arXiv subjects

A. Gottardo

Publications and source records attributed to A. Gottardo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Direct transfer to $^{46,48}$K as a survey of the $\pi(s_{1/2})$$-\nu(sdpf)$ interaction

The collapse of the canonical $N=28$ magic number in nuclei with $Z<20$ has drawn significant interest as it relates to the emergence of an island of inversion centered on $^{42}$Si and $^{44}$S. In particular, interactions between the $\pi s_{1/2}$ orbital -- empty in $^{42}$Si and full in $^{44}$S -- and the neutron orbitals just above and below the $N=28$ gap are expected to be critical in this region, but remain relatively unexplored. In this paper, we expand upon the results of our previous study of the direct transfer reaction $^{47}$K(d,p$\gamma$)$^{48}$K [C.\,J.~Paxman \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 162504 (2025)] with the results of the complementary $^{47}$K(d,t$\gamma$)$^{46}$K reaction. Through this study, we present a comprehensive scan of the interaction between the critical $\pi s_{1/2}$ orbital and a broad range of neutron orbitals spanning nearly two full shells. We identify several discrepancies between the experimental results and state-of-the-art shell model calculations, which suggest a deficiency of the shell model to fully capture the complex proton configuration mixing in this region, highlighting a significant challenge for single-particle descriptions of the island of inversion.

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arXiv2025

First evidence for the J$>$1 components of the pygmy dipole resonance in neutron-rich nuclei

Gamma ($\gamma$) decay shapes the synthesis of heavy elements in neutron-rich nuclear environments of neutron star mergers, supplying the Universe with heavy elements. The low-energy pygmy dipole resonance (PDR) influences nuclear reaction rates of the rapid nucleosynthesis through enhanced $\gamma$ transitions. However, since it is difficult to reproduce astrophysical conditions in laboratories, PDR was previously observed only in $J = 1$ spin states. Here we report the first experimental observation of $J > 1$ components of PDR, identified in the $\beta$-delayed $\gamma$ decay of the J$^{\pi}$ = 3$^{-}$ spin-parity isomer of $^{80}$Ga. The data analysis, combined with decay information and theoretical calculations allows the identification of resonant structures below the neutron emission threshold of the neutron-rich germanium $^{80}$Ge as J$^{\pi} = (2,3)^-$ components of the PDR built on the low-lying J$^{\pi}$ = 2$^+$ quadrupole state. Our findings extend the concept of PDR beyond dipole states, with implications for nuclear structure theory and experiment, as well as the element production in the cosmos.

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arXiv2025

Data sorting modes of phoswich detector array

The different data-sorting modes of the phoswich detector array PARIS used for detecting high-energy (4$-$10 MeV) $\gamma$ rays are investigated. The characteristics including time resolution, energy resolution and detection efficiency under various modes are studied. The present study shows that PARIS has capabilities of rejecting escape and pileup events when used for decay spectroscopy. Notably, the methods presented in this work refer specifically to the $\beta$-decay experiment of $^{80g+m}$Ga conducted with three PARIS clusters comprising 27 phoswich detectors, rather than to a general report on the PARIS array or its overall performance for in-beam spectroscopy. Compared with the 2"$\times$2"$\times$2" LaBr$_3$(Ce) detector (Ciema{\l}a et al., 2009), even in individual mode, PARIS provides significant suppression of single- and double-escape peaks and reduces background via vetoing function of the outer-volume NaI(Tl) crystals. In contrast to the common approach of adding back the energies in LaBr$_3$(Ce) and NaI(Tl) to increase the detection efficiency of the full-energy peak, using NaI(Tl) as a veto shield provides a superior trade-off for applications where spectral purity is essential. Employing add-back analysis within each cluster of nine phoswiches or between all phoswiches could enhance full-energy peak efficiency and further suppress escape peaks and background. Applying a multiplicity condition provides a further suppression but simultaneously lowers the statistics of full-energy peaks.

