arXiv subjects

N. Rijal

Publications and source records attributed to N. Rijal.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Spectroscopy of $^{11}$Be from the $^{10}$Be($d,p$) reaction measured in inverse kinematics by the AT-TPC in SOLARIS

The spectroscopy of $^{11}$Be is explored using the $^{10}$Be$(d,p)$$^{11}$Be transfer reaction performed in inverse kinematics at $9.6\,\MeV/u$ using the Active Target Time Projection Chamber (AT-TPC) inside the SOLARIS solenoid. This experiment is the first attempt at coupling the AT-TPC with SOLARIS to perform a high luminosity transfer reaction measurement without compromising excitation energy and scattering angle resolutions. The angular momentum transfer for states up to $3.40\,\MeV$ are determined from distorted-wave Born approximation analysis of the measured angular distributions, from which the corresponding spectroscopic factors are deduced. These factors are compared with those from various shell model interactions, and those for the $3.40\,\MeV$ state are consistent with a positive parity assignment. Recent \textit{ab initio} no-core configuration interaction (NCCI) calculations with various nucleon-nucleon interactions are presented for the low-lying positive parity states of $^{11}$Be. The excitation energies produced using the Daejeon16 interaction are in good agreement with those found from both this experiment and the literature, thus supporting a positive parity assignment. The $3.40\,\MeV$ state, if assigned a tentative $J^\pi=3/2^+$, would then correspond to the second excited state of the $K^P=1/2^+$ one-neutron halo ground state rotational band also predicted from such NCCI calculations.

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arXiv2026

$\beta$-decay Measurements Near the $N=40$ Island of Inversion to Quantify Cooling of Accreted Neutron Star Crusts

Understanding the thermal structure of the outer crust of accreting neutron stars is important to interpret astronomical X-ray observations. Ground-state to ground-state $\beta$-decay transitions of neutron-rich nuclei comprising the crust enable Urca neutrino cooling processes that affect this thermal structure. Here we constrain the ground-state to ground-state transition strengths for the decays of $^{57}$Sc, $^{57}$Ti, and $^{59}$Ti based on experimental data. The data were obtained by combining total absorption $\gamma$-spectroscopy data from the SuN detection system with $\beta$-delayed neutron emission data from the NERO detection system at Michigan State University's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. We find $\log ft=$5.8$^{+0.3}_{-0.2}$ and $\log ft=$5.34$^{+0.08}_{-0.24}$ for the decays of $^{57}$Ti and $^{59}$Ti, respectively, and find no evidence for ground-state feeding in the decay of $^{57}$Sc. The results indicate weaker transitions than predicted by theory and indicated by previous measurements, resulting in reduced efficiency of neutrino cooling in accreted neutron star crusts in systems that exhibit X-ray superbursts.

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arXiv2025

Near-threshold dipole strength in {^{10}}Be with isoscalar character

Isoscalar dipole transitions are a distinctive fingerprint of cluster structures. A {1^-} resonance at 7.27(10) MeV, located just below the {\alpha}-emission threshold, has been observed in the deuteron inelastic scattering reactions off 10Be. The deformation lengths of the excited states in 10Be below 9 MeV have been inferred from the differential cross sections using coupled channel calculations. This observed {1^-} resonance has isoscalar characteristics and exhausts approximately 5{\%}-15{\%} of the isoscalar dipole energy-weighted sum rule, providing evidence for pronounced {\alpha} cluster structure in 10Be. The Gamow coupled channel approach supports this interpretation and suggests the near-threshold effect might be playing an important role in this excitation energy domain. The {\alpha}+{\alpha}+n+n four-body calculation reproduces the observed enhanced dipole strength, implying that the four-body cluster structure is essential to describe the {1^-} states in 10Be.

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arXiv2024

Study of the $in ^{34}$Ar($\alpha,p$)$^{37}$K reaction rate via proton scattering on $^{37}$K, and its impact on properties of modeled X-Ray bursts

