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- Udrescu, S. M., et al.
(författare)
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Precision spectroscopy and laser-cooling scheme of a radium-containing molecule
- 2024
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Ingår i: NATURE PHYSICS. - 1745-2473 .- 1745-2481. ; 20:2, s. 193-194
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecules containing heavy radioactive nuclei are predicted to be extremely sensitive to violations of the fundamental symmetries of nature. The nuclear octupole deformation of certain radium isotopes massively boosts the sensitivity of radium monofluoride molecules to symmetry-violating nuclear properties. Moreover, these molecules are predicted to be laser coolable. Here we report measurements of the rovibronic structure of radium monofluoride molecules, which allow the determination of their laser cooling scheme. We demonstrate an improvement in resolution of more than two orders of magnitude compared to the state of the art. Our developments allowed measurements of minuscule amounts of hot molecules, with only a few hundred per second produced in a particular rotational state. The combined precision and sensitivity achieved in this work offer opportunities for studies of radioactive molecules of interest in fundamental physics, chemistry and astrophysics. Measurements of the rovibronic structure of radium monofluoride molecules allow the identification of a laser cooling scheme. This will enable precise tests of fundamental physics, such as searches for parity or time-reversal symmetry violation.
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- Vernon, A. R., et al.
(författare)
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Nuclear moments of indium isotopes reveal abrupt change at magic number 82
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 607:7918, s. 260-265
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In spite of the high-density and strongly correlated nature of the atomic nucleus, experimental and theoretical evidence suggests that around particular ‘magic’ numbers of nucleons, nuclear properties are governed by a single unpaired nucleon1,2. A microscopic understanding of the extent of this behaviour and its evolution in neutron-rich nuclei remains an open question in nuclear physics3–5. The indium isotopes are considered a textbook example of this phenomenon6, in which the constancy of their electromagnetic properties indicated that a single unpaired proton hole can provide the identity of a complex many-nucleon system6,7. Here we present precision laser spectroscopy measurements performed to investigate the validity of this simple single-particle picture. Observation of an abrupt change in the dipole moment at N = 82 indicates that, whereas the single-particle picture indeed dominates at neutron magic number N = 82 (refs. 2,8), it does not for previously studied isotopes. To investigate the microscopic origin of these observations, our work provides a combined effort with developments in two complementary nuclear many-body methods: ab initio valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group and density functional theory (DFT). We find that the inclusion of time-symmetry-breaking mean fields is essential for a correct description of nuclear magnetic properties, which were previously poorly constrained. These experimental and theoretical findings are key to understanding how seemingly simple single-particle phenomena naturally emerge from complex interactions among protons and neutrons. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.
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- Koszorús, Agota, et al.
(författare)
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Charge radii of exotic potassium isotopes challenge nuclear theory and the magic character of N = 32
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Physics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1745-2481 .- 1745-2473. ; 17:4, s. 439-443
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nuclear charge radii are sensitive probes of different aspects of the nucleon–nucleon interaction and the bulk properties of nuclear matter, providing a stringent test and challenge for nuclear theory. Experimental evidence suggested a new magic neutron number at N = 32 (refs. 1–3) in the calcium region, whereas the unexpectedly large increases in the charge radii4,5 open new questions about the evolution of nuclear size in neutron-rich systems. By combining the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy method with β-decay detection, we were able to extend charge radii measurements of potassium isotopes beyond N = 32. Here we provide a charge radius measurement of 52K. It does not show a signature of magic behaviour at N = 32 in potassium. The results are interpreted with two state-of-the-art nuclear theories. The coupled cluster theory reproduces the odd–even variations in charge radii but not the notable increase beyond N = 28. This rise is well captured by Fayans nuclear density functional theory, which, however, overestimates the odd–even staggering effect in charge radii. These findings highlight our limited understanding of the nuclear size of neutron-rich systems, and expose problems that are present in some of the best current models of nuclear theory.
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- Nichols, M., et al.
(författare)
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Investigating radioactive negative ion production via double electron capture
- 2023
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. - 0168-583X. ; 541, s. 264-267
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relative cross sections for radioactive negative ion production via double electron capture have been measured for collisions between a 40 keV projectile beam of uranium-238 and potassium vapor. This was performed at the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN-ISOLDE and is a step towards measuring the electron affinities (EAs) of elements that cannot be efficiently produced in negative ion sources at radioactive ion beam (RIB) facilities. This includes short-lived radioactive isotopes that have low production quantities and heavy and superheavy elements that systematically have smaller EAs than work functions of available ion source materials. Negative ions are particularly sensitive to electron-electron correlation effects, which make such studies ideal for benchmarking atomic structure models that go beyond the independent particle model. While the EAs of most light elements have been measured, experimental investigations on heavier elements, namely the actinides, remain scarce due to their radioactive nature and production difficulty. By developing negative ion production by charge exchange, we aim to make these studies feasible at RIB facilities.
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- Urquiza-González, M., et al.
