1. |
- Akkoyun, S., et al.
(author)
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AGATA - Advanced GAmma Tracking Array
- 2012
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 0167-5087 .- 1872-9576. ; 668, s. 26-58
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) is a European project to develop and operate the next generation γ-ray spectrometer. AGATA is based on the technique of γ-ray energy tracking in electrically segmented high-purity germanium crystals. This technique requires the accurate determination of the energy, time and position of every interaction as a γ ray deposits its energy within the detector volume. Reconstruction of the full interaction path results in a detector with very high efficiency and excellent spectral response. The realisation of γ-ray tracking and AGATA is a result of many technical advances. These include the development of encapsulated highly segmented germanium detectors assembled in a triple cluster detector cryostat, an electronics system with fast digital sampling and a data acquisition system to process the data at a high rate. The full characterisation of the crystals was measured and compared with detector- response simulations. This enabled pulse-shape analysis algorithms, to extract energy, time and position, to be employed. In addition, tracking algorithms for event reconstruction were developed. The first phase of AGATA is now complete and operational in its first physics campaign. In the future AGATA will be moved between laboratories in Europe and operated in a series of campaigns to take advantage of the different beams and facilities available to maximise its science output. The paper reviews all the achievements made in the AGATA project including all the necessary infrastructure to operate and support the spectrometer. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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2. |
- Söderström, Pär-Anders, et al.
(author)
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High-spin structure in K-40
- 2012
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In: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 86:5, s. 054320-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High-spin states of K-40 have been populated in the fusion-evaporation reaction C-12(Si-30,np)K-40 and studied by means of gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques using one triple-cluster detector of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. Several states with excitation energy up to 8 MeV and spin up to 10(-) have been discovered. These states are discussed in terms of J = 3 and T = 0 neutron-proton hole pairs. Shell-model calculations in a large model space have shown good agreement with the experimental data for most of the energy levels. The evolution of the structure of this nucleus is here studied as a function of excitation energy and angular momentum.
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3. |
- Hadynska-Klek, K., et al.
(author)
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Towards The Determination Of Superdeformation In Ca-42
- 2013
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In: Acta Physica Polonica B. - 0587-4254 .- 1509-5770. ; 44:3, s. 617-625
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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4. |
- John, P. R., et al.
(author)
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Shape evolution in the neutron-rich osmium isotopes : Prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy of Os-196
- 2014
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In: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 90:2, s. 021301-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The shape transition in the neutron-rich Os isotopes is studied by investigating the neutron-rich Os-196 nucleus through in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy using a two-proton transfer reaction from a Pt-198 target to a Se-82 beam. The beam-like recoils were detected and identified with the large-acceptance magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, and the coincident gamma rays were measured with the advanced gamma tracking array (AGATA) demonstrator. The de-excitation of the low-lying levels of the yrast-band of Os-196 were identified for the first time. The results are compared with state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field calculations, performed for the even-even Os188-198 isotopes. The new results suggest a smooth transition in the Os isotopes from a more axial rotational behavior towards predominately vibrational nuclei through triaxial configurations. An almost perfect gamma-unstable/triaxial rotor yrast band is predicted for Os-196 which is in agreement with the experimentally measured excited states.
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5. |
- Louchart, C., et al.
(author)
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Collective nature of low-lying excitations in Zn-70,Zn-72,Zn-74 from lifetime measurements using the AGATA spectrometer demonstrator
- 2013
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In: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 87:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Neutron-rich nuclei with protons in the fp shell show an onset of collectivity around N=40. Spectroscopic information is required to understand the underlying mechanism and to determine the relevant terms of the nucleon-nucleon interaction that are responsible for the evolution of the shell structure in this mass region. Methods: We report on the lifetime measurement of the first 2(+) and 4(+) states in Zn-70,Zn-72 ,Zn-74 and the first 6(+) state in Zn-72 using the recoil distance Doppler shift method. The experiment was carried out at the INFN Laboratory of Legnaro with the AGATA demonstrator, first phase of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array of highly segmented, high-purity germanium detectors coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer. The excited states of the nuclei of interest were populated in the deep inelastic scattering of a Ge-76 beam impinging on a U-238 target. Results: The maximum of collectivity along the chain of Zn isotopes is observed for Zn-72 at N=42. An unexpectedly long lifetime of 20(-5.2)(+1.8) ps was measured for the 4(+) state in Zn-74. Conclusions: Our results lead to small values of the B(E2;4(1)(+) -> 21(+))/B(E2;2(1)(+->)0(1)(+)) ratio for Zn-72,Zn-74, suggesting a significant noncollective contribution to these excitations. These experimental results are not reproduced by state-of-the-art microscopic models and call for lifetime measurements beyond the first 2(+) state in heavy zinc and nickel isotopes.
