Au Isotopes Research Articles

Prediction of ground state charge radius using support vector regression

Abstract We systematically investigate the prediction of nuclear charge radii using a support vector regression (SVR) model in machine learning(ML), specifically employing a radial basis function (RBF) kernel. Our model is designed to capture the global structure of the radius surface through the utilization of feature spaces encompassing both (N, Z) and (N, Z, A). We achieved a root mean square deviation of 0.019 fm with respect to 885 measured charge radii (Z ⩾ 8). By incorporating the atomic mass number as an additional feature, the model successfully reproduces the charge radii of ( 40 − 50 Ca), ( 74 − 96 Kr), ( 120 − 148 Ba), and ( 183 − 199 Au) isotopes. Furthermore, our ML method demonstrated an extrapolation capability with a deviation of 0.016 fm relative to 10 022 calculated charge radii based on the Weizsacker–Skyrme model. The SVR model’s performance is further tested across different regions of the charge radii table, demonstrating significant agreement with experimental data and underscoring the efficacy of the RBF kernel in nuclear charge radii prediction.

Genesis of the sediment-hosted Qukuleke Au deposit in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, NW China: Constraints from geology, apatite U–Pb age, and C–O–S–Pb isotopes

Genetic classification of sediment-hosted Au deposits is often disputed in many orogenic belts around the world. The marine sediment-hosted Qukuleke Au deposit (>5 t Au) is an example of this, which has been attributed to orogenic or intrusion-related type. This paper addresses its metallogeny through detailed geologic and petrographic studies, together with apatite U–Pb dating and C–O–S–Pb isotopes.The hydrothermal paragenesis at Qukuleke is divided into three stages (I to III): Stage I (pre-ore) sheeted quartz veins; Stage II (main ore) pervasive sericite ± carbonate ± apatite ± pyrite ± arsenopyrite alteration associated with quartz–calcite ± stibnite veins; Stage III (post-ore) barren calcite veins. LA-ICP–MS hydrothermal apatite U–Pb dating on Stage II disseminated Au ore yielded 208.1 ± 6.5 Ma, coeval with the Late Triassic post-collisional intrusions from the periphery of Qukuleke deposit. Carbon–oxygen isotopes of Au–Sb ore-related hydrothermal calcite show that the hydrothermal fluids were derived from the marine carbonate ore host with considerable magmatic input. Lead–sulfur isotopes of the Au–Sb ore-related are consistent with those of coeval intrusions around the deposit, but different from those of the local sedimentary strata. Our age and geochemical data suggest the presence of a magma source that supplied the hydrothermal fluids, sulfur and metals for the mineralization. Combining the low sulfide content and the Au–As–W–Sb–Mo assemblage characteristics, the Qukuleke is best classified as a sediment-hosted intrusion-related Au deposit. Considering also the discovery of the large coeval Qukukekedong Au deposit nearby, we propose that Late Triassic intrusion-related Au system is a high-potential exploration target in the western EKOB.

First Full Beta-Strength Measurement With Dtas Across N=126 at Fair Phase-0

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

Photonuclear Alchemy: Obtaining Medical Isotopes of Gold from Mercury Irradiated on Electron Accelerators.

In our work, the photonuclear production of 198,199Au isotopes for nuclear medicine purposes was studied, and a method for their recovery from irradiated mercury was developed. The yields of the corresponding nuclear reactions were determined, and a comparison of various methods of obtaining gold radioisotopes was provided. New sorbents based on benzo-15-crown-5, which selectively binds gold, were studied, and the optimal conditions for Au recovery with a high degree of purification from mercury were found. It was established that, for the fast and quantitative recovery of Au isotopes, it was necessary to add at least 0.1 mg of the carrier. As a result, the developed method can be regularly used to obtain 198,199Au for the research of radiopharmaceuticals based on them.

Old commercialized magnetic particles new trick: Intrinsic internal standard

Magnetic particles (MPs) are the most widely used commercialized engineering particles, which gained great success in various biological applications. Inspired by their intrinsic Fe isotope composition, we discovered a commercialized MPs-internal standard's novel function to realize the accurate quantification of biomolecules. The bioassay of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was chosen as a modal system. The Fe isotope in MPs and Au isotope in report probes were simultaneously and sensitively detected by the elemental mass spectrometry. 197Au/57Fe isotopic ratios and CEA concentrations showed good linearity in the range of 0.6–300 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.09 ng/mL (3σ). The accuracy and precision of the proposed MPs-based immunoassay were greatly improved, by eliminating potential MPs loss during magnetic separation and absolute intensity fluctuations. Considering the exceptional availability and universality of commercialized MPs, the proposed method might open a new avenue for MPs' biological applications.

