The neutron-rich rare isotope 190W is discussed as a candidate for a prolate-oblate transitional nucleus with maximum γ-softness. The collectivity of this isotope is assessed for the first time by the measurement of the reduced E2 transition probability of its first 2+ state to the ground state. The experiment employed the FAst TIming Array (FATIMA), comprised of 36 LaBr3(Ce) scintillators, which was part of the DESPEC setup at GSI, Darmstadt. The 41+ and 21+ states of 190W were populated subsequently to the decay of its 127(12) μs isomeric Jπ=10− state. The mean lifetime of the 21+ state was determined to be τ=274(28) ps, which corresponds to a B(E2;21+→01+) value of 95(10) W.u. The results motivated a revision of previous calculations within an energy-density functional-based interacting boson model-2 approach, yielding E2 transition properties and spectroscopic quadrupole moments for tungsten isotopes. From comparison to theory, the new data suggest that 190W is at the transition from prolate to oblate structure along the W isotopic chain, which had previously been discussed as a nuclear shape-phase transition.

Reduced transition probabilities have been extracted between excited, yrast states in the N=Z+2 nucleus 94Pd. The transitions of interest were observed following decays of the Iπ=14+, Ex=2129-keV isomeric state, which was populated following the projectile fragmentation of a 124Xe primary beam at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung accelerator facility as part of FAIR Phase-0. Experimental information regarding the reduced E2 transition strengths for the decays of the yrast 8+ and 6+ states was determined following isomer-delayed Eγ1−Eγ2−△T2,1 coincidence method, using the LaBr3(Ce)-based FATIMA fast-timing coincidence gamma-ray array, which allowed direct determination of lifetimes of states in 94Pd using the Generalized Centroid Difference (GCD) method. The experimental value for the half-life of the yrast 8+ state of 755(106) ps results in a reduced transition probability of B(E2:8→+6+) = 205−25+34 e2 fm4, which enables a precise verification of shell-model calculations for this unique system, lying directly between the N=Z line and the N=50 neutron shell closure. The determined B(E2) value provides an insight into the purity of (g9/2)n configurations in competition with admixtures from excitations between the (lower) N=3pf and (higher) N=4gds orbitals for the first time. The results indicate weak collectivity expected for near-zero quadrupole deformation and an increasing importance of the T=0 proton-neutron interaction at N=48.

We have developed a compact detector for measuring beam particles using plastic scintillators readout through Multi-Pixel Photon Counters, which is employed for hypernuclear measurements in the WASA-FRS experiment at GSI. The Time-of-Flight resolution of the newly-developed detector has been investigated in relation to the overvoltage with respect to the breakdown voltage, a maximum counting rate of approximately 3 x 10(6)/s per segment, and a maximum beam charge of Z = 6. The evaluated Time-of-Flight resolutions between the neighboring segments of the detector range from 44.6 +/- 1.3 ps to 100.3 +/- 3.6 ps (sigma) depending on the segment, overvoltage values, and beam intensity. It is also observed that the Time-of-Flight resolution is inversely correlated to the beam atomic charge (Z).

The nuclear two-photon or double-gamma (2γ) decay is a second-order electromagnetic process whereby a nucleus in an excited state emits two gamma rays simultaneously. To be able to directly measure the 2γ decay rate in the low-energy regime below the electron-positron pair-creation threshold, we combined the isochronous mode of a storage ring with Schottky resonant cavities. The newly developed technique can be applied to isomers with excitation energies down to ∼100  keV and half-lives as short as ∼10  ms. The half-life for the 2γ decay of the first-excited 0^{+} state in bare ^{72}Ge ions was determined to be 23.9(6) ms, which strongly deviates from expectations.

We conducted an experimental search for 77 ' -mesic nuclei, bound systems of an 77 ' meson and a nucleus, in 12 C( p, dp ) reactions. We measured the missing mass in the ( p, d ) reaction to obtain the mass spectrum of the reaction product near the 77 ' emission threshold. Forward-emitted deuterons were momentum-analyzed in the FRS of GSI. We installed a nearly 4 7r detector WASA near the 12 C target to effectively select formation and decay of the 77 ' -mesic nuclei. We are presently finalizing the analysis.

An experiment with the aim to obtain information on the excited states of neutron-rich nuclei with N~82 was performed at RIBF/RIKEN as part of the HiCARI campaign. The method to identify nuclei on ion-by-ion basis, including charge-state identification, is presented. The Doppler correction technique was validated using the test case of 131 In, based on the prompt π p 3/2 → πp 1/2 transition at 988 keV. Preliminary analysis of the 130 Cd spectrum is also presented.

