Shell Evolution Study for New Magic Number N =32 via Isochronous Mass Spectrometry

Recent results and progress of mass measurements of neutron-rich nuclei utilizing Isochronous Mass Spectrometry (IMS) based on the HIRFL-CSR complex at Lanzhou are reported. The nuclei of interest were produced through projectile fragmentation of primary 86Kr ions at a realistic energy of 460.65 MeV/u. After in-flight separation by the fragment separator RIBLL2, the fragments were injected and stored in the experimental storage ring CSRe, and their masses were determined from measurements of their revolution times. The re-determined masses were compared and evaluated with other mass measurements, and the impact of these evaluated masses on the shell evolution study is discussed.     

原子核质量的高精度测量

原子核的质量直接反映了核内强相互作用、电磁相互作用和弱相互作用的结果.文章简要阐述了原子核质量测量的意义、现状和主要方法,介绍了基于兰州重离子冷却储存环的原子核质量测量实验,比较了首次得到的63Ge,65As,67Se和71Kr核质量测量值与理论计算结果,探讨了65As质量对天体物理快质子俘获过程的影响,文章最后给出了今后的研究内容.中国科学院近代物理研究所在轻质量丰中子区,系统测量了从Ne到Ca核素的质量,研究了N=20和28幻数随中子数和质子数变化的演化;在丰质子区,精确测量了快质子俘获路径上关键核素的质量,为解释X射线暴等爆发性天体过程提供重要的质量数据;在中重丰中子区,系统地测量丰中子核质量,通过天体网络计算模拟超新星爆发中的快中子俘获过程.     

Precision mass measurements of short-lived nuclides at HIRFL-CSR in Lanzhou

In recent years, extensive short-lived nuclear mass measurements have been carried out at the Heavy- Ion Research Facility (HIRFL) in Lanzhou using Isochronous Mass Spectrometry (IMS). The obtained mass values have been successfully applied to nuclear structure and astrophysics studies. In this contribution, we give a brief introduction to the nuclear mass measurements at HIRFL-CSR facility. Main technical developments are described and recent results are summarized. Furthermore, we envision the future perspective for the next-generation storage ring facility HIAF in Huizhou.     

用于兰州彭宁离子阱的多反射飞行时间质量分析器的设计和优化

MRTOF-MS是最近几年发展起来的新型质谱仪,较传统的飞行时间质谱仪而言,MRTOF-MS质量分辨本领更高。开发了一种用于MRTOF-MS设计的新方法,该方法由参数设置部分和离子运动计算部分共同组成;分全局搜索和局部细化两个步骤,可用于优化MRTOF-MS的几何构型、计算不同条件下的最佳电压设置组合。基于这种方法,设计了一种机械结构与国际上同类设备不同的MRTOF-MS,该设备可用于高精度原子核质量测量,也可用于快速质量选择,为LPT提供纯净的目标核。通过优化,确定了其几何参数和电压参数,讨论了不同电极上的电压偏差对质量分辨本领的影响,定量地分析了电源的精度要求。优化结果表明:MRTOF-MS的最佳漂移长度约为400 mm;在最佳电压设置下,当40Ar1+的总飞行时间为6.5 ms时,其质量分辨本领可达1.3×105;要求电源精度好于50 ppm,最好达到20 ppm。Multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MRTOF-MS) has been developed as a new device which has a higher mass resolving power than traditional mass spectrometers in recent years. A new method including two sub-procedures, global search and local refinement, has been developed and applied to design a MRTOF-MS. It consists of two components, parameter configuration and ion motion simulation, and can be used to optimize the geometries of the spectrometer and the potentials applied on the electrodes to achieve the optimum in different conditions. By using this method, a different type of MRTOF mass analyzer has been designed for mass measurements and isobaric separation for Lanzhou Penning Trap (LPT). The geometry of this analyzer and potentials at different electrodes have been optimized, and the relations between resolving power and potentials and the power accuracy requirements have been analyzed and discussed quantitatively. The simulation shows that the optimal length of the drift-tube is about 400 mm; the maximal resolving power of 1.3×105 has been achieved with a total time-of-flight of 6.5 ms under the optimal potentials for an ion species of 40Ar1+; and the inaccuracy of the potentials applied to the mirror electrodes must be less than 50 ppm or preferably 20 ppm.     

