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The impact of the double frequency heating (DFH) physics on the performance of Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources (ECRIS) has been investigated by studying the correlation between the two RF-frequencies, injected into the plasma of an ECRIS operated in DFH mode by measuring extracted currents of highly charged Argon ions from the Frankfurt 14 GHz-ECRIS as a function of the relative sharing of the total injected power. In order to study the influence of the plasma physics, the effectivity of DFH as a function of the plasma–electron–densityand -energy, a second series of measurements has been carried out, where the ECRIS was run in an enhanced configuration with plasma parameters, where plasma–electron–density and -energy were close to values typical for a more performant (e.g. 18 GHz) source. The measurements demonstrate the positive impact of the DFH physics particularly for the creation of very high charge states also and in particular for high performing sources in modern accelerator installations.

ispartof: PHYSICAL REVIEW C vol:103 issue:4 status: published

This paper reports cross-section measurements of the ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) and ($p,{p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reactions on $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ at Geel Electron Linear Accelerator and at the 9-MV Tandem Accelerator of Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, respectively. The main purpose was to measure the neutron- and proton-induced inelastic $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-production cross sections for all observed transitions in $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, followed by the calculation of the corresponding total inelastic cross section. The results are compared with theoretical calculations performed using the talys 1.9 code, evaluated nuclear data, and previously reported experimental data. The broader goal of this work is to study whether and to what extent the neutron-induced inelastic cross sections of these nuclei can be inferred from those obtained using suitable charged particle reactions. We show that, by making use of the formal similarities between the neutron- and the proton-target optical model potentials and isospin symmetry in mirror nuclei, one can develop a procedure that combines experimental proton-induced inelastic cross sections with theoretical calculations to infer neutron inelastic cross sections. For $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{28}\mathrm{Si}$, the precision associated with this procedure is around 10--20% for most of the incident energy range.

Export Date: 14 August 2020 ispartof: Acta Physica Polonica B vol:51 issue:3 pages:683-688 ispartof: location:POLAND, Piaski status: published

This paper presents precision measurements of electromagnetic decay probabilities associated with electric dipole transitions in the prolate-deformed nucleus 183Re. The nucleus of interest was formed using the fusion evaporation reaction 180Hf(7Li,4n)183Re at a beam energy of 30 MeV at the tandem accelerator at the HH-IFIN Institute, Bucharest Romania. Coincident decay gamma rays from near-yrast cascades were detected using the combined HPGe-LaBr3 detector array ROSPHERE. The time differences between cascade gamma rays were measured using the LaBr3 detectors to determine the half-lives of the two lowest lying spin-parity 9/2- states at excitation energies of 496 and 617 keV to be 5.65(5) and 2.08(3) ns respectively. The deduced E1 transition rates from these two states are discussed in terms of the K-hindrance between the low-lying structures in this prolate-deformed nucleus.

The future prospects of photonuclear reactions studies at the new Extreme Light Infrastructure—Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) facility are discussed in view of the pursuit of investigating the electromagnetic response of nuclei using γ-ray beams of unprecedented energy resolution and intensity characteristics. We present here the features of the γ-ray beam source, the emerging ELI-NP experimental program involving photonuclear reactions cross section measurements and spectroscopy and angular measurements of γ-rays and neutrons along with the detection arrays currently under implementation.

Mean lifetimes of yrast states of the isotopes 174,176,178,180Hf have been measured using fast- electronic scintillation timing. Excited states of 74,176,178Hf were populated via β decay, while 180Hf was populated via Coulomb excitation. The lifetimes of the 2+ 1 and 4+ 1 states of all isotopes and the lifetimes of the 6+ 1 states of 174,178Hf were measured, using the slope and the centroid shift methods. The mean lifetime, τ (4+ 1 ) = 85(13) ps, of 178Hf has been determined for the first time. In addition, the mean lifetimes of the 2− 1 and the 3− 1 states of 176Hf have been determined. Systematic uncertainties on the evolution of data as a function of neutron number were reduced by using the same setup for all the isotopes of interest. The data are in agreement with other recent lifetime measurements where available and shows a shift of the maximum of collectivity for the Hf isotopic chain from neutron midshell at N = 104 to N = 100.

