Search

Nuclear charge radii are sensitive probes of different aspects of the nucleon-nucleon interaction and the bulk properties of nuclear matter; thus, they provide a stringent test and challenge for nuclear theory. The calcium region has been of particular interest, as experimental evidence has suggested a new magic number at $N = 32$ [1-3], while the unexpectedly large increases in the charge radii [4,5] open new questions about the evolution of nuclear size in neutron-rich systems. By combining the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy method with $\beta$-decay detection, we were able to extend the charge radii measurement of potassium ($Z =19$) isotopes up to the exotic $^{52}$K ($t_{1/2}$ = 110 ms), produced in minute quantities. Our work provides the first charge radii measurement beyond $N = 32$ in the region, revealing no signature of the magic character at this neutron number. The results are interpreted with two state-of-the-art nuclear theories. For the first time, a long sequence of isotopes could be calculated with coupled-cluster calculations based on newly developed nuclear interactions. The strong increase in the charge radii beyond $N = 28$ is not well captured by these calculations, but is well reproduced by Fayans nuclear density functional theory, which, however, overestimates the odd-even staggering effect. These findings highlight our limited understanding on the nuclear size of neutron-rich systems, and expose pressing problems that are present in some of the best current models of nuclear theory., Comment: submitted version; revision accepted in Nature Physics

In spite of the high-density and strongly correlated nature of the atomic nucleus, experimental and theoretical evidence suggests that around particular 'magic' numbers of nucleons, nuclear properties are governed by a single unpaired nucleon1,2. A microscopic understanding of the extent of this behaviour and its evolution in neutron-rich nuclei remains an open question in nuclear physics3-5. The indium isotopes are considered a textbook example of this phenomenon6, in which the constancy of their electromagnetic properties indicated that a single unpaired proton hole can provide the identity of a complex many-nucleon system6,7. Here we present precision laser spectroscopy measurements performed to investigate the validity of this simple single-particle picture. Observation of an abrupt change in the dipole moment at N = 82 indicates that, whereas the single-particle picture indeed dominates at neutron magic number N = 82 (refs. 2,8), it does not for previously studied isotopes. To investigate the microscopic origin of these observations, our work provides a combined effort with developments in two complementary nuclear many-body methods: ab initio valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group and density functional theory (DFT). We find that the inclusion of time-symmetry-breaking mean fields is essential for a correct description of nuclear magnetic properties, which were previously poorly constrained. These experimental and theoretical findings are key to understanding how seemingly simple single-particle phenomena naturally emerge from complex interactions among protons and neutrons. ispartof: NATURE vol:607 issue:7918 pages:260-+ ispartof: location:England status: published

The changes in the mean-square charge radius (relative to 209Bi), magnetic dipole, and electric quadrupole moments of 187,188,189,191Bi were measured using the in-source resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique at ISOLDE (CERN). A large staggering in radii was found in 187,188,189Big, manifested by a sharp radius increase for the ground state of 188Bi relative to the neighboring 187,189Big. A large isomer shift was also observed for 188Bim. Both effects happen at the same neutron number, N=105, where the shape staggering and a similar isomer shift were observed in the mercury isotopes. Experimental results are reproduced by mean-field calculations where the ground or isomeric states were identified by the blocked quasiparticle configuration compatible with the observed spin, parity, and magnetic moment. ispartof: Physical Review Letters vol:127 issue:9 ispartof: location:United States status: published

© 2019 The CRIS experiment at CERN-ISOLDE is a dedicated laser spectroscopy setup for high-resolution hyperfine structure measurements of nuclear observables of exotic isotopes. Between 2015 and 2018 developments have been made to improve the background suppression, laser-atom overlap and automation of the beamline. Furthermore, a new ion source setup has been developed for offline studies. Here we present the latest technical developments and future perspectives for the experiment. ispartof: Nuclear Instruments & Methods In Physics Research Section B-Beam Interactions With Materials And Atoms vol:463 pages:384-389 ispartof: location:SWITZERLAND, CERN, Geneva status: published

© 2019 This paper presents an overview of recent resonance ionization schemes used at the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) setup located at ISOLDE, CERN. The developments needed to reach high spectral resolution and efficiency will be discussed. Besides laser ionization efficiency and high resolving power, experiments on rare isotopes also require low-background conditions. Ongoing developments that aim to deal with beam-related sources of background are presented. ispartof: Nuclear Instruments & Methods In Physics Research Section B-Beam Interactions With Materials And Atoms vol:463 pages:398-402 ispartof: location:SWITZERLAND, CERN, Geneva status: published

