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Pai, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Pai, H..

11 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Majorana parameters of the interacting boson model of nuclear structure and their implication for 0 ν β β decay

Here, the well-known spherical-deformed-transitional nucleus and potential 0$\textit{νββ}$ emitter 150 Nd and its daughter 150 Sm were investigated in nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments using quasimonoenergetic, linearly polarized γ-ray beams. For both nuclei transitions from the 1 + scissors mode to the $0^+_2$ and $2^+_2$ states were observed for the first time and their respective $\textit{M}$ 1 transition strengths were determined. Through a systematic investigation, a sensitivity of these transition strengths to the three Majorana parameters of the interacting boson model-2 (IBM-2) was established. In combination with the novel experimental data, this poses strong constraints to the Majorana parameters in improved IBM-2 representations of both nuclei. A subsequent recalculation of the nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) for the 150 Nd → 150 Sm 0$\textit{νββ}$ decay in the IBM-2 with these improved representations results in $M^{(0νββ)}_{\text{IBM-2}}[0^+_1]$ = 3.35 for the NME for 0$\textit{νββ}$ decay into the ground state of 150 Sm and $M^{(0νββ)}_{\text{IBM-2}}[0^+_2]$ = 1.30 for 0$\textit{νββ}$ decay to its $0^+_2$ state.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Structure of high-lying levels populated in the 96 Y → 96 Zr β decay

The nature of the high-lying final levels of the 96 Y gs β decay, one of the three most important contributors to the high-energy reactor antineutrino spectrum, has been investigated in high-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy following the β decay as well as in a campaign of inelastic photon scattering experiments. The comprehensive approach establishes 1 - levels associated with the Pygmy Dipole Resonance as high-lying final levels in the β decay. Branching ratios extracted from β decay complement photon scattering and allow the absolute E1 excitation strength to be determined for levels populated in both reactions. The combined data represents a comprehensive approach to the wavefunction of the 1 - levels below the Qβ value, which are investigated in the Quasiparticle Phonon Model. The calculations reveal that the components populated in β decay contribute only with small amplitudes to the complex wavefunction of these 1 - levels. A comparison of the β decay results to data from total absorption γ -ray spectroscopy demonstrates a good agreement between both measurements.

Pygmy dipole resonance↗
DOE OSTI2020

First Observation of Multiple Transverse Wobbling Bands of Different Kinds in 183 Au

Here, we report the first observation of two wobbling bands in 183 Au, both of which were interpreted as the transverse wobbling (TW) band but with different behavior of their wobbling energies as a function of spin. It increases (decreases) with spin for the positive (negative) parity configuration. The crucial evidence for the wobbling nature of the bands, dominance of the $\textit{E}$2 component in the Δ$\textit{I}$ = 1 transitions between the partner bands, is provided by the simultaneous measurements of directional correlation from the oriented states ratio and the linear polarization of the $\textit{γ}$ rays. Particle rotor model calculations with triaxial deformation reproduce the experimental data well. A value of spin, $I_m$, has been determined for the observed TW bands below which the wobbling energy increases and above which it decreases with spin. The nucleus 183 Au is, so far, the only nucleus in which both the increasing and the decreasing parts are observed and thus gives the experimental evidence of the complete transverse wobbling phenomenon.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Valence-shell dependence of the pygmy dipole resonance: E 1 strength difference in 50,54 Cr

The low-lying electric dipole strength provides insights into the parameters of the nuclear equation of state via its connection with the pygmy dipole resonance and nuclear neutron skin thickness. The aim was to complement the systematic of the pygmy dipole resonance and first study its behavior across the N = 28 neutron shell closure. Here, photon-scattering cross sections of states of 50,54 Cr were measured up to an excitation energy of 9.7 MeV via the nuclear resonance fluorescence method using γ-ray beams from bremsstrahlung and Compton backscattering. Transitions strengths, spin and parity quantum number, and average branching ratios for 55 excited states, 44 of which were observed for the first time, were determined. The comparison between the total observed strengths of the isotopes 50,52,54 Cr shows a significant increase above the shell closure. The evolution of the pygmy dipole resonance is heavily influenced by the shell structure.

