Commissioning of a high-resolution collinear laser spectroscopy apparatus with a laser ablation ion source

Collinear laser spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying the nuclear spins, electromagnetic moments, and charge radii of exotic nuclei. To study the nuclear properties of unstable nuclei at the Beijing Radioactive Ion-beam Facility (BRIF) and the future High Intensity Heavy-ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF), we developed a collinear laser spectroscopy apparatus integrated with an offline laser ablation ion source and a laser system. The overall performance of this state-of-the-art technique was evaluated, and the system was commissioned using a bunched stable ion beam. The high-resolution optical spectra for the 4s S-2(1/2) -> 4p P-2(3/2) (D2) ionic transition of Ca-40,Ca-42,Ca-44,Ca-48 isotopes were successfully measured. The extracted isotope shifts relative to Ca-40 showed excellent agreement with the literature values. This system is now ready for use at radioactive ion beam facilities such as the BRIF and paves the way for the further development of higher-sensitivity collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy techniques.

Automated summary

Collinear laser spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying nuclear properties, and our developed apparatus successfully measured the optical spectra of Ca isotopes with excellent agreement compared to literature values. The system is now ready for use at radioactive ion beam facilities and paves the way for further development of higher-sensitivity collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy techniques.