N=82 shell quenching of the classical r-process "waiting-point" nucleus 130Cd

First beta- and gamma-spectroscopic decay studies of the N=82 r-process "waiting-point" nuclide 130Cd have been performed at CERN/ISOLDE using the highest achievable isotopic selectivity. Several nuclear-physics surprises have been discovered. The first one is the unanticipatedly high energy of 2.12 MeV for the [pi g(9/2) multiply sign in circle nu g(7/2)] 1(+) level in 130In, which is fed by the main Gamow-Teller transition. The second surprise is the rather high Q(beta) value of 8.34 MeV, which is in agreement only with recent mass models that include the phenomenon of N=82 shell quenching. Possible implications of these new results on the formation of the A approximately 130 r-process abundance peak are presented.     

Identification of excited states in the T(z) = 1 nucleus (110)Xe: evidence for enhanced collectivity near the N=Z=50 double shell closure

Gamma-ray transitions have been identified for the first time in the extremely neutron-deficient (N=Z+2) nucleus (110)Xe, and the energies of the three lowest excited states in the ground-state band have been deduced. The results establish a breaking of the normal trend of increasing first excited 2(+) and 4(+) level energies as a function of the decreasing neutron number as the N=50 major shell gap is approached for the neutron-deficient Xe isotopes. This unusual feature is suggested to be an effect of enhanced collectivity, possibly arising from isoscalar n-p interactions becoming increasingly important close to the N=Z line.     

Alpha Decay as a Probe of the Structure of Neutron-deficient Nuclei Around Z =82

In this contribution I would like to review briefly our recent studies on nuclear α formation probabilities in heavy nuclei and their indication on the underlying structure of the nuclei involved. In particular, I will show that the empirical α-formation probabilities, which can be extracted from experimental half-lives, exhibit a rather smooth function with changing proton or neutron numbers. This allows us to distinguish the role played by pairing collectivity in the clustering process. The sudden hindrance of the clustering of the nucleons around the N = 126 shell closure is due to the fact that the configuration space does not allow a proper manifestation of the pairing collectivity. The influence of the Z = 82 shell closure on the α formation properties will also be discussed. Moreover, we have evaluated the α-decay fine structure to excited 0+ states in Hg and Rn isotopes as well as the α-decay from the excited 0+ states in the mother nucleus. It is thus found that the α decay is sensitive to the mixture of configurations corresponding to different nuclear shapes.     

In-beam spectroscopy of224Th

The ß-decay half-life of¹³⁰Cd has been measured and its importance as N=82 ‘waiting-point’ nucleus for astrophysical rapid neutron capture (r?) process scenarios is discussed.     

Study of magnetic moments of nuclear excited states at Tristan

Facilities at the TRISTAN mass separator for measurement of magnetic moments of nuclear excited states are described and recent results for the N=82 isotones are presented.     

Shell model description of the 14C dating beta decay with Brown-Rho-scaled NN interactions

We present shell model calculations for the beta decay of 14C to the 14N ground state, treating the states of the A=14 multiplet as two 0p holes in an 16O core. We employ low-momentum nucleon-nucleon (NN) interactions derived from the realistic Bonn-B potential and find that the Gamow-Teller (GT) matrix element is too large to describe the known lifetime. By using a modified version of this potential that incorporates the effects of Brown-Rho scaling medium modifications, we find that the GT matrix element vanishes for a nuclear density around 85% that of nuclear matter. We find that the splitting between the (J(pi),T)=(1(+),0) and (J(pi),T)=(0(+),1) states in 14N is improved using the medium-modified Bonn-B potential and that the transition strengths from excited states of 14C to the 14N ground state are compatible with recent experiments.     

The level structure of 114Cd from (n, γ) and (d,p) studies

Gamma rays and conversion electrons have been measured following thermal neutron capture in ¹¹³Cd using the crystal spectrometers GAMS and the β-spectrometer BILL at the High Flux Reactor of the ILL at Grenoble. Primary γ-rays following thermal and average resonance neutron capture at E_n = 2 keV and 24 keV were recorded at the High Flux Beam Reactor at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. The ¹¹³Cd(d, p)¹¹⁴Cd reaction was studied with the Q3D spectrograph at the Munich tandem accelerator. Combining all these experimental results an almost complete level scheme of ¹¹⁴Cd was constructed up to 3.3 MeV including 48 excited levels with spin and parity information. The level scheme is discussed in terms of particle-hole excitations across the Z = 50 closed shell coupled to collective states, as well as in an interacting boson configuration mixing scheme.     

