arXiv subjects

Remco Zegers

Publications and source records attributed to Remco Zegers.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Extreme Shape Coexistence Observed in $^{70}$Co

The shape of the atomic nucleus is a property which underpins our understanding of nuclear systems, impacts the limits of nuclear existence, and enables probes of physics beyond the Standard Model. Nuclei can adopt a variety of shapes, including spheres, axially deformed spheroids, and pear shapes. In some regions of the nuclear chart where a spherical nucleus would naively be expected, deformed nuclear states can result from collective action of constituent protons and neutrons. In a small subset of nuclei both spherical and deformed nuclear states have been experimentally observed, a phenomenon termed shape coexistence. We present spectroscopic evidence for the coexistence of $J^π=1+$ spherical and deformed states in $^{70}$Co, separated by less than 275~keV. This close degeneracy of levels with the same $J^π$ and different shapes demonstrates an extreme example of shape coexistence resulting from the interplay of independent particle motion and collective behavior in highly unstable nuclear systems and identifies the Co isotopes as a transition point between deformed ground states observed in the Cr isotopes and spherical configurations observed in the closed-shell Ni isotopes.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Constraining the Astrophysical p Process: Cross Section Measurement of the 84Kr(p,g)85Rb Reaction in Inverse Kinematics

One of the biggest questions in nuclear astrophysics is understanding where the elements come from and how they are made. This work focuses on the p process, a nucleosynthesis process that consists of a series of photodisintegration reactions responsible for producing stable isotopes on the proton-rich side of stability. These nuclei, known as the p nuclei, cannot be made through the well-known neutron-capture processes. Currently p-process models rely heavily on theory to provide the relevant reaction rates to predict the final p-nuclei abundances and more experimental data is needed. The present work reports on an experiment performed with the SuN detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, NSCL, at Michigan State University using the ReA facility to measure the $^{84}$Kr(p,$γ$)$^{85}$Rb reaction cross section in inverse kinematics. The reverse $^{85}$Rb($γ$,p)$^{84}$Kr reaction is a branching point in the p-process reaction network that was highlighted as an important reaction in sensitivity studies in the production of the $^{78}$Kr p nucleus. A new hydrogen gas target was designed and fabricated and a new analysis technique for background subtraction and efficiency calculations of the detector were developed. The experimental cross section is compared to standard statistical model calculations using the NON-SMOKER and TALYS codes.

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arXiv2022

Comparison of Electron Capture Rates in the N=50 Region using 1D Simulations of Core-collapse Supernovae

Recent studies have highlighted the sensitivity of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) models to electron-capture (EC) rates on neutron-rich nuclei near the N=50 closed-shell region. In this work, we perform a large suite of one-dimensional CCSN simulations for 200 stellar progenitors using recently updated EC rates in this region. For comparison, we repeat the simulations using two previous implementations of EC rates: a microphysical library with parameterized N=50 rates (LMP), and an older independent-particle approximation (IPA). We follow the simulations through shock revival up to several seconds post-bounce, and show that the EC rates produce a consistent imprint on CCSN properties, often surpassing the role of the progenitor itself. Notable impacts include the timescale of core collapse, the electron fraction and mass of the inner core at bounce, the accretion rate through the shock, the success or failure of revival, and the properties of the central compact remnant. We also compare the observable neutrino signal of the neutronization burst in a DUNE-like detector, and find consistent impacts on the counts and mean energies. Overall, the updated rates result in properties that are intermediate between LMP and IPA, and yet slightly more favorable to explosion than both.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Electron capture in stars

Electron captures on nuclei play an essential role for the dynamics of several astrophysical objects. The capture rate can be derived in perturbation theory where allowed nuclear transitions (Gamow-Teller transitions) dominate, except at the higher temperatures achieved in core-collapse supernovae where also forbidden transitions contribute significantly to the rates. There has been decisive progress in recent years in measuring Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions using novel experimental techniques based on charge-exchange reactions. These measurements provide not only data for the GT distributions of ground states for many relevant nuclei, but also serve as valuable constraints for nuclear models which are needed to derive the capture rates for the many nuclei, for which no data exist yet. In particular models are needed to evaluate the stellar capture rates at finite temperatures, where the capture can also occur on excited nuclear states. There has also been significant progress in recent years in the modelling of stellar capture rates. This has been made possible by advances in nuclear many-body models as well as in computer soft- and hardware. Specifically to derive reliable capture rates for core-collapse supernovae a dedicated strategy has been developed based on a hierarchy of nuclear models specifically adapted to the abundant nuclei and astrophysically conditions present at the various collapse conditions. This manuscript reviews the experimental and theoretical progress achieved recently in deriving stellar electron capture rates. It also discusses the impact these improved rates have on the various astrophysical objects. (Abridged)

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