First successful ionization of Lr (Z=103) by a surface-ionization technique

Sato, Tetsuya   ; Sato, Nozomi; Asai, Masato  ; Tsukada, Kazuaki  ; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Oe, Kazuhiro; Miyashita, Sunao; Schdel, M.; Kaneya, Yusuke*; Nagame, Yuichiro ; Osa, Akihiko  ; Ichikawa, Shinichi; Stora, T.*; Kratz, J. V.

We have developed the surface ion-source coupled to the He/CdI gas-jet transport system to measure the ionization potential of Lr atatom-at-a-time conditions. We successfully ionized and mass-separated for the first time Lr ions by applying the present ion-source and the ISOL technique. The ionization efficiencies of Lr were estimated to be approximately 42% and 24% at 2600 K on Re and Ta surfaces, respectively. These values were higher than those of Lu in all of ionization condition. The results indicate that the ionization potential of Lr would be lower than that of Lu, 5.4 eV. Therefore, it is concluded that the surface ion-source is a promising apparatus tomeasure the first ionization potential of Lr. Using the present system, determination of the ionization potential of Lr is being performed.