Accelerator Science

Pure radioactive ion beams and rare isotope spectroscopy from TRIUMF’s laser ion source TRILIS

Virtually contamination-free radioactive ion beams can now be provided at ISAC from a new ion-guide laser ion source (IG-LIS) [1]. This IG-LIS allows for experiments on isotopes that for decades have been overwhelmed by contamination from surface-ionized isobars. TRILIS now routinely provides isotopes from 37 different elements. Laser ionization schemes for an additional 24 elements are ready for off-line testing. TRILIS also supports an in-source laser spectroscopy program that investigates fundamental properties of the rarest isotopes such as atomic energy levels and elemental ionization potentials have been determined for the first time [2] or improved significantly [3].