Generalization to anomalous diffusion of Budó's treatment of polar molecules containing interacting rotating groups.

A fractional Smoluchowski equation for the orientational distribution of dipoles incorporating interactions with continuous time random walk Ansatz for the collision term is obtained. This equation is written via the non-inertial Langevin equations for the evolution of the Eulerian angles and their associated Smoluchowski equation. These equations govern the normal rotational diffusion of an assembly of non-interacting dipolar molecules with similar internal interacting polar groups hindering their rotation owing to their mutual potential energy. The resulting fractional Smoluchowski equation is then solved in the frequency domain using scalar continued fractions yielding the linear dielectric response as a function of the fractional parameter for extensive ranges of the interaction parameter and friction ratios. The complex susceptibility comprises a multimode Cole-Cole-like low frequency band with width dependent on the fractional parameter and is analogous to the discrete set of Debye mechanisms of the normal diffusion. The results, in general, comprise an extension of Budó's treatment [A. Budó, J. Chem. Phys. 17, 686 (1949)] of the dynamics of complex molecules with internal hindered rotation to anomalous diffusion.

Anomalous diffusion of a dipole interacting with its surroundings.

A fractional Fokker-Planck equation based on the continuous time random walk Ansatz is written via the Langevin equations for the dynamics of a dipole interacting with its surroundings, as represented by a cage of dipolar molecules. This equation is solved in the frequency domain using matrix continued fractions, thus yielding the linear dielectric response for extensive ranges of damping, dipole moment ratio, and cage-dipole inertia ratio, and hence the complex susceptibility. The latter comprises a low frequency band with width depending on the anomalous parameter and a far infrared (THz) band with a comb-like structure of peaks. Several physical consequences of the model relevant to anomalous diffusion in the presence of interactions are discussed. The entire calculation may be regarded as an extension of the cage model interpretation of the dynamics of polar molecules to anomalous diffusion, taking into account inertial effects.

Cage model of polar fluids: Finite cage inertia generalization.

The itinerant oscillator model describing rotation of a dipole about a fixed axis inside a cage formed by its surrounding polar molecules is revisited in the context of modeling the dielectric relaxation of a polar fluid via the Langevin equation. The dynamical properties of the model are studied by averaging the Langevin equations describing the complex orientational dynamics of two bodies (molecule-cage) over their realizations in phase space so that the problem reduces to solving a system of three index linear differential-recurrence relations for the statistical moments. These are then solved in the frequency domain using matrix continued fractions. The linear dielectric response is then evaluated for extensive ranges of damping, dipole moment ratio, and cage-dipole inertia ratio and along with the usual inertia corrected microwave Debye absorption gives rise to significant far-infrared absorption with a comb-like structure of harmonic peaks. The model may be also regarded as an extension of Budó's [J. Chem. Phys. 17, 686 (1949)] treatment of molecules containing rotating polar groups to include inertial effects.

Complete electric dipole response and the neutron skin in 208Pb.

A benchmark experiment on (208)Pb shows that polarized proton inelastic scattering at very forward angles including 0° is a powerful tool for high-resolution studies of electric dipole (E1) and spin magnetic dipole (M1) modes in nuclei over a broad excitation energy range to test up-to-date nuclear models. The extracted E1 polarizability leads to a neutron skin thickness r(skin) = 0.156(-0.021)(+0.025) fm in (208)Pb derived within a mean-field model [Phys. Rev. C 81, 051303 (2010)], thereby constraining the symmetry energy and its density dependence relevant to the description of neutron stars.

Anomalous diffusion of molecules with rotating polar groups: The joint role played by inertia and dipole coupling in microwave and far-infrared absorption.

