The last decades brought an impressive progress in synthesizing and studying properties of nuclides located very far from the beta stability line. Among the most fundamental properties of such exotic nuclides, usually established first, is the half-life, possible radioactive decay modes, and their relative probabilities. When approaching limits of nuclear stability, new decay modes set in. First, beta decays become accompanied by emission of nucleons from highly excited states of daughter nuclei. Second, when the nucleon separation energy becomes negative, nucleons start to be emitted from the ground state. Here, we present a review of the decay modes occurring close to the limits of stability. The experimental methods used to produce, identify and detect new species and their radiation are discussed. The current theoretical understanding of these decay processes is overviewed. The theoretical description of the most recently discovered and most complex radioactive process - the two-proton radioactivity - is discussed in more detail.
Slowly extracted relativistic beams of light nuclei and a beam transportation line net system constitute a good base for secondary nuclear beams forming at the LHE accelerator facility. A recent years activity in the field at the Laboratory is connected with a project on study light nuclei structure by means the emulsion technique [1,2]. The paper shortly summarizes results of the work.
The advent and intensive use of new detector technologies as well as radioactive ion beam facilities have opened up possibilities to investigate alpha, proton and cluster decays of highly unstable nuclei. This article provides a review of the current status of our understanding of clustering and the corresponding radioactive particle decay process in atomic nuclei. We put alpha decay in the context of charged-particle emissions which also include one- and two-proton emissions as well as heavy cluster decay. The experimental as well as the theoretical advances achieved recently in these fields …
Opportunities for investigations of nuclear reactions at the future nuclear physics facilities such as radioactive ion beam facilities and high-power laser facilities are considered. Post-accelerated radioactive ion beams offer possibilities for study of the role of isospin asymmetry in the reaction mechanisms at various beam energies. Fission barrier heights of neutron-deficient nuclei can be directly determined at low energies. Post-accelerated radioactive ion beams, specifically at the future facilities such as HIE-ISOLDE, SPIRAL-2 or RAON-RISP can be also considered as a candidate for prod…
Reactions with radioactive nuclear beams at relativistic energies have opened new doors to clarify the mechanisms of stellar evolution and cataclysmic events involving stars and during the big bang epoch. Numerous nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest cannot be assessed directly in laboratory experiments. Ironically, some of the information needed to describe such reactions, at extremely low energies (e.g., keVs), can only be studied on Earth by using relativistic collisions between heavy ions at GeV energies. In this contribution, we make a short review of experiments with relativistic …
Traditionally, the production of neutron-rich nuclei in laboratories has been impossible. However, with the accelerator facilities now available at the ATLAS facility of Argonne National Laboratory, there is now a unique opportunity for the study of such nuclei. By studying how the Rb-94 nucleus decays and releases energy, there has been a potential to update the currently accepted information, with further applications in nuclear astrophysics and nuclear reactor dynamics.
Atomic physics techniques for the determination of ground-state properties of radioactive isotopes are very sensitive and provide accurate masses, binding energies, Q-values, charge radii, spins, and electromagnetic moments. Many fields in nuclear physics benefit from these highly accurate numbers. They give insight into details of the nuclear structure for a better understanding of the underlying effective interactions, provide important input for studies of fundamental symmetries in physics, and help to understand the nucleosynthesis processes that are responsible for the observed chemical a…
Nuclear masses are the most fundamental of all nuclear properties, yet they can provide a wealth of knowledge, including information on astrophysical sites, constraints on existing theory, and fundamental symmetries. In nearly all applications, it is necessary to measure nuclear masses with very high precision. As mass measurements push to more short-lived and more massive nuclei, the practical constraints on mass measurement techniques become more exacting. Various techniques used to measure nuclear masses, including their advantages and disadvantages are described. Descriptions of some of th…
Direct nuclear reactions with radioactive ion beams represent an extremely powerful tool to extend the study of fundamental nuclear properties far from stability. These measurements require pure and dense targets to cope with the low beam intensities. The $^3$He cryogenic target HeCTOr has been designed to perform direct nuclear reactions in inverse kinematics. The high density of $^3$He scattering centers, of the order of 10$^{20}$ atoms/cm$^2$, makes it particularly suited for experiments where low-intensity radioactive beams are involved. The target was employed in a first in-beam experimen…
