Intense radioactive-ion beams produced with the ISOL method

For fifty years the isotope separation on-line (ISOL) technique has been used for the production of radioactive-ion beams (RIBs). Thick-target ISOL facilities can provide very intense RIBs for a wide range of applications. The important design parameters for an ISOL facility are efficiency, rapidity and selectivity of all steps of the separation process. To achieve the anticipated beam intensities with the next-generation RIB facilities, the production rate in the ISOL target has to be increased by orders of magnitude. This is only possible by adapting the projectile beam for optimum production cross-sections and simultaneously minimizing the target heating due to the electronic stopping power of charged-particle projectiles. ISOL beams of 75 different elements have been produced up to now and further beam development is under way to produce a still greater variety of isotopes and to improve existing beams in intensity and purity. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: Ulli.Koster@cern.ch     

Production of neutron-rich nuclei in fission induced by neutrons generated by the p + <Superscript>13</Superscript>C reaction at 55 MeV

Cross-sections for the production of neutron-rich nuclei obtained by neutron-induced fission of natural uranium have been measured. The neutrons were generated by bombarding a ¹³C target with 55 MeV protons. The results, position of the maximum in the (Z, A)-plane, width and magnitude, are very comparable with those where the neutrons are generated by bombardment of natural ¹²C graphite with 50 MeV deuterons. Depending on the geometry of the converter/target assembly the isotope yields, however, are a factor of 2-3 lower due to less efficient production of neutrons per primary projectile, especially at small forward angles. Received: 8 November 2002 / Accepted: 20 December 2002 / Published online: 15 April 2003     

Production of neutron-rich isotopes in fission of uranium induced by neutrons of 20 MeV average energy

In the context of a parameter study conducted by several laboratories for future European radioactive beam facilities based on fast-neutron induced fission, in particular for the SPIRAL-II project at GANIL, we have measured the yields of neutron-rich isotopes in the mass range of 88 to 144. These nuclei were obtained as fission products of natural uranium bombarded by neutrons of 20 MeV average energy emitted by a thick carbon target irradiated by 50 MeV deuterons. Yields have been measured using on-line mass separation with the ion-guide method. Compared with proton-induced fission at 25 MeV the magnitude of cross-sections, except for the symmetric region, is similar. Z-distributions of isobars have the same width, 0.7 charge units, but their maxima are shifted by about 0.8 charge units, favouring production of the neutron-richer isobars. Our data allow calculations of absolute cross-sections for fission of natural uranium induced by neutrons of about 20 MeV. Received: 10 July 2000 / Accepted: 27 October 2000     

Decay of the neutron-rich isotope 113Ru to 113Rh

The decay of neutron-rich isotope ¹¹³Ru obtained as on-line mass separated product of proton-induced fission has been investigated by γγ coincidence and spectrum multiscaling measurements. Decay schemes for both low- and high-spin isomers of ¹¹³Ru have been constructed. The level scheme of ¹¹³Rh is considerably extended. Systematics of the lowest-lying rhodium levels is smooth. The picture of shape coexistence established for neutron-rich Rh isotopes near-neutron midshell is confirmed with the observation of a K = 1/2 deformed band, with its 3/2⁺ state at 600 keV being the lowest-lying level and of probable 7/2⁺ and 5/2⁺ band members. A large fraction of β feeding is found to populate high-lying levels in ¹¹³Rh. The GT strength in ¹¹³Ru^m decay is significantly larger than for the decay of ¹¹³Ru_g and of lighter rhodium isotopes. Received: 18 January 2001 / Accepted: 14 January 2002     

High-spin structures observed in the 101Tc fission fragment

High-spin states have been studied in ¹⁰¹Tc produced as a fission fragment in the reaction ¹⁷⁶Yb +²⁸Si at 145 MeV. Gamma rays were detected with the EUROGAM2 array. The level scheme of ¹⁰¹Tc has been extended up to 4.2 MeV excitation energy and several band structures are observed. Configurations are assigned to two new bands on the basis of their behaviour and of cranked Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov calculations. Received: 4 January 1999     

T-band phenomena in 183Re

Abstact: High-spin states in ¹⁸³Re have been studied using the ¹⁷⁶Yb(¹¹B,4n) reaction at 52 and 57 MeV. Two high-K bands have been observed directly by a time-correlated γ-γ coincidence measurement. One of the bands is built on an isomeric K ^π=(25/2)⁺ state at E _x= 1908 keV with a half-life of 0.82(2) ms. The other band, assigned as K ^π=(29/2)⁻ at E _x= 2739 keV, decays to the (25/2)⁺ band. These bands are interpreted as three-quasiparticle structures, π(5/2)⁺[402] &⊗ν(9/2)⁺[624] ⊗ν(11/2)⁺[615] for the (25/2)⁺ band and π(9/2)⁻[514] ⊗ν(9/2)⁺[624] ⊗ν(11/2)⁺[615] for the (29/2)⁻ band. The K ^π= (29/2)⁻ band becomes strongly Coriolis mixed with increasing spin and is gradually changing into a low-K s-band structure. Received: 20 April 1998     

