Nuclear Structure Investigations of some Medium-Weight Isotopes

<p>This thesis describes the methods and results of investigations made to determine the decay schemes of three short-lived isotopes 112Ag, 114Ag and 116Ag. A total of 76 gamma-rays was observed with a Ge(Li) detector in the gamma-radiation which follows the Beta-decay of 112Ag to levels of 112Cd. gamma- gamma coincidence and angular correlation measurements were made with Ge(Li)-NaI(T1) and NaI(T1)-NaI(T1) systems. A decay scheme consistent with the present data is proposed. Cross sections for the reactions 112Cd(n,p)112Ag and 115In(n, alpha)112Ag were measured, and the half-life of the 112Ag decay was found to be 3.14 plus-minus 0.01 hr. The decay scheme of 114Ag was studied with Ge(Li) gamma-ray detectors and plastic Beta-ray detectors. 9 of the 11 gamma-rays observed in the decay were incorporated into 114Cd level structure previously determined by conversion electron measurements on the 113Cd(n,gamma)114Cd reaction. The endpoint energy of the Beta-decay was determined as 4.90 plus-minus 0.26 MeV; no branching was evident in the Beta-spectrum. A decay scheme is proposed for which the Beta-branching was deduced from the measured gamma-ray yield and a calculated cross section value for the 114Cd(n,p)114Ag reaction. The 114Ag half-life was determined as 4.52 plus-minus 0.03 sec; a search for a previously reported isomeric state of 114Ag was unsuccessful. Ge(Li) and NaI(T1) gamma-ray detectors were used to study the direct and coincidence spectra that result from the decay of 116Ag, the half-life of which was found to be 2.50 plus-minus 0.02 min. 53 gamma-rays were observed from this decay. The Beta-branching to the 17 excited states of 116Cd in the proposed decay scheme was derived from the measured gamma-ray yield and a calculated cross section value for the 116Cd(n,p)Ag reaction. Spin and parity assignments for ihe energy levels of 116Cd are made. An investigation of the applicability of two collective models to nuclear structure typical of the Cd nuclei studied demonstrated that one of the models was misleading when applied to vibrational nuclei. A potential function was developed in the other model to extend the investigation to include a study of the transition between extremes of collective motion. This was used to examine the correspondence between nuclear level schemes representative of rotational and vibrational excitations.</p>

Nuclear Structure Investigations of some Medium-Weight Isotopes

<p>This thesis describes the methods and results of investigations made to determine the decay schemes of three short-lived isotopes 112Ag, 114Ag and 116Ag. A total of 76 gamma-rays was observed with a Ge(Li) detector in the gamma-radiation which follows the Beta-decay of 112Ag to levels of 112Cd. gamma- gamma coincidence and angular correlation measurements were made with Ge(Li)-NaI(T1) and NaI(T1)-NaI(T1) systems. A decay scheme consistent with the present data is proposed. Cross sections for the reactions 112Cd(n,p)112Ag and 115In(n, alpha)112Ag were measured, and the half-life of the 112Ag decay was found to be 3.14 plus-minus 0.01 hr. The decay scheme of 114Ag was studied with Ge(Li) gamma-ray detectors and plastic Beta-ray detectors. 9 of the 11 gamma-rays observed in the decay were incorporated into 114Cd level structure previously determined by conversion electron measurements on the 113Cd(n,gamma)114Cd reaction. The endpoint energy of the Beta-decay was determined as 4.90 plus-minus 0.26 MeV; no branching was evident in the Beta-spectrum. A decay scheme is proposed for which the Beta-branching was deduced from the measured gamma-ray yield and a calculated cross section value for the 114Cd(n,p)114Ag reaction. The 114Ag half-life was determined as 4.52 plus-minus 0.03 sec; a search for a previously reported isomeric state of 114Ag was unsuccessful. Ge(Li) and NaI(T1) gamma-ray detectors were used to study the direct and coincidence spectra that result from the decay of 116Ag, the half-life of which was found to be 2.50 plus-minus 0.02 min. 53 gamma-rays were observed from this decay. The Beta-branching to the 17 excited states of 116Cd in the proposed decay scheme was derived from the measured gamma-ray yield and a calculated cross section value for the 116Cd(n,p)Ag reaction. Spin and parity assignments for ihe energy levels of 116Cd are made. An investigation of the applicability of two collective models to nuclear structure typical of the Cd nuclei studied demonstrated that one of the models was misleading when applied to vibrational nuclei. A potential function was developed in the other model to extend the investigation to include a study of the transition between extremes of collective motion. This was used to examine the correspondence between nuclear level schemes representative of rotational and vibrational excitations.</p>

