Superheavy Nuclide and Nuclear Structure group----Institute of Modern Physics

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Superheavy Nuclide and Nuclear Structure group

Brief Introduction

Research Fields

Achievements

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Brief Introduction

The group carries out experimental studies on the synthesis and structure of neutron-deficient nuclei, using the state-of-the-art facilities of a gas-filled recoil separator, SHANS (Spectrometer for Heavy Atoms and Nuclear Structure), and a HPGe gamma-ray detector array at HIRFL, as well as other scientific facilities around the world. Recently, with the commissioning of the China Accelerator Facility for Superheavy Elements (CAFE2), a new gas-filled recoil separator, SHANS2, is running successfully. Meanwhile, a novel device, MRTOF mass spectrometer for the precise mass measurement of short-lived nuclei, is under construction. For the coming HIAF facility, the group is responsible for the development of a high-precision low-energy spectrometer for nuclear structure study.

Currently, 20 employees, and around 10 graduate students are working at the group.

Research Fields

Synthesis of new isotopes;

Study and synthesis of superheavy nuclides;

Nuclear structure and in-beam gamma ray spectroscopy;

Nuclear reactions;

Mass measurement of heavy nuclei.

Achievements

Based on the HIRFL facility, the laboratory has synthesized several new neutron-deficient isotopes during past two decades, such as ²⁰⁵Ac,^214-216U,²¹⁹^,²²⁰Np, and ^222-²²⁴Np. Especially, two new superheavy nuclei, ²⁵⁹Db and ²⁶⁵Bh, were synthesized for the first time. The group has found the experimental evidence that the N = 126 shell effect still exists in the Np isotopes. Furthermore, structures of nuclei like ²¹⁸Pa、²²³U、¹³⁰Ba、¹³¹Ba、¹⁸⁷Au、⁴⁶Ti, and reaction dynamics of ⁹Be with targets ¹⁸¹Ta, ¹⁹⁷Au , and ⁸⁹Y were well studied recently. Besides, the group successfully developed a high sensitivity and high resolution MRTOF-MS prototype, for the precise nuclear mass measurement. The research results were published in renowned nuclear physics and instrumentation journals such as Phys.Rev.Lett, Phys.Lett.B, Phys.Rev.C, and Nuclear Inst. and Methods, etc.