Equilibrium and pre-equilibrium emissions in proton-induced reactions on <Superscript>203,205</Superscript>Tl

In this study, the excitation functions for the reactions ²⁰³Tl(p, n)²⁰³Pb, ²⁰⁵Tl(p, 3n)²⁰³Pb, ²⁰³Tl(p, 2n)²⁰²Pb, ²⁰⁵Tl(p, 4n)²⁰²Pb, ²⁰³Tl(p, 3n)²⁰¹Pb, ²⁰⁵Tl(p, 5n)²⁰¹Pb, ²⁰³Tl(p, 4n)²⁰⁰Pb and ²⁰⁵Tl(p, 6n)²⁰⁰Pb have been calculated using pre-equilibrium and equilibrium reaction mechanisms. Calculated results based on hybrid model, geometry-dependent hybrid model and cascade-exciton model have been compared with the experimental data.      

Measurement and analysis of excitation functions for alpha induced reactions on iodine and cesium

The excitation functions for the reactions¹²⁷I(α, 2n)¹²⁹Cs,¹²⁷I(α, 4n)¹²⁷Cs,¹³³Cs(α, 2n)¹³⁵La and¹³³Cs(α, 4n)¹³³La have been measured up to ≈50 MeVα-particle energy using the stacked foil activation technique. Measured excitation functions are compared with pre-equilibrium geometry dependent hybrid model calculations. It has been found that theoretical calculations using an initial exciton numbern ₀=4 (2p+2n+0h) give good agreement with experimental excitation functions.     

Data on photoneutron reactions from various experiments for <Superscript>133</Superscript>Cs, <Superscript>138</Superscript>Ba and <Superscript>209</Superscript>Bi nuclei

Basic methods for determining cross sections for photoneutron partial reactions are examined. They are obtained directly in experiments with quasimonoeneregetic annihilation photons or from the cross section for the (γ, xn) = (γ, 1n) + 2(γ, 2n) + 3(γ, 3n) +... neutron-yield reaction in experiments with bremsstrahlung photons by introducing corrections based on statistical nuclear-reaction theory. The difference in the conditions of these experiments, which leads to discrepancies between their results because of sizable systematic errors, is analyzed. Physical criteria are used to study the reliability of data on the photodisintegration of ¹³³Cs, ¹³⁸Ba, and ²⁰⁹Bi nuclei. The cross sections for partial and total reactions satisfying the reliability criteria are evaluated within the experimental–theoretical method (σ^eval(γ, in) = F_i^theor × σ^expt(γ, xn)) on the basis of the experimental cross sections σ^expt(γ, xn) and the results of the calculations within the combined model of photonuclear reactions.     

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.     

Cross-section measurements of (n, 2n) and (n, p) reactions on 124,126,128,130,131,132Xe in the 14 MeV region and theoretical calculations of their excitation functions

The reaction cross-sections of ¹²⁴Xe(n, 2n)¹²³Xe, ¹²⁶Xe(n, 2n)¹²⁵Xe, ¹²⁸Xe(n, 2n)¹²⁷Xe, ¹³⁰Xe(n, 2n)^129mXe, ¹³²Xe(n, 2n)^131mXe, ¹³⁰Xe(n, p)¹³⁰I, ¹³¹Xe(n, p)¹³¹I, and ¹³²Xe(n, p)¹³²I were measured at the 13.5, 13.8, 14.1, 14.4, and 14.8 MeV neutron energies. The monoenergetic neutrons were generated via the ³H(d,n)⁴He reaction at the China Academy of Engineering Physics using the K-400 Neutron Generator with a solid ³H-Ti target. A high-purity germanium detector was employed to measure the activities of the product. The reactions ⁹³Nb(n, 2n)^92mNb and ²⁷Al(n, α)²⁴Na were adopted for neutron flux calibration. The cross sections of the (n, 2n) and (n, p) reactions of the xenon isotopes were obtained within the 13–15 MeV neutron energy range. These cross-sections were then compared with the IAEA-exchange format (EXFOR) database-derived experimental data, together with the evaluation results of the CENDL-3, ENDF/B-VIII.0, JENDL-4.0, RUSFOND, and JEFF-3.3 data libraries, as well as the theoretical excitation function obtained using the TALYS-1.95 code. The cross-sections of the reactions (except for the ¹²⁴Xe(n, 2n)¹²³Xe and ¹³²Xe(n, p)¹³²I) at 13.5, 13.8, and 14.1 MeV are reported for the first time in this study. The obtained results are beneficial in providing better cross-section constraints for the reactions in the 13–15 MeV region, thus improving the quality of the corresponding database. Meanwhile, these data can also be used for the verification of relevant nuclear reaction model parameters.     

