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IDS Collaboration(Stryjczyk, M. et al.), & Nacher, E. (2023). Simultaneous gamma-ray and electron spectroscopy of 182,184,186Hg isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 108(1), 014308–20pp.
Abstract: Background: The mercury isotopes around N = 104 are a well-known example of nuclei exhibiting shape coex-istence. Mixing of configurations can be studied by measuring the monopole strength rho^2(E0), however, currently the experimental information is scarce and lacks precision, especially for the I^pi -> I^pi (I not = 0) transitions. Purpose: The goals of this study were to increase the precision of the known branching ratios and internal conversion coefficients, to increase the amount of available information regarding excited states in 182,184,186Hg, and to interpret the results in the framework of shape coexistence using different models. Method: The low-energy structures in 182,184,186Hg were populated in the & beta; decay of 182,184,186Tl, produced at ISOLDE, CERN and purified by laser ionization and mass separation. The & gamma;-ray and internal conversion electron events were detected by five germanium clover detectors and a segmented silicon detector, respectively, and correlated in time to build decay schemes.Results: In total, 193, 178, and 156 transitions, including 144, 140, and 108 observed for the first time in a & beta;-decay experiment, were assigned to 182,184,186Hg, respectively. Internal conversion coefficients were determined for 23 transitions, out of which 12 had an E0 component. Extracted branching ratios allowed the sign of the interference term in 182Hg as well as & rho;2(E 0; 0+2 & RARR; 0+1 ) and B(E2; 0+2 & RARR; 2+1 ) in 184Hg to be determined. By means of electron-electron coincidences, the 0+3 state was identified in 184Hg. The experimental results were qualitatively reproduced by five theoretical approaches, the interacting boson model with configuration mixing with two different parametrizations, the general Bohr Hamiltonian, the beyond mean-field model, and the symmetry-conserving configuration-mixing model. However, a quantitative description is lacking. Conclusions: The presence of shape coexistence in neutron-deficient mercury isotopes was confirmed and evidence for the phenomenon existing at higher energies was found. The new experimental results provide important spectroscopic input for future Coulomb excitation studies.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Moreno-Soto, J. et al), Babiano-Suarez, V., Caballero-Ontanaya, L., Domingo-Pardo, C., Ladarescu, I., & Tain, J. L. (2022). Constraints on the dipole photon strength for the odd uranium isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 105(2), 024618–14pp.
Abstract: Background: The photon strength functions (PSFs) and nuclear level density (NLD) are key ingredients for calculation of the photon interaction with nuclei, in particular the reaction cross sections. These cross sections are important especially in nuclear astrophysics and in the development of advanced nuclear technologies. Purpose: The role of the scissors mode in the M1 PSF of (well-deformed) actinides was investigated by several experimental techniques. The analyses of different experiments result in significant differences, especially on the strength of the mode. The shape of the low-energy tail of the giant electric dipole resonance is uncertain as well. In particular, some works proposed a presence of the E1 pygmy resonance just above 7 MeV. Because of these inconsistencies additional information on PSFs in this region is of great interest. Methods: The gamma-ray spectra from neutron-capture reactions on the U-234, U-236, and U-238 nuclei have been measured with the total absorption calorimeter of the n_TOF facility at CERN. The background-corrected sum-energy and multi-step-cascade spectra were extracted for several isolated s-wave resonances up to about 140 eV. Results: The experimental spectra were compared to statistical model predictions coming from a large selection of models of photon strength functions and nuclear level density. No combination of PSF and NLD models from literature is able to globally describe our spectra. After extensive search we were able to find model combinations with modified generalized Lorentzian (MGLO) E1 PSF, which match the experimental spectra as well as the total radiative widths. Conclusions: The constant temperature energy dependence is favored for a NLD. The tail of giant electric dipole resonance is well described by the MGLO model of the E1 PSF with no hint of pygmy resonance. The M1 PSF must contain a very strong, relatively wide, and likely double-resonance scissors mode. The mode is responsible for about a half of the total radiative width of neutron resonances and significantly affects the radiative cross section.
