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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Search for the 1/2 + intruder state in 35 P

The excitation energy of deformed intruder states (specifically the 2p2h bandhead) as a function of proton number Z along N = 20 is of interest both in terms of better understanding the evolution of nuclear structure between spherical Ca 40 and the Island of Inversion nuclei, and for benchmarking theoretical descriptions in this region. At the center of the N = 20 Island of Inversion, the n p n h (where n = 2 , 4 , 6 ) neutron excitations across a diminished N = 20 gap result in deformed and collective ground states, as observed in Mg 32 . In heavier isotones, n p n h excitations do not dominate in the ground states but are present in the relatively low-lying level schemes. With the aim of identifying the expected 2 p 2 h x s 1 / 2 + state in P 35 , the only N = 20 isotone for which the neutron 2p2h excitation bandhead has not yet been identified, the S 36 ( d , He 3 ) P 35 reaction has been revisited in inverse kinematics with the HELical Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS) at the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS). While a candidate state has not been located, an upper limit for the transfer reaction cross section to populate such a configuration within a 2.5 to 3.6 MeV energy range provides a stringent constraint on the wave function compositions in both S 36 and P 35 .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Coexisting normal and intruder configurations in 32 Mg

Situated in the so-called “island of inversion,” the nucleus 32 Mg is considered as an archetypal example of the disappearance of magicity at N = 20. We report on high statistics in-beam spectroscopy of 32 Mg with a unique approach, in that two direct reaction probes with different sensitivities to the underlying nuclear structure are employed at the same time. More specifically, states in 32 Mg were populated by knockout reactions starting from 33 Mg and 34 Si, lying inside and outside the island of inversion, respectively. The momentum distributions of the reaction residues and the cross sections leading to the individual final states were confronted with eikonal-based reaction calculations, yielding a significantly updated level scheme for 32 Mg and spin-parity assignments. By fully exploiting observables obtained in this measurement, a variety of structures coexisting in 32 Mg was unraveled. Comparisons with theoretical predictions based on shell-model overlaps allowed for clear discrimination between different structural models, revealing that the complete theoretical description of this key nucleus is yet to be achieved.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

In-beam spectroscopy reveals competing nuclear shapes in the rare isotope 62 Cr

In recent decades, rareisotope facilities have enabled the study of short-lived, neutron-rich nuclei. Their measured properties indicate that shell structure changes in the regime of unbalanced neutron-to-proton ratios compared to that of stable nuclei. In the so-called islands of inversion in the nuclear chart – around the neutron-rich nuclei 32 Mg, 42 Si and 64 Cr, for example – the textbook shell-model picture predicts the presence of spherical shapes due to the respective magic neutron numbers of 20, 28, and 40 of these nuclei. However, nuclei in these regions turn out to be deformed in their ground states. Another hallmark of these islands is shape coexistence, where a nucleus assumes different shapes with excitation energy. Furthermore, we present evidence for this phenomenon from the observation of an excited 0 + state in 62 Cr, two neutrons away from the heart of the island of inversion around neutron number N = 40. We use large-scale shell-model calculations to interpret the results and report extrapolations for the doubly-magic nucleus 60 Ca.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Configuration mixing in 28 Mg and the 26 Mg (t,p) 28 Mg reaction

We have studied the 26 Mg(t,p) 28 Mg reaction. The nucleus 28 Mg lies between 24 Mg and 32 Mg, the latter of which is central to the “island of inversion” characterized by low-lying neutron fp-shell configurations. The present results show that the second-excited 0 + state in 28 Mg contains large fp-shell occupation for the neutrons. The experiment was performed in inverse kinematics using the HELIcal Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS) at Argonne National Laboratory. Shell-model calculations using the SDPF-MU interaction yielded level energies and two-neutron transfer amplitudes that were used in one-step distorted-wave Furthermore, born approximation calculations to provide theoretical predictions of the proton angular distributions. In many, but not all cases, the data were in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

20 ≤ A ≤ 38↗
DOE OSTI2024

β -decay feeding intensity distribution of Mn 64

Nuclei around the N=40 “Island of Inversion” exhibit interesting structure features that have been the focus of several experimental and theoretical studies. Here, the present work presents the first complete study of the β-decay feeding intensity distribution and Gamow-Teller distribution for the β decay of 64 Mn to 64 Fe up to ~10 MeV. The β-decay intensity function was extracted from Total Absorption Spectroscopy measurements made at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory with the Summing NaI(Tl) (SuN) detector. The experimental results are compared to shell model calculations with and without the inclusion of the νg 9/2 orbital. From this comparison it is clear that the νg 9/2 orbital is essential for the accurate description of the 64 Fe β-decay strength above ~3 MeV, emphasizing once again the transitional nature of this nucleus into the N=40 Island of Inversion.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of 32 Mg via direct reactions

