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Improved neutron inelastic scattering cross section data are needed to inform integral benchmark studies and advance applications in a wide variety of areas including nuclear energy, stockpile stewardship, nonproliferation, and space exploration. Neutron inelastic scattering also serves as a non-selective probe of low-lying nuclear structure. To help meet these needs, the Gamma Energy Neutron Energy Spectrometer for Inelastic Scattering (GENESIS) was constructed at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This array couples high-resolution γ-ray detectors and fast neutron detectors to achieve single and coincident n/γ detection over a broad energy range. The current configuration of the array includes 26 organic liquid scintillators and four high-purity germanium detectors (two single-crystal and two four-crystal CLOVER detectors with two-fold segmentation). The array was constructed with minimal supporting material and designed to cover a wide range of secondary particle angles and energies with limited inter-element scattering. Data acquisition is accomplished using Mesytec MDPP-16 multi-channel high-resolution digital pulse processing modules. The array characteristics, including γ-ray and neutron energy resolution, timing resolution, and detection efficiency were measured and used to validate a GEANT4 model of the array. The primary sources of neutron background and the uncertainties in the determination of incident and secondary neutron energy were assessed. GENESIS provides a new capability to address nuclear data needs and facilitates the advancement of a wide range of nuclear applications.

Background: A number of accelerator-based isotope production facilities utilize 100- to 200-MeV proton beams due to the high production rates enabled by high-intensity beam capabilities and the greater diversity of isotope production brought on by the long range of high-energy protons. However, nuclear reaction modeling at these energies can be challenging because of the interplay between different reaction modes and a lack of existing guiding cross-section data. Purpose: A Tri-lab collaboration has been formed among the Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, and Brookhaven National Laboratories to address these complexities by characterizing charged-particle nuclear reactions relevant to the production of established and novel radioisotopes. Method: In the inaugural collaboration experiments, stacked-targets of niobium foils were irradiated at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (Ep=200MeV) and the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility (Ep=100MeV) to measure Nb93(p,x) cross sections between 50 and 200 MeV. First measurements of the Nb93(p,4n)Mo90 beam monitor reaction beyond 100 MeV are reported in this work, as part of the broadest energy-spanning dataset for the reaction to date. Nb93(p,x) production cross sections are additionally reported for 22 other measured residual products. The measured cross-section results were compared with literature data as well as the default calculations of the nuclear model codes TALYS, CoH, EMPIRE, and ALICE. Results: The default code predictions largely failed to reproduce the measurements, with consistent underestimation of the preequilibrium emission. Therefore, we developed a standardized procedure that determines the reaction model parameters that best reproduce the most prominent reaction channels in a physically justifiable manner. The primary focus of the procedure was to determine the best parametrization for the preequilibrium two-component exciton model via a comparison to the energy-dependent Nb93(p,x) data, as well as previously published La139(p,x) cross sections. Conclusions: This modeling study revealed a trend toward a relative decrease for internal transition rates at intermediate proton energies (Ep=20-60 MeV) in the current exciton model as compared to the default values. The results of this work are instrumental for the planning, execution, and analysis essential to isotope production.

We report here the results of a measurement of the scattered versus unscattered neutron fluence on polyethylene determined via neutron activation of multiple natural indium foils from a deuterium-deuterium (D-D) neutron generator. The neutrons were produced by the High Flux Neutron Generator (HFNG) at the University of California, Berkeley, a specially designed source to maximize neutron flux on a sample while minimizing the total neutron yield. During the experiment, approximately 108 n/s were produced with the energies at the indium foils ranging from 2.2 to 2.8 MeV. Both the angle-integrated and the partial angle differential results are consistent with the predictions of the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport (MCNP) code, using ENDF/B-VII.1. This supports shielding calculations in the fast energy region with high-density polyethylene.

