Cross sections and thermonuclear reaction rates for 42Ca(p, γ)43Sc, 44Ca(p, γ) 45Sc, 44Ca(p,n) 44Sc and 45Sc(p,n)45Ti

The yield of γ-rays from the reaction ⁴²Ca(p, γ)⁴³Sc has been measured as a function of bombarding energy over the range 0.63–3.01 MeV, from ⁴⁴Ca(p, γ)⁴⁵Sc over the range 0.775–4.00 MeV, from ⁴²Ca(p, p'γ)⁴²Ca over the range 2.24–3.01 MeV, and from ⁴⁴Ca(p, p'γ)⁴⁴Ca over the range 1.90–5.03 MeV. The cross section of the reaction ⁴⁴Ca(p, n)⁴⁴Sc has been measured from threshold to a bombarding energy of 5.05 MeV by observation of the 1157 keV γ-ray associated with the residual ⁴⁴Sc activity, and the cross section of the reaction ⁴⁵Sc(p, n)⁴⁵Ti has been measured from threshold to a bombarding energy of 4.00 MeV both by observation of the annihilation radiation associated with the residual ⁴⁵Ti activity and by measurement of the total neutron yield with a wide-angle BF₃ tube and paraffin detector. All these data are compared with statisticalmodel calculations and satisfactory agreement is achieved. Thermonuclear reaction rates for the (p, γ) and (p, n) reactions are calculated for the temperature range 5 × 10⁸-10¹⁰K and the significance of these results for explosive nucleosynthesis in stars is discussed.     

Isomeric cross sections for the (n, 2n) reaction on 82Se, 81Br,and 45Sc at 15.1 MeV

Activation techniques have been used to measure the cross sections at 15.1 MeV neutron energy for the following reactions: ⁸²Se(n, 2n)^81m+gSe, ⁸¹Br(n, 2n)^80m+gBr, and ⁴⁵Sc(n, 2n) ^44m+gSc. Isomeric cross-section ratios were evaluated by applying the method of least squares to the time behavior of γ-ray activity following the ground-state decay of each isomeric pair. The absolute cross section σ_m for the formation of the metastable state was measured by the mixed-powder method with the ²⁷Al(n, α)²⁴Na reaction as the monitor. The cross section σ_g for the formation of the ground state was then determined by using the isomeric cross-section ratio. The sum of σ_m and σ_g for each reaction is compared with the theoretical value obtained from calculations based on the statistical model for the formation of a compound nucleus and its subsequent emission of neutrons.     

The spin(6) scheme and electromagnetic transitions in 191Ir and 193Ir

The Coulomb excitation of natural Ir and Pt targets has been measured with protons and α-particles of energies between 5.0 and 6.0 MeV. Accurate γ-ray angular distributions were taken to determine the relative yields of observed γ-rays. Using ¹⁹⁴Pt as standard the reduced electric quadrupole transition probabilities to the ground states from Coulomb excited levels in the Ir and Pt isotopes were determined. Other B(E2) and B(M1) values were determined from the decay schemes obtained and from mixing ratios deduced from γ-ray angular distributions or from previously measured internal conversion coefficients. The detailed sets are compared with calcula- tions based on the Spin(6) scheme, which predicts several symmetries in ¹⁹¹Ir and ¹⁹³Ir. The possible existence of wider supersymmetry multiplets in this region of nuclei is examined on the basis of comparison of electromagnetic properties of Ir nuclei with those of Pt and Os isotopes.     

