arXiv subjects

D. Dell'Aquila

Publications and source records attributed to D. Dell'Aquila.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Probing nuclear interactions à la Rutherford: Insights on $^4$He from $α$ scattering

Nuclear interactions play a key role for the stability of atomic nuclei and stellar environments. Successful parametrization and models of these interactions, developed in the last decades, accurately reproduce all the proton and neutron scattering data, besides the properties of few-body nuclear systems. However, recent electron scattering results focusing on the first excited resonant state of $^4$He nucleus, reveal a puzzling situation suggesting potential gaps in our understanding of the nuclear phenomenology. Here, we report a new study of such $^4$He resonance by $^4$He + $^4$He scattering featuring data of unprecedented sensitivity and state-of-art analyses of the spectral line shape together with a phenomenological reaction modeling that incorporates the same nuclear densities employed in electron-scattering studies. Our analysis of the full set of experimental observables yields a reasonable description within the framework of current nuclear-interaction physics, thereby highlighting the need for further advancing the modeling of few-body open quantum systems.

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arXiv2026

Impact of the in-medium cross section on cluster spectra in ${}^{40,48}\mathrm{Ca}+{}^{58,64}\mathrm{Ni}$ collisions at $56$ and $140$ $\mathbf{\mathrm{MeV}}/\mathrm{\mathbf{nucleon}}$

Although significant efforts have been made to investigate the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy, the influence of the in-medium cross section on particle production in transport models is not well constrained. The in-medium cross section reflects the dynamic situation of the medium such as a nontrivial phase space distribution. In this study, we analyze the transverse momentum spectra of $p$, $d$, $t$, ${}^3{\mathrm{He}}$ and $α$ particles emitted near mid-rapidity in central $^{40,48}\mathrm{Ca}$ + $^{58, 64}\mathrm{Ni}$ reactions at $56$ and $140$ $\mathrm{MeV}/\mathrm{nucleon}$. The Antisymmetrized Molecular Dynamics ($\mathrm{AMD}$) model is chosen as the transport model for data comparison. Central events are selected based on charged-particle multiplicity in both the experimental data and AMD calculations after applying an experimental filter. Our results show that the in-medium nucleon-nucleon scattering cross-sections are more strongly reduced at $56$ $\mathrm{MeV}/\mathrm{nucleon}$ than at $140$ $\mathrm{MeV}/\mathrm{nucleon}$ incident energy.

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arXiv2026

Detector characterization for a new $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C reaction study at LUNA

The $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C fusion reaction plays a crucial role in stellar evolution, including the occurrence of supernova explosions, and in the synthesis of the chemical elements. However, our understanding of its cross section remains severely deficient, particularly below $E_\textrm{cm}=2.5$\,MeV, the energy range of interest for astrophysics. To address these unresolved issues, the LUNA collaboration will conduct a dedicated study of the $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C reaction at the Bellotti Ion Beam Facility (Bellotti IBF) located deep underground within the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) in Italy. Based on the combination of passive and active shields, this campaign aims to achieve unprecedented sensitivity in measuring the cross sections of the two key reaction channels, $^{12}$C($^{12}$C,$α$)$^{20}$Ne and $^{12}$C($^{12}$C,$p$)$^{23}$Na in the low-energy regime via $γ$-ray detection. Here, we report on a sensitivity study for the upcoming campaign with a focus on the characterization of two detectors, namely a HPGe detector and a NaI(Tl) array. Furthermore, their intrinsic contamination is thoroughly investigated since this could potentially influence the overall sensitivity. Assuming typical beam intensities of the Bellotti IBF, we will be able to investigate reaction rates significantly below 100 counts per day. In case of the $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C reaction we therefore expect to acquire experimental data well below the current limit of $E_\textrm{cm}=2.1\,$MeV. The results are supported by simulations to highlight the advantageous low-background environment, essential for high-precision nuclear astrophysics studies.

