Structure of the mirror nuclei21Ne and21Na

Theγ-decay of levels in²¹Ne up to 10 MeV excitation energy has been investigated byn — γ coincidence measurements initiated with the¹⁸O(α, nγ) reaction at 12, 13, 14.5 and 15.4 MeV bombarding energies. Spin(-parity) assignments of excited states are obtained by combining then — γ angular correlation measurements performed atE _α=11, 11.82 and 13.6 MeV with a consideration of lifetimes, neutron penetrabilities of the unbound states, and information from the mirror nucleus²¹Na. The resulting values of E_x[keV]?J ^π are as follows: 4525-5⁺, 4686-3⁺, 5431-7⁺, 5549-3⁺, 5819-7^?, 6175-7⁺, 6268-9⁺, 6550-9, 6639-9, 7006-7⁺, 7041-9, 7356-7 or 9, 7422-11^(?), 7648-7⁺, 7981-11 or (7⁺), 8154-9, 8240-11, 8664-9^? or 11 or 13^?, 9401-13^?, 9867-13^? or 15⁺, 9941-13^? or 15 or 17⁺. The assignment of mirror levels in²¹Ne —²¹Na has been extended to the 6175 keV level of²¹Ne. Excitation energies, electromagnetic properties, Gamow?Teller matrix elements and spectroscopic factors of positive parity states are compared with the results of shell-model calculations which employ a unifieds—d shell Hamiltonian and the unrestricted configuration space of the 0d _5/2 —1s _1/2—0d_3/2 shell. Collective properties contained in shell model wave functions are explored up to the termination of bands atJ=17/2 or 19/2. The spectrum of intruder states in²¹Ne is observed to begin with a 5628 keV,J ^π=7/2⁺ state. The 7422, 8664 and 9401 keV levels are assigned as members of previously established negative-parity rotational bands.     

Evidence for critical angular momenta in the formation of 26Al via the 14N + 12C channel

States in ²⁰Ne have been studied through the ¹²C(¹⁴N, ⁶Li)²⁰Ne reaction. Excitation functions have been measured from 20 MeV to 60 MeV in steps of 5 MeV at different angles for ²⁰Ne states up to 10 MeV excitation energy. States of ²⁴Mg have been also populated using the ¹²C(¹⁴N, d)²⁴Mg reaction; excitation functions of ²⁴Mg states up to 9 MeV excitation energies as well as angular distributions at 35 MeV bombarding energy have been obtained. Comparisons of data with Hauser-Feshbach calculations show clearly that the compound nucleus mechanism is the main process for both ¹²C(¹⁴N, ⁶Li)²⁰Ne and ¹²C(¹⁴N, d)²⁴Mg reactions. Strong evidence has been provided for inhibition of the ²⁶Al compound nucleus formation for angular momenta higher than critical values. The location of the yrast line in the ²⁶Al nucleus is discussed.     

Search for highly deformed shape isomers in 28Si, 24Mg and 20Ne linked by successive alpha decays

Measurements of the ¹²C(¹⁶O,²⁰Neα)α, ¹²C(¹⁶O,αα)²⁰Ne, ¹²C(¹⁶O,⁸Be)²⁰Ne and ¹²C(¹⁶O,¹⁶Oα)⁸Be reactions have been performed at E_c.m. = 27.0 MeV. For decays proceeding through resonant states in the intermediate ²⁴Mg nucleus, angular correlation measurements have enabled spin assignments to be made and the dominant entrance channel angular momentum to be determined. The results are inconsistent with recent similar experiments which were interpreted as arising from successive α-decays from deformed shape isomeric states in ²⁸Si and ²⁴Mg.     

Concerning high-spin negative parity states in 20Ne

Unambiguous spin and parity assignment have been made from angular correlation measurements to states in ²⁰Ne at 15.18 MeV (6⁺) and 17.40 MeV (9^?). Our results are in disagreement with an earlier 9^? assignment to the 15.18 MeV state. The 17.40 MeV state is assigned to the K = 2^? rotational band based on the 2^? state at 4.97 meV.     

