Single particle structure of exotic nuclei with transfer reactions

International audience; We report here on the first results obtained from the study of the 24Ne(d, p)25Ne reaction performed with SPIRAL beam at GANIL using the new TIARA+V AMOS+EXOGAM setup.

Measurements of the dipole response with radioactive beams

Beta decay of $^{56}$Cu

AbstractThe proton-rich isotope 56 Cu was produced at the GSI On-Line Mass Separator by means ofthe 28 Si( 32 S, p3n) fusion–evaporation reaction. Its β -decay properties were studied by detecting β -delayed γ rays and protons. A half-life of 93± 3 ms was determined for 56 Cu. Compared to theprevious work, six new γ rays and three new levels were assigned to the daughter nucleus 56 Ni. Themeasured Gamow–Teller strength values for five 56 Ni levels are compared toshell-model predictions.  2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 21.10.-k; 23.40.-s; 21.60.Cs; 27.40.+zKeywords: R ADIOACTIVITY 56 Cu ( β + ) [from 28 Si( 32 S, p3n)]; Measured E γ , I ; Deduced β -intensity and β -st…

Lifetime Measurements of Low-lying States in $^{73}$Ga and $^{70,72,74}$Zn Isotopes

International audience; Lifetimes of low-lying states in 73Ga and 70,72,74Zn were measured using the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift (RDDS) method. These nuclei were produced in deep-inelastic reactions in inverse kinematics with a 208Pb beam impinging on a 76Ge target. Prompt γ rays were detected using the AGATA tracking array coupled to the VAMOS++ spectrometer. Lifetime of the 5/2 − state in 73Ga, measured for the first time, provides additional evidence for the existence of a 1/2 −, 3/2 − ground-state doublet. The lifetimes of the 4 + states in 70,72,74Zn were remeasured in an attempt to understand the discrepancies observed between earlier measurements. Our results are in agreement with …

Isomer Spectroscopy in90216Th126and the Magicity of92218U126

Excited states in (216)Th were investigated via prompt and delayed gamma decays and the recoil-decay tagging method. The decay schemes of the I(pi) = (8+), t(1/2) = 128(8) micros, the I(pi) = (11-), t(1/2) = 615(55) ns, and the I(pi) = (14+), t(1/2) > or = 130 ns isomers were established. The configuration pi h(9/2)f(7/2) is assigned to the I(pi) = (8+) isomer, which implies that the h(9/2) and f(7/2) states are nearly degenerate. This is ascribed to increased binding of the f(7/2) orbital by its coupling to a low-lying I(pi) = (3-) state at E(x) = 1687 keV. The role of octupole and pairing correlations for a Z = 92 shell closure prediction is discussed on the basis of shell model calculati…

Kr-96(36)60-Low-Z Boundary of the Island of Deformation at N=60

Prompt.-ray spectroscopy of the neutron-rich Kr-96, produced in transfer-and fusion-induced fission reactions, has been performed using the combination of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array and the VAMOS + +spectrometer. A second excited state, assigned to J pi = 4(+), is observed for the first time, and a previously reported level energy of the first 2+ excited state is confirmed. The measured energy ratio R-4/2 = E(4(+))/E(2(+)) = 2.12(1) indicates that this nucleus does not show a well-developed collectivity contrary to that seen in heavier N = 60 isotones. This new measurement highlights an abrupt transition of the degree of collectivity as a function of the proton number at Z = 36, of s…

Effects of one valence proton on seniority and angular momentum of neutrons in neutron-rich Sb51122–131 isotopes

Background: Levels fulfilling the seniority scheme and relevant isomers are commonly observed features in semimagic nuclei; for example, in Sn isotopes (Z=50). Seniority isomers in Sn, with dominantly pure neutron configurations, directly probe the underlying neutron-neutron (νν) interaction. Furthermore, an addition of a valence proton particle or hole, through neutron-proton (νπ) interaction, affects the neutron seniority as well as the angular momentum. Purpose: Benchmark the reproducibility of the experimental observables, like the excitation energies (EX) and the reduced electric-quadrupole transition probabilities [B(E2)], with the results obtained from shell-model interactions for ne…

