Search

The $^{244}$Pu($^{50}$Ti,$xn$)$^{294-x}$Lv reaction was investigated at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's 88-Inch Cyclotron facility. The experiment was aimed at the production of a superheavy element with $Z\ge 114$ by irradiating an actinide target with a beam heavier than $^{48}$Ca. Produced Lv ions were separated from the unwanted beam and nuclear reaction products using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator and implanted into a newly commissioned focal plane detector system. Two decay chains were observed and assigned to the decay of $^{290}$Lv. The production cross section was measured to be $\sigma_{\rm prod}=0.44(^{+58}_{-28})$~pb at a center-of-target center-of-mass energy of 220(3)~MeV. This represents the first published measurement of the production of a superheavy element near the `Island-of-Stability', with a beam of $^{50}$Ti and is an essential precursor in the pursuit of searching for new elements beyond $Z=118$., Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letters

The availability of high-intensity, heavy-ion beams coupled to sensitive, large solid-angleacceptance spectrometers has enabled a detailed examination of the fission fragments produced in induced-fission reactions. The abrasion-fission process involves the formation of projectile-like prefragments in violent nuclear collisions at relative energies in excess of 100 MeV/u. At intermediate energies below this threshold, experiments suggest a change in the prefragment kinematic qualities. Information regarding the influence of this transitional phase upon the evolution of nuclei approaching the point of scission is scarce. In this article, data are presented for over 200 nuclei from nickel to palladium produced in abrasion-fission reactions of a 80 MeV/u 238U beam. Cross sections were obtained following yield measurements performed for the principal charge states of the identified fission fragments and a detailed analysis of the ion transmission. A full kinematic analysis of the fission fragments has been performed using the LISE++ software package, where the trajectory of an ion passing through a spectrometer can be reconstructed based upon measurements at the focal plane. The results obtained at the S800 spectrograph are compared with predictions obtained with a three-fission progenitor (3EER) model. Systematic studies of fission-fragment properties continue to provide a valuable experimental benchmark for theoretical efforts directed toward describing this complex decay channel, that is important in the context of planning experiments to explore the neutron-rich region of the nuclear chart at rare-isotope beam facilities., Comment: 14 pages, 18 figures

The field of nuclear science has considerably advanced since its beginning just over a century ago. Today, the science of rare isotopes is on the cusp of a new era with theoretical and computing advances complementing experimental capabilities at new facilities internationally. In this article we present a vision for the science of rare isotope beams (RIBs). We do not attempt to cover the full breadth of the field, but rather provide a perspective and address a selection of topics that reflect our own interests and expertise. We focus in particular on systems near the drip lines, where one often finds nuclei that are referred to as "exotic," and where the role of the "nuclear continuum" is only just starting to be explored. An important aspect of this article is the attempt to highlight the crucial connections between nuclear structure and nuclear reactions required to fully interpret and leverage the rich data to be collected in the next years at RIB facilities. Further, we connect the efforts in structure and reactions to key questions of nuclear astrophysics.

Detailed $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy of the exotic neon isotope $^{28}$Ne has been performed for the first time using the one-neutron removal reaction from $^{29}$Ne on a liquid hydrogen target at 240~MeV/nucleon. Based on an analysis of parallel momentum distributions, a level scheme with spin-parity assignments has been constructed for $^{28}$Ne and the negative-parity states are identified for the first time. The measured partial cross sections and momentum distributions reveal a significant intruder $p$-wave strength providing evidence of the breakdown of the $N=20$ and $N=28$ shell gaps. Only a weak, possible $f$-wave strength was observed to bound final states. Large-scale shell-model calculations with different effective interactions do not reproduce the large $p$-wave and small $f$-wave strength observed experimentally, indicating an ongoing challenge for a complete theoretical description of the transition into the island of inversion along the Ne isotopic chain.

