.

On the origin of power-law X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schlosman, I.; Shaham, J.; Shaviv, G.

1984-01-01

In the present analytical model for a power law X-ray continuum production in active galactic nuclei, the dissipation of turbulent energy flux above the accretion disk forms an optically thin transition layer with an inverted temperature gradient. The emitted thermal radiation has a power law spectrum in the 0.1-100 keV range, with a photon energy spectral index gamma of about 0.4-1.0. Thermal X-ray contribution from the layer is 5-10 percent of the total disk luminosity. The gamma value of 0.75 is suggested as a 'natural' power law index for Seyfert galaxies and QSOs.

Heavy cosmic-ray exposure of Apollo astronauts.

PubMed

Benton, E V; Henke, R P; Bailey, J V

1975-01-24

A comprehensive study of the heavy-particle cosmic-ray exposure received by the individual astronauts during the nine lunar Apollo missions reveals a significant variation in the exposure as a function of shielding and the phase of the solar cycle. The data are useful in planning for future long-range missions and in estimating the expected biological damage.

Mean-field studies of time reversal breaking states in super-heavy nuclei with the Gogny force

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robledo, L. M., E-mail: luis.robledo@uam.es

2015-10-15

Recent progress on the description of time reversal breaking (odd mass and multi-quasiparticle excitation) states in super-heavy nuclei within a mean field framework and using several flavors of the Gogny interaction is reported. The study includes ground and excited states in selected odd mass isotopes of nobelium and mendelevium as well as high K isomeric states in {sup 254}No. These are two and four-quasiparticle excitations that are treated in the same self-consistent HFB plus blocking framework as the odd mass states.

Electron-positron pairs, Compton reflection, and the X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zdziarski, Andrzej A.; Ghisellini, Gabriele; George, Ian M.; Fabian, A. C.; Svensson, Roland; Done, Chris

1990-01-01

It is shown here that reprocessing of radiation fron nonthermal pair cascades by cold material in the central parts of active galactic nuclei (AGN) gives rise to X-ray and gamma-ray spectra that satisfy current observational constraints. An average 1-30 keV X-ray spectral index alpha(x) of about 0.7 in the compact range 30-300 is obtained for a wide range of Lorentz factors of the injected electrons. The gamma-ray spectra are steep, with alpha(gamma) about two, and satisfy the observational constraints. Radiation from pair cascades exhibits steep power law decreases in soft X-rays similar to those observed in AGN. The overall picture is consistent with AGN having an accretion disk which intercepts and reprocesses a substantial fraction of the nonthermal continuum incident upon it from above and below.

Constraining heavy dark matter with cosmic-ray antiprotons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuoco, Alessandro; Heisig, Jan; Korsmeier, Michael; Krämer, Michael

2018-04-01

Cosmic-ray observations provide a powerful probe of dark matter annihilation in the Galaxy. In this paper we derive constraints on heavy dark matter from the recent precise AMS-02 antiproton data. We consider all possible annihilation channels into pairs of standard model particles. Furthermore, we interpret our results in the context of minimal dark matter, including higgsino, wino and quintuplet dark matter. We compare the cosmic-ray antiproton limits to limits from γ-ray observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies and to limits from γ-ray and γ-line observations towards the Galactic center. While the latter limits are highly dependent on the dark matter density distribution and only exclude a thermal wino for cuspy profiles, the cosmic-ray limits are more robust, strongly disfavoring the thermal wino dark matter scenario even for a conservative estimate of systematic uncertainties.

X-ray Reverberation Mapping in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kara, Erin

2018-01-01

Active Galactic Nuclei can produce as much or more electromagnetic and kinetic luminosities than the combined stellar luminosity of an entire galaxy. The energy output from AGN comes from the gravitational potential energy of the infalling material and the rotational energy of the black hole, both of which are released very close to the black hole. Therefore, probing the relativistic region of the inner accretion flow is essential to understanding how AGN work and effect their environments. In this talk, I will present a new technique for probing these relativistic environments: X-ray reverberation mapping. Similar to Optical reverberation mapping, where time delays of days or weeks between the continuum and Broad Line Region lines map out centiparsec scales, X-ray reverberation reveals time delays of tens of seconds, which map out microparsec scales in the accretion flow—well beyond the spatial resolution power of any instrument. This technique has been discovered in the past decade, so I will give a brief overview of how the measurements are made, and highlight some recent discoveries, which allow us to map the gas falling on to the black hole and measure the effects of strongly curved spacetime close to the event horizon.

Cosmic-ray tracks in plastics: the apollo helmet dosimetry experiment.

PubMed

Comstock, G M; Fleischer, R L; Giard, W R; Hart, H R; Nichols, G E; Price, P B

1971-04-09

Counts of tracks from heavy cosmic-ray nuclei in helmets from Apollo missions 8 and 12 show variations caused by solar modulation of the galactic cosmic-ray flux. Specific estimates of the biological damage to certain nonreplaceable cells by track-forming particles during these space missions indicate that the fraction of deactivated cells could range from a lower limit of 3 x 10(-7) to an upper limit of 1.4 x 10(-4).

PeV neutrinos from intergalactic interactions of cosmic rays emitted by active galactic nuclei.

PubMed

Kalashev, Oleg E; Kusenko, Alexander; Essey, Warren

2013-07-26

The observed very high energy spectra of distant blazars are well described by secondary gamma rays produced in line-of-sight interactions of cosmic rays with background photons. In the absence of the cosmic-ray contribution, one would not expect to observe very hard spectra from distant sources, but the cosmic ray interactions generate very high energy gamma rays relatively close to the observer, and they are not attenuated significantly. The same interactions of cosmic rays are expected to produce a flux of neutrinos with energies peaked around 1 PeV. We show that the diffuse isotropic neutrino background from many distant sources can be consistent with the neutrino events recently detected by the IceCube experiment. We also find that the flux from any individual nearby source is insufficient to account for these events. The narrow spectrum around 1 PeV implies that some active galactic nuclei can accelerate protons to EeV energies.

Gamma-ray Monitoring of Active Galactic Nuclei with HAWC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lauer, Robert; HAWC Collaboration

2016-03-01

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are extra-galactic sources that can exhibit extreme flux variability over a wide range of wavelengths. TeV gamma rays have been observed from about 60 AGN and can help to diagnose emission models and to study cosmic features like extra-galactic background light or inter-galactic magnetic fields. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory is a new extensive air shower array that can complement the pointed TeV observations of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes. HAWC is optimized for studying gamma rays with energies between 100 GeV and 100 TeV and has an instantaneous field of view of ~2 sr and a duty cycle >95% that allow us to scan 2/3 of the sky every day. By performing an unbiased monitoring of TeV emissions of AGN over most of the northern and part of the southern sky, HAWC can provide crucial information and trigger follow-up observations in collaborations with pointed TeV instruments. Furthermore, HAWC coverage of AGN is complementary to that provided by the Fermi satellite at lower energies. In this contribution, we will present HAWC flux light curves of TeV gamma rays from various sources, notably the bright AGN Markarian 421 and Markarian 501, and highlight recent results from multi-wavelengths and multi-instrument studies.

Systematics of the K X-Ray Multiplicity for Transitional Nuclei with A~=200

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karwowski, H. J.; Vigdor, S. E.; Jacobs, W. W.; Throwe, T. G.; Wark, D. L.; Kailas, S.; Singh, P. P.; Soga, F.; Ward, T. E.; Wiggins, J.

1981-11-01

Measurements of the multiplicity of K x rays accompanying (Li,xn) reactions to residual nuclei with Z~80 exhibit plateaus of high and constant multiplicity for neutron numbers between 110 and 120, with rapid falloff for both smaller and larger N. A proposed explanation for this systematic behavior assumes that strongly coupled, high-K rotational bands are a much more general feature of this transitional mass region than existing data indicate.

Effects of rotation of fissioning nuclei in the angular distributions of prompt neutrons and gamma rays originating from the polarized-neutron-induced fission of 233U and 235U nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danilyan, G. V.; Klenke, J.; Kopach, Yu. N.; Krakhotin, V. A.; Novitsky, V. V.; Pavlov, V. S.; Shatalov, P. B.

2014-06-01

The results of an experiment devoted to searches for effects of rotation of fissioning nuclei in the angular distributions of prompt neutrons and gamma rays originating from the polarized-neutron-induced fission of 233U nuclei are presented. The effects discovered in these angular distributions are opposite in sign to their counterparts in the polarized-neutron-induced fission of 235U nuclei. This is at odds with data on the relative signs of respective effects in the angular distribution of alpha particles from the ternary fission of the same nuclei and may be indicative of problems in the model currently used to describe the effect in question. The report on which this article is based was presented at the seminar held at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics and dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of Yu.G. Abov, corresponding member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Editor in Chief of the journal Physics of Atomic Nuclei.

A machine learning method to separate cosmic ray electrons from protons from 10 to 100 GeV using DAMPE data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Hao; Peng, Wen-Xi; Wang, Huan-Yu; Qiao, Rui; Guo, Dong-Ya; Xiao, Hong; Wang, Zhao-Min

2018-06-01

DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is a general purpose high energy cosmic ray and gamma ray observatory, aiming to detect high energy electrons and gammas in the energy range 5 GeV to 10 TeV and hundreds of TeV for nuclei. This paper provides a method using machine learning to identify electrons and separate them from gammas, protons, helium and heavy nuclei with the DAMPE data acquired from 2016 January 1 to 2017 June 30, in the energy range from 10 to 100 GeV.

Radio-Loud Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 as a New Class of Gamma-Ray Active Galactic Nuclei

DOE PAGES

Abdo, A. A.; Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; ...

2009-12-04

In this work, we report the discovery with Fermi/LAT of γ-ray emission from three radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies: PKS 1502+036 (z = 0.409), 1H 0323+342 (z = 0.061), and PKS 2004 – 447 (z = 0.24). In addition to PMN J0948+0022 (z = 0.585), the first source of this type to be detected in γ rays, they may form an emerging new class of γ-ray active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Lastly, these findings can have strong implications on our knowledge about relativistic jets and the unified model of the AGN.

The X-Ray Polarization of the Accretion Disk Coronae of Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beheshtipour, Banafsheh; Krawczynski, Henric; Malzac, Julien

2017-11-01

Hard X-rays observed in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) are thought to originate from the Comptonization of the optical/UV accretion disk photons in a hot corona. Polarization studies of these photons can help to constrain the corona geometry and the plasma properties. We have developed a ray-tracing code that simulates the Comptonization of accretion disk photons in coronae of arbitrary shapes, and use it here to study the polarization of the X-ray emission from wedge and spherical coronae. We study the predicted polarization signatures for the fully relativistic and various approximate treatments of the elemental Compton scattering processes. We furthermore use the code to evaluate the impact of nonthermal electrons and cyclo-synchrotron photons on the polarization properties. Finally, we model the NuSTAR observations of the Seyfert I galaxy Mrk 335 and predict the associated polarization signal. Our studies show that X-ray polarimetry missions such as NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer and the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer proposed to ESA will provide valuable new information about the physical properties of the plasma close to the event horizon of AGN black holes.

Physics of Unstable Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khoa, Dao Tien; Egelhof, Peter; Gales, Sydney; Giai, Nguyen Van; Motobayashi, Tohru

2008-04-01

Studies at the RIKEN RI beam factory / T. Motobayashi -- Dilute nuclear states / M. Freer -- Studies of exotic systems using transfer reactions at GANIL / D. Beaumel et al. -- First results from the Magnex large-acceptance spectrometer / A. Cunsolo et al. -- The ICHOR project and spin-isospin physics with unstable beams / H. Sakai -- Structure and low-lying states of the [symbol]He exotic nucleus via direct reactions on proton / V. Lapoux et al. -- Shell gap below [symbol]Sn based on the excited states in [symbol]Cd and [symbol]In / M. Górska -- Heavy neutron-rich nuclei produced in the fragmentation of a [symbol]Pb beam / Zs. Podolyák et al. -- Breakup and incomplete fusion in reactions of weakly-bound nuclei / D.J. Hinde et al. -- Excited states of [symbol]B and [symbol]He and their cluster aspect / Y. Kanada-En'yo et al. -- Nuclear reactions with weakly-bound systems: the treatment of the continuum / C. H. Dasso, A. Vitturi -- Dynamic evolution of three-body decaying resonances / A. S. Jensen et al. -- Prerainbow oscillations in [symbol]He scattering from the Hoyle state of [symbol]C and alpha particle condensation / S. Ohkubo, Y. Hirabayashi -- Angular dispersion behavior in heavy ion elastic scattering / Q. Wang et al. -- Microscopic optical potential in relativistic approach / Z.Yu. Ma et al. -- Exotic nuclei studied in direct reactions at low momentum transfer - recent results and future perspectives at fair / P. Egelhof -- Isotopic temperatures and symmetry energy in spectator fragmentation / M. De Napoli et al. -- Multi-channel algebraic scattering theory and the structure of exotic compound nuclei / K. Amos et al. -- Results for the first feasibility study for the EXL project at the experimental storage ring at GSI / N. Kalantar-Nayestanaki et al. -- Coulomb excitation of ISOLDE neutron-rich beams along the Z = 28 chain / P. Van Duppen -- The gamma decay of the pygmy resonance far from stability and the GDR at finite temperature / G. Benzoni et al

The Energetic Trans-Iron Composition Experiment (ENTICE) on the Heavy Nuclei Explorer (HNX)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Israel, M. H.; Adams, J. H.; Barbier, L. M.; Binns, W. R.; Christian, E. R.; Cummings, A. C.; Cummings, J. R.; Doke, T.; Hasebe, N.; Hayashi, T.;

Breaking of axial symmetry in excited heavy nuclei as identified in giant dipole resonance data

DOE PAGES

Grosse, E.; Junghans, A. R.; Massarczyk, R.

2017-11-28

Here, a recent theoretical prediction of a breaking of axial symmetry in quasi all heavy nuclei is confronted to a new critical analysis of photon strength functions of nuclei in the valley of stability. For the photon strength in the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR) regime a parameterization of GDR shapes by the sum of three Lorentzians (TLO) is extrapolated to energies below and above the IVGDR. The impact of non-GDR modes adding to the low energy slope of photon strength is discussed including recent data on photon scattering and other radiative processes. These are shown to be concentrated inmore » energy regions where various model calculations predict intermediate collective strength; thus they are obviously separate from the IVGDR tail. The triple Lorentzian (TLO) ansatz for giant dipole resonances is normalized in accordance to the dipole sum rule. The nuclear droplet model with surface dissipation accounts well for positions and widths without local, nuclide specific, parameters. Very few and only global parameters are needed when a breaking of axial symmetry already in the valley of stability is admitted and hence a reliable prediction for electric dipole strength functions also outside of it is expected.« less

Breaking of axial symmetry in excited heavy nuclei as identified in giant dipole resonance data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grosse, E.; Junghans, A. R.; Massarczyk, R.

Here, a recent theoretical prediction of a breaking of axial symmetry in quasi all heavy nuclei is confronted to a new critical analysis of photon strength functions of nuclei in the valley of stability. For the photon strength in the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR) regime a parameterization of GDR shapes by the sum of three Lorentzians (TLO) is extrapolated to energies below and above the IVGDR. The impact of non-GDR modes adding to the low energy slope of photon strength is discussed including recent data on photon scattering and other radiative processes. These are shown to be concentrated inmore » energy regions where various model calculations predict intermediate collective strength; thus they are obviously separate from the IVGDR tail. The triple Lorentzian (TLO) ansatz for giant dipole resonances is normalized in accordance to the dipole sum rule. The nuclear droplet model with surface dissipation accounts well for positions and widths without local, nuclide specific, parameters. Very few and only global parameters are needed when a breaking of axial symmetry already in the valley of stability is admitted and hence a reliable prediction for electric dipole strength functions also outside of it is expected.« less

Deformed shell model calculations of half lives for β+/EC decay and 2ν β+β+/β+EC/ECEC decay in medium-heavy N~Z nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, S.; Shukla, A.; Sahu, R.; Kota, V. K. B.

2008-08-01

The β+/EC half-lives of medium heavy N~Z nuclei with mass number A~64-80 are calculated within the deformed shell model (DSM) based on Hartree-Fock states by employing a modified Kuo interaction in (2p3/2,1f5/2,2p1/2,1g9/2) space. The DSM model has been quite successful in predicting many spectroscopic properties of N~Z medium heavy nuclei with A~64-80. The calculated β+/EC half-lives, for prolate and oblate shapes, compare well with the predictions of the calculations with Skyrme force by Sarriguren Going further, following recent searches, half-lives for 2ν β+β+/β+EC/ECEC decay for the nucleus Kr78 are calculated using DSM and the results compare well with QRPA predictions.

The response of a scintillation counter below an emulsion chamber to heavy nucleus interactions in the chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burnett, T. H.; Dake, S.; Derrickson, J. H.; Fountain, W. F.; Fuki, M.; Gregory, J. C.; Hayashi, T.; Hayashi, T.; Holynski, R.; Iwai, J.;

Computer Model Of Fragmentation Of Atomic Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, John W.; Townsend, Lawrence W.; Tripathi, Ram K.; Norbury, John W.; KHAN FERDOUS; Badavi, Francis F.

1995-01-01

High Charge and Energy Semiempirical Nuclear Fragmentation Model (HZEFRG1) computer program developed to be computationally efficient, user-friendly, physics-based program for generating data bases on fragmentation of atomic nuclei. Data bases generated used in calculations pertaining to such radiation-transport applications as shielding against radiation in outer space, radiation dosimetry in outer space, cancer therapy in laboratories with beams of heavy ions, and simulation studies for designing detectors for experiments in nuclear physics. Provides cross sections for production of individual elements and isotopes in breakups of high-energy heavy ions by combined nuclear and Coulomb fields of interacting nuclei. Written in ANSI FORTRAN 77.

SPECTRAL SURVEY OF X-RAY BRIGHT ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI FROM THE ROSSI X-RAY TIMING EXPLORER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rivers, Elizabeth; Markowitz, Alex; Rothschild, Richard, E-mail: erivers@ucsd.edu

2011-03-15

Using long-term monitoring data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), we have selected 23 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with sufficient brightness and overall observation time to derive broadband X-ray spectra from 3 to {approx}>100 keV. Our sample includes mainly radio-quiet Seyferts, as well as seven radio-loud sources. Given the longevity of the RXTE mission, the greater part of our data is spread out over more than a decade, providing truly long-term average spectra and eliminating inconsistencies arising from variability. We present long-term average values of absorption, Fe line parameters, Compton reflection strengths, and photon indices, as well as fluxesmore » and luminosities for the hard and very hard energy bands, 2-10 keV and 20-100 keV, respectively. We find tentative evidence for high-energy rollovers in three of our objects. We improve upon previous surveys of the very hard X-ray energy band in terms of accuracy and sensitivity, particularly with respect to confirming and quantifying the Compton reflection component. This survey is meant to provide a baseline for future analysis with respect to the long-term averages for these sources and to cement the legacy of RXTE, and especially its High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment, as a contributor to AGN spectral science.« less

Lead, platinum, and other heavy elements in the primary cosmic radiation: HEAO-3 results ssc wg032961 cb553097

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waddington, C. J.; Binns, W. R.; Brewster, N. R.; Fixsen, D. J.; Garrard, T. L.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.; Newport, B. J.; Stone, E. C.

1985-01-01

An observation of the abundances of cosmic-ray lead and platinum-group nuclei using data from the HEAO-3 Heavy Nuclei Experiment (HNE) which consisted of ion chambers mounted on both sides of a plastic Cerenkov counter is reported. Further analysis with more stringent selections, inclusion of additional data, and a calibration at the LBL Bevalac, have allowed obtaining the abundance ratio of lead and the platinum group of elements for particles that had a cutoff rigidity R sub c 5 GV.

The Nucleon-Mission: A New Approach to Cosmic Rays Investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, James H., Jr.; Bashindzhagyan, G.; Bashindzhagyan, P.; Chilingarian, A.; Donnelly, J.; Drury, L.; Egorov, N.; Golubkov, S.; Grebenyuk, V.; Hasebe, N.;

Origin and propagation of galactic cosmic rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cesarsky, Catherine J.; Ormes, Jonathan F.

1987-01-01

The study of systematic trends in elemental abundances is important for unfolding the nuclear and/or atomic effects that should govern the shaping of source abundances and in constraining the parameters of cosmic ray acceleration models. In principle, much can be learned about the large-scale distributions of cosmic rays in the galaxy from all-sky gamma ray surveys such as COS-B and SAS-2. Because of the uncertainties in the matter distribution which come from the inability to measure the abundance of molecular hydrogen, the results are somewhat controversial. The leaky-box model accounts for a surprising amount of the data on heavy nuclei. However, a growing body of data indicates that the simple picture may have to be abandoned in favor of more complex models which contain additional parameters. Future experiments on the Spacelab and space station will hopefully be made of the spectra of individual nuclei at high energy. Antiprotons must be studied in the background free environment above the atmosphere with much higher reliability and presion to obtain spectral information.

Nuclear electromagnetic cascades from nuclei with Z larger than or equal to 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, W. V.

1971-01-01

A Monte Carlo simulation method was developed for studying nuclear-electromagnetic cascades initiated by high energy nuclei with Z or = 3 incident on heavy absorbers. The calculations are based on a cascade model which was first adjusted until it agreed with measurements made with protons at an accelerator. Modifications of the model used for protons include the incorporation of the probabilities for fragmentation of heavy nuclei into lighter nuclei, alpha particles, and nucleons. Mean values and fluctuations of the equivalent numbers of particles in the cascades at various depths in an iron absorber are presented for protons, carbon, and iron nuclei over the 30 to 300 GeV/nucleon energy range.

Lead, platinum and other heavy elements in the primary cosmic radiation: HEAO-3 results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waddington, C. J.; Binns, W. R.; Brewster, N. R.; Fixsen, D. J.; Garrard, T. L.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.; Newport, B. J.; Stone, E. C.

1986-01-01

An observation of the abundances of cosmic-ray lead and platinum-group nuclei using data from the HEAO-3 Heavy Nuclei Experiment (HNE) which consisted of ion chambers mounted on both sides of a plastic Cherenkov counter (Binns et al., 1981) is reported. Further analysis with more stringent selections, inclusion of additional data, and a calibration at the LBL Bevalac, have allowed the determination of the abundance ratio of lead and the platinum group of elements for particles that had a cutoff rigidity R(c) 5 GV. The observed ratio for Pb/Pt is distinctly lower than that predicted by any of the standard models for cosmic ray sources. It is possible that the difference is not an indication that the cosmic ray source composition is greatly different from that of the solar system, but rather that there is less Pb in the solar system and in the r-process than is assumed in the standard models.

Portable X-Ray, K-Edge Heavy Metal Detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fricke, V.

The X-Ray, K-Edge Heavy Metal Detection System was designed and built by Ames Laboratory and the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation at Iowa State University. The system uses a C-frame inspection head with an X-ray tube mounted on one side of the frame and an imaging unit and a high purity germanium detector on the other side. the inspection head is portable and can be easily positioned around ventilation ducts and pipes up to 36 inches in diameter. Wide angle and narrow beam X-ray shots are used to identify the type of holdup material and the amount of the contaminant. Precisemore » assay data can be obtained within minutes of the interrogation. A profile of the containerized holdup material and a permanent record of the measurement are immediately available.« less

Parameterization of deformed nuclei for Glauber modeling in relativistic heavy ion collisions

DOE PAGES

Sorensen, P.; Tang, A. H.; Videbaek, F.; ...

2015-08-04

In this study, the density distributions of large nuclei are typically modeled with a Woods–Saxon distribution characterized by a radius R 0 and skin depth a. Deformation parameters β are then introduced to describe non-spherical nuclei using an expansion in spherical harmonics R 0(1+β 2Y 2 0+β 4Y 4 0). But when a nucleus is non-spherical, the R 0 and a inferred from electron scattering experiments that integrate over all nuclear orientations cannot be used directly as the parameters in the Woods–Saxon distribution. In addition, the β 2 values typically derived from the reduced electric quadrupole transition probability B(E2)↑ aremore » not directly related to the β 2 values used in the spherical harmonic expansion. B(E2)↑ is more accurately related to the intrinsic quadrupole moment Q 0 than to β 2. One can however calculate Q 0 for a given β 2 and then derive B(E2)↑ from Q 0. In this paper we calculate and tabulate the R 0, a , and β 2 values that when used in a Woods–Saxon distribution, will give results consistent with electron scattering data. We then present calculations of the second and third harmonic participant eccentricity (ε 2 and ε 3) with the new and old parameters. We demonstrate that ε 3 is particularly sensitive to a and argue that using the incorrect value of a has important implications for the extraction of viscosity to entropy ratio (η/s) from the QGP created in Heavy Ion collisions.« less

A quantitative investigation of the solar modulation of cosmic-ray protons and helium nuclei. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrard, T. L.

1972-01-01

The differential energy spectra of cosmic ray protons and He nuclei were measured at energies up to 315 MeV/nucleon using balloon-borne and satellite-borne instruments. These spectra are presented for solar quiet times for the years 1966 through 1970. The data analysis is verified by extensive accelerator calibrations of the detector systems and by calculations and measurements of the production of secondary protons in the atmosphere. The spectra of protons and He nuclei in this energy range are dominated by the solar modulation of the local interstellar spectra. Numerical solutions to the transport equation are presented for a wide range of parameters.

X-ray light curves of active galactic nuclei are phase incoherent

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krolik, Julian; Done, Chris; Madejski, Grzegorz

1993-01-01

We compute the Fourier phase spectra for the light curves of five low-luminosity active galactic nuclei observed by EXOSAT. There is no statistically significant phase coherence in any of them. This statement is equivalent, subject to a technical caveat, to a demonstration that their fluctuation statistics are Gaussian. Models in which the X-ray output is controlled wholly by a unitary process undergoing a nonlinear limit cycle are therefore ruled out, while models with either a large number of randomly excited independent oscillation modes or nonlinearly interacting spatially dependent oscillations are favored. We also demonstrate how the degree of phase coherence in light curve fluctuations influences the application of causality bounds on internal length scales.

Baryon Distribution in Galaxy Clusters as a Result of Sedimentation of Helium Nuclei.

PubMed

Qin; Wu

2000-01-20

Heavy particles in galaxy clusters tend to be more centrally concentrated than light ones according to the Boltzmann distribution. An estimate of the drift velocity suggests that it is possible that the helium nuclei may have entirely or partially sedimented into the cluster core within the Hubble time. We demonstrate this scenario using the Navarro-Frenk-White profile as the dark matter distribution of clusters and assuming that the intracluster gas is isothermal and in hydrostatic equilibrium. We find that a greater fraction of baryonic matter is distributed at small radii than at large radii, which challenges the prevailing claim that the baryon fraction increases monotonically with cluster radius. It shows that the conventional mass estimate using X-ray measurements of intracluster gas along with a constant mean molecular weight may have underestimated the total cluster mass by approximately 20%, which in turn leads to an overestimate of the total baryon fraction by the same percentage. Additionally, it is pointed out that the sedimentation of helium nuclei toward cluster cores may at least partially account for the sharp peaks in the central X-ray emissions observed in some clusters.

X-Ray Bolometric Corrections for Compton-thick Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brightman, M.; Baloković, M.; Ballantyne, D. R.; Bauer, F. E.; Boorman, P.; Buchner, J.; Brandt, W. N.; Comastri, A.; Del Moro, A.; Farrah, D.; Gandhi, P.; Harrison, F. A.; Koss, M.; Lanz, L.; Masini, A.; Ricci, C.; Stern, D.; Vasudevan, R.; Walton, D. J.

2017-07-01

We present X-ray bolometric correction factors, {κ }{Bol} (≡{L}{Bol}/{L}{{X}}), for Compton-thick (CT) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with the aim of testing AGN torus models, probing orientation effects, and estimating the bolometric output of the most obscured AGNs. We adopt bolometric luminosities, {L}{Bol}, from literature infrared (IR) torus modeling and compile published intrinsic 2-10 keV X-ray luminosities, {L}{{X}}, from X-ray torus modeling of NuSTAR data. Our sample consists of 10 local CT AGNs, where both of these estimates are available. We test for systematic differences in {κ }{Bol} values produced when using two widely used IR torus models and two widely used X-ray torus models, finding consistency within the uncertainties. We find that the mean {κ }{Bol} of our sample in the range of {L}{Bol}≈ {10}42{--}{10}45 {erg} {{{s}}}-1 is log10 {κ }{Bol} = 1.44 ± 0.12 with an intrinsic scatter of ˜0.2 dex, and that our derived {κ }{Bol} values are consistent with previously established relationships between {κ }{Bol} and {L}{Bol} and {κ }{Bol} and Eddington ratio ({λ }{Edd}). We investigate if {κ }{Bol} is dependent on {N}{{H}} by comparing our results on CT AGNs to published results on less-obscured AGNs, finding no significant dependence. Since many of our sample are megamaser AGNs, known to be viewed edge-on, and furthermore under the assumptions of AGN unification whereby unobscured AGNs are viewed face-on, our result implies that the X-ray emitting corona is not strongly anisotropic. Finally, we present {κ }{Bol} values for CT AGNs identified in X-ray surveys as a function of their observed {L}{{X}}, where an estimate of their intrinsic {L}{{X}} is not available, and redshift, useful for estimating the bolometric output of the most obscured AGNs across cosmic time.

The new Heavy-ion MCP-based Ancillary Detector DANTE for the CLARA-PRISMA Setup

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Valiente-Dobon, J. J.; Gadea, A.; Corradi, L.

2006-08-14

The CLARA-PRISMA setup is a powerful tool for spectroscopic studies of neutron-rich nuclei produced in multi-nucleon transfer and deep-inelastic reactions. It combines the large acceptance spectrometer PRISMA with the {gamma}-ray array CLARA. At present, the ancillary heavy-ion detector DANTE, based on Micro-Channel Plates to be installed at the CLARA-PRISMA setup, is being constructed at LNL. DANTE will open the possibility of measuring {gamma}-{gamma} Doppler-corrected coincidences for the events outside the acceptance of PRISMA. In this presentation, it is described the heavy-ion detector DANTE, as well as the performances of the first prototype.

Early results from the ultra heavy cosmic ray experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Osullivan, D.; Thompson, A.; Bosch, J.; Keegan, R.; Wenzel, K.-P.; Jansen, F.; Domingo, C.

1995-01-01

Data extraction and analysis of the LDEF Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment is continuing. Almost twice the pre LDEF world sample has been investigated and some details of the charge spectrum in the region from Z approximately 70 up to and including the actinides are presented. The early results indicate r process enhancement over solar system source abundances.

Magnetospheric Gamma-Ray Emission in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katsoulakos, Grigorios; Rieger, Frank M.

2018-01-01

The rapidly variable, very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) has been frequently associated with non-thermal processes occurring in the magnetospheres of their supermassive black holes. The present work aims to explore the adequacy of different gap-type (unscreened electric field) models to account for the observed characteristics. Based on a phenomenological description of the gap potential, we estimate the maximum extractable gap power L gap for different magnetospheric setups, and study its dependence on the accretion state of the source. L gap is found in general to be proportional to the Blandford–Znajek jet power L BZ and a sensitive function of gap size h, i.e., {L}{gap}∼ {L}{BZ}{(h/{r}g)}β , where the power index β ≥slant 1 is dependent on the respective gap setup. The transparency of the vicinity of the black hole to VHE photons generally requires a radiatively inefficient accretion environment and thereby imposes constraints on possible accretion rates, and correspondingly on L BZ. Similarly, rapid variability, if observed, may allow one to constrain the gap size h∼ c{{Δ }}t. Combining these constraints, we provide a general classification to assess the likelihood that the VHE gamma-ray emission observed from an AGN can be attributed to a magnetospheric origin. When applied to prominent candidate sources these considerations suggest that the variable (day-scale) VHE activity seen in the radio galaxy M87 could be compatible with a magnetospheric origin, while such an origin appears less likely for the (minute-scale) VHE activity in IC 310.

Study of the population of neutron-rich heavy nuclei in the A 200 mass region via multinucleon transfer reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fioretto, E.; Corradi, L.; Galtarossa, F.; Szilner, S.; Montanari, D.; Mijatović, T.; Pollarolo, G.; Jia, H. M.; Ackermann, D.; Bourgin, D.; Colucci, G.; Courtin, S.; Fruet, G.; Goasduff, A.; Grebosz, J.; Haas, F.; Jelavić Malenica, D.; Jeong, S. C.; John, P. R.; Milin, M.; Montagnoli, G.; Skukan, N.; Scarlassara, F.; Soić, N.; Stefanini, A. M.; Strano, E.; Tokić, V.; Ur, C. A.; Valiente-Dobón, J. J.; Watanabe, Y. X.

2017-11-01

Multineutron and multiproton transfer channels, populated in the inverse kinematics reaction 197Au+130Te at Elab=1.07 GeV, were measured at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro using the presently heaviest ion beam delivered by the PIAVE-ALPI accelerator complex and detecting both projectile-like and targetlike ions. To this end the large solid angle magnetic spectrometer PRISMA was coupled to a second arm for the detection of the heavy fragments in kinematic coincidence with the light ones selected and identified with the spectrometer. The data analysis is still in progress and will allow to compare the yields of both light and heavy partner with theoretical predictions performed with the GRAZING code to get quantitative information on transfer channels and the effect of evaporation and fission on the production rate of primary fragments. The mass integrated Z distribution, extracted from the experimental data, evidenced the population of proton pickup channels that, in conjunction with the neutron stripping ones from the 130Te, open the path for the production of neutron-rich heavy nuclei. In the following, we will present some preliminary results as well as details on the experimental configuration and perspectives for future investigations in the neutron-rich heavy region.

High-seniority states in spherical nuclei: Triple pair breaking in tin isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astier, Alain

2013-03-01

The 119-126Sn nuclei have been produced as fission fragments in two reactions induced by heavy ions: 12C+238U at 90 MeV bombarding energy, 18O+208Pb at 85 MeV. Their level schemes have been built from gamma rays detected using the Euroball array. High-spin states located above the long-lived isomeric states of the even- A and odd-A 120-126Sn nuclei have been identified. Moreover isomeric states lying around 4.5 MeV have been established in the even-A 120-126Sn from the delayed coincidences between the fission fragment detector SAPhIR and the Euroball array. All the states located above 3-MeV excitation energy are ascribed to several broken pairs of neutrons occupying the h11/2 orbit. The maximum value of angular momentum available in such a high-j shell, i.e. for mid-occupation and the breaking of the three neutron pairs (seniority v=6), has been identified.

Research relative to the heavy isotope spectrometer telescope experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, Edward C.; Mewaldt, Richard A.

1993-01-01

The Heavy Isotope Spectrometer Telescope (HIST) was launched during August 1978 on ISEE-3 (ICE). HIST was designed to measure the isotopic composition of solar, galactic, and interplanetary cosmic ray nuclei for the elements from H to Ni (1 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 28) in the energy range from approximately 5 to approximately 200 MeV/nucleon. The results of these measurements have been used in studies of the composition of solar matter and galactic cosmic ray sources, the study of nucleosynthesis processes, studies of particle acceleration and propagation, and studies of the life-history of cosmic rays in the heliosphere and in the galaxy. On December 1, 1978, after 110 days in orbit, HIST suffered an electronic failure in its readout system. After that point, only one-half of the telemetry bits associated with the pulse heights measured by HIST were transmitted to Earth. As a result, the resolution of HIST was significantly degraded, and it served as an element rather than an isotope spectrometer. Fortunately, HIST was able to measure the isotopic composition of heavy nuclei in the 9/23/78 solar event (the largest solar energetic particle event since 1972) during the brief period that it operated at full resolution. This grant funded the analysis of data from the HIST instrument over the period from 12/1/85 to 11/30/92. In section 2 of this final report, we summarize the scientific accomplishments that have resulted from HIST measurements during this time period. A bibliography of tasks and papers that resulted is attached.

Research relative to the heavy isotope spectrometer telescope experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stone, Edward C.; Mewaldt, Richard A.

1993-03-01

The Heavy Isotope Spectrometer Telescope (HIST) was launched during August 1978 on ISEE-3 (ICE). HIST was designed to measure the isotopic composition of solar, galactic, and interplanetary cosmic ray nuclei for the elements from H to Ni (1 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 28) in the energy range from approximately 5 to approximately 200 MeV/nucleon. The results of these measurements have been used in studies of the composition of solar matter and galactic cosmic ray sources, the study of nucleosynthesis processes, studies of particle acceleration and propagation, and studies of the life-history of cosmic rays in the heliosphere and in the galaxy. On December 1, 1978, after 110 days in orbit, HIST suffered an electronic failure in its readout system. After that point, only one-half of the telemetry bits associated with the pulse heights measured by HIST were transmitted to Earth. As a result, the resolution of HIST was significantly degraded, and it served as an element rather than an isotope spectrometer. Fortunately, HIST was able to measure the isotopic composition of heavy nuclei in the 9/23/78 solar event (the largest solar energetic particle event since 1972) during the brief period that it operated at full resolution. This grant funded the analysis of data from the HIST instrument over the period from 12/1/85 to 11/30/92. In section 2 of this final report, we summarize the scientific accomplishments that have resulted from HIST measurements during this time period. A bibliography of tasks and papers that resulted is attached.

X-Ray Emission from Active Galactic Nuclei with Intermediate-Mass Black Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewangan, G. C.; Mathur, S.; Griffiths, R. E.; Rao, A. R.

2008-12-01

We present a systematic X-ray study of eight active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with intermediate-mass black holes (MBH ~ 8-95 × 104 M⊙) based on 12 XMM-Newton observations. The sample includes the two prototype AGNs in this class—NGC 4395 and POX 52 and six other AGNs discovered with the Sloan Digitized Sky Survey. These AGNs show some of the strongest X-ray variability, with the normalized excess variances being the largest and the power density break timescales being the shortest observed among radio-quiet AGNs. The excess-variance-luminosity correlation appears to depend on both the BH mass and the Eddington luminosity ratio. The break timescale-black hole mass relations for AGN with IMBHs are consistent with that observed for massive AGNs. We find that the FWHM of the Hβ/Hα line is uncorrelated with the BH mass, but shows strong anticorrelation with the Eddington luminosity ratio. Four AGNs show clear evidence for soft X-ray excess emission (kTin ~ 150-200 eV). X-ray spectra of three other AGNs are consistent with the presence of the soft excess emission. NGC 4395 with lowest L/LEdd lacks the soft excess emission. Evidently small black mass is not the primary driver of strong soft X-ray excess emission from AGNs. The X-ray spectral properties and optical-to-X-ray spectral energy distributions of these AGNs are similar to those of Seyfert 1 galaxies. The observed X-ray/UV properties of AGNs with IMBHs are consistent with these AGNs being low-mass extensions of more massive AGNs, those with high Eddington luminosity ratio looking more like narrow-line Seyfert 1 s and those with low L/LEdd looking more like broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies.

The Energetic Trans-Iron Cosmic-ray Experiment (ENTICE)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. R.; Adams. J. H.; Barghouty, A. F.; Christian, E. R.; Cummings, A. C.; Hams, T.; Israel, M. H.; Labrador, A. W.; Leske, R. A.; Link, J. T.;

AMS results on the fluxes of light nuclei in cosmic rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertucci, Bruna; AMS Collaboration

2017-01-01

AMS-02 is a wide acceptance high-energy physics experiment installed on the International Space Station in May 2011 and it has been operating continuously since then. AMS-02 is able to separate cosmic rays light nuclei species (1 <= Z <= 8) with contaminations less than 10-3 thanks to the redundant measurement of the particle charge in eight silicon tracker layers, four scintillator planes and the Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector. The accurate measure of their spectrum in the GeV-TeV range is performed by the magnetic spectrometer with a maximum detectable rigidity of 2-3 TV. Precise measurements from AMS will be presented, including proton, helium, boron to carbon flux ratio, and highlights of ongoing analyses discussed. On behalf of the AMS Collaboration.

International Cosmic Ray Conference, 13th, University of Denver, Denver, Colo., August 17-30, 1973, Proceedings. Volume 5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

An X-ray observation of the Norma-Lupus region, charge and isotope measurements of heavy cosmic ray nuclei and their role in the determination of cosmic ray age, and the possibility of a contribution to primary cosmic ray spectra from pulsars are among the topics covered in papers concerned with some of the results of recent cosmic ray research. Other topics covered include multiple scattering of charged particles in magnetic fields, absorption of primary cosmic rays in the atmosphere, and phase lag effects on cosmic ray modulation during a recent solar cycle. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Spectral evolution of active galactic nuclei: A unified description of the X-ray and gamma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leiter, D.; Boldt, E.

1982-01-01

A model for spectral evolution is presented whereby active galactic nuclei (AGN) of the type observed individually emerge from an earlier stage at z approx = 4 in which they are the thermal X-ray sources responsible for most of the cosmic X-ray background (CXB). The conjecture is pursued that these precursor objects are initially supermassive Schwarzschild black holes with accretion disks radiating near the Eddington luminosity limit. It is noted that after approx. 10 to the 8th power years these central black holes are spun-up to a canonical Kerr equilibrium state (A/M = 0.998; Thorne 1974) and shown how they then can lead to spectral evolution involving non-thermal emission extending to gamma rays, at the expense of reduced thermal disk radiation. That major portion of the CXB remaining after the contribution of usual AGN are considered, while a superposition of AGN sources at z 1 can account for the gamma ray background. Extensive X-ray measurements carried out with the HEAO 1 and 2 missions as well as gamma ray and optical data are shown to compare favorably with principal features of this model.

New dimensions of the periodic system: superheavy, superneutronic, superstrange, antimatter nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greiner, Walter

2010-12-23

The possibilities for the extension of the periodic system into the islands of superheavy (SH) elements, to and beyond the neutron drip line and to the sectors of strangeness and antimatter are discussed. The multi-nucleon transfer processes in low-energy damped collisions of heavy actinide nuclei may help us to fill the gap between the nuclei produced in the ''hot'' fusion reactions and the continent of known nuclei. In these reactions we may also investigate the ''island of stability''. In many such collisions the lifetime of the composite giant system consisting of two touching nuclei turns out to be rather longmore » ({>=}10{sup -20} s); sufficient for observing line structure in spontaneous positron emission from super-strong electric fields (vacuum decay), a fundamental QED process not observed yet experimentally. At the neutron-rich sector near the drip line islands and extended ridges of quasistable nuclei are predicted by HF calculations. Such nuclei, as well as very long living superheavy nuclei may be provided in double atomic bomb explosions. A tremendously rich scenario of new nuclear structure emerges with new magic numbers in the strangeness domain. Various production mechanisms are discussed for these objects and for antinuclei in high energy heavy-ion collisions.« less

Charge composition of high energy heavy primary cosmic ray nuclei. Ph.D. Thesis - Catholic Univ. of Am.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Price, R. D.

1974-01-01

A detailed study of the charge composition of primary cosmic radiation for about 5000 charged nuclei from neon to iron with energies greater than 1.16 GeV/nucleon is presented. Values are obtained after corrections were made for detector dependences, atmospheric attenuation, and solar modulation. New values of 38.5, 32.4, 23.7, and 16.8 g/sq cm for the attenuation mean free paths in air for the same charge groups are presented.

Heavy Nucleus Collector (HNC) project for the NASA Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tarle, Gregory

1990-01-01

The primary goal of the heavy nucleus collector (HNC) experiment was to obtain high resolution composition measurements for cosmic ray nuclei in the platinum-lead and actinide region of the periodic table. Secondary objectives include studies of selected groups of elements of lower charge. These goals were to be realized by orbiting a large area array of dielectric nuclear track detectors in space for several years. In this time sufficient actinide nuclei would be collected to determine the nucleosynthetic age of the cosmic radiation and the relative mix of r- and s-process elements in the cosmic ray source. The detector consists of approximately 50 trays assembled in pressurized canisters. Each tray would contain 8 half-stacks (4 stacks total) and an event thermometer which would record the temperature of each event at the time of exposure. Each stack would contain 7 layers of Rodyne-P, CR-39 and Cronar plastic track detectors interleaved with copper stripping foils. Upon return to Earth, detectors would be removed for analysis. Ultraheavy nuclei would have left tracks through the detector sheets that would be made visible after etching in a hot sodium hydroxide solution.

A new transition radiation detector to detect heavy nuclei around the knee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyle, Patrick J.; Swordy, Simon P.; Wakely, Scott P.

2003-02-01

The overall cosmic ray intensity spectrum falls as a constant power law over at least 11 decades of particle energy. One of the only features in this spectrum is the slight change in power law index near 1015 eV, often called the ‘knee" of the spectrum. Accurate measurements of cosmic ray elemental abundances into this energy region are expected to reveal the origin of this feature, and possibly the nature of cosmic ray sources. The extremely low intensity of particles at these energies (a few per m2 per year) makes the detection challenging. Since only direct measurements have so far proved reliable for the accurate determination of elemental composition, a large-area, light weight, device is needed to achieve long exposures above the atmosphere either on high-altitude balloons or spacecraft. Here we report on a detector which uses the x-ray transition radiation yield from plastic foams to provide a response into the knee region for heavy elements. We use individual xenon-filled gas proportional tubes as detectors, combined with Amplex ASIC chip electronics for readout. The construction of this type of detector, and its implementation in the upcoming NASA CREAM 100 day high-altitude balloon payload is described. Also discussed is the calibration of the detector in an accelerator beam at CERN and a comparison with GEANT4 Monet Carlo simulations.

