An EBIS/T with integrated Penning trap

A special problem in atomic physics research with highly charged ions is to prepare ions with a unique charge state inside of EBIS or EBIT devices. On the other hand, there are great losses resulting from the transport of the ions from the source to an external trap. Therefore we are setting up an EBIS/T with internal Penning trap. This new set-up will be able to study electron–ion interaction with well-defined initial and final charge states, distinguishing between single step successive ionisation and multiple step ionisation of charge states similar to the crossed beams method but for much higher charge states. Another feature of this system is to determine with high precision the ion charge state distribution in the EBIS/T by application of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR). This method allows the on-line monitoring of the ion distribution and the evolution of the charge state population together with its dependence on the degree of space charge compensation of the electron beam in the EBIS/T. It will be possible to study ion dynamics in compensated space charge potentials. In case of high homogeneity of the magnetic field in the trap region, experiments may be considered to measure directly binding energies of highly-charged ions and other topics of high resolution mass spectroscopy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A high-current electron beam ion trap as an on-line charge breeder for the high precision mass measurement TITAN experiment

The precision of atomic mass measurements in a Penning trap is directly proportional to the charge state q of the ion and, hence, can be increased by using highly charged ions (HCI). For this reason, charge breeding with an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) is employed at TRIUMF’s Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science (TITAN) on-line facility in Vancouver, Canada. By bombarding the injected and trapped singly charged ions with an intense beam of electrons, the charge state of the ions is rapidly increased inside the EBIT. To be compatible with the on-line requirements of short-lived isotopes, very high electron beam current densities are needed. The TITAN EBIT includes a 6 Tesla superconducting magnet and is designed to have electron beam currents and energies of up to 5 A and 60 keV, respectively. Once operational at full capacity, most species can be bred into a He-like configuration within tens of ms. Subsequently, the HCI are extracted, pass a Wien filter to reduce isobaric contamination, are cooled, and injected into a precision Penning trap for mass measurement. We will present the first results and current status of the TITAN EBIT, which has recently been moved to TRIUMF after assembly and commissioning at the Max-Planck-Institute (MPI) for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany.     

The TITAN mass measurement facility at TRIUMF-ISAC

The TITAN facility at TRIUMF-ISAC will use four ion traps with the primary goal of determining nuclear masses with high precision, particularly for short lived isotopes with lifetimes down to approximately 10 ms. The design value for the accuracy of the mass measurement is 1 ×10^???8. The four main components in the facility are an RF cooler/buncher (RFCT) receiving the incoming ion beam, an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) to breed the ions to higher charge states, a cooler Penning trap (CPET) to cool the highly charged ions, and finally the measurement Penning trap (MPET) for the precision mass determination. Additional goals for this system are laser spectroscopy on ions extracted from the RFCT and beta spectroscopy in the EBIT (in Penning trap mode) on ions that are purified using selective buffer gas cooling in the CPET. The physics motivation for the mass measurements are manifold, from unitarity tests of the CKM matrix to nuclear structure very far from the valley of stability, nuclear astrophysics and the study of halo-nuclei. As a first measurement the mass of ¹¹Li will be determined. With a lifetime of 8.7 ms and a demonstrated production rate of 4×10⁴ ions/sec at ISAC the goal for this measurement at TITAN is a relative uncertainty of 5×10^???8. This would check previous conflicting measurements and provide information for nuclear theory and models.     

First use of high charge states for mass measurements of short-lived nuclides in a Penning trap

Penning trap mass measurements of short-lived nuclides have been performed for the first time with highly charged ions, using the TITAN facility at TRIUMF. Compared to singly charged ions, this provides an improvement in experimental precision that scales with the charge state q. Neutron-deficient Rb isotopes have been charge bred in an electron beam ion trap to q=8-12+ prior to injection into the Penning trap. In combination with the Ramsey excitation scheme, this unique setup creating low energy, highly charged ions at a radioactive beam facility opens the door to unrivaled precision with gains of 1-2 orders of magnitude. The method is particularly suited for short-lived nuclides such as the superallowed β emitter 74Rb (T(1/2)=65 ms). The determination of its atomic mass and an improved Q(EC) value are presented.     

