Nanosized lead lanthanum titanate (PLT) ceramic powders synthesized by the oxidant peroxo method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Synthesis and characterization of lead zirconate titanate powders obtained by the oxidant peroxo method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

ON NUCLEON-NUCLEUS SCATTERING AND THE RELATIVISTIC EIKONAL APPROXIMATION

We introduce a generalization of the relativistic eikonal amplitude originally developed to describe elastic scattering between structureless particles. The coherent and incoherent proton-nucleus scattering processes are analysed and closed-form expressions for elastic and inelastic amplitudes are derived. In particular, for the incoherent case, an energy-conserving version of Glauber's theory is obtained.

Positron-helium scattering at medium energies

We present results for medium-energy elastic, inelastic [transition to He(1s2(1)s), He(1s2(1)p), He(1s3(1)s), and He(1s3(1)p) states], capture [to Ps(1s), Ps(2s), and Ps(2p) states of the positronium (Ps) atom] and total cross sections of positron-helium scattering in the close coupling approach using realistic wave functions.

DIFFRACTION AND THE GLUON MASS

We recently proposed a QCD Pomeron described by the exchange of two nonperturbative gluons characterized by a dynamically generated gluon mass. It is shown here that data on elastic scattering, exclusive rho production in deep inelastic scattering, and the J/psi-nucleon total cross section can be successfully described in terms of a single gluon mass m(g) congruent-to 0.37 GeV. We observe that the total cross sections of hadrons with small radii, such as J/psi, have a marked dependence on the effective gluon mass.

Acoustic measurement of the low-energy excitations in Nd2-xCexCuO4+delta

The complex dynamic Young's modulus of ceramic Nd2-xCexCuO4 with x = 0, 0.05 and 0.20 has been measured from 1.5 to 100 K at frequencies of 1 - 10 kHz. In the undoped sample the modulus starts decreasing below similar to 20 K, instead of approaching a constant value as in a normal solid. The modulus minimum has been interpreted in terms of paraelastic contribution from the relaxation of the Nd3+ 4f electrons between the levels of the ground state doublet, which is split by the interaction with the antiferromagnetically ordered Cu sublattice. The value of the splitting is found to be 0.34 meV, in excellent agreement with inelastic neutron scattering, infrared and specific heat experiments. With doping, the anomaly shifts to lower temperature and decreases in amplitude, consistently with a reduction of the local field from the Cu sublattice. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

An implicit BEM formulation to model strong discontinuities in solids

A boundary element method (BEM) formulation to predict the behavior of solids exhibiting displacement (strong) discontinuity is presented. In this formulation, the effects of the displacement jump of a discontinuity interface embedded in an internal cell are reproduced by an equivalent strain field over the cell. To compute the stresses, this equivalent strain field is assumed as the inelastic part of the total strain. As a consequence, the non-linear BEM integral equations that result from the proposed approach are similar to those of the implicit BEM based on initial strains. Since discontinuity interfaces can be introduced inside the cell independently on the cell boundaries, the proposed BEM formulation, combined with a tracking scheme to trace the discontinuity path during the analysis, allows for arbitrary discontinuity propagation using a fixed mesh. A simple technique to track the crack path is outlined. This technique is based on the construction of a polygonal line formed by segments inside the cells, in which the assumed failure criterion is reached. Two experimental concrete fracture tests were analyzed to assess the performance of the proposed formulation.

Positronium scattering from ions, atoms and molecules

Elastic and inelastic scattering of positronium (Ps) by H, He, He(+) and H(2) have been studied using coupled-channel calculations with a regularised nonlocal model exchange potential. Suitability and reliability of the theoretical scheme have been demonstrated by studying scattering cross-sections in various systems and also by addressing critical dynamic features like binding and resonances of Ps to open-shell-atoms. Results are found to be in good agreement with Variational predictions and experimental observations. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential cross sections for target excitation and positronium formation in positron-helium scattering

