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Background: The nucleosynthesis of several proton-rich nuclei is determined by radiative proton-capture reactions on unstable nuclei in nova explosions. One such reaction is $^{23}{\rm Mg}(p,\gamma)^{24}{\rm Al}$, which links the NeNa and MgAl cycles in oxygen-neon (ONe) novae. Purpose: To extract $^{23}{\rm Mg}(p,\gamma)$ resonance strengths from a study of proton-unbound states in $^{24}{\rm Al}$, produced via the $^{24}$Mg($^{3}$He,$t$) reaction. Methods: A beam of $^3 {\rm He}^{2+}$ ions at 50.7 MeV was used to produce the states of interest in $^{24}$Al. Proton-triton angular correlations were measured with a $K=600$ QDD magnetic spectrometer and a silicon detector array, located at iThemba LABS, South Africa. Results: We measured the excitation energies of the four lowest proton-unbound states in $^{24}$Al and place lower-limits on $\Gamma_p/\Gamma$ values for these four states. Together with shell-model calculations of partial gamma widths, the experimental data are also used to determine resonance strengths for the three lowest $^{23}{\rm Mg}(p,\gamma)^{24}{\rm Al}$ resonances. Conclusions: The energy of the dominant first $^{23}{\rm Mg}(p,\gamma)$ resonance is determined to be $E_{r} = 478 \pm 4$ keV, with a resonance strength $\omega \gamma = 19 \pm 9$ meV., Comment: Accepted for Publication in Physical Review C

Over the past two decades high energy-resolution inelastic proton scattering studies were used to gain an understanding of the origin of fine structure observed in the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR) and the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR). Recently, the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) in $^{58}$Ni, $^{90}$Zr, $^{120}$Sn and $^{208}$Pb was studied at the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) by means of inelastic $\alpha$-particle scattering at very forward scattering angles (including $0\circ$). The good energy resolution of the measurement revealed significant fine structure of the ISGMR.~To extract scales by means of wavelet analysis characterizing the observed fine structure of the ISGMR in order to investigate the role of different mechanisms contributing to its decay width. Characteristic energy scales are extracted from the fine structure using continuous wavelet transforms. The experimental energy scales are compared to different theoretical approaches performed in the framework of quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) and beyond-QRPA including complex configurations using both non-relativistic and relativistic density functional theory. All models highlight the role of Landau fragmentation for the damping of the ISGMR especially in the medium-mass region. Models which include the coupling between one particle-one hole (1p-1h) and two particle-two hole (2p-2h) configurations modify the strength distributions and wavelet scales indicating the importance of the spreading width. The effect becomes more pronounced with increasing mass number. Wavelet scales remain a sensitive measure of the interplay between Landau fragmentation and the spreading width in the description of the fine structure of giant resonances., Comment: 13 pages,7 figures, regular article

Recent measurements indicate that the previously established upper limit for the $\gamma$-decay branch of the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance in $^{12}\textrm{C}$ at $E_{x} = 9.641(5)$ MeV may be incorrect. As a result, the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance has been suggested as a significant resonance for mediating the triple-$\alpha$ reaction at high temperatures above 2 GK. Accurate estimations of the $3_{1}^{-}$ contribution to the triple-$\alpha$ reaction rate require accurate knowledge of not only the radiative width, but also the total width. In anticipation of future measurements to more accurately determine the $\gamma$-decay branch of the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance, the objective of this work is to accurately determine the total width of the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance. An evaluation was performed on all previous results considered in the current ENSDF average of 46(3) keV for the physical total width (FWHM) of the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance in $^{12}\textrm{C}$. Significant unaccounted-for uncertainties and a misstated result were discovered in these previous results, leading to an invalid ENSDF average. In this work, the new global \textbf{R}-matrix analysis performed on direct-reaction data yields a formal total width of $\Gamma(E_{r}) = 46(2)$ keV and an observed total width of $\Gamma_{\textrm{obs}}(E_{r}) = 38(2)$ keV for the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance. An observed total width of $\Gamma_{\textrm{obs}}(E_{r}) = 38(2)$ keV is recommended for the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance in $\mathrm{^{12}C}$. This observed total width should be employed for future evaluations of the observed total radiative width for the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance and its contribution to the high-temperature triple-$\alpha$ reaction rate.

