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Lifetimes of excited states of the phosphorus isotopes 1533,34,35,36P have been measured by using the differential recoil-distance method. The isotopes of phosphorus were populated in binary grazing reactions initiated by a beam of S36 ions of energy 225 MeV incident on a thin Pb208 target mounted in the Cologne plunger apparatus. The combination of the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer and an early implementation of the AGATA γ-ray tracking array was used to detect γ rays in coincidence with projectile-like nuclear species. Lifetime measurements of populated states were made within the range from about 1 to 100 ps. The number of states for which lifetime measurements were possible was limited by statistics. For P33, lifetime limits were determined for the first 3/2+ and 5/2+ states at 1431 and 1848 keV, respectively; the results are compared with previous published lifetime values. The lifetime of the first 2+ state of P34 at 429 keV was determined and compared with earlier measurements. For P35, the states for which lifetimes, or lifetime limits, were determined were those at 2386, 3860, 4101, and 4493 keV, with Jπ values of 3/2+, 5/2+, 7/21−, and 7/22−, respectively. There have been no previous published lifetimes for states in this nucleus. A lifetime was measured for the stretched π(1f7/2)⊗ν(1f7/2)Jπ=(7+) state of P36 at 5212 keV and a lifetime limit was established for the stretched π(1d3/2)⊗ν(1f7/2)Jπ=(5−) state at 2030 keV. There are no previously published lifetimes for states of P36. Measured lifetime values were compared with the results of state-of-the-art shell-model calculations based on the PSDPF effective interaction. In addition, measured branching ratios, published mixing ratios, and electromagnetic transition rates, where available, have been compared with shell-model values. In general, there is good agreement between experiment and the shell model; however there is evidence that the shell-model values of the M1 transition rates for the 3/21+→1/2+ (ground state) and 5/21+→3/21+ transitions in P33 underestimate the experimental values by a factor between 5 and 10. In P35 there are some disagreements between experimental and shell-model values of branching ratios for the first and second excited 7/2− states. In particular, there is a serious disagreement for the decay characteristics of the second 7/2− state at 4493 keV, for which the shell-model counterpart lies at 4754 keV. In this case, the shell-model competing electromagnetic decay branches are dominated by E1 and M1 transitions.

We studied multinucleon transfer reactions in the 197Au+130Te system at Elab=1.07 GeV by employing the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer coupled to a coincident detector. For each light fragment we constructed, in coincidence, the distribution in mass of the heavy partner of the reaction. With a Monte Carlo method, starting from the binary character of the reaction, we simulated the de-excitation process of the produced heavy fragments to be able to understand their final mass distribution. The total cross sections for pure neutron transfer channels have also been extracted and compared with calculations performed with the grazing code.

The electric-octupole $E3$ transition strengths from the first ${3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ state to the ground-state transition in $sd$ shell even-even nuclei with $A=16$ to 40 are investigated within the shell model framework using the effective (0+1)$\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$ PSDPF interaction. For this type of transition, new effective charges for protons and neutrons have been determined. Their values 1.36 e for protons and 0.48 e for neutrons are close to those obtained previously for electric-quadrupole $E2$ transitions in $sd$ shell nuclei. The calculated $E3$ transition strengths from the ${{3}_{1}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{0}_{\mathrm{gs}}}^{+}$ transitions are compared to a compilation of experimental $E3$ data for even-even nuclei throughout the $sd$ shell.

The structure of the S33 nucleus was investigated in the Mg24(N14,αp) fusion-evaporation reaction using a 40-MeV N14 beam. The level scheme was extended up to an excitation energy of 11.7 MeV and spin 19/2+. Lifetimes of the intermediate- and high-spin states have been investigated by the Doppler shift attenuation method. Data were compared with different shell-model calculations where effective interactions involving two main shells, the sd and the fp, are used.

Excited states with intermediate and high spins in $^{33}\mathrm{P}$ and $^{33}\mathrm{S}$ have been populated using the $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}(^{13}\mathrm{C},np\ensuremath{\alpha})$ and $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}(^{13}\mathrm{C},2n\ensuremath{\alpha})$ fusion-evaporation reactions. The level schemes of both nuclei have been considerably extended. Utilizing $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ angular correlations the spin-parity assignment of the new excited states in $^{33}\mathrm{P}$ has been investigated. The experimentally determined results from both nuclei were compared to $0\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$ and $1\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$ truncated p-sd-pf shell-model calculations utilizing the PSDPF interaction, showing a very good agreement between experiment and theory.