New shape isomer in the self-conjugate nucleus $^{72}$Kr

A new isomeric ${0}^{+}$ state was identified as the first excited state in the self-conjugate ($N=Z$) nucleus $^{\mathrm{72}}\mathrm{K}\mathrm{r}$. By combining for the first time conversion-electron and gamma-ray spectroscopy with the production of metastable states in high-energy fragmentation, the electric-monopole decay of the new isomer to the ground state was established. The new ${0}^{+}$ state is understood as the band head of the known prolate rotational structure, which strongly supports the interpretation that $^{\mathrm{72}}\mathrm{K}\mathrm{r}$ is one of the rare nuclei having an oblate-deformed ground state. This observation gives in fact the first evidence for a shape isomer…

Kr369660 –Low- Z Boundary of the Island of Deformation at N=60

Prompt γ-ray spectroscopy of the neutron-rich $^{96}$Kr, produced in transfer- and fusion-induced fission reactions, has been performed using the combination of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array and the VAMOS++ spectrometer. A second excited state, assigned to $J^π$ = $4^+$, is observed for the first time, and a previously reported level energy of the first 2+ excited state is confirmed. The measured energy ratio R4/2 = E($4^+$)/E($2^+$) = 2.12(1) indicates that this nucleus does not show a well-developed collectivity contrary to that seen in heavier N = 60 isotones. This new measurement highlights an abrupt transition of the degree of collectivity as a function of the proton number at Z = …

Resonance State inH7

The existence of the $^{7}\mathrm{H}$ nuclear system was investigated via a one-proton transfer reaction with a $^{8}\mathrm{He}$ beam at $15.4\mathrm{A}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$ and a $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ gas target. The experimental setup was based on the active-target MAYA which allowed a complete reconstruction of the reaction kinematics. The existence of the $^{7}\mathrm{H}$ was confirmed with the identification of seven events where the system was formed with a resonance energy of ${0.57}_{\ensuremath{-}0.21}^{+0.42}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$ above the $^{3}\mathrm{H}+4n$ threshold and a resonance width of ${0.09}_{\ensuremath{-}0.06}^{+0.94}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$. This stu…

Nucleon transfer via (d,p) using TIARA with a24Ne radioactive beam

NESTER; The first physics results measured using the TIARA array are reported. The reaction $^{24}$Ne(d,p)$^{25}$Ne has been studied in inverse kinematics with a radioactive beam of $^(24)$Ne provided by SPIRAL at GANIL. TIARA is very compact with a high geometrical coverage for charged particles, and is designed specifically for the study of transfer reactions in inverse kinematics, with radioactive beams. From the (d,p) differential cross sections, the ground state of $^{25}$Ne is assigned to have $J^\pi$ = $1/2^+$ and the lowest states with $J^\pi$ = $5/2^+$ and $3/2^+$ are tentatively identified at excitation energies of 1.70 and 2.05 (±0.05) MeV, respectively. Coincident gamma-ray data…

Preliminary results of lifetime measurements in neutron-rich $^{53}$Ti

To study the nuclear structure of neutron-rich titanium isotopes, a lifetime measurement was performed at the Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL) facility in Caen, France. The nucleiwere produced in a multinucleon-transfer reaction by using a 6.76 MeV/u 238U beam. The Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) was employed for the γ-ray detection and target-like recoils were identified event-by-event by the large-acceptance variable mode spectrometer (VAMOS++). Preliminary level lifetimes of the (5/2−) to 13/2− states of the yrast band in the neutron-rich nucleus 53Ti were measured for the first time employing the recoil distance Doppler-shift (RDDS) method and the compact plunger …

Giant resonances in unstable oxygen isotopes

Abstract Electromagnetic and nuclear breakup of the neutron-rich Oxygen isotopes ranging from A = 17 to A = 22 is studied experimentally in reactions at energies around 600 MeV/u. The beams were produced in fragmentation reactions and separated by the GSI Fragment Separator FRS. By measuring the four-momenta of all decay products after inelastic scattering and neutron decay of the projectile, the excitation energy is determined. From the differential cross sections dσ dE ∗ for electromagnetic excitation, the E1-strength distributions can be deduced. For 18,20,22O, low-lying dipole strength is observed, exhausting about 5% of the Thomas Reiche Kuhn sumrule for energies up to 5 MeV above the …

