0000000000087794
AUTHOR
G. Audi
Cadmium mass measurements between the neutron shell closures at N=50 and 82
International audience; The mass values of the neutron-deficient cadmium isotopes 99−109Cd and of the neutronrich isotopes 114,120,122−124,126,128Cd have been measured using ISOLTRAP. The behavior of the separation energies of the cadmium isotopes from N = 50 to 82 is discussed.
High-accuracy mass determination of neutron-rich rubidium and strontiumiIsotopes
The penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, installed at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE at CERN, has been used to measure atomic masses of $^{88,89,90m,91,92,93,94}$Rb and $^{91- 95}$Sr. Using a resolving power of R $\!\scriptstyle\approx$1 million a mass accuracy of typically 10 keV was achieved for all nuclides. Discrepancies with older data are analyzed and discussed, leading to corrections to those data. Together with the present ISOLTRAP data these corrected data have been used in the general mass adjustment.
Mass measurements on neutron-deficient Sr and neutron-rich Sn isotopes with the ISOLTRAP mass spectrometer
Abstract The atomic masses of 76,77,80,81,86,88 Sr and 124,129,130,131,132 Sn were measured by means of the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN. 76 Sr is now the heaviest N = Z nucleus for which the mass is measured to a precision better than 35 keV. For the tin isotopes in the close vicinity of the doubly magic nucleus 132 Sn, mass uncertainties below 20 keV were achieved. An atomic mass evaluation was carried out taking other experimental mass values into account by performing a least-squares adjustment. Some discrepancies between older experimental values and the ones reported here emerged and were resolved. The results of the new adjustment and their impact will be pr…
Direct mass measurements of neutron-deficient xenon isotopes with the ISOLTRAP mass spectrometer
Abstract The masses of Xe isotopes with 124⩾ A ⩾114 have been measured using the ISOLTRAP spectrometer at the on-line mass separator ISOLDE/CERN. A mass resolving power of 500 000 was chosen resulting in an accuracy of δm ≈12 keV for all isotopes investigated. Conflicts with existing mass data of several standard deviations were found.
Surveying the N=40 island of inversion with new manganese masses
High-precision mass measurements of neutron-rich 57−66Mn and 61−63Fe isotopes are reported. The new mass surface shows no shell closure at N=40. In contrast, there is an increase of the two-neutron separation energy at N=38. This behavior is consistent with the onset of collectivity due to the occupation of intruder states from higher orbits, in analogy with the well known “island of inversion” around N=20. Our results indicate that the neutron-rich Mn isotopes, starting from 63Mn, are most likely within the new island of inversion. From the new mass surface, we evaluate the empirical proton-neutron interaction and the pairing gap, both playing a significant role in the structural changes i…
Critical-Point Boundary for the Nuclear Quantum Phase Transition NearA=100from Mass Measurements ofKr96,97
Mass measurements of (96,97)Kr using the ISOLTRAP Penning-trap spectrometer at CERN-ISOLDE are reported, extending the mass surface beyond N=60 for Z=36. These new results show behavior in sharp contrast to the heavier neighbors where a sudden and intense deformation is present. We interpret this as the establishment of a nuclear quantum phase transition critical-point boundary. The new masses confirm findings from nuclear mean-square charge-radius measurements up to N=60 but are at variance with conclusions from recent gamma-ray spectroscopy.
