Multi-nucleon transfer reactions at ion catcher facilities : a new way to produce and study heavy neutron-rich nuclei

Abstract

The production of very neutron-rich nuclides heavier than fissionfragments is an ongoing experimental challenge. Multi-nucleon transfer reactions(MNT) have been suggested as a method to produce these nuclides. By thermalizingthe reaction products in gas-filled stopping cells, we can deliver them as cooled high-quality beams to decay, laser and mass spectrometry experiments. High precision massspectrometry will allow for the first time to universally and unambiguously identify theatomic and proton numbers of the ions produced in MNT reactions. In this way theirground and isomeric state properties can be studied in high-precision measurements.In experiments at IGISOL, Finland and at FRS Ion Catcher, Germany, we havedone and will perform broadband measurements of the reaction products, with theaim to improve the understanding of the reaction mechanism and to determine theproperties of the ground and isomeric states of the produced nuclides. First resultsand preparations for upcoming experiments are presented.