arXiv subjects

M. Huyse

Publications and source records attributed to M. Huyse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Shape coexistence in neutron-deficient Hg isotopes studied via lifetime measurements in $^{184,186}$Hg and two-state mixing calculations

The neutron-deficient mercury isotopes, $^{184,186}$Hg, were studied with the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift (RDDS) method using the Gammasphere array and the Köln Plunger device. The Differential Decay Curve Method (DDCM) was employed to determine the lifetimes of the yrast states in $^{184,186}$Hg. An improvement on previously measured values of yrast states up to $8^{+}$ is presented as well as first values for the $9_{3}$ state in $^{184}$Hg and $10^{+}$ state in $^{186}$Hg. $B(E2)$ values are calculated and compared to a two-state mixing model which utilizes the variable moment of inertia (VMI) model, allowing for extraction of spin-dependent mixing strengths and amplitudes.

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arXiv2013

In-gas-cell laser ionization spectroscopy in the vicinity of 100Sn: Magnetic moments and mean-square charge radii of N=50-54 Ag

In-gas-cell laser ionization spectroscopy studies on the neutron deficient 97-101Ag isotopes have been performed with the LISOL setup. Magnetic dipole moments and mean-square charge radii have been determined for the first time with the exception of 101Ag, which was found in good agreement with previous experimental values. The reported results allow tentatively assigning the spin of 97,99Ag to 9/2 and confirming the presence of an isomeric state in these two isotopes, whose collapsed hyperfine structure suggests a spin of 1/2 . The effect of the N=50 shell closure is not only manifested in the magnetic moments but also in the evolution of the mean-square charge radii of the isotopes investigated, in accordance with the spherical droplet model predictions.

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arXiv2012

The in-gas-jet laser ion source: resonance ionization spectroscopy of radioactive atoms in supersonic gas jets

New approaches to perform efficient and selective step-wise Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (RIS) of radioactive atoms in different types of supersonic gas jets are proposed. This novel application results in a major expansion of the In-Gas Laser Ionization and Spectroscopy (IGLIS) method developed at KU Leuven. Implementation of resonance ionization in the supersonic gas jet allows to increase the spectral resolution by one order of magnitude in comparison with the currently performed in-gas-cell ionization spectroscopy. Properties of supersonic beams, obtained from the de Laval-, the spike-, and the free jet nozzles that are important for the reduction of the spectral line broadening mechanisms in cold and low density environments are discussed. Requirements for the laser radiation and for the vacuum pumping system are also examined. Finally, first results of high-resolution spectroscopy in the supersonic free jet are presented for the 327.4 nm 3d^{10}4s^{2}S_{1/2} \rightarrow 3d^{10}4p^{2}P_{1/2} transition in the stable 63Cu isotope using an amplified single mode laser radiation.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2010

Coulomb excitation of 73Ga

The B(E2; Ii -> If) values for transitions in 71Ga and 73Ga were deduced from a Coulomb excitation experiment at the safe energy of 2.95 MeV/nucleon using post-accelerated beams of 71,73Ga at the REX-ISOLDE on-line isotope mass separator facility. The emitted gamma rays were detected by the MINIBALL-detector array and B(E2; Ii->If) values were obtained from the yields normalized to the known strength of the 2+ -> 0+ transition in the 120Sn target. The comparison of these new results with the data of less neutron-rich gallium isotopes shows a shift of the E2 collectivity towards lower excitation energy when adding neutrons beyond N = 40. This supports conclusions from previous studies of the gallium isotopes which indicated a structural change in this isotopical chain between N = 40 and N = 42. Combined with recent measurements from collinear laser spectroscopy showing a 1/2- spin and parity for the ground state, the extracted results revealed evidence for a 1/2-; 3/2- doublet near the ground state in 73 31Ga42 differing by at most 0.8 keV in energy.

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arXiv2010

Discovery of the shape coexisting 0+ state in 32Mg by a two neutron transfer reaction

The Island of Inversion nucleus 32Mg has been studied by a (t,p) two neutron transfer reaction in inverse kinematics at REX-ISOLDE. The shape coexistent excited 0+ state in 32Mg has been identified by the characteristic angular distribution of the protons of the DeltaL = 0 transfer. The excitation energy of 1058 keV is much lower than predicted by any theoretical model. The low gamma-ray intensity observed for the decay of this 0+ state indicates a lifetime of more than 10 ns. Deduced spectroscopic amplitudes are compared with occupation numbers from shell model calculations.

