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In this paper, the results of measurements of the total cross sections for the reactions $^{10,11,12}$Be+$^{28}$Si and $^{14}$B+$^{28}$Si in the beam energy range $13A$--$47A$ MeV are presented. The experimental cross sections were obtained by detection of the gamma quanta and neutrons accompanying the interaction of the isotopes of Be and B with $^{28}$Si. It was found that the cross sections for $^{11,12}$Be are similar, but significantly exceed those for $^{10}$Be. A significant increase in the cross sections for $^{12}$Be with decreasing energy is observed in the entire measured energy range. A theoretical explanation of the obtained experimental data is given based on the microscopic model of deformed nuclei and the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schr\"{o}dinger equation for the outer weakly bound neutrons of the projectile nuclei. The calculated total reaction cross sections are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Neutron dark decays have been suggested as a solution to the discrepancy between bottle and beam experiments, providing a dark matter candidate that can be searched for in halo nuclei. The free neutron in the final state following the decay of $^6$He into $^4$He $+$ $n$ + $\chi$ provides an exceptionally clean detection signature when combined with a high efficiency neutron detector. Using a high-intensity $^6$He$^+$ beam at GANIL, a search for a coincident neutron signal resulted in an upper limit on a dark decay branching ratio of Br$_\chi \leq 4.0\times10^{-10}$ (95\% C.L.). Using the dark neutron decay model proposed originally by Fornal and Grinstein, we translate this into an upper bound on a dark neutron branching ratio of $\mathcal{O}(10^{-5})$, improving over global constraints by one to several orders of magnitude depending on $m_\chi$.

The differential cross sections of the $^{12}$C($^3$He,t)$^{12}$N reaction leading to formation of the 1$^+$ (ground state), 2$^+$(0.96 MeV), 2$^{-}$(1.19 MeV), and 1$^{-}$(1.80 MeV) states of $^{12}$N are measured at $E$($^3$He)=40 MeV. The analysis of the data is carried out within the modified diffraction model (MDM) and distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA). Enhanced $rms$ radii were obtained for the ground, 2$^{-}$(1.19 MeV), and 1$^{-}$(1.80 MeV) states. We revealed that $^{12}$B, $^{12}$N, and $^{12}$C in the IAS with T=1, and spin-parities 2$^{-}$ and 1$^{-}$ have increased radii and exhibit properties of neutron and proton halo states., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

The study of inelastic scattering and multi-nucleon transfer reactions was performed by bombarding a $^{9}$Be target with a $^3$He beam at an incident energy of 30 MeV. Angular distributions for $^9$Be($^3$He,$^3$He)$^{9}$Be, $^9$Be($^3$He,$^4$He)$^{8}$Be, $^9$Be($^3$He,$^5$He)$^{7}$Be, $^9$Be($^3$He,$^6$Li)$^6$Li and $^9$Be($^3$He,$^5$Li)$^7$Li reaction channels were measured. Experimental angular distributions for the corresponding ground states (g.s.) were analysed within the framework of the optical model, the coupled-channel approach and the distorted-wave Born approximation. Cross sections for channels leading to unbound $^5$He$_{g.s.}$, $^5$Li$_{g.s.}$ and $^8$Be systems were obtained from singles measurements where the relationship between the energy and the scattering angle of the observed stable ejectile is constrained by two-body kinematics. Information on the cluster structure of $^{9}$Be was obtained from the transfer channels. It was concluded that cluster transfer is an important mechanism in the investigated nuclear reactions. In the present work an attempt was made to estimate the relative strengths of the interesting $^8$Be+$n$ and $^5$He+$\alpha$ cluster configurations in $^9$Be. The branching ratios have been determined confirming that the $^5$He+$\alpha$ configuration plays an important role. The configuration of $^9$Be consisting of two bound helium clusters $^3$He+$^6$He is significantly suppressed, whereas the two-body configurations ${}^{8}$Be+$n$ and ${}^{5}$He+$\alpha$ including unbound $^8$Be and $^5$He are found more probable., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, HI elastic and inelastic scattering, Transfer reactions, Cluster in light nuclei, Coupled channels, DWBA, Optical model