39 ≤ A ≤ 58↗
DOE OSTI2017

Potential for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Applications for Identifying Groundwater-Surface Water Exchange in a Meandering River Reach: sUAS in Groundwater-Surface Water Study

The exchange of groundwater and surface water (GW-SW), including dissolved constituents and energy, represents a critical yet challenging characterization problem for hydrogeologists and stream ecologists. Here we describe the use of a suite of high spatial resolution remote sensing techniques, collected using a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), to provide novel and complementary data to analyze GW-SW exchange. sUAS provided centimeter-scale resolution topography and water surface elevations, which are often drivers of exchange along the river corridor. Additionally, sUAS-based vegetation imagery, vegetation-top elevation, and normalized difference vegetation index mapping indicated GW-SW exchange patterns that are difficult to characterize from the land surface and may not be resolved from coarser satellite-based imagery. We combined these data with estimates of sediment hydraulic conductivity to provide a direct estimate of GW “shortcutting” through meander necks, which was corroborated by temperature data at the riverbed interface.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Dipole response of the odd-proton nucleus 205 Tl up to the neutron-separation energy

The low-lying electromagnetic dipole strength of the odd-proton nuclide 205 Tl has been investigated up to the neutron separation energy exploiting the method of nuclear resonance fluorescence. In total, 61 levels of 205 Tl have been identified. Lastly, the measured strength distribution of 205 Tl were discussed and compared to those of even–even and even–odd mass nuclei in the same mass region as well as to calculations that have been performed within the quasi-particle phonon model.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Contemporary research with nuclear resonance fluorescence at the S-DALINAC

In the last decades many nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments aiming for low-lying dipole excitations were performed at the Darmstadt High Intensity Photon Setup at S-DALINAC facility. On the electric dipole side, quadrupole-octupole coupled states and the Pygmy Dipole Resonance are of particular interest. On the magnetic dipole side, the so-called scissors mode is in the focus of interest. Furthermore, using the method of resonant self absorption, the decay behavior of J{sup π} = 1{sup −} states was investigated in {sup 140}Ce.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Transitional nuclei near shell closures

High spin states in Bismuth and Thallium nuclei near the Z = 82 shell closure and Cesium nuclei near the N = 82 shell closure in A = 190 and A = 130 regions, respectively, have been experimentally investigated using heavy-ion fusion evaporation reaction and by detecting the gamma rays using the Indian National Gamma Array (INGA). Interesting shape properties in these transitional nuclei have been observed. The results were compared with the neighboring nuclei in these two regions. The total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations have been performed for a better understanding of the observed properties. In mass region A = 190, a change in shape from spherical to deformed has been observd around neutron number N = 112 for the Bi (Z = 83) isotopes with proton number above the magic gap Z = 82, whereas, the shape of Tl (Z = 81) isotopes with proton number below the magic gap Z = 82 remains stable as a function of neutron number. An important transition from aplanar to planar configuration of angular momentum vectors leading to the occurance of nuclar chirality and magnetic rotation, respectively, has been proposed for the unique parity πh{sub 11/2}⊗νh{sub 11/2} configuration in Cs isotopes in the mass region A ∼ 130 around neutron number N = 79. These results are in commensurate with the TRS calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

High spin spectroscopy of near spherical nuclei: Role of intruder orbitals

High spin states of nuclei in the vicinity of neutron shell closure N = 82 and proton shell closure Z = 82 have been studied using the Clovere Ge detectors of Indian National Gamma Array. The shape driving effects of proton and neutron unique parity intruder orbitals for the structure of nuclei around the above shell closures have been investigated using light and heavy ion beams. Lifetime measurements of excited states in {sup 139}Pr have been done using pulsed-beam-γ coincidence technique. The prompt spectroscopy of {sup 207}Rn has been extended beyond the 181μs 13/2{sup +} isomer. Neutron-rich nuclei around {sup 132}Sn have been produced from proton induced fission of {sup 235}U and lifetime measurement of low-lying states of odd-odd {sup 132}I have been performed from offline decay.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