One-electron capture in collisions of fast ions with atoms

The properties of one-electron charge transfer between ions and atomsB ^Z++A →B ^(Z?1)+ A ⁺ are studied at relative velocities of the colliding particles higher than target electron velocities. Calculations of partial and total cross sections in collisions of protons and multiply-charged ions with neutral atoms are performed and compared with experimental data. The universal curve for the capture of the targetK- andL-electrons is given. In all cases at sufficiently high collision energies the electron capture from outer shells decreases and the capture of electrons from inner shells of the target atom becomes predominant.     

The electron capture to positron emission ratios in the decay of22Na and65Zn

The electron capture to positron emission ratios for allowed Gamow-Teller transitions from the decay of²²Na and⁶⁵Zn were measured. The values ?/gb⁺=0.1128±0.0057 andK/Β ⁺= 31.3±2.0 were obtained for²²Na and⁶⁵Zn, respectively. A detailed comparison with previous data is made. Theoretical ratios were calculated using the most recent Fermi and Coulomb functions. It was found an excellent agreement between our experimental data and the theoretical results evaluated without including contributions due to induced interactions.     

Properties of isovector 1+ states in A=28 nuclei and nuclear muon capture

A method is proposed for taking into account, in a calculation of partial rates of muon capture by nuclei, experimental information about strength functions for Gamow-Teller and isovector M1 transitions. The method, which amounts to choosing an orthogonal transformation that acts in the subspace of wave functions for excited states, requires neither modifying transition operators nor introducing effective charges. The matrix of the above transformation is constructed as a product of the matrices of reflection in a plane. All calculations are performed on the basis of the multiparticle shell model. Numerical results are obtained for isovector states in A=28 nuclei. Strength functions for Gamow-Teller and isovector M1 transitions in ²⁸Si are considered, and the lifetimes of 1⁺ states in ²⁸Al and the branching fractions for gamma decays of this state are calculated. Owing to taking into account experimental information about the properties of isovector states, the branching fractions for the γ decays of the 1⁺ state at 2.201 MeV in ²⁸Al are successfully described for the first time. The above transformation of the wave functions changes substantially the distribution of partial rates of allowed muon capture by a ²⁸Si nucleus among the 1⁺ states of the final nucleus ²⁸Al in relation to the results of the calculations with the eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian of the multiparticle shell model. The muon-capture rates calculated with the transformed functions agree well with experimental data.     

Study of the 19F(p, γ)20Ne radiative capture reaction from 0.2–1.2 MeV

The ¹⁹F(p, γ)²⁰Ne radiative capture reaction has been investigated for proton energies of 0.2–1.2 MeV. Excitation functions of γ-rays arising from capture reactions have been measured and the properties of known J^π = J^?J+1 resonances were studied. From the branching ratio and angular distribution measurements, the partial widths for gamma ray and proton emission of the 13.88 MeV level in ²⁰Ne were obtained, and J^π = 2⁺, T = 1 assignments for this resonance at E_P = 1091keV were made. Lower upper limit for the total width Γ = 0.8 keV has been obtained.     

Implantation of impurity ions into He II for optical spectroscopy purposes

An experimental arrangement for implantation and handling of high densities of alkaline earth ions in He II is described. First results, including mobility measurements of Sr⁺, Ba⁺, Zn⁺and Cd⁺ ions as well as optical detection of Ba⁺ ions, are reported.     

Level scheme of 194Ir

Levels of ¹⁹⁴Ir were studied using neutron capture and (d, p) reaction spectroscopy. A pair spectrometer was used to measure the high-energy γ-ray spectrum from thermal-neutron capture in an enriched ¹⁹³Ir target over the energy range 4640–6100 keV. From the same reaction, low-energy γ-radiation was studied using curved-crystal spectrometers, and conversion electrons were observed with magnetic spectrometers. Prompt and delayed γγ-coincidences were measured using semiconductor and scintillation detectors. Averaged resonance capture measurements were performed with 2 keV and 24 keV neutrons for primary transitions leading to excitation energies from 0 to 580 keV. Using 22 MeV deuterons, the ¹⁹³Ir(d, p) high resolution spectra were observed with a magnetic spectrograph. The deduced nuclear level scheme of ¹⁹⁴Ir includes 38 levels connected by 184 transitions. Unambiguous spins and parities were determined for 25 levels. The rotor-plus-particle model was used for the interpretation of the level scheme assuming a strong mixing for Nilsson configurations having identical parities and K quantum numbers. IBFFM model calculations were performed and the obtained results were compared with the experimental level scheme.     

