New results on nuclear collective flow are presented for central and semi-central Ru + Ru collisions at 400
A MeV measured with the FOPI detector at GSI-Darmstadt. The source shape parameters, flow ...angle and aspect ratios, are extracted from Gaussian fits to in-plane and out-of-plane momentum distributions. The orientation and the shape of the source exhibit different trends according to the investigated phase space region. The shape parameters of the participant source are studied as a function of the particle mass and collision centrality. The flow angle is found to be independent of the particle mass. Both the flow angle and the aspect ratios depend sensitively on the impact parameter. Detailed comparisons with the predictions of the isospin quantum molecular dynamics model are performed. It is shown in particular that the source shape parameters permit to extract information on the in-medium nucleon–nucleon cross section.
Ultrafast laser techniques have revealed extraordinary spin dynamics in magnetic materials that equilibrium descriptions of magnetism cannot explain. Particularly important for future applications is ...understanding non-equilibrium spin dynamics following laser excitation on the nanoscale, yet the limited spatial resolution of optical laser techniques has impeded such nanoscale studies. Here we present ultrafast diffraction experiments with an X-ray laser that probes the nanoscale spin dynamics following optical laser excitation in the ferrimagnetic alloy GdFeCo, which exhibits macroscopic all-optical switching. Our study reveals that GdFeCo displays nanoscale chemical and magnetic inhomogeneities that affect the spin dynamics. In particular, we observe Gd spin reversal in Gd-rich nanoregions within the first picosecond driven by the non-local transfer of angular momentum from larger adjacent Fe-rich nanoregions. These results suggest that a magnetic material's microstructure can be engineered to control transient laser-excited spins, potentially allowing faster (~ 1 ps) spin reversal than in present technologies.
The incident energy at which the azimuthal distributions in semicentral heavy-ion collisions change from in-plane to out-of-plane enhancement —
E
tran is studied as a function of mass of emitted ...particles, their transverse momentum and centrality for Au+Au collisions. The analysis is performed in a reference frame rotated with the sidewards flow angle (
Θ
flow) relative to the beam axis.
A systematic decrease of
E
tran as function of mass of the reaction products, their transverse momentum and collision centrality is evidenced.
The predictions of a microscopic transport model (IQMD) are compared with the experimental results.
Based on a literature review and an overview of toxic effects of engineered nanoparticles in aquatic invertebrates, this paper proposes a number of recommendations for the developing field of ...nanoecotoxicology by highlighting the importance of invertebrates as sensitive and relevant test organisms. Results show that there is a pronounced lack of data in this field (less than 20 peer-reviewed papers are published so far), and the most frequently tested engineered nanoparticles in invertebrate tests are C₆₀, carbon nanotubes, and titanium dioxide. In addition, the majority of the studies have used Daphnia magna as the test organism. To date, the limited number of studies has indicated acute toxicity in the low mgl⁻¹ range and higher of engineered nanoparticles to aquatic invertebrates, although some indications of chronic toxicity and behavioral changes have also been described at concentrations in the high μgl⁻¹ range. Nanoparticles have also been found to act as contaminant carriers of co-existing contaminants and this interaction has altered the toxicity of specific chemicals towards D. magna. We recommend that invertebrate testing is used to advance the level of knowledge in nanoecotoxicology through standardized short-term (lethality) tests with invertebrates as a basis for investigating behaviour and bioavailability of engineered nanoparticles in the aquatic environment. Based on this literature review, we further recommend that research is directed towards invertebrate tests employing long-term low exposure with chronic endpoints along with more research in bioaccumulation of engineered nanoparticles in aquatic invertebrates.