ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer experiment

Last updated
Isotope Separator On Line Device
(ISOLDE)
List of ISOLDE experimental setups
COLLAPS, CRIS, EC-SLI, IDS, ISS, ISOLTRAP, LUCRECIA, Miniball, MIRACLS, SEC, VITO, WISArD
Other facilities
MEDICIS Medical Isotopes Collected from ISOLDE
508Solid State Physics Laboratory
Ex-MRI magnet used for the ISS experiment ISS Magnet.jpg
Ex-MRI magnet used for the ISS experiment

The ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer (ISS) experiment is a permanent experimental setup located in the ISOLDE facility at CERN. By using an ex-MRI magnet, heavy radioactive ion beams (RIBs) produced by the HIE-ISOLDE post-accelerator are directed at a light target and the kinematics of the reaction is measured. The purpose of the experiment is to measure properties of atomic nuclei replicating the conditions present in some astrophysical processes, such as the production of chemical elements in stars. [1] [2] The experiment will also produce results that provide a better understanding of nucleon-nucleon interactions in highly-unstable, very radioactive (exotic) nuclei. [1]

Contents

The ISS experiment was fully commissioned in 2021 and finished construction during the Long Shutdown 2. [2]

Background

Conventional nuclide production experiments are performed by bombarding target materials with protons or neutrons, and analysing the produced isotopes after irradiation. This limits analysis of the reaction mechanism as short-lived products are not observed due to time delay. [3] [4] An alternate method to this is inverse kinematics, which is based on bombarding a hydrogen target with heavy projectiles. The products and kinematics of these reactions can be detected in-flight by detectors. [5]

The Q-value for a nuclear reaction gives the amount of energy absorbed or released in a reaction. Measurements of this value can be inferred from the energy of the particles emitted in the reaction. From the angular distribution of the yield of the reaction, the excitation energy of the residual nucleus and its angular momentum quantum number can be determined. Due to the inverse kinematics method used, the resolutions of measurements is affected by relativistic effects, especially when the centre-of-mass moves at a high velocity in the laboratory frame. [2]

Interior view of the ISS experiment, with the ultraviolet bakeout system in the foreground. ISS Interior View.jpg
Interior view of the ISS experiment, with the ultraviolet bakeout system in the foreground.

Simple reactions with radioactive beams can be studied using the concept of inverse kinematics with a Helical Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS). Inside a uniform-field magnetic solenoid, the particles follow helical trajectories after being emitted from a target aligned with the magnetic axis of the magnet. After one orbit, the particles return to the axis and can be detected, which prevents kinematic compression effects. [6] [7] [2] This design works for light charged particles emitted during nuclear reactions. [8]

Experimental setup

The ISOLDE facility produces RIBs by bombarding protons from the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB) onto an isotope production target. The beams of interest, chosen by their chemistry and mass, are then ionised and accelerated before being impinged onto a heavy hydrogen target. The ISS is used to measure the kinematics of the reactions. [2] [9]

The ISS consists of a hexagonal tube with silicon sensors placed along the axis of a 4 T solenoid magnet. [10] This configuration is based on that of the HELIOS spectrometer, so that there is no kinematic compression. [11] The magnet was formally used for MRI purposes, and was obtained from the University of Queensland hospital. [9] The full magnetic field strength of the magnetic is currently unable to utilised due to the 2.5 T limits of the ISOLDE facility, although plans are intended to increase the limit. [12]

Hexagonal-structured of silicon array for the ISS experiment ISS Silicon Detectors.jpg
Hexagonal-structured of silicon array for the ISS experiment

The silicon sensors used are 24 double-sided strip detectors, designed to allow Q-value resolutions approaching 20 keV. The hexagonal-structured array is constructed three individual modules each with eight detectors. [10] The array also includes four DSSSD detectors on each side, one side paired across the silicon wafers. [13]

The target used for the reactions studies with weak beams is an active target called SpecMAT. [14] It uses a time-projection chamber (TPC), with its inner volume filled with a specific gas mixture depending on the gas nuclei needed to produce the desired reaction. [15] The TPC is paired with highly-granulated gaseous detector, and a cylindrical electric-field shaper. The SpecMAT collects 3D tracks and kinematics for each reaction event. [16] Around the SpecMAT, an array of scintillation detectors (CeBr3) performs detailed gamma-ray spectroscopy of the nuclear states. [14]

