We have studied the centrality dependence of charged-particle forward-backward multiplicity correlation strength in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV with a parton and hadron cascade model, PACIAE, based on PYTHIA. The calculated results are compared with the STAR data. The experimentally observed correlation strength characteristics, (1) the approximately flat pseudorapidity dependence in central collisions and (2) the monotonous decrease with decreasing centrality, are reproduced well. However, the theoretical results are larger than the STAR data for the peripheral collisions. We compare the different models and STAR data. A prediction for the forward-backward multiplicity correlation in Pb+Pb collisions at sNN=5500 GeV is also given.

A paired cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky-Bogoliubov (CNSB) model is presented, which employs the same method to calculate the liquid-drop energy and moment of inertia as the unpaired cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky (CNS) model. In the CNSB model, the energy minimization is carried out in the mesh of pairing gaps $\Delta$ and Fermi levels $\lambda$ as well as deformation parameters. The high spin states in ${}^{161}\mathrm{Lu}$ are then investigated with the CNSB and CNS models. The terminating structure shows a striking similarity with these two models. Combining the CNSB and CNS models, a complete understanding of high spin structures, including the normal deformed (ND) and triaxial strongly deformed (TSD) bands and observed side bands in ${}^{161}\mathrm{Lu}$, is achieved. It appears that the only important paired crossings are the first $i_{13/2}$ neutron crossing and the first $h_{11/2}$ proton crossing. For the description of the unpaired high spin crossings, it is important to be able to distinguish between the pseudospin partners in the proton $\mathcal{N}=4$ shell, $(d_{5/2}$,$g_{7/2}$) and $(d_{3/2}$,$s_{1/2}$). The yrast bands are predicted to terminate, which explains the structure of a TSD-like band X2. A band crossing at $I\approx 36.5$ for the TSD band in ${}^{161}\mathrm{Lu}$, unique within the chain of even-$N$ Lu isotopes, is well described by the CNSB model.

High-spin states in $^{138}\mathrm{Nd}$ were investigated by using the $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}+^{94}\mathrm{Zr}$ reaction and $$\gamma${}$-ray coincidences were acquired with the GASP spectrometer. A rich level scheme was developed including 14 new bands of quadrupole transitions at very high spins. Linking transitions connecting 11 high-spin bands to low-energy states have been observed. Calculations based on the cranked Nilsson\char21{}Strutinsky formalism have been used to assign configurations to the observed bands. The main result of these calculations is that all 14 bands exhibit a stable triaxial deformation up to the highest observed spins, giving strong support to the existence of a triaxial minimum with normal deformation and positive asymmetry parameter in nuclei with a few holes in the $N=82$ shell closure.

We have studied the centrality bin size dependence of charged particle forward-backward multiplicity correlation strength in 5%, 0–5%, and 0–10% most central $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathit{NN}}}=200$ GeV with a parton and hadron cascade model, PACIAE based on PYTHIA. The real (total), statistical, and negative binomial distribution (NBD) correlation strengths are calculated by the real events, the mixed events, and fitting the charged particle multiplicity distribution to the NBD, respectively. It turned out that the correlation strength increases with increasing centrality bin size monotonously. If the discrepancy between real (total) and statistical correlation strengths is identified as dynamical one, the dynamical correlation may just be a few percent of the total (real) correlation.

Exposure of metals to neutron irradiation results in an increase in the yield strength and a significant loss of ductility. Irradiation hardening is also closely related to the fracture toughness temperature shift or the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) shift in alloys with a body-centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure. Ion irradiation is an indispensable tool in the study of the radiation effects of materials for nuclear energy systems. Due to the shallow damage depth in ion-irradiated materials, the nanoindentation test is the most commonly used method for characterizing the changes in mechanical properties after ion irradiation. Issues that affect the analysis of irradiation hardening may arise due to changes in the surface morphology and mechanical properties, as well as the inherent complexities in nanoscale indentation. These issues, including changes in surface roughness, carbon contamination, the pile-up effect, and the indentation size effect, with corresponding measures, were reviewed. Modeling using the crystal plasticity finite element method of the nanoindentation of ion-irradiated materials was also reviewed. The challenges in extending the nanoindentation test to high temperatures and to multiscale simulation were addressed.