N. Patterson

The magic nature of 132 Sn explored through the single-particle states of 133 Sn

Atomic nuclei have a shell structure in which nuclei with ‘magic numbers’ of neutrons and protons are analogous to the noble gases in atomic physics. Only ten nuclei with the standard magic numbers of both neutrons and protons have so far been observed. The nuclear shell model is founded on the precept that neutrons and protons can move as independent particles in orbitals with discrete quantum numbers, subject to a mean field generated by all the other nucleons. Knowledge of the properties of single-particle states outside nuclear shell closures in exotic nuclei is important for a fundamental understanding of nuclear structure and nucleosynthesis (for example the r-process, which is responsible for the production of about half of the heavy elements). However, as a result of their short lifetimes, there is a paucity of knowledge about the nature of single-particle states outside exotic doubly magic nuclei. Here we measure the single-particle character of the levels in 133Sn that lie outside the double shell closure present at the short-lived nucleus 132Sn. We use an inverse kinematics technique that involves the transfer of a single nucleon to the nucleus. The purity of the measured single-particle states clearly illustrates the magic nature of 132Sn.

Structure of

The low-lying level structure of the unbound neutron-rich nucleus

^{13}

^{13}

Be probed via secondary beam reactions

Be has been investigated via breakup on a carbon target of secondary beams of

Direct reaction measurements with a 132Sn radioactive ion beam

^{14,15}

Search for the alpha + (6)He decay of (10)Be via the (16)O((18)O, (10)Be*)(24)Mg reaction

B at 35 MeV/nucleon. The coincident detection of the beam velocity

STUDY OF THE 20O(d,t) REACTION WITH THE TIARA-MUST2-VAMOS-EXOGAM SETUP

^{12}

Studies of Nuclei Close to 132Sn Using Single-Neutron Transfer Reactions

Be fragments and neutrons permitted the invariant mass of the

Breakup reaction study of the Brunnian nucleus {sup 10}C

^{12}

Alpha decay widths of excited states of 16O

Be+