Giant resonance decays in 20Ne, 22Ne and interference effects with quasifree scattering processes

The charged particle (c) decay from excited states up to the giant quadrupole resonance (GQR) in ²⁰Ne has been studied in a kinematically complete ²⁰Ne(α, α′ c) coincident experiment at E_α = 155 MeV. Angular correlation functions and branching ratios are extracted for the α₀, α₁ and p₀ decay channels. The (α, α′ α₀) angular correlation functions are analysed in PWBA in terms of coherent interference with the quasifree scattering process leading to the same final states. Good fits to the data are achieved over a large range of excitation energies. Branching ratios have been extracted and compared to results of Hauser-Feshbach calculations. Above E_x = 12.5 MeV excitation energy a discrepancy was found between the experimentally observed α₀ branching ratios and the HF predictions. These results yield evidence for a direct α₀ decay mechanism of the split isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance in ²⁰Ne. Some results are presented also for a ²²Ne(α, α′ c) coincidence experiment. Qualitative comparison has been made between the general decay behaviour of the two Ne isotopes.     

Determination of angular momenta in the incomplete-fusion channels of the reactions Ta+22Ne and Ir+12C

By using the γ-ray-multiplicity technique, experiments were carried out to determine the input angular momenta lⁱⁿ corresponding to the heavy-ion induced incomplete-fusion reactions involving the emission of fast charged particles. The α-particle and Li-nuclei emission channels were investigated in the reaction ¹⁸¹Ta + ²²Ne at the average Ne-ion energy of 155 MeV and for the α-particle emission channel in the reaction ^natIr+¹²C at E = 100 MeV. The separation of the reaction channels was carried out using an X-ray spectrometer. The angular distributions of the fission fragments were measured in the reaction ¹⁸¹Ta(²²Ne, αf). The data obtained indicate that input angular momenta are equal to about 60 ? and 50 ? for the channels of Li emission and α-emission, respectively, being practically independent of the particle energy. For the α-emission channel the lⁱⁿ values are the same for both reactions within experimental errors. The lifetime of the system of interacting target and projectile nuclei, prior to the emission of an α-particle, has been estimated to be equal to 10^?20s.     

Electron scattering and α-cluster description of 12C and 20Ne

The elastic and inelastic electron scattering form factors in the ground-state band of ¹²C and ²⁰Ne have been calculated using the Brink α-cluster model projected wave functions. From a systematic comparison with experiment it is concluded that usual central forces like the Brink-Boeker B1 force give an unrealistically large clustering while that obtained using density dependent interactions like the Skyrme S1 force is too low. For intermediate values of the clustering it is possible in ¹²C to reproduce simultaneously the elastic as well as the inelastic form factors to the 2₁⁺(4.44 MeV), 3₁^?(9.64 MeV) and 4₁⁺(14.08 MeV) states for not too large transfers. Noticeable discrepancies between calculated and experimental 2₁⁺ and 3₁^? inelastic form factors at transfers higher than 1.5 fm^?1 reveal inherent weaknesses of the α-cluster wave functions which are not corrected after inclusion of the θ-vibrations.     

Alpha-particle unstable states in12C

Alpha particle unstable states in¹²C have been investigated using the three reactions¹⁴N(d, α′)¹²C,¹⁴N(d, α′α)⁸Be and¹²C(α, α′)¹²C. Excitation cross sections and angular distributions have been measured for the reactions¹⁴N(d, α′) at 52 MeV and¹²C(α, α′) at 90 MeV. For a few angle pairs the α-decay of excited states in¹²C have been observed in a¹⁴N(d, α′α) correlation measurement. The reactions selectively excite onlyT=0 states. A previously undetected level with a large α-decay width (Γ=1.2 MeV) has been observed at 15.62 MeV excitation. This level shows up clearly in both reactions and is further distinguished from the nearby 14.08 state in the correlation measurement because of the distinctly different energy distributions of the decay products. On the basis of a particle angular distributions the 15.62 MeV level was assigned spin and parity 4⁺ and the level at 14.08 was assigned 3^?. The latter differs from the value suggest by earlier work. Comparison with DWBA calculations indicates that angular distributions of all other prominent levels are in agreement with their earlier assignments. Two levels at 19.20 and 20.30 MeV (both Γ?0.4 MeV) and three further levels at 21.81, 22.7 and 24.24 MeV also decay predominantly by α-emission.     

