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Previously, we developed an α-TOF detector for correlated measurements of atomic masses and decay properties of radioactive isotopes using a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph, and successfully demonstrated α-decay-correlated mass measurements of heavy and superheavy nuclides. In this work, we develop a β-TOF detector, an improvement upon the α-TOF detector, to extend this technology to β-decaying nuclides. Online commissioning with 81Ga yielded a measured half-life of 1.44(31) s, in agreement with the previous literature, and confirmed the efficiency of detecting a decay-correlated event to be consistent with the solid angle limitation.

A new multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph for nuclear mass measurements with high precision has been constructed at the SLOWRI facility at RIKEN-RIBF. We aim to couple this new device to a cryogenic gas cell operated at the BigRIPS facility of RIBF. It is part of the SLOWRI project for slowing down and stopping intense radioactive ion beams provided downstream of RIKEN’s superconducting ring cyclotron accelerator. In particular, this device is dedicated to be located at the end of the BigRIPS beam line to access ions that are presently guided to beam dumps during in-beam experiments. In this article the apparatus is described in detail.

A procedure is introduced to extract the time-of-flight probability density distribution for ions of one type using an accumulated ion peak as a template for use in the fitting of time-of-flight peaks of co-accumulated ions. We demonstrate the use of logarithmic splines and discuss the statistical criteria for the selection of the spline smoothing parameter to obtain a smooth function for approximating such an ion peak. Furthermore, a “Bootstrap” method is proposed to determine the uncertainty of the fitted time-of-flight values, which is calculated using the extracted peak shape via a repeated statistical experiment. The developed procedure is validated against time-of-flight data obtained in a previously reported experiment. It is shown that atomic masses derived from our newly proposed methodology are in good agreement with those from the 2016 Atomic Mass Evaluation and the values determined using an analytically defined function (exponential-Gaussian hybrid), approximately matching the observed peak shape. In contrast to the previously used approach, our newly proposed methodology is a much more flexible, robust, and universal method for peak shape approximation, which can be applied to any peak shape.

Achieving the highest possible mass resolving power in a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer requires very high-stability power supplies. To this end, we have developed a programmable high-voltage power supply that can achieve long-term stability on the order of parts-per-million. Herein we present the design of the stable high-voltage system and bench-top stability measurements up to 1~kV; the stabilization technique can, in principle, be applied up to 15~kV or more.. We demonstrate that in the $\le$1~Hz band the output stability is on the level of 1~part per million (ppm) during one hour, with only slightly more output variation across 3 days. We further demonstrate that the output is largely free of noise in the 1~Hz -- 200~Hz band. We also demonstrate settling to the ppm level within one minute following a 100~V step transition. Finally, we demonstrate that when these power supplies are used to bias the electrodes of a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph the measured time-of-flight is stable on the ppm-level for at least one hour., Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, Report of electronics development

We present the first direct measurement of the atomic mass of a superheavy nuclide. Atoms of $^{257}$Db ($Z$=105) were produced online at the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science using the fusion-evaporation reaction $^{208}$Pb($^{51}$V, 2n)$^{257}$Db. The gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II was used to suppress both the unreacted primary beam and some transfer products, prior to delivering the energetic beam of $^{257}$Db ions to a helium gas-filled ion stopping cell wherein they were thermalized. Thermalized $^{257}$Db$^{3+}$ ions were then transferred to a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph for mass analysis. An alpha particle detector embedded in the ion time-of-flight detector allowed disambiguation of the rare $^{257}$Db$^{3+}$ time-of-flight detection events from background by means of correlation with characteristic $\alpha$-decays. The extreme sensitivity of this technique allowed a precision atomic mass determination from 11 events. The mass excess was determined to be $100\,063(231)_\textrm{stat}(132)_\textrm{sys}$~keV/c$^2$. Comparing to several mass models, we show the technique can be used to unambiguously determine the atomic number as $Z$=105 and should allow similar evaluations for heavier species in future work., Comment: Submitted to PRC as Rapid Comm., 5 pages, 4 figures