A stacked-target of natural lanthanum foils (99.9119% 139La) was irradiated using a 60 MeV proton beam at the LBNL 88-Inch Cyclotron. 139La(p,x) cross sections are reported between 35–60 MeV for nine product radionuclides. The primary motivation for this measurement was the need to quantify the production of 134Ce. As a positron-emitting analogue of the promising medical radionuclide 225Ac, 134Ce is desirable for in vivo applications of bio-distribution assays for this emerging radio-pharmaceutical. The results of this measurement were compared to the nuclear model codes TALYS, EMPIRE and ALICE (using default parameters), which showed significant deviation from the measured values.

The Cl35(n,p) and Cl35(n,α) cross sections at incident neutron energies between 2.42 and 2.74 MeV were measured using the Berkeley High Flux Neutron Generator. The cross sections for Cl35(n,p) were more than a factor of 3 to 5 less than all of the values in the neutron absorption data libraries, while the Cl35(n,α) cross sections are in reasonable agreement with the data libraries. The measured energy-differential cross section is consistent with a single resonance with a width of 293(46) keV. This result suggests that, despite the high incident neutron energy, any attempt to model (n,x) cross sections in the vicinity of the N=Z=20 shell gap requires a resolved resonance approach rather than a Hauser-Feshbach approach.

The Cl35(n,p) and Cl35(n,α) cross sections at incident neutron energies between 2.42 and 2.74 MeV were measured using the Berkeley High Flux Neutron Generator. The cross sections for Cl35(n,p) were more than a factor of 3 to 5 less than all of the values in the neutron absorption data libraries, while the Cl35(n,α) cross sections are in reasonable agreement with the data libraries. The measured energy-differential cross section is consistent with a single resonance with a width of 293(46) keV. This result suggests that, despite the high incident neutron energy, any attempt to model (n,x) cross sections in the vicinity of the N=Z=20 shell gap requires a resolved resonance approach rather than a Hauser-Feshbach approach.

An experiment was performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's 88-in. Cyclotron to determine the mass number of a superheavy element. The measurement resulted in the observation of two α-decay chains, produced via the ^{243}Am(^{48}Ca,xn)^{291-x}Mc reaction, that were separated by mass-to-charge ratio (A/q) and identified by the combined BGS+FIONA apparatus. One event occurred at A/q=284 and was assigned to ^{284}Nh (Z=113), the α-decay daughter of ^{288}Mc (Z=115), while the second occurred at A/q=288 and was assigned to ^{288}Mc. This experiment represents the first direct measurements of the mass numbers of superheavy elements, confirming previous (indirect) mass-number assignments.

A next-generation, high-flux DD neutron generator has been designed, commissioned, and characterized, and is now operational in a new facility at the University of California Berkeley. The generator, originally designed for 40Ar/39Ar dating of geological materials, has since served numerous additional applications, including medical isotope production studies, with others planned for the near future. In this work, we present an overview of the High Flux Neutron Generator (HFNG) which includes a variety of simulations, analytical models, and experimental validation of results. Extensive analysis was performed in order to characterize the neutron yield, flux, and energy distribution at specific locations where samples may be loaded for irradiation. A notable design feature of the HFNG is the possibility for sample irradiation internal to the cathode, just 8 mm away from the neutron production site, thus maximizing the neutron flux (n/cm2/s). The generator's maximum neutron flux at this irradiation position is 2.58 × 107 n/cm2/s ± 5% (approximately 3 × 108 n/s total yield) as measured via activation of small natural indium foils. However, future development is aimed at achieving an order of magnitude increase in flux. Additionally, the deuterium ion beam optics were optimized by simulations for various extraction configurations in order to achieve a uniform neutron flux distribution and an acceptable heat load. Finally, experiments were performed in order to benchmark the modeling and characterization of the HFNG.

