Search

A set of B(E2) values for the low-lying excited states in the radioactive isotope Sn-109 were deduced from a Coulomb excitation experiment. The 2.87-MeV/u radioactive beam was produced at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN and was incident on a secondary Ni-58 target. The B(E2) values were determined using the known 2(+) -> 0(+) reduced transition probability in Ni-58 as normalization with the semiclassical Coulomb excitation code GOSIA2. The transition probabilities are compared to shell-model calculations based on a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction and the predictions of a simple core-excitation model. This measurement represents the first determination of multiple B(E2) values in a light Sn nucleus using the Coulomb excitation technique with low-energy radioactive beams. The results provide constraints for the single-neutron states relative to Sn-100 and also indicate the importance of both single-neutron and collective excitations in the light Sn isotopes. (Less)

Background: Quadrupole moments of excited nuclear states are important observables for geometrically interpreting nuclear structure in terms of deformed shapes, although data are scarce and sometimes ambiguous, in particular, in neutron-rich nuclides. Purpose: A measurement was performed for determining the spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the 21+ state of 140Ba in order to clarify the character of quadrupole deformation (prolate or oblate) of the state in its yrast sequence of levels. Method: We have utilized a new combined technique of lifetime measurement at REX-ISOLDE and MINIBALL using the Doppler-shift attenuation method (DSAM) and a reorientation analysis of Coulomb-excitation yields. Results: On the basis of the new lifetime of τ(21+)=10.4-0.8+2.2 ps the electric quadrupole moment was determined to be Q(21+)=-0.52(34) eb, indicating a predominant prolate deformation. Conclusions: This finding is in agreement with beyond-mean-field calculations using the Gogny D1S force and with results from the Monte Carlo shell-model approach, This experiment was supported by the BMBF (06DA9036I, 06DA9041I, 06DA7046, 06MT238, 06MT9156, 06ML234, 06KY205I, 06KY9136I), RII3-EURONS (Contract No. 506065), HIC for FAIR, Grants-in-Aid for Young Scientists (20740127) from JSPS, the SPIRE Field 5 from MEXT (Japan), and the MINIBALL and ISOLDE Collaborations

The neutron-rich nuclei Kr94,96 were studied via projectile Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Level energies of the first excited 2 + states and their absolute E2 transition strengths to the ground state are determined and discussed in the context of the E(21+) and B(E2;21+→01+) systematics of the krypton chain. Contrary to previously published results no sudden onset of deformation is observed. This experimental result is supported by a new proton-neutron interacting boson model calculation based on the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach using the microscopic Gogny-D1M energy density functional. © 2012 American Physical Society., This work was supported by the BMBF under Contracts No. 06KY9136 and No. 06MT238, by ENSAR, by the DFG Cluster of Excellence Origin and Structure of the Universe, and by the grant-in-aid for scientific research for JSPS Fellows (Grant No. 217368). One of the authors (J. D.) would like to acknowledge the support of FWOVlaanderen (Belgium).

We propose to install a storage ring at an ISOL-type radioactive beam facility for the first time. Specifically, we intend to setup the heavy-ion, low-energy ring TSR at the HIE-ISOLDE facility in CERN, Geneva. Such a facility will provide a capability for experiments with stored secondary beams that is unique in the world. The envisaged physics programme is rich and varied, spanning from investigations of nuclear ground-state properties and reaction studies of astrophysical relevance, to investigations with highly-charged ions and pure isomeric beams. The TSR might also be employed for removal of isobaric contaminants from stored ion beams and for systematic studies within the neutrino beam programme. In addition to experiments performed using beams recirculating within the ring, cooled beams can also be extracted and exploited by external spectrometers for high-precision measurements. The existing TSR, which is presently in operation at the Max-Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, is well-suited and can be employed for this purpose. The physics cases as well as technical details of the existing ring facility and of the beam and infrastructure requirements at HIE-ISOLDE are discussed in the present technical design report. ispartof: European Physical Journal. Special Topics vol:207 issue:1 pages:1-117 status: published

The reaction 8Li + 2H has been studied in inverse kinematics at the incident energy of 3.15 MeV/nucleon, using the REX-ISOLDE post-accelerator. The reaction channels corresponding to (d,p), (d,d), and (d,t) reactions populating ground states and low-lying excited states in 7–9Li have been identified and the related angular distributions extracted and compared with coupled-channels, distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA), and coupled-reaction-channels calculations. For the inelastic and (d,t) channels we find that higher order effects are very important and hence one needs to go beyond the simple DWBA to extract reliable structure information from these processes.

