Biomedical subjects

K Blaum

Publications and source records attributed to K Blaum.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

New mass value for 7Li.

A high-accuracy mass measurement of 7Li was performed with the SMILETRAP Penning-trap mass spectrometer via a cyclotron frequency comparison of 7Li3+ and H2+. A new atomic-mass value of 7Li has been determined to be 7.016 003 425 6(45) u with a relative uncertainty of 0.63 ppb. It has uncovered a discrepancy as large as 14sigma (1.1 microu) deviation relative to the literature value given in the Atomic-Mass Evaluation AME 2003. The importance of the improved and revised 7Li mass value, for calibration purposes in nuclear-charge radii and atomic-mass measurements of the neutron halos 9Li and 11Li, is discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Measurement of the spin and magnetic moment of 31Mg: evidence for a strongly deformed intruder ground state.

Unambiguous values of the spin and magnetic moment of 31Mg are obtained by combining the results of a hyperfine-structure measurement and a beta-NMR measurement, both performed with an optically polarized ion beam. With a measured nuclear g factor and spin I=1/2, the magnetic moment mu(31Mg)=-0.88355(15)mu(N) is deduced. A revised level scheme of 31Mg (Z=12, N=19) with ground state spin/parity I(pi)=1/2(+) is presented, revealing the coexistence of 1p-1h and 2p-2h intruder states below 500 keV. Advanced shell-model calculations and the Nilsson model suggest that the I(pi)=1/2(+) ground state is a strongly prolate deformed intruder state. This result plays a key role for the understanding of nuclear structure changes due to the disappearance of the N=20 shell gap in neutron-rich nuclei.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Mass measurement on the rp-process waiting point 72Kr.

The mass of one of the three major waiting points in the astrophysical rp process 72Kr was measured for the first time with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. The measurement yielded a relative mass uncertainty of deltam/m=1.2x10(-7) (deltam=8 keV). (73,74)Kr, also needed for astrophysical calculations, were measured with more than 1 order of magnitude improved accuracy. We use the ISOLTRAP masses of 72-74Kr to reanalyze the role of 72Kr (T(1/2)=17.2 s) in the rp process during x-ray bursts and conclude that 72Kr is a strong waiting point delaying the burst duration with at least 80% of its beta-decay half-life.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

The mass of 22Mg.

Mass measurements with a relative precision of better than 1.5 x 10(-8) were performed on 22Mg and its reaction partners 21Na and 22Na with the ISOLTRAP Penning trap mass spectrometer at CERN, yielding the mass excesses D(22Mg)=-399.92(27) keV, D(21Na)=-2184.71(21) keV, and D(22Na)=-5181.56(16) keV. The importance of these results is twofold. First, a comparative half-life (Ft value) has been obtained for the superallowed beta decay of 22Mg to further test the conserved-vector-current hypothesis. Second, the resonance energy for the 21Na proton capture reaction has been independently determined, allowing direct comparisons of observable gamma radiation in nova explosions with the yield expected from models.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Direct mass measurements on the superallowed emitter 74Rb and its daughter 74Kr: isospin-symmetry-breaking correction for standard-model tests.

The decay energy of the superallowed beta decay 74Rb(beta+)74Kr was determined by direct Penning trap mass measurements on both the mother and the daughter nuclide using the time-of-flight resonance technique and was found to be Q=10 416.8(4.5) keV. The exotic nuclide 74Rb, with a half-life of only 65 ms, is the shortest-lived nuclide on which a high-precision mass measurement in a Penning trap has been carried out. Together with existing data for the partial half-life as well as theoretical corrections, the decay energy yields a comparative half-life of Ft=3084(15) s for this decay, in agreement with the mean value for the series of the lighter nuclides from 10C to 54Co. Assuming conserved vector current, this result allows for an experimental determination of the isospin-symmetry-breaking correction deltaC.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Unambiguous identification of three beta-decaying isomers in 70Cu.

