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Intervention-induced neuroplastic changes within the motor or cognitive system have been shown in the human brain. While cognitive and motor brain areas are densely interconnected, it is unclear whether this interconnectivity allows for a shared susceptibility to neuroplastic changes. Using the preparation for a theoretical exam as training intervention that primarily engages the cognitive system, we tested the hypothesis whether neuroplasticity acts across interconnected brain areas by investigating the effect on excitability and synaptic plasticity in the motor cortex. 39 healthy students (23 female) underwent 4 weeks of cognitive training while revision time, physical activity, concentration, fatigue, sleep quality and stress were monitored. Before and after cognitive training, cognitive performance was evaluated, as well as motor excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation and long-term-potentiation-like (LTP-like) plasticity using paired-associative-stimulation (PAS). Cognitive training ranged individually from 1 to 7 h/day and enhanced attention and verbal working memory. While motor excitability did not change, LTP-like plasticity increased in an intensity-depending manner: the longer the daily revision time, the smaller the increase of neuroplasticity, and vice versa. This effect was not influenced by physical activity, concentration, fatigue, sleep quality or stress. Motor cortical plasticity is strengthened by a behavioural intervention that primarily engages cognitive brain areas. We suggest that this effect is due to an enhanced susceptibility to LTP-like plasticity, probably induced by heterosynaptic activity that modulates postsynaptic excitability in motorcortical neurones. The smaller increase of PAS efficiency with higher cognitive training intensity suggests a mechanism that balances and stabilises the susceptibility for synaptic potentiation.

The β-decay of 102Sn was studied by using high-resolution germanium detectors as well as a Total Absorption Spectrometer (TAS). A decay scheme has been constructed based on the γ-γ coincidence data. The total experimental Gamow-Teller strength B GT exp of 102Sn was deduced from the TAS data to be 4.2(9). A search for β-delayed γ-rays of 100Sn decay remained unsuccessful. However, a Gamow-Teller hindrance factor h=2:2(3), and a cross-section of about 3 nb for the production of 100Sn in fusion-evaporation reaction between 58Ni beam and 50Cr target have been estimated from the data on heavier tin isotopes. The estimated hindrance factor is similar to the values derived for lower shell nuclei.

Performing experiments with transactinide elements demands highly sensitive detection methods due to the extremely low production rates (one-atom-at-a-time conditions). Preseparation with a physical recoil separator is a powerful method to significantly reduce the background in experiments with sufficiently long-lived isotopes (t1/2≥0.5 s). In the last years, the new gas-filled TransActinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus (TASCA) was installed and successfully commissioned at GSI. Here, we report on the design and performance of a Recoil Transfer Chamber (RTC) for TASCA—an interface to connect various chemistry and counting setups with the separator. Nuclear reaction products recoiling out of the target are separated according to their magnetic rigidity within TASCA, and the wanted products are guided to the focal plane of TASCA. In the focal plane, they pass a thin Mylar window that separates the ∼1 mbar atmosphere in TASCA from the RTC kept at ∼1 bar. The ions are stopped in the RTC and transported by a continuous gas flow from the RTC to the ancillary setup. In this paper, we report on measurements of the transportation yields under various conditions and on the first chemistry experiments at TASCA—an electrochemistry experiment with osmium and an ion exchange experiment with the transactinide element rutherfordium.

The new, highly efficient gas-filled TransActinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus (TASCA) was designed and built at GSI with the aim to study chemical and physical properties of superheavy elements with atomic numbers 104 and higher produced in heavy-ion reactions with actinide targets. To reach the highest possible transmission, while exploiting an existing dipole magnet and two quadrupoles of a previously used gas-filled separator, an optimization of the ion-optical structure of TASCA was performed with the program TRANSPORT. Two modes of TASCA operation, the “High Transmission Mode” and the “Small Image-size Mode” were selected. Magnetic field measurements were carried out with the dipole and were compared with KOMPOT model calculations. Magnetic field model calculations of the dipole and the quadrupoles, including a duct and a large exit valve, were performed to optimize the pole pieces of the dipole and the ducts. This increased the efficiency up to 50%. Both modes of operation were successfully tested in first commissioning experiments.

