High-spin isomer in 93Mo

The high-spin states of ⁹³Mo have been studied by a ⁸²Se( ¹⁶O, 5n) ⁹³Mo reaction at a beam energy of 100 MeV using techniques of in-beam -ray spectroscopy. Measurements of -t, --t coincidences, -ray angular distributions and -ray linear polarizations were performed. The high-spin isomer was found as a (39/2^-) state at about 9.7 MeV. The near-yrast states in ⁹³Mo were interpreted using the weak-coupling picture of a d_5/2 neutron to a neutron magic core nucleus ⁹²Mo.     

Prolate structures in 189Po and 185Pb

The 3/2^- isomer in ¹⁸⁵Pb and states above it have been populated in the -decay of ¹⁸⁹Po. The observed -decay strengths to and the electromagnetic decay properties of the excited states in ¹⁸⁵Pb have been combined with Potential Energy Surface and Particle-Plus-Rotor calculations to propose configuration assignments. It is suggested that the -decaying isomer of ¹⁸⁹Po is of prolate origin and that the prolate configuration becomes very low in energy in ¹⁸⁵Pb.     

First evidence for chirality in Tc isotopes: Spectroscopy of 100Tc

Excited states in ¹⁰⁰Tc have been studied using the ⁹⁶Zr( ⁷Li, 3n) reaction at a beam energy of 27 MeV. In the present work, evidence has been found for a second I = 1 band decaying via several stretched dipole transitions to the previously known I = 1 negative-parity band. Comparison of these data with those in neighbouring nuclei and also against recently reported criteria for chiral bands in nuclei, suggests that the two structures can be interpreted as chiral partners. Core quasi-particle coupling model calculations show reasonable agreement with the data and generally support the chiral interpretation of the states.     

High-spin structures of 51 121, 123, 125, 127Sb nuclei: Single proton and core-coupled states

The ^{121,123,125,127}Sb nuclei have been produced as fission fragments in three reactions induced by heavy ions: ¹²C + ²³⁸U at 90 MeV bombarding energy, ¹⁸O + ²⁰⁸Pb at 85 MeV, and ³¹P + ¹⁷⁶Yb at 152 MeV. Their level schemes have been built from gamma rays detected using the EUROBALL III and IV arrays. High-spin states of ^123,125,127Sb nuclei have been identified for the first time. Moreover isomeric states lying around 2.3 MeV have been established in ^123,125,127Sb from the delayed coincidences between the fission fragment detector SAPhIR and the gamma array. All the observed states can be described by coupling a d_5/2 or g_7/2 proton to an excited Sn core involving either vibrational states or broken neutron pairs.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy in 110Sn and 111Sn

Excited states in ¹¹⁰Sn and ¹¹¹Sn nuclei have been investigated using in-beam -ray spectroscopic methods. An ¹⁶O beam with an energy of 60-80MeV was used to bombard a ⁹⁸Mo target. On the basis of the relative excitation functions, -ray angular distributions, - and -time distributions, -ray multiplicity and total energy data, the level schemes of ¹¹⁰Sn and ¹¹¹Sn have been studied and extended up to E_exc 11.5MeV, I = 24, and E_exc 11.1MeV and I = (51/2), respectively. An extension of the intruder, g.s. and negative-parity bands, as well as 5 new band-like structures are proposed in ¹¹⁰Sn. The nature of newly introduced collective band 8 as well as 10⁺ states fed in the decay of the collective band is discussed. In the ¹¹¹Sn nucleus an intruder band based on the 23/2^- state has been reinvestigated and the extension of the g.s. band and second negative-parity band is given. Evidence for neutron-core coupling in ¹¹¹Sn is found. The structure and systematics of excited states in light Sn isotopes is discussed.     

Decay studies of <Superscript>214-216</Superscript>Ac by α- γ- γ-coincidences

The -decay fine structure of ²¹⁴Ac, ²¹⁵Ac and ²¹⁶Ac has been studied using the --coincidence technique. The nuclei were produced by ²⁰⁹Bi( ¹²C, xn)^221-xAc-reactions. Evaporation residues were separated in-flight from the primary beam using the velocity filter SHIP at GSI, Darmstadt. The separated nuclei were implanted into a position-sensitive 16-strip PIPS Si detector and their subsequent decays were measured. In these studies new and improved decay data for ^214-216Ac were obtained.     

Medium-spin excitations of the neutron-rich 84Se isotope: Possible decrease in energy of the N = 50 neutron-core excitation

The ⁸⁴Se nucleus has been produced as fission fragment in the fusion reaction ¹⁸O + ²⁰⁸Pb at 85MeV bombarding energy and studied with the Euroball IV array. Medium-spin states of this neutron-rich isotope have been identified for the first time. Its level scheme has been obtained up to 4.9MeV excitation energy and spin I 7. Its structure is interpreted by analogy with those of the stable heavier isotones. The evolution of the energy of the N = 50 neutron-core excitation is discussed as a function of the proton number.     

