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K. Ishida

Publications and source records attributed to K. Ishida.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of d-electron density of states in the quantum size effect of Pt-Ni and Pt-Pd nanoparticles

We investigated the quantum size effect (QSE) in bimetallic Pt$_{1-x}$Pd$_x$ and Pt$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$ nanoparticles, using $^{195}$Pt nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. The temperature and size dependencies of the anomaly in the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate divided by temperature $1/T_1T$ in the Pt$_{1-x}$Pd$_x$ nanoparticles suggest similar electron states between Pt and Pd atoms and are well understood by the QSE. The temperature and composition variations of $1/T_1T$ and Knight shift reveal a systematic increase in the density of states and reduction of the characteristic energy scale $T^*$ with increasing Ni content, consistent with the Kubo gap $\delta_{\mathrm{Kubo}}$. In contrast to Pt$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$ nanoparticles where the QSE is suppressed, the Pt$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$ nanoparticles exhibit clear signatures of quantum energy discretization. This discrepancy highlights the essential role of $d$-electrons in the manifestation of the QSE. Furthermore, analysis of the modified Korringa parameter $K(\alpha)$ suggests enhanced ferromagnetic correlations with increasing Ni concentration, approaching a ferromagnetic quantum critical regime. These results provide experimental evidence that $d$-electron density of states plays a crucial role in the manifestation of the QSE in the nanoparticles formed by the metallic $d$-electron atoms.

cond-mat.str-el

Reply to Comment on: Microscopic signatures of an imaginary charge density wave in a kagome metal

We address a recent Comment [I. Nikolov {\it et al.}, arXiv:2608.13579 (2026)] proposing crystalline mosaicity as an alternative explanation for the asymmetric nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra reported in our study [S. Suetsugu {\it et al.}, Nat. Phys. {\bf 22}, 1251--1256 (2026)]. We show that this scenario requires substantial temperature- and site-dependent distributions of crystallographic orientations and additional site-dependent distributions of the electric field gradient (EFG) asymmetry parameter, none of which follow from ordinary crystalline mosaicity. We therefore conclude that crystalline mosaicity cannot account for the observed site-selective spectral asymmetry and does not provide an alternative explanation for the central spectroscopic observation underlying our interpretation.

cond-mat.str-el

A diagnostic system of 5.7 keV muon beam for muon accelerator

Realization of a low-emittance muon beam through the acceleration of keV-scale muons requires the injection of a suitably matched beam into an accelerator, since beam mismatch can lead to emittance growth and reduced acceleration efficiency. In one such scheme, muons are first thermalized to room temperature and then injected into a linear accelerator. Non-destructive diagnostics are challenging because of the low energy and low intensity. We developed a compact low-energy muon diagnostic system compatible with the accelerator under construction at J-PARC. The system is designed to evaluate beam conditions required for precise tuning prior to acceleration. Commissioning with low-energy muon sources shows the system's capability to identify low-energy muon signals and measure beam profiles.

physics.acc-ph

Absolute intensity measurement of pulsed muon beams using in-beam activation

The absolute number of negative muons contained in a beam is essential for many experiments at accelerator facilities, but determining it in pulsed beams has been difficult, particularly at high intensities. The method utilizing the yield of the $\beta$ delayed $\gamma$ rays from the residual nuclei after the muon nuclear capture reaction has recently been developed to determine the muon number in the pulsed muon beam. In particular, the in-beam activation method employs isotopes with short lifetimes, enabling the beam intensity to be measured over a short period with irradiating muon beams. However, only a limited number of isotopes have reliable measurements of production branching ratios (BRs), which are required to determine the absolute muon number in the pulsed beam. To search for new candidate isotopes that are suitable for in-beam activation method, the production branching ratio after the muon nuclear capture reaction was measured for natural abundance Cu, Zn, and Ag. Considering the strength of the BR, the muon capture probability, the practical detection efficiency of the detector, and rarity of the target material in the surrounding structures, the reaction $^\mathrm{nat}$Ag ($\mu^-, \nu_\mu x$) $^{107m}$Pd is found to be a useful reference for the muon number calibration.