Impurity nuclear physics

Using a germanium-detector array for hypernuclear γ spectroscopy (Hyperball), we measured B(E2) of the ⁷ _ΛLi hypernucleus and observed a significant shrinkage of the ⁶Li core induced by a Λ-particle. In this way, nuclear properties can be drastically changed by introducing a Λ-particle, which can be investigated by high-resolution hypernuclear γ spectroscopy. In the future neutron-rich hypernuclei will also be studied, where interesting modifications of nuclear structure by a Λ-particle are expected. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

New high-spin microsecond isomers in 131Sb

In this work we have identified and studied the decay of two new microsecond isomers 19/2^- and 23/2⁺ in ¹³¹Sb. This neutron-rich nucleus was produced by thermal neutron-induced fission of ²⁴¹Pu. The detection is based on time correlation between fission fragments selected by the LOHENGRIN spectrometer at ILL (Grenoble) and the γ-rays or conversion electrons from isomers. These new data on high-spin states complete the level scheme previously obtained from β-decay. A large fraction of the members of the πg _7/2ν(h _11/2 ^-1 d _3/2 ^-1) and πg _7/2νh _11/2 ^-2 multiplets are now known and were compared with a multi-particle shell model calculation. Received: 7 June 2000 / Accepted: 19 September 2000     

Fragment dependence of high energy γ-ray emission in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf

The high energy γ-ray emission accompanying the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf has been measured in coincidence with individual fission fragments selected by discrete γ-ray transitions. The enhancement of the γ-ray emission probability in the energy range E_γ= 3–8 MeV has been observed for the fission fragments in the region of nearly symmetric mass splitting, confirming results reported in previous investigations. The γ-γ coincidence technique employed in the present work clearly demonstrate that the major contribution to this enhancement is caused by the fission channels where one fragment is near to the N= 82 or Z= 50 shell closures. The high energy γ-ray emission probability does not show any significant dependence on the number of neutrons emitted in the fission process, supporting the hypothesis that high energy γ-rays are mainly emitted from the fragments after the neutron evaporation. Received: 22 December 1998     

On the nature of the 17 μs isomer of the <Superscript>133</Superscript>Sb valence nucleus

The decay of the 17 μs isomer of ¹³³Sb was re-investigated experimentally. It was produced by thermal neutron induced fission of ²⁴¹Pu. Its detection is based on time correlation between fission fragments selected by the LOHENGRIN spectrometer at ILL (Grenoble), and the γ-rays, and conversion electrons from the isomer. The interpretation of the level scheme is based on shell model calculations, where empirical two-body matrix elements were employed. The good agreement between theory and experiment suggests that the isomer is the 21/2⁺ member of the 2p-1h πg _7/2ν(f _7/2 h _11/2 ⁻¹) configuration. Received: 20 January 2000 / Revised version: 28 February 2000     

First identification of rotational bands in 103Tc: Evolution of intrinsic proton states of the 97-105 43Tc isotopes

High-spin states of ¹⁰³ ₄₃Tc have been identified for the first time, this nucleus being produced as fission fragment following the fusion reaction ³⁷Cl + ¹⁷⁶Yb at 170 MeV bombarding energy. The high-spin level scheme has been built from the prompt gamma rays detected using the Euroball III array. It exhibits similarities with those of the neighbouring isotopes and isotones. All the band head configurations observed in the ^97-105Tc isotopes are identified from the behaviour of the rotational bands built on them. The single-proton states located around the Fermi level are discussed as a function of deformation of these nuclei. Received: 19 January 2001 / Accepted: 23 February 2001     

New microsecond isomers in 189, 190Bi

The ¹³⁷I nucleus, populated in the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm has been studied by means of prompt γ-ray spectroscopy using the EUROGAM2 array. Medium-spin yrast excitations in ¹³⁷I were observed for the first time. The experimental level scheme is compared to the shell model calculation with modified Kuo-Herling interaction. The theoretical predictions differ significantly from the experimental results, indicating that the excitation pattern in ¹³⁷I deviates significantly from the shell model scheme. Received: 6 June 2001 / Accepted: 4 October 2001     

Three-valence-particle fission product 51 135Sb84

By analysis of fission product γ-ray data measured at Eurogam II using a ₂₄₈Cm source, yrast levels up to about 2 MeV in the N=84 three-particle nucleus ₁₃₅Sb have been identified. These levels are interpreted as π g^7/2ν f^7/2 ₂ and π g^7/2ν f^7/2h^9/2 states with the help of shell model calculations using empirical nucleon-nucleon interactions. Received: 30 July 1998     

Shape co-existence and structural evolution of the yrast band in 157Yb

The high-spin states of ¹⁵⁷Yb have been studied via the ¹⁴⁴Sm(¹⁶O, 3n) reaction at ¹⁶O energy of 90 MeV using techniques of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Measurement of γ-γ-t coincidences was performed with 11 BGO(AC)HPGe detectors. Based on the measured results of γ-γ coincidences, γ-ray anisotropies and DCO ratios, the level scheme for ¹⁵⁷Yb was established. The shape co-existence and structural evolution of the νi _13/2 band with increasing angular momentum in ¹⁵⁷Yb have been discussed. The systematics of the νi _13/2 bands in the N = 87 odd-A isotones have been compared. Received: 7 January 2002 / Accepted: 10 April 2002     