Theoretical study of charge-exchange and excitation processes in collisions of He<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions with C<Superscript>5+</Superscript>, N<Superscript>6+</Superscript>, and O<Superscript>7+</Superscript> hydrogen-like ions

Data on the cross sections for single-electron charge exchange and excitation in collisions of He⁺ ions with C⁵⁺, N⁶⁺, and O⁷⁺ ions in the He⁺ ion energy range of 0.2–3.0 MeV are obtained for the first time. The cross sections for the single-electron charge transfer into the singlet and triplet 1snl states of C⁴⁺, N⁵⁺, and O⁶⁺ (2≤n≤5) ions and for the 1s → 2p _{0, ±1} electronic excitation of He⁺(1s) ions are calculated. The calculations were performed by solving close-coupling equations on the basis of ten two-electron quasi-molecular states.     

The origin of the background radioactive isotope <Superscript>127</Superscript>Xe in the sample of Xe enriched in <Superscript>124</Superscript>Xe

The results of investigation of ¹²⁷Xe radioactive isotope production in the xenon sample enriched in ¹²⁴Xe, ¹²⁶Xe, ¹²⁸Xe are presented. The isotope is supposed to be the source of the background events in the low-background experiment on search for 2K-capture of ¹²⁴Xe. In this work we consider two channels of ¹²⁷Xe production: the neutron knock-out from ¹²⁸Xe nucleus by cosmogenic muons and the neutron capture by ¹²⁶Xe nucleus. For the first channel the upper limit of the cross section of ¹²⁷Xe production was found to be σ ≤ 0.007 × 10^?24 cm² at 95% C.L. For the second channel the value obtained for the cross section was found to be equal to σ = (2.74 ± 0.4) × 10^?24 cm², which coincides well, within the statistical error, with reference value.     

Theoretical LSP detection rates for <Superscript>71</Superscript>Ga, <Superscript>73</Superscript>Ge,and <Superscript>127</Superscript>I dark-matter detectors

The low-energy structure of the dark-matter detector nuclei ⁷¹Ga, ⁷³Ge, and ¹²⁷I has been studied by using the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model. The resulting ground states have been used to calculate theoretical predictions for detection rates of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) in experiments studying elastic scattering of an LSP from an atomic nucleus. The highest rate, approximately 0.27 yr^?1kg^?1, among all the adopted SUSY parameters and renormalization schemes was provided by ¹²⁷I at the zero limit of the detector energy threshold.     

Determination of <Superscript>68</Superscript>Ga production parameters by different reactions using ALICE and TALYS codes

Gallium-68 (T _1/2 = 68 min, I _β+ = 89%) is an important positron-emitting radionuclide for positron emission tomography and used in nuclear medicine for diagnosing tumours. This study gives a suitable reaction to produce ⁶⁸Ga. Gallium-68 excitation function via ⁶⁸Zn(p, n)⁶⁸Ga, ⁶⁸Zn(d, 2n)⁶⁸Ga, ⁷⁰Zn(p, 3n)⁶⁸Ga and ⁶⁵Cu(α, n)⁶⁸Ga reactions were calculated by ALICE-91 and TALYS-1.0 codes. The calculated excitation function of ⁶⁸Zn(p, n)⁶⁸Ga reaction was compared with the reported measurement and evaluations. Requisite thickness of the targets was obtained by SRIM code for each reaction. The ⁶⁸Ga production yield was evaluated using excitation function and stopping power.      

