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Several experiments around the world are looking for a new particle, named Dark Boson, which may do the link between the Ordinary Matter (which forms basically stars, planets, interstellar gas...) and the Hidden Sectors of the Universe. This particle, if it exists, would act as the messenger of a new fundamental interaction of nature. In this paper, the underlying Dark Sectors theory will be introduced first. A non-exhaustive summary of experimental studies carried out to date and foreseen in the incoming years will be presented after,including the 8Be anomaly. The last section will provide a status of the New JEDI**** project which aims to investigate the existence or not of a Dark Boson in the MeV range.

The $$^{27}\hbox {Al}(\hbox {p},\alpha )^{24}\hbox {Mg}$$ 27 Al ( p , α ) 24 Mg reaction, which drives the destruction of $$^{27}$$ 27 Al and the production of $$^{24}\hbox {Mg}$$ 24 Mg in stellar hydrogen burning, has been investigated via the Trojan Horse Method (THM), by measuring the $$^2\hbox {H}(^{27}\hbox {Al},\alpha ^{24}\hbox {Mg})\hbox {n}$$ 2 H ( 27 Al , α 24 Mg ) n three-body reaction. The experiment covered a broad energy range ($$E_\mathrm{c.m.}\le \,1.5\,\hbox {MeV}$$ E c . m . ≤ 1.5 MeV ), aiming to investigate those of interest for astrophysics. The results confirm the THM as a valuable technique for the experimental study of fusion reactions at very low energies and suggest the presence of a rich pattern of resonances in the energy region close to the Gamow window of stellar hydrogen burning (70–120 keV), with potential impact on astrophysics. To estimate such an impact a second run of the experiment is needed, since the background due the three-body reaction hampered to collect enough data to resolve the resonant structures and extract the reaction rate.

Nuclear deexcitation lines are regularly observed in the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray emission spectra of strong solar flares. The most prominent lines are produced by interactions of protons and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles, accelerated up to hundreds of MeV, with abundant nuclei of the solar atmosphere. Analysis and interpretation of these lines, which carry valuable information on the solar flare properties, need cross-section data for the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray line emission in these interactions for a wide particle energy range. To this purpose, we measured the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray emission in interactions of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle beams of ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=50\text{--}90$ MeV with target foils of C, Mg, Si, and Fe at the center for proton therapy of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. Setups of three high-purity Ge detectors and one $\mathrm{La}{\mathrm{Br}}_{3}$:Ce detector have been employed to detect the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays in two experiment campaigns. Relatively large distances of the detectors from the target and pulsed beams with sub-ns-wide pulses allowed the separation of beam-induced prompt $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray emission from the targets from other $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays and neutron-induced background. $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray production cross sections for about 60 deexcitation lines from excited target nuclei or reaction products have been determined. For the strongest deexcitation lines from the major target isotopes, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$, $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{56}\mathrm{Fe}$, there are now measured cross-section data from reaction threshold to ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=90$ MeV that can be directly used for astrophysical applications like solar flares. Comparison of the results with a cross-section compilation for strong $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray lines in solar flare emissions and the predictions of the talys nuclear reaction code were done. They underline the importance of cross-section determinations at accelerator laboratories for the establishment of an accurate cross-section data base in a wide projectile energy range.

International audience; Nuclear reaction rates are one of the most important ingredients in describing how stars evolve. The study of the nuclear reactions involved in different astrophysical sites is thus mandatory to address most questions in nuclear astrophysics. Direct measurements of the cross-sections at stellar energies are very challenging - if at all possible. This is essentially due to the very low cross-sections of the reactions of interest (especially when it involves charged particles), and/or to the radioactive nature of many key nuclei. In order to overcome these difficulties, various indirect methods such as the transfer reaction method at energies above or near the Coulomb barrier are used to measure the spectroscopic properties of the involved compound nucleus that are needed to calculate cross-sections or reaction rates of astrophysical interest. In this review, the basic features of the transfer reaction method and the theoretical concept behind are first discussed, then the method is illustrated with recent performed experimental studies of key reactions in nuclear astrophysics.

Background: It has been recently suggested that hydrogen ingestion into the helium shell of massive stars could lead to high C13 and N15 excesses when the shock of a core-collapse supernova passes through its helium shell. This prediction questions the origin of extremely high C13 and N15 abundances observed in rare presolar SiC grains which is usually attributed to classical novae. In this context the N13(α,p)O16 reaction plays an important role since it is in competition with N13β+ decay to C13. Purpose: The N13(α,p)O16 reaction rate used in stellar evolution calculations comes from the Caughlan and Fowler compilation with very scarce information on the origin of this rate and with no associated uncertainty. The goal of this work is to provide a recommended N13(α,p)O16 reaction rate, based on available experimental data, with a meaningful statistical uncertainty. Method: Unbound nuclear states in the F17 compound nucleus were studied using the spectroscopic information of the analog states in O17 nucleus that were measured at the Tandem-Alto facility using the C13(Li7,t)O17 α-particle-transfer reaction. The α-particle spectroscopic factors were derived using a finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation analysis. This spectroscopic information was used to calculate a recommended N13(α,p)O16 reaction rate with meaningful uncertainty using a Monte Carlo approach. Results: The N13(α,p)O16 reaction rate from the present work is found to be within a factor of two of the previous evaluation in the temperature range of interest, with a typical uncertainty of a factor ≈2-3. The source of this uncertainty has been identified to come from the three main contributing resonances at Erc.m.=221, 741, and 959 keV. This new error estimation translates to an overall uncertainty in the C13 production of a factor of 50 when using the lower and upper reaction rates in the conditions relevant for the N13(α,p)O16 activation. Conclusions: The main source of uncertainty on the re-evaluated N13(α,p)O16 reaction rate currently comes from the uncertain α-particle width of relevant F17 states.

