Shell evolution and isomers below 132Sn: Spectroscopy of neutron-rich 46Pd and 47Ag isotopes

Neutron-rich isotopes of Pd (Z = 46) and Ag (Z = 47) have attracted considerable interest in terms of the evolution of the N = 82 shell closure and its influence on the r-process nucleosynthesis. Such previously unreachable exotic nuclides have become accessible by means of in-flight fission of a high-intensity 238U beam available at a new-generation radioactive isotope (RI) beam facility, the RI Beam Factory (RIBF) in RIKEN Nishina Center. In this report, recent spectroscopic results of Pd and Ag isotopes obtained as part of the EURICA (EUROBALL-RIKEN Cluster Array) project at RIBF are presented.

Precise ground state properties of the heaviest elements for studies of their atomic and nuclear structure

The precise determination of atomic and nuclear properties such as masses, differential charge radii, nuclear spins and electromagnetic moments of exotic nuclides has recently been extended to the region of the heaviest elements. To this end, ion trap-based techniques and laser spectroscopy methods have been employed to provide information complementary to that obtained by nuclear spectroscopy. This enables more detailed studies of the atomic and nuclear structure of these exotic nuclides far from stability. This contribution summarizes some of the recent achievements and addresses future perspectives for measurements on even heavier elements.