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Seweryniak, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Seweryniak, D..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

First identification of resonant states in the {sup 45}V(p, {gamma}){sup 46}Cr reaction and their influence on the production of {sup 44}Ti in Core Collapse Supernovae

The observation of active 44Ti in supernova remnants offers the potential to solve one of the most debated questions in modern astrophysics, the exact underlying explosion mechanism of core collapse supernovae (CCSNe). In particular, a comparison between the predicted synthesized yield of 44Ti and the ejected flux is expected to allow for a determination of the mass cut of the star. Unfortunately, such comparisons are currently severely hindered by large uncertainties in the nuclear reactions governing the production and destruction of 44Ti. On this note, the astrophysical 45Vðp; γÞ46Cr reaction is expected to play a decisive role. We present the first experimental information on resonant states in the 45Vðp; γÞ46Cr reaction. Excitation energies have been measured with high precision for ten previously unknown, low-spin, proton-unbound states in 46Cr, and spin-parity-assignment constraints have been made using observed γ-decay patterns and shell-model calculations. We find that an l ¼ 1 resonance at 714 keV dominates the 45Vðp; γÞ46Cr reaction for the entire temperature range of α-rich freezeout. Moreover, the nominal rate is found to be ∼25–50% of previous estimates for T > 1.2 GK, indicating an increase in 44Ti production in CCSNe of ∼20–35%.

Cousins, C↗
DOE OSTI2025

Observation of a new isomer in {sup 185}Au

Delayed γ-ray spectroscopy of 185Au was studied at the Argonne Gas-Filled Analyzer. A new isomer at an excitation energy of 1504.2(4) keV with a half-life of 630(80) ns was identified via γ-γ coincidence analysis, decaying via a 294.8(3) keV transition. Based on Weisskopf estimates, the multipolarity of the 295 keV transition is assigned to be E1, M1, E2, or M2. Possible configurations for this new isomer are discussed based on configuration-constrained potential energy surface calculations.

Fu, X. Y.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Fine structure in the α decay of $^{179}$Hg and $^{177}$Au

Abstract The$$\upalpha $$ α -decay fine structure of$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg and$$^{177}$$ 177 Au was studied by means of decay spectroscopy. Two experiments were performed at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (JYFL), Finland, utilizing the recoil separator RITU and a digital data acquisition system. The heavy-ion induced fusion-evaporation reactions$$^{82}_{36}$$ 36 82 Kr + $$^{100}_{44}$$ 44 100 Ru and$$^{88}_{38}$$ 38 88 Kr + $$^{92}_{42}$$ 42 92 Mo were used to produce the$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg and$$^{177}$$ 177 Au nuclei, respectively. Studying the evaporation residues (ER, recoils)-$$\alpha _1$$ α 1 -$$\alpha _2$$ α 2 correlations and$$\upalpha $$ α -$$\gamma $$ γ coincidences, a new$$\upalpha $$ α decay with E$$_\alpha $$ α = 6156(10) keV was observed from$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg. This decay populates the (9/2$$^-$$ - ) excited state at an excitation energy of 131.3(5) keV in$$^{175}$$ 175 Pt. The internal conversion coefficient for the 131.3(5) keV transition de-exciting this state was measured for the first time. Regarding the$$^{177}$$ 177 Au nucleus, a new$$\upalpha $$ α decay with E$$_\alpha $$ α = 5998(9) keV was observed to populate the 156.1(6) keV excited state in$$^{173}$$ 173 Ir. Two de-excitation paths were observed from this excited state. Moreover, a new 215.7(13) keV transition was observed to depopulate the 424.4(13) keV excited state in$$^{173}$$ 173 Ir. Properties of the$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg and$$^{177}$$ 177 Au$$\upalpha $$ α decays were examined in a framework of reduced widths and hindrance factors. For clarity and simplicity, the spin and parity assignments (e.g.$$J^{\pi }$$ J π ) are presented without brackets throughout the text.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nuclear structure of 157 Sm via 𝛽−decay of 157 Pm

Excited states of the neutron-rich nucleus 157 Sm were populated through the 𝛽−decay of 157 Pm , which has a tentatively assigned ground-state spin and parity of 𝐽 𝜋 =(5/2 − ). Over 30 levels have been observed, 16 of which are new, and over 45 new 𝛾-ray transitions have been placed in the level scheme. An evolution in the ground-state configurations for 𝑁 = 95 nuclei from 5/2 − ⁢[523] (Er/Yb), to 5/2 + ⁢[642] (Dy), to 3/2 − ⁢[521] (Sm/Gd) can be explained based on increasing deformation from 𝑍 = 70 to 𝑍 = 62 and the fact that these three orbitals are energetically close to each other at deformations near 𝛽 2 ≈ 0.25–0.3. Finally, tentative spin and parity assignments are made for most of the states below 1500 keV based on the decay properties of the levels and using excitation-energy systematics of the various orbitals observed in 𝑁 = 95 nuclei.

beta decay↗
DOE OSTI2024

Toward the Discovery of New Elements: Production of Livermorium (𝑍 = 116) with 50 Ti

