abstract

The double pole singularity of the \(S\)-matrix, the so-called exceptional point, associated with the \(5/2^-\) doublet of resonances in the spectrum of \(^{7}\mathrm {Be}\) has been identified in the framework of the Gamow shell model. The exceptional point singularity is demonstrated by the coalescence of wave functions and spectral functions of the two resonances, as well as by the singular behavior of spectroscopic factors and electromagnetic transitions.

abstract

Quantum computing offers a scalable approach to solving the nuclear shell model, a highly complex and exponentially scaled many-body problem. This work presents a numerical simulation of the subspace search variational quantum eigensolver (SSVQE) combined with an adaptive derivative-assemble pseudo-trotter (ADAPT) ansatz to obtain the low-lying states of any nuclear system in a single optimization run. As an example, we apply this method in this work to a trivial identical nucleon system, two nucleons in the \(0p_{3/2}\) orbital, mapped to 4 qubits depicting \(m\)-scheme single-particle states including a surface delta effective interaction using the Jordan–Wigner transformation. The ADAPT-SSVQE algorithm, by utilizing a symmetry-preserving double-excitation ADAPT operator pool, uniquely optimizes a weighted energy sum, forcing the simultaneous convergence of the two lowest states within the total angular momentum \(M_J=0\) subspace. We demonstrate the accuracy of the method by benchmarking against the exact diagonalization, confirming its potential for probing nuclear structure, and pairing phenomena on current and near-future quantum devices without requiring a multi-step procedure for excited states.

abstract

We present the results of our calculation of the nuclear matrix element for the \(2\nu \beta \beta \) decay \(^{48}\mathrm {Ca} \rightarrow {^{48}\mathrm {Ti}}\), performed using a post-Hartree–Fock (HF) Density Functional Theory-based No-Core Configuration-Interaction (DFT-NCCI) framework developed by our group. The preliminary value we have obtained for the nuclear matrix element describing this process, \(|\mathcal {M}^{2\nu }| = 0.056(6)\) MeV\(^{-1}\), is in excellent agreement with the results of the shell-model study by Horoi et al. , which yielded 0.054 (0.064) MeV\(^{-1}\) for the GXPF1A (GXPF1) interactions, respectively. It is also in reasonable agreement with the most recent experimental estimate from the review by Barabash, which is 0.068(6) MeV\(^{-1}\), assuming a quenching factor \(qg_{\mathrm {A}} \approx 1\). The consistency of our prediction with the shell-model results strengthens our confidence in the nuclear modeling of this second-order, extremely rare process, which is of paramount importance for the further modeling of the \(0\nu \beta \beta \) decay.

abstract

The Majorana Double Charge Exchange (MDCE) provides a suitable environment for studying the dynamics of the neutrinoless double-beta (\(0\nu \beta \beta \)) decay, particularly short-range correlations among nucleons. The study of the pion potential is essential in this respect, as it represents the strong interaction counterpart of the neutrino potential, driving nucleon correlations in \(0\nu \beta \beta \) decay. Numerical studies on the pion potential have revealed an effective range of about \(1\) fm with slight dispersion around this value, confirming the short-range character of the MDCE process.

abstract

Using a generalised Bohr Hamiltonian formalism together with the Gogny interaction to provide a microscopic input of the required mass parameters, we present the potential energy surface and the evolution of the first excited 2\(^+\) state for the gadolinium isotopic chain. We observe that the energies and electromagnetic transitions of low-lying states are fairly similar for the various parametrisations and are in good agreement with experimental data.

abstract

The mirror nuclei \(^{25}\)Mg and \(^{25}\)Al play a critical role in nucleosynthesis processes, as they participate in the slow neutron capture (s) and rapid proton capture (rp) processes, respectively. Reactions involving these nuclei contribute to the synthesis of the radioactive isotope \(^{26}\)Al, whose 1.809 MeV \(\gamma \)-ray emission serves as a direct tracer of ongoing nucleosynthesis in the Galaxy. Understanding the detailed structure of these mirror systems is therefore crucial for refining astrophysical reaction rate calculations in stellar environments. This work uses the effective PSDPF interaction to theoretically investigate the excitation energies, spin-parity assignments, and transition probabilities of \(^{25}\)Mg and \(^{25}\)Al. We systematically compare the calculated results with available experimental data, demonstrating excellent agreement, and providing valuable constraints for modeling nucleosynthesis processes involving these nuclei.

