Lifetime measurements of short-lived excited states, and shape changes in As 69 and Ge 66 nuclei

Background: The nuclear shape is a macroscopic feature of an atomic nucleus that is sensitive to the underlying nuclear structure in terms of collectivity and the interaction between nucleons. Therefore, the evolution of nuclear shapes has attracted many theoretical and experimental nuclear structure studies. The structure of the A≈70, N≈Z nuclei, lying far from the stability line, is interesting because a particularly strong proton-neutron correlation may occur here due to the occupation of the same orbits by nucleons of both types. In this region, different particle configurations drive a nucleus towards various deformed shapes: prolate, oblate, octupole, or nonaxial. These nuclear shapes change rapidly with nucleon number and also with angular momentum. This is reflected by a presence of different structures (bands) of excited states which exhibit a broad range of lifetimes. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to determine lifetimes of some high-spin excited states in As69 and Ge66 nuclei to examine the shape evolution in these neutron-deficient nuclei. Methods: Lifetimes of high-spin states in As69 and Ge66 have been measured by using the Doppler-shift attenuation technique with the GASP and recoil filter detector setup at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The nuclei of interest were produced in the S32(95MeV)+0.8mg/cm2 Ca40 fusion-evaporation reaction. The strongest reaction channels 3p and α2p led to the As69 and Ge66 final nuclei, respectively. Using γ-γ-recoil coincidences we were able to determine very short lifetimes (in the femtosecond range) in the residual nuclei of interest. Results: In As69, the extracted lifetimes are τ=72 (-32, +45) fs for the 33/2+ state at 7897 keV and τ<85 fs for the 37/2+ state at 9820 keV. For the Ge66 case, the lifetime of the 11- state at 7130 keV is τ=122(±41) fs. Lifetimes in As69 and Ge66 reported in this paper have been measured for the first time in the present experiment. Conclusions: The results are discussed in the terms of deformation and shape evolution in As69 and Ge66. The quadrupole moments deduced from the measured lifetimes were compared with the cranked Woods-Saxon-Strutinsky calculations by means of the total Routhian surface method. It turns out that Band 3 in As69 shows an oblate-prolate shape transition, and above spin 33/2+ it corresponds to a prolate collective structure with β2≈0.27 and γ≈20. In turn, in Ge66 the negative-parity band built on the 7- state at 4205 keV corresponds to a triaxial shape with β2=0.33 and γ=31. Analysis of the transitional quadrupole moments derived from the experimental and theoretical ones points to a significant change of deformation in the As69 and Ge66 nuclei with increasing rotational frequency

Studies of efficiency of the Kratta detectors in the deuteron breakup experiment.

International audienceAn experiment focused on studies of relativistic effects in the proton-deuteron breakup reaction has been performed at Cyclotron Center Bronowice in Kraków, Poland with the use of the Kratta detectors. Thirty Kratta modules have been arranged in a planar symmetric around beam axis configuration at few selected polar angles at which significant relativistic effects have been predicted. In front of each Kratta module 4 thin plastic scintillators were installed acting as a fast timing detectors to improve a trigger system. Determination of acceptance and efficiency of the detectors is discussed

In-beam \mth{\gamma}-ray spectroscopy of \chem{^{42}Ca}

High-spin states of the $^{42}$Ca nucleus, populated in the 68 MeV $^{18}$O + $^{30}$Si reaction, have been studied in a $\gamma$-$\gamma$-recoil coincidence experiment. The level scheme of $^{42}$Ca has been extended up to 13.7  MeV. An elaborate decay pattern with various paths, together with high-quality DCO and polarization information assigns spins and parities for almost all observed levels. The sequence of non-yrast positive-parity states is discussed and compared with highly deformed bands in $^{36}$Ar and $^{40}$Ca

High-spin states in \chem{^{44}Ca}

High-spin states of the $^{44}$Ca nucleus populated in the 68 MeV $^{18}$O + $^{30}$Si reaction have been studied in a $\gamma$-$\gamma$-recoil coincidence experiment. The level scheme of $^{44}$Ca has been extended up to 12.2 MeV. In particular, the negative-parity band has been identified with the highest $I = 13^-$ level at 10.6 MeV. This state is interpreted as the band-terminating state for the ($d_{3/2}^ {-1} f_{7/2}^5$) configuration

M4 RESONANCES IN LIGHT NUCLEI STUDIED AT CCB

M4 resonances in light nuclei result from the p3/2 → d5/2 stretched excitations. Their configurations should be relatively simple, which makes them good benchmarks for the theoretical calculations taking into account the role of continuum couplings. The first experimental studies aiming at tracing the decay of the M4 stretched resonance in 13C, located at 21.47 MeV, were undertaken at the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice at the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków, Poland (IFJ PAN). They provided information on the proton and neutron decay channels of this resonance to 12B and 12C daughter nuclei, respectively. These experimental results were then compared with the theoretical calculations based on the Gamow Shell Model approach, in terms of energy, width, and in particular, the decay pattern. Furthermore, the studies of the next cases, namely, 14N and 16O, where several M4 resonances appear at around 20 MeV, have been recently performed at CCB. The new experimental findings will serve as a testing ground for future calculations describing the heavier nuclei in this important region of the nuclear chart.</p

Determination of gamma angular distribution from the shape of spectral line for the first excited state of carbon nucleus

An experiment investigating gamma emission in hadron therapy was performed at Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB), Cracow, Poland, using two different phantom materials—carbon and poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA. The measurements were carried out at 70 MeV proton beam energy and the gamma quanta were registered with the use of HP Ge detector with scintillation anti-Compton shielding. Although the primary aim was to establish a solid experimental data base for future applications in prompt gamma imaging, the data have also been analyzed with regards to the position and shape of the spectral line stemming from deexcitation of the carbon excited state 4.44 MeV. Measurements potentially useful to determine the cross section were performed only at 90° laboratory polar angle. However, benefiting from the very good energy resolution it turned out possible to extract information on angular distribution of the C* (4.44 MeV) deexcitation by analyzing the associated line shape. This paper presents the scheme of model calculations assuming the whole process can be divided into two stages: excitation of carbon nuclei by impinging protons and deexcitation of the C* (4.44 MeV) state

Odd-parity 100Sn^{100}Sn Core Excitations

International audienceOdd-parity core excited states have been identified in two close neighbors of Sn-100: Pd-96 and Ag-97. This was done in an fusion-evaporation experiment, using a Ni-58 beam on a Sc-45 target. Even-parity core excited states in these nuclei are very well reproduced in large scale (LSSM) calculations in which particle-hole excitations are allowed with up to five g(9/2) protons and neutrons across the N = Z = 50 gap, to the g(7/2), d(5/2), d(3/2), and s(1/2) orbitals. The odd-parity states can only be qualitatively interpreted though, employing calculations in the full fpg shell model space, but with just one particle-hole core excitation allowed. A more complete model including odd-parity orbitals is need for the description of core excited states in the region of Sn-100. DOI:10.5506/APhysPolB.44.49