Exploration of Nuclear Structure Along the Proton-unbound Argon and Chlorine Isotopes

Abstract

A systematic investigation of the argon and chlorine isotopes located by two and three mass units beyond the proton drip line was performed recently at the FRS. A state-of-the-art tracking technique with silicon microstrip detectors allowed for measurement of the trajectories of argon and chlorine in-flight decay products. These data were used to reconstruct angular correlations between decay products, which allowed to assign the energy levels to 31 Ar and 30 Cl for the first time. On the basis of the observed excited states in 31 Ar and a new estimation of its two-proton separation energy S 2p of a few keV, the prospects for further studies of low-binding effects of this nucleus are presented.