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- 1 October 2026
- Published by IOP Publishing in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Direct nuclear reaction as a tool for nuclear structure and astrophysics
by Jie Chen, Yassid Ayyad, Weiping Liu, Daniel Bazin, Weike Nan, Junrui Ma, Xiaobin Li, Weikun Fei
The study of nuclear structure has evolved significantly with the exploration of nuclei far from stability, revealing phenomena such as the modification of shell closures, the emergence of halos, and clustering. This review examines direct nuclear reactions as a primary experimental tool for probing these exotic structures and constraining astrophysical reaction rates, with an emphasis on the experimental observables that connect exotic nuclear structure, indirect astrophysical constraints, and modern inverse-kinematics instrumentation. We discuss the theoretical frameworks and experimental applications of elastic and inelastic scattering, transfer reactions, and knockout reactions. Special attention is given to the role of these mechanisms in mapping shell evolution and in characterizing nuclear deformation and α -clustering. Furthermore, the review highlights the intersection of nuclear structure and astrophysics, detailing indirect approaches such as the asymptotic normalization coefficient technique and the Trojan horse method for determining key stellar reaction rates at low energies. Finally, state-of-the-art instrumentation is surveyed, including high-resolution spectrometers, active target time projection chambers, and storage rings, which enable high-precision measurements in inverse kinematics.
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- 1 October 2026
- Published by IOP Publishing in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Direct nuclear reaction as a tool for nuclear structure and astrophysics
by Jie Chen, Yassid Ayyad, Weiping Liu, Daniel Bazin, Weike Nan, Junrui Ma, Xiaobin Li, Weikun Fei
The study of nuclear structure has evolved significantly with the exploration of nuclei far from stability, revealing phenomena such as the modification of shell closures, the emergence of halos, and clustering. This review examines direct nuclear reactions as a primary experimental tool for probing these exotic structures and constraining astrophysical reaction rates, with an emphasis on the experimental observables that connect exotic nuclear structure, indirect astrophysical constraints, and modern inverse-kinematics instrumentation. We discuss the theoretical frameworks and experimental applications of elastic and inelastic scattering, transfer reactions, and knockout reactions. Special attention is given to the role of these mechanisms in mapping shell evolution and in characterizing nuclear deformation and α -clustering. Furthermore, the review highlights the intersection of nuclear structure and astrophysics, detailing indirect approaches such as the asymptotic normalization coefficient technique and the Trojan horse method for determining key stellar reaction rates at low energies. Finally, state-of-the-art instrumentation is surveyed, including high-resolution spectrometers, active target time projection chambers, and storage rings, which enable high-precision measurements in inverse kinematics.
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Cited by 2
- 30 September 2026
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
Spin Teleportation via Bell-Triplet States Emergent from Proton-Proton Scattering
by Z. X. Shen, H. Y. Shang, Y. G. Ma, D. Bai, S. M. Wang, Z. C. Xu, Y. Ayyad, C. Filgueira
Entanglement is a key resource in quantum information science, yet its properties and applications in nuclear systems remain largely unexplored. Here, using proton-proton scattering as a quantum laboratory, we report the emergence of a near-pure Bell-triplet state at a laboratory energy of 151 MeV and a center-of-mass scattering angle of 90°. In this unique kinematic regime, the scattering amplitude functions as a transition operator connecting distinct Bell states. Building upon this emergent resource, we propose a quantum teleportation protocol for proton spins, exploiting the intrinsic Hamiltonian of the strong interaction to perform the requisite Bell measurement effectively. These findings effectively bridge few-body nuclear physics and quantum technology, establishing proton-proton scattering as both a source of high-fidelity entanglement and a natural processor for quantum information.
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- 30 September 2026
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
Spin Teleportation via Bell-Triplet States Emergent from Proton-Proton Scattering
by Z. X. Shen, H. Y. Shang, Y. G. Ma, D. Bai, S. M. Wang, Z. C. Xu, Y. Ayyad, C. Filgueira
Entanglement is a key resource in quantum information science, yet its properties and applications in nuclear systems remain largely unexplored. Here, using proton-proton scattering as a quantum laboratory, we report the emergence of a near-pure Bell-triplet state at a laboratory energy of 151 MeV and a center-of-mass scattering angle of 90°. In this unique kinematic regime, the scattering amplitude functions as a transition operator connecting distinct Bell states. Building upon this emergent resource, we propose a quantum teleportation protocol for proton spins, exploiting the intrinsic Hamiltonian of the strong interaction to perform the requisite Bell measurement effectively. These findings effectively bridge few-body nuclear physics and quantum technology, establishing proton-proton scattering as both a source of high-fidelity entanglement and a natural processor for quantum information.
