Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry (RIMS) with Pulsed and CW-Lasers on Plutonium

The detection of long-lived plutonium isotopes in ultra-trace amounts by resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) is a well-established routine method. Detection limits of 10⁶ to 10⁷ atoms and precise measurements of the isotopic composition have been achieved. In this work multi-step resonance ionization of plutonium atoms has been performed with tunable lasers having very different output intensities and spectral properties. In order to compare different ways for the resonance ionization of plutonium broadband pulsed dye and titanium:sapphire lasers as well as narrow-band cw-diode and titanium:sapphire lasers have been applied for a number of efficient excitation schemes. It has been shown, that for identical excitation schemes the optical isotope selectivity can be improved by using cw-lasers (bandwidths < 10 MHz) instead of pulsed lasers (bandwidths > 2 GHz). Pulsed and cw-laser systems have been used simultaneously for resonance ionization enabling direct comparisons of pulsed and continuous ionization processes. So far, a three-step, three-color laser excitation scheme has been proven to be most practical in terms of efficiency, selectivity and laser wavelengths. Alternatively a newly discovered three-step, two-color excitation scheme which includes a strong two-photon transition from an excited state into a high-lying autoionizing state yields similar ionization efficiencies. This two-photon transition was characterized with respect to saturation behavior and line width.     

Laser resonance ionization for ultra-trace analysis on long-lived radioactive isotopes

Benefiting from the continuous laser developments, resonance ionization can be applied for a variety of experiments on radioactive isotopes, e.g. as a laser ion source for producing pure beams of short-lived isotopes at on-line facilities. In this paper the application of a compact set-up for resonance ionization mass spectrometry for ultra-trace analysis of the long-lived isotope Ca-41 is described. With this set-up a purely optical selectivity of 3×10⁹ and an overall detection efficiency of 1.2(4)×10⁻⁵ are demonstrated.     

Ionization equilibrium and radiative energy loss rates for C,N, and O ions in low-density plasmas

The results of calculations of the ionization equilibrium and radiative energy loss rates for C, N and O ions in low-density plasmas are presented for electron temperatures in the range 10⁴–10⁷ °K (～1–10³ eV). The ionization structure is determined using the steady-state corona model, in which electron impact ionization from the ground states is balanced by direct radiative and dielectronic recombination. Using an improved theory, detailed calculations are carried out for the dielectronic recombination rates in which account is taken of all radiative and autoionization processes involving a single-electron electricdipole transition of the recombining ion. The radiative energy loss processes considered are electron-impact excitation of resonance line emission, direct radiative recombination, dielectronic recombination, and electron-ion bremsstrahlung. For all three elements, resonance line emission resulting from 2s?2p transitions produces a broad maximum in the energy loss rate near 10⁵°K(～ 10 eV).     

Laser Based Techniques for Ultra Trace Isotope Production, Spectroscopy and Detection

A variety of research activities in the field of fundamental and applied nuclear physics has evolved in the last years using resonantly tuned radiation from powerful lasers. The technique of resonance ionization spectroscopy has delivered outstanding results and found broad acceptance in the last years as a particularly efficient and highly selective method for rare and exotic radioisotope studies. It is used for production, spectroscopy and detection of these species and provides complete isobaric, high isotopic and even some isomeric selection, which altogether is needed for on-line investigation of short lived species far off stability as well as for ultra trace determination. Good overall efficiency pushes the experimental limits of detection in elemental trace analysis down to below 10⁶ atoms per sample, and additionally isotopic selectivity as high as 3 × 10¹² has been demonstrated. The widespread potential of resonance ionization techniques is discussed, focusing on the experimental arrangements for applications in selective on-line isotope production, spectroscopy of rare radioisotopes and ultra trace determination of radiotoxic isotopes like ²³⁸Pu to ²⁴⁴Pu, ^135,137Cs, ^89,90Sr or ⁴¹Ca in environmental, technical and biomedical samples.     

