Laser spectroscopy short-lived isotopes

DUONG Laser Spectroscopy of Short-Lived Isotopes... 

In the past ten years a huge amount of data by laser spectroscopy of short lived isotopes have been collected and the field is still developping with new proposed technics. Instead of analysis of individual data, which is not desirable, trends may be found and thus raise up further theoretical interest. In this respect, the odd-even staggering in isotope shift, a feature well known long ago and very well documented, deserves certainly a close theoretical attention. 

In this section I hope to show how the sensitivity of laser spectroscopy is exploited to obtain data on very low concentrations of atoms. In particular I will start off by considering a few laser atomic beam studies aimed at measuring optical isotope shifts and show how short-lived nuclei can be studied in this way. I shall also mention how it is possible to beat the natural linewidth and obtain supernatural spectra . The discussion of laser studies at low atomic concentrations then leads me onto consider experiments on laser cooling and trapping of atoms and ions. In this context I will also mention some experiments using the shelved electron idea to detect very weak transitions. Finally, I will say something about Rydberg atoms and the effects of atoms near metallic surfaces. 

The first group comprises high-resolution laser spectroscopy of short-lived radioactive isotopes with lifetimes in the millisecond range. The ions are produced by nuelear reactions induced by bombardment of a thin foil with neutrons, protons, y-quanta, or other particles inside the ion source of a mass spectrometer. They are evaporated and enter after mass selection the interaction zone of the collinear laser [466]. 

The first group comprises high-resolution laser spectroscopy of short-lived radioactive isotopes with lifetimes in the millisecond range. The ions are... 

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