Isochronous Mass Measurements of Hot Exotic Nuclei

A novel method for mass measurements of short-lived exotic nuclides is presented. Exotic nuclides were produced and separated in flight at relativistic energies with the fragment separator (FRS) and were injected into the experimental storage ring (ESR). Operating the ESR in the isochronous mode we performed mass measurements of neutron deficient fragments of ⁸⁴Kr with half-lives larger than 50 ms. However, this experimental technique is applicable in a half-life range down to a few μs. A mass resolving power of 110000 (FWHM) has been achieved. Results are presented for the masses of ⁶⁸As, ^70,71Se and ⁷³Br. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Direct mass measurements of neutron-rich ~(86)Kr projectile fragments and the persistence of neutron magic number N=32 in Sc isotopes

In this paper, we present direct mass measurements of neutron-rich86 Kr projectile fragments conducted at the HIRFL-CSR facility in Lanzhou by employing the Isochronous Mass Spectrometry(IMS) method. The new mass excesses of52-54 Sc nuclides are determined to be-40492(82),-38928(114),-34654(540) ke V, which show a significant increase of binding energy compared to the reported ones in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2012(AME12).In particular,53 Sc and54Sc are more bound by 0.8 Me V and 1.0 Me V, respectively. The behavior of the two neutron separation energy with neutron numbers indicates a strong sub-shell closure at neutron number N =32 in Sc isotopes.     

原子核质量的测量和评估

质量是原子核的基本性质之一,在核物理和核天体物理中都有重要的应用。原子核质量测量是目前核物理研究的一个前沿热点课题,国际上各个核物理实验室积极发展新设备和新技术,在短寿命放射性核素测量和超高精度质量测量方面取得了重要进展,本文对此进行了总结评述。在兰州重离子加速器冷却储存环（HIRFL-CSR）上利用等时性质量谱仪测量了一些原子核的质量,本文对其在测量精度、核态最短寿命等前沿进展做了简要介绍,并介绍了正在发展的双飞行时间质量谱仪。原子质量评估收集所有与原子核质量相关的实验数据,经过评估后推荐出质量值及相应误差。原子质量评估AME2016于2017年3月发表,为科技工作者提供基准数据。Mass is a fundamental property of the atomic nucleus. Nuclear mass data play an important role in nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics. Thanks to the developments of novel mass spectrometers and radioactive nuclear beam facilities, the experimental knowledge of nuclear masses has been continuously expanding along two main directions, including:measurements aimed at high-precision mass values and at the most exotic nuclei far from the stability. The latest progress are reviewed in the paper. In the past few years, mass measurements of short-lived nuclides were performed using isochronous mass spectrometry based on the Cooler Storage Ring at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou(HIRFL-CSR). The progresses on the frontiers of short half-life and high precision are introduced. The Atomic Mass Evaluation (AME) is the most reliable source for the comprehensive information related to the atomic (nuclear) masses. The latest version of the AME, i.e., AME2016, was published in March, 2017, serving the research community with the benchmark data.     

The First Isochronous Mass Measurements at CSRe

With the commissioning of the Cooler Storage Ring at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL-CSR),a pilot experiment operating the CSRe in isochronous mode to test the power of HIRFL-CSR for measuring the mass of the short-lived nucleus was performed in December of 2007.The fragments with A/q=2 of ~(36) Ar were injected into CSRe and their revolution frequencies were measured with a fast time pick-up detector with a thin foil in the circulating path of the ions.The preliminary result is presented.The result shows the potential of CSRe for mass measurements of short-lived nuclei.     

Mass Measurements in Nuclear Reactions

The present status of mass measurements from reactions producing nuclei at the driplines, including those unstable to nucleon or cluster emission, is discussed. The results of recent heavy ion and π-meson induced experiments on the study of the superheavy hydrogen isotopes (⁴H, ⁵H, ⁶H), helium (⁹He, ¹⁰He), lithium (¹⁰Li, ¹¹Li) and beryllium (¹³Be) are given. The possibilities of mass measurements in radioactive ion beam experiments are also considered. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Simulation of the Lanzhou Penning Trap LPT

The LPT (Lanzhou Penning Trap) is under construction and its task is to perform direct mass measurement of fusion-evaporation residues and if possible for heavy isotopes. Detailed simulations have been done for a good understanding to the ion’s movement and mechanics in the trap. The optimization of the LPT is also performed based on the simulation. With a scale of 0.5 mm per grid used in the simulation and many other limitations a highest mass resolution has been achieved to be 1.9×10-5. An unexpected behaviour in the simulation related to magnetron motion has been found.     