Beta-decay studies of neutron-rich Sc- Cr nuclei

The neutron-rich nuclei ₂₁^{57, 58}Sc, ₂₂^58-60Ti, ₂₃^60-63V, ₂₄^62-66Cr have been produced at Ganil via interactions of a 61.8A MeV ⁷⁶Ge beam with a ⁵⁸Ni target. Beta-decay studies have been performed using combined - and -ray spectroscopy. Half-lives have been determined and -decay schemes are proposed for ⁵⁸Ti, ⁶¹V and ⁶²Cr. From these studies, new hints for the existence of -decaying isomers in ⁶⁰V and in ⁶²Mn are provided. These results are compared to shell model calculations. The role of the f_7/2- f_5/2 proton-neutron interaction is examined through its influence on the lifetime values.     

First observation of excited states in the <Superscript>111</Superscript>Tc nucleus --A new region of deformation at 40 ⩽ Z ⩽ 46, N ≥ 68?

The ¹¹¹Tc nucleus, populated in the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm, was studied by means of prompt -ray spectroscopy using the EUROGAM2 array. Excited states in ¹¹¹Tc were observed for the first time. Systematics of energy levels in odd-A Tc isotopes, obtained in our study of ¹⁰⁷Tc and ¹⁰⁹Tc provide a reliable spin and parity assignment I = 5/2⁺ to the head of the new band in ¹¹¹Tc, interpreted as the 5/2⁺[422] orbital originating from the proton g_9/2 shell. This level is most likely the ground state. Therefore, the (9/2⁺,7/2⁺) spin-parity assignment to the ground state of ¹¹¹Tc, reported previously, is unlikely. Properties of the yrast band in ¹¹¹Tc suggest prolate deformation of this band. There are hints that the deformation of ¹¹¹Tc is larger than that of ¹⁰⁹Tc, possibly due to admixtures of oblate-deformed configurations, which lower their excitation energy with increasing neutron number.     

Precision measurement of the half-life and the decay branches of 62Ga

In an experiment performed at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, the -decay half-life of ⁶²Ga has been studied with high precision using the IGISOL technique. A half-life of T_1/2 = 116.09(17) ms was measured. Using - coincidences, the intensity of the 954 keV transition and an upper limit of the -decay feeding of the 0⁺₂ state have been extracted. The present experimental results are compared to previous measurements and their impact on our understanding of the weak interaction is discussed.     

Neutron and light-charged-particle productions in proton-induced reactions on 208Pb at 62.9 MeV

Neutrons and light charged particles produced in 62.9MeV proton-induced reactions on ²⁰⁸Pb were measured during a single experiment performed at the CYCLONE facility in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium). Two independent experimental set-ups were used to extract double differential cross-sections for neutrons, protons, deuterons, tritons, ³He and alpha-particles. Charged particles were detected using a set of Si- Si- CsI telescopes from 25^° to 155^°, by step of 10 degrees. Neutrons were measured using shielded DeMoN counters, liquid NE213 scintillators, at 24^°, 35^°, 55^°, 80^° and 120^°. These data allowed the determination of angle differential, energy differential and total production cross-sections. A comparison with theoretical calculations (MCNPX, FLUKA and TALYS) has been performed. It shows that the neutron and proton production rates are well predicted by MCNPX, using the INCL4 option. All the other codes underestimate the neutron production whereas they overestimate the proton one. For composite particles, which represent 17% of the charged particle total reaction cross-section, neither the shape nor the amplitude of the cross-sections are correctly predicted by the models.     

The βdecay of 147Cs to 147Ba

The ^--decay of ¹⁴⁷Cs to ¹⁴⁷Ba has been studied by means of - and X-ray spectroscopy. A new level scheme of ¹⁴⁷Ba is significantly modified and extended in comparison to the one previously reported. The Advanced Time-Delayed (t) method has been applied to measure half-lives of the 46.2 and 85.4 keV levels in ¹⁴⁷Ba yielding T_1/2 of 510(80) ps and 370(100) ps, respectively. The lifetime results combined with the deduced internal conversion coefficients allowed to assign M1 multipolarity to three transitions. The B(M1) values obtained for the 39.2, 46.2 and 85.4 keV transitions range from 0.017 to 0.043 W.u. and represent typical B(M1) strength in the Ba-Er region. Model calculations using a shell correction approach with the axially deformed Woods-Saxon potential predict for ¹⁴⁷Ba an octupole deformed ground state with ₃ = 0.11.     