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Clement, E. et al, Domingo-Pardo, C., & Gadea, A. (2023). Spectroscopic quadrupole moments in 124Xe. Phys. Rev. C, 107(1), 014324–8pp.
Abstract: Background: The Xe isotopic chain with four valence protons above the Z = 50 shell closure is an ideal laboratory for the study of the evolution of nuclear deformation. At the N = 82 shell closure, 136Xe presents all characteristics of a doubly closed shell nucleus with a spherical shape. In the very neutron-deficient isotopes close to N = 50, the alpha-decay chain of Xe was investigated to probe the radioactive decay properties near the drip-line and the magicity of 100Sn. Additionally, the Xe isotopes present higher order symmetries in the nuclear deformation such as the octupole degree of freedom near N = 60 and N = 90 or O(6) symmetry in stable isotopes.Purpose: The relevance of the O(6) symmetry has been investigated by measuring the spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the first excited states in 124Xe. In the O(6) symmetry limit, the spectroscopic quadrupole moment of collective states is expected to be null.Method: A stable 124Xe beam with energies of 4.03A MeV and 4.11A MeV was used to bombard a natW target at the GANIL facility. Excited states were populated via the safe Coulomb excitation reaction. The collision of the heavy ions with a large Z at low energy make this reaction sensitive to the diagonal E2 matrix element of the excited states. The recoils were detected in the VAMOS++ magnetic spectrometer and the gamma rays in the AGATA tracking array. The least squares fitting code GOSIA was used for the analysis to extract both E2 and M1 transitional and E2 diagonal matrix elements.Results: The rotational ground state band was populated up to the 8+1 state as well as the 2+2 and 4+2 states. Using high precision spectroscopic data to constrain the GOSIA fit, the spectroscopic quadrupole moments of the 2+1 , 4+1 , and 6+1 states were determined for the first time. Conclusions: The spectroscopic quadrupole moments were found to be negative, large, and constant in the ground state band underlining the prolate axially deformed ground state band of 124Xe. The present experimental data confirm that the is broken in 124Xe.
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Biswas, S. et al, & Perez-Vidal, R. M. (2020). Prompt-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of neutron-rich In-119, In-121 isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 102(1), 014326–10pp.
Abstract: Background: The Z = 50 shell closure, near N = 82, is unique in the sense that it is the only shell closure with the spin-orbit partner orbitals, pi g(9/2) and pi g(7/2), enclosing the magic gap. The interaction of the proton hole/particle in the above-mentioned orbitals with neutrons in the nu h(11)(/2) orbital is an important prerequisite to the understanding of the nuclear structure near N = 82 and the nu pi interaction. Purpose: To explore the structural similarity between the high-spin isomeric states in In (Z = 49), Sn (Z = 50), and Sb (Z = 51) isotopes from a microscopic point of view. In addition, to understand the role of a proton hole or particle in the spin-orbit partner orbitals, pi g(9/2) and pi g(7/2), respectively, with neutron holes in the nu h(11)(/2) orbital on these aforementioned isomers. Methods: The fusion and transfer induced fission reaction Be-9(U-238, f) with 6.2 MeV/u beam energy, using a unique setup consisting of AGATA, VAMOS ++, and EXOGAM detectors, was used to populate through the fission process and study the neutron-rich In-119,In-121 isotopes. This setup enabled the prompt-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of isotopes in the time range of 100 ns-200 μs. Results: In the odd-A In-119,In-121 isotopes, indications of a short half-life 19/2(-) isomeric state, in addition to the previously known 25/2(+) isomeric state, were observed from the present data. Further, new prompt transitions above the 25/2(+) isomer in In-121 were identified along with reevaluation of its half-life. Conclusions: The experimental data were compared with the theoretical results obtained in the framework of large-scale shell-model calculations in a restricted model space. The <pi g(9/2)nu h(11/2); I vertical bar H vertical bar pi g(9/2) nu h(11/2);I > two-body matrix elements of residual interaction were modified to explain the excitation energies and the B(E2) transition probabilities in the neutron-rich In isotopes. The (i) decreasing trend of E(29/2(+))-E(25/2(+)) in odd-In (with dominant configuration pi g(9/)(2)(-1) nu h(11/2)(-2) and maximum aligned spin of 29/2+) and (ii) increasing trend of E(27/2(+)) – E(23/2(+)) in odd-Sb (with dominant configuration pi g(7/)(2)(+1) nu h(11/2)(-2) and maximum aligned spin of 27/2(+)) with increasing neutron number could be understood as a consequence of hole-hole and particle-hole interactions, respectively.