Positronium formation and target excitation in positron-helium scattering have been investigated using the close-coupling approximation with realistic wave functions for the positronium and helium atoms. The following eight states have been used in the close-coupling scheme: He(1s1s), He(1s2(1)s), He(1s2(1)p), He(1s3(1)s), He(1s3(1)p), Ps(1s), Ps(2s), and Ps(2p), where Ps stands for the positronium atom. Calculations are reported of differential cross sections for elastic scatering,, inelastic target excitation to He(1s2(1)s) and He(1s2(1)p) slates, and rearrangement transition to Ps(1s), Ps(2s), and Ps(2p) states for incident positron energies between 40 and 200 eV. The coincidence parameters for the transition to the He(1s2(1)p) state of helium are also reported and briefly discussed. [S1050-2947(98)05101-4].

Suppressing Fermi Acceleration in a Driven Elliptical Billiard

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Generalized polarizabilities and electroexcitation of the nucleon

Generalized nucleon polarizabilities for virtual photons can be defined in terms of electroproduction cross sections as function of the 4-momentum transfer Q2. In particular, the sum of the generalized electric and magnetic polarizabilities ∑ = α + β and the spin polarizability γ can be expressed by virtual photon absorption cross sections integrated over the excitation energy. These quantities have been calculated within the framework of the recently developed unitary isobar model for pion photo- and electroproduction on the proton, which describes the available experimental data up to an excitation energy of about 1 GeV. Our results have been compared to the predictions of chiral perturbation theory. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Variational calculation of positronium-helium-atom scattering length

A basis-set calculation scheme for S-waves Ps-He elastic scattering below the lowest inelastic threshold was formulated using a variational expression for the transition matrix. The scheme was illustrated numerically by calculating the scattering length in the electronic doublet state: a=1.0±0.1 a.u.

Phenomenological tests for the freezing of the QCD running coupling constant

We discuss phenomenological tests for the frozen infrared behavior of the running coupling constant and gluon propagators found in some solutions of Schwinger-Dyson equations of the gluonic sector of QCD. We verify that several observables can be used in order to select the different expressions of αs found in the literature. We test the effect of the nonperturbative coupling in the τ-lepton decay rate into nonstrange hadrons, in the ρ vector meson helicity density matrix that are produced in the χc2 → ρρ decay, in the photon to pion transition form factor, and compute the cross-sections for elastic proton-proton scattering and exclusive ρ production in deep inelastic scattering. These quantities depend on the infrared behavior of the coupling constant at different levels, we discuss the reasons for this dependence and argue that the existent and future data can be used to test the approximations performed to solve the Schwinger-Dyson equations and they already seem to select one specific infrared behavior of the coupling.

Bright vortex solitons in bose condensates

We suggest the possibility of observing and studying bright vortex solitons in attractive Bose-Einstein condensates in three dimensions with a radial trap. Such systems lie on the verge of critical stability and we discuss the conditions of their stability. We study the interaction between two such solitons. Unlike the text-book solitons in one dimension, the interaction between two radially trapped and axially free three-dimensional solitons is inelastic in nature and involves exchange of particles and deformation in shape. The interaction remains repulsive for all phase δ between them except for δ ≈ 0.

Fiberglass-reinforced glulam beams: Mechanical properties and theoretical model

The glued-laminated lumber (glulam) technique is an efficient process for making rational use of wood. Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) associated with glulam beams provide significant gains in terms of strength and stiffness, and also alter the mode of rupture of these structural elements. In this context, this paper presents a theoretical model for designing reinforced glulam beams. The model allows for the calculation of the bending moment, the hypothetical distribution of linear strains along the height of the beam, and considers the wood has a linear elastic fragile behavior in tension parallel to the fibers and bilinear in compression parallel to the fibers, initially elastic and subsequently inelastic, with a negative decline in the stress-strain diagram. The stiffness was calculated by the transformed section method. Twelve non-reinforced and fiberglass reinforced glulam beams were evaluated experimentally to validate the proposed theoretical model. The results obtained indicate good congruence between the experimental and theoretical values.