Rare Isotope Beams Research Articles

Optical potentials for the rare-isotope beam era

We review recent progress and motivate the need for further developments in nuclear optical potentials that are widely used in the theoretical analysis of nucleon elastic scattering and reaction cross sections. In regions of the nuclear chart away from stability, which represent a frontier in nuclear science over the coming decade and which will be probed at new rare-isotope beam facilities worldwide, there is a targeted need to quantify and reduce theoretical reaction model uncertainties, especially with respect to nuclear optical potentials. We first describe the primary physics motivations for an improved description of nuclear reactions involving short-lived isotopes, focusing on its benefits for fundamental science discoveries and applications to medicine, energy, and security. We then outline the various methods in use today to build optical potentials starting from phenomenological, microscopic, and ab initio methods, highlighting in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. We then discuss publicly-available tools and resources facilitating the propagation of recent progresses in the field to practitioners. Finally, we provide a set of open challenges and recommendations for the field to advance the fundamental science goals of nuclear reaction studies in the rare-isotope beam era. This paper is the outcome of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams Theory Alliance (FRIB-TA) topical program ‘Optical Potentials in Nuclear Physics’ held in March 2022 at FRIB. Its content is non-exhaustive, was chosen by the participants and reflects their efforts related to optical potentials.

Large collectivity in 29Ne at the boundary of the island of inversion

The heavy-ion inelastic scattering of the neutron-rich nucleus 29Ne to its excited states was studied using a 100.1 MeV/u 29Ne rare isotope beam on 181Ta and 9Be targets. The combined setup consisting of the GRETINA array, the TRIPLEX device and the S800 Spectrograph facilitates the simultaneous measurements of the two inelastic reactions, providing the first measurement of the transition strengths for this isotope. A sizable E2 strength B(E2↑) which amounts to 163(30) e2fm4 was determined in the excitation to the 931-keV state, demonstrating a large degree of collectivity. The present results of B(E2↑) are compared to various shell-model calculations, confirming the role of intruder configurations in 29Ne at the boundary of the island of inversion.

Search for CP-Violation in ortho-Positronium Decay

We report here on the design and development of a new apparatus aiming at a 10-fold improved search for CP-violation in ortho-Positronium decay to be performed at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

A Problem in the Statistical Description of Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission

Reaction measurements on fission products are being planned at both Argonne National Lab and at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. These indirect experiments produce specific short-lived nuclei via beta decay, and the subsequent neutron and gamma emission are studied. Some initial experiments found a surprising overabundance of gamma emission, which theory has yet to explain. To remedy this, we are developing an integrated nuclear data workflow that connects advanced nuclear shell model codes for describing the beta decay with a contemporary nuclear reaction model code.

Nonlinear field effects in the collector ring due to large-amplitude particle oscillations

In the frame of the FAIR project, the Collector Ring (CR) is planned to be built for efficient cooling of antiprotons and rare isotope beams [1]. In order to accept hot beam from separators large acceptances are required. This paper examines the effects which can influence the beam dynamics due to large betatron oscillation amplitude and momentum spread. Using analytic expressions, the amplitude-dependent tune shifts driven by sextupole magnets, the fringe field of quadrupole magnets, and kinematics effects have been calculated. The obtained results have been compared with numerical simulations by means of precise multi-turn particle tracing. The tracking analysis for the CR has been performed considering the real shape of the magnetic field of the wide aperture quadrupole. We report on quantitative studies of the effects on the dynamic aperture of the rings.

