title: A critical analysis of the modelling of dissipation in fission

abstract:
  The time-dependent flux over the fission barrier of an excited nucleus under
the influence of dissipation is investigated. Characteristic features of the
evolution of the amplitude of the probability distribution and the velocity
profile at the fission barrier are derived. Analytical results are compared to
numerical Langevin calculations and used to develop a new analytical
approximation to the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation for the
time-dependent fission-decay width. This approximation is shown to be more
realistic than previously proposed descriptions, which were widely used in the
past.


title: Search for the Jacobi shape transition in light nuclei

abstract:
  The gamma-rays following the reaction 105 MeV 18O + 28Si have been measured
using the EUROBALL IV, HECTOR and EUCLIDES arrays in order to investigate the
predicted Jacobi shape transition. The high-energy gamma-ray spectrum from the
GDR decay indicates a presence of large deformations in hot 46Ti nucleus, in
agreement with new theoretical calculations based on the Rotating Liquid Drop
model.


title:
Beam polarization asymmetries for the p(gamma,K+)Lambda and
  p(gamma,K+)Sigma0 reactions at Egamma=1.5-2.4 GeV

abstract:
  Beam polarization asymmetries for the p(gamma,K+)Lambda and p(gamma,K+)sigma0
reactions are measured for the first time for Egamma=1.5-2.4 GeV and
0.6<cos(theta_cm(K+))<1.0 by using linearly polarized photons at the
Laser-Electron-Photon facility at SPring-8 (LEPS). The observed asymmetries are
positive and gradually increase with rising photon energy. The data are not
consistent with theoretical predictions based on tree-level effective
Lagrangian approaches. Including the new results in the development of the
models is, therefore, crucial for understanding the reaction mechanism and to
test the presence of baryon resonances which are predicted in quark models but
are sofar undiscovered.


title: Critical Temperature for the Nuclear Liquid-Gas Phase Transition

abstract:
  The charge distribution of the intermediate mass fragments produced in p (8.1
GeV) + Au collisions is analyzed in the framework of the statistical
multifragmentation model with the critical temperature for the nuclear
liquid-gas phase transition $T_c$ as a free parameter. It is found that
$T_c=20\pm3$ MeV (90% CL).


title: Kaon Production and Interaction

abstract:
  Exclusive data on both the elementary kaon and antikaon production channels
have been taken at the cooler synchrotron COSY in proton-proton scattering. In
the kaon--hyperon production an enhancement by one order of magnitude of the
Lambda/Sigma0 ratio has been observed at excess energies below Q=13 MeV
compared to data at higher excess energies (Q>300 MeV). New results obtained at
the COSY-11 facility explore the transition region between the regime of this
low-energy Sigma0 suppression and excess energies of 60 MeV. A comparison of
the energy dependence of the Lambda and Sigma0 total cross sections exhibits
distinct qualitative differences between both hyperon production channels.
Studies of kaon-antikaon production have been motivated especially by the
ongoing discussion about the nature of the scalar resonances f0(980) and
a0(980) coupling to the K anti-K channel. For the reaction pp->ppK+K- a first
total cross section value is reported at an excess energy of Q=17 MeV, i.e.
below the phi threshold. Calculations obtained within an OBE model indicate
that the energy dependence of the available total cross section data close to
threshold is rather difficult to reconcile with the assumption of a phase-space
behaviour modified predominantly by the proton-proton final state interaction.


title:
Model calculations of a two-step reaction scheme for the production of
  neutron-rich secondary beams

abstract:
  A two-step reaction scheme for the production of extremely neutron-rich
radioactive beams, fission followed by cold fragmentation, is considered. The
cross sections of the second step, the cold fragmentation of neutron-rich
fission fragments, are estimated with different computer codes. Discrepancies
between an empirical systematics and nuclear-reaction codes are found.


title:
The astrophysical rate of 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne via recoil-decay tagging
  and its implications for nova nucleosynthesis

abstract:
  The 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne reaction is one of two known routes for breakout
from the hot CNO cycles into the rp process. Its astrophysical rate depends on
the decay properties of excited states in 19Ne lying just above the 15O + alpha
threshold. We have measured the alpha-decay branching ratios for these states
using the p(21Ne,t)19Ne reaction at 43 MeV/u. Combining our branching ratio
measurements with previous determinations of the radiative widths of these
states, we calculate the astrophysical rate of 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne. Using this
reaction rate, we perform hydrodynamic calculations of nova outbursts and
conclude that no significant breakout from the hot CNO cycles into the rp
process occurs in classical novae via 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne.


title:
First close-to-threshold measurement of the analyzing power Ay in the
  reaction p(pol)p -> pp eta

abstract:
  At the internal facility COSY-11 a first measurement of the reaction p(pol)p
-> pp eta near the production threshold has been performed. Results for the
analysing power will be presented and a comparison with one meson exchange
models will be discussed.


title:
Enhanced Production of Neutron-Rich Rare Isotopes in Peripheral
  Collisions at Fermi Energies

abstract:
  A large enhancement in the production of neutron-rich projectile residues is
observed in the reactions of a 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr beam with the neutron rich
124Sn and 64Ni targets relative to the predictions of the EPAX parametrization
of high-energy fragmentation, as well as relative to the reaction with the less
neutron-rich 112Sn target. The data demonstrate the significant effect of the
target neutron-to-proton ratio (N/Z) in peripheral collisions at Fermi
energies. A hybrid model based on a deep-inelastic transfer code (DIT) followed
by a statistical de-excitation code appears to account for part of the observed
large cross sections. The DIT simulation indicates that the production of the
neutron-rich nuclides in these reactions is associated with peripheral nucleon
exchange. In such peripheral encounters, the neutron skins of the neutron-rich
124Sn and 64Ni target nuclei may play an important role. From a practical
viewpoint, such reactions between massive neutron-rich nuclei offer a novel and
attractive synthetic avenue to access extremely neutron-rich rare isotopes
towards the neutron-drip line.


title:
Competition of fusion and quasi-fission in the reactions leading to
  production of the superheavy elements

abstract:
  The mechanism of fusion hindrance, an effect observed in the reactions of
cold, warm and hot fusion leading to production of the superheavy elements, is
investigated. A systematics of transfermium production cross sections is used
to determine fusion probabilities. Mechanism of fusion hindrance is described
as a competition of fusion and quasi-fission. Available evaporation residue
cross sections in the superheavy region are reproduced satisfactorily. Analysis
of the measured capture cross sections is performed and a sudden disappearance
of the capture cross sections is observed at low fusion probabilities. A
dependence of the fusion hindrance on the asymmetry of the projectile-target
system is investigated using the available data. The most promising pathways
for further experiments are suggested.


title: Strangeness Production in Proton-Proton Collisions Close to Threshold

abstract:
  Exclusive data on the reactions pp -> ppK+K- and pp -> pK+ Lambda/Sigma0 have
been taken at the cooler synchrotron COSY close to threshold. At equal excess
energies, an enhancement of the Lambda/Sigma0 ratio by one order of magnitude
has been observed compared to data at higher excess energies. New results
obtained at the COSY-11 facility explore the transition region between this
low-energy Sigma0 suppression and excess energies of 60 MeV. A first total
cross section for elementary antikaon production below the phi threshold has
been determined, two orders of magnitude smaller compared to kaon production at
the same excess energy.


title: Associated strangeness production at threshold

abstract:
  The associated strangeness dissociation at threshold has been studied at the
COSY-11 facility measuring the hyperon - and the K+K- meson pair production.
Measurements of the near threshold Lambda and Sigma0 production via the pp ->
pK+ Lambda / Sigma0 reaction at COSY-11 have shown that the Lambda / Sigma0
cross section ratio exceeds the value at high excess energies (Q >= 300 MeV) by
an order of magnitude. For a better understanding additional data have been
taken between 13 MeV and 60 MeV excess energy.
  The near threshold production of the charged kaon-antikaon pair is related to
the discussion about the nature of the scalar states in the 1 GeV/c^2 mass
range, i.e. the f0(980) and a0(980). The interpretation as a K anti-K molecule
is strongly dependent on the K anti-K interaction which can be studied via the
production channel. A first total cross section value on the reaction pp ->
ppK+K- at an excess energy of 17 MeV i.e. below the phi production threshold
was measured.


title:
Charged hadron transverse momentum distributions in Au+Au collisions at
  sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

abstract:
  We present transverse momentum distributions of charged hadrons produced in
Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The spectra were measured for
transverse momenta p_T from 0.25 to 4.5 GeV/c in a rapidity range of 0.2 < y_pi
< 1.4. The evolution of the spectra is studied as a function of collision
centrality, from 65 to 344 participating nucleons. The results are compared to
data from proton-antiproton collisions and Au+Au collisions at lower RHIC
energies. We find a significant change of the spectral shape between
proton-antiproton and peripheral Au+Au collisions. Comparing peripheral to
central Au+Au collisions, we find that the yields at high p_T exhibit
approximate scaling with the number of participating nucleons, rather than
scaling with the number of binary collisions.


title:
Hard scattering cross sections at LHC in the Glauber approach: from pp
  to pA and AA collisions

abstract:
  The scaling rules of the invariant yields and cross sections for hard
scattering processes in proton-nucleus ($pA$) and nucleus-nucleus ($AB$)
reactions at LHC energies relative to those of nucleon-nucleon $NN$ (isospin
averaged $pp$) collisions are reviewed within the Glauber geometrical
formalism. The number of binary inelastic collisions for different centrality
classes in p+Pb and Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 8.8 TeV and 5.5 TeV
respectively, as obtained from a Glauber Monte Carlo, are also given.


title: Nucleon and Hyperon Resonances with the Crystal Ball

abstract:
  The Crystal Ball Spectrometer is being used at Brookhaven National Laboratory
in a series of experiments which study all neutral final states of pi-p and K-p
induced reactions. We report about the experimental setup and progress in
obtaining new results for the radiative capture reactions pi-p-->gn and
K-p-->gL,charge exchange pi-p-->pi0n,two pi0 production pi-p-->pi0pi0n, and eta
production pi-p-->eta n reactions. Data have also been obtained on the decays
of N*, Delta, Lambda, and Sigma resonances. Threshold eta production has been
studied in detail for both pi-p and K-p. Sequential resonance decays have been
investigated bystudying the 2pi0 production mechanism both in the fundamental
interaction and in nuclei. In addition, we have used the etas produced near
threshold to make precision measurements searching in particular for rare and
forbidden eta decays.


title:
Measurement of the Transverse-Longitudinal Cross Sections in the p
  (e,e'p)pi0 Reaction in the Delta Region

abstract:
  Accurate measurements of the p(e,e?p)pi0 reaction were performed at
Q^2=0.127(GeV/c)^2 in the Delta resonance energy region. The experiments at the
MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator used an 820 MeV polarized electron beam with the
out of plane magnetic spectrometer system (OOPS). In this paper we report the
first simultaneous determination of both the TL and TL? (``fifth" or polarized)
cross sections at low Q^{2} where the pion cloud contribution dominates the
quadrupole amplitudes (E2 and C2). The real and imaginary parts of the
transverse-longitudinal cross section provide both a sensitive determination of
the Coulomb quadrupole amplitude and a test of reaction calculations.
Comparisons with model calculations are presented. The empirical MAID
calculation gives the best overall agreement with this accurate data. The
parameters of this model for the values of the resonant multipoles are
|M_{1+}(I=3/2)|= (40.9 \pm 0.3)10^{-3}/m_pi, CMR= C2/M1= -6.5 \pm 0.3%,
EMR=E2/M1=-2.2 \pm 0.9%, where the errors are due to the experimental
uncertainties.


