The subject of this paper is the recently developed 2.45 GHz microwave micro torch, which produces a surface wave discharge operating at low power of 25 W. Microwave plasma is generated using surfatron resonator in pure argon and argon with admixtures (up to 1.7%) of nitrogen and oxygen at the gas flow rate of 3 Slm. Two different configurations are used-a standard one and one with an additional metallic plate at the surfatron resonator end limiting the surface wave propagation along the plasma. Plasma parameters like temperatures (rotational, vibrational, electron) along the plasma torch axis as well as distribution of selected active particles are determined. The numeric simulation of the discharge and its properties are included, too. Finally, surface temperature of the fresh pork skin affected by the active particles flow is determined using thermo camera images. The obtained results show applicability of this system for the surface treatment of biological objects and possibility to modify the torch conditions by molecular gases additions.

Neutron-rich silver isotopes were populated in the fragmentation of a 136 Xe beam and the relativistic fission of 238 U. The fragments were mass analyzed with the GSI Fragment separator and subsequently implanted into a passive stopper. Isomeric transitions were detected by 105 HPGe de-2 tectors. Eight isomeric states were observed in 122−126 Ag nuclei. The level schemes of 122,123,125 Ag were revised and extended with isomeric transitions being observed for the first time. The excited states in the odd-mass silver isotopes are interpreted as core-coupled states. The isomeric states in the even-mass silver isotopes are discussed in the framework of the proton-neutron split multiplets. The results of shell-model calculations, performed for the most neutron-rich silver nuclei are compared to the experimental data.

Neutron-rich nuclei were populated in a relativistic fission of 238 U. Gamma-rays with energies of 135 keV and 184 keV were associated with two isomeric states in 121 Pd and 117 Ru. Half-lives of 0.63(5) µs and 2.0(3) µs were deduced and the isomeric states were interpreted in terms of deformed single-particle states.

The half-life of the I π = 6 + yrast state at Ex=2294 keV in 138 Ce has been measured as T 1/2 =880(19) ps using the fast-timing gamma-ray coincidence method with a mixed LaBr3 (Ce)

The half-life of the yrast I π = 2 + state in the neutron-rich nucleus 188 W has been measured using fast-timing techniques with the HPGe and LaBr 3 :Ce array at the National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest. The resulting value of t 1/2 = 0.87(12) ns is equivalent to a reduced transition probability of B(E2; 2 + 1 → 0 + 1 ) = 85(12) W.u. for this transition. The B(E2; 2 + 1 → 0 + 1 ) is compared to neighboring tungsten isotopes and nuclei in the Hf, Os, and Pt isotopic chains. Woods-Saxon potential energy surface (PES) calculations have been performed for nuclei in the tungsten isotopic chain and predict prolate deformed minima with rapidly increasing γ softness for [184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192] W and an oblate minimum for 194 W.