25 research outputs found
The Single-Particle Structure of Neutron-Rich Nuclei of Astrophysical Interest at the Ornl Hribf
The rapid nuetron-capture process (r process) produces roughly half of the
elements heavier than iron. The path and abundances produced are uncertain,
however, because of the lack of nuclear strucure information on important
neutron-rich nuclei. We are studying nuclei on or near the r-process path via
single-nucleon transfer reactions on neutron-rich radioactive beams at ORNL's
Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF). Owing to the difficulties in
studying these reactions in inverse kinematics, a variety of experimental
approaches are being developed. We present the experimental methods and initial
results.Comment: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Fission and
Properties of Neutron-Rich Nucle
Reactions of a Be-10 beam on proton and deuteron targets
The extraction of detailed nuclear structure information from transfer
reactions requires reliable, well-normalized data as well as optical potentials
and a theoretical framework demonstrated to work well in the relevant mass and
beam energy ranges. It is rare that the theoretical ingredients can be tested
well for exotic nuclei owing to the paucity of data. The halo nucleus Be-11 has
been examined through the 10Be(d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics at
equivalent deuteron energies of 12,15,18, and 21.4 MeV. Elastic scattering of
Be-10 on protons was used to select optical potentials for the analysis of the
transfer data. Additionally, data from the elastic and inelastic scattering of
Be-10 on deuterons was used to fit optical potentials at the four measured
energies. Transfers to the two bound states and the first resonance in Be-11
were analyzed using the Finite Range ADiabatic Wave Approximation (FR-ADWA).
Consistent values of the spectroscopic factor of both the ground and first
excited states were extracted from the four measurements, with average values
of 0.71(5) and 0.62(4) respectively. The calculations for transfer to the first
resonance were found to be sensitive to the size of the energy bin used and
therefore could not be used to extract a spectroscopic factor.Comment: 16 Pages, 10 figure
Direct reaction measurements with a 132Sn radioactive ion beam
The (d,p) neutron transfer and (d,d) elastic scattering reactions were
measured in inverse kinematics using a radioactive ion beam of 132Sn at 630
MeV. The elastic scattering data were taken in a region where Rutherford
scattering dominated the reaction, and nuclear effects account for less than 8%
of the cross section. The magnitude of the nuclear effects was found to be
independent of the optical potential used, allowing the transfer data to be
normalized in a reliable manner. The neutron-transfer reaction populated a
previously unmeasured state at 1363 keV, which is most likely the
single-particle 3p1/2 state expected above the N=82 shell closure. The data
were analyzed using finite range adiabatic wave calculations and the results
compared with the previous analysis using the distorted wave Born
approximation. Angular distributions for the ground and first excited states
are consistent with the previous tentative spin and parity assignments.
Spectroscopic factors extracted from the differential cross sections are
similar to those found for the one neutron states beyond the benchmark
doubly-magic nucleus 208Pb.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure
19Ne levels studied with the 18F(d,n)19Ne\u3csup\u3e*\u3c/sup\u3e(18F+p) reaction
A good understanding of the level structure of 19Ne around the proton threshold is critical to estimating the destruction of long-lived 18F in novae. Here we report the properties of levels in 19Ne in the excitation energy range of 6.9 ≤ Ex ≤ 8.4 MeV studied via the proton-transfer 18F(d,n)Ne* reaction at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. The populated 19Ne levels decay by breakup into p+18F and α+15O particles. The results presented in this manuscript are those of levels that are simultaneously observed from the breakup into both channels. An s-wave state is observed at 1468 keV above the proton threshold, which is a potential candidate for a predicted broad Jπ = 1/2+ state. The proton and α partial widths are deduced to be Γp = 228 ± 50 keV and Γα = 130 ± 30 keV for this state. © 2012 American Physical Society
The magic nature of 132Sn explored through the single-particle states of 133Sn
Atomic nuclei have a shell structure where nuclei with 'magic numbers' of
neutrons and protons are analogous to the noble gases in atomic physics. Only
ten nuclei with the standard magic numbers of both neutrons and protons have so
far been observed. The nuclear shell model is founded on the precept that
neutrons and protons can move as independent particles in orbitals with
discrete quantum numbers, subject to a mean field generated by all the other
nucleons. Knowledge of the properties of single-particle states outside nuclear
shell closures in exotic nuclei is important for a fundamental understanding of
nuclear structure and nucleosynthesis (for example the r-process, which is
responsible for the production of about half of the heavy elements). However,
as a result of their short lifetimes, there is a paucity of knowledge about the
