Bremsstrahlung emission accompanying the α -decay of 214Po

We analyze the bremsstrahlung emission obtained by the α -γ coincidence measurements to investigate on the α -decay dynamics of the ²¹⁴ Po nucleus. We performed the experiment using a radioactive ²²⁶ Ra source leading, by α -decays, to the ²¹⁴ Po nucleus, and the apparatus with the Si detector for α -particles, the NaI(Tl) detector able to collect photons with energies up to about 1 MeV. We compare the experimental data with the quantum-mechanical calculations and find a good agreement between theory and experiment for photon energies up to 765 keV. In the experimental data of the bremsstrahlung spectrum one can see the presence of slight oscillations.     

Alpha-gamma decay studies of 255Rf, 251No and 247Fm

The decay of the isotopes ²⁵⁵Rf, ²⁵¹No and ²⁴⁷Fm produced in the reactions , and was investigated by means of α-γ spectroscopy. Previously observed γ transitions in coincidence with α decays of ²⁵⁵Rf were confirmed, their energies and line intensities were measured more precisely, and their multipolarities were determined as E1. In ²⁵¹No a new isomeric state at E ^* > 1700keV with a half-life of ≈ 2μs was identified. The decay of ²⁴⁷Fm was measured more precisely. A partial level scheme of the daughter nucleus ²⁴³Cf could be established.     

Measurement of evaporation residue cross-sections of the reaction 30Si + 238U at subbarrier energies

The reaction ³⁰Si + ²³⁸U → ²⁶⁸Sg^* was studied at beam energies close to the Coulomb barrier. At a center-of-mass energy of E _c.m. = 144.0MeV for reactions at half thickness of the target we measured three decay chains of ²⁶³Sg produced by evaporation of five neutrons. The cross-section was ( 67⁺⁶⁷ _-37) pb. At E _c.m. = 133.0MeV we measured three spontaneously fissioning nuclei which we assigned to the isotope ²⁶⁴Sg. The production cross-section was ( 10⁺¹⁰ _-6) pb and a half-life of ( 120⁺¹²⁶ _-44) ms was determined. This half-life is a factor of twenty shorter than theoretical predictions. At E _c.m. = 128.0MeV an upper cross-section limit of 15pb was measured. The cross-section data reveal a strong influence of the orientation of the deformed target nucleus on the production yield. Compared to excitation functions measured for the lighter system ¹⁶O + ²³⁸U → ²⁵⁴Fm^*, a reduction of the fusion probability was observed at low beam energies indicating increasing competition from quasifission processes.     

Alpha-decay half-life of <Superscript>221</Superscript>Fr in different environments

A possible dependence of the alpha decay process on the solid-state environment of the decaying nucleus has been investigated by measuring the alpha-decay half-life of ²²¹Fr at room temperature in different materials ( Au, W, Si and polyethylene). The change in half-life between the insulator Si and the metals Au/ W is found to be 0.30(17)% / 0.42(21)%, respectivly. Furthermore an improved value of 4.79(2)min was found for the absolute half-life of ²²¹Fr.     

New calculations of α-decay half-lives by the Viola-Seaborg formula

The Viola-Seaborg formula is a well-known formula for α-decay half-lives of heavy nuclei. In this work we obtain new parameters of this formula through a least-square fit to even-even nuclei between Z = 84 and Z = 110 with N greater than 126. On average, the formula can reproduce the half-lives of heavy even-even nuclei within a factor of 1.3. The formula with new parameters works well for the superheavy region which is a hot topic of nuclear physics. The numerical results from the formula are compared with those from the cluster model.     

Decay properties of neutron-deficient nuclei in the region Z = 86–92

Neutron deficient isotopes of elements Z = 86-92 have been produced by heavy-ion fusion reactions ¹²C + ²⁰⁸Pb, ²⁰⁹Bi, ²²Ne + ²⁰⁸Pb, ⁵¹V + ¹⁷⁰Er, and ⁵⁰Ti + ¹⁷⁰Er. The evaporation residues were investigated by means of α- and α-γ-spectroscopy after in-flight separation from the projectile beam by the velocity filter SHIP and implantation into a 16-strip position-sensitive Si-detector. New or improved decay data for ^{225, 226}U, ^{216, 217m, 218}Pa, ^{215, 216, 217}Th, ^{214, 215, 216, 216m}Ac, ²¹⁴Ra and ²¹³Rn have been obtained. Received: 5 April 2000 / Accepted: 28 July 2000     

Behavior of intruder based states in light Bi and Tl isotopes: the study of 187Bi α decay