Inelastic $\alpha$-particle scattering at energies of a few hundred MeV and very-forward scattering angles including $0^\circ$ has been established as a tool for the study of the isoscalar giant monopole (IS0) strength distributions in nuclei. An independent investigation of the IS0 strength in nuclei across a wide mass range was performed using the $0^\circ$ facility at iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS), South Africa, to understand differences observed between IS0 strength distributions in previous experiments performed at the Texas A\&M University (TAMU) Cyclotron Institute, USA and the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Japan. The isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) was excited in $^{58}$Ni, $^{90}$Zr, $^{120}$Sn and $^{208}$Pb using $\alpha$-particle inelastic scattering with $196$ MeV $\alpha$ beam and scattering angles $\theta_{\text{Lab}} = 0^\circ$ and $4^\circ$. The K$600$ magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS was used to detect and momentum analyze the inelastically scattered $\alpha$ particles. The IS0 strength distributions in the nuclei studied were deduced with the difference-of-spectra (DoS) technique including a correction factor for the $4^\circ$ data based on the decomposition of $L > 0$ cross sections in previous experiments. IS0 strength distributions for $^{58}$Ni, $^{90}$Zr, $^{120}$Sn and $^{208}$Pb are extracted in the excitation-energy region $E_{\rm x} = 9 - 25$ MeV.Using correction factors extracted from the RCNP experiments, there is a fair agreement with their published IS0 results. Good agreement for IS0 strength in $^{58}$Ni is also obtained with correction factors deduced from the TAMU results, while marked differences are found for $^{90}$Zr and $^{208}$Pb., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, regular article submitted to PRC

The fine structure of the IsoVector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR) in the doubly-magic nuclei $^{40,48}$Ca observed in inelastic proton scattering experiments under $0^\circ$ is used to investigate the role of different mechanisms contributing to the IVGDR decay width. Characteristic energy scales are extracted from the fine structure by means of wavelet analysis. The experimental scales are compared to different theoretical approaches allowing for the inclusion of complex configurations beyond the mean-field level. Calculations are performed in the framework of RPA and beyond-RPA in a relativistic approach based on an effective meson-exchange interaction, with the UCOM effective interaction and, for the first time, with realistic two- plus three-nucleon interactions from chiral effective field theory employing the in-medium similarity renormalization group. All models highlight the role of Landau fragmentation for the damping of the IVGDR, while the differences in the coupling strength between one particle-one hole (1p-1h) and two particle-two hole (2p-2h) correlated (relativistic) and non-correlated (non-relativistic) configurations lead to very different pictures of the importance of the spreading width resulting in wavelet scales being a sensitive measure of their interplay. The relativistic approach with particle-vibration coupling, in particular, shows impressive agreement with the number and absolute values of the scales extracted from the experimental data., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures

Two recent studies of the evolution of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) within the calcium isotope chain report conflicting results. One study suggests that the monopole resonance energy, and thus the incompressibility of the nucleus $K_{A}$ increase with mass, which implies that $K_{\tau}$, the asymmetry term in the nuclear incompressibility, has a positive value. The other study reports a weak decreasing trend of the energy moments, resulting in a generally accepted negative value for $K_{\tau}$. An independent measurement of the central region of the ISGMR in the Ca isotope chain is provided to gain a better understanding of the origin of possible systematic trends. Inelastically scattered $\alpha$ particles from a range of calcium targets ($\mathrm{^{40,42,44,48}Ca}$), observed at small scattering angles including 0$^\circ$, were momentum analyzed in the K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS, South Africa. Monopole strengths spanning an excitation-energy range between 9.5 and 25.5 MeV were obtained using the difference-of-spectra (DoS) technique. The structure of the $E0$ strength distributions of $^{40,42,44}$Ca agrees well with the results from the previous measurement that supports a weak decreasing trend of the energy moments, while no two datasets agree in the case of $^{48}$Ca. Despite the variation in the structural character of $E0$ strength distribution from different studies, we find for all datasets that the moment ratios, calculated from the ISGMR strength in the excitation-energy range that defines the main resonance region, display at best only a weak systematic sensitivity to a mass increase. Different trends observed in the nuclear incompressibility are caused by contributions to the $E0$ strength outside of the main resonance region, and in particular for high excitation energies., Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Physical Review C

