Potential and limitations of nucleon transfer experiments with radioactive beams at REX-ISOLDE

As a tool for studying the structure of nuclei far off stability the technique of γ-ray spectroscopy after low-energy single-nucleon transfer reactions with radioactive nuclear beams in inverse kinematics was investigated. Modules of the MINIBALL germanium array and a thin position-sensitive parallel plate avalanche counter (PPAC) to be employed in future experiments at REX-ISOLDE were used in a test experiment performed with a stable ³⁶S beam on deuteron and ⁹Be targets. It is demonstrated that the Doppler broadening of γ lines detected by the MINIBALL modules is considerably reduced by exploiting their segmentation, and that for beam intensities up to 10⁶ particles/s the PPAC positioned around zero degrees with respect to the beam axis allows not only to significantly reduce the γ background by requiring coincidences with the transfer products but also to control the beam and its intensity by single particle counting. The predicted large neutron pickup cross-sections of neutron-rich light nuclei on ²H and ⁹Be targets at REX-ISOLDE energies of 2.2 MeV ^. A are confirmed. Received: 9 October 2000 / Accepted: 28 January 2001     

Fragmentation of relativistic nuclei in peripheral interactions in nuclear track emulsion

The technique of nuclear track emulsions is used to explore the fragmentation of light relativistic nuclei down to the most peripheral interactions: nuclear “white” stars. A complete pattern of the relativistic dissociation of a 8B nucleus with target fragment accompaniment is presented. Relativistic dissociation ⁹Be → 2α is explored using significant statistics, and a relative contribution of ⁸Be decays from 0+ and 2+ states is established. Target fragment accompaniments are shown for relativistic fragmentation ¹⁴N → 3He +H and ²²Ne → 5He. The leading role of the electromagnetic dissociation on heavy nuclei with respect to breakups on target protons is demonstrated in all these cases. It is possible to conclude that the peripheral dissociation of relativistic nuclei in nuclear track emulsion is a unique tool to study many-body systems composed of the lightest nuclei and nucleons in the energy scale relevant for nuclear astrophysics. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Incoherent X-radiation produced by relativistic electrons in crystals

Differential and integral features of incoherent X-radiation, induced by relativistic electrons in crystals, are studied for observation angles θ_γ several times greater than γ^-1, where γ is the projectile Lorentz factor. The existence of sharp maxima and a minimum of the five-folded incoherent differential cross-section as a function of the final electron angles, and a dip minimum when the cross-section is taken as a function of the photon energies, is demonstrated. At near backward observation angles the three-folded cross-section shows a maximum in the region of several keV photon energies. The obtained results allow us to optimize the conditions for coincidence experiments, minimizing the incoherent contribution to the total radiation yield, and helping to analyse results of finite-size detector experiments with crystal targets. Received: 2 July 2001 / Accepted: 26 November 2001     

Precision spectroscopy at heavy ion ring accelerator SIS300

Unique spectroscopic possibilities open up if a laser beam interacts with relativistic lithium-like ions stored in the heavy ion ring accelerator SIS300 at the future Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research FAIR in Darmstadt, Germany. At a relativistic factor γ = 36 the ²P_1/2 level can be excited from the ²S_1/2 ground state for any element with frequency doubled dye-lasers in collinear geometry. Precise transition energy measurements can be performed if the fluorescence photons, boosted in forward direction into the X-ray region, are energetically analyzed with a single crystal monochromator. The hyperfine structure can be investigated at the ²P_1/2−²S_1/2 transition for all elements and at the ²P_3/2−²S_1/2 transition for elements with Z≤50. Isotope shifts and nuclear moments can be measured with unprecedented precision, in principle even for only a few stored radioactive species with known nuclear spin. A superior relative line width in the order of 5·10⁻⁷ may be feasible after laser cooling, and even polarized external beams may be prepared by optical pumping.     

Production of medical radioisotopes with high specific activity in?photonuclear reactions with γ-beams of high intensity and?large brilliance