Cited by 2
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- 10 September 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in The European Physical Journal C
Demonstration of sub-percent energy resolution in the NEXT-100 detector
by M. Pérez Maneiro, M. Martínez-Vara, S. Torelli, G. Martínez-Lema, P. Novella, J. A. Hernando Morata, J. J. Gómez-Cadenas, C. Adams, H. Almazán, V. Álvarez, et al.
NEXT-100 is a high-pressure xenon time projection chamber with electroluminescent amplification, designed to operate with up to $$\sim $$ $\sim$ 70.5 kg at 13.5 bar. It is the most recent detector developed by the NEXT collaboration to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay ( $$\beta \beta 0\nu $$ $β β 0 ν$ ) of $$ ^{136}\mathrm Xe$$ $^{136} X e$ . The NEXT gas TPC technology offers the best energy resolution near the Q-value of the decay ( $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ $Q_{β β}$ = 2458 keV) among xenon detectors, which is set by design to be <1% FWHM. We report here the high-energy calibration of the detector using a $$ ^{228}\textrm{Th}$$ $^{228} Th$ source, demonstrating excellent linear response and an energy resolution of $$(0.90 \pm 0.02)\%$$ $(0.90 \pm 0.02) %$ FWHM at the $$^{208}$$ $^{208}$ Tl photopeak (2615 keV). This performance extrapolates to a resolution at the double-beta decay end-point of $$R(Q_{\beta \beta }) = (0.93 \pm 0.02)\%$$ $R (Q_{β β}) = (0.93 \pm 0.02) %$ FWHM, confirming the detector’s capability for precision energy measurement in the search for $$\beta \beta 0\nu $$ $β β 0 ν$ .
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- 10 September 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in The European Physical Journal C
Open Access
Demonstration of sub-percent energy resolution in the NEXT-100 detector
by M. Pérez Maneiro, M. Martínez-Vara, S. Torelli, G. Martínez-Lema, P. Novella, J. A. Hernando Morata, J. J. Gómez-Cadenas, C. Adams, H. Almazán, V. Álvarez, et al.
NEXT-100 is a high-pressure xenon time projection chamber with electroluminescent amplification, designed to operate with up to $$\sim $$ $\sim$ 70.5 kg at 13.5 bar. It is the most recent detector developed by the NEXT collaboration to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay ( $$\beta \beta 0\nu $$ $β β 0 ν$ ) of $$ ^{136}\mathrm Xe$$ $^{136} X e$ . The NEXT gas TPC technology offers the best energy resolution near the Q-value of the decay ( $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ $Q_{β β}$ = 2458 keV) among xenon detectors, which is set by design to be <1% FWHM. We report here the high-energy calibration of the detector using a $$ ^{228}\textrm{Th}$$ $^{228} Th$ source, demonstrating excellent linear response and an energy resolution of $$(0.90 \pm 0.02)\%$$ $(0.90 \pm 0.02) %$ FWHM at the $$^{208}$$ $^{208}$ Tl photopeak (2615 keV). This performance extrapolates to a resolution at the double-beta decay end-point of $$R(Q_{\beta \beta }) = (0.93 \pm 0.02)\%$$ $R (Q_{β β}) = (0.93 \pm 0.02) %$ FWHM, confirming the detector’s capability for precision energy measurement in the search for $$\beta \beta 0\nu $$ $β β 0 ν$ .
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- 1 July 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in The European Physical Journal C
First results of the NEXT-100 detector using 83mKr decays
by G. Martínez-Lema, C. Hervés Carrete, S. Torelli, M. Cid Laso, P. Vázquez Cabaleiro, B. Palmeiro, J. A. Hernando Morata, J. J. Gómez-Cadenas, C. Adams, H. Almazán, et al.
The NEXT collaboration is investigating the double beta decay of $$ ^{136}\mathrm Xe$$ $^{136} X e$ using high-pressure gas electroluminescent time projection chambers, which provide excellent energy resolution together with a robust topological signature. Operating at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC) and building on the success of the NEXT-White detector, the NEXT-100 apparatus began commissioning in May 2024 and started operation with xenon at a pressure of 4 bar in October 2024. We report here the first results obtained with NEXT-100 using low-energy calibration data from $$^{83\text {m}}\textrm{Kr}$$ $^{83 m} Kr$ decays, which allow mapping of the detector response in the active volume and monitoring of its stability over time. After homogenizing the light response, we achieve an energy resolution of 4.37% FWHM at 41.5 keV for $$^{83\text {m}}\textrm{Kr}$$ $^{83 m} Kr$ point-like energy deposits contained in a radius of 425 mm. In a fiducial region representing the operating conditions of NEXT-100 at 10 bar we obtain an improved energy resolution of 4.16% FWHM. These results are in good agreement with that obtained in NEXT-White, and an $$E^{-1/2}$$ $E^{- 1 / 2}$ extrapolation to $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ $Q_{β β}$ yields an energy resolution close to 0.5% FWHM, well below the 1% FWHM design target.
