title:
Common Suppression Pattern of eta and pi^0 Mesons at High Transverse
  Momentum in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

abstract:
  Inclusive transverse momentum spectra of eta mesons have been measured within
p_T = 2-10 GeV/c at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment in Au+Au collisions
at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. In central Au+Au the eta yields are significantly
suppressed compared to peripheral Au+Au, d+Au and p+p yields scaled by the
corresponding number of nucleon-nucleon collisions. The magnitude, centrality
and p_T dependence of the suppression is common, within errors, for eta and
pi^0. The ratio of eta to pi^0 spectra at high p_T amounts to 0.40 < R_eta/pi^0
< 0.48 for the three systems in agreement with the world average measured in
hadronic and nuclear reactions and, at large scaled momentum, in e^+e^-
collisions.


title:
Vector and tensor analysing powers in deuteron-proton breakup reactions
  at intermediate energies

abstract:
  Vector and tensor analysing powers of the d(pol)p->(pp)n (charge-exchange)
and d(pol)p->(pn)p (non-charge-exchange) breakup reactions have been measured
with the ANKE spectrometer at the COSY ring at a deuteron beam energy of 1170
MeV for small momentum transfers to the low excitation energy (pp) or (pn)
systems. A quantitative understanding of the values of A_xx and A_yy for the
charge-exchange reaction is provided by impulse approximation calculations. The
data suggest that spin-flip isospin-flip transitions, which dominate the
charge-exchange breakup of the deuteron, are also important in the
non-charge-exchange reaction.


title: Limiting fragmentation of chemical potentials in heavy ion collisions

abstract:
  Thermal models have been used to successfully describe the hadron yields from
heavy ion collisions at a variety of energies. For root(S)<17 GeV this has
usually been done using yields integrated over 4pi but at the higher energies
available at RHIC, yields measured at central rapidity have been used. Recent
BRAHMS data allows us to test whether thermal models can be generalized to
describe the rapidity dependence of particle ratios. We have used the THERMUS
package to fit BRAHMS data for the 5% most central Au+Au collisions for several
rapidities at root(S) = 62 and 200 GeV. We have found a relationship between
the strange and light quark chemical potentials, muS = 0.21 +-0.01muB. Using
this relation we are able to describe the energy dependence of Lambda, Xsi and
Omega ratios from other experiments. We also find that the chemical potentials
are consistent with limiting fragmentation.


title:
Inclusive Cross-Sections of (p, xp) and (p, x$\alpha$) Reactions on
  $^{56}$Fe Nucleus at E$_{p}$=29.9 MeV

abstract:
  In this paper, we present new experimental data measured at E$_{p}$=29.9 MeV
for the inclusive reactions (p,xp) and (p,x$\alpha$) on nucleus $^{56}$Fe. We
investigate the adequacy of the theoretical models in explaining the measured
experimental data and we determine the contributions of multi-step direct and
multi-step compound processes in the formation of the cross-sections. We show
that the traditional frameworks are valid for the description of the new
experimental data and our measurements are in agreement with the previous
measurements for the (p,xp) and (p,x$\alpha$) reactions on the $^{54}$Fe
nucleus. The only exception is within the energy region of E$_{p}$=15 and 25
MeV for both reactions, where the cross-section for the $^{56}$Fe nucleus is
smaller than the cross-section for the $^{54}$Fe nucleus.


title: Exploring the Limits of Stability

abstract:
  The discovery of the currently known most neutron- and proton-rich nuclei is
compiled. The compilation includes the year and method of discovery of the last
known bound and the first unbound nuclei along the neutron and proton
driplines.


title:
Measurements of identified particles at intermediate transverse momentum
  in the STAR experiment from Au+Au collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV

abstract:
  Data for Au+Au collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV are analyzed to determine
the ratios of identified hadrons ($\pi$, $K$, $p$, $\Lambda$) as functions of
collision centrality and transverse momentum ($p_T$). We find that ratios of
anti-baryon to baryon yields are independent of $p_T$ up to 5 GeV/c, a result
inconsistent with results of theoretical pQCD calculations that predict a
decrease due to a stronger contribution from valence quark scattering. For both
strange and non-strange species, strong baryon enhancements relative to meson
yields are observed as a function of collision centrality in the intermediate
$p_T$ region, leading to $p/\pi$ and $\Lambda$/K ratios greater than unity. The
increased $p_T$ range offered by the $\Lambda$/K$^{0}_{S}$ ratio allows a test
of the applicability of various models developed for the intermediate $p_{T}$
region. The physics implications of these measurements are discussed with
regard to different theoretical models.


title: Tracking in Antiproton Annihilation Experiments

abstract:
  A major ingredient of the planned new accelerator complex FAIR, to be
constructed at the GSI, Darmstadt, Germany, is the availability of antiproton
beams with high quality and intensity. Among the experiments which will make
use of this opportunity is PANDA, a dedicated experiment to study antiproton
annihilations on nucleons and nuclei. This article gives an overview on the
foreseen techniques to perform charged particle tracking in the high rate
environment of this experiment.


title: Ground state magnetic dipole moment of 35K

abstract:
  The ground state magnetic moment of 35K has been measured using the technique
of nuclear magnetic resonance on beta-emitting nuclei. The short-lived 35K
nuclei were produced following the reaction of a 36Ar primary beam of energy
150 MeV/nucleon incident on a Be target. The spin polarization of the 35K
nuclei produced at 2 degrees relative to the normal primary beam axis was
confirmed. Together with the mirror nucleus 35S, the measurement represents the
heaviest T = 3/2 mirror pair for which the spin expectation value has been
obtained. A linear behavior of gp vs. gn has been demonstrated for the T = 3/2
known mirror moments and the slope and intercept are consistent with the
previous analysis of T = 1/2 mirror pairs.


title:
Bimodality: a possible experimental signature of the liquid-gas phase
  transition of nuclear matter

abstract:
  We have observed a bimodal behaviour of the distribution of the asymmetry
between the charges of the two heaviest products resulting from the decay of
the quasi-projectile released in binary Xe+Sn and Au+Au collisions from 60 to
100 MeV/u. Event sorting has been achieved through the transverse energy of
light charged particles emitted on the quasi-target side, thus avoiding
artificial correlations between the bimodality signal and the sorting variable.
Bimodality is observed for intermediate impact parameters for which the
quasi-projectile is identified. A simulation shows that the deexcitation step
rather than the geometry of the collision appears responsible for the bimodal
behaviour. The influence of mid-rapidity emission has been verified. The two
bumps of the bimodal distribution correspond to different excitation energies
and similar temperatures. It is also shown that it is possible to correlate the
bimodality signal with a change in the distribution of the heaviest fragment
charge and a peak in potential energy fluctuations. All together, this set of
data is coherent with what would be expected in a finite system if the
corresponding system in the thermodynamic limit exhibits a first order phase
transition.


title: Measurements of C_x and C_z for K^+Lambda and K^+Sigma^o Photoproduction

abstract:
  The CLAS collaboration has recently completed first measurements of the
double polarization observables C_x and C_z for the reactions K^+Lambda and
K^+Sigma^o photoproduction. C_x and C_z are the beam-recoil polarization
asymmetries measuring the polarization transfer from incoming circularly
polarized photons to the outgoing hyperons along two directions in the
reaction's production plane. The Lambda is found to be nearly maximally
polarized along the direction of the incident photon's polarization for
forward-going kaons. Polarization transfer to the Sigma^o is different from the
Lambda case.


title: Solar Neutrinos

abstract:
  Experimental work with solar neutrinos has illuminated the properties of
neutrinos and tested models of how the sun produces its energy. Three
experiments continue to take data, and at least seven are in various stages of
planning or construction. In this review, the current experimental status is
summarized, and future directions explored with a focus on the effects of a
non-zero theta-13 and the interesting possibility of directly testing the
luminosity constraint. Such a confrontation at the few-percent level would
provide a prediction of the solar irradiance tens of thousands of years in the
future for comparison with the present-day irradiance. A model-independent
analysis of existing low-energy data shows good agreement between the neutrino
and electromagnetic luminosities at the +/- 20 % level.


title: The pp -> pp pi pi pi reaction channels in the threshold region

abstract:
  The cross section for prompt neutral and charged three pion production in pp
interactions was measured at excess energies in the range 160 - 217 MeV. That
comprises the first measurement of the pp->pp pi0pi0pi0 reaction and the
comparison with the pp->pp pi+pi-pi0 reaction, in a very direct way. The
experiment was performed above the eta meson production threshold and the cross
section normalization was obtained from a concurrent measurement of the
reaction pp->pp eta with the eta decaying into 3 pions. Since the same final
states are selected, the measurement has a low systematical error. The measured
cross section ratio sigma(pp->pp pi+pi-pi0)/sigma(pp->pp pi0\pi0\pi0) is
compared to predictions of dominance of different isobars in the intermediate
state.


title: Hadrons in the Nuclear Medium -- Quarks, Nucleons, or a Bit of Both?

abstract:
  Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is the theory governing the strong interaction
of particles. It describes the interactions that bind quarks and gluons into
protons and neutrons, and binds these into nuclei. We believe QCD to be as
fundamental and complete as QED, the theory of electromagnetic interactions,
whose predictions have been tested to more than ten decimal places. If it were
possible to make calculations in QCD the same way we can in QED, we would have
removed one of the biggest obstacles in the way of understanding matter in the
universe. Unfortunately, the properties of QCD make such calculations
impossible at present. Historically, there have been two approaches to this
problem. First, we work to improve our ability to solve QCD, with the most
visible effort being the field of Lattice QCD. Second, we make models of QCD
that attempt to incorporate what we believe to be the most important
symmetries, dynamics, or degrees of freedom, and then test these models against
experimental measurements sensitive to these assumptions. Even the earliest
quark models of hadrons structure and the simplest bag models have had great
success, far beyond any reasonable expectation, indicating that these models
have isolated some of the key features of QCD. More detailed models and ever
more sophisticated experimental tests are significantly improving such details,
and helping to better identify the most relevant features of QCD, one of the
key missing pieces in our understanding of the nature of matter.


title: System Size and Energy Dependence of Elliptic Flow

abstract:
  The elliptic flow v2 is presented for the Cu+Cu collisions at sqrt{s_NN} =
62.4 and 200 GeV, as a function of pseudorapidity. Comparison to results for
the Au+Au collisions at the same energies shows a reduction of about 20% in the
flow observed for a centrality selection of 0-40%. The centrality dependent
flow, expressed as a function of the number of participants N_part, is compared
for the Cu+Cu and Au+Au systems using two definitions of eccentricity, the
standard definition epsilon_standard and a participant eccentricity
epsilon_part. The v2 / <epsilon_part> as a function of N_part, for the Au+Au
and Cu+Cu collisions are consistent within errors, while v2 /
<epsilon_standard> gives unrealistically large values for Cu+Cu, especially for
central collision.