Excited-state spectroscopy from the first Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) experiment is reported. A 24(2)-$\mu$s isomer was observed with the FRIB Decay Station initiator (FDSi) through a cascade of 224- and 401-keV $\gamma$ rays in coincidence with $^{32}\textrm{Na}$ nuclei. This is the only known microsecond isomer ($1{\text{ }\mu\text{s}}\leq T_{1/2} < 1\text{ ms}$) in the region. This nucleus is at the heart of the $N=20$ island of shape inversion and is at the crossroads of spherical shell-model, deformed shell-model, and ab initio theories. It can be represented as the coupling of a proton hole and neutron particle to $^{32}\textrm{Mg}$, $^{32}\textrm{Mg}+\pi^{-1} + \nu^{+1}$. This odd-odd coupling and isomer formation provides a sensitive measure of the underlying shape degrees of freedom of $^{32}\textrm{Mg}$, where the onset of spherical-to-deformed shape inversion begins with a low-lying deformed $2^+$ state at 885 keV and a low-lying shape-coexisting $0_2^+$ state at 1058 keV. We suggest two possible explanations for the 625-keV isomer in $^{32}$Na: a $6^-$ spherical shape isomer that decays by $E2$ or a $0^+$ deformed spin isomer that decays by $M2$. The present results and calculations are most consistent with the latter, indicating that the low-lying states are dominated by deformation., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Physical Review Letters

The collective structure of $^{106}$Cd is elucidated by multi-step Coulomb excitation of a 3.849 MeV/$A$ beam of $^{106}$Cd on a 1.1 mg/cm$^2$ $^{208}$Pb target using GRETINA-CHICO2 at ATLAS. Fourteen $E2$ matrix elements were obtained. The nucleus $^{106}$Cd is a prime example of emergent collectivity that possesses a simple structure: it is free of complexity caused by shape coexistence and has a small, but collectively active number of valence nucleons. This work follows in a long and currently active quest to answer the fundamental question of the origin of nuclear collectivity and deformation, notably in the cadmium isotopes. The results are discussed in terms of phenomenological models, the shell model, and Kumar-Cline sums of $E2$ matrix elements. The ${\langle 0_2^+ ||E2||2_1^+ \rangle}$ matrix element is determined for the first time, providing a total, converged measure of the electric quadrupole strength, $\langle Q^2 \rangle$, of the first-excited $2_1^+$ level relative to the $0_1^+$ ground state, which does not show an increase as expected of harmonic and anharmonic vibrations. Strong evidence for triaxial shapes in weakly collective nuclei is indicated; collective vibrations are excluded. This is contrary to the only other cadmium result of this kind in $^{114}$Cd by C. Fahlander et al., Nucl. Phys. A485, 327 (1988), which is complicated by low-lying shape coexistence near midshell., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

The $^{25}$F($5/2^+) (-1p) ^{24}$O reaction was studied at the NSCL using the S800 spectrometer. The experimental spectroscopic factor for the ground-state to ground-state transition indicates a substantial depletion of the proton $d_{5/2}$ strength compared to shell-model expectations. Our result supports the findings reported by Tang \textit{et al.}, from their study of the $(p,2p)$ reaction at RIBF. The overlap between the $^{25}$F and $^{24}$O ground-states is considerably less than anticipated if $^{24}$O acted as a robust and rigid doubly-magic core in $^{25}$F. We interpret the results within the framework of the Particle-Vibration Coupling (PVC) of a $d_{5/2}$ proton coupled to a quadrupole phonon of an effective core. This approach provides a good description of the experimental data by requiring an effective $^{24}$O* core with a phonon energy of $\hbar\omega_2$= 3.2 MeV, and a $B(E2) ~ 2.7$ W.u., softer and more collective than a bare $^{24}$O. Both the Nilsson deformed mean field and the PVC models appear to capture the properties of the effective core of $^{25}$F, suggesting that the additional proton tends to polarize the free, doubly magic $^{24}$O in such a way that it becomes either slightly deformed or a quadrupole vibrator., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures

Absolute cross sections for the addition of $s$- and $d$-wave neutrons to $^{14}$C and $^{14}$N have been determined simultaneously via the ($d$,$p$) reaction at 10 MeV/u. The difference between the neutron and proton separation energies, $\Delta S$, is around $-20$ MeV for the $^{14}$C$+$$n$ system and $+8$ MeV for $^{14}$N$+$$n$. The population of the $1s_{1/2}$ and $0d_{5/2}$ orbitals for both systems is reduced by a factor of approximately 0.5 compared to the independent single-particle model, or about 0.6 when compared to the shell model. This finding strongly contrasts with results deduced from intermediate-energy knockout reactions between similar nuclei on targets of $^{9}$Be and $^{12}$C. The simultaneous technique used removes many systematic uncertainties., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

