| 1. |
- Bree, N, et al.
(författare)
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Shape Coexistence in the Neutron-Deficient Even-Even Hg182-188 Isotopes Studied via Coulomb Excitation.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 1079-7114. ; 112:16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Coulomb-excitation experiments to study electromagnetic properties of radioactive even-even Hg isotopes were performed with 2.85 MeV/nucleon mercury beams from REX-ISOLDE. Magnitudes and relative signs of the reduced E2 matrix elements that couple the ground state and low-lying excited states in Hg182-188 were extracted. Information on the deformation of the ground and the first excited 0+ states was deduced using the quadrupole sum rules approach. Results show that the ground state is slightly deformed and of oblate nature, while a larger deformation for the excited 0+ state was noted in Hg182,184. The results are compared to beyond mean field and interacting-boson based models and interpreted within a two-state mixing model. Partial agreement with the model calculations was obtained. The presence of two different structures in the light even-mass mercury isotopes that coexist at low excitation energy is firmly established.
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| 2. |
- Wrzosek-Lipska, K., et al.
(författare)
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Electromagnetic properties of low-lying states in neutron-deficient Hg isotopes : Coulomb excitation of 182Hg, 184Hg, 186Hg and 188Hg
- 2019
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal A. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6001 .- 1434-601X. ; 55:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The neutron-deficient mercury isotopes serve as a classical example of shape coexistence, whereby at low energy near-degenerate nuclear states characterized by different shapes appear. The electromagnetic structure of even-mass 182-188 Hg isotopes was studied using safe-energy Coulomb excitation of neutron-deficient mercury beams delivered by the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The population of 01,2+, 21,2+ and 41+ states was observed in all nuclei under study. Reduced E2 matrix elements coupling populated yrast and non-yrast states were extracted, including their relative signs. These are a sensitive probe of shape coexistence and may be used to validate nuclear models. The experimental results are discussed in terms of mixing of two different configurations and are compared with three different model calculations: the Beyond Mean Field model, the Interacting Boson Model with configuration mixing and the General Bohr Hamiltonian. Partial agreement with experiment was observed, hinting to missing ingredients in the theoretical descriptions.
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| 3. |
- Warr, N., et al.
(författare)
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The Miniball spectrometer
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal A. Hadrons and Nuclei. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6001. ; 49:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Miniball germanium detector array has been operational at the REX (Radioactive ion beam EXperiment) post accelerator at the Isotope Separator On-Line facility ISOLDE at CERN since 2001. During the last decade, a series of successful Coulomb excitation and transfer reaction studies have been performed with this array, utilizing the unique and high-quality radioactive ion beams which are available at ISOLDE. In this article, an overview is given of the technical details of the full Miniball setup, including a description of the.-ray and particle detectors, beam monitoring devices and methods to deal with beam contamination. The specific timing properties of the REX-ISOLDE facility are highlighted to indicate the sensitivity that can be achieved with the full Miniball setup. The article is finalized with a summary of some physics highlights at REX-ISOLDE and the utilization of the Miniball germanium detectors at other facilities.
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| 4. |
- Gaffney, L. P., et al.
(författare)
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Collectivity in the light radon nuclei measured directly via Coulomb excitation
- 2015
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Ingår i: Physical Review C (Nuclear Physics). - 0556-2813. ; 91:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Shape coexistence in heavy nuclei poses a strong challenge to state-of-the-art nuclear models, where several competing shape minima are found close to the ground state. A classic region for investigating this phenomenon is in the region around Z = 82 and the neutron midshell at N = 104. Purpose: Evidence for shape coexistence has been inferred from a-decay measurements, laser spectroscopy, and in-beam measurements. While the latter allow the pattern of excited states and rotational band structures to be mapped out, a detailed understanding of shape coexistence can only come from measurements of electromagnetic matrix elements. Method: Secondary, radioactive ion beams of Rn-202 and Rn-204 were studied by means of low-energy Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE in CERN. Results: The electric-quadrupole (E2) matrix element connecting the ground state and first excited 2(1)(+) state was extracted for both Rn-202 and Rn-204, corresponding to B(E2; 2(1)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) = 29(-8)(+8) and 43(-12)(+17) W.u., respectively. Additionally, E2 matrix elements connecting the 2(1)(+) state with the 4(1)(+) and 2(2)(+) states were determined in Rn-202. No excited 0(+) states were observed in the current data set, possibly owing to a limited population of second-order processes at the currently available beam energies. Conclusions: The results are discussed in terms of collectivity and the deformation of both nuclei studied is deduced to be weak, as expected from the low-lying level-energy schemes. Comparisons are also made to state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field model calculations and the magnitude of the transitional quadrupole moments are well reproduced.