Magnetic and quadrupole moments of the $7/{2}^{+}$ ground state in $^{133}\mathrm{Sb}$ and the $({7}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ isomer in $^{134}\mathrm{Sb}$ have been measured by collinear laser spectroscopy to investigate the single-particle behavior above the doubly magic nucleus $^{132}\mathrm{Sn}$. The comparison of experimental data of the $7/{2}^{+}$ states in $^{133}\mathrm{Sb}$ and neighboring $N=82$ isotones to shell-model calculations reveals the sensitivity of magnetic moments to the splitting of the spin-orbit partners $\ensuremath{\pi}0{g}_{9/2}$ and $\ensuremath{\pi}0{g}_{7/2}$ across the proton shell closure at $Z=50$. In contrast, quadrupole moments of the $N=82$ isotones are insensitive to cross-shell excitations, but require the full proton model space from $Z=50\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{4.pt}{0ex}}82$ for their accurate description. In fact, the linear trend of the quadrupole moment follows approximately the expectation of the seniority scheme when filling the $\ensuremath{\pi}0{g}_{7/2}$ orbital. As far as the isomer in $^{134}\mathrm{Sb}$ is concerned, its electromagnetic moments can be perfectly described by the additivity rule employing the moments of $^{133}\mathrm{Sb}$ and $^{133}\mathrm{Sn}$, respectively. These findings agree with shell-model calculations and thus confirm the weak coupling between the valence proton and neutron in $^{134}\mathrm{Sb}$.

Hyperfine spectra of $^\text{27-32}$Al ($Z=13$) have been measured at the ISOLDE-CERN facility via collinear laser spectroscopy using the $3s^23p\ ^2\text{P}^\text{o} _{3/2}\rightarrow 3s^24s\ ^2\text{S}_{1/2}$ atomic transition. For the first time, mean-square charge radii of radioactive aluminum isotopes have been determined alongside the previously unknown magnetic dipole moment of $^{29}$Al and electric quadrupole moments of $^{29,30}$Al. A potentially reduced charge radius at $N=19$ may suggest an effect of the $N=20$ shell closure, which is visible in the Al chain, contrary to other isotopic chains in the $sd$ shell. The experimental results are compared to theoretical calculations in the framework of the valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group using multiple sets of two and three-nucleon forces from chiral effective field theory. While the trend of experimental magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments is well reproduced, the absolute values are underestimated by theory, consistent with earlier studies. Moreover, both the scale and trend of the charge radii appear to be very sensitive to the chosen interaction.

Molecules containing superheavy atoms can be artificially created to serve as sensitive probes for study of symmetry-violating phenomena. Here, we provide a detailed theoretical study for diatomic molecules containing the superheavy lawrencium nuclei. The sensitivity to time-reversal violating properties was studied for different neutral and ionic molecules. The effective electric fields in these systems were found to be about 3-4 times larger than other known molecules on which electron electric dipole moment experiments are being performed. Similarly, these superheavy molecules exhibit an enhancement of more than 5 times for parity- and time-reversal-violating scalar-pseudoscalar nucleus-electron interactions. We also briefly comment on some experimental aspects by discussing the production of these systems., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables

The occupancies and vacancies of the valence neutron orbitals across the stable tin isotopic chain from $112\leq A\leq 124$ have been determined. These were inferred from the cross sections of neutron-adding and -removing reactions. In each case, the reactions were chosen to have good angular-momentum matching for transfer to the low- and high-$\ell$ orbitals present in this valence space. These new data are compared to older systematic studies. The effective single-neutron energies are determined by combining information from energy centroids determined from the adding and removing reactions. Two of the five orbitals are nearly degenerate, below $N=64$, and approximately two MeV more bound than the other three, which are also degenerate., Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures

Isotope shifts of $^{223-226,228}$Ra$^{19}$F were measured for different vibrational levels in the electronic transition $A^{2}{}{\Pi}_{1/2}\leftarrow X^{2}{}{\Sigma}^{+}$. The observed isotope shifts demonstrate the particularly high sensitivity of radium monofluoride to nuclear size effects, offering a stringent test of models describing the electronic density within the radium nucleus. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental observations. These results highlight some of the unique opportunities that short-lived molecules could offer in nuclear structure and in fundamental symmetry studies., Comment: The paper was accepted for publication as a Letter in Physical Review Letters

