0000000000007541
AUTHOR
P. G. Thirolf
The neutron-rich Mg isotopes: first results from MINIBALL at REX-ISOLDE
After the successful commissioning of the Radioactive beam EXperiment (REX) at ISOLDE (CERN) in 2002, first physics experiments were performed in 2003 which focussed on the neutron-rich Mg isotopes in the vicinity of the “island of inversion”. After introducing the REX facility and the modern γ spectrometer MINIBALL first preliminary results will be presented showing the high potential and physics opportunities offered by this new radioactive beam facility.
On-line commissioning of SHIPTRAP
Abstract The on-line commissioning of the Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP was successfully completed with a mass measurement of holmium and erbium radionuclides produced at SHIP. A large fraction of contaminant ions created in the stopping cell was identified to originate from the buffer-gas supply system. Using a liquid nitrogen cold trap they were reduced to a tolerable amount and mass measurements of Er 147 , Er 148 , and Ho 147 with relative uncertainties of about 1 × 1 0 − 6 were performed.
Beta decay of neutron-rich cobalt and nickel isotopes
We report on the first β-γ spectroscopy measurements of the neutron-rich 68–70Co and 70–74Ni nuclei, produced in proton-induced fission of 238U and ionized in a laser ion guide coupled to an on-line mass separator. Several γ lines from the decay of these nuclei have been identified, half-lives determined and production cross sections deduced. The derived level schemes for the copper and nickel isotopes show that the occupation of the ν(1g9/2) state has a strong influence on the structure of these neutron-rich nuclei. This may have a clear impact on the predicted structure and decay properties of doubly-magic 78Ni.
On-line yields obtained with the ISOLDE RILIS
The ISOLDE resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) allows to ionize efficiently and selectively many metallic elements. In recent yield surveys and on-line experiments with the ISOLDE RILIS we observed 23–34 Mg, 26–34 Al, 98–132 Cd, 149 Tb, 155–177 Yb, 179–200 Tl, 183–215 Pb and 188–218 Bi. The obtained yields are presented together with measured release parameters which allow to extrapolate the release efficiency towards more exotic (short-lived) nuclides of the same elements. 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Recent developments for high-precision mass measurements of the heaviest elements at SHIPTRAP
Abstract Atomic nuclei far from stability continue to challenge our understanding. For example, theoretical models have predicted an “island of stability” in the region of the superheavy elements due to the closure of spherical proton and neutron shells. Depending on the model, these are expected at Z = 114, 120 or even 126 and N = 172 or 184. Valuable information on the road to the island of stability is derived from high-precision mass measurements, which give direct access to binding energies of short-lived trans-uranium nuclei. Recently, direct mass measurements at SHIPTRAP have been extended to nobelium and lawrencium isotopes around the deformed shell gap N = 152. In order to further …
The cryogenic gas stopping cell of SHIPTRAP
The overall efficiency of the Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP at GSI Darmstadt, employed for high-precision mass measurements of exotic nuclei in the mass region above fermium, is presently mostly limited by the stopping and extraction of fusion-evaporation products in the SHIPTRAP gas cell. To overcome this limitation a second-generation gas cell with increased stopping volume was designed. In addition, its operation at cryogenic temperatures leads to a higher gas density at a given pressure and an improved cleanliness of the helium buffer gas. Here, the results of experiments with a 219Rn recoil ion source are presented. An extraction efficiency of 74(3)% was obtained, a significa…