A novel technique to study bound states of exotic hadrons in subatomic nuclei, such as hypernuclei and mesic nuclei, has been developed by employing the Fragment Separator FRS and the WASA central detector at GSI. Two experiments, S447 for studying light hypernuclei, especially hypertriton and a Λnn bound state, and S490 for searching for η' mesic-nuclei, were recently performed. Data analyses are currently in progress, and light charged particles such as protons and π± are clearly observed and identified in the both experiments. For S447, light nuclear fragments that can also be residual nuclei from decays of hypernuclei of interests have been analysed by the FRS, and a momentum resolution, Δp/p, of 5×10−4 has been achieved. Further data analyses are to be completed. The WASA-FRS project will be continued and extended with the FRS at FAIR Phase 0, and upgrading of the WASA magnet and detectors is currently in progress. Furthermore, construction of a larger detector system with the Super-FRS at FAIR Phase 1 is also under consideration.

Interests on few-body hypernuclei have been increased by recent results of experiments employing relativistic heavy ion beams. Some of the experiments have revealed that the lifetime of the lightest hypernucleus, hypertriton, is significantly shorter than 263 ps which is expected by considering the hypertriton to be a weakly-bound system. The STAR collaboration has also measured the hypertriton binding energy, and the deduced value is contradicting to its formerly known small binding energy. These measurements have indicated that the fundamental physics quantities of the hypertriton such as its lifetime and binding energy have not been understood, therefore, they have to be measured very precisely. Furthermore, an unprecedented Λnn bound state observed by the HypHI collaboration has to be studied in order to draw a conclusion whether or not such a bound state exists. These three-body hypernuclear states are studied by the heavy-ion beam data in the WASA-FRS experiment and by analysing J-PARC E07 nuclear emulsion data with machine learning.

An experiment was performed at GSI with the objective of measuring theβ-intensity distribution in the decay of Hg, Au and Pt isotopes around N=126 using the total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy technique. The aim is to benchmark theoretical models used to make predictions of half-life and neutron emission probabilities of exotic nuclei involved in the rapid neutron capture process, leading to the synthesis of very heavy elements. This paper presents some experimental details and the current status of the analysis.

We have developed a new and unique experimental setup integrating the central part of the Wide Angle Shower Apparatus (WASA) into the Fragment Separator (FRS) at GSI. This combination opens up possibilities of new experiments with high-resolution spectroscopy at forward 0 and measurements of light decay particles with nearly full solid-angle acceptance in coincidence. The first series of the WASA-FRS experiments have been successfully carried out in 2022. The developed experimental setup and two physics experiments performed in 2022 including the status of the preliminary data analysis are introduced.

The current understanding of light hypernuclei, which are sub-atomic nuclei with strangeness, is being challenged and studied in detail by several European research groups and collaborations. In recent years, studies of hypernuclei using high-energy heavy ion beams have reported unexpected results on the three-body hypernuclear state 3ΛH, named the hypertriton. For some time, reports of a shorter lifetime and larger binding energy than what was previously accepted have created a puzzling situation for its theoretical description; this is known as the "hypertriton puzzle". With the inclusion of the most recent experimental measurements, the current status of the hypertriton puzzle is evolving. Additionally, the possible neutral bound state of a Λ hyperon with two neutrons, nnΛ, has raised questions about our understanding of the formation of light hypernuclei either in bound or resonance states. These results have initiated several ongoing experimental programs all over the world to study these three-body hypernuclear states precisely. We are studying these light hypernuclear states by employing heavy ion beams at 2AGeV on a fixed carbon target with the WASA detector system and the Fragment Separator (FRS) at GSI. The WASA-FRS experimental campaign was performed during the first quarter of 2022, and this paper presents a short overview of the campaign and how it seeks to tackle the hypertriton and nnΛ puzzles. Data analysis is ongoing, and several preliminary results will be reported.

The HISPEC-DESPEC collaboration aims at investigating the struc-ture of exotic nuclei formed in fragmentation reactions with decay spectroscopymeasurements, as part of the FAIR Phase-0 campaign at GSI. This paper reportson first results of an experiment performed in spring 2021, with a focus on beta-decaystudies in the Po-Fr nuclei in the 220 < A <230 island of octupole deformationexploiting the DESPEC setup. Ion-beta correlations and fast-timing techniques arebeing employed, giving an insight into this difficult-to-reach region.

The DEcay SPECtroscopy (DESPEC) setup for nuclear structure investigations was developed and commissioned at GSI, Germany in preparation for a full campaign of experiments at the FRS and Super-FRS. In this paper, we report on the first employment of the setup in the hybrid configuration with the AIDA implanter coupled to the FATIMA LaBr3(Ce) fast-timing array, and high-purity germanium detectors. Initial results are shown from the first experiments carried out with the setup. An overview of the setup and function is discussed, including technical advancements along the path.