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In a 2016 paper, an anomaly in the internal pair creation on the M1 transition depopulating the 18.15 MeV isoscalar 1+ state on 8Be was observed. This could be explained by the creation and subsequent decay of a new boson, with mass mXc2 = 16.70 MeV. Further experiments of the same transition with an improved and independent setup were performed, which constrained the mass of the X17 boson (mXc2) and its branching ratio relative to the γ-decay of the 8Be excited state (BX), to mXc2 = 17.01(16) MeV and BX = 6(1) 10−6, respectively. Using the latter setup, the e+e− pairs depopulating the 21 MeV Jπ = 0− 0+ transition in 4He were investigated and a resonance in the angular correlation of the pairs was observed, which could be explained by the same X17 particle, with mass mXc2 = 16.98 ± 0.16(stat) ± 0.20(syst) MeV.

Electron-positron angular correlations were remeasured for the 17.6 MeV (Jπ = 1+ → 0+) ground state transition in 8Be using an improved setup compared to one we used previously. Significant deviations from the internal pair creation was observed at large angles in the angular correlations, which supports that, in an intermediate step, a neutral isoscalar particle with a mass of 17.0±0.5 (stat)±0.5 (sys) MeV/c2 and Jπ = 1+ was created.

Electron-positron angular correlations were remeasured for the 17.6 MeV (Jπ = 1+ → 0+) ground state transition in 8Be using an improved setup compared to the one we used previously. Significant deviations from the internal pair creation was observed at large angles in the angular correlations, which supports that, in an intermediate step, a neutral isoscalar particle with a mass of 17.0 ±0.2(stat) ±0.5(sys) MeV/c2 and Jπ = 1+was created.

At the Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics facility (ELI-NP), high-power laser systems together with high-brilliance gamma beams are the main research tools. The status of the construction of the facility is reported. The emerging photofission experimental program with brilliant gamma beams at ELI-NP is presented with emphasis on the prepared day-one experiments. The physics cases of the flagship experiments at ELI-NP are discussed, as well as the related instruments which are under construction for their realization.

A selection of the properties of large volume, cylindrical 3.5” x 8” LaBr3:Ce scintillation detectors coupled to a 3.5” PMT (model R10233-1000SEL from HAMAMATSU) and a special designed Voltage Divider (LABRVD) will be discussed. A number of 10 of such detectors constitute the HECTOR+ array which, in fall 2012, measured at GSI coupled to the AGATA DEMOSTRATOR at the PRESPEC experimental setup. These crystals are among the largest ever produced and needed to be characterized. We have performed several tests and here we discuss, in particular, the energy resolution measured using monochromatic γ−ray sources and in-beam reactions producing γ−rays up to 22.6 MeV. As already measured in two previous works a saturation in the energy resolution was observed in case of high energy gamma rays. Crystal non-homogeneities and PMT gain drifts can affect the resolution of measurements especially in case of high energy γ−rays.