Kinetic energy spectrum and polarization of neutrons from the reaction 12C(p,n)X at 590 MeV

Abstact: The kinetic energy spectrum and the polarization of the PSI neutron beam produced in the reaction ¹²C(p,n)X at 0° with 590 MeV polarized protons were investigated. A strong energy dependence of the neutron beam polarization is observed which was not expected at the time the neutron beam was built. Received: 3 April 1998     

Single and double πo-photoproduction from the deuteron

Photoproduction of neutral pions from the deuteron has been studied for incident photon energies from 200 MeV to 792 MeV with the TAPS detector at the Mainz MAMI accelerator. Total and differential cross sections covering the full angular range have been obtained for coherent and incoherent single π^o-photoproduction. Good agreement between model predictions and the data was found for the coherent process. The incoherent cross section in the energy region of the Δ(1232)-resonance is overestimated by existing models. A comparison to model predictions indicates that final state interaction effects are much more important than for the coherent reaction. However, the angular dependence of the data in the Δ-peak region follows the pattern expected from the dominant excitation of the M₁₊-multipole on the free nucleon. The energy and angular dependence of single π^o-photoproduction in the second resonance region is remarkably different from the reaction on the free proton, indicating a strong nuclear effect. Finally the total cross section for double π^o-photoproduction from the deuteron has been measured for the first time and was used to estimate the cross section for double π^o-photoproduction from the neutron. Received: 24 June 1999 / Revised version: 30 August 1999     

Probing the structure of exotic nuclei by transfer reactions

Low energy single nucleon transfer reactions are proposed as a tool to investigate the structure of nuclei far off stability. Experimental concepts and conditions are discussed, in particular high resolution γ-ray spectroscopy after single nucleon pickup reactions. Nuclear structure is described by Skyrme Hartree-Fock calculations including pairing. As representative examples, binding energies, radii and wave functions for Mg and Sn isotopes are calculated. In the neutron deficient Mg isotopes a proton skin is found. At the neutron driplines the Mg and Sn isotopes develop extended neutron skins. The nuclear structure results are used in DWBA and EFR-DWBA transfer calculations. Single nucleon transfer reactions of ^32,36Mg and exotic Sn beams on targets ranging from ²H to ²⁴Mg in inverse kinematics are explored. The one-nucleon transfer cross sections decrease strongly for high-Z targets. An impact parameter analysis shows that the transfer process is selective on the tails of the wave functions. The largest cross sections are obtained for ²H and ⁹Be targets at incident energies of E _lab = 2-5 MeV/u. The energy-momentum dependence is closely related to the special properties of wave functions of weakly bound states. Two-neutron (p,t) stripping reactions are studied for a ⁶He projectile. A strong competition of sequential and direct processes is found at low energies. Received: 1 October 1997 / Revised version: 25 November 1997     

Exploring the <Superscript> 6</Superscript>He continuum sea through proton inelastic collisions

The p-⁶He inelastic scattering at 700 MeV u^-1 is studied using Multiple Scattering expansion of the total Transition amplitude (MST) framework with a pseudo-state representation of ⁶He continuum. We show that the differential cross sections calculated with two different pseudo-state bases are in good agreement.     

Studying the ω<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> elastic and inelastic cross section with nucleons

We explore the possibility to measure the elastic and inelastic ωN cross section in p+d→d+ω+p _sp and p+A reactions. Our studies indicate that the elastic scattering cross sections can be determined for ω momenta above 1 GeV/c in p+d reactions by gating on high proton spectator momenta whereas the ωN absorption cross section down to low relative ω momenta is most effectively studied in p+A reactions at beam energies 2.0–2.7 GeV. Received: 15 October 1999     

