Low- and medium-spin states in theN=124 isotones208Po and209At

Excited levels in²⁰⁸Po and²⁰⁹At were populated in the reactions (p, 2n) and (³He, 3n), and²⁰⁸Po also in the EC-decay of the²⁰⁸At ground state, which was produced in the²⁰⁹Bi(³He, 4n) reaction. The experimental procedures comprised gamma-ray excitation functions,γ- γ coincidences, as well as gamma-ray angular distribution and conversionelectron measurements, both on- and off-line. The properties of about twenty-five levels in each nuclide were studied. In²⁰⁸Po the energy of the 8⁺→6⁺ transition could be determined to be 4.0±0.2keV and the 8⁺ state thus has an excitation energy of 1,528 keV. The effective quadrupole charge of theh _9/2 proton can be derived ase _eff(τ h _9/2)=1.69(15)e. For the previously reported isomeric half-lives more accurate values are obtained, the systematics of electricL=1, 2 and 3 transition rates are discussed, and their microscopic structure is elucidated. Shell model considerations are used to support the configuration assignments, as are the logft values for the strongest²⁰⁸At(EC)²⁰⁸Po decay branches. The effect of core polarixation on the excitation energies of yrast states is studied in both²⁰⁸Po and²⁰⁹At. Many of the states populated in the²⁰⁸At EC decay are shown to be of core-excited character.     

Decay of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance in 208Pb

The decay of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (GMR) in ²⁰⁸Pb has been studied with the ²⁰⁸Pb(α, α'n)²⁰⁷Pb reaction at θ_α′ = 0°. Comparison of the experimental data with detailed statistical model calculations shows a good overall agreement for the decay of both the GMR and the underlying continuum. Interpreting small discrepancies between the calculations and data for the GMR as indications for the presence of pre-equilibrium decay we find a direct decay branch of the GMR ⩽ 10% and a pre-equilibrium decay branch ⩽ 30%.     

Spectroscopy of excited states in216Ra

A gamma spectroscopic investigation of²¹⁶Ra was performed by means of the reactions²⁰⁶Pb(¹³C, 3n) and²⁰⁸Pb(¹²C, 4n). Yield functions, angular distributions,γ?γ coincidences, time centroid shifts and pulsed beam isomeric decay rates were measured. The yrast level structure is firmly established up to spin 14 and information on theγ-transitions from higher lying levels is also obtained. The configurations of the low-lying levels are discussed.     

Absolute alpha-decay width of212Po in a mixed shell-and-cluster model

We have reproduced the absolute width of theα decay of the ground state of²¹²Po in a model in which the shell model is combined with a²⁰⁸Pb+α cluster model, and found that the amount of core+α clustering in the parent state is ～30%.     

Particle vibration coupling in207Pb

States in²⁰⁷Pb are observed in the proton decay of the lowest 5^? and 4^? analog resonances in²⁰⁸Bi. Evidence is given that one group of these states corresponds to the²⁰⁶Pb(2^ü, 0.8)?g _9/2 and²⁰⁸Pb(3^?, 2.6)?p ₃ ^2/?1 multiplets.     

Three-particle correlations from208Pb+6Li

Three-particle correlations in the reaction²⁰⁸Pb+⁶Li were studied near the Coulomb threshold between \(E_{6_{Li} } = 24\) and 30 MeV. Three reaction mechanisms contribute predominantly to the observed coincidences of the charged particles: 1. Coulomb excitation of the 2.184 MeV,J=3⁺ state of⁶Li, followed by the decay intoα+d, 2. Deuteron pick-up of the⁶Li to the ground state of⁸Be and sequential decay into twoα-particles and 3. Neutron-transfer to the ground state and the first excited states of²⁰⁹Pb:²⁰⁸Pb(⁶Li,αp). The last two reaction mechanisms explain the previously measured large contributions to theα-channel relative to thed-channel.     

Magnetic moments in the backbending region of 158Dy

Yrast levels in the backbending region of ¹⁵⁸Dy were Coulomb excited with a 4.7 MeV/u ²⁰⁸Pb beam. Employing the transient field technique with a thin magnetized iron foil, the precessions of the angular correlations of decay γ-rays from levels up to spin I^π = 16⁺ were measured. The results show a clear reduction of the g-factor for states in the backbending region relative to that of the low-spin levels, thus demonstrating that the backbending in ¹⁵⁸Dy is mainly caused by the alignment of $\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>13</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutrons. In a similar experiment, precession measurements on Coulomb excited low-spin levels of ¹⁶⁴Dy served to determine the static hyperfine field of Dy in Fe and the g-factor of the 6⁺ state in ¹⁶⁴Dy.     

