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Ramayya, A. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Ramayya, A. V..

First observation of collective rotational bands in neutron-rich 142 La and the study of octupole/triaxial deformations in 142,143 La

Collective rotational bands were observed for the first time in neutron-rich odd–odd 142 La by means of γ-γ-γ and γ-γ-γ-γ coincidence measurements of prompt fission γ rays from 252 Cf using multi-detector array Gammasphere. Similarity between the yrast band of 142 La and those of neighboring 144 La, 144 Ce was found and interpreted as quasiparticle excitations. Here, PES calculations suggested triaxial deformation for the ground state of 142La. Considerable triaxial and near zero octupole deformations were deduced for the yrast band of 142 La by the TRS model calculations. The band-crossing observed in the yrast band of 142 La was interpreted to be caused by alignment of the (h 11/2 ) 2 proton pair, and the crossing frequency was best reproduced by the TRS calculations taking into account triaxial deformations. In contrast to the interpretations for the band crossing of 142 La, alignments of the (i 13/2 ) 2 neutron pair were found to be responsible for the band-crossing of the yrast band in the neighboring even-N 143 La, and triaxial degree of freedom was found to play a more significant role than octupole deformations in the nucleus, although its β 3 values deduced are large.

142La↗

Long-lived isomeric states and quasiparticle band structures in neutron-rich 162,164 Gd nuclei from β decay

Neutron-rich nuclei 162,164 Eu were produced by bombarding a proton beam on a 238 U target at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and mass separating the 162,164 Eu products. New level schemes and new γ-ray transitions of the daughters 162,164 Gd were identified from β-decay spectroscopy studies. Additionally, half-lives of the 162,164 Eu were remeasured to clarify the previous ambiguous results. Two quasiparticle band structures were built and compared with neighboring nuclei. The β and γ bands were extended in 162 Gd and a γ band was extended in 164 Gd. Half-lives of the isomeric states at (6 - ) 1449 keV in 162 Gd and (4 - ) 1096 keV in 164 Gd were measured to be 99(3) μs and 0.56(3) μs, respectively. Projected shell model calculations were performed and found to be in good agreement with all of the experimental data.

150 ≤ A ≤ 189↗

Structure of Nd 155 and Gd 163 from Cf 252 spontaneous fission

Background: A puzzle has arisen recently caused by the apparent shift in maximum deformation from the expected 66 Dy isotopic chain to the Nd 60 isotopic chain in the 82 155 Nd and 163 Gd, useful for constraining parameters in models that seek to answer the six proton shift in maximum deformation. Method: Data from the spontaneous fission of 252 Cf were taken by the Gammasphere detector array at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to observe the excited states of 155 Nd and 163 Gd. Results: The structure of 163 Gd has been expanded with the addition of two new levels and three new γ rays, which are found to be consistent with previously published calculations and the structure of 165 Dy. In 155 Nd, nine new levels and 12 new γ rays are observed. The spins and parities of the previously known levels in 155 Nd have been reassigned from a ν3/2 - [521] ground state configuration to a ν5/2 + [642] isomeric configuration by comparison of these newly observed levels with levels in 153 Nd and 155 Sm. Conclusion: Further experimentation is required to determine the energy of the newly reassigned ν5/2+[642] level in 155 Nd with respect to the suspected ν3/2-[521] ground state. Additionally, more experiments should be conducted to further determine the structure of neutron rich nuclei, rarely produced in the spontaneous fission of 252 Cf, such as 163 Gd.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

New transitions and levels for 163 Tb obtained from β-decay studies

Transitions in 163 Tb following β decay of 163 Gd were obtained as part of investigations of γ rays emitted following 163 Euβ decay to 163 Gd. In this work, detailed analysis of the low-energy structure of 163 Tb has been carried out with these data to expand previous β-decay studies and reactions studies of levels in 163 Tb. Data were collected at the LeRIBSS station of the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with an array of four Clover HPGe detectors for γ rays and two plastic scintillators for β detection. The γ rays were identified as belonging to 163 Gd and 163 Tb via mass selection and γ-γ-β, γ-γ, or γ-x-ray coincidence. In total, 38 new γ-ray transitions were observed in 163 Tb from 15 newly identified levels and 12 previously identified levels. Potential energy surface calculations were performed which support a rigid prolate deformation. Previously identified unplaced transitions in 163 Tb have been placed within the level scheme of 163 Tb and additional states and transitions have been identified.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Identification of new transitions and levels in 163 Gd from $β$-decay studies

Background: Neutron-rich nuclei in the mass region around A = 160 have been and will continue to be of interest for the study of nuclear structure because of the rapid onset of deformation between 88 and 90 neutrons. The observation of detailed changes in nuclear structures within this mass region has provided and will continue to provide insight into the nuclear force. Purpose: Investigations of γ rays emitted following Eu 163 β -decay to Gd 163 have been performed for evaluation of the nuclear structure of Gd 163 . Method: Data were collected at the LeRIBSS station of the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with an array of four Clover HPGe detectors for γ -rays and two plastic scintillators for β detection. The γ rays were identified as belonging to Gd 163 via mass selection and γ – γ – β , x-ray- γ , or γ – γ coincidences. Results: In total 107 new γ -ray transitions were observed in Gd 163 from 53 newly identified levels. Conclusions: We report the structure of Gd 163 has been identified for the first time. This structure has been evaluated in comparison to projected shell model, and potential energy surface calculations with good agreement.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Anomalous neutron yields confirmed for Ba-Mo and newly observed for Ce-Zr from spontaneous fission of Cf 252

We reinvestigated the neutron multiplicity yields of Ba-Mo, Ce-Zr, Te-Pd, and Nd-Sr from the spontaneous fission of 252 Cf by (i) using both γ -γ -γ -γ and γ -γ -γ coincidence data, (ii) using up to date level scheme structures, and (iii) crosschecking analogous energy transitions in multiple isotopes, we have achieved higher precision than previous analyses. Particular attention was given to the Ba-Mo pairs where our results clearly confirm that the Ba-Mo yield data have a second hot fission mode where 8–10, and now 11 neutron evaporation channels are observed. These are the first observations of the 11 neutron channel. These 8–11 neutron channels are observed for the first time in the Ce-Zr pairs, but are not observed in other fission pairs. The measured intensities of the second mode in Ba-Mo and Ce-Zr pairs are ~1.5(4)% and ~1.0(3)%, respectively. These high neutron number evaporation modes can be an indication of hyperdeformation and/or octupole deformation in 143-145 Ba and in 146,148 Ce at scission to give rise to such high neutron multiplicities.

252-Cf↗

Coexistence of Reflection Asymmetric and Symmetric Shapes in $^{144}\mathrm{Ba}$

Level structures in the neutron-rich $^{144}\mathrm{Ba}$ nucleus have been reinvestigated by measuring prompt gamma rays in the spontaneous fission of $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$. The previous $s = +1$ octupole band structure with reflection asymmetric shape has been expanded, and a side quadrupole band structure based on a $3^+$ state with reflection symmetric shape is identified. Thus, the results show the coexistence of reflection asymmetric and symmetric shapes in $^{144}\mathrm{Ba}$. This is a first identification of such a shape coexistence structure in a nuclear structure. Finally, the other structural characteristics are discussed.

144Ba↗