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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Proton decay spectroscopy of S 28 and Cl 30

States in 28 S and 30 Cl have been studied using one- and two-proton decay spectroscopy. In the first spectrometer setting, states in 28 S were populated following one-neutron knockout from a fast 29 S beam. Three new states are observed in 28 S from one- and two-proton decay. For the two-proton case the nature of the decay was investigated and found to proceed via sequential two-proton emission. For the second setting, states in 30 Cl were populated via one-proton knockout from a fast 31 Ar beam. The decay energy of the ground and first excited state were measured, with the ground-state decay energy found to be in disagreement with a previous measurement. Here, the spin and parity of these two 30 Cl states were inferred from shell-model calculations.

20 ≤ A ≤ 38↗
DOE OSTI2022

β - p and β - α decay of the 11 Be neutron halo ground state

Beta-delayed proton emission from the neutron halo ground state of 11 Be raised much attention due to the unusually high decay rate. It was argued that this may be due to the existence of a resonance just above the proton decay threshold. In this letter, we use the lenses of real-energy continuum shell model to describe several observables including the Gamow–Teller rates for the β - -delayed α and proton decays, and argue that, within our model, the large β - p branching ratio cannot be reconciled with other data.

11Be↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fine structure in the odd-odd proton emitter Tm 144

Axial symmetry breaking in 144 Tm is probed by examining its proton emission fine structure. The ground-state spin and parity in 144 Tm and daughter 143 Er are assigned unambiguously based on the corroboration of our calculations with the present data. Here we establish the first microscopic description of fine structure in odd-odd proton emitters, which is capable of resolving ambiguities present in the assignments of transitions in such nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Description of the Proton-Decaying 0 2 + Resonance of the α Particle

The recent precise experimental determination of the monopole transition form factor from the ground state of 4 He to its $0$$^{+}_{2}$ resonance via electron scattering has reinvigorated discussions about the nature of this first excited state of the α particle. The $0$$^{+}_{2}$ state has been traditionally interpreted in the literature as the isoscalar monopole resonance (breathing mode) or, alternatively, as a particle-hole shell-model excitation. To better understand the nature of this state, which lies only ~410 keV above the proton emission threshold, we employ the coupled-channel representation of the no-core Gamow shell model. By considering the [ 3 H + p], [ 3 He + n], and [ 2 H + 2 H] reaction channels, we explain the excitation energy and monopole form factor of the $0$$^{+}_{2}$ state. Furthermore, we argue that the continuum coupling strongly impacts the nature of this state, which carries characteristics of the proton decay threshold.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Establishing the ground-state spin of 71 Kr

Nuclei in the vicinity of the N=Z line provide many sensitive probes of isospin symmetry. One example concerns the character and sequence of low-lying states of the T=1/2 mirror pair 71 Kr and 71 Br which has been under debate for several decades. In this paper we report a new measurement of the absolute β-branching to ground and excited states which, taken with our precise lifetime of T 1/2 =94.9(4) ms , gives a superallowed ground state–to–ground state log (ft) value of 3.64(4). This is only consistent with both 71 Br and 71 Kr having the same spin and parity, J π =5/2 – , as expected from mirror symmetry. The β-delayed proton emission to the first-excited state in 70 Se was observed for the first time which also strongly supports this assignment.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Shell-model studies of the astrophysical r p -process reactions S 34 ( p , γ ) Cl 35 and Cl 34 g , m ( p , γ ) Ar 35

