Structure of the As, Ge, Ga nuclei

Abstract The level structures of the N = 50 83As, 82Ge, and 81Ga isotones have been investigated by means of multi-nucleon transfer reactions. A first experiment was performed with the CLARA–PRISMA setup to identify these nuclei. A second experiment was carried out with the GASP array in order to deduce the γ-ray coincidence information. The results obtained on the high-spin states of such nuclei are used to test the stability of the N = 50 shell closure in the region of 78Ni ( Z = 28 ). The comparison of the experimental level schemes with the shell-model calculations yields an N = 50 energy gap value of 4.7(3) MeV at Z = 28 . This value, in a good agreement with the prediction of the fini…

Estimated solar-neutrino capture rates of 131Xe : implications for multi-tonne Xe-based experiments

Various large-scale experiments for double beta decay or dark matter are based on xenon. Current experiments are on the tonne scale, but future ideas also aim for even larger sizes. Here we study the potential of the isotope 131Xe to allow real-time capture measurements of solar pp-chain neutrinos, besides classical neutrino-electron scattering. Here we use improved nuclear-structure calculations to determine the cross sections of solar neutrinos on 131Xe. Our updated capture-rate estimate is (80 ± 22) SNU, with neutrino survival probabilities taken into account. According to our calculations, the 8B neutrinos are the dominant contribution to the total capture rate. Due to our more accurate…

Physics with Low-Energy Muons at a Neutrino Factory Complex

The physics potential of an intense source of low-energy muons is studied. Such a source is a necessary stage towards building the neutrino factories and muon colliders which are being considered at present. The CERN Neutrino Factory could deliver muon beams with intensities 3-4 orders of magnitude higher than available now, with large freedom in the choice of the time structure. Low-energy muon physics contributes to many fields of basic research, including rare muon decays, i.e., decays that do not conserve muon number, measurements of fundamental constants, the muon anomalous magnetic moment, determination of the Lorentz structure of the weak interaction, QED tests, CPT tests, proton and…

Search for eV (pseudo)scalar penetrating particles in the SPS neutrino beam

We carried out a model-independent search for light scalar or pseudoscalar particles $a$'s (an example of which is the axion) that couple to two photons by using a photon-regeneration method at high energies allowing a substantial increase in the sensitivity to $eV$ masses.\ The experimental set-up is based on elements of the CERN West Area Neutrino Facility (WANF) beam line and theNOMAD neutrino detector.\ The new particles, if they exist, could be produced through the Primakoff effect in interactions of high energy photons, generated by the 450 $GeV$ protons in the CERN SPS neutrino target, with virtual photons from the WANF horn magnetic field.\ The particles would penetrate the downstre…

First glimpse of the $N=82$ shell closure below $Z=50$ from masses of neutron-rich cadmium isotopes and isomers

We probe the $N=82$ nuclear shell closure by mass measurements of neutron-rich cadmium isotopes with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer at ISOLDE-CERN. The new mass of $^{132}$Cd offers the first value of the $N=82$, two-neutron shell gap below $Z=50$ and confirms the phenomenon of mutually enhanced magicity at $^{132}$Sn. Using the recently implemented phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance method, the ordering of the low-lying isomers in $^{129}$Cd and their energies are determined. The new experimental findings are used to test large-scale shell-model, mean-field and beyond-mean-field calculations, as well as the ab initio valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group.

Laser Spectroscopy of Neutron-Rich $^{207,208}$Hg Isotopes: Illuminating the Kink and Odd-Even Staggering in Charge Radii across the $N=126$ Shell Closure

The mean-square charge radii of $^{207,208}$Hg ($Z=80, N=127,128$) have been studied for the first time and those of $^{202,203,206}$Hg ($N=122,123,126$) remeasured by the application of in-source resonance-ionization laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE (CERN). The characteristic \textit{kink} in the charge radii at the $N=126$ neutron shell closure has been revealed, providing the first information on its behavior below the $Z=82$ proton shell closure. A theoretical analysis has been performed within relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov and non-relativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approaches, considering both the new mercury results and existing lead data. Contrary to previous interpretations, it is d…

Spectrum and charge ratio of vertical cosmic ray muons up to momenta of 2.5 TeV/c

The ALEPH detector at LEP has been used to measure the momentum spectrum and charge ratio of vertical cosmic ray muons underground. The sea-level cosmic ray muon spectrum for momenta up to 2.5 TeV/c has been obtained by correcting for the overburden of 320 meter water equivalent (mwe). The results are compared with Monte Carlo models for air shower development in the atmosphere. From the analysis of the spectrum the total flux and the spectral index of the cosmic ray primaries is inferred. The charge ratio suggests a dominantly light composition of cosmic ray primaries with energies up to 10^15 eV.

