Competition between allowed and first-forbidden decays of At and expansion of the Po level scheme

Brunet, M.*; Podolyk, Zs.*; Berry, T. A.*; Brown, B. A.*; Carroll, R. J.*; Lica, R.*; Sotty, Ch.*; Andreyev, A. N.; Borge, M. J. G.*; Cubiss, J. G.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 103(5), p.054327_1 - 054327_13, 2021/05

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.103.054327

First ionization potentials of Fm, Md, No, and Lr; Verification of filling-up of 5f electrons and confirmation of the actinide series

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Borschevsky, A.*; Beerwerth, R.*; Kaneya, Yusuke*; Makii, Hiroyuki; Mitsukai, Akina*; Nagame, Yuichiro; Osa, Akihiko; Toyoshima, Atsushi; et al.

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140(44), p.14609 - 14613, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.8b09068

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.

Measurement of the first ionization potential of lawrencium, element 103

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

Nature, 520(7546), p.209 - 211, 2015/04

https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14342

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 successfully measured ionization efficiencies of lawrencium (Lr, =103) using a gas-jet coupled surface ion-source. The ionization potential of Lr has not been determined owing to its low production rate and its short half-life. Based on a relationship between the ionization efficiency and the ionization potential obtained via measurements of short-lived lanthanide isotopes, the ionization potential of Lr was determined.

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; et al.

Review of Scientific Instruments, 84(2), p.023304_1 - 023304_5, 2013/02

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4789772

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.

Measurement of the first ionization potential of Lr by surface ionization method

Sato, Tetsuya; Kaneya, Yusuke*; Sonoda, Nozomi; Asai, Masato; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Oe, Kazuhiro; Miyashita, Sunao; Nagame, Yuichiro; Schdel, M.; et al.

no journal, , 

In order to determine the first ionization potential (IP) of lawrencium (Lr, Z=103), we have developed a surface ionization type ion-source coupled to a He/CdI gas-jet transport system for the JAEA-ISOL. We measured ionization efficiencies of Lr and various short-lived lanthanide isotopes by applying the ion-source. We successfully ionized and mass-separated for the first time Lr ions. From a correlation between the IPs and ionization efficiencies of the short-lived lanthanide isotopes, we estimated the IP of Lr in this work.

Development of surface ionization ion-source for determination of the first ionization potential of heavy actinides

Kaneya, Yusuke; Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Miyashita, Sunao*; Nagame, Yuichiro; Schdel, M.; Sato, Nozomi; Oe, Kazuhiro*; et al.

no journal, , 

We have developed a surface ionization ion-source as part of the JAEA-ISOL that is coupled to a He/CdI gas-jet transport system to determine the first ionization potential (IP) of heavy actinides. Separation efficiencies of various short-lived lanthanide isotopes as homologs of actinides that were produced in nuclear reactions were measured with the present system. Obtained results demonstrate that the developed ion-source would be applicable to a measurement of the IP of heavy actinides.

Measurement of the first ionization potential of Lr by surface ionization technique

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Sato, Nozomi; Kaneya, Yusuke; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Oe, Kazuhiro*; Miyashita, Sunao*; Nagame, Yuichiro; Schdel, M.; et al.

no journal, , 

The first ionization potential 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, ), 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 short-lived lanthanide isotopes and Lr on Ta surface at several temperature in the ion-source.

Measurement of the first ionization energy of nobelium (No, = 102)

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Kaneya, Yusuke; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Takeda, Shinsaku; Mitsukai, Akina*; Nagame, Yuichiro; Ichikawa, Shinichi; Makii, Hiroyuki; et al.

no journal, , 

We successfully determined the first ionization energy (IE) of nobelium (No, = 102) using a short-lived No isotope, No produced in theCm(C, 4n) reaction, based on the IE dependence of the ionization efficiency in a surface ionization process. The IE value of No was evaluated to be 6.6 eV. This value is in a good agreement with the value which has been estimated by an extrapolation from those of the lighter actinide elements, 6.65 eV.

Measurement of the first ionization potential of nobelium (No, = 102)

Sato, Tetsuya; Asai, Masato; Kaneya, Yusuke; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Vascon, A.; Takeda, Shinsaku; Mitsukai, Akina*; Nagame, Yuichiro; Ichikawa, Shinichi; et al.

no journal, , 

In order to determine the IP of the heavy elements, we have developed a novel measurement method based on a surface ionization technique by using a surface ionization ion source coupled to a He/CdI gas-jet transport system for an Isotope Separator On-Line (ISOL) at the JAEA tandem accelerator facility. In this work, we have determined IP value of No by using the method. In a surface ionization process, an ionization efficiency of an atom depends on its IP. To obtain a relationship between IP and ionization efficiency in present system, we measured ionization efficiencies of various short-lived isotopes. Ionization efficiency of No produced in the Cm(C, 4n) reaction was also measured. Measured ionization efficiency of No was 0.8%, which yields IP value of No to be 6.6 eV. This value is in a good agreement with the value which has been evaluated by extrapolation from those of the lighter actinide elements, 6.65 eV.

Adsorption behavior of lawrencium on a tantalum surface

Sato, Tetsuya; Kaneya, Yusuke*; Asai, Masato; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Mitsukai, Akina*; Osa, Akihiko; Makii, Hiroyuki; Hirose, Kentaro; Nagame, Yuichiro; et al.

no journal, , 

Our experimental results on the first ionization potential measurement of lawrencium (Lr, element 103) have strongly suggested that the Lr atom has a [Rn] configuration as a result of the influence of strong relativistic effects. The configuration is different from that expected from the lanthanide homologue, lutetium (Lu). According to a semi-empirical consideration, it is expected that the change of the electronic configuration leads higher volatility of Lr than that of Lu. In this work, adsorption behaviors of Lr and various short-lived rare earth isotopes on a tantalum surface were investigated via observation of their surface ionization efficiencies. It was found that Lr would behave like low volatile rare earth elements such as Lu contrary to the semi-empirical expectation.