abstract

Neutron capture reactions in high-temperature environments play a vital role in our understanding of the age of the universe, as well as the function of nucleosynthesis in the creation of the heavy elements. In general, the temperatures characterising these reactions are variable and can be split into two separate processes: the slow (s) and rapid (r) neutron capture processes. In this work, thermal effects are introduced at the initialisation of the wave-packet with an implementation of the time-dependent coupled channels wave-packet (TDCCWP) method. The agreement of this method with the already accepted CCFULL method is explored for the \(n+^{186}\mathrm {Os}\) reaction. Then, a comparison of thermally-dependent cross sections are made, where a decrease in the cross section is found for an increasing temperature, along with a decrease of \(19\%\) in the reaction rate when a temperature-dependent cross section is used.

abstract

Nuclear reactions involving lithium isotopes are important for Big Bang nucleosynthesis and for explaining the depletion of lithium observed in stars. In particular, the \(^{6}\mathrm {Li}(p,\alpha )^{3}\mathrm {He}\) and \(^{7}\mathrm {Li}(p,\alpha )^{4}\mathrm {He}\) reactions play a significant role in the formation and destruction of light nuclei in astrophysical environments. Experimental data at energies below 20 keV are scarce due to the strong influence of electron screening in metallic targets. To investigate this region, measurements were performed at the Ultra High Vacuum accelerator facility of the University of Szczecin using a magnesium–lithium alloy target (55\(\%\) Mg, 45\(\%\) Li). Thick target yields were measured for proton beam energies between 13 and 26 keV with currents up to 1 mA. From these data, a high screening energy of \(U_e= 3.9\pm 0.6\) keV was determined. For comparison, the \(^{2}\mathrm {H}(d,p)^{3}\mathrm {H}\) reaction was also studied on the same target, giving \(U_e = 1.5 \pm 0.19\) keV. These results indicate that MgLi alloys provide exceptionally strong screening and are promising for future low-energy fusion studies.

abstract

We investigate the low-energy electric-dipole response of \(^{40}\mathrm {Mg}\) using a \(^{38}\mathrm {Mg}+n+n\) three-body model. This model is implemented using a three-body hyperspherical formalism with an analytically transformed harmonic oscillator basis. In this study, two different neutron–neutron interactions are considered: a scalar Gaussian density-dependent central potential and a more realistic finite-range potential which includes central, spin–orbit, and tensor components. We examine how the electric-dipole response is affected by the choice of the interaction.

abstract

The \(\alpha \)-transfer and breakup channels in \(^7\mathrm {Be}+^{12}\)C at 35 MeV are studied. The total cross sections from \(\alpha \)-transfer, populating different states of \(^{16}\)O are obtained. This work also presents the first exclusive breakup measurement of \(^7\)Be. In contrast to earlier works, the results show a significant contribution of breakup.

abstract

The structure of light nuclei is a particularly active area of research due to their small number of nucleons and yet a large variety of nuclear structure phenomena. In this contribution, preliminary results on \(^9\)Li and \(^{10}\)Be states, some of which indicate their pronounced clustered structure, are discussed.

abstract

During the E666 experiment at the GANIL facility in 2016, where the fragmentation technique of a primary \(^{58}\)Ni beam was used, \(^{46}\)Mn, as well as other isotopes, was created and later implanted in a DSSSD surrounded by HPGe clovers. The subsequent \(\beta ^+\)-decay could populate \(^{46}\)Cr excited states above the proton separation energy, and later decay into \(^{45}\)V in a process called \(\beta \)-delayed proton emission. The detection of the \(\gamma \) rays and protons emitted after the \(^{46}\)Mn decay allowed us to study the inverse reaction to the \(^{45}\)V(\(p,\gamma \))\(^{46}\)Cr process. This later reaction impacts the \(^{44}\)Ti production in Supernovae events. In this work, we present the preliminary results regarding the refined energy spectrum for the \(\gamma \) rays and charged particles detected, linked to the \(^{46}\)Mn \(\beta ^+\)-decay.

