A. Maj

Isomeric decay studies in neutron-rich N ≈ 126 nuclei

Heavy neutron-rich nuclei were populated via relativistic energy fragmentation of a E/A = 1 GeV208Pb beam. The nuclei of interest were selected and identified by a fragment separator and then implanted in a passive plastic stopper. Delayed γ rays following internal isomeric decays were detected by the RISING array. Experimental information was obtained on a number of nuclei with Z = 73-80 (Ta-Hg), providing new information both on the prolate-oblate transitional region as well as on the N = 126 closed shell nuclei.

Quantum tunneling of the excited rotational bands in the superdeformed nucleus 143Eu

The properties of the thermally excited rotational motion up to the region of rotational damping are studied experimentally in the superdeformed nucleus 143 Eu. The effective lifetime of the excited discrete rotational bands forming ridge structures in ‐ matrices is measured at the EUROBALL array using the DSAM technique, giving a quadrupole momentQt 10 e b, consistent with the deformation of the superdeformed yrast band. In addition, the effective number of excited superdeformed bands is extracted by a statistical analysis of the ridge structure, for transition energies down to the region where the effect of the decay-out into the normal deformed well shows up. The experimental data are compared with microscopic cranked shell model calculations including a residual interaction of surface delta type. Satisfactory agreement between data and theory is obtained when the quantum tunneling of the excited superdeformed states is included in the model.

Probing the Order-to-Chaos Region in Superdeformed {sup 151}Tb and {sup 196}Pb Nuclei with Continuum {gamma} Transitions

The gamma decay associated with the warm rotation of the superdeformed nuclei 151Tb and 196Pb has been measured with the EUROBALL IV array. Several independent quantities provide a stringent test of the population and decay dynamics in the superdeformed well. A Monte Carlo simulation of the gamma decay based on microscopic calculations gives remarkable agreement with the data only assuming a large enhancement of the B(E1) strength for 1-2 MeV gamma rays, which may be related to the evidence for octupole vibrations in both mass regions.

Effect of E1 decay in the population of superdeformed structures

Abstract Spectra of the yrast and excited superdeformed bands, forming the E2 quasi-continuum, are measured with the EUROBALL array for the nucleus 143 Eu, in coincidence with high-energy γ-rays (Eγ>3 MeV). It is found that the intensity population of the superdeformed states is enhanced by a factor of ≈1.6 when a coincidence with a γ-ray with energy >6 MeV is required, in reasonable agreement with the increase of the line shape of the Giant Dipole Resonance built on a superdeformed configuration. This result shows that when an high energy E1 γ-ray is involved in the decay it is more likely connected with a SD rather than a ND nucleus. In addition, the analysis of the rotational quasi-continuum suggests the presence of a superdeformed component. The data are also compared and found consistent with simulation calculations of the relative intensities of the SD states, including the E1 decay of superdeformed nature.

Giant dipole resonance in 55 Mn * studied with the BGO detector

High-energy gamma-rays emitted in the decay of the giant dipole resonance built on excited states of 55Mn nucleus were measured with a bismuth germanate detector. Resonance parameters were extracted from the fits to the experimental spectra. Two new high-energy calibration points originating from slow-neutron capture in germanium isotopes of bismuth germanate crystal are proposed for large-volume BGO detectors.

Core-coupled states and split proton-neutron quasiparticle multiplets in 122-126Ag

Neutron-rich silver isotopes were populated in the fragmentation of a Xe-136 beam and the relativistic fission of U-238. The fragments were mass analyzed with the GSI Fragment Separator and subsequently implanted into a passive stopper. Isomeric transitions were detected by 105 high-purity germanium detectors. Eight isomeric states were observed in Ag122-126 nuclei. The level schemes of Ag-122,Ag-123,Ag-125 were revised and extended with isomeric transitions being observed for the first time. The excited states in the odd-mass silver isotopes are interpreted as core-coupled states. The isomeric states in the even-mass silver isotopes are discussed in the framework of the proton-neutron split multiplets. The results of shell-model calculations, performed for the most neutron-rich silver nuclei are compared to the experimental data. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.034308 (Less)

Characterization of PARIS LaBr3(Ce)-NaI(Tl) phoswich detectors up to Eγ ∼ 22 MeV

In order to understand the performance of the PARIS (Photon Array for the studies with Radioactive Ion and Stable beams) detector, detailed characterization of two individual phoswich (LaBr3(Ce)-NaI(Tl)) elements has been carried out. The detector response is investigated over a wide range of Eγ = 0.6 to 22.6 MeV using radioactive sources and employing 11B(p,γ) reaction at Ep = 163 keV and Ep = 7.2 MeV . The linearity of energy response of the LaBr3(Ce) detector is tested upto 22.6 MeV using three different voltage dividers. The data acquisition system using CAEN digitizers is set up and optimized to get the best energy and time resolution. The energy resolution of ~ 2.1% at Eγ = 22.6 MeV is measured for the configuration giving best linearity up to high energy. Time resolution of the phoswich detector is measured with a 60Co source after implementing CFD algorithm for the digitized pulses and is found to be excellent (FWHM ~ 315 ps). In order to study the effect of count rate on detectors, the centroid position and width of the Eγ = 835 keV peak were measured upto 220 kHz count rate. The measured efficiency data with radioactive sources are in good agreement with GEANT4 based simulations. The total energy spectrum after the add-back of energy signals in phoswich components is also presented.

Study of the soft dipole modes in 140Ce via inelastic scattering of 17O

The main aim of this study was a deeper understanding of the nuclear structure properties of the soft dipole modes in 140 Ce, excited via inelastic scattering of weakly bound 17 O projectiles. An important aim was to investigate the ‘splitting’ of the PDR into two parts: a low-energy isoscalar component dominated by neutron-skin oscillations and a higher-energy component lying on the tail of the giant dipole resonance of a rather isovector character. This was already observed for this nucleus, investigated in (α, α′) and (γ, γ′) experiments. The experiment was performed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy. Inelastic scattering of 17 O ion beam at − 2 0M eV A 1 was

The γ-decay of the GDR in highly excited Ce nuclei

The γ -decay of the GDR in the 132 Ce compound nuclei produced by the reaction 64 Ni+ 68 Zn at Ebeam = 300 MeV, 400 MeV, 500 MeV (E ∗ of 100 MeV, 150 MeV and 200 MeV) has been measured. We have detected heavy recoil nuclei, light charged particles and γ -rays. The data obtained with the symmetric reaction 64 Ni+ 68 Zn indicate emission from a fully equilibrated compound nucleus as deduced from the analysis of charged particle spectra. The GDR parameters are found to be consistent with the predictions of the thermal fluctuation model. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

Hyperdeformed Shapes and Jacobi Transitions in 126Ba

Systematic searches for exotic shapes, hyperdeformation (HD) and Jacobi transitions, have been made in Hf, Nd, Ba, Xe, Sn and Cd nuclei during the last 4 years, guided by theoretical predictions. The most promising results showing patterns of rotational correlations (e.g. 2. order ridges of multiple rotational bands) are found for 126Xe and 126Ba when the very highest multiplicity cascades are selected by various techniques. In particular, the results on 126Ba obtained in 3 different experiments, using both Gammasphere in Berkeley and Euroball IV in Strasbourg are discussed and compared to theoretical predictions and to simulations by a double‐potential statistical model for population and γ‐decay. A very surprising result was obtained in the last experiment at Euroball, in a full month running time, namely that the observed ridge structure depends very sensitively on the bombarding energy, which points to entrance channel effects. The analysis shows that a discrete HD yrast band intensity will be signifi...