Fujita, Y. et al, Algora, A., Estevez-Aguado, E., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2013). High-resolution study of T-z =+2 ->+1 Gamow-Teller transitions in the Ca-44(3He,t)Sc-44 reaction. Phys. Rev. C, 88(1), 014308–18pp.
Abstract: In order to study the Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions from the T-z = +2 nucleus Ca-44 to the T-z = +1 nucleus Sc-44, where T-z is the z component of isospin T, we performed the (p, n)-type (He-3, t) charge-exchange (CE) reaction at 140 MeV/nucleon and the scattering angles 0 degrees and 2.5 degrees. An energy resolution of 28 keV, that was realized by applying matching techniques to the magnetic spectrometer system, allowed the study of fragmented states. The GT transition strengths, B(GT), were derived up to the excitation energy (E-x) of 13.7 MeV assuming the proportionality between cross sections and B(GT) values. The total sum of B(GT) values in discrete states was 3.7, which was 31% of the sum-rule-limit value of 12. Shell model calculations using the GXPF1J interaction could reproduce the gross features of the experimental B(GT) distribution, but not the fragmentation of the strength. By introducing the concepts of isospin, properties of isospin analogous transitions and states were investigated. (i) Assuming isospin symmetry, the T-z = +2 -> +1 and T-z = -2 -> -1 mirror GT transitions should have the same properties, where the latter can be studied in the beta decay of Cr-44 to V-44. First, we confirmed that the beta-decay half-life T-1/2 of Cr-44 can be reproduced using the B(GT) distribution from the Ca-44(He-3, t) measurement. Then, the 0 degrees, (3He, t) spectrum was modified to deduce the “beta-decay spectrum” and it was compared with the delayed-proton spectrum from the Cr-44 beta decay. The two spectra were mostly in agreement for the GT excitations, but suppression of the proton decay was found for the T = 2 isobaric analog state (IAS). (ii) Starting from the T = 2 ground state of 44Ca, the (3He, t) can excite GT states (state populated by GT transitions) with T = 1, 2, and 3. On the other hand, the Ca-44(p, p') reaction can excite spin-M1 states (states populated by spin-M1 transitions) with T = 2 and 3 that are analogous to the T = 2 and 3 GT states, respectively. By comparing the spectra from these two reactions, a T value of 2 is suggested for several GT states in the E-x = 11.5-13.7 MeV region. (iii) It has been suggested that the T = 2, J(pi) = 0(+) double isobaric analog state (DIAS) at 9.338 MeV in the T-z = 0 nucleus Ti-44 forms an isospin-mixed doublet with a subsidiary 0(+) state at 9.298 MeV. Since no corresponding state was found in the T-z = +1 nucleus Sc-44, we suggest T = 0 for the subsidiary state.
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Denis Bacelar, A. M. et al, Algora, A., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2013). The population of metastable states as a probe of relativistic-energy fragmentation reactions. Phys. Lett. B, 723(4-5), 302–306.
Abstract: Isomeric ratios have been measured for high-spin states in Po-198,200,206,208(84), At-208,209,210,211(85), Rn-210,211,212,213,214(86), Fr-208,211,212,213,214(87), Ra-210,211,212,214,215(88), and Ac-215(89) following the projectile fragmentation of a 1 AGeV U-238 beam by a Be-9 target at GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung. The fragments were separated in the fragment separator (FRS) and identified by means of energy loss and time-of-flight techniques. They were brought to rest at the centre of the RISING gamma-ray detector array and intensities of gamma rays emitted in the decay of isomeric states with half-lives between 100 ns and 40 μs and spin values up to 55/2 (h) over bar were used to obtain the corresponding isomeric ratios. The data are compared to theoretical isomeric ratios calculated in the framework of the abrasion-ablation model. Large experimental enhancements are obtained for high-spin isomers in comparison to expected values.
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Guastalla, G. et al, Algora, A., & Domingo-Pardo, C. (2013). Coulomb Excitation of Sn-104 and the Strength of the Sn-100 Shell Closure. Phys. Rev. Lett., 110(17), 172501–5pp.
Abstract: A measurement of the reduced transition probability for the excitation of the ground state to the first 2(+) state in Sn-104 has been performed using relativistic Coulomb excitation at GSI. Sn-104 is the lightest isotope in the Sn chain for which this quantity has been measured. The result is a key point in the discussion of the evolution of nuclear structure in the proximity of the doubly magic nucleus Sn-100. The value B(E2; 0(+) -> 2(+)) = 0.10(4) e(2)b(2) is significantly lower than earlier results for Sn-106 and heavier isotopes. The result is well reproduced by shell model predictions and therefore indicates a robust N = Z = 50 shell closure.
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Jordan, D. et al, Algora, A., Tain, J. L., Rubio, B., Agramunt, J., Perez-Cerdan, A. B., et al. (2013). Total absorption study of the beta decay of Tc-102,Tc-104,Tc-105. Phys. Rev. C, 87(4), 044318–14pp.
Abstract: The beta-feeding probabilities for three important contributors to the decay heat in nuclear reactors, namely Tc-102,Tc-104,Tc-105, have been measured using the total absorption spectroscopy technique. For the measurements, sources of very high isobaric purity have been obtained using a Penning trap (JYFLTRAP). A detailed description of the data analysis is given and the results are compared with high-resolution measurements and theoretical calculations. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.87.044318
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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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Jordan, D., Tain, J. L., Algora, A., Agramunt, J., Domingo-Pardo, C., Gomez-Hornillos, M. B., et al. (2013). Measurement of the neutron background at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory LSC. Astropart Phys., 42, 1–6.
