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Potassium-40 is a widespread, naturally-occurring isotope whose radioactivity impacts subatomic rare-event searches, nuclear structure theory, and estimated geological ages. A predicted electron-capture decay directly to the ground state of argon-40 has never been observed. The KDK (potassium decay) collaboration reports the first, successful observation of this rare decay mode. A blinded analysis reveals a non-zero ratio of intensities of ground-state electron-captures ($I_{\text{EC}^0}$) over excited-state ones ($I_\text{EC*}$) of $ I_{\text{EC}^0} / I_\text{EC*} = 0.0095 \stackrel{\text{stat}}{\pm} 0.0022 \stackrel{\text{sys}}{\pm} 0.0010 $ (68% CL), with the null hypothesis rejected at 4$\sigma$. In terms of branching ratio, this signal yields $I_{\text{EC}^0} = 0.098\% \stackrel{\text{stat}}{\pm} 0.023\% \stackrel{\text{sys}}{\pm} 0.010\% $, roughly half of the commonly used prediction, with consequences for various fields., Comment: This is a companion submission to Hariasz et al (KDK collaboration) "First observation of the ground-state electron-capture of ${}^{40}$K". As such, both texts share some figures and portions of text. New version contains an update to Fig. 1 (results unaffected), and cross-references the companion arXiv submission in the text

Potassium-40 is a naturally-occurring isotope whose radioactivity impacts estimated geological ages spanning billions of years, nuclear structure theory, and subatomic rare-event searches -- including those for dark matter and neutrinoless double-beta decay. The decays of this long-lived isotope must be precisely known for its use as a geochronometer, and to account for its presence in low-background experiments. There are several known decay modes for potassium-40, but a predicted electron-capture decay directly to the ground state of argon-40 has never been observed. Though this decay impacts several fields, theoretical predictions span an order of magnitude. The KDK (potassium decay) collaboration reports on the first observation of this rare decay mode, using a novel combination of a low-threshold X-ray detector surrounded by a tonne-scale, high-efficiency $\gamma$-ray tagger at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A blinded analysis reveals a distinctly non-zero ratio of intensities of ground-state electron-captures ($I_{\text{EC}^0}$) over excited-state ones ($I_{\text{EC}^*}$) of $I_{\text{EC}^0} / I_{\text{EC}^*} = 0.0095 \stackrel{\text{stat}}{\pm} 0.0022 \stackrel{\text{sys}}{\pm} 0.0010 $ (68% CL), with the null hypothesis rejected at 4$\sigma$. In terms of branching ratio, this unambiguous signal yields $ I_{\text{EC}^0} = 0.098 \% \stackrel{\text{stat}}{\pm}0.023\% \stackrel{\text{sys}}{\pm} 0.010 $, roughly half of the commonly used prediction. This first observation of a third-forbidden unique electron capture improves our understanding of low-energy backgrounds in dark-matter searches and has implications for nuclear-structure calculations. For example, a shell-model based theoretical estimate for the neutrinoless double-beta decay half-life of calcium-48 is increased by a factor of $7^{+3}_{-2}$. Implications are illustrated for Earth and solar system chronologies., Comment: This is a companion submission to Stukel et al (KDK collaboration) "Rare ${}^{40}$K decay with implications for fundamental physics and geochronology". As such, both texts share some figures and portions of text. This version cross-references the companion arXiv submission in the text

The heaviest currently known nuclei, which have up to 118 protons, have been produced in Ca48 induced reactions with actinide targets. Among them, the element tennessine (Ts), which has 117 protons, has been synthesized by fusing Ca48 with the radioactive target Bk249, which has a half-life of 327 d. The experiment was performed at the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA. Two long and two short α decay chains were observed. The long chains were attributed to the decay of Ts294. The possible origin of the short-decay chains is discussed in comparison with the known experimental data. They are found to fit with the decay chain patterns attributed to Ts293. The present experimental results confirm the previous findings at the Dubna Gas-Filled Recoil Separator on the decay chains originating from the nuclei assigned to Ts.