Identification of a potential ultralow- Q -value electron-capture decay branch in Se75 via a precise Penning trap measurement of the mass of As75

Background: Low energy $\beta$ and electron capture (EC) decays are important systems in neutrino mass determination experiments. An isotope with an ultra-low Q value $\beta$-decay to an excited state in the daughter with Qes < 1 keV could provide a promising alternative candidate for future experiments. $^{75}$Se EC and $^{75}$Ge $\beta$-decay represent such candidates, but a more precise determination of the mass of the common daughter, $^{75}$As, is required to evaluate whether their potential decay branches are energetically allowed and ultra-low. Purpose: Perform a precise atomic mass measurement of $^{75}$As and combine the result with the precisely known atomic masses of $^{75}$Se and $^{75}$Ge, along with nuclear energy level data for $^{75}$As to evaluate potential ultra-low Q value decay branches in the EC decay of $^{75}$Se and the $\beta$-decay of $^{75}$Ge. Method: The LEBIT Penning trap mass spectrometer at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams was used to perform a high-precision measurement of the atomic mass of $^{75}$As via cyclotron frequency ratio measurements of $^{75}$As$^{+}$ to a $^{12}$C$_{6}^{+}$ reference ion. Results: The $^{75}$As mass excess was determined to be ME($^{75}$As)= -73 035.98(43) keV, from which the ground-state to ground-state Q values for $^{75}$Se EC and $^{75}$Ge $\beta$-decay were determined to be 866.50(44) keV and 1179.01(44) keV, respectively. These results were compared to energies of excited states in $^{75}$As at 865.4(5) keV and 1172.0(6) keV to determine Q values of 1.1(7) keV and 7.0(7) keV for the potential ultra-low EC and $\beta$-decay branches of $^{75}$Se and $^{75}$Ge, respectively. Conclusion: The $^{75}$Se EC decay to the 865.4 keV excited state in $^{75}$As is potentially ultra-low with Qes $\approx$ 1 keV. However, a more precise determination of the 865.4(5) keV level in $^{75}$As is required.

Design and construction of a novel energy-loss optical scintillation system (ELOSS) for heavy-ion particle identification.

We present the development of a novel heavy-ion particle-identification (PID) device based on an energy-loss measurement to be implemented in the focal plane of the S800 spectrograph of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). The new instrument consists of a multi-segmented optical detector [energy-loss optical scintillation system (ELOSS)] that is filled with xenon at pressures ranging from 400 to 800 Torr. The gas volume is surrounded by arrays of photomultiplier tubes and placed along the direction of the beam for recording the prompt scintillation light. The number of detected photons, which is proportional to the energy deposited by the beam particle along its track in the detector volume, allows one to identify the corresponding atomic number (Z). The ELOSS technology is expected to provide high-resolution ΔE measurements (≤0.6% σ) at a high counting rate (>50kHz). In addition, it has the capability of providing timing information with around 150ps resolution (σ) compared to the lack of useable timing information of the conventional ionization chamber relying on drifting charges. The development of fast, accurate ΔE measurement techniques for present and future nuclear science facilities will have a high impact on the design and implementation of rare-isotope beam experiments at FRIB and their scientific outcome. As such, ELOSS also represents a prototype for the development of PID detector systems of other planned and future spectrometers, such as the high rigidity spectrometer at FRIB.

Crossing N=28 Toward the Neutron Drip Line: First Measurement of Half-Lives at FRIB

New half-lives for exotic isotopes approaching the neutron drip-line in the vicinity of N∼28 for Z=12-15 were measured at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) with the FRIB decay station initiator. The first experimental results are compared to the latest quasiparticle random phase approximation and shell-model calculations. Overall, the measured half-lives are consistent with the available theoretical descriptions and suggest a well-developed region of deformation below ^{48}Ca in the N=28 isotones. The erosion of the Z=14 subshell closure in Si is experimentally confirmed at N=28, and a reduction in the ^{38}Mg half-life is observed as compared with its isotopic neighbors, which does not seem to be predicted well based on the decay energy and deformation trends. This highlights the need for both additional data in this very exotic region, and for more advanced theoretical efforts.

