Spectroscopie du 19^{19}Ne par diffusion inélastique. Applications à l'astrophysique.

The gamma observation of novae explosions is a one of the objectives of space telescopes like INTEGRAL. According to astrophysical models, the most intense ray of the gamma spectra of these phenomena has an energy of 511 keV. This ray is mainly due to the annihilation of ß+ coming from 18F decay. The astrophysical interpretation of the gamma observations can be done only if the nucleosynthesis of 18F is well understood. Actually, poor knowledge of the rate of the 18F(p,a)15O reaction, linked to the structure of the compound nucleus 19Ne, creates an uncertainty factor of 300 on the abundance of 18F in novae. In order to reduce these uncertainties, an inelastic scaterring experiment 19Ne(p,p')19Ne* was performed to the Louvain la Neuve laboratory. It allowed us to study excited states of 19Ne above alpha (3.55 MeV) and proton (6.42 MeV) thresholds. The study of angular correlation of particules decay (proton or alpha) was used to assign for the first time the spin of many known levels. In addition, a new large ½+ state, which could influence strongly the astrophysical factor, was observed for the first time.L'observation gamma des explosions novae est l'un des objectifs des télescopes spatiaux comme INTEGRAL. Selon les modèles astrophysiques la raie la plus intense du spectre gamma des novae est celle ayant une énergie de 511 keV. Cette raie provient essentiellement de l'annihilation des ß+ venant de la décroissance du noyau de 18F. L'interprétation astrophysique des observations gamma ne pourra se faire que si la nucléosynthèse du 18F est bien comprise. Actuellement, la mauvaise connaissance du taux de la réaction 18F(p,a)15O, lié à la structure du noyau composé 19Ne, engendre une incertitude d'un facteur 300 sur l'abondance du 18F dans les novae. Dans le but de réduire ces incertitudes, une expérience de diffusion inélastique d'un faisceau de noyaux radioactifs 19Ne sur une cible de proton (19Ne(p,p')19Ne*) a été réalisée au laboratoire de Louvain la Neuve. Elle a permis d'étudier notamment plusieurs états excités du 19Ne au dessus des seuils alpha (3.55 MeV) et proton (6.42 MeV). L'étude des distributions angulaires des particules émises (proton ou alpha) par les états excités du 19Ne a permis d'assigner pour la première fois le spin de nombreux niveaux connus. De plus, un nouvel état ½+ large, pouvant influencer fortement le facteur astrophysique, a été observé pour la première fois

Resonant elastic and inelastic scattering. Astrophysical applications. New paradigm beyond drip-lines?

5 pages, 4 figures, Expérience GANIL/SPIRALInternational audienceTwo experimental techniques have been developed at GANIL using resonant elastic and inelastic scattering reactions in inverse kinematics. These techniques were used to study the structure of unstable nuclei. A brief description of the methods is presented through two examples of application in astrophysics. Moreover, new ideas and simple questions are put forward: what happens in the low energy tail of unbound nuclei ground state resonances

New pathway to bypass the 15O waiting point

We propose the sequential reaction process $^{15}$O($p$,$\gamma)(\beta^{+}$)$^{16}$O as a new pathway to bypass of the $^{15}$O waiting point. This exotic reaction is found to have a surprisingly high cross section, approximately 10$^{10}$ times higher than the $^{15}$O($p$,$\beta^{+}$)$^{16}$O. These cross sections were calculated after precise measurements of energies and widths of the proton-unbound $^{16}$F low lying states, obtained using the H($^{15}$O,p)$^{15}$O reaction. The large $(p,\gamma)(\beta^{+})$ cross section can be understood to arise from the more efficient feeding of the low energy wing of the ground state resonance by the gamma decay. The implications of the new reaction in novae explosions and X-ray bursts are discussed.Comment: submitte

