We report a direct measurement of the Q ββ -value of the neutrinoless double-β-decay candidate 48 Ca at the TITAN Penning-trap mass spectrometer, with the result that Q ββ = 4267.98(32) keV. We measured the masses of both the mother and daughter nuclides, and in the latter case found a 1 keV deviation from the literature value. In addition to the Q ββ -value, we also present results of a new calculation of the neutrinoless double-β-decay nuclear matrix element of 48 Ca. Using diagrammatic many-body perturbation theory to second order to account for physics outside the valence space, we constructed an effective shell-model double-β-decay operator, which increased the nuclear matrix element by about 75% compared with that produced by the bare operator. The new Q ββ -value and matrix element strengthen the case for a 48 Ca double-β-decay experiment.The discovery of neutrino oscillations represents the first evidence for new physics beyond the Standard Model [1,2]. The oscillations conclusively demonstrate that neutrinos have mass, that flavor eigenstates are mixtures of mass eigenstates, and that neutrino physics is more complicated than we had thought. The observation of neutrinoless double-β (0νββ) decay, extremely rare if it exists, would at once fill multiple gaps in our understanding of the neutrino's nature and would represent a major breakthrough for particle physics. Since this lepton-number-violating process can occur only if the neutrino is its own antiparticle, its discovery would unambiguously confirm the neutrino as a Majorana particle, while a measured lifetime would provide a value for the neutrino mass scale [3]. In order to extract that value from the 0νββ-decay half-life, however, two quantities must be accurately determined: a phase-space factor, which depends on the Q ββ -value of the decay, and a nuclear matrix element, which is not observable and therefore must be obtained from nuclear structure theory.The twelve nuclides that have been observed to undergo two-neutrino double-β (2νββ) decay [4,5] are the basis for a number of large-scale experimental 0νββdecay searches currently underway. Of these nuclides, 48 Ca possesses the largest Q ββ -value of 4.3 MeV [6], giv-ing it several distinct experimental advantages. Because the Q ββ -value lies well above the energy of naturally occurring background, a good signal-to-noise ratio is ensured, while the large phase-space factor enhances the 0νββ-decay rate. The low isotopic abundance of 48 Ca, however, requires enrichment. 48 Ca is currently being measured at NEMO-III [7] and studied at CANDLES [8] and CARVEL [9]. The Q ββ -value provides vital input for the simulation of signal and background, the analysis of current data, and the design of future detectors. In order for the uncertainty of the Q ββ -value to be negligible in these studies, the required precision has to be better than the intrinsic resolution of the detector.The deep implications of massive neutrinos have led to a concentrated effort to calculate the nuclear matrix element for 0νββ-...

Using the Penning trap mass spectrometer TITAN, we performed the first direct mass measurements of (20,21)Mg, isotopes that are the most proton-rich members of the A = 20 and A = 21 isospin multiplets. These measurements were possible through the use of a unique ion-guide laser ion source, a development that suppressed isobaric contamination by 6 orders of magnitude. Compared to the latest atomic mass evaluation, we find that the mass of (21)Mg is in good agreement but that the mass of (20)Mg deviates by 3 σ. These measurements reduce the uncertainties in the masses of (20,21)Mg by 15 and 22 times, respectively, resulting in a significant departure from the expected behavior of the isobaric multiplet mass equation in both the A = 20 and A = 21 multiplets. This presents a challenge to shell model calculations using either the isospin nonconserving universal sd USDA and USDB Hamiltonians or isospin nonconserving interactions based on chiral two- and three-nucleon forces.

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A novel in-trap decay spectroscopy facility has been developed and constructed for use with TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science (TITAN). This apparatus consists of an open-access spectroscopy ion-trap, which is surrounded radially with up to seven low-energy planar Si(Li) detectors. The ion-trap environment allows for the detection of low-energy photons by providing backing-free storage of the radioactive ions, while guiding decay particles from the trap center via the strong (up to 6 T) magnetic field. Excellent ion confinement is also facilitated by the use of an intense electron beam which provides storage times of minutes or more without ion loss. These advantages, along with careful monitoring and control, provide a significant increase in sensitivity for the detection of X-rays from the electron-capture process. The design, development, and commissioning of this apparatus are presented and the future of the device and experimental technique are discussed.Keywords: in-trap decay spectroscopy, electron capture, beta-decay of highly-charged ions, X-ray detection, electron-beam ion trap, nuclear matrix elements, double beta decay