Neutron induced reactions are fundamental for the nucleosynthesis of elements in the universe. Indeed, to correctly study the reactions involved in the well-known s-process in stars, which produce about half of the elements beyond the iron peak, it is mandatory to know the neutron abundance available in those stars. The 17O(n, a)14C reaction is one of the so-called “neutron poisons” for the pro- cess and it could play an important role in the balance of the neutron abundance. The reaction is therefore investigated in the energy range of astrophysical inter- est between 0 and 350 keV in the center of mass by applying the Trojan Horse Method to the three body reaction 2H(17O, a14C)H.

International audience; We constructed semiempirical breakdown curves (BDC) for C$_2$N, C$_3$N, C$_2$N$^+$ and C$_3$N$^+$ molecules. These BDC, which are energy dependent dissociation branching ratios (BR) curves, were used to predict products branching ratios for various processes leading to the formation of C$_2$N$^{(+)}$ and C$_3$N$^{(+)}$ excited adducts. These processes, of astrochemical interest, are neutral-neutral and ion-molecule reactions, dissociative recombination and charge transfer reactions with He$^+$. Model predictions of BR are compared to the literature data and to reported values in the kinetic database for astrochemistry KIDA. With the new BR values, the C$_n$N abundances in cold cores were simulated.

Background: The Ne-22(alpha, n)Mg-25 reaction is an important source of neutrons for the s-process. Direct measurement of this reaction and the competing Ne-22(alpha,gamma)Mg-26 reaction are challenging due to the gaseous nature of both reactants, the low cross section and the experimental challenges of detecting neutrons and high-energy gamma rays. Detailed knowledge of the resonance properties enables the rates to be constrained for s-process models. Purpose: Previous experimental studies have demonstrated a lack of agreement in both the number and excitation energy of levels in Mg-26. To try to resolve the disagreement between different experiments, proton and deuteron inelastic scattering from Mg-26 have been used to identify excited states. Method: Proton and deuteron beams from the tandem accelerator at theMaier-Leibnitz Laboratorium at Garching, Munich, were incident upon enriched (MgO)-Mg-26 targets. Scattered particles were momentum-analyzed in the Q3D magnetic spectrograph and detected at the focal plane. Results: Reassignments of states around E-x = 10.8-10.83 MeV in Mg-26 suggested in previous works have been confirmed. In addition, new states in Mg-26 have been observed, two below and two above the neutron threshold. Up to six additional states above the neutron threshold may have been observed compared to experimental studies of neutron reactions on Mg-25, but some or all of these states may be due to Mg-24 contamination in the target. Finally, inconsistencies between measured resonance strengths and some previously accepted J(pi) assignments of excited Mg-26 states have been noted. Conclusion: There are still a large number of nuclear properties in Mg-26 that have yet to be determined and levels that are, at present, not included in calculations of the reaction rates. In addition, some inconsistencies between existing nuclear data exist that must be resolved in order for the reaction rates to be properly calculated.

Neutron-capture reactions on $^{18}$F in the helium-burning shell play an important role in the production of $^{15}$N during core-collapse supernovae. The competition between the $^{18}$F($n,p/\alpha$)$^{18}$O/$^{15}$N reactions controls the amount of $^{15}$N produced. The strengths of these reactions depend on the decay branching ratios of states in $^{19}$F above the neutron threshold. We report on an experiment investigating the decay branching ratios of these states in order to better constrain the strengths of the reactions., Comment: Submitted as part of the Proceedings of NIC 2018

The Trojan Horse Method (THM) is an indirect method that allows to get information about a two body reaction cross-section even at very low energy, avoiding the suppression effects due to the presence of the Coulomb barrier. The method requires a very accurate measurement of a three body reaction in order to reconstruct the whole kinematics and discriminate among different reaction mechanisms that can populate the same final state. These requirements hardly match with the typical low intensity and large divergence of radioactive ion beams (RIBs), and experimental improvements are mandatory for the applicability of the method. The first reaction induced by a radio activeion beam studied by applying the THM was the 18F(p,α)15O. Two experiments were performed in two different laboratories and using different experimental set-ups. The two experiments will be discussed and some results will be presented.