We introduce a new concomitant referencing mode for operating a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph (MRTOF-MS), wherein the reference and analyte ions are interleaved on a cycle by cycle bases. Using this mode, we demonstrate an improved technique for performing wide bandwidth mass measurements via MRTOF-MS. This new technique offers a simplified analysis and high-accuracy., 8 pages, 6 figures, follow-up for DOI:10.1016/j.ijms.2013.11.005

Various isotopes of Ac, Ra, Fr, and Rn were produced by fusion-evaporation reactions using a 48Ca beam. The energetic ions were stopped in and extracted from a helium gas cell. The extracted ions were identified using a multi-reflection time-of-fight mass spectrograph. In all cases, it was observed that the predominant charge state for the extracted ions, including the alkali Fr, was 2+.

In order to investigate nuclei produced via fusion–evaporation reactions, especially super-heavy elements (SHE), we have begun construction of a facility for conversion of fusion–evaporation residues (EVR) to low-energy beams. At the base of this facility is a small cryogenic gas cell utilizing a traveling wave RF-carpet, located directly following the gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II, which will thermalize EVRs to convert them into ion beams amenable to ion trapping. We present here the results of initial studies of this small gas cell.

We describe the present status of future high-precision measurements of nuclear g-factors utilizing laser-microwave double and laser-microwave-rf triple resonance methods for online-trapped, laser-cooled radioactive beryllium isotope ions. These methods have applicability to other suitably chosen isotopes and for beryllium show promise in deducing the hyperfine anomaly of 11Be with a sufficiently high precision to study the nuclear magnetization distribution of this one-neutron halo nucleus in a nuclear-model-independent manner.

In applied forms of time-of-flight mass spectrometry utilizing ion storage devices prior to an analysis device, a non instantaneous electric ejection pulse applied in the region of ion storage is used to accelerate ions into the time-of-flight analyzer. The calculated mass value of the ions from the time-of-flight is dependent on the duration of the field transition up to full strength. For novel applications dedicated to precision measurements, such as multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometry of short-lived isotopes, the goal is to continuously decrease the measurement uncertainty while providing a mass accuracy on the same order. Even though dynamic-field models for time-of-flight mass spectrometry have been considered in the past for technological advances, it is important to study the accuracy of the measured mass in this context. Using a simplified linear model for the field transition, we provide a basic investigation of the scenario, and discuss the deviation from the classical "mass-over-charge" dependency of the ions' time-of-flight, which becomes violated. The emerging mass discrepancy depends on the distance between the mass of the ion used for calibration and that of the ion of interest and, in extreme cases, can increase to about one percent for systems with short times-of-flight. However, for typical conditions in single-reference multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometry, mass deviations caused by this effect typically remain below the 1 ppm level. If a mass calibration using two or more ion species is possible during the measurement, the effect becomes negligible for appropriate choices of reference masses., 14 pages, 9 figures

The masses of charged atoms and molecules were first investigated by laterally dispersive sector field mass analyzers, which early on already achieved high mass resolving powers. Equally, high mass resolving powers were achieved by time-of-flight mass analyzers during the last decades. These measurements became possible when fast and precise electronic circuitries became available. Such techniques have been developed and used extensively for the mass analysis of short-lived nuclei, whose mass values reveal insight in processes that describe the formation of elements in star explosions. Precise mass determinations of short-lived ions have been performed for energetic ions in large accelerator storage rings as well as for low-energy ions in time-of-flight mass spectrographs with long flight paths. Similarly, precise mass measurements can also be performed for molecular ions that help to reveal the structure of molecules. In case of very high mass resolving powers, the mass determination of molecular ions can be so high that the measured ion mass directly reveals the molecule’s sum formula.

