Revisit to Two-Proton Radioactivity of 19Mg and Observation of Two-Proton Decay of 30Ar

An experiment aimed to investigate the two-proton (2p) decay of the previously unknown nucleus 30Ar was performed at GSI: By tracking the decay products in-flight with silicon micro-strip detectors, the 2p decays of 30Ar were observed for the first time. For the calibration purpose, 2p decays of 19Mg were also remeasured by tracking the coincident 17Ne+p+p trajectories. By comparing the measured angular p-17Ne correlations with those obtained from the corresponding Monte Carlo simulations, the simultaneous 2p decay of 19Mg ground state and the sequential 2p emission of several known excited states of 19Mg were confirmed. One new excited state in 19Mg and two new excited states in 18Na were observed.     

Spectroscopic studies of the βp and β2p decay of 23Si

²³Si isotopes have been produced as projectile fragments of a ³⁶Ar primary beam at 95 MeV/nucleon at the LISE3 spectrometer of GANIL. After implantation in a detector telescope, β-delayed one-proton and β-delayed two-proton emission has been observed. The main one-proton peaks are at (1.32±0.04)MeV, (2.40±0.04)MeV, and (2.83±0.06)MeV. The total decay energy for the β2p decay is (6.18±0.10)MeV for the decay to the ground state and (5.86±0.10)MeV for the decay to the first excited state in the daughter nucleus. However, energetically possible decays via βpα and β3p emission have not been identified. The spectra allowed us to determine the excitation energy of the isobaric analogue state in ²³Al. This enabled us to calculate the coefficients of the T = 5/2 isobaric multiplet mass equation for A = 23. The mass excess of the ²³Si ground state was deduced. This value is compared to different theoretical predictions. Additionally, we determined the branching ratios for the different decay branches. A half-life measurement yielded T_1/2 = (40.7±0.4)ms.     

Discovery of the shape coexisting 0+ state in 32 Mg by a two neutron transfer reaction

The "island of inversion" nucleus 32 Mg has been studied by a (t, p) two neutron transfer reaction in inverse kinematics at REX-ISOLDE. The shape coexistent excited 0+ state in 32 Mg has been identified by the characteristic angular distribution of the protons of the Δ L=0 transfer. The excitation energy of 1058 keV is much lower than predicted by any theoretical model. The low γ-ray intensity observed for the decay of this 0+ state indicates a lifetime of more than 10 ns. Deduced spectroscopic amplitudes are compared with occupation numbers from shell-model calculations.     

Anticharmed pentaquark from B decays

We explore the possibility of observing the anticharmed pentaquark state from the theta(c)npi(+) decay of B mesons produced in B-factory experiments. We first show that the observed branching ratio of the B(+) to lambda(-)(c)p pi(+), as well as its open histograms, can be remarkably well explained by assuming that the decay proceeds first through the pi(+) D(0) (or D(*0)) decay, and then through the subsequent decay of the virtual D(0) or D(*0) mesons to lambda(-)(c)p. We then note that the theta(c)can be similarly produced when the virtual D(0) or D(*0) decay into an antinucleon and a theta(c). Combining the present theoretical estimates for the ratio g(DNlambda(c))/g(DNtheta(c)) approximately 13 and g(D*Ntheta(c)) approximately 1/3g(DNtheta(c)), we find that the anticharmed pentaquark theta(c), which was predicted to be bound by several model calculations, can be produced via B(+)--> theta(c)npi(+), and be observed from the B-factory experiments through the weak decay of theta(c)--> pK(+) pi(-) pi(-).     

Observation of B(+/-) --> p(-)pK(+/-)

We report the observation of the decay mode B(+/-) --> p(-)pK(+/-)based on an analysis of 29.4 fb(-1) of data collected by the Belle detector at KEKB. This is the first example of a b-->s transition with baryons in the final state. The p(-)p mass spectrum in this decay is inconsistent with phase space and is peaked at low mass. The branching fraction for this decay is measured to be B(B+/--->p(-)pK+/-) = [4.3(+1.1)(-0.9)(stat)+/-0.5(syst)]x 10(-6). We also report upper limits for the decays B(0)-->p(-)pK(S) and B(+/-)-->p(-)p pi(+/-).     

