arXiv subjects

D. Connolly

Publications and source records attributed to D. Connolly.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Structure Studies of $^{13}\text{Be}$ from the $^{12}$Be(d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics on a solid deuteron target

The low-lying structure of $^{13}$Be has remained an enigma for decades. Despite numerous experimental and theoretical studies, large inconsistencies remain. Being both unbound, and one neutron away from $^{14}$Be, the heaviest bound beryllium nucleus, $^{13}$Be is difficult to study through simple reactions with weak radioactive ion beams or more complex reactions with stable-ion beams. Here, we present the results of a study using the $^{12}$Be(d,p)$^{13}$Be reaction in inverse kinematics using a 9.5~MeV per nucleon $^{12}$Be beam from the ISAC-II facility. The solid deuteron target of IRIS was used to achieve an increased areal thickness compared to conventional deuterated polyethylene targets. The Q-value spectrum below -4.4~MeV was analyzed using a Bayesian method with GEANT4 simulations. A three-point angular distribution with the same Q-value gate was fit with a mixture of $s$- and $p$-wave, $s$- and $d$-wave, or pure $p$-wave transfer. The Q-value spectrum was also compared with GEANT simulations obtained using the energies and widths of states reported in four previous works. It was found that our results are incompatible with works that revealed a wide $5/2^+$ resonance but shows better agreement with ones that reported a narrower width.

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arXiv2022

Elastic scattering of 3He+4He with SONIK

Measurements of the elastic scattering cross section of 3He and 4He are important in order to improve constraints on theoretical models of 4He(3He,g)7Be, a key reaction in Big Bang nucleosynthesis and solar neutrino production. The astrophysical S-factor for this reaction is a significant source of uncertainty in the standard solar-model prediction of the 7Be and 8B solar neutrino fluxes. The elastic scattering measurements reported in the literature do not extend to low energies and lack proper uncertainty quantification. A new measurement of the 4He(3He,3He)4He reaction has been made at center-of-mass energies Ec.m. = 0.38-3.13 MeV using the Scattering of Nuclei in Inverse Kinematics (SONIK) scattering chamber: a windowless, extended gas target surrounded by an array of 30 collimated silicon charged particle detectors situated at TRIUMF. This is the first elastic scattering measurement of 3He+4He made below 500 keV and it has greater angular range and better precision than previous measurements. The elastic scattering data were analyzed using both R-matrix and Halo Effective Field Theory (Halo EFT) frameworks, and values of the s-wave scattering length and effective range were extracted. The resulting improvement in knowledge of the s-wave effective-range function at low energies will reduce the overall uncertainty in S34 at solar energies.

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arXiv2022

Instrumentation for correlated prompt $n$-$\gamma$ emission studies in coincidence with fission fragments

Recent theoretical and experimental results have brought renewed interest and focus on the topic of fission fragment angular momentum. Measurements of neutrons and $\gamma$ rays in coincidence with fission fragments remain the most valuable tool in the exploration of fission physics. To achieve these scientific goals, we have developed a system that combines a state-of-the-art fission fragment detector and $n$-$\gamma$ radiation detectors. A new twin Frisch-gridded ionization chamber has been designed and constructed for use with a spontaneous fission source and an array of forty \textit{trans}-stilbene organic scintillators (FS-3) at Argonne National Laboratory. The new ionization chamber design we present in this work aims at minimizing particle attenuation in the chamber walls, and provides a compact apparatus that can be fit inside existing experimental systems. The ionization chamber is capable of measuring fission fragment masses and kinetic energies, whereas the FS-3 provides neutron and gamma-ray multiplicities and spectra. The details of both detector assembly are presented along with the first experimental results of this setup. Planned event-by-event analysis and future experiments are briefly discussed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Use of Bayesian Optimization to Understand the Structure of Nuclei

Monte Carlo simulations are widely used in nuclear physics to model experimental systems. In cases where there are significant unknown quantities, such as energies of states, an iterative process of simulating and fitting is often required to describe experimental data. We describe a Bayesian approach to fitting experimental data, designed for data from a $^{12}$Be(d,p) reaction measurement, using simulations made with GEANT4. Q-values from the $^{12}$C(d,p) reaction to well-known states in $^{13}$C are compared with simulations using BayesOpt. The energies of the states were not included in the simulation to reproduce the situation for $^{13}$Be where the states are poorly known. Both cases had low statistics and significant resolution broadening owing to large proton energy losses in the solid deuterium target. Excitation energies of the lowest three excited states in $^{13}$C were extracted to better than 90 keV, paving a way for extracting information on $^{13}$Be.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2021

