arXiv subjects

M. R. D. Rodrigues

Publications and source records attributed to M. R. D. Rodrigues.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Detailed study of non-equilibrium characteristics of quasi-neutral TNSA plasmas

In an experiment performed in November 2022 at the petawatt (PW) laser facility at Vega III located in Salamanca-Spain, we have studied the successful production of several radioisotopes using protons accelerated by the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) mechanism (Rodrigues et al. [1]). The experimental proton energy distribution recorded on a shot-to-shot basis and confirmed in a follow up experiment (K. Batani et al. [2]), allowed us to derive the number of nuclear reactions taking place in different targets on a single shot. From this analysis, using the ratio of the yields 11C/7Be, we obtained an effective "single shot" temperature of the TNSA plasma. We used this value to evaluate the yield of alpha particles from the reaction p + 11B -> 3 alpha which may reach (1.6 +/- 0.5) x 10^9 alpha particles in 2pi. From the fluctuations of the protons and the fusion yields, we derived a "TNSA-Equation of State" (EoS), The deviation of such "EoS" from the classical ideal gas limit is well reproduced by the soliton solution of the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation for each shot.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Laser initiated p-11B fusion reactions in petawatt high-repetition-rates laser facilities

Driving the nuclear fusion reaction p+11B -> 3 alpha + 8.7 MeV in laboratory conditions, by interaction between high-power laser pulses and matter, has become a popular field of research, due to numerous applications that it can potentially allow: an alternative to deuterium-tritium (DT) for fusion energy production, astrophysics studies and alpha-particle generation for medical treatments. A possible scheme for laser-driven p-11B reactions is to direct a beam of laser-accelerated protons onto a boron sample (the so-called 'pitcher-catcher' scheme). This technique was successfully implemented on large, energetic lasers, yielding hundreds of joules per shot at low repetition. We present here a complementary approach, exploiting the high-repetition rate of the VEGA III petawatt laser at CLPU (Spain), aiming at accumulating results from many interactions at much lower energy, for better controlling the parameters and the statistics of the measurements. Despite a moderate energy per pulse, our experiment allowed exploring the laser-driven fusion process with tens (up to hundreds) of laser shots. The experiment provided a clear signature of the produced reactions and of the fusion products, accumulated over many shots, leading to an improved optimization of the diagnostic for these experimental campaigns In this paper we discuss the effectiveness of the laser-driven p-11B fusion in the pitcher-catcher scheme, at high-repetition rate, addressing the challenges of this experimental scheme and highlighting its critical aspects. Our proposed methodologies allow evaluating the performance of this scheme for laser-driven alpha particle production and can be adapted to high-repetition rate laser facilities with higher energy and intensity.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Radioisotopes production using lasers: from basic science to applications

Laser technologies improved after the understanding of the Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) which allows energetic laser beams to be compressed to tens of femtosecond (fs) pulse durations and focused to few $μ$m. Protons of tens of MeV can be accelerated using for instance the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) method and focused on secondary targets. In such conditions, nuclear reactions can occur and radioisotopes relevant for medical purposes be produced. High repetition lasers can be used to produce enough isotopes for medical applications. This route is competitive to conventional methods mostly based on accelerators. In this paper we study the production of $^{67}$Cu, $^{63}$Zn, $^{18}$F and $^{11}$C currently used in positron emission tomography (PET) and other applications. At the same time, we study the reaction $^{10}$B(p,$α$)$^{7}$Be and $^{70}$Zn(p,4n)$^{67}$Ga to put further constraints to the proton distributions at different angles and to the reaction $^{11}$B(p,$α$)$^{8}$Be relevant for energy production. The experiment was performed at the 1 petawatt (PW) laser facility at Vega III located in Salamanca-Spain. Angular distributions of radioisotopes in the forward (with respect to the laser direction) and backward directions were measured using a High Purity Germanium Detector (HPGE). Our results are reasonably reproduced by the numerical estimates following the approach of Kimura et al. (NIMA637(2011)167)

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

NURE: An ERC project to study nuclear reactions for neutrinoless double beta decay

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0ν\b{eta}\b{eta}) is considered the best potential resource to determine the absolute neutrino mass scale. Moreover, if observed, it will signal that the total lepton number is not conserved and neutrinos are their own anti-particles. Presently, this physics case is one of the most important research beyond Standard Model and might guide the way towards a Grand Unified Theory of fundamental interactions. Since the \b{eta}\b{eta} decay process involves nuclei, its analysis necessarily implies nuclear structure issues. The 0ν\b{eta}\b{eta} decay rate can be expressed as a product of independent factors: the phase-space factors, the nuclear matrix elements (NME) and a function of the masses of the neutrino species. Thus the knowledge of the NME can give information on the neutrino mass scale, if the 0ν\b{eta}\b{eta} decay rate is measured. In the NURE project, supported by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council, nuclear reactions of double charge-exchange (DCE) will be used as a tool to extract information on the \b{eta}\b{eta} NME. In DCE reactions and \b{eta}\b{eta} decay, the initial and final nuclear states are the same and the transition operators have similar structure. Thus the measurement of the DCE absolute crosssections can give crucial information on \b{eta}\b{eta} matrix elements.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

