The 0+ → 0+ positron double- β decay with emission of two neutrinos in the nuclei 96Ru, 102Pd, 106Cd and 108Cd

Theoretical results for two neutrinos in the nuclei ⁹⁶Ru, ¹⁰²Pd, ¹⁰⁶Cd and ¹⁰⁸Cd are presented. The study employs the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov model to obtain the wave functions of the parent and daughter nuclei, in conjunction with the summation method to estimate the double-beta decay nuclear matrix elements. The reliability of the intrinsic wave functions of ^{96, 102}Ru, ⁹⁶Mo, ^{102, 106, 108}Pd and ^{106, 108}Cd nuclei is tested by comparing the theoretically calculated spectroscopic properties with the available experimental data. The calculated half-lives T_1/2^2ν of ⁹⁶Ru, ¹⁰²Pd, ¹⁰⁶Cd and ¹⁰⁸Cd nuclei for 2ν β⁺β⁺, 2ν β⁺EC and 2ν ECEC modes are presented. The effect of deformation on the nuclear transition matrix element M_2ν is also studied.     

Collective properties of neutron-rich Ru, Pd, and Cd isotopes

Collective properties of neutron-rich Ru, Pd, and Cd isotopes are reviewed, combining the original results from the IGISOL β-decay experiments with recent experimental and theoretical progress. The transitional nature of Ru and Pd nuclei is discussed via the low-lying level systematics, including the low-lying 0^?+? states. Although the role of an anharmonic quadrupole vibrator in Cd nuclei was recently questioned, level systematics for the three-phonon quintuplet in ^116,118,120Cd are presented, and an outlook of the spectroscopic methods for the level lifetime or B(E2) values is given.     

The low-lying quadrupole collective excitations of Ru and Pd isotopes

Quadrupole excitations of even-even Ru and Pd isotopes are described within a microscopic approach based on the general collective Bohr model which includes the effect of coupling with the pairing vibrations. The excitation energies and E2 transition probabilities observed in ^104–114Ru and ^106–110Pd are reproduced in the frame of the calculation containing no free parameters. Particularly interesting are ¹⁰⁴Ru and ^106–110Pd where good agreement to very rich information based on Coulomb excitation experiments is achieved.     

Breakdown of the compound-nucleus model in the fusion-evaporation process for110Pd+110Pd

The fusion of the massive systems¹¹⁰Pd+¹⁰⁴Ru and¹¹⁰Pd+¹¹⁰Pd was uniquely identified by observing the a decay of the evaporation residues. The observed distribution of the fusion cross section on the different evaporation-residue channels is in clear contradiction to calculations based on the compound-nucleus model. As a possible explanation the precompound evaporation of a particles is proposed.     

The 110Pd, 116Cd(p,p'γ) reactions

The possibility of extending our knowledge about higher-energy collective-type states among the vibrational nuclei by observing γ-rays from states excited by inelastically scattered protons has been examined. Gamma rays from ¹¹⁰Pd and ¹¹⁶Cd were detected in coincidence with inelastically scattered protons; the incident protons had energies of 12 and 13 MeV. Gamma rays, most of them previously unreported, were observed from 17 levels in ¹¹⁰Pd and 14 levels in ¹¹⁶Cd below ≈ 2.5 MeV. The results are compared to predictions of a phonon- model interpretation of the levels. Evidence is shown for the existence of the three-quadrupole phonon quintet in ¹¹⁰Pd.     

Two-neutrino double- β decay of 94 ⩽ A ⩽ 110 nuclei for the 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> → 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> transition

The two-neutrino double-beta decay of ^{94, 96}Zr,^98,100Mo,¹⁰⁴Ru and ¹¹⁰Pd nuclei for the 0⁺0⁺ transition is studied in the PHFB model in conjunction with the summation method. In the first step, the reliability of the intrinsic wave functions has been established by obtaining an overall agreement between a number of theoretically calculated spectroscopic properties and the available experimental data for ^{94, 96}Zr,^94,96,98,100Mo, ^98,100,104Ru, ^104,110Pd and ¹¹⁰Cd isotopes. Subsequently, the PHFB wave functions of the above-mentioned nuclei are employed to calculate the nuclear transition matrix elements M₂ as well as half-lives T_1/2². Furthermore, we have studied the effects of deformation on the M₂.     

New algebraic solutions for SO(6) ↔ U(5) transitional nuclei in the interacting boson model

Exact solutions for energy eigenvalues and eigenstates for SO(6) ↔ U(5) transitional (Class C) nuclei in IBM-1 and one case in IBM-2 are found by using an infinite dimensional algebraic method. As examples, the energy spectra and some E2 transition rates and quadrupole moments of the ^100–108Ru and ^102–112Pd isotopes are calculated in IBM-1 and compared with experimental results.     

