M. Lestinsky

Storage-ring measurement of the hyperfine induced 47Ti18+(2s2p 3P0 --> 2s2 1S0) transition rate.

The hyperfine induced 2s2p (3)P(0) --> 2s(2) (1)S(0) transition rate A(HFI) in berylliumlike (47)Ti(18+) is measured. Resonant electron-ion recombination in a heavy-ion storage ring is employed to monitor the time dependent population of the (3)P(0) state. The experimental value A(HFI)=0.56(3) s(-1) is almost 60% larger than theoretically predicted.

High-resolution measurement of the time-modulated orbital electron capture and of the β+ decay of hydrogen-like 142Pm60+ ions

Abstract The periodic time modulations, found recently in the two-body orbital electron capture (EC) decay of both, hydrogen-like 140Pr58+ and 142Pm60+ ions, with periods near to 7 s and amplitudes of about 20%, were re-investigated for the case of 142Pm60+ by using a 245 MHz resonator cavity with a much improved sensitivity and time resolution. We observed that the exponential EC decay is modulated with a period T = 7.11 ( 11 ) s , in accordance with a modulation period T = 7.12 ( 11 ) s as obtained from simultaneous observations with a capacitive pick-up, employed also in the previous experiments. The modulation amplitudes amount to a R = 0.107 ( 24 ) and a P = 0.134 ( 27 ) for the 245 MHz resonator and the capacitive pick-up, respectively. These new results corroborate for both detectors exactly our previous findings of modulation periods near to 7 s , though with distinctly smaller amplitudes. Also the three-body β + decays have been analyzed. For a supposed modulation period near to 7 s we found an amplitude a = 0.027 ( 27 ) , compatible with a = 0 and in agreement with the preliminary result a = 0.030 ( 30 ) of our previous experiment. These observations could point at weak interaction as origin of the observed 7 s -modulation of the EC decay. Furthermore, the data suggest that interference terms occur in the two-body EC decay, although the neutrinos are not directly observed.

Storage Ring Cross Section Measurements for Electron Impact Ionization of Fe11+ Forming Fe12+ and Fe13+

We report ionization cross section measurements for electron impact single ionization (EISI) of Fe11+ forming Fe12+ and electron impact double ionization (EIDI) of Fe11+ forming Fe13+. The measurements cover the center-of-mass energy range from approximately 230 eV to 2300 eV. The experiment was performed using the heavy-ion storage ring TSR located at the Max-Planck-Institut f?r Kernphysik in Heidelberg, Germany. The storage ring approach allows nearly all metastable levels to relax to the ground state before data collection begins. We find that the cross section for single ionization is 30% smaller than was previously measured in a single-pass experiment using an ion beam with an unknown metastable fraction. We also find some significant differences between our experimental cross section for single ionization and recent distorted wave (DW) calculations. The DW Maxwellian EISI rate coefficient for Fe11+ forming Fe12+ may be underestimated by as much as 25% at temperatures for which Fe11+ is abundant in collisional ionization equilibrium. This is likely due to the absence of 3s excitation-autoionization (EA) in the calculations. However, a precise measurement of the cross section due to this EA channel was not possible because this process is not distinguishable experimentally from electron impact excitation of an n = 3 electron to levels of n ? 44 followed by field ionization in the charge state analyzer after the interaction region. Our experimental results also indicate that the EIDI cross section is dominated by the indirect process in which direct single ionization of an inner shell 2l electron is followed by autoionization, resulting in a net double ionization.

SPARC collaboration: new strategy for storage ring physics at FAIR

SPARC collaboration at FAIR pursues the worldwide unique research program by utilizing storage ring and trapping facilities for highly-charged heavy ions. The main focus is laid on the exploration of the physics at strong, ultra-short electromagnetic fields including the fundamental interactions between electrons and heavy nuclei as well as on the experiments at the border between nuclear and atomic physics. Very recently SPARC worked out a realization scheme for experiments with highly-charged heavy-ions at relativistic energies in the High-Energy Storage Ring HESR and at very low-energies at the CRYRING coupled to the present ESR. Both facilities provide unprecedented physics opportunities already at the very early stage of FAIR operation. The installation of CRYRING, dedicated Low-energy Storage Ring (LSR) for FLAIR, may even enable a much earlier realisation of the physics program of FLAIR with slow anti-protons.

