Physical Sciences and Engineering
Canadian Penning Trap
CPTThe Canadian Penning Trap (CPT) is used to conduct precise mass measurements of nuclides available at the ATLAS facility. By measuring the cyclotron frequency of the ions, a precise determination of the mass can be made.
The CPT is currently situated at CARIBU, where neutron-rich isotopes are produced through the spontaneous fission of a 252Cf source that is in a gas catcher. Ions extracted from the gas catcher are sent through an isobar separator, a radio frequency buncher, and finally a multi-reflection, time-of-flight separator before being sent to the CPT for measurement.
The CPT is able to make mass measurements of nuclides relevant for studies of the astrophysical r process that is thought to be responsible for the creation of more than half of the elements in the universe.