arXiv subjects

Markus Steck

Publications and source records attributed to Markus Steck.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Precision masses of neutron-rich platinum and gold nuclei reveal enhanced $N=126$ shell strength below doubly-magic $^{208}$Pb

The heaviest stable nuclei in the universe owe their existence to quantum shell structure, the grouping of protons and neutrons into discrete energy levels separated by gaps. The largest known neutron shell gap in stable nuclei, at $N=126$, stabilizes doubly-magic $^{208}$Pb and is responsible for the characteristic abundance peak of heavy elements near gold and platinum produced by the rapid neutron-capture process (r-process). Whether this shell gap persists as protons are removed from lead is a question central to both nuclear structure and the modeling of heavy-element synthesis, yet it has remained unanswered due to the extraordinary difficulty of producing the relevant neutron-rich nuclei. Direct experimental knowledge in this region was essentially absent. Here we report the first precision mass measurements of $^{203,204}$Pt and $^{204,205,206}$Au, performed at GSI using a novel combination of Schottky and isochronous mass spectrometry in a heavy-ion storage ring. The $N=126$ isotones $^{204}$Pt and $^{205}$Au are more strongly bound than the extrapolated trend of the previously known mass surface by 403 and 464~keV, respectively, revealing an unexpectedly enhanced $N=126$ shell strength below doubly-magic $^{208}$Pb. Furthermore, the proton-neutron interaction strength exhibits a hitherto unobserved bifurcation at $N=126$ as protons are removed from $^{208}$Pb. Our results redefine the nuclear mass surface in the neutron-rich heavy-element region and provide direct experimental benchmarks for theoretical models whose extrapolations toward more exotic nuclei are essential for r-process nucleosynthesis calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Surrogate neutron-capture studies with fission detection in inverse kinematics at the ESR storage ring

The NECTAR (Nuclear rEaCTions At storage Rings) experiment at the ESR heavy-ion storage ring at GSI/FAIR Darmstadt is dedicated to surrogate reaction studies of neutron-induced reactions on heavy nuclei in inverse kinematics. In this work, we report on the implementation and performance of a newly developed fission-fragment detection system integrated into the NECTAR experimental setup. The upgraded detector configuration enables, for the first time in a surrogate experiment, the simultaneous detection ofgamma-decay residues, multi-neutron-emission residues, and fission fragments. The full setup was used for the first time in an experiment where a stored beam of bare 238U92+ ions at 17.24 MeV/u interacted with a gas-jet deuterium target, populating excited 238U and 239U nuclei via the 238U(d,d') and 238U(d,p) reactions. We describe the geometry of the used fission fragment detectors, design constraints, and simulation-based efficiency determination. The target-like particle identification and beam-like residue spectra demonstrating the performance of the complete setup are also shown.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Heavy-Ion Storage Rings and Their Use in Precision Experiments with Highly Charged Ions

Storage rings have been employed over three decades in various kinds of nuclear and atomic physics experiments with highly charged ions. Storage ring operation and precision physics experiments benefit from the availability of beam cooling which is common to nearly all facilities. The basic aspects of the storage ring components and the operation of the ring in various ion-optical modes as well as the achievable beam conditions are described. Ion storage rings offer unparalleled capabilities for high precision experiments with stable and radioactive beams. The versatile techniques and methods for beam manipulations allow for preparing beams of highest quality at any energy of interest. The rings are therefore part of the experiment . Recent experiments conducted in a wide energy range and with various experimental installations are discussed. An overview of active and planned facilities, new experimental set-ups and proposed physics experiments completes this review.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Lifetimes and g-factors of the HFS states in H-like and Li-like bismuth

The LIBELLE experiment performed at the experimental storage ring (ESR) at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany, has successfully determined the ground state hyperfine (HFS) splittings in hydrogen-like ($^{209}\rm{Bi}^{82+}$) and lithium-like ($^{209}\rm{Bi}^{80+}$) bismuth. The study of HFS transitions in highly charged ions enables precision tests of QED in extreme electric and magnetic fields otherwise not attainable in laboratory experiments. Besides the transition wavelengths the time resolved detection of fluorescence photons following the excitation of the ions by a pulsed laser system also allows to extract lifetimes of the upper HFS levels and g-factors of the bound 1s and 2s electrons for both charge states. While the lifetime of the upper HFS state in $^{209}\rm{Bi}^{82+}$ has already been measured in earlier experiments, an experimental value for lifetime of this state in $^{209}\rm{Bi}^{80+}$ is reported for the first time in this work.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

First Measurement of the $^{96}$Ru(p,$γ$)$^{97}$Rh Cross Section for the p-Process with a Storage Ring

This work presents a direct measurement of the $^{96}$Ru($p, γ$)$^{97}$Rh cross section via a novel technique using a storage ring, which opens opportunities for reaction measurements on unstable nuclei. A proof-of-principle experiment was performed at the storage ring ESR at GSI in Darmstadt, where circulating $^{96}$Ru ions interacted repeatedly with a hydrogen target. The $^{96}$Ru($p, γ$)$^{97}$Rh cross section between 9 and 11 MeV has been determined using two independent normalization methods. As key ingredients in Hauser-Feshbach calculations, the $γ$-ray strength function as well as the level density model can be pinned down with the measured ($p, γ$) cross section. Furthermore, the proton optical potential can be optimized after the uncertainties from the $γ$-ray strength function and the level density have been removed. As a result, a constrained $^{96}$Ru($p, γ$)$^{97}$Rh reaction rate over a wide temperature range is recommended for $p$-process network calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

SPARC Collaboration: New Strategy for Storage Ring Physics at FAIR

SPARC collaboration at FAIR pursues the worldwide unique research program by utilizing storage ring and trapping facilities for highly-charged heavy ions. The main focus is laid on the exploration of the physics at strong, ultra-short electromagnetic fields including the fundamental interactions between electrons and heavy nuclei as well as on the experiments at the border between nuclear and atomic physics. Very recently SPARC worked out a realization scheme for experiments with highly-charged heavy-ions at relativistic energies in the High-Energy Storage Ring HESR and at very low-energies at the CRYRING coupled to the present ESR. Both facilities provide unprecedented physics opportunities already at the very early stage of FAIR operation. The installation of CRYRING, dedicated Low-energy Storage Ring (LSR) for FLAIR, may even enable a much earlier realisation of the physics program of FLAIR with slow anti-protons.

physics.acc-ph↗