Nuclear Mass Measurements Map the Structure of Atomic Nuclei and Accreting Neutron Stars
Abstract
We present mass excesses (ME) of neutron-rich isotopes of Ar through Fe, obtained via TOF-B mass spectrometry at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. Our new results have significantly reduced systematic uncertainties relative to a prior analysis, enabling the first determination of ME for 58,59 Ti, 62 V, 65 Cr, 67,68 Mn, and 69,70 Fe. Our results show the N=34 subshell weaken at Sc and vanish at Ti, along with the absence of an N=40 subshell at Mn. This leads to a cooler accreted neutron star crust, highlighting the connection between the structure of nuclei and neutron stars.
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