High-spin states in neutron-rich Dy isotopes populated in deep-inelastic reactions

High-spin states in neutron-rich Dy isotopes, populated in deep-inelastic processes produced by the interaction of 234 MeV ³⁷Cl ions with a ¹⁶⁰Gd target, have been studied using the highly sensitive EUROBALL IV gamma-ray detector array. The previously known level schemes for ^{159,160,161,162}Dy have been extended to significantly higher spin ( ? 30?) and the i _13/2 band crossing in ¹⁵⁹Dy has been observed for the first time. The experimental results are discussed within the framework of cranked shell model and projected shell model calculations with particular reference to the observed delayed band crossing in ¹⁶²Dy. Received: 20 October 2000 / Accepted: 16 January 2001     

New experimental studies on the quaternary fission of <Superscript>233, 235</Superscript>U(n<Subscript>th</Subscript>, f ) and <Superscript>252</Superscript>Cf (sf )

Experiments have been performed for studying quaternary fission (QF) in spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf, on the one hand, and for the neutron-induced fission reactions ^{233, 235}U(n_th, f ), on the other hand. In this higher-multiplicity fission mode, by definition, four charged products appear in the final state. In other words, as a generalization of the ternary-fission process, not only one but two light charged particles (LCPs) are accompanying the splitting of an actinide nucleus into the customary pair of fission fragments. In the two sets of measurements, which have used quite different approaches, the yields of several QF reactions with α-particles and tritons as the LCPs have been determined and the corresponding kinetic-energy distributions of the α-particles measured. The QF process can appear in two basically different ways: i) the simultaneous creation of two LCPs in the act of fission (“true” QF) and ii) via a fast sequential decay of a single but particle-unstable LCP in common ternary fission (“pseudo” QF). Experimentally the two varieties of QF have been distinguished by exploiting the different patterns of angular correlations between the two outgoing LCPs. The experiments described in the present paper are the first to demonstrate that both types of reactions, true and pseudo QF, occur with quite comparable probabilities. As a new result also, the kinetic-energy distributions related to the two processes have been shown to be significantly different. For all QF reactions which could be explored, the yields for ²⁵²Cf(sf) were found to be roughly by an order of magnitude larger than the yields found in the ²³³U(n_th, f ) and ²³⁵U(n_th, f ) reactions. An interesting by-product has been the measurement of yields of excited LCPs which allows to deduce nuclear temperatures at scission by comparison to the respective yields in the ground state.     

Studies on the level structure of 152Nd

The structure of ¹⁵²Nd, produced via β⁻ decay of ¹⁵²Pr, has been investigated using γ-γ coincidence, γ-γ angular correlation, and β-γ-γ triple coincidence measurements. Praseodymium activities were obtained by the thermal neutron fission of ²³⁵U and collected by the on-line isotope separator KUR-ISOL. Nineteen γ-rays and four excited states were newly found. The spins of six exited states were determined and the parities of three of them were also deduced. The spin and parity of the ¹⁵²Pr ground state, which were previously considered as 4⁻, are proposed to be 4⁺ by the present study. Received: 19 October 1998 / Revised version: 22 December 1998     

The strength of octupole correlations in neutron-rich Xe isotopes

Excited levels in ¹⁴⁰Xe and ¹⁴²Xe nuclei, populated in the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁸Cm, were studied by means of prompt γ-ray spectroscopy, using EUROGAM2 array. We report the first observation of an octupole band in ¹⁴²Xe and extend the octupole band in ¹⁴⁰Xe. Level schemes of ¹⁴⁰Xe and ¹⁴²Xe obtained in this work show patterns characteristic of ocupole-vibrational bands. Properties of octupole bands in Xe isotopes indicate that octupole correlations in these nuclei are lower than in the corresponding Ba nuclei. The electric dipole moment of ¹⁴²Xe was found to be larger than in other Xe isotopes, contrary to theoretical predictions. This may be due to the special role of the N = 88 neutron number. Received: 18 November 2002 / Accepted: 15 December 2002 / Published online: 25 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: urban@fuw.edu.pl Communicated by D. Schwalm     

Yields of neutron-rich isotopes around Z = 28 produced in 30 MeV proton-induced fission of 238U

Heavy ^65-70Co, ^68-74Ni, ^70-76Cu and ^74-81Ga isotopes were produced at the LISOL facility by means of 30 MeV proton-induced fission of ²³⁸U. Production rates were deduced and compared to two types of cross-section calculations: the empirical model (V. Rubchenya, private communication) and the PROFI code. Comparison with experimental data favors the latter model. Yields using different beam-target combinations and different energies are calculated and discussed. Received: 11 February 2002 / Accepted: 26 April 2002