Speaker
Description
$\beta$-delayed neutron emission is a common and dominating decay process for most of the neutron-rich nuclei far from the stability line. Experimental investigations on $\beta$-delayed neutrons are of great significance in a large variety of fields, including nuclear physics, astrophysics, and industrial applications. First, it is a sensitive probe to the $\beta$-decay feedings above neutron separation energy, which is related to the nuclear structures of parent and daughter nuclei. Second, the decay process itself carries fundamental information on how neutron unbound states are formed in $\beta$ decay. Owing to its importance, rapid progress has been made in measuring $\beta$-delayed neutron emission, either inclusive or exclusive, at many different radioactive ion-beam facilities in the last decade. In this contribution, I will present a few highlights of our recent experimental effort in studying $\beta$-delayed neutrons in a range of nuclei with mass numbers $A=24\sim132$. The experimental findings were compared with various theoretical models, gaining valuable insights into the shell evolution in exotic nuclei as well as the statistical/nonstatistical natures of $\beta$-delayed neutron emission in medium-heavy and heavy isotopes.
