Measurement of the $2^+\rightarrow 0^+$ ground-state transition in the $\beta$ decay of $^{20}$F

We report the first detection of the second-forbidden, non-unique, $2^+\rightarrow 0^+$, ground-state transition in the $\beta$ decay of $^{20}$F. A low-energy, mass-separated $^{20}\rm{F}^+$ beam produced at the IGISOL facility in Jyv\"askyl\"a, Finland, was implanted in a thin carbon foil and the $\beta$ spectrum measured using a magnetic transporter and a plastic-scintillator detector. The $\beta$-decay branching ratio inferred from the measurement is $b_{\beta} = [ 0.41\pm 0.08\textrm{(stat)}\pm 0.07\textrm{(sys)}] \times 10^{-5}$ corresponding to $\log ft = 10.89(11)$, making this one of the strongest second-forbidden, non-unique $\beta$ transitions ever measured. The experimental resu…

Precision measurement of the magnetic octupole moment in 45Sc as a test for state-of-the-art atomic- and nuclear-structure theory

We report on measurements of the hyperfine $A, B$ and $C$-constants of the $3d4s^2 ~^2D_{5/2}$ and $3d4s^2 ~^2D_{3/2}$ atomic states in $^{45}$Sc. High-precision atomic calculations of the hyperfine fields of these states and second-order corrections are performed, and are used to extract $C_{5/2}=-0.06(6)$ kHz and $C_{3/2}=+0.04(3)$ kHz from the data. These results are one order of magnitude more precise than the available literature. From the combined analysis of both atomic states, we infer the nuclear magnetic octupole moment $\Omega = -0.07(53) \mu_N b$, including experimental and atomic structure-related uncertainties. With a single valence proton outside of a magic calcium core, scan…

Experimental study of $^{100}$Tc $\beta$ decay with total absorption $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy

International audience; The β decay of Tc100 has been studied by using the total absorption γ-ray spectroscopy technique at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility in Jyväskylä. In this work the new Decay Total Absorption γ-ray Spectrometer in coincidence with a cylindrical plastic β detector has been employed. The β intensity to the ground state obtained from the analysis is in good agreement with previous high-resolution measurements. However, differences in the feeding to the first-excited state as well as weak feeding to a new level at high excitation energy have been deduced from this experiment. Theoretical calculations performed in the quasiparticle random-phase approximatio…

Measurement of the 2+--0+ ground-state transition in the ß decay of 20F

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Total Absorption Spectroscopy Study of $^{92}$Rb Decay: A Major Contributor to Reactor Antineutrino Spectrum Shape

The antineutrino spectra measured in recent experiments at reactors are inconsistent with calculations based on the conversion of integral beta spectra recorded at the ILL reactor. $^{92}$Rb makes the dominant contribution to the reactor spectrum in the 5-8 MeV range but its decay properties are in question. We have studied $^{92}$Rb decay with total absorption spectroscopy. Previously unobserved beta feeding was seen in the 4.5-5.5 region and the GS to GS feeding was found to be 87.5(25)%. The impact on the reactor antineutrino spectra calculated with the summation method is shown and discussed.

Measurement of the 2+→0+ ground-state transition in the β decay of 20F

We report the first detection of the second-forbidden, nonunique, 2+→0+, ground-state transition in the β decay of 20F. A low-energy, mass-separated 20F+ beam produced at the IGISOL facility in Jyväskylä, Finland, was implanted in a thin carbon foil and the β spectrum measured using a magnetic transporter and a plastic-scintillator detector. The β-decay branching ratio inferred from the measurement is bβ=[0.41±0.08(stat)±0.07(sys)]×10−5 corresponding to logft=10.89(11), making this one of the strongest second-forbidden, nonunique β transitions ever measured. The experimental result is supported by shell-model calculations and has significant implications for the final evolution of stars tha…

Total absorption γ-ray spectroscopy of the β decays of 96gs,mY

The β decays of the ground state (gs) and isomeric state (m) of 96Y have been studied with the total absorption γ-ray spectroscopy technique at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility. The separation of the 8+ isomeric state from the 0− ground state was achieved thanks to the purification capabilities of the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap system. The β-intensity distributions of both decays have been independently determined. In the analyses the deexcitation of the 1581.6 keV level in 96Zr, in which conversion electron emission competes with pair production, has been carefully considered and found to have significant impact on the β-detector efficiency, influencing the β-intensity di…

Study of the $��$-decay of $^{100}$Tc with Total Absorption $��$-Ray Spectroscopy