Magneto-optical trap and mass-separator system for the ultra-sensitive detection of <Superscript>135</Superscript>Cs and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs

We report the first magneto-optical trapping of radioactive ¹³⁵Cs and ¹³⁷Cs and a promising means for detecting these isotopes at ultra-sensitive levels by coupling a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to a mass separator. A sample containing both isotopes was placed in the source of a mass separator, ionized, mass-separated, and implanted in a Zr foil within the trapping cell. After implantation, atoms were released from the foil by inductive heating and then captured in a MOT that used large-diameter beams and a dry-film-coated cell to achieve high trapping efficiency. Trapped-atom numbers in the case of either isotope ranged from 10⁴ to 10⁷, as determined from the MOT fluorescence signal. Over this trapped-atom range, the MOT fluorescence signal was found to increase linearly with the number of atoms implanted in the foil and without isotopic bias to within 4%. In principle, this method can then provide a measurement of the ¹³⁷Cs/¹³⁵Cs ratio accurate to within 4% through the direct ratio of MOT fluorescence signals. The fluorescence signal from stable ¹³³Cs, when implanted and released from the foil, was suppressed relative to MOT signals by more than seven orders of magnitude when the system was tuned to trap ¹³⁵Cs or ¹³⁷Cs. When combined with the isotopic selectivity of ≥10⁵ for the mass separator, the overall suppression of ¹³³Cs is expected to exceed 10¹². At present our system delivers atoms from sample to MOT with an efficiency of 0.5%, has a trapped-atom detection limit of 4000 atoms, and achieves a sample-detection sensitivity of one million atoms. Received: 23 August 2002 / Published online: 8 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +1-505/667-0440, E-mail: mdd@lanl.gov     

Charge distribution studies in the fast-neutron-induced fission of <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th, <Superscript>238</Superscript>U, <Superscript>240</Superscript>Pu and <Superscript>244</Superscript>Cm

Charge distribution studies for heavy-mass fission products were carried out in the fast-neutron-induced fission of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴⁴Cm using radiochemical and gamma-ray spectrometric techniques. The width parameter( σ_Z/σ_A), the most probable charge/mass ( Z _P/A _P), the charge polarization (ΔZ) and the slope of charge polarization [ δ(ΔZ)/δA ^′] as a function of the fragment mass (A ^′) were deduced. The average charge dispersion parameter ( 〈σ_Z〉) and proton odd-even effect ( δ_p) were also obtained for these fissioning systems. The 〈σ_Z〉 and δ_p values in the fissioning systems ²⁴¹Pu ^* and ²⁴⁵Cm ^* were determined for the first time. The δ(ΔZ)/δA ^′ value is also determined for the first time in the fissioning systems ²³⁹U ^* , ²⁴¹Pu ^* and ²⁴⁵Cm ^* . These data along with the literature data for even-Z fissioning systems such as ²³⁰Th ^* , ²³²Th ^* , ²³³U ^* , ²³⁴U ^* , ²³⁶U ^* , ²³⁸U ^* , ²³⁹Pu ^* , ²⁴⁰Pu*, ²⁴²Pu ^* , ²⁴⁶Cm ^* , ²⁵⁰Cf ^* and ²⁵²Cf(SF) are discussed in terms of nuclear structure effect and dynamics of descent from the saddle to the scission point. The role of the excitation energy in low-energy fission is also discussed. Received: 26 July 2002 / Accepted: 3 December 2002 / Published online: 3 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"Present address: Emeritus Scientist (CSIR) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Nuclear Recycle Group, WIP Building, Trombay, Mumbai-400085, India; e-mail: rhiyer@magnum. barc.ernet.in Communicated by D. Schwalm     

Photophysical Properties of Rare Earth (Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>, Sm<Superscript>3+</Superscript>, Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>) Complex Covalently Immobilized in Hybrid Si-O-B Xerogels

The molecular linkage (phenSi) from functionalized 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline (PhenNH₂) by 3-(triethoxysilyl)-propyl isocyanate (TESPIC) is to construct the rare earth (Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺) center covalently immobilized in the hybrid xerogels of Si-O-B through the cohydrolysis and copolycondensation process between different alkoxide precursors of them (tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), tri-n-butylborate (TBB)). NMR, FTIR and ultraviolet absorption are measured to confirm the obtained materials. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the hybrid materials are amorphous. Scanning electronic microscopy images show the stripe microstructure without phase separation phenomenon in the obtained hybrid materials. The covalently bonded Si-O-B hybrid xerogel presents the similar photoluminescent behavior to the pure Si-O-Si hybrid xerogels, which indicates that Si-O-B hybrid xerogel is a suitable system for the luminescence of RE³⁺.     

