Radioactive Ion Beams

A revision of the physics needs and recent progress in the technology of superconducting (SC) RF cavities have triggered major changes in the design of a SC H¯ linac at CERN. With up to 5MW beam power, the SPL can be the proton driver for a next generation ISOL-type radioactive beam facility ("EURISOL") and/or supply protons to a neutrino (ν) facility (conventional superbeam + beta-beam or ν-factory). Furthermore the SPL can replace Linac2 and the PS booster (PSB), improving significantly the beam performance in terms of brightness, intensity, and reliability for the benefit of all proton users at CERN, including LHC and its luminosity upgrade. Compared with the first conceptual design, the beam energy is almost doubled (3.5GeV instead of 2.2 GeV) while the length is reduced by 40%. At a repetition rate of 50 Hz, the linac reuses decommissioned 352.2MHz RF equipment from LEP in the low-energy part. Beyond 90MeV the RF frequency is doubled, and from 180MeV onwards high-gradient SC bulkniobium cavities accelerate the beam to its final energy of 3.5GeV. This paper presents the overall design approach, together with the technical progress since the first conceptual design in 2000.

Design, Development and Simulation of Front-end Electronics for nuclear detectors Preamplifier-Amplifier-Shaper-Discriminator has been presented in this article. The Nuclear Detector Signal Channel (NDSC) comprises of charge-sensitive preamplifier, single-stage gain amplifier, CR-RC shaping amplifier and integral discriminator. The charge-sensitive preamplifier feedback circuit has 1MΩ resistor and 10 pF capacitor that gives its decay time constant (τ) of 10 µs. The gain of amplifier used in this channel is 51. Shaping amplifier which is the combination of high pass and low pass filter with equal time constant (τ 1 =τ 2 =τ) of 5 µs to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. Single ended or integral discriminator function is to eliminate the system noise and pulse height discrimination. The NDSC has been designed and verified in Proteus 7.7 simulation platform. And the simulation results have been presented to show the performance and characteristics of the channel.

Several techniques are under development for image-guidance in particle therapy. Positron (β+) emission tomography (PET) is in use since many years, because accelerated ions generate positron-emitting isotopes by nuclear fragmentation in the human body. In heavy ion therapy, a major part of the PET signals is produced by β+-emitters generated via projectile fragmentation. A much higher intensity for the PET signal can be obtained using β+-radioactive beams directly for treatment. This idea has always been hampered by the low intensity of the secondary beams, produced by fragmentation of the primary, stable beams. With the intensity upgrade of the SIS-18 synchrotron and the isotopic separation with the fragment separator FRS in the FAIR-phase-0 in Darmstadt, it is now possible to reach radioactive ion beams with sufficient intensity to treat a tumor in small animals. This was the motivation of the BARB (Biomedical Applications of Radioactive ion Beams) experiment that is ongoing at G...

The Radioactive Ion Beams Facility (RIBRAS) is in operation since 2004 at the Pelletron Accelerator Laboratory of the University of São Paulo and consists of two superconducting solenoids capable of producing low energy secondary beams of light exotic nuclei. Measurements of the elastic scattering, breakup and transfer reactions with radioactive projectiles such as 6 He, 8 Li, 7 Be on several targets have been performed. A review of the research program carried on along the last four years using the RIBRAS facility is presented.

The Radioactive Ion Beams Facility (RIBRAS) is in operation since 2004 at the Pelletron Accelerator Laboratory of the University of São Paulo and consists of two superconducting solenoids capable of producing low energy secondary beams of light exotic nuclei. Measurements of the elastic scattering, breakup and transfer reactions with radioactive projectiles such as 6 He, 8 Li, 7 Be on several targets have been performed. A review of the research program carried on along the last four years using the RIBRAS facility is presented.

The study of nuclear fragmentation plays a central role in many important applications: from the study of Particle Therapy (PT) up to radiation protection for space (RPS) missions and the design of shielding for nuclear reactors. The FragmentatiOn Of Target (FOOT) collaboration aims to study the nuclear reactions that describe the interactions with matter of different light ions (like H1, He4, C12, O16) of interest for such applications, performing double differential fragmentation cross section measurements in the energy range of interest for PT and RPS. In this manuscript, we present the analysis of the data collected in the interactions of an oxygen ion beam of 400 MeV/u with a graphite target using a partial FOOT setup, at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research facility in Darmstadt. During the data taking the magnets, the silicon trackers and the calorimeter foreseen in the final FOOT setup were not yet available, and hence precise measurements of the fragments kinetic...

