Abstract: The revival of transfer reaction studies benefited from the construction of the new generation large solid angle spectrometers, coupled to large gamma arrays. The recent results of gamma-particle coincident measurements in Ca-40+Zr-96 and Ar-40+Pb-208 reactions demonstrate a strong interplay between single-particle and collective degrees of freedom that is pertinent to the reaction dynamics. The development of collectivity has been followed in odd Ar isotopes populated in the Ar-40+Pb-208 reaction through the excitation of the 11/2(-) states, understood as the coupling of single particle degrees of freedom to nuclear vibration quanta. Pair transfer modes is another important degree of freedom which is presently being studied with Prisma in inverse kinematics at energies far below the Coulomb barrier. First results from the Zr-96+Ca-40 reaction elucidate the role played by nucleon-nucleon correlation.

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.

Abstract: The beta decay of Cd-129, produced in the relativistic fission of a U-238 beam, was experimentally studied at the RIBF facility at the RIKEN Nishina Center. From the gamma radiation emitted after the beta decays, a level scheme of In-129 was established comprising 31 excited states and 69 gamma-ray transitions. The experimentally determined level energies are compared to state-of-the-art shell-model calculations. The half-lives of the two beta-decaying states in Cd-129 were deduced and the beta feeding to excited states in In-129 were analyzed. It is found that, as in most cases in the Z < 50, N <= 82 region, both decays are dominated by the nu 0g(7/2) -> pi 0g(9/2) Gamow-Teller transition, although the contribution of first-forbidden transitions cannot be neglected.

Abstract: The decay of an isomeric state in the neutron-rich nucleus Cd-129 has been observed via the detection of internal conversion and Compton electrons providing first experimental information on excited states in this nucleus. The isomer was populated in the projectile fission of a U-238 beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. From the measured yields of gamma-rays and internal conversion electrons, a multipolarity of E3 was tentatively assigned to the isomeric transition. A half-life of T-1/2 = 3.6(2) ms was determined for the new state which was assigned a spin of (21/2(+)), based on a comparison to shell model calculations performed using state-of-the-art realistic effective interactions.

Abstract: Excited states in the mirror nuclei P-31 and S-31 were populated in the 1p and 1n exit channels of the reaction Ne-20 + C-12, at a beam energy of 33 MeV. The Ne-20 beam was delivered for the first time by the Piave-Alpi accelerator of the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. Angular correlations of coincident gamma-rays and Doppler-shift attenuation lifetime measurements were performed using the multi-detector array GASP in conjunction with the EUCLIDES charged particle detector. In the observed B(E1) strengths, the isoscalar component, amounting to 24% of the isovector one, provides strong evidence for breaking of the isospin symmetry in the A = 31 mass region. Self-consistent beyond mean field calculations using Equation of Motion method based on a chiral potential and including two- and three-body forces reproduce well the experimental B(E1) strengths, reinforcing our conclusion. Coherent mixing from higher-lying states involving the Giant Isovector Monopole Resonance accounts well for the effect observed. The breaking of the isospin symmetry originates from the violation of the charge symmetry of the two- and three-body parts of the potential, only related to the Coulomb interaction.