Understanding the evolution of the nuclear charge radius is one of the long-standing challenges for nuclear theory. Recently, density functional theory calculations utilizing Fayans functionals have successfully reproduced the charge radii of a variety of exotic isotopes. However, difficulties in the isotope production have hindered testing these models in the immediate region of the nuclear chart below the heaviest self-conjugate doubly-magic nucleus 100Sn, where the near-equal number of protons (Z) and neutrons (N) lead to enhanced neutron-proton pairing. Here, we present an optical excursion into this region by crossing the N = 50 magic neutron number in the silver isotopic chain with the measurement of the charge radius of 96Ag (N = 49). The results provide a challenge for nuclear theory: calculations are unable to reproduce the pronounced discontinuity in the charge radii as one moves below N = 50. The technical advancements in this work open the N = Z region below 100Sn for further optical studies, which will lead to more comprehensive input for nuclear theory development., Laser spectroscopic measurements of isotopes near the doubly-magic 100-Sn are challenging due to difficulties in their production. Here the authors measure the ground state charge radius of the proton-rich 96-Ag isotope and find a discontinuity in the nuclear size when crossing the neutron number N equal to 50.

Collinear laser spectroscopy measurements were performed on $^{69,71,73}$Ge isotopes ($Z = 32$) at ISOLDE-CERN. The hyperfine structure of the $4s^2 4p^2 \, ^3P_1 \rightarrow 4s^2 4p 5s \, ^3P_1^o$ transition of the germanium atom was probed with laser light of 269 nm, produced by combining the frequency-mixing and frequency-doubling techniques. The hyperfine fields for both atomic levels were calculated using state-of-the-art atomic relativistic Fock-space coupled-cluster calculations. A new $^{73}$Ge quadrupole moment was determined from these calculations and previously measured precision hyperfine parameters, yielding $Q_{\rm s}$ = $-$0.198(4) b, in excellent agreement with the literature value from molecular calculations. The moments of $^{69}$Ge have been revised: $\mu$ = +0.920(5) $\mu_{N}$ and $Q_{\rm s}$= +0.114(8) b, and those of $^{71}$Ge have been confirmed. The experimental moments around $N = 40$ are interpreted with large-scale shell-model calculations using the JUN45 interaction, revealing rather mixed wave function configurations, although their $g$-factors are lying close to the effective single-particle values. Through a comparison with neighboring isotones, the structural change from the single-particle nature of nickel to deformation in germanium is further investigated around $N = 40$.

This paper presents high-precision spectroscopic measurements of atomic tin using five different resonance-ionization schemes performed with the collinear resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique. Isotope shifts were measured for the stable tin isotopes from the $5{s}^{2}5{p}^{2}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{3}{P}_{0,1,2}$ and ${}^{1}{S}_{0}$ to the $5{s}^{2}5p6s\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}^{1}{P}_{1},^{3}{P}_{1,2}$ and $5{s}^{2}5p7s{\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}}^{1}{P}_{1}$ atomic levels. The magnetic dipole hyperfine constants ${A}_{\mathrm{hf}}$ have been extracted for six atomic levels with electron angular momentum $Jg0$ from the hyperfine structures of nuclear spin $I=1/2$ tin isotopes, $^{115,117,119}\mathrm{Sn}$. State-of-the-art atomic calculations using a relativistic Fock-space coupled-cluster method and the configuration interaction approach combined with many-body perturbation theory allow accurate and reliable calculations of both field- and mass-shift factors for the studied transitions, in addition to the hyperfine magnetic fields and electric-field gradients of the atomic levels. The excellent agreement with the experimental results highlights the accuracy of modern atomic theory and establishes an important foundation for precision measurements of nuclear moments and charge radii of the most exotic isotopes of tin.

This work reports on the application of a novel electric field-ionization setup for high-resolution laser spectroscopy measurements on bunched fast atomic beams in a collinear geometry. In combination with multi-step resonant excitation to Rydberg states using pulsed lasers, the field ionization technique demonstrates increased sensitivity for isotope separation and measurement of atomic parameters over previous non-resonant laser ionization methods. The setup was tested at the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy experiment at ISOLDE-CERN to perform high-resolution measurements of transitions in the indium atom from the $$\text {5s}^2\text {5d}\,^2\text {D}_{5/2}$$5s25d2D5/2 and $$\text {5s}^2\text {5d}\,^2\text {D}_{3/2}$$5s25d2D3/2 states to $$\text {5s}^2n$$5s2np $$^2$$2P and $$\text {5s}^2n\text {f}\,^2$$5s2nf2F Rydberg states, up to a principal quantum number of $$n=72$$n=72. The extracted Rydberg level energies were used to re-evaluate the ionization potential of the indium atom to be $$46,670.107(4)\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$46,670.107(4)cm-1. The nuclear magnetic dipole and nuclear electric quadrupole hyperfine structure constants and level isotope shifts of the $$\text {5s}^2\text {5d}\,^2\text {D}_{5/2}$$5s25d2D5/2 and $$\text {5s}^2\text {5d}\,^2\text {D}_{3/2}$$5s25d2D3/2 states were determined for $$^{113,115}$$113,115In. The results are compared to calculations using relativistic coupled-cluster theory. A good agreement is found with the ionization potential and isotope shifts, while disagreement of hyperfine structure constants indicates an increased importance of electron correlations in these excited atomic states. With the aim of further increasing the detection sensitivity for measurements on exotic isotopes, a systematic study of the field-ionization arrangement implemented in the work was performed at the same time and an improved design was simulated and is presented. The improved design offers increased background suppression independent of the distance from field ionization to ion detection.

