arXiv subjects

T. K. Rana

Publications and source records attributed to T. K. Rana.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Measurement of the Hoyle State Radiative Transition Width

The radiative decay of the Hoyle state is the doorway to the production of heavier elements in stellar environment. Here we report, an exclusive measurement of electric quadruple (E$_2$) transitions of the Hoyle state to the ground state of $^{12}$C through the $^{12}$C(p, p$^\prime$$γ$$γ$)$^{12}$C reaction. Triple coincidence measurement yields a value of radiative branching ratio $Γ_{rad}$/$Γ$ = 4.01 (30) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$. The result has been corroborated by an independent experiment based on the complete kinematical measurement $via.$ $^{12}$C(p, p$^\prime$)$^{12}$C reaction ($Γ_{rad}$/$Γ$ = 4.04 (30) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$). Using our results together with the currently adopted values of $Γ_π$(E$_0$)/$Γ$ and $Γ_π$($E_0$), the radiative width of the Hoyle state is found to be 3.75 (40) $\times$ 10$^{-3}$ eV. We emphasize here that our result is not in agreement with 34 $\%$ increase in the radiative decay width of the Hoyle state measured recently but consistent with the currently adopted value.

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arXiv2024

Study of $^{113}$In($α,α$) elastic scattering to determine $α$-optical potential relevant for astrophysical $γ$-process

The $α$-optical potential is one of the key input parameters used to measure the reaction rate of the ($γ,α$)-process using the Hauser-Feshbach(HF) statistical model and the principle of detailed balance. $α$-elastic scattering experiment on $^{113}$In $p$-nucleus was carried out in the energy range E$_{lab}$=26$-$32 MeV. The vacuum evaporation technique was used to prepare the $^{113}$In target~($\sim$86 $μ$g/cm$^2$). An energy-dependent local optical potential parameters set was obtained by analysing the experimental elastic scattering angular distribution data. The local potential parameters are extrapolated for lower energies and are used to measure the $^{113}$In($α,γ$) reaction cross-section.

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arXiv2021

Preparation of Isotopically enriched $^{112,116,120,124}$Sn targets at VECC

Resistive heating and mechanical rolling methods have been employed to prepare isotopically enriched thin target foils of 116Sn (~380 μg/cm2), 124Sn(~400 μg/cm2) and thicker foils of 112Sn (1.7 mg/cm2),120Sn (1.6 mg/cm2),respectively. Preparation of enriched targets with small amount of material, selection of releasing agent for thin targets and separation of deposited material insolvent were among the several challenges while fabrication of the thin targets. Uniformity of the targets has been measured using 241Am α-source. NaCl has been used as releasing agent in preparation of the thin targets. These targets have been successfully used in nuclear physics experiments at VECC.

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arXiv2020

Nuclear level density and thermal properties of $^{115}$Sn from neutron evaporation

The nuclear level density of $^{115}$Sn has been measured in an excitation energy range of $\sim $2 - 9 MeV using the experimental neutron evaporation spectra from the $^{115}$In($p,n$)$^{115}$Sn reaction. The experimental level densities were compared with the microscopic Hartree-Fock BCS (HFBCS), Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov plus combinatorial (HFB+C), and an exact pairing plus independent particle model (EP+IPM) calculations. It is observed that the EP+IPM provides the most accurate description of the experimental data. The thermal properties (entropy and temperature) of $^{115}$Sn have been investigated from the measured level densities. The experimental temperature profile as well as the calculated heat capacity show distinct signatures of a transition from the strongly-paired nucleonic phase to the weakly paired one in this nucleus.

