Radiative lifetimes of metastable states of negative ions

We present a technique for measuring the radiative lifetimes of metastable states of negative ions that involves the use of a heavy-ion storage ring. The method has been applied to investigate the radiative decay of the np3 2P1/2 levels of Te–(n=5) and Se–(n=4) and the 3p3 2D state of Si– for which the J=3/2 and 5/2 levels were unresolved. All of these states are metastable and decay primarily by emission of E2 and M1 radiation. Multi Configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations of rates for the transitions in Te– and Se– yielded lifetimes of 0.45 s and 4.7 s, respectively. The measured values agree well with these predicted values. In the case of the 2D state of Si–, however, our measurement was only able to set a lower limit on the lifetime. The upper limit of the lifetime that can be measured with our apparatus is set by how long the ions can be stored in the ring, a limit determined by the rate of collisional detachment. Our lower limit of 1 min for the lifetime of the 2D state is consistent with both the calculated lifetimes of 162 s for the 2D3/2 level and 27.3 h for the 2D5/2 level reported by O'Malley and Beck and 14.5 h and 12.5 h, respectively, from our Breit-Pauli calculations.

Ferroelectricity and isotope effects in hydrogen-bonded KDP crystals

Based on an accurate first principles description of the energetics in H-bonded potassium-dihydrogen-phosphate crystals, we conduct a first study of nuclear quantum effects and of the changes brought about by deuteration. Tunneling is allowed only for clusters involving correlated protons and heavy ion displacements, the main effect of deuteration being a depletion of the proton probability density at the O-H-O bridge center, which in turn weakens its proton-mediated covalent bonding. The ensuing lattice expansion couples self-consistently with the proton off-centering, thus explaining both the giant isotope effect and its close connection with geometrical effects.

The Dissociative Recombination of Protonated Acrylonitrile, CH2CHCNH+, with Implications for Nitrile Chemistry in Dark Molecular Clouds and the Upper Atmosphere of Titan

Measurements on the dissociative recombination (DR) of protonated acrylonitrile, CH2CHCNH+, have been performed at the heavy ion storage ring CRYRING located in the Manne Siegbahn Laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden. It has been found that at~2meV relative kinetic energy about 50% of the DR events involve only ruptures of X–H bonds (where X=C or N)while the rest leads to the production of a pair of fragments each containing two heavy atoms (alongside H and/or H2). The absolute DR cross section has been investigated for relative kinetic energies ranging from ~1 meV to 1 eV. The thermal rate coefficient has been determined to follow the expression k(T) = 1.78 × 10-6 (T/300)-0.80 cm3 s-1 for electron temperatures ranging from ~10 to 1000 K. Gas-phase models of the nitrile chemistry in the dark molecular cloud TMC-1 have been run and results are compared with observations. Also, implications of the present results for the nitrile chemistry of Titan’s upper atmosphere are discussed.

First dielectronic recombination measurements with H-like uranium

In this report we show first results on dielectronic recombination (DR) measurements with H-like uranium U91+. The experiments were conducted at the heavy ion storage ring ESR of GSI. The electron cooler of the ESR was used as a target for free electrons. Stochastic pre-cooling of the stored ion beam was employed in order to accomplish high-energy resolution at the necessary high electron-ion collision energies of more than 64 keV. For the DR of U91+ this novel technique enabled us to measure for the first time the KLL-DR process and even to resolve the individual j-j' fine structure components of the KLjLj' resonances. The experimental data are compared with fully relativistic Multi-Configuration Dirac-Fock (DR-MCDF) calculations. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dissociative Recombination of Protonated Formic Acid: Implications for Molecular Cloud and Cometary Chemistry

At the heavy ion storage ring CRYRING in Stockholm, Sweden, we have investigated the dissociative recombination of DCOOD2+ at low relative kinetic energies, from ~1 meV to 1 eV. The thermal rate coefficient has been found to follow the expression k(T) = 8.43 × 10-7 (T/300)^-0.78 cm3 s-1 for electron temperatures, T, ranging from ~10 to ~1000 K. The branching fractions of the reaction have been studied at ~2 meV relative kinetic energy. It has been found that ~87% of the reactions involve breaking a bond between heavy atoms. In only 13% of the reactions do the heavy atoms remain in the same product fragment. This puts limits on the gas-phase production of formic acid, observed in both molecular clouds and cometary comae. Using the experimental results in chemical models of the dark cloud, TMC-1, and using the latest release of the UMIST Database for Astrochemistry improves the agreement with observations for the abundance of formic acid. Our results also strengthen the assumption that formic acid is a component of cometary ices.

Breit interaction in dielectronic recombination of hydrogenlike uranium

Absolute rate coefficients for dielectronic recombination (DR) of H-like U91+ ions have been measured. The electron-ion merged-beam technique at a heavy-ion storage ring was employed using a stochastically cooled ion beam. Thereby, the previously accessible electron-ion collision energies could be greatly extended to the range 63-90 keV. High-resolution DR spectra were measured covering all KLL and KLM resonances. For the resonance strengths, excellent agreement between relativistic theory and experiment is found only if the Breit contribution to the electron-electron interaction is included in the calculations. For the KL1/2L1/2 and KL1/2M1/2 groups the Breit contribution amounts to 44% of their total resonance strengths.

