Low-energy Radioactive Ion Beams Research Articles

Neutron activation of stable isotopes in soil and groundwater from a radionuclide production facility, South Africa.

The neutron activation of stable isotopes in environmental matrices, such as soil and groundwater, is a critical aspect of assessing the impact of radionuclide production facilities on the surrounding ecosystem. The envisioned Low-Energy Radioactive Ion Beams (LERIB) facility at the iThemba LABS, South Africa is anticipated to generate significant sources of ionising radiation. The study investigated the possible repercussions of neutron irradiation stemming from the facility, focusing on the activation of stable isotopic compositions in the environment. The investigation employed a combination of experimental and analytical techniques to characterize the neutron activation products in soil and groundwater samples collected from the vicinity. Samples were collected from designated areas for background radiological measurements and were irradiated with neutrons for a period of 1 h. The induced radioactivity measured by the High Purity Germanium detector included 24Na, 22Na, 54Mn, 52Mn, and 46Sc. The application of Darcy's law for groundwater velocity suggests that radionuclides in groundwater will migrate at an average flow velocity of 0.8 m/day. The isotopes with longer half-lives have count rates at background concentrations; therefore, environmental impacts on the site and surrounding communities might be minimal.

Ion-source development at the off-line LERIB test-facility at iThemba LABS

The Low Energy Radioactive Ion Beam (LERIB) facility [1] will be used to produce low-energy radioactive-ion beams (RIBs) with energies up to 60 keV. Radioactive reaction products will be created by a 66 MeV proton-beam impinging on a target made of carbide disks, such as SiC [2]. These reaction products will then be ionized in a target-ion-source (TIS) and extracted as beam. The TIS design allows three ion-sources: a surface ion-source [3], a forced electron-beam induced arc-discharge (FEBIAD) ion-source [4], and a resonance-ionization laser ion-source, or RILIS. The surface-ionization source was commissioned with stable beams in October 2021. The production of ions from Group-1 elements was accomplished with beams of 39K+, 41K+ and 23Na+ where currents were measured in the μA range. This source may be advantageous for producing stable pilot-beams for future radioactive-beam experiments. The FEBIAD is still in development at present.

Machine learning method for 12C event classification and reconstruction in the active target time-projection chamber

Active target time projection chambers are important tools in low energy radioactive ion beams or gamma rays related researches. In this work, we present the application of machine learning methods to the analysis of data obtained from an active target time projection chamber. Specifically, we investigate the effectiveness of Visual Geometry Group (VGG) and the Residual neural Network (ResNet) models for event classification and reconstruction in decays from the excited 22+ state in 12C Hoyle rotation band. The results show that machine learning methods are effective in identifying 12C events from the background noise, with ResNet-34 achieving an impressive precision of 0.99 on simulation data, and the best performing event reconstruction model ResNet-18 providing an energy resolution of σE<77 keV and an angular reconstruction deviation of σθ<0.1 rad. The promising results suggest that the ResNet model trained on Monte Carlo samples could be used for future classifying and predicting experimental data in active target time projection chambers related experiments.

Low energy radioactive ion beams at SPES for nuclear physics and medical applications

Over the past decades many accelerator facilities have been built in order to produce radioactive nuclei. Among the falcility under construction, SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is the Italian ISOL (Isotope Separation On Line) facility in the installation phase in these years in the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The innovative aspect of this facility is that the radioactive beam produced by fission induced by the proton beam, produced by a high power cyclotron, interact with a multi-disks uranium carbide target. The formed RIB will be sent directly to the low energy experimental area and, afterwards, to the post-acceleration complex. Currently the installation program concerning the SPES RIB source provides the set-up of the apparatus around the production bunker. The main objective of SPES project is to provide, in the next years, the first low-energy radioactive beams for beta decay experiments using the b-DS (beta Decay Station) set-up and for radiopharmaceutical applications by means of the IRIS (ISOLPHARM Radioactive Implantation Station) apparatus. In this work, all the specific issues related to the SPES RIB and the Low Energy beam lines will be reported. The main RIB systems, such as ion source systems, target-handling devices and the installation of low energy transport line, will be presented in detail.