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arXiv2025

Nuclear Physics Mid Term Plan at LNGS

The Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) is one of the largest underground physics laboratory, a very peculiar environment suited for experiments in Astroparticle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Fundamental Symmetries. The newly established Bellotti Ion Beam facility represents a major advance in the possibilities of studying nuclear processes in an underground environment. A workshop was organized at LNGS in the framework of the Nuclear Physics Mid Term Plan in Italy, an initiative of the Nuclear Physics Division of the Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare to discuss the opportunities that will be possible to study in the near future by employing state-of-the-art detection systems. In this report, a detailed discussion of the outcome of the workshop is presented.

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arXiv2024

Model-independent measurement of isospin diffusion in Ni-Ni systems at intermediate energy

In this work we provide a model-independent experimental evaluation of the degree of isospin equilibration taking place in $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni collisions at 32 MeV/nucleon across varying reaction centralities. This result has been obtained by combining the complementary information provided by two different datasets, sharing common characteristics. The first dataset has been acquired with the INDRA setup and has been used to implement a model-independent reconstruction of the impact parameter. The second dataset has been acquired in the first experimental campaign of the coupled INDRA-FAZIA apparatus at GANIL. The neutron-to-proton content of the quasiprojectile remnant measured by FAZIA has been employed as isospin observable. The effect of isospin diffusion has been evidenced by means of the isospin transport ratio, reported as a function of the impact parameter of the collision. The evolution towards isospin equilibration from semiperipheral to more central collisions is clearly extracted. This experimental result, expanding our previous works (Phys. Rev. C 106, 024603 (2022) and Phys. Rev. C 108, 054611 (2023)), can be compared with the predictions of any transport model, and can thus be used to set constraints on the behavior of the symmetry energy term of the nuclear Equation of State at sub- to saturation densities.

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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

First direct measurement of the 64.5 keV resonance strength in $^{17}$O(p,$γ$)$^{18}$F reaction

The CNO cycle is one of the most important nuclear energy sources in stars. At temperatures of hydrostatic H-burning (20 MK $<$ T $<$ 80 MK) the $^{17}$O(p,$γ$)$^{18}$F reaction rate is dominated by the poorly constrained 64.5~keV resonance. Here we report on the first direct measurements of its resonance strength and of the direct capture contribution at 142 keV, performed with a new high sensitivity setup at LUNA. The present resonance strength of $ωγ_{(p, γ)}$\textsuperscript{bare} = (30 $\pm$ 6\textsubscript{stat} $\pm$ 2\textsubscript{syst})~peV is about a factor of 2 higher than the values in literature, leading to a $Γ$\textsubscript{p}\textsuperscript{bare} = (34 $\pm$ 7\textsubscript{stat} $\pm$ 3\textsubscript{syst})~neV, in agreement with LUNA result from the (p,$α$) channel. Such agreement strengthen our understanding of the oxygen isotopic ratios measured in red giant stars and in O-rich presolar grains.

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arXiv2023

Directionality of nuclear recoils in a liquid argon time projection chamber

The direct search for dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP) is performed by detecting nuclear recoils (NR) produced in a target material from the WIMP elastic scattering. A promising experimental strategy for direct dark matter search employs argon dual-phase time projection chambers (TPC). One of the advantages of the TPC is the capability to detect both the scintillation and charge signals produced by NRs. Furthermore, the existence of a drift electric field in the TPC breaks the rotational symmetry: the angle between the drift field and the momentum of the recoiling nucleus can potentially affect the charge recombination probability in liquid argon and then the relative balance between the two signal channels. This fact could make the detector sensitive to the directionality of the WIMP-induced signal, enabling unmistakable annual and daily modulation signatures for future searches aiming for discovery. The Recoil Directionality (ReD) experiment was designed to probe for such directional sensitivity. The TPC of ReD was irradiated with neutrons at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, and data were taken with 72 keV NRs of known recoil directions. The direction-dependent liquid argon charge recombination model by Cataudella et al. was adopted and a likelihood statistical analysis was performed, which gave no indications of significant dependence of the detector response to the recoil direction. The aspect ratio R of the initial ionization cloud is estimated to be 1.037 +/- 0.027 and the upper limit is R < 1.072 with 90% confidence level

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arXiv2023

Examination of cluster production in excited light systems at Fermi energies from new experimental data and comparison with transport model calculations