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| 5. |
- Gaffney, L. P., et al.
(författare)
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Studies of pear-shaped nuclei using accelerated radioactive beams
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 497:7448, s. 199-204
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is strong circumstantial evidence that certain heavy, unstable atomic nuclei are 'octupole deformed', that is, distorted into a pear shape. This contrasts with the more prevalent rugby-ball shape of nuclei with reflection-symmetric, quadrupole deformations. The elusive octupole deformed nuclei are of importance for nuclear structure theory, and also in searches for physics beyond the standard model; any measurable electric-dipole moment (a signature of the latter) is expected to be amplified in such nuclei. Here we determine electric octupole transition strengths (a direct measure of octupole correlations) for short-lived isotopes of radon and radium. Coulomb excitation experiments were performed using accelerated beams of heavy, radioactive ions. Our data on Rn-220 and Ra-224 show clear evidence for stronger octupole deformation in the latter. The results enable discrimination between differing theoretical approaches to octupole correlations, and help to constrain suitable candidates for experimental studies of atomic electric-dipole moments that might reveal extensions to the standard model.
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| 6. |
- Hadynska-Klek, K., et al.
(författare)
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Quadrupole collectivity in Ca-42 from low-energy Coulomb excitation with AGATA
- 2018
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 2469-9985 .- 2469-9993. ; 97:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ACoulomb-excitation experiment to study electromagnetic properties of Ca-42 was performed using a 170-MeV calcium beam from the TANDEM XPU facility at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. gamma rays from excited states in Ca-42 were measured with the AGATA spectrometer. The magnitudes and relative signs of ten E2 matrix elements coupling six low-lying states in Ca-42, including the diagonal E2 matrix elements of 2(1)(+) and 2(2)(+) states, were determined using the least-squares code GOSIA. The obtained set of reduced E2 matrix elements was analyzed using the quadrupole sum rule method and yielded overall quadrupole deformation for 0(1),(+)(2) and 2(1,2)(+) states, as well as triaxiality for 0(1,2)(+) states, establishing the coexistence of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca-42. The experimental results were compared with the state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations, which reproduce well the general picture of shape coexistence in Ca-42.
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| 7. |
- Hadynska-Klek, K., et al.
(författare)
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Superdeformed and Triaxial States in Ca-42
- 2016
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : American Physical Society. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 117:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Shape parameters of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca-42 were determined from E2 matrix elements measured in the first low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed with AGATA. The picture of two coexisting structures is well reproduced by new state-of-the-art large-scale shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. Experimental evidence for superdeformation of the band built on 0(2)(+) has been obtained and the role of triaxiality in the A similar to 40 mass region is discussed. Furthermore, the potential of Coulomb excitation as a tool to study superdeformation has been demonstrated for the first time.
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| 8. |
- Hadynska-Klek, K., et al.
(författare)
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Towards The Determination Of Superdeformation In Ca-42
- 2013
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Ingår i: Acta Physica Polonica B. - 0587-4254 .- 1509-5770. ; 44:3, s. 617-625
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Coulomb excitation experiment to study electromagnetic structure of low-lying states in Ca-42 with a focus on a possible superdeformation in this nucleus was performed at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro in Italy. Preliminary values of the determined quadrupole deformation parameters for both the ground state band and the presumed superdeformed band are presented.
