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V. González

Publications and source records attributed to V. González.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Direct transfer to $^{46,48}$K as a survey of the $π(s_{1/2})$$-ν(sdpf)$ interaction

The collapse of the canonical $N=28$ magic number in nuclei with $Z<20$ has drawn significant interest as it relates to the emergence of an island of inversion centered on $^{42}$Si and $^{44}$S. In particular, interactions between the $πs_{1/2}$ orbital -- empty in $^{42}$Si and full in $^{44}$S -- and the neutron orbitals just above and below the $N=28$ gap are expected to be critical in this region, but remain relatively unexplored. In this paper, we expand upon the results of our previous study of the direct transfer reaction $^{47}$K(d,p$γ$)$^{48}$K [C.\,J.~Paxman \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 162504 (2025)] with the results of the complementary $^{47}$K(d,t$γ$)$^{46}$K reaction. Through this study, we present a comprehensive scan of the interaction between the critical $πs_{1/2}$ orbital and a broad range of neutron orbitals spanning nearly two full shells. We identify several discrepancies between the experimental results and state-of-the-art shell model calculations, which suggest a deficiency of the shell model to fully capture the complex proton configuration mixing in this region, highlighting a significant challenge for single-particle descriptions of the island of inversion.

nucl-ex↗

Probing exotic cross-shell interactions at N=28 with single-neutron transfer on 47K

We present the first measurement of the $^{47}$K($d,pγ$)$^{48}$K transfer reaction, performed in inverse kinematics using a reaccelerated beam of $^{47}$K. The level scheme of $^{48}$K has been greatly extended with nine new bound excited states identified and spectroscopic factors deduced. Detailed comparisons with SDPF-U and SDPF-MU shell-model calculations reveal a number of discrepancies with these results, and a preference for SDPF-MU is found. Intriguingly, an apparent systematic overestimation of spectroscopic factors and a poor reproduction of the energies for 1$^-$ states suggests that the mixing between the $πs^{\,\,\,1}_{1/2} d^{\,\,\,4}_{3/2}$ and $πs^{\,\,\,2}_{1/2} d^{\,\,\,3}_{3/2}$ proton configurations in $^{48}$K is not correctly described using current interactions, challenging our descriptions of light $N=28$ nuclei.

nucl-ex↗

Shape evolution in even-mass $^{98-104}$Zr isotopes via lifetime measurements using the $γγ$-coincidence technique

The Zirconium (Z = 40) isotopic chain has attracted interest for more than four decades. The abrupt lowering of the energy of the first $2^+$ state and the increase in the transition strength B(E2; $2_1^\rightarrow 0_1^+$ going from $^{98}$Zr to $^{100}$Zr has been the first example of "quantum phase transition" in nuclear shapes, which has few equivalents in the nuclear chart. Although a multitude of experiments have been performed to measure nuclear properties related to nuclear shapes and collectivity in the region, none of the measured lifetimes were obtained using the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift method in the $γγ$-coincidence mode where a gate on the direct feeding transition of the state of interest allows a strict control of systematical errors. This work reports the results of lifetime measurements for the first yrast excited states in $^{98-104}$Zr carried out to extract reduced transition probabilities. The new lifetime values in $γγ$-coincidence and $γ$-single mode are compared with the results of former experiments. Recent predictions of the Interacting Boson Model with Configuration Mixing, the Symmetry Conserving Configuration Mixing model based on the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach and the Monte Carlo Shell Model are presented and compared with the experimental data.

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Unveiling the hidden universe with JWST: The contribution of dust-obscured galaxies to the stellar mass function at $z\sim3-8$