title:
Small Program For Fast Data Acquisition Of CAMAC And Other Devices On PC
  ISA bus

abstract:
  A new data acquisition program for personal computers with Windows operating
system has been built at Charles University van de Graaff laboratory. It allows
fast data acquisition from CAMAC and other PC interface cards using interrupt
or polling mode via several types of crate controllers, basic on-line analysis
and visualization of acquired data in graphs and histograms. The program is
written in combination of MSVC++ and ROOT macros and offers easy customization
to individual user requirements via external configuration files, without need
of recompilation. In the presented paper a detailed description of the program
concepts and features is given. Program was extensively tested with several
combinations of hardware and software, and results of the tests are shown at
the end.


title:
A Lecture on the evaluation of atomic masses (L'evaluation des masses
  atomiques)

abstract:
  The ensemble of experimental data on the 2830 nuclides which have been
observed since the beginning of Nuclear Physics are being evaluated, according
to their nature, by different methods and by different groups. The two
"horizontal" evaluations in which I am involved: the Atomic Mass Evaluation AME
and the NUBASE evaluation belong to the class of "static" nuclear data. In this
lecture I will explain and discuss in detail the philosophy, the strategies and
the procedures used in the evaluation of atomic masses.


title: Near-threshold production of the multi-strange $\Xi^-$ hyperon

abstract:
  The yield for the multi-strange $\Xi^{-}$ hyperon has been measured in 6 AGeV
Au+Au collisions via reconstruction of its decay products $\pi^{-}$ and
$\Lambda$, the latter also being reconstructed from its daughter tracks of
$\pi^{-}$ and p. The measurement is rather close to the threshold for $\Xi^{-}$
production and therefore provides an important test of model predictions. The
measured yield for $\Xi^{-}$ and $\Lambda$ are compared for several
centralities. In central collisions the $\Xi^{-}$ yield is found to be in
excellent agreement with statistical and transport model predictions,
suggesting that multi-strange hadron production approaches chemical equilibrium
in high baryon density nuclear matter.


title: Possible background reductions in double beta decay experiments

abstract:
  The background induced by radioactive impurities of $^{208}\rm Tl$ and
$^{214}\rm Bi$ in the source of the double beta experiment NEMO-3 has been
investigated. New methods of data analysis which decrease the background from
the above mentioned contamination are identified. The techniques can also be
applied to other double beta decay experiments capable of measuring
independently the energies of the two electrons.


title: Muon transfer from deuterium to helium

abstract:
  We report on an experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen,
Switzerland measuring x rays from muon transfer from deuterium to helium. Both
the ground state transfer via the exotic dmu3,4He* molecules and the excited
state transfer from mud* were measured. The use of CCD detectors allowed x rays
from 1.5 keV to 11 keV to be detected with sufficient energy resolution to
separate the transitions to different final states in both deuterium and
helium. The x-ray peaks of the dmu3He* and dmu4He* molecules were measured with
good statistics. For the D2+3He mixture, the peak has its maximum at E_dmu3He =
6768 +- 12 eV with FWHM Gamma_dmu3He = 863 +- 10 eV. Furthermore the radiative
branching ratio was found to be kappa_dmu3He = 0.301 +- 0.061. For the D_2+4He
mixture, the maximum of the peak lies at E_dmu4He = 6831 +- 8 eV and the FWHM
is Gamma_dmu4He = 856 +- 10 eV. The radiative branching ratio is kappa_dmu4He =
0.636 +- 0.097. The excited state transfer is limited by the probability to
reach the deuterium ground state, q_1s. This coefficient was determined for
both mixtures: q^3He_1s = 68.9 +- 2.7% and q^4He_1s = 90.1 +- 1.5.


title:
Experimental Indications for the Response of the Spectators to the
  Participant Blast

abstract:
  Precise momentum distributions of identified projectile fragments, formed in
the reactions 238U + Pb and 238U + Ti at 1 A GeV, are measured with a
high-resolution magnetic spectrometer. With increasing mass loss, the
velocities first decrease as expected from previously established systematics,
then level off, and finally increase again. Light fragments are on the average
even faster than the projectiles. This finding is interpreted as the response
of the spectators to the participant blast. The re-acceleration of projectile
spectators is sensitive to the nuclear mean field and provides a new tool for
investigating the equation of state of nuclear matter.


title:
Search for anomalously heavy isotopes of helium in the Earth's
  atmosphere

abstract:
  Motivated by the theoretical hypotheses on the existence of heretofore
unobserved stable elementary particles and exotic nuclear states, we searched
for doubly-charged particles, as anomalously heavy isotopes of helium, in the
Earth's atmoshpere using a sensitive laser spectroscopy technique. The
concentration of noble-gas-like atoms in the atmosphere and the subsequent very
large depletion of the light He-3,4 isotopes allow us to set stringent limits
on th abundance: 10^-13 to 10^-17 per atom in the solar system, over the mass
range of 20 to 10,000 amu.


title:
Measurement of nuclide cross-sections of spallation residues in 1 A GeV
  238U + proton collisions

abstract:
  The production of heavy nuclides from the spallation-evaporation reaction of
238U induced by 1 GeV protons was studied in inverse kinematics. The
evaporation residues from tungsten to uranium were identified in-flight in mass
and atomic number. Their production cross-sections and their momentum
distributions were determined. The data are compared with empirical
systematics. A comparison with previous results from the spallation of 208Pb
and 197Au reveals the strong influence of fission in the spallation of 238U.


title: Electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon

abstract:
  Elastic form factors provide information about the low energy structure of
composite particles.Recent double polarization coincidence experiments
significantly improved our knowledge of proton and neutron form factors. Recoil
polarization measurements in the p(\vec e, e' \vec p) reaction proved that at
momentum transfers above Q^2 \simeq 1.5 (GeV/c)^2 the electric form factor of
the proton falls significantly faster than the dipole expectation. The
close--to--dipole shape at low Q^2 of the neutron magnetic form factor is now
confirmed by independent measurements. For the neutron electric form factor
\vec ^3He(\vec e,e'n), \vec D(\vec e,e'n) and D (\vec e,e' \vec n) double
polarization experiments have provided model independent results, within their
statistical errors in agreement with the Galster parameterization.


title: Evolution of level density step structures from 56,57-Fe to 96,97-Mo

abstract:
  Level densities have been extracted from primary gamma spectra for 56,57-Fe
and 96,97-Mo nuclei using (3-He,alpha gamma) and (3-He,3-He') reactions on
57-Fe and 97-Mo targets. The level density curves reveal step structures above
the pairing gap due to the breaking of nucleon Cooper pairs. The location of
the step structures in energy and their shapes arise from the interplay between
single-particle energies and seniority-conserving and seniority-non-conserving
interactions.


title: A Composite Chiral Pair of Rotational Bands in the odd-A Nucleus 135Nd

abstract:
  High-spin states in 135Nd were populated with the 110Pd(30Si,5n)135Nd
reaction at a 30Si bombarding energy of 133 MeV. Two Delta(I)=1 bands with
close excitation energies and the same parity were observed. These bands are
directly linked by Delta(I)=1 and Delta(I)=2 transitions. The chiral nature of
these two bands is confirmed by comparison with three-dimensional tilted axis
cranking calculations. This is the first observation of a three-quasiparticle
chiral structure and established the primarily geometric nature of this
phenomenon.


title: Measuring Neutron Separation Energies Far from Stability

abstract:
  A method is proposed for the experimental measurement of neutron separation
energies for nuclei far from stability. The procedure is based on determining
cross sections for the production of nuclei, by projectile fragmentation, for
which only protons are removed but for which the number of neutrons is left
unchanged. A simple Abrasion-Ablation analysis leads to a cross section
prediction which is sensitive to the neutron separation energy after a single
parameter is adjusted in comparison with data. Examples which illustrate the
method are presented.


title: Recent Results from PHOBOS at RHIC

abstract:
  The PHOBOS experiment at RHIC has recorded measurements for Au-Au collisions
spanning nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies from 19.6 GeV to 200 GeV.
Global observables such as elliptic flow and charged particle multiplicity
provide important constraints on model predictions that characterize the state
of matter produced in these collisions. The nearly 4 pi acceptance of the
PHOBOS experiment provides excellent coverage for complete flow and
multiplicity measurements. Results including beam energy and centrality
dependencies are presented and compared to elementary systems.


title: Isotope effect in yields of nuclear reactions

abstract:
  The analysis results of the isotopic yields for products obtained in
reactions of protons at energies 0.66, 1, 8.1GeV with separated tin isotopes
are presented. The experimental data are compared in form of reactions of
element cross sections for two targets of different isotope compositions. The
scaling behaviour have been shown in the dependence of this ratios from neutron
and proton composition at the reaction products. The discussion of scaling
parameters allows to explain the mechanism of light and medium mass fragment
production.


title:
Directed and elliptic flow of charged pions and protons in Pb+Pb
  collisions at 40 and 158A GeV

abstract:
  Directed and elliptic flow measurements for charged pions and protons are
reported as a function of transverse momentum, rapidity, and centrality for 40
and 158A GeV Pb + Pb collisions as recorded by the NA49 detector. Both the
standard method of correlating particles with an event plane, and the cumulant
method of studying multiparticle correlations are used. In the standard method
the directed flow is corrected for conservation of momentum. In the cumulant
method elliptic flow is reconstructed from genuine 4, 6, and 8-particle
correlations, showing the first unequivocal evidence for collective motion in
A+A collisions at SPS energies.


title:
Precise Barriers and Shell Effects: a New Inroad to Fission Saddle Point
  Spectroscopy

abstract:
  Fission excitation functions have been measured for a chain of neighboring
compound nuclei, from 207Po to 212Po. We present a new analysis which provides
a determination of the fission barriers and ground state shell effects with
nearly spectroscopic accuracy. The improved accuracy achieved in this analysis
may lead to a future detailed exploration of the saddle mass surface and its
spectroscopy. The sensitivity of the fission probabilities on shell effects
extends to excitation energies of 150 MeV and negates recent claims for the
disappearance of shell corrections due to collective effects.


title: Threshold Electrodisintegration of ^3He

abstract:
  Cross sections were measured for the near-threshold electrodisintegration of
^3He at momentum transfer values of q=2.4, 4.4, and 4.7 fm^{-1}. From these and
prior measurements the transverse and longitudinal response functions R_T and
R_L were deduced. Comparisons are made against previously published and new
non-relativistic A=3 calculations using the best available NN potentials. In
general, for q<2 fm^{-1} these calculations accurately predict the threshold
electrodisintegration of ^3He. Agreement at increasing q demands consideration
of two-body terms, but discrepancies still appear at the highest momentum
transfers probed, perhaps due to the neglect of relativistic dynamics, or to
the underestimation of high-momentum wave-function components.