International audience; Direct measurements of cross sections at stellar energies are very challenging - if at all possible. This is essentially due to the very low cross-sections of the reactions of interest (especially when it involves charged particles), and/or to the radioactive nature of many key nuclei. Direct measurements with charged particles are often performed at higher energies and then extrapolated down to stellar energies using R-matrix calculations. However, these extrapolations are delicate because of the possible existence of unobserved low-energy or sub-threshold resonances. In order to bypass the difficulties related to direct measurements, indirect methods such as transfer reactions are used. These experiments are usually performed at higher energies and their conditions are relatively less stringent than in direct measurements. However, these methods rely on theoretical models for which the input parameters may be an important source of systematic uncer-tainties and thus need to be determined carefully. In this manuscript, a short overview on the difficulties related to direct measurements will be given as well as a description of thetransfer reaction method and the theoretical concept behind. Finally, the method will be illustrated through two recent performed studies.

International audience; The 12C+12C fusion reaction is one of the most important for nuclear astrophysics since it determines the carbon ignition in stellar environments. Two experiments which make use of the gamma-particle coincidence technique to measure the 12C+12C S-factors at deep sub barrier energies are discussed. Results are presented showing a decrease of the S-factor below Ec.m. = 3 MeV.

International audience; This contribution is focused on the STELLA project (STELlar LAboratory), which aims at the measurement of fusion cross sections between light heavy ions like 12C+12C, 12C+16O or 16O+16O at deep subbarrier energies. The gamma-particle coincidence technique is used in order to reduce background contributions that become dominant for measurements in the nanobarn regime.The experimental setup composed of an ultra high vacuum reaction chamber, a set of 3 silicon strip detectors, up to 36 LaBr3(Ce) scintillators from the UK FATIMA collaboration, and a fast rotating target system will be described. The 12C+12C fusion reaction has been studied from Elab = 11 to 5.6 MeV using STELLA at the Andromède facility in Orsay, France. Preliminary commissioning results are presented in this article.

International audience; Low energy fusion between light heavy-ions is a key feature of the evolution of massive stars. In systems of astrophysical interest, the process may be strongly affected by molecular configurations of the compound nucleus, leading to resonant S factors. In particular, the 12C+12C fusion reaction has been the object of numerous experimental investigations. The STELLA project has been developed to extend these investigations to lower energies towards the Gamow window.

We have performed the $^{70}\mathrm{Zn}(d,^{3}\mathrm{He})^{69}\mathrm{Cu}$ proton pick-up reaction in direct kinematics using a deuteron beam at 27 MeV. The outgoing $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ particles were detected at the focal-plane detection system of an Enge split-pole spectrometer. The excitation-energy spectrum was reconstructed up to 7 MeV and spectroscopic factors were obtained after analysis of the angular distributions in the finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation. The results show three new angular distributions for which the $\ensuremath{\pi}{f}_{7/2}$ strength was measured and a lower limit of the centroid is established. State-of-the-art shell-model calculations are performed and predict a $\ensuremath{\pi}{f}_{7/2}$ strength that lies too high in energy in comparison to our experimental results.

J. Marganiec et al. ; 15 págs.; 14 figs.; 6 tabs., The proton-capture reaction Si26(p,γ)P27 was studied via Coulomb dissociation (CD) of P27 at an incident energy of about 500 MeV/u. The three lowest-lying resonances in P27 have been populated and their resonance strengths have been measured. In addition, a nonresonant direct-capture component was clearly identified and its astrophysical S factor measured. The experimental results are compared to Monte Carlo simulations of the CD process using a semiclassical model. Our thermonuclear reaction rates show good agreement with the rates from a recent compilation. With respect to the nuclear structure of P27 we have found evidence for a negative-parity intruder state at 2.88-MeV excitation energy. ©2016 American Physical Society, This project was supported by BMBF, EU(EURONS), EMMI, GSI Darmstadt, FIAS, NAVI, GSI-TU Darmstadt cooperation, and HIC for FAIR. S.T. was supported by the Helmholtz Association (HGF) through the Nuclear Astrophysics Virtual Institute (VH-VI-417). C.L. acknowledges support from JINA-CEE under Grants No. PHY-1430152 and No. PHY-0822648 of the National Science Foundation. S.B.N. and the University of Santiago de Compostela group acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion, under Grants No. FPU-AP2006-01474, No. FPA2012-39404-C02- 01, and No. FPA2013-47831-C2-1 and from Xunta de Galicia under Grant No. GRC2013-11.

26Al was the first cosmic radioactivity ever detected in the galaxy as well as one of the first extinct radioactivity observed in refractory phases of meteorites. Its nucleosynthesis in massive stars is still uncertain mainly due to the lack of nuclear information concerning the 26Al(n,p)26Mg and 26Al(n,α)23Na reactions. We report on a single and coincidence measurement of the 27Al(p,p’)27Al(p)26Mg and 27Al(p,p’)27Al(α)23Na reactions performed at the Orsay TANDEM facility aiming at the spectroscopy study of 27Al above the neutron threshold. Fourteen states are observed for the first time within 350 keV above the 26Al+n threshold.

International audience; Direct measurements of nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest can be challenging. Alternative experimental techniques such as transfer reactions and inelastic scattering reactions offer the possibility to study these reactions by using stable beams. In this context, I will present recent results that were obtained in Orsay using indirect techniques. The examples will concern various astrophysical sites, from the Big-Bang nucleo synthesis to the production of radioisotopes in massive stars.

Uncertainties in the thermonuclear rates of the $^{15}\text{O}(\ensuremath{\alpha},\ensuremath{\gamma}){}^{19}\text{Ne}$ and ${}^{18}\text{F}(p,\ensuremath{\alpha}){}^{15}\text{O}$ reactions affect model predictions of light curves from type I x-ray bursts and the amount of the observable radioisotope $^{18}\text{F}$ produced in classical novae, respectively. To address these uncertainties, we have studied the nuclear structure of $^{19}\text{Ne}$ over ${E}_{x}=4.0\ensuremath{-}5.1$ and 6.1--7.3 MeV using the $^{19}\text{F}(^{3}\text{He},t)^{19}\text{Ne}$ reaction. We find the ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ values of the 4.14- and 4.20-MeV levels to be consistent with $9/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and $7/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, respectively, in contrast to previous assumptions. We confirm the recently observed triplet of states around 6.4 MeV and find evidence that the state at 6.29 MeV, just below the proton threshold, is either broad or a doublet. Our data also suggest that predicted but yet unobserved levels may exist near the 6.86-MeV state. Higher resolution experiments are urgently needed to further clarify the structure of $^{19}\text{Ne}$ around the proton threshold before a reliable ${}^{18}\text{F}(p,\ensuremath{\alpha}){}^{15}\text{O}$ rate for nova models can be determined.

In this review, we emphasize the interplay between astrophysical observations, modeling, and nuclear physics laboratory experiments. Several important nuclear cross sections for astrophysics have long been identified e.g. 12C(alpha,gamma)16O for stellar evolution, or 13C(alpha,n)16O and 22Ne(alpha,n)25Mg as neutron sources for the s-process. More recently, observations of lithium abundances in the oldest stars, or of nuclear gamma-ray lines from space, have required new laboratory experiments. New evaluation of thermonuclear reaction rates now includes the associated rate uncertainties that are used in astrophysical models to i) estimate final uncertainties on nucleosynthesis yields and ii) identify those reactions that require further experimental investigation. Sometimes direct cross section measurements are possible, but more generally the use of indirect methods is compulsory in view of the very low cross sections. Non-thermal processes are often overlooked but are also important for nuclear astrophysics, e.g. in gamma-ray emission from solar flares or in the interaction of cosmic rays with matter, and also motivate laboratory experiments. Finally, we show that beyond the historical motivations of nuclear astrophysics, understanding i) the energy sources that drive stellar evolution and ii) the origin of the elements can also be used to give new insights into physics beyond the standard model., 38 pages, 33 Figures, invited review

Coulomb dissociation of 8 B is an alternative method to measure the low-energy 7 B(p,γ) 8 B cross section. This reaction is of great current interest in the context of solar neutrinos and has been studied recently both in direct proton-capture [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 (2001) 3985, Nucl. Phys. A 696 (2001) 219, Phys. Rev. C 68 (2003) 065803, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 022501] and in Coulomb-dissociation experiments [Phys. Lett. B 391 (1997) 261, Eur. Phys. J. A 3 (1998) 213, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 (1999) 2910, Phys. Rev. C 63 (2001) 065806, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 232501]. The validity of the latter method has been questioned since the role of E 2 multipolarity is considered controversial. The present experiment [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 232501] has studied observables that could clarify the role of a possible E 2 contribution.

The PARRNe (Production d'Atomes Radioactifs Riches en Neutrons) experimental program has been part of the recent R&D efforts for the design of the SPIRAL2 project at GANIL. The PARRNe2 set-up installed at IPNOrsay allows the use of the Tandem as a deuteron driver in order to produce mass separated fission fragment beams. The measured fission fragment yields proved to be high enough to undertake a series of beta-decay experiments dedicated at studying the structure of proton-deficient nuclei close to N=50. We report here on two such experiments, the first being dedicated at the observation of the decay of 83Ga->83Ge (Z=32, N=51), 84Ga->84Ge (Z=32, N=52) and the second of the decay of 81Zn->81Ga (Z=31, N=50) allowing for the fist time the identification of a few gamma lines with transitions in the daughter nuclei thus providing the material for a preliminary glimpse of their structure.

