Intermediate-mass-fragment production in the reaction of 200 MeV 3He with Ag

Energy spectra of Z = 4–12 fragments emitted in the reactions of 198.6 MeV ³He with ^natAg were measured over the full angular range. Back-angle data are consistent with evaporation from the compound nucleus; the spectra evolve with Z from maxwellian to gaussian shapes, in agreement with earlier theoretical predictions. A two-component moving source model gives evidence for the existence of a strong non-equilibrium component, with a steep Z^−5.3 dependence. The data are compared with the predictions of an accreting source model.     

Rotational bands in 169Re

Based on the systematic investigation of the data available for nuclei with A≥ 40, a Z ^1/3-dependence for the nuclear charge radii is shown to be superior to the generally accepted A ^1/3 law. A delicate scattering of data around R _c/Z ^1/3 is inferred as owing to the isospin effect and a linear dependence of R _c/Z ^1/3 on N/Z (or (N - Z)/2) is found. This inference is well supported by the microscopic Relativistic Continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) calculation conducted for the proton magic Ca, Ni, Zr, Sn and Pb isotopes including the exotic nuclei close to the neutron drip line. With the linear isospin dependence provided by the data and RCHB theory, a new isospin-dependent Z ^1/3 formula for the nuclear charge radii is proposed. Received: 23 September 2001 / Accepted: 21 January 2002     

Effect of nuclear shell structure on fusion reaction

The dependence of the fusion reaction on the nuclear shell structure was investigated for the two reaction systems ⁸²Se + ¹³⁸Ba and ⁸²Se + ¹³⁴Ba, where the nucleus ¹³⁸Ba has a closed neutron shell N=82, while the nucleus ¹³⁴Ba has a neutron number 78. Evaporation residues for these fusion reactions were measured near the Coulomb barrier region. The measured evaporation residue cross sections for the reaction system ⁸²Se + ¹³⁸Ba were two orders of magnitude larger than those for the reaction system ⁸²Se + ¹³⁴Ba in the excitation energy region of 20–30 MeV. The evaporation residue cross sections were compared with those of the other reaction systems that produce the same compound nucleus as the present systems. It was found that the fusion reaction ⁸²Se + ¹³⁸Ba occurs without hindrance, while that of ⁸²Se + ¹³⁴Ba is considerably hindered, as commonly observed in the massive reaction system with the charge product Z _p Z _t >1800 of projectile and target. This suggests the importance of the shell closure N=82 in the heavy-ion fusion reaction.     

A study of charge,energy and angular momentum transfer in the 56Fe + 197Au and 56Fe + 107, 109Ag reactions at 7.2 and 8.3 MeV/nucleon

Kinetic energy spectra, charge and angular distributions have been measured for thirty elements produced in the reactions of 401 and 460 MeV ⁵⁶Fe + ¹⁹⁷Au and in the reaction of 470 MeV ⁵⁶Fe + ^{107, 109}Ag. In addition, γ-ray multiplicities were measured at the 470 MeV bombarding energy for both targets at a limited number of angles. The charge distributions for the deep-inelastic component of these systems increase monotonically with atomic number in the measured angular range, whereas, those for the quasielastic component are skewed toward Z-values below the projectile. The angular distributions for the Fe-induced reactions show a smooth evolution from a side-peaked to forward-peaked distributions with increasing mass transfer. This side peak is more intense and more persistent for mass transfers from the projectile to the target. In the quasielastic region the γ-ray multiplicity is observed to increase almost linearly with decreasing Q-value whereas for large negative β-values it is essentially constant and independent of the exit channel mass asymmetry. Finally, angular distributions, angle-integrated charge distributions and γ-ray multiplicities have been compared with a diffusion model in which the dynamics of shape evolution, N/Z equilibration, angular momentum and energy exchange occur via one-body forces.     