physics.ins-det

Microscopic evidence for imaginary charge density wave in a kagome metal

Dissipationless charge transport without any energy loss is one of the most fascinating phenomena in condensed matter physics. This extraordinary state manifests in two well-established systems: superconductors and quantum Hall systems. A proposed third category is associated with chiral loop current order, characterized by the spontaneous formation of microscopic electric current loops. The microscopic origin of these currents stems from imaginary hopping terms, conceptualized as an imaginary charge density wave (iCDW). Despite extensive investigations, its existence remains highly controversial. Here we report site-selective spectroscopic evidence for a pure iCDW in the kagome nonmagnetic metal CsV$_3$Sb$_5$. Nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra at out-of-plane $^{121}$Sb site sensitive to in-plane currents reveal anomalous broadening below $T^*\approx$120 K, coinciding with the nematic transition well above the real charge density wave (CDW). Under magnetic fields, the spectra exhibit asymmetric lineshapes, demonstrating that this broadening purely originates from magnetic effects rather than from electric quadrupolar effects associated with CDW fluctuations. The observed lineshapes are quantitatively consistent with ~1 mT local fields induced by chiral loop currents, indicating spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking. This microscopic identification of the long-sought pure iCDW establishes a novel form of quantum order, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of exotic electronic states in quantum materials.

cond-mat.str-el

Molecular effects in low-energy muon transfer from muonic hydrogen to oxygen

In the present study we determine from the available experimental data the cross section of muon transfer to molecular oxygen at low energies with account of the oxygen molecule structure. Building on an earlier work, the results highlight the role of the molecular structure effects and signifcantly improve the agreement with theoretical calculations of the muon transfer rate. An effcient computational model of the kinetics of processes involving muonic hydrogen atoms in gaseous mixture of H2 and O2 is developed and analyzed. The model is applied in the description of the FAMU experiment for the measurement of the hyperfine splitting in muonic hydrogen and the Zemach radius of the proton.

physics.atom-ph

Superconducting Properties on Two-dimensional Quasicrystal (Ta$_{0.95}$Cu$_{0.05}$)$_{1.6}$Te Studied with $^{125}$Te-NMR

Physical properties in the normal and superconducting (SC) state are investigated with $^{125}$Te-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements in a quasicrystal $\mathrm{(Ta_{0.95}Cu_{0.05})_{1.6}Te}$, which was a recently discovered superconductor with the SC transition temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ = 0.94 K. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ shows a coherence peak just below $T_{\mathrm{c}}$, followed by an exponential decrease down to 0.1 K. The overall temperature dependence of $1/T_1$ is in good agreement with an $s$-wave SC model with a SC gap slightly smaller than the BCS value. However, the coherence peak is unusually small, which may be attributable to a reduced Bogoliubov peak theoretically predicted for quasicrystals. Furthermore, $^{125}$Te-NMR spectra show almost no broadening nor shift in the SC state, suggesting that an unusual SC state such as parity mixing might be realized in the Ta$_{1.6}$Te superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con

First operation of the FAMU experiment at the RIKEN-RAL high intensity muon beam facility

The FAMU experiment, supported and funded by the Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), aims to perform the first measurement of the ground-state hyperfine splitting (1S-hfs) of muonic hydrogen ($\mu H$). This quantity is highly sensitive to the proton's Zemach radius $R_Z$. An experimental determination of $R_Z$ provides significant constraints on the parametrization of the proton form factors as well as on theoretical models describing the proton's electromagnetic structure. Following years of technological and methodological development, the FAMU experiment began operations in 2023 at Port 1 of the RIKEN-RAL muon beam line at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source facility (Didcot, UK). In this paper, we first describe the unique detection technique employed by FAMU to determine the 1S-hfs of muonic hydrogen, followed by a detailed presentation of the final experimental layout. Finally, we report the first outcome from the 2023 commissioning run and from the initial physics runs performed in 2023 and 2024.

