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Lifetimes or lifetime limits of a small number of excited states of the sulfur isotopes with mass numbers A=35, 36, 37, and 38 have been measured using the differential recoil-distance method. The isotopes of sulfur were populated in binary grazing reactions initiated by a beam of 36S ions of energy 225 MeV incident on a thin 208Pb target which was mounted in the Cologne plunger apparatus. The combination of the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer and an early implementation of the AGATA γ-ray tracking array was used to detect γ rays in coincidence with projectile-like nuclear species. Lifetime measurements of populated states were measured within the range from about 1 to 100 ps. The number of states for which lifetime measurements or lifetime limits were possible was limited by statistics. For 35S, the lifetime was determined for the first 1/2+ state at 1572 keV ; the result is compared with a previous published lifetime value. The lifetime of the 3− state of 36S at 4193 keV was determined and compared with earlier measurements. No previous lifetime information exists for the (6+) state at 6690 keV ; a lifetime measurement with large associated error was made in the present work. For 37S, the states for which lifetime limits were established were those at 646 keV with Jπ=3/2− and at 2776 keV with Jπ=11/2− ; there are no previously published lifetime values for excited states of 37S. Finally, a lifetime limit was established for the Jπ=(6+) state of 38S at 3675 keV ; no lifetime information exists for this state in the literature. Measured lifetime values were compared with the results of state-of-the-art shell-model calculations based on the PSDPF, SDPF-U, and FSU effective interactions. In addition, nuclear magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole moments, branching ratios, mixing ratios, and electromagnetic transition rates, where available, have been compared with shell-model values. The current work suffers from poor statistics ; nevertheless, lifetime values and limits have been possible, allowing a useful discussion of the ability of state-of-the-art shell-model calculations to reproduce the experimental results.

International audience; The lifetime of the 2+ and 9−, 11−, 13−, 15− states in the neutron-deficient Te110 was measured for the first time using the recoil distance Doppler shift technique. The reported value of the reduced transition probability B(E2;0g.s+→2+)=4.3(8)×103e2fm4 supports the systematic for even-mass Te isotopes and was interpreted in the framework of the large-scale shell model and cranked shell model calculations. The measured reduced transition probabilities in the negative-parity yrast band revealed the upward trend towards the high spins. The enhanced collectivity is discussed in terms of the tilted axis cranking approach and the symmetry configuration mixing method with the Gogny D1S interaction.

For the first time in an application to nuclear astrophysics, a process induced by the unstable 5He = (4He-n) nucleus, the 3He+5He→2α reaction, has been studied through the Trojan Horse Method (THM). For that purpose, the quasi-free (QF) contribution of the 9Be(3He, αα)4He reaction was selected at E(3He) = 4 MeV incident energy. The reaction was studied in a kinematically complete experiment following a recent publication (Spitaleri et al. in Eur Phys J A 56:18, 2020), where for the quasi free contribution the momentum distribution between α and 5He particle cluster in the 9Be nucleus in the ground state have been extracted.

The pairing interaction induces nucleon-nucleon correlations that are essential in defining the properties of finite quantum many-body systems close to their ground states. A very specific probe of this pairing component in the nuclear interactions, which ties up nucleons in a highly correlated state, the nuclear Cooper pairs, is the two-nucleon transfer reactions.