Summary A search for the α-decay of 239Cm was carried out via the fusion reaction 232Th(12C,5n) 239Cm at GSI, applying nuclear chemistry techniques. The 239Cm α-decay would provide a link between known nuclear masses and α-decay energies measured in the region of the superheavy elements. Three different 12C beam energies were chosen in the present experiments. The α peaks of 238,240Cm were observed clearly at a 12C energy of 74 MeV, while 238Cm disappeared at 70 MeV to provide an undisturbed α-spectrum for a sensitive search of 239Cm decay. No α-events between 6.34 and 6.50 MeV, which could be assigned to 239Cm with confidence, were observed in this experiment. The upper limit of the α-branch of 239Cm was less than 1.0×10−5.

At GSI the gas-filled separator TASCA (TransActinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus) was set up to investigate the chemical and physical properties of the heaviest elements making use of the highest beam intensities available [ www.gsi.de/tasca ; M. Schadel, D. Ackermann, A. Semchenkov, A. Turler, GSI Scientific Report 2005, GSI Report 2006-1, p. 262]. Appropriate backings and targets have to be developed. Conceivable backing materials are aluminium, titanium, and carbon. Aluminium backings and titanium backings in different thickness and from different companies are produced by cold rolling. Deposition by resistance heating is applied for carbon backings. For experiments in a chemically active atmosphere, beryllium has to be employed as backing, which is commercially available and produced by cold rolling. The task is to find the best material and thickness for backings to withstand two different processes: the electrodeposition, applied for the production of lanthanide and actinide targets at the Institut fur Kernchemie, at the Universitat Mainz [K. Eberhardt, et al., Contribution to this conference; D. Liebe, et al., Contribution to this conference], on the one hand, and deposition by thermal evaporation and sputtering on the other. We report on first tests with targets of uranium tetrafluoride (UF 4 ) and metallic uranium on various backings. In addition, the behaviour and durability will be described for the different backing–target combinations in a C-beam and in an Mg beam. For the upcoming beam time U, 208 PbS, 144 Sm, 154 Sm, and Gd are required.

The Transactinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus (TASCA) is a recoil separator with maximized transmission designed for performing advanced chemical studies as well as nuclear reaction and structure investigations of the transactinide elements ( Z >103) on a one-atom-at-a-time basis. TASCA will provide a very clean transactinide fraction with negligible contamination of lighter elements from nuclear side reactions in the target. For TASCA a new target chamber was designed and built at GSI including the rotating target wheel assembly ARTESIA for beam intensities up to 2 μA (particle). For the production of longer-lived isotopes of neutron-rich heavier actinide and transactinide elements, hot fusion reactions with actinide targets are required. Here, possible target materials range from thorium up to curium or even heavier elements. For the deposition of lanthanide and actinide elements on thin aluminum and titanium backings by means of Molecular Plating (MP), a new deposition cell has been constructed that allows precise temperature control of the organic solvent and stirring of the solution. The electrode geometry ensures homogeneity of the electric field inside the cell. With the new set-up, holmium and gadolinium layers (500 μg/cm 2 ) on 2–5 μm thin titanium backings have been produced with deposition yields of the order of 90%. Systematic investigations are under way to further optimize the deposition conditions for other lanthanide and actinide elements including uranium and plutonium on different backing materials.

The extraction behavior of rutherfordium (Rf) into tributylphosphate (TBP) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been studied together with those of the lighter group-4 elements Zr and Hf. The extractability of261Rf,169Hf, and85Zr into TBP was investigated under identical conditions in 7.2–8.0 M HCl by on-line reversed-phase extraction chromatography. The percent extractions of Rf, Hf, and Zr into the TBP resin increase steeply with increasing HCl concentration, and the order of extraction is Zr > Hf ≈ Rf. By considering the order of chloride complexation among these elements, it is suggested that the stability of the TBP complex of Rf tetrachloride is lower than those of Zr and Hf.

The β-decay of 105Sn was re-investigated at the ISOL facility of GSI Darmstadt by using a total absorption spectrometer. The experimental results include the half-life and β-delayed proton branching ratio of 32.7(5)s and 1.1(4) . 10-4, respectively, and the contribution of electron capture to the 105Sn decay of 0.420(35). The Gamow-Teller strength distribution peaking at 3.6MeV was measured, yielding a summed Gamow-Teller strength of 3.0(4). The latter data are discussed in comparison with shell-model predictions based on an empirical interaction.