“Safe” Coulomb Excitation ofMg30
We report on the first radioactive beam experiment performed at the recently commissioned REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN in conjunction with the highly efficient γ spectrometer MINIBALL. Using Mg-30 ions accelerated to an energy of 2.25 MeV/u together with a thin Ni-nat target, Coulomb excitation of the first excited 2(+) states of the projectile and target nuclei well below the Coulomb barrier was observed. From the measured relative deexcitation γ-ray yields the B(E2;0(gs)(+)R 2(1)(+)) value of Mg-30 was determined to be 241(31)e(2) fm(4). Our result is lower than values obtained at projectile fragmentation facilities using the intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation method, and confirms the …
Direct mass measurements above uranium bridge the gap to the island of stability
The mass of an atom incorporates all its constituents and their interactions. The difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of its building blocks (the binding energy) is a manifestation of Einstein's famous relation E = mc(2). The binding energy determines the energy available for nuclear reactions and decays (and thus the creation of elements by stellar nucleosynthesis), and holds the key to the fundamental question of how heavy the elements can be. Superheavy elements have been observed in challenging production experiments, but our present knowledge of the binding energy of these nuclides is based only on the detection of their decay products. The reconstruction from extended d…
Magicity of theN68iSemidouble-Closed-Shell Nucleus Probed by Gamow-Teller Decay of the Odd-ANeighbors
The particle-hole excitations through the $N\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}40$ subshell around ${}^{68}\mathrm{Ni}$ have been studied by the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of ${}^{69}\mathrm{Co}$ and ${}^{69}\mathrm{Ni}$. The half-life of ${}^{69}\mathrm{Co}$ was measured to be 0.22(2) s, and a new $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decaying isomer with a half-life of 3.5(5) s was identified in ${}^{69}\mathrm{Ni}$. From the decay of the ${}^{69}\mathrm{Ni}$ isomer a 9(4)% mixing of the $\ensuremath{\pi}{p}_{3/2}^{+1}\ensuremath{\nu}{p}_{1/2}^{\ensuremath{-}2}\ensuremath{\nu}{g}_{9/2}^{+2}$ configuration into the ground state of ${}^{69}\mathrm{Cu}$ can be deduced. Significant polarizatio…
β decay of67Co
The \ensuremath{\beta}-decay properties of ${}^{67}\mathrm{Co}$ produced in proton-induced fission of ${}^{238}\mathrm{U}$ were measured by the detection of \ensuremath{\beta}-delayed \ensuremath{\gamma} rays emitted from an isotopically pure mass-separated source obtained by laser ionization. The measured half-life of 0.425(20) s is more accurate than previous values. New \ensuremath{\gamma} transitions were observed, and corresponding branching ratios and $\mathrm{log}\mathrm{ft}$ values were deduced. The ${}^{67}\mathrm{Co}$ decay scheme is discussed in terms of the single-particle shell model.
Beta decay of neutron-rich Co: Probing single-particle states at and above the N=40 subshell closure
Neutron-rich Co nuclei with A=66–70 were produced by the laser-ionization isotope-separation on-line method. The β decay from these nuclei has been studied. A case example is given by reporting on the observed decay scheme of 68Co. The half life of the ground-state decay of this nucleus was measured to be 0.21(3) seconds. In addition, a new β decaying isomer half life of 1.16(25) seconds was discovered. The level scheme of 68Ni has been significantly extended, and an interpretation of the observed levels is made by assuming that the N=40 gap has the characteristics of a shell closure.
