N. Bree

Studies of pear-shaped nuclei using accelerated radioactive beams

There is strong circumstantial evidence that certain heavy, unstable atomic nuclei are ‘octupole deformed’, that is, distorted into a pear shape. This contrasts with the more prevalent rugby-ball shape of nuclei with reflection-symmetric, quadrupole deformations. The elusive octupole deformed nuclei are of importance for nuclear structure theory, and also in searches for physics beyond the standard model; any measurable electric-dipole moment (a signature of the latter) is expected to be amplified in such nuclei. Here we determine electric octupole transition strengths (a direct measure of octupole correlations) for short-lived isotopes of radon and radium. Coulomb excitation experiments were performed using accelerated beams of heavy, radioactive ions. Our data on 220Rn and 224Ra show clear evidence for stronger octupole deformation in the latter. The results enable discrimination between differing theoretical approaches to octupole correlations, and help to constrain suitable candidates for experimental studies of atomic electric-dipole moments that might reveal extensions to the standard model.

Magnetic Dipole Moment of 57,59Cu Measured by In-Gas-Cell Laser Spectroscopy

For the first time, in-gas-cell laser spectroscopy study of the (57,59,63,65)Cu isotopes has been performed using the 244.164 nm optical transition from the atomic ground state of copper. The nuclear magnetic dipole moments for (57,59,65)Cu relative to that of (63)Cu have been extracted. The new value for (57)Cu of mu((57)Cu) = +2.582(7)mu(N) is in strong disagreement with the previous literature value but in good agreement with recent theoretical and systematic predictions.

Shape isomerism at N=40: Discovery of a proton intruder state in Co67

The nuclear structure of 67Co has been investigated through 67Fe beta-decay. The 67Fe isotopes were produced at the LISOL facility in proton-induced fission of 238U and selected using resonant laser ionization combined with mass separation. The application of a new correlation technique unambiguously revealed a 496(33) ms isomeric state in 67Co at an unexpected low energy of 492 keV. A 67Co level scheme has been deduced. Proposed spin and parities suggest a spherical (7/2-) 67Co ground state and a deformed first excited (1/2-) state at 492 keV, interpreted as a proton 1p-2h prolate intruder state.

Spectroscopic Quadrupole Moments in {96,98}Sr: Evidence for Shape Coexistence in Neutron-Rich Strontium Isotopes at N=60.

Neutron-rich {96,98}Sr isotopes have been investigated by safe Coulomb excitation of radioactive beams at the REX-ISOLDE facility. Reduced transition probabilities and spectroscopic quadrupole moments have been extracted from the differential Coulomb excitation cross sections. These results allow, for the first time, the drawing of definite conclusions about the shape coexistence of highly deformed prolate and spherical configurations. In particular, a very small mixing between the coexisting states is observed, contrary to other mass regions where strong mixing is present. Experimental results have been compared to beyond-mean-field calculations using the Gogny D1S interaction in a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian formalism, which reproduce the shape change at N=60.

In-gas-cell laser ionization spectroscopy in the vicinity of 100Sn: Magnetic moments and mean-square charge radii of N=50–54 Ag

Abstract In-gas-cell laser ionization spectroscopy studies on the neutron deficient 97–101Ag isotopes have been performed with the LISOL setup. Magnetic dipole moments and mean-square charge radii have been determined for the first time with the exception of 101Ag, which was found in good agreement with previous experimental values. The reported results allow tentatively assigning the spin of 97,99Ag to 9 2 and confirming the presence of an isomeric state in these two isotopes, whose collapsed hyperfine structure suggests a spin of 1 2 . The effect of the N = 50 shell closure is not only manifested in the magnetic moments but also in the evolution of the mean-square charge radii of the isotopes investigated, in accordance with the spherical droplet model predictions.

Structure of Co-65,Co-67 studied through the beta decay of Fe-65,Fe-67 and a deep-inelastic reaction

The neutron-rich isotopes {sup 65,67}Fe and {sup 65}Co have been produced at the LISOL facility, Louvain-La-Neuve, in the proton-induced fission of {sup 238}U. Beams of these isotopes have been extracted with high selectivity by means of resonant laser ionization combined with mass separation. Yrast and near-yrast levels of {sup 65}Co have also been populated in the {sup 64}Ni+{sup 238}U reaction at Argonne National Laboratory. The level structure of {sup 65}Co could be investigated by combining all the information from both the {sup 65}Fe and {sup 65}Co{beta} decay and the deep-inelastic reaction. The {sup 65}Fe, {sup 65}Co, and {sup 67}Fe decay schemes and the {sup 65}Co yrast structure are fully established. The {sup 65,67}Co level structures can be interpreted as resulting from the coexistence of core-coupled states with levels based on a low-energy proton-intruder configuration.

