0000000000204449
AUTHOR
M. Houry
Investigation of E0 Transition in 74Kr
The N = Z+2 nucleus 74Kr has been investigated by in-beam conversion electron (CE) and γ ray spectroscopy. The electric-monopole (E0) decay was examined in order to confirm the evidence for a low-lying isomeric 0+2 state and to give insight into the mixing between the predicted coexisting prolate and oblate shapes.
In-beam spectroscopy of $^{253,254}$No
In-beam conversion electron spectroscopy experiments have been performed on the transfermium nuclei 253,254No using the conversion electron spectrometer SACRED in nearly collinear geometry in conjunction with the gas-filled separator RITU at the University of Jyvaskyla. The experimental setup is discussed and the spectra are compared to Monte Carlo simulations. The implications for the ground-state configuration of 253No are discussed.
First observation of excited states in 184Pb: spectroscopy beyond the neutron mid-shell
Excited states have been identified for the first time in 184Pb, the first even-even Pb isotope beyond the 82 < N < 126 mid-shell, using the recoil-decay tagging (RDT) technique. A collective band built on the first-excited 2+ state has been observed. This resembles those seen in 186,188Pb and the Hg isotones, and can thus be associated with a prolate-deformed shape. Variable moment of inertia (VMI) fits of the prolate 0+ level energies in 184,186,188Pb indicate that the minimum appears at N= 103, the same neutron number at which the corresponding minimum in Hg isotopes is observed.
Major results from the first plasma campaign of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator
After completing the main construction phase of Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) and successfully commissioning the device, first plasma operation started at the end of 2015. Integral commissioning of plasma start-up and operation using electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) and an extensive set of plasma diagnostics have been completed, allowing initial physics studies during the first operational campaign. Both in helium and hydrogen, plasma breakdown was easily achieved. Gaining experience with plasma vessel conditioning, discharge lengths could be extended gradually. Eventually, discharges lasted up to 6 s, reaching an injected energy of 4 MJ, which is twice the limit originally agreed for t…
Structure of rotational bands in 253No
In-beam gamma-ray and conversion electron spectroscopic studies have been performed on the 253 No nucleus. A strongly coupled rotational band has been identified and the improved statistics allows an assignment of the band structure as built on the $\ensuremath 9/2^-[734]_{\nu}$ ground state. The results agree with previously known transition energies but disagree with the tentative structural assignments made in earlier work.
Spectroscopy of transfermium nuclei: No-252(102)
An in-beam study of excited states in the transfermium nucleus 252 No has been performed using the recoil separator RITU together with the JUROSPHERE II array at the University of Jyväskylä. This is the second transfermium nucleus studied in an in-beam experiment. Levels up to spin 20 were populated and compared to levels in 254 No . An upbend is seen at a frequency of 200 keV/ħ corresponding to spin 16. We also use an improved systematics to connect the energy of the lowest 2 + state with its half-life and find that the deformation of both 2 5 2 , 2 5 4 No is slightly larger than previously assumed. peerReviewed
Overview of first Wendelstein 7-X high-performance operation
Abstract The optimized superconducting stellarator device Wendelstein 7-X (with major radius , minor radius , and plasma volume) restarted operation after the assembly of a graphite heat shield and 10 inertially cooled island divertor modules. This paper reports on the results from the first high-performance plasma operation. Glow discharge conditioning and ECRH conditioning discharges in helium turned out to be important for density and edge radiation control. Plasma densities of with central electron temperatures were routinely achieved with hydrogen gas fueling, frequently terminated by a radiative collapse. In a first stage, plasma densities up to were reached with hydrogen pellet injec…
In-beam study of 254No
Excited states of the Z = 102 nuclide 254No have been studied in the reaction 208Pb(48Ca,2n) by means of in-beam γ -ray spectroscopy in combination with recoil gating and recoil decay tagging. A Ge detector array, consisting of four clover detectors, and a gas-filled separator were used. Six γ-ray lines were observed and associated with E2 transitions in the ground state band of 254No, the highest-lying of these being the 16+→ 14+ transition. Based on global systematics and the extrapolated 2+ 1 excitation energy, the value β2= 0.27 ± 0.03 was extracted for the quadrupole deformation. An improved value for the half-life of 254No, T1/2= (48 ± 3) s, was determined.