Rare Isotope Beams Research Articles

Facility for Rare Isotope Beams Update for Nuclear Physics News

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a major new scientific user facility under construction in the United States for nuclear science research with beams of rare isotopes [1]. FRIB is funded by the United States Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) and is located on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU), in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. FRIB will support the mission of the Office of Nuclear Physics in the DOE-SC. The total FRIB project cost is $730 million and the facility is scheduled to be completed by 2022. The project has passed the 75% complete mark and is managed toward early completion in 2021. FRIB is estimated to provide access to 80% off all isotopes of elements lighter than uranium.

Development of an EBIS charge breeder for the Rare Isotope Science Project

In Korea, a heavy ion accelerator facility called RAON is being designed to produce various rare isotopes for the Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP) (Jeong, 2016) [1], (Moon, 2014) [2]. This facility is designed to use both In-flight Fragment (IF) and Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) techniques in order to produce a wide variety of RI beams for nuclear physics experiments. An Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) will be used for charge breeding of Rare Isotope (RI) beams in the ISOL system. The charge-to-mass ratio (q/A) of the RI beams after charge breeding is ≥1/4. The highly charged RI beams will be accelerated by a linac post-accelerator and delivered to a low energy (∼18MeV/u) experimental hall or the IF system. The RAON EBIS will use a 3A electron gun and a 6T superconducting solenoid for high capacity, high efficiency, and short breeding time. In front of the charge breeder, an RFQ cooler-buncher will be used to deliver a bunched beam with small emittance to the EBIS charge breeder. The main design of the RAON EBIS has been carried out on the basis of several beam analyses and technical reviews. In this paper, current progress of the development of the RAON EBIS charge breeder will be presented.

Suppression of multipacting in high power RF couplers operating with superconducting cavities

Capacitive input couplers based on a 50Ω coaxial transmission line are frequently used to transmit RF power to superconducting (SC) resonators operating in CW mode. It is well known that coaxial transmission lines are prone to multipacting phenomenon in a wide range of RF power level and operating frequency. The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) being constructed at Michigan State University includes two types of quarter wave SC resonators (QWR) operating at 80.5MHz and two types of half wave SC resonators (HWR) operating at 322MHz. As was reported in ref. [1] a capacitive input coupler used with HWRs was experiencing strong multipacting that resulted in a long conditioning time prior the cavity testing at design levels of accelerating fields. We have developed an insert into 50Ω coaxial transmission line that provides opportunity to bias the RF coupler antenna and protect the amplifier from the bias potential in the case of breakdown in DC isolation. Two of such devices have been built and are currently used for the off-line testing of 8 HWRs installed in the cryomodule.

The role of core excitations in the structure and decay of the 16+ spin-gap isomer in 96Cd

Abstract The first evidence for β-delayed proton emission from the 16 + spin gap isomer in 96Cd is presented. The data were obtained from the Rare Isotope Beam Factory, at the RIKEN Nishina Center, using the BigRIPS spectrometer and the EURICA decay station. βp branching ratios for the ground state and 16 + isomer have been extracted along with more precise lifetimes for these states and the lifetime for the ground state decay of 95Cd. Large scale shell model (LSSM) calculations have been performed and WKB estimates made for l = 0 , 2 , 4 proton emission from three resonance-like states in 96Ag, that are populated by the β decay of the isomer, and the results compared to the new data. The calculations suggest that l = 2 proton emission from the resonance states, which reside ∼ 5 MeV above the proton separation energy, dominates the proton decay. The results highlight the importance of core-excited wavefunction components for the 16 + state.

Designing of the low energy beam lines with achromatic condition in the RAON accelerator

The RAON accelerator has been built to create and accelerate stable heavy-ion beams and rare isotope beams. The stable heavy-ion beams are generated by the superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion source and accelerated by the low energy superconducting linac SCL1. The beams accelerated by the SCL1 are re-accelerated by the high energy superconducting linac SCL2 for the generation of rare isotope beams by using the in-flight fragmentation system or are put to use in the low energy experimental halls, which include the neutron science facility and the KOrea Broad acceptance Recoil spectrometer and Apparatus after having passed through the low energy beam lines which have long deflecting sections. At the end of each beam line in the low energy experimental halls, the beams should meet the targets of the two facilities with the specific requirements satisfied. Namely, if the beam is to be sent safely and accurately to the targets and simultaneously, satisfy the requirements, an achromatic lattice design needs to be applied in each beam line. In this paper, we will present the lattice design of the low energy beam lines and describe the results of the beam dynamics simulations. In addition, the correction of the beam orbit, which is distorted by machine imperfections, will be discussed.

