Halo Nuclei Research Articles

Decay study of Be11 with an optical time-projection chamber

The β decay of one-neutron halo nucleus Be11 was investigated using the Warsaw Optical Time Projection Chamber (OTPC) detector to measure β-delayed charged particles. The results of two experiments are reported. In the first one, carried out in LNS Catania, the absolute branching ratio for β-delayed α emission was measured by counting incoming Be11 ions stopped in the detector and the observed decays with the emission of α particle. The result of 3.27(46)% is in good agreement with the literature value. In the second experiment, performed at the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN, bunches containing several hundreds of Be11 ions were implanted into the OTPC detector followed by the detection of decays with the emission of charged particles. The energy spectrum of β-delayed α particles was determined in the full energy range. It was analyzed in the R-matrix framework and was found to be consistent with the literature. The best description of the spectrum was obtained assuming that the two 3/2+ and one 1/2+ states in B11 are involved in the transition. The search for β-delayed emission of protons was undertaken. Only the upper limit for the branching ratio for this process of (2.2±0.6stat±0.6sys)×10−6 could be determined. This value is in conflict with the result published by Ayyad [] but does agree with the limit reported by Riisager []. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Exploring the Diversity of Nuclear Density through Information Entropy.

This study explores the role of information entropy in understanding nuclear density distributions, including both stable configurations and non-traditional structures such as neutron halos and α-clustering. By quantifying the uncertainty and disorder inherent in nucleon distributions in nuclear many-body systems, information entropy provides a macroscopic measure of the physical properties of the system. A more dispersed and disordered density distribution results in a higher value of information entropy. This intrinsic relationship between information entropy and system complexity allows us to quantify uncertainty and disorder in nuclear structures by analyzing various geometric parameters such as nuclear radius, diffuseness, neutron skin, and cluster structural features.

The Movement of Efimov States in 2n Halo Nucleus: probing the roles of mass asymmetry and short range of interaction

This brief communication presents the results of our work to study the movement of Efimov states in 2-neutron halo nuclei. We discuss the emergence and evolution of Efimov states in to resonances beyond the two-body (n-Core) breakup threshold and also the movement of the Efimov state in a 2-neutron halo nucleus to the region of the so called, Thomas Collapse. We especially, probe the roles of mass asymmetry of the three-body system (n-n-core) and the short range of the n-core interaction in the movement of the Efimov states. The analysis has been carried out within the framework of a three-body model, assuming two-body, non-local, separable potentials for the binary sub-systems, namely, the n-n and n-core systems. The primary motivation has been to scan the parameter space of the range parameter and determine the value(s) for which the system can support the Efimov states. The analysis shows that the value of the range parameter $\beta$ = 5.2$\alpha$ ( $\alpha$ being the energy parameter given in terms of the deuteron binding energy ) produces the realistic three-body binding energy for $^{20}$C and also generates the excited Efimov states. However, as the value of $\beta$ is increased corresponding to decrease in the range of the two-body (n-core) interaction the ground and excited state binding energies increase drastically. In other words, as the range of the two-body interaction tends to zero the system enters the Thomas Collapse region away from the Efimov region.

Nuclear magnetism in the deformed halo nucleus 31Ne

Based on the point-coupling density functional, the time-odd deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum (TODRHBc) is developed. The effects of nuclear magnetism on halo phenomenon are explored by taking the experimentally suggested deformed halo nucleus 31Ne as an example. For 31Ne, nuclear magnetism contributes 0.09 MeV to total binding energy, and the breaking of Kramers degeneracy results in a 0 – 0.2 MeV splitting in the canonical single particle spectra. The blocked neutron level has a dominant component of the p wave and is marginally bound. However, if we ignore nuclear magnetism, the level becomes unbound. This shows a subtle mechanism that nuclear magnetism changes the single particle energies, causing a nucleus to become bound. Based on the TODRHBc results, a prolate one-neutron halo is formed around the near-spherical core in 31Ne. The nucleon current is mostly contributed by the halo rather than the core, except near the center of the nucleus. A layered feature in the neutron current distribution is observed and studied in detail.

Fast rotation of nuclei with extreme isospin in the vicinity of neutron and proton drip lines

The analysis of the present understanding of collective rotation in very neutron-rich nuclei is presented. It is shown that collective rotation can lead to the increase of stability of rotational states with increasing spin. The detailed investigation of rotational excitations in very proton-rich nuclei confirms this conclusion and indicates that experimental studies of such features are more feasible in the nuclei near proton drip line. They also show that rotational bands which are proton quasi-bound at zero or low spins can be transformed into proton bound ones at high spin by collective rotation of nuclear systems. This is due to strong Coriolis interaction which acts on high-j or strongly mixed M orbitals and drives the highest in energy occupied single-particle states into negative energy domain. These physical mechanisms lead to a substantial extension of the nuclear landscape beyond the spin zero proton drip line. In addition, a new phenomenon of the formation of giant proton halos in rotating nuclei emerges: it is triggered by the occupation of strongly mixed M intruder orbitals.