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| 9. |
- Illana, A., et al.
(författare)
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Coulomb excitation of 74,76Zn
- 2023
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. - 2469-9985. ; 108:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The first experiment using radioactive beams post-accelerated by the HIE-ISOLDE facility has enabled to obtain a precise set of B(E2) transition probabilities in neutron-rich 74,76Zn isotopes. The resulting B(E2; 2+1→0+1) values are consistent with those determined in earlier REX-ISOLDE measurements. While the B(E2; 4+1→2+1) transition probability in 76Zn is also in agreement with earlier Coulomb-excitation results, the value obtained for 74Zn is considerably lower. For the first time, a spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the 2+1 state was measured for an exotic nucleus in this mass region. A detailed comparison is presented with large-scale shell-model and Monte Carlo shell-model calculations.
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| 10. |
- Kesteloot, N., et al.
(författare)
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Deformation and mixing of coexisting shapes in neutron-deficient polonium isotopes
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Physical Review C (Nuclear Physics). - 0556-2813. ; 92:5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Coulomb-excitation experiments are performed with postaccelerated beams of neutron-deficient Po-196,Po-198,Po-200,Po-202 isotopes at the REX-ISOLDE facility. A set of matrix elements, coupling the low-lying states in these isotopes, is extracted. In the two heaviest isotopes, Po-196,Po-198, the transitional and diagonal matrix elements of the 2(1)(+) state are determined. In Po-196,Po-198 multistep Coulomb excitation is observed, populating the 4(1)(+), 0(2)(+), and 2(2)(+) states. The experimental results are compared to the results from the measurement of mean-square charge radii in polonium isotopes, confirming the onset of deformation from Po-196 onwards. Three model descriptions are used to compare to the data. Calculations with the beyond-mean-field model, the interacting boson model, and the general Bohr Hamiltonian model show partial agreement with the experimental data. Finally, calculations with a phenomenological two-level mixing model hint at the mixing of a spherical structure with a weakly deformed rotational structure.
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| 11. |
- Scheck, M., et al.
(författare)
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Do nuclei go pear-shaped? Coulomb excitation of Rn-220 and Ra-224 at REX-ISOLDE (CERN)
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Cgs15 - Capture Gamma-ray Spectroscopy and Related Topics. - : EDP Sciences. - 2101-6275 .- 2100-014X. ; 93, s. 01038-01038
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The IS475 collaboration conducted Coulomb-excitation experiments with post-accelerated radioactive Rn-220 and Ra-224 beams at the REX-ISOLDE facility. The beam particles (E-beam: 2.83 MeV/u) were Coulomb excited using Ni-60, Cd-14, and Sn-120 scattering targets. De-excitation gamma-rays were detected employing the Miniball array and scattered particles were detected in a silicon detector. Exploiting the Coulomb-excitation code GOSIA for each nucleus several matrix elements could be obtained from the measured gamma-ray yields. The extracted < 3 parallel to E3 parallel to 0(+)> matrix element allows for the conclusion that, while Rn-220 represents an octupole vibrational system, Ra-224 has already substantial octupole correlations in its ground state. This finding has i(m)plications for the search of CP-violating Schiff moments in the atomic systems of the adjacent odd-mass nuclei.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Butler, P. A., et al.
(författare)
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Evolution of Octupole Deformation in Radium Nuclei from Coulomb Excitation of Radioactive ^{222}Ra and ^{228}Ra Beams
- 2020
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 1079-7114. ; 124:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable "pear" shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole (E3) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in ^{222,228}Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of E3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing ^{222}Ra as pear shaped with stable octupole deformation, while ^{228}Ra behaves like an octupole vibrator.
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| 14. |
- Butler, P. A., et al.
(författare)
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The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we observed the low-lying quantum states in 224Rn and 226Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment.
