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The investigation of simple atomic systems in extreme electromagnetic fields with highest precision demands intense beams of heavy and highly charged ions to be decelerated and cooled to extremely low energies for long-time observation. Resistive cooling, i.e., the electronic dissipation of energy of a stored ion cloud on an external impedance, seems to be a good candidate for in-trap cooling of highly charged ions and has been chosen for the upcoming HITRAP (Highly charged Ion TRAP) facility at GSI, Darmstadt. Nevertheless, resistive cooling of large ensembles of ions confined in a Penning trap has never been thoroughly studied until now and the understanding of this highly nonlinear phenomenon is far from complete. Through the use of systematic simulations we give a proof of the feasibility of resistive cooling of large numbers of highly charged ions as well as the interpretation of some specific features observed experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the Helmholtz center GSI, PHELIX (Petawatt High Energy Laser for heavy Ion eXperiments) has been commissioned for operation in stand-alone mode and, in combination with ions accelerated up to an energy of 13 MeV/u by the heavy ion accelerator UNILAC. The combination of PHELIX with the heavy-ion beams available at GSI enables a large variety of unique experiments. Novel research opportunities are spanning from the study of ion–matter interaction, through challenging new experiments in atomic physics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics, into the field of relativistic plasma physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass of an atom incorporates all its constituents and their interactions. The difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of its building blocks (the binding energy) is a manifestation of Einstein’s famous relation E = mc2. The binding energy determines the energy available for nuclear reactions and decays (and thus the creation of elements by stellar nucleosynthesis), and holds the key to the fundamental question of how heavy the elements can be. Superheavy elements have been observed in challenging production experiments, but our present knowledge of the binding energy of these nuclides is based only on the detection of their decay products. The reconstruction from extended decay chains introduces uncertainties that render the interpretation difficult. Here we report direct mass measurements of trans-uranium nuclides. Located at the farthest tip of the actinide species on the proton number–neutron number diagram, these nuclides represent the gateway to the predicted island of stability. In particular, we have determined the mass values of 252-254No (atomic number 102) with the Penning trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP. The uncertainties are of the order of 10 keV/c2 (representing a relative precision of 0.05 p.p.m.), despite minute production rates of less than one atom per second. Our experiments advance direct mass measurements by ten atomic numbers with no loss in accuracy, and provide reliable anchor points en route to the island of stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penning traps are widely used for high-precision mass measurements of radionuclides related to nuclear astrophysics studies and the evolution of nuclear structure far away from stability. With the stopping of secondary beams in gas cells together with advanced ion-beam manipulation techniques their reach has been extended to rare isotopes of essentially all elements. The Penning trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP at GSI Darmstadt has recently demonstrated that even highprecision mass measurements of transfermium elements can be performed despite low production rates of only about one particle per second. This important milestone opens new perspectives for the study of superheavy elements with ion traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP allows precision mass measurements of rare isotopes produced in fusion-evaporation reactions. In the first period of operation the masses of more than 50 neutron-deficient radionuclides have been measured. In this paper the perspectives for direct mass measurements of rare isotopes around nobelium are discussed and the achievable precision is addressed. The temporal stability of the magnetic field, an important issue for the long measurement times resulting from the low production rates, was investigated and the time-dependent uncertainty due to magnetic field fluctuations was determined. Based on the present performance direct mass measurements of nobelium isotopes are already feasible. With several technical improvements heavier elements between Z=102–105 will be in reach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ISOLTRAP is a Penning trap mass spectrometer for high-precision mass measurements on short-lived nuclides installed at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE at CERN. The masses of close to 300 radionuclides have been determined up to now. The applicability of Penning trap mass spectrometry to mass measurements of exotic nuclei has been extended considerably at ISOLTRAP by improving and developing this double Penning trap mass spectrometer over the past two decades. The accurate determination of nuclear binding energies far from stability includes nuclei that are produced at rates less than 100 ions/s and with half-lives well below 100ms. The mass-resolving power reaches 107 corresponding to 10keV for medium heavy nuclei and the uncertainty of the resulting mass values has been pushed down to below 10-8. The article describes technical developments achieved since 1996 and the present performance of ISOLTRAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency ratio measurements with different combinations of the singly charged ions from 21, 22, 23Na , 22, 24Mg , and 37, 39K were performed at the on-line Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, CERN, Geneva. The masses and mass differences were deduced with a relative uncertainty of about or even below one part in 108 for the ions of interest using a least-squares analysis of all measured relations. The results have direct consequences for weak-interaction study as they give additional input to the test of CVC, and for nuclear astrophysics, because they help to establish the minimum observable signal for a NeNa cycle in a nova burst. We report here about the measurements and the detailed evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct mass measurements of nuclides near to the supposed end-point region of the astrophysical rp-process were performed at SHIPTRAP, the Penning trap mass spectrometer at GSI Darmstadt. The masses of 24 nuclides were measured with relative uncertainties between 5 . 