Lifetimes of intermediate-spin states in two rotational bands of 99Zr have been measured. These states were populated following the neutron-induced fission of 235U at the PF1B beamline of the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, during the EXILL-FATIMA campaign. The nucleus 99Zr59 exhibits shape coexistence and lies precisely on the border of an abrupt change in ground-state deformation when going from N=58 to N=60, making its study interesting for understanding the mechanisms involved in the rapid onset of deformation here. The B(E2) values extracted for decays in the ν3/2[541] band allow quadrupole deformations of β2=0.34(1) and 0.26(3) to be determined for the 821.6- and 1236.6-keV members, whereas β2=0.32(3) was found for the 850.5-keV member of the ν3/2[411]band. Some of the excited states known in 99Zr have been reasonably described with interacting boson-fermion model (IBFM) calculations. Type-II shell evolution is proposed to play a major role in modifying single-particle energies in 99Zr.

Lifetimes of yrast band states of \(^{174,176,178,180}\)Hf have been measured using fast-electronic scintillation timing or Coulomb excitation. The lifetimes of the \(2^+_1\), \(4^+_1\) states and apart from \(^{176}\)Hf also of the \(6^+_1\) states have been determined, using the slope and the centroid shift methods. By using the same setup for all isotopes of interest systematic uncertainties were reduced.

This work describes the synthesis of bioinspired morpho TiO 2 decorated with gold nanoparticles. The photocatalytic properties of the morho Au–TiO 2 is to be investigated by degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation at ambient temperature. The high photocatalytic activity should be assigned to the fine microstructure of the Morpho Didius replicated and the presence of plasmonic gold.

Lifetimes of several short-lived excited states in Nd138 were measured with the ROSPHERE array at IFIN-HH, Bucharest, using the recoil-distance Doppler shift technique following the Sb123(F19,4n) reaction. The resulting electromagnetic transition probabilities are compared to large-scale shell model calculations and to constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations with the Gogny D1S interaction, configuration mixing, and a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian formalism. The onset of collectivity in Nd isotopes below the N=82 shell closure and the deformation induced by the alignment of protons and neutron holes in the h11/2 orbitals are discussed.

International audience; The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) has selected in 2006 a proposal based on ultra-intense laser fields with intensities reaching up to 1022–1023 W cm−2 called 'ELI' for Extreme Light Infrastructure. The construction of a large-scale laser-centred, distributed pan-European research infrastructure, involving beyond the state-of-the-art ultra-short and ultra-intense laser technologies, received the approval for funding in 2011–2012. The three pillars of the ELI facility are being built in Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. The Romanian pillar is ELI-Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP). The new facility is intended to serve a broad national, European and International science community. Its mission covers scientific research at the frontier of knowledge involving two domains. The first one is laser-driven experiments related to nuclear physics, strong-field quantum electrodynamics and associated vacuum effects. The second is based on a Compton backscattering high-brilliance and intense low-energy gamma beam (

AMS research started more than 15 years ago at our National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), Bucharest. A first facility was constructed based on our multipurpose 9 MV tandem accelerator and was upgraded several times. In May 2012 a new Cockcroft Walton type 1 MV HVEE tandetron AMS system, was commissioned. Two chemistry laboratories were constructed and are routinely performing the target preparation for carbon dating and for other isotope applications such as for geology, environment physics, medicine and forensic physics. Performance parameters of the new system are shown.

The purpose of the present study is to develop novel nanocomposites based on diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) combined with diglycidylether-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (DG-PDMS), reinforced with 10 wt.% (mono-/octa) epoxy POSS nanocages (MEP or OEP-POSS). DG-PDMS and POSS compounds were covalently incorporated into DGEBA resin via copolymerization of epoxy groups. The effect of both DG-PDMS and POSS nanoparticles on the curing reaction, glass transition temperature (Tg), thermal stability, hardness and morphology of DGEBA/DG-PDMS ± POSS nanocomposites were studied by DSC, FTIR, DMA, TGA, SEM/EDX, AFM and contact angle measurements. SEM/EDX and AFM results prove that OEP-POSS is well dispersed within DGEBA/DG-PDMS polymer matrix, while MEP-POSS forms large POSS aggregates. The thermo-mechanical properties of POSS based nanocomposites are also in good correlation with morphology features. MEP-POSS based nanocomposite with heterogeneous dispersion of POSS aggregates exhibits lower Tg value and thermal stability in comparison with OEP-POSS nanocomposite which exhibits a nanoscale dispersion of the POSS cages. The obtained Tg of OEP-POSS based nanocomposite increases with 31 °C in comparison with the unreinforced matrix. Moreover, this nanocomposite shows the highest storage modulus (E′) and hardness.

