Beta-decay of the N = Z nucleus 72Kr

The beta-decay of the N = Z, even-even nucleus ⁷²Kr has been studied at the ISOLDE PSB facility at CERN. Measurements of βγ and βγγ coincidences have enriched the decay scheme of the daughter nucleus ⁷²Br with 27 new low spin levels. A more precise half-life of T _1/2 = 17.1(2) s has been determined. Strong feeding to the ⁷²Br ground state is established yielding an unambiguous J ^π = 1⁺ assignment for this state. Candidates for the ⁷²Br g.s. wave function are discussed in the framework of a self-consistent deformed mean-field calculation with SG2 Skyrme force and pairing correlations. A search for beta-delayed particle emission was made and an upper limit of 10^-6 for this decay branch obtained. The cumulated experimental level density of 1⁺ states has been fitted with the constant temperature formula. The comparison indicates that most likely all 1⁺ levels up to 1.2 MeV have been observed in this investigation. The corresponding nearest-neighbour level spacing does not follow a Poisson distribution. The Gamow-Teller strength distribution is compared, in terms of nuclear deformation, with different calculations made in the framework of the quasiparticle random phase approximation. Received: 7 February 2002 / Accepted: 31 October 2002 / Published online: 6 March 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: borge@pinar2.csic.es RID="b" ID="b"Present address: Centre d' Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux-Gradignan, Le Haut Vigneau, F-33175 Gradignan Cedex, France. RID="c" ID="c"Present address: University Mentouri, 25000 Constantine, Algeria. Communicated by J. ?yst?     

Deformation in the light Br isotopes

The nuclear ground state spins of the odd-A Br nuclides^{75, 77, 79}Br with Z=35 are all 3/2⁻. Nilsson orbital calculations show that the 35^th proton occupies the f_5/2 [301]3/2⁻ orbital for ε<0.20 and the p_3/2 [312]3/2⁻ orbital at larger deformations. The magnetic moments of these two states differ by a factor of two, giving clear evidence for the magnitude of the ground state deformation. Low Temperature Nuclear Orientation measurements made in Oxford and Bonn on^{76, 77g}BrFe prepared at ISOLDE, and on line at the SERC Daresbury Laboratory on^{72, 74m, 75}BrFe, have yielded the magnetic moments of these isotopes, using a two non-zero field model with magnetic hyperfine fields of +81.38(6) T and 26(2) T. The spin of the⁷³Br ground state is also deduced. An interpretation of the ground state configurations of these isotopes is given.     

The sign of the magnetic dipole moment of the ground state of122I

The sign of the nuclear magnetic dipole moment of the ground state of¹²²I has been determined to be positive using a novel experimental technique. The technique investigates the asymmetry of positron emission by detecting the 511 keV gamma-rays produced on the annihilation of the positrons. The method would appear to have general validity for studying the sign of the magnetic moment in other cases where theβ ⁺ decay is relatively simple.     

Two-neutrino double β decay of96Zr to excited 2+ state of96Mo

The two-neutrino double beta decay of⁹⁶Zr isotope for 0⁺ → 2⁺ transition has been studied in the PHFB model. In our earlier work, the reliability of the intrinsic wave functions of⁹⁶Zr and⁹⁶Mo isotopes has been established by obtaining an overall agreement between a number of theoretically calculated spectroscopic properties as well as half-lives of 2vββ decay for 0⁺ → 0⁺ transition and the available experimental data. In the present work, the half-life of 2vββ decay for 0⁺ ar 2⁺ transition T ₁ ^2/2v (0⁺ →²⁺) has been calculated using the same set of intrinsic wave functions.     

