Laser Ion Source

Investigation of the spatial distribution of lipids in cell membranes can lead to an improved understanding of the role of lipids in biological function and disease. Time-offlight secondary ion mass spectrometry is capable of molecule-specific imaging of biological molecules across single cells and has demonstrated potential for examining the functional segregation of lipids in cell membranes. In this paper, standard SIMS spectra are analyzed for phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, cholesterol, and sulfatide. Importantly, each of the lipids result in signature mass spectral peaks that allow them to be identified. These signature peaks are also useful for imaging experiments and are utilized here to simultaneously image lipids on a micrometer scale in picoliter vials. Because the low secondary ion signal achieved for lipids from an atomic primary ion source makes cell-imaging experiments challenging, improving signal with cluster primary ion sources is of interest. Here, we compare the secondary ion yield for seven lipids using atomic (Ga + or In + ) ion sources and a buckminsterfullerene (C 60 + ) primary ion source. A 40-1000-fold improvement in signal is found with C 60 + relative to the other two ion sources, indicating great promise for future cellular imaging applications using the C 60 + probe. Figure 6. (A) + SIMS spectrum of an equimolar mixture of PC, PE, PG, PS, PI, cholesterol (C), and sulfatide (S) with a C60 + source. (B) -SIMS spectrum of the same mixture.

At the output of a laser ion source, a high current of highly charged ions with a large range of charge-states is available. The focusing of such a beam by magnetic elements causes a non-linear space-charge field to develop which can induce large aberrations and emittance growth in the beam. Simulation of the beam from the CERN laser ion source will be presented for an ideal magnetic and electrostatic system using a radially symmetric model. In addition, the 3D software KOBRA3 is used for the simulation of the solenoid line. The results of these simulations will be compared with experiments performed on the CERN laser ion source with solenoids (resulting in a hollow beam) and a series of gridded electrostatic lenses.

A novel approach for the authentication of olive oil samples representing different quality grades has been developed. A new type of ion source, direct analysis in real time (DART), coupled to a high-resolution timeof-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) was employed for the comprehensive profiling of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and/or polar compounds extracted with a methanol-water mixture. The main parameters influencing the ionization efficiency of TAGs were the type of sample solvent, degree of sample dilution, ion beam temperature, and presence of a dopant (ammonia vapors). The ionization yield of polar compounds depended mainly on a content of water in the extract and ion beam temperature. Using DART-TOFMS, not only differentiation among extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), olive pomace oil (OPO) and olive oil (OO) could be easily achieved, but also EVOO adulteration with commonly used adulterant, hazelnut oil (HO), was feasible. Based on the linear discriminant analysis (LDA), the introduced method allowed detection of HO addition of 6 and 15% (v/v) when assessing DART-TOFMS mass profiles of polar compounds and TAGs, respectively.

A pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser ion source has been used as proton beams generator. The laser wavelength is 1064 nm, the pulse duration is 9 ns and the intensity reaches 10 10 W / cm 2 . Laser irradiates hydrogenated polymers targets located in a chamber at 10 −7 mbar. The ions are post-accelerated in a suitable chamber by 30 kV of voltage between the target, positively biased, and the following ground electrode. The extracted beams is characterized through a time-of-flight technique. Possible applications to the field of nuclear physics, such as nuclear excitation and de-excitations, nuclear reactions and nuclear fusion, will be presented and discussed.

