The systematics of (n, α) reaction cross-sections at 14.5 MeV neutron energy

A comprehensive review of the experimental data for 14.5 MeV neutron induced reaction crosssections for (n, α) reaction has been made for the isotopes having Z up to 82. Two different parameter groups have been considered by the classification of nuclei into odd-mass and even-even nuclei. The empirical formulae with two parameters for the evaluation of (n, α) reaction cross-sections are discussed in the present study. The odd-even effects have been observed as the cross-sections of odd-mass nuclei are higher as compared to their neighboring even-even nuclei. The shell effects have also been established at magic nucleon numbers for these reaction cross-sections.     

Large-scale shell model calculations for exotic nuclei

Recent shell model calculations for the neutron-rich nuclei around the magic numbers N = 20, N = 28 and N = 40 are reviewed. We stress two points: i) The crucial role played by the monopole part of the effective interaction that determines the evolution of the spherical mean field. In particular, the reduction in the quasiparticle gaps at the magic numbers can erode or even erase the shell closures. ii) The rich variety of structures that can be found in these situations, with coexisting deformed and spherical states, rapid changes of behaviour with N or Z, and the massive occurrence of intruder states as ground states. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: alfredo.poves@uam.es     

丰中子Zn核素奇特核结构讨论和展望

不稳定核结构是当前核物理研究的前沿热点问题之一，尤其是针对丰中子幻数核附近的区域。中子数N=40, 50附近镍区域核素展现出丰富的结构特征，激励了众多理论和实验研究。原子核的基本性质与核的结构密切相关，这里我们选择分析丰中子Zn(Z=30)同位素的基本性质来进一步了解这一核区的核结构特征。本文回顾了在欧洲核子中心(CERN)的ISOLDE测量Zn 同位素的实验，基于62–80Zn 核素基态和长寿命同核异能态的自旋、磁矩、电四极矩以及电荷均方根半径等基本性质，并结合各种大规模壳模型计算结果，系统地讨论了这一核区的壳结构演化、幻数特征、奇特形变和形状共存，以及核子间关联激发等物理现象。最后，基于已有的实验数据和物理现象，以及理论预言的 N=50以上镍核区的能级演化特征，我们提出在ISOLDE的共线共振电离谱装置上测量更加丰中子的81,82Zn 核素基本性质的实验设想。     

Shell evolution in neutron-rich nuclei: the single particle perspective

The isospin dependence of spin-orbit(SO)splitting becomes increasingly important as N/Z increases in neutron-rich nuclei.Following the initial independent-particle strategy toward explaining the occurrence of magic numbers,we systematically investigated the isospin effect on the shell evolution in neutron-rich nuclei within the Woods-Saxon mean-field potential and the SO term.It is found that new magic numbers N=14 and N=16 may emerge in neutron-rich nuclei if one changes the sign of the isospin-dependent term in the SO coupling,whereas the traditional magic number,N=20,may disappear.The magic number N=28 is expected to be destroyed despite the sign choice of the isospin part in the SO splitting,corresponding to the strength of the SO coupling term.Meanwhile,the N=50 and 82 shells may persist within the single particle scheme,although there is a decreasing trend of their gaps toward extreme proton-deficient nuclei.Besides,an appreciable energy gap appears at N=32 and 34 in neutron-rich Ca isotopes.All these results are more consistent with those of the interacting shell model when enhancing the strength of the SO potential in the independent particle model.The present study may provide a more reasonable starting point than the existing one for not only the interacting shell model but also other nuclear many-body calculations toward the neutron-dripline of the Segrèchart.     

Shell structure in nuclei

A review of shell structure for spherical and a variety of deformed nuclei is presented. The microscopic-macroscopic method of Strutinsky is used to calculate potential energy surfaces with the pure harmonic oscillator and the modified harmonic oscillator. New sets of “magic numbers” for a variety of different prolate, oblate and axially asymmetric shapes are generated. Experimental evidence for the special stability caused by these shell effects is presented with special emphasis on the lightest and heaviest nuclei where the effects are most pronounced. The radial diffuseness parameter is treated as a Strutinsky variable and its significance in extrapolating into the superheavy region considered. The calculation of shell effects for high spin states is also reviewed.     

Coulomb displacement energies and the structure of the low-lying negative-parity states in 2s-1d shell nuclei

Negative-parity states in A = 13–33 nuclei are described as two-component wave functions, one containing a hole in the 1p shell, the other a particle in the 1f–2p shell. The large difference in Coulomb displacement energy (CDE) for both components has been used to determine the relative intensities by fitting the experimental CDE. For the lowest-lying states these intensities are compared to experimental ones derived from spectroscopic factors for pick-up reactions. Strong binding-energy effects seem to play an important role for these states.     

A systematic study of superheavy nuclei for Z = 114 and beyond using the relativistic mean field approach

We have studied the structural properties of even-even, neutron deficient, Z = 114–126, superheavy nuclei in the mass region A ∼ 270–320, using an axially deformed relativistic mean field model. The calculations are performed with three parameter sets (NL1, TM1 and NL-SH), in order to see the dependence of the structural properties on the force used. The calculated ground state shapes are found to be parameter dependent. For some parameter sets, many of the nuclei are degenerate in their ground state configuration. Special attention is given to the investigation of the magic structures (spherical shell closures) in the superheavy region. We find that some known magic numbers are absent and new closed shells are predicted. Large shell gaps appear at Z = 80, 92, (114), 120 and 138, N = 138, (164), (172), 184, (198), (228) and 258, irrespective of the parameter sets used. The numbers in parenthesis are those which correspond to relatively smaller gaps. The existence of new magic numbers in the valley of superheavy elements is discussed. It is suggested that nuclei around Z = 114 and N = 164 ∼ 172 could be considered as candidates for the next search of superheavy nuclei. The existence of superheavy islands around Z = 120 and N = 172 or N = 184 double shell closure is also discussed.     