Mg isotopes and the disappearance of magic N=20

Collinear laser spectroscopy and β-NMR spectroscopy with optical pumping were applied at ISOLDE/CERN to measure for the first time the magnetic moments of neutron-rich ²⁷Mg, ²⁹Mg, ³¹Mg and ³³Mg, along with the spins of the two latter. The magnetic moment of ²⁷Mg was derived from its hyperfine structure detected in UV fluorescent light, whereas the nuclear magnetic resonance observed in β-decay asymmetry from a polarised ensemble of nuclei gave the magnetic moment of ²⁹Mg. For ³¹Mg and ³³Mg, the hyperfine structure and nuclear magnetic resonance gave the spin and the magnetic moment. The preliminary results for ²⁷Mg and ²⁹Mg are consistent with a large neutron shell gap at N=20, whereas data on ³¹Mg show that for this nucleus N=20 is not a magic number, which is also the case for ³³Mg, based on preliminary analysis. Thus, the two latter isotopes belong to the “island of inversion.” Magdalena Kowalska for the IS 427 collaboration at ISOLDE/CERN.     

Investigation of double-beta decay with the NEMO-3 detector

The double-beta-decay experiment NEMO-3 has been taking data since February 2003. The aim of this experiment is to search for neutrinoless (0 νββ) decay and investigate two neutrino doublebeta decay in seven different isotopically enriched samples (¹⁰⁰Mo, ⁸²Se, ⁴⁸Ca, ⁹⁶Zr, ¹¹⁶Cd, ¹³⁰Te, and ¹⁵⁰Nd). After analysis of the data corresponding to 3.75 yr, no evidence for 0 νββ decay in the 100Mo and 82Se samples was found. The half-life limits at the 90% C.L. are 1.1 × 10²⁴ and 3.6 × 10²³ yr, respectively. Additionally for 0 νββ decay the following limits at the 90% C.L. were obtained, >1.3 × 10²² yr for ⁴⁸Ca, >9.2 × 10²¹ yr for ⁹⁶Zr, and >1.8 × 10²² yr for 150Nd. The 2 νββ decay half-life values were precisely measured for all investigated isotopes.     

Microscopic study of low-lying yrast spectra in <Superscript>100–108</Superscript>Mo isotopes

Variation-after-projection (VAP) calculations in conjunction with Hartree-Bogoliubov (HB) ansatz have been carried out for A=100−108 molybdenum (Mo) isotopes. In this framework, the yrast spectra with J _max ^π ≥10⁺, B(E2) transition probabilities, quadrupole (β₂) and hexadecapole (β₄) deformation parameters, moment of inertia (I) and square of cranking frequency (ω²) for even-even Mo isotopes have been obtained. The results of the calculation give an indication that it is important to include the hexadecapole-hexadecapole component of the two-body interaction for obtaining various nuclear structure quantities in these Mo isotopes.     

Laser Spectroscopy and \beta-NMR Measurements of Short-Lived Mg Isotopes

The feasibility of studying the neutron-rich ²⁹Mg, ³¹Mg, and ³³Mg isotopes has been demonstrated with the laser and β-NMR spectroscopy setup at ISOLDE/CERN. The values of the magnetic moment and the nuclear spin of ³¹Mg are reported and reveal an intruder ground state. This proves the weakening of N = 20 shell gap and places this nucleus inside the so-called ‘island of inversion.’ The experimental setup and technique, as well as the results, are presented.     

Low-spin states in <Superscript>182</Superscript>Os and K<Superscript>π</Superscript> = 0<Superscript>+</Superscript>, 2<Superscript>+</Superscript> excited bands

Excited states in ¹⁸²Os were populated by the β⁺/EC decay of ¹⁸²Ir following mass separation. Gamma-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy techniques were employed. Monopole (E0) contributions were determined in transitions populating the ground-state band. A systematic study of the low-spin structures in the Os isotopes is presented and a detailed analysis in the framework of a microscopic configuration mixing approach is performed.     

The investigation of 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> ↔ 0<Superscript>−</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis> decay in some spherical nuclei

The 0⁺ ↔ 0⁻ first-forbidden β decay transitions have been investigated for some spherical nuclei. The theoretical framework is based on a proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pnQRPA). The Woods-Saxon potential basis has been used in our calculations. The transition probabilities have been calculated within the ξ approximation. The relativistic β moment matrix element has been calculated both directly without any assumption and assuming that it is proportional to the non-relativistic one.     

