0000000000011195
AUTHOR
Kristiaan Heyde
Deformation and mixing of coexisting shapes in neutron-deficient polonium isotopes
Coulomb-excitation experiments are performed with postaccelerated beams of neutron-deficient Po196,198,200,202 isotopes at the REX-ISOLDE facility. A set of matrix elements, coupling the low-lying states in these isotopes, is extracted. In the two heaviest isotopes, Po200,202, the transitional and diagonal matrix elements of the 2+1 state are determined. In Po196,198 multistep Coulomb excitation is observed, populating the 4+1,0+2, and 2+2 states. The experimental results are compared to the results from the measurement of mean-square charge radii in polonium isotopes, confirming the onset of deformation from Po196 onwards. Three model descriptions are used to compare to the data. Calculati…
Evidence for Shape Coexistence in Neutron-Rich Rh and Ag Nuclei
Neutron-rich nuclei of Rh and Ag have been investigated by γ-ray spectroscopic measurements as well as single-particle transfer reactions like (d,3He) and (3He,d). The obtained level schemes of 105,107,109,111Rh and 113,115Ag show two different types of excitation: (I) proton-hole states related to a spherical shape of the nucleus and (II) proton-particle states with a rotational band-like structure (intruder band) pointing towards deformation of the nucleus. The “fingerprints” for such a shape coexistence and resulting systematics in these nuclei and the possible interpretation of the intruder band as a rotational band built upon the 1/2+[431] Nilsson configuration are discussed.
Excited states and reduced transition probabilities in Os168
The level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide 168Os has been extended and mean lifetimes of excited states have been measured by the recoil distance Doppler-shift method using the JUROGAM \gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the IKP K\"oln plunger device. The 168Os \gamma rays were measured in delayed coincidence with recoiling fusion-evaporation residues detected at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The ratio of reduced transition probabilities B(E2;4_1^+ \rightarrow 2_1^+)/B(E2;2_1^+ \rightarrow 0_1^+) is measured to be 0.34(18), which is very unusual for collective band structures and cannot be reproduced by IBM-2 model calculations based on the SkM* energy-den…
Evidence for intruder states in111Rh
Levels in111Rh have been investigated via the γ -rays following the β−-decay of 2.1 s111Ru. The Ru activity was produced in the fission of249Cf and separated chemically from the fission product mixture. The emitted γ-rays were studied by γ singles and γ(t) coincidence measurements. Evidence for intruder states in111Rh has been obtained. Their properties are discussed and compared with those in the lighter Rh isotopes.
Coulomb Excitation of Neutron-Rich Zn Isotopes: First Observation of the21+State inZn80
Neutron-rich, radioactive Zn isotopes were investigated at the Radioactive Ion Beam facility REX-ISOLDE (CERN) using low-energy Coulomb excitation. The energy of the 2(1)+ state in 78Zn could be firmly established and for the first time the 2+ --> 0(1)+ transition in 80Zn was observed at 1492(1) keV. B(E2,2(1)+ --> 0(1)+) values were extracted for (74,76,78,80)Zn and compared to large scale shell model calculations. With only two protons outside the Z=28 proton core, 80Zn is the lightest N=50 isotone for which spectroscopic information has been obtained to date. Two sets of advanced shell model calculations reproduce the observed B(E2) systematics. The results for N=50 isotones indicate a g…
Probing intruder structures in lead nuclei
In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy measurements provide important information on coexisting normal and intruder configurations in lead nuclei. However, in these experiments the yrast states are preferentially populated so that in many cases nothing is known about non-yrast states that are essential for obtaining a fuller understanding. Complementary experiments designed to study fine structure in the a decays of polonium nuclei have led to the discovery of low-spin non-yrast states in the daughter lead nuclei, while higher-spin states can be identified through the γ decays of isomeric states. The α-decay studies have the additional benefit of allowing information on configuration mixing in the polo…
Pairing-excitation versus intruder states inNi68andZr90
A discussion on the nature of the 0{sup +} states in {sup 68}Ni (Z=28, N=40) is presented and a comparison is made with its valence counterpart {sup 90}Zr (Z=40, N=50). Evidence is given for a 0{sup +} proton-intruder state at only {approx}2.2-MeV excitation energy in {sup 68}Ni, while the analogous neutron-intruder states in {sup 90}Zr reside at 4126 and 5441 keV. The application of a shell-model description of 0{sup +} intruder states reveals that many pair-scattered neutrons across N=40 have to be involved to explain the low excitation energy of the proton-intruder configuration in {sup 68}Ni.
