arXiv subjects

D. L. Bleuel

Publications and source records attributed to D. L. Bleuel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Statistical properties of $^{133}$Xe and the $^{132}$Xe$(n,γ)$ cross section

$^{133}$Xe is an interesting case for plasma physics to explore nuclear excitation by electron capture, as the process can be studied using statistical properties of $^{133}$Xe. In this work we present results on $^{133}$Xe from the inverse-Oslo method where we extract the nuclear level density and the $γ$-strength function, which is used to calculate the (n,$γ$) cross section on $^{132}$Xe. The $γ$-strength function of $^{133}$Xe can constrain the estimated decay rate from nuclear excitation by electron capture. The $\mathrm{d}(^{132}\mathrm{Xe},\mathrm{p})^{132}\mathrm{Xe}$ reaction was used to create the compound nucleus $^{133}$Xe, which was recorded with an annular particle telescope and a scintillator array consisting of \la and BGO-shielded HPGe Clover detectors. With the inverse-Oslo method, it is possible to study nuclei that are impossible or unable to manufacture targets from, short lived isotopes, or as in this work, noble gases. We present the extracted nuclear level density, and $γ$-strength function for $^{133}$Xe, along with shell-model calculations of the statistical properties of $^{133}$Xe. These are the first statistical properties extracted below 6 MeV for any xenon isotope. We constrain the $^{132}$Xe(n,$γ$) $^{133}$Xe cross section and reaction rate using the TALYS reaction code.

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arXiv2025

Beta-decay Half Lives beyond $^{54}$Ca: A Systematic Survey of Decay Properties approaching the Neutron Dripline

In an experiment performed at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) using the FRIB Decay Station initiator (FDSi), 15 new half lives of isotopes near $^{54}$Ca were measured. A new method of extracting lifetimes from experimental data, taking into account the unknown $β$-delayed neutron emission branches of very neutron-rich nuclei, was developed to enable systematic uncertainty analysis. The experiment observed a dramatic change in the half-life systematics for the isotopes with neutron number N =34. Beyond N =34, the decline of nuclear lifetime is much slower, leading to longer than anticipated lifetimes for near-dripline nuclei. State-of-the-art shell-model calculations can explain the experimental results for Z$>$19 nuclei, revealing the imprint of shell effects and the need for modification of single-particle neutron states. The results from a newly developed QRPA model with potential for making global predictions were also tested against the experimental results and good agreement was found.

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arXiv2025

Universal Effective Charges in the $sd$ and $fp$ Shells

The 247-keV state in $^{54}$Sc, populated in the $β$ decay of $^{54}$Ca, is reported here as a nanosecond isomer with a half-life of 26.0(22) ns. The state is interpreted as the $1^+$ member of the $πf_{7/2}\otimesνf_{5/2}$ spin-coupled multiplet, which decays to the $3^+,πf_{7/2} \otimes νp_{1/2}$ ground state. The new half-life corresponds to a pure $E2$ transition with a strength of 1.93(16) W.u., providing the most precise, unambiguous $B(E2)$ value in the neutron-rich $fp$ region to date for a nucleus with valence protons above $Z=20$. Notably, it is roughly four times larger than the $B(E2; 1/2^{-} \rightarrow 5/2^{-})$ value in $^{55}$Ca. The results, as compared to semi-empirical and ab initio shell-model calculations, indicate (1) a weak $N=34$ sub-shell gap relative to $N = 32$, (2) a large $E2$ enhancement in Sc as compared to Ca due to $1p-1h$ proton excitations across $Z=28$, and (3) empirical effective proton and neutron charges, $e_π$ = 1.30(8)$e$ and $e_ν$ = 0.452(7)$e$, respectively, that are in contrast to reports of $e_π\approx 1.1-1.15e$ and $e_ν\approx 0.6-0.8e$ for $fp$-shell nuclei near $N = Z$. We demonstrate that these reports are erroneous and that, in fact, a universal set of effective charges can be used across the $sd$ and $fp$ shells.