The nucleus $^{29}$Ne is situated at the border of the island of inversion. Despite significant efforts, no bound low-lying intruder $f_{7/2}$-state, which would place $^{29}$Ne firmly inside the island of inversion, has yet been observed. Here, the first investigation of unbound states of $^{29}$Ne is reported. The states were populated in $^{30}\mathrm{Ne}(p,pn)$ and $^{30}\mathrm{Na}(p,2p)$ reactions at a beam energy of around $230$ MeV/nucleon, and analyzed in terms of their resonance properties, partial cross sections and momentum distributions. The momentum distributions are compared to calculations using the eikonal, direct reaction model, allowing $\ell$-assignments for the observed states. The lowest-lying resonance at an excitation energy of 1.48(4) MeV shows clear signs of a significant $\ell$=3-component, giving first evidence for $f_{7/2}$ single particle strength in $^{29}$Ne. The excitation energies and strengths of the observed states are compared to shell-model calculations using the sdpf-u-mix interaction, Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

While the phenomenon of one- and two-neutron ground-state halo nuclei is well established, the effects of weak binding on nuclear excitation properties remain largely unexplored. Motivated by this question and by recent data in $^{40}$Mg we investigate the coupling of weakly bound (halo) valence neutrons to a core using the known properties of $^{40}$Mg to explore and illustrate possible particle-core coupling schemes and their impact on the low-lying excitation spectrum., Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures

Exclusive cross sections for the $^{43}$P$(-1p)^{42}$Si reaction to the lowest $0^+$ and $2^+$ states, measured at NSCL with GRETINA and the S800, are interpreted in terms of a two-level mixing (collective) model of oblate and prolate co-existing shapes. Using the formalism developed for deformed nuclei we calculate the spectroscopic amplitudes and exclusive cross-sections in the strong coupling limit, where for $^{43}$P the schematic wavefunction includes the coupling of the Nilsson [211]$\frac{1}{2}$ proton orbit. Good agreement with the experimental data is obtained when the amplitude of the oblate configuration is $\gtrsim$ 80\%, suggesting that both nuclei are predominantly oblate, in line with theoretical expectations., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

UCGretina, a GEANT4 simulation of the GRETINA gamma-ray tracking array of highly-segmented high-purity germanium detectors is described. We have developed a model of the array, in particular of the Quad Module and the capsules, that gives good agreement between simulated and measured photopeak efficiencies over a broad range of gamma-ray energies and reproduces the shape of the measured Compton continuum. Both of these features are needed in order to accurately extract gamma-ray yields from spectra collected in in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements with beams traveling at $v/c \gtrsim 0.3$ at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. In the process of developing the model, we determined that millimeter-scale layers of passive germanium surrounding the active volumes of the simulated crystals must be included in order to reproduce measured photopeak efficiencies. We adopted a simple model of effective passive layers and developed heuristic methods of determining passive-layer thicknesses by comparison of simulations and measurements for a single crystal and for the full array. Prospects for future development of the model are discussed., Comment: 26 pages, 12 figures

Spectroscopic factors to low-lying negative-parity states in $^{11}$Be extracted from the $^{12}$B($d$,$^3$He)$^{11}$Be proton-removal reaction are interpreted within the rotational model. Earlier predictions of the $p$-wave proton removal strengths in the strong coupling limit of the Nilsson model underestimated the spectroscopic factors to the $3/2^-_1$ and $5/2^-_1$ states and suggested that deviations in the $1^+$ ground state of the odd-odd $^{12}$B due to Coriolis coupling should be further explored. In this work we use the Particle Rotor Model to take into account these effects and obtain a good description of the level scheme in $^{11}$B, with a moderate $K$-mixing of the proton Nilsson levels [110]1/2 and [101]3/2. This mixing, present in the $1^+$ bandhead of $^{12}$B, is key to explaining the proton pickup data., Comment: 5 Pages, 2 Figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev. C

The low-spin structure of the semimagic 64Ni nucleus has been considerably expanded: combining four experiments, several 0+ and 2+ excited states were identified below 4.5 MeV, and their properties established. The Monte Carlo shell model accounts for the results and unveils an unexpectedly complex landscape of coexisting shapes: a prolate 0+ excitation is located at a surprisingly high energy (3463 keV), with a collective 2+ state 286 keV above it, the first such observation in Ni isotopes. The evolution in excitation energy of the prolate minimum across the neutron N = 40 subshell gap highlights the impact of the monopole interaction and its variation in strength with N.