title: STAR Results on Strangeness Production at RHIC energies

abstract:
  Strangeness measurement at RHIC energies constitutes one of the favorite
theme of the STAR Collaboration. Besides the fact that strangeness enhancement
has been proposed as a quark gluon plasma signature, its production provides
various and relevant information about the collision evolution and especially
on the hadronization process. The investigation of short-lived strange
particles as well as their anti-particles and resonances allows an attempt of
characterization of the matter created in RHIC heavy ion collisions.


title: Clustering and Correlations at the Neutron Dripline

abstract:
  Some recent experimental studies of clustering and correlations within very
neutron-rich light nuclei are reviewed. In particular, the development of the
novel probes of neutron-neutron interferometry and Dalitz-plot analyses is
presented through the example of the dissociation of the two-neutron halo
system $^{14}$Be. The utility of high-energy proton radiative capture is
illustrated using a study of the $^{6}$He(p,$\gamma$) reaction. A new approach
to the production and detection of bound neutron clusters is also described,
and the observation of events with the characteristics expected for
tetraneutrons ($^{4}$n) liberated in the breakup of $^{14}$Be is discussed. The
prospects for future work, including systems beyond the neutron dripline, are
briefly outlined.


title:
Precise laser spectroscopy of the antiprotonic helium atom and CPT test
  on antiproton mass and charge

abstract:
  We have measured twelve transition frequencies of the antiprotonic helium
atom (pbar-He+) with precisions of 0.1--0.2 ppm using a laser spectroscopic
method. The agreement between the experiment and theories was so good that we
can put a limit on the proton-antiproton mass (or charge) difference. The new
limit is expected to be much smaller than the already published value, 60 ppb.


title: Open Questions in Stellar Helium Burning Addressed With Real Photons

abstract:
  The outcome of helium burning is the formation of the two elements, carbon
and oxygen. The ratio of carbon to oxygen at the end of helium burning is
crucial for understanding the final fate of a progenitor star and the
nucleosynthesis of heavy elements in Type II supernova, with oxygen rich star
predicted to collapse to a black hole, and a carbon rich star to a neutron
star. Type Ia supernovae (SNeIa) are used as standard candles for measuring
cosmological distances with the use of an empirical light curve-luminosity
stretching factor. It is essential to understand helium burning that yields the
carbon/oxygen white dwarf and thus the initial stage of SNeIa. Since the triple
alpha-particle capture reaction, $^{8}Be(\alpha,\gamma)^{12}C$, the first
burning stage in helium burning, is well understood, one must extract the cross
section of the $^{12}C(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}O$ reaction at the Gamow window (300
keV) with high accuracy of approximately 10% or better. This goal has not been
achieved despite repeated strong statements that appeared in the literature. In
particular constraint from the beta-delayed alpha-particle emission of $^{16}N$
were shown to not sufficiently restrict the p-wave cross section factor; e.g. a
low value of $S_{E1}(300)$ can not be ruled out. Measurements at low energies,
are thus mandatory for determining the elusive cross section factor for the
$^{12}C(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}O$ reaction. We are constructing a Time Projection
Chamber (TPC) for use with high intensity photon beams extracted from the
HI$\gamma$S/TUNL facility at Duke University to study the
$^{16}O(\gamma,\alpha)^{12}C$ reaction, and thus the direct reaction at
energies as low as 0.7 MeV. This work is in progress.


title: Reaction mechanisms involved in the production of neutron-rich isotopes

abstract:
  The reaction mechanisms best suited for the production of neutron-rich
nuclei, fragmentation and fission, are discussed. Measurements of the
production cross sections of reaction residues together with model calculations
allow to conclude about the expected production rates of neutron-rich isotopes
in future facilities.


title:
Solar Fusion and The Coulomb Dissociation of 8B; What Have We Learned
  and Where Do We Go From Here?

abstract:
  The much needed nuclear input to the Standard Solar Model, $S_{17}(0)$, has
now been measured with high precision ($\pm$5% or better) by different groups
and good agreement is found, even when very different methods are employed. We
review the decade long research program to measure the cross section of the
$^7Be(p,\gamma)^8B$ reaction using the Coulomb dissociation method, including
the pioneering RIKEN1 experiment carried out during March 1992, followed by
RIKEN2, GSI1, GSI2 and an MSU experiment. Our RIKEN and GSI data allow us to
rule out the much tooted large E2 contribution to the Coulomb dissociation of
$^8B$. Specifically recent results of the MSU experiment are not confirmed. The
GSI1 and GSI2 high precision measurements are in good (to perfect) agreement
with the newly published high precision measurements of direct capture with
$^7Be$ targets. From these GSI-Seattle-Weizmann high precision data we conclude
that the astrophysical cross section factor, $S_{17}(0)$, is most likely in the
range of 20 - 22 eV-b. We point out to an additional large uncertainty (-10%
+3%) that still exists due to uncertainty in the measured slope of the S-factor
and the theoretical extrapolation procedure which may still lower $S_{17}(0)$
down to approximately 18.5 eV-b. For quoting $S_{17}(0)$ with an uncertainty of
$\pm$5% or better, yet another measurement needs to be performed at very low
energies, as recently discussed by the UConn-Weizmann-LLN collaboration for the
CERN/ISOLDE facility.


title:
The astrophysical rate of 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne via the (p,t) reaction in
  inverse kinematics

abstract:
  A recoil coincidence technique has been applied to measure the alpha-decay
branching ratios of near-threshold states in 19Ne. Populating these states
using the (p,t) reaction in inverse kinematics, we detected the recoils and
their decay products with 100% geometric efficiency using a magnetic
spectrometer. Combining our branching ratio measurements with independent
determinations of the radiative widths of these states, we calculate the
astrophysical rate of 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne. Using this reaction rate, we
perform hydrodynamic calculations of nova outbursts and conclude that no
significant breakout from the hot CNO cycles into the rp process occurs in
novae via 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne.


title:
A Study of the Quasi-elastic (e,e'p) Reaction on $^{12}$C, $^{56}$Fe and
  $^{97}$Au

abstract:
  We report the results from a systematic study of the quasi-elastic (e,e'p)
reaction on $^{12}$C, $^{56}$Fe and $^{197}$Au performed at Jefferson Lab. We
have measured nuclear transparency and extracted spectral functions (corrected
for radiation) over a Q$^2$ range of 0.64 - 3.25 (GeV/c)$^2$ for all three
nuclei. In addition we have extracted separated longitudinal and transverse
spectral functions at Q$^2$ of 0.64 and 1.8 (GeV/c)$^2$ for these three nuclei
(except for $^{197}$Au at the higher Q$^2$). The spectral functions are
compared to a number of theoretical calculations. The measured spectral
functions differ in detail but not in overall shape from most of the
theoretical models. In all three targets the measured spectral functions show
considerable excess transverse strength at Q$^2$ = 0.64 (GeV/c)$^2$, which is
much reduced at 1.8 (GeV/c)$^2$.


title: Mass Parameterizations and Predictions of Isotopic Observables

abstract:
  We discuss the accuracy of mass models for extrapolating to very asymmetric
nuclei and the impact of such extrapolations on the predictions of isotopic
observables in multifragmentation. We obtain improved mass predictions by
incorporating measured masses and extrapolating to unmeasured masses with a
mass formula that includes surface symmetry and Coulomb terms. We find that
using accurate masses has a significant impact on the predicted isotopic
observables.


title:
Deuteron Photodissociation in Ultraperipheral Relativistic Heavy-Ion on
  Deuteron Collisions

abstract:
  In ultraperipheral relativistic deuteron on heavy-ion collisions, a photon
emitted from the heavy nucleus may dissociate the deuterium ion. We find
deuterium breakup cross sections of 1.38 barns for deuterium-gold collisions at
a center of mass energy of 200 GeV per nucleon, as studied at the Relativistic
Heavy Ion Collider, and 2.49 barns for deuterium-lead collisions at a center of
mass energy of 6.2 TeV, as proposed for the Large Hadron Collider. This cross
section includes an energy-independent 140 mb contribution from hadronic
diffractive dissociation. At the LHC, the cross section is as large as that of
hadronic interactions. The estimated error is 5%. Deuteron dissociation could
be used as a luminosity monitor and a `tag' for moderate impact parameter
collisions.


title:
Semi-Hard Scattering Unraveled from Collective Dynamics by Two-Pion
  Azimuthal Correlations in 158 A GeV/c Pb + Au Collisions

abstract:
  Elliptic flow and two-particle azimuthal correlations of charged hadrons and
high-$p_T$ pions ($p_T>$ 1 GeV/$c$) have been measured close to mid-rapidity in
158A GeV/$c$ Pb+Au collisions by the CERES experiment. Elliptic flow ($v_2$)
rises linearly with $p_T$ to a value of about 10% at 2 GeV/$c$. Beyond
$p_T\approx$ 1.5 GeV/$c$, the slope decreases considerably, possibly indicating
a saturation of $v_2$ at high $p_T$. Two-pion azimuthal anisotropies for $p_T>$
1.2 GeV/$c$ exceed the elliptic flow values by about 60% in mid-central
collisions. These non-flow contributions are attributed to near-side and
back-to-back jet-like correlations, the latter exhibiting centrality dependent
broadening.


title:
The neutron charge form factor and target analyzing powers from
  pol.3He(pol e,e'n)-scattering

abstract:
  The charge form factor of the neutron has been determined from asymmetries
measured in quasi--elastic pol.3He(pol e,e'n) at a momentum transfer of
0.67(GeV/c)^2. In addition, the target analyzing power, A_y^o, has been
measured to study effects of final state interactions and meson exchange
currents.


title: Evidence of Critical Behavior in the Disassembly of Nuclei with A ~ 36

abstract:
  A wide variety of observables indicate that maximal fluctuations in the
disassembly of hot nuclei with A ~ 36 occur at an excitation energy of 5.6 +-
0.5 MeV/u and temperature of 8.3 +- 0.5 MeV. Associated with this point of
maximal fluctuations are a number of quantitative indicators of apparent
critical behavior. The associated caloric curve does not appear to show a
flattening such as that seen for heavier systems. This suggests that, in
contrast to similar signals seen for liquid-gas transitions in heavier nuclei,
the observed behavior in these very light nuclei is associated with a
transition much closer to the critical point.


title:
A model for consecutive spallation and fragmentation reactions in
  inverse kinematics at relativistic energies

abstract:
  Secondary reactions induced by relativistic beams in inverse kinematics in a
thick target are relevant in several fields of experimental physics and
technology, like secondary radioactive beams, production of exotic nuclei close
to the proton drip line, and cross-section measurements for applications of
spallation reactions for energy production and incineration of nuclear wastes.
A general mathematical formulation is presented and successively applied as a
tool to disentangle the primary reaction yields from the secondary production
in the measurement of fission of a 238U projectile impinging on a proton target
at the energy of 1 A GeV.


