On-line implementation and first operation of the Laser Ion Source and Trap at ISOLDE/CERN

13 pags.; 12 figs.; 2 tab.; Open Access funded by CERN

The Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experimental setup at CERN-ISOLDE

The CRIS setup at CERN-ISOLDE is a laser spectroscopy experiment dedicated to the high-resolution study of the spin, hyperfine structure and isotope shift of radioactive nuclei with low production rates (a few per second). It combines the Doppler-free resolution of the in-flight collinear geometry with the high detection efficiency of resonant ionisation. A recent commissioning campaign has demonstrated a 1% experimental efficiency, and as low as a 0.001% non-resonant ionisation. The current status of the experiment and its recent achievements with beams of francium isotopes are reported. The first identified systematic effects are discussed. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: The Collinear …

First demonstration of Doppler-free 2-photon in-source laser spectroscopy at the ISOLDE-RILIS

Abstract Collinear Doppler-free 2-photon resonance ionization has been applied inside a hot cavity laser ion source environment at CERN-ISOLDE. An injection-seeded Ti:sapphire ring laser was used to generate light pulses with a Fourier-limited linewidth for high-resolution spectroscopy. Using a molybdenum foil as a reflective surface positioned at the end of the target transfer line, rubidium was successfully ionized inside the hot cavity. The results are presented alongside previously obtained data from measurements performed at the RISIKO mass separator at Mainz University, where collinear and perpendicular ionization geometries were tested inside an RFQ ion guide. This work is a pre-curs…

Laser ion beam production at CERN-ISOLDE: New features – More possibilities

Abstract This article summarizes the current specifications and the latest features of the CERN-ISOLDE resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS). This includes a description of the optical layout and the newly designed reference system. The ionization schemes for the laser ionized beams at ISOLDE are tabulated, including six new elements. All RILIS schemes are also made publicly available in the RILIS elements on-line database. Finally, we announce a paradigm shift in RILIS operation – the combination of a machine protection and a monitoring and control system has enabled on-call operation of the laser ion source for selected beams in 2014 and has become the standard mode of operation i…

Laser and decay spectroscopy of the short-lived isotope Fr214 in the vicinity of the N=126 shell closure

Measurement and microscopic description of odd-even staggering of charge radii of exotic copper isotopes

Isotopes with an odd number of neutrons are usually slightly smaller in size than their even-neutron neighbours. In charge radii of short-lived copper isotopes, a reduction of this effect is observed when the neutron number approaches fifty. The mesoscopic nature of the atomic nucleus gives rise to a wide array of macroscopic and microscopic phenomena. The size of the nucleus is a window into this duality: while the charge radii globally scale as $A^{1/3}$, their evolution across isotopic chains reveals unanticipated structural phenomena [1-3]. The most ubiquitous of these is perhaps the Odd-Even Staggering (OES) [4]: isotopes with an odd number of neutrons are usually smaller in size than …

Laser Spectroscopy of Neutron-Rich Hg207,208 Isotopes: Illuminating the Kink and Odd-Even Staggering in Charge Radii across the N=126 Shell Closure

The mean-square charge radii of $^{207,208}$Hg ($Z=80, N=127,128$) have been studied for the first time and those of $^{202,203,206}$Hg ($N=122,123,126$) remeasured by the application of in-source resonance-ionization laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE (CERN). The characteristic \textit{kink} in the charge radii at the $N=126$ neutron shell closure has been revealed, providing the first information on its behavior below the $Z=82$ proton shell closure. A theoretical analysis has been performed within relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov and non-relativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approaches, considering both the new mercury results and existing lead data. Contrary to previous interpretations, it is d…

Narrow linewidth operation of the RILIS titanium: Sapphire laser at ISOLDE/CERN

Abstract A narrow linewidth operating mode for the Ti:sapphire laser of the CERN ISOLDE Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) has been developed. This satisfies the laser requirements for the programme of in-source resonance ionization spectroscopy measurements and improves the selectivity for isomer separation using RILIS. A linewidth reduction from typically 10 GHz down to 1 GHz was achieved by the intra-cavity insertion of a second (thick) Fabry-Perot etalon. Reliable operation during a laser scan was achieved through motorized control of the tilt angle of each etalon. A scanning, stabilization and mode cleaning procedure was developed and implemented in LabVIEW. The narrow linew…

Production, isolation and characterization of radiochemically pure 163Ho samples for the ECHo-project

Abstract Several experiments on the study of the electron neutrino mass are based on high-statistics measurements of the energy spectrum following electron capture of the radionuclide 163Ho. They rely on the availability of large, radiochemically pure samples of 163Ho. Here, we describe the production, separation, characterization, and sample production within the Electron Capture in Holmium-163 (ECHo) project. 163Ho has been produced by thermal neutron activation of enriched, prepurified 162Er targets in the high flux reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France, in irradiations lasting up to 54 days. Irradiated targets were chemically processed by means of extraction chromatogr…

A complementary laser system for ISOLDE RILIS

The Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) is a powerful tool for efficient and selective production of radioactive ion beams at Isotope Separator On Line (ISOL) facilities. To avoid isobaric background, highly selective stepwise resonant ionization is applied, using up to three different laser wavelengths. Due to their advantages in terms of stability and reliability, an all solid-state titanium:sapphire (Ti:Sa) system is used or is planned to be installed at the majority of on-line facilities worldwide. Such an all solid-state Ti:Sa laser system is going to be installed at the ISOLDE RILIS at CERN alongside the well-established dye laser system.