The neutron-rich $^{39}\mathrm{S}$ nucleus has been studied using binary grazing reactions produced by the interaction of a 215-MeV beam of $^{36}\mathrm{S}$ ions with a thin $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ target. The magnetic spectrometer, PRISMA, and the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray array, CLARA, were used in the measurements. Gamma-ray transitions of the following energies were observed: 339, 398, 466, 705, 1517, 1656, and 1724 keV. Five of the observed transitions have been tentatively assigned to the decay of excited states with spins up to ($11/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$). The results of a state-of-the-art shell-model calculation of the level scheme of $^{39}\mathrm{S}$ using the SDPF-U effective interaction are also presented. The systematic behavior of the excitation energy of the first $11/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ states in the odd-$A$ isotopes of sulfur and argon is discussed in relation to the excitation energy of the first excited ${2}^{+}$ states of the adjacent even-$A$ isotopes. The states of $^{39}\mathrm{S}$ that have the components in their wave functions corresponding to three neutrons in the $1{f}_{7/2}$ orbital outside the $N=20$ core have also been discussed within the context of the 0 $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$ shell-model calculations presented here.

We performed a γ -particle coincidence experiment for the 60Ni+116Sn system to investigate whether the population of the two-neutron pickup channel leading to 62Ni is mainly concentrated in the ground-state transition, as has been found in a previous work [D. Montanari et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 052501 (2014)]. The experiment has been performed by employing the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer coupled to theAdvanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) demonstrator. The strength distribution of excited states corresponding to the inelastic, one- and two-neutron transfer channels has been extracted.We found that in the two-neutron transfer channel the strength to excited states corresponds to a fraction (less than 24%) of the total, consistent with the previously obtained results that the 2n channel is dominated by the ground-state to ground-state transition.

Background: Heavy-ion fusion reactions at energies near the Coulomb barrier are influenced by couplings between the relative motion and nuclear intrinsic degrees of freedom of the colliding nuclei. The time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) theory, incorporating the couplings at the mean-field level, as well as the coupled-channels (CC) method are standard approaches to describe low energy nuclear reactions.Purpose: To investigate the effect of couplings to inelastic and transfer channels on the fusion cross sections for the reactions $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$.Methods: Fusion cross sections around and below the Coulomb barrier have been obtained from CC calculations, using the bare nucleus-nucleus potential calculated with the frozen Hartree-Fock method and coupling parameters taken from known nuclear structure data. The fusion thresholds and neutron transfer probabilities have been calculated with the TDHF method.Results: For $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$, the TDHF fusion threshold is in agreement with the most probable barrier obtained in the CC calculations including the couplings to the low-lying octupole ${3}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ state for $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ and to the low-lying quadrupole ${2}_{1}^{+}$ state for $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$. This indicates that the octupole and quadrupole states are the dominant excitations while neutron transfer is shown to be weak. For $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$, the TDHF barrier is lower than predicted by the CC calculations including the same inelastic couplings as those for $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$. TDHF calculations show large neutron transfer probabilities in $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ which could result in a lowering of the fusion threshold.Conclusions: Inelastic channels play an important role in $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ reactions. The role of neutron transfer channels has been highlighted in $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$.

Background: No data on the fusion excitation function of $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}+^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$ in the energy region near the Coulomb barrier existed prior to the present work, while fusion of $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}+^{54}\mathrm{Fe}$ was investigated in detail some years ago, down to very low energies, and clear evidence of fusion hindrance was noticed at relatively high cross sections. $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}$ and $^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$ are soft and have a low-lying quadrupole excitation lying at $\ensuremath{\approx}800--900$ keV only. Instead, $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{54}\mathrm{Fe}$ have a closed shell (protons and neutrons, respectively) and are rather rigid.Purpose: We aim to investigate (1) the possible influence of the different structures of the involved nuclei on the fusion excitation functions far below the barrier and, in particular, (2) whether hindrance is observed in $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}+^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$, and to compare the results with current coupled-channels models.Methods: $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}$ beams from the XTU Tandem accelerator of INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro were used. The experimental setup was based on an electrostatic beam separator, and fusion-evaporation residues (ERs) were detected at very forward angles. Angular distributions of ERs were measured.Results: Fusion cross sections of $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}+^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$ have been obtained in a range of nearly six orders of magnitude around the Coulomb barrier, down to $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\simeq}2 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{b}$. The sub-barrier cross sections of $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}+^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$ are much larger than those of $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}+^{54}\mathrm{Fe}$. Significant differences are also observed in the logarithmic derivatives and astrophysical $S$ factors. No evidence of hindrance is observed, because coupled-channels calculations using a standard Woods-Saxon potential are able to reproduce the data in the whole measured energy range. Analogous calculations for $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}+^{54}\mathrm{Fe}$ predict clearly too large cross sections at low energies. The two fusion barrier distributions are wide and display a complex structure that is only qualitatively fit by calculations.Conclusions: It is pointed out that all these different trends originate from the dissimilar low-energy nuclear structures of the involved nuclei. In particular, the strong quadrupole excitations in $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}$ and $^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$ produce the relative cross section enhancement and make the barrier distribution $\ensuremath{\approx}2$ MeV wider, thus probably pushing the threshold for hindrance below the measured limit.