Electrospray ionisation (ESI) is a soft technique used in mass spectrometry (MS) analysis able to introduce a wide variety of analytes in the gas phase. Briefly, it consists in the application of a highvoltage to a solution to spray it through a small orifice. Hence, charged droplets and ions produced in the gas phase are directed towards a counter electrode. Based on the electrospray process itself, it is possible to carry out diverse experiments by adding functions at three different levels. The first one, taking advantage of the microfluidic nature, incorporates operation units such as mixers, reactors or chromatographic elements into the emitter. In this part, biphasic electrospray ionisation (BESI) sources will also be presented. The electrochemical properties of ESI provide the second level of functionalities. Electrochemistry, being inherent to the ESI process, has proved to be useful for different on-line purposes such as protein electrolysis or electrochemical-induced chemical derivatisation. Finally, the third level is the aerosol zone where a fine mist of charged droplets is formed. In this zone, desorption and extraction reactions can happen for different substrates and vapours. Hence, desorption and extractive electrospray ionisation (DESI and EESI, respectively) will be presented with an emphasis on the advantages brought by these methods. The present review does not intend to focus on the electrospray ionisation technique in itself but rather on the introduction of functional emitters for ESI-MS. The first part covers basic concepts required for developing the other sections. Then, the different options available at the three different levels are reviewed in order to highlight the potential of functional ESI in the growing field of mass spectrometry.

As one step in the ion source development for the Rare Isotope Accelerator, a hot-cavity laser ion source using an all-solid-state titanium-sapphire laser system has been tested at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. Resonance ionization of stable isotopes of Sn, Ge and Ni has been studied in a Ta hot cavity. Efficient three step resonant ionization schemes applying frequency tripling for the first excitation step and using auto-ionizing or atomic Rydberg states in the ionizing step have been identified for all three elements, resulting in laser ion beams of typically around 100 nA. By saturating most of the optical excitation steps involved, ionization efficiencies of 22%, 3.3% and 2.7% have been measured for Sn, Ge and Ni, respectively.

Laser ion sources based on resonant excitation and ionization of atoms are well-established tools for selective and efficient production of radioactive ion beams. Recent developments are focused on the use of the state-of-the-art all solid-state laser systems. To date, 35 elements of the periodic table are available from laser ion sources based on tunable Ti:sapphire lasers. Recent progress in this field regarding the establishment of suitable optical excitation schemes for Ti:sapphire lasers are reported.

The decays of the very neutron rich Sn isotopes [135][136][137] Sn were studied at CERN/ISOLDE using isotopic and isobaric selectivity achieved by the use of a resonance ionization laser ion source and mass spectroscopy, respectively. Neutron decay rates, ␥-ray singles, and ␥-␥ coincidence data were collected as a function of time.

A spark discharge is coupled to a laser multicharged ion source to enhance ion generation. The
laser plasma triggers a spark discharge with electrodes located in front of the ablated target. For
an aluminum target, the spark discharge results in significant enhancement in the generation of
multicharged ions along with higher charge states than observed with the laser source alone. When
a Nd:YAG laser pulse (wavelength 1064 nm, pulse width 7.4 ns, pulse energy 72 mJ, laser spot area
on target 0.0024 cm2) is used, the total multicharged ions detected by a Faraday cup is 1.0 nC with
charge state up to Al3+. When the spark amplification stage is used (0.1 μF capacitor charged to
5.0 kV), the total charge measured increases by a factor of ∼9 with up to Al6+ charge observed.
Using laser pulse energy of 45 mJ, charge amplification by a factor of ∼13 was observed for a
capacitor voltage of 4.5 kV. The spark discharge increases the multicharged ion generation without
increasing target ablation, which solely results from the laser pulse. This allows for increased
multicharged ion generation with relatively low laser energy pulses and less damage to the surface of
the target.

An online laser ion source has been used at the Leuven isotope separator online for the production of pure beams of exotic nuclei. The operational principle of the ion source is based on the element-selective multistep laser resonance ionization of nuclear reaction products thermalized and neutralized in a high-pressure noble gas. A number of improvements has been carried out to obtain stable and reproducible operation. The ion source has been optimized for the production of beams of exotic nuclei, created in proton-induced fission reactions. The efficiency of the ion source has been improved by incorporating the sextupole ion guide to separate laser-produced ions from the gas jet and to transport them to the acceleration stage of the mass separator. A gas purification system has been installed to purify the noble gas down to ppb level. High selectivity and efficiency of the ion source allowed to collect nuclear spectroscopic information for the neutron deficient 54 Ni and neutron-rich 68-74 Ni isotopes.

