K. T. Flanagan

Early onset of ground state deformation in neutron deficient polonium isotopes

In-source resonant ionization laser spectroscopy of the even-A polonium isotopes (192-210,216,218)Po has been performed using the 6p(3)7s (5)S(2) to 6p(3)7p (5)P(2) (λ=843.38  nm) transition in the polonium atom (Po-I) at the CERN ISOLDE facility. The comparison of the measured isotope shifts in (200-210)Po with a previous data set allows us to test for the first time recent large-scale atomic calculations that are essential to extract the changes in the mean-square charge radius of the atomic nucleus. When going to lighter masses, a surprisingly large and early departure from sphericity is observed, which is only partly reproduced by beyond mean field calculations.

Use of a Continuous Wave Laser and Pockels Cell for Sensitive High-Resolution Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy.

New technical developments have led to a 2 orders of magnitude improvement of the resolution of the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN, without sacrificing the high efficiency of the CRIS technique. Experimental linewidths of 20(1) MHz were obtained on radioactive beams of francium, allowing us for the first time to determine the electric quadrupole moment of the short lived [t_{1/2}=22.0(5) ms] ^{219}Fr Q_{s}=-1.21(2) eb, which would not have been possible without the advantages offered by the new method. This method relies on a continuous-wave laser and an external Pockels cell to produce narrow-band light pulses, required to reach the high resolution in two-step resonance ionization. Exotic nuclei produced at rates of a few hundred ions/s can now be studied with high resolution, allowing detailed studies of the anchor points for nuclear theories.

Nuclear charge radii of neutron deficient titanium isotopes 44Ti and 45Ti

Optical isotope shifts of the unstable 44,45Ti isotopes, as well as those of stable 46−50Ti, have been investigated by collinear laser spectroscopy on fast ion beams using an ion guide isotope separator with a cooler-buncher. Changes in mean square charge radii across the neutron 1f7/2 shell are deduced. The evolution of the even-N Ti nuclear radii shows a generally increasing tendency with decreasing neutron number. This behaviour is significantly different to that of the neighbouring Ca isotopes which exhibit a symmetric parabolic behaviour across the shell. The trend of the Ti nuclear radii is consistent with the predictions of the relativistic mean-field theory. The charge radius of 44Ti is also compared to predictions of a 40Ca + α cluster model.

Collinear laser spectroscopy of radioisotopes of zirconium

Isotope shifts and hyperfine structures have been measured for radioisotopes of ionic zirconium using on-line laser spectroscopy at the IGISOL facility in Jyvaskyla, where the installation of an ion beam cooler/buncher has significantly improved the experimental sensitivity. Measurements have been made on all the neutron-deficient isotopes from 87Zr to 90Zr, including the isomers 87m,89mZr, and the neutron-rich isotopes from 96Zr to 102Zr. The change in mean square charge radii between the isotopes and the nuclear moments of the odd isotopes have been extracted. The data show a sudden increase in the mean square charge radius at mass A = 100, consistent with an onset of nuclear deformation which has been observed in the gamma ray spectroscopy of isotope chains in this region of the nuclear chart.

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.

Structure of 191Pb from α- and β-decay spectroscopy

Complementary studies of Pb-191 have been made in the beta decay of Bi-191 at LISOL (CRC) and in the alpha decay of Po-195 at ISOLDE (CERN). Fine structures in the alpha decay of the low-spin and h ...

Laser spectroscopy of francium isotopes at the borders of the region of reflection asymmetry

The magnetic dipole moments and changes in mean-square charge radii of the neutron-rich 218m,219,229,231Fr isotopes were measured with the newly installed Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) beam line at the On-Line Isotope Mass Separator (ISOLDE), CERN, probing the 7s2S1/2 to 8p2P3/2 atomic transition. The ??r2?A,221 values for 218m,219Fr and 229,231Fr follow the observed increasing slope of the charge radii beyond N = 126. The charge radii odd-even staggering in this neutron-rich region is discussed, showing that 220Fr has a weakly inverted odd-even staggering while 228Fr has normal staggering. This suggests that both isotopes reside at the borders of a region of inverted staggering, which has been associated with reflection-asymmetric shapes. The g(219Fr) = +0.69 (1) value supports a ?1h9/2 shell-model configuration for the ground state. The g(229,231Fr) valuessupportthetentativeI?(229,231Fr)=(1/2+) spin and point to a ?s?1 intruder ground-state configuration.

Laser assisted decay spectroscopy at the CRIS beam line at ISOLDE

The new collinear resonant ionization spectroscopy (Cris) experiment at Isolde, Cern uses laser radiation to stepwise excite and ionize an atomic beam for the purpose of ultra-sensitive detection of rare isotopes and hyperfine structure measurements. The technique also offers the ability to purify an ion beam that is contaminated with radioactive isobars, including the ground state of an isotope from its isomer. A new program using the Cris technique to select only nuclear isomeric states for decay spectroscopy commenced last year. The isomeric ion beam is selected using a resonance within its hyperfine structure and subsequently deflected to a decay spectroscopy station. This consists of a rotating wheel implantation system for alpha and beta decay spectroscopy, and up to three high purity germanium detectors for gamma-ray detection. This paper gives an introduction to the Cris technique, the current status of the laser assisted decay spectroscopy set-up and recent results from the experiment in November 2011.

Collinear laser spectroscopy of neutron-rich cerium isotopes near the N = 88 shape transition.

Laser spectroscopy has been used to measure the isotope shifts of 146Ce and 148Ce relative to 144Ce, Z = 58. The new data, in combination with existing optical data on the stable isotopes and radioactive 144Ce isotope, permits a study of charge radii variations for the even-N Ce nuclei from N = 78 to N = 90. This range covers both the N = 82 shell closure and the N = 88 shape transition region. A marked increase in deformation occurs at N = 88 for elements with Z ≥ 60 but not for those with Z ≤ 56. The new data for Ce (Z = 58) show an intermediate behaviour, resulting in a smooth increase in deformation with Z in the N = 88, 90 region.

arXiv : Dipole and quadrupole moments of

Nuclear spins and precise values of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments of the ground-states of neutron-rich