arXiv subjects

J. A. Tostevin

Publications and source records attributed to J. A. Tostevin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Rapid convergence of the Weinberg expansion of the deuteron stripping amplitude

Theories of $(d,p)$ reactions frequently use a formalism based on a transition amplitude that is dominated by the components of the total three-body scattering wave function where the spatial separation between the incoming neutron and proton is confined by the range of the $n$-$p$ interaction, $V_{np}$. By comparison with calculations based on the CDCC method we show that the $(d,p)$ transition amplitude is dominated by the first term of the expansion of the three-body wave function in a complete set of Weinberg states. We use the \nuc{132}{Sn}(d,p)\nuc{133} {Sn} reaction at 30 and 100 MeV as examples of contemporary interest. The generality of this observed dominance and its implications for future theoretical developments are discussed.

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arXiv2012

Two-proton removal from $^{44}$S and the structure of $^{42}$Si

Newly-published $^{42}$Si gamma-ray spectra and a final-state-inclusive $^{42}$Si production cross section value, obtained in a higher-statistics intermediate-energy two-proton removal experiment from $^{44}$S, are considered in terms of the final-state-exclusive cross sections computed using proposed shell-model effective interactions for nuclei near N=28. Specifically, we give cross section predictions when using the two nucleon amplitudes of the two-proton overlaps $<^{42}$Si$ (J^π)\,|\,^{44}$S$>$ computed using the newly-proposed {\sc sdpf-mu} shell-model Hamiltonian. We show that these partial cross sections or their longitudinal momentum distributions should enable a less-tentative interpretation of the measured gamma-ray spectra and provide a more quantitative assessment of proposed shell-model Hamiltonians in this interesting and challenging region of the chart of nuclides.

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arXiv2012

Correlations in intermediate-energy two-proton removal reactions

We report final-state-exclusive measurements of the light charged fragments in coincidence with 26Ne residual nuclei following the direct two-proton removal from a neutron-rich 28Mg secondary beam. A Dalitz-plot analysis and comparisons with simulations show that a majority of the triple- coincidence events with two protons display phase-space correlations consistent with the (two-body) kinematics of a spatially-correlated pair-removal mechanism. The fraction of such correlated events, 56(12) %, is consistent with the fraction of the calculated cross section, 64 %, arising from spin S = 0 two-proton configurations in the entrance-channel (shell-model) 28Mg ground state wave function. This result promises access to an additional and more specific probe of the spin and spatial correlations of valence nucleon pairs in exotic nuclei produced as fast secondary beams.

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arXiv2012

Cooper pair correlations and energetic knock-out reactions

Two-nucleon removal (or knock-out) reactions at intermediate energies are a developing tool for both nuclear spectroscopy and for the study of certain nucleon correlations in very exotic and some stable nuclei. We present an overview of these reactions with specific emphasis on the nature of the two-nucleon correlations that can be probed. We outline future possibilities and tests needed to fully establish these sensitivities.

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arXiv2012

Microscopic two-nucleon overlaps and knockout reactions from $^{12}$C

The nuclear structure dependence of direct reactions that remove a pair of like or unlike nucleons from a fast $^{12}$C projectile beam are considered. Specifically, we study the differences in the two-nucleon correlations present and the predicted removal cross sections when using $p$-shell shell-model and multi-$\hbarω$ no-core shell-model (NCSM) descriptions of the two-nucleon overlaps for the transitions to the mass $A$=10 projectile residues. The NCSM calculations use modern chiral two-nucleon and three-nucleon (NN+3N) interactions. The $np$-removal cross sections to low-lying $T$=0, $^{10}$B final states are enhanced when using the NCSM two-nucleon amplitudes. The calculated absolute and relative partial cross sections to the low energy $^{10}$B final states show a significant sensitivity to the interactions used, suggesting that assessments of the overlap functions for these transitions and confirmations of their structure could be made using final-state-exclusive measurements of the $np$-removal cross sections and the associated momentum distributions of the forward travelling projectile-like residues.

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arXiv2012

Probing elastic and inelastic breakup contributions to intermediate-energy two-proton removal reactions

The two-proton removal reaction from 28Mg projectiles has been studied at 93 MeV/u at the NSCL. First coincidence measurements of the heavy 26Ne projectile residues, the removed protons and other light charged particles enabled the relative cross sections from each of the three possible elastic and inelastic proton removal mechanisms to be determined. These more final-state-exclusive measurements are key for further interrogation of these reaction mechanisms and use of the reaction channel for quantitative spectroscopy of very neutron-rich nuclei. The relative and absolute yields of the three contributing mechanisms are compared to reaction model expectations - based on the use of eikonal dynamics and sd-shell-model structure amplitudes.

