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Nuclear properties across the chart of nuclides are key to improving and validating our understanding of the strong interaction in nuclear physics. We present high-precision mass measurements of neutron-rich Fe isotopes performed at the TITAN facility. The multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-ToF-MS), achieving a resolving power greater than 600 000 for the first time, enabled the measurement of 63−70 Fe, including first-time high-precision direct measurements (δm/m ∼ 10 −7 ) of 68−70 Fe, as well as the discovery of a long-lived isomeric state in 69 Fe. These measurements are accompanied by both mean-field and ab initio calculations using the most recent realizations which enable theoretical assignment of the spin-parities of the 69 Fe ground and isomeric states. Together with mean-field calculations of quadrupole deformation parameters for the Fe isotope chain, these results benchmark a maximum of deformation in the N = 40 island of inversion in Fe, and shed light on trends in level densities indicated in the newly-refined mass surface.

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Penning trap mass spectrometry is the tool of choice for mass measurements to test the Standard Model or lay the nuclear-physics foundation of neutrino physics due to the high precisions achievable. This precision can be further boosted by higher charge states (Ettenauer et al 2011). For this purpose, an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) provides radioactive HCIs at the TITAN facility at TRIUMF. To improve the electron beam properties and its control, a new electron gun is under development. The electron gun within its TITAN EBIT environment was simulated using Field Precision’s TRAK software. A new electrode geometry was chosen and optimized to extract up to 5A, 66 keV electron beams. Due to the strong fringe field of the unshielded 6T magnet, options for the passive and active shielding of the gun were explored to compress the electron beam. During the design process, careful attention was paid to safety and mechanical considerations. Simulations and the status of the new electron gun will be presented.