Measuring nuclear reaction cross sections to extract information on neutrinoless double beta decay

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0v\b{eta}\b{eta}) is considered the best potential resource to access the absolute neutrino mass scale. Moreover, if observed, it will signal that neutrinos are their own anti-particles (Majorana particles). Presently, this physics case is one of the most important research "beyond Standard Model" and might guide the way towards a Grand Unified Theory of fundamental interactions. Since the 0v\b{eta}\b{eta} decay process involves nuclei, its analysis necessarily implies nuclear structure issues. In the NURE project, supported by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council (ERC), nuclear reactions of double charge-exchange (DCE) are used as a tool to extract information on the 0v\b{eta}\b{eta} Nuclear Matrix Elements. In DCE reactions and \b{eta}\b{eta} decay indeed the initial and final nuclear states are the same and the transition operators have similar structure. Thus the measurement of the DCE absolute cross-sections can give crucial information on \b{eta}\b{eta} matrix elements. In a wider view, the NUMEN international collaboration plans a major upgrade of the INFN-LNS facilities in the next years in order to increase the experimental production of nuclei of at least two orders of magnitude, thus making feasible a systematic study of all the cases of interest as candidates for 0v\b{eta}\b{eta}.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Alpha Conjugate Neck Structures in the Collisions of 35 MeV/nucleon 40Ca with 40Ca

The de-excitation of alpha-conjugate nuclei produced in reactions of 35 MeV/nucleon 40Ca with 40Ca has been investigated. Particular emphasis is placed on examining the dynamics of collisions leading to projectile-like fragment exit channels. A general exploration of the reaction systematics reveals the binary dissipative character of the collisions and a hierarchy effect similar to that seen for heavier systems. Investigation of the subset of events characterized by a total alpha-conjugate mass (alpha particles plus alpha-conjugate fragments) equal to 40 and atomic number equal to 20 reveals a dominance of alpha-conjugate exit channels. The hierarchy effect for these channels leads to the production of alpha-clustered neck structures with potentially exotic geometries and properties.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

Reconstructed primary fragments and symmetry energy, temperature and density of the fragmenting source in $^{64}$Zn + $^{112}$Sn at 40 MeV/nucleon

Symmetry energy, temperature and density at the time of the intermediate mass fragment formation are determined in a self-consistent manner, using the experimentally reconstructed primary hot isotope yields and anti-symmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) simulations. The yields of primary hot fragments are experimentally reconstructed for multifragmentation events in the reaction system $^{64}$Zn + $^{112}$Sn at 40 MeV/nucleon. Using the reconstructed hot isotope yields and an improved method, based on the modified Fisher model, symmetry energy values relative to the apparent temperature, $a_{sym}/T$, are extracted. The extracted values are compared with those of the AMD simulations, extracted in the same way as that for the experiment, with the Gogny interaction with three different density-dependent symmetry energy terms. $a_{sym}/T$ values change according to the density-dependent symmetry energy terms used. Using this relation, the density of the fragmenting system is extracted first. Then symmetry energy and apparent temperature are determined in a self consistent manner in the AMD model simulations. Comparing the calculated $a_{sym}/T$ values and those of the experimental values from the reconstructed yields, $ρ/ρ_{0} = 0.65 \pm 0.02 $, $a_{sym} = 23.1 \pm 0.6$ MeV and $T= 5.0 \pm 0.4$ MeV are evaluated for the fragmenting system experimentally observed in the reaction studied.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

Experimental reconstruction of primary hot isotopes and characteristic properties of the fragmenting source in the heavy ion reactions near the Fermi energy

