Excitation of the dynamical dipole in the charge asymmetric reaction O + Sn

The γ-ray emission from the dynamical dipole formed in heavy-ion collisions during the process leading to fusion was measured for the N/Z asymmetric reaction ¹⁶O + ¹¹⁶Sn at beam energies of 8.1 and 15.6 MeV/nucleon. High-energy γ-rays and charged particles were measured in coincidence with the heavy recoiling residual nuclei. The data are compared with those from the N/Z symmetric reaction ⁶⁴Ni + ⁶⁸Zn at bombarding energies of 4.7 and 7.8 MeV/nucleon, leading to the same CN with the same excitation energies as calculated from kinematics. The measured yield of the high-energy γ-rays from the ¹⁶O-induced reaction is found to exceed that of the thermalized CN and the excess yield increases with bombarding energy. The data are in rather good agreement with the predictions for the dynamical dipole emission based on the Boltzmann–Nordheim–Vlasov model. In addition, a comparison with existing data in the same mass region is performed to extract information on the dipole moment dependence.     

The low-lying isoscalar giant dipole resonance

This short note is aimed to comment on the recently observed low component of the isoscalar giant dipole resonance in connection with the theoretical predictions made by microscopic and hydrodynamical models. Received: 23 November 2001 / Accepted: 15 February 2002     

Symmetry Energy and Isovector Giant Dipole Resonance in Finite Nuclei

We study the relationship between the properties of the isovector giant dipole resonance of finite nuclei and the symmetry energy in the framework of the relativistic mean field theory with six different parameter sets of nonlinear effective Lagrangian. A strong linear correlation of excited energies of the dipole resonance in finite nuclei and symmetry energy at and below the saturation density is found. This linear correlation leads to the symmetry energy at the saturation density at the interval 33.0 MeV ≤ S（po） 〈37.0 MeV. The comparison to the present experimental data in the soft dipole mode of 132Sn constrains approximately the symmetry energy at p = 0,1 fm^-3 at the interval 21,2MeV- 22.5 MeV. It is proposed that a precise measurement of the soft dipole mode in neutron rich nuclei could set up an important constraint on the equation of state for asymmetric nuclear matter.     

Eigenresonance states in the Kronig-Penney model

We investigate a sandwich of three layer systems with Dirac -functions in the Kronig-Penney model. The inner system ofN=5 atomic layers is enclosed by the two outer systems with different potential strength. The numberM of the atomic layers in the outer system is varied betweenM=9 and infinity, whereas the numberN of the inner layers is held fixed. We obtain the transmission coefficient for the finite system in the region of scattering energies (E>0). An alternating set of transmission gaps, transmission bands and bands of eigenresonance states is obtained. The normalizable eigenresonances occur (forM going to infinity), if a transmission band of the inner system overlaps a transmission gap of the outer systems. The reason for obtaining solutions of standing waves in the band of eigenresonances is the rapid change of the wave phase of a traveling wave, which occurs in a transmission band of the inner system.     

Incorporation of nitrogen into amorphous-hydrogenated carbon (diamond-like) films

Nitrogen-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon films (a-C:H) were prepared by mixing nitrogen gas and benzene during dc plasma discharge deposition. The growth rate of the film decreases strongly with increasing nitrogen content in the mixture. The nitrogen concentration in the films was determined by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) using suitable calibration samples. The results of AES measurements are generally consistent with NRA values. Nitrogen incorporation in the a-C:H films shows pronounced doping effects as reflected in their optical and electrical properties.Dedicated to Professor J. P. F. Sellschop for his 60^th birthday     

Low-energy monopole and dipole response in nuclei at finite temperature

The multipole response of nuclei at temperatures T=0–2 MeV$T=0\text{–}2\text{MeV}$ is studied using a self-consistent finite-temperature RPA (random phase approximation) based on relativistic energy density functionals. Illustrative calculations are performed for the isoscalar monopole and isovector dipole modes and, in particular, the evolution of low-energy excitations with temperature is analyzed, including the modification of pygmy structures. Both for the monopole and dipole modes, in the temperature range T=1–2 MeV$T=1\text{–}2\text{MeV}$ additional transition strength appears at low energies due to thermal unblocking of single-particle orbitals close to the Fermi level. A concentration of dipole strength around 10 MeV excitation energy is predicted in ^60,62Ni. The principal effect of finite temperature on low-energy strength that is already present at zero temperature, e.g. in ⁶⁸Ni and ¹³²Sn, is the spreading of this structure to even lower energy and the appearance of states that correspond to thermally unblocked transitions.     

Isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance in Relativistic Continuum Random Phase Approximation

The isoscalar giant monopole resonance （ISGMR） in nuclei is studied in the framework of a fully consistent relativistic continuum random phase approximation （RCRPA）. In this method the contribution of the continuum spectrum to nuclear excitations is treated exactly by the single particle Green＇s function technique. The negative energy states in the Dirac sea are also included in the single particle Green＇s function in the no-sea approximation. The single particle Green＇s function is calculated numerically by a proper product of the regular and irregular solutions of the Dirac equation. The strength distributions in the RCRPA calculations, the inverse energyweighted sum rule m-1 and the centroid energy of the ISGMR in ^120Sn and ^208Pb are analysed. Numerical results of the RCRPA are checked with the constrained relativistic mean field model and relativistic random phase approximation with a discretized spectrum in the continuum. Good agreement between them is achieved.     

Inverse kinematics resonance scattering on thick target with EXCYT beams

The resonance scattering method in inverse kinematics on infinite target has been applied to two systems, ¹⁸O + α and ⁹Be + α, in order to test and to optimize an experimental apparatus in view of a set of resonance scattering experiments to be performed with ⁸Li and ⁹Li radioactive ion beams delivered by the facility EXCYT. The scattering excitation functions, deduced for the two systems, were compared with previous results reported in literature. Results show that reliable stopping power data are essential for the application of this technique.     

Evolution of the giant dipole resonance properties with excitation energy

The studies of the evolution of the hot Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) properties as a function of excitation energy are reviewed. The discussion will mainly focus on the A ∼ 100-120 mass region where a large amount of data concerning the width and the strength evolution with excitation energy are available. Models proposed to interpret the main features and trends of the experimental results will be presented and compared to the available data in order to extract a coherent scenario on the limits of the development of the collective motion in nuclei at high excitation energy. Experimental results on the GDR built in hot nuclei in the mass region A ∼ 60-70 will be also shown, allowing to investigate the mass dependence of the main GDR features. The comparison between limiting excitation energies for the collective motion and critical excitation energies extracted from caloric curve studies will suggest a possible link between the disappearance of collective motion and the liquid-gas phase transition.     

Collisional damping of giant monopole and quadrupole resonances

Collisional damping widths of giant monopole and quadrupole excitations for ¹²⁰Sn and ²⁰⁸Pb at zero and finite temperatures are calculated within Thomas-Fermi approximation by employing the microscopic in-medium cross-sections of Li and Machleidt and the phenomenological Skyrme and Gogny forces, and are compared with each other. The results for the collisional widths of giant monopole and quadrupole vibrations at zero temperature as a function of the mass number show that the collisional damping of giant monopole vibrations accounts for about 30 - 40% of the observed widths at zero temperature, while for giant quadrupole vibrations it accounts for only 20 - 30% of the observed widths at zero temperature. Received: 9 January 2001 / Accepted: 29 March 2001     

Inclusive and exclusive measurements of high energy γ-rays in the 101 MeV <Superscript>19</Superscript>F +<Superscript>181</Superscript>Ta fusion reaction

The high energy γ-rays from the fusion-evaporation reaction 101 MeV ¹⁹F +¹⁸¹Ta have been measured in coincidence with different γ-ray fold windows or discrete γ-rays in final residual nuclei. The line-shape analysis of the high energy γ-ray spectra confirms the large deformation of the ²⁰⁰Pb nuclei at high angular momenta. Coincidences with discrete γ-transitions evidence a strong correlation between γ-rays in the Giant Dipole Resonance region (E_γ≥ 8 MeV) and final evaporation residues. Received: 14 September 1999 / Revised version: 17 December 1999     

Nuclear giant resonances and linear response

We search for nonlinear effects in nuclear giant resonances (GRs), in particular the isovector dipole and the isoscalar quadrupole modes. To that end, we employ a spectral analysis of time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) dynamics using Skyrme forces. Based on TDHF calculations over a wide range of excitation amplitudes, we explore the collectivity and degree of harmonic motion in these modes. Both GR modes turn out to be highly harmonic in heavy nuclei from A = 100 on. There is no trace of a transition to irregular motion and multiple resonances are predicted. Slight anharmonicities are seen for light nuclei, particularly for ¹⁶O. These are mainly caused by the spin-orbit splitting.     

Deducing the nuclear-matter incompressibility coefficient from data on isoscalar compression modes

Accurate assessment of the value of the incompressibility coefficient, K, of symmetric nuclear matter, which is directly related to the curvature of the equation of state (EOS), is needed to extend our knowledge of the EOS in the vicinity of the saturation point. We review the current status of K as determined from experimental data on isoscalar giant monopole and dipole resonances (compression modes) in nuclei, by employing the microscopic theory based on the random-phase approximation (RPA).     