Dipolar and quadrupolar detection using an FT-ICR MS setup at the MPIK Heidelberg

Dipolar and single-phase two-electrode quadrupolar detection schemes have been investigated at a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) setup built for the KATRIN experiment at the Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) in Heidelberg. We present first experimental results of ⁷Li^?+? signals from a cylindrical Penning trap configuration for both detection schemes. While the prominent signal of the conventional dipolar detection scheme marks the reduced cyclotron frequency, the main signal for the quadrupolar detection appears at the sum of the reduced cyclotron frequency and the magnetron frequency. For ideal trapping fields, this sum frequency equals the ion cyclotron frequency ?? _c ?=?qB/(2??m). Sidebands due to the combined motions of the cyclotron mode and magnetron mode are observed by quadrupolar detection which allows the determination of the respective combinations of eigenfrequencies.     

Cooling of short-lived, radioactive, highly charged ions with the TITAN cooler Penning trap

TITAN is an on-line facility dedicated to precision experiments with short-lived radioactive isotopes, in particular mass measurements. The achievable resolution on mass measurement, which depends on the excitation time, is limited by the half life of the radioactive ion. One way to bypass this is by increasing the charge state of the ion of interest. TITAN has the unique capability of charge-breeding radioactive ions using an electron-beam ion trap (EBIT) in combination with Penning trap mass spectrometry. However, the breeding process leads to an increase in energy spread, ??E, which in turn negatively influences the mass uncertainty. We report on the development of a cooler Penning trap which aims at reducing the energy spread of the highly charged ions prior to injection into the precision mass measurement trap. Electron and proton cooling will be tested as possible routes. Mass selective cooling techniques are also envisioned.     

Status of the project TRAPSENSOR

Penning traps are used to perform very precise mass measurements on exotic and stable nuclei covering a variety of topics. In order to reach the highest accuracy, only one ion must be stored and measured in the trap. The mass is determined from the oscillation frequencies, by detecting the current the stored ion induces on the trap electrodes. This is a well-known technique demonstrated for ions with low or medium mass-to-charge ratios. Another technique recently proposed, and referred to as Quantum Sensor, aims at extending the applicability of single-ion Penning-trap measurements through the full atomic mass scale. The technique substitutes the electronic detection by the detection of fluorescence photons from a laser-cooled ion stored in a second Penning trap, thereafter this ion interacts with the ion of interest. The new device is under completion at the University of Granada (Spain) within the project TRAPSENSOR. This paper will present the status of this project.     

高电荷态离子40Arq+与Si表面作用中的电子发射产额

报道了在兰州重离子加速器国家实验室电子回旋共振离子源原子物理实验平台上，用高电荷态⁴⁰Ar^q+(1≤q≤12)离子作用于半导体Si固体表面时的电子发射产额实验测量.实验中，通过改变炮弹离子的电荷态和引出电压选取其不同的势能和动能，系统地研究了入射离子势能沉积和与其在固体中的电子能损对表面电子发射产额的贡献.结果表明，作为引起表面电子发射的两个主要因素，单离子的电子发射产额与炮弹离子在固体表面的势能沉积和电子能损都有近似的正比关系.     

高电荷态ECR离子源——LECR3

研制成功了一台新的高电荷态ECR离子源,该离子源主要为原子物理实验提供各种高电荷态离子束流,是基于中国科学院近代物理研究所14.5GHz高电荷态ECR离子源设计建成的,同时在该离子源中应用多种有利于提高束流强度的技术,设计时考虑到采用双频加热,试图通过试验双频加热模式来提高高电荷态离子的产额,并设计建造了一套束流聚焦分析系统,以提高电荷态分辨率和束流传输效率.     