Properties of correlated fission fragments from neutron induced fission of Np-237 at incident neutron energies between 200 keV and 100 MeV

Neutron-induced fission of $^{237}$Np has been measured over a wide range of incident neutron energies using a twin Frisch-gridded ionization chamber (TFGIC) and a thin-backed $^{237}$Np target. These measurements were performed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center - Weapons Neutron Research (LANSCE - WNR) facility, which provides a collimated beam of neutrons with energies ranging from 100s of keV to 100s of MeV. The data were analyzed using the double-energy ($2E$) method, with mass-dependent corrections for prompt-fission neutrons and pulse height defect. Pre- and post-neutron evaporation average total kinetic energy ($\langle TKE\rangle$) values are reported for 54 incident neutron energies in the energy range $0.20 \le E_n \le 100.0$ MeV and compared to existing data and evaluations. Pre- and post-neutron evaporation mass yields were extracted with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) resolution of 4u and compared to existing data and evaluations. The present $\langle TKE\rangle$ and mass yield data agree with previous results and also with statistical models of $^{237}$Np$(n,f)$ at incident neutron energies between $E_n = 0.2 - 20.0$ MeV. A flattening of the $\langle TKE\rangle$ data is observed (relative to the prediction of the GEF model) above $E_n = 20.0$ MeV. However, the interpretation of this discrepancy is unclear as the analysis method's neglect of incomplete momentum transfer at high energies, as well as pre-equilibrium pre-fission phenomena likely have a significant impact on the measurement at such high incident neutron energies.

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arXiv2021

Proton inelastic scattering reveals deformation in $^8$He

A measurement of proton inelastic scattering of $^8$He at $8.25A$~MeV at TRIUMF shows a resonance at 3.54(6)~MeV with a width of 0.89(11)~MeV. The energy of the state is in good agreement with coupled cluster and no-core shell model with continuum calculations, with the latter successfully describing the measured resonance width as well. Its differential cross section analyzed with phenomenological collective excitation form factor and microscopic coupled reaction channels framework consistently reveals a large deformation parameter $\beta_2$ = 0.40(3), consistent with no-core shell model predictions of a large neutron deformation. This deformed double-closed shell at the neutron drip-line opens a new paradigm.

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arXiv2019

First inverse kinematics measurement of key resonances in the ${}^{22}\text{Ne}(p,γ)^{23}\text{Na}$ reaction at stellar temperatures

In this Letter we report on the first inverse kinematics measurement of key resonances in the ${}^{22}\text{Ne}(p,γ)^{23}\text{Na}$ reaction which forms part of the NeNa cycle, and is relevant for ${}^{23}$Na synthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. An anti-correlation in O and Na abundances is seen across all well-studied globular clusters (GC), however, reaction-rate uncertainties limit the precision as to which stellar evolution models can reproduce the observed isotopic abundance patterns. Given the importance of GC observations in testing stellar evolution models and their dependence on NeNa reaction rates, it is critical that the nuclear physics uncertainties on the origin of ${}^{23}$Na be addressed. We present results of direct strengths measurements of four key resonances in ${}^{22}\text{Ne}(p,γ)^{23}\text{Na}$ at E$_{\text c.m.}$ = 149 keV, 181 keV, 248 keV and 458 keV. The strength of the important E$_{\text c.m.}$ = 458 keV reference resonance has been determined independently of other resonance strengths for the first time with an associated strength of $ωγ$ = 0.439(22) eV and with higher precision than previously reported. Our result deviates from the two most recently published results obtained from normal kinematics measurements performed by the LENA and LUNA collaborations but is in agreement with earlier measurements. The impact of our rate on the Na-pocket formation in AGB stars and its relation to the O-Na anti-correlation was assessed via network calculations. Further, the effect on isotopic abundances in CO and ONe novae ejecta with respect to pre-solar grains was investigated.

