Isotopic cross sections of fragmentation residues produced by light projectiles on carbon near 400 A MeV
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Time-dependent density-functional theory is mathematically formulated through nonlinear coupled time-dependent three-dimensional partial differential equations, and it is natural to expect a strong sensitivity of its solutions to variations of the initial conditions, akin to the butterfly effect ubiquitous in classical dynamics. Since the Schrödinger equation for an interacting many-body system is, however, linear and mathematically the exact equations of the density-functional theory reproduce the corresponding one-body properties, it would follow that the Lyapunov exponents are also vanishing within a density-functional theory framework. Whether for realistic implementations of the time-dependent density-functional theory the question of the absence of the butterfly effect and whether the dynamics provided is indeed a predictable theory was never discussed. At the same time, since the time-dependent density-functional theory is a unique tool allowing us to study the nonequilibrium dynamics of strongly interacting many-fermion systems, the question of predictability of this theoretical framework is of paramount importance. Here our analysis, for a number of quantum superfluid many-body systems (unitary Fermi gas, nuclear fission, and heavy-ion collisions) with a classical equivalent number of degrees of freedom O(10 10 ) and larger, suggests that its maximum Lyapunov exponents are negligible for all practical purposes.
In the framework of the statistical multifragmentation model, the nuclear isoscaling analysis is extended to constrain the ratio between the sizes of the decaying sources formed in a collision between two heavy ions. It is found that the ratio between the probabilities of observing n fragments in each event, for each of the sources, follows a scaling law, similar to the traditional nuclear isoscaling. However, the corresponding slope is sensitive to the source sizes. This property is explained analytically using the grand-canonical ensemble. Furthermore, the extent to which our findings are affected by finite size effects and by the deexcitation of the hot primary fragments is investigated. The scaling turns out to be robust and weakly affected by effects implied by these two aspects. We also find that the Poisson distribution is a fairly good approximation to the above mentioned probabilities, associated with both the primordial fragments, produced at the breakup stage, and the final ones, found at the end of the fragment deexcitation process.
Production cross sections of heavy neutron-rich isotopes are calculated by employing quantal transport description in 250 Cf + 232 Th collisions. This quantal transport description is based on the stochastic mean-field approach, and it provides a microscopic approach beyond time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory to include mean-field fluctuations. Deexcitation of primary fragments is determined by employing the statistical GEMINI++ code. Here, calculations provide predictions for production cross sections of neutron rich transfermium isotopes without any adjustable parameters.
Here, we measured multinucleon transfer reactions for the 206 Pb+ 118 Sn system at E lab =1200 MeV by employing the large solid angle magnetic spectrometer PRISMA. Differential and total cross sections and Q-value distributions have been obtained for a variety of neutron and proton pick-up and stripping channels. The Q-value distributions show how the quasi-elastic and deep inelastic processes depend on the mass and charge of the transfer products. The corresponding cross sections have been compared with calculations performed with the GRAZING code. An overall good agreement is found for most of the few nucleon transfer channels. The underestimation of the data for channels involving a large number of transferred nucleons indicates that more complicated processes populate the given isotopes.
The possibility of the dependence of the nuclear caloric curve on neutron excess sets a limit on the accuracy of our knowledge of the nuclear equation of state, and thus impacts predictive capabilities of nuclear reaction and nuclear astrophysics models. To date, theoretical models have not reached consensus on the magnitude or sign on the asymmetry dependence. To provide constraints, we have measured evaporated particles and heavy residues for complete and incomplete fusion-evaporation reactions in inverse kinematics. The temperatures extracted from the observed light charged particles tend to favor higher temperatures for the neutron-rich fused systems, though they are near the limits of the systematic uncertainty. The present measurement may be used as an upper limit to constrain the asymmetry dependence of the nuclear caloric curve.
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Contrary to descriptions from coupled-channels or other model calculations, heavy-ion fusion excitation functions are not smooth near and above the Coulomb barrier. There appear to be weak but noticeable oscillations or structures within the excitation functions that can be observed clearly in representation $d (σ E)/d E$ and in the comparison with theoretical calculations $σ (E) – σ_{th}(E)$. Importantly, a rather similar phenomenon has been studied before and can be explained in light symmetric systems as the influence of the centrifugal barrier penetration only on even angular momentum, but it cannot be extended to heavier, more asymmetric fusion systems. A more thorough investigation may be required to investigate this newly indicated behavior.