We study the production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine in (γ,xn+yp) photonuclear reactions or (γ,γ′) photoexcitation reactions with high-flux [(10¹³–10¹⁵)γ/s], small diameter ∼(100 μm)² and small bandwidth (ΔE/E≈10⁻³–10⁻⁴) γ beams produced by Compton back-scattering of laser light from relativistic brilliant electron beams. We compare them to (ion,xn+yp) reactions with (ion = p,d,α) from particle accelerators like cyclotrons and (n,γ) or (n,f) reactions from nuclear reactors. For photonuclear reactions with a narrow γ-beam the energy deposition in the target can be managed by using a stack of thin target foils or wires, hence avoiding direct stopping of the Compton and pair electrons (positrons). However, for ions with a strong atomic stopping only a fraction of less than 10⁻² leads to nuclear reactions resulting in a target heating, which is at least 10⁵ times larger per produced radioactive ion and often limits the achievable activity. In photonuclear reactions the well defined initial excitation energy of the compound nucleus leads to a small number of reaction channels and enables new combinations of target isotope and final radioisotope. The narrow bandwidth γ excitation may make use of the fine structure of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance (PDR) or fluctuations in γ-width leading to increased cross sections. Within a rather short period compared to the isotopic half-life, a target area of the order of (100 μm)² can be highly transmuted, resulting in a very high specific activity. (γ,γ′) isomer production via specially selected γ cascades allows to produce high specific activity in multiple excitations, where no back-pumping of the isomer to the ground state occurs. We discuss in detail many specific radioisotopes for diagnostics and therapy applications. Photonuclear reactions with γ-beams allow to produce certain radioisotopes, e.g. ⁴⁷Sc, ⁴⁴Ti, ⁶⁷Cu, ¹⁰³Pd, ^117m Sn, ¹⁶⁹Er, ^195m Pt or ²²⁵Ac, with higher specific activity and/or more economically than with classical methods. This will open the door for completely new clinical applications of radioisotopes. For example ^195m Pt could be used to verify the patient’s response to chemotherapy with platinum compounds before a complete treatment is performed. Also innovative isotopes like ⁴⁷Sc, ⁶⁷Cu and ²²⁵Ac could be produced for the first time in sufficient quantities for large-scale application in targeted radionuclide therapy.     

Optics and spectroscopy of cooperative laser-electron nuclear processes in atomic and molecular systems – new trend in quantum optics

A consistent QED perturbation theory approach is applied to calculation of the electron-nuclear γ-transition spectrum of nucleus in the multicharged ion. The intensities of satellites are defined within the relativistic version of the energy approach (Gell-Mann and Low S-matrix formalism). As example, the nuclear transition in the isotope with the energy 14.41 keV is considered. The results of the relativistic calculation for the electron-nuclear γ-transition spectrum (a set of electron satellites) of the nucleus in a multicharged atomic ion FeXIX are presented. The possible experiments for observation of the new effect in the thermalized plasma of the O-like ions are discussed. A consistent quantum approach to calculation of the electron-nuclear γ transition spectrum (a set of vibration-rotational satellites in a molecule) of nucleus in a molecule is proposed and based on the Dunham model potential approximation for potential curves of the diatomic molecules. Model proposed generelizes the well known Letokhov-Minogin model. The estimates are made for vibration-rotation-nuclear transition probabilities in a case of the emission and absorption spectrum of nucleus ¹²⁷I (E⁽⁰⁾_γ=203 keV) in the molecule of H¹²⁷I.     

Projects of Nuclotron modernization and Nuclotron-based ion collider facility (NICA) at JINR

One of the basic facilities at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna is the 6 A GeV Nuclotron, which has replaced the old weak focusing 10-GeV proton accelerator Synchrophasotron. The first relativistic nuclear beams with the energy of 4.2 A GeV were obtained at the Synchrophasotron in 1971. Since that time, relativistic nuclear physics has been one of the main directions of the JINR research program. In the coming years, the new JINR flagship program assumes the experimental study of hot and dense strongly interacting QCD matter at the new JINR facility. This goal is proposed to be reached by (i) development of the existing Nuclotron accelerator facility as a basis for generation of intense beams over atomic mass range from protons to uranium and light polarized ions, (ii) design and construction of the Nuclotron-based heavy Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) with the maximum nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass collision energy of √s _NN = 9 GeV and averaged luminosity 10²⁷ cm⁻² s⁻¹, and (iii) design and construction of the Multipurpose Particle Detector (MPD) at intersecting beams. Realization of the project will lead to unique conditions for research activity of the world community. The NICA energy region is of major interest because the highest nuclear (baryonic) density under laboratory conditions can be reached there. Generation of intense polarized light nuclear beams aimed at investigation of polarization phenomena at the Nuclotron is foreseen. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Lepton-pair production from deep inelastic scatteringin peripheral relativistic heavy ion collisions

We calculate the inelastic electron- and muon-pair production in peripheral relativistic heavy ion collisions in the region of large Q² of one of the photons. This offers a possibility to study the quark distribution functions in ions in "ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions". The calculations are compared with those making use of the equivalent photon and the equivalent lepton approximation. We compare the results for Pb-Pb and Pb-p collisions at RHIC (γ ≈ 100) and LHC (γ ≈ 3000) energies. Furthermore we include nuclear modifications to the parton distribution functions in our calculations to study their effect on the cross sections.     

