arXiv subjects

D. Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to D. Kumar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Evidence of the Excited X(5)-like Critical-Point Symmetry Structures in 152Sm

The positive-parity structure of 152Sm has been investigated through high-statistics γ-ray spectroscopy following the (150Nd(α,2n)152Sm reaction at Elab = 26 MeV. Several collective structures built on excited 0+ states have been extended through the observation of new levels and γ-ray transitions, and spin-parity assignments have been established using directional-correlation and linear-polarization measurements. Electromagnetic transition strengths (B(E2)), deduced from measured branching ratios and known level lifetimes, reveal pronounced collectivity among the excited configurations. The resulting level scheme provides evidence for a sequence of excited collective bands extending beyond the well-known ground-state and first excited 0+ structures. The excitation energies and transition strengths are examined within the framework of the X(5) critical-point description of the first-order U(5)-SU(3) shape-phase transition. In addition to the established X(5)-like features of the low-lying spectrum, the observed systematics of the higher-lying bands are found to be consistent with excited collective structures exhibiting X(5)-like characteristics. The results provide new constraints on the realization of critical-point behavior in finite nuclei and on the evolution of collectivity in the N=90 region.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Low lying excitations in $^{150}$Pm

The low lying excitations in odd-odd $^{150}$Pm have been studied through proton induced reaction with an array of five Compton suppressed Clover HPGe and one segmented planar Ge detectors. The relative excitation functions for the observed $γ$ rays have been studied using singles data at two beam energies of 8~MeV and 9~MeV. 16 new $γ$ rays and 15 new levels have been placed in the level scheme of $^{150}$Pm based on $γ-γ$ coincidence data. The relative intensities for the observed $γ$ rays have been determined using total and gated projections. Tentative spin-parity assignments were made to few low lying excitations of $^{150}$Pm, using limited angular distribution data and other information. Lifetimes were estimated for two excited levels in this nucleus using using generalized centroid difference analysis, applied in the nanosecond range, with Ge detectors. Large basis shell model and projected shell model calculation were performed to interpret the experimentally observed levels. The present work indicates 1$^-$ ground state, a 2$^-$ state close to the ground state ($\sim$50~keV) and a low lying 6$^-$ isomeric state in this odd-odd nucleus along with emerging band structures developed with two quasiparticle configurations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Hindered $ΔK=1$ Dipole Strength in octupole bands in $N=90$ $^{154}$Gd from Lifetime Measurements with $γ-γ$ fast timing technique

The lifetimes of the low-lying negative-parity $1^-$ state at 1414~keV and $2^-$ state at 1398~keV in $^{154}$Gd have been measured using the $γ$--$γ$ fast-timing technique with the VENTURE array at VECC, Kolkata. The states were populated through the $β$ decay of $^{154}$Tb, produced in proton-induced reactions at the K130 cyclotron. From the measured lifetimes, absolute $B(E1)$ transition strengths were deduced. The extracted $B(E1)$ values are compared with those of neighboring Gd isotopes and with Gogny-HFB-based $sdf$-IBM calculations. The results show that the measured $E1$ strengths from these states are strongly hindered compared with the corresponding $ΔK=0$ transitions, providing evidence for weak $ΔK=1$ dipole strength in $^{154}$Gd.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Lifetimes and Transition Probabilities in $N = 76 ^{130}Xe$

Lifetimes for the ${4}_1^+$ and ${6}_1^+$ states have been directly measured using $γ-γ$ fast timing technique for low lying states of $^{130}Xe$, populated from $β^-$ decay of the parent $^{130}I$ produced through $^{nat}U(α,f)$ reaction at $E_α~=~40~MeV$. VENTURE array comprising of eight fast CeBr$_3$ detectors is used for lifetime measurement. The reduced transition probabilities deduced from the measured lifetimes have been compared with theoretical values obtained from the large basis shell model calculation and the interacting boson approximation (IBM) calculation.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

KDP as a thermal blocking filter -- Deep near IR observations with a warm narrow band filter