Four different reactions, $^{32}$S+$^{12}$C and $^{20}$Ne+$^{12}$C at 25 and 50 MeV/nucleon, have been measured with the FAZIA detector capable of full isotopic identification of most forward emitted reaction products. Fragment multiplicities, angular distributions and energy spectra have been measured and compared with Monte Carlo simulations, i.e. the antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) and the heavy-ion phase space exploration (HIPSE) models. These models are combined with two different afterburner codes (HF$l$ and SIMON) to describe the decay of the excited primary fragments. In the case of AMD, the effect of including the clustering and inter-clustering processes to form bound particles and fragments is discussed. A clear confirmation of the role of cluster aggregation in the reaction dynamics and particle production for these light systems, for which the importance of the clustering process increases with bombarding energy, is obtained.

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arXiv2022

First results from the INDRA-FAZIA apparatus on isospin diffusion in $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni systems at Fermi energies

An investigation of the isospin equilibration process in the reactions $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni at two bombarding energies in the Fermi regime ($32\,$MeV/nucleon and $52\,$MeV/nucleon) is presented. Data have been acquired during the first experimental campaign of the coupled INDRA-FAZIA apparatus in GANIL. Selecting from peripheral to semi-central collisions, both the neutron content of the quasiprojectile residue and that of the light ejectiles coming from the quasiprojectile evaporation have been used as probes of the dynamical process of isospin diffusion between projectile and target for the asymmetric systems. The isospin transport ratio technique has been employed. The relaxation of the initial isospin imbalance with increasing centrality has been clearly evidenced. The isospin equilibration appears stronger for the reactions at $32\,$MeV/nucleon, as expected due to the longer projectile-target interaction time than at $52\,$MeV/nucleon. Coherent indications of isospin equilibration come from the quasiprojectile residue characteristics and from particles ascribed to the quasiprojectile decay.

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arXiv2021

Reaction Losses of Charged Particles in CsI(Tl) crystals

To efficiently detect energetic light charged particles, it is common to use arrays of energy-loss telescopes involving two or more layers of detection media. As the energy of the particles increases, thicker layers are usually needed. However, carrying out measurements with thick-telescopes may require corrections for the losses due to nuclear reactions induced by the incident particles on nuclei within the detector and for the scattering of incident particles out of the detector, without depositing their full energy in the active material. In this paper, we develop a method for measuring such corrections and determine the reaction and out-scattering losses for data measured with the silicon-CsI(Tl) telescopes of the newly developed HiRA10 array. The extracted efficiencies are in good agreement with model predictions using the GEANT4 reaction loss algorithm for Z=1 and Z=2 isotopes. After correcting for the HiRA10 geometry, a general function that describes the efficiencies from the reaction loss in CsI(Tl) crystals as a function of range is obtained.

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arXiv2021

Value-assigned pulse shape discrimination for neutron detectors

Using the waveforms from a digital electronic system, an offline analysis technique on pulse shape discrimination (PSD) has been developed to improve the neutron-gamma separation in a bar-shaped NE-213 scintillator that couples to a photomultiplier tube (PMT) at each end. The new improved method, called the ``valued-assigned PSD'' (VPSD), assigns a normalized fitting residual to every waveform as the PSD value. This procedure then facilitates the incorporation of longitudinal position dependence of the scintillator, which further enhances the PSD capability of the detector system. In this paper, we use radiation emitted from an AmBe neutron source to demonstrate that the resulting neutron-gamma identification has been much improved when compared to the traditional technique that uses the geometric mean of light outputs from both PMTs. The new method has also been modified and applied to a recent experiment at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) that uses an analog electronic system.

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arXiv2020

Automatic classification of nuclear physics data via a Constrained Evolutionary Clustering approach

This paper presents an automatic method for data classification in nuclear physics experiments based on evolutionary computing and vector quantization. The major novelties of our approach are the fully automatic mechanism and the use of analytical models to provide physics constraints, yielding to a fast and physically reliable classification with nearly-zero human supervision. Our method is successfully validated by using experimental data produced by stacks of semiconducting detectors. The resulting classification is highly satisfactory for all explored cases and is particularly robust to noise. The algorithm is suitable to be integrated in the online and offline analysis programs of existing large complexity detection arrays for the study of nucleus-nucleus collisions at low and intermediate energies.