Small-angle neutron scattering from Pb and 238U between 0.6 and 2.2 MeV

Differential cross sections for neutrons scattered from natural Pb and 99.9 % isotopically pure ²³⁸U have been measured at 0.5°, 1.0°, and 1.5°. A neutron energy continuum was produced by bombarding a thick natural lithium target with a 4 MeV, nanosecond-pulsed proton beam. Neutron energies were determined by time-of-flight techniques. Flight paths from the neutron source to the scatterer and from the scatterer to the detector were each about 5 m. For the 0.5° measurements an annular detector geometry with an angular resolution of ± 0.1° was developed to maximize detection solid angle. Data were averaged over 100 keV intervals from 0.6 to 2.2 MeV and were corrected for backgrounds, multiple scattering and inelastic scattering. Measured cross sections were compared to optical-model calculations which included electromagnetic interactions of neutrons with the nuclear Coulomb field. Inclusion of an induced neutron electric dipole moment interaction was not warranted by the data. The angular dependence of the cross section was fitted with a function $\text{A + B}\text{cot}{}^2\text{case1}\text{2}$θ at each energy. Mean values of B for ²³⁸U are in agreement with theoretical predictions. Values of B for Pb are apparently 15 % too low.     

The E1 capture amplitude in 12C(α,γ0) 16O

An excitation function of the ground-state γ₀-ray capture transition in ¹²C (α,γ)¹⁶O at θ_γ = 90^° was obtained in far geometry using six Ge detectors, where the study of the reaction was initiated in inverse kinematics involving a windowless gas target. The detectors observed predominantly the E1 capture amplitude. The data at E = 1.32 to 2.99 MeV lead to an extrapolated astrophysical S factor S _E1(E ₀) = 90±15 keV b at E ₀ = 0.3 MeV (for the case of constructive interference between the two lowest E1 sources), in good agreement with previous works. However, a novel Monte Carlo approach in the data extrapolation reveals systematic differences between the various data sets such that a combined analysis of all available data sets could produce a biased estimate of the S _E1(E ₀) value. As a consequence, the case of destructive interference between the two lowest E1 sources with S _E1(E ₀) = 8±3 keV b cannot be ruled out rigorously. Received: 6 June 2001 / Accepted: 26 July 2001     

Spallation neutron production and the current intra-nuclear cascade and transport codes

A recent renascent interest in energetic proton-induced production of neutrons originates largely from the inception of projects for target stations of intense spallation neutron sources, like the planned European Spallation Source (ESS), accelerator-driven nuclear reactors, nuclear waste transmutation, and also from the application for radioactive beams. In the framework of such a neutron production, of major importance is the search for ways for the most efficient conversion of the primary beam energy into neutron production. Although the issue has been quite successfully addressed experimentally by varying the incident proton energy for various target materials and by covering a huge collection of different target geometries --providing an exhaustive matrix of benchmark data-- the ultimate challenge is to increase the predictive power of transport codes currently on the market. To scrutinize these codes, calculations of reaction cross-sections, hadronic interaction lengths, average neutron multiplicities, neutron multiplicity and energy distributions, and the development of hadronic showers are confronted with recent experimental data of the NESSI collaboration. Program packages like HERMES, LCS or MCNPX master the prevision of reaction cross-sections, hadronic interaction lengths, averaged neutron multiplicities and neutron multiplicity distributions in thick and thin targets for a wide spectrum of incident proton energies, geometrical shapes and materials of the target generally within less than 10% deviation, while production cross-section measurements for light charged particles on thin targets point out that appreciable distinctions exist within these models. Received: 22 May 2001 / Accepted: 3 September 2001     

Photoproduction of positive pions from hydrogen at large angles in the energy range 0.3–2.0 GeV

The differential cross-section for the reaction γp↦π ⁺ n was measured using the bremsstrahlung beam of the Bonn 2.5 GeV electron synchrotron. The pions were detected and momentum analysed in a multichannel magnet spectrometer. Data reduction resulted in 1278 measured cross-sections which are presented as energy distributions at six laboratory angles between 180° and 95°. The range of laboratory photon energies extended from 0.3 to 2.1 GeV. The statistical accuracy is better than 3 percent, the systematic error is about 5 percent. The data are compared with other experimental results and predictions of a phenomenological analysis. These cross-sections are the result of a measurement program which was started in the seventies. Further results will be reported in forthcoming publications. Received: 2 February 2000 / Accepted: 14 August 2001     