Molecular spectroscopy offers opportunities for the exploration of the fundamental laws of nature and the search for new particle physics beyond the standard model1–4. Radioactive molecules—in which one or more of the atoms possesses a radioactive nucleus—can contain heavy and deformed nuclei, offering high sensitivity for investigating parity- and time-reversal-violation effects5,6. Radium monofluoride, RaF, is of particular interest because it is predicted to have an electronic structure appropriate for laser cooling6, thus paving the way for its use in high-precision spectroscopic studies. Furthermore, the effects of symmetry-violating nuclear moments are strongly enhanced5,7–9 in molecules containing octupole-deformed radium isotopes10,11. However, the study of RaF has been impeded by the lack of stable isotopes of radium. Here we present an experimental approach to studying short-lived radioactive molecules, which allows us to measure molecules with lifetimes of just tens of milliseconds. Energetically low-lying electronic states were measured for different isotopically pure RaF molecules using collinear resonance ionisation at the ISOLDE ion-beam facility at CERN. Our results provide evidence of the existence of a suitable laser-cooling scheme for these molecules and represent a key step towards high-precision studies in these systems. Our findings will enable further studies of short-lived radioactive molecules for fundamental physics research., Measurements of low-energy electronic states of radium monofluoride validate predictions of the use of this short-lived radioactive molecule in exploring fundamental physics and provide evidence of its suitability for laser cooling.

We present the first laser spectroscopic measurement of the neutron-rich nucleus ^{68}Ni at the N=40 subshell closure and extract its nuclear charge radius. Since this is the only short-lived isotope for which the dipole polarizability α_{D} has been measured, the combination of these observables provides a benchmark for nuclear structure theory. We compare them to novel coupled-cluster calculations based on different chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions, for which a strong correlation between the charge radius and dipole polarizability is observed, similar to the stable nucleus ^{48}Ca. Three-particle-three-hole correlations in coupled-cluster theory substantially improve the description of the experimental data, which allows to constrain the neutron radius and neutron skin of ^{68}Ni.

Physics letters / B 779, 324 - 330 (2018). doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2018.02.024, Published by North-Holland Publ., Amsterdam

Isotopes with an odd number of neutrons are usually slightly smaller in size than their even-neutron neighbours. In charge radii of short-lived copper isotopes, a reduction of this effect is observed when the neutron number approaches fifty. The mesoscopic nature of the atomic nucleus gives rise to a wide array of macroscopic and microscopic phenomena. The size of the nucleus is a window into this duality: while the charge radii globally scale as $A^{1/3}$, their evolution across isotopic chains reveals unanticipated structural phenomena [1-3]. The most ubiquitous of these is perhaps the Odd-Even Staggering (OES) [4]: isotopes with an odd number of neutrons are usually smaller in size than the trend of their even-neutron neighbours suggests. This OES effect varies with the number of protons and neutrons and poses a significant challenge for nuclear theory [5-7]. Here, we examine this problem with new measurements of the charge radii of short-lived copper isotopes up to the very exotic $^{78}$Cu $(Z=29, N=49)$, produced at only 20 ions/s, using the highly-sensitive Collinear Resonance Ionisation Spectroscopy (CRIS) method at ISOLDE-CERN. Due to the presence of a single proton outside of the closed Z=28 shell, these measurements provide crucial insights into the single-particle proton structure and how this affects the charge radii. We observe an unexpected reduction in the OES for isotopes approaching the $N=50$ shell gap. To describe the data, we applied models based on nuclear Density Functional Theory [2,8] (DFT) and ab-initio Valence-Space In-Medium Similarity Renormalization Group (VS-IMSRG) theory [9,10]. Through these comparisons, we demonstrate a relation between the global behavior of charge radii and the saturation density of nuclear matter, and show that the local charge radii variations, which reflect the many-body polarization effects due to the odd neutron, naturally emerge from the VS-IMSRG calculations.