The excitation energies of the single-particle normal and intruder levels in both ¹⁸³Tl and ¹⁸⁷Bi were measured for the first time via the α decay of ¹⁸⁷Bi produced in the ⁹⁷Mo(⁹²Mo,pn)¹⁸⁷Bi reaction. The previously unobserved ¹⁸⁷Bi ground state (h_9/2) to ¹⁸³Tl ground state (s_1/2) α transition was identified, establishing the ¹⁸⁷Bi intruder state excitation energy to be 112(21) keV, 70 keV less than that of the same level in ¹⁸⁹Bi. Received: 10 September 1998 / Revised version: 18 December 1998     

Heavy-element chemistry --Status and perspectives

In the past ten years, nuclear chemists have made considerable progress in developing fast on-line separation techniques, which allowed to chemically characterize the first four transactinide elements Rf (rutherfordium, Z = 104), Db (dubnium, Z = 105), Sg (seaborgium, Z = 106), and recently also Bh (bohrium, Z = 107). In all cases the isolated nuclides were unambiguously identified by observing genetically linked decay chains. Nuclides with production cross-sections of less than 100 pb and half-lives as short as a few seconds have been chemically isolated. Thus, chemists have discovered or significantly contributed to the characterization of the nuclear-decay properties of a number of transactinide nuclei. New techniques with greatly improved overall efficiencies should allow chemists to extend their studies to even heavier elements such as Hs (hassium, Z = 108) and to the recently discovered superheavy elements with Z = 112 and 114, which can be produced only with picobarn cross-sections. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: andreas.tuerler@psi.ch     

Radioactive decay of 217Pa

The radioactive decay of ²¹⁷Pa was investigated by means of α-γ-spectroscopy. Fine structure in the ground-state α-decay was established. Ambiguities in the fine structure of the α-decay of the previously known isomeric state could be clarified by α-γ-coincidence measurements. A previously unknown α-transition of E _α = (8306 ± 5) keV was detected and identified by means of delayed α-α- and α-γ-γ-coincidence measurements. A second isomeric state decaying by α-emission was not observed. The quality of the previously reported data of the α-decay fine structure of ²¹⁷Th was improved. Received: 29 April 2002 / Accepted: 17 June 2002 / Published online: 19 November 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: f.p.hessberger@gsi.de Communicated by J. ?yst?     

Spectroscopy and single-particle structure of the odd- Z heavy elements 255Lr, 251Md and 247Es

The odd-Z isotope ²⁵⁵Lr, its daughter ²⁵¹Md and grand-daughter ²⁴⁷Es were studied in two experiments performed at GANIL and the University of Jyv?skyl?. The ²⁵⁵Lr nuclei were produced using the cold fusion-evaporation reaction ²⁰⁹Bi(⁴⁸Ca, 2n)²⁵⁵Lr at a bombarding energy of 217MeV. The single-particle structure and decay properties were investigated using α, γ and electron spectroscopy. The ground-state spin and parity could be assigned for ²⁵⁵Lr (1/2^-) and ²⁵¹Md (7/2^-). States corresponding to the 7/2⁺[633], 7/2^-[514] and 1/2^-[521] Nilsson orbitals were observed. Results are compared to experimental data obtained in neighbouring isotopes and to Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations using the Skyrme interaction SLy4 and a density-dependent pairing interaction. The position of the 1/2^-[521] orbital from the spherical 2f _5/2 shell is discussed.     

Fine structure in the α-decay of radium isotopes with mass numbers 209-212

Radium isotopes with mass numbers from 209 to 212 have been produced by heavy-ion fusion reactions ²⁰⁴Pb( ¹²C, xn) ^216-Ra. Radioactive decay properties were investigated by means of α- and α-γ-spectroscopy after in-flight separation of the evaporation residues from the projectile beam by the velocity filter SHIP and implantation into a 16-strip position-sensitive Si detector. For the even-even nuclei ^210,212Ra we identified α transitions into the first-excited 2⁺-state of the daughter nuclei ^206,208Rn. Weak α transitions into excited levels of the odd-A daughter nuclei ^205,207Rn were also observed. Received: 19 August 2002 / Accepted: 6 November 2002 / Published online: 18 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: f.p.hessberger@gsi.de Communicated by D. Guerreau     

Chemical properties of the transactinide elements studied in liquid phase with SISAK

This article starts with a review of the current SISAK liquid-liquid extraction system, as used after the physical preseparator BGS at LBNL for chemical studies of transactinide elements. Emphasis will be on new additions and developments. Then the possibilities offered by the new TASCA separator at GSI and the use of actinide targets at both GSI and LBNL are discussed with respect to future SISAK transactinide experiments. Finally, current and future liquid-liquid extraction systems for studying elements Rf up to Hs are discussed.     

