Oliver, S., Gimenez-Alventosa, V., Berumen, F., Gimenez, V., Beaulieu, L., Ballester, F., et al. (2023). Benchmark of the PenRed Monte Carlo framework for HDR brachytherapy. Z. Med. Phys., 33(4), 511–528.
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to validate the PenRed Monte Carlo framework for clinical applications in brachytherapy. PenRed is a C++ version of Penelope Monte Carlo code with additional tallies and utilities. Methods and materials: Six benchmarking scenarios are explored to validate the use of PenRed and its improved bachytherapy-oriented capabilities for HDR brachytherapy. A new tally allowing the evaluation of collisional kerma for any material using the track length kerma estimator and the possibility to obtain the seed positions, weights and directions processing directly the DICOM file are now implemented in the PenRed distribution. The four non-clinical test cases developed by the Joint AAPM-ESTRO-ABG-ABS WG-DCAB were evaluated by comparing local and global absorbed dose differences with respect to established reference datasets. A prostate and a palliative lung cases, were also studied. For them, absorbed dose ratios, global absorbed dose differences, and cumulative dose-volume histograms were obtained and discussed. Results: The air-kerma strength and the dose rate constant corresponding to the two sources agree with the reference datatests within 0.3% (Sk) and 0.1% (K). With respect to the first three WG-DCAB test cases, more than 99.8% of the voxels present local (global) differences within +/- 1%(+/- 0.1%) of the reference datasets. For test Case 4 reference dataset, more than 94.9%(97.5%) of voxels show an agreement within +/- 1%(+/- 0.1%), better than similar benchmarking calculations in the literature. The track length kerma estimator scorer implemented increases the numerical efficiency of brachytherapy calculations two orders of magnitude, while the specific brachytherapy source allows the user to avoid the use of error-prone intermediate steps to translate the DICOM information into the simulation. In both clinical cases, only minor absorbed dose differences arise in the low-dose isodoses. 99.8% and 100% of the voxels have a global absorbed dose difference ratio within +/- 0.2%for the prostate and lung cases, respectively. The role played by the different segmentation and composition material in the bone structures was discussed, obtaining negligible absorbed dose differ-ences. Dose-volume histograms were in agreement with the reference data.Conclusions: PenRed incorporates new tallies and utilities and has been validated for its use for detailed and precise high-dose-rate brachytherapy simulations.
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Napiralla, P. et al, & Domingo-Pardo, C. (2020). Benchmarking the PreSPEC@GSI experiment for Coulex-multipolarimetry on the pi(p3/2) -> pi(p1/2) spin-flip transition in 85Br. Eur. Phys. J. A, 56(5), 147–10pp.
Abstract: A first performance test of the Coulomb excitation multipolarimetry (Coulex-multipolarimetry) method is presented. It is based on a 85Br pp3/ 2. pp1/ 2 spinflip experiment performed as part of the PreSPEC-AGATA campaign at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionen-forschung (GSI). Via determination of background levels around the expected 85Br excitations as well as measured 197Au excitations, an upper limit for the M1 transition strength of the 1/2- 1. 3/2- g.s. transition in 85Br and a lower beam time limit for upcoming experimental campaigns utilizing Coulex-multipolarimetry have been inferred. The impact of the use of AGATA in its anticipated 1p configuration on these estimates is deduced via Geant4 simulations.
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Bello Garrote, F. L. et al, & Morales, A. I. (2020). beta decay of Ni-75 and the systematics of the low-lying level structure of neutron-rich odd-A Cu isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 102(3), 034314–13pp.
