On the Possibility of Separating Coherent and Incoherent (Anti)neutrino Scattering on Nuclei

The discovery of coherent neutrino–nucleus scattering in the COHERENT experiment opened a source of new information for fundamental investigations in the realms of neutrino and nuclear physics, as well as in the realms of searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model. Owing to substantial momentum transfers, a feature peculiar to the kinematical region of this experiment is that the effect of coherence is mixed with a sizable incoherent contribution rather than being seen in a pure form. On one hand, this leads to additional systematic uncertainties in studying the neutrino component of the coherence effect as such. On the other hand, this makes it possible to study a dynamical transition between the coherent and incoherent scattering modes and, in principle, to separate them experimentally. In our opinion, a consistent measurement of the coherent and incoherent cross sections for (anti)neutrino scattering on a nucleus in the same experiment seems a unique possibility, and its implementation would of course provide new data for neutrino physics, as well as for nuclear and new physics. In the present study, it is shown that this possibility is implementable not only in experiments that explore coherent neutrino and antineutrino scattering on various nuclei at accelerators, where the neutrino energy reaches several hundred MeV units but also in reactor experiments, where antineutrino energies do not exceed 10 MeV. The respective estimation is based on the approach that controls qualitatively a ‘‘smooth transition’’ of the cross section for (anti)neutrino–nucleus scattering from a coherent (or elastic) to an incoherent (inelastic) mode. In the former case, the target nucleus remains in the initial quantum state, while, in the latter case, its quantum state changes. Observation of a specific number of photons that have rather high energies and which remove the excitation of the nucleus after its inelastic interaction with (anti)neutrinos is proposed to be used as a signal from such an inelastic process. An upper limit on the number of such photons is obtained in this study.

Vibrational Quenching of Weakly Bound Cold Molecular Ions Immersed in Their Parent Gas

Hybrid ion–atom systems provide an excellent platform for studies of state-resolved quantum chemistry at low temperatures, where quantum effects may be prevalent. Here we study theoretically the process of vibrational relaxation of an initially weakly bound molecular ion due to collisions with the background gas atoms. We show that this inelastic process is governed by the universal long-range part of the interaction potential, which allows for using simplified model potentials applicable to multiple atomic species. The product distribution after the collision can be estimated by making use of the distorted wave Born approximation. We find that the inelastic collisions lead predominantly to small changes in the binding energy of the molecular ion.

Effects of Intermittent Inelasticity when Propagating Seismic Wave in Low Velocity Zone

The study of atypical manifestations of rock inelasticity improves understanding of the physical mechanisms of seismic wave propagation and attenuation in real environments. In the field experiments, the propagation of longitudinal wave at frequency of 240–1000 Hz between two shallow boreholes in low speed zone was investigated. The measurements were performed using a piezoelectric pulse emitter and similar receiver tools positioned in the boreholes. "Stress-time" σ(t) digital responses were recorded by the open channel with microsecond temporal resolution. The unusual short-period variations of amplitude in the form of sharp flattening wave front, stress drop, or plateau of different width (tens of microseconds) were detected in the wave profile. These low-amplitude variations in the waveform were regarded as manifestations of hopping intermittent inelasticity. This inelastic process was assumed to affect the waveform transformation. The contribution of hopping inelasticity depends on the applied stress magnitude, i.e. in this case, the seismic response amplitude. The mechanism of hopping inelasticity at small strains may be explained by microplasticity of rocks. The findings obtained represent a new step in understanding of physics of seismic and acoustic wave propagation in rocks and can be useful for handling of applied problems in geophysics and mining.