Simulations of rare-isotope beams for the HISPEC/DESPEC experiments at the Super-FRS

The HISPEC/DESPEC collaboration envisages long experimental campaigns exploiting the expected beam performances of Super-FRS. The experiments will be performed at the Low-Energy Branch of the upcoming FAIR and will focus on the physics of exotic isotopes, primarily in the heavy neutron-rich region. The goal of the HISPEC/DESPEC experimental campaigns is to explore the excitation and decay properties of rare isotopes produced via fragmentation and fission. First rare-isotope beam simulations of representative future HISPEC/DESPEC experimental cases are presented. The simulations provide an insight into the forthcoming state-of-art experiments in the future FAIR facility.

Design of the High Rigidity Spectrometer at FRIB

A High Rigidity Spectrometer (HRS) has been designed for experiments at the Facility for Rare-Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU). The HRS will allow experiments to be performed with the most exotic neutron-rich isotopes at high beam energies (≳100MeV/u). The HRS consists of an analysis beamline called the High-Transmission Beamline (HTBL) and the spectrometer proper called the Spectrometer Section. The maximum magnetic rigidity of the HRS is 8Tm, which corresponds to the rigidities at which rare-isotope beams are optimally produced at FRIB. The resolving power, angular acceptance, and momentum acceptance are set to match the anticipated scientific program. An ion-optical design developed for the HRS is described in detail, along with the specifications of the associated magnet and detector systems.

Solid-phase isotope harvesting of 88Zr from a radioactive ion beam facility

During routine operation of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), radionuclides will accumulate in both the aqueous beam dump and along the beamline in the process of beam purification. These byproduct radionuclides, many of which are far from stability, can be collected and purified for use in other scientific applications in a process called isotope harvesting. In this work, the viability of 88Zr harvesting from solid components was investigated at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. A secondary 88Zr beam was stopped in a series of collectors comprised of Al, Cu, W, and Au foils. This work details irradiation of the collector foils and the subsequent radiochemical processing to isolate the deposited 88Zr (and its daughter 88Y) from them. Total average recovery from the Al, Cu, and Au collector foils was (91.3 ± 8.9) % for 88Zr and (95.0 ± 5.8) % for 88Y, respectively, which is over three times higher recovery than in a previous aqueous-phase harvesting experiment. The utility of solid-phase isotope harvesting to access elements such as Zr that readily hydrolyze in near-neutral pH aqueous conditions has been demonstrated for application to harvesting from solid components at FRIB.

Recent progress in two-proton radioactivity

During the last few decades, rare isotope beam facilities have provided unique data for studying the properties of nuclides located far from the beta-stability line. Such nuclei are often accompanied by exotic structures and radioactive modes, which represent the forefront of nuclear research. Among them, two-proton (2p) radioactivity is a rare decay mode found in a few highly proton-rich isotopes. The 2p decay lifetimes and properties of emitted protons hold invaluable information regarding the nuclear structures in the presence of a low-lying proton continuum; as such, they have attracted considerable research attention. In this review, we present some of the recent experimental and theoretical progress regarding the 2p decay, including technical innovations for measuring nucleon–nucleon correlations and developments in the models that connect their structural aspects with their decay properties. This impressive progress should play a significant role in elucidating the mechanism of these exotic decays, probing the corresponding components inside nuclei, and providing deep insights into the open quantum nature of dripline systems.

A Model for Radiolysis in a Flowing-Water Target during High-Intensity Proton Irradiation.

At the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), interactions between heavy-ion beams and beam-dump water will create a wide variety of radionuclides which can be accessed by a technique known as “isotope harvesting”. However, irradiation of water is always accompanied by the creation of numerous radical, ionic, and molecular radiolysis products. Some of the radiolysis products have sufficiently long lifetimes to accumulate in the irradiated water and affect the harvesting chemistry. Here we investigate the formation of hydrogen peroxide, molecular hydrogen, and molecular oxygen during a high-intensity proton irradiation of a flowing-water isotope-harvesting target and compare the experimental results to simulations. The simulations kinetically model the chemical reactions occurring in the homogeneous phase of radiolysis in flowing water and establish an “effective yield”. In both the experiment and simulations, the bulk quantities of H2, H2O2, and O2 are considerably lower than predicted by primary radiolysis yields (escape yields), meaning that in the high beam intensity regime the homogeneous phase reactions have a considerable impact on the overall chemical composition of the water. Further, it could be shown that for radiation which is characterized by a limited linear energy transfer, such as the here applied protons, the bulk outcome of the microscopic kinetic modeling could be estimated by a simplified steady-state model.

