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Van Isacker, P., Algora, A., Vitéz-Sveiczer, A., Kiss, G. G., Orrigo, S. E. A., Rubio, B., et al. (2023). Gamow-Teller Beta Decay and Pseudo-SU(4) Symmetry. Symmetry-Basel, 15(11), 2001–15pp.
Abstract: We report on recent experimental results on beta decay into self-conjugate ( N = Z) nuclei with mass number 58 <= A <= 70. Super-allowed b decays from the J(pi) = 0(+) ground state of a Z = N + 2 parent nucleus are to the isobaric analogue state through so-called Fermi transitions and to J(pi) = 1(+) states by way of Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions. The operator of the latter decay is a generator of Wigner's SU(4) algebra and as a consequence GT transitions obey selection rules associated with this symmetry. Since SU(4) is progressively broken with increasing A, mainly as a consequence of the spinorbit interaction, this symmetry is not relevant for the nuclei considered here. We argue, however, that the pseudo-spin-orbit splitting can be small in nuclei with 58 <= A <= 70, in which case nuclear states exhibit an approximate pseudo-SU(4) symmetry. To test this conjecture, GT decay strength is calculated with use of a schematic Hamiltonian with pseudo-SU(4) symmetry. Some generic features of the GT beta decay due to pseudo-SU(4) symmetry are pointed out. The experimentally observed GT strength indicates a restoration of pseudo-SU(4) symmetry for A = 70.
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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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Kucuk, L. et al, Orrigo, S. E. A., Montaner-Piza, A., Rubio, B., Gelletly, W., Algora, A., et al. (2017). Half-life determination of T-z =-1 and T-z =-1/2 proton-rich nuclei and the beta decay of Zn-58. Eur. Phys. J. A, 53(6), 134–10pp.
Abstract: We have measured the beta-decay half-lives of 16 neutron-deficient nuclei with T-z = -1/2 and -1, ranging from chromium to germanium. They were produced in an experiment carried out at GANIL and optimized for the production of Zn-58, for which in addition we present the decay scheme and absolute Fermi and Gamow-Teller transition strengths. Since all of these nuclei lie on the rp-process pathway, the T-1/2 values are important ingredients for the rp-process reaction flow calculations and for models of X-ray bursters.
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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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Morales, A. I., Algora, A., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2014). Half-Life Systematics across the N=126 Shell Closure: Role of First-Forbidden Transitions in the beta Decay of Heavy Neutron-Rich Nuclei. Phys. Rev. Lett., 113(2), 022702–5pp.
Abstract: This Letter reports on a systematic study of beta-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei around doubly magic Pb-208. The lifetimes of the 126-neutron shell isotone Pt-204 and the neighboring Ir200-202, Pt-203, Au-204 are presented together with other 19 half-lives measured during the “stopped beam” campaign of the rare isotope investigations at GSI collaboration. The results constrain the main nuclear theories used in calculations of r-process nucleosynthesis. Predictions based on a statistical macroscopic description of the first-forbidden beta strength reveal significant deviations for most of the nuclei with N < 126. In contrast, theories including a fully microscopic treatment of allowed and first-forbidden transitions reproduce more satisfactorily the trend in the measured half-lives for the nuclei in this region, where the r-process pathway passes through during beta decay back to stability.
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Fujita, Y. et al, Algora, A., Estevez-Aguado, E., Molina, F., & Rubio, B. (2015). High-resolution study of Gamow-Teller excitations in the Ca-42(He-3,t)Sc-42 reaction and the observation of a “low-energy super-Gamow-Teller state”. Phys. Rev. C, 91(6), 064316–15pp.
Abstract: To study the Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions from the T-z = +1 nucleus Ca-42 to the T-z = 0 nucleus Sc-42, where T-z is the z component of isospin T, we performed a (p, n)-type (He-3, t) charge-exchange reaction at 140 MeV/nucleon and scattering angles around 0 degrees. With an energy resolution of 29 keV, states excited by GT transitions (GT states) could be studied accurately. The reduced GT transition strengths B(GT) were derived up to the excitation energy of 13 MeV, assuming the proportionality between the cross sections at 0 degrees and B(GT) values. The main part of the observed GT transition strength is concentrated in the lowest 0.611-MeV, J(pi) = 1(+) GT state. All the other states at higher energies are weakly excited. Shell-model calculations could reproduce the gross feature of the experimental B(GT) distribution, and random-phase-approximation calculations including an attractive isoscalar interaction showed that the 0.611-MeV state has a collective nature. It was found that this state has all of the properties of a “low-energy super-Gamow-Teller state.” It is expected that low-lying J(pi) = 1(+) GT states have T = 0 in the T-z = 0 nucleus Sc-42. However, T = 1 states are situated in a higher energy region. Assuming an isospin-analogous structure in A = 42 isobars, analogous T = 1, 1(+) states are also expected in Ca-42. Comparing the Ca-42(He-3, t)Sc-42 and Ca-42(p, p') spectra measured at 0 degrees, candidates for T = 1 GT states could be found in the 10-12-MeV region of Sc-42. They were all weakly excited. The mass dependence of the GT strength distributions in Sc isotopes is also discussed.
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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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Ganioglu, E. et al, Rubio, B., Algora, A., Estevez-Aguado, E., & Molina, F. (2016). High-resolution study of Gamow-Teller transitions in the Ti-48(He-3,t)V-48 reaction. Phys. Rev. C, 93(6), 064326–10pp.
Abstract: In this work we have studied T-z = +2 -> +1, Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in the Ti-48(He-3, t)V-48 chargeexchange reaction at 140 MeV/nucleon and 0 degrees at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka. From the high-resolution facility, consisting of a high-dispersion beamline and the Grand Raiden spectrometer, the spectrum had an energy resolution of 21 keV, among the best achieved. Individual GT transitions were observed and GT strength was derived for each state populated up to an excitation energy of 12 MeV. The total sum of the B(GT) strength observed in discrete states was 4.0, which is 33% of the sum-rule-limit value of 12. The results were compared with the results of shell-model calculations carried out with the GXPF1J interaction. The measured B(GT) distribution was also compared with that obtained in the (He-3, t) charge-exchange reaction on Ti-47. On the assumption of isospin symmetry the beta spectrum of the T-z = -2 nucleus Fe-48 was deduced from the observed spectrum in the Ti-48(He-3, t)V-48 reaction and this predicted spectrum was compared with the measured one.
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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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Zago, L. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2022). High-spin states in Po-212 above the alpha-decaying (18(+)) isomer. Phys. Lett. B, 834, 137457–5pp.
Abstract: The nucleus Po-212 has been produced through the fragmentation of a U-238 primary beam at 1GeV/nucleon at GSI, separated with the FRagment Separator, FRS, and studied via isomer gamma-decay spectroscopy with the RISING setup. Two delayed previously unknown gamma rays have been observed. One has been attributed to the E3 decay of a 21(-) isomeric state feeding the alpha-emitting 45-s (18(+)) high-spin isomer. The other gamma-ray line has been assigned to the decay of a higher-lying 23(+) metastable state. These are the first observations of high-spin states above the Po-212 (18(+)) isomer, by virtue of the selectivity obtained via ion-by-ion identification of U-238 fragmentation products. Comparison with shell-model calculations points to shortfalls in the nuclear interactions involving high- jproton and neutron orbitals, to which the region around Z similar to 100 is sensitive.
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