Summary Two experiments aiming at the chemical investigation of element 112 produced in the heavy ion induced nuclear fusion reaction of 48Ca with 238U were performed at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI), Darmstadt, Germany. Both experiments were designed to determine the adsorption enthalpy of element 112 on a gold surface using a thermochromatography setup. The temperature range covered in the thermochromatography experiments allowed the adsorption of Hg at about 35 °C and of Rn at about -180 °C. Reports from the Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Reactions (FLNR), Dubna, Russia claim production of a 5-min spontaneous fission (SF) activity assigned to 283112 for the 238U(48Ca,3n) 283112 reaction. Hence, Experiment I was designed to detect spontaneously fissioning (SF) isotopes of element 112 with half-lives (t 1/2) longer than about 20 s. 11 high-energy events were detected. 7 events exhibit a deposition pattern resembling a chromatographic peak in the vicinity of Rn deposition. However, the energy of the events observed in Experiment I was lower than expected for a SF-decay of 283112. Therefore, these events could not be unambiguously attributed to the decay of 283112. In contradiction with earlier publications newer reports from FLNR Dubna claim that 283112 decays by α-particle emission (E α = 9.5 MeV) with t 1/2 = 4 s followed by a SF-decay of 279Ds (t 1/2 = 0.2 s). Therefore, Experiment II was designed to be sensitive to both claimed decay properties of 283112. However, during this experiment neither short α-SF correlations nor SF coincidences were detected. The conclusion is that 283112 was not unambiguously detected, neither in Experiment I nor in Experiment II.

SummaryHassium, element 108, was produced in the fusion reaction between26Mg and248Cm. The hassium recoils were oxidizedin-situto a highly volatile oxide, presumably HsO4, and were transported in a mixture of He and O2to a deposition and detection system. The latter consisted of 16 silicon PIN-photodiodes facing a layer of NaOH, which served, in the presence of a certain partial pressure of water in the transport gas, as reactive surface for the deposition of the volatile tetroxides. Six correlated α-decay chains of Hs were detected in the first 5 detectors centred around detection position 3. In analogy to OsO4, which forms Na2[OsO4(OH)2], an osmate(VIII), with aqueous NaOH, HsO4presumably was deposited as Na2[HsO4(OH)2], a hassate(VIII).

Summary The fluoride complexation of the group-4 elements Zr, Hf, and Rf, and of the pseudo-homolog Th, was previously investigated in mixed HNO3/HF solutions by studying K d values on both cation-exchange resins (CIX) and anion-exchange resins (AIX) using the automated rapid chemistry apparatus ARCA. On the CIX, the fluoride complexation of Rf was found to be weaker than that of Zr and Hf but stronger than that of Th. On the AIX, the competition for the binding sites by the counter ion NO3 - was found to be stronger for the fluoride complexes of Rf than for those of Zr and Hf. The aim of the present work is to add independent evidence to the latter result by measuring K d values for Rf on the AIX in 0.1 M HNO3/0.5 M HF and in 0.01 M HF without any HNO3. The results are obtained via an activity ratio of the long-lived α-decay descendant of 261mRf, 20-d 253Es, using the multi-column technique (MCT). These experiments corroborate the seemingly much more pronounced competition of NO3 - for the exchanging sites of the AIX with respect to [RfF x ]( x -4)- than with [ZrF x ]( x -4)- and [HfF x ]( x -4)-.

Fluoride complexation of element 104, rutherfordium (Rf), produced in the 248Cm(18O,5n)261Rf reaction has been studied by anion-exchange chromatography on an atom-at-a-time scale. The anion-exchange chromatographic behavior of Rf was investigated in 1.9-13.9 M hydrofluoric acid together with those of the group-4 elements Zr and Hf produced in the 18O-induced reactions on Ge and Gd targets, respectively. It was found that the adsorption behavior of Rf on anion-exchange resin is quite different from those of Zr and Hf, suggesting the influence of relativistic effects on the fluoride complexation of Rf.

In bombardments of 248Cm with 143.7-146.8 MeV 26Mg ions the nuclides 269Hs and presumably 270Hs were produced. After chemical isolation, Hs atoms were identified by observing genetically linked nuclear-decay chains. Three chains originating from 269Hs confirmed the decay properties observed previously in the decay of 277112. Two chains exhibited the characteristics expected for the new nuclide 270Hs, which was predicted to be a deformed ”doubly magic” nucleus. From the measured $E_\alpha =9.16^{+0.07}_{-0.03}$ MeV an $\alpha$ -decay half-life of 3.6+0.8 -1.4 s was estimated.