The WITCH experiment (Weak Interaction Trap for CHarged particles) will search for exotic interactions by investigating the beta-neutrino angular correlation via the measurement of the recoil energy spectrum after beta decay. As a first step the recoil ions from the beta-minus decay of 124In stored in a Penning trap have been detected. The evidence for the detection of recoil ions is shown and the properties of the ion cloud that forms the radioactive source for the experiment in the Penning trap are presented., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures (9 figure files), submitted to European Physical Journal A

The ground state properties of Mg-31 indicate a change of nuclear shape at N = 19 with a deformed J(pi) = 1/2(+) intruder state as a ground state, implying that Mg-31 is part of the "island of inversion". The collective properties of excited states were the subject of a Coulomb excitation experiment at REX-ISOLDE, CERN, employing a radioactive Mg-31 beam. De-excitation gamma-rays were detected by the MINIBALL gamma-spectrometer in coincidence with scattered particles in a segmented Si-detector. The level scheme of Mg-3I was extended. Spin and parity assignment of the 945 keV state yielded 5/2(+) and its de-excitation is dominated by a strong collective M1 transition. Comparison of the transition probabilities of Mg-30,Mg-31,Mg-32 establishes that for the N = 19 magnesium isotope not only the ground state but also excited states are largely dominated by a deformed pf intruder configuration. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We report on measurements of the longitudinal emittance at the Radioactive ion beam EXperiment (REX) at ISOLDE, CERN. The rms longitudinal emittance was measured as at the output of the RFQ and as ns keV/u in front of the third 7-gap split-ring resonator (7G3) using the three-gradient technique; systematic errors are not included but are estimated at approximately 10%. The 86% emittance was measured a factor of approximately 4.4 times larger than the rms emittance at 1.48±0.2 and ns keV/u at the RFQ and 7G3, respectively. The REX switchyard magnet was used as a spectrometer to analyse the energy spread of the beam as it was manipulated by varying the voltage of the rebuncher (ReB) and 7G3 cavities operating at non-accelerating phases. The transfer matrix for a multi-gap bunching cavity is derived and suitably truncated to allow for the accurate reconstruction of the beam parameters from measurement. The technique for measuring the energy spread was rigorously simulated and validated. A silicon detector, in its development phase, was also exploited to measure the longitudinal beam properties. The measured longitudinal emittance is compatible with the acceptance of the HIE-ISOLDE superconducting linac upgrade.

Experiments with reaccelerated beams are an essential component of the science program of existing and future rare isotope beam facilities. NSCL is currently constructing ReA3, a reaccelerator for rare isotopes that have been produced by projectile fragmentation and in-flight fission and that have been thermalized in a gas stopper. The resulting low-energy beam will be brought to an Electron Beam Ion Source/Trap (EBIS/T) in order to obtain highly charged ions at an energy of 12 keV/u. This charge breeder is followed by a compact linear accelerator with a maximum beam energy of 3 MeV/u for 238U and higher energies for lighter isotopes. Next-generation rare isotope beam facilities like the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams FRIB, but also existing Isotope Separator On-line (ISOL) facilities are expected to provide rare-isotope beam rates in the order of 1011 particles per second for reacceleration. At present the most promising scheme to efficiently start the reacceleration of these intense beams is the use of a next-generation high-current charge-breeder based on an EBIS/T. MSU has formed a collaboration to develop an EBIT for this purpose. A new high-current EBIS/T breeder will be developed and constructed at MSU, where also first tests on achievable beam rate capability will be performed. The EBIT is planned to be installed at the Isotope Separator and Accelerator facility ISAC at TRIUMF laboratory for on-line tests with rare isotope beams and to provide intense energetic reaccelerated radioactive beams. The status of the ReA3-EBIS/T in the NSCL reaccelerator project is given with a brief summary of results, followed by a discussion of plans for the future high-intensity EBIS/T charge breeder.

