arXiv subjects

A. C. Larsen

Publications and source records attributed to A. C. Larsen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Novel technique for constraining r-process (n,$γ$) reaction rates

A novel technique has been developed, which will open exciting new opportunities for studying the very neutron-rich nuclei involved in the r-process. As a proof-of-principle, the $γ$-spectra from the $β$-decay of $^{76}$Ga have been measured with the SuN detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The nuclear level density and $γ$-ray strength function are extracted and used as input to Hauser-Feshbach calculations. The present technique is shown to strongly constrain the $^{75}$Ge($n,γ$)$^{76}$Ge cross section and reaction rate.

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arXiv2014

Shell-gap reduced level densities in $^{89,90}$Y

Particle-$γ$ coincidences from the $^{89}$Y($p,p' γ$)$^{89}$Y and $^{89}$Y($d,p γ$)$^{90}$Y reactions were utilized to obtain $γ$-ray spectra as function of excitation energy. The Oslo method was used to extract the level density from the particle-$γ$ coincidence matrices. The impact of the $N=50$ shell closure on the level densities is discussed within the framework of a combinatorial quasi-particle model.

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arXiv2014

Evidence for dipole nature of the low-energy $γ$ enhancement in $^{56}$Fe

The $γ$-ray strength function of $^{56}$Fe has been measured from proton-$γ$ coincidences for excitation energies up to $\approx 11$ MeV. The low-energy enhancement in the $γ$-ray strength function, which was first discovered in the ($^3$He,$αγ$)$^{56}$Fe reaction, is confirmed with the ($p,p^\primeγ$)$^{56}$Fe experiment reported here. Angular distributions of the $γ$ rays give for the first time evidence that the enhancement is dominated by dipole transitions.

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arXiv2014

Observation of double pygmy resonances in $^{195,196}$Pt and enhanced astrophysical reaction rates

Our measurements of $^{195,196}$Pt $γ$-strength functions show a double-humped enhancement in the $E_γ= 4-8$ MeV region. For the first time, the detailed shape of these resonances is revealed for excitation energies in the quasicontinuum. We demonstrate that the corresponding neutron-capture cross sections and astrophysical reaction rates are increased by up to a factor of 2 when these newly observed pygmy resonances are included. These results lend credence to theoretical predictions of enhanced reaction rates due to such pygmy resonances and hence are important for a better understanding of r-process nucleosynthesis.

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arXiv2013

Low-energy enhancement of magnetic dipole radiation

Magnetic dipole strength functions have been deduced from averages of a large number of $M1$ transition strengths calculated within the shell model for the nuclides $^{90}$Zr, $^{94}$Mo, $^{95}$Mo, and $^{96}$Mo. An enhancement of $M1$ strength toward low transition energy has been found for all nuclides considered. Large $M1$ strengths appear for transitions between close-lying states with configurations including proton as well as neutron high-$j$ orbits that re-couple their spins and add up their magnetic moments coherently. The $M1$ strength function deduced from the calculated $M1$ transition strengths is compatible with the low-energy enhancement found in ($^3$He,$^3$He') and $(d,p)$ experiments. The present work presents for the first time an explanation of the experimental findings.

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arXiv2013

Transitional $γ$ strength in Cd isotopes

The level densities and $γ$-ray strength functions of $^{105,106,111,112}$Cd have been extracted from particle-$γ$ coincidence data using the Oslo method. The level densities are in very good agreement with known levels at low excitation energy. The $γ$-ray strength functions display no strong enhancement for low $γ$ energies. However, more low-energy strength is apparent for $^{105,106}$Cd than for $^{111,112}$Cd. For $γ$ energies above $\approx$ 4 MeV, there is evidence for some extra strength, similar to what has been previously observed for the Sn isotopes. The origin of this extra strength is unclear; it might be due to $E1$ and $M1$ transitions originating from neutron skin oscillations or the spin-flip resonance, respectively.

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arXiv2013

Scissors resonance in the quasi-continuum of Th, Pa and U isotopes

The gamma-ray strength function in the quasi-continuum has been measured for 231-233Th, 232,233Pa and 237-239U using the Oslo method. All eight nuclei show a pronounced increase in gamma strength at omega_SR approx 2.4 MeV, which is interpreted as the low-energy M1 scissors resonance (SR). The total strength is found to be B_SR = 9-11 mu_N^2 when integrated over the 1 - 4 MeV gamma-energy region. The SR displays a double-hump structure that is theoretically not understood. Our results are compared with data from (gamma, gamma') experiments and theoretical sum-rule estimates for a nuclear rigid-body moment of inertia.

