Beta-Delayed Neutron Spectroscopy of Fission Fragments Using the Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy

This work details the study of nuclear decay in the region of doubly magic 78Ni using the Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy (VANDLE). This detector system uses the time-of-flight technique to measure the energy of beta-delayed neutrons. VANDLE uses a fully digital data acquisition system equipped with timing algorithms developed as part of the experimental work. The experiment examined nearly 30 beta-delayed neutron precursors produced at the Hollifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This work discusses three of these nuclei: 77,78Cu and 84Ga. Results from the experiment provide details of the Gamow-Teller decay in neutron rich nuclei near 78Ni.