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6. |
- Sahin, E., et al.
(author)
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Shell evolution beyond N=40 : Cu-69,Cu-71,Cu-73
- 2015
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In: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 91:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The level structure of the neutron-rich Cu-69, Cu-71, and Cu-73 isotopes has been investigated by means of multinucleon transfer reactions. The experiment was performed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro using the AGATA Demonstrator array coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer. Lifetimes of excited states in Cu nuclei were measured with the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method. The resulting electromagnetic matrix elements for transitions from excited states in Cu-69,Cu-71,Cu-73 nuclei are used to assess the collective or single-particle character of these states. The results are compared with predictions of large-scale shell-model calculations, giving further insight into the evolution of the proton pf shell as neutrons fill the 1g(9/2) orbital.
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7. |
- Vandone, V., et al.
(author)
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Global properties of K hindrance probed by the gamma decay of the warm rotating W-174 nucleus
- 2013
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In: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 88:3, s. 034312-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The K hindrance to the gamma decay is studied in the warm rotating W-174 nucleus, focusing on the weakening of the selection rules of the K quantum number with increasing excitation energy. W-174 was populated by the fusion reaction of Ti-50 (at 217 MeV) on a Te-128 target, and its gamma decay was detected by the AGATA Demonstrator array coupled to a BaF2 multiplicity filter at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro of INFN. A fluctuation analysis of gamma coincidence matrices gives a similar number of low-K and high-K discrete excited bands. The results are compared to simulations of the gamma-decay flow based on a microscopic cranked shell model at finite temperature in which the K mixing is governed by the interplay of Coriolis force with the residual interaction. Agreement between simulations and experiment is obtained only by hindering the E1 decay between low-K and high-K bands by an amount compatible with that determined by spectroscopic studies of K isomers in the same mass region, with a similar trend with excitation energy. The work indicates that K mixing due to temperature effects may play a leading role for the entire body of discrete excited bands, which probes the onset region of K weakening.
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8. |
- Crespi, F. C. L., et al.
(author)
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Isospin Character of Low-Lying Pygmy Dipole States in Pb-208 via Inelastic Scattering of O-17 Ions
- 2014
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 113:1, s. 012501-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The properties of pygmy dipole states in Pb-208 were investigated using the Pb-208(O-17, O-17'gamma) reaction at 340 MeV and measuring the gamma decay with high resolution with the AGATA demonstrator array. Cross sections and angular distributions of the emitted gamma rays and of the scattered particles were measured. The results are compared with (gamma, gamma') and (p, p') data. The data analysis with the distorted wave Born approximation approach gives a good description of the elastic scattering and of the inelastic excitation of the 2(+) and 3(-) states. For the dipole transitions a form factor obtained by folding a microscopically calculated transition density was used for the first time. This has allowed us to extract the isoscalar component of the 1(-) excited states from 4 to 8 MeV.
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9. |
- Pellegri, L., et al.
(author)
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Pygmy dipole resonance in Sn-124 populated by inelastic scattering of O-17
- 2014
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In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 738, s. 519-523
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The gamma decay from the high-lying states of Sn-124 was measured using the inelastic scattering of O-17 at 340 MeV. The emitted gamma rays were detected with high resolution with the AGATA demonstrator array and the scattered ions were detected in two segmented Delta E-E silicon telescopes. The angular distribution was measured both for the gamma rays and the scattered O-17 ions. An accumulation of E1 strength below the particle threshold was found and compared with previous data obtained with (gamma,gamma') and (alpha,alpha'gamma) reactions. The present results of elastic scattering, and excitation of E2 and E1 states were analysed using the DWBA approach. From this comprehensive description the isoscalar component of the 1-excited states was extracted. The obtained values are based on the comparison of the data with DWBA calculations including a form factor deduced using a microscopic transition density.
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10. |
- Crespi, F. C. L., et al.
