Single-reference high-precision mass measurement with a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph

Abstract

A multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph, competitive with Penning trap mass spectrometers, has been built at RIKEN. We have performed a first online mass measurement, using ${}^{8}$Li${}^{+}$ (${T}_{1/2}=838$ ms). A new analysis method has been realized, with which, using only ${}^{12}$C${}^{+}$ references, the mass excess of ${}^{8}$Li was accurately determined to be 20 947.6(15)(34) keV ($\ensuremath{\delta}m/m=6.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$). The speed, precision, and accuracy of this first online measurement exemplifies the potential for using this new type of mass spectrograph for precision measurements of short-lived nuclei.