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Yue, Z. et al, Algora, A., & Nacher, E. (2024). Magnetic moments of thallium isotopes in the vicinity of magic N=126. Phys. Lett. B, 849, 138452–7pp.
Abstract: The magnetic dipole moments (mu) of Tl-209(g)(N =128) and Tl-207(m)(N = 126) have been measured for the first time using the in -source laser resonance -ionization spectroscopy technique with the Laser Ion Source and Trap (LIST) at ISOLDE (CERN). The application of the LIST suppresses the usually overwhelming background of the isobaric francium isotopes and allows access to heavy thallium isotopes with >207. The self -consistent theory of finite Fermi systems based on the energy density functional by Fayans et al. well describes the N dependence of μfor 1/2(+) thallium ground states, as well as μfor the 11/2(-) isomeric states in europium, gold and thallium isotopes. The inclusion of particle-vibration coupling leads to a better agreement between the theory and experiment for mu(Tl-g , I-pi = 1/2(+)). It is shown that beyond mean-field contributions tocannot be neglected at least for thallium isotopes with I-pi = 1/2(+).
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Wimmer, K. et al, Algora, A., & Rubio, B. (2020). Shape coexistence revealed in the N = Z isotope Kr-72 through inelastic scattering. Eur. Phys. J. A, 56(6), 159–12pp.
Abstract: The N = Z = 36 nucleus Kr-72 has been studied by inelastic scattering at intermediate energies. Two targets, Be-9 and Au-197, were used to extract the nuclear deformation length, delta(N), and the reduced E2 transition probability, B(E2). The previously unknown non-yrast 2(+) and 4(+) states as well as a new candidate for the octupole 3(-) state have been observed in the scattering on the Be target and placed in the level scheme based on gamma – gamma coincidences. The second 2(+) state was also observed in the scattering on the Au target and the B(E2; 2(2)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) value could be determined for the first time. Analyzing the results in terms of a two-band mixing model shows clear evidence for a oblate-prolate shape coexistence and can be explained by a shape change from an oblate ground state to prolate deformed yrast band from the first 2+ state. This interpretation is corroborated by beyond mean field calculations using the Gogny D1S interaction.
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Guess, C. J. et al, Algora, A., Estevez, E., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2011). The Nd-150(He-3,t) and Sm-150(t,He-3) reactions with applications to beta beta decay of Nd-150. Phys. Rev. C, 83(6), 064318–17pp.
Abstract: The Nd-150(3He,t) reaction at 140 MeV/u and Sm-150(t,He-3) reaction at 115 MeV/u were measured, populating excited states in Pm-150. The transitions studied populate intermediate states of importance for the (neutrinoless) beta beta decay of Nd-150 to Sm-150. Monopole and dipole contributions to the measured excitation-energy spectra were extracted by using multipole decomposition analyses. The experimental results were compared with theoretical calculations obtained within the framework of the quasiparticle random-phase approximation, which is one of the main methods employed for estimating the half-life of the neutrinoless beta beta decay (0 nu beta beta) of Nd-150. The present results thus provide useful information on the neutrino responses for evaluating the 0 nu beta beta and 2 nu beta beta matrix elements. The 2 nu beta beta matrix element calculated from the Gamow-Teller transitions through the lowest 1(+) state in the intermediate nucleus is maximally about half that deduced from the half-life measured in 2 nu beta beta direct counting experiments, and at least several transitions through 1+ intermediate states in Pm-150 are required to explain the 2 nu beta beta half-life. Because Gamow-Teller transitions in the Sm-150(t,3He) experiment are strongly Pauli blocked, the extraction of Gamow-Teller strengths was complicated by the excitation of the 2 (h) over bar omega, Lambda L = 0, Delta S = 1 isovector spin-flip giant monopole resonance (IVSGMR). However, the near absence of Gamow-Teller transition strength made it possible to cleanly identify this resonance, and the strength observed is consistent with the full exhaustion of the non-energy-weighted sum rule for the IVSGMR.
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Tain, J. L., Agramunt, J., Algora, A., Aprahamian, A., Cano-Ott, D., Fraile, L. M., et al. (2015). The sensitivity of LaBr3:Ce scintillation detectors to low energy neutrons: Measurement and Monte Carlo simulation. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 774, 17–24.
Abstract: The neutron sensitivity of a cylindrical circle minus 1.5 in x 1.5 in LaBr3:Ce scintillation detector was measured using quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams in the energy range from 40 keV to 2.5 MeV. In this energy range the detector is sensitive to gamma-rays generated in neutron inelastic and capture processes. The experimental energy response was compared with Monte Carlo simulations performed with the Geant4 simulation toolkit using the so-called High Precision Neutron Models. These models rely on relevant information stored in evaluated nuclear data libraries. The performance of the Geant4 Neutron Data Library as well as several standard nuclear data libraries was investigated. In the latter case this was made possible by the use of a conversion tool that allowed the direct use of the data from other libraries in Geant4. Overall it was found that there was good agreement with experiment for some of the neutron data bases like ENDF/B-VII.0 or JENDL-3.3 but not with the others such as ENDF/B-VI.8 or JEFF-3.1.
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Pakarinen, J. et al, & Algora, A. (2017). Collectivity in Pb-196, Pb-198 isotopes probed in Coulomb-excitation experiments at REX-ISOLDE. J. Phys. G, 44(6), 064009–10pp.
