Gas-cell-based setup for the production and study of neutron rich heavy nuclei

The present limits of the upper part of the nuclear map are very close to stability while the unexplored area of heavy neutron-rich nuclides along the neutron closed shell N = 126 is extremely important for nuclear astrophysics investigations and, in particular, for the understanding of the r-process of astrophysical nucleosynthesis. This area of the nuclear map can be reached neither in fusion–fission reactions nor in fragmentation processes widely used nowadays for the production of exotic nuclei. A new way was recently proposed for the production of these nuclei via low-energy multi-nucleon transfer reactions. The estimated yields of neutron-rich nuclei are found to be significantly high in such reactions and several tens of new nuclides can be produced, for example, in the near-barrier collision of ¹³⁶Xe with ²⁰⁸Pb. A new setup is proposed to produce and study heavy neutron-rich nuclei located along the neutron closed shell N = 126.     

Production of new heavy isotopes in low-energy multinucleon transfer reactions

It is shown that the multinucleon transfer reactions in low-energy collisions of heavy ions may be used for production of new neutron-rich nuclei at the "northeast" part of the nuclear map along the neutron closed shell N=126 which plays an important role in the r process of nucleosynthesis. More than 50 unknown nuclei might be produced in such reactions (in particular, in collision of 136Xe with 208Pb) with cross sections of not less than 1 microb.     

Pro duction of Exotic Nuclei in Low-Energy Multi-Nucleon Transfer Reactions

Multinucleon transfer processes in low-energy heavy ion collisions open a new field of research in nuclear physics, namely, production and studying properties of heavy neutron rich nuclei. This not-yet-explored area of the nuclear map is extremely important for understanding the astrophysical nucleosynthesis and the origin of heavy elements. Beams of very heavy U-like ions are needed to produce new long-living isotopes of transfermium and superheavy elements located very close to the island of stability.The calculated cross sections are high enough to perform the experiments at available accelerators.Beams of medium-mass ions (such as 136Xe, 192Os, 198Pt) can be used for the production of neutron rich nuclei located along the neutron closed shell N = 126 (the last waiting point) having the largest impact on the astrophysical r-process. The Low-energy multinucleon transfer reactions is a very efficient tool also for the production and spectroscopic study of light exotic nuclei. The corresponding cross sections are 2 or 3 orders of magnitude larger as compared with high energy fragmentation reactions.     

相对论平均场理论框架下对能的系统研究

在相对论平均场模型的框架内,沿原子核的稳定线,以每隔4个质子或中子提取样本的方法,计算了核谱图上数十个原子核的对能,特别是研究了氧同位素偶-偶核的对能随核子数的变化规律,发现在固定能隙Δ的条件下,对能的大小和核的壳结构有关,由此提出了一种检验闭壳效应的简便方法,进而发现中子数N=6不仅在轻核的丰中子区是一个新幻数,而且在丰质子区也是一个可能的新幻数. 关键词： 相对论平均场模型 对能 能隙 幻数     

原子核的大质量转移反应和丰中子超重核的产生(英文)