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.     

Towards higher sensitivity and lighter elements by collinear laser spectroscopy at isolde

New resonance detection mechanisms based on atom or ion counting instead of fluorescence photon detection have been introduced in collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE. This increased the sensitivity by several orders of magnitude and allowed measurements on short-lived isotopes very far from stability, which are available in minor quantities only (≤10³ ions per second). Results of recent measurements on the medium mass and light elements Sr, Kr, Ca and Li are presented.     

Recent Progress with the SMILETRAP Penning Mass Spectrometer

The Penning trap mass spectrometer SMILETRAP has been considerably improved during the last two years. The helium pressure has been carefully stabilized and is now independent of irregular air pressure. The temperature of the hyperboloidal precision trap is stabilized to ±0.03°C. Remaining temperature instabilities are compensated by changes in the current of a warm coil surrounding the precision trap. The frequency synthesizer is now locked to GPS. This means that it is much easier to accurately measure resonances during several days. The improvements have demonstrated that in mass doublet measurements with an excitation time of 1 s it is possible to determine the mass of ions with q/A=1/2 at an uncertainty to a few times of 0.1 ppb, using selected rather than cooled ions. In routine measurements lasting for one day it is possible to reach a mass uncertainty of 1 ppb. The masses of the following particles and atoms have been measured with uncertainties in the region 0.3–2 ppb: p, ³H, ³He, ⁴He, ²²Ne, ²⁸Si, ³⁶Ar, ⁷⁶Ge, ⁷⁶Se, ⁸⁶Kr and ¹³³Cs. It has also been shown that though we are using a warm bore the trap pressure is sufficiently low to prevent electron capture from the rest gas for excitation times of 3 s and for ion charges as high as 50+. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diffusion of Kr in Kr-CH4 mixture

Experimental measurements of self-diffusion of Kr in Kr-CH₄ mixture, at very low Kr concentration and at constant temperature of 203 K, are reported as a function of density in the density range 0<?/?_c<2. The experimental data are discussed together with those of self- diffusion of Kr and CH₄, at nearly the same reduced temperature. Some conclusions have been reached about the mass dependence of the diffusion coefficient, and the first order coefficient of the density expansion.     

Mass measurement on the rp-process waiting point 72Kr

The mass of one of the three major waiting points in the astrophysical rp process 72Kr was measured for the first time with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. The measurement yielded a relative mass uncertainty of deltam/m=1.2x10(-7) (deltam=8 keV). (73,74)Kr, also needed for astrophysical calculations, were measured with more than 1 order of magnitude improved accuracy. We use the ISOLTRAP masses of 72-74Kr to reanalyze the role of 72Kr (T(1/2)=17.2 s) in the rp process during x-ray bursts and conclude that 72Kr is a strong waiting point delaying the burst duration with at least 80% of its beta-decay half-life.     

CSRe肖特基谐振腔数据获取远控系统

中国科学院兰州近代物理研究所实验冷却储存环CSRe上的肖特基谐振腔的数据获取远控系统已搭建完成。该系统为核素质量与寿命测量平台的重要组成部分。其主要包含了两个构建在图形化界面上的数据获取控制程序和数据监测程序。该系统提供了多种功能,以快捷地辅助调整实验设置。系统充分利用了频谱仪及数据记录仪的自身功能,并借助独立触发系统与远程电源开关,补足了成品数据记录仪的硬件缺失,得以成功实现自动获取大数据量数据文件的设计目标。除满足了核素质量与寿命的测量需求之外,该系统也可用于其他以CSRe上肖特基谐振腔为测量设备的实验。     

Technical Improvements in the Experiment of Isochronous Mass Measurement of 58Ni Projectile Fragments