Resonance neutron capture in 52Cr

Neutron capture γ-ray measurements have been performed upon a natural sample of Cr. Twenty-six γ-rays were observed from the 1626 eV resonance of the ⁵²Cr(n, γ)⁵³Cr reaction, and twenty-four of them were assigned to a level scheme. A value of $\text{3}\text{2}$^? was determined for the spin-parity of this resonance. The neutron separation energy, derived from a separate thermal measurement with an enriched (99.9 %) ⁵²Cr sample was determined to be 7939.1 ± 0.2 keV. The high (n, γ) (d, p) correlation found for thermal capture is absent for the p-resonance, however the γ-ray intensities from thermal and resonance capture are correlated, with r = 0.86_?0.11^+0.06.     

Absolute cross sections for one electron capture into excited projectile states in collisions between He2+ (15–150 keV) and Li atoms

We have studied the He²⁺-Li collision system at laboratory energies between 15 and 150 keV using optical methods. From the measured emission cross sections we derive state-selective capture cross sections for n = 2,3,4 and n ? 5 states of the He⁺ ions. Our data are consistent with theoretical predictions of Bransden and Ermolaev. The total capture cross sections as evaluated from our emission cross section data, agree very well with the results of McCullough et al. obtained from projectile charge detection measurements. Near 15 keV our emission cross sections for 30.4 nm and 25.6 nm are much larger than those measured previously by Barrett and Leventhal at slightly lower energies.     

The decay of 3.0 min143Eu and the levels of theN=81143Sm and141Nd nuclei

The decay of 3.0 min¹⁴³Eu has been investigated by means of a Ge(Li) detector. TheΒ ⁺ spectrum obtained with a Si(Li) spectrometer leads to aQ-value of 5100±50 keV. For the first time a decay scheme including levels situated at 107.5, 755.0, 1107.9, 1537.5 and 1912.8 keV has been established. The data are compared to those obtained for the neighbouringN=81¹⁴¹Nd nucleus. Besides, new experimental measurements indicate that the 1345.4 keV level in¹⁴¹Nd has not the odd-parity and would be 5/2⁺, 7/2⁺. Hence, the 7/2^? state is situated at 1967.4 keV. Those data are in reasonable agreement with intermediate coupling calculations.     

Photodisintegration of 11Li and Radiation Capture of Two Neutrons by 9Li

Photodisintegration of ¹¹Li and radiation capture of two neutrons by ⁹Li are studied in the frame of algebraic version of resonating group method and in asymptotic potential approximation. The behavior of the scattering phases shows on the existence of J ^π=3/2⁺ and J ^π=5/2⁺ resonances in continuum above the three-body decay threshold ¹¹Li→⁹Li+n + n. The cross-section of photodisintegration as well as the cross-section of radiation capture have been received. Energetic dependence of the first one is in good correspondence with the experimental data.     

Microscopic analysis of the 12C(α, γ)16O reaction

Electric transition probabilities in the ¹⁶O spectrum, and the ¹²C(α, γ_o,3¹⁶O capture cross sections are calculated with antisymmetric wave functions by the generator coordinate method. The influence of bound states on radiative capture is shown to be automatically included in the model. The reduced α-widths of the ¹⁶O bound states are discussed, and compared with previous theoretical and experimental estimates. The microscopic E2 capture cross sections to the O⁺₁ and 2₁⁺ states yield an astrophysical S-factor of 0.09 MeV · b at 0.3 MeV. An attempt to treat the El multipolarity by relaxing the long-wavelength approximation leads to a large underestimation of the γ-widths. Adopting the experimental γ- width and the theoretical reduced α-width of the 1₁^? state provides s_E1 = 0.30 MeV · b at 0.3 MeV.     

Production of projectile and targetK X-rays by single and multiple electron-capture in collisions of Si14+ and Si13+ ions with argon atoms at 4.5 and 5.5 MeV/amu

Projectile and target X-ray cross-sections have been measured in collisions of bare and hydrogenlike Silicon ions with argon atoms. Projectile energies are 125 MeV and 153 MeV, i.e. the intermediate velocity region forK-shell capture. Coincidence measurements between X-ray photons and the scattered Si ⁿ⁺ projectiles with charge statesn-1,n-2 andn-3 have been made. The relative contribution of charge exchange and direct ionization (or excitation) of the targetK-shell has been obtained directly by this new method. DoubleK-shell electron transfer is demonstrated to be very large in the case of fully stripped Si ions. A thorough theoretical analysis of the data is carried out and multiple capture processes are evaluated using an independent electron model.     

