Search

The low-lying dipole strength of the deformed nucleus 156Gd was investigated in the energy region from 3.1 MeV to 6.2 MeV using the method of nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF). The NRF experiments were performed at the Darmstadt High Intensity Photon Setup (DHIPS) at Technische Universitat Darmstadt using unpolarized continuous-energy bremsstrahlung and at the High-Intensity γ-ray Source (HIγS) at Duke University using quasi-monoenergetic and linearly-polarized photon beams. The combination of both experiments allows to separate electric and magnetic contributions and to determine absolute transition strengths for individual excited states as well as averaged quantities over narrow excitation energy regions. The investigated energy regions cover the region of the scissors mode as well as the low-energy part of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance. This is the first experiment where both of these excitation modes as well as the region in between has been successfully studied in a deformed heavy nucleus using the NRF method.

For the first time the de-excitation cross section of the isomeric-state nuclide 180 m Ta has been measured with mono-energetic photon beams in the 1.56 MeV to 3.70 MeV energy range. The measurement of this inelastic scattering cross section on nature’s rarest isotope was performed at eight energies at the High-Intensity Gamma-Ray Source Facility with natural tantalum targets. After irradiation for typically 20 h with photon fluxes ranging from 0 . 3 × 1 0 7 γ /( cm 2 × s) to 3 . 2 × 1 0 7 γ /( cm 2 × s), the 180 m Ta de-excitation cross section was obtained from the yield of the K α 1 and K α 2 X rays of 180 m Hf at 55.79 keV and 54.61 keV, respectively, produced after electron capture on the unstable 180 m Ta ground state. The cross-section values found vary between ( 2 . 0 ± 0 . 7 ) mb and ( 4 . 7 ± 1 . 5 ) mb, providing a very large cross section for the de-excitation of 180 m Ta. Extensive tests were performed to check on the reliability of the present data. The effect of bremsstrahlung photons of higher energy than the mono-energetic beam was carefully studied and corrected for. It was found that even a very small contamination of the mono-energetic photon beam by bremsstrahlung photons with E γ > 7 . 6 MeV can provide a sizable yield of 180 m Hf X rays via the reaction 181 Ta ( γ , n ) 180 Ta, if a natural tantalum target is used, which contain four orders of magnitude more 181 Ta nuclei than 180 m Ta nuclei available for the 180 m Ta ( γ , γ ′ ) 180 Ta reaction of interest.

Most theoretical approaches used in nuclear astrophysics to model the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements incorporate the so-called statistical model in order to describe the excitation and decay properties of atomic nuclei. One of the basic assumptions of this model is the validity of the Brink–Axel hypothesis and the related concept of so-called photon strength functions to describe γ-ray transition probabilities. We present a novel experimental approach that allows for the first time to experimentally determine the photon strength function simultaneously in two independent ways by a unique combination of quasi-monochromatic photon beams and a newly implemented γ–γ coincidence setup. This technique does not assume a priori the validity of the Brink–Axel hypothesis and sets a benchmark in terms of the detection sensitivity for measuring decay properties of photo-excited states below the neutron separation energy. The data for the spherical off-shell nucleus $^{128}$Te were obtained for γ-ray beam-energy settings between 3 MeV and 9 MeV in steps of 130 keV for the lower beam energies and in steps of up to 280 keV for the highest beam settings. We present a quantitative analysis on the consistency of the derived photon strength function with the Brink–Axel hypothesis. The data clearly demonstrate a discrepancy of up to a factor of two between the photon strength functions extracted from the photoabsorption and photon emission process, respectively. In addition, we observe that the photon strength functions are not independent of the excitation energy, as usually assumed. Thus, we conclude, that the Brink–Axel hypothesis is not strictly fulfilled in the excitation-energy region below the neutron separation threshold (Sn=8.78MeV) for the studied case of $^{128}$Te.

International audience; The nature of the high-lying final levels of the 96Ygsβ decay, one of the three most important contributors to the high-energy reactor antineutrino spectrum, has been investigated in high-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy following the β decay as well as in a campaign of inelastic photon scattering experiments. The comprehensive approach establishes 1− levels associated with the Pygmy Dipole Resonance as high-lying final levels in the β decay. Branching ratios extracted from β decay complement photon scattering and allow the absolute E1 excitation strength to be determined for levels populated in both reactions. The combined data represents a comprehensive approach to the wavefunction of the 1− levels below the Qβ value, which are investigated in the Quasiparticle Phonon Model. The calculations reveal that the components populated in β decay contribute only with small amplitudes to the complex wavefunction of these 1− levels. A comparison of the β decay results to data from total absorption γ-ray spectroscopy demonstrates a good agreement between both measurements.

