Developments at CERN-ISOLDE’s OFFLINE 2 mass separator facility for studies of molecular ion beams

ISOLDE’s Offline 2 laboratory has been upgraded to facilitate development for the production and study of molecular ion beams. New gas injection systems have been implemented for both molecular formation in the ion source and in the radio-frequency quadrupole ion trap used for beam preparation. MagneToF detectors and time-resolved single ion counting data acquisition have been implemented for low intensity beams and studies of laser-atom or laser-molecule interactions. We present a study of the formation and ionization of BaF+ using the upgraded facility. •ISOLDE’s Offline 2 mass separator facility has been upgraded for studies of molecular ion beams.•High-power laser light interacts with molecules to ionize and dissociate.•Barium and barium fluoride ions are ionized using laser light at 355 nm.