Discovery of (229)Rn and the Structure of the Heaviest Rn and Ra Isotopes from Penning-Trap Mass Measurements
Résumé
The masses of the neutron-rich radon isotopes (223-229)Rn have been determined for the first time, using the ISOLTRAP setup at CERN ISOLDE. In addition, this experiment marks the first discovery of a new nuclide, (229)Rn, by Penning-trap mass measurement. The new, high-accuracy data allow a fine examination of the mass surface, via the valence-nucleon interaction delta V(pn). The results reveal intriguing behavior, possibly reflecting either a N=134 subshell closure or an octupolar deformation in this region.