Valiente-Dobon, J. J., Poves, A., Gadea, A., & Fernandez-Dominguez, B. (2018). Broken mirror symmetry in S-36 and Ca-36. Phys. Rev. C, 98(1), 011302–5pp.
Abstract: Shape coexistence is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the neutron-rich nuclei belonging to (or sitting at the shores of) the N = 20 island of inversion (IoI). Exact isospin symmetry predicts the same behavior for their mirrors and the existence of a proton-rich IoI around Z = 20, centered in the (surely unbound) nucleus Ca-32. In this article we show that in Ca-36 and S-36, Coulomb effects break dramatically the mirror symmetry in the excitation energies due to the different structures of the intruder and normal states. The mirror energy difference (MED) of their 2(+) states is known to be very large at – 246 keV. We reproduce this value and predict the first excited state in Ca-36 to be a 0(+) at 2.7 MeV, 250 keV below the first 2(+). In its mirror S-36 the 0(+) lies at 55keV above the 2(+) measured at 3.291 MeV. Our calculations predict a huge MED of -720 keV, that we dub the “colossal” mirror energy difference. A possible reaction mechanism to access the O-2(+) in Ca-36 will be discussed. In addition, we theoretically address the MEDs of the A = 34, T = 3 and A = 32, T = 4 mirrors.
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Grodner, E. et al, Gadea, A., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Domingo-Pardo, C., Molina, F., et al. (2014). Hindered Gamow-Teller Decay to the Odd-Odd N = Z Ga-62: Absence of Proton-Neutron T=0 Condensate in A=62. Phys. Rev. Lett., 113(9), 092501–5pp.
Abstract: Search for a new kind of superfluidity built on collective proton-neutron pairs with aligned spin is performed studying the Gamow-Teller decay of the T = 1, J(pi) = 0(+) ground state of Ge-62 into excited states of the odd-odd N = Z nucleus Ga-62. The experiment is performed at GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Shwerionenforshung with the Ge-62 ions selected by the fragment separator and implanted in a stack of Si-strip detectors, surrounded by the RISING Ge array. A half-life of T-1/2 = 2 82.9(14) ms is measured for the Ge-62 ground state. Six excited states of Ga-62, populated below 2.5 MeV through Gamow-Teller transitions, are identified. Individual Gamow-Teller transition strengths agree well with theoretical predictions of the interacting shell model and the quasiparticle random phase approximation. The absence of any sizable low-lying Gamow-Teller strength in the reported beta-decay experiment supports the hypothesis of a negligible role of coherent T = 0 proton-neutron correlations in Ga-62.
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Dudouet, J. et al, Domingo-Pardo, C., Gadea, A., & Perez-Vidal, R. M. (2017). Kr-96(36)60-Low-Z Boundary of the Island of Deformation at N=60. Phys. Rev. Lett., 118(16), 162501–6pp.
Abstract: Prompt.-ray spectroscopy of the neutron-rich Kr-96, produced in transfer-and fusion-induced fission reactions, has been performed using the combination of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array and the VAMOS + +spectrometer. A second excited state, assigned to J pi = 4(+), is observed for the first time, and a previously reported level energy of the first 2+ excited state is confirmed. The measured energy ratio R-4/2 = E(4(+))/E(2(+)) = 2.12(1) indicates that this nucleus does not show a well-developed collectivity contrary to that seen in heavier N = 60 isotones. This new measurement highlights an abrupt transition of the degree of collectivity as a function of the proton number at Z = 36, of similar amplitude to that observed at N = 60 at higher Z values. A possible reason for this abrupt transition could be related to the insufficient proton excitations in the g(9/2), d(5/2), and s(1/2) orbitals to generate strong quadrupole correlations or to the coexistence of competing different shapes. An unexpected continuous decrease of R-4/2 as a function of the neutron number up to N = 60 is also evidenced. This measurement establishes the Kr isotopic chain as the low-Z boundary of the island of deformation for N = 60 isotones. A comparison with available theoretical predictions using different beyond mean-field approaches shows that these models fail to reproduce the abrupt transitions at N = 60 and Z = 36.
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Pajtler, M. V., Szilner, S., Corradi, L., de Angelis, G., Fioretto, E., Gadea, A., et al. (2015). Selective properties of neutron transfer reactions in the Zr-90+Pb-208 system for the population of excited states in zirconium isotopes. Nucl. Phys. A, 941, 273–292.
Abstract: Nuclei produced via multineutron transfer channels have been studied in Zr-90 + Pb-208 close to the Coulomb barrier energy in a fragment-gamma coincident measurement employing the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer coupled to the CLARA gamma-array. The selective properties of the reaction mechanism have been discussed in terms of states and their strength excited in the neutron transfer channels leading to Zr89-94 isotopes. A strong population of yrast states, with energies up to similar to 7.5 MeV has been observed.
