In-trap decay of 61Mn and Coulomb excitation of 61Mn/61Fe

In an explorative experiment at REX-ISOLDE, the feasibility to produce a post-accelerated beam of neutron rich iron isotopes by means of in-trap decay of neutron rich manganese isotopes was investigated. Iron isotopes are not directly accessible from the primary target, due to their long diffusion time in the primary target. The available highly selective Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) was utilized to produce an intense and pure beam of 61Mn (half-life=670(40) ms) isotopes. This beam was injected in the REXTRAP and the EBIS (Electron Beam Ion Source), where the isotopes were trapped and charge bred over extended time periods, in order to obtain a significant amount of the β- decay daughter 61Fe (half life=5.98(6) min). In this contribution the proof of principle of this production method at REX-ISOLDE will be given, together with the first physics results on the Coulomb excitation of 61Mn and 61Fe and the technical difficulties that were encountered. Some other potential candidates for in-trap decay experiments will be given. This in-trap decay of radioactive isotopes provides potentially an alternative method to produce post-accelerated beams of elements which are difficult to extract from thick ISOL targets at current and future facilities.