Radium compounds have attracted recently considerable attention due to both development of experimental techniques for high-precision laser spectroscopy of molecules with short-lived nuclei and amenability of certain radium compounds for direct cooling with lasers. Currently, radium monofluoride (RaF) is one of the most studied molecules among the radium compounds, both theoretically and recently also experimentally. Complementary studies of further diatomic radium derivatives are highly desired to assess the influence of chemical substitution on diverse molecular parameters, especially on those connected with laser cooling, such as vibronic transition probabilities, and those related to violations of fundamental symmetries. In this article high-precision \emph{ab initio} studies of electronic and vibronic levels of diatomic radium monochloride (RaCl) are presented. Recently developed approaches for treating electronic correlation with Fock-space coupled cluster methods are applied for this purpose. Theoretical results are compared to an early experimental investigation by Lagerqvist and used to partially reassign the experimentally observed transitions and molecular electronic levels of RaCl. Effective constants of $\mathcal{P}$-odd hyperfine interaction $W_{\rm{a}}$ and $\mathcal{P,T}$-odd scalar-pseudoscalar nucleus-electron interaction $W_{\rm{s}}$ in the ground electronic state of RaCl are estimated within the framework of a quasirelativistic Zeroth-Order Regular Approximation approach and compared to parameters in RaF and RaOH., Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, 5 tables

Strongly correlated many-body systems often display the emergence of simple patterns and regular behaviour of their global properties. Phenomena such as clusterization, collective motion and appearance of shell structures are commonly observed across different size, time, and energy scales in our universe. Although at the microscopic level their individual parts are described by complex interactions, the collective behaviour of these systems can exhibit strikingly regular patterns. This contribution provides an overview of the experimental signatures that are commonly used to identify the emergence of shell structures and collective phenomena in distinct physical systems. Examples in macroscopic systems are presented alongside features observed in atomic nuclei. The discussion is focused on the experimental trends observed for exotic nuclei in the vicinity of nuclear closed-shells, and the new challenges that recent experiments have posed in our understanding of emergent phenomena in nuclei., Comment: Invited contribution prepared for the special issue of "The tower of effective (field) theories and the emergence of nuclear phenomena

Measurements of atomic transitions in different isotopes offer key information on the nuclear charge radius. The anticipated high-precision experimental techniques, augmented by atomic calculations, will soon enable extraction of the higher order radial moments of the charge density distribution. To assess the value of such measurements for nuclear structure research, we study the information content of the fourth radial moment ⟨r^{4}⟩ by means of nuclear density functional theory and a multiple correlation analysis. We show that ⟨r^{4}⟩ can be directly related to the surface thickness of nuclear density, a fundamental property of the atomic nucleus that is difficult to obtain for radioactive systems. Precise knowledge of these radial moments is essential to establish reliable constraints on the existence of new forces from precision isotope shift measurements., US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics under Awards No. DE-SC0013365 (Michigan State University) and No. DE-SC0018083 (NU-CLEI SciDAC-4 Collaboration))

Nuclear charge radii of 62−80Zn have been determined using collinear laser spectroscopy of bunched ion beams at CERN-ISOLDE. The subtle variations of observed charge radii, both within one isotope and along the full range of neutron numbers, are found to be well described in terms of the proton excitations across the Z=28 shell gap, as predicted by large-scale shell model calculations. It comprehensively explains the changes in isomer-to-ground state mean square charge radii of 69−79Zn, the inversion of the odd-even staggering around N=40 and the odd-even staggering systematics of the Zn charge radii. With two protons above Z=28, the observed charge radii of the Zn isotopic chain show a cumulative effect of different aspects of nuclear structure including single particle structure, shell closure, correlations and deformations near the proposed doubly magic nuclei, 68Ni and 78Ni., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Physical review letters 122(19), 192502 (2019). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.192502, Published by APS, College Park, Md.

Physics letters / B 760, 387 - 392 (2016). doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2016.07.016, Published by North-Holland Publ., Amsterdam

