arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J. K. Meena.
This work presents the first calibration experiment of a 3 MV Tandetron accelerator, FRENA, performed in May 2022. The $^7$Li(p,n) reaction threshold was measured to calibrate the terminal voltage measuring device. A LiF target of thickness 175 $μ$g/cm$^2$ was used in the experiment. The measured threshold was 1872$\pm$2.7 keV, indicating 6$-$10 keV energy shift.
The $α$-optical potential is one of the key input parameters used to measure the reaction rate of the ($γ,α$)-process using the Hauser-Feshbach(HF) statistical model and the principle of detailed balance. $α$-elastic scattering experiment on $^{113}$In $p$-nucleus was carried out in the energy range E$_{lab}$=26$-$32 MeV. The vacuum evaporation technique was used to prepare the $^{113}$In target~($\sim$86 $μ$g/cm$^2$). An energy-dependent local optical potential parameters set was obtained by analysing the experimental elastic scattering angular distribution data. The local potential parameters are extrapolated for lower energies and are used to measure the $^{113}$In($α,γ$) reaction cross-section.
Resistive heating and mechanical rolling methods have been employed to prepare isotopically enriched thin target foils of 116Sn (~380 μg/cm2), 124Sn(~400 μg/cm2) and thicker foils of 112Sn (1.7 mg/cm2),120Sn (1.6 mg/cm2),respectively. Preparation of enriched targets with small amount of material, selection of releasing agent for thin targets and separation of deposited material insolvent were among the several challenges while fabrication of the thin targets. Uniformity of the targets has been measured using 241Am α-source. NaCl has been used as releasing agent in preparation of the thin targets. These targets have been successfully used in nuclear physics experiments at VECC.
The 12C(20Ne,16O)16O α-transfer reaction at Elab=150 MeV is first time used to determine the ANC of the 6.92 MeV and 7.12 MeV states of 16O. The 20Ne+ 12C potential parameters are also obtained from elastic scattering. The direct reaction code FRESCO is used to determine the α-spectroscopy factor (Sα ) of the three states of 16O (6.92 MeV, 7.12 MeV and 11.52 MeV) and ANC of the two states (6.92 MeV and 7.12 MeV) of 16O. The extracted ANC and Sα are compareable to previous measurements.
Background: The influence of shell effect on the dynamics of the fusion fission process and it's evolution with excitation energy in the pre-actinide Hg-Pb region in general is a matter of intense research in recent years. In particular, a strong ambiguity remains for the neutron shell closed $^{210}$Po nucleus regarding the role of shell effect in fission around $\approx$ 30 - 40 MeV of excitation energy. Purpose: We have measured the fission fragment mass distribution of $^{210}$Po populated using fusion of $^{4}$He + $^{206}$Pb at different excitation energies and compare the result with recent theoretical predictions as well as with our previous measurement for the same nucleus populated through a different entrance channel. Mass distribution in the fission of the neighbouring nuclei $^{213}$At is also studied for comparison. Methods: Two large area Multi-wire Proportional Counters (MWPC) were used for complete kinematical measurement of the coincident fission fragments. The time of flight differences of the coincident fission fragments were used to directly extract the fission fragment mass distributions. Results: The measured fragment mass distribution for the reactions $^{4}$He + $^{206}$Pb and $^{4}$He + $^{209}$Bi were symmetric and the width of the mass distributions were found to increase monotonically with excitation energy above 36.7 MeV and 32.9 MeV, respectively, indicating the absence of shell effects at the saddle. However, in the fission of $^{210}$Po, we find minor deviation from symmetric mass distributions at the lowest excitation energy (30.8 MeV). Conclusion: Persistence of shell effect in fission fragment mass distribution of $^{210}$Po was observed at the excitation energy $\approx$ 31 MeV as predicted by the theory; at higher excitation energy, however, the present study reaffirms the absence of any shell correction in the fission of $^{210}$Po.