Precision Mass Measurements of Cr58–63 : Nuclear Collectivity Towards the N=40 Island of Inversion

The neutron-rich isotopes $^{58-63}$Cr were produced for the first time at the ISOLDE facility and their masses were measured with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer. The new values are up to 300 times more precise than those in the literature and indicate significantly different nuclear structure from the new mass-surface trend. A gradual onset of deformation is found in this proton and neutron mid-shell region, which is a gateway to the second island of inversion around \emph{N}=40. In addition to comparisons with density-functional theory and large-scale shell-model calculations, we present predictions from the valence-space formulation of the \emph{ab initio} in-medium similarity renormalization…

New developments of the in-source spectroscopy method at RILIS/ISOLDE

At the CERN ISOLDE facility, long isotope chains of many elements are produced by proton-induced reactions in target materials such as uranium carbide. The Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) is an efficient and selective means of ionizing the reaction products to produce an ion beam of a chosen isotope. Coupling the RILIS with modern ion detection techniques enables highly sensitive studies of nuclear properties (spins, electromagnetic moments and charge radii) along an isotope chain, provided that the isotope shifts and hyperfine structure splitting of the atomic transitions can be resolved. At ISOLDE the campaign to measure the systematics of isotopes in the lead region (Pb, Bi…

A dedicated decay-spectroscopy station for the collinear resonance ionization experiment at ISOLDE

A newdecay-spectroscopystation(DSS)has been developed to be coupled to the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) beam line at CERN-ISOLDE. The system uses a rotatable wheel with ten 20 mg=cm2 carbon foils as beam implantation sites for the efficient measurement of charged decay products. Silicon detectors are placed on either side of the carbon foil in an optimal geometry to cover a large solid angle for detecting these charged particles. In addition to the silicon detectors at the on-beam axis position, a second pair of off-beam axis detectors are placed at the wheel position 108 deg. away, allowing longer-lived species to be studied. Up to three high purity germanium detector…

Laser resonance ionization scheme development for tellurium and germanium at the dual Ti:Sa–Dye ISOLDE RILIS

Abstract The resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) is the principal ion source of the ISOLDE radioactive beam facility based at CERN. Using the method of in-source laser resonance ionization spectroscopy, a transition to a new autoionizing state of tellurium was discovered and applied as part of a three-step, three-resonance, photo-ionization scheme. In a second study, a three-step, two-resonance, photo-ionization scheme for germanium was developed and the ionization efficiency was measured at ISOLDE. This work increases the range of ISOLDE RILIS ionized beams to 31 elements. Details of the spectroscopy studies are described and the new ionization schemes are summarized.

Off-line separation of reactor produced $^{169}$Er for medical applications

The identification of autoionizing states of atomic chromium for the resonance ionization laser ion source of the ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility

Abstract This paper presents the results of an investigation into autoionizing states of atomic chromium, in the service of the resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS): the principal ion source of the ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility based at CERN. The multi-step resonance photo-ionization process enables element selective ionization which, in combination with mass separation, allows isotope specific selectivity in the production of radioactive ion beams at ISOLDE. The element selective nature of the process requires a multi-step “ionization scheme” to be developed for each element. Using the method of in-source resonance ionization spectroscopy, an optimal three-step, three-reson…

Advances in surface ion suppression from RILIS: Towards the Time-of-Flight Laser Ion Source (ToF-LIS)

Abstract We present results from the development towards the Time-of-Flight Laser Ion Source (ToF-LIS) aiming for the suppression of isobaric contaminants through fast beam gating. The capability to characterize high resistance ion sources has been successfully demonstrated. A ninefold selectivity gain has been achieved through suppression of surface ionized potassium, while maintaining >90% transmission for laser-ionized gallium using a thin wall graphite ionizer cavity combined with a fast beam gate. Initial results from the investigation of glassy carbon as a potential hot cavity ion source are presented. Power-cycle tests of a newly designed mount for fragile ion source cavities indicat…

CRIS: A new method in isomeric beam production

The Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN, uses laser radiation to stepwise excite and ionize an atomic beam for the purpose of ultra-sensitive detection of rare isotopes, and hyperfine-structure measurements. The technique also offers the ability to purify an ion beam that is heavily contaminated with radioactive isobars, including the ground state of an isotope from its isomer, allowing decay spectroscopy on nuclear isomeric states to be performed. The isomeric ion beam is selected by resonantly exciting one of its hyperfine structure levels, and subsequently ionizing it. This selectively ionized beam is deflected to a decay spectroscopy station (DS…

β-delayed fission andαdecay ofAt196

A nuclear-decay spectroscopy study of the neutron-deficient isotope $^{196}\mathrm{At}$ is reported where an isotopically pure beam was produced using the selective Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source and On-Line Isotope Mass Separator (CERN). The fine-structure $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay of $^{196}\mathrm{At}$ allowed the low-energy excited states in the daughter nucleus $^{192}\mathrm{Bi}$ to be investigated. A $\ensuremath{\beta}$-delayed fission study of $^{196}\mathrm{At}$ was also performed. A mixture of symmetric and asymmetric fission-fragment mass distributions of the daughter isotope $^{196}\mathrm{Po}$ (populated by $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of $^{196}\mathrm{At}$) was deduce…

Measurement of the first ionization potential of astatine by laser ionization spectroscopy

The radioactive element astatine exists only in trace amounts in nature. Its properties can therefore only be explored by study of the minute quantities of artificially produced isotopes or by performing theoretical calculations. One of the most important properties influencing the chemical behaviour is the energy required to remove one electron from the valence shell, referred to as the ionization potential. Here we use laser spectroscopy to probe the optical spectrum of astatine near the ionization threshold. The observed series of Rydberg states enabled the first determination of the ionization potential of the astatine atom, 9.31751(8) eV. New ab initio calculations are performed to sup…

Penning-trap mass spectrometry and mean-field study of nuclear shape coexistence in the neutron-deficient lead region

