Perturbation of the decay rate of90m Nb by implantation in metals

The perturbation of the decay constant of^90m Nb implanted in various transition metals (Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Ag and Au) has been determined by direct half-life measurements. Particular care was taken to evaluate and minimize possible systematic errors. The maximum relative change found is ν_Au?ν_Nb/ν_Nb=(4.5±0.8)%     

The decay of 31 sec98Zr, 2.9 sec98Nb and 51 min98Nb

TheΒ- andγ-radiations of⁹⁸Zr and^{98m, g} Nb have been investigated employing scintillation and semiconductor spectrometers and coincidence techniques. Sources of⁹⁸Nb were produced by the⁹⁸Mo(n, p)⁹⁸Nb reaction, sources of⁹⁸Zr by fission of²³⁵U with thermal neutrons applying chemical separations. For⁹⁸Zr, a half-life of 30.7±0.4 sec and aQ _β-value of 2.3±0.2 MeV were obtained, for the⁹⁸Nb isomers, half-lives of 2.86±0.06 sec and 51.3±0.4 min, andQ _β-values of 4.8±0.2 MeV and 4.5±0.2 MeV, respectively. Noγ-rays were observed in the decay of⁹⁸Zr. The decay of 2.9 sec⁹⁸Nb was found to involve 11γ-ray transitions. In the decay of 51 min⁹⁸Nb, 54γ-transitions were detected. Spin and parity of 1⁺ and 4^? were deduced for the isomeric states of⁹⁸Nb.     

Accurate determination of the half-lives of95Zr and95Nb

The half-lives of⁹⁵Zr and⁹⁵Nb have been determined byγ-ray counting using a Ge(Li) detector and a NaI(Tl) crystal. Data have been recorded at regular time intervals during time periods up to nine times the respective half-life. The obtained results are T_1/2(⁹⁵Zr)= (64.05±0.06) days and T_1/2(⁹⁵Nb)=(34.97±0.03) days. A detailed discussion of the measurements and the uncertainty assignment is given.     

The influence of the chemical environment on the decay constant of90mNb

An influence of the chemical environment on the decay constant λ of the 2.38 keV isomeric transition of^90mNb was investigated. The relative difference of the decay constants for Nb atoms in Zr metal and in a fluorine complex was determined to be ¦λ_complex-λ_Zr¦/λ_zr<1.8·10^?3. This result is discussed in view of other experimental results and on theoretical estimates.     

The level scheme of91Nb from the reaction90Zr (p, γ)91Nb

The level scheme of⁹¹Nb has been investigated with the reaction⁹⁰Zr(p, γ)⁹¹Nb. Proton energies between 3.0 and 7.2 MeV were used. The γ spectra were taken with Ge(Li) detectors. Primary γ transitions to 36 excited states of⁹¹Nb up to 3.8 MeV excitation energy and many secondary γ transitions from the decay of those states were observed, leading to an extension of the known level scheme. The proton binding energy for⁹¹Nb was determined as (5167± 5) keV. Eleven γ transitions in⁹⁰Zr, part of them new, from the competing reaction⁹⁰Zr(p, p′ γ) were also observed.     

Core polarization and 5/2+ states in91Nb

The energies and spectroscopic factors ofJ ^π=5/2⁺ states of nucleus⁹¹Nb excited via a reaction transferring a proton to the 2d _5/2 orbit of⁹⁰Zr target state have been calculated. Effective two-body interaction used has been extracted from the experimentally observed two-body energies of (1g ₉ ^2/?1 (n) 2d _5/2(n)), (1g ₉ ^2/?1 (n) 1g _9/2(p)) and (1g _9/2(p)-2d _9/2(n)) multiplets in⁹⁰Zr,⁹⁰Nb and⁹²Nb nuclei respectively. Most of the calculated energies and the strengths ofJ ^π=5/2⁺ levels have reasonably good counterparts in the experimental spectrum, however the calculation shows about 17% strength lying at 6.8 MeV, without having a confirmed counterpart in the observed level scheme. The reduced transition strengthsB(M1) forM l transitions from 5/2^? T>(11/2) state to the various components of 5/2⁺ T<(=9/2) state have also been reported; but the corresponding experimental values are not available. The main feature of the reduced transition strengths is that theM1 transition to the state at 3.69 MeV is inhibited whereas that to the state at 6.79 MeV is enhanced, the relevant core-configuration, interfering destructively in the former case and constructively in the latter.     

