How to measure nuclear ground-state properties in simple systems such as 11Li or U91+?

Abstract

Atomic spectroscopy yields key information on properties of ground and isomeric states via a determination of the hyperfine structure and isotope shift. In order to deduce precise nuclear moments and charge radii, the electromagnetic fields produced by the electrons at the site of the nucleus must be known with high accuracy. This is presently possible only for simple systems with very few electrons. This contribution describes two scenarios for such experiments: the determination of the charge radius of the neutron-rich isotopes 8,9Li and of the halo nucleus 11Li at the on-line isotope separators at GSI and TRIUMF and the Highly charged Ion TRAP (HITRAP) facility which is under construction at GSI. HITRAP will enable the determination of atomic and nuclear properties of highly charged ions such as isotopes of hydrogen-like uranium with very high accuracy. For this purpose novel experimental set-ups are being built up by the international HITRAP collaboration.