The N=126 Factory: A New Multi-Nucleon Transfer Reaction Facility

TL;DR

The N=126 Factory at Argonne National Laboratory is a new facility designed to produce and study heavy, neutron-rich nuclei via multi-nucleon transfer reactions, aiding astrophysical research such as the r-process.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design and implementation of the N=126 Factory, a novel multi-nucleon transfer reaction facility for producing neutron-rich nuclei.

Findings

Successful integration of gas catcher and ion guide systems

Efficient separation and delivery of reaction products

Enhanced capability to study nuclei relevant to astrophysics

Abstract

Multi-nucleon transfer (MNT) reactions between two heavy ions offer an effective method of producing heavy, neutron-rich nuclei that cannot currently be accessed efficiently using traditional production techniques. These nuclei are important for understanding many astrophysical phenomena, such as the formation of the r-process $A\sim 195$ abundance peak. The N=126 Factory currently commissioning at Argonne National Laboratory's ATLAS facility will make use of these reactions to allow for the study of these nuclei. To convert MNT reaction products, which have a wide angular distribution, into a collimated, bunched beam suitable for experiments, a series of apparatus will be used. These start with a large-volume gas catcher for stopping the reaction products, which are then extracted through a radiofrequency quadrupole ion guide, undergo preliminary dipole magnetic separation, cooling and bunching in a Cooler-Buncher, and final separation using a multi-reflection time-of-flight mass separator, before final delivery to experimental systems.