Measurement of the heaviestβ-delayed 2-neutron emitter:136Sb

The β-delayed neutron emission probability, Pn , of very exotic nuclei is crucial for the understanding of nuclear structure properties of many isotopes and astrophysical processes such as the rapid neutron capture process (r -process). In addition β-delayed neutrons are important in a nuclear power reactor operated in a prompt sub-critical, delayed critical condition, as they contribute to the decay heat inducing fission reactions after a shut down. The study of neutron-rich isotopes and the measurement of β-delayed one-neutron emitters (β1n) is possible thanks to the Rare Isotope Beam (RIB) facilities, where radioactive beams allow the production of exotic nuclei of interest, which can be studied and analyzed using specific detection systems. This contribution reports two recent measurements of β-delayed neutron emitters which allowed the determination of half-lives and the neutron branching ratio of isotopes in the mass region above A = 200 and N > 126, and a second experiment which confirmed 136 Sb as the heaviest double neutron emitter (β2n) measured so far.

X-ray burst studies with the JENSA gas jet target

When a neutron star accretes hydrogen and helium from the outer layers of its companion star, thermonuclear burning enables the α p-process as a break out mechanism from the hot CNO cycle. Model calculations predict ( α , p) reaction rates significantly affect both the light curves and elemental abundances in the burst ashes. The Jet Experiments in Nuclear Structure and Astrophysics (JENSA) gas jet target enables the direct measurement of previously inaccessible ( α ,p) reactions with radioactive beams provided by the rare isotope re-accelerator ReA3 at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL), USA. JENSA is going to be the main target for the Recoil Separator for Capture Reactions (SECAR) at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Commissioning of JENSA and first experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) showed a highly localized, pure gas target with a density of ∼10 19 atoms per square centimeter. Preliminary results are presented from the first direct cross section measurement of the 34 Ar( α , p) 37 K reaction at NSCL.

The performance of the γ-ray tracking array GRETINA for γ-ray spectroscopy with fast beams of rare isotopes

The γ-ray tracking array GRETINA was coupled to the S800 magnetic spectrometer for spectroscopy with fast beams of rare isotopes at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory on the campus of Michigan State University. We describe the technical details of this powerful setup and report on GRETINA's performance achieved with source and in-beam measurements. The γ-ray multiplicity encountered in experiments with fast beams is usually low, allowing for a simplified and efficient treatment of the data in the γ-ray analysis in terms of Doppler reconstruction and spectral quality. The results reported in this work were obtained from GRETINA consisting of 8 detector modules hosting four high-purity germanium crystals each. Currently, GRETINA consists of 10 detector modules.

Examination of experimental conditions for the production of proton-rich and neutron-rich hypernuclei

After the demonstration of the feasibility of hypernuclear spectroscopy with heavy-ion beams, the HypHI Collaboration will next focus on the study of proton- and neutron-rich hypernuclei. The use of a fragment separator for the production and separation of rare isotope beams is a crucial aspect to producing hypernuclei far from the stability line. Precise spectroscopy of exotic hypernuclei is planned to be carried out at the GSI and later at the FAIR facility with the FRS and Super-FRS fragment separators. A systematic study and an optimization analysis were performed in order to determine optimal experimental conditions for producing hypernuclei with high isospin. The optimal conditions are obtained based on theoretical models for the heavy-ion induced reaction and hypernuclei production. Experimental efficiencies for the production of exotic secondary beams were also taken into account via Monte Carlo simulations of the fragment separator. The developed methodology is presented to deduce the expected yields of $^8_\Lambda$Be and subsequently other proton-rich and neutron-rich hypernuclei.

GRETINA and Its Early Science

γ-Ray spectroscopy continues to be an important tool for the study of nuclei. Excitation energies can be measured directly and in model-independent ways, and thus are among the key observables that can guide our understanding of atomic nuclei. With the availability of short-lived rare-isotope beams, the development of position sensitivity of γ-ray detection systems has been crucial in combating the Doppler broadening encountered for the energies of γ-rays emitted in flight, which are necessary to obtain good energy resolution while maintaining high efficiency. The advanced γ-ray tracking array GRETINA began its science mission at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL), where rare-isotope beams are produced at velocities exceeding 30% of the speed of light. With selected examples from nuclear structure physics and nuclear astrophysics, we show the breadth and reach of the science program afforded by GRETINA and provide an outlook for what can be accomplished with the full 4π array GRETA at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).