title:
Average and recommended half-life values for two neutrino double beta
  decay: upgrade'05

abstract:
  All existing ``positive'' results on two neutrino double beta decay in
different nuclei were analyzed. Using the procedure recommended by the Particle
Data Group, weighted average values for half-lives of $^{48}$Ca, $^{76}$Ge,
$^{82}$Se, $^{96}$Zr, $^{100}$Mo, $^{100}$Mo - $^{100}$Ru ($0^+_1$),
$^{116}$Cd, $^{150}$Nd, $^{150}$Nd - $^{150}$Sm ($0^+_1$) and $^{238}$U were
obtained. Existing geochemical data were analyzed and recommended values for
half-lives of $^{128}$Te, $^{130}$Te and $^{130}$Ba are proposed. We recommend
the use of these results as presently the most precise and reliable values for
half-lives.


title:
GABRIELA : a new detector array for gamma-ray and conversion electron
  spectroscopy of transfermium elements

abstract:
  With the aid of the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation package a new detection
system has been designed for the focal plane of the recoil separator VASSILISSA
situated at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, JINR, Dubna. GABRIELA
(Gamma Alpha Beta Recoil Investigations with the Electromagnetic Analyser
VASSILISSA) has been optimised to detect the arrival of reaction products and
their subsequent radioactive decays involving the emission of alpha- and
beta-particles, fission fragments, gamma- and X-rays, and conversion electrons.
The new detector system is described and the results of the first commissioning
experiments are presented.


title:
Forward Neutral Pion Production in p+p and d+Au Collisions at
  sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV

abstract:
  Measurements of the production of forward pi0 mesons from p+p and d+Au
collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV are reported. The p+p yield generally agrees
with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations. The d+Au yield per
binary collision is suppressed as eta increases, decreasing to ~30% of the p+p
yield at <eta>=4.00, well below shadowing expectations. Exploratory
measurements of azimuthal correlations of the forward pi0 with charged hadrons
at eta~0 show a recoil peak in p+p that is suppressed in d+Au at low pion
energy. These observations are qualitatively consistent with a saturation
picture of the low-x gluon structure of heavy nuclei.


title: First measurement of the 14N(p,gamma)15O cross section down to 70 keV

abstract:
  In stars with temperatures above 20*10^6 K, hydrogen burning is dominated by
the CNO cycle. Its rate is determined by the slowest process, the
14N(p,gamma)15O reaction. Deep underground in Italy's Gran Sasso laboratory, at
the LUNA 400 kV accelerator, the cross section of this reaction has been
measured at energies much lower than ever achieved before. Using a windowless
gas target and a 4pi BGO summing detector, direct cross section data has been
obtained down to 70 keV, reaching a value of 0.24 picobarn. The Gamow peak has
been covered by experimental data for several scenarios of stable and explosive
hydrogen burning. In addition, the strength of the 259 keV resonance has been
remeasured. The thermonuclear reaction rate has been calculated for
temperatures 90 - 300 *10^6 K, for the first time with negligible impact from
extrapolations.


title: Nuclear multifragmentation and fission: similarity and differences

abstract:
  Thermal multifragmentation of hot nuclei is interpreted as the nuclear
liquid--fog phase transition deep inside the spinodal region. The experimental
data for p(8.1GeV) + Au collisions are analyzed. It is concluded that the decay
process of hot nuclei is characterized by two size parameters: transition state
and freeze-out volumes. The similarity between dynamics of fragmentation and
ordinary fission is discussed. The IMF emission time is related to the mean
rupture time at the multi-scission point, which corresponds to the kinetic
freeze-out configuration.


title: The Future of High Energy Nuclear Physics in Europe

abstract:
  In less than two years from now, the LHC at CERN will start operating with
protons and later with heavy ions in the multi TeV energy range. With its
unique physics potential and a strong, state-of-the complement of detectors,
the LHC will provide the European, and in fact worldwide Nuclear Physics
community, with a forefront facility to study nuclear matter under extreme
conditions well into the next decade.


title: Studies of the initial and final states of AuAu collisions with BRAHMS

abstract:
  When heavy ions collide at ultra-relativistic energy, thousands of particles
are emitted and it is reasonable to attempt to use hydrodynamic descriptions,
with suitable initial conditions, to describe the time evolution of the
collisons. In the longitudinal direction pions seem to exhibit Landau flow.
This simple model assumes that all the entropy in the collisions is created the
instant the two Lorentz contracted nuclei overlap and that the system then
expands adiabatically. The system also displays radial and elliptic flow.
Radial flow is manifested as a broadening of the pT distributions with respect
to pp collisions. It is typically thought to result from multiple scattering of
partons or hadrons before dynamic freeze-out. Elliptic flow occurs when heavy
ions do not collide exactly head on. The initial geometrical asymetry is
translated into a momentum asymetry via pressure gradiants. Since these
gradients are self quenching, strong elliptic flow is thought to be linked to
early thermalization and a large initial pressure. Using the concept of
limiting fragmentation we attempt to sketch a link between the initial and
final states of relativistic heavy ion collisions using new preliminary data
from the BRAHMS collaboration on elliptic and radial flow.


title: Nuclear Magnetic Moment of the 57Cu Ground State

abstract:
  The nuclear magnetic moment of the ground state of 57Cu has been measured to
be 2.00 +/- 0.05 nuclear magnetons (nm) using the beta-NMR technique. Together
with the known magnetic moment of the mirror partner 57Ni, the spin extraction
value was extracted as -0.78 +/- 0.13. This is the heaviest isospin T=1/2
mirror pair above the 40Ca region, for which both ground state magnetic moments
have been determined. Shell model calculations in full fp shell giving
mu(57Cu)~2.4 nm and <sigma_z> ~0.5 imply significant shell breaking at 56Ni
with the neutron number N=28.


title:
Measurement of the Absolute Differential Cross Section for np Elastic
  Scattering at 194 MeV

abstract:
  A tagged medium-energy neutron beam has been used in a precise measurement of
the absolute differential cross section for np back-scattering. The results
resolve significant discrepancies within the np database concerning the angular
dependence in this regime. The experiment has determined the absolute
normalization with 1.5% uncertainty, suitable to verify constraints of
supposedly comparable precision that arise from the rest of the database in
partial wave analyses. The analysis procedures, especially those associated
with evaluation of systematic errors in the experiment, are described in detail
so that systematic uncertainties may be included in a reasonable way in
subsequent partial wave analysis fits incorporating the present results.


title: Rapidity dependence of high p_T suppression at sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4{GeV}

abstract:
  We present measurements of charged hadron p_T spectra from Au+Au collisions
at sqrt(snn)=62.4 GeV for pseudorapidities eta=0, eta=1 and eta=3.2. Around
midrapidity (eta=0, eta=1) we find nuclear modification factors at levels
suggesting a smaller degree of high p_T suppression than in the same reaction
at higher energy sqrt(snn)=200 GeV. At the high pseudorapidity, eta=3.2, where
nuclear modification factors cannot be constructed due to the lack of p+p
reference data, we find a significant reduction of R_{CP} (central to
peripheral ratio) as compared to midrapidity.


title:
Event-by-event study of DCC-like fluctuation in ultra-relativistic
  nuclear collisions

abstract:
  A method based on sliding window scheme is developed to search for patches in
the pseudorapidity-azimuth plane, on an event-by-event basis, having unusual
fluctuation in the neutral pion fraction which may arise due to the formation
of Disoriented Chrial Condensates (DCC) in high energy nuclear collisions. The
efficiency of the method to extract the patches and the purity of the extracted
sample are studied for possible experimental situations.


title: Cooling Dynamics in Multi-fragmentation processes

abstract:
  Fragment energy spectra of neutron deficient isotopes are significantly more
energetic than those of neutron rich isotopes of the same element. This trend
is well beyond what can be expected for the bulk multi-fragmentation of an
equilibrated system. It can be explained, however, if some of these fragments
are emitted earlier through the surface of the system while it is expanding and
cooling.


title: Charge Symmetry Breaking and QCD

abstract:
  Charge symmetry breaking (CSB) in the strong interaction occurs because of
the difference between the masses of the up and down quarks. The use of
effective field theories allows us to follow this influence of confined quarks
in hadronic and nuclear systems. The progress in observing and understanding
CSB is reviewed with particular attention to the recent successful observations
of CSB in measurements involving the production of a single neutral pion and to
the related theoretical progress.


title:
Probing shell structure and shape changes in neutron-rich sulfur
  isotopes through transient-field g factor measurements on fast radioactive
  beams of 38S and 40S

abstract:
  The shell structure underlying shape changes in neutron-rich nuclei near N=28
has been investigated by a novel application of the transient field technique
to measure the first-excited state g factors in 38S and 40S produced as fast
radioactive beams. There is a fine balance between proton and neutron
contributions to the magnetic moments in both nuclei. The g factor of deformed
40S does not resemble that of a conventional collective nucleus because spin
contributions are more important than usual.


title:
Experimental determination of the symmetry energy of a low density
  nuclear gas

abstract:
  Experimental analyses of moderate temperature nuclear gases produced in the
violent collisions of 35 MeV/nucleon$^{64}$Zn projectiles with $^{92}$Mo and
$^{197}$Au target nuclei reveal a large degree of alpha particle clustering at
low densities. For these gases, temperature and density dependent symmetry
energy coefficients have been derived from isoscaling analyses of the yields of
nuclei with A $\leq 4$. At densities of 0.01 to 0.05 times the ground state
density of symmetric nuclear matter, the temperature and density dependent
symmetry energies are 10.7 to 13.5 MeV. These values are much larger than those
obtained in mean field calculations. They are in quite good agreement with
results of a recently proposed Virial Equation of State calculation.


title:
Time scale of the thermal multifragmentation in p(3.6 GeV) + Au
  collisions

abstract:
  The relative angle correlation of intermediate mass fragments has been
studied for p+Au collisions at 3.6 GeV. Strong suppression at small angles is
observed caused by IMF-IMF Coulomb repulsion. Experimental correlation function
is compared to that obtained by the multi-body Coulomb trajectory calculations
with the various decay time of fragmenting system. The combined model including
the empirically modified intranuclear cascade followed by statistical
multifragmentation was used to generate starting conditions for these
calculations. The model dependence of the results obtained has been carefully
checked. The mean decay time of fragmenting system is found to be 85 +- 50
fm/c.


title:
Excitation of low-lying state by E3 transition in reaction with real
  photons

abstract:
  The yield of the isomeric state 117mSn (Eiso = 314.58 keV) has been measured
in (gamma, gamma') reaction by activation method with the bremsstrahlung
end-point energy from 2.1 to 3.0 MeV. Only one intermediate state (IS)
responsible for the isomer feeding has been found. The excitation energy of the
IS (2.25 +/- 0.05) MeV and photoproduction integral cross section (0.022 +/-
0.002) eV b have been deduced. Microscopic calculations within the
Quasiparticle-phonon model have been performed to learn on the IS structure. We
conclude that the IS is excited in the present experiment by the E3-transition.


