arXiv subjects

I. Gašparić

Publications and source records attributed to I. Gašparić.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Direct observation of three-neutron emission from $^7$He$^*$ and the search for the trineutron

Three-neutron emission from $^7$He has been directly measured for the first time, following neutron knockout from a $^8$He beam at 156 MeV/nucleon. A resonance-like structure at $2.08(4)$ MeV above the $^4$He+$3n$ threshold [$E_x=2.68(4)$ MeV] with a width of $3.9(2)$ MeV was observed and deduced to arise predominately from the predicted $J^π=3/2^{-}_2$ level. The three-neutron invariant-mass spectrum was reconstructed and found to peak at around 1 MeV and could, through complete simulations incorporating neutron-neutron correlations, be very well described by the sequential decay of $^7$He$^*$ via the $2_1^+$ excited state of $^6$He. No evidence was found for any significant three-neutron correlations beyond those expected from well-established two-body interactions, including a trineutron resonance.

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arXiv2024

Spectroscopy of $^{52}$K

The first spectroscopy of $^{52}$K was investigated via in-beam $γ$-ray spectroscopy at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory after one-proton and one-neutron knockout from $^{53}$Ca and $^{53}$K beams impinging on a 15-cm liquid hydrogen target at $\approx$ 230~MeV/nucleon. The energy level scheme of $^{52}$K was built using single $γ$ and $γ$-$γ$ coincidence spectra. The spins and parities of the excited states were established based on momentum distributions of the fragment after the knockout reaction and based on exclusive cross sections. The results were compared to state-of-the-art shell model calculations with the SDPF-Umod interaction and ab initio IMSRG calculations with chiral effective field theory nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon forces.

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arXiv2023

Intruder configurations in $^{29}$Ne at the transition into the island of inversion: Detailed structure study of $^{28}$Ne

Detailed $γ$-ray spectroscopy of the exotic neon isotope $^{28}$Ne has been performed for the first time using the one-neutron removal reaction from $^{29}$Ne on a liquid hydrogen target at 240~MeV/nucleon. Based on an analysis of parallel momentum distributions, a level scheme with spin-parity assignments has been constructed for $^{28}$Ne and the negative-parity states are identified for the first time. The measured partial cross sections and momentum distributions reveal a significant intruder $p$-wave strength providing evidence of the breakdown of the $N=20$ and $N=28$ shell gaps. Only a weak, possible $f$-wave strength was observed to bound final states. Large-scale shell-model calculations with different effective interactions do not reproduce the large $p$-wave and small $f$-wave strength observed experimentally, indicating an ongoing challenge for a complete theoretical description of the transition into the island of inversion along the Ne isotopic chain.

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arXiv2022

Border of the Island of Inversion: Unbound states in $^{29}$Ne

The nucleus $^{29}$Ne is situated at the border of the island of inversion. Despite significant efforts, no bound low-lying intruder $f_{7/2}$-state, which would place $^{29}$Ne firmly inside the island of inversion, has yet been observed. Here, the first investigation of unbound states of $^{29}$Ne is reported. The states were populated in $^{30}\mathrm{Ne}(p,pn)$ and $^{30}\mathrm{Na}(p,2p)$ reactions at a beam energy of around $230$ MeV/nucleon, and analyzed in terms of their resonance properties, partial cross sections and momentum distributions. The momentum distributions are compared to calculations using the eikonal, direct reaction model, allowing $\ell$-assignments for the observed states. The lowest-lying resonance at an excitation energy of 1.48(4) MeV shows clear signs of a significant $\ell$=3-component, giving first evidence for $f_{7/2}$ single particle strength in $^{29}$Ne. The excitation energies and strengths of the observed states are compared to shell-model calculations using the sdpf-u-mix interaction

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arXiv2021

Investigation of the ground-state spin inversion in the neutron-rich 47,49Cl isotopes

A first gamma-ray study of 47,49Cl spectroscopy was performed at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory with 50Ar projectiles at 217 MeV/nucleon, impinging on the liquid hydrogen target of the MINOS device. Prompt de-excitation gamma-rays were measured with the NaI(Tl) array DALI2+. Through the one-proton knockout reaction 50Ar(p,2p), a spin assignment could be determined for the low-lying states of 49Cl from the momentum distribution obtained with the SAMURAI spectrometer. A spin-parity J = 3/2+ is deduced for the ground state of 49Cl, similar to the recently studied N = 32 isotope 51K.