A 10.9 cm diameter lithium alumino-silicate ion source has been chosen as a source of ∼100 mA lithium ion current for the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment (NDCX-II) at LBNL. Research and development was carried out on lithium alumino-silicate ion sources prior to NDCX-II source fabrication. Space-chargelimited emission with the current density exceeding 1 mA/cm 2 was measured with 0.64 cm diameter lithium alumino-silicate ion sources at 1275 0 C. The beam current density is less for the first 10.9 cm diameter NDCX-II source, and it may be due to an issue of surface coverage. The lifetime of a thin coated (on a tungsten substrate) source is varied, roughly 40-50 hours, when pulsed at 0.05 Hz and with pulse length of 6 µs each, i.e., a duty factor of 3x10-7 , at an operating temperature of 1250 to 1275 0 C. The 10.9 cm diameter source lifetime is likely the same as of a 0.64 cm source, but the lifetime of a source with a 2 mm diameter (without a tungsten substrate) is 10-15 hours with a duty factor of one (DC extraction). The lifetime variation is dependent on the amount of deposition of β-eucryptite mass, and the surface temperature. The amount of mass deposition does not significantly alter the current density. More ion source work is needed to improve the large source performance.

The application of a gas cell filled with noble gas (helium or argon) for thermalizing, storing and transporting trace radioactive ions and atoms has been studied in on-line conditions. Radioactive ions produced in nuclear reactions and stable energetic ions have been resonantly re-ionized by laser light via a two-step resonant process after thermalization and neutralization in high-pressure noble gas. The influence of the ion-electron density created by the projectile beam on the recombination of exotic ions has been investigated in different experimental conditions, including DC and RF electrical fields in the gas cell. Results for the laser ion source efficiency and selectivity for heavy-ion induced fusion reaction products are given. For the Rh isotopes the efficiency reaches up to 12%.

Mean-square charge radii and magnetic moments have been measured for the neutron deficient lead isotopes, [182][183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190] Pb. The measurement was performed at the ISOLDE online mass separator, using the in-source resonance ionization spectroscopy technique.

For a heavy ion fusion induction linac driver, a source of heavy ions with charge states 1+-3+, % 0.5 A current beams, % 20 ms pulse widths and $10 Hz repetition rates is required. Thermionic sources have been the workhorse for the Heavy Ion Fusion (HIF) program to date, but suffer from heating problems for large areas and contamination. They are limited to low (contact) ionization potential elements and offer relatively low ion fluxes with a charge state limited to 1+. Gas injection sources suffer from partial ionization and deleterious neutral gas effects.

An ISOLDE-type hot-cavity laser ion source based on high-repetition-rate Ti:Sapphire lasers has been set up at the Holifield radioactive ion beam facility. To assess the feasibility of the all-solid-state laser system for applications at advanced radioactive ion beam facilities, spectroscopy and performance tests have been conducted with this source. The results of recent studies on excitation schemes, source efficiency, beam emittance and ion time structure are presented.

The subject of this contribution is a study of the application of laser-produced ion streams for implantation into different materials. The laser-produced plasma has been used as a source of ions with different charge states and with different kinetic energies for ion implantation into various materials: metals, polymers and semiconductors, in order to modify their properties. The implantation depth was measured using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS).

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is a compound with the elemental composition C(6)H(6)O(3) that is present in powdered milk. Protonated 5-HMF (calculated m/z 127.0395) has the same nominal m/z as protonated melamine (calculated m/z 127.0732) and can interfere with direct analysis of melamine in powdered milk. Tandem mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry have been previously used to distinguish melamine from 5-HMF. An alternative approach is presented here that uses the direct analysis in real time (DART) ion source operated with argon gas in combination with acetylacetone and pyridine reagent gases to selectively ionize melamine and eliminate the interference from 5-HMF. High-resolution/accurate mass data were used to verify the elimination of the 5-HMF interference and confirm the melamine elemental composition. With further refinement, this technique could lead to a rapid analysis method for screening large numbers of samples.