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arXiv2024

Nuclear Level Density and $γ$-ray Strength Function of $^{67}\mathrm{Ni}$ and the impact on the i-process

Proton-$γ$ coincidences from $(\mathrm{d},\mathrm{p})$ reactions between a $^{66}\mathrm{Ni}$ beam and a deuterated polyethylene target have been analyzed with the inverse-Oslo method to find the nuclear level density (NLD) and $γ$-ray strength function ($γ$SF) of $^{67}\mathrm{Ni}$. The $^{66}\mathrm{Ni}(n,γ)$ capture cross section has been calculated using the Hauser-Feshbach model in TALYS using the measured NLD and $γ$SF as constraints. The results confirm that the $^{66}\mathrm{Ni}(n,γ)$ reaction acts as a bottleneck when relying on one-zone nucleosynthesis calculations. However, the impact of this reaction is strongly dampened in multi-zone models of low-metallicity AGB stars experiencing i-process nucleosynthesis.

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arXiv2023

Global Characterization of a Laser-Generated Neutron Source

Laser-driven neutron sources are routinely produced by the interaction of laser-accelerated protons with a converter. They present complementary characteristics to those of conventional accelerator-based neutron sources (e.g. short pulse durations, enabling novel applications like radiography). We present here results from an experiment aimed at performing a global characterization of the neutrons produced using the Titan laser at the Jupiter Laser Facility (Livermore, USA), where protons were accelerated from 23 $μm$ thick plastic targets and directed onto a LiF converter to produce neutrons. For this purpose, several diagnostics were used to measure these neutron emissions, such as CR-39, activation foils, Time-of-Flight detectors and direct measurement of $^{7}$Be residual activity in the LiF converters. The use of these different, independently operating diagnostics enables comparison of the various measurements performed to provide a robust characterization. These measurements led to a neutron yield of $2.10^{9}$ neutrons per shot with a modest angular dependence, close to that simulated.

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arXiv2021

Simultaneous measurement of organic scintillator response to carbon and proton recoils

Background: Organic scintillators are widely used for neutron detection in both basic nuclear physics and applications. While the proton light yield of organic scintillators has been extensively studied, measurements of the light yield from neutron interactions with carbon nuclei are scarce. Purpose: Demonstrate a new approach for the simultaneous measurement of the proton and carbon light yield of organic scintillators. Provide new carbon light yield data for the EJ-309 liquid and EJ-204 plastic organic scintillators. Method: A 33~MeV $^{2}$H$^{+}$ beam from the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was impinged upon a 3-mm-thick Be target to produce a high-flux, broad-spectrum neutron beam. The double time-of-flight technique was extended to simultaneously measure the proton and carbon light yield of the organic scintillators, wherein the light output associated with the recoil particle was determined using $np$ and $n$C elastic scattering kinematics. Results: The proton and carbon light yield relations of the EJ-309 liquid and EJ-204 plastic organic scintillators were measured over a recoil energy range of approximately 0.3 to 1~MeV and 2 to 5~MeV, respectively for EJ-309, and 0.2 to 0.5~MeV and 1 to 4~MeV, respectively for EJ-204. Conclusions: These data provide new insight into the ionization quenching effect in organic scintillators and key input for simulation of the response of organic scintillators for both basic science and a broad range of applications.

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arXiv2020

Comparative scintillation performance of EJ-309, EJ-276, and a novel organic glass

An organic glass scintillator developed by Sandia National Laboratories was characterized in terms of its light output and pulse shape discrimination (PSD) properties and compared to commercial liquid (EJ-309) and plastic (EJ-276) organic scintillators. The electron light output was determined through relative comparison of the $^{137}$Cs Compton edge location. The proton light yield was measured using a double time-of-flight technique at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Using a tunable broad-spectrum neutron source and an array of pulse-shape-discriminating observation scintillators, a continuous measurement of the proton light yield was performed for EJ-309 (200 keV$-$3.2 MeV), EJ-276 (170 keV$-$4.9 MeV), and the organic glass (50 keV$-$20 MeV). Finally, the PSD properties of the organic glass, EJ-309, and EJ-276 were evaluated using an AmBe source and compared via a figure-of-merit metric. The organic glass exhibited a higher electron light output than both EJ-309 and EJ-276. Its proton light yield and PSD performance were comparable to EJ-309 and superior to that of EJ-276. With these performance characteristics, the organic glass scintillator is well poised to replace current state-of-the-art PSD-capable scintillators in a range of fast neutron detection applications.

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arXiv2020

Proton Light Yield in Organic Scintillators using a Double Time-of-Flight Technique

Recent progress in the development of novel organic scintillators necessitates modern characterization capabilities. As the primary means of energy deposition by neutrons in these materials is n-p elastic scattering, knowledge of the proton light yield is paramount. This work establishes a new model-independent method to continuously measure proton light yield in organic scintillators over a broad energy range. Using a deuteron breakup neutron source at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and an array of organic scintillators, the proton light yield of EJ-301 and EJ-309, commercially available organic liquid scintillators from Eljen Technology, were measured via a double time-of-flight technique. The light yield was determined using a kinematically over-constrained system in the proton energy range of 1-20 MeV. The effect of pulse integration length on the magnitude and shape of the proton light yield relation was also explored. This work enables accurate simulation of the performance of advanced neutron detectors and supports the development of next-generation neutron imaging systems.

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arXiv2020

Neutron Spectroscopy for Pulsed Beams with Frame Overlap using a Double Time-of-Flight Technique

A new double time-of-flight (dTOF) neutron spectroscopy technique has been developed for pulsed broad spectrum sources with a duty cycle that results in frame overlap, where fast neutrons from a given pulse overtake slower neutrons from previous pulses. Using a tunable beam at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, neutrons were produced via thick-target breakup of 16 MeV deuterons on a beryllium target in the cyclotron vault. The breakup spectral shape was deduced from a dTOF measurement using an array of EJ-309 organic liquid scintillators. Simulation of the neutron detection efficiency of the scintillator array was performed using both GEANT4 and MCNP6. The efficiency-corrected spectral shape was normalized using a foil activation technique to obtain the energy-dependent flux of the neutron beam at zero degrees with respect to the incoming deuteron beam. The dTOF neutron spectrum was compared to spectra obtained using HEPROW and GRAVEL pulse height spectrum unfolding techniques. While the unfolding and dTOF results exhibit some discrepancies in shape, the integrated flux values agree within two standard deviations. This method obviates neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy challenges posed by pulsed beams with frame overlap and opens new opportunities for pulsed white neutron source facilities.

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arXiv2020

Low Energy Light Yield of Fast Plastic Scintillators

Compact neutron imagers using double-scatter kinematic reconstruction are being designed for localization and characterization of special nuclear material. These neutron imaging systems rely on scintillators with a rapid prompt temporal response as the detection medium. As n-p elastic scattering is the primary mechanism for light generation by fast neutron interactions in organic scintillators, proton light yield data are needed for accurate assessment of scintillator performance. The proton light yield of a series of commercial fast plastic organic scintillators---EJ-200, EJ-204, and EJ-208---was measured via a double time-of-flight technique at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Using a tunable deuteron breakup neutron source, target scintillators housed in a dual photomultiplier tube configuration, and an array of pulse-shape-discriminating observation scintillators, the fast plastic scintillator light yield was measured over a broad and continuous energy range down to proton recoil energies of approximately 50 keV. This work provides key input to event reconstruction algorithms required for utilization of these materials in emerging neutron imaging modalities.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Nuclear level densities and $γ$-ray strength functions of $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ -- First application of the Oslo Method in inverse kinematics

The $γ$-ray strength function ($γ$SF) and nuclear level density (NLD) have been extracted for the first time from inverse kinematic reactions with the Oslo Method. This novel technique allows measurements of these properties across a wide range of previously inaccessible nuclei. Proton-$γ$ coincidence events from the $\mathrm{d}(^{86}\mathrm{Kr}, \mathrm{p}γ)^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ reaction were measured at iThemba LABS and the $γ$SF and NLD in $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ obtained. The low-energy region of the $γ$SF is compared to Shell Model calculations which suggest this region to be dominated by M1 strength. The $γ$SF and NLD are used as input parameters to Hauser-Feshbach calculations to constrain $(\mathrm{n},γ)$ cross sections of nuclei using the TALYS reaction code. These results are compared to $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}(n,γ)$ data from direct measurements.

