J Felix Liang

Sub-barrier fusion enhancement with radioactive 134Te

The fusion cross sections of radioactive 134Te + 40Ca were measured at energies above and below the Coulomb barrier. The evaporation residues produced in the reaction were detected in a zero-degree ionization chamber providing high efficiency for inverse kinematics. Both coupled-channel calculations and comparison with similar Sn + Ca systems indicate an increased sub-barrier fusion probability that is correlated with the presence of positive Q-value neutron transfer channels. In comparison, the measured fusion excitation functions of 130Te + 58,64Ni, which have positive Q-value neutron transfer channels, were accurately reproduced by coupled-channel calculations including only inelastic excitations. The results demonstrate that the coupling of transfer channels can lead to enhanced sub-barrier fusion but this is not directly correlated with positive Q-value neutron transfer channels in all cases.

Spin assignments of 22Mg states through a 24Mg(p,t)22Mg measurement

The {sup 18}Ne({alpha},p){sup 21}Na reaction plays a crucial role in the ({alpha},p) process, which leads to the rapid proton capture process in X-ray bursts. The reaction rate depends upon properties of {sup 22}Mg levels above the {alpha} threshold at 8.14 MeV. Despite recent studies of these levels, only the excitation energies are known for most with no constraints on the spins. We have studied the {sup 24}Mg(p,t){sup 22}Mg reaction at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF), and by measuring the angular distributions of outgoing tritons, we provide the first experimental constraints on the spins of astrophysically-important {sup 18}Ne({alpha},p){sup 21}Na resonances.

Neutron single particle structure in 131Sn and the r-process

Recent calculations suggest that, at late times in the r-process, the rate of neutron capture by {sup 130}Sn has a significant impact on nucleosynthesis. Direct capture into low-lying bound states is likely the dominant reaction in the r-process near the N=82 closed shell, so reaction rates are strongly impacted by the properties of neutron single particle states in this region. In order to investigate these properties, we have acquired (d,p) reaction data in the A{approx}132 region in inverse kinematics using {approx}630 MeV beams (4.85 MeV/u for {sup 130}Sn) and CD{sub 2} targets. An array of Si strip detectors, including SIDAR and an early implementation of the new Oak Ridge Rutgers University Barrel Array (ORRUBA), was used to detect reaction products. Preliminary results for the {sup 130}Sn(d,p){sup 131}Sn experiment are reported.

Neutron transfer measurements on neutron-rich N=82 nuclei

Calculations of r-process nucleosynthesis rely significantly on nuclear structure models as input, which are not well tested in the neutron-rich regime, due to the paucity of experimental data on the majority of these nuclei. High quality radioactive beams have recently made possible the measurement of (d,p) reactions on unstable nuclei in inverse kinematics, which can yield information on the development of single-neutron structure away from stability in close proximity to suggested r-process paths. The Oak Ridge Rutgers University Barrel Array (ORRUBA) has been developed for the measurement of such reactions. An early partial implementation of ORRUBA has been utilized to measure the {sup 132}Sn(d,p){sup 133}Sn and {sup 134}Te(d,p){sup 135}Te reactions for the first time.

Single-Neutron Structure of Neutron-Rich Nuclei near N=50 and N=82

The 82Ge, 84Se, 132Sn, 130Sn, and 134Te (d,p) reactions have been measured with {approx}4-5-MeV-A rare isotope beams and CD2 targets at the HRIBF at ORNL. Energies and spectroscopic strengths have been measured for excitations in 83Ge and 85Se. Direct neutron capture calculations on 82Ge are presented. Preliminary results for single-neutron excitations in 131Sn, 133Sn, and 135Te are reported.

Fusion of radioactive 132Sn with 64Ni

Evaporation residue and fission cross sections of radioactive 132Sn on 64Ni were measured near the Coulomb barrier. A large subbarrier fusion enhancement was observed. Coupled-channel calculations, including inelastic excitation of the projectile and target, and neutron transfer are in good agreement with the measured fusion excitation function. When the change in nuclear size and shift in barrier height are accounted for, there is no extra fusion enhancement in 132Sn+64Ni with respect to stable Sn+64Ni. A systematic comparison of evaporation residue cross sections for the fusion of even 112-124Sn and 132Sn with 64Ni is presented.