arXiv subjects

J. Ruotsalainen

Publications and source records attributed to J. Ruotsalainen.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Island of Inversion in neutron-rich cobalt isotopes revealed from mass measurements

Mass measurements of the ground and isomeric states of $^{68-70}$Co have been performed using the JYFLTRAP Penning-trap mass spectrometer at the IGISOL facility. The masses were measured, either for the first time for the isomeric states of $^{68}$Co and $^{70}$Co, or with greatly improved precision for the others, removing ambiguities in the mass surface beyond $N=40$. The ordering of the low and high-spin states in $^{68}$Co and $^{70}$Co has also been established. The results, supported by Large-Scale Shell Model and Discrete Non-Orthogonal Shell-Model calculations, show a gradual lowering of intruder states with increasing neutron number, eventually leading to an inversion in $^{70}$Co. These findings clarify previously proposed contradictory interpretations. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of including induced effective 3N forces for a consistent description of binding energies in the island of inversion near $N=40$.

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arXiv2026

Study of $\boldsymbol{\beta}$ Decay Shape Factors in First-Forbidden Transitions with $\boldsymbol{\Delta I^\pi = 0^-}$ for Reactor Antineutrino Spectra Predictions

The electron spectra of the $\beta$ decays of $^{92}$Rb and $^{142}$Cs, key contributors to the reactor antineutrino spectrum, were measured at the IGISOL facility using radioactive beams of high isotopic purity. The shapes of the measured $\beta$ spectra were compared with various $\beta$ shape models, including first-forbidden correction factors for $\Delta I^\pi = 0^-$ ground-state to ground-state transitions. Comparisons with previous experimental results are also provided. The shapes of the newly measured $\beta$ spectra are well reproduced employing feedings extracted from total absorption gamma spectroscopy measurements.

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arXiv2025

High-resolution multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer for exotic nuclei at IGISOL

A Multi-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (MR-ToF-MS) has been commissioned at the Ion-Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility. It consists of six electrode pairs that form a nearly energy-isochronous potential and a pulsed drift-tube to trap the ions between the electrodes. Time-of-flight peak widths down to 22 ns full-width at half-maximum and mass-resolving powers of $\approx 1.5 \times 10^5$ within 20 ms have been demonstrated. The obtained time-focus and mass-resolving power depend sensitively on the trapping energy, energy spread and the number of revolutions of the ions. The mass-resolving power is affected by the temporal and energy spread of the ions entering the MR-ToF-MS, and fluctuations in the electrode voltages due to temperature variations. The longitudinal emittance corresponding to the temporal and energy spread of $^{39}$K is estimated to be 175 eVns based on the data, close to the expected 186(10) eVns. The time-of-flight temperature sensitivity is found to be -5.55(30) ppm/K. In addition to atomic mass measurements of short-lived exotic nuclides, the MR-ToF-MS can be used as a fast mass separator for various other experiments at IGISOL and as an ion counter for laser spectroscopy and yield measurements.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Probing the quantum phase transition around $N\approx60$ via mass measurements of technetium isotopes

The masses of neutron-rich $^{104-106}$Tc isotopes were measured using the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap and found to deviate from the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2020 by $-79(25)$, $40(12)$ and $94(41)$ keV, respectively. In the case of $^{105,106}$Tc, the updated $Q_\beta$ values are in agreement with a previous JYFLTRAP measurement, disagreeing with the values from the mass evaluation. The new mass values result in a more linear trend in two-neutron separation energies indicating that technetium ($Z=43$) isotopes around $N \approx 60$ are not a part of the island of shape coexistence around $^{100}$Zr$_{60}$.

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arXiv2025

Study of beta spectrum shapes relevant to the prediction of reactor antineutrino spectra

The shapes of the beta spectra of 92Rb and 142Cs, two of the beta decays most relevant for the prediction of the antineutrino spectrum in reactors, have been measured. A new setup composed of two dE-E telescopes has been used. High purity radioactive beams of the isotopes of interest were provided by the IGISOL facility using the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap. The resulting beta spectra have been compared with model predictions using beta decay feedings from total absorption gamma spectroscopy measurements and shape corrections employed in the calculation of the antineutrino spectrum, validating both further. The procedure can be extended to other relevant nuclei in the future, providing solid ground for the prediction of the antineutrino spectrum in reactors.