© 2018 American Physical Society. Short-lived α-decaying nuclei "northeast" of Pb208 in the chart of nuclides were studied using the reaction Ca48+Am243 with the decay station TASISpec at TASCA, GSI Darmstadt. Decay energies and times from pile-up events were extracted with a tailor-made pulse-shape analysis routine and specific α-decay chains were identified in a correlation analysis. Decay chains starting with the even-even Ra220 and its odd-A neighbors, Fr219, and Ra221,219, with a focus on the Ra219→Rn215 decay, were studied by means of α-γ spectroscopy. A revised α-decay scheme of Ra219 is proposed, including a new decay branch from a previously not considered isomeric state at 17 keV excitation energy. Conclusions on nuclear structure are drawn from the experimental data, aided by Geant4 simulations and a discussion on theoretical calculations.

7 pags., 6 figs., 2 tabs., The β decay of Zn57 and Zn58 was investigated in an experiment at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory of Michigan State University. For the first time β-delayed proton emission from Zn58 was observed with a branching ratio of 0.7(1)%. The proton-energy spectrum allowed for probing the Gamow-Teller strength distribution above the proton-separation energy in the daughter nucleus. Moreover, the absolute branching ration for delayed-proton emission from Zn57 was found to be compatible with 100%., Operation of the NSCL was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant PHY-1102511. This work was supported by the National Science Center, Poland, under Contract No. UMO-2015/17/B/ST2/00581, by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under US DOE Grants No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 (ORNL) and No. DE-FG02-96ER40983 (UTK), by the fund source National Nuclear Security Administration Grant No. DEFC03- 03NA00143, and under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliance program through DOE Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FG52-08NA28552 (UTK). A.A.C. acknowledges support by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education through Grant No. 0079/DIA/2014/43 (”Grant Diamentowy”). H.S. acknowledges support by the US National Science Foundation under awards PHY-1430152 (JINA Center for the Evolution of the Elements) and PHY-1102511. P.S. acknowledges support from MCIU/AEI/FEDER_UE (Spain) under Grant No. PGC2018-093636-B-I00.

A search for superallowed α decay of N=Z nuclei Te104 and Xe108 was carried out using a novel recoil-decay scintillator detector at the tandem accelerator facility at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Inorganic crystal scintillation material YAP:Ce (yttrium aluminum perovskite) coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT) was implemented for the first time in a radioactive decay experiment. Residues from the fusion-evaporation reaction Ni58+Fe54→Xe∗112 were separated by the JAEA Recoil Mass Separator (RMS) and implanted into the YAP:Ce crystal. α decays of neutron-deficient tellurium isotopes were identified and proton emission of I109 was observed. The α-decay chain Xe109→Te105→Sn101 was recorded with a time interval of 960 ns between two α pulses. Position localization in the crystal for decays and ions in the energy range from hundreds of keV to 60 MeV was achieved with an accuracy of 0.67 mm, proving that this detector is capable of making temporal and spatial correlations for fast decay events. No conclusive evidence was found for the decay chain Xe108→Te104→Sn100 within 3 days of experiment. However, two events were observed with properties consistent with the reported observation at the Fragment Mass Analyzer (FMA), but with a separation between signals of less than 4 ns. The cross section limit of 130 pb was obtained for production of two events of Xe108, about an order of magnitude below the expectation based on earlier cross section measurements and the hivap fusion-evaporation code.