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- 1 July 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in The European Physical Journal C
Open Access
First results of the NEXT-100 detector using 83mKr decays
by G. Martínez-Lema, C. Hervés Carrete, S. Torelli, M. Cid Laso, P. Vázquez Cabaleiro, B. Palmeiro, J. A. Hernando Morata, J. J. Gómez-Cadenas, C. Adams, H. Almazán, et al.
The NEXT collaboration is investigating the double beta decay of $$ ^{136}\mathrm Xe$$ $^{136} X e$ using high-pressure gas electroluminescent time projection chambers, which provide excellent energy resolution together with a robust topological signature. Operating at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC) and building on the success of the NEXT-White detector, the NEXT-100 apparatus began commissioning in May 2024 and started operation with xenon at a pressure of 4 bar in October 2024. We report here the first results obtained with NEXT-100 using low-energy calibration data from $$^{83\text {m}}\textrm{Kr}$$ $^{83 m} Kr$ decays, which allow mapping of the detector response in the active volume and monitoring of its stability over time. After homogenizing the light response, we achieve an energy resolution of 4.37% FWHM at 41.5 keV for $$^{83\text {m}}\textrm{Kr}$$ $^{83 m} Kr$ point-like energy deposits contained in a radius of 425 mm. In a fiducial region representing the operating conditions of NEXT-100 at 10 bar we obtain an improved energy resolution of 4.16% FWHM. These results are in good agreement with that obtained in NEXT-White, and an $$E^{-1/2}$$ $E^{- 1 / 2}$ extrapolation to $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ $Q_{β β}$ yields an energy resolution close to 0.5% FWHM, well below the 1% FWHM design target.
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- 24 May 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Physics Letters B
Investigation of the isoscalar monopole response in the proton-rich nucleus 14O
by J.C. Zamora, S. Giraud, R.G.T. Zegers, Y. Ayyad, S. Beceiro-Novo, D. Bazin, A. Carls, J. Chen, M. Cortesi, M. DeNudt, et al.
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- 24 May 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Physics Letters B
Open Access
Investigation of the isoscalar monopole response in the proton-rich nucleus 14O
by J.C. Zamora, S. Giraud, R.G.T. Zegers, Y. Ayyad, S. Beceiro-Novo, D. Bazin, A. Carls, J. Chen, M. Cortesi, M. DeNudt, et al.
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- 22 May 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Physics Letters B
Observation of tensor-driven high-momentum neutrons in 16O via (p, d) reactions and zero-degree deuteron momentum spectroscopy
by X. Wang, H.J. Ong, S. Terashima, I. Tanihata, Y.K. Tanaka, H. Geissel, N. Aoi, Y. Ayyad, J. Benlliure, F. Farinon, et al.
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- 22 May 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Physics Letters B
Open Access
Observation of tensor-driven high-momentum neutrons in 16O via (p, d) reactions and zero-degree deuteron momentum spectroscopy
by X. Wang, H.J. Ong, S. Terashima, I. Tanihata, Y.K. Tanaka, H. Geissel, N. Aoi, Y. Ayyad, J. Benlliure, F. Farinon, et al.
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Cited by 13
- 5 February 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in The European Physical Journal C
The NEXT-100 Detector
by C. Adams, H. Almazán, V. Álvarez, A. I. Aranburu, L. Arazi, I. J. Arnquist, F. Auria-Luna, S. Ayet, Y. Ayyad, C. D. R. Azevedo, et al.
The NEXT collaboration is dedicated to the study of double beta decays of $$^{136}$$ $^{136}$ Xe using a high-pressure gas electroluminescent time projection chamber. This advanced technology combines exceptional energy resolution ( $$\le 1\%$$ $\leq 1 %$ FWHM at the $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ $Q_{β β}$ value of the neutrinoless double beta decay) and powerful topological event discrimination. Building on the achievements of the NEXT-White detector, the NEXT-100 detector started taking data at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC) in May of 2024. Designed to operate with xenon gas at 13.5 bar, NEXT-100 consists of a time projection chamber where the energy and the spatial pattern of the ionising particles in the detector are precisely retrieved using two sensor planes (one with photo-multiplier tubes and the other with silicon photo-multipliers). The detector has been operating at stable conditions using argon and xenon gases at $$\sim $$ $\sim$ 4 bar and drift fields of $$74\hbox { V cm}^{-1}$$ $74 V {cm}^{- 1}$ and $$118\hbox { V cm}^{-1}$$ $118 V {cm}^{- 1}$ , respectively. Alpha decays from the $$^{222}$$ $^{222}$ Rn chain have been used to test and monitor the stability of the detector, showing a constant electron lifetime in the drift volume. In this paper, in addition to reporting the results of the commissioning run, we provide a detailed description of the NEXT-100 detector, describe its assembly, and present the current estimation of the radiopurity budget.
