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The assumption of an exact isospin symmetry would imply equal strengths for mirror E1 transitions (at least, in the long-wavelength limit). Actually, large violations of this symmetry rule have been indicated by a number of experimental results, the last of which is the 67As - 67Se doublet investigated at GAMMASPHERE. Here, we examine in detail various possible origins of the observed asymmetry. The coherent effect of Coulomb-induced mixing with the high-lying Giant Isovector Monopole Resonance is proposed as the most probable process to produce a large asymmetry in the E1 transitions, with comparatively small effect on the other properties of the parent and daughter levels., Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures

The response of a CdWO4 crystal scintillator to protons, alpha particles, Li, C, O and Ti ions with energies in the range 1 - 10 MeV was measured. The non-proportionality of CdWO4 for low energy electrons (4 - 110 keV) was studied with the Compton Coincidence Technique. The energy dependence of the quenching factors for ions and the relative light yield for low energy electrons was calculated using a semi-empirical approach. Pulse-shape discrimination ability between gamma quanta, protons, alpha particles and ions was investigated., Comment: 20 pages, 8 figs, accepted in Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A

The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) is a European project to develop and operate the next generation gamma-ray spectrometer. AGATA is based on the technique of gamma-ray energy tracking in electrically segmented high-purity germanium crystals. This technique requires the accurate determination of the energy, time and position of every interaction as a gamma ray deposits its energy within the detector volume. Reconstruction of the full interaction path results in a detector with very high efficiency and excellent spectral response. The realization of gamma-ray tracking and AGATA is a result of many technical advances. These include the development of encapsulated highly-segmented germanium detectors assembled in a triple cluster detector cryostat, an electronics system with fast digital sampling and a data acquisition system to process the data at a high rate. The full characterization of the crystals was measured and compared with detector-response simulations. This enabled pulse-shape analysis algorithms, to extract energy, time and position, to be employed. In addition, tracking algorithms for event reconstruction were developed. The first phase of AGATA is now complete and operational in its first physics campaign. In the future AGATA will be moved between laboratories in Europe and operated in a series of campaigns to take advantage of the different beams and facilities available to maximize its science output. The paper reviews all the achievements made in the AGATA project including all the necessary infrastructure to operate and support the spectrometer., Comment: This version contains a correction of a typing error in the caption of Fig. 2. The DOI to the article published in Nucl. Instr. Meth A was also added

To investigate the possible X(5) character of 122Ba, suggested by the ground state band energy pattern, the lifetimes of the lowest yrast states of 122Ba have been measured, via the Recoil Distance Doppler-Shift method. The relevant levels have been populated by using the 108Cd(16O,2n)122Ba and the 112Sn(13C,3n)122Ba reactions. The B(E2) values deduced in the present work are compared to the predictions of the X(5) model and to calculations performed in the framework of the IBA-1 and IBA-2 models.

The model, introduced in a previous paper, for the description of the octupole and quadrupole degrees of freedom in conditions close to the axial symmetry, is used to describe the negative-parity band based on the first octupole vibrational state in nuclei close to the critical point of the U(5) to SU(3) phase transition. The situation of 150Nd and 152Sm is discussed in detail. The positive parity levels of these nuclei, and also the in-band E2 transitions, are reasonably accounted for by the X(5) model. With simple assumptions on the nature of the octupole vibrations, it is possible to describe, with comparable accuracy, also the negative parity sector, without changing the description of the positive-parity part., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures

The model, introduced in a previous paper, for the description of the octupole and quadrupole degrees of freedom in conditions close to the axial symmetry, is applied to situations of shape phase transitions where the quadrupole amplitude can reach zero. The transitional nuclei 224,226Ra and 224Th are discussed in the frame of this model. Their level schemes can be reasonably accounted for assuming a square-well potential in two dimensions. Electromagnetic transition amplitudes are also evaluated and compared with existing experimental data., Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures

The light output, $\alpha/\beta$ ratio, and pulse shape have been investigated at $-25^\circ$ C with PbWO$_4$ crystal scintillators undoped, and doped by F, Eu, Mo, Gd and S. The fast $0.01-0.06 \mu$s and middle $0.1-0.5 \mu$s components of scintillation decay were observed for all the samples. Slow components of scintillation signal with the decay times $1-3 \mu$s and $13-28 \mu$s with the total intensity up to $\approx50%$ have been recognized for several samples doped by Molybdenum. We found some indications of a pulse-shape discrimination between $\alpha$ particles and $\gamma$ quanta with PbWO$_4$ (Mo doped) crystal scintillators., Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, submitted to NIM A