Background: Type I X-Ray bursts (XRBs) are energetic stellar explosions that occur on the surface of a neutron star in an accreting binary system with a low-mass H/He-rich companion. The rate of the $^{34}$Ar($\alpha,p$)$^{37}$K reaction may influence features of the light curve that results from the underlying thermonuclear runaway, as shown in recent XRB stellar modelling studies. Purpose: In order to reduce the uncertainty of the rate of this reaction, properties of resonances in the compound nucleus $^{38}$Ca, such as resonance energies, spins, and particle widths, must be well constrained. Method: This work discusses a study of resonances in the $^{38}$Ca compound nucleus produced in the $^{34}$Ar($\alpha,p$) reaction. The experiment was performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, with the ReA3 facility by measuring proton scattering using an unstable $^{37}$K beam. The kinematics were designed specifically to identify and characterize resonances in the Gamow energy window for the temperature regime relevant to XRBs. Results: The spins and proton widths of newly identified and previously known states in $^{38}$Ca in the energy region of interest for the $^{34}$Ar($\alpha,p$)$^{37}$K reaction have been constrained through an R-Matrix analysis of the scattering data. Conclusions: Using these constraints, a newly estimated rate is applied to an XRB model built using Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA), to examine its impact on observables, including the light curve. It is found that the newly determined reaction rate does not substantially affect the features of the light curve.

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arXiv2024

Evolution of the nuclear spin-orbit splitting explored via the $^{32}$Si($d$,$p$)$^{33}$Si reaction using SOLARIS

The spin-orbit splitting between neutron 1$p$ orbitals at $^{33}$Si has been deduced using the single-neutron-adding ($d$,$p$) reaction in inverse kinematics with a beam of $^{32}$Si, a long-lived radioisotope. Reaction products were analyzed by the newly implemented SOLARIS spectrometer at the reaccelerated-beam facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The measurements show reasonable agreement with shell-model calculations that incorporate modern cross-shell interactions, but they contradict the prediction of proton density depletion based on relativistic mean-field theory. The evolution of the neutron 1$p$-shell orbitals is systematically studied using the present and existing data in the isotonic chains of $N=17$, 19, and 21. In each case, a smooth decrease in the separation of the $1p_{3/2}$-$1p_{1/2}$ orbitals is seen as the respective $p$-orbitals approach zero binding, suggesting that the finite nuclear potential strongly influences the evolution of nuclear structure in this region.

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arXiv2022

Evidence of a near-threshold resonance in $^{11}$B relevant to the $β$-delayed proton emission of $^{11}$Be

A narrow near-threshold proton-emitting resonance (Ex = 11.4 MeV, J$^π$ = 1/2$^{+}$ and $Γ_{p}$ = 4.4 keV) was directly observed in $^{11}$B via proton resonance scattering. This resonance was previously inferred in the $β$-delayed proton emission of the neutron halo nucleus $^{11}$Be. The good agreement between both experimental results serves as a ground to confirm the existence of such exotic decay and the particular behavior of weakly bound nuclei coupled to the continuum. $R$-matrix analysis shows a sizable partial decay width for both, proton and $α$ emission channels.

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arXiv2021

Measurement of the $^{18}$Ne($α,p$)$^{21}$Na reaction with ANASEN at $E_{c.m.} = $ 2.5-4 MeV

The $^{18}$Ne($α,p$)$^{21}$Na reaction plays a significant role in Type-I X-ray bursts. It is a major path in the breakout from the hot-CNO cycles to the synthesis of heavier elements in the $αp$-- and $rp$-processes. An experiment to determine the cross section of this reaction was performed with the ANASEN active-target detector system, determining the cross section at energies between 2.5 and 4 MeV in the center-of-mass frame. The measured cross sections for reactions populating the ground state in $^{21}$Na are consistent with results obtained from the time-inverse reaction, but significantly lower than the previously published experimental data of direct measurements. The total cross sections are also compared with those derived from indirect methods and statistical-model calculations. This experiment establishes a new experimental data set on the excitation function of the $^{18}$Ne($α,p$)$^{21}$Na reaction, revealing the significance of the excited states' contributions to the total reaction cross section and allowing to separate the contribution of the $(α,2p)$ reaction. The impact of the measured cross section on thermal reaction rates is discussed.

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arXiv2018

Measurement of $d + ^7$Be cross sections for Big-Bang nucleosynthesis

The cross sections of nuclear reactions between the radioisotope $^7$Be and deuterium, a possible mechanism of reducing the production of mass-7 nuclides in Big-Bang nucleosynthesis, were measured at center-of-mass energies between 0.2 MeV and 1.5 MeV. The measured cross sections are dominated by the $(d,α)$ reaction channel, towards which prior experiments were mostly insensitive. A new resonance at 0.36(5)~MeV with a strength of $ωγ$ = 1.7(5)~keV was observed inside the relevant Gamow window. Calculations of nucleosynthesis outcomes based on the experimental cross section show that the resonance reduces the predicted abundance of primordial $^7$Li, but not sufficiently to solve the primordial lithium problem.

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