28 research outputs found
Inverse-kinematics one-neutron pickup with fast rare-isotope beams
New measurements and reaction model calculations are reported for single
neutron pickup reactions onto a fast \nuc{22}{Mg} secondary beam at 84 MeV per
nucleon. Measurements were made on both carbon and beryllium targets, having
very different structures, allowing a first investigation of the likely nature
of the pickup reaction mechanism. The measurements involve thick reaction
targets and -ray spectroscopy of the projectile-like reaction residue
for final-state resolution, that permit experiments with low incident beam
rates compared to traditional low-energy transfer reactions. From measured
longitudinal momentum distributions we show that the \nuc{12}{C}
(\nuc{22}{Mg},\nuc{23}{Mg}+\gamma)X reaction largely proceeds as a direct
two-body reaction, the neutron transfer producing bound \nuc{11}{C} target
residues. The corresponding reaction on the \nuc{9}{Be} target seems to largely
leave the \nuc{8}{Be} residual nucleus unbound at excitation energies high in
the continuum. We discuss the possible use of such fast-beam one-neutron pickup
reactions to track single-particle strength in exotic nuclei, and also their
expected sensitivity to neutron high- (intruder) states which are often
direct indicators of shell evolution and the disappearance of magic numbers in
the exotic regime.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Correlated Prompt Fission Data in Transport Simulations
Detailed information on the fission process can be inferred from the
observation, modeling and theoretical understanding of prompt fission neutron
and -ray~observables. Beyond simple average quantities, the study of
distributions and correlations in prompt data, e.g., multiplicity-dependent
neutron and \gray~spectra, angular distributions of the emitted particles,
-, -, and -~correlations, can place stringent
constraints on fission models and parameters that would otherwise be free to be
tuned separately to represent individual fission observables. The FREYA~and
CGMF~codes have been developed to follow the sequential emissions of prompt
neutrons and -rays~from the initial excited fission fragments produced
right after scission. Both codes implement Monte Carlo techniques to sample
initial fission fragment configurations in mass, charge and kinetic energy and
sample probabilities of neutron and ~emission at each stage of the
decay. This approach naturally leads to using simple but powerful statistical
techniques to infer distributions and correlations among many observables and
model parameters. The comparison of model calculations with experimental data
provides a rich arena for testing various nuclear physics models such as those
related to the nuclear structure and level densities of neutron-rich nuclei,
the -ray~strength functions of dipole and quadrupole transitions, the
mechanism for dividing the excitation energy between the two nascent fragments
near scission, and the mechanisms behind the production of angular momentum in
the fragments, etc. Beyond the obvious interest from a fundamental physics
point of view, such studies are also important for addressing data needs in
various nuclear applications. (See text for full abstract.)Comment: 39 pages, 57 figure files, published in Eur. Phys. J. A, reference
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Probing elastic and inelastic breakup contributions to intermediate-energy two-proton removal reactions
The two-proton removal reaction from 28Mg projectiles has been studied at 93
MeV/u at the NSCL. First coincidence measurements of the heavy 26Ne projectile
residues, the removed protons and other light charged particles enabled the
relative cross sections from each of the three possible elastic and inelastic
proton removal mechanisms to be determined. These more final-state-exclusive
measurements are key for further interrogation of these reaction mechanisms and
use of the reaction channel for quantitative spectroscopy of very neutron-rich
nuclei. The relative and absolute yields of the three contributing mechanisms
are compared to reaction model expectations - based on the use of eikonal
dynamics and sd-shell-model structure amplitudes.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review C (Rapid Communication
Elastic breakup cross sections of well-bound nucleons
The 9Be(28Mg,27Na) one-proton removal reaction with a large proton separation
energy of Sp(28Mg)=16.79 MeV is studied at intermediate beam energy.