R. Chapman et al.; 17 pags.; 18 figs.; 1 tab.; PACS number(s): 23.20.Lv, 25.70.Lm, 27.30.+t

Fil: Rodrigues Ferreira Maltez, Dario Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica. Gerencia del Area de Investigacion y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia Fisica (Centro Atomico Constituyentes). Proyecto Tandar; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisica; Argentina

Measurements of fusion excitation functions of Ni-58 + Sn-124 and Ni-64 + Sn-124 are extended towards lower energy to cross sections of 1 mu b and are compared to detailed coupled-channels calculations. The calculations clearly show the importance of including transfer reactions in a coupled-channels treatment for such heavy systems. This result is different from the conclusion made in a previous article which claimed that the influence of transfer on fusion is not important for fusion reactions of Ni + Sn. In the energy region studied in this experiment no indication of fusion hindrance has been observed, which is consistent with a systematic study of this behavior.

Background: The nuclear structure of colliding nuclei is known to influence the fusion process. Couplings of the relative motion to nuclear shape deformations and vibrations lead to an enhancement of the sub-barrier fusion cross section in comparison with the predictions of one-dimensional barrier penetration models. This enhancement is explained by coupled-channels calculations including these couplings. The sub-barrier fusion cross section is also affected by nucleon transfer channels between the colliding nuclei.Purpose: The aim of the present experiment is to investigate the influence of the projectile and target nuclear structures on the fusion cross sections in the $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ systems.Methods: The experimental and theoretical fusion excitation functions as well as the barrier distributions were compared for these two systems. Coupled-channels calculations were performed using the ccfull code.Results: Good agreement was found between the measured and calculated fusion cross sections for the $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ system. The situation is different for the $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ system where the coupled-channels calculations with no nucleon transfer clearly underestimate the fusion cross sections below the Coulomb barrier. The fusion excitation function was, however, well reproduced at low and high energies by including the coupling to the neutron pair-transfer channel in the calculations.Conclusions: The nuclear structure of the colliding nuclei influences the fusion cross sections below the Coulomb barrier for both $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{58,64}\mathrm{Ni}$ systems. Moreover, we highlighted the effect of the neutron pair-transfer channel on the fusion cross sections in $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$.

Background: The fusion excitation function of the system $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier is known only down to $\ensuremath{\simeq}15$ mb. This precludes any information on both coupling effects on sub-barrier cross sections and the possible appearance of hindrance. For $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{30}\mathrm{Si}$ even if the fusion cross section is measured down to $\ensuremath{\simeq}50$ $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{b}$, the evidence of hindrance is marginal. Both systems have positive fusion $Q$ values. While $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ has a deformed oblate shape, $^{30}\mathrm{Si}$ is spherical.Purpose: We investigate 1. the possible influence of the different structure of the two Si isotopes on the fusion excitation functions in the deep sub-barrier region and 2. whether hindrance exists in the $\text{Si}\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}\text{Si}$ systems and whether it is strong enough to generate an $S$-factor maximum, thus allowing a comparison with lighter heavy-ion systems of astrophysical interest.Methods: $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ beams from the XTU Tandem accelerator of the INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro were used. The setup was based on an electrostatic beam separator, and fusion evaporation residues (ER) were detected at very forward angles. Angular distributions of ER were measured.Results: Fusion cross sections of $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ have been obtained down to $\ensuremath{\simeq}600$ nb. The slope of the excitation function has a clear irregularity below the barrier, but no indication of a $S$-factor maximum is found. For $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{30}\mathrm{Si}$ the previous data have been confirmed and two smaller cross sections have been measured down to $\ensuremath{\simeq}4$ $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{b}$. The trend of the $S$-factor reinforces the previous weak evidence of hindrance.Conclusions: The sub-barrier cross sections for $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ are overestimated by coupled-channels calculations based on a standard Woods-Saxon potential, except for the lowest energies. Calculations using the M3Y+repulsion potential are adjusted to fit the $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ and the existing $^{30}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{30}\mathrm{Si}$ data. An additional weak imaginary potential (probably simulating the effect of the oblate $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ deformation) is required to fit the low-energy trend of $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$. The parameters of these calculations are applied to predict the ion-ion potential for $^{28}\mathrm{Si}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{30}\mathrm{Si}$. Its cross sections are well reproduced by also including one- and successive two-neutron transfer channels, besides the low-lying surface excitations.

