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At least 649 records · Page 36

The Suzaku Observation of the Nucleus of the Radio Loud Active Galaxy Centaurus A: Constraints on Abundances in the Accreting Material

A Suzaku observation of the nucleus of the radio-loud AGN Centaurus A in 2005 has yielded a broadband spectrum spanning 0.3 to 250 keV. The hard X-rays are fit by two power laws, absorbed by columns of 1.5 and 7 x 10(exp 23) per square centimeter. The dual power-laws are consistent with previous suggestions that the powerlaw components are X-ray emission from the sub-pc VLBI jet and from Bondi accretion at the core, or are consistent with a partial covering interpretation. The soft band is dominated by thermal emission from the diffuse plasma and is fit well by a two-temperature VAPEC model, plus a third power-law component to account for scattered nuclear emission, kpc-scale jet emission, and emission from X-ray Binaries and other point sources. Narrow fluorescent emission lines from Fe, Si, S, Ar, Ca and Ni are detected. The width of the Fe Ka line yields a 200 light-day lower limit on the distance from the black hole to the line-emitting gas. K-shell absorption edges due to Fe, Ca, and S are detected. Elemental abundances are constrained via the fluorescent lines strengths, absorption edge depths and the diffuse plasma emission lines. The high metallicity ([Fe/H]=+0.l) of the circumnuclear material compared to that in the metal-poor outer halo suggests that the accreting material could not have originated in the outer halo unless enrichment by local star formation has occurred. Relative abundances are consistent with enrichment from Type II and Ia supernovae.

Markowitz, A.↗

Single-neutron excitations in 18 N

States in 18 N have been populated in the neutron-adding ( d , p ) reaction on the short-lived 17 N beam. Previously observed levels, found in this work at excitation energies of 0.12(1) MeV and 0.74(1) MeV, have been identified as those expected from a proton 0 p 1 / 2 hole coupled to the 19 O 5 / 2 + ground state. A new state at 1.17(2) MeV is consistent with the coupling of the 1 / 2 - proton-hole state to the excited 1 / 2 + state in 19 O. Orbital angular momentum assignments and spectroscopic factors were determined from the measured angular distributions through a distorted wave Born approximation analysis. Systematics for the ( 0 d 5 / 2 1 s 1 / 2 ) 3 neutron configurations in the N = 11 isotones, 17 C, 18 N, and 19 O are discussed and comparisons to p - s d shell-model calculations are made.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Application of an efficient generator-coordinate subspace-selection algorithm to neutrinoless double- β decay

The generator coordinate method begins with the variational construction of a set of nonorthogonal mean-field states that span a subspace of the full many-body Hilbert space. These states are then often projected onto states with good quantum numbers to restore symmetries, leading to a set with members that can be similar to one another, and it is sometimes possible to reduce this set without greatly affecting results. Here, we propose a greedy algorithm that we call the energy-transition-orthogonality procedure (ENTROP) to select subsets of important states. As applied here, the approach selects on the basis of diagonal energy, orthogonality, and contribution to the matrix element that governs neutrinoless double-β decay. We present both shell-model and preliminary ab initio calculations of this matrix element for the decay of 76Ge, with quadrupole deformation parameters and the isoscalar pairing strength as generator coordinates. ENTROP converges quickly, reducing significantly the number of basis states needed for an accurate calculation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Magnetic moments of light nuclei from lattice quantum chromodynamics

We present the results of lattice QCD calculations of the magnetic moments of the lightest nuclei, the deuteron, the triton and 3 He, along with those of the neutron and proton. These calculations, performed at quark masses corresponding to m π ~ 800 MeV, reveal that the structure of these nuclei at unphysically heavy quark masses closely resembles that at the physical quark masses. We find that the magnetic moment of 3 He differs only slightly from that of a free neutron, as is the case in nature, indicating that the shell-model configuration of two spin-paired protons and a valence neutron captures its dominant structure. Similarly a shell-model-like moment is found for the triton, μ 3 H ~ μ p . The deuteron magnetic moment is found to be equal to the nucleon isoscalar moment within the uncertainties of the calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Electron-deuteron deep-inelastic scattering with spectator tagging at EIC

We summarize the phenomenological description of electron-deuteron deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) with detection of a nucleon in the nuclear fragmentation region, eD → e' + N + X ("spectator tagging"), at collision energies accessible with an Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), √s eD ~ several 10 GeV. This includes (a) the kinematic variables, differential cross section, conditional structure functions, and phase space elements; (b) a cross section model based on the light-front impulse approximation and an analytic parametrization of the deuteron wave function; (c) counting rate estimates for simulations of cross section measurements and on-shell extrapolation in the recoil nucleon momentum; (d) a FORTRAN 77 code package for computing the cross section and performing counting rate estimates. The document summarizes the definitions and results without derivation and is intended as a reference for programming and simulations.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Development of deformed intruder structures along the N=50 magic number: Insights from 83 Se

