SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

G. Chubarian

Publications and source records attributed to G. Chubarian.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantifying alpha clustering in the ground states of 16-O and 20-Ne

Understanding the role of multi-nucleon correlations in the structure of light nuclei is at the forefront of modern nuclear science. In this letter, we present a quantitative benchmark study of alpha-cluster correlations in the ground states of 16-O and 20-Ne. Experimental data provide direct evidence that the wave functions of the ground states of 16-O and 20-Ne are dominated by alpha-cluster correlations, in agreement with the predictions of sophisticated nuclear structure models. We also provide a new model-independent constraint for the alpha asymptotic normalization coefficient of the 16-O ground state and discuss the implications of these findings on the 12-C(alpha,gamma)16-O reaction, which is of critical importance for nuclear astrophysics.

nucl-ex

Radiative decay branching ratio of the Hoyle state

Background: The triple-alpha process is a vital reaction in nuclear astrophysics, characterized by two consecutive reactions [$2α\leftrightarrows{^{8}\rm{Be}}(α,γ){^{12}\rm{C}}$] that drive carbon formation. The second reaction occurs through the Hoyle state, a 7.65 MeV excited state in ${^{12}\rm{C}}$ with $J^π=0^{+}$. The rate of the process depends on the radiative width, which can be determined by measuring the branching ratio for electromagnetic decay. Recent measurements by Kibédi et al. conflicted with the adopted value and resulted in a significant increase of nearly 50\% in this branching ratio, directly affecting the triple-alpha reaction. Purpose: This work aims to utilize charged-particle spectroscopy with magnetic selection as a means to accurately measure the total radiative branching ratio ($Γ_{\rm{rad}}/Γ$) of the Hoyle state in $^{12}{\rm C}$. Methods: The Hoyle state in $^{12}{\rm C}$ was populated via $^{12}\rm{C}(α, α')^{12}\rm{C^{*}}$ inelastic scattering. The scattered $α$ particles were detected using a $Δ$E-E telescope, while the recoiled $^{12}{\rm C}$ ions were identified in a magnetic spectrometer. Results: A radiative branching ratio value of $Γ_{\rm{rad}}/Γ\times10^{4}=4.0\pm0.3({\rm stat.})\pm0.16({\rm syst.})$ was obtained. Conclusions: The radiative branching ratio for the Hoyle state obtained in this work is in agreement with the original adopted value. Our result suggests that the proton-$γ$-$γ$ spectroscopy result reported by Kibédi et al. may be excluded.

nucl-ex

A Position and Pulse Shape Discriminant p-Terphenyl Detector Module

We present the development of a neutron detector array module made with $\textit{para}$-terphenyl, a bright, fast, n/$γ$ discriminating crystalline organic scintillator. The module is comprised of 2 cm $\times$ 2 cm $\times$ 2 cm $\textit{p}$-terphenyl crystals that have been optically coupled together to create a $\textit{pseudo-bar}$ module. While only relying on two photo detectors, the module is capable of distinguishing interactions between up to eight crystals. Furthermore, the module retains the $\textit{p}$-terphenyl's pulse shape discrimination (PSD) capability. Together this makes the pseudo-bar module a promising position-sensitive neutron detector. Here we present characteristics of the pseudo-bar module - its timing resolution as well as its pulse shape and position discrimination capabilities, and briefly discuss future plans for utilizing an array of pseudo-bar modules in a useful neutron detector system.

physics.ins-det

Nuclear structure beyond the neutron drip line: the lowest energy states in $^9$He via their T=5/2 isobaric analogs in $^9$Li

The level structure of the very neutron rich and unbound $^9$He nucleus has been the subject of significant experimental and theoretical study. Many recent works have claimed that the two lowest energy $^9$He states exist with spins $J^π=1/2^+$ and $J^π=1/2^-$ and widths on the order of hundreds of keV. These findings cannot be reconciled with our contemporary understanding of nuclear structure. The present work is the first high-resolution study with low statistical uncertainty of the relevant excitation energy range in the $^8$He$+n$ system, performed via a search for the T=5/2 isobaric analog states in $^9$Li populated through $^8$He+p elastic scattering. The present data show no indication of any narrow structures. Instead, we find evidence for a broad $J^π=1/2^+$ state in $^9$He located approximately 3 MeV above the neutron decay threshold.

