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O. Lopez

Publications and source records attributed to O. Lopez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Measurement of the forward angle $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C fragmentation differential cross sections at 62 MeV/nucleon

The present work reports on high-precision measurements of forward-angle fragmentation differential cross sections for the [12]C +[12] C reaction at 62 MeV/nucleon using the FAZIA array. Angular distributions for fragments from Z = 1 to 6 were extracted in the range 2 <= theta_lab <= 8 degrees. Particle identification was achieved by combining the Delta E - E technique with Pulse Shape Analysis, and precise energy calibrations were performed. The results show that for heavier fragments, the angular distributions are better described by the Van Bibber formulation than by the Goldhaber model, consistent with the dominance of a wide component from dissipative processes in the measured angular range. Notably, alpha particles exhibit an anomalously narrow angular distribution, likely originating from the intrinsic cluster structure of [12]C. Comparisons with existing data at the same incident energy show very good agreement, with a more complete set of species reported here, while a kinematic scaling is proposed to compare our data with previous experimental data at 50 and 95 MeV/nucleon.

nucl-ex

Highly coherent phase-lock of an 8.1 $\mu$m quantum cascade laser to a turn-key mid-IR frequency comb

A continuous-wave Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser (QCL) emitting at 8.1 $\mu$m operating in the single mode regime has been coherently phase locked to a turn-key low-noise commercial mid-Infrared (mid-IR) optical frequency comb. The stability of the comb used as a reference is transferred to the QCL resulting in an integrated residual phase error of 0.4 rad. The laser linewidth is narrowed by more than two orders of magnitude reaching sub-kHz level at 1 ms observation time, limited by the spectral purity of the mid-IR comb. Our experiment is an important step toward the development of both powerful and metrology-grade QCLs and fully stabilized QCL frequency comb and opens perspectives for precision measurements and frequency metrology in the mid-IR.

physics.optics

Model-independent measurement of isospin diffusion in Ni-Ni systems at intermediate energy

In this work we provide a model-independent experimental evaluation of the degree of isospin equilibration taking place in $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni collisions at 32 MeV/nucleon across varying reaction centralities. This result has been obtained by combining the complementary information provided by two different datasets, sharing common characteristics. The first dataset has been acquired with the INDRA setup and has been used to implement a model-independent reconstruction of the impact parameter. The second dataset has been acquired in the first experimental campaign of the coupled INDRA-FAZIA apparatus at GANIL. The neutron-to-proton content of the quasiprojectile remnant measured by FAZIA has been employed as isospin observable. The effect of isospin diffusion has been evidenced by means of the isospin transport ratio, reported as a function of the impact parameter of the collision. The evolution towards isospin equilibration from semiperipheral to more central collisions is clearly extracted. This experimental result, expanding our previous works (Phys. Rev. C 106, 024603 (2022) and Phys. Rev. C 108, 054611 (2023)), can be compared with the predictions of any transport model, and can thus be used to set constraints on the behavior of the symmetry energy term of the nuclear Equation of State at sub- to saturation densities.

nucl-ex

Wavelength modulation laser spectroscopy of N$_2$O at 17 $\mu$m

Using a mid-infrared quantum cascade laser and wavelength modulation absorption spectroscopy, we measure the frequencies of ro-vibrational transitions of N$_2$O in the 17 $\mu$m region with uncertainties below 5 MHz. These lines, corresponding to the bending mode of the molecule, can be used for calibration of spectrometers in this spectral region. We present a model for the lineshapes of absorption features in wavelength modulation spectroscopy that takes into account Doppler broadening, collisional broadening, saturation of the absorption, and lineshape distortion due to frequency and intensity modulation. Combining our data with previous measurements, we provide a set of spectroscopic parameters for several vibrational states of N$_2$O. The lines measured here fall in the same spectral region as a mid-infrared frequency reference that we are currently developing using trapped, ultracold molecules. With such a frequency reference, the spectroscopic methods demonstrated here have the potential to improve frequency calibration in this part of the spectrum.

physics.atom-ph

Study of quasi-projectile properties at Fermi energies in 48Ca projectile systems

