Direct mass measurements of unstable rare earth isotopes with the ISOLTRAP mass spectrometer

Abstract Direct mass measurements of neutron deficient rare earth isotopes in the vicinity of 146 Gd were performed for the first time with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN. Since ISOL-facilities deliver these isotopes with a large amount of isobaric contamination, these measurements became possible only after the installation of a new cooler trap which acts as an isobar separator. To date more than 40 isotopes of the elements Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Dy, and Ho have been measured with a typical accuracy of δm ≈ 14 keV. Some of these isotopes provide an important anchor for many other isotopes linked by known Q-values.