Single-neutron states in Sn101

The first data on the relative single-particle energies outside the doubly magic Sn100 nucleus were obtained. A prompt 171.7(6)keV γ-ray transition was correlated with protons emitted following the β decay of Sn101 and is interpreted as the transition between the single-neutron g7/2 and d5/2 orbitals in Sn101. This observation provides a stringent test of current nuclear structure models. The measured νg7/2-νd5/2 energy splitting is compared with values calculated using mean-field nuclear potentials and is used to calculate low-energy excited states in light Sn isotopes in the framework of the shell model. The correlation technique used in this work offers possibilities for future, more extensive spectroscopy near Sn100

New results near 100Sn: Observation of single-neutron states in 101Sn

A search for in-beam γ-ray transitions in 101Sn, which contains only one neutron outside the 100Sn core, using a novel approach was carried out at the Argonne Tandem-Linac System. 101Sn nuclei were produced using the 46Ti(58Ni, 3n) 101Sn fusion-evaporation reaction. Beta-delayed protons with energies and decay times consistent with previous 101Sn decay studies were observed at the focal plane of the Fragment Mass Analyzer. In-beam γ rays were detected in the Gammasphere Ge-detector array and were correlated with the 101Sn β-delayed protons using the Recoil-Decay Tagging method. As a result, a γ-ray transition between the single-neutron vg7/2 and vd5/2 states situated at the Fermi surface was identified. The measured vg7/2-vd5/2 energy splitting was compared with predictions corresponding to various mean-field potentials and was used to calculate multi-neutron configurations in light Sn isotopes. Similar approach can be used to study core excitations in 101Sn and other exotic nuclei near 100Sn

Rotational bands in odd-A Cm and Cf isotopes: Exploring the highest neutron orbitals

Rotational bands have been identified up to high spins (≈28-h) in the odd-A nuclei 247,249Cm and 249Cf through inelastic excitation and transfer reactions around the Z = 100 region where stability results from shell effects. The [620]1/2 Nilsson configuration in 249Cm is the highest-lying neutron orbital, from above the N = 164 spherical subshell gap, for which high-spin rotational behavior has been established. The data allow for an unambiguous experimental assignment of configurations to the observed bands, unusual for odd-A nuclei near Z = 100. The high-spin properties are described in terms of Woods-Saxon cranking calculations

γ-ray spectroscopy of the odd-odd N=Z+2 deformed proton emitter 112Cs

Gamma-ray transitions have been observed in the proton-emitting N=Z+2 (Tz=1) isotope 112Cs. The transitions have been unambiguously assigned to 112Cs by correlation with the characteristic proton decay, using the method of recoil-decay tagging with mass selection. The measured proton-decay energy and half-life are Ep=810(5) keV and T1/2=470(50) μs, respectively, which are consistent with previous measurements. Five γ-ray transitions have been observed which appear to form a rotational sequence. The energy differences between excited states in the sequence are consistent with an assignment as the favored signature of the ν(h 11/2) π(h11/2) structure. Tentative evidence for fine structure in the 112Cs proton decay is also observed

High-resolution spectroscopy of decay pathways in the 12C(12C,γ) reaction

The decay branchings of a resonance in the 12C(12C,γ)24Mg reaction at Ec.m. = 8.0 MeV have been studied with high resolution using the Gammasphere array. Radiative capture residues were discriminated from scattered beam and the dominant evaporation channels using the fragment mass analyzer coupled to a multistage Parallel Grid Avalanche Counter (PGAC)/ion chamber system. The clean selection of residues has allowed the population of excited states up to 10 MeV in 24Mg to be examined in detail. Strong feeding of an excited Kπ=0- band is observed. A Jπ = 4+ assignment to the resonance is strongly favored

Single-particle and collective structures in Cr55 and V55

Excited states in V55 and Cr55 have been populated via pn and 2n evaporation channels, respectively, following the fusion of a Ca48 beam at 172 MeV with a Be9 target. Level schemes have been deduced for the two nuclides to excitation energies of 7467 (V55) and 12226 keV (Cr55), with spins of 27/2 + and 33/2+, respectively. Negative-parity states are compared with shell-model calculations using three different effective interactions in the full fp model space. Negative-parity levels of Cr55 are explained in terms of single-particle fp-shell configurations outside N=28 and N=32 cores. Positive-parity states in both isotopes show evidence for the involvement of neutron g9/2 configurations. In the case of Cr55, a quasirotational structure based on the 1/2+[440] Nilsson orbital is observed up to the terminating state. In V55, positive-parity states do not exhibit well-developed collective features, and the observation of octupole decays is an indication of their importance in transitions from neutron g 9/2 configurations to the fp shell. Experimental results are compared with the predictions of a traditional shell model, the projected shell model, and total-Routhian-surface calculations

