Wrede, C., Sjue, S. K. L., Garcia, A., Swanson, H. E., Ahmad, I., Algora, A., et al. (2013). Electron capture on In-116 and implications for nuclear structure related to double-beta decay. Phys. Rev. C, 87(3), 031303–5pp.
Abstract: The electron capture decay branch of In-116 has been measured to be [2.46 +/- 0.44(stat.) +/- 0.39(syst.)] x 10(-4) using Penning trap-assisted decay spectroscopy. The corresponding Gamow-Teller transition strength is shown to be compatible with the most recent value extracted from the (p, n) charge-exchange reaction, providing a resolution to longstanding discrepancies. This transition can now be used as a reliable benchmark for nuclear-structure calculations of the matrix element for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of Cd-116 and other nuclides.
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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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Caballero, L., Rubio, B., Kleinheinz, P., Yates, S. W., Algora, A., Dewald, A., et al. (2010). Two-phonon octupole excitation in Gd-146. Phys. Rev. C, 81(3), 031301–4pp.
Abstract: Based on experimental evidence from the Sm-144(alpha,2n) reaction, the 3484.7- keV 6(+) state in Gd-146 is identified as the highest-spin member of the 3(-) circle times 3(-) two-phonon octupole quartet. A previously unknown gamma line of 1905.8 keV and E3 character feeding the 3(-) octupole state has been observed. These results represent the first observation of a 6(+) -> 3(-) -> 0(+) cascade of two E3 transitions in an even-even nucleus and provide strong support for the interpretation of the 6(+) state as a two-phonon octupole excitation.
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Dijon, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Huyuk, T. (2012). Discovery of a new isomeric state in Ni-68: Evidence for a highly deformed proton intruder state. Phys. Rev. C, 85(3), 031301–5pp.
Abstract: We report on the observation of a new isomeric state in Ni-68. We suggest that the newly observed state at 168(1) keV above the first 2(+) state is a pi(2p-2h) 0(+) state across the major Z = 28 shell gap. Comparison with theoretical calculations indicates a pure proton intruder configuration and the deduced low-lying structure of this key nucleus suggests a possible shape coexistence scenario involving a highly deformed state.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Lederer, C. et al.), Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2014). Ni-62(n,gamma) and Ni-63(n,gamma) cross sections measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN. Phys. Rev. C, 89(2), 025810–11pp.
Abstract: The cross section of the Ni-62(n,gamma) reaction was measured with the time-of-flight technique at the neutron time-of-flight facility nTOF at CERN. Capture kernels of 42 resonances were analyzed up to 200 keV neutron energy and Maxwellian averaged cross sections (MACS) from kT = 5-100 keV were calculated. With a total uncertainty of 4.5%, the stellar cross section is in excellent agreement with the the KADoNiS compilation at kT = 30 keV, while being systematically lower up to a factor of 1.6 at higher stellar temperatures. The cross section of the Ni-63(n,gamma) reaction was measured for the first time at nTOF. We determined unresolved cross sections from 10 to 270 keV with a systematic uncertainty of 17%. These results provide fundamental constraints on s-process production of heavier species, especially the production of Cu in massive stars, which serve as the dominant source of Cu in the solar system.
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