Guadilla, V. et al, Tain, J. L., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Jordan, D., Monserrate, M., et al. (2020). Determination of beta-decay ground state feeding of nuclei of importance for reactor applications. Phys. Rev. C, 102(6), 064304–12pp.
Abstract: In beta-decay studies the determination of the decay probability to the ground state (g.s.) of the daughter nucleus often suffers from large systematic errors. The difficulty of the measurement is related to the absence of associated delayed gamma-ray emission. In this work we revisit the 4 pi gamma – beta method proposed by Greenwood and collaborators in the 1990s, which has the potential to overcome some of the experimental difficulties. Our interest is driven by the need to determine accurately the beta-intensity distributions of fission products that contribute significantly to the reactor decay heat and to the antineutrinos emitted by reactors. A number of such decays have large g.s. branches. The method is relevant for nuclear structure studies as well. Pertinent formulas are revised and extended to the special case of beta-delayed neutron emitters, and the robustness of the method is demonstrated with synthetic data. We apply it to a number of measured decays that serve as test cases and discuss the features of the method. Finally, we obtain g.s. feeding intensities with reduced uncertainty for four relevant decays that will allow future improvements in antineutrino spectrum and decay heat calculations using the summation method.
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Gerst, R. B. et al, & Algora, A. (2020). Prompt and delayed gamma spectroscopy of neutron-rich Kr-94 and observation of a new isomer. Phys. Rev. C, 102(6), 064323–8pp.
Abstract: Prompt and delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of the neutron-rich Kr-94 was performed, as part of the fission campaign at the ALTO facility of the IPN Orsay, using the fast-neutron-induced fission reaction U-238(n, f) in combination with the nu-Ball array, a novel hybrid gamma spectrometer for energy and lifetime measurements. Several new yrast and nonyrast transitions were observed for the first time, extending the previously known level scheme. Additionally, we report on the observation of a new short-lived isomer at 3444 keV with a half-life of 32(3) ns. The analysis of the Nilsson orbitals obtained from Gogny cranked Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations suggests a (9(-)) spin and an oblate deformation for this isomer corresponding to a two-quasineutron state, indicating an isomeric structure very similar to that of the neighboring isotones Sr-96 and Se-92.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Henry, L., Jashal, B. K., Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Remon Alepuz, C., et al. (2021). Measurement of the prompt-production cross-section ratio sigma(chi(c2))/sigma(chi(c1)) in pPb collisions at root s(NN)=8.16 TeV. Phys. Rev. C, 103(6), 064905–10pp.
Abstract: This article reports the first measurement of prompt chi(c1) and chi(c2) charmonium production in nuclear collisions at Large Hadron Collider energies. The cross-section ratio sigma(chi(c2))/sigma(chi(c1)) is measured in pPb collisions at root s(NN) = 8.16 TeV, collected with the LHCb experiment. The chi(c1,2) states are reconstructed via their decay to a J/psi meson, subsequently decaying into a pair of oppositely charged muons, and a photon, which is reconstructed in the calorimeter or via its conversion in the detector material. The cross-section ratio is consistent with unity in the two considered rapidity regions. Comparison with a corresponding cross-section ratio previously measured by the LHCb Collaboration in pp collisions suggests that chi(c1) and chi(c2) states are similarly affected by nuclear effects occurring in pPb collisions.
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Escrig, S. et al, & Morales, A. I. (2021). Persistence of the Z=28 shell gap in A=75 isobars: Identification of a possible (1/2(-)) μs isomer in Co-75 and beta decay to Ni-75. Phys. Rev. C, 103(6), 064328–12pp.
Abstract: Background: The evolution of shell structure around doubly magic exotic nuclei is of great interest in nuclear physics and astrophysics. In the 'southwest' region of Ni-78, the development of deformation might trigger a major shift in our understanding of explosive nucleosynthesis. To this end, new spectroscopic information on key close-lying nuclei is very valuable. Purpose: We intend to measure the isomeric and beta decay of Co-75, with one-proton and two-neutron holes relative to Ni-78, to access new nuclear structure information in Co-75 and its beta-decay daughters Ni-75 and Ni-74. Methods: The nucleus Co-75 is produced in relativistic in-flight fission reactions of U-238 at the Radioactive Ion Beam Factory in the RIKEN Nishina Center. Its isomeric and f decay are studied exploiting the BigRIPS and EURICA setups. Results: We obtain partial beta-decay spectra for Ni-75 and Ni-74, and report a new isomeric transition in Co-75. The energy [E-gamma = 1914(2) keV] and half-life [t(1/2) = 13(6) μs] of the delayed gamma ray lend support for the existence of aJ(pi) = (1/2(-)) isomeric state at 1914(2) keV. A comparison with PFSDG-U shell-model calculations provides a good account for the observed states in Ni-75, but the first calculated 1/2(-) level in Co-75, a prolate K = 1/2 state, is predicted about 1 MeV below the observed (1/2(-)) level. Conclusions: The spherical-like structure of the lowest-lying excited states in Ni-75 is proved. In the case of Co-75, the results suggest that the dominance of the spherical configurations over the deformed ones might be stronger than expected below Ni-78. Further experimental efforts to discern the nature of the J(pi) = (1/2(-)) isomer are necessary.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Amos, K. R., Aparisi Pozo, J. A., Bailey, A. J., Cabrera Urban, S., Cardillo, F., et al. (2022). Measurements of azimuthal anisotropies of jet production in Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-s=5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Phys. Rev. C, 105(6), 064903–25pp.
Abstract: The azimuthal variation of jet yields in heavy-ion collisions provides information about the path-length dependence of the energy loss experienced by partons passing through the hot, dense nuclear matter known as the quark-gluon plasma. This paper presents the azimuthal anisotropy coefficients v(2), v(3), and v(4) measured for jets in Pb + Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-s =5.02 TeV using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurement uses data collected in 2015 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.2 nb(-1). The v(n) values are measured as a function of the transverse momentum of the jets between 71 and 398 GeV and the event centrality. A nonzero value of v(2) is observed in all but the most central collisions. The value of v(2) is largest for jets with lower transverse momentum, with values up to 0.05 in mid-central collisions. A smaller, nonzero value of v(3) of approximately 0.01 is measured with no significant dependence on jet p(T) or centrality, suggesting that fluctuations in the initial state play a small but distinct role in jet energy loss. No significant deviation of v(4) from zero is observed in the measured kinematic region.
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