Background: Dust grains condensed in the outflows of presolar classical novae should have been present in the protosolar nebula. Candidates for such presolar nova grains have been found in primitive meteorites and can in principle be identified by their isotopic ratios, but the ratios predicted by state-of-the-art one-dimensional hydrodynamic models are uncertain due to nuclear-physics uncertainties. Purpose: To theoretically calculate the thermonuclear rates and uncertainties of the S 34 ( p , γ ) Cl 35 and Cl 34 g , m ( p , γ ) Ar 35 reactions and investigate their impacts on the predicted 34 S/ 32 S isotopic ratio for presolar nova grains. Method: A shell-model approach in a (0 +1 ) ℏ ω model space was used to calculate the properties of resonances in the 34 S(p ,γ ) 35 Cl and 34 g,m Cl (p ,γ ) 35 Ar reactions and their thermonuclear rates. Uncertainties were estimated using a Monte Carlo method. The implications of these rates and their uncertainties on sulfur isotopic nova yields were investigated using a postprocessing nucleosynthesis code. The rates for transitions from the ground state of 34 Cl as well as from the isomeric first excited state of 34 Cl were explicitly calculated. Results: At energies in the resonance region near the proton-emission threshold, many negative-parity states appear. Energies, spectroscopic factors, and proton-decay widths are reported. The resulting thermonuclear rates are compared with previous determinations. Conclusions: The shell-model calculations alone are sufficient to constrain the variation of the 34 S/ 32 S ratios to within about 30%. Uncertainties associated with other reactions must also be considered, but in general we find that the 34 S/ 32 S ratios are not a robust diagnostic to clearly identify presolar grains made from nova ejecta.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Interplanetary Protons versus Interacting Protons in the 2017 September 10 Solar Eruptive Event

We analyze the relativistic proton emission from the Sun during the eruptive event on 2017 September 10, which caused a ground-level enhancement (GLE 72) registered by the worldwide network of neutron monitors. Using the neutron monitor data and interplanetary transport modeling both along and across interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) lines, we deduce parameters of the proton injection into the interplanetary medium. The inferred injection profile of the interplanetary protons is compared with the profile of the >100 MeV γ -ray emission observed by the Fermi Large Area Telescope, attributed to pion production from the interaction of >300 MeV protons at the Sun. GLE 72 started with a prompt component that arrived along the IMF lines. This was followed by a more prolonged enhancement caused by protons arriving at the Earth across the IMF lines from the southwest. The interplanetary proton event is modeled using two sources—one source at the root of the Earth-connected IMF line and another source situated near the solar western limb. The maximum phase of the second injection of interplanetary protons coincides with the maximum phase of the prolonged >100 MeV γ -ray emission that originated from a small area at the solar western limb, below the current sheet trailing the associated coronal mass ejection (CME). A possible common source of interacting protons and interplanetary protons is discussed in terms of proton acceleration at the CME bow shock versus coronal (re-)acceleration in the wake of the CME.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Observation of the Exotic Isotope 13 F Located Four Neutrons beyond the Proton Drip Line

A 13 F resonance was observed following a charge-exchange reaction between a fast 13 O beam and a 9 Be target. The resonance was found in the invariant-mass distribution of 3p+ 10 C events and probably corresponds to a 5/2 + excited state. The ground state was also expected to be populated, but was not resolved from the background. The observed level decays via initial proton emissions to both the ground and first 2 + state of 12 O, which subsequently undergo 2p decay. In addition there may also be a significant proton decay branch to the second 2+ level in 12 O. The wavefunction associated with the observed level may be collectivized due to coupling to the continuum as is it located just above the threshold for proton decay to the second $2^{+}_{2}$ state of 12 O.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