Over the last 7–8 years, two quantitative analyzing methods—accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and full combustion (FC) followed by scintillation detection have been applied for determining the tritium activity concentrations in JET divertor tiles. These methods have two main differences – the range of detection and the spatial resolution – and are thus complementary. However, these differences can also complicate the comparison of the two techniques for typical JET divertor samples. Therefore a cross comparison exercise for tritium measurements was performed between the two methods using specially produced identical standard samples. The cross comparison measurements were performed firstly on the identical standard samples and were extended then to selected samples from the JET divertor tile (laser treated and non-treated samples from tile 14ING3B exposed in 2001–2004). The results obtained by AMS and FC agreed within an error limit of 10% for the standard samples and of 18% for the JET divertor samples. The results of this comparison study provided also useful information concerning the efficiency of tritium removal from the plasma facing surface of the divertor tiles by means of laser ablation.

Cross sections for 147,149 Sm(p,n) 147,149 Eu and 147,149 Sm(p, γ ) 148,150 Eu were measured using the activation method. The results are compared to the predictions of the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model. Different γ -ray strength functions have been tested against the experimental values. In the case of 150 Eu, in order to reproduce the experimental isomeric population cross sections, various scenarios for unknown branching ratios of certain discrete states have been discussed. The results provide constraints for the optical model parameters dedicated to this insufficiently known area of isotopes. Such cross sections for (p, γ ) reactions at energies below the Coulomb barrier are valuable for p -process nucleosynthesis calculations.

A 1 MV AMS machine was recently installed in the National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering IFIN-HH, Bucharest Romania. It is the second AMS facility at IFIN-HH having the goal not only to continue but mainly to enlarge the research area of this highly sensitive analyzing method. The multi-element AMS was developed by HVEE to measure 14C, 10Be, and 26Al, and 129I. The results of an acceptance test are presented and demonstrate that this machine is capable of routine 14C age dating and of measurements of other radioisotopes in terms of accuracy and precision as well as a low background level.

© 2019 Jagellonian University. All Rights Reserved. The breaking of isospin symmetry caused by the Coulomb interaction can be measured by the study of E1 γ decay. The Isovector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR) was measured in 60 Zn and 62 Zn at two different excitation energies E ∗ = 47 MeV and E ∗ = 58 MeV with the goal of deducing the isospin mixing term. A fusion–evaporation reaction, with a beam of 32 S and a target of 28 Si, was used to produce 60 Zn. We also produced the compound nucleus 62 Zn using the reaction 32 S + 30 Si. This last reaction is required because, for the produced nucleus, the statistical model analysis is much less sensitive to the isospin mixing, and this allows to extract the GDR parameters and use them for isospin mixing sensitive reaction populating neighboring nucleus with N = Z. The experimental setup was composed of GALILEO array (germanium detectors) coupled to the large-volume LaBr 3 :Ce detectors for the γ-rays measuring and by two ancillary arrays, EUCLIDES and the Neutron Wall for the detection of particles and neutrons, respectively. An overview on the ongoing analysis and on preliminary results is presented. ispartof: ACTA PHYSICA POLONICA B vol:50 issue:3 pages:481-486 ispartof: location:POLAND, Zakopane status: published

GaAs nanowires (NWs) were grown by Ga-assisted chemical beam epitaxy on Si(111) substrates covered by a thin oxide layer using different substrate temperatures and growth times. Ga droplet terminated NWs with hexagonal footprint and cross section were observed by scanning electron microscopy, with diameters and lengths in the range of 40–65 nm and 0.3–1.2 µm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show evidences of vapor–liquid–solid growth mechanisms which lead to different droplet-nanowire interface quality depending on Ga-catalyst wetting area of NW sidewalls. TEM and Raman spectroscopy demonstrates the existence of a single zincblende phase in the NW body, without any evidence of wurtzite phase domains.