The beta decay of88gNb and88mNb

The level structure of⁸⁸Zr is investigated via the beta decay of^88g Nb and^88m Nb whose half-lives are measured to be 14.4±0.2 m and 7.7±0.1 m, respectively. The decay properties are studied by means of beta and gamma spectroscopy techniques. The level structure of⁸⁸Zr populated in the decays of both isomers is proposed with deducedJ ^π values. Theβ-decay energies for^88g Nb and^88m Nb are measured to be 7.55±0.10 and 7.59±0.10 MeV, respectively. The structure is discussed in terms of the shell model.     

Decay scheme of92m Nb

The beta decay of the 2^{+ 92m} Nb was reinvestigated via⁹³Nb(γ, n) reaction. The feeding of the 2⁺ 2,067 keV level of⁹²Zr was determined measuring the intensity of the 1,132 keV gamma-ray transition.     

Der Zerfall des125m Xe,des127m Xe und des127g Xe

The decay of^125m Xe produced by the reaction¹²²Te(α, n)^125m Xe using a target enriched in¹²²Te (95.4%) and the decay of^127m Xe produced by the reaction¹²⁷J(d, 2n)^127m Xe have been investigated: ^125m Xe decays with a half-life ofT _1/2=(56±3) sec by ayy- cascade withE _γ1=(140.4 ±0.5) keV andE _γ2=(110.5 ±0.5) keV. The experimental conversion coefficients yield multipolarities ofE3 for the 140.4 keV isomeric transition and predominantlyM1 for the 110.5 keV-transition. ^127m Xe decays with a half-life ofT _1/2=(71±2) sec. The decay also proceeds by aγγ-cascade with an isomeric E3 transition ofE _γ1=(172.5±0.3) keV and a predominantlyM1 transition ofE _γ2=(124.6±0.3) keV. In the decay of^127g Xe an additional branching of the electron capture to a level at (618.1±0.3) keV was observed. The relative probability forK-captureP _K618/P_K375=0.40 ±0.07 yields a total transition energyQ _EC=(664 ±4)keV. A spin of 1/2⁺ was assigned to the ground state.     

Reduced lattice thermal conductivity of Ti-site substituted transition metals Ti1-XTMXNiSn: A quasi-harmonic Debye model study

TiNiSn thermoelectric (TE) material has a high power factor, but it also has high thermal conductivity, which is a problem for low performance. In this work, we propose to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity (κ_lat) of the transition metal (TM) with substitution on the Ti-site TiNiSn as the model Ti_1–XTM_XNiSn (TM = Sc, Zr, Hf, V, Nb and Mn) by the quasi-harmonic Debye model calculation from 0 – 1000 K. The structural properties were investigated through the equation of state by a first-principles calculation. κ_lat was calculated by the Slack and Berman method using the Debye temperature (Θ) and Grüneisen parameter. The calculated results revealed that the structure increased with substitution by Sc, Zr, Hf, and Nb, but V and Mn exhibit a structure less than that of TiNiSn. The calculated Θ of TiNiSn is 404.86 K decreased with substitution by Sc, Zr, Hf, Nb, and Mn, and then slightly increased by V. The Sc, Zr, Hf, and Mn substitution significantly decreases the calculated κ_lat from 9.23 W m^–1 K^–1 (for TiNiSn) to 6.72 – 9.07 W m^–1 K^–1 at 300 K. Ti_0.75Zr_0.25NiSn, Ti_0.75Hf_0.25NiSn, and Ti_0.50Mn_0.50NiSn can reduce κ_lat by 27.19%, 20.26%, and 17.65%, respectively, which shows good potential for enhancing the κ_lat of TiNiSn.     

High-spin states in 90Nb

The high-spin states in ⁹⁰Nb have been studied by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy using the 35 MeV ⁸⁹Y(α, 3nγ)⁹⁰Nb and 33 MeV ⁹⁰Zr(³He, p2nγ)⁹⁰Nb reactions. A new isomeric state with half-life 0.44±0.02 σs and J^π = 11^? has been located in this nucleus. The level scheme derived from these measurements is compared with shell-model calculations.     

The β-decay of98Y and the level scheme of98Zr

Study of theβ-decay of⁹⁸Y and of the level scheme of⁹⁸Zr was undertaken by the use of the two recoil fission product separators JOSEF and LOHENGRIN. Twoβ-decay modes have been detected for⁹⁸Y, the half-lives of which are 0.65±0.05 s and 2.0±0.2 s. The spins and parities of the two states which undergoβ-decay are proposed to be 1⁺ and 4^?, respectively, with the configurations (π1g _9/2)(ν1g _7/2) and (π2p _1/2 (ν1g _7/2). The measuredQ _β -value is 7300±400 keV for the 0.65 s decay. The level scheme of⁹⁸Zr was deduced fromγ,γ-coincidence data. Absoluteγ-intensities were obtained from two independent measurements. The half-life of the first excited state of⁹⁸Zr at 853.0 keV with spin and parity 0⁺ was determined through delayedγ, e^?-measurements to be 63 ±7ns. No indication of the coexistence of two different nuclear shapes of⁹⁸Zr was found.     

High-spin states in89Nb,88Zr and88Nb with a shell-model description of theN=48 andN=47 nuclei

The reactions⁸⁹Y(α,4nγ),⁸⁹Y(α,p4nγ) and⁸⁹Y(α,5nγ) were used to populate high-spin states in, respectively,⁸⁹Nb,⁸⁸Zr and the previously unstudied nucleus⁸⁸Nb. These states were deduced via in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy. The results of a shell-model study ofN=48⁸⁸Zr,⁹⁰Mo,⁸⁷Y,⁸⁹Nb andN=47⁸⁷Zr,⁸⁸Nb nuclei are compared to experiment.     

Pressure dependence of the distribution of hyperfine fields in ZrFe2 and Zr(Nb)Fe2

The pressure dependence of the hyperfine fields of⁹¹Zr and⁵⁷Fe, and of⁹³Nb as a dilute impurity, has been measured for ZrFe₂ up to 8 kbar at 4.2 K. The results suggest that Nb, like Zr, carries a magnetic moment anti-parallel to the Fe moment.     

Gamow-teller strength distribution in the vicinity of A = 90: (I). Schematic calculation of GT strength in 90, 92, 94Nb

The distributions of Gamow-Teller strength in ^{90, 92, 94}Nb have been calculated utilizing the so-called GT force in the random phase approximation. For ⁹⁰Nb the calculated distribution is in striking agreement with that part of the ⁹⁰Zr(p, n) excitation function leading to 1⁺ excitations in ⁹⁰Nb and qualitative agreement is demonstrated for data from the reactions ^{92, 94}Zr(p, n). Some 25 % of the GT strength is found to lie well below the structureless giant resonance proposed by Ikeda et al. The implications of this result to the β-decay properties of neutron rich nuclei near A = 90 are discussed.     

Thermal stability,magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd55Co35M10 (M = Si,Zr and Nb) melt-spun ribbons

The thermal stability, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd₅₅Co₃₅M₁₀ (M = Si, Zr and Nb) melts-pun ribbons were studied. The relatively high reduced glass transition temperature (T_x1/T_m > 0.60) and low melting point (T_m) resulted in excellent glass forming ability (GFA). The Curie temperatures (T_C) of melt-spun amorphous ribbons Gd₅₅Co₃₅M₁₀ for M = Si, Zr and Nb were 166, 148 and 173 K, respectively. For a magnetic field change of 2 T, the values of maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔS_M)^max for Gd₅₅Co₃₅Si₁₀, Gd₅₅Co₃₅Zr₁₀ and Gd₅₅Co₃₅Nb₁₀ were found to be 2.86, 4.28 and 4.05 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹, while the refrigeration capacity (RC) values were 154, 274 and 174 J kg^–1, respectively. The RC_FWHM values of amorphous alloys Gd₅₅Co₃₅M₁₀ (M = Si, Zr and Nb) are comparable to or larger than that of LaFe_11.6Si_1.4 crystalline alloy. Large values of (−ΔS_M)^max and RC along with good thermal stability make Gd₅₅Co₃₅M₁₀ (M = Si, Zr and Nb) amorphous alloys be potential materials for magnetic cooling operating in a wide temperature range from 150 to 175 K, e.g., as part of a gas liquefaction process.     

The excitation functions and Isomer ratios for neutron-induced reactions on Mo and Zr

Absolute cross sections of the reactions ⁹²Mo(n, 2n)^91m,91gMo, ⁹²Mo(n, p)⁹²Nb and ⁹²Mo(n, α)^{89m, 89g}Zr, relative cross sections of the reaction ⁹⁰Zr(n, 2n) ^89mZr and isomer ratios of the ⁹⁰Zr(n, 2n) reaction have been measured in the neutron energy range 13–15 MeV. The results for the (n, 2n) reactions are in good agreement with those of the previous studies. The present results for the (n, p) and (n, α) reactions are in disagreement with the previous works. The experimental data are analysed by the statistical model to determine the level-density parameter a, the moment of inertia ? and the strength of the γ-ray transition S_l in order to simultaneously reproduce the experimental data on the excitation function and the isomer ratio in the (n, 2n) reaction. The γ-ray competition, the yrast level and the experimental information on the excited levels of the residual nucleus in the (n, 2n) reaction are taken into account. The obtained values of a, ? and S_l are consistent with those deduced from other types of nuclear data.     