Beryllium (boron) clustering quest in relativistic multifragmentation (BECQUEREL Project)

A physical program of irradiation of emulsions in beams of relativistic nuclei named the BECQUEREL Project is reviewed. It is destined to study in detail the processes of relativistic fragmentation of light radioactive and stable nuclei. The expected results would make it possible to answer some topical questions concerning the cluster structure of light nuclei. Owing to the best spatial resolution, the nuclear emulsions would enable one to obtain unique and evident results. The most important irradiations will be performed in the secondary beams of He, Be, B, C, and N radioactive nuclei formed on the basis of JINR Nuclotron beams of stable nuclei. We present results on the charged state topology of relativistic fragmentation of the ¹⁰B nucleus at low energy-momentum transfers as the first step of the research.     

Interactions of relativistic heavy ions in thick heavy element targets and some unresolved problems

Interactions of relativistic heavy ions with total energies above 30 GeV in thick Cu and Pb targets (≥ 2 cm) have been studied with various techniques. Radiochemical irradiation experiments using thick Cu targets, both in a compact form or as diluted “2π-Cu targets” have been carried out with several relativistic heavy ions, such as 44 GeV ¹²C (JINR, Dubna, Russia) and 72 GeV ⁴⁰Ar (LBL, Berkeley, USA). Neutron measuring experiments using thick targets irradiated with various relativistic heavy ions up to 44 GeV ¹²C have been performed at the JINR. In addition, the number of “black prongs” in nuclear interactions (due to protons with energies less than 30 MeV and emitted from the target-like interaction partner at rest) produced with 72 GeV ²²Ne ions in nuclear emulsion plates has been measured in the first nuclear interaction of the primary ²²Ne ion and in the following second nuclear interaction of the secondary heavy (Z > 1) ion. Some essential results have been obtained. (1) Spallation products produced by relativistic secondary fragments in interactions ([44 GeV ¹²C or 72 GeV ⁴⁰Ar] + Cu) within thick copper yield fewer products close to the target and many more products far away from the target as compared to primary beam interactions. This applies also to secondary particles emitted into large angles (Θ > 10°). (2) The neutron production of 44 GeV ¹²C within thick Cu and Pb targets is beyond the estimated yield as based on experiments with 12 GeV ¹²C. These rather independent experimental results cannot be understood within well-accepted nuclear reaction models. They appear to present unresolved problems. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

High-spin states in 208Pb

High-spin states in ²⁰⁸Pb have been studied by γ-ray-spectroscopy methods in deep inelastic reactions induced by beams of ²⁰⁸Pb, ¹³⁶Xe and ⁷⁶Ge beams on a thick ²⁰⁸Pb target. The 11⁺ ₂ state and new γ-transitions between the one-particle one-hole states of highest spin have been found and electromagnetic matrix elements verified. High-spin states of two-particle two-hole structure have been detected for the first time. The results are compared to shell model calculations with realistic interactions in the complete Kuo-Herling space. Received: 31 October 2000 / Accepted: 26 March 2001     

Experimental details of the Stopped Beam RISING campaign

The RISING (Rare ISotope INvestigations at GSI) project constitutes a major pan-european initiative to study nuclear structure in exotic nuclei. A brief outline of the technical details specific to studies of isomeric decays following relativistic projectile fragmentation reactions is presented.     

Decay of the very neutron-deficient isotope 131Pm

The decay of ¹³¹Pm has been investigated by means of γ-ray spectroscopy. The ¹³¹Pm nuclei were produced by fusion-evaporation reaction of ¹⁰⁶Cd(³²S,3p4n) at the beam energy of 170 MeV. A helium-jet technique and a tape transport system were used to collect the activities and transfer them to a detecting position for X and γ rays measurement. Two γ rays of 185.0 and 220.0 keV were unambiguously identified to follow the β⁺ decay of ¹³¹Pm by results of X-γ and γ–γ coincidence. A growth-decay feature of the decay curve for 87.8 keV γ-ray of ¹³¹Nd confirmed the production of ¹³¹Pm nuclei. The half-life of ¹³¹Pm was measured to be 6.3 ± 0.8 s. A partial decay scheme of ¹³¹Pm is proposed on the basis of X-γ and γ–γ coincidence data in this experiment and the known structure information deduced from in-beam experiments of the daughter nucleus ¹³¹Nd. Received: 11 January 1999 / Revised version: 20 May 1999     

Schottky mass spectrometry at the heavy ion storage ring ESR

Schottky mass spectrometry is a novel method of precision nuclear mass spectrometry based on the measurement of the revolution frequencies of cooled ions in storage rings performed by non-destructive frequency analysis of the beam noise, the well-established Schottky diagnosis technique. The method was applied for the first time at the Experimental Storage Ring ESR at GSI observing electron cooled highly charged ions up to bare nuclei at relativistic energies around several hundred MeV/u. To demonstrate the performance and feasibility of the method at the ESR, experimental tests have been carried out using beams of nuclear fragments produced in the ring itself by the interaction of different primary beams with the internal gas jet target. Futhermore, first Schottky mass measurements of secondary nuclear beams produced by projectile fragmentation of Au and Bi primary beams in a thick Be-target were carried out in order to determine the masses for numerous heavy neutron deficient nuclei which had not been measured before. Relative accuracies for the measured mass values in the order of 1×10^–6 and below can be achieved. The method is briefly discussed and some early results are presented.     

