Search

We studied the proton-rich $T_z=-1$ nucleus $^{70}$Kr through inelastic scattering at intermediate energies in order to extract the reduced transition probability, $B(E2;\;0^+ \rightarrow 2^+)$. Comparison with the other members of the $A=70$ isospin triplet, $^{70}$Br and $^{70}$Se, studied in the same experiment, shows a $3\sigma$ deviation from the expected linearity of the electromagnetic matrix elements as a function of $T_z$. At present, no established nuclear structure theory can describe this observed deviation quantitatively. This is the first violation of isospin symmetry at this level observed in the transition matrix elements. A heuristic approach may explain the anomaly by a shape change between the mirror nuclei $^{70}$Kr and $^{70}$Se contrary to the model predictions., Comment: accepted PRL

The $N=Z=36$ nucleus $^{72}$Kr has been studied by inelastic scattering at intermediate energies. Two targets, $^{9}$Be and $^{197}$Au, were used to extract the nuclear deformation length, $\delta_\text{N}$, and the reduced $E2$ transition probability, $B(E2)$. The previously unknown non-yrast $2^+$ and $4^+$ states as well as a new candidate for the octupole $3^-$ state have been observed in the scattering on the Be target and placed in the level scheme based on $\gamma-\gamma$ coincidences. The second $2^+$ state was also observed in the scattering on the Au target and the $B(E2;\;2^+_2 \rightarrow 0^+_1)$ value could be determined for the first time. Analyzing the results in terms of a two-band mixing model shows clear evidence for a oblate-prolate shape coexistence and can be explained by a shape change from an oblate ground state to prolate deformed yrast band from the first $2^+$ state. This interpretation is corroborated by beyond mean field calculations using the Gogny D1S interaction., Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted European Physical Journal A

The $\beta$-decay half-lives of 55 neutron-rich nuclei $^{134-139}$Sn, $^{134-142}$Sb, $^{137-144}$Te, $^{140-146}$I, $^{142-148}$Xe, $^{145-151}$Cs, $^{148-153}$Ba, $^{151-155}$La were measured at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory (RIBF) employing the projectile fission fragments of $^{238}$U. The nuclear level structure, which relates to deformation, has a large effect on the half-lives. The impact of newly-measured half-lives on modeling the astrophysical origin of the heavy elements is studied in the context of $r$ process nucleosynthesis. For a wide variety of astrophysical conditions, including those in which fission recycling occurs, the half-lives have an important local impact on the second ($A$ $\approx$ 130) peak.

The proton-rich isotope 68Br was discovered in secondary fragmentation reactions of fast radioactive beams. Proton-rich secondary beams of 70,71,72Kr and 70Br, produced at the RIKEN Nishina Center and identified by the BigRIPS fragment separator, impinged on a secondary 9Be target. Unambiguous particle identification behind the secondary target was achieved with the ZeroDegree spectrometer. Based on the expected direct production cross sections from neighboring isotopes, the lifetime of the ground or long-lived isomeric state of 68Br was estimated. The results suggest that secondary fragmentation reactions, where relatively few nucleons are removed from the projectile, offer an alternative way to search for new isotopes, as these reactions populate preferentially low-lying states., Comment: Phys. Lett. B accepted

Future free-space optical clock networks will require optical links for time and frequency transfer. In many potential realizations of these networks, these links will extend over long distances and will span moving platforms, e.g. ground-to-air or ground-to-satellite. In these cases, the transverse platform motion coupled with spatial variations in atmospheric optical turbulence will lead to a breakdown in the time-of-flight reciprocity upon which optical two-way time-frequency transfer is based. Here, we report experimental measurements of this effect by use of comb-based optical two-way time-frequency transfer over two spatially separated optical links. We find only a modest degradation in the time synchronization and frequency syntonization between two sites, in good agreement with theory. Based on this agreement, we can extrapolate this 2-km result to longer distances, finding only a few-femtosecond timing noise increase due to turbulence for a link from ground to a mid-earth orbit satellite.