Testing the single-state dominance in two-neutrino double-beta decay

The single-state-dominance hypothesis (SSDH) states that the decay rates of the two-neutrino double beta decay are governed by a virtual two-step transition connecting the initial and final ground states through the first 1⁺ state, 1 ₁ ⁺ , of the intermediate odd-odd nucleus, for those odd-odd nuclei where the 1 ₁ ⁺ state is the ground state. To investigate the validity the SSDH we have performed a systematical theoretical analysis of all known double-beta-decay transitions where the SSDH conditions are fulfilled. The analysis shows that the SSDH is realized either through a true dominance of the first intermediate 1⁺ state or by cancellations among the contributions of higher lying 1⁺ states of the intermediate nucleus.     

Investigation of the near-threshold cluster resonance in ~(14)C

An experiment for p(~(14)C,~(14)C~*→~(10)Be+α)p inelastic excitation and decay was performed in inverse kinematics at a beam energy of 25.3 Me V/u.A series of~(14)C excited states,including a new one at 18.3(1)Me V,were observed which decay to various states of the final nucleus of~(10)Be.A specially designed telescope system,installed around zero degrees,played an essential role in detecting the resonant states near theα-separation threshold.A state at 14.1(1)Me V is clearly identified,being consistent with the predicted band-head of the molecular rotational band characterized by theπ-bond linear chain configuration.Further clarification of the properties of this exotic state is suggested by using appropriate reaction tools.     

Second bound state of PsH

The existence of a second bound state of PsH that is electronically stable and also stable against positron annihilation by the normal 2gamma and 3gamma processes is demonstrated by explicit calculation. The state can be found in the ;{2,4}S;{o} symmetries with the two electrons in a spin-triplet state. The binding energy against dissociation into the H(2p)+Ps(2p) channel was 7.03 x 10;(-4) hartree. The dominant decay mode of the states will be radiative decay into a configuration that autoionizes or undergoes positron annihilation. The NaPs system of the same symmetry is also electronically stable with a binding energy of 1.514 x 10;(-3) hartree with respect to the Na(3p)+Ps(2p) channel.     

Can extended objects explain the GSI e+ e− lines?

The anomalous electron-positron coincidences observed in heavy-ion collisions have been interpreted as signal for the pair decay of hitherto unknown neutral objects with masses around 1.8 MeV. We discuss the decay modes of such extended composite particles when they are bound to a nucleus. In particular we investigate the angular correlation of the emitted pair and the competing single-photon decay channel. We confront the particle hypothesis with recent negative results from experiments searching for resonances in Bhabha scattering. The induced pair decay of a metastable 1⁺⁺ state in secondary collisions with target atoms is discussed as a possible explanation.     

Induced double-beta processes in electron fluxes as resonance reactions in weak interaction

A theory of induced double-beta processes in electron beams is developed. It is shown that a resonance mechanism of the excitation of the ground state of an intermediate nucleus is realized in them, this mechanism being described in the single-state-dominance approximation, where the process in question is broken down into two stages, the excitation of a dominant state and its decay. This approximation is valid irrespective of the features of this state, both for allowed (for a 1⁺ state of the intermediate nucleus) and for forbidden transitions. An analysis of the resonance mechanism reveals that its inclusion in double-beta-decay processes requires introducing additional diagrams that describe the gamma decay of virtual intermediate states. The inclusion of such corrections may lead to a decrease in the expected half-life and to a change in the beta spectrum. Effects associated with the interference between the two stages of a double-beta process are estimated, and it is shown that their influence can be significant if the time interval between these stages is less than or on the order of the lifetime of the dominant state.     

