Direct mass measurement of bare short-lived 44V, 48Mn, 41Ti and 45Cr ions with isochronous mass spectrometry.

We present direct mass measurements of the short-lived 44V, 48Mn, 41Ti and 45Cr nuclei. A novel experimental method has been used that is based on projectile fragmentation, in-flight separation of relativistic heavy ions with the fragment separator (FRS), and on isochronous operation of the experimental storage ring (ESR). A mass resolving power of 110 000 (FWHM) and an accuracy of about (100–500) keV has been achieved. The impact of the present results on the rp-process in X-ray burst models is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]