Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Particle-Γ Spectroscopy Of The (P,D-Γ)155Gd Reaction: Neutron Single-Quasiparticle States At N=91, J. M. Allmond, C. W. Beausang, J. O. Rasmussen, T. J. Ross, M. S. Basunia, L. A. Bernstein, D. L. Bleuel, W. Brooks, N. Brown, J. T. Burke, B. Darakchieva, K. Dudziak, K. E. Evans, P. Fallon, H. B. Jeppesen, J. Leblanc, S. R. Lesher, M. A. Mcmahan, D. A. Meyer, L. Phair, N. D. Scielzo, S. R. Stroberg, M. Wiedeking

Physics Faculty Publications

A segmented Si telescope and HPGe array is used to study the ¹⁵⁶Gd(p,d-γ)¹⁵⁵Gd direct reaction by d-γ and d-γ-γ coincidence measurements using 25-MeV protons. The present investigation is the first time that this N = 91 nucleus and the N = 90 region—which is known for a rapid change from vibrational to rotational character, several low-lying 0⁺ states in the even-even nuclei, and large Coriolis (ΔΩ = 1) plus ΔN = 2 mixing in the even-odd nuclei—have been studied by particle-γ coincidence following a direct reaction with light ions. Gamma-ray energies and branches, …

Debye Series For Light Scattering By A Coated Nonspherical Particle, Feng Xu, James A. Lock

Physics Faculty Publications

By using the extended boundary condition method, the Debye series is developed for light scattered by a coated nonspherical particle in order to interpret the angular dependence of the scattered intensity in terms of various physical processes. Numerical calculations are performed to study the influence of the coating thickness and the ellipticity of a coated spheroid on the angular position of the alpha and beta primary rainbows, which are produced by partial waves experiencing one internal reflection. The hyperbolic umbilic focal section is demonstrated and is analyzed for both the alpha and the beta rainbows.

Magnetotransport Properties Of High Quality Co:Zno And Mn:Zno Single Crystal Pulsed Laser Deposition Films: Pitfalls Associated With Magnetotransport On High Resistivity Materials, John S. Mccloy, Joseph V. Ryan, Timothy C. Droubay, Tiffany C. Kasper, Scott A. Chambers, David C. Look

Physics Faculty Publications

The electrical resistivity values for a series of pure and doped (Co, Mn, Al) ZnO epitaxial films grown by pulsed laser deposition were measured with equipment designed for determining the direct current resistivity of high resistance samples. Room-temperature resistances ranging from 7 x 10(1) to 4 x 10(8) Omega/sq were measured on vacuum-reduced cobalt-doped ZnO, (Al,Co) co-doped ZnO, pure cobalt-doped ZnO, Mn-doped ZnO, and undoped ZnO. Using a four-point collinear geometry with gold spring-loaded contacts, resistivities were measured from 295 to 5 K for resistances of < approximately 10(12) Omega/sq. In addition, magnetoresistance and Hall effect were measured as a function of temperature for select samples. Throughout the investigation, samples were also measured on commercially available instrumentation with good agreement. The challenges of transport measurements on high resistivity samples are discussed, along with some offered solutions to those challenges.

Surface Roughness Effect On Ultracold Neutron Interaction With A Wall And Implications For Computer Simulations, Albert Steyerl, Surendra S. Malik, A. M. Desai, Charles Kaufman

Physics Faculty Publications

We review the diffuse scattering and the loss coefficient in ultracold neutron reflection from slightly rough surfaces, report a surprising reduction in loss coefficient due to roughness, and discuss the possibility of transition from quantum treatment to ray optics. The results are used in a computer simulation of neutron storage in a recent neutron lifetime experiment that reported a large discrepancy of neutron lifetime with the current particle data value. Our partial reanalysis suggests the possibility of systematic effects that were not included in this publication.