Effect of cluster polarization on the spectrum of the <Superscript>7</Superscript>Li nucleus and on the reaction <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li(<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>, <Superscript>3</Superscript>H)<Superscript>4</Superscript>He

The effect of polarization of the ⁶Li and ³H clusters on the parameters of states of the ⁷Li nucleus and on the cross section for the reaction ⁶Li(n,³H)⁴He was studied. The ⁴He + d + n three-cluster configuration was invoked for this purpose, and cluster dynamics was determined within a microscopic model where the relative motion of the clusters was described in terms of Faddeev amplitudes. The ⁴He + d + n three-cluster configuration made it possible to consider the ⁴He + ³H and ⁶Li + n binary channels, which are dominant in ⁷Li, and to take simultaneously into account the cluster polarization of ⁶Li as a two-cluster subsystemin the ⁴He + d representation and the cluster polarization of ³Has a two-cluster subsystem in the d + n representation.     

Decay of 1.643 h <Superscript>95</Superscript>Ru and its daughter's level structure

The decay of ⁹⁵Ru has been investigated by means of γ-ray spectroscopy. The ⁹⁵Ru nuclei were produced by the reaction ⁹²Mo( α, n) ⁹⁵Ru at a beam energy of 17MeV. High-purity Ge detectors have been used singly and in coincidence to study γ-rays in the decay of ⁹⁵Ru to ⁹⁵Tc. 132 γ-rays are reported, among them, energies and intensities for 127 transitions have been determined. A decay scheme of ⁹⁵Ru with 31 levels is proposed which accommodates 127 of these transitions. Spins and parities for three new levels are proposed from calculated log ft values, measured γ-ray branching ratios, and in-beam experiment results of the daughter nucleus ⁹⁵Tc. Combining with the high-spin states observed by in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of previous decay works, the structure of the excited states of ⁹⁵Tc is discussed in the framework of the projected shell model.     

Observation of the 2<Superscript>-</Superscript> state in <Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb with a major s<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>p<Subscript>3/2</Subscript> structure and structure of ten more 2<Superscript>-</Superscript> states

From ²⁰⁸Pb (p, p’) via isobaric analog resonances in ²⁰⁹Bi , at E _x = 6420 keV in the doubly magic nucleus ²⁰⁸Pb , a new state with spin 2^- with half the s _1/2 p _3/2 strength and major g _7/2 f _5/2 , d _3/2 f _5/2 fractions is identified. Ten more 2^- states up to E _x = 7.0 MeV are identified and their structure discussed, among them six states with new spin assignments. The known 6314 1^- state is shown to contain almost the entire s _1/2 p _3/2 strength.     

Electronic states of CsLi and CsLi<Superscript>+</Superscript> molecules

Configuration interaction calculations have been carried out on electronic states of the CsLi molecule and the CsLi⁺ cation. Adiabatic potential energy, spectroscopic constants, dipole moments, and vibrational levels are presented for the lowest states of ^1,3Σ⁺, ^1,3Π, and ^1,3Δ symmetries of the alkali dimer CsLi molecule dissociating into Cs (6s, 6p, 5d, 7s, and 7p) + Li (2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and 3d) as well as for the lowest ²Σ⁺, ²Π, and ²Δ electronic states of the CsLi⁺ cation dissociating into Li (2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, and 3d) + Cs⁺ and Li⁺ + Cs (6s, 6p, 5d, 7s, and 7p). The results of the present many-electron configuration interaction calculations on the cation support the previous core-polarization effective potential calculations. The present calculations on the CsLi molecule are complementary to previous theoretical work on this system, including recently observed electronic states that had not been calculated previously. We have used an ab initio approach involving a nonempirical pseudopotential for the Li (1s²) and Cs cores and a core-valence correlation correction. A very good agreement of data from spectroscopic constants for some of the lowest states of the CsLi and CsLi⁺ molecules with those available in recent theoretical works has been obtained. The existence of numerous avoided crossings between electronic states of ²Σ⁺ and ²Π symmetries is related to a charge transfer process between the two ionic CsLi⁺ and LiCs⁺ systems.     