Background: The nucleus 32 Mg (N=20 and Z=12) plays a central role in the so-called “island of inversion,” where in the ground states sd-shell neutrons are promoted to the fp-shell orbitals across the shell gap, resulting in the disappearance of the canonical neutron magic number N=20. Purpose: The primary goals of this work are to extend the level scheme of 32Mg, provide spin-parity assignments to excited states, and discuss the microscopic structure of each state through comparisons with theoretical calculations. Method: In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of 32 Mg was performed using two direct-reaction probes: one-neutron (two-proton) knockout reactions on 33 Mg ( 34 Si). Final-state exclusive cross sections and parallel momentum distributions were extracted from the experimental data and compared with eikonal-based reaction model calculations combined with shell-model overlap functions. Results: Owing to the remarkable selectivity of the one-neutron and two-proton knockout reactions, a significantly updated level scheme for 32 Mg, which exhibits negative-parity intruder and positive-parity normal states, was constructed. The experimental results were confronted with four different nuclear structure models. Conclusions: In some of these models, different aspects of 32 Mg and the transition into the island of inversion are well described. However, unexplained discrepancies remain, and, even with the help of these state-of-the-art theoretical approaches, the structure of this key nucleus is not yet fully captured.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Probing Exotic Cross-Shell Interactions at N = 28 with Single-Neutron Transfer on 47 K

Here, we present the first measurement of the 47 K ⁡(𝑑, 𝑝⁢𝛾)⁢ 48 K transfer reaction, performed in inverse kinematics using a reaccelerated beam of 47 K. The level scheme of 48 K has been greatly extended, with nine new bound excited states identified and spectroscopic factors deduced. Uniquely, the 47 K ⁡(𝑑, 𝑝) reaction gives access to nuclear states that are sensitive to the interaction of protons and neutrons in the widely spaced 1⁢𝑠 and 𝑓⁡𝑝 orbitals, respectively. Detailed comparisons with SDPF-U and SDPF-MU shell-model calculations reveal a number of discrepancies between theory and experiment. Intriguingly, a systematic overestimation of spectroscopic factors and a poor reproduction of the energies for 1 − states suggests that the mixing between the 𝜋⁢𝑠$^1_{1/2}$⁢𝑑$^4_{3/2}$ and 𝜋⁢𝑠$^2_{1/2}$⁢𝑑$^3_{3/2}$ proton configurations in 48 K is not correctly described using current interactions, challenging our description of light nuclei around the 𝑁 = 28 island of inversion.

Paxman, Charlie J. [Univ. of Surrey, Guildford (Un↗
DOE OSTI2023

Improved high-precision mass measurements of mid-shell neon isotopes

New mass values measured with the TITAN MR-TOF-MS are reported for the short-lived isotopes 24-26 Ne, produced at TRIUMF's ISAC facility using a uranium carbide target and cold FEBIAD ion source. A least-squares adjustment within the framework of the Atomic Mass Evaluation was performed and the improved precision of the new mass values is highlighted. The improved mass accuracy in this N = 14mid-shell region can also point to the refinement in values of the charge radii. By reducing the mass uncertainty of isotopes, their contribution of the mass shift uncertainty in laser spectroscopy can be negated. The work is part of developments for reaching the N = 20 Island of Inversion, where high molecular contamination hinders mass measurements of the neon isotopes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring the onset of collectivity approaching 𝑁=40 with masses of manganese isotopes

Isotopes in the region of the nuclear chart below 68 Ni have been the subject of intense experimental and theoretical effort due to the potential onset of a new “island of inversion” when crossing the harmonic oscillator subshell closure at 𝑁=40. Here, we have measured the masses of 64−68 Mn using TITAN's multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer, resulting in the first precision mass measurements of 67 Mn and 68 Mn. These results are compared to ab initio calculations and modern shell model calculations and show an increase in collectivity approaching 𝑁=40.

binding energy & masses↗
DOE OSTI2021

In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of 62,64 Cr

The region of neutron-rich Cr isotopes has garnered much attention in recent years due to a rapid onset of collectivity near neutron number N = 40. We report here on the first γ-ray spectroscopy beyond the ($4$ $^{+}_{1}$) state in 62,64 Cr, using nucleon removal reactions from several projectiles within a rare-isotope beam cocktail. A candidate for the 6 + state in 64 Cr is presented as well as one for, possibly, the second excited 0 + state in 62 Cr. The results are discussed in comparison to the LNPS shell-model predictions that allow for neutron excitations across the N = 40 harmonic oscillator gap into the g 9/2 and d 5/2 orbitals. Here, the calculated level schemes for 62,64 Cr reveal intriguing collective structures. From the predicted neutron particle-hole character of the low-lying states in these Cr isotopes, 62 Cr emerges as a transitional system on the path to the center of the N = 40 island of inversion.