This paper describes some R&D activities conducted in support of the design and safe operation of a highpower liquid Pb-Bi target within the LIEBE (Liquid Eutectic Lead Bismuth Loop Target for EURISOL) project. The target material is lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) which also acts as a primary coolant. As a consequence of interaction of the highly pulsed 1.4-GeV protons at ISOLDE with the target, heat powers of the order of 2 GW would be instantaneously deposited in the target during a bunch. Considerable R&D effort is thus required to demonstrate its continued coolability and structural integrity. This paper mainly reports on the conjugate flow (CFD) and heat deposition (Monte Carlo) calculations, not accounting for Fluid-Structure Interactions.

The TexAT (Texas Active Target) detector is a new active-target time projection chamber (TPC) that was built at the Cyclotron Institute Texas A&M University. The detector is designed to be of general use for nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics experiments with rare isotope beams. TexAT combines a highly segmented Time Projection Chamber (TPC) with two layers of solid state detectors. It provides high efficiency and flexibility for experiments with low intensity exotic beams, allowing for the 3D track reconstruction of the incoming and outgoing particles involved in nuclear reactions and decays.

We consider various possibilities for studies of nucler structure in resonance reactions induced by radioactive beams, and we also present some recent examples of these studies. We discuss investigations on both sides of nuclear stability as well as studies of the α cluster structure of light nuclei applying the reverse geometry thick target method.

The Radioactive Ion Beams Facility (RIBRAS) is in operation since 2004 at the Pelletron Accelerator Laboratory of the University of São Paulo and consists of two superconducting solenoids capable of producing low energy secondary beams of light exotic nuclei. Measurements of the elastic scattering, breakup and transfer reactions with radioactive projectiles such as 6 He, 8 Li, 7 Be on several targets have been performed. A review of the research program carried on along the last four years using the RIBRAS facility is presented.

The energy and angular distributions of 3 He and 4 He ions produced in the 7 Be + 58 Ni reaction at a bombarding energy of 22 MeV have been measured for the first time. The yield of the heavier helium isotope was four to five times more abundant than that of its lighter counterpart, ruling out the possibility that in this energy range the 7 Be reaction dynamics is dominated by the exclusive breakup process 7 Be → 3 He + 4 He (S α = 1.586 MeV). Extensive kinematic and theoretical calculations suggest that the 3 He ions mostly originate from the 4 He-stripping process and the 4 He production is mainly triggered by the fusion-evaporation channel. The role played by the breakup, 3 He-stripping, 1n-stripping, and 1n-pickup processes is also discussed.

A revision of the physics needs and recent progress in the technology of superconducting (SC) RF cavities have triggered major changes in the design of a SC H¯ linac at CERN. With up to 5MW beam power, the SPL can be the proton driver for a next generation ISOL-type radioactive beam facility ("EURISOL") and/or supply protons to a neutrino (ν) facility (conventional superbeam + beta-beam or ν-factory). Furthermore the SPL can replace Linac2 and the PS booster (PSB), improving significantly the beam performance in terms of brightness, intensity, and reliability for the benefit of all proton users at CERN, including LHC and its luminosity upgrade. Compared with the first conceptual design, the beam energy is almost doubled (3.5GeV instead of 2.2 GeV) while the length is reduced by 40%. At a repetition rate of 50 Hz, the linac reuses decommissioned 352.2MHz RF equipment from LEP in the low-energy part. Beyond 90MeV the RF frequency is doubled, and from 180MeV onwards high-gradient SC bulkniobium cavities accelerate the beam to its final energy of 3.5GeV. This paper presents the overall design approach, together with the technical progress since the first conceptual design in 2000.

pela orientação que tornou possível a conclusão do presente trabalho. À todos os membros do grupo de Reações Diretas e Núcleos Exóticos. Em especial ao Dr. Pedro Neto de Faria por ter me prestado sua ajuda e conhecimento na hora da montagem das experiências realizadas no presente trabalho. Aos meus amigos do IFUSP, de uma forma ou de outra, contribuíram com sua amizade e com sugestões efetivas para a realização deste trabalho, gostaria de expressar minha profunda gratidão. À todos os funcionários do Edício Oscar Sala que, direta ou indiretamente, permitiram que este trabalho fosse realizado. À minha familia por terem dado o contínuo apoio em todos estes anos. Ao convênio CNPq/CLAF pelo apoio nanceiro deste trabalho.

