Pb Targets Research Articles

8B + 208Pb Elastic Scattering at Coulomb Barrier Energies

The scattering process of weakly-bound nuclei at Coulomb barrier energies provides deep insights on the reaction dynamics induced by exotic nuclei. Within this framework, we measured for the first time the scattering process of the short-lived Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) 8B (Sp = 0.1375 MeV) from a 208Pb target at 50 MeV beam energy. The 8B RIB was produced by means of the in-flight facility CRIB (RIKEN, Japan) with an average intensity on target of 10 kHz and a purity about 25%. Elastically scattering ions were detected in the angular range θc.m. = 10°-160° by means of the detector array EXPADES. A preliminary optical model analysis indicates a total reaction cross section of about 1 b, a value, once reduced, 2-3 times larger than those obtained for the reactions induced by the stable weakly-bound projectiles 6,7Li on a 208Pb target in the energy range around the Coulomb barrier.

Elastic scattering and breakup reactions with light proton- and neutron-rich exotic nuclei

A microscopic analysis of the optical potentials (OPs) and cross sections of elastic scattering of 8B on 12C, 58Ni, and 208Pb targets at energies 20 < E < 170 MeV and 12,14Be on 12C at 56 MeV/nucleon is carried out. The real part of the OP is calculated by a folding procedure and the imaginary part is obtained on the base of the high-energy approximation (HEA). The density distributions of 8B evaluated within the variational Monte Carlo (VMC) model and the three-cluster model (3CM) are used to construct the potentials. The 14Be densities obtained in the framework of the the generator coordinate method (GCM) are used to calculate the optical potentials, while for the same purpose both the VMC model and GCM densities of 12Be are used. In the hybrid model developed and explored in our previous works, the only free parameters are the depths of the real and imaginary parts of OP obtained by fitting the experimental data. The use of HEA to estimate the imaginary OP at energies just above the Coulomb barrier is discussed. In addition, cluster model, in which 8B consists of a p-halo and the 7Be core, is applied to calculate the breakup cross sections of 8B nucleus on 9Be, 12C, and 197Au targets, as well as momentum distributions of 7Be fragments. A good agreement of the theoretical results with the available experimental data is obtained. It is concluded that the reaction studies performed in this work may provide supplemental information on the internal spatial structure of the proton- and neutron-halo nuclei.

Search for Isovector Valence-Shell Excitations in 140Nd and 142Sm via Coulomb excitation reactions of radioactive ion beams

Projectile Coulomb excitation experiments were performed at HIE-ISOLDE at CERN with the radioactive ion beams of 140Nd and 142Sm. Ions with an energy of 4:62 MeV/A were impinging on a 1.45 mg/cm2 thick 208Pb target. The γ-rays depopulating the Coulomb-excited states were recorded by the HPGe-array MINIBALL and scattered particles were detected by a double-sided silicon strip detector. Experimental intensities were used for the determination of electromagnetic transition matrix elements. A preliminary result of the B(M1; 2+3 → 2+1) of 140Nd and an upper limit for the case of 142Sm are revealing the main fragments of the proton-neutron mixed-symmetry 2+1;ms states.

Quasi-elastic neutrino reactions on carbon and lead nuclei

We examine neutral-current quasi-elastic neutrino–nucleus reactions on 12C and 208Pb targets. We use the relativistic mean field theory approach to describe the nuclear dynamics. We compute the cross sections for the scattering of 150, 500 and 1000 MeV neutrinos on a 12C target and study the effect of the strange-quark content of the nucleon which appears in these reactions via the isoscalar weak current. We compare our results with the data of the MiniBooNE experiment for mineral oil (CH2). We also calculate the cross section for the quasi-elastic neutron knockout reaction of 20–60 MeV neutrinos on a 208Pb target which is relevant to plans to use lead as a target material in future supernova neutrino detectors.

Spallation Yield of Neutrons Produced in Thick Lead Target by 400MeV/u Carbon Ions**Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 11575267, 11775284, 11575289 and 11605258.

