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The visualisation of objects moving at relativistic speeds has been a popular topic of study since Special Relativity's inception. While the standard exposition of the theory describes certain shape-changing effects, such as the Lorentz-contraction, it makes no mention of how an extended object would appear in a snapshot or how apparent distortions could be used for measurement. Previous work on the subject has derived the apparent form of an object, often making mention of George Gamow's relativistic cyclist thought experiment. Here, a rigorous re-analysis of the cyclist, this time in 3-dimensions, is undertaken for a binocular observer, accounting for both the distortion in apparent position and the relativistic colour and intensity shifts undergone by a fast moving object. A methodology for analysing binocular relativistic data is then introduced, allowing the fitting of experimental readings of an object's apparent position to determine the distance to the object and its velocity. This method is then applied to the simulation of Gamow's cyclist, producing self-consistent results., Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to Proc. Roy. Soc. A

The visualisation of objects moving at relativistic speeds has been a popular topic of study since Special Relativity's inception. While the standard exposition of the theory describes certain shape-changing effects, such as the Lorentz-contraction, it makes no mention of how an extended object would appear in a snapshot or how apparent distortions could be used for measurement. Previous work on the subject has derived the apparent form of an object, often making mention of George Gamow's relativistic cyclist thought experiment. Here, a rigorous re-analysis of the cyclist, this time in 3-dimensions, is undertaken for a binocular observer, accounting for both the distortion in apparent position and the relativistic colour and intensity shifts undergone by a fast moving object. A methodology for analysing binocular relativistic data is then introduced, allowing the fitting of experimental readings of an object's apparent position to determine the distance to the object and its velocity. This method is then applied to the simulation of Gamow's cyclist, producing self-consistent results., Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to Proc. Roy. Soc. A

The level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide Os-168 has been extended and mean lifetimes of excited states have been measured by the recoil distance Doppler-shift method using the JUROGAM gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the IKP Koln plunger device. The 168Os. rays were measured in delayed coincidence with recoiling fusion-evaporation residues detected at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The ratio of reduced transition probabilities B(E2; 4(1)(+)-> 2(1)(+))/B(E2; 2(1)(+)-> 0(1)(+)) is measured to be 0.34(18), which is very unusual for collective band structures and cannot be reproduced by interacting boson model (IBM-2) calculations based on the SkM* energy-density functional., QC 20170120

The level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide Os-168 has been extended and mean lifetimes of excited states have been measured by the recoil distance Doppler-shift method using the JUROGAM gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the IKP Koln plunger device. The 168Os. rays were measured in delayed coincidence with recoiling fusion-evaporation residues detected at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The ratio of reduced transition probabilities B(E2; 4(1)(+)-> 2(1)(+))/B(E2; 2(1)(+)-> 0(1)(+)) is measured to be 0.34(18), which is very unusual for collective band structures and cannot be reproduced by interacting boson model (IBM-2) calculations based on the SkM* energy-density functional.

The level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide Os-168 has been extended and mean lifetimes of excited states have been measured by the recoil distance Doppler-shift method using the JUROGAM gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the IKP Koln plunger device. The 168Os. rays were measured in delayed coincidence with recoiling fusion-evaporation residues detected at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The ratio of reduced transition probabilities B(E2; 4(1)(+)-> 2(1)(+))/B(E2; 2(1)(+)-> 0(1)(+)) is measured to be 0.34(18), which is very unusual for collective band structures and cannot be reproduced by interacting boson model (IBM-2) calculations based on the SkM* energy-density functional.

This paper presents a detailed assessment of the ability of the 240 Skyrme interaction parameter sets in the literature to satisfy a series of criteria derived from macroscopic properties of nuclear matter in the vicinity of nuclear saturation density at zero temperature and their density dependence, derived by the liquid drop model, experiments with giant resonances and heavy-ion collisions. The objective is to identify those parameterizations which best satisfy the current understanding of the physics of nuclear matter over a wide range of applications. Out of the 240 models, only 16 are shown to satisfy all these constraints. Additional, more microscopic, constraints on density dependence of the neutron and proton effective mass beta-equilibrium matter, Landau parameters of symmetric and pure neutron nuclear matter, and observational data on high- and low-mass cold neutron stars further reduce this number to 5, a very small group of recommended Skyrme parameterizations to be used in future applications of the Skyrme interaction of nuclear matter related observables. Full information on partial fulfillment of individual constraints by all Skyrme models considered is given. The results are discussed in terms of the physical interpretation of the Skyrme interaction and the validity of its use in mean-field models. Future work on application of the Skyrme forces, selected on the basis of variables of nuclear matter, in Hartree-Fock calculation of properties of finite nuclei, is outlined., Comment: 86 pages, 14 figures

