arXiv subjects

A. Tolosa-Delgado

Publications and source records attributed to A. Tolosa-Delgado.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Impact of newly measured $β$\nobreakdash-delayed neutron emitters around \myisoSimp{78}{Ni} on light element nucleosynthesis in the neutrino-wind following a neutron star merger

Neutron emission probabilities and half-lives of 37 beta-delayed neutron emitters from 75Ni to 92Br were measured at the RIKEN Nishina Center in Japan, including 11 one-neutron and 13 two-neutron emission probabilities and 6 half-lives measured for the first time, which supersede theoretical estimates. These nuclei lie in the path of the weak r-process occurring in neutrino-driven winds from the accretion disk formed after the merger of two neutron stars, synthesizing elements in the A~80 abundance peak. The presence of such elements dominates the accompanying kilonova emission over the first few days and has been identified in the AT2017gfo event, associated with the gravitational wave detection GW170817. Abundance calculations based on over 17000 simulated trajectories describing the evolution of matter properties in the merger outflows show that the new data lead to an increase of 50-70 percent in the abundance of Y, Zr, Nb, and Mo. This enhancement is large compared to the scatter of relative abundances observed in old very metal-poor stars and is therefore significant in the comparison with other possible astrophysical processes contributing to light-element production. These results underline the importance of including experimental decay data for very neutron-rich beta-delayed neutron emitters into r-process models.

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arXiv2024

YSO implantation detector for beta-delayed neutron spectroscopy

A segmented-scintillator-based implantation detector was developed to study the energy distribution of beta-delayed neutrons emitted from exotic isotopes. The detector comprises a 34 $\times$ 34 YSO scintillator coupled to an 8 $\times$ 8 Position-Sensitive Photo-Multiplier Tube (PSPMT) via a tapered light guide. The detector was used at RIBF, RIKEN, for time-of-flight-based neutron spectroscopy measurement in the $^{78}$Ni region. The detector provides the position and timing resolution necessary for ion-beta correlations and ToF measurements. The detector provides a high $\sim$ 80 $\%$ beta-detection efficiency and a sub-nanosecond timing resolution. This contribution discusses the details of the design, operation, implementation, and analysis developed to obtain neutron time-of-flight spectrum and the analysis methods in the context of neutron-rich nuclei in the $^{78}$Ni region.

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arXiv2024

First Exploration of Monopole-Driven Shell Evolution above the N = 126 shell closure: new Millisecond Isomers in 213Tl and 215Tl

Isomer spectroscopy of heavy neutron-rich nuclei beyond the N=126 closed shell has been performed for the first time at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of the RIKEN Nishina Center. New millisecond isomers have been identified at low excitation energies, 985.3(19) keV in 213Tl and 874(5) keV in 215Tl. The measured half-lives of 1.34(5) ms in 213Tl and 3.0(3) ms in 215Tl suggest spins and parities 11/2- with the single proton-hole configuration h11/2 as leading component. They are populated via E1 transitions by the decay of higher-lying isomeric states with proposed spin and parity 17/2+, interpreted as arising from a single s1/2 proton hole coupled to the 8+ seniority isomer in the (A+1)Pb cores. The lowering of the 11/2- states is ascribed to an increase of the h11/2 proton effective single-particle energy as the second g9/2 orbital is filled by neutrons, owing to a significant reduction of the proton-neutron monopole interaction between the h11/2 and g9/2 orbitals. The new ms-isomers provide the first experimental observation of shell evolution in the almost unexplored N>126 nuclear region below doubly-magic 208Pb.

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arXiv2022

Long-term evolution of the neutron rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory

We report results on the long-term variation of the neutron counting rate at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory, of importance for several low-background experiments installed there, including rare-event searches. The measurement campaign was performed employing the High Efficiency Neutron Spectrometry Array (HENSA) mounted in Hall A and lasted 412 live days. The present study is the first long-term measurement of the neutron rate with sensitivity over a wide range of neutron energies (from thermal up to 0.1 GeV and beyond) performed in any underground laboratory so far. Data on the environmental variables inside the experimental hall (radon concentration, air temperature, air pressure and humidity) were also acquired during all the measurement campaign. We have investigated for the first time the evolution of the neutron rate for different energies of the neutrons and its correlation with the ambient variables.

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arXiv2022

Efficiency calibration of the BRIKEN detector: the world largest counter for beta-delayed neutrons

Beta-delayed neutron emission plays a fundamental role in the explosive nucleosynthesis of elements heavier than iron by the rapid neutron capture (r-process). The most ambitious project related to beta-delayed neutron detection of very exotic nuclei is carried out by the BRIKEN collaboration at RIKEN Nishima Center. In this work, a brief description of the BRIKEN project is presented. A methodology for the precise characterization of the BRIKEN neutron counter efficiency, for fast neutrons, using an uncalibrated 252Cf neutron source is described. The method relies on the well-known neutron multiplicity distribution of such source and correlation counting method. A detailed experimental study with the BRIKEN neutron counter and a 252 Cf neutron source at the RIKEN Nishina center is presented. The result of this work is the determination of the neutron detection efficiency of the BRIKEN neutron counter with high accuracy.

