Nuclear Level Density and Gamma-Ray Strength Function of 43Sc

TL;DR

This study measures the nuclear level density and gamma-ray strength function of 43Sc using the Oslo method, revealing a smaller level density compared to 45Sc and an increase in gamma-ray strength at low energies, with implications for nuclear models.

Contribution

First measurement of 43Sc's level density and gamma-ray strength function up to 2 MeV below the neutron separation energy using the Oslo method.

Findings

Level density of 43Sc is about half that of 45Sc.

Gamma-ray strength function increases at low energies.

Microscopical model reproduces the level density behavior.

Abstract

The nuclear level density and the gamma-ray strength function have been determined for 43Sc in the energy range up to 2 MeV below the neutron separation energy using the Oslo method with the 46Ti(p,alpha)43Sc reaction. A comparison to 45Sc shows that the level density of 43Sc is smaller by an approximately constant factor of two. This behaviour is well reproduced in a microscopical/combinatorial model calculation. The gamma-ray strength function is showing an increase at low gamma-ray energies, a feature which has been observed in several nuclei but which still awaits theoretical explanation.