The masses of ^{246}Es, ^{251}Fm, and the transfermium nuclei ^{249-252}Md and ^{254}No, produced by hot- and cold-fusion reactions, in the vicinity of the deformed N=152 neutron shell closure, have been directly measured using a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph. The masses of ^{246}Es and ^{249,250,252}Md were measured for the first time. Using the masses of ^{249,250}Md as anchor points for α decay chains, the masses of heavier nuclei, up to ^{261}Bh and ^{266}Mt, were determined. These new masses were compared with theoretical global mass models and demonstrated to be in good agreement with macroscopic-microscopic models in this region. The empirical shell gap parameter δ_{2n} derived from three isotopic masses was updated with the new masses and corroborates the existence of the deformed N=152 neutron shell closure for Md and Lr.

The masses of the exotic isotopes $^{210\ensuremath{-}214}\mathrm{Ac}$ and $^{210\ensuremath{-}214}\mathrm{Ra}$ have been measured with a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph. These isotopes were obtained in flight as fusion-evaporation products behind the gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II at RIKEN. The new direct mass measurements serve as an independent and direct benchmark for existing $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ spectroscopy data in this mass region. Further, new mass anchor points are set for U and Np nuclei close to the $N=126$ shell closure for a future benchmark of the $Z=92$ subshell for neutron-deficient heavy isotopes. Our mass results are in general in good agreement with the previously indirectly determined mass values. Together with the measurement data, reasons for possible mass ambiguities from decay-data links between ground states are discussed.

International audience; Precision mass measurements of ^63Cu, ^64–66Zn, ^65–67Ga, ^65–67Ge, ^67As, ^79,81Br, ^79Kr, ^80,81Rb, and ^79,80Sr were performed with a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph. The masses of these nuclides were determined by the single reference method using isobaric references. In order to obtain precise results, time-of-flight drift compensations were performed and a phenomenological fit function was employed. Consequently, in the case of ^65Ga, a mass uncertainty of 2.1 keV, corresponding to a relative precision of \(\delta m/m = 3.5 \times 10^{ - 8}\), was obtained and the mass value is in excellent agreement with the 2016 Atomic Mass Evaluation.

Ions that are moved by electric fields in gases follow quite exactly the electric field lines since these ions have substantially lost their kinetic energies in collisions with gas atoms or molecules and so carry no momenta. Shaping the electric fields appropriately the phase space such ion beams occupy can be reduced and correspondingly the ion density of beams be increased.

Discussed are different types of high resolving mass spectrographs and spectrometers. In detail outlined are (1) magnetic and electric sector field mass spectrographs, which are the oldest systems, (2) Penning Trap mass spectrographs and spectrometers, which have achieved very high mass-resolving powers, but are technically demanding (3) time-of-flight mass spectrographs using high energy ions passing through accelerator rings, which have also achieved very high mass-resolving powers and are equally technically demanding, (4) linear time-of-flight mass spectrographs, which have become the most versatile mass analyzers for low energy ions, while the even higher performing multi-pass systems have only started to be used, (5) orbitraps, which also have achieved remarkably high mass-resolving powers for low energy ions.

Pharmaceutical residues on solid surfaces were determined in air at ambient pressure using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) with electrospray ionization laser desorption (ELDI) methods. Substances were desorbed from surfaces with a pulsed Nd-YAG laser at 266 nm and ionized in an electrospray ion source. Ions derived from substances by ELDI were measured using ion mobility spectrometry. Substances with strong proton affinities produced ions which were mass-identified as MH+ and produced mobility spectra with a single, intense, product ion peak. Ablation rates were determined as 0.038 pg/s and sampling at a fixed location led to decreases in product ion intensity with complete removal of residue on the surface. A dependence of intensity on the substrate for five pharmaceuticals was observed and could be associated with substrate porosity. The area of sampling was 12 mm2 and linear resolution of a line of pharmaceuticals over 20 mm length demonstrated a capability to image residue by ELDI IMS.