abstract

We present the first experimental extraction of nucleon–nucleon spin entanglement in the quasi-elastic \((p, n)\) reactions. Entanglement was quantified using von Neumann entropy \(\cal E\) and concurrence \(\cal C\). The latter was derived from the experimentally measured spin polarization transfer coefficients (PTC, \(D_{ji}\)). Data obtained in 1996 at RCNP using the NTOF and NPOL facilities were used in Bai’s method framework. The \(pn\) entanglements for QES induced by the \(^2\)H\((p,n)\) and \(^{12}\)C\((p,n)\) reactions showed a high degree of entanglement, with values of \(\sim 0.7 \leq \mathcal {E} \leq 0.99\), and they had an almost identical value. These findings provide novel experimental insight into nuclear correlations and open up new avenues for investigating nuclear forces and structure through quantum entanglement.

abstract

There is an ongoing debate regarding the structure of the Cd isotopes, with the traditional interpretation of multiphonon vibrational states confronted with a recent suggestion that they possess multiple shape coexistence. In order to settle this debate, detailed studies are being pursued that include Coulomb excitation with multiple reaction partners and high-statistics \(\beta \)-decay measurements to provide high-precision spectroscopic data. We report results from very recent \(\beta \)-decay studies performed with the GRIFFIN \(\gamma \)-ray spectrometer on \(^{110,112,116}\mathrm {Cd}\) that confirm some of the previous \(\gamma \)-ray placements, bring others into question, and observe new transitions from states assigned to low-lying bands.

abstract

Properties of low-lying states in \(^{100}\)Zr were studied using the GRIFFIN spectrometer at TRIUMF following the \(\beta \) decay of \(^{100}\mathrm {Y}\). Using \(\gamma \)–\(\gamma \) angular correlations, level spins were confirmed and E2/M1 mixing ratios determined with improved precision. Applicability of a two-state mixing model to the observed structures in \(^{100}\mathrm {Zr}\) is explored.

abstract

The structure of light nuclei approaching the \(N = 20\) Island of Inversion was investigated in two multi-nucleon transfer experiments performed at Legnaro National Laboratories using the AGATA-PRISMA setup. This paper presents preliminary results on the decay level schemes of \(^{23,25}\)Ne. The analysis presented here focuses on the study of negative-parity states to probe the evolution of shell structure along the \(Z = 10\) isotopic chain, and provide stringent constraints for state-of-the-art theoretical models.

abstract

The \(A\sim 40\) mass region is ideal to study the evolution of nuclear structure and to probe different theoretical approaches. In particular, in these nuclei, phenomena like shape coexistence are expected to appear. The objective of this work is to study the evolution of such phenomena across the Ca isotopic chain by performing complete low-spin spectroscopy of even–even \(^{42,44}\)Ca and odd–even \(^{43,45}\)Ca isotopes and, together with the already published results on \(^{41,47,49}\)Ca, track the evolution of nuclear structure along \(Z=20\). All four isotopes relevant to this work were populated by (\(n_\mathrm {th}\),\(\gamma \)) neutron-capture reactions exploiting thermal neutrons from the ILL (Grenoble) nuclear reactor. In this article, we present preliminary results on \(^{42}\)Ca and \(^{44}\)Ca. In our experiments, we used the FIPPS spectrometer to detect \(\gamma \)-rays, and both double-\(\gamma \)- and triple-\(\gamma \)-coincidence techniques were used to reconstruct the decay schemes. The result is 10 new levels and 109 new transitions for \(^{42}\)Ca, and 27 new levels and 280 new \(\gamma \) rays in \(^{44}\)Ca. Preliminary angular correlation studies of \(^{42}\)Ca excited states will also be presented, and the population of \(0^+\) excited states, possibly associated with shape coexistence, will be discussed.

abstract

Excited states of the triaxially deformed \(^{105}\)Pd have been studied. New rotational bands were identified and their configurations were determined. Some previously known bands have been extended to higher energies and spins. The main aim of this work was to search for the two-phonon wobbling band in addition to the already known one-phonon band. However, a comparison of the experimental data and the theoretical calculations revealed no evidence of a two-phonon wobbling band in \(^{105}\)Pd.

abstract

A Coulomb excitation experiment has been performed with the aim of populating the \(3^-_1\) state in \(^{90}\mathrm {Zr}\) at 2748 keV excitation energy with 88 MeV \(^{32}\mathrm {S}\) beam and particle–\(\gamma \) coincidence mode. A preliminary analysis has been performed to determine the electromagnetic matrix element. In a separate measurement, the octupole collective \(11/2^-_1\) state in \(^{91}\mathrm {Zr}\) has been populated by the \(^{82}\mathrm {Se}(^{13}\mathrm {C}, 4n)\) reaction. Significantly high \(B\)(E3) strength has been determined by measuring the lifetime of this state through the electronic fast timing method.