Coincidences of the bound 27Na residues with protons and other light charged
particles are measured. These data are analyzed to determine the percentage
contributions to the proton removal cross section from the elastic and
inelastic nucleon removal mechanisms. These deduced contributions are compared
with the eikonal reaction model predictions and with the previously measured
data for reactions involving the re- moval of more weakly-bound protons from
lighter nuclei. The role of transitions of the proton between different bound
single-particle configurations upon the elastic breakup cross section is also
quantified in this well-bound case. The measured and calculated elastic breakup
fractions are found to be in good agreement.Comment: Phys. Rev. C 2014 (accepted
Correlations in intermediate-energy two-proton removal reactions
We report final-state-exclusive measurements of the light charged fragments
in coincidence with 26Ne residual nuclei following the direct two-proton
removal from a neutron-rich 28Mg secondary beam. A Dalitz-plot analysis and
comparisons with simulations show that a majority of the triple- coincidence
events with two protons display phase-space correlations consistent with the
(two-body) kinematics of a spatially-correlated pair-removal mechanism. The
fraction of such correlated events, 56(12) %, is consistent with the fraction
of the calculated cross section, 64 %, arising from spin S = 0 two-proton
configurations in the entrance-channel (shell-model) 28Mg ground state wave
function. This result promises access to an additional and more specific probe
of the spin and spatial correlations of valence nucleon pairs in exotic nuclei
produced as fast secondary beams.Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter
Fission-fragment total kinetic energy and mass yields for neutron-induced fission of 235
The average Total Kinetic Energy (TKE) release and fission-fragment yields in neutron-induced fission of 235U and 238U was measured using a Frisch-gridded ionization chamber. These observables are important nuclear data quantites that are relevant to applications and for informing the next generation of fission models. The measurements were performed a the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and cover En = 200 keV – 30 MeV. The double-energy (2E) method was used to determine the fission-fragment yields and two methods of correcting for prompt-neutron emission were explored. The results of this study are correlated mass and TKE data
Collectivity at N=40 in neutron-rich Cr64
Be9-induced inelastic scattering of Fe62,64,66 and Cr60,62,64 was performed at intermediate beam energies. Excited states in Cr64 were measured for the first time. Energies and population patterns of excited states in these neutron-rich Fe and Cr nuclei are compared and interpreted in the framework of large-scale shell-model calculations in different model spaces. Evidence for increased collectivity and for distinct structural changes between the neighboring Fe and Cr isotopic chains near N=40 is presented
Recent Advances in Our Understanding of the Role of Meltwater in the Greenland Ice Sheet System
Nienow, Sole and Cowton’s Greenland research has been supported by a number of UK NERC research grants (NER/O/S/2003/00620; NE/F021399/1; NE/H024964/1; NE/K015249/1; NE/K014609/1) and Slater has been supported by a NERC PhD studentshipPurpose of the review: This review discusses the role that meltwater plays within the Greenland ice sheet system. The ice sheet’s hydrology is important because it affects mass balance through its impact on meltwater runoff processes and ice dynamics. The review considers recent advances in our understanding of the storage and routing of water through the supraglacial, englacial, and subglacial components of the system and their implications for the ice sheet Recent findings:  There have been dramatic increases in surface meltwater generation and runoff since the early 1990s, both due to increased air temperatures and decreasing surface albedo. Processes in the subglacial drainage system have similarities to valley glaciers and in a warming climate, the efficiency of meltwater routing to the ice sheet margin is likely to increase. The behaviour of the subglacial drainage system appears to limit the impact of increased surface melt on annual rates of ice motion, in sections of the ice sheet that terminate on land, while the large volumes of meltwater routed subglacially deliver significant volumes of sediment and nutrients to downstream ecosystems. Summary: Considerable advances have been made recently in our understanding of Greenland ice sheet hydrology and its wider influences. Nevertheless, critical gaps persist both in our understanding of hydrology-dynamics coupling, notably at tidewater glaciers, and in runoff processes which ensure that projecting Greenland’s future mass balance remains challenging.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe