Abstract: Shell structure and magic numbers in atomic nuclei were generally explained by pioneering work(1) that introduced a strong spin-orbit interaction to the nuclear shell model potential. However, knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), enhanced correlations arise between neutrons and protons (two distinct types of fermions) that occupy orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favour an unusual type of nuclear superfluidity, termed isoscalar neutron-proton pairing(2-6), in addition to normal isovector pairing. Despite many experimental efforts, these predictions have not been confirmed. Here we report the experimental observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus Pd-92. Gamma rays emitted following the Ni-58(Ar-36,2n)Pd-92 fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution c-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction(2-6). We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling(7,8)) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. Such strong, isoscalar neutron-proton correlations would have a considerable impact on the nuclear level structure and possibly influence the dynamics of rapid proton capture in stellar nucleosynthesis.

Abstract: Dijet angular distributions from the first LHC pp collisions at center-of-mass energy root s = 7 TeV have been measured with the ATLAS detector. The dataset used for this analysis represents an integrated luminosity of 3.1 pb(-1). Dijet chi distributions and centrality ratios have been measured up to dijet masses of 2.8 TeV, and found to be in good agreement with Standard Model predictions. Analysis of the chi distributions excludes quark contact interactions with a compositeness scale Lambda below 3.4 TeV, at 95% confidence level, significantly exceeding previous limits.

Abstract: In this paper we develop a formalism to evaluate wave functions in momentum and coordinate space for the resonant states dynamically generated in a unitary coupled channel approach. The on-shell approach for the scattering matrix, commonly used, is also obtained in quantum mechanics with a separable potential, which allows one to write wave functions in a trivial way. We develop useful relationships among the couplings of the dynamically generated resonances to the different channels and the wave functions at the origin. The formalism provides an intuitive picture of the resonances in the coupled channel approach, as bound states of one bound channel, which decays into open ones. It also provides an insight and practical rules for evaluating couplings of the resonances to external sources and how to deal with final state interaction in production processes. As an application of the formalism we evaluate the wave functions of the two A(1405) states in the pi Sigma, (K) over barN, and other coupled channels. It also offers a practical way to study three-body systems when two of them cluster into a resonance.