Spectroscopic applications of the ISOLDE laser ion source

At the ISOLDE facility radioactive ion beams are produced via proton induced reactions in a target which is connected to a laser ion source. For beryllium a two step excitation scheme with laser light at wavelengths of lambda =235 nm and lambda =297 nm has been developed. Efficient laser ionization of beryllium was achieved with a new optical set-up using frequency tripling with two non-linear BBO crystals to generate laser light in the ultraviolet for the first excitation step. The second step was optimized to reach the 2p/sup 2 1/S/sub 0/ autoionizing state for high ionization efficiency. The isotope shift of /sup 7,9,10,11,12,14/Ba could be measured by tuning the wavelength of the first step. The laser ion source has also been used for the preparation of neutron-rich silver ion beams. Tuning the laser frequency of the first step it was possible to ionize selectively low- and high spin isomers of silver isotopes via the hyperfine structure. In both cases it was demonstrated that laser spectroscopy of exotic isotopes can be performed directly with the laser ion source. An outlook on other possible elements for laser spectroscopy using the laser ion source is given. (14 refs).