The structure of the $^{24}$F nucleus has been studied at GANIL using the $\beta$ decay of $^{24}$O and the in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy from the fragmentation of projectile nuclei. Combining these complementary experimental techniques, the level scheme of $^{24}$F has been constructed up to 3.6 Mev by means of particle-$\gamma$ and particle-$\gamma\gamma$ coincidence relations. Experimental results are compared to shell-model calculations using the standard USDA and USDB interactions as well as ab-initio valence-space Hamiltonians calculated from the in-medium similarity renormalization group based on chiral two- and three-nucleon forces. Both methods reproduce the measured level spacings well, and this close agreement allows unidentified spins and parities to be consistently assigned., Comment: 5 figures, 2 tables

The structure of the nucleus 25F was investigated through in-beam {\gamma}-ray spectroscopy of the fragmentation of 26Ne and 27,28Na ion beams. Based on the particle-{\gamma} and particle-{\gamma}{\gamma} coincidence data, a level scheme was constructed and compared with shell model and coupled-cluster calculations. Some of the observed states were interpreted as quasi single-particle states built on top of the closed-shell nucleus 24O, while the others were described as states arising from coupling of a single proton to the 2+ core excitation of 24O., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures and 1 table

A study of inelastic scattering and single-particle transfer reactions was performed by an alpha beam at 63 MeV on a 9$Be target. Angular distributions of the differential cross sections for the 9Be(4He,4He')9Be*, 9Be(4He,3He)10Be and 9Be(4He,t)10B reactions were measured. Experimental angular distributions of the differential cross sections for the ground state and a few low-lying states were analyzed in the framework of the optical model, coupled channels and distorted-wave Born approximation. An analysis of the obtained spectroscopic factors was performed., Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, regular paper, mispritns are corrected in new version

We report on direct time-of-flight based mass measurements of 16 light neutron-rich nuclei. These include the first determination of the masses of the Borromean drip-line nuclei $^{19}$B, $^{22}$C and $^{29}$F as well as that of $^{34}$Na. In addition, the most precise determinations to date for $^{23}$N and $^{31}$Ne are reported. Coupled with recent interaction cross-section measurements, the present results support the occurrence of a two-neutron halo in $^{22}$C, with a dominant $\nu2s_{1/2}^2$ configuration, and a single-neutron halo in $^{31}$Ne with the valence neutron occupying predominantly the 2$p_{3/2}$ orbital. Despite a very low two-neutron separation energy the development of a halo in $^{19}$B is hindered by the 1$d_{5/2}^2$ character of the valence neutrons., Comment: 5 pages

The structure of the weakly-bound $^{26}_{\;\;9}$F$_{17}$ odd-odd nucleus, produced from $^{27,28}$Na nuclei, has been investigated at GANIL by means of the in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy technique. A single $\gamma$-line is observed at 657(7) keV in $^{26}_{9}$F which has been ascribed to the decay of the excited J=$2^+$ state to the J=1$^+$ ground state. The possible presence of intruder negative parity states in $^{26}$F is also discussed., Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

The existing and some preliminary experimental data on the total cross sections of the $^{4,6}$He, $^{6,7}$Li +$^{28}$Si reactions at energies E=5-50 A MeV are demonstrated. The data on $^{6}$Li,$^{6}$He+$^{28}$Si are analyzed in the framework of the microscopic optical potential with real and imaginary parts obtained with a help of the double-folding procedure and by using the current models of densities of the projectile nuclei. Besides, the microscopic double-folding Coulomb potential is calculated and its effect on cross sections is compared with that when one applies the traditional Coulomb potential of the uniform charge distribution. The semi-microscopic potentials are constructed from both the renormalized microscopic potentials and their derivatives to take into account collective motion effect and to improve an agreement with experimental data., Comment: 8 pages; 7 figures; submitted to Proceedings of the International Symposium on Exotic Nuclei "EXON-2006" (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, 17-22 July 2006)