Study of Muon-Catalyzed Fusion in Ortho–Para Controlled Solid Deuterium

Recently, the applicability of Penning trap mass spectrometry has been extended to nuclides with a half-life of less than one second. The mass of ³³Ar (T _1/2=174 ms) was measured using the ISOLTRAP spectrometer with an accuracy of 4.2 keV. This measurement provided a stringent test of the Isobaric Multiplet Mass Equation (IMME) at mass number A=33 and isospin T=3/2. The fast measurement cycle that shows the way to other measurements of very-short-lived nuclides is presented. Furthermore, the results of the IMME test are displayed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

New mass data for the rp-process above Z = 32

High-accuracy mass measurements have been performed with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN. The short-lived nuclides ^{70, 71, 72, 73}Se , ^{72, 73, 74, 75}Br , and ^{98, 99, 100, 101, 103}Ag have been measured with an average uncertainty of a few keV. The data are important input for nucleosynthesis calculations of the rp-process beyond Z = 32 .     

Overview of the JYFLTRAP mass measurements and high-precision <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-values for weak interaction studies

The JYFLTRAP Penning trap set-up at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland is a Penning trap facility that has provided high-precision atomic mass values for short-lived nuclides since 2003. Until now, masses of more than 250 short-lived nuclides have been measured. Since JYFLTRAP is coupled to the chemically insensitive IGISOL mass separator, any element can be accessed. So far, a huge mass surface extending from magnesium (Z = 12) to lead (Z = 82) has been covered.     

ISOLTRAP: An on-line Penning trap for mass spectrometry on short-lived nuclides

ISOLTRAP is a Penning trap mass spectrometer for high-precision mass measurements on short-lived nuclides installed at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE at CERN. The masses of close to 300 radionuclides have been determined up to now. The applicability of Penning trap mass spectrometry to mass measurements of exotic nuclei has been extended considerably at ISOLTRAP by improving and developing this double Penning trap mass spectrometer over the past two decades. The accurate determination of nuclear binding energies far from stability includes nuclei that are produced at rates less than 100 ions/s and with half-lives well below 100ms. The mass-resolving power reaches 10⁷ corresponding to 10keV for medium heavy nuclei and the uncertainty of the resulting mass values has been pushed down to below 10^-8. The article describes technical developments achieved since 1996 and the present performance of ISOLTRAP.     

Direct mass measurements on the superallowed emitter 74Rb and its daughter 74Kr: isospin-symmetry-breaking correction for standard-model tests

The decay energy of the superallowed beta decay 74Rb(beta+)74Kr was determined by direct Penning trap mass measurements on both the mother and the daughter nuclide using the time-of-flight resonance technique and was found to be Q=10 416.8(4.5) keV. The exotic nuclide 74Rb, 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. Together with existing data for the partial half-life as well as theoretical corrections, the decay energy yields a comparative half-life of Ft=3084(15) s for this decay, in agreement with the mean value for the series of the lighter nuclides from 10C to 54Co. Assuming conserved vector current, this result allows for an experimental determination of the isospin-symmetry-breaking correction deltaC.     

TITAN: an ion trap for accurate mass measurements of ms-half-life nuclides

The introduction of Paul traps, in particular linear radio-frequency quadrupoles in the early 2000s, has revolutionized the use of ion traps for probing the properties of radioactive nuclides. It opened the path to trapping all available nuclides, independent of their chemical properties. We present an overview of direct mass measurements of short-lived nuclides using TITAN, a Penning trap mass spectrometer facility particularly suitable for precision measurements of ms-half-life nuclides.     

A Physics Case for SHIPTRAP: Measuring the Masses of Transuranium Elements

SHIPTRAP will allow direct measurement of masses of transuranium nuclides. The method of choice is a Penning trap spectrometer coupled to the SHIP (Separator for Heavy Ion Products) facility at GSI, Darmstadt. In this paper the impact of the SHIPTRAP facility, with its capability of systematic mass measurements with high precision, is explored. Rather few masses of nuclides above uranium are presently known experimentally. In the region of nuclides above Z=100 no ground state masses were measured directly. SHIPTRAP will play an important role in systematically mapping out this area. Possible candidates for direct mass measurements, even with small or very small production cross sections, are presented. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Observing a single hydrogen-like ion in a Penning trap at T = 4 K

We describe how a single hydrogen-like ion (C⁵⁺) is prepared, cooled with the method of resistive cooling and non-destructively detected with the image-current technique in a cryogenic Penning trap at T = 4 K. The storage time for C⁵⁺-ions in the cryogenically pumped vacuum chamber is longer than six months. The experimental techniques of preparing, cooling and detecting highly-charged ions in a Penning trap are relevant for precision experiments such as g-factor measurements, mass spectroscopy and laser spectroscopy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Restoration of the n=82 shell gap from direct mass measurements of 132,134Sn

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 nuclides.     