International audience; A comprehensive study of charge breeding techniques for the most ambitious ISOL - facility project, EURISOL, is presented here. It is based on results obtained during the past years at CERN - ISOLDE and LPSC Grenoble with charge breeders of both ECR and EBIS types.

Using the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN the Coulomb excitation cross sections for the 0(gs)(+)-> 2(1)(+) transition in the beta-unstable isotopes Cd-100,Cd-102,Cd-104 have been measured for the first time. Two different targets were used, which allows for the first extraction of the static electric quadrupole moments Q(2(1)(+)) in Cd-102,Cd-104. In addition to the B(E2) values in Cd-102,Cd-104, a first experimental limit for the B(E2) value in Cd-100 is presented. The data was analyzed using the maximum likelihood method. The provided probability distributions impose a test for theoretical predictions of the static and dynamic moments. The data are interpreted within the shell-model using realistic matrix elements obtained from a G-matrix renormalized CD-Bonn interaction. In view of recent results for the light Sn isotopes the data are discussed in the context of a renormalization of the neutron effective charge. This study is the first to use the reorientation effect for post-accelerated short-lived radioactive isotopes to simultaneously determine the B(E2) and the Q(2(1)(+)) values. (Less)

A measurement of the inelastic component of the key astrophysical resonance in the {sup 14}O({alpha},p){sup 17}F reaction for burning and breakout from hot carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) cycles is reported. The inelastic component is found to be comparable to the ground-state branch and will enhance the {sup 14}O({alpha},p){sup 17}F reaction rate. The current results for the reaction rate confirm that the {sup 14}O({alpha},p){sup 17}F reaction is unlikely to contribute substantially to burning and breakout from the CNO cycles under novae conditions. The reaction can, however, contribute strongly to the breakout from the hot CNO cycles under the more extreme conditions found in x-ray bursters.

The centering of ions in Penning traps by a quadrupolar radiofrequency excitation in the presence of a buffer gas has been studied in the regime of high charge‐densities. It is found to deviate significantly from the single‐particle situation. In particular, the efficiency of the cooling process is affected as well as the resolving power. The behavior has been studied experimentally at the preparation trap REXTRAP and the high‐precision Penning trap setup ISOLTRAP both located at the on‐line mass separator ISOLDE at CERN. In addition, the phenomenon has been investigated numerically by a custom‐designed simulation.

At the radioactive ion beam facility REX-ISOLDE, neutron-rich zinc isotopes were investigated using low-energy Coulomb excitation. These experiments have resulted in B(E2,2(+1)->0(+1)) values in 74−80Zn, B(E2,4(+1)->2(+1)) values in 74,76Zn and the determination of the energy of the first excited 2+1 states in 78,80Zn. The zinc isotopes were produced by high-energy proton- (A = 74, 76, 80) and neutron- (A = 78) induced fission of 238U, combined with selective laser ionization and mass separation. The isobaric beam was post-accelerated by the REX linear accelerator and Coulomb excitation was induced on a thin secondary target, which was surrounded by the MINIBALL germanium detector array. In this work, it is shown how the selective laser ionization can be used to deal with the considerable isobaric beam contamination and how a reliable normalization of the experiment can be achieved. The results for zinc isotopes and the N = 50 isotones are compared to collective model predictions and state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model calculations, including a recent empirical residual interaction constructed to describe the present experimental data up to 2004 in this region of the nuclear chart. ispartof: Physical Review C, Nuclear physics vol:79 issue:1 pages:1-13 status: published

We have remeasured the decay of Ar-31 with a setup sensitive to multiparticle decay branches and obtained. a new limit of 1.1 x 10(-3) (99% C.L.) on the beta-delayed three-proton branch between the isobaric analog state in Cl-31 and the ground state of Si-28. This a factor of 17 below the previously reported first observation of beta-delayed three-proton emission in Ar-31. The limit on a possible beta 3p branch to the first excited state in Si-28 is 2.9 x 10(-4). [S0556-2813(99)04404-0].