title:
Enhanced Fusion-Evaporation Cross Sections in Neutron-Rich $^{132}$Sn on
  $^{64}$Ni

abstract:
  Evaporation residue cross sections have been measured with neutron-rich
radioactive $^{132}$Sn beams on $^{64}$Ni in the vicinity of the Coulomb
barrier. The average beam intensity was $2\times 10^{4}$ particles per second
and the smallest cross section measured was less than 5 mb. Large subbarrier
fusion enhancement was observed. Coupled-channels calculations taking into
account inelastic excitation and neutron transfer underpredict the measured
cross sections below the barrier.


title: Fission-Residues Produced in the Spallation Reaction 238U+p at 1 A GeV

abstract:
  Fission fragments from 1 A GeV 238U projectiles irradiating a hydrogen target
were investigated by using the fragment separator FRS for magnetic selection of
reaction products including ray-tracing and DE-ToF techniques. The momentum
spectra of 733 identified fragments were analysed to provide isotopic
production cross sections, fission-fragment velocities and recoil momenta of
the fissioning parent nuclei. Besides their general relevance, these quantities
are also demanded for applications. Calculations and simulations with codes
commonly used and recently developed or improved are compared to the data.


title: Photoproduction of eta-mesons from light nuclei

abstract:
  In a series of experiments coherent and quasifree eta-photoproduction from
light nuclei (4He, 3He, 2H) was investigated with the TAPS-detector at the
Mainz MAMI-accelerator. The experiments were motivated by two different
subjects: the determination of the isospin structure of the electromagnetic
excitation of the S11(1535) resonance and the study of the eta-nucleon and
eta-nucleus interaction at small momenta. The results for the deuteron and 4He
are summarized and first preliminary results for 3He are presented.


title: Threshold enhancement in eta photoproduction from 2H and 4He

abstract:
  The photoproduction of eta-mesons from 2H and 4He has been studied for
energies close to the production thresholds. The experiments were carried out
with the tagged photon beam of the Mainz MAMI accelerator. The eta-mesons were
detected via their two photon decays with the electromagnetic calorimeter TAPS.
Total cross sections, angular and momentum distributions of the eta-mesons have
been determined for both reactions. The total cross sections in the threshold
region show a large enhancement over the predictions of a participant -
spectator model, indicating significant final state interaction effects. The
results are compared to recent model calculations taking into account
nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-eta final state interaction effects on different
levels of sophistication.


title: Coherent pi0-photoproduction from atomic nuclei

abstract:
  Differential and total cross sections for coherent pi0-photoproduction from
12C, 40Ca, 93Nb and Pb targets have been measured throughout the region of the
Delta(1232)-resonance. The experiments were performed with the TAPS-detector at
the Mainz accelerator MAMI. The characteristic proportionality of the cross
section to the square of the atomic mass number and to the nuclear mass form
factor is clearly demonstrated. The data allow for the first time detailed
tests of model predictions for this reaction. The comparison of the data to
model predictions shows that the Delta-nucleus interaction saturates: it is
described for heavy nuclei with the same potential parameters as for 4He.


title: Photoexcitation of Baryon Resonances - News from the D13(1520)

abstract:
  The so-called second resonance region of the nucleon comprises the states
P11(1440), D13(1520) and S11(1535). During the last few years photoproduction
experiments have largely contributed to a better understanding of these states,
but the strong suppression of the resonance structure in total photoabsorption
experiments from nuclei is still not understood. The D13-resonance dominates
the resonance structure due to its large photon coupling. In this contribution
new results for the excitation and decay modes of the D13 on the free nucleon
and first results for the in-medium behavior of the resonance are summarised.


title: Meson photoproduction in the first and second resonance region

abstract:
  The study of baryon resonances via meson photoproduction reactions on the
free proton and on nucleons in the nuclear medium is discussed. Special
emphasis is laid on the production of neutral mesons which due to the
suppression of non-resonant backgrounds are particularly well suited for the
study of excited states of the nucleon. Experiments carried out during the last
ten years with the TAPS-detector at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) have very
significantly contributed to a detailed investigation of the low lying nucleon
resonances P33(1232), D13(1520) and S11(1535). The most recent results from
single and double pion production and from eta-photoproduction are summarised.


title: Exclusive measurement of coherent eta photoproduction from the deuteron

abstract:
  Coherent photoproduction of eta mesons from the deuteron has been measured
from threshold up to incident photon energies of 750 MeV using the photon
spectrometer TAPS at the tagged photon facility at the Mainz microtron MAMI.
For the first time, differential coherent cross sections have been deduced from
the coincident detection of the eta meson and the recoil deuteron. A missing
energy analysis was used for the suppression of background events so that a
very clean identification of coherent eta-photoproduction was achieved. The
resulting cross sections agree with previous experimental results except for
angles around 90 deg in the photon-deuteron cm-system where they are smaller.
They are compared to various model calculations.


title: In-medium properties of the D13(1520) nucleon resonance

abstract:
  The in-medium properties of the D13(1520) nucleon resonance were studied via
photoproduction of pi0-mesons from nuclei (C, Ca, Nb, Pb) with the
TAPS-detector at the Mainz MAMI accelerator. The inclusive (single and multiple
pion production) data disagree with model predictions which explain the
disappearance of the second resonance bump in total photoabsorption via a
medium modification of the D13 --> N rho decay. The exclusive single pi0
production data show no broadening of the resonance structure beyond Fermi
smearing. Although due to final state interaction effects pion production tests
the nucleus at densities less than the average nuclear density, both results
together cast doubt on attempts to explain the vanishing of the second
resonance bump for heavy nuclei by a broadening of the D13-resonance in nuclear
matter.


title:
Coulomb dissociation of 8B and the low-energy cross section of the
  7Be(p,gamma)8B solar fusion reaction

abstract:
  An exclusive measurement of the Coulomb breakup of 8B into 7Be+p at 254 A MeV
allowed to study the angular correlations of the breakup particles. These
correlations demonstrate clearly that E1 multipolarity dominates and that E2
multipolarity can be neglected. By using a simple single-particle model for 8B
and treating the breakup in first-order perturbation theory, we extract a
zero-energy S factor of S-(17)(0) = 18.6 +- 1.2 +- 1.0 eV b.


title: Dynamical effects in multifragmentation at intermediate energies

abstract:
  The fragmentation of the quasi-projectile is studied with the INDRA
multidetector for different colliding systems and incident energies in the
Fermi energy range. Different experimental observations show that a large part
of the fragmentation is not compatible with the statistical fragmentation of a
fully equilibrated nucleus. The study of internal correlations is a powerful
tool, especially to evidence entrance channel effects. These effects have to be
included in the theoretical descriptions of nuclear multifragmentation.


title:
Search for Narrow Nucleon Resonances below Pion Threshold in the
  H(e,e'pi^+)X and D(e,e'p)X Reactions

abstract:
  In two series of high-resolution coincidence experiments at the
three-spectrometer facility at MAMI, the H(e,e'pi^+)X and D(e,e'p)X reactions
were studied to search for narrow nucleon resonances below pion threshold. The
missing-mass resolution was 0.6 to 1.6 MeV/c^2 (FWHM) in the proton experiment
and 0.9 to 1.3 MeV/c^2 in the deuteron experiment. The experiments covered the
missing-mass region from the neutron mass up to about 1050 and 1100 MeV/c^2,
respectively. None of our measurements showed a signal for narrow resonances to
a level of down to 10^-4 with respect to the neutron peak in the missing-mass
spectra.


title: D(18F,pa)15N reaction applied to nova gamma-ray emission

abstract:
  The 18F(p,alpha)15O reaction is recognized to be one of the most important
reactions for nova gamma-ray astronomy as it governs the early E <= 511keV
gamma emission. However in the nova temperature regime, its rate remains
largely uncertain due to unknown low-energy resonance strengths. We report here
the measurement of the D(18F,p)19F(alpha)15N one-nucleon transfer reaction,
induced by a 14 MeV 18F radioactive beam impinging on a CD2 target; outgoing
protons and 15N (or alpha-particles) were detected in coincidence in two
silicon strip detectors. A DWBA analysis of the data resulted in new limits to
the contribution of low-energy resonances to the rate of the 18F(p,alpha)15O
reaction.


title: Global Observables at PHENIX

abstract:
  We present PHENIX recent results on charged particle and transverse energy
densities measured at mid-rapidity in Au-Au collisions at
$\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=130 GeV and 200 GeV over broad range of centralities. The
mean transverse energy per charged particle is derived. The first PHENIX
measurements at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=19.6 GeV are also presented. A comparison
with calculations from various theoretical models is performed.


title:
Asymptotic normalization coefficients for 8B->7Be+p from a study of
  8Li->7Li+n

abstract:
  Asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANCs) for 8Li->7Li+n have been
extracted from the neutron transfer reaction 13C(7Li,8Li)12C at 63 MeV. These
are related to the ANCs in 8B->7Be+p using charge symmetry. We extract ANCs for
8B that are in very good agreement with those inferred from proton transfer and
breakup experiments. We have also separated the contributions from the p_1/2
and p_3/2 components in the transfer. We find the astrophysical factor for the
7Be(p,gamma)8B reaction to be S_17(0)=17.6+/-1.7 eVb. This is the first time
that the rate of a direct capture reaction of astrophysical interest has been
determined through a measurement of the ANCs in the mirror system.


title: Production of phi Mesons in Au+Au Collisions at 11.7 A GeV/c

abstract:
  We report on a measurement of phi-meson production in Au+Au collisions at a
beam momentum of 11.7 A GeV/c by Experiment E917 at the AGS. The measurement
covers the midrapidity region 1.2 < y < 1.6. Transverse-mass spectra and the
rapidity distribution are presented as functions of centrality characterized by
the number of participant projectile nucleons. The yield of phi's per
participant projectile nucleon increases strongly in central collisions in a
manner similar to that observed for kaons.


title:
Analysis of Elemental and Isotopic Composition of a Substance Obtained
  in Experiments on Energy Concentration in a Solid-State Superdense Plasma

abstract:
  We present the results of the experimental study on synthesis of a wide range
of isotopes in a superdense plasma. The initial conditions necessary for plasma
bunch formation were provided by specially organized coherent impact on a solid
target with a total energy up to 1 kJ. More than 4000 shots were performed with
various targets made of light, medium, and heavy elements. Subsequent analysis
of the products of the target explosion reveals the presence of a wide range of
elements absent in the initial materials. Elements with nuclei three and more
times heavier than the nucleus of the target main element are detected in the
products. The isotopic composition of the produced elements significantly
differs from the natural one. The presence of unknown superheavy elements at
the border of the periodic table and beyond it was detected by several
different spectroscopic methods of elemental and isotopic analyzes.