Exotic Smoothness In Four Dimensions And Euclidean Quantum Gravity, Christopher L. Duston

Physics Faculty Publications

In this paper we calculate the effect of the inclusion of exotic smooth structures on typical observables in Euclidean quantum gravity. We do this in the semiclassical regime for several gravitational free-field actions and find that the results are similar, independent of the particular action that is chosen. These are the first results of their kind in dimension four, which we extend to include one-loop contributions as well. We find these topological features can have physically significant results without the need for additional exotic physics.

Carrier Dynamics Of Terahertz Emission Based On Strained Sige/Si Single Quantum Well, K. M. Hung, J.-Y. Kuo, C. C. Hong, Greg Sun, R. A. Soref

Physics Faculty Publications

We report analysis of the carrier distribution during terahertz emission process with carrier–phonon interaction based on p-doped strained SiGe/Si single quantum-well. The results of this analysis show that a considerable number of carriers can penetrate the phonon wall to become “hot” carriers on an approximately picosecond timescale. These hot carriers relax after the removal of the applied voltage, generating a “second” emission in the measurement. This investigation provides an understanding of the carrier dynamics of terahertz emission and has an implication for the design of semiconductor terahertz emitters.

Bandwidth In Bolometric Interferometry, R. Charlassier, Emory F. Bunn, J.-Ch. Hamilton, J. Kaplan, S. Malu

Physics Faculty Publications

Context. Bolometric interferometry is a promising new technology with potential applications to the detection of B-mode polarization fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). A bolometric interferometer will have to take advantage of the wide spectral detection band of its bolometers to be competitive with imaging experiments. A crucial concern is that interferometers are assumed to be significantly affected by a spoiling effect known as bandwidth smearing.

Aims. We investigate how the bandwidth modifies the work principle of a bolometric interferometer and affects its sensitivity to the CMB angular power spectra.

Methods. We obtain analytical expressions for …

In Search Of The Elusive Lossless Metal, Jacob B. Khurgin, Greg Sun

Physics Faculty Publications

We show that when one looks beyond the Drude model of metal conductivity, the metals that may be extremely lossy for low frequency electromagnetic waves can become perfectly lossless in the mid-IR region or higher, while retaining the essential metallic characteristic of negative permittivity even at those frequencies. We identify that the transition to the lossless regime occurs when the interatomic distances in the lattice exceed certain values, typically a factor of two larger than those occurring in nature. We believe that advances in nanoassembly may render lossless metals feasible with revolutionary implications for the fields of plasmonics and metamaterials.

Strength And Failure Of Fibrin Fiber Branch Points, Christine C. Helms, E. A. Sparks, C. Der Laughian, Martin Guthold

Physics Faculty Publications

Blood clots form rapidly in the event of vascular injury, to prevent blood loss. They may also form in undesired places, causing heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases. Blood clots can rupture, and fragments of the clotmay lodge in distal blood vessels, causing, for example, ischemic strokes or embolisms. Thus, there has been great interest in understanding the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of blood clots and their constituents. To develop a mechanically realistic model of a blood clot, knowledge of the mechanical properties of its constituents is required. The major structural component providing mechanical strength to the clot is …

The Mechanical Properties Of Single Fibrin Fibers, W. Liu, Christine C. Helms, E. A. Sparks, Martin Guthold

Physics Faculty Publications

Background:

Blood clots perform the mechanical task of stemming the flow of blood.

Objectives:

To advance understanding and realistic modeling of blood clot behavior we determined the mechanical properties of the major structural component of blood clots, fibrin fibers.

Methods:

We used a combined atomic force microscopy (AFM)/fluorescence microscopy technique to determine key mechanical properties of single crosslinked and uncrosslinked fibrin fibers.