The impact parameter dependence of the K MO X-ray emission in208Pb +208Pb collisions

The emission probabilities for quasimolecular K-x-radiation (K-MOR) have been measured in²⁰⁸Pb +²⁰⁸Pb collisions at 4.3 MeV/u and 4.8 MeV/u as a function of the scattering angle using the particle-photon-coincidence technique. The probabilities exhibit a superposition of two exponential slopes with different fall-off constants. We identify the sharp fall off at very small impact parameters (<60 fm) with the K-MOR contribution from the decay of 1sσ-vacancies. The flatter slope for impact parameters larger than 60 fm is attributed to the radiative decay of holes in 2p _1/2 σ molecular states. In this way, experimental “1sσ-MOR-emission probabilities” could be extracted and compared with theory. For 4.3 MeV/u the1sσ- and 2p _1/2 σ-excitation probabilities could also be determined and have been compared to coupled-channel calculations and to a scaling law for 1sσ excitation.     

High-spin states in 208Rn

The yrast decay scheme of ²⁰⁸Rn has been investigated up to spin $\text{≈ 20}\text{h}\text{?}$ and an excitation energy of ≈ 6 MeV. Several different γ-ray spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the properties of excited states and transitions in the nucleus. Significant changes to the previously established level scheme are proposed, based on the existence of an unobserved 3.1 keV transition. Simple empirical shell-model calculations of level energies aided in the assignment of shell-model configurations to excited states and the decay scheme is discussed in terms of these configurations. The energy level systematics for the even radon isotopes, from A = 206 to 212 are discussed, as are core polarization effects in the even radon isotopes (A = 204 to 210) and polonium isotopes (A = 202–208).     

Radiationless transition probabilities in muonic208Pb,232Th,and238U

The probabilities for non-radiative (n.r.) excitationsP _n.r. in the muonic nuclides²⁰⁸Pb,²³²Th, and²³⁸U have been determined from (μ^?,γγ)-measurements by comparing the intensities of muonic X-ray transitions in single and coincidence spectra. The value ofP _n.r. (3p→1s), measured for the first time, is about 90% for the actinides²³²Th and²³⁸U, but only about 8% for²⁰⁸Pb. The value ofP _n.r. (3d→1s) is found to be 10 % for²³³Th, 13% for²³⁸U, and about 4% for²⁰⁸Pb. For²⁰⁸Pb a vanishing strength of the n.r. decay of the 2p-level is found, while for²³²Th and for²³⁸U n.r. strengths of about 20% and 26%, respectively, are observed. By regarding two subcomplexes of the 2p→1s transitions leading to different mean excitation energies the n.r. transition probabilities were found to be different for²³⁸U only, 21.6% and 31.1.%, respectively.     

The new isotopes247Md,243Fm,239Cf,and investigation of the evaporation residues from fusion of206Pb,208Pb,and209Bi with40Ar

The evaporation residues produced in heavy ion fusion reactions between⁴⁰Ar and²⁰⁶Pb,²⁰⁸Pb, and²⁰⁹Bi, respectively, were investigated. They were separated in-flight using a velocity filter (SHIP) and identified after implantation into an array of position sensitive surface barrier detectors by measuring their decay characteristics. Three newα-emitting isotopes were found:²⁴⁷Md,²⁴³Fm, and²³⁹Cf.²⁴⁷Md was identified by correlation to its known daughter decay²⁴³Es, and²⁴³Fm and²³⁹Cf were observed as correlated decays. Moreover, all previously known deexcitation channels, characterized by spontaneous fission or byα decay, could be observed for the first time in one experimental setup. Our results for formation cross sections and decay characteristics are in agreement with known data.     

A direct measurement of the total proton decay width of an isobaric analog state

Differential cross sections for the ²⁰⁸Pb (p, n) reaction populating the isobaric analog state (IAS) of the ²⁰⁸Pb ground state in ²⁰⁸Bi have been measured at a proton bombarding energy of 30.5 MeV. The experimental technique utilized the proton (p?) decay of the IAS to obtain neutron time-of-flight spectra. When these differential cross sections are compared to those obtained for the same reaction at 30.5 MeV using the pulsed-beam technique to obtain neutron time-of-flight spectra, the percentage of the IAS decay through p? channels is obtained. This comparison indicates that the p? decay of the IAS to the first three states of ²⁰⁷Pb accounts for almost all of the IAS width (0.97±0.28).     

Properties ofΛ-hypernuclei from p+A reactions

We study the production ofΛ hyperons inp+A reactions on the basis of a BUU transport approach for³² S,⁶⁵ Cu,¹²⁰ Sn,¹⁹⁷ Au,²⁰⁸ Pb and²³⁸ U from 1.1 to 1.7 GeV beam energy and evaluate the properties of the hypernuclei produced with respect to excitation energy, transverse and longitudinal momentum, angular momentum and mass. Furthermore, the decay of the hypernuclei by particle emission in competition with fission channels is followed by a statistical model calculation. We find the systemp+¹⁹⁷ Au at about 1.5 GeV to be optimally suited for the production of heavy hypernuclei, where theΛ-decay is expected to be dominated by nonmesonic decay channels.     

On the β-γ directional correlations in the β-decay of 208Tl

The relevance of the quenching effects induced by charge-exchange collective fields and Δ-isobar-hole excitations is discussed in the case of the β-γ angular correlations in the decay of ²⁰⁸Tl to the 5^?₁, 4^?₁ and 5^?₂ levels in ²⁰⁸Pb. It is found that, although these effects give rise to a large hindrance of the β-moments, they influence the anisotropy factor only very weakly. Satisfactory agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental data is obtained for all the transitions.     