The energy dependence of Delbrück scattering investigated at Z = 73, 82 and 92

Using neutron capture γ-rays from a ¹⁴⁰CeO₂ source installed in the Grenoble high-flux reactor, differential cross sections for the elastic scattering of photons by Ta, Pb and U through θ = 120° have been measured for E = 4.291 and 4.767 MeV. These data have been supplemented by measuring elastic differential cross sections for U, θ = 120° and energies ranging from 0.279 to 1.332 MeV, using radioactive sources. The experimental differential cross sections below 1 MeV confirm the predicted Rayleigh amplitudes based on the second-order S-matrix within 3%. An excellent agreement between experiment and lowest-order Delbrück theory is observed between 1.0 and 1.4 MeV, showing that Coulomb corrections are small close to the threshold for pair production. At 4.291 and 4.767 MeV experiment and lowest-order Delbrück theory agree within ~12%     

Measurements of fusion reactions induced by radioactive 132Sn on 64Ni

Evaporation residue and fission cross sections of radioactive ¹³²Sn on ⁶⁴Ni were measured. Statistical model calculations using parameters simultaneously fitting stable Sn+⁶⁴Ni data reproduce the ¹³²Sn induced reaction very well. A large sub-barrier fusion enhancement was observed. The enhancement can be accounted for by coupled-channels calculations including inelastic excitation of the projectile and target, and neutron transfer.     

Production of medium-weight isotopes by fragmentation in 750 A MeV 238U on 208Pb collisions

Projectile fragmentation of ²³⁸U in a lead target was investigated at a bombarding energy of 750 A MeV. Isotopic production cross sections of about 250 different projectile fragments in the element range Z= 30–53 were measured with the FRagment Separator (FRS). The magnetic selection and the kinematical analysis of the measured isotopes allowed to disentangle fission and fragmentation residues. The mass loss of these residues indicates a violent collision where a large amount of energy is dissipated. The position of the fragmentation corridor defined by the measured residues was used to determine an effective proton-evaporation barrier. Received: 3 October 1997 / Revised version: 27 February 1998     

Isovector deformation and its link to the neutron shell closure

DWBA analysis of the inelastic ^30-40S(p,p') and ^18-22O(p,p') scattering data measured in the inverse kinematics has been performed to determine the isoscalar (δ₀) and isovector (δ₁) deformation lengths of the 2⁺₁ excitations in the Sulfur and Oxygen isotopes using a compact folding approach. A systematic N-dependence of δ₀ and δ₁ has been established which shows a link between δ₁ and the neutron-shell closure. Strong isovector deformations were found in several cases, e.g., the 2⁺₁ state in ²⁰O where δ₁ is nearly three times larger than δ₀. These results confirm the relation δ₁>δ₀ anticipated from the core polarization by the valence neutrons in the open-shell (neutron rich) nuclei. The effect of neutron shell closure at N=14 or 16 has been discussed based on the folding model analysis of the inelastic ²²O+p scattering data at 46.6 MeV/u measured recently at GANIL.     

Investigations with two-neutron transfer reactions on the even isotopes of samarium

The (p, t) reaction on the even isotopes of samarium has been investigated at a proton energy of 25.5 MeV. Angular distributions were obtained in the range 18° ≦ θ ≦ 148° with angular steps between 2° and 5°. The experimental energy resolution varied between 35 keV and 50 keV FWHM. Spin and parity assignments are performed by comparing the measured angular distributions to zero-range DWBA calculations. Some difficulties of DWBA calculations for (p, t) reactions are pointed out. The relative cross sections for transitions to different levels of the final nuclei are compared with other (p, t) and (t, p) measurements in the same region of the rare earth isotopes. The dependence of the (p, t) cross sections for different transitions on the neutron number of the final nuclei is discussed. Some 2⁺ states observed in (p, t) and (t, p) reactions are described in the quadrupole pairing vibrational picture.     