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arXiv2019

Restricted spin-range correction in the Oslo Method: The example of nuclear level density and $γ$-ray strength function from $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}(\mathrm{d,p}γ)^{240}\mathrm{Pu}$

The Oslo Method has been applied to particle-$γ$ coincidences following the $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$(d,p) reaction to obtain the nuclear level density (NLD) and $γ$-ray strength function ($γ$SF) of $^{240}\mathrm{Pu}$. The experiment was conducted with a 12 MeV deuteron beam at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory. The low spin transfer of this reaction leads to a spin-parity mismatch between populated and intrinsic levels. This is a challenge for the Oslo Method as it can have a significant impact on the extracted NLD and $γ$SF. We have developed an iterative approach to ensure consistent results even for cases with a large spin-parity mismatch, in which we couple Green's Function Transfer calculations of the spin-parity dependent population cross-section to the nuclear decay code RAINIER. The resulting $γ$SF shows a pronounced enhancement between 2-4 MeV that is consistent with the location of the low-energy orbital $M1$ scissors mode.

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arXiv2019

Nuclear level densities and gamma-ray strength functions of $^{180,181,182}$Ta

Particle-$γ$ coincidence experiments were performed at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory with the $^{181}$Ta(d,X) and $^{181}$Ta($^{3}$He,X) reactions, to measure the nuclear level densities (NLDs) and $γ$-ray strength functions ($γ$SFs) of $^{180, 181, 182}$Ta using the Oslo method. The Back-shifted Fermi-Gas, Constant Temperature plus Fermi Gas, and Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov plus Combinatorial models where used for the absolute normalisations of the experimental NLDs at the neutron separation energies. The NLDs and $γ$SFs are used to calculate the corresponding $^{181}$Ta(n,$γ$) cross sections and these are compared to results from other techniques. The energy region of the scissors resonance strength is investigated and from the data and comparison to prior work it is concluded that the scissors strength splits into two distinct parts. This splitting may allow for the determination of triaxiality and a $γ$ deformation of $14.9^{\circ} \pm 1.8^{\circ}$ was determined for $^{181}$Ta.

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arXiv2019

Impact of restricted spin-ranges in the Oslo Method: The example of (d,p)$^{240}\mathrm{Pu}$

In this paper we present the first systematic analysis of the impact of the populated vs. intrinsic spin distribution on the nuclear level density and $γ$-ray strength function retrieved through the Oslo Method. We illustrate the effect of the spin distribution on the recently performed $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$(d,p$γ$)$^{240}\mathrm{Pu}$ experiment using a 12 MeV deuteron beam performed at the Oslo Cyclotron Lab. In the analysis we couple state-of-the-art calculations for the populated spin-distributions with the Monte-Carlo nuclear decay code RAINIER to compare Oslo Method results to the known input. We find that good knowledge of the populated spin distribution is crucial and show that the populated distribution has a significant impact on the extracted nuclear level density and $γ$-ray strength function for the $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$(d,p$γ$)$^{240}\mathrm{Pu}$ case.

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arXiv2018

Enhanced low-energy $γ$-decay strength of $^{70}$Ni and its robustness within the shell model

Neutron-capture reactions on very neutron-rich nuclei are essential for heavy-element nucleosynthesis through the rapid neutron-capture process, now shown to take place in neutron-star merger events. For these exotic nuclei, radiative neutron capture is extremely sensitive to their $γ$-emission probability at very low $γ$ energies. In this work, we present measurements of the $γ$-decay strength of $^{70}$Ni over the wide range $1.3 \leq E_γ \leq 8 $ MeV. A significant enhancement is found in the $γ$-decay strength for transitions with $E_γ< 3$ MeV. At present, this is the most neutron-rich nucleus displaying this feature, proving that this phenomenon is not restricted to stable nuclei. We have performed $E1$-strength calculations within the quasiparticle time-blocking approximation, which describe our data above $E_γ\simeq 5$ MeV very well. Moreover, large-scale shell-model calculations indicate an $M1$ nature of the low-energy $γ$ strength. This turns out to be remarkably robust with respect to the choice of interaction, truncation and model space, and we predict its presence in the whole isotopic chain, in particular the neutron-rich $^{72,74,76}\mathrm{Ni}$.

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arXiv2018

The gamma-ray strength function of $^{89}$Y and $^{90}$Y

In this work, we present new data on the $^{89}$Y($γ$,n) cross section studied with a quasi-monochromatic photon beam produced at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility in Japan contributing torwards resolving a long standing discrepancy between existing measurements of this cross section. Results for $γ$-ray strength function below threshold obtained by applying the Oslo method to $^{89}$Y($p,p'γ$)$^{89}$Y coincidences combined with the $^{89}$Y($γ$,n) data this providing experimental data for the $γ$-ray strength function of $^{89}$Y for $γ$ energies in the range of $\approx 1.6$ Mev to $\approx$ 20 MeV. A low-energy enhancement is seen for $γ$-rays below $\approx 2.5$ MeV. Shell-model calculations indicate that this feature is caused by strong, low-energy $M1$ transitions at high excitation energies. The nuclear level density and $γ$-ray strength function have been extracted from $^{89}$Y($d,p γ$)$^{90}$Y coincidences using the Oslo method. Using the ($γ,n$) and ($d,pγ$) data as experimental constraints, we have calculated the $^{89}$Y($n,γ$)$^{90}$Y cross section with the TALYS reaction code. Our results have been compared with directly measured (n,$γ$) cross sections and evaluations. The $N=50$ isotope $^{89}$Y is an important bottleneck in the s-process and the magnitude of the $^{89}$Y(n,$γ)$ cross section is key to understanding how s-process stars produce heavy isotopes.

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arXiv2018

Understanding the Low-Energy Enhancement of the $γ$-ray Strength Function of $^{56}$Fe

A model-independent technique was used to determine the $γ$-ray Strength Function ($γ$SF) of $^{56}$Fe down to $γ$-ray energies less than 1 MeV for the first time with GRETINA using the $(p,p')$ reaction at 16 MeV. No difference was observed in the energy dependence of the $γ$SF built on $2^{+}$ and $4^{+}$ final states, supporting the Brink hypothesis. In addition, angular distribution and polarization measurements were performed. The angular distributions are consistent with dipole radiation. The polarization results show a small bias towards magnetic character in the region of the enhancement.

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arXiv2017

Energy dependence of the prompt $γ$-ray emission from the $(d,p)$-induced fission of $^{234}\mathrm{U}^{}$ and $^{240}\mathrm{Pu}^{}$

Prompt fission $γ$-rays are responsible for approximately 5\% of the total energy released in fission, and therefore important to understand when modelling nuclear reactors. In this work we present prompt $γ$-ray emission characteristics in fission, for the first time as a function of the nuclear excitation energy of the fissioning system. Emitted $γ$-ray spectra were measured, and $γ$-ray multiplicities and average and total $γ$ energies per fission were determined for the $^{233}$U(d,pf) reaction for excitation energies between 4.8 and 10 MeV, and for the $^{239}$Pu(d,pf) reaction between 4.5 and 9 MeV. The spectral characteristics show no significant change as a function of excitation energy above the fission barrier, despite the fact that an extra $\sim$5 MeV of energy is potentially available in the excited fragments for $γ$-decay. The measured results are compared to model calculations made for prompt $γ$-ray emission with the fission model code GEF. Further comparison with previously obtained results from thermal neutron induced fission is made to characterize possible differences arising from using the surrogate (d,p) reaction.

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