arXiv subjects

B. V. John

Publications and source records attributed to B. V. John.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quasi-elastic scattering for the nuclear ground state structure: An intriguing case of $^{30}$Si

Quasi-elastic (QEL) scattering measurements have been performed using the $^{28, 30}$Si projectiles off the $^{90}$Zr target at energies around the Coulomb barrier. Coupled-channels (CC) calculations were carried out in a large parameter space of quadrupole and hexadecapole deformations for the N=Z, $^{28}$Si and N=Z+2, $^{30}$Si nuclei. $^{28}$Si at the N=Z line is observed to be uniquely oblate shaped in its ground state. In contrast, for $^{30}$Si with just two additional neutrons -- oblate, prolate, and spherical CC descriptions are equally compatible with the measurements. To further investigate the nuclear structure evolution with varying neutron number, shell-model calculations were performed. These calculations reveal a sudden change in the nuclear structure aspects at $^{30}$Si in going from $^{28}$Si to $^{30}$Si. Combined reaction and structure analyses consistently indicate that $^{30}$Si does not possess a well-defined intrinsic shape, and it is a potential candidate for ``shape fluctuations" in its ground state.

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arXiv2024

Observation of near-scission "polar" and "equatorial" proton emission in heavy-ion induced fission

Proton and $α$-particle energy spectra were measured in coincidence with fission fragments at different relative angles in $^{16}$O (96 MeV) + $^{232}$Th reaction. The multiplicity spectra were analyzed within the framework of a Moving Source Disentangling Analysis (MSDA) to determine contributions from different emission stages. The MSDA conclusively shows ``Near Scission Emission (NSE)" as an essential component in the multiplicity spectra. In contrast to NSE $α$ particles which emit mainly perpendicular (``equatorial emission"), the NSE protons are observed to be emitted perpendicular as well as parallel (``polar emission") to the fission axis with similar intensities ($\sim$20\% for each). Thus, around 40\% of total pre-scission protons are emitted near the scission stage, whereas the same fraction for $α$ particles is only around 10\%. The inevitable presence of ``polar" and ``equatorial" NSE protons in a heavy-ion induced fission has been observed for the first time. Present results open up a new avenue to study the heavy-ion induced fission dynamics.

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arXiv2023

Precise determination of quadrupole and hexadecapole deformation parameters of the $sd$-shell nucleus, $^{28}$Si

Quasi-elastic (QEL) scattering measurements have been performed using $^{28}$Si projectile off a $^{90}$Zr target at energies around the Coulomb barrier. A Bayesian analysis within the framework of coupled channels (CC) calculations is performed in a large parameter space of quadrupole and hexadecapole deformations ($β_{2}$ and $β_{4}$) of $^{28}$Si. Our results clearly show that $^{28}$Si is an oblate shaped nucleus with $β_{2}$=-$0.38 \pm 0.01$ which is in excellent agreement with electromagnetic probes. A precise value of hexadecapole deformation for $^{28}$Si, $β_{4}$=+$0.03 \pm 0.01$, along with a consistent value of quadrupole deformation has now been determined for the first time using QEL scattering. A remarkable agreement between the experimental $β_{4}$ value of $^{28}$Si and Skyrme-Hartree-Fock based calculations is obtained. The QEL results obtained previously for $^{24}$Mg (prolate) and the present result for $^{28}$Si (oblate) hereby affirm the strong sensitivity of the quasi-elastic scattering to ground state deformations, thus reinforcing its suitability as a potential probe for rare exotic nuclei.

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arXiv2022

An Indirect Measurement of $^6$Li(n,$γ$) Cross Sections

The $^6$Li(n,$γ$)$^7$Li cross sections in the neutron energy range of 0.6 to 4 MeV have been measured by the experimental implementation of the direct capture formalism. This was done by measuring the $γ$ transition probability experimentally and accounting for the spin factor by theoretical calculation. The electromagnetic transition probabilities from $^7$Li$^*$ analogous to the initial neutron capture states of $^6$Li$+n$ were measured by populating the J$_i$ states of $^7$Li through $^7$Li($p,p'$)$^7$Li$^*$ reaction. The impact of coupling of resonant states, above neutron separation threshold of $^7$Li, in the neutron capture, is observed from the capture $γ$ spectrum. The measured cross sections were reproduced through {\sc fresco} and Talys-1.95 Direct Capture Calculations.

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arXiv2021

Impact of $^7$Be breakup on $^7$Li(p,n) Neutron Spectrum

The formation of continuum neutron distribution in $^7$Li(p,n) has been identified as due to the coupling of the $^7$Be breakup levels to the final state of the reaction. The continuum neutron spectra produced by $^7$Li(p,n) reaction has been estimated by measuring the double differential cross sections for continuum and resonant breakup of $^7$Be, through $^7$Li(p,n)$^7$Be$^*$ reaction at 21 MeV of proton energy. The breakup contributions from continuum and $5/2^-$, $7/2^-$ states of $^7$Be have been identified. The measured double differential cross sections have been reproduced through CDCC-CRC calculations. The cross sections were projected to neutron spectrum using Monte-Carlo approach and validated using experimentally measured $^3$He gated neutron spectra. $^7$Li(p,n) neutron spectrum at 20 MeV incident proton energy measured by McNaughton. et al. has been reproduced by adapting estimated model parameters for the reaction.

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