This paper presents a detailed assessment of the ability of the 240 Skyrme interaction parameter sets in the literature to satisfy a series of criteria derived from macroscopic properties of nuclear matter in the vicinity of nuclear saturation density at zero temperature and their density dependence, derived by the liquid drop model, experiments with giant resonances and heavy-ion collisions. The objective is to identify those parameterizations which best satisfy the current understanding of the physics of nuclear matter over a wide range of applications. Out of the 240 models, only 16 are shown to satisfy all these constraints. Additional, more microscopic, constraints on density dependence of the neutron and proton effective mass beta-equilibrium matter, Landau parameters of symmetric and pure neutron nuclear matter, and observational data on high- and low-mass cold neutron stars further reduce this number to 5, a very small group of recommended Skyrme parameterizations to be used in future applications of the Skyrme interaction of nuclear matter related observables. Full information on partial fulfillment of individual constraints by all Skyrme models considered is given. The results are discussed in terms of the physical interpretation of the Skyrme interaction and the validity of its use in mean-field models. Future work on application of the Skyrme forces, selected on the basis of variables of nuclear matter, in Hartree-Fock calculation of properties of finite nuclei, is outlined., Comment: 86 pages, 14 figures

beta decays from heavy, neutron-rich nuclei with A similar to 190 have been investigated following their production via the relativistic projectile fragmentation of an E/A = 1 GeV Pb-208 primary beam on a similar to 2.5 g/cm(2) Be-9 target. The reaction products were separated and identified using the GSI FRagment Separator (FRS) and stopped in the RISING active stopper. gamma decays were observed and correlated with these secondary ions on an event-by-event basis such that gamma-ray transitions following from both internal (isomeric) and beta decays were recorded. A number of discrete, beta-delayed gamma-ray transitions associated with beta decays from Re-194 to excited states in Os-194 have been observed, including previously reported decays from the yrast I-pi = (6(+)) state. Three previously unreported gamma-ray transitions with energies 194, 349, and 554 keV are also identified; these transitions are associated with decays from higher spin states in Os-194. The results of these investigations are compared with theoretical predictions from Nilsson multi-quasiparticle (MQP) calculations. Based on lifetime measurements and the observed feeding pattern to states in Os-194, it is concluded that there are three beta(-)-decaying states in Re-194.

The nuclides W-157 and Os-161 have been discovered ill reactions of Ni-58 ion beams with a Cd-106 target. The Os-161 alpha-decay energy and half-life were 6890 +/- 12 keV and 640 +/- 60 mu s. The daughter W-157 nuclei beta-decayed with a half-life of 275 +/- 40 ms, populating both low-lying alpha-decaying states in Ta-157, which is consistent with a 7/2(-) ground state in W-157. Fine structure observed in the alpha decay of Os-161 places the lowest excited state in W-157 with 1(pi) = 9/2(-) at 318 +/- 30 key. The branching ratio of 5.5(-2.2)(+3.1)% indicates that Os-161 also has a 7/2(-) ground state. Shell-model calculations analysing the effects of monopole shifts and a tensor force on the relative energies of 2f(7/2) and 1h(9/2) neutron states in N = 83 isotones are presented. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., QC 20101213

The observation of the new nuclide 159Re provides important insights into the evolution of single-particle structure in heavy nuclei beyond the proton drip line. The nuclide 159Re was synthesised in the reaction 106Cd(58Ni, p4n) and identified via its proton radioactivity using the RITU gas-filled separator and the GREAT focal-plane spectrometer. Comparisons of the measured proton energy (Ep = 1805±20 keV) and decay half-life (t1/2 = 21±4 μs) with values calculated using the WKB method indicate that the proton is emitted from an h11/2 state. The implications of these results for future experimental investigations into even more proton unbound Re isotopes using in-flight separation techniques are considered., QC 20141103

The alpha decay of Re-159 has been observed for the first time in reactions of 300 MeV Ni-58 ions with an isotopically enriched Cd-106 target. The Re-159 ions were separated in-flight using the RITU separator and implanted into the GREAT spectrometer. The alpha decay emanates from the proton-emitting pi h(11/2) state in Re-159 with an energy of E-alpha=6776 +/- 26 keV and a branching ratio of 7.5 +/- 3.5%. This alpha decay populates a state in the closed neutron shell nucleus Ta-155, which decays by emitting 1444 +/- 15 keV protons with a half-life of 2.9(-1.1)(+1.5) ms. These values are consistent with the emission of the proton from a pi h(11/2) orbital. These results fit in with the systematics of proton and alpha-particle separation energies in the region, but disagree with the previously reported decay properties of Ta-155.

Single-particle energies have been investigated in the closed neutron shell proton emitter 155Ta. The 155Ta nuclei were populated through the α decay of 159Re, which has been observed for the first time. The 159Re nuclei were produced in reactions of 300 MeV 58Ni ions with an isotopically enriched 106Cd target, separated in-flight using the RITU separator and implanted into the GREAT spectrometer. The 159Re α decay emanates from the proton-emitting πh11/2 state and populates a state in 155Ta which decays by the emission of a proton from a πh 11/2 orbital. The results fit in with the systematics of proton and α-particle separation energies in the region, but disagree with the previously reported decay properties of 155Ta., QC 20141107

The observation of the new nuclide Re-159(75)84 provides important insights into the evolution of single-particle structure and the mass surface in heavy nuclei beyond the proton drip line. This nuclide, 26 neutrons away from the nearest stable rhenium isotope, was synthesised in the reaction Cd-106(Ni-58, p4n) and identified via its proton radioactivity using the RITU gas-filled separator and the GREAT focal-plane spectrometer. Comparisons of the measured proton energy (E-p = 1805 +/- 20 keV) and decay half-life (t(1/2) = 21 +/- 4 mu s) with values calculated using the WKB method indicate that the proton is emitted from an h(11/2) state. The implications of these results for future experimental investigations into even more proton unbound nuclei using in-flight separation techniques are considered., QC 20110812