Recently, the first successful chemical investigation of element 108, hassium (Hs) has been reported [1]. Based on 7 detected atoms, Hs was shown to form a higly volatile oxide, most probably HsO4. Therefore it behaves similarly to Os, which is known to form highly volatile OsO4. The enthalpies of adsorption-ΔHa O(T) of the compounds on silicon nitride were evaluated as (46±2) kJ/mol for HsO4, compared to (39±1) kJ/mol for OsO4 under identical experimental conditions. Hs should therefore be considered as a member of group 8 of the periodic table.

H. Haba,∗,a K. Tsukada,a M. Asai,a S. Goto,a,b A. Toyoshima,a,c I. Nishinaka,a K. Akiyama,a M. Hirata,a S. Ichikawa,a Y. Nagame,a Y. Shoji,c M. Shigekawa,c T. Koike,c M. Iwasaki,c A. Shinohara,c T. Kaneko,b T. Maruyama,b S. Ono,b H. Kudo,b Y. Oura,d K. Sueki,d H. Nakahara,a,d M. Sakama,e A. Yokoyama,f J. V. Kratz,g M. Schadel,h and W. Bruchleh Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki 3191195, Japan Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Niigata-shi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka-shi, Osaka 5600043, Japan Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan Department of Radiologic Science and Engineering, School of Health Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima-shi, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan Institut fur Kernchemie, Universitat Mainz, D-55099 Mainz, Germany Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung, D-64291 Darmstadt, Germany

We have previously determined the excitation energy division in 51V+197Au collisions at a bombarding energy corresponding exactly to the Bass-model barrier, E cm=B, and at E cm=B+25 MeV. At the barrier, the average excitation energies as a function of Z showed an extreme acceptor-donor asymmetry ("sawtooth" phenomenon) suggesting that the excitation energy division depends on how the neck nucleons are shared at scission. At the 25 MeV higher bombarding energy, a rapid change toward equipartition of the excitation energy was observed. We report here on the determination of the excitation energy division in the same system, using the same experimental technique, at E cm=B+75 MeV. At this bombarding energy, the average excitation energies indicate that a temperature equilibrium has been reached for most partitions except for the - on the average - incompletely damped events near the entrance channel charges, where some remnant of the "sawtooth" phenomenon is still visible.

Seaborgium (Sg; element 106) was studied in comparison with tungsten in the O2-H2O(g)/SiO2(s)-system using high temperature on-line isothermal gas chromatography. The 21-s nuclide266Sg was produced in the248Cm+22Ne reaction at a beam energy of 119 MeV. The reaction products were continuously transported by a He(MoO3)-jet to the chromatography apparatus HITGAS. Group 6 element oxide hydroxide molecules volatile at temperatures above 1000 K were formed at 1325 K by adding humid oxygen as reactive gas.266Sg was unambiguously detected after gas chromatographic separation by measuring266Sg-262Rf mother-daughter α-sf correlations. The experimental results demonstrate the volatility of Sg in humid oxygen, presumably as Sg oxide hydroxide, a behavior typical for both U(VI) and the group 6 elements.

The fluoride complexation of the group-4 elements Zr, Hf and Rf, and of the pseudo-homolog Th, has been investigated in mixed HNO3/HF solutions by studying Kd values on both cation exchange resins (CIX) and anion exchange resins (AIX) using the automated rapid chemistry apparatus ARCA. On the CIX, the four elements are strongly retained as cations below 10-3M HF. For Zr and Hf, the decrease of the Kd values due to the formation of fluoride complexes occurs between 10-3M HF and 10-2M HF. For Rf and Th, this decrease is observed at one order of magnitude higher HF concentrations. On the AIX, for Zr and Hf, a rise of the Kd values due to the formation of anionic fluoride complexes is observed between 10-3M HF and 10-2M HF, i.e. in the same range of HF concentrations where the decrease of the Kd values on the CIX is observed, yielding a consistent picture. For Rf and Th, on the AIX, no rise of the Kd values is observed even if the HF concentration is increased up to 1 M. By varying the concentration of the counter ion NO3-which is competing for the binding sites on the AIX resin, it could be shown, nevertheless, that Rf does form anionic fluoride complexes. Apparently, there is a more specific competition of NO3-with respect to [RfFx](x-4)-than with [ZrFy](y-4)-and [HfFz](z-4)-.

We have studied the sorption of W on anion-exchange resins from HNO3/HF solutions under on-line conditions using continuous chromatography with the multi-column technique. Kd values and the charge of the W species were determined. In order to achieve an effective separation of mother (W) and daughter (Ta), also the sorption of Ta from HNO3/HF solutions on various anion exchange resins with different functional groups was studied. This investigation serves the purpose to select a suitable anion exchange resin for planned experiments with Sg.

