On-line commissioning of the HRIBF resonant ionization laser ion source

A highly selective resonant ionization laser ion source has been successfully commissioned at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, for the production of pure beams of short-lived nuclei for spectroscopic studies. The laser ion source provided beams of neutron-rich Ga isotopes to the Low-energy Radioactive Ion Beam Spectroscopy Station for beta decay measurements. The radioactive Ga isotopes were produced by 50-MeV proton induced fission of U-238 and ionized by laser radiation using a two-step resonant ionization scheme. Isobarically pure Ga-83, Ga-85, and Ga-88 beams were delivered to the experiment at approximate rates of 12,000 ions/s, 100 ions/s, and 3 ions/s, respectively. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.