First Observation of Ground State Dineutron Decay: Be-16

Authors

A Spyrou, Michigan State University
Z Kohley, Michigan State University
T Baumann
D Bazin, Michigan State University
B A. Brown, Michigan State University
G Christian, Michigan State University
Paul A. DeYoung, Hope CollegeFollow
J E. Finck, Central Michigan University
N Frank, Augustana College - Rock Island
E Lunderberg, Hope College
S Mosby, Michigan State University
W A. Peters, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway
A Schiller, Ohio University - Main Campus
J K. Smith, Michigan State University
J Snyder, Michigan State University
M J. Strongman, Michigan State University
M Thoennessen, Michigan State University
A Volya, Florida State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-9-2012

Publication Source

Physical Review Letters

Volume Number

108

Issue Number

10

Publisher

American Physical Society

ISSN

0031-9007

Abstract

We report on the first observation of dineutron emission in the decay of Be-16. A single-proton knockout reaction from a 53 MeV/u B-17 beam was used to populate the ground state of Be-16. Be-16 is bound with respect to the emission of one neutron and unbound to two-neutron emission. The dineutron character of the decay is evidenced by a small emission angle between the two neutrons. The two-neutron separation energy of Be-16 was measured to be 1.35(10) MeV, in good agreement with shell model calculations, using standard interactions for this mass region.

Keywords

Neutron-rich nuclei, Exotic nuclei, Radioactivity, Isotopes

Recommended Citation

Spyrou, A., Z. Kohley, T. Baumann, D. Bazin, B. A. Brown, G. Christian, Paul A. DeYoung, J. E. Finck, N. Frank, E. Lunderberg, S. Mosby, W. A. Peters, A. Schiller, J. K. Smith, J. Snyder, M. J. Strongman, M. Thoennessen and A. Volya. "First Observation of Ground State Dineutron Decay: Be-16." Physical Review Letters 108, no. 10.00 (2012).