Photofission cross-section ratios of 235U and 238 U have been measured using monoenergetic photon beams at the HI γS facility of TUNL. These measurements have been performed in small energy steps between 9.0 and 16.6 MeV using a dual-fission ionization chamber . Measured cross-section ratios are compared with the previous experimental data as well as with the recent evaluated nuclear data library ENDF.

Fission Product Yields (FPY) have historically been one of the most observable features of the fission process. They are known to have strong variations that are dependent on the fissioning species, the excitation energy, and the angular momentum of the compound system. However, consistent and systematic studies of the variation of these FPY with energy have proved challenging. This is caused primarily by the nature of the experiments that have traditionally relied on radiochemical procedures to isolate specific fission products. Although radiochemical procedures exist that can isolate all products, each element presents specific challenges and introduces varying degrees of systematic errors that can make inter-comparison of FPY uncertain. Although of high importance in fields such as nuclear forensics and Stockpile Stewardship, accurate information about the energy dependence of neutron induced FPY are sparse, due primarily to the lack of suitable monoenergetic neutron sources. There is a clear need for improved data, and to address this issue, a collaboration was formed between Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) to measure the energy dependence of FPY for 235 U, 238 U and 239 Pu. The measurements have been performed at TUNL, using a 10 MV Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator to produce monoenergetic neutrons at energies between 0.6 MeV to 14.8 MeV through a variety of reactions. The measurements have utilized a dual-fission chamber, with thin (10-100 μ g/cm2) reference foils of similar material to a thick (100-400 mg) activation target held in the center between the chambers. This method allows for the accurate determination of the number of fissions that occurred in the thick target without requiring knowledge of the fission cross section or neutron fluence on target. Following activation, the thick target was removed from the dual-fission chamber and gamma-ray counted using shielded HPGe detectors for a period of 1-2 months to determine the yield of various fission products. To the extent possible all irradiation and counting procedures were kept the same to minimize sources of systematic errors. FPY have been determined at incident neutron energies of 0.6, 1.4, 2.4, 3.5, 4.6, 5.5, 8.9 and 14.8 MeV.

96 Zr and 48 Ca are unique among double-β decay candidate nuclides in that they may also undergo single-β decay. In the case of 96 Zr, the single-β decay mode is dominated by the fourth-forbidden β decay with a 119 keV Q value. A search was conducted for the β decay of 96 Zr by observing the decay of the daughter 96 Nb nucleus. Two coaxial high-purity germanium detectors were used in coincidence to detect the γ-ray cascade produced by the daughter nucleus as it de-excited to the ground state. The experiment was carried out at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility and produced 685.7 days of data with a 17.91 g enriched sample. No counts were seen above background, producing a limit of T 1 / 2 > 2.4 × 10 19 year . This is the first experimental search that is able to discern between the β decay and the double-β decay to an excited state of 96 Zr.

The neutron radiative-capture cross section of 76Ge was measured between 0.4 and 14.8 MeV using the activation technique. Germanium samples with the isotopic abundance of ∼ 86 % Ge 76 and ∼ 14 % Ge 74 used in the 0 ν β β searches by the GERDA and Majorana Collaborations were irradiated with monoenergetic neutrons produced at eleven energies via the H 3 ( p , n ) He 3 , H 2 ( d , n ) He 3 and H 3 ( d , n ) He 4 reactions. Previously, data existed only at thermal energies and at 14 MeV. As a by-product, capture cross-section data were also obtained for 74Ge at neutron energies below 8 MeV. Indium and gold foils were irradiated simultaneously for neutron fluence determination. High-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy was used to determine the γ-ray activity of the daughter nuclei of interest. For the 76Ge total capture cross section the present data are in good agreement with the TENDL-2013 model calculations and the ENDF/B-VII.1 evaluations, while for the Ge 74 ( n , γ ) Ge 75 reaction, the present data are about a factor of two larger than predicted. It was found that the Ge 74 ( n , γ ) Ge 75 yield in the High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors used by the GERDA and Majorana Collaborations is only about a factor of two smaller than the Ge 76 ( n , γ ) Ge 77 yield due to the larger cross section of the former reaction.

The ( J , T ) = ( 1 , 1 ) parity doublet in 20 Ne at 11.26 MeV is a good candidate to study parity violation in nuclei. However, its energy splitting is known with insufficient accuracy for quantitative estimates of parity violating effects. To improve on this unsatisfactory situation, nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments using linearly and circularly polarized γ -ray beams were used to determine the energy difference of the parity doublet Δ E = E ( 1 − ) − E ( 1 + ) = − 3.2 ( ± 0.7 ) stat ( − 1.2 + 0.6 ) sys keV and the ratio of their integrated cross sections I s , 0 ( + ) / I s , 0 ( − ) = 29 ( ± 3 ) stat ( − 7 + 14 ) sys . Shell-model calculations predict a parity-violating matrix element having a value in the range 0.46–0.83 eV for the parity doublet. The small energy difference of the parity doublet makes 20 Ne an excellent candidate to study parity violation in nuclear excitations.