β-delayed one-neutron and two-neutron branching ratios (P1n and P2n) have been measured in the decay of A=84 to 87 Ga isotopes at the Radioactive-Isotope Beam Factory (RIBF) at the RIKEN Nishina Center using a high-efficiency array of He3 neutron counters (BRIKEN). Two-neutron emission was observed in the decay of Ga84,85,87 for the first time and the branching ratios were measured to be P2n=1.6(2)%,1.3(2)%, and 10.2(28)stat(5)sys%, respectively. One-neutron branching ratio of Ga87(P1n=81(9)stat(8)sys%) and half-life of 29(4) ms were measured for the first time. The branching ratios of Ga86 were also measured to be P1n=74(2)stat(8)sys% and 16.2(9)stat(6)sys% with better precision than a previous study. The observation that P1n>P2n for both Ga86,87 was unexpected and is interpreted as a signature of dominating one-neutron emission from the two-neutron unbound excited states in Ge86,87. In order to interpret the experimental results, shell-model and Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations of delayed particle and γ-ray emission probabilities were performed. This model framework reproduces the experimental results. The shell model alone predicts P2n significantly larger than P1n for the Ga87 decay, and it is necessary to invoke a statistical description to successfully explain the observation that P1n>P2n. Our new results demonstrate the relevance and importance of a statistical description of neutron emission for the prediction of the decay properties of multineutron emitters and that it must be included in the r-process modeling.

We report on the observation of a microsecond isomeric state in the single-proton-hole, three-neutron-particle nucleus ¹³⁴In. The nuclei of interest were produced by in-flight fission of a ²³⁸U beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. The isomer depopulates through a γ ray of energy 56.7(1) keV and with a half-life of T1/2=3.5(4)μs. Based on the comparison with shell-model calculations, we interpret the isomer as the Iπ=5− member of the π0g−19/2⊗ν1f37/2 multiplet, decaying to the Iπ=7− ground state with a reduced-transition probability of B(E2;5−→7−)=0.53(6)W.u.Observation of this isomer, and lack of evidence in the current work for a Iπ=5− isomer decay in ¹³²In, provides a benchmark of the proton-neutron interaction in the region of the nuclear chart “southeast” of ¹³²Sn, where experimental information on excited states is sparse.

We have performed an experiment to synthesize the element 117 (Ts) with the $^{48}$Ca+$^{249}$Bk fusion reaction. Four $\alpha$-decay chains attributed to the element 117 were observed. Two of them were long decay chains which can be assigned to the one originating from the $\alpha$ decay of $^{294}$Ts. The other two were short decay chains which are consistent with the one originating from the $\alpha$ decay of $^{293}$Ts. We have compared the present results with the literature data, and found that our present results mostly confirmed the literature data, leading to the firm confirmation of the synthesis of the element 117., $^{48}$Ca+$^{249}$B融合反応を用いて117番元素(Ts)合成実験を行い、117番元素に起因すると思われる4つの$\alpha$崩壊連鎖を観測した。うち2つは長い崩壊連鎖で、$^{294}$Tsの$\alpha$崩壊に起因するものと同定された。他の2つは短い崩壊連鎖で、$^{293}$Tsの$\alpha$崩壊に起因すると考えると矛盾しない。今回の結果と過去の文献値を比較したところ、今回の我々の結果は過去の文献値をほぼ再現し、117番元素合成の事実を強く再確認する結果となった。

A newly developed segmented YSO scintillator detector was implemented for the first time at the RI-beam Factory at RIKEN Nishina Center as an implantation-decay counter. The results from the experiment demonstrate that the detector is a viable alternative to conventional silicon-strip detectors with its good timing resolution and high detection efficiency for ${\rm ��}$ particles. A Position-Sensitive Photo-Multiplier Tube (PSPMT) is coupled with a $48\times48$ segmented YSO crystal. To demonstrate its capabilities, a known short-lived isomer in $^{76}$Ni and the ${\rm ��}$ decay of $^{74}$Co were measured by implanting those ions into the YSO detector. The half-lives and ${\rm ��}$-rays observed in this work are consistent with the known values. The ${\rm ��}$-ray detection efficiency is more than 80~\% for the decay of $^{74}$Co., 17 pages, 6 figures, accepted to NIMA on May 7, 2019

Short-lived α-decaying nuclei "northeast" of 208Pb in the chart of nuclides were studied using the reaction 48Ca+243Am with the decay station TASISpec at TASCA, GSI Darmstadt. Decay energies and times from pile-up events were extracted with a tailor-made pulse-shape analysis routine and specific α-decay chains were identified in a correlation analysis. Decay chains starting with the even-even 220Ra and its odd-A neighbors, 219Fr, and 219,221Ra, with a focus on the 219Ra→215Rn decay, were studied by means of α-γ spectroscopy. A revised α-decay scheme of 219Ra is proposed, including a new decay branch from a previously not considered isomeric state at 17 keV excitation energy. Conclusions on nuclear structure are drawn from the experimental data, aided by Geant4 simulations and a discussion on theoretical calculations.