10-8 and 2 . 10-7 . Three of them, 107Sb , 111I and 112I , were determined experimentally for the first time. The data analysis and mass evaluation are presented in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decelerator will be installed at GSI in order to provide and study heavy nuclei without or with only few electrons at very low energies or even at rest. Highly-charged ions will be produced by stripping at relativistic energies. After electron cooling and deceleration in the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) the ions are ejected out of the storage ring at 4 MeV/u and further decelerated in a combination of linear accelerator structures operated in reverse. Finally, they are injected into a Penning trap where the ions are cooled to 4 K by electron cooling in combination with resistive cooling. From here, the ions can be transferred in a quasi DC or in a pulsed mode to different experimental setups. This article describes the technical concepts of this project focused on the Penning trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP was designed for precision mass measurements of radionuclides produced in fusion–evaporation reactions. The latest measurement campaign covered heavy nuclei ( A>90) related to the astrophysical rapid proton capture process. The masses of 34 neutron-deficient radionuclides have been measured since February 2006 with relative uncertainties between 5×10−8 and 1×10−7. Furthermore, the use of an octupolar RF excitation for the time-of-flight ion-cyclotron-resonance technique was investigated and an increase of the resolving power by a factor of ten was observed in agreement with simulations. This will allow to resolve isomeric states with excitation energies of a few 10 keV only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose determination of isotope shifts for radioactive beryllium isotopes using laser cooled ions in a linear radio frequency (RF) trap. Based on these measurements, combined with precise mass shift calculations, it will be possible to extract model-independent nuclear charge radii of 7,9,10Be and the one-neutron halo 11Be with precision better than 3%. Radioactive beryllium isotopes produced at ISOLDE and ionized with a laser ion source will be cooled and bunched in the radio frequency quadrupole buncher of ISOLTRAP. Ion temperatures will be reduced to the mK range by sympathetic cooling with co-trapped laser cooled ions in a specially designed two-stage linear RF trap. Resonances will be detected via fluorescence and frequencies measured with a femtosecond frequency comb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Doppler-free laser-spectroscopic frequency measurement of Doppler-shifted optical lines in forward and backward direction of a fast ion beam permits a sensitive test of the relativistic Doppler-formula and, hence, the relativistic time dilation factor $$ \gamma _{{SR}} = {\left( {1 - {\nu ^{2} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\nu ^{2} } {c^{2} }}} \right. } {c^{2} }} \right)}^{{{ - 1} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ - 1} 2}} \right. } 2}} $$ . An experiment on metastable 7Li+, stored at a velocity of v = 0.064 c in the Heidelberg heavy-ion storage ring TSR, has confirmed time dilation with unprecedented accuracy. Latest tests at two different ion-velocities ( v = 0.03 c and v = 0.064 c) will enhance these measurements. An improved version of this experiment will be carried out at the experimental storage ring (ESR) at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt. The ESR permits 7Li+ to be stored at v = 0.33 c which promises an improvement of the sensitivity to deviations from γ SR by an order of magnitude. A first test at the ESR has shown the feasibility for this kind of experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP has to date been used for the determination of close to 300 masses of radionuclides. A relative mass uncertainty of 10-8 can now be reached. Recent highlights were measurements of rp-process nuclides as for instance 72-74Kr or superallowed β emitters like 22Mg, 74Rb and 34Ar. The heaviest nuclides measured so far with ISOLTRAP are neutron-rich radium and francium isotopes. An overview of ISOLTRAP mass measurements and details about the recent experiment on 229-232Ra and 230Fr are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present two diode laser setups that employ volume holographic transmission gratings to provide optical feedback. The advantage of this kind of grating is high diffraction efficiency and the possibility to place optical elements on both sides of the grating. This allows for advanced external cavities and adjustable feedback efficiency. The first setup is a diode laser in the Littman configuration with the transmission grating replacing the conventional reflection grating. The second setup improves the frequency selectivity by substituting the feedback mirror with a passive resonator. This grating-enhanced external cavity diode laser (GECDL) achieves excellent frequency stability. A prototype of the GECDL setup demonstrates an intrinsic linewidth of 7 kHz and an operation range that covers the full amplification profile of the laser diode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) is presently being developed and tested at the off-line mass separator