O. Skeppstedt

The REX-ISOLDE project

The Radioactive Beam Experiment REX-ISOLDE [1–3] is a pilot experiment at ISOLDE (CERN) testing the new concept of post acceleration of radioactive ion beams by using charge breeding of the ions in a high charge state ion source and the efficient acceleration of the highly charged ions in a short LINAC using modern ion accelerator structures. In order to prepare the ions for the experiments singly charged radioactive ions from the on-line mass separator ISOLDE will be cooled and bunched in a Penning trap, charge bred in an electron beam ion source (EBIS) and finally accelerated in the LINAC. The LINAC consists of a radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator, which accelerates the ions up to 0.3 MeV/u, an interdigital H-type (IH) structure with a final energy between 1.1 and 1.2 MeV/u and three seven gap resonators, which allow the variation of the final energy. With an energy of the radioactive beams between 0.8 MeV/u and 2.2 MeV/u a wide range of experiments in the field of nuclear spectroscopy, astrophysics and solid state physics will be addressed by REX-ISOLDE.

Comparison of n-γ discrimination by zero-crossing and digital charge comparison methods

Abstract A comparative study of the n-γ discrimination done by the digital charge comparison and zero-crossing methods was carried out for a 130 mm in diameter and 130 mm high BC501A liquid scintillator coupled to a 130 mm diameter XP4512B photomultiplier. The high quality of the tested detector was reflected in a photoelectron yield of 2300 ± 100 phe/MeV and excellent n-γ discrimination properties with energy discrimination thresholds corresponding to very low neutron (or electron) energies. The superiority of the Z C method was demonstrated for the n-γ discrimination method alone, as well as, for the simultaneous separation by the pulse shape discrimination and the time-of-flight methods down to about 30 keV recoil electron energy. The digital charge comparison method fails for a large dynamic range of energy and its separation is weakly improved by time-of-flight method for low energies.

The EUROBALL neutron wall - design and performance tests of neutron detectors

The mechanical design of the EUROBALL neutron wall and neutron detectors, and their performance measured with a Cm-246,Cm-248 fission source are described. The array consists of 15 pseudohexaconical detector units subdivided into three, 149 mm high, hermetically separated segments and a smaller central pentagonal unit subdivided into five segments. The detectors are filled with Bicron BC501A liquid scintillator. Each section of the hexaconical detectors is viewed by a 130 mm diameter Philips XP4512PA photomultiplier while the sections of pentagonal detectors are viewed by Philips XP4312B PMTs. The tests of n-gamma discrimination performed by zero-crossing and time-of-flight methods show a full separation of gamma- and neutron events down to 50 keV recoil electron energy. These tests demonstrate the excellent timing properties of the detectors and an average time resolution of 1.56 ns. The factors determining the efficiency of neutron detectors are discussed. The total efficiency for the full array for a symmetric fusion-evaporation reaction is predicted to be 0.30

A 2π neutron and γ-ray multiplicity filter for the NORDBALL detection system

Abstract A description of the 2π neutron and γ-ray multiplicity filter designed as a part of the NORDBALL detection system is given. The filter consists of ten hexagon and six pentagon shaped detectors filled with BC501 liquid scintillator. Individual detector properties as well as system behaviour including neutron scattering are discussed and test results are presented. The properties of the n-γ pulse shape discriminators used for the system were studied. The discriminators, based on the zero-crossing principle, showed a very efficient separation in the 100:1 dynamic range of neutrons and γ-rays starting from 70 keV of recoil electron energy. Results from a use of the filter in a study of the 28 Si + 58 Ni reaction are presented.

The observation of 84Mo

Abstract The 28 Si( 58 Ni, 2n) 84 Mo reaction has been studied at 195 MeV bombarding energy. The prompt gamma rays were detected in an array of twenty, escape-suppressed Ge detectors in coincidence with the recoiling nuclei, which were identified by A and Z with a recoil separator. A 443.8±0.3 keV gamma ray was observed from 84 Mo which is interpreted as the 2 + −0 + transition in this nucleus. This would indicate a quadrupole deformation e 2 ∼0.30. This result confirms that 76 Sr lie at the centre of the region of deformed nuclei with A ∼80.

