The Hubert Curien Pluridisciplinary Institute (IPHC—French: Institut pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien) is a joint research unit (UMR—French: Unité mixte de recherche) of the French Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and of the University of Strasbourg. It was formed by the voluntary association of three research laboratories at the University of Strasbourg.
The CKM matrix, associated with quark mixing, is expected to be unitary within the framework of the Standard Model. Therefore, the precise test for the CKM matrix unitarity is one of the precision frontiers in the search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The square sum of the elements of the first column of the CKM matrix, V ud 2 + V us 2 + V ub 2 , is a good probe for the unitarity test. V ud dominates the square sum, and it can be precisely measured by superallowed beta decay. Recently, the theoretical uncertainties of V ud have been reduced, providing motivation to further improve on the experimental side. The half-life, Q value, and decay branching ratio determine the experimental f t value, from which V ud is derived; in the case of the 10C superallowed beta decay, the branching ratio dominates the experimental uncertainty. We performed a new experiment aimed at reducing the uncertainty of the 10 C branching ratio using the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA), which has advantages for the measurement. Moreover, the half-life of the 10 C superallowed beta decay can be obtained simultaneously from the experiment. Following the first experiment, a short test run was performed in order to improve the experimental conditions for a future experiment with increased statistics.
Abstract The article summarizes the discussions held during the PIBHI 2025 workshop (https://agenda.infn.it/e/pibhi2025) highlighting the most significant points to have emerged. The main goal of the workshop was to foster dialogue on topics relevant to the ECR ion sources (ECRIS) community through dedicated and thematic round tables. The outcomes of these discussions are outlined below, with particular focus on the remaining open questions in the field.
Background: The synthesis of super heavy elements (SHE) is governed by two major competing processes: quasifission (QF) and fusion-fission (FF). Optimizing SHE production requires an extensive understanding of these processes. The dynamics of QF and FF are being studied experimentally worldwide, with special attention to the quantification of QF. The limited availability of robust theoretical models suggests that achieving higher predictive accuracy necessitates careful benchmarking of the developed models against experimental observations. Purpose: The present study seeks to identify QF signatures in the fission of 35Cl + 181Ta at excitation energies around the Coulomb barrier. Furthermore, this study intends to quantify the contribution of QF to total fission events and to compare it with the predictions by the DiNuclear System (DNS) model. Methods: In the experiment, a pulsed heavy-ion beam around the Coulomb barrier energy was utilized, and the resulting binary fragments were detected using two position-sensitive multiwire proportional counters (MWPCs). By analyzing the time-of-flight (TOF) differences and position information of the binary fragments, mass and total kinetic energy (TKE) distributions were obtained for the reaction 35Cl + 181Ta. Results: The experimental results showed no significant correlation between fragment mass and angle. The mass-TKE correlation, in contrast, exhibits a deviation from that prediction by the Liquid Drop Model (LDM). The contributions of QF were quantified as 22%, 12%, and 8% at excitation energies of 52.4, 59.1, and 62.4 MeV, respectively, as determined from mass and energy distribution analysis. These findings were found to be consistent with the DNS model's predictions. Conclusion: Compelling evidence for slow quasifission is observed in the reaction 35Cl + 181Ta. The present analysis indicates that the average TKE and its variance offer the signature of slow quasifission.
As biodiversity continues to decline, accurate monitoring of endangered species reproduction has become essential for informed conservation strategies. However, tracking reproductive events in cryptic species, such as burrowing mammal, can pose serious technical challenges. Reproduction often affects body temperature (T°b) in mammals. In this study, we propose to exploit T°b monitoring as an alternative method to detect parturition events in a cryptic rodent, the common hamster Cricetus cricetus. The T°b of hamsters was monitored throughout the reproductive season in controlled conditions (n=19 females) and in a mesocosm (n=67 females). In the laboratory, females showed elevated T°b from male arrival to the end of pup rearing. T°b characteristically varied on parturition days, when females showed a rapid rise in mean daily T°b (<0.5°C) to levels exciding 38.5°C. The following T°b trend was impacted by the number of pups reared by the mother. In wild like conditions, this pattern allowed us to estimate a total of 123 parturition events. T°b analyses thus provide a reliable mean to estimate litter numbers and birth dates in the wild. This method represents an efficient complementary tool for monitoring reproduction in the common hamster, that could be easily extended to other cryptic mammals.
Climate warming is characterized by an increase in global temperature, but also an increase in the frequency, duration and intensity of heatwaves. Cooling requirements, hyperthermia and dehydration risk of wild birds are expected to increase with climate warming, potentially threatening bird populations. In this study, we experimentally assessed the inter-individual variation in the response to heat exposure in zebra finches. Specifically tested whether heat response varied with age and sex. Heat exposure promoted a significant increase in cloacal temperature, metabolic rate and evaporative water loss. Heat exposure led to a considerable loss of body water, increased plasma osmolality, and promoted thirst during recovery. Our results therefore suggest that heat exposure eventually led to hyperthermia and dehydration. Older individuals showed lower baseline cloacal temperature and metabolic rate, consistent with an age-related decline. However, heat response and subsequent recovery varied did not vary with age. While cloacal temperature and metabolic rate were lower in older individuals, heat response and subsequent recovery did not vary with age contrary to our expectations. Finally, heat response varied between sexes, as only females increased their metabolic rate with increasing temperature. Individuals did not recover their initial body mass 48h after heat exposure, despite having ad libitum access to food and water, suggesting that repeated heat exposure could have cumulative costs and ultimately negative consequences on fitness.