nucl-ex

Production cross sections from 82Se fragmentation as indications of shell effects in neutron-rich isotopes close to the drip-line

Production cross sections for neutron-rich nuclei from the fragmentation of a 82Se beam at 139 MeV/u were measured. The longitudinal momentum distributions of 126 neutron-rich isotopes of elements 11 <= Z <= 32 were scanned using an experimental approach of varying the target thickness. Production cross sections with beryllium and tungsten targets were determined for a large number of nuclei including several isotopes first observed in this work. These are the most neutron-rich nuclides of the elements 22 <= Z <= 25 (64Ti, 67V, 69Cr, 72Mn). One event was registered consistent with 70Cr, and another one with 75Fe. The production cross sections are correlated with Qg systematics to reveal trends in the data. The results presented here confirm our previous result from a similar measurement using a 76Ge beam, and can be explained with a shell model that predicts a subshell closure at N = 34 around Z = 20. This is demonstrated by systematic trends and calculations with the Abrasion-Ablation model that are sensitive to separation energies.

nucl-ex

Production cross sections of neutron rich isotopes from a 82Se beam

Production cross sections for neutron-rich nuclei from the fragmentation of a 82Se beam at 139 MeV/u were measured. The longitudinal momentum distributions of 122 neutron-rich isotopes of elements $11 \le Z \le 32$ were determined by varying the target thickness. Production cross sections with beryllium and tungsten targets were determined for a large number of nuclei including several isotopes first observed in this work. These are the most neutron-rich nuclides of the elements $22 \le Z \le 25$ (64Ti, 67V, 69Cr, 72Mn). One event was registered consistent with 70Cr, and another one with 75Fe. A one-body Qg systematics is used to describe the production cross sections based on thermal evaporation from excited prefragments. The current results confirm those of our previous experiment with a 76Ge beam: enhanced production cross sections for neutron-rich fragments near Z=20.

nucl-ex

A New Natural Gamma Radiation Measurement System for Marine Sediment and Rock Analysis

A new high-efficiency and low-background system for the measurement of natural gamma radioactivity in marine sediment and rock cores retrieved from beneath the seabed was designed, built, and installed on the JOIDES Resolution research vessel. The system includes eight large NaI(Tl) detectors that measure adjacent intervals of the core simultaneously, maximizing counting times and minimizing statistical error for the limited measurement times available during drilling expeditions. Effect to background ratio is maximized with passive lead shielding, including both ordinary and low-activity lead. Large-area plastic scintillator active shielding filters background associated with the high-energy part of cosmic radiation. The new system has at least an order of magnitude higher statistical reliability and significantly enhances data quality compared to other offshore natural gamma radiation (NGR) systems designed to measure geological core samples. Reliable correlations and interpretations of cored intervals are possible at rates of a few counts per second.

physics.ins-det

Isotopic Scaling of Heavy Projectile Residues from the collisions of 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr with 124Sn, 112Sn and 64Ni, 58Ni

The scaling of the yields of heavy projectile residues from the reactions of 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr projectiles with 124Sn,112Sn and 64Ni, 58Nitargets is studied. Isotopically resolved yield distributions of projectile fragments in the range Z=10-36 from these reaction pairs were measured with the MARS recoil separator in the angular range 2.7-5.3 degrees. The velocities of the residues, monotonically decreasing with Z down to Z~26-28, are employed to characterize the excitation energy. The yield ratios R21(N,Z) for each pair of systems are found to exhibit isotopic scaling (isoscaling), namely, an exponential dependence on the fragment atomic number Z and neutron number N. The isoscaling is found to occur in the residue Z range corresponding to the maximum observed excitation energies. The corresponding isoscaling parameters are alpha=0.43 and beta=-0.50 for the Kr+Sn system and alpha=0.27 and beta=-0.34 for the Kr+Ni system. For the Kr+Sn system, for which the experimental angular acceptance range lies inside the grazing angle, isoscaling was found to occur for Z<26 and N<34. For heavier fragments from Kr+Sn, the parameters vary monotonically, alpha decreasing with Z and beta increasing with N. This variation is found to be related to the evolution towards isospin equilibration and, as such, it can serve as a tracer of the N/Z equilibration process. The present heavy-residue data extend the observation of isotopic scaling from the intermediate mass fragment region to the heavy-residue region. Such high-resolution mass spectrometric data can provide important information on the role of isospin in peripheral and mid-peripheral collisions, complementary to that accessible from modern large-acceptance multidetector devices.

