On the limit of nuclear stability — The region of double magic100Sn and bound-state β-decay of187Re75+

Experiments which led to the discovery of the heaviest, self-conjugated double magic nucleus¹⁰⁰Sn and the bound-state β-decay of completely ionized¹⁸⁷Re are presented.¹⁰⁰Sn was produced by fragmentation of 1.1 A GeV¹²⁴Xe beams, separated and implanted in a 4π Si-stack detector. From its decay a half-lifeT _1/2=0.94(+0.54, −0.27) s and a β⁺ endpoint energy ofE _β=3.4(+0.7, −0.3) MeV were determined for the 0⁺−1⁺ Gamov-Teller transition. Completely stripped¹⁸⁷Re⁷⁵⁺ was produced and stored in a coolerring with an energy of 351 A MeV for several hours. The products of bound-state β-decay of¹⁸⁷Re⁷⁵⁺ were detected by two independent methods, which allowed to determine a half-life ofT _1/2=33±6 y for this decay, which is of importance for the calibration of the Re/Os nucleosynthesis chronometer.