Nuclear temperatures obtained from light-charged-particle yields in low-energy ternary fission

Nuclear temperatures were determined from yields of isotopes with 1 ?Z? 14 accompanying the spontaneous and neutron-induced fission of heavy elements. The mean temperature derived from the corresponding temperature distributions amounts to 1.10±0.15 MeV. Received: 10 August 2001 / Accepted: 5 October 2001     

Elastic, inelastic scattering and fusion of the 14N +59Co system at energies close to the coulomb barrier

Elastic and inelastic scattering differential cross sections were measured in the energy range 30 MeV ≤ E _lab ≤ 55 MeV, for the ¹⁴N +⁵⁹Co system. Ambiguities of the optical potential derived from the analysis of the elastic scattering data were removed by performing calculations at the radius of sensitivity and by comparison with the available fusion cross section data. A simultaneous analysis of the three mechanisms was performed by coupled channel calculations, and a unique energy independent nuclear potential was found to be able to fit the data. Discussions and comparisons concerning the optical model, the threshold anomaly, full and approximated coupled channel calculations are presented. Received: 6 February 1997 / Revised version: 1 August 1997     

Microscopic approach to calculating cross sections and optical potentials for nucleus-nucleus interaction at intermediate energies

Nucleus-nucleus scattering is considered in the high-energy approximation and on the basis of Glauber-Sitenko microscopic theory in the optical limit. Analytic expressions for eikonal phase shifts are given for the case of Fermi-type realistic potentials and nuclear-density distributions. The effect of taking into account the distortions of the trajectories of the nuclei involved and the nuclear-density dependence of nucleon-nucleon forces on the total reactions cross sections is illustrated. The sensitivity of the reaction cross sections to the choice of model for the ⁶He projectile nucleus, which involves a neutron halo, is explored. Semimicroscopic optical potentials are introduced in order to describe differential cross sections for elastic scattering. The results of the present calculations are compared with available experimental data.     

Neutron scattering from 208Pb

Elastic scattering of 7, 9, 11, 20 and 26 MeV neutrons from ²⁰⁸Pb has been measured with the Ohio University Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. Standard pulsed beam time-of-flight techniques were employed. Measurements of the incident flux at 0° were used to normalize the differential cross sections. The measured cross sections were corrected for dead time, detector efficiency, flux attenuation, multiple scattering, finite geometry, neutron source anisotropy and compound elastic contribution. Relative uncertainties are estimated to be between 5%–10% and the uncertainty in the normalization is estimated to be less than 5 %. The data were used to obtain neutron optical potential parameters. A comparison with proton optical parameters is presented, and the (p, n) quasi-elastic cross section is calculated and compared with available data. Deformation parameters for the 3^? state (Q = ?2.615 MeV) and 5ā (Q = ?3.198 MeV) in ²⁰⁸Pb were obtained at incident energies of 11 and 26 MeV.     

Subthreshold and near threshold K+ meson photoproduction\newline on nuclei

The inclusive K⁺ meson production in photon–induced reactions in the near threshold and subthreshold energy regimes is analyzed with respect to the one–step (γN→K ⁺ Y, Y=Λ,Σ) incoherent production processes on the basis of an appropriate new folding model, which takes properly into account the struck target nucleon removal energy and internal momentum distribution (nucleon spectral function), extracted from recent quasielastic electron scattering experiments and from many–body calculations with realistic models of the NN interaction. Simple parametrizations for the total and differential cross sections of the K⁺ production in photon–nucleon collisions are presented. Comparison of the model calculations of the K⁺ differential cross sections for the reaction γ+C¹² in the threshold region with the existing experimental data is given, that displays the contributions to the K⁺ production at considered incident energies coming from the use of the single–particle part as well as high momentum and high removal energy part of the nucleon spectral function. Detailed predictions for the K⁺ total and differential cross sections from γH², γC¹² and γPb²⁰⁸ reactions at subthreshold and near threshold energies are provided. The influence of the uncertainties in the elementary K⁺ production cross sections on the K⁺ yield is explored. Received: 12 April 1999 / Revised version: 11 September 1999     

Low–energy photodisintegration of 9Be and α+α+n→9Be +γ reactions at astrophysical conditions

A semi–microscopic model for the low–energy photodisintegration of the ⁹Be nucleus is constructed, and the experimental data are analyzed with its help. The older radioactive isotope data are supported by this analysis. The theoretical photodisintegration cross section is derived. The astrophysical rates for the reaction α+α+n→⁹Be+γ and the reverse photodisintegration of ⁹Be are calculated. The new reaction rate for α+α+n→⁹Be+γ is compared with previous estimations. Received: 19 January 1998