We present the design, description, calibration procedure, and an analysis of systematic effects for an apparatus designed to measure the rotation of the plane of polarization of a transversely polarized slow neutron beam as it passes through unpolarized matter. This device is the neutron optical equivalent of a crossed polarizer/analyzer pair familiar from light optics. This apparatus has been used to search for parity violation in the interaction of polarized slow neutrons in matter. Given the brightness of existing slow neutron sources, this apparatus is capable of measuring a neutron rotary power of dϕ/dz = 1 × 10(-7) rad/m.

We present a search for possible spin dependent interactions of the neutron with matter through exchange of spin 1 bosons with axial vector couplings as envisioned in possible extensions of the Standard Model. This was sought using a slow neutron polarimeter that passed transversely polarized slow neutrons by unpolarized slabs of material arranged so that interactions would tilt the plane of polarization and develop a component along the neutron momentum. The result for the rotation angle, φ = [2.8 ± 4.6(stat.) ± 4.0(sys.)] × 10 −5 rad/m is consistent with zero. This result improves the upper bounds on the neutron-matter coupling g 2 A by about three orders of magnitude for force ranges in the mm -µm regime.in the 1 meV to 1 eV range and with very weak couplings to matter has begun to attract renewed scientific attention. Particles which might act as the mediators are sometimes referred to generically as WISPs (Weakly-Interacting sub-eV Particles) [1,2] in recent theoretical literature. Many theories beyond the Standard Model, including string theories, possess extended symmetries which, when broken at a high energy scale, lead to weakly-coupled light

The ^{19}Ne(p,γ)^{20}Na reaction is the second step of a reaction chain which breaks out from the hot CNO cycle, following the ^{15}O(α,γ)^{19}Ne reaction at the onset of x-ray burst events. We investigate the spectrum of the lowest proton-unbound states in ^{20}Na in an effort to resolve contradictions in spin-parity assignments and extract reliable information about the thermal reaction rate. The proton-transfer reaction ^{19}Ne(d,n)^{20}Na is measured with a beam of the radioactive isotope ^{19}Ne at an energy around the Coulomb barrier and in inverse kinematics. We observe three proton resonances with the ^{19}Ne ground state, at 0.44, 0.66, and 0.82 MeV c.m. energies, which are assigned 3^{+}, 1^{+}, and (0^{+}), respectively. In addition, we identify two resonances with the first excited state in ^{19}Ne, one at 0.20 MeV and one, tentatively, at 0.54 MeV. These observations allow us for the first time to experimentally quantify the astrophysical reaction rate on an excited nuclear state. Our experiment shows an efficient path for thermal proton capture in ^{19}Ne(p,γ)^{20}Na, which proceeds through ground state and excited-state capture in almost equal parts and eliminates the possibility for this reaction to create a bottleneck in the breakout from the hot CNO cycle.

The objectives of this study were to explore owner perception of the causes of increased vocalisation in cats diagnosed with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and consider what impact this vocalisation may have on the cat’s household. Owners of cats diagnosed with CDS that presented with increased vocalisation were invited to complete an online survey. The survey consisted of 28 questions including the cat’s signalment, its medical history, and questions pertaining to the owner’s perception of what motivated their cat´s increased vocalisation. This was determined by looking at the cat’s behaviour when vocalising, where it was looking when it was vocalising, and if the vocalisation stopped when the owner interacted with it, e.g., petting or feeding it. The owners were also asked how stressful they found their cat’s vocalisation. There were 37 responses. The majority of owners reported that the main cause of their cat’s vocalisation appeared to be disorientation (40.5%) or attention seeking (40.5%). Seeking a resource such as food was reported in 16.2%, and pain was perceived to be the cause in only 2.7% of cats. However, the majority of owners (64.8%) believed there was >1 cause of their cat’s increased vocalisation. Importantly, when owners were asked how stressful they found their cat’s increased vocalisation, 40.5% scored ≥3 (where 1 = not stressful; 5 = significantly stressful). This study provides novel insight into owner perception of feline CDS, as well as potential causes for increased vocalisation; this will allow veterinarians to better advise owners on how to manage their cat with CDS.

Background: The 17 F(p, γ) 18 Ne reaction is part of the astrophysical "hot CNO" cycles that are important in astrophysical environments like novae. Its thermal reaction rate is small owing to the relatively high energy of the resonances and therefore is dominated by direct, non-resonant capture in stellar environments at temperatures below 0.4 GK. Purpose: An experimental method is established to extract proton strength to bound and unbound states in experiments with radioactive ion beams and to determine the parameters of direct and resonant capture in the 17 F(p, γ) 18 Ne reaction. Method: The 17 F(d, n) 18 Ne reaction is measured in inverse kinematics using a beam of the short-lived isotope 17 F and a compact setup of neutron-, proton-, γ-ray and heavy-ion detectors called resoneut. Results: The spectroscopic factors for the lowest l = 0 proton resonances at Ec.m. = 0.60 MeV and 1.17 MeV are determined, yielding results consistent within 1.4σ of previous proton elastic-scattering measurements. The asymptotic normalization coefficients of the bound 2 + 1 and 2 + 2 states in 18 Ne are determined and the resulting direct-capture reaction rates are extracted. Conclusions: The direct-capture component of the 17 F(p, γ) 18 Ne reaction is determined for the first time from experimental data on 18 Ne.