The Majorana Collaboration is constructing a system containing 40kg of HPGe detectors to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of a future tonne-scale experiment capable of probing the neutrino mass scale in the inverted-hierarchy region. To realize this, a major goal of the Majorana Demonstrator is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 cnt/(ROI-t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest around the Q-value at 2039 keV. This goal is pursued through a combination of a significant reduction of radioactive impurities in construction materials with analytical methods for background rejection, for example using powerful pulse shape analysis techniques profiting from the p-type point contact HPGe detectors technology. The effectiveness of these methods is assessed using simulations of the different background components whose purity levels are constrained from radioassay measurements.

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR will search for the neutrinoless double beta decay (ββ(0ν)) of the isotope 76Ge with a mixed array of enriched and natural germanium detectors. In view of the next generation of tonne-scale germanium-based ββ(0ν)-decay searches, a major goal of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is to demonstrate a path forward to achieving a background rate at or below 1 cnt/(ROI-t-y) in the 4 keV region of interest (ROI) around the 2039-keV Q-value of the 76Ge ββ(0ν)-decay. Such a requirement on the background level significantly constrains the design of the readout electronics, which is further driven by noise and energy resolution performances. We present here the low-noise low- background front-end electronics developed for the low-capacitance p-type point contact (P-PC) germanium detectors of the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR. This resistive-feedback front-end, specifically designed to have low mass, is fabricated on a radioassayed fused-silica substrate where the feedback resistor consists of a sputtered thin film of high purity amorphous germanium and the feedback capacitor is based on the capacitance between gold conductive traces.

High purity germanium (HPGe) crystals will be used for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, where they serve as both the source and the detector for neutrinoless double beta decay. It is crucial for the experiment to understand the performance of the HPGe crystals. A variety of crystal properties are being investigated, including basic properties such as energy resolution, efficiency, uniformity, capacitance, leakage current and crystal axis orientation, as well as more sophisticated properties, e.g. pulse shapes and dead layer and transition layer distributions. In this paper, we will present our measurements that characterize the HPGe crystals. We will also discuss our simulation package for the detector characterization setup, and show that additional information can be extracted from data-simulation comparisons., Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, TAUP 2013 (F. Avignone & W. Haxton, editors, Physics Procedia, Elsevier)

The removal of radioactivity from liquid scintillator has been studied in preparation of a low background phase of KamLAND. This paper describes the methods and techniques developed to measure and efficiently extract radon decay products from liquid scintillator. We report the radio-isotope reduction factors obtained when applying various extraction methods. During this study, distillation was identified as the most efficient method for removing radon-born lead from liquid scintillator.

A program has been initiated to measure the energy dependence of selected high-yield fission products used in the analysis of nuclear test data. We present out initial work of neutron activation using a dual-fission chamber with quasi-monoenergetic neutrons and gamma-counting method. Quasi-monoenergetic neutrons of energies from 0.5 to 15 MeV using the TUNL 10 MV FM tandem to provide high-precision and self-consistent measurements of fission product yields (FPY). The final FPY results will be coupled with theoretical analysis to provide a more fundamental understanding of the fission process. To accomplish this goal, we have developed and tested a set of dual-fission ionization chambers to provide an accurate determination of the number of fissions occurring in a thick target located in the middle plane of the chamber assembly. Details of the fission chamber and its performance are presented along with neutron beam production and characterization. Also presented are studies on the background issues associated with room-return and off-energy neutron production. We show that the off-energy neutron contribution can be significant, but correctable, while room-return neutron background levels contribute less than 1 % to the fission signal.

To resolve long-standing differences between LANL and LLNL regarding the correct fission basis for analysis of nuclear test data [M.B. Chadwick et al., Nucl. Data Sheets 111, 2891 (2010); H. Selby et al., Nucl. Data Sheets 111, 2891 (2010)], a collaboration between TUNL/LANL/LLNL has been established to perform high-precision measurements of neutron induced fission product yields. The main goal is to make a definitive statement about the energy dependence of the fission yields to an accuracy better than 2-3% between 1 and 15 MeV, where experimental data are very scarce. At TUNL, we have completed the design, fabrication and testing of three dual-fission chambers dedicated to 235U, 238U, and 239Pu. The dual-fission chambers were used to make measurements of the fission product activity relative to the total fission rate, as well as for high-precision absolute fission yield measurements. The activation method was employed, utilizing the mono-energetic neutron beams available at TUNL. Neutrons of 4.6, 9.0, and 14.5 MeV were produced via the 2H(d,n)3He reaction, and for neutrons at 14.8 MeV, the 3H(d,n)4He reaction was used. After activation, the induced γ-ray activity of the fission products was measured for two months using high-resolution HPGe detectors in a low-background environment. Results for the yield of seven fission fragments of 235U, 238U, and 239Pu and a comparison to available data at other energies are reported. For the first time results are available for neutron energies between 2 and 14 MeV.