Prediction of two-neutron halos in the N = 28 isotones 40Mg and 39Na

The ground states of the nuclei Mg40 and Na39 are investigated using the hyperspherical formalism. Since they are located at the edge of the “big island of inversion”, we concentrate on whether we are likely to find two-neutron Borromean halos in these nuclei. A three-body model with effective n-n and Mg38+n interactions is built for Mg40 based on the available data. We also give predictions for the low-lying spectrum of Na38=37Na+n and two-neutron separation energy of the Na39 nucleus. Depending on parameter choice, we report an increase in the matter radii in the range 0.1-0.5 fm relative to those of the core nuclei. The results suggest a two-neutron halo structure in Mg40 for a subset of parameters, reinforcing the prediction of a Borromean halo nucleus. The calculations indicate that a two-neutron halo is even more likely for Na39. As expected, the halo is linked to the disappearance of the shell gap in these nuclei due to the inversion of the 2p3/2 and 1f7/2 orbitals. We study the total cross section for scattering of these nuclei from a carbon target using a Glauber model and show that these provide a clear signal to assess the halo structure.

New insight into knockout reactions from the two-proton halo nucleus Ne17

The unexplained disagreement in the dependence of spectroscopic factors (C2Sexp) on the binding energy obtained by nucleon knockout using different targets is still a puzzle that needs to be addressed. To find an explanation of this riddle through exclusive measurements using different targets. The exclusive measurements were performed by using a Ne17 beam with an energy of 500 MeV/u incident on C and CH2 targets. Through the standard theoretical approach, C2Sexp were derived from the analysis of the experimental data on proton ejection from the proton halo in Ne17 as well as from its core O15. For the C target, proton ejection from the proton halo gave C2Sexp about 37% smaller than for the H target. But when protons are ejected from the core of Ne17, C2Sexp are identical within statistical uncertainties. An explanation for the difference in C2Sexp could be the removal of both halo protons, a more important reaction pathway for the C target. The C2Sexp values obtained by analyzing the proton ejection from the core indicate that it is not affected by the interaction with the halo protons.Published by the American Physical Society2024

Precision Mass Measurement of the Proton Dripline Halo Candidate ^{22}Al.

We report the first mass measurement of the proton-halo candidate ^{22}Al performed with the low energy beam ion trap facility's 9.4T Penning trap mass spectrometer at facility for rare isotope beams. This measurement completes the mass information for the lightest remaining proton-dripline nucleus achievable with Penning traps. ^{22}Al has been the subject of recent interest regarding a possible halo structure from the observation of an exceptionally large isospin asymmetry [J. Lee et al., Large isospin asymmetry in Si22/O22 Mirror Gamow-Teller transitions reveals the halo structure of ^{22}Al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 192503 (2020).PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.125.192503]. The measured mass excess value of ME=18 092.5(3) keV, corresponding to an exceptionally small proton separation energy of S_{p}=100.4(8) keV, is compatible with the suggested halo structure. Our result agrees well with predictions from sd-shell USD Hamiltonians. While USD Hamiltonians predict deformation in the ^{22}Al ground state with minimal 1s_{1/2} occupation in the proton shell, a particle-plus-rotor model in the continuum suggests that a proton halo could form at large quadrupole deformation. These results emphasize the need for a charge radius measurement to conclusively determine the halo nature.

Machine Learning Based Classification of the Halos in Light Nuclei Region

Experimental and theoretical studies on halo nuclei, whose nucleon binding energies are extremely weak, are among the most interesting topics of nuclear physics studies. By better defining and understanding this unusual behavior of these nuclei, our understanding of nuclear structure can be further improved. Although there are already a few experimentally proven halo nuclei in the literature, many others have found their place in the literature as candidate halo nuclei. In this study, the classification of halo nuclei was carried out using an artificial neural network approach. In the light nuclei region, the properties of nuclei, including halo nuclei, were discussed and the existing halo nuclei were classified. The success of the obtained results indicates that machine learning methods can be used for identifying halo nuclei. Thus, these methods are considered as one of the alternative tools to confirm the existence of new or candidate halo nuclei.

Search for a Neutron Dark Decay in ^{6}He.

Neutron dark decays have been suggested as a solution to the discrepancy between bottle and beam experiments, providing a dark matter candidate that can be searched for in halo nuclei. The free neutron in the final state following the decay of ^{6}He into ^{4}He+n+χ provides an exceptionally clean detection signature when combined with a high efficiency neutron detector. Using a high-intensity ^{6}He^{+} beam at Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds, a search for a coincident neutron signal resulted in an upper limit on a dark decay branching ratio of Br_{χ}≤4.0×10^{-10} (95% C.L.). Using the dark neutron decay model proposed originally by Fornal and Grinstein, we translate this into an upper bound on a dark neutron branching ratio of O(10^{-5}), improving over global constraints by one to several orders of magnitude depending on m_{χ}.

