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We report measurements of the cross section and a complete set of polarization observables for the View the MathML source reaction at a bombarding energy of 198 MeV. The data are compared with distorted wave impulse approximation calculations employing response functions normalized to inelastic electron scattering. The spin-longitudinal polarized cross section IDq is slightly over-predicted by the calculations, while the normal spin-transverse polarized cross section IDn is significantly under-predicted. The calculated in-plane spin-transverse IDp and spin-scalar ID0 polarized cross sections agree well with the experimental data. These results are consistent with those for View the MathML source scattering at the same energy, and thus it is concluded that isospin-mixing effects are not responsible for the discrepancy between theory and experiment in the View the MathML source case. Energy half-off-shell effects as medium effects on the effective nucleon?nucleon interaction are also investigated and found to be too small to be responsible for the discrepancy.

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 Pb-208 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 9MeV; that is, 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.

In order to study the Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions from the T z =+ 2 nucleus 44 Ca to the T z =+ 1 nucleus 44 Sc, where T z is the z component of isospin T , we performed the ( p, n )-type ( 3 He ,t ) charge-exchange (CE) reaction at 140 MeV / nucleon and the scattering angles 0 ◦ and 2 . 5 ◦ . An energy resolution of 28 keV, that was realized by applying matching techniques to the magnetic spectrometer system, allowed the study of fragmented states. The GT transition strengths, B (GT), were derived up to the excitation energy ( E x ) of 13.7 MeV assuming the proportionality between cross sections and B (GT) values. The total sum of B (GT) values in discrete states was 3.7, which was 31% of the sum-rule-limit value of 12. Shell model calculations using the GXPF1J interaction could reproduce the gross features of the experimental B (GT) distribution, but not the fragmentation of the strength. By introducing the concepts of isospin, properties of isospin analogous transitions and states were investigated. (i) Assuming isospin symmetry, the T z =+ 2 →+ 1and T z =− 2 →− 1 mirror GT transitions should have the same properties, where the latter can be studied in the β decay of 44 Cr to 44 V. First, we confirmed that the β -decay half-life T 1 / 2 of 44 Cr can be reproduced using the B (GT) distribution from the 44 Ca( 3 He ,t ) measurement. Then, the 0 ◦ ,( 3 He ,t ) spectrum was modified to deduce the “ β -decay spectrum” and it was compared with the delayed-proton spectrum from the 44 Cr β decay. The two spectra were mostly in agreement for the GT excitations, but suppression of the proton decay was found for the T = 2 isobaric analog state (IAS). (ii) Starting from the T = 2 ground state of 44 Ca, the ( 3 He ,t ) can excite GT states (state populated by GT transitions) with T = 1, 2, and 3. On the other hand, the 44 Ca( p, p ) reaction can excite spin- M 1 states (states populated by spin- M 1 transitions) with T = 2 and 3 that are analogous to the T = 2 and 3 GT states, respectively. By comparing the spectra from these two reactions, a T value of 2 is suggested for several GT states in the E x = 11 . 5–13.7 MeV region. (iii) It has been suggested that the T = 2, J π = 0 + double isobaric analog state (DIAS) at 9.338 MeV in the T z = 0 nucleus 44 Ti forms an isospin-mixed doublet with a subsidiary 0 + state at 9.298 MeV. Since no corresponding state was found in the T z =+ 1 nucleus 44 Sc, we suggest T = 0 for the subsidiary state. ispartof: Physical Review C, Nuclear Physics vol:85 issue:2 pages:1-15 status: published

The rise time of stellar x-ray bursts is a signature of thermonuclear runaway processes in the atmosphere of neutron stars and is highly sensitive to a series of (alpha, p) reactions via high-lying resonances in sd-shell nuclei. Lacking data for the relevant resonance levels, the stellar reaction rates have been calculated using statistical, Hauser-Feshbach models, assuming a high-level density. This assumption may not be correct in view of the selectivity of the (alpha, p) reaction to natural parity states. We measured the Si-28(p,t)Si-26 reaction with a high-resolution spectrometer to identify resonance levels in Si-26 above the alpha-emission threshold at 9.164 MeV excitation energy. These resonance levels are used to calculate the stellar reaction rate of the Mg-22(alpha,p)Al-25 reaction and to test the validity of the statistical assumption.

A benchmark experiment on Pb-208 shows that polarized proton inelastic scattering at very forward angles including 0 degrees 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(-0.021)(+0.025) fm in Pb-208 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.

A high-energy-resolution Be-9(He-3,t)B-9 charge-exchange reaction was performed around a scattering angle of 0 degrees. and at an intermediate incident energy of 140 MeV/ nucleon for the study of precise Gamow-Teller (GT) transition strengths. The energy resolution of 30 keV allowed a precise deconvolution of the spectrum and the determination of angular distributions of cross sections, excitation energies, and decay widths. The GT strength of 10 states has been determined for the first time using the GT strength of the analogous beta decays of Li-9 and C-9 as standards. The large difference between the GT strengths going to the low-lying T = 1/ 2 and the highly excited T = 3/ 2 states is interpreted as a result of their different spatial structures. The obtained GT strength distribution is compared to the results of a (p, n) experiment with lower resolution performed in the 1980s. In particular, the width of the 16.8 MeV, J(pi) = (5/2(+)) state has been determined for the first time.

Since the identification of ongoing Al-26 production in the universe, the reaction sequence Mg-24(p,gamma)Al-25(beta(+)nu)Mg-25(p,gamma)Al-26 has been studied intensively. At temperatures where the radiative capture on Al-25 (t(1/2) = 7.2 s) becomes faster than the beta(+) decay, the production of Al-26 can be reduced due to the depletion of Al-25. To determine the resonances relevant for the Al-25(p,gamma) Si-26 bypass reaction, we measured the Si-28(p,t)Si-26 reaction with high-energy precision using the Grand Raiden spectrometer at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka. Several new energy levels were found above the p threshold and for known states excitation energies were determined with smaller uncertainties. The calculated stellar rates of the bypass reaction agree well with previous results, suggesting that these rates are well established.

Since the identification of ongoing 26Al production in the universe, the reaction sequence 24Mg(p,γ )25Al(β+ν)25Mg(p,γ )26Al has been studied intensively. At temperatures where the radiative capture on 25Al (t1/2 = 7.2 s) becomes faster than the β+ decay, the production of 26Al can be reduced due to the depletion of 25Al. To determine the resonances relevant for the 25Al(p,γ )26Si bypass reaction, we measured the 28Si(p,t )26Si reaction with high-energy precision using the Grand Raiden spectrometer at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka. Several new energy levels were found above the p threshold and for known states excitation energies were determined with smaller uncertainties. The calculated stellar rates of the bypass reaction agree well with previous results, suggesting that these rates are well established.

x-ray bursts are identified as thermonuclear explosions in the outer atmosphere of accreting neutron stars. The thermonuclear runaway is fueled by the alpha p process that describes a sequence of (alpha,p) reactions triggered by the Ne-18(alpha,p)Na-21 breakout reaction from the hot CNO cycles. We studied the level structure of the compound nucleus Mg-22 by measuring the Mg-24(p,t)Mg-22 reaction at the Grand Raiden spectrometer at Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka. A large number of alpha-unbound states was identified and precise excitation energies were determined. Based on shell model and alpha-cluster model calculations we predict the level parameters for determining the stellar reaction rate of Ne-18(alpha,p)Na-21 for a wide temperature range. x-ray burst simulations have been performed to study the impact of the reaction on the x-ray burst luminosity.

To study the Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions to the pf-shell nucleus Cu-64, the Ni-64(He-3,t)Cu-64 experiment was performed at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP) Ring Cyclotron, Osaka, using a He-3 beam of 140 MeV/nucleon. The outgoing tritons were momentum analyzed by the Grand Raiden spectrometer at 0(degrees). A high energy resolution of 32 keV (full width at half-maximum) allowed the separation of individual levels in the excitation-energy region from 0 to 3.5 MeV. In addition to the ground state (gs), known to be a J(pi)=1(+) GT state, many low-lying states showed L=0 nature, suggesting that they are candidates for GT states. Because the GT strength B(GT) for the gs transition is known from the beta-decay measurement, the strengths for the excited states could be determined using the proportionality between the B(GT) and the reaction cross section extrapolated to q=0 momentum transfer. At higher excitation energies, the level density becomes high and the so-called GT giant resonance dominates the spectrum. The lower and the upper limits of the strength contained in this energy region were estimated. Our results show that less than 55% of the strength predicted by the Ikeda sum rule is located in the excitation-energy region from 0 to 17 MeV..

x-ray bursts are identified as thermonuclear explosions in the outer atmosphere of accreting neutron stars. The thermonuclear runaway is fueled by the alphap process that describes a sequence of (alpha,p) reactions triggered by the 18Ne(alpha,p)21Na breakout reaction from the hot CNO cycles. We studied the level structure of the compound nucleus 22Mg by measuring the 24Mg(p,t)22Mg reaction at the Grand Raiden spectrometer at Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka. A large number of alpha-unbound states was identified and precise excitation energies were determined. Based on shell model and alpha-cluster model calculations we predict the level parameters for determining the stellar reaction rate of 18Ne(alpha,p)21Na for a wide temperature range. x-ray burst simulations have been performed to study the impact of the reaction on the x-ray burst luminosity.

Differential cross sections for transitions of known weak strength were measured with the (He-3, t) reaction at 420 MeV on targets of C-12, C-13, O-18, Mg-26, Ni-58, Ni-60, Zr-90, Sn-118, Sn-120, and Pb-208. Using these data, it is shown that the proportionalities between strengths and cross sections for this probe follow simple trends as a function of mass number. These trends can be used to confidently determine Gamow-Teller strength distributions in nuclei for which the proportionality cannot be calibrated via beta-decay strengths. Although theoretical calculations in the distorted-wave Born approximation overestimate the data, they allow one to understand the main experimental features and to predict deviations from the simple trends observed in some of the transitions.

The differential cross sections and vector analyzing powers for nd elastic scattering at E-n=248 MeV were measured for 10 degrees-180 degrees in the center-of-mass (c.m.) system. To cover the wide angular range, the experiments were performed separately by using two different setups for forward and backward angles. The data are compared with theoretical results based on Faddeev calculations with realistic nucleon-nucleon (NN) forces such as AV18, CD Bonn, and Nijmegen I and II, and their combinations with the three-nucleon forces (3NFs), such as Tucson-Melbourne 99 (TM99), Urbana IX, and the coupled-channel potential with Delta-isobar excitation. Large discrepancies are found between the experimental cross sections and theory with only 2N forces for theta(c.m.)>90 degrees. The inclusion of 3NFs brings the theoretical cross sections closer to the data but only partially explains this discrepancy. For the analyzing power, no significant improvement is found when 3NFs are included. Relativistic corrections are shown to be small for both the cross sections and the analyzing powers at this energy. For the cross sections, these effects are mostly seen in the very backward angles. Compared with the pd cross section data, quite significant differences are observed at all scattering angles that cannot be explained only by the Coulomb interaction, which is usually significant at small angles.