at Mainz University for future use at on-line exotic rare isotopes production facilities. For highest isobaric selectivity, this RILIS approach decouples the evaporation and ionization process. A further advantage is the generation of full temporal control of the resulting high quality ion beam. These facts are realized by a combination of atomizer – ion repeller – ion cooler and trap, which is operated together with a state-of-the-art, all solid state laser system. The principle and performance of this laser ion source trap (LIST) system are discussed applying simulation studies for the repeller-trap combination and first measurements for characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-energy high-power laser system PHELIX (Petawatt High Energy Laser for heavy Ion eXperiments) [] is currently under construction at the Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung mbH (GSI) Darmstadt. With PHELIX GSI will offer the unique combination of a high-current, high-energy (GeV/u) heavy-ion beam with an intense laser beam. This will open the door to a variety of fundamental science issues in the field of atomic physics, plasma physics and nuclear physics. The project will gain further interest in the near future by the dramatic increase of the accelerator performance with the starting FAIR project at GSI []. This paper reports the current status of the project as well as the laser architecture. The proposed physics program and a first experiment carried out with PHELIX, the realization of a transient collisionally excited x-ray laser [], will also be reviewed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have demonstrated for the first time that element-selective laser ionization in combination with ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry can be used to prepare isomerically pure ion ensembles. Together with β– γ coincidence studies this method allowed a determination of the low-energy structure and the unambiguous identification of triple β-decaying isomerism in 70Cu. By selective resonant ionization and measurement of the masses of these three states using ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN with a relative uncertainty of δm/ m ≈ 5 ⋅ 10−8 a clear state-to-mass assignment was possible which resolved the assignment puzzle in 70Cu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is concerned with the association of a temperature to a single ion stored in a Penning ion trap. Several methods are described which allow to determine the temperature by measurements of the ion’s cyclotron and axial trapping frequencies. Recent results of a measurement on a hydrogen-like carbon ion12C5 + by use of mode coupling are presented and possible further applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive the spectral line shape for collinear fast beam laser spectroscopy. As initial condition we take a thermally distributed ensemble into account. While the thermal velocity distribution of the fast ensemble has an asymmetric structure due to the acceleration by the electrostatic field, under typical experimental conditions the convolution with the natural line shape preserves the Lorentz profile with negligible broadening. However, the spectral line as a whole experiences a small shift depending on the temperature of the source and the acceleration . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For accurate mass measurements and identification of atomic and molecular species precise mass calibration is mandatory. Recent studies with laser desorption/ionization and time-of-flight analysis of cluster ion production by use of fullerene and gold targets demonstrate the generation of atomic clusters for calibration purposes. Atomic ion results from the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, in which a carbon cluster ion source has recently been installed, are presented as an application in the field of precision mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise mass calibration is mandatory in many fields of mass spectrometry. We have performed laser desorption/ionization cluster studies with a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer on gold and fullerene targets to produce atomic clusters. These investigations demonstrate that clusters are ideally suited for this purpose. Pulsed N2-laser and Nd:YAG-laser ablation was used to produce positively as well as negatively charged clusters. Earlier observations of dianionic metal clusters are confirmed. First results from the tandem Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP using carbon clusters as mass references show how carbon clusters can be applied to precision mass spectrometry by providing absolute mass standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclotron frequency measurements of singly charged carbon clusters 12C+n were carried out with the ISOLTRAP apparatus. The carbon cluster ions were produced externally by use of laser-induced desorption, fragmentation, and ionization of C60 fullerenes. They were injected into and stored in the Penning trap system. The observation of carbon clusters of different sizes has provided detailed insight into the final mass uncertainty achievable with ISOLTRAP and yielded a value of u(m)/m=8⋅10-9. Since the unified atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12 the mass of the 12C atom, ISOLTRAP can now be used to carry out absolute mass measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First off-line tests at the ion trap facility SHIPTRAP took place. The facility is being set up to deliver very clean and cooled beams of singly-charged recoil ions (Rare Isotope Beam) produced at the SHIP (Separator for Heavy Ion Production) velocity filter at GSI, Darmstadt. SHIPTRAP consists of a gas cell for stopping and thermalizing high-energy recoil ions from SHIP, an rf ion guide for extraction of the ions from the gas cell, a linear rf trap for accumulation and bunching of the ions, and a Penning trap for isobaric purification. The physics programme of the SHIPTRAP facility comprises mass spectrometry, nuclear