The contribution ofK-electron capture for the production of highly charged Ne recoil ions by 156 MeV bromine impact

The recoil ion production cross sections in 2MeV/amu Br ⁿ⁺+Ne⁰→Br ^n′++Ne ^q+ were measured using a projectile ion — recoil ion coincidence technique where the final charge states of both collisions partners were detected simultaneously. Multiple ionization was found to be the dominant process for the production of low charge state recoil ions whereas the production of highly charged recoil ions is accompanied by electron capture from the Nek-shell. The derived ratio of single to double Ne-k electron capture probabilities indicates deviations from a binomial statistics distribution.     

Investigation of persistent photoconductivity in Si-dopedn-Al x Ga1−x as grown by molecular beam epitaxy

The persistent photoconductivity effect in Si-dopedn-Al _x Ga_1?x As layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (100)GaAs substrates has been investigated by detailed Halleffect and capacitance measurements at 10–300 K. In the alloy composition range 0.25<x <0.40 the electrical properties ofn-Al _x Ga_1?x As are governed by a deep electron trap having an emission barrier of 0.34–0.40 eV (depending on the doping concentration), as determined by admittance measurements. The concentration of deep electron traps, deduced from low-temperature capacitance measurements, is found to coincide with the amount of persistent photoconductivity observed in the material. Consequently, the earlier proposed population of two-dimensional subbands at the Al _x Ga_1?x As/GaAs-substrate hetero-interface, i.e. charge separation bymacroscopic barriers, can not account for the measured high overall number of persistent photoexcited carriers. Instead, the vanishing small capture rates of photoexcited electrons result frommicroscopic capture barriers. The dominant deep electron trap, which we attribute to deep donor-type (DX) centers, is found to be homogeneously distributed throughout the Al _x Ga_1?x As layer depth. From our Hall effect measurements a trap depth of 0.05–0.12 eV (depending on the doping concentration) below the conduction band is derived. The capture barrier is thus in the order of 0.30 eV. This value is in excellent agreement with data obtained from liquid phase epitaxially grown Si-dopedn-Al _x Ga_1?x As.     

Search for neutron resonances in the $$^{178m_2 } Hf$$ isomer and their investigation

Experiments aimed at detecting and investigating neutron resonances in the \(^{178m_2 } Hf\) isomer are described, and the results obtained in these experiments are presented. The investigations in question are of great interest since the structure of this isomer—it is interpreted as the (π7/2⁺, π9/2⁺, ν7/2⁺, ν9/2⁺) configuration—and its high spin of J=16 differ significantly from the structure and spin of nuclei studied previously. The experiments performed at the Kurchatov Institute employed a neutron source based on the FAKEL linear electron accelerator and a multisection detector from NaI(Tl) crystals that was able to ensure a 4π coverage. This equipment made it possible to study gamma-ray cascades in radiative neutron capture versus neutron energy. Despite an extremely small number of isomer nuclei, a low content of the isomer in the target used, and its high radioactivity, resonances were discovered that arise upon neutron capture by a high-spin \(^{178m_2 } Hf\) nucleus. The parameters of these resonances were found. The mean spacing between the revealed resonances is about 1 eV, which is consistent with calculations based on the Fermi gas model. This indicates that the Fermi gas model describes well the density of both low-and high-spin levels. At the same time, the above agreement suggests that, upon the formation of a compound nucleus, the structure of the isomeric state is destroyed completely. On the other hand, glaring discrepancies between experimental data and the predictions of the statistical model were found: gamma transitions from high-spin resonances (J=31/2⁺, 33/2⁺) populate predominantly the low-spin ground state (J=9/2⁺) rather than the high-spin state of the \(^{178m_2 } Hf\) isomer (J=25/2^?); the radiative width is approximately one-third as great as that which is predicted by the statistical model; and the properties of gamma cascades are different for different resonances, this difference being beyond statistical fluctuations. The results of the present investigation make it possible to reveal special features in the behavior of the quantum number K at high excitation energies.     