The emission of the pre-equilibrium particles during nuclear collisions at moderate beam energies is still an open question. This influences the properties of the compound nucleus but also changes the interpretation of the quasi-fission process. A systematic analysis of the data obtained by the FAZIA collaboration during a recent experiment with a neutron rich projectile is presented. The full range of charged particles detected in the experiment is within the limit of isotopic resolution of the FAZIA detector. Quasi-projectile (QP) fragments were detected in majority thanks to the forward angular acceptance of the experimental setup which was confirmed by introducing cuts based on the HIPSE event generator calculations. The main goal was to compare the experimental results with the HIPSE simulations after introducing these cuts to investigate the influence of the n-rich entrance channel on the QP fragment properties. More specifically, the lowering of N/Z of QP fragments with beam energy was found to be present since the initial phase of the reaction. Thus, pre-equilibrium emissions might be a possible candidate to explain such an effect.

nucl-ex

Quasiprojectile breakup and isospin equilibration at Fermi energies: an indication of longer projectile-target contact times?

An investigation of the quasiprojectile breakup channel in semiperipheral and peripheral collisions of $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni at 32 and 52 MeV/nucleon is presented. Data have been acquired in the first experimental campaign of the INDRA-FAZIA apparatus in GANIL. The effect of isospin diffusion between projectile and target in the two asymmetric reactions has been highlighted by means of the isospin transport ratio technique, exploiting the neutron-to-proton ratio of the quasiprojectile reconstructed from the two breakup fragments. We found evidence that, for the same reaction centrality, a higher degree of relaxation of the initial isospin imbalance is achieved in the breakup channel with respect to the more populated binary output, possibly indicating the indirect selection of specific dynamical features. We have proposed an interpretation based on different average projectile-target contact times related to the two exit channels under investigation, with a longer interaction for the breakup channel. The time information has been extracted from AMD simulations of the studied systems coupled to GEMINI++: the model calculations support the hypothesis hereby presented.

nucl-ex

Examination of cluster production in excited light systems at Fermi energies from new experimental data and comparison with transport model calculations

Four different reactions, $^{32}$S+$^{12}$C and $^{20}$Ne+$^{12}$C at 25 and 50 MeV/nucleon, have been measured with the FAZIA detector capable of full isotopic identification of most forward emitted reaction products. Fragment multiplicities, angular distributions and energy spectra have been measured and compared with Monte Carlo simulations, i.e. the antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) and the heavy-ion phase space exploration (HIPSE) models. These models are combined with two different afterburner codes (HF$l$ and SIMON) to describe the decay of the excited primary fragments. In the case of AMD, the effect of including the clustering and inter-clustering processes to form bound particles and fragments is discussed. A clear confirmation of the role of cluster aggregation in the reaction dynamics and particle production for these light systems, for which the importance of the clustering process increases with bombarding energy, is obtained.

nucl-ex

Characterization of the breakup channel in the asymmetric systems $^{40,48}$Ca+$^{12}$C at 25 and 40 MeV/nucleon

An analysis of the asymmetric reactions $^{40,48}$Ca+$^{12}$C at 25 and 40 MeV/nucleon is presented. Data have been collected with six modules of the FAZIA array. The analysis is focused on the breakup channel of sources produced in dissipative collisions, partially corresponding to incomplete fusion processes. The study has been performed both on detected fragments and on some resonances reconstructed by means of particle-fragment correlations, with a focus on the evolution of the breakup channel with the beam energy and the neutron content of the system, looking in particular at the relative velocity between the breakup fragments. Results show that also Carbon fragments reconstructed by means of particle correlations can be in large part interpreted as the light partner of a scission.

nucl-ex

First results from the INDRA-FAZIA apparatus on isospin diffusion in $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni systems at Fermi energies

An investigation of the isospin equilibration process in the reactions $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni at two bombarding energies in the Fermi regime ($32\,$MeV/nucleon and $52\,$MeV/nucleon) is presented. Data have been acquired during the first experimental campaign of the coupled INDRA-FAZIA apparatus in GANIL. Selecting from peripheral to semi-central collisions, both the neutron content of the quasiprojectile residue and that of the light ejectiles coming from the quasiprojectile evaporation have been used as probes of the dynamical process of isospin diffusion between projectile and target for the asymmetric systems. The isospin transport ratio technique has been employed. The relaxation of the initial isospin imbalance with increasing centrality has been clearly evidenced. The isospin equilibration appears stronger for the reactions at $32\,$MeV/nucleon, as expected due to the longer projectile-target interaction time than at $52\,$MeV/nucleon. Coherent indications of isospin equilibration come from the quasiprojectile residue characteristics and from particles ascribed to the quasiprojectile decay.