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arXiv2025

Fusion of 12C+28Si at deep sub-barrier energies

The existence of fusion hindrance is not well established in light heavy-ion systems. Studying slightly heavier cases allows extrapolating the trend to light systems of astrophysical interest. Fusion of 12C + 28Si has been measured down to deep sub-barrier energies, using 28Si beams from the XTU Tandem accelerator of LNL on thin 12C targets. The fusion-evaporation residues were detected by a detector telescope following an electrostatic beam separator, and coincidences between the gamma-ray array AGATA and segmented silicon detectors DSSD were performed, where the evaporated light charged particles were identified by pulse shape analysis. Fusion cross sections have been obtained in the wide range 150 mb-42 nb. Coupled-channel (CC) calculations using a Woods-Saxon potential reproduce the data above 0.1 mb. Below that, hindrance shows up and the CC results overestimate the cross sections which get close to the one-dimensional potential tunnelling limit. This suggests that the coupling strengths gradually vanish, as predicted by the adiabatic model. The hindrance threshold follows a recently updated phenomenological systematics.

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arXiv2025

$\beta$-delayed spectroscopy of $^{80}$Ge$_{48}$ and competition between Gamow-Teller and first-forbidden transitions in $^{80g+m}$Ga$_{49}$ $\beta$ decay

The $\beta$-delayed spectroscopy of $^{80}$Ge has been studied using sources of ground and low-lying isomeric states of $^{80}$Ga. A hybrid $\gamma$-ray spectrometer was used, composed of high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors for low-energy $\gamma$-ray detection, phoswich detectors from the PARIS array for high-energy $\gamma$ rays and a plastic detector for $\beta$ tagging. The new decay level schemes are presented, with 13 and 14 states $\beta$ populated by $^{80g}$Ga and $^{80m}$Ga, respectively, being reported for the first time. We quantitatively compare summed intensities of first-forbidden and previously reported Gamow-Teller $\beta$ transitions [R. Li et al., \href{https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.111.034303}{Phys. Rev. C 111, 034303 (2025)}]. The upper-limit fractions of first-forbidden transitions contributing to the decays of $^{80g}$Ga and $^{80m}$Ga are (48.0 $\pm$ 2.7)$\%$ and (47.9 $\pm$ 3.3)$\%$ of the observed total $\beta$ transition intensities of (78.2 $\pm$ 2.5)$\%$ and (82.2 $\pm$ 3.7)$\%$, respectively. Notably, the half-lives decrease in accordance with the upper limits of (48.0 $\pm$ 6.0)$\%$ [3.67(20) s $\rightarrow$ 1.91(3) s] and (47.9 $\pm$ 7.2)$\%$ [3.01(19) s $\rightarrow$ 1.57(1) s] for $^{80g}$Ga and $^{80m}$Ga, respectively, when including first-forbidden transitions, in contrast to those by Gamow-Teller transitions only.

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arXiv2024

Beta delayed neutron emission of $N=84$ $^{132}$Cd

Using the time-of-flight technique, we measured the beta-delayed neutron emission of $^{132}$Cd. From our large-scale shell model (LSSM) calculation using the N$^3$LO interaction [Z.Y. Xu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 022501 (2023)], we suggest the decay is dominated by the transformation of a neutron in the $g_{7/2}$ orbital, deep below the Fermi surface, into a proton in the $g_{9/2}$ orbital. We compare the beta-decay half-lives and neutron branching ratios of nuclei with $Z<50$ and $N\geq82$ obtained with our LSSM with those of leading "global" models such as Finite-Range Droplet Model (FRDM). Our calculations match known half-lives and neutron branching ratios well and suggest that current leading models overestimate the yet-to-be-measured half-lives. Our model, backed by the $^{132}$Cd decay data presented here, offers robust predictive power for nuclei of astrophysical interest such as $r$-process waiting points.