Measurement of the production of charged pions by protons on a tantalum target

38 páginas, 31 figuras, 4 tablas.-- PACS nrs.: 13.75.Cs; 13.85.Ni.-- El Pdf del artículo es la versión pre-print: arXiv:0706.1600v1.-- HARP Collaboration: et al.

Search for heavy neutrinos mixing with tau neutrinos

We report on a search for heavy neutrinos ($\nus$) produced in the decay $D_s\to \tau \nus$ at the SPS proton target followed by the decay $\nudecay$ in the NOMAD detector. Both decays are expected to occur if $\nus$ is a component of $\nu_{\tau}$.\ From the analysis of the data collected during the 1996-1998 runs with $4.1\times10^{19}$ protons on target, a single candidate event consistent with background expectations was found. This allows to derive an upper limit on the mixing strength between the heavy neutrino and the tau neutrino in the $\nus$ mass range from 10 to 190 $\rm MeV$. Windows between the SN1987a and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis lower limits and our result are still open for f…

The first large-scale shell-model calculation of the two-neutrino double beta decay of $^{76}$Ge to the excited states in $^{76}$Se

Large-scale shell-model calculations were carried out for the half-lives and branching ratios of the $2\nu\beta\beta$ decay of $^{76}$Ge to the ground state and the lowest three excited states $2_1^+$, $0_2^+$ and $2_2^+$ in $^{76}$Se. In total, the wave functions of more than 10,000 intermediate $1^+$ states in $^{76}$As were calculated in a three-step procedure allowing an efficient use of the available computer resources. In the first step, 250 lowest states, below some 5 MeV of excitation energy, were calculated without truncations within a full major shell $0f_{5/2}-1p-0g_{9/2}$ for both protons and neutrons. The wave functions of the rest of the states, up to some 30 MeV, were compute…

Calculated solar-neutrino capture rate for a radiochemical 205Tl-based solar-neutrino detector

Radiochemical experiments for low-energy solar-neutrino detection have been making headlines by exploiting the isotopes 37Cl and 71Ga. Such a very low-threshold measurement of this type can also be performed using 205Tl, which has been considered for decades for this purpose. A unique feature of this detector nucleus is the integration in the solar-neutrino flux over 106 of years owing to its long-living daughter 205Pb. In this Rapid Communication, we have calculated for the first time the cross section for the charged-current solar-neutrino scattering off 205Tl. Taking into account the solar-model-predicted neutrino fluxes and the electron-neutrino survival probabilities, a solar-neutrino …

Real-time measurements of solar $pp$ neutrinos using $^{131}$Xe

Various large-scale experiments for double beta decay or dark matter are based on xenon. Current experiments are on the tonne scale but there are also ideas to aim for even larger sizes in the future. Here we study the potential of the isotope $^{131}$Xe to allow to make real-time measurements of solar $pp$ neutrinos, besides classical neutrino-electron scattering. Improved nuclear models are used to determine the cross-section of neutrinos on $^{131}$Xe. The present calculations deviate significantly from the previous ones due to updated estimates for the excited-state contributions. The updated capture-rate estimate for $pp$ neutrinos is $(4.47\pm 0.09)\ \rm SNU$ and for all solar neutrin…

β-decay half-life of V 50 calculated by the shell model

In this work we survey the detectability of the β− channel of 50 23V leading to the first excited 2+ state in 50 24Cr. The electron-capture (EC) half-life corresponding to the transition of 50 23V to the first excited 2+ state in 50 22Ti had been measured earlier. Both of the mentioned transitions are 4th-forbidden non-unique. We have performed calculations of all the involved wave functions by using the nuclear shell model with the GXPF1A interaction in the full f-p shell. The computed half-life of the EC branch is in good agreement with the measured one. The predicted half-life for the β− branch is in the range ≈2 × 1019 yr whereas the present experimental lower limit is 1.5 × 1018 yr. We…

Inclusive production of ρ0(770), f0(980) and f2(1270) mesons in νμ charged current interactions