In a recent experiment, carried out at RIBF/RIKEN, the $^{25}$F$(p,2p)$$^{24}$O reaction was studied at 270 MeV/A in inverse kinematics. Derived spectroscopic factors suggest that the effective core of $^{25}$F significantly differs from a free $^{24}$O nucleus. We interpret these results within the Particle-Rotor Model and show that the experimental level scheme of $^{25}$F can be understood in the rotation-aligned coupling scheme, with its $5/2^+_1$ ground state as the band-head of a decoupled band. The excitation energies of the observed $1/2_1^+$ and $9/2_1^+$ states correlate strongly with the rotational energy of the effective core, seen by the odd proton, and allow us to estimate its $2^+$ energy at $\approx$ 3.2 MeV and a moderate quadrupole deformation, $\epsilon_2 \approx 0.15$. The measured fragmentation of the $\pi d_{5/2}$ single-particle strength is discussed and some further experiments suggested., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Physical Review C

The excitation energy of deformed intruder states (specifically the 2p2h bandhead) as a function of proton number $Z$ along $N=20$ is of interest both in terms of better understanding the evolution of nuclear structure between spherical $^{40}$Ca and the Island of Inversion nuclei, and for benchmarking theoretical descriptions in this region. At the center of the $N=20$ Island of Inversion, the npnh (where n=2,4,6) neutron excitations across a diminished $N=20$ gap result in deformed and collective ground states, as observed in $^{32}$Mg. In heavier isotones, npnh excitations do not dominate in the ground states, but are present in the relatively low-lying level schemes. With the aim of identifying the expected 2p2h$\otimes\mathrm{s}_{1/2^+}$ state in $^{35}$P, the only $N=20$ isotone for which the neutron 2p2h excitation bandhead has not yet been identified, the $^{36}$S(d,$^3$He)$^{35}$P reaction has been revisited in inverse kinematics with the HELical Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS) at the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS). While a candidate state has not been located, an upper limit for the transfer reaction cross-section to populate such a configuration within a 2.5 to 3.6\,MeV energy range, provides a stringent constraint on the wavefunction compositions in both $^{36}$S and $^{35}$P.

The fusion and transfer induced fission reaction $^{9}$Be($^{238}$U,~f) with 6.2 MeV/u beam energy, using a unique setup consisting of AGATA, VAMOS++ and EXOGAM detectors, was used to populate through the fission process and study the neutron-rich $^{119,121}$In isotopes. This setup enabled the prompt-delayed $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy of isotopes in the time range of $100~\rm{ns} - 200~\mu\rm{s}$. In the odd-$A$ $^{119,121}$In isotopes, indications of a short half-life $19/2^{-}$ isomeric state, in addition to the previously known $25/2^{+}$ isomeric state, were observed from the present data. Further, new prompt transitions above the $25/2^{+}$ isomer in $^{121}$In were identified along with reevaluation of its half-life. The experimental data were compared with the theoretical results obtained in the framework of large-scale shell-model calculations in a restricted model space. The $\langle \pi g_{9/2} \nu h_{11/2};I \arrowvert \hat{\mathcal{H}}\arrowvert \pi g_{9/2} \nu h_{11/2};I\rangle$ two-body matrix elements of residual interaction were modified to explain the excitation energies and the $B(E2)$ transition probabilities in the neutron-rich In isotopes. The (i) decreasing trend of $E(29/2^{+}) - E(25/2^{+})$ in odd-In (with dominant configuration $\pi g_{9/2}^{-1}\nu h_{11/2}^{-2}$ and maximum aligned spin of $29/2^{+}$) and (ii) increasing trend of $E(27/2^{+}) - E(23/2^{+})$ in odd-Sb (with dominant configuration $\pi g_{7/2}^{+1}\nu h_{11/2}^{-2}$ and maximum aligned spin of $27/2^{+}$) with increasing neutron number could be understood as a consequence of hole-hole and particle-hole interactions, respectively., Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C

Detailed spectroscopy of the neutron-unbound nucleus $^{28}$F has been performed for the first time following proton/neutron removal from $^{29}$Ne/$^{29}$F beams at energies around 230 MeV/nucleon. The invariant-mass spectra were reconstructed for both the $^{27}$F$^{(*)}+n$ and $^{26}$F$^{(*)}+2n$ coincidences and revealed a series of well-defined resonances. A near-threshold state was observed in both reactions and is identified as the $^{28}$F ground state, with $S_n(^{28}$F$)=-199(6)$ keV, while analysis of the $2n$ decay channel allowed a considerably improved $S_n(^{27}$F$)=1620(60)$ keV to be deduced. Comparison with shell-model predictions and eikonal-model reaction calculations have allowed spin-parity assignments to be proposed for some of the lower-lying levels of $^{28}$F. Importantly, in the case of the ground state, the reconstructed $^{27}$F$+n$ momentum distribution following neutron removal from $^{29}$F indicates that it arises mainly from the $1p_{3/2}$ neutron intruder configuration. This demonstrates that the island of inversion around $N=20$ includes $^{28}$F, and most probably $^{29}$F, and suggests that $^{28}$O is not doubly magic., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Supplemental Material, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