Energy resolution, light yield, non-proportionality in the scintillation response, alpha/beta ratio, pulse shape for gamma rays and alpha particles were studied with CdWO4 crystal scintillators. Some indication for a difference in the emission spectra for gamma rays and alpha particles was observed. No dependence of CdWO4 pulse shape on emission spectrum wavelengths under laser, alpha particles and gamma ray excitation was observed. Dependence of scintillation pulse shape for gamma quanta and alpha particles and pulse-shape discrimination ability on temperature was measured in the range of 0-24 degrees., Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, submitted to NIMA

A parametrization of octupole plus quadrupole deformation, in terms of intrinsic variables defined in the rest frame of the overall tensor of inertia, is presented and discussed. The model is valid for situations close to the axial symmetry, but non axial deformation parameters are not frozen to zero. The properties of the octupole excitations in the deformed Thorium isotopes Th-226, Th-228 are interpreted in the frame of this model. A tentative interpretation of octupole oscillations in nuclei close to the X(5) symmetry, in terms of an exactly separable potential, is also discussed., Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. XXIV International Workshop on Nuclear Theory, Rila, Bulgaria, 20-25 June, 2005. Printing errors corrected

The dynamics of nuclear collective motion is investigated in the case of reflection-asymmetric shapes. The model is based on a new parameterization of the octupole and quadrupole degrees of freedom, valid for nuclei close to the axial symmetry. Amplitudes of oscillation in other degrees of freedom different from the axial ones are assumed to be small, but not frozen to zero. The case of nuclei which already possess a permanent quadrupole deformation is discussed in some more detail and a simple solution is obtained at the critical point of the phase transition between harmonic octupole oscillation and a permanent asymmetric shape. The results are compared with experimental data of the Thorium isotopic chain. The isotope Th-226 is found to be close to the critical point., Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, 8 tables; 3 new references added, misprints corrected

The indication for the alpha decay of 180-W with a half-life T1/2=1.1+0.8-0.4(stat)+-0.3(syst)x10^18 yr has been observed for the first time with the help of the super-low background 116-CdWO_4 crystal scintillators. In conservative approach the lower limit on half-life of 180-W has been established as T1/2>0.7x10^18 yr at 90% C.L. Besides, new T1/2 bounds were set for alpha decay of 182-W, 183-W, 184-W and 186-W at the level of 10^20 yr., Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. C

Lifetime measurements in the mirror nuclei 47Cr and 47V were performed by means of the Doppler-shift attenuation method using the multidetector array EUROBALL, in conjunction with the ancillary detectors ISIS and the Neutron Wall. The determined transition strengths in the yrast cascades are well described by full pf shell model calculations., Comment: Latex2e, 11 pages, 3 figures

A new phase of 116Cd double beta decay experiment is in progress in the Solotvina Underground Laboratory. Four enriched 116CdWO4 scintillators with total mass 339 g are used in a set up, whose active shield is made of 15 natural CdWO4 crystals (20.6 kg). The background rate in the energy interval 2.5-3.2 MeV is 0.03 counts/y*kg*keV. The half-life for 2-neutrino 2-beta decay of 116Cd is measured as T{1/2}(2-neutrino) = [2.6+-0.1(stat)-0.4+0.7}(syst)]*10**19 y. The T{1/2} limits for neutrinoless 2-beta decay of 116Cd are set as T{1/2} >= 0.7(2.5)*10**23 y at 90%(68%) C.L. for transition to ground state of 116Sn, while for decays to the first 2+ and second 0+ excited levels of 116Sn as T{1/2}>=1.3(4.8)*10**22 y and >=0.7(2.4)*10**22 y with 90%(68%) C.L., respectively. For 0-neutrino 2-beta decay with emission of one or two Majorons, the limits are T{1/2}(0-neutrino M1) >=3.7(5.8)*10**21 y and T{1/2}(0-neutrino M2)>=5.9(9.4)*10**20 y at 90%(68%) C.L. Restrictions on the value of the neutrino mass, right-handed admixtures in the weak interaction, and the neutrino-Majoron coupling constant are derived as: m(neutrino)<=2.6(1.4) eV, eta <=3.9*10**-8, lambda <=3.4*10**-6, and g{M}<= 12(9.5)*10**-5 at 90%(68%) C.L., respectively., Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures (LaTeX). Phys. Rev. C (in press)