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arXiv2013

Constant-temperature level densities in the quasi-continuum of Th and U isotopes

Particle-gamma coincidences have been measured to obtain gamma-ray spectra as a function of excitation energy for 231-233Th and 237-239U. The level densities, which were extracted using the Oslo method, show a constant temperature behavior. The isotopes display very similar temperatures in the quasi-continuum, however, the even-odd isotopes reveal a constant entropy increase Delta S compared to their even-even neighbors. The entropy excess depends on available orbitals for the last unpaired valence neutron of the heated nuclear system. Also, experimental microcanonical temperature and heat capacity have been extracted. Several poles in the heat capacity curve support the idea that an almost continuous melting of Cooper pairs is responsible for the constant-temperature behavior.

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arXiv2012

Impact of a low-energy enhancement in the gamma-ray strength function on the radiative neutron-capture

A low-energy enhancement of the gamma-ray strength function in several light and medium-mass nuclei has been observed recently in 3He-induced reactions. The effect of this enhancement on (n,gamma) cross-sections is investigated for stable and unstable neutron-rich Fe, Mo and Cd isotopes. Our results indicate that the radiative neutron capture cross sections may increase considerably due to the low-energy enhancement when approaching the neutron drip line. This could have non-negligible consequences on r-process nucleosynthesis calculations.

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arXiv2012

Analysis of possible systematic errors in the Oslo method

In this work, we have reviewed the Oslo method, which enables the simultaneous extraction of level density and gamma-ray transmission coefficient from a set of particle-gamma coincidence data. Possible errors and uncertainties have been investigated. Typical data sets from various mass regions as well as simulated data have been tested against the assumptions behind the data analysis.

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arXiv2012

Primary gamma-ray spectra in 44Ti of astrophysical interest

Primary gamma-ray spectra for a wide excitation-energy range have been extracted for 44Ti from particle-gamma coincidence data of the 46Ti(p,t gamma)44Ti reaction. These spectra reveal information on the gamma-decay pattern of the nucleus, and may be used to extract the level density and radiative strength function applying the Oslo method. Models of the level density and radiative strength function are used as input for cross-section calculations of the 40Ca(alpha,gamma)44Ti reaction. Acceptable models should reproduce data on the 40Ca(alpha,gamma)44Ti reaction cross section as well as the measured primary gamma-ray spectra. This is only achieved when a coherent normalization of the slope of the level density and radiative strength function is performed. Thus, the overall shape of the experimental primary gamma-ray spectra puts a constraint on the input models for the rate calculations.

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arXiv2012

Nuclear Level Density and Gamma-Ray Strength Function of 43Sc

The nuclear level density and the gamma-ray strength function have been determined for 43Sc in the energy range up to 2 MeV below the neutron separation energy using the Oslo method with the 46Ti(p,alpha)43Sc reaction. A comparison to 45Sc shows that the level density of 43Sc is smaller by an approximately constant factor of two. This behaviour is well reproduced in a microscopical/combinatorial model calculation. The gamma-ray strength function is showing an increase at low gamma-ray energies, a feature which has been observed in several nuclei but which still awaits theoretical explanation.

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arXiv2012

Observation of large scissors resonance strength in actinides

The orbital M1-scissors resonance (SR) has been measured for the first time in the quasi-continuum of actinides. Particle-gamma coincidences are recorded with deuteron and 3He induced reactions on 232Th. The residual nuclei 231,232,233Th and 232,233Pa show an unexpectedly strong integrated strength of $B_{M1} = 11-15 μ_{n}^{2}$ in the Egamma=1.0 - 3.5 MeV region. The increased gamma-decay probability in actinides due to the SR is important for cross-section calculations for future fuel cycles of fast nuclear reactors and may also have impact on stellar nucleosynthesis.

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arXiv2011

Evolution of the pygmy dipole resonance in Sn isotopes

Nuclear level density and $γ$-ray strength functions of $^{121,122}$Sn below the neutron separation energy are extracted with the Oslo method using the ($^3$He,$^3$He$^\primeγ$) and ($^3$He,$αγ$) reactions. The level densities of $^{121,122}$Sn display step-like structures, interpreted as signatures of neutron pair breaking. An enhancement in both strength functions, compared to standard models for radiative strength, is observed in our measurements for $E_γ\gtrsim 5.2 $ MeV. This enhancement is compatible with pygmy resonances centered at $\approx 8.4(1)$ and $\approx 8.6(2)$ MeV, respectively, and with integrated strengths corresponding to $\approx1.8^{+1}_{-5}%$ of the classical Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule. Similar resonances were also seen in $^{116-119}$Sn. Experimental neutron-capture cross reactions are well reproduced by our pygmy resonance predictions, while standard strength models are less successful. The evolution as a function of neutron number of the pygmy resonance in $^{116-122}$Sn is described as a clear increase of centroid energy from 8.0(1) to 8.6(2) MeV, but with no observable difference in integrated strengths.

