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 238U and ionized by laser radiation using a two-step resonant ionization scheme. Isobarically pure 83Ga, 85Ga, and 86Ga beams were delivered to the experiment at approximate rates of 12,000ions/s, 100ions/s, and 3ions/s, respectively.