title:
Recent results in relativistic heavy ion collisions: from ``a new state
  of matter'' to "the perfect fluid"

abstract:
  Experimental Physics with Relativistic Heavy Ions dates from 1992 when a beam
of 197Au of energy greater than 10A GeV/c first became available at the
Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)
soon followed in 1994 by a 208Pb beam of 158A GeV/c at the Super Proton
Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN (European Center for Nuclear Research). Previous
pioneering measurements at the Berkeley Bevalac in the late 1970's and early
1980's were at much lower bombarding energies (~ 1 A GeV/c) where nuclear
breakup rather than particle production is the dominant inelastic process in
A+A collisions. More recently, starting in 2000, the Relativistic Heavy Ion
Collider (RHIC) at BNL has produced head-on collisions of two 100A GeV beams of
fully stripped Au ions, corresponding to nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy,
sqrt(sNN)=200 GeV, total c.m. energy 200A GeV. The objective of this research
program is to produce nuclear matter with extreme density and temperature,
possibly resulting in a state of matter where the quarks and gluons normally
confined inside individual nucleons (r < 1 fm) are free to act over distances
an order of magnitude larger. Progress from the period 1992 to the present will
be reviewed, with reference to previous results from light ion and
proton-proton collisions where appropriate. Emphasis will be placed on the
measurements which formed the basis for the announcements by the two major
laboratories: "A new state of matter", by CERN on Feb 10, 2000 and "The perfect
fluid", by BNL on April 19, 2005.


title:
Spectroscopy of the odd-odd fp-shell nucleus 52Sc from secondary
  fragmentation

abstract:
  The odd-odd fp-shell nucleus 52Sc was investigated using in-beam gamma-ray
spectroscopy following secondary fragmentation of a 55V and 57Cr cocktail beam.
Aside from the known gamma-ray transition at 674(5)keV, a new decay at
E_gamma=212(3) keV was observed. It is attributed to the depopulation of a
low-lying excited level. This new state is discussed in the framework of
shell-model calculations with the GXPF1, GXPF1A, and KB3G effective
interactions. These calculations are found to be fairly robust for the
low-lying level scheme of 52Sc irrespective of the choice of the effective
interaction. In addition, the frequency of spin values predicted by the shell
model is successfully modeled by a spin distribution formulated in a
statistical approach with an empirical, energy-independent spin-cutoff
parameter.


title:
Isotopic Production Cross Sections in Proton-Nucleus Collisions at 200
  MeV

abstract:
  Intermediate mass fragments (IMF) from the interaction of $^{27}$Al,
$^{59}$Co and $^{197}$Au with 200 MeV protons were measured in an angular range
from 20 degree to 120 degree in the laboratory system. The fragments, ranging
from isotopes of helium up to isotopes of carbon, were isotopically resolved.
Double differential cross sections, energy differential cross sections and
total cross sections were extracted.


title:
Tracing the evolution of the symmetry energy of hot nuclear fragments
  from the compound nucleus towards multifragmentation

abstract:
  The evolution of the symmetry energy coefficient of the binding energy of hot
fragments with increasing excitation is explored in multifragmentation
processes following heavy-ion collisions below the Fermi energy. In this work,
high-resolution mass spectrometric data on isotopic distributions of
projectile-like fragments from collisions of 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr and 64Ni beams
on heavy neutron-rich targets are systematically compared to calculations
involving the Statistical Multifragmentation Model. The study reveals a gradual
decrease of the symmetry energy coefficient from 25 MeV at the compound nucleus
regime (E*/A < 2 MeV) towards 15 MeV in the bulk multifragmentation regime
(E*/A > 4 MeV). The ensuing isotopic distributions of the hot fragments are
found to be very wide and extend towards the neutron drip-line. These findings
may have important implications to the composition and evolution of hot
astrophysical environments, such as core-collapse supernova.


title: Comment on Breakup Densities of Hot Nuclei

abstract:
  In [1,2]the observed decrease in spectral peak energies of IMFs emitted from
hot nuclei was interpreted in terms of a breakup density that decreased with
increasing energy. Subsequently, Raduta et al. [3] performed MMM simulations
that showed decreasing spectral peaks could be obtained at constant density. In
this letter we examine this apparent inconsistency.


title:
High-p_T azimuthal correlations of neutral strange baryons and mesons in
  STAR at RHIC

abstract:
  We present results on two-particle azimuthal correlations of high-$p_T$
neutral strange baryons ($\Lambda$,$\bar{\Lambda}$) and mesons ($K^0_S$)
associated with non-identified charged particles in d+Au and Au+Au collisions
at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. In particular, we discuss properties of the
near-side yield of associated charged particles as a function of centrality,
transverse momentum and $z_T$, as well as possible baryon/meson and
particle/antiparticle differences. The results are compared to the proton and
pion triggered correlations and to fragmentation and recombination models.


title:
Properties of the Initial Participant Matter Interaction Zone in Near
  Fermi-Energy Heavy Ion Collisions

abstract:
  The sizes, temperatures and free neutron to proton ratios of the initial
interaction zones produced in the collisions of 40 MeV/nucleon $^{40}$Ar +
$^{112}$Sn and 55 MeV/nucleon$^{27}$Al + $^{124}$Sn are derived using total
detected neutron plus charged particle multiplicity as a measure of the impact
parameter range and number of participant nucleons. The size of the initial
interaction zone, determined from a coalescence model analysis, increases
significantly with decreasing impact parameter. The temperatures and free
neutron to proton ratios in the interaction zones are relatively similar for
different impact parameter ranges and evolve in a similar fashion.


title:
Nuclear Effects on Hadron Production in d+Au and p+p Collisions at
  sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV

abstract:
  PHENIX has measured the centrality dependence of mid-rapidity pion, kaon and
proton transverse momentum distributions in d+Au and p+p collisions at
sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The p+p data provide a reference for nuclear effects in
d+Au and previously measured Au+Au collisions. Hadron production is enhanced in
d+Au, relative to independent nucleon-nucleon scattering, as was observed in
lower energy collisions. The nuclear modification factor for (anti) protons is
larger than that for pions. The difference increases with centrality, but is
not sufficient to account for the abundance of baryon production observed in
central Au+Au collisions at RHIC. The centrality dependence in d+Au shows that
the nuclear modification factor increases gradually with the number of
collisions suffered by each participant nucleon. We also present comparisons
with lower energy data as well as with parton recombination and other
theoretical models of nuclear effects on particle production.


title:
The WITCH experiment: completion of a set-up to investigate the
  structure of weak interactions with a Penning trap

abstract:
  The WITCH experiment aims to study a possible admixture of a scalar or tensor
type interaction in beta decay by determining the beta-neutrino angular
correlation from the shape of the recoil energy spectrum. The installation
period was completed and intensive commissioning of the set-up was performed
already. The lay-out of the WITCH set-up and results of commissioning tests
performed until now are described here, showing that the full set-up up to the
spectrometer is now operational, although several efficiencies are still to be
improved. Due to its feature of being able to measure the energy spectrum for
recoil ions, the WITCH experiment also opens possibilities for other
observables.


title: Five Years of Tracking Heavy Ion Collisions at RHIC

abstract:
  Five years have passed since the first collisions of Au nuclei at the
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)
on Long Island. With nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of up to
sqrt(s_NN)=200GeV RHIC provides the highest energy heavy ion collisions at any
existing collider. To study the dynamics of nuclear matter at extreme
temperatures and pressures hundreds of produced particles need to be tracked
and identified, which provides a sizable challenge to the four experiments.
This article tries to summarize these first years of RHIC operation from the
detector point of view and give a glimpse at the future of the accelerator and
its experiments.


title:
Nuclear mass number dependence of inclusive production of omega and phi
  mesons in 12 GeV p + A collisions

abstract:
  The inclusive production of omega and phi mesons is studied in the backward
region of the interaction of 12 GeV protons with polyethylene, carbon, and
copper targets. The mesons are measured in e^+ e^- decay channels. The
production cross sections of the mesons are presented as functions of rapidity
y and transverse momentum p_T. The nuclear mass number dependences (A
dependences) are found to be A^{0.710 +/- 0.021(stat) +/- 0.037(syst)} for
omega mesons and A^{0.937 +/- 0.049(stat) +/- 0.018(syst)} for phi mesons in
the region of 0.9 < y < 1.7 and p_T < 0.75 GeV/c.


title: Heavy quark and J/psi production at RHIC/PHENIX

abstract:
  Single electrons from open heavy quarks and di-leptons from J/psi mesons have
been studied systematically at RHIC/PHENIX using data from p + p, d + Au and Au
+ Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV, 130 GeV and 200 GeV. From the
single electron study, the charm quark yield is found to scale with the number
of binary collisions. This scaling has recently been confirmed using Au+Au
collisions at 62.4 GeV. A new analysis shows that a high p_T suppression of
single electrons is observed in Au + Au collisions at 200 GeV. This suppression
suggests that heavy quarks lose significant energy in the medium. A weak
rapidity dependence is seen in J/psi yields from d + Au data, which can be
interpreted as a cold matter effect. We report also the results of a
measurement of the spin alignment of the J/psi in the p_T range around 1.5
GeV/c.


title:
Population of bound excited states in intermediate-energy fragmentation
  reactions

abstract:
  Fragmentation reactions with intermediate-energy heavy-ion beams exhibit a
wide range of reaction mechanisms, ranging from direct reactions to statistical
processes. We examine this transition by measuring the relative population of
excited states in several sd-shell nuclei produced by fragmentation with the
number of removed nucleons ranging from two to sixteen. The two-nucleon removal
is consistent with a non-dissipative process whereas the removal of more than
five nucleons appears to be mainly statistical.


title:
Reply to ``Comment on `Symmetry energy and the isospin dependent
  equation of state' "

abstract:
  We show that the large sequential decay corrections obtained by Ono {\it et
al} [nucl-ex/0507018], is in contradiction with both the other dynamical and
statistical model calculations carried out for the same systems and energy. On
the other hand, the conclusion of Shetty {\it {et al.}} $[$Phys. Rev. C 70,
011601R (2004)$]$, that the experimental data favors Gogny$-$AS interaction
(obtained assuming a significantly smaller sequential decay effects), is
consistent with several other independent studies.


title:
Azimuthal Angle Correlations for Rapidity Separated Hadron Pairs in d+Au
  Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

abstract:
  We report on two-particle azimuthal angle correlations between charged
hadrons at forward/backward (deuteron/gold going direction) rapidity and
charged hadrons at mid-rapidity in deuteron-gold (d+Au) and proton-proton (p+p)
collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. Jet structures are observed in the
correlations which we quantify in terms of the conditional yield and angular
width of away side partners. The kinematic region studied here samples partons
in the gold nucleus carrying nucleon momentum fraction x~0.1 to x~0.01. Within
this range, we find no x dependence of the jet structure in d+Au collisions.


title: The analysing power for the p(pol)p --> pp eta reaction at Q=10 MeV

abstract:
  The analyzing power A_y for the p(pol)p --> pp eta reaction has been
determined at the beam momentum p_{beam}=2010 MeV/c, corresponding to the
excess energy Q=10 MeV. In the paper the method of the data analysis is briefly
presented.


