Gas phase synthesis of 4d transition metal carbonyl complexes with thermalized fission fragments in single-atom reactions

Gtz, M.*; Gtz, S.*; Kratz, J.-V.*; Ballof, J.*; Dllmann, Ch. E.*; Eberhardt, K.*; Mokry, C.*; Renisch, D.*; Runke, J.*; Sato, Tetsuya; et al.

Radiochimica Acta, 109(3), p.153 - 165, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2020-0052

We report on a novel two-chamber approach for the synthesis of volatile complexes that allows spatial decoupling of thermalization and gas-phase carbonyl complex synthesis. Neutron induced fission on U and spontaneous fission of Cm were employed for the production of the fission products. These were stopped inside a gas volume behind the target and flushed with an inert-gas flow into a second chamber. This was flushed with carbon monoxide to allow the gas-phase synthesis of carbonyl complexes. Parameter studies of the transfer from the first into the second chamber as well as on the carbonyl complex formation and transport processes have been performed. High overall efficiencies of more than 50% were reached rendering this approach interesting for studies of superheavy elements. Our results show that carbonyl complex formation of thermalized fission products is a single-atom reaction, and not a hot-atom reaction.

Fusion reaction Ca+Bk leading to formation of the element Ts (Z=117)

Khuyagbaatar, J.*; Yakushev, A.*; Dllmann, Ch. E.*; Ackermann, D.*; Andersson, L.-L.*; Asai, Masato; Block, M.*; Boll, R. A.*; Brand, H.*; Cox, D. M.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 99(5), p.054306_1 - 054306_16, 2019/05

AA2019-0039.pdf:5.03MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.99.054306

We have performed an experiment to synthesize the element 117 (Ts) with the Ca+Bk fusion reaction. Four -decay chains attributed to the element 117 were observed. Two of them were long decay chains which can be assigned to the one originating from the decay of Ts. The other two were short decay chains which are consistent with the one originating from the decay of Ts. We have compared the present results with the literature data, and found that our present results mostly confirmed the literature data, leading to the firm confirmation of the synthesis of the element 117.

First ionization potential of the heaviest actinide lawrencium, element 103

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Borschevsky, A.*; Stora, T.*; Sato, Nozomi*; Kaneya, Yusuke; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Dllmann, C. E.*; Eberhardt, K.*; Eliav, E.*; et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences, 131, p.05001_1 - 05001_6, 2016/12

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201613105001

Ionization efficiency in a surface ionization process depends on the first ionization potential of the atom. Based on the dependence, the ionization potential of the atom can be determined. We measured ionization efficiencies of fermium, einsteinium, mendelevium, and lawrencium by using a newly developed gas-jet coupled surface ion-source. The ionization potential of the elements have not been determined so far due to their low production rates and/or their short half-lives. Based on a relationship between the ionization efficiency and the ionization potential obtained via measurements of short-lived lanthanide isotopes, the ionization potentials of these actinide elements have been successfully determined.

Ca + Bk fusion reaction leading to element Z = 117; Long-lived -decaying Db and discovery of Lr

Khuyagbaatar, J.*; Yakushev, A.*; Dllmann, Ch. E.*; Ackermann, D.*; Andersson, L.-L.*; Asai, Masato; Block, M.*; Boll, R. A.*; Brand, H.*; Cox, D. M.*; et al.

Physical Review Letters, 112(17), p.172501_1 - 172501_5, 2014/05

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.172501

The superheavy element with atomic number 117 was produced in the Ca + Bk fusion reaction using the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA at GSI in Germany. This result verified the previous result of the discovery of new element 117 reported by Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions in Russia, which makes certain the synthesis and discovery of element 117 in human history. On the other hand, the last nucleus in the decay chain from the element 117 was assigned to be the unknown nucleus Lr instead of the previously reported Db, and Db was found to be the -decaying nucleus with very long half-life.

The First ionization potential measurement of lawrencium (Lr, = 103)

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Kaneya, Yusuke; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Miyashita, Sunao*; Oe, Kazuhiro*; Osa, Akihiko; Ichikawa, Shinichi; Nagame, Yuichiro; et al.

no journal, , 

The first ionization potentials of the heaviest actinide elements have not been measured until today owing to short half-lives and low production rates of the isotopes. Based on the surface ionization technique, we performed a measurement of the ionization potential of the heaviest actinide element, lawrencium (Lr, = 103), by using a newly developed surface ion-source installed to the JAEA-ISOL (Isotope Separator On-Line) at the JAEA tandem accelerator facility. We report on an evaluation of the IP value of Lr based on comparison of ionization behavior of Lr with that of short-lived lanthanide isotopes on Ta surface at several temperature.

First ionization potentials of heavy actinides

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Kaneya, Yusuke*; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Mitsukai, Akina*; Takeda, Shinsaku*; Vascon, A.*; Sakama, Minoru*; Sato, Daisuke*; et al.

no journal, , 

The first ionization potential (IP) yields information on valence electronic structure of an atom. IP values of heavy actinides beyond einsteinium (Es, Z = 99), however, have not been determined experimentally so far due to the difficulty in obtaining these elements on scales of more than one atom at a time. Recently, we successfully measured IP of lawrencium (Lr, Z = 103) using a surface ionization method. The result suggests that Lr has a loosely-bound electron in the outermost orbital. In contrast to Lr, nobelium (No, Z = 102) is expected to have the highest IP among the actinide elements owing to its full-filled 5f and the 7s orbitals. In the present study, we have successfully determined IP values of No as well as fermium (Fm, Z = 100) and mendelevium (Md, Z = 101) using the surface ionization method. The obtained results indicate that the IP value of heavy actinoids would increase monotonically with filling electrons up in the 5f orbital like heavy lanthanoids.

Measurements of the first ionization potentials of heavy actinides

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Kaneya, Yusuke*; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Mitsukai, Akina*; Takeda, Shinsaku*; Vascon, A.*; Sakama, Minoru*; Sato, Daisuke*; et al.

no journal, , 

The first ionization potential (IP) yields information on valence electronic structure of an atom. IP values of heavy actinides beyond einsteinium (Es, Z = 99), however, have not been determined experimentally so far due to the difficulty in obtaining these elements on scales of more than one atom at a time. Recently, we successfully measured IP of lawrencium (Lr, Z = 103) using a surface ionization method. The result suggests that Lr has a loosely-bound electron in the outermost orbital. In contrast to Lr, nobelium (No, Z = 102) is expected to have the highest IP among the actinide elements owing to its full-filled 5f and the 7s orbitals. In the present study, we have successfully determined IP values of No as well as fermium (Fm, Z = 100) and mendelevium (Md, Z = 101) using the surface ionization method. The obtained results indicate that the IP value of heavy actinoids would increase monotonically with filling electrons up in the 5f orbital like heavy lanthanoids.