Taprogge, J. et al, Gadea, A., & Montaner-Piza, A. (2014). 1p(3/2) Proton-Hole State in Sn-132 and the Shell Structure Along N=82. Phys. Rev. Lett., 112(13), 132501–6pp.
Abstract: A low-lying state in In-131(82), the one-proton hole nucleus with respect to double magic Sn-132, was observed by its gamma decay to the I-pi 1/2(-) beta-emitting isomer. We identify the new state at an excitation energy of E-x = 1353 keV, which was populated both in the beta decay of Cd-131(83) and after beta-delayed neutron emission from Cd-132(84), as the previously unknown pi p(3/2) single-hole state with respect to the Sn-132 core. Exploiting this crucial new experimental information, shell-model calculations were performed to study the structure of experimentally inaccessible N = 82 isotones below Sn-132. The results evidence a surprising absence of proton subshell closures along the chain of N = 82 isotones. The consequences of this finding for the evolution of the N = 82 shell gap along the r-process path are discussed.
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Jungclaus, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Montaner-Piza, A. (2017). Observation of a gamma-decaying millisecond isomeric state in Cd-128(80). Phys. Lett. B, 772, 483–488.
Abstract: A new high-spin isomer in the neutron-rich nucleus Cd-128 was populated in the projectile fission of a U-238 beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. A half-life of T-1/2 = 6.3(8) mswas measured for the new state which was tentatively assigned a spin/parity of (15(-)). The experimental results are compared to shell model calculations performed using state-of-the-art realistic effective interactions and to the neighbouring nucleus Cd-129. In the present experiment no evidence was found for the decay of a 18(+) E6 spin-trap isomer, based on the complete alignment of the two-neutron and two-proton holes in the 0h(11/2) and the 0g(9/2) orbit, respectively, which is predicted to exist by the shell model. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Watanabe, H. et al, & Montaner-Piza, A. (2014). Monopole-Driven Shell Evolution below the Doubly Magic Nucleus Sn-132 Explored with the Long-Lived Isomer in Pd-126. Phys. Rev. Lett., 113(4), 042502–6pp.
Abstract: A new isomer with a half-life of 23.0(8) ms has been identified at 2406 keV in Pd-126 and is proposed to have a spin and parity of 10(+) with a maximally aligned configuration comprising two neutron holes in the 1h(11/2) orbit. In addition to an internal-decay branch through a hindered electric octupole transition, beta decay from the long-lived isomer was observed to populate excited states at high spins in Ag-126. The smaller energy difference between the 10(+) and 7(-) isomers in Pd-126 than in the heavier N = 80 isotones can be interpreted as being ascribed to the monopole shift of the 1h(11/2) neutron orbit. The effects of the monopole interaction on the evolution of single-neutron energies below Sn-132 are discussed in terms of the central and tensor forces.
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Algora, A. et al, Valencia, E., Tain, J. L., Jordan, M. D., Agramunt, J., Rubio, B., et al. (2014). Total Absorption Study of Beta Decays Relevant for Nuclear Applications and Nuclear Structure. Nucl. Data Sheets, 120, 12–15.
Abstract: An overview is given of our activities related to the study of the beta decay of neutron rich nuclei relevant for nuclear applications. Recent results of the study of the beta decay of Br-87,Br-88 using a new segmented total absorption spectrometer are presented. The measurements were performed at the IGISOL facility using trap-assisted total absorption spectroscopy.
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Caballero-Folch, R. et al, Agramunt, J., Tain, J. L., Algora, A., Domingo-Pardo, C., Guadilla, V., et al. (2018). First determination of beta-delayed multiple neutron emission beyond A=100 through direct neutron measurement: The P-2n value of Sb-136. Phys. Rev. C, 98(3), 034310–10pp.
Abstract: Background: beta-delayed multiple neutron emission has been observed for some nuclei with A <= 100 being the Rb-100 the heaviest beta 2n emitter measured to date. So far only 25 P-2n values have been determined for the approximate to 300 nuclei that may decay in this way. Accordingly it is of interest to measure P-2n values for the other possible multiple neutron emitters throughout the chart of the nuclides. It is of particular interest to make such a measurement for nuclei with A > 100 to test the predictions of theoretical models and simulation tools for the decays of heavy nuclei in the region of very neutron-rich nuclei. In addition the decay properties of these nuclei are fundamental for the understanding of astrophysical nucleosynthesis processes such as the r-process and safety inputs for nuclear reactors. Purpose: To determine for the first time the two-neutron branching ratio the P-2n value for Sb-136 through a direct neutron measurement and to provide precise P-1n values for Sb-136 and Te-136. Method: A pure beam of each isotope of interest was provided by the JYFLTRAP Penning trap at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility of the University of Jyvaskyla Finland. The purified ions were implanted into a moving tape at the end of the beam line. The detection setup consisted of a plastic scintillator placed right behind the implantation point after the tape to register the beta decays and the BELEN detector based on neutron counters embedded in a polyethylene matrix. The analysis was based on the study of the beta- and neutron-growth-and-decay curves and the beta-one-neutron and beta-two-neutron time correlations which allowed us the determination of the neutron branching ratios. Results: The P-2n value of Sb-136 was found to be 0.14(3)% and the measured P-1n values for Sb-136 and Te-136 were found to be 32.2(15)% and 1.47(6)% respectively. Conclusions: The measured P-2n value is a factor 44 smaller than predicted by the finite-range droplet model plus the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (FRDM+QRPA) model used for r-process calculations.
