Multi-nucleon transfer near the coulomb barrier induced by 32S and 34S

Neutron excess targets of ⁷⁶Ge, ^92,94,96Zr and ¹⁰⁰Mo have been bombarded with ³²S and ³⁴S at beam energies around the Coulomb barrier. Multi-nucleon transfer reactions involving 3p, 4p, 3pn, 4pn (projectile → target) and 3n, 4n, 6n (target → projectile) have been observed by measuring the corresponding back-scattered radioactive products like ²⁹Al, ²⁸Mg, ²⁸Al, ²⁷Mg, ³⁷S and ³⁸S. In some cases excitation functions and angular distributions have been measured.     

Evidence for a smooth onset of deformation in the neutron-rich Kr isotopes

The neutron-rich nuclei 94,96Kr were studied via projectile Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Level energies of the first excited 2(+) states and their absolute E2 transition strengths to the ground state are determined and discussed in the context of the E(2(1)(+)) and B(E2;2(1)(+)→0(1)(+)) systematics of the krypton chain. Contrary to previously published results no sudden onset of deformation is observed. This experimental result is supported by a new proton-neutron interacting boson model calculation based on the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach using the microscopic Gogny-D1M energy density functional.     

On the static quadrupole moments of the 21 states in Te and Te

The reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation was used to measure the static quadrupole moments of the first 2⁺ states in ¹²⁶Te and ¹²⁸Te. The particle-γ coincidence technique using a large NaI(Tl) crystal was employed to measure relative excitation probabilities at backward and forward projectile scattering angles. The Winther-de Boer multiple Coulomb excitation program was used to analyze the data. The influence of the deorientation effect was also determined. For positive interference via the second 2⁺ state the extracted quadrupole moments of the first 2⁺ states are; −0.20±0.09 b and -0.24±0.08 b for ¹²⁶Te and ¹²⁸Te respectively. The quadrupole moments of the first 2⁺ states of^{122,124,126,128,130}Te determined by different techniques are in excellent agreement with one another. The values are compared with recent theoretical calculations.     

Determination of the static quadrupole moment of the first 2+ states of 122Te, 124Te,and 130Te by heavy-ion coulomb excitation

A Coulomb excitation experiment has been performed on the first 2⁺ states of ¹²²Te, ¹²⁴Te and ¹³⁰Te. The relative excitation probabilities of the first 2⁺ states were measured at backward and forward projectile scattering angles. Particle-γ coincidences were used to identify the inelastic events. The data were analyzed with the aid of the Winther-deBoer multiple Coulomb excitation program. Separate γ-ray angular distribution measurements were made as a function of target recoil velocity to determine the influence of the deorientation effect. The projectile and bombarding energy were chosen to minimize the effect on the experiment of higher state interference due to Coulomb excitation of the first 2⁺ state via the second 2⁺ state. For positive higher state interference the extracted quadrupole moments of the first 2⁺ states are Q₂₊ = ?0.43 ± 0.08 b, ?0.49 ± 0.08 b and ?0.08 ± 0.08 b for ¹²²Te, ¹²⁴Te and ¹³⁰Te respectively. These results and other measurements of Q_2⁺ for the doubly even Te isotopes are used to discuss the model dependent calculations of Q_2⁺.     

<Superscript>18</Superscript>Ne diproton decay

Two proton radioactivity studies have been performed on excited states of ¹⁸Ne produced, among other fragments, by ²⁰Ne projectile fragmentation and excited via Coulomb excitation on a Pb target. Every incoming ion was tagged before interacting with the lead target on an event by event basis in order to discriminate the secondary reactions according to the projectile. Decay of ¹⁸Ne levels has been studied by complete kinematical reconstruction. In spite of the low statistics a couple of events looks very promising for two proton correlated emission.     

First nuclear moment measurement with radioactive beams by the recoil-in-vacuum technique: the g factor of the 2+1 state in 132Te

Following Coulomb excitation of the radioactive ion beam (RIB) 132Te at HRIBF we report the first use of the recoil-in-vacuum (RIV) method to determine the g factor of the 2(+)(1) state: g(973.9 keV 2(+) 132Te) = (+)0.35(5). The advantages offered by the RIV method in the context of RIBs and modern detector arrays are discussed.     

