Barrientos, D., Gonzalez, V., Bellato, M., Gadea, A., Bazzacco, D., Blasco, J. M., et al. (2013). Multiple Register Synchronization With a High-Speed Serial Link Using the Aurora Protocol. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 60(5), 3521–3525.
Abstract: In this work, the development and characterization of a multiple synchronous registers interface communicating with a high-speed serial link and using the Aurora protocol is presented. A detailed description of the developing process and the characterization methods and hardware test benches are also included. This interface will implement the slow control buses of the digitizer cards for the second generation of electronics for the Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA).
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Egea, F. J. et al, Gadea, A., Barrientos, D., & Huyuk, T. (2013). Design and Test of a High-Speed Flash ADC Mezzanine Card for High-Resolution and Timing Performance in Nuclear Structure Experiments. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 60(5), 3526–3531.
Abstract: This work describes new electronics for the EX-OGAM2 (HP-Ge detector array) and NEDA (BC501A-based neutron detector array). A new digitizing card with high resolution has been designed for gamma-ray and neutron spectroscopy experiments. The higher bandwidth requirement of the NEDA signals, together with the necessity for accuracy, require a high sampling rate in order to preserve the shape for real-time Pulse Shape Analysis (PSA). The PSA is of paramount importance for the NEDA to discriminate between neutrons and gamma-ray signals. Both high resolution and high speed parameters are often difficult to achieve in a single electronic unit. These constraints, together with the need to build new digitizing electronics to improve performance and flexibility of signal analysis in nuclear physics experiments, led to the development a new FADC mezzanine card. In this work, the design and development are described, including the characterization procedure and the preliminary measurement results.
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AGATA Collaboration(Louchart, C. et al), Gadea, A., & Huyuk, T. (2013). Collective nature of low-lying excitations in 70,72,74Zn from lifetime measurements using the AGATA spectrometer demonstrator. Phys. Rev. C, 87(5), 054302–10pp.
Abstract: Background: Neutron-rich nuclei with protons in the fp shell show an onset of collectivity around N=40. Spectroscopic information is required to understand the underlying mechanism and to determine the relevant terms of the nucleon-nucleon interaction that are responsible for the evolution of the shell structure in this mass region. Methods: We report on the lifetime measurement of the first 2+ and 4+ states in 70,72,74Zn and the first 6+ state in 72Zn using the recoil distance Doppler shift method. The experiment was carried out at the INFN Laboratory of Legnaro with the AGATA demonstrator, first phase of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array of highly segmented, high-purity germanium detectors coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer. The excited states of the nuclei of interest were populated in the deep inelastic scattering of a 76Ge beam impinging on a 238U target. Results: The maximum of collectivity along the chain of Zn isotopes is observed for 72Zn at N=42. An unexpectedly long lifetime of 20−5.2+1.8 ps was measured for the 4+ state in 74Zn. Conclusions: Our results lead to small values of the B(E2;41+→21+)/B(E2;21+→01+) ratio for 72,74Zn, suggesting a significant noncollective contribution to these excitations. These experimental results are not reproduced by state-of-the-art microscopic models and call for lifetime measurements beyond the first 2+ state in heavy zinc and nickel isotopes.
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AGATA Collaboration, Doncel, M., Recchia, F., Quintana, B., Gadea, A., & Farnea, E. (2010). Experimental test of the background rejection, through imaging capability, of a highly segmented AGATA germanium detector. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 622(3), 614–618.
Abstract: The development of highly segmented germanium detectors as well as the algorithms to identify the position of the interaction within the crystal opens the possibility to locate the gamma-ray source using Compton imaging algorithms. While the Compton-suppression shield, coupled to the germanium detector in conventional arrays, works also as an active filter against the gamma rays originated outside the target, the new generation of position sensitive gamma-ray detector arrays has to fully rely on tracking capabilities for this purpose. In specific experimental conditions, as the ones foreseen at radioactive beam facilities, the ability to discriminate background radiation improves the sensitivity of the gamma spectrometer. In this work we present the results of a measurement performed at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) aiming the evaluation of the AGATA detector capabilities to discriminate the origin of the gamma rays on an event-by-event basis. It will be shown that, exploiting the Compton scattering formula, it is possible to track back gamma rays coming from different positions, assigning them to specific emitting locations. These imaging capabilities are quantified for a single crystal AGATA detector.