The experimental study of magnetic moments for nuclear states near the ground state, $I \ge 2$, provides a powerful tool to test nuclear structure models. The study of magnetic moments in nuclei far away from the stability line is the next frontier in such studies. Two techniques have been utilized to populated low-spin states in radioactive nuclei: coulomb excitation reactions using radioactive nuclei, and the transfer of $α$ particles to stable beams to populate low spin states in radioactive nuclei. A presentations of these two techniques, along with the experimental challenges presented fo…
The performance of high-precision mass spectrometry of radioactive isotopes can often be hindered by large amounts of contamination, including molecular species, stemming from the production of the radioactive beam. In this paper, we report on the development of Collision-Induced Dissociation (CID) as a means of background reduction for experiments at TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science (TITAN). This study was conducted to characterize the quality and purity of radioactive ion beams and the reduction of molecular contaminants to allow for mass measurements of radioactive isotopes …
Knowledge of the decay rates (or half-lives) of radioisotopes is critical in many fields, including medicine, archeology, and nuclear physics, to name just a few. Central to the many uses of radioisotopes is the belief that decay rates are fundamental constants of nature, just as the masses of the radioisotopes themselves are. Recently, the belief that decay rates are fundamental constants has been called into question following the observation of various reported anomalies in decay rates, such as apparent periodic variations. The purpose of this bibliography is to collect in one place the rel…
The main aim of research is to investigate the physical features of spatial distribution of the adsorbed radioactive chemical elements and their isotopes in the granular filtering medium in the iodine air filters of the type of AU1500 in the forced exhaust ventilation systems at the nuclear power plant. The gamma activation analysis method is applied to accurately characterize the distribution of the adsorbed radioactive chemical elements and their isotopes in the granular filtering medium in the AU1500 iodine air filter after its long term operation at the nuclear power plant. The typical spe…
In this paper we presented a short review of radioactive halos as from the perspective of their interpretation as integral record in time of different kind of known or unknown radioactivities. A special attention is paid for the unified interpretation of the supergiant halos (SGH), discovered by Grady, Walker and Laemlein, as integral record of pion emission during fission.
Radioactive Molecules as Laboratories of Fundamental Physics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology（麻省理工学院）；Harvard University（哈佛大学）；California Institute of Technology（加州理工学院）；University of California, Santa Barbara（加利福尼亚大学圣塔芭芭拉分校）；Michigan State University（密歇根州立大学）
A role of the unstable nuclei ${}^{6}$Be, ${}^{8}$Be and ${}^{9}$B in the dissociation of relativistic nuclei ${}^{7,9}$Be, ${}^{10}$B and ${}^{10,11}$C is under study on the basis of nuclear track emulsion exposed to secondary beams of the JINR Nuclotron. Contribution of the configuration ${}^{6}$Be + $\mit{n}$ to the ${}^{7}$Be nucleus structure is 8 $\pm$ 1% which is near the value for the configuration ${}^{6}$Li + $\mit{p}$. Distributions over the opening angle of $α$-particle pairs indicate to a simultaneous presence of virtual ${}^{8}$Be$_{g.s.}$ and ${}^{8}$Be$_{2^+}$ states in the gro…
New light, weakly coupled particles can be efficiently produced at existing and future high-intensity accelerators and radioactive sources in deep underground laboratories. Once produced, these particles can scatter or decay in large neutrino detectors (e.g Super-K and Borexino) housed in the same facilities. We discuss the production of weakly coupled scalars $ϕ$ via nuclear de-excitation of an excited element into the ground state in two viable concrete reactions: the decay of the $0^+$ excited state of $^{16}$O populated via a $(p,α)$ reaction on fluorine and from radioactive $^{144}$Ce dec…
The cosmic evolution of the chemical elements from the Big Bang to the present time is driven by nuclear fusion reactions inside stars and stellar explosions. A cycle of matter recurrently re-processes metal-enriched stellar ejecta into the next generation of stars. The study of cosmic nucleosynthesis and of this matter cycle requires the understanding of the physics of nuclear reactions, of the conditions at which the nuclear reactions are activated inside the stars and stellar explosions, of the stellar ejection mechanisms through winds and explosions, and of the transport of the ejecta towa…
In recent work, Milian-Sanchez et al. observed fluctuations in radioactive decay rate measurement series, and after excluding environmental influences (measured indoors) as root causes, they looked for possible correlations with astrophysical variables. In spite of the authors efforts to investigate possible influences of environmental parameters (such as ambient temperature, pressure and humidity) on the detectors stability, it turns out that the influence of ambient humidity on the instrumentation has been underestimated.
