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Recently there has been an increased interest to apply the sensitive $��$-decay asymmetry detected nuclear magnetic resonance ($��$-NMR) technique to biological studies. A liquid-sample $��$-NMR setup was build at ISOLDE to allow such investigations and to use the resolution gain of liquid-state NMR in nuclear physics. As part of this setup a magnetic field locking system, a set of printed circuit board shimming coils, a sample exchange system, a set of compact $��$-detectors and a custom experimental vacuum chamber were developed. The main magnetic field was stabilized down to the ppm level by the locking system while allowing the direct determination of the absolute magnetic field. The homogeneity of the magnetic field was improved to $\leq$~5~ppm over the sample volume by the shimming coils. Time spent on changing samples was reduced by a factor of five by the liquid sample exchange system. During experiments it was possible to continuously observe the liquid sample thanks to the custom chamber and compact $��$-detectors. The absolute field determination allows for a novel way to reference $��$-NMR measurements, removing the need for time consuming reference measurements. The improved accuracy and resolution resulting from these innovations allows the study of the distribution of nuclear magnetization and (bio)chemicals using high-accuracy liquid-sample $��$-NMR.

We determine for the first time the magnetic dipole moment of a short-lived nucleus with part-per-million (ppm) accuracy. To achieve this 2-orders-of-magnitude improvement over previous studies, we implement a number of innovations into our β-detected nuclear magnetic resonance (β-NMR) setup at ISOLDE at CERN. Using liquid samples as hosts, we obtain narrow, subkilohertz-linewidth, resonances, while a simultaneous in situ 1H NMR measurement allows us to calibrate and stabilize the magnetic field to ppm precision, thus eliminating the need for additional β-NMR reference measurements. Furthermore, we use ab initio calculations of NMR shielding constants to improve the accuracy of the reference magnetic moment, thus removing a large systematic error. We demonstrate the potential of this combined approach with the 1.1 s half-life radioactive nucleus 26Na, which is relevant for biochemical studies. Our technique can be readily extended to other isotopic chains, providing accurate magnetic moments for many short-lived nuclei. Furthermore, we discuss how our approach can open the path toward a wide range of applications of the ultrasensitive β-NMR in physics, chemistry, and biology. ispartof: Physical Review X vol:10 issue:4 status: Published online

We determine for the first time the magnetic dipole moment of a short-lived nucleus with part-per-million (ppm) accuracy. To achieve this two orders of magnitude improvement over previous studies, we implement a number of innovations into our $��$-detected Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ($��$-NMR) setup at ISOLDE/CERN. Using liquid samples as hosts we obtain narrow, sub-kHz linewidth, resonances, while a simultaneous in-situ $^1$H NMR measurement allows us to calibrate and stabilize the magnetic field to ppm precision, thus eliminating the need for additional $��$-NMR reference measurements. Furthermore, we use ab initio calculations of NMR shielding constants to improve the accuracy of the reference magnetic moment, thus removing a large systematic error. We demonstrate the potential of this combined approach with the 1.1 s half-life radioactive nucleus $^{26}$Na, which is relevant for biochemical studies. Our technique can be readily extended to other isotopic chains, providing accurate magnetic moments for many short-lived nuclei. Furthermore, we discuss how our approach can open the path towards a wide range of applications of the ultra-sensitive $��$-NMR in physics, chemistry, and biology., re-submitted

Low-spin states in the neutron-rich, N = 90 nuclide $^{146}$Ba were populated following $��$-decay of $^{146}$Cs, with the goal of clarifying the development of deformation in Ba isotopes through delineation of their non-yrast structures. Fission fragments of $^{146}$Cs were extracted from a 1.7-Ci $^{252}$Cf source and mass-selected using the CARIBU facility. Low-energy ions were deposited at the center of a box of thin $��$ detectors, surrounded by a high-efficiency HPGe array. The new $^{146}$Ba decay scheme now contains 31 excited levels extending up to ~2.5 MeV excitation energy, double what was previously known. These data are compared to predictions from the Interacting Boson Approximation (IBA) model. It appears that the abrupt shape change found at N = 90 in Sm and Gd is much more gradual in Ba and Ce, due to an enhanced role of the $��$ degree of freedom., 10 pages, 8 figures, accepted to Physical Review C