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arXiv2024

Shape evolution in even-mass $^{98-104}$Zr isotopes via lifetime measurements using the $\gamma\gamma$-coincidence technique

The Zirconium (Z = 40) isotopic chain has attracted interest for more than four decades. The abrupt lowering of the energy of the first $2^+$ state and the increase in the transition strength B(E2; $2_1^\rightarrow 0_1^+$ going from $^{98}$Zr to $^{100}$Zr has been the first example of "quantum phase transition" in nuclear shapes, which has few equivalents in the nuclear chart. Although a multitude of experiments have been performed to measure nuclear properties related to nuclear shapes and collectivity in the region, none of the measured lifetimes were obtained using the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift method in the $\gamma\gamma$-coincidence mode where a gate on the direct feeding transition of the state of interest allows a strict control of systematical errors. This work reports the results of lifetime measurements for the first yrast excited states in $^{98-104}$Zr carried out to extract reduced transition probabilities. The new lifetime values in $\gamma\gamma$-coincidence and $\gamma$-single mode are compared with the results of former experiments. Recent predictions of the Interacting Boson Model with Configuration Mixing, the Symmetry Conserving Configuration Mixing model based on the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach and the Monte Carlo Shell Model are presented and compared with the experimental data.

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arXiv2024

Probing exotic cross-shell interactions at N=28 with single-neutron transfer on 47K

We present the first measurement of the $^{47}$K($d,p\gamma$)$^{48}$K transfer reaction, performed in inverse kinematics using a reaccelerated beam of $^{47}$K. The level scheme of $^{48}$K has been greatly extended with nine new bound excited states identified and spectroscopic factors deduced. Detailed comparisons with SDPF-U and SDPF-MU shell-model calculations reveal a number of discrepancies with these results, and a preference for SDPF-MU is found. Intriguingly, an apparent systematic overestimation of spectroscopic factors and a poor reproduction of the energies for 1$^-$ states suggests that the mixing between the $\pi s^{\,\,\,1}_{1/2} d^{\,\,\,4}_{3/2}$ and $\pi s^{\,\,\,2}_{1/2} d^{\,\,\,3}_{3/2}$ proton configurations in $^{48}$K is not correctly described using current interactions, challenging our descriptions of light $N=28$ nuclei.

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arXiv2024

High-resolution spectroscopy of neutron-rich Br isotopes and signatures for a prolate-to-oblate shape transition at N=56

The first systematic experimental study of the neutron-rich Br isotopes with two complementary state-of-the-art techniques is presented. These isotopes have been populated in the fission process at two different facilities, GANIL and ILL. New spectroscopic information has been obtained for odd-even $^{87-93}$Br isotopes and the experimental results have been compared with state-of-the-art Large-Scale Shell-Model and DNO Shell-Model calculations. As a result of such theoretical approaches, a transition from prolate ($^{87,89}$Br) to oblate ($^{91,93}$Br) shapes is obtained from the subtle balance between proton and neutron quadrupole deformations, as a clear signature of pseudo-SU3 quadrupole regime.

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arXiv2024

Clarifying the Radiative Decay of the Hoyle State with Charged-Particle Spectroscopy

A detailed knowledge of the decay properties of the so called Hoyle state in the $^{12}$C nucleus ($E_x=7.654$ MeV, $0^+$) is required to calculate the rate at which carbon is forged in typical red-giant stars. This paper reports on a new almost background-free measurement of the radiative decay branching ratio of the Hoyle state using advanced charged particle coincidence techniques. The exploitation, for the first time in a similar experiment, of a bidimensional map of the coincidence efficiency allows to reach an unitary value and, consequently, to strongly reduce sources of systematic uncertainties. The present results suggest a value of the radiative branching ratio of $Γ_{rad}/Γ_{tot}=4.2(6)\cdot10^{-4}$. This finding helps to resolve the tension between recent data published in the literature.

