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Background: Mg 24 is a strongly deformed nucleus in the ground state. Deformation effects can be observed in the structure of the isoscalar giant monopole and quadrupole resonances. Mg 24 is also a nucleus that is well known to present different types of cluster-oscillation modes. Both giant resonances and cluster states are strongly populated by isoscalar transitions. Purpose: To extract the E 0 , E 1 , and E 2 transition strengths via Li 6 scattering. The Li 6 probe is a powerful tool for investigating the isoscalar nuclear response with a very favorable ratio of resonance-to-continuum background. Method: Double-differential cross sections of Li 6 inelastic scattering, at the beam energy of 100 MeV/u, were measured in the excitation-energy range 10 – 40 MeV and scattering angles 0 − 3 ∘ . A multipole-decomposition analysis was performed for extracting the isoscalar E 0 , E 1 , and E 2 strength distributions. Results: The extracted multipole strengths were compared with predictions from consistent quasiparticle random phase approximation calculations. The theoretical predictions are in fair agreement with the experimental data. The E 0 strength was also compared with results from antisymmetrized molecular dynamics calculations found in the literature. A few peaks in the experimental data might be associated with clustering in Mg 24 . Conclusions: Ground-state deformation effects were observed in the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) and isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR) distributions. The ISGMR strength is split in two peaks around 19 and 28 MeV. The ISGQR exhibits a pronounced peak at 20 MeV with a broadening at the low-energy region, similar to predictions from microscopic calculations. Signatures of excitation of cluster states were observed in the E 0 response. Further studies including particle-decay measurements will be required to confirm the nature of the observed peaks.

Inelastic ${}^{6}$Li scattering at 100 MeV/u on ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{93}$Nb have been measured with the high-resolution magnetic spectrometer Grand Raiden. The magnetic-rigidity settings of the spectrometer covered excitation energies from 10 to 40 MeV and scattering angles in the range $0^\circ < \theta_{\text{lab.}}< 2^\circ$. The isoscalar giant monopole resonance was selectively excited in the present data. Measurements free of instrumental background and the very favorable resonance-to-continuum ratio of ${}^{6}$Li scattering allowed for precise determination of the $E0$ strengths in ${}^{12}$C and ${}^{93}$Nb. It was found that the monopole strength in ${}^{12}$C exhausts $52 \pm 3^\text{(stat.)} \pm 8 ^\text{(sys.)}$\% of the energy-weighted sum rule (EWSR), which is considerably higher than results from previous $\alpha$-scattering experiments. The monopole strength in ${}^{93}$Nb exhausts $92 \pm 4^\text{(stat.)} \pm 10 ^\text{(sys.)}$\% of the EWSR, and it is consistent with measurements of nuclei with mass number of $A\approx90$. Such comparison indicates that the isoscalar giant monopole resonance distributions in these nuclei are very similar, and no influence due to nuclear structure was observed.

Electron-capture reactions play important roles in the late evolution of core-collapse supernovae. The electron-capture rates used in astrophysical simulations rely on theoretical calculations which have to be tested against and guided by experimental data. We report on the measurement of the Gamow-Teller strength distribution of the odd-mass nucleus $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ via the ($t,^{3}\mathrm{He}$ + $\ensuremath{\gamma}$) charge-exchange reaction at a beam energy of 115 MeV/u. The Gamow-Teller strength distributions were extracted up to an excitation energy in $^{93}\mathrm{Zr}$ of 10 MeV. The results were compared with shell-model and quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) calculations. The theoretical calculations fail to describe the details of the strength distribution, but estimate reasonably well the integrated Gamow-Teller transition strength. Electron-capture rates derived from the measured and theoretical strength distributions match reasonably well, especially at the higher stellar densities of importance for deleptonization during the collapse of the stellar core, since the electron-capture $Q$ value is close to zero and the Fermi energy sufficiently high to ensure that the details of the strength distribution do not have a strong impact on the derived rates. At stellar densities in excess of ${10}^{9}$ g/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$, the electron-capture rate based on a single-state approximation used in astrophysical simulations is slightly higher than the rates based on the data and the shell-model and QRPA calculations, likely due to the fact that the approximation includes temperature-dependent effects, which increase the rates. However, the difference is much smaller than that observed in recent studies of nuclei with $Zl40$ near $N=50$, suggesting that the single-state approximation does not account for Pauli-blocking effects for nuclei with $Zl40$ that are much stronger than those for $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ with $Z=41$.