We present a study of nuclear shape coexistence in the region of neutron-deficient lead isotopes. The midshell gold isotopes 180,185,188,190Au (Z=79), the two long-lived nuclear states in 197At (Z=85), and the neutron-rich nuclide 219At were produced by the ISOLDE facility at CERN and their masses were determined with the high-precision Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP. The studied gold isotopes address the trend of binding energies in a region of the nuclear chart where the nuclear charge radii show pronounced discontinuities. Significant deviations from the atomic-mass evaluation were found for 188,190Au. The new trend of two-neutron separation energies is smoother, although it doe…

Upgrades of the GANDALPH photodetachment detector towards the determination of the electron affinity of astatine

The Gothenburg ANion Detector for Affinity measurements by Laser PHotodetachment (GANDALPH) has recently been built for measurements of electron affinities (EA) of radioisotopes. A first measurement campaign is aimed towards the determination of the EA of astatine, the rarest naturally occurring element on earth. In this work we present several upgrades of GANDALPH which have been implemented in order to facilitate EA measurements of radioisotopes where only low intensity ion beams (< 1pA) can be produced.

The electron affinity of astatine

One of the most important properties influencing the chemical behavior of an element is the electron affinity (EA). Among the remaining elements with unknown EA is astatine, where one of its isotopes, 211At, is remarkably well suited for targeted radionuclide therapy of cancer. With the At− anion being involved in many aspects of current astatine labeling protocols, the knowledge of the electron affinity of this element is of prime importance. Here we report the measured value of the EA of astatine to be 2.41578(7) eV. This result is compared to state-of-the-art relativistic quantum mechanical calculations that incorporate both the Breit and the quantum electrodynamics (QED) corrections and…

Laser spectroscopy of francium isotopes at the borders of the region of reflection asymmetry

The magnetic dipole moments and changes in mean-square charge radii of the neutron-rich $^{218m,219,229,231}\text{Fr}$ isotopes were measured with the newly-installed Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) beam line at ISOLDE, CERN, probing the $7s~^{2}S_{1/2}$ to $8p~^{2}P_{3/2}$ atomic transition. The $\delta\langle r^{2}\rangle^{A,221}$ values for $^{218m,219}\text{Fr}$ and $^{229,231}\text{Fr}$ follow the observed increasing slope of the charge radii beyond $N~=~126$. The charge radii odd-even staggering in this neutron-rich region is discussed, showing that $^{220}\text{Fr}$ has a weakly inverted odd-even staggering while $^{228}\text{Fr}$ has normal staggering. This sugges…

Data acquisition, remote control and equipment monitoring for ISOLDE RILIS

Abstract With a steadily increasing on-line operation time up to a record 3000 h in the year 2012, the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) is one of the key components of the ISOLDE on-line isotope user facility at CERN. Ion beam production using the RILIS is essential for many experiments due to the unmatched combination of ionization efficiency and selectivity. To meet the reliability requirements the RILIS is currently operated in shift duty for continuous maintenance of crucial laser parameters such as wavelength, power, beam position and timing, as well as ensuring swift intervention in case of an equipment malfunction. A recent overhaul of the RILIS included the installation…

Charge radii, moments, and masses of mercury isotopes across the N=126 shell closure

Combining laser spectroscopy in a Versatile Arc Discharge and Laser Ion Source, with Penning-trap mass spectrometry at the CERN-ISOLDE facility, this work reports on mean-square charge radii of neutron-rich mercury isotopes across the $N = 126$ shell closure, the electromagnetic moments of $^{207}$Hg and more precise mass values of $^{206-208}$Hg. The odd-even staggering (OES) of the mean square charge radii and the kink at $N = 126$ are analyzed within the framework of covariant density functional theory (CDFT), with comparisons between different functionals to investigate the dependence of the results on the underlying single-particle structure. The observed features are defined predomina…

High-resolution laser spectroscopy with the Collinear Resonance Ionisation Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN-ISOLDE

The Collinear Resonance Ionisation Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN has achieved high-resolution resonance ionisation laser spectroscopy with a full width at half maximum linewidth of 20(1) MHz for 219;221Fr, and has measured isotopes as short lived as 5 ms with 214Fr. This development allows for greater precision in the study of hyperfine structures and isotope shifts, as well as a higher selectivity of singleisotope, even single-isomer, beams. These achievements are linked with the development of a new laser laboratory and new data-acquisition systems. publisher: Elsevier articletitle: High-resolution laser spectroscopy with the Collinear Resonance Ionisation Spectroscopy (CRIS) exp…

Atom beam emersion from hot cavity laser ion sources

Abstract Ion sources exploiting laser resonance ionization offer efficient and element-selective radioactive ion beam production at the leading isotope separation on-line facilities worldwide. Most commonly, laser resonance ionization takes place inside a resistively heated atomizer tube directly coupled to the production target, where the element of interest is evaporated and provided as atomic vapor. While naturally the majority of atoms is ionized inside this hot cavity, a fraction of the neutrals effuses towards the high voltage beam extraction system of the subsequent mass separator. We report on several systematic investigations on this phenomenon regarding its significance and implic…

Shape staggering of midshell mercury isotopes from in-source laser spectroscopy compared with density-functional-theory and Monte Carlo shell-model calculations

Neutron-deficient Hg177-185 isotopes were studied using in-source laser resonance-ionization spectroscopy at the CERN-ISOLDE radioactive ion-beam facility in an experiment combining different detection methods tailored to the studied isotopes. These include either α-decay tagging or multireflection time-of-flight gating for isotope identification. The endpoint of the odd-even nuclear shape staggering in mercury was observed directly by measuring for the first time the isotope shifts and hyperfine structures of Hg177-180. Changes in the mean-square charge radii for all mentioned isotopes, magnetic dipole, and electric quadrupole moments of the odd-A isotopes and arguments in favor of I=7/2 s…

