Progress in the measurement of the ground state magnetic moments of mirror nuclei at NSCL is presented. The systematic trend of the spin expectation value $<s>$ and the linear behavior of $gamma_p$ versus $gamma_n$, both extracted from the magnetic m
oments of mirror partners, are updated to include all available data.
The electric-quadrupole coupling constant of the ground states of the proton drip line nucleus $^{20}$Na($I^{pi}$ = 2$^{+}$, $T_{1/2}$ = 447.9 ms) and the neutron-deficient nucleus $^{21}$Na($I^{pi}$ = 3/2$^{+}$, $T_{1/2}$ = 22.49 s) in a hexagonal Z
nO single crystal were precisely measured to be $|eqQ/h| = 690 pm 12$ kHz and 939 $pm$ 14 kHz, respectively, using the multi-frequency $beta$-ray detecting nuclear magnetic resonance technique under presence of an electric-quadrupole interaction. A electric-quadrupole coupling constant of $^{27}$Na in the ZnO crystal was also measured to be $|eqQ/h| = 48.4 pm 3.8$ kHz. The electric-quadrupole moments were extracted as $|Q(^{20}$Na)$|$ = 10.3 $pm$ 0.8 $e$ fm$^2$ and $|Q(^{21}$Na)$|$ = 14.0 $pm$ 1.1 $e$ fm$^2$, using the electric-coupling constant of $^{27}$Na and the known quadrupole moment of this nucleus as references. The present results are well explained by shell-model calculations in the full $sd$-shell model space.
A half-life of 2.2 $pm$ 0.2 s has been deduced for the ground-state $beta$ decay of $^{84}$Mo, more than 1$sigma$ shorter than the previously adopted value. $^{84}$Mo is an even-even N = Z nucleus lying on the proton dripline, created during explosiv
e hydrogen burning in Type I X-ray bursts in the rapid proton capture ($rp$) process. The effect of the measured half-life on $rp$-process reaction flow is explored. Implications on theoretical treatments of nuclear deformation in $^{84}$Mo are also discussed.
The electric quadrupole coupling constant of the ground state of 37K(3/2+, 1.22 s) in a tetragonal KH2PO4 single crystal was measured to be |eqQ/h| = 2.99 +- 0.07 MHz using the beta-ray detecting nuclear quadrupole resonance technique. The electric q
uadrupole moment of 37K was determined to be |Q(37K)| = 10.6 +- 0.4 efm2, where the known electric quadrupole coupling constant of stable 39K in the KH2PO4 crystal was used as a reference. The present experimental result is larger than that predicted by shell-model calculations in the sd or the sd and fp model spaces. A possible variation of effective charges was explored to explain the discrepancy.
A beta-ray detecting nuclear quadrupole resonance system has been developed at NSCL/MSU to measure ground-state electric quadrupole moments of short-lived nuclei produced as fast rare isotope beams. This system enables quick and sequential applicatio
n of multiple transition frequencies over a wide range. Fast switching between variable capacitors in resonance circuits ensures sufficient power delivery to the coil in the beta-ray detecting nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The fast switching technique enhances detection efficiency of resonance signals and is especially useful when the polarization and/or production rate of the nucleus of interest are small and when the nuclear spin is large.
Beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ca isotopes have been obtained. Half-life values were determined for the first time for 54Ca [86(7) ms], 55Ca [22(2) ms], and 56Ca [11(2) ms]. The half-life of 230(6) ms deduced for 53Ca is significantly longer t
han reported previously, where the decay chain 53K -> 53Ca -> 53Sc was considered. A delayed gamma ray with energy 247 keV as identified following beta decay of 54Ca, and is proposed to depopulate the first 1+ level in 54Sc. The beta-decay properties compare favorably with the results of shell model calculations completed in the full pf-space with the GXPF1 interaction. The half-lives of the neutron-rich Ca isotopes are also compared with gross beta-decay theory. The systematic trend of the neutron-rich Ca half-lives is consistent with the presence of a subshell gap at N=32.
Intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions can produce a spin polarization of the projectile-like species. Spin polarization has been observed for both nucleon removal and nucleon pickup processes. Qualitative agreement with measured spin polarization
as a function of the momentum of the projectile-like fragment is found in a kinematical model that considers conservation of linear and angular momentum and assumes peripheral interactions between the fast projectile and target. Better quantitative agreement was reached by including more realistic angular distributions, de-orientation caused by gamma-ray emission, and by correcting for the out-of-plane acceptance. The newly introduced corrections were found to apply to both nucleon removal and nucleon pickup processes.