spectroscopy, laser spectroscopy and chemistry of transeinsteinium elements. The progress in testing the sub-systems separately and in combinations is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of the g factor of the electron bound in a hydrogen-like ion is a high-accuracy test of the theory of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) in strong fields. Here we report on the measurement of the g factor of the bound electron in hydrogen-like oxygen 16O7+. In our experiment a single 16O7+ ion is stored in a Penning trap. Quantum jumps between the two spin states (spin up and spin down) are induced by a microwave field at the spin precession frequency of the bound electron. The g factor of the bound electron is obtained by varying the microwave frequency and counting the number of spin flips. Our experimental value for the g factor of the bound electron is gexp(16O7+)=2.000 047 026(4). The theoretical prediction from non-perturbative bound-state QED calculations is gth(16O7+)=2.000 047 0202(6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed description of an experiment to determine the magnetic moment of an electron bound in hydrogen-like carbon. This forms a high-accuracy test of bound-state quantum electrodynamics. Special emphasis is given to the discussion of systematic uncertainties which limit our present accuracy. The described experimental setup may also be used for the determination of g factors in other highly charged ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a detailed study of the accuracy of the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP all expected sources of uncertainty were investigated with respect to their contributions to the uncertainty of the final result. In the course of these investigations, cross-reference measurements with singly charged carbon clusters 12Cn+ were carried out. The carbon cluster ions were produced by use of laser-induced desorption, fragmentation, and ionization of C60 fullerenes and injected into and stored in the Penning trap system. The comparison of the cyclotron frequencies of different carbon clusters has provided detailed insight into the residual systematic uncertainty of ISOLTRAP and yielded a value of 8 × 109. This also represents the current limit of mass accuracy of the apparatus. Since the unified atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12 of the mass of the 12C atom, it will be possible to carry out absolute mass measurements with ISOLTRAP in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass measurements of 34Ar, 73-78Kr, and 74,76Rb were performed with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. Very accurate QEC-values are needed for the investigations of the t-value of 0+ → 0+ nuclear β-decays used to test the standard model predictions for weak interactions. The necessary accuracy on the QEC-value requires the mass of mother and daughter nuclei to be measured with δ m/ m ⩽ 3 . 10-8. For most of the measured nuclides presented here this has been reached. The 34Ar mass has been measured with a relative accuracy of 1.1 . 10-8. The QEC-value of the 34Ar 0+ → 0+ decay can now be determined with an uncertainty of about 0.01%. Furthermore, 74Rb is the shortest-lived nuclide ever investigated in a Penning trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a double-Penning-trap experiment suitable for testing QED in strong fields by determining the electronic g-factor of a single hydrogen-like ion in its ground state. Our measurements on 12C5 + reach a relative accuracy of 2×10-9, where the largest uncertainty results from the mass of the electron. Together with equally precise theoretical predictions therefore, it is possible to evaluate a new value for the electron's mass. The possibilities to obtain other fundamental constants and nuclear parameters are lined out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cyclotron frequencies of singly charged carbon clusters Cn + ( n ≥ 2) were measured with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN. The present limit of mass accuracy δ m/ m = 1.2 . 10-8 and the extent of the mass-dependent systematic shift (δ m/ m)sys = 1.7(0.6) . 10-10/ u . ( m - mref) of the setup were investigated for the first time. In addition, absolute mass measurements by use of pure clusters of the most abundant carbon isotope 12C are now possible at ISOLTRAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HITRAP is a planned ion trap facility for capturing and cooling of highly charged ions produced at GSI in the heavy-ion complex of the UNILAC-SIS accelerators and the ESR storage ring. In this facility heavy highly charged ions up to uranium will be available as bare nuclei, hydrogen-like ions or few-electron systems at low temperatures. The trap for receiving and studying these ions is designed for operation at extremely high vacuum by cooling to cryogenic temperatures. The stored highly charged ions can be investigated in the trap itself or can be extracted from the trap at energies up to about 10 keV/q. The proposed physics experiments are collision studies with highly charged ions at well-defined low energies (eV/u), high-accuracy measurements to determine the g-factor of the electron bound in a hydrogen-like heavy ion and the atomic binding energies of few-electron systems, laser spectroscopy of HFS transitions and X-ray spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ion trap facility SHIPTRAP is being set up to deliver very clean and cool beams of singly-charged recoil ions produced at the SHIP velocity filter at GSI Darmstadt. SHIPTRAP consists of a gas cell for stopping and thermalizing high-energy recoil ions from SHIP, an rf ion guide for extraction of the ions from the gas cell, a linear rf trap for accumulation and bunching of the ions, and a Penning trap for isobaric purification. The progress in testing the rf ion guide is reported. A transmission of about 93(5)% was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penning trap mass spectrometry has reached a state that allows its application to very