Background: The heaviest Tz=0 doubly-magic nucleus, 100Sn, and the neighboring nuclei offer unique opportunities to investigate the properties of nuclear interaction. For instance, the structure of light-Sn nuclei has been shown to be affected by the delicate balance between nuclear-interaction components, such as pairing and quadrupole correlations. From Cd to Te, many common features and phenomena have been observed experimentally along the isotopic chains, leading to theoretical studies devoted to a more general and comprehensive study of the region. In this context, having only two proton holes in the Z=50 shell, the Cd isotopes are expected to present properties similar to those found in the Sn isotopic chain. Purpose: The aim of this work was to measure lifetimes of excited states in neutron-deficient nuclei in the vicinity of 100Sn. Methods: The neutron-deficient nuclei in the N≈Z≈50 region were populated using a multinucleon transfer reaction with a 106Cd beam and a 92Mo target. The beamlike products were identified by the VAMOS++ spectrometer, while the γ rays were detected using the AGATA array. Lifetimes of excited states were determined using the recoil distance Doppler-shift method, employing the Cologne differential plunger. Results: Lifetimes of low-lying states were measured in the even-mass 102–108Cd isotopes. In particular, multiple states with excitation energy up to ≈3 MeV, belonging to various bands, were populated in 106Cd via inelastic scattering. The transition strengths corresponding to the measured lifetimes were compared with those resulting from state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field calculations using the symmetry-conserving configuration-mixing approach. Conclusions: Despite the similarities in the electromagnetic properties of the low-lying states, there is a fundamental structural difference between the ground-state bands in the Z=48 and Z=50 isotopes. The comparison between experimental and theoretical results revealed a rotational character of the Cd nuclei, which have prolate-deformed ground states with β2≈0.2. At this deformation Z=48 becomes a closed-shell configuration, which is favored with respect to the spherical one.

Two nucleon transfer reactions at low bombarding energies are an ideal tool to investigate nucleon-nucleon correlations. With heavy ions one has the possibility to transfer several nucleon pairs, involving both neutrons and protons at the same time. In this work we will study how pair correlations can be probed in heavy ion collisions , and how the strong Coulomb field influences the reaction dynamic.

A new study of the quasi-free contribution to the3He+9Be→3αreaction (Qvalue = 19.004 MeV) at lowE3Heenergy is presented. The reaction was studied in a kine-matically complete experiment at beam energy of 4 MeV. Toclarify the presence of the quasi-free mechanism, the4He–5He momentum distribution of the9Be ground state wasextracted. Standard tests were also carried out to confirm thepresence of the quasi-free contribution and are reported in thiswork. The full width at half maximum of the4He–5He inter-cluster momentum distribution inside9Be was measured withimproved accuracy, by adopting several different approachesthat all led to consistent results. These preliminary investiga-tions on the reaction mechanism are fundamental for futurestudies employing the Trojan Horse Method, with the5Heunbound nucleus as a virtual projectile.

The high-spin structures of Ba-136 and Ba-137 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Ba-136 is populated in a Xe-136 + U-238 MNT reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, and in two Be-9 + Te-130 fusion-evaporation reactions using the High-efficiency Observatory for gamma-Ray Unique Spectroscopy (HORUS) at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne, Germany. Furthermore, both isotopes are populated in an elusive reaction channel in the B-11 + Te-130 fusion-evaporation reaction utilizing the HORUS gamma-ray array. The level scheme above the J(pi) = 10(+) isomer in Ba-136 is revised and extended up to an excitation energy of approximately 5.5 MeV. From the results of angular-correlation measurements, the E-x = 3707- and E-x = 4920-keV states are identified as the bandheads of positive- and negative-parity cascades. While the high-spin regimes of both Te-132 and Xe-134 are characterized by high-energy 12(+) -> 10(+) transitions, the Ba-136 E2 ground-state band is interrupted by negative-parity states only a few hundred keV above the J(pi) = 10(+) isomer. Furthermore, spins are established for several hitherto unassigned high-spin states in Ba-137. The new results close a gap along the high-spin structure of N < 82 Ba isotopes. Experimental results are compared to large-scale shell-model calculations employing the GCN50:82, Realistic SM, PQM130, and SN100PN interactions. The calculations suggest that the bandheads of the positive-parity bands in both isotopes are predominantly of proton character.

