Excitation functions of residual nuclei production from 40-2600 MeV proton-irradiated <Superscript>206,207,208,nat</Superscript>Pb and <Superscript>209</Superscript>Bi

The work is aimed at experimental determination of the independent and cumulative yields of radioactive residual nuclei produced in intermediate-energy proton-irradiated thin targets made of highly isotopic enriched and natural lead (^{206,207,208,nat}Pb) and ²⁰⁹Bi. 5972 radioactive product nuclide yields have been measured in 55 thin targets induced by 0.04, 0.07, 0.10, 0.15, 0.25, 0.6, 0.8, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 and 2.6 GeV protons extracted from the ITEP U-10 proton synchrotron. The measured data have been compared with data obtained at other laboratories as well as with theoretical simulations by seven codes. We found that the predictive power of the tested codes is different but is satisfactory for most of the nuclides in the spallation region, though none of the codes agree well with the data in the whole mass region of product nuclides and all should be improved further.      

Observation of laser-light effect on <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs radioactivity in colloidal gold: first results

Laser-light effects on γ-activities of the ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³⁴Cs water solutions containing gold nanoparticles are investigated at laser-light intensity on the order of 10¹² W/cm². The irradiation is found to reduce the radioactivities of both nuclides. Over the period of irradiation, no enhancement of the γ lines of spontaneous decays is detected. Possible mechanisms of the observed effect are discussed.     

Charge distribution studies in the fast-neutron-induced fission of <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th, <Superscript>238</Superscript>U, <Superscript>240</Superscript>Pu and <Superscript>244</Superscript>Cm

Charge distribution studies for heavy-mass fission products were carried out in the fast-neutron-induced fission of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴⁴Cm using radiochemical and gamma-ray spectrometric techniques. The width parameter( σ_Z/σ_A), the most probable charge/mass ( Z _P/A _P), the charge polarization (ΔZ) and the slope of charge polarization [ δ(ΔZ)/δA ^′] as a function of the fragment mass (A ^′) were deduced. The average charge dispersion parameter ( 〈σ_Z〉) and proton odd-even effect ( δ_p) were also obtained for these fissioning systems. The 〈σ_Z〉 and δ_p values in the fissioning systems ²⁴¹Pu ^* and ²⁴⁵Cm ^* were determined for the first time. The δ(ΔZ)/δA ^′ value is also determined for the first time in the fissioning systems ²³⁹U ^* , ²⁴¹Pu ^* and ²⁴⁵Cm ^* . These data along with the literature data for even-Z fissioning systems such as ²³⁰Th ^* , ²³²Th ^* , ²³³U ^* , ²³⁴U ^* , ²³⁶U ^* , ²³⁸U ^* , ²³⁹Pu ^* , ²⁴⁰Pu*, ²⁴²Pu ^* , ²⁴⁶Cm ^* , ²⁵⁰Cf ^* and ²⁵²Cf(SF) are discussed in terms of nuclear structure effect and dynamics of descent from the saddle to the scission point. The role of the excitation energy in low-energy fission is also discussed. Received: 26 July 2002 / Accepted: 3 December 2002 / Published online: 3 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"Present address: Emeritus Scientist (CSIR) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Nuclear Recycle Group, WIP Building, Trombay, Mumbai-400085, India; e-mail: rhiyer@magnum. barc.ernet.in Communicated by D. Schwalm     

A study of semi-classical processes in the elastic scattering of <Superscript>32</Superscript>S by <Superscript>64</Superscript>Ni and <Superscript>58</Superscript>Ni by <Superscript>27</Superscript>Al

In order to determine the extent of the presence of semi-classical phenomena such as Fresnel and Fraunhofer patterns etc., we have analyzed the elastic scattering of ³²S by ⁶⁴Ni and ⁵⁸Ni by ²⁷Al using the McIntyre parametrization at several energies. The theoretical approach can reasonably account for the general pattern of the data, thus allowing us to extract the parameters pertinent to these semi-classical processes. The scattering of ⁵⁸Ni by ²⁷Al at 220, 185, 170, 160 and 155 MeV laboratory energies, exhibits features expected from the strong absorption model (SAM). However, the features of the scattering of ³²S by ⁶⁴Ni at 150, 108, 98, 93, 91, 88 and 82 MeV laboratory energies have significant deviation from the expected pattern of SAM.     

