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The calcium isotopes are an ideal system to investigate the evolution of shell structure and magic numbers. Although the properties of surface nucleons in calcium have been well studied, probing the structure of deeply bound nucleons remains a challenge. Here, we report on the first measurement of unbound states in $^{53}$Ca and $^{55}$Ca, populated from \ts{54,56}Ca($p,pn$) reactions at a beam energy of around 216 MeV/nucleon at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotopes Beam Factory. The resonance properties, partial cross sections, and momentum distributions of these unbound states were analyzed. Orbital angular momentum $l$ assignments were extracted from momentum distributions based on calculations using the distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA) reaction model. The resonances at excitation energies of 5516(41)\,keV in $^{53}$Ca and 6000(250)\,keV in $^{55}$Ca indicate a significant $l$\, =\,3 component, providing the first experimental evidence for the $\nu 0f_{7/2}$ single-particle strength of unbound hole states in the neutron-rich Ca isotopes. The observed excitation energies and cross-sections point towards extremely localized and well separated strength distributions, with some fragmentation for the $\nu 0f_{7/2}$ orbital in $^{55}$Ca. These results are in good agreement with predictions from shell-model calculations using the effective GXPF1Bs interaction and \textit{ab initio} calculations and diverge markedly from the experimental distributions in the nickel isotones at $Z=28$., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures

{\beta} decay of neutron-rich isotopes 43,45 S,studied at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory is reported here. {\beta} delayed {\gamma} transitions were detected by an array of 16 clover detectors surrounding the Beta Counting Station which consists of a 40x40 Double Sided Silicon Strip Detector followed by a Single Sided Silicon Strip Detector. {\beta} decay half-lives have been extracted for 43,45 S by correlating implants and decays in the pixelated implant detector with further coincidence with {\gamma} transitions in the daughter nucleus. The level structure of 43,45 Cl is expanded by the addition of 20 new {\gamma} transitions in 43Cl and 8 in 45 Cl with the observation of core excited negative-parity states for the first time. For 45 S decay, a large fraction of the {\beta} decay strength goes to delayed neutron emission populating states in 44 Cl which are also presented. Comparison of experimental observations is made to detailed shell-model calculations using the SDPFSDG-MU interaction to highlight the role of the diminished N = 28 neutron shell gap and the near degeneracy of the proton s 1/2 and d 3/2 orbitals on the structure of the neutron-rich Cl isotopes. The current work also provides further support to a ground state spin-parity assignment of 3/2 + in 45 Cl.

Nuclear moments of the antimony isotopes $^{113-133}$Sb are measured by collinear laser spectroscopy and used to benchmark phenomenological shell-model and \textit{ab initio} calculations in the valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group (VS-IMSRG). The shell-model calculations reproduce the electromagnetic moments over all Sb isotopes when suitable effective $g$-factors and charges are employed. Good agreement is achieved by VS-IMSRG for magnetic moments on the neutron-deficient side for both odd-even and odd-odd Sb isotopes while its results deviate from experiment on the neutron-rich side. When the same effective $g$-factors are used, VS-IMSRG agrees with experiment nearly as well as the shell model. Hence, the wave functions are very similar in both approaches and missing contributions to the M1 operator are identified as the cause of the discrepancy of VS-IMSRG with experiment. Electric quadrupole moments remain more challenging for VS-IMSRG.

Gamma decays were observed in $^{56}$Ca and $^{58}$Ca following quasi-free one-proton knockout reactions from $^{57,59}$Sc beams at $\approx 200$ MeV/nucleon. For $^{56}$Ca, a $\gamma$ ray transition was measured to be 1456(12) keV, while for $^{58}$Ca an indication for a transition was observed at 1115(34) keV. Both transitions were tentatively assigned as the $2^+_1 \rightarrow 0^+_{gs}$ decays, and were compared to results from ab initio and conventional shell-model approaches. A shell-model calculation in a wide model space with a marginally modified effective nucleon-nucleon interaction depicts excellent agreement with experiment for $2^+_1$ level energies, two-neutron separation energies, and reaction cross sections, corroborating the formation of a new nuclear shell above the $N$ = 34 shell. Its constituents, the $0f_{5/2}$ and $0g_{9/2}$ orbitals, are almost degenerate. This degeneracy precludes the possibility for a doubly magic $^{60}$Ca and potentially drives the dripline of Ca isotopes to $^{70}$Ca or even beyond., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures

In the traditional view, heavy deformed nuclei are like axially-symmetric prolate ellipsoids, rotating about one of the short axes. In the present picture, their shapes may be triaxial. The triaxial shape yields complex rotations, which actually well reproduce experimental data, as confirmed by state-of-the-art Configuration Interaction calculations. Two origins are suggested for the triaxiality: (i) binding-energy gain by the symmetry restoration for triaxial shapes, and (ii) another gain by specific components of the nuclear force, like tensor force and high-multipole (e.g. hexadecupole) central force. While the origin (i) produces basic modest triaxiality for virtually all deformed nuclei, the origin (ii) produces more prominent triaxiality for a certain class of nuclei. An example of the former is 154Sm, a typical showcase of axial symmetry but is now suggested to depict a modest yet finite triaxiality. The latter, prominent triaxiality, is discussed from various viewpoints for some exemplified nuclei including 166Er, and experimental findings. Many-body structures of the gamma band and the double-gamma band are clarified. Regarding the general features of rotational states of deformed many-body systems including triaxial ones, the well-known J(J+1) rule of rotational excitation energies is derived, within the quantum mechanical many-body theory, without resorting to the quantization of a rotating classical rigid body. This derivation is extended to finite K. The present picture of the rotation is robust and can be applied to various shapes or configurations, including clusters and molecules. Thus, two long-standing open problems, (i) occurrence and origins of triaxiality and (ii) quantum many-body derivation of rotational energy, are resolved. Their possible relations to Davydov's rigid-triaxial-rotor model are mentioned., Comment: 45 pages, 30 figures, minor revision from the v5 version

Photoneutron emission cross sections were measured for $^{13}$C below $2n$ threshold using quasi-monochromatic $\gamma$-ray beams produced in laser Compton-scattering at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility. The data show fine structures in the low-energy tail of the giant-dipole resonance; the integrated strength of the fine structure below 18~MeV is intermediate among the past measurements with bremsstrahlung and the positron annihilation $\gamma$ rays. We compare the photoneutron emission data with the {\sf TALYS} statistical model calculation implemented with the simple modified Lorentzian model of $E1$ and $M1$ strengths. We also compare the total photoabsorption cross sections for $^{13}$C with the shell model and antisymmetrized molecular dynamics calculations as well as the statistical model calculation. We further investigate the consistency between the present photoneutron emission and the reverse $^{12}$C(n,$\gamma$) cross sections through their corresponding astrophysical rate.

The high spin states in 61 Ni have been studied using the fusion evaporation reaction, Ti( $^{14}$C,3n) $^{61}$Ni at an incident beam energy of 40 MeV. A Compton suppressed multi-HPGe detector setup, consisting of six Clover detectors and three single crystal HPGe detectors was used to detect the de-exciting $\gamma$ rays from the excited states. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of 12.8 MeV and a tentative J$_{\pi}$ = 35/2$^+$ . The low-lying negative parity levels are found to be generated by single particle excitation within the f p shell and also excitations to the g$_{9/2}$ orbitals as explained well with shell model calculations using the GXPF1Br+V M U (modified) interaction. Two rotational structure of regular E2 sequences with small to moderate axial deformation have been established at higher excitation energy. Most interestingly, two sequences of M1 transitions are reported for the first time and described as magnetic rotational bands. The shears mechanism for both the bands can be described satisfactorily by the geometrical model. The shell model calculation involving the cross shell excitation beyond the fp shell well reproduce the M1 and E2 sequences. The shell model predicted B(M1) values for the magnetic rotational band B1 show the decreasing trend with spin as expected with closing of the shears., Comment: 18 pages, 17 Fig