A new approach for constraining the low-energy part of the electric dipole Photon Strength Function (E1-PSF) is presented. Experiments at the Darmstadt High-Intensity Photon Setup and the High Intensity γ → -Ray Source have been performed to investigate the decay properties of 130Te between 5.50 and 8.15 MeV excitation energy. In particular, the average γ-ray branching ratio to the ground state and the population intensity of low-lying excited states have been studied. A comparison to the statistical model shows that the latter is sensitive to the low-energy behavior of the E1-PSF, while the average ground state branching ratio cannot be described by the statistical model in the energy range between 5.5 and 6.5 MeV.

A study of signals originating near the lithium-diffused n+ contact of p-type point contact (PPC) high purity germanium detectors (HPGe) is presented. The transition region between the active germanium and the fully dead layer of the n+ contact is examined. Energy depositions in this transition region are shown to result in partial charge collection. This provides a mechanism for events with a well defined energy to contribute to the continuum of the energy spectrum at lower energies. A novel technique to quantify the contribution from this source of background is introduced. Experiments that operate germanium detectors with a very low energy threshold may benefit from the methods presented herein.

The MAJORANA Collaboration is building the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, a 60 kg array of high purity germanium detectors housed in an ultra-low background shield at the Sanford Underground Laboratory in Lead, SD. The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR will search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge while demonstrating the feasibility of a tonne-scale experiment. It may also carry out a dark matter search in the 1-10 GeV/c^2 mass range. We have found that customized Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detectors produced by Canberra have several desirable features for a neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment, including low electronic noise, excellent pulse shape analysis capabilities, and simple fabrication. We have deployed a customized BEGe, the MAJORANA Low-Background BEGe at Kimballton (MALBEK), in a low-background cryostat and shield at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility in Virginia. This paper will focus on the detector characteristics and measurements that can be performed with such a radiation detector in a low-background environment., Comment: Submitted to NIMA Proceedings, SORMA XII. 9 pages, 4 figures

We report on features of high-pressure 3He–Xe gas scintillators which have not been sufficiently addressed in the past. Such gas scintillators can be used not only for the efficient detection of low-energy neutrons but at the same time for the detection and identification of γ ‐ rays as well. Furthermore, 3He–Xe gas scintillators are also very convenient detectors for fast neutrons in the 1–10 MeV energy range and for high-energy γ ‐ rays in the 7–15 MeV energy range. Due to their linear pulse-height response and self calibration via the 3He(n,p)3H reaction, neutron and γ ‐ ray energies can easily be determined in this high-energy regime.

The cross section for the reaction 181 Ta(n,2n) 180 Ta g was measured from 8 to 15 MeV in small energy steps to resolve inconsistencies in the existing databases. The activation technique was used, and the 93.4 keV γ -ray from the decay of the 180 Ta g ground state was recorded with a HPGe detector. In addition, the γ -rays from the monitor reactions 27 Al(n, α ) 24 Na and 197 Au(n,2n) 196 Au were measured for neutron fluence determination. As a cross check, a calibrated neutron detector was also used. The ENDF/B-VII.1 and TENDL-2011 evaluations are in considerable disagreement with the present data, which in turn agree very well with the majority of the existing data in the 14 MeV energy region.

Partial cross-section measurements of (n,n'γ) reactions on natCu were carried out at tunl using monoenergetic neutrons at six energies of E n = 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 MeV. These studies were performed to provide accurate cross-section data on materials abundant in experimental setups involving HPGe detectors used to search for rare events, like the neutrino-less double-beta decay of 76Ge. Spallation and (α,n) neutrons are expected to cause the largest source of external background in the energy region of interest. At tunl pulsed neutron beams were produced via the 2H(d,n)3He reaction and the deexcitation γ rays from the reaction natCu(n,xγ) were detected with clover HPGe detectors. Cross-section results for the strongest transtions in 63Cu and 65Cu will be reported, and will compared to model calculations and to data recently obtained at lanl with a white neutron beam.

