25 research outputs found
ICP-SFMS search for long-lived naturally-occurring heavy, superheavy and superactinide nuclei compared to AMS experiments
Negative results obtained in AMS searches by Dellinger et al. on mostly
unrefined ores have led them to conclude that the very heavy long-lived species
found in chemically processed samples with ICP-SFMS by Marinov et al. are
artifacts. We argue that it may not be surprising that results obtained from
small random samplings of inhomogeneous natural minerals would contrast with
concentrations found in homogeneous materials extracted from large quantities
of ore. We also point out that it is possible that the groups of counts at
masses 296 and 294 seen by Dellinger et al. could be, within experimental
uncertainties, due to Rg and eka-Bi in long-lived isomeric
states. In such case, the experiments of Dellinger et al. lend support to the
experiments of Marinov et al.Comment: 2 pages. Accepted for publication in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
EXTINCT 93Zr IN SINGLE PRESOLAR SiC GRAINS FROM LOW MASS ASYMPTOTIC GIANT BRANCH STARS AND CONDENSATION FROM Zr-DEPLETED GAS
Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence was used in this study for the first time to measure trace element abundances in single presolar grains. The abundances of Zr and Nb were determined in SiC grains of the KJF size-separate. These grains are most likely from C-rich asymptotic giant branch stars (mainstream grains). Comparison of the data with s-process calculations suggests that the relatively short-lived isotope 93Zr (t 1/2 = 1.5 × 106 yr) condensed into the grains. The Nb/Zr ratios of the majority of the grains are higher than the s-process and CI chondrite ratios. This is probably due to grains condensing from stellar gas that was depleted in Zr, potentially because of earlier condensation of ZrC, but not depleted in Nb. However, grain contamination with solar system Nb is possible as well. Upper limits on the initial 93Zr/Zr ratios in the grains agree with the ratios observed in late-type S stars
Evidence for a long-lived superheavy nucleus with atomic mass number A=292 and atomic number Z=~122 in natural Th
Evidence for the existence of a superheavy nucleus with atomic mass number
A=292 and abundance (1-10)x10^(-12) relative to 232Th has been found in a study
of natural Th using inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry.
The measured mass matches the predictions [1,2] for the mass of an isotope with
atomic number Z=122 or a nearby element. Its estimated half-life of t1/2 >=
10^8 y suggests that a long-lived isomeric state exists in this isotope. The
possibility that it might belong to a new class of long-lived high spin super-
and hyperdeformed isomeric states is discussed.[3-6]Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure
Existence of long-lived isotopes of a superheavy element in natural Au
Evidence for the existence of long-lived isotopes with atomic mass numbers
261 and 265 and abundance of (1-10)x10 relative to Au has been found in
a study of natural Au using an inductively coupled plasma - sector field mass
spectrometer. The measured masses fit the predictions made for the masses of
Rg and Rg (Z=111) and for some isotopes of nearby elements.
The possibility that these isotopes belong to the recently discovered class
of long-lived high spin super- and hyperdeformed isomeric states is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 2 table
Stellar ArAr reactions and their effect on light neutron-rich nuclide synthesis
The ArAr ( = 35 d) and
ArAr (269 y) reactions were studied for the first time
with a quasi-Maxwellian ( keV) neutron flux for Maxwellian Average
Cross Section (MACS) measurements at stellar energies. Gas samples were
irradiated at the high-intensity Soreq applied research accelerator
facility-liquid-lithium target neutron source and the Ar/Ar and
Ar/Ar ratios in the activated samples were determined by
accelerator mass spectrometry at the ATLAS facility (Argonne National
Laboratory). The Ar activity was also measured by low-level counting at
the University of Bern. Experimental MACS of Ar and Ar, corrected
to the standard 30 keV thermal energy, are 1.9(3) mb and 1.3(2) mb,
respectively, differing from the theoretical and evaluated values published to
date by up to an order of magnitude. The neutron capture cross sections of
Ar are relevant to the stellar nucleosynthesis of light neutron-rich
nuclides; the two experimental values are shown to affect the calculated mass
fraction of nuclides in the region A=36-48 during the weak -process. The new
production cross sections have implications also for the use of Ar and
Ar as environmental tracers in the atmosphere and hydrosphere.Comment: 18 pages + Supp. Mat. (13 pages) Accepted for publication in Phys.
