The NEEDLE setup is designed and built to study exotic neutron-deficient nuclei. It allows for increased sensitivity to explore the nuclear structure close to the proton drip line. This detector setup combines the EAGLE gamma-ray spectrometer and the capabilities of the NEDA array to identify the events in which a number of neutrons were emitted from the compound nucleus. Within this contribution, the first NEEDLE campaign and future plans are discussed.

The electromagnetic structure of Sc-45 at low excitation energy was investigated via low-energy Coulomb excitation at the Heavy Ion Laboratory (HIL) of the University of Warsaw and at the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in New Delhi. A set of reduced E2, E3, and M1 matrix elements was extracted from the collected data using the GOSIA code. The reduced transition probability B(E2; 11/2(-) -> 7/2(-)) has been determined, allowing us to deduce the lifetime of the 11/2(-) state at 1237 keV. In addition, the upper limit on the reduced transition probability B(E3; 7/2(-) -> 5/2(+)) has been determined for the first time. New large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations were performed to interpret the structure of this nucleus.

The ISOLDE Scientific Infrastructure at CERN offers a unique range of post-accelerated radioactive beams. The scientific program can be improved with the "Isolde Superconducting Recoil Separator" (ISRS), an innovative spectrometer able to deliver unprecedented (A, Z) resolution. In this paper we present an overview of the physics and ongoing technical developments.

In the paper, experimental results of high-energy gamma GDR (Giant Dipole Resonance) decay from the Pt-192 compound nucleus associated with the 4n decay channel leading to the Pt-188 evaporation residue are presented. The measurement, which was performed with the use of coupled nuBall and PARIS arrays, aimed to investigate the link between deformation of a hot nucleus and different deformations of the residual states. The high-energy gamma rays from the GDR decay measured using the PARIS phoswiches provided information on compound nucleus properties, particularly on its effective shape. Discrete transitions in evaporation residues, measured by the nuBall array, were used to select the final products of specific deforma-tions. As a result, the GDR strength functions measured for the particular decay paths were obtained.

A state-of-the-art neutron multiplicity filter NEDA has been installed as an ancillary detector to the EAGLE gamma-ray spectrometer at the Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw. This significantly broadens the areas of the nuclear chart accessible by employing the Warsaw apparatus. The properties of the new setup are discussed.

The first experiment using radioactive beams post-accelerated by the HIE-ISOLDE facility has enabled to obtain a precise set of B(E2) transition probabilities in neutron-rich 74,76Zn isotopes. The resulting B(E2; 2+1 -> 0+1 ) values are consistent with those determined in earlier REX-ISOLDE measurements. While the B(E2; 4+1 -> 2+1 ) transition probability in 76Zn is also in agreement with earlier Coulomb-excitation results, the value obtained for 74Zn is considerably lower. For the first time, a spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the 2+1 state was measured for an exotic nucleus in this mass region. A detailed comparison is presented with large-scale shell-model and Monte Carlo shell-model calculations.

The controlled destruction of the PIN diode detectors, SIEMENS SFH 870/F170 and SFH 871/F171, by the 35 MeV beam of the C-12 and by 24 MeV of the N-14, respectively, was characterized using nuclear spectroscopy, the surface profile measurements, and the positron annihilation spectroscopy technique. The beam fluence was in the range of 10(12) -10(14) ions/cm(2). It has been shown that the fluence of 10(12) ions/cm(2) of the 12 C beam did not allow it to destroy the PIN diode detector. For this purpose, one needs the fluence of at least 4 x 10(12) ions/cm(2) for the N-14 ions beam and 2.2 x 10(13) ions/cm(2) for the C-12 ions one. The presence of divacancies in the irradiated sample was detected by the positron lifetimes measurements, with the fraction significantly higher for the C-12 implanted sample. Furthermore, it was found that the surface roughness changed drastically following the implantation, i.e., the arithmetic average of profile height deviations from the mean surface of the N-14 beam implanted sample is significantly higher than of that irradiated with the C-12 ions and the reference one, and the surface average roughness was about 2-3 times higher.

A new measurement of gamma decay from the states above the neutron threshold in Pb-208 has been performed at Cyclotron Centre Bronowice in Krakow, Poland. The main goal of the experiment was to observe the gamma decay to the ground state from the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR). To this day, the only published observation of this phenomenon dates back to the late 1980s, where gamma decay to the ground state branching ratio was reported. At variance with the existing measurement using inelastic scattering of O-17, here proton inelastic scattering is employed. In particular, data were obtained for Pb-208(p, p'gamma) at 85 MeV beam energy, where gamma rays were measured for proton scattering angles 8.9 degrees, 10.7 degrees, 12.5 degrees, and 14.3 degrees. By applying a similar analysis method as in the previous experiment, the branching ratio of ISGQR gamma decay to the ground state was extracted from the data.