Energy dependence of polarization across broad deexcitation gamma-ray line profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werntz, Carl; Lang, F. L.

1998-04-01

The energy profiles of deexcitation gamma-ray lines from recoiling inelastically scattered nuclei exhibit detailed structure. MeV-wide gamma-ray lines from the direction of the Orion nebula have been detected (H. Bloemen, et al., Astr. and Astrophys. L5, 281 (1994).) by COMPTEL whose source is postulated to be cosmic ray carbon and oxygen nuclei shock accelerated near supernova remnants colliding with ambient hydrogen and helium. Even when the heavy ion velocity distributions are isotropic, structure characteristic of the multipolarity of the gamma transition remains (A. M. Bykov et al, Astr. and Astrophys. 607, L37 (1996); B. Kozlovsky et al, Astrophys. J. 484, (1997).). In experiments in which the energy dependent structure of the deexcitation gamma-ray profiles is not resolved, the gammas display a high degree of linear polarization that rapidly changes with gamma-beam angle. We calculate the polarization, both linear and circular, as a function of gamma-ray energy across the laboratory line profiles of C12*(4.44) and O16*(6.13) inelastically excited by protons and alphas. We then investigate the polarization in the surviving structures for isotropic energetic ions colliding with ^1H and ^4He.

On the Jet Properties of γ-Ray-loud Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Liang

2018-04-01

Based on broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs), we estimate the jet physical parameters of 1392 γ-ray-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs), the largest sample so far. The (SED) jet power and magnetization parameter are derived for these AGNs. Out of these sources, the accretion disk luminosity of 232 sources and (extended) kinetic jet powers of 159 sources are compiled from archived papers. We find the following. (1) Flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and BL Lacs are well separated by {{Γ }}=-0.127{log}{L}γ +8.18 in the γ-ray luminosity versus photon index plane with a success rate of 88.6%. (2) Most FSRQs present a (SED) jet power larger than the accretion power, which suggests that the relativistic jet-launching mechanism is dominated by the Blandford–Znajek process. This result confirms previous findings. (3) There is a significant anticorrelation between jet magnetization and a ratio of the (SED) jet power to the (extended) kinetic jet power, which, for the first time, provides supporting evidence for the jet energy transportation theory: a high-magnetization jet may more easily transport energy to a large scale than a low-magnetization jet.

Study of HeLa cells clone survival after X-ray irradiation in the presence of cisplatin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baulin, A. A.; Sukhikh, E. S.; Vasilyev, S. A.; Sukhikh, L. G.; Sheino, I. N.

2017-09-01

Radiation therapy in the presence of heavy elements nuclei (Z > 53) is widely developed these days. The presence of such nuclei in cancer cells results in the local increase of energy release from primary photon beam thus increasing relative biological efficiency. In this paper we present the preliminary results of the cell survival study while irradiating cells by X-Ray photon beam in the presence of cisplatin (Pt, Z = 78). The preliminary results show the decrease of the cell survival in the presence of both radiation and cisplatin.

Application of an extended random-phase approximation to giant resonances in light-, medium-, and heavy-mass nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tselyaev, V.; Lyutorovich, N.; Speth, J.; Krewald, S.; Reinhard, P.-G.

2016-09-01

We present results of the time blocking approximation (TBA) for giant resonances in light-, medium-, and heavy-mass nuclei. The TBA is an extension of the widely used random-phase approximation (RPA) adding complex configurations by coupling to phonon excitations. A new method for handling the single-particle continuum is developed and applied in the present calculations. We investigate in detail the dependence of the numerical results on the size of the single-particle space and the number of phonons as well as on nuclear matter properties. Our approach is self-consistent, based on an energy-density functional of Skyrme type where we used seven different parameter sets. The numerical results are compared with experimental data.

Dielectronic Recombination In Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lukic, D. V.; Schnell, M.; Savin, D. W.; Altun, Z.; Badnell, N.; Brandau, C.; Schmidt, E. W.; Mueller, A.; Schippers, S.; Sprenger, F.;

Indications of negative evolution for the sources of the highest energy cosmic rays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, Andrew M.; Ahlers, Markus; Hooper, Dan

2015-09-14

Using recent measurements of the spectrum and chemical composition of the highest energy cosmic rays, we consider the sources of these particles. We find that these data strongly prefer models in which the sources of the ultra-high-energy cosmic rays inject predominantly intermediate mass nuclei, with comparatively few protons or heavy nuclei, such as iron or silicon. If the number density of sources per comoving volume does not evolve with redshift, the injected spectrum must be very hard (α≃1) in order to fit the spectrum observed from Earth. Such a hard spectral index would be surprising and difficult to accommodate theoretically.more » In contrast, much softer spectral indices, consistent with the predictions of Fermi acceleration (α≃2), are favored in models with negative source evolution. Furthermore with this theoretical bias, these observations thus favor models in which the sources of the highest energy cosmic rays are preferentially located within the low-redshift universe.« less

The Structure of 34Mg Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luna, Benjamin

2017-09-01

In the chart of nuclei below the beta-stability line, there are regions called islands of inversion where nuclei are expected have a spherical ground state, but it has been determined that these nuclei have a deformed ground state. This project was part of an ongoing investigation with the goal of obtaining new information about 34Mg and 34Al, which lie near an island of inversion. A beam of 34Mg was sent to the center of an array of plastic scintillators and HPGe detectors to collect data from the isotope's beta decay. This isotope beta decays to 34Al and to 34Si. The analysis softwares ROOT and GRSISort were used to sort the data into analysis trees, from which certain histograms were extracted. These histograms were used to determine an initial list of gamma ray transitions associated with the relatively fast decays of 34Mg and 34Al. Since the efficiencies of gamma ray detection are known, the true number of counts from each transition can be determined. This was done to order the gamma ray transitions into a nuclear level scheme. Future work on this subject will include the analysis of the angular correlations of the transitions found to determine spins of states populated in the 34Al and Si daughter nuclei as well as shedding light on the isomer in 34Al.

CRPropa 2.0 - A public framework for propagating high energy nuclei, secondary gamma rays and neutrinos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kampert, Karl-Heinz; Kulbartz, Jörg; Maccione, Luca; Nierstenhoefer, Nils; Schiffer, Peter; Sigl, Günter; van Vliet, Arjen René

2013-02-01

Version 2.0 of CRPropa [CRPropa is published under the 3rd version of the GNU General Public License (GPLv3). It is available, together with a detailed documentation of the code, at https://crpropa.desy.de.] is public software to model the extra-galactic propagation of ultra-high energy nuclei of atomic number Z⩽26 through structured magnetic fields and ambient photon backgrounds taking into account all relevant particle interactions. CRPropa covers the energy range 7×1016rays and neutrinos which allows the study of their link with the charged primary nuclei - the so called multi-messenger connection. After a general introduction we present several sample applications of current interest concerning the physics of extragalactic ultra-high energy radiation.

A comment on the validity of fragmentation parameters measured in nuclear emulsions. [cosmic ray nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waddington, C. J.

1978-01-01

Evidence is reexamined which has been cited as suggesting serious errors in the use of fragmentation parameters appropriate to an airlike medium deduced from measurements made in nuclear emulsions to evaluate corrections for certain effects in balloon-borne observations of cosmic-ray nuclei. Fragmentation parameters for hydrogenlike interactions are calculated and shown to be in overall good agreement with those obtained previously for air. Experimentally measured fragmentation parameters in emulsion are compared with values computed semiempirically, and reasonable agreement is indicated.

Abundances and energy spectra of high energy heavy cosmic-ray nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barthelmy, S.D.

1985-01-01

We have measured the relative abundances of the cosmic rays in the iron group region at energies from a few GeV/amu to approximately 70 GeV/amu. This is done using a balloon-borne instrument consisting of gas ionization chambers, a plastic scintillator, a plastic Cherenkov counter, and a CO/sub 2/ gas Cherenkov counter. The instrument was flown from Palestine, Texas in the fall of 1982 for a total exposure of 62 m/sup 2/-ster-hr at an average atmospheric depth of 4 g/cm/sup 2/. The elemental charge was determined for a combination of the scintillator and plastic Cherenkov detector. Results are reported on themore » /sub 22/Ti//sub 26/Fe, /sub 24/Cr//sub 26/Fe, /sub 20/Ca//sub 26/Fe, and /sub 28/Ni//sub 28/Fe abundance ratios from 2 to 70 GeV/amu. Within this work results on the previously unused method of relativistic rise in gas ionization chambers is detailed as well as results on the return to nonsaturation of plastic scintillators.« less

Heaviest Nuclei: New Element with Atomic Number 117

ScienceCinema

Oganessian, Yuri

2018-01-24

One of the fundamental outcomes of the nuclear shell model is the prediction of the 'stability islands' in the domain of the hypothetical super heavy elements. The talk is devoted to the experimental verification of these predictions - the synthesis and study of both the decay and chemical properties of the super heavy elements. The discovery of a new chemical element with atomic number Z=117 is reported. The isotopes 293117 and 294117 were produced in fusion reactions between 48Ca and 249Bk. Decay chains involving 11 new nuclei were identified by means of the Dubna gas-filled recoil separator. The measured decay properties show a strong rise of stability for heavier isotopes with Z =111, validating the concept of the long sought island of enhanced stability for heaviest nuclei.

The shape of the extragalactic cosmic ray spectrum from galaxy clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harari, Diego; Mollerach, Silvia; Roulet, Esteban, E-mail: harari@cab.cnea.gov.ar, E-mail: mollerach@cab.cnea.gov.ar, E-mail: roulet@cab.cnea.gov.ar

2016-08-01

We study the diffusive escape of cosmic rays from a central source inside a galaxy cluster to obtain the suppression in the outgoing flux appearing when the confinement times get comparable or larger than the age of the sources. We also discuss the attenuation of the flux due to the interactions of the cosmic rays with the cluster medium, which can be sizeable for heavy nuclei. The overall suppression in the total cosmic ray flux expected on Earth is important to understand the shape of the extragalactic contribution to the cosmic ray spectrum for E / Z < 1 EeVmore » . This suppression can also be relevant to interpret the results of fits to composition-sensitive observables measured at ultra-high energies.« less

94 Mo(γ,n) and 90Zr(γ,n) cross-section measurements towards understanding the origin of p-nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meekins, E.; Banu, A.; Karwowski, H.; Silano, J.; Zimmerman, W.; Muller, J.; Rich, G.; Bhike, M.; Tornow, W.; McClesky, M.; Travaglio, C.

2014-09-01

The nucleosynthesis beyond iron of the rarest stable isotopes in the cosmos, the so-called p-nuclei, is one of the forefront topics in nuclear astrophysics. Recently, a stellar source was found that, for the first time, was able to produce both light and heavy p-nuclei almost at the same level as 56Fe, including the most debated 92,94Mo and 96,98Ru; it was also found that there is an important contribution from the p-process nucleosynthesis to the neutron magic nucleus 90Zr. We focus here on constraining the origin of p-nuclei through nuclear physics by studying two key astrophysical photoneutron reaction cross sections for 94Mo(γ,n) and 90Zr(γ,n). Their energy dependencies were measured using quasi-monochromatic photon beams from Duke University's High Intensity Gamma-ray Source facility at the respective neutron threshold energies up to 18 MeV. Preliminary results of these experimental cross sections will be presented along with their comparison to predictions by a statistical model based on the Hauser-Feshbach formalism implemented in codes like TALYS and SMARAGD. The nucleosynthesis beyond iron of the rarest stable isotopes in the cosmos, the so-called p-nuclei, is one of the forefront topics in nuclear astrophysics. Recently, a stellar source was found that, for the first time, was able to produce both light and heavy p-nuclei almost at the same level as 56Fe, including the most debated 92,94Mo and 96,98Ru; it was also found that there is an important contribution from the p-process nucleosynthesis to the neutron magic nucleus 90Zr. We focus here on constraining the origin of p-nuclei through nuclear physics by studying two key astrophysical photoneutron reaction cross sections for 94Mo(γ,n) and 90Zr(γ,n). Their energy dependencies were measured using quasi-monochromatic photon beams from Duke University's High Intensity Gamma-ray Source facility at the respective neutron threshold energies up to 18 MeV. Preliminary results of these experimental cross

Observation of cosmic-ray particles with Z greater than 35.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blanford, G. E., Jr.; Friedlander, M. W.; Klarmann, J.; Pomeroy, S. S.; Walker, R. M.; Wefel, J. P.; Fowler, P. H.; Kidd, J. M.; Kobetich, E. J.; Moses, R. T.

1973-01-01

The results of two flights conducted in Texas in September 1968 are reported, giving attention to experimental details, the charge spectrum, and the primary flux of very very heavy cosmic rays. Considerable interest is attached to the observation of uranium, thorium, and transuranic nuclei in the cosmic radiation. It is found that the relative abundances of the charge groups in the ranges from 35 to 40 and from 41 to 50 deviate significantly from solar system abundances.

Calorimetric Low-Temperature Detectors for X-Ray Spectroscopy on Trapped Highly-Charged Heavy Ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kilbourne, Caroline; Kraft-Bermuth, S.; Andrianov, V.; Bleile, A.; Echler, A.; Egelhof, P.; Ilieva, S.; Kilbourne, C.; McCammon, D.

2012-01-01

The application of Calorimetric Low-Temperature Detectors (CLTDs) has been proposed at the Heavy-Ion TRAP facility HITRAP which is currently being installed at the Helmholtz Research Center for Heavy Ion Research GSI. This cold ion trap setup will allow the investigation of X-rays from ions practically at rest, for which the excellent energy resolution of CLTDs can be used to its full advantage. However, the relatively low intensities at HITRAP demand larger solid angles and an optimized cryogenic setup. The influence of external magnetic fields has to be taken into account. CLTDs will also be a substantial part of the instrumental equipment at the future Facility for Antiproton and Heavy Ion Research (FAIR), for which a wide variety of high-precision X-ray spectroscopy experiments has been proposed. This contribution will give an overview on the chances and challenges for the application of CLTDs at HITRAP as well as perspectives for future experiments at the FAIR facility.

Isospin dependence of fragment spectra in heavy/super-heavy colliding nuclei at intermediate energies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chugh, Rajiv, E-mail: rajivchug@gmail.com; Kumar, Rohit, E-mail: rohitksharma.pu@gmail.com; Vinayak, Karan Singh, E-mail: drksvinayak@gmail.com

2016-05-06

Using isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics (IQMD) approach, we performed a theoretical investigation of the evolution of various kinds of fragments in heavy and superheavy-ion reactions in the intermediate/medium energy domain. We demonstrated direct impact of symmetry energy and Coulomb interactions on the evolution of fragments. Final fragment spectra (yields) obtained from the analysis of various heavy/super-heavy ion reactions at different reaction conditions show high sensitivity towards Coulomb interactions and less significant sensitivity to symmetry energy forms. No inconsistent pattern of fragment structure is obtained in case of super-heavy ion involved reactions for all the parameterizations of density dependence of symmetrymore » energy.« less

Apoptosis and injuries of heavy ion beam and x-ray radiation on malignant melanoma cell.

PubMed

Qin, Jin; Li, Sha; Zhang, Chao; Gao, Dong-Wei; Li, Qiang; Zhang, Hong; Jin, Xiao-Dong; Liu, Yang

2017-05-01

This study aims to investigate the influence of high linear energy transfer (LET) heavy ion ( 12 C 6+ ) and low LET X-ray radiation on apoptosis and related proteins of malignant melanoma on tumor-bearing mice under the same physical dosage. C57BL/6 J mice were burdened by tumors and randomized into three groups. These mice received heavy ion ( 12 C 6+ ) and X-ray radiation under the same physical dosage, respectively; their weight and tumor volumes were measured every three days post-radiation. After 30 days, these mice were sacrificed. Then, median survival time was calculated and tumors on mice were proliferated. In addition, immunohistochemistry was carried out for apoptosis-related proteins to reflect the expression level. After tumor-bearing mice were radiated to heavy ion, median survival time improved and tumor volume significantly decreased in conjunction with the upregulated expression of pro-apoptosis factors, Bax and cytochrome C, and the downregulated expression of apoptosis-profilin (Bcl-2, Survivin) and proliferation-related proteins (proliferating cell nuclear antigen). The results indicated that radiation can promote the apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells and inhibit their proliferation. This case was more suitable for heavy ion ( 12 C 6+ ). High LET heavy ion ( 12 C 6+ ) radiation could significantly improve the killing ability for malignant melanoma cells by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells and inhibiting their proliferation. These results demonstrated that heavy ion ( 12 C 6+ ) presented special advantages in terms of treating malignant melanoma. Impact statement Malignant melanoma is a malignant skin tumor derived from melanin cells, which has a high malignant degree and high fatality rate. In this study, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) can induce the apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells and inhibit its proliferation, and its induction effect on apoptosis is significantly higher than low LET X-ray; hence, it is expected to

Energy Spectra of Abundant Cosmic-ray Nuclei in Sources, According to the ATIC Experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Panov, A. D.; Sokolskaya, N. V.; Zatsepin, V. I., E-mail: panov@dec1.sinp.msu.ru

One of the main results of the ATIC (Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter) experiment is a collection of energy spectra of abundant cosmic-ray nuclei: protons, He, C, O, Ne, Mg, Si, and Fe measured in terms of energy per particle in the energy range from 50 GeV to tens of teraelectronvolts. In this paper, the ATIC energy spectra of abundant primary nuclei are back-propagated to the spectra in sources in terms of magnetic rigidity using a leaky-box approximation of three different GALPROP-based diffusion models of propagation that fit the latest B/C data of the AMS-02 experiment. It is shown that themore » results of a comparison of the slopes of the spectra in sources are weakly model dependent; therefore the differences of spectral indices are reliable data. A regular growth of the steepness of spectra in sources in the range of magnetic rigidity of 50–1350 GV is found for a charge range from helium to iron. This conclusion is statistically reliable with significance better than 3.2 standard deviations. The results are discussed and compared to the data of other modern experiments.« less

AEGIS: Demographics of X-ray and Optically Selected Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Renbin; Ho, Luis C.; Newman, Jeffrey A.; Coil, Alison L.; Willmer, Christopher N. A.; Laird, Elise S.; Georgakakis, Antonis; Aird, James; Barmby, Pauline; Bundy, Kevin; Cooper, Michael C.; Davis, Marc; Faber, S. M.; Fang, Taotao; Griffith, Roger L.; Koekemoer, Anton M.; Koo, David C.; Nandra, Kirpal; Park, Shinae Q.; Sarajedini, Vicki L.; Weiner, Benjamin J.; Willner, S. P.

2011-02-01

We develop a new diagnostic method to classify galaxies into active galactic nucleus (AGN) hosts, star-forming galaxies, and absorption-dominated galaxies by combining the [O III]/Hβ ratio with rest-frame U - B color. This can be used to robustly select AGNs in galaxy samples at intermediate redshifts (z < 1). We compare the result of this optical AGN selection with X-ray selection using a sample of 3150 galaxies with 0.3 < z < 0.8 and I AB < 22, selected from the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey and the All-wavelength Extended Groth Strip International Survey. Among the 146 X-ray sources in this sample, 58% are classified optically as emission-line AGNs, the rest as star-forming galaxies or absorption-dominated galaxies. The latter are also known as "X-ray bright, optically normal galaxies" (XBONGs). Analysis of the relationship between optical emission lines and X-ray properties shows that the completeness of optical AGN selection suffers from dependence on the star formation rate and the quality of observed spectra. It also shows that XBONGs do not appear to be a physically distinct population from other X-ray detected, emission-line AGNs. On the other hand, X-ray AGN selection also has strong bias. About 2/3 of all emission-line AGNs at L bol > 1044 erg s-1 in our sample are not detected in our 200 ks Chandra images, most likely due to moderate or heavy absorption by gas near the AGN. The 2-7 keV detection rate of Seyfert 2s at z ~ 0.6 suggests that their column density distribution and Compton-thick fraction are similar to that of local Seyferts. Multiple sample selection techniques are needed to obtain as complete a sample as possible.

γ-radiation of excited nuclear discrete levels in peripheral heavy ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korotkikh, V. L.; Chikin, K. A.

A new process of a nuclear excitation to discrete states in peripheral heavy ion collisions is studied. High-energy photons are emitted by the exited nuclei with energies up to a few tens of GeV at angles of a few hundred microradians with respect to the beam direction. We show that a two-stage process, where an electron-positron pair is produced by virtual photons emitted by nuclei and then the electron or positron excites the nucleus, has a large cross-section. It is equal to about 5 b for CaCa collisions. On the one hand, it produces a significant γ-rays background in the nuclear fragmentation region but, on the other hand, it could be used for monitoring the nuclear beam intensity at the LHC. These secondary nuclear photons could be a good signal for triggering peripheral nuclear collisions.

Ionized Absorbers in Active Galactic Nuclei and Very Steap Soft X-Ray Quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fiore, Fabrizio; White, Nicholas (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Steep soft X-ray (0.1-2 keV) quasars share several unusual properties: narrow Balmer lines, strong Fe II emission, large and fast X-ray variability, and a rather steep 2-10 keV spectrum. These intriguing objects have been suggested to be the analogues of Galactic black hole candidates in the high, soft state. We present here results from ASCA observations for two of these quasars: NAB 0205 + 024 and PG 1244 + 026. Both objects show similar variations (factor of approximately 2 in 10 ks), despite a factor of approximately 10 difference in the 0.5-10 keV luminosity (7.3 x 10(exp 43) erg/s for PG 1244 + 026 and 6.4 x 10(exp 44) erg/s for NAB 0205 + 024, assuming isotropic emission, H(sub 0) = 50.0 and q(sub 0) = 0.0). The X-ray continuum of the two quasars flattens by 0.5-1 going from the 0.1-2 keV band towards higher energies, strengthening recent results on another half-dozen steep soft X-ray active galactic nuclei. PG 1244 + 026 shows a significant feature in the '1-keV' region, which can be described either as a broad emission line centered at 0.95 keV (quasar frame) or as edge or line absorption at 1.17 (1.22) keV. The line emission could be a result of reflection from a highly ionized accretion disc, in line with the view that steep soft X-ray quasars are emitting close to the Eddington luminosity. Photoelectric edge absorption or resonant line absorption could be produced by gas outflowing at a large velocity (0.3-0.6 c).

Beta decay rates of neutron-rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marketin, Tomislav; Huther, Lutz; Martínez-Pinedo, Gabriel

2015-10-01

Heavy element nucleosynthesis models involve various properties of thousands of nuclei in order to simulate the intricate details of the process. By necessity, as most of these nuclei cannot be studied in a controlled environment, these models must rely on the nuclear structure models for input. Of all the properties, the beta-decay half-lives are one of the most important ones due to their direct impact on the resulting abundance distributions. Currently, a single large-scale calculation is available based on a QRPA calculation with a schematic interaction on top of the Finite Range Droplet Model. In this study we present the results of a large-scale calculation based on the relativistic nuclear energy density functional, where both the allowed and the first-forbidden transitions are studied in more than 5000 neutron-rich nuclei.

In-vivo analysis of the uptake process of heavy metals through maize roots by using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Bae Geun; Lee, Sang Joon; Gil, Kyehwan

2016-12-01

The uptake of heavy metals by plants has been receiving much attention for crop contamination and phytoremediation. We employed synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy for an in-vivo analysis of heavy-metal uptake through a strand of maize root. A focused X-ray beam of 2.5 × 2.5 μm2 in physical dimensions was scanned along horizontal lines of the maize root at intervals of 3 μm at the 4B X-ray micro-diffraction beamline of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL). Time-resolved mapping of the fluorescence intensities from multiple metallic elements in the root tissues provided information about the radial distributions of heavy-metal elements and their temporal variations. The concentrated core stream of heavy-metal elements spread radially up to roughly 500 μm, corresponding to 40 % of the root diameter. The absorption characteristics of three heavy metals, Cr, Mn and Ni, and their physiological features were analyzed. The absolute concentrations and the contents of the heavy-metal elements in the tested maize roots were quantitatively evaluated by using the calibration curve obtained from reference samples with preset concentrations. The uptake quantities of the tested heavy-metal elements are noticeably different, although their molecular weights are similar. This study should be helpful for understanding plant physiology related with heavy-metal uptake.

Multinucleon transfer reactions – a pathway to new heavy and superheavy nuclei?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinz, Sophie

2018-05-01

Recently, we reported the observation of several new neutron-deficient isotopes with proton numbers Z ≥ 92 in collisions of 48Ca + 248Cm at the Coulomb barrier. The peculiarity is that these nuclei were produced in deep inelastic multinucleon transfer reactions, a method which is presently discussed as a possible new pathway to enter so far unknown regions in the upper part of the Chart of Nuclides. Of particular interest are multinucleon transfer reactions as a possible means to produce neutron-rich superheavy nuclei and nuclei along the magic neutron shell N = 126. Based on present-day physical and technical state-of-the art, we will discuss the question how big are our chances to enter these regions by applying multinucleon transfer reactions.

Basic Research on the Composition of Heavy Cosmic Rays: The Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder Experiment (TIGER)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. Robert

2004-01-01

Among the most fundamental astrophysical problems is understanding the mechanism by which particles are accelerated to the enormous energies observed in the cosmic rays. That problem can be conveniently divided into two questions: (1) What is the source of the energy and the mechanism for converting the energy of that source into the energy of individual cosmic-ray nuclei, and (2) what is the source of the material that is accelerated and the mechanism for injecting that material into the cosmic-ray accelerator? There is a general consensus that the answer to the first of these questions, for nuclei with energy eV, is that the source of their energy is almost certainly from supernova explosions (e.g., Ginzburg & Syrovatskii, 1964). The answer to the second question is still uncertain, although evidence in favor of a superbubble origin of cosmic rays is becoming quite significant (Higdon et al, 2203 and Binns, 2005 (Submitted to ApJ). There are several ways of interpreting available data that lead to quite different models for the source of the material and its injection mechanism. With the The Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder Experiment (TIGER) instrument we have obtained data that will help to distinguish among these possible models. In the report, the TIGER flights, the instrument itself, results, and a publication list as a result of the work are presented.

X-ray-bright optically faint active galactic nuclei in the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam wide survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terashima, Yuichi; Suganuma, Makoto; Akiyama, Masayuki; Greene, Jenny E.; Kawaguchi, Toshihiro; Iwasawa, Kazushi; Nagao, Tohru; Noda, Hirofumi; Toba, Yoshiki; Ueda, Yoshihiro; Yamashita, Takuji

2018-01-01

We construct a sample of X-ray-bright optically faint active galactic nuclei by combining Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam, XMM-Newton, and infrared source catalogs. Fifty-three X-ray sources satisfying i-band magnitude fainter than 23.5 mag and X-ray counts with the EPIC-PN detector larger than 70 are selected from 9.1 deg2, and their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and X-ray spectra are analyzed. Forty-four objects with an X-ray to i-band flux ratio FX/Fi > 10 are classified as extreme X-ray-to-optical flux sources. Spectral energy distributions of 48 among 53 are represented by templates of type 2 AGNs or star-forming galaxies and show the optical signature of stellar emission from host galaxies in the source rest frame. Infrared/optical SEDs indicate a significant contribution of emission from dust to the infrared fluxes, and that the central AGN is dust obscured. The photometric redshifts determined from the SEDs are in the range of 0.6-2.5. The X-ray spectra are fitted by an absorbed power-law model, and the intrinsic absorption column densities are modest (best-fit log NH = 20.5-23.5 cm-2 in most cases). The absorption-corrected X-ray luminosities are in the range of 6 × 1042-2 × 1045 erg s-1. Twenty objects are classified as type 2 quasars based on X-ray luminsosity and NH. The optical faintness is explained by a combination of redshifts (mostly z > 1.0), strong dust extinction, and in part a large ratio of dust/gas.

Pion-less effective field theory for real and lattice nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bansal, Aaina; Binder, Sven; Ekström, Andreas; Hagen, Gaute; Papenbrock, Thomas

2017-09-01

We compute the medium-heavy nuclei 16O and 40Ca using pion-less effective field theory (EFT) at leading order (LO) and next-to-leading order (NLO). The low-energy coefficients of the EFT Hamiltonian are adjusted to A = 2 , 3 nuclei data from experiments, or alternatively to data from lattice QCD at unphysical pion mass mπ = 806 MeV. The EFT is implemented through discrete variable representation of finite harmonic oscillator basis. This approach ensures rapid convergence with respect to the size of the model space and allows us to compute heavier atomic and lattice nuclei. The atomic nuclei 16O and 40Ca are bound with respect to decay into alpha particles at NLO, but not at LO.

Leading twist nuclear shadowing phenomena in hard processes with nuclei

DOE PAGES

L. Franfurt; Guzey, V.; Strikman, M.

2012-01-08

We present and discuss the theory and phenomenology of the leading twist theory of nuclear shadowing which is based on the combination of the generalization of Gribov-Glauber theory, QCD factorization theorems, and HERA QCD analysis of diffraction in lepton-proton deep inelastic scattering (DIS). We apply this technique for the analysis of a wide range of hard processes with nuclei-inclusive DIS on deuterons, medium-range and heavy nuclei, coherent and incoherent diffractive DIS with nuclei, and hard diffraction in proton-nucleus scattering - and make predictions for the effect of nuclear shadowing in the corresponding sea quark and gluon parton distributions. We alsomore » analyze the role of the leading twist nuclear shadowing in generalized parton distributions in nuclei and certain characteristics of final states in nuclear DIS. We discuss the limits of applicability of the leading twist approximation for small x scattering off nuclei and the onset of the black disk regime and methods of detecting it. It will be possible to check many of our predictions in the near future in the studies of the ultraperipheral collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Further checks will be possible in pA collisions at the LHC and forward hadron production at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). As a result, detailed tests will be possible at an Electon-Ion Collider (EIC) in USA and at the Large Hadron-Electron Collider (LHeC) at CERN.« less

Beta-decay half-lives for short neutron rich nuclei involved into the r-process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panov, I.; Lutostansky, Yu; Thielemann, F.-K.

2018-01-01

The beta-strength function model based on Finite Fermi-Systems Theory is applied for calculations of the beta-decay half-lives for short neutron rich nuclei involved into the r- process. It is shown that the accuracy of beta-decay half-lives of short-lived neutron-rich nuclei is improving with increasing neutron excess and can be used for modeling of nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei in the r-process.

Beta decay rates of neutron-rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marketin, Tomislav; Huther, Lutz; Petković, Jelena; Paar, Nils; Martínez-Pinedo, Gabriel

2016-06-01

Heavy element nucleosynthesis models involve various properties of thousands of nuclei in order to simulate the intricate details of the process. By necessity, as most of these nuclei cannot be studied in a controlled environment, these models must rely on the nuclear structure models for input. Of all the properties, the beta-decay half-lives are one of the most important ones due to their direct impact on the resulting abundance distributions. In this study we present the results of a large-scale calculation based on the relativistic nuclear energy density functional, where both the allowed and the first-forbidden transitions are studied in more than 5000 neutron-rich nuclei. Aside from the astrophysical applications, the results of this calculation can also be employed in the modeling of the electron and antineutrino spectra from nuclear reactors.

Population of Nuclei Via 7Li-Induced Binary Reactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Clark, Rodney M.; Phair, Larry W.; Descovich, M.

2005-08-08

The authors have investigated the population of nuclei formed in binary reactions involving {sup 7}Li beams on targets of {sup 160}Gd and {sup 184}W. The {sup 7}Li + {sup 184}W data were taken in the first experiment using the LIBERACE Ge-array in combination with the STARS Si {Delta}E-E telescope system at the 88-Inch Cyclotron of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. By using the Wilczynski binary transfer model, in combination with a standard evaporation model, they are able to reproduce the experimental results. This is a useful method for predicting the population of neutron-rich heavy nuclei formed in binary reactions involvingmore » beams of weakly bound nuclei formed in binary reactions involving beams of weakly bound nuclei and will be of use in future spectroscopic studies.« less

Quadrupole and octupole shapes in nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cline, D.

1993-12-31

The heavy-ion multiple Coulomb excitation technique, which has benefited from many important contributions by Dick Diamond, has developed to the stage where rather complete sets of E1, E2 and E3 matrix elements are being measured. These provide a sensitive measures of quadrupole and octupole deformation in nuclei. The completeness of the E2 data is sufficient to determine directly the centroids and fluctuation widths of the E2 properties in the principal axis frame for low-lying states. The results and model implications of recent Coulomb excitation measurements of the quadrupole shapes in odd and even A nuclei will be presented. Recent measurementsmore » of E1, E2 and E3 matrix elements for collective bands in N=88 and Z=88 nuclei show that octupole correlations play an important role. These results and the implications regarding octupole deformation and reflection asymmetry will be discussed.« less

Discovery of very high energy gamma rays associated with an x-ray binary.

PubMed

Aharonian, F; Akhperjanian, A G; Aye, K-M; Bazer-Bachi, A R; Beilicke, M; Benbow, W; Berge, D; Berghaus, P; Bernlöhr, K; Boisson, C; Bolz, O; Borrel, V; Braun, I; Breitling, F; Brown, A M; Bussons Gordo, J; Chadwick, P M; Chounet, L-M; Cornils, R; Costamante, L; Degrange, B; Dickinson, H J; Djannati-Ataï, A; Drury, L O'c; Dubus, G; Emmanoulopoulos, D; Espigat, P; Feinstein, F; Fleury, P; Fontaine, G; Fuchs, Y; Funk, S; Gallant, Y A; Giebels, B; Gillessen, S; Glicenstein, J F; Goret, P; Hadjichristidis, C; Hauser, M; Heinzelmann, G; Henri, G; Hermann, G; Hinton, J A; Hofmann, W; Holleran, M; Horns, D; Jacholkowska, A; de Jager, O C; Khélifi, B; Komin, Nu; Konopelko, A; Latham, I J; Le Gallou, R; Lemière, A; Lemoine-Goumard, M; Leroy, N; Lohse, T; Marcowith, A; Martin, J-M; Martineau-Huynh, O; Masterson, C; McComb, T J L; de Naurois, M; Nolan, S J; Noutsos, A; Orford, K J; Osborne, J L; Ouchrif, M; Panter, M; Pelletier, G; Pita, S; Pühlhofer, G; Punch, M; Raubenheimer, B C; Raue, M; Raux, J; Rayner, S M; Reimer, A; Reimer, O; Ripken, J; Rob, L; Rolland, L; Rowell, G; Sahakian, V; Saugé, L; Schlenker, S; Schlickeiser, R; Schuster, C; Schwanke, U; Siewert, M; Sol, H; Spangler, D; Steenkamp, R; Stegmann, C; Tavernet, J-P; Terrier, R; Théoret, C G; Tluczykont, M; Vasileiadis, G; Venter, C; Vincent, P; Völk, H J; Wagner, S J

2005-07-29

X-ray binaries are composed of a normal star in orbit around a neutron star or stellar-mass black hole. Radio and x-ray observations have led to the presumption that some x-ray binaries called microquasars behave as scaled-down active galactic nuclei. Microquasars have resolved radio emission that is thought to arise from a relativistic outflow akin to active galactic nuclei jets, in which particles can be accelerated to large energies. Very high energy gamma-rays produced by the interactions of these particles have been observed from several active galactic nuclei. Using the High Energy Stereoscopic System, we find evidence for gamma-ray emission of >100 gigaelectron volts from a candidate microquasar, LS 5039, showing that particles are also accelerated to very high energies in these systems.

New mass anchor points for neutron-deficient heavy nuclei from direct mass measurements of radium and actinium isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenbusch, M.; Ito, Y.; Schury, P.; Wada, M.; Kaji, D.; Morimoto, K.; Haba, H.; Kimura, S.; Koura, H.; MacCormick, M.; Miyatake, H.; Moon, J. Y.; Morita, K.; Murray, I.; Niwase, T.; Ozawa, A.; Reponen, M.; Takamine, A.; Tanaka, T.; Wollnik, H.

2018-06-01

The masses of the exotic isotopes Ac-214210 and Ra-214210 have been measured with a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph. These isotopes were obtained in flight as fusion-evaporation products behind the gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II at RIKEN. The new direct mass measurements serve as an independent and direct benchmark for existing α -γ spectroscopy data in this mass region. Further, new mass anchor points are set for U and Np nuclei close to the N =126 shell closure for a future benchmark of the Z =92 subshell for neutron-deficient heavy isotopes. Our mass results are in general in good agreement with the previously indirectly determined mass values. Together with the measurement data, reasons for possible mass ambiguities from decay-data links between ground states are discussed.

MAST - A mass spectrometer telescope for studies of the isotopic composition of solar, anomalous, and galactic cosmic ray nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cook, Walter R.; Cummings, Alan C.; Cummings, Jay R.; Garrard, Thomas L.; Kecman, Branislav; Mewaldt, Richard A.; Selesnick, Richard S.; Stone, Edward C.; Von Rosenvinge, T. T.

1993-01-01

The Mass Spectrometer Telescope (MAST) on SAMPEX is designed to provide high resolution measurements of the isotopic composition of energetic nuclei from He to Ni (Z = 2 to 28) over the energy range from about 10 to several hundred MeV/nuc. During large solar flares MAST will measure the isotopic abundances of solar energetic particles to determine directly the composition of the solar corona, while during solar quiet times MAST will study the isotopic composition of galactic cosmic rays. In addition, MAST will measure the isotopic composition of both interplanetary and trapped fluxes of anomalous cosmic rays, believed to be a sample of the nearby interstellar medium.

Non-Invasive Imaging of Reactor Cores Using Cosmic Ray Muons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milner, Edward

2011-10-01

Cosmic ray muons penetrate deeply in material, with some passing completely through very thick objects. This penetrating quality is the basis of two distinct, but related imaging techniques. The first measures the number of cosmic ray muons transmitted through parts of an object. Relatively fewer muons are absorbed along paths in which they encounter less material, compared to higher density paths, so the relative density of material is measured. This technique is called muon transmission imaging, and has been used to infer the density and structure of a variety of large masses, including mine overburden, volcanoes, pyramids, and buildings. In a second, more recently developed technique, the angular deflection of muons is measured by trajectory-tracking detectors placed on two opposing sides of an object. Muons are deflected more strongly by heavy nuclei, since multiple Coulomb scattering angle is approximately proportional to the nuclear charge. Therefore, a map showing regions of large deflection will identify the location of uranium in contrast to lighter nuclei. This technique is termed muon scattering tomography (MST) and has been developed to screen shipping containers for the presence of concealed nuclear material. Both techniques are a good way of non-invasively inspecting objects. A previously unexplored topic was applying MST to imaging large objects. Here we demonstrate extending the MST technique to the task of identifying relatively thick objects inside very thick shielding. We measured cosmic ray muons passing through a physical arrangement of material similar to a nuclear reactor, with thick concrete shielding and a heavy metal core. Newly developed algorithms were used to reconstruct an image of the ``mock reactor core,'' with resolution of approximately 30 cm.

Modeling multi-nucleon transfer in symmetric collisions of massive nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Welsh, T.; Loveland, W.; Yanez, R.

We propose symmetric collisions of massive nuclei, such as 238U + 248Cm, as ways to make new n-rich heavy nuclei via multi-nucleon transfer (MNT) reactions. We have measured the yields of several projectile-like and target-like fragments from the reaction of 1360 MeV 204Hg + 198Pt. We also find that current models for this symmetric collision (GRAZING, DNS, ImQMD) significantly underestimate the yields of these transfer products, even for small transfers.

Modeling multi-nucleon transfer in symmetric collisions of massive nuclei

DOE PAGES

Welsh, T.; Loveland, W.; Yanez, R.; ...

2017-05-18

We propose symmetric collisions of massive nuclei, such as 238U + 248Cm, as ways to make new n-rich heavy nuclei via multi-nucleon transfer (MNT) reactions. We have measured the yields of several projectile-like and target-like fragments from the reaction of 1360 MeV 204Hg + 198Pt. We also find that current models for this symmetric collision (GRAZING, DNS, ImQMD) significantly underestimate the yields of these transfer products, even for small transfers.

Multiwavelength observations of Active Galactic Nuclei from the radio to the hard X-rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beuchert, Tobias

2017-07-01

Active Galaxies form a peculiar type of galaxies. Their cores, the so-called "Active Galactic Nuclei" (AGN), are the most persistent luminous objects in the universe. Accretion of several solar masses per year onto black holes of Millions to Billions of solar masses drive the immense energy output of these systems, which can exceed that of the entire galaxy. The compact energy source, however, only measures about one over a Billion times that of the entire galaxy. Subject of my thesis are observations of the two main channels of energy release of selected AGN systems, both of which are encompassed by profound and yet unanswered questions. These channels are on the one hand the pronounced X-ray emission of the hot and compact accreting environment in close vicinity of the black hole, and on the other hand the radio synchrotron emission of magnetically collimated jets that are fed by portions of the accreted matter. These jets also function as effective accelerators and drive the injected matter deep into the intergalactic medium. As the circumnuclear environment of AGN is too compact to be spatially resolved in the X-rays, I show how X-ray spectroscopy can be used to: (1) understand the effects of strong gravity to trace the geometry and physics of the X-ray source and (2) more consistently quantify matter that surrounds and dynamically absorbs our direct line of sight towards the X-ray source. Second, I unveil the valuable information contained in the polarized radio light being emitted from magnetized jet outflows. In contrast to the X-ray emitting region, I am able to spatially resolve the inner parts of the jet of a prominent galaxy with help of the Very Long Baseline Array, a large network of radio telescopes. The resulting polarization maps turn out to be exceptionally promising in answering fundamental questions related to jet physics.

Fission and Properties of Neutron-Rich Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, Joseph H.; Ramayya, A. V.; Carter, H. K.

2008-08-01

Opening session. Nuclear processes in stellar explosions / M. Wiescher. In-beam [symbol]-ray spectroscopy of neutron-rich nuclei at NSCL / A. Gade -- Nuclear structure I. Shell-model structure of neutron-rich nuclei beyond [symbol]Sn / A. Covello ... [et al.]. Shell structure and evolution of collectivity in nuclei above the [symbol]Sn core / S. Sarkar and M. S. Sarkar. Heavy-ion fusion using density-constrained TDHF / A. S. Umar and V. E. Oberacker. Towards an extended microscopic theory for upper-fp shell nuclei / K. P. Drumev. Properties of the Zr and Pb isotopes near the drip-line / V. N. Tarasov ... [et al.]. Identification of high spin states in [symbol] Cs nuclei and shell model calculations / K. Li ... [et al.]. Recent measurements of spherical and deformed isomers using the Lohengrin fission-fragment spectrometer / G. S. Simpson ... [et al.] -- Nuclear structure II. Nuclear structure investigation with rare isotope spectroscopic investigations at GSI / P. Boutachkov. Exploring the evolution of the shell structures by means of deep inelastic reactions / G. de Anaelis. Probing shell closures in neutron-rich nuclei / R. Krücken for the S277 and REX-ISOLDEMINIBALL collaborations. Structure of Fe isotopes at the limits of the pf-shell / N. Hoteling ... [et al.]. Spectroscopy of K isomers in shell-stabilized trans-fermium nuclei / S. K. Tandel ... [et al.] -- Radioactive ion beam facilities. SPIRAL2 at GANIL: a world leading ISOL facility for the next decade / S. Gales. New physics at the International Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) next to GSI / I. Augustin ... [et al.]. Radioactive beams from a high powered ISOL system / A. C. Shotter. RlKEN RT beam factory / T. Motobayashi. NSCL - ongoing activities and future perspectives / C. K. Gelbke. Rare isotope beams at Argonne / W. F. Henning. HRIBF: scientific highlights and future prospects / J. R. Beene. Radioactive ion beam research done in Dubna / G. M. Ter-Akopian ... [et al.] -- Fission I

AT cells show dissimilar hypersensitivity to heavy-ion and X-rays irradiation.

PubMed

Kitajima, Shoichiro; Nakamura, Hideaki; Adachi, Makoto; Ijichi, Kei; Yasui, Yoshihiro; Saito, Noriko; Suzuki, Masao; Kurita, Kenichi; Ishizaki, Kanji

2010-01-01

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) cells, with their defective double-strand break (DSB) repair processes, exhibit high sensitivity to low-LET radiation such as X-rays irradiation and gamma beams. Since heavy ion beam treatment for cancer is becoming increasingly common in Japan and elsewhere, it is important to also determine their sensitivity to high-LET radiation. For this purpose we irradiated AT and normal human cells immortalized with the human telomerase gene using high- (24-60 keV/microm carbon and 200 keV/microm iron ions) or low-LET (X-rays) radiation in non-proliferative conditions. In normal cells the RBE (relative biological effectiveness) of carbon and iron ions increased from 1.19 to 1.81 in proportion to LET. In contrast, their RBE in AT cells increased from 1.32 at 24 keV/microm to 1.59 at 40 keV/microm, and exhibited a plateau at over 40 keV/microm. In normal cells most gamma-H2AX foci induced by both carbon- and iron-ion beams had disappeared at 40 h. In AT cells, however, a significant number of gamma-H2AX foci were still observed at 40 h. The RBEs found in the AT cells after heavy-ion irradiation were consistent with the effects predicted from the presence of non-homologous end joining defects. The DSBs remaining after heavy-ion irradiation suggested defects in the AT cells' DSB repair ability.