nucl-ex

Analysis of 2-Body Central Events for $^{129}Xe+^{nat}Sn$ from $8A$ $MeV$ up to $18A$ $MeV$ and for $^{129}Xe+^{197}Au$ at $15A$ $MeV$ and $18A$ $MeV$

A study of medium-mass heavy-ion reactions leading to two fragments in the exit channel from barrier to 18A MeV is proposed. A special focus is made on fission and quasi-fission for events with two fragments ($Z\geq10$) in the exit channel selected. Reactions induced by $^{129}Xe$ projectiles on $^{nat}Sn$ and on $^{197}Au$ at energies ranging from $8A$ MeV to $18A$ MeV were analyzed. Using the fragment ($Z\geq10$) multiplicity equal to 2, fission and quasi-fission events were studied for the lowest beam energies using the fission fragment charge distributions, the total kinetic energy distribution (TKE) and its standard deviation $\sigma_{TKE}$. For the lighter system it is still possible to observe fission events from incomplete fusion. At variance, for the heavier system, Xenon on gold target only quasi-fission is evidenced. The study of the events characterized by two fragments in the final channel shows that fission, related to fusion in the entrance channel, disappears around 20A MeV for both systems. At lower energies (8A, 12A and 15A MeV) for the Sn target, an evolution with increasing energies towards an asymmetric fission mode is displayed in the fragment charge distributions. This trend can be attributed to the increasing angular momentum as indicated by the out-of-plane angular distribution for light charged particles. The same effect is also observed in the case of the gold target at 15A MeV. However, for this heavier system, a strong memory of the entrance channel leading to quasi-fission is evidenced. A comparison with the Viola systematics, moreover, shows a deviation, greater for the heavier system than for $^{129}Xe+^{nat}Sn$ system. A complete understanding of the above results would certainly require precise model calculations at these energies.

nucl-ex

Isospin diffusion measurement from the direct detection of a Quasi-Projectile remnant

The neutron-proton equilibration process in 48 Ca+ 40 Ca at 35 MeV/nucleon bombarding energy has been experimentally estimated by means of the isospin transport ratio. Experimental data have been collected with a subset of the FAZIA telescope array, which permitted to determine Z and N of detected fragments. For the first time, the QP evaporative channel has been compared with the QP break-up one in a homogeneous and consistent way, pointing out to a comparable n-p equilibration which suggests close interaction time between projectile and target independently of the exit channel. Moreover, in the QP evaporative channel n-p equilibration has been compared with the prediction of the Antisymmetrized Molecular Dynamics (AMD) model coupled to the GEMINI statistical model as an afterburner, showing a larger probability of proton and neutron transfers in the simulation with respect to the experimental data.

nucl-ex

Model independent reconstruction of impact parameter distributions for intermediate energy heavy ion collisions

We present a model-independent method to reconstruct the impact parameter distributions of experimental data for intermediate energy heavy ion collisions, adapted from a recently proposed approach for ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. The method takes into account the fluctuations which are inherent to the relationship between any experimental observable and the impact parameter in this energy range. We apply the method to the very large dataset on heavy ion collisions in the energy range 20-100 MeV/nucleon obtained with the INDRA multidetector since 1993, for two observables which are the most commonly used for the estimation of impact parameters in this energy range. The mean impact parameters deduced with this new method for "central" collisions selected using typical observable cuts are shown to be significantly larger than those found when fluctuations are neglected, and as expected the difference increases as bombarding energy decreases. In addition, we will show that this new approach may provide previously inaccessible experimental constraints for transport models, such as an estimation of the extrapolated mean value of experimental observables for b = 0 collisions. The ability to give more realistic, model-independent, estimations of the impact parameters associated to different experimental datasets should improve the pertinence of comparisons with transport model calculations which are essential to better constrain the equation of state of nuclear matter.

nucl-ex

Negative heat capacity for hot nuclei using formulation from the microcanonical ensemble INDRA Collaboration