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| 15. |
- Seidlitz, M., et al.
(författare)
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Coulomb excitation of Na-29,Na-30: Mapping the borders of the island of inversion
- 2014
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Ingår i: Physical Review C (Nuclear Physics). - 0556-2813. ; 89:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nuclear shell evolution in neutron-rich Na nuclei around N = 20 was studied by determining reduced transition probabilities, i.e., B(E2) and B(M1) values, in order to map the border of the island of inversion. To this end Coulomb-excitation experiments, employing radioactive Na-29,Na-30 beams with a final beam energy of 2.85 MeV/nucleon, were performed at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. De-excitation gamma rays were detected by the MINIBALL gamma-ray spectrometer in coincidence with scattered particles in a segmented Si detector. Transition probabilities to excited states were deduced. The measured B(E2) values agree well with shell-model predictions, supporting the idea that in the Na isotopic chain the ground-state wave function contains significant intruder admixture already at N = 18, with N = 19 having an almost pure two-particle-two-hole deformed ground-state configuration.
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| 16. |
- Spagnoletti, P., et al.
(författare)
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Coulomb excitation of Rn 222
- 2022
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. - 2469-9985. ; 105:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The nature of quadrupole and octupole collectivity in Rn222 was investigated by determining the electric-quadrupole (E2) and octupole (E3) matrix elements using subbarrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. The radioactive Rn222 beam, accelerated to 4.23 MeV/u, was provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Data were collected in the Miniball γ-ray spectrometer following the bombardment of two targets, Sn120 and Ni60. Transition E2 matrix elements within the ground-state and octupole bands were measured up to 10ℏ and the results were consistent with a constant intrinsic electric-quadrupole moment, 518(11)efm2. The values of the intrinsic electric-octupole moment for the 0+→3- and 2+→5- transitions were found to be respectively 2360-210+300efm3 and 2300-500+300efm3 while a smaller value, 1200-900+500efm3, was found for the 2+→1- transition. In addition, four excited non-yrast states were identified in this work via γ-γ coincidences.
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| 17. |
- Clément, E., et al.
(författare)
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Low-energy Coulomb excitation of Sr 96,98 beams
- 2016
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Ingår i: Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813. ; 94:5, s. 054326-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The structure of neutron-rich Sr96,98 nuclei was investigated by low-energy safe Coulomb excitation of radioactive beams at the REX-ISOLDE facility, CERN, with the MINIBALL spectrometer. A rich set of transitional and diagonal E2 matrix elements, including those for non-yrast structures, has been extracted from the differential Coulomb-excitation cross sections. The results support the scenario of a shape transition at N=60, giving rise to the coexistence of a highly deformed prolate and a spherical configuration in Sr98, and are compared to predictions from several theoretical calculations. The experimental data suggest a significant contribution of the triaxal degree of freedom in the ground state of both isotopes. In addition, experimental information on low-lying states in Rb98 has been obtained.
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| 18. |
- Clément, E, et al.
(författare)
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Spectroscopic Quadrupole Moments in ^{96,98}Sr: Evidence for Shape Coexistence in Neutron-Rich Strontium Isotopes at N=60.
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 1079-7114. ; 116:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neutron-rich ^{96,98}Sr isotopes have been investigated by safe Coulomb excitation of radioactive beams at the REX-ISOLDE facility. Reduced transition probabilities and spectroscopic quadrupole moments have been extracted from the differential Coulomb excitation cross sections. These results allow, for the first time, the drawing of definite conclusions about the shape coexistence of highly deformed prolate and spherical configurations. In particular, a very small mixing between the coexisting states is observed, contrary to other mass regions where strong mixing is present. Experimental results have been compared to beyond-mean-field calculations using the Gogny D1S interaction in a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian formalism, which reproduce the shape change at N=60.
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| 19. |
- Gaffney, L. P., et al.
