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Determination of the constituents of the radioactive ion beam (RIB) is crucial for successful experiments at low-energy RIB facilities and as such decides the fate of many experiments. Here we present the role of TITAN’s Multiple-Reflection Time-Of-Flight Mass Separator (MR-TOF-MS) and how it complements the present capabilities at ISAC-TRIUMF for yield determinations and beam delivery. This non-scanning, broadband, high-resolution mass spectrometer allows for real-time identification and quantification of all species, ranging from radionuclides with half-lives as low as a few ms to stable isotopes and molecules. In this manner it can be efficiently used to optimize RIB delivery through the ISAC mass separator for rate of the species of interest or its ratio to contamination. We present an example of this optimization approach, where the purity of secondary beams of neutron-rich titanium was improved by more than one order of magnitude based on the diagnostics capabilities of the new MR-TOF-MS and thus, allowed for high-precision mass measurements at TITAN.

Experimental investigations employing highly charged ions (HCI) typically require very strict vacuum quality. In Penning trap mass spectrometry (PTMS), HCI can significantly improve the precision and resolution of mass measurements, but they are also subject to charge-exchange reactions with neutral gas particles, which may hamper the quality of the measurement. In this study, we employed a simple method to determine that the maximum pressure levels required for an undisturbed PTMS measurement of HCI is on the order of 10 - 11 mbar. We also evaluate the residual gas pressure in the Penning trap mass spectrometer at TITAN facility by measuring the rate of charge-exchange reactions with HCI, revealing that the trap’s vacuum must be improved in about two orders of magnitude to reach the desired level.

Background: The neutron-rich $A\ensuremath{\approx}100, N\ensuremath{\approx}62$ mass region is important for both nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics. The neutron-rich segment of this region has been widely studied to investigate shape coexistence and sudden nuclear deformation. However, the absence of experimental data of more neutron-rich nuclei poses a challenge to further structure studies. The derivatives of the mass surface, namely, the two-neutron separation energy and neutron pairing gap, are sensitive to nuclear deformation and shed light on the stability against deformation in this region. This region also lies along the astrophysical $r$-process path, and hence precise mass values provide experimental input for improving the accuracy of the $r$-process models and the elemental abundances.Purpose: (a) Changes in deformation are searched for via the mass surface in the $A=104$ mass region at the $N=66$ mid-shell crossover. (b) The sensitivity of the astrophysical $r$-process abundances to the mass of Rb and Sr isotopic chains is studied.Methods: Masses of radioactive Rb and Sr isotopes are precisely measured using a Multiple-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Separator (MR-TOF-MS) at the TITAN facility. These mass values are used to calculate two-neutron separation energies, two-neutron shell gaps and neutron pairing gaps for nuclear structure physics, and one-neutron separation energies for fractional abundances and astrophysical findings.Results: We report the first mass measurements of $^{103}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{103--105}\mathrm{Sr}$ with uncertainties of less than 45 keV/${c}^{2}$. The uncertainties in the mass excess value for $^{102}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{102}\mathrm{Sr}$ have been reduced by a factor of 2 relative to a previous measurement. The deviations from the AME extrapolated mass values by more the 0.5 MeV have been found.Conclusions: The metrics obtained from the derivatives of the mass surface demonstrate no existence of a subshell gap or onset of deformation in the $N=66$ region in Rb and Sr isotopes. The neutron pairing gaps studied in this work are lower than the predictions by several mass models. The abundances calculated using the waiting-point approximation for the $r$ process are affected by these new masses in comparison with AME2016 mass values.

A new series of neutron-rich indium mass measurements is reported from the TITAN multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS). These mass measurements cover 125−134In (N=76–85) and include ground states as well as isomeric states. The masses of nuclei in this region are known to be of great importance for accurately modeling r-process nucleosynthesis, and the significance of the reported neutron-rich indium masses is discussed in this context. Results are compared with earlier experimental data where available as well as theoretical mass models. The measurements reported here include the first mass measurements of 133,134In, as well as the first direct mass measurement of 132In. The masses of 125−131In ground states and several isomers were previously measured to higher precision by Penning trap mass spectrometry, which also resolved some low-lying isomers that could not be resolved in this work. The earlier Penning trap measurements serve as excellent cross-checks for the MR-TOF-MS measurements, and in some cases the MR-TOF-MS measurements improve the literature uncertainties of higher-lying isomer masses and excitation energies. A new isomeric state for 128In, recently reported for the first time by the JYFLTRAP group, is also confirmed by the TITAN MR-TOF-MS, with a measured excitation energy of 1813(17) keV.