Energy density functional study of nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless ββ decay

We present an extensive study of nuclear matrix elements (NME) for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of the nuclei 48Ca, 76Ge, 82Se, 96Zr, 100Mo, 116Cd, 124Sn, 128Te, 130Te, 136Xe, and 150Nd based on state-of-the-art energy density functional methods using the Gogny D1S functional. Beyond-mean-field effects are included within the generating coordinate method with particle number and angular momentum projection for both initial and final ground states. We obtain a rather constant value for the NMEs around 4.7 with the exception of 48Ca and 150Nd, where smaller values are found. We analyze the role of deformation and pairing in the evaluation of the NME and present detailed results for the decay of 150Nd.     

High-spin states in the single-closed-shell nucleus 142Nd

The excited states of ¹⁴²₆₀Nd₈₂ have been studied using the ¹⁴⁰Ce(α, 2nγ)¹⁴²Nd and ¹⁴²Ce(α, 4γ)¹⁴²Nd reactions. Singles γ-ray, γ-γ coincidence spectra and angular distributions of γ-rays with respect to the beam direction have been measured. Excited states up to 6.7 MeV with spin values up to 14 are populated. The energy spacings between the lower excited states with spin values up to 8 are similar to those found in the lighter N = 82, even-Z isotones. The majority of the observed states with spin values up to 10 can be explained as two-quasiparticle states. Several of the highest-spin states can be explained qualitatively as fourquasiparticle states. Strong population of the highest excited states (at about 5.7 MeV) is noted, like in other N = 82 isotones. The observed levels in ¹⁴²Nd are compared with the shell model predictions using a simple δ-force interaction between two nucleons.     

Nuclear structure of neutron-rich nuclei near closed shells from excited-state g-factor measurements

New techniques to measure the g factors of picosecond-lived excited states of neutron-rich nuclei produced as radioactive beams are discussed along with their applications to study nuclear structure near ¹³² ₅₀Sn₈₂ and in the region between N=20 and N=28.     

Is the nuclear spin-orbit interaction changing with neutron excess?

The difference in the energies of the lowest states corresponding to the two nodeless single-particle orbitals outside the Z=50 closed proton shell, h(11/2) and g(7/2), increases with neutron excess. We have measured the Sn(alpha,t) reaction for all seven stable even Sn isotopes and found that the spectroscopic factors are constant for these two states, confirming their characterization as single-particle states. The trend in energies is consistent with a decrease in the nuclear spin-orbit interaction. A similar trend, also suggesting a decreasing spin-orbit splitting, is seen in the energies of the neutron single-particle states outside the N=82 core, i(13/2) and h(9/2).     

Restoration of the n=82 shell gap from direct mass measurements of 132,134Sn

A high-precision direct Penning trap mass measurement has revealed a 0.5-MeV deviation of the binding energy of (134)Sn from the currently accepted value. The corrected mass assignment of this neutron-rich nuclide restores the neutron-shell gap at N=82, previously considered to be a case of "shell quenching." In fact, the new shell gap value for the short-lived (132)Sn is larger than that of the doubly magic (48)Ca which is stable. The N=82 shell gap has considerable impact on fission recycling during the r process. More generally, the new finding has important consequences for microscopic mean-field theories which systematically deviate from the measured binding energies of closed-shell nuclides.     

Monopole effects,core excitations,and β decay in the A = 130 hole nuclei near ~(132)Sn

The proton and neutron cross-shell excitations across the Z = 50 shell are investigated in the southwest quadrant of ~(132) Sn by large-scale shell-model calculations with extended pairing and multipole-multipole force. The model space allows proton(neutron) core excitations, and both the low-and high-energy states for ~(130) In are well described, as found by comparison with the experimental data. The monopole effects between the proton orbit and neutron orbit are studied as the new monopole correction that perfectly reproduces the first 1~+ level in ~(130) In. The energy interval of proton(neutron) core excitations in ~(130) In lies in the range of 4.5-6.5(2.0-4.1) MeV, and the high energy yrast states are predicted as neutron core excitations. The decays are calculated among the A=130 nuclei of ~(130) In, ~(130) Sn and ~(130) Cd.     

Spectroscopic study of neutron shell closures via nucleon transfer in the near-dripline nucleus 23O

Neutron single particle energies have been measured in 23O using the 22O(d,p)23O*-->22O+n process. The energies of the resonant states have been deduced to be 4.00(2) MeV and 5.30(4) MeV. The first excited state can be assigned to the nu d3/2 single particle state from a comparison with shell model calculations. The measured 4.0 MeV energy difference between the nu s1/2 and nu d3/2 states gives the size of the N=16 shell gap which is in agreement with the recent USD05 ("universal" sd from 2005) shell model calculation, and is large enough to explain the unbound nature of the oxygen isotopes heavier than A=24. The resonance detected at 5.3 MeV can be assigned to a state out of the sd shell model space. Its energy corresponds to a approximately 1.3 MeV sized N=20 shell gap, therefore, the N=20 shell closure disappears at Z=8 in agreement with Monte Carlo shell model calculations using SDPF-M interaction.     