Isotopic effects in projectile fragmentation at relativistic energies have been studied with the ALADIN forward spectrometer at SIS. Stable and radioactive Sn and La beams with an incident energy of 600 MeV per nucleon have been used in order to explore a wide range of isotopic compositions. Chemical freeze-out temperatures are found to be nearly invariant with respect to the A/Z ratio of the produced spectator sources, consistent with predictions for expanded systems. Consequences for the proposed interpretation of chemical breakup temperatures as representing the limiting temperatures predicted by microscopic models are discussed.

The level structure of 12 N has been investigated from 2.2 to 11.0 MeV in excitation energy using a 11 C+p resonance interaction with thick targets and inverse kinematics. Excitation functions were fitted using an R-matrix approach. Sixteen levels in 12 N were included in the analysis, several of them are new. Spin-parity assignments, excitation energies and widths are proposed for these levels.

We consider various possibilities for studies of nucler structure in resonance reactions induced by radioactive beams, and we also present some recent examples of these studies. We discuss investigations on both sides of nuclear stability as well as studies of the α cluster structure of light nuclei applying the reverse geometry thick target method.

The contribution of the "F(p,y) reaction to the production of "Ne which is the crucial isotope for the breakout from the hot CNO cycle into the rp process, has been investigated in experiments with 18F beams. Measurements of the cross sections for the 'sF(p,c~)~~O and the 18F(p,7)lgN e reactions indicate that the contribution from the (p,7) route to the formation of "Ne is small.

For the first time the F(p, n)' 0 reaction has been studied with a ' F beam at energies which are of interest to explosive nucleosynthesis. Utilizing the gas-filled magnet technique a clean identification of the reaction products was achieved. A resonance with spin 3/2+ at an equivalent c.m. energy of 660 keV dominates the yield.

A detection system has been developed for experiments with radioactive beams which have considerable contamination from a stable isobar. The system uses the gas-filled magnet technique and identifies reaction products according to nuclear charge and mass with good resoiution even at energies below 1 MeV/u. In a first experiment the device has been used to measure cross sections for the i*F(p, cr)"O reaction in the energy range between 650 and 840 keV/u.

Isotopic effects in projectile fragmentation at relativistic energies have been studied with the ALADIN forward spectrometer at SIS. Stable and radioactive Sn and La beams with an incident energy of 600 MeV per nucleon have been used in order to explore a wide range of isotopic compositions. Chemical freeze-out temperatures are found to be nearly invariant with respect to the A/Z ratio of the produced spectator sources, consistent with predictions for expanded systems. Consequences for the proposed interpretation of chemical breakup temperatures as representing the limiting temperatures predicted by microscopic models are discussed.

Several techniques are under development for image-guidance in particle therapy. Positron (β+) emission tomography (PET) is in use since many years, because accelerated ions generate positron-emitting isotopes by nuclear fragmentation in the human body. In heavy ion therapy, a major part of the PET signals is produced by β+-emitters generated via projectile fragmentation. A much higher intensity for the PET signal can be obtained using β+-radioactive beams directly for treatment. This idea has always been hampered by the low intensity of the secondary beams, produced by fragmentation of the primary, stable beams. With the intensity upgrade of the SIS-18 synchrotron and the isotopic separation with the fragment separator FRS in the FAIR-phase-0 in Darmstadt, it is now possible to reach radioactive ion beams with sufficient intensity to treat a tumor in small animals. This was the motivation of the BARB (Biomedical Applications of Radioactive ion Beams) experiment that is ongoing at G...

The Radioactive Ion Beams Facility (RIBRAS) is in operation since 2004 at the Pelletron Accelerator Laboratory of the University of São Paulo and consists of two superconducting solenoids capable of producing low energy secondary beams of light exotic nuclei. Measurements of the elastic scattering, breakup and transfer reactions with radioactive projectiles such as 6 He, 8 Li, 7 Be on several targets have been performed. A review of the research program carried on along the last four years using the RIBRAS facility is presented.

