Sarriguren, P., Algora, A., & Pereira, J. (2014). Gamow-Teller response in deformed even and odd neutron-rich Zr and Mo isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 89(3), 034311–13pp.
Abstract: beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Zr and Mo isotopes are investigated within a microscopic theoretical approach based on the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The underlying mean field is described self-consistently from deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock calculations with pairing correlations. Residual separable particle-hole and particle-particle forces are also included in the formalism. The structural evolution in these isotopic chains including both even and odd isotopes is analyzed in terms of the equilibrium deformed shapes. Gamow-Teller strength distributions, beta-decay half-lives, and beta-delayed neutron-emission probabilities are studied, stressing their relevance to describe the path of the nucleosynthesis rapid neutron capture process.
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Fujita, Y. et al, Algora, A., Estevez-Aguado, E., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2014). Observation of Low- and High-Energy Gamow-Teller Phonon Excitations in Nuclei. Phys. Rev. Lett., 112(11), 112502–5pp.
Abstract: Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in atomic nuclei are sensitive to both nuclear shell structure and effective residual interactions. The nuclear GT excitations were studied for the mass number A = 42, 46, 50, and 54 “f-shell” nuclei in (He-3, t) charge-exchange reactions. In the Ca-42 -> Sc-42 reaction, most of the GT strength is concentrated in the lowest excited state at 0.6 MeV, suggesting the existence of a low-energy GT phonon excitation. As A increases, a high-energy GT phonon excitation develops in the 6-11 MeV region. In the Fe-54 -> Co-54 reaction, the high-energy GT phonon excitation mainly carries the GT strength. The existence of these two GT phonon excitations are attributed to the 2 fermionic degrees of freedom in nuclei.
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Morales, A. I. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2014). beta-decay studies of neutron-rich Tl, Pb, and Bi isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 89(1), 014324–13pp.
Abstract: The fragmentation of relativistic uranium projectiles has been exploited at the Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung laboratory to investigate the beta decay of neutron-rich nuclei just beyond Pb-208. This paper reports on beta-delayed gamma decays of Tl211-213, Pb-215, and Bi215-219 de-exciting states in the daughters Pb211-213, Bi-215, and Po215-219. The resulting partial level schemes, proposed with the help of systematics and shell-model calculations, are presented. The role of allowed Gamow-Teller and first-forbidden beta transitions in this mass region is discussed.
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Stuhl, L., Krasznahorkay, A., Csatlos, M., Algora, A., Gulyas, J., Kalinka, G., et al. (2014). A neutron spectrometer for studying giant resonances with (p,n) reactions in inverse kinematics. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 736, 1–9.
Abstract: A neutron spectrometer, the European Low-Energy Neutron Spectrometer (ELENS), has been constructed to study exotic nuclei in inverse-kinematics experiments. The spectrometer, which consists of plastic scintillator bars, can be operated in the neutron energy range of 100 keV-10 MeV. The neutron energy is determined using the time-of-flight technique, while the position of the neutron detection is deduced from the time-difference information from photomultipliers attached to both ends of each bar. A novel wrapping method has been developed for the plastic scintillators. The array has a larger than 25% detection efficiency for neutrons of approximately 500 keV in kinetic energy and an angular resolution of less than 1 degrees. Details of the design, construction and experimental tests of the spectrometer will be presented.
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Stanja, J. et al, Agramunt, J., & Algora, A. (2013). Mass spectrometry and decay spectroscopy of isomers across the Z=82 shell closure. Phys. Rev. C, 88(5), 054304–7pp.
Abstract: Recent results from a measurement campaign studying the isomerism in neutron-deficient Tl isotopes are presented. The measurements make use of a nuclear spectroscopy setup coupled to the high-resolution Penningtrap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at CERN's radioactive ion-beam facility ISOLDE. The mass values of Tl-190,Tl-194 are improved and a mass-spin-state assignment is carried out. An additional mass measurement of the grandparent nuclide At-198 allows the deduction of the spin-state ordering in Tl-190. As a result, the excitation energies of the isomers in both Tl isotopes are determined for the first time to Eex(Tl-194) = 260(15) keV and E-ex(Tl-190) = 89(12) keV. Furthermore, this allows anchoring of the ground-state and isomer masses of Bi-194, Fr-202, and Ac-206, which are linked by two independent a-decay chains.