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AGATA Collaboration, Farnea, E., Recchia, F., Bazzacco, D., Kroll, T., Podolyak, Z., et al. (2010). Conceptual design and Monte Carlo simulations of the AGATA array. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 621(1-3), 331–343.
Abstract: The aim of the Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) project is the construction of an array based on the novel concepts of pulse shape analysis and gamma-ray tracking with highly segmented Ge semiconductor detectors. The conceptual design of AGATA and its performance evaluation under different experimental conditions has required the development of a suitable Monte Carlo code. In this article, the description of the code as well as simulation results relevant for AGATA, are presented.
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Mengoni, D. et al, Gadea, A., Algora, A., & Rubio, B. (2010). Lifetime measurements of excited states in neutron-rich Ar-44,Ar-46 populated via a multinucleon transfer reaction. Phys. Rev. C, 82(2), 024308–7pp.
Abstract: Lifetimes of low-lying excited states of the neutron-rich Ar-44,Ar-46 nuclei, populated via multinucleon transfer reactions, are measured by means of the differential recoil distance Doppler shift method. The extracted electromagnetic transition probabilities are compared with previous intermediate-energy Coulomb-excitation measurements and with large-scale shell-model calculations. The increase in the deduced B( E2; 2(+) -> 0(+)) transition probability from Ar-44 to the closed-shell nucleus Ar-46 contradicts the earlier results of Coulomb-excitation experiments. Shell-model calculations using different effective interactions agree with the new measured values.
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Montanari, D., Farnea, E., Leoni, S., Pollarolo, G., Corradi, L., Benzoni, G., et al. (2011). Response function of the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA. Eur. Phys. J. A, 47(1), 4–7pp.
Abstract: The response function of the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA is studied via a Monte Carlo simulation that employs a ray tracing code to determine the trajectories of individual rays through the electromagnetic fields. The calculated response is tested on angular and energy distributions provided by theoretical calculations for the Ca-48 + Ni-64 multinucleon transfer reaction and applied to the corresponding experimental data.
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Broda, R. et al, & Gadea, A. (2010). Proton-hole states in the N=30 neutron-rich isotope K-49. Phys. Rev. C, 82(3), 034319–7pp.
Abstract: Excited states in the N = 30 neutron-rich isotope K-49 have been studied using multinucleon transfer reactions with thin targets and the PRISMA-CLARA spectrometer combined with thick-target gamma-coincidence data from Gammasphere. The d(3/2) proton-hole state is located 92 keV above the s(1/2) ground state, and the proton-particle f(7/2) state is suggested at 2104 keV. Three other levels are established as involving the coupling to 2(+) of two neutrons above the N = 28 shell. The measured or estimated lifetimes served to reinforce the interpretation of the observed level structure, which is found to be in satisfactory agreement with shell-model calculations.
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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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Bizzeti, P. G. et al, & Gadea, A. (2010). Transition probabilities in the X(5) candidate Ba-122. Phys. Rev. C, 82(5), 054311–10pp.
Abstract: To investigate the possible X(5) character of Ba-122, suggested by the ground-state band energy pattern, the lifetimes of the lowest yrast states of Ba-122 have been measured, via the recoil distance Doppler-shift method. The relevant levels have been populated by using the Cd-108(O-16,2n)Ba-122 and the Sn-112(C-13, 3n)Ba-122 reactions. The B(E2) values deduced in the present work are compared to the predictions of the X(5) model and to calculations performed in the framework of the IBA-1 and IBA-2 models.
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