Development of the collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy beamline at MIT*

Development of the collinear resonance ionization beamline at MIT 

Investigating the properties of atomic nuclei through measuring their influence upon bound electrons is a powerful and well-established approach in modern nuclear physics [Yan23]. By measuring the hyperfine structure and isotope shift in the atomic structure of radioactive nuclei, nuclear spins, magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments and changes in mean-square charge radii can be determined in a nuclear model-independent manner. These observables offer critical and complementary insights into the single-particle structure and collective behavior of the ground- and isomeric states of atomic nuclei, enabling state-of-the-art models of nuclear theory to be tested. 

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a newly operational next-generation facility which will provide researchers with unprecedented access to short-lived isotopes. A new laser spectroscopy experiment, the Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy Experiment (RISE), was installed at FRIB to maximize the scientific opportunities available and recently completed a successful campaign studying neutron-deficient aluminum isotopes all the way to the proton dripline.

This contribution will outline the design, construction and commissioning of a sister laser spectroscopy beamline at the Exotic Molecules and Atoms Laboratory at MIT which is being used as a development hub to support experiments on short-lived atoms and molecules at FRIB.

[Yan23] Yang, X. et al., PPNP 129, 104005 (2023)