Physical review letters 127(11), 112501 (2021). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.112501, Published by APS, College Park, Md.

Journal of physics / Conference series 1643, 012057 (2020). doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1643/1/012057, Published by IOP Publ., Bristol

This work describes the new facility for applied nuclear physics at the University of Sao Paulo, mainly for irradiation of electronic devices. It is a setup composed of a quadrupole doublet for beam focusing/defocusing plus multiple scattering through gold foils to produce low intensity, large-area, and high-uniformity heavy-ion beams from 1H to 107Ag. Beam intensities can be easily adjusted from 102 particles cm2/s to hundreds of nA for an area as large as 2.0 cm2 and uniformity better than 90%. Its irradiation chamber has a high-precision motorized stage, and the system is controlled by a LabViewTM environment, allowing measurement automation. Design considerations and examples of use are presented Este trabalho descreve as novas instalações de física nuclear aplicada da Universidade de São Paulo, principalmente para irradiação de dispositivos eletrônicos. É uma configuração composta por um quadrupolo dupleto para foco / desfoque de feixe mais espalhamento múltiplo através de folhas de ouro para produzir feixes de íons pesados ​​de baixa intensidade, grande área e alta uniformidade de 1 H a 107 Ag. As intensidades do feixe podem ser facilmente ajustadas de 10 2 partículas cm 2 / s a ​​centenas de nA para uma área tão grande quanto 2,0 cm 2 e uniformidade melhor que 90%. Sua câmara de irradiação possui estágio motorizado de alta precisão, e o sistema é controlado por um LabView TMambiente, permitindo a automação da medição. São apresentadas considerações de design e exemplos de uso. 91 5 053301

High-precision mass measurements of short-lived ions have been traditionally performed using the Time-of-Flight Ion-Cyclotron-Resonance technique (ToF-ICR) with Singly Charged Ions (SCI) in Penning traps. In order to reach higher precision, TITAN is currently using the ToF-ICR technique with Highly Charged Ions (HCI) [1], taking advantage of the fact that the uncertainty of the mass is proportional to the factor 1/q, where q is the charge state of the ion. Meanwhile, a different technique, the so-called Phase-Imaging Ion-Cyclotron-Resonance (PI-ICR), which has been applied in other facilities with SCI, has been proven to offer a gain in resolving power and precision compared to the ToF-ICR technique [2–4]. In an effort to reach new levels of precision in the mass measurements of short-lived species at TITAN, we investigated the scenario of performing mass measurements of HCI using the PI-ICR technique. Simulations showed that as the charge state of the ions increases, the image of the ion motion in the trap appears more and more magnified on the detector. This results in an increase in the resolution of the mass measurement up to an order of magnitude.

TRIUMF’s Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science (TITAN) has specialized in fast Penning Trap mass spectrometry of very short-lived radioactive isotopes. The facility has been upgraded with a Multiple-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS) to continue its quest towards more exotic nuclides, which are critical for our understanding of nuclear structure effects far from the valley of beta stability and for the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements in explosive astrophysical environments. In this publication, we discuss the implementation, operation and performance of TITAN’s MR-TOF-MS as a stand-alone high-precision mass spectrometer and as an isobar separator. By using the novel mass-selective re-trapping technique for the isobar separation, the MR-TOF-MS can consecutively perform separation and mass measurement of the same ion population, acting as its own isobar separator. The device boosts the dynamic range and reach of the TITAN facility by several orders of magnitude. The MR-TOF-MS reaches a high mass resolving power ( m / Δ m ∼ 400 000 ), high precision and mass accuracy ( δ m / m 1 0 − 7 ), is fast (common cycle time 20 ms ), shows high sensitivity and very large dynamic range (ion of interest to contaminant ratios of up to 1 to 1 0 6 ).

Hyperfine interactions 240(1), 62 (2019). doi:10.1007/s10751-019-1610-y, Published by Springer Science + Business Media B.V, Dordrecht [u.a.]