Opportunities for Fundamental Physics Research with Radioactive Molecules

Molecules containing short-lived, radioactive nuclei are uniquely positioned to enable a wide range of scientific discoveries in the areas of fundamental symmetries, astrophysics, nuclear structure, and chemistry. Recent advances in the ability to create, cool, and control complex molecules down to the quantum level, along with recent and upcoming advances in radioactive species production at several facilities around the world, create a compelling opportunity to coordinate and combine these efforts to bring precision measurement and control to molecules containing extreme nuclei. In this manuscript, we review the scientific case for studying radioactive molecules, discuss recent atomic, mo…

Measurement of the Be7(n,p) cross section at thermal energy

The Be7(n,p) cross section was measured with an ion-implanted Be7 target at a thermal neutron beam of the research reactor LVR-15 in Řež. The cross section to the ground state of Li7 is σ(n,p0)=43800±1400b and the cross section to the first excited state of Li7 is σ(n,p1)=520±260b.

Dipole and quadrupole moments of Cu73–78 as a test of the robustness of the Z=28 shell closure near Ni78

Nuclear spins and precise values of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments of the ground-states of neutron-rich $^{76-78}$Cu isotopes were measured using the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN. The nuclear moments of the less exotic $^{73,75}$Cu isotopes were re-measured with similar precision, yielding values that are consistent with earlier measurements. The moments of the odd-odd isotopes, and $^{78}_{29}$Cu ($N=49$) in particular, are used to investigate excitations of the assumed doubly-magic $^{78}$Ni core through comparisons with large-scale shell-model calculations. Despite the narrowing of the $Z=28$ shell gap between $N\sim45…

Radium ionization scheme development: The first observed autoionizing states and optical pumping effects in the hot cavity environment

© 2018 The Authors This paper reports on resonance ionization scheme development for the production of exotic radium ion beams with the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) of the CERN-ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility. During the study, autoionizing states of atomic radium were observed for the first time. Three ionization schemes were identified, originating from the 7s2 1S0 atomic ground state. The optimal of the identified ionization schemes involves five atomic transitions, four of which are induced by three resonantly tuned lasers. This is the first hot cavity RILIS ionization scheme to employ optical pumping effects. The details of the spectroscopic studies are described …

Enhancing the extraction of laser-ionized beams from an arc discharge ion source volume

© 2018 The Author(s) The Versatile Arc Discharge and Laser Ion Source (VADLIS) is a recently established ion source for the CERN-ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility. It offers either electron-impact ionization (VADIS-mode) or resonance laser ionization (RILIS-mode). The choice of operating mode depends on the element of interest or the required beam purity. Particle-in-cell simulations using the VSim software show that the ion extraction efficiency of the VADLIS in RILIS-mode can be improved if it is equipped with an insulated extractor plate, to which an optimal voltage can be applied. This enables optimization of the RILIS-mode ion extraction independently of the electron density. Experi…

Dealing with contaminants in Coulomb excitation of radioactive beams

Abstract Data analysis of the Coulomb excitation experiment of the exotic 206Hg nucleus, recently performed at CERN’s HIE-ISOLDE facility, needs to account for the contribution to target excitation due to the strongly-present beam contaminant 130Xe. In this paper, the contamination subtraction procedure is presented.

Laser spectroscopy of niobium fission fragments: first use of optical pumping in an ion beam cooler buncher.

A new method of optical pumping in an ion beam cooler buncher has been developed to selectively enhance ionic metastable state populations. The technique permits the study of elements previously inaccessible to laser spectroscopy and has been applied here to the study of Nb. Model independent mean-square charge radii and nuclear moments have been studied for $^{90,90\text{ }\mathrm{m},91,91\text{ }\mathrm{m},92,93,99,101,103}\mathrm{Nb}$ to cover the region of the $N=50$ shell closure and $N\ensuremath{\approx}60$ sudden onset of deformation. The increase in mean-square charge radius is observed to be less than that for Y, with a substantial degree of $\ensuremath{\beta}$ softness observed …

The LIEBE high-power target: Offline commissioning results and prospects for the production of 100Sn ISOL beams at HIE-ISOLDE

Abstract With the aim of increasing the primary beam intensity in the next generation Radioactive Ion Beam facilities, a major challenge is the production of targets capable of dissipating high beam power, particularly for molten targets. In that context, a direct molten loop target concept was proposed for short-lived isotopes for EURISOL. The circulation of molten metal enables the production of droplets enhancing the radioisotope diffusion. The concept also includes a heat exchanger ensuring thermal equilibrium under interaction with high proton beam power. A target prototype, named LIEBE, has been designed and assembled to validate this concept in the ISOLDE operation environment. The p…

Change in structure between the $I = 1/2$ states in $^{181}$Tl and $^{177,179}$Au

Abstract The first accurate measurements of the α-decay branching ratio and half-life of the I π = 1 / 2 + ground state in 181Tl have been made, along with the first determination of the magnetic moments and I = 1 / 2 spin assignments of the ground states in 177,179Au. The results are discussed within the complementary systematics of the reduced α-decay widths and nuclear g factors of low-lying, I π = 1 / 2 + states in the neutron-deficient lead region. The findings shed light on the unexpected hindrance of the 1 / 2 + → 1 / 2 + , 181Tl → g 177 Aug α decay, which is explained by a mixing of π 3 s 1 / 2 and π 2 d 3 / 2 configurations in 177Aug, whilst 181Tlg remains a near-pure π 3 s 1 / 2 .…

Towards high-resolution laser ionization spectroscopy of the heaviest elements in supersonic gas jet expansion