(author)
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1(-) and 2(+) discrete states in Zr-90 populated via the (O-17, O-17 'gamma) reaction
- 2015
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In: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 91:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 2(+) and 1(-) states in Zr-90 were populated via the (O-17, O-17 'gamma) reaction at 340 MeV. The gamma decay was measured with high resolution using the AGATA (advanced gamma tracking array demonstrator array). Differential cross sections were obtained at few different angles for the scattered particle. The results of the elastic scattering and inelastic excitation of 2(+), 3(,)(-) and 1(-) states are compared with distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) calculations, using both the standard collective form factor and a form factor obtained by folding microscopically calculated transition densities. This allowed to extract the isoscalar component of the 1(-) state at 6.424 MeV. The comparison of the present (17O, 17O 'gamma) data with existing (gamma,gamma') and (p, p') data in the corresponding region of the gamma continuum (6-11 MeV), characterized by a large E1 component, shows completely different behaviors of the cross section as a function of the nuclear excitation energy. The comparison of the data with DWBA calculations suggests a decrease of the isoscalar strength in the cross section with increasing excitation energy.
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11. |
- Söderström, Pär-Anders, et al.
(author)
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Interaction position resolution simulations and in-beam measurements of the AGATA HPGe detectors
- 2011
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 638:1, s. 96-109
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The interaction position resolution of the segmented HPGe detectors of an AGATA triple cluster detector has been studied through Monte Carlo simulations and in an in-beam experiment. A new method based on measuring the energy resolution of Doppler-corrected γ-ray spectra at two different target to detector distances is described. This gives the two-dimensional position resolution in the plane perpendicular to the direction of the emitted γ-ray. The γ-ray tracking was used to determine the full energy of the γ-rays and the first interaction point, which is needed for the Doppler correction. Five different heavy-ion induced fusion-evaporation reactions and a reference reaction were selected for the simulations. The results of the simulations show that the method works very well and gives a systematic deviation of in the FWHM of the interaction position resolution for the γ-ray energy range from 60 keV to 5 MeV. The method was tested with real data from an in-beam measurement using a 30Si beam at 64 MeV on a thin 12C target. Pulse-shape analysis of the digitized detector waveforms and γ-ray tracking was performed to determine the position of the first interaction point, which was used for the Doppler corrections. Results of the dependency of the interaction position resolution on the γ-ray energy and on the energy, axial location and type of the first interaction point, are presented. The FWHM of the interaction position resolution varies roughly linearly as a function of γ-ray energy from 8.5 mm at 250 keV to 4 mm at 1.5 MeV, and has an approximately constant value of about 4 mm in the γ-ray energy range from 1.5 to 4 MeV.
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12. |
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13. |
- Beale, M. A., et al.
(author)
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Global phylogeny of Treponema pallidum lineages reveals recent expansion and spread of contemporary syphilis
- 2021
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In: Nature Microbiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2058-5276. ; 6:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Syphilis, which is caused by the sexually transmitted bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, has an estimated 6.3 million cases worldwide per annum. In the past ten years, the incidence of syphilis has increased by more than 150% in some high-income countries, but the evolution and epidemiology of the epidemic are poorly understood. To characterize the global population structure of T. pallidum, we assembled a geographically and temporally diverse collection of 726 genomes from 626 clinical and 100 laboratory samples collected in 23 countries. We applied phylogenetic analyses and clustering, and found that the global syphilis population comprises just two deeply branching lineages, Nichols and SS14. Both lineages are currently circulating in 12 of the 23 countries sampled. We subdivided T. p.pallidum into 17 distinct sublineages to provide further phylodynamic resolution. Importantly, two Nichols sublineages have expanded clonally across 9 countries contemporaneously with SS14. Moreover, pairwise genome analyses revealed examples of isolates collected within the last 20 years from 14 different countries that had genetically identical core genomes, which might indicate frequent exchange through international transmission. It is striking that most samples collected before 1983 are phylogenetically distinct from more recently isolated sublineages. Using Bayesian temporal analysis, we detected a population bottleneck occurring during the late 1990s, followed by rapid population expansion in the 2000s that was driven by the dominant T. pallidum sublineages circulating today. This expansion may be linked to changing epidemiology, immune evasion or fitness under antimicrobial selection pressure, since many of the contemporary syphilis lineages we have characterized are resistant to macrolides. Global syphilis prevalence has been increasing. Sequencing and analysis of a global collection of 726 Treponema pallidum samples reveal globally circulating lineages linked to a rapid expansion occurring since the end of the twentieth century.
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