We observed a new isomeric gamma transition at 168 keV in $^{36}$Mg, with a half-life of T$_{1/2}$=[130-500]$(\pm40)(^{+800}_{-20})_{sys}$ ns. We propose that the observed transition de-excites a new 0$^+$ isomeric state and populates the previously known first 2$^+$ state. The existence of this isomer is consistent with the predictions of the large-scale shell model calculations of $^{36}$Mg using the sdpf-u-mix interaction. The observed excitation energy of the second 0$^+$ state is caused by the small energy separation between two prolate-deformed configurations where the intruder configuration corresponds to two neutron excitations from the {\it sd} to the {\it pf} shell. Within this interpretation, $^{36}$Mg becomes the crossing point between nuclei in which ground state deformed/superdeformed configurations are caused by the dominance of N=20 intruders ($^{32,34}$Mg) and nuclei where deformed configurations are associated with N=28 intruders ($^{38}$Mg and beyond). We found the lack of three-body monopole corrections in other effective interactions results in a predominance of N=20 intruder configurations past $^{38}$Mg incompatible with our observation. We conclude that $^{36}$Mg bridges the N=20 and N=28 islands of inversion, forming the so-called Big Island of Deformation., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

Photo-nuclear reactions of light nuclei below a mass of $A=60$ are studied experimentally and theoretically by the PANDORA (Photo-Absorption of Nuclei and Decay Observation for Reactions in Astrophysics) project. Two experimental methods, virtual-photon excitation by proton scattering and real-photo absorption by a high-brilliance gamma-ray beam produced by laser Compton scattering, will be applied to measure the photo-absorption cross sections and the decay branching ratio of each decay channel as a function of the photon energy. Several nuclear models, e.g. anti-symmetrized molecular dynamics, mean-field type models, a large-scale shell model, and ab initio models, will be employed to predict the photo-nuclear reactions. The uncertainty in the model predictions will be evaluated from the discrepancies between the model predictions and the experimental data. The data and the predictions will be implemented in a general reaction calculation code TALYS . The results will be applied to the simulation of the photo-disintegration process of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in inter-galactic propagation.

Photodisintegration is a main energy loss process for ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray (UHECR) nuclei in intergalactic space. Therefore, it is crucial to understand systematic uncertainty in photodisintegration when simulating the propagation of UHECR nuclei. In this work, we calculated the cross sections using the random phase approximation (RPA) of density functional theory (DFT), a microscopic nuclear model. We calculated the $E1$ strength of 29 nuclei using three different density functionals. We obtained the cross sections of photonuclear reactions, including photodisintegration, with the $E1$ strength. Then, we implemented the cross sections in the cosmic-ray propagation code CRPropa. We found that assuming certain astrophysical parameter values, the difference between UHECR energy spectrum predictions using the RPA calculation and the default photodisintegration model in CRPropa can be more than the statistical uncertainty of the spectrum. We also found that the differences between the RPA calculations and CRPropa default in certain astrophysical parameters obtained by a combined fit of UHECR energy spectrum and composition data assuming a phenomenological model of UHECR sources can be more than the uncertainty of the data., Comment: 37 pages, 16 figures

The electric monopole ($E0$) transition strength $\rho^2$ for the transition connecting the third 0$^+$ level, a "superdeformed" band head, to the "spherical" 0$^+$ ground state in doubly magic $^{40}$Ca has been determined via $e^+e^-$ pair-conversion spectroscopy. The measured value, $\rho^2(E0; 0^+_3 \to 0^+_1)~=~2.3(5)\times10^{-3}$, is the smallest $\rho^2(E0; 0^+ \to 0^+)$ found in $A<50$ nuclei. In contrast, the $E0$ transition strength to the ground state observed from the second 0$^+$ state, a band head of "normal" deformation, is an order of magnitude larger, $\rho^2(E0; 0^+_2 \to 0^+_1)~=~25.9(16)\times~10^{-3}$, which shows significant mixing between these two states. Large-Scale Shell Model (LSSM) calculations were performed to understand the microscopic structure of the excited states, and the configuration mixing between them; experimental $\rho^2$ values in $^{40}$Ca and neighboring isotopes were well reproduced by the LSSM calculations. The unusually small $\rho^2(E0; 0^+_3 \to 0^+_1)$ value is due to destructive interference in the mixing of shape-coexisting structures, which are based on several different multiparticle-multihole excitations. This observation goes beyond the usual treatment of $E0$ strengths, where two-state shape mixing cannot result in destructive interference.