Short-lived α-decaying nuclei "northeast" of Pb208 in the chart of nuclides were studied using the reaction Ca48+Am243 with the decay station TASISpec at TASCA, GSI Darmstadt. Decay energies and times from pile-up events were extracted with a tailor-made pulse-shape analysis routine and specific α-decay chains were identified in a correlation analysis. Decay chains starting with the even-even Ra220 and its odd-A neighbors, Fr219, and Ra221,219, with a focus on the Ra219→Rn215 decay, were studied by means of α-γ spectroscopy. A revised α-decay scheme of Ra219 is proposed, including a new decay branch from a previously not considered isomeric state at 17 keV excitation energy. Conclusions on nuclear structure are drawn from the experimental data, aided by Geant4 simulations and a discussion on theoretical calculations.

Many choices are available in order to evaluate large radioactive decay networks. %multi-particle decay data. There are many parameters that influence the calculated $��$-decay delayed single and multi-neutron emission branching fractions. We describe assumptions about the decay model, background, and other parameters and their influence on $��$-decay delayed multi-neutron emission analysis. An analysis technique, the ORNL BRIKEN analysis procedure, for determining $��$-delayed multi-neutron branching ratios in $��$-neutron precursors produced by means of heavy-ion fragmentation is presented. The technique is based on estimating the initial activities of zero, one, and two neutrons occurring in coincidence with an ion-implant and $��$ trigger. The technique allows one to extract $��$-delayed multi-neutron decay branching ratios measured with the hybrid \textsuperscript{3}He BRIKEN neutron counter. As an example, two analyses of the $��$-neutron emitter \textsuperscript{77}Cu based on different {\it a priori} assumptions are presented along with comparisons to literature values., 21 pages, 10 figures

Potassium-40 (${}^{40}$K) is a background in many rare-event searches and may well play a role in interpreting results from the DAMA dark-matter search. The electron-capture decay of ${}^{40}$K to the ground state of ${}^{40}$Ar has never been measured and contributes an unknown amount of background. The KDK (potassium decay) collaboration will measure this branching ratio using a ${}^{40}$K source, an X-ray detector, and the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory., TAUP 2017 - XV International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics

Products of the fusion-evaporation reaction 48Ca + 243Am were studied with the TASISpec set-up at the gas-filled separator TASCA at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany. Amongst the detected thirty correlated α-decay chains associated with the production of element Z=115, two recoil-α-fission and five recoil-α-α-fission events were observed. The latter five chains are similar to four such events reported from experiments performed at the Dubna gas-filled separator, and three such events reported from an experiment at the Berkeley gas-filled separator. The four chains observed at the Dubna gas-filled separator were assigned to start from the 2n-evaporation channel 289115 due to the fact that these recoil-α-α-fission events were observed only at low excitation energies. Contrary to this interpretation, we suggest that some of these recoil-α-α-fission decay chains, as well as some of the recoil-α-α-fission and recoil-α-fission decay chains reported from Berkeley and in this article, start from the 3n-evaporation channel 288115.

Products of the fusion-evaporation reaction Ca-48 + Am-243 were studied with the TASISpec set-up at the gas-filled separator TASCA at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum f\"ur Schwerionenforschung. Amongst the detected thirty correlated alpha-decay chains associated with the production of element Z=115, two recoil-alpha-fission and five recoil-alpha-alpha-fission events were observed. The latter are similar to four such events reported from experiments performed at the Dubna gas-filled separator. Contrary to their interpretation, we propose an alternative view, namely to assign eight of these eleven decay chains of recoil-alpha(-alpha)-fission type to start from the 3n-evaporation channel 115-288. The other three decay chains remain viable candidates for the 2n-evaporation channel 115-289., Comment: 15 pages. Article: 9 pages, 3 tables, 3 figures. Supplemental material: 6 pages, 7 tables, 1 figure. Submitted to PRC

