Susanne Kreim

Masses of exotic calcium isotopes pin down nuclear forces

The properties of exotic nuclei on the verge of existence play a fundamental part in our understanding of nuclear interactions. Exceedingly neutron-rich nuclei become sensitive to new aspects of nuclear forces. Calcium, with its doubly magic isotopes 40Ca and 48Ca, is an ideal test for nuclear shell evolution, from the valley of stability to the limits of existence. With a closed proton shell, the calcium isotopes mark the frontier for calculations with three-nucleon forces from chiral effective field theory. Whereas predictions for the masses of 51Ca and 52Ca have been validated by direct measurements, it is an open question as to how nuclear masses evolve for heavier calcium isotopes. Here we report the mass determination of the exotic calcium isotopes 53Ca and 54Ca, using the multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer of ISOLTRAP at CERN. The measured masses unambiguously establish a prominent shell closure at neutron number N = 32, in excellent agreement with our theoretical calculations. These results increase our understanding of neutron-rich matter and pin down the subtle components of nuclear forces that are at the forefront of theoretical developments constrained by quantum chromodynamics.

Entanglement interferometry for precision measurement of atomic scattering properties

We report on a matter wave interferometer realized with entangled pairs of trapped 87Rb atoms. Each pair of atoms is confined at a single site of an optical lattice potential. The interferometer is realized by first creating a coherent spin superposition of the two atoms and then tuning the interstate scattering length via a Feshbach resonance. The selective change of the interstate scattering length leads to an entanglement dynamics of the two-particle state that can be detected in a Ramsey interference experiment. This entanglement dynamics is employed for a precision measurement of atomic interaction parameters. Furthermore, the interferometer allows us to separate lattice sites with one or two atoms in a nondestructive way.

Probing the N = 32 Shell Closure below the Magic Proton Number Z = 20: Mass Measurements of the Exotic Isotopes52,53K

The recently confirmed neutron-shell closure at N=32 has been investigated for the first time below the magic proton number Z=20 with mass measurements of the exotic isotopes (52,53)K, the latter being the shortest-lived nuclide investigated at the online mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. The resulting two-neutron separation energies reveal a 3 MeV shell gap at N=32, slightly lower than for 52Ca, highlighting the doubly magic nature of this nuclide. Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov and ab initio Gorkov-Green function calculations are challenged by the new measurements but reproduce qualitatively the observed shell effect.

The quality factor of a superconducting rf resonator in a magnetic field

The quality factor of a superconducting NbTi resonator at 1.6 MHz in a magnetic field up to 1.2 T as well as its temperature dependence is investigated. A hysteresis effect in the superconducting surface resistance as a function of the magnetic field is observed. An unloaded Q-value of the resonator of 40,500 is achieved at 3.9 K. It is shown that this Q-value is limited by dielectric losses in the FORMVAR insulation of the coils wire. The details of the Q-value optimization are discussed. In the temperature dependence of the Q-value a steep decrease is observed above T approximately = 7.5 K. Finally, the implications of these measurements for real trap experiments are discussed in detail.

Q Value and Half-Lives for the Double-β-Decay Nuclide 110Pd

The 110Pd double-β decay Q value was measured with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP to be Q=2017.85(64) keV. This value shifted by 14 keV compared with the literature value and is 17 times more precise, resulting in new phase-space factors for the two-neutrino and neutrinoless decay modes. In addition a new set of the relevant matrix elements has been calculated. The expected half-life of the two-neutrino mode was reevaluated as 1.5(6)×10(20) yr. With its high natural abundance, the new results reveal 110Pd to be an excellent candidate for double-β decay studies.

An experiment for the direct determination of the g-factor of a single proton in a Penning trap

A new apparatus has been designed that aims at a direct precision measurement of the g-factor of a single isolated proton or antiproton in a Penning trap. We present a thorough discussion on the trap design and a method for the experimental trap optimization using a single stored proton. A first attempt at the g-factor determination has been made in a section of the trap with a magnetic bottle. The Larmor frequency of the proton has been measured with a relative uncertainty of 1.8◊10 6 and the magnetic moment has been determined with a relative uncertainty of 8.9◊10 6 . Ag-factor of 5.585696(50) has been obtained, which is in excellent agreement with previous measurements and predictions. Future experiments shall drive the spin-flip transition in a section of the trap with a homogeneous magnetic field. This has the potential to improve the precision of the measured g-factor of the proton and the antiproton by several orders of magnitude.

g-factor experiments on simple systems in Penning traps

Penning traps serve for the precise measurement of magnetic moments of simple atomic systems and fundamental particles. Here we present attempts to measure the magnetic moment of the electron bound in hydrogen-like or lithium-like heavy ions as well as of the proton and antiproton. While the first experiment aims for a more stringent test of bound-state quantum-electrodynamic calculations the second experiment provides a new high-precision test of the CPT theorem in the baryonic sector.

Nuclear masses and neutron stars

Precision mass spectrometry of neutron-rich nuclei is of great relevance for astrophysics. Masses of exotic nuclides impose constraints on models for the nuclear interaction and thus affect the description of the equation of state of nuclear matter, which can be extended to describe neutron-star matter. With knowledge of the masses of nuclides near shell closures, one can also derive the neutron-star crusta l composition. The Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at CERN-ISOLDE has recently achieved a breakthrough measuring the mass of 82 Zn, which allowed constraining neutron-star crust composition to deeper layers [1]. We perform a more detailed study on the sequence of nuclei in the outer crust of neutron stars with input from different nuclear models to illustrate the sensitivity to masses and the robus tness of neutron-star models. The dominant role of the N = 50 and N = 82 closed neutron shells for the crustal composition is confi rmed.

Towards ultrahigh-resolution multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometry at ISOLTRAP

The mass resolving power of the multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer of ISOLTRAP was studied by monitoring 39K+ signals. A drift tube at the center of the MR-ToF MS allows decreasing or increasing the kinetic energy of the ion bunch, by switching its potential when the ions are traversing it. This offers the possibility of capturing and ejecting ion bunches by controlling a single voltage by the so-called in-trap lift technique. It also allows changing the energy of the trapped ions inside the MR-ToF MS, offering a way to optimize the resolving power of the device. For a fixed number of 2000 laps corresponding to a total ion flight time of about 30 ms, data was accumulated for 100 experimental cycles, adding to a duration of 10 s for each spectrum. Without any subsequent corrections for broadening effects, mass resolving powers in excess of 300 000 (FWHM) were obtained.

Penning Trap Measurement of the Magnetic Moment of the Antiproton

The measurement of the magnetic moment (or g‐factor) of the antiproton and of the proton is a sensitive test of CPT invariance. In our experiment we will store and detect a single (anti)proton in a cryogenic Penning trap. The g‐factor will be measured by detection of quantum jumps via the continuous Stern‐Gerlach effect. Most of the experimental techniques to be used have been already successfully employed by our group for the measurement of the g‐factor of the bound electron in hydrogen‐like ions. However, the magnetic moment of the proton is smaller than that of the electron by a factor of 658. Our hybrid trap design combines cylindrical electrodes with a toroidal ferromagnetic ring electrode. With this novel trap, spin‐flip transitions of the (anti)proton can be detected by observation of tiny differences in the axial frequency by a phase‐sensitive method. With our apparatus, we envisage to determine the g‐factor of the (anti)proton with an accuracy of 10−9 or better.