The study of nuclei farther from the valley of $\beta$-stability goes hand-in-hand with shorter-lived nuclei produced in smaller abundances than their more stable counterparts. The measurement, to high precision, of nuclear masses therefore requires innovations in technique in order to keep up. TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science (TITAN) facility deploys three ion traps, with a fourth in the commissioning phase, to perform and support Penning trap mass spectrometry and in-trap decay spectroscopy on some of the shortest-lived nuclei ever studied. We report on recent advances and updates to the TITAN facility since the 2012 EMIS Conference. TITAN's charge breeding capabilities have been improved and in-trap decay spectroscopy can be performed in TITAN's electron beam ion trap (EBIT). Higher charge states can improve the precision of mass measurements, reduce the beam-time requirements for a given measurement, improve beam purity and opens the door to access, via in-trap decay and recapture, isotopes not available from the ISOL method. This was recently demonstrated during TITAN's mass measurement of $^{30}$Al. The EBIT's decay spectroscopy setup was commissioned with a successful branching ratio and half-life measurement of $^{124}$Cs. Charge breeding in the EBIT increases the energy spread of the ion bunch sent to the Penning trap for mass measurement so a new Cooler Penning Trap (CPET), which aims to cool highly charge ions with an electron plasma, is undergoing online commissioning. Already, CPET has demonstrated the trapping and self-cooling of a room-temperature electron plasma which was stored for several minutes. A new detector has been installed inside the CPET magnetic field which will allow for in-magnet charged particle detection., Comment: 14 Pages, 5 Figures. Preprint to be submitted to the Proceedings of the 2015EMIS Conference in NIMB

Recapturing the recoiling daughters from radioactive decay can be a simple way to diversify beam availability at rare isotope beam facilities. In the decay and recapture ion trapping (DRIT) technique, a parent species is stored in an ion trap and left to decay, and the daughter ions are recaptured by the trap and become available for use. We successfully demonstrated the technique using the electron beam ion trap (EBIT) at the TITAN facility. A pure cloud of 30Mg ions was stored in the EBIT for about one half-life and sent to a Penning trap mass spectrometer, which confirmed the production of 30Al daughter ions. Systematic measurements and simulations suggest high recapture efficiencies of the recoil ion and little influence of the recoiling energy in the observed losses. With the secondary beam, we also performed precision mass measurements of the parent 30Mg8+ and the daughter 30Al11+ ions. Our results agree with the literature and improve its precision. The success of this experiment shows that EBITs can produce high-quality beams through the DRIT technique.

We measured the $^{8}\mathrm{Li}(p,p)^{8}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{8}\mathrm{Li}(p,d)^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, and $^{8}\mathrm{Li}(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{5}\mathrm{He}$ reactions at low energies using the thick target inverse kinematics method, with a polyethylene ${[{\mathrm{CH}}_{2}]}_{n}$ target and a radioactive $^{8}\mathrm{Li}$ beam available at the Radioactive Ion Beams in Brazil facility of S\~ao Paulo. By measuring simultaneously several reaction channels $(p,p)$, $(p,d)$, and $(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})$, the still uncertain high-lying resonances of $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, close to the proton threshold, can be studied and their parameters, such as energy, width, and spin parity can be more reliably determined. The experimental excitation functions of the reactions $^{8}\mathrm{Li}(p,p)^{8}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{8}\mathrm{Li}(p,d)^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, and $^{8}\mathrm{Li}(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{5}\mathrm{He}$ were analyzed using the $R$-matrix theory, which allows us to infer the properties of the resonances. Multichannel $R$-matrix analysis provides evidence for a significant clustering in the $(p,d)$ channel. The experimental data and the multichannel $R$-matrix analysis will be presented.

We performed the first direct mass measurements of neutron-rich vanadium 52–55V isotopes passing the N=32 neutron shell closure with TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science. The new direct measurements confirm all previous indirect results. Through a reduced uncertainty of the mass of 55V we confirm the quenching of the N=32 neutron shell closure in vanadium. We discuss the evolution of the N=32 neutron shell closure between K and Cr and show similar signatures in the half-life surface when studied along the isotopic chains.

We report mass measurements of neutron-rich Ga isotopes $^{80-85}$Ga with TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science (TITAN). The measurements determine the masses of $^{80-83}$Ga in good agreement with previous measurements. The masses of $^{84}$Ga and $^{85}$Ga were measured for the first time. Uncertainties between $25-48$ keV were reached. The new mass values reduce the nuclear uncertainties associated with the production of A $\approx$ 84 isotopes by the \emph{r}-process for astrophysical conditions that might be consistent with a binary neutron star (BNS) merger producing a blue kilonova. Our nucleosynthesis simulations confirm that BNS merger may contribute to the first abundance peak under moderate neutron-rich conditions with electron fractions $Y_e=0.35-0.38$.