Background: The nucleus $^{32}$Mg ($N=20$ and $Z=12$) plays a central role in the so-called "island of inversion" where in the ground states $sd$-shell neutrons are promoted to the $fp$-shell orbitals across the shell gap, resulting in the disappearance of the canonical neutron magic number $N=20$. Purpose: The primary goals of this work are to extend the level scheme of $^{32}$Mg, provide spin-parity assignments to excited states, and discuss the microscopic structure of each state through comparisons with theoretical calculations. Method: In-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy of $^{32}$Mg was performed using two direct-reaction probes, one-neutron (two-proton) knockout reactions on $^{33}$Mg ($^{34}$Si). Final-state exclusive cross sections and parallel momentum distributions were extracted from the experimental data and compared with eikonal-based reaction model calculations combined with shell-model overlap functions. Results: Owing to the remarkable selectivity of the one-neutron and two-proton knockout reactions, a significantly updated level scheme for $^{32}$Mg, which exhibits negative-parity intruder and positive-parity normal states, was constructed. The experimental results were confronted with four different nuclear structure models. Conclusions: In some of these models, different aspects of $^{32}$Mg and the transition into the island of inversion are well described. However, unexplained discrepancies remain, and even with the help of these state-of-the-art theoretical approaches, the structure of this key nucleus is not yet fully captured.

States in the $N=35$ and 37 isotopes $^{55,57}$Ca have been populated by direct proton-induced nucleon removal reactions from $^{56,58}$Sc and $^{56}$Ca beams at the RIBF. In addition, the $(p,2p)$ quasi-free single-proton removal reaction from $^{56}$Ca was studied. Excited states in $^{55}$K, $^{55}$Ca, and $^{57}$Ca were established for the first time via in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy. Results for the proton and neutron removal reactions from $^{56}$Ca to states in $^{55}$K and $^{55}$Ca for the level energies, excited state lifetimes, and exclusive cross sections agree well with state-of-the-art theoretical calculations using different approaches. The observation of a short-lived state in $^{57}$Ca suggests a transition in the calcium isotopic chain from single-particle dominated states at $N=35$ to collective excitations at $N=37$., Comment: accepted Phys. Lett. B

A first gamma-ray study of 47,49Cl spectroscopy was performed at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory with 50Ar projectiles at 217 MeV/nucleon, impinging on the liquid hydrogen target of the MINOS device. Prompt de-excitation gamma-rays were measured with the NaI(Tl) array DALI2+. Through the one-proton knockout reaction 50Ar(p,2p), a spin assignment could be determined for the low-lying states of 49Cl from the momentum distribution obtained with the SAMURAI spectrometer. A spin-parity J = 3/2+ is deduced for the ground state of 49Cl, similar to the recently studied N = 32 isotope 51K.

Situated in the so-called "island of inversion," the nucleus $^{32}$Mg is considered as an archetypal example of the disappearance of magicity at $N=20$. We report on high statistics in-beam spectroscopy of $^{32}$Mg with a unique approach, in that two direct reaction probes with different sensitivities to the underlying nuclear structure are employed at the same time. More specifically, states in $^{32}$Mg were populated by knockout reactions starting from $^{33}$Mg and $^{34}$Si, lying inside and outside the island of inversion, respectively. The momentum distributions of the reaction residues and the cross sections leading to the individual final states were confronted with eikonal-based reaction calculations, yielding a significantly updated level scheme for $^{32}$Mg and spin-parity assignments. By fully exploiting observables obtained in this measurement, a variety of structures coexisting in 32Mg was unraveled. Comparisons with theoretical predictions based on shell-model overlaps allowed for clear discrimination between different structural models, revealing that the complete theoretical description of this key nucleus is yet to be achieved.

We report $J^\pi = 0^+$ ground-state energies and point-proton radii of $^4$He, $^8$Be, $^{12}$C, $^{16}$O and $^{20}$Ne nuclei calculated by the $ab$ $initio$ no-core Monte Carlo shell model with the JISP16 and Daejeon16 nonlocal $NN$ interactions. Ground-state energies are obtained in the basis spaces up to seven oscillator shells ($N_{\rm shell} = 7$) with several oscillator energies ($\hbar \omega$) around the optimal oscillator energy for the convergence of ground-state energies. These energy eigenvalues are extrapolated to obtain estimates of converged ground state energies in each basis space using energy variances of computed energy eigenvalues. We further extrapolate these energy-variance-extrapolated energies obtained in the finite basis spaces to infinite basis-space results with an empirical exponential form. This form features a dependence on the basis-space size but is independent of the value of $\hbar\omega$ used for the harmonic-oscillator basis functions. Point-proton radii for these states of atomic nuclei are also calculated following techniques employed for the energies. From these results, it is found that the Daejeon16 $NN$ interaction provides good agreement with experimental data up to approximately $^{16}$O, while the JISP16 $NN$ interaction provides good agreement with experimental data up to approximately $^{12}$C. Beyond these nuclei, the interactions produce overbinding accompanied by radii that are too small. These findings suggest and encourage further revisions of nonlocal $NN$ interactions towards the investigation of nuclear structure in heavier-mass regions., Comment: 24 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables, version published in Phys. Rev. C

