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Among the reactions driving stellar evolution during carbon burning, 12C + 12C fusion provides the key ingredients. This system reveals many resonances, but also regions with suppressed fusion cross-sections. The reaction was recently measured by the STELLA collaboration utilizing the gammaparticle coincidence technique for precise cross-section measurements reaching down to the Gamow window of massive stars. From the experimental data, reaction rates were determined by approximating a hindrance parametrization and by adding on top a resonance at the lowest measured energy. The impact of these reaction rates on the evolution of massive stars was explored with models of 12 and 25 M⊙ using the stellar evolution code GENEC, and a detailed study of the resulting nucleosynthesis with a 1454 elements network was performed. The sensitivity of the STELLA experimental cross-sections on the temperature range for C-burning for the stellar models studied were presented. The final abundances and their impacts on stellar evolution were discussed.

We present 12C+12C direct fusion measurements with STELLA UKFATIMA, that reach into the region of astrophysics interest relevant to massive stars (M⊙ ≈ 25) using self-supporting thin rotating carbon foils [1]. We demonstrate that detecting gammas and light charged particles in coincidence with nanosecond timing is key for effective background reduction achieving reliable measurements in the sub-nanobarn range. We give details about core developments of the detection apparatus as well as the coincidence-analysis procedure of low count statistics. The present data largely follows the phenomenological hindrance interpolation and shows indication for resonant behaviour at the lowest energy explored.

The β-decay half lives of nuclei near the r-process path are critical information required for abundance calculations, especially those near neutron number N = 82. Specifically, the nuclei below doubly-magic 132Sn are key, and play an important role in the formation and shape of the second r-process abundance peak. The half lives in this region are challenging to measure due to the significant β-delayed neutron decay branches and the population of isomeric states with half lives comparable to the ground states. However, by measuring the time distribution of γ rays, these complications can be eliminated. This requires, however, a very effcient γ-ray spectrometer since the production of isotopes in this region is very limited. The new GRIFFIN array at TRIUMF-ISAC provides the high effciency required for these measurements. Recent improvements in the quality of the beams produced at TRIUMF, employing the IG-LIS device, are outlined, as well as the current status of the ARIEL facility. The GRIFFIN spectrometer and its use are briefly described. The experiment to measure the half lives of 128-130Cd is outlined and the results given, and some examples of the power of GRIFFIN to expand decay schemes, specifically for the decay of 128Cd to 128In, are given.

Excited states of 122Xe were studied via the β+/EC decay of 122Cs with the 8π γ-ray spectrometer at the TRIUMF-ISAC facility. Compton-suppressed HPGe detectors were used for measurements of γ-ray intensities, γγ coincidences, and γ-γ angular correlations. Two sets of data were collected to optimize the decays of the ground (21.2 s) and isomeric (3.7 min) states of 122Cs. The data collected have enabled the observation of about 505 new transitions and about 250 new levels, including 51 new low-spin states. Spin assignments have been made for 58 low-spin states based on the deduced β-decay feeding and γ-γ angular correlation analyses.

This work reports on the scattering of 11Be on 197Au at energies around and below the Coulomb barrier. By experimentally identifying the elastic scattering, inelastic scattering and breakup channels, and comparing them with different calculations, valuable information on the 11Be structure and its B(E1) distribution to the continuum are obtained. On top of that, a deeper understanding of the scattering process at low energies is achieved for reactions of this kind, making these studies extendable to other loosely-bound systems like 17,19C

A new ancillary detector, SPICE (SPectrometer for Internal Conversion Electrons) has been constructed and recently commissioned for use with radioactive ion beams at the TRIUMF-ISAC II facility. SPICE is designed to be operated in conjunction with the TIGRESS High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) spectrometer to perform combined in-beam γ-ray and internal-conversion-electron spectroscopy. The main feature of SPICE is high effciency over a wide range of electron energies from 100 to 3500 keV, with an effective reduction of beam-induced backgrounds. SPICE will be a powerful tool to measure conversion coeffcients and E0 transitions in atomic nuclei. A recent in-beam commissioning experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the basic design concept of SPICE in background suppression.

The nuclear structure of 122Xe has been investigated with measurements of the β+/EC decay of 122Cs with the 8 π γ-ray spectrometer at the TRIUMF-ISAC facility. The data collected have enabled the determination of relative B(E2) values of some low-energy transitions, and the in-band transitions of the excited 0+ bands have been observed. As a result, the 2+ rotational band members for the 0+2 and 0+3 states have been firmly identified.

Excited states in 62Ni were populated with a (p, p’) reaction using the 14UD Pelletron accelerator at the Australian National University. Electric monopole transition strengths, ρ2(E0), were measured through simultaneous detection of the internal conversion electrons and γ rays emitted from the de-excitation of populated states, using the Super-e spectrometer coupled with a germanium detector. The strength of the 02+ to 01+ transition has been measured to be 77−34+23 × 10−3 and agrees with previously reported values. Upper limits have been placed on the 03+ to 01+ and 03+ to 02+ transitions. The measured ρ2(E0) value of the 22+ to 21+ transition in 62Ni has been measured for the first time and found to be one of the largest ρ2(E0) values measured to date in nuclei heavier than Ca. The low-lying states of 62Ni have previously been classified as one- and two-phonon vibrational states based on level energies. The measured electric quadrupole transition strengths are consistent with this interpretation. However as electric monopole transitions are forbidden between states which differ by one phonon number, the simple harmonic quadrupole vibrational picture is not suffcient to explain the large ρ2(E0) value for the 22+ to 21+ transition.

A new ancillary detector system for the TIGRESS HPGe array called SPectrometer for Internal Conversion Electrons (SPICE) is currently under development. SPICE consists of a segmented electron detector, photon shield and a permanent magnetic lens. SPICE will enable in-beam electron spectroscopy and, in coupling to the TIGRESS HPGe array, coincident gamma-electron spectroscopy with stable and radioactive beams.