0000000000147350
AUTHOR
P. Chowdhury
Optical response and shapes of charged sodium clusters; an analogue of the nuclear giant dipole response
Collective vibrations of de-localized electrons against the positive charged ionic background in sodium clusters (plasmon resonances) and the collective vibrations of protons against neutrons in nuclei (giant dipole resonances) have several features in common. However, fundamental differences exist due to differences in the two media; the nucleus is a quantum liquid whereas the metallic medium is more like a plasma with classical positive ions and quantized electrons. The similarities and differences are illustrated by results from optical response measurements for charged sodium clusters with 14 to 48 atoms.
Reevaluation of theP30(p,γ)S31astrophysical reaction rate from a study of theT=1/2mirror nuclei,S31andP31
The $^{30}\mathrm{P}$($p,\ensuremath{\gamma}$)$^{31}\mathrm{S}$ reaction rate is expected to be the principal determinant for the endpoint of nucleosynthesis in classical novae. To date, the reaction rate has only been estimated through Hauser-Feschbach calculations and is unmeasured experimentally. This paper aims to remedy this situation. Excited states in $^{31}\mathrm{S}$ and $^{31}\mathrm{P}$ were populated in the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$($^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$,$n$) and $^{12}\mathrm{C}$($^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$,$p$) reactions, respectively, at a beam energy of 32 MeV, and their resulting $\ensuremath{\gamma}$decay was detected with the Gammasphere array. Around half the relevant proton unbound states …
Nuclear Shape Transitions and Some Properties of Aligned-Particle Configurations at High Spin
Two topics are addressed in this paper. First, we discuss the variation of shapes with spin and neutron number for nuclei in the N approx. = 88 transitional region. Second, we present comments on the feeding times of very high spin single-particle yrast states.
Search for a 2-quasiparticle high-Kisomer inRf256
The energies of 2-quasiparticle (2-qp) states in heavy shell-stabilized nuclei provide information on the single-particle states that are responsible for the stability of superheavy nuclei. We have calculated the energies of 2-qp states in {sup 256}Rf, which suggest that a long-lived, low-energy 8{sup -} isomer should exist. A search was conducted for this isomer through a calorimetric conversion electron signal, sandwiched in time between implantation of a {sup 256}Rf nucleus and its fission decay, all within the same pixel of a double-sided Si strip detector. A 17(5)-{mu}s isomer was identified. However, its low population, {approx}5(2)% that of the ground state instead of the expected {a…
Fission Barrier of Superheavy Nuclei and Persistence of Shell Effects at High Spin: Cases ofNo254andTh220
We report on the first measurement of the fission barrier height in a heavy shell-stabilized nucleus. The fission barrier height of No-254 is measured to be B-f = 6.0 +/- 0.5 MeV at spin 15 (h) over bar and, by extrapolation, B-f = 6.6 +/- 0.9 MeV at spin 0 (h) over bar. This information is deduced from the measured distribution of entry points in the excitation energy versus spin plane. The same measurement is performed for Th-220 and only a lower limit of the fission barrier height can be determined: B-f (I) > 8 MeV. Comparisons with theoretical fission barriers test theories that predict properties of superheavy elements.
Exploring the stability of super heavy elements: First Measurement of the Fission Barrier of $^{254} $No
The gamma-ray multiplicity and total energy emitted by the heavy nucleus 254No have been measured at 2 different beam energies. From these measurements, the initial distributions of spin I and excitation energy E * of 254No were constructed. The distributions display a saturation in excitation energy, which allows a direct determination of the fission barrier. 254No is the heaviest shell-stabilized nucleus with a measured fission barrier. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2014.