Fission of medium mass elements induced by 126 MeV 14N ions

Ni, Se, Mo, Ag, Ho and Au targets were bombarded by 126 MeV ¹⁴N ions in order to study compound nucleus fission. The large angular momentum brought in by the projectile implies much greater fission probabilities than those obtained when the same compound nuclei are created with light projectiles. We employed two surface-barrier detectors. The results obtained are fission cross sections, angular correlations and kinetic energy and mass distributions. Fissilities are found to decrease exponentially with the ratio Z²/A of the fissioning nucleus until Z²/A = 19 (molybdenum) and then to increase again for lower Z²/A. The calculations of fissilities performed with the fission barrier of Myers and Swiatecki, and including angular momentum effects in evaporation-fission competition, gives the same variation of fissilities as the experimental one, but the results obtained are lower than the experimental values. The total kinetic energies measured are higher than the predictions of the liquid drop model by around 10 MeV (Nix). The shapes of the mass distributions indicate that the value of x_BG (Businaro-Gallone point) is lower than 0.4 (silver).     

A study of the influence of shell effects in nuclear level densities on the decay of the compound nucleus58Ni

Mass andZ-distributions of fusion products from the reaction 5.8 MeV/u⁴⁶Ti+¹²C were measured in the angular range betweenθ _lab=1.5° and 8° using a time-of-flightΔE?E telescope. The results are compared with an earlier measurement of the reaction³² S+²⁶Mg, in which the same compound nucleus was produced at higher excitation energy. The residual nuclide distributions are interpreted with the aid of evaporation calculations and the influence of shell effects in the level densities is discussed. The data are consistent with the assumption that the shell effects vanish above 15 to 20 MeV excitation energy, that is, that they are essentially only important for the last evaporation step.     

Evaporation residues from the fusion of 32S on 27Al at E = 142–227 MeV

The evaporation residues from the reaction ³²S on ²⁷Al were measured at 142, 153, 175, 187 and 227 MeV incident sulphur energies, using a time-of-flight spectrometer. The measured fusion-evaporation residue excitation function shows a maximum around E_lab = 170 MeV, which corresponds to a limiting angular momentum of 43 ħ. Several possible mechanisms were investigated as being responsible for this limitation. It was found that both fission and entrance channel effects could be the limiting factors for the fusion-evaporation cross section at high energies.     

Study of the reaction mechanism of incomplete fusion with the reactions40Ar+11B,12,13C at 7 MeV/amu

Velocity spectra of evaporation residues produced in reactions with reverse kinematics have been measured inclusively and in coincidence with charged light particles. The results indicate that the residues due to incomplete-fusion reactions originate from cluster transfer reactions with distinctQ-values and with angular momenta in the entrance channel less than the critical angular momentuml _cr for complete fusion. No significant dependence on the target structure is observed.     

Formation and decay of the compound nucleus studied in the reaction20Ne+27Al

Energy and velocity spectra, angular and mass distributions have been measured for evaporation residue products of the^{20, 22}Ne+²⁷Al system in the energy range ofE _L (²⁰Ne)=51 to 395 MeV and in the angular rangeθ=2° and 30°. Calculations with simple assumptions of the velocity and angular distributions of the evaporation residues are presented and compared to the data. The structure seen in the mass distributions, a competition between α-particle and nucleon evaporation in the deexcitation of the compound nucleus, is described well by calculations with the computer code CASCADE. The evaporation residues exhibit mass distributions varying systematically as a function of the excitation energy. The excitation function of the evaporation residue cross section is compared with theoretical models. At higher incident energies contributions of incomplete momentum transfer (incomplete fusion) are observed. A limitation for complete compound nucleus formation with following light particle evaporation is found.     

Isospin dependence of the nuclear level width in the compound nucleus 30P

The excitation functions of ²⁹Si(p, α₀)²⁶Al, ²⁹Si(p, α₁)²⁶Al and ²⁹Si(p, α₂)²⁶Al were measured with high beam energy resolution in order to determine the isospin dependence of the nuclear level width of the composite nucleus, ³⁰P, at an average excitation energy of 19.6 MeV. From an auto-correlation analysis of these excitation functions, the level widths of the T_< = 0 and T_> = 1 isospin states are determined as 81 ± 17 keV and 104 ± 35 keV, respectively. An analysis including isospin mixing is also performed. With the aid of the statistical theory of nuclear reactions, the coherence energies are used to deduce the relative densities of two isospin states. The predictions of the Fermi gas model of level densities including isospin are in good agreement with the obtained results.     

The spin-isospin decomposition of the nuclear symmetry energy from low to high density

The energy per particle BA in nuclear matter is calculated up to high baryon density in the whole isospin asymmetry range from symmetric matter to pure neutron matter.The results,obtained in the framework of the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approximation with two-and three-body forces,confirm the well-known parabolic dependence on the asymmetry parameterβ=(N?Z)/A(β^2 law)that is valid in a wide density range.To investigate the extent to which this behavior can be traced back to the properties of the underlying interaction,aside from the mean field approximation,the spin-isospin decomposition of BA is performed.Theoretical indications suggest that theβ^2 law could be violated at higher densities as a consequence of the three-body forces.This raises the problem that the symmetry energy,calculated according to theβ^2 law as a difference between BA in pure neutron matter and symmetric nuclear matter,cannot be applied to neutron stars.One should return to the proper definition of the nuclear symmetry energy as a response of the nuclear system to small isospin imbalance from the Z=N nuclei and pure neutron matter.     

Isospin aspects in nuclear reactions involving Ca beams at 25 MeV/nucleon

Isospin dependence of dynamical and thermodynamical properties observed in reactions ⁴⁰Ca+ ^40,48Ca and ⁴⁰Ca + ⁴⁶Ti at 25 MeV/nucleon has been studied. We used the CHIMERA multi-detector array. Strong isospin effects are seen in the isotopic distributions of light nuclei and in the competition between different reaction mechanisms in semi-central collisions. We will show also preliminary results obtained in nuclear collision ⁴⁸Ca + ⁴⁸Ca at 25MeV/nucleon, having very high N/Z value in the entrance channel (N/Z = 1.4). The enhancement of evaporation residue production confirms the strong role played by the N/Z degree of freedom in nuclear dynamics.     

Measurements ofK-shell ionization with132Xe and208Pb projectiles in the energy range of 1.4–5.9 MeV/u

Projectile and targetK-shell ionization cross sections induced by 3.6-, 4.7-, and 5.9 MeV/u¹³²Xe ions and 1.4-, 3.6-, 4.7-, and 5.9 MeV/u²⁰⁸Pb ions from the UNILAC in thin solid targets between C and U are measured. The cross sections are discussed in terms of the molecular model of innershell vacancy production in heavy ion-atom collisions. The sharing of 2p _1/2σ vacancies between theK shells of the two collision partners in these very heavy ion-atom collisions is found to deviate from the Meyerhof-Demkov formula forR≦10^?2. The measured ionization cross sections are compared with theoretical calculations for 1sσ and 2p _1/2σ excitation cross sections. AZ _UA=Z₁+Z ₂ dependence is found independent ofZ ₁/Z ₂. Outer-shell vacancy configurations measured in these close encounters are reported.     

Fusion and nonfusion phenomena in the 6Li + 40Ca reaction at 156 MeV

Reaction products from ⁶Li-induced reactions on ⁴⁰Ca at 156 MeV have been studied using the dE × E identification as well as the inclusive γ-ray method. The complete fusion cross section has been found to be σ_F = 67 ± 20 mb. The Z-distribution of fusion evaporation residues is compared with statistical model predictions. The Z-spectrum of reaction products shows a maximum at 15 ? Z ? 20, probably due to transfer and to incomplete fusion. It is suggested that the small value of the fusion cross section is due to the strong competition of ⁶Li break-up processes.     