Abstract: The neutron-deficient Pb-196,Pb-198 isotopes have been studied in Coulomb-excitation experiments employing the Miniball gamma-ray spectrometer and radioactive ion beams from the REX-ISOLDE post-accelerator at CERN. The reduced transition probabilities of the first excited 2(+) states in Pb-196 and Pb-198 nuclei have been measured for the first time. Values of B (E2) = 18.2(-4.1)(+4.8) W. u. and B (E2) = 13.1(-3.5)(+4.9) W. u., were obtained, respectively. The experiment sheds light on the development of collectivity when moving from the regime governed by the generalised seniority scheme to a region, where intruding structures, associated with different deformed shapes, start to come down in energy and approach the spherical ground state.
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Gottardo, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2019). New spectroscopic information on Tl-211,Tl-213: A changing structure beyond the N=126 shell closure. Phys. Rev. C, 99(5), 054326–7pp.
Abstract: The neutron-rich isotopes Tl-211,Tl-213, beyond the N = 126 shell closure, have been studied for the first time in isomer gamma-ray decay, exploiting the fragmentation of a primary uranium beam at the Fragment Separator-Rare Isotopes Investigation at GSI setup. The observed isomeric states in Tl-211,Tl-213 show a deviation from the seniority-like scheme of Tl-209. The possible interpretation of the data is discussed on the basis of energy-level systematics and shell-model calculations.
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Gottardo, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2012). New Isomers in the Full Seniority Scheme of Neutron-Rich Lead Isotopes: The Role of Effective Three-Body Forces. Phys. Rev. Lett., 109(16), 162502–5pp.
Abstract: The neutron-rich lead isotopes, up to Pb-216, have been studied for the first time, exploiting the fragmentation of a primary uranium beam at the FRS-RISING setup at GSI. The observed isomeric states exhibit electromagnetic transition strengths which deviate from state-of-the-art shell-model calculations. It is shown that their complete description demands the introduction of effective three-body interactions and two-body transition operators in the conventional neutron valence space beyond Pb-208.
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Valiente-Dobon, J. J. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2021). Manifestation of the Berry phase in the atomic nucleus Pb-213. Phys. Lett. B, 816, 136183–5pp.
Abstract: The neutron-rich Pb-213 isotope was produced in the fragmentation of a primary 1 GeV A U-238 beam, separated in FRS in mass and atomic number, and then implanted for isomer decay gamma-ray spectroscopy with the RISING setup at GSI. A newly observed isomer and its measured decay properties indicate that states in Pb-213 are characterized by the seniority quantum number that counts the nucleons not in pairs coupled to angular momentum J = 0. The conservation of seniority is a consequence of a geometric phase associated with particle-hole conjugation, which becomes observable in semi-magic nuclei where nucleons half-fill the valence shell. The gamma-ray spectroscopic observables in Pb-213 are thus found to be driven by two mechanisms, particle-hole conjugation and seniority conservation, which are intertwined through a Berry phase.
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Zago, L. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2022). High-spin states in Po-212 above the alpha-decaying (18(+)) isomer. Phys. Lett. B, 834, 137457–5pp.
Abstract: The nucleus Po-212 has been produced through the fragmentation of a U-238 primary beam at 1GeV/nucleon at GSI, separated with the FRagment Separator, FRS, and studied via isomer gamma-decay spectroscopy with the RISING setup. Two delayed previously unknown gamma rays have been observed. One has been attributed to the E3 decay of a 21(-) isomeric state feeding the alpha-emitting 45-s (18(+)) high-spin isomer. The other gamma-ray line has been assigned to the decay of a higher-lying 23(+) metastable state. These are the first observations of high-spin states above the Po-212 (18(+)) isomer, by virtue of the selectivity obtained via ion-by-ion identification of U-238 fragmentation products. Comparison with shell-model calculations points to shortfalls in the nuclear interactions involving high- jproton and neutron orbitals, to which the region around Z similar to 100 is sensitive.
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Guerrero, C., Cano-Ott, D., Mendoza, E., Tain, J. L., Algora, A., Berthoumieux, E., et al. (2012). Monte Carlo simulation of the n_TOF Total Absorption Calorimeter. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 671, 108–117.
Abstract: The n_TOF Total Absorption Calorimeter (TAC) is a 4 pi BaF2 segmented detector used at CERN for measuring neutron capture cross-sections of importance for the design of advanced nuclear reactors. This work presents the simulation code that has been developed in GEANT4 for the accurate determination of the detection efficiency of the TAC for neutron capture events. The code allows to calculate the efficiency of the TAC for every neutron capture state, as a function of energy, crystal multiplicity, and counting rate. The code includes all instrumental effects such as the single crystal detection threshold and energy resolution, finite size of the coincidence time window, and signal pile-up. The results from the simulation have been validated with experimental data for a large set of electromagnetic de-excitation patterns: beta-decay of well known calibration sources, neutron capture reactions in light nuclei with well known level schemes like Ti-nat, reference samples used in (n,gamma) measurements like Au-197 and experimental data from an actinide sample like Pu-240. The systematic uncertainty in the determination of the detection efficiency has been estimated for all the cases. As a representative example, the accuracy reached for the case of Au-197(n,gamma) ranges between 0.5% and 2%, depending on the experimental and analysis conditions. Such a value matches the high accuracy required for the nuclear cross-section data needed in advanced reactor design.
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