With the advent of JWST, we can probe the rest-frame optical emission of galaxies at $z>3$ with high sensitivity and spatial resolution, making it possible to accurately characterise red, optically-faint galaxies and thus move towards a more complete census of the galaxy population at high redshifts. To this end, we present a sample of 148 massive, dusty galaxies from the JWST/CEERS survey, colour-selected using solely JWST bands. With deep JWST/NIRCam data from 1.15$μ$m to 4.44$μ$m and ancillary HST/ACS and WFC3 data, we determine the physical properties of our sample using spectral energy distribution fitting with BAGPIPES. We demonstrate that our selection method efficiently identifies massive ($\mathrm{\langle \log M_\star/M_\odot \rangle \sim 10}$) and dusty ($\mathrm{\langle A_V\rangle \sim 2.7\ mag}$) sources, with a majority at $z>3$ and predominantly lying on the galaxy main-sequence. The main results of this work are the stellar mass functions (SMF) of red, optically-faint galaxies from redshifts between $3<z<8$: these galaxies make up a significant relative fraction of the pre-JWST total SMF at $3<z<4$ and $4<z<6$, and dominate the high-mass end of the pre-JWST SMF at $6<z<8$, suggesting that our census of the galaxy population needs amendment at these epochs. While larger areas need to be surveyed in the future, our results suggest already that the integrated stellar mass density at $\mathrm{\log M_\star/M_\odot\geq9.25}$ may have been underestimated in pre-JWST studies by up to $\sim$15-20\% at $z\sim3-6$, and up to $\sim$45\% at $z\sim6-8$, indicating the rapid onset of obscured stellar mass assembly in the early universe.

astro-ph.GA↗

Timing performance of radiation hard MALTA monolithic Pixel sensors

The MALTA family of Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (DMAPS) produced in Tower 180 nm CMOS technology targets radiation hard applications for the HL-LHC and beyond. Several process modifications and front-end improvements have resulted in radiation hardness up to $2 \times 10^{15}~1~\text{MeV}~\text{n}_{eq}/\text{cm}^2$ and time resolution below 2 ns, with uniform charge collection efficiency across the Pixel of size $36.4 \times 36.4~μ\text{m}^2$ with a $3~μ\text{m}^2$ electrode size. The MALTA2 demonstrator produced in 2021 on high-resistivity epitaxial silicon and on Czochralski substrates implements a new cascoded front-end that reduces the RTS noise and has a higher gain. This contribution shows results from MALTA2 on timing resolution at the nanosecond level from the CERN SPS test-beam campaign of 2021.

physics.ins-det↗

Narrow resonances in the continuum of the unbound nucleus $^{15}$F

The structure of the unbound $^{15}$F nucleus is investigated using the inverse kinematics resonant scattering of a radioactive $^{14}$O beam impinging on a CH$_2$ target. The analysis of $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,p)$^{14}$O and $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,2p)$^{13}$N reactions allowed the confirmation of the previously observed narrow $1/2^{-}$ resonance, near the two-proton decay threshold, and the identification of two new narrow 5/2$^{-}$ and 3/2$^{-}$ resonances. The newly observed levels decay by 1p emission to the ground of $^{14}$O, and by sequential 2p emission to the ground state (g.s.) of $^{13}$N via the $1^-$ resonance of $^{14}$O. Gamow shell model (GSM) analysis of the experimental data suggests that the wave functions of the 5/2$^{-}$ and 3/2$^{-}$ resonances may be collectivized by the continuum coupling to nearby 2p- and 1p- decay channels. The observed excitation function $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,p)$^{14}$O and resonance spectrum in $^{15}$F are well reproduced in the unified framework of the GSM.

nucl-ex↗

Evidence for enhanced neutron-proton correlations from the level structure of the $N=Z+1$ nucleus $^{87}_{43}$Tc$^{\ }_{44}$

The low-lying excited states in the neutron-deficient $N=Z+1$ nucleus $^{87}_{43}$Tc$^{\ }_{44}$ have been studied via the fusion-evaporation reaction $^{54}$Fe($^{36}$Ar, $2n1p$)$^{87}$Tc at the Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL), France. The AGATA spectrometer was used in conjunction with the auxiliary NEDA, Neutron Wall, and DIAMANT detector arrays to measure coincident prompt $γ$-rays, neutrons, and charged particles emitted in the reaction. A level scheme of $^{87}$Tc from the (9/2$^{+}_{g.s.}$) state to the (33/2$^{+}_{1}$) state was established based on 6 mutually coincident $γ$-ray transitions. The constructed level structure exhibits a rotational behavior with a sharp backbending at $\hbarω\approx 0.50$ MeV. A decrease in alignment frequency and increase in alignment sharpness in the odd-mass isotonic chains around $N=44$ is proposed as an effect of the enhanced isoscalar neutron-proton interactions in odd-mass nuclei when approaching the $N=Z$ line.