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- 5 February 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in The European Physical Journal C
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Open Access
The NEXT-100 Detector
by C. Adams, H. Almazán, V. Álvarez, A. I. Aranburu, L. Arazi, I. J. Arnquist, F. Auria-Luna, S. Ayet, Y. Ayyad, C. D. R. Azevedo, et al.
The NEXT collaboration is dedicated to the study of double beta decays of $$^{136}$$ $^{136}$ Xe using a high-pressure gas electroluminescent time projection chamber. This advanced technology combines exceptional energy resolution ( $$\le 1\%$$ $\leq 1 %$ FWHM at the $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ $Q_{β β}$ value of the neutrinoless double beta decay) and powerful topological event discrimination. Building on the achievements of the NEXT-White detector, the NEXT-100 detector started taking data at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc (LSC) in May of 2024. Designed to operate with xenon gas at 13.5 bar, NEXT-100 consists of a time projection chamber where the energy and the spatial pattern of the ionising particles in the detector are precisely retrieved using two sensor planes (one with photo-multiplier tubes and the other with silicon photo-multipliers). The detector has been operating at stable conditions using argon and xenon gases at $$\sim $$ $\sim$ 4 bar and drift fields of $$74\hbox { V cm}^{-1}$$ $74 V {cm}^{- 1}$ and $$118\hbox { V cm}^{-1}$$ $118 V {cm}^{- 1}$ , respectively. Alpha decays from the $$^{222}$$ $^{222}$ Rn chain have been used to test and monitor the stability of the detector, showing a constant electron lifetime in the drift volume. In this paper, in addition to reporting the results of the commissioning run, we provide a detailed description of the NEXT-100 detector, describe its assembly, and present the current estimation of the radiopurity budget.
Cited by 13
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Cited by 2
- 5 November 2025
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review C
Valence 1 s − 0 d proton vacancy of the Si 32 ground state
by N. Watwood, C. R. Hoffman, B. P. Kay, I. A. Tolstukhin, J. Chen, T. L. Tang, D. Bazin, Y. Ayyad, S. Beceiro-Novo, S. J. Freeman, et al.
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- 5 November 2025
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review C
Valence 1 s − 0 d proton vacancy of the Si 32 ground state
by N. Watwood, C. R. Hoffman, B. P. Kay, I. A. Tolstukhin, J. Chen, T. L. Tang, D. Bazin, Y. Ayyad, S. Beceiro-Novo, S. J. Freeman, et al.
Cited by 2
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Cited by 3
- 29 October 2025
- Published by Elsevier in Physics Letters B
Alpha-decay width of a near proton-threshold resonance in the 7Li(α, α) channel
by T. Tang, W. Mittig, Y. Ayyad, C. Hebborn, J.J. Kolata, P. O’MAlley, T. Ahn, D. Bazin, M. Couder, A. Muñoz-Ramos, et al.
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- 29 October 2025
- Published by Elsevier in Physics Letters B
Open Access
Alpha-decay width of a near proton-threshold resonance in the 7Li(α, α) channel
by T. Tang, W. Mittig, Y. Ayyad, C. Hebborn, J.J. Kolata, P. O’MAlley, T. Ahn, D. Bazin, M. Couder, A. Muñoz-Ramos, et al.
Cited by 3
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- 22 August 2025
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review C
Measurements of Gamow-Teller transitions from ${}^{59}{Co}$ via the ${}^{59}{Co} (t, {}^{3}{He} + γ)$ charge-exchange reaction and its application to the stellar electron-capture rates
by B. Gao, S. Giraud, C. J. Lv, Y. Sun, R. G. T. Zegers, L. J. Wang, Y. F. Niu, J. Ash, Y. Ayyad-Limonge, D. Bazin, et al.
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- 22 August 2025
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review C
Measurements of Gamow-Teller transitions from ${}^{59}{Co}$ via the ${}^{59}{Co} (t, {}^{3}{He} + γ)$ charge-exchange reaction and its application to the stellar electron-capture rates
by B. Gao, S. Giraud, C. J. Lv, Y. Sun, R. G. T. Zegers, L. J. Wang, Y. F. Niu, J. Ash, Y. Ayyad-Limonge, D. Bazin, et al.
Cited by 2

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