title:
Measurement of the Gamow-Teller Strength Distribution in 58Co via the
  58Ni(t,3He) reaction at 115 MeV/nucleon

abstract:
  Electron capture and beta decay play important roles in the evolution of
pre-supernovae stars and their eventual core collapse. These rates are normally
predicted through shell-model calculations. Experimentally determined strength
distributions from charge-exchange reactions are needed to test modern
shell-model calculations. We report on the measurement of the Gamow-Teller
strength distribution in 58Co from the 58Ni(t,3He) reaction with a secondary
triton beam of an intensity of ~10^6 pps at 115 MeV/nucleon and a resolution of
\~250 keV. Previous measurements with the 58Ni(n,p) and the 58Ni(d,2He)
reactions were inconsistent with each other. Our results support the latter. We
also compare the results to predictions of large-scale shell model calculations
using the KB3G and GXPF1 interactions and investigate the impact of differences
between the various experiments and theories in terms of the weak rates in the
stellar environment. Finally, the systematic uncertainties in the normalization
of the strength distribution extracted from 58Ni(3He,t) are described and turn
out to be non-negligible due to large interferences between the dL=0, dS=1
Gamow-Teller amplitude and the dL=2, dS=1 amplitude.


title: New pathway to bypass the 15O waiting point

abstract:
  We propose the sequential reaction process
$^{15}$O($p$,$\gamma)(\beta^{+}$)$^{16}$O as a new pathway to bypass of the
$^{15}$O waiting point. This exotic reaction is found to have a surprisingly
high cross section, approximately 10$^{10}$ times higher than the
$^{15}$O($p$,$\beta^{+}$)$^{16}$O. These cross sections were calculated after
precise measurements of energies and widths of the proton-unbound $^{16}$F low
lying states, obtained using the H($^{15}$O,p)$^{15}$O reaction. The large
$(p,\gamma)(\beta^{+})$ cross section can be understood to arise from the more
efficient feeding of the low energy wing of the ground state resonance by the
gamma decay. The implications of the new reaction in novae explosions and X-ray
bursts are discussed.


title: The Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn Sum Rule

abstract:
  In the confinement regime at Q^2=0 the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn (GDH) Sum Rule
connects static properties of the nucleon with the difference of spin dependent
doubly polarized total absorption cross sections of real photons. Now, for the
first time this fundamental sum rule is verified by the GDH-Collaboration with
circularly polarized real photons and longitudinally polarized nucleons at the
two accelerators ELSA and MAMI. The integral (sum) of the GDH Sum Rule can be
generalized to the case of virtual photons. This allows to establish a Q^2
dependency and to study the transition to the perturbative regime of QCD.
Ultimately, the GDH Sum Rule can be related to the Bjorken and the Ellis-Jaffe
Sum Rule. This contribution covers the status of theory concerning the GDH Sum
Rule as well as the experimental approaches and their results for the
absorption of real and virtual photons. We point out that the so-called
No-Subtraction hypothesis, often considered the weakest part of the derivation
of the GDH Sum Rule, in fact follows from unitarity and does not impair the
fundamental character of the GDH Sum Rule. The shown experimental data verify
the GDH Sum Rule for the proton at the level of 8% including the systematic
uncertainties from extrapolations to unmeasured energy regions. For the GDH Sum
Rule on the neutron and the isovector case we find unexpected contributions at
photon energies above 1 GeV.


title: Recoil Products from p+$^{118}Sn$ and d+$^{118}Sn$ at 3.65 GeV/A

abstract:
  The recoil properties of the product nuclei from the interaction of 3.65
GeV/nucleon protons and deuterons with $^{118}Sn$ target have been studied by
the method of catching foils on the beams of LHE JINR.
  The mathematical formalism of the standard two step vector model was used for
the analysis of experimental results. The obtained results for the protons are
compared with the ones obtained for the deuterons. The total energy of the
deuterons beam was 3.65GeV/nucleon. It is interesting to note that the forward
velocity v and the recoil nuclei kinetic energy increases linearly with the
increase of mass loss of target $\Delta A$, but seems to change its slope at
around $\Delta A=60$. It seems that light and medium mass products are produced
partly by a fragmentation mechanism.


title: Study of the 3He-eta system in d-p collisions at COSY-11

abstract:
  We present preliminary results from dp --> 3He X (X=pi0,eta) measurements
near the eta production threshold. The data were taken during a slow ramping of
the COSY internal deuteron beam scattered on a proton target. The 3He ejectiles
were registered with the COSY-11 detection setup. The ongoing data analysis
should deliver high precision data for the dp --> 3He eta total and
differential cross sections for the excess energies in the range from threshold
up to 9 MeV. The preliminary excitation function for the reaction dp --> 3He
pi0 does not show any structure which could originate from the decay of 3He-eta
bound state. We present also a threshold excitation curve for the dp --> 3He X
channel. Contrary to corresponding results from SATURNE we see no cusp in the
vicinity of the eta threshold.


title: Influence of projectile <alpha>- breakup threshold on complete fusion

abstract:
  Complete fusion excitations for 11,10B+159Tb have been measured at energies
around the respective Coulomb barriers, and the existing complete fusion
measurements for 7Li+159Tb have been extended to higher energies. The
measurements show significant reduction of complete fusion cross sections at
above-barrier energies for both the reactions, 10B+159Tb and 7Li+159Tb, when
compared to those for 11B+159Tb. The comparison shows that the extent of
suppression of complete fusion cross sections is correlated with the
<alpha>-separation energies of the projectiles. Also, the two reactions,
10B+159Tb and 7Li+159Tb were found to produce incomplete fusion products at
energies near the respective Coulomb barriers, with the <alpha>- particle
emitting channel being the favoured incomplete fusion process in both the
cases.


title: Correlation Femtoscopy for Studying Eta Meson Production Mechanism

abstract:
  The high statistics data from the pp -> ppeta reaction measurement, delivered
by the COSY-11 collaboration, are now being evaluated using the correlation
femtoscopy technique. This method is based on the relative momentum
correlations of two emitted protons and may permit determination of the size of
the reaction volume. For the very first time, we apply an intensity
interferometry technique to study the mechanism of the meson production via the
nucleon-nucleon interaction close to the kinematical threshold. We invented a
method to determine correlation function for the ppeta system free from the
physical multi-pion production background. We show the comparison of
experimental results with theoretical predictions and appraise the accuracy
achieved for the determination of the size of the emission source.


title:
Forward-Backward Multiplicity Correlations in sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
  Gold-Gold Collisions

abstract:
  Forward-backward correlations of charged-particle multiplicities in symmetric
bins in pseudorapidity are studied in order to gain insight into the underlying
correlation structure of particle production in Au+Au collisions. The PHOBOS
detector is used to measure integrated multiplicities in bins centered at eta,
defined within |eta|<3, and covering intervals Delta-eta. The variance
sigma^2_C of a suitably defined forward-backward asymmetry variable C is
calculated as a function of eta, Delta-eta, and centrality. It is found to be
sensitive to short range correlations, and the concept of "clustering'' is used
to interpret comparisons to phenomenological models.


title: Isoscaling and the symmetry energy in spectator fragmentation

abstract:
  Isoscaling and its relation to the symmetry energy in the fragmentation of
excited residues produced at relativistic energies were studied in two
experiments conducted at the GSI laboratory. The INDRA multidetector has been
used to detect and identify light particles and fragments with Z <= 5 in
collisions of 12C on 112,124Sn at incident energies of 300 and 600 MeV per
nucleon. Isoscaling is observed, and the deduced parameters decrease with
increasing centrality. Symmetry term coefficients, deduced within the
statistical description of isotopic scaling, are near gamma = 25 MeV for
peripheral and gamma < 15 MeV for central collisions.
  In a very recent experiment with the ALADIN spectrometer, the possibility of
using secondary beams for reaction studies at relativistic energies has been
explored. Beams of 107Sn, 124Sn, 124La, and 197Au were used to investigate the
mass and isospin dependence of projectile fragmentation at 600 MeV per nucleon.
The decrease of the isoscaling parameters is confirmed and extended over the
full fragmentation regime covered in these reactions.


title: Reaction plane dispersion at intermediate energies

abstract:
  A method to derive the corrections for the dispersion of the reaction plane
at intermediate energies is proposed. The method is based on the correlated,
non-isotropic Gaussian approximation. It allowed to construct the excitation
function of genuine flow values for the Au+Au reactions at 40-150 MeV/nucleon
measured with the INDRA detector at GSI.


title: Inclusive quasi-elastic electron-nucleus scattering

abstract:
  This article presents a review of the field of inclusive quasi-elastic
electron-nucleus scattering. It discusses the approach used to measure the data
and includes a compilation of data available in numerical form. The theoretical
approaches used to interpret the data are presented. A number of results
obtained from the comparison between experiment and calculation are then
reviewed. The analogies and differences to other fields of physics exploiting
quasi-elastic scattering from composite systems are pointed out.


title: A measurement of the 4He(g,n) reaction from 23 < Eg < 70 MeV

abstract:
  A comprehensive set of 4He(g,n) absolute cross-section measurements has been
performed at MAX-lab in Lund, Sweden. Tagged photons from 23 < Eg < 70 MeV were
directed toward a liquid 4He target, and neutrons were identified using
pulse-shape discrimination and the Time-of-flight Technique in two
liquid-scintillator detector arrays. Seven-point angular distributions have
been measured for fourteen photon energies. The results have been subjected to
complementary Transition-coefficient and Legendre-coefficient analyses. The
results are also compared to experimental data measured at comparable photon
energies as well as Recoil-Corrected Continuum Shell Model, Resonating Group
Method, and Effective Interaction Hyperspherical-Harmonic Expansion
calculations. For photon energies below 29 MeV, the angle-integrated data are
significantly larger than the values recommended by Calarco, Berman, and
Donnelly in 1983.


title: Lambda(1520) production in d+Au collisions at RHIC

abstract:
  Recent results of $\Lambda$(1520) resonance production in d+Au collisions at
$\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = $ 200 GeV are presented and discussed in terms of the
evolution and freeze-out conditions of a hot and dense fireball medium. Yields
and spectra are compared to results from p+p and Au+Au collisions. The
$\Lambda$(1520)/$\Lambda$ ratio in d+Au collisions ratio is consistent with the
ratio in p+p collisions. This suggests a short time for elastic interactions
between chemical and thermal freeze-out. One can conclude that the interaction
volume in d+Au collisions is small.


title: An archive for quasi-elastic electron-nucleus scattering data

abstract:
  In connection with a review article on inclusive quasi-elastic
electron-nucleus scattering submitted to Reviews of Modern Physics, we have
collected as many cross sections as possible, and placed them in an
web-archive. This brief note is intended to alert potential users of these data
to this resource.


title: Half-life and spin of 60Mn^g

abstract:
  A value of 0.28 +/- 0.02 s has been deduced for the half-life of the ground
state of 60Mn, in sharp contrast to the previously adopted value of 51 +/- 6 s.
Access to the low-spin 60Mn ground state was accomplished via beta decay of the
0+ 60Cr parent nuclide. New, low-energy states in 60Mn have been identified
from beta-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy. The new, shorter half-life of 60Mn^g
is not suggestive of isospin forbidden beta decay, and new spin and parity
assignments of 1+ and 4+ have been adopted for the ground and isomeric
beta-decaying states, respectively, of 60Mn.