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arXiv2012

Intermediate-energy inverse-kinematics one-proton pickup reactions on neutron-deficient $fp$-shell nuclei

Background: Thick-target-induced nucleon-adding transfer reactions onto energetic rare-isotope beams are an emerging spectroscopic tool. Their sensitivity to single-particle structure complements one-nucleon removal reaction capabilities in the quest to reveal the evolution of nuclear shell structure in very exotic nuclei. Purpose: To add intermediate-energy, carbon-target-induced one-proton pickup reactions to the arsenal of $γ$-ray tagged direct reactions applicable in the regime of low beam intensities and to apply these for the first time to $fp$-shell nuclei. Methods: Inclusive and partial cross sections were measured for the $\nuc{12}{C}(\nuc{48}{Cr},\nuc{49}{Mn}+γ)$X and $\nuc{12}{C}(\nuc{50}{Fe},\nuc{51}{Co}+γ)$X proton pickup reactions at 56.7 and 61.2 MeV/nucleon, respectively, using coincident particle-$γ$ spectroscopy at the NSCL. The results are compared to reaction theory calculations using $fp$-shell-model nuclear structure input. For comparison with our previous work, the same reactions were measured on \nuc{9}{Be} targets. Results: The measured partial cross sections confirm the specific population pattern predicted by theory, with pickup into high-$\ell$ orbitals being strongly favored; driven by linear and angular momentum matching. Conclusion: Carbon target-induced pickup reactions are well-suited, in the regime of modest beam intensity, to study the evolution of nuclear structure, with specific sensitivities that are well described by theory.

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arXiv2011

One- and two-neutron removal reactions from the most neutron-rich carbon isotopes

The structure of $^{19,20,22}$C has been investigated using high-energy (about 240 MeV/nucleon) one- and two-neutron removal reactions on a carbon target. Measurements were made of the inclusive cross sections and momentum distributions for the charged residues. Narrow momentum distributions were observed for one-neutron removal from $^{19}$C and $^{20}$C and two-neutron removal from $^{22}$C. Two-neutron removal from $^{20}$C resulted in a relatively broad momentum distribution. The results are compared with eikonal-model calculations combined with shell-model structure information. The neutron-removal cross sections and associated momentum distributions are calculated for transitions to both the particle-bound and particle-unbound final states. The calculations take into account the population of the mass $A-1$ reaction residues, $^{A-1}$C, and, following one-neutron emission after one-neutron removal, the mass $A-2$ two-neutron removal residues, $^{A-2}$C. The smaller contributions of direct two-neutron removal, that populate the $^{A-2}$C residues in a single step, are also computed. The data and calculations are shown to be in good overall agreement and consistent with the predicted shell-model ground state configurations and the one-neutron overlaps with low-lying states in $^{18-21}$C. These suggest significant $ν{s}_{1/2}^2$ valence neutron configurations in both $^{20}$C and $^{22}$C. The results for $^{22}$C strongly support the picture of $^{22}$C as a two-neutron halo nucleus with a dominant $ν{s}_{1/2}^2$ ground state configuration.

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arXiv2011

Neutron knockout of 12Be populating neutron-unbound states in 11Be

Neutron-unbound resonant states of 11Be were populated in neutron knock-out reactions from 12Be and identified by 10Be-n coincidence measurements. A resonance in the decay-energy spectrum at 80(2) keV was attributed to a highly excited unbound state in 11Be at 3.949(2) MeV decaying to the 2+ excited state in 10Be. A knockout cross section of 15(3) mb was inferred for this 3.949(2) MeV state suggesting a spectroscopic factor near unity for this 0p3/2- level, consistent with the detailed shell model calculations.

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arXiv2011

Inverse-kinematics one-neutron pickup with fast rare-isotope beams

New measurements and reaction model calculations are reported for single neutron pickup reactions onto a fast \nuc{22}{Mg} secondary beam at 84 MeV per nucleon. Measurements were made on both carbon and beryllium targets, having very different structures, allowing a first investigation of the likely nature of the pickup reaction mechanism. The measurements involve thick reaction targets and $γ$-ray spectroscopy of the projectile-like reaction residue for final-state resolution, that permit experiments with low incident beam rates compared to traditional low-energy transfer reactions. From measured longitudinal momentum distributions we show that the $\nuc{12}{C} (\nuc{22}{Mg},\nuc{23}{Mg}+γ)X$ reaction largely proceeds as a direct two-body reaction, the neutron transfer producing bound \nuc{11}{C} target residues. The corresponding reaction on the \nuc{9}{Be} target seems to largely leave the \nuc{8}{Be} residual nucleus unbound at excitation energies high in the continuum. We discuss the possible use of such fast-beam one-neutron pickup reactions to track single-particle strength in exotic nuclei, and also their expected sensitivity to neutron high-$\ell$ (intruder) states which are often direct indicators of shell evolution and the disappearance of magic numbers in the exotic regime.

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arXiv2011

Two-nucleon correlation effects in knockout reactions from 12C

Reactions that involve the direct and sudden removal of a pair of like or unlike nucleons from a fast projectile beam by a light target nucleus are considered. Specifically, we study the three two-nucleon removal channels from $^{12}${C} that populate final states in the $^{10}${Be}, $^{10}${B} and $^{10}${C} reaction residues. The calculated two-nucleon removal cross sections and the residue momentum distributions are compared with available high energy data at 250, 1050 and 2010 MeV per nucleon, data that are inclusive with respect to the bound final-states of the residues. The measured $np$-removal cross sections only are significantly greater than the values calculated, suggesting that the reaction mechanism observes enhanced $np$ spatial correlations compared to those present in the shell-model wave functions.