Ground-based astronomy suffers from strong atmospheric line- and thermal continuum emission, at the near infrared (NIR, 0.7-1.1$μ$m), and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1.1-2.5$μ$m) wavelengths. The thermal continuum emission increases exponentially towards the red sensitivity cutoff of the state-of-the-art 2.5$μ$m cutoff SWIR detectors. Given availability of an optical quality shortpass filter material with strong blocking density in the SWIR, lower cost instrumentation, and higher performance filters could be designed. We demonstrate monopotassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP, chemical formula KH$_2$PO$_4$) as a strong candidate for this purpose. KDP is fully transparent at wavelengths from ultraviolet to 1.3$μ$m, but becomes highly opaque at wavelengths >2$μ$m. We demonstrate on-sky use of KDP by improving performance of a cryogenic broadband filter with known off-band thermal leak, and using a non-cryogenic narrow band filter for deep observation. KDP reduces the sky background by 4.5 magnitudes in the leaky Z-band filter we use. Our 4nm wide, central wavelength 1.191$μ$m narrowband filter in combination with KDP reduces the sky surface brightness by three magnitudes compared to a J broadband, although the effect of KDP is minor due to high blocking density of the broadband filter. We find a sky surface brightness of 18.5 mag arcsec$^{-2}$ in our bandpass at 1.191$μ$m. KDP is an excellent thermal blocker, when its temperature is maintained above its Curie point at 123K. Below Curie point, KDP transforms its crystal structure, degrading its otherwise good imaging properties.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Studies of CPT symmetry in positronium decays with 192 plastic strip J-PET detector

A direct test of the CPT symmetry is performed for the electromagnetic decays of ortho-positronium using the J-PET tomograph. We present the precise measurement of the CPT-sensitive angular correlation entailing the positronium spin and the momenta of its annihilation photons, surpassing previous studies utilizing the same detection system. Positrons originating from a $^{22}$Na source are emitted from the detector's center and subsequently form positronium atoms within the spherical chamber covered with porous material. Reconstruction of annihilation locations using the 192-strip J-PET detector makes it possible to determine the positronium emission direction, which defines the quantization axis along which positronium is polarized, without the application of external magnetic fields. The measurements were performed in total for 356 days resulting in an identification of 47.8 million events with ortho-positronium decays into three photons. The results are consistent with the exactness of CPT symmetry with measured asymmetry amplitude -0.00029 $\pm$ 0.00022 (stat.) and with statistical error four times smaller than the previous best measurement.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

A New Evidence of Interplay Between Tetrahedral and Octahedral Symmetries and Symmetry Breaking: Exotic Rotational Bands in $^{152}$Sm

We report on an experimental evidence for a new, second tetrahedral band in $^{152}_{\;\;62}$Sm$^{}_{90}$. It was populated via fusion evaporation reaction, $^{150}{\rm Nd}(α, 2n)^{152}$Sm, employing 26 MeV beam of $α$ particles from K-130 cyclotron at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, India. The newly observed possible mixed parity sequence with absence of E2 and strong indication of E3 transitions is consistent with the spectroscopic criteria for a tetrahedral-symmetry rotational band that could be constructed from the allowed spin-parity assignments. This structure differs from the structure of the band previously found in the same nucleus, the new one manifesting tetrahedral symmetry not accompanied by the octahedral one. Our new experimental results are interpreted in terms of group representation theory and collective nuclear-motion theory of Bohr. We propose to generalize the notion of the tetrahedral vibrational bands and believe that our new experimental results support a number of theory predictions related to nuclear tetrahedral symmetry published earlier and bring a new light into the issue of spontaneous symmetry breaking in heavy nuclei.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Non-maximal entanglement of photons from positron-electron annihilation demonstrated using a novel plastic PET scanner