Two cylindrical LiTaO3 crystals facing each other's deuterated circular face were exposed to deuterium gas at an ambient pressure of a few mTorr. With a distance of about 4 cm between the z+ and z− cut crystal faces, neutrons were produced via the 2H(d,n)3He fusion reaction upon the heating and cooling of the crystals. The 2.5 MeV neutrons were detected with organic liquid scintillation detectors equipped with neutron-gamma pulse-shape discrimination electronics to reject pulses generated by the intense X-ray flux. During the cooling phase of naked crystals, deuterium ion-beam (D2+) energies of up to 400 keV were obtained as deduced from the associated electron bremsstrahlung end-point energy. The highest electron-beam energy observed during the heating phase was 360 keV. With a layer of deuterated polyethylene evaporated on the front face of the crystals, the maximal energies were about 10% lower. In contrast to earlier studies, an electric-field enhancing nano-tip was not employed. Neutron yields up to 500 per thermal cycle were observed, resulting in a total neutron production yield of about 1.6×104 neutrons per thermal cycle. Our approach has the potential of being substantially improved by reducing the frequency of the discharges we are currently experiencing with our geometry, which was not designed for the unprecedented high potentials produced in the presentwork.

A cylindrical 5.1 cm×5.1 cm scintillator cell filled with the KamLAND liquid scintillator has been exposed to monoenergetic neutron beams produced via the 2H(d,n)3He reaction to measure the proton light-response function for energies up to 10 MeV. Using Birks’ recipe, the α -particle light-response function was derived from these data. The same method was applied to the BC-501A and BC-517H liquid scintillators to check on the systematic accuracy of the present data. The proton and α -particle light-response functions are needed to correct the KamLAND antineutrino prompt energy spectrum for background effects caused by the reaction C 13 ( α , n ) O 16 . Especially, the geo-antineutrino energy regime measured in the KamLAND experiment is contaminated by background events from this reaction.

Recently, Dolgov and Smirnov speculated that neutrinos may not obey the principle named after their inventor, the Pauli Principle. The neutrino wave function may contain a bosonic component. In principle, two-neutrino double-beta (2ν2β) decay data could be used to check on the conjecture that neutrinos violate the Pauli Principle. Recent 2ν2β data on 100Mo to both the ground state and excited states in 100Ru will be used to illustrate the procedure.

The Pb ( γ → , γ ′ ) photon scattering reaction has been studied with the nearly monochromatic, linearly polarized photon beams at the High Intensity γ -ray Source (HI γ S) at the DFELL. Azimuthal scattering intensity asymmetries measured with respect to the polarization plane of the beam have been used for the first time to assign both the spin and parity quantum numbers of dipole excited states of 206,207,208 Pb at excitation energies in the vicinity of 5.5 MeV. Evidence for dominant particle–core coupling is deduced from these results along with information on excitation energies and electromagnetic transition matrix elements. Implications of the existence of weakly coupled states built on highly excited core states in competition with 1 ℏ ω single particle (hole) excitations at comparable energies are discussed.

The coincidence detection efficiency of the TUNL-ITEP apparatus designed for measuring half-life times of two-neutrino double-beta ( 2 ν β β ) decay transitions to excited final states in daughter nuclei has been measured with a factor of 2.4 improved accuracy. In addition, the previous measuring time of 455 days for the study of the 100 Mo 2 ν β β decay to the first excited 0 1 + state in 100 Ru has been increased by 450 days, and a new result (combined with the previous measurement obtained with the same apparatus) for this transition is presented: T 1 / 2 = [ 5.5 − 0.8 + 1.2 ( stat ) ± 0.3 ( syst ) ] × 10 20 yr . Measured 2 ν β β decay half-life times to excited states can be used to test the reliability of nuclear matrix element calculations needed for determining the effective neutrino mass from zero-neutrino double-beta decay data. We also present new limits for transitions to higher excited states in 100 Ru which, if improved, may be of interest for more exotic conjectures, like a bosonic component to neutrino statistics.

The methods employed and the results obtained from measurements and calculations of the detection efficiency for the neutron detectors used at Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) in the simultaneous determination of the 1S0 neutron–neutron and neutron–proton scattering lengths a nn and a np , respectively, are described. Typical values for the detector efficiency were 0.3. Very good agreement between the different experimental methods and between data and calculation has been obtained in the neutron energy range below E n = 13 MeV .