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Pairing-quadrupole interplay in the neutron-deficient tin nuclei: first lifetime measurements of low-lying states in $^{106,108}$Sn

The lifetimes of the low-lying excited states $2^+$ and $4^+$ have been directly measured in the neutron-deficient $^{106,108}$Sn isotopes. The nuclei were populated via a deep-inelastic reaction and the lifetime measurement was performed employing a differential plunger device. The emitted $γ$ rays were detected by the AGATA array, while the reaction products were uniquely identified by the VAMOS++ magnetic spectrometer. Large-Scale Shell-Model calculations with realistic forces indicate that, independently of the pairing content of the interaction, the quadrupole force is dominant in the $B(E2; 2_1^+ \to 0_{g.s.}^+)$ values and it describes well the experimental pattern for $^{104-114}$Sn; the $B(E2; 4_1^+ \to 2_1^+)$ values, measured here for the first time, depend critically on a delicate pairing-quadrupole balance, disclosed by the very precise results in $^{108}$Sn. This result provides insight in the hitherto unexplained $B(E2; 4_1^+ \to 2_1^+)/B(E2; 2_1^+ \to 0_{g.s.}^+) < 1$ anomaly.

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The GREATS H$β$+[OIII] Luminosity Function and Galaxy Properties at $\mathbf{z\sim8}$: Walking the Way of JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope will allow to spectroscopically study an unprecedented number of galaxies deep into the reionization era, notably by detecting [OIII] and H$β$ nebular emission lines. To efficiently prepare such observations, we photometrically select a large sample of galaxies at $z\sim8$ and study their rest-frame optical emission lines. Combining data from the GOODS Re-ionization Era wide-Area Treasury from Spitzer (GREATS) survey and from HST, we perform spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting, using synthetic SEDs from a large grid of photoionization models. The deep Spitzer/IRAC data combined with our models exploring a large parameter space enables to constrain the [OIII]+H$β$ fluxes and equivalent widths for our sample, as well as the average physical properties of $z\sim8$ galaxies, such as the ionizing photon production efficiency with $\log(ξ_\mathrm{ion}/\mathrm{erg}^{-1}\hspace{1mm}\mathrm{Hz})\geq25.77$. We find a relatively tight correlation between the [OIII]+H$β$ and UV luminosity, which we use to derive for the first time the [OIII]+H$β$ luminosity function (LF) at $z\sim8$. The $z\sim8$ [OIII]+H$β$ LF is higher at all luminosities compared to lower redshift, as opposed to the UV LF, due to an increase of the [OIII]+H$β$ luminosity at a given UV luminosity from $z\sim3$ to $z\sim8$. Finally, using the [OIII]+H$β$ LF, we make predictions for JWST/NIRSpec number counts of $z\sim8$ galaxies. We find that the current wide-area extragalactic legacy fields are too shallow to use JWST at maximal efficiency for $z\sim8$ spectroscopy even at 1hr depth and JWST pre-imaging to $\gtrsim30$ mag will be required.

astro-ph.GA↗

Performance of the Fully Digital FPGA-based Front-End Electronics for the GALILEO Array

In this work we present the architecture and results of a fully digital Front End Electronics (FEE) read out system developed for the GALILEO array. The FEE system, developed in collaboration with the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) collaboration, is composed of three main blocks: preamplifiers, digitizers and preprocessing electronics. The slow control system contains a custom Linux driver, a dynamic library and a server implementing network services. The digital processing of the data from the GALILEO germanium detectors has demonstrated the capability to achieve an energy resolution of 1.53 per mil at an energy of 1.33 MeV.

physics.ins-det↗

Nonlinear response of single-molecule nanomagnets: equilibrium and dynamical

We present an experimental study of the {\em nonlinear} susceptibility of Mn$_{12}$ single-molecule magnets. We investigate both their thermal-equilibrium and dynamical nonlinear responses. The equilibrium results show the sensitivity of the nonlinear susceptibility to the magnetic anisotropy, which is nearly absent in the linear response for axes distributed at random. The nonlinear dynamic response of Mn$_{12}$ was recently found to be very large and displaying peaks reversed with respect to classical superparamagnets [F. Luis {\em et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 92}, 107201 (2004)]. Here we corroborate the proposed explanation -- strong field dependence of the relaxation rate due to the detuning of tunnel energy levels. This is done by studying the orientational dependence of the nonlinear susceptibility, which permits to isolate the quantum detuning contribution. Besides, from the analysis of the longitudinal and transverse contributions we estimate a bound for the decoherence time due to the coupling to the phonon bath.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