Study of Nuclear Structure and Elastic Electron Scattering Form Factors for Neutron Halo Nuclei (22N ,23O and 24F) Using Full Correlation Functions with Two Size Parameters

The study of neutron-rich nuclei's form factors, root-mean-square radius (rms), and nuclear density distributions is the focus of this work for the nuclei (22N,23 O and 24F). With the use of a strong short-range effect and a strong tensor force, the nucleons distribution function of the two oscillating harmonic particles in a two-frequency shell model operates with two different parameters: the first (bcore), for the inner (core) orbits, and the second (bvalence) for the outer (halo) orbits. This work demonstrated the existence of neutron halo nuclei for the nuclei (22N, 23O and 24F) in the (2s1/2) shell. The computed density distribution of neutron, proton and matter for these nuclei displayed the long tail performance. Using the Borne approximation of the plane wave, the elastic form factor of the electron scattering from the alien nucleus was calculated, this form factor is independent of the neutrons that make up the halo, but rather it results from a difference in the proton density distribution of the last proton in the nuclei. Fortran 95 power station program was used to the neutron, proton and matter density, elastic electron scattering form factor, and rms radii. The calculated outcomes for these exotic nuclei were in good agreement with the experimental data.

Exploration of the ground state properties of neutron-rich sodium isotopes using the deformed relativistic mean field theory in complex momentumrepresentations with BCS pairings* *Partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11935001, 11575001), the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (2008085MA26), Anhui project (Z010118169), the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL) (HIR2021PY007), and the project of Key

This study explores the ground-state characteristics of neutron-rich sodium isotopes, encompassing two-neutron separation energies, root-mean-square radii, quadrupole moments of proton and neutron distributions, single-particle levels of bound and resonant states, and neutron density distributions and shapes. Simultaneously, special attention is paid to the distinctive physical phenomena associated with these isotopes. The deformed relativistic mean field theory in complex momentum representations with BCS pairings (DRMF-CMR-BCS) employed in our research provides resonant states with real physics, offering insights into deformed halo nuclei. Four effective interactions (NL3, NL3*, PK1, and NLSH) were considered to assess the influence of continuum and deformation effects on halo structures. Calculations for odd-even nuclei 35–43Na revealed the dependence on the chosen effective interaction and number of considered resonant states. Neutron occupation patterns near the Fermi surface, particularly in orbitals and , were determined to be crucial in halo formation. The study provided detailed insights into the density distributions, shape evolution, and structure of neutron-rich sodium isotopes, contributing valuably to the field of nuclear physics.

A summary and outlook for SOTANCP5

The present contribution provides an overview of the SOTANCP5 conference and the progress that was reported in state-of-the-art experiment and theoretical cluster studies. An exciting array of topics ranging from correlations, halo nuclei, clustering in reactions and nuclear astrophysics, alpha-gas states, ab intio theory, alpha-particle like cluster structures, the role of the continuum and the latest developments in experimental facilities. These contributions are brought together in the following summary. Some additional thoughts and perspectives are also provided.

Antiproton at rest and in-flight within Intra-Nuclear Cascade Liege model (INCL)

Antiproton-nucleus reaction is a versatile tool. It can be used to study fundamental behavior of antimatter (e.g., at CERN AD facility), neutron halo and skin of atomic nuclei (e.g., PUMA project), hyperon-antihyperon interaction (project at GSI FAIR), to name but a few. Since final state interactions are also important in such reactions and that the intranuclear cascade code INCL is known to do it well, it is naturally that its developers have been asked to add this new projectile to the list. Therefore, recent results of the new INCL version with antiproton as projectile are presented with comparisons to experimental data in wide energy range. The new version will be made available also in GEANT4, allowing to simulate future complex experiments involving p.

Reaction dynamics and nuclear structure of light exotic nuclei

The paper discusses reaction experiments with low energy post-accelerated radioactive beams that investigated the role of halo structure and neutron excess on the reaction dynamics. Reactions induced by neutron-halo and proton-halo are compared and the dissimilarities in the reaction dynamics emerging from the differences in the nuclear structure are analysed. The case of neutron-rich nuclei is also discussed in particular the presence of resonances in the elastic scattering excitation function arising from the extended surface layer characteristic of these nuclei.