25 Siβ + -decay spectroscopy

Background: β-decay spectroscopy provides valuable information on exotic nuclei and a stringent test for nuclear theories beyond the stability line. Purpose: To search for new β-delayed protons and γ rays of 25 Si to investigate the properties of 25 Al excited states. Method: 25 Si β decays were measured by using the Gaseous Detector with Germanium Tagging system at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The protons and γ rays emitted in the decay were detected simultaneously. Here, a Monte Carlo method was used to model the Doppler broadening of 24 Mg γ-ray lines caused by nuclear recoil from proton emission. Shell-model calculations using two newly developed universal sd-shell Hamiltonians were performed. Results: The most precise 25Si half-life to date has been determined. A new proton branch at 724(4) keV and new proton-γ-ray coincidences have been identified. Three 24 Mg γ-ray lines and eight 25 Al γ-ray lines are observed for the first time in 25 Si decay. The first measurement of the 25 Si β-delayed γ-ray intensities through the 25 Al unbound states is reported. All the bound states of 25 Al are observed to be populated in the β decay of 25 Si. Several inconsistencies between the previous measurements have been resolved, and new information on the 25 Al level scheme is provided. An enhanced decay scheme has been constructed and compared to the mirror decay of 25 Na and the shell-model calculations. Conclusions: The measured excitation energies, γ-ray and proton branchings, log $ft$ values, and Gamow-Teller transition strengths for the states of 25 Al populated in the β decay of 25 Si are in good agreement with the shell model calculations, offering gratifyingly consistent insights into the fine nuclear structure of 25 Al.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

FLASH-therapy suitable single-pulse proton generation using TiH 2 under nanosecond laser irradiation

We investigated proton emission from titanium hydride (TiH 2 ) targets irradiated in vacuum by a 6-ns, 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser. Time-of-flight measurements with a Faraday cup and an electrostatic ion analyzer resolved distinct proton peaks at high pulse energies, with yields on the order of 10 9 protons per shot. Systematic scans over pulse energy and up to 1000 repeated shots showed that, while the peak amplitude gradually decreased, the integrated proton number remained nearly constant. This behavior is consistent with surface-induced broadening of the plasma expansion while bulk hydrogen is replenished by diffusion and repeated ablation of fresh TiH 2 layers. Using the measured proton numbers and pulse widths, a simple direct-plasma-injection-style scaling indicates peak currents of ∼100 mA and sub-microsecond pulse durations. The pulse structure and yield satisfy key ultra-high-dose-rate criteria and, together with sustained output over 1000 shots, support TiH 2 -based laser ion sources as practical candidates for FLASH-therapy (ultra-high-dose-rate)-oriented studies and injector development using direct plasma injection.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Proton decays in 16 Ne and 18 Mg and isospin-symmetry breaking in carbon isotopes and isotones

We report that proton-rich nuclei possess unique properties in the nuclear chart. Due to the presence of both continuum coupling and Coulomb interaction, phenomena such as halos, Thomas-Ehrman shift, and proton emissions can occur. Relevant experimental data are difficult to obtain, so that theoretical calculations are needed to understand nuclei at drip lines and to guide experimentalists. In particular, the 16 Ne and 18 Mg isotopes are supposed to be one-proton and/or two-proton emitting nuclei, but associated experimental data are either incomplete or even unavailable. Consequently, we performed Gamow shell model calculations of carbon isotones bearing A = 15 - 18 . Isospin-symmetry breaking occurring in carbon isotones and isotopes is also discussed. It is hereby shown that the mixed effects of continuum coupling and Coulomb interaction at drip lines generate complex patterns in isospin multiplets. Added to that, it is possible to determine the one-proton and two-proton widths of 16 Ne and 18 Mg . Obtained decay patterns are in agreement with those obtained in previous experimental and theoretical works. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first theoretical calculation of binding energy and partial decay widths of 18 Mg in a configuration interaction picture.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ab initio calculation of the β decay from 11 Be to a 10 Be + $\textit{p}$ resonance

In this work, the exotic β -delayed proton emission is calculated in 11 Be from first principles using chiral two- and three-nucleon forces. To investigate the unexpectedly large branching ratio measured in Ayyad et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 082501 (2019)], we calculate the proposed (1/2 + , 1/2) proton resonance in 11 B using the no-core shell model with continuum. This calculation helps to address whether this enhancement is caused by unknown dark decay modes or an unobserved proton resonance. We report a branching ratio of $b_p$ = (1.3 ± 0.5) × 10 –6 , suggesting that its unexpectedly large value is caused by an unobserved proton resonance in 11 B.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2011

