Laser spectroscopy–present and future at ISOLDE

Abstract

Laser spectroscopy experiments at the ISOLDE facility have a venerable history which now spans more than 30 years. This period has seen the development of a remarkable variety of laser techniques in order to study rare isotopes far from stability, which include in‐source, collinear and β‐NMR/β‐NQR spectroscopy. The propensity for innovation in laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE has continued in the last three years, helped in part by synergies with laboratories across Europe. Highlights of this work include bunched‐beam spectroscopy of the neutron‐rich copper and gallium isotope chains and collinear‐anticollinear spectroscopy of the Be isotope chain. New ionization schemes have been developed for the Po atom crucial for the successful in‐source laser spectroscopy campaign. The future HIE‐ISOLDE facility will provide experimentalists with improved ion‐beam quality, increased yields and a larger number of accessible elements. Several new experiments are now in preparation to maximise the reach of laser spectroscopy at HIE‐ISOLDE, which include collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy and in‐cooler optical pumping.