Low-lying excited states in the $N=32$ isotope $^{50}$Ar were investigated by in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy following proton- and neutron-knockout, multi-nucleon removal, and proton inelastic scattering at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The energies of the two previously reported transitions have been confirmed, and five additional states are presented for the first time, including a candidate for a 3$^-$ state. The level scheme built using $\gamma\gamma$ coincidences was compared to shell-model calculations in the $sd-pf$ model space, and to ab initio predictions based on chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions. Theoretical proton- and neutron-knockout cross sections suggest that two of the new transitions correspond to $2^+$ states, while the previously proposed $4^+$ state could also correspond to a $2^+$ state., Comment: Accepted for Phys. Rev. C

Background: In the "island of inversion", ground states of neutron-rich $sd$-shell nuclei exhibit strong admixtures of intruder configurations from the $fp$ shell. The nucleus $^{30}$Mg, located at the boundary of the island of inversion, serves as a cornerstone to track the structural evolution as one approaches this region. Purpose: Spin-parity assignments for excited states in $^{30}$Mg, especially negative-parity levels, have yet to be established. In the present work, the nuclear structure of $^{30}$Mg was investigated by in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy mainly focusing on firm spin-parity determinations. Method: High-intensity rare-isotope beams of $^{31}$Mg, $^{32}$Mg, $^{34}$Si, and $^{35}$P bombarded a Be target to induce nucleon removal reactions populating states in $^{30}$Mg. $\gamma$ rays were detected by the state-of-the-art $\gamma$-ray tracking array GRETINA. For the direct one-neutron removal reaction, final-state exclusive cross sections and parallel momentum distributions were deduced. Multi-nucleon removal reactions from different projectiles were exploited to gain complementary information. Results: With the aid of the parallel momentum distributions, an updated level scheme with revised spin-parity assignments was constructed. Spectroscopic factors associated with each state were also deduced. Conclusions: Results were confronted with large-scale shell-model calculations using two different effective interactions, showing excellent agreement with the present level scheme. However, a marked difference in the spectroscopic factors indicates that the full delineation of the transition into the island of inversion remains a challenge for theoretical models.

The low-lying structure of $^{55}$Sc has been investigated using in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy with the $^{9}$Be($^{56}$Ti,$^{55}$Sc+$\gamma$)$X$ one-proton removal and $^{9}$Be($^{55}$Sc,$^{55}$Sc+$\gamma$)$X$ inelastic-scattering reactions at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Transitions with energies of 572(4), 695(5), 1539(10), 1730(20), 1854(27), 2091(19), 2452(26), and 3241(39) keV are reported, and a level scheme has been constructed using $\gamma\gamma$ coincidence relationships and $\gamma$-ray relative intensities. The results are compared to large-scale shell-model calculations in the $sd$-$pf$ model space, which account for positive-parity states from proton-hole cross-shell excitations, and to it ab initio shell-model calculations from the in-medium similarity renormalization group that includes three-nucleon forces explicitly. The results of proton-removal reaction theory with the eikonal model approach were adopted to aid identification of positive-parity states in the level scheme; experimental counterparts of theoretical $1/2^{+}_{1}$ and $3/2^{+}_{1}$ states are suggested from measured decay patterns. The energy of the first $3/2^{-}$ state, which is sensitive to the neutron shell gap at the Fermi surface, was determined. The result indicates a rapid weakening of the $N=34$ subshell closure in $pf$-shell nuclei at $Z>20$, even when only a single proton occupies the $\pi f_{7/2}$ orbital.