A direct ${Q}_{\mathrm{EC}}$-value measurement of the superallowed ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}$ emitter $^{22}\mathrm{Mg}$ was performed using TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear Science. The direct ground-state to ground-state atomic mass difference between $^{22}\mathrm{Mg}$ and $^{22}\mathrm{Na}$ was determined to be ${Q}_{\mathrm{EC}}=4781.40(22)$ keV, representing the most precise single measurement of this quantity to date. In a continued push toward calculating superallowed isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections from first principles, ab initio shell-model calculations of the $A=22$ isobaric multiplet mass equation are also presented for the first time using the valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group formalism. With particular starting two- and three-nucleon forces, this approach demonstrates good agreement with the experimental data.

We present the results of precision mass measurements of neutron-rich cadmium isotopes. These nuclei approach the $N=82$ closed neutron shell and are important to nuclear structure as they lie near doubly-magic $^{132}$Sn on the chart of nuclides. Of particular note is the clear identification of the ground state mass in $^{127}$Cd along with the isomeric state. We show that the ground state identified in a previous mass measurement which dominates the mass value in the Atomic Mass Evaluation is an isomeric state. In addition to $^{127/m}$Cd, we present other cadmium masses measured ($^{125/m}$Cd and $^{126}$Cd) in a recent TITAN experiment at TRIUMF. Finally, we compare our measurements to new \emph{ab initio} shell-model calculations and comment on the state of the field in the $N=82$ region.

The detection of an electron bunch exiting a strong magnetic field can prove challenging due to the small mass of the electron. If placed too far from a solenoid's entrance, a detector outside the magnetic field will be too small to reliably intersect with the exiting electron beam because the light electrons will follow the diverging magnetic field outside the solenoid. The TITAN group at TRIUMF in Vancouver, Canada, has made use of advances in the practice and precision of photochemical machining (PCM) to create a new kind of charge collecting detector called the "mesh detector." The TITAN mesh detector was used to solve the problem of trapped electron detection in the new Cooler PEnning Trap (CPET) currently under development at TITAN. This thin array of wires etched out of a copper plate is a novel, low profile, charge agnostic detector that can be made effectively transparent or opaque at the user's discretion., 6 Pages. 6 Figures. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

We report on the mass measurements of $^{31,32}\mathrm{Na}$ and $^{29,34,35}\mathrm{Al}$, performed with the TITAN Penning trap mass spectrometer at TRIUMF. The mass excesses were found to be $12246(14)$ and $18638(37)$ keV for $^{31,32}\mathrm{Na}$ and $\ensuremath{-}18207.77(37),\ensuremath{-}3000.5(29)$, and $\ensuremath{-}223.7(73)$ keV for $^{29,34,35}\mathrm{Al}$, respectively. Our measurements confirm the observation of a crossover in the two-neutron separation energies of $^{33}\mathrm{Mg}$ and $^{34}\mathrm{Al}$. We did not observe the recently reported, long-lived, isomeric state of $^{34}\mathrm{Al}$, but, based on the previously measured half-lives, the mass value of the ground state was determined.

The (p, p), (p, a) and (p, d) reactions on 8Li were measured at low energies. The experiment was performed using a thick [CH2]n target and a radioactive 8Li beam available at the RIBRAS facility of Sao Paulo . This experiment represents an upgrade of a previous experiment, where only the 8Li(p,a)5He cross section was measured. High lying resonances of 9Be, which are still uncertain, could be studied in this way. The detection of several reaction channels allows a reliable determination of the resonance parameters, such as energy, width and spin-parity. In the deuteron channel we could observe the same resonance decaying to d+7Ligs and to d+7Li∗. The properties of the resonances are determined by a R-matrix analysis, which provides evidence for a significant clustering as well in the (p, a) as in the (p, d) channels. The experimental data and the multi-channel R-matrix analysis will be presented.

We present angular distributions of the He 6 + Ni 58 scattering measured at three bombarding energies above the Coulomb barrier: E lab = 12.2 MeV , 16.5 MeV , and 21.7 MeV . The angular distributions have been analysed in terms of three- and four-body Continuum-Discretized Coupled-Channels calculations considering the effect of the 6 He breakup. A behaviour in the cross section at large angles has been observed which was reproduced only by the four-body Continuum-Discretized Coupled-Channels calculation.