Results and conclusions:

Overall, full crosslinking renders fibers less extensible, stiffer, and less elastic than their uncrosslinked counterparts. All fibers showed stress relaxation behavior (time-dependent weakening) with a fast and a slow relaxation time, 2 and 52 s. …

Nonlinear Photoacoustics For Measuring The Nonlinear Optical Absorption Coefficient, Chandra S. Yelleswarapu, Sri-Rajasekhar Kothapalli

Physics Faculty Publications

We report a novel photoacoustic Z-scan (PAZ-scan) technique that combines the advantages offered by the conventional Z-scan method and the sensitivity of the photoacoustic detection. The sample is scanned through the focused laser beam and the generated photoacoustic signal is recorded using a 10 MHz focused ultrasound transducer. Since the signal strength is directly proportional to the optical absorption, PAZ-scan displays nonlinear behavior depicting the nonlinear optical absorption of the material. Among many advantages, our experiments on mouse blood show that PAZ-scan can potentially be used as a standard technique to calibrate contrast agents used in theranostics in general and …

Debye Series For Light Scattering By A Spheroid, Feng Xu, James A. Lock, Cameron Tropea

Physics Faculty Publications

The Debye series is developed for electromagnetic scattering by a spheroid in order to decompose the far-zone fields into various physical processes. The geometrical rainbow angle and supernumerary spacing parameter are determined from the Debye intensity by fitting the results to an Airy function and comparing them to their assumed values in ray optics and Airy theory, respectively. Eccentricity-related scattering phenomena including the rainbow's angular shift, the disappearance of the rainbow, and the rainbow-enhanced glory are quantitatively demonstrated and analyzed. (c) 2010 Optical Society of America

Debye Series For Light Scattering By A Nonspherical Particle, Feng Xu, James A. Lock, Gérard Gouesbet

Physics Faculty Publications

The Debye series is developed for scattering of light by a homogeneous nonspherical particle to interpret the angular dependence of the scattered intensity in terms of various physical processes. In contrast to the previously developed Debye series for several regularly shaped particles that mirror the orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system where the variable-separation method can be applied, we develop and verify the Debye series in a coordinate-independent way using the extended boundary condition method. Verification computations are made for an oblate spheroidal water droplet of equivalent-volume sphere radius 10 mu m.

Measurement Of Γ-Emission Branching Ratios For 154,156,158Gd Compound Nuclei: Tests Of Surrogate Nuclear Reaction Approximations For (N,Γ) Cross Sections, N. D. Scielzo

Physics Faculty Publications

The surrogate nuclear reaction method can be used to determine neutron-induced reaction cross sections from measured decay properties of a compound nucleus created using a different reaction and calculated formation cross sections. The reliability of (n,γ) cross sections determined using the Weisskopf-Ewing and ratio approximations are explored for the ^{155, 157}Gd(n,γ) reactions. Enriched gadolinium targets were bombarded with 22-MeV protons and γ rays were detected in coincidence with scattered protons using the Silicon Telescope Array for Reaction Studies/Livermore-Berkeley Array for Collaborative Experiments (STARS/LiBerACE) silicon and germanium detector arrays. The γ-emission probabilities for the ^{154, 156, …}

Radiation Emission From Wrinkled Sige/Sige Nanostructure, A. I. Fedorchenko, H. H. Cheng, Greg Sun, R. A. Soref

Physics Faculty Publications

Semiconductor optical emitters radiate light via band-to-band optical transitions. Here, a different mechanism of radiation emission, which is not related to the energy band of the materials, is proposed. In the case of carriers traveling along a sinusoidal trajectory through a wrinkled nanostructure, radiation was emitted via changes in their velocity in a manner analogous to synchrotron radiation. The radiated frequency of wrinkled SiGe/SiGe nanostructure was found to cover a wide spectrum with radiation power levels of the order of submilliwatts. Thus, this nanostructure can be used as a Si-based optical emitter and it will enable the integration of optoelectronic …

Optical Caustics Observed In Light Scattered By An Oblate Spheroid, James A. Lock, Feng Xu