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AGATA Collaboration(Korten, W. et al), & Gadea, A. (2020). Physics opportunities with the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array: AGATA. Eur. Phys. J. A, 56(5), 137–33pp.
Abstract: New physics opportunities are opening up by the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array, AGATA, as it evolves to the full 4 pi instrument. AGATA is a high-resolution gamma -ray spectrometer, solely built from highly segmented high-purity Ge detectors, capable of measuring gamma rays from a few tens of keV to beyond 10 MeV, with unprecedented efficiency, excellent position resolution for individual gamma -ray interactions, and very high count-rate capability. As a travelling detector AGATA will be employed at all major current and near-future European research facilities delivering stable and radioactive ion beams.
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Szilner, S. et al, & Gadea, A. (2011). Interplay between single-particle and collective excitations in argon isotopes populated by transfer reactions. Phys. Rev. C, 84(1), 014325–7pp.
Abstract: New gamma transitions have been identified in argon isotopes in (40)Ar + (208)Pb multiple transfer reactions by exploiting, in a fragment-gamma measurement, the new generation of magnetic spectrometers based on trajectory reconstruction coupled to large gamma arrays. The coupling of single-particle degrees of freedom to nuclear vibration quanta was discussed. The interpretation of the newly observed states within a particle-phonon coupling picture was used to consistently follow, via their excitation energies, the evolution of collectivity in odd Ar isotopes. The proposed level schemes are supported by the results of sd-pf shell-model calculations, which have been also employed to evaluate the strength functions of the populated states.
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Gottardo, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2013). New μs isomers in the neutron-rich Hg-210 nucleus. Phys. Lett. B, 725(4-5), 292–296.
Abstract: Neutron-rich nuclei in the lead region, beyond N = 126, have been studied at the FRS-RISING setup at GSI, exploiting the fragmentation of a primary uranium beam. Two isomeric states have been identified in Hg-210: the 8(+) isomer expected from the seniority scheme in the vg(9/2) shell and a second one at low spin and low excitation energy. The decay strength of the 8(+) isomer confirms the need of effective three-body forces in the case of neutron-rich lead isotopes. The other unexpected low-lying isomer has been tentatively assigned as a 3(-) state, although this is in contrast with theoretical expectations.
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Benzoni, G. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2012). First measurement of beta decay half-lives in neutron-rich Tl and Bi isotopes. Phys. Lett. B, 715(4-5), 293–297.
Abstract: Neutron-rich isotopes around lead, beyond N = 126, have been studied exploiting the fragmentation of an uranium primary beam at the FRS-RISING setup at GSI. For the first time beta-decay half-lives of Bi-219 and Tl-211,Tl-212,Tl-213 isotopes have been derived. The half-lives have been extracted using a numerical simulation developed for experiments in high-background conditions. Comparison with state of the art models used in r-process calculations is given, showing a systematic underestimation of the experimental values, at variance from close-lying nuclei.
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Szilner, S. et al, & Gadea, A. (2013). Structure of chlorine isotopes populated by heavy ion transfer reactions. Phys. Rev. C, 87(5), 054322–12pp.
Abstract: Neutron-rich chlorine isotopes were populated in the Ar-40 + Pb-208 multiple transfer reaction via the -1p channels in a fragment-gamma coincident measurement employing the Prisma-Clara setup. New gamma transitions have been identified and, together with already available data, level schemes have been revised and compared with the results of large-scale sd-pf shell-model calculations. The evolution of the energy splitting between the s(1/2) and d(3/2) orbitals and the increased mixing of different proton configurations in the populated Cl isotopic chain have been deduced by inspecting the shell-model wave functions.
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Montanari, D. et al, & Gadea, A. (2011). Probing the nature of particle-core couplings in Ca-49 with gamma spectroscopy and heavy-ion transfer reactions. Phys. Lett. B, 697(4), 288–293.
Abstract: Neutron rich nuclei around Ca-48 have been measured with the CLARA-PRISMA setup, making use of Ca-48 on Ni-64 binary reactions, at 5.9 MeV/A. Angular distributions of gamma rays give evidence, in several transfer channels, for a large spin alignment (approximate to 70%) perpendicular to the reaction plane, making it possible to firmly establish spin and parities of the excited states. In the case of Ca-49, states arising from different types of particle-core couplings are, for the first time, unambiguously identified on basis of angular distribution, polarization and lifetime measurements. Shell model and particle-vibration coupling calculations are used to pin down the nature of the states. Evidence is found for the presence, in the same excitation energy region, of two types of coupled states, i.e. single particle coupled to either Ca-48 or Ca-50 simple configurations, and particle-vibration coupled states based on the 3- phonon of Ca-48.
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