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arXiv2021

Symmetry energy at high densities from neutron/proton flow excitation functions

Determination of the high density behavior of the symmetry energy through the simultaneous measurement of elliptic flow excitation functions of neutrons, protons and light clusters is proposed. The elliptic flow developed in relativistic heavy ion collisions has been proven theoretically and experimentally to have a unique sensitivity and robustness in probing the symmetry energy up to around $2 ρ_{o}$. The knowledge of the density dependence of the symmetry energy in a broad range of densities will provide a missing link for astrophysical predictions of the neutron star mass--radius relation. In particular, the data colud provide tighter constraints on the slope parameter L and entirely new limits on $K_{sym}$, the currently poorly constrained symmetry energy curvature parameter.

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arXiv2020

$\boldsymbol{N=32}$ shell closure below calcium: Low-lying structure of $^{50}$Ar

Low-lying excited states in the $N=32$ isotope $^{50}$Ar were investigated by in-beam $γ$-ray spectroscopy following proton- and neutron-knockout, multi-nucleon removal, and proton inelastic scattering at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The energies of the two previously reported transitions have been confirmed, and five additional states are presented for the first time, including a candidate for a 3$^-$ state. The level scheme built using $γγ$ coincidences was compared to shell-model calculations in the $sd-pf$ model space, and to ab initio predictions based on chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions. Theoretical proton- and neutron-knockout cross sections suggest that two of the new transitions correspond to $2^+$ states, while the previously proposed $4^+$ state could also correspond to a $2^+$ state.

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arXiv2019

Shell evolution of $N=40$ isotones towards $^{60}$Ca: First spectroscopy of $^{62}$Ti

Excited states in the $N=40$ isotone $^{62}$Ti were populated via the $^{63}$V$(p,2p)$$^{62}$Ti reaction at $\sim$200~MeV/u at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory and studied using $γ$-ray spectroscopy. The energies of the $2^+_1 \rightarrow 0^{+}_{\mathrm{gs}}$ and $4^+_1 \rightarrow 2^+_1$ transitions, observed here for the first time, indicate a deformed $^{62}$Ti ground state. These energies are increased compared to the neighboring $^{64}$Cr and $^{66}$Fe isotones, suggesting a small decrease of quadrupole collectivity. The present measurement is well reproduced by large-scale shell-model calculations based on effective interactions, while ab initio and beyond mean-field calculations do not yet reproduce our findings. The shell-model calculations for $^{62}$Ti show a dominant configuration with four neutrons excited across the $N=40$ gap. Likewise, they indicate that the $N=40$ island of inversion extends down to $Z=20$, disfavoring a possible doubly magic character of the elusive $^{60}$Ca.

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arXiv2019

Study of multi-neutron systems with SAMURAI spectrometer

The tetraneutron has been drawing the attention of the nuclear physics community for decades, but a firm conclusion on its existence and properties is still far from being reached despite many experimental and theoretical efforts. New measurements have recently been performed at RIBF with the SAMURAI spectrometer by applying complementary reaction probes, which will help to pin down the properties of this four-neutron system.

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arXiv2019

How Robust is the N = 34 Subshell Closure? First Spectroscopy of $^{52}$Ar

The first $γ$-ray spectroscopy of $^{52}$Ar, with the neutron number N = 34, was measured using the $^{53}$K(p,2p) one-proton removal reaction at $\sim$210 MeV/u at the RIBF facility. The 2$^{+}_{1}$ excitation energy is found at 1656(18) keV, the highest among the Ar isotopes with N $>$ 20. This result is the first experimental signature of the persistence of the N = 34 subshell closure beyond $^{54}$Ca, i.e., below the magic proton number Z = 20. Shell-model calculations with phenomenological and chiral-effective-field-theory interactions both reproduce the measured 2$^{+}_{1}$ systematics of neutron-rich Ar isotopes, and support a N = 34 subshell closure in $^{52}$Ar.