Performance degradation of ferrofluidic feedthroughs in a mixed irradiation field

Ferrofluidic feedthrough (FF) rotary seals containing either NdFeB or SmCo-type permanent magnets have been considered for use in the target and beam dump systems of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). To evaluate their performance under irradiation three FF seals were irradiated in a mixed field consisting of fast neutrons, protons and γ-rays to an average absorbed dose of 0.2, 2.0, and 20.0MGy at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer facility (BLIP). The radiation types and energy profiles mimic those expected at the FRIB facility. Degradation of the operational performance of these devices due to irradiation is expected to be the result of the de-magnetization of the permanent magnets contained within the seal and the changes in the ferrofluid properties. Post-irradiation performance was evaluated by determining the ferrofluidic seal vacuum tightness and torque under static and dynamic conditions. The study revealed that the ferrofluidic feedthrough seal irradiated to a dose of 0.2MGy maintained its vacuum tightness under both static and rotational condition while the one irradiated to a dose of 2.0MGy exhibited signs of ferrofluid damage but no overall performance loss. At 20MGy dose the effects of irradiation on the ferrofluid properties (viscosity and particle agglomeration) were shown to be severe. Furthermore, limited de-magnetization of the annular shaped Nd2Fe14B and Sm2Co17 magnets located within the irradiated FFs was observed for doses of 0.2MGy and 20MGy respectively.

Start-to-end simulation with rare isotope beam for post accelerator of the RAON accelerator

The RAON accelerator of the Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP) has been developed to create and accelerate various kinds of stable heavy ion beams and rare isotope beams for a wide range of the science applications. In the RAON accelerator, the rare isotope beams generated by the Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) system will be transported through the post accelerator, namely, from the post Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) system and the post Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) to the superconducting linac (SCL3). The accelerated beams will be put to use in the low energy experimental hall or accelerated again by the superconducting linac (SCL2) in order to be used in the high energy experimental hall. In this paper, we will describe the results of the start-to-end simulations with the rare isotope beams generated by the ISOL system in the post accelerator of the RAON accelerator. In addition, the error analysis and correction at the superconducting linac SCL3 will be presented.

Design of an EBIS charge breeder system for rare-isotope beams

Rare-isotope beams will be produced by using the isotope separation on-line (ISOL) system at the Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP). A proton cyclotron is the driver accelerator for ISOL targets, and uranium carbide (UCx) will be a major target material. An isotope beam of interest extracted from the target will be ionized and selected by using a mass separator. The beam emittance will then be reduced by using a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) cooler before the beam is injected into the electron-beam ion-source (EBIS) charge breeder (CB). The maximum electron beam current of the EBIS is 3 A from a cathode made of IrCe in an applied magnetic field of 0.2 T. The size of the electron beam is compressed by magnetic fields of up to 6 T caused in the charge-breeding region by a superconducting solenoid. The design of EBIS-CB was performed by using mechanics as well as beam optics. A test stand for the electron gun and its collector, which can take an electron-beam power of 20 kW, are under construction. The gun assembly was first tested by using a high-voltage pulse so as to measure its perveance. The design of the EBIS, along with its test stand, is described.

Prospects of nuclear physics research using rare isotope beams at RAON in Korea

Korea plans to build a new radioactive ion-beam accelerator RAON together with various experimental facilities. In particular, KOBRA(the Korea Broad Acceptance Recoil Spectrometer & Apparatus) and LAMPS(the Large-Acceptance Multi-Purpose Spectrometer) will be constructed for the nuclear physics experiments.The primary goal of KOBRA is to study the structure of exotic nuclei near drip lines and various astrophysical processes at low energies. On the other hand, LAMPS will investigate the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy in wide beam energy range up to 2 times normal nuclear densities. This paper provides an overview of RAON and the experimental setup for the nuclear physics program.

