|
|
Gosta G. et al., & Gadea, A. (2021). Probing isospin mixing with the giant dipole resonance in the Zn-60 compound nucleus. Phys. Rev. C, 103(4), L041302–6pp.
Abstract: An experimental study of the isospin mixing in the mass region A = 60 was made by measuring the gamma decay from the giant dipole resonance in the compound nuclei Zn-60 and Zn-62. These compound nuclei were populated at two different excitation energies, E* = 47 MeV and E* = 58 MeV using the fusion evaporation reactions S-32 + Si-28 at the bombarding energy of 86 and 110 MeV and S-32 + Si-30 at 75 and 98 MeV. In the experiment, performed at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), the gamma rays were measured with the GALILEO detection system in which large-volume LaBr3(Ce) detectors were added to the HPGe detectors. The Coulomb spreading width was obtained from the comparison of the two reactions and then the isospin mixing parameter at zero temperature and the isospin-symmetry-breaking correction for beta decay were deduced. The present results were compared with data of the same type in other mass regions and with data from mass and beta-decay measurements and with theory. The present data allow us to deduce for the first time a consistent picture for mass dependence of isospin mixing and for the corresponding correction for the beta decay, supporting a reliable extension to the very interesting region of Sn-100.
|
|
|
|
Siciliano, M. et al, & Gadea, A. (2020). Shape coexistence in neutron-deficient Hg-188 investigated via lifetime measurements. Phys. Rev. C, 102(1), 014318–16pp.
Abstract: Background: Shape coexistence in the Z approximate to 82 region has been established in mercury, lead, and polonium isotopes. For even-even mercury isotopes with 100 <= N <= 106 multiple fingerprints of this phenomenon are observed, which seems to be no longer present for N >= 110. According to a number of theoretical calculations, shape coexistence is predicted in the Hg-188 isotope. Purpose: The aim of this work was to measure lifetimes of excited states in Hg-188 to infer their collective properties, such as the deformation. Extending the investigation to higher-spin states, which are expected to be less affected by band-mixing effects, can provide additional information on the coexisting structures. Methods: The Hg-188 nucleus was populated using two different fusion-evaporation reactions with two targets, Gd-158 and Gd-160, and a beam of S-34 provided by the Tandem-ALPI accelerator complex at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The channels of interest were selected using the information from the Neutron Wall array, while the gamma rays were detected using the GALILEO gamma-ray spectrometer. Lifetimes of excited states were determined using the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method, employing the dedicated GALILEO plunger device. Results: Lifetimes of the states up to spin 16 (h) over bar were measured and the corresponding reduced transition probabilities were calculated. Assuming two-band mixing and adopting, as done commonly, the rotational model, the mixing strengths and the deformation parameters of the unperturbed structures were obtained from the experimental results. In order to shed light on the nature of the observed configurations in the Hg-188 nucleus, the extracted transition strengths were compared with those resulting from state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field calculations using the symmetry-conserving configuration-mixing approach, limited to axial shapes, and the five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian, including the triaxial degree of freedom. Conclusions: The first lifetime measurement for states with spin >= 6 suggested the presence of an almost spherical structure above the 12(1)(+) isomer and allowed elucidating the structure of the intruder band. The comparison of the extracted B(E2) strengths with the two-band mixing model allowed the determination of the ground-state band deformation. Both beyond-mean-field calculations predict coexistence of a weakly deformed band with a strongly prolate-deformed one, characterized by elongation parameters similar to those obtained experimentally, but the calculated relative position of the bands and their mixing strongly differ.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
AGATA Collaboration(Kaya, L. et al), & Gadea, A. (2019). Isomer spectroscopy in Ba-133 and high-spin structure of Ba-134. Phys. Rev. C, 100(2), 024323–18pp.
