Precision Mass Measurements on Neutron-Rich Rare-Earth Isotopes at JYFLTRAP: Reduced Neutron Pairing and Implications for r-Process Calculations

Prominent Bump in the Two-Neutron Separation Energies of Neutron-Rich Lanthanum Isotopes Revealed by High-Precision Mass Spectrometry

We report on high-precision atomic mass measurements of ^{148-153}La and ^{151}Ce performed with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap using the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique. The masses of ^{152,153}La were experimentally determined for the first time. We confirm the sharp kink in the two-neutron separation energies at the neutron number N=93 in the cerium (Z=58) isotopic chain. Our precision mass measurements of the most exotic neutron-rich lanthanum (Z=57) isotopes reveal a unexpected sudden increase in two-neutron separation energies from N=92 to N=93. Unlike in the cerium isotopic chain, the kink is not sharp but extends to N=94 forming a prominent bump. The gain in energy is about 0.4 MeV, making it one of the strongest changes in two-neutron separation energies over the whole chart of nuclides, away from nuclear shell closures. The results, correlated with a predicted onset of quadrupole deformation for N≥92, call for further studies to elucidate the structure of neutron-rich lanthanum isotopes.

AMC 12 atomic mass compilation data extrapolated for atomic masses of nuclei far from the valley of stability

The experimental mass data from the Atomic Mass Compilation - 2012 (AMC12) has been analyzed for two-neutron separation energies ([Formula: see text]), two-proton separation energies ([Formula: see text]), double-beta decay energies ([Formula: see text]), and four-beta decay energies ([Formula: see text]) and plotted against neutron number and mass number, respectively. A new weighted slope method of extrapolation, tested for known and new mass measurements, has been used to obtain the extrapolated mass values with better precision for more than 1100 nuclei far from the valley of stability, out of which more than 100 are being reported for the first time. A comparison has been made with five of the popular mass models with reference to experimental extrapolated masses from the present work and the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2016 (AME16). The extrapolated experimental atomic mass data will be very useful for both experimentalists and mass-model theoreticians, as well as in simulations of astrophysical r-processes.

Sensitivity of Neutron-Rich Nuclear Isomer Behavior to Uncertainties in Direct Transitions

Nuclear isomers are populated in the rapid neutron capture process (r process) of nucleosynthesis. The r process may cover a wide range of temperatures, potentially starting from several tens of GK (several MeV) and then cooling as material is ejected from the event. As the r-process environment cools, isomers can freeze out of thermal equilibrium or be directly populated as astrophysically metastable isomers (astromers). Astromers can undergo reactions and decays at rates very different from the ground state, so they may need to be treated independently in nucleosythesis simulations. Two key behaviors of astromers—ground state ↔ isomer transition rates and thermalization temperatures—are determined by direct transition rates between pairs of nuclear states. We perform a sensitivity study to constrain the effects of unknown transitions on astromer behavior. Detailed balance ensures that ground → isomer and isomer → ground transitions are symmetric, so unknown transitions are equally impactful in both directions. We also introduce a categorization of astromers that describes their potential effects in hot environments. We provide a table of neutron-rich isomers that includes the astromer type, thermalization temperature, and key unmeasured transition rates.

Erratum: Precision Mass Measurements on Neutron-Rich Rare-Earth Isotopes at JYFLTRAP: Reduced Neutron Pairing and Implications for r-Process Calculations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 262701 (2018)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.262701.

Direct mass measurements and ionization potential measurements of the actinides

The precise determination of atomic and nuclear properties such as masses, differential charge radii, nuclear spins, electromagnetic moments and the ionization potential of the actinides has been extended to the late actinides in recent years. In particular, laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry have reached the region of heavy actinides that can only be produced only at accelerator facilities. The new results provide deeper insight into the impact of relativistic effects on the atomic structure and the evolution of nuclear shell effects around the deformed neutron shell closure at N = 152. All these experimental activities have also opened the door to extend such measurements to the transactinide elements in the near future. This contribution summarizes recent achievements in Penning trap mass spectrometry and laser spectroscopy of the late actinides and addresses future perspectives.

Precise ground state properties of the heaviest elements for studies of their atomic and nuclear structure

The precise determination of atomic and nuclear properties such as masses, differential charge radii, nuclear spins and electromagnetic moments of exotic nuclides has recently been extended to the region of the heaviest elements. To this end, ion trap-based techniques and laser spectroscopy methods have been employed to provide information complementary to that obtained by nuclear spectroscopy. This enables more detailed studies of the atomic and nuclear structure of these exotic nuclides far from stability. This contribution summarizes some of the recent achievements and addresses future perspectives for measurements on even heavier elements.

Precision Mass Measurements of Neutron-Rich Neodymium and Samarium Isotopes and Their Role in Understanding Rare-Earth Peak Formation

The Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer at the Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) facility was used to measure the masses of eight neutron-rich isotopes of Nd and Sm. These measurements are the first to push into the region of nuclear masses relevant to the formation of the rare-earth abundance peak at A∼165 by the rapid neutron-capture process. We compare our results with theoretical predictions obtained from "reverse engineering" the mass surface that best reproduces the observed solar abundances in this region through a Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. Our measured masses are consistent with the reverse-engineering predictions for a neutron star merger wind scenario.