Concept of a new Universal High-Density Gas Stopping Cell Setup for study of gas-phase chemistry and nuclear properties of Super Heavy Elements (UniCell)

Abstract

Abstract Here we propose a concept of a new universal high-density gas stopping cell setup (UniCell), whose advantages are based on use of the ultra-compact RF ion-funnel technique. It will allow for the fast ( ∼ 2 ms) and highly efficient (up to 100%) extraction of ions in a wide range of masses from high-density gas stopping cells and, in particular, ions of superheavy elements (SHE) for gas-phase chemical studies and nuclear property (high-precision mass spectrometry, laser and decay spectroscopy) measurements. The gas cell consists of a traditional DC-cage and (RF+DC)-funnel of a novel compact design. For physical researches, the UniCell is equipped with the additional system of three RF-funnels placed on the axis downstream the gas cell exit, which will allow for a high-efficient and fast extraction of ions into high-vacuum with production of continuous and pulsed ion beams having a record small transverse and longitudinal emittance. For the gas-phase chemistry studies, the system of three extraction RF-funnels can be replaced by a gas chromatography detector array with an original gas ejector-interface, which will allow, when it will be necessary for ions neutralization, to add different reactive gases into the helium flow. The operation regimes of the proposed UniCell have been explored by detailed gas dynamic and Monte Carlo ion-trajectory simulations, whose results are presented and discussed.