Evidence for shape coexistence in the N=Z nucleus 7236Kr36

Abstract Gamma rays associated with the decay of states in the N = Z nucleus 72 Kr have been identified following the 16 O( 58 Ni, 2n) 72 Kr reaction at a mean beam energy of 170 MeV. Identification was made using the Daresbury Recoil Separator. The first excited state was found to be at 709.1 ± 0.3 keV and to be populated with a cross section of 60 ± 25 υ b. The pattern of gamma rays associated with 72 Kr indicates the co-existence of nuclear shapes.

Cd-98(48)50: The two-proton-hole spectrum in Sn-100(50)50

Excited states in {sup 98}Cd, two proton holes from {sup 100}Sn, were identified and studied for the first time, using in-beam spectroscopy with highly selective ancillary detectors. The structure of the ({pi}g{sub 9/2}){sup {minus}2} two-proton-hole spectrum below a T{sub 1/2}=0.48(16) {mu}s isomer is deduced and compared to shell-model predictions. A tentative I{sup {pi}}=(8{sup +}) assignment, as suggested by systematics, yields a strongly reduced B(E2,8{sup +}{r_arrow}6{sup +})=0.44({sup +20}{sub {minus}10}) W.u., corresponding to an effective proton charge of e{sub {pi}}=0.85({sup +20}{sub {minus}10}) e , which is at variance with existing theoretical predictions. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}Excited states in Cd-98, two proton holes from Sn-100, were identified and studied for the first time, using in-beam spectroscopy with highly selective ancillary detectors. The structure of the (pi g(9/2))(-2) two-proton-hole spectrum below a T-1/2 = 0.48(16) mu s isomer is deduced and compared to shell-model predictions. A tentative I-pi = (8(+)) assignment, as suggested by systematics, yields a strongly reduced B(E2,8(+) --> 6(+)) = 0.44((+20)(-10)) W.u., corresponding to an effective proton charge of e(pi) = 0.85((+20)(-10))e, which is at variance with existing theoretical predictions.

Particle identification by digital charge comparison method applied to CsI(Tl) crystal coupled to photodiode

Abstract The application of the high energy resolution technique to the digital charge comparison method of particle identification with a CsI(Tl)-photodiode assembly allowed to get a good α-proton separation down to about 2 MeV α particles.

Proton-neutron interaction at N≅Z — First observation of the Tz=1 nucleus 46 94 Pd48 in-beam

The neutron deficient nucleus94Pd was identified and studied for the first time by in-beam spectroscopy. An Iπ=(14+) isomer with t1/2=0.8 (2) μs was observed in a recoil catcher setup inside the multi-detector γ-array OSIRIS. Filter detectors for neutrons and charged particles were used to identify the (2p2n) exit channel of the reaction58Ni+40Ca, populated with only 0.06% of the total evaporation residue cross section. The structure of the isomer is discussed within the frame work of shell model calculations in the (p1/2,g9/2) model space with emphasis on the g92/2 T=0, I=1,9 ”pairing” two-body matrix elements.

First identification of excited states in 84–86Nb

We report on the observation of excited states in the niobium isotope with masses 84, 85 and 86. These nuclei lie in the shape transition region known to occur in nuclei with 35 less-than-or-equal-to Z less-than-or-equal-to 40 and N = 45. Unambiguous identification was achieved by detecting gamma-rays in coincidence with mass-separated recoils produced in heavy-ion fusion reactions. Rotational bands were observed in 84Nb and 85Nb which show decoupling schemes similar to those in the neighbouring nuclei. A rotational model was used to interpret these bands and the quasiparticle configurations involved. Two sequences of transitions were observed in 86Nb, at least one of which appears to be a rotational band.