Discovery of 60Ca and Implications For the Stability of 70Ca

Abstract:  The discovery of the important neutron-rich nucleus 60Ca and seven others near the limits of nuclear stability is reported from the fragmentation of a 345 MeV/u 70Zn projectile beam at the radioactive ion-beam factory of the RIKEN Nishina Center. The produced fragments were analyzed and unambiguously identified using the BigRIPS two-stage in-flight separator. The results are compared with the drip lines predicted by a variety of mass models and it is found that the models in best agreement with the observed limits of existence in the explored region tend to predict the even-mass Ca isotopes to be bound out to at least 70Ca. The potential for the synthesis of such super neutron-rich calcium isotopes at FRIB will be discussed.