The characteristic properties of the hot nuclear matter existing at the time of fragment formation in the multifragmentation events produced in the reaction $^{64}$Zn + $^{112}$Sn at 40 MeV/nucleon are studied. A kinematical focusing method is employed to determine the multiplicities of evaporated light particles, associated with isotopically identified detected fragments. From these data the primary isotopic yield distributions are reconstructed using a Monte Carlo method. The reconstructed yield distributions are in good agreement with the primary isotope distributions obtained from AMD transport model simulations. Utilizing the reconstructed yields, power distribution, Landau free energy, characteristic properties of the emitting source are examined. The primary mass distributions exhibit a power law distribution with the critical exponent, $A^{-2.3}$, for $A \geq 15$ isotopes, but significantly deviates from that for the lighter isotopes. Landau free energy plots show no strong signature of the first order phase transition. Based on the Modified Fisher Model, the ratios of the Coulomb and symmetry energy coefficients relative to the temperature, $a_{c}/T$ and $a_{sym}/T$, are extracted as a function of A. The extracted $a_{sym}/T$ values are compared with results of the AMD simulations using Gogny interactions with different density dependencies of the symmetry energy term. The calculated $a_{sym}/T$ values show a close relation to the symmetry energy at the density at the time of the fragment formation. From this relation the density of the fragmenting source is determined to be $ρ/ρ_{0} = (0.63 \pm 0.03 )$. Using this density, the symmetry energy coefficient and the temperature of fragmenting source are determined in a self-consistent manner as $a_{sym} = (24.7 \pm 3.4) MeV$ and $T=(4.9 \pm 0.2)$ MeV.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

A novel determination of density, temperature and symmetry energy for nuclear multi-fragmentation through primary fragment yield reconstruction

For the first time primary hot isotope distributions are experimentally reconstructed in intermediate heavy ion collisions and used with antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) calculations to determine density, temperature and symmetry energy coefficient in a self-consistent manner. A kinematical focusing method is employed to reconstruct the primary hot fragment yield distributions for multifragmentation events observed in the reaction system $^{64}$Zn + $^{112}$Sn at 40 MeV/nucleon. The reconstructed yield distributions are in good agreement with the primary isotope distributions of AMD simulations. The experimentally extracted values of the symmetry energy coefficient relative to the temperature, $a_{sym}/T$, are compared with those of the AMD simulations with different density dependence of the symmetry energy term. The calculated $a_{sym}/T$ values changes according to the different interactions. By comparison of the experimental values of $a_{sym}/T$ with those of calculations, the density of the source at fragment formation was determined to be $ρ/ρ_{0} = (0.63 \pm 0.03 )$. Using this density, the symmetry energy coefficient and the temperature are determined in a self-consistent manner as $a_{sym} = (24.7 \pm 1.9) MeV$ and $T=(4.9 \pm 0.2)$ MeV

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2012

The Nuclear Matter Symmetry Energy at $0.03\leq ρ/ρ_0\leq 0.2$

Measurements of the density dependence of the free symmetry energy in low density clustered matter have been extended using the NIMROD multi-detector at Texas A&M University. Thermal coalescence models were employed to extract densities, $ρ$, and temperatures, $T$, for evolving systems formed in collisions of 47 $A$ MeV $^{40}$Ar + $^{112}$Sn,$^{124}$Sn and $^{64}$Zn + $^{112}$Sn, $^{124}$Sn. Densities of $0.03 \leq ρ/ρ_0 \leq 0.2$ and temperatures in the range 5 to 10 MeV have been sampled. The free symmetry energy coefficients are found to be in good agreement with values calculated using a quantum statistical model. Values of the corresponding symmetry energy coefficient are derived from the data using entropies derived from the model.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2012

Experimental Determination of In-Medium Cluster Binding Energies and Mott Points in Nuclear Matter

In medium binding energies and Mott points for $d$, $t$, $^3$He and $α$ clusters in low density nuclear matter have been determined at specific combinations of temperature and density in low density nuclear matter produced in collisions of 47$A$ MeV $^{40}$Ar and $^{64}$Zn projectiles with $^{112}$Sn and $^{124}$Sn target nuclei. The experimentally derived values of the in medium modified binding energies are in good agreement with recent theoretical predictions based upon the implementation of Pauli blocking effects in a quantum statistical approach.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2012

Laboratory Tests of Low Density Astrophysical Equations of State

Clustering in low density nuclear matter has been investigated using the NIMROD multi-detector at Texas A&M University. Thermal coalescence modes were employed to extract densities, $ρ$, and temperatures, $T$, for evolving systems formed in collisions of 47 $A$ MeV $^{40}$Ar + $^{112}$Sn,$^{124}$Sn and $^{64}$Zn + $^{112}$Sn, $^{124}$Sn. The yields of $d$, $t$, $^{3}$He, and $^{4}$He have been determined at $ρ$ = 0.002 to 0.032 nucleons/fm$^{3}$ and $T$= 5 to 10 MeV. The experimentally derived equilibrium constants for $α$ particle production are compared with those predicted by a number of astrophysical equations of state. The data provide important new constraints on the model calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Critical behavior of the isotope yield distributions in the Multifragmentation Regime of Heavy Ion Reactions