Accurate mass spectrometry of trapped ions

The Penning trap Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR) method we use to weigh atomic masses is reviewed, and our plans for future measurements, new methods, and apparatus improvements are discussed. Our ultimate goal is to develop a new technique for measuring atomic masses with an accuracy of a few parts in 10¹². We will do this by comparing the cyclotron frequencies of two simultaneously trapped ions. In order to successfully implement this new method we are developing a quieter, more sensitive DC SQUID-based detector and a new more harmonic trap, and we plan to use our classical squeezing techniques to reduce the effects of thermal noise. With our improved apparatus we will weigh Cs and Rb to help determine the fine structure constant α, weigh ²⁹Si and ³⁰Si as part of the current effort to replace the artifact kilogram standard with a Si crystal containing a known number of atoms, and measure the ³H-³He mass difference to help set a limit on the mass of the electron neutrino. Our higher accuracy will also enable us to ``weigh' the neutron capture gamma rays of <sup>28</sup>Si, <sup>32</sup>S, and <sup>48</sup>Ti to help determine the molar Planck constant N<sub>A</sub>h and the fine structure constant α. Finally, with a mass measurement accuracy \sim 10<sup>-12</sup> we will be able to ``weigh' chemical bonds. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

X-Ray in Highly Charged Ar17+Ion Interacting with Mo Surface

The X-ray emission from the highly charged Ar¹⁷⁺ ion interacting with Mo surface are measured on the 14.5GHz Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source facility at Institute of Modern, the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Lanzhou. Ar¹⁷⁺ ions came from Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source and impacted on Mo surface.The incident ion with vacancy of inner shell captures electrons emitted from surface into highly excited Rydberg states, outer shell electron cascades into K vacancy giving rise to Kα X-ray emission of the incidentionsions.     

Half-open Penning trap with efficient light collection for precision laser spectroscopy of highly charged ions

We have conceived, built and operated a ’half-open’ cylindrical Penning trap for the confinement and laser spectroscopy of highly charged ions. This trap allows fluorescence detection employing a solid angle which is about one order of magnitude larger than in conventional cylindrical Penning traps. At the same time, the desired electrostatic and magnetostatic properties of a closed-endcap cylindrical Penning trap are preserved in this configuration. We give a detailed account on the design and confinement properties, a characterization of the trap and show first results of light collection with in-trap produced highly charged ions.     

The new ClusterTrap setup

ClusterTrap has been designed to investigate properties of atomic clusters in the gas phase with particular emphasis on the dependence on the cluster size and charge state. The combination of cluster source, Penning trap and time-of-flight mass spectrometry allows a variety of experimental schemes including collision-induced dissociation, photo-dissociation, further ionization by electron impact, and electron attachment. Due to the storage capability of the trap extended-delay reaction experiments can be performed. Several recent modifications have resulted in an improved setup. In particular, an electrostatic quadrupole deflector allows the coupling of several sources or detectors to the Penning trap. Furthermore, a linear radio-frequency quadrupole trap has been added for accumulation and ion bunching and by switching the potential of a drift tube the kinetic energy of the cluster ions can be adjusted on their way towards or from the Penning trap. Recently, experiments on multiply negatively charged clusters have been resumed.     

基于有限元方法的离子俘获装置模拟计算

利用有限元程序ANSYS,开展潘宁离子俘获装置的电场模拟计算。基于电场数据,结合Runge_Kutta_Fehlberg方法进行潘宁装置在多种模式下的离子俘获过程模拟工作,得到了准确的离子俘获结果。并对实际条件下具有偏离理想情况电极分布的俘获装置进行了优化计算及电场分析,同样实现了离子俘获过程的准确模拟。有限元方法用于离子俘获装置的电场计算以及后续离子俘获过程模拟流程的建立,为类似的电势阱离子俘获装置建造运行提供有效的技术支持。     

Numerical investigations on resistive cooling of trapped highly charged ions

The investigation of simple atomic systems in extreme electromagnetic fields with highest precision demands intense beams of heavy and highly charged ions to be decelerated and cooled to extremely low energies for long-time observation. Resistive cooling, i.e., the electronic dissipation of energy of a stored ion cloud on an external impedance, seems to be a good candidate for in-trap cooling of highly charged ions and has been chosen for the upcoming HITRAP (Highly charged Ion TRAP) facility at GSI, Darmstadt. Nevertheless, resistive cooling of large ensembles of ions confined in a Penning trap has never been thoroughly studied until now and the understanding of this highly nonlinear phenomenon is far from complete. Through the use of systematic simulations we give a proof of the feasibility of resistive cooling of large numbers of highly charged ions as well as the interpretation of some specific features observed experimentally.     