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arXiv2019

Clustering in $^{18}$O -- absolute determination of branching ratios via high-resolution particle spectroscopy

The determination of absolute branching ratios for high-energy states in light nuclei is an important and useful tool for probing the underlying nuclear structure of individual resonances: for example, in establishing the tendency of an excited state towards $α$-cluster structure. Difficulty arises in measuring these branching ratios due to similarities in available decay channels, such as ($\mathbf{^{18}}$O,$\mathbf{n}$) and ($\mathbf{^{18}}$O,$\mathbf{2n}$), as well as differences in geometric efficiencies due to population of bound excited levels in daughter nuclei. Methods are presented using Monte Carlo techniques to overcome these issues.

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arXiv2019

The FAZIA setup: a review on the electronics and the mechanical mounting

In this paper the technological aspects of the FAZIA array will be explored. After a productive commissioning phase, FAZIA blocks started to measure and give very useful data to explore the physics of Fermi energy heavy-ion reactions. This was possible thanks to many technical measures and innovations developed in the commissioning phase and tuned during the first experimental campaigns. This paper gives a detailed description of the present status of the FAZIA setup from the electronic and mechanical point of view, trying also to trace a path for new improvements and refinements of the apparatus.

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arXiv2019

Non-linearity effects on the light-output calibration of light charged particles in CsI(Tl) scintillator crystals

The light output produced by light ions (Z<=4) in CsI(Tl) crystals is studied over a wide range of detected energies (E<=300 MeV). Energy-light calibration data sets are obtained with the 10 cm crystals in the recently upgraded High-Resolution Array (HiRA10). We use proton recoil data from 40,48Ca + CH2 at 28 MeV/u, 56.6 MeV/u, 39 MeV/u and 139.8 MeV/u and data from a dedicated experiment with direct low-energy beams. We also use the punch through points of p, d, and t particles from 40,48Ca + 58,64Ni, 112,124Sn collisions reactions at 139.8 MeV/u. Non-linearities, arising in particular from Tl doping and light collection efficiency in the CsI crystals, are found to significantly affect the light output and therefore the calibration of the detector response for light charged particles, especially the hydrogen isotopes. A new empirical parametrization of the hydrogen light output, L(E,Z=1,A), is proposed to account for the observed effects. Results are found to be consistent for all 48 CsI(Tl) crystals in a cluster of 12 HiRA10 telescopes.

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arXiv2018

Phase transition dynamics for hot nuclei

An abnormal production of events with almost equal-sized fragments was theoretically proposed as a signature of spinodal instabilities responsible for nuclear multifragmentation in the Fermi energy domain. On the other hand finite size effects are predicted to strongly reduce this abnormal production. High statistics quasifusion hot nuclei produced in central collisions between Xe and Sn isotopes at 32 and 45 AMeV incident energies have been used to definitively establish, through the experimental measurement of charge correlations, the presence of spinodal instabilities. N/Z influence was also studied.

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arXiv2018

Study and validation of a new "3D Calorimetry" of hot nuclei with the HIPSE event generator

In nuclear thermodynamics, the determination of the excitation energy of hot nuclei is a fundamental experimental problem. Instrumental physicists have been trying to solve this problem for several years by building the most exhaustive 4Pi detector arrays and perfecting their calorimetry techniques. In a recent paper, a proposal for a new calorimetry, called "3D calorimetry", was made. It tries to optimize the separation between the particles and fragments emitted by the Quasi-Projectile and the other possible contributions. This can be achieved by determining the experimental probability for a given nucleus of a nuclear reaction to be emitted by the Quasi-Projectile. It has been developed for the INDRA data. In the present work, we wanted to dissect and validate this new method of characterization of a hot Quasi-Projectile. So we tried to understand and control it completely to determine these limits. Using the HIPSE event generator and a software simulating the functioning of INDRA, we were able to achieve this goal and provide a quantitative estimation of the quality of the QP characterization.

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