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The total sputtering yield of 6 nm thick polycrystalline tantalum films resulting from H2+ ion bombardment, at normal incidence, has been determined. For this purpose, we study the evolution of the...

We report a measurement of the π − photoproduction beam asymmetry for the reaction → γ p → π − Δ + + using data from the GlueX experiment in the photon beam energy range 8.2–8.8 GeV. The asymmetry Σ is measured as a function of four-momentum transfer t to the Δ + + and compared to phenomenological models. We find that Σ varies as a function of t : negative at smaller values and positive at higher values of | t | . The reaction can be described theoretically by t -channel particle exchange requiring pseudoscalar, vector, and tensor intermediaries. In particular, this reaction requires charge exchange, allowing us to probe pion exchange and the significance of higher-order corrections to one-pion exchange at low momentum transfer. Constraining production mechanisms of conventional mesons may aid in the search for and study of unconventional mesons. This is the first measurement of the process at this energy.

The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab has been designed to study photoproduction reactions with a 9-GeV linearly polarized photon beam. The energy and arrival time of beam photons are tagged using a scintillator hodoscope and a scintillating fiber array. The photon flux is determined using a pair spectrometer, while the linear polarization of the photon beam is determined using a polarimeter based on triplet photoproduction. Charged-particle tracks from interactions in the central target are analyzed in a solenoidal field using a central straw-tube drift chamber and six packages of planar chambers with cathode strips and drift wires. Electromagnetic showers are reconstructed in a cylindrical scintillating fiber calorimeter inside the magnet and a lead-glass array downstream. Charged particle identification is achieved by measuring energy loss in the wire chambers and using the flight time of particles between the target and detectors outside the magnet. The signals from all detectors are recorded with flash ADCs and/or pipeline TDCs into memories allowing trigger decisions with a latency of 3.3 $\mu$s. The detector operates routinely at trigger rates of 40 kHz and data rates of 600 megabytes per second. We describe the photon beam, the GlueX detector components, electronics, data-acquisition and monitoring systems, and the performance of the experiment during the first three years of operation., Comment: Accepted by Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, 78 pages, 54 figures

We report measurements of the photon beam asymmetry Σ for the reaction γp→K+Σ0 (1193) using the GlueX spectrometer in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. Data were collected by using a linearly polarized photon beam in the energy range of 8.2–8.8 GeV incident on a liquid hydrogen target. The beam asymmetry Σ was measured as a function of the Mandelstam variable t , and a single value of Σ was extracted for events produced in the u channel. These are the first exclusive measurements of the photon beam asymmetry Σ for the reaction in this energy range. For the t channel, the measured beam asymmetry is close to unity over the t range studied, − t = ( 0.1 – 1.4 ) ( GeV / c ) 2 , with an average value of Σ = 1.00 ± 0.05 . This agrees with theoretical models that describe the reaction via the natural-parity exchange of the K ∗ (892) Regge trajectory. A value of Σ = 0.41 ± 0.09 is obtained for the u channel integrated up to − u = 2.0 ( GeV / c ) 2 .

We report on the measurement of the beam asymmetry Σ for the reactions → γ p → p η and → γ p → p η ′ from the GlueX experiment using an 8.2–8.8-GeV linearly polarized tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target in Hall D at Jefferson Laboratory. These measurements are made as a function of momentum transfer − t with significantly higher statistical precision than our earlier η measurements and are the first measurements of η ′ in this energy range. We compare the results to theoretical predictions based on t -channel quasiparticle exchange. We also compare the ratio of Σ η to Σ η ′ to these models as this ratio is predicted to be sensitive to the amount of s ¯ s exchange in the production. We find that photoproduction of both η and η ′ is dominated by natural parity exchange with little dependence on − t .