The lifetime $\ensuremath{\tau}({0}_{2}^{+})$ of $^{152}\mathrm{Gd}$ has been measured using fast electronic scintillation timing (FEST) with an array of high-purity germanium (HPGe) and cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (${\mathrm{LaBr}}_{3}$) detectors. $^{152}\mathrm{Gd}$ was produced via an $(\ensuremath{\alpha},n)$ reaction on a gold backed $^{149}\mathrm{Sm}$ target. The measured lifetime of $\ensuremath{\tau}({0}_{2}^{+})=96(6)\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{ps}$ corresponds to a reduced transition strength of $B(E2;{0}_{2}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{2}_{1}^{+})=111(7)$ W.u. and an $E0$ transition strength of ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{2}(E0)=39(3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ to the ground state. This result provides experimental support for the validity of a correlation that would be a novel indicator for a quantum phase transition (QPT).

GaAs, InAs and Ga 1− x In x As layers were grown by chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) using triethylgallium, trimethylindium and tertiarybutylarsine as precursors for Ga, In and As, respectively. The growth rate during the homoepitaxial growth of GaAs and InAs, deduced from the frequency of reflection high-energy electron diffraction intensity oscillations, was used to calibrate the incorporation rates for the III elements. The In content of the Ga 1− x In x As layers was measured by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and compared with the value predicted from the above calibration data; while the measured In mole fraction is close to the predicted value for the samples grown for low In to Ga flux ratios ( x

We report on the measurement of the half-life of the yrast I π = 5 − state in the transitional nucleus 136 Ce using a combined HPGe-LaBr3(Ce) scintillator gamma-ray detection array. The measured value for the E 1 decay is approximately half a nanosecond, which corresponds to an E 1 decay strength of approximately 2 × 10 − 6 Wu. This value is in line with single-particle type E 1 decays in this mass region and suggests no sign of additional K-hindrance associated with axially symmetric quadrupole deformations observed for lighter cerium isotopes.

ELISSA is an array of silicon strip detectors under construction at the ELI-NP facility for measurements of photodissociation reactions using high-brilliance, quasi monoenergetic gamma beams. The detection system consists of 35 single-sided position-sensitive X3 detectors arranged in a cylindrical configuration and eight QQQ3 detectors as end-caps. A batch of forty X3 detectors have been tested at ELI-NP. The energy and position resolution, ballistic deficit, leakage currents, and depletion voltage were measured and analyzed. Measurements of the energy resolution were carried out using two read-out electronic chains, one based on multichannel preamplifiers and another based on multiplexers.

N profiles of several GaAs1−xNx epitaxial layers with different N mole fractions in the range 0 < x < 0.14 were obtained by using (1) heavy-ion elastic recoil detection analysis (HI-ERDA) along with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) using a 35 MeV Si6+ beam, and (2) nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) with the 14N(α, p)17O reaction, also with RBS, using a 3.7 MeV 4He+ beam. The results from the two techniques are compared and the advantages, disadvantages and capabilities are discussed.

The half-lives o fthe I=5- and 7- yrast stateys with Ex=1978 kev and Ex=2307 keV in the N=78 isotone 136Ce have been measured to be 496(23) ps and 270(24) ps respectively , using the concident fast-timing spectroscopy technique following population by a 124Sn(16O,4n) fusion-evporation reaction at an incident beam energy of 68 MeV.

The results of the IS530 experiment at ISOLDE revealed new information concerning several nuclei close to the N ≈ 20 'Island of Inversion' - 34Mg, 34Al, 34Si. The half-life of 34Mg was found to be three times larger than the adopted value (63(1) ms instead of 20(10) ms). The beta-gamma spectroscopy of 34Mg performed for the first time in this experiment, led to the first experimental level scheme for 34Al, also showing that the full beta strength goes through the predicted 1+ isomer in 34Al [1] and/or excited states that deexcite to it. The subsequent beta-decay of the 1+ isomer in 34Al allowed the observation of new gamma lines in 34Si, (tentatively) associated with low-spin high-energy excited states previously unobserved.

Half-lives measurements for two excited states of 57Fe located at 14.4 and 136.5 keV, in the 57Fe nucleus have been recently proposed using the Autocorrelation single-crystal scintillation time spectrometer (ASCSTS) .We have proved that ASCSTS has a reasonably high detection efficiency for γ–γ coincidences in the energy range around 5 keV, preserving its main distinctive feature: a large detection solid angle (close to 2π) in a wide time interval (from ∼4 ns to 100 μs).

A (p, p′γ ) experiment was performed at the Tandem accelerator of IFIN-HH (Bucharest) with the purpose of measuring the proton inelastic cross-sections on 16 O and 28 Si. The goal was to investigate to which extent the neutron cross-sections on these nuclei can be inferred from those obtained with charged particles (i.e., protons). In doing so, we are trying to exploit the isospin symmetry by taking under consideration that the chosen targets are N = Z nuclei and, consequently, two mirror nuclei are formed in the (p ,p ′) and (n ,n ′) reactions. The experimental setup consisted of two HPGe detectors with 100% relative efficiency placed at 110∘ and 150∘ relative to the direction of the incident proton beam. The incident protons, which had energies ranging from 6 up to 17 MeV, were scattered on a thick quartz (SiO2 ) target. A Faraday cup was used to integrate the beam current, thus allowing an absolute determination of the γ production cross sections. We will briefly describe the data analysis procedure, the experimental particularities and difficulties and some preliminary results of the γ production cross sections for the most intense transitions both in 16 O and 28 Si.

Position-sensitive silicon strip detectors represent one of the best solutions for the detection of charged particles as they provide good energy and position resolution over a large range of energies. A silicon array coupled with the gamma beams at the ELI-NP facility would allow measuring photodissociation reactions of interest for Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and on heavy nuclei intervening in the p-process. Forty X3 detectors for our ELISSA (ELI-NP Silicon Strip Detectors Array) project have been recently purchased and tested. We investigated several specifications, such as leakage currents, depletion voltage, and detector stability under vacuum. The energy and position resolution, and ballistic deficit were measured and analyzed. This paper presents the main results of our extensive testing. The measured energy resolution for the X3 detectors is better than results published for similar arrays (ANASEN or ORRUBA).

Absolute cross sections for the 86 Sr(α,n)89 Zr reaction at energies close to the Gamow window are reported. Three thin SrF2 targets were irradiated using the 9 MV Tandem facility in IFIN-HH Bucharest that delivered α beams for the activation process. Two high-purity Germanium detectors were used to measure the induced activity of 89 Zr in a low background environment. The experimental results are in very good agreement with Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations performed with the TALYS code.

The half-lives of the 9/2 + , 13/2+ , and 15/2+ yrast states in the neutron-rich 67Cu nucleus were determined by using the in-beam fast-timing technique. The experimentally deduced E3 transition strength for the decay of the 9/2+ level to the 3/2- ground state indicates that the wave function of this level might contain a collective component arising from the coupling of the odd proton p3/2 with the 3- state in 66Ni. Theoretical interpretations of the 9/2+ state are presented within the particle-vibration weak-coupling scheme involving the unpaired proton and the 3- state from 66Ni and within shell-model calculations with a 56Ni core using the jj44b residual interaction. The shell model also accounts reasonably well for the other measured electromagnetic transition probabilities.

International audience; The β− decay of 63Mn to 63Fe has been studied in an experiment at ISOLDE, CERN. The previously known 63Fe level scheme has been confirmed and greatly expanded, to a total of 31 levels and 73 γ lines. The energy of the 9/2+ isomer state has been measured for the first time at 475.0 keV, completing the systematics of such states in odd-Fe isotopes below 68Ni. In addition, the lifetimes of the low-lying states have been measured, allowing the tentative assignment of the spin-parity sequence for those levels.

The following article appeared in Journal of Applied Physics 115.3 (2014): 034307 and may be found at (http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/jap/115/3/10.1063/1.4862742), Surface optical (SO) phonons were studied by Raman spectroscopy in GaAs nanowires (NWs) grown by Ga-assisted chemical beam epitaxy on oxidized Si(111) substrates. NW diameters and lengths ranging between 40 and 65 nm and between 0.3 and 1.3 μm, respectively, were observed under different growth conditions. The analysis of the Raman peak shape associated to either longitudinal or surface optical modes gave important information about the crystal quality of grown NWs. Phonon confinement model was used to calculate the density of defects as a function of the NW diameter resulting in values between 0.02 and 0.03 defects/nm, indicating the high uniformity obtained on NWs cross section size during growth. SO mode shows frequency downshifting as NW diameter decreases, this shift being sensitive to NW sidewall oxidation. The wavevector necessary to activate SO phonon was used to estimate the NW facet roughness responsible for SO shift, G. Shen and C. Garcıa Nuñez acknowledge the support of the Alabama EPSCoR GRSP and the FPI-MINECO 2012 grant, respectively. This work used the Central Analytical Facility and SIdI, which are supported by the University of Alabama and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, respectively.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness TEC2010-20796 project

