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R. Chankova

Publications and source records attributed to R. Chankova.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2009

Enhanced radiative strength in the quasi-continuum of 117Sn

Radiative strength functions of 117Sn has been measured below the neutron separation energy using the (3He,3He'gamma) reactions. An increase in the slope of the strength functions around E_gamma= 4.5 MeV indicates the onset of a resonance-like structure, giving a significant enhancement of the radiative strength function compared to standard models in the energy region 4.5 <= E_gamma <= 8.0 MeV. For the first time, the functional form of this resonance-like structure has been measured in an odd tin nucleus below neutron threshold in the quasi-continuum region.

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arXiv2009

Evidence for the pair-breaking process in 116,117Sn

The nuclear level densities of 116,117Sn below the neutron separation energy have been determined experimentally from the (3He,alpha gamma) and (3He,3He gamma') reactions, respectively. The level densities show a characteristic exponential increase and a difference in magnitude due to the odd-even effect of the nuclear systems. In addition, the level densities display pronounced step-like structures that are interpreted as signatures of subsequent breaking of nucleon pairs.

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arXiv2008

Nuclear level densities and gamma-ray strength functions in 44,45Sc

The scandium isotopes 44,45Sc have been studied with the 45Sc(3He,alpha gamma)44Sc and 45Sc(3He,3He' gamma)45Sc reactions, respectively. The nuclear level densities and gamma-ray strength functions have been extracted using the Oslo method. The experimental level densities are compared to calculated level densities obtained from a microscopic model based on BCS quasiparticles within the Nilsson level scheme. This model also gives information about the parity distribution and the number of broken Cooper pairs as a function of excitation energy. The experimental gamma-ray strength functions are compared to theoretical models of the E1, M1, and E2 strength, and to data from (gamma,n) and (gamma,p) experiments. The strength functions show an enhancement at low gamma energies that cannot be explained by the present, standard models.

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arXiv2006

Breaking of nucleon Cooper pairs at finite temperature in 93-98Mo

The S shape of the canonical heat capacity is known as a signature of the pairing transition and along an isotopic chain it is significantly more pronounced for nuclei with an even number of neutrons than with an odd number. Although the heat capacities extracted from experimental level densities in 93-98Mo exhibit a clear S shape, they do not show such an odd-even staggering. To understand the underlying physics, we analyze thermal quantities evaluated from the partition function calculated using the static-path plus random-phase approximation (SPA+RPA) in a monopole pairing model with number-parity projection. The calculated level densities reproduce very well the experimental data and they also agree with estimates using the back-shifted Fermi-gas model. We clarify the reason why the heat capacities for Mo isotopes do not show odd-even staggering of the S shape. We also discuss thermal odd-even mass differences in 94-97Mo using the three-, four-, and five-point formula. These thermal mass differences are regarded as indicators of pairing correlations at finite temperature.

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arXiv2006

Microcanonical entropies and radiative strength functions of $^{50,51}$V

The level densities and radiative strength functions (RSFs) of $^{50,51}$V have been extracted using the ($^3$He,$αγ$) and ($^3$He,$^3$He$^{\prime} γ$) reactions, respectively. From the level densities, microcanonical entropies are deduced. The high $γ$-energy part of the RSF is described by the giant electric dipole resonance. A significant enhancement over the predicted strength in the region of $E_γ \lesssim 3$ MeV is seen, which at present has no theoretical explanation.

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arXiv2006

Level densities and thermodynamical quantities of heated 93-98Mo isotopes

Level densities for 93-98Mo have been extracted using the (3He,alpha gamma) and (3He,3He' gamma) reactions. From the level densities thermodynamical quantities such as temperature and heat capacity can be deduced. Data have been analyzed by utilizing both the microcanonical and the canonical ensemble. Structures in the microcanonical temperature are consistent with the breaking of nucleon Cooper pairs. The S-shape of the heat capacity curves found within the canonical ensemble is interpreted as consistent with a pairing phase transition with a critical temperature for the quenching of pairing correlations at T_c ~ 0.7-1.0 MeV.

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arXiv2004

Radiative strength functions in 93-98Mo

Radiative strength functions (RSFs) in 93-98Mo have been extracted using the (3He,alpha gamma) and (3He,3He' gamma) reactions. The RSFs are U-shaped as function of gamma energy with a minimum at around E_gamma=3 MeV. The minimum values increase with neutron number due to the increase in the low-energy tail of the giant electric dipole resonance with nuclear deformation. The unexpected strong increase in strength below E_gamma=3 MeV, here called soft pole, is established for all 93-98Mo isotopes. The soft pole is present at all initial excitation energies in the 5-8 MeV region.

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arXiv2004

Large enhancement of radiative strength for soft transisitons in the quasicontinuum

Radiative strength functions (RSFs) for the 56,57-Fe nuclei below the separation energy are obtained from the 57-Fe(3-He,alpha gamma)56-Fe and 57-Fe(3-He,3-He' gamma)57-Fe reactions, respectively. An enhancement of more than a factor of ten over common theoretical models of the soft (E_gamma ~< 2 MeV) RSF for transitions in the quasicontinuum (several MeV above the yrast line) is observed. Two-step cascade intensities with soft primary transitions from the 56-Fe(n,2gamma)57-Fe reaction confirm the enhancement.

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arXiv2003

Free energy and criticality in the nucleon pair breaking process

Experimental level densities for 171,172Yb, 166,167Er, 161,162Dy, and 148,149Sm are analyzed within the microcanonical ensemble. In the even isotopes at excitation energies E < 2 MeV, the Helmholtz free energy F signals the transition from zero to two quasiparticles. For E > 2 MeV, the odd and even isotopes reveal a surprisingly constant F at a critical temperature Tc of appr. 0.5 MeV, indicating the continuous melting of nucleon Cooper pairs as function of excitation energy.

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arXiv2003

Thermal properties and radiative strengths in 160,161,162Dy

The level densities and radiative strength functions (RSFs) in 160,161Dy have been extracted using the (3He,alpha gamma) and (3He,3He' gamma) reactions, respectively. The data are compared to previous measurements on 161,162Dy. The energy distribution in the canonical ensemble is discussed with respect to the nucleon Cooper pair breaking process. The gross properties of the RSF are described by the giant electric dipole resonance. The RSF at low gamma-ray energies is discussed with respect to temperature dependency. Resonance parameters of a soft dipole resonance at Egamma = 3 MeV are deduced.

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