We propose determination of isotope shifts for radioactive beryllium isotopes using laser cooled ions in a linear radio frequency (RF) trap. Based on these measurements, combined with precise mass shift calculations, it will be possible to extract modelindependent nuclear charge radii of 7,9,10 Be and the one-neutron halo 11 Be with precision better than 3%. Radioactive beryllium isotopes produced at ISOLDE and ionized with a laser ion source will be cooled and bunched in the radio frequency quadrupole buncher of ISOLTRAP. Ion temperatures will be reduced to the mK range by sympathetic cooling with co-trapped laser cooled ions in a specially designed two-stage linear RF trap. Resonances will be detected via fluorescence and frequencies measured with a femtosecond frequency comb.

Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry (MS) was used to differentiate seven bacteria species on the basis of their measured DESI-mass spectral profile. Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were tested and included Escherichia coli, Staphyloccocus aureus, Enterococcus sp., Bordetella bronchiseptica, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhimurium. Distinct DESI-mass spectra, in the mass range of 50-500 u, were obtained from whole bacteria in either positive or negative ion modes in less than 2 mins analysis time. Positive ion DESI-mass spectral fingerprints were compared using principal components analysis (PCA) to investigate reproducibility for the intraday and the day-to-day measurements and the method selectivity to differentiate the bacteria studied. Detailed study of variances in the assay revealed that a large contribution to the DESI-mass spectral fingerprint variation was the growth media preparation procedure. Specifically, experiments conducted with the growth media prepared using the same batch yielded highly reproducible DESI-mass spectra, both in intraday and in day-to-day analyses (i.e. one batch of growth media used over a 3-day period versus a new batch every day over the same 3-day period). Conclusions are drawn from our findings in terms of strategies for rapid biodetection with DESI-MS.

A new electron ionization source was developed for orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) based on the superimposition of a magnetic field around a radio frequency-only (rf-only) ion guide. The cylindrically symmetric magnetic field compresses the electron beam from the electron source into a long narrow volume along the ion guide axis. The magnetic field also helps to maintain a narrow energy distribution of electrons that penetrate the full length of the ion guide despite the influence of the radial rf field. Ionization occurs inside the ion guide with improved efficiency resulting from efficient use of electrons, prolonged interaction time, and nontraditionally large ionization volume. At the same time, the rf field effectively focuses ions radially and confines them to the axis of the ion guide by collisional focusing, leading to high ion transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the source can also be operated in a trap-and-pulse mode to improve the ion sampling duty cycle of orthogonal acceleration TOFMS. To validate the design concept of this new ion source, a simple prototype using a single set of cylindrical rods was constructed and retrofitted to an orthogonal acceleration TOFMS. A significant increase in ion signal intensity was observed by operating the source in a pulsed ion extraction mode. Low detection limits (for example, 12 fg for toluene) were determined at 12.5 spectra s -1 in the full spectrum mode.

We report on the ion implantation by a new laser ion source (LIS). It is able to accelerate plasma ions towards substrates by means of a polarized accelerating gap. A pulsed excimer laser, KrF, was utilized in producing plasma by target ablation. A laser pulse energy of 70 mJ was focused onto different solid targets by a 15 cm focal length lens, obtaining an irradiance of about 3.5 · 10 8 W/cm 2 . To overcome plasma effects, such as arcs, usually occurring during the extraction phase, an expanding chamber with a hole in its end, was developed. To realize implantations, Si substrates were placed in front of the ions extracted by the plasma. The implanted samples were characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and laser ablation combined to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Implantations of Al, Cu and Ge were achieved up to 80 nm at a relatively low accelerating voltage, 40 kV.