The β decay of the very neutron-deficient isotope 101Sn was studied at the GSI on-line mass separator using silicon detectors for recording charged particles and germanium detectors for γ-ray spectroscopy. Based on the β-delayed proton data the production cross-section of 101Sn in the 50Cr + 58Ni fusion-evaporation reaction was determined to be about 60nb. The half-life of 101Sn was measured to be 1.9(3)s. For the first time β-delayed γ-rays of 101Sn were tentatively identified, yielding weak evidence for a cascade of 352 and 1065keV transitions in 101In. The results for the 101Sn decay as well as those from previous work on the 103Sn decay are discussed by comparing them to predictions obtained from shell model calculations employing a new interaction in the 88Sr to 132Sn model space.

Previous studies of the halide complex formation of element 105 in HCl/HF mixtures and extractions into triisooctyl amine (TIOA) had been performed with the Automated Rapid Chemistry Apparatus, ARCA II. Element 105 was shown to be sorbed on the column from 12 M HCl/0.02 M HF together with its lighter homologues Nb, Ta and the pseudohomologue Pa. In elutions with 10 M HCl/0.025 M HF, 4 M HCl/0.02 M HF, and 0.5 M HCl/0.01 M HF, the extraction sequence Ta>Nb>105>Pa was observed and element 105 behaved very differently from its closest homologue Ta. As it is not possible within reasonable effort to model the many presumably mixed fluoride-chloride complexes involved in these studies, theoretical calculations were performed in the pure chloride system predicting a reversed sequence of extraction. To verify this experimentally, and in order to perform a systematic study of halide complexation of the group 5 elements, new batch extraction experiments for Nb, Ta, and Pa were performed with the quaternary ammonium salt Aliquat 336 in pure HF, HCl, and HBr solutions. Based on these results, new chromatographic column separations were elaborated to study separately the fluoride and chloride complexation of element 105 with ARCA II. In the system Aliquat 336/HF, after feeding of the activity onto the column in 0.5 M HF, element 105 did not elute in 4 M HF (Pa fraction) but showed a higher distribution coefficient close to that of Nb (and Ta). In the system Aliquat 336/HCl, after feeding onto the column in 10 M HCl, element 105 showed a distribution coefficient in 6 M HCl close to that of Nb establishing an extraction sequence Pa>Nb≥105>Ta which is theoretically predicted by considering the competition between hydrolysis and complex formation.

The β decay of 103Sn, a three-neutron-particle nucleus with respect to the 100Sn core, was investigated at the GSI on-line mass separator using an array of 17 germanium crystals and a total absorption spectrometer. A total of 31 β-delayed γ-rays (29 new) of the 103Sn →103 In decay were observed and, on the basis of β-γ-γ coincidences, the 103Sn decay scheme was established for the first time. By means of total absorption spectroscopy, β intensities, the Gamow-Teller strength distribution and the summed Gamow-Teller strength value of 3.5±0.5 were determined for this decay. Its half-life and QEC value were found to be 7.0±0.2 s and 7.64±0.7 MeV, respectively. The β-delayed proton branching ratio was measured to be 1.2±0.1%. The results are discussed in comparison with shell-model predictions based on realistic and empirical interactions.

Previous studies of the halide complex formation of element 105 in HCl–HF mixtures and extractions into triisooctyl amine (TIOA) have been performed with the Automated Rapid Chemistry Apparatus, ARCA II. Element 105 was shown to be absorbed on the column from 12 M HCl–0.02 M HF together with its lighter homologues Nb, Ta and the pseudohomologue Pa. In elutions with 10 M HCl–0.025 M HF, 4 M HCl–0.02 M HF, and 0.5 M HCl–0.01 M HF, the extraction sequence Ta>Nb>105>Pa was observed and element 105 behaved very differently from its closest homologue Ta. As it is not possible within reasonable effort to model the many presumably mixed fluoride–chloride complexes involved in these studies, theoretical calculations were performed in the pure chloride system predicting a reversed sequence of extraction. To verify this experimentally, and in order to perform a systematic study of halide complexation of the group 5 elements, new batch extraction experiments for Nb, Ta, and Pa were performed with the quarternary ammonium salt Aliquat 336 in pure HF, HCl, and HBr solutions. Based on these results, new chromatographic column separations were elaborated to study separately the fluoride and chloride complexation of element 105 with ARCA II. In the system Aliquat 336–HF, after feeding of the activity onto the column in 0.5 M HF, element 105 did not elute in 4 M HF (Pa fraction) but showed a higher distribution coefficient close to that of Nb (and Ta). In the system Aliquat 336–HCl, after feeding onto the column in 10 M HCl, element 105 showed a distribution coefficient in 6 M HCl close to that of Nb establishing an extraction sequence Pa>Nb≥105>Ta which is theoretically predicted by considering the competition between hydrolysis and complex formation.

