Incomplete deep-inelastic scattering in20Ne+197Au collisions at 20 MeV/nucleon

Correlations between emission angles and energies of coincidentα-particle projectile-fragment pairs have been measured for the²⁰Ne+¹⁹⁷Au system at 390 MeV beam energy. Theα-particles observed close to the direction of the projectile-like fragment were found to result essentially from sequential projectile decay. Starting from the close-geometry data, the contribution of sequentially emittedα-particles was calculated by Monte Carlo simulations for the entire angular range. For deep inelastic events, the measured angular correlations exhibit a spectacular excess over the calculated correlation. This excess is centred close to the beam direction but on the opposite side of it with respect to the detected projectile-like fragment. The correspondingα-particles have velocities around 85% of the projectile velocity indicating emission in an early reaction phase.     

Exploring the neutron drip line at the Ne-Mg region

The neutron drip line in the neon-magnesium region has been explored by the projectile fragmentation of a ⁴⁸Ca(59.8 A MeV) beam using the new fragment separator LISE-2000 at GANIL. New neutron-rich isotopes, ³⁴Ne and ³⁷Na, have been observed together with some evidence for the particle instability of ³³Ne and ³⁶Na.     

Particle production in hadron-nucleus collisions at 100 GeV from a parton-string model

We calculate the inclusive momentum distribution of particles produced in a hadron-nucleus (hA) collision. The exchange of colour between the projectile and target nucleons leads to the formation of colour strings which are assumed to fragment like strings formed in deep inelastic lepton-nucleon scattering. Making a few basic hypotheses we consistently and parameterfree describe the projectile fragmentation region in collisions of the typehA→h′X withh=p, π⁺ andh′=p, π⁺, π^? at 100 GeV incident energy.     

Incomplete deep-inelastic heavy-ion collisions

A phenomenological two-step reaction model is proposed, in which a direct projectile fragmentation in the initial stage is succeeded by a binary dissipative interaction between the heavy projectile fragment and the target in the final state. Multi-differential cross sections are estimated by folding the fragmentation cross section given in the local plane-wave Born approximation with the cross section for deep-inelastic collisions calculated within the classical friction model, including statistical fluctuations and mass transfer. For forward angles satisfactory results are obtained in comparison with the experimental data on inclusive spectra, angular distributions, angular correlations, γ-multipliciites, and element distributions in ²⁰Ne-induced reactions for bombarding energies of 10–20 MeV/nucleon.     

The total charge-changing cross sections and the partial cross sections of 56Fe fragmentation on Al,C and CH2 targets

The total charge-changing cross sections and the partial cross sections of ⁵⁶Fe fragmentation on polyethylene, carbon and aluminum targets at the highest energy of 496 A MeV are investigated using CR-39 plastic nuclear track detector. The total charge-changing cross-section for hydrogen target is calculated based on the results of polyethylene and carbon targets. It is found that the total charge-changing cross sections for fragmentation of ⁵⁶Fe on hydrogen, carbon and aluminum targets are independent on the beam energy in our studied energies, and are consistent with the predictions of Bradt–Peter semi-empirical formula, Nilsen parameterized formula, NUCFRG2 and QMSFRG theoretical simulation codes. The partial cross sections for projectile fragment production are independent on beam energy in our studied energies for each targets and do not show a significant even-odd effect.     

