A superconducting-solenoid isotope spectrometer for production of neutron-rich nuclei

Physics – Nuclear Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

(136)Xe + (Nat)C, E/A = 30 Mev/U

Scientific paper

This dissertation in experimental nuclear physics describes the production of exotic, neutron-rich isotopes towards to the limits of particle stability-the ``neutron-dripline''-in the region of the periodic table from neon to zinc (10 <= Z <= 30). Isotopes up to and beyond the most neutron-rich known at the time were produced (e.g. C8029u, N7628i, M68 27g and C6626r ). The reaction studied was a mass-asymmetric collision: 136Xe +24 on a thick (114 mg/cm2) natC target at an energy of E/A = 30 MeV/u, conducted at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) in E. Lansing, MI, USA. A novel superconducting-solenoid spectrometer, ``BigSol Isotope Spectrometer,'' was built to collect, separate and identify the neutron-rich isotopes. This device is based on the University of Michigan's seven-Tesla superconducting magnet, ``BigSol.'' The device features a large-bore (40 cm), long time-of- flight path length (6.31 m), and position-sensitive detectors at the entrance and focal-plane. Reaction- product fragments were collected over an angular range from 0.7° <= θlab <= 6° with respect to the primary- beam direction. Particle-by-particle identification of isotopes was achieved through software limitation of magnetic dispersion (Δ(Bρ)/Bρ ~ 1.6%) of the fragments analyzed, together with high- resolution silicon focal-plane detectors (ΔE/E < 10-3 ), and by time-of-flight measurements taken between the entrance parallel-plate gas avalanche counter (2D-PPAC) and a silicon focal-plane Δ E detector. Isotopic separation was achieved for some 200 distinct isotopes collected at magnetic rigidities of Bρ = 1.36 and 1.76 T-m, despite the large distribution of the isotopes' ionic charge states. Novel data reduction techniques which avoid placing any restrictive cuts whatsoever on the data were developed. Solenoid-specific methods of achieving reliable isotopic identifications using calibration beams of isotopes which were mass-to-charge analogs of the cyclotron's primary beam were developed. This device and type of reaction provide novel means for mapping the region of the table of isotopes toward the neutron dripline, beyond the current experimental limit at neon (Z = 10), and for producing new radioactive nuclear beams (RNBs) for secondary experiments. This would provides stringent tests of nuclear mass-model predictions which extrapolate from knowledge derived mainly from stable isotopes. In addition one can anticipate the appearance of new magic- number shell closings, shell quenchings, new regions of nuclear deformity and isomerism, diffuse and extended neutron `halos' and other exotic structures in the vicinity of the neutron dripline. This information is important for understanding the astrophysical `r-process' of nucleosynthesis of the heavy elements in supernovae.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

A superconducting-solenoid isotope spectrometer for production of neutron-rich nuclei does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A superconducting-solenoid isotope spectrometer for production of neutron-rich nuclei, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A superconducting-solenoid isotope spectrometer for production of neutron-rich nuclei will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-764595

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.