Search

We present the first experimental evidence of the scissors mode in the superheavy nucleus 254No produced in the 208Pb(48Ca, 2nγ))254No reaction. The spectrum of γ rays emitted by the excited 254No nuclei shows an enhanced γ-ray yield for transition energies of ≈2.5 MeV. By measuring the linear polarization properties of the emitted γ rays, we confirm that the transitions in the enhancement region are predominantly of magnetic-dipole character, characteristic for the scissors mode. To further characterize the enhanced γ-ray yield, simulations of the electromagnetic decay of 254No were performed. The observed enhancement is reproduced by including an M1 component in the γ strength function with total strength B(M1↑)=11.8(19)μN2. This is in good agreement with the integrated M1 strength from sum-rule estimates and new calculations within the quasi-particle random-phase approximation presented here. Our results provide a stringent test of phenomenological formulae for the scissors mode currently used in stellar nucleosynthesis calculations. We find that those formulae are not satisfactory, and we recommend using sum-rule estimates assuming a rigid-body moment of inertia instead for describing the scissors mode in superheavy nuclei.

Understanding the evolution of level densities in the crossover from spherical to well-deformed nuclei has been a long-standing problem in nuclear physics. We measure nuclear level densities for a chain of neodymium isotopes 142,144−151Nd which exhibit such a crossover. These results represent the most complete data set of nuclear level densities to date for an isotopic chain between neutron shell-closure and towards mid-shell. We observe a strong increase of the level densities along the chain with an overall increase by a factor of ≈150 at an excitation energy of 6 MeV and saturation around mass 150. Level densities calculated by the shell model Monte Carlo (SMMC) are in excellent agreement with these experimental results. Based on our experimental and theoretical findings, we offer an explanation of the observed mass dependence of the level densities in terms of the intrinsic single-particle level density and the collective enhancement.