An unbiased view of X-ray obscuration amongst active galactic nuclei with NuLANDS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boorman, Peter Gregory; Gandhi, Poshak; Stern, Daniel; Harrison, Fiona; NuSTAR Obscured AGN Team

2018-01-01

Nearly all active galactic nuclei (AGN) are obscured in X-rays behind column densities of NH ≥ 1022 cm-2. Hard X-ray studies have proven very effective to quanitfy the levels of obscuration amongst AGN, up to and just above the Compton-thick limit (NH ˜ 1.5 × 1024 cm-2). However, Compton-thick sources with NH values beyond this limit are typically missed in hard X-ray all-sky surveys such as Swift/BAT, requiring many studies to apply considerable bias corrections to account for the loss. Incorrectly quanitfying the heavily obscured AGN population can have a dramatic effect on synthesis models designed to fit the Cosmic X-ray Background spectrum, due to their significant contribution to the peak flux of the background at ~30 keV. This is what motivated the NuSTAR Local AGN NH Distribution Survey (NuLANDS) - a NuSTAR 1 Ms legacy survey of an obscuration-independent, infrared selected sample of AGN, undetected by BAT and unobserved by NuSTAR before - a considerable number of which are predicted to be heavily obscured. NuSTAR is the first true X-ray focusing instrument capable of spectral analysis > 10 keV, and as such can and will place robust constraints on the NH values of these elusive AGN. In this poster, I will present the first results from NuLANDS, including multiple newly identified Compton-thick AGN, previously undetected in the Swift/BAT 70-month catalog. I will further highlight the exciting prospects for the complete NuLANDS sample, with the ultimate goal of constructing a representative NH distribution of AGN in the local Universe, requiring minimal bias corrections.

Advanced Cosmic-ray Composition Experiment for Space Station: ISS accommodation study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wefel, John P.

1999-01-22

ACCESS--Advanced Cosmic-ray Composition Experiment for Space Station--was selected as a new Mission Concept under NRA 96-OSS-03, with the goal of combining calorimeter and transition radiation techniques to provide measurements of cosmic rays from Hydrogen through Nickel up to energies approaching the 'knee' in the cosmic ray all particle spectrum, plus providing measurements of the Z>28 (Ultra-Heavy) nuclei at all energies. An instrument to perform such an investigation is undergoing an ISS/STS Accommodation Study at JSC. The instrument concept, the mission plan, and the accommodation issues for an ISS attached payload which include, in part, the carrier, ISS Site, thermal control,more » power, data and operations are described and the current status of these issues, for an ACCESS Mission, is summarized.« less

A Geant Study of the Scintillating Optical Fiber (SOFCAL) Cosmic Ray Detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Munroe, Ray B., Jr.

1998-01-01

Recent energy measurements by balloon-borne passive emulsion chambers indicate that the flux ratios of protons to helium nuclei and of protons to all heavy nuclei decrease as the primary cosmic ray energy per nucleon increases above approx. 200 GeV/n, and suggest a "break" in the proton spectrum between 200 GeV and 5 TeV. However, these passive emulsion chambers are limited to a lower energy threshold of approx. 5 TeV/n, and cannot fully explore this energy regime. Because cosmic ray flux and composition details may be significant to acceleration models, a hybrid detector system called the Scintillating Optical Fiber Calorimeter (SOFCAL) has been designed and flown. SOFCAL incorporates both conventional passive emulsion chambers and an active calorimeter utilizing scintillating plastic fibers as detectors. These complementary types of detectors allow the balloon-borne SOFCAL experiment to measure the proton and helium spectra from approx. 400 GeV/n to approx. 20 TeV. The fundamental purpose of this study is to use the GEANT simulation package to model the hadronic and electromagnetic shower evolution of cosmic rays incident on the SOFCAL detector. This allows the interpretation of SOFCAL data in terms of charges and primary energies of cosmic rays, thus allowing the determinations of cosmic ray flux and composition as functions of primary energy.

Enrichment of heavy nuclei in He-3-rich flares. [Imp-7 observed solar events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurford, G. J.; Mewaldt, R. A.; Stone, E. C.; Vogt, R. E.

1975-01-01

IMP-7 observations of five solar-flare particle events characterized by He-3 enrichment are reported which show that such events are also enriched in nuclei with charges (Z) of at least 6. The ratio of these nuclei to H-1 at approximately 3 MeV/nucleon was found to be enriched by about 10 to 100 times, while the ratio with respect to He-4 was enriched by about 3 to 30 times. It is suggested that the simultaneous enhancement of He-3 and the heavier nuclei as well as the absence of H-2 and H-3 during the observed events may be partly due to a preferential acceleration process which depends on the ratio of the square of the charge to the atomic weight of the nuclei.

Variations of the relative abundances of He, (C,N,O) and Fe-group nuclei in solar cosmic rays and their relationship to solar particle acceleration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bertsch, D. L.; Biswas, S.; Fichtel, C. E.; Pellerin, C. J.; Reames, D. V.

1973-01-01

Measurements of the flux of helium nuclei in the 24 January 1971 event and of helium and (C,N,O) nuclei in the 1 September 1971 event are combined with previous measurements to obtain the relative abundances of helium, (C,N,O), and Fe-group nuclei in these events. These data are then summarized together with previously reported results to show that, even when the same detector system using a dE/dx plus range technique is used, differences in the He/(C,N,O) value in the same energy/nucleon interval are observed in solar cosmic ray events. Further, when the He/(C,N,O) value is lower the He/(Fe-group nuclei) value is also systematically lower in these large events. When solar particle acceleration theory is analyzed, it is seen that the results suggest that, for large events, Coulomb energy loss probably does not play a major role in determining solar particle composition at higher energies (10 MeV). The variations in multicharged nuclei composition are more likely due to partial ionization during the acceleration phase.

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay Matrix Elements in Light Nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pastore, S.; Carlson, J.; Cirigliano, V.

We present the first ab initio calculations of neutrinoless double-β decay matrix elements in A=6-12 nuclei using variational Monte Carlo wave functions obtained from the Argonne v 18 two-nucleon potential and Illinois-7 three-nucleon interaction. We study both light Majorana neutrino exchange and potentials arising from a large class of multi-TeV mechanisms of lepton-number violation. Our results provide benchmarks to be used in testing many-body methods that can be extended to the heavy nuclei of experimental interest. In light nuclei we also study the impact of two-body short-range correlations and the use of different forms for the transition operators, such asmore » those corresponding to different orders in chiral effective theory.« less

EMC effect for light nuclei: New results from Jefferson Lab

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aji Daniel

High energy lepton scattering has been the primary tool for mapping out the quark distributions of nucleons and nuclei. Measurements of deep inelastic scattering in nuclei show that the quark distributions in heavy nuclei are not simply the sum of the quark distributions of the constituent proton and neutron, as one might expect for a weakly bound system. This modification of the quark distributions in nuclei is known as the EMC effect. I will discuss the results from Jefferson Lab (JLab) experiment E03-103, a precise measurement of the EMC effect in few-body nuclei with emphasis on the large x region.more » Data from the light nuclei suggests that the nuclear dependence of the high x quark distribution may depend on the nucleon's local environment, rather than being a purely bulk effect. In addition, I will also discuss about a future experiment at the upgraded 12 GeV Jefferson Lab facility which will further investigate the role of the local nuclear environment and the influence of detailed nuclear structure to the modification of quark distributions.« less

Light element production by low energy nuclei from massive stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vangioni-Flam, E.; Casse, M.; Ramaty, R.

1997-01-01

The Orion complex is a source of gamma rays attributed to the de-excitation of fast carbon and oxygen nuclei excited through interactions with ambient hydrogen and helium. This has consequences for the production and evolution of light isotopes in the Galaxy, as massive stars appear as prolific sources of C-O rich low energy nuclei. The different stages of massive star evolution are considered in relation to the acceleration of nuclei to moderate energies. It is concluded that the low energy nuclear component originating from massive stars plays a larger role than the usual Galactic cosmic rays in shaping the evolution of Li-6, Be-9, B-10 and B-11, especially in the early Galactic evolution. The enhancement of the B-11/B-10 ratio observed in meteorites and in the interstellar medium is attributed to the interaction of low energy carbon nuclei with ambient H and to a lesser degree, to neutrino spallation.

Measurement of elliptic flow of light nuclei at s N N = 200 , 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adamczyk, L.; Adkins, J. K.; Agakishiev, G.

Here we present measurements of second-order azimuthal anisotropy ( v 2 ) at midrapidity ( |y| < 1.0 ) for light nuclei d , t , 3He (formore » $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_{NN}$$ = 200 , 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV) and antinuclei$$\\bar{d}$$ ( $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_{NN}$$ = 200 , 62.4, 39, 27, and 19.6 GeV) and 3 ¯¯¯¯¯ He ( $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_{NN}$$ = 200 GeV) in the STAR (Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC) experiment. The v 2 for these light nuclei produced in heavy-ion collisions is compared with those for p and $$\\bar{p}$$. We observe mass ordering in nuclei v 2 ( p T) at low transverse momenta ( p T < 2.0 GeV/c). We also find a centrality dependence of v 2 for d and $$\\bar{d}$$ . The magnitude of v 2 for t and 3He agree within statistical errors. Light-nuclei v 2 are compared with predictions from a blast-wave model. Atomic mass number ( A ) scaling of light-nuclei v 2 (p T) seems to hold for p T / A < 1.5 GeV/c . Results on light-nuclei v 2 from a transport-plus-coalescence model are consistent with the experimental measurements.« less

Measurement of elliptic flow of light nuclei at s N N = 200 , 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

DOE PAGES

Adamczyk, L.; Adkins, J. K.; Agakishiev, G.; ...

2016-09-23

Here we present measurements of second-order azimuthal anisotropy ( v 2 ) at midrapidity ( |y| < 1.0 ) for light nuclei d , t , 3He (formore » $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_{NN}$$ = 200 , 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV) and antinuclei$$\\bar{d}$$ ( $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_{NN}$$ = 200 , 62.4, 39, 27, and 19.6 GeV) and 3 ¯¯¯¯¯ He ( $$\\sqrt{s}$$$_{NN}$$ = 200 GeV) in the STAR (Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC) experiment. The v 2 for these light nuclei produced in heavy-ion collisions is compared with those for p and $$\\bar{p}$$. We observe mass ordering in nuclei v 2 ( p T) at low transverse momenta ( p T < 2.0 GeV/c). We also find a centrality dependence of v 2 for d and $$\\bar{d}$$ . The magnitude of v 2 for t and 3He agree within statistical errors. Light-nuclei v 2 are compared with predictions from a blast-wave model. Atomic mass number ( A ) scaling of light-nuclei v 2 (p T) seems to hold for p T / A < 1.5 GeV/c . Results on light-nuclei v 2 from a transport-plus-coalescence model are consistent with the experimental measurements.« less

Coulomb Excitation of Exotic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macchiavelli, Augusto O.

2017-09-01

The structure of nuclei far from the stability line is a central theme of research in nuclear physics. Key to this program has been the worldwide development of radioactive beam facilities and novel detector systems, which provide the tools needed to produce and study these exotic nuclei. Coulomb Excitation provides a unique probe to characterize the interplay of collective and single-particle degrees of freedom of the atomic nucleus. In particular, the combination of state-of-the-art charged particle detectors and gamma-ray spectroscopy plays a vital and ubiquitous role in these studies. As an introduction to this Mini-Symposium, I will present a short overview of this powerful technique and selected examples of recent experiments. Future opportunities with a 4 π gamma-ray tracking array like GRETA will be discussed. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231 (LBNL).

Fission barriers of light nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grotowski, K.; Pl-dash-baraneta, R.; Blann, M.

1989-04-01

Experimental fission excitation functions for compound nuclei /sup 52/Fe, /sup 49/Cr, /sup 46/V, and /sup 44/Ti formed in heavy-ion reactions are analyzed in the Hauser-Feshbach/Bohr-Wheeler formalism using fission barriers based on the rotating liquid drop model of Cohen et al. and on the rotating finite range model of Sierk. We conclude that the rotating finite range approach gives better reproduction of experimental fission yields, consistent with results found for heavier systems.

Cosmic-ray abundances of the even charge elements from Sn-50 to Ce-58 measured on HEAO-3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, E. C.; Garrard, T. L.; Krombel, K. E.; Binns, W. R.; Israel, M. H.; Klarmann, J.; Brewster, N. R.; Fickle, R. K.; Waddington, C. J.

1983-01-01

Elements with even atomic number (Z) in the interval Z = 50-58 have been resolved in the cosmic radiation using the Heavy Nuclei Experiment on the HEAO-3 satellite. The observation that Sn-50 and Ba-56 are more abundant than Te-52 and Xe-54 indicates a substantial s-process contribution to the cosmic ray source. A significant abundance of Ce-58 provides further support for this finding.

Chandra Observations of Galaxy Zoo Mergers: Frequency of Binary Active Nuclei in Massive Mergers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teng, Stacy H.; Schawinski, Kevin; Urry, C. Megan; Darg, Dan W.; Kaviraj, Sugata; Oh, Kyuseok; Bonning, Erin W.; Cardamone, Carolin N.; Keel, William C.; Lintott, Chris J.;

Relative Composition and Energy Spectra of Light Nuclei in Cosmic Rays: Results from AMS-01

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilar, M.; Alcaraz, J.; Allaby, J.; Alpat, B.; Ambrosi, G.; Anderhub, H.; Ao, L.; Arefiev, A.; Arruda, L.; Azzarello, P.; Basile, M.; Barao, F.; Barreira, G.; Bartoloni, A.; Battiston, R.; Becker, R.; Becker, U.; Bellagamba, L.; Béné, P.; Berdugo, J.; Berges, P.; Bertucci, B.; Biland, A.; Bindi, V.; Boella, G.; Boschini, M.; Bourquin, M.; Bruni, G.; Buénerd, M.; Burger, J. D.; Burger, W. J.; Cai, X. D.; Cannarsa, P.; Capell, M.; Casadei, D.; Casaus, J.; Castellini, G.; Cernuda, I.; Chang, Y. H.; Chen, H. F.; Chen, H. S.; Chen, Z. G.; Chernoplekov, N. A.; Chiueh, T. H.; Choi, Y. Y.; Cindolo, F.; Commichau, V.; Contin, A.; Cortina-Gil, E.; Crespo, D.; Cristinziani, M.; Dai, T. S.; dela Guia, C.; Delgado, C.; Di Falco, S.; Djambazov, L.; D'Antone, I.; Dong, Z. R.; Duranti, M.; Engelberg, J.; Eppling, F. J.; Eronen, T.; Extermann, P.; Favier, J.; Fiandrini, E.; Fisher, P. H.; Flügge, G.; Fouque, N.; Galaktionov, Y.; Gervasi, M.; Giovacchini, F.; Giusti, P.; Grandi, D.; Grimm, O.; Gu, W. Q.; Haino, S.; Hangarter, K.; Hasan, A.; Hermel, V.; Hofer, H.; Hungerford, W.; Ionica, M.; Jongmanns, M.; Karlamaa, K.; Karpinski, W.; Kenney, G.; Kim, D. H.; Kim, G. N.; Kim, K. S.; Kirn, T.; Klimentov, A.; Kossakowski, R.; Kounine, A.; Koutsenko, V.; Kraeber, M.; Laborie, G.; Laitinen, T.; Lamanna, G.; Laurenti, G.; Lebedev, A.; Lechanoine-Leluc, C.; Lee, M. W.; Lee, S. C.; Levi, G.; Lin, C. H.; Liu, H. T.; Lu, G.; Lu, Y. S.; Lübelsmeyer, K.; Luckey, D.; Lustermann, W.; Maña, C.; Margotti, A.; Mayet, F.; McNeil, R. R.; Menichelli, M.; Mihul, A.; Mujunen, A.; Oliva, A.; Palmonari, F.; Park, H. B.; Park, W. H.; Pauluzzi, M.; Pauss, F.; Pereira, R.; Perrin, E.; Pevsner, A.; Pilo, F.; Pimenta, M.; Plyaskin, V.; Pojidaev, V.; Pohl, M.; Produit, N.; Quadrani, L.; Rancoita, P. G.; Rapin, D.; Ren, D.; Ren, Z.; Ribordy, M.; Richeux, J. P.; Riihonen, E.; Ritakari, J.; Ro, S.; Roeser, U.; Sagdeev, R.; Santos, D.; Sartorelli, G.; Sbarra, C.; Schael, S.; Schultz von Dratzig, A.; Schwering, G.; Seo, E. S.; Shin, J. W.; Shoumilov, E.; Shoutko, V.; Siedenburg, T.; Siedling, R.; Son, D.; Song, T.; Spada, F. R.; Spinella, F.; Steuer, M.; Sun, G. S.; Suter, H.; Tang, X. W.; Ting, Samuel C. C.; Ting, S. M.; Tomassetti, N.; Tornikoski, M.; Torsti, J.; Trümper, J.; Ulbricht, J.; Urpo, S.; Valtonen, E.; Vandenhirtz, J.; Velikhov, E.; Verlaat, B.; Vetlitsky, I.; Vezzu, F.; Vialle, J. P.; Viertel, G.; Vité, D.; Von Gunten, H.; Waldmeier Wicki, S.; Wallraff, W.; Wang, J. Z.; Wiik, K.; Williams, C.; Wu, S. X.; Xia, P. C.; Xu, S.; Xu, Z. Z.; Yan, J. L.; Yan, L. G.; Yang, C. G.; Yang, J.; Yang, M.; Ye, S. W.; Zhang, H. Y.; Zhang, Z. P.; Zhao, D. X.; Zhou, F.; Zhou, Y.; Zhu, G. Y.; Zhu, W. Z.; Zhuang, H. L.; Zichichi, A.; Zimmermann, B.; Zuccon, P.

2010-11-01

Measurement of the chemical and isotopic composition of cosmic rays is essential for the precise understanding of their propagation in the galaxy. While the model parameters are mainly determined using the B/C ratio, the study of extended sets of ratios can provide stronger constraints on the propagation models. In this paper, the relative abundances of light-nuclei lithium, beryllium, boron, and carbon are presented. The secondary-to-primary ratios Li/C, Be/C, and B/C have been measured in the kinetic energy range 0.35-45 GeV nucleon-1. The isotopic ratio 7Li/6Li is also determined in the magnetic rigidity interval 2.5-6.3 GV. The secondary-to-secondary ratios Li/Be, Li/B, and Be/B are also reported. These measurements are based on the data collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer AMS-01 during the STS-91 space shuttle flight in 1998 June. Our experimental results are in substantial agreement with other measurements, where they exist. We describe our light-nuclei data with a diffusive-reacceleration model. A 10%-15% overproduction of Be is found in the model predictions and can be attributed to uncertainties in the production cross-section data.

Gamma ray heating and neutrino cooling rates due to weak interaction processes on sd-shell nuclei in stellar cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fayaz, Muhammad; Nabi, Jameel-Un; Majid, Muhammad

2017-07-01

Gamma ray heating and neutrino cooling rates, due to weak interaction processes, on sd-shell nuclei in stellar core are calculated using the proton neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation theory. The recent extensive experimental mass compilation of Wang et al. (Chin. Phys. C 36:1603, 2012), other improved model input parameters including nuclear quadrupole deformation (Raman et al. in At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 78(1):1-128, 2001; Möller et al. in At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 109:1-204, 2016) and physical constants are taken into account in the current calculation. The purpose of this work is two fold, one is to improve the earlier calculation of weak rates performed by Nabi and Klapdor-Kleingrothaus (At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 71:149, 1999a) using the same theory. We further compare our results with previous calculations. The selected sd-shell nuclei, considered in this work, are of special interest for the evolution of O-Ne-Mg core in 8-10 M_{⊙} stars due to competitive gamma ray heating rates and cooling by URCA processes. The outcome of these competitions is to determine, whether the stars end up as a white dwarf (Nabi in Phys. Rev. C 78(4):045801, 2008b), an electron-capture supernova (Jones et al. in Astrophys. J. 772(2):150, 2013) or Fe core-collapse supernova (Suzuki et al. in Astrophys. J. 817(2):163, 2016). The selected sd-shell nuclei for calculation of associated weak-interaction rates include ^{20,23}O, ^{20,23}F, ^{20,23,24}Ne, {}^{20,23-25}Na, and {}^{23-25}Mg. The cooling and heating rates are calculated for density range (10 ≤ ρ (g cm^{-3}) ≤ 10^{11}) and temperature range (0.01× 109≤ T(K)≤ 30× 109). The calculated gamma heating rates are orders of magnitude bigger than the shell model rates (except for ^{25}Mg at low densities). At high temperatures the gamma heating rates are in reasonable agreement. The calculated cooling rates are up to an order of magnitude bigger for odd-A nuclei.

Analysis of Flow Cytometry DNA Damage Response Protein Activation Kinetics Following X-rays and High Energy Iron Nuclei Exposure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Universities Space Research Association; Chappell, Lori J.; Whalen, Mary K.

2010-12-15

We developed a mathematical method to analyze flow cytometry data to describe the kinetics of {gamma}H2AX and pATF2 phosphorylations ensuing various qualities of low dose radiation in normal human fibroblast cells. Previously reported flow cytometry kinetic results for these DSB repair phospho-proteins revealed that distributions of intensity were highly skewed, severely limiting the detection of differences in the very low dose range. Distributional analysis reveals significant differences between control and low dose samples when distributions are compared using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Radiation quality differences are found in the distribution shapes and when a nonlinear model is used to relate dosemore » and time to the decay of the mean ratio of phosphoprotein intensities of irradiated samples to controls. We analyzed cell cycle phase and radiation quality dependent characteristic repair times and residual phospho-protein levels with these methods. Characteristic repair times for {gamma}H2AX were higher following Fe nuclei as compared to X-rays in G1 cells (4.5 {+-} 0.46 h vs 3.26 {+-} 0.76 h, respectively), and in S/G2 cells (5.51 {+-} 2.94 h vs 2.87 {+-} 0.45 h, respectively). The RBE in G1 cells for Fe nuclei relative to X-rays for {gamma}H2AX was 2.05 {+-} 0.61 and 5.02 {+-} 3.47, at 2 h and 24-h postirradiation, respectively. For pATF2, a saturation effect is observed with reduced expression at high doses, especially for Fe nuclei, with much slower characteristic repair times (>7 h) compared to X-rays. RBEs for pATF2 were 0.66 {+-} 0.13 and 1.66 {+-} 0.46 at 2 h and 24 h, respectively. Significant differences in {gamma}H2AX and pATF2 levels comparing irradiated samples to control were noted even at the lowest dose analyzed (0.05 Gy) using these methods of analysis. These results reveal that mathematical models can be applied to flow cytometry data to uncover important and subtle differences following exposure to various qualities of low dose

Projected shell model description of N = 114 superdeformed isotone nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, R. S.; Chen, L. M.; Chou, C. H.

2006-03-01

A systematic description of the yrast superdeformed (SD) bands in N = 114, Z = 80-84 isotone nuclei using the projected shell model is presented. The calculated γ-ray energies, moment of inertia and M1 transitions are compared with the data for which spin is assigned. Excellent agreement with the available data for all isotones is obtained. The calculated electromagnetic properties provide a microscopic understanding of those measured nuclei. Some predictions in superdeformed nuclei are also discussed.

Large gamma-ray detector arrays and electromagnetic separators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, I.-Yang

2013-12-01

The use of large gamma-ray detector arrays with electromagnetic separators is a powerful combination. Various types of gamma-ray detectors have been used; some provide high detector efficiency such as scintillation detector array, others use Ge detectors for good energy resolution, and recently developed Ge energy tracking arrays gives both high peak-to-background ratio and position resolution. Similarly, different types of separators were used to optimize the performance under different experimental requirements and conditions. For example, gas-filled separators were used in heavy element studies for their large efficiency and beam rejection factor. Vacuum separators with good isotope resolution were used in transfer and fragmentation reactions for the study of nuclei far from stability. This paper presents results from recent experiments using gamma-ray detector arrays in combination with electromagnetic separators, and discusses the physics opportunities provided by these instruments. In particular, we review the performance of the instruments currently in use, and discuss the requirements of instruments for future radioactive beam accelerator facilities.

Population of Nuclei Via 7Li-Induced Binary Reactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Clark, R M; Phair, L W; Descovich, M

2005-08-09

The authors have investigated the population of nuclei formed in binary reactions involving {sup 7}Li beams on targets of {sup 160}Gd and {sup 184}W. The {sup 7}Li + {sup 184}W data were taken in the first experiment using the LIBERACE Ge-array in combination with the STARS Si {Delta}E-E telescope system at the 88-Inch Cyclotron of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. By using the Wilczynski binary transfer model, in combination with a standard evaporation model, they are able to reproduce the experimental results. This is a useful method for predicting the population of neutron-rich heavy nuclei formed in binary reactions involvingmore » beams of weakly bound nuclei and will be of use in future spectroscopic studies.« less

Spectroscopy of neutron-rich nuclei at REX-ISOLDE with MINIBALL

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kroell, Th.

2007-08-15

We report on 'safe' Coulomb excitation of neutron-rich nuclei. The radioactive nuclei have been produced by ISOLDE at CERN and postaccelerated by the REX-ISOLDE facility. The {gamma} rays emitted by the decay of excited states have been detected by the MINIBALL array. Recent results are presented and compared to theoretical models.

Measurement of elliptic flow of light nuclei at √{sN N}=200 , 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamczyk, L.; Adkins, J. K.; Agakishiev, G.; Aggarwal, M. M.; Ahammed, Z.; Alekseev, I.; Aparin, A.; Arkhipkin, D.; Aschenauer, E. C.; Attri, A.; Averichev, G. S.; Bai, X.; Bairathi, V.; Bellwied, R.; Bhasin, A.; Bhati, A. K.; Bhattarai, P.; Bielcik, J.; Bielcikova, J.; Bland, L. C.; Bordyuzhin, I. G.; Bouchet, J.; Brandenburg, J. D.; Brandin, A. V.; Bunzarov, I.; Butterworth, J.; Caines, H.; Calderón de la Barca Sánchez, M.; Campbell, J. M.; Cebra, D.; Chakaberia, I.; Chaloupka, P.; Chang, Z.; Chatterjee, A.; Chattopadhyay, S.; Chen, J. H.; Chen, X.; Cheng, J.; Cherney, M.; Christie, W.; Contin, G.; Crawford, H. J.; Das, S.; De Silva, L. C.; Debbe, R. R.; Dedovich, T. G.; Deng, J.; Derevschikov, A. A.; di Ruzza, B.; Didenko, L.; Dilks, C.; Dong, X.; Drachenberg, J. L.; Draper, J. E.; Du, C. M.; Dunkelberger, L. E.; Dunlop, J. C.; Efimov, L. G.; Engelage, J.; Eppley, G.; Esha, R.; Evdokimov, O.; Eyser, O.; Fatemi, R.; Fazio, S.; Federic, P.; Fedorisin, J.; Feng, Z.; Filip, P.; Fisyak, Y.; Flores, C. E.; Fulek, L.; Gagliardi, C. A.; Garand, D.; Geurts, F.; Gibson, A.; Girard, M.; Greiner, L.; Grosnick, D.; Gunarathne, D. S.; Guo, Y.; Gupta, S.; Gupta, A.; Guryn, W.; Hamad, A. I.; Hamed, A.; Haque, R.; Harris, J. W.; He, L.; Heppelmann, S.; Heppelmann, S.; Hirsch, A.; Hoffmann, G. W.; Horvat, S.; Huang, T.; Huang, X.; Huang, B.; Huang, H. Z.; Huck, P.; Humanic, T. J.; Igo, G.; Jacobs, W. W.; Jang, H.; Jentsch, A.; Jia, J.; Jiang, K.; Judd, E. G.; Kabana, S.; Kalinkin, D.; Kang, K.; Kauder, K.; Ke, H. W.; Keane, D.; Kechechyan, A.; Khan, Z. H.; Kikoła, D. P.; Kisel, I.; Kisiel, A.; Kochenda, L.; Koetke, D. D.; Kosarzewski, L. K.; Kraishan, A. F.; Kravtsov, P.; Krueger, K.; Kumar, L.; Lamont, M. A. C.; Landgraf, J. M.; Landry, K. D.; Lauret, J.; Lebedev, A.; Lednicky, R.; Lee, J. H.; Li, X.; Li, C.; Li, X.; Li, Y.; Li, W.; Lin, T.; Lisa, M. A.; Liu, F.; Ljubicic, T.; Llope, W. J.; Lomnitz, M.; Longacre, R. S.; Luo, X.; Ma, R.; Ma, G. L.; Ma, Y. G.; Ma, L.; Magdy, N.; Majka, R.; Manion, A.; Margetis, S.; Markert, C.; Matis, H. S.; McDonald, D.; McKinzie, S.; Meehan, K.; Mei, J. C.; Minaev, N. G.; Mioduszewski, S.; Mishra, D.; Mohanty, B.; Mondal, M. M.; Morozov, D. A.; Mustafa, M. K.; Nandi, B. K.; Nasim, Md.; Nayak, T. K.; Nigmatkulov, G.; Niida, T.; Nogach, L. V.; Noh, S. Y.; Novak, J.; Nurushev, S. B.; Odyniec, G.; Ogawa, A.; Oh, K.; Okorokov, V. A.; Olvitt, D.; Page, B. S.; Pak, R.; Pan, Y. X.; Pandit, Y.; Panebratsev, Y.; Pawlik, B.; Pei, H.; Perkins, C.; Pile, P.; Pluta, J.; Poniatowska, K.; Porter, J.; Posik, M.; Poskanzer, A. M.; Pruthi, N. K.; Putschke, J.; Qiu, H.; Quintero, A.; Ramachandran, S.; Raniwala, R.; Raniwala, S.; Ray, R. L.; Ritter, H. G.; Roberts, J. B.; Rogachevskiy, O. V.; Romero, J. L.; Ruan, L.; Rusnak, J.; Rusnakova, O.; Sahoo, N. R.; Sahu, P. K.; Sakrejda, I.; Salur, S.; Sandweiss, J.; Sarkar, A.; Schambach, J.; Scharenberg, R. P.; Schmah, A. M.; Schmidke, W. B.; Schmitz, N.; Seger, J.; Seyboth, P.; Shah, N.; Shahaliev, E.; Shanmuganathan, P. V.; Shao, M.; Sharma, M. K.; Sharma, B.; Shen, W. Q.; Shi, Z.; Shi, S. S.; Shou, Q. Y.; Sichtermann, E. P.; Sikora, R.; Simko, M.; Singha, S.; Skoby, M. J.; Smirnov, N.; Smirnov, D.; Solyst, W.; Song, L.; Sorensen, P.; Spinka, H. M.; Srivastava, B.; Stanislaus, T. D. S.; Stepanov, M.; Stock, R.; Strikhanov, M.; Stringfellow, B.; Sumbera, M.; Summa, B.; Sun, X. M.; Sun, Z.; Sun, Y.; Surrow, B.; Svirida, D. N.; Tang, Z.; Tang, A. H.; Tarnowsky, T.; Tawfik, A.; Thäder, J.; Thomas, J. H.; Timmins, A. R.; Tlusty, D.; Todoroki, T.; Tokarev, M.; Trentalange, S.; Tribble, R. E.; Tribedy, P.; Tripathy, S. K.; Tsai, O. D.; Ullrich, T.; Underwood, D. G.; Upsal, I.; Van Buren, G.; van Nieuwenhuizen, G.; Vandenbroucke, M.; Varma, R.; Vasiliev, A. N.; Vertesi, R.; Videbæk, F.; Vokal, S.; Voloshin, S. A.; Vossen, A.; Wang, Y.; Wang, G.; Wang, J. S.; Wang, H.; Wang, Y.; Wang, F.; Webb, G.; Webb, J. C.; Wen, L.; Westfall, G. D.; Wieman, H.; Wissink, S. W.; Witt, R.; Wu, Y.; Xiao, Z. G.; Xie, W.; Xie, G.; Xin, K.; Xu, H.; Xu, Z.; Xu, J.; Xu, Y. F.; Xu, Q. H.; Xu, N.; Yang, Y.; Yang, S.; Yang, C.; Yang, Y.; Yang, Y.; Yang, Q.; Ye, Z.; Ye, Z.; Yepes, P.; Yi, L.; Yip, K.; Yoo, I.-K.; Yu, N.; Zbroszczyk, H.; Zha, W.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, X. P.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, J. B.; Zhang, S.; Zhang, S.; Zhang, J.; Zhao, J.; Zhong, C.; Zhou, L.; Zhu, X.; Zoulkarneeva, Y.; Zyzak, M.; STAR Collaboration

2016-09-01

We present measurements of second-order azimuthal anisotropy (v2) at midrapidity (|y |<1.0 ) for light nuclei d ,t ,3He (for √{sN N}=200 , 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV) and antinuclei d ¯ (√{sN N}=200 , 62.4, 39, 27, and 19.6 GeV) and ¯3He (√{sN N}=200 GeV) in the STAR (Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC) experiment. The v2 for these light nuclei produced in heavy-ion collisions is compared with those for p and p ¯. We observe mass ordering in nuclei v2(pT) at low transverse momenta (pT<2.0 GeV/c ). We also find a centrality dependence of v2 for d and d ¯. The magnitude of v2 for t and 3He agree within statistical errors. Light-nuclei v2 are compared with predictions from a blast-wave model. Atomic mass number (A ) scaling of light-nuclei v2(pT) seems to hold for pT/A <1.5 GeV /c . Results on light-nuclei v2 from a transport-plus-coalescence model are consistent with the experimental measurements.

Constraining the astrophysical origin of the p-nuclei through nuclear physics and meteoritic data.

PubMed

Rauscher, T; Dauphas, N; Dillmann, I; Fröhlich, C; Fülöp, Zs; Gyürky, Gy

2013-06-01

A small number of naturally occurring, proton-rich nuclides (the p-nuclei) cannot be made in the s- and r-processes. Their origin is not well understood. Massive stars can produce p-nuclei through photodisintegration of pre-existing intermediate and heavy nuclei. This so-called γ-process requires high stellar plasma temperatures and occurs mainly in explosive O/Ne burning during a core-collapse supernova. Although the γ-process in massive stars has been successful in producing a large range of p-nuclei, significant deficiencies remain. An increasing number of processes and sites has been studied in recent years in search of viable alternatives replacing or supplementing the massive star models. A large number of unstable nuclei, however, with only theoretically predicted reaction rates are included in the reaction network and thus the nuclear input may also bear considerable uncertainties. The current status of astrophysical models, nuclear input and observational constraints is reviewed. After an overview of currently discussed models, the focus is on the possibility to better constrain those models through different means. Meteoritic data not only provide the actual isotopic abundances of the p-nuclei but can also put constraints on the possible contribution of proton-rich nucleosynthesis. The main part of the review focuses on the nuclear uncertainties involved in the determination of the astrophysical reaction rates required for the extended reaction networks used in nucleosynthesis studies. Experimental approaches are discussed together with their necessary connection to theory, which is especially pronounced for reactions with intermediate and heavy nuclei in explosive nuclear burning, even close to stability.

Modeling multi-nucleon transfer in symmetric collisions of massive nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Welsh, T.; Loveland, W.; Yanez, R.

Symmetric collisions of massive nuclei, such as U-238 + Cm-248, have been proposed as ways to make new n-rich heavy nuclei via multi-nucleon transfer (MNT) reactions. We have measured the yields of several projectile-like and target-like fragments from the reaction of 1360 MeV Hg-204 + Pt-198. We find that current models for this symmetric collision (GRAZING, DNS, ImQMD) significantly underestimate the yields of these transfer products, even for small transfers. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

KEWPIE: A dynamical cascade code for decaying exited compound nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouriquet, Bertrand; Abe, Yasuhisa; Boilley, David

2004-05-01

A new dynamical cascade code for decaying hot nuclei is proposed and specially adapted to the synthesis of super-heavy nuclei. For such a case, the interesting channel is of the tiny fraction that will decay through particles emission, thus the code avoids classical Monte-Carlo methods and proposes a new numerical scheme. The time dependence is explicitely taken into account in order to cope with the fact that fission decay rate might not be constant. The code allows to evaluate both statistical and dynamical observables. Results are successfully compared to experimental data.

Galactic cosmic-ray model in the light of AMS-02 nuclei data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Jia-Shu; Li, Tianjun

2018-01-01

Cosmic ray (CR) physics has entered a precision-driven era. With the latest AMS-02 nuclei data (boron-to-carbon ratio, proton flux, helium flux, and antiproton-to-proton ratio), we perform a global fitting and constrain the primary source and propagation parameters of cosmic rays in the Milky Way by considering 3 schemes with different data sets (with and without p ¯ /p data) and different propagation models (diffusion-reacceleration and diffusion-reacceleration-convection models). We find that the data set with p ¯/p data can remove the degeneracy between the propagation parameters effectively and it favors the model with a very small value of convection (or disfavors the model with convection). The separated injection spectrum parameters are used for proton and other nucleus species, which reveal the different breaks and slopes among them. Moreover, the helium abundance, antiproton production cross sections, and solar modulation are parametrized in our global fitting. Benefited from the self-consistence of the new data set, the fitting results show a little bias, and thus the disadvantages and limitations of the existed propagation models appear. Comparing to the best fit results for the local interstellar spectra (ϕ =0 ) with the VOYAGER-1 data, we find that the primary sources or propagation mechanisms should be different between proton and helium (or other heavier nucleus species). Thus, how to explain these results properly is an interesting and challenging question.

Cosmic-Ray Nucleosynthesis of p-nuclei: Yields and Routes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kusakabe, Motohiko; Mathews, Grant J.

2018-02-01

We investigate the cosmic-ray nucleosynthesis (CRN) of proton-rich stable nuclides (p-nuclides). We calculate the cosmic-ray (CR) energy spectra of heavy nuclides with mass number A=[74,209], taking into account the detailed nuclear spallation, decay, energy loss, and escape from the Galaxy during the CR propagation. We adopt the latest semiempirical formula SPACS for the spallation cross sections and the latest data on nuclear decay. Effective electron-capture decay rates are calculated using the proper cross sections for recombination and ionization in the whole CR energy region. Calculated CR spectral shapes vary for different nuclides. Abundances of proton-rich unstable nuclides increase in CRs with increasing energy relative to those of other nuclides. Yields of the primary and secondary spallation processes and differential yields from respective seed nuclides are calculated. We find that the CR energy region of ≤slant { \\mathcal O }(100) MeV/nucleon predominantly contributes to the total yields. The atomic cross sections in the low-energy range adopted in this study are then necessary. Effects of CRN on the Galactic chemical evolution of p-nuclides are calculated. Important seed nuclides are identified for respective p-nuclides. The contribution of CRN is significant for 180m Ta, accounting for about 20% of the solar abundance. About 87% of the 180m Ta CRN yield can be attributed to the primary process. The most important production routes are reactions of 181Ta, 180Hf, and 182W. CRN yields of other p-nuclides are typically about { \\mathcal O }(10‑4–10‑2) of solar abundances.

Spaced-based Cosmic Ray Astrophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Eun-Suk

2016-03-01

The bulk of cosmic ray data has been obtained with great success by balloon-borne instruments, particularly with NASA's long duration flights over Antarctica. More recently, PAMELA on a Russian Satellite and AMS-02 on the International Space Station (ISS) started providing exciting measurements of particles and anti-particles with unprecedented precision upto TeV energies. In order to address open questions in cosmic ray astrophysics, future missions require spaceflight exposures for rare species, such as isotopes, ultra-heavy elements, and high (the ``knee'' and above) energies. Isotopic composition measurements up to about 10 GeV/nucleon that are critical for understanding interstellar propagation and origin of the elements are still to be accomplished. The cosmic ray composition in the knee (PeV) region holds a key to understanding the origin of cosmic rays. Just last year, the JAXA-led CALET ISS mission, and the DAMPE Chinese Satellite were launched. NASA's ISS-CREAM completed its final verification at GSFC, and was delivered to KSC to await launch on SpaceX. In addition, a EUSO-like mission for ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and an HNX-like mission for ultraheavy nuclei could accomplish a vision for a cosmic ray observatory in space. Strong support of NASA's Explorer Program category of payloads would be needed for completion of these missions over the next decade.

Cosmic-ray tracing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker Tjus, Julia

2018-04-01

Active galactic nuclei are firm favourites to be revealed as the source of cosmic rays, but solid evidence has proven elusive. A model taking both local and global nuclei propagation into account may help to close the deal.

Kneelike Structure in the Spectrum of the Heavy Component of Cosmic Rays Observed with KASCADE-Grande

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apel, W. D.; Arteaga-Velázquez, J. C.; Bekk, K.; Bertaina, M.; Blümer, J.; Bozdog, H.; Brancus, I. M.; Buchholz, P.; Cantoni, E.; Chiavassa, A.; Cossavella, F.; Daumiller, K.; de Souza, V.; di Pierro, F.; Doll, P.; Engel, R.; Engler, J.; Finger, M.; Fuhrmann, D.; Ghia, P. L.; Gils, H. J.; Glasstetter, R.; Grupen, C.; Haungs, A.; Heck, D.; Hörandel, J. R.; Huber, D.; Huege, T.; Isar, P. G.; Kampert, K.-H.; Kang, D.; Klages, H. O.; Link, K.; Łuczak, P.; Ludwig, M.; Mathes, H. J.; Mayer, H. J.; Melissas, M.; Milke, J.; Mitrica, B.; Morello, C.; Navarra, G.; Oehlschläger, J.; Ostapchenko, S.; Over, S.; Palmieri, N.; Petcu, M.; Pierog, T.; Rebel, H.; Roth, M.; Schieler, H.; Schröder, F. G.; Sima, O.; Toma, G.; Trinchero, G. C.; Ulrich, H.; Weindl, A.; Wochele, J.; Wommer, M.; Zabierowski, J.

2011-10-01

We report the observation of a steepening in the cosmic ray energy spectrum of heavy primary particles at about 8×1016eV. This structure is also seen in the all-particle energy spectrum, but is less significant. Whereas the “knee” of the cosmic ray spectrum at 3-5×1015eV was assigned to light primary masses by the KASCADE experiment, the new structure found by the KASCADE-Grande experiment is caused by heavy primaries. The result is obtained by independent measurements of the charged particle and muon components of the secondary particles of extensive air showers in the primary energy range of 1016 to 1018eV. The data are analyzed on a single-event basis taking into account also the correlation of the two observables.

KEWPIE2: A cascade code for the study of dynamical decay of excited nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lü, Hongliang; Marchix, Anthony; Abe, Yasuhisa; Boilley, David

2016-03-01

KEWPIE-a cascade code devoted to investigating the dynamical decay of excited nuclei, specially designed for treating very low probability events related to the synthesis of super-heavy nuclei formed in fusion-evaporation reactions-has been improved and rewritten in C++ programming language to become KEWPIE2. The current version of the code comprises various nuclear models concerning the light-particle emission, fission process and statistical properties of excited nuclei. General features of the code, such as the numerical scheme and the main physical ingredients, are described in detail. Some typical calculations having been performed in the present paper clearly show that theoretical predictions are generally in accordance with experimental data. Furthermore, since the values of some input parameters cannot be determined neither theoretically nor experimentally, a sensibility analysis is presented. To this end, we systematically investigate the effects of using different parameter values and reaction models on the final results. As expected, in the case of heavy nuclei, the fission process has the most crucial role to play in theoretical predictions. This work would be essential for numerical modeling of fusion-evaporation reactions.

CHANDRA OBSERVATIONS OF GALAXY ZOO MERGERS: FREQUENCY OF BINARY ACTIVE NUCLEI IN MASSIVE MERGERS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Teng, Stacy H.; Schawinski, Kevin; Urry, C. Megan

We present the results from a Chandra pilot study of 12 massive galaxy mergers selected from Galaxy Zoo. The sample includes major mergers down to a host galaxy mass of 10{sup 11} M{sub Sun} that already have optical active galactic nucleus (AGN) signatures in at least one of the progenitors. We find that the coincidences of optically selected active nuclei with mildly obscured (N{sub H} {approx}< 1.1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 22} cm{sup -2}) X-ray nuclei are relatively common (8/12), but the detections are too faint (<40 counts per nucleus; f{sub 2-10keV} {approx}< 1.2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -13} erg s{sup -1} cm{sup -2})more » to reliably separate starburst and nuclear activity as the origin of the X-ray emission. Only one merger is found to have confirmed binary X-ray nuclei, though the X-ray emission from its southern nucleus could be due solely to star formation. Thus, the occurrences of binary AGNs in these mergers are rare (0%-8%), unless most merger-induced active nuclei are very heavily obscured or Compton thick.« less

Chandra Observations of Galaxy Zoo Mergers: Frequency of Binary Active Nuclei in Massive Mergers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teng, Stacy H.; Schwainski, Kevin; Urry, C. Megan; Darg, Dan W.; Kaviraj, Sugata; Oh, Kyuseok; Bonning, Erin W.; Cardamone, Carolin N.; Keel, William C.; Lintott, Chris J.;

Reaction Studies With Light, Unstable Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernst Rehm, K.