The strength functions of the πf5/2πf5/2, πp3/2πp3/2 and πf7/2πf7/2 orbitals in neutron-rich 71Cu were obtained in a 72Zn(d,3He)71Cu proton pick-up reaction in inverse kinematics using a radioactive beam of 72Zn at 38 MeV/u. A dedicated set-up was developed to overcome the experimental challenges posed by the low cross section of the reaction and the low energy of the outgoing 3He particles. The excitation-energy spectrum was reconstructed and spectroscopic factors were obtained after analysis of the angular distributions with the finite-range Distorted-Wave Born Approximation (DWBA). The results show that unlike for the πf5/2πf5/2 orbital and contrary to earlier interpretation, the πf7/2πf7/2 single-particle strength distribution is not appreciably affected by the addition of neutrons beyond N=40N=40., The authors are thankful to the Ganil accelerator staff, informatics service and to the IPN design office. We are grateful for the grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-048, to the grant FPA2010-22131-C02-01 from the Spanish government and to the OTKA contract No. K100835.

The response of a scintillation detector with a cylindrical 1.5-inch LaBr3:Ce crystal to incident neutrons has been measured in the energy range En = 2-12 MeV. Neutrons were produced by proton irradiation of a Li target at Ep = 5-14.6 MeV with pulsed proton beams. Using the time-of-flight information between target and detector, energy spectra of the LaBr3:Ce detector resulting from fast neutron interactions have been obtained at 4 different neutron energies. Neutron-induced gamma rays emitted by the LaBr3:Ce crystal were also measured in a nearby Ge detector at the lowest proton beam energy. In addition, we obtained data for neutron irradiation of a large-volume high-purity Ge detector and of a NE-213 liquid scintillator detector, both serving as monitor detectors in the experiment. Monte-Carlo type simulations for neutron interactions in the liquid scintillator, the Ge and LaBr3:Ce crystals have been performed and compared with measured data. Good agreement being obtained with the data, we present the results of simulations to predict the response of LaBr3:Ce detectors for a range of crystal sizes to neutron irradiation in the energy range En = 0.5-10 MeV, Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures, 4 Tables

International audience; The O-17(p,alpha)N-14 reaction is of paramount importance for the nucleosynthesis in a number of stellar sites, including red giants (RG), asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, massive stars and classical novae. We report on the indirect study of the O-17(p,alpha)N-14 reaction via the Trojan Horse Method by applying the approach recently developed for extracting the resonance strength of the narrow resonance at E-c.m.(R) = 65 keV (E-X = 5.673 MeV). The strength of the 65 keV resonance in the O-17(p,alpha)N-14 reaction, measured by means of the THM, has been used to renormalize the corresponding resonance strength in the O-17 + p radiative capture channel.

The 26Si(p; γ)27P reaction, which might play an important role in the rp process, was studied by the Coulomb Dissociation method. The experiment was performed at GSI, Darmstadt. A secondary 27P ion beam of 500 MeV/nucleon was directed onto a Pb target. From this experiment, the Coulomb Dissociation cross section, σ Coulex , will be deduced and then converted to the photoabsorption cross section, σ photo , and the radiativecapture cross section, σ cap . Also information on the structure of 27P will be obtained. The analysis is in progress.

The ${}^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ radioisotope is of great importance for understanding the chemical and dynamical evolution of our galaxy. Among the possible stellar sources, massive stars are believed to be the main producer of this radioisotope. Understanding ${}^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ nucleosynthesis in massive stars requires estimates of the thermonuclear reaction rates of the $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$${(n,p)}^{26}$Mg, $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$${(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})}^{23}$Na, and $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$${(\ensuremath{\alpha},p)}^{26}$Mg reactions. These reaction rates depend on the spectroscopic properties of ${}^{27}\mathrm{Al}$ states above the neutron and alpha thresholds. In this context, the $^{27}\mathrm{Al}$${(p,{p}^{\ensuremath{'}})}^{27}$Al* reaction was studied at 18 MeV using a high-resolution Enge Split-Pole spectrometer. States from the ground state up to excitation energies of $\ensuremath{\approx}$14 MeV were populated. While up to the ${}^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ + $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ threshold no additional states are observed, we report for the first time 30 new levels above the ${}^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ + $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ threshold and more than 30 new states above the ${}^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ + n threshold for which excitation energies are determined with an uncertainty of 4--5 keV.

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAM, Energies and spectroscopic factors of the first 7/2−, 3/2−, 1/2−, and 5/2− states in the 35Si21 nucleus were determined by means of the (d, p) transfer reaction in inverse kinematics at GANIL using the MUST2 and EXOGAM detectors. By comparing the spectroscopic information on the 35Si and 37S isotones, a reduction of the p3/2-p1/2 spin-orbit splitting by about 25% is proposed, while the f7/2-f5/2 spin-orbit splitting seems to remain constant. These features, derived after having unfolded nuclear correlations using shell model calculations, have been attributed to the properties of the two-body spin-orbit interaction, the amplitude of which is derived for the first time in an atomic nucleus. The present results, remarkably well reproduced by using several realistic nucleon-nucleon forces, provide a unique touchstone for the modeling of the spin-orbit interaction in atomic nuclei

Identification of the interstrip effects using digital pulse shape analysis is for the first time reported. This study is performed on a highly segmented double-sided silicon detector used in a nuclear reaction in which a large range of particles at different energies are produced. The output current pulse of the preamplifier is employed as observable. The interstrip effects diminish the capability of particle identification at energies below 5 MeV, especially on the injection side of the detector.