Knowledge of the low-lying monopole strength in $\mathrm{^{12}C}$ $-$ the Hoyle state in particular $-$ is crucial for our understanding of both the astrophysically important $3\alpha$ reaction and of $\alpha$-particle clustering. Multiple theoretical models have predicted a breathing mode of the Hoyle State at $E_{x} \approx 9$ MeV, corresponding to a radial in-phase oscillation of the underlying $\alpha$ clusters. The $\mathrm{^{12}C}(\alpha, \alpha^{\prime})\mathrm{^{12}C}$ and $\mathrm{^{14}C}(p, t)\mathrm{^{12}C}$ reactions were employed to populate states in $^{12}$C in order to search for this predicted breathing mode. A self-consistent, simultaneous analysis of the inclusive spectra with R-matrix lineshapes, together with angular distributions of charged-particle decay, yielded clear evidence for excess monopole strength at $E_{x} \approx 9$ MeV which is highly collective. Reproduction of the experimentally observed inclusive yields using a fit, with consistent population ratios for the various broad states, required an additional source of monopole strength. The interpretation of this additional monopole resonance as the breathing-mode excitation of the Hoyle state would provide evidence supporting a $\mathcal{D}_{3h}$ symmetry for the Hoyle state itself. The excess monopole strength may complicate analysis of the properties of the Hoyle state, modifying the temperature dependence of the $3\alpha$ rate at $T_{9} \gtrsim 2$ and ultimately, the predicted nucleosynthesis in explosive stars., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures

The isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) is known to break down in the first T = 2, A = 32 isospin quintet. In this work we combine high-resolution experimental data with state-of-the-art shell-model calculations to investigate isospin mixing as a possible cause for this violation. The experimental data are used to validate isospin-mixing matrix elements calculated with newly developed shell-model Hamiltonians. Our analysis shows that isospin mixing with nonanalog T = 1 states contributes to the IMME breakdown, making the requirement of an anomalous cubic term inevitable for the multiplet.

Background: In highly deformed nuclei, there is a noticeable coupling of the Isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance (ISGMR) and the $K = 0$ component of the Isoscalar Giant Quadrupole Resonance (ISGQR), which results in a double peak structure of the isoscalar monopole (IS0) strength (a narrow low-energy deformation-induced peak and a main broad ISGMR part). The energy of the narrow low-lying IS0 peak is sensitive to both the incompressibility modulus $K_\infty$ and the coupling between IS0 and isoscalar quadrupole (IS2) strength. Objective: This study aims to investigate the two-peaked structure of the ISGMR in the prolate $^{24}$Mg and oblate $^{28}$Si nuclei and identify among a variety of energy density functionals based on Skyrme parameterisations the one which best describes the experimental data. This will allow for conclusions regarding the nuclear incompressibility. Because of the strong IS0/IS2 coupling, the deformation splitting of the ISGQR will also be analysed. Methods: The ISGMR was excited in $^{24}$Mg and $^{28}$Si using $\alpha$-particle inelastic scattering measurements acquired with an $E_\alpha = 196$ MeV beam at scattering angles $\theta_{\text{Lab}} = 0^\circ$ and $4^\circ$. The K$600$ magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS was used to detect and momentum analyse the inelastically scattered $\alpha$ particles. An experimental energy resolution of $\approx 70$ keV (FWHM) was attained, revealing fine structure in the excitation-energy region of the ISGMR. The IS0 strength distributions in the nuclei studied were obtained with the Difference-of-Spectrum (DoS) technique. The theoretical comparison is based on the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) with a representative set of Skyrme forces., Comment: 17 pages, 16 figures, regular article