By using freeze-out properties of multifragmenting hot nuclei produced in quasifusion central $^{129}$Xe+$^{nat}$Sn collisions at different beam energies (32, 39, 45 and 50 AMeV) which were estimated by means of a simulation based on experimental data collected by the $4\pi$ INDRA multidetector, heat capacity in the thermal excitation energy range 4 - 12.5 AMeV was calculated from total kinetic energies and multiplicities at freeze-out. The microcanonical formulation was employed. Negative heat capacity which signs a first order phase transition for finite systems is observed and confirms previous results using a different method.

nucl-ex

Dynamical fission of the quasiprojectile and isospin equilibration for the system 80Kr+ 48 Ca at 35 MeV/nucleon

Experimental results concerning the dynamical fission of quasiprojectiles in semiperipheral collisions for the system 80 Kr+ 48 Ca at 35 MeV/nucleon are presented. Data have been collected with four blocks of the FAZIA setup in the first physics experiment of the FAZIA Collaboration. The degree of isospin equilibration between the two fission fragments and its dependence on their charge asymmetry is investigated. The data are compared with the results of the AMD model coupled to GEMINI as an afterburner, in order to get hints about the timescale of the process.

nucl-ex

A new experiment to test parity symmetry in cold chiral molecules using vibrational spectroscopy

We present a brief review of our progress towards measuring parity violation in heavy-metal chiral complexes using mid-infrared Ramsey interferometry. We discuss our progress addressing the main challenges, including the development of buffer-gas sources of slow, cold polyatomic molecules, and the frequency-stabilisation of quantum cascade lasers calibrated using primary frequency standards. We report investigations on achiral test species of which promising chiral derivatives have been synthesized.

physics.atom-ph

Equilibrium constants of Hydrogen and Helium isotopes at low nuclear densities

Equilibrium constants for Hydrogen and Helium isotopes as a function of density and temperature are measured in the framework of the study made by Qin et al. [Qin L et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 172701]. We review and comment on all stages of the analysis and conclude that our measurements are not inconsistent with Qin et al. results. Improvements are being made to the initial analysis and we raise the issue of the binding energies which has to be clarified.

nucl-ex

First industrial-grade coherent fiber link for optical frequency standard dissemination

We report on a fully bi-directional 680~km fiber link connecting two cities for which the equipment, the set up and the characterization are managed for the first time by an industrial consortium. The link uses an active telecommunication fiber network with parallel data traffic and is equipped with three repeater laser stations and four remote double bi-directional Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. We report a short term stability at 1~s integration time of $5.4\times 10^{-16}$ in 0.5~Hz bandwidth and a long term stability of $1.7\times10^{-20}$ at 65\,000 s of integration time. The accuracy of the frequency transfer is evaluated as $3\times 10^{-20}$. No shift is observed within the statistical uncertainty. We show a continuous operation over 5 days with an uptime of 99.93$\%$. This performance is comparable with the state of the art coherent links established between National Metrology Institutes in Europe. It is a first step in the construction of an optical fiber network for metrology in France, which will give access to an ultra-high performance frequency standard to a wide community of scientific users.

physics.ins-det

High-precision methanol spectroscopy with a widely tunable SI-traceable frequency-comb-based mid-infrared QCL

There is an increasing demand for precise molecular spectroscopy, in particular in the mid-infrared fingerprint window that hosts a considerable number of vibrational signatures, whether it be for modeling our atmosphere, interpreting astrophysical spectra or testing fundamental physics. We present a high-resolution mid-infrared spectrometer traceable to primary frequency standards. It combines a widely tunable ultra-narrow Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL), an optical frequency comb and a compact multipass cell. The QCL frequency is stabilized onto a comb controlled with a remote near-infrared ultra-stable laser, transferred through a fiber link. The resulting QCL frequency stability is below 10-15 from 0.1 to 10s and its frequency uncertainty of 4x10-14 is given by the remote frequency standards. Continuous tuning over ~400 MHz is reported. We use the apparatus to perform saturated absorption spectroscopy of methanol in the low-pressure multipass cell and demonstrate a statistical uncertainty at the kHz level on transition center frequencies, confirming its potential for driving the next generation technology required for precise spectroscopic measurements.

physics.atom-ph