We report S 121,123 b nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) studies on single crystals of the narrow-gap semiconductor Ce3 Au3 Sb 4. Five NQR lines from the two Sb isotopes were successfully identified. The temperature dependence of the nuclear quadrupole frequency (νQ), as well as the static magnetic susceptibility (χ), is well explained by crystal-electric-field effects. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rates (T1-1) of both 121Sb and 123Sb increase rapidly with decreasing temperature. The ratio of T1-1 for the two Sb isotopes is constant at high temperature but it decreases at low temperatures, indicating the role of quadrupole fluctuations of the Ce ions. The possible origin of the large specific heat at low temperatures is discussed basing on our results. © 2010 The American Physical Society.

The nature of dark matter and properties of neutrinos are among the most pressing issues in contemporary particle physics. The dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber is the leading technology to cover the available parameter space for weakly interacting massive particles, while featuring extensive sensitivity to many alternative dark matter candidates. These detectors can also study neutrinos through neutrinoless double-beta decay and through a variety of astrophysical sources. A next-generation xenon-based detector will therefore be a true multi-purpose observatory to significantly advance particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, solar physics, and cosmology. This review article presents the science cases for such a detector.

The nature of dark matter and properties of neutrinos are among the most pressing issues in contemporary particle physics. The dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber is the leading technology to cover the available parameter space for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), while featuring extensive sensitivity to many alternative dark matter candidates. These detectors can also study neutrinos through neutrinoless double-beta decay and through a variety of astrophysical sources. A next-generation xenon-based detector will therefore be a true multi-purpose observatory to significantly advance particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, solar physics, and cosmology. This review article presents the science cases for such a detector.