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Background: Gamow-Teller (GT) transition strengths are key inputs for estimating weak reaction rates of importance for a wide variety of astrophysical applications. (n,p)-type charge-exchange reactions, such as the (t³He) reaction used in this work, are commonly used for extracting the GT strength distribution in the β+(electron-capture) direction. Such studies are important for testing theoretical models used to estimate weak rates for a large number of nuclei for simulations of astrophysical phenomena Purpose: The 56Fe(t,³He) reaction at 115 A MeV was measured in order to extract GT strengths for transitions to 56Mn. The extracted strength distributions were compared with shell-model calculations in the p/-shell model space using the KB3G and GXPFla interactions, and with calculations in the quasi-particle random-phase approximation (QRPA). Method: Differential cross sections and excitation-energy spectra for the 56Fe(t, ³He) reaction were determined by measuring the trajectories of ³He ejectiles through the S800 magnetic spectrograph and deducing their momenta. Contributions corresponding to GT transitions were isolated by using a multipole decomposition analysis. A well-established proportionality between GT strength and differential cross section at zero-linear-momentum transfer was utilized to convert extracted cross sections to GT strengths. Results and Conclusions: GT transition strengths from 56Fe to 56Mn were extracted up to an excitation energy of 10 MeV. Shell-model calculations with the GXPFla interaction reproduced the observed GT strength distribution slightly better than calculations with the KB3G interaction. The calculated strength distribution in the QRPA did not reproduce the observed strength distribution. The new experimental data have an improved precision at low excitation energies compared to previous results obtained from an 56Fe(n,p) experiment. Electron-capture rates based on the experimental and theoretical Gamow-Teller strengths were compared and deviations were included in an assessment of the validity of electron-capture rates based on theoretical models for nuclei in the pf shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gamow-Teller (GT) transition strength distributions in stable and unstable pf '-shell isotopes are key inputs for estimating electron-capture rates important for stellar evolution. Charge-exchange experiments at intermediate beam energies have long been used to test theoretical predictions for GT strengths, but previous experiments were largely restricted to stable nuclei. Since a large fraction of the nuclei relevant for astrophysical applications (including key nuclei such as56Ni) are unstable, new methods are needed to perform charge-exchange experiments in inverse kinematics with unstable isotopes. Purpose: The 56Ni(p, n) and 55Co(p, n) reactions were measured in inverse kinematics in order to extract GT strengths for transitions to 56Cu and 55Ni, respectively. The extracted strength distributions were compared with shell-model predictions in the pf shell using the KB3G and GXPF1J interactions. By invoking isospin symmetry, these strength distributions are relevant for electron captures on the ground states of 56Ni and 55Ni to final states in 56Co and 55Co, respectively. Method: Differential cross sections and excitation energy spectra for the 56Ni(p, n) and 55Co(p, n) reactions were determined by measuring neutrons recoiling from a liquid hydrogen target into the Low Energy Neutron Detector Array. GT contributions to the spectra were extracted by using a multipole decomposition analysis and were converted to strengths by employing the proportionality between GT strength and differential cross section at zero linear momentum transfer. Results: GT strengths from 56Ni and 55Co were extracted up to excitation energies of 8 and 15 MeV, respectively. Shell-model calculations performed in the pf shell with the GXPF1J interaction reproduced the experimental GT strength distributions better than calculations with the KB3G interaction. Conclusions: A new technique for measuring (ρ, ?) charge-exchange reactions on unstable nuclei was successfully developed. It can be used to study the isovector response of unstable nuclei in any mass region and for excitation energies beyond the particle decay threshold. In the first experiment, 56Ni(/?, n) and55Co(p, n) reactions were studied and GT transition strengths were extracted for the purpose of testing shell-model calculations used to estimate electron-capture rates in simulations of late stellar evolution. The calculation using the GXPF1J interaction was found to best reproduce the experimental strength distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel technique for studying the quenching of shell gaps in exotic isotopes. The method is based on extracting Gamow-Teller (&Dgr;L = 0, &Dgr;S = 1) transition strengths [B(GT)] to low-lying states from charge-exchange reactions at intermediate beam energies. These Gamow-Teller strengths are very sensitive to configuration mixing between cross-shell orbitals, and this technique thus provides an important complement to other tools currently used to study cross-shell mixing. This work focuses on the N = 8 shell gap. We populated the ground and 2.24 MeV 0+ states in 12Be using the 12B(1+) (7Li, 7Be) reaction at 80 MeV/u in inverse kinematics. Using the ground-state 5(GT) value from ß-decay measurements (0.184 ± 0.007) as a calibration, the B(GT) for the transition to the second 0+ state was determined to be 0.214 ±0.051. Comparing the extracted Gamow-Teller strengths with shell-model calculations, it was determined that the wave functions of the first and second 0+ states in 12Be are composed of 25 ± 5% and 60 ± 5% (0s)4(0p)8 configurations, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new technique to measure (p, n) charge-exchange reactions in inverse kinematics at intermediate energies on unstable isotopes was successfully developed and used to study the 56Ni(p, n) reaction at 110 MeV/u. Gamow-Teller transition strengths from 56Ni leading to 56Cu were obtained and compared with shell-model predictions in the pf shell using the KB3G and GXPF1A interactions. The calculations with the GXPF1A interaction reproduce the experimental strength distribution much better than the calculations that employed the KB3G interaction, indicating deficiencies in the spin-orbit and proton-neutron residual potentials for the latter. The results are important for improving the description of electron-capture rates on nuclei in the iron region, which are important for modeling the late evolution of core-collapse and thermonuclear supernovae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new technique to measure (p,n) charge-exchange reactions in inverse kinematics at intermediate energies on unstable isotopes was successfully developed and used to study the (56)Ni(p,n) reaction at 110 MeV/u. Gamow-Teller transition strengths from (56)Ni leading to (56)Cu were obtained and compared with shell-model predictions in the pf shell using the KB3G and GXPF1A interactions. The calculations with the GXPF1A interaction reproduce the experimental strength distribution much better than the calculations that employed the KB3G interaction, indicating deficiencies in the spin-orbit and proton-neutron residual potentials for the latter. The results are important for improving the description of electron-capture rates on nuclei in the iron region, which are important for modeling the late evolution of core-collapse and thermonuclear supernovae.

