The stability and the shape of the heaviest nuclei

In this paper, we report a systematic study of the heaviest nuclei within the relativistic mean field (RMF) model. By comparing our results with those of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method (HFB) and the finite range droplet model (FRDM), the stability and the shape of the heaviest nuclei are discussed. The theoretical predictions as well as the existing experimental data indicate that the experimentally synthesized superheavy nuclei are in between the fission stability line, the line connecting the nucleus with maximum binding energy per nucleon in each isotopic chain, and the $\beta$-stability line, the line connecting the nucleus with maximum binding energy per nucleon in each isobaric chain. It is shown that both the fission stability line and the $\beta$-stability line tend to be more proton rich in the superheavy region. Meanwhile, all the three theoretical models predict most synthesized superheavy nuclei to be deformed.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Journal of Physics

From the stress response function (back) to the sandpile `dip'

We relate the pressure `dip' observed at the bottom of a sandpile prepared by successive avalanches to the stress profile obtained on sheared granular layers in response to a localized vertical overload. We show that, within a simple anisotropic elastic analysis, the skewness and the tilt of the response profile caused by shearing provide a qualitative agreement with the sandpile dip effect. We conclude that the texture anisotropy produced by the avalanches is in essence similar to that induced by a simple shearing -- albeit tilted by the angle of repose of the pile. This work also shows that this response function technique could be very well adapted to probe the texture of static granular packing.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, accepted version to appear in Eur. Phys. J.

Reflection asymmetric relativistic mean field approach and its application to the octupole deformed nucleus 226^{226}Ra

A Reflection ASymmetric Relativistic Mean Field (RAS-RMF) approach is developed by expanding the equations of motion for both the nucleons and the mesons on the eigenfunctions of the two-center harmonic-oscillator potential. The efficiency and reliability of the RAS-RMF approach are demonstrated in its application to the well-known octupole deformed nucleus $^{226}$Ra and the available data, including the binding energy and the deformation parameters, are well reproduced.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, and 2 tables, to appear in Chinese Physics Letter

Study of Radiative Leptonic D Meson Decays

We study the radiative leptonic $D$ meson decays of D^+_{(s)}\to \l^+\nu_{\l}\gamma (\l=e,\mu,\tau), $D^0\to \nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ and D^0\to \l^+\l^-\gamma ($l=e,\mu$) within the light front quark model. In the standard model, we find that the decay branching ratios of $D^+_{(s)}\to e^+\nu_e\gamma$, $D^+_{(s)}\to\mu^+\nu_{\mu}\gamma$ and $D^+_{(s)}\to\tau^+\nu_{\tau}\gamma$ are $6.9\times 10^{-6}$ ($7.7\times 10^{-5}$), $2.5\times 10^{-5}$ ($2.6\times 10^{-4}$), and $6.0\times 10^{-6}$ ($3.2\times 10^{-4}$), and that of D^0\to\l^+\l^-\gamma (\l=e,\mu) and $D^0\to\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ are $6.3\times 10^{-11}$ and $2.7\times 10^{-16}$, respectively.Comment: 23 pages, 6 Figures, LaTex file, a reference added, to be published in Mod. Phys. Lett.

Spurious Shell Closures in the Relativistic Mean Field Model

Following a systematic theoretical study of the ground-state properties of over 7000 nuclei from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line in the relativistic mean field model [Prog. Theor. Phys. 113 (2005) 785], which is in fair agreement with existing experimental data, we observe a few spurious shell closures, i.e. proton shell closures at Z=58 and Z=92. These spurious shell closures are found to persist in all the effective forces of the relativistic mean field model, e.g. TMA, NL3, PKDD and DD-ME2.Comment: 3 pages, to appear in Chinese Physics Letter

Gradient echo memory in an ultra-high optical depth cold atomic ensemble

Quantum memories are an integral component of quantum repeaters - devices that will allow the extension of quantum key distribution to communication ranges beyond that permissible by passive transmission. A quantum memory for this application needs to be highly efficient and have coherence times approaching a millisecond. Here we report on work towards this goal, with the development of a $^{87}$Rb magneto-optical trap with a peak optical depth of 1000 for the D2 $F=2 \rightarrow F'=3$ transition using spatial and temporal dark spots. With this purpose-built cold atomic ensemble to implement the gradient echo memory (GEM) scheme. Our data shows a memory efficiency of $80\pm 2$% and coherence times up to 195 $\mu$s, which is a factor of four greater than previous GEM experiments implemented in warm vapour cells.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Trapping of Rb atoms by ac electric fields

We demonstrate trapping of an ultracold gas of neutral atoms in a macroscopic ac electric trap. Three-dimensional confinement is obtained by switching between two saddle-point configurations of the electric field. Stable trapping is observed in a narrow range of switching frequencies around 60 Hz. The dynamic confinement of the atoms is directly visualized at different phases of the ac switching cycle. We observe about 10^5 Rb atoms in the 1 mm^3 large and several microkelvins deep trap with a lifetime of approximately 5 s.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; updated version, added journal referenc

Transients in sheared granular matter

As dense granular materials are sheared, a shear band and an anisotropic force network form. The approach to steady state behavior depends on the history of the packing and the existing force and contact network. We present experiments on shearing of dense granular matter in a 2D Couette geometry in which we probe the history and evolution of shear bands by measuring particle trajectories and stresses during transients. We find that when shearing is stopped and restarted in the same direction, steady state behavior is immediately reached, in agreement with the typical assumption that the system is quasistatic. Although some relaxation of the force network is observed when shearing is stopped, quasistatic behavior is maintained because the contact network remains essentially unchanged. When the direction of shear is reversed, a transient occurs in which stresses initially decrease, changes in the force network reach further into the bulk, and particles far from the wheel become more mobile. This occurs because the force network is fragile to changes transverse to the force network established under previous shear; particles must rearrange before becoming jammed again, thereby providing resistance to shear in the reversed direction. The strong force network is reestablished after displacing the shearing surface $\approx 3d$, where $d$ is the mean grain diameter. Steady state velocity profiles are reached after a shear of $\leq 30d$. Particles immediately outside of the shear band move on average less than 1 diameter before becoming jammed again. We also examine particle rotation during this transient and find that mean particle spin decreases during the transient, which is related to the fact that grains are not interlocked as strongly.Comment: 7 pages, 11 figures, accepted to Eur. Phys. J. E, revised version based on referee suggestion