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arXiv2020

Evidence for the reduction of nuclear level density away from the $β$-stability line

The isospin dependence of nuclear level density has been investigated by analyzing the spectra of evaporated neutrons from excited $^{116}$Sn and $^{116}$Te nuclei. These nuclei are populated via $p$ + $^{115}$In and $^{4}$He + $^{112}$Sn reactions in the excitation energy range of 18 - 26 MeV. Because of low excitation energy, the neutron spectra are predominantly contributed by the first-chance decay leading to the $β$-stable $^{115}$Sn and neutron-deficient $^{115}$Te as residues for the two cases. Theoretical analysis of the experimental spectra have been performed within the Hauser-Feshbach formalism by employing different models of the level density parameter. It is observed that the data could only be explained by the level density parameter that decreases monotonically when the proton number deviates from the $β$-stable value. This is also confirmed by performing a microscopic shell-model calculation with the Wood-Saxon mean field. The results have strong implication on the estimation of the level density of unstable nuclei, and calculation of astrophysical reaction rates relevant to $r$- and $rp$-processes.

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arXiv2020

Excitation energy and angular momentum dependence of the nuclear level density parameter around A$\approx $110

Neutron kinetic energy spectra in coincidence with low-energy $γ$-ray multiplicities have been measured around $A\approx $ 110 in the $^{16}$O, $^{20}$Ne + $^{93}$Nb reactions in a compound nuclear excitation energy range of $\approx $ 90 - 140 MeV. The excitation energy (temperature) and angular momentum (spin) dependence of the inverse level density parameter $k$ has been investigated by comparing the experimental data with statistical Hauser-Feshbach calculation. In contrast to the available systematic in this mass region, the inverse level density parameter showed an appreciable increase as a function of the excitation energy. The extracted $k$-values at different angular momentum regions, corresponding to different $γ$-multiplicities also showed an overall increase with the average nuclear spins. The experimental results have been compared with a microscopic statistical-model calculation and found to be in reasonable agreement with the data. The results provide useful information to understand the variation of nuclear level density at high temperature and spins.

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arXiv2020

The determination of α-spectroscopic factors and ANC of 16O states using 12C(20Ne,16O)16O reaction at Elab=150 MeV incident energy

The 12C(20Ne,16O)16O α-transfer reaction at Elab=150 MeV is first time used to determine the ANC of the 6.92 MeV and 7.12 MeV states of 16O. The 20Ne+ 12C potential parameters are also obtained from elastic scattering. The direct reaction code FRESCO is used to determine the α-spectroscopy factor (Sα ) of the three states of 16O (6.92 MeV, 7.12 MeV and 11.52 MeV) and ANC of the two states (6.92 MeV and 7.12 MeV) of 16O. The extracted ANC and Sα are compareable to previous measurements.

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arXiv2019

ChAKRA : The high resolution charged particle detector array at VECC

A large 4$π$ array of charged particle detectors has been developed at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre to facilitate high resolution charged particle reaction and spectroscopy studies by detecting event-by-event the charged reaction products emitted in heavy ion reactions at energy $\sim$ 10-60 MeV/A. The forward part ($θ\sim \pm $ $7^{0}$ - $\pm 45^{0}$) of the array consists of 24 highly granular, high resolution charged particle telescopes, each of which is made by three layers [single sided silicon strip($Δ$E) + double sided silicon strip (E/$Δ$E) + CsI(Tl)(E)]of detectors. The backward part of the array consists of 112 CsI(Tl) detectors which are capable of detecting primarily the light charged particles (Z $\le$ 2) emitted in the angular range of $θ\sim \pm $ $45^{0}$ - $\pm 175^{0}$. The extreme forward part of the array ($θ\sim \pm $ $3^{0}$ - $\pm 7^{0}$) is made up of 32 slow-fast plastic phoswich detectors that are capable of detecting light (Z $\le$2) and heavy charged particles (3 $\le$ Z $\lesssim$ 20) as well as handling high count rates. The design, construction and characterization of the array has been described.