This paper examines the $^{18}$Ne($\alpha, p_{0}$)$^{21}$Na cross-section relevant in X-ray bursts. The study was performed with the K600 magnetic spectrometer in coincidence with the CAKE, a silicon detector array, at iThemba LABS in Cape Town, South Africa. A 100-MeV proton beam was impinged on a $^{24}$Mg target to study the $^{24}$Mg($p,t$)$^{22}$Mg reaction. The triton ejectiles were momentum-analysed with the magnetic spectrometer and proton decays from the $^{22}$Mg recoil nucleus to the ground state of $^{21}$Na and various excited states thereof were detected with the CAKE. In doing so, we were able to compare our results to previous direct and indirect measurements of the $^{18}$Ne($\alpha, p$)$^{21}$Na reaction., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures

Knowledge of the low-lying monopole strength in $\mathrm{^{12}C}$, the Hoyle state in particular, is crucial for our understanding of both the astrophysically important $3\alpha$ reaction and of $\alpha$-particle clustering. The $\mathrm{^{12}C}(\alpha, \alpha^{\prime})\mathrm{^{12}C}$ and $\mathrm{^{14}C}(p, t)\mathrm{^{12}C}$ reactions were employed to populate states in $^{12}$C. A self-consistent, simultaneous analysis of the inclusive spectra with lineshapes was performed, which accounted for distortion due to nuclear dynamics and experimental effects. Clear evidence was found for excess monopole strength at $E_{x} \sim 9$ MeV, particularly in the $\mathrm{^{12}C}(\alpha, \alpha^{\prime})\mathrm{^{12}C}$ reaction at $0^{\circ}$. This additional strength cannot be reproduced by the previously established monopole states between $E_{x} = 7$ and 13 MeV. An additional $0^{+}$ state at $E_{x} \sim 9$ MeV yielded a significantly improved fit of the data and is the leading candidate for the predicted breathing-mode excitation of the Hoyle state. Alternatively, the results may suggest that a more sophisticated, physically motivated parameterization of the astrophysically important monopole strengths in $\mathrm{^{12}C}$ is required., Comment: 25 pages (including appendix and bibliography), 16 figures

Nuclei in the $sd$-shell demonstrate a remarkable interplay of cluster and mean-field phenomena. The $N=Z$ nuclei, such as $^{24}$Mg and $^{28}$Si, have been the focus of the theoretical study of both these phenomena in the past. The cluster and vortical mean-field phenomena can be probed by excitation of isoscalar monopole and dipole states in scattering of isoscalar particles such as deuterons or $\alpha$ particles. Inelastically scattered $\alpha$ particles were momentum-analysed in the K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS, Cape Town, South Africa. The scattered particles were detected in two multi-wire drift chambers and two plastic scintillators placed at the focal plane of the K600. In the theoretical discussion, the QRPA and AMD+GCM were used. The QRPA calculations lead us to conclude that: i) the mean-field vorticity appears mainly in dipole states with $K=1$, ii) the dipole (monopole) states should have strong deformation-induced octupole (quadrupole) admixtures, and iii) that near the $\alpha$-particle threshold, there should exist a collective state (with $K=0$ for prolate nuclei and $K=1$ for oblate nuclei) with an impressive octupole strength. The results of the AMD+GCM calculations suggest that some observed states may have a mixed (mean-field + cluster) character or correspond to particular cluster configurations. A tentative correspondence between observed states and theoretical states from QRPA and AMD+GCM was established. The QRPA and AMD+GCM analysis shows that low-energy isoscalar dipole states combine cluster and mean-field properties. The QRPA calculations show that the low-energy vorticity is well localized in $^{24}$Mg, fragmented in $^{26}$Mg, and absent in $^{28}$Si., Comment: 11 figures, 18ish pages, accepted in Phys Rev C