(α, 2nγ) Studies of γ-vibrational and other side-bands in 162, 164, 166Er

Levels in ^{162, 164, 166}Er have been studied using the (α, 2nγ) reaction at an energy of 24 MeV. Singles spectra, γ-γ coincidence spectra, and angular distributions were obtained using Ge(Li) detectors. Transitions from levels in the γ-vibrational bands up to the 8^+' in ^{162, 164}Er and 10^+' in ¹⁶⁶Er were observed and M1/E2 mixtures were determined for many of these transitions. There is a relative shifting upward of the even-spin levels in the γ-band of ¹⁶⁶Er while the analogous levels of ^{162, 164}Er are shifted downward with the effect being most pronounced for¹⁶²Er. The standard phenomenological band-mixing parameters z₂ and z₀₂ were obtained from γ-ray branching ratio data and the values are probably correlated with the staggering of levels in the γ-bands. The ratios of the intraband and interband E2 transition strengths which are related to the intrinsic quadrupole moments of the ground-state and γ-bands are discussed. A number of other levels are observed in ¹⁶², 164Er and some of these correspond to negative parity states reported in decay studies.     

The excitation functions and Isomer ratios for neutron-induced reactions on Mo and Zr

Absolute cross sections of the reactions ⁹²Mo(n, 2n)^91m,91gMo, ⁹²Mo(n, p)⁹²Nb and ⁹²Mo(n, α)^{89m, 89g}Zr, relative cross sections of the reaction ⁹⁰Zr(n, 2n) ^89mZr and isomer ratios of the ⁹⁰Zr(n, 2n) reaction have been measured in the neutron energy range 13–15 MeV. The results for the (n, 2n) reactions are in good agreement with those of the previous studies. The present results for the (n, p) and (n, α) reactions are in disagreement with the previous works. The experimental data are analysed by the statistical model to determine the level-density parameter a, the moment of inertia ? and the strength of the γ-ray transition S_l in order to simultaneously reproduce the experimental data on the excitation function and the isomer ratio in the (n, 2n) reaction. The γ-ray competition, the yrast level and the experimental information on the excited levels of the residual nucleus in the (n, 2n) reaction are taken into account. The obtained values of a, ? and S_l are consistent with those deduced from other types of nuclear data.     

The decay of 44Sc

The 3.9 h decay of the ⁴⁴Sc ground state has been investigated with a ⁴⁴Ti source. In a singles experiment with a Ge(Li) detector and a γ-γ coincidence experiment with a NaI(Tl)-Ge(Li) detector arrangement a (0.010 ± 0.002)% EC branch to the 3.30 MeV level of ⁴⁴Ca has been found. The γ-decay branching ratio of the 3.30 MeV level has been determined.     

Determination of the half-life of 184gRe and the isomeric ratio of 184m,gRe induced by D-T neutrons

The isomeric ratio of ^{184m, g}Re and the half-life of ^184gRe were measured in the ¹⁸⁵Re (n, 2n) ¹⁸⁴Re reaction at 14.8 MeV, and the uncertainty was discussed in detail. The measurements were performed using the activation method implemented for a rhenium sample using the K-400 neutron generator at the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). Isomeric state and ground state nuclei of ¹⁸⁴Re were identified by their γ-ray spectra. To eliminate the effect of the γ-ray emitted from the isomer on the counting of the ground state characteristic peaks, the isomeric ratio of ^{184m, g}Re was calculated to be 0.29 ± 0.11 according to the neutron activation cross-section formula. This result is consistent with previous data within the uncertainty and can be used to determine parameters that characterize the dependence of the level density on the excitation energy and angular momentum. Through exponential function fitting and a detailed discussion of the uncertainty evaluation, the half-life of ^184gRe was determined as 35.43 ± 0.16 d, which is consistent with the currently recommended value; however, the uncertainty assessment of the latter was barely documented. In addition, this study indicates that the half-life of the ground state can be obtained by eliminating the contamination of γ-rays emitted from the isomer, which provides the possibility of determining the half-lives of nuclides containing isomers.     

Cross sections and isomeric ratios in the photoproduction of 44Sc from heavier nuclei

The yields and isomeric yield ratios in the photoproduction of⁴⁴Sc from ⁴⁵Sc, ⁵⁵Mn, Fe, ⁵⁹Co and ⁷⁵As have been measured by activation methods in the energy region 100–800 MeV. Mean cross sections and isomeric cross-section ratios in the energy region 250–800 MeV have been deduced and the number of valence neutrons available for the (γ, n) reaction estimated. The experimental cross sections are compared both to cascade-evaporation calculations based upon the free-nucleon photopion cross sections and to cross sections calculated with a semi-empirical formula. The isomeric cross-section ratios are compared to calculations based on the statistical formalism by Huizenga and Vandenbosch together with cascade-evaporation theory.     

Kern- und festkörperphysikalische Untersuchungen mit Hilfe des Mössbauereffekts in157Gd

With the narrow line of the 64 keV γ-ray in¹⁵⁷Gd the isomer shift, the magnetic field, and the electric field gradient in Gd metal have been determined precisely. The ratio of theg-factors of the excited state and the ground state has been measured from which the magnetic moment of the excited state was deduced. Comparisons to theoretical and other experimental results are performed. From the isomer shift a value of δ 〈r ²〉 can be inferred.     

Discussion of isomeric ratios in (<Emphasis Type="Italic">p,n</Emphasis>) and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>, 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>) reaction

Isomeric ratios (IR) in the (p, n) and (d, 2n) reactions are considered. The dependence of IR values on the projectile type and energy, the target- and product-nucleus spin, the spin difference between the isomeric and ground states of products, and the product mass number is discussed. The isomeric ratios for 46 product nuclei (from ^44m,gSc to ^127m,gXe) obtained in reactions where target and product nuclei have identical mass numbers were calculated at energies from the reaction threshold to 50 MeV (with a step of ΔE = 1 MeV). The calculations in question were performed with the aid of the TALYS 1.4 code package. The calculated IR values were compared with their experimental counterparts available from the literature (EXFOR database). In the majority of cases, the calculated IR values agree well with the experimental data in question. It is noteworthy that the IR values obtained in (d, 2n) reactions are substantially greater than those in (p, n) reactions.     

Isomer ratios for products of photonuclear reactions with middle-weight nuclei

The isomer ratios for nuclei ^104m,g Ag, ^110m,g In, ^108m,g In as products of the photonuclear reactions ¹⁰⁷Ag(γ, 3n)^104m,g Ag, ¹¹³In(γ, 3n)^110m,g In, ¹⁰⁹Ag(γ, 5n)^104m,g Ag, ¹¹⁵In)(γ, 5n)^110m,g In, ¹¹⁵In(γ, 7n)^108m,g In are obtained. The Bremsstrahlung of electrons with energies within 32–84 MeV from the LU-40 linear accelerator was used for the irradiation of targets. The energy resolution and mean current of the electron beam were ～1% and 5 μA, respectively. The induced activity was used to obtain experimental isomer ratios. An HPGe spectrometer with an energy resolution of 1.9 keV for ⁶⁰Co γ-line 1332 keV was used to acquire the instrumental γ-ray spectra of the activation products. A set of serial measurements with various acquisition times was performed. The cooling times varied from 5 seconds to several hours for Ag and up to tens of hours for In specimens. The obtained experimental isomer ratios are compared with the results from theoretical calculations.     

Nuclear structure of 47Sc: (I). Gamma-ray correlations and lifetime measurements

Levels of ⁴⁷Sc below an excitation energy of 2.7 MeV have been investigated through the ⁴⁴Ca(α, pγ)⁴⁷Sc reaction. Gamma-ray spectra in coincidence with protons were recorded with a Ge(Li) detector positioned at several angles and at α-energies of 10.15 and 11.00 MeV. Level positions, lifetimes, decay modes and spin values were deduced from these measurements. This study was supplemented by a γ-γ coincidence measurement. The electromagnetic properties for the negative parity states are compared with intermediate coupling predictions. A classification of the positive parity states into several rotational bands is proposed.     

Study of the 45Sc(n, γ) reaction

Primary and secondary γ-rays from the ⁴⁵Sc(n, γ) reaction were measured at four resonances, two of them of p-wave (460.6 and 1060.4 eV) and the others of s-wave (3290 and 4330 eV) character. High accuracy measurements at near the thermal region (0.14-7.65 eV) resulted in an improved set of primary γ-ray energies and level energies above 1 MeV. We obtain a neutron binding energy $\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>n</mtext>}}\text{(}{}^{45}\text{Sc}\text{) = 8760.5(2)}\text{keV}$. Absolute intensities of primary capture γ-rays were derived by comparison to the resonance capture in gold at 4.91 eV. El and Ml radiation strengths were observed to be about equal. No correlation of any kind [either between (n, γ) or (d, p) strengths or between adjacent s- and p-wave capture] was observed. The primary γ-ray spectrum following the capture of polarized neutrons in oriented and unoriented ⁴⁵Sc nuclei was studied. A combined χ² analysis of these two experiments resulted in 21 unique spin assignments and many spin restrictions. The fraction of spin J = 3^? in thermal capture was determined to be (92 + 5)%. From the observed transition rates to final states of known spin, J = 3 assignments result for the two p-wave resonances studied.     

Excited states of 96Nb from the 96Zr(p,nγ)96Nb reaction

The γ-ray spectra of the ⁹⁶Zi(p, nγ)⁹⁶Nb reaction have been measured with Ge(Li) detectors at different bombarding proton energies between 1.3 and 5.1 MeV. γγ coincidences were observed at E_p = 4.7 and 5.0 MeV. On the basis of experimental results a level scheme of ⁹⁶Nb was deduced, and γ-threshold energies and γ-branching ratios were determined. Computed Hauser-Feshbach (p, n′) cross sections have been compared with experimental data obtained from the γ-ray measurements, and level spins and parities have been determined. The energies of ⁹⁶Nb levels were calculated on the basis of the parabolic rule, derived from the cluster-vibration model. The Racah multipole decomposition method was used also for the theoretical interpretation of several ⁹⁶Nb multiplet states.     

Decay properties of ground-state and isomer of 103In

The β-decay properties of ground-state and isomer of ¹⁰³In were investigated by means of γ-ray spectroscopy. The half-lives of ^103g In and ^103m In were determined to be 60 ± 1 s and 34 ± 2 s, respectively. Out of 149 γ transitions ascribed to the decay of ^103g In, 104 have been placed in a decay scheme including 55 excited states of ^103g Cd. The main part of the resulting distribution of the Gamow-Teller strength B(GT) is associated with the feeding of ¹⁰³Cd levels at excitation energies around 3 MeV. This observation can be interpreted as a sign of dominant feeding of three-quasiparticle states in ¹⁰³Cd, which correspond to the 1⁺(πg _9/2 ^?1 , vg_7/2)?πg_9/2 shell-model configuration spread over many levels. The sum of the B(GT) values deduced from the present γ-ray data amounts to 0. 34, which provides a lower limit to the total Gamow-Teller strength. The B(GT) distribution for ¹⁰³In decay is compared to the corresponding experimental results for ^105,107,109In and to theoretical predictions for ^99,101In. The latter were calculated by using an advanced spherical shell model. The β-branching ratio for the ^103m In decay is estimated and compared with the relevant values for the neighbouring indium isotopes including ¹⁰¹In whose half-life was determined to be 14. 9 ± 1.2 s.     

A study of charge,energy and angular momentum transfer in the 56Fe + 197Au and 56Fe + 107, 109Ag reactions at 7.2 and 8.3 MeV/nucleon

Kinetic energy spectra, charge and angular distributions have been measured for thirty elements produced in the reactions of 401 and 460 MeV ⁵⁶Fe + ¹⁹⁷Au and in the reaction of 470 MeV ⁵⁶Fe + ^{107, 109}Ag. In addition, γ-ray multiplicities were measured at the 470 MeV bombarding energy for both targets at a limited number of angles. The charge distributions for the deep-inelastic component of these systems increase monotonically with atomic number in the measured angular range, whereas, those for the quasielastic component are skewed toward Z-values below the projectile. The angular distributions for the Fe-induced reactions show a smooth evolution from a side-peaked to forward-peaked distributions with increasing mass transfer. This side peak is more intense and more persistent for mass transfers from the projectile to the target. In the quasielastic region the γ-ray multiplicity is observed to increase almost linearly with decreasing Q-value whereas for large negative β-values it is essentially constant and independent of the exit channel mass asymmetry. Finally, angular distributions, angle-integrated charge distributions and γ-ray multiplicities have been compared with a diffusion model in which the dynamics of shape evolution, N/Z equilibration, angular momentum and energy exchange occur via one-body forces.     

Energy levels of 71Ge from 71Ga(p,nγ)71Ge

Energy levels of ⁷¹Ge were populated by the ⁷¹Ga(p, n) reaction at proton energies between 1.72 and 2.96 MeV and their decay studied by both γ-γ and γ-n coincidences. Spins were determined within the framework of the statistical theory from angular distributions of de-excitation γ-rays and from excitation strengths of levels derived from γ-ray intensities and branching. A level and decay scheme for ⁷¹Ge up to an excitation of 1.3 MeV is presented.     

Cross sections of 43Sc, 44Sc, 46Sc isotopes formed in the 45Sc + 3He reaction

Reactions ⁴⁵Sc(³He, αn)⁴³Sc, ⁴⁵Sc(³He, α)⁴⁴Sc and ⁴⁵Sc(³He, 2p)⁴⁶Sc in the ³He energy range of 5 to 24 MeV are investigated in experiments performed with a ³He ion beam during the irradiation of U-120M cyclotron scandium targets. Activation is used to determine the yield of nascent Sc isotopes. The γ activity induced in targets is measured using a high-resolution HPGe detector. The character of the excitation function changes during the formation of these ions and differs from the excitation functions for deuterons, despite the low bond energy of ³He and the positive values of the Q reactions leading to the formation of ⁴⁴Sc and ⁴⁶Sc isotopes. The cross sections of ⁴⁴Sc formation reach their maximum value at the Coulomb barrier of the reaction, due to the stable ⁴He nucleus that accompanies the formation of ⁴⁴Sc. The contribution from different reaction mechanisms to the cross sections of ⁴³Sc, ⁴⁴Sc, and ⁴⁶Sc isotope formation are considered.     

Measurement of mean lifetimes, γ-ray angular distributions and linear polarizations for low-lying levels of 50V

Levels of ⁵⁰V were populated with the ⁵⁰Ti(p, n)⁵⁰V reaction at E_p = 4.50, 4.62 and 4.80 MeV. Gamma rays were measured in singles. From Doppler shift attenuation measurements mean lifetimes have been deduced for 9 levels below E_x = 2 MeV. The J^π assignments for 8 of these levels follows from γ-ray angular distribution and linear polarization measurements. The transition strengths have been compared with calculations based on the wave functions of McCullen, Bayman and Zamick.     

Angular momentum transfer in incomplete fusion

Isomeric cross-section ratios of evaporation residues formed in¹²C+⁹³Nb and¹⁶O+⁸⁹Y reactions were measured by recoil catcher technique followed by off-line γ-ray spectrometry in the beam energy range of 55.7–77.5 MeV for¹²C and 68–81 MeV for¹⁶O. The isomeric cross-section ratios were resolved into that for complete and incomplete fusion reactions. The angular momentum of the intermediate nucleus formed in incomplete fusion was deduced from the isomeric cross-section ratio by considering the statistical deexcitation of the incompletely fused composite nucleus. The data show that incomplete fusion is associated with angular momenta slightly smaller than critical angular momentum for complete fusion, indicating the deeper interpenetration of projectile and target nuclei than that in peripheral collisions.