高电荷态离子207Pb36+与金属Nb表面作用产生的二次离子产额

本文报道了利用兰州重离子加速器国家实验室的ECR离子源引出的高电荷态离子207Pb36 入射到金属Nb表面产生的二次离子的实验测量结果.实验发现,二次离子产额Y随入射初动能Ek的增加有先增加后减小的关系,在初动能为576 keV时二次离子产额达到最大.通过对实验点做高斯拟合发现,曲线峰值对应的入射初动能为602 keV.分析表明,这是势能沉积作用与线性级联碰撞过程协同作用的结果.高电荷态离子本身携带的高势能沉积在靶表面引起势能溅射,促进了二次离子的发射;而主导二次离子溅射的过程是动能溅射,它与靶表面的动量沉积(核能损)过程密切相关.     

Technical developments for an upgrade of the LEBIT Penning trap mass spectrometry facility for rare isotopes

The LEBIT (Low Energy Beam and Ion Trap) facility is the only Penning trap mass spectrometry (PTMS) facility to utilize rare isotopes produced via fast-beam fragmentation. This technique allows access to practically all elements lighter than uranium, and in particular enables the production of isotopes that are not available or that are difficult to obtain at isotope separation on-line facilities. The preparation of the high-energy rare-isotope beam produced by projectile fragmentation for low-energy PTMS experiments is achieved by gas stopping to slow down and thermalize the fast-beam ions, along with an rf quadrupole cooler and buncher and rf quadrupole ion guides to deliver the beam to the Penning trap. During its first phase of operation LEBIT has been very successful, and new developments are now underway to access rare isotopes even farther from stability, which requires dealing with extremely short lifetimes and low production rates. These developments aim at increasing delivery efficiency, minimizing delivery and measurement time, and maximizing use of available beam time. They include an upgrade to the gas-stopping station, active magnetic field monitoring and stabilization by employing a miniature Penning trap as a magnetometer, the use of stored waveform inverse Fourier transform (SWIFT) to most effectively remove unwanted ions, and charge breeding.     

对ECR离子源多极磁场结构的改进

Experiments have shown that especially the radial magnetic field component plays a crucial role in the production of highly charged ions with Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources(ECRIS).However, in several room temperature operating ECRISs the radial magnetic field strength is below the optimum value, mainly due to the limits in permanent magnet technology.Remarkable radial magnetic field improvement can be reached with a relatively simple and cost-effective idea called Modified MultiPole Structure(MMPS).The MMPS differs strongly from the former structures because here the magnetic field is increased only locally without affecting the plasma size.The idea was studied experimentally with a new MMPS plasma chamber prototype,which was designed and constructed for the JYFL 6.4GHz ECRIS.The new chamber is versatile and made it possible to perform several new types of measurements.These showed that the MMPS is especially applicable to increase very high charge-state ion production.Typically the ion current increases more than a factor of 2 in the case of highly charged ions such as Ar~(16 ).     

The proposed Penning trap mass spectrometer facility at TASCC

The proposed Penning trap mass spectrometer, to be located at the TASCC facility of the Chalk River Laboratories, is described. The facility will be used for precise atomic mass determinations among both stable and unstable nuclides. The unstable nuclides would be produced in heavy ion reactions using the TASCC facility. The products from these reactions would be collected using an He-jet transport system loaded with NaCl aerosols. After transport to a background free area, the nuclides of interest would be laser desorbed and resonantly ionized. Subsequently, these ions would be accumulated in a Paul trap, cooled and injected into a precision Penning trap mass spectrometer for mass analysis.