0000000000243482
AUTHOR
D. Neidherr
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.
First glimpse of the $N=82$ shell closure below $Z=50$ from masses of neutron-rich cadmium isotopes and isomers
We probe the $N=82$ nuclear shell closure by mass measurements of neutron-rich cadmium isotopes with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer at ISOLDE-CERN. The new mass of $^{132}$Cd offers the first value of the $N=82$, two-neutron shell gap below $Z=50$ and confirms the phenomenon of mutually enhanced magicity at $^{132}$Sn. Using the recently implemented phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance method, the ordering of the low-lying isomers in $^{129}$Cd and their energies are determined. The new experimental findings are used to test large-scale shell-model, mean-field and beyond-mean-field calculations, as well as the ab initio valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group.
Mass spectrometry and decay spectroscopy of isomers across the Z=82 shell closure
Recent results from a measurement campaign studying the isomerism in neutron-deficient Tl isotopes are presented. The measurements make use of a nuclear spectroscopy setup coupled to the high-resolution Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at CERN's radioactive ion-beam facility ISOLDE. The mass values of 190,194Tl are improved and a mass-spin-state assignment is carried out. An additional mass measurement of the grandparent nuclide 198At allows the deduction of the spin-state ordering in 190Tl. As a result, the excitation energies of the isomers in both Tl isotopes are determined for the first time to Eex(194Tl)=260(15) keV and E ex(190Tl)=89(12) keV. Furthermore, this allows anchoring …
Precision Mass Measurements of Cr58–63 : Nuclear Collectivity Towards the N=40 Island of Inversion
The neutron-rich isotopes $^{58-63}$Cr were produced for the first time at the ISOLDE facility and their masses were measured with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer. The new values are up to 300 times more precise than those in the literature and indicate significantly different nuclear structure from the new mass-surface trend. A gradual onset of deformation is found in this proton and neutron mid-shell region, which is a gateway to the second island of inversion around \emph{N}=40. In addition to comparisons with density-functional theory and large-scale shell-model calculations, we present predictions from the valence-space formulation of the \emph{ab initio} in-medium similarity renormalization…
Recent Exploits of the ISOLTRAP Mass Spectrometer
Abstract The Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, located at the isotope-separator facility ISOLDE (CERN), is presented in its current form taking into account technical developments since 2007. Three areas of developments are presented. The reference ion sources have been modified to guarantee a sufficient supply of reference ions for mass measurements and systematic studies. Different excitation schemes have been investigated for manipulation of the ion motion in the Penning trap, to enhance either the purification or measurement process. A multi-reflection time-of-flight mass separator has been implemented and can now be routinely used for purification and as a versatile tool for bea…
Examining the N=28 shell closure through high-precision mass measurements of Ar46–48
The strength of the $N=28$ magic number in neutron-rich argon isotopes is examined through high-precision mass measurements of $^{46\text{--}48}\mathrm{Ar}$, performed with the ISOLTRAP mass spectrometer at ISOLDE/CERN. The new mass values are up to 90 times more precise than previous measurements. While they suggest the persistence of the $N=28$ shell closure for argon, we show that this conclusion has to be nuanced in light of the wealth of spectroscopic data and theoretical investigations performed with the SDPF-U phenomenological shell model interaction. Our results are also compared with ab initio calculations using the valence space in-medium similarity renormalization group and the s…
Penning-trap mass spectrometry and mean-field study of nuclear shape coexistence in the neutron-deficient lead region
We present a study of nuclear shape coexistence in the region of neutron-deficient lead isotopes. The midshell gold isotopes 180,185,188,190Au (Z=79), the two long-lived nuclear states in 197At (Z=85), and the neutron-rich nuclide 219At were produced by the ISOLDE facility at CERN and their masses were determined with the high-precision Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. The studied gold isotopes address the trend of binding energies in a region of the nuclear chart where the nuclear charge radii show pronounced discontinuities. Significant deviations from the atomic-mass evaluation were found for 188,190Au. The new trend of two-neutron separation energies is smoother, although it doe…
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.