Fragmentation of12C nuclei in emulsion at 50 GeV/c

A total of 852¹²C-emulsion nucleus interactions at 4.2 GeV/c per incident nucleon was investigated. At least one charged projectile fragment was observed in 733 events, in which the multiplicity and angular distributions ofZ=1,2, and ≧3 projectile fragments were studied. Five events were observed in which¹²C projectile nuclei were fragmented into twoZ=3 fragments. Thus the cross section of this process is about 6×10^?3 of the inelastic cross section. The angular distribution of projectile fragments becomes narrower as the fragment charge increases. At all values of fragment charges, a pronounced peak in the angular distribution can be observed at zero emission angle. In this paper, only the projectile-fragmentation events possessing no heavily ionizing particle (n _h =0 events) have been investigated. Our sample contains 84 of these events, i.e., about 10% of the total inelastic events. The number of events withZ _max, the charge of the emitted principal fragment, equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are 11, 52, 13, 4, and 4, respectively. Of these 84 events, 36 interactions have a total charge of emitted projectile fragmentsZ ^* equal to 6, i.e., as much as the beam chargeZ _p . Of the 36 events, 17 produce no charged pions and of the 17 events, 10 only represent the dissociation of¹²C→3α, i.e., 1.2% of the total inelastic interactions. The number of events withZ ^*=5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 are 27, 14, 4, 2, and 1, respectively. The average number of produced charged pions per one interacting projectile nucleon was estimated to be 1.2±0.1. This value agrees with the corresponding one in elementary interaction at the same energy per nucleon, a result pertaining to the incoherent production model in collision of two nuclei. In this class of events,n _h =0, the number of stars in which H, He, Li, Be, and B isotopes were detected are 59, 58, 13, 4, and 4, respectively. The projected angular distributions ofZ=1 and 2 projectile fragments are Gaussian shaped, narrow, consistent with isotropy, and depend on the fragment. These distributions are consistent with quantum mechanical calculations using the sudden approximation and shell-model functions. From the angular measurements ofα-particle tracks in the dissociation¹²C→3α events, the distribution ofα-particle transverse momentum inside the carbon projectile nucleus was deduced. It seems that the dissociation of¹²C→3α happens via an intermediate⁸Be state.     

Energy dependence of peripheral reactions induced by heavy ions

Collisions of ¹⁶O ions on targets of ⁹⁴Zr, ¹⁹⁷Au, ²⁰⁸Pb, and ²³²Th are investigated at incident energies of 140 and 315 MeV and compared to published data on peripheral collisions at 33.6 GeV. At 140 MeV, the isotope-production cross sections resemble the ground-state Q-value systematics characteristic of a partially-equilibrated, di-nuclear system formed in deeply-inelastic scattering. The yields are independent of shell and pairing effects in the target and residual nuclie. These Q-value systematics fail at 315 MeV, where the relative element yields are similar to those at 33.6 GeV. A theory of projectile fragmentation accounts for the shapes of the inclusive energy spectra as well as for the isotope yields at both energies. The relative cross sections are target independent (i.e., factorize) for the data at 315 MeV incident energy, but limiting fragmentation (i.e. isotope yields independent of energy) applies only at higher energies. The differential cross sections peal at the grazing angle or decrease exponentially, depending on the incident energy and the mass of the ejectile; the distributions are described by classical trajectories and diffraction models for which the reaction time is estimated to be typical of direct reactions. The kinetic energies of the reaction products depend primarily on their charge and only slightly on their mass number. For the 315 MeV results, the velocities of the reaction products at the maximum of the spectrum and the grazing angle are slightly less than the beam velocity and decrease rapidly for larger scattering angles. The results are interpreted with simple fraction and fragmentation models, and are compared to observations at 33.6 GeV.     

Fragmentation of target spectators in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions

We demonstrate that the assumption that target spectators fragment isotropically in a gently moving coordinate system is in agreement with pseudorapidity distributions, measured in central ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions of projectile energy from 14.5A GeV to 200A GeV. Target spectator remnants might be excluded from measurement by introducing a low energy cutoff for the accepted particles at approximately 200 MeV. An approximate scaling is presented for the pseudorapidity distribution of the target spectator fragments. Theoretical tools used for studying intermediate energy heavy ion collisions seem to be applicable in describing target spectator fragmentation in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions.     

In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy with exotic beams at the NSCL

Projectile fragmentation provides radioactive beams at intermediate velocities (v/c = 0.3-0.5) by physical means of fragment separation. With the development of position-sensitive photon detectors it has become possible to measure the energies and directions of photons emitted in-flight from such fast-moving exotic beams. This allows the reconstruction of the photons' energies emitted from an exotic projectile with high accuracy. It can be advantageous to employ photon detection in experiments with exotic beams since photons can traverse matter easily and their attenuation can be calculated. Experiments with standard luminosities can be carried out at intermediate beam energies with thick secondary targets (order of g/cm²) and very low incident beam rates (order of particle/s or less). Experimental success in this field is strongly correlated with the development of photon detectors such as position-sensitive scintillation detectors or segmented germanium detectors. In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy of fast exotic beams has been successfully used at all projectile fragmentation facilities in intermediate-energy heavy-ion inelastic scattering experiments, knockout reactions and fragmentation reactions. Here, we focus on experimental results for neutron-rich exotic nuclei in the π(sd )-shell. Measurements and detector developments carried out at the NSCL at Michigan State University during the last four years are discussed. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