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arXiv2018

Fission fragment mass distribution in $^{210}$Po and $^{213}$At

Background: The influence of shell effect on the dynamics of the fusion fission process and it's evolution with excitation energy in the pre-actinide Hg-Pb region in general is a matter of intense research in recent years. In particular, a strong ambiguity remains for the neutron shell closed $^{210}$Po nucleus regarding the role of shell effect in fission around $\approx$ 30 - 40 MeV of excitation energy. Purpose: We have measured the fission fragment mass distribution of $^{210}$Po populated using fusion of $^{4}$He + $^{206}$Pb at different excitation energies and compare the result with recent theoretical predictions as well as with our previous measurement for the same nucleus populated through a different entrance channel. Mass distribution in the fission of the neighbouring nuclei $^{213}$At is also studied for comparison. Methods: Two large area Multi-wire Proportional Counters (MWPC) were used for complete kinematical measurement of the coincident fission fragments. The time of flight differences of the coincident fission fragments were used to directly extract the fission fragment mass distributions. Results: The measured fragment mass distribution for the reactions $^{4}$He + $^{206}$Pb and $^{4}$He + $^{209}$Bi were symmetric and the width of the mass distributions were found to increase monotonically with excitation energy above 36.7 MeV and 32.9 MeV, respectively, indicating the absence of shell effects at the saddle. However, in the fission of $^{210}$Po, we find minor deviation from symmetric mass distributions at the lowest excitation energy (30.8 MeV). Conclusion: Persistence of shell effect in fission fragment mass distribution of $^{210}$Po was observed at the excitation energy $\approx$ 31 MeV as predicted by the theory; at higher excitation energy, however, the present study reaffirms the absence of any shell correction in the fission of $^{210}$Po.

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arXiv2016

Fission fragment mass distributions in reactions populating 200Pb

The fission fragment mass distributions have been measured in the reactions 16O + 184W and 19F+ 181Ta populating the same compound nucleus 200Pb? at similar excitation energies. It is found that the widths of the mass distribution increases monotonically with excitation energy, indicating the absence of quasi-fission for both reactions. This is contrary to two recent claims of the presence of quasi-fission in the above mentioned reactions.

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arXiv2015

Study of $^{26}$Mg through 1p pick up reaction $^{27}$Al(d,$^{3}$He)

The even-even nucleus $^{26}$Mg has been studied through the reaction $^{27}$Al(d,$^{3}$He) at 25 MeV beam energy. The spectroscopic factors have been extracted upto 7.50 MeV excitation energy using local, zero range distorted wave Born approximation. The comparison of the spectroscopic factors have been done with previously reported values using the same reaction probe. The extracted spectroscopic factors for different excited states were found to be in good agreement with the previously reported values for the same. The present results were also compared with the predictions from shell model as well as rotational model. The analog states of $^{26}$Al and $^{26}$Mg were found to be in good agreement.

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arXiv2015

No influence of a N=126 Neutron Shell Closure in Fission Fragment Mass Distributions

Mass distributions of the fragments in the fission of $^{206}$Po and the N=126 neutron shell closed nucleus $^{210}$Po have been measured. No significant deviation of mass distributions has been found between $^{206}$Po and $^{210}$Po, indicating the absence of shell correction at the saddle point in both the nuclei, contrary to the reported angular anisotropy and pre-scission neutron multiplicity results. This new result provides benchmark data to test the new fission dynamical models to study the effect of shell correction on the potential energy surface at saddle point.

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arXiv2015

Direct Evidence of Washing out of Nuclear Shell Effects

Constraining excitation energy at which nuclear shell effect washes out has important implications on the production of super heavy elements and many other fields of nuclear physics research. We report the fission fragment mass distribution in alpha induced reaction on an actinide target for wide excitation range in close energy interval and show direct evidence that nuclear shell effect washes out at excitation energy ~40 MeV. Calculation shows that second peak of the fission barrier also vanishes around similar excitation energy.

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arXiv2014

Crossing of large multiquasiparticle magnetic-rotation bands in $^{198}$Bi

High-spin states in the doubly-odd $^{198}$Bi nucleus have been studied by using the $^{185,187}$Re($^{16}$O, xn) reactions at the beam energy of 112.5 MeV. $γ-γ$ coincidence were measured by using the INGA array with 15 Compton suppressed clover HPGe detectors. The observed levels have been assigned definite spin-parity. The high spin structure is grouped into three bands (B1, B2 and B3), of which two (B1 and B2) exhibit the properties of magnetic rotation (MR). Tilted axis cranking calculations were carried out to explain the MR bands having large multi-quasiparticle configurations. The calculated results explain the bands B1 and B2 very nicely, confirming the shears mechanism and suggest a crossing of two MR bands in both the cases. The crossing is from 6-qp to 8-qp in band B1 and from 4-qp to 6-qp in band B2, a very rare finding. A semiclassical model has also been used to obtain the particle-hole interaction strengths for the bands B1 and B2, below the band crossing.

