CARIBU: a new facility for the study of neutron-rich isotopes

The Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) to the ATLAS superconducting linac facility is currently being commissioned. It provides low-energy and re-accelerated beams of neutron-rich isotopes obtained from ²⁵²Cf fission. The fission products from a ²⁵²Cf source are stopped in a large high-intensity gas catcher, thermalized and extracted through an RFQ cooler, accelerated to 50 kV and mass separated in a high-resolution separator before being sent to either an ECR charge breeder for post-acceleration through the ATLAS linac or to a low-energy experimental area. This approach gives access to beams of very neutron-rich isotopes, many of which have not been available at low or Coulomb barrier energies previously. These beams provide unique opportunities for measurements along the r-process path. To take advantage of these unique possibility, the reaccelerated beams from CARIBU will be made available at the experimental stations of ATLAS to serve equipment such as Gammasphere, HELIOS and the reaction spectrometers. In addition, the Canadian Penning Trap (CPT) mass spectrometer has been moved to the CARIBU low-energy experimental area and a new injection line has been built. The new injection line consists of a RFQ buncher sitting on a 50 kV high-voltage platform that will accumulate the mass separated 50 kV radioactive beams, cool and extract them as a pulsed beam of 3 keV. This beam can be sent either to a tape station for diagnostics and tuning, or a cryogenic linear trap for preparation before transfer to the high-precision Penning trap where the mass measurements will take place. Initial CARIBU commissioning is proceeding with a 2 mCi source that will be replaced by a 100 mCi source as the commissioning proceeds. Final operation will use a 1 Ci source and attain yield in excess of 10⁷ ions/sec for the most intense beams at low energy, an order of magnitude less for reaccelerated beams.     

Physics at the closed shells

Radioactive beams obtained via fragmentation of the projectile on a primary target have shown to be a powerful tool to produce exotic nuclei and some typical results obtained at GANIL in this area will be shown. To go further, and in particular, to get beams of exotic nuclei, new facilities have been developed recently. The physics expected from the use of these radioactive ion beam facilities is extremely ambitious as stated in the scientific motivations justifying their construction. At GANIL the SPIRAL facility is ready and will hopefully deliver the first radioactive beams in 2001. New experimental devices have been developed to fully exploit the potentiality expected from SPIRAL. EXOGAM is a new, efficient and powerful gamma ray spectrometer currently under installation at GANIL. The design and the performances expected from this array will be discussed.     

A new cross-section measurement of reactions induced by <Superscript>3</Superscript>He particles on a carbon target

The production of intense beams of light radioactive nuclei can be achieved at the SPIRAL2 facility using intense stable beams accelerated by the driver accelerator and impinging on light targets. The isotope ¹⁴O is identified to be of high interest for future experiments. The excitation function of the production reaction ¹²C(³He, n)¹⁴O was measured between 7 and 35MeV. Results are compared with literature data. As an additional result, we report the first cross-section measurement for the ¹²C(³He,a \alpha + n)¹⁰C reaction. Based on this new result, the potential in-target ¹⁴O yield at SPIRAL2 was estimated: 2.4×10¹¹ pps, for 1mA of ³He at 35MeV. This is a factor 140 higher than the in-target yield at SPIRAL1.     

Present and future experiments with exotic beams at GANIL/SPIRAL

Far off stability, nuclear structure experiments at GANILare presently made by recoil-separated fragment beams. Some recent examples are given. In the future, new possibilities will become available with SPIRAL. Information about its layout and status is presented     

Radioactive nuclear beams: Present and future

Some results of investigations into a new nuclear-physics field associated with the production of radioactive nuclear beams and physical studies with these beams are presented. The most recent results obtained by studying the structure of nuclei and reaction mechanisms with radioactive nuclear beams are surveyed. Data obtained in Dubna at the DRIBs accelerator complex are presented along with allied results from other research centers. In this connection, existing experimental data on light loosely bound exotic nuclei are discussed. The parameters of DRIBs3, which is a new accelerator complex, are presented, and the physics research program that will be implemented with the aid of new setups, including a high-resolution magnetic analyzer (MAVR) and a 4π neutron detector (TETRA), is described. A collaboration in the realms of employing radioactive nuclear beams at the DRIBs complex together with other accelerator complexes [SPIRAL2 (France), RIKEN (Japan), FAIR (Germany), and RIBF (CIIIA)] on the basis of employing new highly efficient experimental facilities has already led to the discovery of new phenomena in nuclear physics and will make it possible to study in the future new regions of nuclear matter in extreme states.     

Bright perspectives for nuclear photonics

With the advent of new high-power, short-pulse laser facilities in combination with novel technologies for the production of highly brilliant, intense γ beams (like, e.g., Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) in Bucharest, MEGaRay in Livermore or a planned upgrade of the HIγS facility at Duke University), unprecedented perspectives will open up in the coming years for photonuclear physics both in basic sciences as in various fields of applications. Ultra-high sensitivity will be enabled by an envisaged increase of the γ-beam spectral density from the presently typical 10²γ/eVs to about 10⁴γ/eVs, thus enabling a new quality of nuclear photonics [1], assisted by new γ-optical elements [2]. Photonuclear reactions with highly brilliant γ beams will allow to produce radioisotopes for nuclear medicine with much higher specific activity and/or more economically than with conventional methods. This will open the door for completely new clinical applications of radioisotopes [3]. The isotopic, state-selective sensitivity of the well-established technique of nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) will be boosted by the drastically reduced energy bandwidth (<0.1%) of the novel γ beams. Together with a much higher intensity of these beams, this will pave the road towards a γ-beam based non-invasive tomography and microscopy, assisting the management of nuclear materials, such as radioactive waste management, the detection of nuclear fissile material in the recycling process or the detection of clandestine fissile materials. Moreover, also secondary sources like low-energy, pulsed, polarized neutron beams of high intensity and high brilliance [4] or a new type of positron source with significantly increased brilliance, for the first time fully polarized [5], can be realized and lead to new applications in solid state physics or material sciences.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy studies at GANIL: Status and perspectives

The SPIRAL facility started to deliver radioactive beams in September 2001 and some experiments have been performed in particular using the EXOGAM array. These experiments will be briefly described and the first outputs will be shown. The in-beam performances of EXOGAM will also be discussed.Received: 29 January 2003, Published online: 9 March 2004PACS: 29.30.Kv X- and -ray spectroscopy - 23.20.Lv transitions and level energies - 25.60.Pj Fusion reactions - 25.70.De Coulomb excitation     

Generation of intense pulsed low-kinetic-energy molecular beams

A method for the generation of intense pulsed low-kinetic-energy molecular beams is described. The method is based on the formation of a cold (≈77 K) pressure shock as a result of interaction between an intense pulsed gas-dynamically cooled molecular beam with a solid surface. The pressure shock is used as a source of a secondary beam for generating low-energy molecules. The suggested method was used to obtain intense molecular beams of H₂, He, CH₄, N₂, and Kr with kinetic energies lower than or equal to 10 meV and H₂/Kr and He/Kr molecular beams with kinetic energies of H₂ and He molecules lower than 1 meV. The energy (velocity) of molecules in low-energy beams can be controlled by varying the intensity of the initial beam or temperature in the pressure shock.     

ATLAS用于CARIBU项目的ECR离子剥离器

A new radioactive beam facility for ATLAS,the Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU), is under construction.The facility will use fission fragments from a 1 Ci ~(252)Cf source;thermalized and collected into a low-energy beam by a helium gas catcher.In order to reaccelerate these beams,the existing ATLAS ECR-I ion source is being redesigned to function as a charge breeder source.The design and features of this charge breeder configuration is discussed and the project status described.     

A leed crystallographic analysis for the Cu(100)-(2 × 2)-S surface structure

An intensity analysis with low-energy electron diffraction is reported for the (2 × 2) surface structure obtained by the adsorption and presumed dissociation of H₂S on the (100) surface of copper. Intensity-versus-energy curves were measured with a video LEED analyser for five diffracted beams at normal incidence and for eleven beams at an off-normal direction with a polar angle of incidence equal to 14°. Comparisons were made with intensity curves calculated with the renormalised forward scattering method for three types of structural models in which the metal atoms remain in their regular bulk positions. The best correspondence between experimental and calculated intensities occurs with sulphur atoms adsorbed in the “expected” 4-coordinate adsorption sites. The reliability index proposed by Pendry is minimised with S atoms 1.32 Å above the topmost metal layer; this corresponds to nearest-neighbour S-Cu bond distances equal to 2.24 Å. This value appears broadly consistent with a measurement by photoelectron diffraction, as well as from model predictions.     

利用强流ISOL束研究20Na的奇异衰变模式(英文)

北京放射性离子束装置（Beijing Radioactive Ion-beam Facility,BRIF）是基于在线同位素分离器技术的国家大科学平台。在BRIF装置上利用100 MeV的质子束轰击较厚的反应靶产生放射性核素;反应产物经离子源电离和在线分离,在线同位素分离段可引出100~300 keV的放射性核束,质量分辨率达20 000。在基金委科学仪器基础研究专项的支持下,建成了多用途的衰变实验终端,包括束流传输管道、通用靶室、带电粒子和γ探测器、集成电子学和数据获取系统等。利用100 MeV的质子束轰击MgO厚靶产生了流强高达1×105 pps的20Na放射性核束。通过高效率地同时测量β,γ和α,第一次直接观测到20Na非常稀有的β-γ-α衰变模式。Beijing Radioactive Ion-beam Facility(BRIF) has been commissioned as the national Radioactive Ion Beam(RIB) facility based on the Isotope Separator On Line(ISOL) technique since 2016. At BRIF, the radioactive nuclides are produced by the proton beam of 100 MeV bombarding a thick-target, the reaction products diffusing out of the target are ionized by an ion source and delivered to the online mass separator. In addition to the post-accelerated radioactive ion beams, BRIF can provide low-energy ISOL beams of 100 to 300 keV with a mass resolution of 20 000. A general-purpose decay station has been built including the ISOL beam transport line, a conventional reaction chamber, charge-particle and γ detectors with integrated electronics and data acquisition system. An intense 20Na ISOL beam up to 1×105 pps was produced by using the 100 MeV proton beam bombarding a MgO thick target. With high-efficiency measurements of β, γ and α simultaneously, very rare β-γ-α decay mode in 20Na has been directly observed for the first time in the present work.     

Production of low- and high-energy radioactive-ion beams by fragmentation

The physics opportunities made possible by beams of rare isotopes are among the richest available in nuclear science. The rare-isotope accelerator (RIA) now under development is an innovative accelerator that will define the state of the art for all such facilities. A novel aspect of the RIA project is the conversion of the most intense high-energy heavy-ion beams into both fast and reaccelerated exotic beams. Along with target fragmentation in next-generation high-power ISOL targets, RIA will use projectile fragmentation in a high-energy separator/gas-filled ion collector system to provide an extensive range of thermalized ions for reacceleration. In addition, a second high-energy separator will provide the same or larger range of ions for high-energy experiments. A brief overview of the RIA accelerator concept, the layout of the facility, and production techniques will be given along with information on the present R&D efforts in gaseous-ion collection. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: morrissey@nscl.msu.edu     

Study of surface ionization and LASER ionization processes using the SOMEIL ion source: application to the Spiral 2 laser ion source development

SPIRAL2 is the new project under construction at GANIL to provide radioactive ion beams to the Nuclear Physics Community and in particular neutron rich ion beams. For the production of condensable radioactive elements, a resonant ionization laser ion source is under development at GANIL. In order to generate the ions of interest with a good selectivity and purity, our group is studying the way to minimize surface ionization process by using refractory materials with low work function as ionizer tube. To do those investigations a dedicated ion source, called SOMEIL (Source Optimisée pour les Mesures d‘Efficacité d‘Ionisation Laser) is used. Numerous types of ionizer tubes made in various materials and geometry are tested. Surface ionization and laser ionization efficiencies can be measured for each of them.     

Low-energy electron beam source

Experimental results of research into a ferroelectric-plasma-source-assisted hollow anode (HA) discharge as a source of low-energy electron beams are presented. To generate electron beams, the HA auto-bias negative voltage was achieved by the discharge current flowing through the resistor connecting the HA and the grounded electrode. It is shown that this method allows reliable and reproducible generation of low-energy electron beams with electron energy of several hundreds of eV, electron current density up to several A/cm² and pulse duration of several tens of microseconds.     

Thermal erosion of metal surfaces under the action of fine-focused scanning electron beams

A model of thermal erosion of a metal surface under the action of low-energy fine-focused scanning electron beams is developed. Peculiarities of thermal erosion of a metal surface irradiated by these beams with a power of 1…10 kW are considered. The influence of the irradiation parameters on the intensity of carrying the substance from the surface is analyzed. It is shown that due to such beams, the coefficients of metal erosion reach values of 10³ atom/electron and even greater. This is characteristic of powerful submicrosecond electron and ion beams, but the efficiency of using their energy turns out to be much higher.     

Beam chopper development at LAMPF

In order to reduce pileup limitations on μSR data rates, a fast chopper for surface muon beams was built and tested at LAMPF. The system allowed one muon at a time to be stopped in a μSR sample in the following way: A surface beam from the LAMPF Stopped Muon Channel was focused through a crossed-field beam separator and onto a chopper slit. With the separator E and B fields adjusted properly, the beam could pass through the slit. The beam to the μSR sample was turned on or off (chopped) rapidly by switching the high voltage applied to the separator plates on or off within approximately 500 ns; with the E field off, the B field deflected the beam, dumping it near the slit. We demonstrated that, with improved electronics, we will be able to stop a single muon in a μSR sample as frequently as once every 20 μs and that data rates for the system can be a factor of five higher than is attainable with unchopped beams. The observed positron contamination of the beam was less than five percent, and the ratio of the muon rate with beam on to the rate with beam off was 1540.     

Status of the EBIT in the ReA3 reaccelerator at NSCL

At the NSCL a reaccelerator with design end energy of 3 MeV/u for ²³⁸U, called ReA3, is approaching the end of construction. ReA3 will be coupled to a gas stopper at the NSCL fragmentation facility to provide rare-isotope beams of nuclides not available at ISOL facilities in this energy range. An Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT) will be used to provide highly charged ions at an energy of about 12 keV/u. The charge breeder is followed by a room-temperature radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) and a series of superconducting linear accelerator structures. Initial commissioning results from the EBIT and its charge-over-mass separator are presented.     

Formation of narrow low-energy high-intensity electron beams

The process of formation of high-density low-energy (5–10 keV) pulsed electron beams of small diameter (on the order of a few millimeters) in a gun of the “channel-spark” type is studied. It is shown that beams with a rate of rise of the current exceeding 10¹¹ A/s and an amplitude exceeding the Alfvén current by a factor of 1.5–2.0 can be obtained in experiments with intense preionisation of the transport channel combined with a pulsed supply of the accelerating voltage to the cathode. In the optimal pressure mode, the current density at a distance of 2–3 cm from the gun outlet is 40–25 kA/cm², which will ensure ablation of most solid targets.     

Status of the energy-buncher in the low-energy branch of the Super-FRS

An ion-optical study on the layout of the so-called energy-buncher stage in the low-energy branch of the planned fragment separator Super-FRS is presented. The main purpose of the energy-buncher is a significant reduction of the energy spread of the `hot' fragments at the exit of the separator. Alternatively, the central unit of the buncher—a large dispersive dipole system—can be used as a high-resolution spectrometer for secondary products of nuclear reactions. The proposed design provides a large degree of flexibility for different experimental scenarios with slowed-down low-energy or stopped exotic isotopes.