2006-10-01

The availability of beams of exotic nuclei allows us for the first time to study in a terrestrial laboratory reactions, which occur in stellar explosions, such as Novae, Supernovae or X-ray bursts. In this talk I will present results from recent experiments performed with beams of light, unstable nuclei, which are produced via the in-flight technique at the ATLAs accelerator at Argonne. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics Division, under contract No. W-31-109-ENG-38 and by the NSF Grant No. PHY-02-16783 (Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics).

X-ray variability and the inner region in active galactic nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mohan, P.; Mangalam, A., E-mail: prashanth@iiap.res.in, E-mail: mangalam@iiap.res.in

2014-08-20

We present theoretical models of X-ray variability attributable to orbital signatures from an accretion disk including emission region size, quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), and its quality factor Q, and the emergence of a break frequency in the power spectral density shape. We find a fractional variability amplitude of F{sub var}∝M{sub ∙}{sup −0.4}. We conduct a time series analysis on X-ray light curves (0.3-10 keV) of a sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). A statistically significant bend frequency is inferred in 9 of 58 light curves (16%) from 3 AGNs for which the break timescale is consistent with the reported BH spinmore » but not with the reported BH mass. Upper limits of 2.85 × 10{sup 7} M {sub ☉} in NGC 4051, 8.02 × 10{sup 7} M {sub ☉} in MRK 766, and 4.68 × 10{sup 7} M {sub ☉} in MCG-6-30-15 are inferred for maximally spinning BHs. For REJ 1034+396 where a QPO at 3733 s was reported, we obtain an emission region size of (6-6.5) M and a BH spin of a ≲ 0.08. The relativistic inner region of a thin disk, dominated by radiation pressure and electron scattering, is likely to host the orbital features as the simulated Q ranges from 6.3 × 10{sup –2} to 4.25 × 10{sup 6}, containing the observed Q. The derived value of Q ∼ 32 for REJ 1034+396 therefore suggests that the AGN hosts a thin disk.« less

Studies of the shapes of heavy pear-shaped nuclei at ISOLDE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Butler, P. A., E-mail: peter.butler@liverpool.ac.uk

2016-07-07

For certain combinations of protons and neutrons there is a theoretical expectation that the shape of nuclei can assume octupole deformation, which would give rise to reflection asymmetry or a ”pear-shape” in the intrinsic frame, either dynamically (octupole vibrations) or statically (permanent octupole deformation). I will briefly review the historic evidence for reflection asymmetry in nuclei and describe how recent experiments carried out at REX-ISOLDE have constrained nuclear theory and how they contribute to tests of extensions of the Standard Model. I will also discuss future prospects for measuring nuclear shapes from Coulomb Excitation: experiments are being planned that willmore » exploit beams from HIE-ISOLDE that are cooled in the TSR storage ring and injected into a solenoidal spectrometer similar to the HELIOS device developed at the Argonne National Laboratory.« less

Resonant magnetic X-ray scattering studies of heavy fermion superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaulin, B. D.; Isaacs, E. D.; Lussier, J. G.; Reimers, J. N.; Gibbs, D.; Zschack, P.; Schröder, A.; Taillefer, L.; Garrett, J. D.

1994-04-01

The uranium-based heavy fermion superconductors which are known to display weak antiferromagnetism at low temperatures are well suited to study by the newly developed resonant magnetic X-ray scattering technique. We review recent synchrotron X-ray scattering studies of the magnetic behavior of UPd 2Al 3 and URu 2Si 2 and the interaction between magnetism and superconductivity in these materials. These measurements show resolution-limited magnetic Bragg peaks in UPd 2Al 3 in contrast to those in URu 2Si 2. The order parameter as measured at the (0 0 {1}/{2}) magnetic reciprocal lattice position in UPd 2Al 3 is different from that at (0, 0, {3}/{2}), the latter of which indicates a strong anomaly at TNI ∼ 11.8 K below the sharp onset of the antiferromagnetic phase at TN ∼ 14.5 K. Finally, the behavior of the (0 0 {1}/{2}) order parameter is smooth for T ≤ Tc = 2.00 ± 0.04 K.

Effect of broken axial symmetry on the electric dipole strength and the collective enhancement of level densities in heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grosse, E.; Junghans, A. R.; Wilson, J. N.

2017-11-01

The basic parameters for calculations of radiative neutron capture, photon strength functions and nuclear level densities near the neutron separation energy are determined based on experimental data without an ad hoc assumption about axial symmetry—at variance to previous analysis. Surprisingly few global fit parameters are needed in addition to information on nuclear deformation, taken from Hartree Fock Bogolyubov calculations with the Gogny force, and the generator coordinator method assures properly defined angular momentum. For a large number of nuclei the GDR shapes and the photon strength are described by the sum of three Lorentzians, extrapolated to low energies and normalised in accordance to the dipole sum rule. Level densities are influenced strongly by the significant collective enhancement based on the breaking of shape symmetry. The replacement of axial symmetry by the less stringent requirement of invariance against rotation by 180° leads to a novel prediction for radiative neutron capture. It compares well to recent compilations of average radiative widths and Maxwellian average cross sections for neutron capture by even target nuclei. An extension to higher spin promises a reliable prediction for various compound nuclear reactions also outside the valley of stability. Such predictions are of high importance for future nuclear energy systems and waste transmutation as well as for the understanding of the cosmic synthesis of heavy elements.

Heavy ion observations by MARIE in cruise phase and Mars orbit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, K. T.; Cleghorn, T.; Cucinotta, F.; Pinsky, L.; Zeitlin, C.

2004-01-01

The charged particle spectrum for nuclei from protons to neon, (charge Z=10) was observed during the cruise phase and orbit around Mars by the MARIE charged particle spectrometer on the Odyssey spacecraft. The cruise data were taken between April 23, 2001 and mid-August 2001. The Mars orbit data were taken March 5, 2002 through May 2002 and are scheduled to continue until August 2004. Charge peaks are clearly separated for charges up to Z=10. Especially prominent are the carbon and oxygen peaks, with boron and nitrogen also clearly visible. Although heavy ions are much less abundant than protons in the cosmic ray environment, it is important to determine their abundances because their ionization energy losses (proportional to Z2) are far more dangerous to humans and to instruments. Thus the higher charged nuclei make a significant contribution to dose and dose equivalent received in space. Results of the charged particle spectrum measurements will be reported. c2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On the X-Ray Low- and High-Velocity Outflows in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramirez, J. M.; Tombesi, F.

2012-01-01

An exploration of the relationship between bolometric luminosity and outflow velocity for two classes of X-ray outflows in a large sample of active galactic nuclei has been performed. We find that line radiation pressure could be one physical mechanism that might accelerate the gas we observe in warm absorber, v approx. 100-1000 km/s, and on comparable but less stringent grounds the ultrafast outflows, v approx. 0.03-0.3c. If comparable with the escape velocity of the system, the first is naturally located at distances of the dusty torus, '" I pc, and the second at subparsec scales, approx.0.01 pc, in accordance with large set of observational evidence existing in the literature. The presentation of this relationship might give us key clues for our understanding of the different physical mechanisms acting in the centre of galaxies, the feedback process and its impact on the evolution of the host galaxy.

Stability of superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomorski, K.; Nerlo-Pomorska, B.; Bartel, J.; Schmitt, C.

2018-03-01

The potential-energy surfaces of an extended set of heavy and superheavy even-even nuclei with 92 ≤Z ≤126 and isospins 40 ≤N -Z ≤74 are evaluated within the recently developed Fourier shape parametrization. Ground-state and decay properties are studied for 324 different even-even isotopes in a four-dimensional deformation space, defined by nonaxiality, quadrupole, octupole, and hexadecapole degrees of freedom. Nuclear deformation energies are evaluated in the framework of the macroscopic-microscopic approach, with the Lublin-Strasbourg drop model and a Yukawa-folded mean-field potential. The evolution of the ground-state equilibrium shape (and possible isomeric, metastable states) is studied as a function of Z and N . α -decay Q values and half-lives, as well as fission-barrier heights, are deduced. In order to understand the transition from asymmetric to symmetric fission along the Fm isotopic chain, the properties of all identified fission paths are investigated. Good agreement is found with experimental data wherever available. New interesting features about the population of different fission modes for nuclei beyond Fm are predicted.

Isotopic measurements of the cosmic ray nuclei at 1.7 GeV/n and 0.5 GeV/n

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Juliusson, E.

1975-01-01

Results are presented on the mean isotopic composition of cosmic ray nuclei, or the average neutron excess for the elements Be to Si. At 1.7 GeV/nucleon they have been obtained by comparing the abundances measured above a rigidity threshold at Palestine, Texas, with abundances measured above an equivalent velocity threshold at Cape Girardeau Missouri. At 0.5 GeV/nucleon the results are obtained by analysing the variation in the chemical composition with energy in the energy region around the geomagnetic cut-off.

Synthesis of Superheavy Nuclei in 48CA-INDUCED Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oganessian, Yu. Ts.; Utyonkov, V. K.; Lobanov, Yu. V.; Abdullin, F. Sh.; Polyakov, A. N.; Sagaidak, R. N.; Shirokovsky, I. V.; Tsyganov, Yu. S.; Voinov, A. A.; Gulbekian, G. G.; Bogomolov, S. L.; Gikal, B. N.; Mezentsev, A. N.; Iliev, S.; Subbotin, V. G.; Sukhov, A. M.; Subotic, K.; Zagrebaev, V. I.; Vostokin, G. K.; Itkis, M. G.; Moody, K. J.; Patin, J. B.; Shaughnessy, D. A.; Stoyer, M. A.; Stoyer, N. J.; Wilk, P. A.; Kenneally, J. M.; Landrum, J. H.; Wild, J. F.; Lougheed, R. W.

2008-11-01

Thirty-four new nuclides with Z = 104-116, 118 and N = 161-177 have been synthesized in the complete-fusion reactions of 238U, 237Np, 242,244Pu, 243Am, 245,248Cm, and 249Cf targets with 48Ca beams. The masses of evaporation residues were identified through measurements of the excitation functions of the xn-evaporation channels and from cross bombardments. The decay properties of the new nuclei agree with those of previously known heavy nuclei and with predictions from different theoretical models. A discussion of self-consistent interpretations of all observed decay chains originating from the parent isotopes 282,283112, 282113, 286-289114, 287,288115, 290-293116, and 294118 is presented. Decay energies and lifetimes of the neutron-rich superheavy nuclei as well as their production cross sections indicate a considerable increase in the stability of nuclei with an increasing number of neutrons, which agrees with the predictions of theoretical models concerning the decisive dependence of the structure and radioactive properties of superheavy elements on their proximity to the nuclear shells with N = 184 and Z = 114.

Direct observations of galactic cosmic rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, Dietrich

2012-08-01

The mysterious " radiation ... entering our atmosphere from above" discovered by Hess in 1912 is now known to be dominated by relativistic charged particles, mostly with energies in the GeV-range, but extending to energies higher by many orders of magnitude. As none of these particles can penetrate the earth's atmosphere without interaction, detailed studies of their composition and energy spectra require observations with high-altitude balloons or spacecraft. This became possible only towards the middle of the 20th century. The direct measurements have now revealed much detail about the Galactic cosmic rays below 1015eV, but do not yet provide much overlap with the air-shower region of energies. A historic overview of the measurements is given, beginning with the realization that the majority of the cosmic rays are protons. The discovery and astrophysical significance of the heavier nuclei, and of the ultra-heavy nuclei beyond iron and up to the actinides, are then described, and measurements of the isotopic composition are discussed. Observations of the individual energy spectra are reviewed, and finally, the detection of electrons, positrons, and anti-protons in the cosmic rays, and the searches for exotic or unusual phenomena are summarized. Emphasis is given to the fact that all of these discoveries have become possible through the evolution of increasingly sophisticated detection techniques, a process that is continuing through the present time. The precise knowledge of the abundance distributions of the elements in the cosmic rays and of their isotopic composition permits a comparison with the "universal abundance scale" and provides strong constraints on the origin of the cosmic-ray material in the interstellar medium. "Clock-isotopes" reveal the time history of the particles. The shapes of the energy spectra of the individual cosmic-ray components are related to evolving ideas about particle acceleration and propagation in the Galaxy. In conclusion

Influence of proton-skin thickness on the {{\\alpha }} decays of heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seif, W. M.; Abdurrahman, A.

2018-01-01

We investigate the effect of proton-skin thickness on the α decay process. We consider 188 neutron-deficient nuclei belonging to the isotopic chains from Te (Z = 52) to Pb (Z = 82). The calculations of the half-life are carried out in the framework of the preformed cluster model, with the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin penetration probability and assault frequency. It is shown that the proton-skin thickness ({\\varDelta }{{p}}) of the daughter nucleus gives rise to a total α- daughter nucleus interaction potential of relatively wide deep internal pocket and a thinner Coulomb barrier of less height. This increases the penetration probability but decreases the assault frequency. The overall impact of the proton-skin thickness appears as a decrease in the decay half-life. The proton-skin thickness decreases the stability of the nucleus. The half-lives of the proton-skinned isotopes along the isotopic chain decrease exponentially with increasing the proton-skin thickness, whereas the {Q}α -value increases with {\\varDelta }{{p}}. α-decay manifests itself as the second favorite decay mode of neutron-deficient nuclei, next to the {β }+-decay and before proton-decay. It is indicated as main, competing, and minor decay mode, at 21%, 7%, and 57%, respectively, of the investigated nuclei.

High baryon densities in heavy ion collisions at energies attainable at the BNL Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider and the CERN Large Hadron Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ming; Kapusta, Joseph I.

2017-01-01

In very high-energy collisions nuclei are practically transparent to each other but produce very hot nearly baryon-free matter in the so-called central rapidity region. The energy in the central rapidity region comes from the kinetic energy of the colliding nuclei. We calculate the energy and rapidity loss of the nuclei using the color glass condensate model. This model also predicts the excitation energy of the nuclear fragments. Using a space-time picture of the collision we calculate the baryon and energy densities of the receding baryonic fireballs. For central collisions of gold nuclei at the highest energy attainable at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider, for example, we find baryon densities more than ten times that of atomic nuclei over a large volume.

Evaluation of shielding parameters for heavy metal fluoride based tellurite-rich glasses for gamma ray shielding applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayyed, M. I.; Lakshminarayana, G.; Kityk, I. V.; Mahdi, M. A.

2017-10-01

In this work, we have evaluated the γ-ray shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), effective atomic number (Zeff), half value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP) and exposure buildup factors (EBF) for heavy metal fluoride (PbF2) based tellurite-rich glasses. In addition, neutron total macroscopic cross sections (∑R) for these glasses were also calculated. The maximum value for μ/ρ, Zeff and ∑R was found for heavy metal (Bi2O3) oxide introduced glass. The results of the selected glasses have been compared, in terms of MFP with different glass systems. The shielding effectiveness of the selected glasses is found comparable or better than of common ones, which indicates that these glasses with suitable oxides could be developed for gamma ray shielding applications.

Trek and ECCO: Abundance measurements of ultraheavy galactic cosmic rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westphal, Andrew J.

2000-06-01

Using the Trek detector, we have measured the abundances of the heaviest elements (with Z>70) in the galactic cosmic rays with sufficient charge resolution to resolve the even-Z elements. We find that the abundance of Pb compared to Pt is ~3 times lower than the value expected from the most widely-held class of models of the origin of galactic cosmic ray nuclei, that is, origination in a partially ionized medium with solar-like composition. The low abundance of Pb is, however, consistent with the interstellar gas and dust model of Meyer, Drury and Ellison, and with a source enriched in r-process material, proposed by Binns et al. A high-resolution, high-statistics measurement of the abundances of the individual actinides would distinguish between these models. This is the goal of ECCO, the Extremely Heavy Cosmic-ray Composition Observer, which we plan to deploy on the International Space Station. .

Can Winds Driven by Active Galactic Nuclei Account for the Extragalactic Gamma-Ray and Neutrino Backgrounds?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ruo-Yu; Murase, Kohta; Inoue, Susumu; Ge, Chong; Wang, Xiang-Yu

2018-05-01

Various observations are revealing the widespread occurrence of fast and powerful winds in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that are distinct from relativistic jets, likely launched from accretion disks and interacting strongly with the gas of their host galaxies. During the interaction, strong shocks are expected to form that can accelerate nonthermal particles to high energies. Such winds have been suggested to be responsible for a large fraction of the observed extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGB) and the diffuse neutrino background, via the decay of neutral and charged pions generated in inelastic pp collisions between protons accelerated by the forward shock and the ambient gas. However, previous studies did not properly account for processes such as adiabatic losses that may reduce the gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes significantly. We evaluate the production of gamma rays and neutrinos by AGN-driven winds in detail by modeling their hydrodynamic and thermal evolution, including the effects of their two-temperature structure. We find that they can only account for less than ∼30% of the EGB flux, as otherwise the model would violate the independent upper limit derived from the diffuse isotropic gamma-ray background. If the neutrino spectral index is steep with Γ ≳ 2.2, a severe tension with the isotropic gamma-ray background would arise as long as the winds contribute more than 20% of the IceCube neutrino flux in the 10–100 TeV range. At energies ≳ 100 TeV, we find that the IceCube neutrino flux may still be accountable by AGN-driven winds if the spectral index is as small as Γ ∼ 2.0–2.1.

Heritable non-lethal damage to cultured human cells irradiated with heavy ions.

PubMed

Walker, James T; Todd, Paul; Walker, Olivia A

2002-12-01

During interplanetary flights the nuclei of all of a crew member's cells could be traversed by at least one high-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) cosmic-ray particle. In mammalian cells irradiated in vitro about 1 in 10,000 of the surviving cells traversed by heavy particles is transformed to malignancy or mutated. What, if anything, happens to the remaining >99% of surviving cells? A retrospective analysis of archived data and samples from heavy-ion irradiation experiments with cultured human cells in vitro indicated that heavy ions caused a dose- and LET-dependent reduction in growth rates of progeny of irradiated cells, based on colony-size distributions. The maximum action cross section for this effect is between 100 and 300 microm2, at least as large as the cell nuclear area and up to 3 times the cross section for cell killing. Thus, heritable slow growth is the most prevalent effect of high-LET radiations on cultured animal cells, which may have implications for crew health during deep space travel. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USEPA.

On the evidence for axionlike particles from active galactic nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pettinari, Guido Walter; Crittenden, Robert

2010-10-15

Burrage, Davis, and Shaw recently suggested exploiting the correlations between high and low energy luminosities of astrophysical objects to probe possible mixing between photons and axionlike particles (ALP) in magnetic field regions. They also presented evidence for the existence of ALP's by analyzing the optical/UV and x-ray monochromatic luminosities of active galactic nuclei. We extend their work by using the monochromatic luminosities of 320 unobscured active galactic nuclei from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Xmm-Newton Quasar Survey which allows the exploration of 18 different combinations of optical/UV and x-ray monochromatic luminosities. However, we do not find compelling evidence for the existencemore » of ALPs. Moreover, it appears that the signal reported by Burrage et al. is more likely due to x-ray absorption rather than to photon-ALP oscillation.« less

Equilibrium nuclear ensembles taking into account vaporization of hot nuclei in dense stellar matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furusawa, Shun; Mishustin, Igor

2018-02-01

We investigate the high-temperature effect on the nuclear matter that consists of mixture of nucleons and all nuclei in the dense and hot stellar environment. The individual nuclei are described within the compressible-liquid-drop model that is based on Skyrme interactions for bulk energies and that takes into account modifications of the surface and Coulomb energies at finite temperatures and densities. The free-energy density is minimized with respect to the individual equilibrium densities of all heavy nuclei and the nuclear composition. We find that their optimized equilibrium densities become smaller and smaller at high temperatures because of the increase in thermal contributions to bulk free energies and the reduction of surface energies. The neutron-rich nuclei become unstable and disappear one after another at given temperatures. The calculations are performed for two sets of model parameters leading to different values of the slope parameter in the nuclear-symmetry energy. It is found that the larger slope parameter reduces the equilibrium densities and the melting temperatures. We also compare the proposed model with some other approaches and find that the mass fractions of heavy nuclei in the previous calculations that omit vaporization are underestimated at T ≲10 MeV and overestimated at T ≳10 MeV. The further sophistication of calculations of nuclear vaporization and of light clusters would be required to construct the equation of state for explosive astrophysical phenomena.

Fragmentation of relativistic nuclei in peripheral interactions in nuclear track emulsion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Artemenkov, D. A., E-mail: artemenkov@lhe.jinr.ru; Bradnova, V.; Chernyavsky, M. M.

2008-09-15

The technique of nuclear track emulsions is used to explore the fragmentation of light relativistic nuclei down to the most peripheral interactions: nuclear 'white' stars. A complete pattern of the relativistic dissociation of a 8B nucleus with target fragment accompaniment is presented. Relativistic dissociation {sup 9}Be {yields} 2{alpha} is explored using significant statistics, and a relative contribution of {sup 8}Be decays from 0+ and 2+ states is established. Target fragment accompaniments are shown for relativistic fragmentation {sup 14}N {yields} 3He +H and {sup 22}Ne {yields} 5He. The leading role of the electromagnetic dissociation on heavy nuclei with respect to breakupsmore » on target protons is demonstrated in all these cases. It is possible to conclude that the peripheral dissociation of relativistic nuclei in nuclear track emulsion is a unique tool to study many-body systems composed of the lightest nuclei and nucleons in the energy scale relevant for nuclear astrophysics.« less

New Spectral Model for Constraining Torus Covering Factors from Broadband X-Ray Spectra of Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baloković, M.; Brightman, M.; Harrison, F. A.; Comastri, A.; Ricci, C.; Buchner, J.; Gandhi, P.; Farrah, D.; Stern, D.

2018-02-01

The basic unified model of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) invokes an anisotropic obscuring structure, usually referred to as a torus, to explain AGN obscuration as an angle-dependent effect. We present a new grid of X-ray spectral templates based on radiative transfer calculations in neutral gas in an approximately toroidal geometry, appropriate for CCD-resolution X-ray spectra (FWHM ≥ 130 eV). Fitting the templates to broadband X-ray spectra of AGNs provides constraints on two important geometrical parameters of the gas distribution around the supermassive black hole: the average column density and the covering factor. Compared to the currently available spectral templates, our model is more flexible, and capable of providing constraints on the main torus parameters in a wider range of AGNs. We demonstrate the application of this model using hard X-ray spectra from NuSTAR (3–79 keV) for four AGNs covering a variety of classifications: 3C 390.3, NGC 2110, IC 5063, and NGC 7582. This small set of examples was chosen to illustrate the range of possible torus configurations, from disk-like to sphere-like geometries with column densities below, as well as above, the Compton-thick threshold. This diversity of torus properties challenges the simple assumption of a standard geometrically and optically thick toroidal structure commonly invoked in the basic form of the unified model of AGNs. Finding broad consistency between our constraints and those from infrared modeling, we discuss how the approach from the X-ray band complements similar measurements of AGN structures at other wavelengths.

NEUTRINO, γ -RAY, AND COSMIC-RAY FLUXES FROM THE CORE OF THE CLOSEST RADIO GALAXIES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fraija, N.; Marinelli, A., E-mail: nifraija@astro.unam.mx, E-mail: antonio.marinelli@pi.infn.it

2016-10-20

The closest radio galaxies; Centaurus A (Cen A), M87, and NGC 1275, have been detected from radio wavelengths to TeV γ -rays, and also studied as high-energy neutrino and ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray (UHECR) potential emitters. Their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) show a double-peak feature, which is explained by a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model. However, TeV γ -ray measured spectra could suggest that very-high-energy γ -rays might have a hadronic origin. We introduce a lepto-hadronic model to describe the broadband SED; from radio to sub-GeV photons as synchrotron SSC emission and TeV γ -ray photons as neutral pion decay resulting from pmore » γ interactions occurring close to the core. These photo-hadronic interactions take place when Fermi-accelerated protons interact with the seed photons around synchrotron SSC peaks. Obtaining a good description of the TeV γ -ray fluxes, first, we compute neutrino fluxes and events expected in the IceCube detector and, second, we estimate UHECR fluxes and the event rate expected in Telescope Array, Pierre Auger, and HiRes observatories. Within this scenario, we show that the expected high-energy neutrinos cannot explain the astrophysical flux observed by IceCube, and the connection with UHECRs observed by Auger experiment around Cen A might be possible only considering a heavy nuclei composition in the observed events.« less

Effect of isospin diffusion on the production of neutron-rich nuclei in multinucleon transfer reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Fei; Chen, Peng-Hui; Guo, Ya-Fei; Ma, Chun-Wang; Feng, Zhao-Qing

2018-03-01

The isospin dissipation dynamics in multinucleon transfer reactions has been investigated within the dinuclear system model. Production cross sections of neutron-rich isotopes around projectile-like and target-like fragments are estimated in collisions of Ni,6458+208Pb and 78.86,91Kr +198Pt near Coulomb barrier energies. The isospin diffusion in the nucleon transfer process is coupled to the dissipation of relative motion energy and angular momentum of colliding system. The available data of projectile-like fragments via multinucleon transfer reactions are nicely reproduced. It is found that the light projectile-like fragments are produced in the neutron-rich region because of the isospin equilibrium in two colliding nuclei. However, the heavy target-like fragments tend to be formed on the neutron-poor side above the β -stability line. The neutron-rich projectiles move the maximal yields of heavy nuclei to the neutron-rich domain and are available for producing the heavy exotic isotopes, in particular around the neutron shell closure of N =126 .

Identification of heavy metal origins related to chemical and morphological soil properties using several non-destructive X-ray analytical methods.

PubMed

Akbulut, Songul; Grieken, Renevan; Kılıc, Mehmet A; Cevik, Ugur; Rotondo, Giuliana G

2013-03-01

Soils are complex mixtures of organic, inorganic materials, and metal compounds from anthropogenic sources. In order to identify the pollution sources, their magnitude and development, several X-ray analytical methods were applied in this study. The concentrations of 16 elements were determined in all the soil samples using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Soils of unknown origin were observed by scanning electron microscopy equipped with a Si(Li) X-ray detector using Monte Carlo simulation approach. The mineralogical analyses were carried out using X-ray diffraction spectrometry. Due to the correlations between heavy metals and oxide compounds, the samples were analyzed also by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) in order to have information about their oxide contents. On the other hand, soil pH and salinity levels were identified owing to their influence between heavy metal and soil-surface chemistry. Moreover, the geoaccumulation index (I (geo)) enables the assessment of contamination by comparing current and pre-industrial concentrations.

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescent Analysis of Soil in the Vicinity of Industrial Areas and Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, V.; Joshi, G. C.; Bisht, D.

2017-05-01

The soil of two agricultural sites near an industrial area was investigated for heavy metal pollution using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The concentration values for 17 elements were determined in the soil samples including eight heavy metal elements, i.e., Fe, Ni, As, Pb, Mn, Cr, Cu, and Zn. The soil near a pulp and paper mill was found to be highly polluted by the heavy metals. The concentration data obtained by EDXRF were further examined by calculating the pollution index and Nemerow integrated pollution index.

Failla Memorial lecture. The future of heavy-ion science in biology and medicine.

PubMed

Tobias, C A

1985-07-01

Interplanetary space contains fluxes of fast moving atomic nuclei. The distribution of these reflects the atomic composition of the universe, and such particles may pose limitations for space flight and for life in space. Over the past 50 years, since the invention of Ernest Lawrence's cyclotron, advances in accelerator technology have permitted the acceleration of charged nuclei to very high velocities. Currently, beams of any stable isotope species up to uranium are available at kinetic energies of several hundred MeV/nucleon at the Berkeley Bevalac. Recently, new areas of particle physics research relating to the mechanisms of spallation and fission have opened up for investigation, and it is now realistic to search for nuclear super-dense states that might be produced in heavy nuclear collisions. The heavy ions hold interest for a broad spectrum of research because of their effectiveness in producing a series of major lesions in DNA along single particle tracks and because of the Bragg depth ionization properties that allow the precise deposition of highly localized doses deep in the human body. Individual heavy ions can also interrupt the continuity of membraneous regions in cells. Heavy ions, when compared to low-LET radiation, have increased effectiveness for mammalian cell lethality, chromosome mutations, and cell transformation. The molecular mechanisms are not completely understood but appear to involve fragmentation and reintegration of DNA. Cells attempt to repair these lesions, and many of the deleterious effects are due to misrepair or misrejoining of DNA. Heavy ions do not require the presence of oxygen for producing their effects, and hypoxic cells in necrotic regions have nearly the same sensitivity as cells in well-oxygenated tissues. Heavy ions are effective in delaying or blocking the cell division process. Heavy ions are also strong enhancers of viral-induced cell transformation, a process that requires integration of foreign DNA. Some cell

Distribution of zebrin-immunoreactive Purkinje cell terminals in the cerebellar and vestibular nuclei of birds.

PubMed

Wylie, Douglas R; Pakan, Janelle M P; Huynh, Hang; Graham, David J; Iwaniuk, Andrew N

2012-05-01

Zebrin II (aldolase C) is expressed in a subset of Purkinje cells in the mammalian and avian cerebella such that there is a characteristic parasagittal organization of zebrin-immunopositive stripes alternating with zebrin-immunonegative stripes. Zebrin is expressed not only in the soma and dendrites of Purkinje cells but also in their axonal terminals. Here we describe the distribution of zebrin immunoreactivity in both the vestibular and the cerebellar nuclei of pigeons (Columba livia) and hummingbirds (Calypte anna, Selasphorus rufus). In the medial cerebellar nucleus, zebrin-positive labeling was particularly heavy in the “shell,” whereas the “core” was zebrin negative. In the lateral cerebellar nucleus, labeling was not as heavy, but a positive shell and negative core were also observed. In the vestibular nuclear complex, zebrin-positive terminal labeling was heavy in the dorsolateral vestibular nucleus and the lateral margin of the superior vestibular nucleus. The central and medial regions of the superior nucleus were generally zebrin negative. Labeling was moderate to heavy in the medial vestibular nucleus, particulary the rostral half of the parvocellular subnucleus. A moderate amount of zebrin-positive labeling was present in the descending vestibular nucleus: this was heaviest laterally, and the central region was generally zebrin negative. Zebrin-positive terminals were also observed in the the cerebellovestibular process, prepositus hypoglossi, and lateral tangential nucleus. We discuss our findings in light of similar studies in rats and with respect to the corticonuclear projections to the cerebellar nuclei and the functional connections of the vestibulocerebellum with the vestibular nuclei. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

X-ray variability in active galaxy nuclei and quasars in less than one day

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elvis, M.; Feigelson, E.; Griffiths, R. E.; Henry, J. P.; Tananbaum, H.

1980-01-01

Data obtained from the Einstein Observatory demonstrating variations in X-ray emission from the nuclei of active galaxies and quasars on time scales of hours rather than previously observed days or years is presented. Light curves obtained from the Einstein imaging proportional counter for the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 6814 and from the High Resolution Imager for the quasars OX 169 and 3C 273 are illustrated, and variations by factors greater than two on time scales less than 20,000 sec for the first two objects and by a factor of 10% on a time scale over 50,000 sec for 3C 273 are pointed out. The measurements are also used to determine that thermal bremsstrahlung cannot be the cause of the intensity decay in OX 169, and that, in the absence of relativistic effects, the efficiency for energy release in the matter involved in the emission of 3C 273 is at least 0.1.

Exploring Ultra-Heavy Cosmic Rays with the Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder (TIGER)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Link, Jason; Supertiger Collaboration

2017-01-01

Elements heavier than iron are primarily synthesized by neutron capture. These elements can be accelerated as cosmic-rays and measuring their abundances at Earth can yield information about galactic cosmic-rays' sources, the acceleration processes and the composition of the universe beyond the boundaries of our solar system. The Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder (TIGER) and its larger successor SuperTIGER was designed to measure the abundance of these ultra-heavy cosmic rays between Z=10 and Z=60. These detectors utilize scintillators with a wavelength shifter bar and PMT readout system as well as aerogel and acrylic Cherenkov detectors to identify the charge and energy of a particle and utilize a scintillating fiber hodoscope to provide trajectory information. In this talk I will review the results from this highly successful program, give the status for the next SuperTIGER flight planned for a December 2017 launch from Antarctica, and discuss the future direction of the program.

Transfer products from the reactions of heavy ions with heavy nuclei. [394 to 1156 MeV

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thomas, K.E. III

1979-11-01

Production of nuclides heavier than the target from /sup 86/Kr- and /sup 136/Xe-induced reactions with /sup 181/Ta and /sup 238/U was investigated. Attempts were made to produce new neutron-excess Np and Pu isotopes by the deep inelastic mechanism. No evidence was found for /sup 242/Np or /sup 247/Pu. Estimates were made for the production of /sup 242/Np, /sup 247/Pu, and /sup 248/Am from heavy-ion reactions with uranium targets. Comparisons of reactions of /sup 86/Kr and /sup 136/Xe ions with thick /sup 181/Ta targets and /sup 86/Kr, /sup 136/Xe and /sup 238/U ions with thick /sup 238/U targets indicate that themore » most probable products are not dependent on the projectile. The most probable products can be predicted by the equation Z - Z/sub target/ = 0.43 (A - A/sub target/) + 1.0. The major effect of the projectile is the magnitude of the production cross section of the heavy products. Based on these results, estimates are made of the most probable mass of element 114 produced from heavy-ion reactions with /sup 248/Cm and /sup 254/Es targets. These estimates give the mass number of element 114 as approx. 287 if produced in heavy-ion reactions with these very heavy targets. Excitation functions of gold and bismuth isotopes arising from /sup 86/Kr- and /sup 136/Xe-induced reactions with thin /sup 181/Ta targets were measured. These results indicate that the shape and location (in Z and A above the target) of the isotopic distributions are not strongly dependent on the projectile incident energy. Also, the nuclidic cross sections are found to increase with an increase in projectile energy to a maximum at approximately 1.4 to 1.5 times the Coulomb barrier. Above this maximum, the nuclidic cross sections are found to decrease with an increase in projectile energy. This decrease in cross section is believed to be due to fission of the heavy products caused by high excitation energy and angular momentum. 111 references, 39 figures, 34 tables.« less

Contribution of fission to heavy-element nucleosynthesis in an astrophysical r-process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korneev, I. Yu.; Panov, I. V.

2011-12-01

During the formation of heavy elements in the neutron star merger (NSM) scenario with a fairly long duration of the r-process, most of the seed nuclei rapidly burn out at the initial stage. The nucleosynthesis wave rapidly reaches the region of actinoids, where beta-delayed, neutron-induced, and spontaneous fission are the main reaction channels. The fission products of transuranium elements are again drawn into the r-process as new seed nuclei to form the yields of elements with mass numbers A > 100. The contribution from the various types of fission to the formation of heavy and superheavy nuclei is investigated. The proposed r-process model applied to the NSM scenario describes well the observed abundances of chemical elements, which confirms the formation of the main r-process component in the NSM scenario. Simple extrapolations of the spontaneous fission half-lives are shown to be inapplicable for the region of nuclei with N ˜ 184, because the formulas do not reflect the increase in half-life when the shell structure changes as the number of neutrons approaches 184. The formation of superheavy elements in the r-process is possible, but their survival depends to a large extent on how reliable the predictions of nuclear parameters, including the half-lives of the forming nuclei from the island of long-lived isotopes, are. The contributions from various types of fission—neutron-induced, beta-delayed, and spontaneous one—to the formation of heavy elements in the main r-process have been determined.

Ground-based simulations of cosmic ray heavy ion interactions in spacecraft and planetary habitat shielding materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, J.; Zeitlin, C.; Heilbronn, L.; Borak, T.; Carter, T.; Frankel, K. A.; Fukumura, A.; Murakami, T.; Rademacher, S. E.; Schimmerling, W.;

Considerations about projectile and target X-rays induced during heavy ion bombardment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandes, F.; Bauer, D. V.; Duarte, A.; Ferrari, T. M.; Niekraszewicz, L. A. B.; Amaral, L.; Dias, J. F.

2018-02-01

In this work we present some results concerning the X-rays emitted by heavy ions during target bombardment. In this case, Cl4+ and Cl5+ ions with energies from 4 MeV to 10 MeV were employed to irradiate vitreous carbon planchets. Moreover, total X-ray production cross sections of titanium X-rays induced by chlorine ions were obtained as well for the same energy range. Only inner shell transitions were considered in the present work. The titanium target consisted of a thin film deposited over vitreous carbon planchets. The results indicate that the projectile X-ray yields increase as a function of the bombarding energy for the present energy range. Effects due to projectile charge state appears to be of minor importance at these low ion velocities. It is shown that a simple exponential function can represent the continuum background of such complex spectra. The chlorine transition rates Kβ/Kα obtained from chlorine acting as a projectile interacting with a carbon target are about half the value when compared to the chlorine Kβ/Kα ratios obtained when a LiCl target is bombarded with C+ and C3+ ions with energies from 2 MeV to 6 MeV. As far as the total X-ray production cross sections of Ti induced by chlorine ions are concerned, the ECPSSR theory underestimates the Ti total X-rays production cross sections by several orders of magnitude. The role of electron capture and possible mechanisms responsible for these effects are discussed.

Incorporation of the statistical multi-fragmentation model in PHITS and its application for simulation of fragmentation by heavy ions and protons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogawa, Tatsuhiko; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Hashimoto, Shintaro; Niita, Koji

2014-06-01

The fragmentation reactions of relativistic-energy nucleus-nucleus and proton-nucleus collisions were simulated using the Statistical Multi-fragmentation Model (SMM) incorporated with the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS). The comparisons of calculated cross-sections with literature data showed that PHITS-SMM predicts the fragmentation cross-sections of heavy nuclei up to two orders of magnitude more accurately than PHITS for heavy-ion-induced reactions. For proton-induced reactions, noticeable improvements are observed for interactions of the heavy target with protons at an energy greater than 1 GeV. Therefore, consideration for multi-fragmentation reactions is necessary for the accurate simulation of energetic fragmentation reactions of heavy nuclei.

Constraining Galactic cosmic-ray parameters with Z ≤ 2 nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coste, B.; Derome, L.; Maurin, D.; Putze, A.

2012-03-01

Context. The secondary-to-primary B/C ratio is widely used for studying Galactic cosmic-ray propagation processes. The 2H/4He and 3He/4He ratios probe a different Z/A regime, which provides a test for the "universality" of propagation. Aims: We revisit the constraints on diffusion-model parameters set by the quartet (1H, 2H, 3He, 4He), using the most recent data as well as updated formulae for the inelastic and production cross-sections. Methods: Our analysis relies on the USINE propagation package and a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique to estimate the probability density functions of the parameters. Simulated data were also used to validate analysis strategies. Results: The fragmentation of CNO cosmic rays (resp. NeMgSiFe) on the interstellar medium during their propagation contributes to 20% (resp. 20%) of the 2H and 15% (resp. 10%) of the 3He flux at high energy. The C to Fe elements are also responsible for up to 10% of the 4He flux measured at 1 GeV/n. The analysis of 3He/4He (and to a lesser extent 2H/4He) data shows that the transport parameters are consistent with those from the B/C analysis: the diffusion model with δ ~ 0.7 (diffusion slope), Vc ~ 20 km s-1 (galactic wind), Va ~ 40 km s-1 (reacceleration) is favoured, but the combination δ ~ 0.2, Vc ~ 0, and Va ~ 80 km s-1 is a close second. The confidence intervals on the parameters show that the constraints set by the quartet data can compete with those derived from the B/C data. These constraints are tighter when adding the 3He (or 2H) flux measurements, and the tightest when the He flux is added as well. For the latter, the analysis of simulated and real data shows an increased sensitivity to biases. Using the secondary-to-primary ratio along with a loose prior on the source parameters is recommended to obtain the most robust constraints on the transport parameters. Conclusions: Light nuclei should be systematically considered in the analysis of transport parameters. They provide independent

Correlation of individual cosmic ray nuclei with the observation of light flashes by Apollo astronauts. [nuclear emulsion detector design and operation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pinsky, L. S.; Osborne, W. Z.; Bailey, J. V.

1975-01-01

A nuclear emulsion detector known as the Apollo Light Flash Moving Emulsion Detector (ALFMED) was designed: (1) to record tracks of primary cosmic rays; (2) to provide time-of-passage information via a relative plate translation technique; (3) to provide particle trajectory information; and (4) to fit into a masklike device that could be located about the head and eyes of an astronaut. An ALFMED device was worn by an astronaut observing light flashes for 60 minutes on each of the last two Apollo missions. During the Apollo 17 experiment seventeen separate flashes were reported by the observer. With one-third of the total plate area completely analyzed, two definite correlations have been found between Z greater than 8 cosmic ray nuclei traversing an eye and the reports of visual sensations.

Galactic heavy-ion shielding using electrostatic fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Townsend, L. W.

1984-01-01

The shielding of spacecraft against galactic heavy ions, particularly high-energy Fe(56) nuclei, by electrostatic fields is analyzed for an arrangement of spherical concentric shells. Vacuum breakdown considerations are found to limit the minimum radii of the spheres to over 100 m. This limitation makes it impractical to use the fields for shielding small spacecraft. The voltages necessary to repel these Fe(56) nuclei exceed present electrostatic generating capabilities by over 2 orders of magnitude and render the concept useless as an alternative to traditional bulk-material shielding methods.

Implications of the experimental results on high energy cosmic rays with regard to their origin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fichtel, C. E.; Linsley, J.

1985-01-01

It was shown in an earlier report that current cosmic ray evidence supports a change in the cosmic ray composition in the region between 10 to the 6th power and 10 to the 8th power GeV total energy in the direction of a smaller average value of A. Compared to normal celestial abundances, the heavy nuclei are much less abundant, and, in fact, the composition measurements above 10 to the 8th power GeV are consistent with there being only protons. Here, these results combined with those of the energy spectrum and anisotropy of the comsic rays and other astrophysical information will be examined to try to determine their implications for the origin of the cosmic rays. In this paper, consideration is given to the implications of one or more than one type of source in the galaxy to see which are consistent with the interpretation of current measurements. The nature of the source types that would be required are discussed.

A Cerenkov-Range analysis of the isotopic composition of cosmic rays with Z from 6 to 26

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fisher, A. J.; Hagen, F. A.; Maehl, R.; Ormes, J. F.

1975-01-01

High-altitude balloon data on the isotopic composition of heavy cosmic rays are reported. The experiment used a Cerenkov detector, arrays of scintillators, and a digitized wire spark chamber. Peaks assigned to the mono-isotopic elements F and Na indicate that an absolute mass scale can be derived from the data. Even-Z elements in the Z range from 12 through 16 are represented mainly by alpha-particle nuclei. Neutron-rich components dominate in the case of neon present. Mass histograms are plotted for C, O, N, Ne, Mg, and Fe.

Source abundances of ultra heavy elements derived from UHCRE measurements.

PubMed

Domingo, C; Font, J; Baixeras, C; Fernandez, F

1996-11-01

A total of 205 tracks have been located, measured, and positively identified as originating from Ultra Heavy (Z > or = 65) cosmic ray ions with energies over 2 GeV/amu in the 10 UHCRE plastic track detector (mainly Lexan polycarbonate) stacks studied by our Group. About 40 values of reduced etch rate S have been obtained along each of these tracks. A method based on determining the gradient of S, together with calibration in accelerators, is used to determine the charge of each ion resulting in one of such tracks to obtain the charge spectrum of the recorded Ultra Heavy ions. The abundance ratio of ions with 87 < or = Z < or = 100 to those with 74 < or = Z < or = 86 as well as that of ions with 81 < or = Z < or = 86 to those with 74 < or = Z < or = 80 are calculated at 0.016 and 0.32, respectively, which agree with the values obtained from measurements in the HEAO-3 and Ariel-6 experiments. The abundance ratio of ions with 70 < or = Z < or = 73 to those with 74 < or = Z < or = 86 is also calculated, but its value (0.074) did not seem to be significant because of our detectors' low registration efficiency in the charge range 70 < or = Z < or = 73. A computer program developed by our Group, based on the Leaky Box cosmic ray propagation model, has been used to determine the source abundances of cosmic ray nuclei with Z > or = 65 inferred from the abundances measured in the UHCRE. It appeared that r-process synthesized elements were overabundant compared to the Solar System abundances, as predicted by other authors.

