A1 Journal article (refereed)
The NEXT Project : Towards Production and Investigation of Neutron-Rich Heavy Nuclides (2022)

Even, J., Chen, X., Soylu, A., Fischer, P., Karpov, A., Saiko, V., Saren, J., Schlaich, M., Schlathölter, T., Schweikhard, L., Uusitalo, J., & Wienholtz, F. (2022). The NEXT Project : Towards Production and Investigation of Neutron-Rich Heavy Nuclides. Atoms, 10(2), Article 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms10020059

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Even, Julia; Chen, Xiangcheng; Soylu, Arif; Fischer, Paul; Karpov, Alexander; Saiko, Vyacheslav; Saren, Jan; Schlaich, Moritz; Schlathölter, Thomas; Schweikhard, Lutz; et al.

Journal or series: Atoms

eISSN: 2218-2004

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 01/06/2022

Volume: 10

Issue number: 2

Article number: 59

Publisher: MDPI AG

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms10020059

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/81990

Abstract

The heaviest actinide elements are only accessible in accelerator-based experiments on a one-atom-at-a-time level. Usually, fusion–evaporation reactions are applied to reach these elements. However, access to the neutron-rich isotopes is limited. An alternative reaction mechanism to fusion–evaporation is multinucleon transfer, which features higher cross-sections. The main drawback of this technique is the wide angular distribution of the transfer products, which makes it challenging to catch and prepare them for precision measurements. To overcome this obstacle, we are building the NEXT experiment: a solenoid magnet is used to separate the different transfer products and to focus those of interest into a gas-catcher, where they are slowed down. From the gas-catcher, the ions are transferred and bunched by a stacked-ring ion guide into a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-ToF MS). The MR-ToF MS provides isobaric separation and allows for precision mass measurements. In this article, we will give an overview of the NEXT experiment and its perspectives for future actinide research.

Keywords: nuclear physics; research equipment; spectrometers; mass spectrometry

Free keywords: NEXT; neutron-rich nuclei; mutlinucleon transfer; solenoid separator; mass spectrometer

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1