Identification of the Kpi=8- rotational band in 138Gd

title: Gamma-ray spectroscopy at the limits: first observation of rotational bands in 255Lr.
abstract: The rotational band structure of 255Lr has been investigated using advanced in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopic techniques. To date, 255Lr is the heaviest nucleus to be studied in this manner. One rotational band has been unambiguously observed and strong evidence for a second rotational structure was found. The structures are tentatively assigned to be based on the 1/2-[521] and 7/2-[514] Nilsson states, consistent with assignments from recently obtained alpha decay data. The experimental rotational band dynamic moment of inertia is used to test self-consistent mean-field calculations using the Skyrme SLy4 interaction and a density-dependent pairing force.

title: Lifetime measurements in the transitional nucleus 138Gd
abstract: Lifetime measurements have been made in the ground-state band of the transitional nucleus (138)Gd from coincidence recoil-distance Doppler-shift data. (138)Gdnuclei were produced using the (106)Cd ((36)Ar, 2p2n) reaction with a beam energy of 190 MeV. Reduced transition probabilities have been extracted from the lifetime data collected with the Koln plunger placed at the target position of the JUROGAM-II array. The B(E2) values have been compared with predictions from X(5) critical-point calculations, which describe the phase transition between vibrational and axially symmetric nuclear shapes, as well as with IBM-1 calculations at the critical point. While the excitation energies in (138)Gdare consistent with X(5) predictions, the large uncertainties associated with the measured B(E2) values cannot preclude vibrational and rotational contributions to the low-lying structure of (138)Gd. Although experimental knowledge for the low-lying gamma and beta-vibrational bands in (138)Gd is limited, potential-energy surface calculations suggest an increase in gamma softness in the ground-state band. In order to more fully account for the effects of gamma softness, the X(5) and IBM-1 calculations need to be extended to include the gamma degree of freedom for (138)Gd.

title: High-K four-quasiparticle states in Gd-138
abstract: States above the known K(pi) = 8(-) 6 mu s isomer in (138)Gd have been populated with the (106)Cd((36)Ar,2p2n) reaction at a beam energy of 180 MeV at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. The recoil-isomer tagging technique was utilized to correlate delayed gamma-ray decays, detected in the GREAT focal plane spectrometer, with prompt decays measured in the JUROGAM II spectrometer at the target position. The lifetime of the K(pi) = 8(-) isomeric state has been remeasured as 6.2(2) mu s. Two high-lying strongly coupled bands have been established with K(pi) >= 12(-). Potential-energy surface calculations, in conjunction with g factor measurements, reveal that they are built upon four-quasiparticle structures comprising two-quasineutron plus two-quasiproton configurations. The short half-life or lack of hindrance for the decays from these four-quasiparticle band-head states is reasoned to be a consequence of increased triaxial deformation and mixing due to the high density of states relative to the lower two-quasiparticle 6-mu s isomeric state.

title: alpha decay of Re159 and proton emission from Ta155

title: Spectroscopy of Ho-144 using recoil-isomer tagging
abstract: Excited states in the proton-unbound odd-odd nucleus {sup 144}Ho have been populated using the {sup 92}Mo({sup 54}Fe,pn){sup 144}Ho reaction and studied using the recoil-isomer-tagging technique. The alignment properties and signature splitting of the rotational band above the I{sup p}i=(8{sup +}){sup 144m}Ho isomer have been analyzed and the isomer confirmed to have a pih{sub 11/2} x nuh{sub 11/2} two-quasiparticle configuration. The configuration-constrained blocking method has been used to calculate the shapes of the ground and isomeric states, which are both predicted to have triaxial nuclear shapes with |gamma|approx =24 deg.

title: The integration of the ALICE trigger system with sub-detectors
abstract: The ALICE Trigger electronics (TRG) has been installed in the experimental cavern and tested with each of the detectors, both individually (‘standalone’ mode) and in ‘global’ runs, i.e. those involving other detectors. Global runs were performed with cosmic ray triggers, and also during the LHC startup period in September 2008. In this paper the status of the trigger system will be reviewed, in particular describing recent extensions to the system.

title: Overview of the status and strangeness capabilities of STAR
abstract: STAR is a large-acceptance spectrometer capable of precision measurements of a wide variety of strange particles. We discuss the STAR detector, its configuration during the first two years of RHIC operation, and its initial performance for Au + Au collisions. The expected performance for strangeness physics and initial data on strange particle reconstruction in Au + Au collisions are presented.

title: The STAR Time Projection Chamber
abstract: The STAR Time Projection Chamber was successfully operated during the first RHIC run in 2000. Most of the STAR contributions reported in these proceedings are based on the analysis of data from the TPC. In this article, we show that the performance achieved by the TPC, in terms of track reconstruction, position resolution, and particle identification are well suited for measuring precise and reliable physics observables.

title: An Experimental Exploration of the QCD Phase Diagram: The Search for the Critical Point and the Onset of De-confinement
abstract: The QCD phase diagram lies at the heart of what the RHIC Physics Program is
all about. While RHIC has been operating very successfully at or close to its
maximum energy for almost a decade, it has become clear that this collider can
also be operated at lower energies down to 5 GeV without extensive upgrades. An
exploration of the full region of beam energies available at the RHIC facility
is imperative. The STAR detector, due to its large uniform acceptance and
excellent particle identification capabilities, is uniquely positioned to carry
out this program in depth and detail. The first exploratory beam energy scan
(BES) run at RHIC took place in 2010 (Run 10), since several STAR upgrades,
most importantly a full barrel Time of Flight detector, are now completed which
add new capabilities important for the interesting physics at BES energies. In
this document we discuss current proposed measurements, with estimations of the
accuracy of the measurements given an assumed event count at each beam energy.

title: The ALICE trigger system performance for p-p and Pb-Pb collisions
abstract: The ALICE trigger system installed in the experimental cavern processes information from triggering detectors at 3 hardware levels, and is used in p-p and Pb-Pb collisions. Many automatic functions have been developed to facilitate work in the control room. The hardware is permanently monitored, and around 1200 counters, with considerable built-in redundancy, are read at regular intervals (at least once per minute). This provides relevant physics information and also verifies the consistency of the hardware operation. In order to compensate for seasonal drift, the CORDE module has been installed, which allows the LHC clock to be delayed in steps of 10 ps. This paper describes the current status of the ALICE trigger system after experience with p-p and Pb-Pb runs, the new firmware developments and the appropriate software for this electronics.