The 12C(18O, α)26Mg and 12C(18O, 8Be)22Ne reaction

Excitation functions for α-emission leading to the ground and first excited states of ²⁶Mg and ⁸Be emission leading to the ground and first and second excited states of ²²Ne have been measured at several forward angles for E_c.m. = 15 to 22.4 MeV. There is little evidence for correlated structure. The angular distribution at 16.5 MeV for the α + ²⁶Mg(g.s.) channel is rather structureless while that for the ⁸Be+²²Ne(g.s.) channel appears to be dominated by a J = 13 contribution. Statistical model calculations indicate that much of the yield for both the α and ⁸Be exit channel is compound nuclear in origin, with some indication of a larger direct contribution for the ⁸Be channel at the lower end of the bombarding energy range.     

Large-angle elastic scattering of α-particles from 20Ne and 22Ne

Resonances observed in the 177° (lab) excitation function of α-particles scattered elastically from ²⁰Ne are investigated in terms of a single Regge pole. The position of the pole in the complex angular momentum plane is determined from angular distributions measured at incident α-particle energies of 25.8 and 27.0 MeV, at which energy values prominent maxima were observed in the excitation function and the pole contribution to these angular distributions is therefore expected to be a maximum. The complete trajectory of the pole over the energy region investigated (24.6 to 31.7 MeV) is obtained by means of extrapolation. The pole trajectory across the surface absorption region of the target nucleus clearly shows the reason for the occurrence of only three large resonances in this energy region, the remaining resonances being attenuated considerably. An angular distribution obtained for ²²Ne(α, α)²²Ne at an incident energy of 27.0 MeV also indicates the presence of the Regge pole found for ²⁰Ne at the same energy, even though its strength is severely reduced due to the isotopic dependence effect.     

The heavy-ion reaction channels of the system 16O + 16O

The reaction channels of the system ¹⁶O + ¹⁶O with outgoing heavy particles from lithium to magnesium have been measured using a ΔE-E telescope. Excitation functions from 49 to 65 MeV at θ_Lab = 30° and angular distributions from θ_Lab = 10° (20°) to 50° at E_Lab = 51.5 MeV are presented for the strong transitions. The excitation function of the ¹²C-²⁰Ne (4.25 MeV) channel shows a pronounced regular cross structure with peaks at 52 and 60 MeV. A selective excitation of certain states in the inelastic scattering and the ¹²C-²⁰Ne channel is observed; the yields of the other heavy-ion channels being weaker by at least one order of magnitude. An explanation of this phenomenon is given by considering the angular momentum matching between entrance and exit channels. Furthermore it is shown that no strong dependence of the cross sections on the transferred angular momentum or on the nuclear structure of the final states is observed. Possible implications of these results on the reaction mechanism are discussed.     

High spin states in21Ne

States in²¹Ne up to 6.3 MeV have been investigated by means of the¹⁸O(α,nγ)²Ne reaction. The γ-decay of individual levels was studied in coincidence with neutrons by using a neutron time-of-flight spectrometer. Revised branching ratios are given for the states at 5.34, 5.63, 5.82 and 6.03 MeV. Neutron-gamma angular distribution measurements yielded the following J^π assignments: 5.34∶7/2^?, 5/2⁺; 5.63∶(3/2, 7/2); 5.78∶(3/2, 5/2); 6.03∶9/2^?; 6.18∶(5/2,7/2); and 6.27∶(7/2, 9/2). The results are discussed in the frameworkoftheNilsson model.     