Measurement of the neutron yield is performed at a primary energy of 400MeV/u carbons for the Pb target. Water-bath activation-foil method is used in a moderation measurement with Au foils to detect the moderated neutrons. The neutron yield is determined to be 18.4±2.1 per carbon by integrating the neutron flux over the entire water volume. The corresponding simulation values are performed by Geant4 code with three models to compare with the experimental results. The comparison shows that the calculated result with the INCL model is in good agreement with the experimental data.

Recent progress in nuclear data measurement for ADS at IMP

Recent progress in nuclear data measurement for ADS at Institute of Modern Physics is reviewed briefly. Based on the cooler storage ring of the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou, nuclear data terminal was established. The nuclear data measurement facility for the ADS spallation target has been constructed, which provides a very important platform for the experimental measurements of spallation reactions. A number of experiments have been conducted in the nuclear data terminal. A Neutron Time-of-Flight (NTOF) spectrometer was developed for the study of neutron production from spallation reactions related to the ADS project. The experiments of 400 MeV/u 16O bombarded on a tungsten target were presented using a NTOF spectrometer. Neutron yields for 250 MeV protons incident on a thick grain-made tungsten target and a thick solid lead target have been measured using the water-bath neutron activation method. Spallation residual productions were studied by bombarding W and Pb targets with a 250 MeV proton beam using the neutron activation method. Benchmarking of evaluated nuclear data libraries was performed for D-T neutrons on ADS relevant materials by using the benchmark experimental facility at the China Institute of Atomic Energy.

Experimental study of the $$^{9}\hbox {Li}$$ 9 Li breakup reaction on Pb target

The breakup reaction of $$^{9}\hbox {Li}$$ on a Pb target has been measured at 32.7 MeV/nucleon for the first time. Two peaks of $$^{6}\hbox {He}+\hbox {t}$$ coincident fragments at 9.8 and 12.5 MeV were observed and agreed with the results of the generator coordinate method calculation. The experiment was carried out thanks to a specially arranged detection system around zero degrees at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou, Radioactive Ion Beam Line in Lanzhou (HIRFL–RIBLL).

Neutronic design study of accelerator driven system (ADS) for Jordan subcritical reactor as a neutron source for nuclear research

In this paper, a preliminary neutronic design study of an accelerator driven subcritical system for Jordan Subcritical Assembly (JSA) is presented. The conceptual design of coupling the JSA core with proton accelerator and spallation target is investigated, and its feasibility as a neutron source for nuclear research, and possibly for target irradiation and isotope production evaluated. 3D MCNPX model of the JSA reactor, the accelerator beam, and the Pb target was developed, based on actual reactor parameters. MCNPX calculations were carried out to estimate the absolute radial and axial neutron flux in the reactor, and to calculate the multiplication factor Keff and heat generated in the reactor. Numerical results showed an enormous increase in the neutron flux, by seven orders of magnitude, compared to the current JSA core design using Pu-Be source. In this research the results obtained are discussed and compared with those of the JSA, and do confirm the feasibility of utilizing the JSA as a viable nuclear research facility with adequate neutron flux.

Decay analysis of compound nuclei formed in reactions with exotic neutron-rich 9Li projectile and the synthesis of 217At⁎ within the dynamical cluster-decay model

The decay of various compound nuclei formed via exotic neutron-rich 9Li projectile is studied within the dynamical cluster-decay model (DCM). Following the earlier work of one of us (RKG) and collaborators (M. Kaur et al. (2015) [1]), for an empirically fixed neck-length parameter ΔRemp, the only parameter in the DCM, at a given incident laboratory energy ELab, we are able to fit almost exactly the (total) fusion cross section σfus=∑x=16σxn for 9Li projectile on 208Pb and other targets, with σfus depending strongly on the target mass of the most abundant isotope and its (magic) shell structure. This result shows the predictable nature of the DCM. The neck-length parameter ΔRemp is fixed empirically for the decay of 217At⁎ formed in 9Li + 208Pb reaction at a fixed laboratory energy ELab, and then the total fusion cross section σfus calculated for all other reactions using 9Li as a projectile on different targets. Apparently, this procedure could be used to predict σfus for 9Li-induced reactions where experimental data are not available. Furthermore, optimum choice of “cold” target-projectile combinations, forming “hot” compact configurations, are predicted for the synthesis of compound nucleus 217At⁎ with 8Li + 209Pb as one of the target-projectile combination, or another (t,p) combination 48Ca + 169Tb, with a doubly magic 48Ca, as the best possibility.

