Mass and half-life measurements of neutron-deficient iodine isotopes

Neutron-deficient iodine isotopes, 116I and 114I, were produced at relativistic energies by in-flight fragmentation at the Fragment Separator (FRS) at GSI. The FRS Ion Catcher was used to thermalize the ions and to perform highly accurate mass measurements with a Multiple-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass-Spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS). The masses of both isotopes were measured directly for the first time. The half-life of the 114I was measured by storing the ions in an RF quadrupole for different storage times and counting the remaining nuclei with the MR-TOF-MS. The measured half-life was used to assign the ground state to the measured 114I ions. Predictions on the possible α-decay branch for 114I are presented based on the reduced uncertainties obtained for the Qα-value. Systematic studies of the mass surface were performed with the newly obtained masses, showing better agreement with the expected trend in this mass region.peerReviewe

Performance of IGISOL 3

The main goal of the upgrade project of the IGISOL was to increase the yields of the mass-separated reaction products. The first tests showed that the goal was met. Typically, the yields normalized to the primary beam intensity are at least three times higher than before the upgrade. In addition, we have started a project to selectively laser ionize neutral atoms in the gas jet emerging from the ion guide and guide the photo-ions with a radiofrequency ion trap to the acceleration stage of the isotope separator