(författare)
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Low-energy Coulomb excitation of 62Fe and 62Mn following in-beam decay of 62Mn
- 2015
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal A. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6001 .- 1434-601X. ; 51:10, s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sub-barrier Coulomb excitation was performed on a mixed beam of 62Mn and 62Fe, following in-trap β− decay of 62Mn at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. The trapping and charge breeding times were varied in order to alter the composition of the beam, which was measured by means of an ionisation chamber at the zero-angle position of the Miniball array. A new transition was observed at 418 keV, which has been tentatively associated to a (2+,3+)→ 1g.s. + transition. This fixes the relative positions of the β-decaying 4+ and 1+ states in 62Mn for the first time. Population of the 21 + state was observed in 62Fe and the cross-section determined by normalisation to the 109Ag target excitation, confirming the B(E2) value measured in recoil-distance lifetime experiments.
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| 20. |
- Stryjczyk, M., et al.
(författare)
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Decay studies of the long-lived states in Tl 186
- 2020
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. - 2469-9985. ; 102:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Decay spectroscopy of the long-lived states in Tl186 has been performed at the ISOLDE Decay Station at ISOLDE, CERN. The α decay from the low-spin (2-) state in Tl186 was observed for the first time and a half-life of 3.4-0.4+0.5 s was determined. Based on the α-decay energy, the relative positions of the long-lived states were fixed, with the (2-) state as the ground state, the 7(+) state at 77(56) keV, and the 10(-) state at 451(56) keV. The level scheme of the internal decay of the Tl186(10(-)) state [T1/2=3.40(9) s], which was known to decay solely through emission of 374-keV γ-ray transition, was extended and a lower limit for the β-decay branching bβ>5.9(3)% was determined. The extracted retardation factors for the γ decay of the 10(-) state were compared to the available data in neighboring odd-odd thallium isotopes indicating the importance of the πd3/2 shell in the isomeric decay and significant structure differences between Tl184 and Tl186.
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| 21. |
- Stryjczyk, M., et al.
(författare)
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Simultaneous γ -ray and electron spectroscopy of Hg 182,184,186 isotopes
- 2023
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. - 2469-9985. ; 108:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The mercury isotopes around N=104 are a well-known example of nuclei exhibiting shape coexistence. Mixing of configurations can be studied by measuring the monopole strength ρ2(E0), however, currently the experimental information is scarce and lacks precision, especially for the Iπ→Iπ (I≠0) transitions. Purpose: The goals of this study were to increase the precision of the known branching ratios and internal conversion coefficients, to increase the amount of available information regarding excited states in Hg182,184,186, and to interpret the results in the framework of shape coexistence using different models. Method: The low-energy structures in Hg182,184,186 were populated in the β decay of Tl182,184,186, produced at ISOLDE, CERN and purified by laser ionization and mass separation. The γ-ray and internal conversion electron events were detected by five germanium clover detectors and a segmented silicon detector, respectively, and correlated in time to build decay schemes. Results: In total, 193, 178, and 156 transitions, including 144, 140, and 108 observed for the first time in a β-decay experiment, were assigned to Hg182,184,186, respectively. Internal conversion coefficients were determined for 23 transitions, out of which 12 had an E0 component. Extracted branching ratios allowed the sign of the interference term in Hg182 as well as ρ2(E0;02+→01+) and B(E2;02+→21+) in Hg184 to be determined. By means of electron-electron coincidences, the 03+ state was identified in Hg184. The experimental results were qualitatively reproduced by five theoretical approaches, the interacting boson model with configuration mixing with two different parametrizations, the general Bohr Hamiltonian, the beyond mean-field model, and the symmetry-conserving configuration-mixing model. However, a quantitative description is lacking. Conclusions: The presence of shape coexistence in neutron-deficient mercury isotopes was confirmed and evidence for the phenomenon existing at higher energies was found. The new experimental results provide important spectroscopic input for future Coulomb excitation studies. © 2023 authors. Published by the American Physical Society. Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.
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