90,91Zr photoproton spectra and the core-excitation model

Photoproton energy spectra have been measured for the ^90,91Zr(γ,P)^89,90Y reactions at an E_γ endpoint energy of 30 MeV, and for the ^90,91Zr,(e, e'p)^89,90Y reactions at a number of different electron beam energies around E_e = 21 MeV. Isotopically enriched target foils of metallic ⁹⁰Zr(97.65%) and ⁹¹Zr(89.2%) were used, and the proton spectra measured at 90°. Prominent proton groups are observed in the ⁹¹Zr spectra, particularly around E_p ≈ 11 MeV, which closely resemble groups produced in the ⁹⁰Zr photoreactions. Moreover, the correlating non-ground state proton groups are being produced in transitions leaving the corresponding ⁸⁹Y, ⁹⁰Y residual nuclei in excited levels which also correlate in energy. These photoproton groups from ⁹⁰Zr have previously been identified as representing T_> strength. A qualitative explanation is proposed in terms of the core-excitation model, in which the structure in the ⁹¹Zr proton spectrum is described as representing dipole $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{>}}\text{(T =}\text{13}\text{2}\text{)}$ strength formed by coupling the 2d$\text{5}\text{2}$ neutron to dipole T_> (T = 6) excitations of a ⁹⁰Zr core.     

Der Zerfall des Co60m und Zr90m

Co^60m was produced by the reaction Co⁵⁹ (n,γ) Co^60m ; its decay has been investigated by scintillation spectrometers. The half-period has been remeasured yielding a value ofT _1/2=(10·35 ±0·20) min. The isomeric decay mainly leads to the Co⁶⁰ ground state by a (58·6±0·6) keV transition. TheK-conversion coefficientα _K= 41±3 and the total conversion coefficientα=47±3 indicate the transition to beM3 and the spin of Co^60m to be 2⁺. Further Co^60m decays by beta transitions to Ni⁶⁰. The beta component (8·6±1·2)·10^?3%, log ft=7·32 leading to a (2·16±0·02) MeV level has been measured for the first time. A second component (0·24±0·03)%, log ft=7·23 leads to the 1·33 MeV level. The 2·16 MeV level decays to the Ni⁶⁰ ground state mainly by a 0·83–1·33 MeV cascade, in a few cases by a direct transition. The spin of the 2·16 MeV level is 2⁺. Zr^90m was produced by the reaction Zr⁹⁰ (n,n′) Zr^90m . The half-period was measured yielding a value ofT _1/2=(0·83±0·03) sec. Zr^90m decays in the following way: (77±5) % by a direct (2·31±0·02) MeV —E 5 transition to the Zr ground state and (23±5)% by a (132·5±1·5) keV-(2·18±0·03) MeV cascade detected for the first time in the isomeric decay. TheK-conversion coefficient of the 132·5 keV transition isα _k=(2·2±0·3) indicating this transition to beE3 and the spin of the 2·18 MeV level to be 2⁺. The Zr^90m -decay sheme is in accordance with the level sequence of Zr⁹⁰ as measured in the Nb⁹⁰ decay.     

Traces of Landau-Zener transitions in the fusion cross section of heavy nuclei?

Nucleus-nucleus collisions with center-of-mass energies E_c.m. close to the Coulomb barrier are investigated within the framework of time-dependent two-center shell-model states. The influence of Landau-Zener transitions on the nucleus-nucleus potential is studied in detail as a function of E_c.m. Dynamical barrier shifts and barrier fluctuations are evaluated for central collisions of ⁹⁰Zr + ⁹⁰Zr, ⁹²Zr + ⁹²Zr, ⁹⁶Zr + ⁹⁶Zr and their effect on the fusion probability is discussed explicitly. While for ⁹⁰Zr + ⁹⁰Zr no modification of the barrier penetration is found a relative enhancement (reduction) of the fusion probability up to a factor of 4 is obtained for ⁹²Zr + ⁹²Zr and⁹⁶Zr + ⁹⁶Zr.