The VITO (Versatile Ion-polarized Techniques Online) project is a new experimental setup at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. VITO is a dedicated beam line for producing laser-induced spin-polarized beams of both, atoms and ions, and it has been commissioned in response to the continuously growing demand for the use of spin-polarized beams. The new VITO beam line is a modification of the formerly existing ultra-high vacuum beam line, connecting ASPIC (Apparatus for Surface Physics and Interfaces at CERN), and it has been under construction since the beginning of 2014. Once fully commissioned, VITO will open up numerous possibilities for carrying out multidisciplinary experiments in the areas of nuclear and solid state physics, fundamental interaction physics and biophysics. In its final stage the VITO beam line will provide three fully independent experimental stations: UHV chamber for material science applications, a P-asymmetry station where highly-polarized ions will be available, and a central open-end station suitable for travelling experiments. The VITO beam line will operate in two different modes providing either beams of spin-polarized atoms or ions, or non-polarized ion beams to all three end stations operating from 10(-10) mbar to 50 mbar. Recent experimental campaigns with stable and radioactive beams have allowed for testing VITO's constituent parts and have demonstrated 96% of ion beam transmission to the collection chamber installed on the central station. The first experimental results obtained with on-line Perturbed Angular Correlation (PAC) spectroscopy using Cu-68m ion-beams will be briefly discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A gas-filled linear Paul trap for the Collinear Resonance Ionisation Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN is currently under development. The trap is designed to accept beam from both ISOLDE target stations and the CRIS stable ion source. The motivation for the project along with the current design, simulations and future plans, will be outlined. peerReviewed

A beamline dedicated to the production of laser-polarized radioactive beams has been constructed at ISOLDE, CERN. We present here different simulations leading to the design and construction of it, as well as technical details of the full setup and examples of the achieved polarizations for several radioisotopes. Beamline simulations show a good transmission through the entire line, in agreement with observations. Simulations of the induced nuclear spin-polarization as a function of atom–laser interaction length are presented for 26,28 Na, and for 35 Ar, which is studied in this work. Adiabatic spin rotation calculations of the spin-polarized ensemble of atoms, and how this influences the observed nuclear ensemble polarization, are also performed for the same nuclei. For 35 Ar, we show that multiple-frequency pumping enhances the ensemble polarization by a factor 1.85, in agreement with predictions from a rate equations model. A beamline dedicated to the production of laser-polarized radioactive beams has been constructed at ISOLDE, CERN. We present here different simulations leading to the design and construction of the setup, as well as technical details of the full setup and examples of the achieved polarizations for several radioisotopes. Beamline simulations show a good transmission through the entire line, in agreement with observations. Simulations of the induced nuclear spin-polarization as a function of atom-laser interaction length are presented for $^{26,28}$Na, [1] and for $^{35}$Ar, which is studied in this work. Adiabatic spin rotation of the spin-polarized ensemble of atoms, and how this influences the observed nuclear ensemble polarization, are also performed for the same nuclei. For $^{35}$Ar, we show that multiple-frequency pumping enhances the ensemble polarization by a factor 1.85, in agreement with predictions from a rate equations model. [1] J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys./1744084005

The neutron-rich radium isotopes, 222−233 Ra, were measured with Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) at the ISOLDE facility, CERN. The hyperfine structure of the 7s2 1S0 → 7s7p 3P1 transition was probed, allowing measurement of the magnetic moments, quadrupole moments, and changes in mean-square charge radii. These results are compared to existing literature values, and the new moments and change in mean-square charge radii of 231Ra are presented. Low-resolution laser spectroscopy of the very neutron-rich 233Ra has allowed the isotope shift and relative charge radius to be determined for the first time. ispartof: Physical Review C vol:97 issue:2 status: published

The hyperfine structures of the odd-even 51−63Mnatoms (N=26 −38) were measured using bunched beam collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE, CERN. The extracted spins and magnetic dipole moments have been compared to large-scale shell-model calculations using different model spaces and effective interactions. In the case of 61,63Mn, the results show the increasing importance of neutron excitations across the N=40subshell closure, and of proton excitations across the Z=28shell gap. These measurements provide the first direct proof that proton and neutron excitations across shell gaps are playing an important role in the ground state wave functions of the neutron-rich Mn isotopes. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Evidence for Increased neutron and proton excitations between 51−63Mn journaltitle: Physics Letters B articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2015.09.012 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. ispartof: Physics Letters B vol:750 pages:176-180 status: published

Magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole moments for $^{65,67,69,75,79\text{--}82}\mathrm{Ga}$ are reported using the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) technique at the ISOLDE facility, CERN. The moments of $^{65}\mathrm{Ga}$ have been measured for the first time: $\ensuremath{\mu}=+1.775(3)\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{N}}$ and ${Q}_{s}=+21.0(15)\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}e\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{2}$. These results are compared to shell-model calculations using the GXPF1 and JUN45 interactions and the trends of the moments approaching the region of the doubly magic $^{56}\mathrm{Ni}$ are discussed. Additionally, new values for the change in mean-square charge radii for $^{65}\mathrm{Ga}$ and $^{67}\mathrm{Ga}$ allow investigation into the odd-even staggering in the region below $N=40$.