Study on the decay of Z = 127 – 132 superheavy nuclei via emission of 1-n and 2-n halo nuclei

The barrier penetrability, decay constant and decay half-life of 1-n halo nuclei 11Be, 15,17,19C, 22N, 23O, 24,26F, 29,31Ne, 34,37Na, 35,37Mg, and 55Ca; and 2-n halo nuclei 22C, 27,29F, 34Ne, 36Na, and 46P from Z = 127 – 132 parents were calculated within the framework of the Coulomb and proximity potential model by calculating the Q-values using the finite-range droplet model. A comparison between the decay half-lives is made by considering the halo candidates as a normal cluster and as a deformed structure with a rms radius. Neutron shell closure at 190, 196, 198, 200, 204, and 208 are identified from the plot of decay half-lives versus the neutron number of daughter nuclei (NP). The calculation of alpha decay half-life and spontaneous decay half-life showed that the majority of the parent nuclei survive spontaneous fission and decay through alpha emission. The Geiger-Nuttall plots of log10T1/2 versus Q-1/2 and universal plots of log10T1/2 versus -lnP for the emission of all 1-n and 2-n halo nuclei from the parents considered here are linear and show the validity of Geiger - Nuttall law in the case of decay of halo nuclei from superheavy elements.

A unified description of the halo nucleus 37Mg from microscopic structure to reaction observables

Based on the structure input directly from the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum (DRHBc), we fully study reaction observables to search for halo evidence of 37Mg with the Glauber model. In this scheme, we evaluate the reaction cross sections of 20–37Mg bombarding a C target at 240 MeV/nucleon and find that most of the results agree well with the experimental data within 1σ uncertainty, especially good for the case of 37Mg. Our predicted doubling of the cross section change from 36Mg to 37Mg over that from 34Mg to 35Mg is consistent with a halo structure in 37Mg. Additionally, our calculated narrow longitudinal momentum distribution of 36Mg residues from 37Mg + 12C breakup agrees well with data and imply a nuclear size much larger than 35Mg. Furthermore, our study shows a dominant p-wave contribution to the longitudinal momentum distribution, supporting the conclusion that 37Mg is a p-wave halo nucleus. Our study provides the first unified description of the halo characteristics of 37Mg from nuclear structure to reaction dynamics.

NUCLEAR STRUCTURE STUDY OF THE HALO NUCLEI

The existence of halo nuclei is one of the major important discoveries in the field of nuclear physics. These nuclei are treated as loosely bound system in which a core of normal nuclear density is surrounded by so-called neutron (or proton) halo of diluted nuclear matter. Many theoretical investigations have attempted to understand these nuclei, which exist at light to heavy masses. The phenomenon of nuclear halo is a quantum effect that occurs in nuclei due to the presence of valence nucleons with low separation energy and I = 0, 1 (low angular momentum), and is manifested by the extraordinarily large radii of these nuclei. The core plus halo model is commonly used to describe halo nuclei. This model recognizes the need to treat the core and the halo neutrons or protons separately. By considering different model spaces for the core and the halo nucleons, we can better explain the properties of halo nuclei. This separation is justified by the fact that the valence nucleons in a halo nucleus have different properties compared to the core. Halo nuclei at rest cannot be used as target due to their short-lived species and extraordinary ratio of neutrons and protons (either neutron-rich or proton-rich). Instead, they can be studied through direct reactions with a radioactive isotope beam, employing inverse kinematics where the role of the beam and target are exchanged. In order to investigate the charge and matter densities of these nuclei, total and differential reaction cross section analyses of proton scattering on halo nuclei have been carried out using various theoretical and phenomenological methods

Effective field theory analysis of the Coulomb breakup of the one-neutron halo nucleus 19\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{19}$$\\end{document}C

We analyse the Coulomb breakup of 19\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{19}$$\\end{document}C measured at 67A MeV at RIKEN. We use the Coulomb-Corrected Eikonal (CCE) approximation to model the reaction and describe the one-neutron halo nucleus 19\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{19}$$\\end{document}C within Halo Effective Field Theory (Halo EFT). At leading order we obtain a fair reproduction of the measured cross section as a function of energy and angle. The description is insensitive to the choice of optical potential, as long as it accurately represents the size of 18\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{18}$$\\end{document}C. It is also insensitive to the interior of the 19\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{19}$$\\end{document}C wave function. Comparison between theory and experiment thus enables us to infer asymptotic properties of the ground state of 19\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{19}$$\\end{document}C: these data put constraints on the one-neutron separation energy of this nucleus and, for a given binding energy, can be used to extract an asymptotic normalisation coefficient (ANC). These results are confirmed by CCE calculations employing next-to-leading order Halo EFT descriptions of 19\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{19}$$\\end{document}C: at this order the results for the Coulomb breakup cross section are completely insensitive to the choice of the regulator. Accordingly, this reaction can be used to constrain the one-neutron separation energy and ANC of 19\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^{19}$$\\end{document}C.

Neutron scattering off one-neutron halo nuclei in halo effective field theory

Neutron scattering off one-neutron halo nuclei in halo effective field theory