High-precision Penning-trap mass measurements of the N approximately Z approximately 34 nuclides 68Se, 70Se, (70m)Br, and 71Br were performed, reaching experimental uncertainties of 0.5-15 keV. The new and improved mass data together with theoretical Coulomb displacement energies were used as input for rp process network calculations. An increase in the effective lifetime of the waiting point nucleus 68Se was found, and more precise information was obtained on the luminosity during a type I x-ray burst along with the final elemental abundances after the burst.

A new long-lived isomeric state in (65)Fe has been discovered with Penning trap mass spectrometry and high-precision mass measurements of the neutron-rich isotopes (63-65)Fe and (64-66)Co have been performed with the Low-Energy Beam and Ion Trap Facility at the NSCL. For the new isomer in (65)Fe an excitation energy of 402(5) keV has been determined from the measured mass difference between the isomeric and ground states. The mass uncertainties of all isotopes have been reduced by a factor of 10-100 compared to previous results. In the case of (64)Co the previous mass value was found to deviate by about 5 standard deviations from the new measurement.

The mass of the short-lived radio nuclide 38Ca (T(1/2) = 440 ms) has been measured with the 9.4-T Penning trap mass spectrometer of the Low-Energy Beam and Ion Trap Facility. A mass uncertainty of deltam = 280 eV has been achieved, corresponding to deltam/m = 8 x 10(-9). The result makes 38Ca, a superallowed beta emitter, a new candidate to test the conserved-vector-current hypothesis. The experiment is also the first demonstration that short-lived radioactive isotopes produced by projectile fragmentation of relativistic heavy-ion beams can be slowed down and prepared such that precision experiments of this kind are possible.