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arXiv2019

Wide acceptance measurement of the K$^-$/K$^+$ ratio from Ni+Ni collisions at 1.91A GeV

The FOPI Collaboration at the GSI SIS-18 synchrotron measured charged kaons from central and semi-central collisions of Ni+Ni at a beam energy of 1.91A GeV. We present the distribution of the K$^-$\K$^+$ ratio on the energy vs polar angle plane in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass frame, with and without subtraction of the contribution of $ϕ$(1020) meson decays to the K$^-$ yield. The acceptance of the current experiment is substantially wider compared to the previous measurement of the same colliding system. The ratio of K$^-$ to K$^+$ energy spectra is expected to be sensitive to the in-medium modifications of basic kaon properties like mass. Recent results obtained by the HADES Collaboration at 1.23A and 1.76A GeV indicate that after inclusion of the $ϕ$ meson decay contribution to the K$^-$ production no difference between the slopes of the K$^-$ and K$^+$ energy spectra is observed within uncertainties. For our data a linear fit to this ratio obtained after subtraction of the $ϕ$ meson contribution still shows a decrease with kinetic energy, although a constant value cannot be rejected. The contribution of $Λ(1520) \rightarrow p\text{K}^-$ decays estimated from fitting the thermal model to the experimental yields appears to be another factor of moderate relevance.

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arXiv2016

Results of the ASY-EOS experiment at GSI: The symmetry energy at suprasaturation density

Directed and elliptic flows of neutrons and light charged particles were measured for the reaction 197Au+197Au at 400 MeV/nucleon incident energy within the ASY-EOS experimental campaign at the GSI laboratory. The detection system consisted of the Large Area Neutron Detector LAND, combined with parts of the CHIMERA multidetector, of the ALADIN Time-of-flight Wall, and of the Washington-University Microball detector. The latter three arrays were used for the event characterization and reaction-plane reconstruction. In addition, an array of triple telescopes, KRATTA, was used for complementary measurements of the isotopic composition and flows of light charged particles. From the comparison of the elliptic flow ratio of neutrons with respect to charged particles with UrQMD predictions, a value γ= 0.72 \pm 0.19 is obtained for the power-law coefficient describing the density dependence of the potential part in the parametrization of the symmetry energy. It represents a new and more stringent constraint for the regime of supra-saturation density and confirms, with a considerably smaller uncertainty, the moderately soft to linear density dependence deduced from the earlier FOPI-LAND data. The densities probed are shown to reach beyond twice saturation.

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arXiv2016

Centrality dependence of subthreshold $ϕ$ meson production in Ni+Ni collisions at 1.9A GeV

We analysed the $ϕ$ meson production in central Ni+Ni collisions at the beam kinetic energy of 1.93A GeV with the FOPI spectrometer and found the production probability per event of $[8.6 ~\pm~ 1.6 ~(\text{stat}) \pm 1.5 ~(\text{syst})] \times 10^{-4}$. This new data point allows for the first time to inspect the centrality dependence of the subthreshold $ϕ$ meson production in heavy-ion collisions. The rise of $ϕ$ meson multiplicity per event with mean number of participants can be parameterized by the power function with exponent $α= 1.8 \pm 0.6$. The ratio of $ϕ$ to $\text{K}^-$ production yields seems not to depend within the experimental uncertainties on the collision centrality, and the average of measured values was found to be $0.36 \pm 0.05$.