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arXiv2025

High-precision mass measurements of the ground and isomeric states in $^{124,125}$Ag

The masses of the ground and isomeric states in $^{124,125}$Ag have been measured using the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique at the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. The ground states of $^{124}$Ag and $^{125}$Ag were found to be 30(250) keV and 250(430) keV less bound but 36 and 110 times more precise than in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2020, respectively. The excitation energy of $^{124}$Ag$^{m}$, ${E_x = 188.2(25)}$ keV, was determined for the first time. The new precise mass values have been utilised to study the evolution of nuclear structure via two-neutron separation energies. The impact on the astrophysical rapid neutron capture process has been investigated via neutron-capture reaction rate calculations. The precision measurements indicate a more linear trend in two-neutron separation energies and reduce the mass-related uncertainties for the neutron-capture rate of $^{124}$Ag$(n,γ)^{125}$Ag by a factor of around 100. The new mass values also improve the mass of $^{123}$Pd, previously measured using $^{124}$Ag as a reference.

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arXiv2025

Ultra-low $Q_β$ value for the allowed decay of $^{110}$Ag$^m$ confirmed via mass measurements

The mass of the electron-antineutrino can be determined in dedicated measurements of the $β$ spectral shape near the $β$ endpoint of a $β^-$ transition, with a low $Q$ value enhancing the sensitivity of the measurement. One such low-$Q$-value candidate is the transition between the $6^+$ isomer of $^{110}$Ag and the $5^+_2$ state in $^{110}$Cd ($Q^{\ast}_{β,m}=-0.12(131)$ keV). To reduce the uncertainty of the $Q$ value, we have used the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap and performed a high-precision atomic-mass measurement of $^{109}$Ag with $^{110}$Cd as a reference. Combined with the known spectroscopic data, we obtain a re-evaluated value $Q^{\ast}_{β,m}=405(135)$ eV, for the $^{110}\text{Ag}(6^+_\text{m}) \rightarrow {^{110}\text{Cd}}(5^+_2)$ transition. This represents the lowest $Q_β$ value for any allowed transition observed to date. In order to estimate the partial half-life ($t_{1/2}$) and branching ratio (Br) of the transition, nuclear shell-model calculations were performed using the $jj45pnb$ Hamiltonian in combination with state-of-the-art atomic calculations. The computed values $t_{1/2} = 2.23^{+5.24}_{-1.28} \times 10^7$ years and $\textrm{Br} = 3.07^{+4.16}_{-2.15} \times 10^{-8}$, along with the thermal-neutron capture on stable $^{109}$Ag as a viable production method, make $^{110}\textrm{Ag}^m$ a promising candidate for future antineutrino-mass measurements.

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arXiv2025

HIBISCUS: a new ion beam radio-frequency quadrupole cooler-buncher for high-precision experiments with exotic radioactive ions

HIBISCUS (Helium-Inflated Beam Improvement Setup that Cools and Undermines Spreads), a new radiofrequency quadrupole cooler-buncher device has been developed and commissioned offline at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility in Jyväskylä in Finland, as an in-kind contribution for the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research facility. HIBISCUS improves the ion optical properties of incident low-energy 6~keV beams with the option to have it ultimately extracted in temporally short bunches ($<1$~$μ$s). This paper provides technical descriptions of its main characteristics, along with a set of optimum working parameters and performance in terms of transmission efficiency, longitudinal energy spread of the cooled ions and temporal width of the extracted bunches.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Isomeric states of fission fragments explored via Penning trap mass spectrometry at IGISOL

The masses of $^{84}$Br, $^{105}$Mo, $^{115,119,121}$Pd, $^{122}$Ag, $^{127,129}$In, $^{132}$Sb and their respective isomeric states have been measured with the JYFLTRAP Penning trap mass spectrometer using the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique. The excitation energies of the isomeric states in $^{132}$Sb and $^{119}$Pd were experimentally determined for the first time, while for $^{84}$Br, $^{115}$Pd and $^{127,129}$In, the precision of the mass values was substantially improved. In $^{105}$Mo and $^{121}$Pd there were no signs of a long-lived isomeric state. The ground-state measurements of $^{119}$Pd and $^{122}$Ag indicated that both are significantly more bound than the literature values. For $^{122}$Ag, there was no indication of a proposed third long-lived state. The results for the $N=49$ nucleus $^{84}$Br and isomers close to doubly magic $^{132}$Sn have been compared to the shell-model and the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model calculations.