Cross sections for the 47Ti(n,p)47Sc and 64Zn(n,p)64Cu reactions have been measured for quasi-monoenergetic DD neutrons produced by the UC Berkeley High Flux Neutron Generator (HFNG). The HFNG is a compact neutron generator designed as a “flux-trap” that maximizes the probability that a neutron will interact with a sample loaded into a specific, central location. The study was motivated by interest in the production of 47Sc and 64Cu as emerging medical isotopes. The cross sections were measured in ratio to the 113In(n,n′)113mIn and 115In(n,n′)115mIn inelastic scattering reactions on co-irradiated indium samples. Post-irradiation counting using an HPGe and LEPS detectors allowed for cross section determination to within 5% uncertainty. The 64Zn(n,p)64Cu cross section for 2.76-0.02+0.01 MeV neutrons is reported as 49.3 ± 2.6 mb (relative to 113In) or 46.4 ± 1.7 mb (relative to 115In), and the 47Ti(n,p)47Sc cross section is reported as 26.26 ± 0.82 mb. The measured cross sections are found to be in good agreement with existing measured values but with lower uncertainty (

A multi-step Coulomb excitation measurement with the GRETINA and CHICO2 detector arrays was carried out with a 430-MeV beam of the neutron-rich 110Ru (t1/2=12 s) isotope produced at the CARIBU facility. This represents the first successful measurement following the post-acceleration of an unstable isotope of a refractory element. The reduced transition probabilities obtained for levels near the ground state provide strong evidence for a triaxial shape; a conclusion confirmed by comparisons with the results of beyond-mean-field and triaxial rotor model calculations.

Radioactive ^{129}Sb, which can be treated as a proton plus semimagic ^{128}Sn core within the particle-core coupling scheme, was studied by Coulomb excitation. Reduced electric quadrupole transition probabilities, B(E2), for the 2^{+}⊗πg_{7/2} multiplet members and candidate πd_{5/2} state were measured. The results indicate that the total electric quadrupole strength of ^{129}Sb is a factor of 1.39(11) larger than the ^{128}Sn core, which is in stark contrast to the expectations of the empirically successful particle-core coupling scheme. Shell-model calculations performed with two different sets of nucleon-nucleon interactions suggest that this enhanced collectivity is due to constructive quadrupole coherence in the wave functions stemming from the proton-neutron residual interactions, where adding one nucleon to a core near a double-shell closure can have a pronounced effect. The enhanced electric quadrupole strength is an early signal of the emerging nuclear collectivity that becomes dominant away from the shell closure.

The β-delayed neutron emission of ^{83,84}Ga isotopes was studied using the neutron time-of-flight technique. The measured neutron energy spectra showed emission from states at excitation energies high above the neutron separation energy and previously not observed in the β decay of midmass nuclei. The large decay strength deduced from the observed intense neutron emission is a signature of Gamow-Teller transformation. This observation was interpreted as evidence for allowed β decay to ^{78}Ni core-excited states in ^{83,84}Ge favored by shell effects. We developed shell model calculations in the proton fpg_{9/2} and neutron extended fpg_{9/2}+d_{5/2} valence space using realistic interactions that were used to understand measured β-decay lifetimes. We conclude that enhanced, concentrated β-decay strength for neutron-unbound states may be common for very neutron-rich nuclei. This leads to intense β-delayed high-energy neutron and strong multineutron emission probabilities that in turn affect astrophysical nucleosynthesis models.

We report total absorption spectroscopy measurements of ^{92}Rb, ^{96gs}Y, and ^{142}Cs β decays, which are the most important contributors to the high energy ν[over ¯]_{e} spectral shape in nuclear reactors. These three β decays contribute 43% of the ν[over ¯]_{e} flux near 5.5 MeV emitted by nuclear reactors. This ν[over ¯]_{e} energy is particularly interesting due to spectral features recently observed in several experiments including the Daya Bay, Double Chooz, and RENO Collaborations. Measurements were conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by means of proton-induced fission of ^{238}U with on-line mass separation of fission fragments and the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer. We observe a β-decay pattern that is similar to recent measurements of ^{92}Rb, with a ground-state to ground-state β feeding of 91(3)%. We verify the ^{96gs}Y ground-state to ground-state β feeding of 95.5(20)%. Our measurements substantially modify the β-decay feedings of ^{142}Cs, reducing the β feeding to ^{142}Ba states below 2 MeV by 32% when compared with the latest evaluations. Our results increase the discrepancy between the observed and the expected reactor ν[over ¯]_{e} flux between 5 and 7 MeV, the maximum excess increases from ∼10% to ∼12%.

