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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Total absorption spectroscopy of the β-delayed proton emitter 117Ba

The very neutron-deficient ¹¹⁷Ba nuclei were produced in ⁵⁸Ni-induced reactions on a ⁶³Cu target and selected for spectroscopic studies by using BaF⁺ molecules formed in the ion source of the GSI on-line mass separator. The -decay of ¹¹⁷Ba was investigated by means of the total absorption -ray spectrometer and a telescope for -delayed particle detection. In the analysis combining the -delayed -ray and proton data the energy window available for -delayed proton emission, the branching ratios for proton transitions to the ¹¹⁶Xe levels and the -feeding of the -ray and proton-emitting ¹¹⁷Cs states were determined. The -strength function for ¹¹⁷Ba derived from the measured -feeding distribution revealed the existence of a broad resonance structure at ¹¹⁷Cs excitation energy of about 4-5 MeV. The results of the -delayed proton studies and -strength measurements are confronted with theoretical predictions.     

EC and α decays of 235Am

EC and decays of ²³⁵Am have been studied using a gas-jet coupled on-line isotope separator. Excited states in ²³⁵Pu have been established for the first time by means of -ray spectroscopy following the EC decay of ²³⁵Am. The deduced log ft value suggests that the ground state of ²³⁵Am should have the 5/2^-[523] configuration. The - coincidence result has revealed that the 5/2^-[523] state in ²³¹Np populated by the favored transition of ²³⁵Am is located at < 15 keV, which allows us to precisely determine the Q value of ²³⁵Am.     

Lifetimes of proton unstable states in 113I measured by the particle-X-ray coincidence technique

The -delayed proton decay of ¹¹³Xe was investigated by means of a total absorption -ray spectrometer and a telescope for particle detection. The energy window available for the -delayed proton decay of ¹¹³Xe and the relative branching ratios for proton transitions to the ¹¹²Te states were remeasured. The lifetimes of proton unstable ¹¹³I states populated in the electron capture decay of ¹¹³Xe were determined by means of the particle-X-ray coincidence technique. The results of the lifetime measurements are compared with statistical-model calculations.     

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.     

Alpha-decay of neutron-deficient 200Fr and heavier neighbours

A new measurement of the ²⁰⁰Fr -decay half-life, with improved accuracy compared to previous measurements, has been carried out at the Isolde-CERN on-line mass separator. A half-life of 49(4) ms has been obtained, which is substantially different from earlier literature values. For the ¹⁹⁶At daughter decay, a half-life of 389(54) ms and an branching ratio b = 94(5)% were measured. In addition, the half-lives of ^{201, 203, 205}Fr and ^197,199At are reported.     

Collective structures of the <Superscript>131</Superscript>Cs nucleus

The collective structures of ¹³¹Cs have been investigated by in-beam -ray spectroscopic techniques following the ¹²⁴Sn (^11B , 4n) reaction at a beam energy E_lab = 57MeV. The previously established rotational bands, built on g_7/2, d_5/2 and the unique-parity h_11/2 orbitals, have been extended and evolve into new bands involving rotationally aligned (h_11/2)² and (h_11/2)² quasiparticles. In addition, a new multiquasiparticle band based on the g_7/2 g_7/2 h_11/2 configuration has also been observed. Theoretical interpretations for the assigned configurations are discussed in the framework of Total Routhian Surface (TRS) and Tilted Axis Cranking (TAC) model calculations. TAC model calculations predict a decrease in the B(M1) values with increasing rotational frequency for the g_7/2/d_5/2 (h_11/2)² and h_11/2 (h_11/2)² bands, thus indicating a magnetic rotation character for these bands.     

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.     

Beta-decay of 71Co and 73Co

A decay spectroscopy study of the neutron-rich cobalt isotopes has been performed using fragmentation of a ⁸⁶Kr³⁶⁺ beam and the new LISE2000 spectrometer at GANIL. For ⁷¹Co and ⁷³Co, the -delayed radiation has been observed for the first time, and the half-lives were found to be 79(5) ms and 41(4) ms, respectively. Features of the decay are discussed qualitatively in terms of nuclear models.     