Results

The first results from the ISS experiment, was a study of the neutron structure of 207Hg, a previously unstudied isotope. After analysis, the binding energies of the nuclear orbitals were determined and used to challenge theoretical models. [17] [18]

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The ISOLDE Radioactive Ion Beam Facility, is an on-line isotope separator facility located at the centre of the CERN accelerator complex on the Franco-Swiss border. Created in 1964, the ISOLDE facility started delivering radioactive ion beams (RIBs) to users in 1967. Originally located at the Synchro-Cyclotron (SC) accelerator, the facility has been upgraded several times most notably in 1992 when the whole facility was moved to be connected to CERN's ProtonSynchroton Booster (PSB). ISOLDE is currently the longest-running facility in operation at CERN, with continuous developments of the facility and its experiments keeping ISOLDE at the forefront of science with RIBs. ISOLDE benefits a wide range of physics communities with applications covering nuclear, atomic, molecular and solid-state physics, but also biophysics and astrophysics, as well as high-precision experiments looking for physics beyond the Standard Model. The facility is operated by the ISOLDE Collaboration, comprising CERN and sixteen (mostly) European countries. As of 2019, close to 1,000 experimentalists around the world are coming to ISOLDE to perform typically 50 different experiments per year.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">COLLAPS experiment</span>

The COLinear LAser SPectroscopy (COLLAPS) experiment is located in the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate ground and isomeric state properties of exotic, short lived nuclei, including spins, electro-magnetic moments and charge radii. The experiment has been operating since the late 1970s, and is the oldest active experiment at ISOLDE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CRIS experiment</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">EC-SLI experiment</span>

The Emission Channeling with Short-Lived Isotopes (EC-SLI) experiment is a permanent setup located within the ISOLDE facility and CERN. The purpose of the experiment is to study lattice locations of dopants and impurities in both single crystals and epitaxial thin films. The experiment uses short-lived isotopes from the ISOLDE on-line beamline, as well as longer-lived isotopes from three off-line beamlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISOLDE Decay Station experiment</span>

The ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS) is a permanent experiment located in the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The purpose of the experiment is to measure decay properties of radioactive isotopes using spectroscopy techniques for a variety of applications, including nuclear engineering and astrophysics. The experimental setup has been operational since 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISOLTRAP experiment</span>

The high-precision mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP experiment is a permanent experimental setup located at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The purpose of the experiment is to make precision mass measurements using the time-of-flight (ToF) detection technique. Studying nuclides and probing nuclear structure gives insight into various areas of physics, including astrophysics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miniball experiment</span>

The Miniballexperiment is a gamma-ray spectroscopy setup regularly located in the ISOLDE facility at CERN, along with other locations including GSI, Cologne, PSI and RIKEN (HiCARI). Miniball is a high-resolution germanium detector array, specifically designed to work with low-intensity radioactive ion beams post-accelerated by HIE-ISOLDE, to analyse gamma radiation emitted by short-lived nuclei. Due to six-fold detector segmentation, Miniball offers a superior Doppler-correction capability with respect to conventional gamma-ray spectrometers using unsegmented detectors. The array has been used for successful Coulomb-excitation and transfer-reaction experiments with exotic beams. Results from Miniball experiments have been used to determine and probe nuclear structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SEC experiment</span>

The Scattering Experiments Chamber (SEC) experiment is a permanent experimental setup located in the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The station facilitates diversified reaction experiments, especially for studying low-lying resonances in light atomic nuclei via transfer reactions. SEC does not detect gamma radiation, and therefore is complementary to the ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer (ISS) and Miniball experiments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VITO experiment</span>

The Versatile Ion polarisation Technique Online (VITO) experiment is a permanent experimental setup located in the ISOLDE facility at CERN, in the form of a beamline. The purpose of the beamline is to perform a wide range of studies using spin-polarised short-lived atomic nuclei. VITO uses circularly-polarised laser light to obtain polarised radioactive beams of different isotopes delivered by ISOLDE. These have already been used for weak-interaction studies, biological investigations, and more recently nuclear structure research. The beamline is located at the site of the former Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) beamline hosting ASPIC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WISArD experiment</span> Experimental setup at CERN

The Weak Interaction Studies with 32Ar Decay (WISArD) experiment is a permanent experimental setup located in the ISOLDE facility, at CERN. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate the weak interaction by looking for beta-delayed protons emitted from a nucleus. In the absence of online isotope production during Long Shutdown 2, the experimental setup has also been used to measure the shape of the beta energy spectrum. A goal of the experiment is to search for physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) by expanding the existing limits on currents in the weak interaction.

