L. A. Goncharova

Electromagnetic dissociation of relativistic 8 B nuclei in nuclear track emulsion

Experimental data on fragmentation channels in peripheral interactions of 8B nuclei in nuclear track emulsions are presented. A detailed analysis made it possible to justify selections of events of the electromagnetic-dissociation process 8B → 7Be + p and to estimate its cross section. Events of 10C peripheral dissociation that were observed in the same exposure are described.

Large transverse momenta in nuclear interaction at E 0 > 1016 eV detected in stratosphere

A gamma-hadron superfamily of cosmic-rays created by a primary cosmic-ray particle with energy above 1016 eV was detected at an altitude of 30 km by a stratospheric balloon-borne emulsion chamber. Being of superhigh energy, this event is the unique example in the world statistics of practically pure nuclear interactions in the energy range unattainable for modern accelerators. The present analysis allowed one to estimate the interaction height above the chamber and transverse momenta of the secondaries produced in the interaction. The mean value of transverse momenta appears to be very large (〈pt〉 > 2.5 GeV/c).

CHARGE SPECTRUM OF HEAVY AND SUPERHEAVY COMPONENTS OF GALACTIC COSMIC RAYS: RESULTS OF THE OLIMPIYA EXPERIMENT

The aim of the OLIMPIYA experiment is to search for and identify traces of heavy and superheavy nuclei of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) in olivine crystals from stony–iron meteorites serving as nuclear track detectors. The method is based on layer-by-layer grinding and etching of particle tracks in these crystals. Unlike the techniques of other authors, this annealing-free method uses two parameters: the etching rate along the track (V etch) and the total track length (L), to identify charge Z of a projectile. A series of irradiations with different swift heavy ions at the accelerator facilities of GSI (Darmstadt) and IMP (Lanzhou) were performed in order to determine and calibrate the dependence of projectile charge on V etch and L. To date, one of the most essential results of the experiment is the obtained charge spectrum of GCR nuclei within the range of Z > 40, based on about 11.6 thousand processed tracks. As the result of data processing, 384 nuclei with charges Z ≥ 75 have been identified, including 10 nuclei identified as actinides (90 < Z < 103). Three tracks were identified to be produced by nuclei with charges 113 < Z < 129. Such nuclei may be part of the Island of Stability of transfermium elements.

Detecting galactic cosmic ray transuranium nuclei in olivine crystals from meteorites

Results from the experimental search for and identification of tracks from the superheavy and transuranium nuclei of galactic cosmic rays in pallacite olivine crystals, conducted as part of project OLIMPIA [1], are presented. To date, 170 crystals from Marjalahti and Eagle Station pallacites have been processed and 6800 tracks corresponding to nuclei with charges Z > 55 have been found; 45 of these are from nuclei with charges of 88 < Z < 92 and three super-long ones were produced by nuclei with Z > 105. The charge of one of these nuclei is estimated in the first approximation as Z = 119(+10,−6). Our data confirm the hypothesis of islands of stability for natural trans-Fermi nuclei.

Charge spectrum of superheavy nuclei of galactic cosmic rays obtained in the OLIMPIA experiment

In this paper, we present the last results of the OLIMPIA experiment on the search for and study of traces of heavy and superheavy element nuclei of galactic cosmic rays in olivine crystals from meteorites. The charge spectrum of cosmic rays in the region of heavy nuclei is obtained, three superheavy nuclei of natural origin with charges in the range 105 < Z < 130 and lifetimes longer than 3000 years, being a part of the so-called “stability island”, are identified.

Fragmentation of relativistic nuclei in peripheral interactions in nuclear track emulsion

The technique of nuclear track emulsions is used to explore the fragmentation of light relativistic nuclei down to the most peripheral interactions: nuclear “white” stars. A complete pattern of the relativistic dissociation of a 8B nucleus with target fragment accompaniment is presented. Relativistic dissociation 9Be → 2α is explored using significant statistics, and a relative contribution of 8Be decays from 0+ and 2+ states is established. Target fragment accompaniments are shown for relativistic fragmentation 14N → 3He +H and 22Ne → 5He. The leading role of the electromagnetic dissociation on heavy nuclei with respect to breakups on target protons is demonstrated in all these cases. It is possible to conclude that the peripheral dissociation of relativistic nuclei in nuclear track emulsion is a unique tool to study many-body systems composed of the lightest nuclei and nucleons in the energy scale relevant for nuclear astrophysics.

Search for the “stability island” of superheavy nuclei using natural track detectors

The method of using natural track detectors, i.e., meteorite olivine crystals, is developed and improved applied to the problem of searching for superheavy nuclei in nature, in galactic cosmic rays (GCR). The new technique implements the sequence of etching, grinding, and track identification operations using the automated PAVICOM facility. The data on the track length and etching rate in combination with the results of calibration on heavy nucleus accelerators allowed the development of a technique for determining the GCR nucleus charge with an accuracy of ±2. On this basis, a significant set of experimental data on superheavy nuclei of natural origin was obtained (21743GCRheavy nucleiwithZ >20, including three nucleiwith a charge of 119−6+10). The minimum lifetime Tmin of the last-mentioned is within 50 years< Tmin < 100 years, which exceeds the lifetime of transfermium nuclei synthesized on accelerators by many orders of magnitude. The long-lived superheavy nuclei detected in the GCR spectrum can belong to the “stability island”.

Charge distribution of superheavy elements in galactic cosmic rays on base of investigations in olivine crystals from meteorites

An original method of studying chemically etched tracks of heavy nuclei in olivine from pallasite meteorites was used to obtain a charge distribution of approximately 9000 nuclei with charges above 55 in galactic cosmic rays. Three superheavy nuclei with the charges in the range of 105<Z<130 were detected. Regression analysis enabled to amend the charge of one of these nuclei up to the value 119−6+10 with the probability of 95%. Such nuclei have to form islands of stability of superheavy elements; their occurrence in nature supports the validity of theoretical predictions and justifies efforts for their synthesis under the Earth conditions.

Experimental exposure of nuclear emulsion by xenon nuclei at the JINR nuclotron

Nuclear emulsion was exposed to xenon nuclei accelerated at the JINR Nuclotron. Visual and automated scanning of the extracted beam profile was performed using the exposed emulsion film.

Electromagnetic dissociation of relativistic B-8 nuclei in nuclear track emulsion

Experimental data on fragmentation channels in peripheral interactions of 8B nuclei in nuclear track emulsions are presented. A detailed analysis made it possible to justify selections of events of the electromagnetic-dissociation process 8B → 7Be + p and to estimate its cross section. Events of 10C peripheral dissociation that were observed in the same exposure are described.