Optimization of Yield Measurements and Study of $^{229}\rm{Ra}$ Decay

This Summer Student project involved $\textbf{three primary tasks}$: optimizing the performance of a release curve fitting program, analyzing data from proton scans done using radiation monitors, and analyzing $^{229}\rm{Ra}$ decay to support the development of a nuclear clock. $\textbf{Firstly}$, improvements were made to the Release Curve GUI, a tool used for analyzing release curves for yield assessments of isotopes from ISOLDE targets. Enhancements included reactivating database connections for yield comparisons between target setups, preventing crashes, and implementing a numerical integration for fast yield estimation. These updates facilitated more reliable yield calculations. $\textbf{Secondly}$, a script was developed to analyze proton scans, which are essential for aligning proton beams with the target material. The script collected and analyzed data from radiation monitors used as an alternative method for conducting a proton scan. Results demonstrated that radiation monitors could potentially replace the tape station for certain tasks, although improvements in real-time data access are necessary. $\textbf{Finally}$, the study of $^{229}\rm{Ra}$ focused on identifying and quantifying new gamma lines and their branching ratios. These measurements are crucial for developing a nuclear clock based on the low-energy isomeric transition in $^{229}\rm{Th}$. The analysis involved energy and efficiency calibration of detectors, fitting decay rates using the Bateman equation, and analyzing gamma spectrums. The results provide insights into $^{229}\rm{Ra}$ decay, contributing to the broader effort to develop ultraprecise timekeeping technologies.