Experimental study of the 34mCl beam production at intermediate energies

The isomeric content of a 34Cl beam produced in the intermediate-energy projectile fragmentation of a 150 MeV/u 36Ar beam on a 3 mm-thick Be target was studied. β-delayed γ-ray spectroscopy was used to measure the population of 34Cl fragments in the ground vs. isomeric states at zero degrees relative to the incoming primary beam for four different momentum settings of the fragment separator near the predicted central velocity of these fragments, as well as, at two non-zero-degree settings for one momentum setting. Of the settings explored, which excluded rigidities within 0.5% of the value predicted to maximize total 34Cl yield due to unreacted primary beam, the maximum rate for the production of 34mCl was found at a rigidity setting 0.75% below the predicted peak 34Cl yield. The maximum population of the isomeric state relative to the ground state was observed at a rigidity 1.25% below the predicted maximum 34Cl yield. Studies such as this are important in generating the understanding needed for producing isomer-enriched rare-isotope beams.