59 ≤ A ≤ 89↗
DOE OSTI2021

Quadrupole collectivity in the neutron-rich sulfur isotopes 38,40,42,44 S

Electromagnetic transition strengths in the even-even neutron-rich sulfur isotopes 38,40,42,44 S were measured using intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. By utilizing the sensitivity of the experimental technique to E2 excitations from the ground state, the evolution of the pattern of B(E2) strengths to several low-lying 2 + states was investigated at Z = 16 from near stability to the N = 28 island of inversion. The experimental results allowed a detailed comparison with predictions from shell-model calculations using the SDPF-MU Hamiltonian, which was designed to describe collectivity in this region of the nuclear chart. While the shell-model calculations succeeded in modeling transition strengths at N = 22, 24, 26, the experimental B(E2; $0$ $^{+}_{1}$ → $2$ $^{+}_{1}$) at N = 28 was smaller than the predicted value by about a factor of 2, similar to previous observations for chlorine and argon isotopes around N = 28. The dependence of this overprediction by theory on the choice of effective charges was explored.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Spectroscopy of 33 Mg with knockout reactions

In this work, the structure of 33 Mg was investigated by means of two knockout reactions, one-neutron removal from 34 Mg and one-proton removal from 34 Al. Using comparative analysis of the population of observed excited states in the residual 33 Mg, the nature of these states can be deciphered. In addition, the long-standing controversy about the parity of the 33 Mg ground state is resolved using momentum distribution analysis, showing a clear signature for negative parity. Partial cross section measurements are compared with the results of eikonal reaction theory combined with large-scale shell model calculations of this complex nucleus located in the island of inversion, where configuration mixing plays a major role.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Neutron-unbound states in 31 Ne

Background: The Island of Inversion near the N = 20 shell gap is home to nuclei with reordered single-particle energy levels compared to the spherical shell model. Studies of 31 Ne have revealed that its ground state has a halo component, characterized by a valence neutron orbiting a deformed 30 Ne core. This lightly-bound nucleus with a separation energy of only S n = 170 keV is expected to have excited states that are neutron unbound. Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the low-lying excited states in 31 Ne that decay by the emission of a single neutron. Methods: An 89 MeV/u 33 Mg beam impinged on a segmented Be reaction target. Neutron unbound states in 31 Ne were populated via a two-proton knockout reaction. The 30 Ne fragment and associated neutron from the decay of 31 Ne were detected by the MoNA-LISA-Sweeper experimental setup at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. Invariant mass spectroscopy was used to reconstruct the two-body decay energy ( 30 Ne + n). Results: The two-body decay energy spectrum exhibits two features: a low-lying peak at 0.30 ± 0.17 MeV and a broad enhancement at 1.50 ± 0.33 MeV, each fit with an energy-dependent asymmetric Breit-Wigner line shape representing a resonance in the continuum. Accompanying shell model calculations using the FSU interaction within NuShellX, combined with cross-section cal culations using the eikonal reaction theory, indicate that these peaks in the decay energy spectrum are caused by multiple resonant states in 31 Ne. Conclusions: In this study, excited states in 31 Ne were observed for the first time. Transitions from calculated shell model final states in 31 Ne to bound states in 30 Ne are in good agreement with the measured decay energy spectrum. Cross-section calculations for the two-proton knockout populating 31 Ne states as well as spectroscopic factors pertaining to the decay of 31 Ne into 30 Ne are used to examine the results within the context of the shell model expectations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