Penning-trap mass measurements on <Superscript>92, 94-98, 100</Superscript>Mo with JYFLTRAP

Penning-trap measurements on stable ^{92, 94-98, 100}Mo isotopes have been performed with relative accuracy of \(\ensuremath 1\cdot 10^{-8}\) with the JYFLTRAP Penning-trap mass spectrometer by using ⁸⁵Rb as a reference. The Mo isotopes have been found to be about 3keV more bound than given in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2003 (AME03). The results confirm that the discrepancy between the ISOLTRAP and JYFLTRAP data for ^101-105Cd isotopes was due to an erroneous value in the AME03 for ⁹⁶Mo used as a reference at JYFLTRAP. The measured frequency ratios of Mo isotopes have been used to update mass-excess values of 30 neutron-deficient nuclides measured at JYFLTRAP.     

Near-barrier neutron transfer in reactions <Superscript>6</Superscript>He + <Superscript>45</Superscript>Sc, <Superscript>64</Superscript>Zn,and <Superscript>197</Superscript>Au

Experimental cross sections of formation of isotopes ⁴⁶Sc (in reaction ⁶He + ⁴⁵Sc), ^196,198Au (in reaction ⁶He + ¹⁹⁷Au), and ⁶⁵Zn (in reaction ⁶He + ⁶⁴Zn) are analyzed. The time-dependent Schrödinger equation for the outer neutrons of ⁶He and ¹⁹⁷Au nuclei is solved numerically to calculate the probability of neutron transfer and transfer cross sections. In reaction ⁶He + ¹⁹⁷Au, the contribution of fusion and subsequent evaporation to experimental data can be neglected, while the corresponding contributions to reactions ⁶He + ⁴⁵Sc and ⁶He + ⁶⁴Zn are considerable. Fusion–evaporation is taken into account using the computational code of the NRV knowledge base. The results of calculations are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.     

Nuclear level densities in <Superscript>47</Superscript>V, <Superscript>48</Superscript>V, <Superscript>49</Superscript>V, <Superscript>53</Superscript>Mn,and <Superscript>54</Superscript>Mn from neutron evaporation spectra

The spectra of neutrons from the (p, n) reactions on ⁴⁷Ti, ⁴⁸Ti, ⁴⁹Ti, ⁵³Cr, and ⁵⁴Cr nuclei were measured in the proton-energy range 7–11 MeV. The measurements were performed with the aid of a fast-neutron spectrometer by the time-of-flight method over the base of the EGP-15 tandem accelerator of the Institute for Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE, Obninsk). Owing to a high resolution and a high stability of the time-of-flight spectrometer used, low-lying discrete levels could be identified reliably along with a continuum section of neutron spectra. An analysis of measured data was performed within the statistical equilibrium and preequilibrium models of nuclear reactions. The relevant calculations were performed by using the exact formalism of Hauser-Feshbach statistical theory supplemented with the generalized model of a superfluid nucleus, the back-shifted Fermi gas model, and the Gilbert-Cameron composite formula for the nuclear level density. The nuclear level densities for ⁴⁷V, ⁴⁸V, ⁴⁹V, ⁵³Mn, and ⁵⁴Mn were determined along with their energy dependences and model parameters. The results are discussed together with available experimental data and recommendations of model systematics.     

Interaction of <Superscript>3</Superscript>He<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Ar<Superscript>6+</Superscript> ions with acetylene,ethylene, and ethane molecules

Time-of-flight mass spectroscopy methods are employed for studying processes occurring during capture of electrons by ³He²⁺ and Ar⁶⁺ multiply charged ions with energy 6z keV (z is the ion charge) from C₂H _n molecules (n = 2, 4, 6) with different multiplicities of C-C bonds. Fragmentation schemes of the molecular ions formed in such processes are established from analysis of correlations of recording times for all fragment ions. The absolute values of the cross sections of capture of an electron and capture with ionization are measured, as well as the cross sections of formation of fragment ions in these processes. The absolute values of total capture cross sections for several electrons are determined.     

Momentum distributions of <Superscript>4</Superscript>He nuclei from the <Superscript>6</Superscript>He and <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li breakup

Experimental data on the momentum distributions of ⁴He nuclei originating from ⁶He and ⁶Li breakup on various targets are presented over a wide beam energy range. The experiment with ⁶He was performed at the DRIBs accelerator complex for radioactive beams at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR, Dubna). The intensity of the ⁶He beam used was 5 × 10⁶ particles per second and its energy was 10 MeV per nucleon. The momentum distributions of breakup products were measured by means of the MSP-144 magnetic spectrometer. The distribution width was shown to be virtually independent of the target mass. A small value of this width, σ ～ 28 MeV/c, confirms the presence of a halo in ⁶He. The measurements performed with ⁶Li beams of energy 18 and 46 MeV per nucleon at the U-400M accelerator yielded a width value of σ ～ 50 MeV/c for the momentum distributions of ⁴He nuclei, which is intermediate between that for ⁶He and those for stable nuclei. A compilation of the widths of the momentum distributions of fragments originating from the breakup of various nuclei is presented versus the binding energy of one or two neutrons in these nuclei, the target mass and the projectile energy.     