The fission fragment mass distributions have been measured in the reactions 16O + 184W and 19F+ 181Ta populating the same compound nucleus 200Pb? at similar excitation energies. It is found that the widths of the mass distribution increases monotonically with excitation energy, indicating the absence of quasi-fission for both reactions. This is contrary to two recent claims of the presence of quasi-fission in the above mentioned reactions.
The even-even nucleus $^{26}$Mg has been studied through the reaction $^{27}$Al(d,$^{3}$He) at 25 MeV beam energy. The spectroscopic factors have been extracted upto 7.50 MeV excitation energy using local, zero range distorted wave Born approximation. The comparison of the spectroscopic factors have been done with previously reported values using the same reaction probe. The extracted spectroscopic factors for different excited states were found to be in good agreement with the previously reported values for the same. The present results were also compared with the predictions from shell model as well as rotational model. The analog states of $^{26}$Al and $^{26}$Mg were found to be in good agreement.
Mass distributions of the fragments in the fission of $^{206}$Po and the N=126 neutron shell closed nucleus $^{210}$Po have been measured. No significant deviation of mass distributions has been found between $^{206}$Po and $^{210}$Po, indicating the absence of shell correction at the saddle point in both the nuclei, contrary to the reported angular anisotropy and pre-scission neutron multiplicity results. This new result provides benchmark data to test the new fission dynamical models to study the effect of shell correction on the potential energy surface at saddle point.
Constraining excitation energy at which nuclear shell effect washes out has important implications on the production of super heavy elements and many other fields of nuclear physics research. We report the fission fragment mass distribution in alpha induced reaction on an actinide target for wide excitation range in close energy interval and show direct evidence that nuclear shell effect washes out at excitation energy ~40 MeV. Calculation shows that second peak of the fission barrier also vanishes around similar excitation energy.
High-spin states in the doubly-odd $^{198}$Bi nucleus have been studied by using the $^{185,187}$Re($^{16}$O, xn) reactions at the beam energy of 112.5 MeV. $γ-γ$ coincidence were measured by using the INGA array with 15 Compton suppressed clover HPGe detectors. The observed levels have been assigned definite spin-parity. The high spin structure is grouped into three bands (B1, B2 and B3), of which two (B1 and B2) exhibit the properties of magnetic rotation (MR). Tilted axis cranking calculations were carried out to explain the MR bands having large multi-quasiparticle configurations. The calculated results explain the bands B1 and B2 very nicely, confirming the shears mechanism and suggest a crossing of two MR bands in both the cases. The crossing is from 6-qp to 8-qp in band B1 and from 4-qp to 6-qp in band B2, a very rare finding. A semiclassical model has also been used to obtain the particle-hole interaction strengths for the bands B1 and B2, below the band crossing.
The excited states in the odd-$A$ $^{197}$Tl nucleus have been studied by populating them using the $^{197}$Au($α$, 4$n$)$^{197}$Tl reaction at the beam energy of 48 MeV. The $γ-γ$ coincidence data were taken using a combination of clover, LEPS and single crystal HPGe detectors. Precise spin and parity assignments of the excited states have been done through the polarization and the DCO measurements. A new band structure has been identified and the evidence for a possible intruder $πi_{13/2}$ state has been found for the first time. Possible configurations of the observed bands have been discussed. The total Routhian surface calculations have been performed to study the shape of $^{197}$Tl for different configurations.
Inclusive energy spectra of the complex fragments (3 $\leq$ Z $\leq$ 5) emitted in the reactions $^{12}$C (77 MeV)+ $^{28}$Si, $^{11}$B (64 MeV)+ $^{28}$Si and $^{12}$C (73 MeV)+ $^{27}$Al (all having the same excitation energy of $ \sim$ 67 MeV), have been measured in the angular range of 10$^\circ$ $\lesssim θ_{lab} \lesssim$ 60$^\circ$. The fully energy damped (fusion-fission) and the partially energy damped (deep inelastic) components of the fragment energy spectra have been extracted. It has been found that the yields of the fully energy damped fragments for all the above reactions are in conformity with the respective statistical model predictions. The time scales of various deep inelastic fragment emissions have been extracted from the angular distribution data. The angular momentum dissipation in deep inelastic collisions has been estimated from the data and it has been found to be close to the corresponding sticking limit value.