Tolerance to X-rays and Heavy Ions (Fe, He) in the Tardigrade Richtersius coronifer and the Bdelloid Rotifer Mniobia russeola.

PubMed

Jönsson, K Ingemar; Wojcik, Andrzej

2017-02-01

The aim of this study was to analyze tolerance to heavy ions in desiccated animals of the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer and the bdelloid rotifer Mniobia russeola within the STARLIFE project. Both species were exposed to iron (Fe) and helium (He) ions at the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) in Chiba, Japan, and to X-rays at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany. Results show no effect of Fe and He on viability up to 7 days post-rehydration in both R. coronifer and M. russeola, while X-rays tended to reduce viability in R. coronifer at the highest doses. Mean egg production rate tended to decline with higher doses in R. coronifer for all radiation types, but the pattern was not statistically confirmed. In M. russeola, there was no such tendency for a dose response in egg production rate. These results confirm the previously reported high tolerance to high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation in tardigrades and show for the first time that bdelloid rotifers are also very tolerant to high-LET radiation. These animal phyla represent the most desiccation- and radiation-tolerant animals on Earth and provide excellent eukaryotic models for astrobiological research. Key Words: Tardigrada-Rotifera-Radiation tolerance-Heavy ions-X-rays. Astrobiology 17, 163-167.

The superTIGER instrument: Measurement of elemental abundances of ultra-heavy galactic cosmic rays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Binns, W. R.; Bose, R. G.; Braun, D. L.

2014-06-10

The SuperTIGER (Super Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder) instrument was developed to measure the abundances of galactic cosmic-ray elements from {sub 10}Ne to {sub 40}Zr with individual element resolution and the high statistics needed to test models of cosmic-ray origins. SuperTIGER also makes exploratory measurements of the abundances of elements with 40 < Z ≤ 60 and measures the energy spectra of the more abundant elements for Z ≤ 30 from about 0.8 to 10 GeV/nucleon. This instrument is an enlarged and higher resolution version of the earlier TIGER instrument. It was designed to provide the largest geometric acceptance possible andmore » to reach as high an altitude as possible, flying on a standard long-duration 1.11 million m{sup 3} balloon. SuperTIGER was launched from Williams Field, McMurdo Station, Antarctica, on 2012 December 8, and made about 2.7 revolutions around the South Pole in 55 days of flight, returning data on over 50 × 10{sup 6} cosmic-ray nuclei with Z ≥ 10, including ∼1300 with Z > 29 and ∼60 with Z > 49. Here, we describe the instrument, the methods of charge identification employed, the SuperTIGER balloon flight, and the instrument performance.« less

THE SuperTIGER Instrument: Measurement of Elemental Abundances of Ultra-Heavy Galactic Cosmic Rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. R.; Bose, R. G.; Braun, D. L.; Brandt, T. J.; Daniels, W. M.; DowKonnt, P. F.; Fitzsimmons, S. P.; Hahne, D. J.; Hams, T.; Israel, M. H.;

PeV Neutrinos Observed by IceCube from Cores of Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stecker, Floyd W.

2013-01-01

I show that the high energy neutrino flux predicted to arise from active galactic nuclei cores can explain the PeV neutrinos detected by IceCube without conflicting with the constraints from the observed extragalactic cosmic-ray and gamma-ray backgrounds.

The X-ray view of radio-loud active galactic nuclei: The central engine and its environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donato, Davide

The non-thermal emission from many Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is obscured by optically thick circumnuclear matter, particularly at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths. In radio-loud (RL) sources, the AGN activity is coupled with the presence of a bipolar jet that emit radio through g-ray light which is relativistically beamed along the jet axes. The combination of absorption and beaming produces highly anisotropic radiation. The understanding of the origin and magnitude of this radiation allows astronomers to unify different classes of AGN; that is, to identify each single, underlying AGN type that gives rise to different classes through different orientations with respect to the jet axis. This is the fundamental notion behind what are called "unification models" of AGN. Although this general idea is well accepted, many aspects remain matter of debate. In fact, the explanation of the wide and complex variety of AGN phenomena must be searched in a combination of apparent differences (like orientation) and real differences in a number of physical parameters (like gas/dust content and distribution, luminosity, etc.). The goal of this thesis is to address some of the RL unification open questions using X-ray data. The improved sensitivity and angular resolution of a new generation of satellites, combined with the fact that X-rays provide useful information on a variety of AGN phenomena, will allow me to: (1) Study the broadband X-ray continua of BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs) and Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQs); (2) Probe the emission from the very inner region of an AGN; (3) Determine the presence and characteristic of extended X-ray emission from the AGN environment. The results obtained from theses studies will provide me insights into (1) the X-ray average spectral properties of BL Lacs and FSRQs and the physical processes responsible of the emission; (2) the presence of the obscuring torus and the amount of absorption, (3) the nature of X-ray emission, and (4

Cosmic ray interactions in starbursting galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoast-Hull, Tova M.

High quality gamma-ray and radio observations of nearby galaxies offer an unprecedented opportunity to quantitatively study the properties of their cosmic ray populations. Accounting for various interactions and energy losses, I developed a multi-component, single-zone model of the cosmic ray populations in the central molecular zones of star-forming galaxies. Using observational knowledge of the interstellar medium and star formation, I successfully predicted the radio, gamma-ray, and neutrino spectra for nearby starbursts. Using chi-squared tests to compare the models with observational radio and gamma-ray data, I placed constraints on magnetic field strengths, cosmic ray energy densities, and galactic wind (advection) speeds. The initial models were applied to and tested on the prototypical starburst galaxy M82. To further test the model and to explore the differences in environment between starbursts and active galactic nuclei, I studied NGC 253 and NGC 1068, both nearby giant spiral galaxies which have been detected in gamma-rays. Additionally, I demonstrated that the excess GeV energy gamma-ray emission in the Galactic Center is likely not diffuse emission from an additional population of cosmic rays accelerated in supernova remnants. Lastly, I investigated cosmic ray populations in the starburst nuclei of Arp 220, a nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy which displays a high-intensity mode of star formation more common in young galaxies, and I showed that the nuclei are efficient cosmic-ray proton calorimeters.

Describing the observed cosmic neutrinos by interactions of nuclei with matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winter, Walter

2014-11-01

IceCube has observed neutrinos that are presumably of extra-Galactic origin. Since specific sources have not yet been identified, we discuss what could be learned from the conceptual point of view. We use a simple model for neutrino production from the interactions between nuclei and matter, and we focus on the description of the spectral shape and flavor composition observed by IceCube. Our main parameters are the spectral index, maximal energy, magnetic field, and composition of the accelerated nuclei. We show that a cutoff at PeV energies can be achieved by soft enough spectra, a cutoff of the primary energy, or strong enough magnetic fields. These options, however, are difficult to reconcile with the hypothesis that these neutrinos originate from the same sources as the ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays. We demonstrate that heavier nuclei accelerated in the sources may be a possible way out if the maximal energy scales appropriately with the mass number of the nuclei. In this scenario, neutrino observations can actually be used to test the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray acceleration mechanism. We also emphasize the need for a volume upgrade of the IceCube detector for future precision physics, for which the flavor information becomes a statistically meaningful model discriminator as well as a qualitatively new ingredient.

TESTING THE ROLE OF SNe Ia FOR GALACTIC CHEMICAL EVOLUTION OF p-NUCLEI WITH TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODELS AND WITH s-PROCESS SEEDS AT DIFFERENT METALLICITIES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Travaglio, C.; Gallino, R.; Rauscher, T.

2015-01-20

The bulk of p isotopes is created in the ''gamma processes'' mainly by sequences of photodisintegrations and beta decays in explosive conditions in Type Ia supernovae (SNIa) or in core collapse supernovae (ccSN). The contribution of different stellar sources to the observed distribution of p-nuclei in the solar system is still under debate. We explore single degenerate Type Ia supernovae in the framework of two-dimensional SNIa delayed-detonation explosion models. Travaglio et al. discussed the sensitivity of p-nuclei production to different SNIa models, i.e., delayed detonations of different strength, deflagrations, and the dependence on selected s-process seed distributions. Here we present amore » detailed study of p-process nucleosynthesis occurring in SNIa with s-process seeds at different metallicities. Based on the delayed-detonation model DDT-a of TRV11, we analyze the dependence of p-nucleosynthesis on the s-seed distribution obtained from different strengths of the {sup 13}C pocket. We also demonstrate that {sup 208}Pb seed alone changes the p-nuclei production considerably. The heavy-s seeds (140 ≤A < 208) contribute with about 30%-40% to the total light-p nuclei production up to {sup 132}Ba (with the exception of {sup 94}Mo and {sup 130}Ba, to which the heavy-s seeds contribute with about 15% only). Using a Galactic chemical evolution code from Travaglio et al., we study the contribution of SNIa to the solar stable p-nuclei. We find that explosions of Chandrasekhar-mass single degenerate systems produce a large amount of p-nuclei in our Galaxy, both in the range of light (A ≤ 120) and heavy p-nuclei, at almost flat average production factors (within a factor of about three). We discussed in details p-isotopes such as {sup 94}Mo with a behavior diverging from the average, which we attribute to uncertainties in the nuclear data or in SNIa modeling. Li et al. find that about 70% of all SNeIa are normal events. If these are explained in the

Increased delivery of condensation nuclei during the Late Heavy Bombardment to the terrestrial and martian atmospheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Losiak, Anna

2014-05-01

During the period of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB), between 4.1 and 3.8 Ga, the impact rate within the entire Solar System was up to a few thousand times higher than the current value (Ryder 2002, Bottke et al. 2012, Fassett and Minton 2013). Multiple basin-forming events on inner planets that occurred during this time had a strong but short-lasting (up to few thousands of years) effect on atmospheres of Earth and Mars (Sleep et al. 1989, Segura et al. 2002, 2012). However, the role of the continuous flux of smaller impactors has not been assessed so far. We calculated the amount of meteoric material in the 10^-3 kg to 106 kg size range delivered to Earth and Mars during the LHB based on the impact flux at the top of the Earth's atmosphere based on results from Bland and Artemieva (2006). Those values were recalculated for Mars based on Ivanov and Hartmann (2009) and then recalculated to the LHB peak based on estimates from Ryder (2002), Bottke et al. (2012), Fassett and Minton (2013). During the LHB, the amount of meteoritic material within this size range delivered to Earth was up to ~1.7*10^10 kg/year and 1.4*10^10 kg/year for Mars. The impactors that ablate and are disrupted during atmospheric entry can serve as cloud condensation nuclei (Rosen 1968, Hunten et al. 1980, Ogurtsov and Raspopov 2011). The amount of material delivered during LHB to the upper stratosphere and lower mezosphere (Hunten et al. 1980, Bland and Artemieva 2006) is comparable to the current terrestrial annual emission of mineral cloud condensation nuclei of 0.5-8*10^12 kg/year (Tegen 2003). On Mars, the availability of condensation nuclei is one of the main factors guiding water-ice cloud formation (Montmessin et al. 2004), which is in turn one of the main climatic factors influencing the hydrological cycle (Michaels et al. 2006) and radiative balance of the planet (Haberle et al. 1999, Wordsworth et al. 2013, Urata and Toon 2013). Increased delivery of condensation nuclei during the

Nuclear spectroscopy of r-process nuclei around N = 126 using KISS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirayama, Y.; Watanabe, Y. X.; Miyatake, H.; Schury, P.; Wada, M.; Oyaizu, M.; Kakiguchi, Y.; Mukai, M.; Kimura, S.; Ahmed, M.; Jeong, S. C.; Moon, J. Y.; Park, J. H.

2017-09-01

The beta-decay properties and atomic mass of nuclei with neutron magic number of N = 126 are considered critical for understanding the production of heavy elements such as gold and platinum at astrophysical sites. We will produce and measure the half-lives and masses of the nuclei with Z = 74-77 around N = 126 by using the multinucleon transfer (MNT) reaction of ^{136} Xe/ ^{238} U beams and ^{198} Pt target system. For this purpose, we have constructed the KEK Isotope Separation System (KISS) at RIKEN RIBF facility. KISS consists of an argon gas cell based laser ion source (atomic number selection) and an isotope separation on-line (ISOL) (mass number selection), to produce pure low-energy beams of neutron-rich isotopes around N = 126 . We performed the on-line tests to study the basic properties of the KISS and, successfully extracted laser-ionized nuclei around N = 126.

Online in situ x-ray diffraction setup for structural modification studies during swift heavy ion irradiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grygiel, C.; Lebius, H.; Bouffard, S.

2012-01-15

The high energy density of electronic excitations due to the impact of swift heavy ions can induce structural modifications in materials. We present an x-ray diffractometer called ALIX (''Analyse en Ligne sur IRRSUD par diffraction de rayons X''), which has been set up at the low-energy beamline (IRRadiation SUD - IRRSUD) of the Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds facility, to allow the study of structural modification kinetics as a function of the ion fluence. The x-ray setup has been modified and optimized to enable irradiation by swift heavy ions simultaneously to x-ray pattern recording. We present the capability of ALIXmore » to perform simultaneous irradiation-diffraction by using energy discrimination between x-rays from diffraction and from ion-target interaction. To illustrate its potential, results of sequential or simultaneous irradiation-diffraction are presented in this article to show radiation effects on the structural properties of ceramics. Phase transition kinetics have been studied during xenon ion irradiation of polycrystalline MgO and SrTiO{sub 3}. We have observed that MgO oxide is radiation-resistant to high electronic excitations, contrary to the high sensitivity of SrTiO{sub 3}, which exhibits transition from the crystalline to the amorphous state during irradiation. By interpreting the amorphization kinetics of SrTiO{sub 3}, defect overlapping models are discussed as well as latent track characteristics. Together with a transmission electron microscopy study, we conclude that a single impact model describes the phase transition mechanism.« less

Energy spectra of cosmic rays above 1 TeV per nucleon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burnett, T. H.; Dake, S.; Derrickson, J. H.; Fountain, W. F.; Fuki, M.

1990-01-01

Direct measurements of cosmic-ray nuclei above 1 TeV/nucleon have been performed in a series of balloon-borne experiments with emulsion chambers. The observed all-particle spectrum above 20 TeV is consistent with the results of the Proton satellite and many air shower experiments. The proton spectrum is consistent with a power law having an index of 2.76 + or - 0.09 up to at least 100 TeV, but an overabundance of helium by a factor of 2 above 2 TeV per nucleon is found when compared with the extrapolation from the low energies. For heavy elements (C through Fe), the intensities around 1 TeV/nucleon are consistent, within the statistical errors, with the extrapolation from lower energy data using the Spacelab 2 spectral indices. An enhancement for the medium-heavy components (C through Ca) above 200 TeV is indicated. The mean mass above 50 TeV indicates slightly higher values than the results of the air shower experiments.

Uranium-molybdenum nuclear fuel plates behaviour under heavy ion irradiation: An X-ray diffraction analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palancher, H.; Wieschalla, N.; Martin, P.; Tucoulou, R.; Sabathier, C.; Petry, W.; Berar, J.-F.; Valot, C.; Dubois, S.

2009-03-01

Heavy ion irradiation has been proposed for discriminating UMo/Al specimens which are good candidates for research reactor fuels. Two UMo/Al dispersed fuels (U-7 wt%Mo/Al and U-10 wt%Mo/Al) have been irradiated with a 80 MeV 127I beam up to an ion fluence of 2 × 1017 cm-2. Microscopy and mainly X-ray diffraction using large and micrometer sized beams have enabled to characterize the grown interaction layer: UAl3 appears to be the only produced crystallized phase. The presence of an amorphous additional phase can however not be excluded. These results are in good agreement with characterizations performed on in-pile irradiated fuels and encourage new studies with heavy ion irradiation.

β decay of the exotic Tz=-2 nuclei 48Fe,52Ni , and 56Zn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orrigo, S. E. A.; Rubio, B.; Fujita, Y.; Gelletly, W.; Agramunt, J.; Algora, A.; Ascher, P.; Bilgier, B.; Blank, B.; Cáceres, L.; Cakirli, R. B.; Ganioǧlu, E.; Gerbaux, M.; Giovinazzo, J.; Grévy, S.; Kamalou, O.; Kozer, H. C.; Kucuk, L.; Kurtukian-Nieto, T.; Molina, F.; Popescu, L.; Rogers, A. M.; Susoy, G.; Stodel, C.; Suzuki, T.; Tamii, A.; Thomas, J. C.

2016-04-01

The results of a study of the β decays of three proton-rich nuclei with Tz=-2 , namely 48Fe,52Ni , and 56Zn, produced in an experiment carried out at GANIL, are reported. In all three cases we have extracted the half-lives and the total β -delayed proton emission branching ratios. We have measured the individual β -delayed protons and β -delayed γ rays and the branching ratios of the corresponding levels. Decay schemes have been determined for the three nuclei, and new energy levels are identified in the daughter nuclei. Competition between β -delayed protons and γ rays is observed in the de-excitation of the T =2 isobaric analog states in all three cases. Absolute Fermi and Gamow-Teller transition strengths have been determined. The mass excesses of the nuclei under study have been deduced. In addition, we discuss in detail the data analysis taking as a test case 56Zn, where the exotic β -delayed γ -proton decay has been observed.

Scissors mode of Gd nuclei studied from resonance neutron capture

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kroll, J.; Baramsai, B.; Becker, J. A.

2012-10-20

Spectra of {gamma} rays following the neutron capture at isolated resonances of stable Gd nuclei were measured. The objectives were to get new information on photon strength of {sup 153,155-159}Gd with emphasis on the role of the M1 scissors-mode vibration. An analysis of the data obtained clearly indicates that the scissors mode is coupled not only to the ground state, but also to all excited levels of the nuclei studied. The specificity of our approach ensures unbiasedness in estimating the sumed scissors-mode strength {Sigma}B(M1){up_arrow}, even for odd product nuclei, for which conventional nuclear resonance fluorescence measurements yield only limited information.more » Our analysis indicates that for these nuclei the sum {Sigma}B(M1){up_arrow} increases with A and for {sup 157,159}Gd it is significantly higher compared to {sup 156,158}Gd.« less

Uncorrelated Far Active Galactic Nuclei Flaring with Their Delayed Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fargion, Daniele; Oliva, Pietro; De Sanctis Lucentini, Pier Giorgio

The most distant Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), within the allowed Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cut-off radius ( ≲ 100 Mpc), have been recently candidate by many authors as the best location for the observed Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) origination. Indeed, the apparent homogeneity and isotropy of recent UHECR signals seems to require a far cosmic isotropic and homogeneous scenario, involving a proton UHECR courier: our galaxy or nearest local group or super galactic plane (ruled by the Virgo cluster) are too near and apparently too anisotropic to be in agreement with the (Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) and Telescope Array (TA) almost-homogeneous data sample. However, the few and mild UHECR observed clustering, the so called North and South Hot Spots, are smeared in wide (±18°) solid angles. Their consequent random walk flight from most far GZK UHECR sources, nearly at 100 Mpc, must be delayed — withrespect to a straight AGN photon gamma flaring arrival trajectory — at least by a million years. During this time, the AGN jet blazing signal, its probable axis deflection (such as the helical jet in Mrk 501), its miss alignment or even its almost certain exhaust activity, may lead to a complete misleading correlation between present UHECR events and a much earlier active AGN ejection. UHECR maps may be anyway related to galactic or nearest (Cen A, M82) AGN extragalactic UHECR sources shining in twin Hot Spot. Therefore we defend our (quite different) scenario where UHECR are mostly made by lightest UHECR nuclei originated by nearby AGN sources, or few galactic sources, whose delayed signals are reaching us within few thousand years in the observed smeared sky areas.

Implications of supernova remnant origin model of galactic cosmic rays on gamma rays from young supernova remnants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banik, Prabir; Bhadra, Arunava

2017-06-01

It is widely believed that Galactic cosmic rays are originated in supernova remnants (SNRs), where they are accelerated by a diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) process in supernova blast waves driven by expanding SNRs. In recent theoretical developments of the DSA theory in SNRs, protons are expected to accelerate in SNRs at least up to the knee energy. If SNRs are the true generators of cosmic rays, they should accelerate not only protons but also heavier nuclei with the right proportions, and the maximum energy of the heavier nuclei should be the atomic number (Z ) times the mass of the proton. In this work, we investigate the implications of the acceleration of heavier nuclei in SNRs on energetic gamma rays produced in the hadronic interaction of cosmic rays with ambient matter. Our findings suggest that the energy conversion efficiency has to be nearly double for the mixed cosmic ray composition compared to that of pure protons to explain observations. In addition, the gamma-ray flux above a few tens of TeV would be significantly higher if cosmic ray particles could attain energies Z times the knee energy in lieu of 200 TeV, as suggested earlier for nonamplified magnetic fields. The two stated maximum energy paradigms will be discriminated in the future by upcoming gamma-ray experiments like the Cherenkov telescope array (CTA).

Heavy element production in inhomogeneous big bang nucleosynthesis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matsuura, Shunji; Fujimoto, Shin-ichirou; Nishimura, Sunao

2005-12-15

We present a new astrophysical site of the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) that are very peculiar compared with the standard BBN. Some models of the baryogenesis suggest that very high baryon density regions were formed in the early universe. On the other hand, recent observations suggest that heavy elements already exist in high red-shifts and the origin of these elements become a big puzzle. Motivated by these, we investigate BBN in very high baryon density regions. BBN proceeds in proton-rich environment, which is known to be like the p-process. However, by taking very heavy nuclei into account, we find thatmore » BBN proceeds through both the p-process and the r-process simultaneously. P-nuclei such as {sup 92}Mo, {sup 94}Mo, {sup 96}Ru, {sup 98}Ru whose origin is not well known are also synthesized.« less

Description of Differential Cross Sections for 63Cu + p Nuclear Reactions Induced by High-Energy Cosmic-Ray Protons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chuvilskaya, T. V.; Shirokova, A. A.

2018-03-01

The results of calculation of 63Cu + p differential cross sections at incident-proton energies between 10 and 200 MeV and a comparative analysis of these results are presented as a continuation of the earlier work of our group on developing methods for calculating the contribution of nuclear reactions to radiative effects arising in the onboard spacecraft electronics under the action of high-energy cosmic-ray protons on 63Cu nuclei (generation of single-event upsets) and as a supplement to the earlier calculations performed on the basis of the TALYS code in order to determine elastic- and inelastic-scattering cross sections and charge, mass, and energy distributions of recoil nuclei (heavy products of the 63Cu + p nuclear reaction). The influence of various mechanisms of the angular distributions of particles emitted in the 63Cu + p nuclear reaction is also discussed.

[Results of measuring the charge and energy spectra of heavy nuclei on board the artificial Earth satellite Kosmos-936].

PubMed

Dashin, S A; Marennyĭ, A M; Gertsen, G P

1982-01-01

The measurements were performed using a package of dielectric track detectors mounted behind the shield of 60-80 kg.m-2 thick. The charge of nuclei was determined from the complete track length. As a result, 1915 tracks of nuclei with Z greater than or equal to 6 in the energy range 100-450 MeV/nuclon were detected and identified. The differential charge spectrum of nuclei with 6 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 28 and the energy spectrum of nuclei of the iron group were built. For iron nuclei the following ration of isotope groups was obtained: (Fe52 + Fe53 + Fe54): (Fe55 + Fe56 + Fe57) : (Fe58 + Fe59 + Fe60) = (0.30 +/- 0.08) = (0.49 +/- 0.10) : (0.21 +/- 0.05).

Event Generators for Simulating Heavy Ion Interactions of Interest in Evaluating Risks in Human Spaceflight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, Thomas L.; Pinsky, Lawrence; Andersen, Victor; Empl, Anton; Lee, Kerry; Smirmov, Georgi; Zapp, Neal; Ferrari, Alfredo; Tsoulou, Katerina; Roesler, Stefan;

Ensemble X-ray variability of active galactic nuclei. II. Excess variance and updated structure function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vagnetti, F.; Middei, R.; Antonucci, M.; Paolillo, M.; Serafinelli, R.

2016-09-01

Context. Most investigations of the X-ray variability of active galactic nuclei (AGN) have been concentrated on the detailed analyses of individual, nearby sources. A relatively small number of studies have treated the ensemble behaviour of the more general AGN population in wider regions of the luminosity-redshift plane. Aims: We want to determine the ensemble variability properties of a rich AGN sample, called Multi-Epoch XMM Serendipitous AGN Sample (MEXSAS), extracted from the fifth release of the XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue (XMMSSC-DR5), with redshift between ~0.1 and ~5, and X-ray luminosities in the 0.5-4.5 keV band between ~1042 erg/s and ~1047 erg/s. Methods: We urge caution on the use of the normalised excess variance (NXS), noting that it may lead to underestimate variability if used improperly. We use the structure function (SF), updating our previous analysis for a smaller sample. We propose a correction to the NXS variability estimator, taking account of the light curve duration in the rest frame on the basis of the knowledge of the variability behaviour gained by SF studies. Results: We find an ensemble increase of the X-ray variability with the rest-frame time lag τ, given by SF ∝ τ0.12. We confirm an inverse dependence on the X-ray luminosity, approximately as SF ∝ LX-0.19. We analyse the SF in different X-ray bands, finding a dependence of the variability on the frequency as SF ∝ ν-0.15, corresponding to a so-called softer when brighter trend. In turn, this dependence allows us to parametrically correct the variability estimated in observer-frame bands to that in the rest frame, resulting in a moderate (≲15%) shift upwards (V-correction). Conclusions: Ensemble X-ray variability of AGNs is best described by the structure function. An improper use of the normalised excess variance may lead to an underestimate of the intrinsic variability, so that appropriate corrections to the data or the models must be applied to prevent

Observation of Global Hyperon Polarization in Ultrarelativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Upsal, Isaac; STAR Collaboration

2017-11-01

Collisions between heavy nuclei at ultra-relativistic energies form a color-deconfined state of matter known as the quark-gluon plasma. This state is well described by hydrodynamics, and non-central collisions are expected to produce a fluid characterized by strong vorticity in the presence of strong external magnetic fields. The STAR Collaboration at Brookhaven National Laboratory's Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has measured collisions between gold nuclei at center of mass energies √{sNN} = 7.7- 200 GeV. We report the first observation of globally polarized Λ and Λ bar hyperons, aligned with the angular momentum of the colliding system. These measurements provide important information on partonic spin-orbit coupling, the vorticity of the quark-gluon plasma, and the magnetic field generated in the collision.

Charged particle induced delayed X-rays (DEX) for the analysis of intermediate and heavy elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pillay, A. E.; Erasmus, C. S.; Andeweg, A. H.; Sellschop, J. P. F.; Annegarn, H. J.; Dunn, J.

1988-12-01

The emission of K X-rays from proton-rich and metastable radionuclides, following proton activation of the stable isotopes of the elements of interest, has not been widely used as a means of analysis. The thrust of this paper proposes a nuclear technique using delayed X-rays for the analysis of low concentrations of intermediate and heavy elements. The method is similar to the delayed gamma-ray technique. Proton bombardment induces mainly (p, n) reactions whereas the delayed X-rays originate largely from e --capture and isomeric transition. Samples of rare earth and platinum group elements (PGE), in the form of compacted powders, were irradiated with an 11 MeV proton beam and delayed X-rays detected with a 100 mm 2 Ge detector. Single element spectra for a range of rare earths and PGEs are presented. Analytical conditions are demonstrated for Pd in the range 0.1-5%. Spectra from actual geological samples of a PGE ore, preconcentrated by fire-assay, and monazite are presented. All six platinum group elements are visible and interference-free in a single spectrum, a marked advance on other nuclear techniques for these elements, including PIXE and neutron activation analysis (NAA).

Studying The Spectral Shape And The X-ray/uv Variability Of Active Galactic Nuclei With Data From Swift And Xmm Archives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turriziani, Sara

2011-01-01

Many efforts have been made in understanding the underlying origin of variability in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), but at present they could give still no conclusive answers. Since a deeper knowledge of variability will enable to understand better the accretion process onto supermassive black holes, I built the first ensemble struction function analysis of the X-ray variability of samples of quasars with data from Swift and XMM-Newton archives in order to study the average properties of their variability. Moreover, it is known that UV and X-ray luminosities of quasars are correlated and recent studies quantified this relation across 5 orders of magnitude. In this context, I presents results on the X-ray/UV ratio from simultaneous observations in UV and X-ray bands of a sample of quasars with data from XMM-Newton archive. Lastly, I will present a complete sample of Swift/SDSS faint blazars and other non-thermal dominated AGNs. I used this sample to calculate the general statistical properties of faint blazars and radio galaxies and in particular their Radio LogN-LogS with fluxes down to 10 mJy, in order to gain knowledge on the contribution to Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and gamma-ray background radiation from the faint tail of the radio population. I acknowledge financial support through Grant ASI I/088/06/0.

Quasi-particle Interference of Heavy Fermions in Resonant X-ray Scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gyenis, Andras; da Silva Neto, Eduardo H.; Sutarto, Ronny

Resonant x-ray scattering (RXS) has recently become an increasingly important tool for the study of ordering phenomena in correlated electron systems. Yet, the interpretation of RXS experiments remains theoretically challenging because of the complexity of the RXS cross section. Central to this debate is the recent proposal that impurity-induced Friedel oscillations, akin to quasi-particle interference signals observed with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), can lead to scattering peaks in RXS experiments. The possibility that quasi-particle properties can be probed in RXS measurements opens up a new avenue to study the bulk band structure of materials with the orbital and elementmore » selectivity provided by RXS. We test these ideas by combining RXS and STM measurements of the heavy fermion compound CeMIn5 (M = Co, Rh). Temperature- and doping-dependent RXS measurements at the Ce-M4 edge show a broad scattering enhancement that correlates with the appearance of heavy f-electron bands in these compounds. The scattering enhancement is consistent with the measured quasi-particle interference signal in the STM measurements, indicating that the quasi-particle interference can be probed through the momentum distribution of RXS signals. Overall, our experiments demonstrate new opportunities for studies of correlated electronic systems using the RXS technique.« less

Quasi-particle interference of heavy fermions in resonant x-ray scattering

PubMed Central

Gyenis, András; da Silva Neto, Eduardo H.; Sutarto, Ronny; Schierle, Enrico; He, Feizhou; Weschke, Eugen; Kavai, Mariam; Baumbach, Ryan E.; Thompson, Joe D.; Bauer, Eric D.; Fisk, Zachary; Damascelli, Andrea; Yazdani, Ali; Aynajian, Pegor

2016-01-01

Resonant x-ray scattering (RXS) has recently become an increasingly important tool for the study of ordering phenomena in correlated electron systems. Yet, the interpretation of RXS experiments remains theoretically challenging because of the complexity of the RXS cross section. Central to this debate is the recent proposal that impurity-induced Friedel oscillations, akin to quasi-particle interference signals observed with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), can lead to scattering peaks in RXS experiments. The possibility that quasi-particle properties can be probed in RXS measurements opens up a new avenue to study the bulk band structure of materials with the orbital and element selectivity provided by RXS. We test these ideas by combining RXS and STM measurements of the heavy fermion compound CeMIn5 (M = Co, Rh). Temperature- and doping-dependent RXS measurements at the Ce-M4 edge show a broad scattering enhancement that correlates with the appearance of heavy f-electron bands in these compounds. The scattering enhancement is consistent with the measured quasi-particle interference signal in the STM measurements, indicating that the quasi-particle interference can be probed through the momentum distribution of RXS signals. Overall, our experiments demonstrate new opportunities for studies of correlated electronic systems using the RXS technique. PMID:27757422

Quasi-particle Interference of Heavy Fermions in Resonant X-ray Scattering

DOE PAGES

Gyenis, Andras; da Silva Neto, Eduardo H.; Sutarto, Ronny; ...

2016-10-14

Resonant x-ray scattering (RXS) has recently become an increasingly important tool for the study of ordering phenomena in correlated electron systems. Yet, the interpretation of RXS experiments remains theoretically challenging because of the complexity of the RXS cross section. Central to this debate is the recent proposal that impurity-induced Friedel oscillations, akin to quasi-particle interference signals observed with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), can lead to scattering peaks in RXS experiments. The possibility that quasi-particle properties can be probed in RXS measurements opens up a new avenue to study the bulk band structure of materials with the orbital and elementmore » selectivity provided by RXS. We test these ideas by combining RXS and STM measurements of the heavy fermion compound CeMIn5 (M = Co, Rh). Temperature- and doping-dependent RXS measurements at the Ce-M4 edge show a broad scattering enhancement that correlates with the appearance of heavy f-electron bands in these compounds. The scattering enhancement is consistent with the measured quasi-particle interference signal in the STM measurements, indicating that the quasi-particle interference can be probed through the momentum distribution of RXS signals. Overall, our experiments demonstrate new opportunities for studies of correlated electronic systems using the RXS technique.« less

Quasi-particle interference of heavy fermions in resonant x-ray scattering.

PubMed

Gyenis, András; da Silva Neto, Eduardo H; Sutarto, Ronny; Schierle, Enrico; He, Feizhou; Weschke, Eugen; Kavai, Mariam; Baumbach, Ryan E; Thompson, Joe D; Bauer, Eric D; Fisk, Zachary; Damascelli, Andrea; Yazdani, Ali; Aynajian, Pegor

2016-10-01

Resonant x-ray scattering (RXS) has recently become an increasingly important tool for the study of ordering phenomena in correlated electron systems. Yet, the interpretation of RXS experiments remains theoretically challenging because of the complexity of the RXS cross section. Central to this debate is the recent proposal that impurity-induced Friedel oscillations, akin to quasi-particle interference signals observed with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), can lead to scattering peaks in RXS experiments. The possibility that quasi-particle properties can be probed in RXS measurements opens up a new avenue to study the bulk band structure of materials with the orbital and element selectivity provided by RXS. We test these ideas by combining RXS and STM measurements of the heavy fermion compound Ce M In 5 ( M = Co, Rh). Temperature- and doping-dependent RXS measurements at the Ce- M 4 edge show a broad scattering enhancement that correlates with the appearance of heavy f -electron bands in these compounds. The scattering enhancement is consistent with the measured quasi-particle interference signal in the STM measurements, indicating that the quasi-particle interference can be probed through the momentum distribution of RXS signals. Overall, our experiments demonstrate new opportunities for studies of correlated electronic systems using the RXS technique.

Anisotropy and chemical composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays using arrival directions measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pierre Auger Collaboration; Abreu, P.; Aglietta, M.; Ahn, E. J.; Albuquerque, I. F. M.; Allard, D.; Allekotte, I.; Allen, J.; Allison, P.; Alvarez Castillo, J.; Alvarez-Muñiz, J.; Ambrosio, M.; Aminaei, A.; Anchordoqui, L.; Andringa, S.; Antičić, T.; Anzalone, A.; Aramo, C.; Arganda, E.; Arqueros, F.; Asorey, H.; Assis, P.; Aublin, J.; Ave, M.; Avenier, M.; Avila, G.; Bäcker, T.; Balzer, M.; Barber, K. B.; Barbosa, A. F.; Bardenet, R.; Barroso, S. L. C.; Baughman, B.; Bäuml, J.; Beatty, J. J.; Becker, B. R.; Becker, K. H.; Bellétoile, A.; Bellido, J. A.; BenZvi, S.; Berat, C.; Bertou, X.; Biermann, P. L.; Billoir, P.; Blanco, F.; Blanco, M.; Bleve, C.; Blümer, H.; Boháčová, M.; Boncioli, D.; Bonifazi, C.; Bonino, R.; Borodai, N.; Brack, J.; Brogueira, P.; Brown, W. C.; Bruijn, R.; Buchholz, P.; Bueno, A.; Burton, R. E.; Caballero-Mora, K. S.; Caramete, L.; Caruso, R.; Castellina, A.; Catalano, O.; Cataldi, G.; Cazon, L.; Cester, R.; Chauvin, J.; Cheng, S. H.; Chiavassa, A.; Chinellato, J. A.; Chou, A.; Chudoba, J.; Clay, R. W.; Coluccia, M. R.; Conceição, R.; Contreras, F.; Cook, H.; Cooper, M. J.; Coppens, J.; Cordier, A.; Cotti, U.; Coutu, S.; Covault, C. E.; Creusot, A.; Criss, A.; Cronin, J.; Curutiu, A.; Dagoret-Campagne, S.; Dallier, R.; Dasso, S.; Daumiller, K.; Dawson, B. R.; de Almeida, R. M.; De Domenico, M.; De Donato, C.; de Jong, S. J.; De La Vega, G.; de Mello Junior, W. J. M.; de Mello Neto, J. R. T.; De Mitri, I.; de Souza, V.; de Vries, K. D.; Decerprit, G.; del Peral, L.; Deligny, O.; Dembinski, H.; Dhital, N.; Di Giulio, C.; Diaz, J. C.; Díaz Castro, M. L.; Diep, P. N.; Dobrigkeit, C.; Docters, W.; D'Olivo, J. C.; Dong, P. N.; Dorofeev, A.; dos Anjos, J. C.; Dova, M. T.; D'Urso, D.; Dutan, I.; Ebr, J.; Engel, R.; Erdmann, M.; Escobar, C. O.; Etchegoyen, A.; Facal San Luis, P.; Fajardo Tapia, I.; Falcke, H.; Farrar, G.; Fauth, A. C.; Fazzini, N.; Ferguson, A. P.; Ferrero, A.; Fick, B.; Filevich, A.; Filipčič, A.; Fliescher, S.; Fracchiolla, C. E.; Fraenkel, E. D.; Fröhlich, U.; Fuchs, B.; Gaior, R.; Gamarra, R. F.; Gambetta, S.; García, B.; García Gámez, D.; Garcia-Pinto, D.; Gascon, A.; Gemmeke, H.; Gesterling, K.; Ghia, P. L.; Giaccari, U.; Giller, M.; Glass, H.; Gold, M. S.; Golup, G.; Gomez Albarracin, F.; Gómez Berisso, M.; Gonçalves, P.; Gonzalez, D.; Gonzalez, J. G.; Gookin, B.; Góra, D.; Gorgi, A.; Gouffon, P.; Gozzini, S. R.; Grashorn, E.; Grebe, S.; Griffith, N.; Grigat, M.; Grillo, A. F.; Guardincerri, Y.; Guarino, F.; Guedes, G. P.; Guzman, A.; Hague, J. D.; Hansen, P.; Harari, D.; Harmsma, S.; Harton, J. L.; Haungs, A.; Hebbeker, T.; Heck, D.; Herve, A. E.; Hojvat, C.; Hollon, N.; Holmes, V. C.; Homola, P.; Hörandel, J. R.; Horneffer, A.; Hrabovský, M.; Huege, T.; Insolia, A.; Ionita, F.; Italiano, A.; Jarne, C.; Jiraskova, S.; Kadija, K.; Kampert, K. H.; Karhan, P.; Kasper, P.; Kégl, B.; Keilhauer, B.; Keivani, A.; Kelley, J. L.; Kemp, E.; Kieckhafer, R. M.; Klages, H. O.; Kleifges, M.; Kleinfeller, J.; Knapp, J.; Koang, D.-H.; Kotera, K.; Krohm, N.; Krömer, O.; Kruppke-Hansen, D.; Kuehn, F.; Kuempel, D.; Kulbartz, J. K.; Kunka, N.; La Rosa, G.; Lachaud, C.; Lautridou, P.; Leão, M. S. A. B.; Lebrun, D.; Lebrun, P.; Leigui de Oliveira, M. A.; Lemiere, A.; Letessier-Selvon, A.; Lhenry-Yvon, I.; Link, K.; López, R.; Lopez Aüera, A.; Louedec, K.; Lozano Bahilo, J.; Lucero, A.; Ludwig, M.; Lyberis, H.; Maccarone, M. C.; Macolino, C.; Maldera, S.; Mandat, D.; Mantsch, P.; Mariazzi, A. G.; Marin, J.; Marin, V.; Maris, I. C.; Marquez Falcon, H. R.; Marsella, G.; Martello, D.; Martin, L.; Martinez, H.; Martínez Bravo, O.; Mathes, H. J.; Matthews, J.; Matthews, J. A. J.; Matthiae, G.; Maurizio, D.; Mazur, P. O.; Medina-Tanco, G.; Melissas, M.; Melo, D.; Menichetti, E.; Menshikov, A.; Mertsch, P.; Meurer, C.; Mićanović, S.; Micheletti, M. I.; Miller, W.; Miramonti, L.; Mollerach, S.; Monasor, M.; Monnier Ragaigne, D.; Montanet, F.; Morales, B.; Morello, C.; Moreno, E.; Moreno, J. C.; Morris, C.; Mostafá, M.; Moura, C. A.; Mueller, S.; Muller, M. A.; Müller, G.; Münchmeyer, M.; Mussa, R.; Navarra, G.; Navarro, J. L.; Navas, S.; Necesal, P.; Nellen, L.; Nelles, A.; Nhung, P. T.; Niemietz, L.; Nierstenhoefer, N.; Nitz, D.; Nosek, D.; Nožka, L.; Nyklicek, M.; Oehlschläger, J.; Olinto, A.; Oliva, P.; Olmos-Gilbaja, V. M.; Ortiz, M.; Pacheco, N.; Pakk Selmi-Dei, D.; Palatka, M.; Pallotta, J.; Palmieri, N.; Parente, G.; Parizot, E.; Parra, A.; Parsons, R. D.; Pastor, S.; Paul, T.; Pech, M.; Pȩkala, J.; Pelayo, R.; Pepe, I. M.; Perrone, L.; Pesce, R.; Petermann, E.; Petrera, S.; Petrinca, P.; Petrolini, A.; Petrov, Y.; Petrovic, J.; Pfendner, C.; Phan, N.; Piegaia, R.; Pierog, T.; Pieroni, P.; Pimenta, M.; Pirronello, V.; Platino, M.; Ponce, V. H.; Pontz, M.; Privitera, P.; Prouza, M.; Quel, E. J.; Querchfeld, S.; Rautenberg, J.; Ravel, O.; Ravignani, D.; Revenu, B.; Ridky, J.; Riggi, S.; Risse, M.; Ristori, P.; Rivera, H.; Rizi, V.; Roberts, J.; Robledo, C.; Rodrigues de Carvalho, W.; Rodriguez, G.; Rodriguez Martino, J.; Rodriguez Rojo, J.; Rodriguez-Cabo, I.; Rodríguez-Frías, M. D.; Ros, G.; Rosado, J.; Rossler, T.; Roth, M.; Rouillé-d'Orfeuil, B.; Roulet, E.; Rovero, A. C.; Rühle, C.; Salamida, F.; Salazar, H.; Salina, G.; Sánchez, F.; Santander, M.; Santo, C. E.; Santos, E.; Santos, E. M.; Sarazin, F.; Sarkar, B.; Sarkar, S.; Sato, R.; Scharf, N.; Scherini, V.; Schieler, H.; Schiffer, P.; Schmidt, A.; Schmidt, F.; Schmidt, T.; Scholten, O.; Schoorlemmer, H.; Schovancova, J.; Schovánek, P.; Schöder, F.; Schulte, S.; Schuster, D.; Sciutto, S. J.; Scuderi, M.; Segreto, A.; Settimo, M.; Shadkam, A.; Shellard, R. C.; Sidelnik, I.; Sigl, G.; Silva Lopez, H. H.; Śmiałkowski, A.; Šmída, R.; Snow, G. R.; Sommers, P.; Sorokin, J.; Spinka, H.; Squartini, R.; Stapleton, J.; Stasielak, J.; Stephan, M.; Strazzeri, E.; Stutz, A.; Suarez, F.; Suomijärvi, T.; Supanitsky, A. D.; Šuša, T.; Sutherland, M. S.; Swain, J.; Szadkowski, Z.; Szuba, M.; Tamashiro, A.; Tapia, A.; Tartare, M.; Taşcąu, O.; Tavera Ruiz, C. G.; Tcaciuc, R.; Tegolo, D.; Thao, N. T.; Thomas, D.; Tiffenberg, J.; Timmermans, C.; Tiwari, D. K.; Tkaczyk, W.; Todero Peixoto, C. J.; Tomé, B.; Tonachini, A.; Travnicek, P.; Tridapalli, D. B.; Tristram, G.; Trovato, E.; Tueros, M.; Ulrich, R.; Unger, M.; Urban, M.; Valdés Galicia, J. F.; Valiño, I.; Valore, L.; van den Berg, A. M.; Varela, E.; Vargas Cáardenas, B.; Vázquez, J. R.; Vázquez, R. A.; Veberič, D.; Verzi, V.; Vicha, J.; Videla, M.; Villaseñor, L.; Wahlberg, H.; Wahrlich, P.; Wainberg, O.; Warner, D.; Watson, A. A.; Weber, M.; Weidenhaupt, K.; Weindl, A.; Westerhoff, S.; Whelan, B. J.; Wieczorek, G.; Wiencke, L.; Wilczyńska, B.; Wilczyński, H.; Will, M.; Williams, C.; Winchen, T.; Winders, L.; Winnick, M. G.; Wommer, M.; Wundheiler, B.; Yamamoto, T.; Yapici, T.; Younk, P.; Yuan, G.; Yushkov, A.; Zamorano, B.; Zas, E.; Zavrtanik, D.; Zavrtanik, M.; Zaw, I.; Zepeda, A.; Ziolkowski, M.