For the acceleration of radioactive ions the usable mass range is limited by the A/q acceptance of the first accelerator stage. Since an efficient primary ion source normally produces singly charged ions, charge state breeding is necessary if higher masses are to be accelerated. At TRIUMF an ECR source has been chosen as a breeder due to its potential high efficiency in producing intermediate A/q values. To minimize the necessity for further stripping an A/q around 6 is desirable. A 14 GHz "PHOENIX" booster from Pantechnik has been set up on a test bench. The singly charged ions are produced from different ion sources, which can be mounted in a standard ISAC target-ion-source setup. For the first tests an ECR source to produce noble gas beams has been chosen. The aim of the measurements at the test bench is to find the optimum operation conditions of the charge state booster and the injection and extraction ion optics. Working with radioactive ions always means that the system should aim for high efficiency, as the production of such species is limited. Therefore, special emphasis has to be put on the highest yield for the production of the desired charge state. A second point is the analysis of the extracted beam quality in order to optimize mass separation and transport efficiency. The paper shows the status of the setup and reports on first results of the charge breeding of Ar, Ne and Xe. With Xe a total efficiency of 22.5 % has been achieved.

The quantum physics of light is a most fascinating field. Here I present a very personal viewpoint, focusing on my own path to quantum entanglement and then on to applications. I have been fascinated by quantum physics ever since I heard about it for the first time in school. The theory struck me immediately for two reasons: (1) its immense mathematical beauty, and (2) the unparalleled precision to which its predictions have been verified again and again. Particularly fascinating for me were the predictions of quantum mechanics for individual particles, individual quantum systems. Surprisingly, the experimental realization of many of these fundamental phenomena has led to novel ideas for applications. Starting from my early experiments with neutrons, I later became interested in quantum entanglement, initially focusing on multi-particle entanglement like GHZ states. This work opened the experimental possibility to do quantum teleportation and quantum hyper-dense coding. The latter became the first entanglement-based quantum experiment breaking a classical limitation. One of the most fascinating phenomena is entanglement swapping, the teleportation of an entangled state. This phenomenon is fundamentally interesting because it can entangle two pairs of particles which do not share any common past. Surprisingly, it also became an important ingredient in a number of applications, including quantum repeaters which will connect future quantum computers with each other. Another application is entanglement-based quantum cryptography where I present some recent long-distance experiments. Entanglement swapping has also been applied in very recent so-called loophole-free tests of Bell's theorem. Within the physics community such loophole-free experiments are perceived as providing nearly definitive proof that local realism is untenable. While, out of principle, local realism can never be excluded entirely, the 2015 achievements narrow down the remaining possibilities for local realistic explanations of the quantum phenomenon of entanglement in a significant way. These experiments may go down in the history books of science. Future experiments will address particularly the freedom-of-choice loophole using cosmic sources of randomness. Such experiments confirm that unconditionally secure quantum cryptography is possible, since quantum cryptography based on Bell's theorem can provide unconditional security. The fact that the experiments were loophole-free proves that an eavesdropper cannot avoid detection in an experiment that correctly follows the protocol. I finally discuss some recent experiments with single-and entangled-photon states in higher dimensions. Such experiments realized quantum entanglement between two photons, each with quantum numbers beyond 10 000 and also simultaneous entanglement of two photons where each carries more than 100 dimensions. Thus they offer the possibility of quantum communication with more than one bit or qubit per photon. The paper concludes discussing Einstein's contributions and viewpoints of quantum mechanics. Even if some of his positions are not supported by recent experiments, he has to be given credit for the fact that his analysis of fundamental issues gave rise to developments which led to a new information technology. Finally, I reflect on some of the lessons learned by the fact that Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

Isotopic effects in projectile fragmentation at relativistic energies have been studied with the ALADIN forward spectrometer at SIS. Stable and radioactive Sn and La beams with an incident energy of 600 MeV per nucleon have been used in order to explore a wide range of isotopic compositions. Chemical freeze-out temperatures are found to be nearly invariant with respect to the A/Z ratio of the produced spectator sources, consistent with predictions for expanded systems. Consequences for the proposed interpretation of chemical breakup temperatures as representing the limiting temperatures predicted by microscopic models are discussed.