Using resonant laser ionization, beta-decay studies, and for the first time mass measurements, three beta-decaying states have been unambiguously identified in 70Cu. A mass excess of -62 976.1(1.6) keV and a half-life of 44.5(2) s for the (6-) ground state have been determined. The level energies of the (3-) isomer at 101.1(3) keV with T(1/2)=33(2) s and the 1+ isomer at 242.4(3) keV with T(1/2)=6.6(2) s are confirmed by high-precision mass measurements. The low-lying levels of 70Cu populated in the decay of 70Ni and in transfer reactions compare well with large-scale shell-model calculations, and the wave functions appear to be dominated by one proton-one neutron configurations outside the closed Z=28 shell and N=40 subshell. This does not apply to the 1+ state at 1980 keV which exhibits a particular feeding and deexcitation pattern not reproduced by the shell-model calculations.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Masses of 32Ar and 33Ar for fundamental tests.

Masses of the short-lived radionuclides 32Ar (T(1/2)=98 ms) and 33Ar (T(1/2)=173 ms) have been determined with the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. Relative uncertainties of 6.0x10(-8) (deltam=1.8 keV) and 1.4x10(-8) (deltam=0.44 keV), respectively, have been achieved. At present, these new mass data serve as the most stringent test of the quadratic form of the isobaric-multiplet mass equation. Furthermore, the improved accuracy for the mass of 32Ar will allow for a better constraint on scalar contributions to the weak interaction. New mass values have also been measured for 44Ar and 45Ar, and a 20sigma deviation for 44Ar from the literature value was found and interpreted.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Cluster calibration in mass spectrometry: laser desorption/ionization studies of atomic clusters and an application in precision mass spectrometry.

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.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Trace determination of gadolinium in biomedical samples by diode laser-based multi-step resonance ionization mass spectrometry.

The application of high-resolution multi-step resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) to the trace determination of the rare earth element gadolinium is described. Utilizing three-step resonant excitation into an autoionizing level, both isobaric and isotopic selectivity of >10(7) were attained. An overall detection efficiency of approximately 10(-7) and an isotope specific detection limit of 1.5 x 10(9) atoms have been demonstrated. When targeting the major isotope (158)Gd, this corresponds to a total Gd detection limit of 1.6 pg. Additionally, linear response has been demonstrated over a dynamic range of six orders of magnitude. The method has been used to determine the Gd content in various normal and tumor tissue samples, taken from a laboratory mouse shortly after injection of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA), which is used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The RIMS results show Gd concentrations that vary by more than two orders of magnitude (0.07-11.5 microg mL(-1)) depending on the tissue type. This variability is similar to that observed in MRI scans that depict Gd-DTPA content in the mouse prior to dissection, and illustrates the potential for quantitative trace analysis in microsamples of biomedical materials.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

41Ca ultratrace determination with isotopic selectivity > 10(12) by diode-laser-based RIMS.

41Ca ultratrace determination by diode-laser-based resonance ionization mass spectrometry with extremely high isotopic selectivity is presented. Application to environmental dosimetry of nuclear reactor components, to cosmochemical investigations of production cross sections, and biomedical isotope-tracer studies of human calcium kinetics are discussed. Future investigations are possible use in 41Ca-radiodating. Depending on the application, 41Ca isotopic abundances in the range of 10(-9) to 10(-15) relative to the dominant stable isotope 40Ca must be determined. Either double- or triple-resonance optical excitation with narrow-band extended cavity diode lasers and subsequent non-resonant photoionization of calcium in a collimated atomic beam were used. The resulting photoions are detected with a quadrupole mass spectrometer optimized for background reduction and neighboring mass suppression. Applying the full triple-resonance scheme provides a selectivity of approximately 5 x 10(12) in the suppression of neighboring isotopes and > 10(8) for isobars, together with an overall detection efficiency of approximately 5 x 10(-5). Measurements on a variety of sample types are discussed; the accuracy and reproducibility of the resulting 41Ca/40Ca isotope ratios was better than 5%.

Calcium Radioisotopes↗