Physics Faculty Publications

The electromagnetic fields scattered when a plane wave is incident on an oblate spheroid in the side-on orientation may be calculated using a generalization of Mie theory, and the results may be decomposed in a Debye series expansion. A number of optical caustics are observed in the computed scattered intensity for the one internal reflection portion of the Debye series for scattering angles in the vicinity of the first-order rainbow, and are analyzed in terms of the rainbow, transverse cusp, and hyperbolic umbilic caustics of catastrophe optics. The specific features of these three caustics are described, as is their assembly …

High-Energy Amplitudes In N= 4 Sym In The Next-To-Leading Order, Ian Balitsky, Giovanni A. Chirilli

Physics Faculty Publications

The high-energy behavior of the N = 4 SYM amplitudes in the Regge limit can be calculated order by order in perturbation theory using the high-energy operator expansion in Wilson lines. At large Nc , a typical four-point amplitude is determined by a single BFKL pomeron. The conformal structure of the four-point amplitude is fixed in terms of two functions: pomeron intercept and the coefficient function in front of the pomeron (the product of two residues). The pomeron intercept is universal while the coefficient function depends on the correlator in question. The intercept is known in the first two orders …

Differential Cross Section And Recoil Polarization Measurements For The Γp→K+Λ Reaction Using Clas At Jefferson Lab, M. E. Mccracken, Gerard P. Gilfoyle, Et. Al.

Physics Faculty Publications

We present measurements of the differential cross section and 'B; recoil polarization for the γp → K⁺Λ reaction made using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab. These measurements cover the center-of-mass energy range from 1.62 to 2.84 GeV and a wide range of center-of-mass K⁺ production angles. Independent analyses were performed using the K⁺pπ⁻ and K⁺p (missing π⁻) final-state topologies; results from these analyses were found to exhibit good agreement. These differential-cross-section measurements show excellent agreement with previous CLAS and LEPS results and offer increased precision and a 300-MeV increase …

Mobility Analysis Of Highly Conducting Thin Films: Application To Zno, David C. Look, K. D. Leedy, D. H. Tomich, B. Bayraktaroglu

Physics Faculty Publications

Hall-effect measurements have been performed on a series of highly conductive thin films of Ga-doped ZnO grown by pulsed laser deposition and annealed in a forming-gas atmosphere (5% H₂ in Ar). The mobility as a function of thickness d is analyzed by a simple formula involving only ionized-impurity and boundary scattering and having a single fitting parameter, the acceptor/donor concentration ratio K = N_A/N_D. For samples with d = 3–100 nm, K_avg = 0.41, giving N_D = 4.7×10²⁰ and N_A = 1.9×10²⁰ cm⁻³. Thicker samples require a …

Structural Investigations And Magnetic Properties Of Sol-Gel Ni0.5zn0.5fe2o4 Thin Films For Microwave Heating, Pengzhao Z. Gao, Evgeny V. Rebrov, Tiny M. W. G. M. Verhoeven, Jaap C. Schouten, Richard Kleismit, Gregory Kozlowski, John S. Cetnar, Zafer Turgut, Guru Subramanyam

Physics Faculty Publications

Nanocrystalline Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ thin films have been synthesized with various grain sizes by a sol-gel method on polycrystalline silicon substrates. The morphology, magnetic, and microwave absorption properties of the films calcined in the 673–1073 K range were studied with x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and evanescent microwave microscopy. All films were uniform without microcracks. Increasing the calcination temperature from 873 to 1073 K and time from 1 to 3 h resulted in an increase of the grain size from 12 to 27 nm. The saturation …

Fission Fragment Isomers Populated Via 6Li+232Th., J. J. Ressler, J. A. Caggiano, C. J. Francy, P. N. Peplowski, J. M. Allmond, C. W. Beausang, L. A. Bernstein, D. L. Bleuel, J. T. Burke, P. Fallon, A. A. Hecht, D. V. Jordan, S. R. Lesher, M. A. Mcmahan, T. S. Palmer, L. Phair, N. D. Scielzo, P. G. Swearingen, G. A. Warren, M. Wiedeking