The low-energy dipole structure of <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th , <Superscript>236</Superscript>U and <Superscript>238</Superscript>U actinide nuclei

In this study, I^p = 1⁺\ensuremath I^{\pi} = 1^{+} and I^p = 1^-\ensuremath I^{\pi} = 1^{-} dipole mode excitations are systematically investigated within the rotational and translational + Galilean invariant quasiparticle random-phase approximation for ²³²Th , ²³⁶U , and ²³⁸U actinide nuclei. It is shown that the investigated nuclei reach a B(M1) strength structure, which corresponds to the scissors mode. The calculated mean excitation energies as well as the summed B(M1) value of the scissors mode excitations are consistent with the available experimental data. The results of calculations indicate large differences to the rare-earth nuclei as is the case for the experiment: a doubling of the observed dipole strengths and a shift of the energy centroid to the lower energies by about 800keV. The calculations indicate the presence of a few prominent negative-parity K^p = 1^-\ensuremath K^{\pi} = 1^{-} states in the 2.0-4.0MeV energy interval. The occurrence of the negative-parity dipole states with the rather high B(E1) value less than 4MeV shows the necessity of explicit parity measurements for the correct determination of the scissors mode strength in ²³²Th , ²³⁶U , and ²³⁸U isotopes.     

Band interaction in <Superscript>162</Superscript>Dy, <Superscript>168</Superscript>Er,and <Superscript>172</Superscript>Yb

Coriolis interaction between levels of two rotational bands in ¹⁷²Yb with K ^π = 2⁺ and 3⁺ and in ¹⁶⁸Er between levels with K ^π = 0^?, 1^?, and 2^? is studied. The values of the interaction parameters are obtained. The mutual influence of two bands in ¹⁶²Dy with ΔK = 2, K _i ^π = 0 ₂ ⁺ and 2 ₁ ⁺ due to Coriolis interaction is demonstrated.     

Neutron single-particle structure of <Superscript>48</Superscript>Ca, <Superscript>50</Superscript>Ti, <Superscript>52</Superscript>Cr, <Superscript>54</Superscript>Fe,and <Superscript>56</Superscript>Ni nuclei

The change in the neutron single-particle structure of (1f?2p)-shell magic nuclei near the Fermi energy with an increase in the number of protons in the 1f _7/2 subshell from 0 for ⁴⁸Ca to 8 for ⁵⁶Ni has been investigated. Good agreement of the experimental and estimated values of the single-particle energies E _nlj of the bound states of neutrons in these nuclei with the results of calculations within the dispersive optical model is obtained.     

Assignment of levels in <Superscript>208</Superscript>Fr and 10<Superscript>-</Superscript> isomers in the odd-odd isotones <Superscript>206</Superscript>At and <Superscript>208</Superscript>Fr

Excited states in ²⁰⁸Fr have been identified using the ¹⁹⁷Au(¹⁶O, 5n)²⁰⁸Fr reaction and a variety of time-correlated g \gamma -ray and conversion electron spectroscopic techniques. Transitions above and below a t \tau = 623(16) ns 10^- isomer are placed in the level scheme. This isomer is analogous to that observed in the odd-odd isotone ²⁰⁶At for which additional spectroscopic information is also obtained, including a precise lifetime of t \tau = 1173(30) ns. The g \gamma -rays assigned to ²⁰⁸Fr are the same as the main transitions erroneously assigned to ²⁰⁹Fr in previous work.     

Diffractive scattering of <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be and <Superscript>8</Superscript>B nuclei by <Superscript>12</Superscript>C nuclei

A theory of the diffractive scattering of loosely bound three-cluster nuclei by nuclei was developed with allowance for Coulomb interaction. The differential cross sections for the scattering of projectile exotic nuclei ⁷Be and ⁸B by ¹²C nuclei at an energy of 40 MeV per nucleon were calculated within the proposed formalism. The results describe satisfactorily relevant experimental data.     