Space Videophotometric System for Recording Optical Radiations in the Earth Atmosphere

This paper describes the VFS-3M videophotometric system designed for automatic remote recording of images and parameters of optical radiations following lightning discharges from aboard the Russian segment of the International space station. The characteristics of the system and the possibilities of recording such types of radiation as Red Sprites and Blue Jets are given.     

Decay studies of <Superscript>210-214</Superscript>Fr using α- γ-coincidences

The -decay fine structure of ^210-214Fr has been studied by --coincidence measurements. The nuclei were produced using the ¹²C on ²⁰⁹Bi reaction. Evaporation residues recoiling out of the target were separated in-flight by the velocity filter SHIP and stopped in a position-sensitive 16-strip PIPS-detector in order to study their subsequent decays. In the present work new and improved results for ^210-214Fr, produced by -decay of the primary reaction products ^214-218Ac, were extracted. The results are discussed and compared to previously published data.     

Observation of a superdeformed band in <Superscript>190</Superscript>Pb

A superdeformed band has been observed in the N = 108 isotope ¹⁹⁰Pb. This is the most neutron-deficient Pb isotope in which superdeformed states have been observed. Several theoretical approaches have predicted that N = 108 will mark the limit of observable superdeformation in the Pb isotopes. The band, which consists of five (possibly six) transitions, is observed to feed at least one isomeric level in its decay to the ground state. This decay pattern supports a spin assignment of 10 for the lowest observed level.     

Halo or skin in the excited states of some light mirror nuclei

The properties of three pairs of mirror nuclei ¹³N- ¹³C, ¹⁵N- ¹⁵O and ²¹Na- ²¹Ne (these mirror nuclei are all made of a good inert core plus an unpaired valence nucleon) are investigated by using the nonlinear relativistic mean-field (RMF) theory. It is found that the calculated binding energies with two different parameter sets are very close to the experimental ones for both the ground states and the excited states except for the large deformed nuclei. The calculations show that the 2s_1/2 excited states of ¹⁵N and of ²¹Na are both weakly bound with a proton halo and a proton skin (or a pigmy proton skin), respectively. In addition, the 1d_5/2 excited state of ¹³C and the 2s_1/2 excited state of ¹⁵O are also weakly bound with a neutron skin, respectively. The ratio of the valence nucleon radius to matter radius is deduced and it can be regarded as an additional criterion for the existence of exotic structure. The unbound 2s_1/2 and 1d_5/2 excited states of ¹³N are also discussed.     

Levels in <Superscript>127</Superscript>La fed by the <Superscript>127</Superscript>Ce beta-decay

The low-lying levels in ¹²⁷La have been studied through the -decay of ¹²⁷Ce ( T_1/2 = 29s) produced by bombarding a ^natMo target with a 185-MeV ³⁵Cl beam. Reaction products were on-line mass-separated, and -ray singles and - coincidence measurements were performed. Conversion electrons were also measured and multipolarities of transitions have been derived. The half-life of the 210.9-keV level was determined to be (1.9±0.3)ns by the - delayed coincidence technique. The level scheme obtained has been compared with calculations based on the Nilsson model.     

Measurements of 110Xe and 106Te decay half-lives

The -decays of ¹¹⁰Xe and ¹⁰⁶Te were studied at the GSI on-line mass separator. By using the grow-in and decay of the activity, observed in pulsed-beam measurement, the half-life of ¹¹⁰Xe was found to be T_1/2 = 105⁺³⁵_-25ms. The lifetime of ¹⁰⁶Te was determined to be T_1/2 = 70⁺²⁰_-10s by measuring the time between two successive ¹¹⁰Xe ^{106} Te ^{102} Sn -decays. The newly determined half-lives were used to calculate reduced -decay widths for ¹⁰⁶Te and ¹¹⁰Xe. Universal systematics of reduced widths are proposed to search for the evidence of enhancement of the formation amplitude in the emitters above ¹⁰⁰Sn.     

Pionic degrees of freedom in atomic nuclei and quasielastic knockout of pions by high-energy electrons

The microscopic mechanism of the identical bands in odd-odd nucleus ¹⁹⁴Tl and its neighbor odd-A nuclei ^193,195Tl is investigated using the particle-number-conserving (PNC) method for treating the cranked shell model with monopole and quadrupole pairing interactions. It is found that the blocking effect of the high-j intruder orbital plays an important role in the variation of moments of inertia (J⁽¹⁾ and J⁽²⁾) with rotational frequency for the superdeformed bands and identical bands. The variation of the occupation probability of each cranked orbital and the contributions to moment of inertia from each cranked orbital are presented.     

The maximum entropy principle as a consequence of the principle of Laplace

The maximum entropy principle states that the probability distribution which best represents our information is the one which maximizes the entropy with the given evidence as constraints. We prove that this principle is implied from the Laplace principle of equiprobabilities applied to the setS of allN-term sequences of results which are compatible with the given evidence. We generalize to the information gain method of Kullback.