HIE-ISOLDE: 10 years, 10 highlights

Overview

The Isotope Separator On-Line facility (ISOLDE) sends a proton beam from the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB) onto thick targets to create low-energy beams of radioactive nuclei unstable due to excess or shortage of neutrons. These beams accelerate up to 10 MeV per nucleon via the HIE-ISOLDE linear accelerator, supporting diverse nuclear studies. HIE-ISOLDE delivers beams to three stations: Miniball gamma-ray detectors, ISOLDE solenoid spectrometer (ISS) from a repurposed MRI magnet, and scattering experimental chamber (SEC).

Since its debut experiment in October 2015, HIE-ISOLDE has advanced nuclear physics frontiers.

Key Achievements

First Experiment

In October 2015, HIE-ISOLDE accelerated neutron-rich zinc nuclei to 4 MeV per nucleon with its superconducting accelerator, sending them to Miniball. This higher energy over predecessor REX-ISOLDE enabled detailed high-energy state analysis and model comparisons.

ISS Magnet Repurpose

A decommissioned MRI magnet from Australia became ISS's core in 2016, receiving first beams in 2018 and full commissioning in 2021. It has examined 20 nuclear species, including heavy ones.

Fission Studies

With a 209Fr beam, researchers probed fission in short-lived 210Fr and 210Ra via nucleon-transfer reactions using Timepix3 detectors for neutron tracking. The direct fission barrier measurement for 210Fr revealed it 15–30% below predictions, illuminating neutron-deficient fission.

Nuclear Halos

Scattering 8B and 15C beams off heavy targets at SEC highlighted halo effects—loosely bound particles extending far from cores—on nuclear interactions.

Author's summary: HIE-ISOLDE marks a decade of breakthroughs in nuclear physics, from accelerating exotic beams to repurposing tech and probing fission barriers and halos, as seen in its first 10 highlights since 2015. (148 characters)

Home | CERN — 2025-11-27