2011-06-01

The Pierre Auger Collaboration has reported evidence for anisotropy in the distribution of arrival directions of the cosmic rays with energies E > Eth = 5.5 × 1019 eV. These show a correlation with the distribution of nearby extragalactic objects, including an apparent excess around the direction of Centaurus A. If the particles responsible for these excesses at E > Eth are heavy nuclei with charge Z, the proton component of the sources should lead to excesses in the same regions at energies E/Z. We here report the lack of anisotropies in these directions at energies above Eth/Z (for illustrative values of Z = 6,13,26). If the anisotropies above Eth are due to nuclei with charge Z, and under reasonable assumptions about the acceleration process, these observations imply stringent constraints on the allowed proton fraction at the lower energies.

Synthesis, Decay Properties, and Identification of Superheavy Nuclei Produced in 48Ca-induced Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oganessian, Yu. Ts.; Utyonkov, V. K.; Lobanov, Yu. V.; Abdullin, F. Sh.; Polyakov, A. N.; Sagaidak, R. N.; Shirokovsky, I. V.; Tsyganov, Yu. S.; Voinov, A. A.; Iliev, S.; Subbotin, V. G.; Sukhov, A. M.; Gulbekian, G. G.; Bogomolov, S. L.; Gikal, B. N.; Mezentsev, A. N.; Subotic, K.; Zagrebaev, V. I.; Itkis, M. G.; Moody, K. J.; Henderson, R. A.; Patin, J. B.; Shaughnessy, D. A.; Stoyer, M. A.; Stoyer, N. J.; Wilk, P. A.; Kenneally, J. M.; Landrum, J. H.; Wild, J. F.; Lougheed, R. W.

2007-10-01

Thirty-four new nuclides with Z = 104-116, 118 and N = 161-177 have been synthesized in the complete-fusion reactions of 238U, 237Np, 242,244Pu, 243Am, 245,248Cm, and 249Cf targets with 48Ca beams. The masses of evaporation residues were identified through measurements of the excitation functions of the xn-evaporation channels and from cross bombardments. The decay properties of the new nuclei agree with those of previously known heavy nuclei and with predictions from different theoretical models. A discussion of self-consistent interpretations of all observed decay chains originating from the parent isotopes 282,283112, 282113, 286-289114, 287,288115, 290-293116, and 294118 is presented. Decay energies and lifetimes of the neutron-rich superheavy nuclei as well as their production cross sections indicate a considerable increase in the stability of nuclei with the approach to the theoretically predicted nuclear shells with N = 184 and Z = 114.

Synthesis, Decay Properties, and Identification of Superheavy Nuclei Produced in 48CA-INDUCED Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oganessian, Yu. Ts.; Utyonkov, V. K.; Lobanov, Yu. V.; Abdullin, F. Sh.; Polyakov, A. N.; Sagaidak, R. N.; Shirokovsky, I. V.; Tsyganov, Yu. S.; Voinov, A. A.; Iliev, S.; Subbotin, V. G.; Sukhov, A. M.; Gulbekian, G. G.; Bogomolov, S. L.; Gikal, B. N.; Mezentsev, A. N.; Subotic, K.; Zagrebaev, V. I.; Itkis, M. G.; Moody, K. J.; Henderson, R. A.; Patin, J. B.; Shaughnessy, D. A.; Stoyer, M. A.; Stoyer, N. J.; Wilk, P. A.; Kenneally, J. M.; Landrum, J. H.; Wild, J. F.; Lougheed, R. W.

2008-04-01

Thirty-four new nuclides with Z = 104-116, 118 and N = 161-177 have been synthesized in the complete-fusion reactions of 238U, 237Np, 242,244Pu, 243Am, 245,248Cm, and 249Cf targets with 48Ca beams. The masses of evaporation residues were identified through measurements of the excitation functions of the xn-evaporation channels and from cross bombardments. The decay properties of the new nuclei agree with those of previously known heavy nuclei and with predictions from different theoretical models. A discussion of self-consistent interpretations of all observed decay chains originating from the parent isotopes 282,283112, 282113, 286-289114, 287,288115, 290-293116, and 294118 is presented. Decay energies and lifetimes of the neutron-rich superheavy nuclei as well as their production cross sections indicate a considerable increase in the stability of nuclei with the approach to the theoretically predicted nuclear shells with N = 184 and Z = 114.

2nd-order optical model of the isotopic dependence of heavy ion absorption cross sections for radiation transport studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cucinotta, Francis A.; Yan, Congchong; Saganti, Premkumar B.

2018-01-01

Heavy ion absorption cross sections play an important role in radiation transport codes used in risk assessment and for shielding studies of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) exposures. Due to the GCR primary nuclei composition and nuclear fragmentation leading to secondary nuclei heavy ions of charge number, Z with 3 ≤ Z ≥ 28 and mass numbers, A with 6 ≤ A ≥ 60 representing about 190 isotopes occur in GCR transport calculations. In this report we describe methods for developing a data-base of isotopic dependent heavy ion absorption cross sections for interactions. Calculations of a 2nd-order optical model solution to coupled-channel solutions to the Eikonal form of the nucleus-nucleus scattering amplitude are compared to 1st-order optical model solutions. The 2nd-order model takes into account two-body correlations in the projectile and target ground-states, which are ignored in the 1st-order optical model. Parameter free predictions are described using one-body and two-body ground state form factors for the isotopes considered and the free nucleon-nucleon scattering amplitude. Root mean square (RMS) matter radii for protons and neutrons are taken from electron and muon scattering data and nuclear structure models. We report on extensive comparisons to experimental data for energy-dependent absorption cross sections for over 100 isotopes of elements from Li to Fe interacting with carbon and aluminum targets. Agreement between model and experiments are generally within 10% for the 1st-order optical model and improved to less than 5% in the 2nd-order optical model in the majority of comparisons. Overall the 2nd-order optical model leads to a reduction in absorption compared to the 1st-order optical model for heavy ion interactions, which influences estimates of nuclear matter radii.

High resolution in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kern, J.; Dousse, J.-Cl.; Gasser, M.; Perny, B.; Rhême, Ch.

1985-01-01

An in-beam curved crystal facility has been installed at the SIN variable energy cyclotron. Using the (110) planes of a 3.0 mm thick quartz lamina bent at 3.15 m, diffraction peaks typically 6 arcsec wide (FWHM) are obtained. The energy resolution is thus, for instance, 110 eV at 170 keV in 3rd order. Due to a sophisticated detector system and heavy shielding, the sensitivity of the instrument is quite good. The facility proves quite useful in (p,xnγ) reaction studies whenever the γ-ray spectrum is very complex, e.g. in the study of odd-odd deformed nuclei. Complicated multiplets appearing in the 176Yb(p,3nγ)174Lu spectrum could be successfully resolved. From the results we derive that the g-factors of the 142 d, Jπ=6- isomer, take anomalous values.

Analysis of multi-fragmentation reactions induced by relativistic heavy ions using the statistical multi-fragmentation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogawa, T.; Sato, T.; Hashimoto, S.; Niita, K.

2013-09-01

The fragmentation cross-sections of relativistic energy nucleus-nucleus collisions were analyzed using the statistical multi-fragmentation model (SMM) incorporated with the Monte-Carlo radiation transport simulation code particle and heavy ion transport code system (PHITS). Comparison with the literature data showed that PHITS-SMM reproduces fragmentation cross-sections of heavy nuclei at relativistic energies better than the original PHITS by up to two orders of magnitude. It was also found that SMM does not degrade the neutron production cross-sections in heavy ion collisions or the fragmentation cross-sections of light nuclei, for which SMM has not been benchmarked. Therefore, SMM is a robust model that can supplement conventional nucleus-nucleus reaction models, enabling more accurate prediction of fragmentation cross-sections.

[Heavy particle radiation therapy].

PubMed

Lozares, S; Mañeru, F; Pellejero, S

2009-01-01

The characteristics of radiation formed by heavy particles make it a highly useful tool for therapeutic use. Protons, helium nuclei or carbon ions are being successfully employed in radiotherapy installations throughout the world. This article sets out the physical and technological foundations that make these radiation particles suitable for attacking white volume, as well as the different ways of administering treatment. Next, the main clinical applications are described, which show the therapeutic advantages in some of the pathologies most widely employed in proton and hadron therapy centres at present. Under continuous study, the clinical use of heavy particles appears to be an enormously promising path of advance in comparison with classical technologies, both in tumour coverage and in reducing dosages in surrounding tissue.

Nuclear transition moment measurements of neutron rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starosta, Krzysztof

2009-10-01

The Recoil Distance Method (RDM) and related Doppler Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM) are well-established tools for lifetime measurements following nuclear reactions near the Coulomb barrier. Recently, the RDM was implemented at National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University using NSCL/K"oln plunger device and a unique combination of the state-of-the-art instruments available there. Doppler-shift lifetime measurements following Coulomb excitation, knock-out, and fragmentation at intermediate energies of ˜100 MeV/u hold the promise of providing lifetime information for excited states in a wide range of unstable nuclei. So far, the method was used to investigate the collectivity of the neutron-rich ^16,18,20C, ^62,64,66Fe, ^70,72Ni, ^110,114Pd isotopes and also of the neutron-deficient N=Z ^64Ge. A significant fraction of these experiments was performed using NSCL's Segmented Germanium Array instrumented with the Digital Data Acquisition System which enables gamma-ray tracking. The impact of GRETINA and gamma-ray tracking on RDM and DSAM studies of neutron-rich nuclei will be discussed.

Strongly deformed nuclear shapes at ultra-high spin and shape coexistence in N ~ 90 nuclei

DOE PAGES

Riley, M. A.; Aguilar, A.; Evans, A. O.; ...

2009-01-01

The N ~ 90 region of the nuclear chart has featured prominently as the spectroscopy of nuclei at extreme spin has progressed. This talk will present recent discoveries from investigations of high spin behavior in the N ~ 90 Er, Tm and Yb nuclei utilizing the Gammasphere gamma-ray spectrometer. In particular it will include discussion of the beautiful shape evolution and coexistence observed in these nuclei along with the identification of a remarkable new family of band structures. The latter are very weakly populated rotational sequences with high moment of inertia that bypass the classic terminating configurations near spin 40-50h,more » marking a return to collectivity that extends discrete γ-ray spectroscopy to well over 60h. Establishing the nature of the yrast states in these nuclei beyond the oblate band-termination states has been a major goal for the past two decades. Cranking calculations suggest that these new structures most likely represent stable triaxial strongly deformed bands that lie in a valley of favored shell energy in deformation and particle-number space.« less

Photonuclear interactions of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and their astrophysical consequences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Puget, J. L.; Stecker, F. W.; Bredekamp, J. H.

1975-01-01

Results of detailed Monte Carlo calculations of the interaction histories of ultrahigh energy cosmic-ray nuclei with intergalactic radiation fields are presented. Estimates of these fields and empirical determinations of photonuclear cross sections are used, including multinuclear disintegrations for nuclei up to 56Fe. Intergalactic and galactic energy loss rates and nucleon loss rates for nuclei up to 56Fe are also given. Astrophysical implications are discussed in terms of expected features in the cosmic-ray spectrum between quintillion and sextillion eV for the universal and supercluster origin hypotheses. The results of these calculations indicate that ultrahigh energy cosmic rays cannot be universal in origin regardless of whether they are protons or nuclei. Both the supercluster and galactic origin hypotheses, however, are possible regardless of nuclear composition.

Insights into the Galactic Cosmic-ray Source from the TIGER Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Link, Jason T.; Barbier, L. M.; Binns, W. R.; Christian, E. R.; Cummings, J. R.; Geier, S.; Israel, M. H.; Lodders, K.; Mewaldt,R. A.; Mitchell, J. W.;

Stopping of relativistic heavy ions in various media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waddington, C. J.; Fixsen, D. J.; Crawford, H. J.; Lindstrom, P. J.; Heckman, H. H.

1986-01-01

The residual ranges of (900 + or - 3)-MeV/amu gold nuclei accelerated at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Bevalac have been measured in several different media. The energy of the beam of nuclei was measured directly using a new time-of-flight system. The ranges were measured by absorption in linear wedges of polyethylene, carbon, aluminum, copper, tin, and lead and in circular wedges of polystyrene, aluminum, and gold, and by total absorption in nuclear emulsion. The measured ranges were significantly different from those calculated from the best available theoretical estimates of the energy loss of highly charged nuclei. It is concluded that at present energy losses and residual ranges of relativistic heavy ions in an arbitrary medium cannot be predicted with better than an approximately 2 percent accuracy.

Systematics of first and second shape transition temperatures in heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodman, Alan L.; Jin, Taihao

1996-09-01

Thirty-one even-even isotopes (Z=72-80 and N=110-126) have two shape transition temperatures, where Tc2>~Tc1. For temperatures above Tc1, the equilibrium shape is spherical if the rotational frequency is zero. For these 31 nuclei, a slow rotation of the spherical shape creates a prolate shape rotating about its symmetry axis if the temperature is between Tc1 and Tc2, and an oblate shape rotating about its symmetry axis if the temperature is above Tc2.

Compton thick active galactic nuclei in Chandra surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brightman, Murray; Nandra, Kirpal; Salvato, Mara; Hsu, Li-Ting; Aird, James; Rangel, Cyprian

2014-09-01

We present the results from an X-ray spectral analysis of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the ChandraDeep Field-South, All-wavelength Extended Groth-strip International Survey (AEGIS)-Deep X-ray survey (XD) and Chandra-Cosmic Evolution Surveys (COSMOS), focusing on the identification and characterization of the most heavily obscured, Compton thick (CT, NH > 1024 cm-2) sources. Our sample is comprised of 3184 X-ray selected extragalactic sources, which has a high rate of redshift completeness (96.6 per cent), and includes additional spectroscopic redshifts and improved photometric redshifts over previous studies. We use spectral models designed for heavily obscured AGN which self-consistently include all major spectral signatures of heavy absorption. We validate our spectral fitting method through simulations, identify CT sources not selected through this method using X-ray colours and take considerations for the constraints on NH given the low count nature of many of our sources. After these considerations, we identify a total of 100 CT AGN with best-fitting NH > 1024 cm-2 and NH constrained to be above 1023.5 cm-2 at 90 per cent confidence. These sources cover an intrinsic 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity range of 1042-3 × 1045 erg s-1 and a redshift range of z = 0.1-4. This sample will enable characterization of these heavily obscured AGN across cosmic time and to ascertain their cosmological significance. These survey fields are sites of extensive multiwavelength coverage, including near-infrared Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS) data and far-infrared Herschel data, enabling forthcoming investigations into the host properties of CT AGN. Furthermore, by using the torus models to test different covering factor scenarios, and by investigating the inclusion of the soft scattered emission, we find evidence that the covering factor of the obscuring material decreases with LX for all redshifts, consistent with the receding torus model

CHANDRA X-RAY AND HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE IMAGING OF OPTICALLY SELECTED KILOPARSEC-SCALE BINARY ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI. II. HOST GALAXY MORPHOLOGY AND AGN ACTIVITY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shangguan, Jinyi; Ho, Luis C.; Liu, Xin

Binary active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provide clues to how gas-rich mergers trigger and fuel AGNs and how supermassive black hole (SMBH) pairs evolve in a gas-rich environment. While significant effort has been invested in their identification, the detailed properties of binary AGNs and their host galaxies are still poorly constrained. In a companion paper, we examined the nature of ionizing sources in the double nuclei of four kiloparsec-scale binary AGNs with redshifts between 0.1 and 0.2. Here, we present their host galaxy morphology based on F336W ( U -band) and F105W ( Y -band) images taken by the Wide Fieldmore » Camera 3 on board the Hubble Space Telescope . Our targets have double-peaked narrow emission lines and were confirmed to host binary AGNs with follow-up observations. We find that kiloparsec-scale binary AGNs occur in galaxy mergers with diverse morphological types. There are three major mergers with intermediate morphologies and a minor merger with a dominant disk component. We estimate the masses of the SMBHs from their host bulge stellar masses and obtain Eddington ratios for each AGN. Compared with a representative control sample drawn at the same redshift and stellar mass, the AGN luminosities and Eddington ratios of our binary AGNs are similar to those of single AGNs. The U − Y color maps indicate that clumpy star-forming regions could significantly affect the X-ray detection of binary AGNs, e.g., the hardness ratio. Considering the weak X-ray emission in AGNs triggered in merger systems, we suggest that samples of X-ray-selected AGNs may be biased against gas-rich mergers.« less

Collective Band Structures in the Neutron-Rich 107,109Ru Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Sheng-jiang; Gan, Cui-yun; J, Hamilton H.; A, Ramayya V.; B, Babu R. S.; M, Sakhaee; W, Ma C.; Long, Gui-lu; Deng, Jing-kang; Zhu, Ling-yan; Li, Ming; Yang, Li-ming; J, Komicki; J, Cole D.; R, Aryaeinejad; Y, Dardenne K.; M, Drigert W.; J, Rasmussen O.; M, Stoyer A.; S, Chu Y.; K, Gregorich E.; M, Mohar F.; S, Prussin G.; I, Lee Y.; N, Johnson R.; F, McGowan K.

1998-11-01

The levels in neutron-rich odd-A 107,109Ru nuclei have been investigated by using γ-γ- and γ-γ-γ-coincidence studies of the prompt γ-rays from the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. The ground state bands and the negative parity bands are identified and expanded in both nuclei. Triaxial rotor plus particle model calculations indicate the ground state bands originate from ν(d5/2 + g7/2) quasiparticle configurations and the negative parity bands are from νh11/2 orbital.

Fast calculator for X-ray emission due to Radiative Recombination and Radiative Electron Capture in relativistic heavy-ion atom collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herdrich, M. O.; Weber, G.; Gumberidze, A.; Wu, Z. W.; Stöhlker, Th.

2017-10-01

In experiments with highly charged, fast heavy ions the Radiative Recombination (RR) and Radiative Electron Capture (REC) processes have significant cross sections in an energy range of up to a few GeV / u . They are some of the most important charge changing processes in collisions of heavy ions with atoms and electrons, leading to the emission of a photon along with the formation of the ground and excited atomic states. Hence, for the understanding and planning of experiments, in particular for X-ray spectroscopy studies, at accelerator ring facilities, such as FAIR, it is crucial to have a good knowledge of these cross sections and the associated radiation characteristics. In the frame of this work a fast calculator, named RECAL, for the RR and REC process is presented and its capabilities are demonstrated with the analysis of a recently conducted experiment at the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. A method is presented to determine unknown X-ray emission cross sections via normalization of the recorded spectra to REC cross sections calculated by RECAL.

Antiproton Production by CR on Air Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maskalenko, I. V.; Mashnik, S. G.

2003-01-01

Recent measurements of the cosmic ray (CR) antiproton flux have been shown to challenge existing CR propagation models. In particular, the conventional reacceleration model designed to match secondary/primary nuclei ratios produces too few antiprotons. Recently there appear some indications that the atmospheric contribution to antiproton production is considerably underestimated, which implies that antiproton CR flux might be lower. This may be the primary reason of the discrepancy discovered in CR propagation. We use the Los Alamos version of the Quark-Gluon String Model code LAQGSM together with available data on antiproton production on nuclei to analyse the accuracy of existing parameterizations of antiproton production cross section. The LAQGSM model has been shown to reproduce well nuclear reactions and hadronic data in the range 0.01-800 GeV/nucleon.

Centrally Concentrated X-Ray Radiation from an Extended Accreting Corona in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, B. F.; Taam, Ronald E.; Qiao, Erlin; Yuan, Weimin

2017-10-01

The X-ray emission from bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is believed to originate in a hot corona lying above a cold, geometrically thin accretion disk. A highly concentrated corona located within ˜10 gravitational radii above the black hole is inferred from observations. Based on the accretion of interstellar medium/wind, a disk corona model has been proposed in which the corona is well coupled to the disk by radiation, thermal conduction, as well as by mass exchange. Such a model avoids artificial energy input to the corona and has been used to interpret the spectral features observed in AGN. In this work, it is shown that the bulk emission size of the corona is very small for the extended accretion flow in our model. More than 80% of the hard X-ray power is emitted from a small region confined within 10 Schwarzschild radii around a non-spinning black hole, which is expected to be even smaller accordingly for a spinning black hole. Here, the corona emission is more extended at higher Eddington ratios. The compactness parameter of the corona, l=\\tfrac{L}{R}\\tfrac{{σ }{{T}}}{{m}{{e}}{c}3}, is shown to be in the range of 1-33 for Eddington ratios of 0.02-0.1. Combined with the electron temperature in the corona, this indicates that electron-positron pair production is not dominant in this regime. A positive relation between the compactness parameter and photon index is also predicted. By comparing the above model predictions with observational features, we find that the model is in agreement with observations.

The Radio/Gamma-Ray Connection in Active Galactic Nuclei in the Era of the Fermi Large Area Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; Allafort, A.; Angelakis, E.; Axelsson, M.; Baldini, L.; Ballet, J.; Barbiellini, G.; Bastieri, D.; Bellazzini, R.;

Photonuclear interactions of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and their astrophysical consequences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Puget, J. L.; Stecker, F. W.; Bredekamp, J. H.

1976-01-01

Results are presented for detailed Monte Carlo calculations of the interaction histories of ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray nuclei with intergalactic radiation fields, using improved estimates of these fields and empirical determinations of photonuclear cross sections, including multinuclear disintegrations for nuclei up to Fe-56. Intergalactic and galactic energy-loss rates and nucleon-loss rates for nuclei up to Fe-56 are also given. Astrophysical implications are discussed in terms of expected features in the cosmic-ray spectrum between 10 to the 18th and 10 to the 21st power eV for the universal and supercluster origin hypotheses. The results of these calculations indicate that ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays cannot be universal in origin regardless of whether they are protons or nuclei. Both the supercluster and galactic origin hypotheses, however, are possible regardless of nuclear composition.

Acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fransson, C.; Epstein, R. I.

1980-11-01

Two general categories of cosmic ray models are discussed, concomitant acceleration and propagation (CAP) models and sequential acceleration and propagation (SAP) models. These normally correspond to the cosmic rays being continuously accelerated in the interstellar medium or being rapidly produced by discrete sources or strong shock waves, respectively. For the CAP models it is found that the ratio of the predominantly secondary nuclei (Li + Be + B + N) to the predominantly primary nuclei (C + O) varies by less than a factor of 1.5 between 1 and 100 GeV per nucleon. This is at variance with current measurements. It thus appears that the evolution of cosmic rays is best described by SAP models.

Modulated heavy nucleus-acoustic waves and associated rogue waves in a degenerate relativistic quantum plasma system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sultana, S.; Islam, S.; Mamun, A. A.; Schlickeiser, R.

2018-01-01

A theoretical and numerical investigation has been carried out on amplitude modulated heavy nucleus-acoustic envelope solitons (HNAESs) in a degenerate relativistic quantum plasma (DRQP) system containing relativistically degenerate electrons and light nuclei, and non-degenerate mobile heavy nuclei. The cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, describing the nonlinear dynamics of the heavy nucleus-acoustic waves (HNAWs), is derived by employing a multi-scale perturbation technique. The dispersion relation for the HNAWs is derived, and the criteria for the occurrence of modulational instability of the HNAESs are analyzed. The localized structures (viz., envelope solitons and associated rogue waves) are found to be formed in the DRQP system under consideration. The basic features of the amplitude modulated HNAESs and associated rogue waves formed in realistic DRQP systems are briefly discussed.

Magnetic moments of light nuclei from lattice quantum chromodynamics

DOE PAGES

Beane, S.  R.; Chang, E.; Cohen, S.; ...

2014-12-16

We present the results of lattice QCD calculations of the magnetic moments of the lightest nuclei, the deuteron, the triton and 3He, along with those of the neutron and proton. These calculations, performed at quark masses corresponding to m π ~ 800 MeV, reveal that the structure of these nuclei at unphysically heavy quark masses closely resembles that at the physical quark masses. We find that the magnetic moment of 3He differs only slightly from that of a free neutron, as is the case in nature, indicating that the shell-model configuration of two spin-paired protons and a valence neutron capturesmore » its dominant structure. Similarly a shell-model-like moment is found for the triton, μ 3H ~ μ p. The deuteron magnetic moment is found to be equal to the nucleon isoscalar moment within the uncertainties of the calculations.« less

High energy neutrinos from astrophysical accelerators of cosmic ray nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anchordoqui, Luis A.; Hooper, Dan; Sarkar, Subir; Taylor, Andrew M.

2008-02-01

Ongoing experimental efforts to detect cosmic sources of high energy neutrinos are guided by the expectation that astrophysical accelerators of cosmic ray protons would also generate neutrinos through interactions with ambient matter and/or photons. However, there will be a reduction in the predicted neutrino flux if cosmic ray sources accelerate not only protons but also significant numbers of heavier nuclei, as is indicated by recent air shower data. We consider plausible extragalactic sources such as active galactic nuclei, gamma ray bursts and starburst galaxies and demand consistency with the observed cosmic ray composition and energy spectrum at Earth after allowing for propagation through intergalactic radiation fields. This allows us to calculate the expected neutrino fluxes from the sources, normalized to the observed cosmic ray spectrum. We find that the likely signals are still within reach of next generation neutrino telescopes such as IceCube.PACS95.85.Ry98.70.Rz98.54.Cm98.54.EpReferencesFor a review, see:F.HalzenD.HooperRep. Prog. Phys.6520021025A.AchterbergIceCube CollaborationPhys. Rev. Lett.972006221101A.AchterbergIceCube CollaborationAstropart. Phys.262006282arXiv:astro-ph/0611063arXiv:astro-ph/0702265V.NiessANTARES CollaborationAIP Conf. Proc.8672006217I.KravchenkoPhys. Rev. D732006082002S.W.BarwickANITA CollaborationPhys. Rev. Lett.962006171101V.Van ElewyckPierre Auger CollaborationAIP Conf. Proc.8092006187For a survey of possible sources and event rates in km3 detectors see e.g.,W.BednarekG.F.BurgioT.MontaruliNew Astron. Rev.4920051M.D.KistlerJ.F.BeacomPhys. Rev. D742006063007A. Kappes, J. Hinton, C. Stegmann, F.A. Aharonian, arXiv:astro-ph/0607286.A.LevinsonE.WaxmanPhys. Rev. Lett.872001171101C.DistefanoD.GuettaE.WaxmanA.LevinsonAstrophys. J.5752002378F.A.AharonianL.A.AnchordoquiD.KhangulyanT.MontaruliJ. Phys. Conf. Ser.392006408J.Alvarez-MunizF.HalzenAstrophys. J.5762002L33F.VissaniAstropart. Phys.262006310F

Anisotropy and chemical composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays using arrival directions measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory

DOE PAGES

Abreu, P

2011-06-17

The Pierre Auger Collaboration has reported evidence for anisotropy in the distribution of arrival directions of the cosmic rays with energies E > E th = 5.5 x 10 19 eV. These show a correlation with the distribution of nearby extragalactic objects, including an apparent excess around the direction of Centaurus A. If the particles responsible for these excesses at E > E th are heavy nuclei with charge Z, the proton component of the sources should lead to excesses in the same regions at energies E/Z. We here report the lack of anisotropies in these directions at energies abovemore » E th/Z (for illustrative values of Z = 6,13,26). If the anisotropies above E th are due to nuclei with charge Z, and under reasonable assumptions about the acceleration process, these observations imply stringent constraints on the allowed proton fraction at the lower energies.« less

X-ray flux variability of active galactic nuclei observed using NuSTAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rani, Priyanka; Stalin, C. S.; Rakshit, Suvendu

2017-04-01

We present results of a systematic study of flux variability on hourly time-scales in a large sample of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the 3-79 keV band using data from Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array. Our sample consists of four BL Lac objects (BL Lacs), three flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) 24 Seyfert 1, 42 Seyfert 2 and eight narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) galaxies. We find that in the 3-79 keV band, about 65 per cent of the sources in our sample show significant variations on hourly time-scales. Using the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, we find no difference in the variability behaviour between Seyfert 1 and 2 galaxies. The blazar sources (FSRQs and BL Lacs) in our sample are more variable than Seyfert galaxies that include Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 in the soft (3-10 keV), hard (10-79 keV) and total (3-79 keV) bands. NLSy1 galaxies show the highest duty cycle of variability (87 per cent), followed by BL Lacs (82 per cent), Seyfert galaxies (56 per cent) and FSRQs (23 per cent). We obtained flux doubling/halving time in the hard X-ray band less than 10 min in 11 sources. The flux variations between the hard and soft bands in all the sources in our sample are consistent with zero lag.

Interaction of eta mesons with nuclei.

PubMed

Kelkar, N G; Khemchandani, K P; Upadhyay, N J; Jain, B K

2013-06-01

Back in the mid-1980s, a new branch of investigation related to the interaction of eta mesons with nuclei came into existence. It started with the theoretical prediction of possible exotic states of eta mesons and nuclei bound by the strong interaction and later developed into an extensive experimental program to search for such unstable states as well as understand the underlying interaction via eta-meson producing reactions. The vast literature of experimental as well as theoretical works that studied various aspects of eta-producing reactions such as the π(+)n → ηp, pd → (3)Heη, p (6)Li → (7)Be η and γ (3)He → η X, to name a few, had but one objective in mind: to understand the eta-nucleon (ηN) and hence the η-nucleus interaction which could explain the production data and confirm the existence of some η-mesic nuclei. In spite of these efforts, there remain uncertainties in the knowledge of the ηN and hence the η-nucleus interaction. Therefore, this review is an attempt to bind together the findings in these works and draw some global and specific conclusions which can be useful for future explorations.The ηN scattering length (which represents the strength of the η-nucleon interaction) using different theoretical models and analyzing the data on η production in pion, photon and proton induced reactions was found to be spread out in a wide range, namely, 0.18 ≤ Re aηN ≤ 1.03 fm and 0.16 ≤ Rm aηN ≤ 0.49 fm. Theoretical searches of heavy η-mesic nuclei based on η-nucleus optical potentials and lighter ones based on Faddeev type few-body approaches predict the existence of several quasibound and resonant states. Although some hints of η-mesic states such as (3)(η)He and (25)(η)Mg do exist from previous experiments, the promise of clearer signals for the existence of η-mesic nuclei lies in the experiments to be performed at the J-PARC, MAMI and COSY facilities in the near future. This review is aimed at giving an overall status

Setup for in situ x-ray diffraction study of swift heavy ion irradiated materials.

PubMed

Kulriya, P K; Singh, F; Tripathi, A; Ahuja, R; Kothari, A; Dutt, R N; Mishra, Y K; Kumar, Amit; Avasthi, D K

2007-11-01

An in situ x-ray diffraction (XRD) setup is designed and installed in the materials science beam line of the Pelletron accelerator at the Inter-University Accelerator Centre for in situ studies of phase change in swift heavy ion irradiated materials. A high vacuum chamber with suitable windows for incident and diffracted X-rays is integrated with the goniometer and the beamline. Indigenously made liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature sample cooling unit is installed. The snapshots of growth of particles with fluence of 90 MeV Ni ions were recorded using in situ XRD experiment, illustrating the potential of this in situ facility. A thin film of C60 was used to test the sample cooling unit. It shows that the phase of the C60 film transforms from a cubic lattice (at room temperature) to a fcc lattice at around T=255 K.

Setup for in situ x-ray diffraction study of swift heavy ion irradiated materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulriya, P. K.; Singh, F.; Tripathi, A.; Ahuja, R.; Kothari, A.; Dutt, R. N.; Mishra, Y. K.; Kumar, Amit; Avasthi, D. K.

2007-11-01

An in situ x-ray diffraction (XRD) setup is designed and installed in the materials science beam line of the Pelletron accelerator at the Inter-University Accelerator Centre for in situ studies of phase change in swift heavy ion irradiated materials. A high vacuum chamber with suitable windows for incident and diffracted X-rays is integrated with the goniometer and the beamline. Indigenously made liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature sample cooling unit is installed. The snapshots of growth of particles with fluence of 90MeV Ni ions were recorded using in situ XRD experiment, illustrating the potential of this in situ facility. A thin film of C60 was used to test the sample cooling unit. It shows that the phase of the C60 film transforms from a cubic lattice (at room temperature) to a fcc lattice at around T =255K.

Influence of the asymmetry parameter and dissipation coefficient of the K coordinate on different aspects of fission of excited compound nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eslamizadeh, H.; Abdollahi, N.

2018-02-01

The dynamics of fission of the excited compound nuclei 256Fm, 215Fr, 187Ir, 172Yb, 162Yb, and 142Ce produced in fusion reactions with 158.8 MeV 18O has been studied by solving three- and four-dimensional Langevin equations with dissipation generated through the chaos weighted wall and window friction formula. The constant dissipation coefficients of K , γK=0.077 (MeVzs ) -1 /2 , γK=0.2 (MeVzs ) -1 /2 and a nonconstant dissipation coefficient of K have been used to reproduce the experimental data for both symmetric and asymmetric splitting of the fissioning systems. The average kinetic energies of fission fragments, the pre-scission neutron multiplicities, the fission time, and the variances of the mass and kinetic energy of fission fragments are calculated for the excited compound nuclei 256Fm, 215Fr, 187Ir, 172Yb, 162Yb, 142Ce, and results of the calculations are compared with each other and with the experimental data. Comparison of the theoretical results with the experimental data calculated by using different values of γK shows that the difference is small between the results of calculations for symmetric and asymmetric simulations of the fission process of excited intermediate nuclei, whereas for heavy compound nuclei the difference is slightly high. In other words, the effect of the asymmetry parameter on the fission process of intermediate nuclei is smaller than the effect on heavy nuclei. Furthermore, we show that the pre-scission neutron multiplicity decreases rapidly with increasing fragment asymmetry.

Low-temperature X-ray detectors for precise Lamb shift measurements on hydrogen-like heavy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bleile, A.; Egelhof, P.; Kluge, H.-J.; Liebisch, U.; McCammon, D.; Meier, H. J.; Sebastián, O.; Stahle, C. K.; Weber, M.

2000-04-01

The precise determination of the Lamb shift in heavy hydrogen-like ions provides a sensitive test of quantum electrodynamics in very strong Coulomb fields, not accessible otherwise. For the investigation of the Lyman- α transitions in 208Pb81+ or 238U91+ with sufficient accuracy a high resolving calorimetric detector for hard X-rays ( E⩽100 keV) is presently developed. The detector modules consist of arrays of silicon thermistors and of X-ray absorbers made of high Z material to optimize the absorption efficiency. The detectors are housed in a specially designed 3He/ 4He dilution refrigerator with a side arm which fits to the geometry of the internal target of the storage ring ESR at GSI Darmstadt. The detector performance presently achieved is already close to fulfill the demands of the Lamb shift experiment. For a prototype detector pixel with a 0.3 mm 2×66 μm Sn absorber an energy resolution of Δ EFWHM=75 eV is obtained for 60 keV X-rays.

THE RADIO/GAMMA-RAY CONNECTION IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE ERA OF THE FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; Allafort, A.

We present a detailed statistical analysis of the correlation between radio and gamma-ray emission of the active galactic nuclei (AGNs) detected by Fermi during its first year of operation, with the largest data sets ever used for this purpose. We use both archival interferometric 8.4 GHz data (from the Very Large Array and ATCA, for the full sample of 599 sources) and concurrent single-dish 15 GHz measurements from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO, for a sub sample of 199 objects). Our unprecedentedly large sample permits us to assess with high accuracy the statistical significance of the correlation, using amore » surrogate data method designed to simultaneously account for common-distance bias and the effect of a limited dynamical range in the observed quantities. We find that the statistical significance of a positive correlation between the centimeter radio and the broadband (E > 100 MeV) gamma-ray energy flux is very high for the whole AGN sample, with a probability of <10{sup -7} for the correlation appearing by chance. Using the OVRO data, we find that concurrent data improve the significance of the correlation from 1.6 x 10{sup -6} to 9.0 x 10{sup -8}. Our large sample size allows us to study the dependence of correlation strength and significance on specific source types and gamma-ray energy band. We find that the correlation is very significant (chance probability < 10{sup -7}) for both flat spectrum radio quasars and BL Lac objects separately; a dependence of the correlation strength on the considered gamma-ray energy band is also present, but additional data will be necessary to constrain its significance.« less

The radio/gamma-ray connection in active galactic nuclei in the era of the Fermi Large Area Telescope

DOE PAGES

Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; Allafort, A.; ...

2011-10-12

We present a detailed statistical analysis of the correlation between radio and gamma-ray emission of the active galactic nuclei (AGNs) detected by Fermi during its first year of operation, with the largest data sets ever used for this purpose. We use both archival interferometric 8.4 GHz data (from the Very Large Array and ATCA, for the full sample of 599 sources) and concurrent single-dish 15 GHz measurements from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO, for a sub sample of 199 objects). Our unprecedentedly large sample permits us to assess with high accuracy the statistical significance of the correlation, using amore » surrogate data method designed to simultaneously account for common-distance bias and the effect of a limited dynamical range in the observed quantities. We find that the statistical significance of a positive correlation between the centimeter radio and the broadband (E > 100 MeV) gamma-ray energy flux is very high for the whole AGN sample, with a probability of <10 –7 for the correlation appearing by chance. Using the OVRO data, we find that concurrent data improve the significance of the correlation from 1.6 × 10 –6 to 9.0 × 10 –8. Our large sample size allows us to study the dependence of correlation strength and significance on specific source types and gamma-ray energy band. As a result, we find that the correlation is very significant (chance probability < 10 –7) for both flat spectrum radio quasars and BL Lac objects separately; a dependence of the correlation strength on the considered gamma-ray energy band is also present, but additional data will be necessary to constrain its significance.« less

NUCLEAR AND HEAVY ION PHYSICS: α-decay half-lives of superheavy nuclei and general predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Jian-Min; Zhang, Hong-Fei; Wang, Yan-Zhao; Zuo, Wei; Su, Xin-Ning; Li, Jun-Qing

2009-08-01

The generalized liquid drop model (GLDM) and the cluster model have been employed to calculate the α-decay half-lives of superheavy nuclei (SHN) using the experimental α-decay Q values. The results of the cluster model are slightly poorer than those from the GLDM if experimental Q values are used. The prediction powers of these two models with theoretical Q values from Audi et al. (QAudi) and Muntian et al. (QM) have been tested to find that the cluster model with QAudi and QM could provide reliable results for Z > 112 but the GLDM with QAudi for Z <= 112. The half-lives of some still unknown nuclei are predicted by these two models and these results may be useful for future experimental assignment and identification.

Monte Carlo Study of Cosmic-Ray Propagation in the Galaxy and Diffuse Gamma-Ray Production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, C.-Y.; Pohl, M.

This talk present preliminary results for the time-dependent cosmic-ray propagation in the Galaxy by a fully 3-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation. The distribution of cosmic-rays (both protons and helium nuclei) in the Galaxy is studied on various spatial scales for both constant and variable cosmic-ray sources. The continuous diffuse gamma-ray emission produced by cosmic-rays during the propagation is evaluated. The results will be compared with calculations made with other propagation models.

Light ion components of the galactic cosmic rays: Nuclear interactions and transport theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucinotta, F. A.; Townsend, L. W.; Wilson, J. W.; Shinn, J. L.; Badhwar, G. D.; Dubey, R. R.

1996-01-01

Light nuclei are present in the primary galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and are produced in thick targets due to projectile or target fragmentation from both nucleon and heavy induced reactions. In the primary GCR, He-4 is the most abundant nucleus after H-1. However, there are also a substantial fluxes of H-2 and He-3. In this paper we describe theoretical models based on quantum multiple scattering theory for the description of light ion nuclear interactions. The energy dependence of the light ion fragmentation cross section is considered with comparisons of inclusive yields and secondary momentum distributions to experiments described. We also analyze the importance of a fast component of lights ions from proton and neutron induced target fragementation. These theoretical models have been incorporated into the cosmic ray transport code HZETRN and will be used to analyze the role of shielding materials in modulating the production and the energy spectrum of light ions.

Reexamining cluster radioactivity in trans-lead nuclei with consideration of specific density distributions in daughter nuclei and clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Yibin; Ren, Zhongzhou; Ni, Dongdong

2016-08-01

We further investigate the cluster emission from heavy nuclei beyond the lead region in the framework of the preformed cluster model. The refined cluster-core potential is constructed by the double-folding integral of the density distributions of the daughter nucleus and the emitted cluster, where the radius or the diffuseness parameter in the Fermi density distribution formula is determined according to the available experimental data on the charge radii and the neutron skin thickness. The Schrödinger equation of the cluster-daughter relative motion is then solved within the outgoing Coulomb wave-function boundary conditions to obtain the decay width. It is found that the present decay width of cluster emitters is clearly enhanced as compared to that in the previous case, which involved the fixed parametrization for the density distributions of daughter nuclei and clusters. Among the whole procedure, the nuclear deformation of clusters is also introduced into the calculations, and the degree of its influence on the final decay half-life is checked to some extent. Moreover, the effect from the bubble density distribution of clusters on the final decay width is carefully discussed by using the central depressed distribution.

Large-scale evaluation of β -decay rates of r -process nuclei with the inclusion of first-forbidden transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marketin, T.; Huther, L.; Martínez-Pinedo, G.

2016-02-01

Background: r -process nucleosynthesis models rely, by necessity, on nuclear structure models for input. Particularly important are β -decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei. At present only a single systematic calculation exists that provides values for all relevant nuclei making it difficult to test the sensitivity of nucleosynthesis models to this input. Additionally, even though there are indications that their contribution may be significant, the impact of first-forbidden transitions on decay rates has not been systematically studied within a consistent model. Purpose: Our goal is to provide a table of β -decay half-lives and β -delayed neutron emission probabilities, including first-forbidden transitions, calculated within a fully self-consistent microscopic theoretical framework. The results are used in an r -process nucleosynthesis calculation to asses the sensitivity of heavy element nucleosynthesis to weak interaction reaction rates. Method: We use a fully self-consistent covariant density functional theory (CDFT) framework. The ground state of all nuclei is calculated with the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) model, and excited states are obtained within the proton-neutron relativistic quasiparticle random phase approximation (p n -RQRPA). Results: The β -decay half-lives, β -delayed neutron emission probabilities, and the average number of emitted neutrons have been calculated for 5409 nuclei in the neutron-rich region of the nuclear chart. We observe a significant contribution of the first-forbidden transitions to the total decay rate in nuclei far from the valley of stability. The experimental half-lives are in general well reproduced for even-even, odd-A , and odd-odd nuclei, in particular for short-lived nuclei. The resulting data table is included with the article as Supplemental Material. Conclusions: In certain regions of the nuclear chart, first-forbidden transitions constitute a large fraction of the total decay rate and must be

Gamma-Ray Astronomy Technology Needs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gehrels, N.; Cannizzo, J. K.

2012-01-01

In recent decades gamma-ray observations have become a valuable tool for studying the universe. Progress made in diverse 8re1lS such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), nucleosynthesis, and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) has complimented and enriched our astrophysical understanding in many ways. We present an overview of current and future planned space y-ray missions and discussion technology needs for- the next generation of space gamma-ray instruments.

Simulations of ultra-high energy cosmic rays in the local Universe and the origin of cosmic magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hackstein, S.; Vazza, F.; Brüggen, M.; Sorce, J. G.; Gottlöber, S.

2018-04-01

We simulate the propagation of cosmic rays at ultra-high energies, ≳1018 eV, in models of extragalactic magnetic fields in constrained simulations of the local Universe. We use constrained initial conditions with the cosmological magnetohydrodynamics code ENZO. The resulting models of the distribution of magnetic fields in the local Universe are used in the CRPROPA code to simulate the propagation of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. We investigate the impact of six different magneto-genesis scenarios, both primordial and astrophysical, on the propagation of cosmic rays over cosmological distances. Moreover, we study the influence of different source distributions around the Milky Way. Our study shows that different scenarios of magneto-genesis do not have a large impact on the anisotropy measurements of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. However, at high energies above the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK)-limit, there is anisotropy caused by the distribution of nearby sources, independent of the magnetic field model. This provides a chance to identify cosmic ray sources with future full-sky measurements and high number statistics at the highest energies. Finally, we compare our results to the dipole signal measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory. All our source models and magnetic field models could reproduce the observed dipole amplitude with a pure iron injection composition. Our results indicate that the dipole is observed due to clustering of secondary nuclei in direction of nearby sources of heavy nuclei. A light injection composition is disfavoured, since the increase in dipole angular power from 4 to 8 EeV is too slow compared to observation by the Pierre Auger Observatory.

X-ray constraints on the fraction of obscured active galactic nuclei at high accretion luminosities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgakakis, A.; Salvato, M.; Liu, Z.; Buchner, J.; Brandt, W. N.; Ananna, T. Tasnim; Schulze, A.; Shen, Yue; LaMassa, S.; Nandra, K.; Merloni, A.; McGreer, I. D.