title:
Level density of $^{56}$Fe and low-energy enhancement of
  $\gamma$-strength function

abstract:
  The $^{55}$Mn$(d,n)^{56}$Fe differential cross section is measured at $E_d=7$
MeV\@. The $^{56}$Fe level density obtained from neutron evaporation spectra is
compared to the level density extracted from the
$^{57}$Fe$(^3$He,$\alpha\gamma)^{56}$Fe reaction by the Oslo-type technique.
Good agreement is found between the level densities determined by the two
methods. With the level density function obtained from the neutron evaporation
spectra, the $^{56}$Fe $\gamma$-strength function is also determined from the
first-generation $\gamma$ matrix of the Oslo experiment. The good agreement
between the past and present results for the $\gamma$-strength function
supports the validity of both methods and is consistent with the low-energy
enhancement of the $\gamma$ strength below $\sim 4$ MeV first discovered by the
Oslo method in iron and molybdenum isotopes.


title: Clustering in light nuclei in fragmentation above 1 A GeV

abstract:
  The relativistic invariant approach is applied to analyzing the 3.3 A GeV
$^{22}$Ne fragmentation in a nuclear track emulsion. New results on few-body
dissociations have been obtained from the emulsion exposures to 2.1 A GeV
$^{14}$N and 1.2 A GeV $^{9}$Be nuclei. It can be asserted that the use of the
invariant approach is an effective means of obtaining conclusions about the
behavior of systems involving a few He nuclei at a relative energy close to 1
MeV per nucleon. The first observations of fragmentation of 1.2 A GeV $^{8}$B
and $^{9}$C nuclei in emulsion are described. The presented results allow one
to justify the development of few-body aspects of nuclear astrophysics.


title:
Arguments for a "U.S. Kamioka": SNOLab and its Implications for North
  American Underground Science Planning

abstract:
  We argue for a cost-effective, long-term North American underground science
strategy based on partnership with Canada and initial construction of a modest
U.S. Stage I laboratory designed to complement SNOLab. We show, by reviewing
the requirements of detectors now in the R&D phase, that SNOLab and a properly
designed U.S. Stage I facility would be capable of meeting the needs of North
America's next wave of underground experiments. We discuss one opportunity for
creating a Stage I laboratory, the Pioneer tunnel in Washington State, a site
that could be developed to provide dedicated, clean, horizontal access. This
unused tunnel, part of the deepest (1040 m) tunnel system in the U.S., would
allow the U.S. to establish, at low risk and low cost, a laboratory at a depth
(2.12 km.w.e., or kilometers of water equivalent) quite similar to that of the
Japanese laboratory Kamioka (2.04 km.w.e.). We describe studies of cosmic ray
attenuation important to properly locating such a laboratory, and the tunnel
improvements that would be required to produce an optimal Stage I facility. We
also discuss possibilities for far-future Stage II (3.62 km.w.e.) and Stage III
(5.00 km.w.e.) developments at the Pioneer tunnel, should future North American
needs for deep space exceed that available at SNOLab.


title: Decay modes of 250No

abstract:
  The Fragment Mass Analyzer at the ATLAS facility has been used to
unambiguously identify the mass number associated with different decay modes of
the nobelium isotopes produced via 204Pb(48Ca,xn)(252-x)No reactions.
Isotopically pure (>99.7%) 204Pb targets were used to reduce background from
more favored reactions on heavier lead isotopes. Two spontaneous fission
half-lives (t_1/2 = 3.7+1.1-0.8 us and 43+22-15 us) were deduced from a total
of 158 fission events. Both decays originate from 250No rather than from
neighboring isotopes as previously suggested. The longer activity most likely
corresponds to a K-isomer in this nucleus. No conclusive evidence for an alpha
branch was observed, resulting in upper limits of 2.1% for the shorter lifetime
and 3.4% for the longer activity.


title:
De-excitation gamma-rays from the s-hole state in 15N associated with
  proton decay in 16O

abstract:
  We have measured de-excitation gamma-rays from the s-hole state in 15N
produced via the 16O(p,2p)15N reaction in relation to the study of the nucleon
decay and the neutrino neutral-current interaction in water Cherenkov
detectors. In the excitation-energy region of the s-hole state between 16 MeV
and 40 MeV in 15N, the branching ratio of emitting gamma-rays with the energies
at more-than-6 MeV are found to be 15.6+-1.3+0.6-1.0%. Taking into account the
spectroscopic factor of the s-hole state, the total emission probability is
found to be 3.1%. This is about 1/10 compared with the emission probability of
the 6.32 MeV gamma-ray from the 3/2- p-hole state in 15N. Moreover, we searched
for a 15.1 MeV gamma-ray from the 12C 1+ state which may be populated after the
particle-decay of the s-hole state in 15N. Such a high energy gamma-ray from
the hole state would provide a new method to search for mode-independent
nucleon decay even if the emission probability is small. No significant signal
is found within a statistical uncertainty.


title:
Dissociation of relativistic nuclei in peripheral interactions in
  nuclear track emulsion

abstract:
  Possibilities of the nuclear emulsion technique for the study of the systems
of several relativistic fragments produced in the peripheral interactions of
relativistic nuclei are discussed. The interactions of the $^{10}$B and
$^{9}$Be nuclei in emulsion are taken as an example to show the manifestation
of the cluster degrees of freedom in relativistic fragmentation. For the case
of the relativistic $^{9}$Be nucleus dissociation it is shown that exact
angular measurements play a crucial role in the restoration of the excitation
spectrum of the alpha particle fragments. The energy calibration of the angular
measurements by the $^{9}$Be nucleus enables one to conclude reliably about the
features of internal velocity distributions in more complicated systems of
relativistic $\alpha$ particles.


title: Strangeness production in small and large collisions systems at RHIC

abstract:
  We present measurements of strange and multi-strange hadrons in p+p
collisions at $\sqrt{s}$= 200 GeV measured by STAR. We will compare these
preliminary results to leading-order (LO) and next-to-leading order (NLO)
perturbative QCD models widely believed to describe the production mechanisms.
In particular we will point out recent changes of the model calculations which
improve the agreement with our data significantly and will discuss the physics
consequences. In larger collision systems, produced with heavy ions at RHIC, we
observe the centrality dependence of strange and multi-strange particle
production. The non-linear dependency between (anti)-hyperon yields and the
system size \Npart seems to indicate that the correlation volume does not scale
exactly with \Npart in contradiction to previous assumptions by thermal models.


title:
Studies of light nicleus clustering in relativistic multifragmentation
  processes

abstract:
  We give an overview of results and prospects of nuclear clustering studies on
the grounds of the observations of interactions of light stable and radioactive
nuclei with an initial energy above 1 A GeV in nuclear emulsions. Thank to the
best spatial resolution and the full solid angle acceptance provided by nuclear
emulsions, such an approach allows one to obtain unique and evident
observations reecting cluster-like features in light nuclear structures. New
results on dissociation of $^7$Be in very peripheral interactions with emulsion
nuclei are presented. The importance of this research for the physics of few
body nuclear systems and the related problems of nucleosynthesis is noted. The
paper is illustrated with characteristic images obtained by means of a
microscope equipped with a CCD camera. The discussed explorations are provided
with the beams of the Synchrophasotron and Nuclotron of JINR, Dubna. Future
investigations are suggested to be carried out in relativistic beams of He, Be,
B, C, and N isotopes.


title: Extracting nucleon strange and anapole form factors from world data

abstract:
  The complete world set of parity violating electron scattering data up to
Q^2~0.3 GeV^2 is analysed. We extract the current experimental determination of
the strange electric and magnetic form factors of the proton, as well as the
weak axial form factors of the proton and neutron, at Q^2 = 0.1 GeV^2. Within
experimental uncertainties, we find that the strange form factors are
consistent with zero, as are the anapole contributions to the axial form
factors. Nevertheless, the correlation between the strange and anapole
contributions suggest that there is only a small probability that these form
factors all vanish simultaneously.


title: Scaling Characteristics of Azimuthal Anisotropy at RHIC

abstract:
  Recent differential measurements of elliptic flow are used to probe several
hydrodynamic scaling predictions. Eccentricity scaling is observed for Cu+Cu
and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=~200$ GeV, suggesting essentially
complete thermalization of the high energy density matter produced in these
collisions. An estimate of the speed of sound is also obtained from the
eccentricity scaled elliptic flow. The predicted mass scaling is observed for
particles with transverse kinetic energy KE$_T$ up to $\sim 1$ GeV. For KE$_T$
values above $\sim 1$ GeV, valence quark number scaling compatible with
partonic degrees of freedom is observed.


title: Light-Ion-Induced Multifragmentation: The ISiS Project

abstract:
  An extensive study of GeV light-ion-induced multifragmentation and its
possible interpretation in terms of a nuclear liquid-gas phase transition has
been performed with the Indiana Silicon Sphere (ISiS)4 pi detector array.
Measurements were performed with 5-15 GeV/c p, pbar, and pion beams incident on
$^{197}$Au and 2-5 GeV $^3$He incident on $^{nat}$Ag and $^{197}$Au targets.
Both the reaction dynamics and the subsequent decay of the heavy residues have
been explored. The data provide evidence for a dramatic change in the reaction
observables near an excitation energy of E*/A = 4-5 MeV per residue nucleon. In
this region, fragment multiplicities and energy spectra indicate emission from
an expanded/dilute source on a very short time scale (20-50 fm/c). These
properties, along with caloric curve and scaling-law behavior, yield a pattern
that is consistent with a nuclear liquid-gas phase transition.


title:
Lowest Q^2 Measurement of the gamma*p -> Delta Reaction: Probing the
  Pionic Contribution

abstract:
  To determine nonspherical angular momentum amplitudes in hadrons at long
ranges (low Q^2), data were taken for the p(\vec{e},e'p)\pi^0 reaction in the
Delta region at Q^2=0.060 (GeV/c)^2 utilizing the magnetic spectrometers of the
A1 Collaboration at MAMI. The results for the dominant transition magnetic
dipole amplitude and the quadrupole to dipole ratios at W=1232 MeV are:
M_{1+}^{3/2} = (40.33 +/- 0.63_{stat+syst} +/- 0.61_{model})
(10^{-3}/m_{\pi^+}),Re(E_{1+}^{3/2}/M_{1+}^{3/2}) = (-2.28 +/- 0.29_{stat+syst}
+/- 0.20_{model})%, and Re(S_{1+}^{3/2}/M_{1+}^{3/2}) = (-4.81 +/-
0.27_{stat+syst} +/- 0.26_{model})%. These disagree with predictions of
constituent quark models but are in reasonable agreement with lattice
calculations with non-linear (chiral) pion mass extrapolations, with chiral
effective field theory, and with dynamical models with pion cloud effects.
These results confirm the dominance, and general Q^2 variation, of the pionic
contribution at large distances.


title: Cumulative Processes

abstract:
  In this report we talk about nowadays situation with the cumulative effect
studies. The experimental programm for the nuclotron and other facilities is
proposed.