The presently known most neutron-rich isotopes of element 106 (seaborgium, Sg), {sup 265}Sg and {sup 266}Sg, were produced in the fusion reaction {sup 22}Ne+{sup 248}Cm at beam energies of 121 and 123 MeV. Using the On-Line Gas chemistry Apparatus OLGA, a continuous separation of Sg was achieved within a few seconds. Final products were assayed by {alpha}-particle and spontaneous fission (SF) spectrometry. {sup 265}Sg and {sup 266}Sg were identified by observing time correlated {alpha}-{alpha}-({alpha}) and {alpha}-SF decay chains. A total of 13 correlated decay chains of {sup 265}Sg (with an estimated number of 2.8 random correlations) and 3 decay chains of {sup 266}Sg (0.6 random correlations) were identified. Deduced decay properties were T{sub 1/2}=7.4{sub {minus}2.7}{sup +3.3} s (68{percent} c.i.) and E{sub {alpha}}=8.69 MeV (8{percent}), 8.76 MeV (23{percent}), 8.84 MeV (46{percent}), and 8.94 MeV (23{percent}) for {sup 265}Sg; and T{sub 1/2}=21{sub {minus}12}{sup +20} s (68{percent} c.i.) and E{sub {alpha}}=8.52 MeV (33{percent}) and 8.77 MeV (66{percent}) for {sup 266}Sg. The resolution of the detectors was between 50{endash}100 keV (full width at half maximum). Upper limits for SF of {le}35{percent} and {le}82{percent} were established for {sup 265}Sg and {sup 266}Sg, respectively. The upper limits for SF are given with a 16{percent} error probability.more » Using the lower error limits of the half-lives of {sup 265}Sg and {sup 266}Sg, the resulting lower limits for the partial SF half-lives are T{sub 1/2}{sup SF}({sup 265}Sg){ge}13 s and T{sub 1/2}{sup SF}({sup 266}Sg){ge}11 s. Correspondingly, the partial {alpha}-decay half-lives are between T{sub 1/2}{sup {alpha}}({sup 265}Sg)=4.7{endash}16.5 s (68{percent} c.i.) and T{sub 1/2}{sup {alpha}}({sup 266}Sg)=9{endash}228 s (68{percent} c.i.), using the upper and lower error limits of the half-lives of {sup 265}Sg and {sup 266}Sg. The lower limit on the partial SF half-life of {sup 266}Sg is in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Production cross sections of about 240 pb and 25 pb for the {alpha}-decay branch in {sup 265}Sg and {sup 266}Sg were estimated, respectively. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}« less

Differential cross sections as a function of cm angle were measured for 1n- and 2n-transfer reactions in 238U + 197 Au and197 Au + 197 Au collisions in the energy range from 0.881 Vc to 1.093 Vc and 0.825 Vc to 0.964 Vc, respectively. For 198Au and 199Au from the 238U + 197Au collisions, for reduced distances of closest approach d o 1.55 fm, the angular distributions at all bombarding energies are well described by the semiclassical theory. Equivalently, the transfer probabilities show the expected exponential decrease with increasing d o over many orders of magnitude. For all other transfer products from 238U + 197Au collisions, and for all transfer products from 197Au + 197Au collisions, markedly reduced cross sections relative to the semiclassical theory are observed for central collisions at all bombarding energies, even for values of d o that are well outside the region where absorption is known to set in. Only for the more peripheral collisions, one observes agreement of the angular distributions (transfer probabilities) with the semiclassical expectations. The deviations for central collisions are absent for reactions with positive Q gg values and scale roughly with increasingly negative values of Q gg, i.e. with increasing Q-value mismatch. Channel coupling is proposed as the relevant mechanism.

