Recent results on heavy-ion direct reactions of interest for 0νββ decay at INFN - LNS

Neutrinoless double beta decay of nuclei, if observed, would have important implications on fundamental physics. In particular it would give access to the effective neutrino mass. In order to extract such information from 0νββ decay half-life measurements, the knowledge of the Nuclear Matrix Elements (NME) is of utmost importance. In this context the NUMEN and the NURE projects aim to extract information on the NME by measuring cross sections of Double Charge Exchange reactions in selected systems which are expected to spontaneously decay via 0νββ. In this work an overview of the experimental challenges that NUMEN is facing in order to perform the experiments with accelerated beams and the research and development activity for the planned upgrade of the INFN-LNS facilities is reported.Consejo Europeo de Investigación (ERC), Fondo Europeo Programa de investigación e innovación Horizonte 2020 de la Unión n.º 714625)

Spectroscopy of high-lying resonances in 9 Be by the measurement of ( p , p ), ( p , d ), and ( p , α ) reactions with a radioactive 8 Li beam

We measured the 8 Li ( p , p ) 8 Li , 8 Li ( p , d ) 7 Li , and 8 Li ( p , α ) 5 He reactions at low energies using the thick target inverse kinematics method, with a polyethylene [ CH 2 ] n target and a radioactive 8 Li beam available at the Radioactive Ion Beams in Brazil facility of São Paulo. By measuring simultaneously several reaction channels ( p , p ) , ( p , d ) , and ( p , α ) , the still uncertain high-lying resonances of 9 Be , close to the proton threshold, can be studied and their parameters, such as energy, width, and spin parity can be more reliably determined. The experimental excitation functions of the reactions 8 Li ( p , p ) 8 Li , 8 Li ( p , d ) 7 Li , and 8 Li ( p , α ) 5 He were analyzed using the R -matrix theory, which allows us to infer the properties of the resonances. Multichannel R -matrix analysis provides evidence for a significant clustering in the ( p , d ) channel. The experimental data and the multichannel R -matrix analysis will be presented.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo. Brasil. (FAPESP) 2011/15904-7, 2013/22100-7 y 2016/21434-7VI Plan Propio de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla. España. (2017–2018

Futsal match-related fatigue affects running performance and neuromuscular parameters but not finishing kick speed or accuracy

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of futsal match-related fatigue on running performance, neuromuscular variables, and finishing kick speed and accuracy. Methods: Ten professional futsal players participated in the study (age: 22.2±2.5 years;) and initially performed an incremental protocol to determine maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max : 50.6±4.9 mL.kg-1.min-1). Next, simulated games were performed, in four periods of 10 min during which heart rate and blood lactate concentration were monitored. The entire games were video recorded for subsequent automatic tracking. Before and immediately after the simulated game, neuromuscular function was measured by maximal isometric force of knee extension, voluntary activation using twitch interpolation technique, and electromyographic activity. Before, at half time, and immediately after the simulated game, the athletes also performed a set of finishing kicks for ball speed and accuracy measurements. Results: Total distance covered (1st half: 1986.6±74.4 m; 2nd half: 1856.0±129.7 m – P=0.00) and distance covered per minute (1st half: 103.2±4.4 m.min-1; 2nd half: 96.4±7.5 m.min-1 – P=0.00) demonstrated significant declines during the simulated game, as well as maximal isometric force of knee extension (Before: 840.2±66.2 N; After: 751.6±114.3 N – P=0.04) and voluntary activation (Before: 85.9±7.5%; After: 74.1±12.3% – P=0.04), however ball speed and accuracy during the finishing kicks were not significantly affected.Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that despite the decline in running performance and neuromuscular variables presenting an important manifestation of central fatigue, this condition apparently does not affect the speed and accuracy of finishing kicks

Abundância de enquitreídeos estimada por diferentes métodos de coleta e extração num fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista no Paraná.

Enquitreídeos (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta) são organismos da mesofauna edáfica encontrados no mundo inteiro, mas ainda pouco estudados no Brasil. A abundância desses organismos determinada por diferentes métodos de coleta e extração, bem como as vantagens e desvantagens de cada método são apresentadas neste trabalho. Os métodos de amostragem com formol e por escavação de monólitos seguidos de triagem manual foram comparados aos métodos de coleta com trado desmontável seguido de extração úmida fria por três dias e extração úmida quente por três horas, que são recomendados para amostragens quantitativas de enquitreídeos. As coletas foram realizadas em 8-9 pontos num fragmento de floresta ombrófila mista em Colombo, PR, em 1-3 ocasiões entre setembro 2011 e abril 2012. O número médio de indivíduos encontrados por metro quadrado (ind./ m2) através de cada método foi de aproximadamente 5, 90, 2.000-12.000 e 5.000-12.000 respectivamente. Os métodos de coleta e extração originalmente usados para as minhocas, formol e monólitos subestimaram grandemente a abundância de enquitreídeos, pois na triagem manual, as espécies de tamanho menor são ignoradas. Como esperado, a coleta com trado desmontável seguida de extração úmida é a mais adequada para estudos quantitativos de enquitreídeos, porém, a extração quente, além de ser mais rápida, causa menos dano aos espécimes coletados facilitando o processo de identificação taxonômica que deve ser feito in vivo. O número máximo obtido nesse estudo foi de aproximadamente 44.000 ind./ m2, um dos maiores valores relatados até hoje no Brasil.Resumo expandido