title:
Is it possible to observe a suppressing of $\beta$-decay caused by an
  atomic substance - plasma transition ?

abstract:
  It is supposed that $\beta$-decay can be slightly suppressed at an atomic
substance - plasma transition under a plasma electron gas action. The
estimation shows that this effect can give a relative difference of the decay
amount on a level of $10^{-4}$.


title:
Measurements of high-pT neutral mesons in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV
  Au+Au and Cu+Cu Collisions at RHIC-PHENIX

abstract:
  Measurements from the RHIC experiments show strong suppression of high-pT
hadrons in central Au+Au collisions. The PHENIX experiment has observed strong
suppression of $\pi^0$ and charged hadron yields in central Au+Au collisions
for pT > 5 GeV/c regardless of pT and particle species. The observed
suppression is interpreted in terms of energy loss of quarks in a high-density
medium.
  The PHENIX Year-4 Au+Au measurements have extended the pT reach of the
$\pi^0$ spectra to 20 GeV/c. And the PHENIX Year-5 Cu+Cu measurements performed
for the study of particle production in a lighter system and they can provide
the system-size dependence of the suppression. The suppression patterns of
$\pi^0$/$\eta$ at high pT are presented for each collision system
(Au+Au/Cu+Cu).


title:
Charged Particle Multiplicities in Ultra-relativistic Au+Au and Cu+Cu
  Collisions

abstract:
  The PHOBOS collaboration has carried out a systematic study of charged
particle multiplicities in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic
Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. A unique feature
of the PHOBOS detector is its ability to measure charged particles over a very
wide angular range from 0.5 to 179.5 deg. corresponding to |eta|<5.4. The
general features of the charged particle multiplicity distributions as a
function of pseudo-rapidity, collision energy and centrality, as well as system
size, are discussed.


title:
Direct observation of dijets in central Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) =
  200 GeV

abstract:
  The STAR Collaboration at RHIC reports measurements of azimuthal correlations
of high transverse momentum (p_T) charged hadrons in Au+Au collisions at higher
p_T than reported previously. As p_T is increased, a narrow, back-to-back peak
emerges above the decreasing background, providing a clear dijet signal for all
collision centralities studied. Using these correlations, we perform a
systematic study of dijet production and suppression in nuclear collisions,
providing new constraints on the mechanisms underlying partonic energy loss in
dense matter.


title:
Strange baryon resonance production in $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV $p+p$
  and $Au+Au$ collisions

abstract:
  We report the measurements of $\Sigma (1385)$ and $\Lambda (1520)$ production
in $p+p$ and $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV from the STAR
collaboration. The yields and the $p_{T}$ spectra are presented and discussed
in terms of chemical and thermal freeze-out conditions and compared to model
predictions. Thermal and microscopic models do not adequately describe the
yields of all the resonances produced in central $Au+Au$ collisions. Our
results indicate that there may be a time-span between chemical and thermal
freeze-out during which elastic hadronic interactions occur.


title: The Coulomb Dissociation of 8B; A Triumph of Good Science

abstract:
  The GSI1, GSI2 (as well as the RIKEN2 and the corrected GSI2) measurements of
the Coulomb Dissociation (CD) of 8B are in good agreement with the most recent
Direct Capture (DC) 7Be(p,g)8B reaction measurement performed at Weizmann and
in agreement with the Seattle result. Yet it was claimed that the CD and DC
results are sufficiently different and need to be reconciled. We show that
these statements arise from a misunderstanding (as well as misrepresentation)
of CD experiments. We recall a similar strong statement questioning the
validity of the CD method due to an invoked large E2 component that was also
shown to arise from a misunderstanding of the CD method. In spite of the good
agreement between DC and CD data the slope of the astrophysical cross section
factor (S17) can not be extracted with high accuracy due to a discrepancy
between the recent DC data as well as a discrepancy of the three reports of the
GSI CD data. The slope is directly related to the d-wave component that
dominates at higher energies and must be subtracted from measured data to
extrapolate to zero energy. Hence the uncertainty of the measured slope leads
to an additional uncertainty of the extrapolated zero energy cross section
factor, S17(0). This uncertainty must be alleviated by future experiments to
allow a precise determination of S17(0), a goal that so far has not be achieved
in spite of strong statement(s) that appeared in the literature.


title: On the muon neutrino mass

abstract:
  During the runs of the PS 179 experiment at LEAR of CERN, we photographed an
event of antiproton-Ne absorption, with a complete pi+ -> mu+ ->e+ chain. From
the vertex of the reaction a very slow energy pi+ was emitted. The pi+ decays
into a mu+ and subsequently the mu+ decays into a positron. At the first decay
vertex a muon neutrino was emitted and at the second decay vertex an electron
neutrino and a muon antineutrino. Measuring the pion and muon tracks and
applying the momentum and energy conservation and using a classical statistical
interval estimator, we obtained an experimental upper limit for the muon
neutrino mass: m_nu < 2.2 MeV at a 90% confidence level. A statistical analysis
has been performed of the factors contributing to the square value of the
neutrino mass limit.


title: Production of Fast Neutron With Plasma Focus Device

abstract:
  Before its demise DIANA Hi-TECH, LLC, demonstrated the use of two 50 kJoule
Plasma Focus devices for the copius production of fast neutrons, x-rays and
radio-isotopes. Such a device is suitable for fast neutron non invasive
interogation of contra-band materials including hidden nuclear materials. It
could be particularly useful for a fast and fail safe interogation of large
cargo containers, or in merchant marine port of entries. The performance and
fast neutron production (2.5 or 14 MeV at 10^11 or 10^13 neutrons per pulse,
respectively) of the two PF50 Plasma Focus devices produced by DIANA HiTECH,
LLC, are discussed.


title: Compilation of Giant Electric Dipole Resonances Built on Excited States

abstract:
  Giant Electric Dipole Resonance (GDR) parameters for gamma decay to excited
states with finite spin and temperature are compiled. Over 100 original works
have been reviewed and from some 70 of which more than 300 parameter sets of
hot GDR parameters for different isotopes, excitation energies, and spin
regions have been extracted. All parameter sets have been brought onto a common
footing by calculating the equivalent Lorentzian parameters. The current
compilation is complementary to an earlier compilation by Samuel S. Dietrich
and Barry L. Berman (At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 38(1988)199-338) on
ground-state photo-neutron and photo-absorption cross sections and their
Lorentzian parameters. A comparison of the two may help shed light on the
evolution of GDR parameters with temperature and spin. The present compilation
is current as of January 2006.


title: Direct Photons in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

abstract:
  The PHENIX experiment has measured direct photons at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200
GeV in $p+p$, $d$+Au and Au+Au collisions. For $p_{T}$ $<$ 4 GeV/$c$, the
internal conversion into $e^{+}e^{-}$ pairs has been used to measure the direct
photons in Au+Au.


title:
Extraction of the Neutron Magnetic Form Factor from Quasi-Elastic
  3He(pol)(e(pol),e') at Q^2 = 0.1 - 0.6 (GeV/c)^2

abstract:
  We have measured the spin-dependent transverse asymmetry, A_T', in
quasi-elastic inclusive electron scattering from polarized 3He with high
precision at Q^2 = 0.1 to 0.6 (GeV/c)^2. The neutron magnetic form factor, GMn,
was extracted at Q^2 = 0.1 and 0.2 (GeV/c)^2 using a non-relativistic Faddeev
calculation that includes both final-state interactions (FSI) and
meson-exchange currents (MEC). In addition, GMn was extracted at Q^2 = 0.3 to
0.6 (GeV/c)^2 using a Plane Wave Impulse Approximation calculation. The
accuracy of the modeling of FSI and MEC effects was tested and confirmed with a
precision measurement of the spin-dependent asymmetry in the breakup threshold
region of the 3He(pol)(e(pol),e') reaction. The total relative uncertainty of
the extracted GMn data is approximately 3%. Close agreement was found with
other recent high-precision GMn data in this Q^2 range.


title:
First Measurement of the rho Spectral Function in High-Energy Nuclear
  Collisions

abstract:
  We report on a precision measurement of low-mass muon pairs in 158 AGeV
indium-indium collisions at the CERN SPS. A significant excess of pairs is
observed above the yield expected from neutral meson decays. The unprecedented
sample size of 360 000 dimuons and the good mass resolution of about 2% allow
us to isolate the excess by subtraction of the decay sources. The shape of the
resulting mass spectrum is consistent with a dominant contribution from
pi+pi-->rho-->mu+mu- annihilation. The associated space-time averaged rho
spectral function shows a strong broadening, but essentially no shift in mass.
This may rule out theoretical models linking hadron masses


title:
Existence of long-lived isomeric states in naturally-occurring
  neutron-deficient Th isotopes

abstract:
  Evidence for the existence of long-lived neutron-deficient isotopes has been
found in a study of naturally-occurring Th using iductively coupled
plasma-sector field mass spectrometry. They are interpreted as belonging to the
recently discovered class of long-lived high spin super- and hyperdeformed
isomers.


title:
Measurements of the Generalized Electric and Magnetic Polarizabilities
  of the Proton at Low Q2 Using the VCS Reaction

abstract:
  The mean square polarizability radii of the proton have been measured for the
first time in a virtual Compton scattering experiment performed at the
MIT-Bates out-of-plane scattering facility. Response functions and
polarizabilities obtained from a dispersion analysis of the data at Q2=0.06
GeV2/c2 are in agreement with O(p3) heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory.
The data support the dominance of mesonic effects in the polarizabilities, and
the increase of beta with increasing Q2 is evidence for the cancellation of
long-range diamagnetism by short-range paramagnetism from the pion cloud.


title: Strangelets: Who is Looking, and How?

abstract:
  It has been over 30 years since the first suggestion that the true ground
state of cold hadronic matter might be not nuclear matter but rather strange
quark matter (SQM). Ever since, searches for stable SQM have been proceeding in
various forms and have observed a handful of interesting events but have
neither been able to find compelling evidence for stable strangelets nor to
rule out their existence. I will survey the current status and near future of
such searches with particular emphasis on the idea of SQM from strange star
collisions as part of the cosmic ray flux.


title: On possibility to observe new fundamental forces in open quantum systems

abstract:
  A possibility and peculiarities of registration of new fundamental forces in
open quantum systems are discussed. As a possible example, variations of decay
rates of radioactive elements reported in scientific literature are considered
in detail.


title: Scaling Features of Selected Observables at RHIC

abstract:
  We discuss several observables measured by PHOBOS that show common scaling
features in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at RHIC energies. In particular, we
examine the centrality and energy dependence of the charged particle
multiplicity, as well as the centrality dependence of the elliptic flow at
mid-rapidity. The discrepancy between Cu+Cu and Au+Au of the final state
azimuthal asymmetry (elliptic flow), relative to the initial state geometry of
the collision, can be resolved by accounting for fluctuations in the
description of the initial geometry.