Isotope yields have been analyzed within the framework of a Modified Fisher Model to study the power law yield distribution of isotopes in the multifragmentation regime. Using the ratio of the mass dependent symmetry energy coefficient relative to the temperature, $a_{sym}/T$, extracted in previous work and that of the pairing term, $a_{p}/T$, extracted from this work, and assuming that both reflect secondary decay processes, the experimentally observed isotope yields have been corrected for these effects. For a given I = N - Z value, the corrected yields of isotopes relative to the yield of $^{12}C$ show a power law distribution, $Y(N,Z)/Y(^{12}C) \sim A^{-τ}$, in the mass range of $1 \le A \le 30$ and the distributions are almost identical for the different reactions studied. The observed power law distributions change systematically when I of the isotopes changes and the extracted $τ$ value decreases from 3.9 to 1.0 as I increases from -1 to 3. These observations are well reproduced by a simple de-excitation model, which the power law distribution of the primary isotopes is determined to $τ^{prim} = 2.4 \pm 0.2$, suggesting that the disassembling system at the time of the fragment formation is indeed at or very near the critical point.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

The Isospin Dependence Of The Nuclear Equation Of State Near The Critical Point

We discuss experimental evidence for a nuclear phase transition driven by the different concentration of neutrons to protons. Different ratios of the neutron to proton concentrations lead to different critical points for the phase transition. This is analogous to the phase transitions occurring in 4He-3He liquid mixtures. We present experimental results which reveal the N/A (or Z/A) dependence of the phase transition and discuss possible implications of these observations in terms of the Landau Free Energy description of critical phenomena.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

A novel approach to Isoscaling: the role of the order parameter m = (N-Z)/A

Isoscaling is derived within a recently proposed modified Fisher model where the free energy near the critical point is described by the Landau O(m^6) theory. In this model m = (N-Z)/A is the order parameter, a consequence of (one of) the symmetries of the nuclear Hamiltonian. Within this framework we show that isoscaling depends mainly on this order parameter through the 'external (conjugate) field' H. The external field is just given by the difference in chemical potentials of the neutrons and protons of the two sources. To distinguish from previously employed isoscaling relationships, this approach is dubbed: m - scaling. We discuss the relationship between this framework and the standard isoscaling formalism and point out some substantial differences in interpretation of experimental results which might result. These should be investigated further both theoretically and experimentally.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Isobaric Yield Ratios and The Symmetry Energy In Fermi Energy Heavy Ion Reactions

The relative isobaric yields of fragments produced in a series of heavy ion induced multifragmentation reactions have been analyzed in the framework of a Modified Fisher Model, primarily to determine the ratio of the symmetry energy coefficient to the temperature, $a_a/T$, as a function of fragment mass A. The extracted values increase from 5 to ~16 as A increases from 9 to 37. These values have been compared to the results of calculations using the Antisymmetrized Molecular Dynamics (AMD) model together with the statistical decay code Gemini. The calculated ratios are in good agreement with those extracted from the experiment. In contrast, the ratios determined from fitting the primary fragment distributions from the AMD model calculation are ~ 4 and show little variation with A. This observation indicates that the value of the symmetry energy coefficient derived from final fragment observables may be significantly different than the actual value at the time of fragment formation. The experimentally observed pairing effect is also studied within the same simulations. The Coulomb coefficient is also discussed.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2007

Can Punctured Rate-1/2 Turbo Codes Achieve a Lower Error Floor than their Rate-1/3 Parent Codes?

In this paper we concentrate on rate-1/3 systematic parallel concatenated convolutional codes and their rate-1/2 punctured child codes. Assuming maximum-likelihood decoding over an additive white Gaussian channel, we demonstrate that a rate-1/2 non-systematic child code can exhibit a lower error floor than that of its rate-1/3 parent code, if a particular condition is met. However, assuming iterative decoding, convergence of the non-systematic code towards low bit-error rates is problematic. To alleviate this problem, we propose rate-1/2 partially-systematic codes that can still achieve a lower error floor than that of their rate-1/3 parent codes. Results obtained from extrinsic information transfer charts and simulations support our conclusion.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2005

On the Performance of Turbo Codes in Quasi-Static Fading Channels

In this paper, we investigate in detail the performance of turbo codes in quasi-static fading channels both with and without antenna diversity. First, we develop a simple and accurate analytic technique to evaluate the performance of turbo codes in quasi-static fading channels. The proposed analytic technique relates the frame error rate of a turbo code to the iterative decoder convergence threshold, rather than to the turbo code distance spectrum. Subsequently, we compare the performance of various turbo codes in quasi-static fading channels. We show that, in contrast to the situation in the AWGN channel, turbo codes with different interleaver sizes or turbo codes based on RSC codes with different constraint lengths and generator polynomials exhibit identical performance. Moreover, we also compare the performance of turbo codes and convolutional codes in quasi-static fading channels under the condition of identical decoding complexity. In particular, we show that turbo codes do not outperform convolutional codes in quasi-static fading channels with no antenna diversity; and that turbo codes only outperform convolutional codes in quasi-static fading channels with antenna diversity.

cs.IT↗