Alpha particles induce pan-nuclear phosphorylation of H2AX in primary human lymphocytes mediated through ATM

The use of high linear energy transfer radiations in the form of carbon ions in heavy ion beam lines or alpha particles in new radionuclide treatments has increased substantially over the past decade and will continue to do so due to the favourable dose distributions they can offer versus conventional therapies. Previously it has been shown that exposure to heavy ions induces pan-nuclear phosphorylation of several DNA repair proteins such as H2AX and ATM in vitro. Here we describe similar effects of alpha particles on ex vivo irradiated primary human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Following alpha particle irradiation pan-nuclear phosphorylation of H2AX and ATM, but not DNA-PK and 53BP1, was observed throughout the nucleus. Inhibition of ATM, but not DNA-PK, resulted in the loss of pan-nuclear phosphorylation of H2AX in alpha particle irradiated lymphocytes. Pan-nuclear gamma-H2AX signal was rapidly lost over 24h at a much greater rate than foci loss. Surprisingly, pan-nuclear gamma-H2AX intensity was not dependent on the number of alpha particle induced double strand breaks, rather the number of alpha particles which had traversed the cell nucleus. This distinct fluence dependent damage signature of particle radiation is important in both the fields of radioprotection and clinical oncology in determining radionuclide biological dosimetry and may be indicative of patient response to new radionuclide cancer therapies.

Préparation d'échantillons pour l'étude par GISAXS des mécanismes de déformation des matériaux par faisceaux d'ions lourds de haute énergie.

Le mécanisme menant à des déformations structurales suivant le bombardement d'échantillons de a-Si d'un faisceau d'ions lourds et rapides est sujet de controverses. Nous nous sommes penchés sur l'hypothèse de la formation d'une zone liquide causée par la déposition d'énergie des ions incidents dans le contexte de la théorie du pic thermique. Des échantillons de silicium amorphe furent préparés dans le but d'observer les indices d'une transition de phase l-Si/a-Si suivant la déposition locale d'énergie sur le parcours d'un ion lourd énergétique dans le a-Si. Les échantillons furent implantés d'impuretés de Cu ou d'Ag avant d'être exposés à un faisceau d'ions Ag12+ de 70 MeV. L'utilisation de l'analyse GISAXS est projetée afin d'observer une concentration locale d'impuretés suivant leur ségrégation sur la trace de l'ion. Des masques d'implantation nanométriques d'oxide d'aluminium ont été fabriqués afin d'augmenter la sensibilité de l'analyse GISAXS et une méthode d'alignement de ces masques selon la direction du faisceau fut développée. Le bombardement d'échantillons au travers de ces masques a donné lieu à un réseau de sites d'impacts isolés presque équidistants.

Pauli distorted double folded potential

The enhancement in the production of even-Z nuclei observed in nuclear fission has also been observed in fragments produced from heavy ion collsions. Beams of 40Ar, 40Cl, and 40Ca at 25 MeV/nucleon were impinged on 58Fe and 58Ni targets. The resulting fragments were detected using the MSU 4pi detector array, which had additional silicon detectors for better isotopic resolution. Comparison of the ratios of yields for each element showed enhancement of even-Z fragment production. The enhancement was more pronounced for reactions with a greater difference in the N/Z of the compound system. However, this effect was less for systems that were more neutron rich. The average N/Z for fragments also displayed an odd-even effect with a lower average N/Z for the even-Z fragments. This is related to the greater availability of neutron-poor isotopes for even-Z nuclei

Antikaon potential in hot and dense matter

The antikaon optical potential in hot and dense nuclear matter is studied within the framework of a coupled-channel self-consistent calculation taking, as bare meson-baryon interaction, the meson-exchange potential of the Jlich group. Typical conditions found in heavy-ion collisions at GSI are explored. As in the case of zero temperature, the angular momentum components larger than L=0 contribute significantly to the finite temperature antikaon optical potential at finite momentum. It is found that the particular treatment of the medium effects has a strong influence on the behavior of the antikaon potential with temperature. Our self-consistent model, in which antikaons and pions are dressed in the medium, gives a moderately temperature dependent antikaon potential which remains attractive at GSI temperatures, contrary to what one finds if only nuclear Pauli blocking effects are included.

