Eur. Phys. J. A (2005) 26: 147-150
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2005-10147-6

Original Article

Integrated target-ion source unit for on-line production of radioactive short-lived isotopes

¹ PNPI RAS, 188300, Gatchina, Leningrad district, Russia
² INFN-LNS, via S. Sofia 44, 95123, Catania, Italy

^* e-mail: vnp@pnpi.spb.ru

Received: 6 May 2005
Accepted: 30 August 2005
Published online: 19 October 2005

Abstract

A new version of integrated target-ion source unit (ionising target) has been developed for the on-line production of radioactive single-charged ions. The target is able to withstand temperatures up to 2500 ^°C and acts also as an ion source of the surface and laser ionisation. Off-line and on-line experiments with the ionising target, housing tantalum foils as a target material, have been carried out at the IRIS (Investigation of Radioactive Isotopes on Synchrocyclotron) facility. The off-line surface ionisation efficiency measured for stable atoms of Li, Rb and Cs was correspondingly 6% , 40% and 55% at the target temperature of 2000 ^°C and 3-10% for atoms of rare-earth elements Sm, Eu, Tm and Yb at a temperature of 2200 ^°C. The off-line measured values of the ionisation efficiency for stable Gd and Eu atoms by the laser beam ionisation inside the target were 1% and 7%, respectively. The radioactive beam intensities of neutron-deficient rare-earth nuclides from Eu to Lu produced by the integrated target-ion source unit have been measured at a temperature of 2500 ^°C. The results of the integrated target-ion source unit use for on-line laser resonance ionisation spectroscopy study of neutron-deficient Gd isotopes have been also presented.