Single-neutron states in (133)Sn and (209)Pb, which are analogous to single-electron states outside of closed atomic shells in alkali metals, were populated by the ((9)Be, (8)Be) one-neutron transfer reaction in inverse kinematics using particle-γ coincidence spectroscopy. In addition, the s(1/2) single-neutron hole-state candidate in (131)Sn was populated by ((9)Be, (10)Be). Doubly closed-shell (132)Sn (radioactive) and (208)Pb (stable) beams were used at sub-Coulomb barrier energies of 3 MeV per nucleon. Level energies, γ-ray transitions, absolute cross sections, spectroscopic factors, asymptotic normalization coefficients, and excited-state lifetimes are reported and compared with shell-model expectations. The results include a new transition and precise level energy for the 3p(1/2) candidate in (133)Sn, new absolute cross sections for the 1h(9/2) candidate in (133)Sn and 3s(1/2) candidate in (131)Sn, and new lifetimes for excited states in (133)Sn and (209)Pb. This is the first report on excited-state lifetimes of (133)Sn, which allow for a unique test of the nuclear shell model and (132)Sn double-shell closure.

Beta decay of 86Ga was studied by means of β-neutron-γ spectroscopy. An isotopically pure ^{86}Ga beam was produced at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility using a resonance ionization laser ion source and high-resolution electromagnetic separation. The decay of 86Ga revealed a half-life of 43(-15)(+21) ms and large β-delayed one-neutron and two-neutron branching ratios of P1n=60(10)% and P2n=20(10)%. The βγ decay of 86Ga populated a 527 keV transition that is interpreted as the deexcitation of the first 2+ state in the N=54 isotone 86Ge and suggests a quick onset of deformation in Ge isotopes beyond N=50.

The β decays of neutron-rich nuclei near the doubly magic (78)Ni were studied at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility using an electromagnetic isobar separator. The half-lives of (82)Zn (228±10  ms), (83)Zn (117±20  ms), and (85)Ga (93±7  ms) were determined for the first time. These half-lives were found to be very different from the predictions of the global model used in astrophysical simulations. A new calculation was developed using the density functional model, which properly reproduced the new experimental values. The robustness of the new model in the (78)Ni region allowed us to extrapolate data for more neutron-rich isotopes. The revised analysis of the rapid neutron capture process in low entropy environments with our new set of measured and calculated half-lives shows a significant redistribution of predicted isobaric abundances strengthening the yield of A>140 nuclei.

By studying the (109)Xe→(105)Te→(101)Sn superallowed α-decay chain, we observe low-lying states in (101)Sn, the one-neutron system outside doubly magic (100)Sn. We find that the spins of the ground state (J=7/2) and first excited state (J=5/2) in (101)Sn are reversed with respect to the traditional level ordering postulated for (103)Sn and the heavier tin isotopes. Through simple arguments and state-of-the-art shell-model calculations we explain this unexpected switch in terms of a transition from the single-particle regime to the collective mode in which orbital-dependent pairing correlations dominate.

The beta-delayed neutron branching ratios (P{betan}) for nuclei near doubly magic 78Ni have been directly measured using a new method combining high-resolution mass separation, reacceleration, and digital beta-gamma spectroscopy of 238U fission products. The P{betan} values for the very neutron-rich isotopes ;{76-78}Cu and 83Ga were found to be much higher than previously reported and predicted. Revised calculations of the betan process, accounting for new mass measurements and an inversion of the pi2p{3/2} and pi1f{5/2} orbitals, are in better agreement with these new experimental results.