Nuclear spins and precise values of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments of the ground-states of neutron-rich $^{76-78}$Cu isotopes were measured using the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN. The nuclear moments of the less exotic $^{73,75}$Cu isotopes were re-measured with similar precision, yielding values that are consistent with earlier measurements. The moments of the odd-odd isotopes, and $^{78}_{29}$Cu ($N=49$) in particular, are used to investigate excitations of the assumed doubly-magic $^{78}$Ni core through comparisons with large-scale shell-model calculations. Despite the narrowing of the $Z=28$ shell gap between $N\sim45$ and $N=50$, the magicity of $Z=28$ and $N=50$ is restored towards $^{78}$Ni. This is due to weakened dynamical correlations, as clearly probed by the present moment measurements.

Collinear laser spectroscopy was performed on Zn (Z=30) isotopes at ISOLDE, CERN. The study of hyperfine spectra of nuclei across the Zn isotopic chain, N=33–49, allowed the measurement of nuclear spins for the ground and isomeric states in odd-A neutron-rich nuclei up to N=50. Exactly one long-lived (&, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

An experimental setup for sensitive high-resolution measurements of hyperfine structure spectra of exotic calcium isotopes has been developed and commissioned at the COLLAPS beam line at ISOLDE, CERN. The technique is based on the radioactive detection of decaying isotopes after optical pumping and state selective neutralization (ROC) (Vermeeren et al 1992 Phys. Rev. Lett. 68 1679). The improvements and developments necessary to extend the applicability of the experimental technique to calcium isotopes produced at rates as low as few ions s–1 are discussed. Numerical calculations of laser-ion interaction and ion-beam simulations were explored to obtain the optimum performance of the experimental setup. Among the implemented features are a multi-step optical pumping region for sensitive measurements of isotopes with hyperfine splitting, a high-voltage platform for adequate control of low-energy ion beams and simultaneous β-detection of neutralized and remaining ions. journal_title: Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics article_type: paper article_title: Development of a sensitive setup for laser spectroscopy studies of very exotic calcium isotopes copyright_information: © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd date_received: 2016-11-15 date_accepted: 2017-01-18 date_epub: 2017-02-22 ispartof: Journal of Physics G, Nuclear and Particle Physics vol:44 issue:4 status: published

The hyperfine spectra of $^{51,53-64}$Mn were measured in two experimental runs using collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE, CERN. Laser spectroscopy was performed on the atomic $3d^5\ 4s^2\ ^{6}\text{S}_{5/2}\rightarrow 3d^5\ 4s4p\ ^{6}\text{P}_{3/2}$ and ionic $3d^5\ 4s\ ^{5}\text{S}_2 \rightarrow 3d^5\ 4p\ ^{5}\text{P}_3$ transitions, yielding two sets of isotope shifts. The mass and field shift factors for both transitions have been calculated in the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock framework and were combined with a King plot analysis in order to obtain a consistent set of mean-square charge radii which, together with earlier work on neutron-deficient Mn, allow the study of nuclear structure changes from $N=25$ across $N=28$ up to $N=39$. A clear development of deformation is observed towards $N=40$, confirming the conclusions of the nuclear moments studies. From a Monte Carlo Shell Model study of the shape in the Mn isotopic chain, it is suggested that the observed development of deformation is not only due to an increase in static prolate deformation but also due to shape fluctuations and triaxiality. The changes in mean-square charge radii are well reproduced using the Duflo-Zuker formula except in the case of large deformation., Comment: 9 figures, submitted to PRC

Two different experiments observe nuclei with excited nuclear states that differ in shape from their ground states, so called shape coexistence. These nuclei lie close to the neutron-rich doubly-magic ${}^{78}$Ni region of the nuclear chart.

High-resolution laser spectroscopy was performed on $^{206}\mathrm{Fr}$ with the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN-ISOLDE. The hyperfine structure and isotope shift of the ground, first isomeric and second isomeric states were measured. The hyperfine components were unambiguously assigned to each nuclear state by means of laser-assisted nuclear decay spectroscopy. The branching ratios in the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay of $^{206}\mathrm{Fr}$ and $^{202}\mathrm{At}$ were also measured for the first time with isomerically purified beams. The extracted hindrance factors allow determination of the spin of the ground, first isomeric, and second isomeric states in $^{202}\mathrm{At}$ and $^{198}\mathrm{Bi}$.