Measurements and analysis of [formula omitted]Hf production cross sections under [formula omitted]Ta and [formula omitted]W irradiation by protons with 0.04–2.6 GeV energies

This paper presents the results of experimental determination and computational simulation of the independent cross sections of 178m2Hf production in natTa and natW thin targets irradiated by mono-energetic proton beams in the energy range from ∼0.04 up to 2.6 GeV. The cross sections were determined using the γ-spectrometry technique without chemical separation of irradiated samples. The obtained experimental results were compared with the results of simulations based on the modified CEM03.03-ext intranuclear cascade model, which allows to analyze both the cross sections of residual nuclei production and the probabilities of long-lived isomeric states formation. Verification of the isomeric yield calculation model was demonstrated based on experimental data on high-spin isomer production cross sections in 208Pb target irradiated by protons.

Study of Cold Fusion Reactions Using Collective Clusterization Approach**Supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in the Form of Research Project Grant No. 03(1341)/15/EMR-II, and to DST, New Delhi, for INSPIRE-Fellowship Grant No. DST/INSPIRE/03/2015/000199

Within the framework of the dynamical cluster decay model (DCM), the 1n evaporation cross-sections ( of cold fusion reactions (Pb and Bi targets) are calculated for –113 superheavy nuclei. The calculations are carried out in the fixed range of excitation energy , so that the comparative analysis of reaction dynamics can be worked out. First of all, the fission barriers (Bf) and neutron separation energies () are estimated to account the decreasing cross-sections of cold fusion reactions. In addition to this, the importance of hot optimum orientations of β2i-deformed nuclei over cold one is explored at fixed angular momentum and neck-length parameters. The hot optimum orientations support all the target-projectile (t,p) combinations, which are explored experimentally in the cold fusion reactions. Some new target-projectile combinations are also predicted for future exploration. Further, the 1n cross-sections are addressed for –113 superheavy nuclei at comparable excitation energies which show the decent agrement with experimental data upto nuclei. Finally, to understand the dynamics of higher-Z superheavy nuclei, the cross-sections are also calculated at maximum available energies around the Coulomb barrier and the effect of non-sticking moment of inertia () is also investigated at these energies.

Thick target total bremsstrahlung spectra of lead compounds in the photon energy region 1–10 keV by 90Sr beta particles

Total bremsstrahlung spectral photon distribution generated in thick targets of lead compounds Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O, Pb(NO3)2 and PbCl2 by 90Sr beta particles has been investigated theoretically and experimentally in the photon energy region 1–10keV. The experimental results are compared with the theoretical models describing ordinary bremsstrahlung and the theoretical model which includes polarization bremsstrahlung into ordinary bremsstrahlung, in stripped approximation. It is observed that the experimental results show better agreement with the model which describes bremsstrahlung in stripped approximation in the energy range 3–10keV. However, the results show positive deviation in the photon energy region of 1–3keV. Further, it has been found that there is a continuous decrease of polarization bremsstrahlung contribution into ordinary bremsstrahlung in the formation of total bremsstrahlung spectra with increase in photon energy. The suppression of polarization bremsstrahlung has been observed due to the presence of large fraction of low Z elements in the compounds. The results clearly indicate that polarization bremsstrahlung plays an important role in the formation of total bremsstrahlung spectra in compounds in the studied energy region.