abstract

The \(A=70\), \(T=1\) isobaric multiplet exhibits an anomalous Coulomb energy difference (CED) behavior, with the \(^{70}\)Br/\(^{70}\)Se pair showing a decrease in CED with increasing spin, contrary to the typical trend observed in other \(pf\)-shell nuclei. To investigate this phenomenon, a dedicated experiment was carried out at the Heavy Ion Laboratory of the University of Warsaw using an 88 MeV \(^{32}\)S beam impinging on a \(^{40}\)Ca target. Excited states in \(A \approx 70\) neutron-deficient nuclides were populated in fusion–evaporation reactions. Gamma rays were measured with the EAGLE spectrometer, whereas the reaction channel identification was provided by the combined set of neutron — NEDA and charged particle — DIAMANT detectors. Preliminary data analysis shows the satisfactory performance of the setup, which will allow for in-depth studies of the structure of the nuclei of interest.

abstract

The beam composition of a tertiary \(^{130}\)Sn beam that was produced in projectile fragmentation is analyzed. This allows, in a first step, to identify contaminants in the beam and, in a second step, to determine isomeric ratios for different isotopes present in the beam. The results help to understand the process of projectile fragmentation and to plan future experiments that involve similar reactions.

abstract

An experiment to search for new excited states in the proton-rich nucleus \(^{57}\mathrm {Cu}\) was performed at the Heavy Ion Laboratory of the University of Warsaw. This nucleus, with one valence proton outside the doubly magic \(^{56}\mathrm {Ni}\) core, offers a sensitive test of Shell Model predictions in interplay with collective effects, and its structure is essential for the production of heavier elements in the astrophysical rp-process. A fusion–evaporation reaction was employed using an 85 MeV beam of \(^{32}\mathrm {S}\) ions incident on a \(^{28}\mathrm {Si}\) target. The emitted \(\gamma \)-rays, neutrons, and light charged particles were detected with the EAGLE, NEDA, and DIAMANT arrays, respectively. No \(\gamma \)-ray lines corresponding to \(^{57}\mathrm {Cu}\) could be identified. An upper limit for the \(^{57}\mathrm {Cu}\) production cross section was estimated as \(\sigma = 3~\mu \mathrm {b}\).

abstract

The superheavy nuclei (SHN), residing at the edge of nuclear stability at the highest atomic charge \(Z\) and mass \(A\), are in the focus of scientific efforts worldwide due to the high discovery potential offered by their investigation. In this paper, we report on some of the major challenges and how we intend to approach them at GANIL, with advanced instrumentation and state-of-the-art experimental methods, as well as reaction theory approaches to the SHN production mechanism. Decay Spectroscopy After Separation (DSAS) is an efficient tool to study nuclear structure features of the heaviest nuclear species such as single particle trends towards the predicted next spherical shell closures beyond \(^{208}\)Pb, and deformation and exotic shapes, leading also to the formation of meta-stable states, like, e.g. , \(K\)-isomers. The understanding of the reaction mechanism governing heavy collisions employed for the synthesis of the heaviest nuclei, despite decades of experimental and theoretical efforts, is still a challenging task. Being a fundamental topic by itself, mastering reaction theory and producing reliable cross-section predictions are essential for a successful experimental program. Detailed nuclear structure studies of the heaviest nuclei, as well as the synthesis of superheavy elements (SHE) are presently still hampered by the limited efficiencies of the existing experimental facilities. To overcome this restriction, substantial efforts are being made to upgrade and develop existing and new facilities worldwide, online since recently or planned for the future, including the linear accelerator facility SPIRAL2 at GANIL, equipped with the versatile separator–spectrometer set-up S\(^3\).

abstract

Recent decay studies of \(^{244,245}\)Md at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Germany, and at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) reported conflicting mass assignments to similar \(\alpha \)‑decay energies. This prompted a new experiment at the Fragment Mass Analyzer (FMA) at Argonne National Laboratory. Using the reaction \(^{209}\mathrm {Bi}(^{40}\mathrm {Ar},xn)^{249-x}\mathrm {Md}\), we performed simultaneous \(A/q\) identification and \(\alpha \)-decay energy measurement for neutron-deficient Md isotopes. Correlated recoil-\(\alpha \)-decay chains belonging to \(^{247}\)Md and \(^{245}\)Md were identified. Probabilistic mass identification was performed from focal-plane position using a test reaction, yielding consistent \(A=247\) and \(A=245\) mass assignments within uncertainties. This study re-examines the production cross sections, decay energies, and isotopic assignments for the \(^{247}\)Md and \(^{245}\)Md nuclei.