In state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography (PET), information about annihilation photon polarization is unavailable. Here, we present a PET scanner built from plastic scintillators, where annihilation photons primarily interact via the Compton effect, providing information about both photon polarization and propagation direction. Using this plastic-based PET, we determined the distribution of the relative angle between polarization planes of photons from positron-electron annihilation in a porous polymer. The amplitude of the observed distribution is smaller than predicted for maximally quantum-entangled two-photon states but larger than expected for separable photons. This result can be well explained by assuming that photons from pick-off annihilation are not entangled, while photons from direct and para-positronium annihilations are maximally entangled. Our result indicates that the degree of entanglement depends on the annihilation mechanism in matter, opening new avenues for exploring polarization correlations in PET as a diagnostic indicator.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Production cross sections of light and charmed mesons in $e^+e^-$ annihilation near 10.58 GeV

We report measurements of production cross sections for $ρ^+$, $ρ^0$, $ω$, $K^{*+}$, $K^{*0}$, $ϕ$, $η$, $K_S^0$, $f_0(980)$, $D^+$, $D^0$, $D_s^+$, $D^{*+}$, $D^{*0}$, and $D^{*+}_s$ in $e^+e^-$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy near 10.58 GeV. The data were recorded by the Belle experiment, consisting of 571 fb$^{-1}$ at 10.58 GeV and 74 fb$^{-1}$ at 10.52 GeV. Production cross sections are extracted as a function of the fractional hadron momentum $x_p$ . The measurements are compared to {\sc pythia} Monte Carlo generator predictions with various fragmentation settings, including those that have increased fragmentation into vector mesons over pseudo-scalar mesons. The cross sections measured for light hadrons are consistent with no additional increase of vector over pseudo-scalar mesons. The charmed-meson cross sections are compared to earlier measurements -- when available -- including older Belle results, which they supersede. They are in agreement before application of an improved initial-state radiation correction procedure that causes slight changes in their \xp shapes.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

High-precision mass measurements of the ground and isomeric states in $^{124,125}$Ag

The masses of the ground and isomeric states in $^{124,125}$Ag have been measured using the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique at the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. The ground states of $^{124}$Ag and $^{125}$Ag were found to be 30(250) keV and 250(430) keV less bound but 36 and 110 times more precise than in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2020, respectively. The excitation energy of $^{124}$Ag$^{m}$, ${E_x = 188.2(25)}$ keV, was determined for the first time. The new precise mass values have been utilised to study the evolution of nuclear structure via two-neutron separation energies. The impact on the astrophysical rapid neutron capture process has been investigated via neutron-capture reaction rate calculations. The precision measurements indicate a more linear trend in two-neutron separation energies and reduce the mass-related uncertainties for the neutron-capture rate of $^{124}$Ag$(n,γ)^{125}$Ag by a factor of around 100. The new mass values also improve the mass of $^{123}$Pd, previously measured using $^{124}$Ag as a reference.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Isomeric states of fission fragments explored via Penning trap mass spectrometry at IGISOL

The masses of $^{84}$Br, $^{105}$Mo, $^{115,119,121}$Pd, $^{122}$Ag, $^{127,129}$In, $^{132}$Sb and their respective isomeric states have been measured with the JYFLTRAP Penning trap mass spectrometer using the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique. The excitation energies of the isomeric states in $^{132}$Sb and $^{119}$Pd were experimentally determined for the first time, while for $^{84}$Br, $^{115}$Pd and $^{127,129}$In, the precision of the mass values was substantially improved. In $^{105}$Mo and $^{121}$Pd there were no signs of a long-lived isomeric state. The ground-state measurements of $^{119}$Pd and $^{122}$Ag indicated that both are significantly more bound than the literature values. For $^{122}$Ag, there was no indication of a proposed third long-lived state. The results for the $N=49$ nucleus $^{84}$Br and isomers close to doubly magic $^{132}$Sn have been compared to the shell-model and the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Demonstration of The Brightest Nano-size Gamma Source

