Accessing the Single-Particle Structure of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance in ^{208}Pb

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Nuclear Structure

Background:

• The Pygmy Dipole Resonance (PDR) is a nuclear excitation mode with implications for nuclear structure and astrophysics.
• Understanding the PDR's microscopic structure, particularly its single-particle aspects, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present new experimental data on the neutron single-particle character of the PDR in lead-208.
• To evaluate the (d,p) scattering reaction as a probe for studying the PDR.
• To compare experimental findings with theoretical models.

Main Methods:

• (d,p) and resonant proton scattering experiments were conducted at the Q3D spectrograph.
• New data were compared with existing experimental data for lead-208.
• Results were analyzed alongside large-scale shell model (LSSM) and energy-density functional plus quasiparticle-phonon model calculations.

Main Results:

• New experimental data provide insights into the neutron single-particle character of the PDR in lead-208.
• The (d,p) scattering reaction is confirmed as a valuable tool for PDR investigations.
• Experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions, aiding in the elucidation of the PDR's microscopic structure.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully characterized the PDR in lead-208 using novel experimental approaches.
• (d,p) scattering offers a complementary method to existing techniques for studying nuclear resonances.
• The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the PDR's collectivity and microscopic origins.