Reaching into the N = 40 Island of Inversion with Nucleon Removal Reactions

One ambitious goal of nuclear physics is a predictive model of all nuclei, including the ones at the fringes of the nuclear chart which may remain out of experimental reach. Certain regions of the chart are providing formidable testing grounds for nuclear models in this quest as they display rapid structural evolution from one nucleus to another or phenomena such as shape coexistence. Observables measured for such nuclei can confirm or refute our understanding of the driving forces of the evolution of nuclear structure away from stability where textbook nuclear physics has been proven to not apply anymore. This paper briefly reviews the emerging picture for the very neutron-rich Fe, Cr, and Ti isotopes within the so-called N=40 island of inversion as obtained with nucleon knockout reactions. These have provided some of the most detailed nuclear spectroscopy in very neutron-rich nuclei produced at rare-isotope facilities. The results indicate that our current understanding, as encoded in large-scale shell-model calculations, appears correct with exciting predictions for the N=40 island of inversion left to be proven in the experiment. A bright future emerges with predictions of continued shell evolution and shape coexistence out to neutron number N=50, below 78Ni on the chart of nuclei.

Cluster decay half-lives in trans-tin and transition metal region using RMF theory

In the present work, we have studied the alpha-like clusters (8Be, 12C, 16O, 20Ne, and 24Mg) decay half-lives in the trans-tin region for (106-116Xe, 108-122Ba, 114-124Ce, and 118-128Nd) and in transition metal region for (156-166Hf, 158-172W, 160-174Os, 166-180Pt, and 170-182Hg) nuclei. These half-lives have been calculated using the shape parametrization model of cluster decay in conjunction with the relativistic mean-field (RMF) model with the NL3* parameter set. Thus calculated cluster decay half-lives are also compared with the half-lives computed using the latest empirical relations, namely Universal decay law (UDL) and the Scaling Law given by Horoi et al.. From the calculated results, it has been observed that in the trans-tin region, the minimum cluster decay half-lives are found at nearly doubly magic or doubly magic daughter 100Sn (Nd = 50, Nd is the neutron number of the daughter nuclei) shell effect at Nd = 50 and in transition metal region, half-lives are minimum at Nd = 82, which is a magic number. Further, the Geiger-Nuttal plots of half-lives showing Q dependence for different alpha-like clusters from various CR emitters that have been plotted are found to vary linearly.

Isotopic shift in magic nuclei within relativistic mean-field formalism

The ground-state properties such as binding energy, root-mean-square radius, pairing energy, nucleons density distribution, symmetry energy, and single-particle energies are calculated for the isotopic chain of Ca, Sn, Pb, and Z = 120 nuclei. The recently developed G3 and IOPB-I forces along with the DD-ME1 and DD-ME2 sets are used in the analysis employing the relativistic mean-field approximation. To locate the magic numbers in the superheavy region and to explain the observed kink at neutron number N=82 for Sn isotopes, a three-point formula is used to see the shift of the observable and other nuclear properties in the isotopic chain. Unlike the electronic configuration, due to strong spin-orbit interaction, the higher spin orbitals are occupied earlier than the lower spin, causing the possible kink at the neutron magic numbers. We find peaks at the known neutron magic number with the confirmation of sub-shell, shell closure respectively at N=40, 184 for Ca and 304120.

Structural properties of nuclei with semi-magic number N(Z) = 40

In this paper, various ground state properties are explored for full isotonic(isotopic) chain of neutron number N [Formula: see text]proton number [Formula: see text] using different families of Relativistic Mean-Field theory. Several properties, such as nucleon separation energies, pairing energies, deformation, radii and nucleon density distributions, are evaluated and compared with the experimental data as well as those from other microscopic and macroscopic models. [Formula: see text] isotonic chain presents ample of support for the neutron magicity and articulates double magicity in recently discovered [Formula: see text]Ca and [Formula: see text]Ni. Our results are in close conformity with the recently measured value of charge radius of [Formula: see text]Ni [S. Kaufmann et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 124 (2020) 132502] which supports the [Formula: see text] magicity. Contrarily, Zr isotopes ([Formula: see text]) display variety of shapes leading to the phenomenon of shape transitions and shape co-existence. The role of 3s[Formula: see text] state, which leads to central depletion if unoccupied, is also investigated. [Formula: see text]S and [Formula: see text]Zr are found to be doubly bubble nuclei.

Evidence of a sudden increase in the nuclear size of proton-rich silver-96

Understanding the evolution of the nuclear charge radius is one of the long-standing challenges for nuclear theory. Recently, density functional theory calculations utilizing Fayans functionals have successfully reproduced the charge radii of a variety of exotic isotopes. However, difficulties in the isotope production have hindered testing these models in the immediate region of the nuclear chart below the heaviest self-conjugate doubly-magic nucleus 100Sn, where the near-equal number of protons (Z) and neutrons (N) lead to enhanced neutron-proton pairing. Here, we present an optical excursion into this region by crossing the N = 50 magic neutron number in the silver isotopic chain with the measurement of the charge radius of 96Ag (N = 49). The results provide a challenge for nuclear theory: calculations are unable to reproduce the pronounced discontinuity in the charge radii as one moves below N = 50. The technical advancements in this work open the N = Z region below 100Sn for further optical studies, which will lead to more comprehensive input for nuclear theory development.