Measurement of nuclear cross sections at astrophysical energies involving unstable species is one of the most challenging tasks in experimental nuclear physics. The use of indirect methods is often unavoidable in this scenario. In this paper the Trojan Horse Method is applied for the first time to a radioactive ion beam induced reaction studying the $^{18}$F($p,α$)$^{15}$O process at low energies relevant to astrophysics via the three body reaction $^{2}$H($^{18}$F,$α^{15}$O)n. The knowledge of the $^{18}$F($p, α$)$^{15}$O reaction rate is crucial to understand the nova explosion phenomena. Th…
The (d,p) neutron transfer and (d,d) elastic scattering reactions were measured in inverse kinematics using a radioactive ion beam of 132Sn at 630 MeV. The elastic scattering data were taken in a region where Rutherford scattering dominated the reaction, and nuclear effects account for less than 8% of the cross section. The magnitude of the nuclear effects was found to be independent of the optical potential used, allowing the transfer data to be normalized in a reliable manner. The neutron-transfer reaction populated a previously unmeasured state at 1363 keV, which is most likely the single-p…
Heat production rates for the geologically important nuclides ${}^{26}$Al, ${}^{40}$K, ${}^{60}$Fe, ${}^{232}$Th, ${}^{235}$U, and ${}^{238}$U are calculated on the basis of recent data on atomic and nuclear properties. The revised data differ by several per cent from some older values, but indicate that more recent analyses converge toward values with an accuracy sufficient for all common geoscience applications, although some possibilities for improvement still remain, especially in the case of ${}^{40}$K and with regard to the determination of half-lives. A Python script is provided for cal…
Neutron capture cross sections of unstable isotopes are important for neutron-induced nucleosynthesis as well as for technological applications. A combination of a radioactive beam facility, an ion storage ring and a high flux reactor would allow a direct measurement of neutron induced reactions over a wide energy range on isotopes with half lives down to minutes. The idea is to measure neutron-induced reactions on radioactive ions in inverse kinematics. This means, the radioactive ions will pass through a neutron target. In order to efficiently use the rare nuclides as well as to enhance the …
The effect of the energy deposition inside the human body made by radioactive substances is discussed. For the first time, we stress the importance of the recoiling nucleus in such reactions, particularly concerning the damage caused on the DNA structure.
The negative-muon capture reaction (MCR) on the enriched $^{100}Mo$ isotope was studied for the first time to investigate neutrino nuclear response for neutrino-less double beta decays and supernova neutrino nuclear interactions. MCR on $^{100}Mo$ proceeds mainly as $^{100}Mo(mu,xn)^{100-x}Nb$ with $x$ being the number of neutrons emitted from MCR. The Nb isotope mass distribution was obtained by measuring delayed gamma-rays from radioactive $^{100-x}Nb$. By using the neutron emission model after MCR, the neutrino response (the strength distribution) for MCR was derived. Giant resonance (GR)-l…
Experiments showing a seasonal variation of the nuclear decay rates of a number of different nuclei, and decay anomalies apparently related to solar flares and solar rotation, have suggested that the Sun may somehow be influencing nuclear decay processes. Recently, Cooper searched for such an effect in $^{238}$Pu nuclei contained in the radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) on board the Cassini spacecraft. In this paper we modify and extend Cooper's analysis to obtain constraints on anomalous decays of $^{238}$Pu over a wider range of models, but these limits cannot be applied to other…
We report here on the recent upgrade of the TwinSol radioactive nuclear beam (RNB) facility at the University of Notre Dame. The new TriSol system includes a magnetic dipole to provide a second beamline and a third solenoid which acts to reduce the size of the radioactive beam on target.
