Evidence for a breakdown of the Isobaric Multiplet Mass Equation: A study of the A=35, T=3/2 isospin quartet

TL;DR

This study uses high-precision mass measurements of potassium isotopes to test the Isobaric Multiplet Mass Equation, revealing deviations from the expected quadratic form in the A=35, T=3/2 isospin quartet.

Contribution

The paper provides the first high-precision mass measurements for A=35 isotopes, challenging the quadratic assumption of the IMME for this isospin multiplet.

Findings

Deviation from quadratic form in IMME for A=35, T=3/2

High-precision mass measurements achieved

Implications for nuclear structure models

Abstract

Mass measurements on radionuclides along the potassium isotope chain have been performed with the ISOLTRAP Penning trap mass spectrometer. For 35K T1/2=178ms) to 46K (T1/2=105s) relative mass uncertainties of 2x10-8 and better have been achieved. The accurate mass determination of 35K (dm=0.54keV) has been exploited to test the Isobaric Multiplet Mass Equation (IMME) for the A=35, T=3/2 isospinquartet. The experimental results indicate a deviation from the generally adopted quadratic form.