Direct mass measurements on neutron-deficient xenon isotopes with the ISOLTRAP mass spectrometer
The masses of Xe isotopes with 124 A 114 have been measured using the ISOLTRAP spectrometer at the on-line mass separator ISOLDE/CERN. A mass resolving power of 500000 was chosen resulting in an accuracy of m 12 keV for all isotopes investigated. Con icts with existing mass data of several standard deviations were found. peerReviewed
Mass measurements beyond the major r-process waiting point $^{80}$Zn
High-precision mass measurements on neutron-rich zinc isotopes 71m,72-81Zn have been performed with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. For the first time the mass of 81Zn has been experimentally determined. This makes 80Zn the first of the few major waiting points along the path of the astrophysical rapid neutron capture process where neutron separation energy and neutron capture Q-value are determined experimentally. As a consequence, the astrophysical conditions required for this waiting point and its associated abundance signatures to occur in r-process models can now be mapped precisely. The measurements also confirm the robustness of the N = 50 shell closure for Z = 30 farthe…
Approaching theN=82shell closure with mass measurements of Ag and Cd isotopes
Mass measurements of neutron-rich Cd and Ag isotopes were performed with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. The masses of ${}^{112,114\ensuremath{-}124}$Ag and ${}^{114,120,122\ensuremath{-}124,126,128}$Cd, determined with relative uncertainties between $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ and $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$, resulted in significant corrections and improvements of the mass surface. In particular, the mass of $^{124}\mathrm{Ag}$ was previously unknown. In addition, other masses that had to be inferred from $Q$ values of nuclear decays and reactions have now been measured directly. The analysis includes various mass…
High-Accuracy Mass Determination of Unstable Rb, Sr, Cs, Ba, Fr and Ra Isotopes with a Penning Trap Mass Spectrometer
The majority of masses of radioactive isotopes has been measured by determination of Q-values in nuclear reactions or in nuclear decay. For a long time the use of direct mass determination has been limited to stable isotopes or isotopes close to stability. This changed in the 70’s with magnetic spectrometers put on-line to isotope separators. The Orsay group (Audi et al., 1986) succeeded in measuring the masses in long isotope chains of alkali elements. They impressively demonstrated the possibilities embedded in direct mass determination of isotopes far from stability. The persisting demand for more precise masses of short-lived isotopes (or exotic particles) has prompted during recent yea…
Accurate masses of neutron-deficient nuclides close to
Abstract Mass measurements with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN are extended to nonsurface ionizable species using newly developed ion-beam bunching devices. Masses of 179–197Hg, 196,198Pb, 197Bi, 198Po and 203At were determined with an accuracy of 1×10 −7 corresponding to δm≈20 keV. Applying a resolving power of up to 3.7×10 6 ground and isomeric states of 185,187,191,193,197Hg were separated. First experimental values for the isomeric excitation energy of 187,191Hg are obtained. A least-squares adjustment has been performed and theoretical approaches are discussed to model the observed fine structure in the binding energy.
Mass Determination of Francium and Radium Isotopes by a Penning Trap Mass Spectrometer
Abstract A tandem Penning trap mass spectrometer is used for mass measurement of radioactive isotopes produced at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE/CERN. The mass is determined directly and with high accuracy by measuring the cyclotron frequency of the stored ions. Measurements were performed on 209 210 211 212 221 222Fr and 226 230Ra. A resolving power of 5 × 105 was used and an accuracy of 1·8 × 10−7 has been achieved.
High-precision Penning-trap mass measurements of heavy xenon isotopes for nuclear structure studies
With the double Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN the masses of the neutron-rich isotopes $^{136\ensuremath{-}146}\mathrm{Xe}$ were measured with a relative uncertainty of the order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$. In particular, the masses of $^{144\ensuremath{-}146}\mathrm{Xe}$ were measured for the first time. These new mass values allow one to extend calculations of the mass surface in this region. Proton-Neutron interaction strength, obtained from double differences of binding energies, relate to subtle structural effects, such as the onset of octupole correlations, the growth of collectivity, and its relation to the underlying shell model l…
Extension of Penning-trap mass measurements to very short-lived nuclides
Abstract Mass measurements on 33,34,42,43 Ar have been performed at the ISOLTRAP spectrometer. An accuracy of δm ≈4 keV has been achieved for all measured isotopes. With 33 Ar it is the first time that a nuclide with a half-life shorter than one second has been investigated using a Penning trap. This became possible due to the recently installed linear radio-frequency ion-trap system and an improved, faster measurement cycle.