Despite being a complex many-body system, the atomic nucleus exhibits simple structures for certain "magic" numbers of protons and neutrons. The calcium chain in particular is both unique and puzzling: evidence of doubly-magic features are known in 40,48Ca, and recently suggested in two radioactive isotopes, 52,54Ca. Although many properties of experimentally known Ca isotopes have been successfully described by nuclear theory, it is still a challenge to predict their charge radii evolution. Here we present the first measurements of the charge radii of 49,51,52Ca, obtained from laser spectroscopy experiments at ISOLDE, CERN. The experimental results are complemented by state-of-the-art theoretical calculations. The large and unexpected increase of the size of the neutron-rich calcium isotopes beyond N = 28 challenges the doubly-magic nature of 52Ca and opens new intriguing questions on the evolution of nuclear sizes away from stability, which are of importance for our understanding of neutron-rich atomic nuclei., Comment: Submitted version. See original publication (doi:10.1038/nphys3645) for final version

The odd-odd $^{54,56,58,60,62,64}\mathrm{Mn}$ isotopes ($Z=25$) were studied using bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE, CERN. From the measured hyperfine spectra the spins and magnetic moments of Mn isotopes up to $N=39$ were extracted. The previous tentative ground state spin assignments of $^{58,60,62,64}\mathrm{Mn}$ are now firmly determined to be $I=1$ along with an $I=4$ assignment for the isomeric states in $^{58,60,62}\mathrm{Mn}$. The $I=1$ magnetic moments show a decreasing trend with increasing neutron number while the $I=4$ moments remain quite constant between $N=33$ and $N=37$. The results are compared to large-scale shell-model calculations using the GXPF1A and LNPS effective interactions. The excellent agreement of the ground state moments with the predictions from the LNPS calculations illustrates the need for an increasing amount of proton excitations across $Z=28$ and neutron excitations across $N=40$ in the ground state wave functions from $N=37$ onwards.

New technical developments have led to a 2 orders of magnitude improvement of the resolution of the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN, without sacrificing the high efficiency of the CRIS technique. Experimental linewidths of 20(1) MHz were obtained on radioactive beams of francium, allowing us for the first time to determine the electric quadrupole moment of the short lived [t1/2=22.0(5) ms]219Fr Qs=−1.21(2) eb, which would not have been possible without the advantages offered by the new method. This method relies on a continuous-wave laser and an external Pockels cell to produce narrow-band light pulses, required to reach the high resolution in two-step resonance ionization. Exotic nuclei produced at rates of a few hundred ions/s can now be studied with high resolution, allowing detailed studies of the anchor points for nuclear theories. ispartof: Physical Review Letters vol:115 issue:13 pages:1-6 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAM, Background: The neutron-rich calcium isotopes have gained particular interest as evidence of closed-shell structures has recently been found in two exotic nuclei, at N=32 and N=34. Additionally, the study of such neutron-rich systems has revealed new aspects of nuclear forces, in particular regarding the role of three-nucleon forces. Purpose: We study the electromagnetic properties of Ca isotopes around the neutron number N=32. Methods: High-resolution bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy was used to measure the optical hyperfine spectra of the Ca43-51 isotopes. Results: The ground-state magnetic moments of Ca49,51 and quadrupole moments of Ca47,49,51 were measured for the first time, and the Ca51 ground-state spin I=3/2 was determined in a model-independent way. Our experimental results are compared with state-of-the-art shell-model calculations using both phenomenological interactions and microscopic interactions derived from chiral effective field theory. Conclusions: The results for the ground-state moments of neutron-rich isotopes are in excellent agreement with predictions of interactions derived from chiral effective field theory including three-nucleon forces. Lighter isotopes illustrate the presence of particle-hole excitations of the Ca40 core in their ground state. Our results provide a critical test of modern nuclear theories, and give direct answer to the evolution of ground-state electromagnetic properties in the Ca isotopic chain across three doubly closed-shell configurations at N=20, 28, 32 of this unique system, This work was supported by the IAP-project P7/12, the GOA grant 15/010 KU Leuven, NSF Grant No. PHY-1068217, the BMBF Contracts No. 05P12RDCIC and No. 06DA70471, the Max-Planck Society, the EU FP7 via ENSAR No. 262010, the DFG through Grant No. SFB 634, ERC Grant No. 307986 STRONGINT, the Helmholtz Alliance HA216/EMMI, and MINECO (SPAIN) (FPA2011-29854). Computations were performed on JUROPA at the Julich Supercomputing Center. We would like to thank the ISOLDE technical group for their support and assistance. International Research Fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and JSPS KAKENHI Grant No. 26.04323

We have studied 51,53−64Mn (Z=25) via bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE, CERN. Model-independent information on the ground- and isomeric state spins, as well as their g-factors is obtained from the measured hyperfine spectra. The spins are essential for further establishing the level schemes in the mass region, while the g-factors reveal the changing ground state wave functions in the Mn chain approaching N=40. ispartof: pages:699-702 ispartof: Acta Physica Polonica B vol:46 issue:3 pages:699-702 ispartof: location:Zakopane, Poland status: published