Microscopic study of shape evolution and some important ground state properties of 190–210Au isotopes

In this paper, we have examined the nuclear structural properties of 190–210Au isotopes within the framework of the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov Model. For the theoretical calculations, we have used the UNEDF2 and SKP interactions. The studies include the shape evolution, quadrupole deformation parameter [Formula: see text], nuclear electric quadrupole moment Q(b), single-particle energy levels, the binding energy per nucleon, nuclear charge radius, neutron rms radius, proton rms radius and neutron skin thickness. To analyze the accuracy of our theoretical results, we have presented the comparative analysis with experimental data and finite-range droplet model calculations. The adequate resemblance with experimental data is supporting our studies. We observe the oblate-prolate shape coexistence for 190Au, 193Au and 195Au using the UNEDF2 interaction.

Large-scale nuclear shell-model calculations of isotopes in the southwest region of 208Pb

Abstract Large-scale nuclear shell-model calculations are performed in the neutron- and proton-deficient Pt, Au, Hg, and Tl isotopes ($Z < 82$ and $N \le 126$) near $^{208}$Pb. All the single-particle levels in the one-major shells, six neutron ($2p_{1/2}$, $1f_{5/2}$, $2p_{3/2}$, $0i_{13/2}$, $1f_{7/2}$, and $0h_{9/2}$) orbitals and five proton ($2s_{1/2}$, $1d_{3/2}$, $0h_{11/2}$, $1d_{5/2}$, and $0g_{7/2}$) orbitals are considered. For an effective two-body interaction, one set of the multipole pairing, quadrupole–quadrupole interactions is employed for all the nuclei considered. These phenomenological interactions are determined to reproduce the experimental energy spectra. Some of the isomeric states are analyzed in terms of the shell-model configurations. Octupole correlated states are discussed in terms of a collective octupole excitation on top of each shell model state.

Multinucleon transfer in the interaction of 977 MeV and 1143 MeV Hg204 with Pb208

A previous study of symmetric collisions of massive nuclei has shown that current models of multi-nucleon transfer (MNT) reactions do not adequately describe the transfer product yields. To gain further insight into this problem, we have measured the yields of MNT products in the interaction of 977 (E/A = 4.79 MeV) and 1143 MeV (E/A = 5.60 MeV) $^{204}$Hg with $^{208}$Pb. We find that the yield of multi-nucleon transfer products are similar in these two reactions and are substantially lower than those observed in the reaction of 1257 MeV (E/A = 6.16 MeV) $^{204}$Hg + $^{198}$Pt. We compare our measurements with the predictions of the GRAZING-F, di-nuclear systems (DNS) and improved quantum molecular dynamics (ImQMD) models. For the observed isotopes of the elements Au, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi, the measured values of the MNT cross sections are orders of magnitude larger than the predicted values. Furthermore, the various models predict the formation of nuclides near the N=126 shell, which are not observed.

Investigation of (n,2n) reactions using the high energy neutron facility at NCSR “Demokritos”

In the high energy neutron facility at the 5.5MV tandem T11/25 Accelerator of NCSR "Demokritos", the neutron beam is produced by means of the 3H(d,n)4He reaction in the energy range ~15-21 MeV and at a flux of the order of 105 -106 n/cm2s. The beam has been characterized by means of the NeuSDesc and MCNP5 Monte Carlo simulations along with the multiple foil activation technique at various neutron energies. The neutron flux has been deduced using reference reactions, such as the 27Al(n,α) reaction, while the flux variation of the neutron beam was monitored by using a BF3 detector. After the characterization, the neutron beam has been used for (n,2n) reaction cross section measurements on Hf, Au and Ir isotopes via the activation technique. The irradiations were carried out at 15.3 and 17.1 MeV.

Ion implant-β-decay correlation half-lives in a pulsed beam for isotopes beyond N=126

Half-lives and β-delayed neutron emission probabilities of several isotopes of Au, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi, in the neutron-rich region around and beyond N=126, were determined in an experiment performed at the RIB facility of GSI [1]. These are decay properties that are directly related to the final abundance distribution of the elements due to their contribution during the freeze-out of the r-process nucleosynthesis. This contribution summarizes the main aspects of the analysis methodology followed for the determination of β-decay half-lives. The main particularities of the present analysis concern the characterization of the β-background, as well as the effect of the pulsed-beam in the ion-β time correlations.