The Gamow-Teller strength distribution from ${}^{88}$Sr was extracted from a $(t,{}^{3}\text{He}+\gamma)$ experiment at 115 MeV/$u$ to constrain estimates for the electron-capture rates on nuclei around $N=50$, between and including $^{78}$Ni and $^{88}$Sr, which are important for the late evolution of core-collapse supernovae. The observed strength below an excitation energy of 8 MeV was consistent with zero and below 10 MeV amounted to $0.1\pm0.05$. Except for a very-weak transition that could come from the 2.231-MeV $1^{+}$ state, no $\gamma$ lines that could be associated with the decay of known $1^{+}$ states were identified. The derived electron-capture rate from the measured strength distribution is more than an order of magnitude smaller than rates based on the single-state approximation presently used in astrophysical simulations for most nuclei near $N=50$. Rates based on shell-model and quasiparticle random-phase approximation calculations that account for Pauli blocking and core-polarization effects provide better estimates than the single-state approximation, although a relatively strong transition to the first $1^{+}$ state in $^{88}$Rb is not observed in the data. Pauli unblocking effects due to high stellar temperatures could partially counter the low electron-capture rates. The new data serves as a zero-temperature benchmark for constraining models used to estimate such effects.

Background: Inelastic neutrino-nucleus scattering is important for understanding core-collapse supernovae and the detection of emitted neutrinos from such events in earth-based detectors. Direct measurement of the cross sections is difficult and has only been performed on a few nuclei. It is, therefore, important to develop indirect techniques from which the inelastic neutrino-nucleus scattering cross sections can be determined. Purpose: This paper presents a development of the (Li-6,Li-6*[T = 1, T-z = 0, 0(+), 3.56 MeV]) reaction at 100 MeV/u as a probe for isolating the isovector spin-transfer response in the inelastic channel (Delta S = 1, Delta T = 1, Delta T-z = 0) from which the Gamow-Teller transition strengths from nuclei of relevance for inelastic neutrino-nucleus scattering cross sections can be extracted. Method: By measuring the Li-6 ejectile in a magnetic spectrometer and selecting events in which the 3.56 MeV gamma ray from the decay of the Li-6*[3.56 MeV] state is detected, the isovector spin-transfer selectivity is obtained. High-purity germanium clover detectors served to detect the gamma rays. Doppler reconstruction was used to determine the gamma energy in the rest frame of Li-6. From the Li-6 and 3.56 MeV gamma-momentum vectors the excitation energy of the residual nucleus was determined. Results: In the study of the C-12(Li-6,Li-6*[3.56 MeV]) reaction, the isovector spin-transfer excitation-energy spectrum in the inelastic channel was successfully measured. The strong Gamow-Teller state in C-12 at 15.1 MeV was observed. Comparisons with the analog C-12(Li-6,He-6) reaction validate the method of extracting the Gamow-Teller strength. In measurements of the Mg-24, Nb-93(Li-6,Li-6*[3.56 MeV]) reactions, the 3.56 MeV gamma peak could not be isolated from the strong background in the gamma spectrum from the decay of the isoscalar excitations. It is argued that by using a gamma-ray tracking array instead of a clover array, it is feasible to extend the mass range over which the (Li-6,Li-6*) reaction can be used for extracting the isovector spin-transfer response up to mass numbers of similar to 25 and perhaps higher. Conclusions: It is demonstrated that the (Li-6,Li-6*[3.56 MeV]) reaction probe can be used to isolate the inelastic isovector spin-transfer response in nuclei. Application to nuclei with mass numbers of about 25 or more, however, will require a more efficient gamma-ray array with a better tracking capability.

