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The use of bremsstrahlung photons produced by a linac to induce photonuclear reactions is wide spread. However, using a clinical linac to produce the photons is a new concept. We aimed to induce photonuclear reactions on zinc isotopes and measure the subsequent transition energies and half-lives. For this purpose, a bremsstrahlung photon beam of 18 MeV endpoint energy produced by the Philips SLI-25 linac has been used. The subsequent decay has been measured with a wellshielded single HPGe detector. The results obtained for transition energies are in good agreement with the literature data and in many cases surpass these in accuracy. For the half-lives, we are in agreement with the literature data, but do not achieve their precision. The obtained accuracy for the transition energies show what is achievable in an experiment such as ours. We demonstrate the usefulness and benefits of employing clinical linacs for nuclear physics experiments.

Abstract:We have investigated the decays of several zinc isotopes produced by photonuclear reactions, which were induced by bremsstrahlung photon beams from a clinical e-linac. A photon beam of 18 MeV endpoint energy was directed at a target consisting of primarily zinc isotopes in their natural abundances. Subsequently, the induced decays of unstable zinc isotopes were measured with an HPGe detector twice, once shortly after irradiation and once on the following day. Decays of Zn-63, Zn-65, Zn-69m, and Cu-67 were measured and fitted. In addition, the gamma energy levels of the daughters of these decays were measured with good accuracy. All of the measurements were consistent with established data within error bars.

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We have analyzed the elastic scattering angular distributions data of the α+ 12 C reaction over a wide energy range (E lab =28.2 to 35.5 MeV) within the framework of the Optical Model formalism. A double folding (DF) type real potential was used with a phenomenological Woods-Saxon-squared (WS2) type imaginary potential. Good agreement between the calculations and experimental data was obtained. By using the real DF potential we have calculated the properties of the α-cluster states in 16 O by using the Gamow code as well as the α-decay widths by using the WKB method. We implemented a 12 C+α cluster framework for the calculation of the excitation energies and decay widths of 16 O as a function of the orientation of the planar 12 C nucleus with respect to the α-particle. These calculations showed strong sensitivity of the widths and excitation energies to the orientation. Branching ratios were also calculated and though less sensitive to the 12 C orientation, it was found that 12 C gs +α structure, with the α-particle orbiting the 12 C in its ground state, is dominant. This work demonstrates that deformation, and the orientation, of 12 C at plays a crucial role in the understanding the nature of the α-cluster states in 16 O.