The 83 Se nucleus was studied in the context of shape coexistence employing a 82 Se(d,p) 83 Se reaction performed in inverse kinematics with the GALILEO-II + SPIDER setup to reach the desired selectivity on the reaction channel of interest via γ -particle coincidences. The lifetimes of the 1/2 + 540-keV and 3/2$^{+}_{3}$ 1100-keV low-lying intruder states of 83 Se were measured for the first time by employing the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift and the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method. The deduced transition probabilities, together with the mixing ratios obtained from a separate neutron-capture experiment performed at ILL with the FIPPS array, are compared and discussed in the framework of shell-model calculations performed with the PFSDG-U Hamiltonian. Large transition probabilities of hundreds of e 2 fm 4 were found for the E 2 decays of the states built on top of the intruders, pointing to the development of quadrupole collectivity and large deformation in the proximity of N = 50 shell closure.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

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↗

β decay of neutron-rich 76 Cu and the structure of 76 Zn

In this work, the β decay of 76 Cu to the levels of 76 Zn was studied at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). A purified 76 Cu beam was developed and data were recorded for the decay of the A=76 decay chain using four high-purity germanium (HPGe) clover detectors at the Low-energy Radioactive Ion Beam Spectroscopy Station (LeRIBSS). In this measurement, data on γ-ray emission following β decay, including βγ and γγ coincidences, were collected and γγ spectra were analyzed to identify the statistically significant coincidences. From this analysis, we propose a level scheme for 76 Zn which contains a total of 59 energy levels up to 6.0 MeV containing 105 γ rays. We have identified an additional 53 γ rays associated with this decay which could not be place in the decay scheme due to insufficient coincidence information or no energy match to identified levels. No γ rays from states in 75 Zn fed in the delayed-neutron branch were observed even though other γ rays in the A=75 decay chain were observed. Spin and parity assignments are proposed for some levels based on comparison to systematics and shell model calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Investigation into the semimagic nature of the tin isotopes through electromagnetic moments

A complete set of electromagnetic moments, B(E2;0 + 1 2 + 1 ), Q(2 + 1 ), and g(2 + 1 ), have been measured from Coulomb excitation of semi-magic 112,114,116,118,120,122,124 Sn (Z = 50) on natural carbon and titanium targets. The magnitude of the B(E2) values, measured to a precision of ~4%, disagree with a recent lifetime study [Phys. Lett. B 695, 110 (2011)] that employed the Doppler- shift attenuation method. The B(E2) values show an overall enhancement compared with recent theoretical calculations and a clear asymmetry about midshell, contrary to naive expectations. A new static electric quadrupole moment, Q(2 + 1 ), has been measured for 114 Sn. The static quadrupole moments are generally consistent with zero but reveal an enhancement near midshell; this had not been previously observed. The magnetic dipole moments are consistent with previous measurements and show a near monotonic decrease in value with neutron number. The current theory calculations fail to reproduce the electromagnetic moments of the tin isotopes. The role of 2p-2h and 4p-4h intruders, which are lowest in energy at mid shell and outside of current model spaces, needs to be investigated in the future.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A hydrodynamic study of a slow nova outburst

The paper reports use of a Lagrangian implicit hydrodynamics computer code incorporating a full nuclear-reaction network to follow a thermonuclear runaway in the hydrogen-rich envelope of a 1.25 solar-mass white dwarf. In this evolutionary sequence the envelope was assumed to be of normal (solar) composition and the resulting outburst closely resembles that of the slow nova HR Del. In contrast, previous CNO-enhanced models resemble fast nova outbursts. The slow-nova model ejects material by radiation pressure when the high luminosity of the rekindled hydrogen shell source exceeds the local Eddington luminosity of the outer layers. This is in contrast to the fast nova outburst where ejection is caused by the decay of the beta(+)-unstable nuclei. Nevertheless, radiation pressure probably plays a major role in ejecting material from the fast nova remnants. Therefore, the sequence from slow to fast novae can be interpreted as a sequence of white dwarfs with increasing amounts of enhanced CNO nuclei in their hydrogen envelopes, although other parameters such as the white-dwarf mass and accretion rate probably contribute to the observed variation between novae.

Sparks, W. M.↗

The maximum momentum transfer in proton-hydrogen collisions

The upper limit of momentum transfer by a proton to K-shell electrons is calculated in a restricted three-body classical model. The model shows that the infinite upper limit used in practice, is generally good except for low energy protons passing through an extremely rarefied gas.