The β+-electron capture decay of 73Kr

The β⁺– electron capture decay of ⁷³Kr, produced at the ISOLDE CERN facility, has been studied by β-delayed proton and gamma emission. The established decay scheme involves 15 up to now unreported gamma emitting levels in ⁷³Br. The total proton branching ratio has been measured to be 0.0025 ± 0.0003. From this work, a spin and parity 3/2⁻ is assigned to the ⁷³Kr ground state, on the basis of the allowed β branch to the ⁷³Br J^π= 1/2⁻ ground state and the feeding of the 5/2⁺ level located at 286 keV in ⁷³Br. Received: 17 September 1998 / Revised version: 25 January 1999     

Charge radii and shape transitions in short-lived Hg,Au and Pt isotopes

The hyperfine structure and the isotope shift of very neutron-deficient Au and Pt isotopes have been determined at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE/CERN by resonance ionization mass spectroscopy combined with pulsed-laser induced desorption of the implanted radioactive sample. The changes of the mean-square charge radii were determined for the isotopes¹⁸⁴Au (T_1/2=53 s) and¹⁸³Au (T_1/2=42 s) as well as for 15 isotopes of platinum in the range between¹⁹⁸Pt (stable) and¹⁸³Pt (T_1/2=6.5 min). The strong deformation of¹⁸⁵Au (|β₂|≃0.25) persits down to¹⁸³Au. In¹⁸³Pt nearly the same value of |β₂| is reached but the deformation is build up rather smoothly in contrast to the neighbouring isotopes of gold and mercury. The magnetic moment of¹⁸³Pt was found to be μ₁=+0.51(3)μ _N .     

Brute-force orientation of178m 2Hf and magnetic moments of178m 1Hf and178m 2Hf

Gamma-ray anisotropy measurements have been carried out with brute-force oriented^178m ₂Hf (16⁺) to derive its magnetic moment 7.26 (±0.16; +0.2/−0) nm and E2/M1 mixing ratios of some γ-transitions observed in the decay of this isomer. This magnetic moment is in agreement with an earlier proposed four-quasi-particle configuration. The magnetic moment of the 8⁻ isomer at 1147.7 keV (4.0 s) is estimated to be between 1.4 and 5.3 nm, which confirms mixing of the {p[514]9/2 +p[404]7/2}8⁻ and {n[514]7/2+n[624]9/2}8⁻ configurations, which summed together give the 16⁺ isomer.     

Magnetic moment measurements of picosecond states: New results and open problems

The temperature dependence of the precession of the angular correlation of decay gamma rays from swift¹⁵⁰Sm (2 ₁ ⁺ ) ions traversing a gadolinium foil has been found to be proportional to the foil magnetization, supporting the assertion that the transient hyperfine magnetic field acting on these ions is proportional to the magnetization of the hosts (iron or gadolinium). Similar experiments on¹⁹⁴Pt (2 ₁ ⁺ ) ions traversing iron and gadolinium foils are consistent with both the magnetic moment obtained from Rutgers experiments on iron and with a hyperfine field at Pt ions larger for gadolinium than for iron foils, in agreement with the Chalk River parametrization for heavy nuclei traversing gadolinium foils. Finally, the magnetic moments of the 2 ₁ ⁺ states in^144–150Nd,^145,150Sm and¹⁵²Gd have been measured. These data support the evidence of shell closure atZ=64 forN≤88 andZ=50 forN>90.     

Precise measurement of magnetic moment of short-lived β-emitting nuclei12B ( I π=1+, T 1/2=20.18 ms)

The spin polarized β-emitting nuclei¹²B (I ^π=1⁺,T _1/2=20.18 ms) were produced by the nuclear reaction¹¹B(d, p)¹²B and by the selection technique of the incident deuteron energy and the¹²B recoil angle following the nuclear reaction. The nuclear magnetic moment of the short-lived nuclei¹²B was measured by β-NMR with the β-NMR and β-NQR setup established for the first time in China. The nuclear magnetic moment of¹²B was determined to be μ=0.99993±0.00048 nm org=0.99993±0.00048 after the precise correction of the Knight shift.     

