Design of a unique open-geometry cylindrical Penning trap

Abstract

The Texas A&M University Penning Trap facility is an upcoming ion trap that will be used to search for possible scalar currents in T = 2 superallowed β-delayed proton decays, which, if found, would be an indication of physics beyond the standard model. In addition, TAMUTRAP will provide a low-energy, point-like source of ions for various other applications at the Cyclotron Institute. The experiment is centered around a unique, compensated cylindrical Penning trap that employs a specially optimized length/radius ratio in the electrode structure that is not used by any other facility. This allows the geometry to exhibit an unprecedented 90 mm free radius, which is larger than in any existing trap, while at the same time remaining a tractable overall length. The trap geometry was designed from first principles to be suitable for a wide range of nuclear physics experiments. In particular, the electrode structure is both "tunable" and "orthogonalized", which allows for a near quadrupole electric field at the trap center, a feature necessary for performing precision mass measurements. β + 0 + , T = 2 γ p 0 + , T = 2

In-Trap Spectroscopy of Charge-Bred Radioactive Ions

“…More recently, Penning traps have been considered to provide control over the decay environment [7,18,19], where charged particles can be directed along the magnetic field lines. Extending this concept, a high-sensitivity, low-background array of photon detectors was designed and constructed for use around an electron-beam ion trap (EBIT) at the TITAN facility at TRIUMF.…”

Revalidation of the isobaric multiplet mass equation for theA=20quintet

“…[11], our new value for the isobaric-analog state mass also yields a Q EC value for the superallowed 0 + → 0 + transition of 4128.7 ± 2.2 keV. This value is sufficiently precise to enable competitive searches for scalar current contributions to nuclear beta decay using the kinematic broadening of the 20 Mg beta delayed proton peaks [34,35]. It can also be used in a precise determination of the f t value for this decay, which would provide a test of the isospin-symmetry breaking calculations used to extract the CKM matrix element V ud from the superallowed decays of T = 1 nuclides [36,37].…”

Revalidation of the isobaric multiplet mass equation for the $A=20$ quintet

“…state mass also yields a Q EC value for the superallowed 0 + → 0 + transition of 4128.7 ± 2.2 keV. This value is sufficiently precise to enable competitive searches for scalar current contributions to nuclear β decay using the kinematic broadening of the 20 Mg β-delayed proton peaks [34,35]. It can also be used in a precise determination of the f t value for this decay, which would provide a test of the isospin-symmetry breaking calculations used to extract the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix element V ud from the superallowed decays of T = 1 nuclides [36,37].…”