Using a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph located after a gas cell coupled with the gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II, the masses of several $\alpha$-decaying heavy nuclei were directly and precisely measured. The nuclei were produced via fusion-evaporation reactions and separated from projectilelike and targetlike particles using GARIS-II before being stopped in a helium-filled gas cell. Time-of-flight spectra for three isobar chains, $^{204}$Fr-$^{204}$Rn-$^{204}$At-$^{204}$Po, $^{205}$Fr- $^{205}$Rn-$^{205}$At-$^{205}$Po-$^{205}$Bi, and $^{206}$Fr-$^{206}$Rn-$^{206}$At, were observed. Precision atomic mass values were determined for $^{204-206}$Fr, $^{204,205}$Rn, and $^{204,205}$At. Identifications of $^{205}$Bi, $^{204,205}$Po, $^{206}$Rn, and $^{206}$At were made with N$\leq$10 detected ions, representing the next step toward use of mass spectrometry to identify exceedingly low-yield species such as superheavy element ions., 多反射時間飛行質量分析装置を理化学研究所設置の気体充填型反跳分離装置-II型(GARIS-II)と連結したガスセルに配置し、$\alpha$崩壊連鎖を伴う重原子核の質量の直接測定を実施した。融合-蒸発反応で生成された原子核をGARIS-IIを用いて分離し、ヘリウムガスセルで止めて目的の原子核を捕集した。本実験で$^{204}$Fr-$^{204}$Rn-$^{204}$At-$^{204}$Po, $^{205}$Fr-$^{205}$Rn-$^{205}$At-$^{205}$Po-$^{205}$Bi及び$^{206}$Fr-$^{206}$Rn-$^{206}$Atの3つの同重体鎖の時間飛行スペクトルが観測された。その結果、$^{204-206}$Fr, $^{204,205}$Rn、そして$^{204,205}$Atの原子質量値が精密に決定された、今回の解析において、$^{205}$Bi, $^{204,205}$Po, $^{206}$Rn、そして$^{206}$Atの同定は10個以下という少量のイオン数でなされた。この成果は 次のステップとして実施する予定である(生成量が極少量の)超重元素イオンの質量分析につながる成果となる。

High-precision mass measurements of $^{63}$Cu, $^{64-66}$Zn, $^{65}$Ga, $^{65-67}$Ge, $^{67}$As, $^{78,81}$Br, $^{80}$Rb, and $^{79}$Sr were performed utilizing a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph combined with the gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II. In the case of $^{65}$Ga, a mass uncertainty of 2.1 keV, corresponding to a relative precision of $\delta m / m = 3.5\times10^{-8}$, was obtained and the mass value is in excellent agreement with the 2016 Atomic Mass Evaluation. For $^{67}$Ge and $^{81}$Br, where masses were previously deduced through indirect measurements, discrepancies with literature values were found. The feasibility of using this device for mass measurements of nuclides more neutron-deficient side, which have significant impact on the $rp$-process pathway, is discussed., Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, 1 table

A multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph (MRTOF-MS) has been implemented at RIKEN to provide high-precision mass measurements of very short-lived nuclei with half-lives down to ⩽10 ms. Such measurements are of particular interest for r-process nuclei and trans-Uranium nuclei. We provide a detailed description of the mechanical construction and electronics implementation of an MRTOF-MS at RIKEN. The resolving power is investigated by numerical simulation and these simulations are compared to experimental observations to understand the effects of voltage and thermal instabilities. The limits of precision and accuracy are investigated using offline ion sources, and the effects of non-isobaric contaminants are reported.

RATIONALE Mixtures of ions produced in sources at atmospheric pressure, including chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) can be simplified at or near ambient pressure using ion mobility based filters. METHODS A low-mobility-pass filter (LMPF) based on a simple mechanical design and simple electronic control was designed, modeled and tested with vapors of 2-hexadecanone in an APCI source and with spray of peptide solutions in an ESI source. The LMPF geometry was planar and small (4 mm wide × 13 mm long) and electric control was through a symmetric waveform in low kHz with amplitude between 0 and 10 V. RESULTS Computational models established idealized performance for transmission efficiency of ions of several reduced mobility coefficients over the range of amplitudes and were matched by computed values from ion abundances in mass spectra. The filter exhibited a broad response function, equivalent to a Bode Plot in electronic filters, suggesting that ion filtering could be done in blocks ~50 m/z units wide. CONCLUSIONS The benefit of this concept is that discrimination against ions of high mobility is controlled by only a single parameter: waveform amplitude at fixed frequency. The effective removal of high mobility ions, those of low mass-to-charge, can be beneficial for applications with ion-trap-based mass spectrometers to remove excessive levels of solvent or matrix ions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Time-of-flight mass analyzers have been developed since the 1950s, but there was a 30 year period during which new developments were slow. However, in the 1980s new ideas were proposed for the mass analysis of high energy ions, allowing an overview of the masses of most existing nuclei, and for low energy ions a fast and accurate identification of large molecules became possible. Since the 1990s especially multi-pass energy-isochronous time-of-flight mass analyzers have been developed for high as well as for low energy ions.