Empirical relation and establishment of shell effects in (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>, 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>) reaction cross-sections at 14 MeV

The experimental data for (n, 2n) reaction cross-sections around 14 MeV neutron energy have been collected from the literature and analysed for the isotopes having 1 ≤ Z ≤ 82. The empirical relations for the reaction cross-sections have been obtained, which show fairly good fits with the experimental values. The shell effects have been established at magic nucleon numbers for (n, 2n) reaction cross-sections around 14 MeV neutron energy. The odd-even effects have also been observed as the cross-sections for odd-mass nuclei are higher than their neighbouring even-even nuclei.      

Frontiers and challenges of the nuclear shell model

Two recent developments of the nuclear shell model are presented. One is a breakthrough in computational feasibility owing to the Monte Carlo Shell Model (MCSM). By the MCSM, the structure of low-lying states can be studied with realistic interactions for a wide, nearly unlimited basically, variety of nuclei. The magic numbers are the key concept of the shell model, and are shown to be different in exotic nuclei from those of stable nuclei. Its novel origin and robustness will be discussed. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

A study of the (α, t) reaction on 19F, 27Al, 51V and 59Co

The angular distributions of tritons from the (α, t) reaction on ¹⁹F, ²⁷Al, ⁵¹V and ⁵⁹Co nuclei corresponding to the (0⁺) ground states and (2⁺) excited states in the final nuclei have been measured in the angular range between 15° and 170° at α-particle energies of 25 MeV. For reactions on ²⁷Al and ⁵¹V nuclei, the differential excitation functions have also been obtained at different angles of outgoing tritons at E_α from 20 to 25 MeV. The experimental angular distributions are analysed by the DWBA approximation on the assumption of a nucleon stripping mechanism. The analyses of the present results and the data obtained earlier for the (α, t) reaction on the 1 p shell nuclei, A ? 30, reveal that the distinguishing feature of the reaction under study is the presence of backward angle peaks in the reaction cross section, which appear to be associated with exchange processes. For the (α, t) reaction on the heavier nuclei (A > 30), the dominant mechanism is nucleon stripping.     

Shell model results for exotic nuclei

Recent developments of the nuclear shell model are presented. The magic numbers are the key concept of the shell model, and are shown to be different in exotic nuclei from those of stable nuclei. Their novel origin and robustness will be discussed. By the Monte Carlo Shell Model (MCSM), the structure of low-lying states can be studied with realistic interactions for a wide variety of nuclei. Some examples are discussed in connection to the triaxial deformation and a narrow shell gap at N = 20 for Z smaller.Received: 10 January 2003, Published online: 9 March 2004PACS: 21.60.Cs Shell model - 21.30.Fe Forces in hadronic systems and effective interactions - 13.75.Cs Nucleon-nucleon interactions (including antinucleons, deuterons, etc.) - 21.10.-k Properties of nuclei; nuclear energy levels     

Properties unique in nuclei far from β stability line

Nucleons with very small binding energies present in nuclei far from the β stability line produce a unique shell structure, which leads to the disappearance of traditional magic numbers or to the creation of new magic numbers and new deformation regions. We study the shell structure in terms of the variation of two important ingredients, the kinetic energy and the spin-orbit splitting, as a function of the orbital angular momentum ℓ, when binding energies of neutrons decrease towards zero. It is also shown that for low-lying threshold strength, a negative sign is possible for the polarization charge coming from the coupling of one-particle to isoscalar shape oscillations. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

Shell-model structure of exotic nuclei beyond <Superscript>132</Superscript>Sn

We report on a study of exotic nuclei around doubly magic ¹³²Sn in terms of the shell model employing a realistic effective interaction derived from the CD-Bonn nucleon-nucleon potential. The short-range repulsion of the bare potential is renormalized by constructing a smooth low-momentum potential, V_low-k, that is used directly as input for the calculation of the effective interaction. In this paper we focus attention on the nuclei ¹³⁴Sn and ¹³⁵Sb which, with an N/Z ratio of 1.68 and 1.65, respectively, are at present the most exotic nuclei beyond ¹³²Sn for which information exists on excited states. Comparison shows that the calculated results for both nuclei are in very good agreement with the experimental data. We present our predictions of the hitherto unknown spectrum of ¹³⁶Sn.     

Feature of production of new superheavy nuclei in actinide-based complete-fusion reactions

Within the dinuclear system model we analyse the production of unknown superheavy nuclei in various actinide-based complete-fusion reactions. Different predictions of the properties of the heaviest nuclei are used. The dependence of the calculated evaporation residue cross-sections on the predicted shell structure and magic numbers of the heaviest nuclei is discussed.     

Calculation of the imaginary part of the nucleon-nucleus optical-model potential

The imaginary part of the optical-model potential for the scattering of nucleons by nuclei is studied in the frame of the shell-model approach to nuclear reactions. Special attention is paid to the one-hole target nuclei. The imaginary part of the optical-model potential in the second order in the nucleon-nucleus interaction is divided into two parts. The first corresponds to the average resonant scattering. The second corresponds to the inelastic scattering leading to the non-collective states of the target nuclei. A local potential equivalent to the non-local theoretical one is constructed in order to facilitate comparison with experiment. Numerical calculations concern the scattering of 14.5 MeV protons by ³⁹K. It is found that the imaginary part depends upon the angular momentum and that its radial variation is governed by strong shell effects. The predicted absorption is approximately 60% of the experimental one. The average resonant scattering contributes to the imaginary part of the optical-model potential as much as the inelastic non-collective excitations of the target.