nucl-ex

Heavy Residues with A<90 in the Asymmetric Reaction of 20 AMeV 124Sn+27Al as a Sensitive Probe of the Onset of Multifragmentation

The cross sections and velocity distributions of heavy residues from the reaction of 20 AMeV 124Sn + 27Al have been measured at forward angles using the MARS recoil separator at Texas A&M in a wide mass range. A consistent overall description of the measured cross sections and velocity distributions was achieved using a model calculation employing the concept of deep-inelastic transfer for the primary stage of peripheral collisions, pre-equilibrium emission and incomplete fusion for the primary stage of more violent central collisions and the statistical model of multifragmentation (SMM code) for the deexcitation stage. An alternative calculation employing the sequential binary decay (GEMINI code) could not reproduce the observed yields of the residues from violent collisions (A<90) due to different kinematic properties. The success of SMM demonstrates that the heavy residues originate from events where a competition of thermally equilibrated fragment partitions takes place rather than a sequence of binary decays.

nucl-ex

Enhanced Production of Neutron-Rich Rare Isotopes in Peripheral Collisions at Fermi Energies

A large enhancement in the production of neutron-rich projectile residues is observed in the reactions of a 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr beam with the neutron rich 124Sn and 64Ni targets relative to the predictions of the EPAX parametrization of high-energy fragmentation, as well as relative to the reaction with the less neutron-rich 112Sn target. The data demonstrate the significant effect of the target neutron-to-proton ratio (N/Z) in peripheral collisions at Fermi energies. A hybrid model based on a deep-inelastic transfer code (DIT) followed by a statistical de-excitation code appears to account for part of the observed large cross sections. The DIT simulation indicates that the production of the neutron-rich nuclides in these reactions is associated with peripheral nucleon exchange. In such peripheral encounters, the neutron skins of the neutron-rich 124Sn and 64Ni target nuclei may play an important role. From a practical viewpoint, such reactions between massive neutron-rich nuclei offer a novel and attractive synthetic avenue to access extremely neutron-rich rare isotopes towards the neutron-drip line.

nucl-ex

Enhanced Production of Neutron-Rich Rare Isotopes in the Reaction of 25 MeV/nucleon Kr-86 on Ni-64

The cross sections and velocity distributions of projectile-like fragments from the reaction of 25 MeV/nucleon 86Kr + 64Ni have been measured using the MARS recoil separator at Texas A&M, with special emphasis on the neutron rich isotopes. Proton-removal and neutron pick-up isotopes have been observed with large cross sections. A model of deep-inelastic transfer (DIT) for the primary interaction stage and the statistical evaporation code GEMINI for the deexcitation stage have been used to describe the properties of the product distributions. The results have also been compared with the EPAX parametrization of high-energy fragmentation yields. The experimental data show an enhancement in the production of neutron-rich isotopes close to the projectile, relative to the predictions of DIT/GEMINI and the expectations of EPAX. We attribute this enhancement mainly to the effect of the extended neutron distribution (neutron ``skin'') of the 64Ni target in peripheral interactions of 86Kr with 64Ni. The large cross sections of such reactions near the Fermi energy, involving peripheral nucleon exchange, suggest that, not only the N/Z of the projectile and the target, but also the N/Z distribution at the nuclear surface may properly be exploited in the production of neutron-rich rare isotopes. This synthesis approach may offer a fruitful pathway to extremely neutron-rich nuclei, towards the neutron-drip line.

nucl-ex