Several modes of electroweak radioactive decay require an interaction between the nucleus and bound electrons within the constituent atom. Thus, the probabilities of the respective decays are not only influenced by the structure of the initial and final states in the nucleus, but can also depend strongly on the atomic charge. Conditions suitable for the partial or complete ionization of these rare isotopes occur naturally in hot, dense astrophysical environments, but can also be artificially generated in the laboratory to selectively block certain radioactive decay modes. Direct experimental studies on such scenarios are extremely difficult due to the laboratory conditions required to generate and store radioactive ions at high charge states. A new electron-beam ion trap (EBIT) decay setup with the TITAN experiment at TRIUMF has successfully demonstrated such techniques for performing spectroscopy on the radioactive decay of highly charged ions., Comment: Invited article for "Atoms" special issue on "Perspectives of Atomic Physics Using Highly Charged Ions"

The RIBRAS facility (Radioactive Ion Beams in Brasil) is installed in connection with the 8MV Pelletron tandem of the University of Sao Paulo Physics Institute. It consists of two superconducting solenoids which focalize light radioactive secondary beams of low energy, produced by transfer reactions. Recent experimental results include the elastic scattering and transfer reactions of 6He halo nucleus on 9Be, 27Al, 51V and 120Sn targets. The elastic scattering and transfer of 8Li and 7Be on several targets is also being studied. The transfer reaction 8Li(p,α)5He of astrophysical interest was also studied in the E c m = 0.2 – 2.5 MeV energy range.

Reações induzidas por prótons são importantes no estudo do consumo de 8Li em alguns cenários astrofísicos. Neste trabalho, as seções de choque para as reações 8Li(p,p), 8Li(p,α) e 8Li(p,d) foram medidas em cinemática inversa entre Ecm=0.7 e 2.2 MeV. Foi usado um feixe de 8Li de alta pureza selecionado pelo Sistema RIBRAS no Laboratório Pelletron (IF-USP), São Paulo, que colidia com um alvo grosso de polietileno ((CH2)n, 7.7(8) mg/cm2), um plástico rico em prótons. Os produtos de reação foram medidos por um telescópio formado por detectores de barreira de superfície de silício posicionados em um ângulo dianteiro. As funções de excitação medidas foram analisadas através da metodologia de matriz-R e puderam fornecer informações sobre ressonâncias pouco conhecidas do núcleo composto 9Be a altas energias de excitação. A importância de outros canais de decaimento e consequências das reações estudadas na nucleossíntese também são discutidas. Proton-induced reactions are important in the study of the destruction of 8Li in some astrophysical scenarios. In this work, the cross sections for the reactions 8Li(p,p), 8Li(p,α) and 8Li(p,d) were measured in inverse kinematics between Ecm = 0.7 and 2.2 MeV. A highly pure 8Li beam selected by RIBRAS System in the Pelletron Laboratory (IF-USP), São Paulo, was used impinging on a thick polyethylene target ((CH2)n , 7.7(8) mg/cm2), a proton-rich plastic. The reaction products were detected by a telescope formed by silicon surfasse barrier detectors placed at a foward angle. The measured excitation functions were analysed through the R-matrix methodology and could provide information about poorly known high-lying resonances of the 9Be compound nucleus. The importance of other decay channels and the consequences of the studied reactions on nucleosynthesis are also discussed.

We present the results of the 8Li(p,α)5He and 8Li(p,p)8Li reactions measured at the RIBRAS (Radioactive Ion Beams in Brazil) system. The experiment was realized in inverse kinematics using a thick [CH2]n polyethylene target and an incident 8Li beam, produced by RIBRAS. Using the thick target method, the complete excitation function could be measured between Ecm = 0.2 - 2.1 MeV, which includes the Gamow peak energy region. The excitation function of the 8Li(p,α)5He reaction, populating resonances between 16.888 and 19.0 MeV in 9Be, was obtained[1] and the resonances were fitted using R-matrix calculations. This study shed light on spins, parities, partial widths and isospin values of high lying resonances in 9Be. The measurement of the resonant elastic scattering 8Li(p,p)8Li populating resonances in the same energy region can constrain the resonance parameters. Preliminary results of the elastic scattering are also presented. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2014., SCOPUS: cp.p, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

We present the results of experiments using a 6 He beam on a 9 Be target at energies 7 − 9 times the Coulomb barrier. Angular distributions of the elastic, inelastic scattering (target breakup) and the a -particle production in the 6 He+ 9 Be collision have been analysed. Total reaction cross sections were obtained from the elastic scatteringanalyses and a considerable enhancement has been observed by comparing to stable systems.