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Simpson, G. S. et al, & Montaner-Piza, A. (2014). Yrast 6(+) Seniority Isomers of Sn-136,Sn-138. Phys. Rev. Lett., 113(13), 132502–6pp.
Abstract: Delayed gamma-ray cascades, originating from the decay of (6(+)) isomeric states, in the very neutron-rich, semimagic isotopes Sn-136,Sn-138 have been observed following the projectile fission of a U-238 beam at RIBF, RIKEN. The wave functions of these isomeric states are proposed to be predominantly a fully aligned pair of f(7/2) neutrons. Shell-model calculations, performed using a realistic effective interaction, reproduce well the energies of the excited states of these nuclei and the measured transition rates, with the exception of the B(E2; 6(+) -> 4(+)) rate of Sn-136, which deviates from a simple seniority scheme. Empirically reducing the nu f(7/2)(2) orbit matrix elements produces a 4(1)(+) state with almost equal seniority 2 and 4 components, correctly reproducing the experimental B(E2; 6(+) -> 4(+)) rate of Sn-136. These data provide a key benchmark for shell-model interactions far from stability.
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Guadilla, V. et al, Tain, J. L., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Gelletly, W., Jordan, D., et al. (2018). Characterization and performance of the DTAS detector. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 910, 79–89.
Abstract: DTAS is a segmented total absorption y-ray spectrometer developed for the DESPEC experiment at FAIR. It is composed of up to eighteen NaI(Tl) crystals. In this work we study the performance of this detector with laboratory sources and also under real experimental conditions. We present a procedure to reconstruct offline the sum of the energy deposited in all the crystals of the spectrometer, which is complicated by the effect of NaI(Tl) light-yield non-proportionality. The use of a system to correct for time variations of the gain in individual detector modules, based on a light pulse generator, is demonstrated. We describe also an event-based method to evaluate the summing-pileup electronic distortion in segmented spectrometers. All of this allows a careful characterization of the detector with Monte Carlo simulations that is needed to calculate the response function for the analysis of total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy data. Special attention was paid to the interaction of neutrons with the spectrometer, since they are a source of contamination in studies of beta-delayed neutron emitting nuclei.
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Guadilla, V. et al, Algora, A., Tain, J. L., Agramunt, J., Aysto, J., Jordan, D., et al. (2019). Large Impact of the Decay of Niobium Isomers on the Reactor (v)over-bar(e) Summation Calculations. Phys. Rev. Lett., 122(4), 042502–6pp.
Abstract: Even mass neutron-rich niobium isotopes are among the principal contributors to the reactor antineutrino energy spectrum. They are also among the most challenging to measure due to the refractory nature of niobium, and because they exhibit isomeric states lying very close in energy. The beta-intensity distributions of Nb-100gs,Nb-100m and Nb-102gs,Nb-02m beta decays have been determined using the total absorption.-ray spectroscopy technique. The measurements were performed at the upgraded Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility at the University of Jyvaskyla. Here, the double Penning trap system JYFLTRAP was employed to disentangle the beta decay of the isomeric states. The new data obtained in this challenging measurement have a large impact in antineutrino summation calculations. For the first time the discrepancy between the summation model and the reactor antineutrino measurements in the region of the shape distortion has been reduced.
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Jungclaus, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Montaner-Piza, A. (2016). First observation of gamma rays emitted from excited states south-east of Sn-132: The pi g(9/2)(-1) circle times nu f(7/2) multiplet of In-132(83). Phys. Rev. C, 93(4), 041301–6pp.
Abstract: For the first time, the gamma decay of excited states has been observed in a nucleus situated in the quadrant south-east of doubly magic Sn-132, a region in which experimental information so far is limited to ground-state properties. Six gamma rays with energies of 50, 86, 103, 227, 357, and 602 keV were observed following the beta-delayed neutron emission from Cd-133(85), populated in the projectile fission of a U-238 beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN within the EURICA project. The new experimental information is compared to the results of a modern realistic shell-model calculation, the first one in this region very far from stability, focusing in particular on the pi 0g(9/2)(-1) circle times nu 1f(7/2) particle-hole multiplet in In-132(83). In addition, theoretical estimates based on a scaling of the two-body matrix elements for the pi h(11/2)(-1) circle times nu g(9/2) analog multiplet in Tl-208(127), one major proton and one major neutron shell above, are presented.
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Goigoux, T. et al, Algora, A., Guadilla, V., Montaner-Piza, A., Morales, A. I., Orrigo, S. E. A., et al. (2016). Two-Proton Radioactivity of Kr-67. Phys. Rev. Lett., 117(16), 162501–6pp.
Abstract: In an experiment with the BigRIPS separator at the RIKEN Nishina Center, we observed two-proton (2p) emission from Kr-67. At the same time, no evidence for 2p emission of Ge-59 and Se-63, two other potential candidates for this exotic radioactivity, could be observed. This observation is in line with Q value predictions which pointed to Kr-67 as being the best new candidate among the three for two-proton radioactivity. Kr-67 is only the fourth 2p ground-state emitter to be observed with a half-life of the order of a few milliseconds. The decay energy was determined to be 1690(17) keV, the 2p emission branching ratio is 37(14)%, and the half-life of Kr-67 is 7.4(30) ms.
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