Tailoring magnetic properties in nanocluster assembled cobalt (Co) thin films was achieved by admitting a small percentage of H2 gas (∼2%) into the Co gas phase cluster formation chamber prior to deposition. The oxygen content in the films is considerably reduced by the presence of hydrogen during the cluster formation, leading to enhanced magnetic interactions between clusters. Two sets of Co samples were fabricated, one without hydrogen gas and one with hydrogen gas. Magnetic properties of the non-hydrogenated and the hydrogen-treated Co nanocluster assembled films are comparatively studied using magnetic force microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. When comparing the two sets of samples the considerably larger coercive field of the H2-treated Co nanocluster film and the extended micrometer-sized magnetic domain structure confirm the enhancement of magnetic interactions between clusters. The thickness of the antiferromagnetic CoO layer is controlled with this procedure and modifies the exchange bias effect in these films. The exchange bias shift is lower for the H2-treated Co nanocluster film, which indicates that a thinner antiferromagnetic CoO reduces the coupling with the ferromagnetic Co. The hydrogen-treatment method can be used to tailor the oxidation levels thus controlling the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic cluster-assembled films.

The performance of a modified solar chimney is studied numerically and experimentally. In this solar chimney, the classical solar collector array is replaced by a heat exchanger located in the middle section of the chimney. The natural convection inside is simulated by the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code COMSOL. This software is used first to perform an optimization of the power output and to determine the optimal dimensions of the chimney prototype. From the parameters obtained numerically, a two-meter high chimney model is built to measure temperature profiles and power output of the chimney. The comparison between numerical and experimental results shows a difference lower than 6.2% for the power generated. Our prototype achieves a higher power density in comparison with other reported prototypes based on conventional solar chimney concept of similar height.

Nanoparticles can be used in a large variety of applications, including magnetic sensing, biological, superconductivity, tissue engineering, and other fields. In this study, we explore the fabrication of gas phase silver nanoparticles using a sputtering evaporation source. This setup composed of a dual magnetron cluster source holds several advantages over other techniques. The system has independent control over the cluster concentration and a wide range of cluster size and materials that can be used for the clusters and for the matrix where it can be embedded. Characterization of these silver nanoparticles was done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We obtain a lateral width of 10.6 nm with a dispersion of 0.24 nm. With atomic force microscopy (AFM) a Gaussian fit of this distribution yields and average height of 6.3 nm with a standard deviation of 1.4 nm. We confirm that the deposited silver nanoparticles have a homogenous area distribution, that they have a defined shape and size distribution, and that they are single standing nanoparticles. Given that the scientific literature is not precise regarding the toxic concentration of the nanoparticles, devices such as ours can help clarify these questions. In order to explore further biological applications, we have done preliminary experiments of cell spreading (myoblast adhesion), obtaining interesting morphological changes correlated with the silver concentration on the surface. With a deposited silver concentration ranging from 100&ndash, 620 ng/cm2, the cells showed morphological changes in a short time of 2 h. We conclude that this high precision nanoparticle fabrication technique is adequate for further biological research.

In this work, we propose the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a useful design tool for the construction and improvement of a vertical 4 He evaporation refrigerator. This approach provides a cost-effective solution for improving the performance of such systems designed through the use of traditional heat transfer and fluid mechanics-based relations. To this effect, we applied COMSOL Multiphysics to model an existing refrigerator, which had been built and extensively tested at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). This allowed us to firstly validate our methodology through contrast with reliable empirical data and subsequently to evaluate which modifications can contribute to improved performance. Our CFD based model accurately predicts the cooling power of the UNH design and provides insight into its operation. Moreover, the CFD case study we present here allowed us to propose and evaluate design modifications aimed at minimizing the heat load on the refrigerator.

The design and test results for a prototype laboratory device capable of condensing and solidifying gases is presented. This equipment is a new approach to the fabrication of NH 3 material for polarized target experiments in nuclear physics experiments. The formed solids have a cylindrical geometry with 32 mm diameter and 50 mm height. With Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis we designed and established operational parameters for the condenser. The system designed for initial testing with CO 2 is now ready to use for growing good quality crystals of NH 3 with a novel shape, featuring cooling channels for polarized target experiments.