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arXiv2019

Initial operation of the recoil mass spectrometer EMMA at the ISAC-II facility of TRIUMF

The Electromagnetic Mass Analyser (EMMA) is a new vacuum-mode recoil mass spectrometer currently undergoing the final stages of commissioning at the ISAC-II facility of TRIUMF. EMMA employs a symmetric configuration of electrostatic and magnetic deflectors to separate the products of nuclear reactions from the beam, focus them in both energy and angle, and disperse them in a focal plane according to their mass/charge (m/q) ratios. The spectrometer was designed to accommodate the gamma-ray detector array TIGRESS around the target position in order to provide spectroscopic information from electromagnetic transitions. EMMA is intended to be used in the measurement of fusion evaporation, radiative capture, and transfer reactions for the study of nuclear structure and astrophysics. Its complement of focal plane detectors facilitates the identification of recoiling nuclei and subsequent recoil decay spectroscopy. Here we describe the facility and report on commissioning efforts.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Direct Measurement of Astrophysically Important Resonances in $^{38}\mathrm{K}(p, γ){}^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$

According to sensitivity studies, the $^{38}\mathrm{K}\left( p, γ\right){}^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ reaction has a significant influence on $\mathrm{Ar}$, $\mathrm{K}$, and $\mathrm{Ca}$ production in classical novae. In order to constrain the rate of this reaction, we have performed a direct measurement of the strengths of three candidate $\ell = 0$ resonances within the Gamow window, at $386 \pm 10~\mathrm{keV}$, $515 \pm 10~\mathrm{keV}$, and $689 \pm 10~\mathrm{keV}$. The experiment was performed in inverse kinematics using a beam of unstable $^{38}\mathrm{K}$ impinged on a windowless $\mathrm{H}_2$ target. The $^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ recoils and prompt $γ$ rays from $^{38}\mathrm{K}\left( p, γ\right){}^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ reactions were detected in coincidence using a recoil mass separator and a BGO array, respectively. For the $689$ keV resonance, we observed a clear recoil-$γ$ coincidence signal and extracted resonance strength and energy values of $120^{+50}_{-30}~\mathrm{(stat.)}^{+20}_{-60}~\mathrm{(sys.)}~\mathrm{meV}$ and $679^{+2}_{-1}~\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 1~\mathrm{(sys.)}~\mathrm{keV}$, respectively. We also performed a singles analysis, extracting a resonance strength of $120 \pm 20~\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 15~\mathrm{(sys.)}~\mathrm{meV}$, consistent with the coincidence result. For the $386$ keV and $515$ keV resonances, we extract $90\%$ confidence level upper limits of $2.54$ meV and $18.4$ meV, respectively. We have established a new recommended $^{38}\mathrm{K}(p, γ){}^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ rate based on experimental information, which reduces overall uncertainties near the peak temperatures of nova burning by a factor of ${\sim} 250$. Using the rate obtained in this work in model calculations of the hottest oxygen-neon novae reduces overall uncertainties on $\mathrm{Ar}$, $\mathrm{K}$, and $\mathrm{Ca}$ synthesis to factors of $15$ or less in all cases.

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arXiv2014

Design and commissioning of a timestamp-based data acquisition system for the DRAGON recoil mass separator

The DRAGON recoil mass separator at TRIUMF exists to study radiative proton and alpha capture reactions, which are important in a variety of astrophysical scenarios. DRAGON experiments require a data acquisition system that can be triggered on either reaction product ($γ$ ray or heavy ion), with the additional requirement of being able to promptly recognize coincidence events in an online environment. To this end, we have designed and implemented a new data acquisition system for DRAGON which consists of two independently triggered readouts. Events from both systems are recorded with timestamps from a $20$ MHz clock that are used to tag coincidences in the earliest possible stage of the data analysis. Here we report on the design, implementation, and commissioning of the new DRAGON data acquisition system, including the hardware, trigger logic, coincidence reconstruction algorithm, and live time considerations. We also discuss the results of an experiment commissioning the new system, which measured the strength of the $E_{\text{c}.\text{m}.} = 1113$ keV resonance in the $^{20}$Ne$\left(p, γ\right)^{21}$Na radiative proton capture reaction.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

Strength of the $E_{\text{cm}} = 1113$ keV resonance in $^{20}${Ne}$(p, γ)^{21}${Na}

The $^{20}$Ne$(p, γ)^{21}$Na reaction is the starting point of the NeNa cycle, which is an important process for the production of intermediate mass elements. The $E_{\text{cm}} = 1113$ keV resonance plays an important role in the determination of stellar rates for this reaction since it is used to normalize experimental direct capture yields at lower energies. The commonly accepted strength of this resonance, $ωγ= 1.13 \pm 0.07$ eV, has been misinterpreted as the strength in the center-of-mass frame when it is actually the strength in the laboratory frame. This has motivated a new measurement of the $E_{\text{cm}} = 1113$ keV resonance strength in $^{20}$Ne$(p, γ)^{21}$Na using the DRAGON recoil mass spectrometer. The DRAGON result, $0.972 \pm 0.11$ eV, is in good agreement with the accepted value when both are calculated in the same frame of reference.

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