[Paper] Recent Advances in On-Line Laser Spectroscopy

Recent Advances in On-Line Laser Spectroscopy

B. Cheal et al.

doi: 10.1080/10619127.2015.1104126

Abstract

At radioactive ion beam facilities, particle accelerators are employed to induce nuclear reactions in order to provide short-lived nuclei for immediate study using a variety of spectroscopic techniques. These exotic isotopes/isomers are formed into a beam of fast ions, which are mass analyzed in-flight during transport to a chosen experimental set-up. As an additional filter, the atomic level structure provides a selective fingerprint, which distinguishes one element from another due to the varying numbers of protons and electrons. This property is exploited in laser ion sources whereby high power, pulsed tuneable laser radiation is used to excite and ionize the atom in order to enhance the yield of a selected element. This not only provides a means of identification but also purification.

Tags: laser spectroscopy