Levels in208Pb populated in the decay of208Tl(ThC″)

Gamma rays in the disintegration of²⁰⁸Tl(ThC″) have been studied with Ge(Li)-Na I(Tl) anti-Compton and coincidence spectrometers. Several new transitions are reported most of which are placed in a decay scheme incorporating excited states in²⁰⁸Pb at 2,614.5, 3,197.6, 3,475.0, 3,708.3, 3,919.8, 3,960.9, 3,998.5, 4,125.3, 4,180.4, 4,296.1 and 4,480.0 keV. According to the present data, the recently reported intensity of 4.5±1.5% of beta groups feeding levels near 4.3 MeV is far too large.     

A systematic study of the fission and evaporation residue excitation functions in complete fusion reactions with weakly bound stable nuclei

We carry out a systematic study on the fusion-fission and evaporation residue excitation functions for the reactions of ^6,7Li, ⁹Be, ^10,11B + ²⁰⁹Bi and ^6,9Li, ⁹Be + ²⁰⁸Pb, in which the projectiles are loosely bound and have low threshold energies against breakup. The fusion cross sections are calculated by the coupled-channel model. The compound nuclei decay are analyzed with the standard statistical model. The fission and evaporation residue excitation functions are well reproduced by our calculations, proving the validity of the standard statistical model in describing the compound nuclei decay in these characteristic reactions. For the compound nuclei with A=215-220 and Z=86-88, the liquid drop fission barriers need to be scaled by 0.80-1.02 to reproduce the experimental data. And a decreasing trend of the scaling factor with increasing fissionability parameter Z²/(50A) is found.     

Search for giant spin-flip transitions in 90Zr and 208Pb

We have searched for the giant magnetic dipole resonance in ⁹⁰Zr and an associated state in ²⁰⁸Pb. Among the experimental techniques employed in this search was the detection of inelastically scattered protons in coincidence with ground-state de-excitation γ-rays, No state in ⁹⁰Zr up to an excitation of 10.5 MeV or in ²⁰⁸Pb between 5.0 to 6.0 MeV was observed with the desired characteristics. In ⁹⁰Zr, heretofore unidentified levels at 5.51, 5.89 and 6.42 MeV were determined to have J^π = 1^?. In ²⁰⁸Pb J^π = 1^? states were observed at 5.29, 5.51 and 5.94 MeV. The implications of our observations are discussed.     

Superheavy research in Japan

At RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) in Japan, we have performed experiments to study the productions and decays of the heaviest elements produced by one-neutron emission channels of ²⁰⁸Pb and ²⁰⁹Bi based heavy-ion-induced fusion reactions. A gas-filled-type recoil separator has been used for collecting evaporation residues of the reactions separating them from high intensity beam particles. The reactions studied were ²⁰⁸Pb(⁵⁸Fe,n)²⁶⁵Hs, ²⁰⁸Pb(⁶⁴Ni,n)²⁷¹Ds, ²⁰⁹Bi(⁶⁴Ni,n)²⁷²Rg, ²⁰⁸Pb(⁷⁰Zn, n) ²⁷⁷112, and ²⁰⁹Bi(⁷⁰Zn,n)²⁷⁸113. In studies of the first four reactions we have provided the independent confirmations of the productions and their decays of the isotopes, ²⁶⁵Hs, ²⁷¹Ds, ²⁷²Rg, and ²⁷⁷112, as well as the decay properties of their decay daughters, previously studied by Hofmann et al., a group of Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI), Germany. In the last reaction, we observed two decay chains originated from the isotope ²⁷⁸113, assigned firstly by generic correlation of the alpha decay chains connected into the previously known decay of ²⁶⁶Bh and ²⁶²Db via previously unknown alpha decays of ²⁷⁸113, ²⁷⁴Rg and ²⁷⁰Mt.     

A model independent technique to determine relative proton strengths of isobaric analog states

The proton ($\text{p}$) decay of the isobaric analog state (IAS) of ²⁰⁸Pb has been observed in coincidence with the IAS neutron from the (p, n) reaction of ²⁰⁸Pb. Such a technique allows an accurate model-independent determination of the relative widths of the $\text{p}$ decay to the first three states of ²⁰⁷Pb, and, in principle, a much more accurate determination of the relative widths than either resonance or non-coincidence $\text{p}$-measurements.     

On the mechanism of the (n, 2n) reaction with 14MeV projectiles on127I and209Bi

The angular and spectral distributions of coincident neutrons from the reactions¹²⁷I(n, 2n)¹²⁶I and²⁰⁹Bi(n, 2n)²⁰⁸Bi have been measured with two time-of-flight detectors at the incident energy 14.1 MeV. Neutron emission has been studied for reaction anglesθ _lab between 10° and 150° (relative angles from 60° to 270°). Energy spectra, angular distributions and coincidence yields are compared with statistical model calculations including preequilibrium decay modes, and nuclear level density and spin cut off parameters are derived.