β -decay half-lives and β -delayed neutron emission probabilities for several isotopes of Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi, beyond N=126

$Background:$ Previous measurements of $\beta$-delayed neutron emitters comprise around 230 nuclei, spanning from the $^{8}$He up to $^{150}$La. Apart from $^{210}$Tl, with a minuscule branching ratio of 0.007\%, no other neutron emitter is measured yet beyond $A=150$. Therefore new data are needed, particularly in the heavy mass region around N=126, in order to guide theoretical models and to understand the formation of the third r-process peak at $A\sim195$. $Purpose:$ To measure both, $\beta$-decay half-lives and neutron branching ratios of several neutron-rich Au, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi isotopes beyond $N=126$. $Method:$ Ions of interest are produced by fragmentation of a $^{238}$U beam, selected and identified via the GSI-FRS fragment separator. A stack of segmented silicon detectors (SIMBA) is used to measure ion-implants and $\beta$-decays. An array of 30 $^3$He tubes embedded in a polyethylene matrix (BELEN) is used to detect neutrons with high efficiency and selectivity. A self-triggered digital system is employed to acquire data and to enable time-correlations. The latter are analyzed with an analytical model and results for the half-lives and neutron-branching ratios are derived using the binned Maximum-Likelihood method. $Results:$ Twenty new $\beta$-decay half-lives are reported for $^{204-206}$Au, $^{208-211}$Hg,$^{211-216}$Tl,$^{215-218}$Pb and $^{218-220}$Bi, nine of them for the first time. Neutron emission probabilities are reported for $^{210,211}$Hg and $^{211-216}$Tl. $Conclusions:$ The new $\beta$-decay half-lives are in good agreement with previous measurements in this region. The measured neutron emission probabilities are comparable or smaller than values predicted by global models like RHB+RQRPA.

New systematic features in the neutron-deficient Au isotopes

A recently developed portable, on-line capability for γ-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy, HIGH-TATRA is demonstrated with its application to the study of 183Hg 183Au at ISOLDE. Key details of the low-energy level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide 183Au populated in this decay are presented. A broad energy germanium detector is employed to achieve this (the first-ever use of such a device in decay-scheme spectroscopy), by way of a combination of high-gain γ-ray singles spectroscopy and γ–γ coincidence spectroscopy. Further, by combining the γ-ray detectors with a liquid-nitrogen-cooled Si(Li) detector operated under high vacuum, conversion-electron singles and e–γ coincidences are obtained. These data lead to the determination of transition multipolarities and the location of a highly converted (E0 + M1 + E2) transition in the 183Au decay scheme, suggesting a possible new shape coexisting structure in this nucleus. Identification of new intruder and normal states fixes their relative energies in 183Au for the first time. New systematic features in the odd-Au isotopes are presented.

Production of platinum radioisotopes at Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP)

The accelerator production of platinum isotopes was investigated at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP). In this study high purity natural platinum foils were irradiated at 53.2, 65.7, 105.2, 151.9, 162.9 and 173.3.MeV. The irradiated foils were digested in aqua regia and then converted to their hydrochloride salt with concentrated hydrochloric acid before analyzing by gamma spectrometry periodically for at least 10 days post end of bombardment. A wide range of platinum (Pt), gold (Au) and iridium (Ir) isotopes were identified. Effective cross sections at BLIP for Pt-188, Pt-189, Pt-191 and Pt-195m were compared to literature and theoretical cross sections determined using Empire-3.2. The majority of the effective cross sections (<70 MeV) confirm those reported in the literature. While the absolute values of the theoretical cross sections were up to a factor of 3 lower, Empire 3.2 modeled thresholds and maxima correlated well with experimental values. Preliminary evaluation into a rapid separation of Pt isotopes from high levels of Ir and Au isotopes proved to be a promising approach for large scale production. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that with the use of isotopically enriched target material accelerator production of selected platinum isotopes is feasible over a wide proton energy range.

Feeding of Rh and Ag isomers in fast-neutron-induced reactions

Background: In ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reactions on stable Ir and Au isotopes in the mass $A=190$ region, the experimentally established feeding of the isomers relative to the feeding of the corresponding ground states increases with increasing neutron energy, up to the neutron energy where the ($n,2n$) reaction channel opens up, and then decreases.Purpose: In order to check for similar behavior in the mass $A=100$ region, the feeding of isomers and ground states in fast-neutron-induced reactions on stable isotopes in this mass region was studied. This is of especial interest for Rh which can be used as a radiochemical detector.Methods: Excited states were studied using the ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$), ($n,2n\ensuremath{\gamma}$), and ($n,3n\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reactions on $^{103}\mathrm{Rh}$ and $^{109}\mathrm{Ag}$. A germanium detector array for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detection and the broad-spectrum pulsed neutron source of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's Weapons Neutron Research facility were used for the measurement. The energy of the incident neutrons was determined using the time-of-flight technique.Results: Absolute partial $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray cross sections were measured for 57 transitions feeding isomers and ground states in $^{101,102,103}\mathrm{Rh}$ and $^{107,108,109}\mathrm{Ag}$. The feeding of the isomers was found to be very similar in the corresponding reaction channels and it is compared to the feeding determined for the ground states.Conclusions: The opening of reaction channels at higher neutron energies removes angular momentum from the residual nucleus and reduces the population of the higher-spin isomers relative to the feeding of the lower-spin ground states. Similar behavior was observed in the mass $A=190$ region in the feeding of higher-spin isomers, but the reverse behavior was observed in $^{176}\mathrm{Lu}$ with a lower-spin isomer and a higher-spin ground state.