Understanding the mechanisms of nuclear collisions: A complete study of the B 10 + Sn 120 reaction

Background: Reactions involving exotic and stable weakly bound nuclei have been extensively studied in recent years. Although several models have been successfully used to explain particular reaction outcomes, the answers to many questions remain elusive. In previous works, we presented elastic, inelastic, and transfer angular distributions for the B10+Sn120 system measured at ELab=31.5, 33.0, 35.0, and 37.5 MeV. The data set was analyzed through coupled reaction channels calculations in the context of the double-folding São Paulo potential. Purpose: We investigate nuclear reaction mechanisms for systems involving weakly bound projectiles. Method: Angular distributions for several nuclear reaction processes were measured for the B10+Sn120 system at ELab=39.70 MeV. Results: The new data set involves angular distributions for elastic scattering, projectile and target inelastic excitations, one-neutron pickup transfer, one-proton stripping transfer, deuteron pickup transfer, and He3,4 stripping transfer. We have also observed Be10 nuclei. The effect of the couplings to some nonelastic states on the angular distributions is discussed. Conclusion: The theoretical calculations within the coupled reaction channels formalism provide an overall good agreement with the corresponding inelastic, one-neutron stripping, one-proton pickup, one-deuteron pickup, and He3 stripping transfer data. However, to improve the description of the elastic scattering angular distribution, the inclusion of additional channels in the coupling scheme might be necessary.Fil: Gasques, L. R.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Alvarez, M. A. G.. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Arazi, Andres. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Investigación y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia Física (Centro Atómico Constituyentes). Proyecto Tandar; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Carlson, B. V.. Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica; BrasilFil: Chamon, L. C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Fernández García, J. P.. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Lépine Szily, A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lubian, J.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Rangel, J.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Rodríguez Gallardo, M.. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Scarduelli, V.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Zagatto, V. A. B.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; Brasi

A comparison of two anaerobic test measurement systems using an upper body Wingate test

This study aimed to compare performance measures acquired by two different Wingate Anaerobic Test systems; Cranlea and Monark. Twenty participants undertook 58 Wingate tests against a 4% body mass resistive load on a cycle ergometer adapted for arm cranking. Corrected peak power output (PP; W) was recorded using 1 rev min–1, 0.5, 1 and 5 s averages and mean power output (MP; W). The Cranlea system recorded the greatest PP (589 ± 267 W) compared with the Monark (546 ± 267 W; P < 0.001). The PP using all other methods was also greater for the Cranlea compared with the Monark system (P < 0.001) with mean differences of 55 ± 18 W for 1 s averages and 22 ± 18 W for MP. Correlations between all PPs were strong (r = 0.99 – 0.97; P < 0.001). In conclusion, although the Cranlea system provides a consistently greater corrected PP it may not be enough to substantially differentiate between systems

Systematic study of optical potential strengths in reactions on Sn 120 involving strongly bound, weakly bound, and exotic nuclei

We present new experimental angular distributions for the elastic scattering of Li6+Sn120 at three bombarding energies. We include these data in a wide systematic involving the elastic scattering of He4,6,Li7, Be9,B10, and O16,18 projectiles on the same target at energies around the respective Coulomb barriers. Considering this data set, we report on optical model analyses based on the double-folding São Paulo potential. Within this approach, we study the sensitivity of the data fit to different models for the nuclear matter densities and to variations in the optical potential strengths.Fil: Alvarez, M. A. G.. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Fernández García, J. P.. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: León García, J. L.. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Rodríguez Gallardo, M.. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Gasques, L. R.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Chamon, L. C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Zagatto, V. A. B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lépine Szily, A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Oliveira, J. R. B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Scarduelli, V.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Carlson, B. V.. Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronautica.; BrasilFil: Casal, J.. Istituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare.; ItaliaFil: Arazi, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Torres, D. A.. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Ramirez, F.. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Colombi

One-neutron transfer reaction in the 18^{18}O + 48^{48}Ti collision at 275 MeV

The present article reports new data on the $^{48}$Ti($^{18}$O,$^{17}$O)$^{49}$Ti reaction at 275 MeV incident energy as part of the systematic research pursued within the NUMEN project. Supplementary measurements of the same reaction on $^{16}$O and $^{27}$Al targets were also performed in order to estimate the background arising from the use of a composite target (TiO$_{2}$ + $^{27}$Al). These data were analyzed under the same theoretical framework as those obtained with the titanium target in order to reinforce the conclusions of our analysis. Differential cross-section angular distribution measurements for the $^{17}$O$^{8+}$ ejectiles were performed in a wide angular range by using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer. The experimental results were analyzed within the distorted-wave and coupled-channels Born Approximation frameworks. The optical potentials at the entrance and exit channels were calculated in a double folding approach adopting the S\~ao Paulo potential, and the spectroscopic amplitudes for the projectile and target overlaps were obtained from large-scale shell model calculations. The differential cross-sections are well-described by the theoretical calculations, where a weak coupling to collective excitations of projectile and target is inferred. The sensitivity of transfer cross-sections on different model spaces adopted in nuclear structure calculations, is also discussed