© 2016 Elsevier B.V. Products of the fusion-evaporation reaction48Ca +243Am were studied with the TASISpec set-up at the gas-filled separator TASCA at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany. Amongst the detected thirty correlated α-decay chains associated with the production of element Z=115, two recoil-α-fission and five recoil-α-α-fission events were observed. The latter five chains are similar to four such events reported from experiments performed at the Dubna gas-filled separator, and three such events reported from an experiment at the Berkeley gas-filled separator. The four chains observed at the Dubna gas-filled separator were assigned to start from the 2n-evaporation channel289115 due to the fact that these recoil-α-α-fission events were observed only at low excitation energies. Contrary to this interpretation, we suggest that some of these recoil-α-α-fission decay chains, as well as some of the recoil-α-α-fission and recoil-α-fission decay chains reported from Berkeley and in this article, start from the 3n-evaporation channel288115.

X-ray bursts have been suggested as a possible site for the astrophysical rp-process. The time scale for the process is governed by β-decay half-lives of several even-even N = Z waiting point nuclei, in particular, N = Z = 40 80Zr. A 4.1(+0.8-0.6)-s β+/EC half-life for 80Zr was determined by observing delayed 84-keV γ rays depopulating a T1/2 = 4-μs isomer at 312 keV in the daughter 80Y. As this half-life is lower than many previously predicted values, the calculated excessive production of A = 80 nuclides in astrophysical x-ray burst scenarios is reduced, and less extreme conditions are necessary for the production of heavier nuclides.

The superheavy element with atomic number Z=117 was produced as an evaporation residue in the (48)Ca+(249)Bk fusion reaction at the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA at GSI Darmstadt, Germany. The radioactive decay of evaporation residues and their α-decay products was studied using a detection setup that allowed measuring decays of single atomic nuclei with half-lives between sub-μs and a few days. Two decay chains comprising seven α decays and a spontaneous fission each were identified and are assigned to the isotope (294)117 and its decay products. A hitherto unknown α-decay branch in (270)Db (Z = 105) was observed, which populated the new isotope (266)Lr (Z = 103). The identification of the long-lived (T(1/2) = 1.0(-0.4)(+1.9) h) α-emitter (270)Db marks an important step towards the observation of even more long-lived nuclei of superheavy elements located on an "island of stability."

13 págs.; 11 figs. ; 1 tab., The rare-earth region of the nuclear table around the quasi-doubly magic nucleus Gd146 is one of the very few places in which the Gamow-Teller (GT) resonance can be populated in β decay. The appropriate technique to study such a phenomenon is total absorption spectroscopy, thanks to which one can measure the B(GT) distribution in β-decay experiments even when it is very fragmented and lies at high excitation energy in the daughter nucleus. Results on the GT resonance measured in the β decay of the odd-Z, N=83 nuclei Tb148, Ho150, and Tm152 are presented in this work and compared with shell-model calculations. The tail of the resonance is clearly observed up to the limit imposed by the Q value. This observation is important in the context of the understanding of the >quenching> of the GT strength. ©2016 American Physical Society, The authors would like to thank the GSI accelerator crew and the MSEP group for their support. This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry (Grants No. FPA2005-03993, No. FPA200806419-C02-01, No. FPA2011- 24553, No. FPA2012-32443, No. FPA2014-57196-C5, and No. FPA2014-52823-C2-1-P) and the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2014/019).