Static sims studies of adsorbate structure: II. CO adsorption on Pd(111); adsorbate-adsorbate interactions on Ru(001), Ni(111) and Pd(111)

In a study of CO adsorption on Pd(111) it is shown that the secondary ion mass spectrum contains information on both adsorbate site geometry and adsorbate coverage. The fractional yields of PdCO⁺, Pd₂CO⁺ and Pd₃CO⁺, as a function of CO coverage are correlated with the changing site geometries suggested by reflection IR data. A relationship between secondary ion emission and the adsorbate-adsorbate interactions revealed by IR and EELS is also demonstrated for CO adsorption on Ru(001), Ni(111) and Pd(111).     

New insights into neutron-rich nuclei at high spin

With new high statistic data, new isotopes and new high-spin structures are observed in neutron-rich nuclei populated in the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf. The ¹³⁵Te levels are extended, and many new levels in ^139,141Ba observed. The coexistence of collective and single particle-hole states is found in ¹³⁵Te. The N = 83 ¹³⁵Te and ¹³⁹Ba show marked differences associated with differences in their particle and hole states. New levels in ¹⁴¹Ba complete evidence for two opposite-parity doublets characteristic of stable octupole deformation. In ^114,116Pd a second backbend is observed for the first time in this mass region and the backbend in ¹¹⁸Pd occurs earlier than in ^112-116Pd because of a reduction in pairing. Gamma-type vibrational bands are seen up to 13⁺ to 15⁺ in ^104,106Mo, ^108-112Ru, and ^112-116Pd. Their behavior reflects prolate to triaxial shapes in these nuclei. The levels of ^162,164Gd are observed for the first time. As N increases toward mid-shell at 104, the moments of inertia in N = 100 ¹⁶⁴Gd show an unexpected decrease compared to N = 98 ¹⁶²Gd. The levels in ^162,164Gd form remarkable shifted identical bands with nuclei separated by 2n, 2p, α, and 2α. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: j.h.hamilton@vanderbilt.edu     

Allowance for the shell structure of the 42100 Mo and 46110 Pd nuclei in the synthesis of 84200 Po, 88210 Ra, and 92220 U

The effect of the shell structure of colliding nuclei in calculating the entrance channel on the ensuing evolution of the product system is investigated. The entrance channel is calculated under the assumption of the nose-to-nose orientation of colliding nuclei. The following three reactions involving nuclei that are deformed in the ground state are considered: ₄₂¹⁰⁰Mo + ₄₂¹⁰⁰Mo → ₈₄¹⁰⁰Po, ₄₂¹⁰⁰Mo + ₄₆¹⁰⁰Pd → ₈₈²¹⁰Ra, and ₄₆¹¹⁰Pd + ₄₆¹¹⁰Pd → ₉₂²²⁰U. The state of the system at the point of touching is determined by the results obtained by calculating the entrance reaction channel. The shape of the system is specified by three collective coordinates (deformation parameters). The evolution of collective coordinates of the system is described in terms of Langevin equations. The potential energy of the system of colliding nuclei is calculated with allowance for their shell structure. It is shown that allowance for individual features of interacting nuclei in the entrance channel of the fusion-fission reactions makes it possible to obtain, for the reactions being considered, cross sections for evaporation-residue formation that are closer to available experimental data than their liquid-drop counterparts.     

Levels in 106Ru and 108Ru

The decay schemes of 36 s ¹⁰⁶Tc and 5 s ¹⁰⁸Tc have been studied with γ-ray singles and γ-γ coincidence measurements. To separate the technetium nuclides from the fission products of ²³⁹Pu, an on-line chemical separation procedure has been developed which is based on multistep chemical separations of liquid phases by fast-rotating centrifuges (“SISAK”). The resulting level schemes of ¹⁰⁶Ru and ¹⁰⁸Ru, together with those of ¹⁰²Ru and ¹⁰⁴Ru, are interpreted in terms of the generalized collective model of Gneuss and Greiner. The potential-energy surfaces calculated from the spectroscopic data show a trend towards triaxial shapes for the very neutron-rich Ru nuclei.     

Fusability and fissionability in 86Kr-induced reactions near and below the fusion barrier

Evaporation-residue excitation functions for the reactions ⁸⁶Kr + ^70,76Ge, ^92,100 Mo, ^99,102,104 Ru have been measured using activation methods and the velocity filter SHIP. The data span the region from well below the fusion barrier up to, and beyond, the energy where limitation by fission competition takes place. The data are shown to be compatible with the concept of complete fusion followed by the statistical decay of the equilibrated compound nucleus. Information on both the fusion probability at and below the fusion threshold and the fissionability of the compound nuclei formed, is extracted. The model dependence of the extracted fission barriers is discussed in detail. In analogy to studies involving lighter projectiles, strong correlations between the low-energy nuclear-structure properties of the nuclei and the subbarrier fusion probability are found. A relative shift of the fusion barrier to higher energies, that increases with the number of valence neutrons in the target nuclei, is observed.     

