S. J. Steer

Superallowed Gamow-Teller decay of the doubly magic nucleus 100Sn

The shell structure of atomic nuclei is associated with ‘magic numbers’ and originates in the nearly independent motion of neutrons and protons in a mean potential generated by all nucleons. During β+-decay, a proton transforms into a neutron in a previously not fully occupied orbital, emitting a positron–neutrino pair with either parallel or antiparallel spins, in a Gamow–Teller or Fermi transition, respectively. The transition probability, or strength, of a Gamow–Teller transition depends sensitively on the underlying shell structure and is usually distributed among many states in the neighbouring nucleus. Here we report measurements of the half-life and decay energy for the decay of 100Sn, the heaviest doubly magic nucleus with equal numbers of protons and neutrons. In the β-decay of 100Sn, a large fraction of the strength is observable because of the large decay energy. We determine the largest Gamow–Teller strength so far measured in allowed nuclear β-decay, establishing the ‘superallowed’ nature of this Gamow–Teller transition. The large strength and the low-energy states in the daughter nucleus, 100In, are well reproduced by modern, large-scale shell model calculations.

Spectroscopy of neutron-rich Dy-168,Dy-170: Yrast band evolution close to the NpNn valence maximum

The yrast sequence of the neutron-rich dysprosium isotope Dy-168 has been studied using multinucleon transfer reactions following collisions between a 460-MeV Se-82 beam and an Er-170 target. The reaction products were identified using the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer and the gamma rays detected using the CLARA HPGe-detector array. The 2(+) and 4(+) members of the previously measured ground-state rotational band of Dy-168 have been confirmed and the yrast band extended up to 10(+). A tentative candidate for the 4(+) -> 2(+) transition in Dy-170 was also identified. The data on these nuclei and on the lighter even-even dysprosium isotopes are interpreted in terms of total Routhian surface calculations and the evolution of collectivity in the vicinity of the proton-neutron valence product maximum is discussed. (Less)

Isomeric decay studies in neutron-rich N ≈ 126 nuclei

Heavy neutron-rich nuclei were populated via relativistic energy fragmentation of a E/A = 1 GeV208Pb beam. The nuclei of interest were selected and identified by a fragment separator and then implanted in a passive plastic stopper. Delayed γ rays following internal isomeric decays were detected by the RISING array. Experimental information was obtained on a number of nuclei with Z = 73-80 (Ta-Hg), providing new information both on the prolate-oblate transitional region as well as on the N = 126 closed shell nuclei.

First results with the rising active stopper

This paper outlines some of the physics opportunities available with the GSI RISING active stopper and presents preliminary results from an experiment aimed at performing beta-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopic studies in heavy-neutron-rich nuclei produced following the projectile fragmentation of a 1 GeV per nucleon 208Pb primary beam. The energy response of the silicon active stopping detector for both heavy secondary fragments and beta-particles is demonstrated and preliminary results on the decays of neutron-rich Tantalum (Ta) to Tungsten (W) isotopes are presented as examples of the potential of this technique to allow new structural studies in hitherto experimentally unreachable heavy, neutron-rich nuclei. The resulting spectral information inferred from excited states in the tungsten daughter nuclei are compared with results from axially symmetric Hartree–Fock calculations of the nuclear shape and suggest a change in ground state structure for the N = 116 isotone 190W compared to the lighter isotopes of this element.

High-energy excited states in 98Cd

In 98Cd a new high-energy isomeric γ-ray transition was identified, which confirms previous spin-parity assignments and enables for the first time the measurement of the E2 and E4 strength for the two decay branches of the isomer. Preliminary results on the 98Cd high-excitation level scheme are presented. A comparison to shell-model calculations as well as implications for the nuclear structure around 100Sn are discussed.

Spectroscopic factor and proton formation probability for the d3/2 proton emitter 151mLu

Abstract The quenching of the experimental spectroscopic factor for proton emission from the short-lived d 3 / 2 isomeric state in 151mLu was a long-standing problem. In the present work, proton emission from this isomer has been reinvestigated in an experiment at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyvaskyla. The proton-decay energy and half-life of this isomer were measured to be 1295(5) keV and 15.4(8) μs, respectively, in agreement with another recent study. These new experimental data can resolve the discrepancy in the spectroscopic factor calculated using the spherical WKB approximation. Using the R-matrix approach it is found that the proton formation probability indicates no significant hindrance for the proton decay of 151mLu.

Isomeric mirror states as probes for effective charges in the lower pf shell

Following the fragmentation of a 550 MeV u −1 primary beam of 58 Ni, timeand energy-correlated γ decays from isomeric states in neutron-deficient nuclei in the 1f7/2 shell have been identified using the GSI fragment separator in combination with the RISING Ge-detector array. The results on isomers in the mirror pairs 43 Ti 21 – 43 Sc 22 (I π = 3/2 + and 19/2 − ), 45 Cr 21 – 45 Sc 24 (I π = 3/2 + ) and 45V22– 45Ti23 (I π = 3/2 − ) are discussed in the framework of large scale

Core-coupled states and split proton-neutron quasiparticle multiplets in 122-126Ag

Neutron-rich silver isotopes were populated in the fragmentation of a Xe-136 beam and the relativistic fission of U-238. The fragments were mass analyzed with the GSI Fragment Separator and subsequently implanted into a passive stopper. Isomeric transitions were detected by 105 high-purity germanium detectors. Eight isomeric states were observed in Ag122-126 nuclei. The level schemes of Ag-122,Ag-123,Ag-125 were revised and extended with isomeric transitions being observed for the first time. The excited states in the odd-mass silver isotopes are interpreted as core-coupled states. The isomeric states in the even-mass silver isotopes are discussed in the framework of the proton-neutron split multiplets. The results of shell-model calculations, performed for the most neutron-rich silver nuclei are compared to the experimental data. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.034308 (Less)

Single-particle isomeric states in 121Pd and 117Ru

Neutron-rich nuclei were populated in a relativistic fission of 238U. Gamma-rays with energies of 135 keV and 184 keV were associated with two isomeric states in 121Pd and 117Ru. Half-lives of 0.63(5) μs and 2.0(3) μs were deduced and the isomeric states were interpreted in terms of prolate deformed single-particle states.

Spin-gap isomer in 96Cd

Evidence has been obtained for the existence of the long predicted 16+ spin-gap isomer in 96Cd. The decay of the isomer was identified and studied following the use of an 850 MeV/u beam of 124Xe impinging on a Be target and the fragment recoil separator at the GSI Laboratory. Gamma decays from the fragments were detected using the RISING gamma ray array, in its stopped beam configuration, plus a silicon active stopper. The data obtained have been compared with shell model predictions, which indicate that the isoscalar neutron-proton interaction plays a key role in the formation of the isomer.