Lifetimes of excited states of the phosphorus isotopes 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 15 P have been measured by using the differential recoil-distance method. The isotopes of phosphorus were populated in binary grazing reactions initiated by a beam of 36 S ions of energy 225 MeV incident on a thin 208 Pb target mounted in the Cologne plunger apparatus. The combination of the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer and an early implementation of the AGATA γ -ray tracking array was used to detect γ rays in coincidence with projectile-like nuclear species. Lifetime measurements of populated states were made within the range from about 1 to 100 ps. The number of states for which lifetime measurements were possible was limited by statistics. For 33 P , lifetime limits were determined for the first 3/2+ and 5/2+ states at 1431 and 1848 keV, respectively; the results are compared with previous published lifetime values. The lifetime of the first 2+ state of 34 P at 429 keV was determined and compared with earlier measurements. For 35 P , the states for which lifetimes, or lifetime limits, were determined were those at 2386, 3860, 4101, and 4493 keV, with Jπ values of 3/2+, 5/2+, 7/2− 1 , and 7/2− 2 , respectively. There have been no previous published lifetimes for states in this nucleus. A lifetime was measured for the stretched π ( 1 f 7 / 2 ) ⊗ ν ( 1 f 7 / 2 ) J π = ( 7 + ) state of 36 P at 5212 keV and a lifetime limit was established for the stretched π ( 1 d 3 / 2 ) ⊗ ν ( 1 f 7 / 2 ) J π = ( 5 − ) state at 2030 keV. There are no previously published lifetimes for states of 36 P . Measured lifetime values were compared with the results of state-of-the-art shell-model calculations based on the PSDPF effective interaction. In addition, measured branching ratios, published mixing ratios, and electromagnetic transition rates, where available, have been compared with shell-model values. In general, there is good agreement between experiment and the shell model; however there is evidence that the shell-model values of the M1 transition rates for the 3/2+1→ 1 / 2 + (ground state) and 5/2+1→ 3 / 2 + 1 transitions in 33 P underestimate the experimental values by a factor between 5 and 10. In 35 P there are some disagreements between experimental and shell-model values of branching ratios for the first and second excited 7/2− states. In particular, there is a serious disagreement for the decay characteristics of the second 7/2− state at 4493 keV, for which the shell-model counterpart lies at 4754 keV. In this case, the shell-model competing electromagnetic decay branches are dominated by E1 and M1 transitions.

The 10 B+ 10 B reactions are measured with 50 and 72 MeV beams. The large spin of both beam and target nuclei (Jπ = 3 + ) is particularly suitable for the population of high spin states in the exit channels. Population and decay of different states in 12 C is studied through sequential decay reactions. The 12C excitation energy spectrum obtained from the 10B(10B, 8Be) reaction shows a number of both known and new states. In particular, a new state at Ex = 24.4MeV is observed to be strongly populated in the triple α-particle coincidences. The rarely seen state at Ex = 30.3 MeV is found to be strong in the d + 10 B decay channel, reinforcing the previous suggestions that it has the exotic 2α+2d molecular structure.

Transition probabilities of intermediate-spin yrast and non-yrast excitations in 80,82Se were investigated in a recoil distance Doppler-shift (RDDS) experiment performed at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The Cologne Plunger device for deep inelastic scattering was used for the RDDS technique and was combined with the AGATA Demonstrator array for the γ -ray detection and coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer for an event-by-event particle identification. In 80Se, the level lifetimes of the yrast (6+ 1 ) and (8+ 1 ) states and of a non-yrast band feeding the yrast 4+ 1 state are determined. A spin and parity assignment of the head of this sideband is discussed based on the experimental results and supported by large-scale shell-model calculations. In 82Se, the level lifetimes of the yrast 6+ 1 state and the yrare 4+ 2 state and lifetime limits of the yrast (10+ 1 ) state and of the 5− 1 state are determined. Although the experimental results contain large uncertainties, they are interpreted with care in terms of large-scale shell-model calculations using the effective interactions JUN45 and jj44b. The excited states’ wave functions are investigated and discussed with respect to the role of the neutron g9/2 orbital.