(författare)
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Benchmark evaluation for a single frequency continuous wave OPO seeded pulsed dye amplifier for high-resolution laser spectroscopy
- 2023
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Ingår i: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. - : SPIE. - 0277-786X .- 1996-756X. - 9781510659032
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study of the atomic spectrum via resonant laser excitation provides access to underlying effects caused by the nuclear structure, which is of special interest in short-lived radioisotopes produced at Isotope Separator On-Line (ISOL) facilities. Current implementations of resonant laser ionization techniques often limit the extraction of the nuclear observables due to the low spectral resolution of the pulsed laser systems deployed. Several high-resolution spectroscopy techniques demand spectral widths in the order of hundreds of MHz and below. A proven solution to reduce this linewidth is the pulsed amplification of a narrow-band continuous wave (cw) laser. This work presents the demonstration of a pulsed dye amplifier seeded by a commercially available cw Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO). The performance of this system was compared with competing setups using a cw dye laser seed source as well as a frequency mixing technique using a combination of an injection-locked titanium:sapphire (Ti:Sa) and a Nd:YVO4 laser. Spectral bandwidths of the systems were measured using a high finesse Fabry-Perot Interferometer, resulting in comparable optical linewidths between 140 to 156 MHz at a wavelength of 328 nm for the different laser setups. Suitability for on-line experiments was validated by performing high-resolution spectroscopy of radioactive silver isotopes in the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at the Isotope Separator On-Line Device (ISOLDE), at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The quality of the hyperfine spectra was similar for the dye and the OPO seed and the deduced hyperfine splitting was in good agreement with literature, while the frequency mixing technique exhibited less precise results attributed to the frequency instabilities and mode-hops of the single-mode Nd:YVO4 laser.
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- Willems, R., et al.
(författare)
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Long-Term Healthcare Utilization, Medical Cost, and Societal Cost in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- 2020
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Ingår i: Congenital Heart Disease. - : Computers, Materials and Continua (Tech Science Press). - 1747-079X. ; 15:6, s. 399-429
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Cost-of-illness studies in Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) have mainly been limited to hospitalizations. This is the first paper to provide a comprehensive overview from a societal perspective including inpatient and outpatient medical costs, and absenteeism- and unemployment-related societal costs. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal (2006-2015) database analysis was performed in Belgium combining administrative and clinical databases (n = 10,572). Trends in resource use and costs per patient year were standardized to assess the impact of changes in the patient population composition. Generalized Linear Mixed Models assessed the impact of age, sex, lesion complexity, and time. Costs were converted to 2018 values. Results: Medical costs per patient year increased from (sic)3490 to (sic)4536 with a milder increase in patients with severe lesions. Although unemployment-related costs decreased, total societal costs increased due to more long-term (>= 1 yr) invalidity. An increase in long-term invalidity was particularly found in patients >= 30 yrs and in patients with mild or moderate lesions. Resource use (e.g., dental care, nursing care, physiotherapy, emergency department) increased substantially in all patient groups over time. The annual percentage of patients with severe lesions receiving any cardiac and specialized cardiac follow-up increased with respectively 11 and 13 percent points to 81% and 52%, with a simultaneous decrease in hospitalization rate. Conclusion: Medical cost increases in ACHD are most pronounced in patients with mild and moderate lesions, relatable to their higher age. Economic data are necessary to allocate resources efficiently to ensure sustainable, qualitative care in an ageing patient population with strong increases in medical and long-term invalidity-related costs.
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- Athanasakis-Kaklamanakisa, Michail, et al.
(författare)
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Voltage scanning and technical upgrades at the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy experiment
- 2023
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Ingår i: NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION B-BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS. - 0168-583X .- 1872-9584. ; 541, s. 86-89
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To optimize the performance of the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN-ISOLDE, technical upgrades are continuously introduced, aiming to enhance its sensitivity, precision, stability, and efficiency. Recently, a voltage-scanning setup was developed and commissioned at CRIS, which improved the scanning speed by a factor of three as compared to the current laser-frequency scanning approach. This leads to faster measurements of the hyperfine structure for systems with high yields (more than a few thousand ions per second). Additionally, several beamline sections have been redesigned and manufactured, including a new field-ionization unit, an electrostatic bend with a larger deflection angle, and improved ion optics. The beamline upgrades are expected to yield an improvement of at least a factor of 5 in the signal-to-noise ratio by avoiding the use of high-power lasers (which yield non-resonantly produced ions) and providing time-of-flight separation between the resonant ions and the collisional background.
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- Kirsebom, O. S., et al.
(författare)
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Measurement of the 2+→0+ ground-state transition in the β decay of F 20
- 2019
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. - 2469-9985. ; 100:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the first detection of the second-forbidden, nonunique, 2+→0+, ground-state transition in the β decay of F20. A low-energy, mass-separated F+20 beam produced at the IGISOL facility in Jyväskylä, Finland, was implanted in a thin carbon foil and the β spectrum measured using a magnetic transporter and a plastic-scintillator detector. The β-decay branching ratio inferred from the measurement is bβ=[0.41±0.08(stat)±0.07(sys)]×10-5 corresponding to logft=10.89(11), making this one of the strongest second-forbidden, nonunique β transitions ever measured. The experimental result is supported by shell-model calculations and has significant implications for the final evolution of stars that develop degenerate oxygen-neon cores. Using the new experimental data, we argue that the astrophysical electron-capture rate on Ne20 is now known to within better than 25% at the relevant temperatures and densities.
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