Dudouet, J. et al, Gadea, A., & Perez-Vidal, R. M. (2019). Excitations of the magic N=50 neutron-core revealed in Ga-81. Phys. Rev. C, 100(1), 011301–6pp.
Abstract: The high-spin states of the neutron-rich Ga-81, with three valence protons outside a Ni-78 core, were measured. The measurement involved prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy of fission fragments isotopically identified using the combination of the variable mode spectrometer (VAMOS++) and the advanced gamma tracking array (AGATA). The new gamma-ray transitions, observed in coincidence with Ga-81 ions, and the corresponding level scheme do not confirm the high-spin levels reported earlier. The newly observed high-spin states in Ga-81 are interpreted using the results of state-of-the-art large-scale shell model (LSSM) calculations. The lower excitation energy levels are understood as resulting from the recoupling of three valence protons to the closed doubly magic core, while the highest excitation energy levels correspond to excitations of the magic N = 50 neutron core. These results support the doubly magic character of Ni-78 and the persistence of the N = 50 shell closure but also highlight the presence of strong proton-neutron correlations associated with the promotion of neutrons across the magic N = 50 shell gap, only few nucleons away from Ni-78.
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Perez-Vidal, R. M. et al, Gadea, A., Jurado, M., Domingo-Pardo, C., & Huyuk, T. (2022). Evidence of Partial Seniority Conservation in the pi g9/2 Shell for the N=50 Isotones. Phys. Rev. Lett., 129(11), 112501–7pp.
Abstract: The reduced transition probabilities for the 4+1 -2+1 and 2+1 -0+1 transitions in 92Mo and 94Ru and for the 4+1 -2+1 and 6+1 -4+1 transitions in 90Zr have been determined in this experiment making use of a multinucleon transfer reaction. These results have been interpreted on the basis of realistic shell-model calculations in the f5=2, p3=2, p1=2, and g9=2 proton valence space. Only the combination of extensive lifetime information and large scale shell-model calculations allowed the extent of the seniority conservation in the N = 50 g9=2 orbital to be understood. The conclusion is that seniority is largely conserved in the first 71g9=2 orbital.
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Ralet, D. et al, Gadea, A., & Perez, R. M. (2019). Evidence of octupole-phonons at high spin in Pb-207<bold> </bold>. Phys. Lett. B, 797, 134797–6pp.
Abstract: A lifetime measurement of the 19/2(-) state in Pb-207 has been performed using the Recoil Distance Doppler-Shift (RDDS) method. The nuclei of interest were produced in multi-nucleon transfer reactions induced by a Pb-208 beam impinging on a Mo-100 enriched target. The beam-like nuclei were detected<bold> </bold>and identified in terms of their atomic mass number in the VAMOS++ spectrometer while the prompt gamma rays were detected by the AGATA tracking array. The measured large reduced transition probability B(E3, 19/2(-) -> 13/2(+)) = 40(8) W.u. is the first indication of the octupole phonon at high spin in Pb-207. An analysis in terms of a particle-octupole-vibration coupling model indicates that the measured B(E3) value in Pb-207 is compatible with the contributions from single-phonon and single particle E3 as well as E3 strength arising from the double-octupole-phonon 6(+) state, all adding coherently. A crucial aspect of the coupling model, namely the strong mixing between single-hole and the phonon-hole states, is confirmed in a realistic shell-model calculation.
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AGATA Collaboration(Liu, X. et al), Gadea, A., Jurado, M., Domingo-Pardo, C., Huyuk, T., & Perez-Vidal, R. M. (2022). Evidence for spherical-oblate shape coexistence in Tc-87. Phys. Rev. C, 106(3), 034304–6pp.
Abstract: Excited states in the neutron-deficient nucleus Tc-87 have been studied via the fusion-evaporation reaction 54Fe(36Ar, 2n1p) Tc-87 at 115 MeV beam energy. The AGATA gamma-ray spectrometer coupled to the DIAMANT, NEDA, and Neutron Wall detector arrays for light-particle detection was used to measure the prompt coincidence of gamma rays and light particles. Six transitions from the deexcitation of excited states belonging to a new band in Tc-87 were identified by comparing gamma-ray intensities in the spectra gated under different reaction channel selection conditions. The constructed level structure was compared with the shell model and total Routhian surface calculations. The results indicate that the new band structure in 87Tc is built on a spherical configuration, which is different from that assigned to the previously identified oblate yrast rotational band.
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AGATA Collaboration(Liu, X. et al), Gadea, A., Jurado, M., Domingo-Pardo, C., Huyuk, T., & Perez-Vidal, R. M. (2021). Evidence for enhanced neutron-proton correlations from the level structure of the N = Z+1 nucleus Tc-87(43)44. Phys. Rev. C, 104(2), L021302–5pp.