First Glimpse of the N=82 Shell Closure below Z=50 from Masses of Neutron-Rich Cadmium Isotopes and Isomers
We probe the $N=82$ nuclear shell closure by mass measurements of neutron-rich cadmium isotopes with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer at ISOLDE-CERN. The new mass of $^{132}\mathrm{Cd}$ offers the first value of the $N=82$, two-neutron shell gap below $Z=50$ and confirms the phenomenon of mutually enhanced magicity at $^{132}\mathrm{Sn}$. Using the recently implemented phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance method, the ordering of the low-lying isomers in $^{129}\mathrm{Cd}$ and their energies are determined. The new experimental findings are used to test large-scale shell-model, mean-field, and beyond-mean-field calculations, as well as the ab initio valence-space in-medium similarity renormalizat…
Measurement and simulation of the pressure ratio between the two traps of double Penning trap mass spectrometers
Penning traps are ideal tools to perform high-precision mass measurements. For this purpose the cyclotron frequency of the stored charged particles is measured. In case of on-line mass measurements of short-lived nuclides produced at radioactive beam facilities the ions get in general first prepared and cooled by buffer-gas collisions in a preparation trap to reduce their motional amplitudes and are then transported to a precision trap for the cyclotron frequency determination. In modern Penning trap mass spectrometers both traps are placed in the homogeneous region of one superconducting magnet to optimize the transport efficiency. Because the gas pressure inside the precision trap has to …
TRIGA-SPEC: A setup for mass spectrometry and laser spectroscopy at the research reactor TRIGA Mainz
The research reactor TRIGA Mainz is an ideal facility to provide neutron-rich nuclides with production rates sufficiently large for mass spectrometric and laser spectroscopic studies. Within the TRIGA-SPEC project, a Penning trap as well as a beam line for collinear laser spectroscopy are being installed. Several new developments will ensure high sensitivity of the trap setup enabling mass measurements even on a single ion. Besides neutron-rich fission products produced in the reactor, also heavy nuclides such as 235-U or 252-Cf can be investigated for the first time with an off-line ion source. The data provided by the mass measurements will be of interest for astrophysical calculations on…
Spectroscopy of the long-lived excited state in the neutron-deficient nuclides $^{195,197,199}$Po by precision mass measurements
Direct mass measurements of the low-spin 3/2− and high-spin 13/2+ states in the neutron-deficient isotopes Po195 and Po197 were performed with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE-CERN. These measurements allow the determination of the excitation energy of the isomeric state arising from the νi13/2 orbital in Po195,197. Additionally, the excitation energy of isomeric states of lead, radon, and radium isotopes in this region were obtained from α-decay chains. These excitation energies complete the knowledge of the energy systematics in the region and confirm that the 13/2+ states remain isomeric, independent of the number of valence neutrons. Direct mass measurements of the …
Hyperfine anomaly in gold and magnetic moments of $I^{\pi}$ $= 11/2^{−}$ gold isomers
Physical review / C 101(3), 034308 (2020). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.101.034308
Precision Mass Measurement of $^{58-63}$Cr: Nuclear Collectivity towards the $N=40$ Island of Inversion
The neutron-rich isotopes $^{58-63}$Cr were produced for the first time at the ISOLDE facility and their masses were measured with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer. The new values are up to 300 times more precise than those in the literature and indicate significantly different nuclear structure from the new mass-surface trend. A gradual onset of deformation is found in this proton and neutron mid-shell region, which is a gateway to the second island of inversion around \emph{N}=40. In addition to comparisons with density-functional theory and large-scale shell-model calculations, we present predictions from the valence-space formulation of the \emph{ab initio} in-medium similarity renormalization…
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…
Change in structure between the $I = 1/2$ states in $^{181}$Tl and $^{177,179}$Au
Abstract The first accurate measurements of the α-decay branching ratio and half-life of the I π = 1 / 2 + ground state in 181Tl have been made, along with the first determination of the magnetic moments and I = 1 / 2 spin assignments of the ground states in 177,179Au. The results are discussed within the complementary systematics of the reduced α-decay widths and nuclear g factors of low-lying, I π = 1 / 2 + states in the neutron-deficient lead region. The findings shed light on the unexpected hindrance of the 1 / 2 + → 1 / 2 + , 181Tl → g 177 Aug α decay, which is explained by a mixing of π 3 s 1 / 2 and π 2 d 3 / 2 configurations in 177Aug, whilst 181Tlg remains a near-pure π 3 s 1 / 2 .…
Spectroscopy of the long-lived excited state in the neutron-deficient nuclides Po195,197,199 by precision mass measurements
Direct mass measurements of the low-spin 3/2(-) and high-spin 13/2(+) states in the neutron-deficient isotopes Po-195 and Po-197 were performed with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE-CERN. These measurements allow the determination of the excitation energy of the isomeric state arising from the nu i(13/2) orbital in Po-195,Po-197. Additionally, the excitation energy of isomeric states of lead, radon, and radium isotopes in this region were obtained from alpha-decay chains. These excitation energies complete the knowledge of the energy systematics in the region and confirm that the 13/2(+) states remain isomeric, independent of the number of valence neutrons.
Shape coexistence in Au 187 studied by laser spectroscopy
Hyperfine-structure parameters and isotope shift of the 9/2$^−$ isomeric state in $^{187}$Au relative to $^{197}$Au for the 267.6-nm atomic transition have been measured for the first time using the in-source resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique. The magnetic dipole moment and change in the mean-square charge radius for this 9/2$^−$ isomer have been deduced. The observed large isomer shift relative to the 1/2$^+$ ground state in $^{187}$Au confirms the occurrence of the shape coexistence in $^{187}$Au proposed earlier from the analysis of the nuclear spectroscopic data and particle plus triaxial rotor calculations. The analysis of the magnetic moment supports the previously proposed …
Damping effects in Penning trap mass spectrometry
Abstract Collisions of ions with residual gas atoms in a Penning trap can have a strong influence on the trajectories of the ions, depending on the atom species and the gas pressure. We report on investigations of damping effects in time-of-flight ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry with the Penning trap mass spectrometers ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN (Geneva, Switzerland) and SHIPTRAP at GSI (Darmstadt, Germany). The work focuses on the interconversion of the magnetron and cyclotron motional modes, in particular the modification of the resonance profiles for quadrupolar excitation due to the damping effect of the residual gas. Extensive experiments have been performed with standard and Ra…
Charge radii and electromagnetic moments of At195–211
Hyperfine-structure parameters and isotope shifts of At195-211 have been measured for the first time at CERN-ISOLDE, using the in-source resonance-ionization spectroscopy method. The hyperfine structures of isotopes were recorded using a triad of experimental techniques for monitoring the photo-ion current. The Multi-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer, in connection with a high-resolution electron multiplier, was used as an ion-counting setup for isotopes that either were affected by strong isobaric contamination or possessed a long half-life; the ISOLDE Faraday cups were used for cases with high-intensity beams; and the Windmill decay station was used for short-lived, predominantl…
Beamline for low-energy transport of highly charged ions at HITRAP
Abstract A beamline for transport of highly charged ions with energies as low as a few keV/charge has been constructed and commissioned at GSI. Complementary to the existing infrastructure of the HITRAP facility for deceleration of highly charged ions from the GSI accelerator, the new beamline connects the HITRAP ion decelerator and an EBIT with the associated experimental setups. Therefore, the facility can now transport the decelerated heavy highly charged ions to the experiments or supply them offline with medium-heavy highly charged ions from the EBIT, both at energies as low as a few keV/charge. Here we present the design of the 20 m long beamline with the corresponding beam instrument…