Change of nuclear configurations in the neutrinoless double-β\beta decay of 130^{130}Te →\rightarrow 130^{130}Xe and 136^{136}Xe →\rightarrow 136^{136}Ba

The change in the configuration of valence protons between the initial and final states in the neutrinoless double-$\beta$ decay of $^{130}$Te $\rightarrow$ $^{130}$Xe and of $^{136}$Xe $\rightarrow$ $^{136}$Ba has been determined by measuring the cross sections of the ($d$,$^3$He) reaction with 101-MeV deuterons. Together with our recent determination of the relevant neutron configurations involved in the process, a quantitative comparison with the latest shell-model and interacting-boson-model calculations reveals significant discrepancies. These are the same calculations used to determine the nuclear matrix elements governing the rate of neutrinoless double-$\beta$ decay in these systems.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 9 table

Neutron occupancies and single-particle energies across the stable tin isotopes

The occupancies and vacancies of the valence neutron orbitals across the stable tin isotopic chain from $112\leq A\leq 124$ have been determined. These were inferred from the cross sections of neutron-adding and -removing reactions. In each case, the reactions were chosen to have good angular-momentum matching for transfer to the low- and high-$\ell$ orbitals present in this valence space. These new data are compared to older systematic studies. The effective single-neutron energies are determined by combining information from energy centroids determined from the adding and removing reactions. Two of the five orbitals are nearly degenerate, below $N=64$, and approximately two MeV more bound than the other three, which are also degenerate.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Interstellar and interplanetary solids in the laboratory

International audienceThe composition of the interstellar matter is driven by environmental parameters (e.g. elemental abundance, density, reactant nature, radiations, temperature, time scales) and results also from external interstellar medium physico-chemical conditions. Astrochemists must rely on remote observations to monitor and analyze the com­position of interstellar solids. These observations give essentially access to the molecular functionality of the solids, rarely elemental composition constraints and isotopic fractionation only in the gas phase. Astrochemists bring additional information from the study of analogues produced in the laboratory, placed in simulated space environments. Planetologists and cosmochemists can have access and spectroscopically examine collected extra-terrestrial material directly in the laboratory. Observations of the diffuse interstellar medium (DISM) and molecular clouds (MC) set constraints on the composition of organic solids and large molecules, that! can then be compared with collected extraterrestrial materials analyses, to shed light on their possible links

Interstellar and interplanetary solids in the laboratory

International audienceThe composition of the interstellar matter is driven by environmental parameters (e.g. elemental abundance, density, reactant nature, radiations, temperature, time scales) and results also from external interstellar medium physico-chemical conditions. Astrochemists must rely on remote observations to monitor and analyze the com­position of interstellar solids. These observations give essentially access to the molecular functionality of the solids, rarely elemental composition constraints and isotopic fractionation only in the gas phase. Astrochemists bring additional information from the study of analogues produced in the laboratory, placed in simulated space environments. Planetologists and cosmochemists can have access and spectroscopically examine collected extra-terrestrial material directly in the laboratory. Observations of the diffuse interstellar medium (DISM) and molecular clouds (MC) set constraints on the composition of organic solids and large molecules, that! can then be compared with collected extraterrestrial materials analyses, to shed light on their possible links

UltraCarbonaceous Antarctic micrometeorites, probing the Solar System beyond the nitrogen snow-line

We investigate UltraCarbonaceous Antarctic micrometeorites composition. * They reveal a new N-rich organic matter from the Solar System. * This exceptional organic matter is formed in the Oort cloud. * Cosmic ray irradiation form this carbon nitride organic material. * A nitrogen rich snow line must exists in our Solar System

Interstellar and interplanetary solids in the laboratory

International audienceThe composition of the interstellar matter is driven by environmental parameters (e.g. elemental abundance, density, reactant nature, radiations, temperature, time scales) and results also from external interstellar medium physico-chemical conditions. Astrochemists must rely on remote observations to monitor and analyze the com­position of interstellar solids. These observations give essentially access to the molecular functionality of the solids, rarely elemental composition constraints and isotopic fractionation only in the gas phase. Astrochemists bring additional information from the study of analogues produced in the laboratory, placed in simulated space environments. Planetologists and cosmochemists can have access and spectroscopically examine collected extra-terrestrial material directly in the laboratory. Observations of the diffuse interstellar medium (DISM) and molecular clouds (MC) set constraints on the composition of organic solids and large molecules, that! can then be compared with collected extraterrestrial materials analyses, to shed light on their possible links

Rearrangement of valence neutrons in the neutrinoless double-\beta decay of 136Xe

A quantitative description of the change in ground-state neutron occupancies between $^{136}$Xe and $^{136}$Ba, the initial and final state in the neutrinoless double-$\beta$ decay of $^{136}$Xe, has been extracted from precision measurements of the cross sections of single-neutron adding and -removing reactions. Comparisons are made to recent theoretical calculations of the same properties using various nuclear-structure models. These are the same calculations used to determine the magnitude of the nuclear matrix elements for the process, which at present disagree with each other by factors of 2 or 3. The experimental neutron occupancies show some disagreement with the theoretical calculations.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

First Exploration of Neutron Shell Structure below Lead and beyond N=126

The nuclei below lead but with more than 126 neutrons are crucial to an understanding of the astrophysical r process in producing nuclei heavier than A∼190. Despite their importance, the structure and properties of these nuclei remain experimentally untested as they are difficult to produce in nuclear reactions with stable beams. In a first exploration of the shell structure of this region, neutron excitations in 207Hg have been probed using the neutron-adding (d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics. The radioactive beam of 206Hg was delivered to the new ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer at an energy above the Coulomb barrier. The spectroscopy of 207Hg marks a first step in improving our understanding of the relevant structural properties of nuclei involved in a key part of the path of the r process.peerReviewe