The B(E2;0+2+) value in 68Ni has been measured using Coulomb excitation at safe energies. The 68Ni radioactive beam was postaccelerated at the CERN on-line isotope mass separator (ISOLDE) facility to 2.9 MeV/u and directed to a 108Pd target. The emitted rays were detected by the MINIBALL detector array. Not only directly registered but also indirectly deduced information on the nucleus emitting the ray was used to perform the Doppler correction, leading to a larger center-of-mass angular range to infer the excitation cross section. The obtained value of 2.8×102e2 fm4 is in good agreement with the value measured at intermediate energy Coulomb excitation, confirming the low 0+2+ transition probability.

The standard model of the electroweak interaction describes beta-decay in the well-known V-A form. Nevertheless, the most general Hamiltonian of a beta-decay includes also other possible interaction types, e.g. scalar (S) and tensor (T) contributions, which are not fully ruled out yet experimentally. The WITCH experiment aims to study a possible admixture of these exotic interaction types in nuclear beta-decay by a precise measurement of the shape of the recoil ion energy spectrum. The experimental set-up couples a double Penning trap system and a retardation spectrometer. The set-up is installed in ISOLDE/CERN and was recently shown to be fully operational. The current status of the experiment is presented together with the data acquired during the 2006 campaign, showing the first recoil ion energy spectrum obtained. The data taking procedure and corresponding data acquisition system are described in more detail. Several further technical improvements are briefly reviewed., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, conference proceedings EMIS 2007 (http://emis2007.ganil.fr), published also in NIM B: doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2008.05.150

We report on the ``safe'' Coulomb excitation of neutron-rich Cd, Xe, and Ba isotopes in the vicinity of the doubly-magic nucleus 132Sn. The radioactive nuclei have been produced by ISOLDE at CERN and postaccelerated by the REX-ISOLDE facility. The gamma-decay of excited states has been detected by the MINIBALL array. The presented preliminary results for the B(E2) values are consistent with expectations from phenomenological systematics and will be compared with theoretical calculations. Book subtitle: FINUSTAR 2 ispartof: pages:84-88 ispartof: AIP Conference Proceedings vol:1012 issue:1 pages:84-88 ispartof: Frontiers in NUclear STructure, Astrophysics and Reactions: FINUSTAR location:Kos, Greece date:10 Sep - 14 Sep 2007 status: published

The first excited 2(+) state of the unstable isotope Sn-110 has been studied in safe Coulomb excitation at 2.82 MeV/u using the MINIBALL array at the REX-ISOLDE post accelerator at CERN. This is the first measurement of the reduced transition probability of this state using this method for a neutron deficient Sn isotope. The strength of the approach lies in the excellent peak-to-background ratio that is achieved. The extracted reduced transition probability, B(E2 : 0(+) -> 2(+)) 0.220 +/- 0.022e(2) b(2), strengthens the observation of the evolution of the B(E2) values of neutron deficient Sn isotopes that was observed recently in intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation of Sn-108. It implies that the trend of these reduced transition probabilities in the even-even Sn isotopes is not symmetric with respect to the midshell mass number A = 116 as Sn-100 is approached.