Recoil distance transmission method: Measurement of interaction cross sections of excited states with fast rare-isotope beams

The possible appearance of nuclear halos in ground and excited states close to the particle-decay threshold is of great importance in the investigation of nuclear structure and few-body correlations at the limit of stability. In order to obtain direct evidence of the halo structure manifested in nuclear excited states, we have considered a new method to measure the interaction cross sections of excited states. The combination of the transmission method and the recoil distance Doppler-shift method with a plunger device enables us to measure the number of interactions of the excited states in a target. Formulae to determine the interaction cross section are derived, and key issues to realize measurements are discussed. Dominant sources of errors are uncertainties in the excited-state lifetimes and γ-ray yields. We examine prototype experiments and perform simulations to study the impact of each uncertainty on the final result. This method provides a novel opportunity to perform cross section measurements on the excited states of rare isotopes.

Thermal, mechanical and fluid flow aspects of the high power beam dump for FRIB

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) under construction at Michigan State University is based on a 400kW heavy ion accelerator and uses in-flight production and separation to generate rare isotope beams. The first section of the fragment separator houses the rare isotope production target, and the primary beam dump to stop the unreacted primary beam. The experimental program will use 400kW ion beams from 16O to 238U. After interaction with the production target, over 300kW in remaining beam power must be absorbed by the beam dump. A rotating water-cooled thin-shell metal drum was chosen as the basic concept for the beam dump. Extensive thermal, mechanical and fluid flow analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of the high power density in the beam dump shell and in the water. Many properties were optimized simultaneously, such as shell temperature, mechanical strength, fatigue strength, and radiation resistance. Results of the analyses of the beam dump performance with different design options will be discussed. For example, it was found that a design modification to the initial water flow pattern resulted in a substantial increase in the wall heat transfer coefficient. A detailed evaluation of materials for the shell is in progress. The widely used titanium alloy, Ti–6Al–4V (wt%), is presently considered as the best candidate, and is the subject of specific tests, such as studies of performance under heavy ion irradiation.

Recent progress of in-flight separators and rare isotope beam production

New-generation in-flight separators are being developed worldwide, including the Super-FRS separator at the GSI Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR), the ARIS separator at the Michigan State University (MSU) Facility for Rare Isotopes Beams (FRIB), and the BigRIPS separator at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory (RIBF), each of which is aimed at expanding the frontiers of rare isotope (RI) production and advancing experimental studies on exotic nuclei far from stability. Here, the recent progress of in-flight separators is reviewed, focusing on the advanced features of these three representative separators. The RI beam production that we have conducted using the BigRIPS separator at RIKEN RIBF is also outlined.

Opportunities for isotope discoveries at FRIB

Expected production yields of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) were calculated for a wide range of rare isotopes using the code LISE++ and planned performance parameters (Tarasov and Bazin, 2008; Bollen et al., 2011 [2]). A comparison between isotope discoveries of the last decade and expected particle yields indicates the range of isotopes that can likely be detected at FRIB. This paper will highlight recent isotope discoveries at NSCL’s Coupled Cyclotron Facility and deduce how far the limits could be pushed with the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

Development of a new RFQ beam cooler and buncher for the CANREB project at TRIUMF

A new radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) based ion beam cooler and buncher is under development for the CANadian Rare-isotope facility with Electron Beam ion source (CANREB) project at TRIUMF. The CANREB project requires an RFQ buncher that will efficiently accept continuous beams of rare isotopes from either the Advanced Rare IsotopE Laboratory (ARIEL) or Isotope Separator and ACcelerator (ISAC) target by way of a high resolution magnetic spectrometer, with energies up to 60keV and deliver bunched beams to an electron beam ion source (EBIS) for charge breeding. The energy of the bunched beam delivered to the EBIS will be adjustable to match the requirements of the existing post acceleration infrastructure. The CANREB RFQ incorporates design considerations to facilitate ease of use over a wide range of ion masses, and is intended to accommodate incident beam rates as high as 108pps, delivering beam bunches at 100Hz. An overview of the CANREB RFQ design concept will be presented, informed by results from both ion optical simulations as well as commissioning efforts with other beam cooler and buncher devices. Simulation results indicate that the design is well suited to deliver high quality bunched beams with high efficiency with as many as 106 ions per bunch.

A recoil separator for nuclear astrophysics SECAR

A recoil separator SECAR has been designed to study radiative capture reactions relevant for the astrophysical rp-process in inverse kinematics for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). We describe the design, layout, and ion optics of the recoil separator and present the status of the project.