Statistical properties of 243^{243}Pu, and 242^{242}Pu(n,γ\gamma) cross section calculation

The level density and gamma-ray strength function (gammaSF) of 243Pu have been measured in the quasi-continuum using the Oslo method. Excited states in 243Pu were populated using the 242Pu(d,p) reaction. The level density closely follows the constant-temperature level density formula for excitation energies above the pairing gap. The gammaSF displays a double-humped resonance at low energy as also seen in previous investigations of actinide isotopes. The structure is interpreted as the scissors resonance and has a centroid of omega_{SR}=2.42(5)MeV and a total strength of B_{SR}=10.1(15)mu_N^2, which is in excellent agreement with sum-rule estimates. The measured level density and gammaSF were used to calculate the 242Pu(n,gamma) cross section in a neutron energy range for which there were previously no measured data.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Search for Nova Presolar Grains: γ -Ray Spectroscopy of Ar 34 and its Relevance for the Astrophysical Cl 33 (p,γ) Reaction

The discovery of presolar grains in primitive meteorites has initiated a new era of research in the study of stellar nucleosynthesis. However, the accurate classification of presolar grains as being of specific stellar origins is particularly challenging. Recently, it has been suggested that sulfur isotopic abundances may hold the key to definitively identifying presolar grains with being of nova origins and, in this regard, the astrophysical Cl33(p,γ)Ar34 reaction is expected to play a decisive role. As such, we have performed a detailed γ-ray spectroscopy study of Ar34. Excitation energies have been measured with high precision and spin-parity assignments for resonant states, located above the proton threshold in Ar34, have been made for the first time. Uncertainties in the Cl33(p,γ) reaction have been dramatically reduced and the results indicate that a newly identified ℓ =0 resonance at Er=396.9(13) keV dominates the entire rate for T=0.25-0.40 GK. Furthermore, nova hydrodynamic simulations based on the present work indicate an ejected S32/S33 abundance ratio distinctive from type-II supernovae and potentially compatible with recent measurements of a presolar grain

Search for Nova Presolar Grains: γ -Ray Spectroscopy of Ar 34 and its Relevance for the Astrophysical Cl 33 (p,γ) Reaction

The discovery of presolar grains in primitive meteorites has initiated a new era of research in the study of stellar nucleosynthesis. However, the accurate classification of presolar grains as being of specific stellar origins is particularly challenging. Recently, it has been suggested that sulfur isotopic abundances may hold the key to definitively identifying presolar grains with being of nova origins and, in this regard, the astrophysical Cl33(p,γ)Ar34 reaction is expected to play a decisive role. As such, we have performed a detailed γ-ray spectroscopy study of Ar34. Excitation energies have been measured with high precision and spin-parity assignments for resonant states, located above the proton threshold in Ar34, have been made for the first time. Uncertainties in the Cl33(p,γ) reaction have been dramatically reduced and the results indicate that a newly identified ℓ =0 resonance at Er=396.9(13) keV dominates the entire rate for T=0.25-0.40 GK. Furthermore, nova hydrodynamic simulations based on the present work indicate an ejected S32/S33 abundance ratio distinctive from type-II supernovae and potentially compatible with recent measurements of a presolar grain

The spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the 21+ state of 12C : A benchmark of theoretical models

The spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the first 2+ state of 12C has been measured employing the Coulomb-excitation re-orientation technique. Our result of Qs(21+)=+9.3−3.8+3.5efm2 suggests a larger oblate deformation than previously reported. Combining this with the consistently re-analyzed adopted value, we present the most precise value to date of Qs(21+)=+9.5(18)efm2, which is consistent with a geometrical rotor description. This simple outcome is compared to state-of-the-art shell-model, mean-field, ab initio calculations, cluster-based and geometrical-like theories, which show varying degrees of emergent quadrupole collectivity

Superdeformed and Triaxial States in Ca 42

Shape parameters of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in ^{42}Ca were determined from E2 matrix elements measured in the first low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed with AGATA. The picture of two coexisting structures is well reproduced by new state-of-the-art large-scale shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. Experimental evidence for superdeformation of the band built on 0_{2}^{+} has been obtained and the role of triaxiality in the A∼40 mass region is discussed. Furthermore, the potential of Coulomb excitation as a tool to study superdeformation has been demonstrated for the first time

Quadrupole and octupole collectivity in the semi-magic nucleus 80206Hg126

The first low-energy Coulomb-excitation measurement of the radioactive, semi-magic, two proton-hole nucleus 206Hg, was performed at CERN's recently-commissioned HIE-ISOLDE facility. Two γ rays depopulating low-lying states in 206Hg were observed. From the data, a reduced transition strength B(E2;21+→01+)=4.4(6) W.u. was determined, the first such value for an N=126 nucleus south of 208Pb, which is found to be slightly lower than that predicted by shell-model calculations. In addition, a collective octupole state was identified at an excitation energy of 2705 keV, for which a reduced B(E3) transition probability of 30−13+10 W.u. was extracted. These results are crucial for understanding both quadrupole and octupole collectivity in the vicinity of the heaviest doubly-magic nucleus 208Pb, and for benchmarking a number of theoretical approaches in this key region. This is of particular importance given the paucity of data on transition strengths in this region, which could be used, in principle, to test calculations relevant to the astrophysical r-process

Decay of the I π = 8 − isomeric state in Nd 134 and Pt 184 studied by electron and γ spectroscopy

International audienceThe properties of the K-isomer decays in the 134 Nd and 184 Pt nuclei have been investigated. Measurements were carried out in e-γ and γ-γ coincidence modes using electron spectrometers coupled to the central European Array for Gamma Levels Evaluations at the Heavy Ion Laboratory of the University of Warsaw. Internal conversion coefficients were obtained for transitions relevant to the decay of the isomeric states, allowing the determination of multipolarities and mixing ratios as well as hindrance factors. Two possible causes of the weakening of the K forbiddenness, namely rotational K mixing (Coriolis interaction) and triaxiality, are briefly discussed using schematic theoretical models

Coulomb excitation of 102Ru^{102}\mathrm{Ru} with 12C^{12}\mathrm{C} and 16O^{16}\mathrm{O}

International audienceThe Coulomb excitation of Ru102 was performed with beams of C12 and O16 ions. The beam particles scattered at forward angles were momentum analyzed with a magnetic spectrograph. The resolution achieved enabled the populations of the 21+ state, the unresolved 22+/41+, and 24+/31−, doublets of states, and the 32− state to be determined as a function of the scattering angle. These populations are compared with gosia calculations, yielding B(E2;21+→01+)=41.5±2.3 W.u., B(E2;22+→01+)=1.75±0.11 W.u., B(E3;31−→01+)=31.5±3.5 W.u., and B(E3;32−→01+)=6.8±0.5 W.u. The B(E3;31−→01+) value is significantly larger than previously measured. The weakly populated 23+ state, presumed to be a member of the band built on the 02+ state, was observed clearly for a single angle only, and a fit to its population results in B(E2;23+→01+)=0.053±0.011 W.u. Using the known γ-ray branching ratios for the 23+ level, the B(E2;23+→02+) value is calculated to be 18±4 W.u., substantially less than the B(E2;21+→01+). This suggests that the deformation of the 02+ state is lower than that of the 01+ state. The results are compared with beyond-mean-field calculations with the Gogny-D1S interaction using the symmetry-conserving configuration-mixing method