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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Photonuclear cross sections for 197 Au: An update on the gold standard

Cross sections for the 197 Au(γ, n) reaction are broadly used in nuclear physics as a standard for normalizing photonuclear reaction cross-section data at photon beam energies above approximately 8 MeV. In this paper, we report cross-section measurements for the 197 Au(γ, n) 196 Au g+m1 reaction at beam energies from 13 to 31 MeV. Our measurements provide the first cross-section data for this reaction at beam energies above 20 MeV, enabling the use of this reaction as a cross-section standard up to 30 MeV. Also, this work provides first cross-section measurements for the 197 Au(γ, n) 196 Au m2 reaction. In addition, we measured cross-section data for the 197 Au(γ, 3n) 194 Au reaction, which can be used as a cross-section standard above about 25 MeV. These measurements were performed using a new target activation method that is based on the angle-energy correlation of the laser Compton- scattered photon beams at the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HIγS). The technique enables measuring photonuclear reaction cross-sections at several discrete beam energies concurrently via a single irradiation on a stack of different targets. Measurements were carried out by irradiating a stack of concentric-ring targets consisting of Au, TiO 2 , Zn, Os, and Au (in order of the γ-ray beam direction). Our data for the 197 Au(γ,n) 196 Au g+m1 reaction in the energy range of 13 to 20 MeV are in good agreement with existing ones measured using monoenergetic γ-ray beams, but differ from data acquired using a bremsstrahlung γ-ray beam. Also, above 18 MeV, our data for the 197 Au(γ,n) 196 Au g+m1 and 197 Au(γ,n) 196 Au m2 reactions differ significantly from the most recent TENDL and JENDL evaluations, suggesting a need to update these data libraries. Furthermore, the TENDL evaluation and existing data are consistent with our data for the 197 Au(γ,3n) reaction, but differ significantly from the JENDL evaluation above 26 MeV.

190 ≤ A ≤ 219↗
DOE OSTI2020

First measurement of direct photoproduction of the a 2 (1320) 0 meson on the proton

We present the first measurement of the reaction γ p → a 2 ( 1320 ) 0 p in the photon energy range 3.5– 5.5 Ge V and four-momentum transfer squared 0.2 < - t < 2.0 Ge V 2 . Data were collected with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The a 2 resonance was detected by measuring the reaction γ p → π 0 η p and reconstructing the π 0 η invariant mass. The most prominent feature of the differential cross section is a dip at -t ≈ 0.55 Ge V 2 . This can be described in the framework of Regge phenomenology, where the exchange degeneracy hypothesis predicts a zero in the reaction amplitude for this value of the four-momentum transfer.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

First measurement of the asymmetry and the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integrand from the 3 $\vec{H}$e ($\vec{γ},p$) 2 H reaction at an incident photon energy of 29 MeV

The first measurement of the 3 $\vec{H}$e ($\vec{γ},p$) 2 H process was performed at the High Intensity γ-ray Source ( HIγS ) facility at Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory using a circularly polarized, monoenergetic γ -ray beam and a longitudinally polarized 3 He target. The spin-dependent asymmetry and the contribution from the two-body photodisintegration to the 3 He Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integrand are extracted and compared with state-of-the-art three-nucleon system calculations at the incident photon energy of 29 MeV. The data are in general agreement with the various theoretical predictions based on the Siegert theorem or on explicit inclusion of meson-exchange currents.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Integration of High-Z Converter into Full-scale Production Target for Accelerator-based Production of 99 Mo

NorthStar Medical Technologies is planning to produce the 99Mo isotope via the photonuclear route. The Rhodotron accelerator designed by IBA will be used as an electron-beam source. The Rhodotron is an efficient recirculating accelerator, providing low energy dispersion and a low-emittance electron beam. The nominal beam power is assumed to be 120 kW at 40 MeV. In photonuclear production of 99 Mo, a high-power electron beam impinges on a helium-cooled Mo disk target. Electrons are converted into photons through the Bremsstrahlung process. Consequently, high-energy photons interact with the target nuclei, producing 99 Mo through the 100 Mo(γ, n) 99 Mo reaction. Traditionally, photonuclear production is realized using high-Z material as the electron-to-photon converter. NorthStar plans not to use a high-Z converter in the initial production target design, but it may be interested in the increased production capabilities a high-Z converter can provide. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating a high-Z converter into the target design.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Isotope Production Education and Research via a Systematic Study of Photo-nuclear Reaction Yields and Excitation Functions