Resonant laser ionization and spectroscopy are widely used techniques at radioactive ion beam facilities to produce pure beams of exotic nuclei and measure the shape, size, spin and electromagnetic multipole moments of these nuclei. However, in such measurements it is difficult to combine a high efficiency with a high spectral resolution. Here we demonstrate the on-line application of atomic laser ionization spectroscopy in a supersonic gas jet, a technique suited for high-precision studies of the ground- and isomeric-state properties of nuclei located at the extremes of stability. The technique is characterized in a measurement on actinium isotopes around the N=126 neutron shell closure. A…

Combined high-resolution laser spectroscopy and nuclear decay spectroscopy for the study of the low-lying states inFr206,At202, andBi198

High-resolution laser spectroscopy was performed on $^{206}\mathrm{Fr}$ with the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN-ISOLDE. The hyperfine structure and isotope shift of the ground, first isomeric and second isomeric states were measured. The hyperfine components were unambiguously assigned to each nuclear state by means of laser-assisted nuclear decay spectroscopy. The branching ratios in the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay of $^{206}\mathrm{Fr}$ and $^{202}\mathrm{At}$ were also measured for the first time with isomerically purified beams. The extracted hindrance factors allow determination of the spin of the ground, first isomeric, and second isomeric states…

Quadrupole moments of odd-A 53−63Mn: Onset of collectivity towards N=40

Physics letters / B 760, 387 - 392 (2016). doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2016.07.016

Use of a Continuous Wave Laser and Pockels Cell for Sensitive High-Resolution Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy

New technical developments have led to a 2 orders of magnitude improvement of the resolution of the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at ISOLDE, CERN, without sacrificing the high efficiency of the CRIS technique. Experimental linewidths of 20(1) MHz were obtained on radioactive beams of francium, allowing us for the first time to determine the electric quadrupole moment of the short lived [t1/2=22.0(5) ms]219Fr Qs=−1.21(2) eb, which would not have been possible without the advantages offered by the new method. This method relies on a continuous-wave laser and an external Pockels cell to produce narrow-band light pulses, required to reach the high resolution in t…

Spectroscopy of the long-lived excited state in the neutron-deficient nuclides Po195,197,199 by precision mass measurements

Direct mass measurements of the low-spin 3/2(-) and high-spin 13/2(+) states in the neutron-deficient isotopes Po-195 and Po-197 were performed with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE-CERN. These measurements allow the determination of the excitation energy of the isomeric state arising from the nu i(13/2) orbital in Po-195,Po-197. Additionally, the excitation energy of isomeric states of lead, radon, and radium isotopes in this region were obtained from alpha-decay chains. These excitation energies complete the knowledge of the energy systematics in the region and confirm that the 13/2(+) states remain isomeric, independent of the number of valence neutrons.

Laser resonance ionization spectroscopy on lutetium for the MEDICIS project

The MEDICIS-PROMED Innovative Training Network under the Horizon 2020 EU program aims to establish a network of early stage researchers, involving scientific exchange and active cooperation between leading European research institutions, universities, hospitals, and industry. Primary scientific goal is the purpose of providing and testing novel radioisotopes for nuclear medical imaging and radionuclide therapy. Within a closely linked project at CERN, a dedicated electromagnetic mass separator system is presently under installation for production of innovative radiopharmaceutical isotopes at the new CERN-MEDICIS laboratory, directly adjacent to the existing CERN-ISOLDE radioactive ion beam …

Quadrupole deformation of Xe-130 measured in a Coulomb-excitation experiment

Physical review / C 102(5), 054304 (2020). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.102.054304

Developments towards in-gas-jet laser spectroscopy studies of actinium isotopes at LISOL

To study exotic nuclides at the borders of stability with laser ionization and spectroscopy techniques, highest efficiencies in combination with a high spectral resolution are required. These usually opposing requirements are reconciled by applying the in-gas-laser ionization and spectroscopy (IGLIS) technique in the supersonic gas jet produced by a de Laval nozzle installed at the exit of the stopping gas cell. Carrying out laser ionization in the low-temperature and low density supersonic gas jet eliminates pressure broadening, which will significantly improve the spectral resolution. This article presents the required modifications at the Leuven Isotope Separator On-Line (LISOL) facility…

Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy of Neutron-Deficient Francium Isotopes

The magnetic moments and isotope shifts of the neutron-deficient francium isotopes 202-205Fr were measured at ISOLDE-CERN with use of collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy. A production-to-detection efficiency of 1% was measured for 202Fr. The background from nonresonant and collisional ionization was maintained below one ion in 105 beam particles. Through a comparison of the measured charge radii with predictions from the spherical droplet model, it is concluded that the ground-state wave function remains spherical down to 205Fr, with a departure observed in 203Fr (N = 116). ispartof: Physical Review Letters vol:111 issue:21 pages:212501-4 ispartof: location:United States status: pub…

A hot cavity laser ion source at IGISOL

A development program is underway at the IGISOL (Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line) facility, University of Jyvaskyla, to efficiently and selectively produce low-energy radioactive ion beams of silver isotopes and isomers, with a particular interest in N=Z 94Ag. A hot cavity ion source has been installed, based on the FEBIAD (Forced Electron Beam Induced Arc Discharge) technique, combined with a titanium:sapphire laser system for selective laser ionization. The silver recoils produced via the heavy-ion fusion-evaporation reaction, 40Ca(58Ni, p3n)94Ag, are stopped in a graphite catcher, diffused, extracted and subsequently ionized using a three-step laser ionization scheme. The performance…