The 244 Pu ⁢(50 Ti ,𝑥⁢𝑛)⁢ 294−𝑥 Lv reaction was investigated at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s 88-Inch Cyclotron. The experiment was aimed at the production of a superheavy element with 𝑍 ≥114 by irradiating an actinide target with a beam heavier than 48 Ca. Produced Lv ions were separated from the unwanted beam and nuclear reaction products using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator and implanted into a newly commissioned focal-plane detector system. Two decay chains were observed and assigned to the decay of 290 Lv . The production cross section was measured to be 𝜎 prod = 0.44($^{+0.58}_{−0.28}$) pb at a center-of-target center-of-mass energy of 220(3) MeV. Furthermore, this represents the first published measurement of the production of a superheavy element near the “island of stability,” with a beam of 50 Ti and is an essential precursor in the pursuit of searching for new elements beyond 𝑍 =118.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nuclear structure of 157 Sm via β – decay of 157 Pm

Excited states of the neutron-rich nucleus 157 Sm were populated through the β – decay of 157 Pm, which has a tentatively assigned ground-state spin and parity of J π = (5/2 – ). Over 30 levels have been observed, 16 of which are new, and over 45 new γ-ray transitions have been placed in the level scheme. An evolution in the ground-state configurations for N = 95 nuclei from 5/2 – [523] (Er/Yb), to 5/2 + [642] (Dy), to 3/2 – [521] (Sm/Gd) can be explained based on increasing deformation from Z = 70 to Z = 62 and the fact that these three orbitals are energetically close to each other at deformations near β 2 ≈ 0.25 – 0.3. Tentative spin and parity assignments are made for most of the states below 1500 keV based on the decay properties of the levels and using excitation-energy systematics of the various orbitals observed in N = 95 nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigation of the \(\gamma \)-ray Properties of the \(2^+\) States in \(^{14}\)C

The properties of the 2$^+_1$ and 2$^+_2$ excited states in 14 C were studied in an experiment conducted at Argonne National Laboratory. A 9 Be( 6 Li,pγ) fusion-evaporation reaction and the GRETINA-ORRUBA setup were employed to populate states of 14 C and detect γ-particle coincidence events. Finally, the precise determination of the 2$^+_1$ level energy, complemented by the estimation of the γ-ray branch of the 2$^+_2$ near-threshold state, will serve as a benchmark to test the Shell Model Embedded in the Continuum calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

The LSU-Argonne conversion electron spectrometer: A new detector for the X-Array and SATURN decay station

In this study, a new conversion electron detector has been commissioned at the ATLAS/ CARIBU facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The LSU-Argonne Conversion Electron Spectrometer (LACES) is a LN 2 -cooled Si(Li) detector system designed to be incorporated into a decay station that comprises the dedicated HPGe clover array with a box geometry (X -Array) and the Scintillator and Tape Using Radioactive Nuclei (SATURN) device. This integration enables simultaneous measurements of conversion electrons and gamma-rays in decay experiments, yielding novel information on transition multipolarities, electric monopole transitions, and isomeric states that decay mostly via conversion electrons. A measurement of the energy resolution of LACES yielded 2.3-keV FWHM at 975 keV for electrons and 1.3-keV FWHM at 75 keV for X-rays. A detailed study of the absolute detection efficiency (at 5 mm from the source) was performed, where this quantity was determined experimentally in the range of electron transition energies between 25.5 keV and 1047.8 keV and subsequently simulated using the GEANT4 code. Measurement and simulations are found to be in excellent agreement. A precise characterization, for this type of detector system, of the absolute detection efficiency for such a wide energy range is reported for the first time.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Collective modes of excitation in 64 Cu

Medium and high-spin level sequences in 64 Cu were investigated using the complex 26 Mg( 48 Ca, αp5nγ ) multinucleon transfer reaction. The experiment was performed at the ATLAS accelerator facility at the Argonne National Laboratory using the Gammasphere array and the fragment mass analyzer (FMA). Two high-spin, quasirotational bands consisting of stretched-E2 transitions were observed in coincidence with the known low-spin structure for the first time. These bands share remarkable similarities with highly deformed and/or superdeformed bands observed in the A ≈ 60–70 mass region. In addition, a regular dipole sequence with weak E2 crossover transitions was observed. A general discussion of the observed structures, complemented by theoretical calculations carried out within the framework of the adiabatic and configuration-fixed constrained covariant density functional theory and the quantum particle-rotor model, are presented. Furthermore, the results are interpreted in the context of shell-structure evolution and the collectivity in the mass region.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Determination of the spins and parities for the $0$$^{+}_{4}$ and $0$$^{+}_{5}$ states in 100 Zr

Two 0 + states at 1294.5 and 1774.0 keV, together with three 2 + and one 4 + levels, were identified or unambiguously spin-parity assigned for the first time in 100 Zr utilizing γ-ray spectroscopy and γ-γ angular correlation techniques with the Gammasphere spectrometer, following the β¯ decay of neutron-rich, mass separated 100,100m Y isotopes. Comparisons with recent Monte Carlo Shell-Model (MCSM) calculations indicate that these two states are candidates for the bandhead of a sequence in a shape-coexisting spherical minimum predicted to be located around ≈1500 keV. According to the measured relative B(E2) relative transition probabilities, the $0$$^{+}_{5}$ state exhibits decay properties which more closely align with those predicted for a spherical shape, while the $0$$^{+}_{4}$ level is suggested to be associated with a weakly-deformed shape similar to one related to the $0$$^{+}_{2}$ state.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Structure of the high-spin, 𝛽-decaying state in the neutron-rich nucleus 146 La