Elastic scattering measurements of 6He + 58Ni system have been performed at the laboratory energy of 21.7 MeV. The 6He secondary beam was produced by a transfer reaction 9Be (7Li, 6He) and impinged on 58Ni and 197Au targets, using the Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility, RIBRAS, installed in the Pelletron Laboratory of the Institute of Physics of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The elastic angular distribution was obtained in the angular range from 15° to 80° in the center of mass frame. Optical model calculations have been performed using a hybrid potential to fit the experimental data. The total reaction cross section was derived.

SIM-RIBRAS is a Root-based Monte-Carlo simulation tool designed to help RIBRAS users on experience planning and experimental setup enhancing and caracterization. It is divided into two main programs: CineRIBRAS, aiming beam kinematics, and SolFocus, aiming beam optics. SIM-RIBRAS replaces other methods and programs used in the past, providing more complete and accurate results and requiring much less manual labour. Moreover, the user can easily make modifications in the codes, adequating it for specific requirements of an experiment.

A description of the double solenoid system (RIBRAS) operating since 2004 in one of the beam lines of the Pelletron Laboratory of the Institute of Physics of the University of Sao Paulo is presented. The recent installation of the secondary scattering chamber after the second solenoid is reported and the first experiment in RIBRAS using both solenoids is described.

We present a direct measurement of the low-energy ${}^{8}\mathrm{Li}{(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})}^{5}\mathrm{He}$ cross section, using a radioactive ${}^{8}$Li beam impinging on a thick target. With four beam energies, we cover the energy range between ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=0.2$ and 2.1 MeV. An $R$-matrix analysis of the data is performed and suggests the existence of two broad overlapping resonances ($5/{2}^{+}$ at ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=1.69$ MeV and $7/{2}^{+}$ at ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=1.76$ MeV). At low energies our data are sensitive to the properties of a subthreshold state (${E}_{x}=16.67$ MeV) and of two resonances above threshold. These resonances were observed in previous experiments. The $R$-matrix fit confirms spin assignments, and provides partial widths. We propose a new ${}^{8}\mathrm{Li}{(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})}^{5}\mathrm{He}$ reaction rate and briefly discuss its influence in nuclear astrophysics.

The RIBRAS facility (Radiactive Ion Beams in Brasil) is installed next to the 8 MV Pelletron Tandem of the Nuclear Physics Laboratory of the Institute of Physics of the University of Sao Paulo. It consists of two superconducting solenoids with maximum magnetic field of B=6.5T. Light radioactive ion beams are produced through transfer reactions, using solid or gaseous production targets of Be, LiF, 3He etc. The solenoids make a magnetic rigidity selection and the use of the two solenoids with a degrader between them allows the production of quite pure secondary beams. Beams of 6He, 8Li, 7Be, 10Be, 8B, 12B are currently produced and used to study elastic, inelastic, and transfer reactions on a variety of light, medium mass and heavy secondary targets. Some examples of reactions recently studied are presented below.

Elastic scattering angular distributions for ${}^{7}$Be, ${}^{9}$Be, and ${}^{10}$Be isotopes on ${}^{12}$C target were measured at laboratory energies of 18.8, 26.0, and 23.2 MeV, respectively. The analysis was performed in terms of optical model potentials using Woods-Saxon and double-folding form factors. Also, continuum discretized coupled-channels calculations were performed for ${}^{7}$Be and ${}^{9}$Be $+{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{12}$C systems to infer the role of breakup in the elastic scattering. For the ${}^{10}$Be $+{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{12}$C system, bound states coupled-channels calculations were considered. Moreover, total reaction cross sections were deduced from the elastic scattering analysis and compared with published data on other weakly and tightly bound projectiles elastically scattered on the ${}^{12}$C target, as a function of energy.

A recent experiment has been performed in the double solenoid system Radioactive Ion Beams in Brasil (RIBRAS) by impinging a pure 6 He secondary beam on a thick CH 2 target to measure the 6 He + p excitation function. Results of this experiment will be presented.

For modes of electroweak decay such as electron capture and internal conversion, the spatial distribution of the electron cloud of the atom plays a major role in the decay probability. By successively removing electrons from these systems the decay probability is altered, thus changing the transition rates. In some cases, this can increase or decrease the decay rates by several orders of magnitude. These effects are particularily important in hot, ionizing, astrophysical environments. Due to significant technical challenges of generating and storing highly charged ions (HCIs), studies on these decay modes for HCIs are rare. With the commissioning of the TITAN decay spectroscopy setup at TRIUMF, nuclear decay properties of HCIs can now be studied in ion-traps for the first time. This proceeding reports the technical upgrade of the high-voltage infrastructure to provide access to increasingly ionized radioactive ions for decay study.