Low-energy fission of 234,235U and 237,238Np radioactive beams, provided by the Fragment Separator (FRS) of the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung facility (GSI), has been studied using the Reactions with Relativistic Radioactive Beams / Studies on Fission with Aladin (R3B/SOFIA) setup. The latter allows us, on an event-by-event basis, to simultaneously identify, in terms of their mass and atomic numbers, the fissioning nucleus in coincidence with both fission fragments after prompt-neutron emission. This article reports new results on elemental, isotonic, isobaric, and isotopic yields. Moreover, the high accuracy of our data allowed us to study in detail proton even-odd staggering, from elemental yields; neutron excess, from isotopic yields; and total prompt-neutron multiplicity, from the difference of masses of the fissioning nucleus and fission fragments. These results are then compared to previous experimental data in order to probe how these fission observables change as function of the excitation energy and atomic and neutron numbers of the compound nucleus.14 MoreReceived 23 June 2021Accepted 25 August 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.104.044602©2021 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasFissionModels & methods for nuclear reactionsPropertiesA ≥ 220Nuclear Physics

The single particle and bulk properties of the neutron-rich nuclei constrain fundamental issues in nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics like the limits of existence of quantum many body systems (atomic nuclei), the equation of state of neutron-rich matter, neutron star, nucleosynthesis, evolution of stars, neutron star merging etc.. The state of the art of Coulomb breakup of the neutron-rich nuclei has been used to explore those properties. Unambiguous information on detailed components of the ground-state wave-function along with quantum numbers of the valence neutron of the nuclei have been obtained from the measurement of threshold strength along with the $γ$-rays spectra of the core following Coulomb breakup. The shape of this threshold strength is a finger-print of the quantum numbers of the nucleon. We investigated the ground-state properties of the neutron-rich Na, Mg, Al nuclei around N $\sim$ 20 using this method at GSI, Darmstadt. Very clear evidence has been observed for melting and merging of long cherished magic shell gaps at N = 20, 28. The evanescent neutron-rich nuclei imprint their existence in stellar explosive scenarios (r-process etc.). Coulomb dissociation (CD) is one of the important indirect measurements of the capture cross-section which may provide valuable input to the model for star evolution process, particularly the r-process. Some valuable bulk properties of the neutron-rich nuclei like the density dependent symmetry energy,neutron skin etc. play a key role in understanding cosmic phenomena and these properties have been studied via electromagnetic excitation. Preliminary results of electromagnetic excitation of the neutron-rich nucleus, $^{32}$Mg are presented.

With the R 3 B-LAND setup at GSI we have measured exclusive relative-energy spectra of the Coulomb dissociation of 18 C at a projectile energy around 425 AMeV on a lead target, which are needed to determine the radiative neutron-capture cross sections of 17 C into the ground state of 18 C. Those data have been used to constrain theoretical calculations for transitions populating excited states in 18 C. This allowed to derive the astrophysical cross section σ ∗ n γ accounting for the thermal population of 17 C target states in astrophysical scenarios. The experimentally verified capture rate is significantly lower than those of previously obtained Hauser-Feshbach estimations at temperatures T 9 ≤ 1 GK. Network simulations with updated neutron-capture rates and hydrodynamics according to the neutrino-driven wind model as well as the neutron-star merger scenario reveal no pronounced influence of neutron capture of 17 C on the production of second- and third-peak elements in contrast to earlier sensitivity studies.

The nucleosynthesis of elements beyond iron is dominated by neutron captures in the s and r processes. However, 32 stable, proton-rich isotopes cannot be formed during those processes, because they are shielded from the s-process flow and r-process beta-decay chains. These nuclei are attributed to the p and rp process. For all those processes, current research in nuclear astrophysics addresses the need for more precise reaction data involving radioactive isotopes. Depending on the particular reaction, direct or inverse kinematics, forward or time-reversed direction are investigated to determine or at least to constrain the desired reaction cross sections. The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) will offer unique, unprecedented opportunities to investigate many of the important reactions. The high yield of radioactive isotopes, even far away from the valley of stability, allows the investigation of isotopes involved in processes as exotic as the r or rp processes.