Physics Faculty Publications

Short-lived isomers in fission fragments following bombardment of 45-MeV ⁶Li on ²³²Th were examined. Isomers in the A ~ 95,122, and 132 mass regions were observed. New isomeric decays were observed in ¹²¹In [T_1/2=17(2) μs], ¹²³In (T_1/2≳100 μs), and ¹²⁵Sb [T_1/2=25(4) μs]. These isomers are suggested to arise from ν(h_11/2⊗d_3/2)7⁻and ν(h_11/2⊗s_1/2)5⁻ neutron core excitations coupling with the valence proton.

Mapping The Distribution Of Electron Temperature And Fe Charge States In The Corona With Total Solar Eclipse Observations, Shadia Rifai Habbal, Miloslav Druckmüller, Huw Morgan, Adrian Daw, Judd Johnson, A. Ding, Martina Arndt, R. Esser, V. Rusin, I. Scholl

Physics Faculty Publications

The inference of electron temperature from the ratio of the intensities of emission lines in the solar corona is valid only when the plasma is collisional. Once collisionless, thermodynamic ionization equilibrium no longer holds, and the inference of an electron temperature and its gradient from such measurements is no longer valid. At the heliocentric distance where the transition from a collision-dominated to a collisionless plasma occurs, the charge states of different elements are established, or frozen-in. These are the charge states which are subsequently measured in interplanetary space. We show in this study how the 2006 March 29 and 2008 …

Total Solar Eclipse Observations Of Hot Prominence Shrouds, Shadia Rifai Habbal, Miloslav Druckmüller, Huw Morgan, I. Scholl, V. Rusin, Adrian Daw, Judd Johnson, Martina B. Arndt

Physics Faculty Publications

Using observations of the corona taken during the total solar eclipses of 2006 March 29 and 2008 August 1 in broadband white light and in narrow bandpass filters centered at Fe x 637.4 nm, Fe xi 789.2 nm, Fe xiii 1074.7 nm, and Fe xiv 530.3 nm, we show that prominences observed off the solar limb are enshrouded in hot plasmas within twisted magnetic structures. These shrouds, which are commonly referred to as cavities in the literature, are clearly distinct from the overlying arch-like structures that form the base of streamers. The existence of these hot shrouds had been predicted …

Infrared Skin Damage Thresholds From 1940-Nm Continuous-Wave Laser Exposures, Jeffrey W. Oliver, David J. Stolarski, Gary D. Noojin, Harvey M. Hodnett, Corey A. Harbert, Kurt J. Schuster, Michaedl F. Foltz, Semih S. Kumru, Clarence P. Cain, C. J. Finkeldei, Gavin Buffington, Isaac D. Noojin, Robert J. Thomas

Physics Faculty Publications

A series of experiments are conducted in vivo using Yucatan mini-pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) to determine thermal damage thresholds to the skin from 1940-nm continuous-wave thulium fiber laser irradiation. Experiments employ exposure durations from 10 ms to 10 s and beam diameters of approximately 4.8 to 18 mm. Thermal imagery data provide a time-dependent surface temperature response from the laser. A damage endpoint of minimally visible effect is employed to determine threshold for damage at 1 and 24 h postexposure. Predicted thermal response and damage thresholds are compared with a numerical model of optical-thermal interaction. Results are compared …

Demonstration Of A Neutral Atom Controlled-Not Quantum Gate, L. Isenhower, E. Urban, X. L. Zhang, A. T. Gill, T. Henage, Todd A. Johnson, T. G. Walker, M. Saffman

Physics Faculty Publications

We present the first demonstration of a CNOT gate between two individually addressed neutral atoms. Our implementation of the CNOT uses Rydberg blockade interactions between neutral atoms held in optical traps separated by >8  μm. Using two different gate protocols we measure CNOT fidelities of F=0.73 and 0.72 based on truth table probabilities. The gate was used to generate Bell states with fidelity F=0.48±0.06. After correcting for atom loss we obtain an a posteriori entanglement fidelity of F=0.58.