The transitional nucleus 131Xe is investigated after multinucleon transfer in the 136Xe + 208Pb and 136Xe + 238U reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced γ -Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy, and as an elusive reaction product in the fusion-evaporation reaction 124Sn(11B,p3n) 131Xe employing the High-efficiency Observatory for γ -Ray Unique Spectroscopy (HORUS) γ -ray array coupled to a double-sided silicon strip detector at the University of Cologne, Germany. The level scheme of 131Xe is extended to 5 MeV. A pronounced backbending is observed at hω¯ ≈ 0.4 MeV along the negative-parity one-quasiparticle νh11/2(α = −1/2) band. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z = 54 isotopes and the N = 77 isotones. Large-scale shell-model calculations employing the PQM130, SN100PN, GCN50:82, SN100-KTH, and a realistic effective interaction reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to elucidate the structure of the high-spin states. Further calculations in 129−132Xe provide insight into the changing nuclear structure along the Xe chain towards the N = 82 shell closure. Proton occupancy in the π 0h11/2 orbital is found to be decisive for the description of the observed backbending phenomenon.

Detailed information on isomeric states in A approximate to 135 nuclei is exploited to shell-model calculations in the region northwest of doubly magic nucleus Sn-132. The N = 79 isotones Xe-133 and Ba-135 are studied after multinucleon transfer in the Xe-136 + Pb- 208 reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced GAmma Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy and in a pulsed- beam experiment at the FN tandem accelerator of the University of Cologne Germany utilizing a Be-9 + Te-130 fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 40 MeV. Isomeric states are identified via delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy. Hitherto tentative excitation energy spin and parity assignments of the 2017-keV J(pi) = 23/2(+) isomer in Xe-133 are confirmed and a half-life of T-1/2 = 8.64(13) ms is measured. The 2388-keV state in Ba-135. is identified as a J(pi) = 23/2(+) isomer with a half-life of 1.06(4) ms. The new results show a smooth onset of isomeric J(pi) = 23/2(+) states along the N = 79 isotones and close a gap in the high-spin systematics towards the recently investigated J(pi) = 23/2(+) isomer in Nd-139. The resulting systematics of M2 reduced transition probabilities is discussed within the of the nuclear shell model. Latest large-scale shell- model calculations employing the SN100PN, GCN50:82, SN100-KTH and a realistic effective interaction reproduce the experimental findings generally well and give insight into the structure of the isomers.

Transition probabilities of intermediate-spin yrast and non-yrast excitations in 80, 82Se were investigated in a recoil distance Doppler-shift (RDDS) experiment performed at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The Cologne Plunger device for deep inelastic scattering was used for the RDDS technique and was combined with the AGATA Demonstrator array for the γ-ray detection and coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer for an event-by-event particle identification. In 80Se, the level lifetimes of the yrast (6+1) and (8+1) states and of a non-yrast band feeding the yrast 4+1 state are determined. A spin and parity assignment of the head of this sideband is discussed based on the experimental results and supported by large-scale shell-model calculations. In 82Se, the level lifetimes of the yrast 6+1 state and the yrare 4+2 state and lifetime limits of the yrast (10+1) state and of the 5−1 state are determined. Although the experimental results contain large uncertainties, they are interpreted with care in terms of large-scale shell-model calculations using the effective interactions JUN45 and jj44b. The excited states' wave functions are investigated and discussed with respect to the role of the neutron g9/2 orbital.

Pair correlations have been investigated in heavy-ion collisions via studies of the transfers of different nucleon pairs. In particular, excitation functions of one- and two-neutron transfer channels have been measured for the closed shell 40Ca + 96Zr and superfluid 60Ni + 116Sn systems from the Coulomb barrier energy to energies far below. By using the unique performance of the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, in terms of resolution and efficiency, measurements at very low bombarding energies have been performed. The experimental transfer probabilities have been compared with semiclassical microscopic calculations that incorporate nucleonnucleon correlations, together with known structure information of entrance and exit channels nuclei and reaction dynamics. These calculations well reproduce, in the whole energy range, one- and two-neutron transfer channels in shape and magnitude.