Neutron-rich light nuclei and their reactions play an important role in the creation of chemical elements. Here, data from a Coulomb dissociation experiment on N-20,N-21 are reported. Relativistic N-20,N-21 ions impinged on a lead target and the Coulomb dissociation cross section was determined in a kinematically complete experiment. Using the detailed balance theorem, the N-19(n,gamma)N-20 and N-20(n,gamma)N-21 excitation functions and thermonuclear reaction rates have been determined. The N-19(n,gamma)N-20 rate is up to a factor of 5 higher at T < 1 GK with respect to previous theoretical calculations, leading to a 10% decrease in the predicted fluorine abundance.

Background: Models describing nuclear fragmentation and fragmentation-fission deliver important input for planning nuclear physics experiments and future radioactive ion beam facilities. These models are usually benchmarked against data from stable beam experiments. In the future, two-step fragmentation reactions with exotic nuclei as stepping stones are a promising tool to reach the most neutron-rich nuclei, creating a need for models to describe also these reactions. Purpose: We want to extend the presently available data on fragmentation reactions towards the light exotic region on the nuclear chart. Furthermore, we want to improve the understanding of projectile fragmentation especially for unstable isotopes. Method: We have measured projectile fragments from 10,12-18C and 10-15B isotopes colliding with a carbon target. These measurements were all performed within one experiment, which gives rise to a very consistent dataset. We compare our data to model calculations. Results: One-proton removal cross sections with different final neutron numbers (1pxn) for relativistic 10,12-18C and 10-15B isotopes impinging on a carbon target. Comparing model calculations to the data, we find that EPAX is not able to describe the data satisfactorily. Using ABRABLA07 on the other hand, we find that the average excitation energy per abraded nucleon needs to be decreased from 27 MeV to 8.1 MeV. With that decrease ABRABLA07 describes the data surprisingly well. Conclusions: Extending the available data towards light unstable nuclei with a consistent set of new data have allowed for a systematic investigation of the role of the excitation energy induced in projectile fragmentation. Most striking is the apparent mass dependence of the average excitation energy per abraded nucleon. Nevertheless, this parameter, which has been related to final-state interactions, requires further study.

The R3B experiment (Reactions with Relativistic Radioactive Beams) at FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) is a versatile setup dedicated to the study of reactions induced by high-energy radioactive beams. It will provide kinematically complete measurements with high efficiency, acceptance and resolution, making possible a broad physics program with rare-isotopes. CALIFA (CALorimeter for In-Flight detection of gamma-rays and high energy charged pArticles), is a complex detector based on scintillation crystals, that will surround the target of the R3B experiment. CALIFA will act as a total absorption gamma-calorimeter and spectrometer, as well as identifier of charged particles from target residues. This versatility is its most challenging requirement, demanding a huge dynamic range, to cover from low energy gamma-rays up to 300 MeV protons. This fact, along with the high-energy of the beams determine the conceptual design of the detector, presented in this paper, together with the technical solutions proposed for its construction.