Collective and two-quasiparticle states in 158Gd observed through study of radiative neutron capture in 157Gd

The level structure of ¹⁵⁸Gd has been studied using the prompt γ-rays and conversion electrons emitted following neutron capture in ¹⁵⁷Gd. The γ-ray energy and intensity measurements were made using both Ge(Li) detectors and a curved-crystal spectrometer. Conversion-electron energy and intensity measurements were made using two separate magnetic spectrometers: one to measure the primary electron spectrum and the other to measure the lower energy secondary electron spectrum. Some γ-γ coincidence measurements were also made among the secondary γ-rays. From these data, a neutron separation energy of 7937.1 ± 0.5 keV has been determined for ¹⁵⁸Gd. A level scheme containing 59 excited states with energies < 2.25 MeV, for which de-excitation modes have been identified, is proposed for ¹⁵⁸Gd. Many of these states have been grouped into rotational bands. A total of thirteen excited rotational bands with band-head energies below 2.0 MeV are contained in the level scheme. Features of the proposed level scheme include: the K^π = 0^?, 1^? and 2^? octupole-vibrational bands with band-head energies of 1263, 977 and 1793 keV, respectively; the γ-vibrational band at 1187 keV; three excited K^π = 0⁺ bands with band-head energies of 1196, 1452 and 1743 keV; several two-quasiparticle bands with band-head energies in keV (and K^π assignments) of 1380 (4⁺), 1636 (4^?), 1847 (1⁺), 1856 (1^?), 1920 (4⁺) and 1930 (1⁺). An analysis of (d, p) reaction data is presented which permits definite two-quasiparticle configuration assignments to be made to most of these latter bands. Evidence is presented which suggests strong mixing of some two-neutron and two-proton bands. A phenomenological four-band mixing analysis is made of the energy and E2 transition-probability data for the ground-state band and the three lowest-lying excited collective positive-parity bands. Good agreement with experiment is obtained. A Coriolis-mixing analysis of the octupole bands has been carried out and good agreement with the data on level energies and E1 transition probabilities to the ground-state band has been achieved. Values of Z, the ratio of the E1 transition matrix element with ΔK = 1 to that with ΔK = 0, involving the octupole bands and the first four 0⁺ bands are derived. For three of these 0⁺ bands, absolute values of these matrix elements are deduced. An interesting alternation in the sign of Z is observed for these four 0⁺ bands.     

Experimentelle Untersuchungen am Elektroneneinfang des Mangan 54 und Zink 65

The electron capture decay of Mn 54 and Zn 65 was investigated using Na I(Tl)-detectors. Spectroscopic-coincidence techniques were employed to examine theK-electron capture rates of Mn 54 and Zn 65, the branching ratio and positron rate of Zn 65. The experimental results are:P _k ω _k (Mn)=0.2492±0.0017,P _k ω _k (Zn)=0.3927±0.0026,EC ^* /EC ⁰(Zn)=53.2±1.0/46.8±1.0,γ/β ⁺=35.1±1.7,K ⁰/β ⁺=27.7±1.5. Thus electron capture to the excited state of Cu 65 occurs to the extent of 52.4±1.0% while electron capture and positron decay to the ground state were found to be associated with 46.1±1.0% and 1.49±0.05% of the disintegrations. These data partly disagree significantly from measurements of other authors. Using the fluorescence yieldsω _k (Cr)=0.279 andω _k (Cu)=0.4425, deduced from other measurements, values ofL+M/K of electron capture to the excited state could be derived:L+M/K(Mn 54)=0.120±0.015 andL+M/K(Zn 65)=0.127±0.015. These ratios agree with the calculations ofBahcall. The half-lives of Mn 54 and Zn 65 have been determined to beT _1/2(Mn 54)=312±5d,T _1/2(Zn 65)=243±4d The energy of the Zn 65-γ-rays was measured with a Ge(Li)-counter:E ^γ=1115.5±0.5 keV.     

Isotope effect in electron capture by protons into the 2S-state of hydrogen

We have investigated the isotope effect for electron capture into the 2S-state of hydrogen in close collisions for the processes H⁺ in H₂ and H⁺ in D₂. The differential cross sections and transition probabilities P_2S obtained for capture into H(2S) as a function of energy at a fixed angle of θ = 1° exhibit distinctive features, but no apparent isotope effects are detected.     

Majorana neutrinos in rare meson decays

The rare meson decays K ⁺ → π ^??⁺?′⁺ and D ⁺ → K ^??⁺?′⁺ (?, ?′ = e, μ), which are induced by Majorana neutrino exchange and which are accompanied by lepton-number nonconservation, are considered. The effects of the meson structure are taken into account on the basis of the Gaussian model for the respective Bethe-Salpeter amplitudes. It is shown that existing direct experimental constraints on the decay branching ratios are overly lenient and therefore give no way to set realistic limits on effective Majorana masses. On the basis of the constraints on the lepton-mixing parameters and neutrino masses from precision measurements of electroweak processes, neutrino-oscillation experiments, searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay of nuclei, and cosmological data, indirect constraints on the branching ratios for the decays in question are obtained and found to be much more stringent than the above direct constraints.