Laser ion sources Ion emission reproducibility Thermal and fast ions Ion temperature Centre-of-mass velocity a b s t r a c t A new classification of laser ion sources concerning their pulse-to-pulse reproducibility in the ion emission is proposed. In particular, we distinguish between plasmas according to the electron distribution and changing its characteristics at a laser intensity threshold of 10 14 W/cm 2 . Well reproducible continuous pulsed ion currents are typical for the intensity below the threshold. In contrast to this plasma the "twotemperature" plasma arising for the intensity above this threshold shows not only a separation of charges in space and time during the expansion but it also shows outbursts of ions similar to a self-pulsing instability leading to a chaos. The sequence of fast ion outbursts visible on the time-resolved ion currents is sensitive to the details of non-linear interaction of the laser beam with the generated plasma.

A novel analysis of ion currents, which is based on the use of shifted Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution, is applied to quantify the properties of expanding laser-produced plasmas into the vacuum. The ion currents were measured outside the critical zone where the recombination and collisional excitation processes are not important and the charge-states of ions are frozen. The deconvolution of single-shot ion currents is applied for recovering the partial currents of participating ion species in the measured ion currents in carbon, copper and polyethylene plasmas created by various pulsed laser beams. This method allows determining the plasma temperature, the centre-of-mass velocities of individual charge-states and their abundance. The obtained charge-state dependencies of the centreof-mass velocities render important details in establishing the mechanisms responsible for the ion emission, which has fundamental importance in applications of laser ion sources.

The space charge beam spreading calculations of the laser ion source group of CERN [K. Hanke, et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 73 (2002) 783] has been recomputed with IGUN. Instead of only looking to the total value of beam spreading, we also investigated the behaviour of the rms-emittance and found the following unexpected results: 1) Even zero emittance beams show considerable emittance growth.

Different selective and non-selective laser induced ion and anion sources are presented as well as their combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometers either of linear or reflectron type. Resonance and non-resonance enhanced laser ionization methods and their features of photofragmentation are discussed, in their combination with inlet systems for neutral gases. Laser induced VUV-and electron ionization and laser desorption-postionization are illustrated. Techniques and applications of multiple laser excitation in the ion source and in the space focus are discussed to achieve synchronicity of two experiments or secondary laser excitation. Examples for laser spectroscopic and mass spectrometric applications are given.

A 10.9 cm diameter lithium alumino-silicate ion source has been chosen as a source of ∼100 mA lithium ion current for the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment (NDCX-II) at LBNL. Research and development was carried out on lithium alumino-silicate ion sources prior to NDCX-II source fabrication. Space-chargelimited emission with the current density exceeding 1 mA/cm 2 was measured with 0.64 cm diameter lithium alumino-silicate ion sources at 1275 0 C. The beam current density is less for the first 10.9 cm diameter NDCX-II source, and it may be due to an issue of surface coverage. The lifetime of a thin coated (on a tungsten substrate) source is varied, roughly 40-50 hours, when pulsed at 0.05 Hz and with pulse length of 6 µs each, i.e., a duty factor of 3x10-7 , at an operating temperature of 1250 to 1275 0 C. The 10.9 cm diameter source lifetime is likely the same as of a 0.64 cm source, but the lifetime of a source with a 2 mm diameter (without a tungsten substrate) is 10-15 hours with a duty factor of one (DC extraction). The lifetime variation is dependent on the amount of deposition of β-eucryptite mass, and the surface temperature. The amount of mass deposition does not significantly alter the current density. More ion source work is needed to improve the large source performance.

A laser ion source based on resonance photo ionization in a gas cell is proposed. The gas cell, filled with helium, consists of a target chanlber in which the recoil products are stopped and neutralized, and an ionization chamber where the atoms of interest are selectively ionized by the laser light. The extraction of the ions from the ionization chamber through the exit hole and skimmer is similar to the ion-guide system. The conditions to obtain an optimal system are given. The results of a two-step one-laser resonance photo ionization of nickel, and the first results of laser ionization in a helium buffer gas cell are presented.

