Jul 26–31, 2026
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Structure of Neutron-Rich $^{33,34,35}$Mg from $\beta$ Decay Studies

Jul 28, 2026, 6:28 p.m.
1m
Fletcher Challenge Canada (Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre)

Fletcher Challenge Canada

Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre

515 West Hastings St, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5K3
Posters Poster Session

Speaker

Dr Smain Sekal (Tennesse tech university)

Description

The structure of neutron-rich magnesium isotopes in the vicinity of the so-called Island of Inversion provides a sensitive testing ground for nuclear models and shell evolution far from stability. In this work, we investigate the $\beta$ decay of $^{33,34,35}\mathrm{Mg}$ using high-efficiency $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy in combination with $\beta$ tagging. The experiment was performed using the GRIFFIN spectrometer at TRIUMF, with radioactive beams delivered by the ISAC facility. For $^{33}\mathrm{Mg}$, the primary objective is to constrain the spin and parity of its ground state through a detailed study of $\beta$ feeding to states in $^{33}\mathrm{Al}$. In particular, the extraction of ground-state feeding and the associated $\log ft$ values provides key information on the allowed or forbidden nature of the transitions, offering insight into the underlying nuclear configurations. The $\beta$ decay of $^{34}\mathrm{Mg}$ populates excited states in $^{34}\mathrm{Al}$, a nucleus known for its complex structure and the coexistence of different configurations. We extend previous studies by refining the level scheme and performing $\gamma$--$\gamma$ angular correlation measurements to assign spin and parity to low-lying states. For $^{35}\mathrm{Mg}$, a comprehensive analysis of $\beta$-delayed $\gamma$ rays has been performed. A new level scheme for $^{35}\mathrm{Al}$ is established based on coincidence relationships and cycle-based decay fitting. From this analysis, $\beta$-feeding intensities and corresponding $\log ft$ values are extracted, providing constraints on transition strengths and nuclear structure. Overall, these results contribute to a more coherent picture of shell evolution and configuration mixing in neutron-rich nuclei around $N \approx 20$. These results are compared with shell-model calculations and state-of-the-art ab initio approaches to assess the predictive power of nuclear structure models in this region.

S. Sekal$^1$,
M. M. Rajabali$^1$,
D. Moye$^1$,
E. Vespie$^1$,
Y. Hassan$^1$,
R. S. Lubna$^2$,
G. C. Ball$^2$,
A. B. Garnsworthy$^2$,
A. Volya$^3$,
C. R. Natzke$^{2,4}$,
A. T. Laffoley$^5$,
C. Andreoiu$^8$,
D. Annen$^8$,
M. Berube$^2$,
S. S. Bhattacharjee$^2$,
H. Bidaman$^5$,
V. Bildstein$^5$,
R. Caballero-Folch$^2$,
G. Carpenter$^{2,6}$,
R. Coleman$^5$,
I. Dillmann$^{2,7}$,
F. H. Garcia$^8$,
S. Gillespie$^{2,9}$,
E. Gopaul$^2$,
B. Greaves$^5$,
C. J. Griffin$^2$,
G. Hackman$^2$,
S. Hodge$^2$,
R. Kanungo$^{11}$,
V. Karayonchev$^2$,
A. Kindred$^1$,
G. Leckenby$^2$,
L. Mantle$^2$,
K. Mastakov$^5$,
J. McAfee$^{2,10}$,
S. Nittala$^2$,
B. Olaizola$^{2,12}$,
G. Pasquino$^2$,
C. Paxman$^{2,10}$,
C. Petrache$^{17}$,
C. Porzio$^{2,13}$,
R. Preshong$^1$,
E. Raleigh-Smith$^2$,
M. Rocchini$^5$,
W. Royer$^{2,10}$,
R. Russell$^{10}$,
Y. Saito$^{2,14}$,
P. Spagnoletti$^8$,
C. E. Svensson$^5$,
R. Umashankar$^{2,14}$,
S. Valbuena$^5$,
V. Vedia$^2$,
E. White$^1$,
K. Whitmore$^8$,
J. Williams$^2$,
F. Wu$^8$,
T. Zidar$^5$,
J. D. Holt$^2$,
T. Miyagi$^{15}$

$^1$ Department of Physics, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee 38505, USA

$^2$ TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A3, Canada

$^3$ Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA

$^4$ Department of Physics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA

$^5$ Department of Physics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada

$^6$ School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom

$^7$ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada

$^8$ Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada

$^9$ Present address: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

$^{10}$ Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom

$^{11}$ Department of Astronomy and Physics, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada

$^{12}$ Present address: ISOLDE-EP, CERN, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland

$^{13}$ INFN Sezione di Milano and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy

$^{14}$ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada

$^{15}$ Theory Center, Institut für Kernphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany

$^{17}$ IJCLab, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, 91405 Orsay, France

Author

Dr Smain Sekal (Tennesse tech university)

Co-authors

Prof. Mustapha Rajabali (Tennesse tech university) Mr Dakota Moye (Tennesse tech university)

Presentation materials

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