States of 12ΛC formed in the reaction 12C(K−, π−)

States of ¹²_ΛC formed in the (K^?, π^?) reaction have been studied for momentum transfers up to 260 MeV/c, using an incident K^? beam of 800 MeV/c momentum. The angular distributions for the g.s. and for a peak at 11 meV have been measured between 0° and 19° in the laboratory. Limits on the splitting of the 11 MeV peak and on the formation of low-lying excited states are given.     

Spectroscopy of A = 16 from 13C(6Li,t)16O

The ¹³C(⁶Li, t)¹⁶O reaction has been studied at 34 MeV. Selective population of narrow states is observed up to 21 MeV excitation in ¹⁶O. This reaction populates strongly both unnatural-and natural-parity states that have little or no ¹²C + α₀ width. The measured angular distributions are compared with Hauser-Feshbach and finite-range DWBA calculations. Reasonable agreement with the DWBA calculations is found for most of the states strongly populated. The widths of the narrow states populated in the 16–20 MeV excitation region are presented. Comparison of the present data with that from medium-energy inelastic scattering and other multiparticle transfer reactions is made.     

12C(12C, 8Be)16O angular distributions and excitation functions between 35 and 69 MeV bombarding energy

An array of eight detectors has been developed for identifying the particle unstable ⁸Be nucleus from nuclear reactions with high detection efficiency. Absolute cross sections have been measured for the reaction ¹²C(¹²C, ⁸Be_g.s.)¹⁶O to the ground state and to several excited states in ¹⁶O. Excitation functions at seven angles from 15° to 45° (lab) in 5° steps have been measured for bombarding energies between E¹²_C(lab) = 35 and 69 MeV. Excitation functions were obtained for the following states in the residual nucleus ¹⁶O which were found to be strongly populated: g.s.(0⁺); 6.1 MeV (0⁺, 3^?); 6.9 MeV (2⁺); 10.4 MeV (4⁺); 11.1 MeV (4⁺); 14.7 MeV (6⁺,…) and 16.3 MeV (6⁺,…). The energy range is covered in 250 keV (c.m.) steps; at certain energy ranges in ¹²⁵ keV or 50keV steps. All excitation functions exhibit a strong energy dependence of the cross section; pronounced gross structures with superimposed fine structures, similar to those observed for ¹²C+¹²C elastic and inelastic scattering at these energies, are observed. At 19.3 MeV, where resonant structures were observed in the reactions ¹²C(¹²C, p)²³Na, ¹²C(¹²C, n)²³Mg and ¹²C(¹²C, d)²²Na, no resonance is found for the reaction studied here. At 60, 61 and 63 MeV angular distributions have been measured in 1° and 2.5°(lab) angular steps. The excitation functions have been analyzed in terms of Ericson fluctuations and cross-correlation functions.     

Recoil-distance measurements of g-factors for 24Mg(21+) and 20Ne(21+)

Time-differential recoil-into-vacuum measurements have been performed with a plunger on the first-excited I^π = 2⁺ states of ²⁴Mg and ²⁰Ne. The states were populated by the reactions ¹²C(¹⁶O, α)²⁴Mg and ¹²C(¹²C, α)²⁰Ne. The measured anisotropy of the α-γ angular correlation was greatly increased by means of a vertical slit on the annular particle detector. Values of $\text{¦g¦= 0.51 ± 0.02}\text{and}\text{0.54 ± 0.04}$ have been deduced for the ²⁴Mg and ²⁰Ne g-factors, respectively. The mean lives of these states have been determined as τ_m = 2.09 ± 0.13 ps and 0.8 ± 0.2 ps, respectively. Various theoretical calculations are discussed and compared with the measured g-factors.The analysis of the measurement also yields values for the populations of electronic states contributing to the hyperfine interaction. For ²⁰Ne the populations of the different electronic configurations are compared with the results of a separate time-integral measurement, in which the correlations were measured for each ionic state separately. Large fractions of two-electron excited states are found to contribute.     