International audience; The role of oxygen in astrophysics is related to different problems as novae nucleosynthesis and gamma-ray astronomy. In particular, owing to the still present uncertainties on its rate, the 17O(p,α)14N is one of the most important reaction to be studied in order to get more information about the fate of oxygen in different astrophysical scenarios.

We achieved particle separation of proton, deuteron and triton at energies ranging between 2 and 10 MeV by the processing of digitized signals obtained with a double-sided, 485-μm pitch strip, 500-μm thick neutron transmutation doped (nTD) silicon detector. We produced the light charged particles in a nuclear reaction induced by a 34-MeV beam of 7Li impinging on a 12C target. We analyzed offline the signals with the goal of a simplified, possibly analog, front-end electronics in mind for the processing of the 15,000 channels of the new state-of-the-art detectors for low energy nuclear physics like GASPARD, HYDE and TRACE which should make use of such methods. At the optimum bias, using the current amplitude versus charge correlation, we obtain a separation of 3 FWHM between protons and deuteron, and 2 FWHM between deuteron and triton at energies as low as 2 MeV; with a square bipolar filter, suited for simple implementation, we separate them by 4.3 and 2.7 FWHM respectively at 5 MeV.

The ${}^{12}$C($\ensuremath{\alpha}$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)${}^{16}$O reaction plays a crucial role in stellar evolution. The rate of this reaction determines directly the ${}^{12}$C-to-${}^{16}$O abundance ratio at the end of the helium burning phase of stars and consequently has a big effect on the subsequent nucleosynthesis and even on the evolution of massive stars. However, despite many experimental studies, the low-energy cross section of ${}^{12}$C($\ensuremath{\alpha}$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)${}^{16}$O remains uncertain. The extrapolation of the measured cross sections to stellar energies ($E\ensuremath{\sim}300$ keV) is made particularly difficult by the presence of the 2${}^{+}$ (${E}_{x}=6.92$ MeV) and 1${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ (${E}_{x}=7.12$ MeV)subthreshold states of ${}^{16}$O. To further investigate the contribution of these two subthreshold resonances to the ${}^{12}$C($\ensuremath{\alpha}$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)${}^{16}$O cross section, we determine their $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-reduced widths via a measurement of the transfer reaction ${}^{12}$C(${}^{7}$Li, $t$)${}^{16}$O at two incident energies, 28 and 34 MeV. The uncertainties on the determined $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-spectroscopic factors and the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-reduced widths were reduced thanks to a detailed distorted-wave Born approximation analysis of the transfer angular distributions measured at the two incident energies. The $R$-matrix calculations of ${}^{12}$C($\ensuremath{\alpha}$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)${}^{16}$O cross section using our obtained $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-reduced widths for the 2${}^{+}$ and 1${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ subthreshold resonances lead to an $E1$ $S$ factor at 300 keV of $100\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}28$ keV b, which is consistent with values obtained in most of the direct and indirect measurements as well as the NACRE collaboration compilation while the result for the $E2$ component ${S}_{E2}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}(300\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}\text{keV})=50\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}19$ keV b disagrees with the NACRE adopted value.

The {sup 17}O(p,{alpha}){sup 14}N reaction is of fundamental relevance in several astrophysical scenarios, such as novae, asymptotic giant branch nucleosynthesis, and {gamma}-ray astronomy. We report on the indirect measurement of the {sup 17}O(p,{alpha}){sup 14}N reaction bare-nucleus cross section in the low-energy region. In particular, the two resonances at E{sub R}{sup c.m.}=65 keV and E{sub R}{sup c.m.}=183 keV, which dominate the reaction rate inside the Gamow window, have been observed, and the strength of the 65 keV resonance has been deduced. The reaction rate determination and the comparison with the results of the previous measurements are also discussed.

$\ensuremath{\gamma}$-rays following the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}n$ decays of the very neutron rich ${}_{31}^{84}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{53}$ produced by the photofission of $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ have been studied at the newly built ISOL facility of IPN Orsay: ALTO. Two activities were observed and assigned to two $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decaying states: $^{84}\mathrm{Ga}$${}^{g}$, ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=({0}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ and $^{84}\mathrm{Ga}$${}^{m}$, ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=({3}^{\ensuremath{-}},{4}^{\ensuremath{-}})$. Excitation energies of the ${2}_{1}^{+}$ and ${4}_{1}^{+}$ states of ${}_{32}^{84}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{52}$ were measured at $E({2}_{1}^{+})=624.3$ keV and $E({4}_{1}^{+})=1670.1$ keV. Comparison with HFB $+$ GCM calculations allows to establish the collective character of this nucleus. The excitation energy of the $1/{2}_{1}^{+}$ state in ${}_{32}^{83}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{51}$ known to carry a large part of the neutron $3{s}_{1/2}$ strength was measured at $247.8$ keV. Altogether these data allow to confirm the new single particle state ordering which appears immediately after the double $Z=28$ and $N=50$ shell closure and to designate $^{78}\mathrm{Ni}$ as a fragile and easily polarized doubly-magic core.

