Laser applications in nuclear physics

First observation of the blue optical lines of francium

We report here the first wave-length measurements in the second resonance doublet of francium, D1'(7s2S1/2-8p2P 1/2) and D2'(7s2S1/2-8p2P 3/2), carried out by collinear fast-beam laser spectroscopy. The transition wave numbers are D1' = 23112.9603(50) cm-1 and D2' = 23658.3058(40) cm-1, corresponding to a 8p fine-structure splitting of δW8p = 545.3454(70) cm-1. In addition the hyperfine structure in both lines and the isotope shift in the D2' line for the isotopes 212,213,220,221Fr have been measured. The results are discussed with special emphasis on the analysis of the atomic structure in the heaviest alkali element and compared with theoretical predictions, as well as the only earlier sp…

Production of ionic and atomic beams of alkaline elements

Abstract An on-line mass spectrometer has been developed and used to perform atomic and nuclear spectroscopy on long series of alkali isotopes including nuclei far from stability. The apparatus was on-line either to the ISOLDE mass separator or directly to the PS, proton beam. In the case of atomic spectroscopy, a thermal atomic beam is needed. As ISOLDE delivers 60 keV ions, a high efficiency “ion-to-atom coverter” has been developed. In all cases, an “ionizer” is required to produce 10 keV ions for the ion source of the mass spectrometer. These two special devices are described, their efficiency and the consequent delay times discussed. The different targets which have been developed for …