Odd-proton alpha-decay systematics and nuclear structure just beyond208Pb

The level structures populated in alpha decay of all odd-Z-even-N nuclei withZ=(83–93) andN=(126–142) up to 500 keV are presented. More data on the 4n+3 nuclear sequences are given from²¹⁵Bi to²³⁵Np. Particular emphasis is placed on the hindrance factors to alpha decay in interpreting the level structures in term of the shell model, the octupole-quadrupole model and the Nilsson model. The level structures and the hindrance factors go through transition region in which mixtures of the properties of two different nuclear models are appropriate. These transition regions represent a challenge to nuclear theorists to develop more all-encompassing nuclear models.     

Decay properties of neutron-deficient isotopes of elements from Z = 101 to Z = 108

In a series of experiments performed at the velocity filter SHIP, new or improved decay data of neutron-deficient isotopes of elements from mendelevium (Z = 101) to hassium (Z = 108) were obtained. In particular, evidence for -decay or electron capture from isomeric states in ²⁶⁵Hs and ²⁵⁸Db was found.     

Studies of 213g, mRa and 214g, mRa by α and γ decay

The decay of ^{213, 214}Ra was studied by α-γ and γ-γ coincidence measurements. The nuclei were produced in the reactions ¹⁷⁰Er(⁴⁸Ca, xn)^218-x Ra and ¹⁷⁰Er(⁵⁰Ti, 3n)²¹⁷Th and subsequent α decay of ²¹⁷Th to ²¹³Ra. Evaporation residues recoiling out of the target were separated in-flight by the velocity filter SHIP and implanted into a position-sensitive 16-strip PIPS detector in order to study their subsequent decays. Associated γ-rays were detected by a four-fold Ge-Clover detector. In the present work we extracted new and improved data for ^{213, 214}Ra including isomeric transitions. The results are discussed and compared with previously published data.     

Decay studies of <Superscript>215-217</Superscript>Th using ER- γ- α- γ coincidences

The decay of ^215-217Th was investigated by ER-γ-α-γ coincidence measurements. The nuclei were produced by the reaction ¹⁷⁰Er(⁵⁰Ti, xn)^220-xTh. Evaporation residues recoiling out of the target were separated in flight by the velocity filter SHIP and stopped in a position-sensitive 16-strip PIPS-detector in order to study their subsequent decays. Associated γ-rays were detected by a fourfold Ge-Clover detector. In the present work we extracted new and improved data for ^215-217Th including isomeric decays. The results are discussed and compared to previously published data.     

Synthesis of superheavy nuclei in the reactions of 244Pu and 248Cm with 48Ca

This paper presents results of the experiments aimed at producing long-lived superheavy elements located near the spherical-shell closures with Z ⩾ 114 and N ⩾ 172 in the ²⁴⁴Pu + ⁴⁸Ca and ²⁴⁸Cm + ⁴⁸Ca reactions. The large measured α-particle energies of the newly observed nuclei, together with the long decay times and spontaneous fission terminating the chains, offer evidence of the decay of nuclei with high atomic numbers. The decay properties of the synthesized nuclei are consistent with the consecutive α-decays originating from the parent nuclides ^{288, 289}114 and ²⁹²116, produced in the 3n and 4n evaporation channels with cross-sections of about a picobarn. The present observations can be considered as experimental evidence of the existence of the “island of stability” of superheavy elements. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: utyonkov@sungns.jinr.ru     

Loss of collectivity in 79Rb

High-spin states in ⁷⁹Rb were populated in the reaction at E(beam) = 60 MeV. The lifetimes of the excited states of the positive-parity yrast band and of the negative-parity band in ⁷⁹Rb were measured by the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method. The deduced transition quadrupole moments Q_t are found to have a decreasing trend with rotational frequency for both the bands, consistent with those found experimentally in neighbouring nuclei. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Identification of a K isomer in 252No

A K isomer with a half-life of (110±10) ms at an excitation energy of 1254keV has been identified in the nucleus ²⁵²No . The isomer is interpreted as a two-quasineutron state with K ^π = 8^- . The isotope ²⁵²No was produced in the fusion-evaporation reaction ²⁰⁶Pb(⁴⁸Ca, 2n)²⁵²No . The experiment has been performed at the velocity filter SHIP of GSI Darmstadt.     

First observation of medium-spin excitations in the <Superscript>138</Superscript>Cs nucleus

The Penning trap mass spectrometer JYFLTRAP, coupled to the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility at Jyv?skyl?, was employed to measure the atomic masses of neutron-rich ^70-73Ni and ^{73, 75}Cu isotopes with a typical accuracy less than 5keV. The mass of ⁷³Ni was measured for the first time. Comparisons with the previous data are discussed. Two-neutron separation energies show a weak subshell closure at ⁶⁸ ₂₈Ni₄₀ . A well established proton shell gap is observed at Z = 28 .