In-gas-jet laser spectroscopy with S[formula omitted]-LEB

The Super Separator Spectrometer-Low Energy Branch (S3-LEB) is a low-energy radioactive ion beam experiment under commissioning as part of the GANIL-SPIRAL2 facility. It will be used for the production and study of exotic nuclei by in-gas laser ionization and spectroscopy (IGLIS), decay spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. We report recent results from the off-line commissioning of S3-LEB, including first laser spectroscopy measurements in both the gas cell and the supersonic gas jet, the determination of the transport efficiency of laser ions from the gas cell through the RFQ chain, and time-of-flight measurements with the multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer PILGRIM. The measurements were performed using erbium, introduced by evaporation from a heated filament in the gas environment. The reported laser spectroscopy results include a characterization of the pressure broadening in the gas cell, proof-of-principle isotope shift measurements, and hyperfine-structure measurements.

β decay of neutron-rich Cu76 and the structure of Zn76

The $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of $^{76}\mathrm{Cu}$ to the levels of $^{76}\mathrm{Zn}$ was studied at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). A purified $^{76}\mathrm{Cu}$ beam was developed and data were recorded for the decay of the $A=76$ decay chain using four high-purity germanium (HPGe) clover detectors at the Low-energy Radioactive Ion Beam Spectroscopy Station (LeRIBSS). In this measurement, data on \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray emission following $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay, including $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidences, were collected and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ spectra were analyzed to identify the statistically significant coincidences. From this analysis, we propose a level scheme for $^{76}\mathrm{Zn}$ which contains a total of 59 energy levels up to 6.0 MeV containing 105 $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays. We have identified an additional 53 $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays associated with this decay which could not be place in the decay scheme due to insufficient coincidence information or no energy match to identified levels. No $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays from states in $^{75}\mathrm{Zn}$ fed in the delayed-neutron branch were observed even though other $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays in the $A=75$ decay chain were observed. Spin and parity assignments are proposed for some levels based on comparison to systematics and shell model calculations.

Two-dimensional beam profile monitor for the detection of alpha-emitting radioactive isotope beam

Ions with similar charge-to-mass ratios cannot be separated from existing beam profile monitors (BPMs) in nuclear facilities in which low-energy radioactive ions are produced due to nuclear fusion reactions. In this study, we developed a BPM using a microchannel plate and a charge-coupled device to differentiate the beam profiles of alpha-decaying radioactive isotopes from other ions (reaction products) produced in a nuclear reaction. This BPM was employed to optimize the low-energy radioactive francium ion (Fr+) beam developed at the Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center (CYRIC), Tohoku University, for electron permanent electric dipole moment (e-EDM) search experiments using Fr atoms. We demonstrated the performance of the BPM by separating the Fr+ beam from other reaction products produced during the nuclear fusion reaction of an oxygen (18O) beam and gold (197Au) target. However, as the mass of Au is close to that of Fr, separating the ions of these elements using a mass filter is a challenge, and a dominant number of Au+ renders the Fr+ beam profile invisible when using a typical BPM. Therefore, by employing the new BPM, we could successfully observe the Fr+ beam and other ion beams distinctly by measuring the alpha decay of Fr isotopes. This novel technique to monitor the alpha-emitting radioactive beam covers a broad range of lifetimes, for example, from approximately 1 s to 10 min, and can be implemented for other alpha-emitter beams utilized for medical applications.

Radioactive ion beam manipulation at the IGISOL-4 facility

The IGISOL-4 facility in the JYFL Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyvaskyla (JYFL-ACCLAB) produces low-energy radioactive ion beams, primarily for nuclear spectroscopy, utilizing an ion guide-based, ISOL-type mass separator. Recently, new ion manipulation techniques have been introduced at the IGISOL-4 including the application of the PI-ICR (Phase-Imaging Ion Cyclotron Resonance) technique at the JYFLTRAP Penning trap, as well as commissioning of a Multi-Reflection Time-Of-Flight (MR-TOF) separator/spectrometer. The successful operation of the MR-TOF also required significant improvement of the Radio-Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) cooler and buncher device beam pulse time structure. In addition, laser ionization techniques have been developed for particular cases, for example, a hot cavity laser ion source for silver production. A new stable isotope ion source and a beam line has been introduced for tuning and calibration purposes. In addition to the installations at the IGISOL-4 facility, the extension of the vacuum-mode recoil separator MARA (Mass Analysing Recoil Apparatus), MARA-LEB (MARA Low Energy Branch) has been under development. MARA-LEB will utilize the gas-cell technique and laser ionization to convert MeV-scale radioactive beams to low-energy ones.