The reaction 54Cr + 248Cm was investigated at the velocity filter SHIP at GSI, Darmstadt, with the intention to study production and decay properties of isotopes of element 120. Three correlated signals were measured, which occurred within a period of 279 ms. The heights of the signals correspond with the expectations for a decay sequence starting with an isotope of element 120. However, a complete decay chain cannot be established, since a signal from the implantation of the evaporation residue cannot be identified unambiguously. Measured properties of the event chain are discussed in detail. The result is compared with theoretical predictions. Previously measured decay properties of even element super-heavy nuclei were compiled in order to find arguments for an assignment from the systematics of experimental data. In the course of this review, a few tentatively assigned data could be corrected. New interpretations are given for results which could not be assigned definitely in previous studies. The discussion revealed that the cross-section for production of element 120 could be high enough so that a successful Experiment seems possible with presently available techniques. However, a continuation of the experiment at SHIP for a necessary confirmation of the results obtained in a relatively short irradiation of five weeks is not possible at GSI presently. Therefore, we decided to publish the results of the measurement and of the review as they exist now. In the summary and outlook section we also present concepts for the continuation of Research in the field of super-heavy nuclei.

GSI Scientific Report 2014 - GSI Report 2015-1

Near shell closures, the presence of unexpected states at low energies provides a critical test of our understanding of the atomic nucleus. New measurements for the N=42 isotones Co2769 and Cu2971, along with recent data and calculations in the Ni isotopes, establish a full set of complementary, deformed, intruder states astride the closed-shell Ni28 isotopes. Nuclei with a one-proton hole or one-proton particle adjacent to Z=28 were populated in β-decay experiments and in multinucleon transfer reactions. A β-decaying isomer, with a 750(250)-ms half-life, has been identified in Co422769. It likely has low spin and accompanies the previously established 7/2- state. Complementary data for the levels of isotonic Cu422971 support the presence of a deformed, ΔJ=1 band built on the proton intruder 7/2- level at 981 keV. These data, together with recent studies of lower-mass Co and Cu isotopes and extensive work near Ni68, support the view that intruder states based on particle-hole excitations accompany all closed proton shells with Z≥28.

GSI Scientific Report 2014 - GSI Report 2015-1

Water droplets condensing on solidified phase change materials such as benzene and cyclohexane near their melting point show in-plane jumping and continuous ``crawling'' motion. The jumping drop motion has been tentatively explained as an outcome of melting and refreezing of the materials surface beneath the droplets and can be thus considered as an inverted Leidenfrost-like effect (in the classical case vapor is generated from a droplet on a hot substrate). We present here a detailed investigation of jumping movements using high-speed imaging and static crosssectional cryogenic focused ion beam scanning electron microscope imaging. Our results show that drop motion is induced by a thermocapillary (Marangoni) effect. The in-plane jumping motion can be delineated to occur in two stages. The first stage occurs on a millisecond time scale and comprises melting the substrate due to drop condensation. This results in droplet depinning, partial spreading, and thermocapillary movement until freezing of the cyclohexane film. The second stage occurs on a second time scale and comprises relaxation motion of the drop contact line (change in drop contact radius and contact angle) after substrate freezing. When the cyclohexane film cannot freeze, the droplet continuously glides on the surface, resulting in the crawling motion.

The absolute masses of four long-lived transuranium nuclides, 241,243Am, 244Pu, and 249Cf, in the vicinity of the deformed N=152 neutron shell closure have been measured directly with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer TRIGA-TRAP. Our measurements confirm the AME2012 mass values of 241,243Am and 244Pu within one standard deviation, which were indirectly determined, by decay spectroscopy studies. In the case of the249Cf mass, a discrepancy of more than three standard deviations has been observed, affecting absolute masses even in the superheavy element region. The implementation of the mass values into the AME2012 network yields a reduced mass uncertainty for 84 nuclides, particularly for 244Pu and its strongly correlated α decay chains.

The absolute masses of four long-lived transuranium nuclides, Am-241,Am-243, Pu-244, and Cf-249, in the vicinity of the deformed N = 152 neutron shell closure have been measured directly with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer TRIGA-TRAP. Our measurements confirm the AME2012 mass values of 241,243Am and 244Pu within one standard deviation, which were indirectly determined, by decay spectroscopy studies. In the case of the Cf-249 mass, a discrepancy of more than three standard deviations has been observed, affecting absolute masses even in the superheavy element region. The implementation of the mass values into the AME2012 network yields a reduced mass uncertainty for 84 nuclides, particularly for Pu-244 and its strongly correlated a decay chains.

