arXiv subjects

M. Heines

Publications and source records attributed to M. Heines.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Charge radii of Cl isotopes from x-ray spectroscopy of muonic atoms

Nuclear charge radii are vital for nuclear and atomic physics, the determination of fundamental constants, and searches for new physics. Muonic atoms, where a single negative muon orbits a nucleus, are sensitive tools for determining nuclear radii due to the large wavefunction overlap of the muon and nucleus. Here we report on a new measurement of the $2, 3, 4p\to1s$ x-ray energies in muonic $^{35,37}$Cl with uncertainties reaching 18 ppm. By employing a large-scale germanium detector array, it was possible to extract these energies from a high statistics dataset using highly enriched samples of only a few tens of milligrams. Combining these results with state-of-the-art atomic and nuclear theory input, the charge radii of the stable chlorine isotopes were determined to be $R(^{35}\text{Cl}) = 3.3333(23)~fm$ and $R(^{37}\text{Cl}) = 3.3444(23)~fm$. This is an order of magnitude more precise and significantly different from previously tabulated values. Our new values solve a discrepancy observed for the charge radius difference in mirror nuclei, agreeing with the overall global trend. The charge radius difference $\delta \langle r^2 \rangle (^{37}\text{Cl} - {^{35}\text{Cl}}) = -0.0776(64)~fm^2$ we extract is 25 times more precise than the previous values. This precision is crucial for establishing reference values for future laser spectroscopy measurements of radioactive isotopes.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Theory Framework for Medium-Mass Muonic Atoms

We present a state-of-the-art theoretical approach for computing bound-state energies in muonic atoms, incorporating improved quantum electrodynamics effects and nuclear polarization corrections with a systematic assessment of theoretical uncertainties. Our approach is based on a combination of the $Z\alpha$-expansion and the all-order formalism (Furry picture) optimized for the medium-mass range $(3 \leq Z \lesssim 30)$ and guided by the accuracy requirements of modern muonic spectroscopy experiments. These calculations are directly relevant to ongoing and forthcoming measurements aimed at extracting nuclear structure parameters, particularly nuclear charge radii, with unprecedented precision.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Determination of the Muon Lifetime in $^{76}$Se with the MONUMENT experiment

Ordinary muon capture provides a benchmark for the nuclear physics models of neutrinoless double beta decay under comparable momentum transfer conditions. The total capture strength defines the lifetime of the muonic atom. The muon lifetime in $^{76}$Se, the daughter nucleus of $^{76}$Ge, was determined with improved accuracy by the MONUMENT collaboration, using an array of high-purity germanium detectors and a set of scintillator counters at the $\pi$E1 muon beam line of the Paul Scherrer Institute. The new value of (135.1 $\pm$ 0.5) ns agrees with phenomenological calculations based on the quasiparticle random phase approximation with unquenched axial-vector coupling.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Modern approach to muonic x-ray spectroscopy demonstrated through the measurement of stable Cl radii

Recent advances in muonic x-ray experiments have reinvigorated efforts in measurements of absolute nuclear charge radii. Here, a modern approach is presented, and demonstrated through determination of the charge radii of the two stable chlorine nuclides $^{35}$Cl and $^{37}$Cl. Knowledge of these radii has implications for fundamental studies in nuclear and atomic physics. For this purpose, a state-of-the-art experiment was performed at the $\pi$E1 beamline in the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland), using a large-scale HPGe detector array in order to extract precise energies of the muonic $^{35}$Cl and $^{37}$Cl $np1s$ transitions. The nuclear charge radius extraction relies on modern calculations for QED effects and nuclear polarization with rigorous uncertainty quantification, including effects that were not accounted for in older studies. Additionally, we established a new method for applying the nuclear shape correction directly from energy density functionals, which are amenable to isotopes for which no high-quality electron scattering experiments are available. The resulting charge radii are $3.3335(23) fm$ for $^{35}$Cl and $3.3445(23) fm$ for $^{37}$Cl, thus improving the uncertainty of the available electron scattering values by a factor of seven. The correlation of several observables was evaluated between the different isotopes in order to produce a more precise value of the differential mean square charge radius $\delta \langle r^2 \rangle^{37, 35}=+0.0771(66) fm^{2}$. In this case, improvement of the uncertainty by more than one order of magnitude was achieved compared to the literature value. This precision is sufficient to use this differential as input for isotope shift factor determination.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

$^{61}$Cr as a Doorway to the N = 40 Island of Inversion

This paper reports on the measurement of the ground-state spin and nuclear magnetic dipole moment of $^{61}$Cr. The radioactive ion beam was produced at the CERN-ISOLDE facility and was probed using high-resolution resonance ionization laser spectroscopy with the CRIS apparatus. The present ground-state spin measurement $I = \frac{1}{2}$, differing from the previously adopted $I =(\frac{5}{2})$, has significant consequences on the interpretation of existing beta decay data and nuclear structure in the region. The structure and shape of $^{61}$Cr is interpreted with state-of-the-art Large-Scale Shell Model and Discrete-Non-Orthogonal Shell Model calculations. From the measured magnetic dipole moment $\mu(^{61}$Cr$)=+0.539(7)~\mu_N$ and the theoretical findings, its configuration is understood to be driven by 2 particle - 2 hole neutron excitations with an unpaired $1p_{1/2}$ neutron. This establishes the western border of the $N=40$ Island Of Inversion (IoI), characterized by 4 particle - 4 hole neutron components. We discuss the shape evolution along the Cr isotopic chain as a quantum phase transition at the entrance of the $N=40$ IoI.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Muonic atom spectroscopy with microgram target material

Muonic atom spectroscopy -- the measurement of the x rays emitted during the formation process of a muonic atom -- has a long standing history in probing the shape and size of nuclei. In fact, almost all stable elements have been subject to muonic atom spectroscopy measurements and the absolute charge radii extracted from these measurements typically offer the highest accuracy available. However, so far only targets of at least a few hundred milligram could be used as it required to stop a muon beam directly in the target to form the muonic atom. We have developed a new method relying on repeated transfer reactions taking place inside a 100-bar hydrogen gas cell with an admixture of 0.25% deuterium that allows us to drastically reduce the amount of target material needed while still offering an adequate efficiency. Detailed simulations of the transfer reactions match the measured data, suggesting good understanding of the processes taking place inside the gas mixture. As a proof of principle we demonstrate the method with a measurement of the 2p-1s muonic x rays from a 5-{\mu}g gold target.

nucl-ex↗