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AGATA Collaboration(Modamio, V. et al), Gadea, A., Algora, A., & Huyuk, T. (2013). Lifetime measurements in neutron-rich Co-63,Co-65 isotopes using the AGATA demonstrator. Phys. Rev. C, 88(4), 044326–6pp.
Abstract: Lifetimes of the low-lying (11/2(-)) states in Co-63,Co-65 have been measured employing the recoil distance doppler shift method (RDDS) with the AGATA gamma-ray array and the PRISMA mass spectrometer. These nuclei were populated via a multinucleon transfer reaction by bombarding a U-238 target with a beam of Ni-64. The experimental B(E2) reduced transition probabilities for Co-63,Co-65 are well reproduced by large-scale shell-model calculations that predict a constant trend of the B(E2) values up to the N = 40 Co-67 isotope.
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Mason, P. J. R. et al, & Algora, A. (2013). Half-life of the yrast 2(+) state in W-188: Evolution of deformation and collectivity in neutron-rich tungsten isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 88(4), 044301–6pp.
Abstract: The half-life of the yrast I-pi = 2(+) state in the neutron-rich nucleus W-188 has been measured using fast-timing techniques with the HPGe and LaBr3:Ce array at the National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest. The resulting value of t(1/2) = 0.87(12) ns is equivalent to a reduced transition probability of B(E2;2(1)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) = 85(12) W.u. for this transition. The B(E2;2(1)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) is compared to neighboring tungsten isotopes and nuclei in the Hf, Os, and Pt isotopic chains. Woods-Saxon potential energy surface (PES) calculations have been performed for nuclei in the tungsten isotopic chain and predict prolate deformed minima with rapidly increasing gamma softness for W184-192 and an oblate minimum for W-194.
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Gottardo, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2013). New μs isomers in the neutron-rich Hg-210 nucleus. Phys. Lett. B, 725(4-5), 292–296.
Abstract: Neutron-rich nuclei in the lead region, beyond N = 126, have been studied at the FRS-RISING setup at GSI, exploiting the fragmentation of a primary uranium beam. Two isomeric states have been identified in Hg-210: the 8(+) isomer expected from the seniority scheme in the vg(9/2) shell and a second one at low spin and low excitation energy. The decay strength of the 8(+) isomer confirms the need of effective three-body forces in the case of neutron-rich lead isotopes. The other unexpected low-lying isomer has been tentatively assigned as a 3(-) state, although this is in contrast with theoretical expectations.
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Perez-Cerdan, A. B., Rubio, B., Gelletly, W., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Nacher, E., et al. (2013). Deformation of Sr and Rb isotopes close to the N = Z line via beta-decay studies using the total absorption technique. Phys. Rev. C, 88(1), 014324–15pp.
Abstract: A study of the Gamow-Teller strength distributions B(GT) in the beta decay of Sr-78 and Rb-76,Rb-78 has been made using a total absorption spectrometer (TAS). Following the success in deducing the sign of the deformation for Sr-76, a similar approach is adopted for Sr-78 based on a comparison of the measured B(GT) with quasiparticle random-phase approximation calculations. This work confirms its previously expected prolate deformation in the ground state. Conclusions about the structure of the odd-odd Rb-76,Rb-78 isotopes have been drawn based on their measured B(GT) distributions.
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Morales, A. I. et al, Algora, A., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2013). beta-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of Au-203,Au-204 and Pt200-202. Phys. Rev. C, 88(1), 014319–12pp.
Abstract: The beta decay of five heavy, neutron-rich nuclei, Pt-203,Pt-204 and Ir200-202, has been investigated following relativistic cold fragmentation reactions of lead projectiles using the FRS + RISING setup at GSI. This paper reports on the study of the low-lying states in the decay daughter nuclei Au-203,Au-204 and Pt200-202. The characteristic gamma rays for each nucleus have been determined using beta-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy. Tentative level schemes, relative intensities, and apparent beta feedings are provided. These data are compared with shell-model calculations, which indicate a substantial contribution to the total beta strength from high-energy first-forbidden beta-decay transitions in this mass region.
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