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arXiv2024

Discovery of a new long-lived isomer in $^{114}$Rh via Penning-trap mass spectrometry

We report on mass measurements of three long-lived states in $^{114}$Rh performed with the JYFLTRAP Penning-trap mass spectrometer: the ground state and two isomers with estimated half-lives of about one second. The used Phase-Imaging Ion-Cyclotron-Resonance technique allowed for the discovery of a so far unknown second long-lived isomer. All three states were produced directly in proton-induced fission on a uranium target, whereas only the isomeric states were populated in the $β$ decay of the $^{114}$Ru ground state with spin-parity $0^+$. We propose spin-parity assignments of $(6^-)$ for the ground state, and $(3^+)$ and $(0^-)$ for the isomers. They resolve the puzzle of anomalous fission yields of this isotope despite the existing literature assigning a low angular momentum to the ground state. The experimental evidence is further supported by a detailed analysis based on mean-field calculations with the BSkG3 model. As for many other nuclei in this mass region, considering triaxial shapes is decisive for the interpretation of low-lying states of this nucleus. The discovery of a new isomer in $^{114}$Rh and our theoretical work challenge the currently adopted spin-parity assignments in this and several other odd-odd neutron-rich Rh isotopes.

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arXiv2024

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 $^{148\text{-}153}$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 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 call for further studies to elucidate the structure of neutron-rich lanthanum isotopes.

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arXiv2024

Probing the N=104 midshell region for the r process via precision mass spectrometry of neutron-rich rare-earth isotopes with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap

We have performed high-precision mass measurements of neutron-rich rare-earth Tb, Dy and Ho isotopes using the Phase-Imaging Ion-Cyclotron-Resonance technique at the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap. We report on the first experimentally determined mass values for $^{169}$Tb, $^{170}$Dy and $^{171}$Dy, as well as the first high-precision mass measurements of $^{169}$Dy and $^{169\text{-}171}$Ho. For $^{170}$Ho, the two long-lived ground and isomeric states were resolved and their mass measured, yielding an isomer excitation energy of $E_\text{exc}=150.8(54)$~keV. In addition, we have performed independent crosschecks of previous Penning-trap values obtained for $^{167\text{,} 168}$Tb and $^{167\text{,} 168}$Dy. We have extended the systematics of two-neutron separation energies to the neutron midshell at $N=104$ in all of the studied isotopic chains. Our updated and new mass measurements provide better mass-related constraints for the neutron-capture reaction rates relevant to the astrophysical rapid neutron capture (r) process. The r-process abundances calculated with the new mass values seem to produce a steeper minimum at A=170 and differ by around 15-30\% from the abundances computed with the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2020 values.

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arXiv2024

High-precision Penning-trap mass measurements of Cd and In isotopes at JYFLTRAP remove the fluctuations in the two-neutron separation energies

We report on the first direct mass measurements of the $^{118,119}$Cd and $^{117-119}$In isotopes performed at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility using the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. The masses of $^{117}$In and $^{118}$Cd isotopes are in agreement with the literature, while $^{118,119}$In and $^{119}$Cd differ from literature by 49, 13 and 85 keV (6.1, 1.9 and 2.1 standard deviations), respectively. The excitation energy of the $^{118}$In first isomeric state, $E_x = 40.3(25)$ keV, was determined for the first time. The updated mass values removed the fluctuations observed in the two-neutron separation energies and lead to a smoother linear decrease of both isotopic chains. The $\log(ft)$ value for the $^{118}$Cd decay is also found to increase from 3.93(6) to 4.089(8). The reported results indicate an absence of significant structural changes around $N=70$.