2017-08-01

The wide-area XMM-XXL X-ray survey is used to explore the fraction of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at high accretion luminosities, LX(2-10 keV) ≳ 1044 erg s - 1, and out to redshift z ≈ 1.5. The sample covers an area of about 14 deg2 and provides constraints on the space density of powerful AGNs over a wide range of neutral hydrogen column densities extending beyond the Compton-thick limit, NH ≈ 1024 cm - 2. The fraction of obscured Compton-thin (NH = 1022-1024 cm - 2) AGNs is estimated to be ≈0.35 for luminosities LX(2-10 keV) > 1044 erg s - 1, independent of redshift. For less luminous sources, the fraction of obscured Compton-thin AGNs increases from 0.45 ± 0.10 at z = 0.25 to 0.75 ± 0.05 at z = 1.25. Studies that select AGNs in the infrared via template fits to the observed spectral energy distribution of extragalactic sources estimate space densities at high accretion luminosities consistent with the XMM-XXL constraints. There is no evidence for a large population of AGNs (e.g. heavily obscured) identified in the infrared and missed at X-ray wavelengths. We further explore the mid-infrared colours of XMM-XXL AGNs as a function of accretion luminosity, column density and redshift. The fraction of XMM-XXL sources that lie within the mid-infrared colour wedges defined in the literature to select AGNs is primarily a function of redshift. This fraction increases from about 20-30 per cent at z = 0.25 to about 50-70 per cent at z = 1.5.

Cosmic-Ray Source Composition Determined from ACE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiedenbeck, M.

2000-01-01

The cosmic rays arriving at Earth comprise a mix of material produced by stellar sources and ejected into the interstellar medium (primary cosmic rays) and particles produced by fragmentation of heavier nuclei during transport through the Galaxy.

Investigation of the structure of light exotic nuclei by proton elastic scattering in inverse kinematics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alkhazov, G. D.; Vorobyov, A. A.; Dobrovolsky, A. V., E-mail: dobrov@pnpi.spb.ru

2015-05-15

In order to study the spatial structure of exotic nuclei, it was proposed at the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute (PNPI) to measure the differential cross section for small-angle proton elastic scattering in inverse kinematics. Several experiments in beams of 0.7-GeV/nucleon exotic nuclei were performed at the heavy-ion accelerator facility of GSI (Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany) by using the IKAR ionization spectrometer developed at PNPI. The IKAR ionization chamber filled with hydrogen at a pressure of 10 bar served simultaneously as a target and as a recoil-proton detector, which measured the recoil-proton energy. The beam-particle scattering angle was also measured.more » The results obtained for the cross sections in question were analyzed on the basis of the Glauber-Sitenko theory using phenomenological nuclear-density distributions with two free parameters. Nuclear-matter distributions and root-mean-square radii were found for the nuclei under investigation. The size of the halo in the {sup 6}He, {sup 8}He, {sup 11}Li, and {sup 14}Be nuclei was determined among other things. Information about neutron distributions in nuclei was deduced by combining the data obtained here with the known values of the radii of proton distributions. A sizable neutron skin was revealed in the {sup 8}Li, {sup 9}Li, and {sup 12}Be nuclei.« less

Search for cosmic-ray antimatter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smoot, G. F.; Buffington, A.; Orth, C. D.

1975-01-01

It appears probable that some fraction of the cosmic rays has extragalactic origin. A search for antimatter nuclei was conducted with the aid of a balloon-borne superconducting magnetic spectrometer. The investigation made use of the fact that matter and antimatter nuclei, because of their opposite signs of charge, would be deflected in opposite directions when passing through a magnetic field. The antimatter flux limits set by the experiments are discussed.

Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays from low-luminosity active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duţan, Ioana; Caramete, Laurenţiu I.

2015-03-01

We investigate the production of ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) in relativistic jets from low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGN). We start by proposing a model for the UHECR contribution from the black holes (BHs) in LLAGN, which present a jet power Pj ⩽1046 erg s-1. This is in contrast to the opinion that only high-luminosity AGN can accelerate particles to energies ⩾ 50 EeV. We rewrite the equations which describe the synchrotron self-absorbed emission of a non-thermal particle distribution to obtain the observed radio flux density from sources with a flat-spectrum core and its relationship to the jet power. We found that the UHECR flux is dependent on the observed radio flux density, the distance to the AGN, and the BH mass, where the particle acceleration regions can be sustained by the magnetic energy extraction from the BH at the center of the AGN. We use a complete sample of 29 radio sources with a total flux density at 5 GHz greater than 0.5 Jy to make predictions for the maximum particle energy, luminosity, and flux of the UHECRs from nearby AGN. These predictions are then used in a semi-analytical code developed in Mathematica (SAM code) as inputs for the Monte-Carlo simulations to obtain the distribution of the arrival direction at the Earth and the energy spectrum of the UHECRs, taking into account their deflection in the intergalactic magnetic fields. For comparison, we also use the CRPropa code with the same initial conditions as for the SAM code. Importantly, to calculate the energy spectrum we also include the weighting of the UHECR flux per each UHECR source. Next, we compare the energy spectrum of the UHECRs with that obtained by the Pierre Auger Observatory.

Gamma-ray blazars within the first 2 billion years

DOE PAGES

Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; Baldini, L.; ...

2017-02-27

Here, the detection of high-redshift (more » $$z\\,\\gt 3$$) blazars enables the study of the evolution of the most luminous relativistic jets over cosmic time. More importantly, high-redshift blazars tend to host massive black holes and can be used to constrain the space density of heavy black holes in the early universe. Here, we report the first detection with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope of five γ-ray-emitting blazars beyond z = 3.1, more distant than any blazars previously detected in γ-rays. Among these five objects, NVSS J151002+570243 is now the most distant known γ-ray-emitting blazar at z = 4.31. These objects have steeply falling γ-ray spectral energy distributions (SEDs), and those that have been observed in X-rays have a very hard X-ray spectrum, both typical of powerful blazars. Their Compton dominance (ratio of the inverse Compton to synchrotron peak luminosities) is also very large ($$\\gt 20$$). All of these properties place these objects among the most extreme members of the blazar population. Their optical spectra and the modeling of their optical-UV SEDs confirm that these objects harbor massive black holes ($${M}_{\\mathrm{BH}}\\sim {10}^{8-10}\\,{M}_{\\odot }$$). We find that, at $$z\\approx 4$$, the space density of $$\\gt {10}^{9}\\,{M}_{\\odot }$$ black holes hosted in radio-loud and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei are similar, implying that radio-loudness may play a key role in rapid black hole growth in the early universe.« less

Elemental Abundances of Ultra-Heavy Galactic Cosmic Rays from the SuperTIGER Instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murphy, Ryan

2016-07-01

The SuperTIGER (Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder) experiment was launched on a long-duration balloon flight from Williams Field, Antarctica, on December 8, 2012. The instrument measured the relative elemental abundances of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) for charge (Z) Z>10 with excellent charge resolution, displaying well resolved individual element peaks for 10 ≤ Z ≤ 40. During its record-breaking 55-day flight, SuperTIGER collected ˜4.73 x10^{6} Iron nuclei, ˜8 times as many as detected by its predecessor, TIGER, with charge resolution at iron of 0.17 cu. SuperTIGER measures charge (Z) and energy (E) using a combination of three scintillator and two Cherenkov detectors, and employs a scintillating fiber hodoscope for event trajectory determination. The SuperTIGER data have been analyzed to correct for instrument effects and remove events that underwent nuclear interactions within the instrument. The data include more than 600 events in the charge range 30 < Z ≤ 40. SuperTIGER is the first experiment to resolve elemental abundances of every element in this charge range with high statistics and single-element resolution. The relative abundances of the galactic cosmic ray source have been derived from the measured relative elemental abundances using atmospheric and interstellar propagations. The SuperTIGER measured abundances are generally consistent with previous experimental results from TIGER and ACE-CRIS, with improved statistical precision. The SuperTIGER results confirm the earlier results from TIGER, supporting a model of cosmic-ray origin in OB associations, with preferential acceleration of refractory elements over volatile elements ordered by atomic mass (A). A second SuperTIGER Antarctic flight is planned for December 2017. Details of the instrument, flight, data analysis, and ongoing preparations will be presented.

THE LONGEST TIMESCALE X-RAY VARIABILITY REVEALS EVIDENCE FOR ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE HIGH ACCRETION STATE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang Youhong, E-mail: youhong.zhang@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

2011-01-01

The All Sky Monitor (ASM) on board the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer has continuously monitored a number of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with similar sampling rates for 14 years, from 1996 January to 2009 December. Utilizing the archival ASM data of 27 AGNs, we calculate the normalized excess variances of the 300-day binned X-ray light curves on the longest timescale (between 300 days and 14 years) explored so far. The observed variance appears to be independent of AGN black-hole mass and bolometric luminosity. According to the scaling relation of black-hole mass (and bolometric luminosity) from galactic black hole X-ray binariesmore » (GBHs) to AGNs, the break timescales that correspond to the break frequencies detected in the power spectral density (PSD) of our AGNs are larger than the binsize (300 days) of the ASM light curves. As a result, the singly broken power-law (soft-state) PSD predicts the variance to be independent of mass and luminosity. Nevertheless, the doubly broken power-law (hard-state) PSD predicts, with the widely accepted ratio of the two break frequencies, that the variance increases with increasing mass and decreases with increasing luminosity. Therefore, the independence of the observed variance on mass and luminosity suggests that AGNs should have soft-state PSDs. Taking into account the scaling of the break timescale with mass and luminosity synchronously, the observed variances are also more consistent with the soft-state than the hard-state PSD predictions. With the averaged variance of AGNs and the soft-state PSD assumption, we obtain a universal PSD amplitude of 0.030 {+-} 0.022. By analogy with the GBH PSDs in the high/soft state, the longest timescale variability supports the standpoint that AGNs are scaled-up GBHs in the high accretion state, as already implied by the direct PSD analysis.« less

Numerical Model for Cosmic Rays Species Production and Propagation in the Galaxy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farahat, Ashraf; Zhang, Ming; Rassoul, Hamid; Connell, J. J.

2005-01-01

In recent years, considerable progress has been made in studying the propagation and origin of cosmic rays, as new and more accurate data have become available. Many models have been developed to study cosmic ray interactions and propagation showed flexibility in resembling various astrophysical conditions and good agreement with observational data. However, some astrophysical problems cannot be addressed using these models, such as the stochastic nature of the cosmic rays source, small-scale structures and inhomogeneities in the interstellar gas that can affect radioactive secondary abundance in cosmic rays. We have developed a new model and a corresponding computer code that can address some of these limitations. The model depends on the expansion of the backward stochastic solution of the general diffusion transport equation (Zhang 1999) starting from an observer position to solve a group of diffusion transport equations each of which represents a particular element or isotope of cosmic ray nuclei. In this paper we are focusing on key abundance ratios such as B/C, sub-Fe/Fe, (10)Be/(9)Be, (26)Al/(27)Al, (36)Cl/(37)Cl and (54)Mn/(55)Mn, which all have well established cross sections, to evaluate our model. The effect of inhomogeneity in the interstellar medium is investigated. The contribution of certain cosmic ray nuclei to the production of other nuclei is addressed. The contribution of various galactic locations to the production of cosmic ray nuclei observed at solar system is also investigated.

Scintillation Detector for the Measurement of Ultra-Heavy Cosmic Rays on the Super-TIGER Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Link, Jason

2011-01-01

We discuss the design and construction of the scintillation detectors for the Super-TIGER experiment. Super-TIGER is a large-area (5.4sq m) balloon-borne experiment designed to measure the abundances of cosmic-ray nuclei between Z= 10 and Z=56. It is based on the successful TIGER experiment that flew in Antarctica in 2001 and 2003. Super-TIGER has three layers of scintillation detectors, two Cherenkov detectors and a scintillating fiber hodoscope. The scintillation detector employs four wavelength shifter bars surrounding the edges of the scintillator to collect the light from particles traversing the detector. PMTs are optically coupled at both ends of the bars for light collection. We report on laboratory performance of the scintillation counters using muons. In addition we discuss the design challenges and detector response over this broad charge range including the effect of scintilator saturation.

Dynamical evolution of spectator systems produced in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazurek, K.; Szczurek, A.; Schmitt, C.; Nadtochy, P. N.

2018-02-01

In peripheral heavy-ion collisions at ultrarelativistic energies, usually only parts of the colliding nuclei effectively interact with each other. In the overlapping zone, a fireball or quark-gluon plasma is produced. The excitation energy of the heavy remnant can range from a few tens to several hundreds of MeV, depending on the impact parameter. The decay of these excited spectators is investigated in this work for the first time within a dynamical approach based on the multidimensional stochastic Langevin equation. The potential of this exploratory work to understand the connection between electromagnetic fields generated by the heavy spectators and measured pion distributions is discussed.

Identifying Galactic Cosmic Ray Origins With Super-TIGER

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

deNolfo, Georgia; Binns, W. R.; Israel, M. H.; Christian, E. R.; Mitchell, J. W.; Hams, T.; Link, J. T.; Sasaki, M.; Labrador, A. W.; Mewaldt, R. A.;

New constraints on the X-ray spectral properties of type 1 active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scott, A. E.; Stewart, G. C.; Mateos, S.; Alexander, D. M.; Hutton, S.; Ward, M. J.

2011-10-01

We present a detailed characterization of the X-ray spectral properties of 761 type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN), selected from a cross-correlation of the SDSS DR5 quasar catalogue and the incremental version of the second XMM-Newton serendipitous X-ray source catalogue 2XMMi-DR2. The X-ray spectrum of each source has been fitted with models based on a simple power law to which additional cold absorption and/or soft-excess features have been added if an F-test at 99 per cent significance required them. The distribution of best-fitting photon indices, Γ, has been fitted with a Gaussian with mean <Γ>= 1.99 ± 0.01 and dispersion σ<Γ>= 0.30 ± 0.01; however, this does not provide a good representation of the distribution due to sources with very flat or steep Γ values. A highly significant trend for decreasing Γ values with increasing 2-10 keV luminosity, LX, has been seen but only a weak trend with redshift has been found. Intrinsic cold absorption has been detected in ˜4 per cent of the sample and soft-excess emission has been detected in ˜8 per cent. These values are lower limits due to the detectability being limited by the quality of the spectra and we suggest that the intrinsic values may be as high as ˜25 and ˜80 per cent, respectively. The levels of rest-frame absorption are higher than expected for type 1 objects (NH= 1021-1023 cm-2) and the fraction of absorbed sources and the NH values were not seen to vary with LX or z. The average blackbody temperature used to model the soft excesses is = 0.17 ± 0.09 keV. This temperature has been found to correlate with LX but not the blackbody luminosity or the black hole mass which do correlate with each other. A strong correlation has been found between the luminosities in the blackbody and power-law components, suggesting that a similar fraction is reprocessed from the blackbody to the power-law component for the entire luminosity range of objects. A positive correlation between Γ and the X-ray

Gamma-ray Albedo of the Moon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moskalenko, Igor V.; Porter, Troy A.

2007-06-14

We use the GEANT4 Monte Carlo framework to calculate the gamma-ray albedo of the Moon due to interactions of cosmic ray (CR) nuclei with moon rock. Our calculation of the albedo spectrum agrees with the EGRET data. We show that the spectrum of gamma-rays from the Moon is very steep with an effective cutoff around 3 GeV (600 MeV for the inner part of the Moon disc). Since it is the only (almost) black spot in the gamma-ray sky, it provides a unique opportunity for calibration of gamma-ray telescopes, such as the forthcoming Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST).more » The albedo flux depends on the incident CR spectrum which changes over the solar cycle. Therefore, it is possible to monitor the CR spectrum using the albedo gamma-ray flux. Simultaneous measurements of CR proton and helium spectra by the Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA), and observations of the albedo -rays by the GLAST Large Area Telescope (LAT), can be used to test the model predictions and will enable the GLAST LAT to monitor the CR spectrum near the Earth beyond the lifetime of PAMELA.« less

Extragalactic Ultra-High Energy Cosmic-Rays - Part One - Contribution from Hot Spots in Fr-II Radio Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rachen, J. P.; Biermann, P. L.

1993-05-01

The hot spots of Fanaroff-Riley class II radio galaxies, considered as working surfaces of highly collimated plasma jets, are proposed to be the dominant sources of the cosmic rays at energies above 1 EeV^a^. We apply the model of first order Fermi acceleration at strong, nonrelativistic shock waves to the hot spot region. The strength of the model has been demonstrated by Biermann & Strittmatter (1987) and by Meisenheimer et al. (1989), who explain their radio-to optical spectra and infer the physical conditions of the radiating plasma. Using synchrotron radiating electrons as a trace, we can calculate the spectrum and the maximum energy of protons accelerated under the same conditions. For simplicity, we disregard heavy nuclei, but their probable role is discussed. The normalization of proton flux injected in extragalactic space is performed by using estimates from Rawlings & Saunders (1991) for the total energy stored in relativistic particles inside the jets and radio galaxy evolution models given by Peacock (1985). We calculate the spectral modifications due to interactions of the protons with the microwave background photons in an evolving universe, following Berezinsky & Grigor'eva (1988). Constraints on the extragalactic magnetic field can be imposed, since it must permit an almost homogeneous filling of the universe with energetic protons. The observed ultra-high energy cosmic ray spectrum is reproduced in slope and flux, limited at high energies by the Greisen-cutoff at about 80 EeV. The requirements on the content of relativistic protons in jets and the constraints to the extragalactic magnetic field are consistent with common estimates. The data beyond the Greisen cutoff for protons may be explained by including heavy nuclei in our model, since they can propagate over cosmological distances up to more than 100 EeV.

Calorimetric low temperature detectors for high resolution x-ray spectroscopy on stored highly stripped heavy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bleile, A.; Egelhof, P.; Kluge, H.-J.; Liebisch, U.; Mc Cammon, D.; Meier, H. J.; Sebastián, O.; Stahle, C. K.; Stöhlker, T.; Weber, M.

2000-06-01

The precise determination of the Lamb shift in heavy hydrogen-like ions provides a sensitive test of QED in very strong Coulomb fields, not accessible otherwise, and has also the potential to deduce nuclear charge radii. A brief overview on the present status of such experiments, performed at the storage ring ESR at GSI Darmstadt, is given. For the investigation of the Lyman-α transitions in Au78+- or U91+- ions with improved accuracy a high resolving calorimetric low temperature detector for hard x-rays (E⩽100 keV) is presently developed. The detector modules consist of arrays of silicon thermistors and of x-ray absorbers made of high Z material to optimize the absorption efficiency. The detectors are housed in a specially designed 3He/4He dilution refrigerator which fits to the geometry of the ESR target. The detector performance presently achieved is already close to fulfill the demands of the Lamb shift experiment. For a prototype detector an energy resolution of ΔEFWHM=75 eV is obtained for 60 keV x-rays.

Calorimetric low-temperature detectors for high resolution x-ray spectroscopy on stored highly stripped heavy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bleile, A.; Egelhof, P.; Kraft, S.; McCammon, D.; Meier, H. J.; Shrivastava, A.; Stahle, C. K.; Weber, M.

2002-02-01

The accurate determination of the Lamb shift in heavy hydrogen-like ions provides a sensitive test of quantum electrodynamics in very strong Coulomb fields, not accessible otherwise. For the investigation of the Lyman-α transitions in 208Pb81+ or 238U91+ with sufficient accuracy, a high resolution calorimetric detector for hard x-rays (E<=100 keV) is presently being developed. The detector modules consist of arrays of silicon thermistors and of x-ray absorbers made of high-Z material to optimize the absorption efficiency. The detectors are housed in a specially designed 3He/4He dilution refrigerator with a side arm which fits to the internal target geometry of the storage ring ESR at GSI Darmstadt. The detector performance presently achieved is already close to fulfill the demands of the Lamb shift experiment. For a prototype detector pixel with a 0.2 mm2×47 μm Pb absorber an energy resolution of ΔEFWHM=65 eV is obtained for 60 keV x-rays. .

Systems and methods for detecting x-rays

DOEpatents

Bross, Alan D.; Mellott, Kerry L.; Pla-Dalmau, Anna

2006-05-02

Systems and methods for detecting x-rays are disclosed herein. One or more x-ray-sensitive scintillators can be configured from a plurality of heavy element nano-sized particles and a plastic material, such as polystyrene. As will be explained in greater detail herein, the heavy element nano-sized particles (e.g., PbWO₄) can be compounded into the plastic material with at least one dopant that permits the plastic material to scintillate. X-rays interact with the heavy element nano-sized particles to produce electrons that can deposit energy in the x-ray sensitive scintillator, which in turn can produce light.

Nuclear-bound quarkonia and heavy-flavor hadrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krein, G.; Thomas, A. W.; Tsushima, K.

2018-05-01

In our quest to win a deeper understanding of how QCD actually works, the study of the binding of heavy quarkonia and heavy-flavor hadrons to atomic nuclei offers enormous promise. Modern experimental facilities such as FAIR, Jefferson Lab at 12 GeV and J-PARC offer exciting new experimental opportunities to study such systems. These experimental advances are complemented by new theoretical approaches and predictions, which will both guide these experimental efforts and be informed and improved by them. This review will outline the main theoretical approaches, beginning with QCD itself, summarize recent theoretical predictions and relate them both to past experiments and those from which we may expect results in the near future.

X-ray astronomy from Uhuru to HEAO-1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, G. W.

1981-01-01

The nature of galactic and extragalactic X-ray sources is investigated using observations made with nine satellites and several rockets. The question of X-ray pulsars being neutron stars or white dwarfs is considered, as is the nature of Population II and low-luminosity X-ray stars, the diffuse X-ray emission from clusters of galaxies, the unidentified high-galactic-latitude (UHGL) sources, and the unresolved soft X-ray background. The types of sources examined include binary pulsars, Population II X-ray stars (both nonbursters and bursters) inside and outside globular clusters, coronal X-ray emitters, and active galactic nuclei. It is concluded that: (1) X-ray pulsars are strongly magnetized neutron stars formed in the evolution of massive close binaries; (2) all Population II X-ray stars are weakly magnetized or nonmagnetic neutron stars accreting from low-mass companions in close binary systems; (3) the diffuse emission from clusters is thermal bremsstrahlung of hot matter processed in stars and swept out by ram pressure exerted by the intergalactic gas; (4) most or all of the UHGL sources are active galactic nuclei; and (5) the soft X-ray background is emission from a hot component of the interstellar medium.

The Animated Gamma-ray Sky Revealed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

ScienceCinema

Isabelle Grenier

2018-04-17

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has been observing the sky in gamma-rays since August 2008.  In addition to breakthrough capabilities in energy coverage (20 MeV-300 GeV) and angular resolution, the wide field of view of the Large Area Telescope enables observations of 20% of the sky at any instant, and of the whole sky every three hours. It has revealed a very animated sky with bright gamma-ray bursts flashing and vanishing in minutes, powerful active galactic nuclei flaring over hours and days, many pulsars twinkling in the Milky Way, and X-ray binaries shimmering along their orbit. Most of these variable sources had not been seen by the Fermi predecessor, EGRET, and the wealth of new data already brings important clues to the origin of the high-energy emission and particles powered by the compact objects. The telescope also brings crisp images of the bright gamma-ray emission produced by cosmic-ray interactions in the interstellar medium, thus allowing to measure the cosmic nuclei and electron spectra across the Galaxy, to weigh interstellar clouds, in particular in the dark-gas phase. The telescope sensitivity at high energy will soon provide useful constraints on dark-matter annihilations in a variety of environments. I will review the current results and future prospects of the Fermi mission.

X-ray short-time lags in the Fe-K energy band produced by scattering clouds in active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizumoto, Misaki; Done, Chris; Hagino, Kouichi; Ebisawa, Ken; Tsujimoto, Masahiro; Odaka, Hirokazu

2018-07-01

X-rays illuminating the accretion disc in active galactic nuclei give rise to an iron K line and its associated reflection spectrum that are lagged behind the continuum variability by the light-travel time from the source to the disc. The measured lag time-scales in the iron band can be as short as ˜Rg/c, where Rg is the gravitational radius, which is often interpreted as evidence for a very small continuum source close to the event horizon of a rapidly spinning black hole. However, the short lags can also be produced by reflection from more distant material, because the primary photons with no time-delay dilute the time-lags caused by the reprocessed photons. We perform a Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the dilution effect in the X-ray reverberation lags from a half-shell of neutral material placed at 100 Rg from the central source. This gives lags of ˜2 Rg/c, but the iron line is a distinctly narrow feature in the lag-energy plot, whereas the data often show a broader line. We show that both the short lag and the line broadening can be reproduced, if the scattering material is outflowing at ˜0.1c. The velocity structure in the wind can also give shifts in the line profile in the lag-energy plot calculated at different frequencies. Hence we propose that the observed broad iron reverberation lags and shifts in profile as a function of frequency of variability can arise from a disc wind at fairly large distances from the X-ray source.

X-ray short-time lags in the Fe-K energy band produced by scattering clouds in active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizumoto, Misaki; Done, Chris; Hagino, Kouichi; Ebisawa, Ken; Tsujimoto, Masahiro; Odaka, Hirokazu

2018-05-01

X-rays illuminating the accretion disc in active galactic nuclei give rise to an iron K line and its associated reflection spectrum which are lagged behind the continuum variability by the light-travel time from the source to the disc. The measured lag timescales in the iron band can be as short as ˜Rg/c, where Rg is the gravitational radius, which is often interpreted as evidence for a very small continuum source close to the event horizon of a rapidly spinning black hole. However, the short lags can also be produced by reflection from more distant material, because the primary photons with no time-delay dilute the time-lags caused by the reprocessed photons. We perform a Monte-Carlo simulation to calculate the dilution effect in the X-ray reverberation lags from a half-shell of neutral material placed at 100 Rg from the central source. This gives lags of ˜2 Rg/c, but the iron line is a distinctly narrow feature in the lag-energy plot, whereas the data often show a broader line. We show that both the short lag and the line broadening can be reproduced if the scattering material is outflowing at ˜0.1c. The velocity structure in the wind can also give shifts in the line profile in the lag-energy plot calculated at different frequencies. Hence we propose that the observed broad iron reverberation lags and shifts in profile as a function of frequency of variability can arise from a disc wind at fairly large distances from the X-ray source.

Effect of Pressure on Valence and Structural Properties of YbFe 2 Ge 2 Heavy Fermion Compound—A Combined Inelastic X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and Theoretical Investigation

DOE PAGES

Kumar, Ravhi S.; Svane, Axel; Vaitheeswaran, Ganapathy; ...

2015-10-19

We measured the crystal structure and the Yb valence of the YbFe 2Ge 2 heavy fermion compound at room temperature and under high pressures using high-pressure powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy via both partial fluorescence yield and resonant inelastic X-ray emission techniques. Moreover, the measurements are complemented by first-principles density functional theoretical calculations using the self-interaction corrected local spin density approximation investigating in particular the magnetic structure and the Yb valence. Finally, while the ThCr 2Si 2-type tetragonal (I4/mmm) structure is stable up to 53 GPa, the X-ray emission results show an increase of the Yb valence frommore » v = 2.72(2) at ambient pressure to v = 2.93(3) at ~9 GPa, where at low temperature a pressure-induced quantum critical state was reported.« less

Exploring Black Hole Accretion in Active Galactic Nuclei with Simbol-X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goosmann, R. W.; Dovčiak, M.; Mouchet, M.; Czerny, B.; Karas, V.; Gonçalves, A.

2009-05-01

A major goal of the Simbol-X mission is to improve our knowledge about black hole accretion. By opening up the X-ray window above 10 keV with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution we obtain new constraints on the X-ray spectral and variability properties of active galactic nuclei. To interpret the future data, detailed X-ray modeling of the dynamics and radiation processes in the black hole vicinity is required. Relativistic effects must be taken into account, which then allow to constrain the fundamental black hole parameters and the emission pattern of the accretion disk from the spectra that will be obtained with Simbol-X.

Nuclear gamma rays from energetic particle interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramaty, R.; Kozlovsky, B.; Lingenfelter, R. E.

1978-01-01

Gamma ray line emission from nuclear deexcitation following energetic particle reactions is evaluated. The compiled nuclear data and the calculated gamma ray spectra and intensities can be used for the study of astrophysical sites which contain large fluxes of energetic protons and nuclei. A detailed evaluation of gamma ray line production in the interstellar medium is made.

Gamma-ray and Neutrino Fluxes from Heavy Dark Matter in the Galactic Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gammaldi, V.; Cembranos, J. A. R.; de la Cruz-Dombriz, A.; Lineros, R. A.; Maroto, A. L.

We present a study of the Galactic Center region as a possible source of both secondary gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes from annihilating dark matter. We have studied the gamma-ray flux observed by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) from the J1745-290 Galactic Center source. The data are well fitted as annihilating dark matter in combination with an astrophysical background. The analysis was performed by means of simulated gamma spectra produced by Monte Carlo event generators packages. We analyze the differences in the spectra obtained by the various Monte Carlo codes developed so far in particle physics. We show that, within some uncertainty, the HESS data can be fitted as a signal from a heavy dark matter density distribution peaked at the Galactic Center, with a power-law for the background with a spectral index which is compatible with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) data from the same region. If this kind of dark matter distribution generates the gamma-ray flux observed by HESS, we also expect to observe a neutrino flux. We show prospective results for the observation of secondary neutrinos with the Astronomy with a Neutrino Telescope and Abyss environmental RESearch project (ANTARES), Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory (Ice Cube) and the Cubic Kilometer Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT). Prospects solely depend on the device resolution angle when its effective area and the minimum energy threshold are fixed.

Cosmic Ray Observation at Mount Chacaltaya for beyond the Knee Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsunesada, Y.; Kakimoto, F.; Furuhata, F.; Matsumoto, H.; Sugawara, T.; Wakamatsu, H.; Gotoh, E.; Nakatani, H.; Nishi, K.; Tajima, N.; Yamada, Y.; Shimoda, S.; Yoshii, H.; Kaneko, T.; Ogio, S.; Matsubara, Y.; Kadota, K.; Tokuno, H.; Mizumoto, Y.; Shirasaki, Y.; Toyoda, Y.; Burgoa, O.; Flores, V.; Miranda, P.; Salinas, J.; Velarde, A.

We have installed a new air shower array at Mount Chacaltaya (5,200m above sea level) to observe primary cosmic rays with energies greater than 1015 eV. In our previous experiments, we measured energy spectrum and nuclear composition of primary cosmic rays around the knee region. Above all, we obtained the cosmic ray composition with three independent techniques, namely from the equi-intensity cuts, the arrival time distributions of Cherenkov lights associated with air showers, and the lateral distributions of Cherenkov photons around the shower axis. All the results from these experiments are in agreement and show that the average mass of cosmic ray nuclei increases with energies below and above the knee, and dominated by heavier nuclei as iron at 1016 eV. This result is consistent with the confinement and rigidity dependent acceleration models, and suggests that the cosmic ray origins are supernova remnants of massive population as Wolf-Rayet stars. It is of quite interest whether the mass of cosmic ray nuclei continues to increase with energies, or decreases by contributions of lighter components expected from the extra-galactic cosmic ray models. In this paper, we describe the characteristics of the new array and preliminary results from the first observation.

New structures of power density spectra for four Kepler active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobrotka, A.; Antonuccio-Delogu, V.; Bajčičáková, I.

2017-09-01

Many nearby active galactic nuclei display a significant short-term variability. In this work, we reanalyse photometric data of four active galactic nuclei observed by Kepler in order to study the flickering activity, with our main goal to search for multiple components in the power density spectra. We find that all four objects have similar characteristics, with two break frequencies at approximately log( f /Hz) = -5.2 and -4.7. We consider some physical phenomena whose characteristic time-scales are consistent with those observed, in particular mass accretion fluctuations in the inner geometrically thick disc (hot X-ray corona) and unstable relativistic Rayleigh-Taylor modes. The former is supported by detection of the same break frequencies in the Swift X-ray data of ZW229-15. We also discuss rms-flux relations, and we detect a possible typical linear trend at lower flux levels. Our findings support the hypothesis of a multiplicative character of variability, in agreement with the propagating accretion fluctuation model.

Chandra X-Ray and Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of Optically Selected Kiloparsec-scale Binary Active Galactic Nuclei. II. Host Galaxy Morphology and AGN Activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shangguan, Jinyi; Liu, Xin; Ho, Luis C.; Shen, Yue; Peng, Chien Y.; Greene, Jenny E.; Strauss, Michael A.

2016-05-01

Binary active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provide clues to how gas-rich mergers trigger and fuel AGNs and how supermassive black hole (SMBH) pairs evolve in a gas-rich environment. While significant effort has been invested in their identification, the detailed properties of binary AGNs and their host galaxies are still poorly constrained. In a companion paper, we examined the nature of ionizing sources in the double nuclei of four kiloparsec-scale binary AGNs with redshifts between 0.1 and 0.2. Here, we present their host galaxy morphology based on F336W (U-band) and F105W (Y-band) images taken by the Wide Field Camera 3 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. Our targets have double-peaked narrow emission lines and were confirmed to host binary AGNs with follow-up observations. We find that kiloparsec-scale binary AGNs occur in galaxy mergers with diverse morphological types. There are three major mergers with intermediate morphologies and a minor merger with a dominant disk component. We estimate the masses of the SMBHs from their host bulge stellar masses and obtain Eddington ratios for each AGN. Compared with a representative control sample drawn at the same redshift and stellar mass, the AGN luminosities and Eddington ratios of our binary AGNs are similar to those of single AGNs. The U - Y color maps indicate that clumpy star-forming regions could significantly affect the X-ray detection of binary AGNs, e.g., the hardness ratio. Considering the weak X-ray emission in AGNs triggered in merger systems, we suggest that samples of X-ray-selected AGNs may be biased against gas-rich mergers. Based, in part, on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555. These observations are associated with program number GO 12363.

Online X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis of Heavy Metals in Pulverized Coal on a Conveyor Belt.

PubMed

Yan, Zhang; XinLei, Zhang; WenBao, Jia; Qing, Shan; YongSheng, Ling; DaQian, Hei; Da, Chen

2016-02-01

Heavy metals in haze episode will continue to threaten the quality of public health around the world. In order to decrease the emission of heavy metals produced from coal burning, an online X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer system, consisting of an XRF analyzer with data acquisition software and a laser rangefinder, was developed to carry out the measurement of heavy metals in pulverized coal. The XRF analyzer was mounted on a sled, which can effectively smooth the surface of pulverized coal and reduce the impact of surface roughness during online measurement. The laser rangefinder was mounted over the sled for measuring the distance between a pulverized coal sample and the analyzer. Several heavy metals and other elements in pulverized coal were online measured by the XRF analyzer directly above a conveyor belt. The limits of detection for Hg, Pb, Cr, Ti, Fe, and Ca by the analyzer were 44 ± 2, 34 ± 2, 17 ± 3, 41 ± 4, 19 ± 3, and 65 ± 2 mg·kg(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation (%RSD) for the elements mentioned was less than 7.74%. By comparison with the results by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), relative deviation (%D) of the online XRF analyzer was less than 10% for Cr, Ti, and Ca, in the range of 0.8-24.26% for Fe, and greater than 20% for Hg and Pb. © The Author(s) 2016.

Evidence for momentum-dependent heavy-fermionic electronic structures: Soft x-ray ARPES for the superconductor CeNi2Ge2 in the normal state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakatani, Y.; Aratani, H.; Fujiwara, H.; Mori, T.; Tsuruta, A.; Tachibana, S.; Yamaguchi, T.; Kiss, T.; Yamasaki, A.; Yasui, A.; Yamagami, H.; Miyawaki, J.; Ebihara, T.; Saitoh, Y.; Sekiyama, A.

2018-03-01

We present clear experimental evidence for the momentum-dependent heavy fermionic electronic structures of the 4 f -based strongly correlated system CeNi2Ge2 by soft x-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. A comparison between the experimental three-dimensional quasiparticle dispersion of LaNi2Ge2 and CeNi2Ge2 has revealed that heavy fermionic electronic structures are seen in the region surrounding a specific momentum. Furthermore, the wave vectors between the observed "heavy spots" are consistent with a result of neutron scattering reflecting magnetic correlations, which could be a trigger for the superconductivity in CeNi2Ge2 .

An instrument to measure the spectrum of cosmic ray iron and other nuclei to above 100 GeV-nucleon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arens, J. F.; Balasubrahmanyan, V. K.; Ormes, J. F.; Siohan, F.; Schmidt, W. K. H.; Simon, M.; Spiegelhauer, H.

1978-01-01

A balloon-borne detector system for extending the study of cosmic ray composition to the energy region beyond 100 GeV/nucleon is described. The instrument incorporates an ionization calorimeter and a gas Cherenkov counter filled with freon for the determination of energies, and a charge module, consisting of scintillation and a lucite Cherenkov counter, for determining the charge of the incoming particle. The scintillators were utilized to determine the position of the incoming particle in addition to its charge. The characteristics of these detectors with respect to resolution, and the methods employed in laboratory calibration, cross-checks with flight data and actual performance in the flights are described in detail. Monte Carlo simulation of the ionization calorimeter and comparison of the response of the calorimeter and gas Cherenkov counter for complex nuclei was used to convert the observed calorimeter signal to absolute energy in a consistent manner.

Correlations of heavy quarks produced at the Large Hadron Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Younus, Mohammed; Jamil, Umme; Srivastava, Dinesh K.

2012-02-01

We study the correlations of heavy quarks produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions and find them to be quite sensitive to the effects of the medium and the production mechanisms. In order to put this on a quantitative footing, as a first step, we analyze the azimuthal, transverse momentum, and rapidity correlations of heavy quark-antiquark (Q\\overline{Q}) pairs in pp collisions at {O}(α3s). This sets the stage for the identification and study of medium modification of similar correlations in the relativistic collision of heavy nuclei at the Large Hadron Collider. Next we study the additional production of charm quarks in heavy ion collisions due to multiple scatterings, namely jet-jet collisions, jet-thermal collisions, and thermal interactions. We find that these give rise to azimuthal correlations which are quite different from those arising from the prompt initial production at leading order and at next to leading order. Communicated by Professor Steffen Bass.

Consequences of hot gas in the broad line region of active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kallman, T.; Mushotzky, R.

1985-01-01

Models for hot gas in the broad line region of active galactic nuclei are discussed. The results of the two phase equilibrium models for confinement of broad line clouds by Compton heated gas are used to show that high luminosity quasars are expected to show Fe XXVI L alpha line absorption which will be observed with spectrometers such as those planned for the future X-ray spectroscopy experiments. Two phase equilibrium models also predict that the gas in the broad line clouds and the confining medium may be Compton thick. It is shown that the combined effects of Comptonization and photoabsorption can suppress both the broad emission lines and X-rays in the Einstein and HEAO-1 energy bands. The observed properties of such Compton thick active galaxies are expected to be similar to those of Seyfert 2 nuclei. The implications for polarization and variability are also discussed.

Superiority of Low Energy 160 KV X-Rays Compared to High Energy 6 MV X-Rays in Heavy Element Radiosensitization for Cancer Treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Sara N.; Pradhan, Anil K.; Nahar, Sultana N.; Barth, Rolf F.; Yang, Weilian; Nakkula, Robin J.; Palmer, Alycia; Turro, Claudia

2013-06-01

High energy X-rays in the MeV range are generally employed in conventional radiation therapy from linear accelerators (LINAC) to ensure sufficient penetration depths. However, lower energy X-rays in the keV range may be more effective when coupled with heavy element (high-Z or HZ) radiosensitizers. Numerical simulations of X-ray energy deposition for tumor phantoms sensitized with HZ radiosensitizers were performed using the Monte Carlo code Geant4. The results showed enhancement in energy deposition to radiosensitized phantoms relative to unsensitized phantoms for low energy X-rays in the keV range. In contrast, minimal enhancement was seen using high energy X-rays in the MeV range. Dose enhancement factors (DEFs) were computed and showed radiosensitization only in the low energy range < 200 keV, far lower than the energy of the majority of photons in the LINAC energy range. In vitro studies were carried to demonstrate the tumoricidal effects of HZ sensitized F98 rat glioma cells following irradiation with both low energy 160 kV and high energy 6 MV X-ray sources. The platinum compound, pyridine terpyridine Pt(II) nitrate, was initially used because it was 7x less toxic that an equivalent amount of carboplatin in vitro studies. This would allow us to separate the radiotoxic and the chemotoxic effects of HZ sensitizers. Results from this study showed a 10-fold dose dependent reduction in surviving fractions (SF) of radiosensitized cells treated with low energy 160 kV X-rays compared to those treated with 6 MV X-rays. This is in agreement with our simulations that show an increase in dose deposition in radiosensitized tumors for low energy X-rays. Due to unforeen in vivo toxicity, however, another in vitro study was performed using the commonly used, Pt-based chemotherapeutic drug carboplatin which confirmed earlier results. This lays the ground work for a planned in vivo study using F98 glioma bearing rats. This study demonstrates that while high energy X-rays are

Upbend and M1 scissors mode in neutron-rich nuclei - consequences for r-process $$(n,\\gamma )$$ reaction rates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Larsen, A. C.; Goriely, S.; Bernstein, L. A.

2015-01-01

An enhanced probability for low-energy γ-emission ( upbend, Eγ < 3 MeV) at high excitation energies has been observed for several light and medium-mass nuclei close to the valley of stability. Also the M1 scissors mode seen in deformed nuclei increases the γ-decay probability for low-energy γ-rays (E γ ≈ 2–3 MeV). These phenomena, if present in neutron-rich nuclei, have the potential to increase radiative neutron-capture rates relevant for the r-process. Furthermore, the experimental and theoretical status of the upbend is discussed, and preliminary calculations of (n,γ) reaction rates for neutron-rich, mid-mass nuclei including the scissors mode are shown.

Charge composition of cosmic rays between 4 and 100 GV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golden, R. L.; Adams, J. H.; Badhwar, G. D.; Deney, C. L.; Lindstrom, P. J.; Heckman, H. H.

1974-01-01

Balloon-flight measurements were used to determine ratios of cosmic-ray L nuclei (charge Z ranging from 3 to 5) to M nuclei (Z ranging from 6 to 8) and of VH nuclei (Z from 20 to 27) to M nuclei using a magnetic spectrometer. The purpose of the measurements was to establish whether both ratios vary with rigidity as this would provide evidence for more than one basic acceleration mechanism. The results provide no indication that the VH spectrum is steeper than the M spectrum.

Enhanced emission of iron nuclei in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Price, P. B.; Hutcheon, I. D.; Cowsik, R.; Barber, D. J.

1972-01-01

A silica glass window from Apollo 12 CM and a piece of flint glass from the Surveyor 3 camera filter were examined for Fe nuclei tracks. A large difference between observed and predicted track densitites was found. At low rigidity (or energy), the solar particle Fe/He ratio is much higher than the photospheric abundance ratio, but decreases with increasing rigidity until it approaches the photospheric value at a rigidity of about 500 MV. It is felt that the low-energy Fe tracks are of solar origin. The implications that heavy nuclei can be preferentially emitted from a source of energetic particles are discussed. Other conclusions are the following: Rocks exposed on the lunar surface for 10 million yr would accumulate about 6 x 10 to the 12th power tracks/sq cm, and the rate of radiation-induced erosion is about 10 to the -9 cm/yr. The lunar soil should contain heavily irradiated small grains, some with track densities of about 10 to the 12th power/sq cm that have flaked from radiation-damaged rock surfaces and some that were irradiated while at the top of the soil layer.

Valence p-n interactions and sufficient conditions for the development of collectivity in heavy nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sharon, Y.Y.

1988-04-01

The P scheme of Casten, Brenner, and Haustein is used to suggest that nuclei will always become deformed when there are more than 10 valence nucleons of each type (protons and neutrons). Utilizing this scheme, necessary and sufficient conditions are also suggested for the onset of nuclear collectivity.

Octupole Deformation Bands of πh11/2 in Neutron-Rich 145,147La Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Sheng-jiang; S, Zhu J.; Wang, Mu-ge; J, Hamilton H.; A, Ramayya V.; B, Babu R. S.; W, Ma C.; Long, Gui-lu; Zhu, Ling-yan; Li, Ming; A, Sakhaee; Gan, Cui-yun; Yang, Li-ming; J, Komicki; J, Cole D.; R, Aryaeinejad; M, Drigert W.; J, Rasmussen O.; M, Stoyer A.; S, Chu Y.; K, Gregorich E.; M, Mohar F.; S, Prussin G.; I, Lee Y.; Yu, Oganessian Ts; G, Ter-Akopian M.; A, Daniel V.

1999-03-01

Octupole deformation bands built on πh11/2 orbital in neutron-rich odd-Z 145,147La nuclei have been investigated by measuring the prompt γ-rays emitted from the 252Cf source. The alternating parity band structures and strong E1 transitions observed between negative- and positive-parity bands in both nuclei indicate the octupole deformation enhanced by the h11/2 single proton coupling. According to observed energy displacements the octupole deformation becomes stable at the intermediate spin states.