References

  1. 1 2 "ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer - Department of Physics - University of Liverpool". www.liverpool.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "ISOLDE's Solenoidal Spectrometer (ISS): a new tool for studying exotic nuclei". EP News. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  3. ↑ Casten, R. F.; Beausang, C. W. (2003-01-01), "Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy", in Meyers, Robert A. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology (Third Edition), New York: Academic Press, pp. 433–454, doi:10.1016/b0-12-227410-5/00273-8, ISBN   978-0-12-227410-7 , retrieved 2023-07-26
  4. ↑ Chakrabarti, Alok; Naik, Vaishali; Dechoudhury, Siddhartha (2021-06-30). Rare Isotope Beams: Concepts and Techniques. CRC Press. ISBN   978-1-4987-8879-3.
  5. ↑ "Inverse kinematics". www-windows.gsi.de. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  6. ↑ Wuosmaa, A. H.; Schiffer, J. P.; Back, B. B.; Lister, C. J.; Rehm, K. E. (2007-10-11). "A solenoidal spectrometer for reactions in inverse kinematics". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 580 (3): 1290–1300. Bibcode:2007NIMPA.580.1290W. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2007.07.029. ISSN   0168-9002.
  7. ↑ "Argonne Physics Division - ATLAS". www.phy.anl.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  8. ↑ "ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer (ISS) | ISOLDE". isolde.cern. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  9. 1 2 "Retired MRI scanner gets new life studying the stars". CERN. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  10. 1 2 Zemliansak, Daria (22 Sep 2022). "Online data visualization for the ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer" (PDF). ISOLDE.
  11. ↑ Lenzi, Silvia M.; Cortina-Gil, Dolores (2022-08-25). The Euroschool on Exotic Beams, Vol. VI. Springer Nature. ISBN   978-3-031-10751-1.
  12. ↑ "Magnet | ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer". isolde-solenoidal-spectrometer.web.cern.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  13. ↑ "Si-detector array | ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer". isolde-solenoidal-spectrometer.web.cern.ch. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  14. 1 2 Poleshchuk, O.; Raabe, R.; Ceruti, S.; Ceulemans, A.; De Witte, H.; Marchi, T.; Mentana, A.; Refsgaard, J.; Yang, J. (2021-11-01). "The SpecMAT active target". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 1015: 165765. Bibcode:2021NIMPA101565765P. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2021.165765. ISSN   0168-9002. S2CID   239635758.
  15. ↑ Raabe, Riccardo (2022), Lenzi, Silvia M.; Cortina-Gil, Dolores (eds.), "Nuclear Structure Studies with Active Targets", The Euroschool on Exotic Beams, Vol. VI, Lecture Notes in Physics, vol. 1005, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 209–243, doi:10.1007/978-3-031-10751-1_6, ISBN   978-3-031-10750-4 , retrieved 2023-07-26
  16. ↑ Candiello, Anita (2022). "Characterisation of the SpecMAT active target for the α(86Kr,3He)87Kr transfer reaction" (PDF). Universita Degli Studi di Padova.
  17. ↑ "ISOLDE steps into unexplored region of the nuclear chart". CERN. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  18. ↑ Tang, T. L.; Kay, B. P.; Hoffman, C. R.; Schiffer, J. P.; Sharp, D. K.; Gaffney, L. P.; Freeman, S. J.; Mumpower, M. R.; Arokiaraj, A.; Baader, E. F.; Butler, P. A.; Catford, W. N.; de Angelis, G.; Flavigny, F.; Gott, M. D. (2020-02-13). "First Exploration of Neutron Shell Structure below Lead and beyond N = 126". Physical Review Letters. 124 (6): 062502. arXiv: 2001.00976 . Bibcode:2020PhRvL.124f2502T. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.062502 . ISSN   0031-9007. PMID   32109128.
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