A new collaboration between the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Idaho State University, and Idaho National Laboratory builds the domestic workforce in isotope production and related science and technologies by conducting research and education programs related to photo-nuclear reactions. Workforce development was identified by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science in the Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) program that seeks to engage underrepresented university students in isotope production activities. This collaboration includes coursework development, student training, and isotope production research utilizing photo-nuclear reactions at electron linear accelerators. Bremsstrahlung-weighted excitation functions and cross-sections will be measured and the use of nanomaterials to exploit kinematic recoil reactions will be investigated. Students will be hosted at the Idaho National Laboratory where mentors will provide opportunities to explore careers in nuclear science and technology. This presentation regards the ongoing progress of the research and education objectives of the collaboration that was performed under the Office of Science Isotopes Program under award number D000-22-2765.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Measurement of the Li 7 ( γ , t ) He 4 ground-state cross section between E γ = 4.4 and 10 MeV

Here, the Li 7 ( γ , t ) He 4 ground state cross section was measured for the first time using monoenergetic γ rays with energies between 4.4 and 10 MeV at the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source. The reaction is important for the primordial Li problem and for testing our understanding of the mirror α -capture reactions H 3 ( α , γ ) Li 7 and He 3 ( α , γ ) Be 7 . Although over the last 30 years most measurements of the H 3 ( α , γ ) Li 7 reaction have concentrated in an energy range below E γ = 3.65 MeV, measurements at higher energies could potentially restrict the extrapolation to astrophysically important energies. The experimental arrangement for measuring the Li 7 ( γ , t ) He 4 reaction included a large-area silicon detector array and several beam characterization instruments. The experimental astrophysical S factor of H 3 ( α , γ ) calculated from the present data was fitted using the R -matrix formalism. The results are in disagreement with previous experimental measurements in the same energy range but the extrapolated S factor agrees with the potential model calculation and lower energy experimental data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Measurement of the photon beam asymmetry in γ → p → K + Σ 0 at E γ = 8.5 GeV

We report measurements of the photon beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ for the reaction $\vec{\gamma} p\to K^+\Sigma^0$(1193) using the GlueX spectrometer in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. Data were collected using a linearly polarized photon beam in the energy range of 8.2-8.8 GeV incident on a liquid hydrogen target. The beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ was measured as a function of the Mandelstam variable $t$, and a single value of $\Sigma$ was extracted for events produced in the $u$-channel. These are the first exclusive measurements of the photon beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ for the reaction in this energy range. For the $t$-channel, the measured beam asymmetry is close to unity over the $t$-range studied, $-t=(0.1-1.4)~$(GeV/$c$)$^{2}$, with an average value of $\Sigma = 1.00\pm 0.05$. This agrees with theoretical models that describe the reaction via the natural-parity exchange of the $K^{*}$(892) Regge trajectory. A value of $\Sigma = 0.41 \pm 0.09$ is obtained for the $u$-channel integrated up to $-u=2.0$~(GeV/$c$)$^{2}$.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quasi-deuteron model at low renormalization group resolution

The quasi-deuteron model introduced by Levinger is used to explain cross sections for knocking out high-momentum protons in photoabsorption on nuclei. This is within a framework we characterize as exhibiting high renormalization group (RG) resolution. Assuming a one-body reaction operator, the nuclear wave function must include two-body short-range correlations (SRCs) with deuteronlike quantum numbers. In Phys. Rev. C 104, 034311 (2021), we showed that SRC physics can be naturally accounted for at low RG resolution. We describe the quasi-deuteron model at low RG resolution and determine the Levinger constant, which is proportional to the ratio of nuclear photoabsorption to that for photodisintegration of a deuteron. We extract the Levinger constant based on the ratio of momentum distributions at high relative momentum. We compute momentum distributions evolved under similarity RG (SRG) transformations where the SRC physics is shifted into the operator as a universal two-body term. The short-range nature of this operator motivates using local-density approximations with uncorrelated wave functions in evaluating nuclear matrix elements, which greatly simplifies the analysis. The operator must be consistently matched to the RG scale and scheme of the interaction for a reliable extraction. We apply SRG transformations to different nucleon-nucleon (NN) interactions and use the deuteron wave functions and Weinberg eigenvalues to determine approximate matching scales. We predict the Levinger constant for several NN interactions and a wide range of nuclei comparing to experimental extractions. The predictions at low RG resolution are in good agreement with experiment when starting with a hard NN interaction and the initial operator. Similar agreement is found using soft NN interactions when the additional two-body operator induced by evolution from hard to soft is included.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Measurement of beam asymmetry for π – Δ ++ photoproduction on the proton at E γ = 8.5 GeV