Ground-state configuration of neutron-rich Al35 via Coulomb breakup

The ground-state configuration of Al-35 has been studied via Coulomb dissociation (CD) using the LAND-FRS setup (GSI, Darmstadt) at a relativistic energy of similar to 403 MeV/nucleon. The measured inclusive differential CD cross section for Al-35, integrated up to 5.0 MeV relative energy between the Al-34 core and the neutron using a Pb target, is 78(13) mb. The exclusive measured CD cross section that populates various excited states of 34Al is 29(7) mb. The differential CD cross section of Al-35 -> Al-34 + n has been interpreted in the light of a direct breakup model, and it suggests that the possible ground-state spin and parity of Al-35 could be, tentatively, 1/2+ or 3/2(+) or 5/2(+). The valence neutrons, in the ground state of Al-35, may occupy a combination of either l = 3,0 or l = 1,2 orbitals coupled with the Al-34 core in the ground and isomeric state(s), respectively. This hints of a particle-hole configuration of the neutron across the magic shell gaps at N = 20,28 which suggests narrowing the magic shell gap. If the 5/2+ is the ground-state spin-parity of Al-35 as suggested in the literature, then the major ground-state configuration of Al-35 is a combination of Al-34(g. s.; 4(-)) circle times upsilon(p3/2) and Al-34(isomer; 1(+)) circle times upsilon(d3/2) states. The result from this experiment has been compared with that from a previous knockout measurement and a calculation using the SDPF-M interaction.

Determination of the Mg36(n,γ)Mg37 reaction rate from Coulomb dissociation of Mg37

We use the Coulomb dissociation (CD) method to calculate the rate of the $^{36}$Mg(${n,\gamma}$)$^{37}$Mg radiative capture reaction. The CD cross sections of the $^{37}$Mg nucleus on a $^{208}$Pb target at the beam energy of 244 MeV/nucleon, for which new experimental data have recently become available, were calculated within the framework of a finite range distorted wave Born approximation theory that is extended to include the projectile deformation effects. Invoking the principle of detailed balance, these cross sections are used to determine the excitation function and subsequently the rate of the $^{36}$Mg($n,\gamma$)$^{37}$Mg reaction. We compare these rates to those of the $^{36}$Mg($\alpha,n$)$^{39}$Si reaction calculated within a Hauser-Feshbach model. We find that for $T_9$ as large as up to 1.0 (in units of 10$^9$ K) the $^{36}$Mg($n,\gamma$)$^{37}$Mg reaction is much faster than the $^{36}$Mg($\alpha,n$)$^{39}$Si one. The inclusion of the effects of $^{37}$Mg projectile deformation in the breakup calculations, enhances the ($n,\gamma$) reaction rate even further. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the $(n,\gamma)$ $\beta$-decay $r$-process flow will be broken at the $^{36}$Mg isotope by the $\alpha$-process.

Carbon ions induced M shell X-ray production cross-sections in thin target of Au and Pb in the energy range 2.8–5 MeV

Abstract In the present work, the M αβ , M γ , M M2–O4,5 and total M shell X-ray production cross sections of the elements Au and Pb are measured with C 4,3+ ions in the energy range between 2.8 and 5 MeV. The obtained results are compared with the existing experimental data and with theoretical calculations based on three models: (i) first Born approximation (PWBA), (ii) the ECPSSR model using the ISICS code and (iii) Semi Classical approximation (SCA) model.

Low-lying electric-dipole strengths of Ca, Ni, and Sn isotopes imprinted on total reaction cross sections

Low-lying electric-dipole ($E1$) strength of a neutron-rich nucleus contains information on neutron-skin thickness, deformation, and shell evolution. We discuss the possibility of making use of total reaction cross sections on $^{40}$Ca, $^{120}$Sn, and $^{208}$Pb targets to probe the $E1$ strength of neutron-rich Ca, Ni, and Sn isotopes. They exhibit large enhancement of the $E1$ strength at neutron number $N > 28$, $50$, and $82$, respectively, due to a change of the single-particle orbits near the Fermi surface participating in the transitions. The density distributions and the electric-multipole strength functions of those isotopes are calculated by the Hartree-Fock+BCS and the canonical-basis-time-dependent-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov methods, respectively, using three kinds of Skyrme-type effective interaction. The nuclear and Coulomb breakup processes are respectively described with the Glauber model and the equivalent photon method in which the effect of finite-charge distribution is taken into account. The three Skyrme interactions give different results for the total reaction cross sections because of different Coulomb breakup contributions. The contribution of the low-lying $E1$ strength is amplified when the low-incident energy is chosen. With an appropriate choice of the incident energy and target nucleus, the total reaction cross section can be complementary to the Coulomb excitation for analysing the low-lying $E1$ strength of unstable nuclei.