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Piriz, G. H., Gonzalez-Sprinberg, G. A., Ballester, F., & Vijande, J. (2024). Dosimetry of Large Field Valencia applicators for Cobalt-60-based brachytherapy. Med. Phys., 51, 5094–5098.
Abstract: BackgroundNon-melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and one of the main approaches is brachytherapy. For small lesions, the treatment of this cancer with brachytherapy can be done with two commercial applicators, one of these is the Large Field Valencia Applicators (LFVA).PurposeThe aim of this study is to test the capabilities of the LFVA to use clinically 60Co sources instead of the 192Ir ones. This study was designed for the same dwell positions and weights for both sources.MethodsThe Penelope Monte Carlo code was used to evaluate dose distribution in a water phantom when a 60Co source is considered. The LFVA design and the optimized dwell weights reported for the case of 192Ir are maintained with the only exception of the dwell weight of the central position, that was increased. 2D dose distributions, field flatness, symmetry and the leakage dose distribution around the applicator were calculated.ResultsWhen comparing the dose distributions of both sources, field flatness and symmetry remain unchanged. The only evident difference is an increase of the penumbra regions for all depths when using the 60Co source. Regarding leakage, the maximum dose within the air volume surrounding the applicator is in the order of 20% of the prescription dose for the 60Co source, but it decreases to less than 5% at about 1 cm distance.ConclusionsFlatness and symmetry remains unaltered as compared with 192Ir sources, while an increase in leakage has been observed. This proves the feasibility of using the LFVA in a larger range of clinical applications.
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Gargalionis, J., Herrero-Garcia, J., & Schmidt, M. A. (2024). Model-independent estimates for loop-induced baryon-number-violating nucleon decays. J. High Energy Phys., 06(6), 182–52pp.
Abstract: Baryon number is an accidental symmetry of the Standard Model (SM) Lagrangian that so far has been measured to be exactly preserved, although it is expected to be violated at higher energies. In this work we compute order-of-magnitude estimates for the matching contributions of generic ultraviolet models to effective operators that generate nucleon decay processes. This is done in a systematic and automated way using operators constructed from SM fields up to dimension nine and working in a framework that has proved useful in the study of lepton-number violation. For each of the operators we derive estimates for the rates of different nucleon-decay channels. These allow us to establish model-independent lower bounds on the underlying new-physics scale and identify potential correlations between the various decay modes. The results are most relevant for families of models that generate the considered operator. This analysis is especially timely given the expected future sensitivities in numerous experiments such as Hyper-K, DUNE, JUNO and THEIA.
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Bas i Beneito, A., Gargalionis, J., Herrero-Garcia, J., Santamaria, A., & Schmidt, M. A. (2024). An EFT approach to baryon number violation: lower limits on the new physics scale and correlations between nucleon decay modes. J. High Energy Phys., 07(7), 004–37pp.
Abstract: Baryon number is an accidental symmetry of the Standard Model at the Lagrangian level. Its violation is arguably one of the most compelling phenomena predicted by physics beyond the Standard Model. Furthermore, there is a large experimental effort to search for it including the Hyper-K, DUNE, JUNO, and THEIA experiments. Therefore, an agnostic, model-independent, analysis of baryon number violation using the power of Effective Field Theory is very timely. In particular, in this work we study the contribution of dimension six and seven effective operators to |triangle(B – L)| = 0, 2 nucleon decays taking into account the effects of Renormalisation Group Evolution. We obtain lower limits on the energy scale of each operator and study the correlations between different decay modes. We find that for some operators the effect of running is very significant.
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Yokoyama, R. et al, Tain, J. L., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Domingo-Pardo, C., Morales, A. I., et al. (2023). β-delayed neutron emissions from N > 50 gallium isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 108(6), 064307–15pp.