An excited state in the proton-rich unbound nucleus $^{12}\mathrm{O}$ was identified at 1.8(4) MeV via missing-mass spectroscopy with the $^{14}\mathrm{O}(p,t)$ reaction at $51\text{ }\text{ }A\mathrm{MeV}$. The spin-parity of the state was determined to be ${0}^{+}$ or ${2}^{+}$ by comparing the measured differential cross sections with distorted-wave calculations. The lowered location of the excited state in $^{12}\mathrm{O}$ indicates the breakdown of the major shell closure at $Z=8$ near the proton drip line. This demonstrates the persistence of mirror symmetry in the disappearance of the magic number 8 between $^{12}\mathrm{O}$ and its mirror partner $^{12}\mathrm{Be}$.

During nova outbursts the decay of {sup 18}F is the main source of {gamma}-ray emission at and below 511 keV. In spite of much experimental effort, the quantity of {sup 18}F synthesized still suffers from large uncertainties which arise mainly from the {sup 18}F(p, {alpha}){sup 15}O reaction cross section at low energies. We report here on a new direct measurement carried out at the Louvain-la-Neuve RIB facility of Louvain-la-Neuve using an isobarically pure {sup 18}F beam impinging on a thin polyethylene target. Cross sections down to a center-of-mass energy of 400 keV have been obtained and the results together with previous experimental data were compared to R-matrix calculations. The effect of the relative contribution of the two low-lying 3/2{sup +} resonances as well as the sensitivity of the calculations to the R-matrix radius is studied in detail.

The nucleosynthetic origin of $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ (${t}_{1/2}=0.72$ Myr) in the early solar system is still an open question. Several models predict that short-lived radionuclides could be produced by irradiation of circumsolar material by light charged particles emitted by the young sun. Within some models, most of the $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ is produced by $^{3}\mathrm{He}$-induced reactions on $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$. Little experimental data exist on $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ reactions so that irradiation models have had to rely on theoretical cross sections deduced from statistical nuclear reaction codes. We performed a direct measurement of the $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ production on Mg target by means of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray spectroscopy and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The data indicate that the theoretical cross section used in previous approaches was overestimated by a factor of 3. Taking the particle spectra considered in theoretical approaches these data lead to a net reduction of the $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ production of a factor of 2. We calculated the relative contribution of the different $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ production channels depending on the irradiation scenario. We show that extremely large particles fluxes would be necessary to reach the canonical ${}^{26}\mathrm{Al}{/}^{27}\mathrm{Al}$ $=5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ in solids that were present in the early solar system. An in situ origin of this important isotopic chronometer by irradiation is unlikely.

{gamma}-ray production cross sections for proton and {alpha}-particle interactions with {sup 12}C, {sup 16}O, {sup 24}Mg, and Fe have been measured in the energy range 5-25 MeV with proton beams and 5-40 MeV with {alpha}-particle beams. Isotopically pure foils of {sup 24}Mg and foils of natural isotopical composition of C, MgO, and Fe have been used. {gamma}-ray angular distributions were obtained with five high-purity Ge detectors with bismuth germanate Compton shields placed at angles of 45 deg. to 157.5 deg. Cross sections for more than 50 different {gamma}-ray transitions were extracted, and for many of them no data have been published before. Comparison of present data with data available in the literature shows mostly good to excellent agreement. In addition to the production cross sections, high-statistics, low-background line shapes of the 4.438 MeV {sup 12}C {gamma} ray from inelastic scattering off {sup 12}C and spallation of {sup 16}O were obtained. Comparison with nuclear reaction calculations shows that these data place interesting constraints on nuclear reaction models.