The conversion electrons and gamma-rays emitter Sn-117m is a promising theranostic radionuclide produced mainly at nuclear reactors with low specific activity. The variety of possible applications suggests the necessity of a larger production, more likely reachable at cyclotrons. The irradiation of Cd-nat and In-nat targets with the 30 MeV alpha-beam, available at the Heavy Ion Laboratory (HIL) of Warsaw, aims to measure the production cross-sections of Sn-117m and its contaminants. Theoretical calculations are also performed to support the experimental results.

For over twenty years there has been a constant trend for scientific research to be applied in everyday life and thus raise the standard of living and improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Heavy Ion Laboratory, in cooperation with the Nuclear Medicine Department of the Independent Public Central Clinical Hospital of the Warsaw Medical University at Banacha Street, has undertaken joint actions to introduce in Poland the diagnostic tests commonly known as positron emission tomography scans. This article presents a brief history of the establishment of the Radiopharmaceuticals Production and Research Center together with its equipment and research work.

Background: Investigation of the $_{62}^{140}\mathrm{Sm}_{78}$ nucleus, situated in the area close to the magic $N=82$ neutron shell, offers the opportunity to find and study interesting phenomena resulting from the interplay of collective and other degrees of freedom.Purpose: Experimental identification of low-spin low-energy levels, particularly ${0}^{+}$, in $^{140}\mathrm{Sm}$ and theoretical interpretation within the collective general Bohr Hamiltonian (GBH) model.Method: The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ angular correlation technique for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ radiation after the $\ensuremath{\beta}$/EC decay of $^{140}\mathrm{Eu}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{140}\mathrm{Sm}$ and $^{140}\mathrm{Gd}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{140}\mathrm{Eu}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{140}\mathrm{Sm}$ was used to determine spins of excited states of $^{140}\mathrm{Sm}$. The $^{140}\mathrm{Gd}$ and $^{140}\mathrm{Eu}$ nuclei were produced in the $^{104}\mathrm{Pd}+^{40}\mathrm{Ar}$ reaction at the HIL UW cyclotron. In the theoretical part the full five-dimensional GBH model was applied in two variants: the simple phenomenological Warsaw model and the microscopic version with six inertial functions and a potential calculated from mean-field theory.Results: The spin and parity of six low spin (0,1,2) low lying excited levels of $^{140}\mathrm{Sm}$ were measured. Two new states at around 2 MeV were identified. A analysis of the consequences of possible admixtures on the determination of the spin of a level was performed. The theoretical models applied successfully describe most of the spectrum of $^{140}\mathrm{Sm}$ giving hints on the origin of the states observed in the experiment.Conclusions: Significant softness against nonaxial deformation seems to be essential to interpret the properties of $^{140}\mathrm{Sm}$. Further experimental studies are needed to check if some low-energy excitations are not deformation driven.

The electromagnetic structure of Zn-66 at low excitation energy was investigated via low-energy Coulomb excitation at INFN Legnaro National Laboratories, using the Gamma Array of Legnaro Infn Laboratories for nuclEar spectrOscopy (GALILEO) gamma-ray spectrometer coupled to the SPIDER (Silicon PIe DEtectoR). A set of reduced E2, E3, and M1 matrix elements was extracted from the collected data using the GOSIA code, yielding 12 reduced transition probabilities between the low-spin states and the spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the 2(1)(+) state. The B(E2) values for transitions depopulating the 0(2)(+) state have been determined for the first time, allowing for the lifetime of this state to be deduced and, consequently, the rho(2) (E0; 0(2)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) monopole transition strength to be extracted. In addition, the B(E3;3(1)(-) -> 0(1)(+)) value has been determined for the first time in a Coulomb excitation experiment. The obtained results resolve the existing discrepancies between literature lifetimes and demonstrate that Zn-66 cannot be described by using simple collective models. Therefore, new state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field and large-scale shell-model calculations were performed in order to interpret the structure of this nucleus. Both the experimental and theoretical results suggest that the triaxial degree of freedom has an important impact on electromagnetic properties of Zn-66, while the unique features of the 0(2)(+) state indicate its distinct and rather isolated structure.

SPIDER is a new array of segmented silicon detectors for low-energy Coulomb-excitation experiments, designed as an ancillary device for modern γ-ray spectrometers such as GALILEO and AGATA. Currently, it is used at the INFN Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL) for experiments with the GALILEO γ-ray array and the stable beams provided by the Tandem-XTU, ALPI-PIAVE accelerator complex. In this paper, a detailed description of SPIDER is presented, as well as the outcomes from the first in-beam experiment of the array coupled with GALILEO. In particular, radiation damage and cross-talk/charge-sharing effects induced by energetic heavy ions in SPIDER are investigated and the capabilities of the array to perform on-line Rutherford back-scattering analysis of the exploited target are presented. The material reported here can be used to plan future experiments with the GALILEO-SPIDER setup with the presently available stable beams at LNL and paves the way for future experimental campaigns with the radioactive beams provided in the near future by the SPES facility at LNL.