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arXiv2011

Fermi's golden rule applied to the gamma decay in the quasicontinuum of 46Ti

Particle-gamma coincidences from the 46Ti(p,p' gamma)46Ti inelastic scattering reaction with 15-MeV protons are utilized to obtain gamma-ray spectra as a function of excitation energy. The rich data set allows analyzing the coincidence data with various gates on excitation energy. This enables, for many independent data sets, a simultaneous extraction of level density and radiative strength function (RSF). The results are consistent with one common level density. The data seem to exhibit a universal RSF as the deduced RSFs from different excitation energies show only small fluctuations provided that only excitation energies above 3 MeV are taken into account. If transitions to well-separated low-energy levels are included, the deduced RSF may change by a factor of 2-3, which might be expected due to the involved Porter-Thomas fluctuations.

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arXiv2011

Equilibrium and pre-equilibrium processes in the 55Mn(6Li,xp) and 57Fe(a,xp) reactions

Spectra of outgoing neutrons and protons from the 6Li+55Mn reaction and protons from the a+57Fe reaction have been measured with beams of 15 MeV 6Li ions and 30 MeV alpha-particles. These reactions proceed through the same 61Ni nucleus at the same excitation energy, thus allowing the difference in reaction mechanism to be studied. It is shown that spectra from the first reaction measured at backward angles are due to emission from a traditional compound nucleus reaction, in which the intermediate nucleus has reached statistical equilibrium; the spectra from the second reaction contain a significant fraction of pre-equilibrium emission at all angles. Level density pa- rameters of the residual nucleus 60Co have been obtained from the first reaction. Both emission spectra and angular distributions have been measured for the second reaction. It was found that the pre-equilibrium component exhibits a forward-peaked angular distribution, as expected, but with a steeper slope than predicted and with an unusual slight rise at angles above 120°. The backward- angle rise is explained qualitatively by the dominance of the multi-step compound mechanism at backward angles.

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arXiv2010

Radiative strength functions in 163,164Dy

The nuclei 163,164Dy have been investigated using the Oslo method on data from the pick-up reaction 164Dy(3He,alpha gamma)163Dy and the inelastic scattering 164Dy(3He,3He' gamma)164Dy, respectively. The radiative strength functions for both nuclei have been extracted, and a small resonance centered around Eg ?3 MeV is observed in both cases. The parameters of this so-called pygmy M1 resonance (the scissors mode) are compared to previous results on 160,161,162Dy using the Oslo method, and to data on 163Dy measured by the Prague group using the two-step cascade method. In particular, the integrated reduced transition probability B(M1) of the pygmy resonance is compared with neighboring dysprosium isotopes. We also observe an enhanced strength in the region above gamma energy around 5 MeV in 164Dy. Possible origins of this feature are discussed.

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arXiv2010

Level densities and $γ$-ray strength functions in Sn isotopes

The nuclear level densities of $^{118,119}$Sn and the $γ$-ray strength functions of $^{116,118,119}$Sn below the neutron separation energy are extracted with the Oslo method using the ($^3$He, \,$αγ$) and ($^3$He,$^3$He$^\primeγ$) reactions. The level density function of $^{119}$Sn displays step-like structures. The microcanonical entropies are deduced from the level densities, and the single neutron entropy of $^{119}$Sn is determined to be $(1.7 \pm 0.2)\,k_B$. Results from a combinatorial model support the interpretation that some of the low-energy steps in the level density function are caused by neutron pair-breaking. An enhancement in all the $γ$-ray strength functions of $^{116-119}$Sn, compared to standard models for radiative strength, is observed for the $γ$-ray energy region of $\simeq (4 -11)$ MeV. These small resonances all have a centroid energy of 8.0(1) MeV and an integrated strength corresponding to $1.7(9)\%$ of the classical Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule. The Sn resonances may be due to electric dipole neutron skin oscillations or to an enhancement of the giant magnetic dipole resonance.

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