physics.atom-ph

Neutron emission following nuclear muon capture on palladium isotopes

The energy spectra of the neutrons emitted following nuclear muon capture on palladium isotopes ($A=104$, 105, 106, 108, and 110) were measured using isotopically enriched target. \item[Method] The experiment was performed at the MuSIC-M1 beamline at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Osaka University. The neutrons and $\gamma$ rays were detected with twenty-one liquid scintillators and BaF$_2$ detectors. The time-of-flight method was used to determine the neutron energy. \item[Results] Neutron energy spectra from 1\,MeV up to 20\,MeV were measured for five palladium isotopes, providing the first systematic data in the $A\sim100$ region. The spectral shapes were compared with the previous measurement for heavy nuclei and theoretical calculations. The neutron-neutron opening angle distribution was also measured and an indication of small angle correlation was found. \item[Conclusions] The spectral shape below 4\,MeV was well explained consistently with the previous measurement by the evaporation model introducing a mass number scaling. The neutron energy spectrum around 10\,MeV plays a key role in understanding the dynamics of the nuclear muon capture reaction because it is the result of the transition from the direct and pre-equilibrium neutron emission onto the evaporation process.

nucl-ex

Measurement of production branching ratio after muon nuclear capture reaction of Al and Si isotopes

Background: Muon nuclear capture is a reaction between a muon and a proton inside a nucleus through weak interactions. This reaction results in the formation of an excited nucleus, which subsequently de-excites by emitting several particles. Examination of the excited state allows for an investigation of the properties of nuclear excitation and particle emission in highly excited nuclei. Purpose: This study investigates muon nuclear capture of 27Al and 28,29,30Si, focusing on determining the absolute production branching ratio (BR) following muon nuclear capture and subsequent particle emissions. By measuring the absolute production BR, we can collect valuable information on the excitation energy distribution of muon nuclear capture. Methods: Measurements were conducted using the in-beam activation method at two pulsed muon facilities: RIKEN-RAL beamline and MLF at J-PARC. Absolute BRs were determined by measuring the number of muons irradiating the target using a plastic scintillator and the beta-delayed gamma-rays emitted from the produced nuclei using germanium detectors. Results: The absolute production branching ratios of muon nuclear capture on 27Al and 28,29,30Si were obtained with the highest accuracy to date. Predominant neutron emissions, even-odd atomic number dependence of particle emission probabilities, and influence of the neutron excess were observed. These results were compared with previous measurements and theoretical models and discussed regarding the excitation energy distribution, particle emission mechanism, and nuclear properties, such as resonance in the isovector transition. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of considering nuclear structure effects, even-odd effects of proton and neutron numbers, neutron excess, nucleon pairing effect, and particle emission mechanisms, in the context of the muon nuclear capture reaction.

nucl-ex

Assessment of effect of local approximation on single folding potential at low and intermediate incident energies

To the single folding potentials (SFPs) for the nucleon-nucleus ($N$-$A$) elastic scatterings, local approximations (LAs) have customarily been applied. The LA discussed by Brieva and Rook has been well-known, which only needs the density profile as the structure information of the target nucleus. By applying the M3Y-P6 interaction both to the target wave functions and the real part of SFP, supplemented with the Koning-Delaroche phenomenological imaginary potential, the precision of the Brieva-Rook LA on the SFP is investigated for the proton-nucleus elastic scatterings at $\epsilon_p=16\,-\,80\,\mathrm{MeV}$ incident energies. The analyzing powers as well as the differential cross sections are in reasonable agreement with the available data. The precision of the LA for the central and LS channels is distinctly examined. Although the LA works well at small angles ($\theta_\mathrm{c.m.}\lesssim 30^\circ$), it gives rise to sizable deviation from the results of the non-local SFP (\textit{i.e.}, without the LA) at larger angles. The results of the non-local SFP are always in better agreement with the data. The LA for the LS channel influences the differential cross-sections, and the LA for the central channel does the spin observables. It is found that the precision of the LA well correlates to the momentum transfer $q$, and the discrepancy becomes sizable at $q\gtrsim 1.5\,\mathrm{fm}^{-1}$. The LA is also examined for a halo nucleus, by taking $^{86}$Ni as an example. The precision is slightly worse than in stable nuclei. Difference from the prediction of the empirical potential in the observables of the $p$-$^{86}$Ni scattering is discussed.