We report on the first low-energy Coulomb excitation measurements with radioactive Ipi=6- beams of odd-odd nuclei 68,70Cu. The beams were produced at ISOLDE, CERN and were post-accelerated by REX-ISOLDE to 2.83 MeV/nucleon. gamma rays were detected with the MINIBALL spectrometer. The 6- beam was used to study the multiplet of states (3-, 4-, 5-, 6-) arising from the pi2p3/2nu1g9/2 configuration. The 4- state of the multiplet was populated via Coulomb excitation and the B(E2;6--->4-) value was determined in both nuclei. The results obtained illustrate the fragile stability of the Z=28 shell and N=40 subshell closures. A comparison with large-scale shell-model calculations using the 56Ni core shows the importance of the proton excitations across the Z=28 shell gap to the understanding of the nuclear structure in the neutron-rich nuclei with N[approximate]40.

Using a method whereby molecular and atomic ions are independently selected, an isobarically pure beam of Se-70 ions was postaccelerated to an energy of 206 MeV using REX-ISOLDE. Coulomb-excitation yields for states in the beam and target nuclei were deduced by recording deexcitation gamma rays in the highly segmented MINIBALL gamma-ray spectrometer in coincidence with scattered particles in a silicon detector. At these energies, the Coulomb-excitation yield for the first 2(+) state is expected to be strongly sensitive to the sign of the spectroscopic quadrupole moment through the nuclear reorientation effect. Experimental evidence is presented here for a prolate shape for the first 2(+) state in Se-70, reopening the question over whether there are, as reported earlier, deformed oblate shapes near to the ground state in the light selenium isotopes.

The WITCH experiment aims to study a possible admixture of a scalar or tensor type interaction in beta decay by determining the beta-neutrino angular correlation from the shape of the recoil energy spectrum. The installation period was completed and intensive commissioning of the set-up was performed already. The lay-out of the WITCH set-up and results of commissioning tests performed until now are described here, showing that the full set-up up to the spectrometer is now operational, although several efficiencies are still to be improved. Due to its feature of being able to measure the energy spectrum for recoil ions, the WITCH experiment also opens possibilities for other observables., Comment: 31 pages, 18 figures. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, in press

We report on the first radioactive beam experiment performed at the recently commissioned REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN in conjunction with the highly efficient γ spectrometer MINIBALL. Using Mg-30 ions accelerated to an energy of 2.25 MeV/u together with a thin Ni-nat target, Coulomb excitation of the first excited 2(+) states of the projectile and target nuclei well below the Coulomb barrier was observed. From the measured relative deexcitation γ-ray yields the B(E2;0(gs)(+)R 2(1)(+)) value of Mg-30 was determined to be 241(31)e(2) fm(4). Our result is lower than values obtained at projectile fragmentation facilities using the intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation method, and confirms the theoretical conjecture that the neutron-rich magnesium isotope Mg-30 resides outside the "island of inversion."

19 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables.-- PACS nrs.: 25.60.-t; 25.45.-z; 27.20.+n.-- et al. ISOLDE Collaborattion and REX-ISOLDE Collaboration., At the newly constructed postaccelerator REX-ISOLDE (Radioactive beam Experiment at ISOLDE) we have investigated reactions induced by a Li-9 beam incident on a deuterium target at an energy of 2.36 MeV/u. Most reaction channels were recorded. From one-neutron transfer the differential cross-section for the low lying Li-10 spectrum is found. The results from the other channels demonstrate the great applicability and many possibilities that REX-ISOLDE opens up.

5 pages, 2 tables, 2 figures.-- Issue title: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Clustering Aspects of Nuclear Structure and Dynamics (Nara, Japan, Nov 24-29, 2003)., We report here on the recent β-decay studies of the A = 9 isobar made at ISOLDE/CERN. Mirror beta transitions in the A=9 chain are compared and a large asymmetry factor is deduced for the transitions to high excitation energy in Be-9 (11.8 MeV) and B-9 (12.2 MeV) fed in the β-decay of Li-9 and C-9 respectively. It is shown that the asymmetry is not due to experimental problems or differences in the mechanisms of breakup or in the spin of the states. Only differences in the partial decay branches of the breakup channels have been found. As no asymmetry is found in the gs to gs transition it must be due to the particular structure of these excited states.