Examination of high-resolution, experimental fusion excitation functions for 16,17,18 O + 12 C reveals a remarkable irregular behavior that is rooted in the structure of both the colliding nuclei and the quasi-molecular composite system. The impact of the l-dependent fusion barriers is assessed using a time-dependent Hartree-Fock model, viewed as a mean-field reference. Barrier penetrabilities, taken directly from a density-constrained calculation, provide a significantly improved description of the experimental data as compared to the standard Hill-Wheeler approach. Furthermore, the remaining deviations between the parameter-free theoretical mean-field predictions and experimental fusion cross sections are exposed and discussed.
We report precision measurements of hypernuclei $^3_ΛH$ and $^4_ΛH$ lifetimes obtained from Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{sNN}$ = 3.0 GeV and 7.2 GeV collected by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, and the first measurement of $^3_ΛH$ and $^4_ΛH$ midrapidity yields in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{sNN}$ = 3.0 GeV. $^3_ΛH$ and $^4_ΛH$, being the two simplest bound states composed of hyperons and nucleons, are cornerstones in the field of hypernuclear physics. Their lifetimes are measured to be 221 ± 15 (stat) ± 19 (syst) ps for $^3_ΛH$ and 218 ± 6 (stat) ± 13 (syst) ps for $^4_ΛH$. The p T -integrated yields of $^3_ΛH$ and $^4_ΛH$ are presented in different centrality and rapidity intervals. It is observed that the shape of the rapidity distribution of $4_ΛH$ is different for 0%–10% and 10%–50% centrality collisions. Thermal model calculations, using the canonical ensemble for strangeness, describes the $^3_ΛH$ yield well, while underestimating the $^4_ΛH$ yield. Transport models, combining baryonic mean-field and coalescence (jam) or utilizing dynamical cluster formation via baryonic interactions (phqmd) for light nuclei and hypernuclei production, approximately describe the measured $^3_ΛH$ and $^4_ΛH$ yields. Our measurements provide means to precisely assess our understanding of the fundamental baryonic interactions with strange quarks, which can impact our understanding of more complicated systems involving hyperons, such as the interior of neutron stars or exotic hypernuclei.
For high-power heavy ion accelerators, the development of a suitable charge stripper, which can handle intense beams, is essential. This Letter describes the first experimental demonstration of a heavy ion liquid lithium charge stripper. A 10–20 μm thick liquid lithium jet flowing at >50 m/s was formed and confirmed stable when bombarded by various heavy ion beams, while increasing the charge state of the incoming beams to the desired charge state range. Finally, this demonstration proved the existing power limitation with the conventional strippers can be overcome by the liquid-metal stripper, opening completely new possibilities in high-power accelerator development.
Source functions are obtained from p – p and d – α correlation functions by applying the Richardson-Lucy (RL) deblurring to the Koonin-Pratt (KP) equation. To prevent fitting of noise in the correlation function, total-variation (TV) regularization is employed that has been effective in ordinary image restoration. TV alone cannot ensure normalization of the source functions. To ensure the latter, we propose a maximum-entropy regularized RL algorithm (MEM-RL). We outline the MEM-RL formalism and optimization strategy for the KP equation, demonstrating its effectiveness on both simulated and experimental data, including the p – p and d – α correlation functions.
Rare earth elements (REEs), critical to modern industry, are difficult to separate and purify, given their similar physicochemical properties originating from the lanthanide contraction. Here, we systematically study the transport of lanthanide ions (Ln 3+ ) in artificially confined angstrom-scale two-dimensional channels using MoS 2 -based building blocks in an aqueous environment. The results show that the uptake and permeability of Ln 3+ assume a well-defined volcano shape peaked at Sm 3+ . This transport behavior is rooted from the tradeoff between the barrier for dehydration and the strength of interactions of lanthanide ions in the confinement channels, reminiscent of the Sabatier principle. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that Sm 3+ , with moderate hydration free energy and intermediate affinity for channel interaction, exhibit the smallest dehydration degree, consequently resulting in the highest permeability. Our work not only highlights the distinct mass transport properties under extreme confinement but also demonstrates the potential of dialing confinement dimension and chemistry for greener REEs separation.
This report documents the experimental configurations and measurements performed for IER-499, TEX with chlorine (TEX-Cl). TEX-Cl is a variant of the TEX-HEU campaign and utilizes highly enriched uranium fuel, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) moderators and reflectors, and interstitial NaCl salt absorbers. These experiments probe the chlorine (from the sodium chloride) absorption cross section in the thermal and intermediate neutron energy regimes, with a small portion in the fast neutron energy regime. Three configurations were selected by maximizing the sensitivity in k eff to the needs of Y-12 for their electrorefining operations.