The low energy structure of Fe-65 has been studied by means of gamma- and fast-timing spectroscopy. A level scheme of Fe-65 populated following the beta-decay of Mn-65 was established for the first time. It includes 41 levels and 85 transitions. The excitation energy of the beta-decaying isomer in Fe-65 has been precisely determined at 393.7(2) keV. The beta delayed neutron emission branch was measured as Pn = 7.9(12)%, which cannot be reconciled with the previously reported value of 21.0(5)%. Four gamma-rays and four excited states in Fe-64 were identified as being populated following the beta-n decay. Four lifetimes and five lifetime limits in the subnanosecond range have been measured using the Advanced Time-Delayed Method. The level scheme is compared with shell-model calculations. Tentative spin and parity assignments are proposed based on the observed transition rates, the calculations and the systematics of the region.

The half-life of the yrast I π = 2+ state in the neutron-rich nucleus 188W has been measured using fast-timing techniques with the HPGe and LaBr3:Ce array at the National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest. The resulting value of t1/2 = 0.87(12) ns is equivalent to a reduced transition probability of B(E2; 2+ 1 → 0+ 1 ) = 85(12) W.u. for this transition. The B(E2; 2+ 1 → 0+ 1 ) is compared to neighboring tungsten isotopes and nuclei in the Hf, Os, and Pt isotopic chains. Woods-Saxon potential energy surface (PES) calculations have been performed for nuclei in the tungsten isotopic chain and predict prolate deformed minima with rapidly increasing γ softness for 184–192W and an oblate minimum for 194W.

The half-life of the Iπ=6+ yrast state at Ex=2294 keV in 138Ce has been measured as T1/2=880(19) ps using the fast-timing γ-ray coincidence method with a mixed LaBr3(Ce)-HPGe array. The excited states in 138Ce have been populated by the 130Te(12C,4n) fusion-evaporation reaction at an incident beam energy of 56 MeV. The extracted B(E2;61+→41+)=0.101(24) W.u. value is compared with the predictions of truncated basis shell model calculations and with the systematics of the region. This shows an anomalous behavior compared to the neighboring isotonic and isotopic chains. Half-lives for the yrast 5-, 11+ and 14+ states in 138Ce have also been determined in this work.

We have investigated the levels in 65 Fe populated in the β decay of 65 Mn , with several new transitions and levels identified. Using the Advanced Time-Delayed Method we have measured the lifetime of the first two excited states with preliminary results of T 1/2 (363.7 keV ) = 95(2) ps and T 1/2 (455.6 keV ) = 340(30) ps. Also reported here are preliminary values for the β-delayed neutron branch of P n = 5(1)% and an upper limit for the β-feeding to the ground state of < 8%.

We report on the results of the β-decay of 81Zn. The experiment was performed at the CERN ISOLDE facility in the framework of a systematic ultra-fast timing investigation of neutron-rich nuclei populated in the decay of Zn. The present analysis included β-gated γ-ray singles and γ-γ coincidences from the decay of 81Zn to 81Ga and leads to a new and much more extensive level scheme of 81Ga. A new half-life of 81Zn is provided.

The half-life of the 2305-keV, Iπ=4(−) intruder state in 34P has been measured as t1/2=2.0(1) ns using γ-ray coincidence, fast-timing techniques with the Bucharest HPGe and LaBr3:Ce detector array. Excited states in 34P were populated using the 18O(18O,pn)34P fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 36 MeV. Reduced transition probabilities have been calculated for different values of the M2/E3 mixing ratio, δE3/M2, and compared with shell-model estimates. For small values of the mixing ratio, the B(M2) value was found to be consistent with similar transitions associated with the occupation of neutron f7/2 configurations in this mass region.