Giant dipole resonance and shape transitions in warm and rapidly rotating nuclei

We discuss the shape transitions in few medium heavy-mass nuclei with emphasis on low-temperature behaviour of the giant dipole resonance (GDR) observables. We employ a macroscopic approach towards GDR in which the GDR observables are related to the nuclear shapes. Shape calculations were done using the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky method (CNSM) extended to finite temperature. Thermal shape fluctuations are computed with free energies calculated employing Landau parameterization as well as those calculated exactly (without using parameterizations) at given spin and temperature. The results obtained are confronted with the experimental data wherever available. Our study reveals that if the fluctuations are treated properly, then, in spite of thermal fluctuations, GDR observables could very well reflect the shape transitions at low temperature.     

Giant monopole resonances in the statistical model

The strength functions fore ⁺ e ^– pair decay of the isoscalar and isovector giant monopole resonances in highly excited nuclei are derived and used in a statistical model calculation of thee ⁺ e ^– pair energy spectrum from compound nuclear decay in¹¹⁰Sn following a fusion evaporation reaction. This result is then compared to thee ⁺ e ^– spectrum derived from internal pair decay of the giant dipole and giant quadrupole resonances. The computation shows that the pair decay from the excited-state GDR dominates the pair spectrum over the region of all giant resonances, exceedingL=0 transitions by at least a factor of ten. We also compute the angular correlations betweene ⁺ ande ^– for theL=0, L=1 andL=2 transitions and estimate their power to discriminate between the various multipolarities.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. P. Kienle on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Reactions with fast radioactive beams of neutron-rich nuclei

The neutron dripline has presently been reached only for the lightest nuclei up to the element oxygen. In this region of light neutron-rich nuclei, scattering experiments are feasible even for dripline nuclei by utilizing high-energy secondary beams produced by fragmentation. In the present article, reactions of high-energy radioactive beams will be exemplified using recent experimental results mainly derived from measurements of breakup reactions performed at the LAND and FRS facilities at GSI and at the S800 spectrometer at the NSCL. Nuclear and electromagnetically induced reactions allow probing different aspects of nuclear structure at the limits of stability related to the neutron-proton asymmetry and the weak binding close to the dripline. Properties of the valence-neutron wave functions are studied in the one-neutron knockout reaction, revealing the changes of shell structure when going from the beta-stability line to more asymmetric loosely bound neutron-rich systems. The vanishing of the N = 8 shell gap for neutron-rich systems like ¹¹Li and ¹²Be, or the new closed N = 14, 16 shells for the oxygen isotopes are examples. The continuum of weakly bound nuclei and halo states can be studied by inelastic scattering. The dipole response, for instance, is found to change dramatically when going away from the valley of stability. A redistribution of the dipole strength towards lower excitation energies is observed for neutron-rich nuclei, which partly might be due to a new collective excitation mode related to the neutron-proton asymmetry. Halo nuclei, in particular, show strong dipole transitions to the continuum at the threshold, being directly related to the ground-state properties of the projectile. Finally, an outlook on future experimental prospects is given.     

Coulomb corrections to Delbrück scattering

The emission of high-energy-rays in the deexcitation of hot⁴⁰Ca and³⁹K nuclei formed in heavy-ion fusion reactions at excitation energyE _x 90 MeV has been studied. The high energy-rays were measured in coincidence with evaporation residues or light charged particles. The spectrum from the self-conjugated compound nucleus⁴⁰Ca shows an appreciable yield suppression in the Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) energy region with respect to the³⁹K, due to isospin selection rules in the dipole-decay. The spectral line shapes of the spectra are well reproduced by using a statistical code which treats explicitly the isospin quantum number in evaluating level densities and transmission coefficients. The GDR parameters determined from the present coincidence measurements are in good agreement with the systematic in theA 40 mass region at lower bombarding energy based on the analysis of inclusive spectra.We thank M. Caldogno for technical support in the development of evaporation residues detectors. We acknowledge the participation of M. Anghinolfi, P. Corvisiero, M. Taiuti and A. Zucchiatti in the early stages of this work. Thanks are due to M. Kicinska-Habior for providing the isospin-dependent code. Discussions with B. Fornal are also gratefully acknowledged.     

Pre-equilibrium γ ray emission in different reaction mechanisms at 8 MeV/nucleon

Recent experimental results on particles-γ coincidence measurements on the systems ¹²C +⁶⁴Ni and ³⁵Cl +⁶⁴Ni at about 8 MeV/nucleon are interpreted as due to the effect of a Dipole pre-equilibrium emission produced during the damping of the proton-neutron relative collective motion in very deformed intermediate systems formed in the first instants of the collision. The pre-equilibrium effects are evaluated through semiclassic kinetic theories and through modified statistical approach to include non-stationary effects in Fusion processes, Massive Transfer reactions (in the ¹²C +⁶⁴Ni system) and in Binary Dissipative reactions (in the ³⁵Cl +⁶⁴Ni system). In particular the study performed on the dipole molecular component allows to establish a link between the above phenomenon and the charge and mass transfer process in quasi-peripheral reactions. Received: 15 April 1998 / Revised version: 8 June 1998