Perturbed angular distributions with LaBr3 detectors: The g factor of the first 10+ state in Cd 110 reexamined

The time differential perturbed angular distribution technique with LaBr3 detectors has been applied to the Iπ = 11-/2 isomeric state (Ex=846 keV, τ=107 ns) in 107Cd, which was populated and recoil-implanted into a gadolinium host following the 98Mo(^12C, 3n)^107Cd reaction. The static hyperfine field strength of Cd recoil implanted into gadolinium was thus measured, together with the fraction of nuclei implanted into field-free sites, under similar conditions as pertained for a previous implantation perturbed angular distribution g-factor measurement on the Iπ=10+ state in 110Cd. The 110Cdg(10+) value was thereby reevaluated, bringing it into agreement with the value expected for a seniority-two vh11/2 configuration.This research was supported in part by the Australian Research Council Grants No. DP120101417, No. DP130104176, No. DP140102986, No. DP140103317, No. DP170101673, No. LE150100064, and No. FT100100991, and by The Australian National University Major Equipment Committee Grant No. 15MEC14

Test of the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis in ⁶⁴ ⁶⁵Ni

Previously published particle-γ coincidence data on the 64Ni(p,p′γ) 64Ni and 64Ni(dpγ)65Ni reactions were further analyzed to study the statistical properties of γ decay in64, 65Ni. To do so, the γ-decay to the quasicontinuum region and discrete low-lying states was investigated at γ -ray energies of 2.0–9.6 and 1.6–6.1 MeV in 64 Ni and 65 Ni, respectively. In particular, the dependence of the γ-strength function with initial and final excitation energy was studied to test the validity of the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis. Finally, the role of fluctuations in transition strengths was estimated as a function of γ-ray and excitation energy. The γ-strength function is consistent with the hypothesis of the independence of initial excitation energy, in accordance with the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis. The results show that the γdecay to low-lying levels displays large fluctuations for low initial excitation energies.We are also grateful for the financial support received from the Research Council of Norway (NFR). S.S. and G.M.T. acknowledge funding under NFR project Grants No. 210007 and No. 262952/F20. A.C.L. acknowledges financial support from the ERC-STG2014 under Grant No. 637686

Improved precision on the experimental E0 decay branching ratio of the Hoyle state

Background: Stellar carbon synthesis occurs exclusively via the 3α process, in which three α particles fuse to form 12C in the excited Hoyle state, followed by electromagnetic decay to the ground state. The Hoyle state is above the α threshold, and the rate of stellar carbon production depends on the radiative width of this state. The radiative width cannot be measured directly, and must instead be deduced by combining three separately measured quantities. One of these quantities is the E0 decay branching ratio of the Hoyle state, and the current 10% uncertainty on the radiative width stems mainly from the uncertainty on this ratio. The rate of the 3α process is an important input parameter in astrophysical calculations on stellar evolution, and a high precision is imperative to constrain the possible outcomes of astrophysical models.The project was supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Grants No. DP140102986, No. DP170101673, and No. DP170102423. Operation of the ANU Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility is supported by the NCRIS HIA capability. The support from technical staff for the development of the pair spectrometer, as well as during the long experimental runs, is greatly appreciated. This work was partially supported by the International Joint Research Promotion Program of Osaka University and JSPS KAKENHI Grant No. JP 17H02893, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa, under Grants No. 93533 and No. 118645

Validity of the Generalized Brink-Axel Hypothesis in Np 238

We analyze primary γ-ray spectra of the odd-odd 238Np nucleus extracted from 237Npðd; pγÞ238Np coincidence data measured at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory. The primary γ spectra cover an excitationenergy region of 0 ≤ Ei ≤ 5.4 MeV, and allow us to perform a detailed study of the γ-ray strength as a function of excitation energy. Hence, we can test the validity of the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis, which, in its strictest form, claims no excitation-energy dependence on the γ strength. In this work, using the available high-quality 238Np data, we show that the γ-ray strength function is to a very large extent independent of the initial and final states. Thus, for the first time, the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis is experimentally verified for γ transitions between states in the quasicontinuum region, not only for specific collective resonances, but also for the full strength below the neutron separation energy. Based on our findings, the necessary criteria for the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis to be fulfilled are outlined

Is the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis valid?

Experimental results of the 237Np(d, pγ) 238Np reaction are presented, which verifies the generalized Brink-Axel (gBA) hypothesis for γ transitions between states in the quasi-continuum. The gBA hypothesis holds not only for specific collective resonances, but for the full dipole strength below the neutron separation energy. We discuss the validity of the gBA hypothesis also for lighter systems like 92Zr where the concept of a unique γ-ray strength function (γSF) is problematic due to large Porter-Thomas fluctuations. Methods for studying the γSF and the fluctuations as function of excitation energy are presented

Measurement of the intensity ratio of Auger and conversion electrons for the electron capture decay of 125I

Auger electrons emitted after nuclear decay have potential application in targeted cancer therapy. For this purpose it is important to know the Auger electron yield per nuclear decay. In this work we describe a measurement of the ratio of the number of conversion electrons (emitted as part of the nuclear decay process) to the number of Auger electrons (emitted as part of the atomic relaxation process after the nuclear decay) for the case of 125I. Results are compared with Monte-Carlo type simulations of the relaxation cascade using the BrIccEmis code. Our results indicate that for 125I the calculations based on rates from the Evaluated Atomic Data Library underestimate the K Auger yields by 20%

Investigating the gamma decay of Ni-65 from particle-gamma coincidence data

The gamma decay of Ni-65 has been studied from particle-gamma coincidence data on the Ni-64(d, p gamma)Ni-65 reaction. gamma-ray spectra at excitation energies below E-x approximate to 2 MeV have been studied and compared with previous measurements. Coincidences corresponding to E-x approximate to 4.4-6.1 MeV have been used to constrain the shape of the nuclear level density and gamma-strength function of Ni-65 by means of the Oslo method. The experimental gamma-strength function presents an enhancement at. energies below E-gamma approximate to 3 MeV. In addition, a resonance-like structure centered at E-gamma approximate to 4.6MeV is seen together with accumulated strength at E-gamma approximate to 2.6-3.6MeV. The obtained results contribute to the systematic study of. decay in the Ni isotopes, which is of great interest for the understanding of both single-particle and collective nuclear structure phenomena.We are also grateful for the financial support received from the Research Council of Norway (NFR). A.C.L. acknowledges funding from the ERC-STG-2014 under Grant Agreement No. 637686. S.S. acknowledges financial support by the NFR under Project Grant No. 210007 and G.M.T. acknowledges support under Grant No. 22228

Investigating the gamma decay of Ni 65 from particle-gamma coincidence data

The γ decay of 65 Ni has been studied from particle- γ coincidence data on the 64 Ni ( d , p γ ) 65 Ni reaction. γ -ray spectra at excitation energies below Ex≈ 2 MeV have been studied and compared with previous measurements. Coincidences corresponding to Ex≈ 4.4 – 6.1 MeV have been used to constrain the shape of the nuclear level density and γ -strength function of 65 Ni by means of the Oslo method. The experimental γ -strength function presents an enhancement at γ energies below Eγ ≈ 3 MeV . In addition, a resonance-like structure centered at Eγ ≈ 4.6 MeV is seen together with accumulated strength at Eγ ≈ 2.6 – 3.6 MeV . The obtained results contribute to the systematic study of γ decay in the Ni isotopes, which is of great interest for the understanding of both single-particle and collective nuclear structure phenomena

Statistical γ -decay properties of Ni 64 and deduced (n,γ) cross section of the s -process branch-point nucleus Ni 63

Particle-γ coincidence data have been analyzed to obtain the nuclear level density and the γ -strength function of 64Ni by means of the Oslo method. The level density found in this work is in very good agreement with known energy levels at low excitation energies as well as with data deduced from particle-evaporation measurements at excitation energies above Ex ≈ 5.5 MeV. The experimental γ -strength function presents an enhancement at γ energies below Eγ ≈ 3 MeV and possibly a resonancelike structure centered at Eγ ≈ 9.2 MeV. The obtained nuclear level density and γ -strength function have been used to estimate the (n,γ ) cross section for the s-process branch-point nucleus 63Ni, of particular interest for astrophysical calculations of elemental abundances

First-excited state g factors in the stable, even Ge and Se isotopes FIRST-EXCITED STATE g FACTORS in the ... B. P. McCORMICK et al.

International audienceTransient-field $g$-factor measurements in inverse kinematics were performed for the first-excited states of the stable, even isotopes of Ge and Se. The $g$ factors of $^{74}$Ge and $^{74}$Se were measured simultaneously using a cocktail beam, which eliminates most possible sources of systematic error in a relative $g$-factor measurement. The results are $g(^{74}{\rm Se})/g(^{74}{\rm Ge})=1.34(7)$, $g(^{70}{\rm Ge})/g(^{74}{\rm Ge}) = 1.16(15)$, $g(^{72}{\rm Ge})/g(^{74}{\rm Ge})=0.92(13)$, $g(^{76}{\rm Ge})/g(^{74}{\rm Ge})=0.88(5)$, $g(^{76}{\rm Se})/g(^{74}{\rm Se})=0.96(7)$, $g(^{78}{\rm Se})/g(^{74}{\rm Se})=0.82(5)$, $g(^{80}{\rm Se})/g(^{74}{\rm Se})=0.99(7)$ and $g(^{82}{\rm Se})/g(^{74}{\rm Se})=1.19(6)$. The measured $g$-factor ratios are in agreement with ratios from previous measurements, despite considerable variation in previous reported absolute values. The absolute values of the $g$ factors remain uncertain, however the Rutgers parametrization was used to set the transient-field strength and then compare the experimental $g$ factors with shell-model calculations based on the JUN45 and jj44b interactions. Modest agreement was found between experiment and theory for both interactions. The shell model calculations indicate that the $g(2^+_1)$ values and trends are determined largely by the balance of the spin carried by orbital motion of the protons