Abstract: The transitional nuclei Ba-134 and Ba-133 are investigated after multinucleon transfer employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, and after fusion-evaporation reaction at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne, Germany. The J(pi) = 19/2(+) state at 1942 keV in Ba-133 is identified as an isomer with a half-life of 66.6(20) ns corresponding to a B(E1) value of 7.7(4) x 10(-6) e(2) fm(2) for the J(pi) = 19/2(+) to J(pi) = 19/2(-) transition. The level scheme of Ba-134 above the J(pi) = 10(+) isomer is extended to approximately 6 MeV. A pronounced backbending is observed at h omega = 0.38 MeV along the positive-parity yrast band. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z = 56 isotopes. Large-scale shell-model calculations employing the GCN50:82, SN100PN, SNV, PQM130, Realistic SM, and EPQQM interactions reproduce the experimental findings and elucidate the structure of the high-spin states. The shell-model calculations employing the GCN50:82 and PQM130 interactions reproduce alignment properties and provide detailed insight into the microscopic origin of this phenomenon in transitional Ba-134.
|
|
|
|
AGATA Collaboration(Goldkuhle, A. et al), Perez-Vidal, R. M., Domingo-Pardo, C., & Gadea, A. (2019). Lifetime measurements in Ti-52,Ti-54 to study shell evolution toward N=32. Phys. Rev. C, 100(5), 054317–12pp.
Abstract: Lifetimes of the excited states in the neutron-rich Ti-52,Ti-54 nuclei, produced in a multinucleon-transfer reaction, were measured by employing the Cologne plunger device and the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method. The experiment was performed at the Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds facility by using the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array for the gamma-ray detection, coupled to the large-acceptance variable mode spectrometer for an event-by-event particle identification. A comparison between the transition probabilities obtained from the measured lifetimes of the 2(1)(+) to 8(1)(+) yrast states in Ti-52,Ti-54 and that from the shell-model calculations based on the well-established GXPF1A, GXPF1B, and KB3G fp shell interactions support the N = 32 subshell closure. The B(E2) values for Ti-52 determined in this work are in disagreement with the known data, but are consistent with the predictions of the shell-model calculations and reduce the previously observed pronounced staggering across the even-even titanium isotopes.
|
|
|
|
AGATA Collaboration(Kaya, L. et al), & Gadea, A. (2019). Identification of high-spin proton configurations in Ba-136 and Ba-137. Phys. Rev. C, 99(1), 014301–19pp.
Abstract: The high-spin structures of Ba-136 and Ba-137 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Ba-136 is populated in a Xe-136 + U-238 MNT reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, and in two Be-9 + Te-130 fusion-evaporation reactions using the High-efficiency Observatory for gamma-Ray Unique Spectroscopy (HORUS) at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne, Germany. Furthermore, both isotopes are populated in an elusive reaction channel in the B-11 + Te-130 fusion-evaporation reaction utilizing the HORUS gamma-ray array. The level scheme above the J(pi) = 10(+) isomer in Ba-136 is revised and extended up to an excitation energy of approximately 5.5 MeV. From the results of angular-correlation measurements, the E-x = 3707- and E-x = 4920-keV states are identified as the bandheads of positive- and negative-parity cascades. While the high-spin regimes of both Te-132 and Xe-134 are characterized by high-energy 12(+) -> 10(+) transitions, the Ba-136 E2 ground-state band is interrupted by negative-parity states only a few hundred keV above the J(pi) = 10(+) isomer. Furthermore, spins are established for several hitherto unassigned high-spin states in Ba-137. The new results close a gap along the high-spin structure of N < 82 Ba isotopes. Experimental results are compared to large-scale shell-model calculations employing the GCN50:82, Realistic SM, PQM130, and SN100PN interactions. The calculations suggest that the bandheads of the positive-parity bands in both isotopes are predominantly of proton character.
|
|
|
|
Gottardo, A. et al, Gadea, A., & Algora, A. (2019). New spectroscopic information on Tl-211,Tl-213: A changing structure beyond the N=126 shell closure. Phys. Rev. C, 99(5), 054326–7pp.
Abstract: The neutron-rich isotopes Tl-211,Tl-213, beyond the N = 126 shell closure, have been studied for the first time in isomer gamma-ray decay, exploiting the fragmentation of a primary uranium beam at the Fragment Separator-Rare Isotopes Investigation at GSI setup. The observed isomeric states in Tl-211,Tl-213 show a deviation from the seniority-like scheme of Tl-209. The possible interpretation of the data is discussed on the basis of energy-level systematics and shell-model calculations.
|
|
|
|
AGATA Collaboration(Kaya, L. et al), & Gadea, A. (2018). High-spin structure in the transitional nucleus Xe-131: Competitive neutron and proton alignment in the vicinity of the N=82 shell closure. Phys. Rev. C, 98(1), 014309–19pp.
Abstract: The transitional nucleus Xe-131 is investigated after multinucleon transfer in the Xe-136 + Pb-208 and Xe-136 +U-238 reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced gamma-Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, and as an elusive reaction product in the fusion-evaporation reaction Sn-124(B-11) ,p3n)Xe-131 employing the High-efficiency Observatory for gamma-Ray Unique Spectroscopy (HORUS) gamma-ray array coupled to a double-sided silicon strip detector at the University of Cologne, Germany. The level scheme of Xe-131 is extended to 5 MeV. A pronounced backbending is observed at (h) over bar omega approximate to 0.4 MeV along the negative-parity one-quasiparticle vh(11/12)(alpha = -1/2) band. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z = 54 isotopes and the N = 77 isotones. Large-scale shell-model calculations employing the PQM130, SN100PN, GCN50:82, SN100-KTH, and a realistic effective interaction reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to elucidate the structure of the high-spin states. Further calculations in Xe129-132 provide insight into the changing nuclear structure along the Xe chain towards the N = 82 shell closure. Proton occupancy in the pi 0h(11/2) orbital is found to be decisive for the description of the observed backbending phenomenon.
|
|
|
|
Valiente-Dobon, J. J., Poves, A., Gadea, A., & Fernandez-Dominguez, B. (2018). Broken mirror symmetry in S-36 and Ca-36. Phys. Rev. C, 98(1), 011302–5pp.
Abstract: Shape coexistence is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the neutron-rich nuclei belonging to (or sitting at the shores of) the N = 20 island of inversion (IoI). Exact isospin symmetry predicts the same behavior for their mirrors and the existence of a proton-rich IoI around Z = 20, centered in the (surely unbound) nucleus Ca-32. In this article we show that in Ca-36 and S-36, Coulomb effects break dramatically the mirror symmetry in the excitation energies due to the different structures of the intruder and normal states. The mirror energy difference (MED) of their 2(+) states is known to be very large at – 246 keV. We reproduce this value and predict the first excited state in Ca-36 to be a 0(+) at 2.7 MeV, 250 keV below the first 2(+). In its mirror S-36 the 0(+) lies at 55keV above the 2(+) measured at 3.291 MeV. Our calculations predict a huge MED of -720 keV, that we dub the “colossal” mirror energy difference. A possible reaction mechanism to access the O-2(+) in Ca-36 will be discussed. In addition, we theoretically address the MEDs of the A = 34, T = 3 and A = 32, T = 4 mirrors.
|
|
|
|
Kaya, L. et al, & Gadea, A. (2018). Millisecond 23/2(+) isomers in the N=79 isotones Xe-133 and Ba-135. Phys. Rev. C, 98(5), 054312–16pp.
Abstract: Detailed information on isomeric states in A approximate to 135 nuclei is exploited to shell-model calculations in the region northwest of doubly magic nucleus Sn-132. The N = 79 isotones Xe-133 and Ba-135 are studied after multinucleon transfer in the Xe-136 + Pb-208 reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy and in a pulsed-beam experiment at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne Germany utilizing a Be-9 + Te-130 fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 40 MeV. Isomeric states are identified via delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy. Hitherto tentative excitation energy spin and parity assignments of the 2017-keV J(pi) = 23/2(+) isomer in Xe-133 are confirmed and a half-life of T-1/2 = 8.64(13) ms is measured. The 2388-keV state in Ba-135. is identified as a J(pi) = 23/2(+) isomer with a half-life of 1.06(4) ms. The new results show a smooth onset of isomeric J(pi) = 23/2(+) states along the N = 79 isotones and close a gap in the high-spin systematics towards the recently investigated J(pi) = 23/2(+) isomer in Nd-139. The resulting systematics of M2 reduced transition probabilities is discussed within the of the nuclear shell model. Latest large-scale shell-model calculations employing the SN100PN, GCN50:82, SN100-KTH and a realistic effective interaction reproduce the experimental findings generally well and give insight into the structure of the isomers.
|
|