Nuclear level densities and γ-ray strength functions of 56,57Fe have been extracted from proton-γ coincidences. A low-energy enhancement in the γ-ray strength functions up to a factor of 30 over common theoretical E1 models is confirmed. Angular distributions of the low-energy enhancement in 57Fe indicate its dipole nature, in agreement with findings for 56Fe. The high statistics and the excellent energy resolution of the large-volume LaBr3(Ce) detectors allowed for a thorough analysis of γ strength as function of excitation energy. Taking into account the presence of strong Porter–Thomas fluctuations, there is no indication of any significant excitation energy dependence in the γ-ray strength function, in support of the generalized Brink–Axel hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron-capture reactions play an important role in heavy element nucleosynthesis, since they are the driving force for the two processes that create the vast majority of the heavy elements. When a neutron capture occurs on a short-lived nucleus, it is extremely challenging to study the reaction directly and therefore the use of indirect techniques is essential. The present work reports on such an indirect measurement that provides strong constraints on the 68Ni(n, γ)69Ni reaction rate. This is done by populating the compound nucleus 69Ni via the β decay of 69Co and measuring the γ-ray deexcitation of excited states in 69Ni. The β-Oslo method was used to extract the γ-ray strength function and the nuclear level density. In addition the half-life of 69Co was extracted and found to be in agreement with previous literature values. Before the present results, the 68Ni(n, γ)69Ni reaction was unconstrained and the purely theoretical reaction rate was highly uncertain. The new uncertainty on the reaction rate based on the present experiment (variation between upper and lower limit) is approximately a factor of 3. The commonly used reaction libraries JINA-REACLIB and BRUSLIB are in relatively good agreement with the experimental rate. The impact of the new rate on weak r-process calculations is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid neutron capture or ‘r process’ of nucleosynthesis is believed to be responsible for the production of approximately half the natural abundance of heavy elements found on the periodic table above iron (with proton number Z = 26 ) and all of the heavy elements above bismuth ( Z = 83 ). In the course of creating the actinides and potentially superheavies, the r process must necessarily synthesize superheavy nuclei (those with extreme proton numbers, neutron numbers or both) far from isotopes accessible in the laboratory. Many questions about this process remain unanswered, such as ‘where in nature may this process occur?’ and ‘what are the heaviest species created by this process?’ In this review, we survey at a high level the nuclear properties relevant for the heaviest elements thought to be created in the r process. We provide a synopsis of the production and destruction mechanisms of these heavy species, in particular the actinides and superheavies, and discuss these heavy elements in relation to the astrophysical r process. We review the observational evidence of actinides found in the Solar system and in metal-poor stars and comment on the prospective of observing heavy-element production in explosive astrophysical events. Finally, we discuss the possibility that future observations and laboratory experiments will provide new information in understanding the production of the heaviest elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Level density ρ (E , Q) is derived within the micro-macroscopic approximation (MMA) for a system of strongly interacting Fermi particles with the energy E and additional integrals of motion Q, in line with several topics of the universal and fruitful activity of A. S. Davydov. Within the extended Thomas Fermi and semiclassical periodic orbit theory beyond the Fermi-gas saddle-point method, we obtain ρ ∝ I ν (S) / S ν , where Iν (S) is the modified Bessel function of the entropy S. For small shell-structure contribution, one finds ν = κ/2 + 1, where κ is the number of additional integrals of motion. This integer number is a dimension of Q, Q = {N, Z, ...} for the case of two-component atomic nuclei, where N and Z are the numbers of neutrons and protons, respectively. For much larger shell structure contributions, one obtains ν = κ /2 + 2. The MMA level density ρ reaches the well-known Fermi gas asymptote for large excitation energies and the finite micro-canonical combinatoric limit for low excitation energies. The additional integrals of motion can also be the projection of the angular momentum of a nuclear system for nuclear rotations of deformed nuclei, number of excitons for collective dynamics, and so on. Fitting the MMA total level density ρ(E, Q) for a set of the integrals of motion Q = {N, Z}, to experimental data on a long nuclear isotope chain for low excitation energies, one obtains the results for the inverse level-density parameter K, which differs significantly from those of neutron resonances due to shell, isotopic asymmetry, and pairing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of an α -particle optical model potential for nucleon–induced α -emission within the A ∼ 60 mass-number range [Avrigeanu and Avrigeanu (Eur. Phys. J. A 57:54, 2021)] is completed by analysis of neutron–induced reactions on stable Ni isotopes. The same consistent set of nuclear–model input parameters as well as first uncertainty analysis of calculated cross sections related to the accuracy of independent data formerly used within parameter setting up have been concerned. Description of absorption and emission of α -particles by the same potential is validated, while the pickup direct reaction and Giant Quadrupole Resonance (GQR) α -emission beyond the statistical predictions are confirmed by recent data around the GQR energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The element distribution that we observe in the Universe today tells a fascinating story of nucleo synthesis events thath avetaken place throughout the 13.7-billion-years-long history starting with the Big Bang. It has been known for along time that radiative neutron-capturereactionsplayamajor role in synthesizing elements heavier than iron. However, many questions remain when it comes to our understanding of neutron-capture processes in extreme stellar environments. In particular, the intermediate and rapid neutron-capture processes are very challenging to describe, as there exist little or no data on the much-needed neutron-capture rates. In this work, we discuss possibilities to obtain indirect, experimental constrains on these rates by means of the Oslo and the β-Oslo methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probing the structure of an atomic nucleus by the electromagnetic interaction can be the cleanest and most direct way to obtain information on how the constituting nucleons are organizing themselves within the nucleus. Precise characterization of photonuclear reactions has contributed significantly to the establishment of modern nuclear physics. A brief overview on the Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence method, its applications and potential future opportunities will be given. In particular, we address recent studies of the dipole strength distributions of 76Se and 40Ar, of the determination of the Photon Strength Function of 128Te, and dare an outlook to even more sensitive measurements in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is one of the most significant achievements in science, capturing the essence of physics, chemistry, and now even biology. The Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory (OCL) celebrated its 40th anniversary recently. Around the same time, the Norwegian minister for research and higher education, Iselin Nybø, inaugurated a major new research infrastructure at OCL, the Oslo Scintillator Array OSCAR, on 31 January 2019 (Figure 1). OCL is a small, university-based accelerator laboratory with limited resources, but the scientists around the laboratory have managed to establish a varied research portfolio that is competitive on an international level, and they have created an inspiring environment for students.

The Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF) is under construction in the Soreq Nuclear Research Center at Yavne, Israel. When completed at the beginning of the next decade, SARAF will be a user facility for basic and applied nuclear physics, based on a 40 MeV, 5 mA CW proton/deuteron superconducting linear accelerator. Phase I of SARAF (SARAF-I, 4 MeV, 2 mA CW protons, 5 MeV 1 mA CW deuterons) is already in operation, generating scientific results in several fields of interest. The main ongoing program at SARAF-I is the production of 30 keV neutrons and measurement of Maxwellian Averaged Cross Sections (MACS), important for the astrophysical s-process. The world leading Maxwellian epithermal neutron yield at SARAF-I (5×1010 epithermal neutrons/s), generated by a novel Liquid-Lithium Target (LiLiT), enables improved precision of known MACSs, and new measurements of low-abundance and radioactive isotopes. Research plans for SARAF-II span several disciplines: precision studies of beyond-Standard-Model effects by trapping light exotic radioisotopes, such as 6He, 8Li and 18, 19, 23Ne, in unprecedented amounts (including meaningful studies already at SARAF-I); extended nuclear astrophysics research with higher energy neutrons, including generation and studies of exotic neutron-rich isotopes relevant to the rapid (r-) process; nuclear structure of exotic isotopes; high energy neutron cross sections for basic nuclear physics and material science research, including neutron induced radiation damage; neutron based imaging and therapy; and novel radiopharmaceuticals development and production. In this paper we present a technical overview of SARAF-I and II, including a description of the accelerator and its irradiation targets; a survey of existing research programs at SARAF-I; and the research potential at the completed facility (SARAF-II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]