High spin levels in 119Te

High spin levels in 119Te have been populated following the 96Zr(30Si,α3n)119Te reaction at a beam energy of 135 MeV. The subsequent deexcitation was studied using γ-ray spectroscopic methods. New levels and several spin and parity assignments up to Jπ=55/2- were established. The decay scheme is characterized by single particle excitations. For the 39/2- level the fully aligned v(h11/2)^3 π(g7/2)^2 configuration is proposed, while the 55/2- level could be associated with the π(d5/2)^2 ν(h11/2)^5(g7/2)^-2 configuration.

A new evaluation of the nuclear decay data of 223Ra

Since 2013, the radionuclide 223Ra is used in nuclear medicine to prepare radiopharmaceuticals for targeted radiotherapy. 223Ra is a member of the natural radioactive series of actinium and decays by alpha-particle emission, populating the excited levels of 219Rn. According to the 2011 nuclear decay data evaluation within the Decay Data Evaluation Project (DDEP), by V.P. Chechev, the half-life of 223Ra is (11.43 ± 0.03) days. The decay scheme is not considered as fully complete, because of the disagreement between the measured and calculated probabilities of some alpha-transitions and incomplete information on several gamma-ray transitions. New high quality measurements of 223Ra nuclear decay data were performed and numerous results were published since 2012 and, consequently, an updated nuclear decay data evaluation was undertaken, according to the DDEP procedures. The main results obtained, focusing on the recommended data improvements, are presented and discussed in this paper.

Experimental validation of corrections factors for γ–γ and γ–X coincidence summing of 133Ba, 152Eu, and 125Sb in volume sources

True coincidence summing correction factors for 133Ba, 152Eu and 125Sb were determined experimentally for a small volume source and compared with correction factors obtained with three softwares (EFFTRAN-X, GESPECOR and VGSL). The radionuclides investigated have a relatively challenging decay scheme and their spectra are known to suffer from losses due to summation (γ–γ, γ–X and X–X) when measured at close distances on a HPGe detector sensitive to low energy photons. This study shows that the softwares were in good agreement with each other and the experimental data and the calculated activity was consistent with the activity in the volume source.

Beta delayed neutron measurements by means of Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer

Possibility to use Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer (MTAS) as a device to measure complete decay scheme, including β-n of neutron rich isotopes, has been investigated. Analysis of well known 87Br with its 2.6% β-n branching ratio served as a test case. Preliminary results agree with the published data.

Excited States and Collectivity in 88Se

The γ decays of excited states in the very neutron-rich nucleus 88Se have been observed following the cold neutron-induced fission of 235U at the PF1B facility of the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble. The EXILL array was used to measure γ - γ - γ coincidences, which were then analysed to build a level scheme of 88Se. A low (2+1) energy hints at the onset of quadrupole deformation and the identification of possible members of a (2+2) band provide evidence for γ vibrations. Shell-model calculations using a 78Ni core reproduce the experimental decay scheme well, implying that interactions between particles in the π f5/2 p and vsd orbits are responsible for much of the collectivity present. The algebraic collective model has also been used to interpret the experimental data, showing that that the experimental spectrum is consistent with 88Se being a transitional nucleus, possessing weak static β deformation and γ instability.