title: Muon Capture and Muon Lifetime

abstract:
  We survey a new generation of precision muon lifetime experiments. The goal
of the MuCap experiment is a determination of the rate for muon capture on the
free proton to 1 percent, from which the induced pseudoscalar form factor $g_P$
of the nucleon can be derived with 7 percent precision. A measurement of the
related $\mu$d capture process with similar precision would provide unique
information on the axial current in the two nucleon system, relevant for
fundamental neutrino reactions on deuterium. The MuLan experiment aims to
measure the positive muon lifetime with 20 fold improved precision compared to
present knowledge in order to determine the Fermi Coupling Constant $G_F$ to
better than 1 ppm.


title:
a0+(980)-resonance production in pp->dK+Kbar0 reactions close to
  threshold

abstract:
  The reaction pp->d K+ Kbar0 has been investigated at an excess energy of Q=46
MeV above the (K+ Kbar0) threshold with ANKE at COSY-Juelich. From the detected
coincident dK+ pairs about 1000 events with a missing Kbar0 were identified,
corresponding to a total cross section of sigma(pp->d K+ Kbar0)=(38 +/- 2(stat)
+/- 14(syst)) nb. Invariant-mass and angular distributions have been jointly
analyzed and reveal s-wave dominance between the two kaons, accompanied by a
p-wave between the deuteron and the kaon system. This is interpreted in terms
of a0+(980)-resonance production.


title: Event by Event Net Charge Fluctuations

abstract:
  We present analyses of event-by-event dynamical net charge fluctuations
measured in 130 and 200 GeV Au Au collisions with the STAR detector. The
dynamical net charge fluctuations are evaluated using the $\nu_{+-,dyn}$
observable. Dynamical fluctuations measured in Au Au collisions at 130 and 200
GeV are finite, and exceed charge conservation limits. They deviate from a
perfect 1/N scaling and provide an indication that the collision dynamics
varies with collision centrality.


title:
Suppressed pi^0 Production at Large Transverse Momentum in Central Au+Au
  Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

abstract:
  Transverse momentum spectra of neutral pions in the range 1 < p_T < 10 GeV/c
have been measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC in Au+Au
collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The pi^0 multiplicity in central reactions
is significantly below the yields measured at the same sqrt(s_NN) in peripheral
Au+Au and p+p reactions scaled by the number of nucleon-nucleon collisions. For
the most central bin, the suppression factor is ~2.5 at p_T = 2 GeV/c and
increases to ~4-5 at p_T ~= 4 GeV/c. At larger p_T, the suppression remains
constant within errors. The deficit is already apparent in semi-peripheral
reactions and increases smoothly with centrality.


title: Vies Moyennes Des Etats Excites Du 19F

abstract:
  The determination of the mean lifetime of excited states has been undertaken
by coulomb excitation that is a process of inelastic scattering in which the
incident particle is charged and provokes an excitation of the target nucleus
by mean of the electromagnetic fields during the passage of the projectile. The
cross section of this inelastic scattering is proportional to the width of the
isomeric state. The mean lifetime of excited states of the 19F are determined
by comparing the experimental results of reactions 19F(alpha,alpha' gamma)19F
and 19F(p, p' gamma)19F with the theoretical calculations achieved with the
help of the multiple coulomb excitation program Coulex. These mean lifetimes
are compared to those restraints by Ajzenberg - Selove [1] and Alder and al.
[2].


title:
On the possible physical mechanism of Chernobyl catastrophe and the
  unsoundness of official conclusion

abstract:
  The official conclusion about the origin and mechanism of the Chernobyl
catastrophe is shown to essentially contradict experimental facts available
from the accident. In the frame of existing physical models of nuclear fission
reactor, it is shown analytically that under conditions of the accident the
period of runaway of reactor at the fourth power generating unit of the
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) should be either 10 times slower or 100
times faster than that observed. A self-consistent hypothesis is suggested for
the probable birth of magnetic charges, during the turbine generator test under
it's own momentum test, at the fourth power generating unit of CNPP, and for
the impact of these charges on the reactivity coefficient.


title:
Limits of complete equilibration of fragments produced in central Au on
  Au collisions at intermediate energies

abstract:
  Experimental data related to fragment production in central Au on Au
collisions were analyzed in the framework of a modified statistical model which
considers cluster production both prior and at the equilibrated stage. The
analysis provides limits to the number of nucleons and to the temperature of
the equilibrated source. The rather moderate temperatures obtained from
experimental double-yield ratios of d,t,3He and 4He are in agreement with the
model calculations. A phenomenological relation was established between the
collective flow and the chemical temperature in these reactions. It was shown
that dynamical mechanisms of fragment production, e.g. coalescence, dominate at
high energies. It is demonstrated that coalescence may be consistent with
chemical equilibrium between the produced fragments. The different meaning of
chemical and kinetic temperatures is discussed.


title: Elliptic flow measurements from STAR

abstract:
  In these proceedings some of the highlights of the elliptic flow measurements
from STAR at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} =$ 130 and 200 GeV for Au+Au collisions are
presented.


title:
Event-by-event fluctuations of the mean transverse momentum in 40, 80,
  and 158 A GeV/c Pb-Au collisions

abstract:
  Measurements of event-by-event fluctuations of the mean transverse momentum
in Pb-Au collisions at 40, 80, and 158 A GeV/c are presented. A significant
excess of mean p_T fluctuations at mid-rapidity is observed over the
expectation from statistically independent particle emission. The results are
somewhat smaller than recent measurements at RHIC. A possible non-monotonic
behaviour of the mean p_T fluctuations as function of collision energy, which
may have indicated that the system has passed the critical point of the QCD
phase diagram in the range of mu_B under investigation, has not been observed.
The centrality dependence of mean p_T fluctuations in Pb-Au is consistent with
an extrapolation from pp collisions assuming that the non-statistical
fluctuations scale with multiplicity. The results are compared to calculations
by the RQMD and UrQMD event generators.


title:
Experimental test of spontaneous correlation and anomalous sensitivity
  in finite highly excited many-body systems

abstract:
  We have tested recent suggestion of anomalous sensitivity in highly excited
quantum many-body systems. Two independent measurements of cross sections for
the 19F+93Nb strongly dissipative heavy-ion collisions have been performed at
incident energies from 102 to 108 MeV in steps of 250 keV.In the two
measurements we used different, independently prepared, 93Nb target foils with
nominally the same thickness.The data indicate statistically significant
non-reproducibility of the energy oscillating yields in the two measurements.
The observed non-reproducibility is consistent with recent theoretical
arguments on spontaneous correlation, slow phase randomization and chaos in
highly excited complex quantum systems.


title:
Isotopic Scaling of Heavy Projectile Residues from the collisions of 25
  MeV/nucleon 86Kr with 124Sn, 112Sn and 64Ni, 58Ni

abstract:
  The scaling of the yields of heavy projectile residues from the reactions of
25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr projectiles with 124Sn,112Sn and 64Ni, 58Nitargets is
studied. Isotopically resolved yield distributions of projectile fragments in
the range Z=10-36 from these reaction pairs were measured with the MARS recoil
separator in the angular range 2.7-5.3 degrees. The velocities of the residues,
monotonically decreasing with Z down to Z~26-28, are employed to characterize
the excitation energy. The yield ratios R21(N,Z) for each pair of systems are
found to exhibit isotopic scaling (isoscaling), namely, an exponential
dependence on the fragment atomic number Z and neutron number N. The isoscaling
is found to occur in the residue Z range corresponding to the maximum observed
excitation energies. The corresponding isoscaling parameters are alpha=0.43 and
beta=-0.50 for the Kr+Sn system and alpha=0.27 and beta=-0.34 for the Kr+Ni
system. For the Kr+Sn system, for which the experimental angular acceptance
range lies inside the grazing angle, isoscaling was found to occur for Z<26 and
N<34. For heavier fragments from Kr+Sn, the parameters vary monotonically,
alpha decreasing with Z and beta increasing with N. This variation is found to
be related to the evolution towards isospin equilibration and, as such, it can
serve as a tracer of the N/Z equilibration process. The present heavy-residue
data extend the observation of isotopic scaling from the intermediate mass
fragment region to the heavy-residue region. Such high-resolution mass
spectrometric data can provide important information on the role of isospin in
peripheral and mid-peripheral collisions, complementary to that accessible from
modern large-acceptance multidetector devices.


title: Nuclear Transparency with the gamma + n -> pi- + p Process in 4He

abstract:
  We have measured the nuclear transparency of the fundamental process $\gamma$
n $\to \pi^-$ p in $^4$He. These measurements were performed at Jefferson Lab
in the photon energy range of 1.6 to 4.5 GeV and at $\theta^{\pi}_{cm}=
70^\circ$ and $90^\circ$. These measurements are the first of their kind in the
study of nuclear transparency in photoreactions. They also provide a benchmark
test of Glauber calculations based on traditional models of nuclear physics.
The transparency results suggest deviations from the traditional nuclear
physics picture. The momentum transfer dependence of the measured nuclear
transparency is consistent with Glauber calculations which include the quantum
chromodynamics phenomenon of color transparency.


title:
Some problems of extracting level density and radiative strength
  functions from the gamma-spectra in nuclear reactions

abstract:
  The most important systematical errors in determination of level density and
radiative strength functions for deformed nuclei have been estimated from the
gamma-ray spectra in nuclear reactions like the stripping or pickup reactions.


title:
Isoscaling in Peripheral Nuclear Collisions around the Fermi Energy and
  a Signal of Chemical Separation from its Excitation Energy Dependence

abstract:
  The isoscaling is investigated using the fragment yield data from fully
reconstructed quasi-projectiles observed in peripheral collisions of 28Si with
124,112Sn at projectile energies 30 and 50 MeV/nucleon. The excitation energy
dependence of the isoscaling parameter beta_prime is observed which is
independent of beam energy. For a given quasi-projectile produced in reactions
with different targets no isoscaling is observed. The isoscaling thus reflects
the level of N/Z-equilibration in reactions with different targets represented
by the initial quasi-projectile samples. The excitation energy dependence of
the isoscaling parameter beta_prime, corrected for the trivial 1/T temperature
dependence, does not follow the trend of the homogeneous system above 4
MeV/nucleon thus possibly signaling the onset of separation into isospin
asymmetric dilute and isospin symmetric dense phase.


title:
Particle dependence of elliptic flow in Au+Au collisions at
  $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 200 GeV

abstract:
  The elliptic flow parameter ($v_2$) for $K_S^0$ and $\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$
has been measured at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at
$\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV by the STAR collaboration. The $v_2$ values for both
$K_S^{0}$ and $\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$ saturate at moderate $p_T$, deviating
from the hydrodynamic behavior observed in the lower $p_T$ region. The
saturated $v_2$ values and the $p_T$ scales where the deviation begins are
particle dependent. The particle-type dependence of $v_2$ shows features
expected from the hadronization of a partonic ellipsoid by coalescence of
co-moving quarks. These results will be discussed in relation to the nuclear
modification factor ($R_{CP}$) which has also been measured for $K_S^0$ and
$\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$ by the STAR collaboration.


title: How well do we know the electromagnetic form factors of the proton?