Influence of the helium autoionization structures on the single/double ionization signal

Calculations of intense field (around 10¹⁶ W/cm²) single- and double-ionization processes in helium at XUV wavelengths are presented. The laser wavelength is chosen near the | 2s2p ¹ P autoionization structure and the dynamics are explored. Single and double ionization yields, as well as the photoelectron energy spectrum for photon energies around the autoionization structure are calculated. In the case of a pulse of few femtoseconds duration, no significant enhancement of the double ionization yield has been found in tuning the photon frequency around the peak of the resonance. It is also shown that in the case of a long pulse (and hence narrow compared with the relevant autoionization width), the branching ratio of double to single ionization yield can be relatively enhanced by tuning to the absorption minimum of the resonance. Received 19 February 2002 / Received in final form 2 May 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

Generation of multiply charged refractory metals in an electron-cyclotron resonant discharge in a direct magnetic trap

The possibility of additional ionization of refractory metal ions in the vacuum arc plasma injected to a magnetic trap due to additional heating of electrons by microwave radiation under the conditions of electron-cyclotron resonance is demonstrated. High-power short-wave radiation of gyrotrons used in experiment makes it possible to work with a higher (on the order of 10¹³ cm⁻³) density of the plasma and to ensure the confinement parameter at a level of 3 × 10⁸ cm⁻³ s at an electron temperature sufficient for multiple ionization.     

Ionization of Rydberg atoms in THz-laser fields at the transition from low to high scaled frequencies

We have studied the ionization of Rydberg-excited xenon atoms in THz-laser fields and by quantum dynamical calculations. The experimental threshold laser field strength for 10% ionization probability follows an n^*-1.68 (1.04 THz) dependence (n^* effective principal quantum number) with additional weak resonance structures and shows that ionization does not occur by a Landau-Zener mechanism. At scaled frequencies of to 5.6 the simulated threshold fields for ionization in oscillatory fields show a dependence on the principal quantum number n of n^-4.1 to n^-1.35. Received: 17 February 1998 / Revised: 20 April 1998 / Accepted: 21 April 1998     

Spectrum Simulation of Li-Like Aluminium Plasma

X-ray emission spectra for L-shell of Li-like aluminium ions are simulated by using the flexible atomic code based on the collisional radiative model. Atomic processes including radiative recombination, dielectronic recombination, collisional ionization and resonance excitation from the neighbouring ion （Al^9＋ and Al^11＋ ） charge states of the target ion （Al^10＋） are considered in the model. In addition, the contributions of different atomic processes to the x-ray spectrum are analysed. The results show that dielectronic recombination, radiative recombination, collisional ionization and resonance excitation, other than direct collisional excitation, are very important processes.     

Inner and outer shell ionization for atomic iodine: calculation of cross-sections and angular distribution parameters

This work presents results relating to photoemission cross-sections and angular distribution parameters for atomic iodine, where the photon energy varies over an energy range large enough to involve the ionization of the outermost 5p⁵ Subshell, as well as the inner 5s² and 4d¹⁰ electrons. The calculations were performed with several models, of varying sophistication according to the number of channels which are coupled to describe the continuum final-state wave function. They show that it is necessary to use a model which couples all the channels opened by the multiplet structure in order to show that the 4d shape resonance of iodine looks very much like the large 4d resonance of xenon. Anisotropie effects, whose size is reflected in the splitting among the various angular distribution parameters for alternative final ionic states, are found to be negligible within the framework of the most elaborate model, which couples all the channels corresponding to the residual ion configuration 4d⁹5p⁵; this holds less true as the angular momentum of the ionized electrons decreases. Whereas a model introducing the interchannel interactions within the ionization of one single subshell is sufficient to account for the resonances shifted beyond the thresholds for both 4d and 5p ionization, another model taking intershell interactions (5s + 5p) into account is necessary to obtain a minimum in the 5s cross-section.     

First observation of a resonance ionization signal on242mAm fission isomers

The feasibility of a hyperfine spectroscopy on^242mAm fission isomers has been demonstrated at the low target production rate of 10/s. The experimental method employed is based on resonance ionization spectroscopy in a buffer gas cell with detection of the ionization process by means of the fission decay of the isomers. The resonance ionization has been performed in two steps, utilizing an excimer dye laser combination with a repetition rate of 300 Hz. The first resonant step proceeds through theJ=7/2 term at 21440.35 cm⁻¹, which has been excited with the tuncable dye laser beam of a wavelength of 466.28 nm, the second non-resonant step is achieved with the 351 nm radiation of the excimer laser itself, running with XeF. The frequency scan of the tuneable dye laser exhibits a broad resonance ionization signal, the width of which is most likely explained by the magnetic hyperfine interaction.     