Background: Inelastic proton scattering at energies of a few hundred MeV and very-forward angles including $0^\circ$ has been established as a tool to study electric-dipole strength distributions in nuclei. The present work reports a systematic investigation of the chain of stable even-mass Nd isotopes representing a transition from spherical to quadrupole-deformed nuclei. Purpose: Extraction of the equivalent photo-absorption cross sections and analysis of their fine structure in the energy region of the IsoVector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR). Method: Proton inelastic scattering reactions of 200 MeV protons were measured at iThemba LABS in Cape Town, South Africa. The scattering products were momentum-analysed by the K600 magnetic spectrometer positioned at $\theta_{\mathrm{Lab}}=0^\circ$. Using dispersion-matching techniques, energy resolutions of $\Delta E \approx 40 - 50$ keV were obtained. After subtraction of background and contributions from other multipoles, the spectra were converted to photo-absorption cross sections using the equivalent virtual-photon method. Results: Wavelet-analysis techniques are used to extract characteristic energy scales of the fine structure of the IVGDR from the experimental data. Comparisons with the Quasiparticle-Phonon Model (QPM) and Skyrme Separable Random Phase Approximation (SSRPA) predictions provide insight into the role of different giant resonance damping mechanisms. Conclusions: Fine structure is observed even for the most deformed nuclei studied. Fragmentation of the one particle-one hole ($1p1h$) strength seems to be the main source of fine structure in both spherical and deformed nuclei. Some impact of the spreading due to coupling of the two particle-two hole ($2p2h$) states to the $1p1h$ doorway states is seen in the spherical/transitional nuclei, where calculations beyond the $1p1h$ level are available., Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures; Minor changes made such as those clarifying the descriptions of the analysis procedure, but the results are unchanged. The current version was accepted for publication by PRC on 7 December 2020

Experiments investigating the fine structure of the IsoScalar Giant Monopole Resonance (ISGMR) of 48Ca were carried out with a 200 MeV alpha inelastic-scattering reaction, using the high energy-resolution capability and the zero-degree setup at the K600 magnetic spectrometer of iThemba LABS, Cape Town, South Africa. Considerable fine structure is observed in the energy region of the ISGMR. Characteristic energy scales are extracted from the experimental data by means of a wavelet analysis and compared with the state-of-the-art theoretical calculations within a Skyrme-RPA (random phase approximation) approach using the finite-rank separable approximation with the inclusion of phonon-phonon coupling (PPC). Good agreement was observed between the experimental data and the theoretical predictions., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, contribution to the proceedings of the 27th International Nuclear Physics Conference (INPC) 2019, July 29- August 2, Glasgow, UK

Recent high-precision mass measurements and shell model calculations~[Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 108}, 212501 (2012)] have challenged a longstanding explanation for the requirement of a cubic isobaric multiplet mass equation for the lowest $A = 9$ isospin quartet. The conclusions relied upon the choice of the excitation energy for the second $T = 3/2$ state in $^9$B, which had two conflicting measurements prior to this work. We remeasured the energy of the state using the $^9{\rm Be}(^3{\rm He},t)$ reaction and significantly disagree with the most recent measurement. Our result supports the contention that continuum coupling in the most proton-rich member of the quartet is not the predominant reason for the large cubic term required for $A = 9$ nuclei.