The prompt γ-ray de-excitation of evaporation residues of 39K and Se

Average multiplicities 〈M_γ〉 and average energies 〈E_γ〉 have been measured for evaporation residues of the compound nuclei ³⁹K and Se produced in reactions of 107, 155 and 197 MeV ¹²C projectiles with ²⁷Al and ^natNi target nuclei. Both quantities are found to be essentially independent of the projectile energy. For the reaction 197 MeV ¹²C + ²⁷A1, 〈M_γ〉 increases as a function of product atomic number. The results are interpreted in terms of the angular momentum dissipation which occurs during the particle evaporation cascade.     

Fragmentation cross sections of32S at 0.7, 1.2 and 200 GeV/nucleon

We used CR39 plastic nuclear track detectors (C₁₂H₁₈O₇) in combination with automatic track measurement techniques to determine total charge changing and partial cross sections for the production of fragments of chargeZ _F =6 toZ _F =15 in collisions of³²S beam nuclei at energies of 0.7, 1.2 and 200 GeV/nucleon in targets H, C, CR39, CH₂, Al, Cu, Ag and Pb. By application of factorization rules measured partial cross sections are separated into pure nuclear and electromagnetic components. Total and partial cross sections for electromagnetic dissociation are compared with theoretical models. The energy dependence of pure nuclear cross sections is investigated.     

Evolution of the N = 20 and N = 28 shell closures in neutron-rich nuclei

The isospin dependence of shell closure phenomena is studied for light neutron-rich nuclei within a microscopic self-consistent approach using the Gogny force. Introducing configuration mixing, ³²Mg is found to be dynamically deformed, although the N = 20 spherical shell closure persists at the mean-field level for all N = 20 isotones. In contrast, the N = 28 spherical shell closure is found to disappear for N - Z≥ 10 whereas deformed shell closures are preserved and lead to shape coexistence in ⁴⁴ S. Configuration mixing shows that the ground state of this nucleus is triaxially deformed. The first 2⁺ excitation energy E_x = 1.46 MeV and the reduced transition probability B(E2;0⁺ _gs→ 2⁺ ₁)= 420 e ² fm ⁴ obtained with our approach are in good agreement with experimental data. Received: 26 July 2000 / Accepted: 30 August 2000     

Excitation of the T> components of the giant dipole states in N > Z nuclei by muon capture

Muon capture on N > Z nuclei is proposed as a means of studying the T_> isospin component of giant dipole states. Calculations for nickel isotopes (except ⁵⁶Ni) indicate that these states are strongly excited by muon capture. Possible experiments to detect these states are discussed.     

High-spin states in the single-closed-shell nucleus 142Nd

The excited states of ¹⁴²₆₀Nd₈₂ have been studied using the ¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 2nγ)¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁴²Ce(α, 4γ)¹⁴²Nd reactions. Singles γ-ray, γ-γ coincidence spectra and angular distributions of γ-rays with respect to the beam direction have been measured. Excited states up to 6.7 MeV with spin values up to 14 are populated. The energy spacings between the lower excited states with spin values up to 8 are similar to those found in the lighter N = 82, even-Z isotones. The majority of the observed states with spin values up to 10 can be explained as two-quasiparticle states. Several of the highest-spin states can be explained qualitatively as fourquasiparticle states. Strong population of the highest excited states (at about 5.7 MeV) is noted, like in other N = 82 isotones. The observed levels in ¹⁴²Nd are compared with the shell model predictions using a simple δ-force interaction between two nucleons.     

Evaporation barriers for4He indicate very extended forms for many emitting nuclei

We have analyzed a large set of mean energies and angular anisotropies for evaporative⁴He emission to obtain barriers to evaporation,B. These exit channel barriers are often substantially smaller than the corresponding empirical s-wave fusion barriersE ₀. The differences (E ₀-B) are interpreted as indicators of the extent of distortion of the emitters. These distortions have in turn been characterized by the deformation parameter for a spheroid α₂₀. ForZ=80 the dependence ofB or {α}₂₀ on spin is somewhat suggestive of the superdeformed shapes predicted by the liquid drop model. ForZ>70 significant distortions are indicated for emitters of both large and small spin.