Background: The fusion reaction 12C+30Si is a link between heavier cases studied in recent years, and the light heavy-ion systems, e.g., 12C+12C, 16O+16O that have a prominent role in the dynamics of stellar evolution. 12C+30Si fusion itself is not a relevant process for astrophysics, but it is important to establish its behavior below the barrier, where couplings to low-lying collective modes and the hindrance phenomenon may determine the cross sections. The excitation function is presently completely unknown below the barrier for the 12C+30Si reaction, thus no reliable extrapolation into the astrophysical regime for the C+C and O+O cases can be performed. Purpose: Our aim was to carry out a complete measurement of the fusion excitation function of 12C+30Si from well below to above the Coulomb barrier, so as to clear up the consequence of couplings to low-lying states of 30Si, and whether the hindrance effect appears in this relatively light system which has a positive Q value for fusion. This would have consequences for the extrapolated behavior to even lighter systems. Methods: The inverse kinematics was used by sending 30Si beams delivered from the XTU Tandem accelerator of INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro onto thin 12C (50μg/cm2) targets enriched to 99.9% in mass 12. The fusion evaporation residues (ER) were detected at very forward angles, following beam separation by means of an electrostatic deflector. Angular distributions of ER were measured at Ebeam=45, 59, and 80 MeV, and they were angle integrated to derive total fusion cross sections. Results: The fusion excitation function of 12C+30Si was measured with high statistical accuracy, covering more than five orders of magnitude down to a lowest cross section ≃3μb. The logarithmic slope and the S factor have been extracted and we have convincing phenomenological evidence of the hindrance effect. These results have been compared with the calculations performed within the model that considers a damping of the coupling strength well inside the Coulomb barrier. Conclusions: The experimental data are consistent with the coupled-channels calculations. A better fit is obtained by using the Yukawa-plus-exponential potential and a damping of the coupling strengths inside the barrier. The degree of hindrance is much smaller than the one in heavier systems. Also a phenomenological estimate reproduces quite closely the hindrance threshold for 12C+30Si, so that an extrapolation to the C+C and O+O cases can be reliably performed.

International audience; We studied multinucleon transfer reactions in the Au197+Te130 system at Elab=1.07 GeV by employing the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer coupled to a coincident detector. For each light fragment we constructed, in coincidence, the distribution in mass of the heavy partner of the reaction. With a Monte Carlo method, starting from the binary character of the reaction, we simulated the de-excitation process of the produced heavy fragments to be able to understand their final mass distribution. The total cross sections for pure neutron transfer channels have also been extracted and compared with calculations performed with the grazing code.

Charge state distributions of the Ra recoil ions produced in the 12C+Pb fusion-evaporation reactions have been obtained by measuring their yields as a function of the high voltage applied to an electrostatic deflector. Well-defined two-humped yield curves for evaporation residues (ERs) were observed. Such observations can be explained by the different sets of charge states inherent in Ra recoil ions. These charge sets correspond to the equilibrated and nonequilibrated components, as earlier observed for evaporation residues produced in different reactions. The main parameters of the distributions (mean charge values, widths, and relative intensities) for both components have been estimated using Monte Carlo simulations of the transmission of the Ra recoil ions through the deflector. For the equilibrated component the values of the mean charge and width are close to those given by different empirical systematics. For the nonequilibrated component these parameters have been obtained for the first time. The additional nonequilibrated ionization is presumably due to the formation of inner shell vacancies produced by the internal conversion of nuclear isomeric transitions of ERs. Nonequilibrated charge parameters obtained for Ra recoil ions are compared to similar available experimental data and some theoretical predictions.

Angular distributions of γ-rays for selected transitions in 40, 41, 42Ar isotopes have been studied with the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer coupled to the CLARA γ array. These transitions were populated in Ar isotopes reached via neutron transfer in the 40Ar + 208Pb reaction. By comparison with the shape of the experimental angular distribution of the known E2 transitions we established more firmly the spin and parity of excited states. In particular, in 41Ar for the (11/2-) state through the (11/2-) -> 7/2- transition whose structure was discussed in terms of a phonon-fermion coupled state. The comparison with the expected fully aligned spin indicated that a high level of spin alignment has been reached.

The high-spin structures and isomers of the N = 81 isotones 135Xe and 137Ba are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusion-evaporation reactions. Both nuclei are populated (i) in 136Xe+238U and (ii) 136Xe+208Pb MNT reactions employing the high-resolution Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, (iii) in the 136Xe+198Pt MNT reaction employing the γ -ray array GAMMASPHERE in combination with the gas-detector array CHICO, and (iv) via a 11B+130Te fusion-evaporation reaction with the HORUS γ -ray array at the University of Cologne. The high-spin level schemes of 135Xe and 137Ba are considerably extended to higher energies. The 2058-keV (19/2−) state in 135Xe is identified as an isomer, closing a gap in the systematics along the N = 81 isotones. Its half-life is measured to be 9.0(9) ns, corresponding to a reduced transition probability of B(E2, 19/2− → 15/2−) = 0.52(6) W.u. The experimentally deduced reduced transition probabilities of the isomeric states are compared to shell-model predictions. Latest shell-model calculations reproduce the experimental findings generally well and provide guidance to the interpretation of the new levels.

The transitional nuclei Xe-132 and Xe-133 are investigated after multinucleon-transfer (MNT) and fusionevaporation reactions. Both nuclei are populated (i) in Xe-136 + 2(08P)b MNT reactions employing the highresolution Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) coupled to the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, (ii) in the Xe-136 + Pt-198 MNT reaction employing the GAMMASPHERE spectrometer in combination with the gas-detector array CHICO, and (iii) as an evaporation residue after a Te-130(alpha, xn) Xe134-xn fusion-evaporation reaction employing the HORUS gamma-ray array at the University of Cologne. The high-spin level schemes are considerably extended above the J(pi) = (7(-)) and (10+) isomers in Xe-132 and above the 11/2(-) isomer in Xe-133. The results are compared to the high-spin systematics of the Z = 54 as well as the N = 78 and N = 79 chains. Furthermore, evidence is found for a long-lived (T-1/2 >> mu s) isomer in Xe-133 which closes a gap along the N = isotones. Shell-model calculations employing the SN100PN and PQM130 effective interactions reproduce the experimental findings and provide guidance to the interpretation of the observed high-spin features.

Background: Near- and sub-barrier fusion of various Ca + Zr isotopic combinations have been widely investigated. A recent analysis of 40Ca+96Zr data has highlighted the importance of couplings to multiphonon excitations and to both neutron and proton transfer channels. Analogous studies of 40Ca+90Zr tend to exclude any role of transfer couplings. However, the lowest measured cross section for this system is rather high (840μb). A rather complete data set is available for 40Ca+94Zr, while no measurement of 40Ca+92Zr fusion has been performed in the past. Purpose: Our aim is to measure the full excitation function of 40Ca+92Zr near the barrier and to extend downward the existing data on 40Ca+90Zr, in order to estimate the transfer couplings that should be used in coupled-channels calculations of the fusion of these two systems and of 40Ca+94Zr. Methods: 40Ca beams from the XTU Tandem accelerator of INFN–Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro were used, bombarding thin metallic 90Zr (50μg/cm2) and 92ZrO2 targets (same thickness) enriched to 99.36% and 98.06% in masses 90 and 92, respectively. An electrostatic beam deflector allowed the detection of fusion evaporation residues (ER) at very forward angles, and angular distributions of ER were measured. Results: The excitation function of 40Ca+92Zr has been measured down to the level of ≃60μb. Coupled-channels (CC) calculations using a standard Woods-Saxon (WS) potential and following the line of a previous analysis of 40Ca+96Zr fusion data give a good account of the new data, as well as of the existing data for 40Ca+94Zr. The previous excitation function of 40Ca+90Zr has been extended down to 40μb. Conclusions: Transfer couplings play an important role in explaining the fusion data for 40Ca+92Zr and 40Ca+94Zr. The strength of the pair-transfer coupling is deduced by applying a simple recipe based on the value obtained for 40Ca+96Zr. The logarithmic slopes and the S factors for fusion are reproduced fairly well for all three systems by the CC calculations, and there are no indications of a fusion hindrance at the lowest energies. In contrast, the new data for 40Ca+90Zr indicate the onset of a fusion hindrance at the lowest energies.