The breakup of 16O into He: An event-by-event study of nucleus-nucleus collisions at 75, 175 and 2000 MeV/A

We present an event-by-event study of the breakup of the ¹⁶O in ¹⁶O + emulsion nucleus interactions at 75, 175 and 2000 MeV/A. The events are categorized according to their multiplicity of projectile He nuclei. The multiplicity depends on the degree of target destruction. Although the fragmentation model describes the gross features of inclusive He spectra, an event-by-event study reveals deviations from the model. The momenta of the He nuclei, emitted from the projectile, depend on helium multiplicity and the breakup properties of the target nucleus. The probability that the ¹⁶O projectile breaks up into multiple He fragments is larger at 75 MeV/A than at 2000 MeV/A. At 75 MeV/A the mean velocity of projectile He is on the average 0.06c below the projectile velocity. This recoil velocity depends on the target nucleus destruction also for the most peripheral collisions.     

<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.     

Alpha particles from the reaction12C +12C at 28.7 MeV/nucleon

A classical dynamical alpha-cluster model has been developed and applied in order to get inclusive energy spectra of alpha particles produced in the collision of¹²C +¹²C at the beam energy 28.7 MeV/A. Results of the calculations are compared with experimental data. The shapes of the experimental energy spectra and the absolute normalization at forward angles are approximately described without any free parameters. The model makes it possible to distinguish alpha particles originating from the compound system and from direct processes. The spectra at forward angles are dominated by projectile fragmentation processes. The cross section at larger angles is overestimated, which is partially due to emission of particles other than alpha particles in central collisions. The evaporation Hauser-Feshbach model predicts that alpha particles emitted from the compound nucleus constitute less than 26% of all emitted particles.     

Binary break-up of a high-velocity hot source formed in the 84Kr+93Nb reaction at 34.5 MeV/u

The fragment production in the ⁸⁴Kr+⁹³Nb reaction at 34.5 MeV/u has been investigated by coincidence measurements. The observed fragment-fragment and fragment-particle correlations can be explained by a binary break-up of a high-velocity source having about 90% of the beam velocity and formed by a deep interaction between the projectile and the target.     

Neutron emission from 14N + 165Ho collisions at 35 MeV/u

Neutron emission from ¹⁴N + ¹⁶⁵Ho collisions has been studied at 25 MeV/u incident energy. Energy and angular distributions of the neutrons were measured in coincidence with projectile-like fragments (Li, Be, B, and C) emitted at angles of 10° and 30°. The spectra of neutrons at angles far from the angle of a coincident fragment have been satisfactorily parameterized in terms of a slowly moving, target-like source of temperature 2–3 MeV and a half-beam-velocity source of temperature about 7 MeV. The latter source accounts for about 20% of the detected neutrons for in-plane measurements. The out-of-plane cross sections are smaller. The relevant parameters of the moving-sources parametrization suggest a simple model which qualitatively explains the data in terms of the development of a hot participant zone and its subsequent mass exchange interactions with spectators in the projectile and target nuclei.     

Light charged particle emission and fission in238U+238U collisions at 1,740 MeV

Inclusive⁴He and⁴H energy spectra and heavy fragment coincidence correlations have been measured for reactions of 7.31 MeV/u²³⁸U with²³⁸U and^?197Au targets. The H/He production cross sections are in the range 15–26 mb, and their emission spectra are very similar for the two systems. The observed strong kinematic shifts with angle are reproduced in shape and magnitude by Monte Carlo simulations of particle evaporation from projectile-like and target-like fragments, indicating competition between charged particle emission and sequential fission. No evidence is found for high energy charged particle emission associated with ultra-highZ composite systems. Heavy fragment measurements indicate an abundance of quasielastic and deeply inelastic reaction fragments, as well as sequential fission of target and projectile nuclei. For²³⁸U nuclei, the fission occurs predominantly in an asymmetric mode, reminiscent of fission at low excitation energy. For²³⁸+²³⁸U reactions in the vicinity of the grazing angle, the frequency of single sequential fission (with survival of the partner fragment) is twice as large as double sequential fission in which both the target and projectile undergo fission. In²³⁸U+¹⁹⁷Au reactions, the survival probability of the heavy fragments is even greater. The surprisingly high survival probabilities of high-Z fragments imply a preponderance of very soft collisions in these very-heavy-ion reactions, at least at energies not very far over the Coulomb barrier.     