We report a measurement of the $\pi^-$ photoproduction beam asymmetry for the reaction $\vec{\gamma} p \rightarrow \pi^- \Delta^{++}$ using data from the GlueX experiment in the photon beam energy range 8.2--8.8 GeV. The asymmetry $\Sigma$ is measured as a function of four-momentum transfer $t$ to the $\Delta^{++}$ and compared to phenomenological models. We find that $\Sigma$ varies as a function of $t$: negative at smaller values and positive at higher values of $|t|$. The reaction can be described theoretically by $t$-channel particle exchange requiring pseudoscalar, vector, and tensor intermediaries. In particular, this reaction requires charge exchange, allowing us to probe pion exchange and the significance of higher-order corrections to one-pion exchange at low momentum transfer. Constraining production mechanisms of conventional mesons may aid in the search for and study of unconventional mesons. Furthermore, this is the first measurement of the process at this energy.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurement of spin density matrix elements in Λ ( 1520 ) photoproduction at 8.2–8.8 GeV

We report on the measurement of spin density matrix elements of the $\Lambda(1520)$ in the photoproduction reaction $\gamma p\rightarrow \Lambda(1520)K^+$, via its subsequent decay to $K^{-}p$. The measurement was performed as part of the GlueX experimental program in Hall D at Jefferson Lab using a linearly polarized photon beam with $E_\gamma =$ 8.2-8.8 GeV. These are the first such measurements in this photon energy range. Results are presented in bins of momentum transfer squared, $-(t-t_\text{0})$. We compare the results with a Reggeon exchange model and determine that natural exchange amplitudes are dominant in $\Lambda(1520)$ photoproduction.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Photoproduction of η mesons off the proton for 1.2 < E γ < 4.7GeV using CLAS at Jefferson Laboratory

Photoproduction cross sections are reported for the reaction $\gamma p\to p\eta$ using energy-tagged photons and the CLAS spectrometer at Jefferson Laboratory. The $\eta$ mesons are detected in their dominant charged decay mode, $\eta\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$, and results on differential cross sections are presented for incident photon energies between 1.2 and 4.7 GeV. These new $\eta$ photoproduction data are consistent with earlier CLAS results but extend the energy range beyond the nucleon resonance region into the Regge regime. The normalized angular distributions are also compared with the experimental results from several other experiments, and with predictions of $\eta$ MAID\,2018 and the latest solution of the Bonn-Gatchina coupled-channel analysis. Differential cross sections $d\sigma/dt$ are presented for incident photon energies $E_\gamma > 2.9$ GeV ($W > 2.5$ GeV), and compared with predictions which are based on Regge trajectories exchange in the $t$-channel (Regge models). Overall, the data confirm the expected dominance of $\rho$, $\omega$ vector-meson exchange in an analysis by the Joint Physics Analysis Center.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Photoproduction of the f 2 ( 1270 ) Meson Using the CLAS Detector

The quark structure of the f 2 ( 1270 ) meson has, for many years, been assumed to be a pure quark-antiquark (q$\bar{q}$) resonance with quantum numbers J PC = 2 ++ . Recently, it was proposed that the f 2 ( 1270 ) is a molecular state made from the attractive interaction of two ρ mesons. Such a state would be expected to decay strongly to final states with charged pions due to the dominant decay ρ → π + π - , whereas decay to two neutral pions would likely be suppressed. Here, we measure for the first time the reaction γp → π 0 π 0 p , using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer detector at Jefferson Lab for incident beam energies between 3.6 and 5.4 GeV. Differential cross sections, dσ/dt , for f 2 ( 1270 ) photoproduction are extracted with good precision due to low backgrounds and are compared to theoretical calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Polarization observables 𝑇 and 𝐹 in the 𝛾⁢𝑝→𝜋 0 ⁢𝑝 reaction at CLAS

Pion photoproduction in the $\vec{γ}$$\vec{p}$ → π 0 p reaction has been measured in the FROzen Spin Target (FROST) experiment at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. In this experiment, circularly polarized photons with energies up to 3.082 GeV impinged on a transversely polarized frozen-spin target. Final-state protons were detected in the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) Large Acceptance Spectrometer. The polarization observables T and F have been extracted for W from 1445 to 2525 MeV, of which the energy range is much broader, and the precision is better than the existing measurements in higher W ranges. The data generally agree with predictions of present partial-wave analyses but also show marked differences for higher W ranges. By incorporating the present data into the databases, the Scattering Analysis Interactive Data (SAID) fits have been improved with relatively small χ 2 and significant changes in the parameters of the (1910)1/2 + and N(2190)7/2 − have been found with the JüBo model.

particle production↗
DOE OSTI2026

Search for the 𝑌⁡(2175) in the Photoproduction Cross Section Measurement of 𝛾⁢𝑝 → 𝜙⁢𝜋 + ⁢𝜋 − ⁢𝑝 at GlueX