Gamma rays selectively interact with nuclei, induce and mediate nuclear reactions and elementary particle interactions, and exceed x-rays in penetrating power and thus are indispensable for analysis and modification of dense objects. Yet, the available gamma sources lack sufficient power and brightness. The predicted and highly desirable laser-driven gamma flash, from here on termed "Gamma Flash", based on inverse Compton scattering from solid targets at extreme irradiances (>$10^{23}W/cm^2$), would be the highest-power and the brightest terrestrial gamma source with a 30-40% laser-to-gamma energy conversion. However, Gamma Flash remains inaccessible experimentally due to the Bremsstrahlung background. Here we experimentally demonstrate a new interaction regime at the highest effective irradiance where Gamma Flash scaled quickly with the laser power and produced several times the number of Bremsstrahlung photons. Simulations revealed an attosecond, Terawatt Gamma Flash with a nanometre source size achieving a record brightness exceeding $~10^{23}photons/mm^2mrad^2s$ per 0.1% bandwidth at tens of MeV photon energies, surpassing astrophysical Gamma Ray Bursts. These findings could revolutionize inertial fusion energy by enabling unprecedented sub-micrometre/femtosecond resolution radiography of fuel mixing instabilities in extremely-compressed targets. The new gamma source could facilitate significant advances in time-resolved nuclear physics, homeland security, nuclear waste management and non-proliferation, while opening possibilities for spatially-coherent gamma rays.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Phase transformation and water adsorption behavior of ALD deposited and annealed Ru and RuO2 films

Ruthenium metal and its oxide stand out for their exceptional catalytic activity, stability in Oxygen Evolution Reactions (OER) and electrical conductivity, making them indispensable in electronics and electrocatalysis. In this study, atomic layer deposition (ALD) was used to synthesize ruthenium thin films, and the subsequent annealing of deposited ruthenium films at different elevated temperatures resulted in a progressive phase transformation from ruthenium metal to ruthenium dioxide (RuO2). The films were systematically characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. XPS was carried out with both soft X-rays from a lab-based instrument and tender X-rays from the synchrotron. The different probing depths of the techniques revealed the gradual transformation of Ru to RuO2 from the top surface as the annealing temperature was increased. The water adsorption behavior of the films was also assessed using ambient pressure XPS (APXPS) at different water vapor pressures. The influence of annealing conditions on the films affinity for water and tendency for water dissociation was analyzed to seek an initial understanding of the surface chemistry relevant to electrochemical water splitting.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Nanoporosity imaging by positronium lifetime tomography

Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) is a well-established non-destructive technique used for nanostructural characterization of porous materials. It is based on the annihilation of a positron and an electron. Mean positron lifetime in the material depends on the free voids size and molecular environment, allowing the study of porosity and structural transitions in the nanometer scale. We have developed a novel method enabling spatially resolved PALS, thus providing tomography of nanostructural characterization of an extended object. Correlating space (position) and structural (lifetime) information brings new insight in materials studies, especially in the characterization of the purity and pore distribution. For the first time, a porosity image using stationary positron sources for the simultaneous measurement of the porous polymers XAD4, silica aerogel powder IC3100, and polyvinyl toluene scintillator PVT by the J-PET tomograph is demonstrated

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2024

High-precision Penning-trap mass measurements of Cd and In isotopes at JYFLTRAP remove the fluctuations in the two-neutron separation energies

We report on the first direct mass measurements of the $^{118,119}$Cd and $^{117-119}$In isotopes performed at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility using the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. The masses of $^{117}$In and $^{118}$Cd isotopes are in agreement with the literature, while $^{118,119}$In and $^{119}$Cd differ from literature by 49, 13 and 85 keV (6.1, 1.9 and 2.1 standard deviations), respectively. The excitation energy of the $^{118}$In first isomeric state, $E_x = 40.3(25)$ keV, was determined for the first time. The updated mass values removed the fluctuations observed in the two-neutron separation energies and lead to a smoother linear decrease of both isotopic chains. The $\log(ft)$ value for the $^{118}$Cd decay is also found to increase from 3.93(6) to 4.089(8). The reported results indicate an absence of significant structural changes around $N=70$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

TOF MLEM Adaptation for the Total-Body J-PET with a Realistic Analytical System Response Matrix