Nuclear deformation and the two-neutrino double- β decay in <Superscript>124, 126</Superscript>Xe , <Superscript>128, 130</Superscript>Te , <Superscript>130, 132</Superscript>Ba and <Superscript>150</Superscript>Nd isotopes

The two-neutrino double-beta decay of ^{124, 126}Xe , ^{128, 130}Te , ^{130, 132}Ba and ¹⁵⁰Nd isotopes is studied in the Projected Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (PHFB) model. Theoretical 2ν β^-β^- half-lives of ^{128, 130}Te , and ¹⁵⁰Nd isotopes, and 2ν β⁺β⁺ , 2ν β⁺ EC and 2ν ECEC for ^{124, 126}Xe and ^{130, 132}Ba nuclei are presented. Calculated quadrupolar transition probabilities B(E2 : 0⁺ → 2⁺) , static quadrupole moments and g -factors in the parent and daughter nuclei reproduce the experimental information, validating the reliability of the model wave functions. The anticorrelation between nuclear deformation and the nuclear transition matrix element M _2ν is confirmed.     

Energy systematics of low-lying Nilsson levels in odd-mass einsteinium isotopes

The decay of odd-mass mendelevium isotopes ( A = 247-255) has been studied by means of α-γ spectroscopy. Strong evidence for a small α branch in the decay of ²⁵³Md was found. γ lines in coincidence with α-decays of ^{247, 249, 251, 253}Md have been observed for the first time. Levels in the einsteinium daughter nuclei were assigned on the basis of α-γ coincidence measurements. An energy systematics of the 7/2^-[514] Nilsson level could be established, showing a correlation with the deformation parameter β₂ of the corresponding nuclei. The results are compared with theoretical predictions     

Study of the neutron deficient 182–190Pb isotopes by simultaneous atomic- and nuclear-spectroscopy

Mean-square charge radii and magnetic moments have been measured for the neutron deficient lead isotopes, ^182–190Pb. The measurement was performed at the ISOLDE online mass separator, using the in-source resonance ionization spectroscopy technique. The wavelength of the first excitation step for the resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) was scanned over the resonance(s) whilst the α- and γ-ray spectra from the decay of the Pb isotopes were recorded as a function of the wavelength. The isotope shift and, in the case of odd-A isotopes, the hyperfine splitting were deduced. The rms-charge radii of the very neutron deficient Pb isotopes follow the smooth trend of the heavier isotopes. This finding indicates a spherical shape for the lead ground states at the neutron mid-shell (N = 104), where the excitation energy of the oblate 0⁺ state in the even isotopes reaches its minimum.     

Study of short-lived bromine isotopes

First experiments in the systematic study of the structure of ground states and isomeric states of Br isotopes as function of neutron number at ISOLDE, CERN are reported. The isotopes^{74g.74m,77,78,84g,84m}Br have been implanted into iron and studied with the techniques of low temperature nuclear orientation and nuclear magnetic resonance of oriented nuclei (NMR/ON). The experiments were performed with the NICOLE on-line nuclear orientation set-up using the isotope separator ISOLDE-3. NMR/ON experiments were successful for^74mBr with continuous on-line implantation and for⁷⁷Br. Using as value of the hyperfine field B_hf(BrFe)=+81.3S (3) T we obtain |g (^74mBr)|=0.455 (3) and |g (⁷⁷Br)|=0.6492 (3). Static nuclear orientation data have been measured for all above mentioned isotopes. From these data we derive |μ(⁷⁸Br, I=1)|=0.13 (3) and |μ(^84gBr, I=2)|=1.9 (7). The results are discussed within the systematics of the bromine isotopes.