The maximum electric field intensity (E) in field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) analyses was doubled to E > 60 kV/cm. In earlier devices with >0.5 mm gaps, such strong fields cause electrical breakdown for nearly all gases at ambient pressure. As the Paschen curves are sublinear, thinner gaps permit higher E: here, we established 61 kV/cm in N 2 using microchips with 35 μm gaps. As FAIMS efficiency is exceptionally sensitive to E, such values can in theory accelerate analyses at equal resolution by over an order of magnitude. Here we demonstrate FAIMS filtering in ~20 μs or ~1% of the previously needed time, with a resolving power of about half that for "macroscopic" units but sufficing for many applications. Microscopic gaps enable concurrent ion processing in multiple (here, 47) channels, which greatly relaxes the charge capacity constraints of planar FAIMS designs. These chips were integrated with a β-radiation ion source and charge detector. The separation performance is in line with first-principles modeling that accounts for high-field and anisotropic ion diffusion. By extending FAIMS operation into the previously inaccessible field range, the present instrument advances the capabilities for research into ion transport and expands options for separation of hard-to-resolve species.

Coherent low energy electrons of 60-200 eV kinetic energy and sub-nanometer wavelength provide a tool to record holograms of individual bio-molecules, such as DNA or viruses. From the recorded holograms, the three-dimensional shape of the molecules can numerically be reconstructed. The experimental setup as well as the numerical reconstruction of low energy electron holograms from individual bio-molecules shall be discussed. Since most biological objects are transparent for electrons they introduce only a phase shift to the incident electron wave. We present a method to not only retrieve the absorbing (as most known methods do) but also the phase properties of the object wave. Finally, we present a general solution of the long-standing twin image problem in holography. It is applicable to any type of holography independent of the wavelength used and the nature of the wave, be it light, electrons, x-rays or any other coherent radiation.

Resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) technique has been used in the β-decay studies of 59Mn and 58Zn. The importance of the RILIS for production of these elements is discussed. The properties of the low-lying levels of the studied nuclei are discussed.

For a heavy ion fusion induction linac driver, a source of heavy ions with charge states 1+-3+, % 0.5 A current beams, % 20 ms pulse widths and $10 Hz repetition rates is required. Thermionic sources have been the workhorse for the Heavy Ion Fusion (HIF) program to date, but suffer from heating problems for large areas and contamination. They are limited to low (contact) ionization potential elements and offer relatively low ion fluxes with a charge state limited to 1+. Gas injection sources suffer from partial ionization and deleterious neutral gas effects.

The decays of the very neutron rich Sn isotopes [135][136][137] Sn were studied at CERN/ISOLDE using isotopic and isobaric selectivity achieved by the use of a resonance ionization laser ion source and mass spectroscopy, respectively. Neutron decay rates, ␥-ray singles, and ␥-␥ coincidence data were collected as a function of time.

Alpha-decay properties of the neutron-deficient isotope 185 Pb were studied at the PSB-ISOLDE (CERN) on-line mass separator using the resonance ionisation laser ion source (RILIS). The nuclei of interest were produced in a 1.4 GeV proton-induced spallation reaction of a uranium graphite target. In contrast to previous studies, two α-decaying isomeric states were identified in 185 Pb. The relative production of the isomers, monitored by their α-counting rates, could be significantly changed when a narrow-bandwidth laser at the RILIS setup was used to scan through the atomic hyperfine structure. Based on the atomic hyperfine structure measurements, along with the systematics for heavier odd-mass lead isotopes, the spin and the parity of these states were interpreted as 3/2 − and 13/2 + and their nuclear magnetic moments were deduced. The α-decay energy and half-life value for the I π = 13/2 + isomer are Eα = 6408(5) keV, T 1/2 = 4.3(2) s, respectively; while for the I π = 3/2 − isomer (T 1/2 = 6.3(4) s) two α-decays with Eα1 = 6288(5) keV, Iα1 = 56(2)% and Eα2 = 6486(5) keV, Iα2 = 44(2)% were observed. By observing prompt α-γ coincidences new information on the low-lying states in the daughter isotope 181 Hg was obtained.

