arXiv subjects

J. P. Schiffer

Publications and source records attributed to J. P. Schiffer.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Pair correlations in nuclei involved in neutrinoless double beta decay: 76Ge and 76Se

Precision measurements were carried out to test the similarities between the ground states of 76Ge and 76Se. The extent to which these two nuclei can be characterized as consisting of correlated pairs of neutrons in a BCS-like ground state was studied. The pair removal (p,t) reaction was measured at the far forward angle of 3 degrees. The relative cross sections are consistent (at the 5% level) with the description of these nuclei in terms of a correlated pairing state outside the N=28 closed shells with no pairing vibrations. Data were also obtained for 74Ge and 78Se.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2004

Laser Spectroscopic Determination of the 6He Nuclear Charge Radius

We have performed precision laser spectroscopy on individual 6He (t1/2 = 0.8 s) atoms confined and cooled in a magneto-optical trap, and measured the isotope shift between 6He and 4He to be 43,194.772 +/- 0.056 MHz for the 2 3S1 - 3 3P2 transition. Based on this measurement and atomic theory, the nuclear charge radius of 6He is determined, for the first time in a method independent of nuclear models, to be 2.054 +/- 0.014 fm. The result is compared with the values predicted by a number of nuclear structure calculations, and tests their ability to characterize this loosely bound, halo nucleus.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2004

The $^8$B Neutrino Spectrum

Knowledge of the energy spectrum of $^8$B neutrinos is an important ingredient for interpreting experiments that detect energetic neutrinos from the Sun. The neutrino spectrum deviates from the allowed approximation because of the broad alpha-unstable $^8$Be final state and recoil order corrections to the beta decay. We have measured the total energy of the alpha particles emitted following the beta decay of $^8$B. The measured spectrum is inconsistent with some previous measurements, in particular with a recent experiment of comparable precision. The beta decay strength function for the transition from $^8$B to the accessible excitation energies in $^8$Be is fit to the alpha energy spectrum using the R-matrix approach. Both the positron and neutrino energy spectra, corrected for recoil order effects, are constructed from the strength function. The positron spectrum is in good agreement with a previous direct measurement. The neutrino spectrum disagrees with previous experiments, particularly for neutrino energies above 12 MeV.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2004

Searches for Stable Strangelets in Ordinary Matter: Overview and a Recent Example

Our knowledge on the possible existence in nature of stable exotic particles depends solely upon experimental observation. Guided by this general principle and motivated by theoretical hypotheses on the existence of stable particles of strange quark matter, a variety of experimental searches have been performed. We provide an introduction to the theoretical hypotheses, an overview of the past searches, and a more detailed description of a recent search for helium-like strangelets in the Earth's atmosphere using a sensitive laser spectroscopy method.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2003

Search for anomalously heavy isotopes of helium in the Earth's atmosphere

Motivated by the theoretical hypotheses on the existence of heretofore unobserved stable elementary particles and exotic nuclear states, we searched for doubly-charged particles, as anomalously heavy isotopes of helium, in the Earth's atmoshpere using a sensitive laser spectroscopy technique. The concentration of noble-gas-like atoms in the atmosphere and the subsequent very large depletion of the light He-3,4 isotopes allow us to set stringent limits on th abundance: 10^-13 to 10^-17 per atom in the solar system, over the mass range of 20 to 10,000 amu.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv1998

Nuclear Physics

Nuclear Physics is the branch of physics that deals with the properties and structure of matter on the hadronic level. In this article we review briefly the history of this field, which has a major role in the development of our understanding of nature. We then proceed to give an outline of a current perspective of the field and of some of the issues that are now on its frontiers.

nucl-th↗