Accurate masses of neutron-deficient nuclides close to
Abstract Mass measurements with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN are extended to nonsurface ionizable species using newly developed ion-beam bunching devices. Masses of 179–197Hg, 196,198Pb, 197Bi, 198Po and 203At were determined with an accuracy of 1×10 −7 corresponding to δm≈20 keV. Applying a resolving power of up to 3.7×10 6 ground and isomeric states of 185,187,191,193,197Hg were separated. First experimental values for the isomeric excitation energy of 187,191Hg are obtained. A least-squares adjustment has been performed and theoretical approaches are discussed to model the observed fine structure in the binding energy.
Spectroscopy of the long-lived excited state in the neutron-deficient nuclides Po195,197,199 by precision mass measurements
Direct mass measurements of the low-spin 3/2(-) and high-spin 13/2(+) states in the neutron-deficient isotopes Po-195 and Po-197 were performed with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE-CERN. These measurements allow the determination of the excitation energy of the isomeric state arising from the nu i(13/2) orbital in Po-195,Po-197. Additionally, the excitation energy of isomeric states of lead, radon, and radium isotopes in this region were obtained from alpha-decay chains. These excitation energies complete the knowledge of the energy systematics in the region and confirm that the 13/2(+) states remain isomeric, independent of the number of valence neutrons.
A triplet of differently shaped spin-zero states in the atomic nucleus 186Pb
Understanding the fundamental excitations of many-fermion systems is of significant current interest. In atomic nuclei with even numbers of neutrons and protons, the low-lying excitation spectrum is generally formed by nucleon pair breaking and nuclear vibrations or rotations. However, for certain numbers of protons and neutrons, a subtle rearrangement of only a few nucleons among the orbitals at the Fermi surface can result in a different elementary mode: a macroscopic shape change. The first experimental evidence for this phenomenon came from the observation of shape coexistence in 16O (ref. 4). Other unexpected examples came with the discovery of fission isomers and super-deformed nuclei…
Coulomb Excitation ofCu68,70: First Use of Postaccelerated Isomeric Beams
We report on the first low-energy Coulomb excitation measurements with radioactive Ipi=6- beams of odd-odd nuclei 68,70Cu. The beams were produced at ISOLDE, CERN and were post-accelerated by REX-ISOLDE to 2.83 MeV/nucleon. gamma rays were detected with the MINIBALL spectrometer. The 6- beam was used to study the multiplet of states (3-, 4-, 5-, 6-) arising from the pi2p3/2nu1g9/2 configuration. The 4- state of the multiplet was populated via Coulomb excitation and the B(E2;6--->4-) value was determined in both nuclei. The results obtained illustrate the fragile stability of the Z=28 shell and N=40 subshell closures. A comparison with large-scale shell-model calculations using the 56Ni core…
Shape-changing particle decays ofBi185and structure of the lightest odd-mass Bi isotopes
Proton and alpha decay of the proton-rich nuclide Bi-185 has been restudied in more detail in the complete fusion reaction Nb-93(Mo-95, 3n)Bi-185 at the velocity filter SHIP. The observed decay pat ...
Electromagnetic properties of low-lying states in neutron-deficient Hg isotopes: Coulomb excitation of Hg-182, Hg-184, Hg-186 and Hg-188
The neutron-deficient mercury isotopes serve as a classical example of shape coexistence, whereby at low energy near-degenerate nuclear states characterized by different shapes appear. The electromagnetic structure of even-mass 182-188 Hg isotopes was studied using safe-energy Coulomb excitation of neutron-deficient mercury beams delivered by the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The population of $ 0^{+}_{1,2}$01,2+, $ 2^{+}_{1,2}$21,2+and $ 4^{+}_{1}$41+states was observed in all nuclei under study. Reduced E2 matrix elements coupling populated yrast and non-yrast states were extracted, including their relative signs. These are a sensitive probe of shape coexistence and may be used to validate…
Discovery of 157W and 161Os
The nuclides W-157 and Os-161 have been discovered ill reactions of Ni-58 ion beams with a Cd-106 target. The Os-161 alpha-decay energy and half-life were 6890 +/- 12 keV and 640 +/- 60 mu s. The d ...