The inclusive production of the meson resonances $\rho^{0}(770)$, $f_0(980)$ and $f_2(1270)$ in neutrino-nucleus charged current interactions has been studied with the NOMAD detector exposed to the wide band neutrino beam generated by 450 GeV protons at the CERN SPS. For the first time the $f_{0}(980)$ meson is observed in neutrino interactions. The statistical significance of its observation is 6 standard deviations. The presence of $f_{2}(1270)$ in neutrino interactions is reliably established. The average multiplicity of these three resonances is measured as a function of several kinematic variables. The experimental results are compared to the multiplicities obtained from a simulation b…

Spectroscopy of the long-lived excited state in the neutron-deficient nuclides $^{195,197,199}$Po by precision mass measurements

Direct mass measurements of the low-spin 3/2− and high-spin 13/2+ states in the neutron-deficient isotopes Po195 and Po197 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 νi13/2 orbital in Po195,197. Additionally, the excitation energy of isomeric states of lead, radon, and radium isotopes in this region were obtained from α-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. Direct mass measurements of the …

Constraints on partial half-lives of 136Ce and 138Ce double electron captures

The γ-ray emissions from a radiopure cerium-bromide crystal with a mass of 4381 g were measured for a total of 497.4 d by means of high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry in the HADES underground laboratory at a depth of 500 m.w.e. A search for 0/2νεε and 0/2νεβ+ double beta decay transitions of 136Ce and 138Ce was performed using Bayesian analysis techniques. No signals were observed for a total of 35 investigated decay modes. 90% credibility limits were set in the order of 1018–1019 yr. Existing constraints from a cerium oxide powder measurement were tested with a different cerium compound and half-life limits could be improved for most of the decay modes. The most likely accessible decay mode…

Hyperfine anomaly in gold and magnetic moments of $I^{\pi}$ $= 11/2^{−}$ gold isomers

Physical review / C 101(3), 034308 (2020). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.101.034308

Precision Mass Measurement of $^{58-63}$Cr: Nuclear Collectivity towards the $N=40$ Island of Inversion

The neutron-rich isotopes $^{58-63}$Cr were produced for the first time at the ISOLDE facility and their masses were measured with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer. The new values are up to 300 times more precise than those in the literature and indicate significantly different nuclear structure from the new mass-surface trend. A gradual onset of deformation is found in this proton and neutron mid-shell region, which is a gateway to the second island of inversion around \emph{N}=40. In addition to comparisons with density-functional theory and large-scale shell-model calculations, we present predictions from the valence-space formulation of the \emph{ab initio} in-medium similarity renormalization…

Improved measurement of $^8$B solar neutrinos with $1.5  kt·y$ of Borexino exposure

We report on an improved measurement of the $^8$B solar neutrino interaction rate with the Borexino experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. Neutrinos are detected via their elastic scattering on electrons in a large volume of liquid scintillator. The measured rate of scattered electrons above 3 MeV of energy is $0.223\substack{+0.015 \\ -0.016}\,(stat)\,\substack{+0.006 \\ -0.006}\,(syst)$ cpd/100 t, which corresponds to an observed solar neutrino flux assuming no neutrino flavor conversion of $\Phi\substack{\rm ES \\ ^8\rm B}=2.57\substack{+0.17 \\ -0.18}(stat)\substack{+0.07\\ -0.07}(syst)\times$10$^6$ cm$^{-2}\,$s$^{-1}$. This measurement exploits the active volume of the …

Constraints on partial half-lives of Ce136 and Ce138 double electron captures

Theia: an advanced optical neutrino detector

The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields 80(5), 416 (2020). doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-020-7977-8

A study of quasi-elastic muon neutrino and antineutrino scattering in the NOMAD experiment

We have studied the muon neutrino and antineutrino quasi-elastic (QEL) scattering reactions ($\nu_\mu n\to \mu^- p$ and $\bar{\nu}_\mu p\to \mu^+ n$) using a set of experimental data collected by the NOMAD collaboration. We have performed measurements of the cross-section of these processes on a nuclear target (mainly Carbon) normalizing it to the total $\nu_\mu$ ($\bar{\nu}_\mu$) charged current cross-section. The results for the flux averaged QEL cross-sections in the (anti)neutrino energy interval 3-100 GeV are $\sigma^{qel}_{\nu_\mu} = (0.92 \pm 0.02 (stat) \pm 0.06 (syst))\times 10^{-38} \cm^2$ and $\sigma{qel}_{\bar{\nu}_\mu} = (0.81 \pm 0.05 (stat) \pm 0.08 (syst))\times 10^{-38} \cm…