After the successful commissioning of the Radioactive beam EXperiment (REX) at ISOLDE (CERN) in 2002, first physics experiments were performed in 2003 which focussed on the neutron-rich Mg isotopes in the vicinity of the “island of inversion”. After introducing the REX facility and the modern γ spectrometer MINIBALL first preliminary results will be presented showing the high potential and physics opportunities offered by this new radioactive beam facility.

The numerous newly built and forthcoming post-accelerators for radioactive ions, produced with the isotope separator on-line (ISOL) technique, all have a need for an efficient method to accelerate the precious primary ions. By increasing the ion charge-to-mass ratio directly after the radioactive ion production stage, a short and compact linear accelerator can be employed. Not only the efficiency, but also the rapidity of such a charge-to-mass increasing process, called charge breeding, is a crucial factor for the often short-lived radioisotopes. The traditional foil or gas stripping technique was challenged some five to ten years ago by novel schemes for charge breeding. The transformation from 1+ to n+ charged ions takes place inside an Electron Beam Ion Source/Trap (EBIS/T) or Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source/Trap (ECRIS/T) by electron-ion collisions. These charge breeders are located in the low-energy part of the machine before the accelerating structures. Because of the capability of these devices to produce highly charged ions, mass-to-charge ratios between 4 and 9 are easily obtained. In this article the performance and the features of the above listed charge breeding concepts will be compared and discussed. An outlook on charge breeders for the next generation of radioactive ion beam facilities is also given. This paper is a longer version of a contribution to Radioactive Nuclear Beams 6, Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois, USA, Sept 22-26, 2003. To be published in Nucl. Phys. A

The beta decay of exotic nuclei is directly connected to many different and highly relevant issues. While along the years a hundred of nuclei have been identified as beta delayed proton (β-p) emitters only eight have been found to be β-2p emitters and the β-3p decay mode although energetically allowed has so far not been observed [1].

In 2001 the linear accelerator of the Radioactive beam EXperiment (REX-ISOLDE) delivered for the first time accelerated radioactive ion beams, at a beam energy of 2 MeV/u. REX-ISOLDE uses the method of charge-state breeding, in order to enhance the charge state of the ions before injection into the LINAC. Radioactive singly-charged ions from the on-line mass separator ISOLDE are first accumulated in a Penning trap, then charge bred to an A/q < 4.5 in an electron beam ion source (EBIS) and finally accelerated in a LINAC from 5 keV/u to energies between 0.8 and 2.2 MeV/u. Dedicated measurements with REXTRAP, the transfer line and the EBIS have been carried out in conjunction with the first commissioning of the accelerator. Thus the properties of the different elements could be determined for further optimization of the system. In two test beam times in 2001 stable and radioactive Na isotopes (Na-23-Na-26) have been accelerated and transmitted to a preliminary target station. There Ni-58- and Be-9- and H-2-targets have been used to study exited states via Coulomb excitation and neutron transfer reactions. One MINIBALL triple cluster detector was used together with a double sided silicon strip detector to detect scattered particles in coincidence with gamma-rays. The aim was to study the operation of the detector under realistic conditions with gamma-background from the beta-decay of the radioactive ions and from the cavities. Recently for efficient detection eight tripple Ge-detectors of MINIBALL and a double sided silicon strip detector have been installed. We will present the first results obtained in the commissioning experiments and will give an overview of realistic beam parameters for future experiments to be started in the spring 2002.