Systematic study of the single-state dominance in 2νββ decay transitions

The single-state-dominance hypothesis (SSDH) states that the decay rates of the two-neutrino double-beta decay are governed by a virtual two-step transition connecting the initial and final ground states through the first 1⁺ state, 1_l⁺, of the intermediate odd-odd nucleus, for those odd-odd nuclei where the 1_l⁺ state is the ground state. To investigate the validity of the SSDH we have performed a systematical theoretical analysis of all known double-beta-decay transitions where the SSDH conditions are fulfilled. the calculations are based on the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) and the results have been obtained by using realistic single-particle bases and realistic interactions. We have studied the double β⁻ decays of ¹⁰⁰Mo, ¹¹⁰Pd, ¹¹⁴Cd, ¹¹⁶Cd and ¹²⁸Te and the double electron-capture transitions in ¹⁰⁶Cd and ¹³⁶Ce. The analysis shows that the SSDH is realized either through a true dominance of the first intermediate 1⁺ state or by cancellations among the contributions of higher lying 1⁺ states of the intermediate nucleus.     

Lifetime measurement of the 3P2 metastable state of strontium atoms

We have measured the lifetime of the 5s5p 3P2 metastable state of strontium atoms by magneto-optically trapping the decayed atoms to the ground state, which allowed sensitive detection of the rare decay events. We found that the blackbody radiation-induced decay was the dominant decay channel for the state at T=300 K. The lifetime was determined to be 520(+310)(-140) s in the limit of zero temperature, arguably the longest lifetime ever determined in a laboratory environment.     

Prompt alpha decay of a well-deformed band in (58)Ni

Two excited well-deformed bands have been observed in the semi-magic nucleus (58)Ni. One of the bands was observed to partially decay by emission of a prompt discrete alpha particle that feeds the 2949 keV 6(+) spherical yrast state in the daughter nucleus (54)Fe. This constitutes the first observation of prompt alpha emission from states lying in the deformed secondary minimum of the nuclear potential. gamma-ray linking transitions via several parallel paths establish the spin, parity, and excitation energy of this deformed band in (58)Ni.     

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.     

Observation of two-proton radioactivity of 19Mg by tracking the decay products

We have observed the two-proton radioactivity of the previously unknown (19)Mg ground state by tracking the decay products in-flight. For the first time, the trajectories of the 2p-decay products, (17)Ne+p+p, have been measured by using tracking microstrip detectors which allowed us to reconstruct the 2p-decay vertices and fragment correlations. The half-life of (19)Mg deduced from the measured vertex distribution is 4.0(15) ps in the system of (19)Mg. The Q value of the 2p decay of the (19)Mg ground state inferred from the measured p-p-(17)Ne correlations is 0.75(5) MeV.     

0+ analogue state in 118Sb from 117Sn(p,nγ) reaction

The analogue of the 0⁺ ground state in ¹¹⁸Sn has been observed in the compound nucleus ¹¹⁸Sb through ¹¹⁷Sn(p,n γ) ¹¹⁷Sb reaction. The neutron decays of this analogue resonance have been studied from the deexciting γ-rays of the residual nucleus ¹¹⁷Sb. From off resonance excitation functions, spin assignments have been made to states in ¹¹⁷Sb, on the basis of Hauser-Feshbach formalism. The resonance parameters of the isobaric analogue resonance have been determined, including the total, proton and neutron decay widths.     

Three-electron interatomic Coulombic decay from the inner-valence double-vacancy states in NeAr

We have unambiguously identified interatomic Coulombic decay in NeAr from the inner-valence double-vacancy state Ne-Ar(2+)(3s(-2)) to outer-valence triple-vacancy states Ne(+)(2p(-1))-Ar(2+)(3p(-2)) by momentum-resolved electron-ion multicoincidence. This is the first observation of interatomic Coulombic decay where three electrons (3e) participate. The results suggest that this 3e interatomic Coulombic decay is significantly faster than other competing processes like fluorescence decay and charge transfer via curve crossing.     

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).     

In search of the ηc

We argue that the X(2.88) detected in π^?p → γγ + n at 40 GeV/c cannot be the η_c. We discuss the possibility that a qq?cc? state is produced there, probably the same state discovered in radiative decay of the J/ψ. Only at much higher energies is the η_c expected to dominate over qq?cc? in the π^?p interaction. We also discuss coherent photoproduction and find that four quark state production would dominate over η_c.