Korichi, A., Lauritsen, T., Wilson, A. N., Dudouet, J., Clement, E., Lalovic, N., et al. (2017). Performance of a gamma-ray tracking array: Characterizing the AGATA array using a Co-60 source. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 872, 80–86.
Abstract: The AGATA (Advanced GAmma Tracking Array) tracking detector is being designed to far surpass the performance of the previous generation, Compton-suppressed arrays. In this paper, a characterization of AGATA is provided based on data from the second GSI campaign. Emphasis is placed on the proper corrections required to extract the absolute photopeak efficiency and peak-to-total ratio. The performance after tracking is extracted and GEANT4 simulations are used both to understand the results and to scale the measurements up to predicted values for the full 4 pi implementation of the device.
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n_TOF Collaboration, Gunsing, F., Berthoumieux, E., Borella, A., Belgya, T., Szentmiklosi, L., et al. (2011). Neutron Capture on (209)Bi: Determination of the Production Ratio of (210m)Bi/(210g)Bi. J. Korean Phys. Soc., 59(2), 1670–1675.
Abstract: Neutron capture on (209)Bi produces either an isomeric state (210m)Bi with a half life of 3 x 106 years, or the ground state (210g)Bi which decays with a half life of 5 days to the alpha emitter (210)Po. Therefore the neutron capture cross section ratio (209)Bi(n,gamma)(210m)Bi/(210g)Bi plays an important role in predicting the short- and long-term radio-toxicity produced by (209)Bi under neutron irradiation. This ratio is dependent on the neutron energy. We have measured this ratio for cold neutrons at the cold neutron beam facility of the Budapest Neutron Centre by observing the population of the ground-and the metastable state using high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. The same technique has been used at the pulsed white neutron source GELINA of the IRMM, Geel in combination with the neutron time-of-flight technique. Results for the neutron-energy dependent branching ratio will be presented. In addition we performed simulations using a statistical decay code.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Guerrero, C. et al), Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2011). Characterization of the New n_TOF Neutron Beam: Fluence, Profile and Resolution. J. Korean Phys. Soc., 59(2), 1624–1627.
Abstract: After a halt of four years, the nTOF spallation neutron facility at CERN has resumed operation in November 2008 with a new spallation target characterized by an improved safety and engineering design, resulting in a more robust overall performance and efficient cooling. The first measurement during the 2009 run has aimed at the full characterization of the neutron beam. Several detectors, such as calibrated fission chambers, the nTOF Silicon Monitor, a MicroMegas detector with (10)B and (235)U samples, as well as liquid and solid scintillators have been used in order to characterize the properties of the neutron fluence. The spatial profile of the beam has been studied with a specially designed “X-Y” MicroMegas which provided a 2D image of the beam as a function of neutron energy. Both properties have been compared with simulations performed. with the FLUKA code. The characterization of the resolution function is based on results from simulations which have been verified by the study of narrow capture resonances. of (56)Fe, which were measured as part of a new campaign of (n,gamma) measurements on Fe and Ni isotopes.
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Guerrero, C., Tessler, M., Paul, M., Lerendegui-Marco, J., Heinitz, S., Maugeri, E. A., et al. (2019). The s-process in the Nd-Pm-Sm region: Neutron activation of Pm-147. Phys. Lett. B, 797, 134809–6pp.
Abstract: The Nd-Pm-Sm branching is of interest for the study of the s-process, related to the production of heavy elements in stars. As Sm-148 and Sm-150 are s-only isotopes, the understanding of the branching allows constraining the s-process neutron density. In this context the key physics input needed is the cross section of the three unstable nuclides in the region: Nd-147 (10.98 d half-life), Pm-147 (2.62 yr) and Pm-148 (5.37 d). This paper reports on the activation measurement of Pm-147, the longest-lived of the three nuclides. The cross section measurement has been carried out by activation at the SARAF LiLiT facility using a 56(2) μg target. Compared to the single previous measurement of Pm-147, the measurement presented herein benefits from a target 2000 times more massive. The resulting Maxwellian Averaged Cross Section (MACS) to the ground and metastable states in Pm-148 are 469(50) mb and 357(27) mb. These values are 41% higher (to the ground state) and 15% lower (to the metastable state) than the values reported so far, leading however to a total cross section of 826(107) mb consistent within uncertainties with the previous result and hence leaving unchanged the previous calculation of the s-process neutron density.
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Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., Martin-Albo, J., Menendez, J., Mezzetto, M., Monrabal, F., & Sorel, M. (2024). The search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. Riv. Nuovo Cimento, 46, 619–692.
Abstract: Neutrinos are the only particles in the Standard Model that could be Majorana fermions, that is, completely neutral fermions that are their own antiparticles. The most sensitive known experimental method to verify whether neutrinos are Majorana particles is the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay. The last 2 decades have witnessed the development of a vigorous program of neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments, spanning several isotopes and developing different strategies to handle the backgrounds masking a possible signal. In addition, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding of the nuclear matrix elements of neutrinoless double-beta decay, thus reducing a substantial part of the theoretical uncertainties affecting the particle-physics interpretation of the process. On the other hand, the negative results by several experiments, combined with the hints that the neutrino mass ordering could be normal, may imply very long lifetimes for the neutrinoless double-beta decay process. In this report, we review the main aspects of such process, the recent progress on theoretical ideas and the experimental state of the art. We then consider the experimental challenges to be addressed to increase the sensitivity to detect the process in the likely case that lifetimes are much longer than currently explored, and discuss a selection of the most promising experimental efforts.
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