Coulomb excitation paths of high-K isomer bands in 178Hf

Three distinctly different mechanisms are shown to populate the K(pi)=6(+) (t(1/2)=77 ns), 16(+) (31 yr), and 8(-) (4 s) isomer bands of 178Hf by Coulomb excitation. High spin states of the three isomer bands were populated by Coulomb excitation of a hafnium target with a 650 MeV 136Xe beam. Although direct population of high-K bands is highly K-forbidden, isomer bands in 178Hf were populated up to spins 13(+)(K=6), 20(+)(K=16), and 14(-)(K=8) with in-band gamma yields of approximately 10(-4) of the ground state band. The data are consistent with a rapid increase in K mixing with increasing spin in the isomer bands.     

Experimental evidence of (2)He decay from (18)Ne excited states

Two-proton decay from (18)Ne excited states has been studied by complete kinematical reconstruction of the decay products. The (18)Ne nucleus has been produced as a radioactive beam by (20)Ne primary projectile fragmentation at 45 AMeV incident energy on a Be target. The (18)Ne at 33 AMeV incident energy has been excited via Coulomb excitation on a (nat)Pb target. The obtained results unambiguously show that the 6.15 MeV (18)Ne state two-proton decay proceeds through a (2)He diproton resonance (31%) and democratic or virtual sequential decay (69%). The quoted branching ratio has been deduced from relative angle and momentum correlations of the emitted proton pairs.     

Improved isospin dependent quantum molecular dynamics model and its application to fusion reactions near Coulomb barrier

The isospin dependent quantum molecular dynamics model is developed by introducing switch function method which deals with correctly the surface interaction and shell effect in the process of projectile and target approaching. The fusion excitation functions for ⁴⁰Ca + ⁴⁰Ca, ⁴⁰Ca + ⁴⁸Ca and ⁴⁸Ca + ⁴⁸Ca at energies in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier are studied. The experimental data of the fusion cross sections for these three systems can be regenerated very well. It is found that the fusion cross sections for neutron-rich system increase obviously. The static and dynamical Coulomb barriers are studied in order to clarify the phenomena. The neutron to proton ratio (N/Z ratio) at neck region is also studied, which apparently presents isospin effects of projectile-target combinations.     

Relativistic coulomb excitation

Coulomb excitation of both target and projectile in relativistic heavy ion collisions is evaluated including the lowest order correction for the deviation from a straight line trajectory. Explicit results for differential and total cross sections are given in the form of tables and figures.     

Development of a Detector System for Transient Magnetic Field Experiments with Radioactive-Isotope Beams and a Test Experiment

For g-factor measurements of excited states of unstable nuclei, we have been developing a setup for the transient field experiment at RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility. For the preparation of ferromagnetic material, thick Gd foils have been annealed. In a test experiment using a ²²Ne beam, the projectile Coulomb excitation to the first excited state has been observed. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fission of238U induced by136Xe for energies close to the Coulomb barrier

Excitation functions and angular distributions have been measured for fission of²³⁸U induced by¹³⁶Xe ions with bombarding energies between 4.5 and 5.9 MeV/N. Structures expected theoretically as characteristic for Coulomb fission have not been observed. The Q-value of ?(7.5±1.0) MeV measured for bombarding energies below 4.7MeV/N, however, appears to be compatible with inelastic scattering (e.g. Coulomb excitation) rather than subcoulomb transfer followed by fission. The total kinetic energy of deep inelastic events at 5.9 MeV/N is consistent with the current knowledge about mass diffusion, but also (for the highest excitation energies) with a fast fission process in the presence of the projectile.     

Atomic excitations in sputtering studied with the use of composite targets

Atomic excitation phenomena in sputtering have been studied with the following combinations of projectile and target. (i) Be, B, Mg, Al, and Si bombarded with 80 keV Ar⁺ at UHV as well as with the target chamber backfilled with oxygen. (ii) Mg bombarded with 80 keV O⁺, F⁺, Ne⁺, Na⁺ Cl⁺, and Ar⁺. (iii) MgO, MgF₂, MgCl₂, MgSO₄, and several alkali halides bombarded with 80 keV Ar⁺ at UHV. Results are discussed. It is concluded that the excited-state formation takes place as electron tunneling at a fairly large separation between the target surface and the particle being sputtered. It is suggested with composite targets containing a metal element that excitation takes place predominantly at locations of the target surface where the work function is low, due to a thin, metallic surface layer, and that production of ground-state, positive secondary ions mainly takes place at target surface regions with high work function. For semiconductors, the changes caused by presence of oxygen are related to the change of the bonds in the solid from being of covalent nature to being fractionally ionic.     