α -decay branching ratio of Pt180

Laser photodetachment of radioactive $^{128}$I$^−$

International audience; The first experimental investigation of the electron affinity (EA) of a radioactive isotope has been conducted at the CERN-ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility. The EA of the radioactive iodine isotope (128)I (t (1/2) = 25 min) was determined to be 3.059 052(38) eV. The experiment was conducted using the newly developed Gothenburg ANion Detector for Affinity measurements by Laser PHotodetachment (GANDALPH) apparatus, connected to a CERN-ISOLDE experimental beamline. (128)I was produced in fission induced by 1.4 GeV protons striking a thorium/tantalum foil target and then extracted as singly charged negative ions at a beam energy of 20 keV. Laser photodetachment of th…

In-gas laser ionization and spectroscopy of actinium isotopes near the N=126 closed shell

The in-gas laser ionization and spectroscopy (IGLIS) techniquewas applied on the $^{212–215}$Ac isotopes, produced at the Leuven Isotope Separator On-Line (LISOL) facility by using the in-gas-cell and the in-gas-jet methods. The first application under on-line conditions of the in-gas-jet laser spectroscopy method showed a superior performance in terms of selectivity, spectral resolution, and efficiency in comparison with the in-gas-cell method. Following the analysis of both experiments, the magnetic-dipole moments for the $^{212–215}$Ac isotopes, electric-quadrupole moments and nuclear spins for the $^{214,215}$Ac isotopes are presented and discussed. A good agreement is obtained with lar…

MELISSA: Laser ion source setup at CERN-MEDICIS facility. Blueprint

The Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) has become an essential feature of many radioactive ion beam facilities worldwide since it offers an unmatched combination of efficiency and selectivity in the production of ion beams of many different chemical elements. In 2019, the laser ion source setup MELISSA is going to be established at the CERN-MEDICIS facility, based on the experience of the workgroup LARISSA of the University Mainz and CERN ISOLDE RILIS team. The purpose is to enhance the capability of the radioactive ion beam supply for end users by optimizing the yield and the purity of the final product. In this article, the blueprint of the laser ion source, as well as the key …

CERN-MEDICIS: A Review Since Commissioning in 2017

The CERN-MEDICIS (MEDical Isotopes Collected from ISolde) facility has delivered its first radioactive ion beam at CERN (Switzerland) in December 2017 to support the research and development in nuclear medicine using non-conventional radionuclides. Since then, fourteen institutes, including CERN, have joined the collaboration to drive the scientific program of this unique installation and evaluate the needs of the community to improve the research in imaging, diagnostics, radiation therapy and personalized medicine. The facility has been built as an extension of the ISOLDE (Isotope Separator On Line DEvice) facility at CERN. Handling of open radioisotope sources is made possible thanks to i…

Changes in nuclear structure along the Mn isotopic chain studied via charge radii

The hyperfine spectra of $^{51,53-64}$Mn were measured in two experimental runs using collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE, CERN. Laser spectroscopy was performed on the atomic $3d^5\ 4s^2\ ^{6}\text{S}_{5/2}\rightarrow 3d^5\ 4s4p\ ^{6}\text{P}_{3/2}$ and ionic $3d^5\ 4s\ ^{5}\text{S}_2 \rightarrow 3d^5\ 4p\ ^{5}\text{P}_3$ transitions, yielding two sets of isotope shifts. The mass and field shift factors for both transitions have been calculated in the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock framework and were combined with a King plot analysis in order to obtain a consistent set of mean-square charge radii which, together with earlier work on neutron-deficient Mn, allow the study of nuclear struc…

The upgraded ISOLDE yield database – A new tool to predict beam intensities

At the CERN-ISOLDE facility a variety of radioactive ion beams are available to users of the facility. The number of extractable isotopes estimated from yield database data exceeds 1000 and is still increasing. Due to high demand and scarcity of available beam time, precise experiment planning is required. The yield database stores information about radioactive beam yields and the combination of target material and ion source needed to extract a certain beam along with their respective operating conditions. It allows to investigate the feasibility of an experiment and the estimation of required beamtime. With the increasing demand for ever more exotic beams, needs arise to extend the functi…

Shape coexistence in Au 187 studied by laser spectroscopy

Hyperfine-structure parameters and isotope shift of the 9/2$^−$ isomeric state in $^{187}$Au relative to $^{197}$Au for the 267.6-nm atomic transition have been measured for the first time using the in-source resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique. The magnetic dipole moment and change in the mean-square charge radius for this 9/2$^−$ isomer have been deduced. The observed large isomer shift relative to the 1/2$^+$ ground state in $^{187}$Au confirms the occurrence of the shape coexistence in $^{187}$Au proposed earlier from the analysis of the nuclear spectroscopic data and particle plus triaxial rotor calculations. The analysis of the magnetic moment supports the previously proposed …

Development of the CRIS (Collinear Resonant Ionisation Spectroscopy) beam line

The CRIS (Collinear Resonant Ionisation Spectroscopy) beam line is a new experimental set up at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. CRIS is being constructed for highresolution laser spectroscopy measurements on radioactive isotopes. These measurements can be used to extract nuclear properties of isotopes far from stability. The CRIS beam line has been under construction since 2009 and testing of its constituent parts have been performed using stable and radioactive ion beams, in preparation for its first on-line run. This paper will present the current status of the CRIS experiment and highlight results from the recent tests. ispartof: pages:012070-6 ispartof: Journal of Physics: Conference Serie…

Spectroscopy of short-lived radioactive molecules

Molecular spectroscopy offers opportunities for the exploration of the fundamental laws of nature and the search for new particle physics beyond the standard model1–4. Radioactive molecules—in which one or more of the atoms possesses a radioactive nucleus—can contain heavy and deformed nuclei, offering high sensitivity for investigating parity- and time-reversal-violation effects5,6. Radium monofluoride, RaF, is of particular interest because it is predicted to have an electronic structure appropriate for laser cooling6, thus paving the way for its use in high-precision spectroscopic studies. Furthermore, the effects of symmetry-violating nuclear moments are strongly enhanced5,7–9 in molecu…

Isotope Shifts of Radium Monofluoride Molecules

Isotope shifts of $^{223-226,228}$Ra$^{19}$F were measured for different vibrational levels in the electronic transition $A^{2}{}{\Pi}_{1/2}\leftarrow X^{2}{}{\Sigma}^{+}$. The observed isotope shifts demonstrate the particularly high sensitivity of radium monofluoride to nuclear size effects, offering a stringent test of models describing the electronic density within the radium nucleus. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental observations. These results highlight some of the unique opportunities that short-lived molecules could offer in nuclear structure and in fundamental symmetry studies.

