M. Ivanov

Measurements of interaction cross sections for light neutron-rich nuclei at relativistic energies and determination of effective matter radii

Abstract We measured the interaction cross sections ( σ I ) of 10,11B, 12–20C, 14–23N, 16–24O and 18–26F on carbon targets at energies of around 950 A MeV. We then deduced the effective matter radii of the nuclei by a Glauber-model analysis. Based on the assumption of a core plus a valence neutron structure, we applied a Glauber-model analysis for a few-body system adapted for nuclei with an odd neutron number. We also deduced the effective nucleus-matter densities as well as some spectroscopic information for selected nuclei. Evidence for a one-neutron halo structure was found for 22N, 23O and 24F, as well as 19C.

Longitudinal momentum distributions of 16,18C fragments after one-neutron removal from 17,19C

The fragment separator FRS at GSI was used as an energy-loss spectrometer to measure the longitudinal momentum distributions of C-16,C-18 fragments after one-neutron removal reactions in C-17,C-19 impinging on a carbon target at about 910 MeV/u. The distributions in the projectile frames are characterized by a FWHM of 141 +/- 6 MeV/c for C-16 and 69 +/- 3 MeV/c for C-18. Th, results are compared with experimental data obtained at lower energies and discussed within existing theoretical models

Nuclear radii of 17,19B and 14Be

Abstract The interaction cross sections ( σ I ) of light radioactive nuclei close to the neutron drip line ( 17,19 B, 14 Be) have been measured at around 800 A MeV. The effective root-mean-square (r.m.s.) matter radii of these nuclei have been deduced from σ I by two different methods, a Glauber-type calculation based on the optical limit approximation and a few-body reaction model. The deduced radii from both approaches agree with each other within experimental uncertainty. The r.m.s. radii of 17 B (2.99±0.09 fm) and of 14 Be (3.10±0.15 fm) in this work are consistent with the previously determined values, and have a higher accuracy. The r.m.s. radius of 19 B (3.11±0.13 fm) was newly determined. Assuming a “core plus 2n” structure in 17 B and 14 Be, the mixing of ν (2 s 1/2 ) and ν (1 d 5/2 ) was studied and the s -wave spectroscopic factor is found to be 36±19% and 47±25%, respectively. A valence radius analysis suggests a “core plus 4n” structure in 19 B.

Measurements of the interaction cross sections for Ar and Cl isotopes

We have measured the interaction cross sections (σI) of 31–40Ar and 31–37Cl on carbon targets at energies of around 950 A MeV. The effective matter radii for these nuclei were deduced by a Glauber-model analysis. Combining our matter radii with measured charge radii for Ar isotopes, we could deduce the proton-skin thicknesses for the 32–40Ar isotopes, which were found to increase monotonically with decreasing neutron number. The larger radius of the proton drip-line nucleus 31Ar suggests an anomalous structure for this nucleus. In addition, using NaI(Tl) arrays surrounding the carbon target, we measured γ-rays emitted from excited states in these isotopes. In this way we could deduce the upper limits for the inelastic cross sections (σinela) on carbon targets at energies of around 950 A MeV.

New results on the halo structure of 8B

The longitudinal momentum distribution of Be fragments after fragmentation of B and the one-proton removal cross section (σ-1p) in a carbon target were measured at 1440 MeV/u with the fragment separator FRS used as an energy-loss spectrometer. The results show a narrow momentum distribution with a FWHM value of 91 ± 5 MeV/c and a large cross-section, σ-1p = 98 ± 6 mb. Both these results support the interpretation of a spatially extended proton orbit forming a halo in the B ground state. The momentum distribution and the one-proton removal cross section are shown to be reproduced with a three-body wave function for 8B where the target is treated as a black disc in the breakup process.

Production cross-sections of light neutron-rich nuclei from 40Ar fragmentation at about 1 GeV/nucleon

Abstract Using a primary beam of 40 Ar at ∼1A GeV impinging on a Be target, the production cross-sections of light neutron-rich fragments from projectile fragmentation were measured at the projectile-fragment separator FRS at GSI. The experimental cross-sections were obtained for isotopes of the elements B to F both close to stability and near the neutron drip line. These data are compared to the results of the empirical parametrization EPAX. We also compare the results to those measured previously at LBL. As an additional result, the particle instability of 26 O has been confirmed.

Total charge-changing cross sections for neutron-rich light nuclei

Abstract Total charge-changing cross sections at relativistic energies on a carbon target have been measured for the light stable and neutron-rich radioactive nuclei 14 Be, 10−19 B, 12−20 C, 14−23 N, 16−24 O, and 18−27 F. A combined analysis of interaction and total charge-changing cross sections allows to draw definite conclusions concerning the thickness of the neutron skins or the size of the neutron halos for very neutron-rich isotopes. The obtained cross sections are also important in astrophysical applications to describe the propagation of galactic cosmic rays through the interstellar medium. A simple parameterization can reproduce the total charge-changing cross section within an accuracy of 5% for light nuclei from the valley of β -stability up to the drip line. These systematics improve the predictive capability of the formulae used to describe the unknown cross sections.

Time projection chambers for tracking and identification of radioactive beams

Time projection chambers (TPC) with delay-line readout have been built as position sensitive detectors for high-resolution experiments at the magnetic spectrometer FRS at GSI. The main qualities of TPCs are a small amount of material in the active area, a high tracking efficiency (≈98%), and a spatial resolution of σ∼115μm in x-direction, measured by a delay line, and σ∼50μm in y-direction, measured by drift time. The TPC works as a true two-dimensional detector. A multiple energy-loss measurement allows to identify light fragments (Z=4–6) with a resolution better then σZ<0.14. With the TPCs, several parameters of the spectrometer could be improved considerably and a higher momentum resolution of the FRS was obtained. The TPC construction, test results, and physical experiments are presented.

Nuclear radii of 14Be and 17,19B

The interaction cross-sections (σI) of light radioactive nuclei close to the neutron drip line (17,19B,u200a14Be) have been measured at around 800 A MeV. The effective mean-square-matter radii of these nuclei have been deduced from σI by a Glauber-type calculation. A large increase in the radius from 15B to 17B has been observed. A similar rate of increase is seen in 17B to 19B and in 12Be to 14Be. Questions concerning the neutron halo structure in 17,19B are discussed.

Probing the nuclear structure of 8B and 19C

The nuclei 8B and 19C were investigated in breakup reactions at relativistic energies. The fragment separator FRS at GSI was used as an energy-loss spectrometer to measure the longitudinal momentum distributions of the breakup fragments after one-nucleon removal. For the case of 8B, the measured momentum distribution is in agreement with our previous experiment, but in this measurement the momentum range extends up to 175 MeV/c in the projectile frame. For 18C fragments from the breakup of 19C, we extract a much larger momentum width than the value obtained in a measurement at lower projectile energies.