abstract

The synthesis of oganesson (\(Z=118\)) using a metallic beam was investigated at the RIKEN Nishina Center with the \(^{248}\)Cm(\(^{50}\)Ti,\(xn)^{298-x}\)Og fusion–evaporation reaction, performed on RILAC and GARIS-II separators. This experiment was conducted for 39 days. No Og decays were detected. A total dose of \(4.93 \times 10^{18}\) projectiles was accumulated on the target, reaching a sensitivity of 0.27 pb and an upper cross-section limit of 0.50 pb.

abstract

A Fourier parametrization of nuclear shapes and the macroscopic–microscopic method are used to evaluate the potential energy surfaces (PES) of nuclei in a 4-dimensional deformation space. The effect of different orientations in space of the nucleus is taken into account when deformations higher than quadrupole are considered. The effect on the PES of exact solving the pairing eigenproblem is also studied.

abstract

Excited states of the \(^{207-213}\mathrm {Ac}\) nuclei were studied by employing fusion–evaporation reactions at the RITU and MARA separators of the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. In three of the four conducted experiments prompt \(\gamma \)-ray transitions were measured by employing the JUROGAM3 spectrometer, while the fourth experiment focused on delayed spectroscopy of \(^{207}\mathrm {Ac}\). Level schemes were established for odd-\(A\) isotopes, and those are compared to the systematics set by nearby astatine and francium nuclei, as well as to the excited states of the respective even–even isotone cores.

abstract

Decay properties of two new isotopes of astatine, \(^{188}\)At and \(^{190}\)At, were studied in the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The nuclei were produced in fusion–evaporation reactions, and those were separated from the primary beam and target-like products by employing the RITU (Recoil-Ion Transport Unit) recoil separator. Decay-spectroscopy studies were performed for the produced nuclei resulting in information about the decay properties of \(^{188}\)At and \(^{190}\)At. The \(^{188}\)At isotope was found to be the heaviest proton emitter to date. Additionally, the \(^{190}\)At isotope was observed to decay via \(\alpha \) decay. The results were compared with the systematics and with non-adiabatic quasiparticle calculations. In \(^{188}\)At, a deviation in the one-proton separation energy was observed, indicating the first possible sign of the Thomas–Ehrman shift in heavy nuclei.

abstract

We present studies on two Silicon Carbide (SiC) detectors for applications as dosimeters, micro-dosimeters, and beam-tagging devices, including detailed detector characterization, optimization of the associated electronics, and a performance comparison with conventional silicon-based detectors. Furthermore, preliminary device-level simulations carried out with Sentaurus are discussed to support the experimental results. The combined experimental and simulation studies demonstrate the potential of SiC as a promising alternative to silicon for radiation detection, particularly in environments where high radiation tolerance and fast response are required. Within this framework, the SAMOTHRACE ecosystem, in collaboration with CHIMERA, is working toward the development of a 10 \(\mu \)m thick SiC detector for dosimetry and micro-dosimetry, as well as a 100 \(\mu \)m thick device for beam-tagging applications.

abstract

Geant4 simulations were performed to investigate the scintillation light distribution in a segmented Silicon-Photomultiplier (SiPM) based detector module, which is currently being developed for the upgraded Recoil Filter Detector (RFD). The goal is to replace conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), whose performance degrades under high secondary electron rates, with SiPM arrays coupled to ultra-thin plastic scintillators. Two scintillator types (EJ-228 and EJ-214) and a \(4\times 4\) SiPM matrix were modeled, including detailed optical properties and interface definitions. Simulations of 20 keV secondary electron bunches show that for scintillator thicknesses up to about 25 \(\mu \)m, the generated light remains highly localized and is collected almost entirely by a single SiPM cell. The results show that the expected improvement in counting capability is possible thanks to detector segmentation, and provide guidance for the optimal design of future RFD modules.

abstract

Neutron energy determination is crucial in (\(\alpha ,n\)) reaction studies, where emitted neutrons span a broad energy range influenced by reaction kinematics and target properties. This work presents an experimental method using an array of moderated \(^3\)He proportional counters to determine neutron energies. Optimized moderator configurations and Monte Carlo-supported spectral unfolding enable reliable reconstruction of neutron spectra without time-of-flight measurements. The system offers a practical and efficient approach for neutron energy characterization, applicable to nuclear data validation and shielding design.