The term beta-beam has been coined for the production of a pure beam of electron neutrinos or their antiparticles through the decay of radioactive ions circulating in a storage ring. This concept requires radioactive ions to be accelerated to a Lorentz gamma of 150 for 6He and 60 for 18Ne. The neutrino source itself consists of a storage ring for this energy range, with long straight sections in line with the experiment(s). Such a decay ring does not exist at CERN today, nor does a high-intensity proton source for the production of the radioactive ions. Nevertheless, the existing CERN accelerator infrastructure could be used as this would still represent an important saving for a beta-beam facility. This paper outlines the first study, while some of the more speculative ideas will need further investigations., Comment: Accepted for publication in proceedings of Nufact02, London, 2002

In order to produce target–ion sources allowing for a high isotopic resolution in the separator, CERN/ISOLDE (isotope separator on-line) has purchased a commercial emittance meter, capable of measuring transverse phase-space emittances for ion-beam intensities down to approximately 1 nA. It was installed at the ISOLDE off-line separator where targets are tested with respect to material purity and the ion-source efficiencies are determined. Now, also the emittance and brightness are measured for different stable elements. An extensive programme has been launched aiming at a complete survey of the emittance dependence on the various ion-source parameters. Results from the measurements on the different ISOLDE ion-source types, with associated analysis, are presented.

This paper is divided in three parts: (i) the measurement of yields and decay losses of Li and Be isotopes released from a thin foil tantalum target at the CERN/ISOLDE PS-Booster; (ii) results from beta-decay experiments on Be-12 and Be-14, an improved half-life of 21.49(3) ms has been obtained for Be-12; (iii) the beta-decay of C-9. An outline of the analysis procedure to determine the branching at high excitation energies is given. The ground-state branch has been determined to 54.1(15)%.

A design proposal for an Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) for the ion pre-injector for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is presented. The LHCEBIS would produce lead ions, as well as lighter ions, that are directly injected into and further accelerated in an RFQ/LINAC arrangement. The source would operate with a repetition rate of 0.8 Hz, and the extracted yield is estimated to 1.6⋅109 Pb 54+ per pulse.Using fast extraction, the extraction time can be less than 10μs, possibly allowing single-turn injection into the PS Booster.

The REXEBIS is an Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) developed particularly for charge breeding of rare and short-lived isotopes produced at ISOLDE for the REX-ISOLDE post accelerator. Bunches of singly charged radioactive ions are injected into the EBIS and charge bred to a charge-to-mass ratio of approximately 1/4 and thereafter extracted and injected into a short LINAC. This novel concept, employing a Penning trap to bunch and cool the ions from an on-line mass separator prior to charge breeding in an EBIS, results in an efficient and compact system. In this article the final REXEBIS design is presented together with results from the first tests.

The level structure of the unbound nucleus N-11 has been studied by C-10+p elastic resonance scattering in inverse geometry with the LISE3 spectrometer at GANIL, using a C-10 beam with an energy of 9.0 MeV/ nucleon. An additional measurement was done at the A1200 spectrometer at MSU. The excitation function above the C-10+p threshold has been determined up to 5 MeV. A potential-model analysis revealed three resonance states at energies 1.27(-0.05)(+0.18) MeV (Gamma = 1.44 +/- 0.2 MeV), 2.01(-0.05)(+0.15) MeV (Gamma = 0.84 +/- 0.2 MeV), and 3.75 +/- 0.05 MeV (Gamma = 0.60 +/- 0.05 MeV) with the spin-parity assignments I-pi=1/2+,1/2,-,5/2+, respectively. Hence, N-11 is shown to have a ground state parity inversion completely analogous to its mirror partner Be-11. A narrow resonance in the excitation function at 4.33 +/- 0.05 MeV was also observed and assigned spin parity 3/2-.

International audience; The existence of β-delayed particle emission allows one to study the β-strength distribution, and thereby the ground-state structure, of exotic drip-line nuclei. A time-correlation method has been applied to recent data on the heaviest Be-isotopes to determine their neutron branches. Improved results were obtained for 12Be and new results were found for the very short-lived neutron-emitter, 14Be.

17 pages, 3 tables, 5 figures, 1 appendix.-- PACS nrs.: 23.40.Hc; 27.20.+n., The β-delayed neutron branches from neutron-rich Be-isotopes have been measured with a setup sensitive down to thermal energies. For Be-14 a new value of P(n) = 101 ± 4% has been found for the total neutron-emission probability and an upper limit of 2.4% (95% confidence level) is imposed on the combination P(2n) + 3P(3n) of multi-neutron emission probabilities. Moreover, an improved value of P(n) = 0.50 ± 0.03% has been obtained for Be-12. A time-correlation method, previously developed for a continuous radioactive beam to determine neutron branching ratios, has been revised and adapted to the pulsed secondary beam at ISOLDE, CERN.