An alpha-decay branch of (1.4+/-0.4) x 10(-4) has been discovered in the decay of 109I, which predominantly decays via proton emission. The measured Q(alpha) value of 3918+/-21 keV allows the indirect determination of the Q value for proton emission from 105Sb of 356+/-22 keV, which is approximately of 130 keV more bound than previously reported. This result is relevant for the astrophysical rapid proton-capture process, which would terminate in the 105Sn(p,gamma)106Sb(p,gamma)107Te(alpha decay)103Sn cycle at the densities expected in explosive hydrogen burning scenarios, unless unusually strong pairing effects result in a 103Sn(p,gamma)104Sb(p,gamma)105Te(alpha decay)101Sn) cycle.

Two new alpha emitters 109Xe and 105Te were identified through the observation of the 109Xe --> 105Te --> 101Sn alpha-decay chain. The 109Xe nuclei were produced in the fusion-evaporation reaction 54Fe(58Ni,3n)109Xe and studied using the Recoil Mass Spectrometer at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. Two transitions at Ealpha = 4062 +/- 7 keV and Ealpha = 3918 +/- 9 keV were interpreted as the l = 2 and l = 0 transitions from the 7/2+ ground state in 109Xe (T1/2 = 13 +/- 2 ms) to the 5/2+ ground state and a 7/2+ excited state, located at 150 +/- 13 keV in 105Te. The observation of the subsequent decay of 105Te marks the discovery of the lightest known alpha-decaying nucleus. The measured transition energy Ealpha = 4703 +/- 5 keV and half-life T1/2 = 620 +/- 70 ns were used to determine the reduced alpha-decay width delta2. The ratio delta105Te(2)/delta213Po(2) of approximately 3 indicates a superallowed character of the alpha emission from 105Te.

The B(E2;0(+)(1)-->2(+)(1)) values for the radioactive neutron-rich germanium isotopes (78,80)Ge and the closed neutron shell nucleus 82Ge were measured at the HRIBF using Coulomb excitation in inverse kinematics. These data allow a study of the systematic trend between the subshell closures at N=40 and 50. The B(E2) behavior approaching N=50 is similar to the trend observed for heavier isotopic chains. A comparison of the experimental results with a shell model calculation demonstrates persistence of the N=50 shell gap and a strong sensitivity of the B(E2) values to the effective interaction.

Fine structure in proton emission from the 3.1(3) mus activity of 145Tm was discovered by using a novel technique of digital processing of overlapping recoil implantation and decay signals. Proton transitions to the ground state of 144Er and to its first excited 2(+) state at 0.33(1) MeV with a branching ratio I(p)(2(+))=9.6+/-1.5% were observed. The structure of the 145Tm wave function and the emission process were analyzed by using particle-core vibration coupling models.

Production of the radioisotope 18F in novae is severely constrained by the rate of the 18F(p,alpha)15O reaction. A resonance at E(c.m.)=330 keV may strongly enhance the 18F(p,alpha)15O reaction rate, but its strength has been very uncertain. We have determined the strength of this important resonance by measuring the 18F(p,alpha)15O cross section on and off resonance using a radioactive 18F beam at the ORNL Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. We find that its resonance strength is 1.48+/-0.46 eV, and that it dominates the 18F(p,alpha)15O reaction rate over a significant range of temperatures characteristic of ONeMg novae.

X-ray bursts have been suggested as a possible site for the astrophysical rp-process. The time scale for the process is governed by beta-decay half-lives of several even-even N = Z waiting point nuclei, in particular, N = Z = 40 80Zr. A 4.1(+0.8/-0.6)-s beta(+)/EC half-life for 80Zr was determined by observing delayed 84-keV gamma rays depopulating a T(1/2) = 4-&mgr;s isomer at 312 keV in the daughter 80Y. As this half-life is lower than many previously predicted values, the calculated excessive production of A = 80 nuclides in astrophysical x-ray burst scenarios is reduced, and less extreme conditions are necessary for the production of heavier nuclides.