Penning trap mass spectrometry for nuclear structure studies

High-precision mass measurements as performed at the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN are an important contribution to the investigation of nuclear structure. Precise nuclear masses with less than 0.1 ppm relative mass uncertainty allow stringent tests of mass models and formulae that are used to predict mass values of nuclides far from the valley of stability. Furthermore, an investigation of nuclear structure effects like shell or sub-shell closures, deformations, and halos is possible. In addition to a sophisticated experimental setup for precise mass measurements, a radioactive ion-beam facility that delivers a large variety of short-lived nuclides with sufficient yield is required. An overview of the results from the mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP is given and its limits and possibilities are described.      

RF-coupling and cooling techniques of stored heavy ions

A tandem Penning trap system, the ISOLTRAP, is now used at the on-line mass separator ISOLDE at CERN, Geneva, for accurate mass measurements of short-lived nuclei. The mass of the stored ions is measured by the determination of the cyclotron frequency _c=qB/m in theB=6 T magnetic field of the trap. A new technique has been developed and implemented to allow reliable high-efficiency loading of the trap with radioactive heavy ions.     

Mass measurements of neutron-deficient nuclides close to A = 80 with a Penning trap

The masses of ^{80, 81, 82, 83}Y, ^{83, 84, 85, 86, 88}Zr and ^{85, 86, 87, 88}Nb have been measured with a typical precision of 7keV by using the Penning trap setup at IGISOL. The mass of ⁸⁴Zr has been measured for the first time. These precise mass measurements have improved S_p and Q_EC values for astrophysically important nuclides.     

Light-ion-induced reactions in mass measurements of neutron-deficient nuclides close to A = 100

A survey of neutron-deficient nuclides which can be produced via proton- and ³He -induced fusion-evaporation reactions in the A = 100 region was made using a Penning trap as a high-resolution mass filter. A comparison of the measured isotopic rates with a statistical model calculation for the proton-induced reactions shows the importance of using the precise binding energy values for the final reaction products. In particular, proton separation energies were found to play an important role in the evaporation process. In addition, accurate masses of 12 nuclides, ^{97-99, 101}Pd , ¹⁰⁰Ag , ^101-105Cd and ^{102, 104}In , were determined with uncertainties of less than 10keV.     

Mass Measurements on Short-Lived Nuclides with ISOLTRAP

Penning trap mass spectrometry has reached a state that allows its application to very short-lived nuclides available from various sources of radioactive beams. Mass values with outstanding accuracy are achieved even far from stability. This paper illustrates the state of the art by summarizing the status of the ISOLTRAP experiment at ISOLDE/CERN. Furthermore, results of mass measurements on unstable rare earth isotopes will be given. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Precision Penning trap mass measurements of rare isotopes produced by projectile fragmentation

The low-energy beam and ion trap facility LEBIT at NSCL/MSU is at present the only facility where precision experiments are performed with stopped rare isotope beams produced by fast-beam fragmentation. LEBIT combines high-pressure-gas stopping with advanced ion manipulation techniques to provide brilliant low-energy beams. So far these beams have mainly been used for mass measurements on short-lived rare isotopes with a 9.4T Penning trap mass spectrometer. Recent examples include ^70m Br , located at the proton dripline, ³²Si and the iron isotopes ^63-65Fe . While the measurement of ³²Si helps to solve a long-standing dispute over the validity of the isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) for the A = 32 , T = 2 multiplet, the mass measurements of ^65m,g Fe marked the first time a nuclear isomeric state has been discovered by Penning trap mass spectrometry.     

Direct mass measurement of the four-neutron halo nuclide 8He

A high-precision Penning trap mass measurement of the exotic 8He nuclide (T(1/2)=119 ms) has been carried out resulting in a reduction of the uncertainty of the halo binding energy by over an order of magnitude. The new mass, determined with a relative uncertainty of 9.2 x 10(-8) (deltam=690 eV) is 13 keV less bound than the previously accepted value. The mass measurement is of great relevance for the recent charge-radius measurement of 8He [P. Mueller, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 252501 (2007).10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.252501]. The 8He mass is the first result from the newly-commissioned Penning trap: TITAN (TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science) at the ISAC (Isotope Separator and Accelerator) radioactive beam facility at TRIUMF.     

Mass measurements of neutron-deficient radionuclides near the end-point of the rp-process with SHIPTRAP

Direct mass measurements of nuclides near to the supposed end-point region of the astrophysical rp-process were performed at SHIPTRAP, the Penning trap mass spectrometer at GSI Darmstadt. The masses of 24 nuclides were measured with relative uncertainties between 5 ^. 10^-8 and 2 ^. 10^-7 . Three of them, ¹⁰⁷Sb , ¹¹¹I and ¹¹²I , were determined experimentally for the first time. The data analysis and mass evaluation are presented in detail.