nucl-th

Lifetime measurement of the muonic atoms of enriched Si isotopes

Background: A muonic atom, composed of a negative muon and an atomic nucleus, undergoes two primary decay processes: muon-electron decay and muon nuclear capture. The branching ratio between these two processes can be determined from the measured lifetime of the muonic atom. While past researches have examined the general trend of muon capture rates across different nuclei, experimental and theoretical investigations into the isotope dependence of the lifetime remain limited. Purpose: The present study aims to measure the lifetimes of the muonic atom of isotopically enriched silicon isotopes. Methods: The experiment was conducted at the muon facility in the Material and Life Science Facility (MLF), J-PARC. A muon beam was stopped in various target materials, including isotopically enriched $^{28,29,30}$Si. The lifetimes of the muonic atoms were measured by detecting decay electrons using a $\mu$SR spectrometer. The decay spectra were analyzed by fitting with multi-exponential functions to account for contributions from the target nucleus and surrounding materials. Results: For the first time, the lifetimes of the muonic atom of isotopically enriched $^{28,29,30}$Si were measured. Additionally, seven other targets were studied to validate the experimental method and analysis procedure. The results were compared with theoretical models such as Primakoff, Goulard-Primakoff, and the recently-developed microscopic and evaporation model (MEM). Conclusions: The Primakoff and Goulard-Primakoff formulas, while reproducing certain aspects of the isotope dependence, require further refinement. The comparison with MEM calculations constrains the axial vector ($g_A$) and induced pseudoscalar ($g_P$) coupling constants. The present experiment establishes a method for measuring the lifetimes of the muonic atom and will contribute to future systematic investigations.

nucl-ex

Acceleration of positive muons by a radio-frequency cavity

Acceleration of positive muons from thermal energy to $100~$keV has been demonstrated. Thermal muons were generated by resonant multi-photon ionization of muonium atoms emitted from a sheet of laser-ablated aerogel. The thermal muons were first electrostatically accelerated to $5.7~$keV, followed by further acceleration to 100 keV using a radio-frequency quadrupole. The transverse normalized emittance of the accelerated muons in the horizontal and vertical planes were $0.85 \pm 0.25 ~\rm{(stat.)}~^{+0.22}_{-0.13} ~\rm{(syst.)}~\pi~$mm$\cdot$mrad and $0.32\pm 0.03~\rm{(stat.)} ^{+0.05}_{-0.02} ~\rm{(syst.)}~\pi~$mm$\cdot$mrad, respectively. The measured emittance values demonstrated phase space reduction by a factor of $2.0\times 10^2$ (horizontal) and $4.1\times 10^2$ (vertical) allowing good acceleration efficiency. These results pave the way to realize the first-ever muon accelerator for a variety of applications in particle physics, material science, and other fields.

physics.acc-ph

The muon beam monitor for the FAMU experiment: design, simulation, test and operation

FAMU is an INFN-led muonic atom physics experiment based at the RIKEN-RAL muon facility at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (United Kingdom). The aim of FAMU is to measure the hyperfine splitting in muonic hydrogen to determine the value of the proton Zemach radius with accuracy better than 1%.The experiment has a scintillating-fibre hodoscope for beam monitoring and data normalisation. In order to carry out muon flux estimation, low-rate measurements were performed to extract the single-muon average deposited charge. Then, detector simulation in Geant4 and FLUKA allowed a thorough understanding of the single-muon response function, crucial for determining the muon flux. This work presents the design features of the FAMU beam monitor, along with the simulation and absolute calibration measurements in order to enable flux determination and enable data normalisation.