A relativistic quark model for mesons with an instanton-induced interaction

We present new results of a relativistic quark model based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation in its instantaneous approximation. Assuming a linearly rising confinement potential with an appropriate spinorial structure in Dirac space and adopting a residual interaction based on instanton effects, we can compute masses of the light mesons up to highest observed angular momenta with a natural solution of the U _A(1) problem. The calculated ground states masses and the radial excitations describe the experimental results well. In this paper, we will also discuss our results concerning numerous meson decay properties. For processes like π⁺/K ⁺↦e ⁺υ_eγ and 0^-↦γγ at various photon virtualities, we find a good agreement with experimental data. We will also comment on the form factors of the K _?3 decay and on the decay constants of the π, K and η mesons. For the sake of completeness, we will furthermore present the electromagnetic form factors of the charged π and K mesons as well as a comparison of the radiative meson decay widths with the most recent experimental data. Received: 28 August 2000 / Accepted: 12 September 2000     

Inclusive ω photoproduction from nuclei and ω in the nuclear medium

With the aim of extracting information on the shift of the ω mass in the nuclear medium we analyze data obtained at ELSA from where claims for evidence of a mass shift of the ω have been made. We develop a Monte Carlo simulation code which takes into account the possible reactions in the experimental set-up of (γA → π⁰γX) in the vicinity of the ω production region with subsequent ω → π⁰γ decay. We compare our results with experiment for the distribution of π⁰γ invariant masses and conclude that the distribution is compatible with an enlarged ω width of about 90MeV at nuclear-matter density and no shift in the mass. This change in the width would be compatible with the preliminary results obtained from the transparency ratio in the A-dependence of ω production. The discrepancy of the present conclusions with former claims of an evidence for a shift of the ω mass stems from a different choice of background which is discussed in the paper.     

Analysis of the excitation functions and isomeric cross-section ratios within the statistical model

The excitation functions and isomeric cross-section ratios obtained at irradiation of ¹⁹⁷Au by a ⁶He-ion beams with energies from 15 to 60 MeV has been analyzed. The EMPIRE-2.18 code was used in the calculations. The cross sections of the isomeric and ground nuclear state production were calculated taking into account the probabilities of occupation of the final nucleus discrete levels in cascades of γ transitions.     

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     

Characteristics of high energy interactions I. High energy gamma-ray spectra near the top of the atmosphere

An emulsion chamber was used to study the characteristics of high energy nuclear interactions from the production spectra ofγ-rays. The emulsion chamber, which comprised of two parts, namely the detector and the graphite producer unit, was exposed to cosmic rays for about 7 hr at an atmospheric depth of 10 g cm⁻² at Hyderabad (geomagnetic latitude 7·6°N). 720 electromagnetic cascades due toγ-rays were recorded in the detector. These cascades were classified into three groups; (a)γ-rays from nuclear interactions in the detector (b)γ-rays from nuclear interactions in the producer unit and (c)γ-rays of atmospheric origin. The energies of the cascades were determined using photometric method. The spectra ofγ-rays from groups (a) and (c) were determined and compared with similar spectra obtained at greater atmospheric depths. The spectra were found to obey a power law. The spectrum ofγ-rays of atmospheric origin was found to steepen at high energies,E _r>2200 GeV.     

Laser production of polarized beams and targets

Hyperfine interaction techniques have historically been applied to produce polarized nuclei. The use of optical pumping with tunable lasers is a new hyperfine interaction method which dramatically extends the range of nuclear species which can be polarized, as well as the fluxes and densities which can be achieved and the temperature range in which experiments can be carried out. Lasers are ideally suided for the production of polarized atomic beams, as will be illustrated for the cases of^6,7Li,²³Na and³He. Techniques for polarizing dense atomic vapors will be described with an emphasis on achieving full Doppler coverage by the method of velocity changing collisions. Experiments leading to the production of a⁶Li target for a parity non-conservation study of the nuclear reaction⁶Li(α,γ)¹⁰B will be reviewed and results obtained to date presented.