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arXiv2024

Shape Coexistence in $^{94}$Zr from a Model-Independent Analysis

Low-lying states of $^{94}$Zr were investigated via low-energy multi-step Coulomb excitation. From the measured $\gamma$-ray yields, \textcolor{black}{16} reduced \textcolor{black}{E2} transition probabilities between low-spin states were determined, together with the spectroscopic quadrupole moments of the $2_{1,2}^+$ states. Based on this information, for the first time in the Zr isotopic chain, the shapes of the $0_{1,2}^+$ states including their deformation softness were inferred in a model-independent way using the quadrupole sum rules approach. The ground state of $^{94}$Zr possesses a rather diffuse shape associated with a spherical configuration, while the $0_2^+$ state is \textcolor{black}{triaxial tending towards} oblate and more strongly deformed. {\color{black}The observed features of shape coexistence in $^{94}$Zr are consistent with both Monte-Carlo shell-model predictions and IBM-CM calculations, and provide model-independent constraints on the shape character assigned in the IBM-CM to the intruder configuration in $^{92\text{--}96}$Zr.}

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arXiv2024

Simultaneous impacts of nuclear shell structure and collectivity on $\beta$ decay: Evidence from $^{80}$Ga$_{49}$

The Gamow-Teller strength distribution covering the entire $\beta$-decay window, up to 10.312(4) MeV, of $^{80g+m}$Ga was measured for the first time in photo fission of UC$_x$ induced by a 50 MeV electron beam. The new data show significant enhancement in the high-energy region with a jump structure. Simultaneously, the $\gamma$ deexciting behavior of $\beta$-populated states presents a competition between deexcitation to 2$_1^+$ [$\beta_2$ = 0.155(9)] and to 2$_2^+$ [$\beta_2$ = 0.053$_{0.009}^{0.008}$)] in $^{80}$Ge. To understand these data, we performed a realistic shell-model calculation and systematic analysis of log $\it{ft}$ ratios between precursors' $\beta$ decay to 2$_2^+$ and to 2$_1^+$ of Ga isotopes. We conclude that these phenomena evidence simultaneous impacts of nuclear shell structure and collectivity on $\it{B}$(GT) distribution and therefore the half-life of the precursor.

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arXiv2024

High-precision spectroscopy of $^{20}$O benchmarking ab-initio calculations in light nuclei

The excited states of unstable $^{20}$O were investigated via $γ$-ray spectroscopy following the $^{19}$O$(d,p)^{20}$O reaction at 8 $A$MeV. By exploiting the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method, the lifetime of the 2$^+_2$ and 3$^+_1$ states were firmly established. From the $γ$-ray branching and E2/M1 mixing ratios for transitions deexciting the 2$^+_2$ and 3$^+_1$ states, the B(E2) and B(M1) were determined. Various chiral effective field theory Hamiltonians, describing the nuclear properties beyond ground states, along with a standard USDB interaction, were compared with the experimentally obtained data. Such a comparison for a large set of $γ$-ray transition probabilities with the valence space in medium similarity renormalization group ab-initio calculations was performed for the first time in a nucleus far from stability. It was shown that the ab-initio approaches using chiral EFT forces are challenged by detailed high-precision spectroscopic properties of nuclei. The reduced transition probabilities were found to be a very constraining test of the performance of the ab-initio models.

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arXiv2023

133In: A Rosetta Stone for decays of r-process nuclei

The $β$ decays from both the ground state and a long-lived isomer of $^{133}$In were studied at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). With a hybrid detection system sensitive to $β$, $γ$, and neutron spectroscopy, the comparative partial half-lives (logft) have been measured for all their dominant $β$-decay channels for the first time, including a low-energy Gamow-Teller transition and several First-Forbidden (FF) transitions. Uniquely for such a heavy neutron-rich nucleus, their $β$ decays selectively populate only a few isolated neutron unbound states in $^{133}$Sn. Precise energy and branching-ratio measurements of those resonances allow us to benchmark $β$-decay theories at an unprecedented level in this region of the nuclear chart. The results show good agreement with the newly developed large-scale shell model (LSSM) calculations. The experimental findings establish an archetype for the $β$ decay of neutron-rich nuclei southeast of $^{132}$Sn and will serve as a guide for future theoretical development aiming to describe accurately the key $β$ decays in the rapid-neutron capture (r-) process.