Several critical experiment facilities, sometimes referred to as zero power reactor facilities, have provided crucial data to aid understanding and validate nuclear-physics models since the beginning of nuclear technology. Indeed, the first man-made reactor, Chicago Pile-1, was essentially this type of reactor. However, there was a downturn in nuclear technology development toward the turn of the millennium, and the need for these specialized research facilities waned. Now there are few of these experimental facilities operational in the world and those that remain have relatively small critical assembly machines. The need for criticality safety benchmark experiments at intermediate neutron energy levels and the modern resurgence of interest in advanced reactors designs, many of which do not have historical precedents in terms of nuclear fuel composition, moderator, and coolant combinations, all combine to create a substantial need for a critical experiment facility with a large horizontal split-table (HST) machine. A HST machine is used to arrange two separate and subcritical parts of a core assembly, bring them together in a precise manner to achieve criticality using remote controls, and separate them to achieve a subcritical configuration again. A new effort was recently performed to develop user needs for a HST, assess candidate locations at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and develop a plan for deployment. This project is referred to as the System Physics Advanced Reactor Critical facility (SPARC). A few months after this assessment began, and shortly after as a viable pathway was emerging, a series of important presidential executive orders were issued to revitalize nuclear energy in the United States (U.S.). The relevance of SPARC to these executive orders was immediately apparent. The far-reaching potential of SPARC to these executive orders will reside in its ability to produce data which facilitates licensing of advanced nuclear reactor designs while reducing uncertainties to help increase energy production alongside new criticality safety data to enable more efficient nuclear fuel manufacture, transport, and storage.
The photo-enhanced electrocatalytic method of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) shows promise for enhancing the effectiveness of clear energy generation through water splitting by using renewable and sustainable source of energy. However, despite benefits of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water splitting, its uses are constrained by its low efficiency as a result of charge carrier recombination, a large overpotential, and sluggish reaction kinetics. Here, we illustrate that Nickel telluride (NiTe) synthesized by hydrothermal methods can function as an extremely effective photo-coupled electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (POER) catalyst. In this study, NiTe was synthesized by hydrothermal method at 145°C within just an hour of reaction time. In dark conditions, the NiTe deposited on carbon cloth substrate shows a small oxygen evolution reaction overpotential (261 mV) at a current density of 10 mA cm –2 , a reduced Tafel slope (65.4 mV dec -1 ), and negligible activity decay after 12 h of chronoamperometry. By virtue of its enhanced photo response, excellent light harvesting ability, and increased interfacial kinetics of charge separation, the NiTe electrode under simulated solar illumination displays exceptional photoelectrochemical performance exhibiting overpotential of 165 mV at current density of 10 mA cm -2 , which is about 96 mV less than on dark conditions. In addition, Density Functional Theory investigations have been carried out on the NiTe surface, the results of which demonstrated a greater adsorption energy for intermediate -OH on the catalyst site. Since the -OH adsorption on the catalyst site correlates to catalyst activation, it indicates the facile electrocatalytic activity of NiTe owing to favorable catalyst activation. DFT calculations also revealed the facile charge density redistribution following intermediate -OH adsorption on the NiTe surface. This work demonstrates that arrays of NiTe elongated nanostructure are a promising option for both electrochemical and photoelectrocatalytic water oxidation and offers broad suggestions for developing effective PEC devices.
This paper discusses the application of field modulated generator systems (FMGS) to dispersed solar-thermal-electric generation from a parabolic dish field with electric transport. Each solar generation unit is rated at 15 kWe and the power generated by an array of such units is electrically collected for insertion into an existing utility grid. Such an approach appears to be most suitable when the heat engine rotational speeds are high (greater than 6000 r/min) and, in particular, if they are operated in the variable speed mode and if utility-grade a.c. is required for direct insertion into the grid without an intermediate electric energy storage and reconversion system. Predictions of overall efficiencies based on conservative efficiency figures for the FMGS are in the range of 25 per cent and should be encouraging to those involved in the development of cost-effective dispersed solar thermal power systems.
In recent years observations have shown that the terrestrial ionosphere serves as a significant source of the hot plasma in the magnetosphere. These findings imply that cold plasma flows upward to great altitudes and at some point along the way gains energies much larger than typical ionospheric values. The present investigation is mainly concerned with observations of ionospheric outflows at energies higher than those predicted by ambipolar wind models but lower than those associated with keV auroral ion acceleration, giving particular attention to the energy range from a few to a few hundred electron volts. The ion flows in the energy range intermediate between polar wind and keV auroral ion beams are called superthermal ion outflows. It is shown that recent observations of superthermal ion outflows from the terrestrial ionosphere are related to theoretical models of the topside ionosphere.