First Measurement of Several β-Delayed Neutron Emitting Isotopes Beyond N=126.

The β-delayed neutron emission probabilities of neutron rich Hg and Tl nuclei have been measured together with β-decay half-lives for 20 isotopes of Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi in the mass region N≳126. These are the heaviest species where neutron emission has been observed so far. These measurements provide key information to evaluate the performance of nuclear microscopic and phenomenological models in reproducing the high-energy part of the β-decay strength distribution. This provides important constraints on global theoretical models currently used in r-process nucleosynthesis.

Near-barrier neutron transfer in reactions 3,6He + 45Sc and 3,6He + 197Au

Experimental cross sections for formation of 196,198Au isotopes in reactions 3,6He + 197Au and cross sections for formation of 44,46Sc isotopes in reactions 3,6He + 45Sc have been analyzed. To calculate neutron transfer probabilities and cross sections the time- dependent Schrödinger equation for external neutrons of 3He, 6He, 45Sc and 197Au nuclei has been solved numerically. It is shown that the contribution of fusion and subsequent evaporation is significant in the case of reactions 3,6He + 45Sc, whereas in the case of reactions 3,6He + 197Au, it is negligible. Fusion-evaporation was taken into account using NRV evaporation code. Results of calculations demonstrate overall satisfactory agreement with experimental data.

Near-barrier neutron transfer in reactions with 3He nucleus

Experimental cross sections for the formation of 196,198Au isotopes in the 3He + 197Au reaction and 44,46Sc isotopes in the 3He + 45Sc reaction are analyzed. To calculate transfer probabilities and cross sections, the time-dependent Schrodinger equation is numerically solved for the external neutrons of the 3He, 45Sc, and 197Au nuclei. It is shown that the contribution from the fusion channel with subsequent evaporation is important for the 3He + 45Sc reaction and negligibly small for the 3He + 197Au reaction. Fusion–evaporation is taken into account using the NRV and PACE codes. Calculation results demonstrate overall satisfactory agreement with experimental data.

Laser spectroscopy of atoms in superfluid helium for the measurement of nuclear spins and electromagnetic moments of radioactive atoms

A new laser spectroscopic method named “OROCHI (Optical RI-atom Observation in Condensed Helium as Ion catcher)” has been developed for deriving the nuclear spins and electromagnetic moments of low-yield exotic nuclei. In this method, we observe atomic Zeeman and hyperfine structures using laser-radio-frequency/microwave double-resonance spectroscopy. In our previous works, double-resonance spectroscopy was performed successfully with laser-sputtered stable atoms including non-alkali Au atoms as well as alkali Rb and Cs atoms. Following these works, measurements with 84−87Rb energetic ion beams were carried out in the RIKEN projectile fragment separator (RIPS). In this paper, we report the present status of OROCHI and discuss its feasibility, especially for low-yield nuclei such as unstable Au isotopes.

Level densities and thermodynamical properties of Pt and Au isotopes

The nuclear level densities of $^{194-196}$Pt and $^{197,198}$Au below the neutron separation energy have been measured using transfer and scattering reactions. All the level density distributions follow the constant-temperature description. Each group of isotopes is characterized by the same temperature above the energy threshold corresponding to the breaking of the first Cooper pair. A constant entropy excess $\Delta S=1.9$ and $1.1$ $k_B$ is observed in $^{195}$Pt and $^{198}$Au with respect to $^{196}$Pt and $^{197}$Au, respectively, giving information on the available single-particle level space for the last unpaired valence neutron. The breaking of nucleon Cooper pairs is revealed by sequential peaks in the microcanonical caloric curve.

β-decay and β-delayed Neutron Emission Measurements at GSI-FRS Beyond [formula omitted], for r-process Nucleosynthesis

New measurements of very exotic nuclei in the neutron-rich region beyond N=126 have been performed at the GSI facility with the fragment separator (FRS). The aim of the experiment is to determine half-lives and β-delayed neutron emission branching ratios of isotopes of Hg, Tl and Pb in this region. This contribution summarizes final counting statistics for identification and for implantation, as well as the present status of the data analysis of the half-lives. In summary, isotopes of Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po, At, Rn and Fr were clearly identified and several of them (208-211Hg, 211-215Tl, 214-218Pb) were implanted with enough statistics to determine their half-lives. About half of them are expected to be neutron emitters, in such cases it will become possible to obtain the neutron emission probabilities, Pn.