The atomic nucleus is a complex system that continues to be actively studied more than a century after its discovery. Among the open questions, the question of the limits of existence of the nucleus remains central: what are the numbers of protons and neutrons that allow a bound nucleus to form? This question can be addressed using mass measurements that provide access to the binding energy of the nucleus, one of its most fundamental properties. The objective of this thesis is, on the one hand, to perform high-precision mass measurements of the isotopes 234-238Am (Z = 95) isotopes at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland (experiment planned in 2026), and, on the other hand, to participate in the installation and commissioning of the PIPERADE double Penning trap (PIèges de PEnning pour les RAdionucléides à DESIR) at GANIL in Caen.
The americium nuclei that will be studied in this thesis are at the boundary between two regions of particular interest: the octupole deformation region (pear-shaped nuclei) and the fission isomer region (meta-stable states of nuclei decaying by fission), and measuring their mass will provide a better understanding of the properties of these exotic nuclei.
PIPERADE is a device that can be used to perform high-precision mass measurements. Currently in the characterisation phase in Bordeaux, its installation at GANIL will enable the study of a wide range of exotic nuclei by measuring their mass. Currently undergoing characterisation in Bordeaux, its installation at GANIL (planned for 2027) will enable the study of a wide range of exotic nuclei by measuring their mass, but also by using separation techniques to purify the radioactive beams before sending them to other experimental devices.