Budó's generalization [A. Budó, J. Chem. Phys. 17, 686 (1949)10.1063/1.1747370] of the Debye rotational diffusion model of dielectric relaxation of polar molecules to an assembly with internal interacting polar groups is extended to inertial anomalous diffusion. Thus, the theory can be applied both in the GHz and the THz regions, accounting for anomalous behavior as well as the necessary return to optical transparency at very high frequencies. The linking of both dispersion regions in a single model including anomalous effects is accomplished via a fractional Fokker-Planck equation in phase space based on the continuous time random walk ansatz. The latter is written via the Langevin equations for the stochastic dynamics of pairs of interacting heavy polar groups embedded in the frame of reference of a particular molecule or molecular dimer rotating about a space-fixed axis. The fractional Fokker-Planck equation is then converted to a three-term matrix differential recurrence equation for the statistical moments. This is solved in the frequency domain for the linear dielectric response using matrix continued fractions. Thus, one has the complex susceptibility χ(ω) for extensive ranges of damping, group dipole moment ratio, and friction. The susceptibility, as inferred from the small oscillation limit, inherently comprises a low frequency (GHz) band with width depending on the anomalous parameter and a far-infrared (THz) or Poley peak of resonant character with a comblike structure of harmonic peaks. This behavior is due to the double transcendental nature of the after-effect function.

Rotational Brownian motion and nonlinear dielectric relaxation of asymmetric top molecules in strong electric fields.

A general theoretical treatment of the nonlinear dielectric response of an assembly of asymmetric top molecules in strong electric fields is presented in the context of the noninertial rotational diffusion model. The calculation proceeds by obtaining an infinite hierarchy of recurrence equations for the expectation values of Wigner's D functions describing nonlinear relaxation of the system. This hierarchy may be used for the evaluation of both transient and ac nonlinear responses in strong electric fields. The solution of this hierarchy is obtained for the particular case of rigid rodlike molecules in superimposed ac and strong dc bias electric fields, allowing one to evaluate the corresponding nonlinear response. The results are in agreement with available experimental data on nonlinear dielectric relaxation of dilute solutions of polar rodlike molecules in nonpolar solvents.

Dynamic susceptibilities of an assembly of dipolar particles in an elastic environment.

Theoretical model to describe magnetodynamics of a ferrogel, i.e., an assembly of ferromagnetic nanoparticles embedded in a gel, is proposed. The reorientations of the particles are determined by the influence of the elastic matrix and the rotational Brownian motion. Due to the interplay between these two factors, the main parameter characterizing the static magnetic susceptibility of the system is the ratio of the elastic modulus of the matrix times particle volume to the thermal energy. It is shown that the main components of the dynamic magnetic-susceptibility tensor are determined by the combinations of the reference rates of several processes inherent to the system, namely, the elastic restoration of the particle orientation, Brownian rotary diffusion, and viscous relaxation of the particle angular momentum. In the framework of the model, absorption of the energy of an alternating external field by a ferrogel is studied. With allowance for the ever present interaction of elastic and Brownian forces, the effective relaxation times for the longitudinal and transverse components of the ferrogel magnetization are evaluated.

Measurement of the reaction 2H(e,e') at 180 degrees close to the deuteron breakup threshold.

Inclusive inelastic electron scattering off the deuteron under 180 degrees has been studied at the S-DALINAC close to the breakup threshold at momentum transfers q=0.27 fm;{-1} and 0.74 fm;{-1} with good energy resolution sufficient to map in detail the spin flip M1 response, which governs the starting reaction pn-->dgamma of big-bang nucleosynthesis over most of the relevant temperature region. Results from potential model calculations and (for q=0.27 fm;{-1}) from pionless nuclear effective field theory are in excellent agreement with the data.

Spin- and parity-resolved level densities from the fine structure of giant resonances.

Level densities of J pi=2+ and 2- states extracted from high-resolution studies of E2 and M2 giant resonances in 58Ni and 90Zr are used to test recent predictions of a possible parity dependence. The experimental results are compared to a combinatorial approach based on the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov model and to shell-model Monte Carlo calculations including both spin and parity projection. No parity dependence is observed experimentally, which is in agreement for 90Zr but in contrast with the model predictions for 58Ni.