钙、锶、钡和汞离子激光中的共振辐射俘获效应

根据Holstein的共振辐射俘获理论，讨论了气体温度和辐射俘获下能级粒子数密度对辐射俘获上能级有效辐射寿命的影响，显示辐射俘获下能级粒子数密度是辐射俘获效应中的主导因素.计算了钙，锶，钡和汞四种离子七条共振-亚稳能级跃迁激光在不同电离率下产生共振辐射俘获效应的阈值条件，发现当电离率为5%时这类激光的出光温度与共振辐射俘获的阈值温度相一致，这与实验得出的电离率为3%—5%相符合.表明达到共振辐射俘获阈值条件是该类激光实现粒子数反转的重要因素.     

Radiation detected resonance ionization spectroscopy on208Tl and242fAm

An ultra-sensitive laser spectroscopic method has been developed for the hyperfine spectroscopy of short-lived isotopes far off stability produced by heavy ion induced nuclear reactions at very weak intensity (> 1/s). It is based on resonance ionization spectroscopy in a buffer gas cell with radiation detection of the ionization process (RADRIS). As a first on-line application of RADRIS optical spectroscopy at^242fAm fission isomers is in progress at the low target production rate of 10/s. The resonance ionization has been performed in two steps utilizing an excimer dye laser combination with a repetition rate of 300 Hz. The first resonant step proceeds through terms which correspond to wavelengths of 466.28, 468.17 or 426.56 nm; the second non-resonant step is achieved with the 351 nm radiation of the excimer laser itself, running with XeF. The frequency scans of the tuneable dye laser at 466.28 and 468.17 nm exhibit broad resonance ionization signals, the latter with a large isotope shift between^242fAm and²⁴³Am which is in accordance with the large quadrupole moment of the^242fAm fission isomer.Work supported by the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie under contract 06 MZ 188 I.     

A comparative study of the ionic keV X-ray line emission from plasma produced by the femtosecond,picosecond and nanosecond duration laser pulses

We report here an experimental study of the ionic keV X-ray line emission from magnesium plasma produced by laser pulses of three widely different pulse durations (FWHM) of 45 fs, 25 ps and 3 ns, at a constant laser fluence of ∼1.5 × 10⁴ J cm^− 2. It is observed that the X-ray yield of the resonance lines from the higher ionization states such as H- and He-like ions decreases on decreasing the laser pulse duration, even though the peak laser intensities of 3.5 × 10¹⁷ W cm^− 2 for the 45 fs pulses and 6.2 × 10¹⁴ W cm^− 2 for the 25 ps pulses are much higher than 5 × 10¹² W cm^− 2 for the 3 ns laser pulse. The results were explained in terms of the ionization equilibrium time for different ionization states in the heated plasma. The study can be useful to make optimum choice of the laser pulse duration to produce short pulse intense X-ray line emission from the plasma and to get the knowledge of the degree of ionization in the plasma.     

Excitation of resonance lines of a Zn+ ion by electron impact

Excitation of individual components of the resonance 4p ² P ₁ ^2,3/2/0 doublet of a Zn⁺ ion by electron impact is studied for the first time by the spectroscopic method in crossed beams. A distinct structure (above the ionization potential of an ion as well) found in the energy dependences of the effective excitation cross section is associated mainly with the decay to the resonance levels (direct or cascade) of autoionization states of zinc atoms and ions formed through the excitation of electrons from the subvalence 3d ¹⁰ shell. The results obtained are compared with data of other experiments and theoretical calculations by the method of strong coupling of five and fifteen states, as well as with the semiempirical calculation using the Van Regemorter formula.     