迄今为止,人们合成的超重核都是缺中子的,无论是熔合-裂变反应还是碎化过程都无法使产物达到周期表的“东北区域”。而重核之间(如U核之间) 的近垒大质量转移反应则可能是目前生成丰中子超重核和达到未知丰中子重核区域的唯一途径。在改进的量子分子动力学(ImQMD) 模型结合统计模型框架内,研究了U+U等反应体系的大质量转移反应,计算了反应产生的初生态碎片的质量和电荷分布,并成功再现了产物的终态质量和电荷分布。通过比较3 个反应136Xe+248Cm,48Ca+248Cm和238U+248Cm 产生的106号元素的截面大小,揭示了U+U等重核大质量转移反应对产生丰中子超重核是非常有利的。For elements with Z > 100 only neutron deficient isotopes have been synthesized so far. The “northeast area” of the nuclear map can be reached neither in fusion-fission reactions nor in fragmentation processes.The large mass transfer reactions in near barrier collisions of heavy (U-like) ions seem to be the only reaction mechanism allowing us to produce neutron rich heavy nuclei including those located at the superheavy(SH) island of stability and unexplored area of heavy neutron-rich nuclides. This study is extremely important for nuclear astrophysical investigations and, in particular, for the understanding of the r process. In this paper within the Improved Quantum Molecular Dynamics (ImQMD) model combining with the statistical-evaporation model, the large mass transfer reactions, like 238U+238U have been studied. The charge and mass distributions of transiently formed primary fragments are investigated within the ImQMD model and de-excitation processes of those primary fragments are described by the statistical decay model. The mass distribution of the final products in 238U+238U collisions is obtained and compared with the recent experimental data. Through compared the formation cross sections of transfermium element 106 by three reactions of 136Xe+248Cm, 48Ca+248Cm and 238U+248Cm, it is explored that the large mass transfer reactions, like U+U are very benefit for the production of SH nuclei.     

Study of heavy nuclei at FLNR (Dubna)

Experiments are described and main results presented on the synthesis and decay properties of superheavy nuclides, produced in fusion reactions induced by a ⁴⁸Ca-beam on heavy actinide targets. In such reactions neutron-rich nuclei are formed. For them, according to theory, an abrupt enhancement of stability due to nuclear shell effects is expected. The decay properties of the new nuclides are compared with calculations of theoretical models, which predict the existence of “islands of stability” in the region of hypothetical superheavy elements.     

Pushing the limits of nuclear stability

Reaching the limits of nuclear stability offers unique opportunities to understand basic nuclear properties. New shell structures close to the driplines can change the existence of neutron-rich nuclei. A new search for ¹⁶Be confirmed the previous limit for particle stable Be isotopes at A=14. Single proton knock-out reactions offer the potential for more sensitive searches of very weakly bound nuclei. In order to extend the knowledge of the neutron dripline beyond Z=8 requires new accelerator developments. The proposed new rare isotope accelerator has the potential to push the limit of the neutron dripline to at least Z=25.     

Reactions with fast radioactive beams of neutron-rich nuclei

The neutron dripline has presently been reached only for the lightest nuclei up to the element oxygen. In this region of light neutron-rich nuclei, scattering experiments are feasible even for dripline nuclei by utilizing high-energy secondary beams produced by fragmentation. In the present article, reactions of high-energy radioactive beams will be exemplified using recent experimental results mainly derived from measurements of breakup reactions performed at the LAND and FRS facilities at GSI and at the S800 spectrometer at the NSCL. Nuclear and electromagnetically induced reactions allow probing different aspects of nuclear structure at the limits of stability related to the neutron-proton asymmetry and the weak binding close to the dripline. Properties of the valence-neutron wave functions are studied in the one-neutron knockout reaction, revealing the changes of shell structure when going from the beta-stability line to more asymmetric loosely bound neutron-rich systems. The vanishing of the N = 8 shell gap for neutron-rich systems like ¹¹Li and ¹²Be, or the new closed N = 14, 16 shells for the oxygen isotopes are examples. The continuum of weakly bound nuclei and halo states can be studied by inelastic scattering. The dipole response, for instance, is found to change dramatically when going away from the valley of stability. A redistribution of the dipole strength towards lower excitation energies is observed for neutron-rich nuclei, which partly might be due to a new collective excitation mode related to the neutron-proton asymmetry. Halo nuclei, in particular, show strong dipole transitions to the continuum at the threshold, being directly related to the ground-state properties of the projectile. Finally, an outlook on future experimental prospects is given.     

β~--Decay Half-Lives for Waiting Point Nuclei Around N=126

We have systematically analyzed the experimental β--decay half-lives of waiting point heavy nuclei around neutron number N = 126. A new set of parameters for the exponential formula of β~--decay half-lives is proposed. The forbidden transition effects are included in the new set of parameters self-consistently. Theoretical β~--decay half-lives of nuclei around N = 126 are compared with recent theoretical results and experimental data. It is found that the new theoretical results are in better agreement with experimental data. The unknown β~--decay half-lives of some nuclei in this region are predicted for studies on nuclear structure far from stability and the nucleosynthesis in stars.     