The \b{eta}-decay of 100 Tc has been studied using the Total Absorption ��-Ray Spectroscopy technique at IGISOL. In this work the new DTAS spectrometer in coincidence with a cylindrical plastic \b{eta} detector has been employed. The \b{eta}-intensity to the ground state obtained from the analysis is in good agreement with previous high-resolution measurements. However, differences in the feeding to the first excited state as well as weak feeding to a new level at high excitation energy have been deduced from this experiment. Theoretical calculations performed in the quasiparticle random- phase approximation (QRPA) framework are also reported. Comparison of these calculations with our measu…

Results of DTAS Campaign at IGISOL : Overview

The β decays of more than twenty fission fragments were measured in the first experiments with radioactive-ion beams employing the Decay Total Absorption γ-ray Spectrometer. In this work, we summarize the main results obtained so far from this experimental campaign carried out at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility. The advances introduced for these studies represent the state-of-the-art of our analysis methodology for segmented spectrometers. peerReviewed

Study of the $\beta$-decay of $^{100}$Tc with Total Absorption $\gamma$-Ray Spectroscopy

The \b{eta}-decay of 100 Tc has been studied using the Total Absorption {\gamma}-Ray Spectroscopy technique at IGISOL. In this work the new DTAS spectrometer in coincidence with a cylindrical plastic \b{eta} detector has been employed. The \b{eta}-intensity to the ground state obtained from the analysis is in good agreement with previous high-resolution measurements. However, differences in the feeding to the first excited state as well as weak feeding to a new level at high excitation energy have been deduced from this experiment. Theoretical calculations performed in the quasiparticle random- phase approximation (QRPA) framework are also reported. Comparison of these calculations with our…

Discovery of an Exceptionally Strong β -Decay Transition of $^{20}$F and Implications for the Fate of Intermediate-Mass Stars

A significant fraction of stars between 7-11 solar masses are thought to become supernovae, but the explosion mechanism is unclear. The answer depends critically on the rate of electron capture on $^{20}$Ne in the degenerate oxygen-neon stellar core. However, due to the unknown strength of the transition between the ground states of $^{20}$Ne and $^{20}$F, it has not previously been possible to fully constrain the rate. By measuring the transition, we have established that its strength is exceptionally large and enhances the capture rate by several orders of magnitude. This has a decisive impact on the evolution of the core, increasing the likelihood that the star is (partially) disrupted b…

Enhanced Gamma-Ray Emission from Neutron Unbound States Populated in Beta Decay

International audience; Total absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the beta-decay intensity to states above the neutron separation energy followed by gamma-ray emission in 87,88Br and 94Rb. Accurate results were obtained thanks to a careful control of systematic errors. An unexpectedly large gamma intensity was observed in all three cases extending well beyond the excitation energy region where neutron penetration is hindered by low neutron energy. The gamma branching as a function of excitation energy was compared to Hauser-Feshbach model calculations. For 87Br and 88Br the gamma branching reaches 57% and 20% respectively, and could be explained as a nuclear structure effect. So…

Measurement of the 2+→0+ ground-state transition in the β decay of F 20

| openaire: EC/H2020/654002/EU//ENSAR2 We report the first detection of the second-forbidden, nonunique, 2(+) -> 0(+), ground-state transition in the beta decay of F-20. A low-energy, mass-separated F-20(+) beam produced at the IGISOL facility in Jyvaskyla, Finland, was implanted in a thin carbon foil and the beta spectrum measured using a magnetic transporter and a plastic-scintillator detector. The beta-decay branching ratio inferred from the measurement is b(beta) = [0.41 +/- 0.08(stat) +/- 0.07(sys)] x 10(-5) corresponding to log ft = 10.89(11), making this one of the strongest second-forbidden, nonunique beta transitions ever measured. The experimental result is supported by shell-mode…

Measurement of the 2 + → 0 + ground-state transition in the β decay of F 20

On the performance of wavelength meters : Part 1 : consequences for medium-to-high-resolution laser spectroscopy

Present-day laser-spectroscopy experiments increasingly rely on modern commercial devices to monitor, stabilize, and scan the wavelength of their probe laser. Recently, new techniques are capable of achieving unprecedented levels of precision on atomic and nuclear observables, pushing these devices to their performance limits. Considering the fact that these observables themselves are deduced from the frequency difference between specific atomic resonances, in the order of MHz–GHz, the uncertainty on the output of the device measuring the wavelength is often directly related to the final systematic uncertainty on the experimental results. Owing to its importance, the performance of several …

Discovery of an Exceptionally Strong β -Decay Transition of F 20 and Implications for the Fate of Intermediate-Mass Stars

TAS measurements for reactor physics and nuclear structure

In this contribution we will present recent total absorption measurements of the beta decay of neutron‐rich nuclei performed at the IGISOL facility of the Univ. of Jyvaskyla. In the measurements the JYFL Penning Trap was used as a high resolution isobaric separator. The total absorption technique will be described and the impact of recent results in the fields of reactor physics (decay heat calculations) and nuclear structure will be discussed.