D. Cortina-Gil †1, H. Alvarez-Pol1, T. Aumann13, V. Avdeichikov4, M. Bendel7, J. Benlliure1, D. Bertini5, A. Bezbakh11, T. Bloch13, M. Böhmer7, M.J.G. Borge2, J.A. Briz2, P. Cabanelas1, E. Casarejos8, M. Carmona Gallardo2, J. Cederkäll4, L. Chulkov12, M. Dierigl7, D. Di Julio4, I. Durán1, E. Fiori10, A. Fomichev11, D. Galaviz9, M. Gascón1, R. Gernhäuser7, J. Gerl5, P. Golubev4, M. Golovkov11, D. González1, A. Gorshkov11, A. Heinz3, M. Heil5, B. Heiss7, W. Henning7, G. Ickert5, A. Ignatov13, B. Jakobsson4, H.T. Johansson3, M. Kmiecik14, Th. Kröll13, R. Krücken ‡ 7, S. Krupko11, F. Kurz7, T. Le Bleis7, B. Löher10, A. Maj14, E. Nacher2, T. Nilsson3, A. Perea2, C. Pfeffer7, N. Pietralla13, B. Pietras1, R. Reifarth6, J. Sanchez del Rio2, D. Savran10, S. Sidorchuk11, H. Simon5, L. Schnorrenberger13, O. Tengblad2, P. Teubig9, R. Thies3, J.A. Vilán8, M. von Schmid13, M. Winkel7, S. Winkler7, F. Wamers13, P. Yañez8, and M. Zieblinski14 1Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; 2Instituto Estructura de la Materia, CSIC Madrid; 3Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg; 4Lund University; 5Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt; 6Goethe University Frankfurt am Main; 7Technische Universität München; 8Universidad de Vigo; 9Centro de Física Nuclear da Universidade de Lisboa; 10Extreme Matter Institute and Research Division, GSI; 11Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna; 12Nuclear Reseach Center, Kurchatov Institute Moscow; 13Technische Universität Darmstadt; 14Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN, Krakow, Poland

Radioactive beams of 14,15B produced by fragmentation of a primary 40Ar beam were directed onto a Pb target to investigate the neutron breakup within the Coulomb field. The experiment was performed at the LAND/R3B setup. Preliminary results for the Coulomb dissociation cross sections as well as for the astrophysically interesting inverse reactions, 13,14B(n,γ), are presented.

The very neutron-rich oxygen isotopes O-25 and O-26 are investigated experimentally and theoretically. The unbound states are populated in an experiment performed at the R3B-LAND setup at GSI via proton-knockout reactions from F-26 and F-27 at relativistic energies around 442 and 414 MeV/nucleon, respectively. From the kinematically complete measurement of the decay into O-24 plus one or two neutrons, the O-25 ground-state energy and width are determined, and upper limits for the O-26 ground-state energy and lifetime are extracted. In addition, the results provide indications for an excited state in O-26 at around 4 MeV. The experimental findings are compared to theoretical shell-model calculations based on chiral two- and three-nucleon (3N) forces, including for the first time residual 3N forces, which are shown to be amplified as valence neutrons are added.

By the Coulomb breakup of 17Ne, the time-reversed reaction 15O(2p,γ)17Ne has been studied. This reaction might play an important role in the rp process, as a break-out reaction of the hot CNO cycle. The secondary 17Ne ion beam with an energy of 500 MeV/nucleon has been dissociated in a Pb target. The reaction products have been detected with the LAND-R3B experimental setup at GSI. The preliminary differential and integral Coulomb dissociation cross section sCoul has been determined, which then will be converted into a photo-absorption cross section sphot o, and a two-proton radiative capture cross section σcap. Additionally, information about the structure of the 17Ne, a potential two-proton halo nucleus, will be received. The analysis is in progress.

A small-scale prototype of the CALIFA calorimeter, which is a subsystem of the R3B detector, has been constructed and tested using the 179MeV proton beam at The Svedberg Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden. The prototype consists of 15 CsI(Tl) elements with a size of 10×30×130mm3, assembled in a 3×5 array. Each crystal was individually tested using γ-ray sources and the light output uniformity along the longitudinal axes was adjusted to better than 0.6%. An energy resolution of ∼0.5% has been achieved with a technique consisting of non-uniform polishing/lapping of the crystal side facets. The performance of the prototype is evaluated using experimental data and GEANT4 simulations. Results from the experiment, including multiplicity and sum spectra, show good agreement with simulations. The quality requirements for CsI(Tl) elements for construction of a high precision calorimeter/spectrometer are summarized.

The very first data from MAX-lab in Lund, Sweden on pion photoproduction at threshold energies are presented. The decrease of the total π+ yield in γ+12C, 27Al reactions below 200 MeV as well as the dσ/dΩ cross-section data essentially follow the predictions of an intranuclear-cascade model with an attractive potential for the pion–nucleus interaction. However, d2σ/dΩdT, cross-section data at 176 MeV show deviations which call for refinements of the model and possibly also for the inclusion of coherent pion-production mechanisms.