Ion beam production and study of radioactive isotopes with the laser ion source at ISOLDE

At ISOLDE the majority of radioactive ion beams are produced using the resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS). This ion source is based on resonant excitation of atomic transitions by wavelength tunable laser radiation. Since its installation at the ISOLDE facility in 1994, the RILIS laser setup has been developed into a versatile remotely operated laser system comprising state-of–the-art solid state and dye lasers capable of generating multiple high quality laser beams at any wavelength in the range of 210–950 nm. A continuous programme of atomic ionization scheme development at CERN and at other laboratories has gradually increased the number of RILIS-ionized elements. At present, …

Ion production from solid state laser ion sources.

Laser ion sources based on resonant excitation and ionization of atoms are well-established tools for selective and efficient production of radioactive ion beams. Recent developments are focused on the use of the state-of-the-art all solid-state laser systems. To date, 35 elements of the periodic table are available from laser ion sources based on tunable Ti:sapphire lasers. Recent progress in this field regarding the establishment of suitable optical excitation schemes for Ti:sapphire lasers are reported.

RILIS-ionized mercury and tellurium beams at ISOLDE CERN

This paper presents the results of ionization scheme development for application at the ISOLDE Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS). Two new ionization schemes for mercury are presented: a three-step three-resonance ionization scheme, ionizing via an excitation to a Rydberg level and a three-step two-resonance ionization scheme, with a non-resonant final step to the ionization continuum that corresponded to a factor of four higher ionization efficiency. The efficiency of the optimal mercury ionization scheme was measured, together with the efficiency of a new three-step three resonance ionization scheme for tellurium. The efficiencies of the mercury and tellurium ionization schemes…

The CERN/ISOLDE Laser Ion Source

Laser resonance photo-ionization an essential aspect of radioactive ion beam production for fundamental and applied physics research. The laser ion source of the ISOLDE facility, described here, is the most versatile of its type worldwide.

Laser assisted decay spectroscopy at the CRIS beam line at ISOLDE

A new collinear resonant ionization spectroscopy (Cris)beam line has recently been installed at Isolde, Cern utilising lasers to combine collinear laser spectroscopy and resonant ionization spectroscopy. The combined technique offers the ability to purify an ion beam that is heavily contaminated with radioactive isobars, including the ground state of an isotope from its isomer, allowing sensitive secondary experiments to be performed. A new programme aiming to use the Cris technique for the separation of nuclear isomeric states for decay spectroscopy will commence in 2011. A decay spectroscopy station, consisting of a rotating wheel implantation system for alpha decay spectroscopy, and thre…

Evolution of Octupole Deformation in Radium Nuclei from Coulomb Excitation of Radioactive Ra222 and Ra228 Beams

There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable "pear" shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole (E3) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in ^{222,228}Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of E3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing ^{222}Ra as pear shaped with stable octupole deformation, while ^{228}Ra behaves like an octupole vibrator.

β decay of In133 : γ emission from neutron-unbound states in Sn133

Excited states in Sn-133 were investigated through the beta decay of In-133 at the ISOLDE facility. The ISOLDE Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) provided isomer-selective ionization for In-133, allowing us to study separately, and in detail, the beta-decay branch of In-133 J(pi)= (9/2(+)) ground state and its J(pi) = (1/2(-)) isomer.Thanks to the large spin difference of the two beta-decaying states of In-133, it is possible to investigate separately the lower and higher spin states in the daughter, Sn-133, and thus to probe independently different single-particle and single-hole levels. We report here new gamma transitions observed in the decay of In-133, including those assign…

Charge radii and electromagnetic moments of At195–211

Hyperfine-structure parameters and isotope shifts of At195-211 have been measured for the first time at CERN-ISOLDE, using the in-source resonance-ionization spectroscopy method. The hyperfine structures of isotopes were recorded using a triad of experimental techniques for monitoring the photo-ion current. The Multi-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer, in connection with a high-resolution electron multiplier, was used as an ion-counting setup for isotopes that either were affected by strong isobaric contamination or possessed a long half-life; the ISOLDE Faraday cups were used for cases with high-intensity beams; and the Windmill decay station was used for short-lived, predominantl…

Large shape staggering in neutron-deficient Bi isotopes

The changes in the mean-square charge radius (relative to 209Bi), magnetic dipole, and electric quadrupole moments of 187,188,189,191Bi were measured using the in-source resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique at ISOLDE (CERN). A large staggering in radii was found in 187,188,189Big, manifested by a sharp radius increase for the ground state of 188Bi relative to the neighboring 187,189Big. A large isomer shift was also observed for 188Bim. Both effects happen at the same neutron number, N=105, where the shape staggering and a similar isomer shift were observed in the mercury isotopes. Experimental results are reproduced by mean-field calculations where the ground or isomeric states were…

