Level density from evaporation spectra for proton rich nuclei

The level density is an important characteristic of atomic nuclei. It tells us about the nuclear structure and is needed to calculate reaction rates. The experimental information about the level density and corresponding model parameter systematics are available for the nuclei close to the stability line but little is known for the nuclei beyond the stability line. It follows from theoretical consideration that several physical effects might give the of Fermi-gas parameter `a' dependence on N and/or Z rather than on simply on A [1]. To study this and other features, the level density from neutron evaporation spectra has been measured for proton-rich nuclei $^{60}$Zn and $^{56}$Ni as well as for corresponding stable nuclei $^{60}$Ni and$^{ 56}$Fe of the same A. Targets of $^{58}$Ni, $^{54}$Fe,$^{ 58}$Fe, and $^{55}$Mn were bombarded with beams of 3He and deuterium at Ohio University's Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. Neutron energies were determined by the time-of-flight method. The different level density models have been tested in the excitation energy interval up to 8-10 MeV and the best parameters have been found. The results are compared to available systematics as well as to calculations performed on the basis of microscopic model recommended in RIPL data base. [1] S.I. Al-Quraishi, S.M.Grimes, T.N. Massey and D.A.Resler, Phys.Rev. C63, 065803 (2001).