碘分子单频及双频多光子光谱

采用多光子离化谱和荧光激发谱技术，对碘分子单频和双频五光子离化谱和三光子荧光谱进行了研究和标识．对OODR五光子离化谱中一组间隔为72cm^-1的振动序列进行了归属，并确定了其激发、发射和离化通道 关键词：     

Systematic trends in the radiative emission rates for low- and medium-Z elements in high-temperature plasmas

The power radiated by an optically thin, low-density (N_e ≤ 10¹⁴ electrons/cm³) plasma has been calculated for the electron temperature range 1–10⁶ eV taking into account resonance line emission, direct recombination radiation, dielectronic recombination radiation, and bremsstrahlung from the ions of a given element. The ionization structure has been determined by using a corona equilibrium model in which collisional ionization and inner-shelled excitation followed by autoionization are balanced by direct radiative and dielectronic recombination. Based on the results for respresentative elements from carbon through nickel, graphs are presented of the maximum radiated power, the maximum emission temperature, and the mean charge at the maximum for each shell as functions of the atomic number Z. Assuming that the maximum emission temperature can be achieved, aluminum and iron are predicted to be the most efficient K-shell radiators for Z ≤28.     

STUDY OF HIGH-LYING EXCITED STATES OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENT Dy BY LASER RESONANCE IONIZATION SPECTROSCOPY

This paper describes the investigation of high-excited states of Dy. which includes the measurement of high Rydberg states and autoionizing states, by means of laser resonance ionization spectroscopy (LRIS). Two high Rydberg series (n>40), 4f¹⁰(⁵I₈) 6sns and 4f¹⁰(⁵I₈) 6snd, have been obtained by exciting the state of 4f¹⁰(⁵I₈) 6s6p (³P⁰₂) ⁵I⁰₈ using two-step laser excitation-electric field ionization method. With the data obtained, we determined the first ionization potential of Dy. It is 47901.7±0.6 cm^-1, that is. about one order more accurate than the results given in the literature. Using the same technique, we found 97 autoionizing states by exciting the state of 4f⁹5d6s(⁷H⁰₇).     

Optimization of soft x-ray line emission from laser-produced carbon plasma with laser intensity

Absolute measurement for He-α resonance (1s^{2 1}S₀?1s2p¹ P ₁, at 40.2 Å) line emission from a laser-produced carbon plasma has been studied as a function of laser intensity. The optimum laser intensity is found to be ≈1.3×10¹² W/cm² for the maximum emission of 3.2 × 10¹³ photons sr^?1 pulse^?1. Since this line lies in the water window spectral region, it has potential application in x-ray microscopic imaging of biological sample in wet condition. Theoretical calculation using corona model for the emission of this line is also carried out with appropriate ionization and radiative recombination rate coefficients     

Thermonuclear fusion in the irradiation of large clusters of deuterium iodide with a field of a superatomic femtosecond laser pulse

A theory of thermonuclear fusion caused by the irradiation of deuterium-iodide clusters with the field of a superatomic femtosecond laser pulse is developed. It is based on considering the process in which the sequential above-barrier multiple internal ionization of atomic ions within a cluster is accompanied by external field ionization. The theory is illustrated by taking the example of a cluster that is formed by 10⁶ molecules of deuterium iodide and which is irradiated with a laser pulse of duration 50 fs and intensity 2×10¹⁸ W/cm² at the peak. This case is dominated by I²⁶⁺ atomic ions. The yield of neutrons from thermonuclear fusion in a deuteron-deuteron collision upon the passage of a laser pulse is calculated. The result is 10⁵ neutrons per laser pulse. The mean kinetic energy of deuterons is estimated at 50 keV. Owing to induced inverse bremsstrahlung in scattering on multiply charged atomic ions, the electron temperature increases up to 28 keV. The role of the Mie resonance in the heating of the electron component is discussed.     

Resonance ionization spectroscopy of thorium

Here we describe experiments aimed at developing an element-selective ion source for thorium (Th). The technique applied is resonance ionization spectroscopy (RIS) with a thermal atom beam. Ionization schemes for isotopically nonselective ionization of Th as well as for isotopically selective ionization of ²³⁰Th are proposed. The RIS-scheme used is two-photon two-colour ionization with excitation in the ultraviolet spectral range between 244 nm and 267 nm or in the visible spectral range between 485 nm and 529 nm. Ionization of the excited atoms is performed either by ultraviolet photons or by visible photons, depending on the energy required for this process.