Charge radii of exotic potassium isotopes challenge nuclear theory and the magic character of N = 32

Nuclear charge radii are sensitive probes of different aspects of the nucleon–nucleon interaction and the bulk properties of nuclear matter, providing a stringent test and challenge for nuclear theory. Experimental evidence suggested a new magic neutron number at N = 32 (refs. 1–3) in the calcium region, whereas the unexpectedly large increases in the charge radii4,5 open new questions about the evolution of nuclear size in neutron-rich systems. By combining the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy method with β-decay detection, we were able to extend charge radii measurements of potassium isotopes beyond N = 32. Here we provide a charge radius measurement of 52K. It does not show a signature of magic behaviour at N = 32 in potassium. The results are interpreted with two state-of-the-art nuclear theories. The coupled cluster theory reproduces the odd–even variations in charge radii but not the notable increase beyond N = 28. This rise is well captured by Fayans nuclear density functional theory, which, however, overestimates the odd–even staggering effect in charge radii. These findings highlight our limited understanding of the nuclear size of neutron-rich systems, and expose problems that are present in some of the best current models of nuclear theory.

Theoretical Study on the Formation of 1-neutron and 2-neutron Halo Nuclei via Decay of Elements in Super-Heavy Region

The possibility for the existence of 1-neutron and 2-neutron halo nuclei through the decay of even-even nuclei 270-316116, 272-318118 and 278-320120 in the super-heavy region is studied within the frame work of the Coulomb and Proximity Potential Model (CPPM). Halo structure in neutron rich nuclei with Z<=20 is identified by calculating the neutron separation energies and on the basis of potential energy considerations. The 1n + core configuration of proposed 1-neutron halo nuclei between z=10 and Z=20 is found shifted to 2n + core configuration in higher angular momentum states. The calculation of half-life of decay is performed by considering the proposed halo nuclei as spherical cluster and as deformed nuclei with a rms radius. Except for 15C, the half-life of decay is found decreased when the rms radius is considered. Only the 1-neutron halo nuclei 26F and 55Ca showed half-lives of decay which are less than the experimental limit. None of the proposed 2-neutron halo nuclei have shown a half-life of decay lower than the experimental limit. Also, the probability for the emission of neutron halo nuclei is found to be less in super-heavy region when compared with the clusters of same isotope family. Further, neutron shell closure at neutron numbers 150, 164 and 184 is identified form the plot of log10 T1/2 verses the neutron number of parents. The plots of Q-1/2 verses log10 T1/2 and -ln P verses log10 T1/2 for various halo nuclei emitted from the super-heavy elements are found to be linear showing that Geiger-Nuttall law is applicable to the emission of neutron halo also.

Beta Decay Studies of Nuclides in the Heavy Region

In the present work we studied the β-decay of various isotopes in the heavy region using the empirical formula of Fiset and Nix. It is found from the half-life that as the neutron number increases the possibility of β-decay increases. From the dependence of beta decay half-life on neutron number of parent and Q-value, we modified empirical formula of Fiset and Nix for beta decay half-life. We also developed an empirical formula for the Z-value of most stable isobar against β-decay. From the study of mass parabola for different isobars with mass number ranging from 200-223 it was found that the lowest point in the parabola, which is the Z-value of most stable isobar against β-decay, matches well with our formula predictions.

Study of giant dipole resonances for neodymium isotopes with an exciton model

The partial photonuclear [Formula: see text], pn) and [Formula: see text] and the total photonuclear cross-sections (the giant dipole resonance (GDR)) have been investigated theoretically for neodymium isotopes, namely [Formula: see text]Nd, using framework of the EMPIRE 3.2.2 code. The energy, width and cross-section parameters of the GDR used in our calculations have been investigated in this paper depending on the deformation parameters of nuclei. The calculated results have been compared with the experimental data and with those calculated using Lorentzian fitting parameters. Our calculations show a good agreement for all isotopes under study and give better results than the results calculated with Lorentzian parameters. Furthermore, the neutron number dependence of the total and partial photonuclear cross-sections has also been discussed. The results appear that the EMPIRE code used is a perfect tool for reproducing the splitting in the GDR for deformed [Formula: see text]Nd isotope in two distinct dipole modes which are perfectly consistent with the experimental results. It has also been shown that the present parameters are suitable parameters for reproducing the GDR for spherical, or nearly spherical, and the deformed ([Formula: see text]Nd) neodymium isotopes. The parameters have been indicating the small deformation in [Formula: see text]Nd, which cannot be shown by the Lorentzian fitting parameters.