title:
Peripheral fragmentation of the $^8$B nuclei at an energy of 1.2A GeV in
  nuclear track emulsion

abstract:
  The results of investigations dealing with the charge topology of the
fragments produced in peripheral dissociation of relativistic $^8$B nuclei in
emulsion are presented. 55 events of peripheral dissociation of the $^8$B
nucleus were selected from the events which do not involve the production of
the target-nucleus fragments and mesons (`` white\rq\rq ~stars). A leading
contribution of the $^8$B$\to^7$Be+p mode having the lowest energy threshold
was revealed on the basis of those events. Information on the relative
probability of dissociation modes with a larger multiplicity was obtained. The
dissociation of a $^7$Be core in $^8$B indicates an analogy with that of the
free $^7$Be nucleus.\par The transverse momentum distributions of the fragments
from the $^8$B$\to^7$Be+p dissociation mode were obtained. Their small average
value, $<$P$_t>$= 52 MeV/c, in the c.m.s. suggests a low binding energy of the
external proton in the $^8$B nucleus.
  An indication for a strong azimuthal correlation of the $^7$Be and p
fragments was got.


title:
Fragmentation channels of relativistic $^7$Be nuclei in peripheral
  interactions

abstract:
  Nuclei of $^7$Li were accelerated at the JINR Nuclotron. After the
charge-exchange reaction involving these nuclei at an external target a second
$^7$Be beam of energy 1.23A GeV was formed. This beam was used to expose
photo-emulsion chambers. The mean free path for inelastic $^7$Be interactions
in emulsion $\lambda$=14.0$\pm$0.8 cm coincides within the errors with those
for $^6$Li and $^7$Li nuclei. More than 10% of the $^7$Be events are associated
with the peripheral interactions in which the total charge of the relativistic
fragments is equal to the charge of the $^7$Be and in which charged mesons are
not produced. An unusual ratio of the isotopes is revealed in the composition
of the doubly charged $^7$Be fragments: the number of $^3$He fragments is twice
as large as that of $^4$He fragments. In 50% of peripheral interactions, a
$^7$Be nucleus decays to two doubly charged fragments. The present paper gives
the channels of the $^7$Be fragmentation to charged fragments. In 50% of
events, the $^7$Be fragmentation proceeds only to charged fragments involving
no emission of neutrons. Of them, the $^3$He+$^4$He channel dominates, the
$^4$He+d+p and $^6$Li+pchannels constitute 10% each. Two events involving no
emission of neutrons are registered in the 3-body $^3$He+t+p and $^3$He+d+d
channels. The mean free path for the coherent dissociation of relativistic
$^7$Be nuclei to $^3$He+$^4$He is 7$\pm$1 m. The particular features of the
relativistic $^7$Be fragmentation in such peripheral interactions are explained
by the $^3$He+$^4$He 2-cluster structure of the $^7$Be nucleus.


title: Topology of "white" stars in relativistic fragmentation of light nuclei

abstract:
  In the present paper, experimental observations of the multifragmentation
processes of light relativistic nuclei carried out by means of emulsions are
reviewed. Events of the type of "white" stars in which the dissociation of
relativistic nuclei is not accompanied by the production of mesons and the
target-nucleus fragments are considered.
  A distinctive feature of the charge topology in the dissociation of the Ne,
Mg, Si, and S nuclei is an almost total suppression of the binary splitting of
nuclei to fragments with charges higher than 2. The growth of the nuclear
fragmentation degree is revealed in an increase in the multiplicity of singly
and doubly charged fragments with decreasing charge of the non-excited part of
the fragmenting nucleus.
  The processes of dissociation of stable Li, Be, B, C, N, and O isotopes to
charged fragments were used to study special features of the formation of
systems consisting of the lightest $\alpha$, d, and t nuclei. Clustering in
form of the $^3$He nucleus can be detected in "white" stars via the
dissociation of neutron-deficient Be, B, C, and N isotopes.


title: Measurement of high-pT hadrons at RHIC-PHENIX

abstract:
  Measurements from the RHIC experiments show a strong suppression in the yield
of high-p$_\mathrm{T}$ single hadrons and a clear reduction in strength of the
di-jet signal in two-hadron azimuthal-angle correlation functions in central
Au+Au collisions at RHIC. These measurements should provide direct information
on the properties of the medium within which hard-scattered partons propagate.
The PHENIX preliminary results on single high-p$_\mathrm{T}$ hadron production
and on particle azimuthal correlations are shown. The properties of the medium
created in relativistic heavy ion collisions are discussed based on the
results.


title: Pionic charge exchange on the proton from 40 to 250 MeV

abstract:
  The total cross sections for pionic charge exchange on hydrogen were measured
using a transmission technique on thin CH2 and C targets. Data were taken for
pi- lab energies from 39 to 247 MeV with total errors of typically 2% over the
Delta-resonance and up to 10% at the lowest energies. Deviations from the
predictions of the SAID phase shift analysis in the 60 to 80 MeV region are
interpreted as evidence for isospin-symmetry breaking in the s-wave amplitudes.
The charge dependence of the Delta-resonance properties appears to be smaller
than previously reported.


title:
Special features of the $^9$Be$\to$2He fragmentation in emulsion at an
  energy of 1.2~A~GeV

abstract:
  The results of investigations of the relativistic $^9$Be nucleus
fragmentation in emulsion which entails the production of two He fragments of
an energy of 1.2~A~GeV are presented. The results of the angular measurements
of the $^9$Be$\to$2He events are analyzed.
  The $^9$Be$\to^8$Be+n fragmentation channel involving the $^8$Be decay from
the ground (0$^+$) and the first excited (2$^+$) states to two $\alpha$
particles is observed to be predominant.


title: A Complete Onium Program with R2D at RHIC II

abstract:
  Following on the discovery of a strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma (QGP)
at RHIC, a program of detailed quarkonia measurements is crucial to
understanding the nature of deconfinement. Lattice QCD calculations suggest a
sequential melting of the quarkonia states in the deconfined medium. Such a
melting would lead to a suppression in the measured charmonium and bottomonium
yields. However, distinguishing a true suppression from shadowing, absorption,
and recombination effects requires detailed measurements of the charmonium
states (J/psi, psi', and chi_c) and bottomonium states (Y(1S), Y(2S), and
Y(3S)). Also, since measurements are needed not only in A+A, but also in p+p
for determining primary yields and in p+A for evaluating absorption, the
detector should perform well in all collision environments. To fully realize
the program outlined above, a new detector will be required at RHIC-II. We
present a proposal for a complete quarkonia program and the abilities of a new
detector, R2D, to meet the stated requirements. Comparisons will be made with
proposed upgrades to existing RHIC detectors and with the upcoming LHC program.


title:
Particle and light fragment emission in peripheral heavy ion collisions
  at Fermi energies

abstract:
  A systematic investigation of the average multiplicities of light charged
particles and intermediate mass fragments emitted in peripheral and
semiperipheral collisions is presented as a function of the beam energy,
violence of the collision and mass of the system.
  The data have been collected with the "Fiasco" setup in the reactions
93Nb+93Nb at 17, 23, 30, 38AMeV and 116Sn+116Sn at 30, 38AMeV.
  The midvelocity emission has been separated from the emission of the
projectile-like fragment. This last component appears to be compatible with an
evaporation from an equilibrated source at normal density, as described by the
statistical code Gemini at the appropriate excitation energy.
  On the contrary, the midvelocity emission presents remarkable differences for
what concerns both the dependence of the multiplicities on the energy deposited
in the midvelocity region and the isotopic composition of the emitted light
charged particles.


title:
The energy dependence of $p_t$ angular correlations inferred from
  mean-$p_{t}$ fluctuation scale dependence in heavy ion collisions at the SPS
  and RHIC

abstract:
  We present the first study of the energy dependence of $p_t$ angular
correlations inferred from event-wise mean transverse momentum $<p_{t} >$
fluctuations in heavy ion collisions. We compare our large-acceptance
measurements at CM energies $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 19.6, 62.4, 130 and 200 GeV to
SPS measurements at 12.3 and 17.3 GeV. $p_t$ angular correlation structure
suggests that the principal source of $p_t$ correlations and fluctuations is
minijets (minimum-bias parton fragments). We observe a dramatic increase in
correlations and fluctuations from SPS to RHIC energies, increasing linearly
with $\ln \sqrt{s_{NN}}$ from the onset of observable jet-related $<p_{t}>$
fluctuations near 10 GeV.


title:
Peripheral interactions of relativistic $^{14}$N nuclei with emulsion
  nuclei

abstract:
  The results of investigations of the dissociation of a $^{14}$N nucleus of
momentum 2.86~A~GeV/c in photo-emulsion are presented. The main characteristics
of these reactions, that is the cross sections for various fragmentation
channels, are given.
  The fragmentation was analyzed by means of an invariant approach. The
momentum and correlation characteristics of $\alpha$ particles for the
$^{14}$N$\to3\alpha$+X channel in the laboratory system and the rest systems of
3$\alpha$ particles were considered.
  The results obtained for the $^{14}$N nucleus are compared with similar data
for the $^{12}$C and $^{16}$O nuclei.


title: Spin dependent structure functions in PHENIX

abstract:
  In the year 2005 run PHENIX has accumulated 3.8 pb$^{-1}$ integrated
luminosity in longitudinally polarized $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV.
Double helicity asymmetries of neutral pions lead to restrictions of the gluon
polarization in the proton. Also, transverse single spin asymmetries of charged
hadrons have been measured with comparable statistical accuracy of the 2002 run
in considerably less time.


title:
Astrophysical factor for the neutron generator 13C(alpha,n)16O reaction
  in the AGB stars

abstract:
  The reaction 13C(alpha,n) is considered to be the main source of neutrons for
the s-process in AGB stars. At low energies the cross section is dominated by
the 1/2+ 6.356 MeV sub-threshold resonance in 17O whose contribution is
determined with a very large uncertainty of ~1000% at stellar temperatures. In
this work we performed the most precise determination of the low-energy
astrophysical S factor using the indirect asymptotic normalization (ANC)
technique. The alpha-particle ANC for the sub-threshold state has been measured
using the sub-Coulomb alpha-transfer reaction (6Li,d). Using the determined ANC
we calculated S(0), which turns out to be an order of magnitude smaller than in
the NACRE compilation.


title:
Experimental determination of the complete spin structure for
  anti-proton + proton -> anti-\Lambda + \Lambda at anti-proton beam momentum
  of 1.637 GeV/c

abstract:
  The reaction anti-proton + proton -> anti-\Lambda + \Lambda -> anti-proton +
\pi^+ + proton + \pi^- has been measured with high statistics at anti-proton
beam momentum of 1.637 GeV/c. The use of a transversely-polarized frozen-spin
target combined with the self-analyzing property of \Lambda/anti-\Lambda decay
allows access to unprecedented information on the spin structure of the
interaction. The most general spin-scattering matrix can be written in terms of
eleven real parameters for each bin of scattering angle, each of these
parameters is determined with reasonable precision. From these results all
conceivable spin-correlations are determined with inherent self-consistency.
Good agreement is found with the few previously existing measurements of spin
observables in anti-proton + proton -> anti-\Lambda + \Lambda near this energy.
Existing theoretical models do not give good predictions for those
spin-observables that had not been previously measured.