Electromagnetic Dissociation Cross Sections using Weisskopf-Ewing Theory

It is important that accurate estimates of crew exposure to radiation are obtained for future long-term space missions. Presently, several space radiation transport codes exist to predict the radiation environment, all of which take as input particle interaction cross sections that describe the nuclear interactions between the particles and the shielding material. The space radiation transport code HZETRN uses the nuclear fragmentation model NUCFRG2 to calculate Electromagnetic Dissociation (EMD) cross sections. Currently, NUCFRG2 employs energy independent branching ratios to calculate these cross sections. Using Weisskopf-Ewing (WE) theory to calculate branching ratios, however, is more advantageous than the method currently employed in NUCFRG2. The WE theory can calculate not only neutron and proton emission, as in the energy independent branching ratio formalism used in NUCFRG2, but also deuteron, triton, helion, and alpha particle emission. These particles can contribute significantly to total exposure estimates. In this work, photonuclear cross sections are calculated using WE theory and the energy independent branching ratios used in NUCFRG2 and then compared to experimental data. It is found that the WE theory gives comparable, but mainly better agreement with data than the energy independent branching ratio. Furthermore, EMD cross sections for single neutron, proton, and alpha particle removal are calculated using WE theory and an energy independent branching ratio used in NUCFRG2 and compared to experimental data.

Adamczyk, Anne M.↗
DOE OSTI2021

The São Paulo Potential and the 3 He Breakup Reaction at 130 MeV on 93 Nb and 197 Au

Nuclear reactions induced by weakly bound nuclei often result in the emission of light particles as products of the projectile breakup. The incident particle is expected to fragment before reaching the interior of the target nuclei, a characteristic that tends to favor forward angular emission. Although the first models developed for such reactions were proposed many decades ago by Udagawa and Tamura, Ichimura, Austern, Vincent, and Kasano, and Hussein and McVoy, to this date most of the attention has been dedicated to the breakup of the deuteron and other very weakly bound systems, while more strongly bound projectiles have not been fully explored. Here, we describe the production of protons and deuterons from the breakup of 3He. The breakup of 3 He on two heavy targets, 93 Nb and 197 Au, is analyzed in this study. However, the incoming energy involved is much larger than that of the standard phenomenological optical potentials available in the literature for the 3He entrance channel. We have overcome this difficulty by using the São Paulo potential and adjusting the nuclear diffusivity. The deuteron inclusive spectra were calculated at several angles and compared well with the experimental data. Theoretical proton emission predictions are also given for future reference, since no inclusive measurements were performed for the targets under study. Finally, one of our goals is to verify the description of deuteron emission from fast projectiles, for which many partial waves contribute to the scattering process.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Study of alpha-resonances in ¹¹B via the ⁷Li(⁷Li, t ) reaction

The near-threshold proton resonance in ¹¹B, recently identified and characterized through independent experi-ments, plays a crucial role in understanding the unexpectedly high decay branch observed in the β-delayed proton emission (β− p) from the neutron halo nucleus ¹¹Be. Critical to interpreting this process is the determination of whether or not this state has any significant α-decay width (rα). A coincidence measurement was conducted to study the alpha-transfer reaction ⁷Li(⁷Li, t ) ¹¹B∗ → ⁷Li +α employing the Super-Enge Split Pole Spectrograph coupled with a silicon detector at Florida State University. This experiment aimed to investigate the structure of α resonances in ¹¹B in the Eₑₓ = 9.0 MeV–14 MeV energy region. In particular, to explore and constrain the α-decay branch of the near-threshold proton resonance at Eₑₓ = 11.44 MeV. No significant α-decay strength was observed from this state. Additionally, the experimental results provided insights into the state at Eₑₓ = 12.55 MeV, previously proposed as the T = 3/2 isobaric analog state of the ¹¹Be ground state. The observed decay pattern, dominated by α + ⁷Li, suggests a strong T = 1/2 component, indicating the need for further experimental measurements.

Lopez-Saavedra, E.↗