Shell evolution at N=20 in the constrained relativistic mean field approach

The shell evolution at N = 20, a disappearing neutron magic number observed experimentally in very neutron-rich nuclides, is investigated in the constrained relativistic mean field (RMF) theory. The trend of the shell closure observed experimentally towards the neutron drip-line can be reproduced. The predicted two-neutron separation energies, neutron shell gap energies and deformation parameters of ground states are shown as well. These results are compared with the recent Hartree-Fock-Bogliubov (HFB-14) model and the available experimental data. The perspective towards a better understanding of the shell evolution is discussed.     

Shell evolution at N=20 in the constrained relativistic mean field approach

The shell evolution at N=20, a disappearing neutron magic number observed experimentally in very neutron-rich nuclides, is investigated in the constrained relativistic mean field (RMF) theory. The trend of the shell closure observed experimentally towards the neutron drip-line can be reproduced. The predicted two-neutron separation energies, neutron shell gap energies and deformation parameters of ground states are shown as well. These results are compared with the recent Hartree-Fock-Bogliubov (HFB-14) model and the available experimental data. The perspective towards a better understanding of the shell evolution is discussed.     

Enhanced production of neutron-rich rare isotopes in peripheral collisions at Fermi energies

A large enhancement in the production of neutron-rich projectile residues is observed in the reactions of a 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr beam with the neutron-rich 124Sn and 64Ni targets relative to the predictions of the EPAX parametrization of high-energy fragmentation, as well as relative to the reaction with the less neutron-rich 112Sn target. A hybrid model based on a deep-inelastic transfer (DIT) code followed by a statistical deexcitation code accounts for part of the observed large cross sections. The DIT simulation indicates that the production of neutron-rich nuclides in these reactions is associated with peripheral nucleon exchange in which the neutron skins of the neutron-rich 124Sn and 64Ni target nuclei may play an important role. From a practical viewpoint, such reactions offer a novel synthetic avenue to access extremely neutron-rich rare isotopes towards the neutron-drip line.     

利用改进的pn-QRPA模型研究等待点原子核的β衰变性质

r-过程等待点原子核的β衰变半衰期对研究宇宙中重元素起源有重要意义。质子-中子准粒子无规相位近似(pn-QRPA)是研究原子核β衰变的重要理论模型。本工作提出了一个改进的 pn-QRPA 模型,系统研究了满壳附近原子核的 β 衰变性质。与之前的工作相比,改进的模型采用了中子数和质子数依赖的新粒子-粒子和粒子-空穴相互作用形式。本工作首先计算了满壳附近一些已知原子核的 β衰变半衰期和 Gamow-Teller 强度分布,发现理论结果与实验数据符合较好,检验了新模型的可靠性。随后,理论预测了 $N=50$, $N=82$ 和 $N=126$附近未知的等待点原子核的 β衰变半衰期,如124Mo, 126Ru, 128Pd, 186Nd, 188Sm, 192Dy, 194Er, 196Yb, 198Hf等,预测结果与之前的模型相近。这些结果对未来满壳层附近的r-过程物理研究有参考价值。     

基于HIRFL-CSR测量丰中子重核质量的建议

丰中子重核区有大量原子核质量未知,迫切需要实验测量。我们建议,利用兰州重离子加速器研究装置HIRFL-CSR上的等时性质谱术,高精度测量204Pt等丰中子重核的质量。CSR质量测量实验中,在目标核产额尽可能高的前提下,需要每次注入都有多个离子同时储存到实验环CSRe中,才能针对逐次注入修正磁场晃动的影响,得到高精度测量结果。但在丰中子核区,当目标核产生截面非常低时,每次注入能储存到环中的离子数目太少。为了解决这个问题,我们提出了一种"混合厚度靶"的方法,在不明显改变目标核产额的情况下,显著增加同时储存在CSRe中的离子数,满足实验要求。模拟计算表明,在CSRe测量丰中子重核质量是可行的,并推荐了实验的设置。     

