Probing the single-particle character of rotational states in $^{19}$F using a short-lived isomeric beam

TL;DR

This study uses a specialized radioactive beam to investigate the single-particle nature of rotational states in fluorine-19, confirming theoretical models and highlighting the duality of nuclear structure descriptions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of a short-lived isomeric beam to probe rotational states in $^{19}$F, providing experimental evidence supporting shell-model predictions.

Findings

Confirmed the single-particle character of the 13/2$^+$ state.

Validated shell-model calculations with experimental data.

Supported the duality of single-particle and collective nuclear descriptions.

Abstract

A beam containing a substantial component of both the $J^{\pi}=5^+$, $T_{1/2}=162$ ns isomeric state of $^{18}$F and its $1^+$, 109.77-min ground state has been utilized to study members of the ground-state rotational band in $^{19}$F through the neutron transfer reaction $(d$,$p)$ in inverse kinematics. The resulting spectroscopic strengths confirm the single-particle nature of the 13/2$^+$ band-terminating state. The agreement between shell-model calculations, using an interaction constructed within the $sd$ shell, and our experimental results reinforces the idea of a single-particle/collective duality in the descriptions of the structure of atomic nuclei.