title: Asymmetry dependence of proton correlations

abstract:
  A dispersive optical model analysis of p+40Ca and p+48Ca interactions has
been carried out. The real and imaginary potentials have been constrained from
fits to elastic scattering data, reaction cross sections, and level properties
of valence hole states deduced from (e,e'p) data. The surface imaginary
potential was found to be larger overall and the gap in this potential on
either side of the Fermi energy was found to be smaller for the neutron-rich
p+48Ca system. These results imply that protons with energies near the Fermi
surface experience larger correlations with increasing asymmetry.


title:
An Ion Guide for the Production of a Low Energy Ion Beam of Daughter
  Products of $\alpha$-Emitters

abstract:
  A new ion guide has been modeled and tested for the production of a low
energy ($\approx$ 40 kV) ion beam of daughter products of alpha-emitting
isotopes. The guide is designed to evacuate daughter recoils originating from
the $\alpha$-decay of a $^{233}$U source. The source is electroplated onto
stainless steel strips and mounted along the inner walls of an ion guide
chamber. A combination of electric fields and helium gas flow transport the
ions through an exit hole for injection into a mass separator. Ion guide
efficiencies for the extraction of $^{229}$Th$^{+}$ (0.06%), $^{221}$Fr$^{+}$
(6%), and $^{217}$At$^{+}$ (6%) beams have been measured. A detailed study of
the electric field and gas flow influence on the ion guide efficiency is
described for two differing electric field configurations.


title:
Measurement of the $x$- and $Q^2$-Dependence of the Asymmetry $A_1$ on
  the Nucleon

abstract:
  We report results for the virtual photon asymmetry $A_1$ on the nucleon from
new Jefferson Lab measurements. The experiment, which used the CEBAF Large
Acceptance Spectrometer and longitudinally polarized proton ($^{15}$NH$_3$) and
deuteron ($^{15}$ND$_3$) targets, collected data with a longitudinally
polarized electron beam at energies between 1.6 GeV and 5.7 GeV. In the present
paper, we concentrate on our results for $A_1(x,Q^2)$ and the related ratio
$g_1/F_1(x,Q^2)$ in the resonance and the deep inelastic regions for our lowest
and highest beam energies, covering a range in momentum transfer $Q^2$ from
0.05 to 5.0 GeV$^2$ and in final-state invariant mass $W$ up to about 3 GeV.
Our data show detailed structure in the resonance region, which leads to a
strong $Q^2$--dependence of $A_1(x,Q^2)$ for $W$ below 2 GeV. At higher $W$, a
smooth approach to the scaling limit, established by earlier experiments, can
be seen, but $A_1(x,Q^2)$ is not strictly $Q^2$--independent. We add
significantly to the world data set at high $x$, up to $x = 0.6$. Our data
exceed the SU(6)-symmetric quark model expectation for both the proton and the
deuteron while being consistent with a negative $d$-quark polarization up to
our highest $x$. This data setshould improve next-to-leading order (NLO) pQCD
fits of the parton polarization distributions.


title: Tests of the standard electroweak model in beta decay

abstract:
  We review the current status of precision measurements in allowed nuclear
beta decay, including neutron decay, with emphasis on their potential to look
for new physics beyond the standard electroweak model. The experimental results
are interpreted in the framework of phenomenological model-independent
descriptions of nuclear beta decay as well as in some specific extensions of
the standard model. The values of the standard couplings and the constraints on
the exotic couplings of the general beta decay Hamiltonian are updated. For the
ratio between the axial and the vector couplings we obtain C_A/C_V =
-1.26992(69) under the standard model assumptions. Particular attention is
devoted to the discussion of the sensitivity and complementarity of different
precision experiments in direct beta decay. The prospects and the impact of
recent developments of precision tools and of high intensity low energy beams
are also addressed.


title: Scalar-isovector K K-bar production close to threshold

abstract:
  The reaction pp -> d K^+ K^0-bar has been investigated at excess energies Q =
47.4 and 104.7 MeV above the K^+ K^0-bar threshold at COSY-Juelich. Coincident
dK^+ pairs were detected with the ANKE spectrometer, and events with a missing
K^0-bar invariant-mass subsequently identified. The joint analysis of
invariant-mass and angular distributions reveals s-wave dominance between the
two kaons, in conjunction with a p-wave between the deuteron and the kaon pair,
i.e. K K-bar production via the a_0^+(980) channel. Integration of the
differential distributions yields total cross sections of sigma(pp -> d K^+
K^0-bar) = (38 +/- 2(stat) +/- 14(syst)) nb and 190 +/- 4(stat) +/- 39(syst))
nb for the low and high Q values, respectively.


title: High-pT hadron production and triggered particle correlations

abstract:
  The STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider has performed
measurements of high transverse momentum particle production in
ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. High-pT hadrons are generated from
hard parton scatterings early in the collision. The outgoing partons probe the
surrounded hot and dense matter through interactions. Recent results on high-pT
inclusive particle production and leading particle correlations in p+p, d+Au
and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV are reviewed.


title:
Evidence for a long-range component in the pion emission source in Au+Au
  collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

abstract:
  Emission source functions are extracted from correlation functions
constructed from charged pions produced at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at
sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The source parameters extracted from these functions at low
k_T, give first indications of a long tail for the pion emission source. The
source extension cannot be explained solely by simple kinematic considerations.
The possible role of a halo of secondary pions from resonance emissions is
explored.


title: Lifetime of 19Ne*(4.03 MeV)

abstract:
  The Doppler-shift attenuation method was applied to measure the lifetime of
the 4.03 MeV state in 19Ne. Utilizing a 3He-implanted Au foil as a target, the
state was populated using the 20Ne(3He,alpha)19Ne reaction in inverse
kinematics at a 20Ne beam energy of 34 MeV. De-excitation gamma rays were
detected in coincidence with alpha particles. At the 1 sigma level, the
lifetime was determined to be 11 +4, -3 fs and at the 95.45% confidence level
the lifetime is 11 +8, -7 fs.


title: Alpha-induced cross sections of 106Cd for the astrophysical p-process

abstract:
  The 106Cd(alpha,gamma)110Sn reaction cross section has been measured in the
energy range of the Gamow window for the astrophysical p-process scenario. The
cross sections for 106Cd(alpha,n)109Sn and for 106Cd(alpha,p)109In below the
(alpha,n) threshold have also been determined. The results are compared with
predictions of the statistical model code NON-SMOKER using different input
parameters. The comparison shows that a discrepancy for 106Cd(alpha,gamma)110Sn
when using the standard optical potentials can be removed with a different
alpha+106Cd potential. Some astrophysical implications are discussed.


title: Global polarization measurement in Au+Au collisions

abstract:
  The system created in non central relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions
carries large angular orbital momentum. Due to spin-orbital coupling, produced
particles could be globally polarized along the direction of the system angular
momentum. We present results of a measurement of Lambda hyperon global
polarization in Au+Au collisions at the center of mass energies 62 and 200 GeV
with the STAR detector at RHIC. The observed global polarization of Lambda
hyperons in the STAR acceptance is consistent with zero within the precision of
the measurement. The obtained upper limit, |P_Lambda| < 0.01, is significantly
below the theoretical values discussed recently in the literature.


title:
New detectors for the kaon and hypernuclear experiments with KaoS at
  MAMI and with PANDA at GSI

abstract:
  The KaoS spectrometer at the Mainz Microtron MAMI, Germany, is perceived as
the ideal candidate for a dedicated spectrometer in kaon and hypernuclei
electroproduction. KaoS will be equipped with new read-out electronics, a
completely new focal plane detector package consisting of scintillating fibres,
and a new trigger system. First prototypes of the fibre detectors and the
associated new front-end electronics are shown in this contribution. The Mainz
hypernuclei research program will complement the hypernuclear experiments at
the planned FAIR facility at GSI, Germany. At the proposed antiproton storage
ring the spectroscopy of double Lambda hypernuclei is one of the four main
topics which will be addressed by the PANDA Collaboration. The experiments
require the operation of high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors in high
magnetic fields (B= 1T) in the presence of a large hadronic background. The
performance of high resolution Ge detectors in such an environment has been
investigated.


title: Baryonic Resonance Studies with STAR

abstract:
  Yields and spectra of $\Sigma(1385)$ are measured in $p+p$, d+Au and Au+Au
collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV . The nuclear modification factors in
d+Au collisions are presented. The $p_{T}$ dependent medium effects are
investigated via the nuclear modification factors. The implications of these
results on various models are discussed.


title:
Identified baryon and meson distributions at large transverse momenta
  from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} = 200$ GeV

abstract:
  Transverse momentum spectra of $\pi^{\pm}$, $p$ and $\bar{p}$ up to 12 GeV/c
at mid-rapidity in centrality selected Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} =
200$ GeV are presented. In central Au+Au collisions, both $\pi^{\pm}$ and
$p(\bar{p})$ show significant suppression with respect to binary scaling at
$p_T > $ 4 GeV/c. Protons and anti-protons are less suppressed than
$\pi^{\pm}$, in the range 1.5 $< p_{T} <$6 GeV/c. The $\pi^-/\pi^+$ and
$\bar{p}/p$ ratios show at most a weak $p_T$ dependence and no significant
centrality dependence. The $p/\pi$ ratios in central Au+Au collisions approach
the values in p+p and d+Au collisions at $p_T >$ 5 GeV/c. The results at high
$p_T$ indicate that the partonic sources of $\pi^{\pm}$, $p$ and $\bar{p}$ have
similar energy loss when traversing the nuclear medium.


title: Strangeness production at SPS energies

abstract:
  We present a summary of measurements of strange particles performed by the
experiment NA49 in central and minimum bias Pb+Pb collisions in the beam energy
range 20A - 158A GeV. New results on Xi production in central Pb+Pb collisions
and on Lambda, Xi production in minimum bias collisions are shown. Transverse
mass spectra and rapidity distributions of strange particles at different
energies are compared. The energy dependence of the particle yields and ratios
is discussed. NA49 measurements of the Lambda and Xi enhancement factors are
shown for the first time.


title:
High p_T Spectra of Identified Particles Produced in Pb+Pb Collisions at
  158A GeV Beam Energy

abstract:
  Results of the NA49 collaboration on the production of hadrons with large
transverse momentum in Pb+Pb collisions at 158A GeV beam energy are presented.
A range up to p_T = 4 GeV/c is covered. The nuclear modification factor R_CP is
extracted for pions, kaons and protons, and the baryon to meson ratios p/pi+,
pbar/pi- and Lambda/K^0_s are studied. All results are compared to other
measurements at SPS and RHIC and to theoretical calculations.


title: Statistical Models and STAR's Strange Data

abstract:
  The yields of strange hadrons have been measured as a function of centrality
in Au+Au and in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV in STAR. The system
size and energy dependence are studied and compared for $p+p$ and Au+Au
collisions. Thermal models are fitted to the ratios of various strange
particles to investigate the particle production and to determine the
strangeness enhancement. The temperatures ($T$) and the strangeness enhancement
factors ($\gamma_{s}$) of the systems determined from the fits are presented.