abstract

Recently, a LaBr\(_3\)(Ce) \(\gamma \)-spectrometer called LABDA has been designed and built at the HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research, Debrecen, Hungary. To advance the use of the detector system for nuclear physics and nuclear application measurements, the performance parameters were determined. For the suppression of the intrinsic \(\alpha \)-background of the detectors caused by the production technology, pulse shape discrimination methods were applied using digital pulse processing. A quantitative study of the different methods confirms that the LABDA detector system is suitable for low-background high-energy \(\gamma \)-ray measurements.

abstract

Ultra-high dose rate radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is a highly promising approach to cancer treatment, utilising ionising radiation. This innovative technique delivers the treatment dose in less than 200 ms, inducing the “FLASH effect”, which spares healthy tissue while retaining tumour control. This type of dose delivery presents significant challenges for accurate dose and energy measurement, especially for a single radiation pulse. In this work, we present a method for direct measurements of the energy spectrum using a permanent magnet electron energy spectrometer, designed to evaluate the energy distribution of electron beams at a wide range of dose rates. The preliminary results obtained in the AQURE FLASH RT accelerator dedicated to FLASH research indicate differences in the energy spectra of beams, which differ in dose rate. This method makes it possible to obtain the energy spectra of even a single pulse, and to determine its most probable and average energy of the electron beams.

abstract

The determination of the neutron skin thickness of \(^{208}\mathrm {Pb}\) from the PREX-II measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry \(A_{\mathrm {PV}}\) has generated considerable discussion within the nuclear physics community, revealing notable discrepancies with previous experimental results and theoretical predictions. PREX also reported a beam-normal single-spin asymmetry \(A_n\) for \(^{208}\mathrm {Pb}\), a key background to \(A_{\mathrm {PV}}\), that deviates from contemporary calculations — a discrepancy now known as the PREX anomaly. We present a new measurement of \(A_n\) in elastic electron scattering from natural lead performed at MAMI and discuss its implications for solving the PREX anomaly. We also outline the concept of the forthcoming Mainz Radius EXperiment (MREX) at MESA, designed to deliver an independent measurement of \(A_{\mathrm {PV}}\) in \(^{208}\mathrm {Pb}\) with twice the precision of PREX-II.

abstract

In this contribution, the ongoing analysis of the anisotropic flow of strange hadrons (\(K^\pm \), \({\mit \Lambda }\)) emitted from the Ag+Ag collisions at a beam kinetic energy of 1.58 GeV per nucleon is presented. The anisotropic flow is expressed with the Fourier coefficients of the \(1^\mathrm {st}\) and \(2^\mathrm {nd}\) order, corresponding to the directed and elliptic flow, respectively. However, only the \(v_1\) distribution is shown due to statistical limitations. The directed flow of \(K^+\) has a negative slope in the low-\(p_{\mathrm {t}}\) region, opposite to protons, while the \(v_1\) slope of \({\mit \Lambda }\) is similar to that of the protons regardless of momentum.

abstract

Copper-64 (\(^{64}\)Cu) is a promising theranostic radionuclide owing to its dual decay modes (\(\beta ^+\): 17.4\(\%\), \(\beta ^-\): 38.5\(\%\), \(e^-\) capture: 44.1\(\%\)) and 12.7 h half-life, enabling both PET imaging and targeted radiotherapy. This work presents a theoretical study of \(^{64}\)Cu production via the \(^{64}\)Ni(\(p,n\))\(^{64}\)Cu reaction using PACE4, EMPIRE-3.2.2, and TALYS-1.96 codes. Reaction mechanisms, excitation functions, and yield predictions were analyzed to identify optimal conditions for medical cyclotron production. The simulations indicate an optimal proton energy range of 10–15 MeV, which maximizes the \(^{64}\)Cu yield while minimizing contaminants. Calculated excitation functions and thick-target yields show good agreement with experimental data, confirming model reliability for the reaction. The results provide theoretical guidance for efficient \(^{64}\)Cu production and target design. Given its established clinical utility in radiopharmaceuticals such as \(^{64}\)Cu-DOTATATE and \(^{64}\)Cu-ATSM, and its industrial role as a radiotracer, \(^{64}\)Cu continues to emerge as a key radionuclide bridging nuclear physics, radiochemistry, and applied science.