short-lived nuclides available from various sources of radioactive beams. Mass values with outstanding accuracy are achieved even far from stability. This paper illustrates the state of the art by summarizing the status of the ISOLTRAP experiment at ISOLDE/CERN. Furthermore, results of mass measurements on unstable rare earth isotopes will be given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, close to 200 nuclides have already been investigated and their masses determined with a typical relative precision of δ m/ m=10−7. Recently, ISOLTRAP's beam preparation system was replaced by an RFQ ion beam cooler and buncher. The principle and the characteristics of this new beam preparation system will be presented. It is planned to use ions of various carbon clusters C+ n ( n>1) as reference ions for mass measurements. Apart from negligible molecular binding energies, these clusters have masses that are exact multiples of the unified atomic mass unit. This will allow ISOLTRAP to carry out absolute mass measurements as well as to investigate possible mass-dependent systematic errors. The results of tests of the production, transport, and trapping of such carbon clusters will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SHIPTRAP will allow direct measurement of masses of transuranium nuclides. The method of choice is a Penning trap spectrometer coupled to the SHIP (Separator for Heavy Ion Products) facility at GSI, Darmstadt. In this paper the impact of the SHIPTRAP facility, with its capability of systematic mass measurements with high precision, is explored. Rather few masses of nuclides above uranium are presently known experimentally. In the region of nuclides above Z=100 no ground state masses were measured directly. SHIPTRAP will play an important role in systematically mapping out this area. Possible candidates for direct mass measurements, even with small or very small production cross sections, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent implementation of gas-filled radiofrequency traps for efficient ion beam bunching extended the applicability of the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP/CERN to non-surface ionizable species. In a first series of successful runs the masses of 182–197Hg, 196,198Pb, 197Bi, 198Po and 203At have been determined with an accuracy of 1⋅10−7. In order to unambiguously determine the ground state mass the ground and isomeric states of 185,187,191,193,197Hg were separated applying a resolving power of up to 3.7⋅106. First experimental values for the isomeric excitation energy of 187,191Hg were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The masses of the xenon isotopes with 114≤ A≤123 were directly measured for the first time. The experiments were carried out at the ISOLTRAP triple trap spectrometer at the on-line mass separator ISOLDE/CERN. A mass resolving power of the Penning trap spectrometer of m/Δ m≈500 000 was chosen and an accuracy of δ m≈12keV for all investigated Xe isotopes was achieved. An atomic mass evaluation was performed and the results of this adjustment are compared with theoretical predictions. The new results for the xenon isotopes and their effects on neighboring nuclides are discussed within the two-neutron separation energy picture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the applicability of Penning trap mass spectrometry has been extended to nuclides with a half-life of less than one second. The mass of 33Ar ( T 1/2=174 ms) was measured using the ISOLTRAP spectrometer with an accuracy of 4.2 keV. This measurement provided a stringent test of the Isobaric Multiplet Mass Equation (IMME) at mass number A=33 and isospin T=3/2. The fast measurement cycle that shows the way to other measurements of very-short-lived nuclides is presented. Furthermore, the results of the IMME test are displayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass of the electron in atomic units ( m e) represents the largest error contribution in an experiment to determine the g-factor of the electron bound in hydrogen-like carbon. Recent progress in the calculation reduces the uncertainty of the theoretical value to such a low value that m e can be determined from a comparison of experimental and theoretical g-factors. The present preliminary value of the electron mass agrees with the accepted value but reduces the uncertainty by about a factor 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method for mass measurements of short-lived exotic nuclides is presented. Exotic nuclides were produced and separated in flight at relativistic energies with the fragment separator (FRS) and were injected into the experimental storage ring (ESR). Operating the ESR in the isochronous mode we performed mass measurements of neutron deficient fragments of 84Kr with half-lives larger than 50 ms. However, this experimental technique is applicable in a half-life range down to a few μs. A mass resolving power of 110000 (FWHM) has been achieved. Results are presented for the masses of 68As, 70,71Se and 73Br. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projectile fragments of a 209Bi beam were separated in flight with the fragment separator FRS and injected into the experimental storage ring ESR. In the ESR a beam containing up to about 100 different isotopes was cooled to a relative velocity spread of δ v/ v=10−6 by means of the electron cooler. The image currents of the ions induced in a Schottky pick-up probe at each turn were recorded. A subsequent Fast Fourier Transformation of these signals yields the revolution frequencies of the different isotopes stored in the ESR. Unknown masses of more than 150 neutron-deficient nuclides in the element range of 52≤ Z≤85 have been measured directly by Schottky Mass Spectrometry and in addition more than 60 new masses have been obtained from α-decay chains. These new mass data allow the location of the one-proton dripline and the prediction of the two-proton dripline for heavy nuclides. The experimental masses are compared with different theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]