Improved beam diagnostics and optimization at ISAC via TITAN’s MR-TOF-MS

Determination of the constituents of the radioactive ion beam (RIB) is crucial for successful experiments at low-energy RIB facilities and as such decides the fate of many experiments. Here we present the role of TITAN’s Multiple-Reflection Time-Of-Flight Mass Separator (MR-TOF-MS) and how it complements the present capabilities at ISAC-TRIUMF for yield determinations and beam delivery. This non-scanning, broadband, high-resolution mass spectrometer allows for real-time identification and quantification of all species, ranging from radionuclides with half-lives as low as a few ms to stable isotopes and molecules. In this manner it can be efficiently used to optimize RIB delivery through the ISAC mass separator for rate of the species of interest or its ratio to contamination. We present an example of this optimization approach, where the purity of secondary beams of neutron-rich titanium was improved by more than one order of magnitude based on the diagnostics capabilities of the new MR-TOF-MS and thus, allowed for high-precision mass measurements at TITAN.

The GRIFFIN facility for Decay-Spectroscopy studies at TRIUMF-ISAC

Gamma-Ray Infrastructure For Fundamental Investigations of Nuclei, GRIFFIN, is a new high-efficiency γ-ray spectrometer designed for use in decay spectroscopy experiments with low-energy radioactive ion beams provided by TRIUMF’s Isotope Separator and Accelerator (ISAC-I) facility. GRIFFIN is composed of sixteen Compton-suppressed large-volume clover-type high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray detectors combined with a suite of ancillary detection systems and coupled to a custom digital data acquisition system. The infrastructure and detectors of the spectrometer as well as the performance characteristics and the analysis techniques applied to the experimental data are described.

Gas detectors for nuclear physics experiments

In this lecture I will present the operation principle and the different kinds of gas detecting systems for charged particles employed in high-energy and low-energy physics environments, with particular focus on the requirements of nuclear physics experiments with low-energy Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs). I will show in more details an example of gas detector used at the RIB in-flight facility EXOTIC, for the ion beam tracking and for time of flight measurements. Finally, I will discuss the use of an active target in nuclear physics experiments with RIBs together with some key improvements of first generation devices required for facing the challenges of more intense RIBs.

Development of a low-energy radioactive ion beam facility for the MARA separator

A low-energy radioactive ion beam facility for the production and study of nuclei produced close to the proton drip line is under development at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyv\"askyl\"a, Finland. The facility will take advantage of the mass selectivity of the recently commissioned MARA vacuum-mode mass separator. The ions selected by MARA will be stopped and thermalised in a small-volume gas cell prior to extraction and further mass separation. The gas cell design allows for resonance laser ionisation/spectroscopy both in-gas-cell and in-gas-jet. The facility will include experimental setups allowing ion counting, mass measurement and decay spectroscopy.

High intensity ion guides and purification techniques for low energy radioactive ion beams

This report gives an overview of the different devices which can be used for the purification of high intensity low energy radioactive ion beams: high resolution magnetic separators (HRS), multi-reflection time-of-flight mass separators (MR-TOF-MS) and Penning traps (PT). An overview of HRS, existing or in development, and the methods to increase the resolving power are presented. The MR-TOF-MS of ISOLTRAP and other projects having been presented during this conference, only the main characteristics of such devices are discussed. Concerning the PT, intensively used to measure masses with high precisions, we will present the PIPERADE project which aims to provide pure beams of exotic nuclei with unprecedent intensities at the future DESIR/SPIRAL2 facility.

Recent results from the TwinSol low-energy RIB facility

We report on some of the recent developments and experimental work done at the twin-solenoid low-energy radioactive-ion-beam (RIB) facility TwinSol installed at the U Notre Dame 10MV FN tandem accelerator. The TwinSol facility is a joint project of the University of Michigan (UM) and the University of Notre Dame (UND), and includes several U.S. and foreign collaborators. A number of significant experiments including RIB-induced transfer reactions, elastic scattering, resonant scattering, and fusion at energies near and well below the Coulomb barrier have been performed with this facility. Several of these as well as future work and upgrades planned will be described.