For trans-uranium elements, stable atomic isobars do not exist. In order to provide isobaric reference ions for the mass measurement of trans-uranium elements, an electrospray ion source (ESI) was combined with an rf-carpet to collect molecular ions efficiently. The rf-carpet allows for simplification of the pumping system to transport ions from the ESI to a precision mass analyzer. Molecular ions appropriate for isobaric references of trans-uranium elements were extracted from the rf-carpet and analyzed by a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph (MRTOF-MS) with a resolving power of R m ≳ 100, 000.

A compact isobar spectrometer and separator, based on the multi-pass-time-of-flight (MTOF) principle, is being developed by the University radioactive ion beam (UNIRIB) Consortium. It consists of two coaxial, grid-free electrostatic mirrors with auxiliary injection, focusing and extraction elements. Ions of different mass are reflected multiple times between the mirrors and separated longitudinally. Using an electron beam impact ion source and N2 as a sample gas, a mass resolving power of 110,000 (FWHM) has been achieved. In the near future, MTOF will be coupled to the on-line isotope separator UNISOR (University Isotope Separator – Oak Ridge) at Holifield radioactive ion beam facility using electrostatic beam deceleration, a radiofrequency beam cooler and a fast buncher. It will serve as a high resolution mass separator with a Bradbury–Nielsen gate, providing isotopically pure samples of exotic species in the 100Sn region and later, of neutron rich nuclei, for use in decay studies.

The Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) will answer important questions posed by the mission's main objectives. After Giotto, this will be the first time the volatile part of a comet will be analyzed in situ. This is a very important investigation, as comets, in contrast to meteorites, have maintained most of the volatiles of the solar nebula. To accomplish the very demanding objectives through all the different phases of the comet's activity, ROSINA has unprecedented capabilities including very wide mass range (1 to >300 amu), very high mass resolution (m/Δ m > 3000, i.e. the ability to resolve CO from N2 and 13C from 12CH), very wide dynamic range and high sensitivity, as well as the ability to determine cometary gas velocities, and temperature. ROSINA consists of two mass spectrometers for neutrals and primary ions with complementary capabilities and a pressure sensor. To ensure that absolute gas densities can be determined, each mass spectrometer carries a reservoir of a calibrated gas mixture allowing in-flight calibration. Furthermore, identical flight-spares of all three sensors will serve for detailed analysis of all relevant parameters, in particular the sensitivities for complex organic molecules and their fragmentation patterns in our electron bombardment ion sources.

A next-generation slow radioactive nuclear ion beam facility (SLOWRI) which provides slow, high-purity and small emittance ion beams of all elements is being build as one of the principal facilities at the RIKEN RI-beam factory (RIBF). High energy radioactive ion beams from the projectile fragment separator BigRIPS are thermalized in a large gas catcher cell The thermalized ions in the gas cell are guided and extracted to a vacuum environment by a combination of de electric fields and inhomogeneous rf fields (rf carpet ion guide). From there the slow ion beam is delivered via a mass separator and a switchyard to various devices: such as an ion trap, a collinear fast beam apparatus, and a multi-reflection time of flight mass spectrometer. In the R&D works at the present RIKEN facility, an overall efficiency of 5% for a 100A MeV 8Li ion beam from the present projectile fragment separator RIPS was achieved and the dependence of the efficiency on the ion beam intensity was investigated. Recently our first spectroscopy experiment at the prototype SLOWI was performed on Be isotopes. Energetic ions of 10Be and 7Be from the RIPS were trapped and laser cooled in a linear rf trap and the specific mass shifts of these isotopes were measured for the first time.