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arXiv2010

Early onset of ground-state deformation in the neutron-deficient polonium isotopes

In-source resonant ionization laser spectroscopy of the even-$A$ polonium isotopes $^{192-210,216,218}$Po has been performed using the $6p^37s$ $^5S_2$ to $6p^37p$ $^5P_2$ ($λ=843.38$ nm) transition in the polonium atom (Po-I) at the CERN ISOLDE facility. The comparison of the measured isotope shifts in $^{200-210}$Po with a previous data set allows to test for the first time recent large-scale atomic calculations that are essential to extract the changes in the mean-square charge radius of the atomic nucleus. When going to lighter masses, a surprisingly large and early departure from sphericity is observed, which is only partly reproduced by Beyond Mean Field calculations.

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arXiv2010

Abrupt changes in alpha decay systematics as a manifestation of collective nuclear modes

An abrupt change in $α$ decay systematics around the N=126 neutron shell closure is discussed. It is explained as a sudden hindrance of the clustering of the nucleons that eventually form the $α$ particle. This is because the clustering induced by the pairing mode acting upon the four nucleons is inhibited if the configuration space does not allow a proper manifestation of the pairing collectivity.

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arXiv2010

Pairing-excitation versus intruder states in 68Ni and 90Zr

A discussion on the nature of the 0+ states in 68Ni (Z=28, N=40) is presented and a comparison is made with its valence counterpart 90Zr (Z=40, N=50). Evidence is given for a 0+ proton intruder state at only ~2.2 MeV excitation energy in 68Ni, while the analogous neutron intruder states in 90Zr reside at 4126 keV and 5441 keV. The application of a shell-model description of 0+ intruder states reveals that many pair-scattered neutrons across N=40 have to be involved to explain the low excitation energy of the proton-intruder configuration in 68Ni.

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arXiv2009

beta-decay study of Cu-77

A beta-decay study of Cu-77 has been performed at the ISOLDE mass separator with the aim to deduce its beta-decay properties and to obtain spectroscopic information on Zn-77. Neutron-rich copper isotopes were produced by means of proton- or neutron-induced fission reactions on U-238. After the production, Cu-77 was selectively laser ionized, mass separated and sent to different detection systems where beta-gamma and beta-n coincidence data were collected. We report on the deduced half-live, decay scheme, and possible spin assignment of 77Cu.

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arXiv2009

The Laser Ion Source Trap (LIST) coupled to a gas cell catcher

The proof of principle of the Laser Ion Source Trap (LIST) coupled to a gas cell catcher system has been demonstrated at the Leuven Isotope Separator On-Line (LISOL). The experiments were carried out by using the modified gas cell-based laser ion source and the SextuPole Ion Guide (SPIG). Element selective resonance laser ionization of neutral atoms was taking place inside the cold jet expanding out of the gas cell catcher. The laser path was oriented in longitudinal as well as transverse geometries with respect to the atoms flow. The enhancement of beam purity and the feasibility for in-source laser spectroscopy were investigated in off-line and on-line conditions.

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arXiv2009

Magnetic dipole moment of 57,59Cu measured by in-gas-cell laser spectroscopy

In-gas-cell laser spectroscopy study of the 57,59,63,65Cu isotopes has been performed for the first time using the 244.164 nm optical transition from the atomic ground state of copper. The nuclear magnetic dipole moments for 57,59,65Cu relative to that of 63Cu have been extracted. The new value for 57Cu of mu(57Cu) = +2.582(7)mu_N is in strong disagreement with the previous literature value but in good agreement with recent theoretical and systematic predictions.

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arXiv2009

Dual Chamber Laser Ion Source at Lisol

A new type of the gas cell for the resonance ionization laser ion source at the Leuven Isotope Separator On Line (LISOL) has been developed and tested at off-line and on-line conditions. Two-step selective laser ionization is applied to produce purified beams of radioactive isotopes. The selectivity of the ion source has been increased by more than one order of magnitude by separation of the stopping and laser ionization regions. This allows to use electrical fields for further ion purification.