Fine structure of the Gamow-Teller resonance revealed in the decay of150Ho2−isomer

The $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays following the $72s$ ${}^{150}\mathrm{Ho}$ ${2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ Gamow-Teller $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay have been investigated with the CLUSTER CUBE setup, an array of six EUROBALL CLUSTER Ge detectors in close cubic geometry, providing a $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray detection sensitivity of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ per $\ensuremath{\beta}$-parent decay for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energies up to 5 MeV. The fine structure of the Gamow-Teller resonance at 4.4-MeV excitation in ${}^{150}\mathrm{Dy}$ has been studied. The resolved levels are compared with Shell Model predictions.

Photoneutron cross sections for unstable neutron-rich oxygen isotopes.

The dipole response of stable and unstable neutron-rich oxygen nuclei of masses A = 17 to A = 22 has been investigated experimentally utilizing electromagnetic excitation in heavy-ion collisions at beam energies about 600 MeV/nucleon. A kinematically complete measurement of the neutron decay channel in inelastic scattering of the secondary beam projectiles from a Pb target was performed. Differential electromagnetic excitation cross sections d sigma/dE were derived up to 30 MeV excitation energy. In contrast to stable nuclei, the deduced dipole strength distribution appears to be strongly fragmented and systematically exhibits a considerable fraction of low-lying strength.

Evidence of octupole-phonons at high spin in 207Pb

A lifetime measurement of the 19/2 state in Pb has been performed using the Recoil Distance Doppler-Shift (RDDS) method. The nuclei of interest were produced in multi-nucleon transfer reactions induced by a Pb beam impinging on a Mo enriched target. The beam-like nuclei were detected and identified in terms of their atomic mass number in the VAMOS++ spectrometer while the prompt γ rays were detected by the AGATA tracking array. The measured large reduced transition probability B(E3,19/2→13/2)=40(8) W.u. is the first indication of the octupole phonon at high spin in Pb. An analysis in terms of a particle-octupole-vibration coupling model indicates that the measured B(E3) value in Pb is compa…

Measurement of the dipole response of neutron-rich nuclei in the A∼20 region

Abstract Coulomb break up of the neutron-rich 15,17 C and 17–22 O isotopes has been studied experimentally using secondary beams at energies of 500–600 MeV/u. A comparison between differential cross sections, d σ/ d E ∗ , with that obtained from a binary model shows that the main ground-state configuration of 15 C is 14 C(0 + )⊗ ν S 1/2 as expected. For 17 C, our preliminary data analysis reveals that the predominant (∼64%) configuration of the ground state is 16 C(2 + )⊗ ν s , d . For 17–22 O, the low-lying E1 strength amounts up to about 12% of the energy weighted sum rule strength depending on neutron number. The energy weighted E1 strength (integrated up to 15 MeV excitation energy) inc…

New gas-filled mode of the large-acceptance spectrometer VAMOS

A new gas-filled operation mode of the large-acceptance spectrometer VAMOS at GANIL is reported. A beam rejection factor greater than 10(10) is obtained for the Ca-40+Sm-150 system at 196 MeV. The unprecedented transmission efficiency for the evaporation residues produced in this reaction is estimated to be around 80% for alpha x n channels and above 95% for x ny p channels. A detailed study of the performance of the gas-filled VAMOS and future developments are discussed. This new operation mode opens avenues to explore the potential of fusion reactions in various kinematics. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopy of very neutron-deficient 187,189Bi isotopes

Shape coexistence is well known to occur in nuclei, in particular near closed shells [1], where particle-hole excitations across the shell gap can create deformed intruder states. In the neutron-deficient lead isotopes (Z = 82), deformed structures appear at low excitation energy. The isotope 188Pb [2] shows for example a triple shape coexistence with oblate and prolate excited 0+ states that compete with the spherical ground state. The study of the odd-proton single-particle excitations in Bi isotopes allows to obtain information on the orbitals involved in the different shapes observed in this mass region.

Production and Characterization of the $^{7}$H Resonance

Détecteur MAYA; International audience; The 7H resonance was produced via one-proton transfer reaction between a 8He beam at 15.4A MeV and a 12C gas target. The experimental setup was based on the active-target MAYA which allowed a complete reconstruction of the reaction kinematics. The characterization of the identified 7H events resulted in a resonance energy of 600 keV above the 3H+4n threshold and a resonance width of 100 keV. This study represents the first unambiguous proof of the existence of the 7H state.

Isomeric states in proton-unbound 187, 189Bi isotopes

Prompt and delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of very neutron-deficient bismuth isotopes 187, 189Bi has been performed using the Recoil Decay Tagging (RTD) method. The isomeric i 13/2 states have been identified and their lifetimes have been measured. The systematics of these long-lived M2 isomers has been extended to the proton-unbound isotopes. The general behaviour of single-proton states is discussed within the systematics and interpreted within the shell-model framework.

Production of very neutron-deficient isotopes near Sn via reactions involving light-particle and cluster emission

Abstract The production of very neutron-deficient isotopes near 100Sn has been investigated by using on-line mass separation of evaporation residues produced by heavy-ion induced complete-fusion reactions. We measured the cross sections for 99Cd, 100In, 101Sn and 102In via 58Ni+58Ni fusion reactions followed by cluster emission, and via 58Ni+50Cr fusion reactions accompanied by evaporation of protons, neutrons or α particles. Both types of reactions yield similar cross sections for the production of exotic nuclei near 100Sn. The data are discussed in comparison with results obtained from statistical-model calculations.

Migration of Nuclear Shell Gaps Studied in thed(Ne24,pγ)Ne25Reaction

The transfer of neutrons onto 24Ne has been measured using a reaccelerated radioactive beam of 24Ne to study the (d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics. The unusual raising of the first 3/2+ level in 25Ne and its significance in terms of the migration of the neutron magic number from N=20 to N=16 is put on a firm footing by confirmation of this state's identity. The raised 3/2+ level is observed simultaneously with the intruder negative parity 7/2- and 3/2- levels, providing evidence for the reduction in the N=20 gap. The coincident gamma-ray decays allowed the assignment of spins as well as the transferred orbital angular momentum. The excitation energy of the 3/2+ state shows that the estab…

Evidence of Partial Seniority Conservation in the pi g9/2 Shell for the N=50 Isotones

The reduced transition probabilities for the 4-> and 2->0 transitions in 92Mo and 94Ru and for the 4->2 and 6->4 transitions in 90Zr have been determined in this experiment making use of a multinucleon transfer reaction. These results have been interpreted on the basis of realistic shell-model calculations in the f5/2, p3/2, p1/2, and g9/2 proton valence space. Only the combination of extensive lifetime information and large scale shell-model calculations allowed the extent of the seniority conservation in the N=50 g9/2 orbital to be understood. The conclusion is that seniority is largely conserved in the first πg9/2 orbital.

Effects of one valence proton on seniority and angular momentum of neutrons in neutron-rich $^{122-131}$Sb$_{51}$ isotopes

The neutron-rich $^{122-131}$Sb isotopes were produced as fission fragments in the reaction $^{9}$Be($^{238}$U,~f) with 6.2 MeV/u beam energy. An unique setup, consisting of AGATA, VAMOS++ and EXOGAM detectors, was used which enabled the prompt-delayed gamma-ray ($\gamma$) spectroscopy of fission fragments in the time range of 100 ns - 200 $\mu$s. New isomers, prompt and delayed transitions were established in the even-A $^{122-130}$Sb isotopes. In the odd-A $^{123-131}$Sb isotopes, new prompt and delayed $\gamma$-ray transitions were identified, in addition to the confirmation of the previously known isomers. The half-lives of the isomeric states and the $B(E2)$ transition probabilities of…