Laser spectroscopy of trapped 7Be and 10Be at a prototype slow RI-beam facility of RIKEN

A next-generation slow radioactive nuclear ion beam facility (SLOWRI) which provides slow, high-purity and small emittance ion beams of all elements is being build as one of the principal facilities at the RIKEN RI-beam factory (RIBF). High energy radioactive ion beams from the projectile fragment separator BigRIPS are thermalized in a large gas catcher cell. The thermalized ions in the gas cell are guided and extracted to a vacuum environment by a combination of dc electric fields and inhomogeneous rf fields (rf carpet ion guide). From there the slow ion beam is delivered via a mass separator and a switchyard to various devices: such as an ion trap, a collinear fast beam apparatus, and a multi-reflection time of flight mass spectrometer. In the R&D works at the present RIKEN facility, an overall efficiency of 5% for a 100A MeV ⁸Li ion beam from the present projectile fragment separator RIPS was achieved and the dependence of the efficiency on the ion beam intensity was investigated. Recently our first spectroscopy experiment at the prototype SLOWI was performed on Be isotopes. Energetic ions of ¹⁰Be and ⁷Be from the RIPS were trapped and laser cooled in a linear rf trap and the specific mass shifts of these isotopes were measured for the first time.     

The pygmy dipole resonance in Ni and the neutron skin

A search of the pygmy resonance in ⁶⁸Ni was made using the virtual photon technique. The experiment was carried out using the radioactive beam ⁶⁸Ni at 600 A MeV, produced with fragmentation of ⁸⁶Kr at 900 A MeV on a ⁹Be target. The ⁶⁸Ni beam was separated by a fragment separator, and the γ-rays produced at the interaction with the Au target were detected with the RISING and FRS set-up at the GSI laboratory in Germany, also including the HECTOR array. The measured γ-ray spectra show a peak centered at approximately 11 MeV, whose intensity can be explained in term of an enhanced strength of the dipole response function (pygmy resonance). A pygmy structure of this type was also predicted by different models for this unstable neutron-rich nucleus. Correlations between the behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy, the neutron skins, and the percentage of energy-weighted sum rule (EWSR) exhausted by the pygmy dipole resonance (PDR) are investigated by using different random phase approximation (RPA) models.     

Fast neutron emission from partial fusion heavy ion reactions

The Boltzmann master equation theory which succesfully reproduces the spectra of fast nucleons emitted in fusion and quasi-fusion heavy ion reactions is used to predict the spectra of fast nucleons in coincidence with a projectile-like fragment in the interaction of 35 MeV/ nucleon¹⁴N with¹⁶⁵Ho. In particular it is shown that the spectra of neutrons in coincidence with a high energy projectile-like fragment emitted at a very forward angle with energy corresponding to the beam velocity may be reproduced satisfactorily assuming an elastic breakup of the projectile followed by fusion of one of the fragments with the target nucleus.     

Developments at the SLOWRI facility at RIKEN: precision optical spectroscopy of 7,9,10,11Be+ ions

Precision optical spectroscopy of radioactive Be isotopes produced in projectile fragmentation has been performed for the first time at the prototype SLOWRI facility of RIKEN RI-Beam Factory. The ground state hyperfine constants of ⁷Be⁺ and ¹¹Be⁺ were determined with relative accuracies of 6 × 10^?7 and 3 × 10^?8, respectively, by laser-microwave double resonance spectroscopy of laser-cooled ions in a trap. The optical transition energies from the ground S-state to the excited P-state of Be isotope ions were also measured to determine the nuclear charge radii from the isotope shifts. Development of the universal slow RI-beam facility??SLOWRI??based on the rf-carpet ion guide technique is progressing at RIKEN RI-beam factory. An additional capability of providing parasitic slow RI-beams from the projectile fragment separator BigRIPS is also discussed.