Influence and measurement of mass ablation in ICF implosions

Point design ignition capsules designed for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) currently use an x-ray-driven Be(Cu) ablator to compress the DT fuel. Ignition specifications require that the mass of unablated Be(Cu), called residual mass, be known to within 1% of the initial ablator mass when the fuel reaches peak velocity. The specifications also require that the implosion bang time, a surrogate measurement for implosion velocity, be known to +/- 50 ps RMS. These specifications guard against several capsule failure modes associated with low implosion velocity or low residual mass. Experiments designed to measure and to tune experimentally the amount of residual mass are being developed as part of the National Ignition Campaign (NIC). Tuning adjustments of the residual mass and peak velocity can be achieved using capsule and laser parameters. We currently plan to measure the residual mass using streaked radiographic imaging of surrogate tuning capsules. Alternative techniques to measure residual mass using activated Cu debris collection and proton spectrometry have also been developed. These developing techniques, together with bang time measurements, will allow us to tune ignition capsules to meet NIC specs

Identification of the New Isotope \u3csup\u3e244\u3c/sup\u3eMd

In an experiment performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory\u27s 88-inch cyclotron, the isotope Md244 was produced in the Bi209(Ar40,5n) reaction. Decay properties of Md244 were measured at the focal plane of the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator, and the mass number assignment of A=244 was confirmed with the apparatus for the identification of nuclide A. The isotope Md244 is reported to have one, possibly two, α-decaying states with α energies of 8.66(2) and 8.31(2) MeV and half-lives of 0.4-0.1+0.4 and ∼6 s, respectively. Additionally, first evidence of the α decay of Bk236 was observed and is reported

Decay of the High-K Isomeric State to a Rotational Band in 257Rf

The 257Rf isotope has been populated via the 208Pb(50Ti, n) fusion-evaporation reaction and delayed gamma-ray and electron decay spectroscopy has been performed. The existence of a high-K isomeric state in 257Rf has been confirmed. The isomeric state decays into a rotational band based on the 11/2(-)[725] excitation, which was observed up to spin of (23/2(-)). Three multipolarity-E1 gamma transitions depopulating the isomeric state have been observed, which fixes the spin for that state to (21/2(+)). This assignment agrees with theoretical predictions calculated with the microscopic-macroscopic approach, which suggest the isomeric state to be formed by coupling an unpaired 11/2(-)[725] quasineutron to the (1/2(-)[521] circle times 9/2(+)[624])(5)- two-quasiproton state. The same two-quasiproton excitation is possible for the lowest isomer in 256Rf

Identification and shell model calculation of high spin states in 137,138Cs nuclei

High spin states of $^{137,138}\mathrm{Cs}$ have been studied by measuring \ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma} coincidences from the spontaneous fission of $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$ with the LBNL Gammasphere detector array. The high spin level scheme of the $N=83$ neutron-rich Cs ($Z=55$) isotope, $^{138}\mathrm{Cs}$, built on the {6}^{\ensuremath{-}} isomeric state, has been established for the first time up to a 4626 keV level, assigned (${16}^{+}$). The level scheme of $^{137}\mathrm{Cs}$ has been expanded up to a 5495 keV level, assigned (31/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}). Spins, parities, and configurations are assigned based on the agreement between experimental level energies and shell model calculations and level systematics. Similarities are observed in the $N=82$ isotones, $^{137}\mathrm{Cs}$ and $^{135}\mathrm{I}$, up to $17/{2}^{+}$ as well as in the $N=83$ isotones, $^{138}\mathrm{Cs}$ and $^{136}\mathrm{I}$, up to {12}^{\ensuremath{-}}. The shell model calculations indicate the important role played by interactions between the excitation of the valence protons outside the $Z=50$ major shell and the ${f}_{7/2}$ valence neutron outside the $N=82$ major shell

Particle-hole excited states in 133 Te

Excited states in neutron-rich ${}^{133}\mathrm{Te}$ have been identified with the Gamma sphere array by measuring three- and higher-fold prompt coincidence events following spontaneous fission of ${}^{252}\mathrm{Cf}.$ Four types of particle-hole bands built on the known 334.3 keV isomer in ${}^{133}\mathrm{Te}$ are identified. The yrast and near yrast particle-hole states observed up to 6.2 MeV in ${}^{133}\mathrm{Te}$ have characteristics quite similar to those in ${}^{134}\mathrm{Te}.$ These states are interpreted as a result of coupling a neutron \ensuremath{\nu}{h}_{11/2} hole to the ${}^{134}\mathrm{Te}$ core. The group of states observed above 5.214 MeV is the result of a neutron particle-hole excitation of the double magic core nucleus ${}^{132}\mathrm{Sn},$ and is a candidate for a tilted rotor band. Shell-model calculations considering ${}^{132}\mathrm{Sn}$ as a closed core have been performed and have provided guidance to the interpretation of the levels below 4.3 MeV. Very good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained for these states

Nuclear shape and structure in neutron-rich 110,111Tc

The structure of Tc nuclei is extended to the moreneutron-rich regions based on measurements of prompt gamma rays from thespontaneous fission of 252Cf at Gammasphere. The level scheme of N=67neutron-rich (Z=43) 110Tc is established for the first time and that of111Tc is expanded. The ground-state band of 111Tc reaches theband-crossing region and the new observation of the weakly populatedalpha = -1/2 member of the band provides important information ofsignature splitting. The systematics of band crossings in the isotopicand isotonic chains and a CSM calculation suggest that the band crossingof the gs band of 111Tc is due to alignment of a pair of h11/2 neutrons.The best fit to signature splitting, branching ratios, and excitations ofthe ground-state band of 111Tc by RTRP model calculations result in ashape of epsilon2 = 0.32 and gamma = -26 deg. for this nucleus. Itstriaxiality is larger than that of 107Tc, to indicate increasingtriaxiality with increasing neutron number. The identification of theweakly-populated "K+2 satellite" band provides strong evidence for thelarge triaxiality of 111Tc. In 110Tc the four lowest-lying levelsobserved are very similar to those in 108Tc. At an excitation of 478.9keV above the lowest state observed, ten states of a delta I = 1 band areobserved. This band is very analogous to the delta I = 1 bands in106,108Tc, but it has greater signature splitting at higherspins

Onset of collectivity in neutron deficient Po196,198

We have studied via in-beam -ray spectroscopy Po196 and Po198, which are the first neutron-deficient Po isotopes to exhibit a collective low-lying structure. The ratios of yrast state energies and the E2 branching ratios of transitions from non-yrast to yrast states are indicative of a low-lying vibrational structure. The onset of collective motion in these isotopes can be attributed to the opening of the neutron i13/2 orbital at N112 and the resulting large overlap between the two valence protons in the h9/2 orbital and the valence neutrons in the i13/2 orbital