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arXiv2023

Beta-delayed neutron spectroscopy of $^{133}$In

The decay properties of $^{133}$In were studied in detail at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). The implementation of the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) allowed separate measurements of its $9/2^+$ ground state ($^{133g}$In) and $1/2^-$ isomer ($^{133m}$In). With the use of $β$-delayed neutron and $γ$ spectroscopy, the decay strengths above the neutron separation energy were quantified in this neutron-rich nucleus for the first time. The allowed Gamow-Teller transition $9/2^+\rightarrow7/2^+$ was located at 5.92 MeV in the $^{133g}$In decay with a logft = 4.7(1). In addition, several neutron-unbound states were populated at lower excitation energies by the First-Forbidden decays of $^{133g,m}$In. We assigned spins and parities to those neutron-unbound states based on the $β$-decay selection rules, the logft values, and systematics.

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arXiv2022

Structure of $^{83}$As, $^{85}$As and $^{87}$As: from semi-magicity to $γ$-softness

The structure of $^{83}$As, $^{85}$As and $^{87}$As have been studied in fusion-fission reaction $^{238}$U+$^9$Be. Fission fragments were identified in mass and atomic number using the VAMOS++ spectrometer and the coincident $γ$-rays were detected in the $γ$-ray tracking array AGATA. New transitions in $^{83}$As and $^{85}$As are reported and placed in the level schemes. A level scheme of the excited states in $^{87}$As is proposed for the first time. The data are interpreted in frame of Large-Scale Shell-Model calculations, SU3 symmetries and Beyond Mean-Field frameworks. A spherical regime at magic number $N$=50 is predicted and the location of the proton $g_{9/2}$ orbital is proposed for the first time. Development of collectivity in a prolate deformed, $γ$-soft regime in the open shell cases $^{85}$As and $^{87}$As, most neutron-rich isotopes beyond $N$=50, is concluded. Data and theoretical calculations give confidence to a relatively high extrapolated excitation energy about 4 MeV of the $9/2^+$ state in $^{79}$Cu, one proton above $^{78}$Ni.

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arXiv2022

Electric monopole transitions and low-lying level structure in 106Pd

The structure of 106Pd, populated in the EC/beta+ decay of 106Ag, was investigated at the INFN Legnaro National Laboratories using the Spes Low-energy Internal Conversion Electron Spectrometer (SLICES). The K-internal conversion coefficients of some transitions have been measured and the electric monopole transition strengths, between low-lying 2+ and 0+ states, have been deduced. These experimental data combined with the results from internal conversion electron measurement on 104Pd previously performed by the Florence spectroscopy group were compared with the theoretical values calculated in the framework of the interacting proton-neutron boson model. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical values is found when interpreting the 0+3 level as an intruder state.

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arXiv2021

Narrow resonances in the continuum of the unbound nucleus $^{15}$F

The structure of the unbound $^{15}$F nucleus is investigated using the inverse kinematics resonant scattering of a radioactive $^{14}$O beam impinging on a CH$_2$ target. The analysis of $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,p)$^{14}$O and $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,2p)$^{13}$N reactions allowed the confirmation of the previously observed narrow $1/2^{-}$ resonance, near the two-proton decay threshold, and the identification of two new narrow 5/2$^{-}$ and 3/2$^{-}$ resonances. The newly observed levels decay by 1p emission to the ground of $^{14}$O, and by sequential 2p emission to the ground state (g.s.) of $^{13}$N via the $1^-$ resonance of $^{14}$O. Gamow shell model (GSM) analysis of the experimental data suggests that the wave functions of the 5/2$^{-}$ and 3/2$^{-}$ resonances may be collectivized by the continuum coupling to nearby 2p- and 1p- decay channels. The observed excitation function $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,p)$^{14}$O and resonance spectrum in $^{15}$F are well reproduced in the unified framework of the GSM.

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