Excited states in the $T_z=-1$ nucleus $^{70}$Kr have been populated using inelastic scattering of a radioactive $^{70}$Kr beam as well as one- and two-neutron removal reactions from $^{71,72}$Kr at intermediate beam energies. The level scheme of $^{70}$Kr was constructed from the observed $\gamma$-ray transitions and coincidences. Tentative spin and parity assignments were made based on comparison with the mirror nucleus $^{70}$Se. A second $2^+$ state and a candidate for the corresponding $4^+_2$ state suggest shape coexistence in $^{70}$Kr., Comment: accepted Phys. Lett. B

The low-lying structures of the midshell $\nu g_{9/2}$ Ni isotopes $^{72}$Ni and $^{74}$Ni have been investigated at the RIBF facility in RIKEN within the EURICA collaboration. Previously unobserved low-lying states were accessed for the first time following $\beta$ decay of the mother nuclei $^{72}$Co and $^{74}$Co. As a result, we provide a complete picture in terms of the seniority scheme up to the first $(8^+)$ levels for both nuclei. The experimental results are compared to shell-model calculations in order to define to what extent the seniority quantum number is preserved in the first neutron $g_{9/2}$ shell. We find that the disappearance of the seniority isomerism in the $(8^+_1)$ states can be explained by a lowering of the seniority-four $(6^+)$ levels as predicted years ago. For $^{74}$Ni, the internal de-excitation pattern of the newly observed $(6^+_2)$ state supports a restoration of the normal seniority ordering up to spin $J=4$. This property, unexplained by the shell-model calculations, is in agreement with a dominance of the single-particle spherical regime near $^{78}$Ni.

We present a new teaching and outreach activity based around the construction of a three-dimensional chart of isotopes using LEGO$^{\circledR}$ bricks. The activity, \emph{Binding Blocks}, demonstrates nuclear and astrophysical processes through a seven-meter chart of all nuclear isotopes, built from over 26,000 LEGO$^{\circledR}$ bricks. It integrates A-level and GCSE curricula across areas of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and chemistry, including: nuclear decays (through the colours in the chart); nuclear binding energy (through tower heights); production of chemical elements in the cosmos; fusion processes in stars and fusion energy on Earth; as well as links to medical physics, particularly diagnostics and radiotherapy., Comment: Minor changes

We study for the first time the internal structure of 140Te through the beta-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of 140Sb. The very neutron-rich 140Sb, Z = 51 and N = 89, ions were produced by the in-flight fission of 238U beam on a 9Be target at 345 MeV per nucleon at the Radioactive Ion Beam Factory, RIKEN. The half-life and spin-parity of 140Sb are reported as 124(30) ms and (4-), respectively. In addition to the excited states of 140Te produced by the beta-decay branch, the beta-delayed one-neutron and two-neutron emission branches were also established. By identifying the first 2+ and 4+ excited states of 140Te, we found that Te isotopes persist their vibrator character with E(4+)/E(2+) = 2. We discuss the distinctive features manifest in this region, such as valence neutron symmetry and asymmetry, revealed in pairs of isotopes with the same neutron holes and particles with respect to N = 82., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, EURICA campaign

We have developed a compact Compton gamma-ray imager with a large field of view and a low channel-count that is capable of quickly localizing gamma-ray sources in the few hundred keV - several MeV range. The two detector planes (scatter and absorber) employ bars of NaI(Tl) read out by photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) located at each end. The long-range imaging performance has been tested from 392 keV to 1274 keV. An angular resolution measure of 2.72 +/- 0.06 degrees and an efficiency of (1.79 +/- 0.04) x 10^(-3) at 662 keV is obtained. A Cs-137 (662 keV) source equivalent to a 10 mCi source 40 m away can be located in 60 seconds with an uncertainty of about a degree. No significant degradation in imaging performance is observed for source angles up to 40 degrees off axis.

We are developing a rugged and person-transportable Compton gamma imager for use in security investigations of radioactive materials, and for radiological incident remediation. The imager is composed of layers of scintillator with light collection for the forward layers provided by silicon photomultipliers and for the rear layer by photomultiplier tubes. As a first step, we have developed a 1/5th-scale demonstration unit of the final imager. We present the imaging performance of this demonstration unit for Cs-137 at angles of up to 30 degrees off-axis. Results are also presented for Sn-113 and Na-22. This represents the first demonstration of the use of silicon photomultipliers as an embedded component for light collection in a Compton gamma imager., Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures

In response to the Fukushima nuclear reactor accident, on March 20th, 2011, Natural Resources Canada conducted aerial radiation surveys over water just off of the west coast of Vancouver Island. Dose-rate levels were found to be consistent with background radiation, however a clear signal due to Xe-133 was observed. Methods to extract Xe-133 count rates from the measured spectra, and to determine the corresponding Xe-133 volumetric concentration, were developed. The measurements indicate that Xe-133 concentrations on average lie in the range of 30 to 70 Bq/m3., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

We are designing an all-scintillator Compton gamma imager for use in security investigations and remediation actions involving radioactive threat material. To satisfy requirements for a rugged and portable instrument, we have chosen solid scintillator for the active volumes of both the scatter and absorber detectors. Using the BEAMnrc/EGSnrc Monte Carlo simulation package, we have constructed models using four different materials for the scatter detector: LaBr_3, NaI, CaF_2 and PVT. We have compared the detector performances using angular resolution, efficiency, and image resolution. We find that while PVT provides worse performance than that of the detectors based entirely on inorganic scintillators, all of the materials investigated for the scatter detector have the potential to provide performance adequate for our purposes., Comment: Revised text and figures, Presented at SORMA West 2008, Published in IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