abstract:
  Several experiments have extracted proton electromagnetic form factors from
elastic cross section measurements using the Rosenbluth technique. Global
analyses of these measurements indicate approximate scaling of the electric and
magnetic form factors (mu_p*G_E/G_M = 1), in contrast to recent polarization
transfer measurements from Jefferson Lab. We present here a global reanalysis
of the cross section data aimed at understanding the disagreement between the
Rosenbluth extraction and the polarization transfer data. We find that the
individual cross section measurements are self-consistent, and that the new
global analysis yields results that are still inconsistent with polarization
measurements. This discrepancy indicates a fundamental problem in one of the
two techniques, or a significant error in polarization transfer or cross
section measurements. An error in the polarization data would imply a large
error in the extracted electric form factor, while an error in the cross
sections implies an uncertainty in the extracted form factors, even if the form
factor ratiois measured exactly.


title: Low Energy Kaon Physics at Da$\Phi$NE

abstract:
  DA$\Phi$NE $e^+ e^-$ collider is an abundant source of low energy $K \bar K$
pairs suitable to explore different fields of non perturbative QCD regime. Two
different experiments, DEAR and FINUDA, using different experimental techniq
ues are trying to shed new light on the strong interaction at the nucleon scale
by producing high precision results at this energy range. The DEAR experiment
is studying kaonic atoms in order to determine antikaon-nucleon scattering
lengths. FINUDA aims to produce hypernuclei to study nuclear structure and
$\Lambda$-N interaction.


title:
Hadron Correlations and Fluctuations in 40, 80, and 158 AGeV/c Pb-Au
  Collisions

abstract:
  Measurements of HBT correlations and event-by-event fluctuations of mean pT
and the net charge in Pb-Au collisions at 40, 80, and 158 AGeV/c are presented.
  From comparisons of HBT radii measured from AGS to RHIC energies, a universal
mean free path of pions at the thermal freeze-out of about 1 fm is derived.
Non-statistical mean pT fluctuations of about 0.7 % are measured, which are
somewhat smaller than fluctuations at RHIC. No indication for the QCD critical
point is observed. Fluctuations of the net charge are reproduced by RQMD and
URQMD models, but significantly larger than prediction in equilibrated QGP.


title: First Measurement of Proton-Proton Elastic Scattering at RHIC

abstract:
  The first result of the pp2pp experiment at RHIC on elastic scattering of
polarized protons at sqrt{s} = 200 GeV is reported here. The exponential slope
parameter b of the diffractive peak of the elastic cross section in the t range
0.010 <= |t| <= 0.019 (GeV/c)^2 was measured to be b = 16.3 +- 1.6 (stat.) +-
0.9 (syst.) (GeV/c)^{-2} .


title:
Elliptic Flow of Identified Hadrons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) =
  200 GeV

abstract:
  The anisotropy parameter v_2, the second harmonic of the azimuthal particles
distribution, has been measured with the PHENIX detector in Au+Au collisions at
sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV for identified and inclusive charged particles at central
rapidities (|eta| < 0.35) with respect to the reaction plane defined at high
rapidities (|eta| = 3-4). The v_2 for all particles reaches a maximum at
mid-centrality, and increases with p_T up to 2 GeV/c and then saturates or
decreases slightly. Our results depart from hydrodynamically predicted behavior
above 2 GeV/c. A quark coalescence model is also investigated.


title:
High transverse mass pion and proton correlations in central PbPb
  collisions at 17GeV/nucleon

abstract:
  For central PbPb collisions at a center of mass energy of 17.3 GeV/nucleon we
have made the first two-dimensional measurement of the pp correlation function.
These data extend the range of previous studies of HBT radii by a factor of two
in transverse mass. They are consistent with a hydrodynamic interpretation and
microscopic models that include hadronic rescattering and transverse expansion.
We also report new data on pion correlations. The two particle correlations of
negative pions at a transverse mass of 0.92 GeV imply source radii that are
smaller than typical hydrodynamic fits and transport model simulations. It is
possible that these fast pions may have left the source before the build up of
hydrodynamic flow.


title:
Transverse momentum and collision energy dependence of high $p_{T}$
  hadron suppression in Au+Au collisions at ultrarelativistic energies

abstract:
  We report high statistics measurements of inclusive charged hadron production
in Au+Au and p+p collisions at \sqrtsNN=200 GeV. A large, approximately
constant hadron suppression is observed in central Au+Au collisions for
$5\lt\pT\lt12$ GeV/c. The collision energy dependence of the yields and the
centrality and \pT dependence of the suppression provide stringent constraints
on theoretical models of suppression. Models incorporating initial-state gluon
saturation or partonic energy loss in dense matter are largely consistent with
observations. We observe no evidence of \pT-dependent suppression, which may be
expected from models incorporating jet attentuation in cold nuclear matter or
scattering of fragmentation hadrons.


title:
A model-independent analysis of the dependence of the anomalous J/psi
  suppression on the number of participant nucleons

abstract:
  A recently published experimental dependence of the J/psi to Drell-Yan ratio
on the measured, by a zero degree calorimeter, forward energy E_ZDC in Pb+Pb
collisions at the CERN SPS is analyzed. Using a model-independent approach it
is shown that the data are at variance with an earlier published experimental
dependence of the same quantity on the transverse energy of neutral hadrons
E_T. The discrepancy is related to a moderate centrality region: 100 < N_p <
200 (N_p is the number of participant nucleons) and is peculiar only to the
data obtained within the `minimum bias' analysis (using the `theoretical
Drell-Yan'). This could result from systematic experimental errors in the
minimum bias sample. A possible source of the errors is discussed.


title: Strangeness from 20 AGeV to 158 AGeV

abstract:
  New results from the energy scan programme of NA49, in particular kaon
production at 30 AGeV and phi production at 40 and 80 AGeV are presented. The
K+/pi+ ratio shows a pronounced maximum at 30 AGeV; the kaon slope parameters
are constant at SPS energies. Both findings support the scenario of a phase
transition at about 30 AGeV beam energy. The phi/pi ratio increases smoothly
with beam energy, showing an energy dependence similar to K-/pi-. The measured
particle yields can be reproduced by a hadron gas model, with chemical
freeze-out parameters on a smooth curve in the T-muB plane. The transverse
spectra can be understood as resulting from a rapidly expanding, locally
equilibrated source. No evidence for an earlier kinetic decoupling of heavy
hyperons is found.


title:
Characteristics of charged particle production in relativistic heavy-ion
  collisions

abstract:
  Inclusive spectra of charged particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at
sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV and 200 GeV were measured with the STAR detector at RHIC.
The measured mean transverse momentum shows a characteristic dependence on
charged particle multiplicity and beam energy in Au+Au collisions that is
distinctly different from pp, pbarp and ee collisions. A comparison with model
predictions is discussed.


title:
Precision neutron interferometric measurement of the nd coherent neutron
  scattering length and consequences for models of three-nucleon forces

abstract:
  We have performed the first high precision measurement of the coherent
neutron scattering length of deuterium in a pure sample using neutron
interferometry. We find b_nd = (6.665 +/- 0.004) fm in agreement with the world
average of previous measurements using different techniques, b_nd = (6.6730 +/-
0.0045) fm. We compare the new world average for the nd coherent scattering
length b_nd = (6.669 +/- 0.003) fm to calculations of the doublet and quartet
scattering lengths from several modern nucleon-nucleon potential models with
three-nucleon force (3NF) additions and show that almost all theories are in
serious disagreement with experiment. This comparison is a more stringent test
of the models than past comparisons with the less precisely-determined nuclear
doublet scattering length of a_nd = (0.65 +/- 0.04) fm.


title:
Intense two-step cascades and gamma-decay scheme of the Sn-118 compound
  nucleus

abstract:
  Transition energies and intensities of 454 two-step cascades following
thermal neutron capture in Sn-117 have been measured. These data allowed us to
make more precise and considerably extend the earlier obtained decay scheme of
the Sn-118 nucleus. Autocorrelation analysis of the excitation spectrum of
intermediate levels of the most intense cascades allowed us to determine the
most probable period of their regularity. Besides, the analysis showed
impossibility quantitatively to reproduce the total cascade intensity with
accounting only for the excitations of the fermion type. This resulted into a
conclusion that the excitations of a probable vibrational type in Sn-118 also
considerably influence the cascade gamma-decay process practically up to the
neutron binding energy.


title: Xi and AntiXi production in Pb+Pb collisions at 40 AGeV at CERN SPS

abstract:
  First results on the production of Xi and AntiXi hyperons in Pb+Pb
interactions at 40 AGeV are presented. The AntiXi/Xi ratio at midrapidity is
studied as a function of collision centrality. The ratio shows no significant
centrality dependence within statistical errors; it ranges from 0.07 to 0.15.
The AntiXi/Xi ratio for central Pb+Pb collisions increases strongly with the
collision energy.


title:
Measurement of 222Rn dissolved in water at the Sudbury Neutrino
  Observatory

abstract:
  The technique used at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) to measure the
concentration of 222Rn in water is described. Water from the SNO detector is
passed through a vacuum degasser (in the light water system) or a membrane
contact degasser (in the heavy water system) where dissolved gases, including
radon, are liberated. The degasser is connected to a vacuum system which
collects the radon on a cold trap and removes most other gases, such as water
vapor and nitrogen. After roughly 0.5 tonnes of H2O or 6 tonnes of D2O have
been sampled, the accumulated radon is transferred to a Lucas cell. The cell is
mounted on a photomultiplier tube which detects the alpha particles from the
decay of 222Rn and its daughters. The overall degassing and concentration
efficiency is about 38% and the single-alpha counting efficiency is
approximately 75%. The sensitivity of the radon assay system for D2O is
equivalent to ~3 E(-15) g U/g water. The radon concentration in both the H2O
and D2O is sufficiently low that the rate of background events from U-chain
elements is a small fraction of the interaction rate of solar neutrinos by the
neutral current reaction.


title: Surprises in the RHIC Data

abstract:
  The data from RHIC have produced many unanticipated results. I will describe
a few of the surprises that occur in the soft spectra while my colleagues at
this conference will summarize the hard spectra. One particularly important
discovery is that properties of the initial state have an impact on the final
state in relativistic heavy ion collisions. Another important discovery is that
the collision zone is opaque to the passage of hadrons and perhaps even
partons. And finally, the data tell us very precisely where the colliding
systems hadronize on the phase diagram for nuclear matter.


title:
Cross Sections for Nuclide Production in 1 GeV Proton-Irradiated 208Pb
  and 0.8 GeV Proton-Irradiated 197Au

abstract:
  Measured at ITEP (Moscow) cross sections for nuclide production in 1.0 GeV
proton-irradiated 208Pb and 0.8 GeV proton-irradiated 197Au targets are
presented. The cross sections were measured by direct gamma-spectrometry with a
high-resolution Ge detector. The measured cross sections are compared with
experimental data of GSI (inverse kinematics, 1 GeV/nucleon 208Pb and 0.8
GeV/nucleon 197Au interacting with a liquid hydrogen target, and the ZSR data
(direct kinematics, 1.0 and 0.8 GeV protons on nat-Pb and 197Au, respectively).
All experimental data are compared with each other and with results by the Los
Alamos codes CEM2k+GEM2, LAQGSM+GEM2, and LAHET (INLC option: Cugnon's INC +
Schmidt's evaporation and fission models).