In-source laser spectroscopy of dysprosium isotopes at the ISOLDE-RILIS

A number of radiogenically produced dysprosium isotopes have been studied by in-source laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE using the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS). Isotope shifts were measured relative to $^{152}$Dy in the 4 f$^{ 10}$6s$^{2}$ $^5$I$_8$ (gs) $\rightarrow$ 4 f$^{ 10}$6s6p (8,1)$^8_o$ (418.8 nm$_{vac}$) resonance transition. The electronic factor, F, and mass shift factor, M, were extracted and used for determining the changes in mean-squared charge radii for $^{145m}$Dy and $^{147m}$Dy for the first time. A number of radiogenically produced dysprosium isotopes have been studied by in-source laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE using the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (…

The laser ion source trap for highest isobaric selectivity in online exotic isotope production

The improvement in the performance of a conventional laser ion source in the laser ion source and trap (LIST) project is presented, which envisages installation of a repeller electrode and a linear Paul trap/ion guide structure. This approach promises highest isobaric purity and optimum temporal and spatial control of the radioactive ion beam produced at an online isotope separator facility. The functionality of the LIST was explored at the offline test separators of University of Mainz (UMz) and ISOLDE/CERN, using the UMz solid state laser system. Ionization efficiency and selectivity as well as time structure and transversal emittance of the produced ion beam was determined. Next step aft…

First application of the Laser Ion Source and Trap (LIST) for on-line experiments at ISOLDE

The Laser Ion Source and Trap (LIST) provides a new mode of operation for the resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) at ISOLDE/CERN, reducing the amount of surface-ionized isobaric contaminants by up to four orders of magnitude. After the first successful on-line test at ISOLDE in 2011 the LIST was further improved in terms of efficiency, selectivity, and reliability through several off-line tests at Mainz University and at ISOLDE. In September 2012, the first on-line physics experiments to use the LIST took place at ISOLDE. The measurements of the improved LIST indicate more than a twofold increase in efficiency compared to the LIST of the 2011 run. The suppression of surface-ionize…

An inductively heated hot cavity catcher laser ion source.

An inductively heated hot cavity catcher has been constructed for the production of low-energy ion beams of exotic, neutron-deficient Ag isotopes. A proof-of-principle experiment has been realized by implanting primary (107)Ag(21+) ions from a heavy-ion cyclotron into a graphite catcher. A variable-thickness nickel foil was used to degrade the energy of the primary beam in order to mimic the implantation depth expected from the heavy-ion fusion-evaporation recoils of N = Z (94)Ag. Following implantation, the silver atoms diffused out of the graphite and effused into the catcher cavity and transfer tube, where they were resonantly laser ionized using a three-step excitation and ionization sc…

Intracavity Frequency Doubling and Difference Frequency Mixing for Pulsed ns Ti:Sapphire Laser Systems at On-Line Radioactive Ion Beam Facilities

Intra-cavity second harmonic generation of a Titanium:sapphire (Ti:sa) laser system has been used to improve the conversion efficiency to the second harmonic. Over the course of several experiments performance data spanning the whole wavelength range of a Ti:sa has been collected, which may be used as a guideline for future experiments. An average output power of up to 3.7 W was achieved, resulting in a conversion efficiency of >75 % to the second harmonic. A wavelength coverage from 340-525 nm has been demonstrated. To extend the wavelength range of the solid state laser system, difference frequency mixing has been applied to the intra-cavity doubled light and the fundamental output of a s…

Characterization of the shape-staggering effect in mercury nuclei

In rare cases, the removal of a single proton (Z) or neutron (N) from an atomic nucleus leads to a dramatic shape change. These instances are crucial for understanding the components of the nuclear interactions that drive deformation. The mercury isotopes (Z = 80) are a striking example1,2: their close neighbours, the lead isotopes (Z = 82), are spherical and steadily shrink with decreasing N. The even-mass (A = N + Z) mercury isotopes follow this trend. The odd-mass mercury isotopes 181,183,185Hg, however, exhibit noticeably larger charge radii. Due to the experimental difficulties of probing extremely neutron-deficient systems, and the computational complexity of modelling such heavy nucl…

Study of the radiative decay of the low-energy isomer in ${}^{229}$Th

Blurring the boundaries between ion sources: The application of the RILIS inside a FEBIAD type ion source at ISOLDE

For the first time, the laser resonance photo-ionization technique has been applied inside a FEBIAD-type ion source at an ISOL facility. This was achieved by combining the ISOLDE RILIS with the ISOLDE variant of the FEBIAD ion source (the VADIS) in a series of off-line and on-line tests at CERN. The immediate appli- cations of these developments include the coupling of the RILIS with molten targets at ISOLDE and the introduction of two new modes of FEBIAD operation: an element selective RILIS mode and a RILIS + VADIS mode for increased efficiency compared to VADIS mode operation alone. This functionality has been demonstrated off-line for gallium and barium and on-line for mercury and cadmi…

The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei

6 pags., 4 fig.s, 1 tab. -- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0

Resonance ionization spectroscopy of thorium isotopestowards a laser spectroscopic identification of the low-lying 7.6 eV isomer of 229Th

International audience; In-source resonance ionization spectroscopy was used to identify an efficient and selective three step excitation/ionization scheme of thorium, suitable for titanium:sapphire (Ti:sa) lasers. The measurements were carried out in preparation of laser spectroscopic investigations for an identification of the low-lying 229 m Th isomer predicted at 7.6 ± 0.5 eV above the nuclear ground state. Using a sample of 232 Th, a multitude of optical transitions leading to over 20 previously unknown intermediate states of even parity as well as numerous high-lying odd parity auto-ionizing states were identified. Level energies were determined with an accuracy of 0.06 cm −1 for inte…

Coulomb excitation of pear-shaped nuclei

There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we have observed the low-lying quantum states in 224Rn and 226Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable condition…