Based on 334 pb −1 of photoproduction data collected with the GlueX detector at Jefferson Lab, we have measured for the first time the cross section of the exclusive reaction 𝛾+𝑝→𝜙⁡(1020)⁢𝜋 + ⁢𝜋 − ⁢𝑝 by reconstructing the final state 𝐾 +⁢ 𝐾 − ⁢𝜋 + ⁢𝜋 − ⁢𝑝 produced with a photon beam of energies between 8.0 and 11.6 GeV. Based on the measured differential cross section, we have performed a search for the strangeoniumlike exotic candidate 𝑌⁡(2175), recently renamed to 𝜙⁡(2170). This state has been reported by different 𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − annihilation experiments and it is addressed here for the first time in a photoproduction experiment. We do not find evidence for this state when using the resonance parameters quoted by the Particle Data Group and provide upper limits on the photoproduction cross section. Instead, we find a structure at a mass of 𝑚⁡(𝜙⁢𝜋 + ⁢𝜋 − ) = 2.24 GeV/𝑐 2 with a statistical significance of about 5⁢𝜎. The parameters of this structure differ from those quoted by the Particle Data Group for the 𝜙⁡(2170) and are consistent with a previous observation in 𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − annihilation. In addition, there is evidence for a second structure at 1.82 GeV/𝑐 2 .

Exotic mesons↗
DOE OSTI2026

Baryon–antibaryon photoproduction cross sections off the proton

The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab has observed 𝑝⁢$\overline{p}$ and, for the first time, Λ$\overlineΛ$ and 𝑝$\overlineΛ$ photoproduction from a proton target at photon energies up to 11.6 GeV. The angular distributions are forward peaked for all produced pairs, consistent with Regge-like 𝑡-channel exchange. Asymmetric wide-angle antibaryon distributions show the presence of additional processes. In a phenomenological model, we find consistency with a double-𝑡-channel exchange process where antibaryons are created only at the middle vertex. The model matches all observed distributions with a small number of free parameters. In the hyperon channels, we observe a clear distinction between photoproduction of the Λ$\overlineΛ$ and 𝑝$\overlineΛ$ systems but general similarity to the 𝑝$\overline{p}$ system. We report both total cross sections and cross sections differential with respect to momentum transfer and the invariant masses of the created particle pairs. No narrow resonant structures were found in these reaction channels. The suppression of 𝑠$\overline{s}$ quark pairs relative to 𝑑$\overline{d}$ quark pairs is similar to what has been seen in other reactions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurement of magnetic dipole strength in 40 Ar between 9.3 and 10.3 MeV excitation energy and impact on neutral current neutrino interaction

The magnetic dipole strength 𝐵⁡(𝑀⁢1 ↑) of 40 Ar was measured in the excitation energy range between 9.3 and 10.3 MeV. The nuclear resonance fluorescence technique was used with monoenergetic, linearly polarized incident photon beams. The new data increase the known 𝐵⁡(𝑀⁢1 ↑) strength in this important excitation energy range by a factor of 2, resulting in an equivalent increase of the calculated neutral current neutrino cross section of 40 Ar . This observation is of special interest for liquid-argon (LAr)-based neutrino detectors. 𝐵⁡(𝑀⁢1 ↑) strength has not been found between 10.3 and 11.7 MeV excitation energy. In conclusion, with the new data, a more reliable detection capability of the large Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment LAr detectors can be derived for potential core-collapse supernova neutrinos via the neutral current interaction.

Energy levels↗
DOE OSTI2026

Measurement of 𝐷 0 Meson Photoproduction in Ultraperipheral Heavy Ion Collisions

This Letter reports the first measurement of photonuclear 𝐷 0 meson production in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions. The study is performed using lead-lead collision data, with an integrated luminosity of 1.34 nb −1 , collected by the CMS experiment at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.36 TeV. Photonuclear events, where one of the colliding nuclei breaks up and the other remains intact, are selected based on breakup neutron emissions and by requiring no particle activity in a large rapidity interval in the direction of the photon-emitting nucleus. The 𝐷 0 mesons are reconstructed via the 𝐷 0 → 𝐾 −⁢ 𝜋 + decay channel, with the cross section measured as a function of 𝐷 0 meson transverse momentum and rapidity. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations that employ recent parametrizations of the lead nuclear parton distribution functions, as well as with predictions based on the color glass condensate framework. This measurement is the first photonuclear collision study characterizing parton distribution functions of lead nuclei for parton fractional momenta 𝑥 (relative to the nucleon) ranging approximately from a few 10 −4 to 10 −2 for different hard energy scale 𝑄 2 selections.

charm quark↗