Mass- and charge-yield distributions for 19 < Z < 84 were determined radiochemically for the binary collision products of 51V + 197Au collisions at a bombarding energy corresponding exactly to the Bass-model barrier, E cm = B, and at E cm = B + 25 MeV. The average excitation energies as a function of Z are determined by comparing the centroids of the experimental, secondary mass distributions for given values of Z with the calculated primary centroids from minimization of the potential energy of the di-nuclear system, i.e. from the missing masses. At the barrier, in striking contrast to a thermal equilibrium, we find an extreme donor-acceptor asymmetry in the excitation-energy division reminiscent of the “sawtooth” phenomenon in low-energy nuclear fission. Here, the excitation energy sharing is apparently dominated by shape fluctuations at scission. At the slightly higher bombarding energy, E cm = B + 25 MeV, we observe a rapid change toward equipartition of the excitation energy indicating that, here, the excitation energy division due to shape fluctuations is already covered up by the dissipative exchange of nucleons. Also, the balance of integral cross sections for fusion fission, deep-inelastic scattering, and quasi fission is investigated and is shown to contain important information about the dynamical evolution of the 51V + 197Au system after having passed the entrance channel barrier.

A heavy-ion multiple Coulomb excitation experiment on a very exotic target containing microweight quantities of 178Hf in the Kπn = 16+ isomeric state has been performed at 4.77 MeV/u 208Pb beam energy. The first excited Iπ = 17+ state has been observed at an excitation energy of 357.4 ± 0.3 keV with respect to the isomeric state. The intrinsic electric quadrupole moment of Q0 = 8.2 ± 1.1 b has been derived from the experimental data within the rigid rotor model.

Tracks of energetic heavy ions in the polyimide Kapton were etched in a NaOCl solution. It was found that the pH value of the etchant plays a crucial role for the selectivity of track etching. The bulk etching rate νb increased exponentially with pH. From the temperature dependence of the bulk etching rate an activation energy of Ea = 0.74 eV was deduced. In contrast to νb, only a slight and linear increase with pH value was observed for the track etching rate νt. As a consequence, the etch ratio ν t ν b can be adjusted over one order of magnitude by controlled varying the pH of the etchant. This is a new way to tailor the pore geometry from nearly cylindrical to funnel-shaped pores.

The adsorption of californium, einsteinium, and ferminium on polycrystalline titanium, iron, niobium, molybdenum, and tantalum was studied by the thermochromatographic technique. The adsorption behaviour of the actinides under study varied in dependence on the adsorbent metal. Enthalpies of adsorption evaluated from the experimental data are in correspondence with partial molar enthalpies of adsorption, which were calculated with a semi-empirical method.

The folding- and azimuthal-angle and velocity distributions for the238U fission fragments have been measured in reactions with 100, 500, and 1000 A·MeV208Pb. These distributions were used to decompose the fission cross section into its electromagnetic and nuclear components. The fraction of electromagnetic fission was found to be 0.16±0.07, 0.48±0.08, and 0.60±0.04, respectively. The electromagnetic fission cross section as a function of the208Pb nucleus energy is compared with theoretical predictions. The measured fission cross section from nuclear reactions (≈1.5 b) is approximately constant between 100 and 1000 A·MeV.

Oligomer extraction from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) irradiated by xenon ions of 11.4 MeV/u is investigated using UV spectrophotometry and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The cyclic trimer is identified as the predominant diffusing species removed during extraction by dimethyl formamide (DMF). Extraction dynamics is modeled by a rapid (time constant ≈ 2 min) and a slow (time constant ≈ 100 min) diffusion process attributed to the latent ion tracks and to the virgin material, respectively. Thereby latent tracks act simultaneously as irrigation and drainage pipes for the transfer of the solvent into and the extraction of oligomers from the polymer matrix. Thus tracks help to release osmotic pressure differences and to avoid blistering of the unirradiated polymer during solvent exchange. The total extracted mass per track shows a characteristic decrease with increasing ion fluence interpreted as oxygen effect, due to the decreasing supply of oxygen in the sample during irradiation. The extractable mass corresponds to an equivalent track diameter of initially around 10 nm contracting with increasing ion fluence to an asymptotic value around 3 nm.

Cross sections for the electromagnetic dissociation of 197 Au targets by 1.7 A GeV 20 Ne and 1 A GeV 88 Kr, 197 Au and 209 Bi beams have been measured by an activation method. Weizsacker-Williams calculations show that the experimental 1n cross sections can be understood by first order excitation of the giant dipole and the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance. In contrast, the 3n cross sections show a much stronger Z proj - dependence, which can only be explained by a dominant contribution from two-phonon giant dipole excitation.