We studied the production of neutron-rich nuclides in multinucleon transfer collisions of stable and radioactive beams in the mass range A=40-60. We first presented our experimental cross section data of projectile fragments from the reaction of 40Ar(15 MeV/nucleon) with 64Ni, 58Ni and 27Al. We then compared them with calculations based on either the deep-inelastic transfer (DIT) model or the constrained molecular dynamics (CoMD) model, followed by the statistical multifragmentation model (SMM). An overall good agreement of the calculations with the experimental data is obtained. We continued …
The quest for the origin of the chemical elements, which we find in our body, in our planet (Earth), in our star (Sun), or in our galaxy (Milky Way) could only be resolved with a thorough understanding of the nuclear physics properties of stable and unstable atomic nuclei. While the elements until iron are either created during the big bang or during fusion reactions in stars, most of the elements heavier than iron are produced via neutron-induced reactions. Therefore, neutron capture cross sections of stable and unstable isotopes are important. So far, time-of-flight or activation methods hav…
We calculate the relative abundance of the radioactive isotopes Iodine-131 and Cesium-137 produced by nuclear fission in reactors and compare it with data taken at the troubled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The ratio of radioactivities of these two isotopes can be used to obtain information about when the nuclear reactions terminated.
Due to a directional asymmetry of neutrino emission caused by parity violation, a sample of radioactive atoms experiences a small recoil force from neutrino radiation accompanying electron capture by polarized nuclei. An expression for this force is obtained for the case of allowed nuclear transitions. Prospects to measure this force by the use of modern micromechanical devices are considered. Numerical estimates for the force are presented for a number of most suitable radioactive isotopes. Potential applications for the weak interaction studies are discussed including the possibility to sear…
Large amplification of the isospin-dependence of proton emitting source size in nuclear collisions induced by radioactive ion beams: A signal of n-p correlation
Beihang University（北京航空航天大学）；Tsinghua University（清华大学）；RIKEN Nishina Center（理化学研究所仁科加速器中心）；Western Michigan University（西密歇根大学）；Center for High Energy Physics, Tsinghua University（清华大学高能物理中心）；National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University（密歇根州立大学国家超导回旋加速器实验室）；Department of Physics, Michigan State University（密歇根州立大学物理系）
An air cargo inspection system combining two nuclear reaction based techniques, namely Fast-Neutron Resonance Radiography and Dual-Discrete-Energy Gamma Radiography is currently being developed. This system is expected to allow detection of standard and improvised explosives as well as special nuclear materials. An important aspect for the applicability of nuclear techniques in an airport inspection facility is the inventory and lifetimes of radioactive isotopes produced by the neutron and gamma radiation inside the cargo, as well as the dose delivered by these isotopes to people in contact wi…
After the accident in the Japanese Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in March 2011 large amounts of radioactivity were released and distributed in the atmosphere. Among them were also radioactive noble gas isotopes which can be used as tracers to test global atmospheric circulation models. This work presents unique measurements of the radionuclide $^{133}$Xe from Fukushima in the upper troposphere above Germany. The measurements involve air sampling in a research jet aircraft followed by chromatographic xenon extraction and ultra-low background gas counting with miniaturized proportional …
Nuclear track emulsion is exposed to a beam of radioactive $^8$He nuclei with an energy of 60 MeV and enrichment of about 80% at the ACCULINNA separator. Measurements of 278 decays of the $^8$He nuclei stopped in the emulsion allow the potential of the $α$ spectrometry to be estimated and the thermal drift of $^8$He atoms in matter to be observed for the first time.
Radioactivity is understood to be described by a Poisson process, yet some measurements of nuclear decays appear to exhibit unexpected variations. Generally, the isotopes reporting these variations have long half lives, which are plagued by large measurement uncertainties. In addition to these inherent problems, there are some reports of time-dependent decay rates and even claims of exotic neutrino-induced variations. We present a dedicated experiment for the stable long-term measurement of gamma emissions resulting from $β$ decays, which will provide high-quality data and allow for the identi…
