F. Le Blanc

Laser spectroscopy of laser-desorbed gold isotopes

Abstract Changes in mean-square charge radius δ〈r2〉, and magnetic dipole moments μ1 have been measured for a series of neutron-deficient gold isotopes between A = 186 and 196, and for neutronrich 198,199Au, using the PILIS system on-line with the ISOCELE mass separator. These measurements confirm the existence of the shape transition between A = 186 and 187. The measured μ1 values have been compared with calculations using Nilsson, and symmetric-rotor-plus-quasiparticle models. The results are consistent with the interpretation that 186Au is prolate, and that the heavier isotopes have oblate, or possibly triaxial deformation.

Release properties of UCx and molten U targets

Abstract The release properties of UC x and molten U thick targets associated with a Nier–Bernas ion source have been studied. Two experimental methods are used to extract the release time. Results are presented and discussed for Kr, Cd, I and Xe.

COMPLIS experiments: COllaboration for spectroscopy Measurements using a Pulsed Laser Ion Source

Laser spectroscopy measurements have been carried out on very neutron-deficient isotopes of Au, Pt and Ir, produced as daughter elements from a Hg ISOLDE beam. For these transitional region nuclides, the hyperfine structure (HFS) and isotope shift (IS) were measured by Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (RIS). Magnetic moments μ, spectroscopic quadrupole moments Qs and changes of the nuclear mean square charge radius δ〈rc2〉along isotopic series have been extracted. For some results, a detailed comparison with theoretical predictions is presented.

Photo-fission for the production of radioactive beams ALTO project

Abstract In order to probe neutron rich radioactive noble gases produced by photo-fission, a PARRNe-1 experiment (Production d’Atomes Radioactifs Riches en Neutrons) has been carried out at CERN. The incident electron beam of 50 MeV was delivered by the LIL machine: LEP Injector Linac. The experiment allowed us to compare under the same conditions two production methods of radioactive noble gases: fission induced by fast neutrons and photo-fission. The obtained results show that the use of the electrons is a promising mode to get intense neutron rich ion beams. After the success of this photo-fission experiment, a conceptual design for the installation at IPN Orsay of a 50 MeV electron accelerator close to the PARRNe-2 device has been worked out: ALTO Project. This work has started within a collaboration between IPNO, LAL (Laboratoire de l’Accelerateur Lineaire) and CERN groups.

Development of the CRIS (Collinear Resonant Ionisation Spectroscopy) beam line

The CRIS (Collinear Resonant Ionisation Spectroscopy) beam line is a new experimental set up at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. CRIS is being constructed for high-resolution laser spectroscopy measurements on radioactive isotopes. These measurements can be used to extract nuclear properties of isotopes far from stability. The CRIS beam line has been under construction since 2009 and testing of its constituent parts have been performed using stable and radioactive ion beams, in preparation for its first on-line run. This paper will present the current status of the CRIS experiment and highlight results from the recent tests.

Recent studies to improve release properties from thick isotope separator on-line fission targets

In the framework of the PARRNe program (Production d’Atomes Radioactifs Riches en Neutrons) of IPN Orsay, various techniques are currently used to characterize the release properties of elements of interest from a UCX target. On-line studies have been carried out with two plasma ion sources: a Nier–Bernas and a hot plasma ISOLDE-type (the ISOLDE collaboration kindly supplied us a MK5 ion source for these studies). In parallel, the analysis of the chemical and structure properties of some UCX samples as function of heating conditions has been carried out. Such data are essential to determine optimal conditions for the production of isotopes by the isotope separator on-line (ISOL) technique. First results are presented here for Kr and Ag. Investigations for other kinds of fission targets are planned.

Pilis: Post-ISOCELE laser isobar separation — an apparatus for laser spectroscopic studies of laser-desorbed atoms

Abstract An apparatus for laser spectroscopic studies of laser-desorbed radioactive atoms has been installed on-line at the ISOCELE isotope separator (IPN, Orsay). Mass-separated gold ions were first implanted onto a substrate, and then thermally desorbed by a Nd-YAG laser pulse. A three-step, two-resonance scheme was used to selectively ionize the desorbed gold atoms. The ions created were then mass-identified through a time-of-flight technique. The laser system used has a linewidth of 130 MHz, and an actual experimental resolution of 170 MHz for the stable 197Au was obtained. It has been demonstrated that with 1010 total implanted ions, several laser scans can be performed, and that a 5 × 10−5 ion conversion efficiency for the desorbed gold atoms was reached at resonance. On-line measurements of the isotope shift (IS) and hyperfine structure (HFS) for several gold isotopes were carried out. With the high-resolution capability, a negative sign for the magnetic moment of 192Au was obtained. The HFS of 187Au confirms an earlier laser spectroscopic study, and the sudden variation of IS between 187Au and 186Au was reproduced.

NNLC: non-negative least chi-square minimization and application to HPGe detectors

A new method is proposed for the problem of solving chi-square minimization with a positive solution. This method is embodied in an evolution of the popular NNLS algorithm. Its efficiency with respect to residue minimization is illustrated by the improvement it permits on the location of gamma-interactions inside an AGATA HPGe detector.

Matrix formalism and singular-value decomposition for the location of gamma interactions in segmented HPGe detectors

Modern coaxial and planar HPGe detectors allow a precise determination of the energies and trajectories of the impinging gamma-rays. This entails the location of the gamma interactions inside the crystal from the shape of the delivered signals. This paper reviews the state of the art of the analysis of the HPGe response function and proposes methods that lead to optimum signal decomposition. The generic matrix method allows fast location of the interactions even when the induced signals strongly overlap.

ISOMERIC M3 TRANSITIONS IN 183PT AND 181OS

Abstract The M3 transitions linking the ν 7 2 [514] and ν 1 2 [521] states in 78183Pt105 and 76181Os105 have been searched by high-resolution conversion-electron measurements. The reduced M3 transition probabilities have been estimated and compared to the values obtained in neighbouring isotones (74179W105 and 79184Au105). All the known M3 transitions are presented and their properties discussed, especially as a function of deformation. The present work supports the π h 9 2 ⊗ν 1 2 [521] and π h 9 2 ⊗ν 7 2 [514] particle configuration assignments proposed for the 184Au isomeric and ground states, respectively.