We report a study of the original image reconstruction algorithm based on the time-of-flight maximum likelihood expectation maximisation (TOF MLEM), developed for the total-body (TB) Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) scanners. The method is applicable to generic cylindrical or modular multi-layer layouts and is extendable to multi-photon imaging. The system response matrix (SRM) is represented as a set of analytical functions, uniquely defined for each pair of plastic scintillator strips used for the detection. A realistic resolution model (RM) in detector space is derived from fitting the Monte Carlo simulated emissions and detections of annihilation photons on oblique transverse planes. Additional kernels embedded in SRM account for TOF, parallax effect and axial smearing. The algorithm was tested on datasets, simulated in GATE for the NEMA IEC and static XCAT phantoms inside a 24-module 2-layer TB J-PET. Compared to the reference TOF MLEM with none or a shift-invariant RM, an improvement was observed, as evaluated by the analysis of image quality, difference images and ground truth metrics. We also reconstructed the data with additive contributions, pre-filtered geometrically and with non-TOF scatter correction applied. Despite some deterioration, the obtained results still capitalise on the realistic RM with better edge preservation and superior ground truth metrics. The envisioned prospects of the TOF MLEM with analytical SRM include its application in multi-photon imaging and further upgrade to account for the non-collinearity, positron range and other factors.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2024

Investigation of Novel Preclinical Total Body PET Designed With J-PET Technology:A Simulation Study

The growing interest in human-grade total body positron emission tomography (PET) systems has also application in small animal research. Due to the existing limitations in human-based studies involving drug development and novel treatment monitoring, animal-based research became a necessary step for testing and protocol preparation. In this simulation-based study two unconventional, cost-effective small animal total body PET scanners (for mouse and rat studies) have been investigated in order to inspect their feasibility for preclinical research. They were designed with the novel technology explored by the Jagiellonian-PET (J-PET) Collaboration. Two main PET characteristics: sensitivity and spatial resolution were mainly inspected to evaluate their performance. Moreover, the impact of the scintillator dimension and time-of-flight on the latter parameter was examined in order to design the most efficient tomographs. The presented results show that for mouse TB J-PET the achievable system sensitivity is equal to 2.35% and volumetric spatial resolution to 9.46 +- 0.54 mm3, while for rat TB J-PET they are equal to 2.6% and 14.11 +- 0.80 mm3, respectively. Furthermore, it was shown that the designed tomographs are almost parallax-free systems, hence, they resolve the problem of the acceptance criterion tradeoff between enhancing spatial resolution and reducing sensitivity.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2024

Comparative studies of plastic scintillator strips with high technical attenuation length for the total-body J-PET scanner

Plastic scintillator strips are considered as one of the promising solutions for the cost-effective construction of total-body positron emission tomography, (PET) system. The purpose of the performed measurements is to compare the transparency of long plastic scintillators with dimensions 6 mm x 24 mm x 1000 mm and with all surfaces polished. Six different types of commercial, general purpose, blue-emitting plastic scintillators with low attenuation of visible light were tested, namely: polyvinyl toluene-based BC-408, EJ-200, RP-408, and polystyrene-based Epic, SP32 and UPS-923A. For determination of the best type of plastic scintillator for totalbody Jagiellonian positron emission tomograph (TB-J-PET) construction, emission and transmission spectra, and technical attenuation length (TAL) of blue light-emitting by the scintillators were measured and compared. The TAL values were determined with the use of UV lamp as excitation source, and photodiode as light detector. Emission spectra of investigated scintillators have maxima in the range from 420 nm to 429 nm. The BC-408 and EJ-200 have the highest transmittance values of about 90% at the maximum emission wavelength measured through a 6 mm thick scintillator strip and the highest technical attenuation length reaching about 2000 mm, allowing assembly of long detection modules for time-of-flight (TOF) J-PET scanners. Influence of the 6 mm x 6 mm, 12 mm x 6 mm, 24 mm x 6 mm cross-sections of the 1000 mm long EJ-200 plastic scintillator on the TAL and signal intensity was measured. The highest TAL value was determined for samples with 24 mm x 6 mm cross-section.

physics.ins-det↗