IsoTagger: Identification of isomeric nuclear states produced in fragmentation reactions with radioactive beams

A new method has been developed to detect and identify isomeric states produced in intermediate beam-energy reactions with secondary radioactive beams. Event-by-event identification of the reaction products allows for an unambiguous assignment of isomeric states to certain nuclei produced in fragmentation reactions. This versatile device allows for the identification of isomeric states with lifetimes between 100 ns and several ms. Combined prompt and delayed γ-ray spectroscopy give detailed information on the level schemes of exotic nuclei. This is particularly important in measurements of exclusive reaction cross-sections to several final states in the residue nucleus.