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arXiv2009

Evidence for a beta-decaying 1/2- isomer in 71Ni

We report on the investigation of the population mechanism for the 454-KeV level in 71Cu. This level was identified for the first time in a recent Coulomb excitation measurement with a radioactive beam of 71Cu. The selective nature of the Coulomb-excitation process as well as nuclear-structure considerations constrain the possible spin values for the newly observed state to Ipi=1/2-. A re-examination of the data set obtained in a beta-decay study at the LISOL separator revealed that this state is also populated in the decay of 71Ni, most probably by direct feeding from a newly identified 1/2- beta-decaying isomer having a T1/2=2.34(25) s. In this paper we investigate the proposed scenario by reanalyzing the beta-gamma and gamma-gamma coincidences obtained in the beta-decay study at LISOL.

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arXiv2009

Structure of 65,67Co studied through the beta decay of 65,67Fe and a deep-inelastic reaction

The neutron-rich isotopes 65,67Fe and 65Co have been produced at the LISOL facility, Louvain-La-Neuve, in the proton-induced fission of 238U. Beams of these isotopes have been extracted with high selectivity by means of resonant laser ionization combined with mass separation. Yrast and near-yrast levels of 65Co have also been populated in the 64Ni+238U reaction at Argonne National Laboratory. The level structure of 65Co could be investigated by combining all the information from both the 65Fe and 65Co beta decay and the deep-inelastic reaction. The 65Fe, 65Co and 67Fe decay schemes and the 65Co yrast structure are fully established. The 65,67Co level structures can be interpreted as resulting from the coexistence of core-coupled states with levels based on a low-energy proton-intruder configuration.

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arXiv2008

Coulomb excitation of $^{68}$Ni at safe energies

The $B(E2;0^+\to2^+)$ value in $^{68}$Ni has been measured using Coulomb excitation at safe energies. The $^{68}$Ni radioactive beam was post-accelerated at the ISOLDE facility (CERN) to 2.9 MeV/u. The emitted $γ$ rays were detected by the MINIBALL detector array. A kinematic particle reconstruction was performed in order to increase the measured c.m. angular range of the excitation cross section. The obtained value of 2.8$^{+1.2}_{-1.0}$ 10$^2$ e$^2$fm$^4$ is in good agreement with the value measured at intermediate energy Coulomb excitation, confirming the low $0^+\to2^+$ transition probability.

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arXiv2008

Beta-delayed deuteron emission from 11Li: decay of the halo

The deuteron-emission channel in the beta-decay of the halo-nucleus 11Li was measured at the ISAC facility at TRIUMF by implanting post-accelerated 11Li ions into a segmented silicon detector. The events of interest were identified by correlating the decays of 11Li with those of the daughter nuclei. This method allowed the energy spectrum of the emitted deuterons to be extracted, free from contributions from other channels, and a precise value for the branching ratio B_d = 1.30(13) x 10-4 to be deduced for E(c.m.) > 200 keV. The results provide the first unambiguous experimental evidence that the decay takes place essentially in the halo of 11Li, and that it proceeds mainly to the 9Li + d continuum, opening up a new means to study of the halo wave function of 11Li.

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arXiv2008

Shape Isomerism at N = 40: Discovery of a Proton Intruder in 67Co

The nuclear structure of 67Co has been investigated through 67Fe beta-decay. The 67Fe isotopes were produced at the LISOL facility in proton-induced fission of 238U and selected using resonant laser ionization combined with mass separation. The application of a new correlation technique unambiguously revealed a 496(33) ms isomeric state in 67Co at an unexpected low energy of 492 keV. A 67Co level scheme has been deduced. Proposed spin and parities suggest a spherical (7/2-) 67Co ground state and a deformed first excited (1/2-) state at 492 keV, interpreted as a proton 1p-2h prolate intruder state.

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arXiv2004

Alpha Decay Hindrance Factors: A Probe of Mean Field Wave Functions

A simple model to calculate alpha-decay Hindrance Factors is presented. Using deformation values obtained from PES calculations as the only input, Hindrance Factors for the alpha-decay of Rn- and Po-isotopes are calculated. It is found that the intrinsic structure around the Fermi surface determined by the deformed mean field plays an important role in determining the hindrance of alpha-decay. The fair agreement between experimental and theoretical Hindrance Factors suggest that the wave function obtained from the energy minima of the PES calculations contains an important part of the correlations that play a role for the alpha-decay. The calculated HF that emerges from these calculations render a different interpretation than the commonly assumed n-particle n-hole picture.

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