Abstract: We study the impact of three-body forces on the response functions of cold neutron matter. These response functions are determined in the random phase approximation from a residual interaction expressed in terms of Landau parameters. Special attention is paid to the noncentral part, including all terms allowed by the relevant symmetries. Using Landau parameters derived from realistic nuclear two-and three-body forces grounded in chiral effective field theory, we find that the three-body term has a strong impact on the excited states of the system and in the static and long-wavelength limit of the response functions for which a new exact formula is established.

Abstract: Background: Levels fulfilling the seniority scheme and relevant isomers are commonly observed features in semimagic nuclei; for example, in Sn isotopes (Z = 50). Seniority isomers in Sn, with dominantly pure neutron configurations, directly probe the underlying neutron-neutron (vv) interaction. Furthermore, an addition of a valence proton particle or hole, through neutron-proton (v pi) interaction, affects the neutron seniority as well as the angular momentum. Purpose: Benchmark the reproducibility of the experimental observables, like the excitation energies (E-x) and the reduced electric-quadrupole transition probabilities [B(E2)], with the results obtained from shell-model interactions for neutron-rich Sn and Sb isotopes with N < 82. Study the sensitivity of the aforementioned experimental observables to the model interaction components. Furthermore, explore from a microscopic point of view the structural similarity between the isomers in Sn and Sb, and thus the importance of the valence proton. Methods: The neutron-rich Sb122-131 isotopes were produced as fission fragments in the reaction Be-9(U-238, f) with 6.2 MeV/u beam energy. A unique setup, consisting of AGATA, VAMOS++, and EXOGAM detectors, was used which enabled the prompt-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of fission fragments in the time range of 100 ns to 200 μs. Results: New isomers and prompt and delayed transitions were established in the even-A Sb122-131 isotopes. In the odd-A Sb122-131 isotopes, new prompt and delayed gamma-ray transitions were identified, in addition to the confirmation of the previously known isomers. The half-lives of the isomeric states and the B(E2) transition probabilities of the observed transitions depopulating these isomers were extracted. Conclusions: The experimental data was compared with the theoretical results obtained in the framework of large-scale shell-model (LSSM) calculations in a restricted model space. Modifications of several components of the shell-model interaction were introduced to obtain a consistent agreement with the excitation energies and the B(E2) transition probabilities in neutron-rich Sn and Sb isotopes. The isomeric configurations in Sn and Sb were found to be relatively pure. Furthermore, the calculations revealed that the presence of a single valence proton, mainly in the g(7/2) orbital in Sb isotopes, leads to significant mixing (due to the v pi interaction) of (i) the neutron seniorities (upsilon(v)) and (ii) the neutron angular momentum (I-v). The above features have a weak impact on the excitation energies, but have an important impact on the B(E2) transition probabilities. In addition, a constancy of the relative excitation energies irrespective of neutron seniority and neutron number in Sn and Sb was observed.

Abstract: Elastic, inelastic, and one-nucleon transfer channels in the (48)Ca+(64)Ni reaction have been measured at approximate to 6 MeV/nucleon with the PRISMA-CLARA setup, at Legnaro National Laboratory, consisting of the coupling of a large solid angle magnetic spectrometer with a germanium array. By trajectory reconstruction the reaction products have been fully identified in mass, nuclear charge, and kinetic energy, while coincident gamma spectra of binary partners have been constructed after Doppler correction. Absolute differential cross sections have been extracted for the inelastic excitation and one-nucleon transfer, also for specific excited states. The data are in good agreement with semiclassical calculations and distorted wave Born approximation predictions. The work outlines an experimental method which can become valuable to extract structural information from heavy-ion reaction studies.

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.

Abstract: Differential cross sections of neutral pions emitted in Ta-181+Au-197 collisions at a beam energy of 39.5A Me V have been measured with the two-arm photon spectrometer (TAPS). The kinetic energy and transverse momentum spectra of neutral pions cannot be properly described in the framework of the thermal model, nor when the reabsorption of pions is accounted for in a phenomenological model. However, high energy and high momentum tails of the pion spectra can be well fitted through thermal distributions with unexpectedly soft temperature parameters below 10 MeV.