Lifetime measurement of 22Ne(4+1) with the high-velocity coincidence DSA method

The mean life of ²²Ne(4⁺₁) has been measured by means of the high-velocity coincidence DSA method with the ⁴He(¹⁹F, pγ)²²Ne reaction. The ²²Ne recoils are slowed down in Ti, Cu, Ag and Au and the γ-ray Doppler patterns are observed with a large Ge(Li) detector at 0° in coincidence with protons. Interpretation of the patterns with recent experimental stopping powers yields $\text{τ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{[}{}^{22}\text{Ne}\text{(3.36}\text{MeV}\text{)] = 328 ± 10}\text{fs}$. The present result serves as a calibration measurement and helps to reduce uncertainties in calculated stopping powers for low-velocity DSA measurements.     

Fundamentals of melt infiltration for the preparation of supported metal catalysts. The case of Co/SiO2 for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

We explored melt infiltration of mesoporous silica supports to prepare supported metal catalysts with high loadings and controllable particle sizes. Melting of Co(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O in the presence of silica supports was studied in situ with differential scanning calorimetry. The melting point depression of the intraporous phase was used to quantify the degree of pore loading after infiltration. Maximum pore-fillings corresponded to 70-80% of filled pore volume, if the intraporous phase was considered to be crystalline Co(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O. However, diffraction was absent in XRD both from the ordered mesopores at low scattering angles and from crystalline cobalt nitrate phases at high angles. Hence, an amorphous, lower density, intraporous Co(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O phase was proposed to fill the pores completely. Equilibration at 60 °C in a closed vessel was essential for successful melt infiltration. In an open crucible, dehydration of the precursor prior to infiltration inhibited homogeneous filling of support particles. The dispersion and distribution of Co(3)O(4) after calcination could be controlled using the same toolbox as for preparation via solution impregnation: confinement and the calcination gas atmosphere. Using ordered mesoporous silica supports as well as an industrial silica gel support, catalysts with Co metal loadings in the range of 10-22 wt % were prepared. The Co(3)O(4) crystallite sizes ranged from 4 to 10 nm and scaled with the support pore diameters. By calcination in N(2), pluglike nanoparticles were obtained that formed aggregates over several pore widths, while calcination in 1% NO/N(2) led to the formation of smaller individual nanoparticles. After reduction, the Co/SiO(2) catalysts showed high activity for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, illustrating the applicability of melt infiltration for supported catalyst preparation.     

High-spin states in 40K investigated with the 26MG + 16O reaction

Yrast levels in ⁴⁰K and ⁴⁰Ar have been investigated with the ²⁶Mg(¹⁶O, pnγ)⁴⁰K and ²⁶Mg(¹⁶O, 2pγ)⁴⁰Ar reactions at a beam energy of 34 MeV. Gamma-ray angular distribution and γ-γ coincidence measurements have been performed with a high-resolution large volume Ge(Li)-NaI(Tl) Compton-suppression spectrometer. Gamma-ray linear polarizations have been measured with a three-crystal Ge(Li) Compton polarimeter. The ⁴⁰K decay scheme involves new high-spin levels at E_tx = 4365.6±0.3, 4875.6±0.4 and 6227.0±0.5 keV with lifetime limits of < 1, < 1 and < 2ps, respectively. Unambiguous spin-parity assignments of $\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{= 5}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{, 6}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{, 8}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{, 9}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{and}\text{(8, 10)}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ to the ⁴⁰K levels at E_x = 0.89, 2.88, 4.37, 4.88 and 6.23 and of $\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{= 4}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{and}\text{6}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{to the}{}^{40}\text{Ar}$ levels at E_x = 2.89 and 3.46 MeV, respectively, have been obtained. Branching ratios and multipole mixing ratios are reported.     

Precision lifetime measurement with the coincident high-velocity DSA method

The inverse reaction ${}^2\text{H}\text{(}{}^{32}\text{S,p}\text{γ)}{}^{33}\text{S}\text{at}\text{E(}{}^{32}\text{S}\text{)=38}\text{MeV}$ is used to measure the mean life of ³³S(1). Coincident Dopplet broadened lineshapes measured for the slowing-down materials Mg, Al, Cu and Ag are analysed with experimental stopping powers. The results for the different materials agree with each other and lead to a mean life of τ_m=1.65±0.04 ps.     

Spin-parity assignments to high-spin states of 41K and 41Ca

Yrast states of ⁴¹K and ⁴¹Ca have been investigated with the ²⁶Mg(¹⁸O, p2nγ)⁴¹K and ²⁶Mg(¹⁸O, 3nγ)⁴¹Ca reactions at a beam energy of 34 MeV. Gamma-gamma coincidence, γ-ray angular distribution and linear polarization measurements were performed with a Ge(Li)-NaI(Tl) Compton suppression spectrometer and a three-crystal Ge(Li) Compton polarimeter. Unambiguous spin-parity assignments of $\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{=}\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, $\text{13}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{15}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ and $\text{19}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ to the ⁴¹K levels at E_x = 1.68, 2.53, 2.76, 2.77, 4.27 and 4.98 MeV and of $\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{,}\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{and}\text{15}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$to the ⁴¹Ca levels at E_x = 3.20, 3.37 and 3.83 MeV, respectively, have been obtained. Excitation energies, branching ratios, multipole mixing ratios and transition strengths are reported. The main features of the ⁴¹K and ⁴¹Ca level and decay schemes are reproduced in a 2p-1h and 3p-2h shell-model calculation.     

High-spin yrast levels of 38Ar

High-spin states of ³⁸Ar have been studied with the ³⁵Cl(α, pγ)³⁸Ar reaction at E_α = 18 MeV and with the ²⁴Mg(¹⁶O, 2pγ)³⁸Ar reaction at $\text{E(}{}^{16}\text{O}\text{) = 38}\text{and}\text{45}\text{MeV}$. The ³⁸Ar level scheme is obtained with the former reaction from a proton-γ coincidence measurement. Gamma-gamma coincidence, γ-ray angular distribution and linear polarization experiments have been performed with a Ge(Li)-Na(Tl) Compton suppression spectrometer and a three-crystal Ge(Li) Compton polarimeter. Unambiguous spin-parity assignments of $\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{= 7}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{, 7}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{, 8}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{, 7}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{, 9}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{and}\text{11}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$to the ³⁸Ar levels at E_x = 7.51, 8.08, 8.57, 8.97, 10.17 and 11.61 MeV, respectively, are obtained. The 8.57 MeV, 8⁺ level has a mean life below 0.8 ps. Excitation energies, branching ratios, multipole mixing ratios and transition strengths are reported. The experimental results are compared with shell-model calculations.