Gamow-Teller strength in the exotic odd-odd nuclei 138La and 180Ta and its relevance for neutrino nucleosynthesis.

The Gamow-Teller strength distributions below the particle threshold in 138La and 180Ta, deduced from high-resolution measurements of the (3He,t) reaction at 0 degrees, allow us to evaluate the role of charged-current reactions for the production of these extremely rare nuclides in neutrino-nucleosynthesis models. The analysis suggests that essentially all 138La in the Universe can be made that way. Neutrino nucleosynthesis also contributes significantly to the abundance of 180Ta but the magnitude depends on the unknown branching ratio for population of the long-lived isomer.

Fine structure of the Gamow-Teller resonance in 90Nb and level density of 1+ states.

The fine structure of the Gamow-Teller resonance in a medium-heavy nucleus is observed for the first time in a high-resolution 90Zr(3He,t)90Nb experiment at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka. Using a novel wavelet analysis technique, it is possible to extract characteristic energy scales and to quantify their relative importance for the generation of the fine structure. This method combined with the selectivity of the reaction permits an extraction of the level density of 1+ states in 90Nb.

Gamow-Teller strengths in the A = 14 multiplet: a challenge to the shell model.

A new experimental approach to the famous problem of the anomalously slow Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in the beta decay of the A=14 multiplet is presented. The GT strength distributions to excited states in 14C and 14O were studied in high-resolution (d,2He) and (3He,t) charge-exchange reactions on 14N. No-core shell-model calculations capable of reproducing the suppression of the beta decays predict a selective excitation of Jpi=2+ states. The experimental confirmation represents a validation of the assumptions about the underlying structure of the 14N ground state wave function. However, the fragmentation of the GT strength over three 2+ final states remains a fundamental issue not explained by the present no-core shell model using a 6homega model space, suggesting possibly the need to include cluster structure in these light nuclei in a consistent way.

Transient nonlinear dielectric relaxation and dynamic Kerr effect from sudden changes of a strong dc electric field: polar and polarizable molecules.

The nonlinear transient response of polar and polarizable particles (macromolecules) diluted in a nonpolar solvent to a sudden change both in magnitude and in direction of a strong external dc field is considered. By averaging the underlying Langevin equation, the infinite hierarchy of differential-recurrence equations for ensemble averages of the spherical harmonics is derived for an assembly of polar and anisotropically polarizable molecules pertaining to the noninertial rotational Brownian motion. On solving this hierarchy, the relaxation functions and relaxation times appropriate to the transient dynamic Kerr effect and nonlinear dielectric relaxation are calculated. The calculations are accomplished using the matrix continued fraction method, which allows us to express exactly the solution of the infinite hierarchy of differential-recurrence relations for the first- and second-order transient responses of the ensemble averages of the spherical harmonics (relaxation functions). The results are then compared with available experimental data and solutions previously obtained for various particular cases.

Nature of low-energy dipole strength in nuclei: the case of a resonance at particle threshold in 208Pb.

A high-resolution (gamma,gamma') study of the electric dipole response in 208Pb at the S-DALINAC reveals a resonance structure centered around the neutron emission threshold. Microscopic quasiparticle phonon model calculations in realistic model spaces including the coupling to complex configurations are able to describe the data in great detail. The resonance is shown to result from surface density oscillations of the neutron skin relative to an approximately isospin-saturated core. It also forms an integral part of a toroidal E1 mode representing an example of vortex collective motion in nuclei.

Fine structure in the energy region of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance: characteristic scales from a wavelet analysis.

Fine structure in the energy region of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance in nuclei is observed in high-resolution proton scattering experiments at iThemba LABS over a wide mass range. A novel method based on wavelet transforms is introduced for the extraction of scales characterizing the fine structure. A comparison with microscopic model calculations including two-particle two-hole (2p2h) degrees of freedom identifies the coupling to surface vibrations as the main source of the observed scales. A generic pattern is also found for the stochastic coupling to the background of the more complex states.