First high-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy of 41 Si

The first high-resolution in-beam γ -ray spectroscopy is reported for the neutron-rich nucleus 41 Si, a tenant of the N = 28 island of inversion. Excited states were populated in the direct one-proton removal reaction from 42 P projectiles and pn removal from 43 P. Seven γ-ray transitions were observed, only one of which had been reported previously in the literature. Furthermore, this makes 41 Si the most neutron-rich odd-even N = 27 isotone with high-resolution excited-state information. For the one-proton removal, the measured partial cross-section distribution to all observed bound final states is contrasted with results from direct one-proton removal calculations that combine eikonal reaction dynamics with SDPF-MU shell-model spectroscopic factors and assume various possible initial states for the poorly known 42 P projectile. Rather distinct calculated cross-section distributions emerge that, in comparison to the new data, imply that the initial state in 42 P is most likely 3 – or 2 – rather than 1 – or 0 – , the predicted shell-model ground state of 42 P. It is further shown that the level scheme from the novel VS-IMSRG calculation closely agrees with the one of SDPF-MU, the most successful phenomenological shell-model effective interaction in describing the much discussed neighboring isotope 42 Si, perhaps cross-validating these complementary approaches on the quest to model rapid shell evolution away from the valley of β stability.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

β -delayed neutron emission of Mn 64 , Cr 62 , and Fe 65

The β-decay properties of nuclei near the second nuclear “island of inversion” around neutron rich nuclei with neutron number 40 are important tests of nuclear structure models and interactions. In particular, the β-delayed neutron emission branch (Ρ n ), is useful for investigating β-strength and neutron-γ competition above the neutron separation energies of the daughter nuclei. We report new constraints for Ρ n values for three nuclei in the region: 62 Cr (Ρ n <1%), 64 Mn (Ρ n = 1.5⁢(6)%), and 65 Fe (Ρ n < 1%), measured with the Neutron Emission Ratio Observer (NERO) neutron long counter system and the Beta Counting Station (BCS) at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). Our results resolve the large discrepancy between previous direct and indirect measurements for 64 Mn and confirm the predictions of global theoretical models when a statistical treatment of the γ and neutron decays of the daughter states is included. Here we also obtain improved half-lives for 62 Cr [206(5) ms] and the short-lived isomer in the 62 Fe daughter [112(7) ms] from β-delayed γ emission data obtained in the same experiment with the Summing NaI (SuN) total absorption spectrometer. Finally, we use γ emission data to obtain a new upper limit for the 62 Cr β-decay population of the long-lived isomeric state in 62 Mn.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structure of odd-mass Ne, Na, and Mg nuclei

The island of inversion is a region of neutron-rich nuclei around 31 Na that are deformed in their ground states. In this region, less is known about the energy levels of odd-mass nuclei, how they evolve with increasing neutron numbers, and how they can be organized into rotational bands. We perform ab initio coupled-cluster calculations of spectra in odd-mass Ne, Na, and Mg nuclei based on an interaction of chiral effective field theory. In conclusion, our results confirm some tentative spin and parity assignments, predict the structure of nuclei near the neutron dripline, and inform us about rotational bands in this region of the nuclear table.

20 ≤ A ≤ 38↗
NASA NTRS2003

The MODIS Aerosol Algorithm, Products and Validation

The MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard both NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites is making near global daily observations of the earth in a wide spectral range. These measurements are used to derive spectral aerosol optical thickness and aerosol size parameters over both land and ocean. The aerosol products available over land include aerosol optical thickness at three visible wavelengths, a measure of the fraction of aerosol optical thickness attributed to the fine mode and several derived parameters including reflected spectral solar flux at top of atmosphere. Over ocean, the aerosol optical thickness is provided in seven wavelengths from 0.47 microns to 2.13 microns. In addition, quantitative aerosol size information includes effective radius of the aerosol and quantitative fraction of optical thickness attributed to the fine mode. Spectral aerosol flux, mass concentration and number of cloud condensation nuclei round out the list of available aerosol products over the ocean. The spectral optical thickness and effective radius of the aerosol over the ocean are validated by comparison with two years of AERONET data gleaned from 133 AERONET stations. 8000 MODIS aerosol retrievals colocated with AERONET measurements confirm that one-standard deviation of MODIS optical thickness retrievals fall within the predicted uncertainty of delta tauapproximately equal to plus or minus 0.03 plus or minus 0.05 tau over ocean and delta tay equal to plus or minus 0.05 plus or minus 0.15 tau over land. 271 MODIS aerosol retrievals co-located with AERONET inversions at island and coastal sites suggest that one-standard deviation of MODIS effective radius retrievals falls within delta r_eff approximately equal to 0.11 microns. The accuracy of the MODIS retrievals suggests that the product can be used to help narrow the uncertainties associated with aerosol radiative forcing of global climate.

Remer, L. A.↗