The beta decay of N-21

The beta-delayed neutron and gamma energy spectra taken from the decay of neutron-rich nucleus N-21 were measured by using the beta - gamma and beta - n coincidence detection method. Thirteen new neutron groups ranging from 0.28MeV to 4.98 MeV and with a total branching ratio of 88.7 +/- 4.2% were observed and presented. One gamma transition with an energy of 1222 keV emitted from the excited state of O-21, and four gamma transitions with energies of 1674, 2397, 2780, and 3175 keV emitted from the excited states of O-20 were identified in the 3 decay chain of N-21. The beta decay half-life for N-21 is determined to be 82.9 +/- 1.9 ms. The uncertainty of half-life is much smaller than the previous result.

beta-delayed fission of Ac-228

The basic process of an exotic decay mode namely P-delayed fission is simply introduced. The progress status of the study in the world is essentialized. The observation of P-delayed fission of Ac-228 is reported. The radium was radiochemically separated from natural thorium. Thin Ra sources in which Ac-228 was got through Ra-228 ->(beta-) Ac-228 were prepared for observing fission fragments from beta-delayed fission Ac-228. They exposed to the mica fission track detectors, and measured by an HPGe gamma-ray detector. The beta-delayed fission events of Ac-228 were observed and its beta-delayed fission probability was found to be (5 +/- 2) x 10(-12).

beta-delayed neutron decay of N-21

The beta-delayed neutron and gamma spectra of neutron-rich nucleus N-21 using beta-gamma and beta-n coincidence measurements were presented in this paper. Thirteen new neutron groups ranging from 0.28 MeV to 4.98 MeV and with a total branching ratio 88.7 +/- 4.2% were observed. One gamma transition among the excited states of O-21 and foury transitions among the excited states of O-20 were identified in the beta decay chain of N-21. The ungated half-life of 83.8 +/- 2.1 ms was also determined for N-21.

Efficiency calibration of neutron detector array for beta decay of exotic nuclei

The research of the in-beam efficiency calibration of Neutron Detector Array of Peking University using N-17 and C-16 beams was introduced in this paper. The efficiency of neutron wall and ball are comparable to the foreign similar devices and neutrons can be detected from low to high energies in high efficiency.

beta-Delayed proton decays in the rare-earth region near drip line

The history of experimental study on beta-delayed proton decays in the rare-earth region was simply reviewed. The physical results of the beta-delayed proton decays obtained at IMP, Lanzhou over the last 10 years were summarized, mainly including the first observation of 9 new beta-delayed proton precursors along the odd-Z proton drip line and the new data for 2 waiting-point nuclei in the rp-process. The results were compared and discussed with different nuclear model calculations. Finally, the perspective in near future was briefly introduced.

beta(+)/EC decay and systematic analysis of Ir-176,Ir-178

The gamma rays following the beta(+)/EC decay of Ir-176,Ir-178 nuclei have been investigated using in-beam gamma-ray experiment. In addition, with the aid of a helium-jet recoil fast tape transport system, the beta(+)/EC decay of Ir-176 was further studied, the new gamma rays were proved and a low-spin isomer was proposed in Ir-176. The isomeric state was analysized according to the systematics in neighboring nuclei.

Search for beta-delayed fission of Ac-228

Radium was radiochemically separated from natural thorium. Thin Ra-228 ->beta Ac-228 sources were prepared and exposed to mica fission track detectors, and measured by an HPGe gamma-ray detector. The beta-delayed fission events of Ac-228 were observed and its beta-delayed fission probability was found to be (5 +/- 2)x10(-12).

beta-delayed proton decays of Sm-133 and Yb-149

Sm-133 was produced via fusion evaporation in the reaction Ca-40+Ru-96. Its P-delayed proton decay was studied by means of "p-gamma" coincidence in combination with a He-jet tape transport system, including half-lives, proton energy spectra, gamma-transitions following the proton emissions, and the branching ratios to the low-lying states in the grand-daughter nuclei. The possible spins and parities of 133Sm were extracted by fitting the experimental data with a statistical model calculation. The configuration-constrained nuclear potential energy surfaces of Sm-133 were calculated by using the Woods-Saxon Strutinsky method. Comparing the experimental and calculated results, the spins and parities Of Sm-133 were assigned to be 5/2(+) and 1/2(-), which is reconciled with our published simple (EC+beta(+)) decay scheme Of Sm-113 in 2001. In addition, our experimental data on the beta-delayed proton decay of Yb-149 reported in Eur. Phys. J., 2001, A12: 1-4 was also analyzed by using the same method. The spin and parity of Yb-149 was assigned to be 1/2-.

beta-delayed proton decays and spin assignments for Sm-133 and Yb-149

The proton-rich isotope Sm-133 was produced via the fusion evaporation reaction Ca-40 + Ru-96. Its beta-delayed proton decay was studied by p-gamma coincidence in combination with a He-jet tape transport system, and half-lives, proton energy spectra, gamma-transitions following the proton emission, as well as beta-delayed proton branching ratios to the low-lying states in the grand-daughter nucleus were determined. Comparing the observed beta-delayed proton branching ratios with statistical model calculations, the best agreement is found assuming that only one level with the spin of 3/2 in Sm-133 decays or two levels with the spins of 1/2 and 5/2 decay with similar half-lives. The configuration-constrained nuclear potential energy surfaces of Sm-133 were calculated using the Woods-Saxon-Strutinsky method, which suggests a 1/2-ground state and a 5/2(+) isomer with an excitation energy of 120 keV. Therefore, the simple(EC+beta(+)) decay scheme of Sm-133 in Eur. Phys. J.A 11,277(2001) has been revised. In addition, our previous experimental data on the beta-delayed proton decay of Yb-149 reported in Eur. Phys. J. A 12,1 ( 2 0 0 1) was also analyzed using the same method. The spin-parity of Yb-149 is suggested to be 1/2(-).