Abstract: Background: Detailed spectroscopy of neutron-rich odd-A Cu isotopes is of great importance for studying the shell evolution in the region of Ni-78. While there is experimental information on excited states in 69-73,77,79CU isotopes, the information concerning Cu-75 is very limited. Purpose: Experimentally observed single-particle, core-coupling, and proton-hole intruder states in Cu-75, will complete the systematics of these states in the chain of isotopes. Method: Excited states in Cu-75 were populated in the beta decay of Ni-75 isotopes. The Ni nuclei were produced by the in-flight fission of U-238 projectiles, and were separated, identified, and implanted in a highly segmented Si detector array for the detection of the beta-decay electrons. The beta-delayed gamma rays were detected in a HPGe cluster array. Monte Carlo shell model calculations were performed using the A3DA interaction built on the pf g(9/2)d(5/2) model space for both neutrons and protons. Results: A level scheme of Cu-75 was built up to approximate to 4 MeV by performing a gamma-gamma coincidence analysis. The excited states below 2 MeV were interpreted based on the systematics of neutron-rich odd-A Cu isotopes and the results of the shell model calculations. Conclusions: The evolution of the single-particle, core-coupling, and proton-hole intruder states in the chain of neutron-rich odd-A Cu isotopes is discussed in the present work, in connection with the newly observed level structure of Cu-75.
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Watanabe, H., Watanabe, Y. X., Hirayama, Y., Andreyev, A. N., Hashimoto, T., Kondev, F. G., et al. (2021). Beta decay of the axially asymmetric ground state of Re-192. Phys. Lett. B, 814, 136088–6pp.
Abstract: The beta decay of Re-192(75)117, which lies near the boundary between the regions of predicted prolate and oblate deformations, has been investigated using the KEK Isotope Separation System (KISS) in RIKEN Nishina Center. This is the first case in which a low-energy beam of rhenium isotope has been successfully extracted from an argon gas-stopping cell using a laser-ionization technique, following production via multi-nucleon transfer between heavy ions. The ground state of Re-192 has been assigned J(pi) = (0(-)) based on the observed beta feedings and deduced logf t values towards the 0(+) and 2(+) states in Os-192, which is known as a typical gamma-soft nucleus. The shape transition from axial symmetry to axial asymmetry in the Re isotopes is discussed from the viewpoint of single-particle structure using the nuclear Skyrme-Hartree-Fock model.
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Orrigo, S. E. A. et al, Rubio, B., Gelletly, W., Aguilera, P., Algora, A., Morales, A. I., et al. (2021). beta decay of the very neutron-deficient Ge-60 and Ge-62 nuclei. Phys. Rev. C, 103(1), 014324–12pp.
Abstract: We report here the results of a study of the beta decay of the proton-rich Ge isotopes, Ge-60 and Ge-62, produced in an experiment at the RIKEN Nishina Center. We have improved our knowledge of the half-lives of Ge-62 [73.5(1) ms] and Ge-60 [25.0(3) ms] and its daughter nucleus, Ga-60 [69.4(2) ms]. We measured individual beta-delayed proton and gamma emissions and their related branching ratios. Decay schemes and absolute Fermi and Gamow-Teller transition strengths have been determined. The mass excesses of the nuclei under study have been deduced. A total beta-delayed proton-emission branching ratio of 67(3)% has been obtained for Ge-60. New information has been obtained on the energy levels populated in Ga-60 and on the 1/2(-) excited state in the beta p daughter Zn-59. We extracted a ground state-to-ground state feeding of 85.3(3)% for the decay of Ge-62. Eight new y lines have been added to the deexcitation of levels populated in the Ga-62 daughter.
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Gombas, J., DeYoung, P. A., Spyrou, A., Dombos, A. C., Algora, A., Baumann, T., et al. (2021). beta-decay feeding intensity distributions for Nb-103,Nb-104m. Phys. Rev. C, 103(3), 035803–8pp.
Abstract: The beta decays of Nb-103,Nb-104m were studied with the Summing NaI(Tl) (SuN) detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The beta-decay feeding intensity distribution I-beta(E) for each isotope was extracted by measuring gamma rays in coincidence with an emitted electron. The I-beta(E) was extracted via the total absorption spectroscopy technique. The I-beta(E) for each nucleus was compared to predictions made by the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) model which is commonly used to calculate beta-decay properties for astrophysical applications. The main goal was to provide experimental data for neutron-rich nuclei, relevant to the astrophysical r process. In addition, the extracted beta-decay feeding intensity distributions can lead to a better understanding of nuclear structure in a region of rapid structure changes around A = 100. Finally, experimental data for Nb-104m are also of interest to antineutrino studies of nuclear reactors.