Synthesis of peptidomimetics using a polymer-bound Boc-linker

Boc-resin-bound -hydroxy--amino-aldehydes are accessible starting from N-terminally bound amino acidesters by using Dondoni's C₁-homologationreaction sequence. The conversion of these synthons totwo different peptide mimetics – 2-hydroxy-1,3-ethyl-diamines and -hydroxy--amino-vinyl sulfones – hasbeen investigated. The successful transfer of thecomplex -amino acid homologation reactionsequence into solid-phase chemistry demonstrates thepotentials of the Boc-resin for synthesis of peptidomimetics.     

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.     

Investigation of Rust Formed on Steel Surfaces and Related Oxyhydroxides

In order to indentity the corrosion products formed on steel surfaces from ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, detailed Mössbauer parameters have been determined for various kinds of iron-oxyhydroxides: -FeOOH, -FeOOH, -FeOOH and -FeOOH. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer measurements of the iron oxyhydroxides indicate the following results. Fe occupies a single site in -FeOOH, but below the Néel temperature as at e.g., 300 K the Mössbauer spectrum is always broad, showing a distribution of the strength of the magnetic exchange interactions. Its shape depends on the grain-size and synthetic methods of the specimen. Fe occupies 3 sites in -FeOOH. High-purity reagents of -FeOOH always contain small amounts of -FeOOH and their Néel temperatures depend on the synthetic methods of the specimen. Mössbauer spectroscopy of the synthetic -FeOOH shows very broad distribution of the hyperfine magnetic fields.     

Luminescence of Trivalent Thulium Ions in Complexes with β-Diketones

It is established that a fairly intense luminescence of thulium can be observed in solutions (suspensions of residues) of different-ligand complexes that include -diketone and an organic base. The luminescence characteristics of Tm compounds are determined in the series of acetyl acetone derivatives with different substituents, including fluorinated ones, of different length and structure. A relationship is found between I, , and of the Tm complexes and the character of the substituents in a -diketone molecule.     

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.     

Updated Analysis of Gallium Chelate and Vanadium Chelate Solutions with 4‐(2‐Pyridylazo)Resorcinol and Xylenol Orange

The characteristic factors of the gallium and vanadium chelates with the ligands 4(2pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and xylenol orange (XO) have been determined with the aid of the principle of correction, which makes it possible to eliminate the influence of the surplus ligand in the solution of its chelate with methane (which makes calculation easier) and thereby provides a more acceptable method in comparison with others. The real molar coefficients of extinction of the chelates Ga and V with PAR and XO have been determined and a detailed calculation of the stoichiometric ratios of chelates has been made. The results have shown that the chelates formed have the following structure: Ga(PAR), Ga(XO), V(PAR)₂, and V(XO).     

Analysis of the Structure of the Bands in the IR Spectrum of β-D Glucose by the Regularized Method of Deconvolution

Deconvolution of the IR absorption spectrum of -D glucose in the spectral range 1500–450 cm^–1 has been carried out. The results of the deconvolution were compared with the IR and Raman spectra recorded at room and low temperatures and with the data obtained by theoretical calculations for the frequencies of the normal vibrations of the -D glucose molecule in the crystalline state. It is shown that deconvolution of the IR spectra recorded at room temperature makes it possible to separate the bands observed experimentally only at a very low temperature of the sample and a number of components that were not resolved earlier. The number of bands separated on deconvolution of the IR spectra of -D glucose in the spectral range 1500–450 cm^–1 is more than twice the number of visible absorption maxima in the usual spectrum. The results of deconvolution of the IR spectrum of -D glucose are in good agreement with the data of theoretical calculations for the frequencies of the normal vibrations of the -D glucose molecule in the crystalline state. The existence of the factor-group (Davydov) splitting of a number of frequencies of the nondegenerate fundamental vibrations of molecules in a crystal cell has been revealed in the IR spectrum of -D glucose. It was concluded that the model of an isolated molecule is insufficient for detailed theoretical interpretation of the vibrational spectra of carbohydrates.