Background: Stellar electron-capture reactions on medium-heavy nuclei are important for many astrophysical phenomena, including core-collapse and thermonuclear supernov\ae{} and neutron stars. Estimates of electron-capture rates rely on accurate estimates of Gamow-Teller strength distributions, which can be extracted from charge-exchange reactions at intermediate beam energies. Measured Gamow-Teller transition strength distributions for stable pf-shell nuclei are reasonably well reproduced by theoretical calculations in the shell model, except for lower mass nuclei where admixtures from the sd shell can become important.Purpose: This paper presents a ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}$ charge-exchange experiment on $^{45}\mathrm{Sc}$, one of the lightest pf-shell nuclei. The focus was on Gamow-Teller transitions to final states at low excitation energies, which are particularly important for accurate estimations of electron-capture rates at relatively low stellar densities. The experimental results are compared with various theoretical models.Method: The double-differential cross section for the $^{45}\mathrm{Sc}(t,^{3}\mathrm{He}+\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction was measured using the NSCL Coupled-Cyclotron Facility at $115\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}/u$. Gamow-Teller contributions to the excitation-energy spectra were extracted by means of a multipole-decomposition analysis. $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays emitted due to the deexcitation of $^{45}\mathrm{Ca}$ were measured using GRETINA to allow for the extraction of Gamow-Teller strengths from very weak transitions at low excitation energies.Results: Gamow-Teller transition strengths to $^{45}\mathrm{Ca}$ were extracted up to an excitation energy of 20 MeV, and that to the first excited state in $^{45}\mathrm{Ca}$ at 174 keV was extracted from the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray measurement, which, even though weak, is important for the astrophysical applications and dominates under certain stellar conditions. Shell-model calculations performed in the pf shell-model space with the GXPF1A, KB3G, and FPD6 interactions did not reproduce the experimental Gamow-Teller strength distribution, and a calculation using the quasiparticle random phase approximation that is often used in astrophysical simulations also could not reproduce the experimental strength distribution.Conclusions: Theoretical models aimed at describing Gamow-Teller transition strengths from nuclei in the lower pf shell for the purpose of estimating electron-capture rates for astrophysical simulations require further development. The likely cause for the relatively poor performance of the shell-model theory is the influence of intruder configurations from the sd shell. The combination of charge-exchange experiments at intermediate beam energy and high-resolution $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detection provides a powerful technique to identify weak transitions to low-lying final states that are nearly impossible to identify without the coincidences. Identification of these weak low-lying transitions is important for providing accurate electron-capture rates for astrophysical simulations.

The Gamow-Teller strength in the β(+) direction to (46)Sc was extracted via the (46)Ti(t,(3)He + γ) reaction at 115 MeV/u. The γ-ray coincidences served to precisely measure the very weak Gamow-Teller transition to a final state at 991 keV. Although this transition is weak, it is crucial for accurately estimating electron-capture rates in astrophysical scenarios with relatively low stellar densities and temperatures, such as presupernova stellar evolution. Shell-model calculations with different effective interactions in the pf shell-model space do not reproduce the experimental Gamow-Teller strengths, which is likely due to sd-shell admixtures. Calculations in the quasiparticle random phase approximation that are often used in astrophysical simulations also fail to reproduce the experimental Gamow-Teller strength distribution, leading to strongly overestimated electron-capture rates. Because reliable theoretical predictions of Gamow-Teller strengths are important for providing astrophysical electron-capture reaction rates for a broad set of nuclei in the lower pf shell, we conclude that further theoretical improvements are required to match astrophysical needs.

The Gamow-Teller strength in the β(+) direction to (46)Sc was extracted via the (46)Ti(t,(3)He + γ) reaction at 115 MeV/u. The γ-ray coincidences served to precisely measure the very weak Gamow-Teller transition to a final state at 991 keV. Although this transition is weak, it is crucial for accurately estimating electron-capture rates in astrophysical scenarios with relatively low stellar densities and temperatures, such as presupernova stellar evolution. Shell-model calculations with different effective interactions in the pf shell-model space do not reproduce the experimental Gamow-Teller strengths, which is likely due to sd-shell admixtures. Calculations in the quasiparticle random phase approximation that are often used in astrophysical simulations also fail to reproduce the experimental Gamow-Teller strength distribution, leading to strongly overestimated electron-capture rates. Because reliable theoretical predictions of Gamow-Teller strengths are important for providing astrophysical electron-capture reaction rates for a broad set of nuclei in the lower pf shell, we conclude that further theoretical improvements are required to match astrophysical needs.