Rev. Let
The temperature and chronology of heavy-element synthesis in low-mass stars
Roughly half of the heavy elements (atomic mass greater than that of iron)
are believed to be synthesized in the late evolutionary stages of stars with
masses between 0.8 and 8 solar masses. Deep inside the star, nuclei (mainly
iron) capture neutrons and progressively build up (through the
slow-neutron-capture process, or s-process) heavier elements that are
subsequently brought to the stellar surface by convection. Two neutron sources,
activated at distinct temperatures, have been proposed: 13C and 22Ne, each
releasing one neutron per alpha-particle (4He) captured. To explain the
measured stellar abundances, stellar evolution models invoking the 13C neutron
source (which operates at temperatures of about one hundred million kelvin) are
favoured. Isotopic ratios in primitive meteorites, however, reflecting
nucleosynthesis in the previous generations of stars that contributed material
to the Solar System, point to higher temperatures (more than three hundred
million kelvin), requiring at least a late activation of 22Ne. Here we report a
determination of the s-process temperature directly in evolved low-mass giant
stars, using zirconium and niobium abundances, independently of stellar
evolution models. The derived temperature supports 13C as the s-process neutron
source. The radioactive pair 93Zr-93Nb used to estimate the s-process
temperature also provides, together with the pair 99Tc-99Ru, chronometric
information on the time elapsed since the start of the s-process, which we
determine to be one million to three million years.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figure
The 40Ca(alpha,gamma)44Ti reaction in the energy regime of supernova nucleosynthesis
The 44Ti(t1/2 = 59 y) nuclide, an important signature of supernova
nucleosynthesis, has recently been observed as live radioactivity by gamma-ray
astronomy from the Cas A remnant. We investigate in the laboratory the major
44Ti production reaction, 40Ca(alpha,gamma)44Ti (E_cm = 0.6-1.2 MeV/u), by
direct off- line counting of 44Ti nuclei. The yield, significantly higher than
inferred from previous experiments, is analyzed in terms of a statistical model
using microscopic nuclear inputs. The associated stellar rate has important
astrophysical consequences, increasing the calculated supernova 44Ti yield by a
factor ~2 over previous estimates and bringing it closer to Cas A observations.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev. lett., 4 pages, 1 table, 2 figure
A shorter \u3csup\u3e146\u3c/sup\u3eSm half-life measured and implications for \u3csup\u3e146\u3c/sup\u3eSm-\u3csup\u3e142\u3c/sup\u3eNd chronology in the solar system
The extinct p-process nuclide 146Sm serves as an astrophysical and geochemical chronometer through measurements of isotopic anomalies of its α-decay daughter 142Nd. Based on analyses of 146Sm/147Sm α-activity and atom ratios, we determined the half-life of 146Sm to be 68 ± 7 (1σ) million years, which is shorter than the currently used value of 103 ± 5 million years. This half-life value implies a higher initial 146Sm abundance in the early solar system, (146Sm/144Sm)0 = 0.0094 ± 0.0005 (2σ), than previously estimated. Terrestrial, lunar, and martian planetary silicate mantle differentiation events dated with 146Sm-142Nd converge to a shorter time span and in general to earlier times, due to the combined effect of the new 146Sm half-life and (146Sm/144Sm)0 values
Evidence for a long-lived superheavy nucleus with atomic mass number A=292 and atomic number Z=122 in natural Th
14 pages, 5 figuresInternational audienceEvidence for the existence of a superheavy nucleus with atomic mass number A=292 and abundance (1-10)x10^(-12) relative to ^{232}Th has been found in a study of natural Th using inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry. The measured mass matches the predictions [1,2] for the mass of an isotope with atomic number Z=122 or a nearby element. Its estimated half-life of t1/2 >= 10^8 y suggests that a long-lived isomeric state exists in this isotope. The possibility that it might belong to a new class of long-lived high spin super- and hyperdeformed isomeric states is discussed.[3-6
Existence of long-lived isomeric states in naturally-occurring neutron-deficient Th isotopes
13 pages including 6 figures and 1 tableEvidence for the existence of long-lived neutron-deficient isotopes has been found in a study of naturally-occurring Th using iductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry. They are interpreted as belonging to the recently discovered class of long-lived high spin super- and hyperdeformed isomers