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arXiv2010

Collectivity at N=50: 82Ge and 84Se

The neutron-rich N=50 isotones 82Ge and 84Se were investigated using intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation on a 197Au target and inelastic scattering on 9Be. As typical for intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation with projectile energies exceeding 70 MeV/nucleon, only the first 2^+ states were excited in 82Ge and 84Se. However, in the inelastic scattering on a 9Be target, a strong population of the first 4^+ state was observed for 84Se, while there is no indication of a similarly strong excitation of the corresponding state in the neighboring even-even isotone 82Ge. The results are discussed in the framework of systematics and shell-model calculations using three different effective interactions.

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arXiv2009

Four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations

The development of a continuum-bins scheme of discretization for three-body projectiles is necessary for studies of reactions of Borromean nuclei such as 6He within the continuum-discretized coupled-channels approach. Such a procedure, for constructing bin states on selected continuum energy intervals, is formulated and applied for the first time to reactions of a three-body projectile. The continuum representation uses the eigenchannel expansion of the three-body S-matrix. The method is applied to the challenging case of the 6He + 208Pb reaction at 22 MeV, where an accurate treatment of both the Coulomb and the nuclear interactions with the target is necessary.

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arXiv2009

Mechanisms in knockout reactions

We report on the first detailed study of the mechanisms involved in knockout reactions, via a coincidence measurement of the residue and fast proton in one-proton knockout reactions, using the S800 spectrograph in combination with the HiRA detector array at the NSCL. Results on the reactions $^9$Be($^9$C,$^8$B+X)Y and $^9$Be($^8$B,$^7$Be+X)Y are presented. They are compared with theoretical predictions for both the diffraction and stripping reaction mechanisms, as calculated in the eikonal model. The data shows a clear distinction between the two reaction mechanisms, and the observed respective proportions are very well reproduced by the reaction theory. This agreement supports the results of knockout reaction analyses and their applications to the spectroscopy of rare isotopes.

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arXiv2008

In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy at the proton dripline: 23Al

We report on the first in-beam $γ$-ray spectroscopy of \nuc{23}{Al} using two different reactions at intermediate beam energies: inelastic scattering off \nuc{9}{Be} and heavy-ion induced one-proton pickup, \nuc{9}{Be}(\nuc{22}{Mg},\nuc{23}{Al}$+γ$)X, at 75.1 MeV/nucleon. A $γ$-ray transition at 1616(8) keV -- exceeding the proton separation energy by 1494 keV -- was observed in both reactions. From shell model and proton decay calculations we argue that this $γ$-ray decay proceeds from the core-excited $7/2^+$ state to the $5/2^+$ ground state of \nuc{23}{Al}. The proposed nature of this state, $[\nuc{22}{Mg}(2^+_1) \otimes πd_{5/2}]_{7/2+}$, is consistent with the presence of a gamma-branch and with the population of this state in the two reactions.

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arXiv2008

Four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations using a transformed harmonic oscillator basis

The scattering of a weakly bound three-body system by a target is discussed. A transformed harmonic oscillator basis is used to provide an appropriate discrete and finite basis for treating the continuum part of the spectrum of the projectile. The continuum-discretized coupled channels framework is used for the scattering calculations. The formalism is applied to different reactions, 6He+12C at 229.8 MeV, 6He+64Zn at 10 and 13.6 MeV, and 6He+208Pb at 22 MeV, induced by the Borromean nucleus 6He. Both the Coulomb and nuclear interactions with a target are taken into account.

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arXiv2008

Single-particle motion at large distances in 2N+core cluster systems near the drip line: a challenge for nuclear theory and experiment

There exists a class of nuclei that are obtained by adding one nucleon to a loosely-bound nucleon-core system, for example $^{12}$Be, $^9$C, $^{18}$Ne. For such nuclei, one-nucleon overlap integrals that represent single-particle motion can strongly differ from the standard ones due to the correlations between the two nucleons above the core. The possible non-standard overlap behaviour should be included in the interpretation of the experimental data derived from one nucleon removal reactions such as knockout, transfer and breakup, as well as the predictions of low-energy nucleon capture that leads to these nuclei. We investigate the non-standard behaviour within a three-body model and discuss the challenges associated with this problem.

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arXiv2007

Energy distributions from three-body decaying many-body resonances

We compute energy distributions of three particles emerging from decaying many-body resonances. We reproduce the measured energy distributions from decays of two archetypal states chosen as the lowest $0^{+}$ and $1^{+}$-resonances in $^{12}$C populated in $β$-decays. These states are dominated by sequential, through the $^{8}$Be ground state, and direct decays, respectively. These decay mechanisms are reflected in the ``dynamic'' evolution from small, cluster or shell-model states, to large distances, where the coordinate or momentum space continuum wavefunctions are accurately computed.

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