Excited structures in 146 Ce were populated in 𝛽 decay of the high-spin state in the neutron-rich nucleus 146 La. The beam was produced by the Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) facility at Argonne National Laboratory, reaccelerated by the ATLAS accelerator, and implanted on a moving-tape system in the middle of the GAMMASPHERE array. The decay scheme of the high-spin, 𝛽-decaying state in 146 La was revised with respect to previous studies and evaluated nuclear data. Here, the structure of 146 La is discussed in the framework of the deformed Nilsson model and systematics of known quasiparticle structures in the region.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Determination of the spins and parities for the $0^+_4$ and $0^+_5$ states in $^{100}Zr$

Two 0 + states at 1294.5 and 1774.0 keV, together with three 2 + and one 4 + levels, were identified or unambiguously spin-parity assigned for the first time in 100 Zr utilizing γ-ray spectroscopy and γ-γ angular correlation techniques with the Gammasphere spectrometer, following the β - decay of neutron-rich, mass separated 100,100m Y isotopes. Comparisons with recent Monte Carlo Shell-Model (MCSM) calculations indicate that these two states are candidates for the bandhead of a sequence in a shape-coexisting spherical minimum predicted to be located around ≈1500 keV. According to the measured relative B(E2) relative transition probabilities, the 0+ 5 state exhibits decay properties which more closely align with those predicted for a spherical shape, while the $0^+_4$ level is suggested to be associated with a weakly-deformed shape similar to one related to the $0^+_2$ state.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Structure of the high-spin, β-decaying state in the neutron-rich nucleus 146 La

Excited structures in 146 Ce were populated in β decay of the high-spin state in the neutronrich nucleus 146 La. The beam was produced by the Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) facility at Argonne National Laboratory, re-accelerated by the ATLAS accelerator and implanted on a moving-tape system in the middle of the GAMMASPHERE array. The decay scheme of the high-spin, β-decaying state in 146 La was revised with respect to previous studies and evaluated nuclear data. The structure of 146 La is discussed in the framework of the deformed Nilsson model and systematics of known quasiparticle structures in the region.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

α decay of the neutron-deficient isotope At 190

The alpha decay of the neutron-deficient 190 At isotope was observed following the 103 Rh( 90 Zr, 3n) 190 At reaction at Argonne National Laboratory. The reaction products were separated from the beam using the Argonne Gas-Filled Analyzer and implanted into a double-sided Si strip detector. The spatial and temporal correlations between implanted nuclei and subsequent α decays towards the known daughter isotope 186 Bi were used to identify and characterize 190 At nuclei. In this paper, two possible decay scenarios are proposed for the 190 At → 186 Bi decay.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

𝛽 decay of 36 Mg and 36 Al: Identification of a 𝛽-decaying isomer in 36 Al

The level structure of 36 Al has been studied via 𝛽 decay of 36 Mg at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) and the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). A long-lived isomer in 36 Al was identified which decays by 𝛽 to an excited state of 36 Si. The ground state and the isomeric state of 36 Al were found to populate different energy levels of 36 Si. Furthermore, the results from the two data sets in the present work complement each other. Configuration interaction calculations performed with the FSU shell-model Hamiltonians provide reasonable descriptions to the experimental observations and offer insight into future improvements of the theoretical interpretation.

20 ≤ A ≤ 38↗
DOE OSTI2023

New method for level-lifetime measurements with thick scintillators

Level lifetimes provide key insight into the structure of atomic nuclei and serve as stringent tests of theoretical descriptions. Though several methods for determining level lifetimes exist for both reaction measurements and decay studies, here the focus is on techniques involving the direct measurement of time differences between population and subsequent depopulation of excited states. The techniques presented herein are broadly applicable across multiple timing ranges, but the approach is specifically described for the βγ timing method. A multi-step, amplitude-dependent time walk correction was employed to address the data analysis complications that arise from using thick scintillators for electron detection. Further, additional corrections for the depth of the interaction must also be performed when the parent isotope has been implanted into the detector. Techniques are presented for performing these time walk and depth of interaction corrections. Subsequently, a new Monte Carlo method utilizing measured detector responses obtained from the data, coupled with chi-square minimization, is presented for extracting excited state lifetimes ≳ 100 picoseconds. The framework of this Monte Carlo method is developed for the decay of a state in 68 Zn with a known 1.6 ps half life, which is considered prompt given the detection sensitivity of the technique, and then benchmarked using two other excited states in neutron-rich Ni isotopes with 120(34) ps and 1.05(3) ns half lives. Using this new method which takes into account the thick scintillator used, these same half lives were measured to be 135(10) ps and 1.04(24) ns, respectively. The overall good agreement demonstrates the validity of the technique.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