 The combination of in-flight fragment separator and the isochronous mass spectrometry(IMS) in storage rings have been proven to be a powerful tool for the precision mass measurements of shortlived exotic nuclei. In IMS, the mass-over-charge ratio is only related to the revolution period of stored ions, and the relative mass resolution can reach up to the order of 10−6. However, the instability of the magnetic field of storage ring deteriorates the resolution of revolution period, making it very difficult to distinguish the ions with very close mass-over-charge ratio via their revolution periods. To improve the resolution of revolution periods, a new method of weighted shift correction (WSC) has been developed to accurately correct the influence of the magnetic field instabilities in the isochronous mass measurements of 58Ni projectile fragments. By using the new method, the influence of unstable magnetic fields can be greatly reduced, and the mass resolution can be improved by a factor up to 1.7. Moreover, for the ions that still cannot be distinguished after correcting the magnetic field instabilities, we developed a new method of pulse height analysis for particle identification. By analyzing the mean pulse amplitude of each ion from the timing detector, the stored ions with close mass-over-charge ratios but different charge states such as 34Ar and 51Co can be identified, and thus the mass of 51Co can be determined. The charge-resolved IMS may be helpful in the future experiments of isochronous mass measurement even for N =Z nuclei.     

Examination of n-T_9 conditions required by N=50,82,126 waiting points in r-process

We examined the conditions of neutron density(n) and temperature(T_9) required for the N = 50, 82,and 126 isotopes to be waiting points(WP) in the r-process. The nuclear mass based on experimental data presented in the AME2020 database(AME and AME ±Δ) and that predicted using FRDM,WS4, DZ10, and KTUY models were employed in our estimations. We found that the conditions required by the N = 50 WP significantly overlap with those required by the N = 82 ones, except for the WS4 model. In addition, the upper(or lower) bounds of the n-T_9 conditions based on the models are different from each other due to the deviations in the two-neutron separation energies.The standard deviations in the nuclear mass of 108 isotopes in the three N = 50, 82, and 126 groups are about rms = 0.192 and 0.434 Me V for the pairs of KTUY-AME and WS4-KTUY models,respectively. We found that these mass uncertainties result in a large discrepancy in the nn-T_9 conditions, leading to significant differences in the conditions for simultaneously appearing all the three peaks in the r-process abundance. The newly updated FRDM and WS4 calculations can give the overall conditions for the appearance of all the peaks but vice versa for their old versions in a previous study. The change in the final r-process isotopic abundance due to the mass uncertainty is from a few factors to three orders of magnitude. Therefore, accurate nuclear masses of the r-process key nuclei, especially for ~(76) Fe,~(81)Cu,~(127)Rh,~(132)Cd,~(192)Dy, and ~(197)Tm, are highly recommended to be measured in radioactive-ion beam facilities for a better understanding of the r-process evolution.     

Magnetic hyperfine field and electric field gradient for111Cd at the Kr/Fe interface

Polycrystalline iron foils implanted to high Kr doses were doped with¹¹¹In and the magnetic hyperfine field as well as the electric field gradient measured. From the present TDPAC experiments we observed a substantial fraction of probes in a “defect” site, with its hyperfine parameters Δ|B_hf|=6.9% and V_zz=1.12 10¹⁷V/cm², in close similarity with those expected for the Kr/Fe interface.     

High-resolution diode-laser spectroscopy on a fast beam of metastable atoms for detecting very rare krypton isotopes

A fast krypton ion beam with an energy of 10 keV is transferred through a mass filter and neutralized in a Rb- (or Cs-) vapour charge exchange cell. The emerging beam of metastable Kr atoms of a selected Kr isotope is collinearly irradiated with a tunable cw GaAlAs diode laser at 811 nm. The spectrum of the 1s ₅–2p ₉ transition covers 10 GHz and consists of one line each for the five stable isotopes of Kr with even mass number and 15 hyperfine structure lines of⁸³Kr. The individual lines are recorded by detecting the fluorescence signal perpendicular to the beams. Photons are guided to the PM tube by diffuse reflection from a high reflectance thermoplastics light collector. Up to 20 photons per atom are emitted by cycling between the two states during the flight time of 1.2 µs through the detector. The observed absorption linewidth of 100 MHz is a combination of laser linewidth and energy uncertainty in the fast atomic beam. In order to achieve maximum isotope selectivity the beam energy has to be adjusted in such a way that the Doppler shifted lines of all isotopes form an optimum pattern for detecting the very rare isotopes⁸¹Kr and⁸⁵Kr in natural environmental samples.