A1 Journal article (refereed)
Long-sought isomer turns out to be the ground state of 76Cu (2024)

Canete, L., Giraud, S., Kankainen, A., Bastin, B., Nowacki, F., Ascher, P., Eronen, T., Girard Alcindor, V., Jokinen, A., Khanam, A., Moore, I. D., Nesterenko, D., De Oliveira, F., Penttilä, H., Petrone, C., Pohjalainen, I., De Roubin, A., Rubchenya, V., Vilen, M., & Äystö, J. (2024). Long-sought isomer turns out to be the ground state of 76Cu. Physics Letters B, In Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2024.138663

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Publication details

All authors or editors: Canete, L.; Giraud, S.; Kankainen, A.; Bastin, B.; Nowacki, F.; Ascher, P.; Eronen, T.; Girard Alcindor, V.; Jokinen, A.; Khanam, A.; et al.

Journal or series: Physics Letters B

ISSN: 0370-2693

eISSN: 1873-2445

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 22/04/2024

Volume: In Press

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2024.138663

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.14018

Abstract

Isomers close to the doubly magic nucleus 78Ni (Z = 28, N = 50) provide essential information on the shell evolution and shape coexistence far from stability. The existence of a long-lived isomeric state in 76Cu has been debated for a long time. We have performed high-precision mass measurements of 76Cu with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap mass spectrometer at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility and confirm the existence of such an isomeric state with an excitation energy Ex = 64.8(25) keV. Based on the ratio of detected ground- and isomeric-state ions as a function of time, we show that the isomer is the shorter-living state previously considered as the ground state of 76Cu. The result can potentially change the conclusions made in previous works related to the spin-parity and charge radius of the 76Cu ground state. Additionally, the new 76Cu(n, γ) reaction Q-value has an impact on the astrophysical rapid neutron-capture process.

Keywords: copper; isotopes; nuclear physics

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Preliminary JUFO rating: 3