Evidence for a beta-decaying 1/2- isomer in 71Ni

We report on the investigation of the population mechanism for the 454-keV level in 71 Cu. This level was identified for the first time in a recent Coulomb excitation measurement with a radioactive beam of 71 Cu. The selective nature of the Coulomb-excitation process as well as nuclear-structure considerations constrain the possible spin values for the newly observed state to I π = 1/2 ― . A reexamination of the data set obtained in a β-decay study at the Leuven isotope separator on-line mass separator (LISOL) revealed that this state is also populated in the decay of 71 Ni, most probably by direct feeding from a newly identified 1/2 ― β-decaying isomer having a T 1/2 = 2.3(3) s. In this paper, we investigate the proposed scenario by reanalyzing the β-γ and γ-γ coincidences obtained in the β-decay study at LISOL.

Rb379760: The Cornerstone of the Region of Deformation around A∼100

Excited states of the neutron-rich nuclei (97,99)Rb were populated for the first time using the multistep Coulomb excitation of radioactive beams. Comparisons of the results with particle-rotor model calculations provide clear identification for the ground-state rotational band of (97)Rb as being built on the πg(9/2) [431] 3/2(+) Nilsson-model configuration. The ground-state excitation spectra of the Rb isotopes show a marked distinction between single-particle-like structures below N=60 and rotational bands above. The present study defines the limits of the deformed region around A∼100 and indicates that the deformation of (97)Rb is essentially the same as that observed well inside the deformed region. It further highlights the power of the Coulomb-excitation technique for obtaining spectroscopic information far from stability. The (99)Rb case demonstrates the challenges of studies with very short-lived postaccelerated radioactive beams.

Collectivity in the light radon nuclei measured directly via Coulomb excitation

Background: Shape coexistence in heavy nuclei poses a strong challenge to state-of-the-art nuclear models, where several competing shape minima are found close to the ground state. A classic region for investigating this phenomenon is in the region around Z = 82 and the neutron midshell at N = 104. Purpose: Evidence for shape coexistence has been inferred from a-decay measurements, laser spectroscopy, and in-beam measurements. While the latter allow the pattern of excited states and rotational band structures to be mapped out, a detailed understanding of shape coexistence can only come from measurements of electromagnetic matrix elements. Method: Secondary, radioactive ion beams of Rn-202 and Rn-204 were studied by means of low-energy Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE in CERN. Results: The electric-quadrupole (E2) matrix element connecting the ground state and first excited 2(1)(+) state was extracted for both Rn-202 and Rn-204, corresponding to B(E2; 2(1)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) = 29(-8)(+8) and 43(-12)(+17) W.u., respectively. Additionally, E2 matrix elements connecting the 2(1)(+) state with the 4(1)(+) and 2(2)(+) states were determined in Rn-202. No excited 0(+) states were observed in the current data set, possibly owing to a limited population of second-order processes at the currently available beam energies. Conclusions: The results are discussed in terms of collectivity and the deformation of both nuclei studied is deduced to be weak, as expected from the low-lying level-energy schemes. Comparisons are also made to state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field model calculations and the magnitude of the transitional quadrupole moments are well reproduced. (Less)

Coulomb excitation of 68Ni at “safe” energies

The B(E2;0+2+) value in 68Ni has been measured using Coulomb excitation at safe energies. The 68Ni radioactive beam was postaccelerated at the CERN on-line isotope mass separator (ISOLDE) facility to 2.9 MeV/u and directed to a 108Pd target. The emitted rays were detected by the MINIBALL detector array. Not only directly registered but also indirectly deduced information on the nucleus emitting the ray was used to perform the Doppler correction, leading to a larger center-of-mass angular range to infer the excitation cross section. The obtained value of 2.8×102e2 fm4 is in good agreement with the value measured at intermediate energy Coulomb excitation, confirming the low 0+2+ transition probability.