Experimental study of theβ-γandβ-nγdecay of the neutron-rich nucleus85Ga

The β-decay properties of neutron-rich 85Ga produced in proton-induced fission of 238U were studied at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Data consisted of β−γ and β−γ−γ coincidences were collected at the Low-energy Radioactive Ion Beam Spectroscopy Station after high-resolution on-line mass separation. For the first time, the excited states in the N=53 isotone 85Ge were established from β-delayed γ decay of 85Ga. The level scheme of the N=52 isotone 84Ge was improved and includes now 0+, 2+, (2)+, 4+, and (0)+ states populated in the β-delayed-neutron-γ decay of 85Ga. Advanced shell-model calculations were used to analyze experimental data on 85Ge and 84Ge.Received 12 August 2013DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.88.044330©2013 American Physical Society

The GRIFFIN spectrometer

Gamma-Ray Infrastructure For Fundamental Investigations of Nuclei (GRIFFIN) is an advanced new high-efficiency γ -ray spectrometer being developed for use in decay spectroscopy experiments with low-energy radioactive ion beams provided by TRIUMF’s Isotope Separator and Accelerator (ISAC-I) radioactive ion beam facility. GRIFFIN will be comprised of sixteen large-volume clover-type high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ -ray detectors coupled to custom digital signal processing electronics and used in conjunction with a suite of auxiliary detection systems. This article provides an overview of the GRIFFIN spectrometer and its expected performance characteristics.

Multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometry for in situ applications

Multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometers (MR-TOF-MS) have recently been installed at different low-energy radioactive ion beam facilities. They are used as isobar separators with high ion capacity and as mass spectrometers with high mass resolving power and accuracy for short-lived nuclei. Furthermore, MR-TOF-MS have a huge potential for applications in other fields, such as chemistry, biology, medicine, space science, and homeland security. The development, commissioning and results of an MR-TOF-MS is presented, which serves as proof-of-principle to show that very high mass resolving powers (∼105) can be achieved in a compact device (length ∼30cm). Based on this work, an MR-TOF-MS for in situ application has been designed. For the first time, this device combines very high mass resolving power (>105), mobility, and an atmospheric pressure inlet in one instrument. It will enable in situ measurements without sample preparation at very high mass accuracy. Envisaged applications of this mobile MR-TOF-MS are discussed.

Low-energy radioactive ion beam production of 22Mg

The 22Mg nucleus plays an important role in nuclear astrophysics, specially in the 22Mg(α,p)25Al and proton capture 22Mg(p,γ)23Al reactions. It is believed that 22Mg is a waiting point in the αp-process of nucleosynthesis in novae. We proposed a direct measurement of the 22Mg+α resonance reaction in inverse kinematics using a radioactive ion (RI) beam. A 22Mg beam of 3.73MeV/u was produced at CRIB (Center for Nuclear Study (CNS) low-energy RI Beam) facility of the University of Tokyo located at RIKEN (Japan) in 2011. In this paper we present the results about the production of the 22Mg beam used for the direct measurement of the scattering reaction 22Mg(α,α)22Mg, and the stellar reaction 22Mg(α,p)25Al in the energy region concerning an astrophysical temperature of T9=1–3GK.

On-line commissioning of the HRIBF resonant ionization laser ion source

A highly selective resonant ionization laser ion source has been successfully commissioned at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, for the production of pure beams of short-lived nuclei for spectroscopic studies. The laser ion source provided beams of neutron-rich Ga isotopes to the Low-energy Radioactive Ion Beam Spectroscopy Station for beta decay measurements. The radioactive Ga isotopes were produced by 50-MeV proton induced fission of 238U and ionized by laser radiation using a two-step resonant ionization scheme. Isobarically pure 83Ga, 85Ga, and 86Ga beams were delivered to the experiment at approximate rates of 12,000ions/s, 100ions/s, and 3ions/s, respectively.

β-decay studies of the transitional nucleusCu75and the structure ofZn75

The $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of $^{75}\mathrm{Cu}$ [${t}_{1/2}=1.222(8)$s] to levels in $^{75}\mathrm{Zn}$ was studied at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ data were collected at the Low-energy Radioactive Ion Beam Spectroscopy Station using the high-resolution isobar separator to obtain a purified $^{75}\mathrm{Cu}$ beam with a rate of over 2000 ions per second. The excited states in $^{75}\mathrm{Zn}$ have been identified for the first time. A total of 120 $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transitions were placed in a level scheme containing 59 levels including two states above the neutron separation energy and a previously unknown $1/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ isomeric state at 127 keV. Spins and parities of several states were deduced and interpreted based on the observed $\ensuremath{\beta}$ feeding and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-decay pattern.