X-ray astronomical spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holt, S. S.

1980-01-01

The current status of the X-ray spectroscopy of celestial X-ray sources, ranging from nearby stars to distant quasars, is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of such spectroscopy as a useful and unique tool in the elucidation of the physical parameters of the sources. The spectroscopic analysis of degenerate and nondegenerate stellar systems, galactic clusters and active galactic nuclei, and supernova remnants is discussed.

β-decay spectroscopy of r-process nuclei with N = 126 at KISS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hirayama, Y.; Watanabe, Y. X.; Imai, N.

2014-05-02

The β-decay properties of nuclei with N = 126, which are believed to act as progenitors in the rapid neutron capture (r-) process path forming the third peak (A ∼ 195) in the observed r-abundance element distribution, are considered critical for understanding the production of heavy elements such as gold and platinum at astrophysical sites. We have constructed the KEK Isotope Separation System (KISS), which consists of a gas cell based laser ion source (atomic number selection) and an isotope separation on-line (ISOL) (mass number selection), to produce pure low-energy beams of neutron-rich isotopes around N = 126 and tomore » study their β-decay properties, which are also of interest for astrophysics. The isotopes of interest will be produced by multi-nucleon transfer reactions in heavy ion collisions (e.g. {sup 136}Xe projectile on {sup 198}Pt target). KISS will allow us to study unknown isotopes produced in weak reaction channels under low background conditions. We successfully extracted the stable {sup 56}Fe beam from KISS at the last commissioning on-line experiment with the extraction efficiency of 0.25% and beam purity of more than 98%. We can access the nuclei with N = 126 and measure their half-lives using the KISS in the case of the extraction efficiency of 0.1%.« less

Rapid X-Ray Variability of Active Galaxies. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tennant, A. F., Jr.

1983-01-01

Active galactic nuclei are luminous sources of X-rays. The thesis that the X-rays are generated within 10 gravitational radii from the central object is tested. A very sensitive search for rapid ( 1 day) X-ray variability from active galaxies was made.

Suzaku  Observations of Heavily Obscured (Compton-thick) Active Galactic Nuclei Selected by the Swift/BAT Hard X-Ray Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanimoto, Atsushi; Ueda, Yoshihiro; Kawamuro, Taiki; Ricci, Claudio; Awaki, Hisamitsu; Terashima, Yuichi

2018-02-01

We present a uniform broadband X-ray (0.5–100.0 keV) spectral analysis of 12 Swift/Burst Alert Telescope selected Compton-thick ({log}{N}{{H}}/{{cm}}-2≥slant 24) active galactic nuclei (CTAGNs) observed with Suzaku. The Suzaku data of three objects are published here for the first time. We fit the Suzaku and Swift spectra with models utilizing an analytic reflection code and those utilizing the Monte-Carlo-based model from an AGN torus by Ikeda et al. The main results are as follows: (1) The estimated intrinsic luminosity of a CTAGN strongly depends on the model; applying Compton scattering to the transmitted component in an analytic model may largely overestimate the intrinsic luminosity at large column densities. (2) Unabsorbed reflection components are commonly observed, suggesting that the tori are clumpy. (3) Most of CTAGNs show small scattering fractions (<0.5%), implying a buried AGN nature. (4) Comparison with the results obtained for Compton-thin AGNs suggests that the properties of these CTAGNs can be understood as a smooth extension from Compton-thin AGNs with heavier obscuration; we find no evidence that the bulk of the population of hard-X-ray-selected CTAGNs are different from less obscured objects.

Lifetime measurements in transitional nuclei by fast electronic scintillation timing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caprio, M. A.; Zamfir, N. V.; Casten, R. F.; Amro, H.; Barton, C. J.; Beausang, C. W.; Cooper, J. R.; Gürdal, G.; Hecht, A. A.; Hutter, C.; Krücken, R.; McCutchan, E. A.; Meyer, D. A.; Novak, J. R.; Pietralla, N.; Ressler, J. J.; Berant, Z.; Brenner, D. S.; Gill, R. L.; Regan, P. H.

2002-10-01

A new generation of experiments studying nuclei in spherical-deformed transition regions has been motivated by the introduction of innovative theoretical approaches to the treatment of these nuclei. The important structural signatures in the transition regions, beyond the basic yrast level properties, involve γ-ray transitions between low-spin, non-yrast levels, and so information on γ-ray branching ratios and absolute matrix elements (or level lifetimes) for these transitions is crucial. A fast electronic scintillation timing (FEST) system [H. Mach, R. L. Gill, and M. Moszyński, Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 280, 49 (1989)], making use of BaF2 and plastic scintillation detectors, has been implemented at the Yale Moving Tape Collector for the measurement of lifetimes of states populated in β^ decay. Experiments in the A100 (Pd, Ru) and A150 (Dy, Yb) regions have been carried out, and a few examples will be presented. Supported by the US DOE under grants and contracts DE-FG02-91ER-40609, DE-FG02-88ER-40417, and DE-AC02-98CH10886 and by the German DFG under grant Pi 393/1.

CHARGED HEAVY MESONS (in French)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leprince-Ringuet, L.

1960-03-01

The general properties of heavy mesons and hyperons are reviewed, and the results obtained with cosmic-ray studies at the Pic du Midi are reported. The investigations made with accelerators in the study of mesons are then described. The basic problems posed by heavy mesons and hyperons are reviewed with emphasis on the isotopic spin, strangeness, and parity. (tr-auth)

Relative Abundances of Cosmic Ray Nuclei B-C-N-O in the Energy Region from 10 GeV/n to 300 GeV/n. Results from the Science Flight of the ATIC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panov, A. D.; Sokolskaya, N. V.; Adams, J.H.; Ahn, H.S.; Bashindzhagyan, G. L.; Batkov, K.E.; Chang, J.; Christl, M.; Fazely, A. R.; Ganal, O.;

Organization of projections from the raphe nuclei to the vestibular nuclei in rats

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halberstadt, A. L.; Balaban, C. D.

2003-01-01

Previous anatomic and electrophysiological evidence suggests that serotonin modulates processing in the vestibular nuclei. This study examined the organization of projections from serotonergic raphe nuclei to the vestibular nuclei in rats. The distribution of serotonergic axons in the vestibular nuclei was visualized immunohistochemically in rat brain slices using antisera directed against the serotonin transporter. The density of serotonin transporter-immunopositive fibers is greatest in the superior vestibular nucleus and the medial vestibular nucleus, especially along the border of the fourth ventricle; it declines in more lateral and caudal regions of the vestibular nuclear complex. After unilateral iontophoretic injections of Fluoro-Gold into the vestibular nuclei, retrogradely labeled neurons were found in the dorsal raphe nucleus (including the dorsomedial, ventromedial and lateral subdivisions) and nucleus raphe obscurus, and to a minor extent in nucleus raphe pallidus and nucleus raphe magnus. The combination of retrograde tracing with serotonin immunohistofluorescence in additional experiments revealed that the vestibular nuclei receive both serotonergic and non-serotonergic projections from raphe nuclei. Tracer injections in densely innervated regions (especially the medial and superior vestibular nuclei) were associated with the largest numbers of Fluoro-Gold-labeled cells. Differences were observed in the termination patterns of projections from the individual raphe nuclei. Thus, the dorsal raphe nucleus sends projections that terminate predominantly in the rostral and medial aspects of the vestibular nuclear complex, while nucleus raphe obscurus projects relatively uniformly throughout the vestibular nuclei. Based on the topographical organization of raphe input to the vestibular nuclei, it appears that dense projections from raphe nuclei are colocalized with terminal fields of flocculo-nodular lobe and uvula Purkinje cells. It is hypothesized that

Measuring the Cosmic Particle Radiation from electrons to actinides - HNX/TIGERISS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell, John

2017-01-01

The Heavy Nuclei eXplorer (HNX) mission will measure the abundances of nuclei from Carbon (Z =6) to Curium (Z =96) in the cosmic radiation with the resolution to identify the atomic number of each detected nucleus. HNX will measure a significant number of actinides. HNX utilizes two high-precision instruments, the Extremely-heavy Cosmic-ray Composition Observer (ECCO) and the Cosmic-Ray Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder (CosmicTIGER), located in a SpaceX DragonLab capsule orbiting the Earth. This talk will discuss the motivating science, the HNX mission, the design and performance of the HNX instruments, and another new instrument, TIGERISS (Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder on the ISS), that will be proposed as an intermediate between SuperTIGER and HNX.

Electron and muon parameters of EAS and the composition of primary cosmic rays in 10(15) to approximately 10(16) eV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheung, T.; Mackeown, P. K.

1985-01-01

Estimation of the relative intensities of protons and heavy nuclei in primary cosmic rays in the energy region 10 to the 15th power approx. 10 to the 17th power eV, was done by a systematic comparison between all available observed data on various parameters of extensive air showers (EAS) and the results of simulation. The interaction model used is an extrapolation of scaling violation indicated by recent pp collider results. A composition consisting of various percentages of Fe in an otherwise pure proton beam was assumed. Greatest overall consistency between the data and the simulation is found when the Fe fraction is in the region of 25%.

Results of heavy ion radiotherapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Castro, J.R.

1994-04-01

The potential of heavy ion therapy for clinical use in cancer therapy stems from the biological parameters of heavy charged particles, and their precise dose localization. Biologically, carbon, neon and other heavy ion beams (up to about silicon) are clinically useful in overcoming the radioresistance of hypoxic tumors, thus increasing biological effectiveness relative to low-LET x-ray or electron beams. Cells irradiated by heavy ions show less variation in cell-cycle related radiosensitivity and decreased repair of radiation injury. The physical parameters of these heavy charged particles allow precise delivery of high radiation doses to tumors while minimizing irradiation of normal tissues.more » Clinical use requires close interaction between radiation oncologists, medical physicists, accelerator physicists, engineers, computer scientists and radiation biologists.« less

Signatures of α clustering in ultrarelativistic collisions with light nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rybczyński, Maciej; Piotrowska, Milena; Broniowski, Wojciech

2018-03-01

We explore possible observable signatures of α clustering of light nuclei in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions involving Be,97, 12C, and 16O. The clustering leads to specific spatial correlations of the nucleon distributions in the ground state, which are manifest in the earliest stage of the ultrahigh energy reaction. The formed initial state of the fireball is sensitive to these correlations, and the effect influences, after the collective evolution of the system, the hadron production in the final stage. Specifically, we study effects on the harmonic flow in collisions of light clustered nuclei with a heavy target (208Pb), showing that measures of the elliptic flow are sensitive to clusterization in Be,97, whereas triangular flow is sensitive to clusterization in 12C and 16O. Specific predictions are made for model collisions at energies available at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. In another exploratory development we also examine proton-beryllium collisions, where the 3 /2- ground state of Be,97 nuclei is polarized by an external magnetic field. Clusterization leads to multiplicity distributions of participant nucleons which depend on the orientation of the polarization with respect to the collision axis, as well as on the magnetic number of the state. The obtained effects on multiplicities reach a factor of a few for collisions with a large number of participant nucleons.

Novel Chalcogenide Materials for X-ray and Gamma-ray Detection

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

53 Novel Chalcogenide Materials for x-ray and y-ray Detection Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 0...TITLE AND SUBTITLE Sa. CONTRACT NUMBER Novel Chalcogenide Materials for x-ray and y-ray Detection Sb. GRANT NUMBER HDTRA 1-09-1-0044 Sc. PROGRAM...heavy atom chalcogenide family of semiconductors for room temperature gamma radiation detection . Its goal was to accelerate nuclear detector material

Tolerance to X-rays and Heavy Ions (Fe, He) in the Tardigrade Richtersius coronifer and the Bdelloid Rotifer Mniobia russeola

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jønsson, K. Ingemar; Wojcik, Andrzej

2017-02-01

The aim of this study was to analyze tolerance to heavy ions in desiccated animals of the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer and the bdelloid rotifer Mniobia russeola within the STARLIFE project. Both species were exposed to iron (Fe) and helium (He) ions at the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) in Chiba, Japan, and to X-rays at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany. Results show no effect of Fe and He on viability up to 7 days post-rehydration in both R. coronifer and M. russeola, while X-rays tended to reduce viability in R. coronifer at the highest doses. Mean egg production rate tended to decline with higher doses in R. coronifer for all radiation types, but the pattern was not statistically confirmed. In M. russeola, there was no such tendency for a dose response in egg production rate. These results confirm the previously reported high tolerance to high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation in tardigrades and show for the first time that bdelloid rotifers are also very tolerant to high-LET radiation. These animal phyla represent the most desiccation- and radiation-tolerant animals on Earth and provide excellent eukaryotic models for astrobiological research.

Weak e+e- lines from internal pair conversion observed in collisions of 238U with heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinz, S.; Berdermann, E.; Heine, F.; Joeres, O.; Kienle, P.; Koenig, I.; Koenig, W.; Kozhuharov, C.; Leinberger, U.; Rhein, M.; Schröter, A.; Tsertos, H.

1998-01-01

We present the results of a Doppler-shift correction to the measured e+e- sum-energy spectra obtained from e+e- coincidence measurements in 238U +206Pb and 238U +181Ta collisions at beam energies close to the Coulomb barrier, using an improved experimental setup at the double-Orange spectrometer of GSI. Internal-Pair-Conversion (IPC) e+e- pairs from discrete nuclear transitions of a moving emitter have been observed following Coulomb excitation of the 1.844 MeV (E1) transition in 206Pb and neutron transfer to the 1.770 MeV (M1) transition in 207Pb. In the collision system 238U +181Ta, IPC transitions were observed from the Ta-like as well as from the U-like nuclei. In all systems the Doppler-shift corrected e+e- sum-energy spectra show weak lines at the energies expected from the corresponding γ ray spectra with cross sections being consistent with the measured excitation cross sections of the γ lines and the theoretically predicted IPC coefficients. No other than IPC e+e- sum-energy lines were found in the measured spectra. The transfer cross sections show a strong dependence on the distance of closest approach (Rmin), thus signaling also a strong dependence on the bombarding energy close to the Coulomb barrier.

Determining the Covering Factor of Compton-Thick Active Galactic Nuclei with NuSTAR

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brightman, M.; Balokovic, M.; Stern, D.; Arevalo, P.; Ballantyne, D. R.; Bauer, F. E.; Boggs, S. E.; Craig, W. W.; Christensen, F. E.; Zhang, W. W.

2015-01-01

The covering factor of Compton-thick (CT) obscuring material associated with the torus in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is at present best understood through the fraction of sources exhibiting CT absorption along the line of sight (N(sub H) greater than 1.5 x 10(exp 24) cm(exp -2)) in the X-ray band, which reveals the average covering factor. Determining this CT fraction is difficult, however, due to the extreme obscuration. With its spectral coverage at hard X-rays (greater than 10 keV), Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is sensitive to the AGNs covering factor since Compton scattering of X-rays off optically thick material dominates at these energies. We present a spectral analysis of 10 AGNs observed with NuSTAR where the obscuring medium is optically thick to Compton scattering, so-called CT AGNs. We use the torus models of Brightman and Nandra that predict the X-ray spectrum from reprocessing in a torus and include the torus opening angle as a free parameter and aim to determine the covering factor of the CT gas in these sources individually. Across the sample we find mild to heavy CT columns, with N(sub H) measured from 10(exp 24) to 10(exp 26) cm(exp -2), and a wide range of covering factors, where individual measurements range from 0.2 to 0.9. We find that the covering factor, f(sub c), is a strongly decreasing function of the intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity, L(sub X), where f(sub c) = (-0.41 +/- 0.13)log(sub 10)(L(sub X)/erg s(exp -1))+18.31 +/- 5.33, across more than two orders of magnitude in L(sub X) (10(exp 41.5) - 10(exp 44) erg s(exp -1)). The covering factors measured here agree well with the obscured fraction as a function of LX as determined by studies of local AGNs with L(sub X) greater than 10(exp 42.5) erg s(exp -1).

On Complex Nuclei Energetics in LENR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miley, George H.; Hora, Heinz

2005-03-01

Swimming Electron Layer (SEL) theory plus fission of ``complex nuclei'' were proposed earlier to explain reaction products observed in electrolysis with multi-layer thin-film metallic electrodesootnotetext1.G.H. Miley, and J.A. Patterson, J. New Energy, Vol. 1, pp.11-15, (1996).. SEL was then extended to treat gas-diffusion driven transmutation experimentsootnotetextG. H. Miley and H. Hora, ``Nuclear Reactions in Solids,'' APS DNP Mtg., East Lansing, MI, Oct (2002).. It is also consistent with measured charged-particle emission during thin-film electrolysis and x-ray emission during plasma bombardment experimentsootnotetextA. Karabut, ``X-ray emission in high-current glow discharge,'' Proc., ICCF-9, Beijing China, May (2002).. The binding energy per complex nucleon can be estimated by an energy balance combined with identification of products for each complex e.g. complexes of A 39 have ˜ 0.05 MeV/Nucleon, etc, in thin film electrolysis. Energies in gas diffusion experiments are lower due to the reduced trap site potential at the multi-atom surface. In the case of x-ray emission, complexes involve subsurface defect center traps, giving only a few keV/Nucleon, consistent with experiments^3.

Update on the X-Ray Variability Plane for Active Galactic Nuclei: The Role of the Obscuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González-Martín, Omaira

2018-05-01

Scaling relations are the most powerful astrophysical tools to set constraints on the physical mechanisms of astronomical sources and to infer properties that cannot be accessed directly. We reinvestigate here one of these scaling relations in active galactic nuclei (AGNs); the so-called X-ray variability plane (or mass–luminosity timescale relation). This relation links the power-spectral density (PSD) break frequency with the super-massive black hole (SMBH) mass and the bolometric luminosity. We used the available XMM-Newton observations of a sample of 22 AGNs to study the PSD and spectra in short segments within each observation. This allows us to report for the first time that the PSD break frequency varies for each object, showing variations in 19 out of the 22 AGNs analyzed. Our analysis of the variability plane confirms the relation between the break frequency and the SMBH mass and finds that the obscuration along the line of sight N H (or the variations on the obscuration using its standard deviation, ΔN H) is also a required parameter, at least for the range of frequencies analyzed here (∼ 3 × {10}-5-5× {10}-2 {Hz}). We constrain a new variability plane of the following form: {log}({ν }Break})=(-0.589 +/- 0.005) {log}({{{M}}}BH})+(0.10+/- 0.01) {log}({{{N}}}{{H}})-(1.5+/- 0.3) (or {log}({ν }Break})=(-0.549+/- 0.009) {log}({{{M}}}BH}) +(0.56+/- 0.06) {{Δ }}{N}{{H}}+(0.19+/- 0.08)). The X-ray variability plane found by McHardy et al. is roughly recovered when we use unobscured segments. We speculate that this behavior is well explained if most of the reported frequencies are related to inner clouds (within 1 pc), following Kepler orbits under the gravitational field of the SMBH.

Cosmic rays, gamma rays and synchrotron radiation from the Galaxy

DOE PAGES

Orlando, Elena

2012-07-30

Galactic cosmic rays (CR), interstellar gamma-ray emission and synchrotron radiation are related topics. CR electrons propagate in the Galaxy and interact with the interstellar medium, producing inverse-Compton emission measured in gamma rays and synchrotron emission measured in radio. I present an overview of the latest results with Fermi/LAT on the gamma-ray diffuse emission induced by CR nuclei and electrons. Then I focus on the recent complementary studies of the synchrotron emission in the light of the latest gamma-ray results. Relevant observables include spectral indices and their variations, using surveys over a wide range of radio frequencies. As a result, thismore » paper emphasizes the importance of using the parallel study of gamma rays and synchrotron radiation in order to constrain the low-energy interstellar CR electron spectrum, models of propagation of CRs, and magnetic fields.« less

VLBI Monitoring of the Bright Gamma-Ray Blazar PKS 0537-441

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

active state by Fermi. It is one of the brightest ,),-ray blazars detected in the southern sky so far. The TANAMI (Tracking Active Galactic Nuclei...Active Galactic Nuclei with Austral Milliarcsecond Interferometry (TAN AMI) program (Ojha et a1. (2010» has been monitoring south- ern sky blazars such...Telescope. Studying Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) at different wavelengths is crucial in order to understand AGN-jets and differentiate between

Resonance energy shifts during nuclear Bragg diffraction of x rays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arthur, J.; Brown, G.S.; Brown, D.E.

1989-10-09

We have observed dramatic changes in the time distribution of synchrotron x rays resonantly scattered from {sup 57}Fe nuclei in a crystal of yttrium iron garnet, which depend on the deviation angle of the incident radiation from the Bragg angle. These changes are caused by small shifts in the effective energies of the hyperfine-split nuclear resonances, an effect of dynamical diffraction for the coherently excited nuclei in the crystal. The very high brightness of the synchro- tron x-ray source allows this effect to be observed in a 15-min measurement.

A New View of the High Energy Gamma-Ray Sky with the Ferrni Gamma-Ray Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McEnery, Julie

2009-01-01

Following its launch in June 2008, high energy gamma-ray observations by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have opened a new and important window on a wide variety of phenomena, including pulsars, black holes and active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts, supernova remnants and the origin of cosmic rays, and searches for hypothetical new phenomena such as super symmetric dark matter annihilations. In this talk I will describe the current status of the Fermi observatory and review the science highlights from the first year of observations.

FULL SPECTRAL SURVEY OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE ROSSI X-RAY TIMING EXPLORER ARCHIVE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rivers, Elizabeth; Markowitz, Alex; Rothschild, Richard, E-mail: erivers@ucsd.edu

2013-08-01

We have analyzed spectra for all active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer archive. We present long-term average values of absorption, Fe line equivalent width (EW), Compton reflection, and photon index, and calculate fluxes and luminosities in the 2-10 keV band for 100 AGN with sufficient brightness and overall observation time to yield high-quality spectral results. We compare these parameters across the different classifications of Seyferts and blazars. Our distributions of photon indices for Seyfert 1s and 2s are consistent with the idea that Seyferts share a common central engine; however, our distributions of Compton reflection humpmore » strengths do not support the classical picture of absorption by a torus and reflection off a Compton-thick disk with type depending only on inclination angle. We conclude that a more complex reflecting geometry such as a combined disk and torus or clumpy torus is likely a more accurate picture of the Compton-thick material. We find that Compton reflection is present in {approx}85% of Seyferts and by comparing Fe line EW's to Compton reflection hump strengths we have found that on average 40% of the Fe line arises in Compton thick material; however, this ratio was not consistent from object to object and did not seem to be dependent on optical classification.« less

A Simplified Model for the Acceleration of Cosmic Ray Particles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gron, Oyvind

2010-01-01

Two important questions concerning cosmic rays are: Why are electrons in the cosmic rays less efficiently accelerated than nuclei? How are particles accelerated to great energies in ultra-high energy cosmic rays? In order to answer these questions we construct a simple model of the acceleration of a charged particle in the cosmic ray. It is not…

Unusual chemical compositions of noctilucent-cloud particle nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hemenway, C. L.

1973-01-01

Two sounding rocket payloads were launched from the ESRO range in Sweden during a noctilucent cloud display. Large numbers of submicron particles were collected, most of which appear to be made up of a high density material coated with a low density material. Typical electron micrographs are shown. Particle chemical compositions have been measured by use of dispersive X-ray analysis equipment attached to an electron microscope and have revealed that most of the high density particle nuclei have atomic weights greater than iron.

Detection of Neutrons with Scintillation Counters

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Hofstadter, R.

1948-11-01

Detection of slow neutrons by: detection of single gamma rays following capture by cadmium or mercury; detection of more than one gamma ray by observing coincidences after capture; detection of heavy charged particles after capture in lithium or baron nuclei; possible use of anthracene for counting fast neutrons investigated briefly.

Multiple-scattering model for inclusive proton production in heavy ion collisions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucinotta, Francis A.

1994-01-01

A formalism is developed for evaluating the momentum distribution for proton production in nuclear abrasion during heavy ion collisions using the Glauber multiple-scattering series. Several models for the one-body density matrix of nuclei are considered for performing numerical calculations. Calculations for the momentum distribution of protons in abrasion are compared with experimental data for inclusive proton production.

Systematics of Scissors Mode in Gd Nuclei from Experiments with the DANCE Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kroll, J.; Agvaanluvsan, U.; Baramsai, B.; Becker, J. A.; Bečvář, F.; Bredeweg, T. A.; Chyzh, A.; Couture, A.; Dashdorj, D.; Haight, R. C.; Jandel, M.; Keksis, A. L.; Krtička, M.; Mitchell, G. E.; O'Donnell, J. M.; Parker, W.; Rundberg, R. S.; Ullmann, J. L.; Valenta, S.; Vieira, D. J.; Walker, C. L.; Wilhelmy, J. B.; Wouters, J. M.; Wu, C. Y.

2014-05-01

Multi-step cascade γ-ray spectra from neutron capture at isolated resonances of 152,154-158Gd nuclei were measured at the LANSCE/DANCE time-of-flight facility in Los Alamos National Laboratory. The main objective of these experiments was to obtain new information on photon strength functions with emphasis on the role of the M1 scissors mode vibration. An analysis of the data obtained shows that the scissors mode plays a significant role in the ground state transitions, as well as in the transitions populating all excited states of the studied nuclei. The estimates of the scissors mode strength indicate that for 157,159Gd this strength is significantly higher than in neighboring even-even nuclei 156,158Gd. The results are compared with the (γ,γ‧) data for the ground-state scissors mode and the results from 3He-induced reactions.

Ninteenth International Cosmic Ray Conference. OG Sessions, Volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, F. C. (Compiler)

1985-01-01

Contributed papers addressing cosmic ray origin and galactic phenomena are compiled. Topic areas include the composition, spectra, and anisotropy of cosmic ray nuclei with energies and 1 TeV, isotopes, antiprotons and related subjects, and electrons, positrons, and measurements of synchrotron radiation.

Heavy ion irradiation of crystalline water ice. Cosmic ray amorphisation cross-section and sputtering yield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dartois, E.; Augé, B.; Boduch, P.; Brunetto, R.; Chabot, M.; Domaracka, A.; Ding, J. J.; Kamalou, O.; Lv, X. Y.; Rothard, H.; da Silveira, E. F.; Thomas, J. C.

2015-04-01

Context. Under cosmic irradiation, the interstellar water ice mantles evolve towards a compact amorphous state. Crystalline ice amorphisation was previously monitored mainly in the keV to hundreds of keV ion energies. Aims: We experimentally investigate heavy ion irradiation amorphisation of crystalline ice, at high energies closer to true cosmic rays, and explore the water-ice sputtering yield. Methods: We irradiated thin crystalline ice films with MeV to GeV swift ion beams, produced at the GANIL accelerator. The ice infrared spectral evolution as a function of fluence is monitored with in-situ infrared spectroscopy (induced amorphisation of the initial crystalline state into a compact amorphous phase). Results: The crystalline ice amorphisation cross-section is measured in the high electronic stopping-power range for different temperatures. At large fluence, the ice sputtering is measured on the infrared spectra, and the fitted sputtering-yield dependence, combined with previous measurements, is quadratic over three decades of electronic stopping power. Conclusions: The final state of cosmic ray irradiation for porous amorphous and crystalline ice, as monitored by infrared spectroscopy, is the same, but with a large difference in cross-section, hence in time scale in an astrophysical context. The cosmic ray water-ice sputtering rates compete with the UV photodesorption yields reported in the literature. The prevalence of direct cosmic ray sputtering over cosmic-ray induced photons photodesorption may be particularly true for ices strongly bonded to the ice mantles surfaces, such as hydrogen-bonded ice structures or more generally the so-called polar ices. Experiments performed at the Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL) Caen, France. Part of this work has been financed by the French INSU-CNRS programme "Physique et Chimie du Milieu Interstellaire" (PCMI) and the ANR IGLIAS.

The P-factor and atomic mass systematics: Application to medium mass nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brenner, D.S.; Haustein, P.E.; Casten, R.F.

1988-01-01

The P formalism was applied to atomic mass systematics for medium and heavy nuclei. The P-factor linearizes the structure-dependent part of the nuclear mass in those regions which are free from subshell effects indicating that the attractive quadrupole p-n force plays an important role in determining the binding of valence nucleons. Where marked non-linearities occur, the P-factor provides a means for recognizing subshell closures and/or other structural features not embodied in the simple assumptions of abrupt shell or subshell changes. These are thought to be regions where the monopole part of the p-n interaction is highly orbit dependent and altersmore » the underlying single-particle structure as a function of A, N or Z. Finally, in those regions where the systematics are smooth and subshells are absent, the P-factor provides a means for predicting masses of some nuclei far-from-stability by interpolation rather than by extrapolation. 5 figs.« less

Cosmic ray and neutrino emission from gamma-ray bursts with a nuclear cascade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biehl, D.; Boncioli, D.; Fedynitch, A.; Winter, W.

2018-04-01

Aim. We discuss neutrino and cosmic ray emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with the injection of nuclei, where we take into account that a nuclear cascade from photodisintegration can fully develop in the source. Our main objective is to test whether recent results from the IceCube and the Pierre Auger Observatory can be accommodated within the paradigm that GRBs are the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Methods: We simulate this scenario in a combined source-propagation model. While our key results are obtained using an internal shock model of the source, we discuss how the secondary emission from a GRB shell can be interpreted in terms of other astrophysical models. Results: We demonstrate that the expected neutrino flux from GRBs weakly depends on the injection composition for the same injection spectra and luminosities, which implies that prompt neutrinos from GRBs can efficiently test the GRB-UHECR paradigm even if the UHECRs are nuclei. We show that the UHECR spectrum and composition, as measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory, can be self-consistently reproduced. In an attempt to describe the energy range including the ankle, we find tension with the IceCube bounds from the GRB stacking analyses. In an alternative scenario, where only the UHECRs beyond the ankle originate from GRBs, the requirement for a joint description of cosmic ray and neutrino observations favors lower luminosities, which does not correspond to the typical expectation from γ-ray observations.

Gamma-Ray Observations of Supernova Remnants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buckley, James

2000-04-01

Despite the growing evidence for shock acceleration of electrons in supernova remnants (SNR), there is still no direct evidence pointing unambiguously to SNR as sources of cosmic-ray nuclei. Observations of nonthermal synchrotron emission in the limbs of a number of shell-type SNR (SN1006, Tycho, Cas A, IC443, RCW86, and Kepler) provide convincing evidence for acceleration of electrons to energies greater than 10 TeV (Allen 1999). The CANGAROO group has now reported significant VHE gamma-ray emission from SN1006 (Tanimori et al. 1998) and RXJ1713-3946, and the HEGRA group has reported preliminary evidence for TeV emission from Cas A (Pülhofer et al. 1999); all of these measurements are consistent with the expected level of inverse-Compton emission in these objects. Following the predictions of an observable π^0-decay signal from nearby SNRs (e.g., Drury, Aharonian and Volk 1994) the discovery of >100 MeV emission from the direction of a number of SNR by the EGRET experiment (Esposito et al. 1996) and possible evidence for a π^0 component (Gaisser, Protheroe and Stanev 1996) led to some initial optimism that evidence for a SNR origin of cosmic-ray nuclei had been obtained. However, 200 GeV to 100 TeV measurements revealed no significant emission implying either a significantly steeper source spectrum than the canonical ~ E-2.1, a spectral cutoff below the knee energy in these sources, or that a re-interpretation of the EGRET results was required. I will discuss these results, as well as the considerable promise of future gamma-ray experiments to determine the sources of galactic cosmic-ray nuclei and to provide quantitative information about the acceleration mechanisms.

Results on the energy dependence of cosmic ray charge composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balasubrahmanyan, V. K.; Ormes, J. F.

1973-01-01

Measurements using a balloon-borne ionization spectrometer on the differential energy spectra of the heavy nuclei of the galactic cosmic radiation are reported. The spectra of individual elements up to oxygen and groups of nuclei up through iron were measured up to almost 100 GeV/nucleon. The energy spectrum of the secondary nuclei, B+N, is steeper than that of the primary nuclei, C+O, by gamma = 0.21 + or - .09 in agreement with other authors. The spectral shapes found are reasonably well represented by single power laws between 2 and 60 GeV/nucleon. Data are consistent with the decrease in the secondary to primary ratio found by others above 20 GeV/nucleon, but it shows no evidence for any sudden change in this ratio within counting statistics. The most dramatic finding is that the spectrum of the iron nuclei is flatter than that of the carbon and oxygen nuclei by 0.57 + or - 0.14 of a power. The experimental techniques for charge and energy determination are presented and corrections due to nuclear disintegration and losses of energy out the bottom of the spectrometer are discussed.

The Gamma-ray Sky with Fermi

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, David

2012-01-01

Gamma rays reveal extreme, nonthermal conditions in the Universe. The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has been exploring the gamma-ray sky for more than four years, enabling a search for powerful transients like gamma-ray bursts, novae, solar flares, and flaring active galactic nuclei, as well as long-term studies including pulsars, binary systems, supernova remnants, and searches for predicted sources of gamma rays such as dark matter annihilation. Some results include a stringent limit on Lorentz invariance derived from a gamma-ray burst, unexpected gamma-ray variability from the Crab Nebula, a huge gamma-ray structure associated with the center of our galaxy, surprising behavior from some gamma-ray binary systems, and a possible constraint on some WIMP models for dark matter.

Attempts to Manipulate the Decay Time of Radioactive Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fallin, B.; Grabow, B.; Tornow, W.

2008-04-01

It has been known for 20 years that electron screening strongly changes nuclear reaction cross sections at sub-Coulomb charged-particle projectile energies. The screening energy can be increased considerably if the target atoms are implanted in a metallic host and cooled to low temperature (T˜10 K). The large screening in metals derives from the Debye plasma model applied to the quasi-free metallic electrons. If ``time reversed,'' this model implies that the lifetime of radioactive nuclei placed in a metallic host can be manipulated by orders of magnitude. For α and β^+ decay one expects a shorter half-life, while for β^- decay and EC, a longer half-life is expected. The results of prior experiments testing this theory are controversial; about half of the published data confirm an effect, while the other half observe no effect. We will report on our experimental studies using ^64Cu and ^65Zn nuclei produced at TUNL via the ^63Cu(d,p) and ^65Cu(p,n) reactions, respectively. For ^64Cu, we detected the 511 keV annihilation γ rays and for ^65Zn the 1115.5 keV γ rays using HPGe detectors. In both cases we did not observe a half-life change outside experimental uncertainties between measurements at room temperature and those with the samples cooled to T=12 K.

Increased ionization supports growth of aerosols into cloud condensation nuclei.

PubMed

Svensmark, H; Enghoff, M B; Shaviv, N J; Svensmark, J

2017-12-19

Ions produced by cosmic rays have been thought to influence aerosols and clouds. In this study, the effect of ionization on the growth of aerosols into cloud condensation nuclei is investigated theoretically and experimentally. We show that the mass-flux of small ions can constitute an important addition to the growth caused by condensation of neutral molecules. Under atmospheric conditions the growth from ions can constitute several percent of the neutral growth. We performed experimental studies which quantify the effect of ions on the growth of aerosols between nucleation and sizes >20 nm and find good agreement with theory. Ion-induced condensation should be of importance not just in Earth's present day atmosphere for the growth of aerosols into cloud condensation nuclei under pristine marine conditions, but also under elevated atmospheric ionization caused by increased supernova activity.

Gamma ray energy tracking in GRETINA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, I. Y.

2011-10-01

The next generation of stable and exotic beam accelerators will provide physics opportunities to study nuclei farther away from the line of stability. However, these experiments will be more demanding on instrumentation performance. These come from the lower production rate for more exotic beams, worse beam impurities, and large beam velocity from the fragmentation and inverse reactions. Gamma-ray spectroscopy will be one of the most effective tools to study exotic nuclei. However, to fully exploit the physics reach provided by these new facilities, better gamma-ray detector will be needed. In the last 10 years, a new concept, gamma-ray energy tracking array, was developed. Tracking arrays will increase the detection sensitivity by factors of several hundred compared to current arrays used in nuclear physics research. Particularly, the capability of reconstructing the position of the interaction with millimeters resolution is needed to correct the Doppler broadening of gamma rays emitted from high velocity nuclei. GRETINA is a gamma-ray tracking array which uses 28 Ge crystals, each with 36 segments, to cover ¼ of the 4 π of the 4 π solid angle. The gamma ray tracking technique requires detailed pulse shape information from each of the segments. These pulses are digitized using 14-bit 100 MHz flash ADCs, and digital signal analysis algorithms implemented in the on-board FPGAs provides energy, time and selection of pulse traces. A digital trigger system, provided flexible trigger functions including a fast trigger output, and also allows complicated trigger decisions to be made up to 20 microseconds. Further analyzed, carried out in a computer cluster, determine the energy, time, and three-dimensional positions of all gamma-ray interactions in the array. This information is then utilized, together with the characteristics of Compton scattering and pair-production processes, to track the scattering sequences of the gamma rays. GRETINA construction is completed in

Effect of exact Coulomb-exchange calculations on band-head spectra of odd-proton nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koh, Meng-Hock; Nurhafiza, Mohamad Nor

2017-10-01

Previous calculations of band-head energy spectra of odd-mass heavy nuclei in the Hartree-Fock-plus-Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (HF-BCS) framework showed that the agreement with data is better for odd-neutron as compared to odd-proton nuclei. The reason for a poorer agreement with data for the latter have been ascribed to the possible usage of the Slater approximation in calculating the Coulomb-exchange term. In this work, we report the effect of exact Coulomb-exchange calculations on band-head energy spectra of two odd-proton nuclei (namely 237Np and 241Am) as compared to the results obtained using the Slater approximation. We performed self-consistent blocking calculations while taking the breaking of time-reversal symmetry at the mean-field level into account due to the unpaired nucleon. The SkM* and SIII parametrizations of the Skyrme interaction have been employed to approximate the effective nucleon-nucleon interaction while a seniority force is used for the pairing channel. Contrary to what was expected, our preliminary results show no improvement on the band-head spectra as compared to data when the Coulomb-exchange term is calculated exactly.

Electron-positron pairs in physics and astrophysics: From heavy nuclei to black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruffini, Remo; Vereshchagin, Gregory; Xue, She-Sheng

2010-02-01

Due to the interaction of physics and astrophysics we are witnessing in these years a splendid synthesis of theoretical, experimental and observational results originating from three fundamental physical processes. They were originally proposed by Dirac, by Breit and Wheeler and by Sauter, Heisenberg, Euler and Schwinger. For almost seventy years they have all three been followed by a continued effort of experimental verification on Earth-based experiments. The Dirac process, e+e-→2γ, has been by far the most successful. It has obtained extremely accurate experimental verification and has led as well to an enormous number of new physics in possibly one of the most fruitful experimental avenues by introduction of storage rings in Frascati and followed by the largest accelerators worldwide: DESY, SLAC etc. The Breit-Wheeler process, 2γ→e+e-, although conceptually simple, being the inverse process of the Dirac one, has been by far one of the most difficult to be verified experimentally. Only recently, through the technology based on free electron X-ray laser and its numerous applications in Earth-based experiments, some first indications of its possible verification have been reached. The vacuum polarization process in strong electromagnetic field, pioneered by Sauter, Heisenberg, Euler and Schwinger, introduced the concept of critical electric field Ec=me2c3/(eħ). It has been searched without success for more than forty years by heavy-ion collisions in many of the leading particle accelerators worldwide. The novel situation today is that these same processes can be studied on a much more grandiose scale during the gravitational collapse leading to the formation of a black hole being observed in Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs). This report is dedicated to the scientific race. The theoretical and experimental work developed in Earth-based laboratories is confronted with the theoretical interpretation of space-based observations of phenomena originating on cosmological

Nuclear Physics Meets the Sources of the Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays.

PubMed

Boncioli, Denise; Fedynitch, Anatoli; Winter, Walter

2017-07-07

The determination of the injection composition of cosmic ray nuclei within astrophysical sources requires sufficiently accurate descriptions of the source physics and the propagation - apart from controlling astrophysical uncertainties. We therefore study the implications of nuclear data and models for cosmic ray astrophysics, which involves the photo-disintegration of nuclei up to iron in astrophysical environments. We demonstrate that the impact of nuclear model uncertainties is potentially larger in environments with non-thermal radiation fields than in the cosmic microwave background. We also study the impact of nuclear models on the nuclear cascade in a gamma-ray burst radiation field, simulated at a level of complexity comparable to the most precise cosmic ray propagation code. We conclude with an isotope chart describing which information is in principle necessary to describe nuclear interactions in cosmic ray sources and propagation.

Development of Large Area Emulsion Chamber Methods with a Super Conducting Magnet for Observation of Cosmic Ray Nuclei from 1 GeV to 1,000 TeV (Emulsion Techniques)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Takahashi, Yoshiyuki; Gregory, John C.; Tominaga, Taka; Dong, Bei Lei

1997-01-01

The research developed the fundamental techniques of the emulsion chamber methods that permit measurements of the composition and energy spectra of cosmic rays at energies ranging from 1 GeV/n to over 1,000 TeV/n. The research program consisted of exploring new principles and techniques in measuring very high energy cosmic nuclei with large-area emulsion chambers for high statistics experiments. These tasks have been accomplished and their use was essential in successful analysis of the balloon-borne emulsion chamber experiments up to 10(exp 14) eV. It also provided the fundamental technologies for designing large-area detectors that are aimed at measuring the composition at above 1015 eV region. The latter is now partially succeeded by a NASA Mission Concept, Advanced Cosmic Composition Experiments on the Space Station (ACCESS). The cosmic ray group at the University of Alabama in Huntsville has performed technological R & D as well as contributing to the Japanese-American-Emulsion-Chamber-Experiments (JACEE) Collaboration with the regular data analysis. While primary research support for other institutions' efforts in the JACEE experiments came from NSF and DOE, primary support for the University of Alabama in Huntsville was this contract. Supplemental tasks to standardize the data base and hardware upgrades (automatized microscope) had this institutions cooperation. Investigation of new techniques in this program consisted of development of a fast calorimetry, magnetic/scattering selection of high momentum tracks for a pairmeter, and high statistics momentum measurements for low energy nuclei (E < 1 TeV/n). The highest energy calorimetry and a pairmeter have been considered as strawman instruments by the GOAL (Galactic Origin and Acceleration Limit) proposal of the NASA Cosmic Ray Working Group for long- duration balloon flights. We accomplished the objectives of the GOAL program with three circumpolar, Antarctic JACEE balloon flights during 1992 - 1994.

Ion-Scale Excitations in a Strongly Coupled Astrophysical Plasma with Nuclei of Heavy Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossen, M. R.; Ema, S. A.; Mamun, A. A.

2017-12-01

The linear and nonlinear propagation of ultrarelativistic and nonrelativistic analysis on modified ion-acoustic (MIA) waves in a strongly coupled unmagnetized collisionless relativistic space plasma system is carried out. Plasma system is assumed to contain strongly coupled nonrelativistic ion fluids, both nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic degenerate electron and positron fluids, and positively charged static heavy elements. The restoring force is provided by the degenerate pressure of the electron and positron fluids, whereas the inertia is provided by the mass of ions. The positively charged static heavy elements participate only in maintaining the quasineutrality condition at equilibrium. The well-known reductive perturbation method is used to derive the Burgers and Korteweg-de Vries equations. Their shock and solitary wave solutions are numerically analyzed to understand the localized electrostatic disturbances. The basic characteristics of MIA shock and solitary waves are found to be significantly modified by the effects of degenerate pressures of electron, positron, and ion fluids, their number densities, and various charge state of heavy elements. The implications of our results to dense plasmas in compact astrophysical objects (e.g., nonrotating white dwarfs, neutron stars, etc.) are briefly discussed.

Kinetic freeze-out conditions for the production of resonances, hadronic molecules, and light nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Sungtae; Song, Taesoo; Lee, Su Houng

2018-02-01

We investigate the freeze-out conditions of a particle in an expanding system of interacting particles in order to understand the productions of resonances, hadronic molecules, and light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions. Applying the kinetic freeze-out condition with explicit hydrodynamic calculations for the expanding hadronic phase to the daughter particles of K* mesons, we find that the larger suppression of the yield ratio of K*/K at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) than at the Relativisitic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) compared to the expectations from the statistical hadronization model based on chemical freeze-out parameters reflects the lower kinetic freeze-out temperature at LHC than at RHIC. Furthermore, we point out that for the light nuclei or hadronic molecules that are bound, the freeze-out condition should be applied to the respective particle in the hadronic matter. It is then shown through the rate equation that when the nucleon and pion numbers are kept constant at the chemical freeze-out value during the hadronic phase, the deuteron number quickly approaches an asymptotic value that is close to the statistical model prediction at the chemical freeze-out point. We argue that the reduction seen in K* numbers is a typical result for a particle that has a large natural decay width decaying into daughter particles, while that for deuteron is typical for a stable hadronic bound state.