The nucleus 35S has been studied by in-beam ?-ray spectroscopy using the 24Mg(14N,3p) fusion-evaporation reaction at Elab=40 MeV. A level scheme extended up to J?=17/2+ at 8023 keV and J?=13/2- at 6352 keV has been established. Lifetimes of six excited states have been determined by applying the Doppler shift attenuation method. The experimental data have been compared with the results of large-scale shell model calculations performed using different effective interactions and model spaces allowing particle-hole excitations across the N=Z=20 shell gap. © 2014 American Physical Society.

Compound-nucleus fusion and binary-reaction mechanisms have been investigated for the ${}^{35}$Cl+${}^{24}$Mg system at an incident beam energy of E${}_{\mathrm{lab}}$= 282 MeV. Charge distributions, inclusive energy spectra, and angular distributions have been obtained for the evaporation residues and the binary fragments. Angle-integrated cross sections have been determined for evaporation residues from both the complete and incomplete fusion mechanisms. Energy spectra for binary fragment channels near the entrance-channel mass partition are characterized by an inelastic contribution that is in addition to a fully energy damped component. The fully damped component which is observed in all the binary mass channels can be associated with decay times that are comparable to, or longer than, the rotation period. The observed mass-dependent cross sections for the fully damped component are well reproduced by the fission transition-state model, suggesting a fusion followed by fission origin. The present data cannot, however, rule out the possibility that a long-lived orbiting mechanism accounts for part or all of this yield.

Single and multinucleon transfer yields for the {sup 136}Xe+{sup 64}Ni reaction at a scattering energy {approx}5{percent} above the Coulomb barrier energy are studied using particle{endash}{gamma}-ray coincidence data. Q-value and scattering-angle distributions are extracted for the stronger channels. A fast transfer mechanism dominates the yields to these channels over an extended Q-value range, leading to a concentration of the cross section near the grazing angle. Analysis of the angular distributions based on a semiclassical barrier penetration model suggests that the single-nucleon and two-neutron exchange channels are dominated, respectively, by direct and two-step sequential transfer from the ground or low-lying excited states of the participating nuclei. The multiproton transfer channels have angular distributions that indicate a more complex mechanism, although direct cluster transfer from an excited configuration cannot be fully discounted. In a separate analysis, the relative population of different mass channels is found to be in general agreement with the expectations of a {open_quotes}random walk{close_quotes} model of particle exchange. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

A prominent and wide resonance centered at E{sub c.m.}=32.5 MeV has recently been found in the (0{sub 2}{sup +},0{sub 2}{sup +}) inelastic channel of the {sup 12}C+{sup 12}C reaction. It has been suggested that it corresponds to a 6{alpha}-particle-chain state in {sup 24}Mg. In the present work we study {sup 12}C+{sup 12}C excitation functions between center-of-mass energies of 30 and 35 MeV in steps of 250 keV for weakly populated outgoing channels. We present the inelastic channels to the states above the {alpha}-particle decay threshold, (0{sub 1}{sup +},0{sub 2}{sup +}), (0{sub 1}{sup +},3{sub 1}{sup {minus}}), and (0{sub 1}{sup +},4{sub 1}{sup +}), and the one- and two-nucleon transfer channels. In the inelastic and the transfer channels we observe correlated intermediate-width structures at E{sub c.m.}=31, 32.5, and 33.5 MeV, whose widths are appreciably smaller than the width measured in the (0{sub 2}{sup +},0{sub 2}{sup +}) channel. Our E{sub c.m.}=32.5 MeV angular distribution of the (0{sub 1}{sup +},0{sub 2}{sup +}) channel exhibits oscillatory behavior and, unlike that of the (0{sub 2}{sup +},0{sub 2}{sup +}) channel, does not display enhancement around {theta}{sub c.m.}=90{degree}. Data were collected via the kinematic coincidence technique. For data reduction we use a novel approach allowing for the extraction ofmore » results on nonbinary channels. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}« less

Background: Obtaining reaction rates for nuclear astrophysics applications is often limited by the availability of radioactive beams. Indirect techniques to establish reaction rates often rely heavily on the properties of excited states inferred from mirror symmetry arguments. Mirror energy differences can depend sensitively on nuclear structure effects.Purpose: The present work sets out to establish a detailed comparison of mirror symmetry in the $A=23$, $T=1/2$ mirror nuclei ${}^{23}$Na and ${}^{23}$Mg both to high spin, and high excitation energy, including beyond the proton threshold. These data can be used to benchmark state-of-the-art shell-model calculations of these nuclei.Methods: Excited states in ${}^{23}$Na and ${}^{23}$Mg were populated using the ${}^{12}$C(${}^{12}$C,$p$) and ${}^{12}$C(${}^{12}$C,$n$) reactions at beam energies of 16 and 22 MeV, and their resulting $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ decay was measured with Gammasphere.Results: Level schemes for ${}^{23}$Na and ${}^{23}$Mg have been considerably extended; highly excited structures have been found in ${}^{23}$Na, as well as their counterparts in ${}^{23}$Mg for previously known rotational structures in ${}^{23}$Na. Mirror symmetry has been investigated up to an excitation energy of 8 MeV and spin-parity of 13/2${}^{+}$. Excited states in the region above the proton threshold have been studied in both nuclei.Conclusions: A detailed exploration of mirror symmetry has been performed which heavily constrains expectations as to how mirror energy differences should evolve for different structures. Agreement with shell-model calculations provides confidence in using such estimations where real data are absent.