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arXiv2024

Mass measurements in the $^{132}$Sn region with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer

We report on new precision mass measurements of neutron-rich $^{137}$Sb and $^{136-142}$I isotopes from the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. We confirm the value from the previous Penning-trap measurement of $^{137}$Sb at the Canadian Penning Trap and therefore rule out the conflicting result from the Experimental Storage Ring. The ground state and isomer in $^{136}$I were resolved and measured directly for the first time. The isomer excitation energy, $E_x = 215.1(43)$ keV, agrees with the literature but is three times more precise. The measurements have improved the precision of the mass values and confirmed previous results in the majority of cases. However, for $^{138,140}$I the results differ by 17(6) keV and 23(12) keV, respectively. This could be explained by an unresolved contamination or different ratio of unresolved isomeric states in the case of $^{140}$I.

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arXiv2023

Precision mass measurement of $^{173}$Hf for nuclear structure of $^{173}$Lu and the $γ$ process

We report on the precise mass measurement of the $^{173}$Hf isotope performed at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility using the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. The new mass-excess value, ${\mathrm{ME} = -55390.8(30)}$ keV, is in agreement with the literature while being nine times more precise. The newly determined $^{173}$Hf electron-capture $Q$ value, $Q_{EC} = 1490.2(34)$ keV, allows us to firmly reject the population of an excited state at 1578 keV in $^{173}$Lu and 11 transitions tentatively assigned to the decay of $^{173}$Hf. Our refined mass value of $^{173}$Hf reduces mass-related uncertainties in the reaction rate of $^{174}$Hf$(γ,n)^{173}$Hf. Thus, the rate for the main photodisintegration destruction channel of the $p$ nuclide $^{174}$Hf in the relevant temperature region for the $γ$ process is better constrained.

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arXiv2023

Reinvestigation of $^{91}$Sr and $^{95}$Y atomic masses using the JYFLTRAP Penning trap

We report on the precise mass measurements of the $^{91}$Sr and $^{95}$Y isotopes performed using the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer. The mass-excess values from this work, ${\mathrm{ME}(^{91}\mathrm{Sr}) = -83645.5(13)}$ keV and ${\mathrm{ME}(^{95}\mathrm{Y}) = -81226.4(10)}$ keV, deviate by 6.5(52) keV and $-18(7)$ keV from the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2020 (AME20). In the case of $^{91}$Sr the new result disagrees with the ISOLTRAP value, while for $^{95}$Y, it agrees with the older JYFLTRAP value.

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arXiv2023

Binding energies of ground and isomeric states in neutron-rich ruthenium isotopes: measurements at JYFLTRAP and comparison to theory

We report on precision mass measurements of $^{113,115,117}$Ru performed with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer at the Accelerator Laboratory of University of Jyväskylä. The phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique was used to resolve the ground and isomeric states in $^{113,115}$Ru and enabled for the first time a measurement of the isomer excitation energies, $E_x(^{113}$Ru$^{m})=100.5(8)$ keV and $E_x(^{115}$Ru$^{m})=129(5)$ keV. The ground state of $^{117}$Ru was measured using the time-of-flight ion-cyclotron-resonance technique. The new mass-excess value for $^{117}$Ru is around 36 keV lower and 7 times more precise than the previous literature value. With the more precise ground-state mass values, the evolution of the two-neutron separation energies is further constrained and a similar trend as predicted by the BSkG1 model is obtained up to the neutron number $N=71$.

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arXiv2023

High-precision measurements of low-lying isomeric states in $^{120-124}$In with JYFLTRAP double Penning trap

Neutron-rich $^{120-124}$In isotopes have been studied utilizing the double Penning trap mass spectrometer JYFLTRAP at the IGISOL facility. Using the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance technique, the isomeric states were resolved from ground states and their excitation energies measured with high precision in $^{121,123,124}$In. In $^{120,122}$In, the $1^+$ states were separated and their masses were measured while the energy difference between the unresolved $5^+$ and $8^-$ states, whose presence was confirmed by post-trap decay spectroscopy was determined to be $\leq15$ keV. In addition, the half-life of $^{122}$Cd, $T_{1/2} = 5.98(10)$ s, was extracted. Experimental results were compared with energy density functionals, density functional theory and shell-model calculations.

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