Imperfections in analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) cannot be ignored when signal digitization requirements demand both wide dynamic range and high resolution, as is the case for the Majorana Demonstrator 76Ge neutrinoless double beta decay search. Enabling the experiment's high-resolution spectral analysis and efficient pulse shape discrimination required careful measurement and correction of ADC nonlinearites. A simple measurement protocol was developed that did not require sophisticated equipment or lengthy data taking campaigns. A slope-dependent hysteresis was observed and characterized. A correction applied to digitized waveforms prior to signal processing reduced the differential and integral nonlinearites by an order of magnitude, eliminating these as dominant contributions to the systematic energy uncertainty at the double-beta decay Q value.

The neutron-rich Ni isotopes have attracted attention in recent years due to the occurrence of shape or configuration coexistence. We report on the difference in population of excited final states in 70Ni following gamma-ray tagged one-proton, one-neutron, and two-proton knockout from 71Cu, 71Ni, and 72Zn rare-isotope beams, respectively. Using variations observed in the relative transition intensities, signaling the changed population of specific final states in the different reactions, the role of neutron and proton configurations in excited states of 70Ni is probed schematically, with the goal of identifying those that carry, as leading configuration, proton excitations across the Z = 28 shell closure. Such states are suggested in the literature to form a collective structure associated with prolate deformation. Adding to the body of knowledge for 70Ni, 29 new transitions are reported, of which 15 are placed in its level scheme., Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C

An extensive, model-independent analysis of the nature of triaxial deformation in $^{76}$Ge, a candidate for neutrinoless double-beta ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay, was carried out following multi-step Coulomb excitation. Shape parameters deduced on the basis of a rotational-invariant sum-rule analysis provided considerable insight into the underlying collectivity of the ground-state and $\gamma$ bands. Both sequences were determined to be characterized by the same $\beta$ and $\gamma$ deformation parameter values. In addition, compelling evidence for low-spin, rigid triaxial deformation in $^{76}$Ge was obtained for the first time from the analysis of the statistical fluctuations of the quadrupole asymmetry deduced from the measured $E2$ matrix elements. These newly determined shape parameters are important input and constraints for calculations aimed at providing, with suitable accuracy, the nuclear matrix elements relevant to $0\nu\beta\beta$., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures

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.

The neutron-rich $^{122-131}$Sb isotopes were produced as fission fragments in the reaction $^{9}$Be($^{238}$U,~f) with 6.2 MeV/u beam energy. An unique setup, consisting of AGATA, VAMOS++ and EXOGAM detectors, was used which enabled the prompt-delayed gamma-ray ($\gamma$) spectroscopy of fission fragments in the time range of 100 ns - 200 $\mu$s. New isomers, prompt and delayed transitions were established in the even-A $^{122-130}$Sb isotopes. In the odd-A $^{123-131}$Sb isotopes, new prompt and delayed $\gamma$-ray transitions were identified, in addition to the confirmation of the previously known isomers. The half-lives of the isomeric states and the $B(E2)$ transition probabilities of the observed transitions depopulating these isomers were extracted. The experimental data was compared with the theoretical results obtained in the framework of Large-Scale Shell-Model (LSSM) calculations in a restricted model space. Modifications of several components of the shell model interaction were introduced to obtain a consistent agreement with the excitation energies and the $B(E2)$ transition probabilities in neutron-rich Sn and Sb isotopes. The isomeric configurations in Sn and Sb were found to be relatively pure. Further, the calculations revealed that the presence of a single valence proton, mainly in the $g_{7/2}$ orbital in Sb isotopes, leads to significant mixing (due to the $\nu\pi$ interaction) of: (i) the neutron seniorities ($\upsilon_{\nu}$) and (ii) the neutron angular momentum ($I_{\nu}$). The above features have a weak impact on the excitation energies, but have an important impact on the $B(E2)$ transition probabilities. In addition, a constancy of the relative excitation energies irrespective of neutron seniority and neutron number in Sn and Sb was observed., Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures, 10 tables

A more detailed test of the implementation of nuclear forces that drive shell evolution in the pivotal nucleus \nuc{42}{Si} -- going beyond earlier comparisons of excited-state energies -- is important. The two leading shell-model effective interactions, SDPF-MU and SDPF-U-Si, both of which reproduce the low-lying \nuc{42}{Si}($2^+_1$) energy, but whose predictions for other observables differ significantly, are interrogated by the population of states in neutron-rich \nuc{42}{Si} with a one-proton removal reaction from \nuc{43}{P} projectiles at 81~MeV/nucleon. The measured cross sections to the individual \nuc{42}{Si} final states are compared to calculations that combine eikonal reaction dynamics with these shell-model nuclear structure overlaps. The differences in the two shell-model descriptions are examined and linked to predicted low-lying excited $0^+$ states and shape coexistence. Based on the present data, which are in better agreement with the SDPF-MU calculations, the state observed at 2150(13)~keV in \nuc{42}{Si} is proposed to be the ($0^+_2$) level., Comment: accepted in Physical Review Letters

A model-independent technique was used to determine the $\gamma$-ray Strength Function ($\gamma$SF) of $^{56}$Fe down to $\gamma$-ray energies less than 1 MeV for the first time with GRETINA using the $(p,p')$ reaction at 16 MeV. No difference was observed in the energy dependence of the $\gamma$SF built on $2^{+}$ and $4^{+}$ final states, supporting the Brink hypothesis. In addition, angular distribution and polarization measurements were performed. The angular distributions are consistent with dipole radiation. The polarization results show a small bias towards magnetic character in the region of the enhancement.

Recent results from RIKEN/RIBF on the low-lying level structure of 29F are interpreted within the Particle-Rotor Model. We show that the experimental data can be understood in the Rotation-aligned Coupling Scheme, with the 5/2+ ground state as the bandhead of a decoupled band. In this picture, the energy of the observed 1/2+1 state correlates strongly with the rotational energy of the core and provides an estimate of the 2+ energy in 28O. Our analysis suggest a moderate deformation, epsilon_2 ~ 0.17, and places the 2+ in 28O at ~ 2.4 MeV., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, To be submitted to Phys. Lett. B

Spectroscopic factors in 10Be, 11Be and 12Be, extracted from (d,p), one neutron knockout, and (p,d) reactions are interpreted within the rotational model. Assuming that the ground state and first excited state of 11Be can be associated with the 1/2[220] and 1/2[101] Nilsson levels, the strong coupling limit gives simple expressions that relate the amplitudes of these wavefunctions (in the spherical basis) with the measured cross-sections and derived spectroscopic factors. We obtain good agreement with both the measured magnetic moment of the ground state in 11Be and the reaction data., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure

A common approach to studying $\beta$-delayed proton emission is to measure the energy of the emitted proton and corresponding nuclear recoil in a double-sided silicon-strip detector (DSSD) after implanting the $\beta$-delayed proton emitting ($\beta$p) nucleus. However, in order to extract the proton-decay energy, the measured energy must be corrected for the additional energy implanted in the DSSD by the $\beta$-particle emitted from the $\beta$p nucleus, an effect referred to here as $\beta$-summing. We present an approach to determine an accurate correction for $\beta$-summing. Our method relies on the determination of the mean implantation depth of the $\beta$p nucleus within the DSSD by analyzing the shape of the total (proton + recoil + $\beta$) decay energy distribution shape. We validate this approach with other mean implantation depth measurement techniques that take advantage of energy deposition within DSSDs upstream and downstream of the implantation DSSD., Comment: Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A

The calcium isotopes have emerged as an important testing ground for new microscopically derived shell-model interactions, and a great deal of focus has been directed toward this region. We investigate the relative spectroscopic strengths associated with $1f_{7/2}$ neutron hole states in $^{47, 49}$Ca following one-neutron knockout reactions from $^{48,50}$Ca. The observed reduction of strength populating the lowest 7/2$^{-}_{1}$ state in $^{49}$Ca, as compared to $^{47}$Ca, is consistent with the description given by shell-model calculations based on two- and three-nucleon forces in the neutron $pf$ model space, implying a fragmentation of the $l$=3 strength to higher-lying states. The experimental result is inconsistent with both the GXPF1 interaction routinely used in this region of the nuclear chart and with microscopic calculations in an extended model space including the $\nu1g_{9/2}$ orbital., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures

The quadrupole collectivity of low-lying states and the anomalous behavior of the $0^+_2$ and $2^+_3$ levels in $^{72}$Ge are investigated via projectile multi-step Coulomb excitation with GRETINA and CHICO-2. A total of forty six $E2$ and $M1$ matrix elements connecting fourteen low-lying levels were determined using the least-squares search code, gosia. Evidence for triaxiality and shape coexistence, based on the model-independent shape invariants deduced from the Kumar-Cline sum rule, is presented. These are interpreted using a simple two-state mixing model as well as multistate mixing calculations carried out within the framework of the triaxial rotor model. The results represent a significant milestone towards the understanding of the unusual structure of this nucleus., Comment: 7 pages and 7 figures

The neutron-rich nucleus $^{144}$Ba ($t_{1/2}$=11.5 s) is expected to exhibit some of the strongest octupole correlations among nuclei with mass numbers $A$ less than 200. Until now, indirect evidence for such strong correlations has been inferred from observations such as enhanced $E1$ transitions and interleaving positive- and negative-parity levels in the ground-state band. In this experiment, the octupole strength was measured directly by sub-barrier, multi-step Coulomb excitation of a post-accelerated 650-MeV $^{144}$Ba beam on a 1.0-mg/cm$^2$ $^{208}$Pb target. The measured value of the matrix element, $\langle 3_1^- \| \mathcal{M}(E3) \| 0_1^+ \rangle=0.65(^{+17}_{-23})$ $e$b$^{3/2}$, corresponds to a reduced $B(E3)$ transition probability of 48($^{+25}_{-34}$) W.u. This result represents an unambiguous determination of the octupole collectivity, is larger than any available theoretical prediction, and is consistent with octupole deformation., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, Physical Review Letters 2016

Excited states in the neutron-rich N=38,36 nuclei \nuc{60}{Ti} and \nuc{58}{Ti} were populated in nucleon-removal reactions from \nuc{61}{V} projectiles at 90~MeV/nucleon. The \gamma-ray transitions from such states in these Ti isotopes were detected with the advanced \gamma-ray tracking array GRETINA and were corrected event-by-event for large Doppler shifts (v/c \sim 0.4) using the \gamma-ray interaction points deduced from online signal decomposition. The new data indicate that a steep decrease in quadrupole collectivity occurs when moving from neutron-rich N=36,38 Fe and Cr toward the Ti and Ca isotones. In fact, \nuc{58,60}{Ti} provide some of the most neutron-rich benchmarks accessible today for calculations attempting to determine the structure of the potentially doubly-magic nucleus \nuc{60}{Ca}., Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review letters

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., Comment: 15 pages, 14 Figures, 4 Tables

The isomeric and {\beta} decays of the N = Z +2 nucleus 96Ag were investigated at NSCL. A cascade of {\gamma}-ray transitions originating from the de-excitation of a {\mu}s isomer was observed for the first time and was found in coincidence with two previously-known transitions with energies of 470 and 667 keV. The isomeric half-life was determined as 1.45(7) {\mu}s, more precise than previously reported. The existence of a second, longer-lived {\mu}s isomer, associated with a 743-keV transition, is also proposed here. Shell model results within the (p_{3/2}p_{1/2}f_{5/2}g_{9/2}) model space, using the jj44b interaction, reproduced level energies and isomeric decay half-lives reasonably well.

The isomeric and $\beta$-decay properties of neutron-rich $^{53-57}$Sc and $^{53,54}$Ca nuclei near neutron number $N$=32 are reported, and the low-energy level schemes of $^{53,54,56}$Sc and $^{53-57}$Ti are presented. The low-energy level structures of the $_{21}$Sc isotopes are discussed in terms of the coupling of the valence $1f_{7/2}$ proton to states in the corresponding $_{20}$Ca cores. Implications with respect to the robustness of the $N$=32 subshell closure are discussed, as well as the repercussions for a possible $N$=34 subshell closure., Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures, accepted to Phys. Rev. C

The transition rates for the 2_{1}^{+} states in 62,64,66Fe were studied using the Recoil Distance Doppler-Shift technique applied to projectile Coulomb excitation reactions. The deduced E2 strengths illustrate the enhanced collectivity of the neutron-rich Fe isotopes up to N=40. The results are interpreted by the generalized concept of valence proton symmetry which describes the evolution of nuclear structure around N=40 as governed by the number of valence protons with respect to Z~30. The deformation suggested by the experimental data is reproduced by state-of-the-art shell calculations with a new effective interaction developed for the fpgd valence space., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

The nuclear magnetic moment of the ground state of $^{55}$Ni ($I^{\pi}=3/2^{-}, T_{1/2}=204$ ms) has been deduced to be $|\mu$^{55}Ni)$|=(0.976 \pm 0.026)$ $\mu_N$ using the $\beta$-NMR technique. Results of a shell model calculation in the full \textit{fp} shell model space with the GXPF1 interaction reproduce the experimental value. Together with the known magnetic moment of the mirror partner $^{55}$Co, the isoscalar spin expectation value was extracted as $<\sum \sigma_z >=0.91 \pm 0.07$. The $<\sum \sigma_z>$ shows a similar trend as that established in the \textit{sd} shell. The present theoretical interpretations of both $\mu(^{55}$Ni) and $<\sum \sigma_z>$ for the $T=1/2$, A=55 mirror partners support the softness of the $^{56}$Ni core., Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C

$\beta$ decay of the $^{61}$Cr$_{37}$ ground state has been studied. A new half-life of 233 +/- 11 ms has been deduced, and seven delayed $\gamma$ rays have been assigned to the daughter, $^{61}$Mn$_{36}$. The low-energy level structure of $^{61}$Mn$_{36}$ is similar to that of the less neutron-rich $^{57,59}$Mn nuclei. The odd-A $_{25}$Mn isotopes follow the systematic trend in the yrast states of the even-even, Z + 1 $_{26}$Fe isotopes, and not that of the Z - 1 $_{24}$Cr isotopes, where a possible onset of collectivity has been suggested to occur already at N = 36., Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, accepted to Physical Review C

The $\beta$-decay and isomeric properties of $^{54}$Sc, $^{50}$K and $^{53}$Ca are presented, and their implications with respect to the goodness of the N=32 sub-shell closure discussed., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Zakopane Conference on Nuclear Physics Proceedings

A half-life of 2.2 $\pm$ 0.2 s has been deduced for the ground-state $\beta$ decay of $^{84}$Mo, more than 1$\sigma$ shorter than the previously adopted value. $^{84}$Mo is an even-even N = Z nucleus lying on the proton dripline, created during explosive hydrogen burning in Type I X-ray bursts in the rapid proton capture ($rp$) process. The effect of the measured half-life on $rp$-process reaction flow is explored. Implications on theoretical treatments of nuclear deformation in $^{84}$Mo are also discussed., Comment: Accepted for publication in PRC

The electric quadrupole coupling constant of the ground state of 37K(3/2+, 1.22 s) in a tetragonal KH2PO4 single crystal was measured to be |eqQ/h| = 2.99 +- 0.07 MHz using the beta-ray detecting nuclear quadrupole resonance technique. The electric quadrupole moment of 37K was determined to be |Q(37K)| = 10.6 +- 0.4 efm2, where the known electric quadrupole coupling constant of stable 39K in the KH2PO4 crystal was used as a reference. The present experimental result is larger than that predicted by shell-model calculations in the sd or the sd and fp model spaces. A possible variation of effective charges was explored to explain the discrepancy., Comment: Accepted to Physics Letters B

A beta-ray detecting nuclear quadrupole resonance system has been developed at NSCL/MSU to measure ground-state electric quadrupole moments of short-lived nuclei produced as fast rare isotope beams. This system enables quick and sequential application of multiple transition frequencies over a wide range. Fast switching between variable capacitors in resonance circuits ensures sufficient power delivery to the coil in the beta-ray detecting nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The fast switching technique enhances detection efficiency of resonance signals and is especially useful when the polarization and/or production rate of the nucleus of interest are small and when the nuclear spin is large.

Beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ca isotopes have been obtained. Half-life values were determined for the first time for 54Ca [86(7) ms], 55Ca [22(2) ms], and 56Ca [11(2) ms]. The half-life of 230(6) ms deduced for 53Ca is significantly longer than reported previously, where the decay chain 53K -> 53Ca -> 53Sc was considered. A delayed gamma ray with energy 247 keV as identified following beta decay of 54Ca, and is proposed to depopulate the first 1+ level in 54Sc. The beta-decay properties compare favorably with the results of shell model calculations completed in the full pf-space with the GXPF1 interaction. The half-lives of the neutron-rich Ca isotopes are also compared with gross beta-decay theory. The systematic trend of the neutron-rich Ca half-lives is consistent with the presence of a subshell gap at N=32., Comment: 11 figures