缺中子Np新核素的α衰变研究

合成远离稳定线的新核素、探索原子核存在的极限是目前核物理研究的重要课题。在中子壳N=126的最丰质子一侧,极端缺中子的超铀核素处于质子滴线和中子壳的交叉位置,合成和研究该核区核素对研究N=126壳结构的演化性质具有重要意义。基于兰州重离子加速器上的充气反冲核谱仪装置(SHANS),利用36,40Ar+185,187Re熔合蒸发反应,合成了极缺中子的219,220,223,224Np新核素,在中子壳N=126附近首次建立了Np同位素链的$ \alpha$衰变系统性,获得了N=126壳效应在Np同位素链中依然存在的实验证据。依据单质子分离能的系统性分析,确定了Np同位素链中质子滴线的位置,219Np也成为目前已知的最重的质子滴线外核素。此外,基于实验测量的反应截面,并与理论模型的计算结果相比较,讨论了进一步合成该核区其它新核素218,221,222Np的可行性。     

Rearrangements in neutron shell closures far from stability

A survey of experimental results obtained at GANIL (Caen, Prance) on the study of the properties of very neutron-rich nuclei (Z = 6–20, A = 20–60) near the neutron drip line and resulting in an appearance of further evidence for the new magic number N = 16 is presented. Very recent data on mass measurements of neutron-rich nuclei at GANIL and some characteristics of binding energies in this region are discussed. Nuclear binding energies are very sensitive to the existence of nuclear shells and together with the measurements of instability of doubly magic nuclei ¹⁰He and ²⁸0 they provide information on changes in neutron shell closures of very neutron-rich isotopes. The behaviour of the two-neutron separation energies S_2n derived from mass measurements gives a very clear evidence for the existence of the new shell closure N = 16 for Z = 9 and 10 appearing between 2s_1/2 and ld_3/2 orbitals. This fact, strongly supported by the instability of C, N and O isotopes with N > 16, confirms the magic character of N = 16 for the region from carbon up to neon while the shell closure at N = 20 tends to disappear for Z ≤ 13. Decay studies of these hardly accessible short-lived neutron-rich nuclei from oxygen to silicon using the in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy are also reported.     

放射性核束的库仑激发

综述了利用中、高能放射性核束的库仑激发方法研究位于N＝20和28主壳隙附近的丰中子核结构所取得的进展．系统的实验结果清晰地表明,在离开β稳定线区域时N＝20兰壳隙突然消失和N＝28主壳隙的减弱过程．提出了利用兰州放射性束流线开展双幻核Ni50附近核素的低位能级核结构研究的构想． The study of coulomb excitation of the neutron-rich nuclei around N=20 and 28 shell closure with radioactive ion beam at intermediate energy is reviewed. The systematics of the measured energy of the 2+1 state shows that the N=20 shell closure in neutron-rich isotopes with Z≤12 disappears suddenly and N=28 shell elosure appears to be weak for 44S.The coulomb excitation studies of the exotic nuclei around the double magic 7828Ni50 at RIBLL are proposed.     

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。     

Probing the nuclear symmetry energy with heavy-ion reactions induced by neutron-rich nuclei

Heavy-ion reactions induced by neutron-rich nuclei provide a unique means to investigate the equation of state of isospin-asymmetric nuclear matter, especially the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. In particular, recent analyses of the isospin diffusion data in heavy-ion reactions have already put a stringent constraint on the nuclear symmetry energy around the nuclear matter saturation density. We review this exciting result and discuss its implications on nuclear effective interactions and the neutron skin thickness of heavy nuclei. In addition, we also review the theoretical progress on probing the high density behaviors of the nuclear symmetry energy in heavy-ion reactions induced by high energy radioactive beams.