The electric quadrupole moment of the 33Al20 ground state, located at the border of the island of inversion, was obtained using continuous-beam beta-detected nuclear quadrupole resonance (beta-NQR). From the measured quadrupole coupling constant Q = 2.31(4) MHz in an alpha-Al2O3 crystal, a precise value for the electric quadrupole moment is extracted: Qs= 141(3) mb. A comparison with large-scale shell model calculations shows that 33Al has at least 50% intruder configurations in the ground state wave function, favoring the excitation of two neutrons across the N = 20 shell gap. 33Al therefore clearly marks the gradual transition north of the deformed Na and Mg nuclei towards the normal Z>14 isotopes., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review C

We present the nuclear matrix element for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of $^{48}$Ca based on large-scale shell-model calculations including two harmonic oscillator shells ($sd$ and $pf$ shells). The excitation spectra of $^{48}$Ca and $^{48}$Ti, and the two-neutrino double-beta decay of $^{48}$Ca are reproduced in good agreement to experiment. We find that the neutrinoless double-beta decay nuclear matrix element is enhanced by about 30\% compared to $pf$-shell calculations. This reduces the decay lifetime by almost a factor of two. The matrix-element increase is mostly due to pairing correlations associated with cross-shell $sd$-$pf$ excitations. We also investigate possible implications for heavier neutrinoless double-beta decay candidates., Comment: Phys. Rev. Lett., accepted

Large-scale shell model calculations including two major shells are carried out, and the ingredients of nuclear matrix element for two-neutrino double beta decay are investigated. Based on the comparison between the shell model calculations accounting only for one major shell ($pf$-shell) and those for two major shells ($sdpf$-shell), the effect due to the excitation across the two major shells is quantitatively evaluated., Comment: To appear in J. Phys. Soc. Conf. Proc. (ARIS2014); for ver.2, Fig.1 is revised

Spectroscopic information has been extracted on the hole-states of $^{55}$Ni, the least known of the quartet of nuclei ($^{55}$Ni, $^{57}$Ni, $^{55}$Co and $^{57}$Co), one neutron away from $^{56}$Ni, the N=Z=28 double magic nucleus. Using the $^{1}$H($^{56}$Ni,d)$^{55}$Ni transfer reaction in inverse kinematics, neutron spectroscopic factors, spins and parities have been extracted for the f$_{7/2}$, p$_{3/2}$ and the s$_{1/2}$ hole-states of $^{55}$Ni. This new data provides a benchmark for large basis calculations that include nucleonic orbits in both the sd and pf shells. State of the art calculations have been performed to describe the excitation energies and spectroscopic factors of the s$_{1/2}$ hole-state below Fermi energy., Comment: Submitted to PLB

The shapes of neutron-rich exotic Ni isotopes are studied. Large-scale shell model calculations are performed by advanced Monte Carlo Shell Model (MCSM) for the $pf$-$g_{9/2}$-$d_{5/2}$ model space. Experimental energy levels are reproduced well by a single fixed Hamiltonian. Intrinsic shapes are analyzed for MCSM eigenstates. Intriguing interplays among spherical, oblate, prolate and gamma-unstable shapes are seen including shape fluctuations, $E$(5)-like situation, the magicity of doubly-magic $^{56,68,78}$Ni, and the coexistence of spherical and strongly deformed shapes. Regarding the last point, strong deformation and change of shell structure can take place simultaneously, being driven by the combination of the tensor force and changes of major configurations within the same nucleus., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

The ground-state spins and magnetic moments of $^{49,51}$K have been measured using bunched-beam high-resolution collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE-CERN. For $^{49}$K a ground-state spin $I = 1/2$ was firmly established. The observed hyperfine structure of $^{51}$K requires a spin $I > 1/2$ and from its magnetic moment $\mu(^{51}\text{K})= +0.5129(22)\, \mu_N$ a spin/parity $I^\pi=3/2^+$ with a dominant $\pi 1d_{3/2}^{-1}$ hole configuration was deduced. This establishes for the first time the re-inversion of the single-particle levels and illustrates the prominent role of the residual monopole interaction for single-particle levels and shell evolution., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We report no-core solutions for properties of light nuclei with three different approaches in order to assess the accuracy and convergence rates of each method. Full configuration interaction (FCI), Monte Carlo shell model (MCSM) and no core full configuration (NCFC) approaches are solved separately for the ground state energy and other properties of seven light nuclei using the realistic JISP16 nucleon-nucleon interaction. The results are consistent among the different approaches. The methods differ significantly in how the required computational resources scale with increasing particle number for a given accuracy., Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures, 6 tables