The cross sections of the {sup 115}Sn({alpha},{gamma}){sup 119}Te, {sup 115}Sn({alpha},n){sup 118}Te, and {sup 116}Sn({alpha},n){sup 119}Te reactions (both on ground and isomeric states) have been measured at effective center-of-mass energies from 9.3 to 14.8 MeV. During a first experiment, enriched self-supporting {sup 115}Sn (51.2%) + {sup 116}Sn (24.4%) foils were bombarded with an {alpha} beam delivered by the Bucharest IFIN-HH Tandem Accelerator. In a second experiment, a highly enriched {sup 116}Sn target was irradiated in order to disentangle the experimental cross section contributions due to {sup 115}Sn({alpha},{gamma}){sup 119}Te and {sup 115}Sn({alpha},n){sup 118}Te reactions obtained in the first measurement. The beam-induced activity was measured with two large volume HPGe detectors in close geometry. The experimental results were compared with theoretical predictions obtained in the framework of the statistical model.

Growth and characterization of tin doped GaAs(100) layers using chemical beam epitaxy are described in this work. The resistivity, type of carriers, as well as their net concentrations and mobilities were obtained by Hall Effect measurements. Layers with electron concentrations between 7.0×1016 and 1.6×1019 cm3 were obtained, while the measured room temperature mobilities were in the range 860–2700 cm2/Vs. Photoluminescence spectra show the presence of a donor related transition, whose intensity increases with the sample doping. Acceptor related transitions, different than the residual carbon doping, were not observed, suggesting that Sn incorporates as a donor with a small compensation ratio.

Antimicrobial resistance is threatening the successful management of nosocomial infections worldwide. Despite the therapeutic limitations imposed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), its clinical impact is still debated. The objective of this study was to estimate the excess mortality and length of hospital stay (LOS) associated with MRSA bloodstream infections (BSI) in European hospitals. Between July 2007 and June 2008, a multicenter, prospective, parallel matched-cohort study was carried out in 13 tertiary care hospitals in as many European countries. Cohort I consisted of patients with MRSA BSI and cohort II of patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) BSI. The patients in both cohorts were matched for LOS prior to the onset of BSI with patients free of the respective BSI. Cohort I consisted of 248 MRSA patients and 453 controls and cohort II of 618 MSSA patients and 1, 170 controls. Compared to the controls, MRSA patients had higher 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.4) and higher hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 3.5). Their excess LOS was 9.2 days. MSSA patients also had higher 30-day (aOR = 2.4) and hospital (aHR = 3.1) mortality and an excess LOS of 8.6 days. When the outcomes from the two cohorts were compared, an effect attributable to methicillin resistance was found for 30-day mortality (OR = 1.8 ; P = 0.04), but not for hospital mortality (HR = 1.1 ; P = 0.63) or LOS (difference = 0.6 days ; P = 0.96). Irrespective of methicillin susceptibility, S. aureus BSI has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. In addition, MRSA BSI leads to a fatal outcome more frequently than MSSA BSI. Infection control efforts in hospitals should aim to contain infections caused by both resistant and susceptible S. aureus.

Half-lives of the 19/2+ and 21/2+ states in 95Mo and of the 8+ and 10+ states in 96Mo were measured. Matrix elements for yrast transitions in 95Mo and 96Mo are discussed., Comment: Proceedings of XIX International School on Nuclear Physics, Neutron Physics and Applications, Varna, Bulgaria, 2011, 5 pages, 6 figures

{gamma} rays were measured at several angles in both singles and coincidence mode in the {sup 119}Sn({alpha},n{gamma}){sup 122}Te reaction at 15 MeV on a thick target. Lifetimes of excited states in {sup 122}Te were determined from a Monte Carlo Doppler shift attenuation method (DSAM) analysis of the Doppler broadened lines shapes of {gamma} rays de-exciting the levels. A comparison of several deduced lifetimes with recent results obtained with the (n,n{sup '}) reaction allowed us to validate the choice of a parameter used to calculate the contribution of the side feeding times. The ingredients of the DSAM line-shape analysis (stopping power, description of instrumental line shapes, and side feeding evaluation) are presented in some detail. It is concluded that with proper treatment of side feeding, a DSAM line-shape analysis of peaks in singles or coincidence spectra obtained following the ({alpha},n{gamma}) reaction is able to provide rather accurate values for the lifetimes of levels with low and medium spins.