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We carry out realistic coupled-channels calculations for 11 Be + 208 Pb reaction in order to discuss the effects of break-up of the projectile nucleus on sub-barrier fusion. We discretize in energy the particle continuum states, which are associated with the break-up process, and construct the coupling form factors to these states on a microscopic basis. The incoming boundary condition is employed in solving coupled-channels equations, which enables us to define the flux for complete fusion inside the Coulomb barrier. It is shown that complete fusion cross sections are significantly enhanced due to the couplings to the continuum states compared with the no coupling case at energies below the Coulomb barrier, while they are hindered at above barrier energies.Quantum tunneling in systems with many degrees of freedom [1] has attracted much interest in recent years in many fields of physics and chemistry [2]. In nuclear physics, heavy-ion fusion reactions at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier are typical examples for this phenomenon. In order for fusion processes to take place, the Coulomb barrier created by the cancellation between the repulsive Coulomb force and the attractive nuclear interaction has to be overcome. It has by now been well established that the coupling of the relative motion of the colliding nuclei to nuclear intrinsic excitations as well as to transfer reaction channels cause large enhancements of the fusion cross section at subbarrier energies over the predictions of a simple barrier penetration model [3].The effect of break-up processes on fusion, on the other hand, has not yet been understood very well, and many questions have been raised during the last few years both from the experimental [4][5][6][7][8] and theoretical [9-12] points of view. The issue has become especially relevant in recent years due to the increasing availability of radioactive beams. These often involve weakly-bound systems close to the drip lines for which the possibility of projectile dissociation prior to or at the point of contact cannot be ignored. Different theoretical approaches to the problem have led to controversial results, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. The probability for fusion at energies below the barrier has been in fact predicted to be either reduced [9,10] or enhanced [11,12] by the coupling to the continuum states.These investigations, however, were not satisfactory in view of the rather simplified assumptions used in the treatment of both the structure and reaction aspects of the problem.

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The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) is a European project to develop and operate the next generation γ-ray spectrometer. AGATA is based on the technique of γ-ray energy tracking in electrically segmented high-purity germanium crystals. This technique requires the accurate determination of the energy, time and position of every interaction as a γ ray deposits its energy within the detector volume. Reconstruction of the full interaction path results in a detector with very high efficiency and excellent spectral response. The realisation of γ-ray tracking and AGATA is a result of many technical advances. These include the development of encapsulated highly segmented germanium detectors assembled in a triple cluster detector cryostat, an electronics system with fast digital sampling and a data acquisition system to process the data at a high rate. The full characterisation of the crystals was measured and compared with detector-response simulations. This enabled pulse-shape analysis algorithms, to extract energy, time and position, to be employed. In addition, tracking algorithms for event reconstruction were developed. The first phase of AGATA is now complete and operational in its first physics campaign. In the future AGATA will be moved between laboratories in Europe and operated in a series of campaigns to take advantage of the different beams and facilities available to maximise its science output. The paper reviews all the achievements made in the AGATA project including all the necessary infrastructure to operate and support the spectrometer

The gamma decay from Coulomb excitation of 68Ni at 600 MeV/nucleon on a Au target was measured using the RISING setup at the fragment separator of GSI. The 68Ni beam was produced by a fragmentation reaction of 86Kr at 900 MeV/nucleon on a 9Be target and selected by the fragment separator. The gamma rays produced at the Au target were measured with HPGe detectors at forward angles and with BaF2 scintillators at backward angles. The measured spectra show a peak centered at approximately 11 MeV, whose intensity can be explained in terms of an enhanced strength of the dipole response function (pygmy resonance). Such pygmy structure has been predicted in this unstable neutron-rich nucleus by theory.

The isovector and isotensor energy differences between yrast states of isobaric multiplets in the lower half of the pf region are quantitatively reproduced in a shell model context. The isospin nonconserving nuclear interactions are found to be at least as important as the Coulomb potential. Their isovector and isotensor channels are dominated by J=2 and J=0 pairing terms, respectively. The results are sensitive to the radii of the states, whose evolution along the yrast band can be accurately followed.

It is argued that there exist natural shell model spaces optimally adapted to the operation of two variants of Elliott's SU3 symmetry that provide accurate predictions of quadrupole moments of deformed states. A selfconsistent Nilsson-like calculation describes the competition between the realistic quadrupole force and the central field, indicating a remarkable stability of the quadrupole moments-which remain close to their quasi and pseudo SU3 values-as the single particle splittings increase. A detailed study of the N = Z even nuclei from 56 Ni to 96 Cd reveals that the region of prolate deformation is bounded by a pair of transitional nuclei 72 Kr and 84 Mo in which prolate ground state bands are predicted to dominate, though coexisting with oblate ones.

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