Storage Ring Cross-Section Measurements for Electron Impact Ionization of Fe12+ Forming Fe13+ and Fe14+

We report electron impact ionization cross section measurements for electron impact single ionization of Fe12 + forming Fe13 + and electron impact double ionization of Fe12 + forming Fe14 +. These are the first electron impact ionization data for any Si-like ion uncontaminated by an unknown metastable fraction. Recent distorted wave calculations agree with our single ionization results to within ~15%. Double ionization is dominated by inner shell ionization of a 2l electron resulting in autoionization of a second electron as the inner shell hole is filled.

Storage ring measurement of electron impact ionization for Mg7+ forming Mg8+

We report electron impact ionization cross section measurements for Mg 7+ forming Mg 8+ at center of mass energies from approximately 200 eV to 2000 eV. The experimental work was performed using the heavy-ion storage ring TSR located at the Max-Planck-Institut f¨ ur Kernphysik in Heidelberg, Germany. We find good agreement with distorted wave calculations using both the gipper code of the Los Alamos Atomic Physics Code suite and using the Flexible Atomic Code.

Fragmentation Channels in Dissociative Electron Recombination with Hydronium and Other Astrophysically Important Species

We report on our recent studies of dissociative recombination (DR) employing two different fragment imaging detection techniques at the TSR storage ring in Heidelberg, Germany. Principles of an upgraded 3D optical system and the new energy-sensitive multistrip detector (EMU) are explained together with possible applications in reaction dynamics studies. With the EMU imaging detector we succeeded to observe the branching ratios after DR of deuterated hydronium ions D(3)O(+) at energies of 0-0.5 and 4-21 eV. The branching ratios are almost constant at low energies while above 6 eV both oxygen-producing channels O + D + D + D and O + D(2) + D strongly increase and dominate by about 85% at 11 eV. To demonstrate further capabilities of our fragment imaging detectors, we also summarize some of our additional recent studies on DR of molecular ions important for astrophysics as well as for fundamental unimolecular dynamics.

Probing nuclear properties by resonant atomic collisions between electrons and ions

The utilization of the resonant atomic electron–ion collision process of dielectronic recombination (DR) as a tool to probe nuclear properties via isotope shifts and hyperfine effects is discussed. Based on DR, this resonance reaction spectroscopy at electron coolers of heavy-ion storage rings denotes a versatile approach to access nuclear parameters such as charge radius, spin, magnetic moment or lifetimes of long-lived excited nuclear states (isomers). The high sensitivity of DR allows for experiments with artificially synthesized rare isotopes and isomers. Recent experimental progress in the preparation of such exotic species at the ESR storage ring in Darmstadt is presented. The DR technique is exemplified for the case of 234Pa88+ (Z = 91).

Electron-ion recombination for Fe viii forming Fe vii and Fe ix forming Fe viii: Measurements and theory

The photorecombination rate coefficients of potassium-like Fe viii ions forming calcium-like Fe vii and of argon-like Fe ix forming potassium-like Fe viii were measured by employing the merged electron-ion beams method at the Heidelberg heavy-ion storagering TSR. New theoretical calculations with the AUTOSTRUCTURE code were carried out for dielectronic recombination (DR) and trielectronic recombination (TR) for both ions. We compare these experimental and theoretical results and also compare with previously recommended rate coefficients. The DR and TR resonances were experimentally investigated in the electron-ion collision energy ranges 0–120 eV and 0–151 eV for Fe viii and Fe ix. Experimentally derived Fe viii and Fe ix DR + TR plasma rate coefficients are provided in the temperature range kBT = 0.2 to 1000 eV. Their uncertainties amount to <±26% and <±35% at a 90% confidence level for Fe viii and Fe ix, respectively.

Electron collisions and rovibrational action spectroscopy of cold H3+ molecules

Electron recombination of H3+ has found a lot of attention due to its outstanding relevance for the chemistry of the interstellar medium (ISM) and its role as a benchmark for the treatment of dissociative recombination (DR) of polyatomic ions. We report DR measurements performed at the TSR storage ring utilizing a cryogenic ion trap injector. Furthermore, a chemical probing spectroscopy technique is described that allows for a very sensitive monitoring of the populated states inside the ion injector. Since H3+ exists in two different nuclear spin modifications, a controlled manipulation of the ortho/para fraction is needed in order to perform state-selective measurements.