High-precision masses of neutron-deficient rubidium isotopes using a Penning trap mass spectrometer
The atomic masses of the neutron-deficient radioactive rubidium isotopes $^{74-77,79,80,83}$Rb have been measured with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. Using the time-of-flight cyclotron resonance technique, relative mass uncertainties ranging from $1.6 \times 10^{-8}$ to $5.6 \times 10^{-8}$ were achieved. In all cases, the mass precision was significantly improved as compared with the prior Atomic-Mass Evaluation; no significant deviations from the literature values were observed. The exotic nuclide $^{74}$Rb with a half-life of only 65 ms, is the shortest-lived nuclide on which a high-precision mass measurement in a Penning trap has been carried out. The significance of these…
Restoration of theN=82Shell Gap from Direct Mass Measurements ofSn132,134
A high-precision direct Penning trap mass measurement has revealed a 0.5-MeV deviation of the binding energy of (134)Sn from the currently accepted value. The corrected mass assignment of this neutron-rich nuclide restores the neutron-shell gap at N=82, previously considered to be a case of "shell quenching." In fact, the new shell gap value for the short-lived (132)Sn is larger than that of the doubly magic (48)Ca which is stable. The N=82 shell gap has considerable impact on fission recycling during the r process. More generally, the new finding has important consequences for microscopic mean-field theories which systematically deviate from the measured binding energies of closed-shell nu…
Mass Measurements of Very Neutron-Deficient Mo and Tc Isotopes and Their Impact on rp Process Nucleosynthesis
The masses of ten proton-rich nuclides, including the N=Z+1 nuclides 85-Mo and 87-Tc, were measured with the Penning trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP. Compared to the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2003 a systematic shift of the mass surface by up to 1.6 MeV is observed causing significant abundance changes of the ashes of astrophysical X-ray bursts. Surprisingly low alpha-separation energies for neutron-deficient Mo and Tc are found, making the formation of a ZrNb cycle in the rp process possible. Such a cycle would impose an upper temperature limit for the synthesis of elements beyond Nb in the rp process.
Mass measurements on stable nuclides in the rare-earth region with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer RIGA-TRAP
The masses of 15 stable nuclides in the rare-earth region have been measured with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer TRIGA-TRAP. This is the first series of absolute mass measurements linking these nuclides to the atomic-mass standard $^{12}\mathrm{C}$. Previously, nuclear reaction studies almost exclusively determined the literature values of these masses in the Atomic-Mass Evaluation. The TRIGA-TRAP results show deviations on the order of 3--4 standard deviations from the latest published values of the Atomic-Mass Evaluation 2003 for some cases. However, the binding-energy differences that are important for nuclear structure studies have been confirmed and improved. The new masses are dis…
Accurate mass determination of short-lived isotopes by a tandem Penning-trap mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer consisting of two Penning traps has been set up for short-lived isotopes at the on-line mass separator ISOLDE at CERN. The ion beam is collected and cooled in the first trap. After delivery to the second trap, high-accuracy direct mass measurements are made by determining the cyclotron frequency of the stored ions. Measurements have been performed for $^{118}--^{137}$Cs. A resolving power of over ${10}^{6}$ and an accuracy of 1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}7}$ have been achieved, corresponding to about 20 keV.
Resolution of nuclear ground and isomeric states by a Penning trap mass spectrometer.
Ground and isomeric states of a nucleus have been resolved for the first time by mass spectrometry. Measurements on $^{78}\mathrm{Rb}^{\mathit{m},}$g and $^{84}\mathrm{Rb}^{\mathit{m},}$g were performed using a tandem Penning trap mass spectrometer on-line with the isotope separator ISOLDE/CERN. The effects of ion-ion interaction were investigated for two ion species differing in mass and stored simultaneously in the trap.
ISOLTRAP Mass Measurements for Weak-Interaction Studies
International audience; The conserved-vector-current (CVC) hypothesis of the weak interaction and the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix are two fundamental postulates of the Standard Model. While existing data on CVC supports vector current conservation, the unitarity test of the CKM matrix currently fails by more than two standard deviations. High-precision mass measurements performed with the ISOLTRAP experiment at ISOLDE/CERN provide crucial input for these fundamental studies by greatly improving our knowledge of the decay energy of super-allowed beta decays. Recent results of mass measurements on the beta emitters 18Ne, 22Mg, 34Ar, and 74Rb as pertaining to weak-i…
Mass measurements of $^{56-57}$Cr and the question of shell reincarnation at N = 32
Binding energies determined with high accuracy provide smooth derivatives of the mass surface for analysis of shell and pairing effects. Measurements with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at CERN-ISOLDE were made for $^{56-57}$Cr for which an accuracy of 4 $\times 10^{-8}$ was achieved. Analysis of the mass surface for the supposed new N = 32 shell closure rather indicates a sub-shell closure, but of a different nature than known cases such as $^{94}$Sr.