title:
Threshold Activation Reaction and Absorption Dose Rates Inside and on
  the Surface of a Thick W-Na Target Irradiated with 0.8-GeV Proton

abstract:
  Results of measured threshold activation reaction rates in 12C, 19F, 27Al,
59Co, 63Cu, 65Cu, 64Zn, 93Nb, 115In, 169Tm, 181Ta, 197Au, and 209Bi
experimental samples placed both along the axis inside and outside a 0.8 GeV
proton-irradiated thick W-Na target are presented. Absorption dose rates
outside the target are presented as well. The target was irradiated by the
proton beam from the ITEP U10 accelerator. The measured reaction rates were
compared with the LAHET code simulated rates and using several nuclear
databases for the respective excitation functions, namely, ENDF/B6 for cross
section of neutrons at energies below 20 MeV and MENDL2 together with MENDL2P
for cross section of protons and neutrons of 20 to 100 MeV energies.


title:
Nuclide Production Cross Sections for 59Co and nat-Cu Irradiated with
  0.2 and 2.6 GeV Protons and 0.2 GeV/Nucleon Carbon Ions

abstract:
  Results of experimental cross sections for residual nuclide production in
interactions of 200 MeV/A 12C ions and 0.2 and 2.6 GeV protons with nat-Cu,
59Co, and 27Al targets are presented. The residual products are measured at
ITEP (Moscow) by gamma-spectrometry with a detector of 1.8 keV resolution in
the 1332 keV 60Co gamma-line. The measured data are compared with predictions
by the LANL (Los Alamos) code LAQGSM+GEM2 and JINR (Dubna) code CASCADE.


title: Heavy Residue Isoscaling as a Probe of the Process of N/Z Equilibration

abstract:
  The isotopic and isobaric scaling behavior of the yield ratios of heavy
projectile residues from the collisions of 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr projectiles on
124Sn and 112Sn targets is investigated and shown to provide information on the
process of N/Z equilibration occurring between the projectile and the target.
The logarithmic slopes $\alpha$ and $\beta^{'}$ of the residue yield ratios
with respect to residue neutron number N and neutron excess N--Z are obtained
as a function of the atomic number Z and mass number A, respectively, whereas
excitation energies are deduced from velocities. The relation of the isoscaling
parameters $\alpha$ and $\beta^{'}$ with the N/Z of the primary (excited)
projectile fragments is employed to gain access to the degree of N/Z
equilibration prior to fragmentation as a function of excitation energy. A
monotonic relation between the N/Z difference of fragmenting quasiprojectiles
and their excitation energy is obtained indicating that N/Z equilibrium is
approached at the highest observed excitation energies. Simulations with a
deep-inelastic transfer model are in overall agreement with the isoscaling
conclusions. The present residue isoscaling approach to N/Z equilibration
offers an attractive tool of isospin and reaction dynamics studies in
collisions involving beams of stable or rare isotopes.


title: Hyperon Photoproduction in the Nucleon Resonance Region

abstract:
  Cross-sections and recoil polarizations for the reactions gamma + p --> K^+ +
Lambda and gamma + p --> K^+ + Sigma^0 have been measured with high statistics
and with good angular coverage for center-of-mass energies between 1.6 and 2.3
GeV. In the K^+Lambda channel we confirm a structure near W=1.9 GeV at backward
kaon angles, but our data shows a more complex s- and u- channel resonance
structure than previously seen. This structure is present at forward and
backward angles but not central angles, and its position and width change with
angle, indicating that more than one resonance is playing a role. Rising
back-angle cross sections at higher energies and large positive polarization at
backward angles are consistent with sizable s- or u-channel contributions. None
of the model calculations we present can consistently explain these aspects of
the data.


title:
Omega and AntiOmega production in Pb+Pb and p+p collisions at 30, 40 and
  158 AGeV

abstract:
  We report preliminary results on Omega and AntiOmega production in central
Pb+Pb collisions at 30, 40 and 158 AGeV and p + p interactions at 158 GeV. The
midrapidity AntiOmega/Omega ratio is estimated to be 0.45 +- 0.05 and 0.41 +-
0.18 for central Pb+Pb collisions at 158 and 40 AGeV, respectively. The
corresponding value for 158 GeV p+p interactions is 0.67 +- 0.62. For central
Pb+Pb collisions at 158 AGeV fully corrected distributions are obtained. The
inverse slope parameters of the transverse mass spectrum and total yields are
T(Omega) = 276 +- 23 MeV, <Omega> = 0.47 +- 0.07 and T(AntiOmega) = 285 +- 39
MeV, <AntiOmega> = 0.15 +- 0.02.


title:
J/Psi Production in Au-Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV at the
  Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

abstract:
  First results on charm quarkonia production in heavy ion collisions at the
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are presented. The yield of J/Psi's
measured in the PHENIX experiment via electron-positron decay pairs at
mid-rapidity for Au-Au reactions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV are analyzed as a
function of collision centrality. For this analysis we have studied 49.3
million minimum bias Au-Au reactions. We present the J/Psi invariant yield
dN/dy for peripheral and mid-central reactions. For the most central collisions
where we observe no signal above background, we quote 90% confidence level
upper limits. We compare these results with our J/Psi measurement from
proton-proton reactions at the same energy. We find that our measurements are
not consistent with models that predict strong enhancement relative to binary
collision scaling.


title: Near-threshold production of omega mesons in the pn -> d omega reaction

abstract:
  The first measurement of the p n -> d omega total cross section has been
achieved at mean excess energies of Q = 28 and 57 MeV by using a deuterium
cluster-jet target. The momentum of the fast deuteron was measured in the ANKE
spectrometer at COSY-Juelich and that of the slow "spectator" proton p(sp) from
the p d -> p(sp) d omega reaction in a silicon telescope placed close to the
target. The cross sections lie above those measured for p p -> p p omega but
seem to be below theoretical predictions.


title:
Observation of the Charge Symmetry Breaking d + d -> 4He + pi0 Reaction
  Near Threshold

abstract:
  We report the first observation of the charge symmetry breaking d + d -> 4He
+ pi0 reaction near threshold at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility.
Kinematic reconstruction permitted the separation of 4He + pi0 events from
double radiative capture 4He + gamma + gamma events. We measured total cross
sections for neutron pion production of 12.7 +- 2.2 pb at 228.5 MeV and 15.1 +-
3.1 pb at 231.8 MeV. The uncertainty is dominated by statistical errors.


title: New results from the NA57 experiment

abstract:
  We report results from the experiment NA57 at CERN SPS on hyperon production
at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at 158 $A$ GeV/$c$ and 40 $A$ GeV/$c$.
$\Lambda$, $\Xi$ and $\Omega$ yields are compared with those from the STAR
experiment at the higher energy of the BNL RHIC. $\Lambda$, $\Xi$, $\Omega$\
and preliminary $K_S^0$ transverse mass spectra are presented and interpreted
within the framework of a hydro-dynamical blast wave model.


title:
$\rho(770)^0$ and $f_{0}(980)$ Production in Au+Au and pp Collisions at
  $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

abstract:
  Preliminary results on $\rho(770)^0$ and $f_{0}(980)$ production at
mid-rapidity using the mixed-event technique are presented. The $\rho^0$ and
$f_0$ measurements via their hadronic decay channel in minimum bias pp and
peripheral Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV were performed using
the STAR detector at RHIC. This is the first direct measurement of $\rho^0(770)
\to \pi^+\pi^-$ and $f_0(980) \to \pi^+\pi^-$ in heavy-ion collisions. The
$\rho^0$ mass is transverse momentum dependent and significantly shifted in
minimum bias pp and peripheral Au+Au interactions. The modifications of masses,
widths and line shapes of short-lived resonances due to phase space and
dynamical effects are discussed. The $\rho^0/\pi^-$ and the $f_0/\pi^-$ ratios
are compared to measurements in pp and e$^{+}$e$^{-}$ interactions at various
energies.


title: Proposed STAR Time of Flight Readout Electronics and DAQ

abstract:
  The Time-of-Flight system is a proposed addition to the STAR detector
currently installed at RHIC. The proposal is based on a new technology called
the Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chamber (MRPC), and consists of approximately
23,000 channels of detectors distributed over 120 trays. Each TOF tray consists
of 192 detector channels and three different types of electronic circuit cards,
called "TFEE", "TDIG", and "TCPU", listed in order of the data flow. Every
fourth tray also contains a "TMIT" card that transmits the data over a fiber to
the TDRC which is part of STAR DAQ. The TFEE contains the analog front end
electronics. The output of TFEE is passed to the TDIG, where the data are
digitized (using the CERN HPTDC ASIC). The TCPU formats and buffers the digital
detector information. This formatted data is passed to TMIT, which transmits it
over an optical fiber to the data receiver TDRC in the STAR DAQ room. The
architecture of this readout chain and DAQ will be described, and first results
from prototypes of the component boards will be discussed.


title:
Scaling properties of proton and anti-proton production in sqrt(s_NN) =
  200 GeV Au + Au collisions

abstract:
  We report on the yield of protons and anti-protons, as a function of
centrality and transverse momentum, in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. In central
collisions at intermediate transverse momenta (1.5 < p_T < 4.5 GeV/c) a
significant fraction of all produced particles are protons and anti-protons.
They show a centrality-scaling behavior different from that of pions. The
p-bar/pion and p/pion ratios are enhanced compared to peripheral Au+Au, p+p,
and electron+positron collisions. This enhancement is limited to p_T < 5 GeV/c
as deduced from the ratio of charged hadrons to pi^0 measured in the range 1.5
< p_T < 9 GeV/c.


title: High p_T identified particles in PHENIX: data vs. theory

abstract:
  Two of the most interesting experimental results of heavy-ion reactions at
RHIC collider energies are in the hard scattering sector where central Au+Au
data show a very different behaviour compared to p+p and peripheral Au+Au
collisions. The so-called ``high p_T pi^0 suppression'' and the ``anomalous''
baryon/meson ratio observed by PHENIX in central Au+Au collisions at
sqrt(s_{NN}) = 200 GeV are reviewed and compared to various theoretical
calculations based on different strongly interacting medium scenarios.


title: Measurement of Change of 7Be Decay Rate in Be and Au

abstract:
  We have measured the possible change of the decay rate of 7Be implanted into
hosts of natural beryllium and natural gold. No difference between the 7Be
decay rates in the two hosts is observed within the experimental precision of
0.12%. This result implies that change of the decay rate of 7Be implanted in
different materials cannot be simply expected from the electron affinity
difference consideration lonely and the lattice structure of the host materials
should be taken into account.