First identification of excited states in Ba 117 using the recoil- β -delayed proton tagging technique

Excited states have been observed for the first time in the neutron-deficient nucleus Ba117 using the recoil-decay tagging technique following the heavy-ion fusion-evaporation reaction Zn64(Ni58, 2p3n)Ba117. Prompt γ rays have been assigned to Ba117 through correlations with β-delayed protons following the decay of A=117 recoils. Through the analysis of the γ-γ coincidence relationships, a high-spin level scheme consisting of two bands has been established in Ba117. Based on the systematics of the level spacings in the neighboring barium isotopes, the two bands are proposed to have νh11/2[532]5/2- and νd5/2[413]5/2+ configurations, respectively. The observed band-crossing properties are interpreted in the framework of cranked shell model

Spectroscopy of Rf257

The isotope Rf257 was produced in the fusion-evaporation reaction Pb208(Ti50,n)Rf257. Reaction products were separated and identified by mass. Delayed spectroscopy of Rf257 and its decay products was performed. A partial decay scheme with configuration assignments is proposed based on α hindrance factors. The excitation energy of the 1/2+[620] configuration in No253 is proposed. The energy of this 1/2+ state in a series of N=151 isotones increases with nuclear charge, reflecting an increase in the N=152 gap. This gap is deduced to grow substantially from 850 to 1400 keV between Z=94 and 102. An isomeric state in Rf257, with a half-life of 160-31+42μs, was discovered by detecting internal conversion electrons followed by α decay. It is interpreted as a three-quasiparticle high-K isomer. A second group of internal conversion electrons, with a half-life of 4.1-1.3+2.4 s, followed by α decay, was also observed. These events might originate from the decay of excited states in Lr257, populated by electron-capture decay of Rf257. Fission of Rf257 was unambiguously detected, with a branching ratio of bRfSF=0.02±0.01

Kπ=8- isomers and Kπ=2- octupole vibrations in N=150 shell-stabilized isotones

Isomers have been populated in Cm246 and No252 with quantum numbers Kπ=8-, which decay through Kπ=2- rotational bands built on octupole vibrational states. For N=150 isotones with (even) atomic number Z=94-102, the Kπ=8- and 2- states have remarkably stable energies, indicating neutron excitations. An exception is a singular minimum in the 2- energy at Z=98, due to the additional role of proton configurations. The nearly constant energies, in isotones spanning an 18% increase in Coulomb energy near the Coulomb limit, provide a test for theory. The two-quasiparticle Kπ=8- energies are described with single-particle energies given by the Woods-Saxon potential and the Kπ=2- vibrational energies by quasiparticle random-phase approximation calculations. Ramifications for self-consistent mean-field theory are discussed

Search for a 2-quasiparticle high-K isomer in Rf256

The energies of 2-quasiparticle (2-qp) states in heavy shell-stabilized nuclei provide information on the single-particle states that are responsible for the stability of superheavy nuclei. We have calculated the energies of 2-qp states in Rf256, which suggest that a long-lived, low-energy 8- isomer should exist. A search was conducted for this isomer through a calorimetric conversion electron signal, sandwiched in time between implantation of a Rf256 nucleus and its fission decay, all within the same pixel of a double-sided Si strip detector. A 17(5)-μs isomer was identified. However, its low population, ~5(2)% that of the ground state instead of the expected ~30%, suggests that it is more likely a 4-qp isomer. Possible reasons for the absence of an electromagnetic signature of a 2-qp isomer decay are discussed. These include the favored possibility that the isomer decays by fission, with a half-life indistinguishably close to that of the ground state. Another possibility, that there is no 2-qp isomer at all, would imply an abrupt termination of axially symmetric deformed shapes at Z=104, which describes nuclei with Z=92-103 very well