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New transitions in neutron rich $^{100}$Y have been identified in a $^9$Be+$^{238}$U experiment with mass- and Z- gates to provide full fragment identification. These transitions and high spin levels of $^{100}$Y have been investigated by analyzing the high statistics $\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ and $\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ coincidence data from the spontaneous fission of $^{252}$Cf at the Gammasphere detector array. Two new bands, 14 new levels and 23 new transitions have been identified. The $K^{\pi}=4^+$ new band decaying to an 1s isomeric state is assigned to be the high-$K$ Gallagher-Moszkowski (GM) partner of the known $K^{\pi}=1^+$ band, with the $\pi 5/2[522] \otimes \nu 3/2[411]$ configuration. This 4$^+$ band is also proposed to be the pseudo spin partner of the new $K^{\pi}=5^+$ band with a 5$^{+}$ $\pi 5/2[422] \otimes \nu 5/2[413]$ configuration, to form a $\pi 5/2[422] \otimes \nu [312$ $5/2,3/2]$ neutron pseudospin doublet. Constrained triaxial covariant density functional theory and quantal particle rotor model calculations have been applied to interpret the band structure and available electromagnetic transition probabilities and are found in good agreement with experimental values.

We reinvestigated the neutron multiplicity yields of Ba-Mo, Ce-Zr, Te-Pd, and Nd-Sr from the spontaneous fission of $^{252}$Cf; by (i) using both $\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ and $\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ coincidence data, (ii) using up to date level scheme structures, and (iii) cross-checking analogous energy transitions in multiple isotopes, we have achieved higher precision than previous analyses. Particular attention was given to the Ba-Mo pairs where our results clearly confirm that the Ba-Mo yield data have a second hot fission mode where 8, 9, 10, and now 11 neutron evaporation channels are observed. These are the first observations of the 11 neutron channel. These 8-11 neutron channels are observed for the first time in the Ce-Zr pairs, but are not observed in other fission pairs. The measured intensities of the second mode in Ba-Mo and Ce-Zr pairs are $\sim$1.5(4)$\%$ and $\sim$1.0(3)$\%$, respectively. These high neutron number evaporation modes can be an indication of hyperdeformation and/or octupole deformation in $^{143-145}$Ba and in $^{146,148}$Ce at scission to give rise to such high neutron multiplicities.

High spin band structures of neutron-rich $^{152-158}$Pm isotopes have been obtained from the measurement of prompt $\gamma$-rays of isotopically identified fragments produced in fission of $^{238}$U+$^{9}$Be and detected using the VAMOS++ magnetic spectrometer and EXOGAM segmented Clover array at GANIL and also from the high statistics $\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ and $\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$-$\gamma$ data from the spontaneous fission of $^{252}$Cf using Gammasphere. The excited states in $^{157}$Pm and those above the isomers in even-A Pm isotopes $^{152,154,156,158}$Pm have been identified for the first time. The spectroscopic information on the rotational band structures in odd-A Pm isotopes has been extended considerably to higher spins and the possibility of the presence of reflection asymmetric shapes is explored. The configuration assignments are based on the results of Cranked Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov calculations. From the systematics of bands in odd-A Pm isotopes and weak population of opposite parity bands, octupole deformed shapes in neutron rich Pm isotopes beyond $N=90$ seem unlikely to be present.