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arXiv2016

Strange meson production in Al+Al collisions at 1.9A GeV

The production of K$^+$, K$^-$ and $φ$(1020) mesons is studied in Al+Al collisions at a beam energy of 1.9A GeV which is close or below the production threshold in NN reactions. Inverse slopes, anisotropy parameters, and total emission yields of K$^{\pm}$ mesons are obtained. A comparison of the ratio of kinetic energy distributions of K$^-$ and K$^+$ mesons to the HSD transport model calculations suggests that the inclusion of the in-medium modifications of kaon properties is necessary to reproduce the ratio. The inverse slope and total yield of $ϕ$ mesons are deduced. The contribution to K$^-$ production from $ϕ$ meson decays is found to be [17 $\pm$ 3 (stat) $^{+2}_{-7}$ (syst)] %. The results are in line with previous K$^{\pm}$ and $ϕ$ data obtained for different colliding systems at similar incident beam energies.

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arXiv2014

Influence of $ϕ$ mesons on negative kaons in Ni+Ni collisions at 1.91A GeV beam energy

$ϕ$ and K$^-$ mesons from Ni+Ni collisions at the beam energy of 1.91A GeV have been measured by the FOPI spectrometer, with a trigger selecting central and semi-central events amounting to 51% of the total cross section. The phase space distributions, and the total yield of K$^-$, as well as the kinetic energy distribution and the total yield of $ϕ$ mesons are presented. The $ϕ$\K$^-$ ratio is found to be $0.44 \pm 0.07(\text{stat}) ^{+0.18}_{-0.12} (\text{syst})$, meaning that about 22% of K$^-$ mesons originate from the decays of $ϕ$ mesons, occurring mostly in vacuum. The inverse slopes of direct kaons are up to about 15 MeV larger than the ones extracted within the one-source model, signalling that a considerable share of gap between the slopes of K$^+$ and K$^-$ could be explained by the contribution of $ϕ$ mesons to negative kaons.

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arXiv2014

Azimuthal Emission Patterns of $K^{+}$ and of $ K^{-} $ Mesons in Ni + Ni Collisions near the Strangeness Production Threshold

Azimuthal emission patterns of $K^\pm$ mesons have been measured in Ni + Ni collisions with the FOPI spectrometer at a beam kinetic energy of 1.91 A GeV. The transverse momentum $p_{T}$ integrated directed and elliptic flow of $K^{+}$ and $K^{-}$ mesons as well as the centrality dependence of $p_{T}$ - differential directed flow of $K^{+}$ mesons are compared to the predictions of HSD and IQMD transport models. The data exhibits different propagation patterns of $K^{+}$ and $K^{-}$ mesons in the compressed and heated nuclear medium and favor the existence of a kaon-nucleon in-medium potential, repulsive for $K^{+}$ mesons and attractive for $K^{-}$ mesons.

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arXiv2012

The ASY-EOS experiment at GSI: investigating the symmetry energy at supra-saturation densities

The elliptic-flow ratio of neutrons with respect to protons in reactions of neutron rich heavy-ions systems at intermediate energies has been proposed as an observable sensitive to the strength of the symmetry term in the nuclear Equation Of State (EOS) at supra-saturation densities. The recent results obtained from the existing FOPI/LAND data for $^{197}$Au+$^{197}$Au collisions at 400 MeV/nucleon in comparison with the UrQMD model allowed a first estimate of the symmetry term of the EOS but suffer from a considerable statistical uncertainty. In order to obtain an improved data set for Au+Au collisions and to extend the study to other systems, a new experiment was carried out at the GSI laboratory by the ASY-EOS collaboration in May 2011.

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arXiv2010

Three-body break-up in deuteron-deuteron scattering at 65~MeV/nucleon

In an experiment with a 65 MeV/nucleon polarized deuteron beam on a liquid-deuterium target at KVI, several multi-body final states in deuteron-deuteron scattering were identified. For these measurements, a unique and advanced detection system, called BINA, was utilized. We demonstrate the feasibility of measuring vector and tensor polarization observables of the deuteron break-up reaction leading to a three-body final-state. The polarization observables were determined with high precision in a nearly background-free experiment. The analysis procedure and some results are presented.

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