To optimize the pole shape of quadrupole magnet we have improved the program MULTIMAG. In its new version it can reduce or enhance the different multipole components in the user define `good field region' by changing the pole shape. This feature improves noticeably the capabilities of MULTIMAG a program developed for design and analysis of magnets used in accelerators and charged-particle manipulation systems. MULTIMAG uses the finite-element technique to calculate magnetic-field characteristics and includes options for 2D- and 3D- modeling. Depending on the required solution accuracy elements of first or second order are used. Very important is here that the mesh for MULTIMAG is automatically generated by the program without any user involvement

A technique for measuring mass differences has been developed at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) that requires no specialized equipment. Mass differences are measured as position differences between known and unknown-mass isobars, dispersed at the image of the energy-analyzing magnet following the 25 MV tandem post-accelerator, and identified by an energy-loss measurement. The technique has been demonstrated on neutron-rich 77–79Cu and 83–86Ge isotopes produced using the isotope separator online (ISOL) method with the 238U(p,fission) reaction, where a mass accuracy of 500 keV was achieved. These nuclides are well suited to the measurement technique, as they readily migrate out of the production target and to the ion source and comprise the most neutron-rich elements of the isobarically mixed beam. Because modest precision mass values can be obtained with only a few tens of counts of the nuclide of interest among orders of magnitude more of the isobaric neighbors closer to stability, the sensitivity of this technique makes it appropriate for initial mass measurements far from stability.

A review and recent progress are presented from experiments on masses and lifetimes of bare and few-electron exotic nuclei at GSI. Relativistic rare isotopes produced via projectile fragmentation and fission were separated in flight by the fragment separator FRS and injected into the storage ring ESR. This worldwide unique experimental method gives access to all fragments with half-lives down to the microsecond range. The great research potential is demonstrated by the discovery of new isotopes along with simultaneous mass and lifetime measurements. Single particle decay measurements and the continuous recording of both stored mother and daughter nuclei open up a new era for nuclear spectroscopy. The study of bare and few-electron nuclei has also important astrophysical relevance with respect to the hot stellar conditions where reactions and decay are influenced by the degree of atomic ionization. The future international NUSTAR facility at FAIR consisting of a new large-acceptance in-flight separator (Super-FRS) and a dedicated storage ring system (CR–RESR–NESR) will be an ideal tool to study nuclei with new probes and to investigate the majority of relevant r- and rp-process nuclei which are not in reach with the present-day facilities.

Recently, much progress has been made with stored exotic nuclei at relativistic velocities ( v c = 0.7 ) . Fragments of 208Pb and 209Bi projectiles and fission products from 238U ions were produced, separated in flight with the fragment separator FRS, and injected into the storage-cooler ring ESR for precision measurements. 114 new masses of neutron-deficient isotopes in the lead region have been measured with time-resolved Schottky Mass Spectrometry (SMS). A new isospin dependence of the pairing energy was observed due to the improved mass accuracy of typically 1.5×10-7 (30 keV). New masses of short-lived neutron-rich fission fragments have been obtained with Isochronous Mass Spectrometry (IMS). An innovative field of spectroscopy has been opened up with lifetime measurements of stored bare and few-electron fragments after applying both stochastic and electron cooling.

In order to determine nuclear binding energies of short-lived nuclei we have developed a multi-pass time-of-flight mass spectrometer in which ions are repeatedly reflected between two coaxially arranged electrostatic ion mirrors. These ions are passed up to several hundred times between the ion mirrors. Within this system the overall ion flight time can be several milliseconds and the overall flight distance more than 100 m. There are no intensity losses in the grid-free ion mirrors and the transmission is limited only by angle scattering of the ions by residual gas atoms. The achieved mass resolving power exceeded m=Dm � 40 000. 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A large area on the mass surface of neutron-deficient nuclides (36≤Z≤85) was measured with time-resolved Schottky mass spectrometry at the FRS-ESR facilities. The masses of 114 nuclides were obtained for the first time from which 43 were determined via known decay energies. The improved mass accuracy of 30 keV allowed to study the isospin dependence of nuclear pairing, to precisely locate the one-proton dripline for odd-Z isotopes from Tb to Pa and to make crucial tests of the predictive powers of modern mass models.