A survey of the fine structure of the Isovector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR) was performed, using the recently commissioned zero-degree facility of the K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS. Inelastic proton scattering at an incident energy of 200 MeV was measured on $^{27}$Al, $^{40}$Ca, $^{56}$Fe, $^{58}$Ni and $^{208}$Pb. A high energy resolution ($\rm{\Delta}\it{E} \simeq$ 40 keV FWHM) could be achieved after utilising faint-beam and dispersion-matching techniques. Considerable fine structure is observed in the energy region of the IVGDR and characteristic energy scales are extracted from the experimental data by means of a wavelet analysis. The comparison with Quasiparticle-Phonon Model (QPM) calculations provides insight into the relevance of different giant resonance decay mechanisms. Photoabsorption cross sections derived from the data assuming dominance of relativistic Coulomb excitation are in fair agreement with previous work using real photons., Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures

The phenomenon of fine structure of the Isoscalar Giant Quadrupole Resonance (ISGQR) has been studied with high energy-resolution proton inelastic scattering at iThemba LABS in the chain of stable even-mass Nd isotopes covering the transition from spherical to deformed ground states. A wavelet analysis of the background-subtracted spectra in the deformed 146,148,150Nd isotopes reveals characteristic scales in correspondence with scales obtained from a Skyrme RPA calculation using the SVmas10 parameterization. A semblance analysis shows that these scales arise from the energy shift between the main fragments of the K = 0, 1 and K = 2 components., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures

Background: The $^{22}$Ne($\alpha,n$)$^{25}$Mg reaction is one of the neutron sources for the $s$-process in massive stars. The properties of levels in $^{26}$Mg above the $\alpha$-particle threshold control the strengths of the $^{22}$Ne($\alpha,n$)$^{25}$Mg and $^{22}$Ne($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{26}$Mg reactions. The strengths of these reactions as functions of temperature are one of the major uncertainties in the $s$-process. Methods: Inelastically scattered $\alpha$ particles from a $^{26}$Mg target were momentum-analysed in the K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS, South Africa. The differential cross sections of states were deduced from the focal-plane trajectory of the scattered $\alpha$ particles. Based on the differential cross sections, spin and parity assignments to states are made. Results: A new $0^+$ state was observed in addition to a number of other states, some of which can be associated with states observed in other experiments. Some of the deduced $J^\pi$ values of the states observed in the present study show discrepancies with those assigned in an experiment performed at RCNP Osaka. Conclusion: The high level density at this excitation energy in $^{26}$Mg makes assigning $J^\pi$ values to observed states difficult. Further experimental investigations with superior experimental energy resolution are required to clarify the number of levels in $^{26}$Mg, especially between the $\alpha$-particle threshold at 10.615 MeV and the neutron threshold at 11.319 MeV., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review C, fixed a typo in a figure caption and some improvements for clarity in Figure 2, added information on rate implications for alpha-particle radiative capture on Ne-22

Proton inelastic scattering experiments at energy E_p = 200 MeV and a spectrometer scattering angle of 0 degree were performed on 144,146,148,150Nd and 152Sm exciting the IsoVector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR). Comparison with results from photo-absorption experiments reveals a shift of resonance maxima towards higher energies for vibrational and transitional nuclei. The extracted photo-absorption cross sections in the most deformed nuclei, 150Nd and 152Sm, exhibit a pronounced asymmetry rather than a distinct double-hump structure expected as a signature of K-splitting. This behaviour can be related to the proximity of these nuclei to the critical point of the phase shape transition from vibrators to rotors with a soft quadrupole deformation potential. Self-consistent random-phase approximation (RPA) calculations using the SLy6 Skyrme force provide a relevant description of the IVGDR shapes deduced from the present data, Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures

The combination of a magnetic spectrometer and ancillary detectors such as silicon detectors is a powerful tool for the study of nuclear reactions and nuclear structure. This paper discusses the recently commissioned silicon array called the CAKE which is designed for use with the K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS., Comment: 9 figures, Journal of Instrumentation 12 (02), T02004

The $\mathrm{^{16}O}(\alpha, \alpha^{\prime})$ reaction was studied at $\theta_{lab} = 0^\circ$ at an incident energy of $\textrm{E}_{lab}$ = 200 MeV using the K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS. Proton and $\alpha$-decay from the natural parity states were observed in a large-acceptance silicon-strip detector array at backward angles. The coincident charged particle measurements were used to characterize the decay channels of the $0_{6}^{+}$ state in $\mathrm{^{16}O}$ located at $E_{x} = 15.097(5)$ MeV. This state is identified by several theoretical cluster calculations to be a good candidate for the 4-$\alpha$ cluster state. The results of this work suggest the presence of a previously unidentified resonance at $E_{x}\approx15$ MeV that does not exhibit a $0^{+}$ character. This unresolved resonance may have contaminated previous observations of the $0_{6}^{+}$ state.