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arXiv2013

Band structures and intruder $π$$i_{13/2}$ state in $^{197}$Tl

The excited states in the odd-$A$ $^{197}$Tl nucleus have been studied by populating them using the $^{197}$Au($α$, 4$n$)$^{197}$Tl reaction at the beam energy of 48 MeV. The $γ-γ$ coincidence data were taken using a combination of clover, LEPS and single crystal HPGe detectors. Precise spin and parity assignments of the excited states have been done through the polarization and the DCO measurements. A new band structure has been identified and the evidence for a possible intruder $πi_{13/2}$ state has been found for the first time. Possible configurations of the observed bands have been discussed. The total Routhian surface calculations have been performed to study the shape of $^{197}$Tl for different configurations.

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arXiv2013

Complex fragment emission in low energy light-ion reactions

Inclusive energy spectra of the complex fragments (3 $\leq$ Z $\leq$ 5) emitted in the reactions $^{12}$C (77 MeV)+ $^{28}$Si, $^{11}$B (64 MeV)+ $^{28}$Si and $^{12}$C (73 MeV)+ $^{27}$Al (all having the same excitation energy of $ \sim$ 67 MeV), have been measured in the angular range of 10$^\circ$ $\lesssim θ_{lab} \lesssim$ 60$^\circ$. The fully energy damped (fusion-fission) and the partially energy damped (deep inelastic) components of the fragment energy spectra have been extracted. It has been found that the yields of the fully energy damped fragments for all the above reactions are in conformity with the respective statistical model predictions. The time scales of various deep inelastic fragment emissions have been extracted from the angular distribution data. The angular momentum dissipation in deep inelastic collisions has been estimated from the data and it has been found to be close to the corresponding sticking limit value.

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arXiv2013

Deformation in 28Si* produced via 16O + 12C reaction

The energy spectra of the $α$ particles emitted in the reactions $^{16}$O (7-10 MeV/nucleon) + $^{12}$C have been measured in the center of mass angular range of 25$^\circ$ $\lesssim θ_{c.m.} \lesssim$ 70$^\circ$. The experimental energy spectra have been compared with those obtained from the statistical model calculation with "deformability" parameters predicted by rotating liquid drop model (RLDM) and also fitted the same with optimized "deformability" parameters, which are quite different from the respective RLDM values. The data have also been found to be explained quite well using "frozen" deformation approximation, where the "deformability" parameters have been kept fixed at RLDM values of the parent nucleus throughout the decay process. The effective radius in the latter case is smaller compared to that obtained using the optimized parameters; however, in both cases, the deformations (effective radii) are larger than the corresponding RLDM values. So, considering the uncertainties in the estimation of actual compound nucleus deformations, it can, only qualitatively, be said that equilibrium orbiting, which is similar to particle evaporation in time scale, could also be one of the contributing factors for the observed deformation.

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arXiv2012

Onset of deformation at $N = 112$ in Bi nuclei

The high spin states in $^{195}$Bi has been studied by $γ$-ray spectroscopic method using the $^{181}$Ta($^{20}$Ne, 6n) fusion evaporation reaction at 130 MeV. The $γγ$ coincidence data were taken using an array of 8 clover HPGe detectors. The spin and parity assignments of the excited states have been made from the measured directional correlation from oriented states (DCO) ratios and integrated polarization asymmetry (IPDCO) ratios. The results show, for the first time, the evidence of a rotational like band based on a 13/2$^+$ band head in this nucleus, indicating the onset of deformation at neutron number $N = 112$ for the Bismuth isotopes. The results obtained were found to be consistent with the prediction of the total Routhian surface calculations using Woods Saxon potential. The same calculations also predict a change in shape from oblate to triaxial in $^{195}$Bi at high rotational frequency.

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