The High Intensity γ -ray Source (HI γ S) is a joint project between the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) and the Duke Free Electron Laser Laboratory (DFELL). This facility utilizes intra-cavity back-scattering of the FEL light in order to produce intense γ -ray beams. An upgrade which allows for the production of γ -rays up to energies of about 100 MeV having total intensities in excess of 10 8 /s is essentially complete. The primary component of the upgrade is a 1.2 GeV booster-injector which makes it possible to replace lost electrons at full energy. In addition, an upgrade of the present linear undulator to a helical system has made it possible to produce nearly 100% linear and circularly polarized beams. The full system was commissioned in the early part of 2007. A nuclear physics research program using beams at energies below 50 MeV commenced in the fall of 2007. The proposed experimental program includes low-energy studies of nuclear reactions of importance in nuclear astrophysics as well as studies of nuclear structure using the technique of nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF). Few-body nuclear physics problems will also be addressed by studying photodisintegration of d, 3 He and 4 He. Future double-polarization experiments include a study of the Gerasimov–Drell–Hearn Sum Rule for the deuteron and 3 He, and an extensive Compton scattering program designed to probe the internal structure of the nucleon. A major focus of these studies will be the measurement of the electric and magnetic polarizabilities as well as the spin-polarizabilities of the proton and the neutron. This review will describe the principles of operation of the upgraded facility, followed by a description of the performance which has been achieved to date, and a projection of the performance anticipated in the near future. Following this, we will review several of the research areas of nuclear physics which are accessible using this facility, and describe both the results to date and proposed experiments being developed for the future.

We present the most accurate and complete data set for the analyzing power Ay(theta) in neutron-proton scattering. The experimental data were corrected for the effects of multiple scattering, both in the center detector and in the neutron detectors. The final data at En = 12.0 MeV deviate considerably from the predictions of nucleon-nucleon phase-shift analyses and potential models. The impact of the new data on the value of the charged pion-nucleon coupling constant is discussed in a model study., Six pages, four figures, one table, to be published in Physics Letters B

In support of the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances initiative, an experimental program has been developed at Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) to measure (n,xn) cross-sections with both in-beam and activation techniques with the goal of improving the partial cross-section database for the NNSA Stockpile Stewardship Program. First experimental efforts include excitation function measurements on 235,238U and 241Am using pulsed and monoenergetic neutron beams with En = 5–15 MeV. Neutron-induced partial cross-sections were measured by detecting prompt γ rays from the residual nuclei using various combinations of clover and planar HPGe detectors in the TUNL shielded neutron source area. Complimentary activation measurements using DC neutron beams have also been performed in open geometry in our second target area. The neutron-induced activities were measured in the TUNL low-background counting area. In this presentation, we include detailed information about the irradiation procedures and facilities and preliminary data on first measurements using this capability.

The motivation and design is outlined for the experiment to measure the neutron–neutron singlet scattering length directly with thermal neutrons at the pulsed reactor YAGUAR. A statistical accuracy of 3% can be reached, though achieving the goal of an overall accuracy of 3–5% for the nn-scattering length depends on the background level. Possible sources of background are discussed in depth and the results of extensive modeling of the background are presented. Measurements performed at YAGUAR to test these background calculations are described. The experimental results indicate an anticipated background level up to 30% relative to the expected nn effect at the maximal energy burst of the reactor. The conclusion is made that the nn experiment at YAGUAR is feasible to produce the first directly measured value for the neutron–neutron scattering length.

The Direct Investigation of a nn Association (DIANNA) is finalizing the design of a direct measurement of the nn-scattering length to be performed at the YAGUAR reactor in Snezhinsk, Russia. Extensive modeling of the neutron field, nn-scattering kinematics, and sources of detector background have verified the plan for a 3% measurement of a nn . Measurements of the neutron flux support the neutron field modeling. Initial test measurements of the neutron field inside the underground channel have confirmed calculations of the thermal neutron background.

The high intensity γ-ray source (HIγS) utilizes intra-cavity backscattering of free electron laser photons from the Duke electron storage ring to produce a unique monoenergetic beam of high-flux γ-rays with high polarization and selectable energy resolution. At present, γ-ray beams with energies from 2 to 58 MeV are available with intensities as high as 105–5 × 106 γ/s, energy spreads of 3% or better, and nearly 100% linear polarization. The quality and intensity of the γ-ray beams at HIγS are responsible for the unprecedented performance of this facility in a broad range of research programs in nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics and nuclear applications. Recent results from excitation of isomeric states in (γ, n) reactions and parity assignments of dipole states determined via the (γ, γ′) reaction are presented.

The proposed Majorana experiment is based on an array of segmented intrinsic Ge detectors with a total mass of 500 kg of Ge isotopically enriched to 86% in 76 Ge. Background reduction will be accomplished by: material selection, detector segmentation, pulse shape analysis, electro-formation of copper parts, and granularity of detector spacing. The predicted experimental sensitivity for measurement of the neutrinoless double-beta decay mode of 76 Ge, over a data acquisition period of 5000 kg·y, is T 1 / 2 0 ν ∼ 4 × 10 27 y .