We present a summary of the Hadronic Final States parallel sessions of the DIS99 Workshop. Topics were presented over two days and included both theoretical and experimental talks. Recent progress in the understanding of QCD in deep inelastic scattering, e^+e^- collisions, and in gamma and p collisions was discussed., Comment: 15 pages, 22 figures, Latex, nbp.sty. To be published in the Proceedings of DIS'99, Zeuthen, Germany, 19-23 April 1999

Since the start of HERA operation there has been considerable progress in the understanding of jet production in e p collisions. QCD calculations are now able to accommodate the hadronic structure of the virtual photon. The luminosities delivered by HERA are now sufficient to allow studies of final states in which more than two high transverse energy jets are produced. The transition between jet processes in photoproduction and in deep inelastic scattering has been studied in some detail. These advances are highlighted here., Comment: to appear in the proceedings of the 3rd UK Phenomenology Workshop on HERA Physics, September 1998, Durham. Replaced to make several corrections of the references

In the ZEUS experiment at HERA, photoproduction processes have been studied for photon-proton centre-of-mass energies in the range 100 < W_gamma p < 300 GeV and jet transverse energies extending to E_T^jet ~ 70 GeV. The data contribute to our understanding of QCD dynamics, and also provide new constraints on the photon's parton density., Comment: 7 pages, 12 figures, talk given at ICHEP'98, writeup also available at http://ppewww.ph.gla.ac.uk/preprints/98/05/

The cross section for producing three high transverse energy jets with a three-jet invariant mass of M_3J > 50 GeV has been measured in photoproduction at HERA. The angular distribution of the three jets is presented and found to be inconsistent with a uniform population of the available phase space. In contrast, parton shower models and O(alpha alpha_s^2) pQCD calculations are able to describe the three jet dynamics., Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figures; to appear in the proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on Deep Inelastic Scattering and QCD

Colour coherence in hard photoproduction is considered using the Monte Carlo event generators PYTHIA and HERWIG. Significant effects in the parton shower are found using multijet observables for direct and resolved photon induced reactions. The particle flow in the interjet region of direct processes shows a strong influence of string fragmentation effects., Comment: 6 pages, LaTeX, 6 eps figures included, to appear in the proceedings of the workshop "Future Physics at HERA"

An excess of events with a rapidity gap between jets, over what would be expected from non-diffractive processes, has been observed at HERA. A process based on a perturbative QCD calculation of colour singlet exchange has been added to HERWIG. With this addition, HERWIG is able to describe the number of events with a gap between jets over the number without a gap. This gap fraction is predicted to rise at large rapidity intervals between jets which would only be visible if the detector coverage were increased., Comment: 5 pages including 3 figures. To appear in the conference proceedings of the Workshop "Future Physics at HERA"

Recent results obtained from studies of diffractive processes in hard photoproduction performed by the ZEUS collaboration using data delivered by HERA in 1993 and 1994 are presented. In particular, we have found that $(7 \pm 3)$\% of events with two jets at a pseudorapidity interval of 3.5 to 4 are inconsistent with a non-diffractive production mechanism. These events may be interpreted as arising due to the exchange of a colour singlet object of negative squared invariant mass ($-t$) around 40~GeV$^2$. We have also probed the structure of the exchanged colour singlet object in low--$t$ diffractive scattering. By comparing the results from photoproduction and electroproduction processes we find that between 30\% and 80\% of the momentum of the exchanged colour singlet object which is carried by partons is due to hard gluons., Comment: 13 pages. 13 postscript figures + 1 postscript preprint logo + 1 LaTeX file. Files tarred, gzipped and uuencoded into 1 file. Also available at http://ppewww.ph.gla.ac.uk/preprints/96/03/

A search for photoproduction events which contain a rapidity gap between the two highest transverse energy jets has been conducted at HERA using the ZEUS detector. The jets have transverse energies greater than 6~GeV, and are separated by pseudorapidity intervals of up to four units. The fraction of events containing a gap is measured as a function of the gap-width. It is expected that this gap-fraction will fall exponentially with the gap-width, until the dominant gap-production mechanism becomes colour singlet exchange, at which point it will plateau. An indication of a plateau in the measured gap-fraction has been found, at a higher level than that expected from electroweak exchange., Comment: 7 pages, 4 postscript figures, lines now wrapped to 80 characters