Abstract: The energy distribution of the neutron background was measured for the first time at Hall A of the Canfranc Underground Laboratory. For this purpose we used a novel approach based on the combination of the information obtained with six large high-pressure He-3 proportional counters embedded in individual polyethylene blocks of different size. In this way not only the integral value but also the flux distribution as a function of neutron energy was determined in the range from 1 eV to 10 MeV. This information is of importance because different underground experiments show different neutron background energy dependence. The high sensitivity of the setup allowed to measure a neutron flux level which is about four orders of magnitude smaller that the neutron background at sea level. The integral value obtained is Phi(Hall A) = (3.44 +/- 0.35) x 10(-6) cm(-2) s(-1).
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Alharbi, T. et al, & Algora, A. (2013). Electromagnetic transition rates in the N=80 nucleus Ce-138(58). Phys. Rev. C, 87(1), 014323–7pp.
Abstract: The half-life of the I-pi = 6(+) yrast state at E-x = 2294 keV in Ce-138 has been measured as T-1/2 = 880(19) ps using the fast-timing gamma-ray coincidence method with a mixed LaBr3(Ce)-HPGe array. The excited states in Ce-138 have been populated by the Te-130(C-12, 4n) fusion-evaporation reaction at an incident beam energy of 56 MeV. The extracted B(E2; 6(1)(+) -> 4(1)(+)) = 0.101(24) W.u. value is compared with the predictions of truncated basis shell model calculations and with the systematics of the region. This shows an anomalous behavior compared to the neighboring isotonic and isotopic chains. Half-lives for the yrast 5(-), 11(+) and 14(+) states in Ce-138 have also been determined in this work.
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Ganioglu, E. et al, Algora, A., Estevez-Aguado, E., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2013). High-resolution study of Gamow-Teller transitions in the Ti-47(He-3, t)V-47 reaction. Phys. Rev. C, 87(1), 014321–12pp.
Abstract: Given the importance of Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in nuclear structure and astrophysical nuclear processes, we have studied T-z = +3/2 -> +1/2, GT transitions starting from the Ti-47 nucleus in the (He-3, t) charge-exchange reaction at 0 degrees and at an intermediate incident energy of 140 MeV/nucleon. The experiments were carried out at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Osaka, using the high-resolution facility with a high-dispersion beam line and the Grand-Raiden spectrometer. With an energy resolution of 20 keV, individual GT transitions were observed and GT strength was derived for each state populated up to an excitation energy (E-x) of 12.5 MeV. The GT strength was widely distributed from low excitation energy up to 12.5 MeV, where we had to stop the analysis because of the high level density. The distribution of the GT strengths was compared with the results of shell model calculations using the GXPF1 interaction. The calculations could reproduce the experimental GT distributions well. The GT transitions from the ground state of Ti-47 and the M1 transitions from the isobaric analog state in V-47 to the same low-lying states in V-47 are analogous. It was found that the ratios of GT transition strengths to the ground state, the 0.088-MeV state, and the 0.146-MeV state are similar to the ratios of the strengths of the analogous M1 transitions from the isobaric analog state (IAS) to these states. The measured distribution of the GT strengths was also compared with those starting from the T-z = +3/2 nucleus K-41 to the T-z = +1/2 nucleus Ca-41.
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Fallot, M., Cormon, S., Estienne, M., Algora, A., Bui, V. M., Cucoanes, A., et al. (2012). New Antineutrino Energy Spectra Predictions from the Summation of Beta Decay Branches of the Fission Products. Phys. Rev. Lett., 109(20), 202504–5pp.
Abstract: In this Letter, we study the impact of the inclusion of the recently measured beta decay properties of the Tc-102;104;105;106;107, Mo-105, and Nb-101 nuclei in an updated calculation of the antineutrino energy spectra of the four fissible isotopes U-235,U-238 and Pu-239,Pu-241. These actinides are the main contributors to the fission processes in pressurized water reactors. The beta feeding probabilities of the above-mentioned Tc, Mo, and Nb isotopes have been found to play a major role in the gamma component of the decay heat of Pu-239, solving a large part of the gamma discrepancy in the 4-3000 s range. They have been measured by using the total absorption technique, insensitive to the pandemonium effect. The calculations are performed by using the information available nowadays in the nuclear databases, summing all the contributions of the beta decay branches of the fission products. Our results provide a new prediction of the antineutrino energy spectra of U-235, Pu-239,Pu-241, and, in particular, U-238 for which no measurement has been published yet. We conclude that new total absorption technique measurements are mandatory to improve the reliability of the predicted spectra.
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Sahin, E. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2012). Structure of the N=50 As, Ge, Ga nuclei. Nucl. Phys. A, 893, 1–12.
Abstract: The level structures of the N = 50 As-83, Ge-82, and Ga-81 isotones have been investigated by means of multi-nucleon transfer reactions. A first experiment was performed with the CLARA PRISMA setup to identify these nuclei. A second experiment was carried out with the GASP array in order to deduce the gamma-ray coincidence information. The results obtained on the high-spin states of such nuclei are used to test the stability of the N = 50 shell closure in the region of Ni-78 (Z = 28). The comparison of the experimental level schemes with the shell-model calculations yields an N = 50 energy gap value of 4.7(3) MeV at Z = 28. This value, in a good agreement with the prediction of the finite-range liquid-drop model as well as with the recent large-scale shell model calculations, does not support a weakening of the N = 50 shell gap down to Z = 28.
Keywords: NUCLEAR REACTIONS U-238(Se-82, Ga-81), (Se-82, Ge-82), (Se-82, As-83), E=515 MeV; measured E-gamma, I-gamma (theta), gamma gamma-coin, reaction fragments, (fragment)gamma-coin using PRISMA magnetic spectrometer, gamma after deexcitation using Ge Compton-suppressed detectors of CLARA array, thin and thick target; deduced sigma(theta), levels, J, pi; calculated levels, J, pi using shell model
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