The low-energy electromagnetic structure of Cd-110 was studied using safe-energy Coulomb excitation at the Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw. The preliminary results on the quadrupole deformation of low-lying 0(+) states in Cd-110 are presented and compared to the recent beyond-mean-field and General Bohr Hamiltonian calculations.

Target properties such as thickness and composition are essential ingredients in nuclear physics experiments, therefore, dedicated analyses to evaluate them before and/or af ter the measurement are often performed. In some experimental techniques, the exploited detectors allow for the evaluation of these properties on-line, i.e. directly during the experiment. In this paper, we report on the use of analysis methods coming from the Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy technique to obtain on-line information on the target used in a nuclear physics experiment. This measurement was performed at INFN LNL by exploiting the low-energ y Coulomb excitation technique. The results have been compared with an independent Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy analysis of the same target performed at INFN LABEC in Florence.

Spectroscopic data, such as precise γ-ray branching and E 2/ M 1 multipole-mixing ratios, provide vital constraints when performing multi-dimensional Coulomb-excitation analyses. Consequently, as part of our new Coulomb-excitation campaign aimed at investigating the role of exotic non-axial (triaxial) deformations in the unstable refractory Ru-Mo isotopes, additional beta-decay data was obtained. These measurements make use of ANL’s CARIBU facility, which provides intense beams of radioactive refractory isotopes along with the excellent efficiency and angular resolution of the GRETINA γ-ray tracking array. In this article, we report on the analysis of the A = 110 decay chain, focussing on the identification of previously unreported states in 110 Ru following the decay of 110 Tc.

yy A Coulomb-excitation measurement to study low-energy electromagnetic properties of Sc-45 has been performed at the IUAC facility in New Delhi, India using a 70 MeV S-32 projectile from the 15UD tandem accelerator. The preliminary value of the reduced transition probability B(E2; 11/2(-) -> 7/2(-)) and the resulting lifetime for the 11/2(-) state at 1237 keV were determined using the GOSIA code.

Low-lying states in the isotope Xe-130 were populated in a Coulomb-excitation experiment performed at CERN's HIE-ISOLDE facility. The magnitudes and relative signs of seven E2 matrix elements and one M1 matrix element coupling five low-lying states in Xe-130 were determined using the semiclassical coupled-channel Coulomb-excitation least-squares search code GOSIA. The diagonal E2 matrix elements of both the 2(1)(+) and 4(1)(+) states were extracted for the first time. The reduced transition strengths are in line with those obtained from previous measurements. Experimental results were compared with the general Bohr Hamiltonian with the microscopic input from mean-field theory utilizing universal nuclear energy density functional (UNEDF0), shell-model calculations using the GCN50:82 and SN100PN interactions, and simple phenomenological models (Davydov-Filippov and gamma-soft). The extracted shape parameters indicate triaxial-prolate deformation in the ground-state band. In general, good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental values was found, while neither phenomenological model was found to provide an adequate description of Xe-130.

© Authors, 2020 Published version Morrison, L.; Hadyńska-Klȩk, K.; Podolyák, Zs.; Doherty, D. T.; Gaffney, L. P.; Kaya, L.; Próchniak, L.; Samorajczyk-Pyśk, J.; Srebrny, J.; Berry, T.; Boukhari, A.; Brunet, M.; Canavan, R.; Catherall, R.; Colosimo, S. J.; Cubiss, J. G.; De Witte, H.; Fransen, Ch.; Giannopoulos, E.; Hess, H.; Kröll, T.; Lalović, N.; Marsh, B.; Palenzuela, Y. Martinez; Napiorkowski, P. J.; O'Neill, G.; Pakarinen, Janne; Ramos, J. P.; Reiter, P.; Rodriguez, J. A.; Rosiak, D.; Rothe, S.; Rudigier, M.; Siciliano, M.; Snäll, J.; Spagnoletti, P.; Thiel, S.; Warr, N.; Wenander, F.; Zidarova, R.; Zielińska, M.

The neutron-deficient mercury isotopes serve as a classical example of shape coexistence, whereby at low energy near-degenerate nuclear states characterized by different shapes appear. The electromagnetic structure of even-mass 182-188 Hg isotopes was studied using safe-energy Coulomb excitation of neutron-deficient mercury beams delivered by the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The population of $ 0^{+}_{1,2}$, $ 2^{+}_{1,2}$ and $ 4^{+}_{1}$ states was observed in all nuclei under study. Reduced E2 matrix elements coupling populated yrast and non-yrast states were extracted, including their relative signs. These are a sensitive probe of shape coexistence and may be used to validate nuclear models. The experimental results are discussed in terms of mixing of two different configurations and are compared with three different model calculations: the Beyond Mean Field model, the Interacting Boson Model with configuration mixing and the General Bohr Hamiltonian. Partial agreement with experiment was observed, hinting to missing ingredients in the theoretical descriptions.