Abstract: beta-delayed gamma-neutron spectroscopy has been performed on the decay of A=84 to 87 gallium isotopes at the RI-beam Factory at the RIKEN Nishina Center using a high-efficiency array of 3He neutron counters (BRIKEN). beta-2n-gamma events were measured in the decays of all of the four isotopes for the first time, which is direct evidence for populating the excited states of two-neutron daughter nuclei. Detailed decay schemes with the gamma branching ratios were obtained for these isotopes, and the neutron emission probabilities (P-xn) were updated from the previous study. Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations were performed to understand the experimental branching ratios. We found that the P-1n and P-2n values are sensitive to the nuclear level densities of 1n daughter nuclei and showed that the statistical model reproduced the P-2n/P-1n ratio better when experimental levels plus shell-model level densities fit by the Gilbert-Cameron formula were used as the level-density input. We also showed the neutron and gamma branching ratios are sensitive to the ground-state spin of the parent nucleus. Our statistical model analysis suggested J <= 3 for the unknown ground-state spin of the odd-odd nucleus Ga-86, from the I gamma(4(+)-> 2(+))/I-gamma(2(+)-> 0(+)) ratio of Ga-84 and the P-2n/P-1n ratio. These results show the necessity of detailed understanding of the decay scheme, including data from neutron spectroscopy, in addition to gamma measurements of the multineutron emitters.
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Dimitriou, P. et al, Tain, J. L., & Algora, A. (2021). Development of a Reference Database for Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission. Nucl. Data Sheets, 173, 144–238.
Abstract: Beta-delayed neutron emission is important for nuclear structure and astrophysics as well as for reactor applications. Significant advances in nuclear experimental techniques in the past two decades have led to a wealth of new measurements that remain to be incorporated in the databases. We report on a coordinated effort to compile and evaluate all the available beta-delayed neutron emission data. The different measurement techniques have been assessed and the data have been compared with semi-microscopic and microscopic-macroscopic models. The new microscopic database has been tested against aggregate total delayed neutron yields, time-dependent group parameters in 6-and 8-group re-presentation, and aggregate delayed neutron spectra. New recommendations of macroscopic delayed-neutron data for fissile materials of interest to applications are also presented.
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Yokoyama, R. et al, Tain, J. L., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Domingo-Pardo, C., Morales, A. I., et al. (2019). Strong one-neutron emission from two-neutron unbound states in beta decays of the r-process nuclei Ga-86,Ga-87. Phys. Rev. C, 100(3), 031302–6pp.
Abstract: beta-delayed one-neutron and two-neutron branching ratios (P-1n and P-2n) have been measured in the decay of A = 84 to 87 Ga isotopes at the Radioactive-Isotope Beam Factory (RIBF) at the RIKEN Nishina Center using a high-efficiency array of He-3 neutron counters (BRIKEN). Two-neutron emission was observed in the decay of Ga-84,Ga-85,Ga-87 for the first time and the branching ratios were measured to be P-2n = 1.6(2)%, 1.3(2)%, and 10.2(28)(stat)(5)(sys)%, respectively. One-neutron branching ratio of Ga-87 (P-1n = 81(9)(stat)(8)(sys)%) and half-life of 29(4) ms were measured for the first time. The branching ratios of Ga-86 were also measured to be P-1n = 74(2)(stat)(8)(sys)% and 16.2(9)(stat)(6)(sys)% with better precision than a previous study. The observation that P-1n > P-2n for both Ga-86,Ga-87 was unexpected and is interpreted as a signature of dominating one-neutron emission from the two-neutron unbound excited states in Ge-86,Ge-87. In order to interpret the experimental results, shell-model and Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations of delayed particle and gamma-ray emission probabilities were performed. This model framework reproduces the experimental results. The shell model alone predicts P-2n significantly larger than P-1n for the Ga-87 decay, and it is necessary to invoke a statistical description to successfully explain the observation that P-1n > P-2n. Our new results demonstrate the relevance and importance of a statistical description of neutron emission for the prediction of the decay properties of multineutron emitters and that it must be included in the r-process modeling.
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