Transport channel of secondary ion beam of experimental setup for selective laser ionization with gas cell GALS

GALS is the experimental setup intended for production and research of isobaric and isotopically pure heavy neutron-rich nuclei. The beam line consists of two parts. The initial part is used for transport of the primary 136Xe ion beam with the energy of 4.5-9.0 MeV/amu from the FLNR cyclotron U-400M to the Pb target for production of the studying ion beams. These beams have the following design parameters: the charge Z = +1, the mass A = 180-270 and the kinetic energy W = 40 keV. The second part placed after the target consists of the SPIG (QPIG) system, the accelerating gap, the electrostatic Einzel lens, 90-degree spectrometric magnet (calculated value of the mass-resolution is equal to 1400) and the beam line for the transportation of the ions from the magnet focal plane to a particle detector. The results of simulation of the particle dynamics and the basic parameters of all elements of the beam line are presented.

Analysis of the 148Gd and 154Dy Content in Proton-Irradiated Lead Targets.

This work presents the determination of the 148Gd and 154Dy content in Pb targets irradiated by 220-2600 MeV protons. It includes the chemical separation of lanthanides, followed by the preparation of proper samples, by molecular plating technique, for α-spectrometry measurements. The experimental cross section results were compared with theoretical predictions, calculated with the INCL++-ABLA07 code. The comparisons showed a satisfactory agreement for 148Gd (less than within a factor two), while measured 154Dy cross sections are higher than the theoretical values.

Optimization of breeding properties of the spallation neutron source target for ADS

One of the main components of an ADS (accelerator-driven reactor systems) is the spallation target, generating neutrons for power plant. Neutrons are generated due in spallation reactions induced on heavy nuclei by accelerator beam of high-energy protons with subsequent multiplication of neutrons in the cascade process of interactions of secondary intermediate-energy particles with target nuclei, subcritical core and blanket.On average, from 20 (for Hg and Pb targets) to 50 (for U target) neutrons are produced per 1-GeV proton in spallation reactions in the target containing nuclei of heavy elements (for example, Hg, Ta, W, U,).Heavy elements such as lead, bismuth, mercury, tantalum, and tungsten are considered as suitable materials for the targets. Lead-bismuth eutectic targets are successfully developed.It is demonstrated in the present paper that there exist optimal size of the target material allowing obtaining for the given incident particle energy maximum number of “spallation” neutrons. Results of calculations of energy spectrum of neutrons generated in the proton interactions with heavy targets for the energy range of incident protons from 0.8 to 1.4GeV.Implemented analysis of variation of neutron generation rate for cylindrical target with 10cm diameter and length from 1 to 120cm at impinging proton energies from 0.8 to 1.4GeV allowed calculating optimal target dimensions consisting of heavy nuclei for the nuclear power installations under design.Optimization of dimensions of neutron generating targets consisting of natural natBi, natHg, natPb и natW isotopes was implemented.

Coulomb breakup of neutron-rich 29,30Na isotopes near the island of inversion

First results are reported on the ground state configurations of the neutron-rich 29,30Na isotopes, obtained via Coulomb dissociation (CD) measurements. The invariant mass spectra of these nuclei have been obtained through measurement of the four-momenta of all decay products after Coulomb excitation of those nuclei on a 208Pb target at energies of 400–430 MeV/nucleon using the FRS-ALADIN-LAND setup at GSI, Darmstadt. Integrated inclusive CD cross-sections (CD) of 89 (7) mb and 167 (13) mb for one neutron removal from 29Na and 30Na, respectively, have been extracted up to an excitation energy of 10 MeV. The major part of one neutron removal, CD cross-sections of those nuclei populate the core, in its ground state. A comparison with the direct breakup model, suggests the predominant occupation of the valence neutron in the ground state of 29Na and 30Na is the d-orbital with a small contribution from the s-orbital, which are coupled with the ground state of the core. One of the major components of the ground state configurations of these nuclei are 28Na and 29Na, respectively. The ground state spin and parity of these nuclei obtained from this experiment are in agreement with earlier reported values. The spectroscopic factors for the valence neutron occupying the s and d orbitals for these nuclei in the ground state have been extracted and reported for the first time. A comparison of the experimental findings with shell model calculation using the MCSM suggests a lower limit of around 4.3 MeV of the sd–pf shell gap in 30Na.