Correlations between emerging alpha-particles and heavy ions in 32S+197 Au collisions

In-plane angular correlations between α-particles and projectile residue nuclei (Z=5?22) emerging from ³²S+¹⁹⁷Au collisions have been measured at 373 MeV incident energy. In the combined Coulomb field of the projectile residue and the target nucleus coincident α-particles are strongly focused into a narrow cone. Model calculations indicate that α-emission originates from the region of the projectile which is facing the target nucleus during the collision.     

Elastic and inelastic scattering of 16O and 12C by 24Mg near the Coulomb barrier

Angular distributions for ¹⁶O + ²⁴Mg and ¹²C + ²⁴Mg elastic and inelastic (2⁺, 1.37 MeV state in ²⁴Mg) scattering have been measured at energies spanning the Coulomb barrier. Apart from the structure typical of strong destructive Coulomb-nuclear interference, the data exhibit some additional specific features. Coupled channel calculations were performed, along with DWBA calculations to analyse the data using fixed coupling strengths deduced from the results of Coulomb excitation work. The importance of higher-order effects such as reorientation, is demonstrated.     

Higher-order effects studied for K-shell excitation of high-Z projectiles

The study of projectile excitation of high-Z ions in collisions with light target atoms is a powerful tool for the investigation of magnetic and higher-order effects occurring in relativistic collisions. Very first investigations performed for bismuth ions were recently extended at the ESR storage ring by using He-like uranium ions in collisions with gaseous targets. At the ESR jet target, the absence of solid-state effects (e.g., multiple collisions) allows one to study higher order processes, such as excitation and ionization or excitation and capture, occurring in single collisions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

TotalK-vacancy production in Ne (10 MeV) traversing Al

Deexcitation of projectile inner shell vacancies created while traversing a solid foil may take place via competing processes: a) vacancy sharing with foil atoms in close impacts, b) radiative and non-radiative electron capture, and c) such X-ray and Auger electron transitions as are possible in the heavy ion projectile. The change inK-vacancy creation with foil thickness can be investigated by measuring either projectile or target X-rays where the vacancies are created by Coulomb excitation and processa. In the system Ne (10 MeV) on Al, detecting AlK X-rays, the NeK-vacancy production probability has been determined.     

A dynamic polarization potential for heavy-ion scattering

The effects of target and/or projectile excitation on the elastic scattering of heavy ions are studied. The results are cast in the form of contributions to both the real and imaginary parts of the ion-ion optical potential. In particular, a trivially “equivalent” local potential (TELP) is found to simulate the effects of coupling to one or more open channels. Particular application is made to the dynamic polarization resulting from the long-range Coulomb potential. Comparison with coupled-channel calculations shows that the TELP can accurately reproduce these effects of Coulomb excitation. The correction to the absorptive potential is found to be much larger than that for the real potential. This correction is long-ranged and cannot be simulated by any reasonable adjustment of the usual Woods-Saxon form of potential. The TELP provides an alternative to performing coupled-channels calculations and may be particularly useful when reactions other than inelastic scattering are to be studied.     

Enhanced quadrupole collectivity at N = 40: the case of neutron-rich Fe isotopes

The transition rates for the 2(1)+ states in (62,64,66)Fe were studied using the recoil distance Doppler-shift technique applied to projectile Coulomb excitation reactions. The deduced E2 strengths illustrate the enhanced collectivity of the neutron-rich Fe isotopes up to N = 40. The results are interpreted using the generalized concept of valence proton symmetry which describes the evolution of nuclear structure around N = 40 as governed by the number of valence protons with respect to Z ≈ 30. The trend of collectivity suggested by the experimental data is described by state-of-the-art shell-model calculations with a new effective interaction developed for the fpgd valence space.