Seeking the phase transition where Cd, Ag, Pd, Rh, and Ru isotopes become “neutron rich”: Isomeric decay in 125,126,127Cd, 123,124,125Ag, 121Pd, 120Rh, and 117Ru

Gamma rays have been identified in the decay of isomers in ^125,126,127Cd, ^123,124,125Ag, ¹²¹Pd, ¹²⁰Rh, and ¹¹⁷Ru that provide information about the low-energy structures of these nuclei. In turn, comparison of low-energy levels in the Cd and Te isotones reveals that, whereas the yrast structures in the Te isotopes rise smoothly as N approaches the closed shell at 82, the 15/2^- to 11/2^- transitions level off as N exceeds 76. This is identified as the point where the Cd isotopes undergo a phase transition and become “neutron rich”.     

High spin states in94Ru and95Rh

The results of shell model calculations are presented and these support the experimental angular momentum assignments made for the high spin states in⁹⁴Ru and⁹⁵Rh. Only one disagreement between theory and experiment is encountered and this concerns the depopulation of the yrast 9^? state in⁹⁴Ru. A highly inhibitedE1 transition to the 8⁺ state is expected but not seen. The reason that seniority isomers are not observed in these nuclei is discussed.     

Levels in 109Rh

The levels in ¹⁰⁹Rh have been investigated via the γ-rays following the β⁻ decay of 34.5 s ¹⁰⁹Ru. The ruthenium activity was produced in the thermal neutron-induced fission of ¹⁴⁹Cf and separated chemically from the fission product mixture with the on-line centrifuge system SISAK. The emitted γ-rays were studied by γ singles and γγ(t) coincidence measurements. In addition, the ¹¹⁰Pd(d, ³He) reaction was investigated at E_d = 50 MeV to study the proton-hole states in ¹⁰⁹Rh. From the comparison of the measured angular distributions with DWBA calculations l-transfers and spectroscopic factors were deduced. The level scheme of ¹⁰⁹Rh that was obtained is discussed and compared with neighbouring nuclei and with recent calculations in the framework of the interacting bosonfermion model (IBFM-1). An interpretation of the observed candidates for intruder states as a rotational band built upon the [431] Nilsson configuration is proposed.     

Critical consideration of the statistical model analysis of photonuclear isomeric cross-section ratios

We have measured isomeric cross-section ratios for the photonuclear reactions ¹⁸¹Ta(γ, 3n) ^178m,gTa, ¹⁴²Nd(γ, n)^141m,gNd, ¹¹⁰Pd(γ, n)^{109m₁,m₂,g}Pd, ¹⁰⁸Pd(γ, n)^107m₁,m₂Pd, ¹⁰⁰Mo(γ, n) ^99m,gMo, ⁹²Mo(γ, n)^91m,gMo and ⁸⁹Y(γ, n)^88m₁,m₂Y. The experimental results were compared with statistical model calculations according to the method of Huizenga and Vandenbosch. The applicability and limits of this method, especially the simple decision model for the population of the isomeric state and the ground state of the residual nucleus, were tested and discussed. Additionally, it is shown that for photonuclear reactions on magic nuclei, contributions of a direct reaction mechanism are not negligible.     

Role of thermal and photobeta decays in processes of nucleosynthesis of problematic p nuclei of 113In, 115Sn, 92,94Mo, and 96,98Ru in massive stars

The temperature dependence of the rates of ¹¹³Cd →¹¹³In, ¹¹⁵In →¹¹⁵Sn, ⁹²Zr→⁹²Nb →⁹²Mo, ⁹⁴Zr→⁹⁴Nb →⁹⁴Mo, ⁹⁶Mo →⁹⁶Tc→⁹⁶Ru, and ⁹⁸Mo→⁹⁸Tc→⁹⁸Ru thermal beta transitions was studied at temperatures of massive-star matter in the range of 1 × 10⁸–6 × 10⁹ K. These decays are the possible channel of synthesis of the p nuclei of ¹¹³In, ¹¹⁵Sn, ⁹²,⁹⁴Mo, and ⁹⁶,⁹⁸Ru. The abundances of these nuclei present a challenge for models that study the explosivemechanism of synthesis. The contribution of photobeta decay to the synthesis of the aforementioned p nuclei was estimated. It was shown that the channel of thermal beta decay for ¹¹³In, ¹¹⁵Sn, ⁹⁴Mo, and ⁹⁸Ru p nuclei and the channel of photobeta decay for the ⁹⁶Mo p nucleus could be efficient at the high-temperature quasiequilibrium stage of massive-star evolution.