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Dombos, A. C., Spyrou, A., Naqvi, F., Quinn, S. J., Liddick, S. N., Algora, A., et al. (2019). beta-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclides in the A=100-110 mass region. Phys. Rev. C, 99(1), 015802–8pp.
Abstract: beta-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclides in the A = 100-110 mass region have been measured using an implantation station installed inside of the Summing NaI(T1) (SuN) detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. Accurate half-lives for these nuclides are important for nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, and nuclear technology. The half-lives from the present work are compared with previous measurements, showing overall good agreement.
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Sarriguren, P., Algora, A., & Kiss, G. (2018). beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ca, Ti, and Cr isotopes. Phys. Rev. C, 98(2), 024311–10pp.
Abstract: beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ca, Ti, and Cr isotopes are studied within a deformed proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The underlying mean field is described self-consistently from deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock calculations with pairing correlations. Residual spin-isospin interactions in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels are also included in the formalism. The energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength, the beta-decay feedings, the beta-decay half-lives, and the beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities are discussed and compared with other theoretical results, as well as with the available experimental information. The evolution of these nuclear beta-decay properties is investigated in isotopic chains in a search for structural changes. A reliable estimate of the beta-decay properties in this mass region is valuable information for evaluating decay rates in astrophysical scenarios.
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Algora, A., Tain, J. L., Rubio, B., Fallot, M., & Gelletly, W. (2021). Beta-decay studies for applied and basic nuclear physics. Eur. Phys. J. A, 57(3), 85–28pp.
Abstract: In this reviewwe will present the results of recent beta-decay studies using the total absorption technique that cover topics of interest for applications, nuclear structure and astrophysics. The decays studied were selected primarily because they have a large impact on the prediction of (a) the decay heat in reactors, important for the safety of present and future reactors and (b) the reactor electron anti-neutrino spectrum, of interest for particle/nuclear physics and reactor monitoring. For these studies the total absorption technique was chosen, since it is the only method that allows one to obtain beta-decay probabilities free from a systematic error called the Pandemonium effect. The total absorption technique is based on the detection of the. cascades that follow the initial beta decay. For this reason the technique requires the use of calorimeters with very high. detection efficiency. The measurements presented and discussed here were performed mainly at the IGISOL facility of the University of Jyvaskyla (Finland) using isotopically pure beams provided by the JYFLTRAP Penning trap. Examples are presented to show that the results of our measurements on selected nuclei have had a large impact on predictions of both the decay heat and the anti-neutrino spectrum from reactors. Some of the cases involve beta-delayed neutron emission thus one can study the competition between gamma – and neutron-emission from states above the neutron separation energy. The gamma-to-neutron emission ratios can be used to constrain neutron capture (n, gamma) cross sections for unstable nuclei of interest in astrophysics. The information obtained from the measurements can also be used to test nuclear model predictions of half-lives and Pn values for decays of interest in astrophysical network calculations. These comparisons also provide insights into aspects of nuclear structure in particular regions of the nuclear chart.
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Hall, O. et al, Agramunt, J., Algora, A., Domingo-Pardo, C., Morales, A. I., Rubio, B., et al. (2021). beta-delayed neutron emission of r-process nuclei at the N=82 shell closure. Phys. Lett. B, 816, 136266–7pp.
Abstract: Theoretical models of beta-delayed neutron emission are used as crucial inputs in r-process calculations. Benchmarking the predictions of these models is a challenge due to a lack of currently available experimental data. In this work the beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities of 33 nuclides in the important mass regions south and south-west of Sn-132 are presented, 16 for the first time. The measurements were performed at RIKEN using the Advanced Implantation Detector Array (AIDA) and the BRIKEN neutron detector array. The P-1n values presented constrain the predictions of theoretical models in the region, affecting the final abundance distribution of the second r-process peak at A approximate to 130.
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