Cluster ion emission from LiF induced by MeV N<Superscript>q+</Superscript> projectiles and <Superscript>252</Superscript>Cf fission fragments

Ion cluster desorption yields from LiF were measured at PUC-Rio with ≈0.1 MeV/u N ^q+ (q = 2,4,5,6) ion beams by means of a time-of-fight (TOF) mass spectrometer. A ²⁵²Cf source mounted in the irradiation chamber allows immediate comparison of cluster emissions induced by ≈65 MeV fission fragments (FF). Emission of (LiF) _n Li⁺ clusters are observed for both the N beams and the ²⁵²Cf fission fragments. The observed cluster size n varies from 1 to 6 for N ^q+ projectiles and from 1 to ≈40 for the ²⁵²Cf-FF. The size dependence of the Y(n) distributions suggests two cluster formation regimes: (i) recombination process in the outgoing gas phase after impact and (ii) emission of pre-formed clusters from the periphery of the impact site. The corresponding distribution of ejected negative cluster ions (LiF) _n F⁻ closely resembles that of the positive secondary (LiF) _n Li⁺ ions. The desorption yields of positive ions scale as Y(n) ∼ q ⁵. A calculation with the CASP code shows that this corresponds to a cubic scaling ∼S _e ³ with the electronic stopping power S _e , as predicted by collective shock wave models for sputtering and models involving multiple excitons (Frenkel pair sputtering). We discuss possible interpretations of the functional dependence of the evolution of the cluster emission yield Y(n) with cluster size n, fitted by a number of statistical distributions.     

High-spin states in <Superscript>36</Superscript>Ar and their underlying shell model configurations

Eight high-spin states in ³⁶Ar below 10MeV excitation energy, among them a prospective J ^π = 8^- state at 9408keV and the J? 8 levels of the recently discovered superdeformed rotational band, have been observed by n-γ coincidence measurements with the ³³S(α, nγ) reaction at E _α = 14.4 and 13.4MeV. High-spin assignments of, respectively, J ^π = 6⁺ and 5^- were obtained for the E _p = 1209 and 1462keV (E _x = 9682 and 9927keV) resonances of the ³⁵Cl (p,γ) reaction by a measurement of γ-ray angular distributions. The spectrum of the high-spin and of the E _x? 7.4MeV levels is decomposed according to the underlying shell model configurations with n = 0, 1, 2, 4 particles excited from the N = 2 into the N = 3 major shell. The role of four-particle excitations, all connected with large prolate distortions, is elucidated for the entire A = 36-40 mass region. Received: 21 December 2001 / Accepted: 25 March 2002     

The low-spin structure of <Superscript>115</Superscript>Xe

The low-spin band structure of neutron-deficient ¹¹⁵ ₅₄Xe has been studied following a low-energy (212.3 MeV) ⁶⁰Ni(⁵⁸Ni,2pnγ) reaction performed at IReS, Strasbourg, with the Garel⁺ spectrometer. The relative excitation energies of νh_11/2 (isomeric), νg_7/2, and νd_5/2 bandheads have been established. Received: 23 March 2000     

Low-lying intrinsic structures in <Superscript>254</Superscript>Es

Low-lying two-quasiparticle bandhead energies for the Z = 99 odd-odd nucleus ²⁵⁴Es are evaluated using a simple phenomenological model with the inclusion of the residual p-n interaction. Configurations of the intrinsic levels directly fed in ²⁵⁴Es from the parent ²⁵⁸Md are discussed in the light of this model. Our analysis predicts the occurrence of ten K≤5 bandheads in ²⁵⁴Es with excitation energies E _x≤300keV. Structures of these as yet unidentified low-lying intrinsic levels and their expected locations are discussed in the light of available experimental information.