Aspects of nuclear structure in alpha-conjugate nuclei have long been associated with alpha clustering, including the existence of superdeformed bands. In this paper, an alpha-particle inelastic scattering experiment investigating the location of $0^+$ states in $^{28}$Si is reported in an attempt to locate possible cluster states. The results are compared to a semi-microscopic model which shows good agreement with the data, and supports the assignment of a newly discovered $0^+$ state as the band-head of a previously observed superdeformed band in $^{28}$Si, Comment: 6 figures, 8 pages, updated to fix broken figure placement, updated again to fix a couple of typos; final update

The electric dipole strength distribution in 120Sn between 5 and 22 MeV has been determined at RCNP Osaka from a polarization transfer analysis of proton inelastic scattering at E_0 = 295 MeV and forward angles including 0{\deg}. Combined with photoabsorption data an electric dipole polarizability \alpha_D(120Sn) = 8.93(36) fm^3 is extracted. The dipole polarizability as isovector observable par excellence carries direct information on the nuclear symmetry energy and its density dependence. The correlation of the new value with the well established \alpha_D(208Pb) serves as a test of its prediction by nuclear energy density functionals (EDFs). Models based on modern Skyrme interactions describe the data fairly well while most calculations based on relativistic Hamiltonians cannot., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

The electric dipole strength in 120Sn has been extracted from proton inelastic scattering experiments at E_p = 295 MeV and at forward angles including 0 degree. Below neutron threshoild it differs from the results of a 120Sn(gamma,gamma') experiment and peaks at an excitation energy of 8.3 MeV. The total strength corresponds to 2.3(2)% of the energy-weighted sum rule and is more than three times larger than what is observed with the (gamma,gamma') reaction. This implies a strong fragmentation of the E1 strength and/or small ground state branching ratios of the excited 1- states., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures

An experiment using the 11B(3He,d)12C reaction was performed at iThemba LABS at an incident energy of 44 MeV and analyzed with a high energy-resolution magnetic spectrometer, to re-investigate states in 12C published in 1971. The original investigation reported the existence of an 11.16 MeV state in 12C that displays a 2+ nature. In the present experiment data were acquired at laboratory angles of 25-, 30- and 35- degrees, to be as close to the c.m. angles of the original measurements where the clearest signature of such a state was observed. These new low background measurements revealed no evidence of the previously reported state at 11.16 MeV in 12C.

Scattering of protons of several hundred MeV is a promising new spectroscopic tool for the study of electric dipole strength in nuclei. A case study of 208Pb shows that at very forward angles J^pi = 1- states are strongly populated via Coulomb excitation. A separation from nuclear excitation of other modes is achieved by a multipole decomposition analysis of the experimental cross sections based on theoretical angular distributions calculated within the quasiparticle-phonon model. The B(E1) transition strength distribution is extracted for excitation energies up to 9 MeV, i.e., in the region of the so-called pygmy dipole resonance (PDR). The Coulomb-nuclear interference shows sensitivity to the underlying structure of the E1 transitions, which allows for the first time an experimental extraction of the electromagnetic transition strength and the energy centroid of the PDR., Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. C

The level density of 2+ states in 40Ca has been extracted in the energy region of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR) from a fluctuation analysis of high energy-resolution p,p') data taken at incident energies of 200 MeV at the K600 magnetic spectrometer of iThemba LABS, South Africa. Quasi-free scattering cross sections were calculated to estimate their role as a background contribution to the spectra and found to be small. The shape of the background was determined from the discrete wavelet transform of the spectra using a biorthogonal wavelet function normalized at the lowest particle separation threshold. The experimental results are compared to widely used phenomenological and microscopic models., Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. C, revised manuscript