The interest and relevance of next-generation 0 v ββ-decay experiments is increasing. Even with nonzero neutrino mass strongly suggested by solar and atmospheric neutrino experiments sensitive to δm 2 , 0 v ββ-decay experiments are still the only way to establish the Dirac or Majorana nature of neutrinos by measuring the effective electron neutrino mass, 〈 m v 〉. In addition, the atmospheric neutrino oscillation experiments imply that at least one neutrino has a mass greater than about 50 meV. The Majorana Experiment expects to probe an effective neutrino mass near this critical value. Majorana is a next-generation 76 Ge double-beta decay search. It will employ 500 kg of Ge, isotopically enriched to 86% in 76 Ge, in the form of ∼ 200 detectors in a close-packed array. Each crystal will be electronically segmented and each segment fitted with pulse-shape analysis electronics. This combination of segmentation and pulse-shape analysis significantly improves our ability to discriminate neutrinoless double beta-decay from internal cosmogenic 68 Ge and 60 Co . The half-life sensitivity is estimated to be 4.2 × 10 27 y corresponding to a 〈 m v 〉 range of ≤ 20 − 70 meV, depending on the nuclear matrix elements used to interpret the data.

New results for the neutron–deuteron analyzing power A y ( θ ) at E n =1.2 and 1.9 MeV and their comparison to proton–deuteron data reveal a sizeable and unexpected difference which increases with decreasing center-of-mass energy. This finding calls for the theoretical treatment of a subtle electromagnetic effect presently not incorporated in rigorous three-nucleon scattering calculations, before it is justified to invoke charge-dependent three-nucleon forces and/or other new physics.

Beams of nearly monochromatic γ-rays are produced via intracavity Compton backscattering in the OK-4/Duke storage ring FEL, the high-intensity γ-ray source (HIγS). Presently, HIγS generates γ-ray beams with an energy tunable from 2 to 58 MeV and a maximum flux of 5×10 7 γ-rays per second. The γ-rays are linearly polarized with a degree of polarization close to 100% (V.N. Litvinenko, et al., Predictions and expected performance for the VUV OK-5/Duke Storage Ring FEL with variable polarization, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A, to be published in this proceeding) and they are collimated to pencil-like semi-monoenergetic beams with RMS energy spreads as low as 0.2%. The detailed theoretical and experimental studies of the γ-ray beam quality were conducted during the last two years (S.H. Park, Thesis, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, 2000). In this paper, we present the theoretical analysis and the experimental results on the spatial distribution and polarization of γ-rays from the HIγS facility.

We report a high-precision determination of the 1 S 0 neutron–neutron scattering length ( a nn ) using the 2 H( π − , nγ ) n reaction. The value obtained in the present work is −18.50± 0.05 (statistical) ± 0.44 (systematic) ± 0.30 (theoretical) fm, which is consistent with the values from previous measurements. Combining our result with previous measurements reduces the total uncertainty in the world average of a nn to ±0.4 fm, matching the accuracy to which the charge-symmetric parameter a pp is determined.

The current status of the three-nucleon analyzing power puzzle is reviewed. Applying tight constraints on the allowed deviations between calculated predictions and accepted values for relevant nucleon-nucleon observables reveals that energy independent correction factors applied to the 3Pj nucleon-nucleon interactions can not solve the puzzle. Furthermore, using the same constraints, charge-independence breaking in the 3Pj nucleon-nucleon interactions can be ruled out as a possible tool to improve the agreement between three-nucleon calculations and data. The study of the energy dependence of the three-nucleon analyzing power puzzle gives clear evidence that the 3Pj nucleon-nucleon interaction obtained from phase-shift analyses and used in potential models are correct above about 25 MeV, i.e., the 3Pj nucleon-nucleon interactions have to be modified only at lower energies in order to solve the three-nucleon analyzing power puzzle, unless new three-nucleon forces can be found that account for the three-nucleon analyzing power puzzle without destroying the beautiful agreement between rigorous three-nucleon calculations and a large body of accurate three-nucleon data.

A beam of nearly monochromatic γ-rays was produced via intracavity Compton backscattering in the OK-4/Duke storage ring FEL. The OK-4 FEL operated in the near-UV range (345–413 nm) with electron energies of 260–550 MeV. The energy of the produced γ-rays varied from 3 to 16 MeV. In the near future we plan to increase the energy of the γ-rays to 50 MeV by increasing the electron energy and reducing FEL wavelength. Results from direct measurements of the γ-ray flux and energy resolution (using a 3 mm diameter lead collimator) (Litvinenko et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 78 (1997) 4569) are very close to our theoretical predictions. The energy resolution of the γ-rays was ∼1%. In this paper we present a comparison of our measurements with theoretical predictions and our plans for future improvements. We discuss upgrades of our system to attain an energy resolution down to 0.1% and to increase the flux. A brief description of the experimental program utilizing the OK-4/Duke monochromatic γ-ray source is presented.