Moment constraints in beams with discrete and continuous rotational symmetry

This study presents a general analysis of how the transverse rotational symmetry of a beam imposes equality constraints among transverse beam moments. Efficient analytic methods are developed to derive symmetry-imposed constraints among $k$th order moments in beams with continuous or $n$-fold rotational symmetry for arbitrary $k$ and $n$. The formalism also enables one to construct symmetry arguments based on how discrete and continuous rotational symmetries manifest themselves differently in terms of beam moments. Three case studies on beams with continuous, twofold, and threefold rotational symmetries are conducted. We prove that, regardless of their triangulation, beams with threefold rotational symmetry (e.g., from electron cyclotron resonance ion source) always have the same rms properties as beams with cylindrical symmetry. These counterintuitive results derived purely from symmetry considerations have clarified beam dynamics at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

Measurement of the Mo100(α,xn) cross section at weak r -process energies

The weak $r$ process in neutrino-driven winds following a core-collapse supernova is thought to contribute to the cosmic abundances of the first $r$-process peak elements between Se and Ag. Sensitivity studies have found that the early nucleosynthesis in the weak $r$ process is primarily driven by $(\ensuremath{\alpha},xn)$ reactions due to the high temperatures, and that current nuclear physics uncertainties in the $(\ensuremath{\alpha},xn)$ rates result in significant uncertainties of the calculated abundances. The weak $r$-process path proceeds several nuclei away from stability where $(\ensuremath{\alpha},xn)$ reaction cross sections have not yet been measured. In this paper we report the $^{100}\mathrm{Mo}(\ensuremath{\alpha},xn)$ cross section (between 8.9 and 13.2 MeV in the center of mass, corresponding to 3.5--6.8 GK) in inverse kinematics using the Multi-Sampling Ionization Chamber (MUSIC) detector at the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility. With this first measurement of the $^{100}\mathrm{Mo}(\ensuremath{\alpha},xn)$ cross section, we have demonstrated the ability of MUSIC to measure $(\ensuremath{\alpha},xn)$ cross sections for $A$ up to 100, therefore paving the way for further measurements with radioactive beams at ATLAS or the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.

Experimental study of the [formula omitted]Cl beam production at intermediate energies

The isomeric content of a 34Cl beam produced in the intermediate-energy projectile fragmentation of a 150 MeV/u 36Ar beam on a 3 mm-thick Be target was studied. β-delayed γ-ray spectroscopy was used to measure the population of 34Cl fragments in the ground vs. isomeric states at zero degrees relative to the incoming primary beam for four different momentum settings of the fragment separator near the predicted central velocity of these fragments, as well as, at two non-zero-degree settings for one momentum setting. Of the settings explored, which excluded rigidities within 0.5% of the value predicted to maximize total 34Cl yield due to unreacted primary beam, the maximum rate for the production of 34mCl was found at a rigidity setting 0.75% below the predicted peak 34Cl yield. The maximum population of the isomeric state relative to the ground state was observed at a rigidity 1.25% below the predicted maximum 34Cl yield. Studies such as this are important in generating the understanding needed for producing isomer-enriched rare-isotope beams.