The fusion excitation function of ${}^{32}$S + ${}^{48}$Ca has been experimentally studied in a wide energy range, from above the Coulomb barrier down to cross sections in the sub-$\ensuremath{\mu}$b region. The measurements were done at INFN--Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, using the ${}^{32}$S beam from the XTU Tandem accelerator. The excitation function has a smooth behavior below the barrier, and no evident hindrance character shows up in the measured energy region. The fusion barrier distribution has a peculiar shape with two distinct peaks of similar height, lower and higher than the Aky\"uz-Winther barrier. Coupled-channels calculations using the M3Y + repulsion potential are presented for this system and for ${}^{36}$S + ${}^{48}$Ca. The results of these calculations give a good account of the data, and indicate the influence of one- and two-nucleon transfer channels with positive $Q$ values, which are only open for ${}^{32}$S + ${}^{48}$Ca.

The fully energy-damped yields from the {sup 35}Cl+{sup 12}C reaction have been systematically investigated using particle-particle coincidence techniques at a {sup 35}Cl bombarding energy of {approximately}8 MeV/nucleon. The fragment-fragment correlation data show that the majority of events arises from a binary-decay process with rather large numbers of secondary light-charged particles emitted from the two excited exit fragments. No evidence is observed for ternary break-up events. The binary-process results of the present measurement, along with those of earlier, inclusive experimental data obtained at several lower bombarding energies are compared with predictions of two different kinds of statistical model calculations. These calculations are performed using the transition-state formalism and the extended Hauser-Feshbach method and are based on the available phase space at the saddle point and scission point of the compound nucleus, respectively. The methods give comparable predictions and are both in good agreement with the experimental results thus confirming the fusion-fission origin of the fully damped yields. The similarity of the predictions for the two models supports the claim that the scission point configuration is very close to that of the saddle point for the light {sup 47}V compound system. The results also give further support for the specific mass-asymmetry-dependent fissionmore » barriers needed in the transition-state calculation. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less

The heavy-ion radiative capture reaction ${}^{12}$C(${}^{16}$O,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)${}^{28}$Si has been studied at three energies ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=8.5$, 8.8, and 9 MeV which are close to the Coulomb barrier. The weak radiative capture process has been identified by measuring the ${}^{28}$Si recoils in the highly selective 0${}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ spectrometer DRAGON at TRIUMF (Vancouver). The coincident $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays have been recorded in the associated BGO array. This has allowed a complete measurement of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ spectrum and the relative strength of all decay pathways. An important part of the decay through quasibound states close to the particle threshold and the feeding of bound states with particular deformation have been identified for the first time. Comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations allowed the extraction of the full experimental radiative capture cross section. Our results suggest an important contribution of spins ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={5}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and 6${}^{+}$ in the entrance channel. The surprisingly large cross sections from 12 $\ensuremath{\mu}$b at ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=8.5$ MeV to 25 $\ensuremath{\mu}$b at ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=9.0$ MeV for the heavy-ion radiative capture process are discussed in terms of the interplay between statistical and structural aspects of the process.

The fusion excitation function of ${}^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+{}^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ has been measured from well above the Coulomb barrier, down to low energies where the cross section is as small as $\ensuremath{\simeq}$20 $\ensuremath{\mu}$b, and the astrophysical $S$ factor possibly reaches a maximum vs energy. The results of coupled-channels calculations using the $\mathrm{M}3\mathrm{Y}+\mathrm{repulsion}$ potential are presented. A detailed comparison is made with recently published data on the fusion of ${}^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+{}^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ and of ${}^{48}\mathrm{Ca}+{}^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$, including the excitation functions, their low-energy slopes and the barrier distributions. The presence of the fusion hindrance phenomenon in all cases is pointed out, as well as the influence of the strong octupole excitation in ${}^{40}$Ca and of nucleon transfer channels with positive $Q$ values in ${}^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+{}^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$.

The decay branchings of a resonance in the 12C(12C,γ)24Mg reaction at Ec.m. = 8.0 MeV have been studied with high resolution using the Gammasphere array. Radiative capture residues were discriminated from scattered beam and the dominant evaporation channels using the fragment mass analyzer coupled to a multistage Parallel Grid Avalanche Counter (PGAC)/ion chamber system. The clean selection of residues has allowed the population of excited states up to 10 MeV in 24Mg to be examined in detail. Strong feeding of an excited Kπ=0− band is observed. A Jπ = 4+assignment to the resonance is strongly favored.