GSI Scientific Report 2013 - GSI Report 2014-1

The superheavy element with atomic number Z=117 was produced as an evaporation residue in the (48)Ca+(249)Bk fusion reaction at the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA at GSI Darmstadt, Germany. The radioactive decay of evaporation residues and their α-decay products was studied using a detection setup that allowed measuring decays of single atomic nuclei with half-lives between sub-μs and a few days. Two decay chains comprising seven α decays and a spontaneous fission each were identified and are assigned to the isotope (294)117 and its decay products. A hitherto unknown α-decay branch in (270)Db (Z = 105) was observed, which populated the new isotope (266)Lr (Z = 103). The identification of the long-lived (T(1/2) = 1.0(-0.4)(+1.9) h) α-emitter (270)Db marks an important step towards the observation of even more long-lived nuclei of superheavy elements located on an "island of stability."

Results of decay spectroscopy on nuclei in vicinity of the doubly magic 48Ni are presented. The measurements were performed with a Time Projection Chamber with optical readout which records tracks of ions and protons in the gaseous volume. Six decays of 48Ni including four events of two-proton ground-state radioactivity were recorded. An advanced reconstruction procedure yielded the 2p decay energy for 48Ni of Q2p = 1.29(4) MeV. In addition, the energy spectra of \b{eta}-delayed protons emitted in the decays of 44Cr and 46Fe, as well as half-lives and branching ratios were determined. The results were found to be consistent with the previous measurements made with Si detectors. A new proton line in the decay of 44Cr corresponding to the decay energy of 760 keV is reported. The first evidence for the \b{eta}2p decay of 46 Fe, based on one clear event, is shown., Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

GSI Scientific Report 2013 - GSI Report 2014-1

Background: The nuclei in the region around 68Ni display an apparent rapid development of collectivity as protons are removed from the f7/2 single-particle state along the N = 40 isotonic chain. Proton and neutron excitations across the Z = 28 and N = 40 gaps are observed in odd-A 27Co and 26Fe isotopes. Little spectroscopic information beyond the excited 2+ and 4+ is available in the even-even (66,68)26Fe nuclei to compare with shell model calculations. Purpose: Our goal is to determine the low-energy level schemes of 66,68Fe and compare the observed excitations with shell model calculations to identify states wherein a contribution from excitations across Z = 28 and N = 40 are present. Method: The low-energy states of 66,68Fe were populated through the beta decay of 66,68Mn produced at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. Beta-delayed gamma-ray transitions were detected and correlated to the respective parent isotope to construct a low-energy level scheme. Results: The low-energy level schemes of 66,68Fe were constructed from observed gamma-ray coincidences and absolute gamma-ray intensities. Tentative spin and parity assignments were assigned based on comparisons with shell model calculations and systematics. The two lowest 0+ and 2+ states were characterized in terms of the number of protons and neutrons excited across the respective shell gaps. Conclusion: The removal of two protons from 68Ni to 66Fe results in an inversion of the normal configuration and the one characterized by significant excitation across the Z = 28 and N = 40 gaps. Approximately, one proton and two neutrons are excited across their respective single-particle gaps in the ground state of 66Fe ispartof: Physical Review C, Nuclear Physics vol:87 issue:1 status: published

The low-energy level structures for the neutron-rich Co isotopes at N = 39 and N = 41 are constructed following the beta decay of the respective even-even Fe isotopes. Spin and parity assignments of the lowest energy populated state in 66Co and 68Co are consistent with a 1+ spin and parity assignment and attributed to the coupling of the deformed proton configurations identified in 67Co and deformed neutron configurations inferred from neighboring Fe isotones. Comparisons along the N = 39 and N = 41 isotonic chains reveal a similarity in the structures of the Co and Mn isotopes. ispartof: Physical Review C, Nuclear Physics vol:85 issue:1 pages:014328- status: published