The ³⁶Ca nucleus has several fascinating properties linked to nuclear structure, with the study of isospin symmetry breaking effects and shell gap evolution at the proton drip-line. Moreover, the energy and structure of its excited states have an astrophysical interest in particular for the study of the key reaction ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca involved in the rp-process occurring in X-ray bursts.Isospin symmetry is one of the most fundamental symmetries in nuclei and is related to charge independence of the strong interaction. If the isospin symmetry is strictly preserved, the level schemes of mirror nuclei (with exchanged number of protons and neutrons) should be identical. The Coulomb interaction breaks the isospin symmetry and gives rise to shift in excitation energy between analogue states in mirror nuclei called Mirror Energy Differences (MED). In the case of the mirror pair ³⁶Ca-³⁶S, the Coulomb interaction act as a magnifying glass of the nuclear structure, which effects are scrutinized in this work.The nuclear astrophysics motivation is linked to the indirect measurement of the ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca reaction rate to better understand the luminosity profile emitted during Type Ia X-ray burst. Indeed, this reaction has been identified as one of the ten (p,γ) reactions that could significantly impact the shape of the calculated X-ray burst light curve. The present experiment aims at studying the energy, spin values, proton spectroscopic factors and widths of the excited states of astrophysical interest in ³⁶Ca. These relevant spectroscopic information are used to reinvestigate the ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca reaction rate and its corresponding uncertainties and determine its impact on the X-ray burst’s light curve.³⁶Ca was studied at GANIL by means of the ³⁷Ca(p,d) and ³⁸Ca(p,t) transfer reactions at about 50 MeV/nucleons. Radioactive beams of ³⁷Ca and ³⁸Ca, produced with the LISE spectrometer, were tracked by two sets of position-sensitive detectors before impinging on a liquid Hydrogen cryogenic target. 6 MUST2 telescopes (Silicon DSSD and CsI crystals) were used to identify and measure light particles emitted during the transfer reaction. An assembly of three detectors (ionization chamber, drift chamber and plastic scintillator) were used to detect the outgoing heavy ion in the exit channel. The detection of both light and heavy ejectiles ensured a complete determination of the kinematics of the reaction, an assignment of the transferred angular momentum L of all states produced, and a very reduced amount of background.The full spectroscopy of ³⁶Ca has been obtained and new excited states have been identified. Colossal MED have been observed in the newly discovered intruder states of ³⁶Ca. The proton correlation, viewed from the two-proton decay of highly excited states, has been also studied. With the experimental results and the help of shell-model calculations, the ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca reaction rate has been re-evaluated and constrained with meaningful statistical uncertainty. Besides ³⁶Ca, the first study of the spectroscopy of ³⁵Ca (including its mass measurement) will also be presented., Le noyau de ³⁶Ca possède plusieurs propriétés fascinantes liées à la structure nucléaire, avec l'étude des effets de brisure de la symétrie d'isospin et de l'évolution de l’espacement des couches à la limite de non-liaison. De plus, l’énergie et la structure de ses états excités ont un intérêt astrophysique notamment pour l'étude de la réaction ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca qui est impliquée dans le processus rp se produisant dans les sursauts X.La symétrie isospin est l'une des symétries les plus fondamentales du noyau et est liée à l'indépendance de charge de l'interaction forte. Si la symétrie d'isospin est strictement préservée, les schémas de niveaux des noyaux miroirs (avec un nombre échangé de protons et de neutrons) devraient être identiques. L'interaction coulombienne brise la symétrie d'isospin et donne lieu à un décalage de l'énergie d'excitation entre les états analogues des noyaux miroirs, appelé différence d'énergie miroir. Dans le cas de la paire miroir ³⁶Ca-³⁶S, l'interaction coulombienne agit comme une loupe de la structure nucléaire, dont les effets sont examinés dans ce travail.La motivation d'astrophysique nucléaire est liée à la mesure indirecte du taux de la réaction ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca afin de mieux comprendre le profil de luminosité émis lors des sursauts X de Type Ia. En effet, cette réaction a été identifiée comme l'une des dix réactions (p,γ) qui pourraient avoir un impact significatif sur la forme de la courbe de lumière calculée des sursauts X. La présente expérience vise à étudier l'énergie, les valeurs de spin, les facteurs spectroscopiques protons et les largeurs des états excités d'intérêt astrophysique dans le ³⁶Ca. Les informations spectroscopiques pertinentes sont utilisées pour réexaminer le taux de la réaction ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca et ses incertitudes correspondantes et déterminer son impact sur la courbe de lumière des sursauts X.Le ³⁶Ca a été étudié au GANIL au moyen des réactions de transfert ³⁷Ca(p,d) et ³⁸Ca(p,t) à environ 50 MeV/nucléons. Des faisceaux radioactifs de ³⁷Ca et ³⁸Ca, produits avec le spectromètre LISE, ont été mesurés par deux ensembles de détecteurs sensibles à la position avant d'interagir avec une cible cryogénique d'hydrogène liquide. 6 télescopes MUST2 (cristaux de silicium DSSD et CsI) ont été utilisés pour identifier et mesurer les particules légères émises pendant la réaction de transfert. Un ensemble de trois détecteurs (chambre d'ionisation, chambre de dérive et scintillateur en plastique) ont été utilisés pour détecter l'ion lourd sortant dans le canal de sortie. La détection des éjectiles légers et lourds a permis une détermination complète de la cinématique de la réaction, une attribution du moment angulaire transféré L de tous les états produits, et une réduction significative du bruit de fond.La spectroscopie complète du ³⁶Ca a été obtenue et de nouveaux états excités ont été identifiés. De très grandes différences d'énergie miroir ont été observées dans les nouveaux états intrus du ³⁶Ca. La corrélation des protons, vue à partir de la désintégration en deux protons des états hautement excités, a également été étudiée. Grâce aux résultats expérimentaux et aux calculs de modèles en couche, le taux de réaction ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca a été réévalué et fortement contraint avec une incertitude statistique pertinente. Outre le ³⁶Ca, la première étude de la spectroscopie du ³⁵Ca (y compris la mesure de sa masse) sera également présentée.