physics.ins-det

Magnetic skin effect in Pb(Fe$_{1/2}$Nb$_{1/2}$)O$_3$

Relaxor-ferroelectrics display exceptional dielectric properties resulting from the underlying random dipolar fields induced by strong chemical inhomogeneity. An unusual structural aspect of relaxors is a skin-effect where the near-surface region in single crystals exhibit structures and critical phenomena that differ from the bulk. Relaxors are unique in that this skin effect extends over a macroscopic lengthscale of $\sim$ 100$\mu$m whereas usual surface layers only extend over a few unit cells (or $\sim$ nm). We present a muon spectroscopy study of Pb(Fe$_{1/2}$Nb$_{1/2}$)O$_{3}$ (PFN) which displays ferroelectric order, including many relaxor-like dielectric properties such as a frequency broadened dielectric response, and antiferromagnetism with spatially short-range polar correlations and hence can be termed a multiferroic. In terms of the magnetic behavior determined by the Fe$^{3+}$ ($S=5/2$, $L\approx0$) ions, PFN has been characterized as a unique example of a "cluster spin-glass". We use variable momentum muon spectroscopy to study the depth dependence of the slow magnetic relaxations in a large 1 cm$^{3}$ crystal of PFN. Zero-field positive muon spin relaxation is parameterized using a stretched exponential, indicative of a distribution of relaxation rates of the Fe$^{3+}$ spins. This bandwidth of frequencies changes as a function of muon momentum, indicative of a change in the Fe$^{3+}$ relaxation rates as a function of muon implantation depth in our single crystal. Using negative muon elemental analysis, we find small-to-no measurable change in the Fe$^{3+}$/Nb$^{5+}$ concentration with depth implying that chemical concentration alone cannot account for the change in the relaxational dynamics. PFN displays an analogous magnetic skin effect reported to exist in the structural properties of relaxor-ferroelectrics.

cond-mat.str-el

Self-consistent single-nucleon potential at positive energy produced by semi-realistic interaction and its examination via nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering

Based on the variational principle, self-consistent single-particle (s.p.) potentials at positive energies are discussed, which correspond to the real part of the optical potential as the single folding potential (SFP). The nuclear-matter s.p. potential produced by the semi-realistic nucleonic interaction M3Y-P6, which has links to the bare nucleonic interaction, resembles those extracted from the empirical optical potential Applying M3Y-P6 both to the self-consistent mean-field calculations for the target nucleus and to the SFP for the scattered nucleon, we find that the differential cross-sections of the nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering are reproduced almost comparably to the empirical potentials up to $80\,\mathrm{MeV}$ incident energy. The results demonstrate that the s.p. potential compatible with available experimental data can be derived from a single energy-independent effective interaction in this wide energy range.

nucl-th

Investigating the Proton Structure: The FAMU experiment

The article gives the motivations for the measurement of the hyperfine splitting (hfs) in the ground state of muonic hydrogen to explore the properties of the proton at low momentum transfer. It summarizes these proposed measurement methods and finally describes the FAMU experiment in more detail.

physics.atom-ph

Pressure evolution of the normal- and superconducting-state properties of the line-nodal material CaSb$_2$ revealed by $^{123}$Sb nuclear quadrupole resonance

CaSb$_2$ is the Dirac line-nodal material that exhibits a superconducting (SC) transition at 1.7 K. In spite of its conventional SC state at ambient pressure, the transition temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ shows a peak structure against hydrostatic pressure. We performed ac magnetic susceptibility and $^{123}$Sb nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements on single-crystalline CaSb$_2$ under pressures up to 2.08 GPa. $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ monotonically increased in this pressure region, which is consistent with a previous study. We observed continuous broadening of the NQR spectrum against pressure, which is a sign of unique compression behavior of the lattice. In the normal state, the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/$T_1$ is proportional to temperature in all pressure values; typical of a metal. However, 1/$T_1T$ in the normal state is independent of pressure, indicating that the density of states at the Fermi energy $N(E_{\mathrm{F}})$, which is one of the parameters governing $T_{\mathrm{c}}$, is insensitive to pressure. From these results, we conclude that $N(E_{\mathrm{F}})$ does not govern the origin of the enhancement in $T_{\mathrm{c}}$. This is unusual for a weak electron-phonon coupling superconductor. In the SC state, we revealed that the SC gap becomes larger and more isotropic under pressure.

cond-mat.supr-con