The high spin states in $^{195}$Bi has been studied by $γ$-ray spectroscopic method using the $^{181}$Ta($^{20}$Ne, 6n) fusion evaporation reaction at 130 MeV. The $γγ$ coincidence data were taken using an array of 8 clover HPGe detectors. The spin and parity assignments of the excited states have been made from the measured directional correlation from oriented states (DCO) ratios and integrated polarization asymmetry (IPDCO) ratios. The results show, for the first time, the evidence of a rotational like band based on a 13/2$^+$ band head in this nucleus, indicating the onset of deformation at neutron number $N = 112$ for the Bismuth isotopes. The results obtained were found to be consistent with the prediction of the total Routhian surface calculations using Woods Saxon potential. The same calculations also predict a change in shape from oblate to triaxial in $^{195}$Bi at high rotational frequency.
An excited state of $^{12}$C having excitation energy E$_x \sim$ 9.65 $\pm$ 0.02 MeV and width (FWHM) $\sim607\pm$ 55 keV, which decays to three $ α$-particles via Hoyle state ($E_x \sim$ 7.65 MeV), has been directly identified for the first time in the exclusive inelastic scattering of 60 MeV $^{4}$He on $^{12}$C, measured in coincidence with the recoiling $^{12}$C$ ^* $ Hoyle state (decaying mostly as $^{12}$C$ ^* $ $\rightarrow \ ^{8} $Be + $ α$ $\rightarrow \ α+ α+ α$) by event-by-event kinematic reconstruction of the completely detected (4$ α$) events. This state is likely to be a candidate for 2$_2^+$ first excited Hoyle state, the existence of which has recently been indirectly evidenced from the recent inclusive inelastic scattering studies.
The systematic evolution of the giant dipole resonance (GDR) width in the temperature region of 0.9 ~ 1.4 MeV has been measured experimentally for 119Sb using alpha induced fusion reaction and employing the LAMBDA high energy photon spectrometer. The temperatures have been precisely determined by simultaneously extracting the vital level density parameter from the neutron evaporation spectrum and the angular momentum from gamma multiplicity filter using a realistic approach. The systematic trend of the data seems to disagree with the thermal shape fluctuation model (TSFM). The model predicts the gradual increase of GDR width from its ground state value for T > 0 MeV whereas the measured GDR widths appear to remain constant at the ground state value till T ~ 1 MeV and increase thereafter indicating towards a failure of the adiabatic assumption of the model at low temperature.
The 1p transfer channel in the $^{27}$Al($^{12}$C, $^{11}$B)$^{28}$Si reaction has been studied at E$_{lab}$ = 73, 81 and 85 MeV. The finite range distorted wave Born approximation calculations have been performed using phenomenological optical model potential to analyze the angular distributions for 3 transitions populating the 0.0, 1.78 and 4.62 MeV states of $^{28}$Si and 2 transitions populating the 2.12 and 4.44 MeV states of $^{11}$B via the $^{27}$Al($^{12}$C, $^{11}$B)$^{28}$Si reaction. The spectroscopic strengths as well as spectroscopic factors have been extracted for all the five states. The extracted strength values are compared with shell model calculations.
Fission fragment mass distribution has been measured from the decay of $^{246}$Bk nucleus populating via two entrance channels with slight difference in mass asymmetries but belonging on either side of the Businaro Gallone mass asymmetry parameter. Both the target nuclei were deformed. Near the Coulomb barrier, at similar excitation energies the width of the fission fragment mass distribution was found to be drastically different for the $^{14}$N + $^{232}$Th reaction compared to the $^{11}$B + $^{235}$U reaction. The entrance channel mass asymmetry was found to affect the fusion process sharply.