Low-energy excited states in 71,73Ni populated via the {\beta} decay of 71,73Co were investigated in an experiment performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University (MSU). Detailed analysis led to the construction of level schemes of 71,73Ni, which are interpreted using systematics and analyzed using shell model calculations. The 5/2- states attributed to the the f5/2 orbital and positive parity 5/2+ and 7/2+ states from the g9/2 orbital have been identified in both 71,73Ni. In 71Ni the location of a 1/2- {\beta}-decaying isomer is proposed and limits are suggested as to the location of the isomer in 73Ni. The location of positive parity cluster states are also identified in 71,73Ni. Beta-delayed neutron branching ratios obtained from this data are given for both 71,73Co., Comment: Accepted for publication in PRC

Expérience GANIL E243b (décembre 2003), spectromètre LISE2000; A decay spectroscopic study of the neutron-rich isotopes, has been performed using fragmentation of a 86Kr primary beam. Fragments from this reaction have been selected by the LISE2000 spectrometer at the Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL). Half-lives of 29 isotopes, including the first ones identified for 61Ti (15 ± 4 ms), 64V (19 ± 8 ms), and 71Fe (28 ± 5 ms), have been determined and compared with model predictions. 67,68Mn $\beta$ -delayed $\gamma$-rays were observed for the first time. The branching for the $\beta$ -delayed neutron emission was measured to be greater than 10(5)% in the 67Mn decay. The 67Fe isomeric level is firmly determined at higher energy than assigned in previous works. The excitation energies of the first (2+) and (4+) states of 68Fe are suggested to lie at 522(1)- and 1389(1)-keV, respectively, thus bringing confirmation of assignments based on in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy. Beyond mean-field calculations with the Gogny D1S force have been performed for even-mass nuclei through the Fe isotopic chain. Not only 68Fe but most of the neutron-rich Fe isotopes with neutron numbers below N = 50 are interpreted as soft rotors. The calculated mean occupancy of the neutron g9/2 and d5/2 orbitals in correlated ground states are steadily growing with increasing neutron number throughout the isotopic chain. Interpretation of 67Fe data is based upon present calculations for the 66Fe and 68Fe even cores.

The beta+ decay of very neutron deficient 43Cr has been studied by means of an imaging time projection chamber which allowed recording tracks of charged particles. Events of beta-delayed emission of one-, two-, and three protons were clearly identified. The absolute branching ratios for these channels were determined to be 81(4)%, 7.1(4)%, and 0.08(3)%, respectively. The 43Cr is thus established as the second case in which the beta-3p decay occurs. Although the feeding to the proton-bound states in 43V is expected to be negligible, the large branching ratio of 12(4)% for decays without proton emission is found., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

The decay of the very neutron-deficient isotope 101 Sn was studied at the GSI on-line massseparator using silicon detectors for recording charged particles and germanium detectors for gamma-ray spectroscopy. Based on the beta-delayed proton data the production cross-section of 101 Sn in the 50 Cr+58 Ni fusion-evaporation reaction was determined to be about 60 nb. The half-life of 101 Sn was measured to be 1.9±0.3 s. For the first time beta-delayed gamma rays of 101 Sn were tentatively identified, yielding weak evidence for a cascade of 352 and 1065 keV transitions in 101 In. The results are discussed by comparing them to predictions obtained from shell-model calculations employing a new interaction in the 88Sr to 132Sn model space.

The beta decays of Sn-102 and Sn-104 were studied by using high-resolution germanium detectors as well as a Total Absorption Spectrometer (TAS). For Sn-104, with three new beta-delayed gamma-rays identified, the total Gamow-Teller strength (B-GT) value of 2.7(3) was obtained. For Sn-102, the gamma-gamma coincidence data were collected for the first time, allowing us to considerably extend the decay scheme. This scheme was used to unfold the TAS data and to deduce a B-GT value of 4.2(8) for this decay. This result is compared to shell model predictions, yielding a hindrance factor of 3.6(7) in agreement with those obtained previously for Cd-98 and In-100. Together with the latter two, Sn-102 completes the triplet of Z = 50 nuclei with two proton holes, one proton hole and one neutron particle, and two neutron particles with respect to the doubly magic Sn-100 core.