title:
Inclusive Spectra of (p,xp) and (p,xd) Reactions on $^{90,92}$Zr and
  $^{92}$Mo Nuclei at E$_{p}$=30.3 MeV

abstract:
  New experimental data for the inclusive reactions (p,xp) and (p,xd) on
isotopes of the nuclei $^{90,92}$Zr and $^{92}$Mo, have been measured at
E$_{p}$=30.3 MeV, which has not been investigated in detail so far. We show the
extension of the pre-equilibrium reactions to this energy region and interpret
the results of these experiments. Moreover, we display the mechanism of the
reaction and the level of energy-dependence. The adequacy of the theoretical
models in explaining the measured experimental data is also discussed. In our
theoretical analysis, the contributions of multi-step direct and compound
processes in the formation of cross-sections are determined and we assert that
the traditional frameworks are valid for the description of the experimental
data.


title:
Energy Dependence of Particle Production in nucleus-nucleus collisions
  at the CERN SPS

abstract:
  New preliminary results on kaon and pion production in central 30AGeV Pb+Pb
collisions are presented. The data are compared to data at lower and higher
energies to examine the energy dependence of the kaon to pion ratios and the
inverse slope parameters of kaons. The results are compared to expectations
from models with and without a phase transition to the Quark Gluon Plasma.


title: B physics at STAR

abstract:
  Review of search for heavy flavor (c,b quarks) production in leptonic decay
channels in Au+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_NN}=200 GeV at the STAR Experiment at
RHIC.


title:
Excitation and decay of projectile-like fragments formed in dissipative
  peripheral collisions at intermediate energies

abstract:
  Projectile-like fragments (PLF:15<=Z<=46) formed in peripheral and
mid-peripheral collisions of 114Cd projectiles with 92Mo nuclei at E/A=50 MeV
have been detected at very forward angles, 2.1 deg.<=theta_lab<=4.2 deg.
Calorimetric analysis of the charged particles observed in coincidence with the
PLF reveals that the excitation of the primary PLF is strongly related to its
velocity damping. Furthermore, for a given V_PLF*, its excitation is not
related to its size, Z_PLF*. For the largest velocity damping, the excitation
energy attained is large, approximately commensurate with a system at the
limiting temperature


title:
Particle-type dependence of azimuthal anisotropy and nuclear
  modification of particle production in Au+Au collisions at s(NN)**(1/2) =
  200-GeV

abstract:
  We present STAR measurements of the azimuthal anisotropy parameter $v_2$ and
the binary-collision scaled centrality ratio $R_{CP}$ for kaons and lambdas
($\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$) at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at
$\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. In combination, the $v_2$ and $R_{CP}$
particle-type dependencies contradict expectations from partonic energy loss
followed by standard fragmentation in vacuum. We establish $p_T \approx 5$
GeV/c as the value where the centrality dependent baryon enhancement ends. The
$K_S^0$ and $\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$ $v_2$ values are consistent with
expectations of constituent-quark-number scaling from models of hadron
fromation by parton coalescence or recombination.


title: Main parameters of the 118Sn compound-state cascade gamma-decay

abstract:
  Main properties of the excited states of $^{118}$Sn manifesting themselves in
cascade gamma-decay of its compound state were studied. As in other heavier
nuclei studied earlier, qualitative interpretation of the totality of the
observed properties of this nucleus is impossible without accounting for
coexistence and interaction of quasi-particle and collective nuclear
excitations and their considerable influence on the main parameters of the
process under study.


title:
Isoscaling Studies of Fission - a Sensitive Probe into the Dynamics of
  Scission

abstract:
  The fragment yield ratios were investigated in the fission of 238,233U
targets induced by 14 MeV neutrons. The isoscaling behavior was typically
observed for the isotopic chains of fragments ranging from the proton-rich to
the most neutron-rich ones. The observed high sensitivity of neutron-rich heavy
fragments to the target neutron content suggests fission as a source of
neutron-rich heavy nuclei for present and future rare ion beam facilities,
allowing studies of nuclear properties towards the neutron drip-line and
investigations of the conditions for nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei. The
breakdowns of the isoscaling behavior around N=62 and N=80 manifest the effect
of two shell closures on the dynamics of scission. The shell closure around
N=64 can be explained by the deformed shell. The investigation of isoscaling in
the spontaneous fission of 248,244Cm further supports such conclusion. The
Z-dependence of the isoscaling parameter exhibits a structure which can be
possibly related to details of scission dynamics. The fission isoscaling
studies can be a suitable tool for the investigation of possible new pathways
to synthesize still heavier nuclei.


title:
Neutrons transition densities for the $2^+-8^+$ multiplet of states in
  $^{90}$Zr

abstract:
  The neutron transition densities of the $2^+-8^+$ levels in $^{90}$Zr were
extracted in the process of analysing ({\bf p},p') scattering at 400 Mev. Its
comparison with the proton transition densities for these levels was
undertaken. The radial shapes of the experimental neutron and proton transition
densities for each state were found to be different.


title:
Possibility to study eta-mesic nuclei and photoproduction of slow
  eta-mesons at the GRAAL facility

abstract:
  A new experiment is proposed with the aim to study eta-mesic nuclei and
low-energy interactions of eta with nuclei. Two decay modes of eta produced by
a photon beam inside a nucleus will be observed, namely a collisional decay
\eta N \to \pi N inside the nucleus and the radiative decay \eta \to \gamma
\gamma outside. In addition, a collisional decay of stopped S_{11}(1535)
resonance inside the nucleus, S_{11}(1535) N \to N N, will be studied. The
experiment can be performed using the tagged photon beam at ESRF with the
end-point energy 1000 MeV and the GRAAL detector which includes a
high-resolution BGO calorimeter and a large acceptance lead-scintillator
time-of-flight wall. Some results of simulation and estimates of yields are
given.


title:
Precision neutron interferometric measurements and updated evaluations
  of the n-p and n-d coherent neutron scattering lengths

abstract:
  We have performed high-precision measurements of the coherent neutron
scattering lengths of gas phase molecular hydrogen and deuterium using neutron
interferometry. After correcting for molecular binding and multiple scattering
from the molecule, we find b_{np} = (-3.7384 +/- 0.0020) fm and b_{nd} =
(6.6649 +/- 0.0040) fm. Our results are in agreement with the world average of
previous Measurements, b_{np} = (-3.7410 +/- 0.0010) fm and b_{nd} = (6.6727
+/- 0.0045) fm. The new world averages for the n-p and n-d coherent scattering
lengths, including our new results, are b_{np} = (-3.7405 +/- 0.0009) fm and
b_{nd} = (6.6683 +/- 0.0030) fm. We compare bnd with the calculations of the
doublet and quartet scattering lengths of several nucleon-nucleon potential
models and show that almost all known calculations are in disagreement with the
precisely measured linear combination corresponding to the coherent scattering
length. Combining the world data on b_{nd} with the modern high-precision
theoretical calculations of the quartet n-d scattering lengths recently
summarized by Friar et al., we deduce a new value for the doublet scattering
length of ^{2}a_{nd} = [0.645 +/- 0.003(expt) +/- 0.007(theory)] fm. This value
is a factor of 4, more precise than the previously accepted value of ^{2}a_{nd}
= [0.65 +/- 0.04(expt)] fm. The current state of knowledge of scattering
lengths in the related p-d system, ideas for improving by a factor of 5 the
accuracy of the b_{np} and b_{nd} measurements using neutron interferometry,
and possibilities for further improvement of our knowledge of the coherent
neutron scattering lengths of 3H, 3He, and 4He are discussed.


title:
Mid-rapidity $\phi$ meson production at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au
  and pp collisions from STAR

abstract:
  We present the results for the measurement of $\phi$ meson production in
$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au and pp collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion
Collider (RHIC). Using the event mixing technique, spectra and yields are
obtained from the $\phi\to K^{+}K^{-}$ decay channel for five centrality bins
in Au+Au collisions and in pp collisions. We observe that the spectrum shape in
Au+Au collisions depends weakly on the centrality and the shape of the spectrum
in pp collisions is significantly different from that in Au+Au collisions.


title:
$\phi$ meson production in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au and pp
  collisions at RHIC

abstract:
  We present the results for the measurement of $\phi$ meson production in
$\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au and pp collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion
Collider (RHIC). Using the event mixing technique, spectra and yields are
obtained from the $\phi\to K^{+}K^{-}$ decay channel for different centrality
bins in Au+Au collisions and in pp collisions. We observe that the spectrum
shape in Au+Au collisions depends weakly on the centrality and the shape of the
spectrum in pp collisions is significantly different from that in Au+Au
collisions. In Au+Au collisions, the extracted yield of $\phi$ meson is flat as
a function of rapidity; The $<p_T>$ of $\phi$, extracted from the fit function
to the spectra, shows a different behavior as a function of centrality than
that of $\pi^-$, $K^-$ and $\bar{p}$


title:
Strange Baryon Production From Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions at the AGS,
  SPS and RHIC

abstract:
  We will present a review of selected results on strange baryon production
from nucleus-nucleus collisions at the AGS, SPS and RHIC. From the AGS and SPS
heavy ion physics program several intriguing aspects: centrality dependence of
strangeness production, anti-hyperon yield, hyperon production enhancement and
baryon number transport will be highlighted. Our discussion on RHIC results
will focus on experimental probes of partonic degree of freedom. Measurements
of the elliptic flow v2 and the nuclear modification factor and their
distinctive particle dependence are presented as a function of transverse
momentum.


title:
Nucleon Momentum Distributions From a Modified Scaling Analysis of
  Inclusive Electron-Nucleus Scattering

abstract:
  Inclusive electron scattering from nuclei at low momentum transfer
(corresponding to x>1) and moderate Q^2 is dominated by quasifree scattering
from nucleons. In the impulse approximation, the cross section can be directly
connected to the nucleon momentum distribution via the scaling function F(y).
The breakdown of the y-scaling assumptions in certain kinematic regions have
prevented extraction of nucleon momentum distributions from such a scaling
analysis. With a slight modification to the y-scaling assumptions, it is found
that scaling functions can be extracted which are consistent with the
expectations for the nucleon momentum distributions.


title: Strange Content of Baryons at RHIC

abstract:
  Via the study of strange particle production within the STAR experiment, we
try to address the surprising amount of baryon transport at the Relativistic
Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). We report here preliminary results showing that, at
mid-rapidity and for the top energy of RHIC, the number of created baryons
exceeds the number transported from the colliding nuclei. However, thanks to
the large acceptance of the experimental setup, one could expect to observe the
transition between the ``soft'' regime (low transverse momentum -$\pt$- region
corresponding to a bulk of hot and dense matter hadronizing) and the
perturbative one (higher $\pt$ region) where the fragmentation of incoming
partons is supposed to dominate hadron production.}


title: 4He decay of excited states in 14C

abstract:
  A study of the 7Li(9Be,4He 10Be)2H reaction at E{beam}=70 MeV has been
performed using resonant particle spectroscopy techniques and provides the
first measurements of alpha-decaying states in 14C. Excited states are observed
at 14.7, 15.5, 16.4, 18.5, 19.8, 20.6, 21.4, 22.4 and 24.0 MeV. The
experimental technique was able to resolve decays to the various particle bound
states in 10Be, and provides evidence for the preferential decay of the high
energy excited states into states in 10Be at ~6 MeV. The decay processes are
used to indicate the possible cluster structure of the 14C excited states.