Design of Cryogenic Heat Exchangers and associated Sub-Systems for Controlled Cool-down and Testing of Superconducting Magnets at FRIB

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a continuous wave heavy ion beam linear accelerator designed for a maximum beam energy of 400 kW and using in-flight (fragment) production and separation to generate rare isotope beams. Spatial separation of the isotopes is achieved by using superconducting magnets with a high magnetic field, large aperture, and iron-dominated core. There are a total of 14 superconducting magnets used in the fragment separator section of the facility. Designs for these magnets are relatively new, and it poses challenges in several aspects of the cryogenic design and operation such as, compact coil and cryostat design, thermal shield design, and a controlled cool-down to the operating temperature while avoiding high thermal stresses. Helically coiled finned-tube cryogenic heat exchanger designs are considered for the controlled cool-down of superconducting magnets with up to 22.4 tonnes of cold mass. These heat exchangers use liquid nitrogen cooled helium gas to cool the superconducting magnets. They demonstrate high thermal effectiveness and mechanical flexibility that are essential for the variable operating temperatures (300 – 80 K) experienced during a cool-down process. This paper presents an overview of the process design, analysis, fabrication and operation of cool-down heat exchangers and their associated sub-systems developed at FRIB.

PUMA, antiProton unstable matter annihilation

PUMA, antiProton Unstable Matter Annihilation, is a nuclear-physics experiment at CERN aiming at probing the surface properties of stable and rare isotopes by use of low-energy antiprotons. Low-energy antiprotons offer a very unique sensitivity to the neutron and proton densities at the annihilation site, i.e. in the tail of the nuclear density. Today, no facility provides a collider of low-energy radioactive ions and low-energy antiprotons: while not being a collider experiment, PUMA aims at transporting one billion antiprotons from ELENA, the Extra-Low-ENergy Antiproton ring, to ISOLDE, the rare-isotope beam facility of CERN. PUMA will enable the capture of low-energy antiprotons by short-lived nuclei and the measurement of the emitted radiations. In this way, PUMA will give access to the so-far largely unexplored isospin composition of the nuclear-radial-density tail of radioactive nuclei. The motivations, concept and current status of the PUMA experiment are presented.

Online Bayesian optimization for a recoil mass separator

The SEparator for CApture Reactions (SECAR) is a next-generation recoil separator system at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) designed for the direct measurement of capture reactions on unstable nuclei in inverse kinematics. To maximize the performance of this system, stringent requirements on the beam alignment to the central beam axis and on the ion-optical settings need to be achieved. These can be difficult to attain through manual tuning by human operators without potentially leaving the system in a sub-optimal and irreproducible state. In this work, we present the first development of online Bayesian optimization with a Gaussian process model to tune an ion beam through a nuclear astrophysics recoil separator. We show that this method achieves small incoming angular deviations (\textless 1 mrad) in an efficient and reproducible manner that is at least three times faster than standard hand-tuning. Additionally, we present a Bayesian method for experimental optimization of the ion optics, and show that it validates the nominal theoretical ion-optical settings of the device, and improves the mass separation by 32\% for some beams.

CANREB EBIS commissioning at TRIUMF

The Canadian Rare Isotope facility with Electron Beam ion source (CANREB) is an essential part of the Advanced Rare IsotopE Laboratory (ARIEL) presently under construction at TRIUMF. CANREB was recently commissioned and can accept stable or rare isotope beams from a variety of ion sources, delivering high purity beams of highly charged ions (HCI) to experiments. The injected beams are bunched using a radiofrequency quadrupole cooler-buncher and energy adjusted using a pulsed drift tube for injection into the electron beam ion source (EBIS) charge state breeder. The EBIS is designed for a maximum electron beam current of 500 mA and a maximum magnetic field of 6 T. Ions with energies up to 14 keV can be injected and HCI with mass-to-charge (A/q) ratios 3 ⩽ A/q ⩽ 7 can be charge bred and extracted. The HCI are A/q-selected using a Nier-type spectrometer before being transported to the ISAC linac for post-acceleration. Results from CANREB beam commissioning with focus on the EBIS will be presented.