nature of single-particle states outside exotic doubly magic nuclei. Here we
measure the single-particle character of the levels in 133Sn that lie outside
the double shell closure present at the short-lived nucleus 132Sn. We use an
inverse kinematics technique that involves the transfer of a single nucleon to
the nucleus. The purity of the measured single-particle states clearly
illustrates the magic nature of 132Sn.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures and 4 table
First proton-transfer study of 18F+p resonances relevant for novae
The 18F(p,α)15O reaction is the predominant destruction mechanism in novae of the radionuclide F18, a target of γ-ray observatories. Thus, its rate is important for understanding F18 production in novae. We have studied resonances in the 18F+p system by making a measurement of a proton-transfer reaction 18F(d,n). We have observed 15 Ne19 levels, 5 of which are below the proton threshold, including a subthreshold state, which has significant l p=0 strength. Our data provide a direct determination of the spectroscopic strength of these states and new constraints on their spins and parities, thereby resolving a controversy, which involves the 8- and 38-keV resonances. The 18F(p,α)15O reaction rate is reevaluated, which takes the subthreshold resonance and other new information determined in this experiment into account. © 2011 American Physical Society
Single-nucleon transfer reactions on \u3csup\u3e18\u3c/sup\u3eF
Simultaneous measurement of the proton-transfer 18F(d,n) 19Ne and neutron-transfer 18F(d,p)19F reactions were performed with a 18F radioactive beam at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The experiments clarify the nuclear structure of 19Ne near the proton threshold, which is relevant for understanding the rates of proton-induced reactions on 18F in novae. Analogs for several states in the mirror nucleus 19F have not yet been identified in 19Ne, indicating that the level structure of 19Ne in this region is incomplete. We observed 15 levels in 19Ne from the 18F(d,n) 19Ne measurement and 18 levels in 19F from the 18F(d,p)19F measurement. Angular distributions were extracted for all strongly populated states and compared to distorted-wave Born approximation calculations. The angular distributions for all the known states in the two nuclei determined in this work are consistent with their previously assigned spins and parities. The spectroscopic factors determined for these levels in the two nuclei are reported. © 2011 American Physical Society
New Constraints on the 18F(p,alpha) 15O Rate in Novae from the (d,p) Reaction
The degree to which the (p,gamma) and (p,alpha) reactions destroy 18F at
temperatures 1-4x10^8 K is important for understanding the synthesis of nuclei
in nova explosions and for using the long-lived radionuclide 18F, a target of
gamma-ray astronomy, as a diagnostic of nova mechanisms. The reactions are
dominated by low-lying proton resonances near the 18F+p threshold (E_x=6.411
MeV in 19Ne). To gain further information about these resonances, we have used
a radioactive 18F beam from the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility to
selectively populate corresponding mirror states in 19F via the inverse
d(18F,p)19F neutron transfer reaction. Neutron spectroscopic factors were
measured for states in 19F in the excitation energy range 0-9 MeV. Widths for
corresponding proton resonances in 19Ne were calculated using a Woods-Saxon
potential. The results imply significantly lower 18F(p,gamma)19Ne and
18F(p,alpha)15O reaction rates than reported previously, thereby increasing the
prospect of observing the 511-keV annihilation radiation associated with the
decay of 18F in the ashes ejected from novae.Comment: Error involving sum rule was corrected. Proton widths were
recalculated using a Woods-Saxon potential. Both low-lying resonances (8- and
38-keV) are now included in the rate band. 12 pages, 4 figures, 1 table.
Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Decays of the Three Top Contributors to the Reactor ν - e High-Energy Spectrum, Rb 92, y 96gs, and Cs 142, Studied with Total Absorption Spectroscopy
We report total absorption spectroscopy measurements of Rb92, Y96gs, and Cs142 β decays, which are the most important contributors to the high energy ν-e spectral shape in nuclear reactors. These three β decays contribute 43% of the ν-e flux near 5.5 MeV emitted by nuclear reactors. This ν-e energy is particularly interesting due to spectral features recently observed in several experiments including the Daya Bay, Double Chooz, and RENO Collaborations. Measurements were conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by means of proton-induced fission of U238 with on-line mass separation of fission fragments and the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer. We observe a β-decay pattern that is similar to recent measurements of Rb92, with a ground-state to ground-state β feeding of 91(3)%. We verify the Y96gs ground-state to ground-state β feeding of 95.5(20)%. Our measurements substantially modify the β-decay feedings of Cs142, reducing the β feeding to Ba142 states below 2 MeV by 32% when compared with the latest evaluations. Our results increase the discrepancy between the observed and the expected reactor ν-e flux between 5 and 7 MeV, the maximum excess increases from ∼10% to ∼12%