Spectroscopy of 34,35Si^{34,35}Si by β\beta decay: sd-fp shell gap and single-particle states

The $^{34,35}Al\beta$ decays were studied at the CERN on-line mass separator ISOLDE by $\beta-\gamma, \beta-\gamma-\gamma$ and $\beta-n-\gamma$ measurements, in order to corroborate thelow-level description of $^{34}Si$ and to obtain the first information on the level structure of the N=21 isotope $^{35}Si$. Earlier observed $\gamma$ lines in $^{34} Al$ decay were confirmed and new gamma transitions following both beta decay and $\beta$-delayed neutron emission were established. The first level scheme in $^{35}Si$, including three excited states at 910, 974 and 2168 keV, is consistent with $J^{\pi} =3/2^{-}$ and $3/2^{+}$ for the first two states respectively. Beta-decay half-life of $T_{1/2} = 38.6 (4)$ ms and beta-delayed neutron branching $P_{n}$ value $(P_{n} =41(13)$ were measured unambiguously. The significance of the single-particle energy determination at N=21, Z=14, for assessing the effective interaction in sd-fp shell-model calculations, is discussed and illustrated by predictions for different n-rich isotopes

Accurate mass measurements of short-lived isotopes with the MISTRAL rf spectrometer

The MISTRAL experiment has measured its first masses at ISOLDE. Installed in May 1997, this radiofrequency transmission spectrometer is to concentrate on nuclides with particularly short half-lives. MISTRAL received its first stable beam in October and first radioactive beam in November 1997. These first tests, with a plasma ion source, resulted in excellent isobaric separation and reasonable transmission. Further testing and development enabled first data taking in July 1998 on neutron-rich Na isotopes having half-lives as short as 31 ms

Deformation of the N=Z nucleus 76Sr using beta-decay studies

A novel method of deducing the deformation of the N=Z nucleus 76Sr is presented. It is based on the comparison of the experimental Gamow-Teller strength distribution B(GT) from its beta decay with the results of QRPA calculations. This method confirms previous indications of the strong prolate deformation of this nucleus in a totally independent way. The measurement has been carried out with a large Total Absorption gamma Spectrometer, "Lucrecia", newly installed at CERN-ISOLDE.Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev. Letter

Deformation change in light iridium nuclei from laser spectroscopy

Laser spectroscopy measurements have been performed on neutron-deficient and stable Ir isotopes using the COMPLIS experimental setup installed at ISOLDE-CERN. The radioactive Ir atoms were obtained from successive decays of a mass-separated Hg beam deposited onto a carbon substrate after deceleration to 1kV and subsequently laser desorbed. A three-color, two-step resonant scheme was used to selectively ionize the desorbed Ir atoms. The hyperfine structure (HFS) and isotope shift (IS) of the first transition of the ionization path 5d^{7}6s ^{2}^{4}F_{9/2} \to 5d^{7}6s6p ^{6}F_{11/2} at 351.5nm were measured for $^{182-189}$Ir, $^{186}Ir^{m}$ and the stable $^{191,193}$Ir. The nuclear magnetic moments μI and the spectroscopic quadrupole moments Qs were obtained from the HFS spectra and the change of the mean square charge radii from the IS measurements. The sign of μI was experimentally determined for the first time for the masses 182≤A≤189 and the isomeric state $^{186}Ir^ m$ . The spectroscopic quadrupole moments of $^{182}$Ir and $^{183}$Ir were measured also for the first time. A large mean square charge radius change between $^{187}$Ir and $^{186}Ir^g$ and between $^{186}Ir^m$ and $^{186}Ir ^g$ was observed corresponding to a sudden increase in deformation: from β2 ≃ + 0.16 for the heavier group A = 193, 191, 189, 187 and 186m to β2 ≥ + 0.2 for the lighter group A = 186g, 185, 184, 183 and 182. These results were analyzed in the framework of a microscopic treatment of an axial rotor plus one or two quasiparticle(s). This sudden deformation change is associated with a change in the proton state that describes the odd-nuclei ground state or that participates in the coupling with the neutron in the odd-odd nuclei. This state is identified with the π3/2+[402] orbital for the heavier group and with the π1/2-[541] orbital stemming from the 1h _9/2 spherical subshell for the lighter group. That last state seems to affect strongly the observed values of the nuclear moments

Charge-radius change and nuclear moments in the heavy tin isotopes from laser spectroscopy: Charge radius of 132^{132}Sn

NESTER ACCLaser spectroscopy measurements have been carried out on the neutron-rich tin isotopes with the COMPLIS experimental setup. Using the $5s^25p^2$ $^3P_0 \rightarrow 5s^25_p6s$ $^3P_1$ optical transition, hyperfine spectra of $^{126-132}$Sn and $^{125,127,129-131}Sn^m$ were recorded for the first time. The nuclear moments and the mean square charge radius variation ($\delta) were extracted. From the quadrupole moment values, these nuclei appear to be spherical. The magnetic moments measured are thus compared with those predicted by spherical basis approaches. From the measured$\delta, the absolute charge radii of these isotopes were deduced in particular that of the doubly magic $^{132}$Sn nucleus. The comparison of the results with several mean-field-type calculations have shown that dynamical effects play an important role in the tin isotopes

Recent results on neutron rich tin isotopes by laser spectroscopy

Laser spectroscopy measurements have been performed on neutron rich tin isotopes using the COMPLIS experimental setup. The nuclear charge radii of the even-even isotopes from A=108 to 132 are compared to the results of macroscopic and microscopic calculations. The improvements and optimizations needed to perform the isotope shift measurement on $^{134}$Sn are presented