Kπ=8−isomers andKπ=2−octupole vibrations inN=150shell-stabilized isotones
Isomers have been populated in {sup 246}Cm and {sup 252}No with quantum numbers K{sup {pi}}=8{sup -}, which decay through K{sup {pi}}=2{sup -} rotational bands built on octupole vibrational states. For N=150 isotones with (even) atomic number Z=94-102, the K{sup {pi}}=8{sup -} and 2{sup -} states have remarkably stable energies, indicating neutron excitations. An exception is a singular minimum in the 2{sup -} energy at Z=98, due to the additional role of proton configurations. The nearly constant energies, in isotones spanning an 18% increase in Coulomb energy near the Coulomb limit, provide a test for theory. The two-quasiparticle K{sup {pi}}=8{sup -} energies are described with single-pa…
High-Kstructure inFm250and the deformed shell gaps atN=152andZ=100
The structure of high-spin and nonyrast states of the transfermium nucleus $^{250}\mathrm{Fm}$ has been studied in detail. The isomeric nature of a two-quasiparticle excitation has been exploited in order to obtain spectroscopic data of exceptional quality. The data allow the configuration of an isomer first discovered over 30 years ago to be deduced, and provide an unambiguous determination of the location of neutron single-particle states in a very heavy nucleus. A comparison to the known two-quasiparticle structure of $^{254,252}\mathrm{No}$ confirms the existence of the deformed shell gaps at $N=152$ and $Z=100$.
Mirror energy differences in theA=31mirror nuclei,S31andP31, and their significance in electromagnetic spin-orbit splitting
Excited states in $^{31}\mathrm{S}$ and $^{31}\mathrm{P}$ were populated in the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$($^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$,n) and $^{12}\mathrm{C}$($^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$,p) reactions, respectively, at a beam energy of 32 MeV. High spin states of positive and negative parity have been observed in $^{31}\mathrm{S}$ for the first time, and the yrast scheme of $^{31}\mathrm{P}$ has been extended. Large mirror energy differences between the first $9/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and $13/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ states were observed, but only small differences for the first $7/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and $11/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ levels. The significance of these observations is discussed in relation to the electromag…
In-beam spectroscopy of heavy elements
Abstract Traditionally the experimental study of heavy and superheavy elements has belonged to the realm of decay spectroscopy and nuclear reactions. Only in the past twenty years or so has it become feasible to study nuclei with Z = 96 and beyond with in-beam spectroscopic techniques. Since the pioneering studies in the late 1990s, development of both instrumentation and experimental techniques has resulted in a significant lowering of the spectroscopic limit for in-beam measurements. Such measurements give access to a wide range of nuclear structure observables which in general are beyond the reach of other techniques. The current review aims to present the most recent developments and re…
Stability and synthesis of superheavy elements: Fighting the battle against fission – example of $^{254}$No
International audience; Superheavy nuclei exist solely due to quantum shell effects,which create a pocket in the potential-energy surface of the nucleus, thusproviding a barrier against spontaneous fission. Determining the height ofthe fission barrier and its angular-momentum dependence is important toquantify the role that microscopic shell corrections play in enhancing andextending the limits of nuclear stability. In this talk, the first measurement ofa fission barrier in the very heavy nucleus 254No will be presented.
Estrogen increases hepatic lipase levels in inbred strains of mice: A possible mechanism for estrogen-dependent lowering of high density lipoprotein
We have shown mouse to be an useful animal model for studies on the estrogen-mediated synthesis and secretion of lipoproteins since, unlike in rats, low density lipoprotein receptors are not upregulated in mice [3]. This results into the elevation of plasma levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B and apoE, and lowering of apoA-I-containing particles. The mechanisms of apoB and apoE elevation by estrogen have been elucidated [6], but the mechanism of lowering of plasma levels of HDL is still not known. Among other factors, apoA-I, cholesterol ester transfer protein (CEPT), scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1), and hepatic lipase are potential candidates that modulate plasma levels of HDL. Since estrogen t…
Bridging the nuclear structure gap between stable and super heavy nuclei
International audience; Due to recent advances in detection techniques, excited states in several trans-fermium nuclei were studied in many laboratories worldwide, shedding light on the evolution of nuclear structure between stable nuclei and the predicted island of stability centered around spherical magic numbers. In particular, studies of K-isomers around the Z=100 and N=152 deformed shell closures extended information on the energies of Nilsson orbitals at the Fermi surface. Some of these orbitals originate from spherical states, which are relevant to the magic gaps in super-heavy nuclei. The single-particle energies can be used to test various theoretical predictions and aid in extrapo…