Abstract: The low-lying excited states in the neutron-deficient N = Z + 1 nucleus (87)(43)Tcc(44) have been studied via the fusion-evaporation reaction Fe-54(Ar-36, 2n1p)Tc-87 at the Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL), France. The AGATA spectrometer was used in conjunction with the auxiliary NEDA, Neutron Wall, and DIAMANT detector arrays to measure coincident prompt gamma rays, neutrons, and charged particles emitted in the reaction. A level scheme of Tc-87 from the (9/2(g.s.)(+)) state to the (33/2(1)(+)) state was established based on six mutually coincident gamma-ray transitions. The constructed level structure exhibits a rotational behavior with a sharp backbending at (h) over bar omega approximate to 0.50 MeV. A decrease in alignment frequency and increase in alignment sharpness in the odd-mass isotonic chains around N = 44 is proposed as an effect of the enhanced isoscalar neutron-proton interactions in odd-mass nuclei when approaching the N = Z line.
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Cederwall, B. et al, Algora, A., & Gadea, A. (2011). Evidence for a spin-aligned neutron-proton paired phase from the level structure of Pd-92. Nature, 469(7328), 68–71.
Abstract: Shell structure and magic numbers in atomic nuclei were generally explained by pioneering work(1) that introduced a strong spin-orbit interaction to the nuclear shell model potential. However, knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), enhanced correlations arise between neutrons and protons (two distinct types of fermions) that occupy orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favour an unusual type of nuclear superfluidity, termed isoscalar neutron-proton pairing(2-6), in addition to normal isovector pairing. Despite many experimental efforts, these predictions have not been confirmed. Here we report the experimental observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus Pd-92. Gamma rays emitted following the Ni-58(Ar-36,2n)Pd-92 fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution c-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction(2-6). We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling(7,8)) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. Such strong, isoscalar neutron-proton correlations would have a considerable impact on the nuclear level structure and possibly influence the dynamics of rapid proton capture in stellar nucleosynthesis.
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Montanari, D. et al, & Gadea, A. (2011). Elastic, inelastic, and one-nucleon transfer processes in (48)Ca+(64)Ni. Phys. Rev. C, 84(5), 9pp.
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.
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Dijon, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Huyuk, T. (2012). Discovery of a new isomeric state in Ni-68: Evidence for a highly deformed proton intruder state. Phys. Rev. C, 85(3), 031301–5pp.
Abstract: We report on the observation of a new isomeric state in Ni-68. We suggest that the newly observed state at 168(1) keV above the first 2(+) state is a pi(2p-2h) 0(+) state across the major Z = 28 shell gap. Comparison with theoretical calculations indicates a pure proton intruder configuration and the deduced low-lying structure of this key nucleus suggests a possible shape coexistence scenario involving a highly deformed state.
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Modamio, V., Valiente-Dobon, J. J., Jaworski, G., Huyuk, T., Triossi, A., Egea, J., et al. (2015). Digital pulse-timing technique for the neutron detector array NEDA. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 775, 71–76.
Abstract: A new digital pulse-timing algorithm, to be used with the future neutron detector array NEDA, has been developed and tested. The time resolution of four 5 in diameter photomultiplier tubes (XP4512, R4144, R11833-100, and ET9390-kb), coupled to a cylindrical 5 in by 5 in BC501A liquict scintillator detector was measured by employing digital sampling electronics and a constant fraction discriminator (CFD) algorithm. The zero crossing of the CM algorithm was obtained with a cubic spline interpolation, which was continuous up to the second derivative. The performance of the algorithm was studied at sampling rates of 500 MS/s and 200 MS/s. The time resolution obtained with the digital electronics was compared to the values acquired with a standard analog CFD. The result of this comparison shows that the time resolution from the analog and the digital measurements at 500 MS/s and at 200 MS/s are within 15% for all the tested photomultiplier tubes.
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Mengoni, D., Duenas, J. A., Assie, M., Boiano, C., John, P. R., Aliaga, R. J., et al. (2014). Digital pulse-shape analysis with a TRACE early silicon prototype. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 764, 241–246.
Abstract: A highly segmented silicon-pad detector prototype has been tested to explore the performance of the digital pulse shape analysis in the discrimination of the particles reaching the silicon detector. For the first time a 200 tun thin silicon detector, grown using an ordinary floating zone technique, has been shown to exhibit a level discrimination thanks to the fine segmentation. Light-charged particles down to few MeV have been separated, including their punch-through. A coaxial HPGe detector in time coincidence has further confirmed the quality of the particle discrimination.
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