Phase shift analysis of the <Superscript>6</Superscript>He+<Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb and the <Superscript>6</Superscript>He+<Superscript>197</Superscript>Au systems

We present the elastic scattering of the ⁶He+²⁰⁸Pb and the ⁶He+¹⁹⁷Au systems at the laboratory energy of E _lab=27 MeV within the framework of the McIntyre parametrization, and systematically investigate χ ²/N analysis of both systems to obtain an excellent agreement between the theoretical results and the experimental data. We find large diffusivity parameters indicating long range absorption mechanisms. We also show that both systems lack both the nuclear and the Coulomb rainbow scattering for obtained S-matrix parameters.     

High-lying excited states in <Superscript>10</Superscript>Be from the <Superscript>9</Superscript>Be(<Superscript>9</Superscript>Be,<Superscript>10</Superscript>Be)<Superscript>8</Superscript>Be reaction

A transfer-reaction experiment of ⁹Be(⁹Be, ¹⁰Be)⁸Be was performed at a beam energy of 45 MeV. Excited states in ¹⁰Be up to 18.80 MeV are produced using missing mass and invariant mass methods. Most of the observed high-lying resonant states, reconstructed from the α + ⁶He and t + ⁷Li decay channels, agree with the previously reported results. In addition, two new resonances at 15.6 and 18.8 MeV are identified from the present measurement. The 18.55 MeV state is found to decay into both the t + ⁷Li_g.s. and t + ⁷Li* (0.478 MeV) channels, with a relative branching ratio of 0.93 ± 0.33. Further theoretical investigations are encouraged to interpret this new information on cluster structure in neutron-rich light nuclei.     

Study of the Involvement of <Superscript>8</Superscript>Be and <Superscript>9</Superscript>B Nuclei in the Dissociation of Relativistic <Superscript>10</Superscript>C, <Superscript>10</Superscript>B,and <Superscript>12</Superscript>C Nuclei

The results obtained by estimating the contribution of 8Be and 9B nuclei to the coherent dissociation of ¹⁰C, ¹⁰B, and ¹²C relativistic nuclei in nuclear track emulsions (“white” stars) are presented. The selection of white stars accompanied by 9B leads to a distinct peak appearing in the distribution of the excitation energy of 2α2p ensembles and having a maximum at 4.1 ± 0.3 MeV. A 8Be nucleus manifests itself in the coherent-dissociation reaction ¹⁰B → ²He + H with a probability of (25 ± 5)%, (14 ± 3)% of it being due to 9B decays. The ratio of the branching fractions of the ⁹B + n and ⁹Be + p mirror channels is estimated at 6 ± 1. An analysis of the relativistic dissociation of ¹²C nuclei in a nuclear track emulsion revealed nine 3α events corresponding to the Hoyle state.     

Comparison of halo of <Superscript>11</Superscript>Be, <Superscript>15</Superscript>C,and <Superscript>19</Superscript>C

We have compared the halo of ¹¹Be, ¹⁵C, and ¹⁹C nuclei by analyzing the one-neutron stripping reaction data on the Be target at 60-, 54-, and 57-MeV/A beam energies, respectively, within the framework of the eikonal approximation approach. The determination of effective range through the comparison of the total cross section data and prediction has revealed that the halo of ¹⁹C is the well developed, while that of ¹⁵C is the least and that of ¹¹Be lies in between these two. The longitudinal momentum distribution data also strengthen these observations. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Investigation of <Superscript>235</Superscript>U and <Superscript>239</Superscript>Pu photofission

Average angular momenta of fission fragments ⁹⁰Rb, ^129,130,132Sb, ^131,133Te, ^134,136I, and ¹³⁵Xe produced in photofission of ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu by bremsstrahlung γ rays with a threshold energy of 9.6 and 9.8 MeV, respectively, were determined by measuring the isomeric yield ratios. The experimental values of the isomeric ratios were calculated with account of the contribution from β decay of isobaric nuclei in the yields of the studied isotopes.     

Mapping of the <Superscript>12</Superscript>C* states via the <Superscript>10</Superscript>B(<Superscript>3</Superscript>He,pααα) reaction

We have studied ¹²C in full kinematics via the ¹⁰B(³He,pααα) reaction at an energy of 2.45 MeV. In our data we have identified states in ¹²C from the ground state up to about 18 MeV, with spins ranging from 0 to 4. Due to the very good resolution, we are able to determine properties of these ¹²C resonances, such as their energy, width, and spin. In this contribution preliminary results from the ongoing analysis are presented. Main focus on the precise determination of the breakup spectra for all resonances.