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arXiv2019

Segmented YSO scintillation detectors as a new ${\rm β}$-implant detection tool for decay spectroscopy in fragmentation facilities

A newly developed segmented YSO scintillator detector was implemented for the first time at the RI-beam Factory at RIKEN Nishina Center as an implantation-decay counter. The results from the experiment demonstrate that the detector is a viable alternative to conventional silicon-strip detectors with its good timing resolution and high detection efficiency for ${\rm β}$ particles. A Position-Sensitive Photo-Multiplier Tube (PSPMT) is coupled with a $48\times48$ segmented YSO crystal. To demonstrate its capabilities, a known short-lived isomer in $^{76}$Ni and the ${\rm β}$ decay of $^{74}$Co were measured by implanting those ions into the YSO detector. The half-lives and ${\rm γ}$-rays observed in this work are consistent with the known values. The ${\rm β}$-ray detection efficiency is more than 80~\% for the decay of $^{74}$Co.

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arXiv2018

First determination of $β$-delayed multiple neutron emission beyond A = 100 through direct neutron measurement: The P$_{2n}$ value of $^{136}$Sb

Background: $β$-delayed multiple neutron emission has been observed for some nuclei with A$\leq$100, with $^{100}$Rb being the heaviest $β$2n emitter measured to date. So far, only 25 P$_{2n}$ values have been determined for the $\sim$300 nuclei that may decay in this way. Accordingly, it is of interest to measure P$_{2n}$ values for the other possible multiple neutron emitters throughout the chart of the nuclides. It is of particular interest to make such measurement for nuclei with A$>$100 to test the predictions of theoretical models and simulation tools for the decays of heavy nuclei in the region of very neutron-rich nuclei. In addition, the decay properties of these nuclei are fundamental for the understanding of astrophysical nucleosynthesis processes such as the $r$-process, and safety inputs for nuclear reactors. Purpose: To determine for the first time the two neutron branching ratio, P$_{2n}$ value, for $^{136}$Sb through a direct neutron measurement, and to provide precise P$_{1n}$ values for $^{136}$Sb and $^{136}$Te. Method: Pure beams were provided by the JYFLTRAP at the IGISOL facility of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The purified ions were implanted into a moving tape at the end of the beam line. The detection setup consisted of a plastic scintillator placed right behind the implantation point, and the BELEN detector, based on neutron counters embedded in a polyethylene matrix. The analysis was based on the study of the $β$- and neutron- growth-and-decay curves and the $β$-one-neutron and $β$-two-neutron time correlations. Results: The P$_{2n}$ value of $^{136}$Sb was found to be 0.14(3)\% and the measured P$_{1n}$ values for $^{136}$Sb and $^{136}$Te were found to be 32.2(15)\% and 1.47(6)\%, respectively. The measured P$_{2n}$ value is a factor 44 smaller than predicted by the FRDM+QRPA model used for $r$-process calculations.

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arXiv2018

Commissioning of the BRIKEN detector for the measurement of very exotic beta-delayed neutron emitters

A new detection system has been installed at the RIKEN Nishina Center (Japan) to investigate decay properties of very neutron-rich nuclei. The setup consists of three main parts: a moderated neutron counter, a detection system sensitive to the implantation and decay of radioactive ions, and gamma-ray detectors. We describe here the setup, the commissioning experiment and some selected results demonstrating its performance for the measurement of half-lives and beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities. The methodology followed in the analysis of the data is described in detail. Particular emphasis is placed on the correction of the accidental neutron background.

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arXiv2018

The ORNL Analysis Technique for Extracting $β$-Delayed Multi-Neutron Branching Ratios with BRIKEN

Many choices are available in order to evaluate large radioactive decay networks. %multi-particle decay data. There are many parameters that influence the calculated $β$-decay delayed single and multi-neutron emission branching fractions. We describe assumptions about the decay model, background, and other parameters and their influence on $β$-decay delayed multi-neutron emission analysis. An analysis technique, the ORNL BRIKEN analysis procedure, for determining $β$-delayed multi-neutron branching ratios in $β$-neutron precursors produced by means of heavy-ion fragmentation is presented. The technique is based on estimating the initial activities of zero, one, and two neutrons occurring in coincidence with an ion-implant and $β$ trigger. The technique allows one to extract $β$-delayed multi-neutron decay branching ratios measured with the hybrid \textsuperscript{3}He BRIKEN neutron counter. As an example, two analyses of the $β$-neutron emitter \textsuperscript{77}Cu based on different {\it a priori} assumptions are presented along with comparisons to literature values.

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