First online multireflection time-of-flight mass measurements of isobar chains produced by fusion-evaporation reactions; Toward identification of superheavy elements via mass spectroscopy

Schury, P.*; Wada, Michiharu*; Ito, Yuta*; Kaji, Daiya*; Arai, Fumiya*; MacCormick, M.*; Murray, I.*; Haba, Hiromitsu*; Jeong, S.*; Kimura, Sota*; Koura, Hiroyuki ; Miyatake, Hiroari*; Morimoto, Koji*; Morita, Kosuke*; Osawa, Akira*; Rosenbusch, M.*; Reponen, M.*; Sderstrm, P.-A.*; Takamine, Aiko*; Tanaka, Taiki*; Wollnik, H.*

Using a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph located after a gas cell coupled with the gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II, the masses of several -decaying heavy nuclei were directly and precisely measured. The nuclei were produced via fusion-evaporation reactions and separated from projectilelike and targetlike particles using GARIS-II before being stopped in a helium-filled gas cell. Time-of-flight spectra for three isobar chains, Fr-Rn-At-Po, Fr- Rn-At-Po-Bi, and Fr-Rn-At, were observed. Precision atomic mass values were determined for Fr, Rn, and At. Identifications of Bi, Po, Rn, and At were made with N10 detected ions, representing the next step toward use of mass spectrometry to identify exceedingly low-yield species such as superheavy element ions.