We measured multinucleon transfer reactions in the 40Ar+208Pb system at an energy close to the Coulomb barrier, by employing the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer. We extracted differential and total cross sections of the different transfer channels, with a careful investigation of the total kinetic energy loss distributions. A comparison between different systems having the same 208Pb target and with projectiles going from neutron-poor to neutron-rich nuclei, i.e., 40Ca, 58Ni, and 40Ar, as well as between the data and GRAZING calculations have been carried out. The neutron-rich (stable) 40Ar beam allowed us to get access to the channels involving proton pick-up, whose behaviour in connection with the production of neutron-rich heavy partner has been outlined.

The neutron-rich S39 nucleus has been studied using binary grazing reactions produced by the interaction of a 215-MeV beam of S36 ions with a thin Pb208 target. The magnetic spectrometer, PRISMA, and the γ-ray array, CLARA, were used in the measurements. Gamma-ray transitions of the following energies were observed: 339, 398, 466, 705, 1517, 1656, and 1724 keV. Five of the observed transitions have been tentatively assigned to the decay of excited states with spins up to (11/2-). The results of a state-of-the-art shell-model calculation of the level scheme of S39 using the SDPF-U effective interaction are also presented. The systematic behavior of the excitation energy of the first 11/2- states in the odd-A isotopes of sulfur and argon is discussed in relation to the excitation energy of the first excited 2+ states of the adjacent even-A isotopes. The states of S39 that have the components in their wave functions corresponding to three neutrons in the 1f7/2 orbital outside the N=20 core have also been discussed within the context of the 0 ω shell-model calculations presented here.

Detailed spectroscopic information in the N~82 region is necessary to benchmark shell-model calculations in the region. The nuclear structure above long-lived isomers in 134Xe is investigated after multinucleon transfer (MNT) and actinide fission. 134Xe was populated as (i) a transfer product in 136Xe+238U, and 136Xe+208Pb MNT reactions and (ii) as a fission product in the 136Xe+238U reaction employing the high-resolution Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA). Trajectory reconstruction has been applied for the complete identification of beamlike transfer products with the magnetic spectrometer PRISMA. The 136Xe+198Pt MNT reaction was studied with the gamma-ray spectrometer GAMMASPHERE in combination with the gas detector array Chico. Several highspin states in 134Xe on top of the two long-lived isomers are discovered based on gamma-gamma coincidence relationships and information on the gamma-ray angular distributions as well as excitation energies from the total kinetic energy loss and fission fragments. The revised level scheme of 134Xe is extended up to an excitation energy of 5.832 MeV with tentative spin-parity assignments up to 16+. Previous assignments of states above the 7- isomer are revised. Latest shell model calculations employing two different effective interactions reproduce the experimental findings quite well and support the new spin and parity assignments.

The neutron-rich S39 nucleus has been studied using binary grazing reactions produced by the interaction of a 215-MeV beam of S36 ions with a thin Pb208 target. The magnetic spectrometer, PRISMA, and the γ-ray array, CLARA, were used in the measurements. Gamma-ray transitions of the following energies were observed: 339, 398, 466, 705, 1517, 1656, and 1724 keV. Five of the observed transitions have been tentatively assigned to the decay of excited states with spins up to (11/2−). The results of a state-of-the-art shell-model calculation of the level scheme of S39 using the SDPF-U effective interaction are also presented. The systematic behavior of the excitation energy of the first 11/2− states in the odd-A isotopes of sulfur and argon is discussed in relation to the excitation energy of the first excited 2+ states of the adjacent even-A isotopes. The states of S39 that have the components in their wave functions corresponding to three neutrons in the 1f7/2 orbital outside the N=20 core have also been discussed within the context of the 0 ℏω shell-model calculations presented here.