NASA Discipline Number 22-70↗

Self-gravity and dissipation in polar rings

Studies of inclined rings inside galaxy potentials have mostly considered the influence of self-gravity and viscous dissipation separately. In this study, we construct models of highly inclined ('polar') rings in an external potential including both self-gravity and dissipation due to a drag force. We do not include pressure forces and thus ignore shock heating that dominates the evolution of gaseous rings inside strongly nonspherical potentials. We adopt an oblate spheroidal scale-free logarithmic potential with axis ratio q = 0.85 and an initial inclination of 80 deg for the self-gravitating rings. We find that stellar (dissipationless) rings suffer from mass loss during their evolution. Mass loss also drives a secular change of the mean inclination toward the poles of the potential. As much as half of the ring mass escapes in the process and forms an inner and an outer shell of precessing orbits. If the remaining mass is more than approximately 0.02 of the enclosed galaxy mass, rings remain bound and do not fall apart from differential precession. The rings precess at a constant rate for more than a precession period tau(sub p) finding the configuration predicted by Sparke in 1986 which warps at larger radii toward the poles of the potential. We model shear viscosity with a velocity-dependent drag force and find that nuclear inflow dominates over self-gravity if the characteristic viscous inflow time scale tau(sub vi) is shorter than approximately 25(tau(sub p)). Rings with (tau(sub vi))/(tau(sub p)) less than or approximately equal to 25 collapse toward the nucleus of the potential within one precession period independent of the amount of self-gravity. Our results imply that stars and gas in real polar rings exhibit markedly different dynamical evolutions.

Dubinski, John↗

Shape coexistence in Ni 68

The internal-conversion and internal-pair-production decays of the first excited 0 + state in 68 Ni are studied following the β decay of 68 Co. A novel experimental technique, in which the ions of 68 Co were implanted into a planar germanium double-sided strip detector and which required digital pulse processing, is developed. The values for the energy of the first excited 0 + state and the electric monopole transition strength from the first excited 0 + state to the ground state in 68 Ni are determined to be 1605(3) keV and 7.6 (4) × 10 -3 , respectively. Comparisons of the experimental results to Monte Carlo shell-model calculations suggest the coexistence between a spherical ground state and an oblate first excited 0 + state in 68 Ni.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Emergent symmetries in atomic nuclei: Probing nuclear dynamics and physics beyond the standard model

Dominant shapes naturally emerge in atomic nuclei from first principles, thereby establishing the shape-preserving symplectic Sp(3, \mathbb{R} ℝ ) symmetry as remarkably ubiquitous and almost perfect symmetry in nuclei. We discuss the critical role of this emergent symmetry in enabling machine-learning descriptions of heavy nuclei, ab initio modeling of \alpha α clustering and collectivity, as well as tests of beyond-the-standard-model physics. In addition, the Sp(3, \mathbb{R} ℝ ) and SU(3) symmetries provide relevant degrees of freedom that underpin the ab initio symmetry-adapted no-core shell model with the remarkable capability of reaching nuclei and reaction fragments beyond the lightest and close-to-spherical species.

Launey, Kristina D.↗

Failure of the gross theory of beta decay in neutron deficient nuclei

The neutron deficient isotopes 117-121 Xe, 117-124 Cs, and 122-124 Ba were produced by a beam of 28 Si from the LBNL SuperHILAC on a target of nat Mo. The isotopes were mass separated and their beta decay schemes were measured with a Total Absorption Spectrometer (TAS). The beta strengths derived from these data decreased dramatically to levels above ≈1 MeV for the even-even decays; 3–4 MeV for even-Z, odd-N decays; 4–5 MeV for the odd-Z, even-N decays; and 7–8 MeV for the odd-Z, odd-N decays. The decreasing strength to higher excitation energies in the daughters contradicts the predictions of the Gross Theory of Beta Decay. The integrated beta strengths are instead found to be consistent with shell model predictions where the single-particle beta strengths are divided amoung many low-lying levels. The experimental beta strengths determined here have been used calculate the half-lives of 143 neutron deficient nuclei with Z=51–64 to a precision of 20% with respect to the measured values.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Development and application of modeling tools for sodium fast reactor inspection

To support the development of in-service inspection methods for the Advanced Sodium Test Reactor for Industrial Demonstration (ASTRID) project led by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), several tools that allow situations specific to Sodium cooled Fast Reactors (SFR) to be modeled have been implemented in the CIVA software and exploited. This paper details specific applications and results obtained. For instance, a new specular reflection model allows the calculation of complex echoes from scattering structures inside the reactor vessel. EMAT transducer simulation models have been implemented to develop new transducers for sodium visualization and imaging. Guided wave analysis tools have been developed to permit defect detection in the vessel shell. Application examples and comparisons with experimental data are presented.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

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↗

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↗