High-power pulsed lasers emitting IR and visible radiation with intensities ranging between 10^8 and 10^16 W/cm2, pulse duration from 0.4 to 9 ns and energy from 100 mJ up to 600 J, operating in single mode or in repetition rate, can be employed to produce non-equilibrium plasma in vacuum by irradiating solid targets. Such a laser-produced plasma generates highly charged and high-energy ions of various elements, as well as soft and hard X-ray radiations. Heavy ions with charge state up to 58+ and kinetic energy up to 10 MeV are detected. The plasma emits ion current densities of the order of tens of mA/cm^2. Interesting application possibilities of the generated plasmas concerning the ion implantation technique, the laser ion sources, the high intensity and resolution X-ray sources, the laser propulsion technique and the nuclear reaction of light elements are presented and discussed.

At Brookhaven National Laboratory, a high current Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) has been developed as part of a new preinjector that is under construction to replace the Tandem Van de Graaffs as the heavy ion preinjector for the RHIC and NASA experimental programs. This preinjector will produce milliampere-level currents of essentially any ion species, with q/A 1/6, in short

The experiment concerning the ECLISSE method (ECR ion source coupled to a laser ion source for charge state enhancement) has been carried out by coupling a laser ion source (LIS) to the superconducting electron cyclotron resonance source (SERSE) electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source with the goal to obtain intense beams of highly charged ions (cw or pulsed mode) from

A pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser ion source has been used as proton beams generator. The laser wavelength is 1064 nm, the pulse duration is 9 ns and the intensity reaches 10 10 W / cm 2. Laser irradiates hydrogenated polymers targets located in a chamber at 10 −7 mbar. The ions are post-accelerated in a suitable chamber by 30 kV of voltage between the target, positively biased, and the following ground electrode. The extracted beams is characterized through a time-of-flight technique. Possible applications to the field of nuclear physics, such as nuclear excitation and de-excitations, nuclear reactions and nuclear fusion, will be presented and discussed.

Multiply charged ions of Ta, W, Pt, Au, Pb, and Bi, produced by the photodissociation iodine laser system PERUN ͑ϭ1.315 m, E L Ͻ40 J, L ϳ350 ps͒ are reported. The ions with maximum charge states around 50ϩ and with energies of several MeV were registered at a distance of about 2 m from a plasma plume. The existence of several groups of ions corresponds to the different processes that occur in the plasma. The influence of different factors on the ion production is discussed. Measured ion current densities higher than 10 mA/cm 2 in the distance of 1 m from the target demonstrate the superiority of laser ion sources.

With the development of a new laser ionization scheme, it became possible to ionize beryllium e ciently in the hot cavity of the ISOLDE laser ion source. The high target and ion source temperatures enable the release of short-lived beryllium isotopes. Thus all particle-stable beryllium isotopes could be extracted from a standard uraniumcarbide graphite target. For the rst time the short-lived isotopes 12 Be and 14 Be could be identi ed at an ISOL facility, 14 Be being among the most short-lived isotopes separated so far at ISOLDE. The release time from the UC graphite target was studied with several beryllium isotopes. Pro ting from the element selectivity o f laser ionization, the strong and isotopically pure beam of 12 Be allowed to determine the half-life to T 1=2 = 2 1 :3423 ms and the probability of beta-delayed neutron emission to P n = 0 :48 +0:12 ,0:10 .

Laser-plasma interactions in the novel regime of relativistically induced transparency (RIT) have been harnessed to generate intense ion beams efficiently with average energies exceeding 10 MeV/nucleon (>100 MeV for protons) at "table-top" scales in experiments at the LANL Trident Laser. By further optimization of the laser and target, the RIT regime has been extended into a self-organized plasma mode. This mode yields an ion beam with much narrower energy spread while maintaining high ion energy and conversion efficiency. This mode involves self-generation of persistent high magnetic fields (∼10(4) T, according to particle-in-cell simulations of the experiments) at the rear-side of the plasma. These magnetic fields trap the laser-heated multi-MeV electrons, which generate a high localized electrostatic field (∼0.1 T V/m). After the laser exits the plasma, this electric field acts on a highly structured ion-beam distribution in phase space to reduce the energy spread, t...