The Monte Carlo shell model is firstly applied to the calculation of the no-core shell model in light nuclei. The results are compared with those of the full configuration interaction. The agreements between them are within a few % at most., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, 1 table, Proceedings of the International Symposium on New Faces of Atomic Nuclei, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 15-17, 2010

Excited states in the very neutron-rich nuclei 35Mg and 33Na were populated in the fragmentation of a 38Si projectile beam on a Be target at 83 MeV/u beam energy. We report on the first observation of gamma-ray transitions in 35Mg, the odd-N neighbor of 34Mg and 36Mg, which are known to be part of the "Island of Inversion" around N = 20. The results are discussed in the framework of large- scale shell-model calculations. For the A = 3Z nucleus 33Na, a new gamma-ray transition was observed that is suggested to complete the gamma-ray cascade 7/2+ --> 5/2+ --> 3/2+ gs connecting three neutron 2p-2h intruder states that are predicted to form a close-to-ideal K = 3/2 rotational band in the strong-coupling limit., Comment: Accepted for publication Phys. Rev. C. March 16, 2011: Replaced figures 3 and 5. We thank Alfredo Poves for pointing out a problem with the two figures

he electric quadrupole coupling constant of the 31Al ground state is measured to be nu_Q = |eQV_{zz}/h| = 2196(21)kHz using two different beta-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) techniques. For the first time, a direct comparison is made between the continuous rf technique and the adiabatic fast passage method. The obtained coupling constants of both methods are in excellent agreement with each other and a precise value for the quadrupole moment of 31Al has been deduced: |Q(31Al)| = 134.0(16) mb. Comparison of this value with large-scale shell-model calculations in the sd and sdpf valence spaces suggests that the 31Al ground state is dominated by normal sd-shell configurations with a possible small contribution of intruder states. The obtained value for |Q(31Al)| and a compilation of measured quadrupole moments of odd-Z even-N isotopes in comparison with shell-model calculations shows that the proton effective charge e_p=1.1 e provides a much better description of the nuclear properties in the sd-shell than the adopted value e_p=1.3 e.

The electric quadrupole coupling constant of the ground state of 37K(3/2+, 1.22 s) in a tetragonal KH2PO4 single crystal was measured to be |eqQ/h| = 2.99 +- 0.07 MHz using the beta-ray detecting nuclear quadrupole resonance technique. The electric quadrupole moment of 37K was determined to be |Q(37K)| = 10.6 +- 0.4 efm2, where the known electric quadrupole coupling constant of stable 39K in the KH2PO4 crystal was used as a reference. The present experimental result is larger than that predicted by shell-model calculations in the sd or the sd and fp model spaces. A possible variation of effective charges was explored to explain the discrepancy., Comment: Accepted to Physics Letters B

The beta decay of the exotic 30Ne (N=20) is reported. For the first time, the low-energy level structure of the N=19, 30Na (Tz = 4), is obtained from beta-delayed gamma spectroscopy using fragment-beta-gamma-gamma coincidences. The level structure clearly displays "inversion", i.e., intruder states with mainly 2p2h configurations displacing the normal states to higher excitation energies. The good agreement in excitation energies and the weak and electromagnetic decay patterns with Monte Carlo Shell Model calculations with the SDPF-M interaction in the sdpf valence space illustrates the small d3/2 - f7/2 shell gap. The relative position of the "normal dominant" and "intruder dominant" excited states provides valuable information to understand better the N=20 shell gap., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures

The low-energy level structure of the exotic Na isotopes 28,29Na has been investigated through beta-delayed gamma spectroscopy. The N=20 isotones for Z=10-12 are considered to belong to the ``island of inversion'' where intruder configurations dominate the ground state wave function. However, it is an open question as to where and how the transition from normal to intruder-dominated configurations happens in an isotopic chain. The present work, which presents the first detailed spectroscopy of 28,29Na, clearly demonstrates that such a transition in the Na isotopes occurs between 28Na (N=17) and 29Na (N=18), supporting the smaller N=20 shell gap in neutron rich sd shell nuclei. The evidence for inverted shell structure is found in intruder dominated spectroscopy of low-lying states, beta-decay branching ratios and shell model analysis., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures