Direct mass measurements of neutron-deficient 152Sm projectile fragments at the FRS-ESR facility

The FRS-ESR facility at GSI provides one of the most efficient methods for direct mass measurements. In the present experiment, exotic nuclei were produced via fragmentation of ¹⁵²Sm projectiles in a thick beryllium target at 500-600 MeV/u, separated in-flight with the fragment separator FRS, and injected into the storage-cooler ring ESR. Time-resolved Schottky Mass Spectrometry was applied for mass measurements of stored and electron-cooled bare and few-electron ions. 373 different nuclides were identified by means of the spectra of their revolution frequencies. Masses for 18 nuclides (⁸⁴Zr, ⁹²Ru, ⁹⁴Rh, ^107,108,110Sb, ^111,112,114I, ¹¹⁸Ba, ^122,123La, ¹²⁴Ce, ¹²⁷Pr, ¹²⁹Nd, ¹³²Pm, ¹³⁴Sm, ¹³⁷Eu) have been determined for the first time. Masses for ^111,112I and ¹¹³Xe have been obtained via known α-decay energies. The experiment and first results will be presented.     

Penning-trap mass measurements on <Superscript>92, 94-98, 100</Superscript>Mo with JYFLTRAP

Penning-trap measurements on stable ^{92, 94-98, 100}Mo isotopes have been performed with relative accuracy of \(\ensuremath 1\cdot 10^{-8}\) with the JYFLTRAP Penning-trap mass spectrometer by using ⁸⁵Rb as a reference. The Mo isotopes have been found to be about 3keV more bound than given in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2003 (AME03). The results confirm that the discrepancy between the ISOLTRAP and JYFLTRAP data for ^101-105Cd isotopes was due to an erroneous value in the AME03 for ⁹⁶Mo used as a reference at JYFLTRAP. The measured frequency ratios of Mo isotopes have been used to update mass-excess values of 30 neutron-deficient nuclides measured at JYFLTRAP.     

Schottky Mass Measurements of Cooled Exotic Nuclei

Projectile fragments of a ²⁰⁹Bi beam were separated in flight with the fragment separator FRS and injected into the experimental storage ring ESR. In the ESR a beam containing up to about 100 different isotopes was cooled to a relative velocity spread of δv/v=10⁻⁶ by means of the electron cooler. The image currents of the ions induced in a Schottky pick-up probe at each turn were recorded. A subsequent Fast Fourier Transformation of these signals yields the revolution frequencies of the different isotopes stored in the ESR. Unknown masses of more than 150 neutron-deficient nuclides in the element range of 52≤Z≤85 have been measured directly by Schottky Mass Spectrometry and in addition more than 60 new masses have been obtained from α-decay chains. These new mass data allow the location of the one-proton dripline and the prediction of the two-proton dripline for heavy nuclides. The experimental masses are compared with different theoretical predictions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cross section measurements on zirconium isotopes for ~14 MeV neutrons and their theoretical calculations of excitation functions

The cross sections for the ⁹⁴Zr(n,d*)^93m+gY, ⁹⁶Zr(n,γ)⁹⁷Z, ⁹⁶Zr(n,2n)⁹⁵Zr, ⁹⁰Zr(n,α)^87mSr, ⁹⁴Zr(n,α)⁹¹Sr,⁹⁰Zr(n,p)^90mY, ⁹²Zr(n,p)⁹²Y, and ⁹⁴Zr(n,p)⁹⁴Y reactions have been measured in the neutron energy range of 13.5-14.8 MeV by means of the activation technique. The neutrons were produced via the D-T reaction. A high-purity germanium detector with high energy resolution was used to measure the induced γ activities. In combination with the nuclear reaction theoretical models, the excitation curves of the above-mentioned eight nuclear reactions within the incident neutron energy range from the threshold to 20 MeV were obtained by adopting the nuclear theoretical model program system Talys-1.9. The resulting experimental cross sections were analyzed and compared with the experimental data from published studies. Calculations were performed using Talys-1.9 and are in agreement with our experimental results, previous experimental values, as well as results of the theoretical excitation curves at the corresponding energies. The theoretical excitation curves generally match the experimental data well.     

High-precision masses of 29-33Mg and the N = 20 shell “closure”

High-precision mass measurements have been performed on the exotic magnesium isotopes ^29-33Mg using the MISTRAL radiofrequency spectrometer, especially suited for very short-lived nuclides. This method, combined with the powerful tool of resonant laser ionization at ISOLDE, has provided a significant reduction of uncertainty for the masses of the most exotic Mg isotopes: a relative error of 7×10^-7 was achieved for the weakly produced ³³Mg that has a half-life of only 90ms. Moreover, the mass of ³³Mg is found to change by over 250keV. Verifying and minimizing binding energy uncertainties in this region of the nuclear chart is important for understanding the lack of binding energy that is normally associated with magic numbers.     

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.     

Gamow-teller strength distribution in the vicinity of A = 90: (I). Schematic calculation of GT strength in 90, 92, 94Nb

The distributions of Gamow-Teller strength in ^{90, 92, 94}Nb have been calculated utilizing the so-called GT force in the random phase approximation. For ⁹⁰Nb the calculated distribution is in striking agreement with that part of the ⁹⁰Zr(p, n) excitation function leading to 1⁺ excitations in ⁹⁰Nb and qualitative agreement is demonstrated for data from the reactions ^{92, 94}Zr(p, n). Some 25 % of the GT strength is found to lie well below the structureless giant resonance proposed by Ikeda et al. The implications of this result to the β-decay properties of neutron rich nuclei near A = 90 are discussed.     

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.     

Decay studies of N ≈ Z nuclei from 75Sr to 102Sn

Neutron deficient nuclei near ¹⁰⁰Sn have been produced by fragmentation of a 1 ^. AGeV ¹¹²Sn beam. The fragments were separated, identified and stopped in a highly segmented silicon strip detector stack. This detector measured the total energy of emitted β⁺-particles. γ-radiation was measured with surrounding detectors. The half-lives for many nuclides have been determined for the first time and give important information for the following topics: For the heaviest particle-stable odd-odd nuclei ⁹⁰Rh, ⁹⁴Ag and ⁹⁸In we observed for the first time fast β-decays, compatible with superallowed Fermi transitions and confirmed such decays for ⁷⁸Y, ⁸²Nb and ⁸⁶Tc. We have also observed long-lived T = 0 states in some of these nuclei. We measured the half-lives of all rp-process waiting-point nuclei from ⁸⁰Zr up to ^{92, 93}Pd. In addition we find the proton drip line nucleus ⁷⁷Y to decay dominantly via β-decay. To study the Gamov-Teller strength in the β-decay near the doubly magic ¹⁰⁰Sn we measured the half-life, β- and γ-spectrum of ¹⁰²Sn. We propose a level scheme for the daughter nuclide ¹⁰²In and deduce the Gamov-Teller strength (B _GT = 4.0±0.6). This is one of the largest values known. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: thomas.faestermann@ph.tum.de     

Delayed-neutron emission from short-lived Br and I isotopes

Rapid radiochemical separation techniques have been used to investigate the delayed-neutron emission from bromine and iodine isotopes produced by thermal-neutron induced fission of ²³⁵U. The nuclides 0.63 sec ⁹¹Br, 0.26 sec ⁹²Br and 0.41 sec ¹⁴¹I have been identified as delayed-neutron precursors. Relative neutron abundances of these and of the known precursors ^87–90Br and ^137–140I have been measured and absolute neutron abundances and neutron emission probabilities have been deduced. The P_n values are discussed within a simple semiempirical picture.     

Precise atomic masses of neutron-rich Br and Rb nuclei close to the r-process path

The Penning trap mass spectrometer JYFLTRAP, coupled to the Ion-Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility at Jyv?skyl?, was employed to measure the atomic masses of neutron-rich ^85-92Br and ^94-97Rb isotopes with a typical accuracy less than 10keV. Discrepancies with the older data are discussed. Comparison to different mass models is presented. Details of nuclear structure, shell and subshell closures are investigated by studying the two-neutron separation energy and the shell gap energy.     

Mass measurements for nuclear astrophysics with JYFLTRAP

Over 90 neutron-deficient nuclides between ¹⁰C and ¹¹¹I have been measured at the JYFLTRAP mass spectrometer with a precision of better than 10 keV. Masses of these nuclides are important for modeling astrophysical rp and ??p processes and nucleosynthesis occurring in novae. Here, a review of the mass measurement programme of the neutron-deficient nuclides performed at JYFLTRAP for nuclear astrophysics studies is given.     

Improvement of the Applicability, Efficiency, andPrecision of the Penning Trap Mass Spectrometer ISOLTRAP

With the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, close to 200 nuclides have already been investigated and their masses determined with a typical relative precision of δm/m=10⁻⁷. Recently, ISOLTRAP's beam preparation system was replaced by an RFQ ion beam cooler and buncher. The principle and the characteristics of this new beam preparation system will be presented. It is planned to use ions of various carbon clusters C⁺ _n (n>1) as reference ions for mass measurements. Apart from negligible molecular binding energies, these clusters have masses that are exact multiples of the unified atomic mass unit. This will allow ISOLTRAP to carry out absolute mass measurements as well as to investigate possible mass-dependent systematic errors. The results of tests of the production, transport, and trapping of such carbon clusters will be presented. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study of (d, α) reactions on 94Zr and 96Zr

The nuclear structure of ⁹²Y and ⁹⁴Y has been investigated by the (d, α) reaction on ⁹⁴Zr and ⁹⁶Zr with 11.5 MeV deuterons. Some new levels have been seen in ⁹²Y and ⁹⁴Y. The angular distributions for these levels have been measured. A zero-range DWBA analysis has been carried out for these distributions and spin-parity assignments have been made for the new levels.     

Preparing a journey to the east of 208Pb with ISOLTRAP: Isobaric purification at A = 209 and new masses for 211-213Fr and 211Ra

With the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, located at ISOLDE/CERN, preparatory work has been performed towards mass and decay studies on neutron-rich Hg and Tl isotopes beyond N = 126 . The properties of these isotopes are not well known because of large isobaric contamination coming mainly from surface-ionised Fr. Within the studies, production tests using several target-ion source combinations were performed. It was furthermore demonstrated around mass number A = 209 that the resolving power required to purify Fr is achievable with ISOLTRAP. In addition, masses of several isobaric contaminants, ^211-213Fr and ²¹¹Ra , were determined with a three-fold improved precision. The results influence masses of more than 20 other nuclides in the ²⁰⁸Pb region.     

Two-proton pickup in the zirconium region using the (6Li, 8B) reaction

Spectra at θ_lab = 8° have been measured for the ^{92, 94, 96, 98, 100}Mo(⁶Li, ⁸B)^{90, 92, 94, 96, 98}Zr and ^{90, 92, 94}Zr(⁶Li, ⁸B)^{88, 90, 92}Sr two-proton pickup reactions at 90 MeV. The strongest transitions to levels in the Zr isotopes are the 0⁺ → 0⁺ transitions to the g.s. and first excited 0⁺ states. The salient feature of the five Zr spectra is the large increase in 0⁺₂ transition strength relative to that of the g.s. which is observed in the two heaviest isotopes, ^{96, 98}Zr. In ⁹⁰Zr, the 0⁺₂ transition is weak whereas it is the dominant transition in ⁹⁸Zr with twice the g.s. strength. These large variations in relative cross section, which are reproduced by DWBA calculations, are attributed to changing g.s. proton configurations in Zr. In the Sr spectra, which are distinctly different from the Zrspectra, the strongest transitions to excited states are to 2⁺ rather than 0⁺ states. The (⁶Li, ⁸B) reaction seems to be adequately described as a one-step cluster transfer of a T = 1, S = 0 proton pair. The suitability of this reaction for measurements of two-proton pickup is discussed.     

Energy levels of 92Nb and 94Tc from 92Zr, 94Mo(p,nγ)92Nb, 94Tc

The γ-decays of the energy levels of ⁹²Nb and ⁹⁴Tc were measured following the ⁹²Zr(p, n)⁹²Nb and ⁹⁴Mo(p, n)⁹⁴Tc reactions. For ⁹²Nb the γ-ray thresholds were measured and a detailed excitation function was obtained near the ⁹³Zr ground-state isobaric analog resonance. Also, γ-γ coincidence measurements with two Ge(Li) detectors were made for both ⁹²Nb and ⁹⁴Tc. The coincidence measurements determined ten energy levels in ⁹²Nb and two levels in ⁹⁴Tc. A comparison with particle transfer reactions is used to elucidate the structure of ⁹²Nb levels observed here but not seen in the transfer reactions.     

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.     

The decay of neutron deficient97Ag,98Ag,and99g,m Ag

The decays of neutron-deficient 21-sec⁹⁷Ag, 44.5-sec⁹⁸Ag, 15-sec^99mAg, and 124-sec^99gAg nuclides have been investigated with the LISOL facility. Sources were produced by the⁹²Mo(¹⁴N, ypxn) reactions on an enriched⁹²Mo target. Positron-, x-, and γ-ray singles spectra have been performed on mass separated samples. The results are consistent with 9/2⁺ ground state in⁹⁹Ag and a high (6⁺ or 7⁺) spin and parity for⁹⁸Ag.     

ISOLTRAP results 2006–2009

Since 2006 the ISOLTRAP mass spectrometer has provided high-precision masses of many short-lived nuclides located all across the nuclear chart with half-lives down to a few 10 ms. These nuclides range from the two-proton halo candidate ¹⁷Ne, via the neutron-rich magic ⁸⁰Zn and ¹³²Sn, up to ²²⁹Rn which was identified for the first time. The results show that ISOLTRAP is a versatile tool well suited to address physics topics such as nuclear structure, stellar nucleosynthesis, or the weak interaction.