A benchmark experiment on 208Pb shows that polarized proton inelastic scattering at very forward angles including 0{\deg} is a powerful tool for high-resolution studies of electric dipole (E1) and spin magnetic dipole (M1) modes in nuclei over a broad excitation energy range to test up-to-date nuclear models. The extracted E1 polarizability leads to a neutron skin thickness r_skin = 0.156+0.025-0.021 fm in 208Pb derived within a mean-field model [Phys. Rev. C 81, 051303 (2010)], thereby constraining the symmetry energy and its density dependence, relevant to the description of neutron stars., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, revised mansucript

The fragmentation of the Isoscalar Giant Quadrupole Resonance (ISGQR) in 40Ca has been investigated in high energy-resolution experiments using proton inelastic scattering at E_p = 200 MeV. Fine structure is observed in the region of the ISGQR and its characteristic energy scales are extracted from the experimental data by means of a wavelet analysis. The experimental scales are well described by Random Phase Approximation (RPA) and second-RPA calculations with an effective interaction derived from a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction by the Unitary Correlation Operator Method (UCOM). In these results characteristic scales are already present at the mean-field level pointing to their origination in Landau damping, in contrast to the findings in heavier nuclei and also to SRPA calculations for 40Ca based on phenomenological effective interactions, where fine structure is explained by the coupling to two-particle two-hole (2p-2h) states., Comment: Phys. Lett. B, in press

A compact liquid organic neutron spectrometer (CLONS) based on a single NE213 liquid scintillator (5 cm diam. x 5 cm) is described. The spectrometer is designed to measure neutron fluence spectra over the energy range 2-200 MeV and is suitable for use in neutron fields having any type of time structure. Neutron fluence spectra are obtained from measurements of two-parameter distributions (counts versus pulse height and pulse shape) using the Bayesian unfolding code MAXED. Calibration and test measurements made using a pulsed neutron beam with a continuous energy spectrum are described and the application of the spectrometer to radiation dose measurements is discussed., Comment: To be published in Radiation Protection Dosimetry

The programme Earth AntineutRino TomograpHy (EARTH) proposes to build ten underground facilities each hosting a telescope. Each telescope consists of many detector modules, to map the radiogenic heat sources deep in the interior of the Earth by utilising direction sensitive geoneutrino detection. Recent hypotheses target the core-mantle boundary (CMB) as a major source of natural radionuclides and therefore of radiogenic heat. A typical scale of the processes that take place at the CMB is about 200km. To observe these processes from the surface requires an angular resolution of about 3 degrees. EARTH aims at creating a high-resolution 3D-map of the radiogenic heat sources in the interior of the Earth. It will thereby contribute to a better understanding of a number of geophysical phenomena observed at the surface of the Earth. This condition requires a completely different approach from the monolithic detector systems as e.g. KamLAND. This paper presents, for such telescopes, the boundary conditions set by physics, the estimated count rates, and the first initial results from Monte Carlo simulations and laboratory experiments. The Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the large volume telescope should consist of detector modules each comprising a very large number of detector units, with a cross section of roughly a few square centimetres. The signature of an antineutrino event will be a double pulse event. One pulse arises from the slowing down of the emitted positron, the other from the neutron capture. In laboratory experiments small sized, 10B-loaded liquid scintillation detectors were investigated as candidates for direction sensitive, low-energy antineutrino detection., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, 1 table

Intermediate mass fragments (IMF) from the interaction of $^{27}$Al, $^{59}$Co and $^{197}$Au with 200 MeV protons were measured in an angular range from 20 degree to 120 degree in the laboratory system. The fragments, ranging from isotopes of helium up to isotopes of carbon, were isotopically resolved. Double differential cross sections, energy differential cross sections and total cross sections were extracted., Comment: accepted by Phys. Rev. C