The Miniball spectrometer
The Miniball germanium detector array has been operational at the REX (Radioactive ion beam EXperiment) post accelerator at the Isotope Separator On-Line facility ISOLDE at CERN since 2001. During the last decade, a series of successful Coulomb excitation and transfer reaction studies have been performed with this array, utilizing the unique and high-quality radioactive ion beams which are available at ISOLDE. In this article, an overview is given of the technical details of the full Miniball setup, including a description of the γ-ray and particle detectors, beam monitoring devices and methods to deal with beam contamination. The specific timing properties of the REX-ISOLDE facility are hi…
Recent Upgrades of the SHIPTRAP Setup: On the Finish Line Towards Direct Mass Spectroscopy of Superheavy Elements
With the Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP at GSI, Darmstadt, it is possible to investigate exotic nuclei in the region of the heaviest elements. Few years ago, challenging experiments led to the direct measurements of the masses of neutron-deficient isotopes with Z = 102,103 around N = 152. Thanks to recent advances in cooling and ion-manipulation techniques, a major technical upgrade of the setup has been recently accomplished to boost its efficiency. At present, the gap to reach more rare and shorter-lived species at the limits of the nuclear landscape has been narrowed. ispartof: pages:423-429 ispartof: Acta Physica Polonica B vol:48 issue:3 pages:423-429 ispartof: location:Zakopa…
Accelerated radioactive beams from REX-ISOLDE
In 2001 the linear accelerator of the Radioactive beam EXperiment (REX-ISOLDE) delivered for the first time accelerated radioactive ion beams, at a beam energy of 2 MeV/u. REX-ISOLDE uses the method of charge-state breeding, in order to enhance the charge state of the ions before injection into the LINAC. Radioactive singly-charged ions from the on-line mass separator ISOLDE are first accumulated in a Penning trap, then charge bred to an A/q < 4.5 in an electron beam ion source (EBIS) and finally accelerated in a LINAC from 5 keV/u to energies between 0.8 and 2.2 MeV/u. Dedicated measurements with REXTRAP, the transfer line and the EBIS have been carried out in conjunction with the first co…
Extending Penning trap mass measurements with SHIPTRAP to the heaviest elements
Penning-trap mass spectrometry of radionuclides provides accurate mass values and absolute binding energies. Such mass measurements are sensitive indicators of the nuclear structure evolution far away from stability. Recently, direct mass measurements have been extended to the heavy elements nobelium (Z=102) and lawrencium (Z=103) with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP. The results probe nuclear shell effects at N=152. New developments will pave the way to access even heavier nuclides.
High-sensitivity study of levels in 30Al following β decay of 30Mg
γ -ray and fast-timing spectroscopy were used to study levels in 30Al populated following the β− decay of 30Mg. Five new transitions and three new levels were located in 30Al. A search was made to identify the third 1+ state expected at an excitation energy of ∼2.5 MeV. Two new levels were found, at 3163.9 and 3362.5 keV, that are firm candidates for this state. Using the advanced time-delayed (ATD) βγγ (t) method we have measured the lifetime of the 243.8-keV state to be T1/2 = 15(4) ps, which implies that the 243.8-keV transition is mainly of M1 character. Its fast B(M1; 2+ → 3+) value of 0.10(3) W.u. is in very good agreement with the USD shell-model prediction of 0.090 W.u. The 1801.5-k…
The performance of the cryogenic buffer-gas stopping cell of SHIPTRAP
Direct high-precision mass spectrometry of the heaviest elements with SHIPTRAP, at GSI in Darmstadt, Germany, requires high efficiency to deal with the low production rates of such exotic nuclides. A second-generation gas stopping cell, operating at cryogenic temperatures, was developed and recently integrated into the relocated system to boost the overall efficiency. Offline measurements using 223Ra and 225Ac recoil-ion sources placed inside the gas volume were performed to characterize the gas stopping cell with respect to purity and extraction efficiency. In addition, a first online test using the fusion-evaporation residue 254No was performed, resulting in a combined stopping and extrac…
Direct Mapping of Nuclear Shell Effects in the Heaviest Elements
Quantum-mechanical shell effects are expected to strongly enhance nuclear binding on an "island of stability" of superheavy elements. The predicted center at proton number $Z=114,120$, or $126$ and neutron number $N=184$ has been substantiated by the recent synthesis of new elements up to $Z=118$. However the location of the center and the extension of the island of stability remain vague. High-precision mass spectrometry allows the direct measurement of nuclear binding energies and thus the determination of the strength of shell effects. Here, we present such measurements for nobelium and lawrencium isotopes, which also pin down the deformed shell gap at $N=152$.
Status of the SHIPTRAP Project: A Capture and Storage Facility for Heavy Radionuclides from SHIP
The ion trap facility SHIPTRAP is being set up to deliver very clean and cool beams of singly-charged recoil ions produced at the SHIP velocity filter at GSI Darmstadt. SHIPTRAP consists of a gas cell for stopping and thermalizing high-energy recoil ions from SHIP, an rf ion guide for extraction of the ions from the gas cell, a linear rf trap for accumulation and bunching of the ions, and a Penning trap for isobaric purification. The progress in testing the rf ion guide is reported. A transmission of about 93(5)% was achieved.