Untersuchungen zur Struktur des Kerns23Ne

Low-lying states of²³Ne up to about 3 MeV excitation energy have been investigated by studying the reactions²²Ne(d, p)²³Ne (E _d =4–6 MeV) and²³Na(n, p γ)²³Ne(E _n=8–9 MeV). From the (d, p) data,l-values and spectroscopic factors for the transferred neutron have been extracted by DWBA analyses. From the (n, p γ) data,γ-ray branchings and possible spin assignments have been derived. The results are used to discuss the applicability of the Nilsson model and the excited core model to the nucleus²³Ne.     

Messung der Winkelverteilung der α-Teilchen der Kern-Reaktion11B (p, α1)8Be (2,9 MeV)

It is not possible to measure the angular distribution of the α-particles from¹¹B(p, α₁)⁸Be*(2,9 MeV) with a simple one-detector arrangement, because the back-ground α-particle spectrum from⁸Be* will change shape and contents with angle. Therefore a coincidence method is employed. Two detectors are arranged in such a way that with any angle in thelaboratory system the angle between the detectors is 180 degrees in the center ofmass system. By this method angular correlations are eliminated and the angular distribution of α₁ can be measured as long as the two coincident lines, recorded by each detector, are separable. Since this is not always the case the angular distributions are determined only for reactions proceeding through the two excited states in¹²C that are reached with 1.39 and 2.64 MeV proton energy. Angular distributions of the α_o radiation have been remeasured.     

16O, 24, 26Mg, 28Si, 32S, 40Ca(α, 12C) and multi-α-cluster transfer reactions

The (α, ¹²C) reaction has been studied on a variety of nuclei, A = 16 to 40, at E_α = 90.3 MeV. The data indicate a rapid fall-off of cross sections with increasing target mass, approximately as A_t^{?5 ± 1}. This and other systematics are used to estimate cross sections for multi-α-cluster transfer reactions in heavy nuclei and suggest σ_T < 10^?34 cm² consistent with present experimental limits. The data for ²⁴Mg(α, ¹²C)¹⁶O has been studied in more detail and indicates a selective population of final states including ¹⁶O g.s., with oscillatory angular distributions in some instances. Finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation calculations for direct ⁸Be pickup have been performed utilizing cluster overlap amplitudes obtained with zero-order SU(3) wave functions. The calculations are in qualitative, and often quantitative, agreement with shapes and absolute magnitudes of the measured angular distributions although the cross sections for certain α-cluster states (2⁺, E_x ≈ 7 MeV; 4⁺, E_x ≈ 10.3 MeV) are greatly overestimated with this model. Other more complicated mechanisms, such as successive α-transfer, cannot be excluded. The systematics of the calculated ⁸Be cluster overlaps and the calculated and measured (α, ¹²C) cross sections are investigated, and implications for multi-α-cluster transfer reactions are discussed.     

The 12C + 12C sub-coulomb fusion cross section

The ¹²C + ¹²C fusion cross section has been studied over the energy range 2.46 ≦ E_c.m. ≦ 5.88 MeV. The yields of the γ-rays emitted from the first excited states of ²³Na and ²⁰Ne, following ²⁴Mg compound nucleus decay via proton- and α-emissions, were measured using a Ge(Li) detector. The fusion cross section was obtained by normalizing these yields to previously reported ¹²C(¹²C, p)²³Na and ¹²C(¹²C, α)²⁰Ne cross sections. The data indicate that the cross section below 3.5 MeV is dominated by two or more resonances, and that the average trend in this energy region does not show the absorption-under-the barrier features of the optical model. For astrophysical extrapolations to lower energies, the new results are consistent with the extrapolation proposed by Fowler, Caughlan and Zimmerman.