The neutron-neutron and neutron-proton 1 S 0 scattering lengths a nn and a np , respectively, were determined simultaneously from the neutron-deuteron breakup reaction. Their comparison with the recommended values obtained from “two-body” reactions gives a measure of the importance of three-nucleon force effects in the three-nucleon continuum. In order to check on the result obtained for a nn from the “two-body” π − - d capture reaction, a new measurement was performed at LANL. Preliminary results of the three experiments are given.

We have performed single-energy phase-shift analyses of proton-deuteron elastic scattering data in the proton energy range from 3.5 to 10 MeV. The resulting values for the 2 S 1 2 and 4 P 1 2 , 4 P 3 2 , and 4 P 5 2 phase shifts are important benchmark values for three-nucleon calculations based on nucleon-nucleon potential models (with and without three-nucleon forces) aimed at describing the triton binding energy and at resolving the nucleon-deuteron A y (θ) and i T 11 (θ) puzzles, respectively.

We have constructed a 0.4 mole solid 3 He target, cryogenically polarized at 12 mK in a field of 7 T. The 0.04 atoms/b target reached a polarization of 38% in 35 h. Such a target may be applied to any experiment which is tolerant of the large ambient magnetic field and which produces target heating of less than a microwatt. High energy neutron and photon scattering experiments meet these requirements. The target's figure of merit for neutron transmission measurement exceeds that of polarized gas targets by greater than 35. At the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory we have used the target to measure the total cross section differences Δσ T and Δσ L for incident polarized neutrons of energies 2–8 MeV. The cross section difference is sensitive to the excited state structure of the n- 3 He system. The results have been compared to a recent R-matrix analysis of R = 4 scattering and reaction data, and provide support for the 4 He level scheme derived from that analysis.

The absolute efficiency of an NE213 liquid scintillator of 12.7 cm diameter and 5.08 cm thickness was measured in the neutron energy range 2.5–16 MeV using the 2 H(d, n) 3 He reaction as a source of monoenergetic neutrons. The efficiencies were measured at the time-of-flight facility of Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL). The experimental data are compared to calculations from the Monte Carlo code NEFF of Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany (PTB).

Cross-section measurements of a collinear configuration, the space-star and the coplanar-star configurations in nd breakup at E n = 13.0 MeV are reported. The present measurements for the collinear configuration are in good agreement with pd and nd data. Our coplanar-star data are consistent with theoretical predictions and resolve the reported problem with this configuration. The previously observed large discrepancy between theory and nd cross-section data for the space-star configuration is confirmed in the present work.

The theoretical approaches for studying N-d processes using realistic, semi-phenomenological NN potentials have matured considerably during the last few years. Accurate calculations of scattering observables are now feasible. Recently, high-quality measurements of N-d scattering at energies below the deuteron breakup threshold became available. Therefore, a detailed comparison between theory and experimental data can now be performed. In this paper the various sets of experimental data for the N-d differential cross section, and the vector and tensor analyzing powers are examined in a critical way in the incident nucleon energy range from 1 to 3 MeV. In order to identify possible inadequacies of the interaction models adopted, phase-shift analyses were performed and compared to the theoretical parameters.

We describe the construction and operation of a solid 3 He polarized nuclear target which we have used for measurements of the spin dependence of the n- 3 He interaction at MeV energies. The target, which contains 0.4 mole of 3 He was polarized to 38% at 12 mK in a field of 7 T. The target is suitable for nuclear physics measurements which are insensitive to the large magnetic field and produce beam heating of tenths of microwatts. We discuss refinements and paths to improved solid 3 He targets at higher polarizations and lower fields.

A summary of the polarized and aligned nuclear targets which have been constructed and used at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory is given. Statically polarized targets, typically operating at a temperature of 12 mK and a magnetic field of 7 T, have provided significant nuclear polarization in 1 H, 3 He, 27 Al, 93 Nb and 165 Ho. A rotating, aligned 165 Ho target is also in use. A 3 He melting curve thermometer has been developed for use in statically polarized targets. A dynamically polarized proton target is under construction.

The response function of a 12.5 cm diameter NE213 scintillator detector has been measured over neutron energies ranging from 4.9 to 16.6 MeV. Beams of monoenergetic neutrons were produced using the 2H(d, n)3He reaction. The response function is about 12% lower than previously reported values for a similar detector obtained using a continuous spectrum of neutrons from a 252Cf fission source. However, the present response function agrees with portions of data sets obtained in published work that used monoenergetic neutron source reactions.