Spectroscopy around 36^{36}Ca

Expérience GANILInternational audienceAn experiment was performed to study excited states in neutron-deficient nuclei around Ca. A one-neutron knockout reaction was used to produce $^{36}$Ca ions from a $^{37}$Ca secondary beam, and in-beam $\gamma$-rays were measured. The $2^+$ energy in $^{36}$Ca is compared to the mirror nucleus $^{36}$S to deduce information on the isospin dependence of the nuclear force near the proton drip line. The energy of the first excited $2^+$ state in $^{36}$Ca and the cross section for the 1-neutron knock-out reaction from $^{37}$Ca at $\sim$ 45 · AMeV were obtained. Furthermore, for two other $T_z$ = −2 nuclei, $^{28}$S and $^{32}$Ar, the de-excitation of the first $2^+$ state has been observed

Measurements of nuclear γ\gamma-ray line emission in interactions of protons and α\alpha particles with N, O, Ne and Si.

42 pages, 12 figures, 7 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. CInternational audience$\gamma$-ray production cross sections have been measured in proton irradiations of N, Ne and Si and $\alpha$-particle irradiations of N and Ne. In the same experiment we extracted also line shapes for strong $\gamma$-ray lines of $^{16}$O produced in proton and $\alpha$-particle irradiations of O. For the measurements gas targets were used for N, O and Ne and a thick foil was used for Si. All targets were of natural isotopic composition. Beams in the energy range up to 26 MeV for protons and 39 MeV for $\alpha$-particles have been delivered by the IPN-Orsay tandem accelerator. The $\gamma$ rays have been detected with four HP-Ge detectors in the angular range 30$^{\circ}$ to 135$^{\circ}$. We extracted 36 cross section excitation functions for proton reactions and 14 for $\alpha$-particle reactions. For the majority of the excitation functions no other data exist to our knowledge. Where comparison with existing data was possible usually a very good agreement was found. It is shown that these data are very interesting for constraining nuclear reaction models. In particular the agreement of cross section calculations in the nuclear reaction code TALYS with the measured data could be improved by adjusting the coupling schemes of collective levels in the target nuclei $^{14}$N, $^{20,22}$Ne and $^{28}$Si. The importance of these results for the modeling of nuclear $\gamma$-ray line emission in astrophysical sites is discussed

Discovery of a New Broad Resonance in Ne-19: Implications for the Destruction of the Cosmic gamma-Ray Emitter F-18

The experiment was performed at the Centre de Recherches du Cyclotron at Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium) using a 19Ne6+ radioactive beam.International audienceSix proton-emitting states in 19Ne were studied through the inelastic scattering reaction H(19Ne; p)19Ne*(p)18F. Their energies and widths were derived from the protons detected at zero degree, while proton-proton angular correlations between the detector at zero degree and a segmented annular detector were used to determine their spin value. Besides the known states, a new broad J = 1/2 resonance has been evidenced at Ex ≈ 7.9 MeV, ≈ 1:45 MeV above the proton emission threshold. By introducing this resonance, the 18F(p; alpha)15O destruction rate in novae is significantly enhanced. This reduces the chance to observe the cosmic gamma-ray emission of 18F from novae in space telescopes

Collapse of the N=28 shell closure in the Si isotopes

International audienc

Shell and shapes in the 44^{44}S nucleus

Expérience GANILInternational audienceThe results obtained from electron and in-beam spectroscopy experiments reveal that the 44S nucleus is located in a transitional region between the spherical 48Ca and the oblate 42Si. The comparison of the results with Large Scale Shell Model calculations points towards prolate-spherical shape coexistence where the ground state becomes the intruder configuration due to quadrupole excitations across the Z = 14 and N = 28 shell gaps

Publisher's Note: In-beam spectroscopic studies of the 44S nucleus [Phys. Rev. C 85, 024311 (2012)]

This paper was published online on 15 February 2012 with errors in Figs. 2 and 4. The figures has been replaced as of 28 February 2012. The figures are correct in the printed version of the journal