Yrast states in the neutron-rich S41 nucleus have been studied using binary grazing reactions produced by the interaction of a 215-MeV beam of S36 ions with a thin Pb208 target. The magnetic spectrometer, PRISMA, and the γ-ray array, CLARA, were used in the measurements. γ-ray transitions of energy 449 and 638 keV were observed. Results from published intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation measurements in combination with those from the present work have led to the construction of a new S41 level scheme. Proposed Jπ values are based on experimental observation and on model-dependent arguments. The level scheme and published electromagnetic transition probabilities are discussed within the context of state-of-art shell-model calculations using the SDPF-U effective interaction. In contrast with the excellent agreement observed in earlier published work, here there are significant discrepancies between experiment and the results of shell-model calculations. © 2011 American Physical Society., Supported in part by the EPSRC (UK) and by the European Union under Contract No. RII3-CT- 2004-506065. A.J. acknowledges financial support from the m Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion under Contracts No. FPA2007-66069 and No. FPA2009-13377-C02-02. Zs.D. acknowledges the financial support from OTKA Project No. K68801.

The properties of fully energy-damped processes (deep-inelastic orbiting, fusion-evaporation, and fusion-fission processes) have been investigated in the nearly mass-symmetric entrance-channel $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ + $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ reaction leading to the $^{47}\mathrm{V}$ compound nucleus. By comparison with previous data for the mass-asymmetric $^{35}\mathrm{Cl}$ ${+}^{12}$C reaction forming the same compound system at the same excitation energy, no entrance-channel effects are observed in either the evaporation residue or the fusion-fission yields. This is in contrast to the situation with the $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ ${+}^{12}$C and $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ ${+}^{16}$O reactions where an orbiting process is evident. The asymmetrical elemental distributions of the fusion-fission fragments of the massA=47 system are well described by a transition-state model that accounts for the spin and mass-asymmetry dependence of the fission saddle point.

Sub-barrier fusion cross sections of {sup 36}S + {sup 64}Ni have been measured down to {approx_equal}3 {mu}b. The logarithmic slope of the fusion excitation function has a steep rise in the barrier region with decreasing energy and saturates at lower energies. The data can be reproduced within the coupled-channels model using a Woods-Saxon potential with a large diffuseness. The slope saturation is analogous to what has been observed for {sup 36}S, {sup 48}Ca + {sup 48}Ca, while for heavier systems the slope increases steadily below the barrier.

The fusion excitation function of {sup 58}Ni+{sup 54}Fe has been measured in a cross-section range from approx =1 mub up to around 450 mb. Coupled-channels calculations, using a standard Woods-Saxon ion-ion potential, reproduce the excitation function down to about 180 mub. At lower energies, fusion cross sections drop faster than calculations, with a steep slope. The astrophysical S factor shows a maximum at the lowest energies. These results are compared with various evidence from recent experiments on other systems with projectile and target in the mass range Aapprox =30-60.

Yrast states up to (6{sup +}) in the neutron-rich {sup 40}S nucleus have been studied using binary grazing reactions produced by the interaction of a 215 MeV beam of {sup 36}S ions with a thin {sup 208}Pb target. The novel experimental setup that combines the large acceptance magnetic spectrometer, PRISMA, and the high-efficiency gamma-ray detection array, CLARA, was used. A new gamma-ray transition at an energy of 1572 keV was observed and tentatively assigned to the (6{sup +})->(4{sup +}) transition. A comparison of experimental observations and the results of large-scale 0(Planck constant/2pi)omega sd-pf shell-model calculations indicates that one- and two-proton excitations from the 2s{sub 1/2} to the 1d{sub 3/2} orbitals play an important role in reproducing the {sup 40}S yrast level structure and the published B(E2;0{sub g.s.}{sup +}->2{sub 1}{sup +}) value. The structure of the yrast states of the even-A isotopes of sulfur is interpreted in terms of the configurations of valence protons and neutrons within the context of large-scale 0(Planck constant/2pi)omega sd-pf shell-model calculations.

Near- and sub-barrier fusion cross sections have been measured for the system {sup 58}Ni+{sup 54}Fe, and the fusion barrier distribution has been extracted. The measured cross sections cover the range from approx =1 mub up to around 500 mb. Close analogies are found between the extracted barrier distribution and the available data on {sup 58}Ni+{sup 60}Ni, indicating the dominating influence of complex surface vibrations on the fusion of {sup 58}Ni+{sup 54}Fe. The present data on {sup 58}Ni+{sup 54}Fe are well reproduced by standard coupled-channels calculations in the measured energy range, including quadrupole and octupole phonons in both colliding nuclei.

Excited states of $^{38}_{17}$Cl$_{21}$ were populated in grazing reactions during the interaction of a beam of $^{36}_{16}$S$_{20}$ ions of energy 215 MeV with a $^{208}_{82}$Pb$_{126}$ target. The combination of the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer and the CLARA $\gamma$-ray detector array was used to identify the reaction fragments and to detect their decay via $\gamma$-ray emission. A level scheme for $^{38}$Cl is presented with tentative spin and parity assignments. The level scheme is discussed within the context of the systematics of neighboring nuclei and is compared with the results of state-of-the-art shell model calculations.

The {sup 14}C+{sup 12}C reaction has been studied by a kinematic coincidence technique at 13 incident energies ranging from {ital E}{sub c.m.}=19.35 to 24.9 MeV. The resonances previously reported from {gamma}-ray yield measurements were observed in the equivalent excitation functions, as well as in the large angle elastic scattering data, of the present measurements. Spin assignments were made to the two resonances in this energy range. These resonances are members of a band with angular momenta several units larger than the grazing values corresponding to {sup 14}C and {sup 12}C orbiting about each other at a distance significantly outside the strong absorption radius. Other structures which were observed were unrelated to the resonant behavior.

The fusion excitation function of {sup 36}S+{sup 48}Ca has been measured from well above the barrier down to very small cross sections at sub-barrier energies. A steady decrease of the fusion cross sections is observed below the barrier with no pronounced change of slope. The logarithmic derivative saturates and does not reach the value expected for a constant astrophysical S-factor. The S-factor does not show any maximum in the measured energy range. Coupled-channels calculations using a Woods-Saxon potential have been performed.

The heavy-ion radiative capture reaction, {sup 12}C({sup 12}C,{gamma}), has been investigated at energies both on- and off-resonance, with a particular focus on known resonances at E{sub c.m.}=6.0, 6.8, 7.5, and 8.0 MeV. Gamma rays detected in a BGO scintillator array were recorded in coincidence with {sup 24}Mg residues at the focal plane of the DRAGON recoil separator at TRIUMF. In this manner, the relative strength of all decay pathways through excited states up to the particle threshold could be examined for the first time. Isovector M1 transitions are found to be a important component of the radiative capture from the E{sub c.m.}=6.0 and 6.8 MeV resonances. Comparison with Monte Carlo simulations suggests that these resonances may have either J=0 or 2, with a preference for J=2. The higher energy resonances at E{sub c.m.}=7.5 and 8.0 MeV have a rather different decay pattern. The former is a clear candidate for a J=4 resonance, whereas the latter has a dominant J=4 character superposed on a J=2 resonant component underneath. The relationship between these resonances and the well-known quasimolecular resonances as well as resonances in breakup and electrofission of {sup 24}Mg into two {sup 12}C nuclei are discussed.

Mass-energy and angular distributions of fission fragments for the $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}+^{144,154}\mathrm{Sm}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{192,202}\mathrm{Pb}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}+^{154}\mathrm{Sm}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{194}\mathrm{Pb}$ reactions have been measured. Fusion suppression and the presence of quasifission at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier have been observed for the reactions with the deformed target $^{154}\mathrm{Sm}$. In the case of the spherical $^{144}\mathrm{Sm}$ target no evidence of quasifission has been found. Quasifission cross sections have been extracted from total fission-like events by analysis of their mass and angular distributions.

The excited states of the neutron-rich nucleus {sub 15}{sup 37}P{sub 22} have been populated in grazing reactions, using a beam of {sup 36}S ions (at 215 MeV) delivered onto a thin {sup 208}Pb target. Emitted {gamma} rays from excited projectile-like nuclei were detected using the CLARA array of 25 escape-suppressed Ge clover detectors in coincidence with reaction products detected and identified with the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer. A level scheme is presented for {sup 37}P together with proposed spin assignments. The level structure of {sup 37}P is discussed within the context of shell-model calculations by using an improved sdpf effective interaction.

Excited states of $N=22$ $^{36}\mathrm{Si}$, populated in deep-inelastic processes produced by the interaction of a 215 MeV beam of $^{36}\mathrm{S}$ ions with a $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ target, were studied in the present work. \ensuremath{\gamma} rays from the binary fragments detected using CLARA, an array of 25 Ge Clover detectors, were measured in coincidence with projectile-like fragments detected by PRISMA, a large solid angle magnetic spectrometer. Two new \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray photopeaks at energies of 1442 and 842 keV were observed and tentatively assigned to the ${4}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{2}^{+}$ and ${6}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{4}^{+}$ transitions, respectively. The systematics of the level structures of $N=22$ isotones are presented, and a comparison is made of the behavior of Si, Mg, and S isotopes. The level structure of $^{36}\mathrm{Si}$ is also compared with the results of $\mathit{sdpf}$ shell model calculations.

