Background: Thick-target-induced nucleon-adding transfer reactions onto energetic rare-isotope beams are an emerging spectroscopic tool. Their sensitivity to single-particle structure complements one-nucleon removal reaction capabilities in the quest
to reveal the evolution of nuclear shell structure in very exotic nuclei. Purpose: To add intermediate-energy, carbon-target-induced one-proton pickup reactions to the arsenal of $gamma$-ray tagged direct reactions applicable in the regime of low beam intensities and to apply these for the first time to $fp$-shell nuclei. Methods: Inclusive and partial cross sections were measured for the $ uc{12}{C}( uc{48}{Cr}, uc{49}{Mn}+gamma)$X and $ uc{12}{C}( uc{50}{Fe}, uc{51}{Co}+gamma)$X proton pickup reactions at 56.7 and 61.2 MeV/nucleon, respectively, using coincident particle-$gamma$ spectroscopy at the NSCL. The results are compared to reaction theory calculations using $fp$-shell-model nuclear structure input. For comparison with our previous work, the same reactions were measured on uc{9}{Be} targets. Results: The measured partial cross sections confirm the specific population pattern predicted by theory, with pickup into high-$ell$ orbitals being strongly favored; driven by linear and angular momentum matching. Conclusion: Carbon target-induced pickup reactions are well-suited, in the regime of modest beam intensity, to study the evolution of nuclear structure, with specific sensitivities that are well described by theory.
The structure of $^{19,20,22}$C has been investigated using high-energy (about 240 MeV/nucleon) one- and two-neutron removal reactions on a carbon target. Measurements were made of the inclusive cross sections and momentum distributions for the charg
ed residues. Narrow momentum distributions were observed for one-neutron removal from $^{19}$C and $^{20}$C and two-neutron removal from $^{22}$C. Two-neutron removal from $^{20}$C resulted in a relatively broad momentum distribution. The results are compared with eikonal-model calculations combined with shell-model structure information. The neutron-removal cross sections and associated momentum distributions are calculated for transitions to both the particle-bound and particle-unbound final states. The calculations take into account the population of the mass $A-1$ reaction residues, $^{A-1}$C, and, following one-neutron emission after one-neutron removal, the mass $A-2$ two-neutron removal residues, $^{A-2}$C. The smaller contributions of direct two-neutron removal, that populate the $^{A-2}$C residues in a single step, are also computed. The data and calculations are shown to be in good overall agreement and consistent with the predicted shell-model ground state configurations and the one-neutron overlaps with low-lying states in $^{18-21}$C. These suggest significant $ u{s}_{1/2}^2$ valence neutron configurations in both $^{20}$C and $^{22}$C. The results for $^{22}$C strongly support the picture of $^{22}$C as a two-neutron halo nucleus with a dominant $ u{s}_{1/2}^2$ ground state configuration.