Polarization and correlation phenomena in the radiative electron capture by bare highly-charged ions

In dieser Arbeit wird die Wechselwirkung zwischen einem Photon und einem Elektron im starken Coulombfeld eines Atomkerns am Beispiel des radiativen Elektroneneinfangs beim Stoß hochgeladener Teilchen untersucht. In den letzten Jahren wurde dieser Ladungsaustauschprozess insbesondere für relativistische Ion–Atom–Stöße sowohl experimentell als auch theoretisch ausführlich erforscht. In Zentrum standen dabei haupsächlich die totalen und differentiellen Wirkungsquerschnitte. In neuerer Zeit werden vermehrt Spin– und Polarisationseffekte sowie Korrelationseffekte bei diesen Stoßprozessen diskutiert. Man erwartet, dass diese sehr empfindlich auf relativistische Effekte im Stoß reagieren und man deshalb eine hervorragende Methode zu deren Bestimmung erhält. Darüber hinaus könnten diese Messungen auch indirekt dazu führen, dass man die Polarisation des Ionenstrahls bestimmen kann. Damit würden sich neue experimentelle Möglichkeiten sowohl in der Atom– als auch der Kernphysik ergeben. In dieser Dissertation werden zunächst diese ersten Untersuchungen zu den Spin–, Polarisations– und Korrelationseffekten systematisch zusammengefasst. Die Dichtematrixtheorie liefert hierzu die geeignete Methode. Mit dieser Methode werden dann die allgemeinen Gleichungen für die Zweistufen–Rekombination hergeleitet. In diesem Prozess wird ein Elektron zunächst radiativ in einen angeregten Zustand eingefangen, der dann im zweiten Schritt unter Emission des zweiten (charakteristischen) Photons in den Grundzustand übergeht. Diese Gleichungen können natürlich auf beliebige Mehrstufen– sowie Einstufen–Prozesse erweitert werden. Im direkten Elektroneneinfang in den Grundzustand wurde die ”lineare” Polarisation der Rekombinationsphotonen untersucht. Es wurde gezeigt, dass man damit eine Möglichkeit zur Bestimmung der Polarisation der Teilchen im Eingangskanal des Schwerionenstoßes hat. Rechnungen zur Rekombination bei nackten U92+ Projektilen zeigen z. B., dass die Spinpolarisation der einfallenden Elektronen zu einer Drehung der linearen Polarisation der emittierten Photonen aus der Streuebene heraus führt. Diese Polarisationdrehung kann mit neu entwickelten orts– und polarisationsempfindlichen Festkörperdetektoren gemessen werden. Damit erhält man eine Methode zur Messung der Polarisation der einfallenden Elektronen und des Ionenstrahls. Die K–Schalen–Rekombination ist ein einfaches Beispiel eines Ein–Stufen–Prozesses. Das am besten bekannte Beispiel der Zwei–Stufen–Rekombination ist der Elektroneneinfang in den 2p3/2–Zustand des nackten Ions und anschließendem Lyman–1–Zerfall (2p3/2 ! 1s1/2). Im Rahmen der Dichte–Matrix–Theorie wurden sowohl die Winkelverteilung als auch die lineare Polarisation der charakteristischen Photonen untersucht. Beide (messbaren) Größen werden beträchtlich durch die Interferenz des E1–Kanals (elektrischer Dipol) mit dem viel schwächeren M2–Kanal (magnetischer Quadrupol) beeinflusst. Für die Winkelverteilung des Lyman–1 Zerfalls im Wasserstoff–ähnlichen Uran führt diese E1–M2–Mischung zu einem 30%–Effekt. Die Berücksichtigung dieser Interferenz behebt die bisher vorhandene Diskrepanz von Theorie und Experiment beim Alignment des 2p3/2–Zustands. Neben diesen Ein–Teichen–Querschnitten (Messung des Einfangphotons oder des charakteristischen Photons) wurde auch die Korrelation zwischen den beiden berechnet. Diese Korrelationen sollten in X–X–Koinzidenz–Messungen beobbachtbar sein. Der Schwerpunkt dieser Untersuchungen lag bei der Photon–Photon–Winkelkorrelation, die experimentell am einfachsten zu messen ist. In dieser Arbeit wurden ausführliche Berechnungen der koinzidenten X–X–Winkelverteilungen beim Elektroneneinfang in den 2p3/2–Zustand des nackten Uranions und beim anschließenden Lyman–1–Übergang durchgeführt. Wie bereits erwähnt, hängt die Winkelverteilung des charakteristischen Photons nicht nur vom Winkel des Rekombinationsphotons, sondern auch stark von der Spin–Polarisation der einfallenden Teilchen ab. Damit eröffnet sich eine zweite Möglichkeit zur Messung der Polaristion des einfallenden Ionenstrahls bzw. der einfallenden Elektronen.

X-Ray spectra of superheavy and quasi-superheavy elements

We discuss the possibility of identifying superheavy elements from the observation of their M-shell x-ray spectra, which might occur during the collision of a superheavy element with a heavy target. The same question is discussed for the possible observation of the x-rays from the quasimolecule (quasi-superheavy element) which is formed during such a heavy-ion collision. It is shown that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine any information about the interesting quantum electrodynamical effects from the M-shell x-ray spectra of these quasimolecules.

Interpretation of the anisotropy of M MO radiation in slow I on Au collisions

A comparison between experimental and calculated spectral shape and energy dependence of the M MO x-ray anisotropy in heavy-ion collisions of I on Au is presented. The calculation is performed within the kinematic-dipole model of anisotropy using MO x-rays determined from SCF relativistic correlation diagrams.