Further Evidence for Shape Coexistence in

Isomers close to doubly magic _{28}^{78}Ni_{50} provide essential information on the shell evolution and shape coexistence near the Z=28 and N=50 double shell closure. We report the excitation energy measurement of the 1/2^{+} isomer in _{30}^{79}Zn_{49} through independent high-precision mass measurements with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap and with the ISOLTRAP multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer. We unambiguously place the 1/2^{+} isomer at 942(10) keV, slightly below the 5/2^{+} state at 983(3) keV. With the use of state-of-the-art shell-model diagonalizations, complemented with discrete nonorthogonal shell-model calculations which are used here for the first time to interpret shape coexistence, we find low-lying deformed intruder states, similar to other N=49 isotones. The 1/2^{+} isomer is interpreted as the bandhead of a low-lying deformed structure akin to a predicted low-lying deformed band in ^{80}Zn, and points to shape coexistence in ^{79,80}Zn similar to the one observed in ^{78}Ni. The results make a strong case for confirming the claim of shape coexistence in this key region of the nuclear chart.

Evidence of a sudden increase in the nuclear size of proton-rich silver-96.

Understanding the evolution of the nuclear charge radius is one of the long-standing challenges for nuclear theory. Recently, density functional theory calculations utilizing Fayans functionals have successfully reproduced the charge radii of a variety of exotic isotopes. However, difficulties in the isotope production have hindered testing these models in the immediate region of the nuclear chart below the heaviest self-conjugate doubly-magic nucleus 100Sn, where the near-equal number of protons (Z) and neutrons (N) lead to enhanced neutron-proton pairing. Here, we present an optical excursion into this region by crossing the N = 50 magic neutron number in the silver isotopic chain with the measurement of the charge radius of 96Ag (N = 49). The results provide a challenge for nuclear theory: calculations are unable to reproduce the pronounced discontinuity in the charge radii as one moves below N = 50. The technical advancements in this work open the N = Z region below 100Sn for further optical studies, which will lead to more comprehensive input for nuclear theory development.

High-Precision Q-Value Measurement Confirms the Potential of

The ground-state-to-ground-state ß-decay Q value of ^{135}Cs(7/2^{+})→^{135}Ba(3/2^{+}) has been directly measured for the first time. The measurement was done utilizing both the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron resonance technique and the time-of-flight ion-cyclotron resonance technique at the JYFLTRAP Penning-trap setup and yielded a mass difference of 268.66(30) keV between ^{135}Cs(7/2^{+}) and ^{135}Ba(3/2^{+}). With this very small uncertainty, this measurement is a factor of 3 more precise than the currently adopted Q value in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2016. The measurement confirms that the first-forbidden unique ß^{-}-decay transition ^{135}Cs(7/2^{+})→^{135}Ba(11/2^{-}) is a candidate for antineutrino mass measurements with an ultralow Q value of 0.44(31) keV. This Q value is almost an order of magnitude smaller than those of nuclides presently used in running or planned direct (anti)neutrino mass experiment.

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.

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

The rare-earth peak in the r-process abundance pattern depends sensitively on both the astrophysical conditions and subtle changes in nuclear structure in the region. This work takes an important step towards elucidating the nuclear structure and reducing the uncertainties in r-process calculations via precise atomic mass measurements at the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap. ^{158}Nd, ^{160}Pm, ^{162}Sm, and ^{164-166}Gd have been measured for the first time, and the precisions for ^{156}Nd, ^{158}Pm, ^{162,163}Eu, ^{163}Gd, and ^{164}Tb have been improved considerably. Nuclear structure has been probed via two-neutron separation energies S_{2n} and neutron pairing energy metrics D_{n}. The data do not support the existence of a subshell closure at N=100. Neutron pairing has been found to be weaker than predicted by theoretical mass models. The impact on the calculated r-process abundances has been studied. Substantial changes resulting in a smoother abundance distribution and a better agreement with the solar r-process abundances are observed.

SIAmate-a compact and modular sequential injection analysis controller.

A number of sequential injection analysis (SIA) measurement methods have been developed during the last years. Almost all have been used in laboratory conditions with good results, but very few have been implemented as on-line methods, applied to non-stop measurements, producing immediate results for process control. The transfer of an SIA system from laboratory to an industrial facility [J. Ruzicka, Anal. Chim. Acta 261 (1992) 3] requires a whole new range of details to be taken into account. Some SIA platform related topics will be discussed. There are numerous ways of building an SIA system that meets the needs of the industry. One alternative, SIAmate, is presented.