Search for a new gauge boson in $\pi^{0}$ decays

A search was made for a new light gauge boson $X$ which might be produced in $\pi^{0}\to\gamma + X$ decay from neutral pions generated by 450-GeV protons in the CERN SPS neutrino target. The X's would penetrate the downstream shielding and be observed in the NOMAD detector via the Primakoff effect, in the process of $X \to\pi^{0}$ conversion in the external Coulomb field of a nucleus. With $1.45\times10^{18}$ protons on target, 20 candidate events with energy between 8 and 140 GeV were found from the analysis of neutrino data. This number is in agreement with the expectation of 18.1$\pm$2.8 background events from standard neutrino processes. A new 90% C.L. upper limit on the branching ratio…

Simultaneous precision spectroscopy of pp, Be7, and pep solar neutrinos with Borexino Phase-II

We present the simultaneous measurement of the interaction rates Rpp, RBe, Rpep of pp, Be7, and pep solar neutrinos performed with a global fit to the Borexino data in an extended energy range (0.19–2.93) MeV with particular attention to details of the analysis methods. This result was obtained by analyzing 1291.51 days of Borexino Phase-II data, collected after an extensive scintillator purification campaign. Using counts per day (cpd)/100 ton as unit, we find Rpp=134±10(stat)−10+6(sys), RBe=48.3±1.1(stat)−0.7+0.4(sys); and RpepHZ=2.43±0.36(stat)−0.22+0.15(sys) assuming the interaction rate RCNO of CNO-cycle (Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxigen) solar neutrinos according to the prediction of the high…

DARWIN: Towards the ultimate dark matter detector

DARk matter WImp search with liquid xenoN (DARWIN) will be an experiment for the direct detection of dark matter using a multi-ton liquid xenon time projection chamber at its core. Its primary goal will be to explore the experimentally accessible parameter space for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) in a wide mass-range, until neutrino interactions with the target become an irreducible background. The prompt scintillation light and the charge signals induced by particle interactions in the xenon will be observed by VUV sensitive, ultra-low background photosensors. Besides its excellent sensitivity to WIMPs above a mass of 5 GeV/c2, such a detector with its large mass, low-energy …

Measurement of the H2(p,γ)He3 S factor at 265–1094 keV

Recent astronomical data have provided the primordial deuterium abundance with percent precision. As a result, big bang nucleosynthesis may provide a constraint on the universal baryon to photon ratio that is as precise as, but independent from, analyses of the cosmic microwave background. However, such a constraint requires that the nuclear reaction rates governing the production and destruction of primordial deuterium are sufficiently well known. Here, a new measurement of the 2H(p,γ)3He cross-section is reported. This nuclear reaction dominates the error on the predicted big bang deuterium abundance. A proton beam of 400–1650 keV beam energy was incident on solid titanium deuteride targe…

Search for fingerprints of tetrahedral symmetry in 156gd

Theoretical predictions suggest the presence of tetrahedral symmetry as an explanation for the vanishing intra-band E2 transitions at the bottom of the odd-spin negative-parity band in 156Gd. The present study reports on experiment performed to address this phenomenon. It allowed to remove certain ambiguouities related to the intra-band E2 transitions in the negative-parity bands, to determine the new inter-band transitions and reduced probability ratios B(E2)/B(E1) and, for the first time, to determine the experimental uncertainties related to the latter observable. peerReviewed

Shell-model computed cross sections for charged-current scattering of astrophysical neutrinos off 40Ar

Charged-current (anti)neutrino- 40 Ar cross sections for astrophysical neutrinos have been calculated. The initial and final nuclear states were calculated using the nuclear shell model. The folded solar-neutrino scattering cross section was found to be 1.78 ( 23 ) × 10 − 42 cm 2 , which is higher than what the previous papers have reported. The contributions from the 1 − and 2 − multipoles were found to be significant at supernova-neutrino energies, confirming the random-phase approximation (RPA) result of a previous study. The effects of neutrino flavor conversions in dense stellar matter (matter oscillations) were found to enhance the neutrino-scattering cross sections significantly for …

Search for Fingerprints of Tetrahedral Symmetry in $^{156}Gd$

Theoretical predictions suggest the presence of tetrahedral symmetry as an explanation for the vanishing intra-band E2-transitions at the bottom of the odd-spin negative parity band in $^{156}Gd$. The present study reports on experiment performed to address this phenomenon. It allowed to determine the intra-band E2 transitions and branching ratios B(E2)/B(E1) of two of the negative-parity bands in $^{156}Gd$.