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 as ${}^{56}$Ni) are unstable, new methods are needed to perform charge-exchange experiments in inverse kinematics with unstable isotopes.Purpose: The ${}^{56}$Ni($p,n$) and ${}^{55}$Co($p,n$) reactions were measured in inverse kinematics in order to extract GT strengths for transitions to ${}^{56}$Cu and ${}^{55}$Ni, 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 ${}^{56}$Ni and ${}^{55}$Ni to final states in ${}^{56}$Co and ${}^{55}$Co, respectively.Method: Differential cross sections and excitation energy spectra for the ${}^{56}$Ni($p,n$) and ${}^{55}$Co($p,n$) 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 ${}^{56}$Ni and ${}^{55}$Co 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 ($p,n$) 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, ${}^{56}$Ni($p,n$) and ${}^{55}$Co($p,n$) 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.

Beta-delayed proton emission from nuclides in the neighborhood of 100Sn was studied at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The nuclei were produced by fragmentation of a 120 MeV/nucleon 112Sn primary beam on a Be target. Beam purification was provided by the A1900 Fragment Separator and the Radio Frequency Fragment Separator. The fragments of interest were identified and their decay was studied with the NSCL Beta Counting System (BCS) in conjunction with the Segmented Germanium Array (SeGA). The nuclei 96Cd, 98Ing, 98Inm and 99In were identified as beta-delayed proton emitters, with branching ratios bp = 5.5(40)%, 5.5+3 -2%, 19(2)% and 0.9(4)%, respectively. The bp for 89Ru, 91,92Rh, 93Pd and 95Ag were deduced for the first time with bp = 3+1.9 -1.7%, 1.3(5)%, 1.9(1)%, 7.5(5)% and 2.5(3)%, respectively. The bp = 22(1)% for 101Sn was deduced with higher precision than previously reported. The impact of the newly measured bp values on the composition of the type-I X-ray burst ashes was studied.

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 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 GT 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.

We present a novel technique for studying the quenching of shell gaps in exotic isotopes. The method is based on extracting Gamow-Teller (ΔL=0, ΔS=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 B(GT) value from β-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.

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.

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.

We report on the first successful extraction of a β+ Gamow-Teller strength distribution from a radioactive isotope in an intermediate-energy charge-exchange experiment in inverse kinematics. The (7Li,7Be+γ(429 keV)) reaction at 100A MeV was used to measure Gamow-Teller transition strengths from 34P to states in 34Si. The results show that little mixing occurs between sd and pf shell configurations for the low-lying 0+ and 2+ states even though 34Si neighbors the island of inversion and low-lying 2ℏω intruder states exist. Shell-model calculations in the sdpf model space are consistent with these findings.

The decay properties of rp‐process nuclei in the vicinity of 100Sn have been studied at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). The measured β‐decay half‐life for 100Sn is 0.55−0.31+0.70 s, in agreement with a previous measurement. In 98In, the β‐decay of the ground state plus that of a long lived isomer were observed with half‐lives of 47(13) ms and 0.66(40) s respectively. The half‐life of 96Cd, measured for the first time, is 1.03−0.21+0.24 s; however, the existence of a predicted isomeric state in this nucleus could not be confirmed. Additionally, a gamma cascade de‐exciting a μ‐isomer in the odd‐odd nucleus 96Ag was observed. The implications of the measured half‐life of 96Cd on the calculated rp‐process final abundances are discussed.

Differential cross sections for transitions of known weak strength were measured with the (3He,t) reaction at 420 MeV on targets of 12C, 13C, 18O, 26Mg, 58Ni, 60Ni, 90Zr, 118Sn, 120Sn and 208Pb. Using this data, it is shown the proportionalities between strengths and cross sections for this probe follow simple trends as a function of mass number. These trends can be used to confidently determine Gamow-Teller strength distributions in nuclei for which the proportionality cannot be calibrated via beta-decay strengths. Although theoretical calculations in distorted-wave Born approximation overestimate the data, they allow one to understand the main experimental features and to predict deviations from the simple trends observed in some of the transitions., 4 pages, 2 figures