Particle-core coupling in 141Nd

High-spin states in 141Nd have been studied using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopic techniques via the 130Te(16O, 5nγ)141Nd reaction. The level scheme of 141Nd has been extended up to an excitation energy of 7614.5 kev including 12 new γ rays deexciting 15 new levels. According to particle-vibrator coupling and semi-empirical shell model calculations, the level structure of 141Nd can be well interpreted by coupling an h11/2 neutron-hole to the respective excited states in 142Nd core.     

Shell-model studies of the N=14 and 16 shell closures in neutron-rich nuclei

Shell-model studies on the N =14 and 16 shell closures in neutron-rich Be, C, O and Ne isotopes are presented. We calculate, with the WBT interaction, the excited states in these nuclei. The calculations agree with recent experiment data. Excited energies and B(E2) values are displayed to discuss the shell closures. Our results support the N =16 shell closure in these isotopes, while indicating a disappearance of N =14 shell closure in Be and C isotopes.     

Shell-model studies of the N=14 and 16 shell closures in neutron-rich nuclei

Shell-model studies on the N=14 and 16 shell closures in neutron-rich Be, C, O and Ne isotopes are presented. We calculate, with the WBT interaction, the excited states in these nuclei. The calculations agree with recent experiment data. Excited energies and B(E2) values are displayed to discuss the shell closures. Our results support the N=16 shell closure in these isotopes, while indicating a disappearance of N=14 shell closure in Be and C isotopes.     

Nuclear clusters and nuclear molecules

Clustering has long been known to be influential in the structure of ground and excited states of N=Z$N=Z$ nuclei. States close to the decay thresholds are of particular interest, as clustering becomes dominant. Recent studies of loosely bound light neutron-rich nuclei have focused attention on structures based on clusters and additional valence neutrons, which give rise to covalent molecular binding effects. These nuclear molecules appear only at the extremes of deformation, in the deformed shell model they are referred to as super- and hyper-deformed. The beryllium isotopes provide the first examples of such states in nuclear physics. Further nuclear molecules consisting of unequal cores and also with three centres can be considered. These arise in the isotopes of neon and carbon, respectively. Molecular states in intrinsically asymmetric configurations give rise to parity (inversion) doublets. Examples of recent experiments demonstrating the molecular structure of the rotational bands in beryllium isotopes are presented. Further experimental evidence for bands as parity doublets in nuclei with valence neutrons in molecular orbits is also analysed. Work on chain states (nuclear polymers) in the carbon isotopes is discussed. These are the first examples of hyper-deformed structures in nuclei with an axis ratio of 3:1. Future perspectives are outlined based on a threshold diagram for covalent nuclear molecules with clusters bound via neutrons in covalent molecular configurations.     

Generalization of α-Decay Cluster-Model to Nuclei Near Spherical and Deformed Shell Closures

The cluster model of a-decay is extended to the regions around doubly magic spherical nucleus ^208Pb and around deformed shell closure ^270Hs, respectively. The effects of spherical shell closures (N=126 and Z=82) on α-decay are investigated by introducing an N-dependent α-preformation factor and a Z-dependent one inspired by a microscopic model. Good agreement between the theoretical a-decay half-lives and the measured ones is obtained for the spherical nuclei near the doubly magic nucleus ^208Pb, where the nuclear shell effect is included in the expression of α-preformation factor. The cluster model is also generalized for the decay of deformed nuclei. The branching ratios of α-decays from the ground state of a parent nucleus to the ground state (0^ ) of its deformed daughter nucleus and to the first excited state (2^ ) are calculated in the framework of the cluster model. The results indicate that a measurement of α spectroscopy is a feasible method to extract the information of nuclear deformation of superheavy nuclei around the deformed nucleus ^270Hs.     

Low-lying dipole excitations in the stable Cd isotopes: A systematics

Low-lying dipole excitations in the medium-weight vibrational nuclei of the Cd isotopic chain were investigated by means of nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments performed at the bremsstrahlung beam of the Stuttgart Dynamitron accelerator (endpoint energy 4.1 MeV). Detailed information has been obtained on excitation energies, spins, decay widths, and transition probabilities of numerous excited states in ^{110–114,116}Cd. Additionally, the use of two Compton polarimeters enabled model-independent parity assignments for excitations in the even-even isotopes. Strongly excited J ^π = 1^? states are found in all even-even Cd nuclei at excitation energies near the sumof the energies of the first 2⁺ and 3^? states. These excitations are interpreted as the 1^? member of the quadrupole-octupole coupled quintuplet (2+?3^?). The fragmented strength observed in the odd isotopes ^111,113Cd is compared with the strength distributions in the neighboring even-even Cd isotopes.