A new experiment to determine the thermonuclear cross section of the C-12(alpha,gamma)O-16 reaction has been performed in regular kinematics using an intense alpha-particle beam of up to 340 mu A from the Stuttgart DYNAMITRON. For the first time, a 4 pi-germanium-detector setup has been used to measure the angular distribution of the gamma rays at all angles simultaneously. It consisted of an array of nine EUROGAM high-purity Ge detectors in close geometry, actively shielded individually with bismuth germanate crystals. The C-12 targets were isotopically enriched by magnetic separation during implantation. The depth profiles of the implanted carbon in the C-12 targets were determined by Rutherford backscattering for purposes of cross-section normalization and absolute determination of the E1 and E2 S factors. Angular distributions of the gamma decay to the O-16 ground state were measured in the energy range E-c.m.=1.30-2.78 MeV and in the angular range (lab.) 30 degrees-130 degrees. From these distributions, astrophysical E1 and E2 S-factor functions vs energy were calculated, both of which are indispensable to the modeling of this reaction and the extrapolation toward lower energies. The separation of the E1 and E2 capture channels was done both by taking the phase value phi(12) as a free parameter and by fixing it using the results of elastic alpha-particle scattering on C-12 in the same energy range.

Binary-reaction channels of {sup 19}F+{sup 12}C have been studied at E{sub lab}({sup 19}F)=92 MeV using kinematic coincidence techniques. The results are discussed in the light of previous inclusive measurements performed at the same incident energy and for which the occurrence of an important incomplete fusion mechanism after projectile breakup was proposed. Evidence for strong damped binary, especially quasisymmetric, decay processes is found. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Multinucleon transfer reactions in {sup 40}Ca+{sup 208}Pb have been studied at bombarding energies close to the Coulomb barrier. Projectilelike fragments have been identified in nuclear mass and charge with a time-of-flight spectrometer. Angular and total kinetic energy loss distributions and inclusive cross sections have been compared with those of semiclassical models. The analysis shows that a successive transfer mechanism of single nucleons does not account for the data, and a direct nucleon pair transfer has to be included in the description. Nucleon evaporation effects are taken into account.

The heavy-ion radiative capture reaction, $^{12}\mathrm{C}(^{12}\mathrm{C},\ensuremath{\gamma})$, has been investigated at beam energies around 16 MeV. Two different experiments were performed. Capture cross sections were obtained by measuring fused $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ residues and were found to significantly exceed values reported earlier. Subsequently, the decay pathways associated with radiative capture were delineated using the Gammasphere array. A substantial fraction of the decay was found to proceed through a few high-lying doorway states near 10 MeV in excitation.

Extensions to the yrast and near-yrast decay sequences of the neutron-rich nucleus {sub 15}{sup 34}P{sub 19} have been established through an analysis of the {gamma} deexcitation of fragments produced in deep-inelastic processes which occur when 230-MeV {sup 36}S ions interact with a thick target of {sup 176}Yb. The highly sensitive GASP array of escape-suppressed Ge detectors was used to measure the resulting {gamma}-ray deexcitations of both projectilelike and targetlike fragments. Previously unobserved excited states in {sup 34}P were observed at 3351, 6236, 2320, and (4723) keV. Several states above an excitation energy of 2.3 MeV involve intruder configurations from the f{sub 7/2} shell. The investigation of negative parity intruder states on the periphery of the 'island of inversion' has an important role to play in our understanding of the evolution of nuclear structure as the island of inversion is approached.

It has been suggested that the resonance found at {ital E}{sub c.m.}=32.5 MeV in an inelastic channel of {sup 12}C+{sup 12}C corresponds to a six alpha-particle chain state. Reexamining our earlier data on this system a resonance is observed at the same energy in another outgoing channel, {sup 16}O+{sup 8}Be, which is not expected to resonate for such a configuration. We observe similar angular distributions but an appreciably narrower width than that measured in the inelastic channel.

Excitation functions for sub- and near-barrier total (complete + incomplete) fusion cross sections are presented for the ${}^{6,7}\mathrm{Li}{+}^{59}\mathrm{Co}$ reactions. Evaporation residues were identified by their characteristic $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays and the corresponding yields measured with both the IReS Garel $+$ array at the Vivitron facility and with the S\~ao Paulo Ge array at the 8UD Pelletron tandem facility using standard \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray techniques. The data extend to medium-mass systems previous works exploring the coupling effects (hindrance versus enhancement) in fusion reactions of both lighter and heavier systems. The results indicate a small enhancement of total fusion for the more weakly bound ${}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ at sub-barrier energies, with similar cross sections for both reactions at and above the barrier.