The mass and total kinetic energy distributions of the fission fragments in the fission of even-even isotopes of superheavy elements from Hs (Z=108) to Og (Z=118) are estimated using a pre-scission point model. We restrict to nuclei for which spontaneous fission has been experimentally observed. The potential energy surfaces are calculated with Strutinsky's shell correction procedure. The parametrization of the nuclear shapes is based on Cassini ovals. For the just before scission configuration we fix $\alpha$=0.98, what corresponds to $r_{neck}\approx 2$ fm, and take into account another four deformation parameters: $\alpha_1,\alpha_3,\alpha_4,\alpha_6$. The fragment-mass distributions are estimated supposing they are due to thermal fluctuations in the mass asymmetry degree of freedom just before scission. The influence of the excitation energy of the fissioning system on these distributions is studied. The distributions of the total kinetic energy (TKE) of the fragments are also calculated (in the point-charge approximation). In Hs, Ds and Cn isotopes a transition from symmetric to asymmetric fission is predicted with increasing neutron number N (at N$\approx$168). Super-symmetric fission ocurs at N$\approx$160. When the excitation energy increases from 0 to 30 MeV, the peaks (one or two) of the mass distributions become only slightly wider. The first two moments of the TKE distributions are displayed as a function of the mass number A of the fissioning nucleus. A slow decrease of the average energy and a minimum of the width (at N$\approx$162) is found., Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, submitted to PRC

The previously reported levels assigned to 151,152,153Pr have recently been called into question regarding their mass assignment. The above questioned level assignments are clarified by measuring g-transitions tagged with A and Z in an in-beam experiment in addition to the measurements from 252Cf spontaneous fission (SF) and establish new spectroscopic information from $N=84$ to $N=94$ in the Pr isotopic chain. The isotopic chain 143-153Pr has been studied from the spontaneous fission of 252Cf by using Gammasphere and also from the measurement of the prompt g-rays in coincidence with isotopically-identified fission fragments using VAMOS++ and EXOGAM at GANIL. The latter were produced using 238U beams on a 9Be target at energies around the Coulomb barrier. The g-g-g-g data from 252Cf (SF) and those from the GANIL in-beam A- and Z-gated spectra were combined to unambiguously assign the various transitions and levels in 151,152,153Pr and other isotopes. New transitions and bands in 145,147,148,149,150Pr were identified by using g-g-g and g-g-g-g coincidences and A and Z gated g-g spectra. The transitions and levels previously assigned to 151,153Pr have been confirmed by the (A,Z) gated spectra. The transitions previously assigned to 152Pr are now assigned to 151Pr on the basis of the (A,Z) gated spectra. Two new bands with 20 new transitions in 152Pr and one new band with 7 new transitions in 153Pr are identified from the g-g-g-g coincidence spectra and the (A,Z) gated spectrum. In addition, new g-rays are also reported in 143-146Pr. New levels of 145,147-153Pr have been established, reliable mass assignments of the levels in 151,152,153Pr have been reported and new transitions have been identified in 143-146Pr showing the new avenues that are opened by combining the two experimental approaches., Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev. C

The 0+ ground state of the 10He nucleus produced in the 3H(8He,p)10He reaction was found at about $2.1\pm0.2$ MeV (\Gamma ~ 2 MeV) above the three-body 8He+n+n breakup threshold. Angular correlations observed for 10He decay products show prominent interference patterns allowing to draw conclusions about the structure of low-energy excited states. We interpret the observed correlations as a coherent superposition of the broad 1- state having a maximum at energy 4-6 MeV and the 2+ state above 6 MeV, setting both on top of the 0+ state "tail". This anomalous level ordering indicates that the breakdown of the N=8 shell known in 12Be thus extends also to the 10He system., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures

The low-lying spectra of $^8$He and $^{10}$He nuclei were studied in the $^3$H($^6$He,$p$)$^8$He and $^3$H($^8$He,$p$)$^{10}$He transfer reactions. The $0^+$ ground state (g.s.) of $^8$He and excited states, $2^+$ at $3.6-3.9$ MeV and $(1^+)$ at $5.3-5.5$ MeV, were populated with cross sections of 200, 100-250, and 90-125 $\mu$b/sr, respectively. Some evidence for $^8$He state at about 7.5 MeV is obtained. We discuss a possible nature of the near-threshold anomaly above 2.14 MeV in $^8$He and relate it to the population of a $1^-$ continuum (soft dipole excitation) with peak value at about 3 MeV. The lowest energy group of events in the $^{10}$He spectrum was observed at $\sim 3$ MeV with a cross section of $\sim 140$ $\mu$b/sr. We argue that this result is possibly consistent with the previously reported observation of $^{10}$He, in that case providing a new g.s. position for $^{10}$He at about 3 MeV., Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett. B