8 pages, 1 table, 4 figures.-- Journal issue title: "Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions"., We have studied several two proton branches in the β-decay of Ar-31, the most intensive ones proceeding through the isobaric analogue state (IAS) in Cl-31. The energy and angular correlations of the two protons originating from the IAS have been measured. An indication of non-isotropic emission has been observed in the p+p+P-29 branch. The energy spectra of protons from the IAS 2p-branches seem to be continuous, which is difficult to explain by a sequential emission through a few intermediate levels in S-30. The model of non-sequential or democratic three-particle decay gives the best fit to the present data favoring the IAS spin-parity 5/2(+).

The proton-rich, unbound nucleus 11N has been studied using the technique of elastic resonance scattering in inverse geometry. The spins and parities of the three lowest resonance levels have been determined as 1/2+, 1/2− and 5/2+, resulting from the orbitals 1s1/2, 0p1/2 and 0d5/2, respectively. This level ordering is the same as the one found in the mirror nucleus of 11N, namely the one-neutron halo nucleus 11Be. Especially, the in 11Be well known level inversion, where the ground state is a 1/2+ intruder state below the from a naive shell model expected ground state 1/2−, is also found in 11N.

At ISOLDE a new RadioFrequency Quadrupole ion Cooler and Buncher (RFQCB) is being constructed to improve ion optical properties of low-energy RIBs. The new features of the mechanical design and the status of the test bench, which will serve to test the device, will be presented in this contribution

A charge state breeder, which transforms externally injected singly charged ions to a higher charge state q+, is an important tool which has applications within atomic, nuclear and even particle physics. The charge breeding concept of radioactive ions has already been demonstrated at REX-ISOLDE/CERN with the use of an Electron beam Ion Source (EBIS) and at several facilities employing Electron Resonance Cyclotron Ion Sources (ECRIS). As will be demonstrated in this paper, EBIS and Electron Beam Ion Traps (EBIT), are well suited for the task as they are capable of delivering clean, highly charged beams within a short transformation time. The increasing demand for highly charged ions of all kind of elements and isotopes, stable and radioactive, to be used for low-energy experiments such as TITAN at TRIUMF and MATS at FAIR, but also for post-acceleration to higher energies, is now pushing the development of the breeders. The next challenge will be to satisfy the needs, for example space-charge capacity, of the second generation radioactive beam facilities presently under construction or in the design stage, such as the MSU re-accelerator (ReA3), SPIRAL2, SPES and later on EURISOL. Radioactive trap facilities will also require high performance breeders geared towards rapid breeding times. The requirements and the critical issues of the breeding concept will be discussed and a review of the different facilities, operational and plan ned, will be given. The paper does furthermore feature a summary of the extensive breeding experience gained under operational conditions at REX-ISOLDE, including results from dedicated beam cleaning tests, isotope production using in-trap decay, high-current and continuous ion injection into the breeder, and closed-shell breeding.

In this contribution examples of the application of new technologies to disentangle the mechanism of $\beta$-delayed multiparticle emission are given. In particular the mechanism of $\beta$2p-emission from $^{31}$Ar has been resolved and proved to be sequential, a preview of $^{9}$C-decay data is discussed.

9 pages, 4 figures.-- Printed version published Apr 22, 2002., The beta-delayed proton emission from the lightest Ar-isotopes, has been measured with a high-granularity, large solid-angle Si-detector setup. Although designed for the detection of beta-delayed two-proton and three-proton events, the setup also permitted measurement of proton energy shifts due to the beta-neutrino recoil. We discuss how spectroscopic information can be extracted from such measurements, even at the drip line. For the case of Ar-31, the ground-state spin could be determined as 5/2.