Experiments with the new recoil separator, Transactinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus (TASCA), at the GSI were performed by using beams of Ca-48 to irradiate targets of Pb206-208, which led to the production of No252-254 isotopes. These studies allowed for evaluation of the performance of TASCA when coupled to a new detector and electronics system. By following these studies, the isotopes of element 114 ((288-291)114) were produced in irradiations of Pu-244 targets with Ca-48 beams at compound nucleus excitation energies around 41.7 and 37.5 MeV, demonstrating TASCA's ability to perform experiments with picobarn-level cross sections. A total of 15 decay chains were observed and were assigned to the decay of 288-291114. A new a-decay branch in (281)Ds was observed, leading to the new nucleus (277)Hs. (Less)

Cross sections for the electromagnetic dissociation of [sup 197]Au targets by 1.7 GeV/nucleon [sup 20]Ne and 1 GeV/nucleon [sup 86]Kr, [sup 197]Au, and [sup 209]Bi beams have been measured by an activation method. We observe systematic discrepancies between the experimental data and a simple Weizsaecker-Williams calculation: For the heaviest projectiles, the calculation overpredicts the 1[ital n] cross sections, whereas the 2[ital n] and 3[ital n] cross sections are systematically underpredicted. The deviations can be significantly reduced, however, by calculations including isoscalar and isovector giant quadrupole excitations as well as the possibility to excite multiphonon states. The most important experimental result of the present study is the observation of large cross sections for three-neutron removal from [sup 197]Au with [sup 197]Au and [sup 209]Bi projectiles which can only be explained by a dominant contribution from two-phonon giant dipole excitation. For an almost quantitative reproduction for all [ital xn] channels observed, we have to assume a higher excitation probability by roughly a factor of 2 for the double giant dipole resonance as compared to the harmonic approach.

Latent tracks in amorphous metallic Fe81Bi13.5Si3.5C2 were selectively etched in 0.1 to 0.8 n HCl and in 0.04 n FeCl3. Etch pits with cone opening angles around 60° were observed. Tilted ion beams lead to tilted tracks.

The fusion-evaporation reaction Pu-244(Ca-48, 3-4n)(288,289)114 was studied at the new gas-filled recoil separator TASCA. Thirteen correlated decay chains were observed and assigned to the production and decay of (288, 289)114. At a compound nucleus excitation energy of E* = 39.8-43.9 MeV, the 4n evaporation channel cross section was 9.8(-3.1)(+3.9) pb. At E* = 36.1-39.5 MeV, that of the 3n evaporation channel was 8.0-(+7.4)(4.5) pb. In one of the 3n evaporation channel decay chains, a previously unobserved alpha branch in (281)Ds was observed ( probability to be of random origin from background: 0.1%). This alpha decay populated the new nucleus (277)Hs, which decayed by spontaneous fission after a lifetime of 4.5 ms.

Mass and charge distributions for binary reaction channels have been measured for the reactions86Kr with76Ge,104Ru and130Te at the Coulomb barrier using chemical separations andγ-ray spectroscopy. These systems span the region where dynamical hindrance to complete fusion sets in. The binary reactions can be subdivided into two components associated withi) reflection from the outer potential barrier (quasielastic), andii) reseparation after passing the barrier (complex reactions). The sum of complex-reaction channels and evaporation residues from complete fusion can be reproduced by a barrier passing calculation. The fraction of the barrier passing flux leading to reseparation increases from 26±10% for the lightest system to more than 90% for the heaviest system. The data indicate that fusion hindrance is primarily caused by reseparation shortly after passage of the barrier before Swiatecki's conditional saddlepoint is overcome, resulting in partitions close to the entrance channel configuration. In addition, for the heaviest system, a quasifission component representing somewhat less than 20% of the barrier-passing flux was observed. From the missing masses of fragment pairs we can deduce that the reseparating complex-reaction products have kinetic energies well below the fusion barrier and share the excitation energy in a way similar to the sawtooth-like curve known from low-energy fission. The quasielastic, predominantly one- and two-nucleon transfer channels, have strongly varying cross sections for the three systems despite similar effectiveQ-values. A systematics of one-neutron transfer cross sections at the Coulomb barrier is established and shown to differ considerably from the smooth behaviour observed at energies 20–30% above the barrier. The connection to nuclear polarization phenomena and orbit matching is pointed out.