The spectrum of $^9$He was studied by means of the $^8$He($d$,$p$)$^9$He reaction at a lab energy of 25 MeV/n and small center of mass (c.m.) angles. Energy and angular correlations were obtained for the $^9$He decay products by complete kinematical reconstruction. The data do not show narrow states at $\sim $1.3 and $\sim $2.4 MeV reported before for $^9$He. The lowest resonant state of $^9$He is found at about 2 MeV with a width of $\sim $2 MeV and is identified as $1/2^-$. The observed angular correlation pattern is uniquely explained by the interference of the $1/2^-$ resonance with a virtual state $1/2^+$ (limit on the scattering length is obtained as $a > -20$ fm), and with the $5/2^+$ resonance at energy $\geq 4.2$ MeV., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

With the aid of the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation package a new detection system has been designed for the focal plane of the recoil separator VASSILISSA situated at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, JINR, Dubna. GABRIELA (Gamma Alpha Beta Recoil Investigations with the Electromagnetic Analyser VASSILISSA) has been optimised to detect the arrival of reaction products and their subsequent radioactive decays involving the emission of alpha- and beta-particles, fission fragments, gamma- and X-rays, and conversion electrons. The new detector system is described and the results of the first commissioning experiments are presented., Comment: 24 pages, Submitted to NIM A

The capture-fission cross-sections in an energy range of 206-242 MeV of 48Ca-projectiles and mass-energy distributions (MEDs) of reaction products in an energy range of 211-242 MeV have been measured in the 48Ca+208Pb reaction using the double-arm time-of-flight spectrometer CORSET. The MEDs of fragments for heated fission were shown to consist of two components. One component, which is due to classical fusion-fission, is associated with the symmetric fission of the 256No compound nucleus. The other component, which appears as ''shoulders'', is associated with the quasi-fission process and can be named ''quasi-fission shoulders''. Those quasi-fission shoulders enclose light fragments whose masses are 60-90 a.m.u. The total kinetic energy (TKE) of the fragments that belong to the shoulders is higher than the value expected for a classical fusion-fission process. We have come to the conclusion that in quasi-fission, spherical shells with Z=28 and N=50 play a great role. It has also been demonstrated that the properties of the MEDs of fragments formally agree with a well-known hypothesis of two independent fission modes; in this case the modes are normal fusion-fission and quasi-fission processes. A high-energetic Super-Short mode of classical fission has been found at low excitation energies in the mass range of heavy fragments M = 130-135 and TKE = 233 MeV; however the yield associated with this mode is small., Comment: 33 pages, 24 eps figures, RevTeX4, submitted to Phys. Rev

The effects of the entrance channel and shell structure of reacting nuclei on the experimental evaporation residues have been studied by analysing the 40Ar+176Hf, 86Kr+130,136Xe, 124Sn+92Zr and 48Ca+174Yb reactions leading to the 216Th* and 222Th* compound nuclei. The measured excitation function of evaporation residues for the 124Sn+92Zr reaction was larger than that for the 86Kr+130Xe reaction. The experimental values of evaporation residues in the 86Kr+136Xe reaction were about 500 times larger than that in the 86Kr+130Xe reaction. These results are explained by the initial angular momentum dependence of the fusion excitation functions calculated in framework of the dinuclear system concept and by the differences in survival probabilities calculated in framework of advanced statistical model. The dependencies of the fission barrier and the \Gamma_n / \Gamma_f ratio on the angular momentum of the excited compound nucleus are taken into account., Comment: 13 pages, 9 (eps) figures, uses revtex4, submitted to Phys.Rev. C