In the era of high-angular resolution astronomical instrumentation, where long and very long baseline interferometers (constituted by many, $\sim$ 20 or more, telescopes) are expected to work not only in the millimeter and submillimeter domain, but also at near and mid infrared wavelengths (experiments such as the Planet Formation Imager, PFI, see Monnier et al. 2018 for an update on its design); any promising strategy to alleviate the costs of the individual telescopes involved needs to be explored. In a recent collaboration between engineers, experimental physicists and astronomers in Valparaiso, Chile, we are gaining expertise in the production of light carbon fiber polymer reinforced mirrors. The working principle consists in replicating a glass, or other substrate, mandrel surface with the mirrored adequate curvature, surface characteristics and general shape. Once the carbon fiber base has hardened, previous studies have shown that it can be coated (aluminum) using standard coating processes/techniques designed for glass-based mirrors. The resulting surface quality is highly dependent on the temperature and humidity control among other variables. Current efforts are focused on improving the smoothness of the resulting surfaces to meet near/mid infrared specifications, overcoming, among others, possible deteriorations derived from the replication process. In a second step, at the validation and quality control stage, the mirrors are characterized using simple/traditional tools like spherometers (down to micron precision), but also an optical bench with a Shack-Hartman wavefront sensor. This research line is developed in parallel with a more classical glass-based approach, and in both cases we are prototyping at the small scale of few tens of cms. We here present our progress on these two approaches., Comment: 13 pages, SPIE Proceedings Volume 10700, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VII; 107003X (2018). Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

The barrel calorimeter is part of the new spectrometer installed in Hall D at Jefferson Lab for the GlueX experiment. The calorimeter was installed in 2013, commissioned in 2014 and has been operating routinely since early 2015. The detector configuration, associated Monte Carlo simulations, calibration and operational performance are described herein. The calorimeter records the time and energy deposited by charged and neutral particles created by a multi-GeV photon beam. It is constructed as a lead and scintillating-fiber calorimeter and read out with 3840 large-area silicon photomultiplier arrays. Particles impinge on the detector over a wide range of angles, from normal incidence at 90 degrees down to 11.5 degrees, which defines a geometry that is fairly unique among calorimeters. The response of the calorimeter has been measured during a running experiment and performs as expected for electromagnetic showers below 2.5 GeV. We characterize the performance of the BCAL using the energy resolution integrated over typical angular distributions for $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ production of $\sigma_E/E$=5.2\%/$\sqrt{E(\rm{GeV})} \oplus$ 3.6\% and a timing resolution of $\sigma$\,=\,150\,ps at 1\,GeV., Comment: 46 pages, 33 figures

The coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism is investigated in granular Sn-Co nanocomposites. The nanocomposites have been prepared by co-deposition of Sn atoms and Co clusters, the morphology and composition of which can be tuned by varying the deposition rate of Co clusters relative to Sn atoms. Flat isolated Sn islands are obtained at zero or low Co cluster flux, while granular nanocomposites are formed with increasing Co cluster flux, reaching Co concentrations up to 44 vol.%. Interfaces with a low electronic transparency between superconductor and ferromagnet are obtained by a combination of the granular nature of the nanocomposites and the formation of Sn-Co alloys at the Sn/Co interfaces. The structure and composition of the nanocomposites have been thoroughly characterized by atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction and conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy. Over the entire Co concentration range, the hybrids show a ferromagnetic response. The superconducting phase boundary and the Meissner response depend on the morphology and composition of the nanocomposites. In particular, the superconducting critical temperature decreases with increasing Co concentration, while the Meissner response varies from a reversible to a strongly hysteretic behaviour depending on the morphology of the samples with different Co content. The persistence of superconductivity at high Co concentrations is attributed to a suppression of the superconducting proximity effect in these nanocomposites, which is ascribed to the low interface transparency between the Sn and Co components that make up these hybrid systems. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in cluster-assembled Sn–Co nanocomposites journaltitle: Journal of Alloys and Compounds articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.03.007 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ispartof: Journal of Alloys and Compounds vol:637 pages:509-516 status: published