beta-delayed proton decays of Tb-140 and Dy-140 as well as the spin and parity of Dy-143

Tb-140 and Dy-141 were produced via fusion evaporation in the reaction Ca-40+Cd-106. Their beta-delayed proton decays were studied by means of "p-gamma" coincidence in combination with a He-jet tape transport system, including half-lives, proton energy spectra, gamma-transitions following the proton emissions, and the branching ratios to the low-lying states in the grand-daughter nuclei. The ground-state spins and parities of Tb-140 and Dy-141 were extracted as 7(+/-) and 9/2(+/-), respectively, by fitting the experimental data with a statistical model calculation. The configuration-constrained nuclear potential energy surfaces (NPES) of Tb-140 and Dy-141 were calculated by using the Woods-Saxon Strutinsky method, which indicate the ground-state spins and parities of Tb-140 and Dy-147 to be 7(+) and 9/2(-), respectively. In addition, the configuration-constrained NPES of Dy-143 was also calculated by using the same method. From the NPES a 1/2(+) ground state and a 11/2(-) isomer with the excitation energy of 198keV were found. The calculated results are consistent with our experimental data on the decay of Dy-143 reported in Eur. Phys. J., 2003, A16: 347-351.

beta-delayed proton decays and spin assignments for Tb-140, Dy-141 and Dy-143

The proton-rich isotopes Tb-140 and Dy-141 were produced via the fusion evaporation reaction Ca-40+ Cd-106. Their beta-delayed proton decays were studied by p-gamma coincidence in combination with a He-jet tape transport system, and half-lives, proton energy spectra, gamma-transitions following the proton emission, as well as beta-delayed proton branching ratios to the low-lying states in the grand-daughter nuclei were determined. Comparing the experimental data with statistical model calculations, the ground-state spins of Tb-140 and Dy-141 were found to be consistent with 7 and 9/2, respectively. The configuration-constrained nuclear potential energy surfaces (NPES) of Tb-140 and Dy-141 were calculated using the Woods-Saxon-Strutinsky method, which suggest the ground-state spins and parities of Tb-140 and Dy-141 to be 7(+) and 9/2(-), respectively. In addition, the configuration-constrained NPES of Dy-143 were calculated, which predict a 1/2(+) ground state and a 11/2(-) isomer with excitation energy of 198 keV. These findings are consistent with our previous experimental data on Dy-143 reported in Eur. Phys. J. A 16, 347 (2003).

beta(+)/EC-decay study of Ir-176 neutron-deficient isotope

The beta(+)/EC decay of doubly odd Ir-176 has been investigated using Nd-146(Cl-35, 5n gamma)Ir-176 heavy ion fusion evaporation reaction at 210MeV bombarding energy. With the aid of a helium-jet recoil fast tape transport system, the reaction products were transported to a low-background location for measurements. Based on the data analysis, the previously published gamma rays in Ir-176 decay were proved, moreover, 3 new levels and 10 new gamma rays were assigned to Ir-176 decay. The new level scheme of Os-176 with low excitation energy has been established. The time spectra of typical gamma rays clearly indicate a long-lived low-spin isomer in Ir-176 nuclide.

Experimental study of the beta-delayed proton decays of Er-145,Er-147

The beta-delayed proton decays of Er-145,Er-147 have been studied experimentally using the Ni-58 + Mo-92 reaction at beam energy of 383 MeV. On the basis of a He-jet apparatus coupled with a tape transport system, the beta-delayed proton radioactivities both from the nu s(1/2) ground state and the nu h(11/2) isomer in Er-145,Er-147 were observed by proton-gamma coincidence measurements. By analyzing the time distributions of the 4(+) -> 2(gamma)(+) transitions in the granddaughter nuclei Dy-144,Dy-146, the half-lives of 1.0 +/- 0.3 s and 1.6 +/- 0.2 s have been deduced for the nu h(11/2) isomers in Er-145,Er-147, respectively.

Properties of the beta-delayed proton decay of Ho-146

The proton-rich isotope Ho-148 was produced via the fusion-evaporation reaction Mo-92 (Ni-58, 3p1n). The beta-delayed proton decay of Ho-146 was studied by proton-gamma coincidence measurements using a He-jet tape transport system. The gamma-transitions in Tb-145 following the proton emissions were observed, and the beta-delayed proton branching ratios to the final states in the grand-daughter nucleus Tb-145 were determined. According to the relative branching ratios, the ground-state spin of Ho-146 has been proposed and the possible configuration discussed.

Properties of the beta-Delayed Proton Decay of Er-147

The beta-delayed proton decay of Er-147 is studied experimentally using the Ni-58+Mo-92 reaction at a beam energy of 383 MeV. Based on a He-jet apparatus coupled with a tape transport system, the beta-delayed proton radioactivities both from the nu s(1/2) ground state and the nu h(11/2) isomer in Er-147 are identified by proton-gamma coincidence measurements. By analyzing the time distribution of the 4(+) -> 2(+) gamma transition in the grand-daughter nucleus Dy-146, a half-life of 1.6 +/- 0.2 s is determined for the nu h(11/2) isomer in Er-147. The half-life for the ground state of Er-147 is estimated to be 3.2 +/- 1.2 s.