Use Of Optical Tweezers To Probe Epithelial Mechanosensation, Andrew Resnick

Physics Faculty Publications

Cellular mechanosensation mechanisms have been implicated in a variety of disease states. Specifically in renal tubules, the primary cilium and associated mechanosensitive ion channels are hypothesized to play a role in water and salt homeostasis, with relevant disease states including polycystic kidney disease and hypertension. Previous experiments investigating ciliary-mediated cellular mechanosensation have used either fluid flow chambers or micropipetting to elicit a biological response. The interpretation of these experiments in terms of the "ciliary hypothesis" has been difficult due the spatially distributed nature of the mechanical disturbance-several competing hypotheses regarding possible roles of primary cilium, glycocalyx, microvilli, cell junctions, and …

Excitation-Induced Germanium Quantum Dot Formation On Si (100)-(2×1), Ali Oguz Er, Hani E. Elsayed-Ali

Physics Faculty Publications

The effect of nanosecond pulsed laser excitation on the self-assembly of Ge quantum dots grown by pulsed laser deposition on Si (100)-(2×1) was studied. In situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and ex situ atomic force microscopy were used to probe the quantum dot structure and morphology. At room temperature, applying the excitation laser decreased the surface roughness of the grown Ge film. With surface electronic excitation, crystalline Ge quantum dots were formed at 250 °C, a temperature too low for their formation without excitation. At a substrate temperature of 390 °C, electronic excitation during growth was found to improve the …

Parton Energy Loss In Heavy-Ion Collisions Via Direct-Photon And Charged-Particle Azimuthal Correlations, B. I. Abelev, M. M. Aggarwal, Z. Ahammed, A. V. Alakhverdyants, B. D. Anderson, D. Arkhipkin, G. S. Averichev, S. Bueltmann, I. Koralt, Star Collaboration

Physics Faculty Publications

Charged-particle spectra associated with direct photon Ydir) and π⁰ are measured in p+p and Au+Au collisions at center-of-mass energy √sNN=200 GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. A shower-shape analysis is used to partially discriminate between Ydirand π⁰. Assuming no associated charged particles in the γdir direction (near side) and small contribution from fragmentation photons (Yfrag), the associated charged-particle yields opposite to Ydir(away side) are extracted. In central Au+Au collisions, the charged-particle yields at midrapidity (|η|<1) and high transverse momentum (3 < P_T^assoc < 16 GeV/c) associated with γdir and π⁰ (|η|<0.9, 8 < P_T^trig <16 GeV/c) are suppressed by a factor of 3–5 compared with p+p collisions. The observed suppression of the associated charged particles is similar for Ydir and π⁰ and …

Applications Of Spoke Cavities, Jean R. Delayen

Physics Faculty Publications

The superconducting spoke cavity was introduced in the late 1980s in response to the need for superconducting structures in the mid-velocity range. Since then it has found application in many projects. Prototypes have been developed for a wide range of beam velocities. The characteristics and features of the spoke cavity are reviewed and some of their applications are presented.

Hard Photodisintegration Of A Proton Pair, I. Pomerantz, N. Bubis, K. Allada, A. Beck, B. L. Berman, W. Boeglin, A. Camsonne, M. Canan, K. Chirapatpimol, E. Cisbani

Physics Faculty Publications

We present a study of high energy photodisintegration of proton-pairs through the γ + ³He → p + p + n channel. Photon energies, Eγ , from 0.8 to 4.7 GeV were used in kinematics corresponding to a proton pair with high relative momentum and a neutron nearly at rest. The s⁻¹¹ scaling of the cross section, as predicted by the constituent counting rule for two nucleon photodisintegration, was observed for the first time. The onset of the scaling is at a higher energy and the cross section is significantly lower than for deuteron (pn pair) photodisintegration. …