Recent progress in experiments with exotic nuclear beams at the SIS-FRS-ESR facility is summarized. New results on gross properties of exotic nuclei like binding energy, half-lives, and decay modes are presented. A brief outlook to future experiments is given.

The half-lives of isomeric states of fully ionized 144Tb, 149Dy and 151Er have been measured. These nuclides were produced via fragmentation of about 900 MeV/u 209Bi projectiles, separated in flight with the fragment separator (FRS) and stored in the cooler ring (ESR). The decay times of the cooled fragments have been measured with time-resolved Schottky spectrometry. We observed for the first time drastic increases of the half-lives of bare isomers by factors of up to 30 compared to their neutral counterparts. This is due to the exclusion of the strong internal conversion and electron-capture channels in the radioactive decay of these bare nuclei. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical calculations.

Energy-isochronous time-of-flight mass spectrometers can achieve high mass resolving powers by using the same flight pass repeatedly and thus obtaining long overall flight distances. If such systems must achieve high transmission in addition to their isochronicity, they must be designed such that their lateral phase-space acceptance is larger than the corresponding emittance of the injected ion beam. It furthermore is advantageous to construct the system from matched unit cells, a technique also used in the design of accelerator storage rings. One such time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been built as a system in which ions are repeatedly reflected between two grid-free ion mirrors whose optic axes coincide. For a 0.4 m long system, through which ions were reflected 101 times, mass resolving powers of m /Δ m ≥18,000 have been achieved with a transmission of about 40%.

At Laboratorio Nazionale del Sud high beam intensity tests have been carried out for xenon ion beams with the superconducting electron cyclotron resonance source SERSE. These tests confirmed the need to review the main concepts of the beam extraction analysis and transport when high currents of low energy beams are produced. It was demonstrated that the transport of low energy beams and the injection in the cyclotron becomes critical as soon as the extracted current exceeds a few milliamperes. The paper describes the main features of the GyroSERSE source, which is an upgraded version of the SERSE source, and the KOBRA-3D calculations carried out to obtain relatively low emittance beams. The study of the analysis beamline with the GIOSP code is also presented.

Iron-free magnetic quadrupole lenses have been developed for the focusing of energetic bunched heavy-ion beams. These devices are operated in a pulsed mode and provide very strong magnetic fields. A magnetic flux density of more than 14 T has been reached in a 100 mm long quadrupole with a 20 mm wide aperture, which corresponds to a magnetic flux density of ∼1400 T/m. The pulse duration of the applied electric current is approximately 300 μs with a flat top of several μs. The calculated and measured field properties of the quadrupoles are presented. In a first test experiment with a fast-extracted 650 MeV/u 197 Au 79+ beam (bunch length ∼500 ns) at GSI the focusing properties could be demonstrated. As a possible application the ion-optical design of a condenser lens system will be presented. With this system the phase-space enlargement in a nuclear reaction target can be significantly reduced, thus leading to an increased collection efficiency of a fragment separator or, more general, of any ion-optical device. In particular this is advantageous for injection of secondary beams into a storage ring.

A gas-filled radio-frequency quadrupole has been developed, which acts as an interface between a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and an atmospheric-pressure ion source or a gas-filled ion beam stopping cell. It delivers cooled continuous or bunched beams to the mass analyzer. The radiofrequency quadrupole has been characterized and the longitudinal energy distributions, bunching efficiencies and beam losses as a function of storage time, and the duty cycle improvement have been measured. Using the bunch mode, the mass-resolving power of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer could be increased by a factor of about two and now amounts to 24 000 (full width at half maximum).